John Hancock Funds Seek Shareholder Vote to Elect Five Trustees

TL;DR

**Vote FOR the trustee elections; it's a routine governance move to solidify the board and won't change your fund's strategy.**

AI Summary

John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund, along with 11 other John Hancock Trusts comprising 95 portfolios, is holding a Special Joint Meeting of Shareholders on November 12, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. Eastern time, at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The primary proposal for shareholder vote is the election of five trustees to the Board of Trustees. This includes the election of two new Independent Trustees, Christine L. Hurtsellers and Kenneth J. Phelan, and the re-election of three current Trustees: Kristie M. Feinberg (Non-Independent Trustee appointed June 30, 2025), William K. Bacic (Independent Trustee appointed August 1, 2024), and Thomas R. Wright (Independent Trustee appointed August 1, 2024). The Board currently consists of 12 Trustees (10 Independent, 2 Non-Independent) and, if all five nominees are elected, the Board will expand to 14 Trustees (12 Independent, 2 Non-Independent), all of whom will have been elected by shareholders. This move aims to ensure all trustees are shareholder-elected, allowing the Board to fill future vacancies without immediate shareholder votes unless the number of elected trustees falls below two-thirds of the total. The Board unanimously recommends voting FOR the proposal, emphasizing it's a routine item not materially altering fund objectives or management. Shareholders of record as of August 27, 2025, are eligible to vote.

Why It Matters

This DEF 14A filing is crucial for investors in John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund and its 94 sister funds because it directly impacts the governance and oversight of their investments. The election of five trustees, including two new independent members, could bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the Board, potentially enhancing strategic decision-making and risk management. For employees, a stable and well-governed board ensures continuity and clear direction for the firm. Customers benefit from robust oversight that protects their interests and maintains fund integrity. In the competitive asset management landscape, strong governance, as demonstrated by a fully shareholder-elected board, can bolster investor confidence and differentiate John Hancock from competitors.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — The risk level is low because the proposal is explicitly described as a 'routine item' concerning the election of trustees, which 'makes no fundamental or material changes to a fund's investment objectives, policies, or restrictions, or to the investment management contract.' The Board has also unanimously approved the proposal and recommends a 'FOR' vote, indicating internal consensus.

Analyst Insight

Investors should vote FOR the election of the five trustees as recommended by the Board. This action supports good governance and ensures all trustees are shareholder-elected, which is a positive step for oversight without altering the fund's core investment strategy.

Key Numbers

• 12 — Current number of Trustees (Comprising 10 Independent and 2 Non-Independent Trustees)
• 5 — Number of Trustees proposed for election (Includes 2 new Independent and 3 current Trustees)
• 14 — Projected number of Trustees if proposal passes (Comprising 12 Independent and 2 Non-Independent Trustees, all shareholder-elected)
• 95 — Total number of investment portfolios (Funds) (Across the 12 John Hancock Trusts involved in the meeting)
• 2025-11-12 — Date of Special Joint Meeting of Shareholders (Meeting to be held at 2:00 PM Eastern Time)
• 2025-08-27 — Record Date for shareholder eligibility to vote (Shareholders of record on this date are entitled to vote)
• 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 — Meeting location (Physical address for the Special Joint Meeting of Shareholders)
• 800-225-5291 — Phone number for fund reports (Shareholders can call to obtain annual and semi-annual reports)
• 855-995-1705 — Phone number for proxy voting (Shareholders can use this number to vote by phone)
• www.proxyvotenow.com/jhfunds2025 — Website for proxy voting (Shareholders can use this website to vote online)

Key Players & Entities

• JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BOND FUND (company) — Registrant and one of the Trusts involved in the proxy vote
• Kristie M. Feinberg (person) — President and CEO of Manulife John Hancock Investments, Head of Retail for Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, and a Non-Independent Trustee nominee
• William K. Bacic (person) — Independent Trustee appointed August 1, 2024, and a nominee for election
• Thomas R. Wright (person) — Independent Trustee appointed August 1, 2024, and a nominee for election
• Christine L. Hurtsellers (person) — New Independent Trustee nominee for election
• Kenneth J. Phelan (person) — New Independent Trustee nominee for election
• John Hancock Investment Management LLC (company) — Investment Advisor and Administrator for each Trust and Fund
• John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC (company) — Distributor for each Fund
• Manulife Financial Corporation (company) — Ultimate parent entity of JHIM and the Distributor
• Christopher Sechler (person) — Secretary of the Trusts

FAQ

Industry Context

The John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund operates within the broader asset management industry, specifically focusing on fixed-income investments. This sector is characterized by intense competition among fund providers, with a constant need to attract and retain assets through performance, fees, and investor services. Trends include a growing demand for specialized bond strategies and increasing regulatory scrutiny.

Regulatory Implications

The election of trustees is a standard governance procedure governed by SEC regulations. Ensuring proper shareholder representation and adherence to board composition rules are key compliance areas. The proposal to have all trustees elected by shareholders aligns with best practices for corporate governance and investor protection.

What Investors Should Do

1. Vote on the election of trustees
2. Review proxy materials
3. Vote by November 12, 2025

Key Dates

• 2025-11-12: Special Joint Meeting of Shareholders — Shareholders will vote on the election of five trustees to the Board of Trustees.
• 2025-08-27: Record Date for shareholder eligibility — Shareholders of record on this date are entitled to vote at the meeting.
• 2025-09-15: Date of Proxy Statement and Notice of Meeting — Informs shareholders about the upcoming meeting and the proposal to be voted on.

Glossary

DEF 14A

A filing required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by companies that are required to file solicit proxies from shareholders. (This document is the proxy statement for the John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund and related trusts, detailing the proposals shareholders will vote on.)

Trustee

A member of the Board of Trustees responsible for overseeing the management and operations of the fund. (The primary purpose of the shareholder meeting is to elect five trustees to the Board.)

Independent Trustee

A trustee who is not an officer or employee of the fund or its investment advisor, and who has no other relationship with the fund that could impair their independent judgment. (The proposal includes the election of two new Independent Trustees and re-election of two current Independent Trustees, aiming to increase the number of shareholder-elected trustees.)

Non-Independent Trustee

A trustee who is an officer or employee of the fund or its investment advisor, or who has other relationships that could affect their independence. (The current Board has two Non-Independent Trustees, and this composition is expected to remain the same if the proposal passes.)

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 is the proxy statement for the John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund and related trusts, detailing the proposals shareholders will vote on.)

Year-Over-Year Comparison

This filing is a proxy statement for a shareholder meeting focused on trustee elections, not an annual report detailing financial performance. Therefore, a direct comparison of financial metrics like revenue or net income to a previous filing is not applicable. The key change highlighted is the proposed expansion of the Board of Trustees to 14 members, all of whom will be shareholder-elected, aiming to enhance governance.

Filing Documents

• d75243ddef14a.htm (DEF 14A) — 4460KB
• g63684g00m01.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 34KB
• g63684g00m02.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 29KB
• g63684g00m03.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 23KB
• g63684g00m04.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 17KB
• g63684g00m07.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 31KB
• g79890g03p02.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 54KB
• g79890g04p03.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 48KB
• g79890g0913200702618.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 2KB
• g79890g0913200702743.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 3KB
• g79890g0913200702821.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 2KB
• g79890g0913200702883.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 3KB
• g79890g18n68.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 53KB
• g79890g25l11.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 29KB
• g79890g48g12.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 60KB
• g79890g85j40.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 57KB
• g79890g98b72.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 26KB
• g79890snap1.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 1KB
• 0001193125-25-203268.txt ( ) — 5104KB
• S000000646
• C000001854 (JHNBX)
• C000001856 (JHCBX)
• C000001857 (JHBIX)
• C000106442 (JHBSX)
• C000113488 (JHRBX)
• C000153977
• C000153978 (JBFRX)

Legal Proceedings

Legal Proceedings 31 Required Vote 31 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 32 Shareholders and Voting Information 39 Other Matters 42 Appendix A - John Hancock Funds Procedures for the Selection of Independent Trustees A-1 Appendix B - Outstanding Shares and Share Ownership B-1 Exhibit A - Procedures for the Selection of New Independent Trustees C-1 1 Table of Contents JOHN HANCOCK BOND TRUST JOHN HANCOCK CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND JOHN HANCOCK CAPITAL SERIES JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST JOHN HANCOCK CURRENT INTEREST JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS III JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST II JOHN HANCOCK MUNICIPAL SECURITIES TRUST JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BOND FUND JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES (each, a "Trust" and collectively, the "Trusts") 200 Berkeley Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 PROXY STATEMENT SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 12, 2025 Introduction This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Trustees (the "Board" or "Trustees") of each Trust of proxies to be used at a Special Joint Meeting of shareholders of the Trusts (the "Meeting") to be held on November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM Easter n Tim e, at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Pursuant to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each Trust (the "Declaration of Trust"), the Board has designated August 27, 2025 as the record date for determining shareholders eligible to vote at the Meeting (the "Record Date"). All shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to one vote for each share of beneficial interest of Funds held. This Proxy Statement is first being sent to shareholders on or about September 22, 2025. Each Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The shares of each of the

View Full Filing

View this DEF 14A filing on SEC EDGAR