JOHN HANCOCK CLOSED-END FUNDS ANNOUNCE RENEWAL OF SHARE REPURCHASE PLANS

BOSTON, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BTO), John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (NYSE: HEQ), John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE: JHS), John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE: JHI), John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT), and John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (each a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") announced today that the Board of Trustees has renewed the Funds' share repurchase plans. 

The Board of Trustees approved the renewal of the share repurchase plans as part of its ongoing evaluation of options to enhance shareholder value and potentially decrease the discount between the market price and the net asset value per share ("NAV") of the Funds' common shares.  Under the share repurchase plans, each Fund may purchase, in the open market, between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, up to an additional 10% of its outstanding common shares (based on common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2024). The Board of Trustees will review the plan periodically and may authorize adjustment of its terms and size.

The share repurchase plans allow the repurchase of common shares in the open market at a discount to NAV.  The plans could allow the Funds to realize incremental accretion to their NAV to the benefit of existing shareholders. They could also have the benefit of providing additional liquidity in the trading of common shares. 

Year-to-date through October 31, 2024, HEQ has repurchased the following number of shares: 57,490 or 0.48% of outstanding shares, contributing to its NAV by approximately $0.01. Each other Fund has not repurchased shares for the year-to-date period through October 31, 2024.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.

About John Hancock Investment Management

A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management

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