0001133228-14-002435.txt : 20140701 0001133228-14-002435.hdr.sgml : 20140701 20140701163026 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001133228-14-002435 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 497K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20140701 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20140701 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20140701 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: 497K SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-12947 FILM NUMBER: 14952981 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 S000000650 New York Tax-Free Income Fund C000001871 Class A JHNYX C000001872 Class B JNTRX C000001873 Class C JNYCX 497K 1 e382359_497k.htm 497K

 

John Hancock Tax-Exempt Series Fund

 

John Hancock Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund

John Hancock New York Tax-Free Income Fund

 

Supplement dated July 1, 2014 to the current Summary Prospectuses, as may be supplemented from time to time

 

 

On June 25, 2014, the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Tax-Exempt Series Fund, of which each of John Hancock Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund and John Hancock New York Tax-Free Income Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) is a series, voted to recommend that the shareholders of each Fund approve a reorganization of their respective Fund into John Hancock Tax-Free Bond Fund (“Tax-Free Bond Fund”), a series of John Hancock Municipal Securities Trust, as described below (each a “Reorganization” and collectively, the “Reorganizations”). It is expected that neither Reorganization will have a tax impact on shareholders.

 

Under the terms of each Reorganization, subject to shareholder approval at a meeting scheduled to be held on or about December 3, 2014, the applicable Fund would transfer all of its assets to Tax-Free Bond Fund in exchange for shares of equal value of Tax-Free Bond Fund. Tax-Free Bond Fund also would assume the Fund’s liabilities. Tax-Free Bond Fund’s shares would then be distributed to the Fund’s shareholders, and the Fund would be terminated. If approved by the applicable Fund’s shareholders, each Reorganization is expected to occur as of the close of business on or about December 5, 2014 (the “Closing Date”). Each Reorganization is independent of, and not contingent upon, the other. Further information regarding the proposed Reorganizations will be contained in a proxy statement and prospectus, which is scheduled to be mailed to the Funds’ shareholders on October 8, 2014.

 

The Funds will not accept orders from new investors to purchase shares of the Funds effective as of the close of business on September 2, 2014. The Funds will remain open to purchases and redemptions from existing shareholders until the Closing Date.

 

Prior to a Reorganization, any dividends paid will be paid in accordance with the current dividend option of an account; accounts in which the dividend reinvestment option has been chosen will receive any dividends in the form of additional shares of the applicable Fund.

 

 

You should read this Supplement in conjunction with the Summary Prospectus and retain it for your future reference.