File: Attachment 06222215-00000001-00103921-2024-12-20_PR_Manulife_ETFs_Estimated_Reinvested_Capital_Gains_Distribution_EN-PDF.pdf

News Release

C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 For Immediate Release December 20, 2024

Manulife Investment Management Announces Estimated Reinvested Capital Gains Distributions for Manulife Exchange Traded Funds and ETF Series of Manulife Funds

Toronto - Manulife Investment Management today announced the 2024 annual reinvested distribution estimates for Manulife Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and for ETF series of Manulife Mutual Funds, including of Manulife Alternative Mutual Funds (Manulife Funds). These annual reinvested distributions generally represent realized capital gains within the ETFs or ETF series of a Manulife Fund. This is an update to the estimated annual capital gains distributions announced on November 29, 2024. Please note that these are estimated capital gains amounts only as of December 15, 2024, and reflect forward- looking information which may cause these estimates to change.

Unitholders of record at the close of business on December 30, 2024, will receive the 2024 reinvested distributions. The distributions will not be paid in cash but will be reinvested automatically in additional units of the respective ETFs or ETF series of Manulife Funds and immediately consolidated so that the number of units held by each unitholder, and the net asset value of the ETFs or ETF series of Manulife Funds will not change because of the distributions. Unitholders holding their units outside registered plans will have taxable amounts to report and an increase in the adjusted cost base of their investment.

The actual distribution amounts, including the tax characteristics, will be reported to brokers through Clearing and Depository Services Inc. in early 2025.

Please note that the cash distributions are reported separately and may be applicable for some ETFs or ETF series of Manulife Funds making annual reinvested distributions.

Details of the estimated reinvested distribution per unit amounts are as follows:

Manulife ETF/ Ticker Distribution Amount Fund Name TERM (per unit) ($) Manulife Smart Short-Term Bond ETF BSKT Manulife Smart Core Bond ETF CBND 0.000000 Manulife Smart Corporate Bond ETF GBND 0.012157 Manulife Smart Global Bond ETF CYLD 0.000000 Manulife Smart Enhanced Yield ETF UYLD.B 0.000000 Manulife Smart U.S. Enhanced Yield ETF - Unhedged UYLD.U 0.000000 Manulife Smart U.S. Enhanced Yield ETF - US Dollar UYLD 0.539362 Manulife Smart U.S. Enhanced Yield ETF - Hedged 0.000000* 0.000000 Manulife ETF/ Ticker Distribution Amount Fund Name CDIV (per unit) ($) UDIV.B 0.153110 Manulife Smart Dividend ETF UDIV UDIV.U 0.000000 Manulife Smart U.S. Dividend ETF Unhedged Units IDIV.B 0.000000 GDIV 0.000000* Manulife Smart U.S. Dividend ETF Hedged Units MCLC 0.097436 0.000000 Manulife Smart U.S. Dividend ETF USD Units MULC.B 0.572370

Manulife Smart International Dividend ETF Unhedged Units MULC 0.400875

Manulife Smart Global Dividend ETF Portfolio MUMC.B 0.000000 MUMC Manulife Multifactor Canadian Large Cap Index ETF 0.119245 Manulife Multifactor U.S. Large Cap Index ETF Unhedged MINT.B 0.000000 Units Manulife Multifactor U.S. Large Cap Index ETF Hedged MINT 0.250332 Units MCSM Manulife Multifactor U.S. Mid Cap Index ETF Unhedged 0.000000 Units MUSC.B 2.234947

Manulife Multifactor U.S. Mid Cap Index ETF Hedged Units MUSC 0.001629 Manulife Multifactor Developed International Index ETF Unhedged Units MEME.B 0.000000 Manulife Multifactor Developed International Index ETF CDEF Hedged Units UDEF.B 0.000000 UDEF 0.000000 Manulife Multifactor Canadian SMID Cap Index ETF UDEF.U 0.000000 Manulife Multifactor U.S. Small Cap Index ETF Unhedged 0.000000 Units IDEF.B 0.000000* Manulife Multifactor U.S. Small Cap Index ETF Hedged STRT Units OPPS 0.374765 Manulife Multifactor Emerging Markets Index ETF- Unhedged PLUS 0.000000 Units 0.068721 0.051637 Manulife Smart Defensive Equity ETF

Manulife Smart U.S. Defensive Equity ETF Unhedged Units

Manulife Smart U.S. Defensive Equity ETF Hedged Units

Manulife Smart U.S. Defensive Equity ETF USD Units Manulife Smart International Defensive Equity ETF Unhedged Units

Manulife Strategic Income Fund - ETF Series

Manulife Alternative Opportunities Fund - ETF Series

Manulife Strategic Income Plus Fund - ETF Series

*Capital gain distribution amount ($) in USD for UYLD.U, UDIV.U and UDEF.U.

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Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange traded funds (ETFs) and ETF series. Please read the ETF Facts and prospectus before investing. ETFs and ETF series are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Manulife ETFs and ETF series of Manulife Funds are managed by Manulife Investment Management. Manulife Investment Management is a trade name of Manulife Investment Management Limited.

Manulife Alternative Mutual Funds have the ability to invest in asset classes or use investment strategies that are not permitted for conventional mutual funds. The specific strategies that differentiate these alternative mutual funds from conventional mutual funds may include the increased use of derivatives for hedging and non-hedging purposes, the increased ability to sell securities short and the ability to borrow cash to use for investment purposes. If undertaken, these strategies will be used in accordance with the funds' objectives and strategies, and during certain market conditions, may accelerate the pace at which the funds decrease in value.

About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management

As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering people today to invest for a better tomorrow. As a committed partner to our clients and as a responsible steward of investor capital, we offer a heritage of risk management, deep expertise across public and private markets, and comprehensive retirement plan services. We seek to provide better investment and impact outcomes and to help people confidently save and invest for a more secure financial future. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2023, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 98,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 35 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' in Hong Kong. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

Media contact Melissa Berczuk mberczuk@manulife.com