0000950123-12-013769.txt : 20121214 0000950123-12-013769.hdr.sgml : 20121214 20121214060323 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950123-12-013769 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 497 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20121214 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20121214 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20121214 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES FUND CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000811921 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 497 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-12947 FILM NUMBER: 121264085 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 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: JOHN HANCOCK TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20110214 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES TRUST DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19901023 0000811921 S000000649 Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund C000001868 Class A JHMAX C000001869 Class B JHMBX C000001870 Class C JMACX 497 1 b91230a1e497.htm JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES e497
John Hancock Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund (the “fund”)
Supplement dated 12-14-2012 to the current Prospectus
In the “Fund Summary” section, under the “Past performance” subsection, the following benchmark index descriptions are added and the “Average annual total returns” table is amended and restated as follows:
Barclays Massachusetts Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index composed of Massachusetts investment grade municipal bonds.
Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index representative of the tax-exempt bond market.
 
                             
 Average annual total returns (%)   1 Year     5 Year     10 Year      
 
as of 12-31-11                            
Class A before tax     6.70       3.56       4.51      
After tax on distributions
    6.68       3.53       4.49      
After tax on distributions, with sale
    5.78       3.60       4.46      
Class B before tax     5.91       3.44       4.41      
Class C before tax     9.91       3.79       4.26      
Barclays Massachusetts Municipal Bond Index*1     10.52       5.58       —      
Barclays Municipal Bond Index*     10.70       5.22       5.38      
 
*   Prior to December 14, 2012, the fund compared its performance solely to the Barclays Municipal Bond Index. After this date, the fund added the Barclays Massachusetts Municipal Bond Index as the primary benchmark index and retained the Barclays Municipal Bond Index as the secondary benchmark index to which the fund compares its performance to better reflect the universe of investment opportunities based on the fund’s investment strategy.
 
1   Total return for index is not available for the 10-year period.
You should read this Supplement in conjunction with the Prospectus and retain it for future reference.