UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number 811-22442

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

W. Scott Jardine, Esq.
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

registrant's telephone number, including area code: 630-765-8000

Date of fiscal year end: October 31

Date of reporting period: January 31, 2018

 

Form N-Q is to be used by management investment companies, other than small business investment companies registered on Form N-5 (§§ 239.24 and 274.5 of this chapter), to file reports with the Commission, not later than 60 days after the close of the first and third fiscal quarters, pursuant to rule 30b1-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30b1-5). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-Q in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-Q, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-Q 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 the 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. Schedule of Investments.

The Schedule(s) of Investments is attached herewith.

 

 

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

Portfolio of Investments

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Principal
Value
    

Description

   Stated
    Coupon    
    Stated
    Maturity    
     Value  
 

CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES – 86.5%

       
  

Automotive – 3.9%

       
  $    4,025,000     

Dana, Inc. (a)

     5.50%       12/15/24        $    4,216,187  
  4,360,000     

Gates Global LLC/Gates Global Co. (a) (b)

     6.00%       07/15/22        4,453,086  
  1,275,000     

Goodyear Tire & Rubber (The) Co.

     5.00%       05/31/26        1,295,719  
  3,300,000     

Goodyear Tire & Rubber (The) Co.

     4.88%       03/15/27        3,304,125  
  3,144,000     

Navistar International Corp. (b)

     6.63%       11/01/25        3,294,283  
  1,970,000     

Tenneco, Inc.

     5.00%       07/15/26        1,992,163  
  2,535,000     

ZF North America Capital, Inc. (b)

     4.75%       04/29/25        2,620,556  
          

 

 

 
             21,176,119  
          

 

 

 
  

Banking – 1.6%

       
  6,165,000     

Ally Financial, Inc. (a)

     8.00%       11/01/31        7,891,200  
  612,000     

Ally Financial, Inc. (a)

     8.00%       11/01/31        780,300  
          

 

 

 
             8,671,500  
          

 

 

 
  

Basic Industry – 10.7%

       
  650,000     

AK Steel Corp.

     7.63%       10/01/21        677,625  
  1,000,000     

AK Steel Corp.

     7.50%       07/15/23        1,082,500  
  2,100,000     

AK Steel Corp.

     6.38%       10/15/25        2,084,250  
  725,000     

Aleris International, Inc.

     7.88%       11/01/20        727,972  
  2,425,000     

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

     8.75%       03/15/22        2,655,375  
  4,600,000     

CalAtlantic Group, Inc.

     8.38%       05/15/18        4,689,700  
  500,000     

CalAtlantic Group, Inc.

     5.88%       11/15/24        546,875  
  800,000     

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.

     4.88%       04/01/21        776,000  
  1,800,000     

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. (a) (b)

     5.75%       03/01/25        1,768,500  
  2,720,000     

Core & Main L.P. (b)

     6.13%       08/15/25        2,754,000  
  1,000,000     

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

     3.55%       03/01/22        995,000  
  3,680,000     

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

     3.88%       03/15/23        3,675,400  
  960,000     

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

     4.55%       11/14/24        980,400  
  1,695,000     

Jeld-Wen, Inc. (b)

     4.88%       12/15/27        1,701,356  
  2,979,000     

KB Home

     7.50%       09/15/22        3,399,784  
  1,100,000     

Koppers, Inc. (a) (b)

     6.00%       02/15/25        1,163,250  
  3,180,000     

Meritage Homes Corp.

     6.00%       06/01/25        3,442,350  
  1,000,000     

Novelis Corp. (b)

     6.25%       08/15/24        1,050,000  
  2,862,000     

Novelis Corp. (b)

     5.88%       09/30/26        2,956,704  
  2,045,000     

Olin Corp.

     5.13%       09/15/27        2,131,912  
  1,760,000     

PQ Corp. (a) (b)

     6.75%       11/15/22        1,887,600  
  565,000     

PQ Corp. (b)

     5.75%       12/15/25        583,363  
  4,570,000     

PulteGroup, Inc. (a)

     7.88%       06/15/32        5,701,075  
  2,025,000     

Shea Homes L.P./Shea Homes Funding Corp. (a) (b)

     6.13%       04/01/25        2,113,594  
  4,250,000     

Standard Industries, Inc. (a) (b)

     5.00%       02/15/27        4,324,375  
  3,765,000     

TRI Pointe Group, Inc./TRI Pointe Homes, Inc. (a)

     5.88%       06/15/24        4,007,089  
          

 

 

 
             57,876,049  
          

 

 

 
  

Capital Goods – 7.3%

       
  3,045,000     

Ball Corp.

     4.00%       11/15/23        3,064,031  
  2,675,000     

Berry Global, Inc. (b)

     4.50%       02/15/26        2,674,198  
  4,100,000     

BWAY Holding Co. (a) (b)

     5.50%       04/15/24        4,258,875  
  3,500,000     

Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp. IV

     4.50%       01/15/23        3,587,500  
  4,645,000     

KLX, Inc. (b)

     5.88%       12/01/22        4,854,025  
  1,350,000     

Orbital ATK, Inc.

     5.50%       10/01/23        1,424,250  
  2,840,000     

Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc. (a) (b)

     5.00%       01/15/22        2,974,900  
  5,700,000     

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC/Reynolds Group Issuer LU (a) (b)

     5.13%       07/15/23        5,860,455  
  3,725,000     

Sealed Air Corp. (b)

     5.50%       09/15/25        4,023,000  
  3,770,000     

Terex Corp. (b)

     5.63%       02/01/25        3,873,675  

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Principal
Value
    

Description

   Stated
    Coupon    
  Stated
    Maturity    
   Value  
 

CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (Continued)

       
  

Capital Goods (Continued)

       
  $    2,925,000     

Triumph Group, Inc. (a)

   4.88%   04/01/21      $    2,888,437  
          

 

 

 
             39,483,346  
          

 

 

 
  

Consumer Goods – 5.5%

       
  4,895,000     

B&G Foods, Inc.

   5.25%   04/01/25      4,913,356  
  3,245,000     

Cott Holdings, Inc. (b)

   5.50%   04/01/25      3,313,956  
  1,920,000     

First Quality Finance Co., Inc. (b)

   5.00%   07/01/25      1,939,200  
  3,640,000     

Kronos Acquisition Holdings, Inc. (b)

   9.00%   08/15/23      3,585,400  
  1,915,000     

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (b)

   4.63%   11/01/24      1,953,300  
  2,000,000     

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. (b)

   5.75%   03/15/25      2,025,000  
  1,765,000     

Post Holdings, Inc. (b)

   5.50%   03/01/25      1,822,363  
  3,610,000     

Post Holdings, Inc. (b)

   5.00%   08/15/26      3,533,288  
  3,910,000     

Spectrum Brands, Inc.

   5.75%   07/15/25      4,134,825  
  2,040,000     

US Foods, Inc. (b)

   5.88%   06/15/24      2,136,900  
          

 

 

 
             29,357,588  
          

 

 

 
  

Energy – 7.1%

       
  5,100,000     

AmeriGas Partners L.P./AmeriGas Finance Corp. (a)

   5.88%   08/20/26      5,304,000  
  1,875,000     

Andeavor Logistics L.P./Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp. (a)

   5.25%   01/15/25      1,969,125  
  2,426,000     

California Resources Corp. (b)

   8.00%   12/15/22      2,046,937  
  2,060,000     

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.

   6.25%   04/15/23      2,137,250  
  1,320,000     

Continental Resources, Inc.

   5.00%   09/15/22      1,339,800  
  2,720,000     

Crestwood Midstream Partners L.P./Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp.

   6.25%   04/01/23      2,849,200  
  1,955,000     

Hilcorp Energy I L.P./ Hilcorp Finance Co. (b)

   5.00%   12/01/24      1,974,550  
  965,000     

PDC Energy, Inc. (b)

   5.75%   05/15/26      983,094  
  2,405,000     

QEP Resources, Inc.

   5.63%   03/01/26      2,462,119  
  2,245,000     

Sanchez Energy Corp. (a)

   6.13%   01/15/23      1,969,988  
  2,020,000     

SM Energy Co.

   5.63%   06/01/25      2,009,900  
  1,800,000     

Suburban Propane Partners L.P./Suburban Energy Finance Corp.

   5.75%   03/01/25      1,782,000  
  1,975,000     

Suburban Propane Partners L.P./Suburban Energy Finance Corp.

   5.88%   03/01/27      1,945,375  
  4,000,000     

Targa Resources Partners L.P./Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp. (b)

   5.00%   01/15/28      3,975,000  
  1,520,000     

Ultra Resources, Inc. (b)

   7.13%   04/15/25      1,521,900  
  1,380,000     

Whiting Petroleum Corp.

   5.75%   03/15/21      1,431,750  
  2,560,000     

Whiting Petroleum Corp. (b)

   6.63%   01/15/26      2,624,000  
          

 

 

 
             38,325,988  
          

 

 

 
  

Financial Services – 3.8%

       
  6,855,000     

Icahn Enterprises L.P./Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp. (a)

   6.00%   08/01/20      7,020,034  
  2,885,000     

MSCI, Inc. (b)

   5.75%   08/15/25      3,072,525  
  3,640,000     

OneMain Financial Holdings LLC (a) (b)

   7.25%   12/15/21      3,769,675  
  1,395,000     

Springleaf Finance Corp. (a)

   6.00%   06/01/20      1,449,056  
  4,555,000     

Springleaf Finance Corp. (a)

   7.75%   10/01/21      5,044,663  
          

 

 

 
             20,355,953  
          

 

 

 
  

Healthcare – 6.0%

       
  3,825,000     

Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. (b)

   4.88%   01/15/26      3,834,562  
  1,580,000     

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.

   6.88%   02/01/22      1,131,675  
  3,400,000     

Greatbatch Ltd. (b)

   9.13%   11/01/23      3,706,714  
  3,910,000     

Hologic, Inc. (a) (b)

   5.25%   07/15/22      4,061,024  
  2,905,000     

Hologic, Inc. (b)

   4.38%   10/15/25      2,912,263  
  2,670,000     

inVentiv Group Holdings, Inc./inVentiv Health, Inc./inVentiv Health Clinical, Inc. (b)

   7.50%   10/01/24      2,910,300  
  3,665,000     

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC (b)

   7.13%   06/01/24      3,944,456  

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Principal
Value
    

Description

   Stated
    Coupon    
   Stated
Maturity    
   Value  
 

CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (Continued)

        
  

Healthcare (Continued)

        
  $    731,000     

Quintiles IMS, Inc. (b)

   4.88%    05/15/23      $      760,240  
  3,000,000     

Quintiles IMS, Inc. (b)

   5.00%    10/15/26      3,067,500  
  2,750,000     

Teleflex, Inc.

   4.63%    11/15/27      2,750,000  
  3,245,000     

West Street Merger Sub, Inc. (b)

   6.38%    09/01/25      3,293,675  
           

 

 

 
              32,372,409  
           

 

 

 
  

Leisure – 5.0%

        
  2,500,000     

Boyd Gaming Corp.

   6.38%    04/01/26      2,687,500  
  2,980,000     

Churchill Downs, Inc. (b)

   4.75%    01/15/28      2,953,925  
  3,500,000     

Eldorado Resorts, Inc.

   6.00%    04/01/25      3,670,625  
  3,400,000     

ESH Hospitality, Inc. (b)

   5.25%    05/01/25      3,434,000  
  1,680,000     

GLP Capital L.P./GLP Financing II, Inc. (a)

   5.38%    04/15/26      1,801,800  
  3,120,000     

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (b)

   4.88%    11/01/24      3,190,200  
  4,825,000     

MGM Resorts International (a)

   6.75%    10/01/20      5,198,938  
  3,410,000     

Scientific Games International, Inc.

   10.00%      12/01/22      3,751,000  
           

 

 

 
              26,687,988  
           

 

 

 
  

Media – 4.3%

        
  2,000,000     

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Series B

   7.63%    03/15/20      1,992,500  
  2,841,000     

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Series B

   6.50%    11/15/22      2,938,929  
  1,250,000     

CSC Holdings LLC (a) (b)

   6.63%    10/15/25      1,340,625  
  2,325,000     

CSC Holdings LLC (b)

   5.50%    04/15/27      2,359,875  
  5,830,000     

Dish DBS Corp. (a)

   6.75%    06/01/21      6,121,500  
  3,665,000     

iHeartCommunications, Inc.

   9.00%    03/01/21      2,712,100  
  2,115,000     

Lamar Media Corp.

   5.75%    02/01/26      2,239,256  
  3,150,000     

Sirius XM Radio, Inc. (b)

   5.38%    07/15/26      3,232,688  
           

 

 

 
              22,937,473  
           

 

 

 
  

Retail – 3.1%

        
  3,270,000     

Dollar Tree, Inc.

   5.75%    03/01/23      3,423,281  
  5,445,000     

Hanesbrands, Inc. (a) (b)

   4.63%    05/15/24      5,540,288  
  1,320,000     

KFC Holding Co./Pizza Hut Holdings LLC/Taco Bell of America LLC (a) (b)

   5.00%    06/01/24      1,339,800  
  3,300,000     

KFC Holding Co./Pizza Hut Holdings LLC/Taco Bell of America LLC (b)

   5.25%    06/01/26      3,374,250  
  2,975,000     

Murphy Oil USA, Inc. (a)

   6.00%    08/15/23      3,094,000  
           

 

 

 
              16,771,619  
           

 

 

 
  

Services – 8.6%

        
  4,000,000     

Advanced Disposal Services, Inc. (b)

   5.63%    11/15/24      4,140,000  
  1,500,000     

Aramark Services, Inc. (b)

   5.00%    02/01/28      1,533,750  
  2,125,000     

CoreCivic, Inc. (a)

   5.00%    10/15/22      2,220,625  
  1,090,000     

GEO (The) Group, Inc. (a)

   5.88%    10/15/24      1,125,425  
  2,385,000     

GEO (The) Group, Inc. (a)

   6.00%    04/15/26      2,444,625  
  1,440,000     

H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (b)

   5.63%    09/01/25      1,497,600  
  2,654,000     

Herc Rentals, Inc. (b)

   7.50%    06/01/22      2,863,002  
  958,000     

Herc Rentals, Inc. (b)

   7.75%    06/01/24      1,054,998  
  730,000     

Iron Mountain, Inc.

   5.75%    08/15/24      735,475  
  4,199,000     

Iron Mountain, Inc. (b)

   4.88%    09/15/27      4,036,289  
  1,845,000     

Iron Mountain, Inc. (b)

   5.25%    03/15/28      1,803,488  
  4,615,000     

KAR Auction Services, Inc. (a) (b)

   5.13%    06/01/25      4,684,225  
  3,055,000     

ServiceMaster (The) Co. LLC (a) (b)

   5.13%    11/15/24      3,070,275  
  3,650,000     

Tempo Acquisition LLC/Tempo Acquisition Finance Corp. (b)

   6.75%    06/01/25      3,732,125  
  1,400,000     

United Rentals North America, Inc. (a)

   5.50%    07/15/25      1,482,250  
  2,900,000     

United Rentals North America, Inc. (a)

   5.88%    09/15/26      3,117,500  

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Principal
Value
    

Description

   Stated
    Coupon    
   Stated
    Maturity    
   Value  
 

CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (Continued)

        
  

Services (Continued)

        
  $    2,250,000     

United Rentals North America, Inc.

   4.88%    01/15/28      $    2,252,812  
  2,310,000     

Waste Pro USA, Inc. (b)

   5.50%    02/15/26      2,361,975  
  1,975,000     

Wrangler Buyer Corp. (b)

   6.00%    10/01/25      2,049,062  
           

 

 

 
              46,205,501  
           

 

 

 
  

Technology & Electronics – 6.8%

        
  2,595,000     

CDK Global, Inc. (b)

   4.88%    06/01/27      2,606,963  
  590,000     

CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp.

   5.50%    12/01/24      639,781  
  145,000     

CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp.

   5.00%    09/01/25      148,081  
  3,700,000     

CommScope Technologies LLC (a) (b)

   5.00%    03/15/27      3,695,375  
  2,800,000     

CommScope, Inc. (b)

   5.00%    06/15/21      2,863,000  
  4,166,000     

Dell International LLC/EMC Corp. (a) (b)

   8.35%    07/15/46      5,484,495  
  4,030,000     

First Data Corp. (b)

   7.00%    12/01/23      4,254,189  
  2,038,000     

First Data Corp. (b)

   5.00%    01/15/24      2,099,140  
  2,870,000     

Match Group, Inc. (a)

   6.38%    06/01/24      3,113,950  
  4,015,000     

NCR Corp.

   6.38%    12/15/23      4,225,787  
  3,019,000     

PTC, Inc.

   6.00%    05/15/24      3,207,688  
  3,825,000     

Qorvo, Inc. (a)

   7.00%    12/01/25      4,150,125  
           

 

 

 
              36,488,574  
           

 

 

 
  

Telecommunications – 9.0%

        
  4,260,000     

CenturyLink, Inc., Series P

   7.60%    09/15/39      3,764,775  
  4,420,000     

CyrusOne L.P./CyrusOne Finance Corp.

   5.38%    03/15/27      4,607,850  
  3,025,000     

Equinix, Inc. (a)

   5.88%    01/15/26      3,221,625  
  2,500,000     

Equinix, Inc.

   5.38%    05/15/27      2,631,250  
  400,000     

Frontier Communications Corp.

   6.25%    09/15/21      329,500  
  2,990,000     

Frontier Communications Corp. (a)

   11.00%    09/15/25      2,350,887  
  1,956,000     

Hughes Satellite Systems Corp.

   5.25%    08/01/26      1,982,895  
  3,070,000     

Level 3 Financing, Inc.

   5.38%    01/15/24      3,062,325  
  2,900,000     

Level 3 Financing, Inc.

   5.25%    03/15/26      2,852,875  
  1,850,000     

Qualitytech L.P./QTS Finance Corp. (b)

   4.75%    11/15/25      1,873,125  
  6,930,000     

Sprint Capital Corp.

   8.75%    03/15/32      8,212,050  
  570,000     

Sprint Communications, Inc. (a)

   9.25%    04/15/22      689,700  
  6,295,000     

T-Mobile USA, Inc.

   6.00%    03/01/23      6,604,399  
  2,925,000     

T-Mobile USA, Inc.

   6.00%    04/15/24      3,116,851  
  3,375,000     

Zayo Group LLC/Zayo Capital, Inc. (b)

   5.75%    01/15/27      3,438,450  
           

 

 

 
              48,738,557  
           

 

 

 
   Transportation – 3.2%         
  2,000,000     

American Airlines Group, Inc.

   6.13%    06/01/18      2,024,200  
  146,917     

Continental Airlines 2003-ERJ1 Pass Through Trust

   7.88%    07/02/18      150,590  
  1,063,819     

Continental Airlines 2005-ERJ1 Pass Through Trust (a)

   9.80%    04/01/21      1,143,925  
  2,000,000     

United Continental Holdings, Inc.

   6.00%    12/01/20      2,145,000  
  5,324,121     

US Airways 2000-3C Pass Through Trust

   8.39%    03/01/22      5,843,223  
  5,775,000     

XPO Logistics, Inc. (a) (b)

   6.50%    06/15/22      6,033,431  
           

 

 

 
              17,340,369  
           

 

 

 
   Utility – 0.6%         
  3,420,000     

Calpine Corp.

   5.75%    01/15/25      3,249,000  
           

 

 

 
  

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes

           466,038,033  
           

 

 

 
  

(Cost $452,486,544)

        

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Principal
Value
(Local
Currency)
    

Description

   Stated
    Coupon    
  Stated
    Maturity    
  Value
(US Dollars)
 
  FOREIGN CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES – 23.9%       
  

Automotive – 0.1%

      
  650,000     

Dana Financing Luxembourg Sarl (USD) (b)

   5.75%   04/15/25     $    684,125  
         

 

 

 
  

Banking – 0.7%

      
  1,320,000     

Barclays PLC (USD)

   4.84%   05/09/28     1,354,801  
  2,400,000     

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (USD)

   5.13%   05/28/24     2,511,051  
         

 

 

 
            3,865,852  
         

 

 

 
   Basic Industry – 7.0%       
  7,652,000     

ArcelorMittal (USD) (a)

   7.50%   10/15/39     9,909,340  
  1,700,000     

Cemex SAB de CV (USD) (b)

   7.75%   04/16/26     1,929,500  
  2,345,000     

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty Ltd. (USD) (b)

   9.75%   03/01/22     2,588,997  
  3,340,000     

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty Ltd. (USD) (b)

   5.13%   05/15/24     3,394,275  
  1,900,000     

James Hardie International Finance DAC (USD) (b)

   5.00%   01/15/28     1,928,500  
  2,825,000     

MMC Norilsk Nickel OJSC via MMC Finance DAC (USD) (b)

   6.63%   10/14/22     3,154,537  
  1,625,000     

SPCM S.A. (USD) (b)

   4.88%   09/15/25     1,633,125  
  4,200,000     

Stora Enso OYJ (USD) (a) (b)

   7.25%   04/15/36     5,229,000  
  2,505,000     

Teck Resources Ltd. (USD)

   6.00%   08/15/40     2,796,206  
  1,795,000     

Teck Resources Ltd. (USD)

   6.25%   07/15/41     2,088,931  
  2,975,000     

Trinseo Materials Operating SCA/Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc. (USD) (b)

   5.38%   09/01/25     3,055,920  
         

 

 

 
            37,708,331  
         

 

 

 
   Capital Goods – 1.9%       
  5,100,000     

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc. (USD) (a) (b)

   7.25%   05/15/24     5,500,095  
  535,000     

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc.

(USD) (b)

   6.00%   02/15/25     553,725  
  890,000     

Bombardier, Inc. (USD) (b)

   6.00%   10/15/22     894,450  
  3,288,000     

Bombardier, Inc. (USD) (b)

   6.13%   01/15/23     3,337,320  
         

 

 

 
            10,285,590  
         

 

 

 
   Consumer Goods – 0.6%       
  2,925,000     

Minerva Luxembourg S.A. (USD) (b)

   6.50%   09/20/26     2,957,029  
         

 

 

 
  

Energy – 2.4%

      
  2,350,000     

Gazprom OAO Via Gaz Capital S.A. (USD) (a) (b)

   8.63%   04/28/34     3,252,517  
  4,350,000     

Petrobras Global Finance B.V. (USD) (a)

   6.88%   01/20/40     4,488,156  
  2,120,000     

Petrobras Global Finance B.V. (USD)

   7.25%   03/17/44     2,258,860  
  3,350,000     

Weatherford International Ltd. (USD)

   4.50%   04/15/22     3,182,500  
         

 

 

 
            13,182,033  
         

 

 

 
   Healthcare – 2.8%       
  2,275,000     

Endo Dac./Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc. (USD) (a) (b)

   6.00%   02/01/25     1,721,902  
  3,625,000     

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (USD) (a) (b)

   7.50%   07/15/21     3,647,656  
  5,319,000     

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (USD) (a) (b)

   5.88%   05/15/23     4,818,748  
  3,724,000     

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (USD) (a) (b)

   6.13%   04/15/25     3,347,690  
  1,320,000     

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (USD) (b)

   9.00%   12/15/25     1,359,191  
         

 

 

 
            14,895,187  
         

 

 

 
   Insurance – 1.0%       
  1,800,000     

Aviva PLC (GBP) (c)

   6.13%   11/14/36     3,093,337  
  2,220,000     

Oil Insurance Ltd., 3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.98% (USD) (b) (d)

   4.67%   (e)     2,158,950  
         

 

 

 
            5,252,287  
         

 

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Principal
Value
(Local
Currency)
    

Description

   Stated
    Coupon    
    Stated
    Maturity    
    Value
(US Dollars)
 
 

FOREIGN CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (Continued)

      
  

Leisure – 1.2%

      
  3,205,000     

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (USD) (a)

     7.50%       10/15/27       $    4,037,446  
  2,360,000     

Wynn Macau Ltd. (USD) (b)

     4.88%       10/01/24       2,342,300  
         

 

 

 
            6,379,746  
         

 

 

 
  

Media – 1.5%

      
  3,695,000     

UPCB Finance IV Ltd. (USD) (b)

     5.38%       01/15/25       3,778,137  
  2,800,000     

Virgin Media Finance PLC (GBP)

     6.38%       10/15/24       4,268,778  
         

 

 

 
            8,046,915  
         

 

 

 
  

Retail – 0.5%

      
  2,720,000     

1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc. (USD) (a) (b)

     4.25%       05/15/24       2,679,200  
         

 

 

 
  

Services – 1.2%

      
  2,040,000     

GFL Environmental, Inc. (USD) (b)

     5.63%       05/01/22       2,121,600  
  3,940,000     

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc. (USD) (a) (b)

     5.38%       01/15/25       4,058,200  
         

 

 

 
            6,179,800  
         

 

 

 
  

Technology & Electronics – 1.1%

      
  2,500,000     

NXP B.V./NXP Funding LLC (USD) (b)

     4.63%       06/01/23       2,613,250  
  3,060,000     

Sensata Technologies UK Financing Co., PLC (USD) (a) (b)

     6.25%       02/15/26       3,304,800  
         

 

 

 
            5,918,050  
         

 

 

 
  

Telecommunications – 1.9%

      
  4,280,000     

Telecom Italia Capital S.A. (USD) (a)

     7.72%       06/04/38       5,594,816  
  4,850,000     

VEON Holdings B.V. (USD) (a) (b)

     4.95%       06/16/24       4,881,525  
         

 

 

 
            10,476,341  
         

 

 

 
  

Total Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes

         128,510,486  
         

 

 

 
  

(Cost $118,420,713)

      
Par
Amount
(Local
Currency)
    

Description

   Stated
Rate
    Stated
Maturity
    Value
(US Dollars)
 
 

CAPITAL PREFERRED SECURITIES – 7.7%

      
  

Automotive – 0.8%

      
  3,935,000     

General Motors Financial Co., Inc., Series A (USD) (c)

     5.75%       (e)       4,072,725  
         

 

 

 
  

Banking – 4.0%

      
  5,155,000     

Bank of America Corp., Series DD (USD) (a) (c)

     6.30%       (e)       5,786,488  
  2,475,000     

Citigroup, Inc., Series M (USD) (c)

     6.30%       (e)       2,623,500  
  2,775,000     

Dresdner Funding Trust I (USD) (a) (b)

     8.15%       06/30/31       3,739,313  
  4,370,000     

Goldman Sachs Group (The), Inc., Series P (USD) (c)

     5.00%       (e)       4,296,234  
  2,400,000     

HBOS Capital Funding L.P. (GBP) (c)

     6.46%       (e)       3,543,007  
  1,450,000     

RBS Capital Trust II (USD) (c)

     6.43%       (e)       1,826,275  
         

 

 

 
            21,814,817  
         

 

 

 
  

Capital Goods – 0.5%

      
  3,210,000     

Textron Financial Corp., 3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.74% (USD) (b) (d)

     3.15%       02/15/42       2,889,000  
         

 

 

 
  

Insurance – 2.4%

      
  2,700,000     

Chubb (The) Corp., 3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.25% (USD) (d)

     3.97%       03/29/67       2,696,625  
  6,950,000     

Hartford Financial Services Group (The), Inc., 3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.13% (USD) (a) (b) (d)

     3.54%       02/12/47       6,810,305  

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Par
Amount
(Local
Currency)
    

Description

   Stated
    Rate    
    Stated
    Maturity    
     Value
(US Dollars)
 
 

CAPITAL PREFERRED SECURITIES (Continued)

       
  

Insurance (Continued)

       
  3,500,000     

Lincoln National Corp., 3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.36% (USD) (a) (d)

     3.78%       05/17/66        $    3,373,125  
          

 

 

 
             12,880,055  
          

 

 

 
  

Total Capital Preferred Securities

          41,656,597  
          

 

 

 
  

(Cost $39,479,377)

       
Principal
Value
    

Description

       Rate (f)         Stated
    Maturity (g)    
     Value  
 

SENIOR FLOATING-RATE LOAN INTERESTS – 1.1%

       
  

Healthcare – 1.1%

       
  $    6,089,150     

Ortho-Clinical Term Loan B3, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%, 1.00% Floor

     5.44%       06/30/21        6,140,542  
          

 

 

 
  

(Cost $6,061,649)

       
Principal
Value
    

Description

   Stated
    Coupon    
    Stated
    Maturity    
     Value  
 

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES – 0.9%

       
  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations – 0.2%

       

 

 

 

17,624

 

 

  

Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2007-6XS, Class 2A1S, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 0.11% (d)

     1.66%       02/25/47        17,672  
  1,295,994     

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities
Series 2006-AR7 Trust, Class 2A4 (h)

     3.34%       05/25/36        1,321,489  
          

 

 

 
             1,339,161  
          

 

 

 
  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities – 0.7%

       
  31,990     

Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust
Series 2006-NC4, Class A5, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 0.06% (d)

     1.61%       10/25/36        32,042  
  7,877,017     

Securitized Asset Backed Receivables LLC Trust
Series 2006-FR4, Class A2A, 1 Mo. LIBOR + 0.08% (d)

     1.63%       08/25/36        3,490,852  
          

 

 

 
             3,522,894  
          

 

 

 
  

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities

          4,862,055  
          

 

 

 
  

(Cost $6,309,710)

       
 

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES – 0.1%

       
  616,607     

Keycorp Student Loan Trust,
Series 2000-A, Class A2, 3 Mo. LIBOR + 0.32% (d)

     1.64%       05/25/29        613,689  
          

 

 

 
  

(Cost $578,700)

       
  

Total Investments – 120.2%

          647,821,402  
          

 

 

 
  

(Cost $623,336,693) (i)

       
 

U.S. GOVERNMENT BONDS SOLD SHORT – (17.7)%

       
  (101,950,000)      United States Treasury Note      1.38%       09/30/23        (95,466,662
          

 

 

 
  

(Proceeds $98,822,755)

       
 

CORPORATE BONDS SOLD SHORT – (1.8)%

       
  

Energy – (0.9)%

       
  (2,400,000)     

Noble Energy, Inc.

     4.15%       12/15/21        (2,490,539
  (2,100,000)     

Noble Energy, Inc.

     3.90%       11/15/24        (2,149,966
          

 

 

 
             (4,640,505
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Principal
Value
   

Description

   Stated
    Coupon    
    Stated
    Maturity    
     Value  
 

CORPORATE BONDS SOLD SHORT (Continued)

       
 

Media – (0.9)%

       
  $  (5,145,000  

Netflix, Inc.

     4.38%       11/15/26      $ (5,053,368
         

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds Sold Short

          (9,693,873
         

 

 

 
 

(Proceeds $9,150,271)

       
 

FOREIGN CORPORATE BONDS SOLD SHORT – (1.2)%

       
 

Media – (1.2)%

       
  (6,500,000  

SFR Group S.A. (b)

     7.38%       05/01/26        (6,426,875
         

 

 

 
 

(Proceeds $6,511,046)

       
 

Total Investments Sold Short – (20.7)%

          (111,587,410
         

 

 

 
 

(Proceeds $114,484,072)

       
 

Outstanding Loan – (3.7)%

          (19,845,562
 

Net Other Assets and Liabilities – 4.2%

          22,351,777  
         

 

 

 
 

Net Assets – 100.0%

        $ 538,740,207  
         

 

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

Settlement

        Date         

  

Counterparty

       Amount
Purchased
       Amount
Sold
       Purchase
Value as of
1/31/2018
       Sale
Value as of
1/31/2018
   Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)

05/02/18

   JPM      USD         11,251,118      GBP         7,860,000      $11,251,118      $11,200,188    $50,930

Counterparty Abbreviations

        JPM         JPMorgan Chase

See Note 2D – Forward Foreign Currency Contracts in the Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 

(a) This security or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments sold short.
(b) This security, sold within the terms of a private placement memorandum, is exempt from registration upon resale under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 MacKay Shields LLC, the Fund’s sub-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 January 31, 2018, securities noted as such amounted to $316,263,107 of total investments and $(6,426,875) of total investments sold short, or 58.7% and (1.2)% of net assets, respectively.
(c) Fixed-to-floating or fixed-to-variable rate security. The interest rate shown reflects the fixed rate in effect at January 31, 2018. At a predetermined date, the fixed rate will change to a floating rate or a variable rate.
(d) Floating or variable rate security.
(e) Perpetual maturity.
(f) 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 London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), (ii) the prime rate offered by one or more United States banks or (iii) the certificate of deposit rate. Certain Senior Loans are subject to a LIBOR floor that establishes a minimum LIBOR rate.
(g) 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.
(h) Collateral Strip Rate security. Interest is based on the weighted net interest rate of the investment’s underlying collateral. The interest rate resets periodically.
(i) Aggregate cost for financial reporting purposes approximates the aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes. As of January 31, 2018, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $34,382,423 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $6,950,122. The net unrealized appreciation was $27,432,301. The amounts presented are inclusive of investments sold short and derivative contracts.

 

GBP

  

British Pound Sterling

LIBOR

  

London Interbank Offered Rate

USD

  

United States Dollar

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Valuation Inputs

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of January 31, 2018 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Portfolio of Investments):

 

ASSETS TABLE  
    

Total

Value at
    1/31/2018    

    Level 1
Quoted
    Prices    
     Level 2
Significant
    Observable    
    Inputs    
    Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
    Inputs    
 
  

 

 

 

Corporate Bonds and Notes*

     $ 466,038,033       $—            $ 466,038,033       $—          

Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes*

     128,510,486       —              128,510,486       —          

Capital Preferred Securities*

     41,656,597       —              41,656,597       —          

Senior Floating-Rate Loan Interests*

     6,140,542       —              6,140,542       —          

Mortgage-Backed Securities

     4,862,055       —              4,862,055       —          

Asset-Backed Securities

     613,689       —              613,689       —          
  

 

 

 

Total Investments

     647,821,402       —              647,821,402       —          

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

     50,930       —              50,930       —          
  

 

 

 

Total

     $ 647,872,332       $—            $ 647,872,332       $—          
  

 

 

 
LIABILITIES TABLE  
    

Total

Value at
1/31/2018

    Level 1
Quoted
Prices
     Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
    Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
  

 

 

 

U.S. Government Bonds Sold Short

     $ (95,466,662     $—            $ (95,466,662     $—          

Corporate Bonds Sold Short*

     (9,693,873     —              (9,693,873     —          

Foreign Corporate Bonds Sold Short*

     (6,426,875     —              (6,426,875     —          
  

 

 

 

Total

     $ (111,587,410     $—            $ (111,587,410     $—          
  

 

 

 

 

* See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout.

All transfers in and out of the Levels during the period are assumed to occur on the last day of the period at their current value. There were no transfers between Levels at January 31, 2018.

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments

  Notes to Portfolio of Investments

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

1. Organization

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 18, 2010, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund trades under the ticker symbol FSD on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

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.”

2. Valuation and Investment Practices

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 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 adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, and in accordance with provisions of the 1940 Act. 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:

Corporate bonds, notes, capital preferred securities, U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and other debt securities are fair valued on the basis of valuations provided by dealers who make markets in such securities or by a third-party pricing service approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, 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.

Shares of open-end funds are valued at fair value which is based on NAV per share.

Securities traded in an over-the-counter market are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price.

The Senior Floating-Rate Loan interests (“Senior Loans”)(1) held in the Fund 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.

 

 

(1)  The terms “security” and “securities” used throughout the Notes to Portfolio of Investments include Senior Loans.
  Notes to Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Forward foreign currency contracts are fair valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety, and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by a third-party pricing service.

Fixed income and other debt securities having a remaining maturity of sixty days or less when purchased are fair valued at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts (amortized cost), provided the Advisor’s Pricing Committee has determined that the use of amortized cost is an appropriate reflection of fair value given market and issuer-specific conditions existing at the time of the determination. Factors that may be considered in determining the appropriateness of the use of amortized cost include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  1) the credit conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto;
  2) the liquidity conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto;
  3) the interest rate conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto (such as significant changes in interest rates);
  4) issuer-specific conditions (such as significant credit deterioration); and
  5) any other market-based data the Advisor’s Pricing Committee considers relevant. In this regard, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee may use last-obtained market-based data to assist it when valuing portfolio securities using amortized cost.

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or its delegate, 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) for which a third-party pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; a security whose market or fair value price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of the Fund’s NAV or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the third-party pricing service, does not reflect the security’s fair value. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security would appear to be the amount which the owner might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale. When fair value prices are used, generally they will differ from market quotations or official closing prices on the applicable exchanges. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

    1) the fundamental business data relating to the borrower/issuer;
    2) an evaluation of the forces which influence the market in which these securities are purchased and sold;
    3) the type, size and cost of a security;
    4) the financial statements of the borrower/issuer;
    5) the credit quality and cash flow of the borrower/issuer, based on the Sub-Advisor’s or external analysis;
    6) the information as to any transactions in or offers for the security;
    7) the price and extent of public trading in similar securities (or equity securities) of the issuer/borrower, or comparable companies;
    8) the coupon payments;
    9) the quality, value and salability of collateral, if any, securing the security;
  10) the business prospects of the borrower/issuer, including any ability to obtain money or resources from a parent or affiliate and an assessment of the borrower’s/issuer’s management;
  11) the prospects for the borrower’s/issuer’s industry, and multiples (of earnings and/or cash flows) being paid for similar businesses in that industry;
  12) the borrower’s/issuer’s competitive position within the industry;
  13) the borrower’s/issuer’s ability to access additional liquidity through public and/or private markets; and
  14) 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.
  Notes to Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

  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 January 31, 2018, is included with the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.

B. Securities Transactions and Investment Income

Securities transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis.

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. The Fund did not have any unfunded delayed draw loan commitments as of January 31, 2018.

D. Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

The Fund is subject to foreign currency risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Forward foreign currency contracts are agreements between two parties (“Counterparties”) to exchange one currency for another at a future date and at a specified price. The Fund uses forward foreign currency contracts to facilitate transactions in foreign securities and to manage the Fund’s foreign currency exposure. These contracts are valued daily, and the Fund’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward rates at the reporting date, is included on the Forward Foreign Currency Contracts table in the Portfolio of Investments. Risks arise from the possible inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from movement in currency, securities values and interest rates. Due to the risks, the Fund could incur losses in excess of the net unrealized value shown on the Forward Foreign Currency Contracts table in the Portfolio of Investments. In the event of default by the Counterparty, the Fund will provide notice to the Counterparty of the Fund’s intent to convert the currency held by the Fund into the currency that the Counterparty agreed to exchange with the Fund. If a Counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may obtain only limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

E. Foreign Currency

The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investments and items of income and expense are translated on the respective dates of such transactions.

F. Short Sales

Short sales are utilized for investment and risk management purposes and are transactions in which securities or other instruments (such as options, forwards, futures or other derivative contracts) are sold by the Fund, but are not currently owned in the Fund’s portfolio. When the Fund engages in a short sale, the Fund must borrow the security sold short and deliver the security to the counterparty. Short selling allows the Fund to profit from a decline in a market price to the extent such decline exceeds the transaction costs and the costs of borrowing the securities. The Fund will pay a fee or premium to borrow the securities sold short and is obligated to repay the lenders of the securities. Any dividends or interest that accrues on the securities during the period of the loan are due to the lenders. A gain, limited to the price at which the security was sold short, or a loss, unlimited in size, will be recognized upon the termination of the short sale; which is affected by the Fund purchasing the security sold short and delivering the security to the lender. Any such gain or loss may be offset, completely or in part, by the change in the value of the long portion of the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund is subject to the risk that it may be unable to reacquire a security to terminate a short position except at a price substantially in excess of the last quoted price. Also, there is the risk that the counterparty to a short sale may fail to honor its contractual terms, causing a loss to the Fund.

  Notes to Portfolio of Investments (Continued)

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)

January 31, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

The Fund has established an account with Pershing, LLC (“Pershing”) for the purpose of purchasing or borrowing securities on margin. At January 31, 2018, the Fund had $19,845,562 in borrowings associated with investments sold short and $111,587,410 of investments sold short as shown on the Portfolio of Investments.

3. Derivative Transactions

During the fiscal year-to-date period (November 1, 2017 through January 31, 2018), the notional values of forward foreign currency contracts opened and closed were $26,447,916 and $28,573,199, respectively.

 

 

Item 2. 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 registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

  

Item 3. Exhibits.

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 

SIGNATURES

 



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(registrant)

First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund

   

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ James M. Dykas    
  James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
   

DateMarch 29, 2018

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)
   
DateMarch 29, 2018

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Donald P. Swade    
  Donald P. Swade, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer
and Chief Accounting Officer
(principal financial officer)
   
DateMarch 29, 2018

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.