-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, AA29F0DCHLxPzZZwu+Hgg7FjtYqCpgW/YEsxzQkFgOKVKoIIJyjaasv2OfC+ohRF a6gpxT8jpyZffG0w1WN4GQ== 0001010521-03-000389.txt : 20031223 0001010521-03-000389.hdr.sgml : 20031223 20031223142037 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001010521-03-000389 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 497 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20031223 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20031223 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000811921 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 497 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-12947 FILM NUMBER: 031070507 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 101 HUNTINGTON AVE CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02199-7603 BUSINESS PHONE: 6173751702 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02199 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES TRUST DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19901023 497 1 supp3.txt JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES Supplement to the Statements of Additional Information January 1, 2003 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Hancock California Tax-Free Income Fund John Hancock Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Hancock High Yield Municipal Bond Fund John Hancock New York Tax-Free Income Fund - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Hancock Tax-Free Bond Fund - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "INITIAL SALES CHARGE ON CLASS A AND CLASS C SHARES" In the "Without Sales Charges" section, the last bullet point under the heading "Class C shares may be offered without a front and sales charge to": has been deleted and replaced with the following: o An investor who buys through a Merrill Lynch omnibus account, or Edward Jones, UBS Financial Securities LLC, Quick & Reilly, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services or Raymond James & Associates. As of January 1, 2004, Wedbush Morgan Securities, Inc., Stifel Nicolaus & Company Incorporated, Wachovia Securities LLC, Wachovia Securities Financial Network LLC, RBC Dain Rauscher, Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc., LPL Financial Services, and First Clearing LLC will also offer Class C shares without front-end sales charges. However, a CDSC may apply if the shares are sold within 12 months of purchase. 12/23/03 Supplement to the John Hancock Tax-Free Income Funds Prospectus dated January 1, 2003 Under "SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS", the last sentence under "Waivers for certain investors" on page 15 has been deleted and replaced with the following: Class C shares may be offered without front-end sales charges to various individuals and institutions when purchased through a Merrill Lynch omnibus account, or Edward Jones, UBS Financial Securities LLC, Quick & Reilly, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services or Raymond James & Associates. As of January 1, 2004, Wedbush Morgan Securities, Inc., Stifel Nicolaus & Company Incorporated, Wachovia Securities LLC, Wachovia Securities Financial Network LLC, RBC Dain Rauscher, Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc., LPL Financial Services, and First Clearing LLC will also offer Class C shares without front-end sales charges. However, a CDSC may apply if the shares are sold within 12 months of purchase. December 23, 2003 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----