BOSTON, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The five John
Hancock closed-end funds listed below declared their quarterly
distributions today as follows:
Declaration Date:
|
March 1,
2012
|
Ex
Date:
|
March 8,
2012
|
Record
Date:
|
March 12,
2012
|
Payment
Date:
|
March 30,
2012
|
Ticker
|
Fund
Name
|
Distribution
Per
Share
|
Change
From
Distribution Paid
In
Previous Quarter
|
Market
Price
as
of 2/29/2012
|
Annualized Current
Distribution Rate
at
Market
|
BTO
|
Bank and
Thrift Opportunity Fund
|
$0.2131(1)
|
$0.0172
|
$16.34
|
5.22%
|
HEQ
|
Hedged
Equity & Income Fund
|
$0.3237(2)
|
$0.0158
|
$16.35
|
7.92%
|
JHI
|
Investors
Trust
|
$0.4995
|
-$0.0007
|
$23.16
|
8.63%
|
JHS
|
Income
Securities Trust
|
$0.2639
|
-$0.041
|
$15.46
|
6.83%
|
HTY
|
Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield
Fund
|
$0.3200
|
-
|
$13.17
|
9.72%
|
(1) This distribution amount
is based on the Fund's NAV of $17.05 as of January 31, 2012, the
Fund's quarterly measuring date.
|
(2) This distribution amount
is based on the Fund's NAV of $17.86 as of January 31, 2012, the
Fund's quarterly measuring date.
|
John Hancock Bank and Thrift
Opportunity Fund
Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund (the "Fund") declared its
quarterly distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution
plan (the "BTO Plan"). Under the BTO Plan, the Fund makes quarterly
distributions of an amount equal to 1.25% of the Fund's net asset
value ("NAV") as of each measuring date, based upon an annual rate
of 5% as of such measuring dates. The amount of each quarterly
distribution is determined based on the NAV of the Fund at the
close of the New York Stock Exchange on the last business day of
the month ending two months prior to each quarterly declaration
date.
Distributions under the BTO Plan may consist of net investment
income, net realized long-term capital gains, net realized
short-term capital gains and, to the extent necessary, return of
capital. The BTO Plan intends to fund each distribution, to the
extent possible, in a tax-advantaged manner through the realization
of long-term capital gains where the distribution amount exceeds
net investment income. The Fund will seek to realize capital gains
for this purpose in a manner which the Adviser and Subadviser
believe is consistent with prudent portfolio management and the
investment objective, policies and guidelines of the Fund.
The Fund may also make additional distributions (i) for purposes
of avoiding federal income tax on the Fund of investment company
taxable income and net capital gain, if any, not included in such
regular distributions and (ii) for purposes of avoiding federal
excise tax of ordinary income and capital gain net income, if any,
not included in such regular quarterly distributions. The Board may
terminate the BTO Plan at any time.
John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund
Hedged Equity & Income Fund (the "Fund") declared its
quarterly distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution
plan (the "HEQ Plan"). Under the HEQ Plan, the Fund makes
quarterly distributions of an amount equal to 1.8125% of the Fund's
net asset value ("NAV") as of each measuring date, based upon an
annual rate of 7.25% as of such measuring dates. The amount of each
quarterly distribution is determined based on the NAV of the Fund
at the close of the New York Stock Exchange on the last business
day of the month ending two months prior to each quarterly
declaration date.
The Fund may also make additional distributions (i) for purposes
of avoiding federal income tax on the Fund of investment company
taxable income and net capital gain, if any, not included in such
regular distributions and (ii) for purposes of avoiding federal
excise tax of ordinary income and capital gain net income, if any,
not included in such regular quarterly distributions. The
Board may terminate the HEQ Plan at any time.
A portion of a Fund's current distribution may include sources
other than net investment income, including a return of capital.
Investors should understand that a return of capital is not a
distribution from income or gains of a Fund. As required under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, a notice with the estimated
components of the distribution will be mailed to shareholders at
the time of payment if it does not consist solely of net investment
income. At this time, one or more of the Funds anticipates that the
notice accompanying the current distribution will include an
estimate of return of capital. Such notice will also be posted to
the Funds' website at www.jhfunds.com. The notice should not be
used to prepare tax returns as the estimates indicated in the
notice may differ from the ultimate federal income tax
characterization of distributions. After the end of each calendar
year, investors will be sent a Form 1099-DIV informing them how to
report distributions received during that year for federal income
tax purposes.
Statements in this press release that are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should
exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking
statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other
factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and
could cause actual results to differ materially from those set
forth in the forward-looking statements.
An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives,
risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.
About John Hancock Funds
The Boston-based mutual fund
business unit of John Hancock Financial, John Hancock Funds,
manages more than $66.4 billion in
open-end funds, closed-end funds, private accounts, retirement
plans and related party assets for individual and institutional
investors at December 31, 2011.
About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial
Corporation
John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial
Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group
serving millions of customers in 22 countries and territories
worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in
the United States, Manulife
Financial Corporation offers clients a diverse range of financial
protection products and wealth management services through its
extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners.
Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries
were Cdn$500 billion (US$491 billion) at December 31, 2011.
Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE
and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be
found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.
The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies,
comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad
range of financial products and services, including life insurance,
fixed and variable annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k)
plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms
of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock
may be found at www.johnhancock.com.
SOURCE John Hancock Funds