John Hancock Investors Trust Seeks Shareholder Approval for 13 Trustees

TL;DR

**Vote FOR the 13 Trustee nominees; their collective experience and independence are critical for JHI's stability and oversight.**

AI Summary

John Hancock Investors Trust (JHI) filed a DEF 14A on December 11, 2025, primarily to solicit shareholder votes for the election of thirteen Trustees at its annual meeting on February 17, 2026. The filing details the nominees, including 11 independent Trustees and 2 non-independent Trustees, who collectively oversee a significant number of funds within the John Hancock Fund Complex, ranging from 172 to 179 funds per Trustee. Key shareholders as of November 25, 2025, include SIT Investment Associates, Inc. with 5.1% of JHI's shares, 1607 Capital Partners, LLC with 6.14%, and First Trust Portfolios L.P. with 5.01%. The Board of Trustees unanimously recommends voting 'FOR' all thirteen nominees. The proxy statement also notes the retirement of William H. Cunningham, a Trustee since 2005, effective December 31, 2025.

Why It Matters

This DEF 14A is crucial for investors as it outlines the proposed leadership for John Hancock Investors Trust, directly impacting governance, oversight, and strategic direction. The election of 13 Trustees, with 11 being independent, suggests a commitment to strong independent oversight, which can enhance investor confidence in fee monitoring and performance. The competitive landscape for closed-end funds like JHI demands robust governance to attract and retain capital, and the detailed backgrounds of the nominees provide transparency into the expertise guiding the fund. For employees and customers, stable and experienced leadership can translate into consistent fund management and reliable service.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — The risk level is low because the filing primarily concerns routine governance matters, specifically the election of Trustees. There are no indications of significant financial distress, operational changes, or legal challenges. The Board of Trustees unanimously recommends the election of all thirteen nominees, suggesting a stable leadership transition with 11 of the 13 nominees being independent.

Analyst Insight

Investors should review the backgrounds of the 13 Trustee nominees to ensure their qualifications align with the fund's objectives and vote 'FOR' the Board's recommended slate to maintain stable and experienced governance. Promptly submitting proxy votes will help the fund avoid additional mailing expenses.

Key Numbers

• 13 — Number of Trustees to be elected (The core proposal for shareholder vote)
• 11 — Number of Independent Trustee nominees (Indicates strong independent oversight)
• February 17, 2026 — Date of Annual Shareholder Meeting (When the Trustee election will occur)
• November 25, 2025 — Record Date for voting eligibility (Determines which shareholders can vote)
• 8,744,547 — Shares outstanding for Investors Trust (Total shares eligible to vote on the Record Date)
• 6.14% — Percentage of Investors Trust shares owned by 1607 Capital Partners, LLC (Significant institutional ownership)
• 5.1% — Percentage of Investors Trust shares owned by SIT Investment Associates, Inc. (Significant institutional ownership)
• 5.01% — Percentage of Investors Trust shares owned by First Trust Portfolios L.P. (Significant institutional ownership)
• 172-179 — Number of John Hancock funds overseen by Trustees (Demonstrates extensive oversight responsibilities for each Trustee)
• December 31, 2025 — Retirement date of Trustee William H. Cunningham (Marks a change in the Board composition)

Key Players & Entities

• JOHN HANCOCK INVESTORS TRUST (company) — Registrant and fund seeking Trustee election
• Kristie M. Feinberg (person) — President of Manulife John Hancock Investments
• Christopher Sechler (person) — Secretary of the Board of Trustees
• Manulife John Hancock Investments (company) — Parent company and location of annual meeting
• SIT Investment Associates, Inc. (company) — Shareholder owning 5.1% of Investors Trust shares
• 1607 Capital Partners, LLC (company) — Shareholder owning 6.14% of Investors Trust shares
• First Trust Portfolios L.P. (company) — Shareholder owning 5.01% of Investors Trust shares
• William H. Cunningham (person) — Retiring Trustee of the fund
• Andrew G. Arnott (person) — Non-Independent Trustee nominee
• SEC (regulator) — Securities and Exchange Commission

FAQ

Industry Context

The John Hancock Investors Trust operates within the highly competitive U.S. mutual fund industry, which is characterized by a wide array of investment products and service providers. Key trends include increasing demand for passively managed funds, ongoing fee compression, and evolving regulatory landscapes. Asset managers are focusing on product innovation, digital distribution channels, and demonstrating value to retain and attract assets.

Regulatory Implications

As a registered investment company, John Hancock Investors Trust is subject to extensive regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The election of Trustees is a critical governance requirement, ensuring compliance with fiduciary duties and shareholder protection rules. Changes in regulatory requirements, such as those related to disclosure, fees, or fund operations, could impact the Trust's business and require ongoing adaptation.

What Investors Should Do

1. Vote on the election of Trustees
2. Review nominee backgrounds
3. Consider voting by proxy

Key Dates

• 2025-12-26: Mailing of proxy statement and proxy card to shareholders — Informs shareholders about the upcoming annual meeting and the proposal to elect Trustees, providing them with the necessary information to vote.
• 2025-11-25: Record Date for determining shareholder eligibility to vote — Establishes the cutoff for shareholders to be eligible to vote at the annual meeting.
• 2025-12-31: Retirement of Trustee William H. Cunningham — Marks a change in the Board composition, with a long-serving trustee (since 2005) stepping down.
• 2026-02-17: Annual Shareholder Meeting — The date for the shareholder vote on the election of Trustees and any other business.

Glossary

DEF 14A

A Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC, providing detailed information to shareholders before a shareholder meeting. (This is the primary document containing information about the election of Trustees and other shareholder matters.)

Trustee

A member of the Board of Trustees responsible for overseeing the operations and management of the trust and its funds. (Shareholders are being asked to elect these individuals to ensure proper governance and oversight of the John Hancock Investors Trust.)

Independent Trustee

A Trustee who is not an employee of the fund's investment advisor or its affiliates and has no other relationship that could impair their independence. (The proxy statement highlights that 11 out of the 13 nominees are independent, indicating a commitment to independent oversight.)

Proxy Statement

A document that the SEC requires companies to provide to shareholders before a shareholder meeting, containing information about the matters to be voted on. (This document details the proposal to elect Trustees and provides background on the nominees.)

Record Date

A specific date set by the Board of Trustees to determine which shareholders are entitled to receive notice of and vote at a shareholder meeting. (Shareholders as of November 25, 2025, are eligible to vote on the election of Trustees.)

Shelf Offering Program

A program that allows a company to register securities with the SEC for future sale, providing flexibility in issuing new securities. (Mentioned in relation to John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC serving as a distributor for Investors Trust.)

Year-Over-Year Comparison

This filing is a routine proxy statement for the annual election of Trustees and does not appear to contain comparative financial data from a previous year's filing. The primary focus is on the upcoming shareholder meeting on February 17, 2026, and the proposal to elect 13 Trustees, noting the retirement of one long-serving Trustee. Key information relates to the nominees, voting procedures, and shareholder eligibility as of November 25, 2025.

Filing Documents

• d50668ddef14a.htm (DEF 14A) — 591KB
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• g52030dsp005a.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 3KB
• g52030dsp005b.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 2KB
• g52030dsp005c.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 16KB
• g52030dsp006a.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 11KB
• g52030dsp006b.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 12KB
• g52030g1127032220285.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 1KB
• g52030g1127032220488.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 1KB
• g458441envelope.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 4KB
• g458441feinbergsig.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 5KB
• g458441globe.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 4KB
• g458441imgcc2dfe011.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 5KB
• g458441jhim_fcv.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 6KB
• g458441phone.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 4KB
• 0001193125-25-315532.txt ( ) — 710KB

Legal Proceedings

Legal Proceedings 19 Audit Committee Report 19 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 19 Required Vote for Proposal 1 20 Miscellaneous 20 Voting Procedures 20 Telephone Voting 21 Internet Voting 21 Shareholders Sharing the Same Address 21 Other Matters 22 Shareholder Proposals 23 Audit Committee Charter 24 Nominating and Governance Committee Charter 30 John Hancock Income Securities Trust John Hancock Investors Trust (each a "fund" or "Trust" and, together, the "funds" or the "Trusts") 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Proxy Statement annual meeting of shareholders to be held on February 17, 2026 Introduction This proxy statement contains the information that a shareholder should know before voting on the proposal described in the notice. Each fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report and/or Semiannual Report to any shareholder upon request by writing to the fund at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 or by calling 800-852-0218. This proxy each of John Hancock Income Securities Trust ("Income Securities Trust") and John Hancock Investors Trust ("Investors Trust"). The meeting will be held at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, on February 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. , Eastern time (the "Meeting"). Shareholders of each fund are being asked to vote on the proposal to elect thirteen (13) Trustees. The proxy statement and proxy card are intended to be first mailed to shareholders on or about December 26, 2025. Although the annual meetings of the funds are being held jointly and proxies are being solicited through the use of this joint proxy statement, shareholders of each fund will vote separately. In the event that any shareholder present at the meetings objects to the holding of a

View Full Filing

View this DEF 14A filing on SEC EDGAR