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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSRS
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-21539
First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income
Fund II
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
120 East Liberty Drive
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
W. Scott Jardine, Esq.
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive
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: November 30, 2022
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 Stockholders.
(a) The Report to Shareholders
is attached herewith.
First
Trust
Senior
Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Semi-Annual
Report
For
the Six Months Ended
November
30, 2022
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Semi-Annual
Report
November
30, 2022
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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 Additional
Information 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)
Semi-Annual
Letter from the Chairman and CEO
November
30, 2022
Dear
Shareholders,
First
Trust is pleased to provide you with the semi-annual report for the First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (the “Fund”),
which contains detailed information about the Fund for the six months ended November 30, 2022.
The
risk of the U.S. economy experiencing a notable recession in 2023 is rising. The Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) has remained
steadfast in its battle with stubbornly high inflation, most recently raising the Federal Funds target rate (upper bound) from 4.0% to
4.5% on December 13, 2022. The trailing 12-month rate on the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) peaked at 9.1% on June 30, 2022,
before falling to 7.1% (its lowest level of the year) on November 30, 2022, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For comparative purposes, the CPI rate has averaged 2.5% over the past 30 years. Some pundits are making the case that the recent drop
in the CPI should be enough evidence to sway the Fed from initiating any additional rate hikes. The Fed, however, has reiterated its intent
to stay the course until the tightening of monetary policy has grown restrictive enough to normalize inflation. Ultimately, the Fed would
like to bring the rate of inflation back to its 2.0% target. How high they will have to take the Federal Funds target rate in order to
achieve that goal remains to be seen, but we should know more in the first quarter of 2023.
Suffice
it to say, many Americans are struggling to cope with the high rate of inflation and they are not just low wage workers. A recent report
by PYMNTS, a research, data aggregation and news website, revealed that roughly 45% of workers earning over $100,000 per year and 28%
of those earning over $200,000 per year are living paycheck to paycheck. The personal savings rate in the U.S. has been plummeting, registering
quarter-over-quarter declines in each of the last five quarters, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Everything costs more.
Preliminary data shows the savings rate fell from 9.1% in the third quarter of 2021, to just 2.8% in the third quarter of 2022. Rising
interest rates are another source of pressure. Housing affordability has fallen to a decade low as mortgage rates have surged along with
the Federal Funds rate, according to the National Association of Homebuilders. Home prices, as represented by the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller
U.S. National Home Price Index, have been slowly declining since June 2022, but need to come down further to offset the spike in mortgage
rates, in my opinion. With the housing market softening, job creation, which remains strong, may be one of the few bright spots in the
U.S. economy.
We’ve
talked about how higher inflation and interest rates are causing difficulty for many Americans. I’d like to pause here and note
that while times are tough, not everything is negative. Take the bond market for example. Yields have not been this attractive for many
years. The yield on the 10-Year Treasury Note (“T-Note”) has risen 208 basis points year-to-date, climbing from 1.51% on December
31, 2021, to 3.59% on December 19, 2022. For comparative purposes, the yield on the 10-Year T-Note averaged 4.03% for the 30-year period
ended December 31, 2021. As yields normalize and bond prices fall, investors seeking current income should keep a watchful eye for an
attractive entry point, in my opinion. Furthermore, while the equity markets have moved in and out of bear market territory (a bear market
is defined as a price decline of 20% or more from a security or index’s recent high) in 2022, equity strategists are predicting
a relatively flat market next year, based on estimates from a December 2022 Bloomberg survey for S&P 500®
Index forecasts. For some investors, if growth is going to be tough to come by, perhaps stock dividends may be an avenue worth
pursuing. In closing, I believe that the markets could be in for a bumpy ride in the first half of 2023, but I am more optimistic about
the prospects for the latter half. Stay tuned!
Thank
you for giving First Trust the opportunity to play a role in your financial future. We value our relationship with you and will report
on the Fund again in six months.
Sincerely,
James
A. Bowen
Chairman
of the Board of Trustees
Chief
Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors L.P.
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
“AT
A GLANCE”
As
of November 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
| Fund
Statistics |
|
| Symbol
on New York Stock Exchange |
FCT
|
| Common
Share Price |
$10.18
|
| Common
Share Net Asset Value (“NAV”) |
$11.03
|
| Premium
(Discount) to NAV |
(7.71)%
|
| Net
Assets Applicable to Common Shares |
$286,709,541
|
| Current
Monthly Distribution per Common Share(1) |
$0.0695
|
| Current
Annualized Distribution per Common Share |
$0.8340
|
| Current
Distribution Rate on Common Share Price(2) |
8.19%
|
| Current
Distribution Rate on NAV(2) |
7.56%
|
Common
Share Price & NAV (weekly closing price)
| Performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
Annual Total Returns |
|
|
6
Months Ended 11/30/22 |
1
Year Ended 11/30/22 |
5
Years Ended 11/30/22 |
10
Years Ended 11/30/22 |
Inception
(5/25/04) to 11/30/22 |
| Fund
Performance(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
| NAV
|
1.78%
|
-2.61%
|
3.13%
|
4.24%
|
4.01%
|
| Market
Value |
-2.61%
|
-8.47%
|
3.25%
|
3.19%
|
3.30%
|
| Index
Performance |
|
|
|
|
|
Morningstar®
LSTA® US Leveraged Loan Index(4)
|
1.44%
|
-0.41%
|
3.30%
|
3.70%
|
4.39%
|
| Credit
Quality (S&P Ratings) (5) |
%
of Senior Loans and other Debt Securities(6) |
| BBB-
|
5.0%
|
| BB+
|
7.3
|
| BB
|
3.8
|
| BB-
|
11.0
|
| B+
|
16.2
|
| B
|
38.1
|
| B-
|
15.3
|
| CCC+
|
2.0
|
| CCC
|
0.6
|
| Not
Rated |
0.7
|
| Total
|
100.0%
|
| Top
10 Issuers |
%
of Total Long-Term Investments(6) |
| HUB
International Limited |
4.2%
|
| Alliant
Holdings I, LLC |
4.2
|
| Internet
Brands, Inc. (Web MD/MH Sub I, LLC) |
4.0
|
| Verscend
Technologies, Inc. (Cotiviti) |
3.6
|
| Charter
Communications Operating, LLC |
3.0
|
| IRB
Holding Corp. (Arby’s/Inspire Brands) |
2.7
|
| AssuredPartners,
Inc. |
2.6
|
| Applied
Systems, Inc. |
2.5
|
| Nexstar
Broadcasting, Inc. |
2.4
|
| SS&C
Technologies, Inc. |
2.2
|
| Total
|
31.4%
|
| (1)
|
Most
recent distribution paid or declared through November 30, 2022. Subject to change in the future. |
| (2)
|
Distribution
rates are calculated by annualizing the most recent distribution paid or declared through the report date and then dividing by Common
Share Price or NAV, as applicable, as of November 30, 2022. 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.Pon to October 12, 2010, Four Corners Capital Management, LLC served as the
Fund’s sub-advisor. Effective October 12, 201. 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. |
| (4)
|
Formerly,
S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index. |
| (5)
|
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. |
| (6)
|
Percentages
are based on long-term positions. Money market funds are excluded. |
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
“AT
A GLANCE” (Continued)
As
of November 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
| Industry
Classification |
%
of Total Long-Term Investments(6) |
| Software
|
22.1%
|
| Insurance
|
12.5
|
| Media
|
10.7
|
| Health
Care Technology |
10.5
|
| Hotels,
Restaurants & Leisure |
8.9
|
| Health
Care Providers & Services |
7.6
|
| Commercial
Services & Supplies |
3.0
|
| Containers
& Packaging |
2.9
|
| Wireless
Telecommunication Services |
2.1
|
| Electric
Utilities |
2.1
|
| Diversified
Telecommunication Services |
2.1
|
| Pharmaceuticals
|
1.9
|
| Capital
Markets |
1.9
|
| Food
Products |
1.9
|
| Professional
Services |
1.6
|
| Health
Care Equipment & Supplies |
1.5
|
| Aerospace
& Defense |
1.2
|
| Specialty
Retail |
1.1
|
| Diversified
Consumer Services |
1.0
|
| Diversified
Financial Services |
0.7
|
| Trading
Companies & Distributors |
0.7
|
| Electronic
Equipment, Instruments & Components |
0.6
|
| Machinery
|
0.3
|
| Auto
Components |
0.3
|
| Communications
Equipment |
0.2
|
| Food
& Staples Retailing |
0.2
|
| Household
Durables |
0.2
|
| Building
Products |
0.1
|
| IT
Services |
0.1
|
| Oil,
Gas & Consumable Fuels |
0.0*
|
| Entertainment
|
0.0*
|
| Life
Sciences Tools & Services |
0.0*
|
| Total
|
100.0%
|
| *
|
Amount
is less than 0.1%. |
Portfolio
Commentary
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Semi-Annual
Report
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Advisor
The
First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”) Leveraged Finance Team is comprised of 17 experienced investment professionals specializing
in below investment grade securities. The team is comprised of portfolio management, research, trading and operations personnel. As of
November 30, 2022, the First Trust Leveraged Finance Team managed or supervised approximately $5.8 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 four 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
Commentary
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II
The
primary investment objective of First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (“FCT” or 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.
Market
Recap
During
the six-month period ended November 30, 2022, inflation remained stubbornly elevated with the October 2022 Consumer Price Index printing
7.7% on a year-over-year basis; meanwhile, the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) continues to reiterate its commitment to a 2.0%
inflation target. The Fed increased the Federal Funds target rate by 375 basis points (“bps”) since it began raising interest
rates in March 2022, moving the upper bound from 0.25% to 4.00% over the course of six meetings. In each of the last four meetings through
November 30, 2022, the Fed increased the Federal Funds rate by a full 75 bps. Due to the persistence of the inflation data and how far
it is from the Fed’s target inflation rate, we do not believe the Fed can “pivot” to a more accommodative posture until
either (1) inflation has been tamed, or (2) a recession is near or already underway, absent any major financial market calamity. Further,
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell continues to make the Fed’s position abundantly clear, repeatedly noting that history cautions against
rashly loosening interest rate policy despite the potential pain to households and businesses. The 10-Year U.S. Treasury yield increased
by 77 bps from 2.84% at the beginning of the period to 3.61% at the end of the period. U.S. Equities traded sideways as investors attempted
to reconcile modestly improving inflation expectations with lackluster growth forecasts. After losing as much as 12.90% from the start
of the period, the S&P 500® Index returned -0.40% during
the six-month period ended November 30, 2022.
Senior
Loan Market
Senior
loan spreads over the 3-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) increased by 78 bps to L+629 bps during the six-month
period ended November 30, 2022. The current spread is 113 bps above the senior loan market’s long-term average spread of L+516 bps
(December 1997 – November 2022). Retail senior loan funds experienced their seventh consecutive monthly outflow in November 2022.
Loan fund outflows totaled $26.8 billion throughout the six-month period ended November 30, 2022. Despite higher rates and returns that
have been far more resilient than most traditional fixed-income asset classes, demand waned for senior loans as market volatility increased.
BB
rated senior loans were up 3.71% and outperformed both B rated (1.20%) and CCC rated senior loans (-6.32%) during the six-month period
ended November 30, 2022. The average price of the senior loan asset class decreased from $94.64 at the beginning of the period to $92.78
at the end of the period.
Default
rates, as measured by the Morningstar® LSTA®
US Leveraged Loan Index (the “Index”), increased modestly throughout the period. During the last twelve-month period (“LTM”),
the default rate of the senior loan market rose from 0.21% at the beginning of the period to 0.73% at the end of the period, remaining
well below the long-term average of 2.75% (December 1997 – November 2022).
Portfolio
Commentary (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Semi-Annual
Report
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Performance
Analysis
|
|
|
|
Average
Annual Total Returns |
|
|
6
Months Ended 11/30/22 |
1
Year Ended 11/30/22 |
5
Years Ended 11/30/22 |
10
Years Ended 11/30/22 |
Inception
(5/25/04) to 11/30/22 |
| Fund
Performance(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
| NAV
|
1.78%
|
-2.61%
|
3.13%
|
4.24%
|
4.01%
|
| Market
Value |
-2.61%
|
-8.47%
|
3.25%
|
3.19%
|
3.30%
|
| Index
Performance |
|
|
|
|
|
| Morningstar®
LSTA® US Leveraged Loan Index* |
1.44%
|
-0.41%
|
3.30%
|
3.70%
|
4.39%
|
Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on
Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market
or sector. Unlike the Fund, the index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore does not incur the expenses incurred
by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
For
the six-month period ended November 30, 2022, the Fund returned(1)
1.78%, based on net asset value (“NAV”) and -2.61%, based on market price. The Index returned 1.44% over the same period.
At the start of the period, the Fund’s market price represented a 3.54% discount to NAV; by the end of the period, the Fund’s
discount to NAV widened by 417 bps to 7.71%.
The
Fund’s use of leverage drove performance in the six-month period ended November 30, 2022, as asset prices generated positive returns.
The Fund strategically decreased leverage from 28.31% of adjusted net assets (net assets plus borrowings) at the beginning of the period
to 15.85% at the end of the period by selling into market strength. The Fund also benefited from strong security selection in the Software
industry. Within the Software industry, the Fund’s overweight positions in a digital advertising company, an insurance software
provider, and an enterprise software provider drove performance as the companies outperformed the Index’s industry returns. The
Fund’s overweight allocation to the Insurance industry further drove performance, as the Fund maintained a 12.51% average weight
to the Insurance industry, compared to the Index’s average weight of 2.76%, and the industry outperformed. The Fund’s security
selection within the Diversified Telecommunication Services and Media industries partially offset these tailwinds. Within the Diversified
Telecommunication Services industry, the Fund’s overweight position in a bandwidth infrastructure services provider proved the primary
detractor from performance. Within the Media industry, the Fund’s high-yield bond allocation proved the primary detractor from performance
as high-yield bonds (-3.03%) modestly underperformed senior loans in the period (1.44%). As of November 30, 2022 the Fund had a 7.84%
allocation to high-yield bonds.
| (1)
|
Total
return is based on the combination of reinvested divided, capital gain, and return of capital distribution, if any, at prices obtained
by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and changes in NAV per Common 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 period of less than one year. |
| *
|
Formerly,
S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index. |
| |
|
Portfolio
Commentary (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Semi-Annual
Report
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
The
Fund held 161 individual positions diversified across 32 industries at the end of the reporting period, compared to 193 individual positions
across 31 industries at the beginning of the period. The Software industry (22.07%), the Insurance industry (12.47%), and the Media industry
(10.71%) represented the Fund’s top three industry exposures at the end of the period. The Fund increased its allocation to high-yield
bonds by 592 bps from 1.92% at the beginning of the period to 7.88% at the end of the period. The Fund’s duration remained low throughout
the period, modestly increasing from 0.42 years to 0.59 years.
The
Fund has a practice of seeking to maintain a 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 began the period at $0.0720 per share and ended the period at $0.0695 per share. At the $0.0695 per share
monthly distribution rate, the annualized distribution rate at November 30, 2022 was 7.56% based on NAV and 8.19% based on market price.
The Fund’s distributions for the six-month period ended November 30, 2022 will consist of net investment income earned by the Fund
and return of capital. The final determination of the source and tax status of all 2022 distributions will be made after the end of 2022
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.
The
Fund experienced one default in the LTM period ended November 30, 2022, compared to 8 defaults within the Index over the same period.
The Fund has experienced 13 defaults since the Leveraged Finance Investment Team began managing the Fund in October 2010; this compares
to 173 within the Index over the same period. The Fund’s LTM default rate of 1.17% was modestly above the Index’s LTM default
rate of 0.73% at the end of the period.
Market
and Fund Outlook
Our
market framework centers on our view that the Fed will stay the course, ultimately holding interest rates at such a restrictive level
that it tilts the economy into recession, most likely in the second half of 2023, in our opinion. We therefore expect market volatility
to continue as investors attempt to gauge the ultimate Federal Funds target rate as well as the likelihood, and timing of, a recession.
Consequently, we favor increasing credit quality while defensively positioning in sectors with limited cyclicality. Further, improved
valuations have created attractive opportunities in the corporate credit landscape. As we assess such market opportunities, we continue
to employ our bottom-up credit underwriting process and rigorous approach to risk management.
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Principal
Value |
|
Description
|
|
Rate
(a) |
|
Stated
Maturity (b) |
|
Value
|
| SENIOR
FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) – 109.3% |
|
|
|
Aerospace
& Defense – 1.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $4,082,724
|
|
Transdigm, Inc., Tranche G Refinancing TL, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
5.92%
|
|
08/22/24
|
|
$4,062,678
|
|
|
|
Application
Software – 20.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7,114,966
|
|
Applied Systems, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
6.67%
|
|
09/19/24
|
|
7,086,648
|
| 1,462,693
|
|
Applied Systems, Inc., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 5.50%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
9.17%
|
|
09/19/25
|
|
1,448,066
|
| 1,527,408
|
|
ConnectWise, LLC, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.17%
|
|
09/30/28
|
|
1,464,020
|
| 5,118,134
|
|
Epicor Software Corp., First Lien Term Loan C, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
07/30/27
|
|
4,936,850
|
| 82,458
|
|
Flexera Software, LLC, 2020 Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.83%
|
|
01/26/28
|
|
79,297
|
| 4,385,854
|
|
Gainwell Acquisition Corp. (fka Milano), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.67%
|
|
10/01/27
|
|
4,271,822
|
| 3,343,529
|
|
Greeneden U.S. Holdings II, LLC (Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.), Initial Dollar Term Loan, 1
Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
8.07%
|
|
12/01/27
|
|
3,241,150
|
| 611,678
|
|
Hyland Software, Inc., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 6.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
10.32%
|
|
07/10/25
|
|
576,892
|
| 2,005,649
|
|
Hyland Software, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
07/01/24
|
|
1,974,320
|
| 4,496,967
|
|
Internet Brands, Inc. (Web MD/MH Sub I., LLC), 2020 June New Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 1.00% Floor
|
|
7.82%
|
|
09/15/24
|
|
4,370,513
|
| 1,265,863
|
|
Internet Brands, Inc. (Web MD/MH Sub I., LLC), 2nd Lien Term Loan, 3 Mo. SOFR + 6.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
10.65%
|
|
02/23/29
|
|
1,134,530
|
| 8,465,748
|
|
Internet Brands, Inc. (Web MD/MH Sub I., LLC), Initial Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.82%
|
|
09/13/24
|
|
8,229,385
|
| 279,886
|
|
ION Trading Technologies Limited, Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
8.42%
|
|
04/01/28
|
|
267,291
|
| 4,805,130
|
|
LogMeIn, Inc. (GoTo Group, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
8.77%
|
|
08/31/27
|
|
3,073,265
|
| 2,177,572
|
|
McAfee Corp. (Condor Merger Sub, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. SOFR + 3.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.64%
|
|
02/28/29
|
|
2,064,621
|
| 361,174
|
|
N-Able, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.73%
|
|
07/19/28
|
|
349,887
|
| 2,092,956
|
|
Open Text Corporation (GXS), New Term Loan, 1 Mo. SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.39%
|
|
12/31/29
|
|
2,031,046
|
| 2,209,510
|
|
Open Text Corporation (GXS), Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
5.82%
|
|
05/30/25
|
|
2,163,663
|
| 912,941
|
|
RealPage, Inc., Second Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 6.50%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
10.57%
|
|
04/22/29
|
|
873,575
|
| 5,731,488
|
|
RealPage, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.07%
|
|
04/24/28
|
|
5,477,182
|
| 3,073,447
|
|
SolarWinds Holdings, Inc., Initial Term Loan. 1 Mo. SOFR+ 4.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.95%
|
|
02/17/27
|
|
3,017,757
|
| 488,794
|
|
Solera Holdings, Inc. (Polaris Newco), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.67%
|
|
06/04/28
|
|
445,565
|
| 232,552
|
|
Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG, Inc.), 2021 Term Loan, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.00%
|
|
05/03/26
|
|
224,315
|
|
|
|
|
|
58,801,660
|
|
|
|
Asset
Management & Custody Banks – 2.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3,789,412
|
|
Edelman Financial Engines Center, LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
04/07/28
|
|
3,611,120
|
See
Notes to Financial Statements
Page
7
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments (Continued)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Principal
Value |
|
Description
|
|
Rate
(a) |
|
Stated
Maturity (b) |
|
Value
|
| SENIOR
FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued) |
|
|
|
Asset
Management & Custody Banks (Continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $3,248,900
|
|
Edelman Financial Engines Center, LLC, Term Loan Second Lien, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 6.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
10.82%
|
|
07/20/26
|
|
$2,921,996
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,533,116
|
|
|
|
Auto
Parts & Equipment – 0.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 547,253
|
|
Clarios Global LP (Power Solutions), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
04/30/26
|
|
537,791
|
| 519,374
|
|
Truck Hero, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.82%
|
|
01/31/28
|
|
437,832
|
|
|
|
|
|
975,623
|
|
|
|
Broadcasting –
4.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 329,625
|
|
E.W. Scripps Company, Tranche B-3 Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
6.82%
|
|
01/07/28
|
|
319,855
|
| 1,519,988
|
|
Gray Television, Inc., Term Loan B2, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.27%
|
|
02/07/24
|
|
1,516,188
|
| 1,719,808
|
|
Gray Television, Inc., Term Loan C, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.27%
|
|
01/02/26
|
|
1,669,074
|
| 3,101,009
|
|
iHeartCommunications, Inc., Second Amendment Incremental Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
05/01/26
|
|
2,900,405
|
| 1,199,070
|
|
iHeartCommunications, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.07%
|
|
05/01/26
|
|
1,121,777
|
| 5,298,604
|
|
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., Incremental Term Loan B-4, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.57%
|
|
09/19/26
|
|
5,251,128
|
| 21,121
|
|
Univision Communications, Inc., 2017 Replacement Repriced First Lien Term Loan C-5, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 1.00%
Floor
|
|
6.82%
|
|
03/15/24
|
|
21,068
|
| 11,616
|
|
Univision Communications, Inc., 2021 Replacement New First Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
03/15/26
|
|
11,399
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,810,894
|
|
|
|
Building
Products – 0.1% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 264,822
|
|
Hunter Douglas, Inc. (Solis), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.86%
|
|
02/28/29
|
|
230,538
|
|
|
|
Cable
& Satellite – 2.8% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4,647,746
|
|
Cablevision (aka CSC Holdings, LLC), March 2017 Term Loan B-1, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.12%
|
|
07/17/25
|
|
4,443,246
|
| 3,537,674
|
|
Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Term Loan B1, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
5.83%
|
|
04/30/25
|
|
3,478,524
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,921,770
|
|
|
|
Casinos
& Gaming – 1.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4,433,940
|
|
Golden Nugget, Inc. (Fertitta Entertainment, LLC), Initial Term Loan B, 1 Mo. SOFR + 4.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
8.09%
|
|
01/27/29
|
|
4,222,308
|
| 217,409
|
|
Scientific Games Holdings LP (Scientific Games Lottery), Initial Dollar Term Loan, 3 Mo. SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50%
Floor
|
|
7.10%
|
|
04/04/29
|
|
207,354
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,429,662
|
|
|
|
Coal
& Consumable Fuels – 0.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 36,248
|
|
Arch Coal, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 1.00% Floor
|
|
6.82%
|
|
03/07/24
|
|
35,863
|
|
|
|
Communications
Equipment – 0.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 855,069
|
|
Commscope, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
04/06/26
|
|
820,601
|
Page
8
See
Notes to Financial Statements
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments (Continued)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Principal
Value |
|
Description
|
|
Rate
(a) |
|
Stated
Maturity (b) |
|
Value
|
| SENIOR
FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued) |
|
|
|
Data
Processing & Outsourced Services – 0.1% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $200,204
|
|
Paysafe Holdings (US) Corp., Facility B1 Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
6.82%
|
|
06/24/28
|
|
$185,189
|
|
|
|
Education
Services – 0.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,471,918
|
|
Ascensus Holdings, Inc. (Mercury), First Lien Term Loan, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.19%
|
|
08/02/28
|
|
1,409,361
|
|
|
|
Electric
Utilities – 2.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7,175,555
|
|
PG&E Corp., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.13%
|
|
06/23/25
|
|
7,057,445
|
|
|
|
Electronic
Equipment & Instruments – 0.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,368,043
|
|
Chamberlain Group, Inc. (Chariot), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
11/03/28
|
|
1,278,696
|
| 870,089
|
|
Verifone Systems, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
8.36%
|
|
08/20/25
|
|
784,307
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,063,003
|
|
|
|
Environmental
& Facilities Services – 2.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 5,725,622
|
|
GFL Environmental, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.41%
|
|
05/31/25
|
|
5,711,308
|
| 2,089,291
|
|
Packers Holdings, LLC (PSSI), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.13%
|
|
03/15/28
|
|
1,817,683
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,528,991
|
|
|
|
Food
Distributors – 0.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 778,611
|
|
US Foods, Inc., Incremental B-2019 Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.07%
|
|
08/31/26
|
|
767,041
|
|
|
|
Health
Care Equipment – 0.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 86,399
|
|
Embecta Corp., Initial Term Loan, 3 Mo. SOFR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
6.55%
|
|
03/31/29
|
|
82,997
|
|
|
|
Health
Care Facilities – 0.8% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 495,273
|
|
Ardent Health Services Inc (AHP Health Partners, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
08/24/28
|
|
481,445
|
| 2,000,000
|
|
Select Medical Corporation, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.58%
|
|
03/06/25
|
|
1,960,620
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,442,065
|
|
|
|
Health
Care Services – 5.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2,988,859
|
|
ADMI Corp. (Aspen Dental), 2020 Incremental Term Loan B2, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.38%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.45%
|
|
12/23/27
|
|
2,746,014
|
| 2,512,004
|
|
ADMI Corp. (Aspen Dental), 2021 Incremental Term Loan B3, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.82%
|
|
12/23/27
|
|
2,292,204
|
| 771,968
|
|
Aveanna Healthcare, LLC, 2021 Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.77%
|
|
07/15/28
|
|
592,485
|
| 315,285
|
|
Brightspring Health (Phoenix Guarantor, Inc.), Incremental Term Loan B-3, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
03/05/26
|
|
299,668
|
| 3,289,639
|
|
CHG Healthcare Services, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
09/30/28
|
|
3,220,919
|
| 2,690,425
|
|
DaVita, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
5.82%
|
|
08/12/26
|
|
2,599,623
|
| 2,622,039
|
|
ExamWorks Group, Inc. (Electron Bidco), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.07%
|
|
10/29/28
|
|
2,541,516
|
| 1,990,294
|
|
Global Medical Response, Inc. (fka Air Medical), 2021 Refinancing Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.25%, 1.00% Floor
|
|
8.09%
|
|
10/02/25
|
|
1,573,328
|
| 190,480
|
|
SCP Health (Onex TSG Intermediate Corp.), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
9.16%
|
|
02/28/28
|
|
169,051
|
See
Notes to Financial Statements
Page
9
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments (Continued)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Principal
Value |
|
Description
|
|
Rate
(a) |
|
Stated
Maturity (b) |
|
Value
|
| SENIOR
FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued) |
|
|
|
Health
Care Services (Continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $62,686
|
|
Sevita (National Mentor Holdings, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.83%
|
|
03/01/28
|
|
$44,281
|
| 77,454
|
|
Sevita (National Mentor Holdings, Inc.), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.43%
|
|
03/01/28
|
|
54,713
|
| 4,102
|
|
Sevita (National Mentor Holdings, Inc.), Term Loan C, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.43%
|
|
03/01/28
|
|
2,898
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,136,700
|
|
|
|
Health
Care Supplies – 1.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 5,300,957
|
|
Medline Borrower, LP (Mozart), Initial Dollar Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
10/21/28
|
|
5,028,540
|
|
|
|
Health
Care Technology – 12.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4,675,565
|
|
athenahealth, Inc. (Minerva Merger Sub, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.41%
|
|
02/15/29
|
|
4,259,440
|
| 3,892,779
|
|
Ciox Health (Healthport/CT Technologies Intermediate Holdings, Inc.), New Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.25%, 0.75%
Floor
|
|
8.32%
|
|
12/16/25
|
|
3,587,429
|
| 1,808,384
|
|
Ensemble RCM, LLC (Ensemble Health), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. SOFR + 3.85%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.94%
|
|
08/01/26
|
|
1,752,631
|
| 2,266,541
|
|
Mediware (Wellsky/Project Ruby Ultimate Parent Corp.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
03/10/28
|
|
2,150,789
|
| 1,209,782
|
|
Navicure, Inc. (Waystar Technologies, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
8.07%
|
|
10/23/26
|
|
1,185,587
|
| 1,834,006
|
|
Press Ganey (Azalea TopCo, Inc.), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
07/25/26
|
|
1,694,163
|
| 12,343,896
|
|
Verscend Technologies, Inc. (Cotiviti), New Term Loan B-1, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
8.07%
|
|
08/27/25
|
|
12,240,330
|
| 7,647,683
|
|
Zelis Payments Buyer, Inc., New Term Loan B-1, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
09/30/26
|
|
7,545,281
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,415,650
|
|
|
|
Hotels,
Resorts & Cruise Lines – 2.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 460,665
|
|
Alterra Mountain Company, Term Loan B-2, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
08/17/28
|
|
453,755
|
| 5,926,463
|
|
Four Seasons Holdings, Inc., Term Loan, 1 Mo. SOFR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.44%
|
|
11/30/29
|
|
5,915,381
|
| 443,489
|
|
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
5.82%
|
|
05/30/25
|
|
441,192
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,810,328
|
|
|
|
Household
Appliances – 0.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 677,143
|
|
Traeger Grills (TGP Holdings III, LLC), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
06/24/28
|
|
541,972
|
|
|
|
Industrial
Machinery – 0.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 255,328
|
|
Filtration Group Corporation, 2021 Incremental Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
10/21/28
|
|
248,498
|
| 213,229
|
|
Filtration Group Corporation, Initial Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.07%
|
|
03/29/25
|
|
210,218
|
| 618,674
|
|
TK Elevator Newco GMBH (Vertical U.S. Newco, Inc.), New Term Loan B1 (USD), 6 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
6.87%
|
|
07/31/27
|
|
592,380
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,051,096
|
|
|
|
Insurance
Brokers – 14.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4,509,949
|
|
Alliant Holdings I, LLC, 2019 New Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
05/10/25
|
|
4,414,112
|
Page
10
See
Notes to Financial Statements
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments (Continued)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Principal
Value |
|
Description
|
|
Rate
(a) |
|
Stated
Maturity (b) |
|
Value
|
| SENIOR
FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued) |
|
|
|
Insurance
Brokers (Continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $7,543,348
|
|
Alliant Holdings I, LLC, Initial Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
05/09/25
|
|
$7,391,274
|
| 2,547,300
|
|
Alliant Holdings I, LLC, TLB-4 New Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.44%
|
|
11/06/27
|
|
2,469,302
|
| 475,455
|
|
AssuredPartners, Inc., 2021 Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
02/13/27
|
|
456,080
|
| 108,172
|
|
AssuredPartners, Inc., 2022 Incremental Term Loan B4, 1 Mo. SOFR + 4.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
8.58%
|
|
02/13/27
|
|
106,077
|
| 1,818,498
|
|
AssuredPartners, Inc., Incremental Term Loan 2022, 1 Mo. SOFR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.59%
|
|
02/13/27
|
|
1,744,631
|
| 6,445,470
|
|
AssuredPartners, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
02/12/27
|
|
6,189,005
|
| 2,786,633
|
|
BroadStreet Partners, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.75%
|
|
01/27/27
|
|
2,681,800
|
| 35,901
|
|
HUB International Limited, Initial Term Loan B, 2 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.98%
|
|
04/25/25
|
|
35,193
|
| 13,714,085
|
|
HUB International Limited, Initial Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.33%
|
|
04/25/25
|
|
13,443,781
|
| 2,451
|
|
HUB International Limited, New Term Loan B-3, 2 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.23%
|
|
04/25/25
|
|
2,408
|
| 960,599
|
|
HUB International Limited, New Term Loan B-3, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.53%
|
|
04/25/25
|
|
944,068
|
| 453,751
|
|
Ryan Specialty Group, LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. SOFR + 3.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.19%
|
|
09/01/27
|
|
450,234
|
| 1,729,760
|
|
USI, Inc. (fka Compass Investors, Inc.), 2022 New Term Loan, 1 Mo. SOFR + 3.75%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.68%
|
|
11/30/29
|
|
1,699,801
|
|
|
|
|
|
42,027,766
|
|
|
|
Integrated
Telecommunication Services – 2.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3,378,830
|
|
Numericable (Altice France SA or SFR), Term Loan B-11, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.16%
|
|
07/31/25
|
|
3,235,230
|
| 751,031
|
|
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., Incremental Term Loan B-2, 1 Mo. SOFR + 4.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
8.34%
|
|
03/09/27
|
|
583,506
|
| 3,740,009
|
|
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., Initial Dollar Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.07%
|
|
03/09/27
|
|
2,810,542
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,629,278
|
|
|
|
Managed
Health Care – 0.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2,293,123
|
|
Multiplan, Inc. (MPH), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
8.98%
|
|
08/31/28
|
|
1,963,487
|
|
|
|
Metal
& Glass Containers – 0.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 497,673
|
|
Berry Global, Inc., Term Loan Z, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
5.63%
|
|
07/01/26
|
|
491,203
|
|
|
|
Office
Services & Supplies – 0.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 608,895
|
|
Dun & Bradstreet Corp., Refinancing Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.29%
|
|
02/08/26
|
|
600,066
|
|
|
|
Packaged
Foods & Meats – 2.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 16,760
|
|
Hostess Brands, LLC (HB Holdings), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
6.32%
|
|
08/03/25
|
|
16,643
|
| 6,485,964
|
|
Hostess Brands, LLC (HB Holdings), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
6.66%
|
|
08/03/25
|
|
6,440,692
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,457,335
|
See
Notes to Financial Statements
Page
11
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments (Continued)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Principal
Value |
|
Description
|
|
Rate
(a) |
|
Stated
Maturity (b) |
|
Value
|
| SENIOR
FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued) |
|
|
|
Paper
Packaging – 3.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $4,669,550
|
|
Graham Packaging Company, LP, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.07%
|
|
08/04/27
|
|
$4,558,648
|
| 1,598,439
|
|
Pactiv,
LLC / Evergreen Packaging, LLC (fka Reynolds Group Holdings), Term Loan B-2, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor |
|
7.32%
|
|
02/05/26
|
|
1,573,600
|
| 3,348,833
|
|
Pactiv, LLC / Evergreen Packaging, LLC (fka Reynolds Group Holdings), Tranche B-3 U.S. Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR
+ 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
09/20/28
|
|
3,295,988
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,428,236
|
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals –
2.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 972,491
|
|
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
05/05/28
|
|
963,981
|
| 5,061
|
|
Mallinckrodt International Finance S.A., Amendment No. 2 Incremental Term Loan, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 5.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
8.73%
|
|
09/30/27
|
|
3,964
|
| 1,088,938
|
|
Nestle Skin Health (Sunshine Lux VII SARL/Galderma), 2021 Term Loan B-3, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.42%
|
|
10/02/26
|
|
1,032,793
|
| 3,811,548
|
|
Parexel International Corp. (Phoenix Newco), First Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
11/15/28
|
|
3,660,534
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,661,272
|
|
|
|
Research
& Consulting Services – 1.9% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4,173,518
|
|
Clarivate Analytics PLC (Camelot), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%, 1.00% Floor
|
|
7.07%
|
|
10/31/26
|
|
4,101,775
|
| 975,807
|
|
Corelogic, Inc., 2021 Incremental Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.63%
|
|
06/02/28
|
|
802,602
|
| 386,835
|
|
J.D. Power (Project Boost Purchaser, LLC), Non-Fungible 1st Lien Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
05/26/26
|
|
372,329
|
| 334,037
|
|
Veritext Corporation (VT TopCo, Inc.), Term Loan B-4, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.82%
|
|
08/10/25
|
|
324,433
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,601,139
|
|
|
|
Restaurants –
6.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4,112,297
|
|
1011778 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company (Restaurant Brands) (aka Burger King/Tim Horton’s), Term Loan
B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
5.82%
|
|
11/14/26
|
|
4,030,051
|
| 1,218,819
|
|
1011778 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company (Restaurant Brands) (aka Burger King/Tim Horton’s), Term Loan
B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.16%
|
|
11/14/26
|
|
1,194,443
|
| 7,553,655
|
|
IRB Holding Corp. (Arby’s/Inspire Brands), New Term Loan B 2022, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%, 1.00% Floor
|
|
6.82%
|
|
02/05/25
|
|
7,410,664
|
| 1,965,000
|
|
IRB Holding Corp. (Arby’s/Inspire Brands), Term Loan B-3, 1 Mo. SOFR + 3.10%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
6.89%
|
|
12/15/27
|
|
1,888,365
|
| 3,880,000
|
|
Portillo’s Holdings, LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 5.50%, 1.00% Floor
|
|
9.57%
|
|
08/30/24
|
|
3,847,680
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,371,203
|
|
|
|
Security
& Alarm Services – 0.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 549,406
|
|
Garda World Security Corporation, Second Lien Term Loan B-3, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
8.93%
|
|
10/30/26
|
|
526,469
|
|
|
|
Specialized
Consumer Services – 0.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 926,400
|
|
Asurion, LLC, Inc. Amendment No. 6 Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
12/23/26
|
|
809,053
|
Page
12
See
Notes to Financial Statements
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments (Continued)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Principal
Value |
|
Description
|
|
Rate
(a) |
|
Stated
Maturity (b) |
|
Value
|
| SENIOR
FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS (c) (Continued) |
|
|
|
Specialized
Consumer Services (Continued) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $1,698,479
|
|
Asurion, LLC, New B-8 Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 5.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
9.32%
|
|
01/31/28
|
|
$1,306,130
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,115,183
|
|
|
|
Specialized
Finance – 0.9% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 850,305
|
|
Radiate Holdco, LLC (Astound), Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.32%
|
|
09/25/26
|
|
743,881
|
| 731,007
|
|
WCG Purchaser Corp. (WIRB- Copernicus Group), Initial Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
8.07%
|
|
01/08/27
|
|
685,319
|
| 1,211,918
|
|
WCG Purchaser Corp. (WIRB- Copernicus Group), Initial Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.67%
|
|
01/08/27
|
|
1,136,173
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,565,373
|
|
|
|
Specialty
Stores – 1.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2,770,775
|
|
Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc., 2021 Replacement Dollar Term Loan, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
6.92%
|
|
03/03/28
|
|
2,681,889
|
| 1,074,628
|
|
Petsmart, Inc., Initial Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.82%
|
|
02/12/28
|
|
1,031,256
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,713,145
|
|
|
|
Systems
Software – 5.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2,689,180
|
|
BMC Software Finance, Inc. (Boxer Parent), Initial Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.82%
|
|
10/02/25
|
|
2,575,912
|
| 883,272
|
|
Idera, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 0.75% Floor
|
|
7.50%
|
|
02/15/28
|
|
835,063
|
| 1,781,852
|
|
Misys Financial Software Ltd. (Almonde, Inc.) (Finastra), Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 1.00% Floor
|
|
6.87%
|
|
06/13/24
|
|
1,608,531
|
| 885,870
|
|
Proofpoint, Inc., Term Loan B, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.98%
|
|
08/31/28
|
|
851,268
|
| 1,962,470
|
|
Sophos Group PLC (Surf), Term Loan B-5, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
6.67%
|
|
03/05/27
|
|
1,879,889
|
| 6,804,180
|
|
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc., Facility B1 USD, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
5.82%
|
|
04/16/25
|
|
6,671,907
|
| 1,282,564
|
|
SUSE (Marcel Lux IV SARL), 2021 Refinancing Term Loan, Daily SOFR + 3.25%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
7.16%
|
|
03/15/26
|
|
1,260,119
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,682,689
|
|
|
|
Trading
Companies & Distributors – 0.8% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2,326,073
|
|
SRS Distribution, Inc., 2022 Refinancing Term Loan, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.57%
|
|
06/04/28
|
|
2,230,122
|
| 113,313
|
|
SRS Distribution, Inc., Term Loan B, 1 Mo. SOFR + 3.60%, 0.50% Floor
|
|
7.69%
|
|
06/04/28
|
|
108,249
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,338,371
|
|
|
|
Wireless
Telecommunication Services – 2.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7,272,834
|
|
SBA Senior Finance II, LLC, Term Loan B, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%, 0.00% Floor
|
|
5.83%
|
|
04/11/25
|
|
7,221,924
|
|
|
|
Total Senior Floating-Rate Loan Interests
|
|
313,536,922
|
|
|
|
(Cost
$324,453,078) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal
Value |
|
Description
|
|
Stated
Coupon |
|
Stated
Maturity |
|
Value
|
| CORPORATE
BONDS AND NOTES (c) – 8.8% |
|
|
|
Application
Software – 0.1% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 560,000
|
|
GoTo Group, Inc. (d)
|
|
5.50%
|
|
09/01/27
|
|
328,678
|
See
Notes to Financial Statements
Page
13
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments (Continued)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Principal
Value |
|
Description
|
|
Stated
Coupon |
|
Stated
Maturity |
|
Value
|
| CORPORATE
BONDS AND NOTES (c) (Continued) |
|
|
|
Broadcasting –
2.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $1,000,000
|
|
Gray Television, Inc. (d)
|
|
5.88%
|
|
07/15/26
|
|
$922,500
|
| 2,000,000
|
|
Gray Television, Inc. (d)
|
|
7.00%
|
|
05/15/27
|
|
1,841,250
|
| 52,000
|
|
iHeartCommunications, Inc. (d)
|
|
5.25%
|
|
08/15/27
|
|
46,386
|
| 3,043,000
|
|
Nexstar Media, Inc. (d)
|
|
5.63%
|
|
07/15/27
|
|
2,873,307
|
| 2,395,000
|
|
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. (d)
|
|
3.13%
|
|
09/01/26
|
|
2,165,176
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,848,619
|
|
|
|
Cable
& Satellite – 2.9% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7,000,000
|
|
CCO Holdings, LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp. (d)
|
|
5.13%
|
|
05/01/27
|
|
6,633,305
|
| 2,000,000
|
|
CSC Holdings, LLC (d)
|
|
7.50%
|
|
04/01/28
|
|
1,561,710
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,195,015
|
|
|
|
Casinos
& Gaming – 0.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 572,000
|
|
Fertitta Entertainment, LLC / Fertitta Entertainment Finance Co., Inc. (d)
|
|
4.63%
|
|
01/15/29
|
|
505,680
|
| 572,000
|
|
VICI Properties, L.P. / VICI Note Co., Inc. (d)
|
|
4.25%
|
|
12/01/26
|
|
532,801
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,038,481
|
|
|
|
Health
Care Facilities – 1.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2,500,000
|
|
Tenet Healthcare Corp. (d)
|
|
6.25%
|
|
02/01/27
|
|
2,398,600
|
| 2,500,000
|
|
Tenet Healthcare Corp. (d)
|
|
5.13%
|
|
11/01/27
|
|
2,356,963
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,755,563
|
|
|
|
Health
Care Services – 0.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 376,000
|
|
DaVita, Inc. (d)
|
|
4.63%
|
|
06/01/30
|
|
304,930
|
| 226,000
|
|
DaVita, Inc. (d)
|
|
3.75%
|
|
02/15/31
|
|
166,453
|
| 324,000
|
|
Global Medical Response, Inc. (d)
|
|
6.50%
|
|
10/01/25
|
|
244,392
|
|
|
|
|
|
715,775
|
|
|
|
Insurance
Brokers – 0.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 359,000
|
|
AmWINS Group, Inc. (d)
|
|
4.88%
|
|
06/30/29
|
|
310,638
|
| 500,000
|
|
AssuredPartners, Inc. (d)
|
|
7.00%
|
|
08/15/25
|
|
480,538
|
|
|
|
|
|
791,176
|
|
|
|
Integrated
Telecommunication Services – 0.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 769,000
|
|
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. (d)
|
|
4.00%
|
|
03/01/27
|
|
552,057
|
|
|
|
Systems
Software – 0.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,007,000
|
|
SS&C Technologies, Inc. (d)
|
|
5.50%
|
|
09/30/27
|
|
964,008
|
|
|
|
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes
|
|
25,189,372
|
|
|
|
(Cost
$26,351,987) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| FOREIGN
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (c) – 0.6% |
|
|
|
Application
Software – 0.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 22,000
|
|
Open Text Corp. (d)
|
|
3.88%
|
|
02/15/28
|
|
18,585
|
|
|
|
Environmental
& Facilities Services – 0.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1,554,000
|
|
GFL Environmental, Inc. (d)
|
|
3.75%
|
|
08/01/25
|
|
1,456,829
|
| 305,000
|
|
GFL Environmental, Inc. (d)
|
|
4.00%
|
|
08/01/28
|
|
262,109
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,718,938
|
|
|
|
Total Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes
|
|
1,737,523
|
|
|
|
(Cost
$1,766,566) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
14
See
Notes to Financial Statements
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments (Continued)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
| Shares
|
|
Description
|
|
Value
|
| COMMON
STOCKS (c) – 0.3% |
| |
|
Pharmaceuticals –
0.3% |
|
|
| 150,392
|
|
Akorn, Inc. (e) (f)
|
|
$977,548
|
| |
|
(Cost
$1,724,086) |
|
|
| RIGHTS
(c) – 0.1% |
| |
|
Electric
Utilities – 0.1% |
|
|
| 106,607
|
|
Vistra Energy Corp., no expiration date (f) (g)
|
|
131,500
|
|
|
|
Life
Sciences Tools & Services – 0.0% |
|
|
| 1
|
|
New Millennium Holdco, Inc., Corporate Claim Trust, no expiration date (f) (g) (h) (i)
|
|
0
|
| 1
|
|
New Millennium Holdco, Inc., Lender Claim Trust, no expiration date (f) (g) (h) (i)
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
Total Rights
|
|
131,500
|
| |
|
(Cost
$174,207) |
|
|
| WARRANTS
(c) – 0.0% |
| |
|
Movies
& Entertainment – 0.0% |
|
|
| 315,514
|
|
Cineworld Group PLC, expiring 11/23/25 (f) (g) (j)
|
|
19,013
|
| |
|
(Cost
$0) |
|
|
| |
|
Total Investments – 119.1%
|
|
341,591,878
|
|
|
|
(Cost
$354,469,924) |
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding Loans – (18.8)%
|
|
(54,000,000)
|
| |
|
Net Other Assets and Liabilities – (0.3)%
|
|
(882,337)
|
|
|
|
Net Assets – 100.0%
|
|
$286,709,541
|
| (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 lending rate offered by one or more
major European banks, such as the LIBOR, (ii) the SOFR obtained from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Financial Research,
(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 LIBOR or SOFR floor that establishes a minimum LIBOR or SOFR rate. When a range of rates is disclosed, the Fund holds more than one
contract within the same tranche with identical LIBOR or SOFR period, spread and floor, but different LIBOR or 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
of these securities are available to serve as collateral for the outstanding loans. |
| (d)
|
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 November 30, 2022, securities noted as such amounted to $26,926,895 or 9.4% of net assets. |
| (e)
|
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).
|
| (f)
|
Non-income
producing security. |
| (g)
|
Pursuant
to procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, this security has been determined to be illiquid by the Advisor. |
| (h)
|
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 November 30, 2022, securities
noted as such are valued at $0 or 0.0% of net assets. |
| (i)
|
This
security’s value was determined using significant unobservable inputs (see Note 2A – Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial
Statements). |
| (j)
|
This
issuer has filed for protection in bankruptcy court. |
| LIBOR
|
London
Interbank Offered Rate |
| SOFR
|
Secured
Overnight Financing Rate |
See
Notes to Financial Statements
Page
15
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Portfolio
of Investments (Continued)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
Valuation
Inputs
A
summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of November 30, 2022 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation
in the Notes to Financial Statements):
|
|
Total
Value at 11/30/2022 |
Level
1 Quoted Prices |
Level
2 Significant Observable Inputs |
Level
3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
|
Senior Floating-Rate Loan Interests*
|
$ 313,536,922
|
$ —
|
$ 313,536,922
|
$ —
|
|
Corporate Bonds and Notes*
|
25,189,372
|
—
|
25,189,372
|
—
|
|
Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes*
|
1,737,523
|
—
|
1,737,523
|
—
|
|
Common Stocks*
|
977,548
|
—
|
977,548
|
—
|
| Rights:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric Utilities
|
131,500
|
—
|
131,500
|
—
|
|
Life Sciences Tools & Services
|
—**
|
—
|
—
|
—**
|
|
Warrants*
|
19,013
|
—
|
19,013
|
—
|
|
Total Investments
|
$ 341,591,878
|
$—
|
$ 341,591,878
|
$—**
|
| *
|
See
Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout. |
| **
|
Investment
is valued at $0. |
Level
3 Rights that are fair valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee are footnoted in the Portfolio of Investments. All Level 3 values
are based on unobservable inputs.
Page
16
See
Notes to Financial Statements
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Statement
of Assets and Liabilities
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
| ASSETS:
|
|
|
Investments, at value
(Cost $354,469,924)
|
$ 341,591,878
|
|
Cash
|
8,617,477
|
| Receivables:
|
|
|
Investment securities sold
|
20,522,381
|
|
Interest
|
1,419,553
|
|
Prepaid expenses
|
4,321
|
|
Total Assets
|
372,155,610
|
| LIABILITIES:
|
|
|
Outstanding loans
|
54,000,000
|
| Payables:
|
|
|
Investment securities purchased
|
30,871,664
|
|
Investment advisory fees
|
215,248
|
|
Interest and fees on loans
|
124,940
|
|
Audit and tax fees
|
42,539
|
|
Administrative fees
|
28,360
|
|
Custodian fees
|
12,340
|
|
Legal fees
|
11,485
|
|
Trustees’ fees and expenses
|
2,951
|
|
Shareholder reporting fees
|
2,724
|
|
Transfer agent fees
|
2,470
|
|
Financial reporting fees
|
761
|
|
Unrealized depreciation on unfunded loan commitments
|
126,559
|
|
Other liabilities
|
4,028
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
85,446,069
|
|
NET ASSETS
|
$286,709,541
|
| NET
ASSETS consist of: |
|
|
Paid-in capital
|
$ 355,520,483
|
|
Par value
|
259,834
|
|
Accumulated distributable earnings (loss)
|
(69,070,776)
|
|
NET ASSETS
|
$286,709,541
|
|
NET ASSET VALUE, per Common Share (par value $0.01 per Common Share)
|
$11.03
|
|
Number of Common Shares outstanding (unlimited number of Common Shares has been authorized)
|
25,983,388
|
See
Notes to Financial Statements
Page
17
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Statement
of Operations
For
the Six Months Ended November 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
| INVESTMENT
INCOME: |
|
|
Interest
|
$ 12,570,272
|
|
Dividends
|
32,040
|
|
Other
|
36,248
|
|
Total investment income
|
12,638,560
|
| EXPENSES:
|
|
|
Investment advisory fees
|
1,390,610
|
|
Interest and fees on loans
|
1,289,778
|
|
Administrative fees
|
126,787
|
|
Shareholder reporting fees
|
41,834
|
|
Audit and tax fees
|
37,206
|
|
Legal fees
|
26,707
|
|
Custodian fees
|
21,020
|
|
Listing expense
|
18,193
|
|
Trustees’ fees and expenses
|
9,105
|
|
Transfer agent fees
|
7,212
|
|
Financial reporting fees
|
4,616
|
|
Other
|
17,979
|
|
Total expenses
|
2,991,047
|
|
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)
|
9,647,513
|
| NET
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): |
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments
|
(16,937,923)
|
| Net
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: |
|
|
Investments
|
11,368,149
|
|
Unfunded loan commitments
|
(54,034)
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
|
11,314,115
|
|
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)
|
(5,623,808)
|
|
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS
|
$ 4,023,705
|
Page
18
See
Notes to Financial Statements
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Statements
of Changes in Net Assets
|
|
Six
Months Ended 11/30/2022 (Unaudited) |
|
Year
Ended 5/31/2022 |
| OPERATIONS:
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)
|
$ 9,647,513
|
|
$ 14,768,290
|
|
Net realized gain (loss)
|
(16,937,923)
|
|
(1,184,588)
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
|
11,314,115
|
|
(24,665,993)
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
|
4,023,705
|
|
(11,082,291)
|
| DISTRIBUTIONS
TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM: |
|
|
|
|
Investment operations
|
(11,029,948)
|
|
(14,904,773)
|
|
Return of capital
|
—
|
|
(10,282,054)
|
|
Total distributions to shareholders
|
(11,029,948)
|
|
(25,186,827)
|
| CAPITAL
TRANSACTIONS: |
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from Common Shares reinvested
|
—
|
|
366,260
|
|
Repurchase of Common Shares
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital transactions
|
—
|
|
366,260
|
|
Total increase (decrease) in net assets
|
(7,006,243)
|
|
(35,902,858)
|
| NET
ASSETS: |
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period
|
293,715,784
|
|
329,618,642
|
|
End of period
|
$ 286,709,541
|
|
$ 293,715,784
|
| CAPITAL
TRANSACTIONS were as follows: |
|
|
|
|
Common Shares at beginning of period
|
25,983,388
|
|
25,953,421
|
|
Common Shares issued as reinvestment under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan
|
—
|
|
29,967
|
|
Common Shares at end of period
|
25,983,388
|
|
25,983,388
|
See
Notes to Financial Statements
Page
19
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Statement
of Cash Flows
For
the Six Months Ended November 30, 2022 (Unaudited)
| Cash
flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
|
$4,023,705
|
|
| Adjustments
to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
Purchases of investments
|
(179,730,082)
|
|
|
Sales, maturities and paydown of investments
|
251,833,263
|
|
|
Net amortization/accretion of premiums/discounts on investments
|
(845,360)
|
|
|
Net realized gain/loss on investments
|
16,937,923
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and unfunded loan commitments
|
(11,314,115)
|
|
| Changes
in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
Increase in interest receivable
|
(97,888)
|
|
|
Decrease in prepaid expenses
|
16,916
|
|
|
Decrease in interest and fees payable on loans
|
(1,662)
|
|
|
Decrease in investment advisory fees payable
|
(49,077)
|
|
|
Decrease in audit and tax fees payable
|
(30,513)
|
|
|
Increase in legal fees payable
|
8,735
|
|
|
Decrease in shareholder reporting fees payable
|
(17,658)
|
|
|
Decrease in administrative fees payable
|
(1,488)
|
|
|
Increase in custodian fees payable
|
4,534
|
|
|
Decrease in transfer agent fees payable
|
(8,307)
|
|
|
Decrease in trustees’ fees and expenses payable
|
(152)
|
|
|
Decrease in financial reporting fees payable
|
(10)
|
|
|
Increase in other liabilities payable
|
292
|
|
|
Cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$80,729,056
|
| Cash
flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
Distributions to Common Shareholders from investment operations
|
(11,029,948)
|
|
|
Repayment of borrowings
|
(104,000,000)
|
|
|
Proceeds from borrowings
|
42,000,000
|
|
|
Cash used in financing activities
|
|
(73,029,948)
|
|
Increase in cash
|
|
7,699,108
|
|
Cash at beginning of period
|
|
918,369
|
|
Cash at end of period
|
|
$8,617,477
|
| Supplemental
disclosure of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
Cash paid during the period for interest and fees
|
|
$1,291,440
|
Page
20
See
Notes to Financial Statements
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
Financial
Highlights
For
a Common Share outstanding throughout each period
|
|
Six
Months Ended 11/30/2022 (Unaudited) |
|
Year
Ended May 31, |
|
|
2022
|
|
2021
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
2018
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
$ 11.30
|
|
$ 12.70
|
|
$ 12.46
|
|
$ 13.70
|
|
$ 14.05
|
|
$ 14.28
|
| Income
from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)
|
0.37
|
|
0.56
|
|
0.55
|
|
0.67
|
|
0.74
|
|
0.70
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
|
(0.22)
|
|
(0.99)
|
|
0.90
|
|
(0.97)
|
|
(0.36)
|
|
(0.17)
|
|
Total from investment operations
|
0.15
|
|
(0.43)
|
|
1.45
|
|
(0.30)
|
|
0.38
|
|
0.53
|
| Distributions
paid to shareholders from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
(0.42)
|
|
(0.57)
|
|
(0.56)
|
|
(0.69)
|
|
(0.73)
|
|
(0.70)
|
|
Return of capital
|
—
|
|
(0.40)
|
|
(0.69)
|
|
(0.25)
|
|
—
|
|
(0.06)
|
|
Total distributions paid to Common Shareholders
|
(0.42)
|
|
(0.97)
|
|
(1.25)
|
|
(0.94)
|
|
(0.73)
|
|
(0.76)
|
|
Common Share repurchases
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
0.04
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
Net asset value, end of period
|
$11.03
|
|
$11.30
|
|
$12.70
|
|
$12.46
|
|
$13.70
|
|
$14.05
|
|
Market value, end of period
|
$10.18
|
|
$10.90
|
|
$12.60
|
|
$11.12
|
|
$11.98
|
|
$12.99
|
|
Total return based on net asset value (a)
|
1.78%
|
|
(3.64)%
|
|
13.51%
|
|
(1.38)%
|
|
3.44%
|
|
4.24%
|
|
Total return based on market value (a)
|
(2.61)%
|
|
(6.31)%
|
|
26.18%
|
|
0.65%
|
|
(2.17)%
|
|
1.05%
|
| Ratios
to average net assets/supplemental data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)
|
$ 286,710
|
|
$ 293,716
|
|
$ 329,619
|
|
$ 332,267
|
|
$ 365,804
|
|
$ 375,015
|
|
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets
|
2.08% (b)
|
|
1.67%
|
|
1.70%
|
|
2.35%
|
|
2.53%
|
|
2.17%
|
|
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense
|
1.18% (b)
|
|
1.24%
|
|
1.30%
|
|
1.26%
|
|
1.24%
|
|
1.26%
|
|
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets
|
6.71% (b)
|
|
4.64%
|
|
4.37%
|
|
4.98%
|
|
5.34%
|
|
4.94%
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate
|
39%
|
|
45%
|
|
78%
|
|
64%
|
|
58%
|
|
101%
|
| Indebtedness:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total loans outstanding (in 000’s)
|
$ 54,000
|
|
$ 116,000
|
|
$ 136,000
|
|
$ 119,000
|
|
$ 163,000
|
|
$ 155,000
|
|
Asset coverage per $1,000 of indebtedness (c)
|
$ 6,309
|
|
$ 3,532
|
|
$ 3,424
|
|
$ 3,792
|
|
$ 3,244
|
|
$ 3,419
|
| (a)
|
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. |
| (b)
|
Annualized.
|
| (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
21
Notes
to Financial Statements
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
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 (“SEC”)
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. 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.
2. Significant
Accounting Policies
The
Fund is considered an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board 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
| (1)
|
The
terms “security” and “securities” used throughout the Notes to Financial Statements include Senior Loans. |
Notes
to Financial Statements (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
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; |
| 2)
|
the
fundamental business data relating to the borrower; |
| 3)
|
an
evaluation of the forces which influence the market in which these securities are purchased and sold; |
| 4)
|
the
type, size and cost of the security; |
| 5)
|
the
financial statements of the borrower, or the financial condition of the country of issue; |
| 6)
|
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; |
| 7)
|
the
information as to any transactions in or offers for the security; |
| 8)
|
the
price and extent of public trading in similar securities (or equity securities) of the borrower, or comparable companies; |
| 9)
|
the
coupon payments; |
| 10)
|
the
quality, value and salability of collateral, if any, securing the security; |
| 11)
|
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; |
| 12)
|
the
prospects for the borrower’s industry, and multiples (of earnings and/or cash flows) being paid for similar businesses in that industry;
|
| 13)
|
the
borrower’s competitive position within the industry; |
| 14)
|
the
borrower’s ability to access additional liquidity through public and/or private markets; and |
| 15)
|
other
relevant factors. |
Common
stocks and other equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange (excluding The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“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.
Securities
traded in an over-the-counter market are valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their
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:
Notes
to Financial Statements (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
| 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; |
| 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 November 30, 2022, is included with the Fund’s
Portfolio of Investments.
In
December 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, establishing requirements to determine fair value in good faith for purposes
of the 1940 Act. The rule permits fund boards to designate a fund’s investment advisor to perform fair value determinations, subject
to board oversight and certain other conditions. The rule also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for
purposes of the 1940 Act and requires a fund to fair value a portfolio investment when a market quotation is not readily available. The
SEC also adopted new Rule 31a-4 under the 1940 Act, which sets forth recordkeeping requirements associated with fair value determinations.
The compliance date for Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4 was September 8, 2022.
Effective
September 8, 2022 and pursuant to the requirements of Rule 2a-5, the Fund’s Board of Trustees designated the Advisor as its valuation
designee to perform fair value determinations and approved new Advisor Valuation Procedures for the Fund.
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.
The
United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates the London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”),
announced on March 5, 2021 that it intended to phase-out all LIBOR reference rates, beginning December 31, 2021. Since that announcement,
the FCA has ceased publication of all non-USD LIBOR reference rates and the 1-week and 2-month USD LIBOR reference rates as of December
31, 2021. The remaining USD LIBOR settings will cease to be published or no longer be representative immediately after June 30, 2023.
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) confirmed that the FCA’s
Notes
to Financial Statements (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
March
5, 2021 announcement of its intention to cease providing LIBOR reference rates, constituted an index cessation event under the Interbank
Offered Rates (“IBOR”) Fallbacks Supplement and the ISDA 2020 IBOR Fallbacks Protocol for all 35 LIBOR settings and confirmed
that the spread adjustment to be used in ISDA fallbacks was fixed as of the date of the announcement.
In
the United States, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee (the “ARRC”), a group of market participants convened by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in cooperation with other federal and state
government agencies, has since 2014 undertaken efforts to identify U.S. dollar reference interest rates as alternatives to LIBOR and to
facilitate the mitigation of LIBOR-related risks. In June 2017, the ARRC identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”),
a broad measure of the cost of cash overnight borrowing collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities, as the preferred alternative for U.S.
dollar LIBOR. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began daily publishing of SOFR in April 2018. There is no assurance that any alternative
reference rate, including SOFR, will be similar to or produce the same value or economic equivalence as LIBOR or that instruments using
an alternative rate will have the same volume or liquidity.
At
this time, it is not possible to predict the full impact of the elimination of LIBOR and the establishment of an alternative reference
rate on the Fund or its investments.
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 November 30, 2022, 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. 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 November 30, 2022, the Fund had the following unfunded loan commitments:
| Borrower
|
|
Principal
Value |
|
Commitment
Amount |
|
Value
|
|
Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) |
| athenahealth,
Inc. (Minerva Merger Sub, Inc.), Term Loan |
|
$ 794,455
|
|
$ 791,140
|
|
$ 723,748
|
|
$ (67,392)
|
| Aveanna
Healthcare LLC, Term Loan |
|
181,205
|
|
180,135
|
|
139,075
|
|
(41,060)
|
| Traeger
Grills (TGP Holdings III LLC), Term Loan |
|
89,286
|
|
88,929
|
|
71,463
|
|
(17,466)
|
| Veritext
Corporation (VT TopCo, Inc.), Term Loan |
|
22,309
|
|
22,309
|
|
21,668
|
|
(641)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$1,082,513
|
|
$955,954
|
|
$(126,559)
|
D. Restricted
Securities
The
Fund invests in 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 November 30, 2022, 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
|
$6.50
|
$1,724,086
|
$977,548
|
0.34%
|
Notes
to Financial Statements (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
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.
The
tax character of distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, was as follows:
| Distributions
paid from: |
|
|
Ordinary income
|
$14,904,773
|
|
Return of capital
|
10,282,054
|
As
of May 31, 2022, 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
|
(37,881,083)
|
|
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
|
(24,183,450)
|
|
Total accumulated earnings (losses)
|
(62,064,533)
|
|
Other
|
—
|
|
Paid-in capital
|
355,780,317
|
|
Total net assets
|
$293,715,784
|
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 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, 2022, the Fund had $37,317,650 of non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available for federal
income tax purposes.
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, 2022, the Fund incurred $563,433 of late year capital losses.
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. Taxable years ended 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 remain open to
Notes
to Financial Statements (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
federal
and state audit. As of November 30, 2022, 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.
| Tax
Cost |
|
Gross
Unrealized Appreciation |
|
Gross
Unrealized (Depreciation) |
|
Net
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
| $354,469,924
|
|
$600,911
|
|
$(13,478,957)
|
|
$(12,878,046)
|
G. Expenses
The
Fund will pay all expenses directly related to its operations.
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 (“BNYM”) serves as the Fund’s administrator, fund accountant, and custodian in accordance with
certain fee arrangements. As administrator and fund accountant, BNYM 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, BNYM is responsible for custody of the Fund’s assets. BNYM 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 Lead Independent Trustee and the Chairs of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Valuation Committee 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 Lead Independent
Trustee and Committee Chairs rotate every three years. 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 six months ended November 30, 2022,
were $141,862,767 and $204,233,069, respectively.
5. Borrowings
The
Fund has a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with The Bank of Nova Scotia (“Scotia”) that provides a secured
line of credit for the Fund. The maximum commitment amount is $138,000,000. Prior to October 13, 2022, the maximum commitment amount was
$148,000,000. At the option of the Fund, the borrowing rate is either: (i) the applicable LIBOR rate plus 80 basis points or (ii) the
greater of (a) the prime rate as in effect from time to time, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 2% and (c) the overnight eurodollar
rate plus 2%. Under the Credit Agreement, the Fund pays a commitment fee of 0.25% when the loan balance is less than 75% of the maximum
commitment or 0.15% in all other events. The average amount outstanding under the Credit Agreement for the six months ended November 30,
2022 was $82,540,984 with the average weighted average interest rate of 3.23%. As of November 30, 2022, the Fund had two LIBOR loans outstanding
under the Credit Agreement totaling $54,000,000, which approximates fair value. In addition to the LIBOR loans, the Fund had Prime Rate
loans during the period with interest rates ranging from 4.00% to 6.25%.The borrowings are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value
hierarchy. The high and low annual interest rates during the six months ended November 30, 2022 were 6.25% and 1.66%, respectively. The
weighted average interest rate at November 30, 2022 was 4.71%. The interest and fees are included in “Interest and fees on loans”
on the Statement of Operations.
Notes
to Financial Statements (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
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.
7. Subsequent
Events
Management
has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events to the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined
that there were the following subsequent events:
Effective
December 16, 2022, the Fund amended its Credit Agreement with Scotia (“Amended Credit Agreement”). The Amended Credit Agreement
maintains the maximum commitment amount of $138,000,000. The Amended Credit Agreement replaces LIBOR as the applicable rate with Term
SOFR plus a credit spread adjustment of (a) 10 bps for a loan with a one month interest period, (b) 25 bps for a loan with a three month
interest period, and (c) 40 bps for a loan with a six month interest period. The spread on borrowed assets bearing interest at Term SOFR
changed to the reference rate + 95 bps (plus the applicable credit spread adjustment). Under the Amended Credit Agreement the committee
fee will remain at 0.15% when usage is greater than or equal to 75% or 25 bps if less than 75% of the total facility size is utilized.
On
January 3, 2023, the fair value methodology used to value the senior loan investments held by the Fund was changed. Prior to that date,
the senior loans were valued using the bid side price provided by a pricing service. After such date, the senior loans were valued using
the midpoint between the bid and ask price provided by a pricing service. The change in the Fund’s fair value methodology on January
3, 2023, resulted in a one-time increase in the Fund’s net asset value of approximately $0.046 per share on that date, which represented
a positive impact on the Fund’s performance of 0.42%.
Additional
Information
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (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 505000, Louisville,
KY 40233-5000.
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; (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
Additional
Information (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (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.
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders
The
Fund held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) on September 19, 2022. At the Annual Meeting, James A.
Bowen and Robert F. Keith were elected by the Common Shareholders of the First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II as Class III
Trustees for a three-year term expiring at the Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders in 2025. The number of votes cast in favor
of Mr. Bowen was 21,119,272 and the number of votes withheld was 304,645. The number of votes cast in favor of Mr. Keith was 21,119,272
and the number of votes withheld was 304,645. Richard E. Erickson, Thomas R. Kadlec, Denise M. Keefe and Niel B. Nielson are the other
current and continuing Trustees.
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.
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.
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
Additional
Information (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
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.
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 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 will tend to 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.
Many
financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based upon the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). The United Kingdom’s
Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, intends to cease making LIBOR available as a reference rate
over a phase-out period that began in early 2022. However, subsequent announcements by the FCA, the LIBOR administrators, and other regulators
indicate that it is possible that the most widely used LIBOR rates may continue until mid-2023. While some instruments tied to LIBOR may
include a replacement rate, not all instruments have such fallback provisions and the effectiveness of such replacement rates remains
uncertain. The unavailability or replacement of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain Fund investments and may result
in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades. In the United States, it is anticipated that
in many instances the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) will replace LIBOR as the reference rate for many of the floating
rate instruments held by the Fund. There is no assurance that the composition or characteristics of SOFR, or any alternative reference
rate, will be similar to or produce the same value or economic equivalence as LIBOR or that instruments using an alternative rate will
have the same volume or liquidity. As a result, the transition process might lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in markets
that currently rely on LIBOR to determine interest rates; a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments; increased difficulty
in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of any applicable hedging strategies against instruments whose terms currently
include LIBOR; and/ or costs incurred in connection with temporary borrowings and closing out positions and entering into new agreements.
Any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund or on certain instruments in which the Fund invests can be difficult
to ascertain, and they may vary depending on a variety of factors. Any such effects on the transition away from LIBOR, as well as other
unforeseen effects, could result in losses to the Fund.
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
Additional
Information (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
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. Securities held by a fund, as well as shares of a fund itself, are subject to market fluctuations
caused by factors such 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 of the
risk of loss associated with these market fluctuations. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism,
spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant negative impact on a
fund and its investments. For example, the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments,
including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions,
had negative impacts, and in many cases severe impacts, on markets worldwide. While the development of vaccines has slowed the spread
of the virus and allowed for the resumption of reasonably normal business activity in the United States, many countries continue to impose
lockdown measures in an attempt to slow the spread. Also, in February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine which has caused and could continue
to cause significant market disruptions and volatility across markets globally, including the United States. The hostilities and sanctions
resulting from those hostilities could have a significant impact on certain Fund investments as well as Fund performance. As the global
pandemic and conflict in Ukraine have illustrated, such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries
more significantly than others. These events also may adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio securities
or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative
impact on the value of the Fund’s shares 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 and the bid/ask spread on the Fund’s shares may widen.
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 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
Additional
Information (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
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
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.
Investment
Management Agreement
Board
Considerations Regarding Approval of Continuation of Investment Management Agreement
The
Board of Trustees of First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (the “Fund”), including the Independent Trustees, unanimously
approved the continuation of the Investment Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Fund and First Trust Advisors
L.P. (the “Advisor”). The Board approved the continuation of the Agreement for a one-year period ending June 30, 2023 at a
meeting held on June 12–13, 2022. The Board determined that the continuation of the Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund
in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided and such other matters as the Board considered to be relevant in the
exercise of its business judgment.
Additional
Information (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
To
reach this determination, the Board considered its duties under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”),
as well as under the general principles of state law, in reviewing and approving advisory contracts; the requirements of the 1940 Act
in such matters; the fiduciary duty of investment advisors with respect to advisory agreements and compensation; the standards used by
courts in determining whether investment company boards have fulfilled their duties; and the factors to be considered by the Board in
voting on such agreements. At meetings held on April 18, 2022 and June 12–13, 2022, the Board, including the Independent Trustees,
reviewed materials provided by the Advisor responding to requests for information from counsel to the Independent Trustees, submitted
on behalf of the Independent Trustees, that, among other things, outlined: the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund (including
the relevant personnel responsible for these services and their experience); the advisory fee rate payable by the Fund as compared to
fees charged to a peer group of funds (the “Expense Group”) and a broad peer universe of funds (the “Expense Universe”),
each assembled by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent source, and as compared to fees charged
to other clients of the Advisor; the expense ratio of the Fund as compared to expense ratios of the funds in the Fund’s Expense
Group and Expense Universe; performance information for the Fund, including comparisons of the Fund’s performance to that of one
or more relevant benchmark indexes and to that of a performance group of funds and a broad performance universe of funds (the “Performance
Universe”), each assembled by Broadridge; the nature of expenses incurred in providing services to the Fund and the potential for
the Advisor to realize economies of scale, if any; profitability and other financial data for the Advisor; any indirect benefits to the
Advisor; and information on the Advisor’s compliance program. The Board reviewed initial materials with the Advisor at the meeting
held on April 18, 2022, prior to which the Independent Trustees and their counsel met separately to discuss the information provided by
the Advisor. Following the April meeting, counsel to the Independent Trustees, on behalf of the Independent Trustees, requested certain
clarifications and supplements to the materials provided, and the information provided in response to those requests was considered at
an executive session of the Independent Trustees and their counsel held prior to the June 12–13, 2022 meeting, as well as at the
June meeting. The Board applied its business judgment to determine whether the arrangement between the Fund and the Advisor continues
to be a reasonable business arrangement from the Fund’s perspective. The Board determined that, given the totality of the information
provided with respect to the Agreement, the Board had received sufficient information to renew the Agreement. The Board considered that
shareholders chose to invest or remain invested in the Fund knowing that the Advisor manages the Fund.
In
reviewing the Agreement, the Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Advisor under the Agreement.
The Board considered that the Advisor is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Fund and reviewed all of the
services provided by the Advisor to the Fund, as well as the background and experience of the persons responsible for such services. The
Board noted that the Advisor’s Leveraged Finance Investment Team is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s
investments. The Board considered the background and experience of the members of the Leveraged Finance Investment Team and noted the
Board’s prior meetings with members of the Team. The Board considered the Advisor’s statement that it applies the same oversight
model internally with its Leveraged Finance Investment Team as it uses for overseeing external sub-advisors, including portfolio risk
monitoring and performance review. In reviewing the services provided, the Board noted the compliance program that had been developed
by the Advisor and considered that it includes a robust program for monitoring the Advisor’s and the Fund’s compliance with
the 1940 Act, as well as the Fund’s compliance with its investment objectives, policies and restrictions. The Board also considered
a report from the Advisor with respect to its risk management functions related to the operation of the Fund. Finally, as part of the
Board’s consideration of the Advisor’s services, the Advisor, in its written materials and at the April 18, 2022 meeting,
described to the Board the scope of its ongoing investment in additional personnel and infrastructure to maintain and improve the quality
of services provided to the Fund and the other funds in the First Trust Fund Complex. In light of the information presented and the considerations
made, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by the Advisor under the Agreement
have been and are expected to remain satisfactory and that the Advisor has managed the Fund consistent with its investment objectives,
policies and restrictions.
The
Board considered the advisory fee rate payable under the Agreement for the services provided. The Board received and reviewed information
showing the fee rates and expense ratios of the peer funds in the Expense Group, as well as advisory and unitary fee rates charged by
the Advisor to other fund and non-fund clients, as applicable. With respect to the Expense Group, the Board, at the April 18, 2022 meeting,
discussed with Broadridge its methodology for assembling peer groups and discussed with the Advisor limitations in creating a relevant
peer group for the Fund. The Board took these limitations into account in considering the peer data, and noted that the contractual advisory
fee rate payable by the Fund, based on average managed assets, was below the median contractual advisory fee of the peer funds in the
Expense Group. With respect to fees charged to other clients, the Board considered differences between the Fund and other clients that
limited their comparability. In considering the advisory fee rate overall, the Board also considered the Advisor’s statement that
it seeks to meet investor needs through innovative and value-added investment solutions and the Advisor’s demonstrated long-term
commitment to the Fund and the other funds in the First Trust Fund Complex.
The
Board considered performance information for the Fund. The Board noted the process it has established for monitoring the Fund’s
performance and portfolio risk on an ongoing basis, which includes quarterly performance reporting from the Advisor for the Fund. The
Board determined that this process continues to be effective for reviewing the Fund’s performance. The Board received and
Additional
Information (Continued)
First
Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II (FCT)
November
30, 2022 (Unaudited)
reviewed
information comparing the Fund’s performance for periods ended December 31, 2021 to the performance of the funds in the Performance
Universe and to that of a benchmark index. In reviewing the Fund’s performance as compared to the performance of the Performance
Universe, the Board took into account the limitations described above with respect to creating a relevant peer group for the Fund. Based
on the information provided on net asset value performance, the Board noted that the Fund underperformed the Performance Universe median
for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended December 31, 2021, underperformed the benchmark index for the one- and five-year
periods ended December 31, 2021 and outperformed the benchmark index for the three- and ten-year periods ended December 31, 2021. In addition,
the Board considered information provided by the Advisor on the impact of leverage on the Fund’s returns. The Board also received
information on the Fund’s annual distribution rate as of December 31, 2021 and the Fund’s average trading discount for various
periods and comparable information for a peer group.
On
the basis of all the information provided on the fees, expenses and performance of the Fund, and the ongoing oversight by the Board, the
Board concluded that the advisory fee continues to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services
provided by the Advisor to the Fund under the Agreement.
The
Board considered information and discussed with the Advisor whether there were any economies of scale in connection with providing advisory
services to the Fund and noted the Advisor’s statement that it believes that its expenses relating to providing advisory services
to the Fund will likely increase during the next twelve months as the Advisor continues to build infrastructure and add new staff. The
Board determined that due to the Fund’s closed-end structure, the potential for realization of economies of scale as Fund assets
grow was not a material factor to be considered. The Board considered the revenues and allocated costs (including the allocation methodology)
of the Advisor in serving as investment advisor to the Fund for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and the estimated profitability
level for the Fund calculated by the Advisor based on such data, as well as complex-wide and product-line profitability data, for the
same period. The Board noted the inherent limitations in the profitability analysis and concluded that, based on the information provided,
the Advisor’s profitability level for the Fund was not unreasonable. In addition, the Board considered indirect benefits described
by the Advisor that may be realized from its relationship with the Fund, including the Advisor’s compensation for fund reporting
services pursuant to a separate Fund Reporting Services Agreement. The Board also noted that the Advisor does not utilize soft dollars
in connection with the Fund. The Board concluded that the character and amount of potential indirect benefits to the Advisor were not
unreasonable.
Based
on all of the information considered and the conclusions reached, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, unanimously determined
that the terms of the Agreement continue to be fair and reasonable and that the continuation of the Agreement is in the best interests
of the Fund. No single factor was determinative in the Board’s analysis.
This
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INVESTMENT
ADVISOR
First
Trust Advisors L.P.
120
East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton,
IL 60187
TRANSFER
AGENT
Computershare,
Inc.
P.O.
Box 505000
Louisville,
KY 40233
ADMINISTRATOR,
FUND ACCOUNTANT, AND
CUSTODIAN
The
Bank of New York Mellon
240
Greenwich Street
New
York, NY 10286
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte
& Touche LLP
111
S. Wacker Drive
Chicago,
IL 60606
LEGAL
COUNSEL
Chapman
and Cutler LLP
320
South Canal Street
Chicago,
IL 60606
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
| (a) | | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers
as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form. |
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting
Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment
Companies.
| (b) | | There have been no changes, as of the date of filing, in any of the Portfolio Managers identified
in response to paragraph (a)(1) of this item in the registrant’s most recent annual report on Form N-CSR. |
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities
by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. 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 11. 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 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End
Management Investment Companies.
Item 13. Exhibits.
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)
|
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)
|
| By (Signature and Title)* |
|
/s/ Donald P. Swade |
| |
|
Donald P. Swade, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer
and Chief Accounting Officer
(principal financial officer)
|
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under
his or her signature.