SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549



SCHEDULE 13G




Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )*



First Defiance Financial Corp.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

32006W106

(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2013

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:


X

  Rule 13d-1(b)

 

 

 

  Rule 13d-1(c)

 

 

 

  Rule 13d-1(d)


*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.


The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).


PAGE 1 OF 8 PAGES
 

CUSIP No.   32006W106

 

 


1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON


Manulife Financial Corporation

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a)  o

(b)  o

N/A

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION


Canada





Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person

With

5

SOLE VOTING POWER


-0-

6

SHARED VOTING POWER


-0-

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER


-0-

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER


-0-

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON


None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries, Manulife Asset Management (North America) Limited and Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC

10

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*


N/A

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9


See line 9 above.

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*


HC

*SEE INSTRUCTIONS


PAGE 2 OF 8 PAGES
 

CUSIP No.   32006W106

 

 


1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON


Manulife Asset Management (North America) Limited

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a)  o

(b)  o

N/A

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION


Canada





Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person

With

5

SOLE VOTING POWER


3,107

6

SHARED VOTING POWER


-0-

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER


3,107

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER


-0-

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON


3,107

10

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*


N/A

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9


0.03%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*


IA

*SEE INSTRUCTIONS


PAGE 3 OF 8 PAGES
 

CUSIP No.   32006W106

 

 


1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON


Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a)  o

(b)  o

N/A

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION


Delaware





Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person

With

5

SOLE VOTING POWER


525,626

6

SHARED VOTING POWER


-0-

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER


525,626

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER


-0-

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON


525,626

10

CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*


N/A

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9


5.37%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*


IA

*SEE INSTRUCTIONS


PAGE 4 OF 8 PAGES
 

Item 1(a)

Name of Issuer:
First Defiance Financial Corp.


Item 1(b)

Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
601 Clinton Street
Defiance, Ohio  43512


Item 2(a)

Name of Person Filing:
This filing is made on behalf of Manulife Financial Corporation ("MFC") and MFC’s indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries, Manulife Asset Management (North America) Limited ("MAM (NA)") and Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC ("MAM (US)").


Item 2(b)

Address of Principal Business Office:
The principal business offices of MFC and MAM (NA) are located at 200 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4W 1E5.
The principal business office of MAM (US) is located at 197 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.


Item 2(c)

Citizenship:
MFC and MAM (NA) are organized and exist under the laws of Canada.
MAM (US) is organized and exists under the laws of the State of Delaware.


Item 2(d)

Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock


Item 2(e)

CUSIP Number:
32006W106


Item 3

If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:


MFC:

(g) (X)

a parent holding company or control person in
accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).


MAM (NA):

(e) (X)

an investment adviser in accordance with
§240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).


MAM (US):

(e) (X)

an investment adviser in accordance with
§240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).


Item 4

Ownership:

(a)  Amount Beneficially Owned:  MAM (NA) has beneficial ownership of 3,107 shares of Common Stock and MAM (US) has beneficial ownership of 525,626 shares of Common Stock.  Through its parent-subsidiary relationship to MAM (NA) and MAM (US), MFC may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of these same shares.


(b)  Percent of Class:  Of the 9,784,737 shares outstanding as of November 1, 2013 according to the issuer's Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013, MAM (NA) held 0.03% and MAM (US) held 5.37%.


(c)  Number of shares as to which the person has:


(i)

sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
MAM (NA) and MAM (US) each has sole power to vote or to direct the voting of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each of them.


PAGE 5 OF 8 PAGES
 

(ii)

shared power to vote or to direct the vote:  -0-


(iii)

sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
MAM (NA) and MAM (US) each has sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each of them.


(iv)

shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:  -0-


Item 5

Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
Not applicable.


Item 6

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
Not applicable.


Item 7

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person:
See Items 3 and 4 above.


Item 8

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
Not applicable.


Item 9

Notice of Dissolution of Group:
Not applicable.


Item 10

Certification:
By signing below the undersigned certifies that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.


PAGE 6 OF 8 PAGES
 

SIGNATURE


After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.


Manulife Financial Corporation


By:

/s/ Kenneth G. Pogrin

Name:

Kenneth G. Pogrin

Dated:  February 11, 2014

Title:

Attorney in Fact*


Manulife Asset Management (North America) Limited


By:

/s/ Kenneth G. Pogrin

Name:

Kenneth G. Pogrin

Dated:  February 11, 2014

Title:

General Counsel and Secretary


Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC


By:

/s/ William E. Corson

Name:

William E. Corson

Dated:  February 11, 2014

Title:

Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer



* Signed pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated January 17, 2008 included as an Exhibit to Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Manulife Financial Corporation on January 24, 2008.


PAGE 7 OF 8 PAGES
 

EXHIBIT A

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT


Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Asset Management (North America) Limited and Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC agree that the Schedule 13G to which this Agreement is attached, relating to the Common Stock of Heritage Oaks Bancorp, is filed on behalf of each of them.



Manulife Financial Corporation


By:

/s/ Kenneth G. Pogrin

Name:

Kenneth G. Pogrin

Dated:  February 11, 2014

Title:

Attorney in Fact*


Manulife Asset Management (North America) Limited


By:

/s/ Kenneth G. Pogrin

Name:

Kenneth G. Pogrin

Dated:  February 11, 2014

Title:

General Counsel and Secretary


Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC


By:

/s/ William E. Corson

Name:

William E. Corson

Dated:  February 11, 2014

Title:

Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer


* Signed pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated January 17, 2008 included as an Exhibit to Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Manulife Financial Corporation on January 24, 2008.


PAGE 8 OF 8 PAGES