Warren A. Thomson to Retire from the Board of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund, John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III, John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund, John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund, and John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund, Effective as of December 31, 2018

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund, John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III, John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund, John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund, and John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund announced that Warren A. Thomson is retiring from the Board effective as of December 31, 2018 and is not standing for re-election to the Board. The Board has approved the reduction of the size of the Board from fourteen to thirteen Trustees, effective as of the date of Mr. Thomson's resignation.