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WHEATON, Ill.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--First Trust Mortgage Income Fund (the "Fund") (NYSE: FMY) has declared the Fundas regularly scheduled monthly common share distribution payable on May 15, 2012 to shareholders of record as of May 3, 2012. The ex-dividend date is expected to be May 1, 2012. The monthly distribution information for the Fund appears below.

The majority, and possibly all, of this distribution will be paid out of net investment income earned by the Fund. A portion of this distribution may come from net short-term realized capital gains or return of capital. The final determination of the source and tax status of all distributions paid in 2012 will be made after the end of 2012.

The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide a high level of current income. As a secondary objective, the Fund seeks to preserve capital. The Fund pursues these investment objectives by investing primarily in mortgage-backed securities representing part ownership in a pool of either residential or commercial mortgage loans that, in the opinion of the Fundas investment sub-advisor, offer an attractive combination of credit quality, yield and maturity.

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fundas investment advisor, 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 $55 billion as of March 31, 2012 through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and separate managed accounts.

Brookfield Investment Management Inc. (aBrookfielda) serves as the Fundas sub-advisor. Brookfield is a global alternative asset manager with approximately $150 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2012. They have over a 100-year history of owning and operating assets with a focus on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity. They offer a range of public and private investment products and services. On behalf of their clients, Brookfield is also an active investor in the public securities markets. Through their SEC-registered investment advisor, Brookfield Investment Management, their public market activities complement their core competencies as a direct investor. These activities encompass global listed real estate and infrastructure equities, corporate high yield investments, opportunistic credit strategies and a dedicated insurance asset management division. Headquartered in New York, NY, Brookfield Investment Management maintains offices and investment teams in Toronto, Chicago, Boston and London.

Past performance is no assurance of future results. Investment return and market value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Principal Risk Factors: Investment in this Fund involves investment and market risk, management risk, credit risk, prepayment risk, reinvestment risk, interest rate risk, floating rate CMOs and inverse floating rate CMOs risk, bond market risk, economic sector risk, inflation risk, U.S. government securities risk, government agency risk, asset-backed securities risk, market discount risk, leverage risk, interest rate transactions risk, derivatives risk, market disruption risk, portfolio turnover risk, tax risk relating to investments in certain REMICs, and illiquid/restricted securities risk. The risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the prospectus, shareholder reports and other regulatory filings.

The Fundas 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.