# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001331971
**File Stem:** 0001193125-26-143706
**Filing Date:** 2026-4
**Character Count:** 59983
**Document Hash:** 8cfddfa98c730186946bc6a36316e778
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-26-143706.hdr.sgml**: 20260406

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-26-143706

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: PRE 14A

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 5

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260625

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260406

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260406

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** John Hancock Funds II
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001331971

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**
- **EIN:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MA
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0831

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** PRE 14A
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 811-21779
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26841121

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
- **STREET 2:** 200 BERKELEY STREET
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02116
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 617-663-2166

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
- **STREET 2:** 200 BERKELEY STREET
- **CITY:** BOSTON
- **STATE:** MA
- **ZIP:** 02116

## Series and Classes Contracts Data

### Floating Rate Income Fund (Series ID: S000020234)

| Class ID   | Class Name   | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000056647 | Class A      | JFIAX           |
| C000056649 | Class C      | JFIGX           |
| C000056650 | Class 1      | JFIHX           |
| C000056651 | Class I      | JFIIX           |
| C000056652 | Class NAV    | JFIDX           |
| C000106469 | Class R6     | JFIRX           |

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**SCHEDULE 14A** 

**(RULE 14a-101)** 

**INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT** 

**SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION** 

**Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the** 

**Securities Exchange Act of 1934** 

**(Amendment No.<u> </u>)** 

Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

☒ Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐ **Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))** 

☐ Definitive Proxy Statement

☐ Definitive Additional Materials

☐ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

**JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II** 

**(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)** 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| ☒ | No fee required. | No fee required. |
| ☐ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
|  | (1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |
|  | (2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |
|  | (3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |
|  | (4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |
|  | (5) | Total fee paid:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ☐ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
|  | (1) | Amount Previously Paid:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |
|  | (2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |
|  | (3) | Filing Party:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |
|  | (4) | Date Filed:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |

---

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
![LOGO](g813962dsp23a.jpg)

Please vote today

We need your input on important proposals that affect your investment.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| ![LOGO](g813962dsp02a.jpg) | Online<br> [www.proxyvotenow.com] |
| ![LOGO](g813962dsp02b.jpg) | Phone<br> [1-800-690-6903] |
| ![LOGO](g813962dsp02c.jpg) | Mail<br> Sign and return the enclosed voting card |

---

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**[Preliminary Copy]** 

**JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II** 

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

May [21], 2026

**Please vote today.** 

Dear Shareholder:

I am writing to ask you to approve a proposal that affects Floating Rate Income Fund (the "Fund"). As a registered shareholder, you would be voting on behalf of the fund shares you own.

**Approve a new subadvisory agreement with CQS (US), LLC.** 

We are asking shareholders to approve a new subadvisory agreement between John Hancock Investment Management LLC (the "Advisor"), and CQS (US), LLC ("CQS"), (the "CQS Subadvisory Agreement"). We believe that the Fund and its shareholders may benefit if the Fund is managed by CQS. The Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board" or the "Trustees") unanimously approved the CQS Subadvisory Agreement and, pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), the Board is recommending that shareholders approve the CQS Subadvisory Agreement.

If the CQS Sub-Advisory Agreement is approved by shareholders, CQS will replace BCFS Advisors, LP (Bain Capital Credit) ("Bain") as subadvisor to the Fund. As with the subadvisory agreement with Bain, pursuant to the CQS Subadvisory Agreement, CQS will manage the Fund's investments and determine the composition of the assets of the Fund subject to the supervision of the Board and the Advisor.

The CQS Subadvisory Agreement is not expected to result in any reduction in the nature, extent, level or quality of subadvisory services provided to the Fund. In connection with the proposed new subadvisory arrangement, the Fund's Trustees also approved a decrease to the Fund's advisory fees at all asset levels. Additionally, the subadvisory fees under the CQS Subadvisory Agreement are proposed to be lower than the fees under the subadvisory agreement with Bain. The subadvisory fee is paid by the Advisor and not by the Fund. Because the Fund's subadvisory fees are paid by the Advisor and not by the Fund, the decrease in the Fund's advisory fees is a result of an amendment to the advisory agreement and not a direct result of the CQS Subadvisory Agreement.

**How to vote** 

A special shareholder meeting (the "Meeting") to vote on this proposal has been scheduled and will be held on June 25, 2026, at 2:30 P.M., Eastern Time at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

Note that the Meeting is limited to shareholders of the Fund.

**Online:** [www.proxyvote.com]

**Phone:** [1-800-690-6903]

**Mail:** by returning the enclosed proxy card(s)

I encourage you to read the enclosed proxy statement for more information, and I thank you for acting on this matter today.

Sincerely,

---

| |
|:---|
| Kristie M. Feinberg |
| President and CEO |
| John Hancock Investment Management |
| Head of Wealth and Asset Management |
| United States and Europe |

---

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
![LOGO](g813962dsp23a.jpg)

Please vote today

We need your input on important proposals that affect your investment.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| ![LOGO](g813962dsp02a.jpg) | Online |
| ![LOGO](g813962dsp02b.jpg) | Phone |
| ![LOGO](g813962dsp02c.jpg) | Mail |

---

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**[Preliminary Copy]** 

**JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II** 

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

May [21], 2026

**Please vote today.** 

Dear Shareholder:

I am writing to ask you to approve a proposal that affects Floating Rate Income Fund (the "Fund"). As a registered shareholder, you would be voting on behalf of the fund shares you own.

**Approve a new subadvisory agreement with CQS (US), LLC.** 

We are asking shareholders to approve a new subadvisory agreement between John Hancock Investment Management LLC (the "Advisor"), and CQS (US), LLC ("CQS"), (the "CQS Subadvisory Agreement"). We believe that the Fund and its shareholders may benefit if the Fund is managed by CQS. The Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board" or the "Trustees") unanimously approved the CQS Subadvisory Agreement and, pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), the Board is recommending that shareholders approve the CQS Subadvisory Agreement.

If the CQS Sub-Advisory Agreement is approved by shareholders, CQS will replace BCFS Advisors, LP (Bain Capital Credit) ("Bain") as subadvisor to the Fund. As with the subadvisory agreement with Bain, pursuant to the CQS Subadvisory Agreement, CQS will manage the Fund's investments and determine the composition of the assets of the Fund subject to the supervision of the Board and the Advisor.

The CQS Subadvisory Agreement is not expected to result in any reduction in the nature, extent, level or quality of subadvisory services provided to the Fund. In connection with the proposed new subadvisory arrangement, the Fund's Trustees also approved a decrease to the Fund's advisory fees at all asset levels. Additionally, the subadvisory fees under the CQS Subadvisory Agreement are proposed to be lower than the fees under the subadvisory agreement with Bain. The subadvisory fee is paid by the Advisor and not by the Fund. Because the Fund's subadvisory fees are paid by the Advisor and not by the Fund, the decrease in the Fund's advisory fees is a result of an amendment to the advisory agreement and not a direct result of the CQS Subadvisory Agreement.

**How to vote** 

A special shareholder meeting (the "Meeting") to vote on this proposal has been scheduled and will be held on June 25, 2026, at 2:30 P.M., Eastern Time at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

Note that the Meeting is limited to shareholders of the Fund.

**Online:** by visiting the website on your proxy card(s) and entering your control number

**Phone:** by calling the number listed on your proxy card(s)

**Mail:** by returning the enclosed proxy card(s)

I encourage you to read the enclosed proxy statement for more information, and I thank you for acting on this matter today.

Sincerely,

---

| |
|:---|
| Kristie M. Feinberg |
| President and CEO |
| John Hancock Investment Management |
| Head of Wealth and Asset Management |
| United States and Europe |

---

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**FLOATING RATE INCOME FUND** 

a series of JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II

200 Berkeley Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

**NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS** 

**To the Shareholders of Floating Rate Income Fund (the "Fund"):** 

Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") of the Fund will be held on **Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., Eastern Time** at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. A Proxy Statement, which provides information about the Meeting is included with this notice. The Meeting will be held for the following purpose:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Proposal** | : | To approve a new subadvisory agreement between John Hancock Investment Management, LLC and CQS (US), LLC with respect to the Fund. |

---

Any other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment of the Meeting.

**The Board of Trustees recommends that you vote "FOR" the Proposal.** 

Each shareholder of record of the Fund at the close of business on April 13, 2026, is entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment thereof.

***Whether or not you expect to attend the Meeting, please complete and return the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying envelope. No postage is necessary if mailed in the United States. If shareholders do not return their proxies in sufficient numbers, it may result in the need for additional shareholder solicitation efforts.***

**Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for** 

**the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on June 25, 2026:** 

**The Proxy Statement is available at: https://www.jhinvestments.com/resources/all-resources/fund-documents/proxy-documents/john-hancock-floating-rate-income-fund-proxy-statement.** 

---

| |
|:---|
| By order of the Board of Trustees, |
| Christopher Sechler |
| Secretary, John Hancock Funds II |
| May [21], 2026 |
| Boston, Massachusetts |

---

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**Your vote is important - Please vote your shares promptly.** 

**Shareholders are invited to attend the Meeting. Any shareholder who does not expect to attend the Meeting is urged to vote by:** 

**(i)** **completing the enclosed proxy card(s), dating and signing it, and returning it in the envelope provided, which needs no postage if mailed in the United States;** 

**(ii)** **following the touch-tone telephone voting instructions found below; or** 

**(iii)** **following the Internet voting instructions found below.** 

**In order to avoid unnecessary expense, we ask for your cooperation in responding promptly, no matter how large or small your holdings may be.** 

**INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXECUTING PROXY CARDS** 

The following general rules for executing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and help avoid the time and expense involved in validating your vote if you fail to execute your proxy card(s) properly.

***Individual Accounts:*** Your name should be signed exactly as it appears on the proxy card(s).

***Joint Accounts:*** Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to a name shown on the proxy card(s).

***All other accounts should show the capacity of the individual signing. This can be shown either in the form of the account registration itself or by the individual executing the proxy card(s).***

**INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING BY TOUCH-TONE TELEPHONE** 

Read the enclosed Proxy Statement and have your proxy card(s) handy.

Call the toll-free number indicated on your proxy card(s).

Enter the control number found on the front of your proxy card(s).

Follow the recorded instructions to cast your vote.

**INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING BY INTERNET** 

Read the enclosed Proxy Statement and have your proxy card(s) handy.

Go to the Web site on the proxy card(s).

Enter the control number found on the front of your proxy card(s).

Follow the instructions on the Web site.

ii

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**TABLE OF CONTENTS** 

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  **[INTRODUCTION](#tx813962_1)** | **1** |
|  **[PROPOSAL — APPROVAL OF NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ADVISOR AND CQS (US), LLC ("CQS") WITH RESPECT TO FLOATING RATE INCOME FUND](#tx813962_2)** | **2** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [CQS and the CQS Subadvisory Agreement](#tx813962_4) | 3 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Comparison Between the Bain Subadvisory Agreement and the CQS Subadvisory Agreement](#tx813962_5) | 3 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Principal Investment Strategy Changes](#tx813962_6) | 4 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Temporary defensive investing](#tx813962_7) | 4 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Securities lending](#tx813962_8) | 5 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Advisory Fee Changes](#tx813962_9) | 5 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Other Funds Managed by CQS](#tx813962_10) | 5 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Evaluation by the Board of Trustees](#tx813962_11) | 5 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Additional Information](#tx813962_12) | 6 |
|  **[MISCELLANEOUS](#tx813962_13)** | **7** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Required Vote for Proposal](#tx813962_14) | 7 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Voting Procedures](#tx813962_15) | 7 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Telephone Voting](#tx813962_16) | 8 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Internet Voting](#tx813962_17) | 8 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Shareholders Sharing the Same Address](#tx813962_18) | 9 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Other Matters](#tx813962_19) | 9 |
|  **[APPENDIX A - OUTSTANDING SHARES AND SHARE OWNERSHIP](#tx813962_20)** | **A-1** |
|  **[APPENDIX B – CQS (US), LLC SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT](#tx813962_21)** | **B-1** |

---

iii

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**FLOATING RATE INCOME FUND,** 

**a series of JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II** 

**PROXY STATEMENT** 

**SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS** 

**TO BE HELD ON JUNE 25, 2026** 

**INTRODUCTION** 

This Proxy Statement contains the information that a shareholder should know before voting on the proposal described in the notice. ***The Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report and Semiannual Report to any shareholder upon request by writing to the Fund at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 or by calling 1-800-225-5291.***

This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Trustees (the "Board" or "Trustees") of John Hancock Funds II (the "Trust") of proxies to be used at a special meeting of shareholders of Floating Rate Income Fund (the "Fund") to be held on **June 25, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., Eastern Time** (the "Meeting") for purposes of voting on the proposal summarized below. This Proxy Statement is first being sent to shareholders on or about May [21], 2026.

**Proposal.** Shareholders of the Fund are being asked to approve a new subadvisory agreement between the Advisor and CQS (US), LLC with respect to the Fund.

**The Trust**. The Trust is an open-end investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The shares of the Trust are divided into separate series or funds, including the Fund.

**The Fund's Advisor, Administrator, Distributor, and Subadvisor** 

John Hancock Investment Management LLC (the "Advisor") serves as the Fund's investment advisor and administrator. An affiliate of the Advisor, John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC ("JH Distributors") serves as the Fund's distributor. The offices of the Advisor and JH Distributors are located at 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, and their ultimate parent entity is Manulife Financial Corporation ("MFC"), a publicly traded company based in Toronto, Canada. MFC and its subsidiaries operate as "Manulife Financial" in Canada and Asia and primarily as "John Hancock" in the United States. BCSF Advisors, LP (Bain Capital Credit) ("Bain") (the "Subadvisor"), 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 serves as the Fund's subadvisor.

**Record Ownership** 

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust (the "Declaration of Trust"), the Board has fixed the close of business on [April 13, 2026] as the record date for determining shareholders eligible to vote at the Meeting (the "Record Date"). All shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to one vote for each share (and fractional votes for fractional shares) on all business of the Meeting or any adjournment of the Meeting. On the Record Date, [ ] shares of beneficial interest of the Fund were outstanding.

As of the Record Date, none of the Trustees beneficially owned individually, and the Trustees and executive officers of the Fund as a group did not beneficially own, in excess of one percent of the outstanding shares of the Fund.] Information regarding shareholders that hold 5% or more of the Fund's shares as of the Record Date is set forth in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement ("Outstanding Shares and Share Ownership").

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
<u>P**ROPOSAL — APPROVAL OF NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ADVISOR AND CQS (US), LLC ("CQS") WITH RESPECT TO FLOATING RATE INCOME FUND**</u>

At its in-person meeting held on March 24-26, 2026, the Board, including all the Trustees of the Trust who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (the "Independent Trustees"), approved entering into a new subadvisory agreement for the Fund between the Advisor and CQS (the "CQS Subadvisory Agreement"). Shareholders of the Fund are being asked to approve the CQS Subadvisory Agreement.

The Board approved the appointment of CQS as the new subadvisor to the Fund and the CQS Subadvisory Agreement, subject to shareholder approval. If shareholders approve the proposal, CQS will replace Bain as the subadvisor for the Fund effective September 1, 2026.

The Board is recommending that shareholders vote in favor of the proposal because 1) CQS currently manages a fund, John Hancock Global Senior Loan ETF, a series of John Hancock Exchange Traded Fund Trust ("Global Senior Loan ETF"), with similar investment strategies to those approved by the Board to be effective for the Fund upon the commencement of the management of the Fund by CQS; 2) CQS has experience and demonstrated skills as a manager in the bank loan asset class, and may be expected to provide a high quality of investment management services and personnel to the Fund; 3) the Board is generally satisfied with CQS's management of Global Senior Loan ETF; 4) the subadvisory fee paid to CQS to manage the Fund would be lower at all asset levels than the subadvisory fee currently paid to Bain to manage the Fund; and 5) there will be a decrease in the advisory fee paid to the Advisor by the Fund at all asset levels if the proposal is approved by shareholders.

The current subadvisory agreement provides for a subadvisory fee paid by the Advisor, not the Fund, to Bain at an annual percentage of the Fund's aggregate net assets. If the proposal is approved, the subadvisory fee paid to CQS will be lower at all asset levels than the subadvisory fee paid to Bain.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Current Subadvisory Fees (Bain)** | **Proposed Subadvisory Fees (CQS)** |
|  0.250% — first $1.1 billion | 0.230% — first $1.1 billion |
|  0.200% — next $1.9 billion | 0.180% — next $1.9 billion |
|  0.175% — next $1.5 billion | 0.155% — next $1.5 billion |
|  0.160%— next $1.5 billion | 0.140%— next $1.5 billion |
|  0.140% — excess over $6 billion | 0.120% — excess over $6 billion |

---

The following table sets forth for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025 (1) the aggregate amount of subadvisory fees paid by the Advisor to Bain; (2) the *pro forma* aggregate amount of subadvisory fees that the Advisor would have paid to CQS if the CQS Subadvisory Agreement had been in effect; and (3) the difference between the amounts of subadvisory fees under (1) as compared to (2) stated as a percentage of the amount under (1).

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **(1) Subadvisory Fees Paid**<br> **Under Current Fee Schedule** | **(2) Subadvisory Fees Payable<br>Under Proposed Fee Schedule**<br> *(pro forma)* | **(3) Difference Between (1) and (2)<br>as a Percentage of (1)** |
| $2609726 | $2400926 | (8)% |

---

If the Proposal is approved by shareholders, there would be a decrease in the Fund's advisory fees pursuant to an amendment to the Fund's advisory agreement with the Advisor that has been approved by the Board and a decrease in subadvisory fees at all asset levels, but there will be no change in services provided to the Fund by the Advisor and subadvisor. The Board's considerations in approving the CQS Subadvisory Agreement are described below under "Evaluation by the Board of Trustees."

Pursuant to an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") upon which the Trust relies, the Advisor, subject to Board approval, is permitted to enter into subadvisory agreements appointing or terminating subadvisors that are not affiliates of the Advisor (other than by reason of serving as a subadvisor to a series of the Trust), and to amend the terms of subadvisory agreements (including subadvisory fees) with respect to such subadvisors, without shareholder approval (the "Manager of Managers Order"). However, because the Advisor and CQS are both indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of MFC, CQS is an affiliate of the Advisor. As a result, pursuant to the Manager of Managers Order and the 1940 Act, shareholders are being asked to approve the CQS Subadvisory Agreement.

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**CQS and the CQS Subadvisory Agreement** 

*CQS*. CQS, a Delaware limited liability company located at 152 West 57th Street, 40th Floor New York, NY 10019, is an indirect, principally owned subsidiary of MFC.

It is proposed that CQS replace Bain as the Fund's subadvisor. A copy of the Form of CQS Subadvisory Agreement is included as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement for your reference.

*The CQS Subadvisory Agreement.* Under the CQS Subadvisory Agreement, CQS would be responsible, subject to the direction and control of the Trustees, for managing the Fund's investments and determining the composition of the Fund's assets. The CQS Subadvisory Agreement also provides that CQS will: (1) furnish all necessary investment management and administrative facilities, at CQS's expense; (2) select brokers and dealers to effect transactions and negotiate brokerage commissions if applicable, recognizing that while CQS at all times will seek best execution, CQS may, under certain circumstances, pay higher brokerage commissions by executing portfolio transactions with brokers that provide CQS with research, analysis, advice or other eligible brokerage and research services; (3) maintain all accounts, books and records with respect to the Fund as are required of an investment advisor to a registered investment company pursuant to the 1940 Act and Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and the rules thereunder; and (4) vote proxies relating to the Fund's investment in securities.

The CQS Subadvisory Agreement provides that CQS and any of its directors, officers, or employees will not be liable to the Advisor or the Trust for any acts or omissions or for any loss suffered by the Advisor or Trust in connection with the matters to which the proposed subadvisory agreement relates except for losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of, or from the reckless disregard of, CQS's duties as subadvisor or the duties of any of its directors.

The CQS Subadvisory Agreement provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Trustees of the Trust, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, on sixty days' written notice to the Advisor and CQS, or by the Advisor or CQS on sixty days' written notice to the Trust and the other party. The CQS Subadvisory Agreement will automatically terminate upon its "assignment," as that term is defined in the 1940 Act or in the event the Advisory Agreement terminates for any reason.

If approved by the Fund's shareholders, the CQS Subadvisory Agreement will become effective on the date of its execution and will remain in effect for an initial two-year term. Thereafter, the CQS Subadvisory Agreement will continue in effect if continuance is approved at least annually by a vote of the Fund's shareholders or by the Board, provided that, in either case, continuance is approved by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, the vote of whom must be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance.

**Comparison Between the Bain Subadvisory Agreement and the CQS Subadvisory Agreement** 

The current subadvisory agreement with Bain (the "Bain Subadvisory Agreement") and the CQS Subadvisory Agreement are substantially similar. Under both agreements, except as described below, the subadvisors have the same duties. The principal differences are described below.

The Bain Subadvisory Agreement was most recently reviewed and approved by the Board at in-person meetings held on May 28-29, 2025, and June 24-26, 2025, and was initially approved by the Board at an in-person meeting held on June 19-21, 2018. The Bain Subadvisory Agreement was not approved by shareholders of the Fund since Bain was approved as subadvisor to the Fund pursuant to the Manager of Managers Order.

*Fees.* The fee rates provided for in the CQS Subadvisory Agreement are lower at all asset levels than those provided in the Bain Subadvisory Agreement and are set forth in Appendix B. The Advisor, and not the Fund, pays the subadvisory fees to the subadvisor.

*Use of Names.* The Bain Subadvisory Agreement provides that the Advisor will not use Bain's name or any derivative without express written consent and that Bain will not use the Advisor's name or any derivative without express written consent. The CQS Subadvisory Agreement provides that CQS will not use the Advisor's name or a derivative without express written consent.

*Third Party Beneficiaries.* The CQS Subadvisory Agreement expressly provides that there are no third party beneficiaries to the agreement, the Bain Subadvisory Agreement does not contain such a provision.

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**Principal Investment Strategy Changes** 

In connection with the proposed appointment of CQS as subadvisor to the Fund, effective September 1, 2026, the Fund's principal investment strategies will change to the following:

Under normal market conditions, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in floating-rate loans, which often include debt securities of domestic and foreign issuers that are rated below investment grade (rated below Baa by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization such as Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or BBB by S&P Global Ratings), or are of comparable quality, as determined by the manager, and other floating-rate securities. Bonds that are rated at or below BB by S&P Global Ratings or Ba by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. are considered non-investment grade. The fund's investment policies are based on credit ratings at the time of purchase.

The fund may invest in domestic and foreign issuer loans and loan participations that pay interest at rates that float or reset periodically at a margin above a generally recognized base lending rate such as the Prime Rate, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), or another generally recognized base lending rate. Loans and debt instruments rated below investment grade are considered to have speculative characteristics. The fund may invest in loans of companies whose financial conditions are troubled or uncertain and that may be involved in bankruptcy proceedings, reorganizations, or financial restructurings. Direct investments in loans may be illiquid and holding a loan could expose the fund to the risks of being a direct lender. The fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations, corporate debt securities, (investment grade and high yield), and cash and cash equivalents. The fund may also acquire, and subsequently hold, warrants and other equity interests.

In purchasing loans, loan participations, and other securities for the fund, the manager may take full advantage of the entire range of maturities and durations and may from time to time adjust the average maturity or duration of the investments held by the fund, depending on its assessment of the relative yields of different maturities and durations and its expectations of future changes in interest rates.

The fund may invest in any number of issuers and may, at times, invest its assets in a small number of issuers. The fund may focus its investments in a particular sector or sectors of the economy. The fund may also invest in loans of any aggregate principal amount, and the average aggregate principal amount of the loans held by the fund will vary from time to time.

The fund may engage in derivatives transactions for hedging, risk management and/or efficient portfolio management purposes. Derivative instruments in which the fund may invest include credit default swap and total return swap agreements, interest rate swaps, foreign currency forward contracts, futures and options. Derivative instruments may magnify the fund's gains and losses. The fund does not employ the use of leverage.

The manager considers environmental, social, and/or governance (ESG) factors, alongside other relevant factors, as part of its investment process. ESG factors may include, but are not limited to, matters regarding board diversity, climate change policies, and supply chain and human rights policies. The ESG characteristics utilized in the fund's investment process may change over time and one or more characteristics may not be relevant with respect to all issuers that are eligible fund investments. Because ESG factors are considered alongside other relevant factors, the manager may determine that an investment is appropriate notwithstanding its relative ESG characteristics.

The fund's investment process may, at times, result in a higher-than-average portfolio turnover ratio and increased trading expenses. The fund may invest in cash or money market instruments for the purpose of meeting redemption requests or making other anticipated cash payments. The fund may deviate from its principal investment strategies during transition periods, which may include the reassignment of portfolio management, a change in investment objective or strategy, a reorganization or liquidation, or the occurrence of large inflows or outflows.

**Temporary defensive investing** 

The fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, money market instruments, or other investment-grade short-term securities for the purpose of protecting the fund in the event the manager determines that market, economic, political, or other conditions warrant a defensive posture. To the extent that the fund is in a defensive position, its ability to achieve its investment objective will be limited.

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**Securities lending** 

The fund may lend its securities so long as such loans do not represent more than 33<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub>% of the fund's total assets. The borrower will provide collateral to the lending portfolio so that the value of the loaned security will be fully collateralized. The collateral may consist of cash, 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. As with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially.

**Advisory Fee Changes** 

Also, in connection with the proposed appointment of CQS as subadvisor to the Fund, the Board approved lowering the advisory fee at all asset levels as well as changes to the Fund's advisory fee breakpoints as shown in the table below. The advisory fee is stated as an annual percentage of the aggregate net assets of the Fund (together with the assets of any other applicable fund identified in the advisory aggregate).

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Current Advisory Fees** | **Proposed Advisory Fees** |
|  0.680% — first $1.1 billion | 0.660% — first $1.1 billion |
|  0.630% — next $1.9 billion | 0.610% — next $1.9 billion |
|  0.605% — next $1.5 billion | 0.585% — next $1.5 billion  |
|  0.590%— next $1.5 billion | 0.570%— next $1.5 billion |
|  0.570% — excess over $6 billion | 0.550% — excess over $6 billion |

---

If the Proposal is approved by shareholders, there would be a decrease in the Fund's advisory fees and a decrease in subadvisory fees at all asset levels, but there will be no change in services provided to the Fund by the Advisor and subadvisor.

**Other Funds Managed by CQS** 

CQS currently acts as the subadvisor to John Hancock Global Senior Loan ETF, which has the same investment objective and similar investment policies to those of the Fund.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Name of Fund** | **Subadvisory Fee Schedule** |
|  Global Senior Loan ETF | 0.250% — first $1 billion |
|  | 0.200% — next $1 billion |
|  | 0.175% — next $1 billion |
|  | 0.150% — excess over $3 billion |

---

**Evaluation by the Board of Trustees** 

At an in-person Board meeting held on March 24-26, 2026, the Advisor recommended to the Board that the Fund's subadvisor, Bain, be replaced with CQS. CQS is an affiliate of the Advisor and MFC is the indirect controlling parent company of CQS. The Board, including all the Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, the Advisor, CQS, or JH Distributors (the "Independent Trustees"), approved the appointment of CQS as the new subadvisor to the Fund and the new CQS Subadvisory Agreement at its in-person meeting held on March 24-26, 2026.

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
In considering the approval of the proposed subadvisory agreement with CQS, the Board took into account its consideration of the factors it considered with the annual evaluation of the advisory and subadvisory agreements conducted at an in-person meetings held on May 28-29, 2025 and June 24-26, 2025, as well as information presented at other meetings during the year. Throughout the process, the Trustees were afforded the opportunity to ask questions of and request additional information from management. The Board also considered other factors it deemed relevant in its evaluation of the proposed subadvisory agreement, including the potential benefits that the Fund, and its shareholders, may realize through having a new subadvisor. The Board also considered conditions and trends prevailing generally in the economy, the securities markets and the industry. The Board also considered the affiliation of the Advisor with CQS, noting any potential conflicts of interest. The Board did not treat any single factor as determinative, and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to different factors. Throughout the evaluation process, the Board was assisted by counsel for the Trust and the Independent Trustees were also separately assisted by independent legal counsel. The Board reviewed and considered all of the factors it deemed relevant, including, but not limited to: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided by CQS to the Fund; (ii) the investment performance of the Fund and CQS; (iii) the costs of the services to be provided to the Fund; and (iv) the extent to which economies of scale are expected to be realized.

*Nature, Extent and Quality of Services* 

The Board considered information regarding the nature, extent and quality of investment management services to be provided by CQS. In particular, the Board considered information relating to CQS's business, including current subadvisory services to another fund in the John Hancock family of funds. The Board noted that CQS currently manages John Hancock Global Senior Loan ETF, a series of John Hancock Exchange Traded Fund Trust, and has experience and demonstrated skills as a manager with respect to bank loan funds it manages and may be expected to provide a high quality of investment management services and personnel to the Fund. Following consideration of such information, the Board was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services expected to be provided by CQS to the Fund and its shareholders.

*Performance of the Fund and CQS* 

The Board reviewed and considered the investment performance of the Fund and the performance of another John Hancock fund managed by CQS, Global Senior Loan ETF. Although performance data is limited due to the recent commencement of operations of Global Senior Loan ETF, the Board is generally satisfied with CQS's management of Global Senior Loan ETF. The Board also reviewed the performance of CQS in managing a prior strategy comparable to the strategy to be used in CQS's management of the Fund.

*Costs of the Services to be Provided to the Fund* 

The Board reviewed and considered the comparative services rendered and comparative subadvisory fee rates. Specifically, the Board reviewed the subadvisory fee for the Fund. The Board determined that the CQS subadvisory fee rates to manage the Fund would be lower at all asset levels than the subadvisory fee rates charged by Bain to manage the Fund and the advisory fee rate paid to the Advisor for the Fund will decrease at all asset levels if the CQS Subadvisory Agreement is approved by shareholders. As a result, the Board noted that the Fund's shareholders would pay lower expenses if the Subadvisory Agreement is approved.

*Economies of Scale* 

The Board reviewed and considered the extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of Fund shareholders. The Board considered the anticipated impact on the profitability of the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the proposed subadvisor change. In doing so, the Board examined information presented by the Advisor regarding the net profitability to the Advisor and its affiliates with respect to the Fund following the proposed subadvisor change; and information regarding any potential conflicts of interest the Advisor might have in connection with the Fund's Subadvisory Agreement.

**Additional Information** 

**Management and Control of CQS** 

CQS, a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 152 West 57th Street, 40th Floor, New York, New York 10019, was formed in 2008. CQS is a wholly owned subsidiary of CQS Management Limited, which is ultimately controlled by Manulife Financial Corporation ("MFC"), a Toronto-based financial services group. MFC is the holding company of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, collectively known as Manulife Financial.

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
The names and principal occupations of CQS's principal executive officers and directors are set forth below. The address for each officer and director of CQS is 152 West 57th Street, 40th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Name** | **Position with CQS** |
| [Lisa [Middle Name] Hutfloetz] | Member of Management Committee |
| James Patrick III Fitzpatrick | Member of Management Committee |
| Patricia Rosch Carrington | Member of Management Committee |
| [Mercy [Middle Name] Bishay] | Chief Compliance Officer |

---

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025, the Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions to an affiliated broker.

**MISCELLANEOUS** 

**Required Vote for Proposal** 

Approval of the Proposal will require the affirmative vote of a Majority of the Outstanding Voting Securities of the Fund, as defined below.

In this Proxy Statement, the term "Majority of the Outstanding Voting Securities" of the Fund means the affirmative vote of the lesser of:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Fund, present at the Meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present at the Meeting or by proxy; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

Shareholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the Proposal in this Proxy Statement.

If shareholders do not approve the Proposal, the current subadvisory agreement will remain in place and there will be no related investment strategy or fee changes.

**Voting Procedures** 

**All properly executed and timely received proxies will be voted in accordance with specifications thereon, or in the absence of specifications, for approval of the proposal. A proxy that is not timely received will not be voted.** 

***Revocation of Proxies.*** Proxies may be revoked at any time before the Meeting either: (i) by a written revocation received by the Secretary of the Trust; (ii) by a properly executed later-dated proxy received by the Secretary of the Trust; or (iii) by being present at the Meeting and notifying the Secretary of the Trust (without complying with any formalities) at any time before the proxy is voted that the shareholder wishes to vote. Attendance at the Meeting will not in and of itself revoke a proxy. Shareholders may revoke a proxy as often as they wish before the Meeting. Only the latest dated, properly executed proxy card received prior to or at the Meeting will be counted.

***Quorum*.** Shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment of the Meeting. The holders of a simple majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund at the close of business on that date present at the Meeting or by proxy will constitute a quorum for the Meeting.

Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held and proportionate fractional votes for fractional shares held.

In the event the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote required to approve a proposal is not obtained at the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting with respect to any proposal in accordance with applicable law to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any adjournment of the Meeting will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a simple majority of the Fund's shares cast at the Meeting, and any adjournment with respect to any proposal will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a simple majority of the shares entitled to vote on the proposal cast at the Meeting. The persons named as proxies will vote for or against any adjournment in their discretion.

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
***Abstentions and Broker "Non-Votes.****"* Abstentions and broker non-votes (*i.e.*, shares held by brokers or nominees as to which: (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the persons entitled to vote; and (ii) the broker or nominee indicates on the proxy that it does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter) are counted as shares entitled to vote at the Meeting in determining whether a quorum is present, but do not count as votes cast for a proposal. Therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes have the same effect as a vote "against" a proposal.

***Cost of Preparation of Proxy Materials.*** The costs of the preparation of these proxy materials will be borne by the Fund and are estimated to be $75,000.00. However, because the Fund is currently subject to an expense reimbursement, the costs will, in effect, be borne by the Advisor.

***Distribution and Solicitation of Proxies.*** In addition to the preparation of these proxy materials, proxies will be mailed and may be solicited by telephone, by fax, by email, or in person by the Trustees, officers and employees of the Trust; by personnel of the Advisor, its affiliates, or by broker-dealer firms. Sodali & Co, an investor communications firm, has been retained to assist in the mailing and solicitation of proxies at a cost of approximately $33,000.00. The costs of the distribution of these proxy materials and any proxy solicitation will be borne by the Fund. However, because the Fund is currently subject to an expense reimbursement, the costs will, in effect, be borne by the Advisor.

**Telephone Voting** 

In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, by fax, by email or at the Meeting, the Trust may also arrange to have votes recorded by telephone by officers and employees of the Trust or by the personnel of the Advisor, the transfer agent or solicitor. The telephone voting procedure is designed to verify a shareholder's identity, to allow a shareholder to authorize the voting of shares in accordance with the shareholder's instructions and to confirm that the voting instructions have been properly recorded.

A shareholder will be called on a recorded line at the telephone number in the Fund's account records and will be asked to provide certain identifying information.

The shareholder will then be given an opportunity to authorize proxies to vote his or her shares at the Meeting in accordance with the shareholder's instructions.

Alternatively, a shareholder may call the Fund's Voice Response Unit to vote by taking the following steps:

• Read the Proxy Statement and have your proxy card(s) at hand.

• Call the toll-free number located on your proxy card(s).

• Enter the "control number" found on the front of your proxy card(s).

• Follow recorded instructions to cast your vote.

With both methods of telephone voting, to ensure that the shareholder's instructions have been recorded correctly, the shareholder will also receive a confirmation of the voting instructions. If the shareholder decides after voting by telephone to attend the Meeting, the shareholder can revoke the proxy at that time and vote the shares at the Meeting.

**Internet Voting** 

You will also have the opportunity to submit your voting instructions via the Internet by utilizing a program provided through a vendor. Voting via the Internet will not affect your right to vote if you decide to attend the Meeting. Do not mail the proxy card(s) if you are voting via the Internet. To vote via the Internet, you will need the "control number" that appears on your proxy card(s). These Internet voting procedures are designed to authenticate shareholder identities, to allow shareholders to give their voting instructions and to confirm that shareholders' instructions have been recorded properly. If you are voting via the Internet, you should understand that there may be costs associated with electronic access, such as usage charges from Internet access providers and telephone companies, which you must bear.

To vote via the Internet:

• Read the Proxy Statement and have your proxy card(s) at hand.

• Go to the Web site on the proxy card(s).

• Enter the "control number" found on the front of your proxy card(s).

• Follow the instructions on the Web site.

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
To ensure that your instructions have been recorded correctly, you will receive a confirmation of your voting instructions immediately after your submission.

**Shareholders Sharing the Same Address** 

As permitted by law, only one copy of this Proxy Statement may be delivered to shareholders residing at the same address, unless such shareholders have notified the Fund of their desire to receive multiple copies of the shareholder reports and other materials that the Fund sends. If you would like to receive an additional copy, please contact the Fund by writing to 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, or by calling toll-free 1-800-225-5291. The Fund will then promptly deliver, upon request, a separate copy of this Proxy Statement to any shareholder residing at an address to which only one copy was mailed. Shareholders wishing to receive separate copies of the Fund's shareholder reports and other materials in the future, and shareholders sharing an address that wish to receive a single copy if they are receiving multiple copies, also should send a request as indicated.

**Other Matters** 

The Board does not know of any matters to be presented at the Meeting other than those described in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the shares represented by proxies will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the person or persons voting the proxies.

The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and, therefore, it cannot be determined when the next meeting of shareholders will be held. Shareholder proposals to be presented at any future meeting of shareholders of the Trust must be received by the Trust a reasonable time before the Trust's solicitation of proxies for that meeting in order for such proposals to be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials related to that meeting.

**BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES** 

May [21], 2026

Boston, Massachusetts

**IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE, SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD(S) IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE OR, ALTERNATIVELY, TO VOTE BY TOUCH-TONE TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET. IF SHAREHOLDERS DO NOT RETURN THEIR PROXIES IN SUFFICIENT NUMBERS, IT MAY RESULT IN THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDER SOLICITATION EFFORTS.** 

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**APPENDIX A - OUTSTANDING SHARES AND SHARE OWNERSHIP** 

To the best knowledge of the Trust, as of the Record Date, the following shareholders owned beneficially or of record 5% or more of the outstanding classes of shares of the Fund. A shareholder who owns beneficially more than 25% of any class of the Fund is deemed to control that class and therefore could determine the outcome of a shareholder meeting with respect to a proposal directly affecting that share class.

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Address** | **Share Class** | **Percentage Owned** | **Type of Ownership** |

---

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**APPENDIX B – CQS (US), LLC SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT** 

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

[________________]

KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SPECIFY YOUR DESIRED ACTION BY A CHECK MARK IN THE APPROPRIATE SPACE. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF (FOR) THE PROPOSAL IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE BELOW. AS TO ANY OTHER MATTER, THE PROXY OR PROXIES WILL VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR BEST JUDGMENT. | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SPECIFY YOUR DESIRED ACTION BY A CHECK MARK IN THE APPROPRIATE SPACE. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF (FOR) THE PROPOSAL IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE BELOW. AS TO ANY OTHER MATTER, THE PROXY OR PROXIES WILL VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR BEST JUDGMENT. | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SPECIFY YOUR DESIRED ACTION BY A CHECK MARK IN THE APPROPRIATE SPACE. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF (FOR) THE PROPOSAL IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE BELOW. AS TO ANY OTHER MATTER, THE PROXY OR PROXIES WILL VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR BEST JUDGMENT. | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SPECIFY YOUR DESIRED ACTION BY A CHECK MARK IN THE APPROPRIATE SPACE. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF (FOR) THE PROPOSAL IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE BELOW. AS TO ANY OTHER MATTER, THE PROXY OR PROXIES WILL VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR BEST JUDGMENT. | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SPECIFY YOUR DESIRED ACTION BY A CHECK MARK IN THE APPROPRIATE SPACE. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF (FOR) THE PROPOSAL IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE BELOW. AS TO ANY OTHER MATTER, THE PROXY OR PROXIES WILL VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR BEST JUDGMENT. |
|  |  | **For** | **Against** | **Abstain** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. | To approve a new subadvisory agreement between John Hancock Investment Management, LLC and CQS (US), LLC with respect to the Fund. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |

---

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Note**: Signature(s) should agree with the name(s) printed herein. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full name as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. | **Note**: Signature(s) should agree with the name(s) printed herein. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full name as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. | **Note**: Signature(s) should agree with the name(s) printed herein. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full name as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. | **Note**: Signature(s) should agree with the name(s) printed herein. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full name as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
| Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature [Joint Owners] | Date |

---

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
**EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT** 

***PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY TODAY***

**Important Notice Regarding Availability of Proxy Materials for this Meeting to Be Held on June 25, 2026** 

**The Proxy Statement for this Meeting is available at [www.proxyvote.com].** 

**PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE** 

[_____-_____]

---

| |
|:---|
|  <br> **PROXY** |
| **FLOATING RATE INCOME FUND** |
| **PROXY FOR A SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JUNE 25, 2026** |
| **THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II** |
|  The undersigned revoking previous proxies, hereby appoint(s) Jay Aronowitz, Thomas Dee, Kristie M. Feinberg, Phil Fontana, Khimmara Greer, Kinga Kapuscinski, Nicholas J. Kolokithas, Mara C.S. Moldwin, Harsha Pulluru, Salvatore Schiavone, Christopher L. Sechler, Betsy Anne Seel, Fernando A. Silva and Steven Sunnerberg, with full power of substitution in each, as proxies to vote all the shares of beneficial interest of Floating Rate Income Fund (the "Fund"), a series of John Hancock Funds II (the "Trust") which the undersigned is (are) entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Trust (the "Meeting"), to be held at the principal office of the Fund, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116 on Tuesday, June 25, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and at any adjournment(s) of the Meeting, in accordance with the instructions on this proxy.<br>Note that this Meeting is limited to shareholders of the Fund. All powers may be exercised by a majority of all proxy holders or substitutes voting or acting, or, if only one votes and acts, then by that one. Receipt of the Proxy Statement dated May [21], 2026 is hereby acknowledged. If not revoked, this proxy shall be voted for the proposals included in the Proxy Statement.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; |

---

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC, Member FINRA, SIPC, 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA, 02116, 800-225-6020, jhinvestments.com Manulife, Manulife Investments, Stylized M Design, and Manulife Investments & Stylized M Design are trademarks Life Insurance Company and John Hancock and the Stylized John Hancock Design are trademarks of John Hancock (U.S.A.). Each are used by it and by its affiliates under license.

![LOGO](g813962dsp23a.jpg)

200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, 800-852-0218, jhinvestments.com 328DPX

------

##### [**Table of Contents**](#toc)
![LOGO](g813962dsp23a.jpg)

200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116, 800-852-0218, jhinvestments.com 328SPX