PR Newswire | Jul 16, 2020 04:16PM EDT

Opportunities Fund Release Earnings Data

07/16 15:15 CDT

John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund and John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Release Earnings Data BOSTON, July 16, 2020

BOSTON, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (NYSE: HEQ) and John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BTO) announced earnings1 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The same data for the comparable three months ended June 30, 2019 is also available below.

Three Months Ended 06/30/20

Current Net Per TotalTicker Fund Name Fiscal Investment Common NAV Managed Total Net Assets Year End Income Share Assets

HEQ Hedged Equity & Income Fund 12/31 $1,158,780 $0.095 $11.82 $144,514,223 $144,514,223

BTO Financial Opportunities Fund 12/31 $3,191,058 $0.171 $21.14 $520,004,697 * $395,004,697

Three Months Ended 06/30/19

Current Net Per TotalTicker Fund Name Fiscal Investment Common NAV Managed Total Net Assets Year End Income Share Assets

HEQ Hedged Equity & Income Fund 12/31 $2,706,441 $0.222 $14.84 $181,226,247 $181,226,247

BTO Financial Opportunities Fund 12/31 $2,337,891 $0.125 $33.14 $744,487,566 * $619,487,566

* Total managed assets include assets attributable to borrowings under aLiquidity Agreement.

Amounts distributed by the Funds may vary from the earnings shown above and will be announced in separate press releases.

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 Financial and Manulife FinancialJohn Hancock is a division of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services group that helps people achieve their dreams and aspirations by putting customers' needs first and providing the right advice and solutions. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States and as Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups, and institutions. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were over CAD$1.2 trillion (US$800 billion) as of March 31, 2020. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports approximately 10 million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, and education savings plans. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

_________________________________________1 Earnings refer to net investment income, which comprises the Fund's interest and dividend income, less expenses. Earnings presented represent past earnings and there is no guarantee of future results.

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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management