UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 |
FORM N-CSR |
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED |
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811- 21202
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) |
Alfred P. Ouellette
Senior Attorney and Assistant Secretary
601 Congress Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Name and address of agent for service) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 617-663-4324 |
Date of fiscal year end: | July | 31 |
Date of reporting period: | July | 31, 2006 |
ITEM 1. REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS.
CEO corner
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
Your fund at a glance |
page 1 |
|
Managers report |
page 2 |
|
Funds investments |
page 6 |
|
Financial statements |
page 11 |
|
Trustees & officers |
page 31 |
|
For more information |
page 36 |
|
To Our Shareholders, |
The future has arrived at John Hancock Funds.
We have always been firm believers in the powerful role the Internet can play in providing fund information to our shareholders and prospective investors. Recently, we launched a redesigned, completely overhauled Web site that is more visually pleasing, easier to navigate and, most importantly, provides more fund information and learning tools without overwhelming the users.
Not long after we embarked on this major project, a study was released by the Investment Company Institute, the mutual fund industrys main trade group, which found that an overwhelming majority of shareholders consider the Internet the wave of the future for accessing fund information.
Our new site sports fresher and faster ways to access account information. New innovations allow investors to view funds by risk level, track the performance of the John Hancock funds of their choice, or sort funds by Morningstar, Inc.s star ratings. Investors who own a John Hancock fund through a qualified retirement plan and dont pay sales charges when making a purchase have the option of sorting by a Load Waived Morningstar Rating, thereby creating an apples-to-apples comparison with no-load funds that may also be available in their retirement plan.
The new site also has more educational tools and interactive modules to educate and assist investors with their financial goals, from college savings to retirement planning. A new I want to
feature allows investors to check performance, invest more money, update personal information or download prospectuses and forms quickly and easily.
In another of our ongoing efforts to provide our shareholders with top-notch service, we also redesigned our shareholder reports, as you may have noticed with this report. We hope the larger size, more colorful cover and redesigned presentation of the commentary and data tables will draw you in and make them easier to read.
After youve read your shareholder report, we encourage you to visit our new Web site www.jhfunds.com and take a tour. Its easy, fast and fun and allows you to be in control of what you see and do. In short, its the wave of the future!
Keith F. Hartstein, |
President and Chief Executive Officer
This commentary reflects the CEOs views as of July 31, 2006. They are subject to change at any time.
Your fund at a glance
The Fund seeks to provide a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital, by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities that, in the opinion of the Adviser, may be undervalued relative to similar securities in the marketplace. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in preferred stocks and other preferred securities.
Over the last twelve months
* Preferred stocks posted lackluster returns amid rising interest rates and a glut of new issuance.
* Many of the Funds best performers for the year were those helped by high coupons and/or tax-advantaged status.
* Holdings in U.S. automakers detracted from performance amid an industry slump.
Top 10 issuers | |||
Nexen, Inc. | 3.5% | Merrill Lynch & Co. | 2.7% |
| |||
DPL Capital Trust II | 3.1% | HSBC Finance Corp. | 2.7% |
| |||
FPC Capital I | 2.9% | MetLife, Inc. | 2.7% |
| |||
Interstate Power & Light Co. | 2.9% | ING Groep N.V. | 2.6% |
| |||
JPMorgan Chase | 2.8% | Fleet Capital Trust | 2.6% |
|
As a percentage of net assets plus the value of preferred shares on July 31, 2006.
1
Managers report
John Hancock |
Preferred stocks posted lackluster returns for the 12-month period ended July 31, 2006, amid growing worries about inflation and interest rates. The period began on an upbeat note in August 2005, thanks to investors optimism that the Federal Reserve Board might be at or near the end of its then year-long interest rate hike cycle. Because preferreds make fixed-income payments in the form of dividends, their prices tend to follow those of U.S. Treasury securities. Also aiding preferreds was strong demand from investors seeking out higher-yielding alternatives to U.S. government securities. But from the early fall through the final weeks of 2005, preferreds suffered a significant sell-off in response to worries over the future direction of inflation and interest rates. Stronger-than-expected economic news resurrected worries that inflation wasnt dead after all, raising fears that the Fed would be forced to continue raising rates to cool price pressures.
In the early weeks of 2006, preferred stocks staged a rally, although it was very brief. Only weeks later, preferred stocks resumed their decline as the Treasury market weakened in the midst of renewed evidence that inflation was ticking higher as the global economy strengthened. The appointment of a new Fed chairman also added to the markets worries because investors fretted that Ben Bernanke might overshoot and raise interest rates too high. These factors, coupled with a bout of profit taking, put pressure on preferred stock prices. Also weighing on them was a glut of new issuance, which typically came to market with higher
2
Gregory K. Phelps and Mark T. Maloney for the Sovereign Asset Management LLC Portfolio Management Team |
yields than already-outstanding securities, making older issues less attractive and putting pressure on their prices. In the final weeks of the period, preferreds rebounded strongly as new issuance abated and the Treasury market rallied.
some of our preferred holdings broke with convention and posted strong gains |
Performance
For the 12 months ended July 31, 2006, John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II returned 1.50% at net asset value and 9.57% at market value. The difference in the Funds net asset value (NAV) performance and its market performance stems from the fact that the market share price is subject to the dynamics of secondary market trading, which could cause it to trade at a discount or premium to the Funds NAV share price at any time. By comparison, the average long-term bond fund returned 1.97% at net asset value, according to Morningstar, Inc.; the Standard & Poors 500 Index returned 5.38% and the Dow Jones Utility Average returned 12.73% .
Going forward, the Fund has switched its benchmark indexes to ones that are more closely correlated to the Funds holdings. They included the broad-based Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index, which returned 1.46% and the Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Hybrid Securities Index, which returned 2.19% .
Preferred stocks leaders and laggards
Despite the generally difficult environment for preferred stocks overall, some of our preferred holdings broke with convention and posted strong gains for the 12-month period. We enjoyed good gains from PNM Resources, Inc., a New Mexico electric utility. It was bolstered by the companys move to reopen one of its nuclear plants that had been
Preferred Income Fund II | 3 |
INDUSTRY | |
DISTRIBUTION1 | |
Electric utilities | 20% |
Multi-utilities | 12% |
Investment banking | |
& brokerage | 9% |
Diversified banks | 9% |
Diversified financial | |
services | 8% |
Multi-line insurance | 7% |
Gas utilities | 6% |
Oil & gas exploration | |
& production | 5% |
Real estate | |
management | |
& development | 4% |
Integrated | |
telecommunication | |
services | 4% |
Regional banks | 3% |
Consumer finance | 3% |
Automobile | |
manufacturers | 2% |
Agricultural | |
products | 2% |
All others | 4% |
shut down due to mechanical problems. Our holdings in MetLife, Inc. also aided performance, bolstered by strong demand for preferreds with certain tax advantages. Our stake in Southern Union Co. worked in our favor, thanks to the preferred stock holdings high coupon and tax-advantaged status, coupled with the companys improved financial results. Our non-callable holdings in DPL Capital Trust II, an electric utility based in and serving Ohio, also made a positive contribution to performance, helped by their high coupons and speculation that the company might be taken over.
On the flip side, our exposure to U.S. automakers detracted from performance. Investments in the preferred stocks of Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. held us back in light of concerns about the ongoing profitability of the U.S. auto industry and the two companies declining global market share and credit rating downgrade to below investment grade. Despite their recent travails, we continued to maintain our stake in the two automakers because we like the attractive yields their bonds and preferred stocks offer and believe the companies are taking positive steps to address their problems, including cutting costs and reducing production.
Credit quality upgrade
Our view is that the global economy is poised for a slowdown. With that in mind, we have purposely added more defensive names to the portfolio, including those issued by companies in recession-resistant industries. By the end of the period, the vast majority of our holdings were issued by utilities and energy companies, which traditionally have proven defensive amid slower economic conditions. We also have a large stake in top tier multinational financial institutions including Citigroup, HSBC Holdings Plc and Lehman Brothers Holdings. We believe that they, too, can not only withstand, but possibly even prosper, if the global economy weakens.
4 | Preferred Income Fund II |
Outlook
Our outlook for the coming year is increasingly optimistic. At the end of the period, there was mounting evidence that the U.S. economy and, most likely, the global economy, were slowing. Stocks issued by home builders, home improvement stores and low-end retailers sold off heavily, suggesting that U.S. consumers, whose spending accounts for roughly two-thirds of the U.S. gross domestic product, may finally have tightened their purse strings. At the same time, commodity prices sold off and the bond market rallied, suggesting investors view that economic growth was slowing. A late-period inverted yield curve, a graph that plots the yield difference between short- and long-term bonds, also suggested slower economic conditions ahead. An inverted yield curve has typically foreshadowed a recession. In our view, slowing economic conditions will, as they traditionally have, bode well for fixed-income investments, including preferred stocks. We also believe that long-term demand driven by the baby boom generations increasing need for income-producing investments also will provide an ongoing boost for preferred stocks.
Our outlook for the coming year is increasingly optimistic. |
This commentary reflects the views of the portfolio management team through the end of the Funds period discussed in this report. The teams statements reflect its own opinions. As such they are in no way guarantees of future events and are not intended to be used as investment advice or a recommendation regarding any specific security. They are also subject to change at any time as market and other conditions warrant.
The Fund normally will invest at least 25% of its managed assets in securities of companies in the utilities industry. Such an investment concentration makes the Fund more susceptible than a more broadly diversified fund to factors adversely affecting the utilities industry. Sector investing is subject to greater risks than the market as a whole.
1 As a percentage of the Funds portfolio on July 31, 2006.
Preferred Income Fund II | 5 |
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Funds investments
Securities owned by the Fund on 7-31-06
This schedule is divided into five main categories: bonds, capital preferred securities,
common stocks, preferred stocks and short-term investments. Bonds, capital preferred
securities, common stocks and preferred stocks are further broken down by industry
group. Short-term investments, which represent the Funds cash position, are listed last.
Interest | Maturity | Credit | Par value | ||
Issuer, description | rate | date | rating (A) | (000) | Value |
| |||||
Bonds 1.90% | $9,571,705 | ||||
(Cost $9,724,134) | |||||
Electric Utilities 1.90% | 9,571,705 | ||||
| |||||
Black Hills Corp., | |||||
Note | 6.500% | 05-15-13 | BBB | $5,000 | 4,981,715 |
| |||||
Entergy Gulf States, Inc., | |||||
1st Mtg Bond | 6.200 | 07-01-33 | BBB+ | 5,000 | 4,589,990 |
Credit | Par value | ||||
Issuer, description, maturity date | rating (A) | (000) | Value | ||
| |||||
Capital preferred securities 18.14% | $91,589,384 | ||||
(Cost $91,779,983) | |||||
Asset Management & Custody Banks 0.98% |
4,920,914 | ||||
| |||||
BNY Capital, 7.97%, Ser B, 12-31-26 | A | $4,700 | 4,920,914 | ||
Diversified Banks 0.79% |
3,995,000 | ||||
| |||||
Lloyds TSB Bank Plc, 6.90%, 11-29-49 | |||||
(United Kingdom) | A+ | 4,000 | 3,995,000 | ||
Diversified Financial Services 2.50% |
12,617,736 | ||||
| |||||
JPM Capital Trust I, 7.54%, 01-15-27 | A | 12,000 | 12,617,736 | ||
Electric Utilities 4.67% |
23,589,750 | ||||
| |||||
DPL Capital Trust II, 8.125%, 09-01-31 | B+ | 22,150 | 23,589,750 | ||
Gas Utilities 3.69% |
18,641,725 | ||||
| |||||
KN Capital Trust I, 8.56%, Ser B, 04-15-27 | BB+ | 10,000 | 9,471,750 | ||
| |||||
KN Capital Trust III, 7.63%, 04-15-28 | BB+ | 10,673 | 9,169,975 | ||
Integrated Telecommunication Services 1.95% |
9,846,448 | ||||
| |||||
TCI Communications Financing Trust III, 9.65%, | |||||
03-31-27 | BBB | 9,243 | 9,846,448 | ||
Multi-Utilities 2.87% |
14,494,120 | ||||
| |||||
Dominion Resources Capital Trust I, | |||||
7.83%, 12-01-27 | BBB | 8,450 | 8,890,135 | ||
| |||||
Dominion Resources Capital III, | |||||
8.40%, 01-15-31 | BBB | 5,000 | 5,603,985 |
6 Preferred Income Fund II See notes to financial statements
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Credit | Par value | ||
Issuer, description, maturity date | rating (A) | (000) | Value |
Regional Banks 0.69% | $3,483,691 | ||
| |||
Summit Capital Trust I, 8.40%, | |||
Ser B, 03-15-27 | A | $3,300 | 3,483,691 |
Issuer | Shares | Value | |
| |||
Common stocks 6.94% | $35,048,550 | ||
(Cost $23,701,735) | |||
Electric Utilities 1.96% |
9,919,960 | ||
| |||
FPL Group, Inc. | 180,000 | 7,765,200 | |
| |||
Scottish Power Plc, American Depositary Receipt (ADR) | |||
(United Kingdom) | 47,619 | 2,154,760 | |
Gas Utilities 2.18% |
11,004,597 | ||
| |||
ONEOK, Inc. | 295,743 | 11,004,597 | |
Multi-Utilities 2.80% |
14,123,993 | ||
| |||
Alliant Energy Corp. | 220,000 | 7,959,600 | |
| |||
CH Energy Group, Inc. | 40,000 | 1,983,600 | |
| |||
DTE Energy Co. | 98,790 | 4,180,793 | |
Credit | |||
Issuer, description | rating (A) Shares | Value | |
| |||
Preferred stocks 118.49% | $598,290,560 | ||
(Cost $615,671,462) | |||
Agricultural Products 2.48% |
12,520,000 | ||
| |||
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., 6.25%, Ser A (S) | BB+ | 160,000 | 12,520,000 |
Asset Management & Custody Banks 0.18% |
918,000 | ||
| |||
BNY Capital V, 5.95%, Ser F | A | 40,000 | 918,000 |
Automobile Manufacturers 3.04% |
15,348,147 | ||
| |||
Ford Motor Co., 7.50% | BB | 40,000 | 714,000 |
| |||
General Motors Corp., 7.25%, Ser 04-15-41 | B | 87,900 | 1,590,111 |
| |||
General Motors Corp., 7.25%, Ser 07-15-41 | B | 210,500 | 3,801,630 |
| |||
General Motors Corp., 7.25%, Ser 02-15-52 | B | 447,300 | 7,926,156 |
| |||
General Motors Corp., 7.375%, Ser 10-01-51 | B | 73,125 | 1,316,250 |
Broadcasting & Cable TV 0.20% |
1,004,000 | ||
| |||
Comcast Corp., 7.00% | BBB+ | 40,000 | 1,004,000 |
Consumer Finance 3.78% |
19,101,830 | ||
| |||
CIT Group, Inc., 6.35%, Ser A | BBB+ | 60,000 | 1,512,000 |
| |||
Ford Motor Credit Co., 7.375% | BBB | 24,800 | 516,832 |
| |||
Ford Motor Credit Co., 7.60% | Ba2 | 100,000 | 2,160,000 |
| |||
HSBC Finance Corp., 6.00% | A | 72,200 | 1,691,646 |
| |||
HSBC Finance Corp., 6.36%, Depositary Shares, Ser B | BBB+ | 143,200 | 3,590,024 |
| |||
HSBC Finance Corp., 6.875% | A | 349,100 | 8,860,158 |
| |||
SLM Corp., 6.00% | A | 33,500 | 771,170 |
See notes to financial statements | Preferred Income Fund II | 7 |
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Credit | |||
Issuer, description | rating (A) | Shares | Value |
| |||
Diversified Banks 12.60% |
$63,634,952 | ||
| |||
BAC Capital Trust IV, 5.875% | A | 51,150 | 1,159,059 |
| |||
Comerica Capital Trust I, 7.60% | BBB+ | 120,400 | 3,028,060 |
| |||
Fleet Capital Trust VII, 7.20% | A | 459,900 | 11,607,876 |
| |||
Fleet Capital Trust VIII, 7.20% | A | 310,000 | 7,839,900 |
| |||
HSBC Holdings Plc, 6.20%, Ser A (United Kingdom) | A | 249,600 | 6,015,360 |
| |||
Republic New York Corp., 6.25%, Ser HSBC | A | 50,000 | 1,138,000 |
| |||
Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, 5.75%, Ser L (United Kingdom) | A | 450,500 | 10,149,765 |
| |||
Santander Finance Preferred SA, Unipersonal, 6.41%, Ser 1 (Spain) | A | 225,000 | 5,598,000 |
| |||
USB Capital IV, 7.35% | A | 152,800 | 3,827,640 |
| |||
USB Capital V, 7.25% | A | 252,000 | 6,363,000 |
| |||
USB Capital VIII, 6.35%, Ser 1 | A | 83,000 | 1,975,400 |
| |||
Wells Fargo Capital Trust IV, 7.00% | A | 140,800 | 3,553,792 |
| |||
Wells Fargo Capital Trust VI, 6.95% | A | 50,000 | 1,265,500 |
| |||
Wells Fargo Capital Trust VII, 5.85% | A | 5,000 | 113,600 |
Diversified Financial Services 9.48% |
47,870,529 | ||
| |||
ABN AMRO Capital Funding Trust V, 5.90% | A | 373,600 | 8,518,080 |
| |||
ABN AMRO Capital Funding Trust VII, 6.08% | A | 336,000 | 7,899,360 |
| |||
Citigroup Capital VII, 7.125% | A | 222,200 | 5,639,436 |
| |||
Citigroup Capital VIII, 6.95% | A | 538,500 | 13,424,805 |
| |||
General Electric Capital Corp., 6.10% | AAA | 22,863 | 549,169 |
| |||
JPMorgan Chase Capital IX, 7.50%, Ser I | A | 73,800 | 1,853,118 |
| |||
JPMorgan Chase Capital X, 7.00%, Ser J | A1 | 259,000 | 6,576,010 |
| |||
Repsol International Capital Ltd., 7.45%, Ser A (Cayman Islands) | BB+ | 136,313 | 3,410,551 |
Electric Utilities 21.57% |
108,911,363 | ||
| |||
Boston Edison Co., 4.78% | A | 15,143 | 1,303,812 |
| |||
Cleveland Electric Financing Trust I, 9.00% | BB | 210,000 | 5,418,000 |
| |||
Entergy Mississippi, Inc., 7.25% | A | 109,000 | 2,825,280 |
| |||
FPC Capital I, 7.10%, Ser A | BB+ | 568,603 | 14,294,679 |
| |||
FPL Group Capital Trust I, 5.875% | BBB+ | 441,800 | 9,993,516 |
| |||
Georgia Power Capital Trust V, 7.125% | BBB+ | 259,300 | 6,591,406 |
| |||
Georgia Power Capital Trust VII, 5.875% | BBB+ | 116,500 | 2,632,900 |
| |||
Great Plains Energy, Inc., 8.00%, Conv | BBB | 559,100 | 13,278,625 |
| |||
HECO Capital Trust III, 6.50% | BBB | 120,000 | 3,036,000 |
| |||
Interstate Power & Light Co., 8.375%, Ser B | Baa3 | 700,000 | 21,770,000 |
| |||
Northern States Power Co., 8.00% | BBB | 175,800 | 4,486,416 |
| |||
PPL Electric Utilities Corp., 6.25%, Depositary Shares | BBB | 130,000 | 3,172,819 |
| |||
PPL Energy Supply LLC, 7.00% | BBB | 330,570 | 8,303,918 |
| |||
Southern California Edison Co., 6.00%, Ser C | BBB | 20,000 | 1,893,750 |
| |||
Southern California Edison Co., 6.125% | BBB | 10,000 | 978,750 |
| |||
Southern Co. Capital Trust VI, 7.125% | BBB+ | 37,100 | 944,195 |
| |||
Virginia Power Capital Trust, 7.375% | BB+ | 318,219 | 7,987,297 |
Gas Utilities 2.98% |
15,051,915 | ||
| |||
Southern Union Co., 7.55% | BB+ | 229,500 | 5,916,510 |
| |||
Southwest Gas Capital II, 7.70% | BB | 258,500 | 6,630,525 |
| |||
Vectren Utility Holdings, Inc., 7.25% | A | 99,400 | 2,504,880 |
8 | Preferred Income Fund II | See notes to financial statements |
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Credit | |||
Issuer, description | rating (A) | Shares | Value |
Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines 0.63% | $3,168,750 | ||
| |||
Hilton Hotels Corp., 8.00% | BB | 125,000 | 3,168,750 |
Integrated Telecommunication Services 4.49% |
22,658,769 | ||
| |||
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 6.625% | A | 155,000 | 3,720,000 |
| |||
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 7.60%, Ser A | A | 605,967 | 15,082,519 |
| |||
Verizon New England, Inc., 7.00%, Ser B | A3 | 154,250 | 3,856,250 |
Investment Banking & Brokerage 13.46% |
67,947,213 | ||
| |||
Bear Stearns Cos., Inc. (The), 6.15%, Depositary Shares, Ser E | BBB | 248,600 | 12,628,880 |
| |||
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 6.20%, Ser B | A | 140,000 | 3,487,400 |
| |||
Lehman Brothers Holdings Capital Trust III, 6.375%, Ser K | A | 177,000 | 4,306,410 |
| |||
Lehman Brothers Holdings Capital Trust V, 6.00%, Ser M | A | 50,000 | 1,159,500 |
| |||
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., 5.94%, Depositary Shares, Ser C | A | 145,200 | 7,042,200 |
| |||
Merrill Lynch Preferred Capital Trust III, 7.00% | A | 360,400 | 9,179,388 |
| |||
Merrill Lynch Preferred Capital Trust IV, 7.12% | A | 167,400 | 4,262,004 |
| |||
Merrill Lynch Preferred Capital Trust V, 7.28% | A | 273,200 | 6,999,384 |
| |||
Morgan Stanley Capital Trust II, 7.25% | A | 35,000 | 876,050 |
| |||
Morgan Stanley Capital Trust III, 6.25% | A | 248,779 | 5,918,452 |
| |||
Morgan Stanley Capital Trust IV, 6.25% | A | 57,000 | 1,340,640 |
| |||
Morgan Stanley Capital Trust V, 5.75% | A1 | 311,500 | 6,812,505 |
| |||
Morgan Stanley Capital Trust VI, 6.60% | A | 160,000 | 3,934,400 |
Life & Health Insurance 1.93% |
9,721,784 | ||
| |||
PLC Capital Trust IV, 7.25% | BBB+ | 331,075 | 8,392,751 |
| |||
Prudential Plc, 6.50% (United Kingdom) | A | 53,807 | 1,329,033 |
Multi-Line Insurance 9.84% |
49,685,733 | ||
| |||
Aegon NV, 6.375% (Netherlands) | A | 355,000 | 8,665,550 |
| |||
Aegon NV, 6.50% (Netherlands) | A | 44,100 | 1,093,680 |
| |||
ING Groep NV, 7.05% (Netherlands) | A | 774,700 | 19,785,838 |
| |||
MetLife, Inc., 6.50%, Ser B | BBB | 799,550 | 20,140,665 |
Multi-Utilities 11.84% |
59,803,830 | ||
| |||
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., 6.99%, Ser 1995 | Ba1 | 39,870 | 4,160,187 |
| |||
BGE Capital Trust II, 6.20% | BBB | 645,000 | 14,647,950 |
| |||
Dominion CNG Capital Trust I, 7.80% | BB+ | 150,000 | 3,756,000 |
| |||
DTE Energy Trust I, 7.80% | BB+ | 253,000 | 6,350,300 |
| |||
PNM Resources, Inc., 6.75%, Conv | BBB | 90,000 | 4,435,200 |
| |||
PSEG Funding Trust II, 8.75% | BB+ | 680,000 | 18,135,600 |
| |||
Public Service Electric & Gas Co., 4.18%, Ser B | BB+ | 7,900 | 614,225 |
| |||
South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., 6.52% | Baa1 | 15,000 | 1,510,313 |
| |||
TECO Capital Trust I, 8.50% | B | 245,212 | 6,194,055 |
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 6.71% |
33,906,996 | ||
| |||
Apache Corp., 5.68%, Depositary Shares, Ser B | BBB | 25,000 | 2,434,375 |
| |||
Chesapeake Energy Corp., 6.25%, Conv (G) | B+ | 4,850 | 1,358,097 |
| |||
Devon Energy Corp., 6.49%, Ser A | BB+ | 32,355 | 3,276,956 |
| |||
Nexen, Inc., 7.35% (Canada) | BB+ | 1,068,800 | 26,837,568 |
See notes to financial statements | Preferred Income Fund II | 9 |
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Credit | ||||
Issuer, description | rating (A) Shares | Value | ||
Real Estate Management & Development 6.68% | $33,728,333 | |||
| ||||
Duke Realty Corp., 6.50%, Depositary Shares, Ser K | BBB | 110,000 | 2,589,400 | |
| ||||
Duke Realty Corp., 6.60%, Depositary Shares, Ser L | BBB | 109,840 | 2,636,160 | |
| ||||
Duke Realty Corp., 6.625%, Depositary Shares, Ser J | BBB | 449,400 | 10,794,588 | |
| ||||
Duke Realty Corp., 7.99%, Depositary Shares, Ser B | BBB | 10,650 | 523,515 | |
| ||||
Kimco Realty Co., 6.65%, Depositary Shares, Ser F | BBB+ | 37,030 | 901,681 | |
| ||||
Public Storage, Inc., 6.45%, Depositary Shares, Ser X | BBB+ | 30,000 | 695,700 | |
| ||||
Public Storage, Inc., 7.50%, Depositary Shares, Ser V | BBB+ | 307,100 | 7,904,754 | |
| ||||
Public Storage, Inc., 8.00%, Depositary Shares, Ser R | BBB+ | 304,500 | 7,682,535 | |
Regional Banks 3.51% |
17,728,847 | |||
| ||||
PFGI Capital Corp., 7.75% | A | 686,000 | 17,728,847 | |
| ||||
Reinsurance 0.17% | 862,000 | |||
| ||||
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., 6.08%, Ser C (Bermuda) | BBB | 40,000 | 862,000 | |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 2.08% |
10,499,264 | |||
| ||||
Abbey National Plc, 7.25% (United Kingdom) | A | 275,620 | 6,887,744 | |
| ||||
Abbey National Plc, 7.375% (United Kingdom) | A | 140,800 | 3,611,520 | |
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.84% |
4,218,305 | |||
| ||||
United States Cellular, 7.50% | A | 165,100 | 4,218,305 | |
Maturity | Credit | Par value | ||
Issuer, description | date | rating (A) | (000) | Value |
| ||||
Short-term investments 3.35% | $16,900,000 | |||
(Cost $16,900,000) | ||||
Government U.S. Agency 3.35% |
16,900,000 | |||
| ||||
Federal Home Loan Bank, | ||||
Discount Note | 08-01-06 | AAA | $16,900 | 16,900,000 |
| ||||
Total investments 148.82% | $751,400,199 | |||
| ||||
Other assets and liabilities, net 1.51% | $7,636,582 | |||
| ||||
Fund preferred shares and accrued dividends (50.33%) | ($254,112,059) | |||
| ||||
Total net assets 100.00% | $504,924,722 |
(A) Credit ratings are unaudited and are rated by Moodys Investors Service where Standard & Poors ratings are not available unless indicated otherwise.
(G) Security rated internally by John Hancock Advisers, LLC.
(S) This security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. Such security may be resold, normally to qualified institutional buyers, in transactions exempt from registration. Rule 144A securities amounted to $12,520,000 or 2.48% of the Funds net assets as of July 31, 2006.
Parenthetical disclosure of a foreign country in the security description represents country of a foreign issuer; however, security is U.S. dollar-denominated.
The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of the net assets of the Fund.
10 | Preferred Income Fund II | See notes to financial statements |
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial statements
Statement of assets and liabilities 7-31-06
This Statement of Assets and Liabilities is the Funds balance sheet. It shows the value of what the Fund owns, is due and owes. Youll also find the net asset value for each common share. |
Assets | |
Investments at value (cost $757,777,314) | $751,400,199 |
Cash | 35,002 |
Cash segregated for futures contracts | 468,000 |
Dividends and interest receivable | 3,981,122 |
Receivable for swap contracts | 272,397 |
Unrealized appreciation of swap contracts | 3,140,245 |
Receivable from affiliates | |
Other | 3,686 |
Other assets | 47,130 |
Total assets | 759,347,781 |
| |
Liabilities | |
Payable for futures variation margin | 22,500 |
Payable to affiliates | |
Management fees | 34,321 |
Other payables and accrued expenses | 254,179 |
Total liabilities | 311,000 |
Auction Preferred Shares (APS) including accrued dividends, unlimited | |
number of shares of beneficial interest authorized with no par value, | |
10,160 shares issued, liquidation preference of $25,000 per share | 254,112,059 |
| |
Net assets | |
Common shares capital paid-in | 498,764,930 |
Accumulated net realized gain on investments, financial futures contracts | |
and swap contracts | 7,340,526 |
Net unrealized depreciation of investments, financial futures contracts | |
and swap contracts | (3,776,285) |
Accumulated net investment income | 2,595,551 |
Net assets applicable to common shares | $504,924,722 |
| |
Net asset value per common share | |
Based on 21,059,736 shares of beneficial interest outstanding | |
unlimited number of shares authorized with no par value | $23.98 |
See notes to financial statements | Preferred Income Fund II | 11 |
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Statement of operations For the year ended 7-31-06.
This Statement of Operations summarizes the Funds investment income earned and expenses incurred in operating the Fund. It also shows net gains (losses) and distributions paid to APS shareholders for the period stated. |
Investment income | |
Dividends | $46,155,771 |
Interest | 8,291,394 |
Total investment income | 54,447,165 |
| |
Expenses | |
Investment management fees | 5,782,388 |
Accounting and legal services fees | 146,071 |
Trustees fees | 32,062 |
Compliance fees | 12,442 |
APS auction fees | 668,820 |
Custodian fees | 126,098 |
Printing fees | 93,347 |
Federal excise tax | 78,110 |
Professional fees | 38,837 |
Transfer agent fees | 30,570 |
Registration and filing fees | 23,750 |
Interest | 1,079 |
Miscellaneous | 1,694 |
Total expenses | 7,035,268 |
Less expense reductions | (1,541,970) |
Net expenses | 5,493,298 |
Net investment income | 48,953,867 |
| |
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) | |
Net realized gain on | |
Investments | 8,503,929 |
Financial futures contracts | 1,956,759 |
Swap contracts | 1,204,013 |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of | |
Investments | (46,600,296) |
Financial futures contracts | (1,014,947) |
Swap contracts | (48,234) |
Net realized and unrealized loss | (35,998,776) |
Distributions to APS | (10,632,926) |
Increase in net assets from operations | $2,322,165 |
12 | Preferred Income Fund II | See notes to financial statements |
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Statement of changes in net assets
These Statements of Changes in Net Assets show how the value of the Funds net assets has changed during the last two periods. The difference reflects earnings less expenses, any investment gains and losses and distributions, if any, paid to shareholders. |
Year | Year | |
ended | ended | |
7-31-051 | 7-31-06 | |
| ||
Increase (decrease) in net assets | ||
From operations | ||
Net investment income | $49,115,595 | $48,953,867 |
Net realized gain | 2,431,031 | 11,664,701 |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 21,865,207 | (47,663,477) |
Distributions to APS | (6,222,877) | (10,632,926) |
Increase in net assets resulting from operations | 67,188,956 | 2,322,165 |
Distributions to common shareholders | ||
From net investment income | (42,330,069) | (39,171,109) |
From net realized gain | | (6,280,224) |
(42,330,069) | (45,451,333) | |
| ||
Net assets | ||
Beginning of period | 523,195,003 | 548,053,890 |
End of period2 | $548,053,890 | $504,924,722 |
1Audited by previous auditor.
2Includes accumulated net investment income of $882,172 and $2,595,551, respectively.
See notes to financial statements | Preferred Income Fund II | 13 |
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
The Financial highlights show how the Funds net asset value for a share has changed since the end of the previous period.
COMMON SHARES | ||||
Period ended | 7-31-031,2 | 7-31-041 | 7-31-051 | 7-31-06 |
| ||||
Per share operating performance | ||||
Net asset value, | ||||
beginning of period | $23.883 | $25.22 | $24.84 | $26.02 |
Net investment income4 | 1.30 | 2.31 | 2.33 | 2.33 |
Net realized and unrealized gain | ||||
(loss) on investments | 1.55 | (0.17) | 1.16 | (1.71) |
Distributions to APS | (0.08) | (0.14) | (0.30) | (0.50) |
Total from investment operations | 2.77 | 2.00 | 3.19 | 0.12 |
Less distributions to common shareholders | ||||
From net investment income | (1.26) | (2.16) | (2.01) | (1.86) |
From net realized gain | | (0.22) | | (0.30) |
(1.26) | (2.38) | (2.01) | (2.16) | |
Capital charges | ||||
Offering costs related | ||||
to common shares | (0.03) | | | |
Offering costs and underwriting | ||||
discounts related to APS | (0.14) | | | |
(0.17) | | | | |
Net asset value, end of period | $25.22 | $24.84 | $26.02 | $23.98 |
Per share market value, end of period | $24.51 | $24.35 | $23.67 | 23.55 |
Total return at market value5,6 | 1.787,8 | 9.17 | 5.55 | 9.57 |
| ||||
Ratios and supplemental data | ||||
Net assets applicable to common | ||||
shares, end of period (in millions) | $531 | $523 | $548 | $505 |
Ratio of expenses | ||||
to average net assets9 (%) | 1.0110 | 1.07 | 1.09 | 1.06 |
Ratio of gross expenses | ||||
to average net assets11 (%) | 1.2810 | 1.37 | 1.38 | 1.36 |
Ratio of net investment income | ||||
to average net assets12 (%) | 7.8410 | 9.11 | 9.08 | 9.47 |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 147 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
| ||||
Senior securities | ||||
Total value of APS outstanding | ||||
(in millions) | $254 | $254 | $254 | $254 |
Involuntary liquidation preference | ||||
per unit (in thousands) | $25 | $25 | $25 | $25 |
Average market value per unit | ||||
(in thousands) | $25 | $25 | $25 | $25 |
Asset coverage per unit13 | $78,821 | $75,218 | $78,290 | $74,047 |
14 | Preferred Income Fund II | See notes to financial statements |
Notes to Financial Highlights
1 Audited by previous auditor.
2 Inception period from 11-29-02 through 7-31-03.
3 Reflects the deduction of a $1.125 per share sales load.
4 Based on the average of the shares outstanding.
5 Assumes dividend reinvestment.
6 Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the periods shown.
7 Not annualized.
8 Assumes dividend reinvestment and a purchase at the offering price of $25.00 per share on the inception date and a sale at the current market price on the last day of the period.
9 Ratios calculated on the basis of expenses relative to the average net assets of common shares. Without the exclusion of preferred shares, the annualized ratios of expenses would have been 0.74%, 0.73%, 0.74% and 0.71%, respectively.
10 Annualized.
11 Ratios calculated on the basis of expenses relative to the average net assets of common shares that do not take into consideration expense reductions during the periods shown. Without the exclusion of preferred shares, the annualized gross ratios of expenses would have been 0.94%, 0.93%, 0.94% and 0.91%, respectively.
12 Ratios calculated on the basis of net investment income relative to the average net assets of common shares. Without the exclusion of preferred shares, the annualized ratios of net investment income would have been 5.71% , 6.17%, 6.18% and 6.36%, respectively.
13 Calculated by subtracting the Funds total liabilities from the Funds total assets and dividing that amount by the number of APS outstanding as of the applicable 1940 Act Evaluation Date, which may differ from the financial reporting date.
See notes to financial statements | Preferred Income Fund II | 15 |
Notes to financial statements
Note A Accounting policies |
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (the Fund) is a diversified closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Significant accounting policies of the Fund are as follows: |
Valuation of investments
Securities in the Funds portfolio are valued on the basis of market quotations, valuations provided by independent pricing services or at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees. Short-term debt investments which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. The Fund determines the net asset value of the common shares each business day.
Investment transactions
Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily net asset value calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are reported on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the identified cost basis.
Discount and premium on securities
The Fund accretes discount and amortizes premium from par value on securities from either the date of issue or the date of purchase over the life of the security.
Expenses
The majority of the expenses are directly iden-tifiable to an individual fund. Expenses that are not readily identifiable to a specific fund will be allocated in such a manner as deemed equitable, taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the relative sizes of the funds.
Financial futures contracts
The Fund may buy and sell financial futures contracts. Buying futures tends to increase the Funds exposure to the underlying instrument. Selling futures tends to decrease the Funds exposure to the underlying instrument or hedge other Funds instruments. At the time the Fund enters into financial futures contracts, it is required to deposit with its custodian a specified amount of cash or U.S. government securities, known as initial margin, equal to a certain percentage of the value of the financial futures contract being traded. Each day, the futures contract is valued at the official settlement price of the board of trade or U.S. commodities exchange on which it trades. Subsequent payments to and from the broker, known as variation margin, are made on a daily basis as the market price of the financial futures contract fluctuates. Daily variation margin adjustments arising from this mark to market are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses.
When the contracts are closed, the Fund recognizes a gain or loss. Risks of entering into financial futures contracts include the possibility that there may be an illiquid market and/or that a change in the value of the contracts may not correlate with changes in the value of the underlying securities. In addition, the Fund could be prevented from opening or realizing the benefits of closing out financial futures positions because of position limits or limits on daily price fluctuation imposed by an exchange.
For federal income tax purposes, the amount, character and timing of the Funds gains and/ or losses can be affected as a result of finan-cial futures contracts. On July 31, 2006, the Fund had deposited $468,000 in a segregated account to cover margin requirements on open financial futures contracts.
16 | Preferred Income Fund II |
The Fund had the following financial futures contracts open on July 31, 2006:
NUMBER OF | ||||
OPEN CONTRACTS | CONTRACTS | POSITION | EXPIRATION | DEPRECIATION |
| ||||
U.S. 10-year Treasury Note | 180 | Short | Sep 06 | ($217,822) |
U.S. 10-year Treasury Note | 360 | Short | Sep 06 | (85,635) |
U.S. 10-year Treasury Note | 180 | Short | Sep 06 | (235,958) |
($539,415) |
Swap contracts
The Fund may enter into swap transactions in order to hedge the value of the Funds portfolio against interest rate fluctuations or to enhance the Funds income. Interest rate swaps represent an agreement between two counterparties to exchange cash flows based on the difference in the two interest rates, applied to the notional principal amount for a specified period. The payment flows are usually netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other. The Fund settles accrued net receivable or payable under the swap contracts on a periodic basis.
The Fund records changes in the value of the swaps as unrealized gains or losses on swap contracts. Accrued interest receivable or payable on the swap contracts is recorded as realized gain (loss).
Swap contracts are subject to risks related to the counterpartys ability to perform under the contract, and may decline in value if the coun-terpartys creditworthiness deteriorates. The risks may arise from unanticipated movement in interest rates. The Fund may also suffer losses if it is unable to terminate outstanding swap contracts or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions.
The Fund had the following interest rate swap contracts open on July 31, 2006:
RATE TYPE | ||||
|
||||
PAYMENTS | ||||
NOTIONAL | PAYMENTS MADE | RECEIVED | TERMINATION | |
AMOUNT | BY FUND | BY FUND | DATE | APPRECIATION |
| ||||
$63,500,000 | 2.56% (a) | 3-month LIBOR | June 08 | $3,140,245 |
(a) Fixed rate |
Federal income taxes
The Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company by complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that is distributed to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
In June 2006, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (the Interpretation) was issued, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. This Interpretation prescribes a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and requires certain expanded disclosures. Management has recently begun to evaluate the application of the Interpretation to the Fund, and has not at this time quantified the impact, if any, resulting from the adoption of this Interpretation on the Funds financial statements.
Dividends, interest and distributions
Dividend income on investment securities is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, in the case of some foreign securities, on the date thereafter when the Fund identifies the dividend. Interest income on investment securities is recorded on the accrual basis. Foreign income may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, which are accrued as applicable.
The Fund records distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gain, if any, on the ex-dividend date. During the year ended July 31, 2005, the tax character of distributions paid was as follows: ordinary income $48,552,946. During the year ended July 31, 2006, the tax character of distributions paid was as follows: ordinary income $48,866,036 and long-term capital gains $7,218,223.
Preferred Income Fund II | 17 |
As of July 31, 2006, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis included $9,536,927 of undistributed ordinary income.
Such distributions and distributable earnings, on a tax basis, are determined in conformity with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits, if any, are reported in the Funds financial statements as a return of capital.
Use of estimates
The preparation of these financial statements, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, incorporates estimates made by management in determining the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Fund. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Note B Management fee and transactions with affiliates and others |
The Fund has an investment management contract with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the Adviser), a wholly owned subsidiary of the John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. Under the investment management contract, the Fund pays a daily management fee to the Adviser at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Funds average daily net asset value and the value attributable to the Auction Preferred Shares (collectively managed assets).
The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the Funds management fee, on an annual basis, to the following: 0.55% of the Funds average daily managed assets until the fifth anniversary of the commencement of the Funds operations, 0.60% of such assets in the sixth year, 0.65% of such assets in the seventh year, and 0.70% of average daily managed assets in the eighth year. Accordingly, the expense reductions related to the reduction in management fees amounted to $1,541,970 for the year ended July 31, 2006. After the eighth year the Adviser will no longer waive a portion of the management fee.
Effective December 31, 2005, the investment management teams of the Adviser were reorganized into Sovereign Asset Management LLC (Sovereign), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of John Hancock Life insurance Company (JHLICo), a subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC). The Adviser remains the principal advisor on the Fund and Sovereign acts as subadviser under the supervision of the Adviser. The restructuring did not have an impact on the Fund, which continues to be managed using the same investment philosophy and process. The Fund is not responsible for payment of the subadvisory fees.
The Fund has an agreement with the Adviser and its affiliates to perform necessary tax, accounting and legal services for the Fund. The compensation for the year amounted to $146,071. The Fund also paid the Adviser the amount of $177 for certain publishing services, included in the printing fees. The Fund also reimbursed JHLICo for certain compliance costs, included in the Funds Statement of Operations.
Mr. James R. Boyle is Chairman of the Adviser, as well as affiliated Trustee of the Fund, and is compensated by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. The compensation of unaffiliated Trustees is borne by the Fund. The unaffiliated Trustees may elect to defer, for tax purposes, their receipt of this compensation under the John Hancock Group of Funds Deferred Compensation Plan. The Fund makes investments into other John Hancock funds, as applicable, to cover its liability for the deferred compensation. Investments to cover the Funds deferred compensation liability are recorded on the Funds books as an other asset. The deferred compensation liability and the related other asset are always equal and are marked to market on a periodic basis to reflect any income earned by the investments, as well as any unrealized gains or losses. The Deferred Compensation Plan investments had no impact on the operations of the Fund.
The Fund is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and has filed with the NYSE its chief executive officer certifica-tion regarding compliance with the NYSEs listing standards. The Fund also files with the Securities and Exchange Commission the cer-tification of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
18 | Preferred Income Fund II |
Note C |
Fund share transactions |
Common shares
This listing illustrates the Funds reclassification of the Funds capital accounts and the number of common shares outstanding at the beginning and end of the last two years, along with the corresponding dollar value.
Year ended 7-31-051 | Year ended 7-31-06 | |||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |
Beginning of period | 21,059,736 | $498,945,163 | 21,059,736 | $498,932,024 |
Distributions reinvested | | | | |
Reclassification of | ||||
capital accounts | | (13,139) | | (167,094) |
End of period | 21,059,736 | $498,932,024 | 21,059,736 | $498,764,930 |
1Audited by previous auditor. |
Auction preferred shares
The Fund issued a total of 10,160 Auction Preferred Shares (2,032 shares of Series M, 2,032 shares of Series T, 2,032 shares of Series W, 2,032 shares of Series TH and 2,032 shares of Series F) (collectively, the APS) on January 29, 2003, in a public offering. The underwriting discount of $2,540,000 has been charged to capital paid-in of common shares during the period ended July 31, 2003. Offering costs of $698,787 related to common shares and $324,856 incurred in connection with the preferred shares were charged to the Funds capital paid-in during the period ended July 31, 2003.
Dividends on the APS, which accrue daily, are cumulative at a rate that was established at the offering of the APS and has been reset every 7 days thereafter by an auction (except for Series W, which reset its rate on February 1, 2006, at which time the Fund elected a Special Dividend Payment of 182 days for the subsequent distributions). During the year ended July 31, 2006, dividend rates on APS ranged as follows: Series M from 2.81% to 5.15%, Series T from 3.20% to 5.10%, Series W from 3.90% to 5.26%, Series TH from 3.20% to 5.30% and Series F from 3.01% to 5.08% . Accrued dividends on APS are included in the value of APS on the Funds Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Effective February 1, 2006, Series W changed to a weekly auction and reset every 7 days thereafter by an auction.
The APS are redeemable at the option of the Fund, at a redemption price equal to $25,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends on any dividend payment date. The APS are also subject to mandatory redemption at a redemption price equal to $25,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if the Fund is in default on its asset coverage requirements with respect to the APS as defined in the Funds bylaws. If the dividends on the APS shall remain unpaid in an amount equal to two full years dividends, the holders of the APS, as a class, have the right to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees. In general, the holders of the APS and the common shareholders have equal voting rights of one vote per share, except that the holders of the APS, as a class, vote to elect two members of the Board of Trustees, and separate class votes are required on certain matters that affect the respective interests of the APS and common shareholders.
Note D
Investment transactions
Purchases and proceeds from sales or maturities of securities, other than short-term securities and obligations of the U.S. government, during the year ended July 31, 2006, aggregated $111,469,123 and $130,386,487, respectively.
The cost of investments owned on July31, 2006, including short-term investments, for federal income tax purposes was $758,043,280. Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments aggregated $23,038,742 and $29,681,823, respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $6,643,081. The difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized depreciation of investments is attributable primarily to the amortization of premiums on debt securities.
Preferred Income Fund II | 19 |
Note E
Reclassification of accounts
During the year ended July 31, 2006, the Fund reclassified amounts to reflect a decrease in accumulated net realized gain on investments of $2,396,453, an increase in accumulated net investment income of $2,563,547 and a decrease in capital paid-in of $167,094. This represents the amounts necessary to report these balances on a tax basis, excluding certain temporary differences, as of July 31, 2006. Additional adjustments may be needed in subsequent reporting periods. These reclas-sifications, which have no impact on the net asset value of the Fund, are primarily attributable to certain differences in the computation of distributable income and capital gains under federal tax rules versus accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, book and tax differences in accounting for federal excise tax, non-deductible orgranizational costs and swap contracts. The calculation of net investment income per share in the Funds Financial Highlights excludes these adjustments.
20 | Preferred Income Fund II |
Auditors report |
To the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Bond Trust and Shareholders of
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II,
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (the Fund) as of July 31, 2006, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and finan-cial highlights (hereafter referred to as financial statements) are the responsibility of the Funds management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit, which included confirmation of securities as of July 31, 2006 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. The statement of changes in net assets of the Fund for the year ended July 31, 2005 and the financial highlights for each of the periods ended on or before July 31, 2005 were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm, whose report dated September 12, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Boston, Massachusetts September 8, 2006 |
21
Tax information |
Unaudited |
For federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions of the Fund, if any, paid during its taxable year ended July 31, 2006. The fund has designated distributions to shareholders of $7,218,223 as a capital gain dividend.
With respect to the ordinary dividends paid by the Fund for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006, 36.70% of the dividends qualifies for the corporate dividends-received deduction.
The Fund hereby designates the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividend income as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Tax Act of 2003. This amount will be reflected on Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year 2006.
Shareholders will be mailed a 2006 U.S. Treasury Department Form 1099-DIV in January 2007. This will reflect the total of all distributions that are taxable for calendar year 2006.
22
Investment objective and policy
The Funds primary objective is to provide a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital. The Funds secondary objective is to provide growth of capital to the extent consistent with its primary objective. The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities that, in the opinion of the Adviser, may be undervalued relative to similar securities in the marketplace.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least: (a) 80% of its assets in preferred stocks and other preferred securities, including convertible preferred securities, (b) 25% of its total assets in the industries comprising the utilities sector and (c) 80% of its total assets in preferred securities or other fixed-income securities which are rated investment grade or higher by Moodys or Standard & Poors at the time of investment. Assets are defined as net assets including the liquidation preference of APS plus borrowing for investment purposes.
Bylaws
On December 16, 2003, the Trustees approved the following change to the Funds bylaws. The auction preferred shares section of the Funds bylaws was changed to update the rating agency requirements in keeping with recent changes to the agencies basic maintenance reporting requirements for leveraged closed-end funds. Bylaws now require an independent accountants confirmation only once per year, at the Funds fiscal year end, and changes to the agencies basic maintenance reporting requirements that include modifica-tions to the eligible assets and their respective discount factors. These revisions bring the Funds bylaws in line with current rating agency requirements.
On September 14, 2004, the Trustees approved an amendment to the Funds bylaws increasing the maximum applicable dividend rate ceiling on the preferred shares to conform with the modern calculation methodology used by the industry and other John Hancock funds.
Dividends and distributions
During the year ended July 31, 2006, dividends from net investment income totaling $1.860 per share and distributions from capital gains totaling $0.2982 per share were paid to shareholders. The dates of payments and the amounts per share are as follows:
INCOME | |
PAYMENT DATE | DIVIDEND |
| |
August 31, 2005 | $0.1550 |
September 30, 2005 | 0.1550 |
October 31, 2005 | 0.1550 |
November 30, 2005 | 0.1550 |
December 30, 2005 | 0.1550 |
January 31, 2006 | 0.1550 |
February 28, 2006 | 0.1550 |
March 31, 2006 | 0.1550 |
April 28, 2006 | 0.1550 |
June 2, 2006 | 0.1550 |
June 30, 2006 | 0.1550 |
July 31, 2006 | 0.1550 |
CAPITAL GAIN | |
DISTRIBUTION | |
| |
December 30, 2005 | $0.2982 |
Dividend reinvestment plan
The Fund offers its shareholders a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the Plan), which offers the opportunity to earn compounded yields. Each holder of common shares will automatically have all distributions of dividends and capital gains reinvested by Mellon Investor Services, as Plan Agent for the common shareholders (the Plan Agent), unless an election is made to receive cash. Holders of common shares who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash, paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or, if the common shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by the Plan Agent, as dividend disbursing agent. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker or a nominee should contact the broker or nominee to determine whether and how they may participate in the Plan.
23
If the Fund declares a dividend payable either in common shares or in cash, non-participants will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in common shares. If the market price of the common shares on the payment date of the dividend is equal to, or exceeds, their net asset value as determined on the payment date, participants will be issued common shares (out of authorized but unissued shares) at a value equal to the higher of net asset value or 95% of the market price. If the net asset value exceeds the market price of the common shares at such time, or if the Board of Trustees declares a dividend payable only in cash, the Plan Agent will, as agent for Plan participants, buy shares in the open market, on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, for the participants accounts. Such purchases will be made promptly after the payable date for such dividend and, in any event, prior to the next ex-dividend date after such date, except where necessary to comply with federal securities laws. If, before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases, the market price exceeds the net asset value of the common shares, the average per share purchase price paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the net asset value of the common shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the dividend had been paid in shares issued by the Fund.
Each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agents open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The cost per share of the shares purchased for each participants account will be the average cost, including brokerage commissions, of any shares purchased on the open market plus the cost of any shares issued by the Fund. There will be no broker- age charges with respect to common shares issued directly by the Fund. There are no other charges to participants for reinvesting dividends or capital gain distributions.
Participants in the Plan may withdraw from the Plan at any time by contacting the Plan Agent by telephone, in writing or by visiting the Plan Agents Web site at www.melloninvestor.com. Such withdrawal will be effective immediately if received not less than ten days prior to a dividend record date; otherwise, it will be effective for all subsequent dividend record dates.
When a participant withdraws from the Plan or upon termination of the Plan, as provided below, certificates for whole common shares credited to his or her account under the Plan will be issued and a cash payment will be made for any fraction of a share credited to such account.
The Plan Agent maintains each shareholders account in the Plan and furnishes monthly written confirmations of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by the shareholders for personal and tax records. The Plan Agent will hold common shares in the account of each Plan participant in non-cer-tificated form in the name of the participant. Proxy material relating to the shareholders meetings of the Fund will include those shares purchased, as well as shares held pursuant to the Plan.
The reinvestment of dividends and distributions will not relieve participants of any federal income tax that may be payable or required to be withheld on such dividends or distributions. Participants under the Plan will receive tax information annually. The amount of dividend to be reported on 1099-DIV should be: (1) in the case of shares issued by the Fund, the fair market value of such shares on the dividend payment date and (2) in the case of shares purchased by the Plan Agent in the open market, the amount of cash used by the Plan Agent to purchase shares in the open market, including the amount of cash allocated to brokerage commissions paid on such purchases.
Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to all shareholders of the Fund at least 90 days before the record date for the dividend or distribution. The Plan may be amended or terminated by the Plan Agent after at least 90 days written notice to all shareholders of the Fund. All correspondence or additional information concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent, Mellon Bank, N.A., c/o Mellon Investor Services, P.O. Box 3338, South Hackensack, NJ 07606-1938 (Telephone: 1-800-852-0218).
24
Shareholder communication and assistance |
If you have any questions concerning the Fund, we will be pleased to assist you. If you hold shares in your own name and not with a brokerage firm, please address all notices, correspondence, questions or other communications regarding the Fund to the transfer agent at:
Mellon Investor Services Newport Office Center VII 480 Washington Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07310 Telephone: 1-800-852-0218 |
If your shares are held with a brokerage firm, you should contact that firm, bank or other nominee for assistance.
Shareholder meeting
On March 22, 2006, the Annual Meeting of the Fund was held to elect four Trustees and to ratify the actions of the Trustees in selecting independent auditors for the Fund.
Proxies covering 19,148,301 shares of beneficial interest were voted at the meeting. The common shareholders elected the following Trustees to serve until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, with the votes for each Trustee tabulated as follows:
WITHHELD | ||
FOR | AUTHORITY | |
|
||
James R. Boyle | 19,127,653 | 20,648 |
Charles L. Ladner | 19,129,601 | 18,700 |
Dr. John A. Moore | 19,135,526 | 12,775 |
The preferred shareholders elected Ronald R. Dion to serve as the Funds Trustee until his successor is duly elected and qualified, with the votes tabulated as follows: 7,973 FOR, 0 AGAINST and 24 ABSTAINING.
The common and preferred shareholders ratified the Trustees selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Funds independent auditor for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2006, with votes tabulated as follows: 19,437,233 FOR, 82,994 AGAINST and 127,626 ABSTAINING.
25
Board Consideration of and Continuation of Investment Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement: John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II |
The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) requires the Board of Trustees (the Board) of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (the Fund), including a majority of the Trustees who have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory agreement and are not interested persons of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (the Independent Trustees), annually to review and consider the continuation of: (i) the investment advisory agreement (the Advisory Agreement) with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the Adviser) and (ii) the investment sub-advisory agreement (the Sub-Advisory Agreement) with Sovereign Asset Management LLC (the Sub-Adviser). The Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the Advisory Agreements.
At meetings held on May 1-2 and June 5-6, 2006,1 the Board considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser and the continuation of the Advisory Agreements. During such meetings, the Boards Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel.
In evaluating the Advisory Agreements, the Board, including the Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees, reviewed a broad range of information requested for this purpose by the Independent Trustees, including: (i) the investment performance of the Fund and a peer group of comparable funds (the Peer Group) selected by Morningstar Inc. (Morningstar), an independent provider of investment company data, for a range of periods ended December 31, 2005,2 (ii) advisory and other fees incurred by, and the expense ratios of, the Fund relative to a Peer Group, (iii) the Advisers financial results and condition, including its and certain of its affili-ates profitability from services performed for the Fund, (iv) breakpoints in the Funds and the Peer Groups fees and information about economies of scale, (v) the Advisers and
Sub-Advisers record of compliance with applicable laws and regulations, with the Funds investment policies and restrictions, and with the applicable Code of Ethics, and the structure and responsibilities of the Advisers and Sub-Advisers compliance department, (vi) the background and experience of senior management and investment professionals and (vii) the nature, cost and character of advisory and non-investment management services provided by the Adviser and its affiliates and by the Sub-Adviser.
The Boards review and conclusions were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information presented to the Board and not the result of any single controlling factor. It was based on performance and other information as of December 31, 2005; facts may have changed between that date and the date of this shareholders report. The key factors considered by the Board and the conclusions reached are described below.
Nature, extent and quality of services
The Board considered the ability of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, based on their resources, reputation and other attributes, to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance programs and compliance records of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the administrative services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates.
Based on the above factors, together with those referenced below, the Board concluded that, within the context of its full deliberations, the nature, extent and quality of the investment advisory services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser were sufficient to support renewal of the Advisory Agreements.
Fund performance
The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended December 31, 2005. The Board also considered these results in comparison to the performance of the Peer Group, as well as the Funds benchmark index. Morningstar determined the Peer Group for the Fund. The Board
26
reviewed with a representative of Morningstar the methodology used by Morningstar to select the funds in the Peer Group. The Board noted the imperfect comparability of the Peer Group and that Morningstar was not able to select a comparative Category for the Fund.
The Board recognized the relatively short operational history of the Fund and noted that the Funds performance during the periods under review was generally competitive with the performance of the Peer Group and its benchmark index, the Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Hybrid Securities Index. The Board noted that the Funds performance during the 1- and 3-year periods was lower than the performance of the median of the Peer Group but higher than the performance of its benchmark index.
Investment advisory fee and sub-advisory
fee rates and expenses
The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser for investment advisory services (the Advisory Agreement Rate). The Board received and considered information comparing the Advisory Agreement Rate with the advisory fees for the Peer Group. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement Rate was lower than the median rate of the Peer Group.
The Board received and considered expense information regarding the Funds various components, including advisory fees, and other non-advisory fees, including administrative fees, transfer agent fees, custodian fees, and other miscellaneous fees (e.g., fees for accounting and legal services). The Board considered comparisons of these expenses to the Peer Group median. The Board also received and considered expense information regarding the Funds total operating expense ratio (Gross Expense Ratio) and total operating expense ratio after taking the fee waiver arrangement applicable to the Advisory Agreement Rate into account (Net Expense Ratio). The Board received and considered information comparing the Gross Expense Ratio and Net Expense Ratio of the Fund to that of the Peer Group. The Board noted that the Funds Gross and Net Expense Ratios were lower than the median of the Peer Group.
The Adviser also discussed the Morningstar data and rankings, and other relevant information, for the Fund. Based on the above-referenced considerations and other factors, the Board concluded that the Funds overall performance and expenses supported the re-approval of the Advisory Agreements.
The Board also received information about the investment sub-advisory fee rate (the Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate) payable by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services. The Board concluded that the Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate was fair and equitable, based on its consideration of the factors described here.
Profitability
The Board received and considered a detailed profitability analysis of the Adviser based on the Advisory Agreements, as well as on other relationships between the Fund and the Adviser and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser. The Board concluded that, in light of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund, the profits and other ancillary benefits reported by the Adviser were not unreasonable.
Economies of scale
The Board received and considered general information regarding economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund, including the Funds ability to appropriately benefit from economies of scale under the Funds fee structure. The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Boards understanding that most of the Advisers and Sub-Advisers costs are not specific to individual Funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.
The Board observed that the Advisory Agreements did not offer breakpoints. However, the Board considered the limited relevance of economies of scale in the context of a closed-end fund that, unlike an open-end fund, does not continuously offer its shares. The Board noted that the Fund, as a closed-end investment company, was not expected to increase materially in size and that its assets
27
would grow (if at all) through the investment performance of the Fund. Therefore, the Board did not consider potential economies of scale as a principal factor in assessing the fees payable under the Advisory Agreements, but concluded that the fees were fair and equitable based on relevant factors.
Other benefits to the Adviser
The Board received information regarding potential fall-out or ancillary benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Advisers relationship with the Fund. Such benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to the relationship of the Adviser with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in the business of the Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund (such as the ability to market to shareholders other financial products offered by the Adviser and its affiliates).
The Board also considered the effectiveness of the Advisers, Sub-Advisers and Funds policies and procedures for complying with the requirements of the federal securities laws, including those relating to best execution of portfolio transactions and brokerage allocation.
Other factors and broader review
As discussed above, the Board reviewed detailed materials received from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser as part of the annual re-approval process. The Board also regularly reviews and assesses the quality of the services that the Fund receives throughout the year. In this regard, the Board reviews reports of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser at least quarterly, which include, among other things, fund performance reports and compliance reports. In addition, the Board meets with portfolio managers and senior investment officers at various times throughout the year.
After considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board concluded that approval of the continuation of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements.
1 The Board previously considered information about the Sub-Advisory Agreement at the September and December 2005 Board meetings in connection with the Advisers reorganization.
2 Morningstar also provided a comparative analysis for most, but not all of the John Hancock Funds, of the investment performance and advisory and other fees incurred by, and the expense ratios of, the John Hancock Funds relative to a broader category of relevant funds (the Category). Morningstar advised the Board that it was not able to select a comparative Category for the John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II. Therefore, Morningstar did not provide a broader Category analysis; instead, it provided only the narrower Peer Group analysis.
28
Information about the portfolio managers
Management Biographies and Fund ownership
Below is an alphabetical list of the portfolio managers who share joint responsibility for the day-to-day investment management of the Fund. It provides a brief summary of their busi- ness careers over the past five years and their range of beneficial share ownership in the Fund as of July 31, 2006.
Gregory K. Phelps Senior Vice President, Sovereign Asset Management LLC since 2005 Senior Vice President, John Hancock Advisers, LLC (19952005) Began business career in 1981 Joined fund team in 2002 (inception) Fund ownership None |
Mark T. Maloney Vice President, Sovereign Asset Management LLC since 2005 Vice President, John Hancock Advisers, LLC (19822005) Began business career in 1976 Joined fund team in 2002 (inception) Fund ownership None |
Other Accounts the Portfolio Managers are Managing
The table below indicates for each portfolio manager information about the accounts over which the portfolio manager has day-to-day investment responsibility. All information on the number of accounts and total assets in the table is as of July 31, 2006. For purposes of the table, Other Pooled Investment Vehicles may include investment partnerships and group trusts, and Other Accounts may include separate accounts for institutions or individuals, insurance company general or separate accounts, pension funds and other similar institutional accounts.
P O R T F O L I O M A N A G E R | O T H E R A C C O U N T S M A N A G E D B Y T H E P O R T F O L I O M A N A G E R S |
| |
Gregory K. Phelps | Other Registered Investment Companies: 8 (eight) funds |
with total assets of approximately $4.3 billion. | |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: 2 (two) accounts with | |
total assets of approximately $65 million. | |
Other Accounts: None | |
Mark T. Maloney | Other Registered Investment Companies: 8 (eight) funds |
with total assets of approximately $4.3 billion. | |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: 2 (two) accounts with | |
total assets of approximately $65 million. | |
Other Accounts: None |
29
The Sub-Adviser has policies that require a portfolio manager to allocate investment opportunities in an equitable manner and generally to allocate such investments proportionately among all accounts with similar investment objectives.
When a portfolio manager intends to trade the same security for more than one account, the policies of the Sub-Adviser generally require that such trades for the individual accounts are aggregated so each account receives the same price. When not possible or may not result in the best possible price, the Sub-Adviser will place the order in a manner intended to result in as favorable a price as possible for such client.
The investment performance on specific accounts is not a factor in determining the portfo- lio managers compensation. See Compensation of Portfolio Managers below. Neither the Adviser nor the Sub-Adviser receives a performance-based fee with respect to other accounts managed by the Funds portfolio managers.
The Sub-Adviser imposes certain trading restrictions and reporting requirements for accounts in which a portfolio manager or certain family members have a personal interest in order to confirm that such accounts are not favored over other accounts.
The Sub-Adviser seeks to avoid portfolio manager assignmeI with potentially conflicting situations. However, where a portfolio manager is responsible for accounts with differing investment objectives and policies, it is possible that the portfolio manager will conclude that it is in the best interest of one account to sell a portfolio security while another account continues to hold or increase the holding in such security.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers
The Sub-Adviser has adopted a system of compensation for portfolio managers and others involved in the investment process that is applied consistently among investment professionals. At the Sub-Adviser, the structure of compensation of investment professionals is currently composed of the following basic components: fixed base salary, and an annual investment bonus plan, as well as customary benefits that are offered generally to all full-time employees of the Sub-Adviser. A limited number of senior portfolio managers, who serve as officers of both the Sub-Adviser and its parent company, may also receive options or restricted stock grants of common shares of Manulife Financial Corporation.
Only investment professionals are eligible to participate in the Investment Bonus Plan on an annual basis. While the amount of any bonus is discretionary, the following factors are generally used in determining bonuses: 1) The investment performance of all accounts managed by the investment professional over one- and three-year periods are considered. The pre-tax performance of each account is measured relative to an appropriate peer group benchmark. 2) The profitability of the Sub-Adviser and its parent company are also considered in determining bonus awards, with greater emphasis placed upon the profitability of the Adviser. 3) The more intangible contributions of an investment professional to the Sub-Advisers business, including the investment professionals support of sales activities, new fund/strategy idea generation, professional growth and development, and management, where applicable, are evaluating in determining the amount of any bonus award.
While the profitability of the Sub-Adviser and the investment performance of the accounts that the investment professionals maintain are factors in determining an investment professionals overall compensation, the investment professionals compensation is not linked directly to the net asset value of any fund.
30
Trustees and Officers
This chart provides information about the Trustees and Officers who oversee your John Hancock fund. Officers elected by the Trustees manage the day-to-day operations of the Fund and execute policies formulated by the Trustees. |
Independent Trustees | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
|
||
Ronald R. Dion , Born: 1946 | 2002 | 53 |
Independent Chairman (since 2005); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, | ||
R.M. Bradley & Co., Inc.; Director, The New England Council and Massachusetts | ||
Roundtable; Trustee, North Shore Medical Center; Director, Boston Stock | ||
Exchange; Director, BJs Wholesale Club, Inc. and a corporator of the Eastern | ||
Bank; Trustee, Emmanuel College; Director, Boston Municipal Research Bureau; | ||
Member of the Advisory Board, Carroll Graduate School of Management at | ||
Boston College. | ||
|
||
James F. Carlin , Born: 1940 | 2002 | 53 |
Director and Treasurer, Alpha Analytical Inc. (analytical laboratory) (since 1985); | ||
Part Owner and Treasurer, Lawrence Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc. (since 1995); | ||
Part Owner and Vice President, Mone Lawrence Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc. | ||
(since 1996); Director and Treasurer, Rizzo Associates (engineering) (until 2000); | ||
Chairman and CEO, Carlin Consolidated, Inc. (management/investments) (since | ||
1987); Director and Partner, Proctor Carlin & Co., Inc. (until 1999); Trustee, | ||
Massachusetts Health and Education Tax Exempt Trust (since 1993); Director of | ||
the following: Uno Restaurant Corp. (until 2001), Arbella Mutual (insurance) | ||
(until 2000), HealthPlan Services, Inc. (until 1999), Flagship Healthcare, Inc. (until | ||
1999), Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc. (until 1999); Chairman, Massachusetts | ||
Board of Higher Education (until 1999). | ||
|
||
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.,2 Born: 1935 | 2005 | 53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer, Brookline Bancorp Inc. (lending) | ||
(since 1972); Director, Lumber Insurance Co. (insurance) (until 2000); | ||
Chairman and Director, Northeast Retirement Services, Inc. (retirement | ||
administration) (since 1998); Vice Chairman, Northeastern University | ||
Board of Trustees (since 2004). | ||
|
||
William H. Cunningham , Born: 1944 | 2002 | 160 |
Former Chancellor, University of Texas System and former President of the | ||
University of Texas, Austin, Texas; Chairman and CEO, IBT Technologies (until | ||
2001); Director of the following: Hire.com (until 2004), STC Broadcasting, Inc. | ||
and Sunrise Television Corp. (until 2001), Symtx, Inc. (electronic manufacturing) | ||
(since 2001), Adorno/Rogers Technology, Inc. (until 2004), Pinnacle Foods | ||
Corporation (until 2003), rateGenius (until 2003), Lincoln National Corporation | ||
(insurance) (since 2006), Jefferson-Pilot Corporation (diversified life insurance | ||
company) (until 2006), New Century Equity Holdings (formerly Billing Concepts) |
31
Independent Trustees (continued) | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
| ||
William H. Cunningham , Born: 1944 (continued) | 2002 | 160 |
(until 2001), eCertain (until 2001), ClassMap.com (until 2001), Agile Ventures | ||
(until 2001), AskRed.com (until 2001), Southwest Airlines, Introgen and | ||
Viasystems Group, Inc. (electronic manufacturer) (until 2003); Advisory | ||
Director, Interactive Bridge, Inc. (college fundraising) (until 2001); Advisory | ||
Director, Q Investments (until 2003); Advisory Director, JPMorgan Chase Bank | ||
(formerly Texas Commerce Bank Austin), LIN Television (since 2002), WilTel | ||
Communications (until 2003) and Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. | ||
(diversified automotive parts supply company) (since 2003). | ||
| ||
Charles L. Ladner,2 Born: 1938 | 2002 | 160 |
Chairman and Trustee, Dunwoody Village, Inc. (retirement services) (until 2003); | ||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, UGI Corporation (public utility | ||
holding company) (retired 1998); Vice President and Director for AmeriGas, Inc. | ||
(retired 1998); Director of AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (gas distribution) (until 1997); | ||
Director, EnergyNorth, Inc. (until 1995); Director, Parks and History Association | ||
(until 2007). | ||
| ||
John A. Moore,2 Born: 1939 | 2002 | 53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Evaluating Health Risks, | ||
(nonprofit institution) (until 2001); Senior Scientist, Sciences International | ||
(health research) (until 2003); Former Assistant Administrator and Deputy | ||
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Principal, Hollyhouse | ||
(consulting) (since 2000); Director, CIIT Center for Health Science Research | ||
(nonprofit research) (since 2002). | ||
| ||
Patti McGill Peterson,2 Born: 1943 | 2002 | 53 |
Executive Director, Council for International Exchange of Scholars and Vice | ||
President, Institute of International Education (since 1998); Senior Fellow, Cornell | ||
Institute of Public Affairs, Cornell University (until 1998); Former President of | ||
Wells College and St. Lawrence University; Director, Niagara Mohawk Power | ||
Corporation (until 2003); Director, Ford Foundation, International Fellowships | ||
Program (since 2002); Director, Lois Roth Endowment (since 2002); Director, | ||
Council for International Educational Exchange (since 2003). | ||
| ||
Steven R. Pruchansky, Born: 1944 | 2002 | 53 |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. | ||
(since 2000); Director and President, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. | ||
(until 2000); Managing Director, JonJames, LLC (real estate) (since 2001); | ||
Director, First Signature Bank & Trust Company (until 1991); Director, Mast | ||
Realty Trust (until 1994); President, Maxwell Building Corp. (until 1991). |
32
Non-Independent Trustee3 | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
|
||
James R. Boyle, Born: 1959 | 2005 | 262 |
President, John Hancock Annuities; Executive Vice President, John Hancock | ||
Life Insurance Company (since June, 2004); Chairman and Director, John | ||
Hancock Advisers, LLC (the Adviser), John Hancock Funds, LLC and The | ||
Berkeley Financial Group, LLC (The Berkeley Group) (holding company) (since | ||
2005); President, U.S. Annuities; Senior Vice President, The Manufacturers | ||
Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (until 2004). | ||
Principal officers who are not Trustees | ||
Name, age | ||
Position(s) held with Fund | Officer | |
Principal occupation(s) and | of Fund | |
directorships during past 5 years | since | |
|
||
Keith F. Hartstein, Born: 1956 | 2005 | |
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Senior Vice President, Manulife Financial Corporation (since 2004); Director, | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer, the Adviser, The Berkeley Group, | ||
John Hancock Funds, LLC and Sovereign Asset Management LLC (Sovereign); | ||
Director, John Hancock Signature Services, Inc.; President and Chief Executive | ||
Officer of John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2006); | ||
President, John Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust; | ||
Director, Chairman and President, NM Capital Inc. (since 2005); Chairman, | ||
Investment Company Institute Sales Force Marketing Committee (since 2003); | ||
Executive Vice President, John Hancock Funds, LLC (until 2005). | ||
|
||
William H. King, Born: 1952 | 2002 | |
Vice President and Treasurer | ||
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, the Adviser and John Hancock Investment | ||
Management Services, LLC (since 2006); Vice President and Treasurer of each | ||
of the John Hancock funds advised by the Adviser; Assistant Treasurer of each | ||
of the John Hancock funds advised by the Adviser (until 2001). | ||
|
||
Francis V. Knox, Jr., Born: 1947 | 2005 | |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer | ||
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Investment | ||
Management Services, LLC (since 2006); the Adviser and Sovereign | ||
(since 2005); Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock | ||
Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice | ||
President and Assistant Treasurer, Fidelity Group of Funds (until 2004); Vice | ||
President and Ethics & Compliance Officer, Fidelity Investments (until 2001). |
33
Principal officers who are not Trustees (continued) | |
Name, age | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Officer |
Principal occupation(s) and | of Fund |
directorships during past 5 years | since |
| |
John G. Vrysen, Born: 1955 | 2005 |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Adviser, The | |
Berkeley Group and John Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2005); Executive Vice | |
President and Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Investment Management | |
Services, LLC (since 2006), Sovereign, John Hancock Funds II, John Hancock | |
Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and General | |
Manager, Fixed Annuities, U.S. Wealth Management (until 2005); Vice President, | |
Operations, Manulife Wood Logan (July 2000 thru September 2004). |
The business address for all Trustees and Officers is 601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210-2805. The Statement of Additional Information of the Fund includes additional information about members of the Board of Trustees of the Fund and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-5291.
1Each Trustee serves until resignation, retirement age or until his or her successor is elected.
2Member of Audit Committee.
3Non-Independent Trustee holds positions with the Funds investment adviser, underwriter and certain other affiliates.
34
For more information
The Funds proxy voting policies, procedures and records are available without charge, upon request:
By phone | On the Funds Web site | On the SECs Web site |
1-800-225-5291 | www.jhfunds.com/proxy | www.sec.gov |
| ||
Investment adviser | Transfer agent for | Independent registered |
John Hancock Advisers, LLC | common shareholders | public accounting firm |
601 Congress Street | Mellon Investor Services | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
Boston, MA 02210-2805 | Newport Office Center VII | 125 High Street |
480 Washington Boulevard | Boston, MA 02110 | |
Subadviser | Jersey City, NJ 07310 | |
Sovereign Asset Management | Stock symbol | |
LLC | Transfer agent for | Listed New York Stock |
101 Huntington Avenue | preferred shareholders | Exchange: |
Boston, MA 02199 | Deutsche Bank Trust | HPF |
Company Americas | ||
Custodian | 280 Park Avenue | For shareholder assistance |
New York, NY 10017 | refer to page 25 | |
The Bank of New York | ||
One Wall Street | Legal counsel | |
New York, NY 10286 | Wilmer Cutler Pickering | |
Hale and Dorr LLP | ||
60 State Street | ||
Boston, MA 02109-1803 | ||
The Funds investment objective, risks, charges and expenses are included in the prospectus and should be considered carefully before investing. For a prospectus, call your financial professional, call John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291 or visit the Funds Web site at www.jhfunds.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
How to contact us | ||
| ||
Internet | www.jhfunds.com | |
| ||
Regular mail: | ||
Mellon Investor Services | ||
Newport Office Center VII | ||
480 Washington Boulevard | ||
Jersey City, NJ 07310 | ||
| ||
Phone | Customer service representatives | 1-800-852-0218 |
Portfolio commentary | 1-800-344-7054 | |
24-hour automated information | 1-800-843-0090 | |
TDD line | 1-800-231-5469 |
A listing of month-end portfolio holdings is available on our Web site, www.jhfunds.com. A more detailed portfolio holdings summary is available on a quarterly basis 60 days after the fiscal quarter on our Web site or upon request by calling 1-800-225-5291, or on the Securities and Exchange Commissions Web site, www.sec.gov.
36
J O H N H A N C O C K F A M I L Y O F F U N D S
EQUITY | INTERNATIONAL |
Balanced Fund | Greater China Opportunities Fund |
Classic Value Fund | International Classic Value Fund |
Classic Value Fund II | International Core Fund |
Core Equity Fund | International Fund |
Focused Equity Fund | International Growth Fund |
Growth Fund | |
Growth Opportunities Fund | INCOME |
Growth Trends Fund | Bond Fund |
Intrinsic Value Fund | Government Income Fund |
Large Cap Equity Fund | High Yield Fund |
Large Cap Select Fund | Investment Grade Bond Fund |
Mid Cap Equity Fund | Strategic Income Fund |
Mid Cap Growth Fund | |
Multi Cap Growth Fund | TAX-FREE INCOME |
Small Cap Equity Fund | California Tax-Free Income Fund |
Small Cap Fund | High Yield Municipal Bond Fund |
Small Cap Intrinsic Value Fund | Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund |
Sovereign Investors Fund | New York Tax-Free Income Fund |
U.S. Core Fund | Tax-Free Bond Fund |
U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | |
Value Opportunities Fund | MONEY MARKET |
Money Market Fund | |
ASSET ALLOCATION & LIFESTYLE | U.S. Government Cash Reserve |
Allocation Core Portfolio | |
Allocation Growth + Value Portfolio | CLOSED-END |
Lifestyle Aggressive Portfolio | Bank & Thrift Opportunity |
Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio | Financial Trends |
Lifestyle Conservative Portfolio | Income Securities |
Lifestyle Growth Portfolio | Investors Trust |
Lifestyle Moderate Portfolio | Patriot Global Dividend |
Patriot Preferred Dividend | |
SECTOR | Patriot Premium Dividend I |
Financial Industries Fund | Patriot Premium Dividend II |
Health Sciences Fund | Patriot Select Dividend |
Real Estate Fund | Preferred Income |
Regional Bank Fund | Preferred Income II |
Technology Fund | Preferred Income III |
Technology Leaders Fund | Tax-Advantaged Dividend |
For more complete information on any John Hancock Fund and a prospectus, which includes charges and expenses, call your financial professional, or John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
1-800-852-0218 1-800-843-0090 EASI-Line 1-800-231-5469 (TDD) |
www.jhfunds.com
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIS |
P110A 7/06 9/06 |
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
As of the end of the period, July 31, 2006, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, that applies to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (respectively, the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer and the principal accounting officer, the Senior Financial Officers). A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
Charles L. Ladner is the audit committee financial expert and is independent, pursuant to general instructions on Form N-CSR Item 3.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant(s) for the audit of the registrants annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant(s) in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements amounted to $34,500 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 and $25,800 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the registrants audit committee.
(b) Audit-Related Services
There were no audit-related fees during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 and fiscal year ended July 31, 2006 billed to the registrant or to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant ("control affiliates").
(c) Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant(s) for the tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (tax fees) amounted to $2,400 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 and $3,700 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006. The nature of the services comprising the tax fees was the review of the registrants income tax returns and tax distribution requirements. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the registrants audit committee. There were no tax fees billed to the control affiliates.
(d) All Other Fees
The all other fees billed to the registrant for products and services provided by the principal accountant were $4,000 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 and $3,000 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006. There were no other fees during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 and July 31, 2006 billed to control affiliates for products and services provided by the principal accountant. The nature of the services comprising the all other fees was related to the principal accountants report on the registrants Eligible Asset Coverage. These fees were approved by the registrants audit committee.
(e)(1) See attachment "Approval of Audit, Audit-related, Tax and Other Services", with the audit committee pre-approval policies and procedures.
(e)(2) There were no fees that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to the de minimis exception for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2005 and July 31, 2006 on behalf of the registrant or on behalf of the control affiliates that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.
(f) According to the registrants principal accountant, for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006, the percentage of hours spent on the audit of the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons who were not full-time, permanent employees of principal accountant was less than 50%.
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant's accountant(s) for services rendered to the registrant and rendered to the registrant's control affiliates for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant were $71,400 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005, and $438,491 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006.
(h) The audit committee of the registrant has considered the non-audit services provided by the registrants principal accountant(s) to the control affiliates and has determined that the services that were not pre-approved are compatible with maintaining the principal accountant(s)' independence.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee comprised of independent trustees. The members of the audit committee are as follows:
Charles L. Ladner - Chairman Richard P. Chapman, Jr. Dr. John A. Moore Patti McGill Peterson ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS. |
Not applicable. |
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
See attached Exhibit Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable. |
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
Not applicable. |
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
(a) The registrant has adopted procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant's Board of Trustees. A copy of the procedures is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. See attached "John Hancock Funds - Governance Committee Charter".
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. |
(a) Based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-CSR, the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS. |
(a)(1) Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers is attached.
(a)(2) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.
(b)(1) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached. The certifications furnished pursuant to this paragraph are not deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certifications are not deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates them by reference.
(c)(1) Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are attached.
(c)(2) Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders is attached. See attached "John Hancock Funds - Governance Committee Charter".
(c)(3) Approval of Audit, Audit-related, Tax and Other Services is attached.
(c)(4) Contact person at the registrant. |
SIGNATURES |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II |
By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein ------------------------------------- Keith F. Hartstein President and Chief Executive Officer Date: September 26, 2006 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein ------------------------------------- Keith F. Hartstein President and Chief Executive Officer Date: September 26, 2006 |
By: /s/ John G. Vrysen
-------------------------------------
John G. Vrysen
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: September 26, 2006 |