As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2023 

Securities Act File No.  i 333-213003

1940 Act File No.  i 811-23179

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM  i N-2

 i First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc.

 i 235 West Galena Street

 i Milwaukee,  i WI  i 53212

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 i 414- i 299-2270

(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

 i Ann Maurer

 i 235 West Galena Street

 i Milwaukee,  i WI  i 53212

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

Joshua B. Deringer, Esq.

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

215-988-2700

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:

AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

The following boxes should only be included and completed if the registrant is making this filing in accordance with Rule 486 under the Securities Act.

If appropriate, check the following box:

Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:

FIRST TRUST ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

PROSPECTUS

Class A Shares         VFLAX

Class I Shares           VFLEX

July 31, 2023

First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”), is a Delaware statutory trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund operates as an interval fund. The Fund operates under an Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated November 1, 2021 (the “Declaration of Trust”). First Trust Capital Management L.P. serves as the investment adviser (the “Investment Manager”) of the Fund. The Investment Manager is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Fund currently offers shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) in two separate share classes: Class A Shares and Class I Shares.

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation by pursuing positive absolute returns across market cycles. A fund seeking positive “absolute return” aims to earn a positive total return over a reasonable period of time regardless of market conditions or general market direction. In pursuing its objective, the Fund seeks to generate attractive long-term returns with low sensitivity to traditional equity and fixed-income indices. The Fund uses a “multi-manager” approach whereby the Fund’s assets are allocated among the Investment Manager and one or more sub-advisers, in percentages determined at the discretion of the Investment Manager. In pursuing the Fund’s strategies, the Investment Manager and sub-advisers may invest directly in individual securities or through closed-end and open-end registered investment companies, private investment funds and other investment vehicles that invest or trade in a wide range of investments. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in its subsidiary, FTAOF Cayman Sub1 Ltd. (“Cayman Subsidiary”), a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Subsidiary is advised by the Investment Manager and acts as an investment vehicle in order to effect certain investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The Fund’s investment program is speculative and entails substantial risks. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved or that its investment program will be successful. Investors should consider the Fund as a supplement to an overall investment program and should invest only if they are willing to undertake the risks involved. Investors could lose some or all of their investment (see “PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE 19).

This Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) applies to the public offering of two separate classes of shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) of the Fund, designated as Class A (“Class A Shares”) and Class I (“Class I Shares”).

The Fund commenced the public offering of the Class I Shares in June 2017 and has publicly offered Class I Shares in a continuous offering since that time. Class A Shares have been publicly offered since August 2021. The Shares are generally offered for purchase on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business, in each case subject to any applicable sales charges and other fees, as described herein. The Shares are issued at net asset value per Share. No holder of Shares (each, a “Shareholder”) has the right to require the Fund to redeem its Shares.

This Prospectus concisely provides information that you should know about the Fund before investing. You are advised to read this Prospectus carefully and to retain it for future reference. Additional information about the Fund, including the Fund’s statement of additional information (the “SAI”), dated July 31, 2023, has been filed with the SEC. You may request a free copy of this Prospectus, the SAI, annual and semi-annual reports and other information about the Fund, and make inquiries without charge by writing to the Fund, c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc., 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212, by calling the Fund toll-free at (877)779-1999 or by accessing the Investment Manager’s website at https://www.FirstTrustCapital.com. The information on the Investment Manager’s website is not incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and investors should not consider it a part of this Prospectus. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus in its entirety. You may also obtain copies of the SAI, and the annual and semi-annual reports of the Fund, as well as other information about the Fund on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. The address of the SEC’s internet site is provided solely for the information of prospective investors and is not intended to be an active link.

Shares are an illiquid investment.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has determined whether this Prospectus is truthful or complete, nor have they made, nor will they make, any determination as to whether anyone should buy these securities. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

You should not construe the contents of this Prospectus and the SAI as legal, tax or financial advice. You should consult with your own professional advisers as to legal, tax, financial, or other matters relevant to the suitability of an investment in the Fund.

You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information provided by this Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date shown below.

THE FUND’S PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER IS FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P.

The date of this Prospectus is July 31, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FUND SUMMARY

This is only a summary and does not contain all of the information that investors should consider before investing in the Fund. Investors should review the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and SAI, especially the information set forth under the heading “Principal Risk Factors.”

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES

The following tables describe the aggregate fees and expenses that the Fund expects to incur and that the Shareholders can expect to bear, either directly or indirectly, through the Fund’s investments. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in Class A Shares. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section titled “Purchasing Shares” beginning on page 61 of this Prospectus.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The information contained in the tables below for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 sets forth selected information derived from the Fund’s financial statements. Financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Grant Thornton LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements and notes thereto, are included in the Fund’s annual report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 (“Annual Report”), which is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. You may obtain the Annual Report free of charge by writing to the Fund, c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc., 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212, by calling the Fund toll-free at (877) 779-1999 or by following the following hyperlink: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1681717/000110465923069777/tm2316193d2_ncsr.htm. The information in the table below should be read in conjunction with each of those financial statements and the notes thereto.

First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Class A

Per share operating performance.
For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.

* Commencement of operations.

1 Based on average shares outstanding for the period.

2 Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

3 Total returns would have been lower had expenses not been waived or absorbed by the Investment Manager. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

4 The Investment Manager reimbursed the Fund’s Class A shares $37 for losses from a pricing error. The payment had no impact to the total return of the share class.

5 Not annualized.

6 If dividends and interest on securities sold short had been excluded, the expense ratios would have been lowered by 0.00% for the year ended March 31, 2023 and 0.03% for the period ended March 31, 2022, respectively.

7 If excise tax, unused line of credit fees and interest expense had been excluded, the expense ratios would have been lowered by 0.04% for the year ended March 31, 2023 and 0.04%, for the period ended March 31, 2022, respectively.

8 Annualized.

9 Includes adjustments in accordance with GAAP and accordingly the returns and per unit net asset value for financial reporting may differ from the per unit net asset value and returns for shareholder transactions.

First Trust Alternative Opportunities Fund

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Class I

Per share operating performance.
For a capital share outstanding throughout each period.

1 Based on average shares outstanding for the period.

2 Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

3 Total returns would have been lower had expenses not been waived or absorbed by the Investment Manager. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

4 The Investment Manager reimbursed the Fund’s Class I Shares $63,879 for losses from a pricing error. The payment had no impact to the total return of the share class.

5 If dividends and interest on securities sold short had been excluded, the expense ratios would have been lowered by 0.00%, 0.02%, 0.07%, 0.10% and 0.43% for the years ended March 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

6 If excise tax, unused line of credit fees and interest expense had been excluded, the expense ratios would have been lowered by 0.05%, 0.06% and 0.06%, for the years ended March 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

7 Includes adjustments in accordance with GAAP and accordingly the returns and per unit net asset value for financial reporting may differ from the per unit net asset value and returns for shareholder transactions.

USE OF PROCEEDS

The proceeds from the sale of Shares, not including the amount of any sales charges and the Fund’s fees and expenses (including, without limitation, offering expenses not paid by the Investment Manager), will be invested by the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies as soon as practicable, but in no event later than three months after receipt, consistent with market conditions and the availability of suitable investments. Delays in investing the Fund’s assets may occur, for example, because of the time required to complete certain transactions, but any such delay will not exceed three months after the receipt of funds.

Pending the investment of the proceeds of any offering or any other available funds pursuant to the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, a portion of such amounts, which may include a substantial portion of the proceeds of an offering, may be invested in short-term debt securities or money market funds. In addition, subject to applicable law, the Fund may maintain a portion of its assets in cash or short-term securities or money market funds to meet operational needs, for temporary defensive purposes, or to maintain liquidity. The Fund may be prevented from achieving its objective during any period in which the Fund’s assets are not substantially invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies.

***

In view of the risks noted above, the Fund should be considered a speculative investment and prospective investors should invest in the Fund only if they can sustain a complete loss of their investment.

No guarantee or representation is made that the investment program of the Fund will be successful or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

FUND PERFORMANCE

The tables below illustrate the performance of the Fund. Past performance is no indication of future returns. The Fund commenced operations with Class A shares on August 2, 2021 and Class I shares on June 12, 2017 (“Inception”). The performance history is net of all fees and reflects the impact of the Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement. If the Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement were not in place, the Fund’s performance would be reduced.

Cumulative Return Since Inception for Class A

7.69% as of June 30, 2023

Cumulative Return Since Inception for Class I

37.42% as of June 30, 2023

MONTHLY PERFORMANCE (%) RETURNS FOR CLASS A

(August 2021-June 2023)

MONTHLY PERFORMANCE (%) RETURNS FOR CLASS I

(June 2017-June 2023)

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The Board has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business operations of the Fund on behalf of the Shareholders. A majority of the Board is and will be persons who are not “interested persons,” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act (the “Independent Trustees”). To the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act and other applicable law, the Board may delegate any of its rights, powers and authority to, among others, the officers of the applicable fund, any committee of such board, or service providers. See “BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS” in the Fund’s SAI for the identities of the Trustees and executive officers of the Fund, brief biographical information regarding each of them, and other information regarding the election and membership of the Board.

THE INVESTMENT MANAGER AND SUB-ADVISERS. First Trust Capital Management L.P. serves as the investment adviser (the “Investment Manager”) of the Fund and is responsible for determining and implementing the Fund’s overall investment strategy, including selecting each Sub-Adviser and determining the amount of the Fund’s assets to allocate to each Sub-Adviser. On November 1, 2021, Vivaldi Holdings, LLC (“Vivaldi Holdings”), the controlling member of Vivaldi Asset Management, LLC, partnered with First Trust Capital Partners, LLC in a joint venture to create a new entity called First Trust Capital Solutions L.P., resulting in a change in control of Vivaldi Asset Management, LLC (the “Transaction”). As a result of the Transaction, there were no changes in the management or day-to-day advisory services provided to the Fund. As part of the Transaction, Vivaldi Asset Management, LLC changed its name to First Trust Capital Management L.P. and Vivaldi Holdings changed its name to VFT Holdings LP. The Investment Manager is a Delaware limited partnership and a registered investment adviser controlled by First Trust Capital Solutions L.P. First Trust Capital Solutions LP is a Delaware limited partnership owned by First Trust Capital Partners, LLC and by VFT Holdings LP and its affiliates. The Investment Manager is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act. As of June 30, 2023, the Investment Manager had assets under management of approximately $5.3 billion.

Each Sub-Adviser selected by the Investment Manager, subject to Shareholder approval, is primarily responsible for its investment strategy and the day-to- day management of the Fund’s assets allocated to it by the Investment Manager. Founded in 2000, RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC (“RiverNorth”) is located at 360 S. Rosemary Ave, Suite 1420, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33401. RiverNorth is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser and manages, as of June 30, 2023, approximately $5.07 billion for individuals and institutions, including limited partnerships, mutual funds and employee benefit plans. Founded in 2009, Palmer Square Capital Management LLC (“Palmer Square”) is located at 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 315, Mission Woods, Kansas 66205. Palmer Square is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser and manages, as of June 30, 2023, approximately $27.2 billion for pooled investment vehicles, investment companies, high net worth individuals and institutions.

The Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates may serve as investment managers to other funds that have investment programs which are similar to the investment program of the Fund, and the Investment Manager and/or a Sub-Adviser or one of their affiliates may in the future serve as the investment manager or otherwise manage or direct the investment activities of other registered and/or private investment companies with investment programs similar to the investment program of the Fund. See “CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.”

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS. The personnel of the Investment Manager and Sub-Advisers who currently have primary responsibility for management of the Fund (the “Portfolio Managers”) are as follows:

Investment Manager

MICHAEL PECK — Portfolio Manager — Mr. Peck, CFA, joined Vivaldi Capital Management, LLC and its affiliated companies (collectively, “Vivaldi”) in February 2012 and is currently Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer of the Investment Manager and President and Co-CIO of Vivaldi Capital Management LP (formerly known as Vivaldi Capital Management, LLC). Prior to Vivaldi, Mr. Peck was a Portfolio Manager at Coe Capital, LLC, a Chicago-based registered investment adviser, from March 2010 to December 2011. From June 2007 through March 2009, Mr. Peck was a paid consultant at various real estate and investment companies. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Peck was a Senior Financial Analyst/Risk Manager at The Bond Companies. Mr. Peck graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Mr. Peck also holds a Master of Arts in Finance and a Masters in Business Administration (Real Estate Analysis and Financial Analysis) from DePaul University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (“CFA”).

BRIAN MURPHY — Portfolio Manager — Mr. Murphy joined Vivaldi in March 2014 as a Senior Research Analyst and currently serves as Co-Chief Investment Officer of the Investment Manager. Mr. Murphy also serves as the portfolio manager to the Fund. Mr. Murphy was previously a Director at Voyager Management, LLC (“Voyager Management”), a fund of hedge fund firm, from 2010 to 2014. Prior to Voyager Management, from 2009 to 2010, Mr. Murphy was Derivatives Product Specialist at Analytic Investors, specializing in quantitative derivative hedge fund strategies. Mr. Murphy was also an Analyst at Iron Partners, LLC, a fund of hedge fund firm, from 2007 to 2009, where he was primarily responsible for covering hedged equity, equity trading, derivative and structured product services. Mr. Murphy graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.

DANIEL LANCZ — Portfolio Manager — Mr.  Lancz has been a Portfolio Manager with Vivaldi since December 2014 and is currently a Portfolio Manager of the Investment Manager. Prior to joining Vivaldi, Mr. Lancz served as Director of Research for Glenfinnen and oversees the investment research for a merger arbitrage hedge fund. Prior to joining Glenfinnen in 2003, Mr. Lancz was the Director of Research of a merger arbitrage hedge fund, Augusta Capital Management. Mr. Lancz earned a B.S. from Miami University, located in Oxford, Ohio.

Sub-Advisers

RiverNorth

PATRICK W. GALLEY — Portfolio Manager — Mr. Galley joined RiverNorth in 2004 and serves as Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Galley heads the firm’s research and investment teams and oversees all portfolio management activities at RiverNorth. Mr. Galley also serves as the President and Chairman of RiverNorth’s proprietary funds. Prior to joining RiverNorth, Mr. Galley was Vice President at Bank of America in the Global Investment Bank’s Portfolio Management group. At Bank of America, he specialized in analyzing and structuring corporate transactions for investment management firms in addition to closed-end and open-end funds, hedge funds, funds of funds, structured investment vehicles and insurance/reinsurance companies. Mr. Galley graduated with honors from Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Finance. He has received the CFA designation and is a member of both the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago.

STEPHEN O’NEILL — Portfolio Manager — Mr. O’Neill joined RiverNorth in 2007 and serves as Portfolio Manager. He co-manages the firm’s closed- end fund trading strategies. Mr. O’Neill is also a member of the asset allocation team and helps to oversee the firm’s research analysts. Prior to joining RiverNorth, Mr. O’Neill was Assistant Vice President at Bank of America in the Global Investment Bank’s Portfolio Management group. At Bank of America he specialized in the corporate real estate, asset management and structured finance industries. Mr. O’Neill graduated Magna Cum Laude from Miami University of Ohio with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in Economics. He has received the CFA designation and is a member of both the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago.

Palmer Square

ANGIE K. LONG – Portfolio Manager – Ms. Long has been the Chief Investment Officer of Palmer Square since February 2011. She has key responsibilities for all investment-related activities with a particular focus on portfolio construction and risk management. Prior to joining Palmer Square, Ms. Long worked for J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in New York from 1998 to 2011. There, she held a variety of management and trading roles, including Deputy Head of Credit Trading for North America, Head of High Yield Trading, and Head of Credit Derivatives Trading. She has been a trader and investor within many products and strategies including high yield bonds, high yield credit derivatives, distressed debt, capital structure arbitrage and structured credit. Among other career achievements, Ms. Long is credited with creating the High Yield Debt Index, the first liquid credit trading index. She was named a managing director of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. at age 29. She was responsible for building J.P. Morgan’s High Yield Credit Derivatives business and Credit Options business. She received an AB degree in Economics from Princeton University in 1997 and is a CFA® charterholder.

CHRISTOPHER D. LONG – Portfolio Manager – Mr. Long is the founder of Palmer Square and is responsible for Palmer Square alternative and credit investments business, managing both the firm’s investment activities and operations as well as defining its investment policy. Mr. Long was a Managing Director and Investment Committee Member at Prairie Capital Management, LLC (“Prairie”) from 2006 to 2009, where he was one of the team members responsible for the firm’s proprietary alternative investment products. Prior to joining Prairie, Mr. Long was at various New York City-based firms including Sandell Asset Management, Corp. (“Sandell”), a multi-billion multi-strategy hedge fund, where he, as a Research Analyst, invested in both equity and debt securities from 2005 to 2006. Prior to Sandell, he worked at Morgan Stanley in the Credit Derivatives and Distressed Securities Group as an Associate, focusing on the firm’s proprietary investments during the summer of 2004. Before Morgan Stanley, Mr. Long worked at TH Lee Putnam Ventures, a $1.1 billion private equity fund sponsored by Thomas H. Lee Partners and Putnam Investments, from 1999 to 2003. Mr. Long started his career at J.P. Morgan & Co. in Leveraged Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions (FIG Group), advising corporations and private equity firms on investment banking and capital markets, from 1997 through 1999. Mr. Long received an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 2005, and an undergraduate degree in Economics, cum laude, from Princeton University in 1997.

TAYLOR R. MOORE – Portfolio Manager – Mr. Moore is Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Head of Structured Credit Trading at Palmer Square. Mr. Moore joined Palmer Square in 2013. Prior to joining Palmer Square, Taylor worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York and Delaware. Mr. Moore was an integral part of the firm’s North American foreign exchange business serving as Associate Product Controller. Mr. Moore played a key role in all financial operations and management of JPMorgan’s Forward and Spot foreign exchange trading desks. He began his career at JPMorgan as part of the firm’s Corporate Development Program, a two year selective leadership development program. Prior to JPMorgan Chase & Co., Mr. Moore worked at Frontier Investment Bank, a boutique investment bank based out of Kansas City. Mr. Moore received a BA in Economics from Cornell University and is a CFA® charterholder.

THE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. The Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund became effective as of November 1, 2021 and, unless terminated, will continue in effect for an initial two-year term. Thereafter, the Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or a majority of the Board, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. See “VOTING.” The Investment Management Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Investment Company Act) and is terminable at any time without penalty upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Fund by either the Board or the Investment Manager. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Management Agreement is available in the Fund’s semi-annual report to Shareholders for the period ended September 30, 2021.

The Investment Management Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the Fund, the Investment Manager and any partner, director, officer or employee of the Investment Manager, or any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, will not be liable to the Fund for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law or for any act or omission by the person in connection with the performance of services to the Fund. The Investment Management Agreement also provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by the Fund, of the Investment Manager or any partner, director, officer or employee of the Investment Manager, and any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, against any liability or expense to which the person may be liable that arises in connection with the performance of services to the Fund, so long as the liability or expense is not incurred by reason of the person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the Fund.

See “INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES — The Sub-Advisers” in the SAI for a discussion of the sub-advisory agreements among the Fund, the Investment Manager and each Sub-Adviser.

MANAGEMENT OF THE CAYMAN SUBSIDIARY

The Fund wholly-owns the Cayman Subsidiary. The Cayman Subsidiary is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Cayman Subsidiary, and shares of the Cayman Subsidiary will not be sold or offered to other investors. The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer oversees implementation of the Cayman Subsidiary’s policies and procedures and makes periodic reports to the Fund’s Board of Trustees regarding the Cayman Subsidiary’s compliance with its policies and procedures. The Investment Adviser serves as the investment adviser of the Cayman Subsidiary. The Cayman Subsidiary does not pay the Investment Adviser a management fee for its services. The Cayman Subsidiary has also entered into separate contracts for the provision of custody and transfer agency. The Fund, as the sole shareholder of the Cayman Subsidiary, will bear the costs of these services, which will ultimately be borne by the Shareholders of the Fund.

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE

The Fund pays to the Investment Manager an investment management fee (the “Investment Management Fee”) in consideration of the advisory and other services provided by the Investment Manager to the Fund. Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Manager a monthly Investment Management Fee equal to 0.95% on an annualized basis of the Fund’s NAV as of each month-end, subject to certain adjustments. The Investment Management Fee will be paid to the Investment Manager before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders. NAV means the total value of all assets of the Fund, less an amount equal to all accrued debts, liabilities and obligations of the Fund; provided that for purposes of determining the Investment Management Fee payable to the Investment Manager for any month, NAV will be calculated prior to any reduction for any fees and expenses of the Fund for that month, including, without limitation, the Investment Management Fee payable to the Investment Manager for that month.

Pursuant to a separate sub-advisory agreement among the Fund, the Investment Manager and RiverNorth, RiverNorth receives a monthly sub-advisor fee equal to an annual rate of 0.80% of the Fund’s average daily net assets allocated to RiverNorth, subject to certain adjustments. Pursuant to a separate sub-advisory agreement among the Fund, the Investment Manager and Palmer Square, Palmer Square receives a monthly sub-advisory fee equal to an annual rate of 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets allocated to Palmer Square, subject to certain adjustments. Each Sub-Adviser’s fee is paid by the Investment Manager out of the Investment Management Fee.

DISTRIBUTOR

First Trust Portfolios L.P. is the distributor (also known as principal underwriter) of the Shares of the Fund and is located at 120 E. Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). The Distributor is affiliated with the Investment Manager.

Under a Distribution Agreement with the Fund, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Fund in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund. The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a commercially reasonable efforts basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares. The Investment Manager pays the Distributor out of its own resources a fee for certain distribution-related services. The Distributor and its officers have no role in, or responsibility for, determining the investment policies of the Fund or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Fund or determining the valuation of the Fund’s assets and liabilities. In addition, the Distributor is not responsible for any operational matters associated with repurchases of Fund Shares.

The Distributor or its affiliates may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund. With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Fund and/or the Investment Manager, rather than the Distributor, may enter into such agreements. These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor. These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

The Fund has authorized one or more financial intermediaries and their authorized agents that have made arrangements with the Fund (collectively, “Financial Intermediaries”) to receive on its behalf purchase orders and repurchase requests. Such Financial Intermediaries are authorized to designate other intermediaries or designees to receive purchase orders and repurchase requests on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase order or repurchase request when a Financial Intermediary or, if applicable, a Financial Intermediary’s designee, receives the order or repurchase request. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s NAV per Share of that Class appropriate next computed after they are received by a Financial Intermediary or the Financial Intermediary’s authorized designee.

Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a Financial Intermediary or authorized designee. Investors who purchase shares through Financial Intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein. Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the Financial Intermediary through which they purchase shares. Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through Financial Intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their Financial Intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their Financial Intermediary. The Financial Intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the Financial Intermediary. The Investment Manager pays the Distributor out of its own resources a fee for certain distribution-related services. The maximum amount of compensation to be received by the participating members from any source will not exceed 8% of the proceeds raised in the offering. The Fund has been granted exemptive relief by the SEC permitting the Fund to offer multiple classes of Shares and to adopt a Distribution and Service Plan with respect to Class A and Class I Shares in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. The Distribution and Service Plans allow the Fund to pay distribution and servicing fees for the sale and servicing of its Class A and Class I Shares to the Fund’s Distributor and/or other qualified recipients. The Fund or other parties may pay the Financial Intermediary for maintaining individual ownership records as well as providing other shareholder services or other services.

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is solely responsible for its costs and expenses incurred in connection with its registration and qualification as a broker-dealer under state or federal laws. The Distribution Agreement also provides that the Fund will indemnify the Distributor and its affiliates and certain other persons against certain liabilities. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard by the Distributor in the performance of its duties, obligations, or responsibilities set forth in the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor and its affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, partners, agents, and employees (collectively with the Distributor, the “Distributor Indemnitees”), shall not be liable for, and the Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless such persons from and against any and all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims, demands and liabilities (including, without limitation, the reasonable costs of investigating or defending any alleged tax, charge, assessment, claim, demand, liability or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees incurred in connection therewith as well as any disbursements and liabilities arising under applicable federal and state laws) (collectively, “Losses”) arising directly or indirectly from the following: (i) the inaccuracy of factual information furnished to the Distributor by the Fund or the Fund’s investment adviser, custodians, or other service providers in any material respect; (ii) any claim that the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, shareholder report, sales literature and advertisements approved for use by the Fund and/or the Fund’s investment adviser or other information filed or made public by the Fund (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (and in the case of the prospectus and statement of additional information, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading under the 1933 Act, the Investment Company Act, or any other statute, regulation, self-regulatory organization rule or applicable common law, except to the extent the statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished by or on behalf of the Distributor in writing; (iii) any wrongful act of the Fund or any of its officers; (iv) any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which the Distribution Agreement relates; (v) the Fund’s breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in the Distribution Agreement; (vi) the Fund’s failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations; (vii) any liability of the Distributor resulting from a representation, covenant or warranty that the Distributor makes, or any indemnification that the Distributor provides, on behalf of the Fund and in reliance on a Fund representation, covenant or warranty in an intermediary agreement relating to the Fund; (viii) the Distributor’s reliance on any instruction, direction, notice, instrument or other information that the Distributor reasonably believes to be genuine; (ix) any other action or omission to act which the Distributor takes in connection with the provision of services to the Fund pursuant to the Distribution Agreement and the Fund’s Prospectus; or (x) any action taken or omitted by the Fund prior to the effective date of the Distribution Agreement. The Distributor also has no duty to calculate the net asset value of Fund Shares or to inquire into, or liability for, the accuracy of the net asset value per Share (including a Class thereof) as calculated by or for the Fund.

Class A Shares in the Fund are offered with a maximum sales charge of 4.50% of the subscription amount. The Fund or Investment Manager may elect to reduce, otherwise modify or waive the sales charge with respect to any Shareholder. No sales charge is expected to be charged with respect to investments by the Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers and their respective affiliates, directors, principals, officers and employees and others in the Fund’s sole discretion. There is no minimum aggregate amount of Shares required to be purchased in any offering.

The Investment Manager, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments to selected affiliated or unaffiliated third parties (including the parties that have entered into selling agreements with the Distributor) from time to time in connection with the distribution of Shares and/or the servicing of Shareholders and/or the Fund. These payments will be made out of the Investment Manager’s, Distributor’s and/or affiliates’ own assets, as applicable, and will not represent an additional charge to the Fund. The amount of the foregoing payments may be significant in amount and the prospect of receiving any such payments may provide such third parties or their employees with an incentive to favor sales of Shares of the Fund over other investment options. Contact your financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it receives or may receive. The Distributor may reallow all or a portion of the sales load to broker- dealers or other financial intermediaries. Similarly, the Distributor may reallow all or a portion of the distribution and/or service fees to the financial intermediary or other third party; however, the Distributor shall not be obligated to make such payments to the financial intermediaries or other parties unless the Distributor has received a corresponding payment from the Fund. The Distributor may also make payments to financial intermediaries from its own resources, subject to the following conditions: (a) any such payments shall not create any obligation for or recourse against the Fund or Class thereof and (b) the terms and conditions of any such payments are consistent with the Fund’s Prospectus and applicable federal and state securities laws and are disclosed in the Fund’s Prospectus or SAI to the extent such laws require. The Distributor may retain any portion of the sales load, distribution and/or service fee not paid to a financial intermediary. See also “Additional Payment to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLANS

The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan with respect to Class A Shares and Class I Shares in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. The Distribution and Service Plans allow the Fund to pay distribution and servicing fees for the sale and servicing of its Class A and Class I Shares. Under the Distribution and Service Plan for Class A Shares, the Fund is permitted to pay as compensation up to 1.00% on an annualized basis of the aggregate net assets of the Fund attributable to Class A Shares and under the Distribution and Service Plan for Class I Shares, the Fund is permitted to pay as compensation up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the aggregate net assets of the Fund attributable to Class I Shares (collectively, the “Distribution and Servicing Fee”) to qualified recipients. The Fund or the Distributor may pay all or a portion of these fees to any registered securities dealer, financial institution or any other person who renders assistance in distributing or promoting the sale of the respective Class of Shares or who provides certain shareholder services, pursuant to a written agreement. The Distribution and Servicing Fee is paid out of the Fund’s assets attributable to the applicable Class and decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of such Class.

The Distribution and Servicing Fee to be paid to the qualified recipients for distribution and provision of personal services of each class of Shares under the respective Distribution and Service Plan is as follows:

ADMINISTRATION

The Fund has retained the Administrator, UMB Fund Services, Inc., whose principal business address is 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212, to provide administrative services, and to assist with operational needs. The Administrator provides such services to the Fund pursuant to an administration agreement between the Fund and the Administrator (the “Administration Agreement”). The Administrator is responsible directly or through its agents for, among other things, providing the following services to the Fund; (1) maintaining a list of Shareholders and generally performing all actions related to the issuance and repurchase of Shares of the Fund, if any, including delivery of trade confirmations and capital statements; (2) providing certain administrative, clerical and bookkeeping services; (3) providing transfer agency services, services related to the payment of distributions, and accounting services; (4) computing the NAV of the Fund in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and procedures defined in consultation with the Investment Manager; (5) overseeing the preparation of semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund in accordance with GAAP, quarterly reports of the operations of the Fund and information required for tax returns; (6) supervising regulatory compliance matters and preparing certain regulatory filings; and (7) performing additional services, as agreed upon, in connection with the administration of the Fund. The Administrator may from time to time delegate its responsibilities under the Administration Agreement to one or more parties selected by the Administrator, including its affiliates or affiliates of the Investment Manager.

The Fund pays the Administrator an annual fee beginning at 0.11% of the Fund’s net assets and decreasing as assets reach certain levels. In addition, the Fund pays the Administrator its pro-rata share, based on combined assets under management, of an annual relationship-level base fee of $75,000 per fund paid by all registered investment companies advised by the Investment Manager and serviced by the Administrator (together with the asset-based fee, the “Administration Fee”). This fee structure generally covers fund administration, fund accounting, tax regulation and compliance, transfer agent and record keeping, and custody administration services provided by the Administrator or its affiliates. The amounts listed include certain out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrator or its affiliates for services provided to the Fund. The Administration Fee is paid to the Administrator out of the assets of the Fund, and therefore decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. The Fund also reimburses the Administrator for certain out-of-pocket expenses. The Administration Fee and the other terms of the Administration Agreement may change from time to time as may be agreed to by the Fund and the Administrator.

The Administration Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the Fund, the Administrator and any partner, director, officer or employee of the Administrator, or any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, will not be liable to the Fund for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law or for any act or omission by the person in connection with the performance of administration services for the Fund. The Administration Agreement also provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by the Fund or the Administrator, or any partner, director, officer or employee of the Administrator, and any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, against any liability or expense to which the person may be liable that arises in connection with the performance of services to the Fund, so long as the liability or expense is not incurred by reason of the person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the Fund.

CUSTODIANS

UMB Bank, n.a., an affiliate of the Administrator, and Millennium Trust Company, LLC (collectively, the “Custodians”) each serves as a custodian of the assets of the Fund to which it is allocated and may maintain custody of such assets with U.S. and non-U.S. sub-custodians (which may be banks and trust companies), securities depositories and clearing agencies in accordance with the requirements of Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder. UMB Bank, n.a. also serves as custodian of the Cayman Subsidiary. Assets of the Fund are not held by the Investment Manager or the Sub-Advisers or commingled with the assets of other accounts other than to the extent that securities are held in the name of the Custodians or U.S. or non-U.S. sub-custodians in a securities depository, clearing agency or omnibus customer account of such custodian. UMB Bank, n.a.’s principal business address is 1010 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106. Millennium Trust Company, LLC’s principal business address is 2001 Spring Road, Oak Brook, IL 60523.

FUND EXPENSES

The Fund pays all of its expenses, or reimburses the Investment Manager or its affiliates to the extent they have previously paid such expenses on behalf of the Fund. The expenses of the Fund include, but are not limited to, any fees and expenses in connection with the offering and issuance of Shares; all fees and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the operation of the Fund; all fees and expenses directly related to portfolio transactions and positions for the Fund’s account such as direct and indirect expenses associated with the Fund’s investments, and enforcing the Fund’s rights in respect of such investments; quotation or valuation expenses; the Investment Management Fee and the Administration Fee; Distribution and Servicing Fee; brokerage commissions; interest and fees on any borrowings by the Fund; professional fees; research expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of consultants who perform fund manager due diligence research); fees and expenses of outside legal counsel (including fees and expenses associated with the review of documentation for prospective investments by the Fund), including foreign legal counsel; accounting, auditing and tax preparation expenses; fees and expenses in connection with repurchase offers and any repurchases or redemptions of Shares; taxes and governmental fees (including tax preparation fees); fees and expenses of any custodian, sub-custodian, transfer agent, and registrar, and any other agent of the Fund; all costs and charges for equipment or services used in communicating information regarding the Fund’s transactions with any custodian or other agent engaged by the Fund; bank services fees; costs and expenses relating to any amendment of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) or other organizational documents of the Fund; expenses of preparing, amending, printing, and distributing the Prospectus and any other sales material (and any supplements or amendments thereto), reports, notices, other communications to Shareholders, and proxy materials; expenses of preparing, printing, and filing reports and other documents with government agencies; expenses of Shareholders’ meetings, including the solicitation of proxies in connection therewith; expenses of corporate data processing and related services; shareholder recordkeeping and account services, fees, and disbursements; expenses relating to investor and public relations; fees and expenses of the members of the Board who are not employees of the Investment Manager or its affiliates; insurance premiums; Extraordinary Expenses (as defined below); and all costs and expenses incurred as a result of dissolution, winding-up and termination of the Fund. The Fund may need to sell portfolio securities to pay fees and expenses, which could cause the Fund to realize taxable gains.

“Extraordinary Expenses” means all expenses incurred by the Fund outside of the ordinary course of its business, including, without limitation, costs incurred in connection with any claim, litigation, arbitration, mediation, government investigation or dispute and the amount of any judgment or settlement paid in connection therewith, or the enforcement of the rights against any person or entity; costs and expenses for indemnification or contribution payable to any person or entity; expenses of a reorganization, restructuring or merger, as applicable; expenses of holding, or soliciting proxies for, a meeting of shareholders (except to the extent relating to items customarily addressed at an annual meeting of a registered closed-end management investment company); and the expenses of engaging a new administrator, custodian or transfer agent.

The Investment Manager bears all of its expenses and costs incurred in providing investment advisory services to the Fund, including Sub-Advisers’ fees as well as travel and other expenses related to the selection and monitoring of investments. In addition, the Investment Manager is responsible for the payment of the compensation and expenses of those officers of the Fund affiliated with the Investment Manager, and making available, without expense to the Fund, the services of such individuals, subject to their individual consent to serve and to any limitations imposed by law.

The Fund bears directly certain ongoing offering costs associated with any periodic offers of Shares which will be expensed as they are incurred. Offering costs cannot be deducted by the Fund or the Shareholders.

The Investment Manager has entered into an expense limitation and reimbursement agreement (the “Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Investment Manager has agreed to waive fees that it would otherwise have been paid, and/or to assume expenses of the Fund (a “Waiver”), if required to ensure the Total Annual Expenses (excluding any taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses (as determined in accordance with SEC Form N-2), expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses) do not exceed 2.15% and 1.40% of the average daily net assets of Class A Shares and Class I Shares, respectively, (the “Expense Limit”) through July 31, 2024. The Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement may not be terminated before that date by the Fund or the Investment Manager. Thereafter, the Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement may be terminated by the Fund or the Investment Manager upon 30 days’ written notice. Unless it is terminated, the Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement automatically renews for consecutive one-year terms. Because taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, dividend and interest expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the Expense Limit, Total Annual Expenses (after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) are expected to exceed 2.15% and 1.40% for the Class A Shares and Class I Shares, respectively. For a period not to exceed three years from the date on which a Waiver is made, the Investment Manager may recoup amounts waived or assumed, provided it is able to effect such recoupment and remain in compliance with the Expense Limit in effect at the time of the Waiver and the Expense Limit at the time of the recoupment. For fiscal the year ended March 31, 2023, the Investment Manager waived fees of $299,814. At March 31, 2023, $34,167 is subject for recoupment through March 31, 2024, $43,229 is subject for recoupment through March 31, 2025 and $299,814 is subject for recoupment through March 31, 2026.

The Fund’s fees and expenses will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to Shareholders.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The Fund may be subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest.

The Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates engage in financial advisory activities that are independent from, and may from time to time conflict with, those of the Fund. In the future, there might arise instances where the interests of such affiliates conflict with the interests of the Fund. The Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates may provide services to, invest in, advise, sponsor and/or act as investment manager to investment vehicles and other persons or entities (including prospective investors in the Fund) which may have structures, investment objectives and/or policies that are similar to (or different than) those of the Fund; which may compete with the Fund for investment opportunities; and which may, subject to applicable law, co- invest with the Fund in certain transactions. In addition, the Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates and respective clients may themselves invest in securities that would be appropriate for the Fund. By acquiring Shares, each Shareholder will be deemed to have acknowledged the existence of any such actual and potential conflicts of interest and to have waived any claim with respect to any liability arising from the existence of any such conflict of interest.

The Fund has applied for exemptive relief from the SEC that would permit the Fund to participate in certain negotiated investments alongside other funds managed by the Investment Manager or certain of its affiliates outside the parameters of Section 17 of the Investment Company Act , subject to certain conditions including (i) that a majority of the Trustees of the Board who have no financial interest in the co-investment transaction and a majority of the Trustees of the Board who are not "interested persons," as defined in the Investment Company Act, approve the 17(d) investment and (ii) that the price, terms and conditions of the 17(d) investment will be identical for each fund participating pursuant to the exemptive relief. The Fund will not engage in 17(d) investments alongside affiliates unless the Fund has received an order granting such exemptive relief or unless such investments are not prohibited by Section 17(d) of the Investment Company Act or interpretations of Section 17(d) as expressed in SEC no-action letters or other available guidance. There can be no assurance when or if the Fund will obtain such exemptive relief. Furthermore, even if the Fund obtains exemptive relief, it could be limited in its ability to invest in certain investments in which the Investment Manager or any of its affiliates are investing or are invested.

Although the Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates will seek to allocate investment opportunities among the Fund and their other clients in a fair and reasonable manner, there can be no assurance that an investment opportunity which comes to the attention of the Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers or their affiliates will be appropriate for the Fund or will be referred to the Fund. The Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates are not obligated to refer any investment opportunity to the Fund.

The directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees of the Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts (including through funds managed by the Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisers or their affiliates). As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, investments may be made by directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees that are the same, different from or made at different times than investments made for the Fund. To reduce the possibility that the Fund will be materially adversely affected by the personal trading described above, the Fund, and Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisers have each adopted codes of ethics (collectively, the “Codes of Ethics”) in compliance with Section 17(j) of the Investment Company Act that restricts securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding the portfolio transactions of the Fund. The Codes of Ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov, and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by email at publicinfo@sec.gov.

TENDER OFFERS/OFFERS TO REPURCHASE

A substantial portion of the Fund’s investments are illiquid. For this reason, the Fund is structured as a closed-end interval fund which means that the Shareholders will not have the right to redeem their Shares on a daily basis. In addition, the Fund does not expect any trading market to develop for the Shares. As a result, if investors decide to invest in the Fund, they will have very limited opportunity to sell their Shares.

The Fund intends to provide a limited degree of liquidity to the Shareholders by conducting repurchase offers quarterly with a Valuation Date (as defined below) on or about March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year.

For each repurchase offer the Board will set an amount between 5% and 10% of the Shares based on relevant factors, including the liquidity of the Fund’s positions and the Shareholders’ desire for liquidity. A Shareholder whose Shares (or a portion thereof) are repurchased by the Fund will not be entitled to a return of any sales charge that was charged in connection with the Shareholder’s purchase of the Shares.

Shares will be repurchased at their NAV determined as of approximately March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, as applicable (each such date, a “Valuation Date”). Shareholders tendering Shares for repurchase will be asked to give written notice of their intent to do so by the date specified in the notice describing the terms of the applicable repurchase offer. Shareholders who tender may not have all of the tendered Shares repurchased by the Fund. If over-subscriptions occur, the Fund may elect to repurchase less than the full amount that a Shareholder requests to be repurchased. In such an event, the Fund may repurchase only a pro rata portion of the amount tendered by each Shareholder.

In certain circumstances, the Board may require a Shareholder to tender its Shares. Any such redemption will be conducted consistent with the requirements of Rule 23c-2 under the Investment Company Act.

A Shareholder who tenders for repurchase only a portion of their Shares in the Fund will be required to maintain a minimum account balance of $1,000. If a Shareholder tenders a portion of their Shares and the repurchase of that portion would cause the Shareholder’s account balance to fall below this required minimum of $1,000, the Fund reserves the right to repurchase all of such Shareholder’s outstanding Shares. Such minimum capital account balance requirement may also be waived by the Board in its sole discretion, subject to applicable federal securities laws.

TENDER/REPURCHASE PROCEDURES

Once each quarter, the Fund will offer to repurchase at per-class NAV per Share no less than 5% of the outstanding Shares of the Fund, unless such offer is suspended or postponed in accordance with regulatory requirements (as discussed below). For each repurchase offer the Board will set an amount between 5% and 10% of the Shares based on relevant factors, including the liquidity of the Fund’s positions and the Shareholders’ desire for liquidity. The offer to purchase shares is a fundamental policy that may not be changed without the vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Investment Company Act). Shareholders will be notified in writing of each quarterly repurchase offer and the date the repurchase offer ends (the “Repurchase Request Deadline”). Shares will be repurchased at the per-class NAV per Share determined as of the close of business no later than the fourteenth day after the Repurchase Request Deadline, or the next business day if the fourteenth day is not a business day (each a “Repurchase Pricing Date”).

Shareholders will be notified in writing about each quarterly repurchase offer, how they may request that the Fund repurchase their Shares, and the “Repurchase Request Deadline,” which is the date the repurchase offer ends. Shares tendered for repurchase by shareholders prior to any Repurchase Request Deadline will be repurchased subject to the aggregate repurchase amounts established for that Repurchase Request Deadline. The time between the notification to Shareholders (the “Shareholder Notification”) and the Repurchase Request Deadline is generally thirty (30) days, but may vary from no more than forty-two (42) days to no less than twenty-one (21) days. The Shareholder Notification will contain information Shareholders should consider in deciding whether to tender their Shares for repurchase. The Shareholder Notification also will include detailed instructions on how to tender Shares for repurchase, state the Repurchase Offer Amount and identify the dates of the Repurchase Request Deadline, the scheduled Repurchase Pricing Date, and the date the repurchase proceeds are scheduled for payment (the “Repurchase Payment Deadline”). The Shareholder Notification also will set forth the NAV per Share that has been computed no more than seven (7) days before the date of such notification, and how Shareholders may ascertain the NAV per Share after the notification date. Payment pursuant to the repurchase will be made by checks to the Shareholder’s address of record, or credited directly to a predetermined bank account on the Purchase Payment Date, which will be no more than seven (7) days after the Repurchase Pricing Date. The Board may establish other policies for repurchases of Shares that are consistent with the Investment Company Act, regulations thereunder and other pertinent laws.

If Shareholders tender for repurchase more than the Repurchase Offer Amount for a given repurchase offer, the Fund may, but is not required to, repurchase an additional amount of Shares not to exceed 2% of the outstanding Shares of the Fund on the Repurchase Request Deadline. If the Fund determines not to repurchase more than the Repurchase Offer Amount, or if Shareholders tender Shares in an amount exceeding the Repurchase Offer Amount plus 2% of the outstanding Shares on the Repurchase Request Deadline, the Fund will repurchase the Shares on a pro rata basis. However, the Fund may accept all shares tendered for repurchase by Shareholders who own less than $1,000 worth of Shares and who tender all of their Shares, before prorating other amounts tendered. In addition, the Fund will accept the total number of Shares tendered in connection with required minimum distributions from an IRA (as defined below) or other qualified retirement plan. It is the Shareholder’s obligation to both notify and provide the Fund supporting documentation of a required minimum distribution from an IRA or other qualified retirement plan.

The Fund may suspend or postpone a repurchase offer only: (a) if making or effecting the repurchase offer would cause the Fund to lose its status as a RIC under the Code; (b) for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange or any market on which the securities owned by the Fund are principally traded is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, or during which trading in such market is restricted; (c) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable, or during which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or (d) for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of Shareholders of the Fund.

The Fund must maintain liquid assets equal to the Repurchase Offer Amount from the time that the Shareholder Notification is sent to Shareholders until the Repurchase Pricing Date. The Fund will ensure that a percentage of its net assets equal to at least 100% of the Repurchase Offer Amount consists of assets that can be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business at approximately the price at which the Fund has valued the investment within the time period between the Repurchase Request Deadline and the Repurchase Payment Deadline. The Board has adopted procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the Fund’s assets are sufficiently liquid so that the Fund can comply with the repurchase offer and the liquidity requirements described in the previous paragraph. If, at any time, the Fund falls out of compliance with these liquidity requirements, the Board will take whatever action it deems appropriate to ensure compliance.

The Fund may cause a mandatory repurchase or redemption of all or some of the Shares of a Shareholder, or any person acquiring Shares from or through a Shareholder, at net asset value in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and Section 23 of the Investment Company Act and Rule 23c-2 thereunder.

TRANSFERS OF SHARES

There is no public market for the Shares and none is expected to develop. The Fund does not list its Shares on a stock exchange or similar market. Shares are transferable only in limited circumstances as described below, and liquidity for investments in Shares may be provided only through the repurchase offers described above. If a shareholder attempts to transfer Shares in violation of the Fund’s transfer restrictions, the transfer will not be permitted and will be void. An investment in the Fund is therefore suitable only for investors that can bear the risks associated with the limited liquidity of Shares and should be viewed as a long-term investment.

No person shall become a substituted Shareholder of the Fund without the consent of the Fund, which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion. Shares held by Shareholders may be transferred only: (i) by operation of law in connection with the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency, or adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder; or (ii) under other limited circumstances, with the consent of the Board (which may be withheld in its sole discretion and is expected to be granted, if at all, only under extenuating circumstances).

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING

If the Fund, the Investment Manager or any governmental agency believes that the Fund has sold Shares to, or is otherwise holding assets of, any person or entity that is acting, directly or indirectly, in violation of U.S., international or other anti-money laundering laws, rules, regulations, treaties or other restrictions, or on behalf of any suspected terrorist or terrorist organization, suspected drug trafficker, or senior foreign political figure(s) suspected of engaging in corruption, the Fund, the Investment Manager or such governmental agency may freeze the assets of such person or entity invested in the Fund or suspend the repurchase of Shares. The Fund may also be required to, or deem it necessary or advisable to, remit or transfer those assets to a governmental agency, in some cases without prior notice to the investor.

CREDIT FACILITY

The Fund may enter into one or more credit agreements or other similar agreements negotiated on market terms (each, a “Borrowing Transaction”) with one or more banks or other financial institutions which may or may not be affiliated with the Investment Manager (each, a “Financial Institution”) as chosen by the Investment Manager and approved by the Board. The Fund may borrow under a credit facility for a number of reasons, including without limitation, to pay fees and expenses, to make annual income distributions and to satisfy certain repurchase offers in a timely manner to ensure liquidity for the investors. To facilitate such Borrowing Transactions, the Fund may pledge its assets to a Financial Institution.

The Fund, as the borrower, has entered into a credit agreement, as amended (the “Credit Agreement”), with TriState Capital Bank as the lender. The Credit Agreement provides for borrowings on a committed basis in an aggregate principal amount up to $12,000,000, which amount may be increased from time to time upon mutual agreement by the parties. The maturity date is June 27, 2024. In connection with the Credit Agreement, the Fund has made certain customary representations and warranties and is required to comply with various customary covenants, reporting requirements and other requirements. The Credit Agreement contains events of default customary for similar financing transactions, including: (i) the failure to make principal, interest or other payments when due after the applicable grace period; (ii) the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Fund; or (iii) a change of management of the Fund. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, the lender may declare the outstanding advances and all other obligations under the Credit Agreement immediately due and payable. The Fund’s obligations to the lender under the Credit Agreement are secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Fund. The Fund complies with Section 8 and Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, governing investment policies and capital structure and leverage.

CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

GENERAL

The Administrator calculates the Fund’s NAV as of the close of business on each business day and at such other times as the Board may determine, including in connection with repurchases of Shares, in accordance with the procedures described below or as may be determined from time to time in accordance with policies established by the Board (each, a “Determination Date”).

The Board has approved valuation procedures for the Fund (the “Valuation Procedures”). For purposes of calculating NAV, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value. A market quotation is readily available only when that quotation is a quoted price (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments that the Fund can access at the measurement date, provided that a quotation will not be readily available if it is not reliable.

Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Act. As a general principle, the fair value of a security or other asset is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5, the Board has designated the Investment Manager as the valuation designee (“Valuation Designee”) for the Fund to perform in good faith the fair value determination relating to all Fund investments, under the Board’s oversight. The Investment Manager carries out its designated responsibilities as Valuation Designee through its Valuation Committee. The fair values of one or more assets may not be the prices at which those assets are ultimately sold and the differences may be significant.

The Valuation Designee may value Fund portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available and other Fund assets utilizing inputs from pricing services, quotation reporting systems, valuation agents and other third-party sources.

Securities traded on one or more of the U.S. national securities exchanges, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any foreign stock exchange will be valued at the last sale price or the official closing price on the exchange or system where such securities are principally traded for the business day as of the relevant Determination Date. If no sale or official closing price of particular securities are reported on a particular day, the securities will be valued at the closing bid price for securities held long, or the closing ask price for securities held short, or if a closing bid or ask price, as applicable, is not available, at either the exchange or system-defined closing price on the exchange or system in which such securities are principally traded. Over-the-counter securities not quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market will be valued at the last sale price on the relevant Determination Date or, if no sale occurs, at the last bid price, in the case of securities held long, or the last ask price, in the case of securities held short, at the time NAV is determined. Equity securities for which no prices are obtained under the foregoing procedures, including those for which a pricing service supplies no exchange quotation or a quotation that is believed by the Investment Manager or a Sub-Adviser not to reflect the market value, will be valued at the bid price, in the case of securities held long, or the ask price, in the case of securities held short, supplied by one or more dealers making a market in those securities or one or more brokers, in accordance with the Valuation Procedures. Futures index options will be valued at the mid-point between the last bid price and the last ask price on the relevant Determination Date at the time NAV is determined. The mid-point of the last bid and the last ask is also known as the ‘mark’.

Fixed-income securities with a remaining maturity of sixty (60) days or more for which accurate market quotations are readily available will normally be valued according to dealer-supplied mean quotations or mean quotations from a recognized pricing service. Fixed-income securities for which market quotations are not readily available or are believed by the Valuation Designee not to reflect market value will be valued based upon broker-supplied quotations in accordance with the Valuation Procedures, provided that if such quotations are unavailable or are believed by the Valuation Designee not to reflect market value, such fixed-income securities will be valued by the Valuation Designee using valuation models that take into account spread and daily yield changes on government securities in the appropriate market (e.g., matrix pricing). High quality investment grade debt securities (e.g., treasuries, commercial paper, etc.) with a remaining maturity of sixty (60) days or less are valued at amortized cost, so long as such valuations are determined by the Valuation Designee to represent fair value.

The Fund will generally value shares of ETFs at the last sale price on the exchange on which the ETF is principally traded. The Fund will generally value shares of open-end investment companies and closed-end investment companies that do not trade on one or more of the U.S. national securities exchanges at their respective NAVs.

To the extent that the Fund invests in private Investment Funds, the Fund will generally value those assets, in accordance with the value determined as of such date by each private Investment Fund in accordance with the private Investment Fund’s valuation policies and reported at the time of the Fund’s valuation. As a general matter, the fair value of the Fund’s interest in a private Investment Fund will represent the amount that the Fund could reasonably expect to receive from the private Investment Fund if the Fund’s interest was redeemed at the time of valuation, based on information reasonably available at the time the valuation is made and that the Fund believes to be reliable. In the event that the private Investment Fund does not report a value to the Fund on a timely basis, the Fund will determine the fair value of such private Investment Fund based on the most recent final or estimated value reported by the private Investment Fund, as well as any other relevant information available at the time the Fund values its portfolio. Using the nomenclature of the hedge fund industry, any values reported as “estimated” or “final” values are expected to reasonably reflect market values of securities when available or fair value as of the Fund’s valuation date. A substantial amount of time may elapse between the occurrence of an event necessitating the pricing of Fund assets and the receipt of valuation information from the Underlying Manager of a private Investment Fund.

The Valuation Designee will consider whether it is appropriate, in light of all relevant circumstances, to value such interests at the NAV as reported by the Underlying Manager at the time of valuation, or whether to adjust such value to reflect a premium or discount to NAV. In accordance with GAAP and industry practice, the Fund may not always apply a discount in cases where there is no contemporaneous redemption activity in a particular Underlying Fund. In other cases, as when an Underlying Fund imposes extraordinary restrictions on redemptions, when other extraordinary circumstances exist, or when there have been no recent transactions in Underlying Fund interests, the Fund may determine that it is appropriate to apply a discount to the NAV of the Underlying Fund. Any such decision will be made in good faith by the Valuation Designee, under oversight by the Board.

In certain circumstances, the Valuation Designee may determine that a private Investment Fund’s NAV shall be adjusted more frequently. For these private Investment Funds, the NAVs are adjusted daily based on the total return that each private Investment Fund is estimated by the Valuation Designee to generate during the period (adjusted net asset value). The Valuation Designee monitors these estimates daily and updates them as necessary if macro or individual fund changes warrant any adjustments, subject to the review and supervision of the Valuation Designee.

Where deemed appropriate by the Valuation Designee and consistent with the Investment Company Act, investments in private Investment Funds may be valued at cost. Cost will be used only when cost is determined to best approximate the fair value of the particular security under consideration.

The Valuation Designee will evaluate each private debt investment’s fair value based on numerous factors, including but not limited to changes in credit risk, construction risk, the financial strength of the borrower, and the debt instrument’s spread to US Treasuries. The Fund will also engage qualified external valuation consultants to provide valuation information, typically on a quarterly basis, but at least semiannually. The Fund will generally value any private debt investments at the lesser of their amortized cost or the mid-point of any valuation range as provided by a qualified external valuation consultant. In certain circumstances, the Valuation Designee may determine that this amount does not represent the fair value of the private debt investment based on current market conditions. In such an instance, the Valuation Designee will fair value the investment using another methodology. In its fair valuation assessment process, the Valuation Designee may consider any information it deems appropriate including from external valuation consultants.

Warrants for which market quotations are not readily available will be fair valued based on the underlying investment. The Fund will engage qualified external valuation consultants to provide valuation information, typically on a quarterly basis, but at least semiannually. The Fund will generally value warrants at the mid-point of any valuation range as provided by a qualified external valuation consultant. In certain circumstances, the Valuation Designee may determine that this amount does not represent the fair value of the private debt investment based on current market conditions. In such an instance, the Valuation Designee will fair value the investment using another methodology. In its fair valuation assessment process, the Valuation Designee may consider any information it deems appropriate including from external valuation consultants.

Assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars using foreign exchange rates provided by a pricing service. Trading in foreign securities generally is completed, and the values of such securities are determined, prior to the close of securities markets in the United States. Foreign exchange rates are also determined prior to such close. On occasion, the values of securities and exchange rates may be affected by events occurring between the time as of which determination of such values or exchange rates are made and the time as of which the NAV of the Fund is determined. When such events materially affect the values of securities held by the Fund or its liabilities, such securities and liabilities will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Designee.

Although the Valuation Procedures provide that the Investment Manager or Sub-Advisers will review the valuations provided by the Underlying Managers to the private Investment Funds, none of the Board or the Investment Manager or Sub-Advisers will be able to confirm independently the accuracy of valuations provided by such Underlying Managers, which may be unaudited. Further, the Distributor is under no duty to verify any valuations of the Fund’s investments.

The Investment Manager and/or the Sub-Advisers act as investment adviser to other clients that may invest in securities for which no public market price exists. Valuation determinations by the Investment Manager and/or the Sub-Advisers or their affiliates for other clients may result in different values than those ascribed to the same security owned by the Fund. Consequently, the fees charged to the Fund may be different than those charged to other clients, given that the method of calculating the fees takes the value of all assets, including assets carried at different valuations, into consideration.

Prospective investors should be aware that situations involving uncertainties as to the value of portfolio positions could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s NAV if the judgments regarding appropriate valuations should prove incorrect. In no event does the Distributor have any responsibility for any valuations of the Fund’s investments (including the accuracy, reliability or completeness thereof) or for the valuation processes utilized for the Fund, and the Distributor disclaims any and all liability for any direct, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of any inaccuracy or incompleteness in valuations. The Distributor has no duty to calculate the NAV of Fund Shares or to inquire into, or liability for, the accuracy of the NAV per Share (including a Class thereof) as calculated by or for the Fund.

SUSPENSION OF CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

As noted above, the Administrator calculates the Fund’s NAV as of the close of business on each business day. However, there may be circumstances where it may not be practicable to determine an NAV, such as during any period when the principal stock exchanges for securities in which the Fund has invested its assets are closed other than for weekends and customary holidays (or when trading on such exchanges is restricted or suspended). In such circumstances, the Board (after consultation with the Investment Manager) may suspend the calculation of NAV. The Fund will not accept subscriptions for Shares if the calculation of NAV is suspended, and the suspension may require the termination of a pending repurchase offer by the Fund (or the postponement of the Valuation Date for a repurchase offer). Notwithstanding a suspension of the calculation of NAV, the Fund will be required to determine the value of its assets and report NAV in its semi-annual and annual reports to Shareholders, and in its reports on Form N-PORT filed with the SEC after the end of the first and third quarters of the Fund’s fiscal year. The Administrator will resume calculation of the Fund’s NAV after the Board (in consultation with the Investment Manager) determines that conditions no longer require suspension of the calculation of NAV.

TAXES

INTRODUCTION

The following is a summary of certain material federal income tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of Shares. Because the federal income tax consequences of investing in the Fund may vary from Shareholder to Shareholder depending on each Shareholder’s unique federal income tax circumstances, this summary does not attempt to discuss all of the federal income tax consequences of such an investment. Among other things, except in certain limited cases, this summary does not purport to deal with persons in special situations (such as financial institutions, non-U.S. persons, insurance companies, entities exempt from federal income tax, regulated investment companies, dealers in commodities and securities and pass through entities). Further, to the limited extent this summary discusses possible foreign, state and local income tax consequences, it does so in a very general manner. Finally, this summary does not purport to discuss federal tax consequences (such as estate and gift tax consequences) other than those arising under the federal income tax laws. You are therefore urged to consult your tax advisers to determine the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of Shares.

The following summary is based upon the Code as well as administrative regulations and rulings and judicial decisions thereunder, as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change at any time (possibly on a retroactive basis). Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the tax consequences to the Fund or Shareholders will continue to be as described herein.

The Fund has not sought or obtained a ruling from the IRS (or any other federal, state, local or foreign governmental agency) or an opinion of legal counsel as to any specific federal, state, local or foreign tax matter that may affect it. Accordingly, although this summary is considered to be a correct interpretation of applicable law, no assurance can be given that a court or taxing authority will agree with such interpretation or with the tax positions taken by the Fund.

Except where specifically noted, this summary relates solely to U.S. Shareholders. A U.S. Shareholder for purposes of this discussion is a person who is a citizen or a resident alien of the U.S., a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the U.S. or any political subdivision thereof, an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source or a trust if: (i) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

TAXATION OF THE FUND

The below is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant under current law, which is subject to change. Except where otherwise specifically indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual U.S. citizens or residents. You should consult your own tax adviser regarding tax considerations relevant to your specific situation, including federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxes.

The Fund intends to maintain its RIC status under federal income tax law. As a RIC, the Fund will generally not be subject to federal corporate income taxes, provided that it distributes out to Shareholders its taxable income and gain each year. To qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must meet three important tests each year.

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer), and no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, if any, for the year.

The Fund intends to comply with this distribution requirement. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a RIC. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a RIC, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to Shareholders. In that event, all taxable Shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, although Shareholders that are corporations could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on RICs that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax, although no assurance can be given that this will always be accomplished.

Certain of the Fund’s investments will require the Fund to recognize taxable income in a taxable year in excess of the cash generated on those investments during that year. In particular, the Fund expects to invest in debt obligations that will be treated as having “market discount” and/or original issue discount (“OID”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Additionally, some of the CLOs in which the Fund invests may constitute passive foreign investment companies, or under certain circumstances, controlled foreign corporations. Because the Fund may be required to recognize income in respect of these investments before, or without receiving, cash representing such income, the Fund may have difficulty satisfying the annual distribution requirements applicable to RICs and avoiding Fund-level U.S. federal income and/or excise taxes. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to sell assets, including at potentially disadvantageous times or prices, raise additional debt or equity capital, make taxable distributions of its shares or debt securities, or reduce new investments, to obtain the cash needed to make these income distributions. If the Fund liquidates assets to raise cash, the Fund may realize gain or loss on such liquidations; in the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such liquidation transactions, the Fund shareholders may receive larger capital gain distributions than they would in the absence of such transactions.

The Fund may invest a portion of its net assets in below investment grade instruments. Investments in these types of instruments may present special tax issues for the Fund. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless instruments, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Fund to the extent necessary to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income that it does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

Any investment by the Fund in equity securities of REITs may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investments in REIT equity securities also may require the Fund to accrue and to distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income but may qualify as section 199A dividends prior to January 1, 2026.

The Fund may invest in REITs that hold residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”). Under Treasury regulations that have not yet been issued, but may apply retroactively, a portion of the Fund’s income from a REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a REMIC (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. These regulations are also expected to provide that excess inclusion income of a RIC, such as the Fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest directly. The IRS in Notice 2006-97 set forth some basic principles for the application of these rules until such regulations are issued. In general, the applicable rules under the Code and expected rules under the regulations will provide that the excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan, or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on unrelated business income, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax (by treaty or otherwise). In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (as defined in the Code to include governmental units, tax-exempt entities and certain cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in a RIC, then the RIC will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations.

Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income. In general, distributions will be taxable to you for federal, state and local income tax purposes unless you are a tax-exempt entity, including qualified retirement plans or individual retirement accounts. Distributions are taxable whether they are received in cash or reinvested in Fund Shares. A Shareholder may thus recognize income and gain taxable for federal, state and local income tax purposes without receiving any cash distributions to pay any resulting taxes on such income or gain.

Fund distributions, if any, that are attributable to “qualified dividend income” or “long-term capital gains” earned by the Fund would be taxable to non-corporate Shareholders at reduced rates. Shareholders must have owned the Fund Shares for at least sixty-one (61) days during the one hundred twenty-one (121) day period beginning sixty (60) days before the ex-dividend date to benefit from the lower rates on qualified dividend income. However, U.S. individuals with modified adjusted gross income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly) and trusts and estates with income above specified levels are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on their net investment income, which includes interest, dividends, and capital gains.

The Fund may make distributions to you of “section 199A dividends” with respect to qualified dividends that it receives with respect to its investments in REITs. A section 199A dividend is any dividend or part of such dividend that the Fund pays to its Shareholders and reports as a section 199A dividend in written statements furnished to its Shareholders. Distributions paid by the Fund that are eligible to be treated as section 199A dividends for a taxable year may not exceed the “qualified REIT dividends” received by the Fund from REITs reduced by the Fund’s allocable expenses. Section 199A dividends may be taxed to individuals and other non-corporate Shareholders at a reduced effective federal income tax rate, provided the Shareholder receiving the dividends has satisfied a holding period requirement for the Shares and satisfied certain other conditions. For the lower rates to apply, you must have owned your Shares for at least 46 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the Fund’s ex-dividend date, but only to the extent that you are not under an obligation (under a short-sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Section 199A became effective January 1, 2018, and the availability of section 199A dividends is currently scheduled to sunset after December 31, 2025.

Shareholders are generally taxed on any dividends from the Fund in the year they are actually distributed, except that dividends declared in October, November or December of a year, and paid in January of the following year, will generally be treated for federal income tax purposes as having been paid to Shareholders on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.

Certain Withholding Taxes. The Fund may be subject to taxes, including foreign withholding taxes, attributable to investments of the Fund. If at the close of the Fund’s taxable year more than 50% of the value of its assets consists of foreign stock or securities, the Fund will be eligible to elect, for federal income tax purposes, to treat certain foreign taxes paid by it, including generally any withholding and other foreign income taxes, as paid by its Shareholders. If the Fund so elects, the pro rata amount of such foreign taxes paid by the Fund will be included in its Shareholders’ income and each such Shareholder will be entitled either (1) to credit that proportional amount of taxes against U.S. Federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit or (2) to take that amount as an itemized deduction. The Fund does not expect to be able to make such election.

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions. You will recognize taxable gain or loss on a sale, exchange or redemption of your shares in an amount equal to the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, this gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds twelve (12) months. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of sixty-one (61) days beginning thirty (30) days before and ending thirty (30) days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

The Fund is required to compute and report the cost basis of shares sold or exchanged. The Fund has elected to use the first in, first out (“FIFO”) method, unless you instruct the Fund to select a different method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale or exchange. If your account is held by your broker or other advisor, they may select a different method. In these cases, please contact the holder of your shares to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns.

Pursuant to the regulations directed at tax shelter activity, taxpayers are required to disclose to the IRS certain information on Form 8886 if they participate in a “reportable transaction.” A transaction may be a “reportable transaction” based upon any of several indicia with respect to a shareholder, including the recognition of a loss in excess of certain thresholds (for individuals, $2 million in one year or $4 million in any combination of years). Investors should consult their own tax advisers concerning any possible disclosure obligation with respect to their investment in Fund Shares.

IRAs and Other Tax Qualified Plans. In general, dividends received and gain or loss realized with respect to shares held in an IRA or other tax qualified plan are not currently taxable unless the Fund Shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

U.S. Tax Treatment of Foreign Shareholders. Nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors in the Fund will generally be exempt from U.S. federal income tax on Fund distributions attributable to net capital gains. However, the Fund does not expect to make significant distributions that will be designated as net capital gains. The exemption may not apply, however, if the investment in the Fund is connected to a trade or business of the foreign investor in the United States or if the foreign investor is present in the United States for one hundred eighty-three (183) days or more in a year and certain other conditions are met.

Fund distributions attributable to other categories of Fund income, such as interest, and dividends from companies whose securities are held by the Fund, will generally be subject to a 30% withholding tax when paid to foreign shareholders. However, the Fund may be able to designate a portion of the distributions made as interest related dividends or short-term capital gain dividends which are generally exempt from this withholding tax. The withholding tax may, however, be reduced (and, in some cases, eliminated) under an applicable tax treaty between the United States and a shareholder’s country of residence or incorporation, provided that the shareholder furnishes the Fund with a properly completed Form W-8BEN or W-BEN-E to establish entitlement to these treaty benefits.

A foreign investor will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on sales or exchanges of Fund shares unless the investment in the Fund is connected to a trade or business of the investor in the United States or if the investor is present in the United States for one hundred eighty-three (183) days or more in a year and certain other conditions are met.

In addition, the Fund will be required to withhold 30% tax on certain payments to foreign entities that do not meet specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, even if such distributions would otherwise be exempt from withholding.

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund in their country of residence.

State and Local Taxes. In addition to the U.S. federal income tax consequences summarized above, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions, sales, exchanges, and redemptions. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund’s distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. Under applicable “backup withholding” requirements, the Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to Shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are “exempt recipients.” The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Shareholder will be allowed as a credit against the Shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such a Shareholder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

INVESTMENT IN CAYMAN SUBSIDIARY

Section 851(b) of the Code provides that income earned by CFC, such as the Cayman Subsidiary, will be treated as qualifying income for a RIC provided that CFC distributes those earnings out to the RIC each year. During the period 2006-2011, the IRS issued a number of private letter rulings to other funds in which the IRS ruled that income derived from a fund’s investment in a CFC such as the Cayman Subsidiary will generally constitute qualifying income for the fund, even if the CFC itself engages in transactions that would not generate qualifying income if they were engaged in by the fund itself and even if the earnings of the CFC are not distributed to the fund each year. In 2011, the IRS suspended the issuance of such private letter rulings pending further review of the subject. In 2019, the Treasury and the IRS issued regulations that provide that the income from a foreign subsidiary that is a controlled foreign corporation is qualifying income for purposes of a fund remaining qualified as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes (1) to the extent that the income is actually distributed by the foreign subsidiary to the RIC each year and (2) even if not distributed, to extent the income is derived with respect to the fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies. The Fund intends to cause the Cayman Subsidiary to make such distributions to the Fund each year.

If, however, the IRS were to determine that income derived from the Fund’s investment in the Cayman Subsidiary does not constitute qualifying income and if such positions were upheld by a court, or if future legislation or Treasury regulations were to adversely affect the tax treatment of such investments, the Fund might cease to qualify as a RIC and would be required to reduce its exposure to such investments which might result in difficulty in implementing its investment strategy. In that event, the Fund’s taxable income would be subject to tax at the fund level at regular corporate tax rates (without reduction for distributions to shareholders) and to a further tax at the shareholder level when such income is distributed. In such an event, in order to re-qualify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make certain distributions.

Taxation of the Cayman Subsidiary. There is, at present, no direct taxation in the Cayman Islands and interest, dividends and gains payable to the Cayman Subsidiary will be received free of all Cayman Islands taxes. The Cayman Subsidiary is registered as an "exempted company" pursuant to the Companies Law (as amended). The Cayman Subsidiary has applied for, and expects to receive, an undertaking from the Governor in Cabinet of the Cayman Islands to the effect that, for a period of twenty years from the date of the undertaking, no law that thereafter is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax or duty to be levied on profits, income or on gains or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, will apply to any property comprised in or any income arising under the Cayman Subsidiary, or to the shareholders thereof, in respect of any such property or income.

OTHER TAX MATTERS

The preceding is a summary of some of the tax rules and considerations affecting Shareholders and the Fund’s operations and does not purport to be a complete analysis of all relevant tax rules and considerations, nor does it purport to be a complete listing of all potential tax risks inherent in making an investment in the Fund. A Shareholder may be subject to other taxes, including but not limited to, state and local taxes, estate and inheritance taxes, and intangible taxes that may be imposed by various jurisdictions. The Fund also may be subject to state, local, and foreign taxes that could reduce cash distributions to Shareholders. It is the responsibility of each Shareholder to file all appropriate tax returns that may be required. Each prospective Shareholder is urged to consult with his or her tax adviser with respect to any investment in the Fund.

ERISA AND CODE CONSIDERATIONS

Persons who are fiduciaries with respect to an employee benefit plan or other arrangements subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (an “ERISA Plan”), certain individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), or certain Keogh plans, should consider, among other things, the matters described below before determining whether to invest in the Fund. ERISA imposes certain general and specific responsibilities on persons who are fiduciaries with respect to an ERISA Plan, including prudence, diversification, the avoidance of prohibited transactions, and other standards. In determining whether a particular investment is appropriate for an ERISA Plan, U.S. Department of Labor regulations provide that a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan must give appropriate consideration to, among other things, the role that the investment plays in the ERISA Plan’s portfolio, whether the investment is designed reasonably to further the ERISA Plan’s purposes, the risk and return factors, the portfolio’s composition with regard to diversification, the liquidity and current total return of the portfolio relative to the anticipated cash flow needs of the ERISA Plan and the proposed investment, the income taxes (if any) attributable to the investment, and the projected return of the investment relative to the ERISA Plan’s funding objectives. Before investing the assets of an ERISA Plan in the Fund, an ERISA Plan fiduciary should determine whether such an investment is consistent with ERISA’s fiduciary responsibilities and the foregoing considerations. If a fiduciary with respect to any such ERISA Plan breaches such responsibilities with regard to selecting an investment or an investment course of action for such ERISA Plan, the fiduciary may be held personally liable for losses incurred by the ERISA Plan as a result of such breach. Non-ERISA-covered IRAs and Keogh plans and other arrangements not subject to ERISA, but subject to the prohibited transaction rules of Section 4975 of the Code (“Code Plans”; together with ERISA Plans, “Plans”), should determine whether an investment in the Fund will violate those rules.

Because the Fund will be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, the underlying assets of the Fund will not be considered “plan assets” of the Plans investing in the Fund for purposes of ERISA’s fiduciary responsibility rules and ERISA and the Code’s prohibited transaction rules. Thus, neither the Investment Manager nor any Sub-Adviser will be a fiduciary within the meaning of ERISA and the Code with respect to the assets of any Plan that becomes a Shareholder of the Fund, solely as a result of the Plan’s investment in the Fund.

Certain prospective ERISA Plan investors may currently maintain relationships with the Investment Manager or a Sub-Adviser or with other entities that are affiliated with the Investment Manager or a Sub-Adviser. Each of such persons may be deemed to be a party in interest to, a disqualified person of, and/ or a fiduciary of any ERISA Plan to which it provides investment management, investment advisory, or other services. ERISA and the Code prohibit ERISA Plan assets from being used for the benefit of a party in interest or disqualified person and also prohibit a fiduciary from using its position to cause the ERISA Plan to make an investment from which it or certain third parties in which such fiduciary has an interest would receive a fee or other consideration. ERISA Plan investors should consult with legal counsel to determine if participation in the Fund is a transaction that is prohibited by ERISA or the Code. ERISA Plan fiduciaries will be required to represent that the decision to invest in the Fund was made by them as fiduciaries that are independent of such affiliated persons, that they are duly authorized to make such investment decisions, and that they have not relied on any individualized advice or recommendation of such affiliated persons as a primary basis for the decision to invest in the Fund.

The provisions of ERISA and the Code are subject to extensive and continuing administrative and judicial interpretation and review. The discussion of ERISA and the Code contained herein is, of necessity, general and may be affected by the future publication or the future applicability of final regulations and rulings. Potential investors should consult with their legal advisers regarding the consequences under ERISA and the Code of the acquisition and ownership of Shares.

FISCAL YEAR

The Fund’s fiscal year is the 12-month period ending on March 31. The Fund’s taxable year is the 12-month period ending on December 31.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL

Grant Thornton LLP, located at principal business address 171 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601, serves as the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm, providing audit services.

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Suite 2000, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996, serves as counsel to the Fund and the Independent Trustees.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning the Fund and Shares (including procedures for purchasing Shares) should be directed to the Fund’s Administrator, UMB Fund Services, Inc. at (877) 779-1999.

FIRST TRUST ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

(877) 779-1999

Investment Manager

First Trust Capital Management L.P.

225 W. Wacker Drive, 21^st Floor

Chicago, IL 60606

Sub-Advisers

RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC
360 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 1420

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Palmer Square Capital Management LLC

1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 315

Mission Woods, KS 66205

Transfer Agent/Administrator

UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212

Custodian Banks

UMB Bank, n.a.

1010 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, MO 64106

Millennium Trust Company, LLC

2001 Spring Road

Oak Brook, IL 60523

Distributor

First Trust Portfolios L.P.

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, IL 60187

Fund Counsel

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Suite 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Grant Thornton LLP

171 N. Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60601-3370