FHI Federated Hermes Inc

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“FTA”) announced today that First Trust Strategic High Income Fund (NYSE: FHI), First Trust Strategic High Income Fund II (NYSE: FHY) and First Trust Strategic High Income Fund III (NYSE: FHO) (each a “Fund”) intend to host a conference call with Brookfield Investment Management Inc., formerly known as Hyperion Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (“Brookfield”), each Fund’s investment sub-advisor, on Thursday, December 17, 2009, at 4:15 P.M. Eastern Time. The purpose of the call is to hear the Funds’ portfolio management team provide an update for each Fund.

--     Dial-in Numbers: (800) 309-9067; International (706) 643-7847; Passcode # 47527657. Please call 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the teleconference.   -- Telephone Replay: (800) 642-1687; International (706) 645-9291; Passcode # 47527657. The replay will be available from 6:15 P.M. ET on December 17, 2009 until 11:59 P.M. ET on January 17, 2009.

FTA has served as each Fund’s investment advisor since each Fund’s inception. FTA, along with its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P., are privately-held companies which provide a variety of investment services, including asset management, financial advisory services, and municipal and corporate investment banking, with collective assets under management or supervision of over $25 billion as of November 30, 2009 through closed-end funds, unit investment trusts, mutual funds, separate managed accounts and exchanged-traded funds.

Each Fund’s daily closing New York Stock Exchange price and net asset value per share as well as other information can be found at www.ftportfolios.com or by calling 1-800-988-5891.