SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ______)

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

☒     Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐     Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☐     Definitive Proxy Statement

☐     Definitive Additional Materials

☐     Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS III

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

	Please vote today
	We need your input on an important proposal that affects your investment
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		Mail Sign and return the enclosed voting card

	Please vote today
	We need your input on an important proposal that affects your investment
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Your action is required

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 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”)

[Preliminary Copy]

October [ ], 2020July 18, 2022]

Please vote today.today

Dear shareholder:Shareholder:

I am writing to ask am writing to ask for you to approve r assistance with a proposal that affects John Hancock U.S. Growth Fund (formerly, John Hancock U.S. Quality Growth Fund). As a registered shareholder, n important matter involving you would be voting on behalfr investment in one or more of the fund shares you own.

Approve greater flexibilityinvestment portfolios (the “Funds”) of the Trusts listed above. You are being asked to vote on several proposed changes affecting the Funds. To consider and vote on these proposed changes, a Special Joint Meeting of Shareholders of the Trusts will be held at [200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116] [via telephone only in the fund’s investment management

We are asking shareholders to approve an update of the fund’s diversification status. We believe, based on our review of its investment process, that the fund and its shareholders may benefit if the fund is operated as a “non-diversified” fund. Based on our experience and investment analysis, we believe that generally the ability for the fund to invest more significantly in fewer securities may enhance the probability of improved performance over the long term. We recommended this change to your fund’s Trustees, and they agreed it was in the best interests of shareholders.

How to vote

A special shareholder meeting to vote on this proposal has been scheduled for December 18, 2020. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic,pandemic], on September 9, 2022 at [Shareholder Meeting Time], Eastern Time(the “Meeting”). We encourage you to read the attached materials in their entirety.

The enclosed proxy statement sets forth three proposals on which you are being asked to vote. The first proposal, a routine item, concerns the meetingelection of trustees. Routine items make no fundamental or material changes to a Fund’s investment objectives, policies or restrictions, or to the investment management contract. The other proposals are not considered routine items. All three proposals are summarized below.

The following is an overview of the proposals on which you are being asked to vote. Please note that none of these proposals is expected to have any material effect on the manner in which any Fund is managed or on its current investment objective, nor are they related to the current state of the financial markets. You will befind a virtual meeting held via telephone onlydetailed explanation of each proposal in the enclosed proxy materials.

You are being asked to approve three proposals:

(1)       Election of Trustees

You are being asked to elect eight Trustees as members of the Board of Trustees of each Trust (the “Board”).

(2)       New Form of Advisory Agreement

Shareholders of certain Funds are being asked to approve a new form of Advisory Agreement between their Funds and John Hancock Investment Management LLC (“JHIM” or the “Advisor”). The purpose of this proposal is to streamline the advisory agreements across the John Hancock Fund Complex, primarily to provide more explicitly for a “manager of managers” structure, to clarify that the Advisory Agreement covers only investment advisory services and to provide consistency in operational procedures across the John Hancock Fund Complex. These benefits contribute to a goal of maintaining, and even potentially reducing, operational costs. In addition, restricting the new form of Advisory Agreement to investment advisory services will facilitate the Advisor’s ability to manage those services that are “non-investment” in nature.

The new form of Advisory Agreement will not result in any change in advisory fee rates or the level, nature or quality of advisory services provided to the Funds, and will not materially increase the Funds’ overall expense ratios. Other details and impacts of this proposal are described in the accompanying proxy statement.

(3)       Proposal adopting a Manager of Managers Structure

Shareholders of certain Funds are being asked to approve a “manager of managers” structure for their Funds. This structure would allow JHIM, subject to the approval of the Board, to replace a Fund’s subadvisor with an unaffiliated subadvisor or materially amend a Fund’s investment subadvisory agreement with an unaffiliated subadvisor without first obtaining shareholder approval, subject to certain conditions. This effectively would allow JHIM to hire and replace unaffiliated subadvisors to the Funds, subject to Board approval but without a Fund having to incur the cost and delay of holding a shareholder meeting to approve a new (or materially amend a current) investment subadvisory agreement. Shareholders would, however, be notified of any changes to a Fund’s subadvisor or subadvisors. This order does not extend to a subadvisor that is an “affiliated person,” as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, of a Trust or the Advisor, other than by reason of serving as subadvisor to one or more of the Funds, which means that JHIM would not be permitted to replace an unaffiliated subadvisor with an affiliated subadvisor, or materially amend a subadvisory agreement with an affiliated subadvisor, without both Board and shareholder approval.

We Need Your Vote of Approval

After careful consideration, the Board has unanimously approved each of the applicable proposals and recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” their approval, but the final approval requires your vote. The enclosed proxy statement, which I strongly encourage you to read before voting, contains further explanation and important details of the proposals.

How to Vote

[Attending the meeting via telephone

ShareholdersTo participate in the meeting, shareholders of the fund mayFund must call [ ] no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on [ ], 2022 and provide your full name and address. You will then be provided with the conference call dial-in information to attend the meeting usingshareholder meeting. Access to the dial-in instructions below:

(844) 303-4325 (Conference ID: 383 620 457#)

Note that this meeting is limited to shareholders of the fund.Funds or each Fund.]

Please read the enclosed proxy statement, and vote your shares as described below. While[While you may attend the meeting by phone,phone], voting today will save on the potential cost of future mailings required to obtain shareholder votes.You may vote your respective shares by proxy in one of three ways:

Online:by visiting the website on your proxy card(s) and entering your control number [ ]

Phone:by calling the number listed on your proxy card(s) [ ]

Mail:by By returning the enclosed proxy card(s)

Sincerely,

Andrew G. Arnott

President and CEO

John Hancock Investment Management

Head of Wealth and Asset Management

United States and Europe

John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, Member FINRA, SIPC • John Hancock Investment Management LLC • John Hancock Signature Services, Inc.

JOHN HANCOCK U.S. GROWTH FUND (FORMERLY, BOND TRUST

JOHN HANCOCK U.S. QUALITY GROWTH FUND)CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND

a series of JOHN HANCOCK CAPITAL SERIES

JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST

JOHN HANCOCK CURRENT INTEREST

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

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERSNotice of special joint meeting of shareholders

To the shareholdersShareholders of John Hancock U.S. Growth Fund (formerly, John Hancock U.S. Quality Growth Fund) (the “Fund”) :the Trusts:

Notice is hereby given that a special meetingSpecial Joint Meeting of shareholdersShareholders of all of the Fundinvestment portfolios (the “Funds”) of the Trusts will be held on Friday, December 18, 2020, at 2:00 P.M., Eastern Time (the “Meeting”). In[at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116^*] [via telephone only in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Meeting will be a virtual meeting held pandemic], on via telephone onlySeptember 9, 2022 at [           ], Eastern Time (the “Meeting”).

Attending the Meeting via telephone

Shareholders of the Fund may attend the Meeting using the dial-in instructions below:

(844) 303-4325 (Conference ID: 383 620 457#)

Note that this Meeting is limited to shareholders of the Fund.

A Proxy Statement, which provides information about the purposes of the Meeting, is included with this notice.Notice. The Funds involved in the Meeting are listed on the front cover of the Proxy Statement. As a registered shareholder, you would be voting on behalf of the Fund shares you own. The Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

Any other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournmentMeeting.

The Board of Trustees of the Trusts recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” all of the Meeting.

The Board of Trustees recommends that you vote FOR the Proposal.the Proposals.

Each shareholder of record of the Fund as ofat the close of business on October 15, 2020,June 13, 2022 is entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment thereof.Meeting.

Whether or not you expect to attend the Meeting, please complete and return the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying envelope. No postage is necessary if mailed in the United States. If shareholders do not return their proxies in sufficient numbers, it may result in the need for additional shareholder solicitation efforts.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for

the Shareholder Meeting to Bebe Held on December 18, 2020:
September 9, 2022:

The Proxy Statementproxy statement is available at: https://www.jhinvestments.com/resources/all-resources/other/john-hancock-u-s-quality-growth-fund-proxy-statement.at [           ]

Sincerely,

By order of the Board of Trustees,

Christopher Sechler

Secretary

October [   ], 2020July 18, 2022]

Boston, Massachusetts

^*[Due to the difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the date, time, location or means of conducting the Meeting may change. In the event of such a change, the Funds will announce alternative arrangements for the Meeting as soon as possible.]

Your vote is important Your vote is important - Please vote your shares promptly.

Please vote your shares promptly.

Shareholders are invited to attend the Meeting [in person]/[by phone.phone]. Any shareholder who does not expect to attend the Meeting is urged to vote by:

In order to avoid unnecessary expense, we ask for your cooperation in responding promptly, no matter how large or small your holdings may be.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXECUTING PROXY CARDSCARD

The following general rules for executing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and help avoid the time and expense involved in validating your vote if you fail to execute your proxy card(s)card properly.

Individual Accounts:Individual Accounts: Your name should be signed exactly as it appears on the proxy card(s).

Joint Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to a name shown on the proxy card(s).

All other accounts should show the capacity of the individual signing. This can be shown either in the form of the account registration itself or by the individual executing the proxy card(s).

card.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING BY TOUCH-TONE TELEPHONE

Read the enclosed Proxy Statement, and have your proxy card(s) handy.

Call the toll-free number indicated on your proxy card(s).

Enter the control number found on the front of your proxy card(s).

Follow the recorded instructions to cast your vote.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING BY INTERNET

Read the enclosed Proxy Statement, and have your proxy card(s) handy.

Go to the Web site on the proxy card(s).

Enter the control number“control number” found on the front of your proxy card(s).

Follow the instructions on the Web site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

JOHN HANCOCK U.S. GROWTHBOND TRUST

JOHN HANCOCK CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND

(FORMERLY, JOHN HANCOCK U.S. QUALITY GROWTH FUND), CAPITAL SERIES

a series of JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST

JOHN HANCOCK CURRENT INTEREST

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”)

PROXY STATEMENT

SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON December 18, 2020SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

The following table summarizes which Funds (and share classes) are being asked to vote on a particular Proposal.

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 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 information that a shareholder should know before voting on the proposal described in the notice. The Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report and Semiannual Report to any shareholder upon request by writing to the Fund at “Trusts”)

200 Berkeley Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 or by calling 1-800-225-5291.

PROXY STATEMENT
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

Introduction

This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) of John Hancock Funds III (the “Trust”) for useeach Trust of proxies to be used at the special meetinga Special Joint Meeting of shareholders of John Hancock U.S. Growth Fund (formerly, John Hancock U.S. Quality Growth Fund) (the “Fund”), a series of the Trust. The special meeting willTrusts to be held on Friday, December 18, 2020, at 2:00 P.M., Eastern Time (the “Meeting”). In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Meeting will be a virtual meeting held via telephone only.

Attending the Meeting via telephone

Shareholders of the Fund may attend the Meeting using the dial-in instructions below:

(844) 303-4325 (Conference ID: 383 620 457#)

Note that this Meeting is limited to shareholders of the Fund.

The Board is soliciting proxies from shareholders with respect to the proposal set forth below.

The definitive Proxy Statement and proxy card are intended to be first mailed to shareholders on or about November 10, 2020.

The Fund’s Advisor, Administrator, Distributor, and Subadvisor

John Hancock Investment Management LLC (the “Advisor”),[at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, serves as 02210^*] [via telephone only], on September 9, 2022 at [            ] Eastern Time(the Fund’s investment advisor“Meeting”). Pursuant to the Agreement and administrator. An affiliateDeclaration of the Advisor, John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, serves as the Fund’s distributor. Wellington Management Company LLPTrust of each Trust (the “Subadvisor”“Declaration of Trust”), 280 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, serves as the Fund’s subadvisor.

Record Ownership

The Board has fixed the close of business on October 15, 2020designated June 13, 2022 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 (and fractional votes for fractional shares) on all business of the Meeting or any adjournment of the Meeting. On the Record Date, [    ] shares of beneficial interest of the Fund were outstanding.

[As of the Record Date, none of the Trustees beneficially owned individually, and the Trustees and executive officers of the Fund as a group did not beneficially own, in excess of one percent of the outstanding shares of the Fund.] Information regarding shareholders that hold 5% or more of the Fund’s shares as of the Record Date is set forth in Appendix A to thisFunds held. This Proxy Statement (“Outstanding Shares and Share Ownership”).

Proposal ─ Approval of changeis first being sent to the fund’s diversification statusshareholders on or about [July 18, 2022].

Introduction

As a diversified fundEach 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 11 Trusts offered as of the Record Date were divided into series corresponding to a combined total of 41 portfolios (each, a “Fund”). The respective Funds are named on the cover of this Proxy Statement.

Investment Management. John Hancock Investment Management LLC (“JHIM” or the “Advisor”) serves as investment advisor for each Trust and each Fund. Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with each Trust, the Advisor is responsible for, among other things, administering the business and affairs of the Funds and selecting, contracting with, compensating and monitoring the performance of the investment subadvisors that manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Funds pursuant to subadvisory agreements with the Advisor. JHIM is registered as an investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). Each of the subadvisors to the Funds is also registered as an investment advisor under the Advisers Act.

The Distributor. John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as each Fund’s distributor.

The offices of JHIM and the Distributor are located at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, and their ultimate parent entity is Manulife Financial Corporation (“MFC”), the Fund currently has a fundamental policy substantively the samepublicly traded company based in Toronto, Canada. MFC and its subsidiaries operate as the following: that it may not with respect to 75% of its total assets invest more than 5% of its total assets (taken at current value)“Manulife Financial” in Canada and Asia and primarily as “John Hancock” in the securities of any one issuer, or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer, except obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities and except securities of other investment companies. As a fundamental policy, any change to such policy requires shareholder approval. If the change in the Fund’s diversification status is approved, the Fund will operate as a non-diversified fund. The risk of operating as a non-diversified fund is that the Fund could have more concentrated ownership of certain issuers than if it was a diversified fund. Concentrated ownership of issuers may make the Fund more susceptible to economic, business, political or other factors affecting the issuers in which it invests. Accordingly, a non-diversified fund may involve more risk than a diversified fund. By changing the Fund’s status to be non-diversified, portfolio management will have more flexibility in managing the Fund’s investments as described herein.United States.

Shareholders of the Fund are being asked to approve the change

^* [Due to the Fund’s diversification status. The Advisor has recommended todifficulties arising from the Board that this fundamental investment restriction be changed.

The Advisor believes, based onCOVID-19 pandemic, the date, time, location or means of conducting the Meeting may change. In the event of such a review ofchange, the Fund’s investment process, that the Fund and its shareholders may benefit if the Fund is operated as a “non-diversified” fund. Based on its experience and investment analysis, the Advisor believes that generally the abilityFunds will announce alternative arrangements for the Fund to invest more significantly in fewer securities may enhance the probability of improved performance over the long term.

The Board has concluded that the proposed change to the diversification status is appropriate and will benefit the Fund and its shareholders. The Board recommends that shareholders of the Fund approve the proposed change.

If approved by the Fund’s shareholders, the change to the Fund’s diversification status will become effective when the Fund’s SAI is revised or supplemented to reflect the change. Assuming that the proposed change is approved at the Meeting the Fund expects to file a revision or supplement to its SAI on or about December 18, 2020.

If the proposed change is not approved by the Fund’s shareholders, the current fundamental investment restriction regarding diversification will remain in effect.

Change to the Fund’s Diversification Status

The following table sets forth the Fund’s current fundamental investment restriction regarding diversification and the proposed restriction.

Discussion of Proposal. A fund that is non-diversified is not limited as to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in any one issuer, orsoon as to the percentage of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer that may bepossible.]

owned, exceptProposal 1 — Election of eight trustees as members of the Board of Trustees of each Trust

(All Funds)

Shareholders are being asked to elect each individual nominated by the fund’s own investment restrictions. A fund that is non-diversified may investBoard listed below (each, a high percentage“Nominee” and collectively, the “Nominees”) as a member of its assets in the securitiesBoard of a small number of issuers, may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer, and may be affected more than a diversified fund by a change in the financial condition of any of these issuers or by the financial markets’ assessment of any of these issuers.

The Board, including the Trustees of the Trusts. Four of the Nominees currently are Trustees of each Trust and have served in that capacity continuously since originally being appointed. Four of the Nominees, Noni L. Ellison, Dean Garfield, Patricia Lizarraga, and Paul Lorentz have not served as Trustees of any Trust. Because each Trust is not required to, and does not, hold regular annual shareholder meetings, each Nominee, if elected, will hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until he or she dies, retires, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Trustees may be removed from a Trust (provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than one) with cause or without cause, by the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees or by action of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of a Trust.

At a videoconference meeting held on May 23, 2022, the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board considered the proposed Trustee candidates and determined to recommend the election of the Nominees to the full Board of the Trusts. Acting on that recommendation, at a videoconference meeting held on June 21-23, 2022, the Board approved those nominations and called a meeting of shareholders to allow shareholders of the Trusts to vote on the election of the Nominees to the Board.

The persons named as proxies intend, in the absence of contrary instructions, to vote all proxies for the election of the Nominees. If, prior to the Meeting, any Nominee becomes unable to serve for any reason, the persons named as proxies reserve the right to substitute another person or persons of their choice as nominee or nominees. All of the Nominees have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. The Trusts know of no reason why any Nominee would be unable or unwilling to serve if elected.

The business and affairs of the Trusts, including those of the Funds, are managed under the direction of the Board. As stated above, the 11 Trusts have a combined total of 40 separate Funds, and each Trustee oversees all Funds. In addition to the Funds, some Trustees also oversee other funds advised by JHIM or JHIM’s affiliates.

Information Concerning Nominees

The following tables set forth certain information regarding the Nominees: Andrew G. Arnott, James R. Boyle, Marianne Harrison, Frances G. Rathke, Noni L. Ellison, Dean Garfield, Patricia Lizarraga, and Paul Lorentz. The tables present information regarding the Nominees’ principal occupations which, unless specific dates are shown, are of at least five years’ duration. In addition, the tables include information concerning other directorships held by each Nominee in other registered investment companies or publicly traded companies. Information is listed separately for each Nominee who are notis an “interested persons”person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (each a “Non-Independent Trustee”) and the Independent Trustees. As of December 31, 2021, the “John Hancock Fund Complex” consisted of 191 funds (including separate series of series mutual funds).

The Board appointed Mr. Arnott and Ms. Harrison to serve as Non-Independent Trustees on June 20, 2017 and June 19, 2018, respectively, and Ms. Rathke to serve as an Independent Trustee on September 15, 2020. In addition, although James R. Boyle initially was designated a Non-Independent Trustee, as of March 22, 2018, he is considered an Independent Trustee. The address of each Nominee is 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

Eight Nominees Standing For Election

Correspondence intended for any of the Nominees may be sent to the attention of the individual Nominee or to the Board at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. All communications addressed to the Board or individual Nominee will be logged and sent to the Board or individual Nominee.

Information Concerning Other Trustees

The following table sets forth information concerning the Trustees of the Trusts who are not standing for election at the Meeting. All of these Trustees are Independent Trustees. The address of each Independent Trustee who is not a Nominee is 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

Trustees Not Standing For Election

Principal Officers Who Are Not Trustees or Nominees

The following table presents information regarding the current principal officers of the Trusts who are neither current Trustees nor Nominees, including their principal occupations which, unless specific dates are shown, are of at least five years’ duration. Each of the

officers is an affiliated person of the Advisor. Each such officer’s business address is 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

Additional Information about the Trustees and Nominees

In addition to the description of each Trustee’s or Nominee’s Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships set forth above, the following provides further information about each Trustee’s or Nominee’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills with respect to each Trust. The information in this section should not be understood to mean that any of the Trustees or Nominees is an “expert” within the meaning of the federal securities laws.

The Board believes that the different perspectives, viewpoints, professional experience, education, and individual qualities of each Trustee or Nominee represent a diversity of experiences and a variety of complementary skills and expertise. Each Trustee and four of the Nominees have experience as board members. Mr. Arnott, Mr. Boyle, Ms. Harrison, and Ms. Rathke have experience as a Trustees of John Hancock funds. It is the Trustees’ belief that this allows the Board, as a whole, to oversee the business of the Funds and the other funds in the John Hancock Fund Complex in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders. When considering potential nominees to fill vacancies on the Board, and as part of its annual self-evaluation, the Board reviews the mix of skills and other relevant experiences of the Trustees.

Independent Trustees and Nominees

James R. Boyle – Mr. Boyle has high-level executive, financial, operational, governance, regulatory and leadership experience in the financial services industry, including in the development and management of registered investment companies, variable annuities, retirement and insurance products. Mr. Boyle is the former President and CEO of a large international fraternal life insurance company

and is the former President and CEO of multi-line life insurance and financial services companies. Mr. Boyle began his career as a Certified Public Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand.

Peter S. Burgess – As a financial consultant, Certified Public Accountant, and former partner in a major international public accounting firm, Mr. Burgess has experience in the auditing of financial services companies and mutual funds. He also has experience as a director of publicly traded operating companies.

William H. Cunningham – Mr. Cunningham has management and operational oversight experience as a former Chancellor and President of a major university. Mr. Cunningham regularly teaches a graduate course in corporate governance at the law school and at the Red McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. He also has oversight and corporate governance experience as a current and former director of a number of operating companies, including an insurance company.

Grace K. Fey – Ms. Fey has significant governance, financial services, and asset management industry expertise based on her extensive non-profit board experience, as well as her experience as a consultant to non-profit and corporate boards, and as a former director and executive of an investment management firm.

Deborah C. Jackson – Ms. Jackson has leadership, governance, management, and operational oversight experience as the lead director of a large bank, president of a college, and as the former chief executive officer of a major charitable organization. She also has expertise in financial services matters and oversight and corporate governance experience as a current and former director of various other corporate organizations, including an insurance company, a regional stock exchange, a telemedicine company, and non-profit entities.

Hassell H. McClellan – As a former professor of finance and policy in the graduate management department of a major university, a director of a public company, and as a former director of several privately held companies, Mr. McClellan has experience in corporate and financial matters. He also has experience as a director of other investment companies not affiliated with the Trust.

Steven R. Pruchansky – Mr. Pruchansky has entrepreneurial, executive and financial experience as a senior officer and chief executive of business in the retail, service and distribution companies and a current and former director of real estate and banking companies.

Frances G. Rathke – Through her former positions in senior financial roles, as a former Certified Public Accountant, and as a consultant on strategic and financial matters, Ms. Rathke has experience as a leader overseeing, conceiving, implementing, and analyzing strategic and financial growth plans, and financial statements. Ms. Rathke also has experience in the auditing of financial statements and related materials. In addition, she has experience as a director of various organizations, including a publicly traded company and a non-profit entity.

Gregory A. Russo – As a retired Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Russo served as a partner and Global Vice Chairman in a major independent registered public accounting firm, as well as a member of its geographic boards of directors and International Executive Team. As a result of Mr. Russo’s diverse global responsibilities, he possesses accounting, finance and executive operating experience.

Noni L. Ellison – As a senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary with over 25 years of executive leadership experience, Ms. Ellison has management and business expertise in legal, regulatory, compliance, operational, quality assurance, international, finance and governance matters.

Dean Garfield – As a former president and chief executive officer of a leading industry organization and current vice-president of a leading international company, Mr. Garfield has significant global executive operational, governance, regulatory, and leadership experience. He also has experience as a leader overseeing and implementing global public policy matters including strategic initiatives.

Patricia Lizarraga – Through her current positions as an independent board director, audit committee chair, and chief executive officer of an investment advisory firm, Ms. Lizarraga has expertise in financial services and investment matters, and operational and risk oversight. As former governance committee chair, Ms. Lizarraga has a strong understanding of corporate governance and the regulatory frameworks of the investment management industry.

Non-Independent Trustees

Andrew G. Arnott – Through his positions as Executive Vice President of John Hancock Financial Services; Director and Executive Vice President of John Hancock Investment Management LLC and John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC; President of John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC; and President of the John Hancock Fund Complex, Mr. Arnott has experience in the management of investments, registered investment companies, variable annuities and retirement products, enabling him to provide management input to the Board.

Marianne Harrison – Through her position as President and CEO, John Hancock, and previous experience as President and CEO, Manulife Canadian Division, President and General Manager for John Hancock Long-Term Care Insurance, and Executive Vice

President and Controller for Manulife, Ms. Harrison has experience as a strategic business builder expanding product offerings and distribution, enabling her to provide management input to the Board.

Paul Lorentz - Through his position as the Global Head of Manulife Wealth and Asset Management, Mr. Lorentz has experience with retirement, retail and asset management solutions offered by Manulife worldwide, enabling him to provide management input to the Board.

Duties of Trustees; Committee Structure

Each Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. Under each Trust’s Declaration of Trust, the Trustees are responsible for managing the affairs of the Trust, including the appointment of advisors and subadvisors. Each Trustee and Nominee has the experience, skills, attributes or qualifications described above (see “Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships” and “Additional Information about the Trustees and Nominees” above). The Board appoints officers who assist in managing the day-to-day affairs of the Trust. The Board met six times during each Trust’s last respective fiscal year.

The Board has appointed an Independent Trustee as Chairperson. The Chairperson presides at meetings of the Trustees and may call meetings of the Board and any Board committee whenever he deems it necessary. The Chairperson participates in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the Board and the identification of information to be presented to the Board with respect to matters to be acted upon by the Board. The Chairperson also acts as a liaison with the Funds’ management, officers, attorneys, and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairperson may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. The Board also has designated a Vice Chairperson to serve in the absence of the Chairperson. Except for any duties specified in each Trust’s Statement of Additional Information or pursuant to each Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-laws, or as assigned by the Board, the designation of a Trustee as Chairperson or Vice Chairperson does not impose on that Trustee any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on any other Trustee, generally. The Board has designated a number of standing committees as further described below, each of which has a Chairperson. The Board also may designate working groups or ad hoc committees as it deems appropriate.

The Board believes that this leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its purview, and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees or working groups of Trustees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight. The Board considers leadership by an Independent Trustee as Chairperson to be integral to promoting effective independent oversight of the Funds’ operations and meaningful representation of the shareholders’ interests, given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Funds. The Board also believes that having a super-majority of Independent Trustees is appropriate and in the best interest of the Funds’ shareholders. Nevertheless, the Board also believes that having interested persons serve on the Board brings corporate and financial viewpoints that are, in the Board’s view, helpful elements in its decision-making process. In addition, the Board believes that Ms. Harrison and Messrs. Arnott and Boyle, as current or former senior executives of the Advisor and the Distributor (or of their parent company, MFC), and of other affiliates of the Advisor and the Distributor, provide the Board with the perspective of the Advisor and the Distributor in managing and sponsoring all of the Trust’s series. The leadership structure of the Board may be changed, at any time and in the discretion of the Board, including in response to changes in circumstances or the characteristics of each Trust.

Board Committees

The Board has established an Audit Committee; Compliance Committee; Contracts, Legal & Risk Committee; Investment Committee; and Nominating and Governance Committee. The current membership of each committee is set forth below.

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee composed solely of Independent Trustees (Messrs. Burgess and Cunningham and Ms. Rathke). Ms. Rathke serves as Chairperson of this Committee. This Committee reviews the internal and external accounting and auditing procedures of the Trusts and, among other things, considers the selection of an independent registered public accounting firm for the Trusts, approves all significant services proposed to be performed by their independent registered public accounting firm(s) and considers the possible effect of such services on their independence. Mr. Burgess has been designated by the Board as an “audit committee financial expert”, as defined in the SEC Rules. This Committee met four times during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, December 31, 2021, [March 31, 2022, and May 31, 2022], respectively.

Compliance Committee. The Board also has a standing Compliance Committee (Mses. Fey and Jackson). Ms. Fey serves as Chairperson of this Committee. This Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the full Board regarding certain compliance matters relating to the Trusts. This Committee met four times during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, December 31, 2021, [March 31, 2022, and May 31, 2022], respectively.

Contracts, Legal & Risk Committee. The Board also has a standing Contracts, Legal & Risk Committee (Messrs. Boyle, Pruchansky, and Russo). Mr. Russo serves as Chairperson of this Committee. This Committee oversees the initiation, operation, and renewal of the various contracts between the Trusts and other entities. These contracts include advisory and subadvisory agreements, custodial and transfer agency agreements and arrangements with other service providers. The Committee also reviews the significant legal affairs of the Funds, as well as any significant regulatory and legislative actions or proposals affecting or relating to the Funds or their service providers. The Committee also assists the Board in its oversight role with respect to the processes pursuant to which the Advisor and

the subadvisors identify, manage and report the various risks that affect or could affect the Funds. This Committee met four times during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, December 31, 2021, [March 31, 2022, and May 31, 2022], respectively.

Investment Committee. The Board also has an Investment Committee composed of all of the Trustees. The Investment Committee has four subcommittees with the Trustees divided among the four subcommittees (each an “Investment Sub-Committee”). Ms. Jackson and Messrs. Boyle, Cunningham, and Pruchansky serve as Chairpersons of the Investment Sub-Committees. Each Investment Sub-Committee reviews investment matters relating to a particular group of Funds in the John Hancock Fund Complex and coordinates with the full Board regarding investment matters. This Committee met five times during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and four times during the fiscal years ended [March 31, 2022 and May 31 2022], respectively.

Nominating and Governance Committee. The Board also has a Nominating and Governance Committee composed of all of the Independent Trustees. This Committee will consider nominees recommended by Trust shareholders. Nominations should be forwarded to the attention of the Secretary of the Trust at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Any shareholder nomination must be submitted in compliance with all of the pertinent provisions of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), in order to be considered by this Committee. This Committee met five times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, and four times during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, [March 31, 2022, and May 31, 2022], respectively.

Shareholder nominations may be submitted to the Trust who will then forward the nominations to the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Any shareholder nomination must be submitted in compliance with all of the pertinent provisions of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act in order to be considered by the Nominating and Governance Committee. In evaluating a nominee recommended by a shareholder, the Nominating and Governance Committee, in addition to the criteria discussed above, may consider the objectives of the shareholder in submitting that nomination and whether such objectives are consistent with the interests of all shareholders. If the Board determines to include a shareholder’s candidate among the slate of its designated nominees, the candidate’s name will be placed on the Trust’s proxy card. If the Board determines not to include such candidate among its designated nominees, and the shareholder has satisfied the requirements of Rule 14a-8, the shareholder’s candidate will be treated as a nominee of the shareholder who originally nominated the candidate. In that case, the candidate will not be named on the proxy card distributed with the Trust’s proxy statement.

As noted in Exhibit A, while the re-nomination of existing Trustees will not be viewed as automatic, the Nominating and Governance Committee will generally favor the re-nomination of an existing Trustee rather than a new candidate if the re-nomination is consistent with the “Statement of Policy on Criteria for Selecting Independent Trustees” set forth in Annex A to Exhibit A. Consequently, while the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders to serve as trustees, the Nominating and Governance Committee may only act upon such recommendations if there is a vacancy on the Board, or the Nominating and Governance Committee determines that the selection of a new or additional Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust. In the event that a vacancy arises or a change in the Board membership is determined to be advisable, the Nominating and Governance Committee will, in addition to any shareholder recommendations, consider candidates identified by other means as discussed in Exhibit A.

Annually, the Board evaluates its performance and that of its Committees, including the effectiveness of the Board’s Committee structure.

Risk Oversight

As registered investment companies, the Funds are subject to a variety of risks, including investment risks (such as, among others, market risk, credit risk and interest rate risk), financial risks (such as, among others, settlement risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk), compliance risks, and operational risks. As a part of its overall activities, the Board oversees the Funds’ risk management activities that are implemented by the Advisor, the Funds’ CCO and other service providers to the Funds. The Advisor has primary responsibility for the Funds’ risk management on a day-to-day basis as a part of its overall responsibilities. Each Fund’s subadvisor, subject to oversight of the Advisor, is primarily responsible for managing investment and financial risks as a part of its day-to-day investment responsibilities, as well as operational and compliance risks at its firm. The Advisor and the CCO also assist the Board in overseeing compliance with investment policies of the Funds and regulatory requirements and monitor the implementation of the various compliance policies and procedures approved by the Board as a part of its oversight responsibilities.

The Advisor identifies to the Board the risks that it believes may affect the Funds and develops processes and controls regarding such risks. However, risk management is a complex and dynamic undertaking and it is not always possible to comprehensively identify and/or mitigate all such risks at all times since risks are at times impacted by external events. In discharging its oversight responsibilities, the Board considers risk management issues throughout the year with the assistance of its various Committees as described below. Each Committee meets at least quarterly and presents reports to the Board, which may prompt further discussion of issues concerning the oversight of the Funds’ risk management. The Board as a whole also reviews written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues as needed and may discuss particular risks that are not addressed in the Committee process.

The Board has established an Investment Committee, which consists of four Investment Sub-Committees. Each Investment Sub-Committee assists the Board in overseeing the significant investment policies of the relevant Funds and the performance of their subadvisors. The Advisor monitors these policies and subadvisor activities and may recommend changes in connection with the Funds to each relevant Investment Sub-Committee in response to subadvisor requests or other circumstances. On at least a quarterly basis, each Investment Sub-Committee reviews reports from the Advisor regarding the relevant Funds’ investment performance, which

include information about investment and financial risks and how they are managed, and from the CCO or his/her designee regarding subadvisor compliance matters. In addition, each Investment Sub-Committee meets periodically with the portfolio managers of the Funds’ subadvisors to receive reports regarding management of the Funds, including with respect to risk management processes.

The Audit Committee assists the Board in reviewing with the independent auditors, at various times throughout the year, matters relating to the Funds’ financial reporting. In addition, this Committee oversees the process of each Fund’s valuation of its portfolio securities, assisted by the Funds’ Pricing Committee (composed of officers of the Trusts), which calculates fair value determinations pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board.

The Compliance Committee assists the Board in overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ CCO with respect to the compliance programs of the Funds, the Advisor, the subadvisors, and certain of the Funds’ other service providers (the Distributor and transfer agent). This Committee and the Board receive and consider periodic reports from the CCO throughout the year, including the CCO’s annual written report, which, among other things, summarizes material compliance issues that arose during the previous year and any remedial action taken to address these issues, as well as any material changes to the compliance programs.

The Contracts, Legal & Risk Committee assists the Board in its oversight role with respect to the processes pursuant to which the Advisor and the subadvisors identify, assess, manage and report the various risks that affect or could affect the Funds. This Committee reviews reports from the Funds’ Advisor on a periodic basis regarding the risks facing the Funds, and makes recommendations to the Board concerning risks and risk oversight matters as the Committee deems appropriate. This Committee also coordinates with the other Board Committees regarding risks relevant to the other Committees, as appropriate.

In addressing issues regarding the Funds’ risk management between meetings, appropriate representatives of the Advisor communicate with the Chairperson of the Board, the relevant Committee Chair, or the Trusts’ CCO, who is directly accountable to the Board. As appropriate, the Chairperson of the Board, the Committee Chairs and the Trustees confer among themselves, with the Trusts’ CCO, the Advisor, other service providers, external fund counsel, and counsel to the Independent Trustees, to identify and review risk management issues that may be placed on the full Board’s agenda and/or that of an appropriate Committee for review and discussion.

In addition, in its annual review of the Funds’ advisory, subadvisory and distribution agreements, the Board reviews information provided by the Advisor, the subadvisors, and the Distributor relating to their operational capabilities, financial condition, risk management processes and resources.

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts its risk oversight role.

The Advisor also has its own, independent interest in risk management. In this regard, the Advisor has appointed a Risk and Investment Operations Committee, consisting of senior personnel from each of the Advisor’s functional departments. This Committee reports periodically to the Board and the Contracts, Legal & Risk Committee on risk management matters. The Advisor’s risk management program is part of the overall risk management program of John Hancock, the Advisor’s parent company. John Hancock’s Chief Risk Officer supports the Advisor’s risk management program, and at the Board’s request will report on risk management matters.

Compensation of Trustees

Each Trust pays fees to its Independent Trustees. Trustees are reimbursed for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses. The following tables show the compensation paid to each Independent Trustee for his or her service as a Trustee for the most recent fiscal years or periods indicated. Each Independent Trustee receives in the aggregate from the Trust and the other open-end funds in the John Hancock Fund Complex an annual retainer of $265,000, a fee of $22,000 for each regular meeting of the Trustees (in person or via videoconference or teleconference) and a fee of $5,000 for each special meeting of the Trustees (in person or via videoconference or teleconference). The Chairperson of the Board receives an additional retainer of $180,000. The Vice Chairperson of the Board receives an additional retainer of $20,000. The Chairperson of each of the Audit Committee, Compliance Committee, and Contracts, Legal & Risk Committee receives an additional $40,000 retainer. The Chairperson of each Investment Sub-Committee receives an additional $20,000 retainer.

The following tables provide information regarding the compensation paid by the Trusts and the other investment companies in the John Hancock Fund Complex to the Independent Trustees for their services during the most recent fiscal years. In these tables, the amount shown for each of Noni L. Ellison, Dean Garfield, and Patricia Lizarraga for all periods is “None” since each of these individuals is proposed to be elected to the Board of each Trust and does not currently serve as an Independent Trustee. For all periods shown below, each Trust did not pay compensation to the current Non-Independent Trustees or the Non-Independent Trustee Nominee, Paul Lorentz

Compensation for Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2021