HANCOCK JOHN WORLD FUND
485BPOS, 1995-03-21
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<PAGE>   1
 
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 20, 1995
 
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-10722
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 811-4932
================================================================================
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                   FORM N-1A
                            ------------------------
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933            /X/
                          PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.            / /
                        POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 17          /X/
                                     AND/OR
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                       THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940        /X/
                                AMENDMENT NO. 17
                        (Check appropriate box or boxes)
 
                            ------------------------
 
                            JOHN HANCOCK WORLD FUND
               (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
                             101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
                        BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02199-7603
                   (Address of Principal Executive Officers)
       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE (617) 375-1760
 
                            ------------------------
 
                             THOMAS H. DROHAN, ESQ.
                          JOHN HANCOCK ADVISERS, INC.
                             101 Huntington Avenue
                        Boston, Massachusetts 02199-7603
                    (Name and Address of Agent for Service)
 
                                    Copy to:
                             JEFFREY N. CARP, ESQ.
                                 HALE AND DORR
                                60 State Street
                                Boston, MA 02109
 
                            ------------------------
 
 IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
                  / / IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (B) OF RULE
                      485
                  /X/ ON MARCH 20, 1995 PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (B) OF RULE 485
                  / / 60 DAYS AFTER FILING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 485
                  / / ON (DATE) PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE (485 OR 486)
 
                            ------------------------
 
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 ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 1994 ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 24, 1994.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
                                  SIGNATURES
                                  ----------

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940 the Registrant has duly caused this 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 20th day of March, 1995.

                                        JOHN HANCOCK WORLD FUND

                                        By:____________________________________ 
                                           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)

James B. Little
- ---------------
James B. Little              Senior Vice President and Chief    March 20, 1995
                             Financial Officer (Principal
                             Financial and Accounting Officer)

________________________     Trustee
Dennis S. Aronowitz*

________________________     Trustee
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.*

________________________     Trustee
William J. Cosgrove*

________________________     Trustee
Gail D. Fosler*

________________________     Trustee
Bayard Henry*

________________________     Trustee
Richard S. Scipione*

________________________     Trustee
Edward J. Spellman*


*By: Thomas H. Drohan                                           March 20, 1995
     ----------------
     Thomas H. Drohan
     (Attorney-in-Fact)
</TABLE>

                                     C-8
<PAGE>   3
      
                                EXHIBIT INDEX

        The exhibits listed below which are marked by an asterisk (*) have
previously been filed with the Commission as indicated and are incorporated 
herein by reference.
            
Exhibit Description
 
Exhibit No.
 
      1*   Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (filed, Post-Effective
           Amendment No. 14 )                        
 
      1a*  Instrument Establishing and Designating of Class A Shares and
           Class B Shares of Beneficial Interest of the Registrant (file,
           Post-Effective Amendment No. 14) 
 
      2*   By-Laws of Registrant (filed, Registration Statement)     
 
      2a*  Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (filed,               
           Post-Effective Amendment No. 14)
 
      4*   Form of Certificate for Shares of Beneficial Interest in the World
           Bond Portfolio (filed, Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1)
 
      4a*  Form of Certificate representing shares of beneficial interest in    
           the Pacific Basin Equities Portfolio (filed, Pre-Effective Amendment
           No. 1)
 
      4b*  Certificate representing shares of beneficial interest in the John
           Hancock Global Rx Fund. 
 
      5*   Form of Investment Management Contract between Registrant and        
           John Hancock Advisers, Inc. (filed, Registration Statement)
 
      5a*  Form of Sub-Investment Management Contract between Registrant,       
           John Hancock Advisers, Inc. and John Hancock Advisers
           International, Limited (filed, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1)
 
      5b*  Form of Investment Management Contract between John Hancock Global
           Rx and John Hancock Advisers, Inc. (filed, Post-Effective Amendment
           No. 4)
 
      5c*  Investment Management Contract between the John Hancock Global Rx
           Fund and John Hancock Advisers, Inc. (filed, Post-Effective
           Amendment No. 8)

<PAGE>   4
 
      5d*  Investment Management Contract between John Hancock Global Retail
           Fund and John Hancock Advisers, Inc. (filed, Post-Effective
           Amendment No. 14)
 
      5e*  Sub-Investment Management Contract between Registrant, John Hancock
           Advisers, Inc. and Indosuez Asia Advisers, Ltd. 
 
      6*   Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant and John Hancock
           Distributors, Inc. (filed, Registration Statement)
 
      6a*  Form of Selling Agreement between John Hancock Distributors, Inc.
           and selected broker-dealers (filed, Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1)
 
      6b*  Form of Selling Agency Agreement between Registrant and John
           Hancock Broker Distribution Services, Inc.
 
      6c*  Letter to John Hancock Broker Distribution Services, Inc giving
           nature of John Hancock Global Retail Fund and its inclusion in the
           Distribution Contract. (filed, Post-Effective Amendment No. 14)
 
      8a*  Master Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street
           Bank and Trust Company (filed, Post-Effective Amendment No. 14)
 
      8b*  Letter to State Street Bank & Trust Company giving nature of
           John Hancock giving nature of John Hancock Freedom Global Retail
           Fund and its inclusion in the Custodian Agreement (filed, Post
           Effective Amendment No. 14)
 
      9*   Form of Transfer Agency Agreement between Registrant and State       
           Street Bank and Trust Company (filed, Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1)
 
      9a*  Amendment to Transfer Agency Fee Schedule (filed, Post-Effective    
           Amendment No. 4)
 
      9b*  Transfer Agency Agreement between Registrant and John Hancock        
           Fund Services, Inc. (filed, Post-Effective Amendment No. 7)
 
      9c*  Letter to John Hancock Fund Services, Inc. giving notice of the
           creation of John Hancock Global R/x Fund and its inclusion in the
           Transfer Agreement. (filed, Post-Effective Amendment No. 8) 
 
      9d*  Letter to John Hancock Fund Services, Inc. giving nature of John     
           Hancock Global Retail Fund and its inclusion in the Transfer
           Agreement. (filed, Post-Effective Amendment No. 14)
            
<PAGE>   5
     10*   Opinion and consent of Debevoise & Plimpton (Pre-Effective
           Amendment No. 1
 
     11    None
 
     13*   Form of Subscription Agreement between Registrant and John Hancock
           Advisers Inc. (filed, Registration Statement)
 
     15*   Form of Distribution Plan between Registrant and John Hancock
           Distributors, Inc. (filed Pre-Effective Amendment No.1)
 
     15a*  Form of Distribution Plan between Registrant and John Hancock        
           Broker Distribution Services, Inc. (filed, Post-Effective Amendment
           No. 7)
 
     15b*  Amendment to Distribution Plan between Registrant and John Hancock
           Broker Distribution Services, Inc. (filed, Post-Effective Amendment
           No. 8)

     15c*  Amended and Restated Distribution Plans between John Hancock 
           Freedom Global R/x Fund, John Hancock Freedom Pacific Basin
           Equities Fund and John Hancock Broker Distribution Services, Inc.
           (filed, Post Effective Amendment No. 12).
 
     15d*  Class A Distribution Plan between John Hancock Freedom Pacific       
           Basin Equities Fund and John Hancock Broker Distribution Services,
           Inc. (filed, Post-Effective Amendment No. 13)
 
     15e*  Class B Distribution Plan between John Hancock Freedom Pacific       
           Basin Equities Fund and John Hancock Broker Distribution Services,
           Inc. (filed, Post-Effective Amendment No. 13) 
 
     15f*  Class A Distribution Plan between John Hancock Freedom Global Rx     
           Fund and John Hancock Broker Distribution Services, Inc. (filed,
           Post-Effective Amendment No. 13) 
 
     15g*  Class B Distribution Plan between John Hancock Freedom Global Rx 
           Fund and John Hancock Broker Distribution Services, Inc. (filed,
           Post-Effective Amendment No. 13) 
 
     15h*  Class A Distribution Plan between John Hancock Global Retail Fund    
           and John Hancock Broker Distribution Services, Inc. (filed,
           Post-Effective Amendment No. 14)
<PAGE>   6
 
     15i*  Class B Distribution Plan between John Hancock Global Retail 
           Fund and John Hancock Broker Distribution Services, Inc. (filed, 
           Post-Effective Amendment No. 14)
 
     16*   Schedules for computation of total return for period. (filed,
           Post-Effective Amendment No. 6.) 
 
     27    Financial Data Schedule       

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF JOHN HANCOCK GLOBAL RETAIL
PROSPECTUS FOR THE SPECIAL TIME PERIOD AS NOTED BELOW AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-29-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          557,565
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         558,763
<RECEIVABLES>                                   10,899
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  16,596
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                             1,198
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 586,258
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                        54,176
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             13,144
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          520,638
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           61,327
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                           15
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        (2,894)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         1,179
<NET-ASSETS>                                   518,938
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  251
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                4,048
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   2,637
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          1,662
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (2,894)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        1,179
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                             (53)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        1,647
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          2,514
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                        106
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  5
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         520,638
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            1,406
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 13,491
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           513,150
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             8.50
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.03)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.03
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               8.47
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.50
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


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