497 1 supp.txt JOHN HANCOCK EQUITY TRUST John Hancock Equity Funds Supplement to the Prospectus dated July 2, 2001 John Hancock Focused Relative Value Fund John Hancock Large Cap Value Fund John Hancock Small Cap Value Fund The "Portfolio Managers" section for John Hancock Focused Relative Value Fund, John Hancock Large Cap Value Fund, and John Hancock Small Cap Value Fund has been changed as follows:
------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- FOCUSED RELATIVE VALUE LARGE CAP VALUE FUND SMALL CAP VALUE FUND Fund - Page 12 PAGE 18 PAGE 26 ------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- Portfolio Managers Portfolio Managers Portfolio Managers Timothy E. Quinlisk, CFA Timothy E. Quinlisk, CFA Timothy E. Quinlisk, CFA Senior vice president of adviser Senior vice president of adviser Senior vice president of adviser Joined fund team in 2000 Joined fund team in 1998 Joined fund team in 1998 Joined adviser in 1998 Joined adviser in 1998 Joined adviser in 1998 Analyst at Hagler, Mastrouita & Analyst at Hagler, Mastrouita & Analyst at Hagler, Mastrouita & Hewitt (1997-1998) Hewitt (1997-1998) Hewitt (1997-1998) Analyst at State Street Global Analyst at State Street Global Analyst at State Street Global Advisors (1995-1997) Advisors (1995-1997) Advisors (1995-1997) Began Began business career in Began business career in 1985 Began business career in 1985 1985 James S. Yu, CFA James S. Yu, CFA James S. Yu, CFA Vice president of adviser Vice president of adviser Vice president of adviser Joined fund team in 2000 Joined fund team in 2000 Joined fund team in 2000 Joined adviser in 2000 Joined adviser in 2000 Joined adviser in 2000 Analyst at Merrill Lynch Asset Analyst at Merrill Lynch Asset Analyst at Merrill Lynch Asset Management (1998-2000) Management (1998-2000) Management (1998-2000) Analyst at Gabelli & Company Analyst at Gabelli & Company Analyst at Gabelli & Company (1995-1998) (1995-1998) (1995-1998) Began business career in 1991 Began business career in 1991 Began business career in 1991 ------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- November 7, 2001