As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2018 ================================================================================ 1933 Act File No. 333-217581 1940 Act File No. 811-22738 U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-2 (Check appropriate box or boxes) [X] REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [ ] Pre-Effective Amendment No. __ [X] Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 and [X] REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X] Amendment No. 11 First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Declaration of Trust 10 Westport Road, Suite C101a, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 Address of Principal Executive Offices (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) (630) 765-8000 Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code W. Scott Jardine, Esq. First Trust Portfolios L.P. 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, Illinois 60187 Name and Address (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) of Agent for Service Copies of Communications to: Eric F. Fess, Esq. Chapman and Cutler LLP 111 West Monroe Street Chicago, Illinois 60603 Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement --------------- If any of the securities being registered on this form are offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box. [X] This Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 will become effective immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933. EXPLANATORY NOTE This Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-217581) of First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund (the "Registration Statement") is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), solely for the purpose of filing exhibits to the Registration Statement. Accordingly, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 consists only of a facing page, this explanatory note and Part C of the Registration Statement on Form N-2 setting forth the exhibits to the Registration Statement. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 does not modify any other part of the Registration Statement. PART C - OTHER INFORMATION Item 25: Financial Statements and Exhibits 1. Financial Statements: The Registrant's audited financial statements, notes to the financial statements and the report of independent public accounting firm thereon have been incorporated into Part B of the Registration Statement by reference to Registrant's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 contained in its Form N-CSR, as described in the statement of additional information. 2. Exhibits: a. Declaration of Trust dated August 15, 2012. (1) a.2 Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated October 2, 2012. (3) a.3 Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated October 15, 2012 (3) a.4 Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated November 8, 2012. (4) b.1 By-Laws of Fund. (2) b.2 Amended By-Laws of Fund. (4) c. None. d. None. e. Terms and Conditions of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. (4) f. None. g.1 Form of Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and First Trust Advisors L.P. (4) g.2 Form of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Registrant, First Trust Advisors L.P. and Energy Income Partners, LLC. (4) h.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.* h.2 Form of Sales Agreement. (6) i. None. j. Form of Custody Agreement between Registrant and Fund Custodian. (4) k.1 Form of Service Agreement for Transfer Agent Services between Registrant and Fund Transfer Agent. (4) k.2 Form of Administration and Accounting Services Agreement. (4) k.3 Committed Lending Agreement dated November 1, 2013. (6) l.1 Opinion and consent of Chapman and Cutler LLP. (6) l.2 Opinion and consent of Chapman and Cutler LLP.** l.3 Opinion and consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. (6) l.4 Opinion and consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.** m. None. n. Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.** o. None. p. Subscription Agreement between Registrant and First Trust Advisors L.P. (4) q. None. r.1 Code of Ethics of Registrant. (4) r.2 Code of Ethics of First Trust Portfolios L.P. (4) r.3 Code of Ethics of First Trust Advisors L.P. (4) r.4. Code of Ethics of Energy Income Partners, LLC. (4) s. Powers of Attorney. (5) ---------------------------- (1) Filed on August 17, 2012 as Exhibit a. to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-183396) and incorporated herein by reference. (2) Filed on October 4, 2012 in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-183396) and incorporated herein by reference. (3) Filed October 23, 2012 in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-183396) and incorporated herein by reference. (4) Filed on November 27, 2012 in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-183396) and incorporated herein by reference. (5) Filed on May 2, 2017 as Exhibit s. to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-217581) and incorporated herein by reference. (6) Filed on June 19, 2017 in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-217581) and incorporated herein by reference. * To be filed by amendment. ** Filed herewith. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 26: Marketing Arrangements The information contained under the heading "Plan of Distribution" contained in Registrant's Prospectus, filed as Part A of Registrant's Registration Statement on March 1, 2018 is incorporated by reference herein. The information contained in the Sales Agreement among the Registrant, First Trust Advisors L.P., Energy Income Partners, LLC and JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC for the Registrant's common shares of beneficial interest, filed on June 19, 2017 as Exhibit h.2 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-217581), is incorporated by reference herein. Item 27: Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Securities and Exchange Commission Fees $ 24,368 ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Fees $ 31,536 ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Printing and Engraving Expenses $ 19,500 ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Legal Fees $228,950 ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Listing Fees $ 5,000 ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Accounting Expenses $ 35,500 ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Blue Sky Filing Fees and Expenses $ -- ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Miscellaneous Expenses $ 120 ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Total $344,974 ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Item 28: Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant Not applicable. Item 29: Number of Holders of Securities At December 31, 2017 -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- Title of Class Number of Record Holders -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- Common Shares, $0.01 par value 26,618 -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- Item 30: Indemnification Section 9.5 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust provides as follows: Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 9.5, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person"), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof. No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person to the extent such indemnification is prohibited by applicable federal law. The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Subject to applicable federal law, expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 9.5 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 9.5. To the extent that any determination is required to be made as to whether a Covered Person engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe that a Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Person or Persons making the determination shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in such conduct and that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification. As used in this Section 9.5, the words "claim," "action," "suit" or "proceeding" shall apply to all claims, demands, actions, suits, investigations, regulatory inquiries, proceedings or any other occurrence of a similar nature, whether actual or threatened and whether civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals, and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities. Section 9 of the Form of Sales Agreement previously filed as Exhibit h.2 to this Registration Statement provides for each of the parties thereto, including the Registrant and the underwriters, to indemnify the others, their Trustees, directors, certain of their officers, Trustees, directors and persons who control them against certain liabilities in connection with the offering described herein, including liabilities under the federal securities laws. Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), may be available to Trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant's expenses incurred or paid by a Trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such Trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. Item 31: Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisors The information in the Statement of Additional Information under the captions "Management of the Fund - Trustees and Officers" and "Sub-Advisor," and the Form ADV of Energy Income Partners, LLC (File No. 801-66907) filed with the Commission are hereby incorporated by reference. Item 32: Location of Accounts and Records. First Trust Advisors L.P. maintains the Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, minutes of trustees and shareholders meetings and contracts of the Registrant, all advisory material of the investment adviser, all general and subsidiary ledgers, journals, trial balances, records of all portfolio purchases and sales, and all other required records. Item 33: Management Services Not applicable. Item 34: Undertakings 1. Not applicable. 2. Not applicable. 3. Not applicable. 4. The Registrant undertakes (a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (1) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (2) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and (3) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; (b) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; (d) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C; each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the Securities Act of 1933, shall be deemed to be part of and included in this Registration Statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in this Registration Statement or prospectus that is part of this registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into this registration statement or prospectus that is art of this registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supercede or modify any statement that was made in this registration statement or prospectus that was part of this registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use; (e) that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities: The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser: (1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act of 1933; (2) the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act of 1933 relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and (3) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser. 5. The Registrant undertakes that: a. For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of a registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and b. For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. 6. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information. 7. Upon each issuance of securities pursuant to this Registration Statement, the Registrant undertakes to file a form of prospectus and/or prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 497 and a post-effective amendment to the extent required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, but not limited to a post-effective amendment pursuant to Rule 462(c) or Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in this City of Wheaton, and State of Illinois, on the 8th day of March, 2018. FIRST TRUST MLP AND ENERGY INCOME FUND By: /s/ James M. Dykas ------------------------------------ James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated. --------------------- --------------------------------- -------------------- Signature Title Date --------------------- --------------------------------- -------------------- /s/ James M. Dykas President and Chief Executive March 8, 2018 -------------------- Officer (Principal James M. Dykas Executive Officer) --------------------- --------------------------------- -------------------- /s/ Donald P. Swade Chief Financial Officer, Chief March 8, 2018 -------------------- Accounting Officer and Donald P. Swade Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) ----------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- James A. Bowen(1) Chairman of the Board ) and Trustee ) ----------------------- ------------------------ ) Richard E. Erickson(1) Trustee ) By: /s/ W. Scott Jardine ----------------------- ------------------------ ) --------------------- Thomas R. Kadlec(1) Trustee ) W. Scott Jardine ----------------------- ------------------------ ) Attorney-In-Fact Robert F. Keith(1) Trustee ) March 8, 2018 ----------------------- ------------------------ ) Niel B. Nielson(1) Trustee ) ----------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------- (1) Original powers of attorney authorizing W. Scott Jardine, James M. Dykas, Eric F. Fess and Kristi A. Maher to execute Registrant's Registration Statement, and Amendments thereto, for each of the trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this Registration Statement is filed, were previously executed and filed on May 2, 2017 as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-217581). INDEX TO EXHIBITS l.2 Opinion and consent of Chapman and Cutler LLP. l.4 Opinion and consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. n. Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.