<PAGE>
------------------------------
OMB APPROVAL
UNITED STATES OMB NUMBER 3235-0145
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION EXPIRES: DECEMBER 31, 1997
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ESTIMATED AVERAGE BURDEN
HOURS PER RESPONSE . . . 14.90
------------------------------
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO.1)*
NETCOM On-Line Communications Services, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
641081104
----------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [_]. (A fee
is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement on file
reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7).
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
SEC 1745
PAGE 1 OF 8 PAGES
<PAGE>
- ----------------------- ---------------------
CUSIP NO. 641081104 13G PAGE 2 OF 8 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company
I.R.S. No. 04-1414660
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [_]
(b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
SHARES
-----------------------------------------------------------
6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY -0-
EACH
-----------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON -0-
WITH
-----------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries, Hancock
Venture Partners, Inc. and John Hancock Advisers, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
See line 9, above.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IC, HC, IA, BD
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
PAGE 2 OF 8 PAGES
<PAGE>
- ----------------------- ---------------------
CUSIP NO. 641081104 13G PAGE 3 OF 8 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc.
I.R.S. No. 04-2687223
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [_]
(b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
SHARES
-----------------------------------------------------------
6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY -0-
EACH
-----------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON -0-
WITH
-----------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
433,498: 403,498 through its direct, wholly-owned subsidiary, Hancock
Venture Partners, Inc. and 30,000 through its indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiary, John Hancock Advisers, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
3.9%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
HC
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
PAGE 3 OF 8 PAGES
<PAGE>
- ----------------------- ---------------------
CUSIP NO. 641081104 13G PAGE 4 OF 8 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Hancock Venture Partners, Inc.
I.R.S. No. 04-2765223
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [_]
(b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF 403,498
SHARES
-----------------------------------------------------------
6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY -0-
EACH
-----------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON 403,498
WITH
-----------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
403,498
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
3.6%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IA
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
PAGE 4 OF 8 PAGES
<PAGE>
The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the
statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed
on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive
officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with
the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose
which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference.
The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or
printed beneath his signature.
Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed with
the Commission.
ATTENTION: INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSIONS OF FACT CONSTITUTE FEDERAL
CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS
(SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001)
Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:
--------------
NETCOM On-Line Communications Services, Inc.
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
-----------------------------------------------
3031 Tisch Way, 2nd Flr.
San Jose, CA 95128
Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing:
---------------------
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company ("JHMLICO"), JHMLICO's
wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc. ("JHSI") and
JHSI's wholly-owned subsidiary, Hancock Venture Partners, Inc.
("Venture").
Item 2(b) Address of the Principal Office:
-------------------------------
The principal business offices of JHMLICO and JHSI are located at
John Hancock Place, P.O. Box 111, Boston, Massachusetts 02117. The
principal place of business of Venture is One Financial Center,
Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
Item 2(c) Citizenship:
-----------
JHMLICO was organized and exists under the laws of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts. JHSI and Venture were organized and exist under
the laws of the State of Delaware.
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:
----------------------------
Common Stock
Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:
------------
641081104
Item 3 If the Statement is being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), check
----------------------------------------------------------------
whether the person filing is a:
------------------------------
JHMLICO: (a) (X) Broker or Dealer registered under (S)15 of the Act
(c) (X) Insurance Company as defined in (S)3(a)(19) of the
Act.
(e) (X) Investment Adviser registered under (S)203 of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
(g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance with
(S)240.13cd-1(b)(ii)(G).
JHSI (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance with
(S)240.13cd-1(b)(ii)(G).
Venture (e) (X) Investment Adviser registered under (S)203 of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
PAGE 5 OF 8 PAGES
<PAGE>
Item 4 Ownership:
---------
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
-------------------------
Venture has beneficial ownership of 403,498 shares of Common
Stock. Venture is a general partner of Back Bay Partners XIII
L.P. Back Bay Partners XIII L.P. is the general partner of Falcon
Ventures II L.P. ("Falcon II"). Venture is also a general partner
of Back Bay Partners XII L.P. Back Bay Partners XII L.P. is the
general partner of Hancock Venture Partners IV - Direct Fund L.P.
("Fund IV"). Falcon II has 23,895 shares of Common Stock and Fund
IV has 379,603 shares of Common Stock. Through their parent-
subsidiary relationship to Venture, JHMLICO and JHSI have
indirect beneficial ownership of these same shares.
In addition to the 403,498 shares held by Venture, an indirect,
wholly-owned subsidiary of JHSI, John Hancock Advisers, Inc., a
registered investment adviser, has direct beneficial ownership of
30,000 shares of Common Stock. John Hancock Advisers, Inc. is the
direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Berkeley Financial Group
which is the direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of JHSI. The shares
are held in two open-end diversified management companies
registered under (S)8 of the Investment Company Act:
John Hancock Emerging Growth Fund - 10,000
John Hancock Discovery Fund - 20,000
(b) Percent of Class:
----------------
JHSI - 3.9%
Venture - 3.6%
(c) (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
Venture has sole power to vote or to direct the vote of the
403,498 shares of Common Stock. JHA has sole power to vote
or to direct the vote of the 30,000 shares of Common Stock
under advisory agreements with John Hancock Discovery Fund,
dated December 1, 1995 and John Hancock Emerging Growth
Fund, dated December 22, 1994.
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote: -0-
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
Venture has sole power to vote or to direct the disposition
of the 403,498 shares of Common Stock. JHA has sole power
to dispose or to direct the disposition of the 30,000
shares of Common Stock under the advisory agreements noted
in Item 4(c)(i) above.
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
-0-
Item 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
--------------------------------------------
With this filing, the Reporting Persons state they own five percent
or less of the class.
Item 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
---------------------------------------------------------------
Not applicable.
PAGE 6 OF 8 PAGES
<PAGE>
Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired
------------------------------------------------------------------
the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company:
------------------------------------------------------------
See Items 2(a), 3 and 4 above.
Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
---------------------------------------------------------
Not applicable.
Item 9 Notice of Dissolution of a Group:
--------------------------------
Not applicable.
Item 10 Certification:
-------------
By signing below the undersigned certifies that, to the best of its
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired
in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the
purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the
control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such
purpose or effect.
SIGNATURE
---------
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, each
of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete and correct.
JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /S/ John T. Faraday
---------------------------------------
Name: John T. Faraday
-------------------------------------
Dated: February 13, 1996 Title: Senior Vice President & Treasurer
----------------------- ------------------------------------
JOHN HANCOCK SUBSIDIARIES, INC.
By: /S/ John T. Faraday
---------------------------------------
Name: John T. Faraday
-------------------------------------
Dated: February 13, 1996 Title: Treasurer
----------------------- ------------------------------------
HANCOCK VENTURE PARTNERS, INC.
By: /S/ Martha D. Vorlicek
---------------------------------------
Name: Martha D. Vorlicek
-------------------------------------
Dated: February 13, 1996 Title: Vice President & Treasurer
----------------------- ------------------------------------
PAGE 7 OF 8 PAGES
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
----------------------
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, John Hancock Subsidiaries, Inc.
and Hancock Venture Partners, Inc. hereby agree that the Terminating Schedule
13G Amendment No. 1, to which this Agreement is attached, relating to the Common
Stock of NETCOM On-Line Communications Services, Inc., is filed on behalf of
each of them.
JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /S/ John T. Faraday
---------------------------------------
Name: John T. Faraday
-------------------------------------
Dated: February 13, 1996 Title: Senior Vice President & Treasurer
----------------------- ------------------------------------
JOHN HANCOCK SUBSIDIARIES, INC.
By: /S/ John T. Faraday
---------------------------------------
Name: John T. Faraday
-------------------------------------
Dated: February 13, 1996 Title: Treasurer
----------------------- ------------------------------------
HANCOCK VENTURE PARTNERS, INC.
By: /S/ Martha D. Vorlicek
---------------------------------------
Name: Martha D. Vorlicek
-------------------------------------
Dated: February 13, 1996 Title: Vice President & Treasurer
----------------------- ------------------------------------
PAGE 8 OF 8 PAGES
