John Hancock announces new Chairperson of the John Hancock Group of Funds Board of Trustees

BOSTON, January 13, 2017—We are pleased to announce that Hassell H. McClellan has succeeded James M. Oates as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. Mr. McClellan brings a wealth of experience to his new position, having been a professor of finance and policy and associate dean at Boston College’s Wallace E. Carroll School of Management and a director of both public and privately held companies. He has served as an independent Board member of John Hancock Funds since 2001, and was the Chairperson of the John Hancock Group of Funds Compliance Committee prior to this transition.

Mr. Oates has served as Chairperson of the Board of the John Hancock Group of Funds with distinction since 2005, providing steady guidance during a period of phenomenal growth and challenges. Mr. Oates oversaw the successful merger of two John Hancock Group of Funds Boards of Trustees into one combined Board in 2012, and was named “Trustee of the Year” at the 21st Annual Mutual Fund Industry Awards in 2014.

“After eleven years serving as Chairperson, this is a natural transition to Mr. McClellan,” stated Mr. Oates, “and I’m pleased that the Board has made such an excellent choice as my successor. I know the John Hancock Group of Funds will continue to benefit from Mr. McClellan’s long industry experience, knowledge, and wisdom.” Mr. Oates will continue to serve as an independent Trustee of the Funds and will be Chairperson of one of the Investment Committees.

About John Hancock Investment Management
John Hancock has helped individuals and institutions build and protect wealth since 1862. Today, we are one of the strongest and most-recognized financial brands. We serve investors globally through a unique multimanager approach: We search the world to find proven portfolio teams with specialized expertise for every strategy we offer, then we apply robust investment oversight to ensure they continue to meet our uncompromising standards and serve the best interests of our shareholders. Our approach to asset management has led to a diverse set of investments deeply rooted in investor needs, along with strong risk-adjusted returns across asset classes.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife Financial, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$966 billion (US$736 billion) as of September 30, 2016. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.