First Trust Announces Upcoming CUSIP Change for FT Confluence BDC & Specialty Finance ETF

WHEATON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Trust Advisors L.P. (“FTA”) announced yesterday that the Board of Trustees of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII, on behalf of FT Confluence BDC & Specialty Finance ETF (the “Fund”), an actively-managed exchange-traded fund (NYSE Arca: FBDC), approved a 1-for-5 reverse share split.

After the reverse share split, the Fund’s shares will continue to trade under the same ticker symbol, FBDC. The Fund’s current CUSIP number (33740F110) will be replaced by a new CUSIP number (33744U303) at the time of the reverse share split. FTA currently anticipates the reverse share split will be effective as of the opening of business on NYSE Arca on or about August 4, 2025, subject to all regulatory requirements and other conditions being satisfied.

The Fund is an actively managed ETF that seeks to provide a high level of current income, with a secondary objective of attractive total return. The Fund pursues these investment objectives by investing in business development companies and other specialty finance companies that the Fund’s investment sub-advisor, Confluence Investment Management LLC (“Confluence”), believes offer attractive opportunities for income and capital appreciation.

FTA is a federally registered investment advisor and serves as the Fund's investment advisor. FTA and its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), a FINRA registered broker-dealer, are privately-held companies that provide a variety of investment services. FTA has collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $278.7 billion as of June 30, 2025, through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and separate managed accounts. FTA is the supervisor of the First Trust unit investment trusts, while FTP is the sponsor. FTP is also a distributor of mutual fund shares and exchange-traded fund creation units. FTA and FTP are based in Wheaton, Illinois.

Confluence Investment Management LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor, serves as the investment sub-advisor to the Fund. The Confluence team has more than 600 years of combined financial experience and 400 years of portfolio management/research experience, maintaining a track record that dates back to 1994. As of March 31, 2025, Confluence had $12.7 billion in assets under management and advisement (assets under management = $7.2 billion; assets under advisement = $5.5 billion).

This press release is not intended to, and shall not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of the Fund. An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectus for the Fund contains this and other important information and is available free of charge by calling First Trust Portfolios L.P. at 1-800-621-1675 or visiting www.ftportfolios.com. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.