Distribution of income and gains. Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-date. The fund generally declares and pays dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, annually.
Distributions paid by the fund with respect to each class of shares are calculated in the same manner, at the same time and in the same amount, except for the effect of class level expenses that may be applied differently to each class.
Such distributions, on a tax basis, are determined in conformity with income tax regulations, which may differ from US GAAP.
Capital accounts within the financial statements are adjusted for permanent book-tax differences. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations. Temporary book-tax differences, if any, will reverse in a subsequent period. Book tax differences are primarily attributable to wash sale loss deferrals.
Note 3 — Guarantees and indemnifications
Under the Trust's organizational documents, its Officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.
Note 4 — Fees and transactions with affiliates
John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the Advisor) serves as investment advisor for the fund. John Hancock Funds, LLC (the Distributor), an affiliate of the Advisor, serves as principal underwriter of the fund. The Advisor and the Distributor are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC).
Management fee. The fund has an investment management agreement with the Advisor under which the fund pays a daily management fee to the Advisor equivalent on an annual basis to the sum of: (a) 0.90% of the first $500 million of the fund's average daily net assets; (b) 0.85% of the next $500 million of the fund's average daily net assets; and (c) 0.80% of the fund's average daily net assets in excess of $1 billion. The Advisor has a subadvisory agreement with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. The fund is not responsible for payment of the subadvisory fees.
The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse expenses for certain funds of the John Hancock group of funds complex, including the fund (the participating portfolios). This waiver is based upon aggregate net assets of all the participating portfolios. The amount of the reimbursement is calculated daily and allocated among all the participating portfolios in proportion to the daily net assets of each fund. During the six months ended September 30, 2017, this waiver amounted to 0.01% of the fund's average net assets (on an annualized basis). This arrangement may be amended or terminated at any time by the Advisor upon notice to the fund and with the approval of the Board of Trustees.
The Advisor has contractually agreed to reduce its management fee or, if necessary, make payment to the applicable class to maintain the operating expenses at 1.43%, 1.13%, 1.80%, 1.55%, 1.70%, 1.30%,1.10%, and 1.34% for Class A, Class I, Class R1, Class R2, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5, and Class ADV shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as taxes, brokerage commissions, interest expense, litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the fund's business, acquired fund fees and expenses paid indirectly and short dividend expense. The current expense limitation agreement expires on June 30, 2018, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the fund and the Advisor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at that time.
The advisor voluntarily agrees to reduce its management fee for the fund, or if necessary make payment to the fund, in an amount equal to the amount by which the expenses of the fund exceed 0.20% of the average net assets of the fund. For purposes of this agreement, "expenses of the fund" means all the expenses of the fund, excluding (a) taxes, (b) brokerage commissions, (c) interest expense, (d) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the fund's business, (e) advisory fees, (f) class-specific expenses, (g) borrowing costs, (h) prime