John Hancock Investments adds five sector ETFs to commission-free[1] line up available through Schwab ETF OneSource™

BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Investments announced today that five of the company's sector-based ETFs have been added by Charles Schwab to their Schwab ETF OneSource™ program. All 11 John Hancock Multifactor ETFs are now available commission free on the platform, under certain conditions. 

"We're pleased that with the addition of our five new sector ETFs, launched in March of this year, our full suite of multifactor sector ETFs is now available on the Schwab ETF OneSource program. These ETFs, along with our large-and mid-cap ETFs, all managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, are now available to advisors and individual investors commission free at Schwab," said Todd J. Cassler, president of institutional distribution at John Hancock Investments. "As we continue building this relationship for the benefit of our clients, we look forward to bringing our unique manager-of-managers model to an expanded range of investors."  

"We are thrilled that John Hancock Investments has decided to broaden the lineup of multifactor sector ETFs available through Schwab ETF OneSource, giving Schwab clients even more choice within our commission-free ETF offering," said Heather Fischer, vice president of ETF platform management at Schwab.

Schwab ETF OneSource was launched in February of 2013, and currently offers 232 ETFs covering 69 Morningstar categories.

The available John Hancock ETFs are:

Name                                                                             Ticker           Morningstar category

• John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF                       JHML           large-cap blend
• John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF                          JHMM          mid-cap blend
• John Hancock Multifactor Consumer Discretionary ETF   JHMC           consumer cyclical
• John Hancock Multifactor Consumer Staples ETF           JHMS           consumer defensive
• John Hancock Multifactor Energy ETF                            JHME          equity energy
• John Hancock Multifactor Financials ETF                        JHMF          financial
• John Hancock Multifactor Healthcare ETF                       JHMH          health
• John Hancock Multifactor Industrials ETF                        JHMI           industrials
• John Hancock Multifactor Materials ETF                         JHMA          natural resources        
• John Hancock Multifactor Technology ETF                      JHMT          technology
• John Hancock Multifactor Utilities ETF                            JHMU          utilities

In September of 2015, John Hancock Investments entered the ETF business with a suite of passively-managed strategic beta ETFs built on Dimensional Fund Advisors' time-tested approach. For more than 30 years, Dimensional Fund Advisors has leveraged academic research in their approach to factor-based investing, a style that seeks to identify and isolate those equity characteristics that are true drivers of long-term performance: smaller capitalizations, lower valuations, and higher profitability. Each John Hancock Multifactor ETF seeks to track a custom index built upon decades of academic research into the factors that drive higher expected returns.

About John Hancock Investments
John Hancock has helped individuals and institutions build and protect wealth since 1862. Today, we are one of America's strongest and most-recognized brands. As a manager of managers, John Hancock Investments searches the world to find proven portfolio teams with specialized expertise for every fund we offer, then we apply vigorous investment oversight to ensure they continue to meet our uncompromising standards and serve the best interests of our shareholders. Our unique approach to asset management has led to a diverse set of investments deeply rooted in investor needs, along with strong risk-adjusted returns across asset classes.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada, and the United States. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, our group of companies offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents, and distribution partners. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were $934 billion (US$718 billion) as of June 30, 2016. 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.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments,  401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

A fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses should be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the fund. To obtain a prospectus, contact your financial professional, call John Hancock Investments at 800-225-5291, or visit our website at jhinvestments.com/etf. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

Investing involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that a fund's investment strategy will be successful. Due to various factors, shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market, and a fund's holdings and returns may deviate from those of its index. These variations may be greater when markets are volatile or subject to unusual conditions.

John Hancock Multifactor Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV), and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP receives compensation from John Hancock in connection with licensing rights to the John Hancock Dimensional indexes. Neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional Fund Advisors LP guarantees the accuracy and/or completeness of an index (each an underlying index) or any data included therein, and neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional Fund Advisors LP shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein. Neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional Fund Advisors LP makes any warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by a fund, owners of the shares of a fund, or any other person or entity from the use of an underlying index, trading based on an underlying index, or any data included therein, either in connection with a fund or for any other use. Neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional Fund Advisors LP makes any express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties, of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to an underlying index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall either John Hancock Advisers, LLC or Dimensional Fund Advisors LP have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect, or consequential damages, including lost profits, arising out of matters relating to the use of an underlying index, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

John Hancock ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, and are subadvised by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Foreside is not affiliated with John Hancock Funds, LLC or Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. receives remuneration from third-party ETF companies participating in Schwab ETF OneSource™ for record keeping, shareholder services and other services, including program development, maintenance and promotion.                          

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[1] Conditions Apply: Trades in ETFs available through Schwab ETF OneSource™ (including Schwab ETFs™) are available without commissions when placed online in a Schwab account. Service charges apply for trade orders placed through a broker ($25) or by automated phone ($5). An exchange processing fee applies to sell transactions. Certain types of Schwab ETF OneSource transactions are not eligible for the commission waiver, such as short sells and buys to cover (not including Schwab ETFs). Schwab reserves the right to change the ETFs they make available without commissions. All ETFs are subject to management fees and expenses. Please see Charles Schwab Pricing Guide for additional information.

SOURCE John Hancock Investments