a_hedgedequityincome.htm
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 811-22441 
 
John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) 
 
601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) 
 
Salvatore Schiavone
Treasurer
 
601 Congress Street 
 
Boston, Massachusetts 02210 
(Name and address of agent for service) 
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 617-663-4497 
 
Date of fiscal year end:  December 31 
 
Date of reporting period:  December 31, 2013 

 

ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.





Managed distribution plan

The fund has adopted a managed distribution plan (Plan). Under the Plan, the fund makes quarterly distributions of an amount equal to $0.376 per share, based upon an annual distribution rate of 8.00% of the fund’s net asset value (NAV) of $18.80 on August 31, 2013. This amount will be paid quarterly until further notice. Prior to the December 31, 2013 distribution, the fund made quarterly distributions of an amount equal to $0.323 per share, based upon an annualized distribution rate of 7.25% of the fund’s NAV of $17.82 on July 31, 2012. The fund may make additional distributions: (i) for purposes of not incurring federal income tax on the fund of investment company taxable income and net capital gain, if any, not included in such regular distributions; and (ii) for purposes of not incurring federal excise tax on ordinary income and capital gain net income, if any, not included in such regular distributions.

The Plan provides that the Board of Trustees of the fund may amend the terms of the Plan or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice to the fund’s shareholders. The Plan will be subject to periodic review by the fund’s Board of Trustees.

You should not draw any conclusions about the fund’s investment performance from the amount of the fund’s distributions or from the terms of the fund’s Plan. The fund’s total return at NAV is presented in the Financial highlights.

With each distribution that does not consist solely of net income, the fund will issue a notice to shareholders and an accompanying press release that will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other related information. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in the notice to shareholders are only estimates and are not provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The fund may at times distribute more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may result in a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the fund is paid back to you. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income.”

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund 

 



Management’s discussion of
Fund performance

Global equities surged in the first quarter of 2013, largely due to solid corporate earnings and favorable global liquidity dynamics. Further monetary easing by the Bank of Japan and a steadily improving U.S. economy also fueled the extension of the global equities market rally. A variety of concerns tempered investor confidence in the second quarter, including mixed economic data from China, the ongoing European sovereign debt issues, a contentious U.S. debt ceiling battle, and concerns that the Federal Reserve Board might slow its bond-buying program sooner than expected. Political unrest in Turkey, Egypt, and Brazil contributed to declines in emerging markets. But in the third quarter, equities resumed their ascent and finished 2013 on a strong note, in part due to central bank interventions across the globe, as well as more-encouraging economic data from China and the eurozone. U.S. stocks continued to rise amid further signs of recovery in the domestic housing and labor markets.

For the 12 months ended December 31, 2013, the fund returned 20.40% at net asset value and 21.02% at closing market price. The fund’s previous benchmark, the Russell 3000 Index, returned 33.55% over the one-year period, while its new benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index, returned 23.44%. The fund’s equity strategy produced solid absolute returns for the year. Top contributors included home improvement retailer Lowe’s Companies, Inc., global investment manager BlackRock, Inc., and software and services giant Microsoft Corp. Notable detractors were consumer electronics company Apple, Inc., analytical data solutions firm Teradata Corp., and global data storage provider EMC Corp. The fund’s positions in Lowe’s, Teradata, and EMC were sold prior to period-end. In a broadly rising global equities market, the fund’s hedging strategies—employed to mitigate capital losses in a falling market—dragged on its relative return versus its benchmark. Also, as part of the changes described below, an allocation to global high yield securities was added during the fourth quarter, which contributed positively to results.

Note to shareholders: The fund’s Board of Trustees approved investment policy changes and a change to the fund’s benchmark on September 27, 2013. The modifications to the investment policies and strategies were designed to increase the fund’s overall income-generating potential, while maintaining its equity focus and downside mitigation capabilities.

Wellington Management Company, LLP is an independent investment subadvisor.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

As is the case with all closed-end funds, shares of this fund may trade at a discount to the fund’s net asset value. An investment in the fund is subject to investment and market risks, including the possible loss of the entire principal invested. Investments in higher-yielding, lower-rated securities include a higher risk of default. Foreign investing, especially in emerging markets, has additional risks, such as currency and market volatility and political and social instability. There is no guarantee prior distribution levels will be maintained and distributions may include a substantial return of capital, which may increase the potential gain or reduce the potential loss of a subsequent sale. Fixed-income investments are subject to interest-rate risk; their value will normally decline as interest rates rise. An issuer of securities held by the fund may default, have its credit rating downgraded, or otherwise perform poorly, which may affect fund performance. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, and in some cases greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. In an illiquid market, derivatives could become harder to value or sell.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  7 

 



Portfolio summary

Top 10 Holdings (18.0% of Net Assets on 12-31-13)1,2     

Roche Holdings AG  2.3%  Microsoft Corp.  1.8% 


JPMorgan Chase & Company  2.1%  PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.  1.6% 


Chevron Corp.  2.1%  Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.  1.5% 


Merck & Company, Inc.  2.0%  Johnson & Johnson  1.4% 


International Paper Company  1.8%  British American Tobacco PLC  1.4% 


 
Sector Composition1,3       

Financials  22.7%  Materials  7.6% 


Information Technology  12.4%  Consumer Staples  5.3% 


Industrials  11.0%  Telecommunication Services  4.9% 


Health Care  10.8%  Utilities  3.5% 


Energy  10.0%  Short-Term Investments & Other  2.8% 


Consumer Discretionary  9.0%     

 
Portfolio Composition1       

Common Stocks  87.7%  Preferred Securities  0.1% 


Corporate Bonds  8.8%  Capital Preferred Securities  0.1% 


Term Loans  0.5%  Short-Term Investments & Other  2.8% 


1 As a percentage of net assets on 12-31-13.

2 Cash and cash equivalents not included.

3 Sector investing is subject to greater risks than the market as a whole. Because the fund may focus on particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors.

8  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



Fund’s investments

As of 12-31-13

  Shares  Value 
Common Stocks 87.7%    $235,174,458 

(Cost $216,375,190)     
 
Consumer Discretionary 7.0%    18,927,034 
 
Auto Components 0.8%     

Delphi Automotive PLC  7,900  475,027 

Exedy Corp.  9,700  284,154 

Keihin Corp.  19,500  302,770 

NOK Corp.  19,800  324,305 

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company  14,800  352,980 

Tokai Rika Company, Ltd.  9,100  181,188 

Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.  24,600  240,721 

Toyota Boshoku Corp.  13,000  162,543 
 
Automobiles 0.5%     

Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.  86,600  725,708 

Peugeot SA (I)  32,847  427,444 

Renault SA  4,768  383,711 
 
Distributors 0.1%     

Doshisha Company, Ltd.  10,800  152,222 
 
Diversified Consumer Services 0.2%     

Allstar Co-Invest Block Feeder LLC (I)(R)  236,300  470,237 
 
Household Durables 0.9%     

Alpine Electronics, Inc.  17,800  249,441 

Funai Electric Company, Ltd.  21,600  281,238 

Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.  29,800  965,818 

PulteGroup, Inc.  47,100  959,427 
 
Internet & Catalog Retail 0.1%     

Home Retail Group PLC  59,764  190,357 
 
Leisure Equipment & Products 0.1%     

Roland Corp.  12,400  168,315 
 
Media 2.0%     

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., Class A (I)  6,100  125,355 

Clear Media, Ltd.  121,000  103,728 

Gendai Agency, Inc.  10,900  61,647 

Lagardere SCA  11,110  412,999 

Metropole Television SA  9,390  215,049 

ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG  19,121  949,470 

Proto Corp.  11,000  153,628 

 

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  9 

 



  Shares  Value 
Media (continued)     

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.  19,400  $343,380 

Tri-Stage, Inc.  5,400  69,307 

Wolters Kluwer NV  8,916  254,591 

WPP PLC  117,888  2,700,099 
 
Multiline Retail 0.6%     

Marks & Spencer Group PLC  117,216  841,715 

Mothercare PLC (I)  27,112  176,674 

New World Department Store China, Ltd.  275,000  154,744 

Nordstrom, Inc.  7,000  432,600 
 
Specialty Retail 1.4%     

Adastria Holdings Company, Ltd.  2,400  86,607 

GNC Holdings, Inc., Class A  5,900  344,855 

Groupe Fnac (I)  2,560  83,870 

Honeys Company, Ltd.  21,650  210,723 

Nishimatsuya Chain Company, Ltd.  23,500  184,305 

Pal Company, Ltd.  5,000  122,439 

Ross Stores, Inc.  6,500  487,045 

The Home Depot, Inc.  26,370  2,171,306 

Xebio Company, Ltd.  10,300  197,719 
 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.3%     

Daphne International Holdings, Ltd.  182,000  82,054 

Geox SpA  70,681  255,953 

Hanesbrands, Inc.  5,800  407,566 
 
Consumer Staples 5.2%    14,001,479 
 
Food & Staples Retailing 0.1%     

Cawachi, Ltd.  9,500  178,837 

Delhaize Group SA  2,994  178,119 
 
Food Products 2.6%     

Ebro Foods SA  26,560  622,651 

Ingredion, Inc.  9,000  616,140 

Kraft Foods Group, Inc.  49,660  2,677,667 

Maple Leaf Foods, Inc.  31,800  502,633 

Unilever NV  20,986  843,747 

Unilever NV — NY Shares  40,360  1,623,683 
 
Household Products 0.7%     

The Procter & Gamble Company  22,300  1,815,443 
 
Tobacco 1.8%     

British American Tobacco PLC  68,019  3,650,857 

Philip Morris International, Inc.  14,825  1,291,702 
 
Energy 9.1%    24,377,200 
 
Energy Equipment & Services 0.7%     

Baker Hughes, Inc.  12,000  663,120 

National Oilwell Varco, Inc.  7,700  612,381 

Trican Well Service, Ltd.  46,300  565,756 

 

10  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  See notes to financial statements 

 



  Shares  Value 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 8.4%     

BG Group PLC  11,646  $250,603 

BP PLC  367,643  2,979,420 

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.  16,100  544,824 

Chevron Corp. (C)  44,690  5,582,228 

Encana Corp.  18,100  326,814 

Energy Resources of Australia, Ltd. (I)  43,879  49,417 

Eni SpA  22,456  542,619 

Exxon Mobil Corp. (C)  26,040  2,635,248 

HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA (I)  38,300  14,762 

Inpex Corp.  34,400  441,220 

Marathon Oil Corp.  24,210  854,613 

Occidental Petroleum Corp.  12,870  1,223,937 

Oil India, Ltd.  19,200  151,602 

Painted Pony Petroleum, Ltd. (I)  27,700  180,972 

Petroleo Brasileiro SA, ADR  23,000  316,940 

Saras SpA (I)  52,586  60,131 

Statoil ASA  75,526  1,836,528 

Suncor Energy, Inc.  56,555  1,982,253 

Total SA  34,922  2,143,492 

Valero Energy Corp.  8,300  418,320 
 
Financials 20.9%    56,178,362 
 
Capital Markets 2.1%     

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.  3,700  425,685 

Ares Capital Corp.  27,400  486,898 

BlackRock, Inc. (C)  9,310  2,946,336 

Julius Baer Group, Ltd. (I)  5,154  247,681 

LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.  13,600  639,608 

Northern Trust Corp.  5,200  321,828 

UBS AG (I)  19,600  375,288 

Uranium Participation Corp. (I)  34,900  185,630 
 
Commercial Banks 8.5%     

Allahabad Bank  104,787  162,038 

Banca Popolare dell’Emilia Romagna SC (I)  14,896  142,133 

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA  119,585  1,479,330 

Banco Espirito Santo SA (I)  135,739  193,852 

Banco Popular Espanol SA (I)  37,139  224,325 

Banco Santander Brasil SA, ADR  37,000  225,700 

BankUnited, Inc.  12,400  408,208 

Barclays PLC  77,245  349,293 

BNP Paribas SA  6,747  526,315 

Canara Bank  35,077  160,770 

Corporation Bank  21,885  92,611 

Dah Sing Financial Holdings, Ltd.  27,600  158,891 

Eighteenth Bank, Ltd.  52,000  118,258 

Higashi-Nippon Bank, Ltd.  42,000  98,234 

HSBC Holdings PLC  329,100  3,611,591 

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA  128,806  316,824 

KB Financial Group, Inc.  8,330  336,698 

 

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  11 

 



  Shares  Value 
Commercial Banks (continued)     

M&T Bank Corp.  3,520  $409,798 

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.  237,100  1,574,200 

Oita Bank, Ltd.  47,000  174,320 

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.  170,000  1,377,889 

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (C)  56,165  4,357,281 

Shinhan Financial Group Company, Ltd.  4,250  190,803 

Societe Generale SA  9,637  560,396 

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.  10,400  540,835 

Svenska Handelsbanken AB, Class A  19,287  948,280 

Tochigi Bank, Ltd.  35,000  135,559 

UniCredit SpA  50,450  372,152 

Unione di Banche Italiane SCPA  27,090  183,651 

Wells Fargo & Company (C)  63,475  2,881,765 

Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Ltd.  37,000  161,151 

Zions Bancorporation  15,400  461,384 
 
Consumer Finance 0.0%     

Manappuram Finance, Ltd.  356,630  90,127 
 
Diversified Financial Services 2.6%     

ING Groep NV (I)  39,916  557,568 

IntercontinentalExchange Group, Inc. (C)  3,000  674,760 

JPMorgan Chase & Company (C)  97,085  5,677,531 
 
Insurance 5.7%     

ACE, Ltd.  26,860  2,780,816 

Ageas  11,242  479,398 

Allianz SE  2,721  489,578 

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.  7,000  325,430 

Catlin Group, Ltd.  18,022  173,493 

Delta Lloyd NV  59,032  1,465,990 

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.  80,910  3,912,808 

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs AG  4,188  923,747 

Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.  4,300  332,863 

Storebrand ASA (I)  51,344  321,855 

Swiss Re AG (I)  3,978  366,725 

T&D Holdings, Inc.  35,000  489,880 

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.  2,700  161,217 

Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.  15,900  532,168 

Unum Group  17,800  624,424 

Zurich Insurance Group AG (I)  6,538  1,896,438 
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts 1.3%     

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc., Class A  29,400  797,622 

British Land Company PLC  16,235  169,258 

Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.  6,300  228,249 

Hatteras Financial Corp.  9,600  156,864 

ICADE  9,469  881,476 

Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc.  7,000  325,570 

Two Harbors Investment Corp.  16,700  154,976 

Weyerhaeuser Company  23,800  751,366 

 

12  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  See notes to financial statements 

 



  Shares  Value 
Real Estate Management & Development 0.7%     

Castellum AB  65,576  $1,021,035 

Deutsche Annington Immobilien SE (I)  4,816  119,338 

Deutsche Wohnen AG  37,925  732,303 
 
Health Care 10.0%    26,729,947 
 
Biotechnology 0.1%     

Sinovac Biotech, Ltd. (I)  35,900  219,708 
 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.2%     

Covidien PLC  5,000  340,500 

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.  3,700  344,803 
 
Health Care Providers & Services 0.5%     

Aetna, Inc.  9,600  658,464 

AmerisourceBergen Corp.  5,200  365,612 

Humana, Inc.  2,300  237,406 
 
Health Care Technology 0.1%     

AGFA–Gevaert NV (I)  79,157  191,818 
 
Life Sciences Tools & Services 0.1%     

Agilent Technologies, Inc.  4,600  263,074 

CMIC Holdings Company, Ltd.  5,400  69,852 
 
Pharmaceuticals 9.0%     

Almirall SA  67,494  1,099,976 

AstraZeneca PLC  43,208  2,563,399 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company  14,140  751,541 

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Ltd.  100,600  1,839,466 

Eisai Company, Ltd.  33,100  1,282,859 

H. Lundbeck A/S  14,633  370,136 

Johnson & Johnson  41,145  3,768,471 

Merck & Company, Inc. (C)  109,387  5,474,819 

Ono Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.  2,800  245,435 

Roche Holdings AG  22,411  6,277,886 

Shionogi & Company, Ltd.  16,800  364,722 
 
Industrials 10.3%    27,519,377 
 
Aerospace & Defense 1.3%     

Curtiss-Wright Corp.  6,600  410,718 

Thales SA  8,367  539,199 

United Technologies Corp.  23,045  2,622,521 
 
Air Freight & Logistics 0.8%     

Deutsche Post AG  26,085  952,754 

United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B  12,275  1,289,857 
 
Airlines 0.3%     

Aer Lingus Group PLC  113,200  199,691 

Deutsche Lufthansa AG (I)  17,612  373,314 

Qantas Airways, Ltd. (I)  328,468  322,199 
 
Building Products 0.3%     

Cie de Saint-Gobain  12,267  675,752 

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.  3,600  164,520 

 

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  13 

 



  Shares  Value 
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.2%     

Aeon Delight Company, Ltd.  7,800  $149,553 

Platform Acquisition Holdings, Ltd. (I)  24,770  346,780 
 
Construction & Engineering 0.1%     

Raubex Group, Ltd.  80,039  166,006 
 
Electrical Equipment 2.5%     

Eaton Corp. PLC  32,430  2,468,572 

Futaba Corp.  19,100  249,479 

Saft Groupe SA  5,965  205,123 

Schneider Electric SA  36,104  3,149,767 

Ushio, Inc.  21,700  288,434 

Zumtobel AG  12,731  198,820 
 
Industrial Conglomerates 1.7%     

3M Company  11,010  1,544,153 

General Electric Company  38,000  1,065,140 

Koninklijke Philips NV  14,764  543,628 

Rheinmetall AG  5,333  329,017 

Siemens AG  7,636  1,047,037 
 
Machinery 1.3%     

CNH Industrial NV (I)  48,302  551,927 

Dover Corp.  4,500  434,430 

Fuji Machine Manufacturing Company, Ltd.  23,000  190,798 

Hisaka Works, Ltd.  19,000  179,064 

Pentair, Ltd.  7,100  551,457 

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.  12,000  968,280 

Star Micronics Company, Ltd.  11,700  136,519 

Vallourec SA  7,456  406,771 
 
Professional Services 0.5%     

Adecco SA (I)  7,280  577,935 

en-japan, Inc.  5,200  110,928 

Hays PLC  123,895  266,863 

USG People NV  23,037  307,312 
 
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.6%     

Grafton Group PLC  11,806  126,715 

Mitsubishi Corp.  19,700  378,199 

Rexel SA  31,179  818,249 

SIG PLC  79,563  279,469 
 
Transportation Infrastructure 0.7%     

Ansaldo STS SpA  14,765  159,201 

Jiangsu Expressway Company, Ltd., H Shares  1,438,000  1,773,226 
 
Information Technology 11.8%    31,656,142 
 
Communications Equipment 0.6%     

Cisco Systems, Inc. (C)  73,890  1,658,831 
 
Computers & Peripherals 1.0%     

Apple, Inc. (C)  300  168,333 

Asustek Computer, Inc.  38,000  342,230 

Compal Electronics, Inc.  363,000  278,350 

 

14  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  See notes to financial statements 

 



  Shares  Value 
Computers & Peripherals (continued)     

Japan Digital Laboratory Company, Ltd.  16,500  $231,800 

Melco Holdings, Inc.  16,000  206,642 

NetApp, Inc.  10,400  427,856 

SanDisk Corp.  13,200  931,128 
 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.7%     

Avnet, Inc.  20,600  908,666 

Dai-ichi Seiko Company, Ltd.  15,300  184,733 

Hosiden Corp.  36,000  194,681 

Kingboard Laminates Holdings, Ltd.  439,500  186,953 

Mitsumi Electric Company, Ltd. (I)  16,400  137,020 

Orbotech, Ltd. (I)  16,100  217,672 
 
Internet Software & Services 0.1%     

Dena Company, Ltd.  9,300  196,048 

Dropbox, Inc. (I)(R)  8,162  104,718 
 
IT Services 1.1%     

Alten SA  5,075  230,415 

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.  15,000  287,250 

Cap Gemini SA  9,295  629,136 

Devoteam SA  4,920  89,578 

Fujitsu, Ltd. (I)  123,000  637,469 

GFI Informatique SA  12,613  82,245 

Groupe Steria SA  14,947  293,644 

Itochu Techno-Science Corp.  7,700  312,107 

NET One Systems Company, Ltd.  27,200  178,735 

Sopra Group SA  1,737  175,564 

Zuken, Inc.  7,900  64,057 
 
Office Electronics 0.1%     

Canon, Inc.  12,400  395,664 
 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 5.3%     

Analog Devices, Inc.  53,435  2,721,445 

Avago Technologies, Ltd.  11,900  629,391 

Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (I)  51,000  289,004 

Elmos Semiconductor AG  9,303  136,927 

Intel Corp.  124,305  3,226,958 

KLA–Tencor Corp.  5,000  322,300 

Kontron AG  18,835  135,121 

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.  119,550  3,336,641 

Micronas Semiconductor Holding AG (I)  22,384  176,274 

Mimasu Semiconductor Industry Company, Ltd.  19,500  166,427 

Miraial Company, Ltd.  10,800  161,448 

Rohm Company, Ltd.  9,000  438,994 

Shinkawa, Ltd.  25,100  163,935 

Shinko Electric Industries Company, Ltd.  16,800  139,807 

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., ADR  78,200  1,363,808 

Tokyo Electron, Ltd.  8,700  479,394 

Tokyo Seimitsu Company, Ltd.  11,800  248,728 

 

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  15 

 



  Shares  Value 
Software 2.9%     

Activision Blizzard, Inc.  35,300  $629,399 

Alpha Systems, Inc.  6,200  88,174 

DTS Corp.  9,000  158,092 

Microsoft Corp. (C)  130,640  4,889,855 

Nintendo Company, Ltd.  2,400  321,249 

NSD Company, Ltd.  12,900  153,026 

Symantec Corp.  64,810  1,528,220 
 
Materials 6.9%    18,486,908 
 
Chemicals 3.6%     

Akzo Nobel NV  13,848  1,073,855 

Cabot Corp.  7,200  370,080 

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company  25,500  1,656,735 

Fujimi, Inc.  18,700  242,391 

Hitachi Chemical, Ltd.  18,000  287,070 

Israel Chemicals, Ltd.  61,681  514,490 

Koninklijke DSM NV  13,699  1,078,089 

Methanex Corp.  6,800  402,832 

Methanex Corp. (Toronto Exchange)  18,900  1,117,720 

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.  90,000  217,621 

PTT Global Chemical PCL  348,500  837,842 

Shin-Etsu Polymer Company, Ltd.  37,500  135,151 

Sumitomo Bakelite Company, Ltd.  76,000  273,391 

The Dow Chemical Company  34,515  1,532,466 
 
Construction Materials 0.7%     

Buzzi Unicem SpA  20,280  365,018 

Ciments Francais SA  3,005  228,440 

CRH PLC  17,484  443,967 

Lafarge SA  12,240  918,733 
 
Containers & Packaging 0.2%     

AMVIG Holdings, Ltd.  314,000  149,587 

Ball Corp.  6,100  315,126 
 
Metals & Mining 0.3%     

Barrick Gold Corp.  6,900  121,534 

Chubu Steel Plate Company, Ltd.  21,900  92,079 

Lonmin PLC (I)  50,579  259,298 

Northern Dynasty Minerals, Ltd. (I)  17,000  22,405 

Salzgitter AG  6,800  289,987 
 
Paper & Forest Products 2.1%     

International Paper Company (C)  100,465  4,925,799 

Norbord, Inc.  19,300  615,202 
 
Telecommunication Services 3.5%    9,336,998 
 
Diversified Telecommunication Services 2.8%     

KT Corp.  11,390  341,219 

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.  32,800  1,766,621 

Orange SA  19,912  247,210 

Telefonica SA  27,606  451,379 

Telenor ASA  78,629  1,878,728 

 

16  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  See notes to financial statements 

 



      Shares  Value 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (continued)       

Verizon Communications, Inc.      52,363  $2,573,118 

Vivendi SA      10,903  287,593 
 
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.7%         

Vodafone Group PLC      454,926  1,791,130 
 
Utilities 3.0%        7,961,011 
 
Electric Utilities 0.9%         

NRG Yield, Inc.      18,600  744,186 

The Southern Company      11,600  476,876 

Xcel Energy, Inc.      38,600  1,078,484 
 
Gas Utilities 1.0%         

Snam SpA      89,779  501,806 

UGI Corp.      51,925  2,152,811 
 
Multi-Utilities 1.1%         

E.ON SE      14,421  266,614 

GDF Suez      20,009  470,600 

National Grid PLC      128,577  1,681,686 

PG&E Corp.      7,900  318,212 

RWE AG      7,362  269,736 
  
Preferred Securities 0.1%        $168,846 

(Cost $168,846)         
 
Consumer Discretionary 0.1%        168,846 
 
Mobileye (I)(R)      4,838  168,846 
 
    Maturity     
  Rate (%)  date  Par value^  Value 
Corporate Bonds 8.8%        $23,546,480 

(Cost $23,513,711)         
 
Consumer Discretionary 1.8%        4,769,430 
 
Diversified Consumer Services 0.1%         

Service Corp. International  7.625  10-01-18  125,000  143,750 

The ServiceMaster Company  7.000  08-15-20  200,000  198,250 
 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.1%         

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.  7.750  03-15-19  75,000  81,188 

NH Hoteles SA (S)  6.875  11-15-19  EUR 135,000  196,045 

PC Nextco Holdings LLC, PIK (S)  8.750  08-15-19  150,000  153,938 
 
Household Durables 0.2%         

Arcelik AS  5.000  04-03-23  210,000  181,230 

K Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (S)  9.125  11-15-20  125,000  137,188 

KB Home  7.000  12-15-21  135,000  140,738 

Lennar Corp.  4.750  11-15-22  125,000  115,938 
 
Leisure Equipment & Products 0.1%         

Carlson Wagonlit BV  7.500  06-15-19  EUR 100,000  148,576 
 
Media 1.2%         

AMC Entertainment, Inc.  9.750  12-01-20  315,000  360,281 

CCO Holdings LLC  7.375  06-01-20  165,000  178,613 

 

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  17 

 



    Maturity     
  Rate (%)  date  Par value^  Value 
Media (continued)         

DISH DBS Corp.  6.750  06-01-21  170,000  $180,200 

DISH DBS Corp.  7.875  09-01-19  240,000  274,800 

Gannett Company, Inc. (S)  5.125  10-15-19  270,000  280,800 

Gray Television, Inc.  7.500  10-01-20  350,000  371,875 

Harron Communications LP (S)  9.125  04-01-20  90,000  99,675 

Nara Cable Funding, Ltd.  8.875  12-01-18  EUR 180,000  268,446 

Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.  6.875  11-15-20  100,000  107,000 

Sirius XM Radio, Inc. (S)  4.250  05-15-20  100,000  94,500 

TVN Finance Corp. III AB  7.375  12-15-20  EUR 260,000  385,402 

Unitymedia Hessen Gmbh & Company KG  5.500  09-15-22  EUR 160,000  226,191 

Unitymedia Hessen Gmbh & Company KG  5.750  01-15-23  EUR 125,000  177,156 

Univision Communications, Inc. (S)  6.750  09-15-22  120,000  131,400 
 
Specialty Retail 0.1%         

GRD Holdings III Corp. (S)  10.750  06-01-19  125,000  136,250 
 
Consumer Staples 0.1%        324,750 
 
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.0%         

ARAMARK Corp. (S)  5.750  03-15-20  150,000  156,750 
 
Personal Products 0.1%         

Hypermarcas SA  6.500  04-20-21  160,000  168,000 
 
Energy 0.8%        2,065,126 
 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.8%         

Antero Resources Finance Corp.  6.000  12-01-20  200,000  210,000 

Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.  6.750  04-15-21  100,000  104,750 

Borets Finance, Ltd.  7.625  09-26-18  200,000  198,000 

Diamondback Energy, Inc. (S)  7.625  10-01-21  120,000  126,600 

El Paso LLC  7.250  06-01-18  320,000  365,163 

Endeavour International Corp.  12.000  03-01-18  125,000  128,438 

Energy Transfer Equity LP  7.500  10-15-20  130,000  145,925 

EP Energy LLC  9.375  05-01-20  180,000  207,675 

Harvest Operations Corp.  6.875  10-01-17  170,000  186,150 

Petroleos de Venezuela SA  8.500  11-02-17  80,000  66,600 

Petroleos de Venezuela SA  9.000  11-17-21  90,000  66,825 

Rosetta Resources, Inc.  5.625  05-01-21  190,000  189,525 

Rosetta Resources, Inc.  5.875  06-01-22  70,000  69,475 
 
Financials 1.6%        4,187,896 
 
Capital Markets 0.1%         

Credit Suisse Group AG (7.500% to 12-11-23,         
then 5 year U.S. Swap Rate + 4.598%) (Q)(S)  7.500  12-11-23  200,000  211,250 
 
Commercial Banks 0.5%         

Banco Espirito Santo SA  5.875  11-09-15  EUR 100,000  144,314 

Barclays PLC (8.250% to 12-15-18, then 5 year         
U.S. Swap Rate + 6.705%) (Q)  8.250  12-15-18  200,000  206,500 

BBVA International Preferred SAU (5.919% to         
4-18-17, then 3 month LIBOR + 0.820%) (Q)  5.919  04-18-17  270,000  259,875 

BPCE SA (6.117% to 10-30-17, then 3 month         
EURIBOR + 2.370%) (Q)  6.117  10-30-17  EUR 50,000  72,661 

CIT Group, Inc.  5.375  05-15-20  95,000  100,938 

 

18  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  See notes to financial statements 

 



    Maturity     
  Rate (%)  date  Par value^  Value 
Commercial Banks (continued)         

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (7.640% to         
9-30-17, then 3 month LIBOR + 2.320%) (Q)  7.640  09-30-17  100,000  $97,500 

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC  4.350  01-23-17  EUR 100,000  143,745 

Societe Generale SA (6.999% to 12-19-17,         
then 3 month EURIBOR + 3.350% (Q)  6.999  12-19-17  EUR 100,000  149,367 

Societe Generale SA (7.875% to 12-18-23,         
then 5 year U.S. Swap Rate + 4.979%) (Q)(S)  7.875  12-18-23  205,000  206,538 
 
Consumer Finance 0.1%         

SLM Corp.  8.450  06-15-18  235,000  273,775 
 
Diversified Financial Services 0.6%         

Community Choice Financial, Inc.  10.750  05-01-19  195,000  163,313 

Nationstar Mortgage LLC  6.500  08-01-18  260,000  264,550 

Nuveen Investments, Inc. (S)  9.125  10-15-17  310,000  310,000 

Provident Funding Associates LP (S)  6.750  06-15-21  275,000  273,625 

TMX Finance LLC (S)  8.500  09-15-18  290,000  308,850 

UBS AG  7.625  08-17-22  250,000  285,950 
 
Insurance 0.1%         

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.,         
(8.125% to 6-15-18, then 3 month LIBOR         
+ 4.6025%)  8.125  06-15-38  290,000  337,995 
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.2%         

Country Garden Holdings Company, Ltd. (S)  7.250  04-04-21  380,000  377,150 
 
Health Care 0.8%        2,145,085 
 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 0.2%         

Alere, Inc.  6.500  06-15-20  100,000  102,250 

Biomet, Inc.  6.500  08-01-20  120,000  126,000 

Ontex IV SA  9.000  04-15-19  EUR 200,000  298,527 
 
Health Care Providers & Services 0.4%         

Community Health Systems, Inc.  7.125  07-15-20  175,000  181,563 

HCA Holdings, Inc.  6.250  02-15-21  260,000  272,025 

HCA, Inc.  6.500  02-15-20  250,000  274,688 

Tenet Healthcare Corp.  8.125  04-01-22  170,000  183,175 

WellCare Health Plans, Inc.  5.750  11-15-20  95,000  97,138 
 
Health Care Technology 0.1%         

Cegedim SA  6.750  04-01-20  EUR 100,000  141,381 
 
Pharmaceuticals 0.1%         

Pinnacle Merger Sub, Inc. (S)  9.500  10-01-23  120,000  127,800 

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (S)  6.000  01-15-21  150,000  153,750 

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (S)  6.750  08-15-18  170,000  186,788 
 
Industrials 0.6%        1,611,362 
 
Building Products 0.1%         

Associated Materials LLC  9.125  11-01-17  175,000  186,813 
 
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.0%         

Casella Waste Systems, Inc.  7.750  02-15-19  110,000  112,750 
 
Construction & Engineering 0.1%         

Aguila 3 SA (S)  7.875  01-31-18  195,000  206,700 

 

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  19 

 



    Maturity     
  Rate (%)  date  Par value^  Value 
Electrical Equipment 0.1%         

CeramTec Group GmbH  8.250  08-15-21  EUR 175,000  $261,211 
 
Industrial Conglomerates 0.1%         

Tenedora Nemak SA de CV  5.500  02-28-23  200,000  196,000 
 
Machinery 0.1%         

Case New Holland, Inc.  7.875  12-01-17  150,000  177,000 
 
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.1%         

International Lease Finance Corp.  6.250  05-15-19  435,000  470,888 
 
Information Technology 0.6%        1,715,203 
 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.1%       

CDW LLC  8.500  04-01-19  170,000  187,850 
 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 0.1%       

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (S)  6.000  01-15-22  95,000  96,188 

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.  8.050  02-01-20  90,000  96,750 
 
Software 0.4%         

Activision Blizzard, Inc. (S)  5.625  09-15-21  350,000  362,250 

Emdeon, Inc.  11.000  12-31-19  75,000  86,625 

First Data Corp. (S)  7.375  06-15-19  170,000  181,475 

First Data Corp. (S)  8.250  01-15-21  340,000  361,675 

Infor US, Inc.  10.000  04-01-19  EUR 100,000  153,390 

SunGard Data Systems, Inc.  6.625  11-01-19  180,000  189,000 
 
Materials 0.7%        2,008,490 
 
Chemicals 0.2%         

Hexion US Finance Corp.  6.625  04-15-20  50,000  51,250 

Hexion US Finance Corp.  9.000  11-15-20  50,000  49,875 

Ineos Finance PLC (S)  7.500  05-01-20  75,000  82,219 

INEOS Group Holdings SA  6.500  08-15-18  EUR 270,000  380,725 
 
Construction Materials 0.1%         

Cemex SAB de CV  5.875  03-25-19  260,000  260,650 

HeidelbergCement Finance SA  8.500  10-31-19  EUR 110,000  192,564 
 
Containers & Packaging 0.2%         

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC (S)  5.000  11-15-22  EUR 135,000  184,791 

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC  9.250  10-15-20  EUR 100,000  149,607 

BOE Intermediate Holding Corp., PIK (S)  9.000  11-01-17  125,000  130,313 
 
Metals & Mining 0.1%         

AK Steel Corp.  7.625  05-15-20  5,000  4,988 

AK Steel Corp.  8.375  04-01-22  15,000  15,038 

ALROSA Finance SA  7.750  11-03-20  200,000  221,700 
 
Paper & Forest Products 0.1%         

Smurfit Kappa Acquisitions  4.125  01-30-20  EUR 200,000  284,770 
 
Telecommunication Services 1.4%        3,761,541 
 
Diversified Telecommunication Services 0.8%       

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.  6.450  03-15-29  130,000  115,050 

Altice Financing SA (S)  6.500  01-15-22  EUR 100,000  138,602 

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (S)  6.625  12-15-22  80,000  82,400 

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA  7.250  04-01-19  195,000  210,600 

 

20  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  See notes to financial statements 

 



    Maturity     
  Rate (%)  date  Par value^  Value 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (continued)       

Intelsat Luxembourg SA (S)  7.750  06-01-21  255,000  $273,488 

Level 3 Financing, Inc. (S)  6.125  01-15-21  200,000  202,000 

Level 3 Financing, Inc.  8.625  07-15-20  75,000  84,000 

NII International Telecom SCA (S)  7.875  08-15-19  75,000  56,625 

T-Mobile USA, Inc.  6.464  04-28-19  135,000  143,438 

T-Mobile USA, Inc.  6.731  04-28-22  90,000  93,825 

UPCB Finance III, Ltd.  6.625  07-01-20  175,000  185,938 

Wind Acquisition Finance SA  7.375  02-15-18  EUR 220,000  319,911 

Wind Acquisition Finance SA (S)  11.750  07-15-17  130,000  138,288 

Windstream Corp.  7.875  11-01-17  165,000  188,513 
 
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.6%         

MetroPCS Wireless, Inc.  6.625  11-15-20  235,000  249,100 

NII Capital Corp.  7.625  04-01-21  205,000  84,050 

SoftBank Corp. (S)  4.500  04-15-20  200,000  195,000 

Sprint Communications, Inc. (S)  9.000  11-15-18  175,000  210,875 

Sprint Corp. (S)  7.250  09-15-21  280,000  300,650 

Sprint Corp. (S)  7.875  09-15-23  180,000  193,500 

Syniverse Holdings, Inc.  9.125  01-15-19  75,000  81,938 

VimpelCom Holdings BV  6.255  03-01-17  200,000  213,750 
 
Utilities 0.4%        957,597 
 
Electric Utilities 0.2%         

Israel Electric Corp., Ltd.  7.250  01-15-19  330,000  366,532 

Techem GmbH  6.125  10-01-19  EUR 100,000  149,882 
 
Gas Utilities 0.1%         

AmeriGas Finance LLC  6.750  05-20-20  100,000  109,250 
 
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders 0.0%       

Calpine Corp. (S)  7.500  02-15-21  62,000  67,658 
 
Multi-Utilities 0.1%         

Ferrellgas LP  6.500  05-01-21  75,000  76,500 

Ferrellgas LP (S)  6.750  01-15-22  185,000  187,775 
 
Capital Preferred Securities 0.1%        $140,528 

(Cost $134,996)         
 
Financials 0.1%        140,528 
Deutsche Postbank Funding Trust IV         
(5.983% 6-29-17, then 3 month EURIBOR         
+ 2.070%) (Q)  5.983  06-29-17  EUR 100,000  140,528 
 
Convertible Bonds 0.0%        $99,269 

(Cost $96,156)         
 
Consumer Discretionary 0.0%        44,300 
 
Household Durables 0.0%         

M/I Homes, Inc.  3.000  03-01-18  40,000  44,300 

 

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  21 

 



    Maturity     
  Rate (%)  date  Par value^  Value 
Information Technology 0.0%        $54,969 
 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 0.0%       

ON Semiconductor Corp.  2.625  12-15-26  50,000  54,969 
 
Term Loans (M) 0.5%        $1,334,188 

(Cost $1,341,416)         
 
Consumer Discretionary 0.1%        398,773 
 
Diversified Consumer Services 0.0%         

Pacific Industrial Services BidCo Pty, Ltd.  5.000  10-02-18  99,750  101,059 
 
Multiline Retail 0.1%         

JC Penney Corp., Inc.  6.000  05-22-18  149,624  145,946 

Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.  5.000  10-26-20  150,000  151,768 
 
Energy 0.1%        147,788 
 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.1%         

Arch Coal, Inc. (T)  TBD  05-16-18  150,000  147,788 
 
Financials 0.1%        196,125 
 
Insurance 0.1%         

Asurion LLC (T)  TBD  07-08-20  200,000  196,125 
 
Industrials 0.1%        385,402 
 
Construction & Engineering 0.1%         

Rexnord LLC  4.003  08-21-20  200,000  200,248 
 
Machinery 0.0%         

Crosby Worldwide, Ltd.  4.000  11-18-20  185,000  185,154 
 
Utilities 0.1%        206,100 
 
Electric Utilities 0.1%         

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings         
Company LLC  4.730  10-10-17  300,000  206,100 
 
      Shares  Value 
 
Warrants 0.0%        $9,125 

(Cost $110)         
 
Industrials 0.0%        9,125 
Platform Acquisition Holdings, Ltd. (3 for 1; Expiration Date: 7-31-20;     
Strike Price: $11.50) (I)      10,950  9,125 

 

22  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  See notes to financial statements 

 



  Par value  Value 
 
Short-Term Investments 2.4%    $6,500,000 

(Cost $6,500,000)     
 
Repurchase Agreement 2.4%    6,500,000 
 
Goldman Sachs Tri-Party Repurchase Agreement dated 12-31-13     
at 0.010% to be repurchased at $6,500,004 on 1-2-14,     
collateralized by $1,764,500 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,     
4.500% due 12-1-40 to 7-1-41 (valued at $1,889,671, including     
interest) and $4,410,815 Federal National Mortgage Association,     
3.453%—5.000% due 5-1-26 to 1-1-42 (valued at $4,740,329,     
including interest)  $6,500,000  6,500,000 
 
Total investments (Cost $248,130,425)99.6%    $266,972,894 

 
Other assets and liabilities, net 0.4%    $1,021,542 

 
Total net assets 100.0%    $267,994,436 

The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of the net assets of the fund.

^ All par values are denominated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

EUR Euro

ADR American Depositary Receipts

EURIBOR Euro Interbank Offered Rate

LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate

PIK Paid-in-kind

TBD To Be Determined

(C) A portion of this security is pledged as collateral for options. Total collateral value at 12-31-13 was $34,498,359.

(I) Non-income producing security.

(M) Term loans are variable rate obligations. The coupon rate shown represents the rate at period end.

(Q) Perpetual bonds have no stated maturity date. Date shown as maturity date is next call date.

(R) Direct placement securities are restricted to resale and the fund has limited rights to registration under the Securities Act of 1933. Holdings in direct placement securities as of 12-31-13 were as follows:

          Value as a   
      Beginning  Ending  percentage   
  Acquisition  Acquisition  share  share  of fund's  Value as of 
Issuer, Description  date  cost  amount  amount  net assets  12-31-13 

 
Allstar Co-Invest  8-1-11  $240,553  236,300  236,300  0.18%  $470,237 
Block Feeder LLC             
Dropbox, Inc.  5-1-12  $77,258  8,535  8,162  0.04%  $104,718 
Sold: 373 shares             
Mobileye  8-13-13  $168,846    4,838  0.06%  $168,846 
Purchased:             
4,838 shares             
 
 
    $486,657        $743,801 

(S) These securities are exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. Such securities may be resold, normally to qualified institutional buyers, in transactions exempt from registration.

(T) This position represents an unsettled loan commitment at period end. Certain details associated with this purchase are not known prior to the settlement date, including coupon rate.

† At 12-31-13, the aggregate cost of investment securities for federal income tax purposes was $248,582,281. Net unrealized appreciation aggregated $18,390,613, of which $20,624,701 related to appreciated investment securities and $2,234,088 related to depreciated investment securities.

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  23 

 



Notes to Schedule of Investments

The fund had the following country concentration as a percentage of total net assets on 12-31-13:

United States  49.9% 
Japan  8.5% 
United Kingdom  8.5% 
France  5.8% 
Switzerland  5.0% 
Netherlands  3.3% 
Germany  2.9% 
Canada  2.5% 
Ireland  1.8% 
Spain  1.6% 
Other Countries  10.2% 

Total  100.0% 

 

24  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  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 12-31-13

This Statement of assets and liabilities is the fund’s balance sheet. It shows the value of what the fund owns, is due and owes. You’ll also find the net asset value for each common share.

Assets   

Investments, at value (Cost $248,130,425)  $266,972,894 
Foreign currency, at value (Cost $5,389)  5,393 
Cash held at broker for futures contracts  2,029,500 
Receivable for investments sold  4,910,810 
Receivable for delayed delivery securities sold  351,753 
Receivable for forward foreign currency exchange contracts  147,426 
Dividends and interest receivable  695,384 
Other receivables and prepaid expenses  877 
 
Total assets  275,114,037 
 
Liabilities   

Due to custodian  5,051,854 
Payable for investments purchased  381,248 
Payable for delayed delivery securities purchased  65,223 
Payable for forward foreign currency exchange contracts  1,029 
Written options, at value (Premiums received $445,867)  1,426,350 
Payable for futures variation margin  144,000 
Payable to affiliates   
Accounting and legal services fees  8,468 
Trustees’ fees  724 
Other liabilities and accrued expenses  40,705 
Total liabilities  7,119,601 
 
Net assets  $267,994,436 
 
Net assets consist of   

Paid-in capital  $239,322,057 
Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income  (492,786) 
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments, futures contracts,   
written options and foreign currency transactions  12,789,783 
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, futures   
contracts, written options and translation of assets and liabilities in   
foreign currencies  16,375,382 
 
Net assets  $267,994,436 
 
Net asset value per share   

Based on 13,732,375 shares of beneficial interest outstanding — unlimited   
number of shares authorized with $0.01 par value  $19.52 

 

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  25 

 



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 12-31-13

This Statement of operations summarizes the fund’s investment income earned and expenses incurred in operating the fund. It also shows net gains (losses) for the period stated.

Investment income   

Dividends  $4,705,462 
Interest  183,863 
Less foreign taxes withheld  (66,422) 
 
Total investment income  4,822,903 
 
Expenses   

Investment management fees  2,592,037 
Accounting and legal services fees  45,030 
Transfer agent fees  20,484 
Trustees’ fees  42,177 
Printing and postage  47,261 
Professional fees  118,294 
Custodian fees  53,800 
Stock exchange listing fees  14,256 
Other  23,114 
 
Total expenses  2,956,453 
 
Net investment income  1,866,450 
 
Realized and unrealized gain (loss)   

 
Net realized gain (loss) on   
Investments  34,842,464 
Realized loss on investments not meeting investment restrictions  (28,444) 
Payment from investment advisor for loss on investments not meeting   
investment restrictions  28,444 
Futures contracts  633,063 
Written options  391,091 
Foreign currency transactions  (64,291) 
  35,802,327 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of   
Investments  19,282,593 
Futures contracts  (1,636,682) 
Written options  (9,828,736) 
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies  150,054 
  7,967,229 
Net realized and unrealized gain  43,769,556 
 
Increase in net assets from operations  $45,636,006 

 

26  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  See notes to financial statements 

 



F I N A N C I A L  S T A T E M E N T S

Statements of changes in net assets

These Statements of changes in net assets show how the value of the fund’s net assets has changed during the last three periods. The difference reflects earnings less expenses, any investment gains and losses, distributions, if any, paid to shareholders and the net of fund share transactions.

  Year  Period  Year 
  ended  ended  ended 
  12-31-13  12-31-121  10-31-12 
  
Increase (decrease) in net assets       

 
From operations       
Net investment income  $1,866,450  $722,268  $1,870,855 
Net realized gain  35,802,327  686,750  1,100,927 
Change in net unrealized       
appreciation (depreciation)  7,967,229  1,690,216  23,301,290 
 
Increase in net assets resulting       
from operations  45,636,006  3,099,234  26,273,072 
 
Distributions to shareholders       
From net investment income  (2,356,116)  (728,343)  (1,850,217) 
From net realized gain  (16,114,441)     
From tax return of capital    (3,723,566)  (16,575,845) 
 
Total distributions  (18,470,557)  (4,451,909)  (18,426,062) 
 
From fund share transactions       
Repurchased  (13,545)  (3,098,607)  (10,945,445) 
 
Total increase (decrease)  27,151,904  (4,451,282)  (3,098,435) 
 
Net assets       

Beginning of period  240,842,532  245,293,814  248,392,249 
 
End of period  $267,994,436  $240,842,532  $245,293,814 
 
Accumulated distributions in excess of net       
investment income  ($492,786)    ($615) 
 
Share activity       

 
Shares outstanding       
Beginning of period  13,733,169  13,934,006  14,620,236 
Shares repurchased  (794)  (200,837)  (686,230) 
 
End of period  13,732,375  13,733,169  13,934,006 

1 For the two-month period ended 12-31-12. The fund changed its fiscal year end from October 31 to December 31.

See notes to financial statements  Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  27 

 



Financial highlights

The Financial highlights show how the fund’s net asset value for a share has changed during the period.

COMMON SHARES Period ended  12-31-13  12-31-121  10-31-12  10-31-112 
 
Per share operating performance         

Net asset value, beginning of period  $17.54  $17.60  $16.99  $19.103 
Net investment income4  0.14  0.05  0.13  0.02 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments  3.19  0.18  1.68  (1.73) 
Total from investment operations  3.33  0.23  1.81  (1.71) 
Less distributions to common shareholders         
From net investment income  (0.18)  (0.05)  (0.13)  (0.02) 
From net realized gain  (1.17)       
From tax return of capital    (0.27)  (1.16)  (0.34) 
Total distributions  (1.35)  (0.32)  (1.29)  (0.36) 
Anti-dilutive impact of repurchase plan  5,6  0.036  0.096   
Offering costs related to common shares        (0.04) 
Net asset value, end of period  $19.52  $17.54  $17.60  $16.99 
Per share market value, end of period  $17.07  $15.26  $16.14  $15.18 
Total return at net asset value (%)7  20.40  1.718  12.17  (8.98)8 
Total return at market value (%)7  21.02  (3.51)8  15.14  (22.33)8 
 
Ratios and supplemental data         

Net assets applicable to common shares, end of period         
(in millions)  $268  $241  $245  $248 
Ratios (as a percentage of average net assets):         
Expenses  1.14  0.228  1.14  1.159 
Net investment income  0.72  0.308  0.74  0.319 
Portfolio turnover (%)  14210  11  76  38 
   

1 For the two-month period ended 12-31-12. The fund changed its fiscal year end from October 31 to December 31.
2 Period from 5-26-11 (commencement of operations) to 10-31-11.
3 Reflects the deduction of a $0.90 per share sales load.
4 Based on the average daily shares outstanding.
5 Less than $0.005 per share.
6 The repurchase plan was completed at an average repurchase price of $17.06, $15.43 and $15.95 for 794 shares,
200,837 shares and 686,230 shares for the year ended 12-31-13, two-month period ended 12-31-12 and the year
ended 10-31-12, respectively.
7 Total return based on net asset value reflects changes in the fund’s net asset value during each period. Total return
based on market value reflects changes in market value. Each figure assumes that distributions from income,
capital gains and return of capital, if any, were reinvested. These figures will differ depending upon the level of any
discount from or premium to net asset value at which the fund’s shares traded during the period.
8 Not annualized.
9 Annualized.
10 Increase in portfolio turnover rate resulted from repositioning of the portfolio in accordance with investment policy
changes approved by the Board of Trustees during the year ended December 31, 2013.

28  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report  See notes to financial statements 

 



Notes to financial statements

Note 1 — Organization

John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (the fund) is a closed-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act).

Note 2 — Significant accounting policies

The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions as of the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant. Events or transactions occurring after the end of the fiscal period through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements. The following summarizes the significant accounting policies of the fund:

Security valuation. Investments are stated at value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time (ET). In order to value the securities, the fund uses the following valuation techniques: Equity securities held by the fund are valued at the last sale price or official closing price on the exchange where the security was acquired or most likely will be sold. In the event there were no sales during the day or closing prices are not available, the securities are valued using the last available bid price. Debt obligations are valued based on the evaluated prices provided by an independent pricing vendor or from broker-dealers. Independent pricing vendors utilize matrix pricing which takes into account factors such as institutional-size trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other market data, as well as broker supplied prices. Options listed on an exchange are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices from the exchange where the option was acquired or most likely will be sold. Unlisted options are valued using evaluated prices obtained from an independent pricing vendor. Futures contracts are valued at settlement prices which are the official closing prices published by the exchange on which they trade. Foreign securities and currencies, including forward foreign currency contracts, are valued in U.S. dollars, based on foreign currency exchange rates supplied by an independent pricing vendor. Securities that trade only in the over-the-counter (OTC) market are valued using bid prices. Certain short-term securities with maturities of 60 days or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost.

Other portfolio securities and assets, for which reliable market quotations are not readily available, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the fund’s Pricing Committee following procedures established by the Board of Trustees. The frequency with which these fair valuation procedures are used cannot be predicted and fair value of securities may differ significantly from the value that would have been used had a ready market for such securities existed. Trading in foreign securities may be completed before the daily close of trading on the NYSE. Significant events at the issuer or market level may affect the values of securities between the time when the valuation of the securities is generally determined and the close of the NYSE. If a significant event occurs, these securities may be fair valued, as determined in good faith by the fund’s Pricing Committee, following procedures established by the Board of Trustees. The fund uses fair value adjustment factors provided by an independent pricing vendor to value certain foreign securities in order to adjust for events that may occur between the close of foreign exchanges or markets and the close of the NYSE.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  29 

 



The fund uses a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the pricing assumptions, referred to as inputs, used in valuation techniques to measure fair value. Level 1 includes securities valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes securities valued using other significant observable inputs. Observable inputs may include quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk. Prices for securities valued using these inputs are received from independent pricing vendors and brokers and are based on an evaluation of the inputs described. Level 3 includes securities valued using significant unobservable inputs when market prices are not readily available or reliable, including the fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. Factors used in determining value may include market or issuer specific events or trends, changes in interest rates and credit quality. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy.

The following is a summary of the values by input classification of the fund’s investments as of December 31, 2013, by major security category or type:

        LEVEL 3 
      LEVEL 2  SIGNIFICANT 
  TOTAL MARKET  LEVEL 1  SIGNIFICANT  UNOBSERVABLE 
  VALUE AT 12-31-13  QUOTED PRICE  OBSERVABLE INPUTS  INPUTS 

Common Stocks         
Consumer Discretionary  $18,927,034  $7,065,359  $11,391,438  $470,237 
Consumer Staples  14,001,479  8,527,268  5,474,211   
Energy  24,377,200  15,907,406  8,469,794   
Financials  56,178,362  30,654,617  25,523,745   
Health Care  26,729,947  12,424,398  14,305,549   
Industrials  27,519,377  11,519,648  15,999,729   
Information Technology  31,656,142  23,247,753  8,303,671  104,718 
Materials  18,486,908  11,079,899  7,407,009   
Telecommunication         
Services  9,336,998  2,573,118  6,763,880   
Utilities  7,961,011  4,770,569  3,190,442   
Preferred Securities  168,846      168,846 
Corporate Bonds         
Consumer Discretionary  4,769,430    4,769,430   
Consumer Staples  324,750    324,750   
Energy  2,065,126    2,065,126   
Financials  4,187,896    4,187,896   
Health Care  2,145,085    2,145,085   
Industrials  1,611,362    1,611,362   
Information Technology  1,715,203    1,715,203   
Materials  2,008,490    2,008,490   
Telecommunication         
Services  3,761,541    3,761,541   
Utilities  957,597    957,597   
Capital Preferred         
Securities  140,528    140,528   
Convertible Bonds         
Consumer Discretionary  44,300    44,300   
Information Technology  54,969    54,969   

 

30  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



        LEVEL 3 
      LEVEL 2  SIGNIFICANT 
  TOTAL MARKET  LEVEL 1  SIGNIFICANT  UNOBSERVABLE 
  VALUE AT 12-31-13  QUOTED PRICE  OBSERVABLE INPUTS  INPUTS 

Term Loans         
Consumer Discretionary  $398,773    $398,773   
Energy  147,788    147,788   
Financials  196,125    196,125   
Industrials  385,402    385,402   
Utilities  206,100    206,100   
Warrants  9,125    9,125   
Short-Term Investments  6,500,000    6,500,000   
 
Total Investments in         
Securities  $266,972,894  $127,770,035  $138,459,058  $743,801 
Other Financial         
Instruments:         
Futures  ($1,636,682)  ($1,636,682)     
Forward Foreign Currency         
Contracts  $146,397    $146,397   
Written Options  ($1,426,350)  ($1,426,350)     

Repurchase agreements. The fund may enter into repurchase agreements. When the fund enters into a repurchase agreement, it receives collateral that is held in a segregated account by the fund’s custodian. The collateral amount is marked-to-market and monitored on a daily basis to ensure that the collateral held is in an amount not less than the principal amount of the repurchase agreement plus any accrued interest. Collateral for certain tri-party repurchase agreements is held at a third-party custodian bank in a segregated account for the benefit of the fund.

Repurchase agreements are typically governed by the terms and conditions of the Master Repurchase Agreement and/or Global Master Repurchase Agreement (collectively, MRA). Upon an event of default, the non-defaulting party may close out all transactions traded under the MRA and net amounts owed. Absent an event of default, the MRA does not result in an offset of the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of assets and liabilities. In the event of a default by the counterparty, realization of the collateral proceeds could be delayed, during which time the collateral value may decline or the counterparty may have insufficient assets to pay back claims resulting from close-out of the transactions. Collateral received by the fund for repurchase agreements is disclosed in the Fund’s investments as part of the caption related to the repurchase agreement.

Security transactions and related investment income. Investment security 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. Interest income is accrued as earned. Interest income includes coupon interest and amortization/accretion of premiums/discounts on debt securities. Debt obligations may be placed in a non-accrual status and related interest income may be reduced by stopping current accruals and writing off interest receivable when the collection of all or a portion of interest has become doubtful. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-date, except for dividends of foreign securities where the dividend may not be known until after the ex-date. In those cases, dividend income, net of withholding taxes, is recorded when the fund becomes aware of the dividends. Foreign taxes are provided for based on the fund’s understanding of the tax rules and rates that exist in the foreign markets in which it invests. Gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost and may include proceeds from litigation.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  31 

 



Foreign currency translation. Assets, including investments and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, are translated into U.S. dollar values each day at the prevailing exchange rate. Purchases and sales of securities, income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of the transaction. The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the value of securities is reflected as a component of the realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments.

Funds that invest internationally generally carry more risk than funds that invest strictly in U.S. securities. These risks are heightened for investments in emerging markets. Risks can result from differences in economic and political conditions, regulations, market practices (including higher transaction costs), accounting standards and other factors. Foreign investments are also subject to a decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar, which reduces the dollar value of securities denominated in that currency.

Foreign taxes. The fund may be subject to withholding tax on income and/or capital gains or repatriation taxes imposed by certain countries in which the fund invests. Taxes are accrued based upon investment income, realized gains or unrealized appreciation.

Overdrafts. Pursuant to the custodian agreement, the fund’s custodian may, in its discretion, advance funds to the fund to make properly authorized payments. When such payments result in an overdraft, the fund is obligated to repay the custodian for any overdraft, including any costs or expenses associated with the overdraft. The custodian may have a lien, security interest or security entitlement in any fund property that is not otherwise segregated or pledged, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the extent of any overdraft.

Expenses. Within the John Hancock funds complex, expenses that are directly attributable to an individual fund are allocated to such fund. Expenses that are not readily attributable to a specific fund are allocated among all funds in an equitable manner, taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the fund’s relative net assets. Expense estimates are accrued in the period to which they relate and adjustments are made when actual amounts are known.

Federal income taxes. The fund intends to continue to qualify 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.

As of December 31, 2013, the fund had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, derecognition or disclosure. The fund’s federal tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years.

Managed distribution plan. In September 2013, the Board of Trustees amended the managed distribution plan (the Distribution Plan), increasing the quarterly distribution amount from $0.323 to $0.376 per share, effective with the December 31, 2013 distribution. Under the current Distribution Plan, the fund makes quarterly distributions of an amount equal to $0.376 per share based upon an annualized distribution rate of 8.00% of the fund’s net asset value of $18.80 on August 31, 2013. This amount will be paid quarterly until further notice. Prior to the December 31, 2013 distribution, the fund made quarterly distributions of an amount equal to $0.323 per share, based upon an annualized distribution rate of 7.25% of the fund’s net asset value of $17.82 on July 31, 2012.

Distributions under the Distribution Plan may consist of net investment income, net realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, return of capital. Return of capital distributions may be necessary when the fund’s net investment income and net capital gains are insufficient to meet the minimum

32  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



percentage dividend. In addition, the fund may also make additional distributions for purposes of not incurring federal income and excise taxes.

The Board of Trustees may terminate or reduce the amount paid under the Distribution Plan at any time. The termination or reduction may have an adverse effect on the market price of the fund’s shares.

Distribution of income and gains. Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-date. The fund declares and pays distributions quarterly pursuant to its Distribution Plan described above. The tax character of distributions for the year ended December 31, 2013, the two-month period ended December 31, 2012 and the year ended October 31, 2012 was as follows:

   DECEMBER 31, 2013  DECEMBER 31, 2012  OCTOBER 31, 2012 

Ordinary Income  $4,605,482  $728,343  $1,850,217 
Long-term Capital Gains  $13,865,075     
Tax Return of Capital    $3,723,566  $16,575,845 
Total  $18,470,557  $4,451,909  $18,426,062 

As of December 31, 2013, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis consisted of $10,278,254 of undistributed long-term capital gain.

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. Material distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits, if any, are reported in the fund’s financial statements as a return of capital.

Capital accounts within the financial statements are adjusted for permanent book-tax differences. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations. Temporary book-tax differences, if any, will reverse in a subsequent period. Book-tax differences are primarily attributable to foreign currency transactions, passive foreign investment companies, wash sale loss deferrals and derivative transactions.

Note 3 — Derivative instruments

The fund may invest in derivatives in order to meet its investment objectives. Derivatives include a variety of different instruments that may be traded in the over-the-counter market, on a regulated exchange or through a clearing facility. The risks in using derivatives vary depending upon the structure of the instruments, including the use of leverage, optionality, the liquidity or lack of liquidity of the contract, the creditworthiness of the counterparty or clearing organization and the volatility of the position. Some derivatives involve risks that are potentially greater than the risks associated with investing directly in the referenced securities or other referenced underlying instrument. Specifically, the fund is exposed to the risk that the counterparty to an OTC derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations. OTC derivatives transactions typically can only be closed out with the other party to the transaction.

Forward foreign currency contracts are typically traded through the OTC market. Non-deliverable forwards are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) as swaps. Derivative counterparty risk is managed through an ongoing evaluation of the creditworthiness of all potential counterparties and, if applicable, designated clearing organizations. The fund attempts to reduce its exposure to counterparty risk for derivatives traded in the OTC market, whenever possible, by entering into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement with each of its OTC counterparties. The ISDA gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under the agreement if there is certain deterioration in

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  33 

 



the credit quality or contractual default of the other party, as defined in the ISDA. Upon an event of default or a termination of the ISDA, the non-defaulting party has the right to close out all transactions and to net amounts owed.

Futures and certain options are traded or cleared on an exchange or central clearinghouse. Exchange-traded or cleared transactions generally present less counterparty risk to the fund than OTC transactions. The exchange or clearinghouse stands between the fund and the broker to the contract and therefore, credit risk is generally limited to the failure of the exchange or clearinghouse and the clearing member. Securities pledged by the fund for exchange-traded and cleared transactions, if any, are identified in the Fund’s investments.

Futures. A futures contract is a contractual agreement to buy or sell a particular currency or financial instrument at a pre-determined price in the future. Risks related to the use of futures contracts include possible illiquidity of the futures markets, contract prices that can be highly volatile and imperfectly correlated to movements in the underlying financial instrument and potential losses in excess of the amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. Use of long futures contracts subjects the fund to the risk of loss up to the notional value of the futures contracts. Use of short futures contracts subjects the fund to unlimited risk of loss.

Upon entering into a futures contract, the fund is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities. The amount of required margin is generally based on a percentage of the contract value; this amount is the initial margin for the trade. The margin deposit must then be maintained at the established level over the life of the contract. Futures margin receivable/payable is included on the Statement of assets and liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily and an appropriate payable or receivable for the change in value (variation margin) and unrealized gain or loss is recorded by the fund. When the contract is closed, the fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the fund used futures contracts to manage against anticipated changes in securities markets. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the fund held futures contracts with notional values ranging up to $41.4 million as measured at each quarter end. The following table summarizes the contracts held at December 31, 2013.

            UNREALIZED 
OPEN  NUMBER OF        APPRECIATION 
CONTRACTS  CONTRACTS  POSITION  EXPIRATION DATE  NOTIONAL BASIS  NOTIONAL VALUE  (DEPRECIATION) 

S&P 500 Index  450  Short  Mar 2014  ($39,788,068)  ($41,424,750)  ($1,636,682) 
E-Mini Futures             
            ($1,636,682) 

Forward foreign currency contracts. A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell specific currencies at a price that is set on the date of the contract. The forward contract calls for delivery of the currencies on a future date that is specified in the contract. Risks related to the use of forwards include the possible failure of counterparties to meet the terms of the forward agreement, the failure of the counterparties to timely post collateral if applicable, the risk that currency movements will not favor the fund thereby reducing the fund’s total return, and the potential for losses in excess of the amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

The market value of a forward foreign currency contract fluctuates with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Forward foreign currency contracts are marked-to-market daily and the change in value is recorded by the fund as an unrealized gain or loss. Realized gains or losses,

34  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed, are recorded upon delivery or receipt of the currency or settlement with the counterparty.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the fund used forward foreign currency contracts to manage against anticipated currency exchange rate changes. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the fund held forward foreign currency contracts with U.S. dollar notional values ranging up to $8.0 million, as measured at each quarter end. The following table summarizes the contracts held at December 31, 2013.

          CONTRACTUAL      NET UNREALIZED 
  CONTRACT    CONTRACT    SETTLEMENT  UNREALIZED  UNREALIZED  APPRECIATION/ 
  TO BUY    TO SELL  COUNTERPARTY  DATE  APPRECIATION  DEPRECIATION  (DEPRECIATION) 

CAD  175,000  USD  164,350  Royal Bank of  1-22-2014  $317    $317 
        Canada         
EUR  762,000  USD  1,046,421  Credit Suisse  1-22-2014  1,848    1,848 
        International         
EUR  40,000  USD  55,119  UBS AG  1-22-2014    ($92)  (92) 
EUR  50,000  USD  68,776  Goldman Sachs  3-19-2014  6    6 
        International         
EUR  32,700  USD  45,015  State Street  3-19-2014    (32)  (32) 
        Bank and Trust         
        Company         
GBP  580,000  USD  950,921  Credit Suisse  1-22-2014  9,406    9,406 
        International         
USD  344,389  CAD  366,000  State Street  3-19-2014  472    472 
        Bank and Trust         
        Company         
USD  158,674  EUR  116,000  Credit Suisse  1-22-2014    (905)  (905) 
        International         
USD  138,959  EUR  101,000  JPMorgan Chase   1-22-2014  16    16 
        Bank N.A.         
USD  590,224  EUR  428,000  National  1-22-2014  1,433    1,433 
        Australia Bank         
        Limited         
USD  149,964  EUR  109,000  UBS AG  1-22-2014  15    15 
USD  1,978,607  EUR  1,436,000  Morgan Stanley  3-19-2014  3,197    3,197 
        and Co.         
        International PLC         
USD  24,841  GBP  15,000  UBS AG  1-22-2014  5    5 
USD  527,234  JPY  51,943,000  BNP Paribas SA  1-10-2014  33,988    33,988 
USD  31,255  JPY  3,125,000  HSBC Bank USA  1-10-2014  1,580    1,580 
USD  736,464  JPY  72,542,000  BNP Paribas SA  2-14-2014  47,489    47,489 
USD  40,194  JPY  4,018,000  HSBC Bank USA  2-14-2014  2,032    2,032 
USD  711,524  JPY  70,739,000  Bank of America  3-17-2014  39,559    39,559 
        N.A.         
USD  40,201  JPY  4,018,000  HSBC Bank USA  3-17-2014  2,033    2,033 
USD  199,260  JPY  20,552,000  BNP Paribas SA  3-19-2014  4,030    4,030 
            $147,426  ($1,029)  $146,397 

Currency Abbreviation

CAD  Canadian Dollar 
EUR  Euro 
GBP  Pound Sterling 
JPY  Japanese Yen 
USD  U.S. Dollar 

 

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  35 

 



Options. There are two types of options, put options and call options. Options are traded either over-the-counter or on an exchange. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy (and the seller the obligation to sell) the underlying instrument at the exercise price. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell (and the writer the obligation to buy) the underlying instrument at the exercise price. Writing puts and buying calls may increase the fund’s exposure to changes in the value of the underlying instrument. Buying puts and writing calls may decrease the fund’s exposure to such changes. Risks related to the use of options include the loss of premiums, possible illiquidity of the options markets, trading restrictions imposed by an exchange and movements in underlying security values, and for written options, potential losses in excess of the amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. In addition, over-the-counter options are subject to the risks of all over-the-counter derivatives contracts.

When the fund purchases an option, the premium paid by the fund is included in the portfolio of investments and subsequently “marked-to-market” to reflect current market value. If the purchased option expires, the fund realizes a loss equal to the cost of the option. If the fund exercises a call option, the cost of the securities acquired by exercising the call is increased by the premium paid to buy the call. If the fund exercises a put option, it realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security and the proceeds from such sale are decreased by the premium paid. If the fund enters into a closing sale transaction, the fund realizes a gain or loss, depending on whether proceeds from the closing sale are greater or less than the original cost. When the fund writes an option, the premium received is included as a liability and subsequently “marked-to-market” to reflect the current market value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are recorded as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options which are exercised or are closed are added to or offset against the proceeds or amount paid on the transaction to determine the realized gain or loss. If a put option on a security is exercised, the premium received reduces the cost basis of the securities purchased by the fund.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the fund used purchased options to hedge against changes in securities markets. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the fund held purchased options with market values ranging up to $11.3 million, as measured at each quarter end. As of December 31, 2013, the fund did not hold purchased options.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the fund wrote option contracts to manage against anticipated changes in securities markets and generate income. The following table summarizes the fund’s written options activities during the year ended December 31, 2013.

    PREMIUMS 
  NUMBER OF  RECEIVED 
  CONTRACTS  (PAID) 

Outstanding, beginning of period  1,900  $11,204,253 
Options written  12,920  20,424,892 
Option closed  (14,450)  (31,183,278) 
Options exercised     
Options expired     
Outstanding, end of period  370  $445,867 

 

36  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



The following table summarizes the contracts held at December 31, 2013.

  EXERCISE  EXPIRATION  NUMBER OF     
NAME OF ISSUER  PRICE  DATE  CONTRACTS  PREMIUM  VALUE 

CALLS           
S&P 500 Index  $1,820  Jan 2014  370  $445,867  ($1,426,350) 
Total         370   $445,867  ($1,426,350) 

Fair value of derivative instruments by risk category

The table below summarizes the fair value of derivatives held by the fund at December 31, 2013 by risk category:

    FINANCIAL  ASSET  LIABILITY 
  STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND  INSTRUMENTS  DERIVATIVES  DERIVATIVES 
RISK  LIABILITIES LOCATION  LOCATION  FAIR VALUE  FAIR VALUE 

Equity contracts  Receivable/payable for  Futures    ($1,636,682) 
  futures       
 
Equity contracts  Written options, at value  Written options    (1,426,350) 
 
Foreign exchange  Receivable/payable for  Forward foreign  $147,426  (1,029) 
contracts  forward foreign currency  currency     
  exchange contracts  contracts     
Total      $147,426  ($3,064,061) 

† Reflects cumulative appreciation/depreciation on futures as disclosed in Note 3. Only the period end variation margin is separately disclosed on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

For financial reporting purposes, the fund does not offset OTC derivative assets or liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements, as defined by the ISDAs, in the Statement of assets and liabilities. In the event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA allows an offset of amounts across the various transactions between the fund and the applicable counterparty.

Effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of operations

The table below summarizes the net realized gain (loss) included in the net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations, classified by derivative instrument and risk category, for the year ended December 31, 2013:

  STATEMENT OF  INVESTMENTS      FOREIGN   
  OPERATIONS  (PURCHASED  WRITTEN  FUTURES  CURRENCY   
RISK  LOCATION  OPTIONS)  OPTIONS  CONTRACTS  TRANSACTIONS*  TOTAL 
 
Equity  Net realized  ($26,993,859)  $391,091  $633,063    ($25,969,705) 
contracts  gain (loss)           
 
Foreign  Net realized        ($65,091)  (65,091) 
exchange  gain (loss)           
contracts             
 
Total    (26,993,859)  $391,091  $633,063  ($65,091)  (26,034,796) 

* Realized gain/loss associated with forward foreign currency contracts is included in this caption on the Statement of operations.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  37 

 



The table below summarizes the net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in the net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations, classified by derivative instrument and risk category, for the year ended December 31, 2013:

          TRANSLATION   
          OF ASSETS   
  STATEMENT OF  INVESTMENTS      AND LIABILITIES   
  OPERATIONS  (PURCHASED  FUTURES  WRITTEN  IN FOREIGN   
RISK  LOCATION  OPTIONS)  CONTRACTS  OPTIONS  CURRENCIES*  TOTAL 
 
Equity  Change in  $11,947,247  ($1,636,682)  (9,828,736)    $481,829 
contracts  unrealized           
  appreciation           
  (depreciation)           
 
Foreign  Change in        $146,397  $146,397 
exchange  unrealized           
contracts  appreciation           
  (depreciation)           
Total    $11,947,247  ($1,636,682) ($9,828,736)  $146,397  $628,226 

* Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation associated with forward foreign currency contracts is included in this caption on the Statement of operations.

Note 4 — Guarantees and indemnifications

Under the fund’s organizational documents, its Officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the fund that have not yet occurred. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

Note 5 — Fees and transactions with affiliates

John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the Advisor) serves as investment advisor for the fund. The Advisor is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation.

Management fee. The fund has an investment management agreement with the Advisor under which the fund pays a daily management fee to the Advisor equivalent, on an annual basis, to 1.00% of the fund’s average daily gross assets. The Advisor has a subadvisory agreement with Wellington Management Company, LLP. The fund is not responsible for payment of the subadvisory fees.

Accounting and legal services. Pursuant to a service agreement, the fund reimburses the Advisor for all expenses associated with providing the administrative, financial, legal, accounting and recordkeeping services to the fund, including the preparation of all tax returns, periodic reports to shareholders and regulatory reports, among other services. These accounting and legal services fees incurred for the year ended December 31, 2013 amounted to an annual rate of 0.02% of the fund’s average daily net assets.

Trustee expenses. The fund compensates each Trustee who is not an employee of the Advisor or its affiliates. The costs of paying Trustee compensation and expenses are allocated to each fund based on its net assets relative to other funds within the John Hancock funds complex.

38  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



Note 6 — Fund share transactions

On December 6, 2011, the Board of Trustees approved a share repurchase plan, pursuant to which the fund was authorized to purchase, in the open market, up to 10% of its outstanding common shares between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012 (based on common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2011). The fund’s share repurchase plan was renewed on December 12, 2012, pursuant to which the fund was authorized to purchase in the open market, up to 10% of its outstanding common shares between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 (based on common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2012). During the year ended December 31, 2013, the two-month period ended December 31, 2012 and the year ended October 31, 2012, the fund repurchased 0.01%, 1.37% and 4.69%, respectively, of shares outstanding. The weighted average discount per share on these repurchases amounted to 11.09%, 12.25% and 10.66% for the year ended December 31, 2013, the two-month period ended December 31, 2012 and the year ended October 31, 2012, respectively. Shares repurchased and corresponding dollar amounts are included in the Statement of changes in net assets. The anti-dilutive impact of these share repurchases is included on the Financial highlights. On December 18, 2013, the Board renewed the share repurchase plan. As renewed, the fund may purchase in the open market, between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014, up to an additional 10% of its outstanding common shares (based on common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2013).

Note 7 — Purchase and sale of securities

Purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities, amounted to $352,617,201 and $390,358,795, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  39 

 



Auditor’s report

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of
John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund:

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio 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 Hedged Equity & Income Fund (the “Fund”) at December 31, 2013, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits 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 audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 2013 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers and the application of alternative auditing procedures where securities purchased confirmations had not been received, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 25, 2014

40  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



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 December 31, 2013.

The fund reports the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction.

The fund reports the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividend income as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.

The fund paid $13,865,075 in capital gain dividends.

Eligible shareholders will be mailed a 2013 Form 1099-DIV in early 2014. This will reflect the tax character of all distributions paid in calendar year 2013.

Please consult a tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of your investment in the fund.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  41 

 



Additional information

Unaudited

Investment objective and policy

The fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company, common shares of which were initially offered to the public on May 26, 2011 and are publicly traded on the NYSE. The fund’s investment objective is to provide total return with a focus on current income and gains and also consisting of long-term capital appreciation. The fund uses an equity strategy (the “equity strategy”) and an actively managed option strategy (the “option overlay strategy”) to pursue its investment objective.

Investment Policy Changes

On September 27, 2013, the Board of Trustees of the fund approved the following investment policy changes:

i. Investment policy stating that the fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in the securities of foreign issuers and foreign-currency securities was revised to provide that the fund may invest in foreign issuers and foreign-currency securities without any limitation. These securities include securities of issuers located in emerging markets and foreign currency forward contracts, the entirety of which may be invested in companies that conduct their principal business activities in emerging markets or whose securities are traded principally on exchanges in emerging markets.

ii. Investment strategy regarding the fund’s use of put option spread transactions was eliminated and replaced with the use of a hedging strategy through increased utilization of futures.

iii. Investment strategy regarding the utilization of call writing was amended to provide that the fund typically will limit the notional exposure of the index call options from 0% to 50% of the value of the fund’s portfolio securities; under the prior investment policy, the fund’s use of index call options typically ranged from 40% to 60% of the value of the portfolio securities, with the ability to write up to 100% of the value of the portfolio.

In addition, the fund’s benchmark was changed from the Russell 3000 Index to the MSCI All Country World Index in order to reflect the increased flexibility to invest in foreign securities.

On December 18, 2013, the Board of Trustees of the fund approved changes to the fund’s investment policies regarding the minimum percentage of the fund’s assets that must be invested in equity and equity-related securities and the maximum percentage of the fund’s assets that may be invested in fixed-income securities. The revised investment policies provide that the fund’s investments in equity and equity-related securities and fixed-income securities will be measured based on the fund’s “net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes,” rather than its “total assets.” In addition, the fund’s investment policy with respect to the maximum percentage of the fund’s assets that may be invested in fixed-income securities will no longer include “cash and cash equivalents”. These investment policy changes are summarized below:

i. Investment policy stating that the “Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at the time of purchase at least 80% of its total assets in equity and equity-related securities, including common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts (including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts), index-related securities (including exchange traded funds (“ETFs”)), options on equity securities and equity indexes, real estate investment structures (including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”)), convertible securities, private placements, convertible preferred stock, rights, warrants, derivatives linked to equity securities or indexes and other similar equity equivalents.” was amended to state that: “Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at the time of purchase

42  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity and equity-related securities, including common stock, preferred stock, depositary receipts (including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts), index-related securities (including exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), options on equity securities and equity indexes, real estate investment structures (including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”)), convertible securities, private placements, convertible preferred stock, rights, warrants, derivatives linked to equity securities or indexes and other similar equity equivalents.”

ii. Investment policy stating that “The fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets in fixed-income securities, fixed-income related instruments, and cash and cash equivalents. These fixed-income securities may include non-investment grade (“high yield” or “junk bond”) instruments.” was replaced with the following investment policy: “The fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed-income securities and fixed-income related instruments. These fixed-income securities may include non-investment grade (“high yield” or “junk bond”) instruments.”

Risks Related to Investment Policy Changes

Foreign securities risk. The fund may invest in the securities of foreign issuers and foreign currency securities, including foreign currency forward contracts, the entirety of which may be invested in companies that conduct their principal business activities in emerging markets or whose securities are traded principally on exchanges in emerging markets. Funds that invest in securities of companies located in foreign countries or in securities traded principally in securities markets outside the United States are subject to additional and more varied risks, as the value of foreign securities may change more rapidly and extremely than the value of U.S. securities. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. Additionally, issuers of foreign securities may not be subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. issuers. There are generally higher commission rates on foreign portfolio transactions, transfer taxes, higher custodial costs and the possibility that foreign taxes will be charged on dividends and interest payable on foreign securities. Reporting, accounting, and auditing standards of foreign countries differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards. Also, for lesser developed countries, nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations (which may include suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a country), political changes or diplomatic developments could adversely affect the fund’s investments.

Emerging markets. The fund may invest in securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The risks of foreign investments described above apply to an even greater extent to investments in emerging markets. The securities markets of emerging market countries are generally smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the United States and developed foreign markets. These risks include: high currency exchange-rate fluctuations; increased risk of default (including both government and private issuers); greater social, economic, and political uncertainty and instability (including the risk of war); more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants in those markets; controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on a fund’s ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; unavailability of currency hedging techniques in certain emerging-market countries; the fact that companies in emerging-market countries may be newly organized, smaller, and less seasoned; the difference in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in the unavailability of material information about issuers; different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions; difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgments in foreign jurisdictions; and significantly smaller market capitalizations of emerging-market issuers.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  43 

 



Futures risk. The fund may engage in transactions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts. Futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts that obligate a purchaser to take delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of an asset at a specified future date at a specified price. If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the fund realizes a gain, or if it is more, the fund realizes a loss. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts and options are imperfect correlation, liquidity, unanticipated market movement and counterparty risk.

High yield debt securities risk. An investment in below investment grade securities involves substantial risk of loss. Below investment grade (high yield) debt securities or comparable unrated securities are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” or “high yield securities” and are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to pay interest and principal and are susceptible to default or decline in market value due to adverse economic and business developments. The market values for high yield securities tend to be very volatile, and these securities are less liquid than investment grade debt securities.

Options risk. The use of options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, therefore its success is dependent upon the investment skills and analytical abilities of the subadviser implementing the strategy. When the fund writes a call option, the fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. There are several risks associated with transactions in options such as imperfect correlation, counterparty risk and an insufficient liquid secondary market for particular options. The value of options written by the fund will be affected by many factors, including changes in the value of underlying securities or indices, changes in the dividend rates of underlying securities (or in the case of indices, the securities comprising such indices), changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and underlying securities, and the remaining time to an option’s expiration.

Amended and Restated By-laws

Effective September 27, 2013, the Board of Trustees of the fund amended and restated in its entirety the By-laws of the fund (the “Amended and Restated By-laws”). The Amended and Restated By-laws include, among other changes, provisions that: (i) require a shareholder to give written advance notice and other information to the fund of the shareholder’s nominees for Trustees and proposals for other business to be considered at shareholders’ meetings; (ii) require any such notice by a shareholder to be accompanied by certain information as provided in the By-laws; (iii) prohibit shareholders from nominating Trustees or proposing other business at a special meeting of shareholders or, except in limited circumstances set forth in the By-laws and Declaration of Trust, from acting by written consent or requiring that the fund call a special meeting of shareholders; and (iv) reserve to the Trustees the exclusive power to adopt, alter, amend or repeal any provision of the By-laws or to make new By-laws, except where the Declaration of Trust, By-laws or applicable law would additionally require a shareholder vote to effect such adoption, alteration, amendment or repeal. The foregoing description of the By-laws is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Amended and Restated By-laws effective as of September 27, 2013, which are available by writing to the Secretary of the fund at 601 Congress Street, 11th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.

44  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



Dividends and distributions

During the year ended December 31, 2013, distributions from net investment income totaling $0.1716 per share and distributions from net realized gain totaling $1.1734 per share were paid to shareholders. The dates of payments and the amounts per share were as follows:

PAYMENT DATE  DISTRIBUTIONS 

March 28, 2013  $0.3230 
June 28, 2013  $0.3230 
September 30, 2013  $0.3230 
December 31, 2013  $0.3760 
  $1.3450 

Dividend reinvestment plan

The fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the Plan) provides that distributions by the fund are automatically reinvested in common shares of the fund by Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the Plan Agent). Every shareholder holding at least one full share of the fund will be automatically enrolled in the Plan. Shareholders may withdraw from the Plan at any time and shareholders who do not participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash.

If the fund declares a distribution payable either in cash or in common shares of the fund and the market price of shares on the payment date for the distribution or dividend equals or exceeds the fund’s net asset value per share (NAV), the fund will issue common shares to participants at a value equal to the higher of NAV or 95% of the market price. The number of additional shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the distribution by the higher of NAV or 95% of the market price. If the market price is lower than NAV, or if distributions are payable only in cash, then participants will receive shares purchased by the Plan Agent on participants’ behalf on the NYSE or otherwise on the open market. If the market price exceeds NAV before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases, the average per share purchase price may exceed NAV, resulting in fewer shares being acquired than if the fund had issued new shares.

There are no brokerage charges with respect to common shares issued directly by the fund. However, whenever shares are purchased or sold on the NYSE or otherwise on the open market, each participant will pay a pro rata portion of brokerage trading fees, currently $0.05 per share purchased or sold. Brokerage trading fees will be deducted from amounts to be invested.

The reinvestment of fund distributions does not relieve participants of any income tax that may be payable on such distributions.

Shareholders participating in the Plan may buy additional shares of the fund through the Plan at any time in amounts of at least $50 per investment, up to a maximum of $10,000, with a total calendar year limit of $100,000. Shareholders will be charged a $5 transaction fee plus $0.05 per share brokerage trading fee for each order. Purchases of additional shares of the fund will be made on the open market. Shareholders who elect to utilize monthly electronic fund transfers to buy additional shares of the fund will be charged a $2 transaction fee plus $0.05 per share brokerage trading fee for each automatic purchase. Shareholders can also sell fund shares held in the Plan account at any time by contacting the Plan Agent by telephone, in writing, or by visiting the Plan Agent’s website at www.computershare.com/investor. The Plan Agent will mail a check (less applicable brokerage trading fees) on the settlement date, which is three business days after the shares have been sold. If shareholders choose to sell shares through their stockbroker, they will need to request that the Plan Agent electronically transfer those shares to their stockbroker through the Direct Registration System.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  45 

 



Shareholders participating in the Plan may withdraw from the Plan and elect to receive distributions in cash at any time by contacting the Plan Agent by telephone, in writing, or by visiting the Plan Agent’s website at www.computershare.com/investor. Such termination will be effective immediately if the notice is received by the Plan Agent prior to any distribution record date; otherwise, such termination will be effective on the first trading day after the payment date for such distribution, with respect to any subsequent dividend or distribution. If shareholders withdraw from the Plan, their shares will be credited to their account, or, if they wish, the Plan Agent will sell their full and fractional shares and send the shareholders the proceeds, less a transaction fee of $5.00 and less brokerage trading fees of $0.05 per share. If a shareholder does not maintain at least one whole share of common stock in the Plan account, the Plan Agent may terminate such shareholder’s participation in the Plan after written notice. Upon termination, shareholders will be sent a check for the cash value of any fractional share in the Plan account, less any applicable broker commissions and taxes.

Shareholders who hold at least one full share of the fund may join the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent by telephone, in writing, or by visiting the Plan Agent’s website at www.computershare.com/investor. If received in proper form by the Plan Agent before the record date of a fund distribution, the election will be effective with respect to all distributions paid after such record date. If shareholders wish to participate in the Plan and their shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, shareholders should contact their nominee to see if it will participate in the Plan. If shareholders wish to participate in the Plan, but their brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee is unable to participate on their behalf, they will need to request that their shares be re-registered in their own name, or they will not be able to participate. The Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of shares certified from time to time by shareholders as representing the total amount registered in their name and held for their account by their nominee.

Effective July 1, 2013, the Plan was revised to reflect an updated definition of “market price.” Under the revised Plan, the “market price” is defined as “the last sale price for the fund’s shares in the market on that date as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or, if there is no sale in the market on that date or sale prices are not available, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations for such shares on such date.” This definition replaces the previous definition, stating that “market price” is “the last sale price for the fund’s shares on the NYSE on that date, or, if there is no sale on the NYSE on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations for such shares on the NYSE on such date.”

Effective November 1, 2013, the Plan was revised with respect to mail loss insurance coverage. Prior to that date, when shareholders mailed their certificates to the fund’s administrator, they could request Computershare Trust Company, N.A. to reimburse them for the cost of mail loss insurance coverage on certificates valued at up to $100,000. Effective November 1, 2013, Computershare no longer reimburses this expense.

Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, the fund and the Plan Agent reserve the right to amend or terminate the Plan. Participants generally will receive written notice at least 90 days before the effective date of any amendment. In the case of termination, participants will receive written notice at least 90 days before the record date for the payment of any distribution by the fund.

All correspondence or requests for additional information about the Plan should be directed to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., at the address stated below or by calling 800-852-0218, 201-680-6578 (For International Telephone Inquiries) and 800-952-9245 (For the Hearing Impaired (TDD)).

46  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



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:

Computershare
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, TX 77842-3170
Telephone: 800-852-0218

If your shares are held with a brokerage firm, you should contact that firm, bank, or other nominee for assistance.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  47 

 



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, year of birth  Trustee  Number of John 
Position(s) held with fund  of the  Hancock funds 
Principal occupation(s) and other  Trust  overseen by 
directorships during past 5 years  since1  Trustee 
 
James M. Oates, Born: 1946  2012  233 

Managing Director, Wydown Group (financial consulting firm) (since 1994); Chairman and Director, 
Emerson Investment Management, Inc. (since 2000); Independent Chairman, Hudson Castle Group, Inc. 
(formerly IBEX Capital Markets, Inc.) (financial services company) (1997–2011); Director, Stifel Financial 
(since 1996); Director, Investor Financial Services Corporation (1995–2007); Director, Connecticut River 
Bancorp (since 1998); Director, Virtus Funds (formerly Phoenix Mutual Funds) (since 1988).   
Trustee and Chairperson of the Board, John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2012); Trustee (2005–2006 and 
since 2012) and Chairperson of the Board (since 2012), John Hancock Funds III; Trustee (since 2004) and 
Chairperson of the Board (since 2005), John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust; Trustee and Chairperson 
of the Board, John Hancock Funds II (since 2005).     
  
Charles L. Bardelis,2 Born: 1941  2012  233 

Director, Island Commuter Corp. (marine transport).     
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2012); Trustee, John Hancock Funds III (2005–2006 and 
since 2012); Trustee, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust (since 1988); Trustee, John Hancock 
Funds II (since 2005).     
  
Peter S. Burgess,2 Born: 1942  2012  233 

Consultant (financial, accounting, and auditing matters) (since 1999); Certified Public Accountant; 
Partner, Arthur Andersen (independent public accounting firm) (prior to 1999); Director, Lincoln 
Educational Services Corporation (since 2004); Director, Symetra Financial Corporation (since 2010); 
Director, PMA Capital Corporation (2004–2010).     
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2012); Trustee, John Hancock Funds III (2005–2006 and 
since 2012); Trustee, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust and John Hancock Funds II (since 2005). 
  
William H. Cunningham, Born: 1944  2011  233 

Professor, University of Texas, Austin, Texas (since 1971); former Chancellor, University of Texas System 
and former President of the University of Texas, Austin, Texas; Director, LIN Television (since 2009); 
Chairman (since 2009) and Director (since 2006), Lincoln National Corporation (insurance); Director, 
Resolute Energy Corporation (since 2009); Director, Southwest Airlines (since 2000); former Director, 
Introgen (manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals) (until 2008); former Director, Hicks Acquisition Company I, 
Inc. (until 2007); former Director, Texas Exchange Bank, SSB (formerly Bank of Crowley) (until 2009); 
former Advisory Director, JP Morgan Chase Bank (formerly Texas Commerce Bank–Austin) (until 2009). 
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3 (since 1986); Trustee, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust 
(since 2012); Trustee, John Hancock Funds II (since 2012 and 2005–2006).     

 

48  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



Independent Trustees (continued)

Name, year of birth  Trustee  Number of John 
Position(s) held with fund  of the  Hancock funds 
Principal occupation(s) and other  Trust  overseen by 
directorships during past 5 years  since1  Trustee 
 
Grace K. Fey, Born: 1946  2012  233 

Chief Executive Officer, Grace Fey Advisors (since 2007); Director and Executive Vice President, Frontier 
Capital Management Company (1988–2007); Director, Fiduciary Trust (since 2009).   
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2012); Trustee, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust and 
John Hancock Funds II (since 2008).     
  
Theron S. Hoffman,2 Born: 1947  2012  233 

Chief Executive Officer, T. Hoffman Associates, LLC (consulting firm) (since 2003); Director, The Todd 
Organization (consulting firm) (2003–2010); President, Westport Resources Management (investment 
management consulting firm) (2006–2008); Senior Managing Director, Partner, and Operating Head, 
Putnam Investments (2000–2003); Executive Vice President, The Thomson Corp. (financial and legal 
information publishing) (1997–2000).     
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2012); Trustee, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust and 
John Hancock Funds II (since 2008).     
  
Deborah C. Jackson, Born: 1952  2011  233 

President, Cambridge College, Cambridge, Massachusetts (since 2011); Chief Executive Officer, 
American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay (2002–2011); Board of Directors of Eastern Bank Corporation 
(since 2001); Board of Directors of Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation (since 2001); Board of Directors 
of American Student Assistance Corporation (1996–2009); Board of Directors of Boston Stock Exchange 
(2002–2008); Board of Directors of Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare (health benefits company) (2007–2011). 
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2008); Trustee of John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust and 
John Hancock Funds II (since 2012).     
  
Hassell H. McClellan, Born: 1945  2012  233 

Trustee, Virtus Variable Insurance Trust (formerly Phoenix Edge Series Funds) (since 2008); Director, The 
Barnes Group (since 2010); Associate Professor, The Wallace E. Carroll School of Management, Boston 
College (retired 2013).     
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2012); Trustee, John Hancock Funds III (2005–2006 and 
since 2012); Trustee, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust and John Hancock Funds II (since 2005). 
  
Steven R. Pruchansky, Born: 1944  2011  233 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. (since 2000); Director 
and President, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. (until 2000); Member, Board of Advisors, First 
American Bank (until 2010); Managing Director, Jon James, LLC (real estate) (since 2000); Director, 
First Signature Bank & Trust Company (until 1991); Director, Mast Realty Trust (until 1994); President, 
Maxwell Building Corp. (until 1991).     
Trustee (since 1992) and Chairperson of the Board (2011–2012), John Hancock retail funds3; Trustee and 
Vice Chairperson of the Board, John Hancock retail funds3, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust, and 
John Hancock Funds II (since 2012).     

 

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  49 

 



Independent Trustees (continued)

Name, year of birth  Trustee  Number of John 
Position(s) held with fund  of the  Hancock funds 
Principal occupation(s) and other  Trust  overseen by 
directorships during past 5 years  since1  Trustee 
 
Gregory A. Russo, Born: 1949  2011  233 

Director and Audit Committee Chairman (since 2012), and Member, Audit Committee and Finance 
Committee (since 2011), NCH Healthcare System, Inc. (holding company for multi-entity healthcare 
system); Director and Member of Finance Committee, The Moorings, Inc. (nonprofit continuing care 
community) (since 2012); Vice Chairman, Risk & Regulatory Matters, KPMG LLP (KPMG) (2002–2006); 
Vice Chairman, Industrial Markets, KPMG (1998–2002); Chairman and Treasurer, Westchester County, 
New York, Chamber of Commerce (1986–1992); Director, Treasurer, and Chairman of Audit and 
Finance Committees, Putnam Hospital Center (1989–1995); Director and Chairman of Fundraising 
Campaign, United Way of Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York (1990–1995).   
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2008); Trustee, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust and 
John Hancock Funds II (since 2012).     
 
Non-Independent Trustees4     
 
Name, year of birth  Trustee  Number of John 
Position(s) held with fund  of the  Hancock funds 
Principal occupation(s) and other  Trust  overseen by 
directorships during past 5 years  since1  Trustee 
 
Craig Bromley, Born: 1966  2012  233 

President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2012); Senior Executive Vice President and General 
Manager, U.S. Division, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2012); President and Chief Executive 
Officer, Manulife Insurance Company (Manulife Japan) (2005–2012, including prior positions). 
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3,John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust, and John Hancock Funds 
II (since 2012).     
  
Warren A. Thomson, Born: 1955  2012  233 

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Manulife Financial Corporation and The 
Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (since 2009); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife 
Asset Management (since 2001, including prior positions); Director (since 2006), and President and 
Chief Executive Officer (since 2013), Manulife Asset Management Limited; Director and Chairman, 
Hancock Natural Resources Group, Inc. (since 2013).     
Trustee, John Hancock retail funds3, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust, and John Hancock 
Funds II (since 2012).     
 
 
Principal officers who are not Trustees     
 
Name, year of birth    Officer 
Position(s) held with fund    of the 
Principal occupation(s) and other    Trust 
directorships during past 5 years    since 
 
Hugh McHaffie, Born: 1959    2012 

President     
Executive Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2006, including prior positions); 
Chairman and Director, John Hancock Advisers, LLC, John Hancock Investment Management Services, 
LLC, and John Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2010); President, John Hancock Advisers, LLC (since 2012); 
President, John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2010); President (since 2012) and 
former Trustee (2010–2012), John Hancock retail funds3, President, John Hancock Variable Insurance 
Trust and John Hancock Funds II (since 2009).     

 

50  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 



Principal officers who are not Trustees (continued)

Name, year of birth  Officer 
Position(s) held with fund  of the 
Principal occupation(s) and other  Trust 
directorships during past 5 years  since 
 
Andrew G. Arnott, Born: 1971  2011 

Executive Vice President   
Senior Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2009); Director and Executive Vice   
President, John Hancock Advisers, LLC (since 2005, including prior positions); Director and Executive 
Vice President, John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2006, including prior   
positions); President, John Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2004, including prior positions); Executive Vice 
President, John Hancock retail funds3, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust, and John Hancock Funds 
II (since 2007, including prior positions).   
  
Thomas M. Kinzler, Born: 1955  2011 

Secretary and Chief Legal Officer   
Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel,   
John Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2007); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, John Hancock retail funds3, 
John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust, and John Hancock Funds II (since 2006).   
  
Francis V. Knox, Jr., Born: 1947  2011 

Chief Compliance Officer   
Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2005); Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock 
retail funds3, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust, John Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Advisers, 
LLC, and John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2005).   
  
Charles A. Rizzo, Born: 1957  2011 

Chief Financial Officer   
Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2007); Senior Vice President, John Hancock   
Advisers, LLC and John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2007); Treasurer,   
John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2007, including prior positions); Treasurer, John Hancock Variable 
Insurance Trust and John Hancock Funds II (2007–2009 and since 2010, including prior positions).   
  
Salvatore Schiavone, Born: 1965  2011 

Treasurer   
Assistant Vice President, John Hancock Financial Services (since 2007); Vice President, John Hancock 
Advisers, LLC and John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2007); Treasurer,   
John Hancock retail funds3 (since 2007, including prior positions); Treasurer, John Hancock Variable 
Insurance Trust and John Hancock Funds II (since 2010 and 2007–2009, including prior positions).   

The business address for all Trustees and Officers is 601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210-2805.

1 Mr. Bardelis, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Hoffman, and Mr. Thomson serve as Trustees for a term expiring in 2015; Mr. Bromley, Ms. Jackson, Mr. Oates, and Mr. Pruchansky serve as Trustees for a term expiring in 2016; and Mr. Cunningham, Ms. Fey, Mr. McClellan, and Mr. Russo serve as Trustees for a term expiring in 2017.

2 Member of the Audit Committee.

3 “John Hancock retail funds” comprises John Hancock Funds III and 34 other John Hancock funds consisting of 24 series of other John Hancock trusts and 10 closed-end funds.

4 The Trustee is a Non-Independent Trustee due to current or former positions with the Advisor and certain of its affiliates.

Annual report | Hedged Equity & Income Fund  51 

 



More information

Trustees  Officers  Investment advisor 
James M. Oates,  Hugh McHaffie  John Hancock Advisers, LLC 
Chairperson  President   
Steven R. Pruchansky,     Subadvisor 
Vice Chairperson  Andrew G. Arnott  Wellington Management 
Charles L. Bardelis*  Executive Vice President  Company, LLP 
Craig Bromley 
Peter S. Burgess*  Thomas M. Kinzler  Custodian  
William H. Cunningham  Secretary and Chief Legal Officer  State Street Bank and 
Grace K. Fey    Trust Company 
Theron S. Hoffman*  Francis V. Knox, Jr.  
Deborah C. Jackson  Chief Compliance Officer  Transfer agent  
Hassell H. McClellan  Computershare Shareowner 
Gregory A. Russo  Charles A. Rizzo  Services, LLC 
Warren A. Thomson  Chief Financial Officer 
  Legal counsel 
*Member of the   Salvatore Schiavone   K&L Gates LLP  
Audit Committee  Treasurer    
†Non-Independent Trustee  Independent registered  
  public accounting firm 
  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
     
    Stock symbol 
    Listed New York Stock 
    Exchange: HEQ 

 

For shareholder assistance refer to page 47   
 
You can also contact us:   
800-852-0218  Regular mail: 
jhinvestments.com  Computershare 
  P.O. Box 30170 
  College Station, TX 77842-3170 

The fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, as well as the fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, are available free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website at sec.gov or on our website.

The fund’s complete list of portfolio holdings, for the first and third fiscal quarters, is filed with the SEC on Form N-Q. The fund’s Form N-Q is available on our website and the SEC’s website, sec.gov, and can be reviewed and copied (for a fee) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Call 800-SEC-0330 to receive information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room.

We make this information on your fund, as well as monthly portfolio holdings, and other fund details available on our website at jhinvestments.com or by calling 800-852-0218.

The report is certified under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires closed-end funds and other public companies to affirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the information in their financial reports is fairly and accurately stated in all material respects.

52  Hedged Equity & Income Fund | Annual report 

 




800-852-0218
800-231-5469 TDD
800-843-0090 EASI-Line
jhinvestments.com


  P15A 12/13 
MF170907  2/14 

 


ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

As of the end of the period, December 31, 2013, 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.

Peter S. Burgess 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 registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant(s) in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements amounted to $36,266 for the year ended December 31, 2013, $25,988 for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2012 (the fiscal year end for the John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund changed from October 31 to December 31) and $37,141 for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2012.

(b) Audit-Related Services

The audit-related fees were $0 for the year ended December 31, 2013, $0 for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2012 and $0 for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2012 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 $3,492 for the year ended December 31, 2013, $0 for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2012 and $3,492 for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2012. The nature of the services comprising the tax fees was the review of the registrant’s tax returns and tax distribution requirements. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the registrant’s audit committee.

(d) All Other Fees

The all other fees billed to the registrant for products and services provided by the principal accountant were $285 for the year ended December 31, 2013, $0 for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2012 and $419 for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2012 billed to control affiliates for products and services provided by the principal accountant. The nature of the services comprising the all other fees consisted mainly of performance of agreed upon procedures required for the initial and secondary public offerings of shares and review of foreign tax withholding rates. These fees were approved by the registrant’s audit committee.

(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures:

The trust’s Audit Committee must pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm (the “Auditor”) relating to the operations or financial reporting of the funds. Prior to the commencement of any audit or non-audit services to a fund, the Audit Committee reviews the services to determine whether they are appropriate and permissible under applicable law.



The trust’s Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures to, among other purposes, provide a framework for the Committee’s consideration of audit-related and non-audit services by the Auditor. The policies and procedures require that any audit-related and non-audit service provided by the Auditor and any non-audit service provided by the Auditor to a fund service provider that relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of a fund are subject to approval by the Audit Committee before such service is provided. Audit-related services provided by the Auditor that are expected to exceed $25,000 per instance/per fund are subject to specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. Tax services provided by the Auditor that are expected to exceed $30,000 per instance/per fund are subject to specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

All audit services, as well as the audit-related and non-audit services that are expected to exceed the amounts stated above, must be approved in advance of provision of the service by formal resolution of the Audit Committee. At the regularly scheduled Audit Committee meetings, the Committee reviews a report summarizing the services, including fees, provided by the Auditor.

(e)(2) Services approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X:

Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees:

There were no amounts that were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f) According to the registrant’s principal accountant, for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2013, 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 of the registrant were $5,952,421 for the year ended December 31, 2013, $317,180 for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2012 and $3,659,845 for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2012.

(h) The audit committee of the registrant has considered the non-audit services provided by the registrant’s 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:

Peter S. Burgess - Chairman
Charles L. Bardelis
Theron S. Hoffman

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

(a) Not applicable.
(b) 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.

Information about the Wellington Management portfolio managers
Management Biographies

Below is a 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 business careers over the past five years. Information is provided as of February 15, 2014.

Kent M. Stahl, CFA
Senior Vice President and Director of Investments and Risk Management,
Wellington Management Company, LLP since 1998
Joined Fund team since its inception (2011)

Gregg R. Thomas, CFA
Senior Vice President and Director of Risk Management,
Wellington Management Company, LLP since 2002
Joined Fund team since its inception (2011)

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 December 31, 2013. 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.

PORTFOLIO  OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY THE PORTFOLIO   
MANAGER NAME  MANAGER   

Kent M. Stahl, CFA  Other Registered Investment Companies: Eight (8) accounts 
  with total net assets of approximately $26,118 million 
 
  Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: Two (2) accounts with 
  total net assets of approximately $662.1 million 
 
  Other Accounts: One (1) account with total assets of 
  approximately $206.6 million 

Gregg R. Thomas,  Other Registered Investment Companies: Eight (8) accounts 
CFA  with total net assets of approximately $26,118 million 
 
  Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: Two (2) accounts with 
  total net assets of approximately $662.1 million 
 
  Other Accounts: None 

 



The Subadviser does not receive a fee based upon the investment performance of any of the accounts included under “Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers” in the table above.

Conflicts of Interest. Individual investment professionals at Wellington Management manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. These accounts may include mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions, such as pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, or separately managed account programs sponsored by financial intermediaries), bank common trust accounts, and hedge funds. The Fund’s managers listed in the prospectus who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund (“Investment Professionals”) generally manage accounts in several different investment styles. These accounts may have investment objectives, strategies, time horizons, tax considerations and risk profiles that differ from those of the Fund. The Investment Professionals make investment decisions for each account, including the Fund, based on the investment objectives, policies, practices, benchmarks, cash flows, tax and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that account. Consequently, Investment Professionals may purchase or sell securities, including IPOs, for one account and not another account, and the performance of securities purchased for one account may vary from the performance of securities purchased for other accounts. Alternatively, these accounts may be managed in a similar fashion to the Fund and thus the accounts may have similar, and in some cases nearly identical, objectives, strategies and/or holdings to that of the Fund.

An Investment Professional or other investment professionals at Wellington Management may place transactions on behalf of other accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of the Fund, or make investment decisions that are similar to those made for the Fund, both of which have the potential to adversely impact the Fund depending on market conditions. For example, an investment professional may purchase a security in one account while appropriately selling that same security in another account. Similarly, an Investment Professional may purchase the same security for the Fund and one or more other accounts at or about the same time. In those instances the other accounts will have access to their respective holdings prior to the public disclosure of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, some of these accounts have fee structures, including performance fees, which are or have the potential to be higher, in some cases significantly higher, than the fees Wellington Management receives for managing the Fund. Because incentive payments paid by Wellington Management to the Investment Professionals are tied to revenues earned by Wellington Management and, where noted, to the performance achieved by the manager in each account, the incentives associated with any given account may be significantly higher or lower than those associated with other accounts managed by an Investment Professional. Finally, the Investment Professionals may hold shares or investments in the other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts identified above.

Wellington Management’s goal is to meet its fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly and provide high quality investment services to all of its clients. Wellington Management has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, which it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, Wellington Management monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with primary account guidelines, the allocation of IPOs, and compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics, and places additional investment restrictions on investment professionals who manage hedge funds and certain other accounts. Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Wellington Management periodically review the performance of Wellington Management’s



investment professionals. Although Wellington Management does not track the time an investment professional spends on a single account, Wellington Management does periodically assess whether an investment professional has adequate time and resources to effectively manage the investment professional’s various client mandates.

Compensation Wellington Management receives a fee based on the assets under management of the Fund as set forth in the Subadvisory Agreement between Wellington Management and the Adviser on behalf of the Fund. Wellington Management pays its investment professionals out of its total revenues, including the advisory fees earned with respect to the Fund. The following information relates to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. Wellington Management’s compensation structure is designed to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals necessary to deliver high quality investment management services to its clients. Wellington Management’s compensation of the Fund’s managers listed in the Prospectus who are primarily responsible for the day-today management of the Fund (the “Investment Professionals”) includes a base salary. The Investment Professionals are not eligible for an incentive payment based on Fund performance. The base salary for each Investment Professional who is a partner of Wellington Management is generally a fixed amount that is determined by the Managing Partners of the firm. The Investment Professionals may also be eligible for bonus payments based on their overall contribution to Wellington Management’s business operations. Senior management at Wellington Management may reward individuals as it deems appropriate based on other factors. Each partner of Wellington Management is eligible to participate in a partner-funded tax qualified retirement plan, the contributions to which are made pursuant to an actuarial formula. Messrs. Stahl and Thomas are partners of the firm.

Share Ownership by Portfolio Managers. The following table indicates as of December 31, 2013 the value, within the indicated range, of shares beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund.

  Range of 
  Beneficial 
Portfolio Manager  Ownership 

Kent M. Stahl, CFA  None 

Gregg R. Thomas, CFA  None 

 

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

(a) Not applicable.



(b) REGISTRANT PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
      Total Number of   
      Shares   
      Purchased as  Maximum Number of 
  Total    Part of Publicly  Shares that May Yet 
  Number of Shares  Average Price  Announced  Be Purchased Under 
Period  Purchased  per Share  Plans*  the Plans 

12-Dec  -  -  -  1,373,317* 
13-Jan  -  -  -  1,373,317 
13-Feb  -  -  -  1,373,317 
13-Mar  -  -  -  1,373,317 
13-Apr  -  -  -  1,373,317 
13-May  -  -  -  1,373,317 
13-Jun  -  -  -  1,373,317 
13-Jul  594  $16.985  594  1,372,723 
13-Aug  200  $17.200  794  1,372,523 
13-Sep  -  -  794  1,372,523 
13-Oct  -  -  794  1,372,523 
13-Nov  -  -  794  1,372,523 
12-Dec  -  -  794  1,372,523 
Total  794  $17.059    - 

 

*On December 6, 2011, the Board of Trustees approved a share repurchase plan (the Repurchase Plan). Under the Repurchase Plan, the Fund was authorized to purchase, in the open market, up to 10% of its outstanding common shares between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012 (based on common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2011). On December 12, 2012, the Board renewed the share repurchase plan. As renewed, the Fund may purchase in the open market, between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013, up to an additional 10% of its outstanding common shares (based on common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2012). On December 18, 2013, the Board renewed the share repurchase plan. As renewed, the Fund may purchase in the open market, between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014, up to an additional 10% of its outstanding common shares (based on common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2013).

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

Revisions to the Governance Committee Charter were as follows.

Effective September 27, 2013, the Board of Trustees of the fund amended and restated in its entirety the By-laws of the fund (the “Amended and Restated By-laws”). The Amended and Restated By-laws include, among other changes, provisions that: (i) require a shareholder to give written advance notice and other information to the fund of the shareholder’s nominees for Trustees and proposals for other business to be considered at shareholders’ meetings; (ii) require any such notice by a shareholder to be accompanied by certain information as provided in the Bylaws; (iii) prohibit shareholders from nominating Trustees or proposing other business at a special meeting of shareholders or, except in limited circumstances set forth in the By-laws and



Declaration of Trust, from acting by written consent or requiring that the fund call a special meeting of shareholders; and (iv) reserve to the Trustees the exclusive power to adopt, alter, amend or repeal any provision of the By-laws or to make new By-laws, except where the Declaration of Trust, By-laws or applicable law would additionally require a shareholder vote to effect such adoption, alteration, amendment or repeal. The foregoing description of the By-laws is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Amended and Restated By-laws effective as of September 27, 2013, which are available by writing to the Secretary of the fund at 601 Congress Street, 11th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.

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) Contact person at the registrant.

(C)(4) Registrant’s notice to shareholders pursuant to Registrant’s exemptive order granting an exemption from Section 19(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and Rule 19b-1 thereunder regarding distributions made pursuant to the Registrant’s Managed Distribution Plan.



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 Hedged Equity & Income Fund 
 
 
By:  /s/ Hugh McHaffie 
  Hugh McHaffie 
  President 
 
 
Date:  February 19, 2014 

 

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/ Hugh McHaffie 
Hugh McHaffie 
  President 
 
 
Date:  February 19, 2014 
 
 
 
By:  /s/ Charles A. Rizzo 
Charles A. Rizzo 
  Chief Financial Officer 
 
 
Date:  February 19, 2014