First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund Issues Notice Regarding December 2023 Distribution

Rhea-AI Summary

First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund (FFA) has approved a managed distribution policy for the Fund, declaring a distribution payable on December 29, 2023, to shareholders of record as of December 26, 2023, with an ex-dividend date of December 22, 2023.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The declaration of a distribution by First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund under its Managed Distribution Plan is a strategic financial decision that can influence investor sentiment and fund valuation. Distributions often serve as a signal of a fund's performance and its ability to generate returns. In this case, the ability to distribute long-term capital gains more frequently may provide a steady income stream, which could be attractive to income-focused investors. It's important to assess the sustainability of these distributions by looking at the underlying assets and their performance. A high distribution rate could sometimes indicate a return of capital, which might not be sustainable in the long run.

Market Research Analyst

From a market perspective, the timing and frequency of distributions can impact the fund's attractiveness compared to other investment options. The Fund's strategy to capitalize on the exemptive relief by the SEC to offer more frequent distributions could differentiate it in the marketplace. However, investors should be aware of the tax implications of such distributions, as frequent capital gains distributions could lead to a higher tax burden. Monitoring peer funds and broader market trends is necessary to evaluate the competitive position of First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund's distribution policy.

Tax Advisor

Regarding the tax implications, the Fund's decision to distribute long-term capital gains more frequently under the Managed Distribution Plan should prompt shareholders to review their tax strategies. Long-term capital gains are typically taxed at a lower rate than short-term gains, but the increased frequency of distributions could affect an investor's tax liability. Shareholders may need to plan for potential capital gains distributions in their tax planning. It is also essential for shareholders to understand the character of the distributions, as return of capital distributions are not taxed immediately but do reduce an investor's cost basis in the fund.

WHEATON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Board of Trustees of First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund (the "Fund") (NYSE: FFA), CUSIP 337318109, previously approved a managed distribution policy for the Fund (the "Managed Distribution Plan") in reliance on exemptive relief received from the Securities and Exchange Commission which permits the Fund to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains more frequently than otherwise permitted with respect to its common shares subject to certain conditions.

The Fund has declared a distribution payable on December 29, 2023, to shareholders of record as of December 26, 2023, with an ex-dividend date of December 22, 2023. This Notice is meant to provide you information about the sources of your Fund’s distributions. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of its distribution or from the terms of its Managed Distribution Plan.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date for the Fund from the following sources: net investment income ("NII"); net realized short-term capital gains ("STCG"); net realized long-term capital gains ("LTCG"); and return of capital ("ROC"). These estimates are based upon information projected through December 31, 2023, are calculated based on a generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") basis and include the prior fiscal year-end undistributed net investment income. The amounts and sources of distributions are expressed per common share.

5 Yr. Avg.

Annualized Current

Annual Total

Fund

Fund

Fiscal

Total Current

Current Distribution ($)

Current Distribution (%)

Dist. Rate as a

Return

Ticker

Cusip

Year End

Distribution

NII

STCG

LTCG

ROC(2)

NII

STCG

LTCG

ROC(2)

% of NAV(3)

on NAV(4)

FFA

337318109

12/31/2023

$0.31500

$0.08370

-

$0.23130

-

26.57%

-

73.43%

-

6.83%

11.12%

Total

Cumulative

Cumulative Fiscal

Fund

Fund

Fiscal

Cumulative Fiscal YTD

Cumulative Distributions Fiscal YTD ($)

Cumulative Distributions Fiscal YTD (%)

Fiscal YTD Distributions as

YTD Total Return

Ticker

Cusip

Year End

Distributions(1)

NII

STCG

LTCG

ROC(2)

NII

STCG

LTCG

ROC(2)

a % of NAV(3)

on NAV(4)

FFA

337318109

12/31/2023

$1.26000

$0.33478

-

$0.92522

-

26.57%

-

73.43%

-

6.83%

16.73%

(1) Includes the most recent quarterly distribution paid on December 29, 2023. (2) The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." (3) Based on Net Asset Value ("NAV") as of November 30, 2023. (4) Total Returns are through November 30, 2023.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. You should not use this Notice as a substitute for your Form 1099-DIV.

First Trust Advisors L.P. ("FTA") is a federally registered investment advisor and serves as the Fund's investment advisor. FTA and its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P. ("FTP"), a FINRA registered broker-dealer, are privately-held companies that provide a variety of investment services. FTA has collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $201 billion as of November 30, 2023 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.

Chartwell Investment Partners, LLC ("Chartwell") serves as the Fund's investment sub-advisor and is an investment firm focusing on institutional, sub-advisory, and private client relationships. The firm is a research-based equity and fixed-income manager with a disciplined, team-oriented investment process. As of October 31, 2023, Chartwell had approximately $10.7 billion in assets under management.

Principal Risk Factors: Risks are inherent in all investing. Certain risks applicable to the Fund are identified below, which includes the risk that you could lose some or all of your investment in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the Fund's annual shareholder reports. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any particular risk factor. The Fund also files reports, proxy statements and other information that is available for review.

Past performance is no assurance of future results. Investment return and market value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. There can be no assurance that the Fund's investment objectives will be achieved. The Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.

Market risk is the risk that a particular security, or shares of a fund in general may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as general economic conditions, political events, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of a fund could decline in value or underperform other investments as a result. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious disease or other public health issues, recessions, natural disasters or other events could have significant negative impact on a fund.

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, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have raised interest rates and expect to continue to do so, and the Federal Reserve has announced that it intends to reverse previously implemented quantitative easing. 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. Ongoing armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and among Israel, 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 COVID-19 global pandemic, or any future public health crisis, and the ensuing policies enacted by governments and central banks have caused and may continue to cause significant volatility and uncertainty in global financial markets, negatively impacting global growth prospects.

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.

The Fund may write (sell) covered call options on all or a portion of the equity securities held in the Fund's portfolio. The use of options may require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than current market values, may limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can realize on an investment, or may cause the Fund to hold an equity security that it might otherwise sell.

Premiums from writing (selling) call options and dividends and interest payments made by the securities in the Fund's portfolio can vary widely over time.

An adverse event affecting an issuer of equity securities, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular equity security held by the Fund. Also, the prices of equity securities are sensitive to general movements in the stock market and a drop in the stock market may depress the prices of equity securities to which the Fund has exposure. There is no guarantee that the issuers of the equity securities in which the Fund invests will declare dividends in the future or that if declared they will remain at current levels. There can be no assurance as to what portion of the distributions paid to the Fund's Common Shareholders will consist of tax-advantaged qualified dividend income.

Investment in non-U.S. securities is subject to the risk of currency fluctuations and to economic and political risks associated with such foreign countries.

The Fund may not invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of issuers in any single industry. If the Fund is focused in an industry, it may present more risks than if it were broadly diversified over numerous industries of the economy.

The risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the shareholder report and other regulatory filings.

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

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press 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 those anticipated in any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward‑looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Fund undertakes no responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward‑looking statements.

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Inquiries: Derek Maltbie (630) 765-8499

Source: First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund

FAQ

What is the ticker symbol for First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund?

The ticker symbol for First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund is FFA.

When is the distribution payable to shareholders?

The distribution is payable on December 29, 2023.

When is the ex-dividend date?

The ex-dividend date is December 22, 2023.

What is the record date for shareholders?

The record date for shareholders is December 26, 2023.