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

Rhea-AI Summary

The John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) has announced a monthly distribution of $0.0975 per share, payable on December 31, 2021, for shareholders on record as of December 13, 2021. This distribution is part of the Fund's managed distribution plan. The distribution sources include net investment income (77%), return of capital (22%), and minimal capital gains. It’s important to note that some of the distribution may represent a return of capital, which does not indicate the Fund's investment performance.

Positive

• Monthly distribution of $0.0975 per share indicates ongoing income for shareholders.
• 77% of the distribution sourced from net investment income reflects strong operational performance.

Negative

• 22% of the distribution is classified as return of capital, which could raise sustainability concerns.
• Cumulative total return for the fiscal year is down by 4.40%, indicating potential challenges.

BOSTON, Dec. 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (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 monthly distribution of $0.0975 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of December 13, 2021, 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 Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on December 1, 2021, and payable on December 31, 2021. No action is required on your part.

Distribution Period:	December 2021
Distribution Amount Per Common Share:	$0.0975

The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable December 31, 2021, 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 12/1/2021-12/31/2021				For the fiscal year-to-date period 11/1/2021-12/31/2021 1
Source		Current Distribution ($)		% Breakdown of the Current Distribution		Total Cumulative Distributions ($)		% Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions
Net Investment Income		0.0748		77%		0.1733		89%
Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains		0.0000		0%		0.0217 0.0000		11%
Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains		0.0012		1%				0%
Return of Capital or Other Capital Source		0.0215		22%		0.0000		0%
Total per common share		0.0975		100%		0.1950		100%
Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on November 30, 2021								7.58%
Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2021								8.27%
Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through November 30, 2021								-4.40%
Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2021								1.38%

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 December 2021 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan").  Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0975 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.

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.

Effective October 1, 2021, copies of all notices informing shareholders of distributions made by the fund in excess of accumulated net investment income will be posted on John Hancock Investment Management's public website (jhinvestments.com) and on the Legal Notice System (LENS), a service offering of the Depository Trust Company (DTC) accessible by broker-dealer firms. To the extent required, notice may also be provided via press release. John Hancock Investment Management will continue to distribute paper copies of these notices by mail until March 30, 2022, after which date the notices will be delivered exclusively via the methods described above.

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 Financial
John 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$1.4 trillion (US$1.1 trillion) as of September 30, 2021. 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 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2021 and will end on October 31, 2022.

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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management

FAQ

What is the dividend amount for PDT in December 2021?

The dividend amount for PDT in December 2021 is $0.0975 per share.

When will the dividend for PDT be paid?

The dividend for PDT will be paid on December 31, 2021.

What are the sources of the December 2021 distribution for PDT?

The sources include 77% net investment income, 0% net realized short-term capital gains, 1% net realized long-term capital gains, and 22% return of capital.

How often does PDT distribute dividends?

PDT distributes dividends monthly as part of its managed distribution plan.

What does return of capital mean for PDT shareholders?

Return of capital means that part of the distribution may be a return of the investment, which does not reflect the Fund's investment performance.