UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811- 05908

John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

200 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Salvatore Schiavone

Treasurer
200 Berkeley Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 617-663-4497

Date of fiscal year end: October 31
 
 
Date of reporting period: January 31, 2019



ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS




John Hancock

Premium Dividend Fund

Quarterly portfolio holdings 1/31/19

jhnq_logo.jpg


Fund’s investments  
As of 1-31-19 (unaudited)
        Shares Value
Preferred securities 77.8% (50.7% of Total investments)     $550,619,612
(Cost $543,637,231)          
Communication services 3.1%       21,972,125
Diversified telecommunication services 0.5%        
Qwest Corp., 6.125%       107,500 2,320,925
Verizon Communications, Inc., 5.900%       60,000 1,563,000
Wireless telecommunication services 2.6%        
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 5.875%       100,000 2,173,000
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 6.625%       285,000 7,207,650
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 6.875%       170,000 4,114,000
United States Cellular Corp., 6.950%       185,000 4,593,550
Consumer staples 2.7%       19,397,625
Food and staples retailing 2.7%        
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., 6.250% (A)       224,250 19,397,625
Energy 0.8%       5,292,000
Oil, gas and consumable fuels 0.8%        
Enbridge, Inc., Series B (6.375% to 4-15-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.593%)       210,000 5,292,000
Financials 31.9%       225,905,490
Banks 16.1%        
BB&T Corp. (Callable 2-1-19), 5.200%       205,000 4,952,800
BB&T Corp. (Callable 3-5-19), 5.200%       110,000 2,648,800
BB&T Corp., 5.625%       776,000 19,400,000
Citigroup, Inc. (7.125% to 9-30-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 4.040%) (B)(C)       240,650 6,377,225
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 5.450%       490,000 12,274,500
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 6.100%       650,000 16,802,500
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 6.300%       245,000 6,296,500
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 6.700%       35,000 882,350
Synovus Financial Corp. (6.300% to 6-21-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.352%) (B)(C)       188,000 4,715,040
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., 5.375%       180,000 4,482,000
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (6.125% to 5-1-22, then 3 month LIBOR + 4.067%)       311,600 8,210,660
U.S. Bancorp, 5.150%       500,000 12,250,000
U.S. Bancorp (6.500% to 1-15-22, then 3 month LIBOR + 4.468%)       351,000 9,540,180
Wells Fargo & Company, 6.000% (B)(C)       205,000 5,291,050
Capital markets 12.0%        
Deutsche Bank Contingent Capital Trust II, 6.550%       241,725 6,062,463
Morgan Stanley, 6.625%       842,557 21,451,501
Morgan Stanley (6.375% to 10-15-24, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.708%)       249,227 6,549,686
Morgan Stanley (7.125% to 10-15-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 4.320%) (B)(C)       430,025 11,954,695
State Street Corp., 5.250%       1,005,000 24,522,000
State Street Corp., 6.000%       80,000 2,074,400
State Street Corp. (5.900% to 3-15-24, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.108%)       25,000 656,500
The Bank of New York Mellon Corp., 5.200%       442,000 10,678,720
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 6.200%       46,874 1,220,599
Consumer finance 1.5%        
Capital One Financial Corp., 6.000% (B)(C)       136,000 3,438,080
Capital One Financial Corp., 6.200%       80,000 2,072,800
Capital One Financial Corp., 6.250%       87,047 2,214,476
Capital One Financial Corp., 6.700%       112,650 2,906,370
2 JOHN HANCOCK PREMIUM DIVIDEND FUND |QUARTERLY REPORT SEE NOTES TO FUND'S INVESTMENTS

 

        Shares Value
Financials (continued)        
Insurance 2.3%        
Aegon NV, 6.500%       75,000 $1,925,250
Assurant, Inc., 6.500% (C)       23,000 2,398,210
Prudential Financial, Inc., 5.750%       50,000 1,270,000
Prudential PLC, 6.750% (B)(C)       150,000 3,925,500
W.R. Berkley Corp., 5.625% (B)(C)       240,351 6,460,635
Industrials 0.5%       3,433,050
Machinery 0.5%        
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., 5.750% (B)(C)       135,000 3,433,050
Real estate 4.9%       34,653,344
Equity real estate investment trusts 4.9%        
American Homes 4 Rent, Series D, 6.500%       100,000 2,397,000
American Homes 4 Rent, Series G, 5.875% (B)(C)       65,000 1,424,150
Crown Castle International Corp., 6.875% (C)       17,000 18,604,990
Digital Realty Trust, Inc., 6.625% (B)(C)       18,275 473,323
Senior Housing Properties Trust, 5.625%       554,690 11,753,881
Utilities 33.9%       239,965,978
Electric utilities 17.3%        
Duke Energy Corp., 5.125%       192,458 4,769,109
HECO Capital Trust III, 6.500%       181,000 4,720,480
Interstate Power & Light Company, 5.100%       1,309,350 33,427,706
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., 5.125%       185,000 4,508,450
NextEra Energy, Inc., 6.123% (C)       126,000 7,473,060
NSTAR Electric Company, 4.250%       13,347 1,301,333
NSTAR Electric Company, 4.780%       100,000 9,800,000
PPL Capital Funding, Inc., 5.900%       1,150,320 28,965,058
SCE Trust II, 5.100%       1,160,500 22,188,760
The Southern Company, 6.250%       155,000 4,059,450
Union Electric Company, 3.700%       12,262 1,139,753
Gas utilities 1.1%        
South Jersey Industries, Inc., 7.250% (C)       159,200 7,819,904
Multi-utilities 15.5%        
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (6.875% to 10-17-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.677%)       571,150 15,272,551
CenterPoint Energy, Inc., 7.000% (C)       400,000 21,580,000
Dominion Energy, Inc., 6.750% (C)       593,000 28,493,650
DTE Energy Company, 5.250%       235,000 5,886,750
DTE Energy Company, 6.500%       50,000 2,723,500
Integrys Holding, Inc. (6.000% to 8-1-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.220%)       352,044 8,871,509
NiSource, Inc. (6.500% to 3-15-24, then 5 Year CMT + 3.632%)       250,000 6,845,000
Sempra Energy, 6.000% (C)       53,500 5,367,655
Sempra Energy, 6.750% (C)       145,000 14,752,300
Common stocks 59.8% (39.0% of Total investments)     $423,313,310
(Cost $312,260,893)          
Communication services 3.7%       26,342,600
Diversified telecommunication services 3.7%        
AT&T, Inc. (C)       510,000 15,330,600
Verizon Communications, Inc. (B)(C)       200,000 11,012,000
SEE NOTES TO FUND'S INVESTMENTS QUARTERLY REPORT |JOHN HANCOCK PREMIUM DIVIDEND FUND 3

 

        Shares Value
Energy 16.0%       $113,284,606
Oil, gas and consumable fuels 16.0%        
BP PLC, ADR       685,950 28,206,262
Enbridge, Inc. (C)       281,200 10,297,544
Kinder Morgan, Inc. (C)       1,093,962 19,800,712
ONEOK, Inc.       430,000 27,610,300
Royal Dutch Shell PLC, ADR, Class A (C)       275,421 17,001,738
The Williams Companies, Inc. (C)       385,000 10,368,050
Financials 1.4%       10,012,800
Capital markets 1.4%        
Ares Management Corp., Class A (B)(C)       480,000 10,012,800
Utilities 38.7%       273,673,304
Electric utilities 23.8%        
Alliant Energy Corp.       354,000 15,742,380
American Electric Power Company, Inc. (B)(C)       200,000 15,824,000
Avangrid, Inc. (B)(C)       381,500 19,025,405
Duke Energy Corp.       285,000 25,017,300
Entergy Corp. (B)(C)       60,000 5,351,400
Eversource Energy (B)(C)       343,264 23,825,954
FirstEnergy Corp. (C)       250,000 9,800,000
OGE Energy Corp. (B)(C)       400,000 16,380,000
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (C)       50,000 4,406,000
PPL Corp. (C)       505,000 15,816,600
The Southern Company (C)       100,000 4,860,000
Xcel Energy, Inc. (C)       240,000 12,566,400
Multi-utilities 14.9%        
Black Hills Corp. (B)(C)       200,000 13,578,000
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (B)(C)       785,000 24,272,200
Dominion Energy, Inc. (B)(C)       240,000 16,857,600
DTE Energy Company (B)(C)       220,000 25,905,000
National Grid PLC, ADR       228,333 12,441,865
NiSource, Inc. (B)(C)       440,000 12,003,200
    
  Rate (%) Maturity date   Par value^ Value
Corporate bonds 15.6% (10.2% of Total investments)     $110,741,061
(Cost $114,814,058)          
Consumer discretionary 0.8%       5,350,710
Automobiles 0.8%        
General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (6.500% to 9-30-28, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.436%) (B)(C)(D) 6.500 09-30-28   6,046,000 5,350,710
Energy 0.5%       3,799,113
Oil, gas and consumable fuels 0.5%        
Enbridge, Inc. (6.250% to 3-1-28, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.641%) (C) 6.250 03-01-78   4,000,000 3,799,113
Financials 12.5%       88,792,913
Banks 10.6%        
Bank of America Corp. (5.875% to 3-15-28, then 3 month LIBOR + 2.931%) (C)(D) 5.875 03-15-28   4,500,000 4,396,725
BNP Paribas SA (7.000% to 8-16-28, then 5 Year U.S. Swap Rate + 3.980%) (A)(C)(D) 7.000 08-16-28   15,590,000 15,492,563
BNP Paribas SA (7.375% to 8-19-25, then 5 Year U.S. Swap Rate + 5.150%) (C)(D) 7.375 08-19-25   14,400,000 14,958,000
4 JOHN HANCOCK PREMIUM DIVIDEND FUND |QUARTERLY REPORT SEE NOTES TO FUND'S INVESTMENTS

 

  Rate (%) Maturity date   Par value^ Value
Financials (continued)        
Banks (continued)        
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (6.000% to 7-6-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.003%) (C)(D) 6.000 07-06-23   14,000,000 $13,317,500
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (6.375% to 4-6-24, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.157%) (B)(C)(D) 6.375 04-06-24   2,500,000 2,457,500
HSBC Holdings PLC (6.500% to 3-23-28, then 5 Year U.S. ISDAFIX + 3.606%) (C)(D) 6.500 03-23-28   10,000,000 9,750,000
Huntington Bancshares, Inc. (5.700% to 4-15-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 2.880%) (B)(C)(D) 5.700 04-15-23   3,000,000 2,827,500
Lloyds Banking Group PLC (7.500% to 6-27-24, then 5 Year U.S. Swap Rate + 4.760%) (B)(C)(D) 7.500 06-27-24   9,750,000 9,920,625
Wells Fargo & Company (5.900% to 6-15-24, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.110%) (B)(C)(D) 5.900 06-15-24   2,000,000 2,020,000
Capital markets 0.6%        
E*TRADE Financial Corp. (5.300% to 3-15-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.160%) (C)(D) 5.300 03-15-23   5,000,000 4,540,000
Consumer finance 1.3%        
Discover Financial Services (5.500% to 10-30-27, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.076%) (C)(D) 5.500 10-30-27   10,000,000 9,112,500
Industrials 0.4%       2,640,000
Industrial conglomerates 0.4%        
General Electric Company (5.000% to 1-21-21, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.330%) (B)(C)(D) 5.000 01-21-21   3,000,000 2,640,000
Utilities 1.4%       10,158,325
Multi-utilities 1.4%        
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (6.125% to 9-1-23, then 3 month LIBOR + 3.270%) (B)(C)(D) 6.125 09-01-23   7,750,000 7,750,000
NiSource, Inc. (5.650% to 6-15-23, then 5 Year CMT + 2.843%) (A)(C)(D) 5.650 06-15-23   2,500,000 2,408,325
    
  Yield* (%) Maturity date   Par value^ Value
Short-term investments 0.2% (0.1% of Total investments)     $1,083,000
(Cost $1,083,000)          
U.S. Government Agency 0.2%       976,000
Federal Home Loan Bank Discount Note 2.260 02-01-19   976,000 976,000
    
        Par value^ Value
Repurchase agreement 0.0%         107,000
Repurchase Agreement with State Street Corp. dated 1-31-19 at 1.300% to be repurchased at $107,004 on 2-1-19, collateralized by $110,000 U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.750% due 7-31-23 (valued at $111,134, including interest)       107,000 107,000
Total investments (Cost $971,795,182) 153.4%       $1,085,756,983
Other assets and liabilities, net (53.4%)       (377,962,677)
Total net assets 100.0%         $707,794,306
    
The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of the category as a percentage of the net assets of the fund unless otherwise indicated.
^All par values are denominated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Security Abbreviations and Legend
ADR American Depositary Receipt
CMT Constant Maturity Treasury
ISDAFIX International Swaps and Derivatives Association Fixed Interest Rate Swap Rate
LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate
(A) 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.
(B) All or a portion of this security is on loan as of 1-31-19, and is a component of the fund's leverage under the Liquidity Agreement.
SEE NOTES TO FUND'S INVESTMENTS QUARTERLY REPORT |JOHN HANCOCK PREMIUM DIVIDEND FUND 5

 

(C) All or a portion of this security is pledged as collateral pursuant to the Liquidity Agreement. Total collateral value at 1-31-19 was $497,532,980. A portion of the securities pledged as collateral were loaned pursuant to the Liquidity Agreement. The value of securities on loan amounted to $193,369,095.
(D) Perpetual bonds have no stated maturity date. Date shown as maturity date is next call date.
* Yield represents either the annualized yield at the date of purchase, the stated coupon rate or, for floating rate securities, the rate at period end.
The fund had the following country composition as a percentage of total investments on 1-31-19:
United States 86.3%
United Kingdom 5.9%
Canada 3.2%
France 2.8%
Netherlands 1.8%
TOTAL 100.0%
6 JOHN HANCOCK PREMIUM DIVIDEND FUND |QUARTERLY REPORT SEE NOTES TO FUND'S INVESTMENTS

 

DERIVATIVES
FUTURES
Open contracts Number of
contracts
Position Expiration
date
Notional
basis*
Notional
value*
Unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures 860 Short Mar 2019 $(102,331,469) $(105,323,125) $(2,991,656)
            $(2,991,656)
* Notional basis refers to the contractual amount agreed upon at inception of open contracts; notional value represents the current value of the open contract.
SWAPS
Interest rate swaps
Counterparty (OTC)/
Centrally cleared
Notional
amount
Currency Payments
made
Payments
received
Fixed
payment
frequency
Floating
payment
frequency
Maturity
date
Unamortized
upfront
payment
paid
(received)
Unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
Value
Centrally cleared 96,000,000 USD Fixed 2.136% USD 3 Month LIBOR BBA(a) Semi-Annual Quarterly Oct 2022 $1,466,739 $1,466,739
                $1,466,739 $1,466,739
    
(a) At 1-31-19, the 3 month LIBOR was 2.738%
    
Derivatives Currency Abbreviations
USD U.S. Dollar
    
Derivatives Abbreviations
BBA The British Banker's Association
LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate
OTC is an abbreviation for over-the-counter. See Notes to Fund's investments regarding investment transactions and other derivatives information.
SEE NOTES TO FUND'S INVESTMENTS QUARTERLY REPORT |JOHN HANCOCK PREMIUM DIVIDEND FUND 7

Notes to Fund's investments (unaudited)

Security valuation. Investments are stated at value as of the scheduled close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. In case of emergency or other disruption resulting in the NYSE not opening for trading or the NYSE closing at a time other than the regularly scheduled close, the net asset value may be determined as of the regularly scheduled close of the NYSE pursuant to the fund's Valuation Policies and Procedures.

In order to value the securities, the fund uses the following valuation techniques: Equity securities held by the fund are typically valued at the last sale price or official closing price on the exchange or principal market where the security trades. 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 typically valued based on the evaluated prices provided by an independent pricing vendor. 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. Swaps are generally valued using evaluated prices obtained from an independent pricing vendor. Futures contracts are typically valued at the last traded price on the exchange on which they trade.

In certain instances, the Pricing Committee may determine to value equity securities using prices obtained from another exchange or market if trading on the exchange or market on which prices are typically obtained did not open for trading as scheduled, or if trading closed earlier than scheduled, and trading occurred as normal on another exchange or market.

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.

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 and related inputs 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 January 31, 2019, by major security category or type:

                                   
        Total
value at
1-31-19
    Level 1
quoted
price
    Level 2
significant
observable
inputs
    Level 3
significant
unobservable
inputs
 
  Investments in securities:                          
  Assets                          
  Preferred securities                          
        Communication services     $21,972,125     $21,972,125          
        Consumer staples     19,397,625         $19,397,625      
        Energy     5,292,000     5,292,000          
        Financials     225,905,490     225,905,490          
        Industrials     3,433,050     3,433,050          
        Real estate     34,653,344     16,048,354     18,604,990      
        Utilities     239,965,978     215,434,236     24,531,742      
  Common stocks     423,313,310     423,313,310          
  Corporate bonds     110,741,061         110,741,061      
  Short-term investments     1,083,000         1,083,000      
  Total investments in securities     $1,085,756,983     $911,398,565     $174,358,418      
  Derivatives:                          
  Assets                          
  Swap contracts     $1,466,739         $1,466,739      
  Liabilities                          
  Futures     (2,991,656 )   $(2,991,656 )        

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 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 received by the fund for repurchase agreements is disclosed in the Fund's investments as part of the caption related to the repurchase agreement.

       8


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, assets and liabilities resulting from repurchase agreements are not offset. 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.

Derivative instruments. The fund may invest in derivatives in order to meet its investment objective. Derivatives include a variety of different instruments that may be traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) 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.

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 and contract prices that can be highly volatile and imperfectly correlated to movements in the underlying financial instrument. Use of long futures contracts subjects the funds to the risk of loss up to the notional value of the futures contracts. Use of short futures contracts subjects the funds to unlimited risk of loss.

During the period ended January 31, 2019, the fund used futures contracts to manage against anticipated interest rate changes.

Interest rate swaps. Interest rate swaps represent an agreement between the fund and a counterparty to exchange cash flows based on the difference between two interest rates applied to a notional amount. The payment flows are usually netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other. The fund settles accrued net interest receivable or payable under the swap contracts at specified, future intervals. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the OTC market or may be executed on a registered commodities exchange (centrally cleared swaps). Swaps are marked-to-market daily and the change in value is recorded as unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swap contracts. A termination payment by the counterparty or the fund is recorded as realized gain or loss, as well as the net periodic payments received or paid by the fund. The value of the swap will typically impose collateral posting obligations on the party that is considered out-of-the-money on the swap.

During the period ended January 31, 2019, the fund used interest rate swaps to manage against anticipated interest rate changes.

For additional information on the fund's significant accounting policies, please refer to the fund's most recent semiannual or annual shareholder report.

       9


More information

     
How to contact us
Internet www.jhinvestments.com  
Mail Computershare
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, TX 77842-3170
 
Phone Customer service representatives
Portfolio commentary
24-hour automated information
TDD line
800-852-0218
800-344-7054
800-843-0090
800-231-5469

     
  P2Q1 01/19
This report is for the information of the shareholders of John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund.   3/19


ITEM 2. 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-Q, the registrant's principal executive officer and principal accounting 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 last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 3. EXHIBITS.

Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal accounting officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.


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 Premium Dividend Fund
   
By: /s/ Andrew G. Arnott
Andrew G. Arnott
President
 
 
Date:     March 20, 2019

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/ Andrew G. Arnott
Andrew G. Arnott
President
 
 
Date:     March 20, 2019
 
 
By: /s/ Charles A. Rizzo
Charles A. Rizzo
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
Date: March 20, 2019