John Hancock Investments Selects Wellington Management As Manager of John Hancock International Growth Fund

BOSTON, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Investments has hired Wellington Management to manage the John Hancock International Growth Fund (Class A:  GOIGX). The manager appointment was approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees in June, and was effective at the close of business on July 15th.  

The John Hancock International Growth Fund is maintaining its principal investment objective of seeking high total return primarily through capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of equity investments from outside the United States.

"We are pleased to announce Wellington as manager of the John Hancock International Growth Fund," said Andrew G. Arnott, President and CEO of John Hancock Investments.  "This appointment is another example of our commitment to make institutional-caliber asset managers available to our individual investors. We are confident that this appointment will help ensure that the Fund continues to serve the best interest of its shareholders."

A team led by Wellington partner John Boselli, CFA, is managing the Fund. Mr. Boselli has 28 years of industry experience, including the last 12 with Wellington where he was responsible for building out the firm's investment capabilities in London. Mr. Boselli has been managing an international growth strategy since 2009, which has generated positive absolute, risk-adjusted and benchmark relative returns.  The investment process is bottom-up and fundamentally driven, employing a "quality growth" equity investment approach focused on companies with high revenue growth, superior business models, improving fundamentals, strong free cash flow, and a commitment to return capital to shareholders.  

"After conducting a comprehensive analysis of Wellington's team, philosophy and process, we determined that their expertise in managing international growth equity strategies is the best fit to enable the fund to meet its long-term potential," said Leo Zerilli, head of the Investment Division at John Hancock Investments.

John Hancock's business relationship with Wellington dates to 1994. As of June 30, 2014, Wellington managed 17 portfolios for John Hancock with approximately $10.5 billion in assets.

Foreign investing has additional risks, such as currency and market volatility and political and social instability. Growth stocks may be subject to greater price fluctuations because their prices tend to place greater emphasis on earnings expectations. Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss. For additional information on these and other risk considerations, please see the fund's prospectus.

A fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses should be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other 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. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

About John Hancock Investments
John Hancock Investments provides asset management services to individuals and institutions through a unique manager-of-managers approach. We combine unbiased asset management with vigorous investment oversight to offer investors a deeper level of diversification and strong risk-adjusted returns across asset classes. A wealth management business of John Hancock Financial, we managed more than $117 billion in assets as of March 31, 2014, across mutual funds, college savings plans, and retirement plans.

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. Funds under management by Manulife and its subsidiaries were C$635 billion (US$574 billion) as at March 31, 2014. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife 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 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.

SOURCE John Hancock Investments