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John Hancock Income Securities Trust And John Hancock Investors Trust Announce Investment Policy Changes

JHI, JHS, T.MFC
John Hancock Income Securities Trust And John Hancock Investors Trust Announce Investment Policy Changes

BOSTON, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE: JHS) and John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE: JHI) (each the "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") announced today that the Board of Trustees of each Fund has approved revisions to the Funds' investment policies.  The revised investment policies provide that each Fund's investments in investment grade and below investment grade securities will be measured based on the Fund's "net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes" rather than its "total assets."  These investment policy changes do not impact the Funds' investment process and are not expected to materially change how the Funds are currently managed.

John Hancock Income Securities Trust
Under the prior investment policy, the Fund was required to invest at least 75% of its total assets in debt securities which are rated, at the time of acquisition, investment grade or in unrated securities determined to be of comparable credit quality.  The Fund was authorized to invest up to 25% of its total assets in debt securities rated below investment grade at the time of acquisition.

Effective today, the new investment policy provides that the Fund will invest at least 75% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in debt securities that are rated, at the time of acquisition, investment grade (i.e., at least "Baa" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or "BBB" by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P")), or in unrated securities determined by the Fund's investment adviser or subadviser to be of comparable credit quality.  In addition, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in debt securities that are rated, at the time of acquisition, below investment grade ("junk bonds") (i.e., rated "Ba" or lower by Moody's or "BB" or lower by S&P), or in unrated securities determined by the Fund's investment adviser or subadviser to be of comparable credit quality.

John Hancock Investors Trust
Under the prior investment policy, the Fund was required to invest at least 30% of its total assets in debt securities which are rated, at the time of acquisition, investment grade or in unrated securities determined to be of comparable credit quality.  The Fund was authorized to invest up to 70% of its total assets in debt securities rated below investment grade.

Effective today, the new investment policy provides that the Fund will invest at least 30% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in debt securities that are rated, at the time of acquisition, investment grade (i.e., at least "Baa" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or "BBB" by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P")), or in unrated securities determined by the Fund's investment adviser or subadviser to be of comparable credit quality.  In addition, the Fund may invest up to 70% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in debt securities that are rated, at the time of acquisition, below investment grade ("junk bonds") (i.e., rated "Ba" or lower by Moody's or "BB" or lower by S&P) or in unrated securities determined by the Fund's investment adviser or subadviser to be of comparable credit quality.

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 Funds
The Boston-based mutual fund business unit of John Hancock Financial, John Hancock Funds, manages more than $79.8 billion in open-end funds, closed-end funds, college savings assets, retirement plans and related party assets for individual and institutional investors at December 31, 2012.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation
John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, Manulife Financial Corporation offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$532 billion (US$535 billion) at December 31, 2012.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

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

SOURCE John Hancock Funds



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