JOHN HANCOCK FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS - SOURCES OF DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 19(a)

Rhea-AI Summary

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BTO) has announced its quarterly distribution of $0.6500 per share for March 2025, payable to shareholders of record as of March 13, 2025. The distribution is part of the Fund's managed distribution plan, which maintains fixed quarterly distributions at this amount.

The Fund indicates it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains, suggesting a portion of the distribution may represent a return of capital. This means some investors might receive part of their original investment back rather than earnings. The exact tax implications will be detailed in Form 1099-DIV that will be sent to shareholders.

Insights

Financial Analyst

This standard Section 19(a) notice from John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (BTO) provides important context about the fund's quarterly distribution of $0.65 per share. The critical detail is that the distribution likely contains a return of capital component, as the fund acknowledges distributing more than its actual income and realized capital gains.

Return of capital isn't inherently negative, but it does require investor attention. Unlike dividends from earnings, return of capital reduces your cost basis in the fund, effectively returning a portion of your original investment. While this creates tax efficiency in the short term (not immediately taxable), it can increase capital gains tax liability when shares are eventually sold.

This distribution aligns with BTO's managed distribution plan, which commits to consistent $0.65 quarterly payments regardless of underlying performance. For income-dependent investors, this predictability is beneficial, but it's worth noting that sustained return of capital distributions can gradually erode NAV if not offset by corresponding performance.

The notification doesn't specify what percentage of the distribution represents return of capital versus actual income, making it difficult to assess the magnitude. This is a routine SEC-required disclosure rather than a special announcement, and doesn't necessarily indicate performance problems with the fund's financial sector holdings.

BOSTON, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BTO) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its quarterly distribution of $0.6500 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of March 13, 2025, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notification of Sources of Distribution

This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BTO) with important information concerning the distribution declared on March 3, 2025, and payable on March 31, 2025. No action is required on your part.

Distribution Period: March 2025

Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.6500

The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable March 31, 2025, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources:  net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.

		For the period 01/01/2025-03/31/2025				For the fiscal year-to-date period 01/01/2025-03/31/2025 1
Source		Current Distribution ($)		% Breakdown of the Current Distribution		Total Cumulative Distributions ($)		% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions
Net Investment Income		0.1020		16 %		0.1020		16 %
Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains		0.0350		5 %		0.0350		5 %
Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains		0.3363		52 %		0.3363		52 %
Return of Capital or Other Capital Source		0.1767		27 %		0.1767		27 %
Total per common share		0.6500		100 %		0.6500		100 %
Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on February 28, 2025								13.03 %
Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of February 28, 2025								7.24 %
Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through February 28, 2025								2.31 %
Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of February 28, 2025								1.81 %

___________________________

1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on January 1, 2025 and will end on December 31, 2025.

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital.  A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you.  A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes.  The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations.  The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund has declared the March 2025 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan").  Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed quarterly distributions in the amount of $0.6500 per share.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

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 Manulife John Hancock Investments
We serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

Media Contact: Gordon Haight
(617) 572-0034

Investor Contact: (800) 843-0090

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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management

FAQ

What is the March 2025 quarterly distribution amount for John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (BTO)?

BTO announced a quarterly distribution of $0.6500 per share, payable on March 31, 2025, to shareholders of record as of March 13, 2025.

Why is BTO's distribution considered a return of capital?

The Fund has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains, meaning part of the distribution returns investors' original investment rather than earnings.

How often does BTO pay distributions under its managed distribution plan?

BTO makes fixed quarterly distributions of $0.6500 per share under its managed distribution plan.

How will BTO shareholders receive tax information about these distributions?

The Fund will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year detailing how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.