JOHN HANCOCK INSTITUTIONAL SERIES TRUST
Supplement to Prospectus dated July 1, 1998
On page 21, the "Organization and Management of the Funds" has been changed as
follows:
John Hancock Active Bond Fund
Mr. James K. Ho, CFA, leads the Fund's portfolio management team and has been
primarily responsible for the management of the Fund since its inception. Mr.
Ho, an executive vice president, has been associated with the Adviser since 1985
and in the investment business since 1977. Other team members are Mr. Anthony A.
Goodchild and Mr. Benjamin A. Matthews, vice presidents, who have been
associated with the Adviser since 1994 and 1995, respectively, and have been in
the investment business for thirty-one and twenty-nine years, respectively.
John Hancock Global Bond Fund
Fred L. Cavanaugh, Jr., Anthony A. Goodchild and James K. Ho, CFA, lead the
fund's portfolio management team. Mr. Cavanaugh and Mr. Ho have been members of
the team since 1998 and Mr. Goodchild since inception. Mr. Cavanaugh, senior
vice president, has been in the investment business since 1973 and joined the
Adviser in 1986. Mr. Goodchild, senior vice president, has been in the
investment business since 1968 and joined the Adviser in 1994. Mr. Ho, executive
vice president, has been in the investment business since 1977 and joined the
Adviser in 1985.
John Hancock Multi-Sector Growth Fund
Barbara C. Friedman, CFA, CIC, leads the Fund's portfolio management team which
includes Susan E. Kelly. Ms. Friedman, senior vice president of the Adviser, has
been in the investment business since 1973. She joined John Hancock Funds and
has served on the fund's team since 1998. Ms. Kelly, second vice president of
the Adviser, has been in the investment business since 1988. She joined John
Hancock Funds and has served on the fund's team since 1998.
John Hancock Small Capitalization Value Fund
Timothy E. Keefe, CFA, leads the Fund's portfolio management team which includes
Timothy E. Quinlisk, CFA. Mr. Keefe, senior vice president of the Adviser, has
been in the investment business since 1987. He joined John Hancock Funds in 1996
and has served on the fund's team since 1996. Mr. Quinlisk, second vice
president of the Adviser, has been in the investment business since 1985. He
joined John Hancock Funds and has served on the fund's team since 1998.
March 5, 1999
KB0PS- 3/99
