Supplemental Prospectus - Form 424B3

MANULIFE PRIVATE CREDIT PLUS FUND

Statement of Additional Information

September 18, 2024

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

800-225-6020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus and is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only if preceded or accompanied by the prospectus of Manulife Private Credit Plus Fund (the "fund") dated September 18, 2024 (the "Prospectus") and any related supplement thereto ("Prospectus Supplements"), which are incorporated herein by reference. This SAI should be read in conjunction with such Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplements, copies of which may be obtained without charge by contacting your financial intermediary or calling the fund at the telephone number or address set forth above.

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FUND

Manulife Private Credit Plus Fund (the "fund") commenced operations on October 16, 2023 and is a continuously offered non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The fund was organized on January 4, 2023, as a Massachusetts business trust pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration of Trust"). The fund's principal office is located at the Advisor's offices at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVEAND POLICIES

The investment objective and principal investment strategies of the fund are set forth in the fund's prospectus (the "Prospectus"). Certain additional investment information is set forth below.

INVESTMENTS, TECHNIQUES, RISKSAND LIMITATIONS

The principal securities or other investments in which the fund invests are described in the fund's Prospectus. The fund also may invest in securities or other investments as non-principal investments for any purpose that is consistent with its investment objective. The following information is either additional information in respect of a principal security or other investment referenced in the Prospectus or information in respect of a non-principal security or other investment in which case there is no related disclosure in the Prospectus. By owning shares of the underlying funds in which the fund invests (each, an "underlying fund" and together, the "underlying funds"), the fund indirectly invests in securities and instruments held by the underlying funds and bears the same risks of such underlying funds.

Ratings as Investment Criteria.In general, the ratings of Moody's and S&P represent the opinions of these agencies as to the quality of the securities which they rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are relative and subjective and are not absolute standards of quality. There is no guarantee that these institutions will continue to provide ratings. These ratings may be used by the fund as initial criteria for the selection of debt securities. The fund may also invest in securities that are not rated by a rating agency. Among the factors which will be considered are the long-term ability of the issuer to pay principal and interest and general economic trends. Appendix A contains further information concerning the ratings of Moody's and S&P and their significance. Subsequent to its purchase by the fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by the fund. Neither of these events will require the sale of the securities by the fund. The fund may invest in securities rated by rating agencies other than Moody's and S&P including without limitation securities rated by Fitch, Kroll and DBRS.

Rebalancing Risks Involving Funds of Funds. The funds of funds seek to achieve their investment objectives by investing in, among other things, other John Hancock and/or Manulife affiliated funds as permitted by Section 12 of the 1940 Act (affiliated underlying funds). In addition, a fund that is not a fund of funds may serve as an affiliated underlying fund for one or more funds of funds. The funds of funds will reallocate or rebalance assets among the affiliated underlying funds (collectively, "Rebalancings") on a daily basis. The following discussion provides information on the risks related to Rebalancings, which risks are applicable to the affiliated underlying funds undergoing Rebalancings, as well as to those funds of funds that hold affiliated underlying funds undergoing Rebalancings.

From time to time, one or more of the affiliated underlying funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments due to Rebalancings, as effected by the funds of funds' affiliated subadvisor. Shareholders should note that Rebalancings may adversely affect the affiliated underlying funds. The affiliated underlying funds subject to redemptions by a fund of funds may find it necessary to sell securities, and the affiliated underlying funds that receive additional cash from a fund of funds will find it necessary to invest the cash. The impact of Rebalancings is likely to be greater when a fund of funds owns, redeems, or invests in, a substantial portion of an affiliated underlying fund. Rebalancings could adversely affect the performance of one or more affiliated underlying funds and, therefore, the performance of one or more funds of funds.

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Possible adverse effects of Rebalancings on the affiliated underlying funds include:

The Advisor, which serves as the investment advisor to both the funds of funds and the affiliated underlying funds, has delegated the day-to-day portfolio management of the funds of funds and many of the affiliated underlying funds to the affiliated subadvisors, affiliates of the Advisor. The Advisor monitors both the funds and the affiliated underlying funds. The affiliated subadvisors manage the assets of both the funds and many of the affiliated underlying funds (the "Affiliated Subadvised Funds"). The affiliated subadvisors may allocate up to all of a funds of funds' assets to Affiliated Subadvised Funds and accordingly has an incentive to allocate more fund of funds assets to such Affiliated Subadvised Funds. The Advisor and the affiliated subadvisors monitor the impact of Rebalancings on the affiliated underlying funds and attempt to minimize any adverse effect of the Rebalancings on the underlying funds, consistent with pursuing the investment objective of the relevant affiliated underlying funds. Moreover, an affiliated subadvisor has a duty to allocate assets to an Affiliated Subadvised Fund only when such subadvisor believes it is in the best interests of fund of funds shareholders. Minimizing any adverse effect of the Rebalancings on the underlying funds may impact the redemption schedule in connection with a Rebalancing. As part of its oversight of the funds and the subadvisors, the Advisor will monitor to ensure that allocations are conducted in accordance with these principles. This conflict of interest is also considered by the Independent Trustees when approving or replacing affiliated subadvisors and in periodically reviewing allocations to Affiliated Subadvised Funds.

As discussed above, the funds of funds periodically reallocate their investments among underlying investments. In an effort to be fully invested at all times and also to avoid temporary periods of under-investment, an affiliated underlying fund may buy securities and other instruments in anticipation of or with knowledge of future purchases of affiliated underlying fund shares resulting from a reallocation of assets by the funds of funds to the affiliated underlying fund. Until such purchases of affiliated underlying fund shares by a fund of funds settle (normally between one and three days), the affiliated underlying fund may have investment exposure in excess of its net assets. Shareholders who transact with the affiliated underlying fund during the period beginning when the affiliated underlying fund first starts buying securities in anticipation of a purchase order from a fund until such purchase order settles may incur more loss or realize more gain than they otherwise might have in the absence of the excess investment exposure. The funds of funds may purchase and redeem shares of underlying funds each business day through the use of an algorithm that operates pursuant to standing instructions to allocate purchase and redemption orders among underlying funds. Each day, pursuant to the algorithm, a fund of funds will purchase or redeem shares of an underlying fund at the NAV for the underlying fund calculated that day. This algorithm is used solely for rebalancing a fund of funds' investments in an effort to maintain previously determined allocation percentages.

Repurchase Agreements, Reverse Repurchase Agreements, and Sale-Buybacks. Repurchase agreements are arrangements involving the purchase of an obligation and the simultaneous agreement to resell the same obligation on demand or at a specified future date and at an agreed-upon price. A repurchase agreement can be viewed as a loan made by the fund to the seller of the obligation with such obligation serving as collateral for the seller's agreement to repay the amount borrowed with interest. Repurchase agreements provide the opportunity to earn a return on cash that is only temporarily available. Repurchase agreements may be entered with banks, brokers, or dealers. However, a repurchase agreement will only be entered with a broker or dealer if the broker or dealer agrees to deposit additional collateral should the value of the obligation purchased decrease below the resale price.

Generally, repurchase agreements are of a short duration, often less than one week but on occasion for longer periods. Securities subject to repurchase agreements will be valued every business day and additional collateral will be requested if necessary so that the value of the collateral is at least equal to the value of the repurchase obligation, including the interest accrued thereon.

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Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC ("Manulife IM (US)" or "Subadvisor") shall engage in a repurchase agreement transaction only with those banks or broker dealers who meet the Subadvisor's quantitative and qualitative criteria regarding creditworthiness, asset size and collateralization requirements. John Hancock Investment Management LLC (the "Advisor") also may engage in repurchase agreement transactions on behalf of the fund. The counterparties to a repurchase agreement transaction are limited to a:

The fund also may participate in repurchase agreement transactions utilizing the settlement services of clearing firms that meet the Subadvisor's creditworthiness requirements.

The Advisor and the Subadvisor will continuously monitor repurchase agreement transactions to ensure that the collateral held with respect to a repurchase agreement equals or exceeds the amount of the obligation.

The risk of a repurchase agreement transaction is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the delivery date. In the event of bankruptcy or other default by the seller, the instrument purchased may decline in value, interest payable on the instrument may be lost and there may be possible difficulties and delays in obtaining collateral and delays and expense in liquidating the instrument. If an issuer of a repurchase agreement fails to repurchase the underlying obligation, the loss, if any, would be the difference between the repurchase price and the underlying obligation's market value. The fund also might incur certain costs in liquidating the underlying obligation. Moreover, if bankruptcy or other insolvency proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller, realization upon the underlying obligation might be delayed or limited.

Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the fund sells a debt security and agrees to repurchase it at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The fund retains record ownership of the security and the right to receive interest and principal payments thereon. At an agreed-upon future date, the fund repurchases the security by remitting the proceeds previously received, plus interest. The difference between the amount the fund receives for the security and the amount it pays on repurchase is payment of interest. In certain types of agreements, there is no agreed-upon repurchase date and interest payments are calculated daily, often based on the prevailing overnight repurchase rate. A reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a form of leveraging and may, therefore, increase fluctuations in the fund's net asset value ("NAV") per share.

The fund may effect simultaneous purchase and sale transactions that are known as "sale-buybacks." A sale-buyback is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement, except that in a sale-buyback, the counterparty that purchases the security is entitled to receive any principal or interest payments made on the underlying security pending settlement of the fund's repurchase of the underlying security.

Subject to the requirements noted under "Government Regulation of Derivatives", the fund will either treat reverse repurchase agreements and similar financings, including sale-buybacks, as derivatives subject to the Derivatives Rule (as defined below) limitations or not as derivatives and treat reverse repurchase agreements and similar financings transactions as senior securities equivalent to bank borrowings subject to asset coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The fund will ensure that its repurchase agreement transactions are "fully collateralized" by maintaining in a custodial account cash, Treasury bills, other U.S. government securities, or certain other liquid assets having an aggregate value at least equal to the amount of such commitment to repurchase including accrued interest, until payment is made.

Foreign Repurchase Agreements. Foreign repurchase agreements involve an agreement to purchase a foreign security and to sell that security back to the original seller at an agreed-upon price in either U.S. dollars or foreign currency. Unlike typical U.S. repurchase agreements, foreign repurchase agreements may not be fully collateralized at all times. The value of a security purchased may be more or less than the price at which the counterparty has agreed to repurchase the security. In the event of default by the counterparty, the fund may suffer a loss if the value of the security purchased is less than the agreed-upon repurchase price, or if it is unable to successfully assert a claim to the

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collateral under foreign laws. As a result, foreign repurchase agreements may involve higher credit risks than repurchase agreements in U.S. markets, as well as risks associated with currency fluctuations. In addition, as with other emerging market investments, repurchase agreements with counterparties located in emerging markets, or relating to emerging markets, may involve issuers or counterparties with lower credit ratings than typical U.S. repurchase agreements.

Lending of Securities.The fund may lend its securities so long as such loans do not represent more than 33 1/3% of its total assets. As collateral for the loaned securities, the borrower gives the lending portfolio collateral equal to at least 100% of the value of the loaned securities. The collateral will consist of cash (including U.S. dollars and foreign currency), cash equivalents or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The borrower must also agree to increase the collateral if the value of the loaned securities increases. If the market value of the loaned securities declines, the borrower may request that some collateral be returned.

During the existence of the loan, the fund will receive from the borrower amounts equivalent to any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, as well as interest on such amounts. If the fund receives a payment in lieu of dividends (a "substitute payment") with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction (the "DRD") for corporate shareholders or for treatment as qualified dividend income for individual shareholders. The DRD and qualified dividend income are discussed more fully in this SAI under "Additional Information Concerning Taxes."

As with other extensions of credit, there are risks that collateral could be inadequate in the event of the borrower failing financially, which could result in actual financial loss, and risks that recovery of loaned securities could be delayed, which could result in interference with portfolio management decisions or exercise of ownership rights. The collateral is managed by an affiliate of the Advisor, which may incentivize the Advisor to lend fund securities to benefit this affiliate. The Advisor maintains robust oversight of securities lending activity and seeks to ensure that all lending activity undertaken by the fund is in the fund's best interests. The fund will be responsible for the risks associated with the investment of cash collateral, including the risk that the fund may lose money on the investment or may fail to earn sufficient income to meet its obligations to the borrower. In addition, the fund may lose its right to vote its shares of the loaned securities at a shareholder meeting if the Subadvisor does not recall or does not timely recall the loaned securities, or if the borrower fails to return the recalled securities in advance of the record date for the meeting.

Securities lending involves counterparty risk, including the risk that the loaned securities may not be returned or returned in a timely manner and/or a loss of rights in the collateral if the borrower or the lending agent defaults or fails financially. This risk is increased when the fund's loans are concentrated with a single or limited number of borrowers. There are no limits on the number of borrowers to which the fund may lend securities and the fund may lend securities to only one or a small group of borrowers.

Investment of cash collateral offers the opportunity for the fund to profit from income earned by this collateral pool, but also the risk of loss, should the value of the fund's shares in the collateral pool decrease below their initial value. The fund did not engage in securities lending activities during the most recent fiscal year, as the fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI.

Short Sales.The fund may engage in short sales and short sales "against the box." In a short sale against the box, the fund borrows securities from a broker-dealer and sells the borrowed securities, and at all times during the transaction, the fund either owns or has the right to acquire the same securities at no extra cost. If the price of the security has declined at the time the fund is required to deliver the security, the fund will benefit from the difference in the price. If the price of a security has increased, the fund will be required to pay the difference.

In addition, the fund may sell a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security (a "short sale"). To complete such a transaction, the fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the fund. Until the security is replaced, the fund is required to pay the lender any dividends or interest which accrues during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale are typically retained by the broker to meet margin requirements until the short position is closed out. Please see "Government Regulation of Derivatives" section for additional information.

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The fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaced the borrowed security and theoretically the fund's loss could be unlimited. The fund will generally realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium, dividends or interest the fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale. Short selling may amplify changes in the fund's NAV. Short selling also may produce higher than normal portfolio turnover, which may result in increased transaction costs to the fund.

Short-Term Bank and Corporate Obligations.The fund may invest in depository-type obligations of banks and savings and loan associations and other high-quality money market instruments consisting of short-term obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies and commercial paper. Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by banks or bank holding companies, corporations and finance companies. Depository-type obligations in which the fund may invest include certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and fixed time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.

Bankers' acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are "accepted" by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument at maturity. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. There are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is no market for such deposits. Bank notes and bankers' acceptances rank junior to domestic deposit liabilities of the bank and pari passu with other senior, unsecured obligations of the bank. Bank notes are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other insurer. Deposit notes are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation only to the extent of $100,000 per depositor per bank.

Preferred Securities.The fund may invest in preferred securities. Preferred securities, like common stock, represent an equity ownership in an issuer. Generally, preferred securities have a priority of claim over common stock in dividend payments and upon liquidation of the issuer. Unlike common stock, preferred securities do not usually have voting rights. Preferred securities in some instances are convertible into common stock. Although they are equity securities, preferred securities have characteristics of both debt and common stock. Like debt, their promised income is contractually fixed. Like common stock, they do not have rights to precipitate bankruptcy proceedings or collection activities in the event of missed payments. Other equity characteristics are their subordinated position in an issuer's capital structure and that their quality and value are heavily dependent on the profitability of the issuer rather than on any legal claims to specific assets or cash flows.

Distributions on preferred securities must be declared by the board of directors and may be subject to deferral, and thus they may not be automatically payable. Income payments on preferred securities may be cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accrue even if not declared by the board or otherwise made payable, or they may be non-cumulative, so that skipped dividends and distributions do not continue to accrue. There is no assurance that dividends on preferred securities in which the fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable. The fund may invest in non-cumulative preferred securities.

Shares of preferred securities have a liquidation value that generally equals the original purchase price at the date of issuance. The market values of preferred securities may be affected by favorable and unfavorable changes impacting the issuers' industries or sectors, including companies in the utilities and financial services sectors, which are prominent issuers of preferred securities. They may also be affected by actual and anticipated changes or ambiguities in the tax status of the security and by actual and anticipated changes or ambiguities in tax laws, such as changes in corporate and individual income tax rates, and in the dividends received deduction for corporate taxpayers or the characterization of dividends as tax-advantaged as described herein.

Because the claim on an issuer's earnings represented by preferred securities may become onerous when interest rates fall below the rate payable on the stock or for other reasons, the issuer may redeem preferred securities, generally after an initial period of call protection during which the stock is not redeemable. Thus, in declining interest rate environments in particular, the fund's holdings of higher dividend-paying preferred securities may be reduced and the fund may be unable to acquire securities paying comparable rates with the redemption proceeds.

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Asset Backed Securities. The value of asset-backed securities ("ABS") may be affected by certain factors such as interest rate risk, the availability of information concerning the pool of underlying assets and its structure, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool or the originator of the underlying assets and the ability of the servicer to service the underlying collateral. Under certain market conditions, ABS may be less liquid and may be difficult to value. Movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain types of ABS. Unscheduled prepayments of ABS may result in a loss of income if the proceeds are invested in lower-yielding securities. Conversely, in a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will extend the average life of many ABS, which increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. ABS can also be subject to the risk of default on the underlying assets.

Collateralized Loan Obligations ("CLO").CLOs are pools of loans, the debt service on which is repackaged into cash flows payable on different tranches of debt collateralized by each pool. Payments on such debt are dependent on payments on the underlying loans. The CLOs in which the fund may participate involve substantial organizational, syndication and ancillary fees. The fund's investments in CLOs will frequently be subordinate in right of payment to other securities sold by the CLO and not readily marketable. Depending upon the default rate on the collateral of the CLO, such the fund may incur substantial losses on its CLO investments. CLO structures are complex, and the fund may be subject to a number of as yet unanticipated risks in participating in CLOs.

CLO securities are subject to various structural risks, including risks relating to the capital structure of the issuer thereof and the collateral management arrangements relating thereto. The capital structure will be highly leveraged (which will affect the CLO securities of different seniorities in different ways), and the underlying instruments will generally contain various triggers and remedies, which may adversely affect the fund as an investor therein. CLO securities are secured primarily by loans (including commercial loans and eligible synthetic securities whose reference obligations consist of commercial loans), which are subject to liquidity, market value, credit, interest rate, reinvestment and certain other risks. These risks could be exacerbated to the extent that the loans are concentrated in one or more particular types of loans.

Collateralized Debt Obligations ("CDO").CDOs may be collateralized by mortgages or other bonds. Like CLOs, CDOs typically issue securities in various tranches across the capital structure. The fund may invest in one or more tranches of the debt and/or equity of a CDO and may utilize a wide variety of trades including directional positions and relative value trades.

CDO securities generally have underlying risks such as interest rate mismatches, trading and reinvestment risk and tax considerations. Each CDO security, however, involves risks specific to the particular CDO security and its underlying portfolio. The value of the CDO securities generally fluctuates with, among other things, the financial condition of the obligors on or issuers of the underlying portfolio, general economic conditions, the condition of certain financial markets, political events, developments or trends in any particular industry and changes in prevailing interest rates.

CDOs are subject to credit, liquidity and interest rate risks. The performance of CDOs will also be adversely affected by macroeconomic factors, including: (i) general economic conditions affecting capital markets and participants therein; (ii) the economic downturns and uncertainties affecting economies and capital markets worldwide; (iii) the effects of, and disruptions and uncertainties resulting from, terrorist attacks; (iv) recent concern about financial performance, accounting and other issues relating to various publicly traded companies; and (v) recent and proposed changes in accounting and reporting standards and bankruptcy legislation.

The risks associated with investing in CDO securities may in addition depend on the skill and experience of the managers of the CDOs' underlying portfolios, particularly with respect to active trading.

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Covenant-Lite Loans.The fund may invest in loans that may be "covenant lite." This term typically refers to loans that lack, or contain fewer or contingent, financial maintenance covenants or other provisions intended to provide certain financial protections in favor of lenders as compared to other types of loans. Financial maintenance covenants generally require a borrower to satisfy certain financial metrics at regular intervals over the life of the loan. Loans that include financial maintenance covenants will typically require the borrower to provide a calculation of its financial maintenance covenants and other related financial information on a periodic basis, which permits the lender to monitor the borrower's financial performance over time. The failure to satisfy a financial maintenance covenant as of any required testing period will result in a default and permit the lender, in certain circumstances, to exercise its rights and remedies against the borrower. Additionally, a lender may determine, based on a borrower's financial maintenance covenant calculations, that a borrower is experiencing financial distress or decline, which typically permits the lender to engage in negotiations with the borrower or take other actions in order to mitigate losses.

Covenant-lite loans carry greater risks than loans with financial maintenance covenants because the borrower will generally have more flexibility with respect to its activities, and the fund or lender may receive less frequent or less detailed financial reporting from the borrower and may experience greater delays and difficulties in enforcing its rights if the borrower's financial performance declines, which may result in losses to the fund. For example, if a default occurs, covenant-lite loans may exhibit diminished recovery values because the fund or lender may not have had the opportunity to negotiate with the borrower prior to the default and otherwise may have limited financial information or a limited ability to intervene or obtain concessions from a borrower prior to default. Ultimately, these loans provide fewer protections in favor of the fund, including with respect to the possibility of default, as well as a more limited ability to declare a default. These risks are particularly acute during a downturn in the credit cycle.

Foreign Government Securities. Foreign government securities include securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments (including political subdivisions) or their authorities, agencies, or instrumentalities or by supra-national agencies. Different kinds of foreign government securities have different kinds of government support. For example, some foreign government securities are supported by the full faith and credit of a foreign national government or political subdivision and some are not. Foreign government securities of some countries may involve varying degrees of credit risk as a result of financial or political instability in those countries and the possible inability of the fund to enforce its rights against the foreign government issuer. As with other fixed income securities, sovereign issuers may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal or interest payments. Supra-national agencies are agencies whose member nations make capital contributions to support the agencies' activities.

Investments in Foreign Securities.The fund may invest directly in the securities of foreign issuers as well as securities in the form of sponsored or unsponsored American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depository Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depository Receipts ("GDRs") or other securities convertible into foreign securities. The fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in securities denominated in foreign currencies. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. EDRs are receipts issued in Europe which evidence a similar ownership arrangement. Issuers of unsponsored ADRs are not contractually obligated to disclose material information, including financial information, in the United States. Generally, ADRs are designed for use in the United States securities markets and EDRs are designed for use in European securities markets.

An investment in foreign securities including ADRs may be affected by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations. Issuers of unsponsored ADRs are not contractually obligated to disclose material information, including financial information, in the United States and, therefore, there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the unsponsored ADR. Foreign companies may not be subject to accounting standards or government supervision comparable to U.S. companies, and there is often less publicly available information about their operations. Foreign companies may also be affected by political or financial instability abroad. These risk considerations may be intensified in the case of investments in ADRs of foreign companies that are located in emerging market countries. ADRs of companies located in these countries may have limited marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements.

Emerging Markets Risk.In addition, the fund may invest in the securities of issuers based in countries with "emerging market" economies. Funds that invest a significant portion of their assets in the securities of issuers based in countries with "emerging market" economies are subject to greater levels of risk and uncertainty than funds investing primarily in more-developed foreign markets, since emerging market securities may present market, credit, currency, liquidity, legal, political and other risks greater than, or in addition to, the risks of investing in developed foreign countries. These risks include: high currency exchange-rate fluctuations; increased risk of default (including both government and private issuers); greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability (including the

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risk of war); more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants in those markets; controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on the fund's ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; unavailability of currency hedging techniques in certain emerging market countries; the fact that companies in emerging market countries may be newly organized, smaller and less seasoned; the difference in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting requirements or standards, which may result in the unavailability of material information about issuers; different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions; difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgments against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors and officers, in foreign jurisdictions; and significantly smaller market capitalizations of emerging market issuers. In addition, shareholders of emerging market issuers, such as the fund, often have limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging markets. Finally, the risks associated with investments in emerging markets often are significant, and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and company to company.

European Risk.Countries in Europe may be significantly affected by fiscal and monetary controls implemented by the European Union ("EU") and European Economic and Monetary Union ("EMU"), which require member countries to comply with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or other regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate or dissolution of the Euro, the default or threat of default by one or more EU member countries on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in one or more EU member countries may have a significant adverse effect on other European economies and major trading partners outside Europe.

In recent years, the European financial markets have experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns about economic downturns, rising government debt levels and the possible default of government debt in several European countries. The European Central Bank and IMF have previously bailed-out several European countries. There is no guarantee that these institutions will continue to provide financial support, and markets may react adversely to any reduction in financial support. A default or debt restructuring by any European country can adversely impact holders of that country's debt and sellers of credit default swaps linked to that country's creditworthiness, which may be located in countries other than those listed above, and can affect exposures to other EU countries and their financial companies as well.

Uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt of a number of EU countries and the viability of the EU have disrupted and may in the future disrupt markets in the United States and around the world. If one or more countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves, the global securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted. On January 31, 2020, the UK left the EU, commonly referred to as "Brexit," the UK ceased to be a member of the EU, and the UK and EU entered into a Trade and Cooperation Agreement. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. There remains significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit's ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. It is also possible that various countries within the UK, such as Scotland or Northern Ireland, could seek to separate and remain a part of the EU. Other secessionist movements including countries seeking to abandon the Euro or withdraw from the EU may cause volatility and uncertainty in the EU.

Despite the influence of the lockdowns, and the economic bounce back, Brexit has had a material impact on the UK's economy. Additionally, trade between the UK and the EU did not benefit from the global rebound in trade in 2021, and remained at the very low levels experienced at the start of 2020, highlighting Brexit's potential long-term effects on the UK economy.

The UK has one of the largest economies in Europe and is a major trading partner with the EU countries and the United States. Brexit might negatively affect The City of London's economy, which is heavily dominated by financial services, as banks might be forced to move staff and comply with two separate sets of rules or lose business to banks in Continental Europe.

Investing in the securities of Eastern European issuers is highly speculative and involves risks not usually associated with investing in the more developed markets of Western Europe. Securities markets of Eastern European countries typically are less efficient and have lower trading volume, lower liquidity, and higher volatility than more developed markets. Eastern European economies also may be particularly susceptible to disruption in the international credit market due to their reliance on bank related inflows of capital.

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To the extent that the fund invests in European securities, it may be exposed to these risks through its direct investments in such securities, including sovereign debt, or indirectly through investments in money market funds and financial institutions with significant investments in such securities. In addition, Russia's increasing international assertiveness could negatively impact EU and Eastern European economic activity. Please see "Market Events" for additional information regarding risks related to sanctions imposed on Russia.

Equity Risk.Equity risk is the risk that the value of securities held by the fund will rise or fall over time. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. Historically, the equity market has moved in cycles, and the value of the fund's equity securities may fluctuate from day to day. The fund's portfolio will reflect changes in prices of individual portfolio stocks or general changes in stock valuations. Consequently, the fund's Share price may decline. Although common stocks have historically generated higher average returns than fixed-income securities over the long term, common stocks also have experienced significantly more volatility in returns. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of equity securities of an issuer held by the fund; the price of common stock of an issuer may be particularly sensitive to general movements in the stock market; or a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the common stocks held by the fund. In addition, common stock of an issuer in the fund's portfolio may decline in price if the issuer fails to make anticipated dividend payments because, among other possible reasons, the issuer of the security experiences a decline in its financial condition. Furthermore, equity interests in an issuer held by the fund may not be listed on public stock exchanges and therefore subject to risks typical of privately held equity. Finally, common stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates, as the costs of capital rise and borrowing costs increase.

The Advisor attempts to manage market risk by limiting the amount the fund invests in each company's equity securities. However, diversification will not protect the fund against widespread or prolonged declines in the stock market.

ESG Integration Risk.The Subadvisor may integrate research on environmental, social and governance ("ESG") factors into the fund's investment process. The Subadvisor may consider ESG factors that it deems relevant or additive, along with other material factors and analysis, when managing the fund. ESG factors may include, but are not limited to, matters regarding board diversity, climate change policies, and supply chain and human rights policies. Incorporating ESG criteria and making investment decisions based on certain ESG characteristics, as determined by the Subadvisor, carries the risk that the fund may perform differently, including underperforming, funds that do not utilize ESG criteria or funds that utilize different ESG criteria. Integration of ESG factors into the fund's investment process may result in the Subadvisor making different investment decisions for the fund than for a fund with a similar investment universe and/or investment style that does not incorporate such considerations in its investment strategy or processes, and the fund's investment performance may be affected. Integration of ESG factors into the fund's investment process does not preclude the fund from including companies with low ESG characteristics or excluding companies with high ESG characteristics in the fund's investments.

The ESG characteristics utilized in the fund's investment process may change over time, and different ESG characteristics may be relevant to different investments. Successful integration of ESG factors will depend on the Subadvisor's skill in researching, identifying, and applying these factors, as well as on the availability of relevant data. The method of evaluating ESG factors and subsequent impact on portfolio composition, performance, proxy voting decisions and other factors, is subject to the interpretation of the Subadvisor in accordance with the fund's investment objective and strategies. ESG factors may be evaluated differently by different subadvisors, and may not carry the same meaning to all investors and subadvisors. The regulatory landscape with respect to ESG investing in the United States is evolving and any future rules or regulations may require the fund to change its investment process with respect to ESG integration.

Hedging and Other Strategies.Hedging refers to protecting against possible changes in the market value of securities or other assets that the fund already owns or plans to buy, or protecting unrealized gains in the fund. When securities prices are falling, the fund can seek to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities through the sale of futures contracts. When securities prices are rising, the fund, through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when it effects anticipated purchases.

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If, in the opinion of the Advisor, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for the fund's portfolio securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, the fund may also enter into such futures contracts as part of its hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities in the fund's portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the Advisor will attempt to estimate the extent of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any differential by having the fund enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by attempting to achieve only a partial hedge against price changes affecting the fund's portfolio securities.

When a short hedging position is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated appreciation in the value of the fund's portfolio securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position. On other occasions, the fund may take a "long" position by purchasing futures contracts.

Hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions risk.The ability of the fund to utilize hedging, derivatives, and other strategic transactions to benefit the fund will depend in part on the portfolio manager's ability to predict pertinent market movements and market risk, counterparty risk, credit risk, interest-rate risk, and other risk factors, none of which can be assured. The skills required to utilize hedging and other strategic transactions are different from those needed to select the fund's securities. Even if a portfolio manager only uses hedging and other strategic transactions in the fund primarily for hedging purposes or to gain exposure to a particular securities market, if the transaction does not have the desired outcome, it could result in a significant loss to the fund. The amount of loss could be more than the principal amount invested. These transactions may also increase the volatility of the fund and may involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of the risks assumed, thereby magnifying the impact of any resulting gain or loss. For example, the potential loss from the use of futures can exceed the fund's initial investment in such contracts. In addition, these transactions could result in a loss to the fund if the counterparty to the transaction does not perform as promised.

The fund may invest in derivatives, which are financial contracts with a value that depends on, or is derived from, the value of underlying assets, reference rates, or indexes. Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies, or currency exchange rates, and related indexes. The fund may use derivatives for many purposes, including for hedging, and as a substitute for direct investment in securities or other assets. Derivatives may be used in a way to efficiently adjust the exposure of the fund to various securities, markets, and currencies without the fund actually having to sell existing investments and make new investments. This generally will be done when the adjustment is expected to be relatively temporary or in anticipation of effecting the sale of fund assets and making new investments over time. Further, since many derivatives have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. When the fund uses derivatives for leverage, investments in the fund will tend to be more volatile, resulting in larger gains or losses in response to market changes. The fund will only engage in transactions in futures contracts and related options subject to complying with the Derivatives Rule. The Derivatives Rule requirements are outlined in the "Government Regulation of Derivatives" section. The fund will engage in transactions in futures contracts and related options only to the extent such transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") in order to maintain its qualification as a "regulated investment company" ("RIC") for federal income tax purposes. For a description of the various derivative instruments the fund may utilize, refer to the Prospectus.

The regulation of the U.S. and foreign derivatives markets has undergone substantial change in recent years and such change may continue. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the "Dodd-Frank Act"), and regulation proposed to be promulgated thereunder require many derivatives to be cleared and traded on an exchange, expand entity registration requirements, impose business conduct requirements on dealers that enter into swaps with a pension plan, endowment, retirement plan or government entity, and required banks to move some derivatives trading units to a non-guaranteed affiliate separate from the deposit-taking bank or divest them altogether. Although the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has released final rules relating to clearing, reporting, recordkeeping and registration requirements under the legislation, many of the provisions are subject to further final rule making, and thus its ultimate impact remains unclear. New regulations could, among other things, restrict the fund's ability to engage in derivatives transactions (for example, by making certain types of derivatives

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transactions no longer available to the fund) and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions (for example, by increasing margin or capital requirements), and the fund may be unable to fully execute its investment strategies as a result. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the fund engages in derivative transactions also could prevent the fund from using these instruments or affect the pricing or other factors relating to these instruments, or may change the availability of certain investments.

At any time after the date of this SAI, legislation may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of the fund. Legislation or regulation may change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. The advisor cannot predict the effects of any new governmental regulation that may be implemented, and there can be no assurance that any new governmental regulation will not adversely affect the fund's ability to achieve its investment objective.

The use of derivative instruments may involve risks different from, or potentially greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other, more traditional assets. In particular, the use of derivative instruments exposes the fund to the risk that the counterparty to an OTC derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations. OTC derivatives transactions typically can only be closed out with the other party to the transaction, although either party may engage in an offsetting transaction that puts that party in the same economic position as if it had closed out the transaction with the counterparty or may obtain the other party's consent to assign the transaction to a third party. If the counterparty defaults, the fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that the counterparty will meet its contractual obligations or that, in the event of default, the fund will succeed in enforcing them. For example, because the contract for each OTC derivatives transaction is individually negotiated with a specific counterparty, the fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty may interpret contractual terms (e.g., the definition of default) differently than the fund when the fund seeks to enforce its contractual rights. If that occurs, the cost and unpredictability of the legal proceedings required for the fund to enforce its contractual rights may lead it to decide not to pursue its claims against the counterparty. The fund, therefore, assumes the risk that it may be unable to obtain payments owed to it under OTC derivatives contracts or that those payments may be delayed or made only after the fund has incurred the costs of litigation. While the managers intend to monitor the creditworthiness of counterparties, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will meet its obligations, especially during unusually adverse market conditions. To the extent the fund contracts with a limited number of counterparties, the fund's risk will be concentrated and events that affect the creditworthiness of any of those counterparties may have a pronounced effect on the fund. Derivatives are also subject to a number of other risks, including market risk and liquidity risk. Since the value of derivatives is calculated and derived from the value of other assets, instruments, or references, there is a risk that they will be improperly valued. Derivatives also involve the risk that changes in their value may not correlate perfectly with the assets, rates, or indexes they are designed to hedge or closely track. Suitable derivatives transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The fund is also subject to the risk that the counterparty closes out the derivatives transactions upon the occurrence of certain triggering events. In addition, a portfolio manager may determine not to use derivatives to hedge or otherwise reduce risk exposure. Government legislation or regulation could affect the use of derivatives transactions and could limit the fund's ability to pursue its investment strategies.

Options on Securities and Securities Indices.The fund may purchase and write (sell) call and put options on any securities and securities indices. These options may be listed on national domestic securities exchanges or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. The fund may write covered put and call options and purchase put and call options as a substitute for the purchase or sale of securities or to protect against declines in the value of portfolio securities and against increases in the cost of securities to be acquired.

Writing Covered Options. A call option on securities written by the fund obligates the fund to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. A put option on securities written by the fund obligates the fund to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security. Writing covered call options may deprive the fund of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities in its portfolio. Writing covered put options may deprive the fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities to be acquired for its portfolio.

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All call and put options written by the fund are subject to the requirements outlined in the "Government Regulation of Derivatives" section.

The fund may terminate its obligations under an exchange-traded call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written. Obligations under over-the-counter options may be terminated only by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to such option. Such purchases are referred to as "closing purchase transactions."

Illiquid and Restricted Securities Risk.The fund may have significant exposure to restricted securities. Restricted securities are securities with restrictions on public resale, such as securities offered in accordance with an exemption under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"), or commercial paper issued under Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act. Restricted securities are often required to be sold in private sales to institutional buyers, markets for restricted securities may or may not be well developed, and restricted securities can be illiquid. The extent (if at all) to which a security may be sold or a derivative position closed without negatively impacting its market value may be impaired by reduced market activity or participation, legal restrictions or other economic and market impediments. Funds with principal investment strategies that involve investments in securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations, foreign securities, derivatives, or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk. Exposure to liquidity risk may be heightened for funds that invest in securities of emerging markets and related derivatives that are not widely traded, and that may be subject to purchase and sale restrictions.

The capacity of traditional dealers to engage in fixed-income trading has not kept pace with the bond market's growth. As a result, dealer inventories of corporate bonds, which indicate the ability to "make markets," i.e., buy or sell a security at the quoted bid and ask price, respectively, are at or near historic lows relative to market size. Because market makers provide stability to fixed-income markets, the significant reduction in dealer inventories could lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility, which may become exacerbated during periods of economic or political stress.

Purchasing Options.The fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease ("protective puts"), in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest. The fund may also sell call and put options to close out its purchased options.

The purchase of a call option would entitle the fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities or currency at a specified price during the option period. The fund would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such securities or currency exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

The purchase of a put option would entitle the fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified securities at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of the fund's portfolio securities. Put options may also be purchased by the fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities which it does not own. The fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of put options may be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the fund's portfolio securities.

The fund's options transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Advisor. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.

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Risks Associated with Options Transactions.There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on a domestic or foreign options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If the fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to covered options it has written, the fund will not be able to sell the underlying securities and may not be able to dispose of assets held in as collateral until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if the fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it would have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities or currencies.

Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options). If trading were discontinued, the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist. However, outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

The fund's ability to terminate over-the-counter options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations. The Advisor will determine the liquidity of each over-the-counter option in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees of the fund (the "Board").

The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The successful use of options depends in part on the Advisor's ability to predict future price fluctuations and, for hedging transactions, the degree of correlation between the options and securities or currency markets.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. The fund may purchase and sell futures contracts based on various securities (such as U.S. government securities) and securities indices, and any other financial instruments and indices and purchase and write call and put options on these futures contracts. The fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to any of these contracts and options. All futures contracts entered into by the fund are traded on U.S. or foreign exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed, regulated or approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC").

Futures Contracts. A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement between two parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments or currencies for an agreed price during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract).

Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held to maturity but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions, which may result in a profit or a loss. While futures contracts on securities will usually be liquidated in this manner, the fund may instead make, or take, delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears economically advantageous to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange on which futures contracts are traded guarantees that, if still open, the sale or purchase will be performed on the settlement date.

The fund may, for example, take a "short" position in the futures market by selling futures contracts in an attempt to hedge against an anticipated decline in market prices that would adversely affect the value of the fund's portfolio securities. Such futures contracts may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by the fund or securities with characteristics similar to those of the fund's portfolio securities.

Options on Futures Contracts. The purchase of put and call options on futures contracts will give the fund the right (but not the obligation) for a specified price to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, the fund obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.

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The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium which may partially offset a decline in the value of the fund's assets. By writing a call option, the fund becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium (upon exercise of the option) to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. Conversely, the writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities that the fund intends to purchase. However, the fund becomes obligated (upon exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. The loss incurred by the fund in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received.

The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate its position by selling or purchasing an offsetting option of the same series. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected. The fund's ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.

Other Considerations.The fund will engage in futures and related options transactions either for bona fide hedging or to facilitate portfolio management. The fund will not engage in futures or related options for speculative purposes. To the extent that the fund is using futures and related options for hedging purposes, futures contracts will be sold to protect against a decline in the price of securities that the fund owns or futures contracts will be purchased to protect the fund against an increase in the price of securities it intends to purchase. The fund will determine that the price fluctuations in the futures contracts and options on futures used for hedging purposes are substantially related to price fluctuations in securities held by the fund or securities or instruments which it expects to purchase. To the extent that the fund engages in non-hedging transactions in futures contracts and options on futures to facilitate portfolio management, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish these nonhedging positions will not exceed 5% of the net asset value of the fund's portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which such options were in-the-money at the time of purchase.

Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs and require margin deposits. If the fund enters into a futures or options transaction, the fund will comply with the regulatory limitations outlined in the "Government Regulation of Derivatives" section.

While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates or securities prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the fund than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions.

Perfect correlation between the fund's futures positions and portfolio positions will be impossible to achieve. In the event of an imperfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired protection may not be obtained and the fund may be exposed to risk of loss.

Some futures contracts or options on futures may become illiquid under adverse market conditions. In addition, during periods of market volatility, a commodity exchange may suspend or limit trading in a futures contract or related option, which may make the instrument temporarily illiquid and difficult to price. Commodity exchanges may also establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or related option can vary from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. This may prevent the fund from closing out positions and limiting its losses.

Interest Rate Swaps, Collars, Caps and Floors.In order to hedge the value of the fund's portfolio against interest rate fluctuations or to facilitate portfolio management, the fund may, but is not required to, enter into various interest rate transactions such as interest rate swaps and the purchase or sale of interest rate caps and floors. To the extent that the fund enters into these transactions, the fund expects to do so primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the fund anticipates purchasing at a later date or to manage the fund's interest rate exposure on any debt securities or preferred shares issued by the fund for leverage purposes. The fund intends to use these transactions only as a hedge or to facilitate portfolio management. The fund is not required to hedge its portfolio and may choose not to do so. The fund cannot guarantee that any hedging strategies it uses will work.

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Interest Rate Swaps.In an interest rate swap, the fund exchanges with another party their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments). For example, if the fund holds a debt instrument with an interest rate that is reset only once each year, it may swap the right to receive interest at this fixed rate for the right to receive interest at a rate that is reset every week. This would enable the fund to offset a decline in the value of the debt instrument due to rising interest rates but would also limit its ability to benefit from falling interest rates. Conversely, if the fund holds a debt instrument with an interest rate that is reset every week and it would like to lock in what it believes to be a high interest rate for one year, it may swap the right to receive interest at this variable weekly rate for the right to receive interest at a rate that is fixed for one year. Such a swap would protect the fund from a reduction in yield due to falling interest rates and may permit the fund to enhance its income through the positive differential between one week and one year interest rates, but would preclude it from taking full advantage of rising interest rates.

The fund usually will enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out with the fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). The net amount of the excess, if any, of the fund's obligations over its entitlements with respect to each interest rate swap will be accrued on a daily basis. If the interest rate swap transaction is entered into on other than a net basis, the full amount of the fund's obligations will be accrued on a daily basis.

Interest Rate Collars, Caps and Floors.The fund also may engage in interest rate transactions in the form of purchasing or selling interest rate caps or floors. The fund will not sell interest rate caps or floors that it does not own. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest equal to the difference of the index and the predetermined rate on a notional principal amount (i.e., the reference amount with respect to which interest obligations are determined although no actual exchange of principal occurs) from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest at the difference of the index and the predetermined rate on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor.

Typically, the parties with which the fund will enter into interest rate transactions will be broker-dealers and other financial institutions. The fund will not enter into any interest rate swap, cap or floor transaction unless the unsecured senior debt or the claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is rated investment grade quality by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization at the time of entering into such transaction or whose creditworthiness is believed by the Advisor to be equivalent to such rating. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with other similar instruments traded in the interbank market. Caps and floors, however, are less liquid than swaps. Certain federal income tax requirements may limit the fund's ability to engage in interest rate swaps.

Credit Default Swap Agreements.The fund may enter into credit default swap agreements. The "buyer" in a credit default contract is obligated to pay the "seller" a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default on an underlying reference obligation has occurred. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the "par value" (full notional value) of the reference obligation in exchange for the reference obligation. The fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the fund is a buyer and no event of default occurs, the fund loses its investment and recovers nothing. However, if an event of default occurs, the buyer receives full notional value for a reference obligation that may have little or no value. As a seller, the fund receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the contract, which can run between six months and ten years but is typically structured between three and five years, provided that there is no default event. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation. Credit default swaps involve greater risks than if the fund had invested in the reference obligation directly. In addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risks. The fund will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties who are rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization at the time of entering into such transaction or whose creditworthiness is believed by the Advisor to be equivalent to such rating. A buyer also will lose its investment and recover nothing should an event of default occur. If an event of default were to occur, the value of the reference obligation received by the seller, coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the fund.

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If the fund enters into a credit default swap, the fund may be required to report the swap as a "listed transaction" for tax shelter reporting purposes on the fund's federal income tax return. If the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") were to determine that the credit default swap is a tax shelter, the fund could be subject to penalties under the Code.

Warrants and Rights.Warrants and rights generally give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise and prior to the expiration date, a security of the issuer at a stated price. Funds typically use warrants and rights in a manner similar to their use of options on securities, as described in "General Characteristics of Options" above and elsewhere in this SAI. Risks associated with the use of warrants and rights are generally similar to risks associated with the use of options. Unlike most options, however, warrants and rights are issued in specific amounts, and warrants generally have longer terms than options. Warrants and rights are not likely to be as liquid as exchange-traded options backed by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of warrants or rights may limit the fund's ability to exercise the warrants or rights at such time, or in such quantities, as the fund would otherwise wish.

The fund may in the future employ new or additional investment strategies and hedging instruments if those strategies and instruments are consistent with the fund's investment objective and are permissible under applicable regulations governing the fund.

Additional Regulatory Limitations on the Use of Futures and Related Options, Interest Rate Floors, Caps and Collars and Interest Rate and Currency Swap Contracts. The CFTC has adopted regulations that subject registered investment companies and/or their investment advisors to regulation by the CFTC if the registered investment company invests more than a prescribed level of its NAV in commodity futures, options on commodities or commodity futures, swaps, or other financial instruments regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA") ("commodity interests"), or if the registered investment company markets itself as providing investment exposure to such commodity interests. The Advisor is registered as a commodity pool operator ("CPO") under the CEA and is a National Futures Association member firm; however, the Advisor does not act in the capacity of a registered CPO with respect to the fund.

Although the Advisor is a registered CPO under the CEA and is a National Futures Association member firm, the Advisor has claimed an exclusion from CPO registration pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the fund. To remain eligible for this exclusion, the fund must comply with certain limitations, including limits on trading in commodity interests, and restrictions on the manner in which the fund markets its commodity interests trading activities. These limitations may restrict the fund's ability to pursue its investment strategy, increase the costs of implementing its strategy, increase its expenses and/or adversely affect its total return.

Government Regulation of Derivatives.The regulation of the U.S. and non-U.S. derivatives markets has undergone substantial change in recent years and such change may continue. In particular, on October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies ("Rule 18f-4" or the "Derivatives Rule"). The Funds were required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Rule 18f-4 eliminates the asset segregation framework formerly used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, as amended.

The Derivatives Rule mandates that the fund adopt and/or implement: (i) value-at-risk limitations ("VaR"); (ii) a written derivatives risk management program; (iii) new Board oversight responsibilities; and (iv) new reporting and recordkeeping requirements. In the event that a fund's derivative exposure is 10% or less of its net assets, excluding certain currency and interest rate hedging transactions, it can elect to be classified as a limited derivatives user ("Limited Derivatives User") under the Derivatives Rule, in which case the fund is not subject to the full requirements of the Derivatives Rule. Limited Derivatives Users are excepted from VaR testing, implementing a derivatives risk management program, and certain Board oversight and reporting requirements mandated by the Derivatives Rule. However, a Limited Derivatives User is still required to implement written compliance policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage its derivatives risks.

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The Derivatives Rule also provides special treatment for reverse repurchase agreements, similar financing transactions and unfunded commitment agreements. Specifically, a fund may elect whether to treat reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions as "derivatives transactions" subject to the requirements of the Derivatives Rule or as senior securities equivalent to bank borrowings for purposes of Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Repurchase agreements are not subject to the Derivatives Rule but are still subject to other provisions of the 1940 Act. In addition, when-issued or forward settling securities transactions that physically settle within 35-days are deemed not to involve a senior security.

Furthermore, it is possible that additional governmental regulation of various types of derivative instruments may limit or prevent the fund from using such instruments as part of its investment strategy, which could negatively impact the fund. New position limits imposed on the fund or its counterparty may also impact the fund's ability to invest in futures, options, and swaps in a manner that efficiently meets its investment objective.

Use of extensive hedging and other strategic transactions by the fund will require, among other things, that the fund post collateral with counterparties or clearinghouses, and/or are subject to the Derivatives Rule regulatory limitations as outlined above.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts.In the case of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract, the fund must deposit initial margin and, in some instances, daily variation margin, to meet its obligations under the contract. These assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt, equity securities or other acceptable assets.

Russian Securities Risk. Throughout the past decade, the United States, the EU, and other nations have imposed a series of economic sanctions on the Russian Federation. In addition to imposing new import and export controls on Russia and blocking financial transactions with certain Russian elites, oligarchs, and political and national security leaders, the United States, the EU, and other nations have imposed sanctions on companies in certain sectors of the Russian economy, including the financial services, energy, metals and mining, engineering, technology, and defense and defense-related materials sectors. These sanctions could impair the fund's ability to continue to price, buy, sell, receive, or deliver securities of certain Russian issuers. For example, the fund may be prohibited from investing in securities issued by companies subject to such sanctions. The fund could determine at any time that certain of the most affected securities have little or no value.

The extent and duration of Russia's military actions and the global response to such actions are impossible to predict. More Russian companies could be sanctioned in the future, and the threat of additional sanctions could itself result in further declines in the value and liquidity of certain securities. Widespread divestment of interests in Russia or certain Russian businesses could result in additional declines in the value of Russian securities. Additionally, market disruptions could have a substantial negative impact on other economics and securities markets both regionally and globally, as well as global supply chains and inflation.

The Russian government may respond to these sanctions and others by freezing Russian assets held by the fund, thereby prohibiting the fund from selling or otherwise transacting in these investments. In such circumstances, the fund might be forced to liquidate non-restricted assets in order to satisfy shareholder redemptions. Such liquidation of fund assets might also result in the fund receiving substantially lower prices for its portfolio securities.

Multinational Companies Risk.To the extent that the fund invests in the securities of companies with foreign business operations, it may be riskier than funds that focus on companies with primarily U.S. operations. Multinational companies may face certain political and economic risks, such as foreign controls over currency exchange; restrictions on monetary repatriation; possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of assets; and political, economic or social instability. These risks are greater for companies with significant operations in developing countries.

Short-Term Trading and Portfolio Turnover.Short-term trading means the purchase and subsequent sale of a security after it has been held for a relatively brief period of time. The fund may engage in short-term trading in response to stock market conditions, changes in interest rates or other economic trends and developments, or to take advantage of yield disparities between various fixed-income securities in order to realize capital gains or improve income. Short-term trading may have the effect of increasing portfolio turnover rate. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or greater) involves correspondingly greater brokerage transaction expenses and may make it more difficult for the fund to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes (for additional information about qualification as a RIC under the Code, see "Additional Information Concerning Taxes" in this SAI). See specific fund details in the "Portfolio Turnover" section of this SAI.

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Real Estate Securities.Investing in securities of companies in the real estate industry subjects the fund to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate. These risks include:

Therefore, to the extent that the fund invests a substantial amount of its assets in securities of companies in the real estate industry, the value of the fund's shares may change at different rates compared to the value of shares of the fund with investments in a mix of different industries.

Securities of companies in the real estate industry have been and may continue to be negatively affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Potential impacts on the real estate market may include lower occupancy rates, decreased lease payments, defaults and foreclosures, among other consequences. These impacts could adversely affect corporate borrowers and mortgage lenders, the value of mortgage-backed securities, the bonds of municipalities that depend on tax revenues and tourist dollars generated by such properties, and insurers of the property and/or of corporate, municipal or mortgage-backed securities. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events, will last.

Securities of companies in the real estate industry include equity real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REIT, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and self-liquidations. In addition, equity and mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower's or a lessee's ability to meet its obligations to a REIT. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, a REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.

In addition, even the larger REITs in the industry tend to be small- to medium-sized companies in relation to the equity markets as a whole. Moreover, shares of REITs may trade less frequently and, therefore, are subject to more erratic price movements, than securities of larger issuers.

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Operational and Cybersecurity Risk.With the increased use of technologies, such as mobile devices and cloud-based service offerings and the dependence on the internet and computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the fund's service providers are susceptible to operational and information or cybersecurity risks that could result in losses to the fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity breaches are either intentional or unintentional events that allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the fund or a fund service provider to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Intentional cybersecurity incidents include: unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices (such as through "hacking" activity or "phishing"); infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. Cyberattacks can also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on the service providers' systems or websites rendering them unavailable to intended users or via "ransomware" that renders the systems inoperable until appropriate actions are taken. In addition, unintentional incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information.

A cybersecurity breach could result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or costs associated with system repairs, any of which could have a substantial impact on the fund. For example, in a denial of service, fund shareholders could lose access to their electronic accounts indefinitely, and employees of the Advisor, the Subadvisor, or the fund's other service providers may not be able to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the fund, such as trading, NAV calculation, shareholder accounting, or fulfilment of fund share purchases and redemptions. Cybersecurity incidents could cause the fund, the Advisor, the Subadvisor, or other service provider to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, compliance costs associated with corrective measures, or financial loss. They may also result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws. In addition, such incidents could affect issuers in which the fund invests, thereby causing the fund's investments to lose value.

Cyber-events have the potential to materially affect the fund and the Advisor's relationships with accounts, shareholders, clients, customers, employees, products, and service providers. The fund has established risk management systems reasonably designed to seek to reduce the risks associated with cyber-events. There is no guarantee that the fund will be able to prevent or mitigate the impact of any or all cyber-events.

The fund is exposed to operational risk arising from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the fund's service providers, counterparties, or other third parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or system failures.

The Advisor, the Subadvisor, and their affiliates have established risk management or operational failure systems that seek to reduce cybersecurity and operational risks, and business continuity plans in the event of a cybersecurity breach or operational failure. However, there are inherent limitations in such plans, including that certain risks have not been identified, and there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially since none of the Advisor, the Subadvisor, or their affiliates controls the cybersecurity or operational systems of the fund's third-party service providers (including the fund's Custodian), or those of the issuers of securities in which the fund invests.

In addition, other disruptive events, including (but not limited to) natural disasters and public health crises, may adversely affect the fund's ability to conduct business, in particular if the fund's employees or the employees of its service providers are unable or unwilling to perform their responsibilities as a result of any such event. Even if the fund's employees and the employees of its service providers are able to work remotely, those remote work arrangements could result in the fund's business operations being less efficient than under normal circumstances, could lead to delays in its processing of transactions, and could increase the risk of cyber-events.

Market Events.Events in certain sectors have historically resulted, and may in the future result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. These events have included, but are not limited to: bankruptcies, corporate restructurings, and other similar events; bank failures; governmental efforts to limit short selling and high frequency trading; measures to address U.S. federal and state budget deficits, social, political, and economic instability in Europe; economic stimulus by the Japanese central bank; dramatic changes in energy prices and currency exchange rates; and China's economic slowdown. Interconnected global economies and financial markets increase the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. Both domestic and foreign equity markets have experienced increased volatility and turmoil, with issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage, and credit markets particularly affected. Financial institutions could suffer losses as interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate.

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In addition, relatively high market volatility and reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect many issuers worldwide. Actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve (the "Fed") or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, such as interventions in currency markets, could cause high volatility in the equity and fixed-income markets. Reduced liquidity may result in less money being available to purchase raw materials, goods, and services from emerging markets, which may, in turn, bring down the prices of these economic staples. It may also result in emerging-market issuers having more difficulty obtaining financing, which may, in turn, cause a decline in their securities prices.

In response to certain economic conditions, including periods of high inflation, governmental authorities and regulators may respond with significant fiscal and monetary policy changes such as raising interest rates. The fund may be subject to heightened interest rate risk when the Fed raises interest rates. Recent and potential future changes in government monetary policy may affect interest rates. It is difficult to accurately predict the timing, frequency or magnitude of potential interest rate increases or decreases by the Fed and the evaluation of macro-economic and other conditions that could cause a change in approach in the future. If the Fed and other central banks increase the federal funds rate and equivalent rates, such increases generally will cause market interest rates to rise and could cause the value of a fund's investments, and the fund's NAV, to decline, potentially suddenly and significantly. As a result, the fund may experience high redemptions and, as a result, increased portfolio turnover, which could increase the costs that the fund incurs and may negatively impact the fund's performance.

In addition, as the Fed increases the target Fed funds rate, any such rate increases, among other factors, could cause markets to experience continuing high volatility. A significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the market for equity securities. These events and the possible resulting market volatility may have an adverse effect on the fund.

Political turmoil within the United States and abroad may also impact the fund. Although the U.S. government has honored its credit obligations, it remains possible that the United States could default on its obligations. While it is impossible to predict the consequences of such an unprecedented event, it is likely that a default by the United States would be highly disruptive to the United States and global securities markets and could significantly impair the value of the fund's investments. Similarly, political events within the United States at times have resulted, and may in the future result, in a shutdown of government services, which could negatively affect the U.S. economy, decrease the value of many fund investments, and increase uncertainty in or impair the operation of the United States or other securities markets. In recent years, the U.S. renegotiated many of its global trade relationships and imposed or threatened to impose significant import tariffs. These actions could lead to price volatility and overall declines in U.S. and global investment markets.

Uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt of a number of EU countries and the viability of the EU have disrupted and may in the future disrupt markets in the United States and around the world. If one or more countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves, the global securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted. On January 31, 2020, the UK left the EU, commonly referred to as "Brexit," the UK ceased to be a member of the EU, and the UK and EU entered into a Trade and Cooperation Agreement. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. There remains significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit's ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict.

A widespread health crisis such as a global pandemic could cause substantial market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures, which may lead to less liquidity in certain instruments, industries, sectors or the markets generally, and may ultimately affect fund performance. For example, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted and may continue to result in significant disruptions to global business activity and market volatility due to disruptions in market access, resource availability, facilities operations, imposition of tariffs, export controls and supply chain disruption, among others. While many countries have lifted some or all restrictions related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the United States ended the public health emergency and national emergency declarations relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on May 11, 2023, the continued impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) and related variants is uncertain. The impact of a health crisis and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the global economy in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. A health crisis may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks. Any such impact could adversely affect the fund's performance, resulting in losses to your investment.

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Political and military events, including in Ukraine, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, Iran, Syria, and other areas of the Middle East, and nationalist unrest in Europe and South America, also may cause market disruptions.

As a result of continued political tensions and armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine commencing in February of 2022, the extent and ultimate result of which are unknown at this time, the United States and the EU, along with the regulatory bodies of a number of countries, have imposed economic sanctions on certain Russian corporate entities and individuals, and certain sectors of Russia's economy, which may result in, among other things, the continued devaluation of Russian currency, a downgrade in the country's credit rating, and/or a decline in the value and liquidity of Russian securities, property or interests. These sanctions could also result in the immediate freeze of Russian securities and/or funds invested in prohibited assets, impairing the ability of a fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities and/or assets. These sanctions or the threat of additional sanctions could also result in Russia taking counter measures or retaliatory actions, which may further impair the value and liquidity of Russian securities. The United States and other nations or international organizations may also impose additional economic sanctions or take other actions that may adversely affect Russia-exposed issuers and companies in various sectors of the Russian economy. Any or all of these potential results could lead Russia's economy into a recession. Economic sanctions and other actions against Russian institutions, companies, and individuals resulting from the ongoing conflict may also have a substantial negative impact on other economies and securities markets both regionally and globally, as well as on companies with operations in the conflict region, the extent to which is unknown at this time. The United States and the EU have also imposed similar sanctions on Belarus for its support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Additional sanctions may be imposed on Belarus and other countries that support Russia. Any such sanctions could present substantially similar risks as those resulting from the sanctions imposed on Russia, including substantial negative impacts on the regional and global economies and securities markets.

In addition, there is a risk that the prices of goods and services in the United States and many foreign economies may decline over time, known as deflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on stock prices and creditworthiness and may make defaults on debt more likely. If a country's economy slips into a deflationary pattern, it could last for a prolonged period and may be difficult to reverse. Further, there is a risk that the present value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future, known as inflation. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy, and the fund's investments may be affected, which may reduce the fund's performance. Further, inflation may lead to the rise in interest rates, which may negatively affect the value of debt instruments held by the fund, resulting in a negative impact on the fund's performance. Generally, securities issued in emerging markets are subject to a greater risk of inflationary or deflationary forces, and more developed markets are better able to use monetary policy to normalize markets.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The fund's investment restrictions are subject to, and may be impacted and limited by, the federal securities laws, rules and regulations, including the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rule 18f-4 thereunder.

The investment policies and strategies of the fund described in this SAI and the Prospectus, except for the seven investment restrictions designated as fundamental policies under this caption, are not fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

Fundamental Investment Restrictions

As referred to above, the following seven investment restrictions of the fund are designated as fundamental policies and as such cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the fund's outstanding voting securities, which as used in this SAI means the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the fund present or represented by proxy at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented at the meeting or (b) more than 50% of outstanding shares of the fund. As a matter of fundamental policy:

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In regard to restriction (2), the fund may borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of fund securities. The 1940 Act currently requires that the fund have 300% asset coverage at the time of borrowing with respect to all borrowings other than temporary borrowings.

For purposes of construing restriction (1), securities of the U.S. government, its agencies, or instrumentalities are not considered to represent industries. Tax-exempt municipal obligations backed by the credit of a governmental entity also are not considered to represent industries.

Whenever an investment policy or investment restriction set forth in the Prospectus or this SAI states a maximum percentage of assets that may be invested in any security or other asset or describes a policy regarding quality standards, such percentage limitation or standard shall be determined immediately after and as a result of the fund's acquisition of such security or asset. Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, assets or other circumstances or any subsequent rating change made by a rating agency (or as determined by the Subadvisor if the security is not rated by a rating agency) will not compel the fund to dispose of such security or other asset. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the fund must always be in compliance with the borrowing policies set forth above.

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REPURCHASES, MANDATORY REPURCHASESAND TRANSFERSOF SHARES

Repurchase Offers.As discussed in the Prospectus, offers to repurchase the fund's shares of beneficial interest (the "Shares") will be made by the fund at such times and on such terms as may be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. Currently the fund anticipates making quarterly tender offers as further described in the Prospectus. In determining whether the fund should repurchase Shares from Shareholders pursuant to written tenders, the Board will consider various factors, including but not limited to those listed in the Prospectus, in making its determinations.

The Board will cause the fund to make offers to repurchase Shares from Shareholders pursuant to written tenders only on terms it determines to be fair to the fund and to all Shareholders or persons holding Shares acquired from Shareholders. When the Board determines that the fund will repurchase Shares, notice will be provided to each Shareholder describing the terms thereof and containing information Shareholders should consider in deciding whether and how to participate in such repurchase opportunity. Shareholders who are deciding whether to tender their Shares during the period that a repurchase offer is open may ascertain an estimated net asset value as at the latest valuation date of their Shares from the fund during such period. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed by Shareholders, the fund will repurchase only a pro rataportion of the Shares tendered by each Shareholder. The potential for pro-ration may cause some Shareholders to tender larger portions of their Shares for repurchase than they otherwise would wish to have repurchased, which may adversely affect others wishing to participate in the tender.

Mandatory Repurchases. As noted in the Prospectus, the fund has the right to repurchase Shares of a Shareholder or any person acquiring Shares from or through a Shareholder under certain circumstances. Such mandatory repurchases may be made if:

Transfer of Shares.No person shall become a substituted Shareholder of the fund without the consent of the fund, which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion. Shares held by Shareholders may be transferred only: (i) by operation of law in connection with the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency, or adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder; or (ii) under other circumstances, with the consent of the fund (which may be withheld in its sole discretion).

Notice to the fund of any proposed transfer must include evidence satisfactory to the Board or its delegate that the proposed transferee, at the time of transfer, meets any requirements imposed by the fund with respect to investor eligibility and suitability. Notice of a proposed transfer of Shares must also be accompanied by a properly completed application in respect of the proposed transferee. In connection with any request to transfer Shares (or portions thereof), the fund may require the Shareholder requesting the transfer to obtain, at the Shareholder's expense, an opinion of counsel selected by the fund as to such matters as the fund may reasonably request. The Board generally will not consent to a transfer if, after the transfer of the Shares, the balance of the account of each of the transferee and transferor is less than $25,000. Each transferring Shareholder and transferee may be charged reasonable expenses, including, but not limited to, attorneys' and accountants' fees, incurred by the fund in connection with the transfer and such fees will be paid by the transferor prior to the transfer being effectuated. If such fees have been incurred by the fund and have not been paid by the transferor for any reason, including a decision to not transfer the interests, the fund reserves the right to deduct such expenses from the Shareholder's account.

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Any transferee meeting the fund's eligibility requirements that acquires Shares in the fund by operation of law as the result of the death, dissolution, bankruptcy or incompetency of a Shareholder or otherwise, will be entitled to the allocations and distributions allocable to the Shares so acquired and to transfer such Shares in accordance with the terms of the Declaration of Trust, but will not be entitled to the other rights of a Shareholder unless and until such transferee becomes a substituted Shareholder as provided in the Declaration of Trust. If a Shareholder transfers Shares with the approval of the Board, the fund will promptly take all necessary actions to admit such transferee or successor to the fund as a Shareholder. Each Shareholder and transferee is required to pay all expenses, including attorneys' and accountants' fees, incurred by the fund in connection with such transfer. If such a transferee does not meet the Shareholder eligibility requirements, the fund reserves the right to repurchase its Shares. Any transfer of Shares in violation of the Declaration of Trust will not be permitted and will be void.

The Declaration of Trust provides, in part, that each Shareholder has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the fund, the Subadvisor, the Advisor, each other Shareholder and any affiliate of the foregoing against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including legal or other expenses incurred in investigating or defending against any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses or any judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, joint or several, to which such persons may become subject by reason of or arising from any transfer made by such Shareholder in violation of these provisions or any misrepresentation made by such Shareholder in connection with any such transfer.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The fund may engage in short-term trading strategies, and securities may be sold without regard to the length of time held when, in the opinion of the Subadvisor, investment considerations warrant such action. The fund's annual rate of portfolio turnover may vary from year to year as well as within a year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally involves correspondingly greater brokerage commission expenses, which must be borne directly by the fund and could generate short-term capital gain taxable as ordinary income, which could have a negative impact on the fund's performance over time. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of fund securities during the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the fund's securities. (Excluded from the computation are all securities, including options, with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less.) The portfolio turnover rate for the fund for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023 was 0% due to no sales activity.

MANAGEMENTOFTHE FUND

Board's Oversight Role in Management

Pursuant to the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the fund's business and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board, which has overall responsibility for monitoring and overseeing the fund's management and operations. As is the case with virtually all investment companies (as distinguished from operating companies), service providers to the fund, primarily the Advisor, have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the fund, which includes responsibility for risk management (including management of investment performance and investment risk, valuation risk, issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance risk and operational risk). As part of its oversight, the Board, acting at its scheduled meetings and between Board meetings, regularly interacts with and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including the Advisor's senior managerial and financial officers, the fund's and the Advisor's Chief Compliance Officer and portfolio management personnel. The Board's Audit Committee, which consists of all of the fund's Independent Trustees, meets during its scheduled meetings, and, as appropriate, the chair of the Audit Committee maintains contact with the independent registered public accounting firm and Principal Accounting Officer of the fund. The Board also receives periodic presentations from senior personnel of the Advisor regarding risk management generally, as well as information regarding specific operational, compliance or investment areas, such as business continuity, valuation and investment research. The Board has adopted policies and procedures designed to address certain risks to the fund. In addition, the Advisor and other service providers to the fund have adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to address particular risks to the fund. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. However, it is not possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to the fund. The Board also receives reports from counsel to the fund or the Board's own independent legal counsel regarding regulatory compliance and governance matters. The Board's oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the fund's investments or activities.

Board Composition and Leadership Structure

To rely on certain exemptive rules under the 1940 Act, a majority of the fund's Board members must not be "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the fund (the "Independent Trustees"), and for certain important matters, such as the approval of investment advisory agreements or transactions with affiliates, the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder require the approval of a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Trustees elect officers who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the fund and who execute policies formulated by the Trustees. Currently, three Trustees are Independent Trustees, including the Chairman of the Board.

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The fund's Trustees, including the three Independent Trustees, interact directly with senior management of the Advisor at scheduled meetings and between meetings as appropriate and an Independent Trustee chairs the Audit Committee. The Board has determined that its leadership structure, is appropriate in light of the specific characteristics and circumstances of the fund, including, but not limited to: (i) the services that the Advisor provides to the fund and potential conflicts of interest that could arise from this relationship, (ii) the extent to which the day-to-day operations of the fund are conducted by fund officers, respectively, and employees of the Advisor, (iii) the Board's oversight role in management of the fund, and (iv) the Board's size and the cooperative working relationship among the Independent Trustees and among all Trustees.

Risk Oversight

As a registered investment company, the fund is 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 fund's risk management activities that are implemented by the Advisor, the fund's Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO") and other service providers to the fund. The Advisor has primary responsibility for the fund's risk management on a day-to-day basis as a part of its overall responsibilities. The 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 fund 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 fund 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 Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets at least quarterly and presents reports to the Board, which may prompt further discussion of issues concerning the oversight of the fund's 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.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor provides periodic reports to the Board that enables the Board to oversee the Advisor, as the fund's valuation designee, in assessing, managing and reviewing material risks associated with fair valuation determinations, including material conflicts of interest. In addition, the Board reviews the Advisor's performance of an annual valuation risk assessment under which the Advisor seeks to identify and enumerate material valuation risks which are or may be impactful to the fund including, but not limited to: (1) the types of investments held (or intended to be held) by the fund, giving consideration to those investments' characteristics; (2) potential market or sector shocks or dislocations which may affect the ongoing valuation operations; (3) the extent to which each fair value methodology uses unobservable inputs; (4) the proportion of the fund's investments that are fair valued as determined in good faith, as well as their contributions to the fund's returns; (5) the use of fair value methodologies that rely on inputs from third-party service providers; and (6) the appropriateness and application of the methods for determining and calculating fair value. The Advisor reports any material changes to the risk assessment, along with appropriate actions designed to manage such risks, to the Board.

As required by the Derivatives Rule, to the extent the fund engages in derivatives transactions, it must adopt and implement a written derivatives risk management program (the "Derivatives Risk Management Program"), that is reasonably designed to manage the fund's derivatives risks, while taking into account the fund's derivatives and other investments. This program would include risk guidelines, stress testing, internal reporting and escalation and periodic review of the program. To the extent that the fund invests in derivatives, on a quarterly and annual, the Advisor will provide the Board with written reports that address the operation, adequacy and effectiveness of the fund's Derivatives Risk Management Program, which is generally designed to assess and manage derivatives risk.

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Information About Each Board Member's Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills

The tables below present certain information regarding the Trustees and officers of the fund, including their principal occupations which, unless specific dates are shown, are of at least five years' duration. In addition, the table includes information concerning other directorships held by each Trustee in other registered investment companies or publicly traded companies. Information is listed separately for each Trustee who is an "interested person" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the fund (each a "Non-Independent Trustee") and the Independent Trustees. As of June 30, 2024, the "John Hancock Fund Complex" consisted of 184 funds (including separate series of series mutual funds). Board members of the fund, together with information as to their positions with the fund, principal occupations and other board memberships for the past five years, are shown below. The address of each Trustee and officer of the fund is 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116.

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The following table presents information regarding the current principal officers of the fund who are not Trustees, 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. All of the officers listed are officers or employees of the Advisor or its affiliates.

Principal Officers who are not Trustees

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Additional Information about the Trustees

Additional information about each Trustee follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that the Trustee possesses which the Board believes has prepared them to be effective Board members. Each Trustee believes that the significance of each Trustee's experience, qualifications, attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience that is important for one Trustee may not have the same value for another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the board level, with no single Trustee, or particular factor, being indicative of board effectiveness. Each Board member believes that collectively the Trustees have balanced and diverse experience, skills, attributes and qualifications that allow the Board to operate effectively in governing the fund and protecting the interests of Investors. Among the attributes common to all Trustees is their ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties; each Board member believes that each member satisfies this standard. Experience relevant to having this ability may be achieved through a Trustee's educational background; business, professional training or practice (e.g., accounting or securities), public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member; and/or other life experiences. The Board and any committees have the ability to engage other experts as appropriate. The Board evaluates its performance on an annual basis.

Independent Trustees

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. For the fund, Mr. Cunningham serves on the Board's Audit Committee and as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

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. For the fund, Ms. Fey serves as Chair of the Board's Audit Committee and serves on the Nominating and Governance Committee.

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 fund. For the fund, Mr. McClellan serves as Chairman of the Board and serves on the Board's Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee.

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Non-Independent Trustee

Andrew G. Arnott- As former President of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex and through his positions as Global Head of Retail for Manulife and Trustee 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.

Compensation of the Trustees

The Independent Trustees did not receive any payments from the fund during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. All Trustees are reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The Trustees do not receive any pension or retirement benefits from the fund.

Trustee Ownership of Shares of John Hancock Funds

The table below sets forth the aggregate dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in the fund and in all other funds in the family of investment companies of the fund overseen by each Trustee as of December 31, 2023. The information as to beneficial ownership is based on statements furnished to the fund by the Trustees. Each of the Trustees has all voting and investment powers with respect to the shares indicated.

CONTROL PERSONS

As of June 24, 2024, each of Manulife Reinsurance (Bermuda) Ltd., located at Victoria Place, 5th Floor, 31 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 10, Bermuda, John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, located at 100 Summit Lake Drive, Valhalla, New York, 10595, John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company, located at 197 Clarendon Street, Boston Massachusetts, 02116, and John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), located at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116 owned beneficially 50%, 20%, 20% and 10% of the outstanding Class I Shares of the fund. For so long as Manulife Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd. has a greater than 25% interest in the outstanding voting securities of the fund, it may be deemed to be a "control person" of the fund for purposes of the 1940 Act and therefore could determine the outcome of a Shareholder meeting with respect to a proposal directly affecting the fund or that share class, as applicable.

Class S Shares and Class D Shares of the Fund will commence operations on or following the date of this Prospectus. The officers and Trustees of the Fund as a group beneficially owned no Shares of any class of the Fund as of the date of this Prospectus.

Codes of Ethics

Each of the fund, the Advisor, the Distributor, and the Subadvisor has adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act (collectively the "Ethics Codes"). Rule 17j-1 and the Ethics Codes are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by covered personnel ("Access Persons"). The Ethics Codes apply to the fund and permit Access Persons to, subject to certain restrictions, invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the fund. Under the Ethics Codes, Access Persons may engage in personal securities transactions, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In

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addition, certain Access Persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings, private placements or certain other securities. The Ethics Codes can be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. The Codes are available on the EDGAR database on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, and also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: [email protected], or by writing the SEC's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

INVESTMENT ADVISORYAND OTHER SERVICES

THE ADVISOR

The Advisor is a Delaware limited liability company whose principal offices are located at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 and serves as the fund's investment advisor. The Advisor is registered with the SEC as an investment advisor under the Advisers Act.

Founded in 1968, the Advisor is an indirect principally owned subsidiary of John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), a subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation ("Manulife Financial" or the "Company"). Manulife Financial is the holding company of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (the "Life Company") and its subsidiaries. John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and its subsidiaries ("John Hancock") offer a broad range of financial products and services, including whole, term, variable, and universal life insurance, as well as college savings products, mutual funds, fixed and variable annuities, long-term care insurance and various forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found on its website at johnhancock.com.

The Advisor's parent company has been helping individuals and institutions work toward their financial goals since 1862. The Advisor offers investment solutions managed by institutional money managers, taking a disciplined team approach to portfolio management and research, leveraging the expertise of seasoned investment professionals. The Advisor has been managing closed-end funds since 1971. As of June 30, 2024, the Advisor had total assets under management of approximately $160.7 billion.

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Operating primarily as John Hancock in the United States and Manulife elsewhere, it provides financial protection products and advice, insurance, as well as wealth and asset management services through its extensive network of solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. Its global headquarters are in Toronto, Canada, and it trades as 'MFC' on the Toronto Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), and the Philippine Stock Exchange, and under '945' in Hong Kong. Manulife Financial Corporation can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Advisor is responsible, subject to the supervision of the Board, for formulating a continuing investment program for the fund. The Investment Advisory Agreement was initially approved by the fund's full Board and by the Independent Trustees at a meeting held on July 24, 2023, and is also approved by the initial Shareholder of the fund. The Investment Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty, on 60 days prior written notice by the Board, by vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares of the fund, or by the Advisor. The Investment Advisory Agreement has an initial term that expires two years after the fund has commenced investment operations. Thereafter, the Investment Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year if its continuance is approved annually by either the Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares of the fund, respectively, provided that, in either event, the continuance also is approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees by vote cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Investment Advisory Agreement also provides that it will terminate automatically in the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act).

The Advisor shall be paid at the end of each calendar month a fee at the annual rate of 1.25% of the value of the fund's monthly net assets (the "Management Fee").

The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the fund, the Advisor and any trustee, officer, member or employee thereof, or any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, will not be liable to the

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fund, for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law or for any act or omission by such person in connection with the performance of services under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Investment Advisory Agreement also provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by the fund of the Advisor, or any Trustee, member, officer or employee thereof, and any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, against any liability or expense to which such person may be liable which arises in connection with the performance of services to the fund, as the case may be, provided that the liability or expense is not incurred by reason of the person's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the fund.

The Subadvisory Agreement

The Advisor entered into a Subadvisory Agreement dated August 22, 2023, with Manulife IM (US), a Delaware limited liability company (the "Subadvisory Agreement"). The Subadvisor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and an affiliate of the Advisor. John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) is a subsidiary of MFC, based in Toronto, Canada. MFC is the holding company of the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, collectively known as Manulife Financial. References to Manulife IM (US) refer to its predecessor or affiliate organizations and entities. As of June 30, 2024, Manulife IM (US) had total assets under management of approximately $206 billion. The Subadvisor is located at 197 Clarendon Street Boston MA 02116.

For services rendered by the Subadvisor under the Subadvisory Agreement, the Advisor (and not the fund) pays the Subadvisor at the end of each calendar month a fee at the annual rate of 0.07% of the value of the fund's monthly net assets.

Duties of the Subadvisor.Under the terms of the current subadvisory agreement (the "Subadvisory Agreement"), the Subadvisor manages the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the fund, subject to the supervision of the Board and the Advisor. The Subadvisor formulates a continuous investment program for the fund consistent with its investment objective and related investment policies outlined in the Prospectus. The Subadvisor implements such programs by purchases and sales of securities, including the placing of orders for such purchases and sales, and regularly reports to the Advisor and the Board with respect to the implementation of such programs. The Subadvisor, at its expense, furnishes all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel required for it to execute its duties faithfully, as well as administrative facilities, including bookkeeping, clerical personnel, and equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the investment affairs of the fund. Additional information about the fund's portfolio managers, including other accounts managed, ownership of fund shares, and compensation structure, can be found below in the "Portfolio Managers" section.

The Advisor has delegated to the Subadvisor the responsibility to vote all proxies, to the extent such may be relevant, relating to the securities held by the fund. See "Other Services - Proxy Voting" below, for additional information.

Subadvisory Arrangement.In rendering investment advisory services to the fund, the Subadvisor may use the portfolio management, research and other resources of Manulife Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited ("Manulife IM (HK)"), an affiliate of Manulife IM (US) (a "Participating Affiliate"). The Participating Affiliate is not registered with the SEC as an investment advisor under the Advisers Act. Manulife IM (US) has entered into a separate memorandum of understanding and supervisory agreement (the "Participating Affiliate Agreement") with the Participating Affiliate pursuant to which the Participating Affiliate is considered a participating affiliate of the Subadvisor as that term is used in relief granted by the staff of the SEC allowing U.S. registered investment advisors to use portfolio management or research resources of advisory affiliates subject to the supervision of a registered advisor. Investment professionals from the Participating Affiliate may render portfolio management, research and other services to the fund under the Participating Affiliate Agreement and is subject to supervision by Manulife IM (US).

Additional Information Applicable to Subadvisory Agreement

Term of the Subadvisory Agreement.

Under the terms of the Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadvisor is responsible for managing the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the fund, subject to the supervision and control of the Board and the Advisor.

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Amendments to the Subadvisory Agreement.The Subadvisory Agreement may be amended by the parties to the agreement, provided that the amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the fund (except as noted below) and by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees. The required shareholder approval of any amendment to the Subadvisory Agreement shall be effective with respect to the fund if a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the fund votes to approve the amendment, even if the amendment may not have been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the fund.

Service Agreement

The description below of the Service Agreement is only a summary and is not necessarily complete. The description set forth below is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Service Agreement attached as an exhibit to this Registration Statement.

Pursuant to a Service Agreement, the Advisor is responsible for providing, at the expense of the fund, certain financial, accounting and administrative services such as legal services, tax, accounting, valuation, financial reporting and performance, compliance and service oversight. Pursuant to the Service Agreement, the Advisor shall determine, subject to Board approval, the expenses to be reimbursed by the fund, including an overhead allocation. The payments under the Service Agreement are not intended to provide a profit to the Advisor. Instead, the Advisor provides the services under the Service Agreement because it also provides advisory services under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The reimbursement shall be calculated and paid monthly in arrears.

The Advisor is not liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a fund in connection with the matters to which the Service Agreement relates, except losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence by the Advisor in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by the Advisor of its obligations under the Agreement.

The Service Agreement has an initial term of two years, and continues thereafter so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Independent Trustees. The fund or the Advisor may terminate the Agreement at any time without penalty on 60 days' written notice to the other party. The Agreement may be amended by mutual written agreement of the parties, without obtaining Shareholder approval.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Subadvisor handles the fund's portfolio management activities, subject to oversight by the Advisor. The individuals jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund's portfolio are listed below.

The following tables present information regarding accounts other than the fund for which each portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities. Accounts are grouped into three categories: (i) other investment companies, (ii) other pooled investment vehicles, and (iii) other accounts. To the extent that any of these accounts pay advisory fees based on account performance, information on those accounts is specifically broken out. In addition, any assets denominated in foreign currencies have been converted into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates as of the applicable date. Also shown below the chart is each portfolio manager's investment in the fund.

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The following table reflects approximate information as of June 30, 2024:

Performance-Based Fees for Other Accounts Managed

Number and value of accounts within the total accounts that are subject to a performance-based advisory fee:

Portfolio Manager Ownership of Shares of the Fund

The following table indicates as of June 30, 2024, the value of shares beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the fund.

Conflicts of Interest.

Material conflicts of interest exist whenever a portfolio manager simultaneously manages multiple accounts. A conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager being responsible for multiple accounts, including the fund, which may have different investment guidelines and objectives. In addition to the fund, these accounts may include accounts of other registered investment companies for which the Subadvisor serves as sub-advisor, private pooled investment vehicles and other accounts. The Subadvisor has adopted aggregation and allocation of investments procedures designed to ensure that all of its clients are treated fairly and equitably over time and to prevent this form of conflict from influencing the allocation of investment opportunities among its clients. As a general matter, the Subadvisor will offer clients the right to participate in all investment opportunities that it determines are appropriate for the client in view of relative amounts of capital available for new investments, each client's investment program, and the then current portfolios of its clients at the time an allocation decision is made. As a result, in certain situations priority or weighted allocations can be expected to occur in respect of certain accounts, including but not limited to situations where clients have differing: (A) portfolio concentrations with respect to geography, asset class, issuer, sector or rating, (B) investment restrictions, (C) tax or regulatory limitations, (D) leverage limitations or volatility targets, (E) ramp up or ramp down scenarios or (F) counterparty relationships. The Subadvisor maintains conflicts of interest policies and procedures containing provisions designed to prevent potential conflicts related to personal trading, allocation, and fees among other potential conflicts of interest. Such potential conflicts and others are disclosed in Subadvisor's Form ADV Part 2A filing.

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Compensation of Portfolio Managers

The Subadvisor has adopted a system of compensation for portfolio managers and others involved in the investment process that is applied systematically among investment professionals. At the Subadvisor, the structure of compensation of investment professionals is currently comprised of the following basic components: base salary and short- and long-term incentives. The following describes each component of the compensation package for the individuals identified as a portfolio manager for the fund.

The Subadvisor also permits investment professionals to participate on a voluntary basis in a deferred compensation plan, under which the investment professional may elect on an annual basis to defer receipt of a portion of their compensation until retirement. Participation in the plan is voluntary.

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Other Services

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

On occasion, the fund may receive notices or proposals from issuers seeking the consent of or voting by holders of their securities ("proxies"). The Advisor has delegated any voting of proxies in respect of security portfolio holdings to the Subadvisor to vote the proxies in accordance with the Subadvisor's proxy voting guidelines and procedures. In general, the Advisor believes that voting proxies in accordance with the policies described below will be in the best interests of the fund. Complete descriptions of the proxy voting procedures of the Advisor and the Subadvisor are set forth in Appendix B to this SAI.

Information regarding how the fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent period from October 16, 2023 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2023 is available: (i) without charge, on jhinvestments.com; and (ii) on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

DETERMINATIONOF NET ASSET VALUE

The net asset value per Share for each class of Shares of the fund is determined monthly (or more frequently as needed) by dividing the value of total assets for the class of Shares minus liabilities for the class of Shares by the total number of Shares outstanding for such class at the date as of which the determination is made. The Class I Shares' net asset value, plus the Class S Shares' net asset value, plus the Class D Shares' net asset value equals the total net asset value of the fund. The Class I Share net asset value, the Class S Share net asset value and the Class D Share net asset value will be calculated separately based on the fees and expenses applicable to each class. Because of differing class fees and expenses, the per Share net asset value of the classes will vary over time. A "Business Day" with respect to the fund is each day the New York Stock Exchange and the fund are open.

The Board has designated the Advisor as the valuation designee to perform fair value functions for the fund in accordance with the Advisor's valuation policies and procedures. As valuation designee, the Advisor will determine the fair value, in good faith, of securities and other assets held by the fund for which market quotations are not readily available and, among other things, will assess and manage material risks associated with fair value determinations, select, apply and test fair value methodologies, and oversee and evaluate pricing services and other valuation agents used in valuing the fund's investments. The Advisor is subject to Board oversight and reports to the Board information regarding the fair valuation process and related material matters. The Advisor carries out its responsibilities as valuation designee through its Pricing Committee.

The fund's investments will be valued at fair value in a manner consistent with Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure ("ASC Topic 820"), issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. There is no single standard for determining fair value in good faith. As a result, determining fair value requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each investment. Determinations of fair value involve subjective judgments and estimates.

If the Pricing Committee determines that reliable market quotations are not readily available, investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Pricing Committee in accordance with the valuation policies and procedures adopted by the Advisor that have been approved by the Board. Pursuant to these policies and procedures, the Pricing Committee may value portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available utilizing inputs from pricing services, valuation agents or appraisal firms, and other third-party sources.

With respect to certain asset-based lending investments, the Pricing Committee will perform detailed investment valuations, including an analysis of the investment purchase commitments, using both the market and income approaches, as appropriate, and consistent with the Advisor's valuation policies and procedures. There is no one methodology to estimate investment value and, in fact, for any one investment, value is generally best expressed as a range of values. The Pricing Committee will also engage one or more independent business appraisal firms(s) to conduct independent appraisals of investments to develop the range of values, from which the fund may derive a single estimate of value.

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Other portfolio securities are valued by various methods that are generally described below. Equity securities are generally valued at the last sale price or, for certain markets, the official closing price as of the close of the relevant exchange. Securities not traded on a particular day are valued using last available bid prices. A security that is listed or traded on more than one exchange is typically valued at the price on the exchange where the security was acquired or most likely will be sold. In certain instances, the Pricing Committee may determine to value equity securities using prices obtained from another exchange or market if trading on the exchange or market on which prices are typically obtained did not open for trading as scheduled, or if trading closed earlier than scheduled, and trading occurred as normal on another exchange or market. Equity securities traded principally in foreign markets are typically valued using the last sale price or official closing price in the relevant exchange or market, as adjusted by an independent pricing vendor to reflect fair value. On any day a foreign market is closed and the NYSE is open, any foreign securities will typically be valued using the last price or official closing price obtained from the relevant exchange on the prior business day adjusted based on information provided by an independent pricing vendor to reflect fair value. Debt obligations are typically valued based on evaluated prices provided by an independent pricing vendor. The value of securities denominated in foreign currencies is converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate supplied by an independent pricing vendor. Forward foreign currency contracts are valued at the prevailing forward rates which are based on foreign currency exchange spot rates and forward points supplied by an independent pricing vendor. Exchange-traded options are valued at the mid-price of the last quoted bid and ask prices. Futures contracts whose settlement prices are determined as of the close of the NYSE are typically valued based on the settlement price while other futures contracts are typically valued at the last traded price on the exchange on which they trade. Foreign equity index futures that trade in the electronic trading market subsequent to the close of regular trading may be valued at the last traded price in the electronic trading market as of the close of the NYSE, or may be fair valued based on fair value adjustment factors provided by an independent pricing vendor in order to adjust for events that may occur between the close of foreign exchanges or markets and the close of the NYSE. Swaps and unlisted options are generally valued using evaluated prices obtained from an independent pricing vendor. Shares of other open-end investment companies that are not ETFs (underlying funds) are valued based on the NAVs of such underlying funds.

Pricing vendors may use matrix pricing or valuation models that utilize certain inputs and assumptions to derive values, including transaction data, broker-dealer quotations, credit quality information, general market conditions, news, and other factors and assumptions. The fund may receive different prices when it sells odd-lot positions than it would receive for sales of institutional round lot positions. Pricing vendors generally value securities assuming orderly transactions of institutional round lot sizes, but the fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes.

The Pricing Committee engages in oversight activities with respect to pricing vendors, which includes, among other things, monitoring significant or unusual price fluctuations above predetermined tolerance levels from the prior day, back-testing of pricing vendor prices against actual trades, conducting periodic due diligence meetings and reviews, and periodically reviewing the inputs, assumptions and methodologies used by these vendors. Nevertheless, market quotations, official closing prices, or information furnished by a pricing vendor could be inaccurate, which could lead to a security being valued incorrectly.

The use of fair value pricing has the effect of valuing a security based upon the price the fund might reasonably expect to receive if it sold that security in an orderly transaction between market participants, but does not guarantee that the security can be sold at the fair value price. Further, because of the inherent uncertainty and subjective nature of fair valuation, a fair valuation price may differ significantly from the value that would have been used had a readily available market price for the investment existed and these differences could be material.

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION

Pursuant to the Subadvisory Agreement, the subadvisor is responsible for placing all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities of the fund. The Subadvisor has no formula for the distribution of the fund's brokerage business; rather it places orders for the purchase and sale of securities with the primary objective of obtaining the most favorable overall results for the fund and the Subadvisor's other clients. The cost of securities transactions for the fund primarily consists of brokerage commissions or dealer or underwriter spreads. Fixed-income securities and money market instruments generally are traded on a net basis and normally do not involve either brokerage commissions or transfer taxes.

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Occasionally, securities may be purchased directly from the issuer. For securities traded primarily in the OTC market, the Subadvisor will, where possible, deal directly with dealers who make a market in the securities unless better prices and execution are available elsewhere. Such dealers usually act as principals for their own account.

Approved Trading Counterparties

The Subadvisor maintains and periodically updates a list of approved trading counterparties. Portfolio managers may execute trades only with pre-approved broker-dealer/counterparties. The Subadvisor's Best Execution Committee reviews and approves all broker-dealers/counterparties.

Selection of Brokers, Dealers, and Counterparties

In placing orders for purchase and sale of securities and selecting trading counterparties (including banks or broker-dealers) to effect these transactions, the Subadvisor seeks prompt execution of orders at the most favorable prices reasonably obtainable. The Subadvisor will consider a number of factors when selecting trading counterparties, including the overall direct net economic result to the fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest available, but which ordinarily will not be higher than the generally prevailing competitive range), the financial strength, reputation and stability of the counterparty, the efficiency with which the transaction is effected, the ability to effect the transaction when a large block trade is involved, the availability of the counterparty to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future, and other matters involved in the receipt of brokerage and research services.

Best Execution

The Subadvisor owes a duty to its clients to seek best execution when executing trades on behalf of clients. "Best execution" generally is understood to mean the most favorable cost or net proceeds reasonably obtainable under the circumstances. However, the SEC has stated that in deciding what constitutes best execution, the determinative factor is not necessarily the lowest possible commission cost, but whether the transaction represents the best qualitative execution. The Subadvisor is not obligated to choose the broker-dealer offering the lowest available commission rate if, in the Subadvisor's reasonable judgment, there is a material risk that the total cost or proceeds from the transaction might be less favorable than may be obtained elsewhere, or, if a higher commission is justified by the trading provided

by the broker-dealer, or if other considerations dictate using a different broker-dealer. Negotiated commission rates generally will reflect overall execution requirements of the transaction without regard to whether the broker may provide other services in addition to execution.

The Subadvisor may pay higher or lower commissions to different brokers that provide different categories of services.

The reasonableness of brokerage commission is evaluated on an ongoing basis and at least semi-annually on a formal basis.

When more than one broker-dealer is believed to be capable of providing the best combination of price and execution with respect to a particular portfolio transaction, the Subadvisor will select a broker-dealer based on factors that include, as applicable, average commission rate charged by each broker, finance rates and related services, the brokers inventory of, and ability to obtain, " hard to locate" securities, the services provided by the broker other than execution (i.e., research or other services used in the management of client accounts), whether the execution and other services provided by the broker were satisfactory (taking into account such factors as the speed of execution, the certainty of execution, and the ability to handle large orders or orders requiring special handling), reason for using that broker (i.e., research, execution only, etc.), unusual trends (such as higher than usual commission rates or a large volume of business directed to an unknown broker), and potential conflicts of interest. The amount of brokerage allotted to a particular broker-dealer is not made pursuant to any binding agreement or commitment with any selected broker-dealer.

Soft Dollar Considerations

While the Subadvisor generally does not enter into traditional "soft dollar" arrangements, the Subadvisor cannot be certain that it does not "pay-up" for the execution of trades; thus, the fund may be deemed to be paying for research services provided by the broker. Research and related products or services furnished by brokers will be limited to services that constitute research within the meaning of Section 28(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Accordingly, research and related products or services may include, but are not limited to, written information and analyses concerning specific

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securities, companies or sectors; market, financial and economic studies and forecasts, as well as discussions with research personnel; financial and industry publications; and statistical and pricing services utilized in the investment management process. The research and related products or services may include both proprietary research created or developed by the broker-dealer and research created or developed by a third party. Research services obtained by the use of commissions arising from the fund's portfolio transactions may not only benefit the fund, but may be used by the Subadvisor in its other investment activities.

When the Subadvisor receives research or other products or services from brokers or dealers to whom it directs trades, it may receive a benefit because it does not have to produce or pay for such research, products, or services. The receipt of research and other "soft-dollar" benefits from broker-dealers may provide an incentive for the Subadvisor to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on its interest in receiving the research or other products or services, rather than on the fund's interest in receiving the most favorable execution. Using a broker who provides the Subadvisor with research or other "soft-dollar" benefits may cause the fund to pay commissions higher than the commissions charged by broker-dealers who do not so provide.

Previously, the Subadvisor has acquired the following types of research and related products or services from brokers with whom it did business: written information and analyses concerning specific securities, companies or sectors; market, financial and economic studies and forecasts, as well as discussions with research personnel; financial and industry publications; statistical and pricing services, along with software, databases and other technical and telecommunication services utilized in the investment management process.

Trade Aggregation by the Subadvisor

Because investment decisions often affect more than one client, the subadvisor frequently will attempt to acquire or dispose of the same security for more than one client at the same time. The Subadvisor, to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulations and advisory contracts, may aggregate purchases and sales of securities on behalf of its various clients for which it has discretion, provided that in the Subadvisor's opinion, all client accounts are treated equitably and fairly and that block trading will result in a more favorable overall execution. Trades will not be combined when a client has directed transactions to a particular broker-dealer or when the Subadvisor determines that combined orders would not be efficient or practical.

When appropriate, the Subadvisor will allocate such block orders at the average price obtained or according to a system that the Subadvisor considers to be fair to all clients over time. Generally speaking, the Subadvisor shall exercise best efforts to allocate such opportunity pro rata based upon the total notional capital of each client account devoted to such security, sector or strategy.

Affiliated Underwriting Transactions by the Subadvisor

The Board has approved procedures in conformity with Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act whereby the fund may purchase securities that are offered in underwritings in which an affiliate of the Advisor or a Subadvisor participates. These procedures prohibit the fund from directly or indirectly benefiting an Advisor or Subadvisor affiliate in connection with such underwritings. In addition, for underwritings where an Advisor or Subadvisor affiliate participates as a principal underwriter, certain restrictions may apply that could, among other things, limit the amount of securities that the fund could purchase.

ERISA AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Investors subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") and other tax-exempt entities, including employee benefit plans, individual retirement accounts (each, an IRA) and 401(k) Plans (collectively, "ERISA Plans") may purchase Shares. Because the fund is an investment company registered under the 1940 Act, the underlying assets of the fund will not be considered to be "plan assets" of an ERISA Plan investing in the fund for purposes of ERISA's fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction rules. Thus, the Advisor will not be a fiduciary within the meaning of ERISA with respect to the assets of any ERISA Plan that becomes a Shareholder, solely as a result of the ERISA Plan's investment in the fund.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING TAXES

The following discussion of U.S. federal income tax matters is based on the advice of K&L Gates LLP, counsel to the fund. The fund intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a RIC under the Code.

To qualify as a RIC for income tax purposes, the fund must derive at least 90% of its annual gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in stock, securities and currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. A "qualified publicly traded partnership" is a publicly traded partnership that meets certain requirements with respect to the nature of its income. To qualify as a RIC, the fund must also satisfy certain requirements with respect to the diversification of its assets. The fund must have, at the close of each quarter of the taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets represented by cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities that, in respect of any one issuer, do not represent more than 5% of the value of the assets of the fund nor more than 10% of the voting securities of that issuer. In addition, at those times not more than 25% of the market value (or fair value if market quotations are unavailable) of the fund's assets can be invested in securities (other than United States government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, or of two or more issuers, which the fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. If the fund fails to meet the annual gross income test described above, the fund will nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the test if (i) (a) such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and (b) the fund reports the failure, and (ii) the fund pays an excise tax equal to the excess non-qualifying income. If the fund fails to meet the asset diversification test described above with respect to any quarter, the fund will nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the requirements for such quarter if the fund cures such failure within 6 months and either (i) such failure is de minimis or (ii) (a) such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and (b) the fund reports the failure and pays an excise tax.

As a RIC, the fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the deductions for dividends paid) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes in each taxable year to its shareholders; provided that it distributes at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income for such taxable year. The fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest income and net capital gain. In order to avoid incurring a nondeductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax obligation, the Code requires that the fund distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain net income (which is the excess of its realized net long-term capital gain over its realized net short-term capital loss), generally computed on the basis of the one-year period ending on December 31 of such year, after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards and (iii) 100% of any ordinary income and capital gain net income from the prior year (as previously computed) that were not paid out during such year and on which the fund paid no U.S. federal income tax. Under current law, provided that the fund qualifies as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the fund should not be liable for any income, corporate excise or franchise tax in the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

If the fund does not qualify as a RIC or fails to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement for any taxable year, subject to the opportunity to cure such failures under applicable provisions of the Code as described above, the fund's taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and distributions from earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain (if any), will generally constitute ordinary dividend income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the extent so designated by the fund, such distributions generally would be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of individual and other noncorporate shareholders and (ii) for the dividends received deduction ("DRD") in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, in order to requalify for taxation as a RIC, the fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make certain distributions.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions paid out of the fund's current or accumulated earnings and profits will, except in the case of distributions of qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends described below, be taxable as ordinary dividend income. Certain income distributions paid by the fund (whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional fund shares) to individual taxpayers that are attributable to the fund's qualified dividend income and

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capital gain are taxed at rates applicable to net long-term capital gains (maximum rates of 20% 15%, or 0% for individuals depending on the amount of their taxable income for the year). This tax treatment applies only if certain holding period requirements and other requirements are satisfied by the shareholder and the dividends are attributable to qualified dividend income received by the fund itself. For this purpose, "qualified dividend income" means dividends received by the fund from United States corporations and "qualified foreign corporations," provided that the fund satisfies certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations. Only a small portion, if any of the distributions from the fund may consist of income eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax will also apply in the case of some individuals.

Shareholders receiving any distribution from the fund in the form of additional shares pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan will be treated as receiving a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares received, determined as of the reinvestment date.

Distributions of net capital gain, if any, reported as capital gains dividends are taxable to a shareholder as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long the shareholder has held fund shares. A distribution of an amount in excess of the fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated by a shareholder as a return of capital which is applied against and reduces the shareholder's basis in his or her shares. To the extent that the amount of any such distribution exceeds the shareholder's basis in his or her shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from a sale or exchange of the shares. Distributions of gains from the sale of investments that the fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income.

The fund may elect to retain its net capital gain or a portion thereof for investment and be taxed at corporate rates on the amount retained. In such case, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who will be treated as if each received a distribution of his pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will (i) be required to report his pro rata share of such gain on his tax return as long-term capital gain, (ii) receive a refundable tax credit for his pro rata share of tax paid by the fund on the gain and (iii) increase the tax basis for his shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Selling shareholders generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the shareholder's adjusted tax basis in the shares sold and the sale proceeds. If the shares are held as a capital asset, the gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss. The current maximum tax rate applicable to net capital gains recognized by individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers is (i) the same as the maximum ordinary income tax rate for gains recognized on the sale of capital assets held for one year or less, or (ii) for gains recognized on the sale of capital assets held for more than one year (as well as certain capital gain distributions) (20%, 15%, or 0% for individuals depending on the amount of their taxable income for the year). An additional 3.8% Medicare tax will also apply in the case of some individuals.

Any loss realized upon the sale or exchange of fund shares with a holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received (or amounts designated as undistributed capital gains) with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of a loss realized on a sale or other disposition of fund shares may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shareholder acquires other shares of the fund (whether through the reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the Common Shares. Any disallowed loss will result in an adjustment to the shareholder's tax basis in some or all of the other shares acquired.

Sales charges paid upon a purchase of shares cannot be taken into account for purposes of determining gain or loss on a sale of the shares before the 91st day after their purchase to the extent a sales charge is reduced or eliminated in a subsequent acquisition of shares of the fund (or of another fund), during the period beginning on the date of such sale and ending on January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such sale was made, pursuant to the reinvestment or any exchange privilege. Any disregarded amounts will result in an adjustment to the shareholder's tax basis in some or all of any other shares acquired.

For federal income tax purposes, the fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss incurred in any year to offset net capital gains, if any, in any subsequent year until such loss carry forwards have been fully used. Capital losses carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. The fund's ability to utilize capital losses in a given year or in total may be limited. To the extent subsequent net capital gains are offset by such losses, they would not result in federal income tax liability to the fund and would not be distributed as such to shareholders.

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Certain net investment income received by an individual having adjusted gross income in excess of $200,000 (or $250,000 for married individuals filing jointly) will be subject to a tax of 3.8%. Undistributed net investment income of trusts and estates in excess of a specified amount will also be subject to this tax. Dividends and capital gains distributed by the fund, and gain realized on redemption of fund shares, will constitute investment income of the type subject to this tax.

Only a small portion, if any, of the distributions from the fund may qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations, subject to the limitations applicable under the Code. The qualifying portion is limited to properly designated distributions attributed to dividend income (if any) the fund receives from certain stock in U.S. domestic corporations and the deduction is subject to holding period requirements and debt-financing limitations under the Code.

If the fund should have dividend income that qualifies for the reduced tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income, the maximum amount allowable will be designated by the fund. This amount will be reflected on Form 1099-DIV for the current calendar year.

Dividends and distributions on the fund's shares generally are subject to U.S. federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the fund's realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder's investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the fund's net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized, or realized but not distributed. Such realized gains may be required to be distributed even when the fund's net asset value also reflects unrealized losses. Certain distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record of such month and paid in the following January will be taxed to shareholders as if received on December 31 of the year in which they were declared. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of a taxable year of the fund may be "spilled back" and treated as paid by the fund (except for purposes of the non-deductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax) during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made.

The fund will inform shareholders of the source and tax status of all distributions promptly after the close of each calendar year.

The fund (or its administrative agent) reports to the IRS and furnish to shareholders the cost basis information and holding period for the fund's shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, and repurchased by the fund on or after that date. The fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several permitted cost basis methods. In the absence of an election, the fund will use a default cost basis method. The cost basis method a shareholder elects may not be changed with respect to a repurchase of shares after the settlement date of the repurchase. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best permitted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the new cost basis reporting rules apply to them.

The benefits of the reduced tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income may be impacted by the application of the alternative minimum tax to individual shareholders.

Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisor to determine the suitability of shares of the fund as an investment through such plans.

The fund may invest in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income, and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the fund if it acquires such obligations in order to reduce the risk of distributing insufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company and to seek to avoid becoming subject to federal income or excise tax.

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The fund is required to accrue income on any debt securities that have more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount (or debt securities acquired at a market discount, if the fund elects to include market discount in income currently) prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. The mark to market or constructive sale rules applicable to certain options, futures, forwards, short sales or other transactions also may require the fund to recognize income or gain without a concurrent receipt of cash. Additionally, some countries restrict repatriation, which may make it difficult or impossible for the fund to obtain cash corresponding to its earnings or assets in those countries. However, the fund must distribute to shareholders for each taxable year substantially all of its net income and net capital gains, including such income or gain, to qualify as a regulated investment company and avoid liability for any federal income or excise tax. Therefore, the fund may have to dispose of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or borrow cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements.

The fund may recognize gain (but not loss) from a constructive sale of certain "appreciated financial positions" if the fund enters into a short sale, offsetting notional principal contract, or forward contract transaction with respect to the appreciated position or substantially identical property. Appreciated financial positions subject to this constructive sale treatment include interests (including options and forward contracts and short sales) in stock and certain other instruments. Constructive sale treatment does not apply if the transaction is closed out not later than thirty days after the end of the taxable year in which the transaction was initiated, and the underlying appreciated securities position is held unhedged for at least the next sixty days after the hedging transaction is closed.

Gain or loss from a short sale of property generally is considered as capital gain or loss to the extent the property used to close the short sale constitutes a capital asset in the fund's hands. Except with respect to certain situations where the property used to close a short sale has a long-term holding period on the date the short sale is entered into, gains on short sales generally are short-term capital gains. A loss on a short sale will be treated as a long-term capital loss if, on the date of the short sale, "substantially identical property" has been held by the fund for more than one year. In addition, entering into a short sale may result in suspension of the holding period of "substantially identical property" held by the fund.

Gain or loss on a short sale generally will not be realized until such time as the short sale is closed. However, as described above in the discussion of constructive sales, if the fund holds a short sale position with respect to securities that have appreciated in value, and it then acquires property that is the same as or substantially identical to the property sold short, the fund generally will recognize gain on the date it acquires such property as if the short sale were closed on such date with such property. Similarly, if the fund holds an appreciated financial position with respect to securities and then enters into a short sale with respect to the same or substantially identical property, the fund generally will recognize gain as if the appreciated financial position were sold at its fair market value on the date it enters into the short sale. The subsequent holding period for any appreciated financial position that is subject to these constructive sale rules will be determined as if such position were acquired on the date of the constructive sale.

The fund's transactions in futures contracts and options will be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital, or short-term or long-term), may accelerate recognition of income to the fund and may defer fund losses. These rules could, therefore, affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require the fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), and (b) may cause the fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement for qualifying to be taxed as a RIC and the distribution requirement for avoiding excise taxes. The fund will monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any futures contract, option or hedged investment in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the fund from being taxed as a RIC.

For the fund's options and futures contracts that qualify as "section 1256 contracts," Code Section 1256 generally will require any gain or loss arising from the lapse, closing out or exercise of such positions to be treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. In addition, the fund generally will be required to "mark to market" (i.e., treat as sold for fair market value) each outstanding "section 1256 contract" position at the close of each taxable year (and on December 31 of each year for excise tax purposes). If a "section 1256 contract" held by the fund at the end of

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a taxable year is sold in the following year, the amount of any gain or loss realized on such sale will be adjusted to reflect the gain or loss previously taken into account under the "mark to market" rules. The fund's options that do not qualify as "section 1256 contracts" under the Code generally will be treated as equity options governed by Code Section 1234. Pursuant to Code Section 1234, if a written option expires unexercised, the premium received is short-term capital gain to the fund. If the fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the premium received for writing the option, and the amount paid to close out its position generally is short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option written by the fund that is not a "section 1256 contract" is cash settled, any resulting gain or loss will be short-term.

The Code contains special rules that apply to "straddles," defined generally as the holding of "offsetting positions with respect to personal property." For example, the straddle rules normally apply when a taxpayer holds stock and an offsetting option with respect to such stock or substantially identical stock or securities. In general, investment positions will be offsetting if there is a substantial diminution in the risk of loss from holding one position by reason of holding one or more other positions. If two or more positions constitute a straddle, recognition of a realized loss from one position generally must be deferred to the extent of unrecognized gain in an offsetting position. In addition, long-term capital gain may be recharacterized as short-term capital gain, or short-term capital loss as long-term capital loss. Interest and other carrying charges allocable to personal property that is part of a straddle are not currently deductible but must instead be capitalized. Similarly, "wash sale" rules apply to prevent the recognition of loss by the fund from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a case in which identical or substantially identical stock or securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has been acquired within a prescribed period.

The Code allows a taxpayer to elect to offset gain and loss from positions that are part of a "mixed straddle." A "mixed straddle" is any straddle in which one or more but not all positions are "section 1256 contracts." The fund may be eligible to elect to establish one or more mixed straddle accounts for certain of its mixed straddle trading positions. The mixed straddle account rules require a daily "marking to market" of all open positions in the account and a daily netting of gain and loss from all positions in the account. At the end of a taxable year, the annual net gain or loss from the mixed straddle account are recognized for tax purposes. The net capital gain or loss is treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss if attributable to the "section 1256 contract" positions, or all short-term capital gain or loss if attributable to the non-section 1256 contract positions.

Further, certain of the fund's investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) convert dividends that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income into short-term capital gain or ordinary income taxed at the higher rate applicable to ordinary income, (ii) treat dividends that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction as ineligible for such treatment, (iii) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (iv) convert long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (v) convert an ordinary loss or deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (vi) cause the fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (vii) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (viii) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions, and (ix) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement described above. While it may not always be successful in doing so, the fund will seek to avoid or minimize any adverse tax consequences of its investment practices.

Dividends and interest received, and gains realized, by the fund on foreign securities may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and United States possessions (collectively "foreign taxes") that would reduce the return on its securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States, however, may reduce or eliminate foreign taxes, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains in respect of investments by U.S. investors. Depending on the number of foreign shareholders in the fund, however, such reduced foreign withholding tax rates may not be available for investments in certain jurisdictions.

The fund may invest in the stock of "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs"). A PFIC is any foreign corporation (with certain exceptions) that, in general, meets either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. Under certain circumstances, the fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" received on the stock of a PFIC or of any gain from disposition of that stock (collectively "PFIC income"), plus interest thereon, even if the fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the fund's investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent it distributes that income to its shareholders.

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If the fund invests in a PFIC and elects to treat the PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" ("QEF"), then in lieu of the foregoing tax and interest obligation, the fund will be required to include in income each year its pro ratashare of the QEF's annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain-which it may have to distribute to satisfy the distribution requirement and avoid imposition of the excise tax-even if the QEF does not distribute those earnings and gain to the fund. In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make this election because of certain of its requirements.

The fund may elect to "mark-to-market" its stock in any PFIC. "Marking-to-market," in this context, means including in ordinary income each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of a PFIC's stock over the fund's adjusted basis therein as of the end of that year. Pursuant to the election, the fund also would be allowed to deduct (as an ordinary, not capital, loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains (reduced by any prior deductions) with respect to that stock included by the fund for prior taxable years under the election. The fund's adjusted basis in each PFIC's stock with respect to which it has made this election will be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and deductions taken thereunder. The reduced rates for "qualified dividend income" are not applicable to (i) dividends paid by a foreign corporation that is a PFIC, (ii) income inclusions from a QEF election with respect to a PFIC, and (iii) ordinary income from a "mark-to-market" election with respect to a PFIC.

Under Section 988 of the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time the fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such liabilities generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts and the disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rate between the acquisition and disposition dates, also are treated as ordinary income or loss.

If a shareholder realizes a loss on disposition of the fund's shares of $2 million or more in any single taxable year (or $4 million or more in any combination of taxable years in which the transaction is entered into and the five succeeding taxable years) for an individual shareholder, corporation or Trust or $10 million or more in any single taxable year (or $20 million or more in any combination of taxable years in which the transaction is entered into and the five succeeding taxable years) for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Amounts paid by the fund to individuals and certain other shareholders who have not provided the fund with their correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") and certain certifications required by the IRS as well as shareholders with respect to whom the fund has received certain information from the IRS or a broker may be subject to "backup" withholding of U.S. federal income tax arising from the fund's taxable dividends and other distributions as well as the gross proceeds of sales of shares, at a rate of 24%. An individual's TIN generally is his or her social security number. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against such shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability, if any; provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

Distributions will not be subject to backup withholding to the extent they are subject to the withholding tax on foreign persons described in the next paragraph.

Dividend distributions are in general subject to a U.S. withholding tax of 30% when paid to a nonresident alien individual, foreign estate or trust, a foreign corporation, or a foreign partnership ("foreign shareholder"). Persons who are resident in a country, such as the U.K., that has an income tax treaty with the U.S. may be eligible for a reduced withholding rate (upon filing of appropriate forms), and are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability and effect of such a treaty. Distributions of capital gain dividends paid by the fund to a foreign shareholder, and any gain realized upon the sale of fund shares by such a shareholder, will ordinarily not be subject to

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U.S. taxation, unless the recipient or seller is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year. Such distributions and sale proceeds may be subject, however, to backup withholding, unless the foreign investor certifies his non-U.S. residency status. Also, foreign shareholders with respect to whom income from the fund is "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by such shareholder will in general be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis on the income derived from the fund at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents or domestic corporations, whether such income is received in cash or reinvested in shares, and, in the case of a foreign corporation, also may be subject to a branch profits tax. Properly-designated dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they are (i) "interest-related dividends" paid in respect of the fund's "qualified net interest income" (generally, the fund's U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) "short-term capital gain dividends" paid in respect of the fund's "qualified short-term gains" (generally, the excess of the fund's net short-term capital gain over the fund's long-term capital loss for such taxable year). Depending on its circumstances, the fund may designate all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such interest-related dividends or as short-term capital gain dividends and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. The fund's capital gain distributions are also exempt from such withholding. Foreign shareholders who are residents in a country with an income tax treaty with the United States may obtain different tax results, and are urged to consult their tax advisors.

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. source payments, including interest (even if the interest is otherwise exempt from the withholding rules described above), dividends and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical income ("Withholdable Payments"), if paid to a foreign financial institution, unless such institution registers with the IRS and enters into an agreement with the IRS or a governmental authority in its own jurisdiction to collect and provide substantial information regarding U.S. account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, with such institution. The legislation also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on Withholdable Payments made to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity. These withholding and reporting requirements generally apply to income payments made after June 30, 2014. A withholding tax that would apply to the gross proceeds from the disposition of certain investment property and that was scheduled to go into effect in 2019 would be eliminated by proposed regulations (having an immediate effect while pending). Holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this recently enacted legislation on their investment in the fund.

The foregoing briefly summarizes some of the important U.S. federal income tax consequences to Common Shareholders of investing in Common Shares, reflects U.S. federal tax law as of the date of this SAI, and does not address special tax rules applicable to certain types of investors, such as corporate and foreign investors. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes that an investor is a United States person and holds Common Shares as a capital asset. This discussion is based upon present provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the courts or the IRS retroactively or prospectively. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding other U.S. federal, state or local tax considerations that may be applicable to their particular circumstances, as well as any proposed tax law changes.

OTHER INFORMATION

The fund is an organization of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust may, in certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. The Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability in connection with fund property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the fund. The Declaration of Trust also provides for indemnification out of fund property of any shareholder held personally liable for the claims and liabilities to which a shareholder may become subject by sole reason of being or having been a shareholder. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the fund itself is unable to meet its obligations. The fund has been advised by its counsel that the risk of any shareholder incurring any liability for the obligations of the fund is remote.

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The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law; but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to the fund or its shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. Voting rights are not cumulative with respect to the election of Trustees, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees and, in such event, the holders of the remaining less than 50% of the shares voting on the matter will not be able to elect any Trustees.

The foregoing description of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws are qualified in their entirety by the full text of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, each effective as of January 4, 2023, which is available by writing to the Secretary of the fund at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, and are available on the SEC's website. The Declaration of Trust also is available on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' website.

CUSTODIAN

State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street") located at One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, currently acts as custodian with respect to the fund's assets. State Street has selected various banks and trust companies in foreign countries to maintain custody of certain foreign securities. State Street is authorized to use the facilities of the Depository Trust Company, the Participants Trust Company and the book-entry system of the Federal Reserve Banks.

TRANSFER AGENT

SS&C GIDS, Inc. ("SS&C") located at 80 Lamberton Road, Windsor, Connecticut 06095, currently acts as transfer agent and dividend paying agent with respect to the fund's assets.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Ernst & Young LLP is the independent registered public accounting firm for the fund and audits the fund's financial statements.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements of the fund for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023and for the semi-annual reporting period ended June 30, 2024, including the related financial highlights that appear in the Prospectus, are incorporated herein by reference from the fund's most recent Annual Report to Shareholders and Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders of the fund dated December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, respectively.

47

Manulife Private Credit Plus Fund

Statement of Additional Information

September 18, 2024

Investment Advisor

John Hancock Investment Management LLC

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

1-800-225-6020

Subadvisor

Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC

197 Clarendon Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Congress Street, Suite 1

Boston, Massachusetts 02114

Transfer Agent

SS&C GIDS, Inc.

80 Lamberton Road

Windsor, Connecticut 06095

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP

200 Clarendon Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

48

APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS

DESCRIPTIONS OF CREDIT RATING SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS

The ratings of Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), S&P Global Ratings, Fitch Ratings ("Fitch"), Kroll Bond Rating Agency ("KBRA") and DBRS Morningstar represent their respective opinions as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact as to the quality of various long-term and short-term debt instruments they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, debt instruments with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while debt instruments of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield.

Ratings do not constitute recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any security, nor do they comment on the adequacy of market price, the suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature or taxability of any payments of any security.

IN GENERAL

Moody's.Ratings assigned on Moody's global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities.

Note that the content of this Appendix A, to the extent that it relates to the ratings determined by Moody's, is derived directly from Moody's electronic publication of "Ratings Symbols and Definitions" which is available at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

S&P Global Ratings. An S&P Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P Global Ratings' view of the obligor's capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy.

Note that the content of this Appendix A, to the extent that it relates to the ratings determined by S&P Global Ratings, is derived directly from S&P Global Ratings' electronic publication of "S&P's Global Ratings Definitions," which is available at: https://www.standardandpoors.com/en_US/web/guest/article/-/view/sourceId/504352.

Fitch. Fitch's opinions are forward looking and include Fitch's views of future performance. In many cases, these views on future performance may include forecasts, which may in turn (i) be informed by non-disclosable management projections, (ii) be based on a trend (sector or wider economic cycle) at a certain stage in the cycle, or (iii) be based on historical performance. As a result, while ratings may include cyclical considerations and attempt to assess the likelihood of repayment at "ultimate/final maturity," material changes in economic conditions and expectations (for a particular issuer) may result in a rating change.

The terms "investment grade" and "speculative grade" have established themselves over time as shorthand to describe the categories 'AAA' to 'BBB' (investment grade) and 'BB' to 'D' (speculative grade). The terms investment grade and speculative grade are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while

A-1

ratings in the speculative categories either signal a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred. For the convenience of investors, Fitch may also include issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated on its web page. Such issues are also denoted as 'NR'.

Note that the content of this Appendix A, to the extent that it relates to the ratings determined by Fitch, is derived directly from Fitch's electronic publication of "Definitions of Ratings and Other Forms of Opinion" which is available at: https://www.fitchratings.com/research/structured-finance/rating-definitions-21-03-2022.

GENERAL PURPOSE RATINGS

LONG-TERM ISSUE RATINGS

MOODY'S GLOBAL LONG-TERM RATING SCALE

Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

Aaa:Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

Aa:Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A:Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa:Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba:Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B:Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa:Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca:Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C:Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Note: Addition of a Modifier 1, 2 or 3: Moody's appends numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a "(hyb)" indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment.

Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

A-2

S&P GLOBAL RATINGS LONG-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS

Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

AAA:An obligation rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA:An obligation rated 'AA' differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A:An obligation rated 'A' is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB:An obligation rated 'BBB' exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

BB, B, CCC, CC and C:Obligations rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC' 'CC' and 'C' are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. 'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation and 'C' the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB:An obligation rated 'BB' is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B:An obligation rated 'B' is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated 'BB', but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

CCC:An obligation rated 'CCC' is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

CC:An obligation rated 'CC' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The 'CC' rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

C:An obligation rated 'C' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

D:An obligation rated 'D' is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

Note: Addition of a Plus (+) or minus (-) sign: The ratings from 'AA' to 'CCC' may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

A-3

Dual Ratings -Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, 'AAA/A-1+' or 'A-1+/A-1'). With U. S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, 'SP-1+/A-1+').

FITCH CORPORATE FINANCE OBLIGATIONS - LONG-TERM RATING SCALES

Ratings of individual securities or financial obligations of a corporate issuer address relative vulnerability to default on an ordinal scale. In addition, for financial obligations in corporate finance, a measure of recovery given default on that liability is also included in the rating assessment. This notably applies to covered bond ratings, which incorporate both an indication of the probability of default and of the recovery given a default of this debt instrument.

AAA: Highest credit quality. 'AAA' ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA: Very high credit quality. 'AA' ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A: High credit quality. 'A' ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB: Good credit quality. 'BBB' ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

BB: Speculative. 'BB' ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

B: Highly speculative. 'B' ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

CCC: Substantial credit risk. "CCC" ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

CC: Very high levels of credit risk. "CC" ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

C: Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. "C" indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

Corporate finance defaulted obligations typically are not assigned 'RD' or 'D' ratings but are instead rated in the 'CCC' to 'C' rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

Note: Addition of a Plus (+) or minus (-) sign:Within rating categories, Fitch may use modifiers. The modifiers "+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. For example, the rating category 'AA' has three notch-specific rating levels ('AA+'; 'AA'; 'AA-'; each a rating level). Such suffixes are not added to 'AAA' ratings and ratings below the 'CCC' category. For the short-term rating category of 'F1', a '+' may be appended. For Viability Ratings, the modifiers '+' or '-' may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within categories from 'aa' to 'ccc'.

A-4

CORPORATE AND TAX-EXEMPT COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

SHORT-TERM ISSUE RATINGS

MOODY'S GLOBAL SHORT-TERM RATING SCALE

Ratings assigned on Moody's global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

Moody's employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

P-1:Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-2:Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-3:Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

NP:Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

The following indicates the long-term ratings consistent with different short-term ratings when such long-term ratings exist. (Note: Structured finance short-term ratings are usually based either on the short-term rating of a support provider or on an assessment of cash flows available to retire the financial obligation).

S&P'S SHORT-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS

S&P Global Ratings' short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. Medium term notes are assigned long-term ratings. Ratings are graded into several categories, ranging from 'A' for the highest-quality obligations to 'D' for the lowest. These categories are as follows:

A-1:A short-term obligation rated 'A-1' is rated in the highest category by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2:A short-term obligation rated 'A-2' is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3:A short-term obligation rated 'A-3' exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

B:A short-term obligation rated 'B' is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

C:A short-term obligation rated 'C' is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

D:A short-term obligation rated 'D' is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

A-5

Dual Ratings -Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, 'AAA/A-1+' or 'A-1+/A-1'). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, 'SP-1+/A-1+').

FITCH'S SHORT-TERM ISSUER OR OBLIGATION RATINGS

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as "short term" based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

F1:Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added ("+") to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2:Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

F3:Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

B:Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C:High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

RD:Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

D:Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

TAX-EXEMPT NOTE RATINGS

MOODY'S U.S. MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS

While the global short-term 'prime' rating scale is applied to US municipal tax-exempt commercial A-8 paper, these programs are typically backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities and their short-term prime ratings usually map to the long-term rating of the enhancing bank or financial institution and not to the municipality's rating. Other short-term municipal obligations, which generally have different funding sources for repayment, are rated using two additional short-term rating scales (i.e., the MIG and VMIG scale discussed below).

The Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) scale is used to rate US municipal bond anticipation notes of up to five years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer's long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels-MIG 1 through MIG 3-while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated SG.

A-6

MIG 1:This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

MIG 2:This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

MIG 3:This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

SG:This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VMIG) ratings of demand obligations with unconditional liquidity support are mapped from the short-term debt rating (or counterparty assessment) of the support provider, or the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support, with VMIG 1 corresponding to P-1, VMIG 2 to P-2, VMIG 3 to P-3 and SG to not prime. For example, the VMIG rating for an industrial revenue bond with Company XYZ as the underlying obligor would normally have the same numerical modifier as Company XYZ's prime rating. Transitions of VMIG ratings of demand obligations with conditional liquidity support, as shown in the diagram below, differ from transitions on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer's long-term rating drops below investment grade.

VMIG 1:This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 2:This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 3:This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

SG:This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

For more complete discussion of these rating transitions, please see Annex B of Moody's Methodology titled Variable Rate Instruments Supported by Conditional Liquidity Facilities.

A-7

S&P'S GLOBAL RATINGS' MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM NOTE RATINGS

MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM NOTE RATINGS

An S&P Global Ratings municipal note rating reflects S&P Global Ratings' opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P Global Ratings' analysis will review the following considerations:

Note rating symbols are as follows:

SP-1:Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

SP-2:Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

SP-3:Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

D:'D' is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed exchange offer, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

FITCH PUBLIC FINANCE RATINGS

See FITCH SHORT-TERM ISSUER OR OBLIGATIONS RATINGS above.

KROLL - LONG-TERM CREDI RATINGS

Kroll Bond Rating Agency ("KBRA") assigns credit ratings to issuers and their obligations using the same rating scale. In either case, KBRA's ratings are intended to reflect both the probability of default and severity of loss in the event of default, with greater emphasis on probability of default at higher rating categories. For obligations, the determination of expected loss severity is, among other things, a function of the seniority of the claim. Generally speaking, issuer-level ratings assume a loss severity consistent with a senior unsecured claim. KBRA appends an (sf) indicator to ratings assigned to structured obligations. These definitions should be used in conjunction with KBRA's rating methodologies.

A-8

KBRA may append - or + modifiers to ratings in categories AA through CCC to indicate, respectively, upper and lower risk levels within the broader category.

DBRS MORNINGSTAR

DBRS Morningstar has several rating scales related to credit ratings which are described on DBRS Morningstar's website: dbrsmorningstar.com/understanding-ratings

57

APPENDIX B

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

ALTERNATIVE FUNDS

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

August 27, 2024

Overview

The Funds are required to disclose their proxy voting policies and procedures in their registration statements and, pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act, file annually with the Securities and Exchange Commission and make available to shareholders its actual proxy voting record.

Investment Company Act

An investment company is required to disclose in its SAI, or private placement memorandum, as applicable,either (a) a summary of the policies and procedures that it uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities or (b) a copy of its proxy voting policies.

The Funds are also required by Rule 30b1-4 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 to file Form N-PX annually with the SEC, which contains a record of how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities. For each matter relating to a portfolio security considered at any shareholder meeting, Form N-PX is required to include, among other information, the name of the issuer of the security, a brief identification of the matter voted on, whether and how the Funds cast their votes, and whether such votes were for or against management. In addition, the Funds are required to disclose in their SAIs, or private placement memoranda, as applicable, and their annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders that such voting record may be obtained by shareholders, either by calling a toll-free number through the Funds' website, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov.

Advisers Act

Under Advisers Act Rule 206(4)-6, investment advisers are required to adopt proxy voting policies and procedures, and investment companies typically rely on the policies of their advisers or sub-advisers.

Policy

The majority of the Independent Boards of Trustees (the "Boards") of the Funds, have adopted these proxy voting policies and procedures (the "Fund Proxy Policy").

It is the Advisers' policy to comply with Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act and Rule 30b1-4 of the 1940 Act as described above. In general, the Advisers defer proxy voting decisions to the applicable Sub-adviser(s). It is the policy of the Funds to delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to its Adviser or, if the applicable Fund's Adviser has delegated portfolio management responsibilities to the Sub-adviser, to the Sub-adviser, subject to the Board's continued oversight. The Sub-advisers shall vote all proxies relating to securities held by the applicable Fund and, in that connection, and subject to any further policies and procedures contained herein, shall use proxy voting policies and procedures adopted by the Sub-advisers in conformance with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act.

If an instance occurs where a conflict of interest arises between the shareholders and the applicable Sub-adviser, however, the Advisers retain the right to influence and/or direct the conflicting proxy voting decisions in the best interest of shareholders.

B-1

Delegation of Proxy Voting Responsibilities

It is the policy of the Funds to delegate the responsibility for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the applicable Fund to its Adviser or, if its Adviser has delegated portfolio management responsibilities to the applicable Sub-adviser, to the Sub-adviser, subject to the applicable Board's continued oversight. The relevant Sub-adviser shall vote all proxies relating to securities held by the applicable Fund and in that connection, and subject to any further policies and procedures contained herein, shall use proxy voting policies and procedures adopted by the relevant Sub-adviser in conformance with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act").

Except as noted below under Material Conflicts of Interest, the Fund Proxy Policy shall incorporate that adopted by the Sub-advisers with respect to voting proxies held by its clients (the "Sub-adviser Proxy Policy"). The Sub-adviser Proxy Policy, as it may be amended from time to time, is hereby incorporated by reference into the Fund Proxy Policy. The Sub-advisers are directed to comply with these policies and procedures in voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds, subject to oversight by the Advisers and by the Boards. The Advisers retain the responsibility, and are directed, to oversee the applicable Sub-adviser's compliance with these policies and procedures, and to adopt and implement such additional policies and procedures as it deems necessary or appropriate to discharge its oversight responsibility. Additionally, the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO") shall conduct such monitoring and supervisory activities as the CCO or the Boards deem necessary or appropriate in order to appropriately discharge the CCO's role in overseeing the Sub-advisers' compliance with these policies and procedures.

The delegation by the Boards of the authority to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities of the Funds is entirely voluntary and may be revoked by the Boards, in whole or in part, at any time.

Voting Proxies of Underlying Funds of a Fund of Funds

With respect to voting proxies relating to the shares of an underlying fund (an "Underlying Fund") held by a Fund operating as a fund of funds (a "Fund of Funds") in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act where the Underlying Fund has shareholders other than the Fund of Funds which are not other Fund of Funds, the Fund of Funds will vote proxies relating to shares of the Underlying Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such Underlying Fund shares.

In the event that one or more Funds of Funds are the sole shareholders of an Underlying Fund, the Adviser(s) to the Fund of Funds will vote proxies relating to the shares of the Underlying Fund as set forth below unless the applicable Board elects to have the Fund of Funds seek voting instructions from the shareholders of the Funds of Funds in which case the Fund of Funds will vote proxies relating to shares of the Underlying Fund in the same proportion as the instructions timely received from such shareholders.

In the event that the Underlying Fund and the Fund of Funds are voting on substantially identical proposals (the "Substantially Identical Proposal"), then the Adviser(s) or the Fund of Funds will vote proxies relating to shares of the Underlying Fund in the same proportion as the vote of the shareholders of the Fund of Funds on the Substantially Identical Proposal.

In the event that the Fund of Funds is voting on a proposal of the Underlying Fund and the Fund of Funds is not also voting on a substantially identical proposal and there is no material conflict of interest between the interests of the shareholders of the Underlying Fund and the Adviser(s) relating to the Proposal, then the Adviser(s) will vote proxies relating to the shares of the Underlying Fund pursuant to its Proxy Voting Procedures.

B-2

In the event that the Fund of Funds is voting on a proposal of the Underlying Fund and the Fund of Funds is not also voting on a substantially identical proposal and there is a material conflict of interest between the interests of the shareholders of the Underlying Fund and the Adviser(s) relating to the Proposal, then the Fund of Funds will seek voting instructions from the shareholders of the Fund of Funds on the proposal and will vote proxies relating to shares of the Underlying Fund in the same proportion as the instructions timely received from such shareholders. A material conflict is generally defined as a proposal involving a matter in which the Adviser(s) or one of its affiliates has a material economic interest.

Material Conflicts of Interest

If (1) the Sub-advisers become aware that a vote presents a material conflict between the interests of (a) shareholders of the applicable Fund; and (b) the applicable Fund's Adviser, Sub-adviser, principal underwriter, or any of their affiliated persons, and (2) the applicable Sub-adviser does not propose to vote on the particular issue in the manner prescribed by its Sub-adviser Proxy Policy or the material conflict of interest procedures set forth in its Sub-adviser Proxy Policy are otherwise triggered, then the relevant Sub-adviser will follow the material conflict of interest procedures set forth in its Sub-adviser Proxy Policy when voting such proxies.

If the Sub-adviser Proxy Policy provides that in the case of a material conflict of interest between shareholders of the Funds and another party, the applicable Sub-adviser will ask the relevant Board to provide voting instructions, the said Sub-adviser shall vote the proxies, in its discretion, as recommended by an independent third party, in the manner prescribed by its applicable Sub-adviser Proxy Policy or abstain from voting the proxies.

Proxy Voting Committee(s)

The Advisers will from time to time, and on such temporary or longer-term basis as they deem appropriate, establish one or more Proxy Voting Committees. A Proxy Voting Committee shall include the Advisers' CCO and may include legal counsel. The terms of reference and the procedures under which a Proxy Voting Committee will operate will be reviewed from time to time by the Legal and Compliance Department. Records of the deliberations and proxy voting recommendations of a Proxy Voting Committee will be maintained in accordance with applicable law, if any, and these Proxy Procedures. Requested shareholder proposals or other Shareholder Advocacy in the name of the Funds must be submitted for consideration pursuant to the Shareholder Advocacy Policy and Procedures.

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures in the Funds' Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") or Private Placement Memoranda, as applicable

The Funds shall include in their SAIs, or private placement memoranda, as applicable, a summary of the Fund Proxy Policy and of the applicable Sub-adviser Proxy Policy included therein. (In lieu of including a summary of these policies and procedures, the Funds may include each full Fund Proxy Policy and Sub-adviser Proxy Policy in their SAIs, or private placement memoranda, as applicable.)

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures in Annual and Semi-Annual Shareholder Reports

The Funds shall disclose in annual and semi-annual shareholder reports that a description of the Fund Proxy Policy, including the Sub-adviser Proxy Policy, and the applicable Fund's proxy voting record for the most recent 12 months are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") website, and without charge, upon request, by calling a specified toll-free telephone number. The Funds will send these documents within three business days of receipt of a request, by first-class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery. The Fund Administration Department is responsible for preparing appropriate disclosure regarding proxy voting for inclusion in shareholder reports and distributing reports. The Legal Department supporting the Funds is responsible for reviewing such disclosure once it is prepared by the Fund Administration Department.

Filing of Proxy Voting Record on Form N-PX

The Funds will annually file their complete proxy voting record with the SEC on Form N-PX. The Form N-PX shall be filed for the most recent twelve months of that year. The Fund Administration department, supported by the Legal Department supporting the Funds, is responsible for the annual filing.

B-3

Regulatory Requirement

Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act and Rule 30b1-4 of the 1940 Act

Reporting

Disclosures in SAIor Private Placement Memorandum, as applicable:The Funds shall disclose in annual and semi-annual shareholder reports that a description of the Fund Proxy Policy, including the Sub-adviser Proxy Policy, and the Fund's proxy voting record for the most recent 12 months.

Form N-PX:The proxy voting service will file Form N-PX for each twelve-month period.

Procedure

Review of Sub-advisers' Proxy Voting

The Funds have delegated proxy voting authority with respect to the applicable Fund portfolio securities in accordance with the Fund Proxy Policy, as set forth above.

Consistent with this delegation, the relevant Sub-adviser is responsible for the following:

Adviser Responsibilities

The Funds have retained a proxy voting service to coordinate, collect, and maintain all proxy-related information, and to prepare and file the Funds' reports on Form N-PX with the SEC.

The Advisers, in accordance with their general oversight responsibilities, will periodically review the voting records maintained by the proxy voting service in accordance with the following procedures:

The Fund Administration Department, in conjunction with the Legal Department supporting the Funds, is responsible for the foregoing procedures.

Proxy Voting Service Responsibilities

Proxy voting services retained by the Funds are required to undertake the following procedures:

The proxy voting service's proxy disclosure system will collect Fund-specific and/or account-level voting records, including votes cast by multiple sub-advisers or third-party voting services.

B-4

The proxy voting service's proxy disclosure system will provide the following reporting features:

The Advisers will be responsible for oversight and completion of the filing of the Funds' reports on Form N-PX with the SEC. The proxy voting service will prepare the EDGAR version of Form N-PX and will submit it to the Advisers for review and approval prior to filing with the SEC. The proxy voting service will file Form N-PX for each twelve-month period The Fund Administration Department, in conjunction with the Legal Department supporting the Funds, is responsible for the foregoing procedures.

The Fund Administration Department in conjunction with the CCO oversees compliance with this policy.

The Fund Administration Department maintains operating procedures affecting the administration and disclosure of the Funds' proxy voting records.

The Fund's Chief Legal Counsel is responsible for including in the Funds' SAIs, or private placement memoranda, as applicable, information regarding the proxy voting policies as required by applicable rules and form requirements.

Key Contacts

Investment Compliance

Escalation/Reporting Violations

All John Hancock employees are required to report any known or suspected violation of this policy to the CCO of the Funds.

Related Policies and Procedures

07B Registration Statements and Prospectuses

Document Retention Requirements

The Fund Administration Department and The CCO's Office is responsible for maintaining all documentation created in connection with this policy. Documents will be maintained for the period set forth in the Records Retention Schedule. See Compliance Policy: Books and Records.

B-5

JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

August 20, 2024

Overview

The SEC adopted Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act, which requires investment advisers with voting authority to adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the investment adviser votes client securities in the best interest of clients. The procedures must include how the investment adviser addresses material conflicts that may arise between the interests of the investment adviser and those of its clients. The Advisers are registered investment advisers under the Advisers Act and serve as the investment advisers to the Funds. The Advisers generally retain one or more sub-advisers to manage the assets of the Funds, including voting proxies with respect to a Fund's portfolio securities. From time to time, however, the Advisers may elect to manage directly the assets of a Fund, including voting proxies with respect to such Fund's portfolio securities, or a Fund's Board may otherwise delegate to the Advisers authority to vote such proxies. Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act requires that a registered investment adviser adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it votes proxies with respect to a client's securities in the best interest of the client.

Firms are required by Advisers Act Rule 204-2(c)(2) to maintain records of their voting policies and procedures, a copy of each proxy statement that the investment adviser receives regarding client securities, a record of each vote cast by the investment adviser on behalf of a client, a copy of any document created by the investment adviser that was material to making a decision how to vote proxies on behalf of a client, and a copy of each written client request for information on how the adviser voted proxies on behalf of the client, as well as a copy of any written response by the investment adviser to any written or oral client request for information on how the adviser voted that client's proxies.

Investment companies must disclose information about the policies and procedures used to vote proxies on the investment company's portfolio securities and must file the fund's entire proxy voting record with the SEC annually on Form N-PX.

Advisers that are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") are required by Exchange Act Rule 14Ad-1 to file Form N-PX annually to report how they voted proxies regarding certain executive compensation matters (known as "say-on-pay" matters). However, an Adviser that has a disclosed policy of not voting proxies, and that did not in fact vote during the reporting period, must only complete a notice report filing on Form N-PX marking the appropriate box on the cover page to confirm these facts.

Pursuant thereto, the Advisers have adopted and implemented these proxy voting policies and procedures (the "Proxy Procedures").

Policy

It is the Advisers' policy to comply with Rule 206(4)-6 and Rule 204-2(c)(2) under the Advisers Act and Rule 14Ad-1 under the Exchange Act as described above. In general, the Advisers delegate proxy voting decisions to the sub-advisers managing the funds. If an instance occurs where a conflict of interest arises between the shareholders and a particular sub-adviser, however, the Adviser retains the right to influence and/or direct the conflicting proxy voting decisions.

Filing of Proxy Voting Record on Form N-PX

The Advisers will annually file their proxy voting notice report with the SEC on Form N-PX. The Form N-PX shall be filed for the twelve months ended June 30 no later than August 31 of that year. The Investment Standards & Monitoring (ISM) CoE Team, supported by the Legal Department supporting the Advisers, is responsible for the annual filing.

Regulatory Requirement

Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act and Rule 14Ad-1 under the Exchange Act

B-6

Reporting

Form N-PX: The ISM CoE Team will file Form N-PX for each twelve-month period ending on June 30. The filing must be submitted to the SEC on or before August 31 of each year.

Advisers will provide the Board with notice and a copy of any amendments or revisions to the Procedures and will report quarterly to the Board all material changes to these Proxy Procedures.

The CCO's annual written compliance report to the Board will contain a summary of material changes to the Proxy Procedures during the period covered by the report.

If the Advisers or the Designated Person vote any proxies in a manner inconsistent with either these Proxy Procedures or a Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures, the CCO will provide the Board with a report detailing such exceptions.

Procedure

Fiduciary Duty

The Advisers have a fiduciary duty to vote proxies on behalf of a Fund in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

Voting of Proxies - Advisers

The Advisers will vote proxies with respect to a Fund's portfolio securities when authorized to do so by the Fund and subject to the Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures and any further direction or delegation of authority by the Fund's Board. The decision on how to vote a proxy will be made by the person(s) to whom the Advisers have from time to time delegated such responsibility (the "Designated Person"). The Designated Person may include the Fund's portfolio manager(s) or a Proxy Voting Committee, as described below.

When voting proxies with respect to a Fund's portfolio securities, the following standards will apply:

Material Conflicts of Interest

In carrying out its proxy voting responsibilities, the Advisers will monitor and resolve potential material conflicts ("Material Conflicts") between the interests of (a) a Fund and (b) the Advisers or any of its affiliated persons. Affiliates of the Advisers include Manulife Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries. Material Conflicts may arise, for example, if a proxy vote relates to matters involving any of these companies or other issuers in which the Advisers or any of their affiliates has a substantial equity or other interest.

B-7

If the Advisers or a Designated Person become aware that a proxy voting issue may present a potential Material Conflict, the issue will be referred to the Advisers' Legal Department and/or the Office of the CCO. If the Legal Department and/or the Office of the CCO, as applicable determines that a potential Material Conflict does exist, a Proxy Voting Committee will be appointed to consider and resolve the issue. The Proxy Voting Committee may make any determination that it considers reasonable and may, if it chooses, request the advice of an independent, third-party proxy service on how to vote the proxy.

Voting Proxies of Underlying Funds of a Fund of Funds

The Advisers or the Designated Person will vote proxies with respect to the shares of a Fund that are held by another Fund that operates as a Fund of Funds") in the manner provided in the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Fund of Funds (including such policies and procedures relating to material conflicts of interest) or as otherwise directed by the board of trustees or directors of the Fund of Funds.

Proxy Voting Committee(s)

The Advisers will from time to time, and on such temporary or longer-term basis as they deem appropriate, establish one or more Proxy Voting Committees. A Proxy Voting Committee shall include the Advisers' CCO and may include legal counsel. The terms of reference and the procedures under which a Proxy Voting Committee will operate will be reviewed from time to time by the Legal and Compliance Department. Records of the deliberations and proxy voting recommendations of a Proxy Voting Committee will be maintained in accordance with applicable law, if any, and these Proxy Procedures. Requested shareholder proposals or other Shareholder Advocacy must be submitted for consideration pursuant to the Shareholder Advocacy Policy and Procedures.

Voting of Proxies - SubAdvisers

In the case of proxies voted by a sub-adviser to a Fund pursuant to the Fund's proxy voting procedures, the Advisers will request the sub-adviser to certify to the Advisers that the sub-adviser has voted the Fund's proxies as required by the Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures and that such proxy votes were executed in a manner consistent with these Proxy Procedures and to provide the Advisers with a report detailing any instances where the sub-adviser voted any proxies in a manner inconsistent with the Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures. The CCO of the Advisers will then report to the Board on a quarterly basis regarding the sub-adviser certification and report to the Board any instance where the sub-adviser voted any proxies in a manner inconsistent with the Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures.

The Fund Administration Department maintains procedures affecting all administration functions for the mutual funds. These procedures detail the disclosure and administration of the Trust's proxy voting records.

The Trust's Chief Legal Counsel is responsible for including, in the SAI of each Trust, information about the proxy voting of the Advisers and each sub-adviser.

Reporting to Fund Boards

The CCO of the Advisers will provide the Board with a copy of these Proxy Procedures, accompanied by a certification that represents that the Proxy Procedures have been adopted by the Advisers in conformance with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act. Thereafter, the Advisers will provide the Board with notice and a copy of any amendments or revisions to the Procedures and will report quarterly to the Board all material changes to these Proxy Procedures.

The CCO's annual written compliance report to the Board will contain a summary of material changes to the Proxy Procedures during the period covered by the report.

If the Advisers or the Designated Person vote any proxies in a manner inconsistent with either these Proxy Procedures or a Fund's proxy voting policies and procedures, the CCO will provide the Board with a report detailing such exceptions.

B-8

Form N-PX Preparation and Filing:

The Advisers will be responsible for oversight and completion of the filing of the Advisers' notice reports on Form N-PX with the SEC. The ISM CoE Team will prepare the EDGAR version of Form N-PX and will submit it to the applicable Adviser for review and approval prior to filing with the SEC. The ISM CoE Team will file Form N-PX for each twelve-month period ending on June 30. The filing must be submitted to the SEC on or before August 31 of each year.

Key Contacts

Investment Compliance

Escalation/Reporting Violations

All John Hancock employees are required to report any known or suspected violation of this policy to the CCO of the Funds.

Related Policies and Procedures

N/A

Document Retention Requirements

The Advisers will retain (or arrange for the retention by a third party of) such records relating to proxy voting pursuant to these Proxy Procedures as may be required from time to time by applicable law and regulations, including the following:

The Office of the CCO, and/or the Legal Department are responsible for maintaining the documents set forth above as needed and deemed appropriate. Such documents will be maintained in the Office of the CCO, and/or the Legal Department for the period set forth in the Records Retention Schedule.

B-9

MANULIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (US) LLC

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

April 2021

B-10

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Executive summary

Each investment team at Manulife Investment Management (Manulife IM)1 is responsible for investing in line with its investment philosophy and clients' objectives. Manulife IM's approach to proxy voting aligns with its organizational structure and encourages best practices in governance and management of environmental and social risks and opportunities. Manulife IM has adopted and implemented proxy voting policies and procedures to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of its clients for whom it has proxy voting authority.

This global proxy voting policy and procedures (policy) applies to each of the Manulife IM advisory affiliates listed in Appendix A. In seeking to adhere to local regulatory requirements of the jurisdiction in which an advisory affiliate operates, additional procedures specific to that affiliate may be implemented to ensure compliance, where applicable. The policy is not intended to cover every possible situation that may arise in the course of business, but rather to act as a decision-making guide. It is therefore subject to change and interpretation from time to time as facts and circumstances dictate.

Statement of policy

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Philosophy on sustainable investing

Manulife IM's commitment to sustainable investment2 is focused on protecting and enhancing the value of our clients' investments and, as active owners in the companies in which we invest, we believe that voting at shareholder meetings can contribute to the long-term sustainability of our investee companies. Manulife IM will seek to exercise the rights and responsibilities associated with equity ownership, on behalf of its clients, with a focus on maximizing long-term shareholder returns, as well as enhancing and improving the operating strength of the companies to create sustainable value for shareholders.

Manulife IM invests in a wide range of securities across the globe, ranging from large multinationals to smaller early-stage companies, and from well-developed markets to emerging and frontier markets. Expectations of those companies vary by market to reflect local standards, regulations, and laws. Manulife IM believes, however, that successful companies across regions are generally better positioned over the long term if they have:

The Manulife Investment Management voting principles (voting principles) outlined in Appendix B provide guidance for our voting decisions. An active decision to invest in a firm reflects a positive conviction in the investee company and we generally expect to be supportive of management for that reason. Manulife IM may seek to challenge management's recommendations, however, if they contravene these voting principles or Manulife IM otherwise determines that doing so is in the best interest of its clients.

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Manulife IM also regularly engages with boards and management on environmental, social, or corporate governance issues consistent with the principles stipulated in our sustainable investing statement and our ESG engagement policy. Manulife IM may, through these engagements, request certain changes of the portfolio company to mitigate risks or maximize opportunities. In the context of preparing for a shareholder meeting, Manulife IM will review progress on requested changes for those companies engaged. In an instance where Manulife IM determines that the issuer has not made sufficient improvements on an issue, then we may take voting action to demonstrate our concerns.

In rare circumstances, Manulife IM may consider filing, or co-filing, a shareholder resolution at an investee company. This may occur where our team has engaged with management regarding a material sustainability risk or opportunity, and where we determine that the company has not made satisfactory progress on the matter within a reasonable time period. Any such decision will be in the sole discretion of Manulife IM and acted on where we believe filing, or co-filing, a proposal is in the best interests of our clients.

Manulife IM may also divest of holdings in a company where portfolio managers are dissatisfied with company financial performance, strategic direction, and/or management of material sustainability risks or opportunities.

Procedures

Receipt of ballots and proxy materials

Proxies received are reconciled against the client's holdings, and the custodian bank will be notified if proxies have not been forwarded to the proxy service provider when due.

Voting proxies

Manulife IM has adopted the voting principles contained in Appendix B of this policy.

Manulife IM has deployed the services of a proxy voting services provider to ensure the timely casting of votes, and to provide relevant and timely proxy voting research to inform our voting decisions. Through this process, the proxy voting services provider populates initial recommended voting decisions that are aligned with the Manulife IM voting principles outlined in Appendix B. These voting recommendations are then submitted, processed, and ultimately tabulated. Manulife IM retains the authority and operational functionality to submit different voting instructions after these initial recommendations from the proxy voting services provider have been submitted, based on Manulife IM's assessment of each situation. As Manulife IM reviews voting recommendations and decisions, as articulated below, Manulife IM will often change voting instructions based on those reviews. Manulife IM periodically reviews the detailed policies created by the proxy voting service provider to ensure consistency with our voting principles, to the extent this is possible.

Manulife IM also has procedures in place to review additional materials submitted by issuers often in response to voting recommendations made by proxy voting service providers. Manulife IM will review additional materials related to proxy voting decisions in those situations where Manulife IM becomes aware of those additional materials, is considering voting contrary to management, and where Manulife IM owns 2% or more of the subject issuer as aggregated across the funds.

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Portfolio managers actively review voting options and make voting decisions for their holdings. Where Manulife IM holds a significant ownership position in an issuer, the rationale for a portfolio manager's voting decision is specifically recorded, including whether the vote cast aligns with the recommendations of the proxy voting services provider or has been voted differently. A significant ownership position in an investment is defined as those cases where Manulife IM holds at least 2% of a company's issued share capital in aggregate across all Manulife IM client accounts.

The Manulife IM ESG research and integration team (ESG team) is an important resource for portfolio management teams on proxy matters. This team provides advice on specific proxy votes for individual issuers if needed. ESG team advice is supplemental to the research and recommendations provided by our proxy voting services provider. In particular, ESG analysts actively review voting resolutions for companies in which:

Manulife IM may also review voting resolutions for issuers where an investment team engaged with the firm within the previous two years to seek a change in behavior.

After review, the ESG team may provide research and advice to investment staff in line with the voting principles.

Manulife IM also has an internal proxy voting working group (working group) comprising senior managers from across Manulife IM including the equity investment team, legal, compliance, and the ESG team. The working Group operates under the auspices of the Manulife IM Public Markets Sustainable Investing Committee. The Working group regularly meets to review and discuss voting decisions on shareholder proposals or instances where a portfolio manager recommends a vote different than the recommendation of the proxy voting services provider.

Manulife IM clients retain the authority and may choose to lend shareholdings. Manulife IM, however, generally retains the ability to restrict shares from being lent and to recall shares on loan in order to preserve proxy voting rights. Manulife IM is focused in particular on preserving voting rights for issuers where funds hold 2% or more of an issuer as aggregated across funds. Manulife IM has a process in place to systematically restrict and recall shares on a best efforts basis for those issuers where we own an aggregate of 2% or more.

Manulife IM may refrain from voting a proxy where we have agreed with a client in advance to limit the situations in which we will execute votes. Manulife IM may also refrain from voting due to logistical considerations that may have a detrimental effect on our ability to vote. These issues may include, but are not limited to:

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

If a Manulife IM portfolio manager believes it is in the best interest of a client to vote proxies in a manner inconsistent with the policy, the portfolio manager will submit new voting instructions to a member of the ESG team with rationale for the new instructions. The ESG team will then support the portfolio manager in developing voting decision rationale that aligns with this policy and the voting principles. The ESG team will then submit the vote change to the working group. The working group will review the change and ensure that the rationale is sound, and the decision will promote the long-term success of the issuer.

On occasion, there may be proxy votes that are not within the research and recommendation coverage universe of the proxy voting service provider. Portfolio managers responsible for the proxy votes will provide voting recommendations to the ESG team, and those items may be escalated to the working group for review to ensure that the voting decision rationale is sound, and the decision will promote the long-term success of the issuer. the Manulife IM proxy operations team will be notified of the voting decisions and execute the votes accordingly.

Manulife IM does not engage in the practice of "empty voting" (a term embracing a variety of factual circumstances that result in a partial, or total, separation of the right to vote at a shareholders meeting from beneficial ownership of the shares on the meeting date). Manulife IM prohibits investment managers from creating large hedge positions solely to gain the vote while avoiding economic exposure to the market. Manulife IM will not knowingly vote borrowed shares (for example, shares borrowed for short sales and hedging transactions).

Engagement of the proxy voting service provider

Manulife IM has contracted with a third-party proxy service provider to assist with the proxy voting process. Except in instances where a client retains voting authority, Manulife IM will instruct custodians of client accounts to forward all proxy statements and materials received in respect of client accounts to the proxy service provider.

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Manulife IM has engaged its proxy voting service provider to:

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Scope of proxy voting authority

Manulife IM and our clients shape the proxy voting relationship by agreement provided there is full and fair disclosure and informed consent. Manulife IM may agree with clients to other proxy voting arrangements in which Manulife IM does not assume proxy voting responsibility or will only vote in limited circumstances.³

While the application of our fiduciary duty in the context of proxy voting will vary with the scope of the voting authority we assume, we acknowledge the relationship in all cases remains that of a fiduciary to the client. Beyond the general discretion retained by Manulife IM to withhold from voting as outlined above, Manulife IM may enter a specific agreement with a client not to exercise voting authority on certain matters where the cost of voting would be high or the benefit to the client would be low.

Disclosure of proxy votes

Manulife IM may inform company management of our voting intentions ahead of casting the vote. This is in line with Manulife IM's objective to provide the opportunity for companies to better understand our investment process, policies, and objectives.

We will not intentionally disclose to anyone else, including other investors, our voting intention prior to casting the vote.

Manulife IM keeps records of proxy voting available for inspection by clients, regulatory authorities, or government agencies.

Manulife IM quarterly discloses voting records aggregated across funds.⁴

Conflicts of interest

Manulife IM has an established infrastructure designed to identify conflicts of interest throughout all aspects of the business. Proxy voting proposals may raise conflicts between the interests of Manulife IM's clients and the interests of Manulife IM, its affiliates, or employees. Apparent conflicts are reviewed by the working group to determine whether there is a conflict of interest and, if so, whether the conflict is material. Manulife IM shall consider any of the following circumstances a potential material conflict of interest:

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

In addressing any such potential material conflict, Manulife IM will seek to ensure proxy votes are cast in the advisory client's best interests and are not affected by Manulife IM's potential conflict. In the event a potential material conflict of interest exists, the working group or its designee will either (i) review the proxy voting decisions to ensure robust rationale, that the voting decision will protect or enhance shareholder value over the long term, and is in line with the best interest of the client; (ii) vote such proxy according to the specific recommendation of the proxy voting services provider; (iii) abstain; or (iv) request the client vote such proxy. The basis for the voting decision, including the process for the determination of the decision that is in the best interests of the client, is recorded.

Voting shares of Manulife Financial Corporation

Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) is the publicly listed parent company of Manulife IM. Generally, legislation restricts the ability of a public company (and its subsidiaries) to hold shares in itself within its own accounts. Accordingly, the MFC share investment policy outlines the limited circumstances in which MFC or its subsidiaries may, or may not, invest or hold shares in MFC on behalf of MFC or its subsidiaries.⁵

The MFC share investment policy does not apply to investments made on behalf of unaffiliated third parties, which remain assets of the client. 6 Such investing may be restricted, however, by specific client guidelines, other Manulife policies, or other applicable laws.

Where Manulife IM is charged with voting MFC shares, we will execute votes in proportion with all other shareholders (i.e., proportional or echo vote). This is intended to neutralize the effect of our vote on the meeting outcome.

Policy responsibility and oversight

The working group oversees and monitors the policy and Manulife IM's proxy voting function. The working group is responsible for reviewing regular reports, potential conflicts of interest, vote changes, and nonroutine proxy voting items. The working group also oversees the third-party proxy voting service provider. The working group will meet at least monthly and report to the Manulife IM public markets sustainable investing committee and, where requested, the Manulife IM operating committee.

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Manulife IM's proxy operations team is responsible for the daily administration of the proxy voting process for all Manulife IM operations that have contracted with a third-party proxy voting services provider. Significant proxy voting issues identified by Manulife IM's proxy operations team are escalated to the chief compliance officer or its designee, and the working group.

The working group is responsible for the proper oversight of any service providers hired by Manulife IM to assist it in the proxy voting process. This oversight includes:

Annual due diligence:Manulife IM conducts an annual due diligence review of the proxy voting research service provider. This oversight includes an evaluation of the service provider's industry reputation, points of risk, compliance with laws and regulations, and technology infrastructure. Manulife IM also reviews the provider's capabilities to meet Manulife IM's requirements, including reporting competencies; the adequacy and quality of the proxy advisory firm's staffing and personnel; the quality and accuracy of sources of data and information; the strength of policies and procedures that enable it to make proxy voting recommendations based on current and accurate information; and the strength of policies and procedures to address conflicts of interest of the service provider related to its voting recommendations.

Regular Updates: Manulife also requests that the proxy voting research service provider deliver updates regarding any business changes that alter that firm's ability to provide independent proxy voting advice and services aligned with our policies.

Additional oversight in process: Manulife IM has additional control mechanisms built into the proxy voting process to act as checks on the service provider and ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of our clients. These mechanisms include:

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Recordkeeping and reporting

Manulife IM provides clients with a copy of the voting policy on request and it is also available on our website at manulifeim.com/institutional. Manulife IM describes its proxy voting procedures to its clients in the relevant or required disclosure document and discloses to its clients the process to obtain information on how Manulife IM voted that client's proxies.

Manulife IM keeps records of proxy voting activities and those records include proxy voting policies and procedures, records of votes cast on behalf of clients, records of client requests for proxy voting information; and any documents generated in making a vote decision. These documents are available for inspection by clients, regulatory authorities, or government agencies.

Manulife IM discloses voting records on its website and those records are updated on a quarterly basis. The voting records generally reflect the voting decisions made for retail, institutional and other client funds in the aggregate.

Policy amendments and exceptions

This policy is subject to periodic review by the proxy voting working group. The working group may suggest amendments to this policy and any such amendments must be approved by the Manulife IM public markets sustainable investing committee and the Manulife IM operating committee.

Any deviation from this policy will only be permitted with the prior approval of the chief investment officer or chief administrative officer (or their designee), with the counsel of the chief compliance officer/general counsel.

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Appendix A. Manulife IM advisory affiliates in scope of policy and investment management business only.

Manulife Investment Management Limited

Manulife Investment Management (North America) Limited

Manulife Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited

PT Manulife Aset Manajemen Indonesia*

Manulife Investment Management (Japan) Limited

Manulife Investment Management (Malaysia) Bhd.

Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corporation

Manulife Investment Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Manulife IM (Switzerland) LLC

Manulife Investment Management (Taiwan) Co., Ltd.*

Manulife Investment Management (Europe) Limited

Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC

Manulife Investment Fund Management (Vietnam) Company Limited*

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Appendix B. Manulife IM voting principles

Manulife IM believes that strong management of all forms of corporate capital, whether financial, social, or environmental will mitigate risks, create opportunities, and drive value over the long term. Manulife IM reviews and considers environmental, social, and corporate governance risks and opportunities in our investment decisions. Once invested, Manulife IM continues our oversight through active ownership, which includes portfolio company engagement and proxy voting of underlying shares. We believe proxy voting is a vital component of this continued oversight as it provides a voice for minority shareholders regarding management actions.

Manulife IM has developed some key principles that generally drive our proxy voting decisions and engagements. We believe these principles preserve value and generally lead to outcomes that drive positive firm performance. These principles dictate our voting on issues ranging from director elections and executive compensation to the preservation of shareholder rights and stewardship of environmental and social capital. Manulife IM also adopts positions on certain sustainability topics and these voting principles should be read in conjunction with those position statements. Currently, we have a climate change statement and an executive compensation statement that also help guide proxy voting decisions on those matters. The facts and circumstances of each issuer are unique, and Manulife IM may deviate from these principles where we believe doing so will preserve or create value over the long term. These principles also do not address the specific content of all proposals voted around the globe, but provide a general lens of value preservation, value creation, risk management, and protection of shareholder rights through which Manulife IM analyzes all voting matters.

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Failure of oversight:Manulife IM may take action against directors where there has been a significant negative event leading to a loss of shareholder value and stakeholder confidence. A failure may manifest itself in multiple ways, including adverse auditor opinions, material misstatements, failures of leadership and governance, failure to manage ESG risks, environmental or human rights violations, and poor sustainability reporting.

Adoption of anti-takeover mechanism:Boards should generally review takeover offers independently and objectively in consideration of the potential value created or lost for shareholders. Manulife IM generally holds boards accountable when they create or prolong certain mechanisms, bylaws or article amendments that act to frustrate genuine offers that may lead to value creation for shareholders. These can include poison pills; classes of shares with differential voting rights; classified, or staggered, board structures; and unilateral bylaw amendments and supermajority voting provisions.

Problematic executive compensation practices:Manulife IM encourages companies to adopt best practices for executive compensation in the markets in which they operate. Generally, this means that pay should be aligned with performance. Manulife IM may hold directors accountable where this alignment is not robust. We may also hold boards accountable where they have not adequately responded to shareholder votes against a previous proposal on remuneration or have adopted problematic agreements or practices (e.g., golden parachutes, repricing of options).

Bylaw/article adoption and amendments:Shareholders should have the ability to vote on any change to company articles or bylaws that will materially change their rights as shareholders. Any amendments should require only a majority of votes to pass. Manulife IM will generally hold directors accountable where a board has amended or adopted bylaw and/or article provisions that significantly curtail shareholder rights.

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Engagement responsiveness:Manulife IM regularly engages with issuers to discuss ESG risks and opportunities and may request changes from firms during these discussions. Manulife IM may vote against certain directors where we have engaged with an issuer and requested certain changes, but the firm has not made sufficient progress on those matters.

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures

Manulife Investment Management global proxy voting policy and procedures