UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number811-23027
John Hancock Collateral Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Salvatore Schiavone
Treasurer
200 Berkeley Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:617-663-4497
| Date of fiscal year end: | December 31 |
| Date of reporting period: | December 31, 2018 |
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.
John Hancock
Collateral Trust
Annual report 12/31/18
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund's shareholder reports like this one will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Fund or from your financial intermediary. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change, and you do not need to take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications electronically by calling John Hancock Investments or by contacting your financial intermediary.
You may elect to receive all reports in paper, free of charge, at any time. You can inform John Hancock Investments or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions listed above. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held with John Hancock Investments or your financial intermediary.
John Hancock
Collateral Trust
Table of contents
| 2 | Your fund at a glance | |
| 4 | Discussion of fund performance | |
| 6 | A look at performance | |
| 7 | Your expenses | |
| 9 | Fund's investments | |
| 13 | Financial statements | |
| 16 | Financial highlights | |
| 17 | Notes to financial statements | |
| 21 | Report of independent registered public accounting firm | |
| 22 | Tax information | |
| 23 | Trustees and Officers | |
| 26 | More information |
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The fund seeks current income, while maintaining adequate liquidity, safeguarding the return of principal and minimizing risk of default.
TOTAL RETURNS AS OF 12/31/18 (%)
The ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is comprised of a single issue purchased at the beginning of the month and held for a full month. Each month the index is rebalanced and the issue selected is the outstanding U.S. Treasury Bill that matures closest to, but not beyond, three months from the rebalancing date.
It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not reflect sales charges or direct expenses, which would result in lower returns.
The past performance shown here reflects reinvested distributions and the beneficial effect of any expense reductions, and does not guarantee future results. Shares will fluctuate in value and, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current month-end performance may be lower or higher than the performance cited, and can be found at jhinvestments.com or by calling 800-225-5291. For further information on the fund's objectives, risks, and strategy, see the fund's prospectus.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS
U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) continued to raise interest rates
The Fed raised interest rates four times in 2018, bringing the federal funds target range to 2.25% to 2.50%.
The trust kept pace with federal rates
The trust maintained a competitive yield over the course of the year, maintaining a spread above the overnight bank funding rate.
PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF 12/31/18 (%)
A note about risks
The trust is subject to various risks as described in the trust's prospectus. For more information, please refer to the "Principal risks" section of the prospectus.
In 2018, average returns in money markets doubled for the third straight year, and many funds were yielding more than 2% by year end. As volatility and market uncertainty increased, over $200 billion flowed into money markets, pushing assets under management to more than $3 trillion for the first time in almost a decade.
However, the year ended with uncertainty in both equity and fixed-income markets amid the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China, a U.S. government shutdown, uncertainty surrounding Brexit, and concerns about a slowdown in global growth.
Despite volatility in the fourth quarter, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) raised the federal funds target range to 2.25% to 2.50% at its December Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. This raised the federal funds rate to its highest level in a decade, although it remained near historical lows. The FOMC also lowered its projections for the policy rate, reflecting expectations for softer economic growth and lower inflation. However, the committee continued its quantitative tightening, allowing U.S. Treasury and government agency securities to roll off its balance sheet, resulting in $150 billion maturing off the Fed's balance sheet in the fourth quarter and pushing short yields higher.
The one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) began the year at 156 basis points (bps)—a basis point is.01 of a percent—and ended at 252bps, while the three-month LIBOR began the year at 170bps and ended at 280bps.
How did the trust perform?
The trust maintained a competitive yield over the course of the year, sustaining a spread above the overnight bank funding rate, while also maintaining adequate liquidity and experiencing a decrease in its weighted average maturity (WAM) in advance of each interest-rate hike.
TOP 10 ISSUERS AS OF 12/31/18 (%)
| US Bank NA, 2.545% to 2.746%, 3-14-19 to 9-4-19 | 6.2 |
| Wells Fargo Bank NA, 2.566% to 3.003%, 2-1-19 to 7-10-19 | 5.6 |
| Toyota Motor Corp., 2.292% to 2.634%, 1-9-19 to 6-6-19 | 5.0 |
| NSTAR Electric Company, 2.484% to 2.485%, 1-2-19 to 1-8-19 | 4.9 |
| MUFG Bank, Ltd., 2.434%, 1-2-19 to 1-4-19 | 4.8 |
| Macquarie Bank, Ltd., 2.499% to 3.272%, 1-15-19 to 10-11-19 | 4.6 |
| Royal Bank of Canada, 2.433% to 2.748%, 1-2-19 to 7-29-19 | 4.5 |
| Credit Suisse AG, 2.714% to 2.930%, 5-2-19 to 5-28-19 | 4.3 |
| Federal Home Loan Bank, 2.180% to 2.281%, 1-2-19 to 1-3-19 | 4.3 |
| Federal Farm Credit Bank, 2.281% to 2.590%, 1-3-19 to 10-29-20 | 4.1 |
| TOTAL | 48.3 |
| As a percentage of total investments. |
The trust also avoided some of the pitfalls that befell other short duration funds in 2018 in the form of highly rated, widely held companies that were faced with swift downgrades and widening credit spreads. Two notable examples were The General Electric Company and Danske Bank A/S. Moving into 2019, it will be even more important to rely on our talented pool of analysts to navigate an ever more challenging economic environment that could claim other companies that were once considered safe.
Where have you found good opportunities?
Corporate cash repatriation due to tax reform resulted in a flood of short corporate bonds being sold by information technology companies during the quarter. This, coupled with increased U.S. Treasury bill issuance, steepened the front end of the curve. There were opportunities available pretty much across the money market spectrum during this period, but especially in short corporate bonds that had suddenly lost a large buyer base—similar to what happened to the commercial paper market as money market reform was going through in 2016.
We also found value in floating-rate securities that reset at prevailing interest rates due to the fact that the FOMC followed a predictable and well-telegraphed path of quarterly interest-rate hikes over the course of year.
MANAGED BY
 | Jeffrey N. Given, CFA On the fund since 2015 Investing since 1993 |
This chart and table show what happened to a hypothetical $10,000 investment in John Hancock Collateral Trust for the periods indicated, assuming all distributions were reinvested. For comparison, we've shown the same investment in the ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index.
TOTAL RETURNS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018
| Average annual total returns (%) | Cumulative total returns (%) | |||||
| 1-year | Since inception1 | Since inception1 | ||||
| John Hancock Collateral Trust | 2.00 | 0.94 | 3.72 | |||
| Index† | 1.88 | 0.79 | 3.13 | |||
Performance figures assume all distributions are reinvested.
The expense ratios of the fund, both net (including any fee waivers and/or expense limitations) and gross (excluding any fee waivers and/or expense limitations), are set forth according to the Financial highlights of the fund's annual report dated December 31, 2018. Net expenses reflect contractual expense limitations in effect until April 30, 2019 and are subject to change.Had the contractual fee waivers and expense limitations not been in place, gross expenses would apply. The net expenses and gross expense annualized ratios are 0.08% and 0.53%, respectively.
The returns reflect past results and should not be considered indicative of future performance. The return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Due to market volatility and other factors, the fund's current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. For current to the most recent month-end performance data, please call 800-225-5291 or visit the fund's website at jhinvestments.com.
The performance table above and the chart on the next page do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on the redemption of fund shares. The fund's performance results reflect any applicable fee waivers or expense reductions, without which the expenses would increase and results would have been less favorable.
| † | Index is the ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. |
The ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is comprised of a single issue purchased at the beginning of the month and held for a full month. Each month the index is rebalanced and the issue selected is the outstanding U.S. Treasury Bill that matures closest to, but not beyond, three months from the rebalancing date.
It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not reflect sales charges or direct expenses, which would result in lower returns.
| 1 | From 2-2-15. |
| Your expenses |
| 7 | JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST | ANNUAL REPORT |
| Account value on 7-1-2018 | Ending value on 12-31-2018 | Expenses paid during 12-31-20181 | Annualized expense ratio | ||
| Actual expenses/actual returns | $1,000.00 | $1,011.20 | $0.41 | 0.08% | |
| Hypothetical example for comparison purposes | 1,000.00 | 1,024.80 | 0.41 | 0.08% |
| 1 | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST | 8 |
| Fund’s investments |
| Maturity date | Yield (%) | Par value^ | Value | ||
| Corporate interest-bearing obligations 42.4% | $959,725,581 | ||||
| (Cost $960,303,312) | |||||
| American Honda Finance Corp. (3 month LIBOR + 0.150%) (A) | 01-22-19 | 2.470 | 33,956,000 | 33,953,576 | |
| American Honda Finance Corp. | 02-22-19 | 2.538 | 5,125,000 | 5,115,594 | |
| American Honda Finance Corp. (3 month LIBOR + 0.825%) (A) | 02-22-19 | 2.683 | 2,000,000 | 2,001,599 | |
| Apple, Inc. (3 month LIBOR + 0.300%) (A) | 05-06-19 | 2.635 | 5,000,000 | 5,003,199 | |
| Apple, Inc. | 02-22-19 to 08-02-19 | 2.276 to 2.768 | 39,795,000 | 39,519,303 | |
| Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd. | 06-13-19 | 2.705 | 1,500,000 | 1,494,903 | |
| BMW US Capital LLC (B) | 04-11-19 | 2.558 | 9,790,000 | 9,752,288 | |
| Chevron Corp. | 05-16-19 | 2.533 | 6,852,000 | 6,815,002 | |
| Cisco Systems, Inc. (3 month LIBOR + 0.500%) (A) | 03-01-19 | 2.755 | 9,402,000 | 9,407,648 | |
| Cisco Systems, Inc. | 02-28-19 to 03-01-19 | 2.345 to 2.427 | 41,027,000 | 40,961,293 | |
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia (3 month LIBOR + 0.640%) (A)(B) | 11-07-19 | 2.984 | 10,000,000 | 10,021,069 | |
| Credit Suisse AG | 05-28-19 | 2.714 | 74,386,000 | 74,165,826 | |
| Eli Lilly & Company | 03-15-19 | 2.646 | 3,599,000 | 3,590,822 | |
| Exxon Mobil Corp. | 03-01-19 to 03-15-19 | 2.281 to 2.427 | 7,245,000 | 7,231,915 | |
| Honeywell International, Inc. (3 month LIBOR + 0.040%) (A) | 10-30-19 | 2.572 | 2,898,000 | 2,891,074 | |
| Honeywell International, Inc. | 10-30-19 | 2.914 | 15,982,000 | 15,780,359 | |
| Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | 03-01-19 | 2.521 | 500,000 | 499,214 | |
| International Bank for Reconstruction & Development | 03-15-19 | 2.347 | 11,114,000 | 11,100,308 | |
| John Deere Capital Corp. | 03-04-19 to 09-16-19 | 2.531 to 2.749 | 2,643,000 | 2,629,868 | |
| Johnson & Johnson | 03-01-19 | 2.322 | 2,500,000 | 2,493,416 | |
| JP Morgan Securities LLC (1 month LIBOR + 0.300%) (A)(B) | 02-15-19 | 2.793 | 50,000,000 | 50,015,900 | |
| Macquarie Bank, Ltd. (3 month LIBOR + 1.180%) (A)(B) | 01-15-19 | 2.853 | 1,100,000 | 1,100,253 | |
| Macquarie Bank, Ltd. (3 month LIBOR + 0.350%) (A)(B) | 03-15-19 to 04-04-19 | 2.667 to 3.088 | 27,515,000 | 27,514,391 | |
| Macquarie Bank, Ltd. (B) | 01-15-19 to 06-24-19 | 2.499 to 2.869 | 56,833,000 | 56,761,192 | |
| National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. | 02-08-19 | 2.609 | 23,904,000 | 23,869,020 | |
| National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. (3 month LIBOR + 0.200%) (A) | 04-05-19 | 2.740 | 1,616,000 | 1,615,524 | |
| Novartis Securities Investment, Ltd. | 02-10-19 | 2.579 | 22,208,000 | 22,252,638 | |
| Old Line Funding LLC (1 month LIBOR + 0.260%) (A)(B) | 05-09-19 | 2.684 | 30,000,000 | 30,000,450 | |
| PepsiCo, Inc. (3 month LIBOR + 0.270%) (A) | 10-04-19 | 2.425 | 22,000,000 | 22,002,732 | |
| PepsiCo, Inc. (3 month LIBOR + 0.590%) (A) | 02-22-19 | 2.702 | 6,000,000 | 6,004,435 | |
| 9 | JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Maturity date | Yield (%) | Par value^ | Value | ||
| PepsiCo, Inc. | 01-07-19 to 05-02-19 | 2.396 to 2.767 | 35,480,000 | $35,428,697 | |
| Pfizer, Inc. | 06-03-19 | 2.745 | 3,000,000 | 2,982,451 | |
| Philip Morris International, Inc. | 01-15-19 to 02-25-19 | 2.422 to 2.677 | 54,950,000 | 54,893,500 | |
| PNC Bank NA | 01-28-19 to 10-18-19 | 2.485 to 2.957 | 38,474,000 | 38,309,766 | |
| Royal Bank of Canada (3 month LIBOR + 0.480%) (A) | 07-29-19 | 2.748 | 3,500,000 | 3,502,669 | |
| The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. | 01-15-19 to 05-15-19 | 2.394 to 2.622 | 29,944,000 | 30,005,331 | |
| The Bank of Nova Scotia (3 month LIBOR + 0.830%) (A) | 01-15-19 | 2.486 | 23,000,000 | 23,001,908 | |
| The Bank of Nova Scotia | 01-15-19 to 06-14-19 | 2.434 to 2.646 | 10,949,000 | 10,932,608 | |
| The Boeing Company | 03-15-19 | 2.848 | 1,000,000 | 1,004,838 | |
| The Home Depot, Inc. | 06-15-19 | 2.867 | 14,308,000 | 14,267,170 | |
| Thunder Bay Funding LLC (1 month LIBOR + 0.260%) (A)(B) | 05-13-19 | 2.730 | 25,000,000 | 25,000,050 | |
| Toyota Credit Canada, Inc. (1 month LIBOR + 0.180%) (A) | 06-06-19 | 2.604 | 57,000,000 | 56,973,324 | |
| Toyota Motor Credit Corp. | 01-09-19 | 2.292 | 11,399,000 | 11,396,584 | |
| Toyota Motor Credit Corp. (3 month LIBOR + 0.390%) (A) | 01-17-19 | 2.455 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,151 | |
| UBS AG | 08-14-19 | 2.769 | 5,087,000 | 5,066,383 | |
| Unilever Capital Corp. | 03-06-19 | 2.453 | 950,000 | 948,811 | |
| US Bank NA (3 month LIBOR + 0.120%) (A) | 03-14-19 | 2.650 | 94,840,000 | 94,817,026 | |
| US Bank NA (3 month LIBOR + 0.150%) (A) | 05-24-19 | 2.746 | 16,000,000 | 15,989,090 | |
| Walmart, Inc. (3 month LIBOR - 0.030%) (A) | 10-09-19 | 2.425 | 4,415,000 | 4,408,853 | |
| Walmart, Inc. | 10-09-19 | 2.871 | 1,816,000 | 1,803,250 | |
| Yale University | 04-15-19 | 2.542 | 1,430,000 | 1,428,310 | |
| Commercial paper 33.7% | $763,385,660 | ||||
| (Cost $763,427,083) | |||||
| Cargill Global Funding PLC | 01-02-19 | 2.424 | 40,000,000 | 39,994,758 | |
| Cargill, Inc. | 01-02-19 | 2.424 | 40,000,000 | 39,994,758 | |
| CPPIB Capital, Inc. | 01-03-19 | 2.434 | 48,500,000 | 48,490,543 | |
| Emerson Electric Company | 01-10-19 | 2.536 | 50,000,000 | 49,966,903 | |
| Exxon Mobil Corp. | 01-03-19 | 2.383 | 50,000,000 | 49,990,009 | |
| Gotham Funding Corp. | 01-07-19 to 04-05-19 | 2.556 to 2.924 | 66,178,000 | 65,837,342 | |
| Henkel of America, Inc. | 01-03-19 to 01-14-19 | 2.424 to 2.456 | 16,325,000 | 16,320,659 | |
| JP Morgan Securities LLC | 07-26-19 | 3.095 | 15,000,000 | 14,742,889 | |
| Jupiter Securitization Company LLC | 04-01-19 | 2.860 | 2,000,000 | 1,985,536 | |
| Macquarie Bank, Ltd. | 08-16-19 to 10-11-19 | 3.100 to 3.272 | 20,000,000 | 19,545,765 | |
| Manhattan Asset Funding Company LLC | 01-31-19 | 2.642 | 1,083,000 | 1,080,609 | |
| MUFG Bank, Ltd. | 01-02-19 to 01-04-19 | 2.434 | 110,000,000 | 109,981,055 | |
| National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. | 01-02-19 to 01-04-19 | 2.485 to 2.535 | 28,658,000 | 28,651,609 | |
| Novartis Finance Corp. | 01-03-19 | 2.495 | 6,100,000 | 6,098,826 | |
| NSTAR Electric Company | 01-02-19 to 01-08-19 | 2.484 to 2.485 | 111,000,000 | 110,968,030 | |
| Old Line Funding LLC | 02-08-19 | 2.654 | 25,000,000 | 24,929,773 | |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST | 10 |
| Maturity date | Yield (%) | Par value^ | Value | ||
| ONE Gas, Inc. | 01-02-19 to 01-04-19 | 2.485 to 2.535 | 25,000,000 | $24,996,072 | |
| The Boeing Company | 01-23-19 | 2.457 | 1,500,000 | 1,497,630 | |
| Thunder Bay Funding LLC | 01-03-19 | 2.495 to 2.535 | 6,183,000 | 6,181,730 | |
| Total Capital Canada, Ltd. | 01-04-19 | 2.454 | 3,000,000 | 2,999,186 | |
| Toyota Credit Canada, Inc. | 02-04-19 to 02-14-19 | 2.521 to 2.634 | 45,000,000 | 44,877,042 | |
| University of California | 03-04-19 | 2.628 | 3,950,000 | 3,931,830 | |
| Yale University | 01-07-19 to 02-11-19 | 2.394 to 2.501 | 50,385,000 | 50,323,106 | |
| Certificate of deposit 8.5% | $191,780,254 | ||||
| (Cost $191,801,448) | |||||
| Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (3 month LIBOR + 0.200%) (A) | 05-01-19 | 2.760 | 9,800,000 | 9,802,656 | |
| Credit Suisse AG (SOFR + 0.430%) (A) | 05-02-19 | 2.930 | 25,000,000 | 25,000,000 | |
| US Bank NA (1 month LIBOR + 0.160%) (A) | 09-04-19 | 2.545 | 30,000,000 | 29,964,990 | |
| Wells Fargo Bank NA (1 month LIBOR + 0.180%) (A) | 07-10-19 | 2.566 | 50,000,000 | 49,966,550 | |
| Wells Fargo Bank NA (1 month LIBOR + 0.400%) (A) | 03-11-19 | 2.629 | 2,000,000 | 2,001,108 | |
| Wells Fargo Bank NA (1 month LIBOR + 0.270%) (A) | 02-01-19 | 2.655 | 25,000,000 | 25,006,350 | |
| Wells Fargo Bank NA (1 month LIBOR + 0.460%) (A) | 05-23-19 | 3.003 | 50,000,000 | 50,038,600 | |
| U.S. Government Agency 8.4% | $191,544,479 | ||||
| (Cost $191,552,014) | |||||
| Federal Farm Credit Bank | 01-03-19 | 2.281 | 29,000,000 | 28,998,086 | |
| Federal Farm Credit Bank (1 month LIBOR + 0.180%) (A) | 10-11-19 | 2.400 | 6,690,000 | 6,701,108 | |
| Federal Farm Credit Bank (3 month LIBOR - 0.135%) (A) | 10-29-20 | 2.418 | 5,000,000 | 4,997,165 | |
| Federal Farm Credit Bank (Prime rate - 3.080%) (A) | 09-13-19 | 2.456 | 5,000,000 | 4,995,798 | |
| Federal Farm Credit Bank (3 month USBMMY + 0.040%) (A) | 02-12-20 | 2.506 | 17,310,000 | 17,304,202 | |
| Federal Farm Credit Bank (U.S. Federal Funds Effective Rate + 0.120%) (A) | 02-18-20 | 2.570 | 19,800,000 | 19,799,897 | |
| Federal Farm Credit Bank (Prime rate - 2.960%) (A) | 07-09-20 | 2.590 | 10,000,000 | 9,992,461 | |
| Federal Home Loan Bank | 01-02-19 to 01-03-19 | 2.180 to 2.281 | 98,757,000 | 98,755,762 | |
| Time deposits 5.5% | $125,000,000 | ||||
| (Cost $125,000,000) | |||||
| Royal Bank of Canada | 01-02-19 | 2.433 | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000 | |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. | 03-01-19 | 2.738 | 25,000,000 | 25,000,000 | |
| 11 | JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Par value^ | Value | ||||
| Repurchase agreement 2.3% | $52,031,000 | ||||
| (Cost $52,031,000) | |||||
| Repurchase Agreement with State Street Corp. dated 12-31-18 at 1.300% to be repurchased at $52,034,758 on 1-2-19, collateralized by $51,990,000 U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.875% due 9-30-23 (valued at $53,075,135, including interest) | 52,031,000 | 52,031,000 | |||
| Total investments (Cost $2,284,114,857) 100.8% | $2,283,466,974 | ||||
| Other assets and liabilities, net (0.8)% | (18,078,953) | ||||
| Total net assets 100.0% | $2,265,388,021 | ||||
| The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of the category as a percentage of the net assets of the fund. | |
| ^All par values are denominated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. | |
| Security Abbreviations and Legend | |
| LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
| SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
| USBMMY | U.S. Treasury Bill Money Market Yield |
| (A) | Variable rate obligation. |
| (B) | These securities are exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. Such securities may be resold, normally to qualified institutional buyers, in transactions exempt from registration. |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK COLLATERAL TRUST | 12 |
| Financial statements |
| Assets | |
| Unaffiliated investments, at value (Cost $2,284,114,857) | $2,283,466,974 |
| Cash | 500 |
| Interest receivable | 5,541,539 |
| Receivable for investments sold | 1,497,187 |
| Other assets | 46,880 |
| Total assets | 2,290,553,080 |
| Liabilities | |
| Distributions payable | 4,808,838 |
| Payable for investments purchased | 20,069,727 |
| Payable to affiliates | |
| Administrative services fees | 82,749 |
| Transfer agent fees | 4,999 |
| Trustees' fees | 1,343 |
| Other liabilities and accrued expenses | 197,403 |
| Total liabilities | 25,165,059 |
| Net assets | $2,265,388,021 |
| Net assets consist of | |
| Paid-in capital | $2,266,034,141 |
| Accumulated distributable earnings (accumulated loss) | (646,120) |
| Net assets | $2,265,388,021 |
| Net asset value per share | |
| Based on 226,466,429 shares of beneficial interest outstanding - unlimited number of shares authorized with no par value | $ 10.00 |
| 13 | JOHN HANCOCK Collateral Trust | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Investment income | |
| Interest | $53,567,737 |
| Expenses | |
| Investment management fees | 12,679,872 |
| Administrative services fees | 565,771 |
| Transfer agent fees | 59,999 |
| Trustees' fees | 45,946 |
| Custodian fees | 249,312 |
| Printing and postage | 20,046 |
| Professional fees | 96,963 |
| Other | 36,615 |
| Total expenses | 13,754,524 |
| Less expense reductions | (11,606,156) |
| Net expenses | 2,148,368 |
| Net investment income | 51,419,369 |
| Realized and unrealized gain (loss) | |
| Net realized gain (loss) on | |
| Unaffiliated investments | 6,733 |
| 6,733 | |
| Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of | |
| Unaffiliated investments | (256,643) |
| (256,643) | |
| Net realized and unrealized loss | (249,910) |
| Increase in net assets from operations | $51,169,459 |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK Collateral Trust | 14 |
| Year ended 12-31-18 | Year ended 12-31-17 | |
| Increase (decrease) in net assets | ||
| From operations | ||
| Net investment income | $51,419,369 | $23,031,544 |
| Net realized gain (loss) | 6,733 | (7,441) |
| Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (256,643) | (641,446) |
| Increase in net assets resulting from operations | 51,169,459 | 22,382,657 |
| Distributions to shareholders | ||
| From net investment income and net realized gain | (51,419,369) | — |
| From net investment income | — | (23,031,544) |
| Total distributions | (51,419,369) | (23,031,544) |
| Fund share transactions | ||
| Shares issued | 35,971,734,188 | 28,330,290,388 |
| Repurchased | (35,373,587,834) | (28,103,619,844) |
| Total from fund share transactions | 598,146,354 | 226,670,544 |
| Total increase | 597,896,444 | 226,021,657 |
| Net assets | ||
| Beginning of year | 1,667,491,577 | 1,441,469,920 |
| End of year1 | $2,265,388,021 | $1,667,491,577 |
| Share activity | ||
| Shares outstanding | ||
| Beginning of year | 166,686,636 | 144,053,426 |
| Shares issued | 3,595,679,745 | 2,831,295,288 |
| Shares repurchased | (3,535,899,952) | (2,808,662,078) |
| End of year | 226,466,429 | 166,686,636 |
| 1 | Net assets - End of year includes undistributed net investment income of $2,471 at December 31, 2017. The SEC eliminated the requirement to disclose undistributed net investment income in the current reporting period. |
| 15 | JOHN HANCOCK Collateral Trust | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Financial highlights |
| Period ended | 12-31-18 | 12-31-17 | 12-31-16 | 12-31-151 |
| Per share operating performance | ||||
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $10.00 | $10.01 | $10.00 | $10.01 |
| Net investment income2 | 0.20 | 0.11 | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | —3 | (0.01) | 0.02 | (0.01) |
| Total from investment operations | 0.20 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.00 |
| Less distributions | ||||
| From net investment income | (0.20) | (0.11) | (0.06) | (0.01) |
| Net asset value, end of period | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.01 | $10.00 |
| Total return (%)4 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 0.66 | 0.035 |
| Ratios and supplemental data | ||||
| Net assets, end of period (in millions) | $2,265 | $1,667 | $1,441 | $1,608 |
| Ratios (as a percentage of average net assets): | ||||
| Expenses before reductions | 0.53 | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.546 |
| Expenses including reductions | 0.08 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.096 |
| Net investment income | 1.99 | 1.07 | 0.55 | 0.146 |
| Portfolio turnover (%)7 | 19 | 44 | 97 | 08 |
| 1 | Period from 2-2-15 (commencement of operations) to 12-31-15. |
| 2 | Based on average daily shares outstanding. |
| 3 | Less than $0.005 per share. |
| 4 | Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the applicable periods. |
| 5 | Not annualized. |
| 6 | Annualized. |
| 7 | The calculation of portfolio turnover excludes amounts from all securities whose maturities or expiration dates at the time of acquisition were one year or less, which represents a significant amount of the investments held by the fund. |
| 8 | During the period ended December 31, 2015, securities purchased and/or sold by the fund utilized in the calculation of the portfolio turnover were acquired with less than one year until maturity. As a result, the portfolio turnover is 0%. |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK Collateral Trust | 16 |
Note 1 — Organization
John Hancock Collateral Trust (the fund) is the sole series of John Hancock Collateral Trust (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust. The fund is an open-end management investment company organized under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). However, beneficial interests of the fund are not being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The current investors in the fund are investment companies advised by John Hancock Advisers, LLC, the fund's investment advisor (the Advisor), or its affiliates. The fund serves primarily as investment vehicle for cash received as collateral by such affiliated funds for participation in securities lending.
The investment objective of the fund is to seek current income, while maintaining adequate liquidity, safeguarding the return of principal and minimizing risk of default. The fund invests only in U.S. dollar-denominated securities rated, at the time of investment, within the highest short-term credit categories and their unrated equivalents. The fund's net asset value (NAV) varies daily.
Note 2 — Significant accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP), which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions as of the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant. The fund qualifies as an investment company under Topic 946 of Accounting Standards Codification of US GAAP.
Events or transactions occurring after the end of the fiscal period through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements. The following summarizes the significant accounting policies of the fund:
Security valuation.Investments are stated at value as of the scheduled close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. In case of emergency or other disruption resulting in the NYSE not opening for trading or the NYSE closing at a time other than the regularly scheduled close, the net asset value (NAV) may be determined as of the regularly scheduled close of the NYSE pursuant to the fund's Valuation Policies and Procedures.
In order to value the securities, the fund uses the following valuation techniques: Debt obligations are typically valued based on the evaluated prices provided by an independent pricing vendor. Independent pricing vendors utilize matrix pricing which takes into account factors such as institutional-size trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other market data, as well as broker supplied prices.
Other portfolio securities and assets, for which reliable market quotations are not readily available, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the fund's Pricing Committee following procedures established by the Board of Trustees. The frequency with which these fair valuation procedures are used cannot be predicted and fair value of securities may differ significantly from the value that would have been used had a ready market for such securities existed.
The fund uses a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the pricing assumptions, referred to as inputs, used in valuation techniques to measure fair value. Level 1 includes securities valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes securities valued using other significant observable inputs. Observable inputs may include quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk. Prices for securities valued using these inputs are received from independent pricing vendors and brokers and are based on an evaluation of the inputs described. Level 3 includes securities valued using significant unobservable inputs when market prices are not readily available or reliable, including the fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. Factors used in determining value may include market or issuer specific events or trends, changes in interest rates and credit quality. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. Changes in valuation techniques and related inputs may result in transfers into or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy.
As of December 31, 2018, all investments are categorized as Level 2 under the hierarchy described above.
Repurchase agreements.The fund may enter into repurchase agreements. When the fund enters into a repurchase agreement, it receives collateral that is held in a segregated account by the fund's custodian. The collateral amount is
marked-to-market and monitored on a daily basis to ensure that the collateral held is in an amount not less than the principal amount of the repurchase agreement plus any accrued interest. Collateral received by the fund for repurchase agreements is disclosed in the Fund's investments as part of the caption related to the repurchase agreement.
Repurchase agreements are typically governed by the terms and conditions of the Master Repurchase Agreement and/or Global Master Repurchase Agreement (collectively, MRA). Upon an event of default, the non-defaulting party may close out all transactions traded under the MRA and net amounts owed. Absent an event of default, assets and liabilities resulting from repurchase agreements are not offset in the Statement of assets and liabilities. In the event of a default by the counterparty, realization of the collateral proceeds could be delayed, during which time the collateral value may decline or the counterparty may have insufficient assets to pay back claims resulting from close-out of the transactions.
Security transactions and related investment income. Investment security transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily NAV calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are reported on trade date. Interest income is accrued as earned. Interest income includes coupon interest and amortization/accretion of premiums/discounts on debt securities. Debt obligations may be placed in a non-accrual status and related interest income may be reduced by stopping current accruals and writing off interest receivable when the collection of all or a portion of interest has become doubtful. Gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost and may include proceeds from litigation.
Line of credit.The fund may have the ability to borrow from banks for temporary or emergency purposes, including meeting redemption requests that otherwise might require the untimely sale of securities. Pursuant to the fund's custodian agreement, the custodian may loan money to the fund to make properly authorized payments. The fund is obligated to repay the custodian for any overdraft, including any related costs or expenses. The custodian may have a lien, security interest or security entitlement in any fund property that is not otherwise segregated or pledged, to the extent of any overdraft, and to the maximum extent permitted by law.
The fund and other affiliated funds have entered into a syndicated line of credit agreement with Citibank, N.A. as the administrative agent that enables them to participate in a $750 million unsecured committed line of credit. Excluding commitments designated for a certain fund and subject to the needs of all other affiliated funds, the fund can borrow up to an aggregate commitment amount of $500 million, subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the agreement. A commitment fee payable at the end of each calendar quarter, based on the average daily unused portion of the line of credit, is charged to each participating fund based on a combination of fixed and asset based allocations and is reflected in Other expenses on the Statement of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the fund had no borrowings under the line of credit. Commitment fees for the year ended December 31, 2018 were $6,617.
Expenses. Within the John Hancock group of funds complex, expenses that are directly attributable to an individual fund are allocated to such fund. Expenses that are not readily attributable to a specific fund are allocated among all funds in an equitable manner, taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the fund's relative net assets. Expense estimates are accrued in the period to which they relate and adjustments are made when actual amounts are known.
Federal income taxes. The fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that is distributed to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
For federal income tax purposes, as of December 31, 2018, the fund has a long-term capital loss carryforward of $708 available to offset future net realized capital gains. This carryforwarddoes not expire.
As of December 31, 2018, the fund had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, derecognition or disclosure. The fund's federal tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years.
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 daily and pays them monthly. Capital gain distributions, if any, are typically distributed annually.
The tax character of distributions for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
| December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | |
| Ordinary income | $51,419,369 | $23,031,544 |
Such distributions and distributable earnings, on a tax basis, are determined in conformity with income tax regulations, which may differ from US GAAP. Distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits, if any, are reported in the fund's financial statements as a return of capital.
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. The fund had no material book-tax differences at December 31, 2018.
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 Trust, including 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
The Advisor serves as investment advisor for the fund. John Hancock Funds, LLC (the Placement Agent), performs services related to the offering and sale of shares of the fund. The Advisor and the Placement Agent 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) 0.500% of the first $1.5 billion of the fund's average net assets and (b) 0.480% of the fund's average net assets in excess of $1.5 billion. The Advisor has a subadvisory agreement with John Hancock Asset Management a division of Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC, an indirectly owned subsidiary of MFC and an affiliate of the Advisor. The fund is not responsible for payment of the subadvisory fees.
The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee by 0.45% of the fund's average net assets. The expense waiver will remain in effect until April 30, 2019, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the fund and the Advisor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at the time and may be terminated at any time thereafter.
The expense reductions described above amounted to $11,606,156 for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The investment management fees, including the impact of the waivers and reimbursements as described above, incurred for the year ended December 31, 2018 were equivalent to a net annual effective rate of 0.04% of the fund's average daily net assets.
Administrative services fees. Pursuant to a service agreement, the fund reimburses the Advisor for all expenses associated with providing the administrative, financial, legal, compliance, accounting and recordkeeping services to the fund, including the preparation of all tax returns, periodic reports to shareholders and regulatory reports, among other services. These expenses are allocated to each share class based on its relative net assets at the time the expense was incurred. These accounting and legal services fees incurred for the year ended December 31, 2018 amounted to an annual rate of 0.02% of the fund's average daily net assets.
Transfer agent fees. The fund has a transfer agent agreement with John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. (the Transfer Agent), an affiliate of the Advisor. Monthly, the fund pays the Transfer Agent a fee which is based on an annual rate of $60,000. The fund also pays certain out-of-pocket expenses to the Transfer Agent.
Trustee expenses.The fund compensates each Trustee who is not an employee of the Advisor or its affiliates. These Trustees receive from the fund an annual retainer. In addition, Trustee out-of-pocket expenses are allocated to the fund based on its net assets relative to other funds within the John Hancock group of funds complex.
Note 5 — Purchase and sale of securities
Purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term investments, amounted to $178,635,876 and $130,180,306, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2018.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
TotheBoard of Trustees and Shareholders of John Hancock Collateral Trust
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the fund's investments, of John Hancock Collateral Trust (the "Fund") as of December 31, 2018, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, including the related notes,and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2018, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018 and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2018 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 26, 2019
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the John Hancock group of funds since 1988.
Unaudited
For federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions of the fund, if any, paid during its taxable year ended December 31, 2018.
The fund reports the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction.
The fund reports the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividend income as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.
Please consult a tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of your investment in the fund.
This chart provides information about the Trustees and Officers who oversee your John Hancock fund. Officers elected by the Trustees manage the day-to-day operations of the fund and execute policies formulated by the Trustees.
Independent Trustees
| Name, year of birth Position(s) held with Trust Principal occupation(s) and other directorships during past 5 years | Trustee of the Trust since1 | Number of John Hancock funds overseen by Trustee |
| Hassell H. McClellan, Born: 1945 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee and Chairperson of the Board Director/Trustee, Virtus Funds (since 2008); Director, The Barnes Group (since 2010); Associate Professor, The Wallace E. Carroll School of Management, Boston College (retired 2013). Trustee (since 2005) and Chairperson of the Board (since 2017) of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex. | ||
| Charles L. Bardelis,2 Born: 1941 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee Director, Island Commuter Corp. (marine transport). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 1988). | ||
| James R. Boyle,Born: 1959 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee Chief Executive Officer, Foresters Financial (since 2018); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Zillion Group, Inc. (formerly HealthFleet, Inc.) (healthcare) (2014-2018); Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Life Insurance Division of Genworth Financial, Inc. (insurance) (January 2014-July 2014); Senior Executive Vice President, Manulife Financial, President and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock (1999-2012); Chairman and Director, John Hancock Advisers, LLC, John Hancock Funds, LLC, and John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (2005-2010). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (2005-2014 and since 2015). | ||
| Peter S. Burgess,2 Born: 1942 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee Consultant (financial, accounting, and auditing matters) (since 1999); Certified Public Accountant; Partner, Arthur Andersen (independent public accounting firm) (prior to 1999); Director, Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (since 2004); Director, Symetra Financial Corporation (2010-2016); Director, PMA Capital Corporation (2004-2010). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2005). | ||
| William H. Cunningham, Born: 1944 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee Professor, University of Texas, Austin, Texas (since 1971); former Chancellor, University of Texas System and former President of the University of Texas, Austin, Texas; Chairman (since 2009) and Director (since 2006), Lincoln National Corporation (insurance); Director, Southwest Airlines (since 2000); former Director, LIN Television (2009-2014). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 1986). | ||
| Grace K. Fey, Born: 1946 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee Chief Executive Officer, Grace Fey Advisors (since 2007); Director and Executive Vice President, Frontier Capital Management Company (1988-2007); Director, Fiduciary Trust (since 2009). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2008). | ||
| Theron S. Hoffman,2 Born: 1947 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee Chief Executive Officer, T. Hoffman Associates, LLC (consulting firm) (since 2003); Director, The Todd Organization (consulting firm) (2003-2010); President, Westport Resources Management (investment management consulting firm) (2006-2008); Board Member, Senior Managing Director, Partner, and Operating Head, Putnam Investments (2000-2003); Executive Vice President, The Thomson Corp. (financial and legal information publishing) (1997-2000). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2008). | ||
Independent Trustees (continued)
| Name, year of birth Position(s) held with Trust Principal occupation(s) and other directorships during past 5 years | Trustee of the Trust since1 | Number of John Hancock funds overseen by Trustee |
| Deborah C. Jackson, Born: 1952 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee President, Cambridge College, Cambridge, Massachusetts (since 2011); Board of Directors, National Association of Corporate Directors/New England (since 2015); Board of Directors, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts (since 2014); Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay (2002-2011); Board of Directors of Eastern Bank Corporation (since 2001); Board of Directors of Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation (since 2001); Board of Directors of American Student Assistance Corporation (1996-2009); Board of Directors of Boston Stock Exchange (2002-2008); Board of Directors of Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare (health benefits company) (2007-2011). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2008). | ||
| James M. Oates, Born: 1946 | 2015 | 215 |
Trustee | ||
| Steven R. Pruchansky, Born: 1944 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee and Vice Chairperson of the Board Managing Director, Pru Realty (since 2017); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. (since 2000); Director and President, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. (until 2000); Member, Board of Advisors, First American Bank (until 2010); Managing Director, Jon James, LLC (real estate) (since 2000); Partner, Right Funding, LLC (2014-2017); Director, First Signature Bank & Trust Company (until 1991); Director, Mast Realty Trust (until 1994); President, Maxwell Building Corp. (until 1991). Trustee (since 1992), Chairperson of the Board (2011-2012), and Vice Chairperson of the Board (since 2012) of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex. | ||
| Gregory A. Russo, Born: 1949 | 2015 | 215 |
| Trustee Director and Audit Committee Chairman (since 2012), and Member, Audit Committee and Finance Committee (since 2011), NCH Healthcare System, Inc. (holding company for multi-entity healthcare system); Director and Member (since 2012) and Finance Committee Chairman (since 2014), The Moorings, Inc. (nonprofit continuing care community); Vice Chairman, Risk & Regulatory Matters, KPMG LLP (KPMG) (2002-2006); Vice Chairman, Industrial Markets, KPMG (1998-2002); Chairman and Treasurer, Westchester County, New York, Chamber of Commerce (1986-1992); Director, Treasurer, and Chairman of Audit and Finance Committees, Putnam Hospital Center (1989-1995); Director and Chairman of Fundraising Campaign, United Way of Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York (1990-1995). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2008). | ||
Non-Independent Trustees3
| Name, year of birth Position(s) held with Trust Principal occupation(s) and other directorships during past 5 years | Trustee of the Trust since1 | Number of John Hancock funds overseen by Trustee |
| Andrew G. Arnott, Born: 1971 | 2017 | 215 |
| President and Non-Independent Trustee Head of Wealth and Asset Management, United States and Europe, for John Hancock and Manulife (since 2018); Executive Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2009, including prior positions); Director and Executive Vice President, John Hancock Advisers, LLC (since 2005, including prior positions); Director and Executive Vice President, John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2006, including prior positions); President, John Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2004, including prior positions); President of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2007, including prior positions). | ||
Non-Independent Trustees3 (continued)
| Name, year of birth Position(s) held with Trust Principal occupation(s) and other directorships during past 5 years | Trustee of the Trust since1 | Number of John Hancock funds overseen by Trustee |
| Marianne Harrison, Born: 1963 | 2018 | 215 |
| Non-Independent Trustee President and CEO, John Hancock (since 2017); President and CEO, Manulife Canadian Division (2013-2017); Member, Board of Directors, American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) (since 2018); Member, Board of Directors, Communitech, an industry-led innovation center that fosters technology companies in Canada (since 2017); Member, Board of Directors, Manulife Assurance Canada (since 2015); Board Member, St. Mary's General Hospital Foundation (since 2014); Member, Board of Directors, Manulife Bank of Canada (since 2013); Member, Standing Committee of the Canadian Life & Health Assurance Association (since 2013); Member, Board of Directors, John Hancock USA, John Hancock Life & Health, John Hancock New York (2012-2013). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2018). | ||
Principal officers who are not Trustees
| Name, year of birth Position(s) held with Trust Principal occupation(s) during past 5 years | Officer of the Trust since |
| Francis V. Knox, Jr.,Born: 1947 | 2015 |
| Chief Compliance Officer Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2005); Chief Compliance Officer, various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex, John Hancock Advisers, LLC, and John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2005). | |
| Charles A. Rizzo, Born: 1957 | 2015 |
| Chief Financial Officer Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2008); Senior Vice President, John Hancock Advisers, LLC and John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2008); Chief Financial Officer of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2007). | |
| Salvatore Schiavone, Born: 1965 | 2015 |
| Treasurer Assistant Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2007); Vice President, John Hancock Advisers, LLC and John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2007); Treasurer of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2007, including prior positions). | |
| Christopher (Kit) Sechler,Born: 1973 | 2018 |
| Chief Legal Officer and Secretary Vice President and Deputy Chief Counsel, John Hancock Investments (since 2015); Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel (2009-2015), John Hancock Investments; Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2018); Assistant Secretary of John Hancock Advisers, LLC and John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2009). | |
The business address for all Trustees and Officers is 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116-5023.
The Statement of Additional Information of the fund includes additional information about members of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-225-5291.
| 1 | Each Trustee holds office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until the Trustee's death, retirement, resignation, or removal. |
| 2 | Member of the Audit Committee. |
| 3 | The Trustee is a Non-Independent Trustee due to current or former positions with the Advisor and certain affiliates. |
Trustees Hassell H. McClellan,Chairperson Officers Andrew G. Arnott Francis V. Knox, Jr. Charles A. Rizzo Salvatore Schiavone Christopher (Kit) Sechler** | Investment advisor John Hancock Advisers, LLC Subadvisor John Hancock Asset Management a division of Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC Placement agent John Hancock Funds, LLC Custodian State Street Bank and Trust Company Transfer agent John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. Legal counsel K&L Gates LLP Independent registered public accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
* Member of the Audit Committee
† Non-Independent Trustee
#Effective 6-19-18
**Effective 9-13-18
The fund's proxy voting policies and procedures, as well as the fund proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, are available free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website at sec.gov or on our website.
The fund's complete list of portfolio holdings, for the first and third fiscal quarters, is filed with the SEC on Form N-Q. The fund's Form N-Q is available on our website and the SEC's website, sec.gov.
We make this information on your fund, as well asmonthly portfolio holdings, and other fund details available on our website at jhinvestments.com or by calling 800-225-5291.
| You can also contact us: | |||
| 800-225-5291 jhinvestments.com | Regular mail: John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. | Express mail: John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. | |
John Hancock family of funds
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A fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses should be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the fund. To obtain a prospectus, contact your financial professional, call John Hancock Investments at 800-225-5291, or visit our website at jhinvestments.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
ASSET ALLOCATION Balanced Income Allocation Multi-Index Lifetime Portfolios Multi-Index Preservation Portfolios Multimanager Lifestyle Portfolios Multimanager Lifetime Portfolios Retirement Income 2040 EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS John Hancock Multifactor Consumer Discretionary ETF John Hancock Multifactor Consumer Staples ETF John Hancock Multifactor Developed International ETF John Hancock Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF John Hancock Multifactor Energy ETF John Hancock Multifactor Financials ETF John Hancock Multifactor Healthcare ETF John Hancock Multifactor Industrials ETF John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF John Hancock Multifactor Materials ETF John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF John Hancock Multifactor Small Cap ETF John Hancock Multifactor Technology ETF John Hancock Multifactor Utilities ETF | ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE FUNDS ESG All Cap Core ESG Core Bond ESG International Equity ESG Large Cap Core CLOSED-END FUNDS Financial Opportunities Hedged Equity & Income Income Securities Trust Investors Trust Preferred Income Preferred Income II Preferred Income III Premium Dividend Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield |
John Hancock Multifactor ETF shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV), and are not individually redeemed
from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
John Hancock ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, and are subadvised by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.
Foreside is not affiliated with John Hancock Funds, LLC or Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP receives compensation from John Hancock in connection with licensing rights to the
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 | John Hancock Funds, LLC n Member FINRA, SIPC 200 Berkeley Street n Boston, MA 02116-5010 800-225-5291 n jhinvestments.com | |
| This report is for the information of the shareholders of John Hancock Collateral Trust. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. | ||
| 315A 12/18 2/19 | ||
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
As of the end of the year, December 31, 2018, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, that applies to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (respectively, the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer and the principal accounting officer, the “Senior Financial Officers”). A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
Peter S. Burgess is the audit committee financial expert and is “independent”, pursuant to general instructions on Form N-CSR Item 3.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant(s) for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant(s) in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements amounted to $34,940 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and $34,940 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for the John Hancock Collateral Investment Trust. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the registrant’s audit committee.
(b) Audit-Related Services
Audit-related service fees amounted to $571 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and $540 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for the John Hancock Collateral Investment Trust billed to the registrant or to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant ("control affiliates"). In addition, amounts billed to control affiliates for service provider internal controls reviews were $113,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and $110,200 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
(c) Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant(s) for the tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (“tax fees”) amounted to $2,775 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and $2,775 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for the John Hancock Collateral Investment Trust. The nature of the services comprising the tax fees was the review of the registrant’s tax returns and tax distribution requirements. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the registrant’s audit committee.
(d) All Other Fees
Other fees amounted to $239 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and $717 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for John Hancock Collateral Investment Trust billed to the registrant or to the control affiliates.
(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures:
The trust’s Audit Committee must pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm (the “Auditor”) relating to the operations or financial reporting of the funds. Prior to the commencement of any audit or non-audit services to a fund, the Audit Committee reviews the services to determine whether they are appropriate and permissible under applicable law.
The trust’s Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures to, among other purposes, provide a framework for the Committee’s consideration of audit-related and non-audit services by the Auditor. The policies and procedures require that any audit-related and non-audit service provided by the Auditor and any non-audit service provided by the Auditor to a fund service provider that relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of a fund are subject to approval by the Audit Committee before such service is provided. Audit-related services provided by the Auditor that are expected to exceed $10,000 per instance/per fund are subject to specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. Tax services provided by the Auditor that are expected to exceed $10,000 per instance/per fund are subject to specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
All audit services, as well as the audit-related and non-audit services that are expected to exceed the amounts stated above, must be approved in advance of provision of the service by formal resolution of the Audit Committee. At the regularly scheduled Audit Committee meetings, the Committee reviews a report summarizing the services, including fees, provided by the Auditor.
(e)(2) Services approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X:
Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees:
There were no amounts that were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) According to the registrant’s principal accountant, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the percentage of hours spent on the audit of the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons who were not full-time, permanent employees of principal accountant was less than 50%.
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant's accountant(s) for services rendered to the registrant and rendered to the registrant's control affiliates of the registrant was $736,243 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and $9,042,739 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
(h) The audit committee of the registrant has considered the non-audit services provided by the registrant’s principal accountant(s) to the control affiliates and has determined that the services that were not pre-approved are compatible with maintaining the principal accountant(s)' independence.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee comprised of independent trustees. The members of the audit committee are as follows:
Peter S. Burgess - Chairman
Charles L. Bardelis
Theron S. Hoffman
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENTCOMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
There were no material changes to previously disclosed John Hancock Funds – Nominating and Governance Committee Charter.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) Based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-CSR, the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) See attached Code of Ethics.
(a)(2) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.
(b) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached. The certifications furnished pursuant to this paragraph are not deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certifications are not deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates them by reference.
(c)(1) Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders is attached. See attached “John Hancock Funds – Governance Committee Charter”.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
John Hancock Collateral Trust
| By: | /s/ Andrew Arnott |
| Andrew Arnott | |
| President | |
| Date: | February 22, 2019 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By: | /s/ Andrew Arnott |
| Andrew Arnott | |
| President | |
| Date: | February 22, 2019 |
| By: | /s/ Charles A. Rizzo |
| Charles A. Rizzo | |
| Chief Financial Officer | |
| Date: | February 22, 2019 |