First Trust ISE Global Copper Index Fund and First Trust ISE Global Platinum Index Fund Announce Board Approval of Proposed Changes to Investment Objectives

First Trust ISE Global Copper Index Fund (NASDAQ: CU) (the “Copper Fund”) and First Trust ISE Global Platinum Index Fund (NASDAQ: PLTM) (the “Platinum Fund” and, together with the Copper Fund, the “Funds”), each an exchange-traded index fund and a series of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II (the “Trust”), announced today that the Board of Trustees (“Board”) of the Trust has approved changes to the Funds’ investment objectives. Subject to shareholder approval, the Copper Fund’s new investment objective (“New CU Investment Objective”) will be to seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before such Fund’s fees and expenses) of an equity index called the Indxx Global Natural Resources Income Index (“Natural Resources Index”). Also subject to shareholder approval, the Platinum Fund’s new investment objective (“New PLTM Investment Objective”) will be to seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before such Fund’s fees and expenses) of an equity index called the Indxx Global Agriculture Index (“Agriculture Index” and, together with the Natural Resources Index, the “New Indices”). The New Indices are developed, maintained and sponsored by Indxx, LLC (“Indxx”).

The Natural Resources Index is a modified market capitalization-weighted total return index designed to track performance of dividend-paying companies which are involved in five broad industry categories: energy, materials, agriculture, water and timber, and is constructed based on market capitalization and liquidity of those companies’ shares. The Natural Resources Index is comprised of exchange-traded securities in developed and emerging market countries. The Copper Fund’s current investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before fees and expenses) of the ISE Global CopperTM Index (“Copper Index”). The Copper Fund will continue to seek investment results that correspond generally to the Copper Index until its shareholders approve the New CU Investment Objective.

The Agriculture Index is a modified market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure the performance of companies which are directly or indirectly engaged in improving agricultural yields through chemicals, fertilizers, seeds, irrigation equipment and farm machinery, and is constructed based on market capitalization and liquidity of those companies’ shares. The Agriculture Index is comprised of exchange-traded securities in developed and emerging market countries. The Platinum Fund’s current investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before fees and expenses) of the ISE Global PlatinumTM Index (“Platinum Index”). The Platinum Fund will continue to seek investment results that correspond generally to the Platinum Index until its shareholders approve the New PLTM Investment Objective.

Shareholders of the Funds will be asked to vote on proposals to approve the New CU Investment Objective or the New PLTM Investment Objective, as applicable, at a special meeting of shareholders expected to be held later this year. Any solicitation of proxies made in connection with this shareholder meeting will only be made pursuant to proxy materials filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under applicable federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that the necessary percentage of the shareholders of either of the Funds will vote to approve the proposals.

It is also anticipated that upon shareholder approval of the New CU Investment Objective, the Copper Fund will change its name to First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF, and that upon shareholder approval of the New PLTM Investment Objective, the Platinum Fund will change its name to First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF. Both Funds will continue to list and trade their shares on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, but will obtain new CUSIP identifiers and ticker symbols. The Board also has approved these Fund name changes. These changes do not require shareholder approval.

The New Indices have been licensed for use by the Funds. The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Indxx, and Indxx makes no representation or warranty regarding the advisability of investing in the Funds or as to the result to be obtained by any person from use of the New Indices in connection with the trading of the Funds.

In connection with the solicitation of proxies to approve the proposals described above, the Funds will file a proxy statement. Because the proxy statement will contain important information, the Funds’ shareholders are urged to read the proxy statement and accompanying materials carefully when they receive them. The Funds’ shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of these documents, when available, by calling First Trust Advisors L.P., the Funds’ investment advisor, toll-free at 800-621-1675. When filed with the SEC, the proxy statement will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. The foregoing is not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, shares of the Funds, nor is it a solicitation of any proxy.

First Trust Advisors L.P. has served as each Fund’s investment advisor since the Funds’ inception. First Trust, along with its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P., are privately-held companies which provide a variety of investment services, including asset management and financial advisory services, with collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $119.8 billion as of May 31, 2015, through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and separate managed accounts.

You should consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. You can download a prospectus or contact First Trust Advisors L.P. to request a prospectus, which contains other information about the Funds. Read it carefully before you invest. The risks of investing in the Funds are spelled out in their prospectus, shareholder reports and other regulatory filings.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.

Contacts:

First Trust ISE Global Copper Index Fund and
First Trust ISE Global Platinum Index Fund
Press Inquiries: Ryan Issakainen, 630-765-8689
Analyst Inquiries: Stan Ueland, 630-517-7633

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