0001133228-15-001101.txt : 20150320 0001133228-15-001101.hdr.sgml : 20150320 20150320114705 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001133228-15-001101 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 497 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20150320 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20150320 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20150320 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BOND FUND CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000045288 IRS NUMBER: 042528977 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 0531 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 497 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 002-48925 FILM NUMBER: 15715326 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS STREET 2: 601 CONGRESS STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02210 BUSINESS PHONE: 617-663-3000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS STREET 2: 601 CONGRESS STREET CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02210 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HANCOCK JOHN SOVEREIGN BOND FUND DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19930921 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HANCOCK JOHN BONDS DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19930921 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HANCOCK JOHN BOND TRUST DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19910704

0000045288 S000000646 Bond Fund

C000001854 Class A JHNBX

C000001855 Class B JHBBX

C000001856 Class C JHCBX

C000001857 Class I JHBIX

C000106442 Class R6 JHBSX

C000113488 Class R2 JHRBX

497 1 e404875_497.htm SUPPLEMENT

JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II	JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST II
JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS III	JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST III
JOHN HANCOCK BOND TRUST	JOHN HANCOCK MUNICIPAL SECURITIES TRUST
JOHN HANCOCK CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND	JOHN HANCOCK SOVEREIGN BOND FUND
JOHN HANCOCK CAPITAL SERIES	JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
JOHN HANCOCK CURRENT INTEREST	JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
JOHN HANCOCK INVESTMENT TRUST

(the “Trusts”)

Supplement dated March 20, 2015 to the current Statement of Additional Information, as may be supplemented

Effective March 10, 2015, James R. Boyle has been appointed to the Board of Trustees as a Non-Independent Trustee.

The table below presents certain information regarding Mr. Boyle, including his principal occupations, which, unless specific dates are shown, are of at least five years‘ duration. In addition, the table includes information concerning other directorships held by Mr. Boyle in other registered investment companies or publicly traded companies:

Name

(Birth Year)

Position(s) with the Trust¹

Principal Occupation(s) and Other
Directorships During the Past 5 Years

Number of Funds in John Hancock Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee

James R. Boyle²

(1959)

Trustee (since 2015)

Chairman, HealthFleet, Inc., (healthcare) (since 2014); Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Life Insurance Division of Genworth Financial, Inc. (insurance) (January 2014-July 2014); Senior Executive Vice President, Manulife Financial, President and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock (1999-2012); Chairman and Director, John Hancock Advisers, LLC, John Hancock Funds, LLC, and John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC (2005-2010).

Trustee, John Hancock Collateral Trust (since 2015); Trustee, John Hancock retail funds³ (2005–2010, 2012-2014 and since 2015); Trustee, John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust and John Hancock Funds II (2005-2014 and since 2015).

222

Because the Trust does not hold regular annual shareholders meetings, Mr. Boyle holds office for an indefinite term until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until he dies, retires, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Trustees may be removed from the Trust (provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than one) with cause or without cause, by the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees or by action of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

Mr. Boyle is a Non-Independent Trustee due to current or former positions with the Advisor and certain of its affiliates.

“John Hancock retail funds” is composed of John Hancock Funds III and 35 other John Hancock funds consisting of 25 series of other John Hancock trusts and 10 closed-end funds.

In addition to the description of Mr. Boyle’s Principal Occupation(s) and Other Directorships set forth above, the following provides further information about Mr. Boyle’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills with respect to each Trust. The information in this section should not be understood to mean that the Trustee is an expert within the meaning of the federal securities laws:

James R. Boyle — Through his former positions as chairman and director of the Advisor, position as a senior executive of MFC, the Advisor’s parent company, and positions with other affiliates of the Advisor, Mr. Boyle has experience in the development and management of registered investment companies, variable annuities and retirement products, enabling him to provide management input to the Board. He also has experience as a senior executive of healthcare and insurance companies.

You should read this Supplement in conjunction with the Statement of Additional Information and retain it for future reference.