-----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, ND5jET/7ynRjCsyjngB7bVZD9PcuchxPdPzJ442AxNEC1lWFRVrj4T6TVV6fXdbO YlL5qir8YboH21vVS676PA== 0001010521-97-000316.txt : 19970530 0001010521-97-000316.hdr.sgml : 19970530 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001010521-97-000316 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 497 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19970529 SROS: NONE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000811921 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 497 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-12947 FILM NUMBER: 97615684 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 101 HUNTINGTON AVE CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02199 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 JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES John Hancock Funds Supplement to Statement of Additional Information The "INITIAL SALES CHARGE ON CLASS A SHARES" section is supplemented under the heading "Without Sales Charge" by adding: o Retirement plans participating in Merrill Lynch servicing programs, if the Plan has more than $3 million in assets or 500 eligible employees at the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement. See your Merrill Lynch financial consultant for further information. The "INITIAL SALES CHARGE ON CLASS A AND CLASS B SHARES" section is supplemented under the heading "Without Sales Charge" by adding: o For retirement plans participating in Merrill Lynch's servicing programs, Class A shares are not available at net asset value for Plans with less than $3 million or 500 eligible employees at the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement. Class B shares are available. See your Merrill Lynch financial consultant for further information. The "DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON CLASS B SHARES" section is supplemented under the heading "Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" by adding: o Retirement plans participating in Merrill Lynch servicing programs, if the Plan has more than $3 million in assets or 500 eligible employees at the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement. See your Merrill Lynch financial consultant for further information. The "DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ON CLASS B SHARES" section is supplemented under the heading "For Retirement Accounts" by adding: o For retirement plans participating in Merrill Lynch's servicing programs that are investing in Class B shares, shares will convert to Class A shares after eight years, (5 years for Short-Term Strategic Income Fund, Intermediate Maturity Fund and Limited-Term Government Fund) or sooner if the plan attains assets of $5 million (by means of a CDSC-free redemption/purchase at net asset value). The "ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS" section is supplemented as follows: Retirement plans participating in Merrill Lynch's servicing programs: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Class A shares are available at net asset value for plans with $3 million in plan assets or 500 eligible employees at the date the Plan Sponsor signs the Merrill Lynch Recordkeeping Service Agreement. If the plan does not meet either of these limits, Class A shares are not available. For participating retirement plans investing in Class B shares, shares will convert to Class A shares after eight years, or sooner if the plan attains assets of $5 million (by means of a CDSC-free redemption/purchase at net asset value). 6/1/97 MF2SS 6/97 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----