FIRST TRUST HIGH YIELD OPPORTUNITIES 2027 TERM FUND

Independent Trustees

Richard E. Erickson, M.D., was previously an orthopedic surgeon with Edward-Elmhurst Medical Group from 2021 to September 2023. Prior thereto, he was President of Wheaton Orthopedics (from 1990 to 2021), a co-owner and director of a fitness center and a limited partner of two real estate companies. Dr. Erickson has served as a Trustee of each Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999. Dr. Erickson has also served as the Lead Independent Trustee (2008 – 2009 and 2017 – 2019) and on the Executive Committee (2008 – 2009 and 2017 – 2022), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2003 – 2007 and 2014 – 2016), Chairman of the Valuation Committee (June 2006 – 2007, 2010 – 2011 and 2020 – 2022) and Chairman of the Audit Committee (2012 – 2013) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee (since January 1, 2023) of the First Trust Funds.

Thomas R. Kadlec was previously President of ADM Investor Services Inc. (“ADMIS”), a futures commission merchant and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Archer Daniels Midland Company (“ADM”) from 2010 to July 2022. Mr. Kadlec was employed by ADMIS and its affiliates since 1990 in various accounting, financial, operations and risk management capacities. Mr. Kadlec served on the boards of several international affiliates of ADMIS until July 2022 and served as a member of ADM’s Integrated Risk Committee from 2008 – 2018, which was tasked with the duty of implementing and communicating enterprise-wide risk management. From 2014 to 2022, Mr. Kadlec was on the board of the Futures Industry Association. In 2017, Mr. Kadlec was elected to the board of the National Futures Association. Mr. Kadlec has served as a Trustee of each Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 2003. Mr. Kadlec also served on the Executive Committee from the organization of the first First Trust closed-end fund in 2003 through 2005 (and 2014 – 2019) until he was elected as the first Lead Independent Trustee in December 2005, serving as such through 2007 (and 2014 – 2016). He also served as Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2008 – 2009 and 2017 – 2019), Chairman of the Audit Committee (2010 – 2011 and 2020 – 2022) and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2012 – 2013) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves as Vice Lead Independent Trustee (since March 12, 2024), on the Executive Committee (since March 12, 2024), on the Dividend Committee (since March 12, 2024) and as Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (since January 1, 2023) of the First Trust Funds.

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Robert F. Keith is President of Hibs Enterprises, a financial and management consulting firm. Mr. Keith has been with Hibs Enterprises since 2003. Prior thereto, Mr. Keith spent 18 years with ServiceMaster and Aramark, including three years as President and COO of ServiceMaster Consumer Services, where he led the initial expansion of certain products overseas; five years as President and COO of ServiceMaster Management Services Company; and two years as President of Aramark ServiceMaster Management Services. Mr. Keith is a certified public accountant and also has held the positions of Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of ServiceMaster, at which time he oversaw the financial aspects of ServiceMaster’s expansion of its Management Services division into Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Mr. Keith has served as a Trustee of the First Trust Funds since June 2006. Mr. Keith has also served as Chairman of the Audit Committee (2008 – 2009 and 2017 – 2019), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2010 – 2011 and 2020 – 2022), and Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2014 – 2016) of the First Trust Funds. He also served as Lead Independent Trustee (2012 – 2013) and on the Executive Committee (2012 – 2016) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves as Lead Independent Trustee, Chairman of the Dividend Committee and on the Executive Committee (each since January 1, 2023) of the First Trust Funds.

Bronwyn Wright has acted as an independent director to a number of Irish collective investment funds since 2009. Ms. Wright is a former Managing Director of Citibank Europe plc and Head of Securities and Fund Services for Citi Ireland. In these positions, she was responsible for the management and strategic direction of Citi Ireland’s securities and fund services business which included funds, custody, security finance/lending and global agency and trust. She also had responsibility for leading, managing and growing the Trustee, Custodian and Depositary business in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Jersey and Cayman. Ms. Wright has served as a Trustee of the First Trust Funds (other than FTETF) and on the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Valuation Committee of such First Trust Funds since September 10, 2023.

Interested Trustee

James A. Bowen is the Chairman of the Board of the First Trust Funds and Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors and First Trust Portfolios L.P. Until January 23, 2012, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the First Trust Funds. Mr. Bowen also serves on the Executive Committee. He has over 40 years of experience in the investment company business in sales, sales management and executive management. Mr. Bowen has served as a Trustee of each Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999.

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Other Information

Executive Officers

The executive officers of each Fund hold the same positions with each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex (representing 275 portfolios) as they hold with the Funds.

Beneficial Ownership of Shares Held in the Funds by Trustees and Executive Officers

The following table sets forth the dollar range and number of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in each Fund and the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in all funds in the First Trust Fund Complex, including the Funds, as of December 31, 2023:

1 Ms. Wright was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the First Trust Funds (other than FTETF) effective September 10, 2023.

Under the Qualification Requirements described above, Trustees are required to agree to maintain an investment in the investment companies advised by the Advisor consistent with any applicable policy of the Board. In this regard, the Independent Trustees have adopted a policy that establishes the expectation that, within three years of becoming an Independent Trustee, the Independent Trustee will have invested an amount in the funds in the First Trust Fund Complex he or she oversees in the aggregate of at least one year’s annual retainer for Board service, with investments allocated among the funds in the First Trust Fund Complex depending on what is suitable for the Trustee’s personal investment needs.

As of December 31, 2023, the Independent Trustees and their immediate family members did not own, beneficially or of record, any class of securities of First Trust Advisors or any sub-advisor or principal underwriter of any Fund or any person, other than a registered investment company, directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with First Trust Advisors or any sub-advisor or principal underwriter of any Fund, nor, since the beginning of the most recently completed fiscal year of any Fund, did any Independent Trustee purchase or sell securities of First Trust Advisors, or any sub-advisor to any fund in the First Trust Fund Complex, their parents or any subsidiaries of any of the foregoing.

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As of December 31, 2023, the Trustees and executive officers of each Fund as a group beneficially owned the following number of Shares of each Fund, which is less than 1% of each Fund’s Shares outstanding:

Compensation

Effective January 1, 2023, the fixed annual retainer paid to the Independent Trustees was $275,000 per year and an annual per fund fee of $2,500 for each closed-end fund and actively managed fund, $750 for each target outcome fund and $250 for each index fund. Effective January 1, 2024, the fixed annual retainer paid to the Independent Trustees is $285,000 per year and an annual per fund fee of $7,500 for each closed-end fund, $2,000 for each actively managed fund, $750 for each target outcome fund and $500 for each index fund. The fixed annual retainer is allocated equally among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex. Additionally, the Lead Independent Trustee is paid $30,000 annually, the Vice Lead Independent Trustee is paid up to $25,000 annually (effective March 12, 2024), the Chair of the Audit Committee is paid $25,000 annually, the Chair of the Valuation Committee is paid $20,000 annually, the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee is paid $20,000 annually and the Vice Chair of the Audit Committee is paid $15,000 annually (effective March 12, 2024) to serve in such capacities with compensation allocated pro rata among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex based on its net assets. Trustees are also reimbursed by the funds in the First Trust Fund Complex for travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with all meetings. Each Committee Chair, the Audit Committee Vice Chair, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Vice Lead Independent Trustee rotate in accordance with the rotation periods established by the Board.

The number of Board meetings held by each Fund during its last fiscal year is shown in Schedule 1 hereto.

The aggregate fees and expenses paid to all Trustees by each Fund for its last fiscal year (including reimbursement for travel and out-of-pocket expenses) amounted to the following:

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The following table sets forth certain information regarding the compensation of each Fund’s Trustees (including reimbursement for travel and out-of-pocket expenses) for each Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year. The Funds have no retirement or pension plans. The executive officers and the Interested Trustee of each Fund receive no compensation from the Funds for serving in such capacities.

Trustee Compensation

Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders

Each Fund’s Board of Trustees seeks to have as many Trustees as possible in attendance at annual meetings of shareholders. The policy of the Nominating and Governance Committee relating to attendance by Trustees at annual meetings of shareholders is contained in the Funds’ Nominating and Governance Committee Charter, which is available on each Fund’s website located athttps://www.ftportfolios.com (go to News & Literature on the applicable Fund’s webpage). In addition, for each Fund, the attendance of the Board of Trustees at last year’s annual shareholder meeting is available on such Fund’s website located athttps://www.ftportfolios.com. To find the Board of Trustees’ attendance, select your Fund under the “Closed-End Funds” tab, select the “News & Literature” link, and go to the “Shareholder Updates and Information” heading.

Audit Committee Report

The role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight of the Funds’ accounting and financial reporting process. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter (the*“Charter”*) that was most recently reviewed by the Board of Trustees on December 11, 2023, a copy of which is available on each Fund’s website located athttps://www.ftportfolios.com (go to News & Literature on the Fund’s webpage). As set forth in the Charter, management of the Funds has the primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining systems for accounting, reporting, disclosure and internal controls. The Funds’ independent auditors have the primary responsibility to plan and implement an audit, with proper consideration given to the accounting, reporting and internal controls.

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In performing its oversight function, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the audited financial statements of each Fund for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024 at a meeting held on July 23, 2024 and discussed the audits of such financial statements with the independent auditors and management.

In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors the accounting principles applied by the Funds and such other matters brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by the independent auditors as required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing Standard 1301, Communications with Audit Committees. The Audit Committee also received from the independent auditors the written disclosures and letter required by PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, delineating relationships between the independent auditors and the Funds, and discussed the impact that any such relationships may have on the objectivity and independence of the independent auditors.

The members of the Funds’ Audit Committee are not full-time employees of the Funds and are not performing the functions of auditors or accountants. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Audit Committee or its members to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures or to set auditor independence standards. Members of the Funds’ Audit Committee necessarily rely on the information provided to them by Fund management and the independent auditors. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not assure that the audits of the Funds’ financial statements have been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or that the independent auditors are in fact “independent.”

Based on its consideration of the Funds’ audited financial statements and the discussions referred to above with Fund management and Deloitte & Touche LLP, and subject to the limitations on the responsibilities and role of the Audit Committee as set forth in the Charter and discussed above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board the inclusion of each Fund’s audited financial statements in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended May 31, 2024.

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Funds:

Richard E. Erickson

Thomas R. Kadlec

Denise M. Keefe

Robert F. Keith

Niel B. Nielson

Bronwyn Wright

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Independent Auditors’ Fees

Deloitte & Touche has been selected to serve as the independent auditors for each Fund for its current fiscal year, and acted as the independent auditors for each Fund for its most recently completed fiscal year. Deloitte & Touche has advised the Funds that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, Deloitte & Touche professionals did not have any direct or material indirect ownership interest in the Funds inconsistent with independent professional standards pertaining to independent registered public accounting firms. Representatives of Deloitte & Touche are not expected to be present at the Meeting, but will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available should any matter arise requiring their presence. In reliance on Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, each Fund is not seeking shareholder ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche as independent auditors.

Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees

During each of the last two fiscal years of the Funds, Deloitte & Touche has billed each Fund and the Advisor for the fees set forth below.

1 These fees were the aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

2 These fees were for tax consultation and/or tax return preparation and/or professional services rendered for PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) Identification Services.

Non-Audit Fees

During each of the last two fiscal years of the Funds, Deloitte & Touche has billed each Fund and the Advisor for the non-audit fees listed below for services provided to the entities indicated.

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Aggregate Non-Audit Fees

1 These fees relate to 2021 and 2022 federal and state tax matters.

2 These fees relate to 2022 and 2023 federal and state tax matters.

Pre-Approval

Pursuant to its Charter and its Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy, the Audit Committee of each Fund is responsible for the pre-approval of all audit services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for each Fund by its independent auditors. The Chair or Vice Chair of the Audit Committee is authorized to give such pre-approvals on behalf of the Audit Committee up to $25,000 and report any such pre-approval to the full Audit Committee.

The Audit Committee is also responsible for the pre-approval of the independent auditors’ engagements for non-audit services with the Advisor and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Advisor that provides ongoing services to the respective Fund, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. If the independent auditors have provided non-audit services to the Advisor or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Advisor that provides ongoing services to the respective Fund that were not pre-approved pursuant to its policies, the Audit Committee will consider whether the provision of such non-audit services is compatible with the auditors’ independence.

None of the Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees, or All Other Fees, if any, or the Aggregate Non-Audit Fees disclosed above that were required to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to its Pre-Approval Policy were pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the pre-approval exceptions included in Regulation S-X.

Because the Audit Committee has not been informed of any such services, the Audit Committee of each Fund has not considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Advisor and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Advisor that provides ongoing services to the respective Fund that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

Additional Information

Shareholder Proposals

Shareholder Proposals for Inclusion in a Fund’s Proxy Statement.To be considered for presentation at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders of a Fund and included in the Fund’s proxy statement relating to such meeting, a shareholder proposal must be submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act (“Rule 14a-8”) and must be received at the principal executive offices of the applicable Fund not later than April 14, 2025. However, timely submission of a proposal does not mean that such proposal will be included in a Fund’s proxy statement.

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Other Shareholder Proposals.In addition to any requirements under applicable law (including without limitation the proxy rules under the 1934 Act) and the applicable Declaration of Trust, under the Funds’ By-Laws, any proposal to elect any person nominated by a shareholder for election as Trustee and any other proposal by a shareholder may only be brought before an annual meeting of a Fund if, among other requirements, the proposing shareholder would be entitled to vote on the proposal and timely written notice (the“Shareholder Notice”) is provided to the Secretary of the Fund. In accordance with the advance notice provisions included in the Funds’ By-Laws, unless a greater or lesser period is required under applicable law, to be timely, the Shareholder Notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the applicable Fund’s principal executive offices, Attn: W. Scott Jardine, Secretary, not less than one hundred and five (105) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary date of the date the Fund’s proxy statement was released to shareholders for the preceding year’s annual meeting. However, if and only if an annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date (an annual meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an*“Other Annual Meeting Date”*), such Shareholder Notice must be given as described above not more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to such Other Annual Meeting Date and not less than the close of business on the later of (i) the date one hundred and five (105) days prior to such Other Annual Meeting Date or (ii) the tenth (10th) business day following the date such Other Annual Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed. In order for a shareholder to properly propose a nominee for election to the Board of Trustees of a Fund or to propose business outside of Rule 14a-8, in addition to complying with the advance notice provisions, the shareholder must also comply with all other relevant provisions set forth in the By-Laws. Copies of the By-Laws can be found in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by each Fund with the SEC on June 23, 2023, which is available atwww.sec.gov, and may also be obtained by writing to the Secretary of the applicable Fund at such Fund’s principal executive offices.Any shareholder of a Fund considering making a nomination or submitting any other proposal should carefully review the By-Laws.

In addition, the By-Laws provide that, unless required by applicable law, no matter shall be considered at or brought before any annual or special meeting unless such matter has been deemed a proper matter for shareholder action by at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the Trustees. Timely submission of a proposal does not mean that such proposal will be brought before the meeting.

Shareholder Communications

Shareholders of a Fund who want to communicate with the Board of Trustees or any individual Trustee should write the Fund to the attention of the Fund Secretary, W. Scott Jardine. The letter should indicate that you are a Fund shareholder. If the communication is intended for a specific Trustee and so indicates, it will be sent only to that Trustee. If a communication does not indicate a specific Trustee, it will be sent to the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees and the independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such persons.

Investment Advisor, Administrator and Transfer Agent

First Trust Advisors L.P. (previously defined as*“First Trust Advisors”), 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, serves as each Fund’s investment advisor. First Trust Advisors is also responsible for providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services to each Fund and also provides fund reporting services to each Fund for a flat annual fee. First Trust Advisors is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P.(“Grace Partners”*), and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. Grace Partners is a limited partnership with one general partner, The Charger Corporation, and a number of limited partners. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, the Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors and the sole Interested Trustee of each Fund.

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The Bank of New York Mellon, 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as the administrator, fund accountant and custodian to each Fund. Computershare, Inc., P.O. Box 43006, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, acts as the transfer agent to each Fund.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act and Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act require the Funds’ Trustees, the Funds’ officers subject to such provisions, certain persons affiliated with First Trust Advisors and any sub-advisor, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a Fund’s Shares to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC. Based upon a review of certain related forms filed with the SEC and certain written representations, each Fund believes that during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024, all such filing requirements applicable to such persons were met except as follows: With respect to each Fund, on April 18, 2024, one late Form 3 was filed for Derek D. Maltbie, the Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer of each Fund.

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year end for each Fund is May 31.

Delivery of Certain Documents

Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report and/or semi-annual report as available upon request. Such written or oral requests should be made by writing to the Advisor at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187 or by calling toll-free (800) 988-5891.

Please note that only one annual or semi-annual report or proxy statement may be delivered to two or more shareholders of a Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual or semi-annual report or proxy statement, or for instructions as to how to request a separate copy of such documents or as to how to request a single copy if multiple copies of such documents are received, shareholders should contact the Advisor at the address and phone number set forth above. Pursuant to a request, a separate copy will be delivered promptly.

Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting

No business other than the proposal to elect Ms. Keefe and Mr. Nielson as the Class II Trustees of each Fund, as described above, is expected to come before the Meeting, but should any other matter permitted under the By-Laws to be brought before the Meeting and requiring a vote of shareholders arise, including any question as to an adjournment of the Meeting submitted to shareholders, the persons named on the enclosed proxy card will vote thereon according to their best judgment in the interests of the Funds.

It Is Important That Proxies Be Returned Promptly. Shareholders Are Therefore Urged To Complete, Sign, Date And Return The Proxy Card As Soon As Possible In The Enclosed Postage-Paid Envelope.

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Schedule 1

Number of Board and Committee Meetings

Held During Each Fund’s Last Fiscal Year