EX-99.77(Q)(1) 4 d343003_ex9977q1-wla.htm EX-99.77(Q)(1)

John Hancock Funds, LLC
601 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210-2805


March 22, 2018

To the Trustees of
John Hancock Funds
601 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210

Re:     

Rule 12b-1 Fee Waiver Letter Agreement

With reference to each of the Distribution Plans entered into by and between John Hancock Funds, LLC (the “Distributor”) and each of the trusts listed in Appendix A to this letter (each, a “Trust” and collectively, the “Trusts”), on behalf of each of their respective series listed in Appendix A (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), we hereby notify you as follows:

1. The Distributor agrees to contractually waive and limit its Rule 12b-1 distribution fees and/or service fees to the extent necessary to achieve the aggregate Rule 12b-1 distribution and service fees of each Fund as set forth in Appendix B hereto. The expense waiver agreements expire on the dates specified, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the Fund and the Distributor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at that time.

2. We understand and intend that the Trusts will rely on this undertaking in overseeing the preparation and filing of Post-effective Amendments to the Registration Statements on Form N-1A for the Trusts and the Funds with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accruing each Fund’s expenses for purposes of calculating its net and gross asset value per share, and for other purposes permitted under Form N-1A and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and we expressly permit the Trusts so to rely.

Sincerely,
 
JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, LLC
 
By:      /s/ Jeffrey H. Long
Jeffrey H. Long
Chief Financial Officer

Agreed and Accepted
on behalf of each applicable Trust listed in
Appendix A

By:      /s/ Charles A. Rizzo
Charles A. Rizzo 
Chief Financial Officer


A copy of the document establishing each Trust is filed with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Agreement is executed by the officer in his capacity as such and not as an individual and is not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trusts individually but only upon the assets of the Funds.


APPENDIX A

TRUSTS and Funds

JOHN HANCOCK BOND TRUST
John Hancock ESG Core Bond Fund
John Hancock Global Conservative Absolute Return Fund
John Hancock Global Short Duration Credit Fund
John Hancock Government Income Fund
John Hancock High Yield Fund
John Hancock Investment Grade Bond Fund

JOHN HANCOCK CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND
John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund

JOHN HANCOCK CAPITAL SERIES
John Hancock Classic Value Fund
John Hancock U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund

JOHN HANCOCK CURRENT INTEREST
John Hancock Money Market Fund

JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST
John Hancock Balanced Fund
John Hancock Disciplined Value International Fund
John Hancock Diversified Real Assets Fund
John Hancock Emerging Markets Equity Fund
John Hancock Enduring Assets Fund
John Hancock ESG All Cap Core Fund
John Hancock ESG International Equity Fund
John Hancock ESG Large Cap Core Fund
John Hancock Fundamental Large Cap Core Fund
John Hancock Global Focused Strategies Fund
John Hancock Seaport Fund
John Hancock Small Cap Core Fund
John Hancock Value Equity Fund

JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST II
John Hancock Financial Industries Fund
John Hancock Regional Bank Fund

JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST III
John Hancock Greater China Opportunities Fund

JOHN HANCOCK MUNICIPAL SECURITIES TRUST
John Hancock High Yield Municipal Bond Fund
John Hancock Tax-Free Bond Fund

JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BOND FUND
John Hancock Bond Fund

JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
John Hancock Income Fund

A-1


APPENDIX B

Class Class Class Class Expiration Date of
Fund A B C R4 Waiver/Limit
Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A 0.15% 2/28/2019
Classic Value Fund N/A N/A N/A 0.15% 2/28/2019
Disciplined Value International Fund N/A N/A N/A 0.15% 2/28/2019
Emerging Markets Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A 0.15% 2/28/2019
Fundamental Large Cap Core Fund N/A N/A N/A 0.15% 2/28/2019
Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A 0.15% 9/30/2018
California Tax-Free Income Fund N/A 0.90% 0.90% N/A 9/30/2018
High Yield Municipal Bond Fund 0.15% 0.90% 0.90% N/A 9/30/2018
Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 0.15% 9/30/2018
Investment Grade Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A 0.15% 9/30/2018
Tax-Free Bond Fund 0.15% 0.90% 0.90% N/A 9/30/2018
Money Market Fund 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% N/A 7/31/20191















____________________

1 At the March 20-22, 2018 meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Trusts, the Adviser notified the Board of, and the Board approved, the extension of the waiver of all 12b-1 fees for Class A, Class B, and Class C shares for the Money Market Fund through July 31,2019, each effective upon the current expiration date of July 31, 2018.

B-1