0001445546-24-005161.txt : 20240725 0001445546-24-005161.hdr.sgml : 20240725 20240725095136 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001445546-24-005161 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13G PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20240725 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20240725 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND VIII CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001667919 ORGANIZATION NAME: IRS NUMBER: 000000000 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13G SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-90766 FILM NUMBER: 241140240 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 120 EAST LIBERTY DRIVE, SUITE 400 CITY: WHEATON STATE: IL ZIP: 60187 BUSINESS PHONE: 630-765-8000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 120 EAST LIBERTY DRIVE, SUITE 400 CITY: WHEATON STATE: IL ZIP: 60187 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS LP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001184765 ORGANIZATION NAME: IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: IL FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13G BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 12O EAST LIBERTY DRIVE STREET 2: SUITE 400 CITY: WHEATON STATE: IL ZIP: 60187 BUSINESS PHONE: 630-765-8000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 12O EAST LIBERTY DRIVE STREET 2: SUITE 400 CITY: WHEATON STATE: IL ZIP: 60187 SC 13G 1 sc13g_3.txt SCHEDULE 13G UNITED STATES* SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ____)* FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Name of Issuer) Common ------------------------------ (Title of Class of Securities) 33740U679 -------------- (CUSIP Number) June 30, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ X ] Rule 13d-1(b) [ ] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). - 1 - CUSIP No. 33740U679 1. Names of Reporting Persons, I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only): First Trust Portfolios L.P.: 36-3768815 First Trust Advisors L.P.: 36-3788904 The Charger Corporation: 36-3772451 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) [ ] (b) [ ] 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization of each Reporting Person: Illinois, U.S.A. Number of 5. Sole Voting Power: 0 Shares Bene- ficially Owned by Each 6. Shared Voting Power: Reporting Such shares are held by the following entities in the Person With: respective amounts listed: First Trust Portfolios L.P.: 0 First Trust Advisors L.P.: 305,283 The Charger Corporation: 305,283 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 0 8. Shared Dispositive Power: Such shares are held by the following entities in the respective amounts listed: First Trust Portfolios L.P.: 0 First Trust Advisors L.P.: 305,283 The Charger Corporation: 305,283 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 305,283 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) - 2 - 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 5.65% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) First Trust Portfolios L.P. - BD First Trust Advisors L.P. - IA The Charger Corporation - HC ITEM 1. (a) Name of Issuer: FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices Attn: Legal Department 120 East Liberty Drive Suite 400 Wheaton, IL 60187 USA ITEM 2. (a) Name of Person Filing First Trust Portfolios L.P. First Trust Advisors L.P. The Charger Corporation (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence First Trust Portfolios L.P. 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, Illinois 60187 First Trust Advisors L.P. 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, Illinois 60187 The Charger Corporation 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, Illinois 60187 (c) Citizenship of each Reporting Person: Illinois, U.S.A. (d) Title of Class of Securities Common Stock (e) CUSIP Number 33740U679 - 3 - ITEM 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Sec. 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) x Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); (b) Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (c) Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (d) Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8); (e) x An investment adviser in accordance with Sec. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) An employee benefit plant or endowment fund in accordance with Sec. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) x A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Sec. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j) A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Sec. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); (k) Group, in accordance with Sec. 240.13d-1(b)1(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Sec. 204.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: _____________________________________________ ITEM 4. Ownership Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 305,283 (b) Percent of class: 5.65% (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 305,283 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 305,283 - 4 - Instruction. For computations regarding securities which represent a right to acquire an underlying security see Sec. 204.13d-3(d)(1). ITEM 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ]. Instruction: Dissolution of a group requires a response to this item. ITEM 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person This Schedule 13G filing is jointly filed by The Charger Corporation, First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P. pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1). The Charger Corporation is the General Partner of both First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P. First Trust Portfolios L.P. acts as sponsor of certain unit investment trusts which hold shares of the issuer. The total number of shares of the issuer held by these unit investment trusts is set forth in Row (8) above with respect to First Trust Portfolios L.P. No individual unit investment trust sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. holds more than 3% of any registered investment company issuer's shares. First Trust Advisors L.P., an affiliate of First Trust Portfolios L.P., acts as portfolio supervisor of the unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P., certain of which hold shares of the issuer. Neither First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. nor The Charger Corporation have the power to vote the shares of the issuer held by these unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. These shares are voted by the trustee of such unit investment trusts so as to insure that the shares are ordinarily voted as closely as possible in the same manner and in the same general proportion as are the shares held by owners other than such unit investment trusts. Subject to the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and as further explained in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust and related Trust Agreements of the unit investment trusts, First Trust Portfolios L.P., on behalf of the unit investment trusts, may enter into an agreement with a deposited fund which may permit the shares of such fund to be voted in the best interest of unit holders at the discretion of First Trust Portfolios L.P. The difference, if any, between the aggregate amount of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person, as set forth in Row (9) above, and the number of shares of the issuer held by the unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. represents shares of the issuer which are either held in other registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and/or separately managed accounts for which First Trust Advisors L.P. serves as investment advisor and/or investment sub-advisor. Each of First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of the issuer identified in this filing. ITEM 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person See Item 6. ITEM 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group Not Applicable. - 5 - ITEM 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group Not Applicable. ITEM 10. Certifications By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under Sec. 240.14a-11. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. FIRST TRUST PORTFOLIOS L.P., FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. and THE CHARGER CORPORATION Date: July 25, 2024 By: /s/ James M. Dykas --------------------------- Name: James M. Dykas Title: Chief Financial Officer of First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P., and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of The Charger Corporation - 6 - EX-99.1 2 ex99_3.txt JOINT FILING AGREEMENT Exhibit 99.1 EXHIBIT 99.1 - JOINT FILING AGREEMENT The undersigned hereby agree that they are filing this statement jointly pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1). Each of them is responsible for the timely filing of such Schedule 13G and any amendments thereto, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning such person contained therein; but none of them is responsible for the completeness or accuracy of the information concerning the other persons making the filing, unless such person knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate. In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k)(1) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby agree to the joint filing with each other on behalf of each of them of such a statement on Schedule 13G and any amendments thereto with respect to the equity securities (as defined in Rule 13d-1(i)) of the issuer, beneficially owned by each of them. This Joint Filing Agreement shall be included as an exhibit to such Schedule 13G and any amendments thereto. Date: July 25, 2024 First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation By: /s/ James M. Dykas --------------------------- Name: James M. Dykas Title: Chief Financial Officer of First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P., and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of The Charger Corporation