John Hancock ETF Trust Seeks Shareholder Vote to Elect 5 Trustees

TL;DR

**Vote FOR the John Hancock ETF Trust trustee slate; it's a routine governance move to ensure all board members are shareholder-elected, not a strategic shift.**

AI Summary

John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust is seeking shareholder approval for the election of five trustees to its Board of Trustees at a special meeting on November 12, 2025, at 1:30 PM Eastern Time. The proposal involves electing two new independent trustees, Christine L. Hurtsellers and Kenneth J. Phelan, and re-electing three current trustees who were previously appointed: Kristie M. Feinberg (Non-Independent), William K. Bacic (Independent), and Thomas R. Wright (Independent). If approved, the Board will expand from 12 to 14 trustees, comprising 12 independent and 2 non-independent members, all of whom will have been elected by shareholders. This move aims to ensure all trustees are shareholder-elected, allowing the Board to appoint future trustees without immediate shareholder votes unless the number of elected trustees falls below two-thirds of the total. The Board, including the Nominating and Governance Committee on August 22, 2025, unanimously recommends a 'FOR' vote, stating the proposal will not materially affect fund management or investment objectives.

Why It Matters

This election is crucial for investors as it solidifies the governance structure of the John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust, ensuring all trustees are shareholder-elected. The expansion of the Board to 14 members, including two new independent trustees, could bring fresh perspectives and enhanced oversight, potentially benefiting fund performance and investor confidence. For the broader market, this reflects a commitment to robust corporate governance within the competitive ETF landscape, setting a precedent for transparency and accountability in trustee appointments. The unanimous board recommendation signals internal alignment on leadership, which can be a positive indicator for employees and customers.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — The risk level is low because the proposal is a routine election of trustees, not involving any material changes to the funds' investment objectives, policies, or restrictions. The Board has unanimously approved the proposal, and it is explicitly stated that it is not expected to have any material effect on how any fund is managed.

Analyst Insight

Investors should vote 'FOR' the election of the five trustees as recommended by the Board. This action supports the Trust's move towards a fully shareholder-elected board, enhancing governance without altering investment strategy.

Key Numbers

• 5 — Number of Trustees to be elected (Includes 2 new and 3 re-elected trustees)
• 12 — Current number of Trustees (Comprises 10 independent and 2 non-independent trustees)
• 14 — Proposed number of Trustees after election (Comprises 12 independent and 2 non-independent trustees, all shareholder-elected)
• November 12, 2025 — Date of Special Meeting of Shareholders (Meeting to be held at 1:30 PM Eastern Time)
• 18 — Number of Funds in the Trust (Shares of the Trust divided into these funds as of the Record Date)
• 174 — Number of funds in John Hancock Fund Complex (Overseen by each Nominee)
• 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 — Meeting location and address of JHIM (Physical location for the special meeting)
• August 22, 2025 — Date of Nominating and Governance Committee recommendation (Committee recommended the election of the Nominees to the full Board)

Key Players & Entities

• John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust (company) — Registrant and issuer of proxy statement
• Kristie M. Feinberg (person) — President and CEO of Manulife John Hancock Investments, Nominee for Non-Independent Trustee
• William K. Bacic (person) — Current Independent Trustee, Nominee for re-election
• Thomas R. Wright (person) — Current Independent Trustee, Nominee for re-election
• Christine L. Hurtsellers (person) — Nominee for Independent Trustee
• Kenneth J. Phelan (person) — Nominee for Independent Trustee
• Manulife Financial Corporation (company) — Ultimate parent entity of John Hancock Investment Management LLC
• John Hancock Investment Management LLC (company) — Investment Advisor and Administrator for the Trust
• Foreside Fund Services, LLC (company) — Distributor for each Fund
• August 27, 2025 (date) — Record date for shareholder voting eligibility

FAQ

Industry Context

The exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry is highly competitive, with numerous providers offering a wide range of investment products. Key trends include increasing demand for passive and factor-based investing, a focus on lower fees, and ongoing product innovation. Asset managers like John Hancock compete by offering diverse ETF strategies and leveraging their brand recognition and distribution networks.

Regulatory Implications

The election of trustees is a standard governance procedure governed by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and state trust laws. Ensuring a majority of independent trustees is a key regulatory requirement for mutual funds and ETFs, promoting shareholder interests. Any changes in board composition or governance structure are subject to regulatory oversight.

What Investors Should Do

1. Vote on the election of five trustees.
2. Review the proxy statement thoroughly.
3. Vote promptly using the provided methods (online, phone, or mail).

Key Dates

• 2025-11-12: Special Meeting of Shareholders — Shareholders will vote on the election of five trustees to the Board of Trustees.
• 2025-08-27: Record Date for Shareholder Meeting — Shareholders of record on this date are entitled to receive notice of and vote at the meeting.
• 2025-08-22: Nominating and Governance Committee Recommendation — The committee unanimously recommended the election of the nominees to the full Board.
• 2025-09-15: Date of Proxy Statement and Notice — Shareholders received the materials outlining the proposal and voting instructions.

Glossary

DEF 14A

A filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that provides detailed information about a company's annual meeting of shareholders, including proposals to be voted on, director nominations, and executive compensation. (This document is the proxy statement for the John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust, detailing the proposal for trustee elections.)

Trustees

Individuals elected to oversee the management and operations of a trust or fund, acting in the best interests of the shareholders. (The primary purpose of this filing is to elect five new and re-elected trustees to the Trust's Board of Trustees.)

Independent Trustee

A trustee who has no material relationship with the fund complex other than their role as a trustee, ensuring objective decision-making. (The proposal includes electing two new independent trustees and re-electing three current independent trustees, aiming for a board with a majority of independent members.)

Non-Independent Trustee

A trustee who has a material relationship with the fund complex, such as being an officer or employee of the investment adviser or its affiliates. (The proposal involves re-electing one non-independent trustee, Kristie M. Feinberg.)

Proxy Statement

A document provided to shareholders that contains information about matters to be voted on at a shareholder meeting, including details about the proposals, nominees, and management's recommendations. (This document is the proxy statement that shareholders are reviewing to make an informed decision on the election of trustees.)

Record Date

A specific date set by a company to determine which shareholders are eligible to receive notice of and vote at a shareholder meeting. (August 27, 2025, is the record date for determining which shareholders are entitled to vote at the special meeting.)

Year-Over-Year Comparison

This filing is a proxy statement for a special meeting focused on trustee elections and does not contain comprehensive financial performance data typically found in annual reports (10-K) or other periodic filings. Therefore, a direct comparison of financial metrics like revenue growth or margins to a previous filing is not applicable in this context. The primary focus is on governance and board composition changes.

Filing Documents

• d943918ddef14a.htm (DEF 14A) — 476KB
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• g943918g01x01.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 60KB
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• g943918g12b87.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 30KB
• g943918g49w33.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 26KB
• 0001193125-25-203284.txt ( ) — 965KB
• S000050077
• C000158043 (JHML)
• S000050079
• C000158045 (JHMM)
• S000055737
• C000175540 (JHMD)
• S000059464
• C000194897 (JHSC)
• S000063017
• C000204467 (JHEM)
• S000071291
• C000226213 (JHCB)
• S000072179
• C000227987 (JHMB)
• S000074603
• C000232625 (JHPI)
• S000077441
• C000237881 (JHDV)
• S000079041
• C000239874 (JHID)
• S000082141
• C000245406 (JHMU)
• S000082342
• C000245645 (JHAC)
• S000083349
• C000246920 (JDVI)
• S000084699
• C000249134 (JHHY)
• S000089152
• C000255661 (JHCR)
• S000089153
• C000255662 (JHCP)
• S000093162
• C000261300 (JDVL)
• S000094320
• C000262811 (JHLN)

Legal Proceedings

Legal Proceedings 18 Required Vote 18 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 19 Shareholders and Voting Information 21 Other Matters 24 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 v Table of Contents JOHN HANCOCK EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND TRUST (the "Trust") JOHN HANCOCK CORE BOND ETF JOHN HANCOCK CORE PLUS BOND ETF JOHN HANCOCK CORPORATE BOND ETF JOHN HANCOCK DISCIPLINED VALUE INTERNATIONAL SELECT ETF JOHN HANCOCK DISCIPLINED VALUE SELECT ETF JOHN HANCOCK DYNAMIC MUNICIPAL BOND ETF JOHN HANCOCK FUNDAMENTAL ALL CAP CORE ETF JOHN HANCOCK GLOBAL SENIOR LOAN ETF JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD ETF JOHN HANCOCK INTERNATIONAL HIGH DIVIDEND ETF JOHN HANCOCK MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES ETF JOHN HANCOCK MULTIFACTOR DEVELOPED INTERNATIONAL ETF JOHN HANCOCK MULTIFACTOR EMERGING MARKETS ETF JOHN HANCOCK MULTIFACTOR LARGE CAP ETF JOHN HANCOCK MULTIFACTOR MID CAP ETF JOHN HANCOCK MULTIFACTOR SMALL CAP ETF JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME ETF JOHN HANCOCK U.S. HIGH DIVIDEND ETF (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") 200 Berkeley Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 PROXY STATEMENT SPECIAL 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 the Trust of proxies to be used at a Special Meeting of shareholders of the Funds (the "Meeting") to be held at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, on November 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM , Easter n Tim e . Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, of the Trust (the "Declaration of Trust"), and the By-laws, as amended, of the Trust (the "By-laws"), the Board has designated August 27, 2025 as the record date fo

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View this DEF 14A filing on SEC EDGAR