John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund, John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III, John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund, John Hancock Tax-advantaged Dividend Income Fund and John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund Announce Results of Annual Meetings of Shareholders

BOSTON, Feb. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The following eight closed-end funds managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC announced the results of their annual shareholder meetings: John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund BTO, John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund HEQ, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund HPI, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II HPF, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III HPS, John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund PDT, John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund HTD and John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund HTY (collectively, the "Funds").

At their annual meetings held today, shareholders of the Funds elected Charles L. Bardelis, Peter S. Burgess, Marianne Harrison, and Frances G. Rathke to continue to serve as Trustees of the Funds for a three-year term ending at the 2024 annual meeting of shareholders.

The other nine Trustees of the Funds (Andrew G. Arnott, Deborah C. Jackson, James M. Oates, Steven R. Pruchansky, James R. Boyle, William H. Cunningham, Grace K. Fey, Hassell H. McClellan, and Gregory A. Russo) were not up for election and remain in office. 

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 Financial and Manulife Financial

John Hancock is a division of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services group that helps people achieve their dreams and aspirations by putting customers' needs first and providing the right advice and solutions. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States and as Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups, and institutions. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were over CAD$1.3 trillion (US$943 billion) as of September 30, 2020. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports approximately 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and education savings plans. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management