FILE NO. 33-5186
FILE NO. 811-4651
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (X)
Pre-Effective Amendment No. ( )
Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 (X)
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 (X)
Amendment No. 24 (X)
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JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7603
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, (617) 375-1700
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SUSAN S. NEWTON
Vice President and Secretary
John Hancock Advisers, Inc.
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
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It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
( ) immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
(X) on August 30, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
( ) 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485
( ) on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485
Pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Registrant has
registered an indefinite number of securities under the Securities Act of 1933.
The Registrant filed the notice required by Rule 24f-2 for the most recent
fiscal year of John Hancock Strategic Income Fund on or about July 26, 1996. The
Registrant filed the notice required by Rule 24f-2 for the most recent fiscal
year of John Hancock Sovereign U.S. Government Income Fund on or about December
26, 1995.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Item Number Form N-1A, Statement of Additional
Part A Prospectus Caption Information Caption
------ ------------------ -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
1 Front Cover Page *
2 Overview; Investor Expenses; *
3 Financial Highlights *
4 Overview; Goal and Strategy; Portfolio *
Securities; Risk Factors; Business
Structure; More About Risk
5 Overview; Business Structure; *
Manager/Subadviser; Investor Expenses
6 Choosing a Share Class; Buying Shares; *
Selling Shares; Transaction Policies;
Dividends and Account Policies;
Additional Investor Services
7 Choosing a Share Class; How Sales Charges *
are Calculated; Sales Charge Deductions
and Waivers; Opening an Account; Buying
Shares; Transaction Policies; Additional
Investor Services
8 Selling Shares; Transaction Policies; *
Dividends and Account Policies
9 Not Applicable *
10 * Front Cover Page
11 * Table of Contents
12 * Organization of the Fund
13 * Investment Objectives and Policies;
Certain Investment Practices;
Investment Restrictions
14 * Those Responsible for Management
15 * Those Responsible for Management
16 * Investment Advisory; Subadvisory
and Other Services; Distribution
Contract; Transfer Agent Services;
Custody of Portfolio; Independent
Auditors
17 * Brokerage Allocation
18 * Description of Fund's Shares
19 * Net Asset Value; Additional
Services and Programs
20 * Tax Status
21 * Distribution Contract
22 * Calculation of Performance
23 * Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
John Hancock
Income Funds
[Logo]
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Prospectus
August 30, 1996
This prospectus gives vital information about these funds. For your own benefit
and protection, please read it before you invest, and keep it on hand for future
reference.
Please note that these funds:
o are not bank deposits
o are not federally insured
o are not endorsed by any bank
or government agency
o are not guaranteed to achieve their goal(s)
Some of these funds may invest up to 100% in junk bonds; read risk information
carefully.
Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved
or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities
commission, nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state
securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Government Income Fund
High Yield Bond Fund
Intermediate Maturity
Government Fund
Limited-Term Government Fund
Sovereign Bond Fund
Sovereign U.S. Government
Income Fund
Strategic Income Fund
[Logo] John Hancock Funds
A Global Investment Management Firm
101 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7603
<PAGE>
Contents
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A fund-by-fund look Government Income Fund 4
at goals, High Yield Bond Fund 6
strategies, risks, Intermediate Maturity Government Fund 8
expenses and Limited-Term Government Fund 10
financial history. Sovereign Bond Fund 12
Sovereign U.S. Government Income Fund 14
Strategic Income Fund 16
Policies and Your account
instructions for Choosing a share class 18
opening, maintaining How sales charges are calculated 18
and closing an Sales charge reductions and waivers 19
account in any Opening an account 20
income fund. Buying shares 21
Selling shares 22
Transaction policies 24
Dividends and account policies 24
Additional investor services 25
Details that apply Fund details
to the income funds Business structure 26
as a group. Sales compensation 27
More about risk 29
For more information back cover
<PAGE>
Overview
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FUND INFORMATION KEY
Concise fund-by-fund descriptions begin on the next page. Each description
provides the following information:
[Icon]Goal and strategy The fund's particular investment goals and the
strategies it intends to use in pursuing those goals.
[Icon]Portfolio securities The primary types of securities in which the fund
invests. Secondary investments are described in "More about risk" at the end of
the prospectus.
[Icon]Risk factors The major risk factors associated with the fund.
[Icon]Portfolio management The individual or group designated by the investment
adviser to handle the fund's day-to-day management.
[Icon]Expenses The overall costs borne by an investor in the fund, including
sales charges and annual expenses.
[Icon]Financial highlights A table showing the fund's financial performance for
up to ten years, by share class. A bar chart showing total return allows you to
compare the fund's historical risk level to those of other funds.
GOAL OF THE INCOME FUNDS
John Hancock income funds seek current income without
sacrificing total return. Some of the funds also invest for
stability of principal. Each fund employs its own strategy and has its own
risk/reward profile. Because you could lose money by investing in these funds,
be sure to read all risk disclosure carefully before investing.
WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST
These funds may be appropriate for investors who:
o are seeking a regular stream of income
o are seeking higher potential returns than money market funds and are
willing to accept moderate risk of volatility
o want to diversify their portfolios
o are seeking a mutual fund for the income portion of an asset allocation
portfolio
o are retired or nearing retirement
Income funds may NOT be appropriate if you:
o are investing for maximum return over a long time horizon
o require absolute stability of your principal
THE MANAGEMENT FIRM
All John Hancock income funds are managed by John Hancock Advisers, Inc. Founded
in 1968, John Hancock Advisers is a wholly owned subsidiary of John Hancock
Mutual Life Insurance Company and manages more than $19 billion in assets.
<PAGE>
Government Income Fund
REGISTRANT NAME: JOHN HANCOCK BOND TRUST
TICKER SYMBOL CLASS A: JHGIX CLASS B: TSGIX
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GOAL AND STRATEGY
[Icon] The fund seeks to earn a high level of current income consistent with
preservation of capital. To pursue this goal, the fund invests primarily in U.S.
Government and agency securities of any maturity, as described below. Stability
of share price is a secondary goal.
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
[Icon]Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of assets in
securities that are issued, or guaranteed as to principal and interest, by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. These may include
Treasuries, mortgage-backed securities such as Ginnie Maes and Fannie Maes, and
repurchase agreements and forward commitments involving these securities.
For liquidity and flexibility, the fund may place up to 20% of assets in
investment-grade short-term securities. In abnormal market conditions, it may
invest more assets in these securities as a defensive tactic. The fund also may
invest in certain higher-risk investments, including asset-backed
securities,U.S. dollar-denominated foreign government securities and derivative
and leveraged investments, and may engage in other investment practices.
Investments in asset-backed and foreign government securities must be in the two
highest and four highest rating categories respectively, or if unrated, be of
comparable quality. Up to 10% of assets may be invested in foreign government
bonds rated BB/Ba or B (junk bonds).
RISK FACTORS
[Icon]As with most income funds, the value of your investment in the fund will
fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates
causes a decline in the market value of debt securities (including U.S.
Government and mortgage-backed securities). To the extent that the fund invests
in mortgage-backed securities, it may also be subject to extension and
prepayment risks. These risks are defined in "More about risk" starting on page
29. Other factors may affect the market price and yield of the fund's
securities, including investor demand and domestic and worldwide economic
conditions.
The U.S. Government does not guarantee the market value or the current yield of
government securities, nor does the government's guarantee in any way extend to
the fund itself. Please read "More about risk" carefully before investing.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
[Icon]Barry H. Evans, leader of the fund's portfolio management team since
January 1995, is a senior vice president of the adviser. He has been in the
investment business since joining John Hancock Funds in 1986.
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INVESTOR EXPENSES
[Icon]Fund investors pay various expenses, either directly or indirectly. The
figures below show the expenses for the past year, adjusted to reflect any
changes. Future expenses may be greater or less.
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Shareholder transaction expenses Class A Class B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) 4.50% none
Maximum sales charge imposed on
reinvested dividends none none
Maximum deferred sales charge none(1) 5.00%
Redemption fee(2) none none
Exchange fee none none
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Annual fund operating expenses (as a % of average net assets)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee 0.63% 0.63%
12b-1 fee(3) 0.25% 1.00%
Other expenses 0.27% 0.27%
Total fund operating expenses 1.15% 1.90%
Example The table below shows what you would pay
if you invested $1,000 over the various time frames indicated. The example
assumes you reinvested all dividends and that the average annual return was 5%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share class Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A shares $56 $80 $105 $178
Class B shares
Assuming redemption
at end of period $69 $90 $123 $203
Assuming no redemption $19 $60 $103 $203
This example is for comparison purposes only and is not a representation of the
fund's actual expenses and returns, either past or future.
(1) Except for investments of $1 million or more; see "How sales charges are
calculated."
(2) Does not include wire redemption fee (currently $4.00).
(3) Because of the 12b-1 fee, long-term shareholders may indirectly pay more
than the equivalent of the maximum permitted front-end sales charge.
4 GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
<PAGE>
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
[Icon]The figures below have been audited
by the fund's independent auditors, Ernst & Young LLP.
[The table below was represented by a bar graph in the printed material]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Volatility, as indicated by Class B
year-by-year total investment return (%) 2.40(6) 10.22 3.71 14.38 8.81 9.86 (6.42) 14.49 (0.58)(6)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A - year ended October 31, 1994(1) 1995(2) 1996(3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 8.85 $ 8.75 $ 9.32
Net investment income (loss) 0.06 0.72 0.32
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (0.10) 0.57 (0.34)
Total from investment operations (0.04) 1.29 (0.02)
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.06) (0.72) (0.32)
Net asset value, end of period $ 8.75 $ 9.32 $ 8.98
Total investment return at net asset value(4,5) (%) (0.45) 15.32 (0.23)
Total adjusted investment return at net asset value(4,7) (%) -- 15.28 --
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 223 470,569 419,147
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 0.12(6) 1.19(5) 1.16(8)
Ratio of adjusted expenses to average net assets (%) -- 1.23 --
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) 0.71(6) 7.38(5) 6.99(8)
Ratio of adjusted net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) -- 7.34 --
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 92 102 49
Fee reduction per share ($) 0.01(8) 0.004 --
Debt outstanding at end of period(10) (000s omitted) ($) 0.0 0 0
Average daily amount of debt outstanding during
the period (000s omitted)(10) ($) 349 N/A N/A
Average monthly number of shares outstanding during
the period (000s omitted) 28,696 N/A N/A
Average daily amount of debt outstanding per share
during the period(10) ($) 0.01 N/A N/A
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Class B - year ended October 31, 1988(1) 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995(2) 1996(3)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.58 $ 10.01 $ 9.98 $ 9.37 $ 9.79 $ 9.83 $ 10.05 $ 8.75 $ 9.32
Net investment income (loss) 0.69(11) 0.98 0.88 0.89 0.80 0.70 0.65 0.65 0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments (0.45) (0.01) (0.54) 0.40 0.03 0.24 (1.28) 0.57 (0.34)
Total from investment operations 0.24 0.97 0.34 1.29 0.83 0.94 (0.63) 1.22 (0.05)
Less distributions
Dividends from net investment income (0.64) (1.00) (0.95) (0.87) (0.79) (0.72) (0.65) (0.65) (0.29)
Distributions from net realized gain
on investments sold (0.17) -- -- -- -- -- (0.02) -- --
Total distributions (0.81) (1.00) (0.95) (0.87) (0.79) (0.72) (0.67) (0.65) (0.29)
Net asset value, end of period $ 10.01 $ 9.98 $ 9.37 $ 9.79 $ 9.83 $ 10.05 $ 8.75 $ 9.32 $ 8.98
Total investment return at
net asset value(4,5) (%) 2.40(6) 10.22 3.71 14.38 8.81 9.86 (6.42) 14.49 (0.58)(6)
Total adjusted investment return
at net asset value(4,7) (%) 1.02(6) 9.40 3.67 -- 8.66 9.85 (6.43) 14.47 --
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets end of period
(000s omitted) ($) 6,966 26,568 64,707 129,014 225,540 293,413 241,061 226,954 199,361
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (%) 1.38(6) 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00(5) 2.00(5) 1.93(5) 1.89(5) 1.85(8)
Ratio of adjusted expenses
to average net assets (%) 2.76(6) 2.82 2.04 -- 2.15 2.01 1.94 1.91 --
Ratio of net investment income
(loss) to average net assets (%) 6.34(6) 9.64 9.22 9.09 8.03(5) 7.06(5) 6.98(5) 7.26(5) 6.28(8)
Ratio of adjusted net investment income
(loss) to average net assets (%) 4.96(6) 8.82 9.18 -- 7.88 7.05 6.97 7.24 --
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 174 151 83 162 112 138 92 102 49
Fee reduction per share ($) 0.15 0.08 0.004 -- 0.01 0.001 0.001 0.002 --
Debt outstanding at end of period
(000s omitted)(10) ($) -- -- -- -- 0 0 0 0 0
Average daily amount of debt
outstanding during the
period (000s omitted)(10) ($) -- -- -- -- 6,484 503 349 N/A N/A
Average monthly number of shares
outstanding during
the period (000s omitted) -- -- -- -- 18,572 26,378 28,696 N/A N/A
Average daily amount of debt
outstanding per share
during the period(10) ($) -- -- -- -- 0.35 0.02 0.01 N/A N/A
</TABLE>
(1) Class A and Class B shares commenced operations on September 30, 1994 and
February 23, 1988, respectively.
(2) On December 22, 1994, John Hancock Advisers, Inc. became the investment
adviser of the fund.
(3) Six months ended April 30, 1996. (Unaudited.)
(4) Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales
charges.
(5) Excludes interest expense, which equals 0.04% for Class A for the year
ended October 31, 1995 and 0.15%, 0.01%, 0.01% and 0.02% for Class B for
the years ended October 31, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
(6) Not annualized.
(7) An estimated total return calculation that does not take into consideration
fee reductions by the adviser during the periods shown.
(8) Annualized.
(9) Less than one cent per share.
(10) Debt outstanding consists of reverse repurchase agreements entered into
during the year.
(11) Based on the average of the shares outstanding at the end of each month.
GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND 5
<PAGE>
HIGH YIELD BOND FUND
REGISTRANT NAME: JOHN HANCOCK BOND TRUST
TICKER SYMBOL CLASS A: JHHBX CLASS B: TSHYX
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GOAL AND STRATEGY
[Icon]The fund seeks to maximize current income without assuming undue risk. To
pursue this goal, the fund invests primarily in junk bonds, i.e. lower-rated,
higher-yielding debt securities.
Because the performance of junk bonds has historically been influenced by
economic conditions, the fund may rotate securities selection by business sector
according to the economic outlook.
The fund also seeks capital appreciation, but only when consistent with its
primary goal.
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
[Icon]Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 65% of assets in
bonds rated lower than BBB/Baa and their unrated equivalents. Up to 10% of
assets may be invested in bonds rated CC/Ca. Up to 40% of assets may be invested
in the securities of issuers in the electric utility and telephone industries.
For all other industries, the limitation is 25% of assets.
Types of bonds include, but are not limited to, domestic and foreign corporate
bonds, debentures, notes, convertible securities, preferred stocks, municipal
obligations and government obligations.
For liquidity and flexibility, the fund may place up to 35% of assets in
investment-grade short-term securities. In abnormal market conditions, it may
invest more assets in these securities as a defensive tactic. The fund also may
invest in certain higher-risk investments, including restricted securities, and
may engage in other investment practices.
RISK FACTORS
[Icon]Investors should expect greater fluctuations in share price, yield and
total return compared to less aggressive bond funds. These fluctuations, whether
positive or negative, may be sharp and unanticipated.
Issuers of junk bonds are typically in weak financial health and their ability
to pay interest and principal is uncertain. Compared to issuers of
investment-grade bonds, they are more likely to encounter financial difficulties
and to be materially affected by these difficulties when they do encounter them.
Junk bond markets may react strongly to adverse news about an issuer or the
economy, or to the perception or expectation of adverse news. Before you invest,
please read "More about risk" starting on page 29.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
[Icon]Arthur N. Calavritinos, leader of the fund's portfolio management team
since July 1995, is a second vice president of the adviser. He joined John
Hancock Funds in 1988 and has been in the investment business since 1987.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR EXPENSES
[Icon]Fund investors pay various expenses, either directly or indirectly. The
figures below show the expenses for the past year, adjusted to reflect any
changes. Future expenses may be greater or less.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder transaction expenses Class A Class B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) 4.50% none
Maximum sales charge imposed on
reinvested dividends none none
Maximum deferred sales charge none(1) 5.00%
Redemption fee(2) none none
Exchange fee none none
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual fund operating expenses (as a % of average net assets)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee 0.58% 0.58%
12b-1 fee(3) 0.25% 1.00%
Other expenses 0.35% 0.35%
Total fund operating expenses 1.18% 1.93%
Example The table below shows what you would pay if you invested $1,000 over the
various time frames indicated. The example assumes you reinvested all dividends
and that the average annual return was 5%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share class Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A shares $ 56 $ 81 $107 $182
Class B shares
Assuming redemption
at end of period $ 70 $ 91 $124 $206
Assuming no redemption $ 20 $ 61 $104 $206
This example is for comparison purposes only and is not a representation of the
fund's actual expenses and returns, either past or future.
(1) Except for investments of $1 million or more; see "How sales charges are
calculated."
(2) Does not include wire redemption fee (currently $4.00).
(3) Because of the 12b-1 fee, long-term shareholders may indirectly pay more
than the equivalent of the maximum permitted front-end sales charge.
6 HIGH YIELD BOND FUND
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
[Icon]The figures below have been audited
by the fund's independent auditors, Ernst & Young LLP.
[The table below was represented by a bar graph in the printed material]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Volatility, as indicated by Class B (0.10)(6) 9.77 (4.51) (8.04) 34.21 11.56 21.76 (1.33) 7.97 8.30(6)
year-by-year total investment return (%)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A - year ended October 31, 1993(1) 1994 1995(2) 1996(3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 8.10 $ 8.23 $ 7.33 $ 7.20
Net investment income (loss) 0.33 0.80(4) 0.72 0.36(4)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 0.09 (0.83) (0.12) 0.25
Total from investment operations 0.42 (0.03) 0.6 0.61
Less distributions:)
Dividends from net investment income (0.29) (0.82) (0.73) (0.36)
Distributions from net realized gain on investments sold -- (0.05) -- --
Total distributions (0.29) (0.87) (0.73) (0.36)
Net asset value, end of period $ 8.23 $ 7.33 $ 7.20 $ 7.45
Total investment return at net asset value(5) (%) 4.96(6) (0.59) 8.83 8.67(6)
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 2,344 11,696 26,452 36,452
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 0.91(7) 1.16 1.16 1.13(7)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) 12.89(7) 10.14 10.23 9.94(7)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 204 153 98 56
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B - year ended October 31, 1987(1) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995(2) 1996(3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 9.95 $ 9.94 $ 9.70 $ 8.14 $ 6.45 $ 7.44 $ 7.43 $ 8.23 $ 7.33 $ 7.20
Net investment income (loss) 0.01 1.07(4) 1.16 1.09 0.98 0.87 0.80 0.74(4) 0.67 0.33(4)
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments (0.02) (0.14) (1.55) (1.68) 1.06 (0.04) 0.75 (0.83) (0.13) 0.26
Total from investment operations (0.01) 0.93 (0.39) (0.59) 2.04 0.83 1.55 (0.09) 0.54 0.59
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income -- (1.17) (1.14) (1.09) (0.98) (0.84) (0.75) (0.76) (0.67) (0.34)
Distributions from net realized gain
on investments sold -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (0.05) -- --
Distributions from capital paid-in -- -- (0.03) (0.01) (0.07) -- -- -- -- --
Total distributions -- (1.17) (1.17) (1.10) (1.05) (0.84) (0.75) (0.81) (0.67) (0.34)
Net asset value, end of period $ 9.94 $ 9.70 $ 8.14 $ 6.45 $ 7.44 $ 7.43 $ 8.23 $ 7.33 $ 7.20 $ 7.45
Total investment return at net
asset value(5) (%) (0.10)(6) 9.77 (4.51) (8.04) 34.21 11.56 21.76 (1.33) 7.97 8.30(6)
Total adjusted investment return at
net asset value(5,8) (%) (0.41)(6) 9.01 (4.82) (8.07) -- -- -- -- -- --
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period
(000s omitted) ($) 110 20,852 33,964 37,097 72,023 98,560 154,214 160,739 180,586 191,964
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (%) 0.03(7) 2.00 2.20 2.22 2.24 2.25 2.08 1.91 1.89 1.83(7)
Ratio of adjusted expenses to average
net assets(9) (%) 0.34(7) 2.76 2.51 2.25 -- -- -- -- -- --
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (%) 0.09(7) 10.97 12.23 14.59 13.73 11.09 10.07 9.39 9.42 9.16(7)
Ratio of adjusted net investment income
(loss) to average
net assets(9) (%) (0.22)(7) 10.21 11.92 14.56 -- -- -- -- -- --
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 0 60 100 96 93 206 204 153 98 56
Fee reduction per share ($) 0.03 0.07 0.03 0.002 -- -- -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
(1) Class A and Class B shares commenced operations on June 30, 1993 and
October 26, 1987, respectively.
(2) On December 22, 1994, John Hancock Advisers, Inc. became the investment
adviser of the fund.
(3) Six months ended April 30, 1996. (Unaudited.)
(4) Based on the average of the shares outstanding at the end of each month.
(5) Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales
charges.
(6) Not annualized.
(7) Annualized.
(8) An estimated total return calculation that does not take into consideration
fee reductions by the adviser during the periods shown.
(9) Unreimbursed, without fee reduction.
HIGH YIELD BOND FUND 7
<PAGE>
Intermediate Maturity Government Fund
REGISTRANT NAME: JOHN HANCOCK BOND TRUST
TICKER SYMBOL CLASS A: TAUSX CLASS B: TSUSX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOAL AND STRATEGY
[Icon]The fund seeks to earn a high level of current income consistent with
preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity. To pursue this goal, the
fund invests primarily in U.S. Government securities of
any maturity, as described below. The fund's weighted average
maturity will typically be between three and ten years.
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
[Icon]Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 65% of assets
in securities that are issued, or guaranteed as to principal and interest, by
the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. These may include
Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities such as Ginnie Maes and Fannie Maes.
The fund may invest up to 35% in asset-backed securities or corporate debt
securities rated AAA/Aaa and their unrated equivalents.
For liquidity and flexibility, the fund may place up to 35% of assets in
investment-grade short-term securities. In abnormal market conditions, it may
invest more assets in these securities as a defensive tactic. The fund also may
invest in certain higher-risk investments, including derivative and leveraged
investments, and may engage in other investment practices.
RISK FACTORS
[Icon]As with most income funds, the value of your investment in the fund will
fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates
causes a decline in the market value of debt securities (including U.S.
Government and mortgage-backed securities). To the extent that the fund invests
in mortgage-backed securities, it may also be subject to extension and
prepayment risks. These risks are defined in "More about risk" starting on page
29. Other factors may affect the market price and yield of the fund's
securities, including investor demand and domestic and worldwide economic
conditions.
The U.S. Government does not guarantee the market value or the current yield of
government securities, nor does the government's guarantee in any way extend to
the fund itself. Please read "More about risk" carefully before investing.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
[Icon]Roger C. Hamilton, leader of the fund's portfolio management team since
January 1992 (with the fund's previous adviser), is a vice president of the
adviser. He joined John Hancock Funds in December 1994 and has been in the
investment business since 1980.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR EXPENSES
[Icon]Fund investors pay various expenses, either directly or indirectly. The
figures below show the expenses for the past year, adjusted to reflect any
changes. Future expenses may be greater or less.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder transaction expenses Class A Class B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) 3.00% none
Maximum sales charge imposed on
reinvested dividends none none
Maximum deferred sales charge none(1) 3.00%
Redemption fee(2) none none
Exchange fee none none
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual fund operating expenses (as a % of average net assets)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee (after expense limitation)(3) 0.00% 0.00%
12b-1 fee(4) 0.25% 0.90%
Other expenses (after limitation)(3) 0.50% 0.50%
Total fund operating expenses (after limitation)(3) 0.75% 1.40%
(1) Except for investments of $1 million or more; see "How sales charges are
calculated."
(2) Does not include wire redemption fee (currently $4.00).
Example The table below shows what you would pay if you invested $1,000 over the
various time frames indicated. The example assumes you reinvested all dividends
and that the average annual return was 5%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share class Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A shares $37 $53 $70 $120
Class B shares
Assuming redemption
at end of period $44 $64 $69 $118
Assuming no redemption $14 $44 $69 $118
This example is for comparison purposes only and is not a representation of the
fund's actual expenses and returns, either past or future.
(3) Reflects the adviser's temporary agreement to limit expenses (except for
12b-1 and other class-specific expenses). Without this limitation,
management fees would be 0.40% for each class, other expenses would be
0.72% for each class and total fund operating expenses would be 1.37% for
Class A and 2.02% for Class B.
(4) Class B fee will be increased from 0.90% to 1.00% after December 23, 1996.
Because of the 12b-1 fee, long-term shareholders may indirectly pay more
than the equivalent of the maximum permitted front-end sales charge.
8 INTERMEDIATE MATURITY GOVERNMENT FUND
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
[Icon]The figures below have been audited by the fund's independent auditors,
Ernst & Young LLP.
[The table below was represented by a bar graph in the printed material]
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Volatility, as indicated by Class A
year-by-year total investment return (%) 1.96(4) 6.08 2.51 3.98 5.60
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A - year ended March 31, 1992(1) 1993 1994 1995(2) 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.00 $ 10.03 $ 10.05 $ 9.89 $ 9.79
Net investment income (loss) 0.17 0.58 0.41 0.49 0.62
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 0.03 0.02 (0.16) (0.11) (0.08)
Total from investment operations 0.20 0.60 0.25 0.38 0.54
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.17) (0.58) (0.41) (0.48) (0.64)
Net asset value, end of period $ 10.03 $ 10.05 $ 9.89 $ 9.79 $ 9.69
Total investment return at net asset value(3) (%) 1.96(4) 6.08 2.51 3.98 5.60
Total adjusted investment return at net asset value(3,5) 0.84(4) 5.53 2.27 3.43 4.83
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 13,775 33,273 24,310 12,950 29,024
Ratio of expenses to average net assets(6) (%) 0.50(7) 0.50 0.75 0.80 0.75
Ratio of adjusted expenses to average net assets(6,8) (%) 1.62(7) 1.05 0.99 1.35 1.45
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) 6.47(7) 5.47 4.09 4.91 6.49
Ratio of adjusted net investment income (loss) to average assets(8) (%) 5.35(7) 4.92 3.85 4.36 5.79
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 1 186 244 341 423
Fee reduction per share ($) 0.11(7) 0.06 0.02 0.05 0.07
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B - year ended March 31, 1992(1) 1993 1994 1995(2) 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.00 $ 10.03 $ 10.05 $ 9.89 $ 9.79
Net investment income (loss) 0.15 0.51 0.34 0.43 0.57
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 0.03 0.02 (0.16) (0.11) (0.10)
Total from investment operations 0.18 0.53 0.18 0.32 0.47
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.15) (0.51) (0.34) (0.42) (0.57)
Net asset value, end of period $ 10.03 $ 10.05 $ 9.89 $ 9.79 $ 9.69
Total investment return at net asset value(3) (%) 1.80(4) 5.40 1.85 3.33 4.92
Total adjusted investment return at net asset value(3,5) 0.68(4) 4.85 1.61 2.78 4.15
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 1,630 13,753 11,626 9,506 8,532
Ratio of expenses to average net assets(6) (%) 1.15(7) 1.15 1.40 1.45 1.40
Ratio of adjusted expenses to average net assets(6,8) (%) 2.27(7) 1.70 1.64 2.00 2.10
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) 5.85(7) 4.82 3.44 4.26 5.80
Ratio of adjusted net investment income (loss) to average assets(8) (%) 4.73(7) 4.27 3.20 3.71 5.10
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 1 186 244 341 423
Fee reduction per share ($) 0.11(7) 0.06 0.02 0.05 0.07
</TABLE>
(1) Class A and Class B shares commenced operations on December 31, 1991.
(2) On December 22, 1994, John Hancock Advisers, Inc. became the investment
adviser of the fund.
(3) Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales
charges.
(4) Not annualized.
(5) An estimated total return calculation that does not take into consideration
fee reductions by the adviser during the periods shown.
(6) Beginning on December 31, 1991 (commencement of operations) through March
31, 1995, the expenses used in the ratios represented the expenses of the
fund plus expenses incurred indirectly from the Adjustable U.S. Government
fund (the "Portfolio"), the mutual fund in which the fund invested all of
its assets. The expenses used in the ratios for the fiscal year ended March
31, 1996 include the expenses of the Portfolio through September 22, 1995.
(7) Annualized.
(8) Unreimbursed, without fee reduction.
INTERMEDIATE MATURITY GOVERNMENT FUND 9
<PAGE>
Limited-Term Government Fund
REGISTRANT NAME: JOHN HANCOCK LIMITED-TERM GOVERNMENT FUND
TICKER SYMBOL CLASS A: JHNLX CLASS B: JHLBX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOAL AND STRATEGY
[Icon]The fund seeks to provide current income and security of principal. To
pursue this goal, the fund invests primarily in U.S. Government and agency
securities, as described below. The fund's securities may be of any maturity,
although a substantial portion typically will have maturities of ten years or
less.
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
[Icon]Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of assets in
securities that are issued, or guaranteed as to principal and interest, by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. These may include Treasuries
and mortgage-backed securities such as Ginnie Maes and Fannie Maes.
For liquidity and flexibility, the fund may place up to 20% of assets in
investment-grade short-term securities. In abnormal market conditions, it may
invest more assets in these securities as a defensive tactic. The fund also may
invest in certain higher-risk investments, and may engage in other investment
practices.
RISK FACTORS
[Icon]In seeking to maintain a relatively stable share price, the fund may
sacrifice opportunities for higher yields. At the same time, its share price
will fluctuate to some extent with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise
in interest rates causes a decline in the market value of debt securities
(including U.S. Government and mortgage-backed securities). To the extent that
the fund invests in mortgage-backed securities, it may also be subject to
extension and prepayment risks. These risks are defined in "More about risk"
starting on page 29.
Other factors may affect the market price and yield of the fund's securities,
including investor demand and domestic and worldwide economic conditions. The
U.S. Government does not guarantee the market value or the current yield of
government securities, nor does the government's guarantee in any way extend to
the fund itself. Please read "More about risk" carefully before investing.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
[Icon]Barry H. Evans, leader of the fund's portfolio management team since
January 1995, is a senior vice president of the adviser. He has been in the
investment business since joining John Hancock Funds in 1986.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR EXPENSES
[Icon]Fund investors pay various expenses, either directly or indirectly. The
figures below show the expenses for the past year, adjusted to reflect any
changes. Future expenses may be greater or less.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder transaction expenses Class A Class B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) 3.00% none
Maximum sales charge imposed on
reinvested dividends none none
Maximum deferred sales charge none(1) 3.00%
Redemption fee(2) none none
Exchange fee none none
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual fund operating expenses (as a % of average net assets)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee 0.60% 0.60%
12b-1 fee(3) 0.30% 1.00%
Other expenses 0.47% 0.47%
Total fund operating expenses 1.37% 2.07%
Example The table below shows what you would pay if you invested $1,000 over the
various time frames indicated. The example assumes you reinvested all dividends
and that the average annual return was 5%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share class Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A shares $44 $72 $103 $190
Class B shares
Assuming redemption
at end of period $51 $85 $111 $198
Assuming no redemption $21 $65 $111 $198
This example is for comparison purposes only and is not a representation of the
fund's actual expenses and returns, either past or future.
(1) Except for investments of $1 million or more; see "How sales charges are
calculated."
(2) Does not include wire redemption fee (currently $4.00).
(3) Because of the 12b-1 fee, long-term shareholders may indirectly pay more
than the equivalent of the maximum permitted front-end sales charge.
10 LIMITED-TERM GOVERNMENT FUND
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
[Icon]The figures below have been audited by the fund's independent auditors,
Ernst & Young LLP.
[The table below was represented by a bar graph in the printed material]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Volatility, as indicated by Class A
year-by-year total investment return (%) 14.59 (0.49) 5.67 11.59 7.75 12.54 4.19 7.13 (1.31) 11.23
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A - year ended December 31, 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 9.24 $ 9.71 $ 8.83 $ 8.56 $ 8.73 $ 8.61 $ 8.97 $ 8.77 $ 8.80 $ 8.31
Net investment income (loss) 0.83 0.78 0.77 0.79 0.74 0.67 0.54 0.48 0.38(1) 0.50(1)
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments 0.47 (0.83) (0.28) 0.18 (0.11) 0.36 (0.18) 0.14 (0.49) 0.42
Total from investment operations 1.30 (0.05) 0.49 0.97 0.63 1.03 0.36 0.62 (0.11) 0.92
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.83) (0.83) (0.76) (0.80) (0.75) (0.67) (0.54) (0.48) (0.38) (0.50)
Distributions from net realized
gain on investments sold -- -- -- -- -- -- (0.02) (0.11) -- --
Total distributions (0.83) (0.83) (0.76) (0.80) (0.75) (0.67) (0.56) (0.59) (0.38) (0.50)
Net asset value, end of period $ 9.71 $ 8.83 $ 8.56 $ 8.73 $ 8.61 $ 8.97 $ 8.77 $ 8.80 $ 8.31 $ 8.73
Total investment return at net
asset value(2) (%) 14.59 (0.49) 5.67 11.59 7.75 12.54 4.19 7.13 (1.31) 11.23
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period
(000s omitted) ($) 201,293 202,924 192,315 179,065 176,329 211,322 259,170 262,903 218,846 198,681
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (%) 0.90 0.97 1.02 1.01 1.53 1.44 1.55 1.51 1.41 1.36
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (%) 8.82 8.52 8.71 8.98 8.56 7.72 6.13 5.34 4.39 5.76
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 6 7 12 26 75 134 185 175 155 105
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B - year ended December 31, 1994(3) 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 8.77 $ 8.31
Net investment income (loss) 0.30(1) 0.45(1)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment (0.46) 0.42
Total from investment operations (0.16) 0.87
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.30) (0.45)
Net asset value, end of period $ 8.31 $ 8.73
Total investment return at net asset value(2) (%) (1.84)(4) 10.60
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 7,111 10,765
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 2.12(5) 1.93
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets (%) 3.70(5) 5.21
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 155 105
(1) Based on the average of the shares outstanding at the end of each month.
(2) Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales
charges.
(3) Class B shares commenced operations on January 3, 1994.
(4) Not annualized.
(5) Annualized.
LIMITED-TERM GOVERNMENT FUND 11
<PAGE>
Sovereign Bond Fund
REGISTRANT NAME: SOVEREIGN BOND FUND
TICKER SYMBOL CLASS A: JHNBX CLASS B: JHBBX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOAL AND STRATEGY
[Icon]The fund seeks to generate a high level of current income consistent with
prudent investment risk. To pursue this goal, the fund invests in a diversified
portfolio of marketable debt securities. These securities are primarily
investment grade, although up to 25% of them may be junk bonds rated as low as
CC/Ca and their unrated equivalents. The fund does not concentrate its
investments in any particular industry.
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
[Icon]Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 65% of assets in
corporate and government bonds and debentures. Typically, at least
three-quarters of these debt securities (excluding commercial paper) will be:
o securities of any type of issuer that are rated among the four highest
Moody's or S&P rating categories and their unrated equivalents
o U.S. Government and agency securities
The fund may invest up to 25% of assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign
securities.
For liquidity and flexibility, the fund may place up to 35% of assets in
investment-grade short-term securities. In abnormal market conditions, it may
invest more assets in these securities as a defensive tactic. The fund also may
invest in certain higher-risk investments, including asset-backed securities and
derivatives and leveraged investments, and may engage in other investment
practices.
RISK FACTORS
[Icon]Investors should expect fluctuations in share price, yield and total
return, particularly with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in
interest rates causes a decline in the market value of debt securities. To the
extent that it invests in certain securities, the fund may be affected by
additional risks:
o junk bonds: above-average credit, market and other risks
o foreign securities: currency, information, natural event and political
risks
o mortgage-backed securities: extension and prepayment risks
These risks are defined in "More about risk" starting on page 29. The longer the
fund's average weighted maturity, the more it is likely to be affected by a
change in interest rates. Please read "More about risk" carefully before
investing.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
[Icon]James K. Ho, leader of the fund's portfolio management team since March
1988, is an executive vice president of the adviser. He joined John Hancock
Funds in 1985 and has been in the investment business since 1977.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR EXPENSES
[Icon]Fund investors pay various expenses, either directly or indirectly. The
figures below show the expenses for the past year, adjusted to reflect any
changes. Future expenses may be greater or less.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder transaction expenses Class A Class B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) 4.50% none
Maximum sales charge imposed on
reinvested dividends none none
Maximum deferred sales charge none(1) 5.00%
Redemption fee(2) none none
Exchange fee none none
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual fund operating expenses (as a % of average net assets)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee 0.50% 0.50%
12b-1 fee(3) 0.30% 1.00%
Other expenses 0.35% 0.35%
Total fund operating expenses 1.15% 1.85%
Example The table below shows what you would pay if you invested $1,000 over the
various time frames indicated. The example assumes you reinvested all dividends
and that the average annual return was 5%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share class Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A shares $56 $80 $105 $178
Class B shares
Assuming redemption
at end of period $69 $88 $120 $199
Assuming no redemption $19 $58 $100 $199
This example is for comparison purposes only and is not a representation of the
fund's actual expenses and returns, either past or future.
(1) Except for investments of $1 million or more; see "How sales charges are
calculated."
(2) Does not include wire redemption fee (currently $4.00).
(3) Because of the 12b-1 fee, long-term shareholders may indirectly pay more
than the equivalent of the maximum permitted front-end sales charge.
12 SOVEREIGN BOND FUND
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
[Icon]The figures below have been audited by the fund's independent auditors,
Ernst & Young LLP.
[The table below was represented by a bar graph in the printed material]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Volatility, as indicated by Class A
year-by-year total investment return (%) 13.67 1.58 9.82 12.13 6.71 16.59 8.08 11.80 (2.75) 19.40
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A - year ended December 31, 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value,
beginning of period $ 15.85 $ 15.89 $ 14.53 $ 14.51 $ 14.77 $ 14.33 $ 15.31 $ 15.29 $ 15.53 $ 13.90
Net investment income (loss) 1.55 1.40 1.44 1.43 1.32 1.29 1.20 1.14 1.12 1.12
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
financial futures contracts 0.52 (1.17) (0.06) 0.27 (0.40) 0.98 (0.01) 0.62 (1.55) 1.50
Total from investment operations 2.07 0.23 1.38 1.70 0.92 2.27 1.19 1.76 (0.43) 2.62
Less distributions:
Dividends from net
investment income (1.53) (1.53) (1.40) (1.44) (1.35) (1.29) (1.21) (1.14) (1.12) (1.12)
Distributions from net realized
gain on investments sold
and financial futures contracts (0.50) (0.06) -- -- -- -- -- (0.38) (0.08) --
Distributions from
capital paid-in -- -- -- -- (0.01) -- -- -- -- --
Total distributions (2.03) (1.59) (1.40) (1.44) (1.36) (1.29) (1.21) (1.52) (1.20) (1.12)
Net asset value, end of period $ 15.89 $ 14.53 $ 14.51 $ 14.77 $ 14.33 $ 15.31 $ 15.29 $ 15.53 $ 13.90 $ 15.40
Total investment return at net
asset value(1) (%) 13.67 1.58 9.82 12.13 6.71 16.59 8.08 11.80 (2.75) 19.40
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period
(000s omitted) ($) 1,152,407 1,095,208 1,103,691 1,110,394 1,103,391 1,249,980 1,386,260 1,505,754 1,326,058 1,535,204
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (%) 0.72 0.82 0.82 0.80 1.31 1.27 1.44 1.41 1.26 1.13
Ratio of net investment income
(loss) to average net assets (%) 9.65 9.32 9.77 9.68 9.18 8.81 7.89 7.18 7.74 7.58
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 163 159 66 64 92 90 87 107 85 103
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B - year ended December 31, 1993(2) 1994 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 15.90 $ 15.52 $ 13.90
Net investment income (loss) 0.11 1.04 1.02
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments and
financial futures contracts -- (1.54) 1.50
Total from investment operations 0.11 (0.50) 2.52
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.11) (1.04) (1.02)
Distributions from net realized
gain on investments sold
and financial futures contracts (0.38) (0.08) --
Total distributions (0.49) (1.12) (1.02)
Net asset value, end of period $ 15.52 $ 13.90 $ 15.40
Total investment return at net asset value(1) (%) 0.90(3) (3.13) 18.66
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 4,125 40,299 98,739
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 1.63(4) 1.78 1.75
Ratio of net investment income
(loss) to average net assets (%) 0.57(4) 7.30 6.87
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 107 85 103
(1) Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales
charges.
(2) Class B shares commenced operations on November 23, 1993.
(3) Not annualized.
(4) Annualized.
SOVEREIGN BOND FUND 13
<PAGE>
Sovereign U.S. Government Income Fund
REGISTRANT NAME: JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
TICKER SYMBOL CLASS A: JHSGX CLASS B: FGOPX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOAL AND STRATEGY
[Icon]The fund seeks to provide as high a level of income as is consistent with
long-term total return. To pursue this goal, the fund invests in U.S.
Government and agency securities, as described below.
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
[Icon]Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 65% of assets in
securities that are issued, or guaranteed as to principal and interest, by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. These may include Treasuries
and mortgage-backed securities such as Ginnie Maes and Fannie Maes.
For liquidity and flexibility, the fund may place up to 35% of assets in
investment-grade short-term securities. In abnormal market conditions, it may
invest more assets in these securities as a defensive tactic. The fund also may
invest in certain higher-risk investments, including derivative and leveraged
investments, and may engage in other investment practices.
RISK FACTORS
[Icon]As with most income investments, the value of your investment in the fund
will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest
rates causes a decline in the market value of debt securities (including U.S.
Government and mortgage-backed securities). To the extent that the fund invests
in mortgage-backed securities, it may also be subject to extension and
prepayment risks. These risks are defined in "More about risk" starting on page
29. Other factors may affect the market price and yield of the fund's
securities, including investor demand and economic conditions.
The U.S. Government does not guarantee the market value or the current yield of
government securities, nor does the government's guarantee in any way extend to
the fund itself. Please read "More about risk" carefully before investing.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
[Icon]Barry H. Evans, leader of the fund's portfolio management team since
January 1995, is a senior vice president of the adviser. He has been in the
investment business since joining John Hancock Funds in 1986.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR EXPENSES
[Icon]Fund investors pay various expenses, either directly or indirectly. The
figures below show the expenses for the past year, adjusted to reflect any
changes. Future expenses may be greater or less.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder transaction expenses Class A Class B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) 4.50% none
Maximum sales charge imposed on
reinvested dividends none none
Maximum deferred sales charge none(1) 5.00%
Redemption fee(2) none none
Exchange fee none none
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual fund operating expenses (as a % of average net assets)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee 0.50% 0.50%
12b-1 fee(3) 0.30% 1.00%
Other expenses 0.32% 0.32%
Total fund operating expenses 1.12% 1.82%
Example The table below shows what you would pay if you invested $1,000 over the
various time frames indicated. The example assumes you reinvested all dividends
and that the average annual return was 5%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share class Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A shares $56 $79 $104 $175
Class B shares
Assuming redemption
at end of period $68 $87 $119 $195
Assuming no redemption $18 $57 $ 99 $195
This example is for comparison purposes only and is not a representation of the
fund's actual expenses and returns, either past or future.
(1) Except for investments of $1 million or more; see "How sales charges are
calculated."
(2) Does not include wire redemption fee (currently $4.00).
(3) Because of the 12b-1 fee, long-term shareholders may indirectly pay more
than the equivalent of the maximum permitted front-end sales charge.
14 SOVEREIGN U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
[Icon]The figures below have been audited by the fund's independent accountants,
Price Waterhouse LLP.
[The table below was represented by a bar graph in the printed material]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1987 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Volatility, as indicated by Class B
year-by-year total investment return (%) 2.61 3.70 11.53 11.52 6.24 14.46 7.58 12.66 (7.05) 15.27 (0.79)(5)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A - year ended October 31, 1992(1) 1993 1994 1995 1996(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.51 $ 10.29 $ 10.89 $ 9.24 $ 10.01
Net investment income (loss) 0.64 0.68(3) 0.65 0.65 0.32
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and
financial futures contracts (0.22) 0.61 (1.34) 0.77 (0.36)
Total from investment operations 0.42 1.29 (0.69) 1.42 (0.04)
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.64) (0.68) (0.65) (0.65) (0.32)
Distributions from net realized gain on investments sold -- (0.01) (0.31) -- --
Total distributions (0.64) (0.69) (0.96) (0.65) (0.32)
Net asset value, end of period $ 10.29 $ 10.89 $ 9.24 $ 10.01 $ 9.65
Total investment return at net asset value(4) (%) 5.33(5) 12.89 (6.66) 15.90 (0.46)(5)
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 350,907 375,416 315,372 370,966 343,842
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 1.06(6) 1.30 1.23 1.17 1.13(6)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) 7.11(6) 6.47 6.62 6.76 6.43(6)
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 140 273 127 94 51
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B - year ended October 31, 1987(7) 1987(8) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.00 $ 10.28 $ 9.45 $ 9.73 $ 10.01 $ 9.83 $ 10.29
Net investment income (loss) 0.56 0.48 0.78 0.81 0.85 0.85 0.76
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments and financial futures contracts 0.36 (0.75) 0.28 0.25 (0.25) 0.51 --
Total from investment operations 0.92 (0.27) 1.06 1.06 0.60 1.36 0.76
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.57) (0.48) (0.77) (0.77) (0.78) (0.90) (0.77)
Distributions from net realized gain on
investments sold (0.07) (0.08) (0.01) (0.01) -- -- --
Total distributions (0.64) (0.56) (0.78) (0.78) (0.78) (0.90) (0.77)
Net asset value, end of period $ 10.28 $ 9.45 $ 9.73 $ 10.01 $ 9.83 $ 10.29 $ 10.28
Total investment return at net asset value(4) (%) 2.61 3.70 11.53 11.52 6.24 14.46 7.58
Total adjusted investment return at
net asset value(4,9) (%) -- 3.62 11.47 11.29 6.23 -- --
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 164,001 170,030 161,163 144,756 133,778 164,347 197,032
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 1.26(6) 1.24(6) 1.29 1.35 1.54 1.51 1.55
Ratio of adjusted expenses to
average net assets(10) (%) -- 1.32(6) 1.35 1.58 1.55 -- --
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to
average net assets (%) 7.56(6) 7.94(6) 8.09 8.34 8.54 8.53 7.35
Ratio of adjusted net investment income
(loss) to average net assets(10) (%) -- 7.86(6) 8.03 8.11 8.53 -- --
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 108(6) 83(6) 79 45 63 62 140
Fee reduction per share ($) -- 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B - year ended October 31, 1993 1994 1995 1996(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.28 $ 10.88 $ 9.23 $ 10.00
Net investment income (loss) 0.66(2) 0.61 0.60 0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
investments and financial futures contracts 0.61 (1.34) 0.77 (0.36)
Total from investment operations 1.27 (0.73) 1.37 (0.07)
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.66) (0.61) (0.60) (0.29)
Distributions from net realized gain on
investments sold (0.01) (0.31) -- --
Total distributions (0.67) (0.92) (0.60) (0.29)
Net asset value, end of period $ 10.88 $ 9.23 $ 10.00 $ 9.64
Total investment return at net asset value(4) (%) 12.66 (7.05) 15.27 (0.79)(5)
Total adjusted investment return at
net asset value(4,9) (%) -- -- -- --
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 244,133 196,899 130,824 119,489
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 1.51 1.64 1.72 1.78(6)
Ratio of adjusted expenses to
average net assets(10) (%) -- -- -- --
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to
average net assets (%) 6.23 6.19 6.24 5.78(6)
Ratio of adjusted net investment income
(loss) to average net assets(10) (%) -- -- -- --
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 273 127 94 51
Fee reduction per share ($) -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
(1) Class A shares commenced operations on January 3, 1992.
(2) Six months ended April 30, 1996. (Unaudited.)
(3) Based on the average of the shares outstanding at the end of each month.
(4) Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales
charges.
(5) Not annualized.
(6) Annualized.
(7) For the period June 5, 1986 (commencement of operations) to March 31, 1987.
(8) For the period April 1, 1987 to October 31, 1987.
(9) An estimated total return calculation that does not take into consideration
fee reductions by the adviser during the periods shown.
(10) Unreimbursed, without fee reduction.
SOVEREIGN U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND 15
<PAGE>
Strategic Income Fund
REGISTRANT NAME: JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
TICKER SYMBOL CLASS A: JHFIX CLASS B: STIBX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOAL AND STRATEGY
[Icon]The fund seeks a high level of current income. To
pursue this goal, the fund invests primarily in three sectors:
o foreign government and corporate debt securities
o U.S. Government and agency securities
o junk bonds rated as low as CC/Ca and their unrated equivalents.
Under normal circumstances, the fund's assets will be invested in all three
sectors. However, the weighting of assets among sectors will be adjusted to
reflect current or anticipated market behavior, and the fund may invest up to
100% of assets in any sector.
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
[Icon]The fund may invest in debt securities of all maturities and types,
including bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock, mortgage-backed and
asset-backed securities and others. The fund may also invest up to 10% of net
assets in U.S. or foreign equities.
For liquidity and flexibility, the fund may invest in investment-grade
short-term securities. In abnormal market conditions, it may invest more assets
in these securities as a defensive tactic. The fund also may invest in certain
higher-risk investments, including derivative and leveraged investments, and may
engage in other investment practices.
RISK FACTORS
[Icon]Investors should expect fluctuations in share price, yield and total
return that are above-average for bond funds. Typically, a rise in interest
rates causes a decline in the market value of debt securities. The longer the
fund's average weighted maturity, the more it is likely to be affected by a
change in interest rates. To the extent that the fund invests in mortgage-backed
securities, it may also be subject to extension and prepayment risks. These
risks are defined in "More about risk" starting on page 29. Foreign securities
carry additional risks, including currency, information, natural event and
political risks. Issuers of junk bonds are typically in weak financial health,
and their ability to pay interest and principal is uncertain, especially in an
adverse economy. Junk bond markets may react strongly to adverse news about an
issuer or the economy, or to the perception or expectation of adverse news.
Please read "More about risk" carefully before investing.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
[Icon]Frederick L. Cavanaugh, Jr., leader of the fund's portfolio management
team since 1986, is a senior vice president of the adviser. He joined John
Hancock Funds in 1986 and has been in the investment business since 1973.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR EXPENSES
[Icon]Fund investors pay various expenses, either directly or indirectly. The
figures below show the expenses for the past year, adjusted to reflect any
changes. Future expenses may be greater or less.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder transaction expenses Class A Class B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) 4.50% none
Maximum sales charge imposed on
reinvested dividends none none
Maximum deferred sales charge none(1) 5.00%
Redemption fee(2) none none
Exchange fee none none
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual fund operating expenses (as a % of average net assets)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee 0.45% 0.45%
12b-1 fee(3) 0.30% 1.00%
Other expenses 0.28% 0.28%
Total fund operating expenses 1.03% 1.73%
Example The table below shows what you would pay if you invested $1,000 over the
various time frames indicated. The example assumes you reinvested all dividends
and that the average annual return was 5%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share class Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A shares $55 $76 $99 $165
Class B shares
Assuming redemption
at end of period $68 $84 $114 $186
Assuming no redemption $18 $54 $94 $186
This example is for comparison purposes only and is not a representation of the
fund's actual expenses and returns, either past or future.
(1) Except for investments of $1 million or more; see "How sales charges are
calculated."
(2) Does not include wire redemption fee (currently $4.00).
(3) Because of the 12b-1 fee, long-term shareholders may indirectly pay more
than the equivalent of the maximum permitted front-end sales charge.
16 STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The figures below have been audited
by the fund's independent accountants, Price Waterhouse LLP.
[The table below was represented by a bar graph in the printed material]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Volatility, as indicated by Class A
year-by-year total investment return (%) 4.81(5) 6.89 9.72 (7.36) 12.31 19.92 6.81 4.54 9.33 11.37
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A - year ended May 31, 1987(1) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value,
beginning of period $ 10.00 $ 9.71 $ 9.24 $ 8.98 $ 7.33 $ 7.20 $ 7.78 $ 7.55 $ 7.17 $ 7.15
Net investment income (loss) 0.79 1.13 1.12 1.04 0.93 0.80 0.71 0.68 0.64 0.66(2)
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments, foreign
currency transactions and
financial futures contracts (0.29) (0.47) (0.26) (1.65) (0.13) 0.52 (0.22) (0.33) (0.02) 0.12
Total from investment operations 0.50 0.66 0.86 (0.61) 0.80 1.32 0.49 0.35 0.62 0.78
Less distributions:
Dividends from net
investment income (0.79) (1.13) (1.12) (1.04) (0.93) (0.74)(3) (0.72) (0.58)(3) (0.55) (0.66)
Distributions in excess of net
investment income -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (0.05) -- --
Distributions from
capital paid-in -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (0.10) (0.09) --
Total distributions (0.79) (1.13) (1.12) (1.04) (0.93) (0.74) (0.72) (0.73) (0.64) (0.66)
Net asset value, end of period $ 9.71 $ 9.24 $ 8.98 $ 7.33 $ 7.20 $ 7.78 $ 7.55 $ 7.17 $ 7.15 $ 7.27
Total investment return at net
asset value(4) (%) 4.81(5) 6.89 9.72 (7.36) 12.31 19.92 6.81 4.54 9.33 11.37
Total adjusted investment return
at net asset value(4,6) (%) 3.64 6.49 9.58 (7.45) -- -- -- -- -- --
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period
(000s omitted) ($) 30,260 67,140 95,430 80,890 79,272 153,568 262,137 335,261 327,876 369,127
Ratio of expenses to average
net assets (%) 1.00(7) 1.09 1.33 1.53 1.75 1.69 1.58 1.32 1.09 1.03
Ratio of adjusted expenses to
average net assets (%) 2.17(7) 1.49 1.47 1.62 -- -- -- -- -- --
Ratio of net investment income
(loss) to average
net assets (%) 10.87(7) 12.07 12.28 12.60 13.46 10.64 9.63 8.71 9.24 9.13
Ratio of adjusted net investment
income (loss) to average
net assets (%) 9.70(7) 11.67 12.14 12.51 -- -- -- -- -- --
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 207 67 125 81 60 80 97 91 55 78
Fee reduction per share ($) 0.09 0.04 0.01 0.01 -- -- -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B - year ended May 31, 1994(1) 1995 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
Net asset value, beginning of period $7.58. $7.17 $7.15
Net investment income (loss) 0.40 0.60(2) 0.61(2)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments,
foreign currency transactions and financial futures contracts (0.41) (0.02) 0.12
Total from investment operations (0.01) 0.58 0.73
Less distributions:
Dividends from net investment income (0.32)(3) (0.52) (0.61)
Distributions in excess of net investment income (0.03)(3) -- --
Distributions from capital paid-in (0.05) (0.08) --
Total distributions (0.40) (0.60) (0.61)
Net asset value, end of period $7.17 $7.15 $7.27
Total investment return at net asset value(4) (%) (0.22)(5) 8.58 10.61
Ratios and supplemental data
Net assets, end of period (000s omitted) ($) 77,691 134,527 206,751
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) 1.91(7) 1.76 1.73
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) 8.12(7) 8.55 8.42
Portfolio turnover rate (%) 91 55 78
</TABLE>
(1) Class A and Class B shares commenced operations on August 18, 1986 and
October 4, 1993, respectively.
(2) Based on the average of the shares outstanding at the end of each month.
(3) The dividend policy of the fund was changed, effective August 1, 1991, from
one that utilized daily dividend declarations to one that declares
dividends monthly. Additionally, the dividend policy of the fund was
changed, effective October 1, 1993, from one that declared dividends
monthly to daily dividend declarations.
(4) Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales
charges.
(5) Not annualized.
(6) An estimated total return calculation that does not take into consideration
fee reductions by the adviser during the periods shown.
(7) Annualized.
STRATEGIC INCOME FUND 17
<PAGE>
Your account
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS
All John Hancock income funds offer two classes of shares, Class A and Class B.
Each class has its own cost structure, allowing you to choose the one that best
meets your requirements. Your financial representative can help you decide.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Class B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
o Front-end sales charges, as o No front-end sales charge; all
described below. There are your money goes to work for
several ways to reduce these you right away.
charges, also described below.
o Higher annual expenses than
o Lower annual expenses than Class A shares.
Class B shares.
o A deferred sales charge, as
described below.
o Automatic conversion to Class
A shares after either five
years (Group 1) or eight years
(Group 2) (see below), thus
reducing future annual
expenses.
For actual past expenses of Class A and B shares, see the fund-by-fund
information earlier in this prospectus.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW SALES CHARGES ARE CALCULATED
Use the table below to find out which group the fund is in, then consult the
sales charge information for that group.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 1 Group 2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
o Intermediate Maturity Government o Government Income
o Limited-Term Government o High-Yield Bond
o Sovereign Bond
o Sovereign U.S. Government Income
o Strategic Income
Class A Sales charges are as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A sales charges - Group 1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a % of As a % of your
Your investment offering price investment
Up to $99,999 3.00% 3.09%
$100,000 - $499,999 2.50% 2.56%
$500,000 - $999,999 2.00% 2.04%
$1,000,000 and over See below
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A sales charges - Group 2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a % of As a % of your
Your investment offering price investment
Up to $99,999 4.50% 4.71%
$100,000 - $249,999 3.75% 3.90%
$250,000 - $499,999 2.75% 2.83%
$500,000 - $999,999 2.00% 2.04%
$1,000,000 and over See below
Investments of $1 million or more Class A shares are available with no front-end
sales charge. However, there is a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) on any
shares sold within one year of purchase, as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDSC on $1 million+ investments (Groups 1 and 2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your investment CDSC on shares being sold
First $1M - $4,999,999 1.00%
Next $1 - $5M above that 0.50%
Next $1 or more above that 0.25%
For purposes of this CDSC, all purchases made during a calendar month are
counted as having been made on the last day of that month.
The CDSC is based on the lesser of the original purchase cost or the current
market value of the shares being sold, and is not charged on shares you acquired
by reinvesting your dividends. To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time
you place a request to sell shares we will first sell any shares in your account
that are not subject to a CDSC.
18 YOUR ACCOUNT
<PAGE>
Class B Shares are offered at their net asset value per share, without any
initial sales charge. However, you may be charged a contingent deferred sales
charge (CDSC) on shares you sell within a certain time after you bought them, as
described in the table below. There is no CDSC on shares acquired through
reinvestment of dividends. The CDSC is based on the original purchase cost or
the current market value of the shares being sold, whichever is less. The longer
the time between the purchase and the sale of shares, the lower the rate of the
CDSC:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B deferred charges
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years after CDSC on Group 1 CDSC on Group 2
purchase shares being sold shares being sold
1st year 3.00% 5.00%
2nd year 2.00% 4.00%
3rd year 2.00% 3.00%
4th year 1.00% 3.00%
5th year None 2.00%
6th year None 1.00%
After 6 years None None
For purposes of this CDSC, all purchases made during a calendar month are
counted as having been made on the first day of that month.
CDSC calculations are based on the number of shares involved, not on the value
of your account. To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time you place a
request to sell shares we will first sell any shares in your account that carry
no CDSC. If there are not enough of these to meet your request, we will sell
those shares that have the lowest CDSC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
Reducing your Class A sales charges There are several ways you can combine
multiple purchases of Class A shares of John Hancock funds to take advantage of
the breakpoints in the sales charge schedule. The first three ways can be
combined in any manner.
o Accumulation Privilege-- lets you add the value of any Class A shares you
already own to the amount of your next Class A investment for purposes of
calculating the sales charge.
o Letter of Intention-- lets you purchase Class A shares of a fund over a
13-month period and receive the same sales charge as if all shares had been
purchased at once.
o Combination Privilege -- lets you combine Class A shares of multiple funds
for purposes of calculating the sales charge.
To utilize: complete the appropriate section of your application, or contact
your financial representative or Investor Services to add these options (see the
back cover of this prospectus).
Group Investment Program Allows established groups of four or more investors to
invest as a group. Each investor has an individual account, but for sales charge
purposes the group's investments are lumped together, making the investors
potentially eligible for reduced sales charges. There is no charge, no
obligation to invest (although initial aggregate investments must be at least
$250), and you may terminate the program at any time.
To utilize: contact your financial representative or Investor Services to find
out how to qualify.
CDSC waivers As long as Investor Services is notified at the time you sell, the
CDSC for either share class will generally be waived in the following cases:
o to make payments through certain systematic withdrawal plans
o to make certain distributions from a retirement plan
o because of shareholder death or disability
To utilize: if you think you may be eligible for a CDSC waiver, contact your
financial representative or Investor Services, or consult the SAI (see the back
cover of this prospectus).
Reinstatement privilege If you sell shares in a John Hancock fund, you may
invest some or all of the proceeds in the same share class of any John Hancock
fund within 120 days without a sales charge. If you paid a CDSC when you sold
your shares, you will be credited with the amount of the CDSC. All accounts
involved must have the same registration.
To utilize: contact your financial representative or Investor Services.
19 YOUR ACCOUNT
<PAGE>
Waivers for certain investors Class A shares may be offered without front-end
sales charges or CDSCs to various individuals and institutions, including:
o government entities that are prohibited from paying mutual fund sales
charges
o financial institutions or common trust funds investing $1 million or more
for non-discretionary accounts
o selling brokers and their employees and sales representatives
o financial representatives utilizing fund shares in fee-based investment
products under agreement with John Hancock Funds
o fund trustees and other individuals who are affiliated with these or other
John Hancock funds
o individuals transferring assets to a John Hancock income fund from an
employee benefit plan that has John Hancock funds
o members of an approved affinity group financial services program
o certain insurance company contract holders (one-year CDSC usually applies)
o participants in certain retirement plans with at least 100 members
(one-year CDSC applies)
o in the case of Limited-Term Government Fund, anyone investing the proceeds
from any non-John Hancock mutual fund, as long as that fund had sales
charges and the investor paid them; investors must supply a copy of the
redemption check or confirmation statement, and must remain invested in
Limited-Term Government Fund for at least 15 days
To utilize: if you think you may be eligible for a sales charge waiver, contact
Investor Services or consult the SAI.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPENING AN ACCOUNT
1 Read this prospectus carefully.
2 Determine how much you want to invest. The minimum initial investments for
the John Hancock funds are as follows:
o non-retirement account: $1,000
o retirement account: $250
o group investments: $250
o Monthly Automatic Accumulation Plan (MAAP): $25 to open; you must
invest at least $25 a month
3 Complete the appropriate parts of the account application, carefully
following the instructions. If you have questions, please contact your
financial representative or call Investor Services at 1-800-225-5291.
4 Complete the appropriate parts of the account privileges application. By
applying for privileges now, you can avoid the delay and inconvenience of
having to file an additional application if you want to add privileges
later.
5 Make your initial investment using the table on the next page. You can
initiate any purchase, exchange or sale of shares through your financial
representative.
20 YOUR ACCOUNT
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buying shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opening an account
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By check
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Icon]
o Make out a check for the investment amount, payable to "John Hancock
Investor Services Corporation."
o Deliver the check and your completed application to your financial
representative, or mail to Investor Services (address below).
Adding to an account
o Make out a check for the investment amount payable to "John Hancock
Investor Services Corporation."
o Fill out the detachable investment slip from an account statement. If
no slip is available, include a note specifying the fund name, your
share class, your account number and the name(s) in which the account
is registered.
o Deliver the check and your investment slip or note to your financial
representative, or mail to Investor Services (address below).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By exchange
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opening an account
[Icon]
o Call your financial representative or Investor Services to request an
exchange.
Adding to an account
o Call Investor Services to request an exchange.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By wire
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opening an account
[Icon]
o Deliver your completed application to your financial representative,
or mail it to Investor Services.
o Obtain your account number by calling your financial representative or
Investor Services.
o Instruct your bank to wire the amount of your investment to:
First Signature Bank & Trust
Account # 900000260
Routing # 211475000
Specify the fund name, your choice of share class, the new account
number and the name(s) in which the account is registered. Your bank
may charge a fee to wire funds.
Adding to an account
o Instruct your bank to wire the amount of your investment to:
First Signature Bank & Trust
Account # 900000260
Routing # 211475000
Specify the fund name, your share class, your account number and the
name(s) in which the account is registered. Your bank may charge a fee
to wire funds.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By phone
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opening an account
[Icon]
See "By wire" and "By exchange."
Adding to an account
o Verify that your bank or credit union is a member of the Automated
Clearing House (ACH) system.
o Complete the "Invest-By-Phone" and "Bank Information" sections on your
account application.
o Call Investor Services to verify that these features are in place on
your account.
o Tell the Investor Services representative the fund name, your share
class, your account number, the name(s) in which the account is
registered and the amount of your investment.
Address
John Hancock Investor Services Corporation
P.O. Box 9116 Boston, MA 02205-9116
Phone number
1-800-225-5291
Or contact your financial representative for instructions and assistance.
To open or add to an account using the Monthly Automatic Accumulation
Program, see "Additional investor services."
21 YOUR ACCOUNT
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selling shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Designed for
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By letter
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Icon]
o Accounts of any type.
o Sales of any amount.
To sell some or all of your shares
o Write a letter of instruction or complete a stock power indicating the
fund name, your share class, your account number, the name(s) in which
the account is registered and the dollar value or number of shares you
wish to sell.
o Include all signatures and any additional documents that may be
required (see next page).
o Mail the materials to Investor Services.
o A check will be mailed to the name(s) and address in which the account
is registered, or otherwise according to your letter of instruction.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By phone
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Icon]
Designed for
o Most accounts.
o Sales of up to $100,000.
To sell some or all of your shares
o For automated service 24 hours a day using your touch-tone phone, call
the EASI-Line at 1-800-338-8080.
o To place your order with a representative at John Hancock Funds, call
Investor Services between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on most business days.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By wire or electronic funds transfer (EFT)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Icon]
Designed for
o Requests by letter to sell any amount (accounts of any type).
o Requests by phone to sell up to $100,000 (accounts with telephone
redemption privileges).
To sell some or all of your shares
o Fill out the "Telephone Redemption" section of your new account
application.
o To verify that the telephone redemption privilege is in place on an
account, or to request the forms to add it to an existing account,
call Investor Services.
o Amounts of $1,000 or more will be wired on the next business day. A $4
fee will be deducted from your account.
o Amounts of less than $1,000 may be sent by EFT or by check. Funds from
EFT transactions are generally available by the second business day.
Your bank may charge a fee for this service.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By exchange
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Icon]
Designed for
o Accounts of any type.
o Sales of any amount.
To sell some or all of your shares
o Obtain a current prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging
by calling your financial representative or Investor Services.
o Call Investor Services to request an exchange.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By check
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Icon]
Designed for
o Government Income, Limited-Term Government, Sovereign U.S. Government
and Strategic Income Funds only.
o Any account with checkwriting privileges.
o Sales of over $100.
To sell some or all of your shares
o Request checkwriting on your account application.
o Verify that the shares to be sold were purchased more than 15 days
earlier or were purchased by wire.
o Write a check for any amount over $100.
To sell shares through a systematic withdrawal plan, see "Additional investor
services."
Address
John Hancock Investor Services Corporation
P.O. Box 9116 Boston, MA 02205-9116
Phone number
1-800-225-5291
Or contact your financial representative for instructions and assistance.
22 YOUR ACCOUNT
<PAGE>
Selling shares in writing In certain circumstances, you will need to make your
request to sell shares in writing. You may need to include additional items with
your request, as shown in the table below. You may also need to include a
signature guarantee, which protects you against fraudulent orders. You will need
a signature guarantee if:
o your address of record has changed within the past 30 days
o you are selling more than $100,000 worth of shares
o you are requesting payment other than by a check mailed to the address of
record and payable to the registered owner(s) You can generally obtain a
signature guarantee from the following sources:
o a broker or securities dealer
o a federal savings, cooperative or other type of bank
o a savings and loan or other thrift institution
o a credit union
o a securities exchange or clearing agency
A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seller Requirements for written requests [Icon]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Owners of individual, joint, sole
proprietorship, UGMA/UTMA
(custodial accounts for minors) or
general partner accounts. o Letter of instruction.
o On the letter, the signatures
and titles of all persons
authorized to sign for the
account, exactly as the
account is registered.
o Signature guarantee if
applicable (see above).
Owners of corporate or association
accounts. o Letter of instruction.
o Corporate resolution,
certified within the past 90
days.
o On the letter and the
resolution, the signature of
the person(s) authorized to
sign for the account.
o Signature guarantee if
applicable (see above).
Owners or trustees of trust
accounts. o Letter of instruction.
o On the letter, the
signature(s) of the
trustee(s).
o If the names of all trustees
are not registered on the
account, please also provide a
copy of the trust document
certified within the past 60
days.
o Signature guarantee if
applicable (see above).
Joint tenancy shareholders whose
co-tenants are deceased. o Letter of instruction signed
by surviving tenant.
o Copy of death certificate.
o Signature guarantee if
applicable (see above).
Executors of shareholder estates. o Letter of instruction signed
by executor.
o Copy of order appointing
executor.
o Signature guarantee if
applicable (see above).
Administrators, conservators,
guardians and other sellers or
account types not listed above. o Call 1-800-225-5291 for
instructions.
23 YOUR ACCOUNT
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSACTION POLICIES
Valuation of shares The net asset value per share (NAV) for each fund and class
is determined each business day at the close of regular trading on the New York
Stock Exchange (typically 4 p.m. Eastern Time) by dividing a class's net assets
by the number of its shares outstanding.
Buy and sell prices When you buy shares, you pay the NAV plus any applicable
sales charges, as described earlier. When you sell shares, you receive the NAV
minus any applicable deferred sales charges.
Execution of requests Each fund is open on those days when the New York Stock
Exchange is open, typically Monday through Friday. Buy and sell requests are
executed at the next NAV to be calculated after your request is accepted by
Investor Services.
At times of peak activity, it may be difficult to place requests by phone.
During these times, consider using EASI-Line or sending your request in writing.
In unusual circumstances, any fund may temporarily suspend the processing of
sell requests, or may postpone payment of proceeds for up to three business days
or longer, as allowed by federal securities laws.
Telephone transactions For your protection, telephone requests may be recorded
in order to verify their accuracy. In addition, Investor Services will take
measures to verify the identity of the caller, such as asking for name, account
number, Social Security or other taxpayer ID number and other relevant
information. If appropriate measures are not taken, Investor Services is
responsible for any losses that may occur to any account due to an unauthorized
telephone call. Also for your protection, telephone transactions are not
permitted on accounts whose names or addresses have changed within the past 30
days. Proceeds from telephone transactions can only be mailed to the address of
record.
Exchanges You may exchange shares of your John Hancock fund for shares of the
same class of any other, generally without paying any additional sales charges.
Class B shares will continue to age from the original date and will retain the
same CDSC rate as they had before the exchange, except that the rate will change
to that of the new fund if the new fund's rate is higher. A CDSC rate that has
increased will drop again with a future exchange into a fund with a lower rate.
To protect the interests of other investors in the fund, a fund may cancel the
exchange privileges of any parties that, in the opinion of the fund, are using
market timing strategies or making more than seven exchanges per owner or
controlling party per calendar year. A fund may change or cancel its exchange
privilege at any time, upon 60 days' notice to its shareholders. A fund may also
refuse any exchange order.
Certificated shares Most shares are electronically recorded. If you wish to have
certificates for your shares, please write to Investor Services. Certificated
shares can only be sold by returning the certificates to Investor Services,
along with a letter of instruction or a stock power and a signature guarantee.
Sales in advance of purchase payments When you place a request to sell shares
for which the purchase money has not yet been collected, the request will be
executed in a timely fashion, but the fund will not release the proceeds to you
until your purchase payment clears. This may take up to ten calendar days after
the purchase.
Eligibility by state You may only invest in, or exchange into, fund shares
legally available in your state.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND ACCOUNT POLICIES
Account statements In general, you will receive account statements as follows:
o after every transaction (except a dividend reinvestment) that affects your
account balance
o after any changes of name or address of the registered owner(s)
o in all other circumstances, every quarter
Every year you should also receive, if applicable, a Form 1099 tax information
statement, mailed by January 31.
Dividends The funds generally declare dividends daily and pay them monthly.
Short- and long-term capital gains, if any, are distributed annually, typically
after the end of a fund's fiscal year. Your dividends begin accruing the day
after payment is received by the fund and continue through the day your shares
are actually sold.
Dividend reinvestments Most investors have their dividends reinvested in
additional shares of the same fund and class. If you choose this option, or if
you do not indicate any choice, your dividends will be reinvested on the
dividend record date. Alternatively,
24 YOUR ACCOUNT
<PAGE>
you can choose to have a check for your dividends mailed to you. However, if the
check is not deliverable, your dividends will be reinvested.
Taxability of dividends As long as a fund meets the requirements for being a
tax-qualified regulated investment company, which each fund has in the past and
intends to in the future, it pays no federal income tax on the earnings it
distributes to shareholders.
Consequently, dividends you receive from a fund, whether reinvested or taken as
cash, are generally considered taxable. Dividends from a fund's long-term
capital gains are taxable as capital gains; dividends from other sources are
generally taxable as ordinary income. Some dividends paid in January may be
taxable as if they had been paid the previous December.
The Form 1099 that is mailed to you every January details your dividends and
their federal tax category, although you should verify your tax liability with
your tax professional.
Taxability of transactions Any time you sell or exchange shares, it is
considered a taxable event for you. Depending on the purchase price and the sale
price of the shares you sell or exchange, you may have a gain or a loss on the
transaction. You are responsible for any tax liabilities generated by your
transactions.
Small accounts (non-retirement only) If you draw down a non-retirement account
so that its total value is less than $1,000, you may be asked to purchase more
shares within 30 days. If you do not take action, your fund may close out your
account and mail you the proceeds. Alternatively, Investor Services may charge
you $10 a year to maintain your account. You will not be charged a CDSC if your
account is closed for this reason, and your account will not be closed if its
drop in value is due to fund performance or the effects of sales charges.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL INVESTOR SERVICES
Monthly Automatic Accumulation Program (MAAP) MAAP lets you set up regular
investments from your paycheck or bank account to the John Hancock fund(s) of
your choice. You determine the frequency and amount of your investments, and you
can terminate your program at any time. To establish:
o Complete the appropriate parts of your account application.
o If you are using MAAP to open an account, make out a check ($25 minimum)
for your first investment amount payable to "John Hancock Investor Services
Corporation." Deliver your check and application to your financial
representative or Investor Services.
Systematic withdrawal plan This plan may be used for routine bill payment or
periodic withdrawals from your account. To establish:
o Make sure you have at least $5,000 worth of shares in your account.
o Make sure you are not planning to invest more money in this account (buying
shares during a period when you are also selling shares of the same fund is
not advantageous to you, because of sales charges).
o Specify the payee(s). The payee may be yourself or any other party, and
there is no limit to the number of payees you may have, as long as they are
all on the same payment schedule.
o Determine the schedule: monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually or in
certain selected months.
o Fill out the relevant part of the account application. To add a systematic
withdrawal plan to an existing account, contact your financial
representative or Investor Services.
Retirement plans John Hancock Funds offers a range of qualified retirement
plans, including IRAs, SEPs, SARSEPs, 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans (including
TSAs) and other pension and profit-sharing plans. Using these plans, you can
invest in any John Hancock fund with a low minimum investment of $250 or, for
some group plans, no minimum investment at all. To find out more, call Investor
Services at 1-800-225-5291.
25 YOUR ACCOUNT
<PAGE>
Fund details
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUSINESS STRUCTURE
How the funds are organized Each John Hancock income fund is an open-end
management investment company or a series of such a company.
Each fund is supervised by a board of trustees, an independent body that has
ultimate responsibility for the fund's activities. The board retains various
companies to carry out the fund's operations, including the investment adviser,
custodian, transfer agent and others (see diagram). The board has the right, and
the obligation, to terminate the fund's relationship with any of these companies
and to retain a different company if the board believes it is in the
shareholders' best interests.
At a mutual fund's inception, the initial shareholder (typically the adviser)
appoints the fund's board. Thereafter, the board and the shareholders determine
the board's membership. The boards of the John Hancock income funds may include
individuals who are affiliated with the investment adviser. However, the
majority of board members must be independent.
The funds do not hold annual shareholder meetings, but may hold special meetings
for such purposes as electing or removing board members, changing fundamental
policies, approving a management contract or approving a 12b-1 plan (12b-1 fees
are explained in "Sales compensation").
--------------
Shareholders
--------------
-----------------------------------------------
Financial services firms and
their representatives
Advise current and prospective share-
holders on their fund investments, often
in the context of an overall financial plan.
-----------------------------------------------
Distribution and
shareholder services
- -------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Principal distributor Travel Agent
John Hancock Funds, Inc. John Hancock Investor Services Corporation
101 Huntington Avenue P.O. Box 9115
Boston, MA 02199-7603 Boston, MA 02205-9116
Markets the funds and distributes Handles shareholder services,
shares through selling brokers, including record-keeping and
financial planners and other statements, distribution of
financial representatives. dividends and processing of buy and
sell requests.
- -------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Asset Management
- ---------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Investment adviser Custodian
John Hancock Advisers, Inc. Investors Bank & Trust Co.
101 Huntington Avenue 89 South Street
Boston, MA 02199-7603 Boston, MA 02111
Manages the funds' business and Holds the funds' assets, settles all
investment activities. portfolio trades and collects most of
the valuation data required for
calculating each fund's NAV.
- ---------------------------------- --------------------------------------
--------------------------------
Trustees
Supervise the funds' activities.
--------------------------------
26 FUND DETAILS
<PAGE>
Accounting compensation The funds compensate the adviser for performing tax and
financial management services. Annual compensation for 1996 will not exceed
0.02% of each fund's average net assets.
Portfolio trades In placing portfolio trades, the adviser may use brokerage
firms that market the fund's shares or are affiliated with John Hancock Mutual
Life Insurance Company, but only when the adviser believes no other firm offers
a better combination of quality execution (i.e., timeliness and completeness)
and favorable price.
Investment goals Except for Government Income Fund, High Yield Bond Fund and
Intermediate Maturity Government Fund, each fund's investment goal is
fundamental and may only be changed with shareholder approval.
Diversification All of the income funds are diversified.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SALES COMPENSATION
As part of their business strategies, the funds, along with John Hancock Funds,
pay compensation to financial services firms that sell the funds' shares. These
firms typically pass along a portion of this compensation to your financial
representative.
Compensation payments originate from two sources: from sales charges and from
12b-1 fees that are paid out of the fund in assets ("12b-1" refers to the
federal securities regulation that authorizes annual fees of this type). The
12b-1 fee rates vary by fund and by share class, according to Rule 12b-1 plans
adopted by the funds' respective boards. The sales charges and
12b-1 fees paid by investors are detailed in the fund-by-fund information. The
portions of these expenses that are reallowed to financial services firms are
shown on the next page.
Distribution fees may be used to pay for sales compensation to financial
services firms, marketing and overhead expenses and, for Class B shares,
interest expenses.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B unreimbursed distribution expenses(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unreimbursed As a % of
Fund expenses net assets
Government Income $8,575,319 3.69%
High Yield Bond $6,471,589 3.90%
Intermediate Maturity Gov. $253,107 2.30%
Limited-Term Government $195,672 2.31%
Sovereign Bond $2,970,686 4.64%
Sovereign U.S. Gov. Income $5,318,736 3.16%
Strategic Income $5,169,665 3.18%
(1) As of the most recent fiscal year end covered by each fund's financial
highlights. These expenses may be carried forward indefinitely.
Initial compensation Whenever you make an investment in a fund or funds, the
financial services firm receives either a reallowance from the initial sales
charge or a commission, as described below. The firm also receives the first
year's service fee at this time.
Annual compensation Beginning with the second year after an investment is made,
the financial services firm receives an annual service fee of 0.25% of its total
eligible net assets. This fee is paid quarterly in arrears. Firms affiliated
with John Hancock, which include Tucker Anthony, Sutro & Company and John
Hancock Distributors, may receive an additional fee of up to 0.05% a year of
their total eligible net assets.
To compensate for continuing services, John Hancock Funds will pay Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. an annual fee equal to 0.15% of the value of
Class A shares held by its customers for more than four years.
FUND DETAILS 27
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A investments
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum
Sales charge reallowance First year Maximum
paid by investors or commission service fee total compensation(1)
(% of offering price) (% of offering price) (% of net investment) (% of offering price)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Group 1 funds
Up to $99,999 3.00% 2.26% 0.25% 2.50%
$100,000 - $499,999 2.50% 2.01% 0.25% 2.25%
$500,000 - $999,999 2.00% 1.51% 0.25% 1.75%
Group 2 funds
Up to $99,999 4.50% 3.76% 0.25% 4.00%
$100,000 - $249,999 3.75% 3.01% 0.25% 3.25%
$250,000 - $499,999 2.75% 2.06% 0.25% 2.30%
$500,000 - $999,999 2.00% 1.51% 0.25% 1.75%
Regular investments of $1 million
or more (Groups 1 and 2)
First $1M - $4,999,999 -- 0.75% 0.25% 1.00%
Next $1 - $5M above that -- 0.25% 0.25% 0.50%
Next $1 and more above that -- 0.00% 0.25% 0.25%
Waiver investments(2) -- 0.00% 0.25% 0.25%
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B investments
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum
reallowance First year Maximum
or commission service fee total compensation
(% of offering price) (% of net investment) (% of offering price)
Group 1 funds
All amounts 2.75% 0.25% 3.00%
Group 2 funds
All amounts 3.75% 0.25% 4.00%
(1) Reallowance/commission percentages and service fee percentages are
calculated from different amounts, and therefore may not equal total
compensation percentages if combined using simple addition.
(2) Refers to any investments made by municipalities, financial institutions,
trusts and affinity group members that take advantage of the sales charge
waivers described earlier in this prospectus.
CDSC revenues collected by John Hancock Funds may be used to fund commission
payments when there is no initial sales charge.
28 FUND DETAILS
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE ABOUT RISK
A fund's risk profile is largely defined by the fund's principal securities and
investment practices. You may find the most concise description of each fund's
risk profile in the fund-by-fund information.
The funds are permitted to utilize -- within limits established by the trustees
- -- certain other securities and investment practices that have higher risks and
opportunities associated with them. To the extent a fund utilizes these
securities or practices, its overall performance may be affected, either
positively or negatively. On the following pages are brief descriptions of these
securities and investment practices, along with the risks associated with them.
The funds follow certain policies that may reduce these risks.
As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that a John Hancock income fund
will earn income or show a positive total return over any period of time --
days, months or years.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPES OF INVESTMENT RISK
Correlation risk The risk that changes in the value of a hedging instrument will
not match those of the asset being hedged (hedging is the use of one investment
to offset the effects of another investment). Incomplete correlation can result
in unanticipated risks.
Credit risk The risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty to a
contract, will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial
obligation.
Currency risk The risk that fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S.
dollar and foreign currencies may negatively affect an investment. Adverse
changes in exchange rates may erode or reverse any gains produced by foreign
currency denominated investments, and may widen any losses.
Extension risk The risk that an unexpected rise in interest rates will extend
the life of a mortgage-backed security beyond the expected prepayment time,
typically reducing the security's value.
Interest rate risk The risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest
rates. With fixed-rate securities, a rise in interest rates typically causes a
fall in values, while a fall in rates typically causes a rise in values.
Leverage risk Associated with securities or practices (such as borrowing) that
multiply small index or market movements into large changes in value.
o Hedged When a derivative (a security whose value is based on another
security or index) is used as a hedge against an opposite position that the
fund also holds, any loss generated by the derivative should be
substantially offset by gains on the hedged investment, and vice versa.
While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or
eliminate gains.
o Speculative To the extent that a derivative is not used as a hedge, the
fund is directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Gains or losses
from speculative positions in a derivative may be substantially greater
than the derivative's original cost.
Liquidity risk The risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible
to sell at the time and the price that the seller would like. The seller may
have to lower the price, sell other securities instead, or forego an investment
opportunity, any of which could have a negative affect on fund management or
performance.
Management risk The risk that a strategy used by a fund's management may fail to
produce the intended result. Common to all mutual funds.
Market risk The risk that the market value of a security may move up and down,
sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Market risk may affect a single issuer, an
industry, a sector of the bond market or the market as a whole. Common to all
stocks and bonds and the mutual funds that invest in them.
Natural event risk The risk of losses attributable to natural disasters, crop
failures and similar events.
Opportunity risk The risk of missing out on an investment opportunity because
the assets necessary to take advantage of it are tied up in less advantageous
investments.
Political risk The risk of losses attributable to government or political
actions, from changes in tax or trade statutes to governmental collapse and war.
Prepayment risk The risk that unanticipated prepayments may occur, reducing the
value of mortgage-backed securities.
Valuation risk The risk that a fund has valued certain of its securities at a
higher price than it can sell them for.
FUND DETAILS 29
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Higher-risk securities and practices
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This table shows each fund's investment limitations as a percentage of portfolio
assets. In each case the principal types of risk are listed (see previous page
for definitions). Numbers in this table show allowable usage only; for actual
usage, consult the fund's annual/semi-annual reports.
10 Percent of total assets (italic type)
10 Percent of net assets (roman type)
@ No policy limitation on usage; fund may be using currently
o Permitted, but has not typically been used
- -- Not permitted
Sovereign
High Intermediate Limited- U.S.
Government Yield Maturity Term Sovereign Gov't Strategic
Income Bond Gov't Government Bond Income Income
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Investment practices
Borrowing; reverse repurchase agreements
The borrowing of money from banks or
through reverse repurchase agreements.
Leverage, credit risks. 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33
Covered mortgage dollar roll
transactions The sale of mortgage-backed
securities with the commitment to buy
back similar securities at a future
date. Credit, interest rate, leverage,
market, opportunity risks. @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Repurchase agreements The purchase of a
security that must later be sold back to
the issuer at the same price plus
interest. Credit risk. @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Securities lending The lending of
securities to financial institutions,
which provide cash or government
securities as collateral. Credit risk. 30 30 33.3 33.3 33.3 30 33.3
Short-term trading Selling a security
soon after purchase. A portfolio
engaging in short-term trading will have
higher turnover and transaction
expenses. Market risk. @ @ @ @ @ @ @
When-issued securities and forward
commitments The purchase or sale of
securities for delivery at a future
date; market value may change before
delivery. Market, opportunity, leverage
risks. @ @ @ @ @ @ @
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conventional securities
Brady bonds Dollar-denominated
securities issued to refinance foreign
government bank loans and other debt.
Credit, interest rate, market, political
risks. 10 o(1) -- -- 25 -- o(1)
Foreign debt securities Debt securities
issued by foreign governments or
companies. Credit, currency, interest rate, market,
political risks. 20 @(1) -- -- 25 -- @(1)
In-kind, delayed and zero coupon debt
securities Securities offering non-cash
or delayed-cash payment. Their prices
are typically more volatile than those
of conventional debt securities. Credit,
interest rate, market risks. @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Restricted and illiquid securities
Securities not traded on the open
market. May include illiquid Rule 144A
securities. Liquidity, valuation, market
risks. 10 10 15 15 15 15 15
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unleveraged derivative securities
Asset-backed securities Securities
backed by unsecured debt, such as credit
card debt; these securities are often
guaranteed or over-collateralized to
enhance their credit quality. Credit,
interest rate risks. 20 @ 35 20 @ 35 @
Mortgage-backed securities Securities
backed by pools of mortgages, including
passthrough certificates, PACs, TACs and
other senior classes of collateralized
mortgage obligations (CMOs). Credit,
extension, prepayment, interest rate
risks. @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Participation interests Securities
representing an interest in another
security or in bank loans. Credit,
interest rate, liquidity, valuation
risks. -- 10(2) -- -- 15(2) -- 15(2)
Rights and warrants Securities offering
the right, or involving the promise, to
buy or sell certain securities at a
future date. Market risk. 5 5 5 5 5 -- 5
</TABLE>
(1) No more than 25% of the fund`s assets will be invested in government
securities of any one foreign country.
(2) Part of the 10% or 15% limitation on illiquid securities.
(3) Applies to purchased options only.
30 FUND DETAILS
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Higher-risk securities and practices (cont'd)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sovereign
High Intermediate Limited- U.S.
Government Yield Maturity Term Sovereign Gov't Strategic
Income Bond Gov't Government Bond Income Income
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Leveraged derivative securities
Currency contracts Contracts involving
the right or obligation to buy or sell a
given amount of foreign currency at a
specified price and future date.
o Hedged. Currency, hedged leverage,
correlation, liquidity, opportunity
risks. -- @ -- -- -- -- @
o Speculative. Currency, speculative
leverage, liquidity risks. -- -- -- -- -- -- o
Financial futures and options;
securities and index options Contracts
involving the right or obligation to
deliver or receive assets or money
depending on the performance of one or
more assets or an economic index.
oFutures and related options. Interest
rate, currency, market, hedged or
speculative leverage, correlation,
liquidity, opportunity risks. @ @ @ @ @ @ @
o Options on securities and indices
Interest rate, currency, market, hedged
or speculative leverage, correlation,
liquidity, credit, opportunity risks. 5(3) 5(3) 5(3) 5(3) 5(3) 5(3) 5(3)
Structured securities Indexed and/or
leveraged mortgage-backed and other debt
securities, including principal-only and
interest-only securities, leveraged
floating rate securities, and others
These securities tend to be highly
sensitive to interest rate movements and
their performance may not correlate to
such movements in a conventional
fashion. Credit, interest rate,
extension, prepayment, market,
speculative leverage, liquidity,
valuation risks. @ 10 10 10 10 10 @
Swaps, caps, floors, collars OTC
contracts involving the right or
obligation to receive or make payments
based on two different income streams
Correlation, credit, currency, interest
rate, hedged or speculative leverage,
liquidity, valuation risks. o o o o o o o
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analysis of funds with 5% or more in junk bonds(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quality rating High Yield Sovereign Strategic
(S&P/Moody's)(2) Bond Fund Bond Fund Income Fund
AAA/Aaa 2.0% 42.2% 25.13%
AA/Aa 0.0% 9.1% 8.4%
A/A 0.0% 14.6% 4.2%
BBB/Baa 1.7% 12.5% 1.4%
BB/Ba 14.7% 11.1% 8.11%
B/B 63.7% 7.8% 41.1%
CCC/Caa 5.6% 0.2% 1.5%
CC/Ca 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
C/C 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
D 0.0% 0.0% 0.1%
% of portfolio in bonds 87.7% 97.5% 92.1%
n Rated by S&P or Moody's n Rated by the adviser
(1) Data as of fund's last fiscal year end.
(2) In cases where the S&P and Moody's ratings for a given bond issue do not
agree, the issue has been counted in the higher category.
FUND DETAILS 31
<PAGE>
For more information
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two documents are available that offer further information on John Hancock
income funds:
ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
Includes financial statements, detailed performance information, portfolio
holdings, a statement from portfolio management and the auditor's report.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)
The SAI contains more detailed information on all aspects of the funds. The
current annual/ semi-annual report is included in the SAI.
A current SAI has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
incorporated by reference (is legally a part of this prospectus).
To request a free copy of the current annual/semi-annual report or the SAI,
please write or call:
John Hancock Investor Services Corporation
P.O. Box 9116
Boston, MA 02205-9116
Telephone: 1-800-225-5291
EASI-Line: 1-800-338-8080
TDD: 1-800-544-6713
[Logo] John Hancock Funds
A Global Investment Management Firm
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7603
John Hancock(R)
Financial Services
(C) 1996 John Hancock Funds, Inc.
INCPN 8/96
<PAGE>
JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
Class A and Class B Shares
Statement of Additional Information
August 30, 1996
This Statement of Additional Information provides information about John
Hancock Sovereign U.S. Government Income Fund (the "Fund"), in addition to the
information that is contained in the combined Income Funds' Prospectus dated
August 30, 1996 (the "Prospectus"). The Fund is a series portfolio of John
Hancock Strategic Series.
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It should be
read in conjunction with the Prospectus, a copy of which can be obtained free of
charge by writing or telephoning:
John Hancock Investor Services Corporation
P.O. Box 9116
Boston, Massachusetts 02205-9116
1-800-225-5291
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ORGANIZATION OF THE FUND 2
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES 2
CERTAIN INVESTMENT PRACTICES 11
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 15
TAX STATUS 18
THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGEMENT 23
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES 31
DISTRIBUTION CONTRACT 32
NET ASSET VALUE 33
INITIAL SALES CHARGE ON CLASS A SHARES 34
DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON CLASS B SHARES 36
SPECIAL REDEMPTIONS 38
ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS 38
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND'S SHARES 40
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE 41
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION 43
DISTRIBUTIONS 44
TRANSFER AGENT SERVICES 45
CUSTODY OF PORTFOLIO 45
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS 45
APPENDIX A A-1
DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS* A-1
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS A-3
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS F-1
<PAGE>
ORGANIZATION OF THE FUND
John Hancock Strategic Series (the "Trust") is a diversified open-end
management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on
April 16, 1986. The Trustees have authority to issue an unlimited number of
shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value.
The investment adviser for the Fund is John Hancock Advisers, Inc. (the
"Adviser"). The Adviser is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of John Hancock
Mutual Life Insurance Company (the "Life Company"), a Massachusetts life
insurance company chartered in 1862, with national headquarters at John Hancock
Place, Boston, Massachusetts.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund's goals,
strategies and risks discussed in the Prospectus.
The Fund's investment objective is to provide as high a level of income as
is consistent with long-term total return by investing in securities issued,
guaranteed or otherwise backed by the United States government, its agencies or
instrumentalities ("Government Securities"). The Adviser believes that a high
current income consistent with long-term total return may be derived from: (i)
interest income from Government Securities; (ii) income from premiums from
expired put and call options on Government Securities written by the Fund; (iii)
net gains from closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to options on
Government Securities; and (iv) net gains from sales of portfolio securities on
exercise of options or otherwise.
Since interest yields on Government Securities and opportunities to realize
net gains from options transactions may vary from time to time because of
general economic and market conditions and many other factors, it is anticipated
that the Fund's share price and yield will fluctuate, and there can be no
assurance that the Fund's objective will be achieved.
Government Securities
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total
assets in Government Securities. The Government Securities that may be purchased
by the Fund include, but are not limited to:
U.S. Treasury Securities. The Fund may invest in U.S. Treasury securities,
including Bills (maturities of one year or less), Notes (maturities of one to
ten years), Bonds (generally maturities of greater than ten years) and other
debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. These instruments are direct
obligations of the U.S. Government and differ primarily in their interest rates,
the lengths of their maturities and the times of their issuance.
Securities Issued or Guaranteed by U.S. Government Agencies and
Instrumentalities. The Fund may also invest in securities issued by agencies of
the U.S. Government or instrumentalities established or sponsored by the U.S.
Government. The obligations, including those which are guaranteed by Federal
agencies or instrumentalities, may or may not be backed by the "full faith and
credit" of the United States. In the case of securities not backed by the full
faith and credit of the United States, the Fund must look principally to the
agency issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not
be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the event the
agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitments. Securities in which the
Fund may invest but which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States include but are not limited to obligations of the Tennessee Valley
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Authority, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") and the United
States Postal Service, each of which has the right to borrow from the United
States Treasury to meet its obligations, and obligations of the Federal Farm
Credit System, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") and the
Federal Home Loan Banks, the obligations of which may only be satisfied by the
individual credit of the issuing agency. Obligations of the Government National
Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), the Farmers Home Administration and the
Export-Import Bank are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
Securities of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The Fund may also purchase obligations of the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development ("World Bank"), which, while technically not a
U.S. Government agency or instrumentality, has the right to borrow from the
participating countries, including the United States.
The Fund may invest in Government Securities of all maturities: short-term,
intermediate-term and long-term.
The Fund may, for purposes of liquidity and flexibility, place up to 35% of
its assets in investment-grade (equivalent to the top four bond rating
categories of a nationally recognized securities rating organization such as
Standard & Poor's Rating Group ("Standard & Poor's") or Moody's Investor's
Service, Inc. ("Moody's")) short-term securities, including debt securities of
corporations, certificates of deposit of domestic banks, or repurchase
agreements with respect to Government Securities, including repurchase
agreements that mature in more than seven days. In the event these securities
are subsequently downgraded below such ratings, the Adviser will consider this
event in its determination of whether the Fund should continue to hold the
securities. The Fund may also invest in collateralized mortgage-backed
obligations that are issued or sponsored by a government agency. In abnormal
market conditions, it may invest more assets in these securities as a defensive
tactic. See Appendix A to this Statement of Additional Information for a
description of the various ratings of investment grade debt securities.
Mortgage-Related Securities
The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities, including those
representing an undivided ownership interest in a pool of mortgage loans, e.g.,
securities of the GNMA and pass-through securities issued by the FHLMC and FNMA.
GNMA Certificates. Certificates of the GNMA ("GNMA Certificates") are
mortgage-backed securities, which evidence an undivided interest in a pool of
mortgage loans. GNMA Certificates differ from bonds in that the principal is
paid back monthly by the borrower over the term of the loan rather than returned
in a lump sum at maturity. GNMA Certificates that the Fund purchases are the
"modified pass-through" type. "Modified pass-through" GNMA Certificates entitle
the holder to receive a share of all interest and principal payments paid and
owed on the mortgage pool, net of fees paid to the "issuer" and GNMA, regardless
of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
GNMA Guarantee. The National Housing Act authorizes GNMA to guarantee the timely
payment of principal and interest on securities backed by a pool of mortgages
insured by the Federal Housing Administration ("FHA") or the Farmers' Home
Administration ("FMHA"), or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration ("VA").
The GNMA guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
The GNMA is also empowered to borrow without limit from the U.S. Treasury if
necessary to make any payments required under its guarantee.
Life of GNMA Certificates. The average life of a GNMA Certificate is likely to
3
<PAGE>
be substantially less than the original maturity of the mortgage pools
underlying the securities. Prepayments of principal by mortgagors and mortgage
foreclosures will usually result in the return of the greater part of principal
investment long before the contractual maturity of the mortgages in the pool.
Foreclosures impose no risk to principal investment because of the GNMA
guarantee. Because they represent the underlying mortgages, GNMA Certificates
may not be an effective means of locking in long-term interest rates due to the
need for the Fund to reinvest scheduled and unscheduled principal payments. At
the time principal payments or prepayments are received by the Fund, prevailing
interest rates may be higher or lower than the current yield of the Fund's
portfolio.
Statistics published by the FHA indicate that the average life of
single-family dwelling mortgages with 25 to 30-year maturities, the type of
mortgages backing the vast majority of GNMA Certificates, is approximately 12
years. However, because prepayment rates of individual mortgage pools vary
widely, it is not possible to predict accurately the average life of a
particular issue of GNMA Certificates.
Yield Characteristics of GNMA Certificates. The coupon rate of interest on GNMA
Certificates is lower than the interest rate paid on the VA-guaranteed or
FHA-insured mortgages underlying the Certificates, by the amount of the fees
paid to GNMA and the issuer.
The coupon rate by itself, however, does not indicate the yield which will
be earned on GNMA Certificates. First, GNMA Certificates may be issued at a
premium or discount, rather than at par, and, after issuance, GNMA Certificates
may trade in the secondary market at a premium or discount. Second, interest is
earned monthly, rather than semiannually as with traditional bonds; monthly
compounding raises the effective yield earned. Finally, the actual yield of a
GNMA Certificate is influenced by the prepayment experience of the mortgage pool
underlying it. For example, if the higher- yielding mortgages from the pool are
prepaid, the yield on the remaining pool will be reduced. Prepayments of
principal by mortgagors (which can be made at any time without penalty) may
increase during periods when interest rates are falling.
FHLMC Securities. The FHLMC was created in 1970 through enactment of Title III
of the Emergency Home Finance Act of 1970. Its purpose is to promote development
of a nationwide secondary market in conventional residential mortgages.
The FHLMC issues two types of mortgage pass-through securities, mortgage
participation certificates ("PCs") and guaranteed mortgage certificates
("GMCs"). PCs resemble GNMA Certificates in that each PC represents a pro rata
share of all interest and principal payments made and owed on the underlying
pool. The FHLMC guarantees timely payment of interest on PCs and the full return
of principal.
GMC's also represent a pro rata interest in a pool of mortgages. However,
these instruments pay interest semiannually and return principal once a year in
guaranteed minimum payments.
FNMA Securities. The FNMA was established in 1938 to create a secondary market
in mortgages insured by the FHA.
FNMA Issued Guaranteed Mortgage Pass-through Certificates ("FNMA Certificates").
FNMA Certificates resemble GNMA Certificates in that each FNMA Certificate
represents a pro rata share of all interest and principal payments made and owed
on the underlying pool. FNMA guarantees timely payment of interest on FNMA
Certificates and the full return of principal.
Collateralized Mortgage-Backed Obligations ("CMO's"). CMOs are
fully-collateralized bonds which are the general obligations of the issuer
thereof, either the U.S. Government or a U.S. Government instrumentality. Such
4
<PAGE>
bonds generally are secured by an assignment to a trustee (under the indenture
pursuant to which the bonds are issued) of collateral consisting of a pool of
mortgages. Payments with respect to the underlying mortgages generally are made
to the trustee under the indenture. Payments of principal and interest on the
underlying mortgages are not passed through to the holders of the CMOs as such
(i.e. the character of payments of principal and interest is not passed through,
and therefore payments to holders of CMOs attributable to interest paid and
principal repaid on the underlying mortgages do not necessarily constitute
income and return of capital, respectively, to such holders), but such payments
are dedicated to payment of interest on and repayment of principal of the CMOs.
CMOs often are issued in two or more classes with varying maturities and stated
rates of interest. Because interest and principal payments on the underlying
mortgages are not passed through to holders of CMOs, CMOs of varying maturities
may be secured by the same pool of mortgages, the payments on which are used to
pay interest on each class and to retire successive maturities in sequence.
Unlike other mortgage-backed securities (discussed above), CMOs are designed to
be retired as the underlying mortgages are repaid. In the event of prepayment on
such mortgages, the class of CMO first to mature generally will be paid down.
Therefore, although in most cases the issuer of CMOs will not supply additional
collateral in the event of such prepayment, there will be sufficient collateral
to secure CMOs that remain outstanding.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities. The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate
securities. It is the current intention of the Fund to invest no more than 5% of
its net assets in inverse floating rate securities. The interest rate on an
inverse floating rate security resets in the opposite direction from the market
rate of interest to which the inverse floating rate security is indexed. An
inverse floating rate security may be considered to be leveraged to the extent
that its interest rate varies by a multiple of the index rate of interest. A
higher degree of leverage in the inverse floating rate security is associated
with greater volatility in the market value of such security.
The inverse floating rate securities that the Fund may invest in include
but are not limited to, an inverse floating rate class of a government agency
issued CMO and a government agency issued yield curve note. Typically, an
inverse floating rate class of a CMO is one of two components created from the
cash flows from a pool of fixed rate mortgages. The other component is a
floating rate security in which the amount of interest payable varies directly
with a market interest rate index. A yield curve note is a fixed income security
that bears interest at a floating rate that is reset periodically based on an
interest rate benchmark. The interest rate resets on a yield curve note in the
opposite direction from the interest rate benchmark.
Mortgage-backed securities have stated maturities of up to thirty years
when they are issued, depending upon the length of the mortgages underlying the
securities. In practice, however, unscheduled or early payments of principal and
interest on the underlying mortgages may make the securities' effective maturity
shorter than this, and the prevailing interest rates may be higher or lower than
the current yield of the Fund's portfolio at the time the Fund receives these
payments for reinvestment. Mortgage-backed securities may have less potential
for capital appreciation than comparable fixed-income securities due to the
likelihood of increased prepayments of mortgages as interest rates decline. If
the Fund buys mortgage-backed securities at a premium, mortgage foreclosures and
prepayments of principal by mortgagors (which may be made at any time without
penalty) may result in some loss of the Fund's principal investment, to the
extent of the premium paid.
In a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will
extend the average life of many mortgage-backed securities. Extending the
average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation
due to future increases in market interest rates.
Options
The Fund may write listed and over-the-counter covered call options and
5
<PAGE>
covered put options on all or any part of the Fund's portfolio of Government
Securities in order to earn additional income from the premiums received. The
Fund may also write straddles (combinations of covered puts and calls on the
same underlying security). In addition, the Fund may purchase listed and
over-the-counter put options on Government Securities provided that no more than
5% of its assets may be invested in these options. The extent to which covered
options will be used by the Fund will depend upon market conditions and the
availability of alternative strategies.
The Fund will write listed and over-the-counter call options only if they
are "covered," which means that the Fund owns or has the immediate right to
acquire the securities underlying the options without additional cash
consideration upon conversion or exchange of other securities held in its
portfolio, except that, in the case of call options on U.S. Treasury Bills, the
Fund might own U.S. Treasury Bills of a different series from those underlying
the call option, but with a principal amount corresponding to the option
contract amount and a maturity date no later than that of the securities
deliverable under the call option. A call option written by the Fund may also be
"covered" if the Fund holds on a share-for-share basis a covering call on the
same securities where (i) the exercise price of the covering call held is equal
to or less than the exercise price of the call written or the exercise price of
the covering call is greater than the exercise price of the call written, in the
latter case only if the difference is maintained by the Fund in cash or liquid
securities in a segregated account with the Fund's custodian, and (ii) the
covering call expires at the same time as the call written. If a covered call
option is not exercised, the Fund would keep both the option premium and the
underlying security. If the covered call option written by the Fund is exercised
and the exercise price, less the transaction costs, exceeds the cost of the
underlying security, the Fund would realize a gain in addition to the amount of
the option premium it received. If the exercise price, less transaction costs,
is less than the cost of the underlying security, the Fund's loss would be
reduced by the amount of the option premium.
As the writer of a covered put option, the Fund will write a put option
only with respect to securities it intends to acquire for its portfolio and will
maintain in a segregated account with its custodian bank cash or liquid
securities with a value equal to the price at which the underlying security may
be sold to the Fund in the event the put option is exercised by the purchaser.
The Fund may also write a "covered" put option by purchasing on a
share-for-share basis a put on the same security as the put written by the Fund
if the exercise price of the covering put held is equal to or greater than the
exercise price of the put written and the covering put expires at the same time
as or later than the put written.
When writing listed and over-the-counter covered put options on securities,
the Fund would earn income from the premiums received. If a covered put option
is not exercised, the Fund would keep the option premium and the assets
maintained to cover the option. If the option is exercised and the exercise
price, including transaction costs, exceeds the market price of the underlying
security, the Fund would realize a loss, but the amount of the loss would be
reduced by the amount of the option premium.
If the writer of an exchange-traded option wishes to terminate its
obligation prior to its exercise, it may effect a "closing purchase
transaction." This is accomplished by buying an option of the same series as the
option previously written. The effect of the purchase is that the Fund's
position will be offset by the Options Clearing Corporation. The Fund may not
effect a closing purchase transaction after it has been notified of the exercise
of an option. There is no guarantee that a closing purchase transaction can be
effected. Although the Fund will generally write only those options for which
there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a
liquid secondary market on an exchange or board of trade will exist for any
particular option or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary
market on an exchange may exist.
In the case of a written call option, effecting a closing transaction will
permit the Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with
6
<PAGE>
either a different exercise price, expiration date or both. In the case of a
written put option, it will permit the Fund to write another put option to the
extent that the exercise price thereof is secured by deposited cash or
short-term securities. Also, effecting a closing transaction will permit the
cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any securities subject to the
option to be used for other investments. If the Fund desires to sell a
particular security from its portfolio on which it has written a call option, it
will effect a closing transaction prior to or concurrent with the sale of the
security.
The Fund will realize a gain from a closing transaction if the cost of the
closing transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option.
The Fund will realize a loss from a closing transaction if the cost of the
closing transaction is more than the premium received for writing the option.
However, because increases in the market price of a call option will generally
reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security, any loss
resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset in whole
or in part by appreciation in the value of the underlying security owned by the
Fund.
Over-the-Counter Options. The Fund may engage in options transactions on
exchanges and in the over-the-counter markets. In general, exchange-traded
options are third-party contracts (i.e., performance of the parties' obligations
is guaranteed by an exchange or clearing corporation) with standardized strike
prices and expiration dates. Over-the-counter ("OTC") transactions are two-party
contracts with price and terms negotiated by the buyer and seller. The Fund will
acquire only those OTC options for which management believes the Fund can
receive on each business day at least two separate bids or offers (one of which
will be from an entity other than a party to the option) or those OTC options
valued by an independent pricing service. The Fund will write and purchase OTC
options only with member banks of the Federal Reserve System and primary dealers
in U.S. Government securities or their affiliates which have capital of at least
$50 million or whose obligations are guaranteed by an entity having capital of
at least $50 million. The SEC has taken the position that OTC options are
subject to the Fund's 15% restriction on illiquid investments. The SEC, however,
allows the Fund to exclude from the 15% limitation on illiquid securities a
portion of the value of the OTC options written by the Fund, provided that
certain conditions are met. First, the other party to the OTC options has to be
a primary U.S. Government securities dealer designated as such by the Federal
Reserve Bank. Second, the Fund must have an absolute contractual right to
repurchase the OTC options at a formula price. If the above conditions are met,
the Fund may treat as illiquid only that portion of the OTC option's value (and
the value of its underlying securities) which is equal to the formula price for
repurchasing the OTC option, less the OTC option's intrinsic value.
Risk Factors Applicable to Options
On Treasury Bonds and Notes. Because trading interest in Treasury Bonds and
Notes tends to center on the most recently auctioned issues, the Exchanges will
not indefinitely continue to introduce new series of options with expirations to
replace expiring options on particular issues. Instead, the expirations
introduced at the commencement of options trading on a particular issue will be
allowed to run their course, with the possible addition of a limited number of
new expirations as the original ones expire. Options trading on each series of
Bonds or Notes will thus be phased out as new options are listed on the more
recent issues, and a full range of expiration dates will not ordinarily be
available for every series on which options are traded.
On Treasury Bills. Because the deliverable Treasury Bill changes from week
to week, writers of Treasury Bill call options cannot provide in advance for
their potential exercise settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the
underlying security. However, if the Fund holds a long position in Treasury
Bills with a principal amount corresponding to the option contract size, the
Fund may be hedged from a risk standpoint. In addition, the Fund will maintain
in a segregated account with its custodian Treasury Bills maturing no later than
those which would be deliverable in the event of an assignment of an exercise
notice to ensure that it can meet its open options obligations.
7
<PAGE>
Additional Risks of Options On Government Securities. The Fund may purchase
and sell options on Government Securities including securities issued by the
Government National Mortgage Association. Certain options on Government
Securities are traded "over-the-counter" rather than on an exchange. This means
that the Fund will enter into such options with particular broker-dealers who
make markets in these options. With respect to options not traded on an
exchange, there is the additional risk that the Fund may not be able to enter
into a closing transaction with the other party to the option on satisfactory
terms or that such other party may be unable to fulfill its contractual
obligations. However, the Adviser or JH Advisers International, as the case may
be, will enter into transactions in non-listed options only with responsible
dealers where it does not believe that the foregoing factors present a material
risk. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect closing
transactions at any particular time or at an acceptable price. The Fund's
ability to terminate options positions in Government Securities may involve the
risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will fail to meet
their obligations to the Fund. The Fund will purchase options on Government
Securities only from broker-dealers whose debt securities are investment grade
(as determined by the Board of Trustees).
The Fund's Custodian, or a securities depository acting for it, will act as
the Fund's escrow agent as to the securities on which it has written calls, or
as to other securities acceptable for such escrow, so that pursuant to the rules
of the Options Clearing Corporation and certain exchanges, no margin deposit
will be required of the Fund. Until the securities are released from escrow,
they cannot be sold by the Fund; this release will take place on the expiration
of the call or the Fund's entering into a closing purchase transaction. For
information on the valuation of the puts and calls, see "Net Asset Value."
The Fund will engage in transactions in options and straddles only to the
extent such transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") for maintaining its qualification
as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures
Financial Futures Contracts. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts (and
related options) to hedge against the effects of fluctuations in securities
prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other market conditions and
for speculative purposes. The Fund may hedge its portfolio by selling or
purchasing financial futures contracts as an offset against the effects of
changes in interest rates or in security or foreign currency values. Although
other techniques could be used to reduce exposure to market fluctuations, the
Fund may be able to hedge its exposure more effectively and perhaps at a lower
cost by using financial futures contracts. The Fund may enter into financial
futures contracts for hedging and speculative purposes to the extent permitted
by regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC").
Financial futures contracts have been designed by boards of trade which
have been designated "contract markets" by the CFTC. Futures contracts are
traded on these markets in a manner that is similar to the way a stock is traded
on a stock exchange. The boards of trade, through their clearing corporations,
guarantee that the contracts will be performed. Currently, financial futures
contracts are based on interest rate instruments such as long-term U.S. Treasury
bonds, U.S. Treasury notes, GNMA modified pass-through mortgage-backed
securities, three-month U.S. Treasury bills, 90-day commercial paper, bank
certificates of deposit and Eurodollar certificates of deposit. It is expected
that if other financial futures contracts are developed and traded the Fund may
engage in transactions in such contracts.
Although some financial futures contracts by their terms call for actual
8
<PAGE>
delivery or acceptance of financial instruments, in most cases the contracts are
closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching
financial futures contracts (same exchange, underlying security and delivery
month). Other financial futures contracts, such as futures contracts on
securities indices, by their terms call for cash settlements. If the offsetting
purchase price is less than the Fund's original sale price, the Fund realizes a
gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting
sale price is more than the Fund's original purchase price, the Fund realizes a
gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must
also be included in these calculations. The Fund will pay a commission in
connection with each purchase or sale of financial futures contracts, including
a closing transaction. For a discussion of the Federal income tax considerations
of transactions in financial futures contracts, see the information under the
caption "Tax Status" below.
At the time the Fund enters into a financial futures contract, it is
required to deposit with its custodian a specified amount of cash or U.S.
Government securities, known as "initial margin," ranging upward from 1.1% of
the value of the financial futures contract being traded. The margin required
for a financial futures contract is set by the board of trade or exchange on
which the contract is traded and may be modified during the term of the
contract. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good
faith deposit on the financial futures contract which is returned to the Fund
upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been
satisfied. The Fund expects to earn interest income on its initial margin
deposits. Each day, the futures contract is valued at the official settlement
price of the board of trade or exchange on which it is traded. Subsequent
payments, known as "variation margin," to and from the broker are made on a
daily basis as the market price of the financial futures contract fluctuates.
This process is known as "mark to market." Variation margin does not represent a
borrowing or lending by the Fund but is instead a settlement between the Fund
and the broker of the amount one would owe the other if the financial futures
contract expired. In computing net asset value, the Fund will mark to market its
open financial futures positions.
Successful hedging depends on a strong correlation between the market for
the underlying securities and the futures contract market for those securities.
There are several factors that will probably prevent this correlation from being
a perfect one, and even a correct forecast of general interest rate trends may
not result in a successful hedging transaction. There are significant
differences between the securities and futures markets which could create an
imperfect correlation between the markets and which could affect the success of
a given hedge. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends on
circumstances such as variations in speculative market demand for financial
futures and debt securities, including technical influences in futures trading
and differences between the financial instruments being hedged and the
instruments underlying the standard financial futures contracts available for
trading in such respects as interest rate levels, maturities and
creditworthiness of issuers. The degree of imperfection may be increased where
the underlying debt securities are lower-rated and, thus, subject to greater
fluctuation in price than higher-rated securities.
A decision as to whether, when and how to hedge involves the exercise of
skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some
degree because of unexpected market or interest rate trends. The Fund will bear
the risk that the price of the securities being hedged will not move in complete
correlation with the price of the futures contracts used as a hedging
instrument. Although the Adviser believes that the use of financial futures
contracts will benefit the Fund, an incorrect market prediction could result in
a loss on both the hedged securities in the Fund's portfolio and the hedging
vehicle so that the Fund's return might have been better had hedging not been
attempted. However, in the absence of the ability to hedge, the Adviser might
have taken portfolio actions in anticipation of the same market movements with
similar investment results but, presumably, at greater transaction costs. The
low margin deposits required for futures transactions permit an extremely high
degree of leverage. A relatively small movement in a futures contract may result
in losses or gains in excess of the amount invested.
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Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain
futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes
the maximum amount the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down
from the previous day's settlement price, at the end of the current trading
session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to
the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit.
The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day
and, therefore, does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to
prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices
have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days
with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions
and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.
Finally, although the Fund engages in financial futures transactions only
on boards of trade or exchanges where there appears to be an adequate secondary
market, there is no assurance that a liquid market will exist for a particular
futures contract at any given time. The liquidity of the market depends on
participants closing out contracts rather than making or taking delivery. In the
event participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the market
could be reduced. In addition, the Fund could be prevented from executing a buy
or sell order at a specified price or closing out a position due to limits on
open positions or daily price fluctuation limits imposed by the exchanges or
boards of trade. If the Fund cannot close out a position, it must continue to
meet margin requirements until the position is closed.
Options on Financial Futures Contracts. The Fund may buy and sell options
on financial futures contracts to hedge against the effects of fluctuations in
securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other market
conditions and for speculative purposes. An option on a futures contract gives
the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in
a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period
of the option. Upon exercise, the writer of the option delivers the futures
contract to the holder at the exercise price. The Fund would be required to
deposit with its custodian initial and variation margin with respect to put and
call options on futures contracts written by them. Options on futures contracts
involve risks similar to the risks of transactions in financial futures
contracts. Also, an option purchased by the Fund may expire worthless, in which
case the Fund would lose the premium it paid for the option.
Other Considerations. The Fund will engage in futures and options
transactions for bona fide hedging or speculative purposes to the extent
permitted by CFTC regulations. The Fund will determine that the price
fluctuations in the futures contracts and options on futures used for hedging
purposes are substantially related to price fluctuations in securities held by
the Fund or which it expects to purchase. Except as stated below, the Fund's
futures transactions will be entered into for traditional hedging purposes
- --i.e., futures contracts will be sold to protect against a decline in the price
of securities that the Fund owns, or futures contracts will be purchased to
protect the Fund against an increase in the price of securities, or the currency
in which they are denominated, the Fund intends to purchase. As evidence of this
hedging intent, the Fund expects that on 75% or more of the occasions on which
it takes a long futures or option position (involving the purchase of futures
contracts), the Fund will have purchased, or will be in the process of
purchasing equivalent amounts of related securities or assets denominated in the
related currency in the cash market at the time when the futures contract or
option position is closed out. However, in particular cases, when it is
economically advantageous for the Fund to do so, a long futures position may be
terminated or an option may expire without the corresponding purchase of
securities or other assets.
As an alternative to literal compliance with the bona fide hedging
definition, a CFTC regulation permits the Fund to elect to comply with a
different test, under which the aggregate initial margin and premiums required
to establish nonhedging positions in futures contracts and options on futures
will not exceed 5% of the net asset value of the Fund's portfolio, after taking
into account unrealized profits and losses on any such positions and excluding
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the amount by which such options were in-the-money at the time of purchase. The
Fund will engage in transactions in futures contracts only to the extent such
transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Code for maintaining
its qualification as a regulated investment company for Federal income tax
purposes.
When the Fund purchases financial futures contracts, or writes put options
or purchases call options thereon, cash or liquid securities will be deposited
in a segregated account with the Fund's custodian in an amount that, together
with the amount of initial and variation margin held in the account of the
broker, equals the market value of the futures contracts.
Portfolio Turnover
If the Fund writes a number of call options and the market prices of the
underlying securities appreciate, or if the Fund writes a number of put options
and the market prices of the underlying securities depreciate, there may be a
substantial turnover of the portfolio. While the Fund will pay commissions in
connection with its options transactions, Government Securities are generally
traded on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts
without a stated commission. Nevertheless, high portfolio turnover (100% or
greater) may involve correspondingly greater commissions and other transaction
costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. In addition, a higher rate of
portfolio turnover may, under certain circumstances, make it more difficult for
the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code.
CERTAIN INVESTMENT PRACTICES
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a
contract under which the Fund acquires a security for a relatively short period
(usually not more than 7 days) subject to the obligation of the seller to
repurchase and the Fund to resell such security at a fixed time and price
(representing the Fund's cost plus interest). The Fund will enter into
repurchase agreements only with member banks of the Federal Reserve System and
with "primary dealers" in U.S. Government securities. The Adviser will
continuously monitor the creditworthiness of the parties with whom the Fund
enters into repurchase agreements.
The Fund has established a procedure providing that the securities serving
as collateral for each repurchase agreement must be delivered to the Fund's
custodian either physically or in book-entry form and that the collateral must
be marked to market daily to ensure that each repurchase agreement is fully
collateralized at all times. In the event of bankruptcy or other default by a
seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience delays in
liquidating the underlying securities during the period in which the Fund seeks
to enforce its rights thereto, possible subnormal levels of income and lack of
access to income during this period and the expense of enforcing its rights.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may also enter into reverse repurchase agreements which involve
the sale of U.S. Government securities held in its portfolio to a bank with an
agreement that the Fund will buy back the securities at a fixed future date at a
fixed price plus an agreed amount of "interest" which may be reflected in the
repurchase price. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings
by the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market
value of securities purchased by the Fund with proceeds of the transaction may
decline below the repurchase price of the securities sold by the Fund which it
is obligated to repurchase. The Fund will also continue to be subject to the
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risk of a decline in the market value of the securities sold under the
agreements because it will reacquire those securities upon effecting their
repurchase. The Fund will not enter into reverse repurchase agreements and other
borrowings exceeding in the aggregate 33_% of the market value of its total
assets. The Fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only with
federally insured banks or savings and loan associations which are approved in
advance as being creditworthy by the Board of Trustees. Under procedures
established by the Board of Trustees, the Adviser will monitor the
creditworthiness of the banks involved.
Forward Commitment and When-Issued Securities
The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment
basis. "When- issued" refers to securities whose terms are available and for
which a market exists, but which have not been issued. The Fund will engage in
when-issued transactions with respect to securities purchased for its portfolio
in order to obtain what is considered to be an advantageous price and yield at
the time of the transaction. For when-issued transactions, no payment is made
until delivery is due, often a month or more after the purchase. In a forward
commitment transaction, the Fund contracts to purchase securities for a fixed
price at a future date beyond customary settlement time.
When the Fund engages in forward commitment and when-issued transactions,
it relies on the seller to consummate the transaction. The failure of the issuer
or seller to consummate the transaction may result in the Fund's losing the
opportunity to obtain a price and yield considered to be advantageous. The
purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis may also
involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines
prior to the settlement date.
On the date the Fund enters into an agreement to purchase securities on a
when-issued or forward commitment basis, the Fund will segregate in a separate
account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the Fund's commitment. These
assets will be valued daily at market, and additional cash or securities will be
segregated in a separate account to the extent that the total value of the
assets in the account declines below the amount of the when-issued commitments.
Alternatively, the Fund may enter into offsetting contracts for the forward sale
of other securities that it owns.
Trading of Securities
The Fund may trade those Government Securities which are not covering
outstanding options positions and are not on loan to broker-dealers if the
Fund's Adviser believes that there are opportunities to exploit differentials in
prices and yields or fluctuations in interest rates, consistent with its
investment objective. Such trading may have the effect of increasing the Fund's
portfolio turnover rate. See "Portfolio Turnover" above.
Restricted Securities
The Fund may purchase securities that are not registered ("restricted
securities") under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"), including securities
offered and sold to "qualified institutional buyers" under Rule 144A under the
1933 Act. However, the Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in
illiquid investments, which include repurchase agreements maturing in more than
seven days, securities that are not readily marketable and restricted
securities. However, if the Board of Trustees determines, based upon a
continuing review of the trading markets for specific Rule 144A securities, that
they are liquid, then such securities may be purchased without regard to the 15%
limit. The Trustees may adopt guidelines and delegate to the Adviser the daily
function of determining the monitoring and liquidity of restricted securities.
The Trustees, however, will retain sufficient oversight and be ultimately
responsible for the determinations. The Trustees will carefully monitor the
Fund's investments in these securities, focusing on such important factors,
among others, as valuation, liquidity and availability of information. This
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investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity
in the Fund if qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in
purchasing these restricted securities.
The Fund may acquire other restricted securities including securities for
which market quotations are not readily available. These securities may be sold
only in privately negotiated transactions or in public offerings with respect to
which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933
Act. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or
part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between
the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell
a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period,
adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less
favorable price than prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities
will be priced at fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund's
Trustees.
The Fund will not invest more than 5% of its total assets in Rule 144A
securities without first supplementing the prospectus and providing additional
information to shareholders.
Lending of Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and financial
institutions if the loan is collateralized by cash or Government Securities
according to applicable regulatory requirements. The Fund may reinvest any cash
collateral in short-term securities and money market funds. When the Fund lends
portfolio securities, there is a risk that the borrower may fail to return the
securities involved in the transaction. As a result, the Fund may incur a loss
or, in the event of the borrower's bankruptcy, the Fund may be delayed in or
prevented from liquidating the collateral. It is a fundamental policy of the
Fund not to lend portfolio securities having a total value exceeding 30% of its
total assets.
Mortgage "Dollar Roll" Transactions
The Fund may enter into mortgage "dollar roll" transactions with selected
banks and broker-dealers pursuant to which the Fund sells mortgage-backed
securities and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar
(same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified future date. The Fund
will only enter into covered rolls. A "covered roll" is a specific type of
dollar roll for which there is an offsetting cash position or a cash equivalent
security position which matures on or before the forward settlement date of the
dollar roll transaction. Covered rolls are not treated as a borrowing or other
senior security and will be excluded from the calculation of the Fund's
borrowing and other senior securities. For financial reporting and tax purposes,
the Fund treats mortgage dollar rolls as two separate transactions; one
involving the purchase of a security and a separate transaction involving a
sale. The Fund does not currently intend to enter into mortgage dollar roll
transactions that are accounted for as a financing.
Asset-Backed Securities
The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in asset-backed securities
which are rated in the highest rating category by a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization (e.g., Standard & Poor's or Moody's) or if not
so rated, of equivalent investment quality in the opinion of the Adviser.
Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than
their stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of
prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining
interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be
expected to accelerate. Accordingly, the Fund's ability to maintain positions in
these securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such
securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns
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of principal at comparable yields is subject to generally prevailing interest
rates at that time.
Credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors on such
receivables are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal
consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set-off
certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due.
Automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles rather than
residential real property. Most issuers of automobile receivables permit the
loan services to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the service
were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the
purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the
asset-backed securities. In addition, because of the large number of vehicles
involved in a typical issuance and technical requirements under state laws, the
trustee for the holders of the automobile receivables may not have a proper
security interest in the underlying automobiles. Therefore, there is the
possibility that, in some cases, recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be
available to support payments on these securities.
Swaps, Caps, Floor and Collars
As one way of managing its exposure to different types of investments, the
Fund may enter into interest rate swaps, currency swaps, and other types of swap
agreements such as caps, collars and floors. In a typical interest rate swap,
one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating interest rate
times a "notional principal amount," in return for payments equal to a fixed
rate times the same amount, for a specified period of time. If a swap agreement
provides for payment in different currencies, the parties might agree to
exchange the notional principal amount as well. Swaps may also depend on other
prices or rates, such as the value of an index or mortgage prepayment rates.
In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only
under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the
other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to
receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an
agreed-upon level, while the seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to
make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an
agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and
selling a floor.
Swap agreements will tend to shift the Fund's investment exposure from one
type of investment to another. For example, if the Fund agreed to exchange
payments in dollars for payments in a foreign currency, the swap agreement would
tend to decrease the Fund's exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its
exposure to foreign currency and interest rates. Caps and floors have an effect
similar to buying or writing options. Depending on how they are used, swap
agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of a Fund's
investments and its share price and yield.
Swap agreements are sophisticated hedging instruments that typically
involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of risks assumed.
As a result, swaps can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on
the Fund's performance. Swap agreements are subject to risks related to the
counterpart's ability to perform, and may decline in value if the counterpart's
credit worthiness deteriorates. The Fund may also suffer losses if it is unable
to terminate outstanding swap agreements or reduce its exposure through
offsetting transactions. The Fund will maintain in a segregated account with its
custodian, cash or liquid, high grade debt securities equal to the net amount,
if any, of the excess of the Fund's obligations over its entitlement with
respect to swap, cap, collar or floor transactions.
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Participation Interests
Participation interests, which may take the form of interests in, or
assignments of certain loans, are acquired from banks who have made these loans
or are members of a lending syndicate. The Fund's investments in participation
interests are subject to its 15% limitation on investments in illiquid
securities. The Fund may purchase only those participation interest that mature
in 60 days or less, or, if maturing in more than 60 days, that have a floating
rate that is automatically adjusted at least once every 60 days.
Structured or Hybrid Notes
The Fund may invest in "structured" or "hybrid" notes. The distinguishing
feature of a structured or hybrid note is that the amount of interest and/or
principal payable on the note is based on the performance of a benchmark asset
or market other than fixed income securities or interest rates. Examples of
these benchmark include stock prices, currency exchange rates and physical
commodity prices. Investing in a structured note allows the Fund to gain
exposure to the benchmark market while fixing the maximum loss that the Fund may
experience in the event that market does not perform as expected. Depending on
the terms of the note, the Fund may forego all or part of the interest and
principal that would be payable on a comparable conventional note; the Fund's
loss cannot exceed this foregone interest and/or principal. An investment in
structured or hybrid notes involves risks similar to those associated with a
direct investment in the benchmark asset.
Pay-In-Kind, Delayed and Zero Coupon Bonds
The Fund may invest in pay-in-kind, delayed and zero coupon bonds. These
are securities issued at a discount from their face value because interest
payments are typically postponed until maturity. The amount of the discount rate
varies depending on factors including the time remaining until maturity,
prevailing interest rates, the security's liquidity and the issuer's credit
quality. These securities also may take the form of debt securities that have
been stripped of their interest payments. A portion of the discount with respect
to stripped tax-exempt securities or their coupons may be taxable. The market
prices in pay-in-kind, delayed and zero coupon bonds generally are more volatile
than the market prices of interest-bearing securities and are likely to respond
to a grater degree to changes in interest rates than interest-bearing securities
having similar maturities and credit quality. The Fund's investments in
pay-in-kind, delayed and zero coupon bonds may require the Fund to sell certain
of its portfolio securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain
income distribution requirements. See "Tax Status."
The composition and weighted average maturity of the Fund's portfolio will
vary from time to time, based upon the determination of the Adviser of how best
to further the Fund's investment objective.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Fundamental Investment Restrictions
The following investment restrictions will not be changed without approval
of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities which, as used in the
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information, means approval by the
lesser of (1) 67% or more of the Fund's shares represented at a meeting if at
least 50% of the Fund's outstanding shares are present in person or by proxy at
the meeting or (2) more than 50% of the Fund's outstanding shares.
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The Fund may not:
1. Purchases on Margin and Short Sales. Purchase securities on margin or
sell short, except that the Fund may obtain such short term credits as are
necessary for the clearance of securities transactions. The deposit or payment
by the Fund of initial or maintenance margin in connection with futures
contracts or related options transactions is not considered the purchase of a
security on margin.
2. Borrowing. Borrow money, except from banks temporarily for extraordinary
or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) and then in an
aggregate amount not in excess of 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total
assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (not including the
amount borrowed).
3. Underwriting Securities. Act as an underwriter of securities of other
issuers, except to the extent that it may be deemed to act as an underwriter in
certain cases when disposing of restricted securities. (See also Restriction
12.)
4. Senior Securities. Issue senior securities except as appropriate to
evidence indebtedness which the Fund is permitted to incur, provided that, to
the extent applicable, (i) the purchase and sale of futures contracts or related
options, (ii) collateral arrangements with respect to futures contracts, related
options, forward foreign currency exchange contracts or other permitted
investments of the Fund as described in the Prospectus, including deposits of
initial and variation margin, and (iii) the establishment of separate classes of
shares of the Fund for providing alternative distribution methods are not
considered to be the issuance of senior securities for purposes of this
restriction.
5. Warrants. Invest in marketable warrants to purchase common stock.
Warrants acquired in units or attached to securities are not included in this
restriction.
6. Single Issuer Limitation/Diversification. Purchase securities of any one
issuer, except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after such purchase more than 5%
of the value of the Fund's total assets would be invested in such issuer or the
Fund would own or hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of
such issuer; provided, however, that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's total
assets may be invested without regard to these limitations.
7. Real Estate. Purchase or sell real estate although the Fund may purchase
and sell securities which are secured by real estate, mortgages or interests
therein, or issued by companies which invest in real estate or interests
therein; provided, however, that the Fund will not purchase real estate limited
partnership interests.
8. Commodities; Commodity Futures; Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Programs. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts or
interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development programs,
except the Fund may engage in such forward foreign currency contracts and/or
purchase or sell such futures contracts and options thereon as described in the
Prospectus.
9. Making Loans. Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt
instruments and may enter into repurchase agreements (subject to Restriction 12)
in accordance with its investment objective and policies and make loans of
portfolio securities provided that as a result, no more than 30% of the total
assets of the Fund, taken at current value, would be so loaned.
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10. Industry Concentration. Purchase any securities which would cause more
than 25% of the market value of the Fund's total assets at the time of such
purchase to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers having their
principal business activities in the same industry, provided that there is no
limitation with respect to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
Nonfundamental Investment Restrictions
The following restrictions are designated as Nonfundamental and may be
changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.
The Fund may not:
11. Options Transactions. Write, purchase, or sell puts, calls or
combinations thereof except that the Fund may write, purchase or sell puts and
calls on securities as described in the Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional Information.
12. Illiquid Securities. Purchase or otherwise acquire any security if, as
a result, more than 15% of the Fund's net assets (taken at current value) would
be invested in securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a
readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale. This
policy includes repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days. This
policy does not include restricted securities eligible for resale pursuant to
Rule 144A under the Securities Act of l933 which the Board of Trustees or the
Adviser has determined under Board-approved guidelines are liquid.
13. Acquisition for Control Purposes. Purchase securities of any issuer for
the purpose of exercising control or management, except in connection with a
merger, consolidation, acquisition or reorganization.
14. Unseasoned Issuers. Purchase securities of any issuer with a record of
less than three years continuous operations, including predecessors, if such
purchase would cause the investments of the Fund in all such issuers to exceed
5% of the total assets of the Fund taken at market value, except this
restriction shall not apply to (i) obligations of the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities and (ii) securities of such issuers which are
rated by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
15. Beneficial Ownership of Officers and Directors of the Trust and the
Adviser. Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer if those officers or
trustees of the Trust or officers or directors of the Adviser who each own
beneficially more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of that issuer together own
more than 5% of the securities of such issuer.
16. Hypothecating, Mortgaging and Pledging Assets. Hypothecate, mortgage or
pledge any of its assets except as may be necessary in connection with permitted
borrowings and then not in excess of 5% of the Fund's total assets, taken at
cost. For the purpose of this restriction, (i) forward foreign currency exchange
contracts are not deemed to be a pledge of assets, (ii) the purchase or sale of
securities by the Fund on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis and collateral
arrangements with respect to the writing of options on debt securities or on
futures contracts are not deemed to be a pledge of assets; and (iii) the deposit
in escrow of underlying securities in connection with the writing of call
options is not deemed to be a pledge of assets.
17. Joint Trading Accounts. Participate on a joint or joint and several
basis in any trading account in securities (except for a joint account with
other funds managed by the Adviser for repurchase agreements permitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to an exemptive order).
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18. Securities of Other Investment Companies. Purchase a security if, as a
result, (i) more than 10% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the
securities of other investment companies, (ii) the Fund would hold more than 3%
of the total outstanding voting securities of any one investment company, or
(iii) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the
securities of any one investment company. These limitations do not apply to (a)
the investment of cash collateral, received by the Fund in connection with
lending the Fund's portfolio securities, in the securities of open-end
investment companies or (b) the purchase of shares of any investment company in
connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or purchase of
substantially all of the assets of another investment company. Subject to the
above percentage limitations, the Fund may, in connection with the John Hancock
Group of Funds Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Trustees/Directors,
purchase securities of other investment companies within the John Hancock Group
of Funds. The Fund may not purchase the shares of any closed-end investment
company except in the open market where no commission or profit to a sponsor or
dealer results from the purchase, other than customary brokerage fees.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a
later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of
portfolio securities or amounts of net assets will not be considered a violation
of any of the foregoing restrictions (with the exception of Restriction 2
permitting the Fund to borrow up to 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets).
TAX STATUS
The Fund is treated as a separate entity for accounting and tax purposes.
The Fund has qualified and elected to be treated as a "regulated investment
company" under Subchapter M of the Code, and intends to continue to so qualify
for each taxable year. As such and by complying with the applicable provisions
of the Code regarding the sources of its income, the timing of its
distributions, and the diversification if its assets, the Fund will not be
subject to Federal income tax on taxable income (including net realized capital
gains) which is distributed to shareholders in accordance with the timing
requirements of the Code.
The Fund will be subject to a 4% nondeductible Federal excise tax on
certain amounts not distributed (and not treated as having been distributed) on
a timely basis in accordance with annual minimum distribution requirements. The
Fund intends under normal circumstances to seek to avoid or minimize liability
for such tax by satisfying such distribution requirements.
Distributions from the Fund's current or accumulated earnings and profits
("E&P") will be taxable under the Code for investors who are subject to tax. If
these distributions are paid from the Fund's "investment company taxable
income," they will be taxable as ordinary income; and if they are paid from the
Fund's "net capital gain," they will be taxable as long-term capital gain. (Net
capital gain is the excess (if any) of net long-term capital gain over net
short-term capital loss, and investment company taxable income is all taxable
income and capital gains, other than net capital gain, after reduction by
deductible expenses.) Some distributions from investment company taxable income
and/or net capital gain may be paid in January but may be taxable to
shareholders as if they had been received on December 31 of the previous year.
The tax treatment described above will apply without regard to whether
distributions are received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the
Fund.
Distributions, if any, in excess of E&P will constitute a return of capital
under the Code, which will first reduce an investor's federal tax basis in Fund
shares and then, to the extent such basis is exceeded, will generally give rise
to capital gains. Shareholders who have chosen automatic reinvestment of their
distributions will have a federal tax basis in each share received pursuant to
18
<PAGE>
such a reinvestment equal to the amount of cash they would have received had
they elected to receive the distribution in cash, divided by the number of
shares received in the reinvestment.
Foreign exchange gains and losses realized by the Fund in connection with
certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt securities are
subject to Section 988 of the Code, which generally causes such gains and losses
to be treated as ordinary income and losses and may affect the amount, timing
and character of distributions to shareholders.
The amount of net realized capital gains, if any, in any given year will
vary depending upon the Adviser's current investment strategy and whether the
Adviser believes it to be in the best interest of the Fund to dispose of
portfolio securities or enter into options or futures transactions that will
generate capital gains. At the time of an investor's purchase of Fund shares, a
portion of the purchase price is often attributable to realized or unrealized
appreciation in the Fund's portfolio. Consequently, subsequent distributions on
those shares from such appreciation may be taxable to such investor even if the
net asset value of the investor's shares is, as a result of the distributions,
reduced below the investor's cost for such shares, and the distributions in
reality represent a return of a portion of the purchase price.
Upon a redemption of shares of the Fund (including by exercise of the
exchange privilege) a shareholder may realize a taxable gain or loss depending
upon the amount of the proceeds and the investor's basis in his shares. Such
gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital
assets in the shareholder's hands and will be long-term or short-term, depending
upon the shareholder's tax holding period for the shares and subject to the
special rules described below. A sales charge paid in purchasing Class A shares
of the Fund cannot be taken into account for purposes of determining gain or
loss on the redemption or exchange of such shares within 90 days after their
purchase to the extent Class A shares of the Fund or another John Hancock Fund
are subsequently acquired without payment of a sales charge pursuant to the
reinvestment or exchange privilege. This disregarded charge will result in an
increase in the shareholder's tax basis in the shares subsequently acquired.
Also, any loss realized on a redemption or exchange may be disallowed to the
extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within
a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares
are disposed of, such as pursuant to automatic dividend reinvestments. In such a
case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the
disallowed loss. Any loss realized upon the redemption of shares with a tax
holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss
to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gain
with respect to such shares.
Although its present intention is to distribute, at least annually, all net
capital gain, if any, the Fund reserves the right to retain and reinvest all or
any portion of the excess, as computed for Federal income tax purposes, of net
long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss in any year. The Fund
will not in any event distribute net capital gain realized in any year to the
extent that a capital loss is carried forward from prior years against such
gain. To the extent such excess was retained and not exhausted by the
carryforward of prior years' capital losses, it would be subject to Federal
income tax in the hands of the Fund. Upon proper designation of this amount by
the Fund, each shareholder would be treated for Federal income tax purposes as
if the Fund had distributed to him on the last day of its taxable year his pro
rata share of such excess, and he had paid his pro rata share of the taxes paid
by the Fund and reinvested the remainder in the Fund. Accordingly, each
shareholder would (a) include his pro rata share of such excess as long-term
capital gain in his return for his taxable year in which the last day of the
Fund's taxable year falls, (b) be entitled either to a tax credit on his return
for, or a refund of, his pro rata share of the taxes paid by the Fund, and (c)
be entitled to increase the adjusted tax basis for his shares in the Fund by the
difference between his pro rata share of such excess and his pro rata share of
such taxes.
19
<PAGE>
For Federal income tax purposes, the Fund is permitted to carry forward a
net capital loss in any year to offset its own net capital gains, if any, during
the eight years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent net
capital gains are offset by such losses, they would not result in Federal income
tax liability to the Fund, as noted above, and would not be distributed as such
to shareholders. The capital loss carryforwards for the Fund are as follows:
$43,025,223 of capital loss carryforwards which will expire October 31, 1998 --
$282,637, October 31, 2002-- $16,549,431 and October 31, 2003 - - $26,193,155.
The Fund's dividends and distributions will not qualify for the corporate
dividends-received deduction.
A Fund is required to accrue income on any debt securities that have more
than a de minimis amount of original issue discount (or debt securities acquired
at a market discount, if the Fund elects to include market discount in income
currently) prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. The mark to
market rules applicable to certain options and futures contracts may also
require the Fund to recognize gain without a concurrent receipt of cash.
However, the Fund must distribute to shareholders for each taxable year
substantially all of its net income and net capital gains, including such income
or gain, to qualify as a regulated investment company and avoid liability for
any federal income or excise tax. Therefore, the Fund may have to dispose of its
portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or
may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy these distribution
requirements.
A state income (and possibly local income and/or intangible property) tax
exemption is generally available to the extent (if any) the Fund's distributions
are derived from interest on (or, in the case of intangibles taxes, the value of
its assets is attributable to) certain U.S. Government obligations, provided in
some states that certain thresholds for holdings of such obligations and/or
reporting requirements are satisfied. The Fund will not seek to satisfy any
threshold or reporting requirements that may apply in particular taxing
jurisdictions, although the Fund may in its sole discretion provide relevant
information to shareholders.
The Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service (the
"IRS") all taxable distributions to shareholders, as well as gross proceeds from
the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt
recipients, i.e., corporations and certain other investors distributions to
which are exempt from the information reporting provisions of the Code. Under
the backup withholding provisions of Code Section 3406 and applicable Treasury
regulations, all such reportable distributions and proceeds may be subject to
backup withholding of federal income tax at the rate of 31% in the case of
non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the Fund with their correct taxpayer
identification number and certain certifications required by the IRS or if the
IRS or a broker notifies the Fund that the number furnished by the shareholder
is incorrect or that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a
result of failure to report interest or dividend income. The Fund may refuse to
accept an application that does not contain any required taxpayer identification
number or certification that the number provided is correct. If the backup
withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds,
whether taken in cash or reinvested in shares, will be reduced by the amounts
required to be withheld. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a
shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability. Investors should consult their
tax advisers about the applicability of the backup withholding provisions.
Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess
contributions and deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement
distributions and certain prohibited transactions, is accorded to accounts
maintained as qualified retirement plans. Shareholders should consult their tax
advisers for more information.
20
<PAGE>
Limitations imposed by the Code on regulated investment companies like the
Fund may restrict the Fund's ability to enter into futures and options
transactions.
Certain options and futures transactions undertaken by the Fund may cause
the Fund to recognize gains or losses from marking to market even though its
positions have not been sold or terminated and affect the character as long-term
or short-term and timing of some capital gains and losses realized by the Fund.
Also, certain of the Fund's losses on its transactions involving options or
futures contracts and/or offsetting or successor portfolio positions may be
deferred rather than being taken into account currently in calculating the
Fund's taxable income or gain. Certain of these transactions may also cause the
Fund to dispose of investments sooner than would otherwise have occurred.
Certain of the applicable tax rules may be modified if the Fund is eligible and
chooses to make one or more of certain tax elections that may be available.
These transactions may therefore affect the amount, timing and character of the
Fund's distributions to shareholders. The Fund will take into account the
special tax rules (including consideration of available elections) applicable to
options and futures contracts in order to minimize any potential adverse tax
consequences.
The foregoing discussion relates solely to U.S. Federal income tax law as
applicable to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens or residents and U.S. domestic
corporations, partnerships, trusts or estates) subject to tax under such law.
The discussion does not address special tax rules applicable to certain classes
of investors, such as tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, and financial
institutions. Dividends, capital gain distributions, and ownership of or gains
realized on the redemption (including an exchange) of Fund shares may also be
subject to state and local taxes. Shareholders should consult their own tax
advisers as to the Federal, state or local tax consequences of ownership of
shares of, and receipt of distributions from, the Fund in their particular
circumstances.
Non-U.S. investors not engaged in a U.S. trade or business with which their
investment in the Fund is effectively connected will be subject to U.S. Federal
income tax treatment that is different from that described above. These
investors may be subject to nonresident alien withholding tax at the rate of 30%
(or a lower rate under an applicable tax treaty) on amounts treated as ordinary
dividends from the Fund and, unless an effective IRS Form W-8 or authorized
substitute for Form W-8 is on file, to 31% backup withholding on certain other
payments from the Fund. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisers
regarding such treatment and the application of foreign taxes to an investment
in the Fund.
The Fund is not subject to Massachusetts corporate excise or franchise
taxes. Provided that the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under
the Code, it will also not be required to pay any Massachusetts income tax.
THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGEMENT
The business of the Fund is managed by its Trustees, who elect officers who
are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Trust and who execute
policies formulated by the Trustees. Several of the officers and Trustees of the
Trust are also officers and directors of the Adviser or officers and Directors
of the Fund's principal distributor, John Hancock Funds, Inc. ("John Hancock
Funds").
The following table sets forth the principal occupations of the Trustees
and principal officers of the Fund during the past five years. Unless otherwise
indicated, the business address of each is 101 Huntington Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts 02199.
21
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name, Address Positions Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During the Past Five Years
- ----------------- --------------- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
*Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive
October 1944 Officer, the Adviser and The
Berkeley Financial Group ("The
Berkeley Group"); Chairman, NM
Capital Management, Inc. ("NM
Capital"); John Hancock Advisers
International Limited ("Advisers
International"); John Hancock
Funds; John Hancock Investor
Services Corporation ("Investor
Services") and Sovereign Asset
Management Corporation ("SAMCorp");
(herein after the Adviser, the
Berkeley Group, NM Capital,
Advisers International, John
Hancock Funds, Investor Services
and SAMCorp are collectively
referred to as the "Affiliated
Companies"); Chairman, First
Signature Bank & Trust; Director,
John Hancock Freedom Securities
Corp., John Hancock Capital Corp.
and New England/Canada Business
Council; Member, Investment Company
Institute Board of Governors;
Director, Asia Strategic Growth
Fund, Inc.; Trustee, Museum of
Science; Vice Chairman and
President, the Adviser (until July
1992); Chairman John Hancock
Distributors, Inc. (until April,
1994).
- --------------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
22
<PAGE>
Name, Address Positions Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During the Past Five Years
- ----------------- --------------- --------------------------
Dennis S. Aronowitz Trustee (3) Professor of Law, Boston University
Boston University School of Law; Trustee, Brookline
Boston, Massachusetts Savings Bank.
June 1931
Richard P. Chapman, Jr. Trustee (1,3) President, Brookline Savings Bank;
160 Washington Street Director Federal Home Loan Bank of
Brookline, Massachusetts Boston (lending); Director, Lumber
February 1935 Insurance Companies (fire and
casualty insurance); Trustee,
Northeastern University
(education); Director, Depositors
Insurance Fund, Inc. (insurance).
William J. Cosgrove Trustee (3) Vice President, Senior Banker and
20 Buttonwood Place Senior Credit Officer, Citibank,
Saddle River, New Jersey N.A. (retired September 1991);
January 1933 Executive Vice President, Citadel
Group Representatives, Inc., EVP
Resource Evaluation, Inc.
(consulting) (until October 1993);
Trustee, the Hudson City Savings
Bank (since 1995).
- --------------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
23
<PAGE>
Name, Address Positions Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During the Past Five Years
- ----------------- --------------- --------------------------
Douglas M. Costle Trustee (1,3) Director, Chairman of the Board and
RR2 Box 480 Distinguished Senior Fellow,
Woodstock, Vermont 05091 Institute for Sustainable
July 1939 Communities, Montpelier, Vermont
(since 1991); Dean, Vermont Law
School (until 1991); Director, Air
and Water Technologies Corporation
(environmental services and
equipment), Niagara Mohawk Power
Company (electric services) and
Mitretek Systems (governmental
consulting services).
Leland O. Erdahl Trustee (3) Director of Santa Fe Ingredients
9449 Navy Blue Court Company of California, Inc. and
Las Vegas, NV 89117 Santa Fe Ingredients Company, Inc.
December 1928 (private food processing
companies); Director of Uranium
Resources, Inc.; President of
Stolar, Inc. (from 1987-1991) and
President of Albuquerque Uranium
Corporation (from 1985-1992);
Director of Freeport-McMoRan Copper
& Gold Company Inc., Hecla Mining
Company, Canyon Resources
Corporation and Original Sixteen to
One Mine, Inc. (from 1984-1987 and
from 1991 to 1995) (management
consultant).
- --------------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
24
<PAGE>
Name, Address Positions Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During the Past Five Years
- ----------------- --------------- --------------------------
Richard A. Farrell Trustee (3) President of Farrell, Healer & Co.
Farrell, Healer & (venture capital management firm)
Company, Inc. (since 1980); Prior to 1980, headed
160 Federal Street the venture capital group at Bank
23rd Floor of Boston Corporation.
Boston, MA 02110
November 1932
Gail D. Fosler Trustee (3) Vice President and Chief Economist,
4104 Woodbine Street The Conference Board (non-profit
Chevy Chase, MD economic and business research).
December 1947
William F. Glavin Trustee (3) President, Babson College; Vice
Babson College Chairman, Xerox Corporation (until
Horn Library June 1989); Director, Caldor Inc.,
Babson Park, MA 02157 Reebok, Ltd. (since 1994), and Inco
March 1931 Ltd.
*Anne C. Hodsdon Trustee and President (1, 2) President and Chief Operating
April 1953 Officer, the Adviser; Executive
Vice President, the Adviser (until
December 1994); Senior Vice
President; the Adviser (until
December 1993); Vice President, the
Adviser (until 1991).
Dr. John A. Moore Trustee (3) President and Chief Executive
Institute for Evaluating Officer, Institute for Evaluating
Health Risks Health Risks (nonprofit
1101 Vermont Avenue N.W. institution) (since September
Suite 608 1989).
Washington, DC 20005
February 1939
- --------------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
25
<PAGE>
Name, Address Positions Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During the Past Five Years
- ----------------- --------------- --------------------------
Patti McGill Peterson Trustee (3) Cornell Institute of Public
Institute for Public Affairs Affairs, (since August 1996);
364 Upson Hall President Emeritus of Wells College
Cornell University and St. Lawrence University;
Ithaca, NY 14853 Director, Niagara Mohawk Power
May 1943 Corporation (electric utility) and
Security, Mutual Life (insurance).
John W. Pratt Trustee (3) Professor of Business
2 Gray Gardens East Administration at Harvard
Cambridge, MA 02138 University Graduate School of
September 1931 Business Administration (since
1961).
*Richard S. Scipione Trustee (1) General Counsel, the Life Company;
John Hancock Place Director, the Adviser, the
P.O. Box 111 Affiliated Companies, John Hancock
Boston, Massachusetts Distributors, Inc., JH Networking
August 1937 Insurance Agency, Inc., John
Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc., John
Hancock Property and Casualty
Insurance and its affiliates (until
November, 1993).
Edward J. Spellman, CPA Trustee (3) Partner, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
259C Commercial Bld. (retired June 1990).
Fort Lauderdale, FL
November 1932
*Robert G. Freedman Vice Chairman and Chief Vice Chairman and Chief Investment
July 1938 Investment Officer (2) Officer, the Adviser; President,
the Adviser (until December 1994);
Director, the Adviser, Advisers
International, John Hancock Funds,
Investor Services, SAMCorp. and NM
Capital; Senior Vice President, The
Berkeley Group.
- --------------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
26
<PAGE>
Name, Address Positions Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During the Past Five Years
- ----------------- --------------- --------------------------
*James B. Little Senior Vice President and Senior Vice President, the Adviser,
February 1935 Chief Financial Officer The Berkeley Group, John Hancock
Funds and Investor Services; Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, each of the John Hancock
funds.
*John A. Morin Vice President Vice President, the Adviser; Vice
July 1950 President, Investor Services, John
Hancock Funds and each of the John
Hancock funds; Compliance Officer,
certain John Hancock funds,
Counsel, the Life Company; Vice
President and Assistant Secretary,
The Berkeley Group.
*Susan S. Newton Vice President and Vice President and Assistant
March 1950 Secretary Secretary, the Adviser; Vice
President and Secretary, certain
John Hancock funds; Vice President
and Secretary, John Hancock Funds,
Investor Services and John Hancock
Distributors, Inc. (until 1994);
Secretary, SAMCorp; Vice President,
The Berkeley Group.
*James J. Stokowski Vice President and Vice President, the Adviser; Vice
November 1946 Treasurer President and Treasurer, each of
the John Hancock funds.
</TABLE>
- --------------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
27
<PAGE>
All of the officers listed are officers or employees of the Adviser or
affiliated companies. Some of the Trustees and officers may also be officers
and/or directors and/or Trustees of one or more of the other funds for which the
Adviser serves as investment adviser.
The following table provides information regarding the compensation paid by
the Fund and the other investment companies in the John Hancock Fund Complex to
the Independent Trustees for their services. The Trustees not listed were not
Trustees of the Trust as of the end of the Fund's last completed fiscal year.
The three non-independent Trustees, Messrs. Boudreau and Scipione and Ms.
Hodsdon and each of the officers of the Fund are interested persons of the
Adviser, are compensated by the Adviser and receive no compensation from the
Fund for their services.
Total Compensation From the
Aggregate Compensation Fund and John Hancock Fund
Independent Trustees From the Fund 1 Complex to Trustees 2
- -------------------- --------------- ---------------------
William A. Barron, III* $ 9,344 $ 41,750
Douglas M. Costle 9,344 41,750
Leland O. Erdahl 9,344 41,750
Richard A. Farrell 9,690 43,250
William F. Glavin+ 8,540 37,500
Patrick Grant* 9,805 43,750
Ralph Lowell, Jr.* 9,344 41,750
Dr. John A. Moore 9,344 41,750
Patti McGill Peterson 9,344 41,750
John W. Pratt 9,344 41,750
------- --------
TOTAL $93,443 $416,750
1 Compensation for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995.
2 The total compensation paid by the John Hancock Fund Complex to the
Independent Trustees is as of calendar year ended December 31, 1995. As of
this date there were sixty-one funds in the John Hancock Fund Complex of
which the Independent Trustees served twelve.
* As of January 1, 1996, Messrs. Barron, Grant and Lowell resigned as
Trustees.
+ As of December 31, 1995 the value of the aggregate accrued deferred
compensation amount from all Funds in the John Hancock Fund Complex for Mr.
Glavin was $32,061 under the John Hancock Deferred Compensation Plan for
Independent Trustees.
The Trustees and officers of the Fund may at times be the record holders of
in excess of 5% of shares of the Fund by virtue of holding shares in "street
name." As of August 5, 1996 the officers and trustees of the Trust as a group
owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each class of the Fund.
28
<PAGE>
As of August 5, 1996, no person or entity owned beneficially or of record
5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
The investment adviser for the Fund is John Hancock Advisers, Inc., a
Massachusetts corporation (the "Adviser"), with offices at 101 Huntington
Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7603. The Adviser is a registered investment
advisory firm which maintains a securities research department, the efforts of
which will be made available to the Fund.
The Adviser was organized in 1968 and presently has more than $18 billion
in assets under management in its capacity as investment adviser to the Fund and
the other mutual funds and publicly traded investment companies in the John
Hancock group of funds having a combined total of approximately 1,080,000
shareholders. The Adviser is an affiliate of the Life Company, one of the most
recognized and respected financial institutions in the nation. With total assets
under management of more than $80 billion, the Life Company is one of the ten
largest life insurance companies in the United States, and carries high ratings
from Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best's. Founded in 1862, the Life Company has
been serving clients for over 130 years.
The Trust has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory
Agreement") dated as of July 1, 1996 between the Trust and the Adviser. Pursuant
to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser agreed to act as investment adviser and
manager to the Fund. As manager and investment adviser, the Adviser will: (a)
furnish continuously an investment program for the Fund and determine, subject
to the overall supervision and review of the Board of Trustees, which
investments should be purchased, held, sold or exchanged, and (b) provide
supervision over all aspects of the Fund's operations except those which are
delegated to a custodian, transfer agent or other agent.
As compensation for its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser
receives from the Fund a fee computed and paid monthly based upon the following
annual rates: 0.50% of the Fund's first $500 million of average daily net
assets, and 0.45% of average daily net assets in excess of that amount.
The Fund bears all costs of its organization and operation, including
expenses of preparing, printing and mailing all shareholders' reports, notices,
prospectuses, proxy statements and reports to regulatory agencies; expenses
relating to the issuance, registration and qualification of shares; government
fees; interest charges; expenses of furnishing to shareholders their account
statements; taxes; expenses of redeeming shares; brokerage and other expenses
connected with the execution of portfolio securities transactions; expenses
pursuant to the Fund's plan of distribution; fees and expenses of custodians
including those for keeping books and accounts and calculating the net asset
value of shares; fees and expenses of independent accountants, legal counsel,
transfer agents and dividend disbursing agents; the compensation and expenses of
Trustees who are not otherwise affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser or any of
their affiliates; expenses of Trustees' and shareholders' meetings; trade
association memberships; insurance premiums; and any extraordinary expenses.
The State of California imposes a limitation on the expenses of the Fund.
The Advisory Agreement provides that if, in any fiscal year, the total expenses
of the Fund (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions and extraordinary
items, but including the management fee) exceed the expense limitations
applicable to the Fund imposed by the securities regulations of any state in
which it is then registered to sell shares, the Adviser will reduce its fee for
the Fund to the extent required by these limitations. Although there is no
certainty that any limitations will be in effect in the future, the California
29
<PAGE>
limitation on an annual basis currently is 2.5% of the first $30 million of
average net assets, 2.0% of the next $70 million of net assets and 1.5% of the
remaining net assets.
The Advisory Agreement was approved on March 5, 1996 by all of the
Trustees, including all of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory
Agreement or "interested persons" of any such party. The shareholders of the
Fund also approved the Advisory Agreement on June 26, 1996. The Advisory
Agreement will continue in effect from year to year, provided that its
continuance is approved annually both (i) by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the Board of Trustees, and (ii)
by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or
"interested persons" of any such party. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated
on 60 days written notice by any party and will terminate automatically if it is
assigned.
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, Freedom
Investment Trust paid the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, an investment advisory
fee of $2,862,505, $2,815,642 and $2,514,147, respectively.
DISTRIBUTION CONTRACT
The Trust has entered into Distribution Agreements with John Hancock Funds
and Freedom Distributors Corporation (together the "Distributors") whereby the
Distributors act as exclusive selling agent of the Fund, selling shares of each
class of the Fund on a "best efforts" basis. Shares of each class of the Fund
are sold to selected broker-dealers (the "Selling Brokers") who have entered
into selling agency agreements with the Distributors.
The Distributors accept orders for the purchase of the shares of the Fund
which are continually offered at net asset value next determined, plus an
applicable sales charge, if any. In connection with the sale of Class A or Class
B shares of the Fund, the Distributors and Selling Brokers receive compensation
in the form of a sales charge imposed, in the case of Class A shares at the time
of sale or, in the case of Class B shares, on a deferred basis. The sales
charges are discussed further in the Prospectus.
The Trustees have adopted Distribution Plans with respect to Class A and
Class B shares ("the Plans"), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Under the Plans, the Fund will pay distribution and service
fees at an aggregate annual rate of up to 0.30% and 1.00% for Class A and Class
B shares, respectively, of the Fund's daily net assets attributable to shares of
that class. However, the service fee will not exceed 0.25% of the Fund's average
daily net assets attributable to each class of shares. The distribution fees
will be used to reimburse the Distributors for their distribution expenses,
including but not limited to: (i) initial and ongoing sales compensation to
Selling Brokers and others (including affiliates of the Distributors) engaged in
the sale of Fund shares; (ii) marketing, promotional and overhead expenses
incurred in connection with the distribution of Fund shares; and (iii) with
respect to Class B shares only, interest expenses on unreimbursed distribution
expenses. The service fees will be used to compensate Selling Brokers for
providing personal and account maintenance services to shareholders. In the
event the Distributors are not fully reimbursed for payments they make or
expenses they incur under the Class A Plan, these expenses will not be carried
beyond one year from the date they were incurred. In the event that the
Distributors are not fully reimbursed for expenses they incur under the Class B
Plan in any fiscal year, the Distributors may carry these expenses forward,
provided, however, that the Trustees may terminate the Class B Plan and thus the
Fund's obligation to make further payments at any time. Accordingly, the Fund
does not treat unreimbursed expenses relating to the Class B shares as a
liability. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995, an aggregate of
$5,318,736 of distribution expenses or 3.16% of the average net assets of the
Class B shares of the Fund was not reimbursed or recovered by the Distributors
through the receipt of deferred sales charges or 12b-1 fees in prior periods.
The Plans were approved by a majority of the voting securities of the Fund. The
30
<PAGE>
Plans and all amendments were approved by the Trustees, including a majority of
the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct
or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans (the "Independent
Trustees"), by votes cast in person at meetings called for the purpose of voting
on such Plans.
Pursuant to the Plans, at least quarterly, the Distributors provide the
Funds with a written report of the amounts expended under the Plans and the
purpose for which these expenditures were made. The Trustees review these
reports on a quarterly basis.
Each of the Plans provides that it will continue in effect only so long as
its continuance is approved at least annually by a majority of both the Trustees
and the Independent Trustees. Each of the Plans provides that it may be
terminated without penalty, (a) by vote of a majority of the Independent
Trustees, (b) by a vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares of the
applicable class in each case upon 60 day's written notice to the Distributors
and (c) automatically in the event of assignment. Each of the Plans further
provides that it may not be amended to increase the maximum amount of the fees
for the services described therein without the approval of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the class of the Fund which has voting rights with respect
to the Plan. And finally, each of the Plans provides that no material amendment
to the Plan will, in any event, be effective unless it is approved by a vote of
the Trustees and the Independent Trustees of the Fund. The holders of Class A
and Class B shares have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Plan
applicable to their respective class of shares. In adopting the Plans the
Trustees concluded that, in their judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood
that the Plans will benefit the holders of the applicable shares of the Fund.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995, the Fund paid the
Distributors the following amounts of expenses with respect to the Class A
shares and Class B shares of the Fund:
Expense Items Class A Class B
- ------------- ------- -------
Advertising $ 63,551 $ 63,450
Printing and mailing of $ 4,397 $ 2,609
Prospectuses to new
shareholders
Compensation to Selling Brokers $754,114 $822,022
Expense to Distributors $182,706 $190,722
Interest, Other Finance Charges $ 0 $598,399
NET ASSET VALUE
For purposes of calculating the net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund's
shares, the following procedures are utilized wherever applicable.
Debt investment securities are valued on the basis of valuations furnished
by a principal market maker or a pricing service, both of which generally
utilize electronic data processing techniques to determine valuations for normal
institutional size trading units of debt securities without exclusive reliance
upon quoted prices.
Equity securities traded on a principal exchange or NASDAQ National Market
Issues are generally valued at last sale price on the day of valuation.
Securities in the aforementioned categories for which no sales are reported and
other securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the mean
between the current closing bid and asked prices.
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<PAGE>
Short-term debt investments which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or
less are generally valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. If
market quotations are not readily available or if in the opinion of the Adviser
any quotation or price is not representative of true market value, the fair
value of the security may be determined in good faith in accordance with
procedures approved by the Trustees.
Any assets or liabilities expressed in terms of foreign currencies are
translated into U.S. dollars by the custodian bank based on London currency
exchange quotations as of 5:00 p.m., London time (12:00 noon, New York time) on
the date of any determination of a Fund's NAV.
The Fund will not price its securities on the following national holidays:
New Year's Day; Presidents' Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day;
Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day. On any day an international
market is closed and the New York Stock Exchange is open, any foreign securities
will be valued at the prior day's close with the current day's exchange rate.
Trading of foreign securities may take place on Saturdays and U.S. business
holidays on which the Fund's NAV is not calculated. Consequently, the Fund's
portfolio securities may trade and the NAV of the Fund's redeemable securities
may be significantly affected on days when a shareholder has no access to the
Fund.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE ON CLASS A SHARES
The sales charges applicable to purchases of Class A shares of the Fund are
described in the Fund's Prospectus. Methods of obtaining reduced sales charges
referred to generally in the Prospectus are described in detail below. In
calculating the sales charge applicable to current purchases of Class A shares,
the investor is entitled to cumulate current purchases with the greater of the
current value (at offering price) of the Class A shares of the Fund, owned by
the investor, or if John Hancock Investor Services Corporation ("Investor
Services") is notified by the investor's dealer or the investor at the time of
the purchase, the cost of the Class A shares owned.
Combined Purchases. In calculating the sales charge applicable to purchases
of Class A shares made at one time, the purchases will be combined if made by
(a) an individual, his or her spouse and their children under the age of 21,
purchasing securities for his, her or their own account, (b) a trustee or other
fiduciary purchasing for a single trust, estate or fiduciary account and (c)
certain groups of four or more individuals making use of salary deductions or
similar group methods of payment whose funds are combined for the purchase of
mutual fund shares. Further information about combined purchases, including
certain restrictions on combined group purchases, is available from Investor
Services or a Selling Broker's representative.
Without Sales Charges. Class A shares may be offered without a front-end sales
charge or CDSC to various individuals and institutions as follows:
o Any state, county or any instrumentality, department, authority, or agency
of these entities that is prohibited by applicable investment laws from
paying a sales charge or commission when it purchases shares of any
registered investment management company.
o A bank, trust company, credit union, savings institution or other
depository institution, its trust departments or common trust funds if it
is purchasing $1 million or more for non-discretionary customers or
accounts.
o A Trustee/Director or officer of the Fund; a Director or officer of the
Adviser and its affiliates or Selling Brokers; employees or sales
representatives of any of the foregoing; retired officers, employees or
Directors of any of the foregoing; a member of the immediate family
(spouse, children, mother, father, sister, brother, mother-in-law,
father-in-law) of any of the foregoing; or any fund, pension, profit
sharing or other benefit plan for the individuals described above.
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<PAGE>
o A broker, dealer, financial planner, consultant or registered investment
advisor that has entered into an agreement with John Hancock Funds
providing specifically for the use of Fund shares in fee-based investment
products or services made available to their clients.
o A former participant in an employee benefit plan with John Hancock funds,
when he or she withdraws from his or her plan and transfers any or all of
his or her plan distributions directly to the Fund.
o A member of an approved affinity group financial services plan.
o A member of a class action lawsuit against insurance companies who is
investing settlement proceeds.
o Existing full service clients of the Life Company who were group annuity
contract holders as of September 1, 1994, and participant directed defined
contribution plans with at least 100 eligible employees at the inception of
the Fund account, may purchase Class A shares with no initial sales charge.
However, if the shares are redeemed within 12 months after the end of the
calendar year in which the purchase was made, a CDSC will be imposed at the
following rate:
Amount Invested CDSC Rate
--------------- ---------
$1 million to $4,999,999 1.00%
Next $5 million to $9,999,999 0.50%
Amounts of $10 million and over 0.25%
Accumulation Privilege. Investors (including investors combining purchases) who
are already Class A shareholders may also obtain the benefit of the reduced
sales charge by taking into account not only the amount then being invested but
also the purchase price or current account value of the Class A shares already
held by such person.
Combination Privilege. Reduced sales charges (according to the schedule set
forth in the Prospectus) are also available to an investor based on the
aggregate amount of his concurrent and prior investments in Class A shares and
shares of all other John Hancock funds which carry a sales charge.
Letter of Intention. The reduced sales charges are also applicable to
investments made over a specified period pursuant to a Letter of Intention (the
"LOI"), which should be read carefully prior to its execution by an investor.
The Fund offers two options regarding the specified period for making
investments under the LOI. All investors have the option of making their
investments over a specified period of thirteen (13) months. Investors who are
using the Fund as a funding medium for a qualified retirement plan, however, may
opt to make the necessary investments called for by the LOI over a forty-eight
(48) month period. These qualified retirement plans include IRA, SEP, SARSEP,
401(k), 403(b) (including TSAs) and 457 plans. Such an investment (including
accumulations and combinations) must aggregate $100,000 or more invested during
the specified period from the date of the LOI or from a date within ninety (90)
days prior thereto, upon written request to Investor Services. The sales charge
applicable to all amounts invested under the LOI is computed as if the aggregate
amount intended to be invested had been invested immediately. If such aggregate
amount is not actually invested, the difference in the sales charge actually
paid and the sales charge payable had the LOI not been in effect is due from the
investor. However, for the purchases actually made within the specified period
the sales charge applicable will not be higher than that which would have
applied (including accumulations and combinations) had the LOI been for the
amount actually invested.
The LOI authorizes Investor Services to hold in escrow a number of Class A
shares (approximately 5% of the aggregate) sufficient to make up any difference
in sales charges on the amount intended to be invested and the amount actually
invested, until such investment is completed within the specified period, at
which time the escrow shares will be released. If the total investment specified
in the LOI is not completed, the Class A shares held in escrow may be redeemed
and the proceeds used as required to pay such sales charge as may be due. By
33
<PAGE>
signing the LOI, the investor authorizes Investor Services to act as his or her
attorney-in-fact to redeem any escrowed shares and adjust the sales charge, if
necessary. A LOI does not constitute a binding commitment by an investor to
purchase, or by the Fund to sell, any additional Class A shares and may be
terminated at any time.
Class A shares may also be purchased without an initial sales charge in
connection with certain liquidation, merger or acquisition transactions
involving other investment companies or personal holding companies.
DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON CLASS B SHARES
Investments in Class B shares are purchased at net asset value per share
without the imposition of an initial sales charge so that the Fund will receive
the full amount of the purchase payment.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Class B shares which are redeemed within six
years of purchase will be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC")
at the rates set forth in the Prospectus as a percentage of the dollar amount
subject to the CDSC. The charge will be assessed on an amount equal to the
lesser of the current market value or the original purchase cost of the Class B
shares being redeemed. Accordingly, no CDSC will be imposed on increases in
account value above the initial purchase prices, including Class B shares
derived from reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.
Class B shares are not available to full-service defined contribution plans
administered by Investor Services or the Life Company that had more than 100
eligible employees at the inception of the Fund account.
The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years
from the time of payment for the purchase of Class B shares until the time of
redemption of such shares. Solely for purposes of determining the number of
years from the time of any payment for the purchase of shares, all payments
during a month will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the first day
of the month.
In determining whether a CDSC applies to a redemption, the calculation will
be determined in a manner that results in the lowest possible rate being
charged. It will be assumed that your redemption comes first from shares you
have held beyond the six- year CDSC redemption period or those you acquired
through dividend and capital gain reinvestment, and next from the shares you
have held the longest during the six-year period. For this purpose, the amount
of any increase in a share's value above its initial purchase price is not
regarded as a share exempt from CDSC. Thus, when a share that has appreciated in
value is redeemed during the CDSC period, a CDSC is assessed only on its initial
purchase price. Upon redemption, appreciation is effective only on a per share
basis for those shares being redeemed. Appreciation of shares cannot be redeemed
CDSC free at the account level.
When requesting a redemption for a specific dollar amount please indicate
if you require the proceeds to equal the dollar amount requested. If not
indicated, only the specified dollar amount will be redeemed from your account
and the proceeds will be less any applicable CDSC.
Example:
You have purchased 100 shares at $10 per share. The second year after your
purchase, your investment's net asset value per share has increased by $2 to
$12, and you have gained 10 additional shares through dividend reinvestment. If
you redeem 50 shares at this time your CDSC will be calculated as follows:
34
<PAGE>
* Proceeds of 50 shares redeemed at $12 per share $600
* Minus proceeds of 10 shares not subject to CDSC (dividend
reinvestment) -120
* Minus appreciation on remaining shares (40 shares X $2) -80
----
* Amount subject to CDSC $400
Proceeds from the CDSC are paid to John Hancock Funds and are used in whole or
in part by John Hancock Funds to defray its expenses related to providing
distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sale of the
Class B shares, such as the payment of compensation to select Selling Brokers
for selling Class B shares. The combination of the CDSC and the distribution and
service fees facilitates the ability of the Fund to sell the Class B shares
without a sales charge being deducted at the time of the purchase. See the
Prospectus for additional information regarding the CDSC.
Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. The CDSC will be waived on
redemptions of Class B shares and of Class A shares that are subject to a CDSC,
unless indicated otherwise, in the circumstances defined below:
For all account types:
* Redemptions made pursuant to the Fund's right to liquidate your account if
you own shares worth less than $1,000.
* Redemptions made under certain liquidation, merger or acquisition
transactions involving other investment companies or personal holding
companies.
* Redemptions due to death or disability.
* Redemptions made under the Reinstatement Privilege, as described in "Sales
Charge Reductions and Waivers" of the Prospectus.
* Redemptions of Class B shares made under a periodic withdrawal plan, as
long as your annual redemptions do not exceed 12% of your account value,
including reinvested dividends, at the time you established your periodic
withdrawal plan and 12% of the value of subsequent investments (less
redemptions) in that account at the time you notify Investor Services.
(Please note, this waiver does not apply to periodic withdrawal plan
redemptions of Class A shares that are subject to a CDSC.)
For Retirement Accounts (such as IRA, Rollover IRA, TSA, 457, 403(b), 401(k),
Money Purchase Pension Plan, Profit-Sharing Plan and other qualified plans as
described in the Internal Revenue Code) unless otherwise noted.
* Redemptions made to effect mandatory or life expectancy distributions under
the Internal Revenue Code.
* Returns of excess contributions made to these plans.
* Redemptions made to effect distributions to participants or beneficiaries
from employer sponsored retirement plans under section 401(a) of the Code
(such as 401k, Money Purchase Pension Plan, Profit-Sharing Plan).
* Redemptions from certain IRA and retirement plans that purchased shares
prior to October 1, 1992.
Please see matrix for reference.
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<PAGE>
CDSC Waiver Matrix for Class B Funds
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
401(a) Plan
Type of (401(k), MPP, IRA, IRA
Distribution PSP) 403(b) 457 Rollover Non-retirement
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Death or Waived Waived Waived Waived Waived
Disability
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over 70 1/2 Waived Waived Waived Waived for 12% of account
mandatory value annually
distributions or in periodic
12% of account payments
value annually
in periodic
payments
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between 59 1/2 Waived Waived Waived Waived for Life 12% of account
and 70 1/2 Expectancy or 12% value annually
of account value in periodic
annually in payments
periodic payments
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 59 1/2 Waived Waived for annuity Waived for annuity Waived for annuity 12% of account
payments (72t)or payments (72t)or payments (72t)or value annually
12% of account 12% of account 12% of account in periodic
value annually in value annually in value annually in payments
periodic payments periodic payments periodic payments
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loans Waived Waived N/A N/A N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Termination of Not Waived Not Waived Not Waived Not Waived N/A
Plan
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardships Waived Waived Waived N/A N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return of
Excess Waived Waived Waived Waived N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
If you qualify for a CDSC waiver under one of these situations, you must notify
Investor Services either directly or through your Selling Broker at the time you
make your redemption. The waiver will be granted once Investor Services has
confirmed that you are entitled to the waiver.
SPECIAL REDEMPTIONS
Although it would not normally do so, the Fund has the right to pay the
redemption price of shares of the Fund in whole or in part in portfolio
securities as prescribed by the Trustees. If the shareholder were to sell
portfolio securities received in this fashion, he would incur a brokerage
charge. Any such securities would be valued for the purposes of making such
payment at the same value as used in determining net asset value. The Fund has,
however, elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940. Under that rule, the Fund must redeem its shares for cash except to the
extent that the redemption payments to any shareholder during any 90-day period
would exceed the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's net asset value at the
beginning of such period.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
Exchange Privilege. As described more fully in the Prospectus, the Fund permits
exchanges of shares of any class of the Fund for shares of the same class in any
other John Hancock fund offering that class.
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<PAGE>
Exchanges between funds with shares that are not subject to a CDSC are
based on their respective net asset values. No sales charge or transaction
charge is imposed. Shares of the Fund which are subject to a CDSC may be
exchanged into shares of any of the other John Hancock funds that are subject to
a CDSC without incurring the CDSC; however, the shares acquired in an exchange
will be subject to the CDSC schedule of the shares acquired if and when such
shares are redeemed (except that shares exchanged into John Hancock Short-Term
Strategic Income Fund, John Hancock Intermediate Maturity Government Fund and
John Hancock Limited-Term Government Fund will retain the exchanged fund's CDSC
schedule). For purposes of computing the CDSC payable upon redemption of shares
acquired in an exchange, the holding period of the original shares is added to
the holding period of the shares acquired in an exchange.
Shares of each class may be exchanged only for shares of the same class in
another John Hancock fund.
If a shareholder exchanges Class B shares purchased prior to January 1,
1994 (except John Hancock Short-Term Strategic Income Fund) for Class B shares
of any other John Hancock fund, the acquired shares will continue to be subject
to the CDSC schedule that was in effect when the exchanged shares were
purchased.
The Fund reserves the right to require that previously exchanged shares
(and reinvested dividends) be in the Fund for 90 days before a shareholder is
permitted a new exchange. The Fund may also terminate or alter the terms of the
exchange privilege upon 60 days' notice to shareholders.
An exchange of shares is treated as a redemption of shares of one fund and
the purchase of shares of another for Federal income tax purposes. An exchange
may result in a taxable gain or loss. See "Tax Status."
To make an exchange, the account registration in both the existing and new
account, must be identical. The exchange privilege is available only in states
where the exchange can be made legally.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. As described briefly in the Prospectus, the Fund
permits the establishment of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan. Payments under this
plan represent proceeds from the redemption of shares of the Fund. Since the
redemption price of the shares of the Fund may be more or less than the
shareholder's cost, depending upon the market value of the securities owned by
the Fund at the time of redemption, the distribution of cash pursuant to this
plan may result in realization of gain or loss for purposes of Federal, state
and local income taxes. The maintenance of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan
concurrently with purchases of additional Class A or Class B shares could be
disadvantageous to a shareholder because of the initial sales charge payable on
such purchases of Class A shares and the CDSC imposed on redemptions of Class B
shares and because redemptions are taxable events. Therefore, a shareholder
should not purchase Class A or Class B shares at the same time a Systematic
Withdrawal Plan is in effect. The Fund reserves the right to modify or
discontinue the Systematic Withdrawal Plan of any shareholder on 30 days' prior
written notice to such shareholder, or to discontinue the availability of such
plan in the future. The shareholder may terminate the plan at any time by giving
proper notice to Investor Services.
Monthly Automatic Accumulation Program ("MAAP"). This program is explained in
the Prospectus. The program, as it relates to automatic investment checks, is
subject to the following conditions:
The investments will be drawn on or about the day of the month indicated.
The privilege of making investments through the Monthly Automatic
Accumulation Program may be revoked by Investor Services without prior notice if
37
<PAGE>
any investment is not honored by the shareholder's bank. The bank shall be under
no obligation to notify the shareholder as to the non- payment of any checks.
The program may be discontinued by the shareholder either by calling
Investor Services or upon written notice to Investor Services which is received
at least five (5) business days prior to the processing date of any investment.
Reinvestment Privilege. A shareholder who has redeemed Fund shares may, within
120 days after the date of redemption, reinvest without payment of a sales
charge any part of the redemption proceeds in shares of the same class of the
Fund or in any other John Hancock funds, subject to the minimum investment limit
in that fund. The proceeds from the redemption of Class A shares may be
reinvested at net asset value without paying a sales charge in Class A shares of
the Fund or in Class A shares of another John Hancock fund. If a CDSC was paid
upon a redemption, a shareholder may reinvest the proceeds from this redemption
at net asset value in additional shares of the class from which the redemption
was made. The shareholder's account will be credited with the amount of any CDSC
charged upon the prior redemption and the new shares will continue to be subject
to the CDSC. The holding period of the shares acquired through reinvestment
will, for purposes of computing the CDSC payable upon a subsequent redemption,
include the holding period of the redeemed shares. The Fund may modify or
terminate the reinvestment privilege at any time.
A redemption or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable transaction for
Federal income tax purposes even if the reinvestment privilege is exercised, and
any gain or loss realized by a shareholder on the redemption or other
disposition of Fund shares will be treated for tax purposes as described under
the caption "Tax Status."
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND'S SHARES
The Trustees of the Trust are responsible for the management and
supervision of the Fund. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue
an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of the
Fund, without par value. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the
authority to create and classify shares of beneficial interest in separate
series, without further action by shareholders. As of the date of this Statement
of Additional Information, the Trustees have authorized the creation of two
series. The Trustees have also authorized the issuance of two classes of shares
of the Fund, designated as Class A and Class B.
The shares of each class of the Fund represent an equal proportionate
interest in the aggregate net assets attributable to the classes of the Fund.
Class A and Class B shares of the Fund will be sold exclusively to members of
the public (other than the institutional investors described in this Statement
of Additional Information) at net asset value plus any applicable sales charge.
A sales charge will be imposed either at the time of the purchase, for Class A
shares, or on a contingent deferred basis, for Class B shares. For Class A
shares, no sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of $1
million or more, but for such investments a CDSC may be imposed in the event of
certain redemption transactions within one year of purchase.
Class A and Class B shares have certain exclusive voting rights on matters
relating to their respective distribution plans. The different classes of the
Fund may bear different expenses relating to the cost of holding shareholder
meetings necessitated by the exclusive voting rights of any class of shares.
Dividends paid by the Fund, if any, with respect to each class of shares
will be calculated in the same manner, at the same time and will be in the same
38
<PAGE>
amount, except for differences resulting from the facts that (i) the
distribution and service fees relating to the Class A and Class B shares will be
borne exclusively by that class (ii) Class B shares will pay higher distribution
and service fees than Class A shares and (iii) Class A and Class B shares will
bear any other class expenses properly allocable to such class of shares,
subject to the requirements that the IRS imposes on mutual funds that have a
multiple-class structure. Similarly, the net asset value per share may vary
depending on whether Class A or Class B shares are purchased.
In the event of liquidation, shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in
the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to such shareholders.
Shares entitle their holders to one vote per share, are freely transferable and
have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. When issued, shares are
fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust, except as set forth below.
Unless otherwise required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the
Declaration of Trust, the Fund has no intention of holding annual meetings of
shareholders. Fund shareholders may remove a Trustee by the affirmative vote of
at least two-thirds of the Trust's outstanding shares, and the Trustees shall
promptly call a meeting for such purpose when requested to do so in writing by
the record holders of not less than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.
Shareholders may, under certain circumstances, communicate with other
shareholders in connection with a request for a special meeting of shareholders.
However, at any time that less than a majority of the Trustees holding office
were elected by the shareholders, the Trustees will call a special meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust
could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for acts or
obligations of the Trust. However, the Trust's Declaration of Trust contains an
express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts, obligations or affairs of
the Fund. The Declaration of Trust also provides for indemnification out of the
Fund's assets for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally
liable by reason of being or having been a shareholder. The Declaration of Trust
also provides that no series of the Trust shall be liable for the liabilities of
any other series. Liability is therefore limited to circumstances in which the
Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations, and the possibility of this
occurrence is remote.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Prospectus is a combined prospectus for
the Fund and other John Hancock mutual funds, the Fund shall not be liable for
the liabilities of any other John Hancock mutual fund.
Pursuant to an order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
Fund has adopted a deferred compensation plan for its Independent Trustees which
allows Trustees' fees to be invested by the Fund in other John Hancock funds.
In order to avoid conflicts with portfolio trades for the Fund, the Adviser
and the Fund have adopted extensive restrictions on personal securities trading
by personnel of the Adviser and its affiliates. Some of these restrictions are:
pre-clearance for all personal trades and a ban on the purchase of initial
public offerings, as well as contributions to specified charities of profits on
securities held for less than 91 days. These restrictions are a continuation of
the basic principle that the interests of the Fund and its shareholders come
first.
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE
The following information supplements the discussion in the Prospectus
regarding performance information.
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<PAGE>
Yield. Yield is determined separately for Class A and Class B shares. The yields
for the Class A and Class B shares of the Fund for the thirty days ended April
30, 1996 were 5.67% and 5.23%, respectively.
The Fund advertises yield, where appropriate. Yield is computed by dividing
the net investment income per share earned during a specified 30 day period by
the maximum offering price per share on the last day of such period, according
to the following formula:
Yield = 2[(a - b + 1) 6 - 1
-----
cd
Where:
a = dividends and interest earned during the period
b = net expenses accrued for the period
c = the average daily number of share outstanding during the period that were
entitled to receive dividends
d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period (NAV
where applicable).
To calculate interest earned (for the purpose of "a" above) on debt obligations,
the Fund computes the yield to maturity of each obligation held by the Fund
based on the market value of the obligation (including actual accrued interest)
at the close of the last business day of the period, or, with respect to
obligations purchased during the period, the purchase price (plus actual accrued
interest). The yield to maturity is then divided by 360 and the quotient is
multiplied by the market value of the obligation (including actual accrued
interest) to determine the interest income on the obligation for each day of the
subsequent period that the obligation is in the portfolio.
Solely for the purpose of computing yield, the Fund recognizes dividend
income by accruing 1/360 of the stated dividend rate of a security each day that
a security is in the portfolio.
Undeclared earned income, computed in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, may be subtracted from the maximum offering price.
Undeclared earned income is the net investment income which, at the end of the
base period, has not been declared as a dividend, but is reasonably expected to
be declared as a dividend shortly thereafter.
All accrued expenses are taken to account as described later herein.
From time to time, in reports and promotional literature, the Fund's yield
will be compared to indices of mutual funds such as Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc.'s "Lipper-Mutual Performance Analysis," a monthly publication which tracks
net assets, total return, and yield on mutual funds in the United States.
Ibottson and Associates, CDA Weisenberger and F.C. Towers are also used for
comparison purposes, as well as Russell and Wilshire indices.
Performance rankings and ratings reported periodically in national
financial publications such as MONEY Magazine, FORBES, BUSINESS WEEK, THE WALL
STREET JOURNAL, MORNINGSTAR, STANGER'S and BARRON'S, etc. may also be utilized.
40
<PAGE>
The performance of the Fund is not fixed or guaranteed. Performance
quotations should not be considered to be representations of performance of the
Fund for any period in the future. The performance of the Fund is a function of
many factors including its earnings, expenses and number of outstanding shares.
Fluctuating market conditions; purchases, sales, and maturities of portfolio
securities; sales and redemptions of shares of beneficial interest; and changes
in operating expenses are all examples of items that can increase or decrease
the Fund's performances.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION
The Advisory Agreement authorizes the Adviser (subject to the control of
the Board of Trustees) to select brokers and dealers to execute purchases and
sales of portfolio securities. It directs the Adviser to use its best efforts to
obtain the best overall terms for the Fund, taking into account such factors as
price (including dealer spread), the size, type and difficulty of the
transaction involved, and the financial condition and execution capability of
the broker or dealer.
To the extent that the execution and price offered by more than one dealer
are comparable, the Adviser may, in its discretion, decide to effect
transactions in portfolio securities with dealers on the basis of the dealer's
sales of shares of the Fund or with dealers who provide the Fund or the Adviser
with services such as research and the provision of statistical or pricing
information. In addition, the Fund may pay brokerage commissions to brokers or
dealers in excess of those otherwise available upon a determination that the
commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage services
provided, viewed in terms of either a specific transaction or overall brokerage
services provided with respect to the Fund's portfolio transactions by such
broker or dealer. Any such research services would be available for use on all
investment advisory accounts of the Adviser. The Fund may from time to time
allocate brokerage on the basis of sales of its shares. Review of compliance
with these policies, including evaluation of the overall reasonableness of
brokerage commissions paid, is made by the Board of Trustees.
The Adviser places all orders for purchases and sales of portfolio
securities of the Fund. In selecting broker-dealers, the Adviser may consider
research and brokerage services furnished to it. The Adviser may use this
research information in managing the Fund's assets, as well as assets of other
clients.
Government Securities are generally traded on the over-the-counter market
on a "net" basis without a stated commission, through dealers acting for their
own account and not as brokers. The Fund will primarily engage in transactions
with these dealers or deal directly with the issuer. Prices paid to the dealer
will generally include a "spread", which is the difference between the prices at
which the dealer is willing to purchase and sell the specific security at that
time.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, the Fund
paid brokerage commissions in the amount of $3,000, $29,450 and $107,825,
respectively.
When the Fund engages in an option transaction, ordinarily the same broker
will be used for the purchase or sale of the option and any transactions in the
securities to which the option relates. The writing of calls and the purchase of
puts and calls by the Fund will be subject to limitations established (and
changed from time to time) by each of the Exchanges governing the maximum number
of puts and calls covering the same underlying security which may be written or
purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert,
regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or
different Exchanges, held or written in one or more accounts or through one or
more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or purchase
may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment companies
and other investment advisory clients of the Adviser and its affiliates. An
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<PAGE>
Exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of
these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.
In the U.S. Government securities market, securities are generally traded
on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their own account without
a stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes a
profit to the dealer. On occasion, certain money market instruments and agency
securities may be purchased directly from the issuer, in which case no
commissions or premiums are paid.
The Adviser's indirect parent, the Life Company, is the indirect sole
shareholder of John Hancock Freedom Securities Corporation and its subsidiaries,
two of which, Tucker Anthony Incorporated ("Tucker Anthony"), John Hancock
Distributors, Inc. and Sutro & Company, Inc. ("Sutro"), are broker dealers
(together, "Affiliated Brokers"). The Trust's Boards of Trustees have
established that any portfolio transaction for the Fund may be executed through
Affiliated Brokers if, in the judgment of the Adviser, the use of Affiliated
Brokers is likely to result in price and execution at least as favorable as
those of other qualified brokers, and if, in the transaction, Affiliated Brokers
charges the Fund a commission rate consistent with those charged by Affiliated
Brokers to comparable unaffiliated customers in similar transactions. Affiliated
Brokers will not participate in commissions in brokerage given by the Fund to
other brokers or dealers and neither will receive any reciprocal brokerage
business resulting therefrom. Over- the-counter purchases and sales are
transacted directly with principal market makers except in those cases in which
better prices and executions may be obtained elsewhere. Affiliated Brokers will
not receive any brokerage commissions for orders they execute for the Fund in
the over-the-counter market. The Fund will in no event effect principal
transactions with Affiliated Brokers in the over-the-counter securities in which
Affiliated Brokers makes a market.
During the fiscal periods ended October 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 no
brokerage commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers in connection with the
portfolio transactions of the Fund.
Other investment advisory clients advised by the Adviser may also invest in
the same securities as the Fund. When these clients buy or sell the same
securities at substantially the same time, the Adviser may average the
transactions as to price and allocate the amount of available investments in a
manner which the Adviser believes to be equitable to each client, including the
Fund. In some instances, this investment procedure may adversely affect the
price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable for
it. On the other hand, to the extent permitted by law, the Adviser may aggregate
the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or
purchased for other clients managed by it in order to obtain best execution.
As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Fund may pay to a broker which provides brokerage and research services to the
Fund an amount of disclosed commission in excess of the commission which another
broker would have charged for effecting that transaction. This practice is
subject to a good faith determination by the trustees that such price is
reasonable in light of the services provided and to such policies as the
Trustees may adopt from time to time.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund declares dividends from net investment income daily and pays
dividends monthly. Distribution of net long-term capital gains, if any,
recognized on other portfolio investments for the fiscal year, which ends
October 31, will be made at least annually.
Quarterly each shareholder of the Fund will receive a statement setting
forth the amount of the monthly or daily dividends, as the case may be, paid
that month from net investment income for the preceding period. If any of such
42
<PAGE>
monthly or daily dividends were made from sources other than (i) net income for
the current or preceding fiscal year, or accumulated undistributed net income,
or both (not including in either case profits or losses from the sale of
securities or other assets) or (ii) accumulated undistributed net profits from
the sale of securities or other assets (in each case determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles), such statement will indicate
what portion of the distribution per share was made from the sources referred to
in (i) and (ii) above and from paid-in surplus or other capital sources.
A shareholder of the Fund will not be credited with a monthly or daily
dividend, as the case may be, until payment for shares purchased is received by
the Fund's transfer agent. Dividends normally will be paid in the form of
additional full and fractional shares at the net asset value determined on the
payment date, unless the shareholder elects to receive dividends in cash as
described in the Prospectus. If a shareholder redeems the entire value of his
account in the Fund, the amount of dividends declared but unpaid on his shares
through the date preceding the date of redemption will be paid on the next
succeeding dividend payment date.
The per share dividends on the Class B shares will be lower than the per
share dividends on the Class A shares of the Fund as a result of the higher
distribution fee applicable with respect to the Class B shares.
TRANSFER AGENT SERVICES
John Hancock Investor Services Corporation, P.O. Box 9116, Boston, MA
02205-9116 a wholly- owned indirect subsidiary of the Life Company is the
transfer and dividend paying agent for the Fund. The Fund pays Investor Services
an annual fee of $20.00 for each Class A shareholder and $22.50 for each Class B
shareholder. The Fund also pays certain out-of-pocket expenses and these
expenses are aggregated and charged to the Fund and allocated to each class on
the basis of the relative net asset values. These expenses are aggregated and
charged to the Fund and allocated to each class on the basis of their relative
net asset value.
CUSTODY OF PORTFOLIO
Portfolio securities of the Fund are held pursuant to a custodian agreement
between the Trust and Investors Bank & Trust Company, 24 Federal Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110. Under the custodian agreement, Investors Bank & Trust
Company performs custody, portfolio and fund accounting services.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The independent auditors of the Fund are Price Waterhouse LLP, 160 Federal
Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110. Price Waterhouse LLP audits and renders an
opinion on the Fund's annual financial statements and reviews the Fund's annual
Federal income tax return.
43
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS*
Moody's Bond Ratings
Bonds. "Bonds which are rated 'Aaa' are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as
'gilt edge.' Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally
stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are
likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most likely to impair
the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
"Bonds which are rated 'Aa' are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the 'Aaa' group they comprise what are generally known as high
grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large as in 'Aaa' securities or fluctuation of
protective elements may be of grater amplitude or there may be other elements
present which make the long term risks appear somewhat larger than in 'Aaa'
securities
.
"Bonds which are rated 'A' possess many favorable investment attributes and are
to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which
suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
"Bonds which are rated 'Baa' are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e.,
they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and
principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.
"Bonds which are rated 'Ba' are judged to have speculative elements; their
future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest
and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded
during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position,
characterizes bonds in this class.
"Bonds which are rated 'B' generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of
other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Where no rating has been assigned or where a rating has been suspended or
withdrawn, it may be for reasons unrelated to the quality of the issue. Should
no rating be assigned, the reason may be one of the following: (i) an
application for rating was not received or accepted; (ii) the issue or issuer
belongs to a group of securities that are not rated as a matter of policy; (iii)
there is a lack of essential data pertaining to the issue or issuer; or (iv) the
issue was privately placed, in which case the rating is not published in Moody's
publications.
- ------------
*As described by the rating companies themselves.
Suspension or withdrawal may occur if new and material circumstances arise, the
effects of which preclude satisfactory analysis; if there is no longer available
reasonable up-to-date data to permit a judgment to be formed; if a bond is
called for redemption; or for other reasons.
A-1
<PAGE>
Standard & Poor's Bond Ratings
"AAA. Debt rated 'AAA' has the highest rating by Standard & Poor's. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
"AA. Debt rated 'AA' has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree.
"A. Debt rated 'A' has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
"BBB. Debt rated 'BBB' is regarded as having adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
debt in this category than in higher rated categories."
Debt rated "BB," or "B," is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative
with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and pay principal in
accordance with the terms of the obligation. "BB" indicates the lowest degree of
speculation and "CC" the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will
likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed
by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
Unrated. This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is
insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor's
does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.
A-2
<PAGE>
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Moody's Commercial Paper Ratings
Moody's ratings for commercial paper are opinions of the ability of issuers to
repay punctually promissory obligations not having an original maturity in
excess of nine months. Moody's two highest commercial paper rating categories
are as follows:
"P-1 -- "Prime-1" indicates the highest quality repayment capacity of the rated
issues.
"P-2 -- "Prime-2" indicates that the issuer has a strong capacity for repayment
of short-term promissory obligations. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while
sound, will be more subjective to variation. Capitalization characteristics,
while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample
alternate liquidity is maintained."
Standard & Poor's Commercial Paper Ratings
Standard & Poor's commercial paper ratings are current assessments of the
likelihood of timely payment of debts having an original maturity of no more
than 365 days. Standard & Poor's two highest commercial paper rating categories
are as follows:
"A-1 -- This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is very strong. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety
characteristics will be denoted with a plus (+) sign designation.
"A-2 -- Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is strong.
However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated
A-1."
A-3
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
<PAGE>
JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
Class A and Class B Shares
Statement of
Additional Information
August 30, 1996
This Statement of Additional Information provides information about John Hancock
Strategic Income Fund (the "Fund") in addition to the information that is
contained in the combined Income Funds' Prospectus dated August 30, 1996 (the
"Prospectus"). The Fund is a series portfolio of John Hancock Strategic Series
(the "Trust").
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It should be read
in conjunction with the Prospectus, a copy of which can be obtained free of
charge by writing or telephoning:
John Hancock Investor Services Corporation
P.O. Box 9116
Boston, Massachusetts 02205-9116
1-800-225-5291
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
Organization of the Fund ................................... 2
Investment Objective and Policies .......................... 2
Certain Investment Practices ............................... 2
Those Responsible for Management ........................... 24
Investment Advisory and Other Services ..................... 33
Distribution Contract ...................................... 36
Net Asset Value ............................................ 38
Initial Sales Charge on Class a Shares ..................... 39
Deferred Sales Charge on Class B Shares .................... 41
Special Redemptions ........................................ 44
Additional Services and Programs ........................... 45
Description of the Fund's Shares ........................... 46
Tax Status ................................................. 47
Calculation of Performance ................................. 53
Brokerage Allocation ....................................... 55
Transfer Agent Services .................................... 57
Custody of Portfolio ....................................... 57
Independent Accountants .................................... 57
Appendix ................................................... A-1
Financial Statements ....................................... F-1
<PAGE>
ORGANIZATION OF THE FUND
John Hancock Strategic Income Fund (the "Fund") is organized as a separate,
diversified series of John Hancock Strategic Series (the "Trust"), an open-end
investment management company organized in April 1986 as a Massachusetts
business trust under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund is
managed by John Hancock Advisers, Inc. (the "Adviser"). The Adviser is an
indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of John Hancock Mutual Life Company (the "Life
Company"), a Massachusetts life insurance company chartered in 1862, with
national headquarters at John Hancock Place, Boston, Massachusetts.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
The investment objective of the Fund is a high level of current income. The Fund
will seek to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in: (i)
foreign government and corporate debt securities, (ii) U.S. Government
securities and (iii) lower-rated high yield high risk debt securities of U.S.
issuers. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Fund
will be realized.
CERTAIN INVESTMENT PRACTICES
Lower Rated Securities. The higher yields and high income sought by the Fund are
generally obtainable from high yield risk securities in the lower rating
categories of the established rating services. These securities are rated below
Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or below BBB by Standard &
Poor's Ratings Group ("Standard & Poor's"). The Fund may invest in securities
rated as low as Ca by Moody's or CC by Standard & Poor's, which may indicate
that the obligations are speculative to a high degree and in default. Lower
rated securities are generally referred to as junk bonds. See the Appendix
attached to this Statement of Additional Information for a description of the
characteristics of the various ratings categories. The Fund is not obligated to
dispose of securities whose issuers subsequently are in default or which are
downgraded below the minimum ratings noted above. The credit ratings of Moody's
and Standard & Poor's (the "Rating Agencies"), such as those ratings described
in this Statement of Additional Information, may not be changed by the Rating
Agencies in a timely fashion to reflect subsequent economic events. The credit
ratings of securities do not evaluate market risk. The Fund may also invest in
unrated securities which, in the opinion of the Adviser, offer comparable yields
and risks to the rated securities in which the Fund may invest.
Debt securities that are rated in the lower rating categories, or which are
unrated, involve greater volatility of price and risk of loss of principal and
income. In addition, lower ratings reflect a greater possibility of an adverse
change in financial condition affecting the ability of the issuer to make
payments of interest and principal. The market price and liquidity of lower
rated fixed income securities generally respond to short-term corporate and
2
<PAGE>
market developments to a greater extent than the price and liquidity of higher
rated securities, because these developments are perceived to have a more direct
relationship to the ability of an issuer of lower rated securities to meet its
ongoing debt obligations. Although the Adviser seeks to minimize these risks
through diversification, investment analysis and attention to current
developments in interest rates and economic conditions, there can be no
assurance that the Adviser will be successful in limiting the Fund's exposure to
the risks associated with lower rated securities. Because the Fund invests in
securities in the lower rated categories, the achievement of the Fund's goals is
more dependent on the Adviser's ability than would be the case if the Fund were
investing in securities in the higher rated categories.
The Fund's investments in debt securities may include increasing rate note
securities, zero coupon bonds and payment-in-kind bonds. Zero coupon bonds have
a determined interest rate, but payment of the interest is deferred until
maturity of the bonds. Payment- in-kind securities pay interest in either cash
or additional securities, at the issuer's option, for a specified period. The
market prices of zero coupon and payment-in-kind bonds are affected to a greater
extent by interest rate changes, and thereby tend to be more volatile than
securities which pay interest periodically and in cash. Increasing rate note
securities are typically refinanced by the issuers within a short period of
time.
The market value of debt securities which carry no equity participation usually
reflects yields generally available on securities of similar quality and type.
When such yields decline, the market value of a portfolio already invested at
higher yields can be expected to rise if such securities are protected against
early call. In general, in selecting securities for its portfolio, the Fund
intends to seek protection against early call. Similarly, when such yields
increase, the market value of a portfolio already invested at lower yields can
be expected to decline. The Fund's portfolio may include debt securities which
sell at substantial discounts from par. These securities are low coupon bonds
which, because of their lower acquisition cost tend to sell on a yield basis
approximating current interest rates during periods of high interest rates.
Reduced volume and liquidity in the high yield high risk bond market or the
reduced availability of market quotations may make it more difficult to dispose
of the Fund's investments in high yield high risk securities and to value
accurately these assets. The reduced availability of reliable, objective data
may increase the Fund's reliance on management's judgment in valuing high yield
high risk bonds. In addition, the Fund's investments in high yield high risk
securities may be susceptible to adverse publicity and investor perceptions,
whether or not justified by fundamental factors. The Fund's investments, and
consequently its net asset value, will be subject to the market fluctuations and
risk inherent in all securities.
Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in debt obligations (which may be
denominated in the U.S. dollar or in non-U.S. currencies) issued or guaranteed
by foreign corporations, certain supranational entities (such as the World
3
<PAGE>
Bank), and foreign governments (including political subdivisions having taxing
authority) or their agencies or instrumentalities. The Fund may also invest in
debt securities that are issued by U.S. corporations and denominated in non-U.S.
currencies. No more than 25% of the Fund's total assets, at the time of
purchase, will be invested in government securities of any one foreign country.
The Fund may also invest in American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"). ADRs
(sponsored and unsponsored) are receipts typically issued by an American bank or
trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a
foreign corporation, and are designed for trading in United States securities
markets. Issuers of unsponsored ADRs are not contractually obligated to disclose
material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may not be a
correlation between that information and the market value of an unsponsored ADR.
The percentage of the Fund's assets that will be allocated to foreign securities
will vary depending on the relative yields of foreign and U.S. securities, the
economies of foreign countries, the condition of such countries' financial
markets, the interest rate climate of such countries and the relationship of
such countries' currency to the U.S. dollar. These factors are judged on the
basis of fundamental economic criteria (e.g., relative inflation levels and
trends, growth rate forecasts, balance of payments status and economic policies)
as well as technical and political data. Although the Fund may invest in any
country where the Adviser believes there is a potential to achieve the Fund's
investment objective, it presently expects to invest primarily in securities of
issuers in industrialized Western European countries (including Scandinavian
countries) and in Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Investments in
securities of issuers in non-industrialized countries generally involve more
risk and may be considered highly speculative.
The value of portfolio securities denominated in foreign currencies may increase
or decrease in response to changes in currency exchange rates. The Fund will
incur costs in connection with converting between currencies.
Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency
contracts involving currencies of the different countries in which it will
invest as a hedge against possible variations in the foreign exchange rate
between these currencies as well as to enhance return or as a substitute for the
purchase or sale of currency. The foreign currency transactions of the Fund may
be conducted on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate for purchasing or
selling currency prevailing in the foreign exchange market. Forward foreign
currency contracts are contractual agreements to purchase or sell a specified
currency at a specified future date and price set at the time of the contract.
Transaction hedging is the purchase or sale of forward foreign currency
contracts with respect to specific receivables for payables of the Fund accruing
in connection with the purchase and sale of its portfolio securities denominated
in foreign currencies. Portfolio hedging is the use of forward foreign currency
contracts to offset portfolio security positions denominated or quoted in such
4
<PAGE>
foreign currencies. The Fund will not attempt to hedge all of its foreign
portfolio positions and will enter into such transactions only to the extent, if
any, deemed appropriate by the Adviser.
If the Fund enters into a forward contract requiring it to purchase foreign
currency, its custodian bank will segregate cash or liquid securities in a
separate account of the Fund in an amount equal to the value of the Fund's total
assets committed to the consummation of such forward contract. Those assets will
be valued at market daily and if the value of the assets in the separate account
declines, additional cash or securities will be placed in the account so that
the value of the account will equal the amount of the Fund's commitment with
respect to such contracts.
Hedging against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate
fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities or prevent losses if the
prices of such securities decline. Such transactions also preclude the
opportunity for gain if the value of the hedged currency should rise. Moreover,
it may not be possible for the Fund to hedge against a devaluation that is so
generally anticipated that the Fund is not able to contract to sell the currency
at a price above the devaluation level it anticipates.
There is no limitation on the value of the Fund's assets that may be committed
to forward contracts or on the term of a forward contract. In addition to the
risks described above, forward contracts are subject to the following additional
risks: (1) that a Fund's performance will be adversely affected by unexpected
changes in currency exchange rates; (2) that the counterparty to a forward
contract will fail to perform its contractual obligations; (3) that a Fund will
be unable to terminate or dispose of its position in a forward contract; and (4)
with respect to hedging transactions in forward contracts, that there will be
imperfect correlation between price changes in the forward contract and price
changes in the hedged portfolio assets.
The cost to the Fund of engaging in foreign currency transactions varies with
such factors as that currency involved, the length of the contract period and
the market conditions then prevailing. Since transactions in foreign currency
are usually conducted on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved.
Global Risks. Investments in foreign securities may involve certain risks not
present in domestic investments due to exchange controls, less publicly
available information, more volatile or less liquid securities markets, and the
possibility of expropriation, confiscatory taxation or political, economic or
social instability. There may be difficulty in enforcing legal rights outside
the United States. Some foreign companies are not subject to the same uniform
financial reporting requirements, accounting standards and governmental
supervision as domestic companies, and foreign exchange markets are regulated
differently from the U.S. stock market. Security trading practices abroad may
offer less protection to investors such as the Fund. In addition, foreign
securities may be denominated in the currency of the country in which the issuer
is located. Consequently, changes in the foreign exchange rate will affect the
5
<PAGE>
value of the Fund's shares and dividends. Finally, you should be aware that the
expense ratios of international funds generally are higher than those of
domestic funds, because there are greater costs associated with maintaining
custody of foreign securities and the increased research necessary for
international investing results in a higher advisory fee.
These risks may be intensified in the case of investments in emerging markets or
countries with limited or developing capital markets. These countries are
located in the Asia-Pacific region, Eastern Europe, Latin and South America and
Africa. Security prices in these markets can be significantly more volatile than
in more developed countries, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing
in less established markets and economies. Political, legal and economic
structures in many of these emerging market countries may be undergoing
significant evolution and rapid development, and they may lack the social,
political, legal and economic stability characteristic of more developed
countries. Emerging market countries may have failed in the past to recognize
private property rights. They may have relatively unstable governments, present
the risk of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership, or
prohibitions on repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property
rights than more developed countries. Their economies may be predominately based
on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global
trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or
inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities
and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume,
potentially making prompt liquidation of substantial holdings difficult or
impossible at times. The Fund may be required to establish special custodial or
other arrangements before making certain investments in these countries.
Securities of issuers located in these countries may have limited marketability
and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements.
U.S. Governmental Securities. Certain U.S. Government securities, including U.S.
Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and Government National Mortgage Association
mortgage-backed certificates ("Ginnie Maes"), are supported by the full faith
and credit of the United States. Certain other U.S. Government securities,
issued or guaranteed by Federal agencies or government sponsored enterprises,
are not supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, but may be
supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. These
securities include obligations of instrumentalities such as the Federal Home
Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Macs"), the Federal National Mortgage
Association ("Fannie Maes") and the Student Loan Marketing Association ("Sallie
Maes"). No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide
financial support to these Federal agencies, authorities, instrumentalities and
government sponsored enterprises in the future.
Mortgage-Backed Securities. Ginnie Maes, Freddie Macs and Fannie Maes are
mortgage-backed securities which provide monthly payments that are, in effect, a
"pass- through" of the monthly interest and principal payments (including any
pre-payments) made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans.
6
<PAGE>
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations ("CMOs"), in which the Fund may also invest,
are securities issued by a U.S. Government instrumentality that are
collateralized by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. During
periods of declining interest rates, principal and interest on mortgage-backed
securities may be prepaid at faster-than-expected rates. The proceeds of these
prepayments typically can only be invested in lower-yielding securities.
Therefore, mortgage-backed securities may be less effective at maintaining
yields during periods of declining interest rates than traditional debt
securities of similar maturity. U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities
include, but are not limited to, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Home Loan
Banks, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Student Loan Marketing
Association, and the Federal National Mortgage Association. Some obligations
issued by an agency or instrumentality may be supported by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Treasury.
A real estate mortgage investment conduit, or REMIC, is a private entity formed
for the purpose of holding a fixed pool of mortgages secured by an interest in
real property, and of issuing multiple classes of interests therein to investors
such as the Fund. The Fund may consider REMIC securities as possible investments
when the mortgage collateral is insured, guaranteed or otherwise backed by the
U.S. Government or one or more of its agencies or instrumentalities. The Fund
will not invest in "residual" interests in REMIC's because of certain tax
disadvantages for regulated investment companies that own such interests.
Risks of Mortgage-Backed Securities. Different types of mortgage-backed
securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension,
interest rate and/or other market risks. Conventional mortgage pass-through
securities and sequential pay CMOs are subject to all of these risks, but are
typically not leveraged. PACs, TACs and other senior classes of sequential and
parallel pay CMOs involve less exposure to prepayment, extension and interest
rate risk than other mortgage-backed securities, provided that prepayment rates
remain within expected prepayment ranges or "collars."
The value of mortgage-backed securities may also change due to shifts in the
market's perception of issuers. In addition, regulatory or tax chWPF Manage
DNDanges may adversely affect the mortgage-backed securities market as a whole.
Non-government mortgage-backed securities may offer higher yields than those
issued by government entities, but also may be subject to greater price changes
than government issues.
Mortgage "Dollar Roll" Transactions. The Fund may enter into mortgage "dollar
roll" transactions with selected banks and broker-dealers pursuant to which the
Fund sells mortgage-backed securities and simultaneously contracts to repurchase
substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified
future date. The Fund will only enter into covered rolls. A "covered roll" is a
specific type of dollar roll for which there is an offsetting cash position or a
cash equivalent security position which matures on or before the forward
settlement date of the dollar roll transaction. Covered rolls are not treated as
a borrowing or other senior security and will be excluded from the calculation
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<PAGE>
of the Fund's borrowing and other senior securities. For financial reporting and
tax purposes, the Fund treats mortgage dollar rolls as two separate
transactions; one involving the purchase of a security and a separate
transaction involving a sale. The Fund does not currently intend to enter into
mortgage dollar roll transactions that are accounted for as a financing.
Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in
asset-backed securities which are rated in the highest rating category by a
nationally recognized statistical rating organization (e.g., Standard & Poor's
or Moody's) or if not so rated, of equivalent investment quality in the opinion
of the Adviser.
Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their
stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of
prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining
interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be
expected to accelerate. Accordingly, the Fund's ability to maintain positions in
these securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such
securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns
of principal at comparable yields is subject to generally prevailing interest
rates at that time.
Credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors on such
receivables are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal
consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set-off
certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due.
Automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles rather than
residential real property. Most issuers of automobile receivables permit the
loan services to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the service
were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the
purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the
asset-backed securities. In addition, because of the large number of vehicles
involved in a typical issuance and technical requirements under state laws, the
trustee for the holders of the automobile receivables may not have a proper
security interest in the underlying automobiles. Therefore, there is the
possibility that, in some cases, recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be
available to support payments on these securities.
Structured or Hybrid Notes. The Fund may invest in "structured" or "hybrid"
notes. The distinguishing feature of a structured or hybrid note is that the
amount of interest and/or principal payable on the note is based on the
performance of a benchmark asset or market other than fixed income securities or
interest rates. Examples of these benchmark include stock prices, currency
exchange rates and physical commodity prices. Investing in a structured note
allows the Fund to gain exposure to the benchmark market while fixing the
maximum loss that the Fund may experience in the event that market does not
perform as expected. Depending on the terms of the note, the Fund may forego all
or part of the interest and principal that would be payable on a comparable
conventional note; the Fund's loss cannot exceed this foregone interest and/or
8
<PAGE>
principal. An investment in structured or hybrid notes involves risks similar to
those associated with a direct investment in the benchmark asset.
Participation Interests. Participation interests, which may take the form of
interests in, or assignments of certain loans, are acquired from banks who have
made these loans or are members of a lending syndicate. The Fund's investments
in participation interests are subject to its 15% limitation on investments in
illiquid securities. The Fund may purchase only those participation interests
that mature in 60 days or less, or, if maturing in more than 60 days, that have
a floating rate that is automatically adjusted at least once every 60 days.
Swaps, Caps, Floor and Collars. As one way of managing its exposure to different
types of investments, the Fund may enter into interest rate swaps, currency
swaps, and other types of swap agreements such as caps, collars and floors. In a
typical interest rate swap, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a
floating interest rate times a "notional principal amount," in return for
payments equal to a fixed rate times the same amount, for a specified period of
time. If a swap agreement provides for payment in different currencies, the
parties might agree to exchange the notional principal amount as well. Swaps may
also depend on other prices or rates, such as the value of an index or mortgage
prepayment rates.
In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only
under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the
other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to
receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an
agreed-upon level, while the seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to
make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an
agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and
selling a floor.
Swap agreements will tend to shift the Fund's investment exposure from one type
of investment to another. For example, if the Fund agreed to exchange payments
in dollars for payments in a foreign currency, the swap agreement would tend to
decrease the Fund's exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its exposure to
foreign currency and interest rates. Caps and floors have an effect similar to
buying or writing options. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may
increase or decrease the overall volatility of a Fund's investments and its
share price and yield.
Swap agreements are sophisticated hedging instruments that typically involve a
small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of risks assumed. As a
result, swaps can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on the
Fund's performance. Swap agreements are subject to risks related to the
counterpart's ability to perform, and may decline in value if the counterpart's
credit worthiness deteriorates. The Fund may also suffer losses if it is unable
to terminate outstanding swap agreements or reduce its exposure through
offsetting transactions. The Fund will maintain in a segregated account with its
9
<PAGE>
custodian, cash or liquid, high grade debt securities equal to the net amount,
if any, of the excess of the Fund's obligations over its entitlement with
respect to swap, cap, collar or floor transactions.
Pay-In-Kind, Delayed and Zero Coupon Bonds. The Fund may invest in pay-in-kind,
delayed and zero coupon bonds. These are securities issued at a discount from
their face value because interest payments are typically postponed until
maturity. The amount of the discount rate varies depending on factors including
the time remaining until maturity, prevailing interest rates, the security's
liquidity and the issuer's credit quality. These securities also may take the
form of debt securities that have been stripped of their interest payments. A
portion of the discount with respect to stripped tax-exempt securities or their
coupons may be taxable. The market prices in pay-in-kind, delayed and zero
coupon bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of
interest-bearing securities and are likely to respond to a grater degree to
changes in interest rates than interest-bearing securities having similar
maturities and credit quality. The Fund's investments in pay-in-kind, delayed
and zero coupon bonds may require the Fund to sell certain of its portfolio
securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution
requirements. See "Tax Status."
Brady Bonds. The Fund may also invest in so-called "Brady Bonds." The Fund may
invest in Brady Bonds and other sovereign debt securities of countries that have
restructured or are in the process of restructuring sovereign debt pursuant to
the Brady Plan. Brady Bonds are debt securities issued under the framework of
the Brady Plan, an initiative announced by U.S. Treasury Secretary Nicholas F.
Brady in 1989 as a mechanism for debtor nations to restructure their outstanding
external indebtedness (generally, commercial bank debt). In restructuring its
external debt under the Brady Plan framework, a debtor nation negotiates with
its existing bank lenders as well as multilateral institutions such as the World
Bank and the International Monetary Fund (the "IF"). The Brady Plan framework,
as it has developed, contemplates the exchange of commercial bank debt for newly
issued bonds (Brady Bonds). The World Bank and/or the IF support the
restructuring by providing funds pursuant to loan agreements or other
arrangements which enable the debtor nation to collateralize the new Brady Bonds
or to repurchase outstanding bank debt at a discount. Under these arrangements
with the World Bank and/or the IF, debtor nations have been required to agree to
the implementation of certain domestic monetary and fiscal reforms. Such reforms
have included the liberalization of trade and foreign investment, the
privatization of state-owned enterprises and the setting of targets for public
spending and borrowing. These policies and programs seek to promote the debtor
country's ability to service its external obligations and promote its economic
growth and development. Investors should recognize that the Brady Plan only sets
forth general guiding principles for economic reform and debt reduction,
emphasizing that solutions must be negotiated on a case-by-case basis between
debtor nations and their creditors. The Adviser believes that economic reforms
undertaken by countries in connection with the issuance of Brady Bonds make the
debt of countries which have issued or have announced plans to issue Brady Bonds
an attractive opportunity for investment.
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Brady Bonds have recently been issued by Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Costa
Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jordan, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, the
Philippines, Uruguay and Venezuela and may be issued by other countries. Over
$130 billion in principal amount of Brady Bonds have been issued to date, the
largest portion having been issued by Argentina and Brazil. Brady Bonds may
involve a high degree of risk, may be in default or present the risk of default.
As of January, 1, 1996, the Fund is not aware of the occurrence of any payment
defaults on Brady Bonds. Investors should recognize however, that Brady Bonds
have been issued only recently, and, accordingly, they do not have a long
payment history. Agreements implemented under the Brady Plan to date are
designed to achieve debt and debt-service reduction through specific options
negotiated by a debtor nation with its creditors. As a result, the financial
packages offered by each country differ. The types of options have included the
exchange of outstanding commercial bank debt for bonds issued at 100% of face
value of such debt, bonds issued at a discount of face value of such debt, bonds
bearing an interest rate which increases over time and bonds issued in exchange
for the advancement of new money by existing lenders. Certain Brady Bonds have
been collateralized as to principal due at maturity by U.S. Treasury zero coupon
bonds with a maturity equal to the final maturity of such Brady Bonds, although
the collateral is not available to investors until the final maturity of the
Brady Bonds. Collateral purchases are financed by the IF, the World Bank and the
debtor nations' reserves. In addition, the first two or three interest payments
on certain types of Brady Bonds may be collateralized by cash or securities
agreed upon by creditors. Although Brady Bonds may be collateralized by U.S.
Government securities, repayment of principal and interest is not guaranteed by
the U.S. Government.
Restricted Securities. The Fund may purchase securities that are not registered
("restricted securities") under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"),
including securities offered and sold to "qualified institutional buyers" under
Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. However, the Fund will not invest more than 15% of
its net assets in illiquid investments, which include repurchase agreements
maturing in more than seven days, securities that are not readily marketable and
restricted securities. However, if the Board of Trustees determines, based upon
a continuing review of the trading markets for specific Rule 144A securities,
that they are liquid, then such securities may be purchased without regard to
the 15% limit. The Trustees may adopt guidelines and delegate to the Adviser the
daily function of determining and monitoring the liquidity of restricted
securities. The Trustees, however, will retain sufficient oversight and be
ultimately responsible for the determinations. The Trustees will carefully
monitor the Fund's investments in these securities, focusing on such important
factors, among others, as valuation, liquidity and availability of information.
This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of
illiquidity in the Fund if qualified institutional buyers become for a time
uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities.
The Fund may acquire other restricted securities including securities for which
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<PAGE>
market quotations are not readily available. These securities may be sold only
in privately negotiated transactions or in public offerings with respect to
which a registration statement is in effect under the 1933 Act. Where
registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the
registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of
the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security
under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse
market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price
than prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities will be priced at
fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund's Trustees.
Rights and Warrants. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets (at the
time of purchase) in rights and warrants. However, this limitation does not
apply to those warrants or rights (i) acquired as part of a unit or attached to
other securities purchased by the Fund or (ii) acquired as part of a
distribution from the issuer.
Lending of Securities. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers,
dealers, and financial institutions if the loan is collateralized by cash or
U.S. Government securities according to applicable regulatory requirements. The
Fund may reinvest any cash collateral in short-term securities and money market
funds. When the Fund lends portfolio securities, there is a risk that the
borrower may fail to return the securities involved in the transaction. As a
result, the Fund may incur a loss or, in the event of the borrower's bankruptcy,
the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from liquidating the collateral. It is a
fundamental policy of the Fund not to lend portfolio securities having a total
value exceeding 33 1/3% of its total assets.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A
repurchase agreement is a contract under which the Fund acquires a security for
a relatively short period (usually not more than 7 days) subject to the
obligation of the seller to repurchase and the Fund to resell such security at a
fixed time and price (representing the Fund's cost plus interest). The Fund will
enter into repurchase agreements only with member banks of the Federal Reserve
System and with "primary dealers" in U.S. Government securities. The Adviser
will continuously monitor the creditworthiness of the parties with whom the Fund
enters into repurchase agreements.
The Fund has established a procedure providing that the securities serving as
collateral for each repurchase agreement must be delivered to the Fund's
custodian either physically or in book-entry form and that the collateral must
be marked to market daily to ensure that each repurchase agreement is fully
collateralized at all times. In the event of bankruptcy or other default by a
seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience delays in
liquidating the underlying securities during the period in which the Fund seeks
to enforce its rights thereto, possible subnormal levels of income and lack of
access to income during this period and the expense of enforcing its rights.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may also enter into reverse repurchase
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<PAGE>
agreements which involve the sale of U.S. Government securities held in its
portfolio to a bank with an agreement that the Fund will buy back the securities
at a fixed future date at a fixed price plus an agreed amount of "interest"
which may be reflected in the repurchase price. Reverse repurchase agreements
are considered to be borrowings by the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements
involve the risk that the market value of securities purchased by the Fund with
proceeds of the transaction may decline below the repurchase price of the
securities sold by the Fund which it is obligated to repurchase. The Fund will
also continue to be subject to the risk of a decline in the market value of the
securities sold under the agreements because it will reacquire those securities
upon effecting their repurchase. The Fund will not enter into reverse repurchase
agreements and other borrowings exceeding in the aggregate 33% of the market
value of its total assets. The Fund will enter into reverse repurchase
agreements only with federally insured banks or savings and loan associations
which are approved in advance as being creditworthy by the Board of Trustees.
Under procedures established by the Board of Trustees, the Adviser will monitor
the creditworthiness of the banks involved.
Forward Commitment and When-Issued Securities. The Fund may purchase securities
on a when-issued or forward commitment basis. "When-issued" refers to securities
whose terms are available and for which a market exists, but which have not been
issued. The Fund will engage in when-issued transactions with respect to
securities purchased for its portfolio in order to obtain what is considered to
be an advantageous price and yield at the time of the transaction. For
when-issued transactions, no payment is made until delivery is due, often a
month or more after the purchase. In a forward commitment transaction, the Fund
contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond
customary settlement time.
When the Fund engages in forward commitment and when-issued transactions, it
relies on the seller to consummate the transaction. The failure of the issuer or
seller to consummate the transaction may result in the Fund's losing the
opportunity to obtain a price and yield considered to be advantageous. The
purchase of securities on a when- issued or forward commitment basis also
involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines
prior to the settlement date.
On the date the Fund enters into an agreement to purchase securities on a
when-issued or forward commitment basis, the Fund will segregate in a separate
account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the Fund's commitment. These
assets will be valued daily at market, and additional cash or securities will be
segregated in a separate account to the extent that the total value of the
assets in the account declines below the amount of the when-issued commitments.
Alternatively, the Fund may enter into offsetting contracts for the forward sale
of other securities that it owns.
Borrowing. The Fund may borrow money in an amount that does not exceed 33% of
its total assets. Borrowing by the Fund involves leverage, which may exaggerate
any increase or decrease in the Fund's investment performance and in that
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<PAGE>
respect may be considered a speculative practice. The interest that the Fund
must pay on any borrowed money, additional fees to maintain a line of credit or
any minimum average balances required to be maintained are additional costs
which will reduce or eliminate any potential investment income and may offset
any capital gains. Unless the appreciation and income, if any, on the asset
acquired with borrowed funds exceed the cost of borrowing, the use of leverage
will diminish the investment performance of the Fund.
Short Sales. The Fund may engage in short sales in order to profit from an
anticipated decline in the value of a security. The Fund may also engage in
short sales to attempt to limit its exposure to a possible market decline in the
value of its portfolio securities through short sales of securities which the
Adviser believes possess volatility characteristics similar to those being
hedged. To effect such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security sold
short to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund then is obligated to replace the
security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of
replacement. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay to the
lender any accrued interest or dividends and may be required to pay a premium.
The Fund may only make short sales "against the box," meaning that the Fund, by
virtue of its ownership of other securities, has the right to obtain securities
equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold and, if the right is
conditional, the sale is made upon the same conditions.
The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between the date
of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security.
On the other hand, the Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if
the price of the security increases between those dates. The amount of any gain
will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any
premium or interest or dividends the Fund may be required to pay in connection
with a short sale. The successful use of short selling as a hedging device may
be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of
the security sold short and the securities being hedged.
Under applicable guidelines of the staff of the SEC, if the Fund engages in
short sales, it must put in a segregated account (not with the broker) an amount
of cash or U.S. Government securities equal to the difference between (a) the
market value of the securities sold short at the time they were sold short and
(b) any cash or U.S. Government securities required to be deposited as
collateral with the broker in connection with the short sale (not including the
proceeds from the short sale). In addition, until the Fund replaces the borrowed
security, it must daily maintain the segregated account at such a level that the
amount deposited in it plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral
will equal the current market value of the securities sold short.
Short selling may produce higher than normal portfolio turnover which may result
in increased transaction costs to the Fund and may result in gains from the sale
of securities deemed to have been held for less than three months, which gains
must be less than 30% of the Fund's gross income for a taxable year in order for
the Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") for that year.
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Financial Futures Contracts. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts (and
related options) on stocks, stock indices, debt securities, currencies, interest
rate indices, and other instruments for hedging and speculative purposes. The
Fund may hedge its portfolio by selling or purchasing financial futures
contracts as an offset against the effects of changes in interest rates or in
security or foreign currency values. Although other techniques could be used to
reduce exposure to market fluctuations, the Fund may be able to hedge its
exposure more effectively and perhaps at a lower cost by using financial futures
contracts. The Fund may enter into financial futures contracts for hedging and
speculative purposes to the extent permitted by regulations of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"). The potential loss from futures
transactions is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium
received.
Financial futures contracts have been designed by boards of trade which have
been designated "contract markets" by the CFTC. Futures contracts are traded on
these markets in a manner that is similar to the way a stock is traded on a
stock exchange. The boards of trade, through their clearing corporations,
guarantee that the contracts will be performed. Currently, financial futures
contracts are based on interest rate instruments such as long-term U.S. Treasury
bonds, U.S. Treasury notes, Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA")
modified pass-through mortgage-backed securities, three-month U.S. Treasury
bills, 90-day commercial paper, bank certificates of deposit and Eurodollar
certificates of deposit. It is expected that if other financial futures
contracts are developed and traded the Fund may engage in transactions in such
contracts.
Although some financial futures contracts by their terms call for actual
delivery or acceptance of financial instruments, in most cases the contracts are
closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching
financial futures contracts (same exchange, underlying security and delivery
month). Other financial futures contracts, such as futures contracts on
securities indices, by their terms call for cash settlements. If the offsetting
purchase price is less than the Fund's original sale price, the Fund realizes a
gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting
sale price is more than the Fund's original purchase price, the Fund realizes a
gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must
also be included in these calculations. The Fund will pay a commission in
connection with each purchase or sale of financial futures contracts, including
a closing transaction. For a discussion of the Federal income tax considerations
of transactions in financial futures contracts, see the information under the
caption "Tax Status" below.
At the time the Fund enters into a financial futures contract, it is required to
deposit with its custodian a specified amount of cash or U.S. Government
securities, known as "initial margin," ranging upward from 1.1% of the value of
the financial futures contract being traded. The margin required for a financial
futures contract is set by the board of trade or exchange on which the contract
15
<PAGE>
is traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. The initial
margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the
financial futures contract which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the
contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Fund
expects to earn interest income on its initial margin deposits. Each day, the
futures contract is valued at the official settlement price of the board of
trade or exchange on which it is traded. Subsequent payments, known as
"variation margin," to and from the broker are made on a daily basis as the
market price of the financial futures contract fluctuates. This process is known
as "mark to market." Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or lending
by the Fund but is instead a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the
amount one would owe the other if the financial futures contract expired. In
computing net asset value, the Fund will mark to market its open financial
futures positions.
Successful hedging depends on a strong correlation between the market for the
underlying securities or currencies and the futures contract market for those
securities or currencies. There are several factors that will probably prevent
this correlation from being a perfect one, and even a correct forecast of
general interest rate trends may not result in a successful hedging transaction.
There are significant differences between the securities, currencies and futures
markets which could create an imperfect correlation between the markets and
which could affect the success of a given hedge. The degree of imperfection of
correlation depends on circumstances such as variations in speculative market
demand for financial futures and debt securities, including technical influences
in futures trading and differences between the financial instruments being
hedged and the instruments underlying the standard financial futures contracts
available for trading in such respects as interest rate levels, maturities and
creditworthiness of issuers. The degree of imperfection may be increased where
the underlying debt securities are lower- rated and, thus, subject to greater
fluctuation in price than higher-rated securities.
A decision as to whether, when and how to hedge involves the exercise of skill
and judgment, and even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some degree
because of unexpected market or interest rate trends. The Fund will bear the
risk that the price of the securities or currencies being hedged will not move
in complete correlation with the price of the futures contracts used as a
hedging instrument. Although the Adviser believes that the use of financial
futures contracts will benefit the Fund, an incorrect market prediction could
result in a loss on both the hedged securities or currencies in the Fund's
portfolio and the hedging vehicle so that the Fund's return might have been
better had hedging not been attempted. However, in the absence of the ability to
hedge, the Adviser might have taken portfolio actions in anticipation of the
same market movements with similar investment results but, presumably, at
greater transaction costs. The low margin deposits required for futures
transactions permit an extremely high degree of leverage. A relatively small
movement in a futures contract may result in losses or gains in excess of the
amount invested.
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Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain
futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes
the maximum amount the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down
from the previous day's settlement price, at the end of the current trading
session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to
the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit.
The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day
and, therefore, does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to
prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices
have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days
with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions
and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.
Finally, although the Fund engages in financial futures transactions only on
boards of trade or exchanges where there appears to be an adequate secondary
market, there is no assurance that a liquid market will exist for a particular
futures contract at any given time. The liquidity of the market depends on
participants closing out contracts rather than making or taking delivery. In the
event participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the market
could be reduced. In addition, the Fund could be prevented from executing a buy
or sell order at a specified price or closing out a position due to limits on
open positions or daily price fluctuation limits imposed by the exchanges or
boards of trade. If the Fund cannot close out a position, it must continue to
meet margin requirements until the position is closed.
Options on Financial Futures Contracts. The Fund may buy and sell options on
financial futures contracts on stocks, stock indices, debt securities,
currencies, interest rate indices, and other instruments. An option on a futures
contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to
assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any
time during the period of the option. Upon exercise, the writer of the option
delivers the futures contract to the holder at the exercise price. The Fund
would be required to deposit with its custodian initial and variation margin
with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by them.
Options on futures contracts involve risks similar to the risks of transactions
in financial futures contracts. Also, an option purchased by the Fund may expire
worthless, in which case the Fund would lose the premium it paid for the option.
Other Considerations. The Fund will engage in futures and options
transactions for bona fide hedging or speculative purposes to the extent
permitted by CFTC regulations. The Fund will determine that the price
fluctuations in the futures contracts and options on futures used for hedging
purposes are substantially related to price fluctuations in securities held by
the Fund or which it expects to purchase. Except as stated below, the Fund's
futures transactions will be entered into for traditional hedging purposes
- --i.e., futures contracts will be sold to protect against a decline in the price
of securities, or the currency in which they are denominated, that the Fund
owns, or futures contracts will be purchased to protect the Fund against an
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<PAGE>
increase in the price of securities, or the currency in which they are
denominated, that the Fund intends to purchase. As evidence of this hedging
intent, the Fund expects that on 75% or more of the occasions on which it takes
a long futures or option position (involving the purchase of futures contracts),
the Fund will have purchased, or will be in the process of purchasing equivalent
amounts of related securities or assets denominated in the related currency in
the cash market at the time when the futures contract or option position is
closed out. However, in particular cases, when it is economically advantageous
for the Fund to do so, a long futures position may be terminated or an option
may expire without the corresponding purchase of securities or other assets.
As an alternative to literal compliance with the bona fide hedging definition, a
CFTC regulation permits the Fund to elect to comply with a different test, under
which the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish nonhedging
positions in futures contracts and options on futures will not exceed 5% of the
net asset value of the Fund's portfolio, after taking into account unrealized
profits and losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which such
options were in-the-money at the time of purchase. The Fund will engage in
transactions in options and futures contracts only to the extent such
transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for maintaining its qualification as a
regulated investment company for Federal income tax purposes.
When the Fund purchases financial futures contracts, or writes put options or
purchases call options thereon, cash or liquid securities will be deposited in a
segregated account with the Fund's custodian in an amount that, together with
the amount of initial and variation margin held in the account of the broker,
equals the market value of the futures contracts.
Options Transactions. The Fund may write listed and over-the-counter covered
call options and covered put options on securities, securities indices and
currency in order to earn additional income from the premiums received. In
addition, the Fund may purchase listed and over-the-counter call and put
options. The extent to which covered options will be used by the Fund will
depend upon market conditions, the availability of alternative strategies and
the future movement of securities prices, interest rates and currency exchange
rates. The Fund may write covered listed and over-the-counter call and put
options on up to 100% of its net assets. In addition, the Fund may purchase
listed and over-the-counter call and put options on securities and currency with
an aggregate value not exceeding 5% of the Fund's total assets.
The Fund will write listed and over-the-counter call options only if they are
"covered," which means that the Fund owns or has the immediate right to acquire
the securities or currencies underlying the options without additional cash
consideration upon conversion or exchange of other securities held in its
portfolio. A call option written by the Fund may also be "covered" if the Fund
holds on a share-for-share basis a covering call on the same securities or
currencies where (i) the exercise price of the covering call held is equal to or
18
<PAGE>
less than the exercise price of the call written or the exercise price of the
covering call is greater than the exercise price of the call written, in the
latter case only if the difference is maintained by the Fund in cash or liquid
obligations in a segregated account with the Fund's custodian, and (ii) the
covering call expires at the same time as or later than the call written. The
Fund will cover call options on securities indices by maintaining an adequate
degree of correlation between the securities represented by the underlying index
and the securities in all or part of its portfolio If a covered call option is
not exercised, the Fund would keep both the option premium and the underlying
security or currency. If the covered call option written by the Fund is
exercised and the exercise price, less the transaction costs, exceeds the cost
of the underlying security or currency, the Fund would realize a gain in
addition to the amount of the option premium it received. If the exercise price,
less transaction costs, is less than the cost of the underlying security or
currency, the Fund's loss would be reduced by the amount of the option premium.
As the writer of a covered put option, the Fund will write a put option only
with respect to securities or currency it intends to acquire for its portfolio
and will maintain in a segregated account with its custodian bank cash or liquid
securities with a value equal to the price at which the underlying security or
currency may be sold to the Fund in the event the put option is exercised by the
purchaser. The Fund may also write a "covered" put option by purchasing on a
share-for-share or unit-for-unit basis a put on the same security or currency,
respectively, as the put written by the Fund if the exercise price of the
covering put held is equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put
written and the covering put expires at the same time as or later than the put
written.
When writing listed and over-the-counter covered put options on securities or
currency, the Fund would earn income from the premiums received. If a covered
put option is not exercised, the Fund would keep the option premium and the
assets maintained to cover the option. If the option is exercised and the
exercise price, including transaction costs, exceeds the market price of the
underlying security or currency, the Fund would realize a loss, but the amount
of the loss would be reduced by the amount of the option premium.
If the writer of an exchange-traded option wishes to terminate its obligation
prior to its exercise, it may effect a "closing purchase transaction." This is
accomplished by buying an option of the same series as the option previously
written. The effect of the purchase is that the Fund's position will be offset
by the Options Clearing Corporation. The Fund may not effect a closing purchase
transaction after it has been notified of the exercise of an option. There is no
guarantee that a closing purchase transaction can be effected. Although the Fund
will generally write only those options for which there appears to be an active
secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an
exchange or board of trade will exist for any particular option or at any
particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange may
exist.
In the case of a written call option, effecting a closing transaction will
19
<PAGE>
permit the Fund to write another call option on the underlying security or
currency with either a different exercise price, expiration date or both. In the
case of a written put option, it will permit the Fund to write another put
option to the extent that the exercise price thereof is secured by deposited
cash or short-term securities. Also, effecting a closing transaction will permit
the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any securities or currency
subject to the option to be used for other investments. If the Fund desires to
sell a particular security from its portfolio on which it has written a call
option, it will effect a closing transaction prior to or concurrent with the
sale of the security or currency.
The Fund will realize a gain from a closing transaction if the cost of the
closing transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option.
The Fund will realize a loss from a closing transaction if the cost of the
closing transaction is more than the premium received for writing the option.
However, because increases in the market price of a call option will generally
reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security or currency,
any loss resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset
in whole or in part by appreciation in the value of the underlying security or
currency owned by the Fund.
Over-the-Counter Options. The Fund may engage in options transactions on
exchanges and in the over-the-counter markets. In general, exchange-traded
options are third-party contracts (i.e., performance of the parties' obligations
is guaranteed by an exchange or clearing corporation) with standardized strike
prices and expiration dates. Over-the- counter ("OTC") transactions are
two-party contracts with price and terms negotiated by the buyer and seller. The
Fund will acquire only those OTC options for which management believes the Fund
can receive on each business day at least two separate bids or offers (one of
which will be from an entity other than a party to the option) or those OTC
options valued by an independent pricing service. The Fund will write and
purchase OTC options only with member banks of the Federal Reserve System and
primary dealers in U.S. Government securities or their affiliates which have
capital of at least $50 million or whose obligations are guaranteed by an entity
having capital of at least $50 million. The SEC has taken the position that OTC
options are subject to the Fund's 15% restriction on illiquid investments. The
SEC, however, allows the Fund to exclude from the 15% limitation on illiquid
securities a portion of the value of the OTC options written by the Fund,
provided that certain conditions are met. First, the other party to the OTC
options has to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer designated as such
by the Federal Reserve Bank. Second, the Fund must have an absolute contractual
right to repurchase the OTC options at a formula price. If the above conditions
are met, the Fund may treat as illiquid only that portion of the OTC option's
value (and the value of its underlying securities) which is equal to the formula
price for repurchasing the OTC option, less the OTC option's intrinsic value.
Time Deposits. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") considers time
deposits with periods of greater than seven days to be illiquid, subject to the
restriction that illiquid securities are limited to no more than 15% of the
Fund's net assets.
20
<PAGE>
Short Term Trading and Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may attempt to maximize
current income through short-term portfolio trading. This will involve selling
portfolio instruments and purchasing different instruments to take advantage of
yield disparities in different segments of the market for Government
Obligations. Short-term trading may have the effect of increasing portfolio
turnover rate. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or greater) involves
corresponding higher transaction expenses and may make it more difficult for the
Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax
purposes.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Fundamental Investment Restrictions. The following investment restrictions will
not be changed without approval of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities which, as used in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional
Information, means approval of the lesser of (1) the holders of 67% or more of
the shares represented at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the
Fund's outstanding shares are present in person or by proxy or (2) the holders
of more than 50% of the Fund's outstanding shares.
The Fund observes the fundamental restrictions listed in item (1) through (9)
below. The Fund may not:
(1) Issue senior securities, except as permitted by paragraphs (2), (6) and (7)
below. For purposes of this restriction, the issuance of shares of beneficial
interest in multiple classes or series, the purchase or sale of options, futures
contracts and options on futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, forward commitments and repurchase agreements entered into in
accordance with the Fund's investment policies, and the pledge, mortgage or
hypothecation of the Fund's assets within the meaning of paragraph (3) below,
are not deemed to be senior securities.
(2) Borrow money in amounts exceeding 33% of the Fund's total assets (including
the amount borrowed) taken at market value. Interest paid on borrowing will
reduce income available to shareholders.
(3) Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except to secure indebtedness
permitted by paragraph (2) above and then only if such pledging, mortgaging or
hypothecating does not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets taken at market
value.
(4) Act as an underwriter, except to the extent that in connection with the
disposition of portfolio securities, the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter
for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933.
(5) Purchase or sell real estate or any interest therein, except that the Fund
may invest in securities of corporate or governmental entities secured by real
estate or marketable interests therein or securities issued by companies that
invest in real estate or interests therein.
21
<PAGE>
(6) Make loans, except that the Fund (1) may lend portfolio securities in
accordance with the Fund's investment policies up to 33 1/3% of the Fund's total
assets taken at market value, (2) enter into repurchase agreements, and (3)
purchase all or a portion of an issue of publicly distributed debt securities,
bank loan participation interests, bank certificates of deposit, bankers'
acceptances, debentures or other securities, whether or not the purchase is made
upon the original issuance of the securities.
(7) Buy or sell commodity contracts, except futures contracts on securities,
securities indices and currency and options on such futures, forward foreign
currency exchange contracts, forward commitments, and repurchase agreements
entered into in accordance with the Fund's investment policies.
(8) Purchase the securities of issuers conducting their principal business
activity in the same industry if, immediately after such purchase, the value of
its investments in such industry would exceed 25% of its total assets taken at
market value at the time of each investment. This limitation does not apply to
investments in obligations of the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities.
(9) Purchase securities of an issuer (other than the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities), if
(i) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets taken at market value would be
invested in the securities of such issuer, except that up to 25% of the Fund's
total assets may be invested in securities issued or guaranteed by any foreign
government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or,
(ii) such purchase would at the time result in more than 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of such issuer being held by the Fund.
In connection with the lending of portfolio securities under item (6) above,
such loans must at all times be fully collateralized and the Fund's custodian
must take possession of the collateral either physically or in book entry form.
Securities used as collateral must be marked to market daily.
Nonfundamental Investment Restrictions. The following investment restrictions
are designated as nonfundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees
without shareholders' approval.
The Fund may not:
(a) Participate on a joint or joint-and-several basis in any securities trading
account. The "bunching" of orders for the sale or purchase of marketable
22
<PAGE>
portfolio securities with other accounts under the management of the Adviser to
save commissions or to average prices among them is not deemed to result in a
joint securities trading account.
(b) Purchase securities on margin (except that it may obtain such short-term
credits as may be necessary for the clearance of transactions in securities and
forward foreign currency exchange contracts and may make margin payments in
connection with transactions in futures contracts and options on futures) or
make short sales of securities unless by virtue of its ownership of other
securities, the Fund has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and
amount to the securities sold and, if the right is conditional, the sale is made
upon the same conditions.
(c) Purchase or hold securities of an issuer if, to the Fund's knowledge, one or
more of the Trustees or officers of the Trust or the directors or officers of
the Adviser individually owns beneficially more than 0.5% and together own
beneficially more than 5% of the securities of such issuer.
(d) Purchase a security if, as a result, (i) more than 10% of the Fund's total
assets would be invested in the securities of other investment companies, (ii)
the Fund would hold more than 3% of the total outstanding voting securities of
any one investment company, or (iii) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets
would be invested in the securities of any one investment company. These
limitations do not apply to (a) the investment of cash collateral, received by
the Fund in connection with lending the Fund's portfolio securities, in the
securities of open-end investment companies or (b) the purchase of shares of any
investment company in connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or
purchase of substantially all of the assets of another investment company.
Subject to the above percentage limitations, the Fund may, in connection with
the John Hancock Group of Funds Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent
Trustees/Directors, purchase securities of other investment companies within the
John Hancock Group of Funds. The Fund may not purchase the shares of any closed
end investment company except in the open market where no commission or profit
to a sponsor or dealer results from the purchase, other than customary brokerage
fees.
(e) Purchase securities of any issuer which, together with any predecessor, has
a record of less than three years' continuous operations prior to the purchase
if such purchase would cause investments of the Fund in all such issuers to
exceed 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund.
(f) Invest for the purpose of exercising control over or management of any
company.
(g) Purchase warrants of any issuer, if, as a result of such purchases, more
than 2% of the Fund's total assets valued at the lower of cost or market value
would be invested in warrants which are not listed on the New York Stock
Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or more than 5% of the total assets of
the Fund, valued as aforesaid, would be invested in warrants generally, whether
23
<PAGE>
or not so listed; provided that for these purposes, warrants are to be valued at
the lesser of cost or market, but warrants acquired by the Fund in units with or
attached to debt securities shall be deemed to be without value.
(h) Purchase any security, including any repurchase agreement maturing in more
than seven days, which is not readily marketable, if more than 15% of the net
assets of the Fund, taken at market value, would be invested in such securities.
(The Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission may consider
over-the-counter options to be illiquid securities subject to the 15% limit.)
(i) Purchase interests in oil, gas or other mineral leases or exploration
programs; however, this policy will not prohibit the acquisition of securities
of companies engaged in the production or transmission of oil, gas or other
minerals.
In addition, the Fund complies with the following nonfundamental limitation on
its investments:
Exercise any conversion, exchange or purchase rights associated with corporate
debt securities in the portfolio if, at the time, the value of all equity
interests would exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets taken at market value.
In order to permit the sale of shares of the Fund in certain states, the
Trustees may, in their sole discretion, adopt investment restrictions or
policies more restrictive than those described above. Should the Trustees
determine that any such more restrictive policy is no longer in the best
interest of the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund may cease offering shares in
the state involved and the Trustees may revoke such restrictive policy.
Moreover, if the states involved shall no longer require any such restrictive
policy, the Trustees may, at their sole discretion, revoke such policy.
The Fund will not invest in real estate limited partnership interests.
If a percentage restriction on investment or utilization of assets as set forth
above is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a later change in
percentage resulting from changes in the values or the total costs of the Fund's
assets will not be considered a violation of the restriction.
THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGEMENT
The business of the Fund is managed by its Trustees, who elect officers who are
responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Fund and who execute policies
formulated by the Trustees. Several of the officers and Trustees of the Fund are
also officers and directors of the Adviser, or officers and directors of the
Fund's principal distributor, John Hancock Funds, Inc. ("John Hancock Funds").
24
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth the principal occupations of the Trustees and
principal officers of the Fund during the past five years. Unless otherwise
indicated, the business address of each is 101 Huntington Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts 02199:
25
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During Past 5 Years
- ----------------- --------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
*Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. Chairman (1,2) Chairman and Chief Executive
October, 1944 Officer, the Adviser and The
Berkeley Financial Group ("The
Berkeley Group"); Chairman, NM
Capital Management, Inc. ("NM
Capital"); John Hancock Advisers
International Limited ("Advisers
International"); John Hancock
Funds; John Hancock Investor
Services Corporation ("Investor
Services") and Sovereign Asset
Management Corporation ("SAMCorp");
(hereinafter the Adviser, The
Berkeley Group, NM Capital,
Advisers International, John
Hancock Funds, Investor Services
and SAMCorp are collectively
referred to as the "Affiliated
Companies"); Chairman, First
Signature Bank & Trust; Director,
John Hancock Freedom Securities
Corp., John Hancock Capital Corp.
and New England/ Canada Business
Council; Member, Investment Company
Institute Board of Governors;
Director, Asia Strategic Growth
Fund, Inc.; Trustee, Museum of
Science; Vice Chairman and
President, the Adviser (until July
1992); Chairman, John Hancock
Distributors, Inc. (until April
1994).
- -----------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
26
<PAGE>
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During Past 5 Years
- ----------------- --------------- -------------------
Dennis S. Aronowitz Trustee (3) Professor of Law, Boston University
Boston University School of Law; Trustee, Brookline
Boston, Massachusetts Savings Bank.
June 1931
Richard P. Chapman, Jr. Trustee (1,3) President, Brookline Savings Bank;
160 Washington Street Director, Federal Home Loan Bank of
Brookline, Massachusetts Boston (lending); Director, Lumber
February 1935 Insurance Companies (fire and
casualty insurance); Trustee,
Northeastern University
(education); Director, Depositors
Insurance Fund, Inc. (insurance).
William J. Cosgrove Trustee (3) Vice President, Senior Banker and
20 Buttonwood Place Senior Credit Officer, Citibank,
Saddle River, New Jersey N.A. (retired September 1991);
January 1933 Executive Vice President, Citadel
Group Representatives, Inc.; EVP
Resource Evaluation, Inc.
(consulting) (until October 1993);
Trustee, the Hudson City Savings
Bank (since 1995).
- -----------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
27
<PAGE>
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During Past 5 Years
- ----------------- --------------- -------------------
Douglas M. Costle Trustee (1,3) Director, Chairman of the Board and
RR2 Box 480 Distinguished Senior Fellow,
Woodstock, Vermont 05091 Institute for Sustainable
July 1939 Communities, Montpelier, Vermont
(since 1991); Dean, Vermont Law
School (until 1991); Director, Air
and Water Technologies Corporation
(environmental services and
equipment), Niagara Mohawk Power
Company (electric services) and
Mitretek Systems (governmental
consulting services).
Leland O. Erdahl Trustee (3) Director of Santa Fe Ingredients
9449 Navy Blue Court Company of California, Inc. and
Las Vegas, NV 89117 Santa Fe Ingredients Company, Inc.
December 1928 (private food processing
companies); Director of Uranium
Resources, Inc.; President of
Stolar, Inc. (from 1987-1991) and
President of Albuquerque Uranium
Corporation (from 1985-1992);
Director of Freeport-McMoRan Copper
& Cold Company Inc., Hecla Mining
Company, Canyon Resources
Corporation and Original Sixteen to
One Mine, Inc. (from 1984-1987 and
from 1991 to 1995) (management
consultant).
- -----------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
28
<PAGE>
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During Past 5 Years
- ----------------- --------------- -------------------
Richard A. Farrell Trustee (3) President of Farrell, Healer & Co.,
Farrell, Healer & Company, Inc. (venture capital management firm)
160 Federal Street (since 1980); Prior to 1980, headed
23rd Floor the venture capital group at Bank
Boston, MA 02110 of Boston Corporation.
November 1932
Gail D. Fosler Trustee (3) Vice President and Chief Economist,
4104 Woodbine Street The Conference Board (non-profit
Chevy Chase, MD economic and business research).
December 1947
William F. Glavin Trustee (3) President, Babson College; Vice
Babson College Chairman, Xerox Corporation (until
Horn Library June 1989); Director, Caldor Inc.,
Babson Park, MA 02157 Reebok, Ltd. (since 1994), and Inco
March 1931 Ltd.
*Anne C. Hodsdon Trustee and President President and Chief Operating
April 1953 (1,2) Officer, the Adviser; Executive
Vice President, the Adviser (until
December 1994); Senior Vice
President, the Adviser (until
December 1993); Vice President, the
Adviser (until 1991).
- -----------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
29
<PAGE>
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During Past 5 Years
- ----------------- --------------- -------------------
Dr. John A. Moore Trustee (3) President and Chief Executive
Institute for Evaluating Officer, Institute for Evaluating
Health Risks Health Risks (nonprofit
1101 Vermont Avenue N.W. institution) ( since September
Suite 608 1989).
Washington, DC 20005
February 1939
Patti McGill Peterson Trustee (3) Institute for Public Affairs,
Institute for Public Affairs Cornell University (since August,
364 Upston Hall 1996; President, St. Lawrence
Cornel University University (until August, 1996;
Ithaca, NY 14853 Director, Niagara Mohawk Power
May 1943 Corporation (electric utility) and
Security Mutual Life (insurance).
John W. Pratt Trustee (3) Professor of Business
2 Gray Gardens East Administration at Harvard
Cambridge, MA 02138 University Graduate School of
September 1931 Business Administration (since
1961).
*Richard S. Scipione Trustee (1) General Counsel, the Life Company;
John Hancock Place Director, the Adviser, the
P.O. Box 111 Affiliated Companies, John Hancock
Boston, Massachusetts Distributors, Inc., JH Networking
August 1937 Insurance Agency, Inc., John
Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc. and John
Hancock Property and Casualty
Insurance and its affiliates (until
November, 1993).
- -----------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
30
<PAGE>
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During Past 5 Years
- ----------------- --------------- -------------------
Edward J. Spellman, CPA Trustee (3) Partner, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
259C Commercial Bld. (retired June 1990).
Fort Lauderdale, FL
November 1932
*Robert G. Freedman Vice Chairman and Chief Vice Chairman and Chief Investment
July 1938 Investment Officer (2) Officer, the Adviser; President,
the Adviser (until December 1994);
Director, the Adviser, Advisers
International, John Hancock Funds,
Investor Services, SAMCorp and NM
Capital; Senior Vice President, The
Berkeley Group.
*James B. Little Senior Vice President and Senior Vice President, the Adviser,
February 1935 Chief Financial Officer The Berkeley Group, John Hancock
Funds and Investor Services; Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, each of the John Hancock
funds.
*John A. Morin Vice President Vice President, the Adviser; Vice
July 1950 President, Investor Services, John
Hancock Funds and each of the John
Hancock funds; Compliance Officer,
certain John Hancock funds;
Counsel, the Life Company; Vice
President and Assistant Secretary,
The Berkeley Group.
- -----------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
31
<PAGE>
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Date of Birth With Registrant During Past 5 Years
- ----------------- --------------- -------------------
*Susan S. Newton Vice President and Vice President and Assistant
March 1950 Secretary Secretary, the Adviser; Vice
President and Secretary, certain
John Hancock funds; Vice President
and Secretary, John Hancock Funds,
Investor Services and John Hancock
Distributors, Inc. (until 1994);
Secretary, SAMCorp; Vice President,
The Berkeley Group.
*James J. Stokowski Vice President and Vice President, the Adviser; Vice
November 1946 Treasurer President and Treasurer, each of
the John Hancock funds.
</TABLE>
As of August 5, 1996, the officers and Trustees of the Fund as a group owned
less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. To the knowledge of the
registrant, as of August 5, 1996, no persons owned of record or beneficially 5%
or more of the Fund's outstanding Class A shares and the following person is the
only person owning of record or beneficially 5% or more of the Fund's
outstanding Class B shares: Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc.,
Attention: Mutual Fund Operations, 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville,
Florida (1,637,217.009 shares; 5.27%).
All of the officers listed are officers or employees of the Adviser or
Affiliated Companies. Some of the Trustees and officers may also be officers
and/or directors and/or Trustees of one or more of the other funds for which the
Adviser serves as investment adviser.
The following table provides information regarding the compensation paid by the
Fund and the other investment companies in the John Hancock Fund Complex to the
Independent Trustees for their services. The Trustees not listed below were not
Trustees of the Fund as of the end of the Fund's last completed fiscal year. The
three non-Independent Trustees, Messrs. Boudreau and Scipione and Ms. Hodsdon,
and each of the officers of the Fund are interested persons of the Adviser, are
compensated by the Adviser and receive no compensation from the Fund for their
services.
- -----------
* An "interested person" of the Trust, as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(1) A Member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may generally
exercise most of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
(2) A Member of the Investment Committee of the Adviser.
(3) A Member of the Audit Committee and the Administration Committee.
32
<PAGE>
Total Compensation
Aggregate From the Fund and
Compensation John Hancock Fund
Independent Trustees From the Fund 1 Complex to Trustees 2
- -------------------- --------------- ---------------------
Dennis S. Aronowitz $ 7,214 $ 61,050
Richard P. Chapman+ 7,368 62,800
William J. Cosgrove+ 7,214 61,050
Gail D. Fosler 6,813 60,800
Bayard Henry* 6,866 58,850
Edward J. Spellman 7,214 61,050
------- --------
$42,689 $365,600
1 Compensation is for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996.
2 The total compensation paid by the John Hancock Fund Complex to the
Independent Trustees is as of the calendar year ended December 31, 1995. As
of this date there were sixty-one funds in the John Hancock Fund Complex,
of which each of these Independent Trustees served sixteen.
* Mr. Henry retired from his position as a Trustee of the Fund effective
April 26, 1996.
+ As of December 31, 1995 the value of the aggregate accrued deferred
compensation amount from all funds in the John Hancock Fund Complex for Mr.
Chapman was $54,681 and for Mr. Cosgrove was $54,243 under the John Hancock
Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Trustees.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
The Fund receives investment advice from the Adviser. Investors should refer
below for a description of certain information concerning the investment
management contract.
Each of the Trustees and principal officers affiliated with the Fund who is also
an affiliated person of the Adviser is named above, together with the capacity
in which such person is affiliated with the Fund and the Adviser.
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into an investment management
contract with the Adviser. Under the investment management contract, the Adviser
provides the Fund with (i) a continuous investment program, consistent with the
Fund's stated investment objective and policies and (ii) supervision of all
aspects of the Fund's operations except those that are delegated to a custodian,
transfer agent or other agent. The Adviser is responsible for the management of
the Fund's portfolio assets.
33
<PAGE>
Securities held by the Fund may also be held by other funds or investment
advisory clients for which the Adviser or its affiliates provide investment
advice. Because of different investment objectives or other factors, a
particular security may be bought for one or more funds or clients when one of
more are selling the same security. If opportunities for purchase or sale of
securities by the Adviser for the Fund or for other funds or clients for which
the Adviser renders investment advice arise for consideration at or about the
same time, transactions in such securities will be made insofar as feasible for
the respective funds or clients in a manner deemed equitable to all of them. To
the extent that transactions on behalf of more than one client of the Adviser or
its affiliates may increase the demand for securities being purchased or the
supply of securities being sold, there may be an adverse effect on price.
No person other than the Adviser and its directors and employees regularly
furnishes advice to the Fund with respect to the desirability of the Fund's
investing in, purchasing or selling securities. The Adviser may from time to
time receive statistical or other similar factual information, and information
regarding general economic factors and trends, from the Life Company and its
affiliates.
All expenses which are not specifically paid by the Adviser and which are
incurred in the operation of the Fund (including fees of Trustees of the Trust
who are not "interested persons," as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), but excluding
certain distribution related activities required to be paid by the Adviser or
John Hancock Funds) and the continuous public offering of the shares of the Fund
are borne by the Fund. Class expenses properly allocable to either Class A
shares or Class B shares will be borne exclusively by such class of shares
subject to conditions the Internal Revenue Service imposes with respect to
multiple-class structures.
As provided by the investment management contract, the Fund pays the Adviser
monthly an investment management fee, which is accrued daily, based on a stated
percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets as follows:
Net Asset Value Annual Rate
--------------- -----------
First $100,000,000 0.60%
Next $150,000,000 0.45%
Next $250,000,000 0.40%
Next $150,000,000 0.35%
Amount over $650,000,000 0.30%
From time to time, the Adviser may reduce its fee or make other arrangements to
limit the Fund's expenses to a specified percentage of average daily net assets.
The Adviser retains the right to re-impose a fee and recover any other payments
34
<PAGE>
to the extent that, at the end of any fiscal year, the Fund's annual expenses
fall below this limit.
If the total of all ordinary business expenses of the Fund for any fiscal year
exceeds limitations prescribed in any state in which shares of the Fund are
qualified for sale, the fee payable to the Adviser will be reduced and the
Adviser will make any additional arrangements necessary to eliminate remaining
excess expenses to the extent required by law. At this time, the most
restrictive limit on expenses imposed by a state applicable to the Fund requires
that expenses charged to the Fund in any fiscal year not exceed 2.5 % of the
first $30,000,000 of the Fund's average net asset value, 2% of the next
$70,000,000 of such net asset value and 1.5% of the remaining average net asset
value. When calculating the limit above, the Fund may exclude interest,
brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses.
On May 31, 1996, the net assets of the Fund were $575,877,989. For the years
ended May 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 the Adviser received a fee of $1,657,249,
$2,007,777 and $2,313,339, respectively.
Pursuant to its investment management contract, the Adviser is not liable to the
Fund or its shareholders for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any
loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which the investment
management contract relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance,
bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of
its duties or from reckless disregard by the Adviser of its obligations and
duties under the investment management contract.
The Adviser, located at 101 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7603,
was organized in 1968 and presently has more than $18 billion in assets under
management in its capacity as investment adviser to the Fund and the other
mutual funds and publicly traded investment companies in the John Hancock group
of funds having a combined total of approximately 1,080,000 shareholders. The
Adviser is an affiliate of the Life Company, one of the most recognized and
respected financial institutions in the nation. With total assets under
management of $80 billion, the Life Company is one of the ten largest life
insurance companies in the United States, and carries high ratings from Standard
& Poor's and A.M. Best. Founded in 1862, the Life Company has been serving
clients for over 130 years.
Under the investment management contract, the Fund may use the name "John
Hancock" or any name derived from or similar to it only for so long as the
contract or any extension, renewal or amendment thereof remains in effect. If
the contract is no longer in effect, the Fund (to the extent that it lawfully
can) will cease to use such a name or any other name indicating that it is
advised by or otherwise connected with the Adviser. In addition, the Adviser or
the Life Company may grant the non-exclusive right to use the name "John
Hancock" or any similar name to any other corporation or entity, including but
not limited to any investment company of which the Life Company or any
subsidiary or affiliate thereof or any successor to the business of any
subsidiary or affiliate thereof shall be the investment adviser.
35
<PAGE>
The investment management contract continues in effect from year to year if
approved annually by vote of a majority of the Fund's Trustees who are not
interested persons of one of the parties to the contract, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and by either the
Fund's Trustees or the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities. The contract automatically terminates upon assignment and may be
terminated without penalty on 60 days' notice at the option of either party to
the contract or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund.
In addition, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, is a party to an Accounting and
Legal Services Agreement with the Adviser. Pursuant to this agreement, the
Adviser provides the Fund with certain tax, accounting and legal services. For
the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996, the Fund paid the Adviser $33,524 for
services under this agreement.
DISTRIBUTION CONTRACT
The Fund has entered into a distribution contract with John Hancock Funds. Under
the contract, John Hancock Funds is obligated to use its best efforts to sell
shares of each class on behalf of the Fund. Shares of the Fund are also sold by
selected broker-dealers (the "Selling Brokers") which have entered into selling
agency agreements with John Hancock Funds. John Hancock Funds accepts orders for
the purchase of the shares of the Fund which are continually offered at net
asset value next determined, plus any applicable sales charge. In connection
with the sale of Class A and Class B shares, John Hancock Funds and Selling
Brokers receive compensation in the form of a sales charge imposed, in the case
of Class A shares at the time of sale, or, in the case of Class B shares, on a
deferred basis. The sales charges are discussed further in the Prospectus.
The Funds' Trustees adopted Distribution Plans with respect to Class A and Class
B shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under the
Class A and Class B Plans, the Fund will pay distribution and service fees at an
aggregate annual rate of up to 0.30% and 1.00% for Class A and Class B,
respectively, of the Fund's average daily net assets allocated to the particular
class. In each case, up to 0.25% is for service expenses and the remaining
amount is for distribution expenses. The distribution fees will be used to
reimburse John Hancock Funds for its distribution expenses, including but not
limited to: (i) initial and ongoing sales compensation to Selling Brokers and
others (including affiliates of John Hancock Funds) engaged in the sale of Fund
shares; (ii) marketing, promotional and overhead expenses incurred in connection
with the distribution of Fund shares; and (iii) with respect to Class B shares
only, interest expenses on reimbursed distribution expenses. The service fees
will be used to compensate Selling Brokers for providing personal and account
maintenance services to shareholders. In the event that John Hancock Funds is
not fully reimbursed for its payments or expenses under the Class A Plan, the
expenses will not be carried beyond one year from the date they were incurred.
These unreimbursed expenses under the Class B Plan will be carried forward
together with interest. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996 an aggregate of
$5,169,665 of distribution expenses, or 3.1795% of the average net assets of the
Class B shares of the Fund, was not reimbursed or recovered by John Hancock
Funds through the receipt of deferred sales charges or 12b-1 fees in prior
36
<PAGE>
periods. The Trustees may terminate the Class B Plan and thus the Fund's
obligation to make further payments at any time. Accordingly, the Fund does not
treat unreimbursed expenses relating to the Class B shares as a liability of the
Fund.
The Plans were approved by a majority of the voting securities of the applicable
class of shareholders. The Plans and all amendments have also been approved by a
majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not
interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Plans (the "Independent Trustees"), by votes
cast in person at meetings called for the purpose of voting on each such Plan.
Pursuant to the Plans, at least quarterly, John Hancock Funds provides the Fund
with a written report of the amounts expended under the Plans and the purpose
for which these expenditures were made. The Trustees review these reports on a
quarterly basis.
During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996 the Fund paid John Hancock Funds the
following amounts of expenses with respect to the Class A shares and Class B
shares of the Fund:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Expense Items
-------------
Printing and Interest
Mailing of Expense Carrying
Prospectus Compensation of John or Other
to New to Selling Hancock Finance
Advertising Shareholders Brokers Funds Charges
----------- ------------ ------- ----- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A Shares $148,260 $ 8,489 $496,577 $391,750 $ 0
Class B Shares $181,969 $14,435 $601,675 $500,561 $327,315
</TABLE>
Each of the Plans provides that it will continue in effect only so long as its
continuance is approved at least annually by a majority of both the Trustees and
the Independent Trustees. Each of the Plans provides that it may be terminated
without penalty (a) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, (b) by a
vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares of the applicable class upon
60 days' written notice to John Hancock Funds and (c) automatically in the event
of assignment. Each of the Plans further provides that it may not be amended to
increase the maximum amount of the fees for the services described therein
without the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of the class of the
Fund which has voting rights with respect to the Plan. Each of the Plans
provides that no material amendment to the Plan will, in any event, be effective
unless it is approved by a majority vote of the Trustees and the Independent
Trustees of the Trust. The holders of Class A shares and Class B shares have
exclusive voting rights with respect to the Plan applicable to their respective
class of shares. In adopting the Plans, the Trustees concluded that, in their
judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood that each Plan will benefit the
holders of the applicable class of shares of the Fund.
37
<PAGE>
When the Trust seeks an Independent Trustee to fill a vacancy or as a nominee
for election by shareholders, the selection or nomination of the Independent
Trustee is, under resolutions adopted by the Trustees contemporaneously with
their adoption of the Plans, committed to the discretion of the Committee on
Administration of the Trustees. The members of the Committee on Administration
are all Independent Trustees and are identified in this Statement of Additional
Information under the heading "Those Responsible for Management."
NET ASSET VALUE
For purposes of calculating the net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund's shares,
the following procedures are utilized wherever applicable.
Debt investment securities are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a
principal market maker or a pricing service, both of which generally utilize
electronic data processing techniques to determine valuations for normal
institutional size trading units of debt securities without exclusive reliance
upon quoted prices.
Equity securities traded on a principal exchange or NASDAQ National Market
Issues are generally valued at last sale price on the day of valuation.
Securities in the aforementioned category for which no sales are reported and
other securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last
available bid price.
Short-term debt investments which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less
are generally valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. If
market quotations are not readily available or if in the opinion of the Adviser
any quotation or price is not representative of true market value, the fair
value of the security may be determined in good faith in accordance with
procedures approved by the Trustees.
Any assets or liabilities expressed in terms of foreign currencies are
translated into U.S. dollars by the custodian bank based on London currency
exchange quotations as of 5:00 p.m., London time (12:00 noon, New York time) on
the date of any determination of the Fund's NAV.
The Fund will not price its securities on the following national holidays: New
Year's Day; Presidents' Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor
Day Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
On any day an international market is closed and the New York Stock Exchange is
open, any foreign securities will be valued at the prior day's close with the
current day's exchange rate. Trading of foreign securities may take place on
Saturdays and U.S. business holidays on which the Fund's NAV is not calculated.
Consequently, the Fund's portfolio securities may trade and the NAV of the
Fund's redeemable securities may be significantly affected on days when a
shareholder has no access to the Fund.
38
<PAGE>
INITIAL SALES CHARGE ON CLASS A SHARES
The sales charges applicable to purchases of Class A shares of the Fund are
described in the Prospectus. Methods of obtaining the reduced sales charges
referred to generally in the Prospectus are described in detail below. In
calculating the sales charge applicable to current purchases of Class A shares
of the Fund, the investor is entitled to cumulate current purchases with the
greater of the current value (at offering price) of the Class A shares of the
Fund owned by the investor, or, if John Hancock Investor Services Corporation
("Investor Services") is notified by the investor's dealer or the investor at
the time of the purchase, the cost of the Class A shares owned.
Combined Purchases. In calculating the sales charge applicable to purchases of
Class A shares made at one time, the purchases will be combined if made by (a)
an individual, his spouse and their children under the age of 21, purchasing
securities for his or their own account, (b) a trustee or other fiduciary
purchasing for a single trust, estate or single fiduciary account and (c)
certain groups of four or more individuals making use of salary deductions or
similar group methods of payment whose funds are combined for the purchase of
mutual fund shares. Further information about combined purchases, including
certain restrictions on combined group purchases, is available from Investor
Services or a Selling Broker's representative.
Without Sales Charges. Class A shares may be offered without a front-end sales
charge or CDSC to various individuals and institutions as follows:
o Any state, county or any instrumentality, department, authority, or agency
of these entities that is prohibited by applicable investment laws from
paying a sales charge or commission when it purchases shares of any
registered investment management company.
o A bank, trust company, credit union, savings institution or other
depository institution, its trust departments or common trust funds if it
is purchasing $1 million or more for non-discretionary customers or
accounts.
o A Trustee/Director or officer of the Fund; a Director or officer of the
Adviser and its affiliates or Selling Brokers; employees or sales
representatives of any of the foregoing; retired officers, employees or
Directors of any of the foregoing; a member of the immediate family
(spouse, children, mother, father, sister, brother, mother-in- law,
father-in-law) of any of the foregoing; or any fund, pension, profit
sharing or other benefit plan for the individuals described above.
o A broker, dealer, financial planner, consultant or registered investment
advisor that has entered into an agreement with John Hancock Funds
providing specifically for the use of Fund shares in fee-based investment
products or services made available to their clients.
o A former participant in an employee benefit plan with John Hancock funds,
when he or she withdraws from his or her plan and transfers any or all of
his or her plan distributions directly to the Fund.
o A member of an approved affinity group financial services plan.
o A member of a class action lawsuit against insurance companies who is
investing settlement proceeds.
39
<PAGE>
o Existing full service clients of the Life Company who were group annuity
contract holders as of September 1, 1994, and participant directed defined
contribution plans with at least 100 eligible employees at the inception of
the Fund account, may purchase Class A shares with no initial sales charge.
However, if the shares are redeemed within 12 months after the end of the
calendar year in which the purchase was made, a CDSC will be imposed at the
following rate:
Amount Invested CDSC Rate
--------------- ---------
$1 million to $4,999,999 1.00%
Next $5 million to $9,999,999 0.50%
Amounts of $10 million and over 0.25%
Accumulation Privilege. Investors (including investors combining purchases) who
are already Class A shareholders may also obtain the benefit of the reduced
sales charge by taking into account not only the amount then being invested but
also the purchase price or current value of the Class A shares already held by
such persons.
Combination Privilege. Reduced sales charges (according to the schedule set
forth in the Prospectus) also are available to an investor based on the
aggregate amount of his concurrent and prior investments in Class A shares of
the Fund and of all other John Hancock funds which carry a sales charge.
Letter of Intention. The reduced sales charges are also applicable to
investments in shares made over a specified period pursuant to a Letter of
Intention (the "LOI"), which should be read carefully prior to its execution by
an investor. The Fund offers two options regarding the specified period for
making investments under the LOI. All investors have the option of making their
investments over a specified period of thirteen (13) months. Investors who are
using the Fund as a funding medium for a qualified retirement plan, however, may
opt to make the necessary investments called for by the LOI over a forty-eight
(48) month period. These qualified retirement plans include IRA, SEP, SARSEP,
401(k), 403(b) (including TSAs) and 457 plans. Such an investment (including
accumulations and combinations) must aggregate $100,000 or more invested during
the specified period from the date of the LOI or from a date within ninety (90)
days prior thereto, upon written request to Investor Services. The sales charge
applicable to all amounts invested under the LOI is computed as if the aggregate
amount intended to be invested had been invested immediately. If such aggregate
amount is not actually invested, the difference in the sales charge actually
paid and the sales charge payable had the LOI not been in effect is due from the
investor. However, for the purchases actually made within the specified period
the sales charge applicable will not be higher than that which would have
applied (including accumulations and combinations) had the LOI been for the
amount actually invested.
The LOI authorizes Investor Services to hold in escrow sufficient Class A shares
(approximately 5% of the aggregate) to make up any difference in sales charges
on the amount intended to be invested and the amount actually invested, until
40
<PAGE>
such investment is completed within the specified period, at which time the
escrow Class A shares will be released. If the total investment specified in the
LOI is not completed, the shares held in escrow may be redeemed and the proceeds
used as required to pay such sales charge as may be due. By signing the LOI, the
investor authorizes Investor Services to act as his attorney-in-fact to redeem
any escrowed Class A shares and adjust the sales charge, if necessary. An LOI
does not constitute a binding commitment by an investor to purchase, or by the
Fund to sell, any additional Class A shares and may be terminated at any time.
Class A shares may also be purchased without an initial sales charge in
connection with certain liquidation, merger or acquisition transactions
involving other investment companies or personal holding companies.
DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON CLASS B SHARES
Investments in Class B shares are purchased at net asset value per share without
the imposition of an initial sales charge so that the Fund will receive the full
amount of the purchase payment.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Class B shares which are redeemed within six
years of purchase will be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC")
at the rates set forth in the Prospectus as a percentage of the dollar amount
subject to the CDSC. The charge will be assessed on an amount equal to the
lesser of the current market value or the original purchase cost of the Class B
shares being redeemed. Accordingly, no CDSC will be imposed on increases in
account value above the initial purchase prices, including Class B shares
derived from reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.
Class B shares are not available to full-service defined contribution plans
administered by Investor Services or the Life Company that had more than 100
eligible employees at the inception of the Fund account.
The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years from
the time of payment for the purchase of Class B shares until the time of
redemption of such shares. Solely for the purpose of determining the number of
years from the time of any payment for the purchase of shares, all payments
during a month will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the first day
of the month.
In determining whether a CDSC applies to a redemption, the calculation will be
determined in a manner that results in the lowest possible rate being charged.
It will be assumed that your redemption comes first from shares you have held
beyond the six-year CDSC redemption period or those you acquired through
dividend and capital gain reinvestment, and next from the shares you have held
the longest during the six-year period. For this purpose, the amount of any
increase in a share's value above its initial purchase price is not regarded as
a share exempt from CDSC. Thus, when a share that has appreciated in value is
redeemed during the CDSC period, a CDSC is assessed only on its initial purchase
41
<PAGE>
price. Upon redemption, appreciation is effective only on a per share basis for
those shares being redeemed. Appreciation of shares cannot be redeemed CDSC free
at the account level.
When requesting a redemption for a specific dollar amount please indicate if you
require the proceeds to equal the dollar amount requested. If not indicated,
only the specified dollar amount will be redeemed from your account and the
proceeds will be less any applicable CDSC.
Example:
You have purchased 100 shares at $10 per share. The second year after your
purchase, your investment's net asset value per share has increased by $2 to
$12, and you have gained 10 additional shares through dividend reinvestment. If
you redeem 50 shares at this time your CDSC will be calculated as follows:
* Proceeds of 50 shares redeemed at $12 per share $600
* Minus proceeds of 10 shares not subject
to CDSC (dividend reinvestment) -120
* Minus appreciation on remaining shares (40 shares X $2) -80
----
* Amount subject to CDSC $400
Proceeds from the CDSC are paid to John Hancock Funds and are used in whole or
in part by John Hancock Funds to defray its expenses related to providing
distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sale of the
Class B shares, such as the payment of compensation to selected Selling Brokers
for selling Class B shares. The combination of the CDSC and the distribution and
service fees facilitates the ability of the Fund to sell the Class B shares
without a sales charge being deducted at the time of the purchase.
See the Prospectus for additional information regarding the CDSC.
Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. The CDSC will be waived on
redemptions of Class B shares and of Class A shares that are subject to CDSC,
unless indicated otherwise, in the circumstances defined below:
For all account types:
* Redemptions made pursuant to the Fund's right to liquidate your account if
you own shares worth less than $1,000.
* Redemptions made under certain liquidation, merger or acquisition
transactions involving other investment companies or personal holding
companies.
* Redemptions due to death or disability.
* Redemptions made under the Reinstatement Privilege, as described in "Sales
Charge Reductions and Waivers" of the Prospectus.
* Redemptions of Class B shares made under a periodic withdrawal plan, as
long as your annual redemptions do not exceed 12% of your account value,
including reinvested dividends, at the time you established your periodic
withdrawal plan and 12% of the value of subsequent investments (less
redemptions) in that account at the time you notify Investor Services.
(Please note, this waiver does not apply to periodic withdrawal plan
redemptions of Class A shares that are subject to a CDSC.)
For Retirement Accounts (such as IRA, Rollover IRA, TSA, 457, 403(b), 401(k),
Money Purchase Pension Plan, Profit-Sharing Plan and other qualified plans as
described in the Internal Revenue Code) unless otherwise noted.
* Redemptions made to effect mandatory or life expectancy distributions under
the Internal Revenue Code.
* Returns of excess contributions made to these plans.
* Redemptions made to effect distributions to participants or beneficiaries
from employer sponsored retirement plans under section 401(a) of the Code
(such as 401k, Money Purchase Pension Plan, Profit-Sharing Plan).
* Redemptions from certain IRA and retirement plans that purchased shares
prior to October 1, 1992.
Please see matrix for reference.
43
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
401(a) Plan
Type of (401(k), MPP, IRA, IRA
Distribution PSP) 403(b) 457 Rollover Non-retirement
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Death or Waived Waived Waived Waived Waived
Disability
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over 70 1/2 Waived Waived Waived Waived for 12% of account
mandatory value annually
distributions or in periodic
12% of account payments
value annually
in periodic
payments
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between 59 1/2 Waived Waived Waived Waived for Life 12% of account
and 70 1/2 Expectancy or 12% value annually
of account value in periodic
annually in payments
periodic payments
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 59 1/2 Waived Waived for annuity Waived for annuity Waived for annuity 12% of account
payments (72t)or payments (72t)or payments (72t)or value annually
12% of account 12% of account 12% of account in periodic
value annually in value annually in value annually in payments
periodic payments periodic payments periodic payments
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loans Waived Waived N/A N/A N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Termination of Not Waived Not Waived Not Waived Not Waived N/A
Plan
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardships Waived Waived Waived N/A N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return of
Excess Waived Waived Waived Waived N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
If you qualify for a CDSC waiver under one of these situations, you must notify
Investor Services either directly or through your Selling Broker at the time you
make your redemption. The waiver will be granted once Investor Services has
confirmed that you are entitled to the waiver.
SPECIAL REDEMPTIONS
Although it would not normally do so, the Fund has the right to pay the
redemption price of shares of the Fund in whole or in part in readily marketable
portfolio securities as prescribed by the Trustees. When the shareholder sells
portfolio securities received in this fashion he would incur a brokerage charge.
Any such securities would be valued for the purposes of making such payment at
the same value as used in determining net asset value. The Fund has, however,
elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under
that rule, the Fund must redeem its shares for cash except to the extent that
the redemption payments to any shareholder during any 90-day period would exceed
the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's net asset value at the beginning of
such period.
44
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
Exchange Privilege. As described more fully in the Prospectus, the Fund permits
exchanges of shares of any class of the Fund for shares of the same class in any
other John Hancock fund offering that class.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. As described briefly in the Prospectus, the Fund
permits the establishment of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan. Payments under this
plan represent proceeds arising from the redemption of Fund shares. Since the
redemption price of the Fund shares may be more or less than the shareholder's
cost, depending upon the market value of the securities owned by the Fund at the
time of redemption, the distribution of cash pursuant to this plan may result in
realization of gain or loss for purposes of Federal, state and local income
taxes. The maintenance of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan concurrently with
purchases of additional Class A or Class B shares of the Fund could be
disadvantageous to a shareholder because of the initial sales charge payable on
purchases of Class A shares and the CDSC imposed on redemptions of Class B
shares and because redemptions are taxable events. Therefore, a shareholder
should not purchase Class A or Class B shares of the Fund at the same time that
a Systematic Withdrawal Plan is in effect. The Fund reserves the right to modify
or discontinue the Systematic Withdrawal Plan of any shareholder on 30 days'
prior written notice to such shareholder, or to discontinue the availability of
such plan in the future. The shareholder may terminate the plan at any time by
giving proper notice to Investor Services.
Monthly Automatic Accumulation Program (MAAP). This program is explained more
fully in the Prospectus. The program, as it relates to automatic investment
checks, is subject to the following conditions:
The investments will be drawn on or about the day of the month indicated.
The privilege of making investments through the Monthly Automatic Accumulation
Program may be revoked by Investor Services without prior notice if any check is
not honored by your bank. The bank shall be under no obligation to notify the
shareholder as to the non-payment of any check.
The program may be discontinued by the shareholder either by calling Investor
Services or upon written notice to Investor Services which is received at least
five (5) business days prior to the due date of any investment.
Reinvestment Privilege. A shareholder who has redeemed shares of the Fund may,
within 120 days after the date of redemption, reinvest without payment of a
sales charge any part of the redemption proceeds in shares of the same class of
the Fund or in shares of any of the other John Hancock mutual funds, subject to
the minimum investment limit of that fund. The proceeds from the redemption of
Class A shares may be reinvested at net asset value without paying a sales
charge in Class A shares of the Fund or in Class A shares of any of the other
John Hancock mutual funds. If a CDSC was paid upon a redemption, a shareholder
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may reinvest the proceeds from such redemption at net asset value in additional
shares of the class from which the redemption was made. Such shareholder's
account will be credited with the amount of any CDSC charged upon the prior
redemption and such new shares will continue to be subject to the CDSC. The
holding period of the shares acquired through reinvestment will, for purposes of
computing the CDSC payable upon a subsequent redemption, include the holding
period of the redeemed shares. The Fund may modify or terminate the reinvestment
privilege at any time.
A redemption or exchange of shares of the Fund is a taxable transaction for
Federal income tax purposes, even if the reinvestment privilege is exercised,
and any gain or loss realized by a shareholder on the redemption or other
disposition of Fund shares will be treated for tax purposes as described under
the caption "Tax Status."
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND'S SHARES
The Trustees of the Trust are responsible for the management and supervision of
the Fund. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited
number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of the Fund without
par value. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the authority to
create and classify shares of beneficial interest in separate series, without
further action by shareholders. As of the date of this Statement of Additional
Information, the Trustees have authorized shares of the Fund and one other
series. The Declaration of Trust also authorizes the Trustees to classify and
reclassify the shares of the Fund, or any new series of the Fund, into one or
more classes. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the
Trustees have authorized the issuance of two classes of shares of the Fund,
designated as Class A and Class B.
Class A and Class B shares of the Fund represent an equal proportionate interest
in the aggregate net assets attributed to that class of the Fund. The holders of
Class A shares and Class B shares each have certain exclusive voting rights on
matters relating to their respective Rule 12b-1 distribution plans. The
different classes of the Fund may bear different expenses relating to the cost
of holding shareholder meetings necessitated by the exclusive voting rights of
any class of shares.
Dividends paid by the Fund, if any, with respect to each class of shares will be
calculated in the same manner, at the same time and on the same day and will be
in the same amount, except for differences resulting from the facts that (i)
Class B shares will pay higher distribution and service fees than Class A shares
and (ii) each of Class A shares and Class B shares will bear any other class
expenses properly allocable to such class of shares, subject to the conditions
the Internal Revenue Service imposes with respect to multiple-class structures.
Similarly, the net asset value per share may vary depending on the class of
shares purchased. In the event of liquidation, shareholders are entitled to
share pro rata in proportion to the net asset value of the shares in the net
assets of the Fund available for distribution to such shareholders. Shares
entitle their holders to one vote per share, are freely transferable and have no
preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. When issued, shares are fully
paid and non-assessable, except as set forth below.
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Unless otherwise required by the Investment Company Act or the Declaration of
Trust, the Trust has no intention of holding annual meetings of shareholders.
Trust shareholders may remove a Trustee by the affirmative vote of at least
two-thirds of the Trust's outstanding shares, and the Trustees shall promptly
call a meeting for such purpose when requested to do so in writing by the record
holders of not less than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.
Shareholders may, under certain circumstances, communicate with other
shareholders in connection with requesting a special meeting of shareholders.
However, at any time that less than a majority of the Trustees holding office
were elected by the shareholders, the Trustees will call a special meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Prospectus is a combined prospectus for the
Fund and other John Hancock mutual funds, the Fund shall not be liable for the
liabilities of any other John Hancock mutual fund.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could,
under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for acts or obligations
of the trust. However, the Fund's Declaration of Trust contains an express
disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts, obligations or affairs of the
Fund. The Declaration of Trust also provides for indemnification out of the
Fund's assets for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally
liable by reason of being or having been a shareholder. The Declaration of Trust
also provides that no series of the Trust shall be liable for the liabilities of
any other series. Liability is therefore limited to circumstances in which the
Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations, and the possibility of this
occurrence is remote.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Prospectus is a combined prospectus for the
Fund and other John Hancock mutual funds, the Fund shall not be liable for the
liabilities of any other John Hancock mutual fund.
Pursuant to an order granted by the SEC, the Fund has adopted a deferred
compensation plan for its independent Trustees, which allows Trustees' fees to
be invested by the Fund in other John Hancock funds.
In order to avoid conflicts with portfolio trades for the Fund, the Adviser and
the Fund have adopted extensive restrictions on personal securities trading by
personnel of the Adviser and its affiliates. Some of these restrictions are:
pre-clearance for all personal trades and a ban on the purchase of initial
public offerings, as well as contributions to specified charities of profits on
securities held for less than 91 days. These restrictions are a continuation of
the basic principle that the interests of the Fund and its shareholders come
first.
TAX STATUS
Each series of the Trust, including the Fund, is treated as a separate entity
for accounting and tax purposes. The Fund has qualified and elected to be
treated as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code and
intends to continue to so qualify in the future. As such and by complying with
the applicable provisions of the Code regarding the sources of its income, the
timing of its distributions, and the diversification of its assets, the Fund
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will not be subject to Federal income tax on taxable income (including net
realized capital gains) which is distributed to shareholders annually in
accordance with the timing requirements of the Code.
The Fund will be subject to a four percent non-deductible Federal excise tax on
certain amounts not distributed (and not treated as having been distributed) on
a timely basis in accordance with annual minimum distribution requirements. The
Fund intends under normal circumstances to seek to avoid or minimize liability
for such tax by satisfying such distribution requirements.
Distributions from the Fund's current or accumulated earnings and profits
("E&P") will be taxable under the Code for investors who are subject to tax. If
these distributions are paid from the Fund's "investment company taxable
income," they will be taxable as ordinary income; and if they are paid from the
Fund's "net capital gain," they will be taxable as long- term capital gain. (Net
capital gain is the excess (if any) of net long-term capital gain over net
short-term capital loss, and investment company taxable income is all taxable
income and capital gains, other than net capital gain, after reduction by
deductible expenses.) Some distributions from investment company taxable income
and/or net capital gain may be paid in January but may be taxable to
shareholders as if they had been received on December 31 of the previous year.
The tax treatment described above will apply without regard to whether
distributions are received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the
Fund.
Distributions, if any, in excess of E&P will constitute a return of capital
under the Code, which will first reduce an investor's federal tax basis in Fund
shares and then, to the extent such basis is exceeded, will generally give rise
to capital gains. Shareholders who have chosen automatic reinvestment of their
distributions will have a federal tax basis in each share received pursuant to
such a reinvestment equal to the amount of cash they would have received had
they elected to receive the distribution in cash, divided by the number of
shares received in the reinvestment.
Foreign exchange gains and losses realized by the Fund in connection with
certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt securities,
certain foreign currency futures and options, and foreign currency forward
contracts, foreign currencies, or payables or receivables denominated in a
foreign currency are subject to Section 988 of the Code, which generally causes
such gains and losses to be treated as ordinary income and losses and may affect
the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. Any such
transactions that are not directly related to the Fund's investment in stock or
securities, possibly including speculative currency positions or currency
derivatives not used for hedging purposes, may increase the amount of gain it is
deemed to recognize from the sale of certain investments or derivatives held for
less than three months, which gain is limited under the Code to less than 30% of
its gross income for each taxable year, and may under future Treasury
regulations produce income not among the types of "qualifying income" from which
the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year. If
the net foreign exchange loss for a year treated as ordinary loss under Section
988 were to exceed the Fund's investment company taxable income computed without
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regard to such loss the resulting overall ordinary loss for such year would not
be deductible by the Fund or its shareholders in future years.
The Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign
countries with respect to its investments in foreign securities. Tax conventions
between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes.
Investors may be entitled to claim U.S. foreign tax credits or deductions with
respect to foreign income taxes or certain other foreign taxes ("qualified
foreign taxes"), subject to certain provisions and limitations contained in the
Code. Specifically, if more than 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets at
the close of any taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign
corporations, the Fund may file an election with the Internal Revenue Service
pursuant to which shareholders of the Fund will be required to (i) include in
ordinary gross income (in addition to taxable dividends and distributions
actually received) their pro rata shares of qualified foreign taxes paid by the
Fund even though not actually received by them, and (ii) treat such respective
pro rata portions as qualified foreign income taxes paid by them.
If the Fund makes this election, shareholders may then deduct such pro rata
portions of qualified foreign taxes in computing their taxable incomes, or,
alternatively, use them as foreign tax credits, subject to applicable
limitations, against their U.S. Federal income taxes. Shareholders who do not
itemize deductions for Federal income tax purposes will not, however, be able to
deduct their pro rata portion of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund,
although such shareholders will be required to include their share of such taxes
in gross income. Shareholders who claim a foreign income tax credit for such
foreign taxes may be required to treat a portion of dividends received from the
Fund as a separate category of income for purposes of computing the limitations
on the foreign tax credit. Tax-exempt shareholders will ordinarily not benefit
from this election. Each year (if any) that the Fund files the election
described above, its shareholders will be notified of the amount of (i) each
shareholder's pro rata share of qualified foreign income taxes paid by the Fund
and (ii) the portion of Fund dividends which represents income from each foreign
country. If the Fund does not satisfy the 50% requirement described above or
otherwise does not make the election, the Fund will deduct the foreign taxes it
pays in determining the amount it has available for distribution to
shareholders, and shareholders will not include these foreign taxes in their
income, nor will they be entitled to any tax deductions or credits with respect
to such taxes.
The amount of net realized capital gains, if any, in any given year will vary
depending upon the Adviser's current investment strategy and whether the Adviser
believes it to be in the best interest of the Fund to dispose of portfolio
securities that will generate capital gains or engage in certain other
transactions or derivatives. At the time of an investor's purchase of Fund
shares, a portion of the purchase price is often attributable to realized or
unrealized appreciation in the Fund's portfolio. Consequently, subsequent
distributions on such shares from such appreciation may be taxable to such
investor even if the net asset value of the investor's shares is, as a result of
the distributions, reduced below the investor's cost for such shares, and the
distributions (or portions thereof) in reality represent a return of a portion
of the purchase price.
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<PAGE>
Upon a redemption of shares of the Fund (including by exercise of the exchange
privilege) a shareholder will ordinarily realize a taxable gain or loss
depending upon the amount of the proceeds and the investor's basis in his
shares. Such gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares
are capital assets in the shareholder's hands and will be long-term or
short-term, depending upon the shareholder's tax holding period for the shares
and subject to the special rules described below. A sales charge paid in
purchasing Class A shares of the Fund cannot be taken into account for purposes
of determining gain or loss on the redemption or exchange of such shares within
90 days after their purchase to the extent Class A shares of the Fund or another
John Hancock fund are subsequently acquired without payment of a sales charge
pursuant to the reinvestment or exchange privilege. Such disregarded load will
result in an increase in the shareholder's tax basis in the shares subsequently
acquired. Also, any loss realized on a redemption or exchange may be disallowed
to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund
within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the
shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to automatic dividend reinvestments. In
such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the
disallowed loss. Any loss realized upon the redemption of shares with a tax
holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss
to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gain
with respect to such shares.
Although its present intention is to distribute, at least annually, all net
capital gain, if any, the Fund reserves the right to retain and reinvest all or
any portion of the excess, as computed for Federal income tax purposes, of net
long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss in any year. The Fund
will not in any event distribute net capital gain realized in any year to the
extent that a capital loss is carried forward from prior years against such
gain. To the extent such excess was retained and not exhausted by the
carryforward of prior years' capital losses, it would be subject to Federal
income tax in the hands of the Fund. Upon proper designation of this amount by
the Fund, each shareholder would be treated for Federal income tax purposes as
if the Fund had distributed to him on the last day of its taxable year his pro
rata share of such excess, and he had paid his pro rata share of the taxes paid
by the Fund and reinvested the remainder in the Fund. Accordingly, each
shareholder would (a) include his pro rata share of such excess as long-term
capital gain in his return for his taxable year in which the last day of the
Fund's taxable year falls, (b) be entitled either to a tax credit on his return
for, or to a refund of, his pro rata share of the taxes paid by the Fund, and
(c) be entitled to increase the adjusted tax basis for his shares in the Fund by
the difference between his pro rata share of such excess and his pro rata share
of such taxes.
For Federal income tax purposes, the Fund is permitted to carry forward a net
capital loss in any year to offset net capital gains, if any, during the eight
years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent net capital gains
are offset by such losses, they would not result in Federal income tax liability
to the Fund and, as noted above, would not be distributed as such to
shareholders. The Fund has $36,610,402 of capital loss carry- forwards, which
expire as follows: May 31, 1999-$13,103,961, May 31, 2002-$454,310, May 31,
2003-$20,312,907 and May 31, 2004-$266,908 available to offset future net
capital gains.
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Only a small portion, if any, of the distributions from the Fund may qualify for
the dividends- received deduction for corporations, subject to the limitations
applicable under the Code. The qualifying portion is limited to properly
designated distributions attributed to dividend income (if any) the Fund
receives from certain stock in U.S. domestic corporations and the deduction is
subject to holding period requirements and debt-financing limitations under the
Code.
Investment in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default presents
special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues
such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or
market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts
or worthless securities, how payments received on obligations in default should
be allocated between principal and income, and whether exchanges of debt
obligations in a workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be
addressed by the Fund in order to reduce the risk of distributing insufficient
income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company and to seek to
avoid becoming subject to Federal income or excise tax.
Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess contributions and
deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement distributions and certain
prohibited transactions, is accorded to accounts maintained as qualified
retirement plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers for more
information.
The Fund is required to accrue income on any debt securities that have more than
a de minimus amount of original issue discount (or debt securities acquired at a
market discount, if the Fund elects to include market discount in income
currently) prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. The mark to
market rules applicable to certain options, futures contracts, and forward
contracts may also require the Fund to recognize income or gain without a
concurrent receipt of cash. However, the Fund must distribute to shareholders
for each taxable year substantially all of its net income and net capital gains,
including such income or gain, to qualify as a regulated investment company and
avoid liability for any federal income or excise tax. Therefore, the Fund may
have to dispose of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances
to generate cash, or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to
satisfy these distribution requirements.
A state income (and possibly local income and/or intangible property) tax
exemption is generally available to the extent (if any) the Fund's distributions
are derived from interest on (or, in the case of intangibles taxes, the value of
its assets is attributable to) certain U.S. Government obligations, provided in
some states that certain thresholds for holdings of such obligations and/or
reporting requirements are satisfied. The Fund will not seek to satisfy any
threshold or reporting requirements that may apply in particular taxing
jurisdictions, although the Fund may in its sole discretion provide relevant
information to shareholders.
The Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS")
all taxable distributions to shareholders, as well as gross proceeds from the
redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt
recipients, i.e., corporations and certain other investors distributions to
which are exempt from the information reporting provisions of the Code. Under
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the backup withholding provisions of Code Section 3406 and applicable Treasury
regulations, all such reportable distributions and proceeds may be subject to
backup withholding of federal income tax at the rate of 31% in the case of
non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the Fund with their correct taxpayer
identification number and certain certifications required by the IRS or if the
IRS or a broker notifies the Fund that the number furnished by the shareholder
is incorrect or that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a
result of failure to report interest or dividend income. The Fund may refuse to
accept an application that does not contain any required taxpayer identification
number or certification that the number provided is correct. If the backup
withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds,
whether taken in cash or reinvested in shares, will be reduced by the amounts
required to be withheld. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a
shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability. Investors should consult their
tax advisers about the applicability of the backup withholding provisions.
Limitations imposed by the Code on regulated investment companies like the Fund
may restrict the Fund's ability to enter into futures, options, foreign currency
positions, and forward foreign currency transactions. Certain payments received
by the Fund with respect to loan participations, such as commitment fees or
facility fees, may not be treated as qualifying income under the 90% requirement
referred to above if they are not properly treated as interest under the Code.
Certain options, futures and foreign currency forward contracts undertaken by
the Fund may cause the Fund to recognize gains or losses from marking to market
even though its positions have not been sold or terminated and affect the
character as long-term or short- term (or, in the case of certain foreign
currency forwards, options and futures, as ordinary income or loss) and timing
of some gains and losses realized by the Fund. Also, certain of the Fund's
losses on its transactions involving options, futures or forward contracts
and/or offsetting or successor portfolio positions may be deferred rather than
being taken into account currently in calculating the Fund's taxable income or
gain. Certain of these transactions may also cause the Fund to dispose of
investments sooner than would otherwise have occurred. These transactions may
therefore affect the amount, timing and character of the Fund's distributions to
shareholders. Certain of the applicable tax rules may be modified if the Fund is
eligible and choose to make one or more of certain tax elections that may be
available. The Fund will take into account the special tax rules applicable to
options, futures or forward contracts in order to seek to minimize any potential
adverse tax consequences.
The foregoing discussion relates solely to U.S. Federal income tax law as
applicable to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens or residents and U.S. domestic
corporations, partnerships, trusts or estates) subject to tax under such law.
The discussion does not address special tax rules applicable to certain classes
of investors, such as tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, and financial
institutions. Dividends, capital gain distributions, and ownership of or gains
realized on the redemption (including an exchange) of Fund shares may also be
subject to state and local taxes. Shareholders should consult their own tax
advisers as to the Federal, state or local tax consequences of ownership of
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shares of, and receipt of distributions from, the Fund in their particular
circumstances.
Non-U.S. investors not engaged in a U.S. trade or business with which their Fund
investment is effectively connected will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax
treatment that is different from that described above. These investors may be
subject to nonresident alien withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower rate
under an applicable tax treaty) on amounts treated as ordinary dividends from
the Fund and, unless an effective IRS Form W-8 or authorized substitute for Form
W-8 is on file, to 31% backup withholding on certain other payments from the
Fund. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisers regarding such
treatment and the application of foreign taxes to an investment in the Fund.
The Fund is not subject to Massachusetts corporate excise or franchise taxes.
Provided that the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under the
Code, it will also not be required to pay any Massachusetts income tax.
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE
For the 30-day period ended May 31, 1996 the Fund's annualized yields for Class
A and Class B shares of the Fund were 7.50% and 7.14%. The average annual total
returns on Class A shares of the Fund for the 1 year, 5 year and life-of-fund
period ended May 31, 1996 were 6.32%, 9.10% and 7.30%, respectively. The total
returns for the 1-year and since inception on October 4, 1993 periods for Class
B shares were 5.61% and 6.93%.
The Fund advertises yield, where appropriate. The Fund's yield is computed by
dividing net investment income per share determined for a 30-day period by the
maximum offering price per share (which includes the full sales charge) on the
last day of the period and annualizing the result. While this is the standard
accounting method for calculating yield, it does not reflect the fund's actual
bookkeeping; as a result, the income reported or paid by the Fund may be
different. The Fund's yield is computed according to the following standard
formula:
Yield = 2 ([(a - b) + 1] 6 - 1
-----
cd
Where:
a = dividends and interest earned during the period.
b = net expenses accrued during the period.
c = the average daily number of Fund shares outstanding during the period that
would be entitled to receive dividends.
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d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period (NAV
where applicable).
The Fund's total return is computed by finding the average annual compounded
rate of return over the 1-year and life-of-fund periods that would equate the
initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value according to the
following formula:
n _____
T = \ /ERV/P - 1
Where:
P = a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000.
T = average annual total return.
n = number of years.
ERV = ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the
beginning of the 1-year and life-of-fund periods.
Because each share has its own sales charge and fee structure, the classes have
different performance results. In the case of Class A shares or Class B shares,
this calculation assumes the maximum sales charge is included in the initial
investment or the CDSC applied at the end of the period. This calculation
assumes that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value
on the reinvestment dates during the period.
The result of the above average annual total return calculation is not the same
as the actual year-to-year results.
The "distribution rate" is determined by annualizing the result of dividing the
declared dividends of the Fund during the period stated by the maximum offering
price or net asset value at the end of the period. Excluding the Fund's sales
load from the distribution rate produces a higher rate.
In addition to average annual total returns, the Fund may quote unaveraged or
cumulative total returns reflecting the simple change in value of an investment
over a stated period. Cumulative total returns may be quoted as a percentage or
as a dollar amount, and may be calculated for a single investment, a series of
investments, and/or a series of redemptions, over any time period. Total returns
may be quoted with or without taking the Fund's 4.5% sales charge on Class A
shares and the CDSC on Class B shares into account. Excluding the Fund's sales
charge on Class A shares and the CDSC on Class B shares from a total return
calculation produces a higher total return figure.
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From time to time, in reports and promotional literature, the Fund's yield and
total return will be compared to indices of mutual funds and bank deposit
vehicles such as Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.'s "Lipper Fixed Income Fund
Performance Analysis," a monthly publication which tracks net assets, total
return, and yield on approximately 1,700 fixed income mutual funds in the United
States. Ibottson and Associates, CDA Weisenberger and F.C. Towers are also used
for comparison purposes, as well as the Russell and Wilshire Indices.
Comparisons may also be made to bank certificates of deposit ("CD's") which
differ from mutual funds, such as the Fund, in several ways. The interest rate
established by the sponsoring bank is fixed for the term of a CD. There are
penalties for early withdrawal from CDs, and the principal on a CD is insured.
Performance rankings and ratings reported periodically in national financial
publications such as Money Magazine, Forbes, Business Week, The Wall Street
Journal, Micropal, Inc., Morningstar, Stanger's and Barron's may also be
utilized.
The performance of the Fund is not fixed or guaranteed. Performance quotations
should not be considered to be representations of performance of the Fund for
any period in the future. The performance of the Fund is a function of many
factors including its earnings, expenses and number of outstanding shares.
Fluctuating market conditions; purchases, sales and maturities of portfolio
securities; sales and redemptions of shares of beneficial interest; and changes
in operating expenses are all examples of items that can increase or decrease
the Fund's performance.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION
Decisions concerning the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and the
allocation of brokerage commissions are made by the officers of the Fund
pursuant to recommendations made by an investment committee of the Adviser,
which consists of officers and directors of the Adviser and affiliates, and
officers and Trustees who are interested persons of the Fund. Orders for
purchases and sales of securities are placed in a manner which, in the opinion
of the officers of the Fund, will offer the best price and market for the
execution of each such transaction. Purchases from underwriters of portfolio
securities may include a commission or commissions paid by the issuer, and
transactions with dealers serving as market maker reflect a "spread." Debt
securities are generally traded on a net basis through dealers acting for their
own account as principals and not as brokers; no brokerage commissions are
payable on such transactions.
The Fund's primary policy is to execute all purchases and sales of portfolio
instruments at the most favorable prices consistent with best execution,
considering all of the costs of the transaction including brokerage commissions.
This policy governs the selection of brokers and dealers and the market in which
a transaction is executed. Consistent with the foregoing primary policy, the
Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
and such other policies as the Trustees may determine, the Adviser may consider
sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to
execute the Fund's portfolio transactions.
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To the extent consistent with the foregoing, the Fund will be governed in the
selection of brokers and dealers, and the negotiation of brokerage commission
rates and dealer spreads, by the reliability and quality of the services,
including primarily the availability and value of research information and to a
lesser extent statistical assistance furnished to the Adviser of the Fund, and
their value and expected contribution to the performance of the Fund. It is not
possible to place a dollar value on information and services to be received from
brokers and dealers, since it is only supplementary to the research efforts of
the Adviser. The receipt of research information is not expected to reduce
significantly the expenses of the Adviser. The research information and
statistical assistance furnished by brokers and dealers may benefit the Life
Company or other advisory clients of the Adviser, and, conversely, brokerage
commissions and spreads paid by other advisory clients of the Adviser may result
in research information and statistical assistance beneficial to the Fund. The
Fund will make no commitment to allocate portfolio transactions upon any
prescribed basis. While the Fund's officers will be primarily responsible for
the allocation of the Fund's brokerage business, their policies and practices in
this regard must be consistent with the foregoing and will at all times be
subject to review by the Trustees. For the years ended on May 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996, the Fund paid negotiated brokerage commissions in the amount of $32,337,
$2,751 and $11,500, respectively.
As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Fund
may pay to a broker which provides brokerage and research services to the Fund
an amount of disclosed commission in excess of the commission which another
broker would have charged for effecting that transaction. This practice is
subject to a good faith determination by the Trustees that such price is
reasonable in light of the services provided and to such policies as the
Trustees may adopt from time to time. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1996,
the Fund directed no commissions to compensate brokers for research services
such as industry, economic and company reviews and evaluations of securities.
The Adviser's indirect parent, the Life Company, is the indirect sole
shareholder of John Hancock Distributors, Inc. ("Distributors"), a broker-dealer
and John Hancock Freedom Securities Corporation and its two broker-dealer
subsidiaries, Tucker Anthony Incorporated ("Tucker Anthony") and Sutro &
Company, Inc. ("Sutro") ("each an Affiliated Broker"). Pursuant to procedures
determined by the Trustees and consistent with the above policy of obtaining
best net results, the Fund may execute portfolio transactions with or through
Tucker Anthony, Sutro and Distributors. During the year ending May 31, 1996, the
Fund did not execute any portfolio transactions with Affiliated Brokers.
Any of the Affiliated Brokers may act as broker for the Fund on exchange
transactions, subject, however, to the general policy of the Fund set forth
above and the procedures adopted by the Trustees pursuant to the Investment
Company Act. Commissions paid to an Affiliated Broker must be at least as
favorable as those which the Trustees believe to be contemporaneously charged by
other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar
securities being purchased or sold. A transaction would not be placed with an
Affiliated Broker if the Fund would have to pay a commission rate less favorable
than the Affiliated Broker's contemporaneous charges for comparable transactions
56
<PAGE>
for its other most favored, but unaffiliated, customers, except for accounts for
which the Affiliated Broker acts as clearing broker for another firm, and any
customers of the Affiliated Broker not comparable to the Fund as determined by a
majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the
Investment Company Act) of the Fund, the Adviser or the Affiliated Broker.
Because the Adviser, which is affiliated with the Affiliated Brokers, has, as an
investment adviser to the fund, the obligation to provide investment management
services, which include elements of research and related investment skills, such
research and related skills will not be used by the Affiliated Brokers as a
basis for negotiating commissions at a rate higher than that determined in
accordance with the above criteria. The Fund will not effect principal
transactions with Affiliated Brokers.
TRANSFER AGENT SERVICES
John Hancock Investor Services Corporation, P.O. Box 9116, Boston, MA
02205-9116, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Life Company, is the
transfer and dividend paying agent for the Fund. The Fund pays Investor Services
an annual fee of $20.00 per shareholder account for Class A shares and $22.50
per shareholder account for Class B shares, plus certain out-of pocket expenses.
These expenses are aggregated and charged to the Fund and allocated to each
class on the basis of their relative net asset values.
CUSTODY OF PORTFOLIO
Portfolio securities of the Fund are held pursuant to a custodian agreement
between the Fund and Investors Bank & Trust Company, 24 Federal Street, Boston,
MA 02110. Under the custodian agreement, Investors Bank & Trust Company performs
custody, portfolio and fund accounting services.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The independent accountants of the Fund are Price Waterhouse LLP, 160 Federal
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Price Waterhouse audits and renders an
opinion on the Fund's annual financial statements, and reviews the Fund's annual
Federal income tax return.
57
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
As described in the Statement of Additional Information, the debt securities
offering the high current income sought by the Fund are ordinarily in the lower
rating categories (that its, rated Baa or lower by Moody's or BBB or lower by
Standard & Poor's, or are unrated).
Moody's describes its lower ratings for corporate bonds as follows:
Bonds that are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e. they
are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal
security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be
lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time.
Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have
speculative characteristics as well.
Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future
cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during
both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes
bonds in this class.
Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of
other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or
there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high
degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issues so rated
can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real
investment standing.
Standard & Poor's describes its lower ratings for corporate bonds as follows:
Debt rated BBB is regarded as having adequate capacity to pay interest and repay
principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a
weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category
than in higher rated categories.
Debt rated BB, B, CCC, or CC is regarded, on balance, as predominantly
speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay
principal in accordance with the terms of the obligations. BB indicates the
lowest degree of speculation and CC the highest degree of speculation. While
such debt will likely have some quality and protective
A-1
<PAGE>
characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk
exposures to adverse conditions.
Moody's describes its three highest ratings for commercial paper as follows:
Issuers rated P-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a superior capacity
for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. P-1 repayment capacity will
normally be evidenced by the following characteristics: (1) leading market
positions in well-established industries; (2) high rates of return on funds
employed; (3) conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on
debt and ample asset protection; (4) broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed
financial charges and high internal cash generation; and (5) well established
access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate
liquidity.
Standard & Poor's describes its three highest ratings for commercial paper as
follows:
A-1. This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is very strong.
A-2. Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is strong.
However, the relative degree of safety is not as overwhelming as for issues
designated A-1.
A-3. Issues carrying this designation have a satisfactory capacity for timely
payment. They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
Issuers rated P-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong capacity
for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally be
evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Issuers rated P-3 (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable ability for
repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry
characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in
earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection
measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage. Adequate
alternate liquidity is maintained.
A-2
<PAGE>
Quality Distribution
The average weighted quality distribution of the Fund's portfolio for the fiscal
year ended May 31, 1996 was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Y-T-D Rating Rating
Average % of Assigned % of Assigned % of
Security Rating Value Portfolio by Adviser Portfolio by Service Portfolio
- --------------- ----- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
AAA 113,113,444 22.6 16,888,608 3.4 96,224,836 19.2
AA 54,061,443 10.7 0 0 54,061,443 10.7
A 2,994,410 .6 0 0 2,994,410 .6
BAA 10,781,186 2.2 0 0 10,781,186 2.2
BA 54,171,316 10.8 2,431,441 .5 51,739,875 10.3
B 210,467,482 42.0 23,629,373 4.7 186,838,108 37.3
CAA 4,324,553 .9 0 0 4,324,553 .9
CA
C
D 1,001,115 .2 1,001,115 .2 0 0
Debt Securities 450,914,948 90.0 43,950,537 8.8% 406,964,411 81.2%
Equity
Securities 30,467,052 6.1%
Short-Term
Securities 19,591,833 3.9%
Total
Portfolio 500,973,833 100%
Other
Assets-Net 10,025,205
Net Assets $510,999,038
</TABLE>
A-3
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
<PAGE>
PART C.
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) The financial statements listed below are included in and incorporated
by reference into Part B of the Registration Statement from the Strategic Income
Fund 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended May 31, 1996 (filed
electronically on July 24, 1996; file nos. 811-4651 and 33-5186; accession
number 0000928816-96-000200): Sovereign U.S. Government Fund 1995 Annual Report
to Shareholders for the year ended October 31, 1995 (filed electronically on
January 3, 1996; file nos. 811-3999 and 2-90305; accession number
0000950135-96-000056) and 1996 semi-annual report to shareholder for the period
ended April 30, 1996 (filed electronically on July 1, 1996; file nos. 811-3999
and 2-90305; accession number 0000928816-96-000186).
John Hancock Strategic Income Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of May 31, 1996.
Statement of Operations of the year ended May 31, 1996.
Statement of Changes in Net Asset for each of the two years in the period
ended May 31, 1996.
Notes to Financial Statements.
Financial Highlights for each of the years in the period ended May 31,
1996.
Schedule of Investments as of May 31, 1996.
Report of Independent Auditors.
John Hancock Sovereign U.S. Government Income Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of October 31, 1995.
Statement of Operations of the year ended October 31, 1995.
Statement of Changes in Net Asset for each of the two years in the period
ended October 31, 1995.
Notes to Financial Statements.
Financial Highlights for each of the years in the period ended October 31,
1995.
Schedule of Investments as of October 31, 1995.
Report of Independent Auditors.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 1996.
Statement of Operations of the year ended April 30, 1996.
Statement of Changes in Net Asset for each of the two years in the period
ended April 30, 1996.
Notes to Financial Statements.
Financial Highlights for the period ended April 30, 1996.
Schedule of Investments as of April 30, 1996.
C-1
<PAGE>
(b) Exhibits:
The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Exhibits
Index hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant
No person is directly or indirectly controlled by or under common control
with Registrant.
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities
As of August 5, 1996 the number of record holders of shares of Registrant
was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of
Series Title of Class Record Holders
------ -------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
John Hancock Strategic Income Fund Class A Shares 30,972
Class B Shares 13,191
John Hancock Sovereign U.S. Government Fund Class A Shares 48,243
Class B Shares 12,887
</TABLE>
Item 27. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification provisions relating to the Registrant's Trustees,
officers, employees and agents is set forth in Article VII of the Registrant's
By Laws included as Exhibit 2 herein.
(b) Under Section 12 of the Distribution Agreement, John Hancock Funds,
Inc. ("John Hancock Funds" ) has agreed to indemnify the Registrant and its
Trustees, officers and controlling persons against claims arising out of certain
acts and statements of John Hancock Funds.
C-2
<PAGE>
Section 9(a) of the By-Laws of John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company
("the Insurance Company") provides, in effect, that the Insurance Company will,
subject to limitations of law, indemnify each present and former director,
officer and employee of the of the Insurance Company who serves as a Trustee or
officer of the Registrant at the direction or request of the Insurance Company
against litigation expenses and liabilities incurred while acting as such,
except that such indemnification does not cover any expense or liability
incurred or imposed in connection with any matter as to which such person shall
be finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
that his action was in the best interests of the Insurance Company. In addition,
no such person will be indemnified by the Insurance Company in respect of any
liability or expense incurred in connection with any matter settled without
final adjudication unless such settlement shall have been approved as in the
best interests of the Insurance Company either by vote of the Board of Directors
at a meeting composed of directors who have no interest in the outcome of such
vote, or by vote of the policyholders. The Insurance Company may pay expenses
incurred in defending an action or claim in advance of its final disposition,
but only upon receipt of an undertaking by the person indemnified to repay such
payment if he should be determined not to be entitled to indemnification.
Article IX of the respective By-Laws of John Hancock Funds and John Hancock
Advisers, Inc.("the Adviser") provide as follows:
"Section 9.01. Indemnity: Any person made or threatened to be made a party to
any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was at any time since the
inception of the Corporation a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation or is or was at any time since the inception of the Corporation
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, shall be indemnified by the Corporation against expenses (including
attorney's fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
he acted in good faith and the liability was not incurred by reason of gross
negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his
office, and expenses in connection therewith may be advanced by the Corporation,
all to the full extent authorized by the law."
"Section 9.02. Not Exclusive; Survival of Rights: The indemnification provided
by Section 9.01 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right to which those
indemnified may be entitled, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to
be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person."
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Act") may be permitted to Trustees, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of John
Hancock Funds, the Adviser, or the Insurance Company or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against policy as expressed in the Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
Trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
C-3
<PAGE>
jurisdiction the question whether indemnification by it is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisers
For information as to the business, profession, vocation or employment of a
substantial nature of each of the officers and Directors of the Adviser,
reference is made to Form ADV (801-8124) filed under the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 29. Principal Underwriters
(a) John Hancock Funds acts as principal underwriter for the Registrant and also
serves as principal underwriter or distributor of shares for John Hancock Cash
Reserve, Inc., John Hancock Bond Trust, John Hancock Current Interest, John
Hancock Series, Inc., John Hancock Tax-Free Bond Trust, John Hancock California
Tax-Free Income Fund, John Hancock Capital Series, John Hancock Limited Term
Government Fund, John Hancock Sovereign Investors Fund, Inc., John Hancock
Special Equities Fund, John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund, John Hancock Tax-Exempt
Series, John Hancock Strategic Series, John Hancock Technology Series, Inc.,
John Hancock World Fund, John Hancock Investment Trust, John Hancock
Institutional Series Trust, Freedom Investment Trust, Freedom Investment Trust
II and Freedom Investment Trust III.
(b) The following table lists, for each director and officer of John Hancock
Funds, the information indicated.
C-4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Principal Positions and Offices Positions and Offices
Business Address with Underwriter with Registrant
---------------- ---------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C>
Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. Director, Chairman, President and Trustee, Chairman and Chief
101 Huntington Avenue Chief Executive Officer Executive Officer
Boston, Massachusetts
Robert H. Watts Director, Executive Vice None
John Hancock Place President and Chief Compliance
P.O. Box 111 Officer
Boston, Massachusetts
Robert G. Freedman Director Chairman and Chief
101 Huntington Avenue Investment Officer
Boston, Massachusetts
Stephen M. Blair Executive Vice President None
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
James W. McLaughlin Senior Vice President None
101 Huntington Avenue and
Boston, Massachusetts Chief Financial Officer
David A. King Director None
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
James B. Little Senior Vice President Senior Vice President and
101 Huntington Avenue Chief Financial Officer
Boston, Massachusetts
C-5
<PAGE>
Name and Principal Positions and Offices Positions and Offices
Business Address with Underwriter with Registrant
---------------- ---------------- ---------------
William S. Nichols Senior Vice President None
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
John A. Morin Vice President and Secretary Vice President
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
Susan S. Newton Vice President Vice President
101 Huntington Avenue and Secretary
Boston, Massachusetts
Christopher M. Meyer Second Vice President and None
101 Huntington Avenue Treasurer
Boston, Massachusetts
Stephen L. Brown Director None
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts
Thomas E. Moloney Director None
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts
Jeanne M. Livermore Director None
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts
Richard S. Scipione Director Trustee
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts
John Goldsmith Director None
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts
C-6
<PAGE>
Richard O. Hansen Director None
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts
John M. DeCiccio Director None
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts
Foster L. Aborn Director None
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts
David F. D'Alessandro Director None
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, Massachusetts
William C. Fletcher Director None
53 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts
James V. Bowhers Executive Vice President None
101 Huntington avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
Anthony P. Petrucci Senior Vice President None
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
Charles H. Womack Senior Vice President None
6501 Americas Parkway
Suite 950
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Keith Harstein Vice President None
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
Griselda Lyman Vice President None
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
Karen Walsh Vice President None
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
</TABLE>
C-7
<PAGE>
(c) None.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
The Registrant maintains the records required to be maintained by it under
Rules 31a-1 (a), 31a-1(b), and 31a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of
1940 at its principal executive offices at 101 Huntington Avenue, Boston
Massachusetts 02199-7603. Certain records, including records relating to
Registrant's shareholders and the physical possession of its securities,
may be maintained pursuant to Rule 31a-3 at the main offices of
Registrant's Transfer Agent and Custodian.
Item 31. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 32. Undertakings
(a) Not applicable
(b) Not applicable
(c) Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a
prospectus with respect to a series of the Registrant is delivered with a
copy of the latest annual report to shareholders with respect to that
series upon request and without charge.
(d) Registrant undertakes to comply with Section 16(c) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended which relates to the assistance to be
rendered to shareholders by the Trustees of the Registrant in calling a
meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of the
removal of a trustee.
C-8
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of
the requirements for effectiveness of the Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto
duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on
the 29th day of August 1996.
JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
By: /s/ Edward J. Boudreau
--------------------------
Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.*
Chairman
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registration has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities
and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
- ------------------------ Chairman
Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.* (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ James B. Little
- ------------------------ Senior Vice President and Chief August 29, 1996
James B. Little Financial Officer (Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
- ------------------------ Trustee
Dennis S. Aronowitz*
- ------------------------ Trustee
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.*
- ------------------------ Trustee
William J. Cosgrove*
- ------------------------ Trustee
Douglas M. Costle*
- ------------------------ Trustee
Leland O. Erdahl*
- ------------------------ Trustee
Richard A. Farrell*
- ------------------------ Trustee
Gail D. Fosler*
- ------------------------ Trustee
William F. Glavin*
- ------------------------ Trustee
Anne C. Hodsdon*
<PAGE>
- ------------------------ Trustee
John A. Moore*
- ------------------------ Trustee
Patti McGill Peterson*
- ------------------------ Trustee
John W. Pratt*
- ------------------------ Trustee
Richard S. Scipione*
- ------------------------ Trustee
Edward J. Spellman*
*By: /s/ Susan S. Newton August 29, 1996
--------------------
Susan S. Newton
Attorney-in-Fact under
Powers of Attorney dated
May 21, 1996 and August
27, 1996, filed herewith
</TABLE>
C-10
<PAGE>
John Hancock Capital Series John Hancock Strategic Series
John Hancock Declaration Trust John Hancock Tax-Exempt Series Fund
John Hancock Income Securities Trust John Hancock World Fund
John Hancock Investors Trust Freedom Investment Trust
John Hancock Limited Term Government Fund Freeedom Investment Trust II
John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund Freedom Investment Trust III
John Hancock Special Equities Fund
POWER OF ATTORNEY
-----------------
The undersigned Trustee of each of the above listed Trusts, each a
Massachusetts business trust, does hereby severally constitute and appoint
EDWARD J. BOUDREAU, JR., SUSAN S. NEWTON, AND JAMES B. LITTLE, and each acting
singly, to sign for me, in my name and in the capacity indicated below, any
Registration Statement on Form N-1A and any Registration Statement on Form N-14
to be filed by the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act"), and under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act"), and any and all amendments to said Registration Statements, with respect
to the offering of shares and any and all other documents and papers relating
thereto, and generally to do all such things in my name and on my behalf in the
capacity indicated to enable the Trust to comply with the 1940 Act and the 1933
Act, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder,
hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by said
attorneys or each of them to any such Registration Statements and any and all
amendments thereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunder set my hand on this Instrument as of
the 27th day of August, 1996.
/s/ John A. Moore
--------------------------
John A. Moore
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned Trustee of each of the above listed Trusts, each a
Massachusetts business trust, does hereby severally constitute and appoint
EDWARD J. BOUDREAU, JR., SUSAN S. NEWTON, AND JAMES B. LITTLE, and each acting
singly, to be my true, sufficient and lawful attorneys, with full power to each
of them, and each acting singly, to sign for me, in my name and in the capacity
indicated below, any Registration Statement on Form N-1A and any Registration
Statement on Form N-14 to be filed by the Trust under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act"), and any and all amendments to said Registration
Statements, with respect to the offering of shares and any and all other
documents and papers relating thereto, and generally to do all such things in my
name and on my behalf in the capacity indicated to enable the Trust to comply
with the 1940 Act and the 1933 Act, and all requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder, hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as
it may be signed by said attorneys or each of them to any such Registration
Statements and any and all amendments thereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunder set my hand on this Instrument as of
the 21st day of May, 1996.
/s/Dennis S. Aronowitz /s/William F. Glavin
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
Dennis S. Aronowitz William F. Glavin
/s/Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. /s/ Anne C. Hodsdon
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. Anne C. Hodsdon
/s/Richard P. Champman, Jr. /s/Patti McGill Peterson
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
Richard P. Chapman, Jr. Patti McGill Peterson
/s/William J. Cosgrove
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
William J. Cosgrove John A. Moore
/s/Douglas M. Costle /s/John W. Pratt
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
Douglas M. Costle John W. Pratt
/s/Leland O. Erdahl /s/Richard S. Scipione
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
Leland O. Erdahl Richard S. Scipione
/s/Richard A. Farrell /s/Edward J. Spellman
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
Richard A. Farrell Edward J. Spellman
/s/Gail D. Fosler
- -----------------------------
Gail D. Fosler
C-11
<PAGE>
John Hancock Strategic Series
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Exhibit Description
99.B1 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Registrant
dated September 21, 1993*
99.B1.1 Instrument Establishing and Designating John Hancock Utilities Fund
as an Additional Series at the Registrant and Establishing and
Designating Class A and Class B Shares of such Series dated
January 31, 1994.*
99.B1.2 Instrument Establishing and Designating Class A and Class B Shares
of John Hancock Independence Diversified Core Equity Fund dated
May 1, 1995.*
99.B1.3 Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated September 7, 1993.*
99.B1.4 Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated March 5, 1996.+
99.B2 Amended and Restated By-Laws of Registrant as adopted on
December 8, 1993.*
99.B2.1 Amendment to By-Laws dated December 13, 1994.*
99.B2.2 Amendment to By-Laws dated March 6, 1996.+
99.B4 Specimen share certificate for the Registrant.*
99.B5 Investment Management Contract between John Hancock Strategic Income
Fund and John Hancock Advisers, Inc. dated January 1, 1994.*
99.B5.1 Investment Management Contract between John Hancock Utilities Fund
and John Hancock Advisers, Inc. dated February 1, 1994.*
99.B6 Distribution Agreement between Registrant and John Hancock Funds,
Inc. (formerly named John Hancock Broker Distribution Services,
Inc.) dated August 1, 1991.*
99.B6.1 Amendment to Distribution Agreement between Registrant and John
Hancock Funds, Inc. dated February 1, 1994.*
99.B6.2 Form of Soliciting Dealer Agreement between John Hancock Funds, Inc.
and Selected Dealers.*
99.B6.3 Form of Financial Institution Sales and Service Agreement between
John Hancock Funds, Inc. and Selected Financial Institutions.*
99.B7 None
99.B8 Master Custodian Agreement between John Hancock Mutual Funds
(including Registrant) and Investors Bank & Trust Company dated
December 15, 1992.*
99.B9 Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and John
Hancock Investor Service Corporation (formerly named John Hancock
Fund Services, Inc.) dated January 1, 1991.*
99.B9.1 Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement*
99.B9.2 Accounting and Legal Services Agreement between John Hancock
Advisers, Inc. and Registrant as of January 1, 1996.+
99.B10 None
99.B11 Auditors Consent.+
C-12
<PAGE>
99.B12 Not applicable.
99.B13 None
99.B14 None
99.B15 Class A Distribution Plan between John Hancock Strategic Income Fund
and John Hancock Funds, Inc.**
99.B15.1 Class B Distribution Plan between John Hancock Strategic Income and
John Hancock Funds, Inc.*
99.B15.2 Class A Distribution Plan between John Hancock Utilities Fund and
John Hancock Funds, Inc.*
99.B15.3 Class B Distribution Plan between John Hancock Utilities Fund and
John Hancock Funds, Inc.*
99.B16 Schedule for Computation of Yield and Total Return.*
99.B17 Powers of Attorney dated May 5, 1987, June 24, 1986, November 15,
1988, October 23, 1990, October 15, 1991 and January 1, 1994.*
27.1A Strategic Income
27.1B Strategic Income
27.2A Sovereign U.S. Government Income
27.2B Sovereign U.S. Government Income
27.3A Sovereign U.S. Government Income - Semi
27.3B Sovereign U.S. Government Income - Semi
* Previously filed electronically with post-effective amendment number 21
(file nos. 811-4651, 33-5186 on June 29, 1995, accession number
0000950146-95-000353.
** Previously filed with post-effective amendment number 22 (file nos.
811-4651; 33-5186) on February 9, 1996, accession number
0000950146-96-000307.
+ Filed herewith.
C-13
JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
Instrument Amending Number of Trustees
and Appointing Individual to Fill a Vacancy
The undersigned, constituting a majority of the Trustees of John Hancock
Strategic Series, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), acting pursuant
to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated September 21, 1993 of the
Trust, as amended from time to time, do hereby:
a) amend Section 2.12, effective March 5, 1996, to read as follows:
Section 2.12. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees shall be such
number as shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed
by a majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of
Trustees shall in no event be less than two (2).
b) appoint Anne C. Hodsdon to fill a vacancy, such appointment to become
effective upon such individual accepting in writing such appointment and
agreeing to be bound by the terms of the Declaration of Trust and such
individual to hold office until his successor is elected and qualified or
until the earlier occurrence of any of the events specified in the first
sentence of Section 2.15 of the Declaration of Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being at least a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust, have executed this amendment as of the 5th day of March,
1996.
/s/ Dennis S. Aronowitz
- ----------------------------- -------------------------
Dennis S. Aronowitz Gail D. Fosler
/s/ Edward J. Boudreau, Jr.
- ----------------------------- -------------------------
Edward J. Boudreau, Jr. Bayard Henry
/s/ Richard P. Chapman, Jr. /s/ Richard S. Scipione
- ----------------------------- -------------------------
Richard P. Chapman, Jr. Richard S. Scipione
/s/ William J. Cosgrove /s/ Edward J. Spellman
- ----------------------------- -------------------------
William J. Cosgrove Edward J. Spellman
The Declaration, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto, is
on file in the office of the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, provides that no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust
or any Series thereof shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to
any Person, other than to the Trust or its shareholders, in connection with
Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust, save only that arising from bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his/her
duties with respect to such Person; and all such Persons shall look solely to
the Trust Property, or to the Trust Property of one or more specific Series of
the Trust if the claim arises from the conduct of such Trustee, officer,
employee or agent with respect to only such Series, for satisfaction of claims
of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust.
<PAGE>
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS )
)ss
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK )
Then personally appeared the above-named Edward J. Boudreau, Jr., Dennis S.
Aronowitz, Richard P. Chapman, Jr., William J. Cosgrove, Richard S. Scipione,
and Edward J. Spellman, who each acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his
or her fee act and deed, before me, this 5th day of March 1996.
/s/ Ann Marie Kalapinski
------------------------
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: 10/20/00
John Hancock Capital Series
John Hancock Income Securities Trust
John Hancock Investors Trust
John Hancock Limited Term Government Fund
John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund
John Hancock Special Equities Fund
John Hancock Strategic Series
John Hancock Tax-Exempt Income Fund
John Hancock World Fund
CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE BY-LAWS,
EFFECTIVE MARCH 6, 1996
RESOLVED, that the By-Laws of the Trust be and hereby are amended to delete
Article IV, Sub-Section 5.1 of the By-Laws and replace it with the following:
Executive Committees and Other Committees
Section 5.1. How Constituted. The Trustees may, by resolution, designate
one or more committees, including an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee and
an Administration Committee, each consisting of at least two Trustees. The
Trustees may, by resolution, designate one or more alternate members of any
committee to serve in the absence of any member or other alternate member of
such committee. Each member and alternate member of a committee shall be a
Trustee and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Trustees. The Chairman of
the Board shall be a member of the Executive Committee.
As of January 1, 1996
ACCOUNTING & LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
John Hancock Advisers, Inc.
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
Dear Sir:
The John Hancock Funds listed on Schedule A (the "Funds") have selected John
Hancock Advisers, Inc. (the "Administrator") to provide certain accounting and
legal services for the Funds, as more fully set forth below, and you are willing
to provide such services under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
Accordingly, the Funds agree with you as follows:
1. Services. Subject to the general supervision of the Board of
Trustees/Directors of the Funds, you will provide certain tax, accounting
and legal services (the "Services") to the Funds. You will, to the extent
such services are not required to be performed by you pursuant to an
investment advisory agreement, provide:
(A) such tax, accounting, recordkeeping and financial management services
and functions as are reasonably necessary for the operation of each
Fund. Such services shall include, but shall not be limited to,
supervision, review and/or preparation and maintenance of the
following books, records and other documents: (1) journals containing
daily itemized records of all purchases and sales, and receipts and
deliveries of securities and all receipts and disbursements of cash
and all other debits and credits, in the form required by Rule
31a-1(b) (1) under the Act; (2) general and auxiliary ledgers
reflecting all asset, liability, reserve, capital, income and expense
accounts, in the form required by Rules 31a-1(b) (2) (i)-(iii) under
the Act; (3) a securities record or ledger reflecting separately for
each portfolio security as of trade date all "long" and "short"
positions carried by each Fund for the account of the Funds, if any,
and showing the location of all securities long and the off-setting
position to all securities short, in the form required by Rule
31a-1(b) (3) under the Act; (4) a record of all portfolio purchases or
sales, in the form required by Rule 31a-1(b) (6) under the Act; (5) a
record of all puts, calls, spreads, straddles and all other options,
if any, in which any Fund has any direct or indirect interest or which
the Funds have granted or guaranteed, in the form required by Rule
31a-1(b) (7) under the Act; (6) a record of the proof of money
balances in all ledger accounts maintained pursuant to this Agreement,
in the form required by Rule 31a-1(b) (8) under the Act; (7) price
make-up sheets and such records as are necessary to reflect the
determination of each Funds' net asset value; and (8) arrange for, or
participate in (a) the preparation for the Fund of all required tax
returns, (b) the preparation and submission of reports to existing
shareholders and (c) the preparation of financial data or reports
required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other
regulatory authorities;
<PAGE>
(B) certain legal services as are reasonably necessary for the operation
of each Funds. Such services shall include, but shall not be limited
to; (1) maintenance of each Fund's registration statement and federal
and state registrations; (2) preparation of certain notices and proxy
materials furnished to shareholders of the Funds; (3) preparation of
periodic reports of each Fund to regulatory authorities, including
Form N-SAR and Rule 24f-2 legal opinions; (4) preparation of materials
in connection with meetings of the Board of Trustees/Directors of the
Funds; (5) preparation of written contracts, distribution plans,
compliance procedures, corporate and trust documents and other legal
documents; (6) research advice and consultation about certain legal,
regulatory and compliance issues, (7) supervision, coordination and
evaluation of certain services provided by outside counsel.
(C) provide the Funds with staff and personnel to perform such accounting,
bookkeeping and legal services as are reasonably necessary to
effectively service the Fund. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, such staff and personnel shall be deemed to include
officers of the Administrator, and persons employed or otherwise
retained by the Administrator to provide or assist in providing of the
services to the Fund.
(D) maintain all books and records relating to the foregoing services; and
(E) provide the Funds with all office facilities to perform tax,
accounting and legal services under this Agreement.
2. Compensation of the Administrator The Funds shall reimburse the
Administrator for: (1) a portion of the compensation, including all
benefits, of officers and employees of the Administrator based upon the
amount of time that such persons actually spend in providing or assisting
in providing the Services to the Funds (including necessary supervision and
review); and (2) such other direct and indirect expenses, including, but
not limited to, those listed in paragraph (1) above, incurred on behalf of
the Fund that are associated with the providing of the Services and (3) 10%
of the reimbursement amount. In no event, however, shall such reimbursement
exceed levels that are fair and reasonable in light of the usual and
customary charges made by others for services of the same nature and
quality. Compensation under this Agreement shall be calculated and paid
monthly in a arrears.
3. No Partnership or Joint Venture. The Funds and you are not partners of or
joint ventures with each other and nothing herein shall be construed so as
to make you such partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as
such on any of you.
4. Limitation of Liability of the Administrator. You shall not be liable for
any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the
Funds in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates,
except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on your part in the performance of your duties or from reckless
disregard by you of your obligations and duties under this Agreement. Any
person, even though also employed by you, who may be or become an employee
of and paid by the Funds shall be deemed, when acting within the scope of
his or her employment by the Funds, to be acting in such employment solely
for the Funds and not as your employee or agent.
<PAGE>
5. Duration and Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in
force until the second anniversary of the date upon which this Agreement
was executed by the parties hereto, and from year to year thereafter, but
only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually
by a majority of the Trustees/Directors. This Agreement may, on 60 days'
written notice, be terminated at any time without the payment of any
penalty by the Funds by vote of a majority of the Trustees/Directors, or by
you. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment.
6. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be changed,
waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in
writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver
or termination is sought.
7. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts without
regard to the choice of law provisions thereof.
8. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience
of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions
hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may
be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Fund
organized as Massachusetts business trusts is on file with the Secretary of
State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The obligations of each such
Fund are not personally binding upon, nor shall resort be had to the
private property of, any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, employees
or agents of the Fund, but only the Fund's property shall be bound.
Yours very truly,
JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS (See Schedule A)
By: /s/ James B. Little
James B. Little
Senior Vice President
The foregoing contract is
hereby agreed to as of the
date hereof.
JOHN HANCOCK ADVISERS, INC.
By: /s/ Anne C. Hodsdon
Anne C. Hodsdon
President
<PAGE>
January 1, 1996
SCHEDULE A
John Hancock Capital Series
- John Hancock Growth Fund
- John Hancock Special Value Fund
John Hancock Limited Term Government Fund
John Hancock Sovereign Bond Fund John
Hancock Sovereign Investors Fund, Inc.
- John Hancock Sovereign Investors Fund
- John Hancock Sovereign Balanced Fund
John Hancock Special Equities Fund
John Hancock Strategic Series
- John Hancock Independence Diversified Core Equity Fund
- John Hancock Strategic Income Fund
- John Hancock Utilities Fund
John Hancock Tax-Exempt Income Fund
John Hancock World Fund
- John Hancock Pacific Basin Equities Fund
- John Hancock Global Rx Fund
- John Hancock Global Marketplace Fund
John Hancock Cash Reserve, Inc.
John Hancock Series, Inc.
- John Hancock Emerging Growth Fund
- John Hancock Global Resources Fund
- John Hancock Government Income Fund
- John Hancock High Yield Bond Fund
- John Hancock High Yield Tax-Free Fund
- John Hancock Money Market Fund
John Hancock Institutional Series Trust
- John Hancock Active Bond Fund
- John Hancock Dividend Performers Fund
- John Hancock Fundamental Value Fund
- John Hancock Global Bond Fund
- John Hancock International Equity Fund
- John Hancock Multi-Sector Growth Fund
- John Hancock Small Capitalization Equity Fund
- John Hancock Independence Diversified Core Equity Fund II
- John Hancock Independence Value Fund
- John Hancock Independence Balanced Fund
- John Hancock Independence Medium Capitalization Fund
- John Hancock Independence Growth Fund
John Hancock Declartion Trust
- John Hancock V.A. 500 Index Fund
- John Hancock V.A. Discovery Fund
- John Hancock V.A. Diversified Core Equity Fund
- John Hancock V.A. Emerging Equities Fund
- John Hancock V.A. Global Income Fund
- John Hancock V.A. International Fund
- John Hancock V.A. Money Market Fund
- John Hancock V.A. Sovereign Bond Fund
- John Hancock V.A. Strategic Income Fund
- John Hancokc V.A. Sovereign Investors Fund
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus and
Statements of Additional Information constituting parts of this Post Effective
Amendment No. 24 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration
Statement") of our reports dated December 14, 1995 and July 15, 1996, relating
to the financial statements and financial highlights appearing in the October
31, 1995 Annual Reports to Shareholders of the John Hancock Sovereign U.S.
Government Income Fund and the May 31, 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders of the
John Hancock Strategic Income Fund, respectively (the "Funds"), each a series of
John Hancock Strategic Series, which financial statements and financial
highlights are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.
We also consent to the references to us under the headings "Independent
Auditors" in such Statements of Additional Information and under the headings
"Financial Highlights" in such Prospectus.
/s/Price Waterhouse LLP
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
August 26, 1996
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<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND - CLASS A
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<PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1995
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<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 544,803,112
<RECEIVABLES> 33,849,086
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 7,845,851
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (37,196,115)
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</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC INCOME FUND - CLASS B
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<PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 548,200,805
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 544,803,112
<RECEIVABLES> 33,849,086
<ASSETS-OTHER> (1,192,269)
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 7,845,851
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 588,703,473
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 11,853,268
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 972,216
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 12,825,484
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<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 603,480,252
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 28,426,334
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 18,825,999
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,520,508
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 53,373,481
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 13,654,321
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 15,428,983
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 6,733,353
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 904,705
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 113,475,303
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (3,835,222)
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 6,405,597
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 162,595,475
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.15
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.61
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.12
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.61
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.27
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.73
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND, CLASS A
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1995
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1994
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 476,873,236
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 495,636,079
<RECEIVABLES> 6,801,702
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 18,762,843
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 502,503,532
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 713,800
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 713,800
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<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 531,489,254
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</TABLE>
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<NUMBER> 022
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND, CLASS B
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 73,538,945
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</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND, CLASS A
<S> <C>
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<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND, CLASS B
<S> <C>
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