| 1 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 2 |
| 3 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 4 |
| TOP 10 ISSUERS AS OF 7/31/2025 (% of total investments) | |
| Citigroup, Inc. | 4.3 |
| Bank of America Corp. | 3.7 |
| Wells Fargo & Company | 3.2 |
| Morgan Stanley | 2.9 |
| CMS Energy Corp. | 2.8 |
| Athene Holding, Ltd. | 2.7 |
| Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 2.4 |
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 2.4 |
| SBL Holdings, Inc. | 2.0 |
| CoBank ACB | 1.9 |
| TOTAL | 28.3 |
| Cash and short-term investments are not included. | |
| 5 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 6 |
| Average annual total returns (%) | Cumulative total returns (%) | ||||
| 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | 5-year | 10-Year | |
| At Net asset value | 8.68 | 6.25 | 5.42 | 35.38 | 69.56 |
| At Market price | 3.75 | 6.08 | 6.61 | 34.31 | 89.65 |
| S&P 500 Index | 16.33 | 15.88 | 13.66 | 108.95 | 259.89 |
| ICE BofA U.S. All Capital Securities Index | 7.10 | 3.04 | 4.52 | 16.17 | 55.62 |
| Blended Benchmark | 6.13 | 1.30 | 3.85 | 6.69 | 45.96 |
| 7 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 8 |
| Shares | Value | ||||
| Preferred securities (A) 90.1% (56.8% of Total investments) | $309,303,634 | ||||
| (Cost $327,040,699) | |||||
| Communication services 5.7% | 19,467,460 | ||||
| Wireless telecommunication services 5.7% | |||||
| Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 6.000% | 314,625 | 5,801,685 | |||
| Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 6.625% | 211,250 | 4,478,500 | |||
| U.S. Cellular Corp., 5.500% | 52,325 | 1,160,045 | |||
| U.S. Cellular Corp., 5.500% (B) | 94,450 | 2,121,347 | |||
| U.S. Cellular Corp., 6.250% | 231,150 | 5,905,883 | |||
| Financials 63.4% | 217,648,594 | ||||
| Banks 24.9% | |||||
| Bank of America Corp., 5.000% (B) | 106,000 | 2,167,700 | |||
| Bank of America Corp., 6.450% (B) | 95,854 | 2,419,355 | |||
| Bank of America Corp., 7.250% (B) | 7,000 | 8,540,000 | |||
| Bank of Hawaii Corp., 8.000% | 93,825 | 2,473,227 | |||
| Citigroup Capital XIII, 10.942% (3 month CME Term SOFR + 6.632%) (B)(C) | 265,000 | 7,809,550 | |||
| Citizens Financial Group, Inc., 6.500% (6.500% 10-6-30, then 5 Year CMT + 2.629%) | 74,075 | 1,857,060 | |||
| Citizens Financial Group, Inc., 7.375% | 205,000 | 5,426,350 | |||
| Fifth Third Bancorp, 6.000% (B) | 151,400 | 3,692,646 | |||
| First Busey Corp., 8.250% | 64,575 | 1,633,748 | |||
| Fulton Financial Corp., 5.125% (B) | 103,025 | 1,926,568 | |||
| Huntington Bancshares, Inc., 6.875% (6.875% to 4-15-28, then 5 Year CMT + 2.704%) | 125,550 | 3,216,591 | |||
| KeyCorp, 5.650% | 152,983 | 3,382,454 | |||
| KeyCorp, 6.125% (6.125% to 12-15-26, then 3 month CME Term SOFR + 4.154%) | 25,000 | 624,000 | |||
| KeyCorp, 6.200% (6.200% to 12-15-27, then 5 Year CMT + 3.132%) | 76,175 | 1,898,281 | |||
| M&T Bank Corp., 7.500% | 147,500 | 3,986,925 | |||
| Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., 6.750% | 76,350 | 1,943,108 | |||
| Regions Financial Corp., 4.450% | 123,949 | 2,240,998 | |||
| Regions Financial Corp., 6.950% (6.950% to 9-15-29, then 5 Year CMT + 2.771%) | 136,100 | 3,473,272 | |||
| Synovus Financial Corp., 7.922% (3 month CME Term SOFR + 3.614%) (B)(C) | 43,150 | 1,106,798 | |||
| Synovus Financial Corp., 8.397% (5 Year CMT + 4.127%) (B)(C) | 140,325 | 3,680,725 | |||
| Truist Financial Corp., 4.750% (B) | 127,175 | 2,463,380 | |||
| U.S. Bancorp, 5.500% (B)(D) | 96,475 | 2,231,467 | |||
| UMB Financial Corp., 7.750% (7.750% to 7-15-30, then 5 Year CMT + 3.743%) | 89,625 | 2,348,175 | |||
| Wells Fargo & Company, 7.500% (B) | 7,500 | 8,884,040 | |||
| 9 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Shares | Value | ||||
| Financials (continued) | |||||
| Banks (continued) | |||||
| WesBanco, Inc., 6.750% (6.750% to 11-15-25, then 5 Year CMT + 6.557%) | 93,000 | $2,374,290 | |||
| Wintrust Financial Corp., 7.875% (7.875% to 7-15-30, then 5 Year CMT + 3.878%) | 137,275 | 3,596,605 | |||
| Capital markets 9.8% | |||||
| Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., 6.750% (B) | 207,900 | 5,051,970 | |||
| Brookfield Finance, Inc., 4.625% (B) | 158,548 | 2,533,597 | |||
| Carlyle Finance LLC, 4.625% (B) | 59,926 | 1,086,458 | |||
| Morgan Stanley, 6.375% (B) | 125,000 | 3,116,250 | |||
| Morgan Stanley, 6.500% (B) | 138,571 | 3,547,418 | |||
| Morgan Stanley, 6.625% (B) | 80,750 | 2,080,120 | |||
| Morgan Stanley, 6.875% (B) | 99,875 | 2,521,844 | |||
| Morgan Stanley, 7.125% (B) | 191,422 | 4,867,861 | |||
| The Bank of New York Mellon Corp., 6.150% (6.150% to 3-20-30, then 5 Year CMT + 2.161%) (B) | 143,450 | 3,703,879 | |||
| TPG Operating Group II LP, 6.950% (B)(D) | 203,425 | 5,284,982 | |||
| Consumer finance 2.5% | |||||
| Navient Corp., 6.000% | 200,341 | 3,808,482 | |||
| Synchrony Financial, 8.250% (8.250% to 5-15-29, then 5 Year CMT + 4.044%) (B) | 183,025 | 4,747,669 | |||
| Financial services 5.1% | |||||
| Apollo Global Management, Inc., 7.625% (7.625% to 12-15-28, then 5 Year CMT + 3.226%) (B) | 206,700 | 5,504,421 | |||
| Corebridge Financial, Inc., 6.375% (B) | 141,025 | 3,425,497 | |||
| Federal National Mortgage Association, Series S, 8.250% (E) | 75,000 | 1,065,000 | |||
| Jackson Financial, Inc., 8.000% (8.000% to 3-30-28, then 5 Year CMT + 3.728%) | 52,975 | 1,386,886 | |||
| KKR Group Finance Company IX LLC, 4.625% (B) | 250,474 | 4,518,551 | |||
| National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., 5.500% (B) | 69,050 | 1,702,773 | |||
| Insurance 21.1% | |||||
| AEGON Funding Company LLC, 5.100% (B)(D) | 257,925 | 5,171,396 | |||
| American Financial Group, Inc., 5.125% (B) | 123,850 | 2,334,573 | |||
| American National Group, Inc., 6.625% (6.625% to 9-1-25, then 5 Year CMT + 6.297%) (B) | 135,450 | 3,426,885 | |||
| American National Group, Inc., 7.375% (B) | 180,800 | 4,574,240 | |||
| Aspen Insurance Holdings, Ltd., 7.000% (B) | 152,900 | 3,776,630 | |||
| Athene Holding, Ltd., 6.350% (6.350% to 6-30-29, then 3 month LIBOR + 4.253%) (B) | 270,000 | 6,720,300 | |||
| Athene Holding, Ltd., 7.750% (7.750% to 12-30-27, then 5 Year CMT + 3.962%) (B) | 293,775 | 7,714,532 | |||
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 10 |
| Shares | Value | ||||
| Financials (continued) | |||||
| Insurance (continued) | |||||
| Brighthouse Financial, Inc., 6.600% (B) | 306,687 | $5,072,603 | |||
| Enstar Group, Ltd., 7.000% (7.000% to 9-1-28, then 3 month LIBOR + 4.015%) (B) | 29,525 | 679,075 | |||
| F&G Annuities & Life, Inc., 7.300% | 135,000 | 3,254,850 | |||
| F&G Annuities & Life, Inc., 7.950% (B) | 167,850 | 4,496,702 | |||
| Lincoln National Corp., 9.000% (B)(D) | 200,400 | 5,476,932 | |||
| Reinsurance Group of America, Inc., 7.125% (7.125% to 10-15-27, then 5 Year CMT + 3.456%) (B) | 277,300 | 7,187,616 | |||
| RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd., 4.200% (B) | 186,575 | 3,005,723 | |||
| The Allstate Corp., 7.375% (B) | 84,800 | 2,282,816 | |||
| The Phoenix Companies, Inc., 7.450% | 216,500 | 3,897,000 | |||
| Unum Group, 6.250% | 137,500 | 3,225,750 | |||
| Information technology 1.8% | 6,134,373 | ||||
| Software 1.8% | |||||
| MicroStrategy, Inc., 9.000% | 23,100 | 2,182,488 | |||
| MicroStrategy, Inc., 10.000% | 46,275 | 3,951,885 | |||
| Real estate 2.4% | 8,154,644 | ||||
| Hotel and resort REITs 0.9% | |||||
| Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, 6.375% | 160,450 | 3,010,042 | |||
| Office REITs 0.6% | |||||
| Vornado Realty Trust, 5.400% | 119,425 | 2,148,456 | |||
| Specialized REITs 0.9% | |||||
| Public Storage, 4.625% (B) | 158,275 | 2,996,146 | |||
| Utilities 16.8% | 57,898,563 | ||||
| Electric utilities 8.6% | |||||
| Duke Energy Corp., 5.750% | 224,675 | 5,587,667 | |||
| NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., 6.500% (B) | 149,825 | 3,760,608 | |||
| NextEra Energy, Inc., 7.234% (B) | 73,800 | 3,264,912 | |||
| NextEra Energy, Inc., 7.299% (B) | 28,200 | 1,354,728 | |||
| NSTAR Electric Company, 4.780% (B) | 15,143 | 1,181,154 | |||
| PG&E Corp., 6.000% (B) | 63,200 | 2,402,232 | |||
| SCE Trust VI, 5.000% | 105,750 | 1,755,450 | |||
| SCE Trust VII, 7.500% | 192,250 | 4,446,743 | |||
| SCE Trust VIII, 6.950% (B) | 121,500 | 2,725,245 | |||
| The Southern Company, 4.950% (B) | 86,025 | 1,775,556 | |||
| The Southern Company, 6.500% (B) | 55,125 | 1,438,211 | |||
| Gas utilities 0.4% | |||||
| Spire, Inc., 5.900% | 52,675 | 1,277,369 | |||
| 11 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Shares | Value | ||||
| Utilities (continued) | |||||
| Multi-utilities 7.8% | |||||
| Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., 8.573% (3 month CME Term SOFR + 4.272% to 7-1-29, then 3 month CME Term SOFR + 4.522% to 7-1-49, then 3 month CME Term SOFR + 5.272%) (B)(C) | 175,450 | $4,584,509 | |||
| CMS Energy Corp., 5.625% (B) | 187,515 | 4,099,078 | |||
| CMS Energy Corp., 5.875% (B) | 102,900 | 2,351,265 | |||
| CMS Energy Corp., 5.875% (B) | 270,225 | 6,288,136 | |||
| DTE Energy Company, Series E, 5.250% (B) | 160,000 | 3,614,400 | |||
| Sempra, 5.750% (B) | 270,000 | 5,991,300 | |||
| Rate (%) | Maturity date | Par value^ | Value | ||
| Corporate bonds 65.4% (41.2% of Total investments) | $224,340,651 | ||||
| (Cost $217,009,013) | |||||
| Communication services 2.4% | 8,027,215 | ||||
| Diversified telecommunication services 0.9% | |||||
| TELUS Corp. (7.000% to 10-15-35, then 5 Year CMT + 2.709%) | 7.000 | 10-15-55 | 2,875,000 | 2,910,699 | |
| Wireless telecommunication services 1.5% | |||||
| Rogers Communications, Inc. (7.125% to 4-15-35, then 5 Year CMT + 2.620%) | 7.125 | 04-15-55 | 5,000,000 | 5,116,516 | |
| Consumer discretionary 1.1% | 3,865,290 | ||||
| Automobiles 0.4% | |||||
| General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (6.500% to 9-30-28, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.436%) (B)(F) | 6.500 | 09-30-28 | 1,421,000 | 1,394,429 | |
| Broadline retail 0.7% | |||||
| Rakuten Group, Inc. (8.125% to 12-15-29, then 5 Year CMT + 4.250%) (F)(G) | 8.125 | 12-15-29 | 2,490,000 | 2,470,861 | |
| Consumer staples 0.2% | 635,683 | ||||
| Food products 0.2% | |||||
| Land O’ Lakes, Inc. (B)(F)(G) | 8.000 | 08-30-25 | 670,000 | 635,683 | |
| Energy 8.5% | 29,117,739 | ||||
| Oil, gas and consumable fuels 8.5% | |||||
| Enbridge, Inc. (7.200% to 6-27-34, then 5 Year CMT + 2.970%) (B)(D) | 7.200 | 06-27-54 | 1,750,000 | 1,802,651 | |
| Enbridge, Inc. (7.375% to 1-15-28, then 5 Year CMT + 3.708% to 1-15-33, then 5 Year CMT + 3.958% to 1-15-48, then 5 Year CMT + 4.708%) (B)(D) | 7.375 | 01-15-83 | 1,853,000 | 1,908,269 | |
| Enbridge, Inc. (8.500% to 1-15-34, then 5 Year CMT + 4.431% to 1-15-54, then 5 Year CMT + 5.181%) (B)(D) | 8.500 | 01-15-84 | 4,663,000 | 5,251,774 | |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 12 |
| Rate (%) | Maturity date | Par value^ | Value | ||
| Energy (continued) | |||||
| Oil, gas and consumable fuels (continued) | |||||
| Energy Transfer LP (6.625% to 2-15-28, then 3 month CME Term SOFR + 4.417%) (B)(F) | 6.625 | 02-15-28 | 2,877,000 | $2,862,037 | |
| Energy Transfer LP (7.125% to 5-15-30, then 5 Year CMT + 5.306%) (B)(D)(F) | 7.125 | 05-15-30 | 7,123,000 | 7,292,770 | |
| South Bow Canadian Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd. (7.500% to 3-1-35, then 5 Year CMT + 3.667%) (G) | 7.500 | 03-01-55 | 3,250,000 | 3,376,549 | |
| Venture Global LNG, Inc. (9.000% to 9-30-29, then 5 Year CMT + 5.440%) (B)(D)(F)(G) | 9.000 | 09-30-29 | 6,622,000 | 6,623,689 | |
| Financials 33.5% | 114,885,211 | ||||
| Banks 22.2% | |||||
| Banco Santander SA (9.625% to 11-21-33, then 5 Year CMT + 5.298%) (F) | 9.625 | 05-21-33 | 3,600,000 | 4,251,859 | |
| Bank of America Corp. (6.125% to 4-27-27, then 5 Year CMT + 3.231%) (B)(D)(F) | 6.125 | 04-27-27 | 1,850,000 | 1,866,054 | |
| Bank of America Corp. (6.250% to 7-26-30, then 5 Year CMT + 2.351%) (F) | 6.250 | 07-26-30 | 1,850,000 | 1,843,636 | |
| Bank of America Corp. (6.625% to 5-1-30, then 5 Year CMT + 2.684%) (B)(D)(F) | 6.625 | 05-01-30 | 3,925,000 | 4,019,408 | |
| Bank of Montreal (6.875% to 11-26-30, then 5 Year CMT + 2.976%) | 6.875 | 11-26-85 | 3,325,000 | 3,331,650 | |
| Barclays PLC (9.625% to 6-15-30, then 5 Year SOFR ICE Swap Rate + 5.775%) (F) | 9.625 | 12-15-29 | 3,250,000 | 3,671,135 | |
| Citigroup, Inc. (6.875% to 8-15-30, then 5 Year CMT + 2.890%) (F) | 6.875 | 08-15-30 | 2,800,000 | 2,823,800 | |
| Citigroup, Inc. (6.950% to 2-15-30, then 5 Year CMT + 2.726%) (F) | 6.950 | 02-15-30 | 2,250,000 | 2,268,230 | |
| Citigroup, Inc. (7.375% to 5-15-28, then 5 Year CMT + 3.209%) (F) | 7.375 | 05-15-28 | 4,525,000 | 4,700,846 | |
| Citigroup, Inc. (7.625% to 11-15-28, then 5 Year CMT + 3.211%) (B)(D)(F) | 7.625 | 11-15-28 | 5,525,000 | 5,763,636 | |
| Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (3 month CME Term SOFR + 3.419%) (C)(F) | 7.704 | 10-06-25 | 6,000,000 | 6,000,756 | |
| CoBank ACB (4.250% to 1-1-27, then 5 Year CMT + 3.049%) (B)(D)(F) | 4.250 | 01-01-27 | 2,500,000 | 2,417,060 | |
| CoBank ACB (6.450% to 10-1-27, then 5 Year CMT + 3.487%) (B)(D)(F) | 6.450 | 10-01-27 | 4,250,000 | 4,276,937 | |
| CoBank ACB (7.250% to 7-1-29, then 5 Year CMT + 2.880%) (B)(D)(F) | 7.250 | 07-01-29 | 3,850,000 | 3,958,239 | |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. (6.875% to 6-1-29, then 5 Year CMT + 2.737%) (B)(D)(F) | 6.875 | 06-01-29 | 3,675,000 | 3,841,011 | |
| The Bank of Nova Scotia (8.625% to 10-27-27, then 5 Year CMT + 4.389%) (B)(D) | 8.625 | 10-27-82 | 4,465,000 | 4,742,375 | |
| The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (6.000% to 5-15-27, then 5 Year CMT + 3.000%) (B)(F) | 6.000 | 05-15-27 | 2,215,000 | 2,219,249 | |
| 13 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Rate (%) | Maturity date | Par value^ | Value | ||
| Financials (continued) | |||||
| Banks (continued) | |||||
| The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (6.200% to 9-15-27, then 5 Year CMT + 3.238%) (B)(D)(F) | 6.200 | 09-15-27 | 5,531,000 | $5,590,779 | |
| Wells Fargo & Company (6.850% to 9-15-29, then 5 Year CMT + 2.767%) (B)(D)(F) | 6.850 | 09-15-29 | 3,000,000 | 3,107,463 | |
| Wells Fargo & Company (7.625% to 9-15-28, then 5 Year CMT + 3.606%) (B)(D)(F) | 7.625 | 09-15-28 | 5,008,000 | 5,330,781 | |
| Capital markets 5.7% | |||||
| State Street Corp. (6.700% to 3-15-29, then 5 Year CMT + 2.613%) (B)(D)(F) | 6.700 | 03-15-29 | 3,588,000 | 3,699,214 | |
| The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (6.300% to 3-20-30, then 5 Year CMT + 2.297%) (B)(D)(F) | 6.300 | 03-20-30 | 2,724,000 | 2,791,999 | |
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (6.125% to 11-10-34, then 10 Year CMT + 2.400%) (F) | 6.125 | 11-10-34 | 2,226,000 | 2,201,204 | |
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (7.500% to 2-10-29, then 5 Year CMT + 3.156%) (B)(D)(F) | 7.500 | 02-10-29 | 6,215,000 | 6,564,619 | |
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (7.500% to 5-10-29, then 5 Year CMT + 2.809%) (B)(D)(F) | 7.500 | 05-10-29 | 4,151,000 | 4,337,089 | |
| Financial services 0.7% | |||||
| Voya Financial, Inc. (F) | 7.758 | 09-15-28 | 2,350,000 | 2,482,775 | |
| Insurance 4.9% | |||||
| Global Atlantic Financial Company (7.950% to 10-15-29, then 5 Year CMT + 3.608%) (G) | 7.950 | 10-15-54 | 3,250,000 | 3,396,266 | |
| Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. (6.650% to 9-15-35, then 5 Year CMT + 2.392%) (B)(D) | 6.650 | 09-15-55 | 2,450,000 | 2,451,193 | |
| SBL Holdings, Inc. (6.500% to 11-13-26, then 5 Year CMT + 5.620%) (F)(G) | 6.500 | 11-13-26 | 5,750,000 | 5,349,873 | |
| SBL Holdings, Inc. (9.508% to 5-13-30, then 5 Year CMT + 5.580%) (B)(D)(F)(G) | 9.508 | 05-13-30 | 5,490,000 | 5,586,075 | |
| Health care 0.8% | 2,873,376 | ||||
| Health care equipment and supplies 0.8% | |||||
| Dentsply Sirona, Inc. (8.375% to 9-12-30, then 5 Year CMT + 4.379%) | 8.375 | 09-12-55 | 2,850,000 | 2,873,376 | |
| Industrials 0.9% | 3,192,579 | ||||
| Trading companies and distributors 0.9% | |||||
| Air Lease Corp. (6.000% to 12-15-29, then 5 Year CMT + 2.560%) (F) | 6.000 | 09-24-29 | 3,250,000 | 3,192,579 | |
| Materials 1.0% | 3,540,875 | ||||
| Chemicals 1.0% | |||||
| FMC Corp. (8.450% to 11-1-30, then 5 Year CMT + 4.366%) | 8.450 | 11-01-55 | 3,425,000 | 3,540,875 | |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 14 |
| Rate (%) | Maturity date | Par value^ | Value | ||
| Real estate 0.8% | $2,622,428 | ||||
| Residential REITs 0.8% | |||||
| BW Real Estate, Inc. (9.500% to 3-30-30, then 5 Year CMT + 5.402%) (F)(G) | 9.500 | 03-30-30 | 2,600,000 | 2,622,428 | |
| Utilities 16.2% | 55,580,255 | ||||
| Electric utilities 6.5% | |||||
| Brookfield Infrastructure Finance ULC (6.750% to 3-15-30, then 5 Year CMT + 2.453%) (B)(D) | 6.750 | 03-15-55 | 2,701,000 | 2,721,376 | |
| Edison International (5.000% to 3-15-27, then 5 Year CMT + 3.901% to 3-15-32, then 5 Year CMT + 4.151% to 3-15-47, then 5 Year CMT + 4.901%) (B)(D)(F) | 5.000 | 12-15-26 | 1,790,000 | 1,574,361 | |
| Entergy Corp. (7.125% to 12-1-29, then 5 Year CMT + 2.670%) (B)(D) | 7.125 | 12-01-54 | 3,000,000 | 3,105,834 | |
| EUSHI Finance, Inc. (7.625% to 12-15-29, then 5 Year CMT + 3.136%) | 7.625 | 12-15-54 | 2,450,000 | 2,559,826 | |
| Exelon Corp. (6.500% to 3-15-35, then 5 Year CMT + 1.975%) (B)(D) | 6.500 | 03-15-55 | 1,650,000 | 1,686,013 | |
| NRG Energy, Inc. (10.250% to 3-15-28, then 5 Year CMT + 5.920%) (B)(D)(F)(G) | 10.250 | 03-15-28 | 5,445,000 | 5,993,400 | |
| PG&E Corp. (7.375% to 3-15-30, then 5 Year CMT + 3.883%) (B)(D) | 7.375 | 03-15-55 | 4,775,000 | 4,607,791 | |
| Gas utilities 2.4% | |||||
| AltaGas, Ltd. (7.200% to 10-15-34, then 5 Year CMT + 3.573%) (G) | 7.200 | 10-15-54 | 3,695,000 | 3,723,315 | |
| Northwest Natural Holding Company (7.000% to 9-15-35, then 5 Year CMT + 2.701%) (B)(D) | 7.000 | 09-15-55 | 4,250,000 | 4,321,268 | |
| Independent power and renewable electricity producers 4.3% | |||||
| The AES Corp. (7.600% to 1-15-30, then 5 Year CMT + 3.201%) (B)(D) | 7.600 | 01-15-55 | 4,714,000 | 4,761,347 | |
| Vistra Corp. (8.000% to 10-15-26, then 5 Year CMT + 6.930%) (B)(D)(F)(G) | 8.000 | 10-15-26 | 2,700,000 | 2,755,933 | |
| Vistra Corp. (8.875% to 1-15-29, then 5 Year CMT + 5.045%) (B)(D)(F)(G) | 8.875 | 01-15-29 | 6,772,000 | 7,339,345 | |
| Multi-utilities 3.0% | |||||
| CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (6.850% to 2-15-35, then 5 Year CMT + 2.946%) (B)(D) | 6.850 | 02-15-55 | 3,335,000 | 3,478,038 | |
| CMS Energy Corp. (6.500% to 6-1-35, then 5 Year CMT + 1.961%) (B)(D) | 6.500 | 06-01-55 | 2,724,000 | 2,746,645 | |
| NiSource, Inc. (6.375% to 3-31-35, then 5 Year CMT + 2.527%) (B)(D) | 6.375 | 03-31-55 | 1,225,000 | 1,240,654 | |
| Sempra (6.400% to 10-1-34, then 5 Year CMT + 2.632%) (B)(D) | 6.400 | 10-01-54 | 1,500,000 | 1,451,040 | |
| Sempra (6.875% to 10-1-29, then 5 Year CMT + 2.789%) (B)(D) | 6.875 | 10-01-54 | 1,500,000 | 1,514,069 | |
| 15 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Rate (%) | Maturity date | Par value^ | Value | ||
| Capital preferred securities (H) 2.7% (1.7% of Total investments) | $9,286,685 | ||||
| (Cost $10,678,500) | |||||
| Financials 1.2% | 4,255,037 | ||||
| Insurance 1.2% | |||||
| MetLife Capital Trust IV (7.875% to 12-15-37, then 3 month CME Term SOFR + 4.222%) (B)(D)(G) | 7.875 | 12-15-37 | 3,900,000 | 4,255,037 | |
| Utilities 1.5% | 5,031,648 | ||||
| Multi-utilities 1.5% | |||||
| Dominion Resources Capital Trust III (B)(D) | 8.400 | 01-15-31 | 5,000,000 | 5,031,648 | |
| U.S. Government and Agency obligations 0.5% (0.3% of Total investments) | $1,880,795 | ||||
| (Cost $1,853,000) | |||||
| U.S. Government Agency 0.5% | 1,880,795 | ||||
| Farm
Credit Bank of Texas Bond (7.000% to 9-15-30, then 5 Year CMT + 3.010%) (F) |
7.000 | 09-15-30 | 1,853,000 | 1,880,795 | |
| Yield (%) | Shares | Value | |||
| Short-term investments 0.0% (0.0% of Total investments) | $44,443 | ||||
| (Cost $44,450) | |||||
| Short-term funds 0.0% | 44,443 | ||||
| John Hancock Collateral Trust (I) | 4.2650(J) | 4,443 | 44,443 | ||
| Total investments (Cost $556,625,662) 158.7% | $544,856,208 | ||||
| Other assets and liabilities, net (58.7%) | (201,612,331) | ||||
| Total net assets 100.0% | $343,243,877 | ||||
| The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of the category as a percentage of the net assets of the fund unless otherwise indicated. | |
| ^All par values are denominated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. | |
| Security Abbreviations and Legend | |
| CME | CME Group Published Rates |
| CMT | Constant Maturity Treasury |
| ICE | Intercontinental Exchange |
| LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
| SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
| (A) | Includes preferred stocks and hybrid securities with characteristics of both equity and debt that pay dividends on a periodic basis. |
| (B) | All or a portion of this security is pledged as collateral pursuant to the Credit Facility Agreement. Total collateral value at 7-31-25 was $331,848,783. |
| (C) | Variable rate obligation. The coupon rate shown represents the rate at period end. |
| (D) | All or a portion of this security is on loan as of 7-31-25, and is a component of the fund’s leverage under the Credit Facility Agreement. The value of securities on loan amounted to $164,237,313. |
| (E) | Non-income producing security. |
| (F) | Perpetual bonds have no stated maturity date. Date shown as maturity date is next call date. |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 16 |
| (G) | This security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such securities may be resold, normally to qualified institutional buyers, in transactions exempt from registration. Rule 144A securities amounted to $54,128,454 or 15.8% of the fund’s net assets as of 7-31-25. |
| (H) | Includes hybrid securities with characteristics of both equity and debt that trade with, and pay, interest income. |
| (I) | Investment is an affiliate of the fund, the advisor and/or subadvisor. |
| (J) | The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield as of 7-31-25. |
| 17 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Interest rate swaps | ||||||||||
| Counterparty
(OTC)/ Centrally cleared |
Notional amount |
Currency | Payments made |
Payments received |
Fixed payment frequency |
Floating payment frequency |
Maturity date |
Unamortized upfront payment paid (received) |
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
Value |
| Centrally cleared | 104,000,000 | USD | Fixed 3.662% | USD SOFR Compounded OIS(a) | Semi-Annual | Quarterly | May 2026 | — | $561,704 | $561,704 |
| Centrally cleared | 51,500,000 | USD | Fixed 3.473% | USD SOFR Compounded OIS(a) | Semi-Annual | Quarterly | May 2026 | — | 378,564 | 378,564 |
| Centrally cleared | 25,250,000 | USD | Fixed 3.817% | USD SOFR Compounded OIS(a) | Semi-Annual | Quarterly | Dec 2026 | — | 38,550 | 38,550 |
| — | $978,818 | $978,818 | ||||||||
| (a) | At 7-31-25, the overnight SOFR was 4.390%. |
| Derivatives Currency Abbreviations | |
| USD | U.S. Dollar |
| Derivatives Abbreviations | |
| OIS | Overnight Index Swap |
| OTC | Over-the-counter |
| SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 18 |
| Assets | |
| Unaffiliated investments, at value (Cost $556,581,212) | $544,811,765 |
| Affiliated investments, at value (Cost $44,450) | 44,443 |
| Total investments, at value (Cost $556,625,662) | 544,856,208 |
| Receivable for centrally cleared swaps | 1,058,954 |
| Dividends and interest receivable | 3,703,933 |
| Receivable for fund shares sold | 77,160 |
| Receivable for investments sold | 1,551,584 |
| Other assets | 36,564 |
| Total assets | 551,284,403 |
| Liabilities | |
| Due to custodian | 297,046 |
| Credit facility agreement payable | 206,700,000 |
| Interest payable | 904,199 |
| Payable to affiliates | |
| Accounting and legal services fees | 10,912 |
| Trustees’ fees | 471 |
| Other liabilities and accrued expenses | 127,898 |
| Total liabilities | 208,040,526 |
| Net assets | $343,243,877 |
| Net assets consist of | |
| Paid-in capital | $423,332,190 |
| Total distributable earnings (loss) | (80,088,313) |
| Net assets | $343,243,877 |
| Net asset value per share | |
| Based on 21,620,541 shares of beneficial interest outstanding - unlimited number of shares authorized with no par value | $15.88 |
| 19 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Investment income | |
| Dividends | $21,063,698 |
| Interest | 17,035,120 |
| Dividends from affiliated investments | 159,388 |
| Less foreign taxes withheld | (19,609) |
| Total investment income | 38,238,597 |
| Expenses | |
| Investment management fees | 4,150,041 |
| Interest expense | 11,128,614 |
| Accounting and legal services fees | 66,217 |
| Transfer agent fees | 23,649 |
| Trustees’ fees | 49,839 |
| Custodian fees | 51,402 |
| Printing and postage | 52,119 |
| Professional fees | 105,620 |
| Stock exchange listing fees | 23,927 |
| Other | 24,570 |
| Total expenses | 15,675,998 |
| Less expense reductions | (48,462) |
| Net expenses | 15,627,536 |
| Net investment income | 22,611,061 |
| Realized and unrealized gain (loss) | |
| Net realized gain (loss) on | |
| Unaffiliated investments | (5,405,485) |
| Affiliated investments | 2,501 |
| Swap contracts | 2,265,833 |
| (3,137,151) | |
| Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of | |
| Unaffiliated investments | 11,296,868 |
| Affiliated investments | 12 |
| Swap contracts | (1,366,577) |
| 9,930,303 | |
| Net realized and unrealized gain | 6,793,152 |
| Increase in net assets from operations | $29,404,213 |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 20 |
| Year
ended 7-31-25 |
Year
ended 7-31-24 | |
| Increase (decrease) in net assets | ||
| From operations | ||
| Net investment income | $22,611,061 | $21,872,700 |
| Net realized loss | (3,137,151) | (15,729,298) |
| Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 9,930,303 | 43,374,216 |
| Increase in net assets resulting from operations | 29,404,213 | 49,517,618 |
| Distributions to shareholders | ||
| From earnings | (24,895,793) | (25,675,332) |
| From tax return of capital | (7,098,099) | (6,228,068) |
| Total distributions | (31,993,892) | (31,903,400) |
| Fund share transactions | ||
| Issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan | 950,501 | 995,101 |
| Total increase (decrease) | (1,639,178) | 18,609,319 |
| Net assets | ||
| Beginning of year | 344,883,055 | 326,273,736 |
| End of year | $343,243,877 | $344,883,055 |
| Share activity | ||
| Shares outstanding | ||
| Beginning of year | 21,561,723 | 21,497,600 |
| Issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan | 58,818 | 64,123 |
| End of year | 21,620,541 | 21,561,723 |
| 21 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| Cash flows from operating activities | |
| Net increase in net assets from operations | $29,404,213 |
| Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities: | |
| Long-term investments purchased | (188,377,087) |
| Long-term investments sold | 192,266,329 |
| Net purchases and sales of short-term investments | 599,126 |
| Net amortization (accretion) of premium (discount) | 405,856 |
| (Increase) Decrease in assets: | |
| Receivable for centrally cleared swaps | 870,104 |
| Dividends and interest receivable | (60,738) |
| Receivable for investments sold | 1,973,604 |
| Other assets | (7,959) |
| Increase (Decrease) in liabilities: | |
| Payable for investments purchased | (481,963) |
| Interest payable | (176,211) |
| Payable to affiliates | 975 |
| Other liabilities and accrued expenses | 2,853 |
| Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on: | |
| Investments | (11,296,880) |
| Net realized (gain) loss on: | |
| Investments | 5,403,700 |
| Proceeds received as return of capital | 57,963 |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $30,583,885 |
| Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities | |
| Distributions to shareholders | $(31,043,391) |
| Increase in due to custodian | 297,046 |
| (Increase) in receivable for fund shares sold pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan | (77,160) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | $(30,823,505) |
| Net decrease in cash | $(239,620) |
| Cash at beginning of year | $239,620 |
| Cash at end of year | — |
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | |
| Cash paid for interest | $(11,304,825) |
| Noncash financing activities not included herein consists of reinvestment of distributions | $950,501 |
| SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 22 |
| Period ended | 7-31-25 | 7-31-24 | 7-31-23 | 7-31-22 | 7-31-21 |
| Per share operating performance | |||||
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $16.00 | $15.18 | $17.82 | $20.55 | $18.12 |
| Net investment income1 | 1.05 | 1.02 | 1.09 | 1.35 | 1.39 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 0.31 | 1.28 | (2.25) | (2.60) | 2.52 |
| Total from investment operations | 1.36 | 2.30 | (1.16) | (1.25) | 3.91 |
| Less distributions | |||||
| From net investment income | (1.15) | (1.19) | (1.21) | (1.35) | (1.35) |
| From tax return of capital | (0.33) | (0.29) | (0.27) | (0.13) | (0.13) |
| Total distributions | (1.48) | (1.48) | (1.48) | (1.48) | (1.48) |
| Net asset value, end of period | $15.88 | $16.00 | $15.18 | $17.82 | $20.55 |
| Per share market value, end of period | $16.04 | $16.94 | $15.85 | $18.80 | $22.00 |
| Total return at net asset value (%)2,3 | 8.68 | 16.26 | (6.66) | (6.31) | 22.52 |
| Total return at market value (%)2 | 3.75 | 17.66 | (7.39) | (7.72) | 28.74 |
| Ratios and supplemental data | |||||
| Net assets, end of period (in millions) | $343 | $345 | $326 | $382 | $440 |
| Ratios (as a percentage of average net assets): | |||||
| Expenses before reductions | 4.52 | 5.20 | 4.39 | 1.84 | 1.63 |
| Expenses including reductions4 | 4.51 | 5.19 | 4.38 | 1.82 | 1.62 |
| Net investment income | 6.52 | 6.64 | 6.89 | 7.05 | 7.18 |
| Portfolio turnover (%) | 34 | 33 | 30 | 22 | 30 |
| Senior securities | |||||
| Total debt outstanding end of period (in millions) | $207 | $207 | $207 | $207 | $204 |
| Asset coverage per $1,000 of debt5 | $2,661 | $2,669 | $2,578 | $2,849 | $3,155 |
| 1 | Based on average daily shares outstanding. |
| 2 | Total return based on net asset value reflects changes in the fund’s net asset value during each period. Total return based on market value reflects changes in market value. Each figure assumes that distributions from income, capital gains and tax return of capital, if any, were reinvested. |
| 3 | Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the applicable periods. |
| 4 | Expenses including reductions excluding interest expense were 1.30%, 1.32%, 1.32%, 1.20% and 1.22% for the periods ended 7-31-25, 7-31-24, 7-31-23, 7-31-22 and 7-31-21, respectively. |
| 5 | Asset coverage equals the total net assets plus borrowings divided by the borrowings of the fund outstanding at period end (Note 7). As debt outstanding changes, the level of invested assets may change accordingly. Asset coverage ratio provides a measure of leverage. |
| 23 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT | SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK Preferred Income Fund II | 24 |
| Total value at 7-31-25 |
Level
1 quoted price |
Level
2 significant observable inputs |
Level
3 significant unobservable inputs | |
| Investments in securities: | ||||
| Assets | ||||
| Preferred securities | ||||
| Communication services | $19,467,460 | $19,467,460 | — | — |
| Financials | 217,648,594 | 213,751,594 | $3,897,000 | — |
| Information technology | 6,134,373 | 6,134,373 | — | — |
| Real estate | 8,154,644 | 8,154,644 | — | — |
| Utilities | 57,898,563 | 56,717,409 | 1,181,154 | — |
| Corporate bonds | 224,340,651 | — | 224,340,651 | — |
| Capital preferred securities | 9,286,685 | — | 9,286,685 | — |
| U.S. Government and Agency obligations | 1,880,795 | — | 1,880,795 | — |
| Short-term investments | 44,443 | 44,443 | — | — |
| Total investments in securities | $544,856,208 | $304,269,923 | $240,586,285 | — |
| Derivatives: | ||||
| Assets | ||||
| Swap contracts | $978,818 | — | $978,818 | — |
| 25 | JOHN HANCOCK Preferred Income Fund II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| July 31, 2025 | July 31, 2024 | |
| Ordinary income | $24,895,793 | $25,675,332 |
| Return of capital | 7,098,099 | 6,228,068 |
| Total | $31,993,892 | $31,903,400 |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK Preferred Income Fund II | 26 |
| 27 | JOHN HANCOCK Preferred Income Fund II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| Risk | Statement
of assets and liabilities location |
Financial instruments location |
Assets derivatives fair value |
Liabilities derivatives fair value |
| Interest rate | Swap contracts, at value1 | Interest rate swaps | $978,818 | — |
| 1 | Reflects cumulative value of swap contracts. Receivable/payable for centrally cleared swaps, which includes value and margin, are shown separately on the Statement of assets and liabilities. |
| Statement of operations location - Net realized gain (loss) on: | |
| Risk | Swap contracts |
| Interest rate | $2,265,833 |
| Statement of operations location - Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of: | |
| Risk | Swap contracts |
| Interest rate | $(1,366,577) |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK Preferred Income Fund II | 28 |
| • | the likelihood of greater volatility of NAV and market price of shares; |
| • | fluctuations in the interest rate paid for the use of the CFA; |
| • | increased operating costs, which may reduce the fund’s total return; |
| • | the potential for a decline in the value of an investment acquired through leverage, while the fund’s obligations under such leverage remains fixed; and |
| • | the fund is more likely to have to sell securities in a volatile market in order to meet asset coverage or other debt compliance requirements. |
| 29 | JOHN HANCOCK Preferred Income Fund II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK Preferred Income Fund II | 30 |
| Dividends and distributions | |||||||||
| Affiliate | Ending share amount |
Beginning value |
Cost
of purchases |
Proceeds from shares sold |
Realized gain (loss) |
Change
in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
Income distributions received |
Capital
gain distributions received |
Ending value |
| John Hancock Collateral Trust | 4,443 | $641,056 | $147,139,172 | $(147,738,298) | $2,501 | $12 | $159,388 | — | $44,443 |
| 31 | JOHN HANCOCK Preferred Income Fund II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 32 |
| 33 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| • | by anticipating the broader, more gradual changes in the business cycle, and then investing in those industries and sectors that are expected to benefit from the changes |
| • | by looking within those industries and sectors for issuers and companies that are undervalued and mispriced relative to the market |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 34 |
| 35 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 36 |
| 37 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| Payment Date | Income Distributions |
| August 30, 2024 | $0.1235 |
| September 29, 2024 | 0.1235 |
| October 31, 2024 | 0.1235 |
| November 30, 2024 | 0.1235 |
| December 29, 2024 | 0.1235 |
| January 31, 2025 | 0.1235 |
| February 28, 2025 | 0.1235 |
| March 28, 2025 | 0.1235 |
| April 30, 2025 | 0.1235 |
| May 31, 2025 | 0.1235 |
| June 28, 2025 | 0.1235 |
| July 31, 2025 | 0.1235 |
| Total | $1.4820 |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 38 |
| 39 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 40 |
| Total
votes for the nominee |
Total
votes withheld from the nominee | |
| Independent Trustees | ||
| William K. Bacic | 14,576,315.094 | 897,454.000 |
| Dean C. Garfield | 14,537,206.094 | 936,563.000 |
| Deborah C. Jackson | 14,390,621.094 | 1,083,148.000 |
| Thomas R. Wright | 14,551,105.094 | 922,664.000 |
| Non-Independent Trustees | ||
| Andrew G. Arnott | 14,559,018.094 | 914,751.000 |
| 41 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 42 |
| (a) | the skills and competency with which the Advisor has in the past managed the fund’s affairs and its subadvisory relationship, the Advisor’s oversight and monitoring of the Subadvisor’s investment performance and compliance programs, such as the Subadvisor’s compliance with fund policies and objectives, review of brokerage matters, including with respect to trade allocation and best execution and the Advisor’s timeliness in responding to performance issues; |
| (b) | the background, qualifications and skills of the Advisor’s personnel; |
| (c) | the Advisor’s compliance policies and procedures and its responsiveness to regulatory changes and fund industry developments; |
| 43 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| (d) | the Advisor’s administrative capabilities, including its ability to supervise the other service providers for the fund, as well as the Advisor’s oversight of any securities lending activity, its monitoring of class action litigation and collection of class action settlements on behalf of the fund, and bringing loss recovery actions on behalf of the fund; |
| (e) | the financial condition of the Advisor and whether it has the financial wherewithal to provide a high level and quality of services to the fund; |
| (f) | the Advisor’s initiatives intended to improve various aspects of the fund’s operations and investor experience with the fund; and |
| (g) | the Advisor’s reputation and experience in serving as an investment advisor to the fund and the benefit to shareholders of investing in funds that are part of a family of funds offering a variety of investments. |
| (a) | reviewed information prepared by management regarding the fund’s performance; |
| (b) | considered the comparative performance of an applicable benchmark index; |
| (c) | considered the performance of comparable funds, if any, as included in the report prepared by an independent third-party provider of fund data; |
| (d) | took into account the Advisor’s analysis of the fund’s performance; and |
| (e) | considered the fund’s share performance and premium/discount information. |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 44 |
| (a) | reviewed financial information of the Advisor; |
| (b) | reviewed and considered information presented by the Advisor regarding the net profitability to the Advisor and its affiliates with respect to the fund; |
| (c) | received and reviewed profitability information with respect to the John Hancock Fund Complex as a whole and with respect to the fund; |
| (d) | received information with respect to the Advisor’s allocation methodologies used in preparing the profitability data and considered that the Advisor hired an independent third-party consultant to provide an analysis of the Advisor’s allocation methodologies; |
| (e) | considered that the Advisor also provides administrative services to the fund pursuant to an administrative services agreement; |
| (f) | noted that the fund’s Subadvisor is an affiliate of the Advisor; |
| (g) | noted that the Advisor also derives reputational and other indirect benefits from providing advisory services to the fund; |
| (h) | noted that the subadvisory fees for the fund are paid by the Advisor; |
| (i) | considered the Advisor’s ongoing costs and expenditures necessary to improve services, meet new regulatory and compliance requirements, and adapt to other challenges impacting the fund industry; and |
| (j) | considered that the Advisor should be entitled to earn a reasonable level of profits in exchange for the level of services it provides to the fund and the risks that it assumes as Advisor, including entrepreneurial, operational, reputational, litigation and regulatory risk. |
| 45 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| (1) | information relating to the Subadvisor’s business, including current subadvisory services to the fund (and other funds in the John Hancock Fund Complex); |
| (2) | the historical and current performance of the fund and comparative performance information relating to an applicable benchmark index and comparable funds; and |
| (3) | the subadvisory fee for the fund and to the extent available, comparable fee information prepared by an independent third party provider of fund data. |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 46 |
| (1) | the Subadvisor has extensive experience and demonstrated skills as a manager; |
| (2) | the performance of the fund has generally been in line with or outperformed the historical performance of comparable funds and the fund’s benchmark index; and |
| (3) | the subadvisory fees are reasonable in relation to the level and quality of services being provided under the Subadvisory Agreement. |
| 47 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| Independent Trustees | ||
| Name,
year of birth Position(s) held with fund Principal occupation(s) and other directorships during past 5 years |
Trustee of the Trust since1 |
Number
of John Hancock funds overseen by Trustee |
| Hassell H. McClellan, Born: 1945 | 2012 | 178 |
| Trustee and Chairperson of the Board | ||
| Trustee of Berklee College of Music (since 2022); Director/Trustee, Virtus Funds (2008-2020); Director, The Barnes Group (2010-2021); Associate Professor, The Wallace E. Carroll School of Management, Boston College (retired 2013). Trustee (since 2005) and Chairperson of the Board (since 2017) of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex. | ||
| William K. Bacic,2,3 Born: 1956 | 2024 | 171 |
| Trustee | ||
| Director, Audit Committee Chairman, and Risk Committee Member, DWS USA Corp. (formerly, Deutsche Asset Management) (2018-2024); Senior Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP (1978-retired 2017, including prior positions), specializing in the investment management industry. Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2024). | ||
| James R. Boyle, Born: 1959 | 2015 | 171 |
| Trustee | ||
| Board Member, United of Omaha Life Insurance Company (since 2022); Board Member, Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. (since 2022); Foresters Financial, Chief Executive Officer (2018–2022) and board member (2017–2022); Manulife Financial and John Hancock, more than 20 years, retiring in 2012 as Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock and Senior Executive Vice President, Manulife Financial. Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (2005–2014 and since 2015). | ||
| William H. Cunningham,4 Born: 1944 | 2002 | 175 |
| Trustee | ||
| Professor, University of Texas, Austin, Texas (since 1971); former Chancellor, University of Texas System and former President of the University of Texas, Austin, Texas; Director (since 2006), Lincoln National Corporation (insurance); Chairman of the Board, Nuclein (since 2020); Director, Southwest Airlines (2000-2024). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 1986). |
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 48 |
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||
| Name,
year of birth Position(s) held with fund Principal occupation(s) and other directorships during past 5 years |
Trustee of the Trust since1 |
Number
of John Hancock funds overseen by Trustee |
| Noni L. Ellison, Born: 1971 | 2022 | 171 |
| Trustee | ||
| Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Tractor Supply Company (rural lifestyle retailer) (since 2021); General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary, Carestream Dental, L.L.C. (2017–2021); Associate General Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary, W.W. Grainger, Inc. (global industrial supplier) (2015–2017); Board Member, Goodwill of North Georgia, 2018 (FY2019)–2020 (FY2021); Board Member, Howard University School of Law Board of Visitors (since 2021); Board Member, University of Chicago Law School Board of Visitors (since 2016); Board member, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation Board (2021–2023), Board Member, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (since 2024). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2022). | ||
| Grace K. Fey, Born: 1946 | 2012 | 178 |
| Trustee | ||
| Chief Executive Officer, Grace Fey Advisors (since 2007); Director and Executive Vice President, Frontier Capital Management Company (1988–2007); Director, Fiduciary Trust (since 2009). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2008). | ||
| Dean C. Garfield, Born: 1968 | 2022 | 171 |
| Trustee | ||
| Senior Vice-President, TKO Group (a premier sports and live entertainment company) (since 2025); Vice President, Netflix, Inc. (2019-2024); President & Chief Executive Officer, Information Technology Industry Council (2009–2019); NYU School of Law Board of Trustees (since 2021); Member, U.S. Department of Transportation, Advisory Committee on Automation (since 2021); President of the United States Trade Advisory Council (2010–2018); Board Member, College for Every Student (2017–2021); Board Member, The Seed School of Washington, D.C. (2012–2017); Advisory Board Member of the Block Center for Technology and Society (since 2019). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2022). | ||
| Deborah C. Jackson, Born: 1952 | 2008 | 174 |
| Trustee | ||
| President, Cambridge College, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2011-2023); Board of Directors, Amwell Corporation (since 2020); Board of Directors, Massachusetts Women’s Forum (2018-2020); Board of Directors, National Association of Corporate Directors/New England (2015-2020); Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay (2002–2011); Board of Directors of Eastern Bank Corporation (since 2001); Board of Directors of Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation (since 2001); Board of Directors of Boston Stock Exchange (2002–2008); Board of Directors of Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare (health benefits company) (2007–2011). Trustee (since 2008) and Vice Chairperson of the Board (since 2025) of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex.. |
| 49 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
| Independent Trustees (continued) | ||
| Name,
year of birth Position(s) held with fund Principal occupation(s) and other directorships during past 5 years |
Trustee of the Trust since1 |
Number
of John Hancock funds overseen by Trustee |
| Frances G. Rathke,4 Born: 1960 | 2020 | 171 |
| Trustee | ||
| Director, Audit Committee Chair, Oatly Group AB (plant-based drink company) (since 2021); Director, Audit Committee Chair and Compensation Committee Member, Green Mountain Power Corporation (since 2016); Director, Treasurer and Finance & Audit Committee Chair, Flynn Center for Performing Arts (since 2016); Director and Audit Committee Chair, Planet Fitness (since 2016); Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (2003-retired 2015). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2020). | ||
| Thomas R. Wright,2 Born: 1961 | 2024 | 171 |
| Trustee | ||
| Chief Operating Officer, JMP Securities (2020-2023); Director of Equities, JMP Securities (2013-2023); Executive Committee Member, JMP Group (2013-2023); Global Head of Trading, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. (2004-2012); and Head of European Equity Trading and Salestrading, Merrill, Lynch & Co. (1998-2004, including prior positions). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2024). |
| Non-Independent Trustees5 | ||
| Name,
year of birth Position(s) held with fund Principal occupation(s) and other directorships during past 5 years |
Trustee of the Trust since1 |
Number
of John Hancock funds overseen by Trustee |
| Andrew G. Arnott, Born: 1971 | 2017 | 175 |
| Non-Independent Trustee | ||
| Global Head of Institutional for Manulife (since 2025); Global Head of Retail for Manulife (2022-2025); Head of Wealth and Asset Management, United States and Europe, for John Hancock and Manulife (2018-2023); Director and Chairman, John Hancock Investment Management LLC (2005-2023, including prior positions); Director and Chairman, John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC (2006-2023, including prior positions); Director and Chairman, John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC (2004-2023, including prior positions); President of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2007, including prior positions). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2017). | ||
| Kristie M. Feinberg,6 Born: 1975 | 2025 | 171 |
| Non-Independent Trustee and President (Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| Head of Retail, Manulife Investment Management (since 2025); Head of Wealth & Asset Management, U.S. and Europe, for John Hancock and Manulife (2023–2025); Director and Chairman, John Hancock Investment Management LLC (since 2023); Director and Chairman, John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC (since 2023); Director and Chairman, John Hancock Investment Management Distributors LLC (since 2023); CFO and Global Head of Strategy, Manulife Investment Management (2021–2023, including prior positions); CFO Americas & Global Head of Treasury, Invesco, Ltd., Invesco US (2019–2020, including prior positions); Senior Vice President, Corporate Treasurer and Business Controller, Oppenheimer Funds (2001–2019, including prior positions); President (Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer) of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2023, including prior positions). Trustee of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2025). | ||
| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 50 |
| Principal officers who are not Trustees | |
| Name,
year of birth Position(s) held with fund Principal occupation(s) during past 5 years |
Current Position(s) with the Trust since |
| Fernando A. Silva, Born: 1977 | 2024 |
| Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | |
| Director, Fund Administration and Assistant Treasurer, John Hancock Funds (2016-2020); Assistant Treasurer, John Hancock Investment Management LLC and John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC (since 2020); Assistant Vice President, John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York (since 2021); Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2024). | |
| Salvatore Schiavone, Born: 1965 | 2010 |
| Treasurer | |
| Assistant Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2007); Vice President, John Hancock Investment Management LLC and John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC (since 2007); Treasurer of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2007, including prior positions). | |
| Christopher (Kit) Sechler, Born: 1973 | 2018 |
| Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | |
| Vice President and Deputy Chief Counsel, John Hancock Investment Management (since 2015); Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel (2009–2015), John Hancock Investment Management; Assistant Secretary of John Hancock Investment Management LLC and John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC (since 2009); Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2009, including prior positions). | |
| Trevor Swanberg, Born: 1979 | 2020 |
| Chief Compliance Officer | |
| Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Investment Management LLC and John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC (since 2020); Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Investment Management LLC and John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC (2019–2020); Assistant Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Investment Management LLC and John Hancock Variable Trust Advisers LLC (2016–2019); Vice President, State Street Global Advisors (2015–2016); Chief Compliance Officer of various trusts within the John Hancock Fund Complex (since 2016, including prior positions). | |
| 1 | Mr. Boyle, Dr. Cunningham, Ms. Fey, Mr. Lorentz, and Dr. McClellan serve as Trustees for a term expiring in 2026; Mr. Bacic, Ms. Ellison, Ms Rathke, and Mr. Wright serve as Trustees for a term expiring in 2027; Mr. Garfield, Ms. Jackson, and Mr. Arnott to serve for a three-year term ending at the 2028 Shareholder Meeting. Mr. Boyle has served as Trustee at various times prior to date listed in the table. |
| 2 | Appointed to serve as Trustee effective August 1, 2024. |
| 3 | Member of the Audit Committee as of September 24, 2024. |
| 4 | Member of the Audit Committee. |
| 5 | The Trustee is a Non-Independent Trustee due to current or former positions with the Advisor and certain of its affiliates. |
| 6 | Appointed as Non-Independent Trustee effective as of June 30, 2025. |
| 51 | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | ANNUAL REPORT |
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| ANNUAL REPORT | JOHN HANCOCK PREFERRED INCOME FUND II | 52 |
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