Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 7, 2024

______________________________

First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Massachusetts	811-22039	06-1810845
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer
of incorporation)		Identification No.)

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, Illinois

(Address of principal executive offices)

60187

(zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (603) 765-8000

_______________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emerging growth company ☐

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

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure.

First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (“FGB”) is filing herewith a press release issued on March 7, 2024, as Exhibit 99.1. The press release was issued by First Trust Advisors L.P. (“FTA”) to announce the special meeting of shareholders of First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: FGB) (the “Fund”) held on March 7, 2024 has been adjourned in order to permit additional solicitation of shareholders and to allow shareholders additional time to vote on the reorganization of the Fund with and into abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (“AOD”). The special meeting of shareholders of the Fund will reconvene on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 1:00 Central time in the offices of FTA at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois (the “Meeting”) Details regarding the reorganization are contained in the press release included herein.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)

Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated March 7, 2024.

SIGNATURES

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

Dated: March 7, 2024		FIRST TRUST SPECIALTY FINANCE AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND

	By:	/s/ W. Scott Jardine
	Name	W. Scott Jardine
	Title:	Secretary

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated March 7, 2024.

PRESS RELEASE

SOURCE: First Trust Advisors L.P.

First Trust Announces Adjournment of Special Meeting of Shareholders Relating to the Reorganization of First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund with and into abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund

WHEATON, IL – (BUSINESS WIRE) – March 7, 2024 – First Trust Advisors L.P. (“FTA”) announced today that the special meeting of shareholders of First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: FGB) (the “Fund”) held on March 7, 2024 has been adjourned in order to permit additional solicitation of shareholders and to allow shareholders additional time to vote on the reorganization of the Fund with and into abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (“AOD”). The special meeting of shareholders of the Fund will reconvene on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 1:00 Central time in the offices of FTA at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois (the “Meeting”).

Shareholders of record of the Fund as of the close of business on October 23, 2023, are entitled to vote at the Meeting. Whether or not shareholders plan to attend the Meeting, it is important that their shares be represented and voted at the Meeting. Shareholders may vote their shares by one of the methods described in the proxy materials previously mailed to them, which includes a combined proxy statement and prospectus (the “proxy statement”). The proxy statement contains important information regarding the proposed reorganization and shareholders of the Fund are urged to read the proxy statement and accompanying materials carefully. The proxy statement is also available at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Common/ContentFileLoader.aspx?ContentGUID=de49faa8-90bb-4a7d-97b2-5e0fafab8f37 and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. If shareholders have any questions regarding the proposals, or need assistance voting, they may call EQ Fund Solutions, LLC at (866) 796-7172. The Board of Trustees of the Fund believes the reorganization is in the best interests of the Fund and recommend that shareholders vote “FOR” the reorganization.

FTA is a federally registered investment advisor and serves as the investment advisor of the Fund. FTA and its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), a FINRA registered broker-dealer, are privately-held companies that provide a variety of investment services. FTA has collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $211 billion as of January 31, 2024 through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and separate managed accounts. FTA is the supervisor of the First Trust unit investment trusts, while FTP is the sponsor. FTP is also a distributor of mutual fund shares and exchange-traded fund creation units. FTA and FTP are based in Wheaton, Illinois.

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

Additional Information / Forward-Looking Statements

This press release is not intended to, and shall not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of the Fund or AOD; nor is this press release intended to solicit a proxy from any shareholder of the Fund. The Fund and their trustees and officers, FTA, abrdn and certain of their respective officers and employees, and other persons may be deemed under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the matters described above. Information about the Fund’s trustees and officers, FTA and its officers and employees, and other persons may be found in the proxy statement.

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

_______________________________________

CONTACT: Jeff Margolin – (630) 517-7643

_______________________________________

CONTACT: Daniel Lindquist – (630) 765-8692

_______________________________________

CONTACT: Chris Fallow – (630) 517-7628

___________________________________

SOURCE: First Trust Advisors L.P.

Cover	Mar. 07, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 07, 2024
Entity File Number	811-22039
Entity Registrant Name	First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund
Entity Central Index Key	0001392994
Entity Tax Identification Number	06-1810845
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MA
Entity Address, Address Line One	120 East Liberty Drive
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 400
Entity Address, City or Town	Wheaton
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60187
City Area Code	603
Local Phone Number	765-8000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	FGB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false