[N-CSR] First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II Certified Shareholder Report
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
N-CSR
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT) filed its May 31 2025 Form N-CSR. Key facts:
- NAV $10.58; market price $9.91 ➔ 6.3% discount; net assets $274.9 mn.
- Monthly distribution $0.097 (11.8% yield on price); FY cash paid $30.2 mn, of which 31.4% was return-of-capital.
- 1-yr total return: NAV 7.38% vs. Morningstar LSTA Leveraged Loan Index 6.78%; market 5.96%.
- Leverage rose to 16.4% (loans outstanding $54 mn); asset-coverage $6,090 per $1,000.
- Net investment income $20.7 mn; expense ratio 1.92% (1.04% ex-interest).
- Credit mix: B & B- grades 72%; CCC & below 3.8%; zero portfolio defaults vs. 14 in benchmark.
- Top sectors: Insurance 16.8%, Software 14.4%; top issuer Acrisure 2.2%.
Management cites bond sleeve, security selection and leverage as outperformance drivers. Turnover jumped to 130% as team repositioned amid flat loan spreads (SOFR+446 bp) and prices (~$96.7). Distribution policy targets stability; high payout partly funds via ROC and realized losses (capital-loss carryforward $58.9 mn).
Risks: rising leverage, concentration in sub-investment-grade loans, and reliance on continued benign default environment. Shares trade at a meaningful discount, offering an elevated yield but with credit and ROC considerations.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT) ha depositato il modulo N-CSR al 31 maggio 2025. Punti chiave:
- NAV $10,58; prezzo di mercato $9,91 ➔ sconto del 6,3%; patrimonio netto $274,9 milioni.
- Distribuzione mensile $0,097 (rendimento dell'11,8% sul prezzo); flusso di cassa annuale pagato $30,2 milioni, di cui il 31,4% rappresenta un ritorno di capitale.
- Rendimento totale a 1 anno: NAV 7,38% contro Morningstar LSTA Leveraged Loan Index 6,78%; mercato 5,96%.
- Leva finanziaria salita al 16,4% (prestiti in essere $54 milioni); copertura degli asset $6.090 per ogni $1.000.
- Reddito netto da investimenti $20,7 milioni; rapporto spese 1,92% (1,04% esclusi interessi).
- Composizione del credito: rating B e B- 72%; CCC e inferiori 3,8%; zero default nel portafoglio rispetto a 14 nel benchmark.
- Principali settori: Assicurazioni 16,8%, Software 14,4%; principale emittente Acrisure 2,2%.
La gestione indica come fattori di sovraperformance la componente obbligazionaria, la selezione dei titoli e la leva finanziaria. Il turnover è salito al 130% mentre il team ha riorganizzato il portafoglio in un contesto di spread sui prestiti stabili (SOFR+446 punti base) e prezzi (~$96,7). La politica di distribuzione mira alla stabilità; l’elevato payout è in parte finanziato tramite ritorno di capitale e perdite realizzate (carryforward di perdite in conto capitale $58,9 milioni).
Rischi: aumento della leva finanziaria, concentrazione in prestiti sub-investment grade e dipendenza da un contesto di default favorevole. Le azioni sono scambiate con uno sconto significativo, offrendo un rendimento elevato ma con considerazioni su credito e ritorno di capitale.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT) presentó su Formulario N-CSR al 31 de mayo de 2025. Datos clave:
- NAV $10.58; precio de mercado $9.91 ➔ descuento del 6.3%; activos netos $274.9 millones.
- Distribución mensual $0.097 (rendimiento del 11.8% sobre el precio); efectivo pagado en el año fiscal $30.2 millones, de los cuales el 31.4% fue retorno de capital.
- Retorno total a 1 año: NAV 7.38% vs. Morningstar LSTA Leveraged Loan Index 6.78%; mercado 5.96%.
- Apalancamiento subió a 16.4% (préstamos pendientes $54 millones); cobertura de activos $6,090 por cada $1,000.
- Ingreso neto por inversiones $20.7 millones; ratio de gastos 1.92% (1.04% sin intereses).
- Composición crediticia: calificaciones B y B- 72%; CCC y menores 3.8%; cero incumplimientos en la cartera frente a 14 en el índice de referencia.
- Principales sectores: Seguros 16.8%, Software 14.4%; principal emisor Acrisure 2.2%.
La gestión cita la cartera de bonos, la selección de valores y el apalancamiento como motores de sobre rendimiento. La rotación aumentó al 130% mientras el equipo reposicionaba en un entorno de spreads de préstamos planos (SOFR+446 pb) y precios (~$96.7). La política de distribución busca estabilidad; el alto pago se financia en parte con retorno de capital y pérdidas realizadas (pérdidas fiscales diferidas $58.9 millones).
Riesgos: aumento del apalancamiento, concentración en préstamos por debajo de grado de inversión y dependencia de un entorno benigno de incumplimientos. Las acciones cotizan con un descuento significativo, ofreciendo un rendimiento elevado pero con consideraciones sobre crédito y retorno de capital.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT)가 2025년 5월 31일자 Form N-CSR을 제출했습니다. 주요 내용은 다음과 같습니다:
- NAV $10.58; 시장 가격 $9.91 ➔ 6.3% 할인; 순자산 $2억7,490만.
- 월 배당금 $0.097 (가격 대비 11.8% 수익률); 회계 연도 현금 지급액 $3,020만, 이 중 31.4%는 자본 환급.
- 1년 총수익: NAV 7.38%, Morningstar LSTA 레버리지 대출 지수 6.78%, 시장 5.96%.
- 레버리지 16.4%로 상승 (대출 잔액 $5,400만); 자산 커버리지 $1,000당 $6,090.
- 순투자수익 $2,070만; 비용 비율 1.92% (이자 제외 1.04%).
- 신용 등급 구성: B 및 B- 72%; CCC 이하 3.8%; 포트폴리오 내 디폴트 없음 (벤치마크 14건 대비).
- 주요 섹터: 보험 16.8%, 소프트웨어 14.4%; 주요 발행사 Acrisure 2.2%.
운용팀은 채권 부문, 증권 선정 및 레버리지를 아웃퍼폼 요인으로 꼽았습니다. 대출 스프레드가 횡보하는 가운데(SOFR+446bp) 포트폴리오 재조정으로 회전율이 130%로 증가했습니다(가격 약 $96.7). 배당 정책은 안정성을 목표로 하며, 높은 배당금은 자본 환급과 실현 손실(이월된 자본 손실 $5,890만)로 일부 충당됩니다.
위험 요인: 레버리지 증가, 투자등급 미만 대출 집중, 지속적인 우호적 디폴트 환경에 대한 의존성. 주식은 상당한 할인을 받고 거래되며, 높은 수익률을 제공하지만 신용 및 자본 환급 관련 고려 사항이 있습니다.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT) a déposé son formulaire N-CSR au 31 mai 2025. Faits clés :
- VNI $10,58 ; prix du marché $9,91 ➔ escompte de 6,3% ; actifs nets $274,9 millions.
- Distribution mensuelle $0,097 (rendement de 11,8% sur le prix) ; trésorerie versée sur l'exercice $30,2 millions, dont 31,4% de retour de capital.
- Performance totale sur 1 an : VNI 7,38% contre Morningstar LSTA Leveraged Loan Index 6,78% ; marché 5,96%.
- Effet de levier passé à 16,4% (prêts en cours $54 millions) ; couverture des actifs $6 090 par $1 000.
- Revenu net d'investissement $20,7 millions ; ratio de dépenses 1,92% (1,04% hors intérêts).
- Répartition du crédit : notes B et B- 72% ; CCC et moins 3,8% ; zéro défaut dans le portefeuille contre 14 dans l'indice de référence.
- Principaux secteurs : Assurance 16,8%, Logiciels 14,4% ; principal émetteur Acrisure 2,2%.
La gestion cite la poche obligataire, la sélection des titres et l'effet de levier comme moteurs de surperformance. Le taux de rotation a grimpé à 130% alors que l'équipe a repositionné le portefeuille dans un contexte de spreads de prêts stables (SOFR+446 points de base) et de prix (~$96,7). La politique de distribution vise la stabilité ; la forte distribution est partiellement financée par un retour de capital et des pertes réalisées (report déficitaire en capital $58,9 millions).
Risques : augmentation de l'effet de levier, concentration dans les prêts sous-investment grade et dépendance à un environnement de défauts favorable. Les actions se négocient avec une décote significative, offrant un rendement élevé mais avec des considérations de crédit et de retour de capital.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT) hat seinen Form N-CSR zum 31. Mai 2025 eingereicht. Wichtige Fakten:
- NAV $10,58; Marktpreis $9,91 ➔ 6,3% Abschlag; Nettovermögen $274,9 Mio.
- Monatliche Ausschüttung $0,097 (11,8% Rendite auf den Preis); im Geschäftsjahr ausgezahltes Bargeld $30,2 Mio., davon 31,4% Kapitalrückzahlung.
- 1-Jahres-Gesamtrendite: NAV 7,38% vs. Morningstar LSTA Leveraged Loan Index 6,78%; Markt 5,96%.
- Hebel stieg auf 16,4% (ausstehende Kredite $54 Mio.); Asset-Coverage $6.090 pro $1.000.
- Nettoanlageertrag $20,7 Mio.; Kostenquote 1,92% (1,04% ohne Zinsen).
- Kreditmix: B- und B-Ratings 72%; CCC und darunter 3,8%; keine Ausfälle im Portfolio gegenüber 14 im Benchmark.
- Top-Sektoren: Versicherung 16,8%, Software 14,4%; größter Emittent Acrisure 2,2%.
Das Management nennt Anleihenanteil, Titelauswahl und Hebel als Treiber der Outperformance. Die Umschlagshäufigkeit stieg auf 130%, da das Team angesichts stabiler Kreditzinsen (SOFR+446 Basispunkte) und Preise (~$96,7) das Portfolio neu positionierte. Die Ausschüttungspolitik zielt auf Stabilität; die hohe Ausschüttung wird teilweise durch Kapitalrückzahlungen und realisierte Verluste (steuerlicher Verlustvortrag $58,9 Mio.) finanziert.
Risiken: steigender Hebel, Konzentration in unter Investment-Grade-Krediten und Abhängigkeit von einem weiterhin günstigen Ausfallumfeld. Die Aktien werden mit einem deutlichen Abschlag gehandelt, bieten eine hohe Rendite, aber mit Kredit- und Kapitalrückzahlungsaspekten.
Positive
- Outperformed the Morningstar LSTA Index by 60 bp on NAV over the fiscal year.
- Zero portfolio defaults versus 14 in benchmark, indicating strong credit selection.
- Attractive 6.3% market discount provides built-in value for buyers.
- High, stable distribution of $0.097/month (11.8% yield).
Negative
- 31.4% of distributions sourced from return-of-capital, signaling potential erosion of NAV.
- Leverage increased to 16.4%, magnifying volatility and downside risk.
- 72% exposure to B/B- rated loans keeps portfolio sensitive to credit downturns.
- Expense ratio 1.92% total; higher than passive alternatives.
Insights
TL;DR – Solid NAV beat and zero defaults, but high leverage and ROC keep outlook neutral.
FCT delivered a 7.4% NAV return, edging past the loan benchmark and supporting its 11% NAV yield. A widening to 16% leverage enhanced gains, yet raises volatility if rates or credit spreads widen. Roughly one-third of cash distributions came from return-of-capital, signalling that headline yield exceeds sustainable income. Expense drag is moderate, but 130% turnover will pressure costs. With a 6% market discount, the fund offers value, but investors must weigh sub-IG concentration (73% B/B-) and limited asset-coverage cushion.
TL;DR – Zero defaults and defensive CCC underweight earn a positive credit score.
The portfolio avoided all defaults while the benchmark logged 14, evidencing strong underwriting. CCC exposure is just 3.8%, well below peers, and management trimmed bond allocation to 1.4% as spreads tightened. Interest coverage benefits from floating-rate coupons (avg. yield 8.6%) matched to SOFR-linked leverage. Key watch-items are issuer concentration (top 10 = 17%) and leverage-amplified drawdowns, but current credit metrics underpin the distribution. Overall credit outlook is favorable barring a sharp macro shock.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT) ha depositato il modulo N-CSR al 31 maggio 2025. Punti chiave:
- NAV $10,58; prezzo di mercato $9,91 ➔ sconto del 6,3%; patrimonio netto $274,9 milioni.
- Distribuzione mensile $0,097 (rendimento dell'11,8% sul prezzo); flusso di cassa annuale pagato $30,2 milioni, di cui il 31,4% rappresenta un ritorno di capitale.
- Rendimento totale a 1 anno: NAV 7,38% contro Morningstar LSTA Leveraged Loan Index 6,78%; mercato 5,96%.
- Leva finanziaria salita al 16,4% (prestiti in essere $54 milioni); copertura degli asset $6.090 per ogni $1.000.
- Reddito netto da investimenti $20,7 milioni; rapporto spese 1,92% (1,04% esclusi interessi).
- Composizione del credito: rating B e B- 72%; CCC e inferiori 3,8%; zero default nel portafoglio rispetto a 14 nel benchmark.
- Principali settori: Assicurazioni 16,8%, Software 14,4%; principale emittente Acrisure 2,2%.
La gestione indica come fattori di sovraperformance la componente obbligazionaria, la selezione dei titoli e la leva finanziaria. Il turnover è salito al 130% mentre il team ha riorganizzato il portafoglio in un contesto di spread sui prestiti stabili (SOFR+446 punti base) e prezzi (~$96,7). La politica di distribuzione mira alla stabilità; l’elevato payout è in parte finanziato tramite ritorno di capitale e perdite realizzate (carryforward di perdite in conto capitale $58,9 milioni).
Rischi: aumento della leva finanziaria, concentrazione in prestiti sub-investment grade e dipendenza da un contesto di default favorevole. Le azioni sono scambiate con uno sconto significativo, offrendo un rendimento elevato ma con considerazioni su credito e ritorno di capitale.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT) presentó su Formulario N-CSR al 31 de mayo de 2025. Datos clave:
- NAV $10.58; precio de mercado $9.91 ➔ descuento del 6.3%; activos netos $274.9 millones.
- Distribución mensual $0.097 (rendimiento del 11.8% sobre el precio); efectivo pagado en el año fiscal $30.2 millones, de los cuales el 31.4% fue retorno de capital.
- Retorno total a 1 año: NAV 7.38% vs. Morningstar LSTA Leveraged Loan Index 6.78%; mercado 5.96%.
- Apalancamiento subió a 16.4% (préstamos pendientes $54 millones); cobertura de activos $6,090 por cada $1,000.
- Ingreso neto por inversiones $20.7 millones; ratio de gastos 1.92% (1.04% sin intereses).
- Composición crediticia: calificaciones B y B- 72%; CCC y menores 3.8%; cero incumplimientos en la cartera frente a 14 en el índice de referencia.
- Principales sectores: Seguros 16.8%, Software 14.4%; principal emisor Acrisure 2.2%.
La gestión cita la cartera de bonos, la selección de valores y el apalancamiento como motores de sobre rendimiento. La rotación aumentó al 130% mientras el equipo reposicionaba en un entorno de spreads de préstamos planos (SOFR+446 pb) y precios (~$96.7). La política de distribución busca estabilidad; el alto pago se financia en parte con retorno de capital y pérdidas realizadas (pérdidas fiscales diferidas $58.9 millones).
Riesgos: aumento del apalancamiento, concentración en préstamos por debajo de grado de inversión y dependencia de un entorno benigno de incumplimientos. Las acciones cotizan con un descuento significativo, ofreciendo un rendimiento elevado pero con consideraciones sobre crédito y retorno de capital.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT)가 2025년 5월 31일자 Form N-CSR을 제출했습니다. 주요 내용은 다음과 같습니다:
- NAV $10.58; 시장 가격 $9.91 ➔ 6.3% 할인; 순자산 $2억7,490만.
- 월 배당금 $0.097 (가격 대비 11.8% 수익률); 회계 연도 현금 지급액 $3,020만, 이 중 31.4%는 자본 환급.
- 1년 총수익: NAV 7.38%, Morningstar LSTA 레버리지 대출 지수 6.78%, 시장 5.96%.
- 레버리지 16.4%로 상승 (대출 잔액 $5,400만); 자산 커버리지 $1,000당 $6,090.
- 순투자수익 $2,070만; 비용 비율 1.92% (이자 제외 1.04%).
- 신용 등급 구성: B 및 B- 72%; CCC 이하 3.8%; 포트폴리오 내 디폴트 없음 (벤치마크 14건 대비).
- 주요 섹터: 보험 16.8%, 소프트웨어 14.4%; 주요 발행사 Acrisure 2.2%.
운용팀은 채권 부문, 증권 선정 및 레버리지를 아웃퍼폼 요인으로 꼽았습니다. 대출 스프레드가 횡보하는 가운데(SOFR+446bp) 포트폴리오 재조정으로 회전율이 130%로 증가했습니다(가격 약 $96.7). 배당 정책은 안정성을 목표로 하며, 높은 배당금은 자본 환급과 실현 손실(이월된 자본 손실 $5,890만)로 일부 충당됩니다.
위험 요인: 레버리지 증가, 투자등급 미만 대출 집중, 지속적인 우호적 디폴트 환경에 대한 의존성. 주식은 상당한 할인을 받고 거래되며, 높은 수익률을 제공하지만 신용 및 자본 환급 관련 고려 사항이 있습니다.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT) a déposé son formulaire N-CSR au 31 mai 2025. Faits clés :
- VNI $10,58 ; prix du marché $9,91 ➔ escompte de 6,3% ; actifs nets $274,9 millions.
- Distribution mensuelle $0,097 (rendement de 11,8% sur le prix) ; trésorerie versée sur l'exercice $30,2 millions, dont 31,4% de retour de capital.
- Performance totale sur 1 an : VNI 7,38% contre Morningstar LSTA Leveraged Loan Index 6,78% ; marché 5,96%.
- Effet de levier passé à 16,4% (prêts en cours $54 millions) ; couverture des actifs $6 090 par $1 000.
- Revenu net d'investissement $20,7 millions ; ratio de dépenses 1,92% (1,04% hors intérêts).
- Répartition du crédit : notes B et B- 72% ; CCC et moins 3,8% ; zéro défaut dans le portefeuille contre 14 dans l'indice de référence.
- Principaux secteurs : Assurance 16,8%, Logiciels 14,4% ; principal émetteur Acrisure 2,2%.
La gestion cite la poche obligataire, la sélection des titres et l'effet de levier comme moteurs de surperformance. Le taux de rotation a grimpé à 130% alors que l'équipe a repositionné le portefeuille dans un contexte de spreads de prêts stables (SOFR+446 points de base) et de prix (~$96,7). La politique de distribution vise la stabilité ; la forte distribution est partiellement financée par un retour de capital et des pertes réalisées (report déficitaire en capital $58,9 millions).
Risques : augmentation de l'effet de levier, concentration dans les prêts sous-investment grade et dépendance à un environnement de défauts favorable. Les actions se négocient avec une décote significative, offrant un rendement élevé mais avec des considérations de crédit et de retour de capital.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (NYSE:FCT) hat seinen Form N-CSR zum 31. Mai 2025 eingereicht. Wichtige Fakten:
- NAV $10,58; Marktpreis $9,91 ➔ 6,3% Abschlag; Nettovermögen $274,9 Mio.
- Monatliche Ausschüttung $0,097 (11,8% Rendite auf den Preis); im Geschäftsjahr ausgezahltes Bargeld $30,2 Mio., davon 31,4% Kapitalrückzahlung.
- 1-Jahres-Gesamtrendite: NAV 7,38% vs. Morningstar LSTA Leveraged Loan Index 6,78%; Markt 5,96%.
- Hebel stieg auf 16,4% (ausstehende Kredite $54 Mio.); Asset-Coverage $6.090 pro $1.000.
- Nettoanlageertrag $20,7 Mio.; Kostenquote 1,92% (1,04% ohne Zinsen).
- Kreditmix: B- und B-Ratings 72%; CCC und darunter 3,8%; keine Ausfälle im Portfolio gegenüber 14 im Benchmark.
- Top-Sektoren: Versicherung 16,8%, Software 14,4%; größter Emittent Acrisure 2,2%.
Das Management nennt Anleihenanteil, Titelauswahl und Hebel als Treiber der Outperformance. Die Umschlagshäufigkeit stieg auf 130%, da das Team angesichts stabiler Kreditzinsen (SOFR+446 Basispunkte) und Preise (~$96,7) das Portfolio neu positionierte. Die Ausschüttungspolitik zielt auf Stabilität; die hohe Ausschüttung wird teilweise durch Kapitalrückzahlungen und realisierte Verluste (steuerlicher Verlustvortrag $58,9 Mio.) finanziert.
Risiken: steigender Hebel, Konzentration in unter Investment-Grade-Krediten und Abhängigkeit von einem weiterhin günstigen Ausfallumfeld. Die Aktien werden mit einem deutlichen Abschlag gehandelt, bieten eine hohe Rendite, aber mit Kredit- und Kapitalrückzahlungsaspekten.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-21539
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
W. Scott Jardine, Esq.
First Trust Portfolios
L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Name
and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 630-765-8000
Date of fiscal year end: May 31
Date of reporting period:
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Shareholders.
| (a) | Following is a copy of the annual report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Act. |
First Trust
Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Annual Report
For the Year Ended
May 31, 2025
Table of Contents
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Annual Report
May 31, 2025
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At a Glance
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1
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Portfolio Commentary
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3
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Portfolio of Investments
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5
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
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18
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Statement of Operations
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19
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Statements of Changes in Net Assets
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20
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Statement of Cash Flows
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21
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Financial Highlights
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22
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Notes to Financial Statements
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23
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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30
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Additional Information
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31
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Investment Objectives, Policies, Risks and Effects of Leverage
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33
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Board of Trustees and Officers
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40
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Privacy Policy
|
42
|
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements
regarding the goals, beliefs, plans or current expectations of First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) and its representatives, taking into account the information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements include all statements
that do not relate solely to current or historical fact. For example, forward-looking statements include the use of words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “would” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (the “Fund”) to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. When evaluating the information included in this report, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which reflect the judgment of the Advisor and its representatives only as of the date hereof. We undertake no
obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events and circumstances that arise after the
date hereof.
Performance and Risk Disclosure
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The Fund
is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that the market values of securities owned by the Fund will decline and that the value of the Fund’s shares may therefore be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money by investing in the Fund. See “Principal Risks” in the Investment Objectives, Policies, Risks and Effects of Leverage section of this report for a discussion of
certain other risks of investing in the Fund.
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future
results, and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For the most recent month-end performance figures,
please visit www.ftportfolios.com or speak with your financial advisor. Investment returns, net asset value and common share price
will fluctuate and Fund shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The Advisor may also periodically provide additional information on Fund performance on the Fund’s web page at www.ftportfolios.com.
How to Read This Report
This report contains information that may help you evaluate your investment in the
Fund. It includes details about the Fund and presents data and analysis that provide insight into the Fund’s performance and investment approach.
By reading the portfolio commentary by the portfolio management team of the Fund,
you may obtain an understanding of how the market environment affected the Fund’s performance. The statistical information that follows may help you understand the Fund’s performance compared to that of a relevant market benchmark.
It is important to keep in mind that the opinions expressed by personnel of the Advisor
are just that: informed opinions. They should not be considered to be promises or advice. The opinions, like the statistics, cover
the period through the date on the cover of this report. The material risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the prospectus,
the statement of additional information, this report and other Fund regulatory filings.
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
“AT A GLANCE”
As of May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
|
Fund Statistics
|
|
|
Symbol on New York Stock Exchange
|
FCT
|
|
Common Share Price
|
$9.91
|
|
Common Share Net Asset Value (“NAV”)
|
$10.58
|
|
Premium (Discount) to NAV
|
(
)%
|
|
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares
|
$274,872,167
|
|
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share(1)
|
$0.0970
|
|
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share
|
$1.1640
|
|
Current Distribution Rate on Common Share Price(2)
|
11.75
%
|
|
Current Distribution Rate on NAV(2)
|
11.00
%
|
Common Share Price & NAV (weekly closing price)
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
|
||
|
|
1 Year Ended
5/31/25
|
5 Years Ended
5/31/25
|
10 Years Ended
5/31/25
|
Inception (5/25/04)
to 5/31/25
|
|
Fund Performance(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
NAV
|
7.38
%
|
7.06
%
|
5.16
%
|
4.68
%
|
|
Market Value
|
5.96
%
|
8.10
%
|
5.16
%
|
4.13
%
|
|
Index Performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
Morningstar® LSTA® US Leveraged
Loan Index
|
6.78
%
|
7.52
%
|
5.01
%
|
5.02
%
|
(1)
Most recent distribution paid through May 31, 2025. Subject to change in the future.
(2)
Distribution rates are calculated by annualizing the most recent distribution paid
through the report date and then dividing by Common Share Price or NAV, as applicable, as of May 31, 2025. Subject to change in the future.
(3)
Total return is based on the combination of reinvested dividend, capital gain and
return of capital distributions, if any, at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and changes in NAV per share for NAV returns and changes in Common
Share Price for market value returns. From inception to October 12, 2010, Four Corners Capital Management, LLC served as the Fund’s sub-advisor. Effective October 12, 2010, the Leveraged Finance Team of First Trust Advisors L.P. assumed the day-to-day responsibility for management of the Fund’s portfolio. Total returns do not reflect sales load and are not annualized for periods of less than one year. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Page 1
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
“AT A GLANCE” (Continued)
As of May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
|
Credit Quality (S&P Global Ratings)(4)
|
% of Total
Investments
|
|
BBB-
|
0.2%
|
|
BB+
|
0.3
|
|
BB
|
4.0
|
|
BB-
|
16.3
|
|
B+
|
15.2
|
|
B
|
39.8
|
|
B-
|
16.7
|
|
CCC+
|
3.4
|
|
CCC
|
0.4
|
|
Not Rated
|
3.1
|
|
Money Market Fund
|
0.6
|
|
Total
|
100.0%
|
|
Top 10 Issuers
|
% of Total
Investments
|
|
Acrisure LLC / Acrisure Finance, Inc.
|
2.2%
|
|
IRB Holding Corp. (Arby’s / Inspire Brands)
|
2.0
|
|
Dun & Bradstreet Corp.
|
2.0
|
|
Clarivate Analytics PLC (Camelot)
|
1.7
|
|
Informatica Corp.
|
1.6
|
|
Truist Insurance Holdings LLC (McGriff/Panther Escrow)
|
1.6
|
|
Hyperion Insurance Group Ltd. (aka - Howden Group)
|
1.5
|
|
athenahealth Group, Inc.
|
1.5
|
|
AssuredPartners, Inc.
|
1.5
|
|
Whatabrands LLC
|
1.5
|
|
Total
|
17.1%
|
|
Industry Classification
|
% of Total
Investments
|
|
Insurance
|
16.8%
|
|
Software
|
14.4
|
|
Health Care Providers & Services
|
7.5
|
|
Professional Services
|
7.4
|
|
Health Care Technology
|
5.0
|
|
IT Services
|
5.0
|
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
|
4.3
|
|
Specialty Retail
|
3.9
|
|
Capital Markets
|
3.1
|
|
Containers & Packaging
|
3.0
|
|
Machinery
|
2.8
|
|
Food Products
|
2.2
|
|
Commercial Services & Supplies
|
2.2
|
|
Diversified Consumer Services
|
1.8
|
|
Building Products
|
1.8
|
|
Aerospace & Defense
|
1.6
|
|
Trading Companies & Distributors
|
1.6
|
|
Financial Services
|
1.6
|
|
Life Sciences Tools & Services
|
1.4
|
|
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
|
1.2
|
|
Automobiles & Components
|
1.1
|
|
Interactive Media & Services
|
1.1
|
|
Construction Materials
|
1.1
|
|
Chemicals
|
1.0
|
|
Media
|
1.0
|
|
Health Care Equipment & Supplies
|
1.0
|
|
Metals & Mining
|
0.8
|
|
Diversified Telecommunication Services
|
0.8
|
|
Beverages
|
0.7
|
|
Money Market Funds
|
0.6
|
|
Consumer Finance
|
0.5
|
|
Pharmaceuticals
|
0.3
|
|
Entertainment
|
0.3
|
|
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers
|
0.3
|
|
Ground Transportation
|
0.2
|
|
Construction & Engineering
|
0.2
|
|
Household Durables
|
0.2
|
|
Broadline Retail
|
0.1
|
|
Passenger Airlines
|
0.1
|
|
Total
|
100.0%
|
(4)
The ratings are by S&P Global Ratings except where otherwise indicated. A credit rating
is an assessment provided by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) of the creditworthiness of an issuer with respect to debt obligations
except for those debt obligations that are only privately rated. Ratings are measured on a scale that generally ranges from AAA (highest) to D (lowest). Investment
grade is defined as those issuers that have a long-term credit rating of BBB- or higher. The credit ratings shown relate to the creditworthiness of the
issuers of the underlying securities in the Fund, and not to the Fund or its shares.
Credit ratings are subject to change.
Page 2
Portfolio Commentary
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Annual Report
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
Advisor
The First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”) Leveraged Finance Team is comprised of 20 experienced investment professionals specializing in below investment grade securities. The team is comprised of portfolio
management, research, trading and operations personnel. As of May 31, 2025, the First Trust Leveraged Finance Team managed or supervised
approximately $6.9 billion in senior secured bank loans and high-yield bonds. These assets are managed across various strategies,
including two closed-end funds, an open-end fund, and five exchange-traded funds on behalf of retail and institutional
clients.
Portfolio Management Team
William Housey, CFA - Managing Director of Fixed Income, Senior Portfolio Manager
Jeffrey Scott, CFA - Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Kevin Ziets, CFA - Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II
The primary investment objective of the First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (the “Fund”) is to seek a high level of current income. As a secondary objective, the Fund attempts to preserve capital. The Fund
pursues its investment objectives by investing primarily in a portfolio of senior secured floating-rate corporate loans (“Senior Loans”). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets in a diversified portfolio of Senior Loans. It is anticipated that at least 80% of the Fund’s Managed Assets are invested in lower grade debt instruments, although from time to time all of the Fund’s Managed Assets may be invested in such lower grade debt instruments. “Managed Assets” means the total asset value of the Fund minus the sum of its liabilities, other than the principal amount of borrowings. There can be no assurance
that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Investing in Senior Loans involves credit risk and, during periods of
generally declining credit quality, it may be particularly difficult for the Fund to achieve its secondary investment objective.
The Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.
Commentary
During the 12-month period ended May 31, 2025, the Fund returned(1) 7.38% based on net asset value (“NAV”) and 5.96% based on market price. This compares to the Morningstar® LSTA® US Leveraged Loan Index’s (the “Benchmark”) return of 6.78% over the same period.
The following key factors impacted Fund performance relative to the Benchmark during
the period:
•
Industry: Relative to the Benchmark, the primary contributors to the Fund’s performance were its selection within the media & entertainment industry, its underweight allocation to and selection within the capital
goods industry, and its selection within the food, beverage & tobacco industry. Partially mitigating those tailwinds were the Fund’s underweight allocation to and selection within the telecommunication services, technology hardware & equipment, and utilities
industries.
•
Asset Type: The Fund’s bond allocation, while relatively small, was a significant positive contributor to performance relative to the Benchmark as bonds outperformed loans during the period (the ICE BofA US High
Yield Constrained Index returned 9.27% for the period). The Fund’s loan selection also significantly benefited performance relative to the Benchmark. The Fund began the period with allocations of 4.33% to bonds and 95.67% to loans and ended the period
with allocations of 1.35% to bonds and 98.65% to loans.
•
Credit Quality: The Fund maintained a defensive high-quality bias. Performance across the credit
quality spectrum was positive during the Period but assets rated B, and BB generally outperformed those rated CCC
and below. The Fund benefited from its selection across the credit quality spectrum and its underweight allocation to assets
rated CCC and below.
•
Leverage: The Fund’s use of leverage was the largest positive contributor to performance relative to the Benchmark. The Fund began the period with 9.76% leverage and ended the period with 16.42%.
•
Loan Spreads, Yields and Prices: Loan spreads over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR” or “base rate”) remained relatively flat throughout the period and ended at S+446 basis points (“bps”). While loan spreads ended the period modestly below the long-term average of S+506 bps (January 1997 – May 2025), yields of 8.55% remain well above the long-term average of 7.12% (January 1997 – May 2025) driven by elevated base rates. Loan prices also remained relatively unchanged throughout the period and ended at $96.70 and remain at a discount to par ($100).
(1)
Total return is based on the combination of reinvested dividend, capital gain and
return of capital distributions, if any, at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and changes in NAV per share for NAV returns and changes
in Common Share Price for market value returns. Total returns do not reflect sales load and are not annualized for periods of less than one year.
Page 3
Portfolio Commentary (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Annual Report
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
•
Defaults: The Fund experienced zero defaults during the period, compared to 14 defaults in
the Benchmark. Since the Leveraged Finance Team began managing the Fund, the Fund experienced 13 defaults, compared to
220 defaults in the Benchmark over the same time frame. The loan market default rate fell from 1.08% at the beginning of
the period to 0.74% at the end of the period, remaining well below the long-term average of 2.58% (October 1998 – May 2025). The avoidance of defaults generally benefits performance.
Performance Analysis
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
|
||
|
|
1 Year Ended
5/31/25
|
5 Years Ended
5/31/25
|
10 Years Ended
5/31/25
|
Inception (5/25/04)
to 5/31/25
|
|
Fund Performance(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
NAV
|
7.38
%
|
7.06
%
|
5.16
%
|
4.68
%
|
|
Market Value
|
5.96
%
|
8.10
%
|
5.16
%
|
4.13
%
|
|
Index Performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
Morningstar® LSTA® US Leveraged
Loan Index
|
6.78
%
|
7.52
%
|
5.01
%
|
5.02
%
|
The Fund has a practice of seeking to maintain relatively stable monthly distribution,
which may be changed at any time. The practice has no impact on the Fund’s investment strategy and may reduce the Fund’s NAV. However, the Advisor believes the practice helps maintain the Fund’s competitiveness and may benefit the Fund’s market price and premium/discount to the Fund’s NAV. The monthly distribution rate was $0.0970 throughout the period. At the $0.0970 per share monthly
distribution rate, the annualized distribution rate at May 31, 2025 was 11.00% based on NAV and 11.75% based on market price. For the
twelve-month period ended May 31, 2025, 68.64% of the distributions were characterized as ordinary income and 31.36% of the
distributions were characterized as return of capital. The final determination of the source and tax status of all 2025 distributions
will be made after the end of 2025 and will be provided on Form 1099-DIV. The foregoing is not to be construed as tax advice. Please
consult your tax advisor for further information regarding tax matters.
Page 4
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) – 123.6%
|
||||
|
|
Advertising – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
$620,608
|
WH Borrower LLC (WHP), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 4.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
9.07
%
|
02/20/32
|
$616,534
|
|
|
Aerospace & Defense – 2.0%
|
|
|
|
|
381,263
|
BBA Aviation (Signature Aviation US Holdings, Inc./Brown Group
Holding LLC), Term Loan B1, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.75%,
0.50% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
07/01/31
|
380,749
|
|
84,971
|
BBA Aviation (Signature Aviation US Holdings, Inc./Brown Group
Holding LLC), Term Loan B2, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.50%,
0.50% Floor
|
6.78%-6.83%
|
07/01/31
|
84,807
|
|
36,861
|
BBA Aviation (Signature Aviation US Holdings, Inc./Brown Group
Holding LLC), Term Loan B2, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.50%,
0.50% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
07/01/31
|
36,791
|
|
574,308
|
Signia Aerospace LLC, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.30
%
|
12/11/31
|
574,308
|
|
707,630
|
Spirit Aerosystems, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
4.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
8.78
%
|
01/15/27
|
709,473
|
|
2,513,179
|
Transdigm, Inc., Term Loan I, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.75%,
0.00% Floor
|
7.05
%
|
08/24/28
|
2,523,583
|
|
1,315,862
|
Transdigm, Inc., Term Loan K, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.75%,
0.00% Floor
|
7.05
%
|
03/22/30
|
1,320,849
|
|
|
|
5,630,560
|
||
|
|
Alternative Carriers – 0.8%
|
|
|
|
|
2,138,371
|
Level 3 Financing, Inc., Term B-3 Refinancing Term Loan, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 4.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
8.58
%
|
03/31/32
|
2,154,857
|
|
|
Apparel Retail – 0.6%
|
|
|
|
|
1,063,550
|
Authentic Brands Group (ABG Intermediate Holdings 2 LLC), Refi
Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
12/21/28
|
1,058,035
|
|
470,141
|
Hanesbrands, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
03/08/32
|
472,492
|
|
|
|
1,530,527
|
||
|
|
Application Software – 14.8%
|
|
|
|
|
616,651
|
Applied Systems, Inc., Refi Term Loan, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.80
%
|
02/24/31
|
619,660
|
|
1,089,400
|
CCC Intelligent Solutions, Inc., 2032 Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.33
%
|
01/23/32
|
1,091,671
|
|
466,101
|
Clearwater Analytics LLC, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR
+ 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.52
%
|
04/21/32
|
467,266
|
|
2,956,346
|
Cloud Software Group, Inc. (aka Citrix Software, Inc. or Tibco),
Term Loan B-1, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.80
%
|
03/29/29
|
2,952,665
|
|
605,470
|
ConnectWise LLC, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + CSA
+ 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
8.06
%
|
09/30/28
|
607,553
|
|
622,213
|
Darktrace PLC (Leia Finco US LLC), Second Lien Term Loan, 3
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 5.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
9.46
%
|
10/09/32
|
611,013
|
|
3,252,843
|
Darktrace PLC (Leia Finco US LLC), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.46
%
|
10/09/31
|
3,257,462
|
|
800,000
|
Ellucian Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
10/07/29
|
802,140
|
|
372,911
|
Envestnet, Inc. (BCPE Pequod Buyer, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
11/25/31
|
374,216
|
|
3,407,901
|
Epicor Software Corp., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
05/30/31
|
3,419,965
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 5
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Application Software (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
$1,953,044
|
Genesys Cloud Services Holding II LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
01/31/32
|
$1,949,909
|
|
398,037
|
Inmar, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 5.00%,
0.50% Floor
|
9.33
%
|
10/31/31
|
401,024
|
|
449,503
|
Inmar, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 5.00%,
0.50% Floor
|
9.30%-9.33%
|
10/31/31
|
452,877
|
|
1,503,971
|
Internet Brands, Inc. (Web MD/MH Sub I. LLC), 2023 New Term
Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 4.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
8.58
%
|
05/03/28
|
1,449,452
|
|
2,239,563
|
LogMeIn, Inc. (GoTo Group, Inc.), First Lien First Out TL, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + CSA + 4.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
9.18
%
|
04/30/28
|
1,972,227
|
|
1,996,036
|
LogMeIn, Inc. (GoTo Group, Inc.), First Lien Second Out TL, 1
Mo. CME Term SOFR + CSA + 4.75%, 0.00% Floor (d)
|
9.18
%
|
04/30/28
|
744,781
|
|
3,212,454
|
McAfee Corp. (Condor Merger Sub, Inc.), Term Loan B-1, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
03/01/29
|
3,100,821
|
|
352,053
|
N-Able, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + CSA +
2.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.34
%
|
07/19/28
|
351,613
|
|
1,385,605
|
NCR Digital Banking (Dragon Buyer, Inc.), Term Loan B, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.30
%
|
09/30/31
|
1,391,958
|
|
587,467
|
OSTTRA (Orion US Finco), 1st Lien Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.82
%
|
07/31/32
|
588,477
|
|
430,556
|
Qlik Technologies (Project Alpha Intermediate Holding, Inc.),
Second Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 5.00%,
0.50% Floor
|
9.31
%
|
11/21/32
|
426,117
|
|
1,941,730
|
Qlik Technologies (Project Alpha Intermediate Holding, Inc.), Term
Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.55%-7.56%
|
10/28/30
|
1,949,818
|
|
130,266
|
RealPage, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + CSA +
3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.56
%
|
04/24/28
|
129,414
|
|
719,116
|
SolarWinds Holdings, Inc. (Starlight Parent LLC), Term Loan B, 3
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 4.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
8.26
%
|
04/16/32
|
709,682
|
|
2,258,891
|
Solera Holdings, Inc. (Polaris Newco), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + CSA + 4.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
8.29
%
|
06/04/28
|
2,192,152
|
|
4,695,136
|
Ultimate Software Group (UKG, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
02/10/31
|
4,709,433
|
|
4,035,467
|
Veeam Software Holdings Ltd. (VS Buyer LLC), Term Loan B, 3
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.02
%
|
04/14/31
|
4,043,034
|
|
|
|
40,766,400
|
||
|
|
Asset Management & Custody Banks – 3.9%
|
|
|
|
|
1,404,991
|
Alter Domus (Chrysaor Bidco SARL), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.74
%
|
10/31/31
|
1,414,798
|
|
3,463,315
|
Ascensus Holdings, Inc. (Mercury), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
08/02/28
|
3,458,051
|
|
244,073
|
Assetmark Financial Holdings (GTCR Everest Borrower LLC),
Initial Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00%
Floor
|
7.05
%
|
09/05/31
|
244,073
|
|
1,635,297
|
Edelman Financial Engines Center LLC, Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
04/07/28
|
1,636,229
|
|
1,588,689
|
Edelman Financial Engines Center LLC, Second Lien Term Loan,
1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 5.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
9.58
%
|
10/06/28
|
1,588,696
|
|
2,433,888
|
Jump Financial LLC, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
4.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
8.55
%
|
02/28/32
|
2,446,058
|
|
|
|
10,787,905
|
||
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 6
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Automotive Parts & Equipment – 1.5%
|
|
|
|
|
$2,005,193
|
Clarios Global, L.P. (Power Solutions), 2032 Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
01/31/32
|
$2,002,686
|
|
1,995,000
|
Clarios Global, L.P. (Power Solutions), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
05/06/30
|
1,987,519
|
|
|
|
3,990,205
|
||
|
|
Automotive Retail – 2.5%
|
|
|
|
|
2,396,233
|
Highline Aftermarket Acquisition LLC, Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.83
%
|
02/19/30
|
2,405,219
|
|
182,354
|
Les Schwab Tire Centers (LS Group OpCo Acq. LLC), Refi Term
Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
04/23/31
|
181,386
|
|
1,557,681
|
Les Schwab Tire Centers (LS Group OpCo Acq. LLC), Refi Term
Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
04/23/31
|
1,549,409
|
|
2,709,676
|
Mavis Tire Express Services Topco Corp., Refi Term Loan B, 3
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
05/04/28
|
2,691,616
|
|
|
|
6,827,630
|
||
|
|
Broadline Retail – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
456,141
|
Peer Holding III B.V. (Action Holding), 2031 Term Loan B5B, 3
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.80
%
|
07/01/31
|
457,737
|
|
|
Building Products – 2.2%
|
|
|
|
|
2,401,232
|
Miter Brands Acq. Holdco, Inc. (MIWD), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
03/28/31
|
2,399,167
|
|
467,205
|
TAMKO Building Products, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
09/20/30
|
468,763
|
|
3,298,750
|
TAMKO Building Products, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.03%-7.08%
|
09/20/30
|
3,309,752
|
|
|
|
6,177,682
|
||
|
|
Casinos & Gaming – 0.7%
|
|
|
|
|
670,722
|
Caesars Entertainment, Inc., 2031 Maturity Term Loan B1, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
02/06/31
|
669,673
|
|
487,051
|
Flutter Entertainment PLC (Flutter Treasury DAC), Incremental
Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.32
%
|
05/31/32
|
486,442
|
|
774,387
|
Golden Nugget, Inc. (Fertitta Entertainment LLC), Term Loan B, 1
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.83
%
|
01/27/29
|
770,917
|
|
|
|
1,927,032
|
||
|
|
Commercial Printing – 0.3%
|
|
|
|
|
885,637
|
Multi-Color Corp. (LABL, Inc.), Initial Dollar Term Loan, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + CSA + 5.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
9.43
%
|
10/29/28
|
792,171
|
|
|
Commodity Chemicals – 1.2%
|
|
|
|
|
3,352,612
|
Charter Next Generation, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.09
%
|
12/01/30
|
3,363,089
|
|
|
Construction & Engineering – 0.3%
|
|
|
|
|
157,221
|
Azuria Water Solutions (f/k/a - Aegion Corp), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
05/17/28
|
156,877
|
|
542,656
|
Construction Partners, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR
+ 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
11/01/31
|
543,844
|
|
|
|
700,721
|
||
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 7
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Construction Materials – 1.4%
|
|
|
|
|
$343,244
|
Knife River Corp., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.29
%
|
03/07/32
|
$345,606
|
|
596,004
|
Quikrete Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B1 2031, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
04/14/31
|
594,106
|
|
1,596,004
|
Quikrete Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B2 2029, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
03/18/29
|
1,596,754
|
|
1,181,500
|
Quikrete Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B3 2032, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
02/10/32
|
1,177,955
|
|
|
|
3,714,421
|
||
|
|
Consumer Electronics – 0.0%
|
|
|
|
|
114,225
|
Minimax Viking GmbH (MX Holdings/Igloo Holdings), Term Loan
B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
03/17/32
|
114,511
|
|
|
Consumer Finance – 0.7%
|
|
|
|
|
1,792,749
|
Creative Planning Group (CPI Holdco), Initial Term Loan, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.33
%
|
05/19/31
|
1,791,628
|
|
|
Data Processing & Outsourced Services – 1.1%
|
|
|
|
|
2,020,891
|
Consilio (Skopima Consilio Parent LLC), Refi Term Loan B, 1
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
8.08
%
|
05/17/28
|
2,015,476
|
|
1,047,702
|
Paysafe Holdings (US) Corp., Facility B1 Loan, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + CSA + 2.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.34
%
|
06/28/28
|
1,046,832
|
|
|
|
3,062,308
|
||
|
|
Diversified Metals & Mining – 1.0%
|
|
|
|
|
2,711,991
|
SCIH Salt Holdings, Inc. (aka Morton Salt), Term Loan B, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.28
%
|
01/31/29
|
2,708,818
|
|
|
Diversified Support Services – 1.1%
|
|
|
|
|
2,197,812
|
First Advantage Corp., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
10/31/31
|
2,199,647
|
|
854,397
|
Vestis Corp., Term Loan B-1, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.25%,
0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
02/22/31
|
812,391
|
|
|
|
3,012,038
|
||
|
|
Electronic Equipment & Instruments – 1.5%
|
|
|
|
|
3,382,483
|
Chamberlain Group, Inc. (Chariot), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + CSA + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.68
%
|
11/03/28
|
3,373,841
|
|
763,589
|
Verifone Systems, Inc., Extended Term Loan, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + CSA + 5.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
10.21
%
|
08/21/28
|
699,318
|
|
|
|
4,073,159
|
||
|
|
Environmental & Facilities Services – 0.4%
|
|
|
|
|
882,311
|
Allied Universal Holdco LLC, Initial Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + CSA + 3.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
8.18
%
|
05/14/28
|
884,587
|
|
295,993
|
Anticimex Global AB, Facility B6, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.82
%
|
11/16/28
|
297,103
|
|
|
|
1,181,690
|
||
|
|
Health Care Facilities – 4.9%
|
|
|
|
|
2,514,815
|
Ardent Health Services, Inc. (AHP Health Partners, Inc.), 2024
Refi Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.50%
Floor
|
7.08
%
|
08/24/28
|
2,527,390
|
|
1,585,818
|
Ceva Sante (Financiere Mendel), USD Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.05
%
|
11/13/30
|
1,593,747
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 8
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Health Care Facilities (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
$610,227
|
Concentra Health Services, Inc., Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.33
%
|
07/26/31
|
$613,278
|
|
565,765
|
Hanger, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.50%,
0.00% Floor
|
7.83
%
|
10/23/31
|
565,058
|
|
3,157,864
|
IVC Evidensia (VetStrategy Canada/IVC Acquisition Midco Ltd.),
Term Loan B-12, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.75%, 0.50%
Floor
|
8.05
%
|
12/06/28
|
3,177,111
|
|
1,000,898
|
Select Medical Corp., Term Loan B-2, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.33
%
|
11/30/31
|
1,004,651
|
|
3,991,023
|
Southern Veterinary Partners LLC, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.53
%
|
12/04/31
|
3,999,065
|
|
|
|
13,480,300
|
||
|
|
Health Care Services – 4.5%
|
|
|
|
|
1,943,875
|
Ensemble RCM LLC (Ensemble Health), 2024 Refi Loan, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.28
%
|
08/01/29
|
1,949,648
|
|
3,192,667
|
ExamWorks Group, Inc. (Electron Bidco), Refi Term Loan, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
11/01/28
|
3,201,192
|
|
2,846,436
|
Opella Healthcare Group (Opal U.S. LLC), Facility B2 (USD), 3
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.44
%
|
04/23/32
|
2,853,552
|
|
954,207
|
Pacific Dental Services LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
03/17/31
|
954,355
|
|
1,485,271
|
R1 RCM, Inc. (Raven Acq. Holdings LLC), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
11/19/31
|
1,483,882
|
|
384,239
|
Radnet Management, Inc., Refi Term Loan, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
04/18/31
|
384,900
|
|
1,543,613
|
Surgery Centers Holdings, Inc., 2024 Refi Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
12/19/30
|
1,548,360
|
|
|
|
12,375,889
|
||
|
|
Health Care Supplies – 1.2%
|
|
|
|
|
2,751,777
|
Medline Borrower, L.P. (Mozart), Combined Term Loan, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
10/23/28
|
2,752,203
|
|
581,687
|
Performance Health, Inc., Term Loan B, 6 Mo. CME Term SOFR
+ 3.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.95
%
|
03/19/32
|
570,053
|
|
|
|
3,322,256
|
||
|
|
Health Care Technology – 6.3%
|
|
|
|
|
5,264,723
|
athenahealth Group, Inc., Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
02/15/29
|
5,251,561
|
|
482,271
|
Cotiviti, Inc. (Verscend), Fixed Rate Term Loan, Fixed Rate at
7.63%
|
7.63
%
|
05/01/31
|
484,381
|
|
3,335,121
|
Cotiviti, Inc. (Verscend), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.07
%
|
05/01/31
|
3,324,715
|
|
4,564,629
|
Mediware (Wellsky/Project Ruby Ultimate Parent Corp.), Term
Loan B-4, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + CSA + 3.00%, 0.00%
Floor
|
7.44
%
|
03/10/28
|
4,576,839
|
|
253,454
|
PointClickCare Technologies, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.55
%
|
10/31/31
|
254,327
|
|
3,488,060
|
Waystar Technologies, Inc., Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
10/22/29
|
3,498,960
|
|
|
|
17,390,783
|
||
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 9
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Home Furnishings – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
$463,684
|
Restoration Hardware (RH), Term Loan B-2, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + CSA + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.68
%
|
10/20/28
|
$446,709
|
|
|
Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
451,419
|
Alterra Mountain Company, Term Loan B-6, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
08/17/28
|
452,548
|
|
|
Human Resource & Employment Services – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
704,283
|
HireRight (Genuine Financial Holdings LLC), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
09/27/30
|
689,317
|
|
|
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders – 0.3%
|
|
|
|
|
643,541
|
Cornerstone Generation LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.57
%
|
05/31/32
|
647,364
|
|
251,516
|
Talen Energy Supply, Inc., Incremental Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.81
%
|
12/15/31
|
252,243
|
|
|
|
899,607
|
||
|
|
Industrial Machinery & Supplies & Components – 3.5%
|
|
|
|
|
2,394,289
|
Filtration Group Corp., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
10/21/28
|
2,404,596
|
|
957,638
|
Madison IAQ LLC, 2025 Refi Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.76
%
|
06/21/28
|
958,237
|
|
244,509
|
nVent Thermal Management (BCP VI Summit), Term Loan B, 1
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.83
%
|
01/31/32
|
245,701
|
|
3,000,483
|
Pro Mach Group, Inc., Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR
+ 2.75%, 1.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
08/31/28
|
3,006,274
|
|
1,067
|
Service Logic Acq, Inc. (MSHC), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
10/29/27
|
1,068
|
|
424,534
|
Service Logic Acq, Inc. (MSHC), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.28
%
|
10/29/27
|
425,065
|
|
1,786,038
|
SPX Flow, Inc., Dec. 2024 Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
04/05/29
|
1,793,852
|
|
712,918
|
TK Elevator Newco GMBH (Vertical U.S. Newco, Inc.), Term
Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.24
%
|
04/30/30
|
715,427
|
|
|
|
9,550,220
|
||
|
|
Insurance Brokers – 20.7%
|
|
|
|
|
6,838,367
|
Acrisure LLC, Term Loan B-1 2027, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
02/16/27
|
6,843,872
|
|
714,468
|
Acrisure LLC, Term Loan B-6 2030, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
11/06/30
|
711,939
|
|
2,890,000
|
Alera Group, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR
+ 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
05/30/32
|
2,895,231
|
|
1,060,000
|
Alera Group, Inc., Second Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 5.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
9.83
%
|
05/30/33
|
1,070,934
|
|
1,888,144
|
Alliant Holdings I LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.07
%
|
09/19/31
|
1,882,196
|
|
1,716,995
|
Amwins Group, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
01/30/32
|
1,717,089
|
|
142,997
|
Ardonagh Midco 3 Ltd., Refi Term Loan B (USD), 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.05
%
|
02/15/31
|
142,282
|
|
2,412,980
|
Ardonagh Midco 3 Ltd., Refi Term Loan B (USD), 6 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.03%-7.04%
|
02/15/31
|
2,400,915
|
|
5,133,687
|
AssuredPartners, Inc., 2024 Term Loan B5, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.83
%
|
02/14/31
|
5,147,856
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 10
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Insurance Brokers (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
$3,845,783
|
Baldwin Insurance Group Holdings LLC, Refi Term Loan, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
05/24/31
|
$3,858,609
|
|
2,060,025
|
BroadStreet Partners, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR
+ 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
06/16/31
|
2,064,536
|
|
1,189,978
|
CFC Group Ltd., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.75%,
0.00% Floor
|
8.07
%
|
06/20/32
|
1,184,028
|
|
974,434
|
Goosehead Insurance Holdings LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.83
%
|
01/08/32
|
976,870
|
|
4,094,363
|
Hub International Ltd., 2025 Refi Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.50%, 0.75% Floor
|
6.77
%
|
06/20/30
|
4,098,867
|
|
123,811
|
Hyperion Insurance Group Ltd. (aka - Howden Group), 2031
Maturity Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.50%
Floor
|
7.33
%
|
02/21/31
|
123,753
|
|
5,136,187
|
Hyperion Insurance Group Ltd. (aka - Howden Group), Term Loan
B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.83
%
|
04/18/30
|
5,162,690
|
|
2,744,048
|
IMA Financial Group, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR
+ 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
11/01/28
|
2,744,912
|
|
1,605,796
|
OneDigital Borrower LLC, Second Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 5.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
9.58
%
|
07/02/32
|
1,590,742
|
|
1,803,207
|
OneDigital Borrower LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR
+ 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
07/02/31
|
1,802,377
|
|
4,235,262
|
Ryan Specialty Group LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
09/13/31
|
4,235,262
|
|
3,456,082
|
Truist Insurance Holdings LLC (McGriff/Panther Escrow), Second
Lien Term Loan, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 4.75%, 0.00%
Floor
|
9.05
%
|
05/06/32
|
3,466,883
|
|
724,854
|
Truist Insurance Holdings LLC (McGriff/Panther Escrow), Term
Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.05
%
|
05/06/31
|
724,549
|
|
2,125,480
|
USI, Inc., 2029 Term Loan, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.25%,
0.00% Floor
|
6.55
%
|
11/21/29
|
2,121,166
|
|
|
|
56,967,558
|
||
|
|
Integrated Telecommunication Services – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
529,365
|
Radiate Holdco LLC (Astound), Amendment No. 6 Term Loan, 1
Mo. CME Term SOFR + CSA + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.69
%
|
09/25/26
|
467,265
|
|
|
Interactive Media & Services – 1.4%
|
|
|
|
|
1,101,750
|
Twitter, Inc. (X Corp.), Fixed Rate Term Loan, Fixed Rate at
9.50%
|
9.50
%
|
10/29/29
|
1,098,048
|
|
2,722,826
|
Twitter, Inc. (X Corp.), Term Loan B-1, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
CSA + 6.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
10.95
%
|
10/26/29
|
2,699,941
|
|
|
|
3,797,989
|
||
|
|
Internet Services & Infrastructure – 1.8%
|
|
|
|
|
4,912,302
|
Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc., 2024 Term Loan B,
1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
07/31/31
|
4,925,589
|
|
|
IT Consulting & Other Services – 3.4%
|
|
|
|
|
3,664,106
|
Gainwell Acquisition Corp. (f/k/a Milano), Term Loan B, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + CSA + 4.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
8.40
%
|
10/01/27
|
3,519,374
|
|
5,674,435
|
Informatica Corp., 2024 Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
10/30/28
|
5,700,140
|
|
|
|
9,219,514
|
||
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 11
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Leisure Facilities – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
$60,879
|
Bowlero (Kingpin Intermediate Holdings LLC), Term Loan B, 1
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.83
%
|
02/08/28
|
$60,118
|
|
361,681
|
Herschend Entertainment Company LLC, Term Loan B, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.57
%
|
05/31/32
|
363,113
|
|
256,026
|
Life Time Fitness, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.78
%
|
11/05/31
|
256,160
|
|
|
|
679,391
|
||
|
|
Life Sciences Tools & Services – 1.7%
|
|
|
|
|
2,207,970
|
Parexel International Corp. (Phoenix Newco), 2025 Refi Term
Loan, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
11/15/28
|
2,211,360
|
|
2,442,230
|
Syneos Health, Inc. (Star Parent), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 4.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
8.30
%
|
09/30/30
|
2,404,986
|
|
117,937
|
WCG Intermediate Corp. (WIRB- Copernicus Group), Term Loan
B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
02/28/32
|
116,683
|
|
|
|
4,733,029
|
||
|
|
Managed Health Care – 0.1%
|
|
|
|
|
228,665
|
MedRisk (Bella Holding Company LLC), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
05/10/28
|
229,137
|
|
|
Metal, Glass & Plastic Containers – 1.8%
|
|
|
|
|
1,137,669
|
Magnera Corp. (Treasure Escrow/Glatfelter), Term Loan B, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 4.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
8.58
%
|
11/04/31
|
1,104,489
|
|
1,537,811
|
ProAmpac PG Borrower LLC, 2024 Refi Term Loan B, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 4.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
8.26%-8.32%
|
09/15/28
|
1,538,964
|
|
1,182,434
|
Tekni-Plex (Trident TPI Holdings, Inc.), Term Loan B7, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
8.05
%
|
09/18/28
|
1,146,819
|
|
1,287,624
|
TricorBraun, Inc., Initial Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
CSA + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.69
%
|
03/03/28
|
1,283,195
|
|
|
|
5,073,467
|
||
|
|
Movies & Entertainment – 0.4%
|
|
|
|
|
996,983
|
TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (UFC), Term Loan B-4, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.57
%
|
11/21/31
|
1,000,582
|
|
|
Office Services & Supplies – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
578,515
|
Shift4 Payments LLC (Harbortouch), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.07
%
|
06/30/32
|
582,732
|
|
|
Other Diversified Financial Services – 1.1%
|
|
|
|
|
3,084,235
|
Gen II Fund Services (PEX Holdings LLC), Term Loan B, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.97
%
|
11/19/31
|
3,082,308
|
|
|
Other Specialty Retail – 1.9%
|
|
|
|
|
1,578,496
|
Bass Pro Group LLC (Great Outdoors Group LLC), Term Loan
B-3, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
01/23/32
|
1,568,828
|
|
2,189,725
|
Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc., Initial Term Loan B, 3
Mo. CME Term SOFR + CSA + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.81
%
|
03/04/28
|
2,034,681
|
|
1,496,114
|
Petsmart, Inc., Initial Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
CSA + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
8.18
%
|
02/12/28
|
1,493,309
|
|
|
|
5,096,818
|
||
|
|
Packaged Foods & Meats – 2.8%
|
|
|
|
|
614,459
|
Froneri International Ltd., USD Term Loan B4, 6 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.24
%
|
09/30/31
|
613,691
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 12
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Packaged Foods & Meats (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
$340,280
|
Newly Weds Foods LLC (Red SPV LLC), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.58
%
|
03/15/32
|
$340,706
|
|
1,341,317
|
Nomad Foods Ltd., Term Loan B-5, 6 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.54
%
|
11/08/29
|
1,343,832
|
|
522,243
|
Sauer Brands, Inc. (Savor Acquisition, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
02/19/32
|
523,467
|
|
1,842,959
|
Shearer’s Foods LLC (Fiesta Purchaser, Inc.), Refi Term Loan B, 1
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
02/12/31
|
1,845,613
|
|
3,050,042
|
Utz Quality Foods LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
01/31/32
|
3,055,776
|
|
|
|
7,723,085
|
||
|
|
Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials – 1.8%
|
|
|
|
|
3,990,232
|
Graham Packaging Company, L.P., 2024 Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
08/04/27
|
3,996,277
|
|
1,083,722
|
Novolex (Clydesdale Acq. Holdings, Inc.), Term Loan B, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.55
%
|
03/31/32
|
1,076,694
|
|
|
|
5,072,971
|
||
|
|
Passenger Airlines – 0.1%
|
|
|
|
|
347,109
|
American Airlines, Inc. (AAdvantage Loyalty IP Ltd.), 2032 Term
Loan, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
05/31/32
|
348,988
|
|
|
Passenger Ground Transportation – 0.3%
|
|
|
|
|
758,197
|
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + CSA + 1.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.19
%
|
08/06/27
|
748,484
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals – 0.4%
|
|
|
|
|
1,113,559
|
Dechra Finance US LLC, USD Facility B1, 6 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.51
%
|
01/27/32
|
1,107,991
|
|
|
Research & Consulting Services – 9.1%
|
|
|
|
|
967,628
|
Acuren Holdings, Inc. (Acuren Delaware), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
07/30/31
|
969,742
|
|
3,267,018
|
AlixPartners, LLP, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + CSA
+ 2.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.94
%
|
02/04/28
|
3,275,202
|
|
697,864
|
AmSpec Parent LLC, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
4.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
8.55
%
|
12/20/31
|
702,661
|
|
6,094,866
|
Clarivate Analytics PLC (Camelot), 2024 Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
01/31/31
|
6,020,570
|
|
6,827,598
|
Dun & Bradstreet Corp., Term Loan B-2, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR
+ 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.57
%
|
01/18/29
|
6,831,865
|
|
424,925
|
Eisner Advisory Group LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 4.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
8.33
%
|
02/28/31
|
426,918
|
|
3,961,975
|
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.08
%
|
05/30/31
|
3,954,586
|
|
799,036
|
J.D. Power (Project Boost Purchaser LLC), Refi Term Loan B, 3
Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.30
%
|
07/16/31
|
798,877
|
|
1,247,175
|
Ryan LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 3.50%,
0.50% Floor
|
7.83
%
|
11/14/30
|
1,249,707
|
|
803,903
|
Veritext Corp. (VT TopCo, Inc.), Refi Term Loan, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.30
%
|
08/12/30
|
807,018
|
|
|
|
25,037,146
|
||
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 13
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Restaurants – 4.4%
|
|
|
|
|
$6,837,438
|
IRB Holding Corp. (Arby’s/Inspire Brands), Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.75% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
12/15/27
|
$6,838,771
|
|
5,148,151
|
Whatabrands LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
08/03/28
|
5,141,613
|
|
|
|
11,980,384
|
||
|
|
Security & Alarm Services – 0.7%
|
|
|
|
|
1,892,281
|
Garda World Security Corp., Refi Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
02/01/29
|
1,889,519
|
|
|
Soft Drinks & Non-alcoholic Beverages – 0.9%
|
|
|
|
|
1,012,913
|
Celsius Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.55
%
|
03/31/32
|
1,019,086
|
|
1,563,520
|
Primo Brands Corp., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
2.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
6.55
%
|
03/31/28
|
1,565,772
|
|
|
|
2,584,858
|
||
|
|
Specialized Consumer Services – 2.3%
|
|
|
|
|
2,632,670
|
Belron Finance US LLC, 2031 USD Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.05
%
|
10/16/31
|
2,646,820
|
|
700,674
|
Caliber Collision (Wand NewCo 3, Inc.), 2025 Refi Term Loan B,
1 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
01/30/31
|
695,181
|
|
2,855,163
|
Mister Car Wash Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.83
%
|
03/27/31
|
2,858,475
|
|
|
|
6,200,476
|
||
|
|
Specialized Finance – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
556,954
|
Berkeley Research Group Holdings LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.55
%
|
05/03/32
|
557,948
|
|
|
Systems Software – 3.3%
|
|
|
|
|
2,652,541
|
Idera, Inc. (Flash Charm), 2024 Refi Term Loan, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.50%, 0.75% Floor
|
7.78
%
|
03/02/28
|
2,526,559
|
|
320,701
|
Idera, Inc. (Flash Charm), Second Lien Term Loan, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 6.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
11.18
%
|
03/02/29
|
280,079
|
|
1,460,182
|
Kaseya, Inc., First Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
03/20/32
|
1,461,752
|
|
59,472
|
Kaseya, Inc., Second Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
5.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
9.33
%
|
03/20/33
|
59,501
|
|
4,234,305
|
Proofpoint, Inc., 2024 Refi Term Loan, 1 Mo. CME Term SOFR +
3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.33
%
|
08/31/28
|
4,238,137
|
|
174,987
|
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B8, 1 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 2.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.33
%
|
05/09/31
|
175,821
|
|
405,808
|
SUSE (Marcel Bidco LLC), Term Loan B, Daily CME Term SOFR
+ 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.77%-7.91%
|
11/13/30
|
407,837
|
|
|
|
9,149,686
|
||
|
|
Trading Companies & Distributors – 2.0%
|
|
|
|
|
814,304
|
Aggreko Holdings, Inc. (Albion), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
7.32
%
|
08/02/29
|
817,105
|
|
1,104,773
|
QXO/Beacon Roofing (Queen Mergerco), Term Loan B, 3 Mo.
CME Term SOFR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.28
%
|
04/30/32
|
1,109,667
|
|
2,303,965
|
Veritiv Corp. (Verde Purchaser LLC), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME
Term SOFR + 5.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
8.30
%
|
11/29/30
|
2,308,366
|
|
339,311
|
VistaJet Malta Finance PLC, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
8.05
%
|
03/31/31
|
339,666
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 14
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Rate (a)
|
Stated
Maturity (b)
|
Value
|
|
SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued)
|
||||
|
|
Trading Companies & Distributors (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
$954,641
|
White Cap Supply Holdings LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. CME Term
SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
7.58
%
|
10/29/29
|
$946,961
|
|
|
|
5,521,765
|
||
|
|
Transaction & Payment Processing Services – 0.7%
|
|
|
|
|
1,849,916
|
Worldpay (GTCR W Merger Sub LLC/Boost Newco LLC), Term
Loan B, 3 Mo. CME Term SOFR + 2.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
6.30
%
|
01/31/31
|
1,855,410
|
|
|
Total Senior Floating-Rate Loan Interests
|
339,623,342
|
||
|
|
(Cost $340,937,038)
|
|
|
|
|
Principal
Value
|
Description
|
Stated
Coupon
|
Stated
Maturity
|
Value
|
|
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (c) – 1.5%
|
||||
|
|
Application Software – 0.0%
|
|
|
|
|
238,000
|
GoTo Group, Inc. (d) (e)
|
5.50
%
|
05/01/28
|
78,587
|
|
|
Broadcasting – 0.4%
|
|
|
|
|
1,597,550
|
iHeartCommunications, Inc. (e)
|
7.75
%
|
08/15/30
|
1,236,307
|
|
|
Cable & Satellite – 0.5%
|
|
|
|
|
1,462,000
|
DISH Network Corp. (e)
|
11.75
%
|
11/15/27
|
1,509,341
|
|
|
Insurance Brokers – 0.5%
|
|
|
|
|
1,247,000
|
Panther Escrow Issuer LLC (e)
|
7.13
%
|
06/01/31
|
1,290,806
|
|
|
Life Sciences Tools & Services – 0.1%
|
|
|
|
|
137,000
|
Star Parent, Inc. (e)
|
9.00
%
|
10/01/30
|
141,770
|
|
|
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes
|
4,256,811
|
||
|
|
(Cost $4,397,350)
|
|
|
|
|
FOREIGN CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (c) – 0.2%
|
||||
|
|
Metal, Glass & Plastic Containers – 0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
410,000
|
Trivium Packaging Finance BV (e)
|
8.25
%
|
07/15/30
|
425,729
|
|
|
(Cost $414,250)
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
Description
|
Value
|
|
COMMON STOCKS – 0.0%
|
||
|
|
Pharmaceuticals – 0.0%
|
|
|
150,392
|
Akorn, Inc. (f) (g) (h)
|
6,016
|
|
|
(Cost $1,724,086)
|
|
|
RIGHTS – 0.0%
|
||
|
|
Life Sciences Tools & Services – 0.0%
|
|
|
1
|
New Millennium Holdco, Inc., Corporate Claim Trust, no expiration date (h) (i) (j)
(k)
|
0
|
|
1
|
New Millennium Holdco, Inc., Lender Claim Trust, no expiration date (h) (i) (j) (k)
|
0
|
|
|
Total Rights
|
0
|
|
|
(Cost $0)
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 15
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
|
Shares
|
Description
|
Value
|
|
MONEY MARKET FUNDS (c) – 0.7%
|
||
|
2,000,000
|
Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Treasury Portfolio - Institutional
Class - 4.16% (l)
|
$2,000,000
|
|
|
(Cost $2,000,000)
|
|
|
|
Total Investments – 126.0%
|
346,311,898
|
|
|
(Cost $349,472,724)
|
|
|
|
Outstanding Loans – (19.6)%
|
(54,000,000
)
|
|
|
Net Other Assets and Liabilities – (6.4)%
|
(17,439,731
)
|
|
|
Net Assets – 100.0%
|
$274,872,167
|
|
(a)
|
Senior Floating- Rate Loan Interests (“Senior Loans”) in which the Fund invests pay interest at rates which are periodically
predetermined by reference to a base lending rate plus a premium. These base lending
rates are generally (i) the SOFR obtained
from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Financial Research or another major financial institution, (ii) the lending
rate offered by one or more major European banks, (iii) the prime rate offered by
one or more United States banks or (iv) the
certificate of deposit rate. Certain Senior Loans are subject to a SOFR floor that
establishes a minimum SOFR rate. When a range
of rates is disclosed, the Fund holds more than one contract within the same tranche
with identical SOFR period, spread and floor,
but different SOFR reset dates.
|
|
(b)
|
Senior Loans generally are subject to mandatory and/or optional prepayment. As a result,
the actual remaining maturity of Senior
Loans may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown.
|
|
(c)
|
All or a portion of these securities serve as collateral for the outstanding loan
unless otherwise indicated. At May 31, 2025, the
segregated value of these securities amounts to $345,482,514.
|
|
(d)
|
This security does not serve as collateral for the outstanding loan.
|
|
(e)
|
This security, sold within the terms of a private placement memorandum, is exempt
from registration upon resale under
Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and may be resold in transactions exempt from
registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. Pursuant to procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, this
security has been determined to be liquid by First Trust Advisors L.P. (the “Advisor”). Although market instability can result in
periods of increased overall market illiquidity, liquidity for each security is determined
based on security specific factors and
assumptions, which require subjective judgment. At May 31, 2025, securities noted
as such amounted to $4,682,540 or 1.7% of
net assets.
|
|
(f)
|
This issuer has filed for protection in bankruptcy court.
|
|
(g)
|
Security received in a transaction exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. The
security may be resold pursuant to an
exemption from registration under the 1933 Act, typically to qualified institutional
buyers (see Note 2D - Restricted Securities in
the Notes to Financial Statements).
|
|
(h)
|
Non-income producing security.
|
|
(i)
|
This security is fair valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of
Trustees, and in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940
and rules thereunder, as amended. At
May 31, 2025, securities noted as such are valued at $0 or 0.0% of net assets.
|
|
(j)
|
Pursuant to procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, this security has been determined to be illiquid by the Advisor.
|
|
(k)
|
This security’s value was determined using significant unobservable inputs (see Note 2A – Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to
Financial Statements).
|
|
(l)
|
Rate shown reflects yield as of May 31, 2025.
|
|
Abbreviations throughout the Portfolio of Investments:
|
|
|
CME
|
– Chicago Mercantile Exchange
|
|
CSA
|
– Credit Spread Adjustment
|
|
SOFR
|
– Secured Overnight Financing Rate
|
|
USD
|
– United States Dollar
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 16
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
May 31, 2025
Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of May 31, 2025 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):
|
|
Total
Value at
5/31/2025
|
Level 1
Quoted
Prices
|
Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
|
Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
|
|
Senior Floating-Rate Loan Interests*
|
$339,623,342
|
$—
|
$339,623,342
|
$—
|
|
Corporate Bonds and Notes*
|
4,256,811
|
—
|
4,256,811
|
—
|
|
Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes*
|
425,729
|
—
|
425,729
|
—
|
|
Common Stocks*
|
6,016
|
—
|
6,016
|
—
|
|
Rights*
|
—
**
|
—
|
—
|
—
**
|
|
Money Market Funds
|
2,000,000
|
2,000,000
|
—
|
—
|
|
Total Investments
|
$346,311,898
|
$2,000,000
|
$344,311,898
|
$—
**
|
|
*
|
See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout.
|
|
**
|
Investments are valued at $0.
|
Level 3 investments are fair valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee and are footnoted in the Portfolio of Investments. All Level 3 values are based on unobservable inputs.
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 17
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
May 31, 2025
|
ASSETS:
|
|
|
Investments, at value
|
$ 346,311,898
|
|
Cash
|
1,047,283
|
|
Receivables:
|
|
|
Investment securities sold
|
7,562,335
|
|
Interest
|
1,382,123
|
|
Prepaid expenses
|
21,164
|
|
Unrealized appreciation on unfunded loan commitments
|
556
|
|
Total Assets
|
356,325,359
|
|
LIABILITIES:
|
|
|
Outstanding loans
|
54,000,000
|
|
Payables:
|
|
|
Investment securities purchased
|
26,848,453
|
|
Interest and fees on loans
|
256,050
|
|
Investment advisory fees
|
205,984
|
|
Audit and tax fees
|
75,923
|
|
Administrative fees
|
24,717
|
|
Shareholder reporting fees
|
23,219
|
|
Trustees’ fees and expenses
|
8,544
|
|
Legal fees
|
2,804
|
|
Transfer agent fees
|
2,171
|
|
Custodian fees
|
2,064
|
|
Financial reporting fees
|
771
|
|
Other liabilities
|
2,492
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
81,453,192
|
|
NET ASSETS
|
$274,872,167
|
|
NET ASSETS consist of:
|
|
|
Paid-in capital
|
$ 336,670,416
|
|
Par value
|
259,834
|
|
Accumulated distributable earnings (loss)
|
(62,058,083
)
|
|
NET ASSETS
|
$274,872,167
|
|
NET ASSET VALUE, per Common Share (par value $0.01 per Common Share)
|
$10.58
|
|
|
|
|
Investments, at cost
|
$349,472,724
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 18
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended May 31, 2025
|
INVESTMENT INCOME:
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
$ 25,872,888
|
|
|
Other
|
218,337
|
|
|
Total investment income
|
26,091,225
|
|
|
EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
Interest and fees on loans
|
2,449,874
|
|
|
Investment advisory fees
|
2,372,261
|
|
|
Administrative fees
|
205,825
|
|
|
Shareholder reporting fees
|
89,490
|
|
|
Audit and tax fees
|
75,468
|
|
|
Trustees’ fees and expenses
|
51,533
|
|
|
Listing expense
|
26,109
|
|
|
Legal fees
|
24,226
|
|
|
Transfer agent fees
|
22,003
|
|
|
Financial reporting fees
|
9,250
|
|
|
Custodian fees
|
5,874
|
|
|
Other
|
29,965
|
|
|
Total expenses
|
5,361,878
|
|
|
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)
|
20,729,347
|
|
|
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):
|
|
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments
|
(1,491,513
)
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
|
|
|
|
Investments
|
(652,983
)
|
|
|
Unfunded loan commitments
|
(2,626
)
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
|
(655,609
)
|
|
|
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)
|
(2,147,122
)
|
|
|
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS
|
$ 18,582,225
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 19
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
|
|
Year
Ended
5/31/2025
|
Year
Ended
5/31/2024
|
|
OPERATIONS:
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)
|
$ 20,729,347
|
$ 23,571,320
|
|
Net realized gain (loss)
|
(1,491,513
)
|
(1,083,282
)
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
|
(655,609
)
|
9,633,891
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
|
18,582,225
|
32,121,929
|
|
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:
|
|
|
|
Investment operations
|
(20,759,404
)
|
(23,583,385
)
|
|
Return of capital
|
(9,485,260
)
|
(6,661,278
)
|
|
Total distributions to shareholders
|
(30,244,664
)
|
(30,244,663
)
|
|
Total increase (decrease) in net assets
|
(11,662,439
)
|
1,877,266
|
|
NET ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period
|
286,534,606
|
284,657,340
|
|
End of period
|
$ 274,872,167
|
$ 286,534,606
|
|
COMMON SHARES:
|
|
|
|
Common Shares at end of period
|
25,983,388
|
25,983,388
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 20
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended May 31, 2025
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
|
$18,582,225
|
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
to net cash
provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
Purchases of investments
|
(510,359,177
)
|
|
|
Sales, maturities and paydown of investments
|
496,659,424
|
|
|
Net amortization/accretion of premiums/discounts on investments
|
(698,527
)
|
|
|
Net realized gain/loss on investments
|
1,491,513
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and unfunded loan
commitments
|
655,609
|
|
|
Changes in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
Increase in interest receivable
|
(238,185
)
|
|
|
Decrease in prepaid expenses
|
212
|
|
|
Increase in interest and fees payable on loans
|
32,023
|
|
|
Increase in investment advisory fees payable
|
2,208
|
|
|
Decrease in audit and tax fees payable
|
(7,267
)
|
|
|
Decrease in legal fees payable
|
(6,045
)
|
|
|
Decrease in shareholder reporting fees payable
|
(931
)
|
|
|
Increase in administrative fees payable
|
1,345
|
|
|
Decrease in custodian fees payable
|
(1,508
)
|
|
|
Increase in transfer agent fees payable
|
457
|
|
|
Decrease in trustees’ fees and expenses payable
|
(73
)
|
|
|
Increase in other liabilities payable
|
341
|
|
|
Cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$6,113,644
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
Distributions to Common Shareholders from investment operations
|
(20,759,404
)
|
|
|
Distributions to Common Shareholders from return of capital
|
(9,485,260
)
|
|
|
Repayment of borrowings
|
(80,000,000
)
|
|
|
Proceeds from borrowings
|
103,000,000
|
|
|
Cash used in financing activities
|
|
(7,244,664
)
|
|
Decrease in cash
|
|
(1,131,020
)
|
|
Cash at beginning of period
|
|
2,178,303
|
|
Cash at end of period
|
|
$1,047,283
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
Cash paid during the period for interest and fees
|
|
$2,417,851
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 21
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Financial Highlights
For a Common Share outstanding throughout each period
|
|
Year Ended May 31,
|
||||
|
2025
|
2024
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
$ 11.03
|
$ 10.96
|
$ 11.30
|
$ 12.70
|
$ 12.46
|
|
Income from investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)
|
0.80
(a)
|
0.91
(a)
|
0.78
|
0.56
|
0.55
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
|
(0.09
)
|
0.32
|
(0.23
)
|
(0.99
)
|
0.90
|
|
Total from investment operations
|
0.71
|
1.23
|
0.55
|
(0.43
)
|
1.45
|
|
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
(0.80
)
|
(0.90
)
|
(0.79
)
|
(0.57
)
|
(0.56
)
|
|
Return of capital
|
(0.36
)
|
(0.26
)
|
(0.10
)
|
(0.40
)
|
(0.69
)
|
|
Total distributions paid to Common Shareholders
|
(1.16
)
|
(1.16
)
|
(0.89
)
|
(0.97
)
|
(1.25
)
|
|
Common Share repurchases
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
0.04
|
|
Net asset value, end of period
|
$
|
$11.03
|
$10.96
|
$11.30
|
$12.70
|
|
Market value, end of period
|
$
|
$10.47
|
$9.56
|
$10.90
|
$12.60
|
|
Total return based on net asset value (b)
|
7.38
%
|
12.96
%
|
6.01
%
|
(3.64
)%
|
13.51
%
|
|
Total return based on market value (b)
|
5.96
%
|
22.93
%
|
(4.14
)%
|
(6.31
)%
|
26.18
%
|
|
Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)
|
$ 274,872
|
$ 286,535
|
$ 284,657
|
$ 293,716
|
$ 329,619
|
|
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets
|
1.92
%
|
2.45
%
|
2.08
%
|
1.67
%
|
1.70
%
|
|
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets excluding
interest expense
|
1.04
%
|
1.14
%
|
1.13
%
|
1.24
%
|
1.30
%
|
|
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets
|
7.41
%
|
8.20
%
|
6.97
%
|
4.64
%
|
4.37
%
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate
|
130
%
|
98
%
|
67
%
|
45
%
|
78
%
|
|
Indebtedness:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total loans outstanding (in 000’s)
|
$ 54,000
|
$ 31,000
|
$ 48,000
|
$ 116,000
|
$ 136,000
|
|
Asset coverage per $1,000 of indebtedness (c)
|
$ 6,090
|
$ 10,243
|
$ 6,930
|
$ 3,532
|
$ 3,424
|
|
(a)
|
Based on average shares outstanding.
|
|
(b)
|
Total return is based on the combination of reinvested dividend, capital gain and
return of capital distributions, if any, at prices
obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, and changes in net asset value per share
for net asset value returns and changes in
Common Share Price for market value returns. Total returns do not reflect sales load
and are not annualized for periods of less
than one year. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
|
|
(c)
|
Calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities (not including the loans outstanding) from the Fund’s total assets, and dividing
by the outstanding loans balance in 000’s.
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 22
Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025
1. Organization
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on March 25, 2004, and is registered with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund trades under the ticker symbol “FCT” on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).
The primary investment objective of the Fund is to seek a high level of current income.
As a secondary objective, the Fund attempts to preserve capital. The Fund pursues its investment objectives by investing primarily
in a portfolio of senior secured floating-rate corporate loans (“Senior Loans”)(1). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets
in a diversified portfolio of Senior Loans. “Managed Assets” means the total asset value of the Fund minus the sum of its liabilities, other than the principal amount of borrowings. There can be no assurance that the Fund will
achieve its investment objectives. Investing in Senior Loans involves credit risk and, during periods of generally declining credit
quality, it may be particularly difficult for the Fund to achieve its secondary investment objective. The Fund may not be appropriate for
all investors.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund is considered an investment company and follows accounting and reporting
guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the
preparation of the financial statements. The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
A. Portfolio Valuation
The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Common Shares of the Fund is determined daily as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. If the
NYSE closes early on a valuation day, the NAV is determined as of that time. Domestic debt securities and foreign securities are priced
using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. The Fund’s NAV per Common Share is calculated by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued
expenses, dividends declared but unpaid and any borrowings of the Fund), by the total number of Common Shares outstanding.
The Fund’s investments are valued daily at market value or, in the absence of market value with respect to any portfolio securities, at fair value. Market value prices represent readily available market quotations such
as last sale or official closing prices from a national or foreign exchange (i.e., a regulated market) and are primarily obtained from third-party
pricing services. Fair value prices represent any prices not considered market value prices and are either obtained from a third-party
pricing service or are determined by the Pricing Committee of the Fund’s investment advisor, First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”), in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and in accordance with provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder. Investments valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, if any, are footnoted as such in the footnotes to the Portfolio of Investments. The Fund’s investments are valued as follows:
Senior Loans are not listed on any securities exchange or board of trade. Senior Loans
are typically bought and sold by institutional investors in individually negotiated private transactions that function
in many respects like an over-the-counter secondary market, although typically no formal market-makers exist. This market, while
having grown substantially since its inception, generally has fewer trades and less liquidity than the secondary market
for other types of securities. Some Senior Loans have few or no trades, or trade infrequently, and information regarding a specific
Senior Loan may not be widely available or may be incomplete. Accordingly, determinations of the market value of Senior Loans
may be based on infrequent and dated information. Because there is less reliable, objective data available, elements of
judgment may play a greater role in valuation of Senior Loans than for other types of securities. Typically, Senior Loans are fair
valued using information provided by a third-party pricing service. The third-party pricing service primarily uses over-the-counter
pricing from dealer runs and broker quotes from indicative sheets to value the Senior Loans. If the third-party pricing
service cannot or does not provide a valuation for a particular Senior Loan or such valuation is deemed unreliable, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee may value such Senior Loan at a fair value according to procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder. Fair valuation of a Senior Loan is based on the
consideration of all available information, including, but not limited to the following:
1)
the most recent price provided by a pricing service;
(1)
The terms “security” and “securities” used throughout the Notes to Financial Statements include Senior Loans.
Page 23
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025
2)
available market prices for the fixed-income security;
3)
the fundamental business data relating to the borrower;
4)
an evaluation of the forces which influence the market in which these securities are
purchased and sold;
5)
the type, size and cost of the security;
6)
the financial statements of the borrower, or the financial condition of the country
of issue;
7)
the credit quality and cash flow of the borrower, or country of issue, based on the Pricing Committee’s, sub-advisor’s or portfolio manager’s analysis, as applicable, or external analysis;
8)
the information as to any transactions in or offers for the security;
9)
the price and extent of public trading in similar securities (or equity securities)
of the borrower, or comparable companies;
10)
the coupon payments;
11)
the quality, value and salability of collateral, if any, securing the security;
12)
the business prospects of the borrower, including any ability to obtain money or resources
from a parent or affiliate and an assessment of the borrower’s management;
13)
the prospects for the borrower’s industry, and multiples (of earnings and/or cash flows) being paid for similar businesses in that industry;
14)
the borrower’s competitive position within the industry;
15)
the borrower’s ability to access additional liquidity through public and/or private markets; and
16)
other relevant factors.
Common stocks and other equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange (excluding Nasdaq, Inc. (“Nasdaq”) and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”)) are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded or, for Nasdaq and AIM securities, the official closing
price. Securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price or official closing price, as
applicable, at the close of the securities exchange representing the primary exchange for such securities.
Shares of open-end funds are valued based on NAV per share.
Equity securities traded in an over-the-counter market are valued at the close price
or the last trade price.
Corporate bonds, corporate notes and other debt securities are fair valued on the
basis of valuations provided by a third-party pricing service approved by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, which may use the following valuation inputs when available:
1)
benchmark yields;
2)
reported trades;
3)
broker/dealer quotes;
4)
issuer spreads;
5)
benchmark securities;
6)
bids and offers; and
7)
reference data including market research publications.
Certain securities may not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee at fair value. These securities generally include, but are not limited
to, restricted securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”)) for which a third-party pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally
suspended; a security whose market or fair value price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with
respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of the Fund’s NAV or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose
price, as provided by the third-party pricing service, does not reflect the security’s fair value. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security would appear to be the amount which the owner might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current
sale. When fair value prices are used, generally they will differ from market quotations or official closing prices on the applicable
exchanges. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities, including, but not limited to, the
following:
1)
the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded or, for Nasdaq
and AIM securities, the official closing price;
2)
the type of security;
3)
the size of the holding;
Page 24
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025
4)
the initial cost of the security;
5)
transactions in comparable securities;
6)
price quotes from dealers and/or third-party pricing services;
7)
relationships among various securities;
8)
information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, or the appropriate stock
exchange;
9)
an analysis of the issuer’s financial statements;
10)
the existence of merger proposals or tender offers that might affect the value of
the security; and
11)
other relevant factors.
The Fund is subject to fair value accounting standards that define fair value, establish
the framework for measuring fair value and provide a three-level hierarchy for fair valuation based upon the inputs to the valuation
as of the measurement date. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
•
Level 1 – Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments. An active market is a market in which transactions for the investment occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide
pricing information on an ongoing basis.
•
Level 2 – Level 2 inputs are observable inputs, either directly or indirectly, and include the following:
o
Quoted prices for similar investments in active markets.
o
Quoted prices for identical or similar investments in markets that are non-active.
A non-active market is a market where there are few transactions for the investment, the prices are not current, or price
quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly.
o
Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the investment (for example,
interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities,
credit risks, and default rates).
o
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data
by correlation or other means.
•
Level 3 – Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs may reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the investment.
The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication
of the risk associated with investing in those investments. A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of May 31, 2025, is included with the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
B. Security Transactions and Investment Income
Security transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses
from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Market premiums
and discounts are amortized to the earliest call date of each respective borrowing.
Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward purchase
commitment basis may have extended settlement periods. The value of the security so purchased is subject to market fluctuations
during this period. Due to the nature of the Senior Loan market, the actual settlement date may not be certain at the time of the purchase
or sale for some of the Senior Loans. Interest income on such Senior Loans is not accrued until settlement date. The Fund maintains
liquid assets with a current value at least equal to the amount of its when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward purchase commitments
until payment is made. At May 31, 2025, the Fund had no when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward purchase commitments (other than
the unfunded commitments discussed below).
C. Unfunded Loan Commitments
The Fund may enter into certain credit agreements, all or a portion of which may be
unfunded. The Fund is obligated to fund these loan commitments at the borrower’s discretion. Unfunded loan commitments are marked-to-market daily, and any unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
and Statement of Operations. Unfunded loan commitments are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. In connection
with these commitments, the Fund earns a commitment fee typically set as a percentage of the commitment amount. The commitment fees are included in “Other” under Investment Income on the Statement of Operations. As of May 31, 2025, the Fund had
the following unfunded loan commitments:
Page 25
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025
|
Borrower
|
Principal Value
|
Commitment
Amount
|
Value
|
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
|
|
Alter Domus (Chrysaor Bidco SARL), Term Loan
|
$ 103,922
|
$ 104,445
|
$ 104,648
|
$ 203
|
|
AmSpec Parent LLC, Term Loan
|
107,364
|
108,124
|
108,102
|
(22
)
|
|
Azuria Water Solutions (f/k/a - Aegion Corp), Term Loan
|
23,466
|
23,231
|
23,418
|
187
|
|
Hanger, Inc., Term Loan
|
72,845
|
72,506
|
72,754
|
248
|
|
Novolex (Clydesdale Acq. Holdings, Inc.), Term Loan
|
18,946
|
18,946
|
18,823
|
(123
)
|
|
R1 RCM, Inc. (Raven Acq. Holdings LLC), Term Loan
|
106,091
|
105,984
|
105,992
|
8
|
|
Sauer Brands, Inc. (Savor Acquisition, Inc.), Term Loan
|
49,268
|
49,442
|
49,384
|
(58
)
|
|
Signia Aerospace LLC, Term Loan
|
47,859
|
47,746
|
47,859
|
113
|
|
|
|
$530,424
|
$530,980
|
$556
|
D. Restricted Securities
The Fund holds restricted securities, which are securities that may not be offered
for public sale without first being registered under the 1933 Act. Prior to registration, restricted securities may only be resold in transactions
exempt from registration under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of May 31, 2025,
the Fund held restricted securities as shown in the following table that the Advisor has deemed illiquid pursuant to procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Although market instability can result in periods of increased overall market illiquidity, liquidity
for each security is determined based on security-specific factors and assumptions, which require subjective judgment. The
Fund does not have the right to demand that such securities be registered. These securities are valued according to the valuation procedures
as stated in the Portfolio Valuation note (Note 2A) and are not expressed as a discount to the carrying value of a comparable
unrestricted security.
|
Security
|
Acquisition
Date
|
Shares
|
Current Price
|
Carrying
Cost
|
Value
|
% of
Net
Assets
|
|
Akorn, Inc.
|
10/15/2020
|
150,392
|
$0.04
|
$1,724,086
|
$6,016
|
0.00
%*
|
|
* Amount is less than 0.01%.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
The Fund will distribute to holders of its Common Shares monthly dividends of all
or a portion of its net income after the payment of interest and dividends in connection with leverage, if any. Distributions of any net
long-term capital gains earned by the Fund are distributed at least annually. Distributions will automatically be reinvested into additional Common Shares pursuant to the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan unless cash distributions are elected by the shareholder.
Distributions from net investment income and realized capital gains are determined
in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements
are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These permanent differences are
primarily due to the varying treatment of income and gain/loss on portfolio securities held by the Fund and have no impact on net assets
or NAV per share. Temporary differences, which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense and gain/loss in different
periods for financial statement and tax purposes, will reverse at some point in the future. Permanent differences incurred during the
fiscal year ended May 31, 2025, resulting in book and tax accounting differences, have been reclassified at year end to reflect an increase
in accumulated net investment income (loss) of $14,832, a decrease in accumulated net realized gain (loss) of $14,980, and an increase
to paid-in capital of $148. Accumulated distributable earnings (loss) consists of accumulated net investment income (loss),
accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments, and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments. Net assets were not affected
by this reclassification.
The tax character of distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal years ended
May 31, 2025 and 2024, was as follows:
|
Distributions paid from:
|
2025
|
2024
|
|
Ordinary income
|
$20,759,404
|
$23,583,385
|
|
Capital gains
|
—
|
—
|
|
Return of capital
|
9,485,260
|
6,661,278
|
Page 26
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025
As of May 31, 2025, the components of distributable earnings and net assets on a tax
basis were as follows:
|
Undistributed ordinary income
|
$—
|
|
Undistributed capital gains
|
—
|
|
Total undistributed earnings
|
—
|
|
Accumulated capital and other losses
|
(58,880,115
)
|
|
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
|
(3,177,968
)
|
|
Total accumulated earnings (losses)
|
(62,058,083
)
|
|
Other
|
—
|
|
Paid-in capital
|
336,930,250
|
|
Total net assets
|
$274,872,167
|
F. Income Taxes
The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying
with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which includes distributing substantially
all of its net investment income and net realized gains to shareholders. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal
and state income taxes. However, due to the timing and amount of distributions, the Fund may be subject to an excise tax of 4% of the amount by which approximately 98% of the Fund’s taxable income exceeds the distributions from such taxable income for the calendar
year.
The Fund is subject to accounting standards that establish a minimum threshold for
recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The taxable
years ended 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 remain open to federal and state audit. As of May 31, 2025, management has evaluated the
application of these standards to the Fund and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for uncertain tax positions.
The Fund intends to utilize provisions of the federal income tax laws, which allow
it to carry a realized capital loss forward indefinitely following the year of the loss and offset such loss against any future
realized capital gains. The Fund is subject to certain limitations under U.S. tax rules on the use of capital loss carryforwards and net
unrealized built-in losses. These limitations apply when there has been a 50% change in ownership. At May 31, 2025, for federal income
tax purposes, the Fund had $58,880,115 of non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available, to the extent provided by regulations,
to offset future capital gains. To the extent that these loss carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains, it is probable that
the capital gains so offset will not be distributed to the Fund’s shareholders.
Certain losses realized during the current fiscal year may be deferred and treated
as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year for federal income tax purposes. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2025, the
Fund did not incur any late year capital losses.
As of May 31, 2025, the aggregate cost, gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized
depreciation, and net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments (including short positions and derivatives,
if any) for federal income tax purposes were as follows:
|
Tax Cost
|
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
|
Gross
Unrealized
(Depreciation)
|
Net Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
|
|
$349,490,422
|
$923,136
|
$(4,101,660)
|
$(3,178,524)
|
G. Expenses
The Fund will pay all expenses directly related to its operations.
H. Segment Reporting
The Fund has adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic
280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. Adoption of the standard impacted financial statement disclosures only and did not affect the Fund’s financial position or the results of its operations. An operating segment is defined in Topic
280 as a component of a public entity that engages in business activities from which it may recognize revenues and incur expenses, has operating
results that are regularly reviewed by the public entity’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and has discrete financial information available. The CODM is the
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fund. The Fund operates as a single operating segment. The Fund’s income, expenses, assets, changes in net assets resulting from operations
Page 27
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025
and performance are regularly monitored and assessed as a whole by the CODM responsible
for oversight functions of the Fund, using the information presented in the financial statements and financial highlights.
3. Investment Advisory Fee, Affiliated Transactions and Other Fee Arrangements
First Trust, the investment advisor to the Fund, is a limited partnership with one
limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois
corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, Chief Executive Officer of First Trust. First Trust is responsible for the selection and ongoing monitoring of the Fund’s investment portfolio, managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain administrative services necessary for the management of the Fund. For these investment management services, First Trust is entitled to a monthly
fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. First Trust also provides fund reporting services to the Fund for a flat annual fee in the amount of $9,250.
The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”) serves as the Fund’s administrator, fund accountant, and custodian in accordance with certain fee arrangements. As administrator and fund accountant, BNY is responsible for providing
certain administrative and accounting services to the Fund, including maintaining the Fund’s books of account, records of the Fund’s securities transactions, and certain other books and records. As custodian, BNY is responsible for custody of the Fund’s assets. BNY is a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, a financial holding company.
Computershare, Inc. (“Computershare”) serves as the Fund’s transfer agent in accordance with certain fee arrangements. As transfer agent, Computershare is responsible for maintaining shareholder records for the Fund.
Each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of First Trust, any sub-advisor or any of their affiliates (“Independent Trustees”) is paid a fixed annual retainer that is allocated equally among each fund in the First
Trust Fund Complex. Each Independent Trustee is also paid an annual per fund fee that varies based on whether the fund is a closed-end
or other actively managed fund, a target outcome fund or an index fund.
Additionally, the Chairs of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee
and Valuation Committee, the Vice Chair of the Audit Committee, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Vice Lead Independent Trustee
are paid annual fees to serve in such capacities, with such compensation allocated pro rata among each fund in the First
Trust Fund Complex based on net assets. Independent Trustees are reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket expenses in connection
with all meetings. The Committee Chairs, the Audit Committee Vice Chair, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Vice Lead Independent
Trustee rotate periodically in serving in such capacities. The officers and “Interested” Trustee receive no compensation from the Fund for acting in such capacities.
4. Purchases and Sales of Securities
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term
investments, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2025, were $449,626,879 and $424,934,917, respectively.
5. Borrowings
The Fund has a committed facility agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with The Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch that has a maximum commitment amount of $120,000,000. Prior to December 10, 2024, the maximum
commitment amount was $126,000,000. The borrowing rate under the Credit Agreement is equal to Term SOFR
plus 1.05%. In addition, under the Credit Agreement, the Fund pays a commitment fee of 0.35% per annum on the undrawn amount,
unless the average daily principal outstanding amount during the applicable interest period is less than $68,000,000,
in which case the unused commitment fee rate will equal 0.40% per annum. Prior to December 10, 2024, the commitment fee was 0.35% on
the undrawn amount of the facility when the utilization was below 90% of the maximum commitment amount. For the fiscal year ended
May 31, 2025 the average amount outstanding was $36,369,863, with the average weighted average interest rate of 5.79%.
As of May 31, 2025, the Fund had $54,000,000 loans outstanding which approximates fair value, under the Credit Agreement.
The borrowings are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The high and low annual interest rates during the
fiscal year ended May 31, 2025 were 6.45% and 5.35%, respectively. The weighted average interest rate at May 31, 2025 was 5.38%. The interest and fees are included in “Interest and fees on loans” on the Statement of Operations.
6. Indemnification
The Fund has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses
pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
Page 28
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025
7. Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the
date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there was the following subsequent event:
Effective July 1, 2025, the flat annual fee for fund reporting services that First
Trust provides to the Fund increased to $10,000 from $9,250.
Page 29
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of May 31, 2025, the related statements
of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then
ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial
statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of May 31, 2025, and
the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period
then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are
required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial
highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged
to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding
of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement
of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond
to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements
and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures
included confirmation of securities owned as of May 31, 2025, by correspondence with the custodian, agent banks and brokers; when
replies were not received from agent banks and brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide
a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Chicago, Illinois
July 24, 2025
We have served as the auditor of one or more First Trust investment companies since
2001.
Page 30
Additional Information
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
If your Common Shares are registered directly with the Fund or if you hold your Common
Shares with a brokerage firm that participates in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), unless you elect, by written notice to the Fund, to receive cash distributions, all dividends, including any capital gain distributions, on your Common
Shares will be automatically reinvested by Computershare Trust Company N.A. (the “Plan Agent”), in additional Common Shares under the Plan. If you elect to receive cash distributions, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly
to you by the Plan Agent, as the dividend paying agent.
If you decide to participate in the Plan, the number of Common Shares you will receive
will be determined as follows:
(1)
If Common Shares are trading at or above net asset value (“NAV”) at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at a price equal to the greater of (i) NAV per Common Share on that date or (ii) 95%
of the market price on that date.
(2)
If Common Shares are trading below NAV at the time of valuation, the Plan Agent will
receive the dividend or distribution in cash and will purchase Common Shares in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. It is possible that the market price for the Common Shares may increase before the Plan
Agent has completed its purchases. Therefore, the average purchase price per share paid by the Plan Agent may exceed
the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the purchase of fewer shares than if the dividend or distribution had
been paid in Common Shares issued by the Fund. The Plan Agent will use all dividends and distributions received in cash to
purchase Common Shares in the open market within 30 days of the valuation date except where temporary curtailment or
suspension of purchases is necessary to comply with federal securities laws. Interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash
payments.
You may elect to opt-out of or withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving written
notice to the Plan Agent, or by telephone at (866) 340-1104, in accordance with such reasonable requirements as the Plan Agent
and the Fund may agree upon. If you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will receive a certificate for each whole share in your
account under the Plan, and you will receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you wish, the Plan Agent will
sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus brokerage commissions.
The Plan Agent maintains all Common Shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. Common Shares in your
account will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. The Plan Agent will forward to each participant any proxy solicitation
material and will vote any shares so held only in accordance with proxies returned to the Fund. Any proxy you receive will include
all Common Shares you have received under the Plan.
There is no brokerage charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in
Common Shares. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes
open market purchases.
Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not
have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions. Capital gains and income are realized although cash is
not received by you. Consult your financial advisor for more information.
If you hold your Common Shares with a brokerage firm that does not participate in
the Plan, you will not be able to participate in the Plan and any dividend reinvestment may be effected on different terms than those described
above.
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the
Board of Trustees the change is warranted. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves
the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Additional information about the Plan may be obtained
by writing Computershare, Inc., P.O. Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3006.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to
vote proxies and information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio investments during the most recent 12-month period
ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 988-5891 or emailing info@ftportfolios.com; (2) on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com; and (3) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at www.sec.gov.
Portfolio Holdings
The Fund files portfolio holdings information for each month in a fiscal quarter within
60 days after the end of the relevant fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. Portfolio holdings information for the third month of each
fiscal quarter will be publicly available on the
Page 31
Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year is included in the semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders, respectively,
and is filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR. The semi-annual and annual report for the Fund is available to investors within 60 days after the period to which it relates. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT and Forms N-CSR are available on the SEC’s website listed above.
Tax Information
Of the ordinary income (including short-term capital gain) distributions made by the
Fund during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2025, none qualify for the corporate dividends received deduction available to corporate
shareholders or as qualified dividend income.
Distributions paid to foreign shareholders during the Fund’s fiscal year ended May 31, 2025, that were properly designated by the Fund as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends,” may not be subject to federal income tax provided that the income was earned directly by such foreign shareholders.
NYSE Certification Information
In accordance with Section 303A-12 of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) Listed Company Manual, the Fund’s President has certified to the NYSE that, as of September 20, 2024, he was not aware of any violation
by the Fund of NYSE corporate governance listing standards. In addition, the Fund’s reports to the SEC on Form N-CSR contain certifications by the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that relate to the Fund’s public disclosure in such reports and are required by Rule 30a-2 under the 1940 Act.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders
The Fund held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) on September 9, 2024. At the Annual Meeting, Denise M. Keefe and Niel B. Nielson were elected by the Common Shareholders of the First Trust
Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II as Class II Trustees for a three-year term expiring at the Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2027. The number of votes cast in favor of Mrs. Keefe was 20,598,202 and the number of votes withheld was 633,618. The number
of votes cast in favor of Mr. Nielson was 20,229,716 and the number of votes withheld was 1,002,104. James A. Bowen, Richard
E. Erickson, Robert F. Keith, Thomas R. Kadlec, and Bronwyn Wright are the other current and continuing Trustees.
Page 32
Investment Objectives, Policies, Risks and Effects of Leverage
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
Changes Occurring During the Prior Fiscal Year
The following information is a summary of certain changes during the most recent fiscal year ended May 31, 2025. This information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased shares of
the Fund.
Effective April 14, 2025, Mr. Ziets was added as a Portfolio Manager for the Leveraged
Finance Investment Team at First Trust Advisors L.P. He has 27 years of investment experience. Prior to joining First Trust,
Mr. Ziets was at Muzinich & Company from 2017 to 2025. At Muzinich, he initially served as a Senior Credit Analyst and moved into
the role of Portfolio Manager in July 2020 where he managed over $5 billion in leverage finance portfolios across public funds and
SMAs. Prior to Muzinich, Mr. Ziets spent over 10 years as a Senior Analyst on a number of sellside leverage finance research teams,
including publishing roles in Consumer/Retail at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. He began his career at Moody’s, progressing to a Senior Analyst role from 1997 to 2006. Mr. Ziets received a B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Mr. Ziets holds the FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 licenses and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst
designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of New York.
During the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, there were no material changes to the Fund’s investment objectives or policies that have not been approved by shareholders or in the principal risk factors associated with an
investment in the Fund.
Investment Objectives
The Fund’s primary objective is to seek a high level of current income. As a secondary objective, the Fund attempts to preserve capital.
Principal Investment Policies
The Fund pursues its investment objectives through investment in a portfolio of Senior
Loans. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Investment in Senior Loans involves credit
risk and, during periods of generally declining credit quality, it may be particularly difficult for the Fund to achieve its secondary investment
objective.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets
in a diversified portfolio of Senior Loans. The portion of the Fund’s assets invested in Senior Loans will vary from time to time consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, changes in market prices for Senior Loans, changes in interest rates and other economic
and market factors. Senior Loans generally hold one of the most senior positions in the capital structure of a business entity (the “Borrower”), are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the Borrower that is senior
to that held by subordinated debtholders and stockholders of the Borrower. The proceeds of Senior Loans primarily are used to finance
leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, and, to a lesser extent, to finance internal
growth and for other corporate purposes. Senior Loans have rates of interest which are typically redetermined either monthly, quarterly
or semiannually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. The Senior Loans in which the Fund invests are primarily below
investment grade instruments, commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.”
Under normal market conditions, the Fund may also:
•
Invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets through purchasing revolving credit facilities,
investment grade debtor-in-possession financing, unsecured loans, other floating rate debt securities, such as notes, bonds,
and asset-backed securities (such as collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”)), investment grade loans and fixed income debt obligations of any maturity, money market instruments, such as commercial paper, and publicly-traded high yield debt
securities.
•
Invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets in securities of:
o
Firms that, at the time of acquisition, have defaulted on their debt obligations and/or
filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or have entered into a voluntary reorganization in
conjunction with their creditors and stakeholders in order to avoid a bankruptcy filing; or
o
Firms prior to an event of default whose acute operating and/or financial problems
have resulted in the markets valuing their respective securities and debt at sufficiently discounted prices so as to be
yielding, should they not default, a significant premium over comparable duration U.S. Treasury bonds.
These foregoing investments are comprised of Senior Loans and, on limited occasions,
equity and debt securities acquired in connection therewith.
•
Invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign investments,
exclusively in developed countries and territories of those countries, but in no case will the Fund invest in securities
of issuers located in emerging markets.
It is anticipated that at least 80% of the Fund’s Managed Assets are invested in lower grade debt instruments, although from time to time all of the Fund’s Managed Assets may be invested in such lower grade debt instruments. The Fund may consider an expected
Page 33
Investment Objectives, Policies, Risks and Effects of Leverage (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
rating provided by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) as if it were a final rating. The Fund’s investments in debt instruments may have fixed or variable principal payments and all types of
interest rate and reset terms, including, but not limited to, fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind
and auction rate features.
The Fund does not intend to purchase publicly-traded equity securities but may receive
such securities as a result of a restructuring of the debt of the issuer or the reorganization of a Senior Loan or as part of a package
of securities acquired together with the Senior Loans of an issuer.
The Fund may enter into certain derivative transactions to seek to manage the risks of the Fund’s portfolio securities and certain of these derivative transactions may provide investment leverage to the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund does not enter into derivative transactions as a principal part of its investment strategy.
“Managed Assets” means the gross asset value of the Fund (including assets attributable to the Fund’s preferred shares of beneficial interest (“Preferred Shares”), if any, and the principal amount of borrowings) minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued and unpaid dividends on any outstanding Preferred Shares and accrued liabilities (other than
the principal amount of any borrowings incurred or of commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund). For purposes of determining Managed
Assets, the liquidation preference of Preferred Shares is not treated as a liability. Percentage limitations described herein
are as of the time of investment by the Fund and may be exceeded on a going-forward basis as a result of market value fluctuations of the Fund’s portfolio and other events.
The Fund’s investment objectives are considered fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval. The remainder of the Fund’s investment policies, including its investment strategy, are considered non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide investors with at least 60 days’ prior notice of any change in the Fund’s investment strategy. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved.
Fundamental Investment Policies
The Fund, as a fundamental policy, may not:
1. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase any securities, if as a result more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would then be invested in securities of any single issuer or if, as a result, the Fund would
hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single issuer; provided, that Government securities (as defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”)), securities issued by other investment companies and cash items (including receivables) shall not be counted for purposes of this limitation.
2. Purchase any security if, as a result of the purchase, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in the securities of Borrowers and other issuers having their principal business
activities in the same industry; provided, that this limitation shall not apply with respect to obligations issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or by its agencies or instrumentalities.
3. Borrow money, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder and interpretations
thereof or pursuant to a Commission exemptive order.
4. Issue senior securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, other than: (i) preferred
shares which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 200%; (ii) indebtedness which immediately after issuance
will have asset coverage of at least 300%; (iii) the borrowings permitted by investment restriction 3 above, or (iv) pursuant
to a Commission exemptive order.
5. Make loans of money or property to any person, except for obtaining interests in
Senior Loans in accordance with its investment objectives, through loans of portfolio securities or the acquisition of
securities subject to repurchase agreements, or pursuant to a Commission rule or exemptive order.
6. Act as an underwriter of securities, except to the extent the Fund may be deemed
to be an underwriter in certain cases when disposing of its portfolio investments or acting as an agent or one of a group of
co-agents in originating Senior Loans.
7. Purchase or sell real estate, commodities or commodities contracts except pursuant
to the exercise by the Fund of its rights under loan agreements, bankruptcy or reorganization, or pursuant to a Commission rule
or exemptive order, and except to the extent the interests in Senior Loans the Fund may invest in are considered to
be interests in real estate, commodities or commodities contracts and except to the extent that hedging instruments the Fund may
invest in are considered to be commodities or commodities contracts.
For purposes of fundamental investment restriction numbers 1 and 2 above, the Fund
treats the Lender selling a participation and any persons interpositioned between the Lender and the Fund as an issuer. The Fund may
incur borrowings and/or issue series of notes or
Page 34
Investment Objectives, Policies, Risks and Effects of Leverage (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
other senior securities in an amount up to 33-1/3% (or such other percentage to the
extent permitted by the 1940 Act) of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less all liabilities other than borrowings.
Principal Risks
The Fund is a closed-end management investment company designed primarily as a long-term
investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program and, due to the uncertainty
inherent in all investments, there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The following discussion
summarizes the principal risks associated with investing in the Fund, which includes the risk that you could lose some or all of
your investment in the Fund. The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information that is available
for review. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any particular risk factor.
Credit Agency Risk. Credit ratings are determined by credit rating agencies and are only the opinions
of such entities. Ratings assigned by a rating agency are not absolute standards of credit quality and do not
evaluate market risk or the liquidity of securities. Any shortcomings or inefficiencies in credit rating agencies’ processes for determining credit ratings may adversely affect the credit ratings of securities held by the Fund or such credit rating agency’s ability to evaluate creditworthiness and, as a result, may adversely affect those securities’ perceived or actual credit risk.
Credit and Below-Investment Grade Securities Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer or other obligated party of a debt security
in the Fund’s portfolio will fail to pay, or it is perceived that it will fail to pay, dividends or interest and/or repay principal, when due. Below-investment grade instruments, including instruments that are not rated but judged
to be of comparable quality, are commonly referred to as high-yield securities or “junk” bonds and are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay dividends or interest and repay principal and are more susceptible to default or decline in
market value than investment grade securities due to adverse economic and business developments. High-yield securities are often unsecured
and subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. The market values for high-yield securities tend to be very volatile, and
these securities are generally less liquid than investment grade securities. For these reasons, an investment in the Fund is subject to the following
specific risks: (i) increased price sensitivity to changing interest rates and to a deteriorating economic environment; (ii) greater
risk of loss due to default or declining credit quality; (iii) adverse company specific events more likely to render the issuer unable to make
dividend, interest and/or principal payments; (iv) negative perception of the high-yield market which may depress the price and
liquidity of high-yield securities; (v) volatility; and (vi) liquidity.
Current Market Conditions Risk. Current market conditions risk is the risk that a particular investment, or shares
of the Fund in general, may fall in value due to current market conditions. As a means to fight inflation,
which remains at elevated levels, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have raised interest rates; however, the
Federal Reserve has recently lowered interest rates and may continue to do so. U.S. regulators have proposed several changes to market
and issuer regulations which would directly impact the Fund, and any regulatory changes could adversely impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment strategies or make certain investments. Recent and potential future bank failures could result in disruption
to the broader banking industry or markets generally and reduce confidence in financial institutions and the economy as a whole,
which may also heighten market volatility and reduce liquidity. Additionally, challenges in commercial real estate markets, including
rising interest rates, declining valuations and increasing vacancies, could have a broader impact on financial markets. The ongoing
adversarial political climate in the United States, as well as political and diplomatic events both domestic and abroad, have and may
continue to have an adverse impact the U.S. regulatory landscape, markets and investor behavior, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s investments and operations. The change in administration resulting from the 2024 United States national elections
could result in significant impacts to international trade relations, tax and immigration policies, and other aspects of
the national and international political and financial landscape, which could affect, among other things, inflation and the securities markets
generally. Other unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and
consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy. For example, ongoing armed conflicts between
Russia and Ukraine in Europe and among Israel, Iran, Hamas and other militant groups in the Middle East, have caused and
could continue to cause significant market disruptions and volatility within the markets in Russia, Europe, the Middle East and
the United States. The hostilities and sanctions resulting from those hostilities have and could continue to have a significant impact
on certain Fund investments as well as Fund performance and liquidity. The economies of the United States and its trading partners,
as well as the financial markets generally, may be adversely impacted by trade disputes, including the imposition of tariffs and other
matters. For example, the United States has imposed trade barriers and restrictions on China. In addition, the Chinese government
is engaged in a longstanding dispute with Taiwan, continually threatening an invasion. If the political climate between the
United States and China does not improve or continues to deteriorate, if China were to attempt invading Taiwan, or if other geopolitical
conflicts develop or worsen, economies, markets and individual securities may be adversely affected, and the value of the Fund’s assets may go down. A public health crisis and the ensuing policies enacted by governments and central banks may cause significant
volatility and uncertainty in global financial
Page 35
Investment Objectives, Policies, Risks and Effects of Leverage (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
markets, negatively impacting global growth prospects. As the COVID-19 global pandemic
illustrated, such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others.
Advancements in technology may also adversely impact markets and the overall performance of the Fund. For instance, the economy
may be significantly impacted by the advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence. Additionally, cyber
security breaches of both government and non-government entities could have negative impacts on infrastructure and the ability
of such entities, including the Fund, to operate properly. These events, and any other future events, may adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio investments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets.
Cyber Security Risk. The Fund is susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security.
A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund
to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause the Fund to incur
regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss.
Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems through “hacking” or malicious software coding, but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network
services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the Fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent or custodian, or issuers in which the Fund invests, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks
associated with direct cyber security breaches. The Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated
with cyber security. However, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly
control the cyber security systems of issuers or third party service providers. Substantial costs may be incurred by the Fund in order
to resolve or prevent cyber incidents in the future.
Financial Companies Risk. The Fund may invest in financial companies. Financial companies are subject to extensive
governmental regulation and intervention, which may adversely affect the scope of their activities,
the prices they can charge, the amount and types of capital they must maintain and, potentially, their size. Governmental regulation
may change frequently and may have significant adverse consequences for financial companies, including effects not intended by such
regulation. The impact of more stringent capital requirements, or recent or future regulation in various countries, on any individual
financial company or on financial companies as a whole cannot be predicted. Certain risks may impact the value of investments in financial
companies more severely than those of investments in other issuers, including the risks associated with companies that operate
with substantial financial leverage. Financial companies may also be adversely affected by volatility in interest rates, loan losses
and other customer defaults, decreases in the availability of money or asset valuations, credit rating downgrades and adverse conditions
in other related markets. Insurance companies in particular may be subject to severe price competition and/or rate regulation,
which may have an adverse impact on their profitability. Financial companies are also a target for cyber attacks and may experience
technology malfunctions and disruptions as a result.
Health Care Companies Risk. Through the Fund’s investments in senior loans, the Fund may be significantly exposed to companies in the health care sector. Health care companies are involved in medical services
or health care, including biotechnology research and production, drugs and pharmaceuticals and health care facilities and services. These
companies are subject to extensive competition, generic drug sales or the loss of patent protection, product liability litigation
and increased government regulation. Research and development costs of bringing new drugs to market are substantial, and there is no
guarantee that the product will ever come to market. Health care facility operators may be affected by the demand for services, efforts
by government or insurers to limit rates, restriction of government financial assistance and competition from other providers.
Illiquid Securities Risk. The Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets 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. Although the resale or secondary market for senior loans is growing,
it is currently limited. There is no organized exchange or board of trade on which senior loans are traded. Instead, the secondary
market for senior loans is an unregulated inter-dealer or inter-bank resale market. In addition, senior loans in which the Fund
invests may require the consent of the borrower and/or agent prior to the settlement of the sale or assignment. These consent requirements can delay or impede the Fund’s ability to settle the sale of senior loans. Depending on market conditions, the Fund may have
difficulty disposing its senior loans, which may adversely impact its ability to obtain cash to repay debt, to pay dividends, to pay
expenses or to take advantage of new investment opportunities.
Illiquid securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when
the Fund believes it is desirable to do so. The market price of illiquid securities generally is more volatile than that of more liquid securities,
which may adversely affect the price that the Fund pays for or recovers upon the sale of such securities. Illiquid securities are
also more difficult to value, especially in challenging markets.
Information Technology Companies Risk. Information technology companies produce and provide hardware, software and information technology systems and services. Information technology companies are
generally subject to the following risks: rapidly changing technologies and existing product obsolescence; short product life cycles;
fierce competition; aggressive pricing and reduced
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Investment Objectives, Policies, Risks and Effects of Leverage (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
profit margins; the loss of patent, copyright and trademark protections; cyclical
market patterns; evolving industry standards; and frequent new product introductions and new market entrants. Information technology
companies may be smaller and less experienced companies, with limited product lines, markets or financial resources and fewer experienced
management or marketing personnel. Information technology company stocks, particularly those involved with the internet,
have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated to their operating performance. In addition,
information technology companies are particularly vulnerable to federal, state and local government regulation, and competition and
consolidation, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Information
technology companies also face competition for services of qualified personnel and heavily rely on patents and intellectual property
rights and the ability to enforce such rights to maintain a competitive advantage.
Interest Rate Risk. The yield on the Fund’s common shares may rise or fall as market interest rates rise and fall, as senior loans pay interest at rates which float in response to changes in market rates. Changes in prevailing
interest rates can be expected to cause some fluctuation in the Fund’s net asset value. Similarly, a sudden and significant increase in market interest rates may cause a decline in the Fund’s net asset value.
Leverage Risk. The use of leverage by the Fund can magnify the effect of any losses. If the income
and gains from the securities and investments purchased with leverage proceeds do not cover the cost of leverage, the
return to the common shares will be less than if leverage had not been used. Leverage involves risks and special considerations for
common shareholders including: (i) the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the common shares than
a comparable portfolio without leverage; (ii) the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings will reduce the return to the
common shareholders or will result in fluctuations in the dividends paid on the common shares; (iii) in a declining market, the use of leverage
is likely to cause a greater decline in the net asset value of the common shares than if the Fund were not leveraged, which may result
in a greater decline in the market price of the common shares; and (iv) when the Fund uses certain types of leverage, the investment
advisory fee payable to the Advisor will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage.
Management Risk and Reliance on Key Personnel. The implementation of the Fund’s investment strategy depends upon the continued contributions of certain key employees of the Advisor, some of whom have
unique talents and experience and would be difficult to replace. The loss or interruption of the services of a key member of
the portfolio management team could have a negative impact on the Fund.
Market Discount from Net Asset Value. Shares of closed-end investment companies such as the Fund frequently trade at a
discount from their net asset value. The Fund cannot predict whether its common shares will
trade at, below or above net asset value.
Market Risk. Investments held by the Fund, as well as shares of the Fund itself, are subject to
market fluctuations caused by real or perceived adverse economic conditions, political events, regulatory factors or market
developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of the Fund could decline in value or
underperform other investments as a result of the risk of loss associated with these market fluctuations. In addition, local, regional or
global events such as war, acts of terrorism, market manipulation, government defaults, government shutdowns, regulatory actions, political
changes, diplomatic developments, the imposition of sanctions and other similar measures, spread of infectious diseases
or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant negative impact on the Fund and its investments. Any
of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of the Fund’s shares, the liquidity of an investment, and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, the Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value, the bid/ask spread on the Fund’s shares may widen and the returns on investment may fluctuate.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of non-U.S. issuers. Investing
in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve certain risks not typically associated with investing
in securities of U.S. issuers. These risks include: (i) there may be less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers or markets
due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards or regulatory practices; (ii) non-U.S. markets may be smaller, less liquid
and more volatile than the U.S. market; (iii) potential adverse effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates or controls on the value of the Fund’s investments; (iv) the economies of non-U.S. countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience
a downturn or recession; (v) the impact of economic, political, social or diplomatic events; (vi) certain non-U.S. countries
may impose restrictions on the ability of non-U.S. issuers to make payments of principal and interest to investors located in the United
States due to blockage of non-U.S. currency exchanges or otherwise; and (vii) withholding and other non-U.S. taxes may decrease the Fund’s return. Foreign companies are generally not subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
as are U.S. companies. In addition, there may be difficulty in obtaining or enforcing a court judgment abroad. These risks may be
more pronounced to the extent that the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in companies located in one region.
Operational Risk. The Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including,
but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate
Page 37
Investment Objectives, Policies, Risks and Effects of Leverage (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
processes and technology or systems failures. The Fund relies on third parties for
a range of services, including custody. Any delay or failure relating to engaging or maintaining such service providers may affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objectives. Although the Fund and the Advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through controls
and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.
Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk. First Trust and the portfolio managers have interests which may conflict with the
interests of the Fund. In particular, First Trust currently manages and may in the future manage and/or
advise other investment funds or accounts with the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund.
In addition, while the Fund is using leverage, the amount of the fees paid to First Trust for investment advisory and management services
are higher than if the Fund did not use leverage because the fees paid are calculated based on managed assets. Therefore,
First Trust has a financial incentive to leverage the Fund.
Prepayment Risk. Loans are subject to prepayment risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the borrower
on a loan will repay principal (in part or in whole) prior to the scheduled maturity date. The degree to which borrowers
prepay loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions,
interest rates, the financial condition of the borrower and competitive conditions among loan investors, among others. As such, prepayments
cannot be predicted with accuracy. Upon a prepayment, either in part or in full, the actual outstanding debt on which the Fund
derives interest income will be reduced. The Fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds received on terms as favorable as the prepaid
loan.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called instruments at market interest rates that are below the Fund’s portfolio’s current earnings rate. A decline in income could affect the common shares’ market price, level of distributions or the overall return of the Fund.
Risks Associated with Investments in Distressed Issuers. The Fund may invest in instruments of distressed issuers, including firms that have defaulted on their debt obligations and/or filed for bankruptcy protection.
Investing in such investments involves a far greater level of risk than investing in issuers whose debt obligations are being met and whose debt trades at or close to its “par” value. These investments are highly speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to continue to make interest payments and/or to pay its principal obligations in full; can be very difficult to properly value, making them
susceptible to a high degree of price volatility and rendering them less liquid than performing debt obligations; and, for issuers involved
in a bankruptcy proceeding, can be subject to a high degree of uncertainty with regard to both the timing and the amount of the ultimate
settlement.
Second Lien Loan Risk. A second lien loan may have a claim on the same collateral pool as the first lien
or it may be secured by a separate set of assets. Second lien loans are typically secured by a second priority
security interest or lien on specified collateral securing the borrower’s obligation under the interest. Because second lien loans are second to first lien loans, they present a greater degree of investment risk. Specifically, these loans are subject to the additional
risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect
to those loans with a higher priority. In addition, loans that have a lower than first lien priority on collateral of the borrower generally
have greater price volatility than those loans with a higher priority and may be less liquid.
Senior Loan Risk. The Fund invests in senior loans and therefore is subject to the risks associated
therewith. Investments in senior loans are subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt securities,
including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk (which may be heightened because of the limited public information
available regarding senior loans and because loan borrowers may be leveraged and tend to be more adversely affected by changes
in market or economic conditions). Further, no active trading market may exist for certain senior loans, which may impair the ability
of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a senior loan and which may make it difficult to value senior loans. Senior loans may not be considered “securities” and the Fund may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal
securities laws.
In the event a borrower fails to pay scheduled interest or principal payments on a
senior loan held by the Fund, the Fund will experience a reduction in its income and a decline in the value of the senior loan,
which will likely reduce dividends and lead to a decline in the net asset value of the Fund’s common shares. If the Fund acquires a senior loan from another lender, for example, by acquiring a participation, the Fund may also be subject to credit risks with respect
to that lender. Although senior loans may be secured by specific collateral, the value of the collateral may not equal the Fund’s investment when the senior loan is acquired or may decline below the principal amount of the senior loan subsequent to the Fund’s investment. Also, to the extent that collateral consists of stock of the borrower or its subsidiaries or affiliates, the Fund bears the risk that the
stock may decline in value, be relatively illiquid, and/or may lose all or substantially all of its value, causing the senior loan to be under
collateralized. Therefore, the liquidation of the collateral underlying a senior loan may not satisfy the issuer’s obligation to the Fund in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal, and the collateral may not be readily liquidated. The senior loan market
has seen a significant increase in loans with weaker lender protections including, but not limited to, limited financial maintenance
covenants or, in some cases, no financial maintenance covenants (i.e., “covenant-lite loans”) that would typically be included in a traditional loan agreement and general
Page 38
Investment Objectives, Policies, Risks and Effects of Leverage (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
weakening of other restrictive covenants applicable to the borrower such as limitations
on incurrence of additional debt, restrictions on payments of junior debt or restrictions on dividends and distributions. Weaker lender
protections such as the absence of financial maintenance covenants in a loan agreement and the inclusion of “borrower-favorable” terms may impact recovery values and/or trading levels of senior loans in the future. The absence of financial maintenance
covenants in a loan agreement generally means that the lender may not be able to declare a default if financial performance deteriorates. This may hinder the Fund’s ability to reprice credit risk associated with a particular borrower and reduce the Fund’s ability to restructure a problematic loan and mitigate potential loss. As a result, the Fund’s exposure to losses on investments in senior loans may be increased, especially during a downturn in the credit cycle or changes in market or economic conditions.
Valuation Risk. The valuation of senior loans may carry more risk than that of common stock. Because
the secondary market for senior loans is limited, it may be difficult to value the loans held by the Fund.
Market quotations may not be readily available for some senior loans and valuation may require more research than for liquid securities. In
addition, elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation of senior loans than for securities with a secondary market,
because there is less reliable objective data available. These difficulties may lead to inaccurate asset pricing.
|
NOT FDIC INSURED
|
NOT BANK GUARANTEED
|
MAY LOSE VALUE
|
Effects of Leverage
The aggregate principal amount of borrowings under the credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with The Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch represented approximately 16.42% of Managed Assets as of May
31, 2025. Asset coverage with respect to the borrowings was 609.02% as of May 31, 2025 and the Fund had $66,000,000 of unutilized
funds available for borrowing under the Credit Agreement as of that date. As of May 31, 2025, the maximum commitment amount
of the Credit Agreement was $120,000,000. As of May 31, 2025, the approximate average annual interest and fee rate was 5.80%.
Assuming that the Fund’s leverage costs remain as described above (at an assumed average annual cost of 5.80 %), the annual return that the Fund’s portfolio must experience (net of expenses) in order to cover its leverage costs would be 0.95 %.
The following table is furnished in response to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). It is designed to illustrate the effect of leverage on Common Share total return, assuming investment
portfolio total returns (comprised of income and changes in the value of securities held in the Fund’s portfolio) of (10%), (5%), 0%, 5% and 10%. These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the investment
portfolio returns experienced or expected to be experienced by the Fund.
The table further assumes leverage representing 16.42% of the Fund’s Managed Assets, net of expenses, and an annual leverage interest and fee rate of 5.80%.
|
Assumed Portfolio Total Return (Net of Expenses)
|
-10
%
|
-5
%
|
0
%
|
5
%
|
10
%
|
|
Common Share Total Return
|
-
%
|
-
%
|
-
%
|
%
|
%
|
Common share total return is composed of two elements: the common share dividends
paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the net investment income of the Fund after paying dividends
or interest on its leverage instruments) and gains or losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by SEC rules,
the table above assumes that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital losses than to enjoy capital appreciation. For example, to assume
a total return of 0% the Fund must assume that the interest it receives on its debt security investments is entirely offset by losses
in the value of those investments.
Page 39
Board of Trustees and Officers
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
The following tables identify the Trustees and Officers of the Fund. Unless otherwise
indicated, the address of all persons is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, IL 60187.
|
Name, Year of Birth and
Position with the Fund
|
Term of Office
and Year First
Elected or
Appointed(1)
|
Principal Occupations
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of
Portfolios in
the First Trust
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
|
Other Trusteeships or
Directorships Held by
Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
|
||||
|
Richard E. Erickson, Trustee
(1951)
|
• Three Year
Term
• Since Fund
Inception
|
Retired; Physician, Edward-Elmhurst
Medical Group (2021 to September
2023); Physician and Officer,
Wheaton Orthopedics (1990 to 2021)
|
306
|
None
|
|
Thomas R. Kadlec, Trustee
(1957)
|
• Three Year
Term
• Since Fund
Inception
|
Retired; President, ADM Investor
Services, Inc. (Futures Commission
Merchant) (2010 to July 2022)
|
306
|
Director, National Futures
Association; Formerly,
Director of ADM Investor
Services, Inc., ADM Investor
Services International,
ADMIS Hong Kong Ltd.,
ADMIS Singapore, Ltd., and
Futures Industry Association
|
|
Denise M. Keefe, Trustee
(1964)
|
• Three Year
Term
• Since 2021
|
Senior Vice President, Advocate
Health, Continuing Health Division
(Integrated Healthcare System) (2023
to present); Executive Vice President,
Advocate Aurora Health (Integrated
Healthcare System) (2018 to 2023)
|
306
|
Director and Board Chair of
Advocate Home Health
Services, Advocate Home
Care Products and Advocate
Hospice; Director and Board
Chair of Aurora At Home
(since 2018); Director of
Advocate Physician Partners
Accountable Care
Organization; Director of
RML Long Term Acute Care
Hospitals; Director of Senior
Helpers (2021 to 2024); and
Director of MobileHelp
(2022 to 2024)
|
|
Robert F. Keith, Trustee
(1956)
|
• Three Year
Term
• Since June
2006
|
President, Hibs Enterprises (Financial
and Management Consulting)
|
306
|
Formerly, Director of Trust
Company of Illinois
|
|
Niel B. Nielson, Trustee
(1954)
|
• Three Year
Term
• Since Fund
Inception
|
Senior Advisor (2018 to Present),
Managing Director and Chief
Operating Officer (2015 to 2018),
Pelita Harapan Educational
Foundation (Educational Products and
Services)
|
306
|
None
|
(1)
Currently, James A. Bowen, Robert F. Keith and Bronwyn Wright, as Class III Trustees, are serving as trustees until the Fund’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. Richard E. Erickson and Thomas R. Kadlec, as Class I Trustees, are serving as trustees until the Fund’s 2026 annual meeting of shareholders. Niel B. Nielson and Denise M. Keefe, as Class II Trustees, are serving as trustees until the Fund’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders.
Page 40
Board of Trustees and Officers (Continued)
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
|
Name, Year of Birth and
Position with the Fund
|
Term of Office
and Year First
Elected or
Appointed(1)
|
Principal Occupations
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of
Portfolios in
the First Trust
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
|
Other Trusteeships or
Directorships Held by
Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
|
||||
|
Bronwyn Wright, Trustee
(1971)
|
• Three Year
Term
• Since 2023
|
Independent Director to a number of
Irish collective investment funds
(2009 to Present); Various roles at
international affiliates of Citibank
(1994 to 2009), including Managing
Director, Citibank Europe plc and
Head of Securities and Fund Services,
Citi Ireland (2007 to 2009)
|
278
|
None
|
|
INTERESTED TRUSTEE
|
||||
|
James A. Bowen(2), Trustee and
Chairman of the Board
(1955)
|
• Three Year
Term
• Since Fund
Inception
|
Chief Executive Officer, First Trust
Advisors L.P. and First Trust
Portfolios L.P.; Chairman of the
Board of Directors, BondWave LLC
(Software Development Company)
and Stonebridge Advisors LLC
(Investment Advisor)
|
306
|
None
|
|
Name and Year of Birth
|
Position and Offices
with Fund
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Service
|
Principal Occupations
During Past 5 Years
|
|
OFFICERS(3)
|
|||
|
James M. Dykas
(1966)
|
President and Chief
Executive Officer
|
• Indefinite Term
• Since 2016
|
Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, First Trust
Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chief Financial
Officer, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and
Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)
|
|
Derek D. Maltbie
(1972)
|
Treasurer, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief
Accounting Officer
|
• Indefinite Term
• Since 2023
|
Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust
Portfolios L.P., July 2021 to Present. Previously, Vice President,
First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P., 2014 to
2021.
|
|
W. Scott Jardine
(1960)
|
Secretary and Chief Legal
Officer
|
• Indefinite Term
• Since Fund
Inception
|
General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust
Portfolios L.P.; Secretary and General Counsel, BondWave LLC;
Secretary, Stonebridge Advisors LLC
|
|
Daniel J. Lindquist
(1970)
|
Vice President
|
• Indefinite Term
• Since September
2005
|
Managing Director, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust
Portfolios L.P.
|
|
Kristi A. Maher
(1966)
|
Chief Compliance Officer
and Assistant Secretary
|
• Indefinite Term
• Chief
Compliance
Officer Since
January 2011
• Assistant
Secretary Since
Fund Inception
|
International General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First
Trust Portfolios L.P.
|
(2)
Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” of the Fund due to his position as CEO of First Trust Advisors L.P., investment advisor of the Fund.
(3)
The term “officer” means the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, controller or any other officer who performs a policy making function.
Page 41
Privacy Policy
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
May 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
PRIVACY POLICY OF FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P. AND FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. (“FIRST TRUST”)
First Trust values its relationship with you and considers your privacy a priority
in maintaining that relationship. We are committed to protecting the security and confidentiality of your personal information while providing
you with the products/services you request or authorize.
Sources of Information
We collect nonpublic personal information (NPPI) about you from the following sources
•
Information we receive from you, or from your broker-dealer, investment professional
or financial representative on your behalf through interviews, applications, agreements or other documentation;
•
Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates or other third-parties;
•
Information we receive from your inquiries by mail, e-mail or telephone; and
•
Information we collect on our website through the use of “cookies”. For example, we may identify the pages on our website that your browser requests or visits.
Information Collected
The type of NPPI we collect may include your name, address, social security number,
age, financial status, assets, income, tax information, retirement and estate plan information, transaction history, account
balance, investment objectives, marital status, family relationships and other NPPI.
Disclosure of Information
We do not disclose NPPI about our customers or former customers to anyone, except
as permitted by law. In addition to using this information to verify your identity (as required under law), the permitted uses may
also include the disclosure of such information to unaffiliated companies for the following reasons:
•
In order to provide you with products and services and to effect transactions that
you request or authorize, we may disclose your NPPI as described above to unaffiliated service providers that perform services
on our behalf, such as transfer agents, custodians, accountants and trustees, or that assist us in the distribution of investor
materials such as trustees, banks, financial representatives, proxy services, solicitors and printers.
•
We may release NPPI we have about you if you direct us to do so.
•
We may be required by law to share your NPPI or may need to do so in other legally
limited circumstances. For example, First Trust may need to share your NPPI to protect your account from fraud.
In addition, in order to alert you to our other financial products and services, we
may share your NPPI within First Trust.
Use of Website Analytics
We currently use third party analytics tools, Google Analytics and Matomo to gather
information for purposes of improving First Trust’s website and marketing our products and services to you. These tools employ cookies, which are small pieces of text stored in a file by your web browser and sent to websites that you visit, to collect information,
track website usage and viewing trends such as the number of hits, pages visited, videos and PDFs viewed and the length of user sessions
in order to evaluate website performance and enhance navigation of the website. We may also collect other anonymous information,
which is generally limited to technical and web navigation information such as the IP address of your device, internet browser type
and operating system for purposes of analyzing the data to make First Trust’s website better and more useful to our users. The information collected does not include any NPPI unless you voluntarily provide that information through the website for us to contact you in
order to answer your questions or respond to your requests. You should not provide NPPI on our website if you do not want your information
to be used by these services. To find out how to opt-out of these services click on: Google Analytics and Matomo Analytics Platform.
Confidentiality and Security
With regard to our internal security procedures, First Trust restricts access to your
NPPI to only those First Trust employees who need to know such information to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical,
electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your NPPI.
Policy Updates and Inquiries
As required by federal law, we will notify you of our privacy policy annually. We
reserve the right to modify this policy at any time, however, if we do change it, we will tell you promptly. For questions about our policy,
or for additional copies of this notice, please go to www.ftportfolios.com, or contact us at 1-800-621-1675 (First Trust Portfolios L.P.) or 1-800-222-6822
(First Trust Advisors L.P.).
March 2025
Page 42
This page intentionally left blank
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare, Inc.
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940
ADMINISTRATOR,
FUND ACCOUNTANT, AND
CUSTODIAN
FUND ACCOUNTANT, AND
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche LLP
111 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
LEGAL COUNSEL
Chapman and Cutler LLP
320 South Canal Street
Chicago, IL 60606
| (b) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
| (a) | The First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (“Registrant”), as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Registrant or a third party. |
| (c) | There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description. |
| (d) | The Registrant, during the period covered by this report, has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions. |
| (e) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
| (f) | A copy of the code of ethics that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller is filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 19(a)(1). |
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
As of the end of the period covered by the report, the Registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that Thomas R. Kadlec and Robert F. Keith are qualified to serve as audit committee financial experts serving on its audit committee and that each of them is “independent,” as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
| (a) | Audit Fees (Registrant) -- The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $59,000 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $59,000 for the fiscal year ended 2025. |
| (b) | Audit-Related Fees (Registrant) -- The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $0 for the fiscal year ended 2025. |
Audit-Related Fees (Investment Advisor) -- The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $0 for the fiscal year ended 2025.
Audit-Related Fees (Distributor) -- The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $0 for the fiscal year ended 2025.
| (c) | Tax Fees (Registrant) -- The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax return review and debt instrument tax analysis and reporting were $14,267 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $21,391 for the fiscal year ended 2025. |
Tax Fees (Investment Advisor) -- The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning to the Registrant’s advisor were $0 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $0 for the fiscal year ended 2025.
Tax Fees (Distributor) -- The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning to the Registrant’s distributor were $0 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $0 for the fiscal year ended 2025.
These fees were for tax consultation and/or tax return preparation and professional services rendered for PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) Identification Services.
| (d) | All Other Fees (Registrant) -- The aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant to the Registrant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $0 for the fiscal year ended 2025. |
All Other Fees (Investment Advisor) -- The aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant to the Registrant’s investment advisor, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $0 for the fiscal year ended 2025.
All Other Fees (Distributor) -- The aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant to the Registrant’s distributor, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item were $0 for the fiscal year ended 2024 and $0 for the fiscal year ended 2025.
(e)(1) Disclose the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c) (7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
Pursuant to its charter and its Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy, the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is responsible for the pre-approval of all audit services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Registrant by its independent auditors. The Chairman of the Committee is authorized to give such pre-approvals on behalf of the Committee up to $25,000 and report any such pre-approval to the full Committee.
The Committee is also responsible for the pre-approval of the independent auditor’s engagements for non-audit services with the Registrant’s advisor (not including a sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted or overseen by another investment advisor) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment advisor that provides ongoing services to the Registrant, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. If the independent auditor has provided non-audit services to the Registrant’s advisor (other than any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is sub-contracted with or overseen by another investment advisor) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment advisor that provides ongoing services to the Registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to its policies, the Committee will consider whether the provision of such non-audit services is compatible with the auditor’s independence.
(e)(2) The percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) for the Registrant and the Registrant’s investment advisor and distributor of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to the pre-approval exceptions included in paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) or paragraph(C)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X are as follows:
| Registrant: | Advisor and Distributor: | ||
| (b) 0% | (b) 0% | ||
| (c) 0% | (c) 0% | ||
| (d) 0% | (d) 0% |
| (f) | The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the Registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was less than fifty percent. |
| (g) | The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the Registrant, and rendered to the Registrant’s investment advisor (not including any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment advisor), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the advisor that provides ongoing services to the Registrant for the fiscal year ended 2024 were $14,267 for the Registrant, $28,600 for the Registrant’s investment advisor and $0 for the Registrant’s distributor; and for the fiscal year ended 2025 were $21,391 for the Registrant, $28,080 for the Registrant’s investment advisor and $0 for the Registrant’s distributor. |
| (h) | The Registrant’s audit committee of its Board of Trustees has determined that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Registrant’s investment advisor (not including any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment advisor), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisor that provides ongoing services to the Registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence. |
(i) Not applicable to the Registrant.
(j) Not applicable to the Registrant.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
| (a) | The Registrant has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 consisting of all the independent directors of the Registrant. The audit committee of the Registrant is comprised of: Richard E. Erickson, Thomas R. Kadlec, Denise M. Keefe, Robert F. Keith, Niel B. Nielson and Bronwyn Wright. |
| (b) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
Item 6. Investments.
| (a) | The Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included in the Registrant’s Annual Report, which is included as Item 1 of this Form N-CSR. |
| (b) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
Item 7. Financial Statements and Financial Highlights for Open-End Management Investment Companies.
| (a) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
| (b) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
Item 8. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants for Open-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to the Registrant.
Item 9. Proxy Disclosures for Open-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to the Registrant.
Item 10. Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers, and Others of Open-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable to the Registrant.
Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract.
There were no approvals of an investment advisory contract during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal half-year.
Item 12. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
The Proxy Voting Policies are attached herewith.
Item 13. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a)(1) Identification of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members and Description of Role of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members
Information provided as of the date of filing of this N-CSR.
The First Trust Advisors Leveraged Finance Investment team manages a portfolio comprised primarily of U.S. dollar denominated, senior secured floating-rate loans. The Portfolio Managers are responsible for directing the investment activities within the Fund. William Housey is the Senior Portfolio Manager and has primary responsibility for investment decisions. Jeffrey Scott and Kevin Ziets assist Mr. Housey and there are also Senior Credit Analysts assigned to certain industries. The Portfolio Managers are supported in their portfolio management activities by the First Trust Advisors Leveraged Finance investment team, including a team of credit analysts, designated traders, and operations personnel. Senior Credit Analysts are assigned industries and Associate Credit Analysts support the Senior Credit Analysts. All credit analysts, operations personnel, designated traders, and portfolio managers report to Mr. Housey.
William Housey, CFA
Managing Director of Fixed Income and Senior Portfolio Manager
Mr. Housey joined First Trust Advisors L.P. in June 2010 as the Senior Portfolio Manager for the Leveraged Finance Investment Team and has 27 years of investment experience. Mr. Housey is a Managing Director of Fixed Income and is also a member of the First Trust Strategic Model Investment Committee and the Fixed Income Sub-Committee. Prior to joining First Trust, Mr. Housey was at Morgan Stanley Investment Management and its wholly owned subsidiary, Van Kampen Funds, Inc. for 11 years where he last served as Executive Director and Co-Portfolio Manager. Mr. Housey has extensive experience in the portfolio management of both leveraged and unleveraged credit products, including senior loans, high-yield bonds, credit derivatives and corporate restructurings. Mr. Housey received a B.S. in Finance from Eastern Illinois University and an M.B.A. in Finance as well as Management and Strategy from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business. He also holds the FINRA Series 7, Series 52 and Series 63 licenses. Mr. Housey also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago. Mr. Housey also serves on the Village of Glen Ellyn, IL Police Pension Board.
Jeffrey Scott, CFA
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
Mr. Scott is a Portfolio Manager and a Sector Specialist Credit Analyst for the Leveraged Finance Investment Team at First Trust Advisors L.P. He has 33 years of experience in the investment management industry and has extensive experience in credit analysis, product development, and product management. Prior to joining First Trust, Jeff served as an Assistant Portfolio Manager and as a Senior Credit Analyst for Morgan Stanley/Van Kampen from October 2008 to June 2010. As Assistant Portfolio Manager, Jeff served on a team that managed over $4.0 billion of Senior Loan assets in three separate funds: Van Kampen Senior Loan Fund; Van Kampen Senior Income Trust; and Van Kampen Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund. His responsibilities included assisting with portfolio construction, buy and sell decision making, and monitoring fund liquidity and leverage. Mr. Scott earned a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Elmhurst College and an M.B.A. with specialization in Analytical Finance and Econometrics and Statistics from the University of Chicago. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago.
Kevin Ziets, CFA
Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager
Effective April 14, 2025, Mr. Ziets was added as a Portfolio Manager for the Leveraged Finance Investment Team at First Trust Advisors L.P. He has 27 years of investment experience. Prior to joining First Trust, Mr. Ziets was at Muzinich & Company from 2017 to 2025. At Muzinich, he initially served as a Senior Credit Analyst and moved into the role of Portfolio Manager in July 2020 where he managed over $5 billion in leverage finance portfolios across public funds and SMAs. Prior to Muzinich, Mr. Ziets spent over 10 years as a Senior Analyst on a number of sellside leverage finance research teams, including publishing roles in Consumer/Retail at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. He began his career at Moody’s, progressing to a Senior Analyst role from 1997 to 2006. Mr. Ziets received a B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Mr. Ziets holds the FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 licenses and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of New York.
(a)(2) Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Member and Potential Conflicts of Interest
Information provided as of May 31, 2025
| Name
of Portfolio Manager or Team Member |
Type of Accounts | Total
# of Accounts Managed* |
Total Assets | #
of Accounts Managed for which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance |
Total
Assets for which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance |
| William Housey | Registered Investment Companies | 7 | $6.56B | 0 | 0 |
| Jeffrey Scott | Registered Investment Companies | 7 | $6.56B | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Ziets | Registered Investment Companies | 7 | $6.56B | 0 | 0 |
Potential Conflicts of Interests
Potential conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager of the Registrant has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to one or more other funds or other accounts. The First Trust Advisors Leveraged Finance Investment Team adheres to its trade allocation policy utilizing a pro-rata methodology to address this conflict. First Trust and its affiliate, First Trust Portfolios L.P. ("FTP''), have in place a joint Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policies and Procedures that are designed to (a) prevent First Trust personnel from trading securities based upon material inside information in the possession of such personnel and (b) ensure that First Trust personnel avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest or abuse of their positions of trust and responsibility that could occur through such activities as front running securities trades for the Registrant. Personnel are required to have duplicate confirmations and account statements delivered to First Trust and FTP compliance personnel who then compare such trades to trading activity to detect any potential conflict situations. In addition to the personal trading restrictions specified in the Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policies and Procedures, employees in the First Trust Advisors Leveraged Finance Investment Team are prohibited from buying or selling equity securities (including derivative instruments such as options, warrants and futures) and corporate bonds for their personal account and in any accounts over which they exercise control. Employees in the First Trust Advisors Leveraged Finance Investment Team are also prohibited from engaging in any personal transaction while in possession of material non-public information regarding the security or the issuer of the security. First Trust and FTP also maintain a restricted list of all issuers for which the First Trust Advisors Leveraged Finance Investment Team has material non-public information in its possession and all transactions executed for a product advised or supervised by First Trust or FTP are compared daily against the restricted list.
(a)(3) Compensation Structure of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members
Information provided as of May 31, 2025
The compensation structure for internal portfolio managers is based upon a fixed salary as well as a discretionary bonus determined by the management of FTA. Salaries are determined by management and are based upon an individual’s position and overall value to the firm. Bonuses are also determined by management and are generally based upon an individual’s or team’s overall contribution to the success of the firm, assets under management and the profitability of the firm. Certain internal portfolio managers have an indirect ownership stake in the firm and will therefore receive their allocable share of ownership related distributions.
(a)(4) Disclosure of Securities Ownership as of May 31, 2025
| Name of Portfolio Manager or Team Member |
Dollar ($) Range of Fund Shares Beneficially Owned |
| William Housey | $50,001-$100,000 |
| Jeffrey Scott | $10,001-$50,000 |
| Kevin Ziets | None |
| (b) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
Item 14. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
No reportable purchases for the period covered by this report.
Item 15. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the Registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 16. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | The Registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). |
| (b) | There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 17. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
| (a) | The Registrant did not engage in any securities lending activity during its most recent fiscal year. |
| (b) | The Registrant did not engage in any securities lending activity and no services were provided by the securities lending agent to the Registrant during its most recent fiscal year. |
Item 18. Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.
| (a) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
| (b) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
Item 19. Exhibits.
| (a)(1) | Code of ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto. |
| (a)(2) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
| (a)(3) | The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
| (a)(4) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
| (a)(5) | Not applicable to the Registrant. |
| (b) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
| (c) | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies as required by Item 12 is attached hereto. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| (registrant) | First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ James M. Dykas | |
| James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
| Date: | August 6, 2025 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ James M. Dykas | |
| James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
| Date: | August 6, 2025 |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Derek D. Maltbie | |
| Derek D. Maltbie, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer (principal financial officer) |
| Date: | August 6, 2025 |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.
FAQ
What is FCT's current discount to NAV?
As of May 31 2025 the market price was $9.91 vs. NAV $10.58, a 6.33% discount.
How much of FCT's 2025 distribution was return of capital?
Return-of-capital represented 31.36% of the $1.164 annual distribution per share.
Did the fund outperform its benchmark?
Yes. FCT’s 1-year NAV return was 7.38% versus 6.78% for the Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan Index.
What is the fund's leverage level?
Outstanding credit facility borrowings totaled $54 million, equal to 16.42% of managed assets.
How risky is the credit profile?
B-rated loans comprise 56.5% (B and B-) of investments; CCC and below are only 3.8%.
Has FCT experienced any loan defaults?
No. The portfolio recorded zero defaults during the fiscal year, outperforming the benchmark’s 14.
First Trust Senior FR Income II