<PAGE>
------------------------------
OMB APPROVAL
UNITED STATES OMB NUMBER 3235-0145
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION EXPIRES: DECEMBER 31, 1997
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ESTIMATED AVERAGE BURDEN
HOURS PER RESPONSE . . . 14.90
------------------------------
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. __)*
ABC Bancorp
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
000400101
-------------------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement. [X] (A fee
is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement on file
reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7).
*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 10 PAGES
<PAGE>
- ----------------------- ---------------------
CUSIP NO. 000400101 13G PAGE 2 OF 10 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 S.S. OR I.R.S IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company
I.R.S No. 04-1414660
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
N/A (b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Commonwealth of Massachuetts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF -0-
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
OWNED BY -0-
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING -0-
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
-0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock
Advisers, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
See line 9, above
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
IC,BD,IA,HC
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
PAGE 2 OF 10 PAGES
<PAGE>
- ----------------------- ---------------------
CUSIP NO. 000400101 13G PAGE 3 OF 10 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 S.S OR I.R.S IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc.
I.R.S. No. 04-2687223
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
N/A (b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Delaware
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF -0-
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
-0-
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING -0-
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
-0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock
Advisers, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
See line 9, above.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
HC
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
PAGE 3 of 10 PAGES
<PAGE>
- ----------------------- ---------------------
CUSIP NO. 000400101 13G PAGE 4 OF 10 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
John Hancock Asset Management
I.R.S. No. 04-3279774
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
N/A (b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Commonwealth of Massachetts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF -0-
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
-0-
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING -0-
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
-0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock
Advisers, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
See line 9, above.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
HC
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
PAGE 4 OF 10 PAGES
<PAGE>
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CUSIP NO. 000400101 13G PAGE 5 OF 10 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
John Hancock Financial Group
I.R.S. No. 04-3145628
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
N/A (b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Commonwealth of Massachetts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF -0-
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
-0-
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING -0-
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
-0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock
Advisers, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
See line 9, above.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
HC
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
PAGE 5 OF 10 PAGES
<PAGE>
- ----------------------- ---------------------
CUSIP NO. 000400101 13G PAGE 6 OF 10 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
John Hancock Asset Management
I.R.S. No. 04-2441573
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
N/A (b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Delaware
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF 170,000
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
-0-
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING 170,000
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
-0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
170,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
5.0%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
IA
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
PAGE 6 OF 10 PAGES
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The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf
the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is
signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an
executive officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with
the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose
which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference.
The name and any tittle of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or
printed beneath his signature.
Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed
with the Commission.
ATTENTION: INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSIONS OF FACT CONSTITUTE
FEDERAL CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS (SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001)
Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:
--------------
ABC Bancorp
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
-----------------------------------------------
310 First Street, S.E.
Moultrie, GA 31768
Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing:
---------------------
This filing is made on behalf of John Hancock Mutual Life
Insurance Company ("JHMLICO"), JHMLICO's wholly-owned
subsidiary, John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc. ("JHSI"),
JHSI's wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock Asset
Management ("JHAM"), JHAM"s wholly-owned subsidiary, The
Berkeley Financial Group ("TBFG") and TBFG's wholly-owned
subsidiary, John Hancock Advisers, Inc. ("JHA").
Item 2(b) Address of the Principal Offices:
--------------------------------
The principal business offices of JHMLICO, JHSI, and JHAM
are located at John Hancock Place, P.O. Box 111, Boston,
MA 02117. The principal business offices of TBFG and JHA
are located at 101 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02199.
Item 2(c) Citizenship:
-----------
JHMLICO, JHAM and TBFG were organized and exist under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. JHSI and JHA
were organized and exist under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:
----------------------------
Common Stock
Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:
------------
000400101
Item 3 If the Statement is being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b),
----------------------------------------------------------
or 13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:
-------------------------------------------------
JHMLICO: (a) (X) Broker or Dealer registered under (S)15
of the Act.
(c) (X) Insurance Company as defined in
(S)3(a)(19) of the Act.
(e) (X) Investment Adviser registered under
(S)203 of the Investment Advisers Act of
1940.
(g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance
with (S)240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G).
PAGE 7 OF 10 PAGES
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JHSI: (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance
with (S)240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G).
JHAM: (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance
with (S)240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G).
TBFG: (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance
with (S)240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G).
JHA: (e) (X) Investment Adviser registered under
(S)203 of the Investment Advisers Act of
1940.
Item 4 Ownership:
---------
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
-------------------------
JHA has direct beneficial ownership of 170,000 shares
of Common Stock. Through their parent-subsidiary
relationship to JHA, JHMLICO, JHSI, JHAM and TBFG
have indirect beneficial ownership of these same
shares. 40,000 shares are held by the John Hancock
Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund, a closed-end
diversified management company registered under (S) 8
of the Investment Company Act.
130,000 shares are held by the John Hancock Regional
Bank Fund, an open-end diversified management company
registered under (S) 8 of the Investment Company Act.
(b) Percent of Class: 5.0%
----------------
(c) (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote: JHA
has sole power to vote or to direct the vote
of the 170,000 shares of Common Stock under
advisory agreements with the John Hancock Bank
and Thrift Opportunity Fund, dated July 21,
1994 and the John Hancock Regional Bank Fund,
dated November 6, 1986 (amended and restated
on January 1, 1994).
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
-0-
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of: JHA has sole power to dispose
or to direct the disposition of the 170,000
shares of Common Stock under the advisory
agreements noted in item 4(c)(i) above.
(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: See Item 4 above.
------
Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which
---------------------------------------------------------
Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent
-----------------------------------------------------
Holding Company: See Items 3 and 4 above.
---------------
Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
---------------------------------------------------------
Not applicable.
Item 9 Notice of Dissolution of a Group: Not applicable.
--------------------------------
PAGE 8 OF 10 PAGES
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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 in the ordinary course of business
and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have
the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction
having such purpose or effect.
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.
JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ John T. Farady
------------------------------------------
Name: John T. Farady
------------------------------------------
Dated: 2/1/96 Title: Senior Vice President & Treasurer
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------
JOHN HANCOCK SUBSIDIARIES, INC.
By: /s/ John T. Farady
------------------------------------------
Name: John T. Farady
------------------------------------------
Dated: 2/1/96 Title: Treasurer
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------
JOHN HANCOCK ASSET MANAGEMENT
By: /s/ James H. Young
------------------------------------------
Name: James H. Young
------------------------------------------
Dated: 2/1/96 Title: Secretary
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------
THE BERKELEY FINANCIAL GROUP
By: /s/ Susan S. Newton
------------------------------------------
Name: Susan S. Newton
------------------------------------------
Dated: 1/30/96 Title: Vice President
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------
JOHN HANCOCK ADVISERS, INC.
By: /s/ Susan S. Newton
------------------------------------------
Name: Susan S. Newton
------------------------------------------
Dated: 1/30/96 Title: Vice President
- -------------------------- ------------------------------------------
PAGE 9 OF 10 PAGES
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
----------------------
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, John Hancock Subsidiaries,
Inc., John Hancock Asset Management, The Berkeley Financial Group and John
Hancock Advisers, Inc. agree that the Initial Schedule 13G, to which this
Agreement is attached, relating to the Common Stock of ABC Bancorp is filed on
behalf of each of them.
JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ John T. Farady
------------------------------------------
Name: John T. Farady
------------------------------------------
Dated: 2/1/96 Title: Senior Vice President & Treasurer
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------
JOHN HANCOCK SUBSIDIARIES, INC.
By: /s/ John T. Farady
------------------------------------------
Name: John T. Farady
------------------------------------------
Dated: 2/1/96 Title: Treasurer
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------
JOHN HANCOCK ASSET MANAGEMENT
By: /s/ James H. Young
------------------------------------------
Name: James H. Young
------------------------------------------
Dated: 2/1/96 Title: Secretary
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------
THE BERKELEY FINANCIAL GROUP
By: /s/ Susan S. Newton
------------------------------------------
Name: Susan S. Newton
------------------------------------------
Dated: 1/30/96 Title: Vice President
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------
JOHN HANCOCK ADVISERS, INC.
By: /s/ Susan S. Newton
------------------------------------------
Name: Susan S. Newton
------------------------------------------
Dated: 1/30/96 Title: Vice President
- -------------------------- ------------------------------------------
PAGE 10 OF 10 PAGES