UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811- 4079
John Hancock Equity Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Alfred P. Ouellette
Senior Attorney and Assistant Secretary
601 Congress Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 617-663-4324
Date of fiscal year end: | October 31 | |
Date of reporting period: | October 31, 2006 |
ITEM 1. REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/techleadersx1x1.jpg)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Your fund at a glance |
page 1 |
Manager’s report |
page 2 |
A look at performance |
page 6 |
Your expenses |
page 8 |
Fund’s investments |
page 10 |
Financial statements |
page 13 |
Notes to financial |
statements |
page 20 |
Trustees and officers |
page 32 |
For more information |
page 36 |
CEO corner
To Our Shareholders,
The future has arrived at John Hancock Funds.
We have always been firm believers in the powerful role the Internet can play in providing fund information to our shareholders and prospective investors. Recently, we launched a redesigned, completely overhauled Web site that is more visually pleasing, easier to navigate and, most importantly, provides more fund information and learning tools without overwhelming the user.
Not long after we embarked on this major project, a study was released by the Investment Company Institute, the mutual fund industry’s main trade group, which found that an overwhelming majority of shareholders consider the Internet the “wave of the future” for accessing fund information.
Our new site sports fresher and faster ways to access account information. New innovations allow investors to view funds by risk level, track the performance of the John Hancock funds of their choice or sort funds by Morningstar, Inc.’s star ratings. Investors who own a John Hancock fund through a qualified retirement plan and don’t pay sales charges when making a purchase have the option of sorting by a “Load Waived” Morningstar Rating, thereby creating an apples-to-apples comparison with no-load funds that may also be available in their retirement plan.
The new site also has more educational tools and interactive modules to educate and assist investors with their financial goals, from college savings to retirement planning. A new “I want to…” feature allows investors to check performance, invest more money, update personal information or download prospectuses and forms quickly and easily.
In another of our ongoing efforts to provide our shareholders with top-notch service, we also redesigned our shareholder reports, as you may have noticed with this report. We hope the larger size, more colorful cover and redesigned presentation of the commentary and data tables will draw you in and make them easier to read.
After you’ve read your shareholder report, we encourage you to visit our new Web site — www.jhfunds.com — and take a tour. It’s easy, fast and fun and allows you to be in control of what you see and do. In short, it’s the wave of the future!
Sincerely,
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/techleadersx2x2.jpg)
Keith F. Hartstein,
President and Chief Executive Officer
This commentary reflects the CEO’s views as of October 31, 2006. They are subject to change
at any time.
Your fund at a glance
The Fund seeks capital appreciation by normally investing at least 80% of its
assets in companies that the manager believes are, or have the potential to be,
technology leaders.
Over the last twelve months
► Although they lagged the broader equity market, technology stocks posted strong gains for the period.
► The Fund underperformed its benchmarks, primarily due to its underweighting in large-cap stocks and unfavorable stock selection.
► The Fund’s best performers were a diverse group, led by Internet-related companies.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/techleadersx3x1.jpg)
Top 10 holdings
Trident Microsystems, Inc. | 4.2% | Microsoft Corp. | 3.1% | |
Corning, Inc. | 3.6% | Akamai Technologies, Inc. | 3.1% | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 3.3% | MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. | 3.1% | |
Quality Systems, Inc. | 3.2% | Macrovision Corp. | 3.0% | |
Apple Computer, Inc. | 3.1% | Adobe Systems, Inc. | 3.0% | |
As a percentage of net assets on October 31, 2006.
1
Manager’s report
John Hancock
Technology Leaders Fund
Although they lagged the overall stock market, technology stocks posted strong returns for the 12 months ended October 31, 2006. Like the broader equity market, tech stocks rose and fell in response to changing expectations regarding the economy, interest rates and inflation. Early on, the tech group rallied strongly amid investors’ optimism about a prolonged period of steady economic growth in an environment characterized by moderate interest rate hikes and benign inflation. Adding to investors’ enthusiasm was the fact that many companies in the group posted better-than-expected earnings growth in response to continued strong consumer outlays on an array of electronic products, an increase in spending on tech goods and services by Corporate America and surging global demand. However, tech stocks suffered a painful drubbing from May through July, coming under pressure due to the market’s general concern about slowing economic growth, rising interest rates and the slowing U.S. housing market. Those macroeconomic fears translated into worries about a potential decrease in demand for technology, ballooning inventories and, ultimately, lower earnings for tech companies. Also adding to tech stocks’ malaise was the backlash from the options backdating controversy. More than 100 companies — many of them technology concerns — have been accused of retroactively setting the grant date of their executive stock options
SCORECARD
INVESTMENT | PERIOD’S PERFORMANCE AND WHAT’S BEHIND THE NUMBERS | |
Akamai | ▲ | Buoyed by strong sales |
Technologies | ||
Advanced Micro | ▲ | Gains market share on rival Intel |
Devices | ||
Broadcom | ▼ | Earnings fail to live up to investors’ expectations |
2
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/techleadersx5x1.jpg)
Portfolio Manager, MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC
Thomas P. Norton, CFA
to a time when the stock was trading at a low price. That made some investors leery of the group overall. In the final months of the period, tech stocks staged a strong rebound. Instead of slowing, both the global economy and the tech sector continued to grow, as orders and exports enjoyed significant gains. That allowed the vast majority of tech firms to report strong earnings gains that beat estimates.
“Like the broader equity
market, tech stocks rose and
fell in response to changing
expectations regarding the
economy, interest rates and
inflation.”
Performance
For the 12 months ended October 31, 2006, John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund’s Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares posted total returns of 7.41%, 6.77%, 6.66% and 7.96%, respectively, at net asset value. During the same 12-month period, the NASDAQ 100 Stock Index returned 10.22%, the average Morningstar specialty/technology fund returned 10.04% 1 and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index returned 16.34% . Keep in mind that your net asset value return will be different from the Fund’s performance if you were not invested in the Fund for the entire period and did not reinvest all distributions. See pages six and seven for historical performance results.
Leaders
Investors bid up the shares of Akamai Technologies, Inc., Advanced Micro Devices and Garmin Ltd. — all of which generated strong returns for the Fund in the period. Akamai, which provides Internet delivery services for Web sites and corporations, served us well, as the company
Technology Leaders Fund
3
generated strong sales. Semiconductor chip maker Advanced Micro Devices also performed well, buoyed in part by its ability to grab market share from long-time industry leader Intel. Garmin, maker of GPS navigational systems used in cars, airplanes, boats and even cell phones, enjoyed healthy profits and strong growth. Elsewhere, two larger-cap holdings worked in our favor. Apple Computer, Inc., enjoyed solid top and bottom line growth, thanks initially to the ongoing success of the iPOD, and later to stronger sales of its PC products. Cisco Systems, Inc., which makes routers, switchers and other networking gear, benefited from strong revenue and profit growth in response to increases in global spending on its products and services.
INDUSTRY DISTRIBUTION2 | |
Communications | |
equipment | 19% |
Systems software | 16% |
Internet software & | |
services | 9% |
Semiconductors | 7% |
Wireless | |
telecommunication | |
services | 6% |
Computer storage & | |
peripherals | 5% |
Semiconductor | |
equipment | 5% |
Computer hardware | 4% |
Application software | 3% |
Oil & gas equipment & | |
services | 3% |
Computer & electronic | |
retail | 2% |
Data processing & | |
outsourced services | 2% |
Electronic manufacturing | |
services | 2% |
Household appliances | 2% |
Human resource & | |
employment services | 2% |
Integrated oil & gas | 2% |
All others | 3% |
Disappointments
On the other hand, our disappointments included Broadcom Corp., maker of semiconductor chips for set-top boxes, cable modems, network communications equipment and a variety of other items. It declined sharply early in the period in response to disappointing financial results. We eliminated our position in Broadcom based on our view that the company’s problems could linger for some time. Shares of Red Hat, Inc., the open-source-software developer, also sank due to the company’s disappointing earnings results, stemming partly from the company’s recent acquisition of rival JBoss. Investors also were troubled by Oracle’s decision to enter the open-source-software business. We took advantage of Red Hat’s stock price weakness to add to our stake in the company at attractive prices, because we believe that investors overreacted to its recent challenges and that its long-term prospects are solid.
Elsewhere, XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc. underperformed, posting a wider quarterly loss and cutting its subscriber estimate for the year. The company blamed a weaker overall retail environment along with problems with portable units. Because of a Federal Communications Commission investigation into how those radios transmit programming to car stereos, the company had to pull many of them from store shelves. Online search giant Yahoo!, Inc. also worked against us, facing increased competition for online advertising dollars from both new and established rivals.
Technology Leaders Fund
4
Outlook
Over the near term, we’re optimistic about the prospects for technology stocks. Over the past five years, the group has tended to do well in the fourth quarter of the year, in part due to the rising seasonality of the business. Consumer purchases of PCs and consumer electronics now makes that sector much more dependent on certain periods such as the U.S. holiday shopping season. Furthermore, corporations may deploy some of their unspent information technology budget before they lose it at year end. Finally, technology stocks have lagged those from other industries for most of 2006, which potentially makes them attractive to value-seeking investors. For 2007, our outlook is contingent on the strength of the economy and the direction of interest rates. A deeper-than-expected housing downturn could cause consumers and businesses alike to tighten their purse strings, which may bode poorly for the t echnology industry. If, on the other hand, the economy continues to expand at a moderate, non-inflationary pace, and consumer spending remains solid, technology stocks could perform well. Beyond that, we believe that several longer-term trends — such as the explosive use of video and cell phones — will continue to favor the group.
“…technology stocks have lagged
those from other industries for
most of 2006, which potentially
makes them attractive to value-
seeking investors.”
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/techleadersx7x1.jpg)
This commentary reflects the views of the portfolio manager through the end of the Fund’s period discussed in this report. The manager’s statements reflect his own opinions. As such, they are in no way guarantees of future events, and are not intended to be used as investment advice or a recommendation regarding any specific security. They are also subject to change at any time as market and other conditions warrant.
Sector investing is subject to greater risks than the market as a whole.
1 Figures from Morningstar include reinvested dividends and do not take into account sales charges. Actual load-adjusted performance is lower.
2 As a percentage of net assets on October 31, 2006.
Technology Leaders Fund
5
A look at performance
For the periods ending October 31, 2006 | ||||||||||
Average annual returns | Cumulative total returns | |||||||||
with maximum sales charge (POP) | with maximum sales charge (POP) | |||||||||
Inception | Since | Since | ||||||||
Class | date | 1-year | 5-year | 10-year | inception | 1-year | 5-year | 10-year | inception | |
A | 6-29-99 | 2.04% | 1.75% | — | –0.78% | 2.04% | 9.04% | — | –5.57% | |
B | 6-20-05 | 1.77 | — | — | 3.51 | 1.77 | — | — | 4.82 | |
C | 6-20-05 | 5.66 | — | — | 6.31 | 5.66 | — | — | 8.71 | |
I1 | 6-20-05 | 7.96 | — | — | 7.61 | 7.96 | — | — | 10.52 | |
Performance figures assume all distributions are reinvested. Returns with maximum sales charge reflect a sales charge on Class A shares of 5%, and the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) on Class B and Class C shares. The Class B shares’ CDSC declines annually between years 1–6 according to the following schedule: 5, 4, 3, 3, 2, 1%. No sales charge will be assessed after the sixth year. Class C shares held for less than one year are subject to a 1% CDSC. Sales charge is not applicable for Class I shares.
The returns reflect past results and should not be considered indicative of future performance. The return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Due to market volatility, the Fund’s current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-225-5291 or visit the Fund’s Web site at www.jhfunds.com.
The performance table above and the chart on the next page do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
The Fund’s performance results reflect any applicable expense reductions, without which the expenses would increase and results would have been less favorable.
1 For certain types of investors as described in the Fund’s Class I share prospectus.
Technology Leaders Fund
6
Growth of $10,000
This chart shows what happened to a hypothetical $10,000 investment in Class A shares
for the period indicated. For comparison, we’ve shown the same investment in two
separate indexes.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/techleadersx9x1.jpg)
Without sales | With maximum | ||||
Class | Period beginning | charge | sales charge | Index 1 | Index 2 |
B1 | 6-20-05 | $10,882 | $10,482 | $11,618 | $11,665 |
C1 | 6-20-05 | 10,871 | 10,871 | 11,618 | 11,665 |
I 1,2 | 6-20-05 | 11,052 | 11,052 | 11,618 | 11,665 |
Assuming all distributions were reinvested for the period indicated, the table above shows the value of a $10,000 investment in the Fund’s Class B, Class C and Class I shares, respectively, as of October 31, 2006. Performance of the classes will vary based on the difference in sales charges paid by shareholders investing in the different classes and the fee structure of those classes.
Standard & Poor’s 500 Index — Index 1 — is an unmanaged index that includes 500 widely traded common stocks.
NASDAQ 100 Stock Index — Index 2 — is an unmanaged index that includes 100 of the largest domestic and international non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market based on market capitalization.
It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not reflect sales charges which would have resulted in lower values if they did.
1 Index 2 figure as of June 30, 2005.
2 For certain types of investors as described in the Fund’s Class I share prospectus.
Technology Leaders Fund
7
Your expenses
These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing
operating expenses.
Understanding fund expenses
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs:
■ Transaction costs which include sales charges (loads) on purchases or redemptions (varies by share class), minimum account fee charge, etc.
■ Ongoing operating expenses including management fees, distribution and service fees (if applicable) and other fund expenses.
We are going to present only your ongoing operating expenses here.
Actual expenses/actual returns
This example is intended to provide information about your fund’s actual ongoing operating expenses, and is based on your fund’s actual return. It assumes an account value of $1,000.00 on May 1, 2006, with the same investment held until October 31, 2006.
Account value | Ending value | Expenses paid during period | |
on 5-1-06 | on 10-31-06 | ended 10-31-061 | |
A | $1,000.00 | $939.10 | $8.80 |
B | 1,000.00 | 936.70 | 12.19 |
C | 1,000.00 | 935.70 | 12.19 |
I | 1,000.00 | 941.20 | 6.33 |
Together with the value of your account, you may use this information to estimate the operating expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value at October 31, 2006 by $1,000.00, then multiply it by the “expenses paid” for your share class from the table above. For example, for an account value of $8,600.00, the operating expenses should be calculated as follows:
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/techleadersx10x1.jpg)
Technology Leaders Fund
8
Hypothetical example for comparison purposes
This table allows you to compare your fund’s ongoing operating expenses with those of any other fund. It provides an example of the Fund’s hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each class’s actual expense ratio and an assumed 5% annual return before expenses (which is not your fund’s actual return). It assumes an account value of $1,000.00 on May 1, 2006, with the same investment held until October 31, 2006. Look in any other fund shareholder report to find its hypothetical example and you will be able to compare these expenses.
Account value | Ending value | Expenses paid during period | |
on 5-1-06 | on 10-31-06 | ended 10-31-061 | |
A | $1,000.00 | $1,016.13 | $9.15 |
B | 1,000.00 | 1,012.61 | 12.67 |
C | 1,000.00 | 1,012.61 | 12.67 |
I | 1,000.00 | 1,018.69 | 6.58 |
Remember, these examples do not include any transaction costs, such as sales charges; therefore, these examples will not help you to determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. If transaction costs were included, your expenses would have been higher. See the prospectus for details regarding transaction costs.
1 Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of 1.80%, 2.50%, 2.50% and 1.29% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by number of days in most recent fiscal half-year/365 or 366 (to reflect the one-half year period).
Technology Leaders Fund
9
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Fund’s investments
Securities owned by the Fund on 10-31-06
This schedule is divided into two main categories: common stocks and short-term
investments. Common stocks are further broken down by industry group. Short-term
investments, which represent the Fund’s cash position, are listed last.
Issuer | Shares | Value |
Common stocks 91.65% | $2,451,622 | |
(Cost $2,128,427) | ||
Application Software 2.53% | 67,683 | |
BEA Systems, Inc. (I) | 4,160 | 67,683 |
Broadcasting & Cable TV 1.39% | 37,312 | |
XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc. (Class A) (I) | 3,200 | 37,312 |
Coal & Consumable Fuels 0.83% | 22,140 | |
Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (I) | 900 | 22,140 |
Communications Equipment 19.15% | 512,136 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. (I) | 3,640 | 87,833 |
Comverse Technology, Inc. (I) | 2,925 | 63,677 |
Corning, Inc. (I) | 4,700 | 96,021 |
Finisar Corp. (I) | 9,100 | 31,668 |
Motorola, Inc. | 2,550 | 58,803 |
Nokia Corp., American Depositary Receipt (ADR) (Finland) | 2,678 | 53,239 |
Novatel Wireless, Inc. (I)(L) | 3,200 | 26,944 |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 1,408 | 51,237 |
Redback Networks, Inc. (I) | 2,700 | 42,714 |
Computer & Electronics Retail 1.55% | 41,438 | |
Best Buy Co., Inc. | 750 | 41,438 |
Computer Hardware 4.35% | 116,441 | |
Apple Computer, Inc. (I) | 1,030 | 83,512 |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | 850 | 32,929 |
Computer Storage & Peripherals 4.53% | 121,049 | |
Rackable Systems, Inc. (I)(L) | 2,430 | 75,354 |
SanDisk Corp. (I) | 950 | 45,695 |
Data Processing & Outsourced Services 2.28% | 60,926 | |
Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (I) | 2,050 | 60,926 |
Electronic Manufacturing Services 1.50% | 40,194 | |
Jabil Circuit, Inc. (I) | 1,400 | 40,194 |
Household Appliances 1.95% | 52,301 | |
iRobot Corp. (I) | 2,550 | 52,301 |
See notes to financial statements
Technology Leaders Fund
10
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Issuer | Shares | Value |
Human Resource & Employment Services 1.89% | $50,638 | |
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (I) | 1,250 | 50,638 |
Integrated Oil & Gas 1.92% | 51,315 | |
Sasol Ltd. (ADR) (South Africa) | 1,500 | 51,315 |
Internet Software & Services 9.17% | 245,175 | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (I) | 1,755 | 82,239 |
DivX, Inc. (I)(L) | 570 | 13,019 |
Google, Inc. (Class A) (I) | 160 | 76,222 |
Opsware, Inc. (I) | 3,500 | 31,815 |
Yahoo!, Inc. (I) | 1,590 | 41,880 |
Movies & Entertainment 1.40% | 37,500 | |
Disney (Walt) Co. (The) | 1,192 | 37,500 |
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services 2.75% | 73,652 | |
Grant Prideco, Inc. (I) | 1,950 | 73,652 |
Semiconductor Equipment 5.48% | 146,512 | |
Cymer, Inc. (I) | 1,400 | 64,862 |
MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (I) | 2,300 | 81,650 |
Semiconductors 6.79% | 181,623 | |
QuickLogic Corp. (I) | 7,500 | 22,500 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 1,560 | 47,081 |
Trident Microsystems, Inc. (I) | 5,300 | 112,042 |
Systems Software 16.26% | 434,852 | |
Adobe Systems, Inc. | 2,089 | 79,904 |
Macrovision Corp. (I) | 3,050 | 81,160 |
Microsoft Corp. | 2,900 | 83,259 |
Oracle Corp. (I) | 2,350 | 43,405 |
Quality Systems, Inc. (I) | 2,000 | 84,880 |
Red Hat, Inc. (I) | 3,800 | 62,244 |
Wireless Telecommunication Services 5.93% | 158,735 | |
American Tower Corp. (Class A) (I) | 1,550 | 55,831 |
RF Micro Devices, Inc. (I) | 10,000 | 73,000 |
Sprint Nextel Corp. | 1,600 | 29,904 |
See notes to financial statements
Technology Leaders Fund
11
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Interest | Par value | ||
Issuer, description, maturity date | rate | (000) | Value |
Short-term investments 11.92% | $318,770 | ||
(Cost $318,770) | |||
Joint Repurchase Agreement 8.90% | 238,000 | ||
Investment in a joint repurchase | |||
agreement transaction with | |||
Morgan Stanley — Dated 10-31-06, | |||
due 11-01-06 (Secured by U.S. | |||
Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond | |||
3.375%, due 4-15-32). | |||
Maturity value: $238,035 | 5.270% | $238 | 238,000 |
Shares | |||
Cash Equivalents 3.02% | 80,770 | ||
AIM Cash Investment Trust (T) | 80,770 | 80,770 | |
Total investments (cost $2,447,197) 103.57% | $2,770,392 | ||
Other assets and liabilities, net (3.57%) | ($95,564) | ||
Total net assets 100.00% | $2,674,828 | ||
(I) Non-income-producing security.
(L) All or a portion of this security is on loan as of October 31, 2006.
(T) Represents investment of securities lending collateral.
Parenthetical disclosure of a foreign country in the security description represents country of a foreign issuer; however, security is U.S. dollar-denominated.
The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of the net assets of the Fund.
See notes to financial statements
Technology Leaders Fund
12
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial statements
Statement of assets and liabilities 10-31-06
This Statement of Assets and Liabilities is the Fund’s balance sheet. It shows the value
of what the Fund owns, is due and owes. You’ll also find the net asset value and the
maximum offering price per share.
Assets | |
Investments at value (cost $2,447,197) including $80,936 of securities loaned | $2,770,392 |
Cash | 974 |
Receivable for shares sold | 111 |
Dividends and interest receivable | 97 |
Receivable from affiliates | 24,853 |
Total assets | 2,796,427 |
Liabilities | |
Payable for shares repurchased | 16 |
Payable upon return of securities loaned | 80,770 |
Payable to affiliates | |
Management fees | 2,338 |
Distribution and service fees | 159 |
Other | 696 |
Other payables and accrued expenses | 37,620 |
Total liabilities | 121,599 |
Net assets | |
Capital paid-in | 6,852,254 |
Accumulated net realized loss on investments | (4,500,621) |
Net unrealized appreciation of investments | 323,195 |
Net assets | $2,674,828 |
Net asset value per share | |
Based on net asset values and shares outstanding — the Fund has an | |
unlimited number of shares authorized with no par value | |
Class A ($2,176,747 ÷ 224,231 shares) | $9.71 |
Class B ($382,223 ÷ 39,751 shares) | $9.62 |
Class C ($114,753 ÷ 11,937 shares) | $9.61 |
Class I ($1,105 ÷ 113 shares) | $9.771 |
Maximum offering price per share | |
Class A2 ($9.71 ÷ 95%) | $10.22 |
1 Net assets and shares outstanding have been rounded for presentation purposes. The net asset value is as reported on October 31, 2006.
2 On single retail sales of less than $50,000. On sales of $50,000 or more and on group sales the offering price is reduced.
See notes to financial statements
Technology Leaders Fund
13
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Statement of operations For the year ended 10-31-06.
This Statement of Operations summarizes the Fund’s investment income earned
and expenses incurred in operating the Fund. It also shows net gains (losses) for
the period stated.
Investment income | |
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $491) | $18,246 |
Interest | 5,941 |
Securities lending | 3,116 |
Total investment income | 27,303 |
Expenses | |
Investment management fees (Note 2) | 35,861 |
Distribution and service fees (Note 2) | 13,379 |
Transfer agent fees (Note 2) | 10,047 |
Accounting and legal services fees (Note 2) | 582 |
Compliance fees | 148 |
Blue sky fees | 60,578 |
Printing | 25,544 |
Professional fees | 16,179 |
Custodian fees | 12,045 |
Trustees’ fees | 250 |
Securities lending fees | 118 |
Interest | 73 |
Miscellaneous | 2,285 |
Total expenses | 177,089 |
Less expense reductions (Note 2) | (109,920) |
Net expenses | 67,169 |
Net investment loss | (39,866) |
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) | |
Net realized gain on investments | 245,780 |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments | (128,662) |
Net realized and unrealized gain | 117,118 |
Increase in net assets from operations | $77,252 |
See notes to financial statements
Technology Leaders Fund
14
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Statement of changes in net assets
These Statements of Changes in Net Assets show how the value of the Fund’s net assets
has changed during the last two periods. The difference reflects earnings less expenses,
any investment gains and losses, distributions, if any, paid to shareholders and the net of
Fund share transactions.
Year | Year | |
ended | ended | |
10-31-05 | 10-31-06 | |
Increase (decrease) in net assets | ||
From operations | ||
Net investment loss | ($126,319) | ($39,866) |
Net realized gain | 549,414 | 245,780 |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (207,725) | (128,662) |
Increase in net assets resulting from operations | 215,370 | 77,252 |
From Fund share transactions | (15,338) | (959,728) |
Net assets | ||
Beginning of period | 3,357,272 | 3,557,304 |
End of period | $3,557,304 | $2,674,828 |
See notes to financial statements
Technology Leaders Fund
15
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
The Financial highlights show how the Fund’s net asset value for a share has changed
since the end of the previous period.
CLASS A SHARES
Period ended | 10-31-021 | 10-31-031 | 10-31-041 | 10-31-052 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $8.46 | $6.32 | $8.42 | $8.47 | $9.04 |
Net investment loss3 | (0.21) | (0.19) | (0.30) | (0.33) | (0.10) |
Net realized and unrealized | |||||
gain (loss) on investments | (1.93) | 2.29 | 0.35 | 0.90 | 0.77 |
Total from investment operations | (2.14) | 2.10 | 0.05 | 0.57 | 0.67 |
Net asset value, end of period | $6.32 | $8.42 | $8.47 | $9.04 | $9.71 |
Total return (%) | (25.30)4,5 | 33.234,5 | 0.59 | 6.734,5 | 7.414,5 |
Ratios and supplemental data | |||||
Net assets, end of period | |||||
(in millions) | $3 | $4 | $3 | $3 | $2 |
Ratio of net expenses to average | |||||
net assets (%) | 3.27 | 3.19 | 4.13 | 4.62 | 1.80 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | |||||
net assets (%) | 4.386 | 4.026 | 4.13 | 6.716 | 4.876 |
Ratio of net investment loss | |||||
to average net assets (%) | (2.66) | (2.63) | (3.56) | (3.74) | (1.04) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 73 | 109 | 54 | 59 | 104 |
See notes to financial statements
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16
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
CLASS B SHARES
Period ended | 10-31-057 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | ||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $8.84 | $9.01 |
Net investment loss3 | (0.06) | (0.17) |
Net realized and unrealized | ||
gain on investments | 0.23 | 0.78 |
Total from investment operations | 0.17 | 0.61 |
Net asset value, end of period | $9.01 | $9.62 |
Total return4,5 (%) | 1.928 | 6.77 |
Ratios and supplemental data | ||
Net assets, end of period | ||
(in millions) | —9 | —9 |
Ratio of net expenses to average | ||
net assets (%) | 2.5010 | 2.50 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | ||
net assets6 (%) | 8.3110 | 5.57 |
Ratio of net investment loss | ||
to average net assets (%) | (1.81)10 | (1.76) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 59 | 104 |
See notes to financial statements
Technology Leaders Fund
17
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
CLASS C SHARES | ||
Period ended | 10-31-057 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | ||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $8.84 | $9.01 |
Net investment loss3 | (0.06) | (0.17) |
Net realized and unrealized | ||
gain on investments | 0.23 | 0.77 |
Total from investment operations | 0.17 | 0.60 |
Net asset value, end of period | $9.01 | $9.61 |
Total return4,5 (%) | 1.928 | 6.66 |
Ratios and supplemental data | ||
Net assets, end of period | ||
(in millions) | —9 | —9 |
Ratio of net expenses to average | ||
net assets (%) | 2.5010 | 2.50 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | ||
net assets6 (%) | 8.3110 | 5.57 |
Ratio of net investment loss | ||
to average net assets (%) | (2.02)10 | (1.73) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 59 | 104 |
See notes to financial statements
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18
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
CLASS I SHARES
Period ended | 10-31-057 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | ||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $8.84 | $9.05 |
Net investment loss3 | (0.01) | (0.05) |
Net realized and unrealized | ||
gain on investments | 0.22 | 0.77 |
Total from investment operations | 0.21 | 0.72 |
Net asset value, end of period | 9.05 | 9.77 |
Total return4,5 (%) | 2.388 | 7.96 |
Ratios and supplemental data | ||
Net assets, end of period (in millions) | —9 | —9 |
Ratio of net expenses to average | ||
net assets (%) | 1.2910 | 1.30 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | ||
net assets6 | 7.1010 | 4.33 |
Ratio of net investment loss | ||
to average net assets (%) | (0.46)10 | (0.57) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 59 | 104 |
1 Audited by previous Auditor.
2 Effective 6-18-05, shareholders of the former Light Revolution Fund became owners of an equal number of full and fractional Class A shares of the John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund. Additionally, the accounting and performance history of the Light Revolution Fund was redesignated as that of Class A of John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund.
3 Based on the average of the shares outstanding.
4 Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
5 Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the periods shown.
6 Does not take into consideration expense reductions during the periods shown.
7 Class B, Class C and Class I shares began operations on 6-20-05.
8 Not annualized.
9 Less than $500,000.
10 Annualized.
See notes to financial statements
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19
Notes to financial statements
Note 1
Accounting policies
John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of John Hancock Equity Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), as amended. The investment objective of the Fund is to achieve long-term growth of capital.
The Trustees have authorized the issuance of multiple classes of shares of the Fund, designated as Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares. The shares of each class represent an interest in the same portfolio of investments of the Fund and have equal rights as to voting, redemptions, dividends and liquidation, except that certain expenses, subject to the approval of the Trustees, may be applied differently to each class of shares in accordance with current regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service. Shareholders of a class that bears distribution and service expenses under the terms of a distribution plan have exclusive voting rights to that distribution plan. Class B shares will convert to Class A shares eight years after purchase.
The Fund is the accounting and performance successor to Light Revolution Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), a diversified open-end management investment company organized as a Maryland corporation. On June 17, 2005, the Fund acquired substantially all the assets and assumed the liabilities of the Predecessor Fund pursuant to an agreement and plan of reorganization, in exchange for Class A shares of the Fund.
Significant accounting policies of the Fund
are as follows:
Valuation of investments
Securities in the Fund’s portfolio are valued on the basis of market quotations, valuations provided by independent pricing services or if quotations are not readily available, or the value has been materially affected by events occurring after the closing of a foreign market, at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees. Short-term debt investments which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Investments in AIM Cash Investment Trust are valued at their net asset value each business day. All portfolio transactions initially expressed in terms of foreign currencies have been translated into U.S. dollars as described in “Foreign currency translation” below.
Joint repurchase agreement
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund, along with other registered investment companies having a management contract with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”), a wholly owned subsidiary of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation (“MFC”), may participate in a joint repurchase agreement transaction. Aggregate cash balances are invested in one or more large repurchase agreements, whose underlying securities are obligations of the U.S. government and/or its agencies. The Fund’s custodian bank receives delivery of the underlying securities for the joint account on the Fund’s behalf. The Adviser is responsible for ensuring that the agreement is fully collateralized at all times.
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20
Foreign currency translation
All assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on London currency exchange quotations as of 4:00 p.m., London time, on the date of any determination of the net asset value of the Fund. Transactions affecting statement of operations accounts and net realized gain (loss) on investments are translated at the rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.
The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.
Reported net realized foreign currency exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign currency exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, resulting from changes in the exchange rates.
Investment transactions
Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily net asset value calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are reported on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the identified cost basis. Capital gains realized on some foreign securities are subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable.
Class allocations
Income, common expenses and realized and unrealized gains (losses) are determined at the fund level and allocated daily to each class of shares based on the appropriate net asset value of the respective classes. Distribution and service fees, if any, and transfer agent fees for Class I shares, are calculated daily at the class level based on the appropriate net asset value of each class and the specific expense rate(s) applicable to each class.
Expenses
The majority of expenses are directly identifi-able to an individual fund. Expenses that are not readily identifiable to a specific fund are allocated in such a manner as deemed equitable, taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the relative size of the funds.
Bank borrowings
The Fund is permitted to have bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests that otherwise might require the untimely disposition of securities. The Fund has entered into a syndicated line of credit agreement with various banks. This agreement enables the Fund to participate, with other funds managed by the Adviser, in an unsecured line of credit with banks, which permits borrowings of up to $150 million, collectively. Interest is charged to each fund based on its borrowing. In addition, a commitment fee is charged to each fund based on the average daily unused portion of the line of credit, and is allocated among the participating funds. The Fund had no borrowing activity under the line of credit during the year ended October 31, 2006.
Securities lending
The Fund may lend securities to certain qualified brokers who pay the Fund negotiated lender fees. The loans are collateralized at all times with cash or securities with a market value at least equal to the market value of the securities on loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. As with other extensions of credit, the Fund may bear the risk of delay of the loaned securities in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral, should the borrower of the securities fail finan-cially. At October 31, 2006, the Fund loaned securities having a market value of $80,936 collateralized by cash in the amount of $80,770. The cash collateral was invested in a short-term
Technology Leaders Fund
21
instrument. Securities lending expenses are paid by the Fund to the Adviser.
Federal income taxes
The Fund qualifies as a “regulated investment company” by complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that is distributed to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. For federal income tax purposes, the Fund has $4,446,601 of a capital loss carryforward available, to the extent provided by regulations, to offset future net realized capital gains. To the extent that such carryforward is used by the Fund, no capital gain distributions will be made. The loss carryforward expires as follows: October 31, 2009 — $730,761, October 31, 2010 — $3,278,640 and October 31, 2011 — $437,200. Capital loss carryforward utilized for the year ended October 31, 2006, amounted to $194,890.
New accounting pronouncements
In June 2006, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (the “Interpretation”) was issued and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. The Interpretation prescribes a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and requires certain expanded disclosures. Management is currently evaluating the application of the Interpretation to the Fund and has not at this time quantified the impact, if any, resulting from the adoption of the Interpretation on the Fund’s financial statements.
In September 2006, FASB Standard No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157”) was issued, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. FAS 157 defines fair value, establishing a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. Management is currently evaluating the application of FAS 157 to the Fund and its impact, if any, resulting from the adoption of FAS 157 on the Fund’s financial statements.
Dividends, interest and distributions
Dividend income on investment securities is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, in the case of some foreign securities, on the date thereafter when the Fund identifies the dividend. Interest income on investment securities is recorded on the accrual basis. Foreign income may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, which are accrued as applicable.
The Fund records distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, on the ex-dividend date. There were no distributions during the years ended October 31, 2005 and October 31, 2006. Distributions paid by the Fund with respect to each class of shares are calculated in the same manner, at the same time and are in the same amount, except for the effect of expenses that may be applied differently to each class.
As of October 31, 2006, there were no distributable earnings on a tax basis.
Such distributions and distributable earnings, on a tax basis, are determined in conformity with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits, if any, are reported in the Fund’s financial statements as a return of capital.
Use of estimates
The preparation of these financial statements, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, incorporates estimates made by management in determining the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Fund. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Note 2
Management fee and transactions with
affiliates and others
The Fund has an investment management contract with the Adviser. Under the investment management contract, the Fund pays a daily management fee to the Adviser, at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net asset value.
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22
Effective December 31, 2005, the investment management teams of the Adviser were reorganized into Sovereign Asset Management LLC (“Sovereign”), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of John Hancock Life Insurance Company (“JHLICO”), a subsidiary of MFC. The Adviser remains the principal advisor on the Fund and Sovereign acts as subadviser under the supervision of the Adviser. The restructuring did not have an impact on the Fund, which continues to be managed using the same investment philosophy and process. The Fund is not responsible for payment of the subadvisory fees.
Effective October 1, 2006, Sovereign changed its name to MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC.
The Adviser has agreed to limit the Fund’s total expenses excluding distribution, and service fees and transfer agent fees, to 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net asset value, on an annual basis, and total operating expenses of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares to 1.80%, 2.50%, 2.50% and 1.30% of each respective class’s average daily net asset value, at least until February 28, 2008. Accordingly, the expense reductions related to this total expense limitation amounted to $108,837 for the year ended October 31, 2006. The Adviser reserves the right to terminate these limitations in the future.
The Fund has a Distribution Agreement with John Hancock Funds, LLC (“JH Funds”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The Fund has adopted Distribution Plans with respect to Class A, Class B and Class C, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, as amended, to reimburse JH Funds for the services it provides as distributor of shares of the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund makes monthly payments to JH Funds at an annual rate not to exceed 0.30%, 1.00% and 1.00% of average daily net asset value of Class A, Class B and Class C, respectively. A maximum of 0.25% of such payments may be service fees, as defined by the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Under the Conduct Rules, curtailment of a portion of the Fund’s 12b-1 payments could occur under certain circumstances. Prior to June 17, 2005, Quasar Distributors, LLC, served as the Predecessor Fund’s principal underwriter and was compensated at a n annual rate of 0.25% of the Predecessor Fund’s average daily net asset value.
Expenses under the agreements described
above for the period ended October 31, 2006
were as follows:
Distribution and | |
Share class | service fees |
Class A | $9,630 |
Class B | 3,280 |
Class C | 469 |
Total | $13,379 |
Class A shares are assessed up-front sales charges. During the year ended October 31, 2006, JH Funds received net up-front sales charges of $4,484 with regard to sales of Class A shares. Of this amount, $575 was retained and used for printing prospectuses, advertising, sales literature and other purposes, $3,829 was paid as sales commissions to unrelated broker-dealers and $80 was paid as sales commissions to sales personnel of Signator Investors, Inc. (“Signator Investors”), a related broker-dealer. The Adviser’s indirect parent JHLICO, is the indirect sole shareholder of Signator Investors.
Class B shares that are redeemed within six years of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) at declining rates, beginning at 5.00% of the lesser of the current market value at the time of redemption or the original purchase cost of the shares being redeemed. Class C shares that are redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a CDSC at a rate of 1.00% of the lesser of the current market value at the time of redemption or the original purchase cost of the shares being redeemed. Proceeds from the CDSCs are paid to JH Funds and are used, in whole or in part, to defray its expenses for providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sale of Class B and Class C shares. During the year ended October 31, 2006, CDSCs received by JH Funds amounted to $2,713 for Class B shares and $2,497 for Class C shares.
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23
The Fund has a transfer agent agreement with John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. (“Signature Services”), an indirect subsidiary of JHLICO. For Class A, Class B and Class C shares, the Fund pays a monthly transfer agent fee at an annual rate of 0.05% of each class’s average daily net asset value, plus a fee based on the number of shareholder accounts and reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses, aggregated and allocated to each class on the basis of its relative net asset value. For Class I shares, the Fund pays a monthly transfer agent fee at an annual rate of 0.05% of the average daily net asset value. Signature Services has agreed to limit transfer agent fees on Class A, Class B and Class C shares to 0.25% of each class’s average daily net asset value, at least until February 28, 2007. Accordingly, the expense reductions related to this limitation amounted to $1,083 for the year ended October 31, 2006. Signature Services has also agreed to voluntarily reduce the Fund’s asset-based portion of the transfer agent fee for Class A, Class B and Class C shares if the total transfer agent fee exceeded the median transfer agency fee for comparable mutual funds by greater than 0.05% . There was no expense reduction related to this limitation for the year ended October 31, 2006. Signature Services terminated this reimbursement agreement June 30, 2006.
The Fund has an agreement with the Adviser and affiliates to perform necessary tax, accounting and legal services for the Fund. The compensation for the year amounted to $582. The Fund also paid the Adviser the amount of $3,103 for certain publishing services, included in the printing fees. The Fund reimbursed JHLICO for certain compliance costs, included in the Fund’s Statement of Operations.
The Adviser and other subsidiaries of JHLICO owned 113, 113, 113 and 113 Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares of beneficial interest, respectively, of the Fund on October 31, 2006.
Mr. James R. Boyle is Chairman of the Adviser, as well as affiliated Trustee of the Fund, and is compensated by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. The compensation of unaffiliated Trustees is borne by the Fund. The unaffiliated Trustees may elect to defer, for tax purposes, their receipt of this compensation under the John Hancock Group of Funds Deferred Compensation Plan. The Fund makes investments into other John Hancock funds, as applicable, to cover its liability for the deferred compensation. Investments to cover the Fund’s deferred compensation liability are recorded on the Fund’s books as an other asset. The deferred compensation liability and the related other asset are always equal and are marked to market on a periodic basis to reflect any income earned by the investments, as well as any unrealized gains or losses. The Deferred Compensation Plan investments had no impact on the operations of the Fund.
Technology Leaders Fund
24
Note 3
Fund share transactions
This listing illustrates the number of Fund shares sold and repurchased during the last two periods, along with the corresponding dollar value.
Year ended 10-31-051 | Year ended 10-31-06 | |||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |
Class A shares | ||||
Sold | 21,880 | $197,339 | 66,081 | $649,223 |
Repurchased | (47,794) | (424,498) | (212,206) | (1,894,208) |
Net decrease | (25,914) | ($227,159) | (146,125) | ($1,244,985) |
Class B shares1 | ||||
Sold | 24,986 | $226,995 | 40,934 | $400,503 |
Repurchased | (5,781) | (52,223) | (20,388) | (191,374) |
Net increase | 19,205 | $174,772 | 20,546 | $209,129 |
Class C shares1 | ||||
Sold | 3,983 | $36,049 | 8,695 | $83,095 |
Repurchased | — | — | (741) | (6,967) |
Net increase | 3,983 | $36,049 | 7,954 | $76,128 |
Class I shares1 | ||||
Sold | 113 | $1,000 | — | — |
Repurchased | — | — | — | — |
Net increase | 113 | $1,000 | — | — |
Net decrease | (2,613) | ($15,338) | (117,625) | ($959,728) |
1 Class B, Class C and Class I shares began operations on 6-20-05.
Note 4
Investment transactions
Purchases and proceeds from sales or maturities of securities, other than short-term securities and obligations of the U.S. government, during the year ended October 31, 2006, aggregated $3,574,125 and $4,647,764, respectively.
The cost of investments owned on October 31, 2006, including short-term investments, for federal income tax purposes, was $2,501,218. Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments aggregated $395,876 and $126,702, respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $269,174. The difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation of investments is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on certain sales of securities.
Note 5
Reclassification of accounts
During the year ended October 31, 2006, the Fund reclassified amounts to reflect a decrease in accumulated net investment income loss of $39,866 and a decrease in capital paid-in of $39,866. This represents the amount necessary to report these balances on a tax basis, excluding certain temporary differences, as of October 31, 2006. Additional adjustments may be needed in subsequent reporting periods. These reclas-sifications, which have no impact on the net asset value of the Fund, are primarily attributable to certain differences in the computation of distributable income and capital gains under federal tax rules versus accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, book and tax differences in accounting for net operating losses. The calculation of net investment income per share in the Fund’s Financial Highlights excludes these adjustments.
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25
Note 6
Acquisition
On June 17, 2005, the Fund acquired substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the Predecessor Fund in exchange solely for Class A shares of the Fund. The acquisition was accounted for as tax-free exchange of 368,620 Class A shares of the Fund for the net assets of the Predecessor Fund, which amounted to $3,257,918, including $412,456 of unrealized appreciation, after the close of business on June 17, 2005. Accounting and performance history of the Predecessor Fund was redesignated as that of Class A of John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund.
Technology Leaders Fund
26
Auditors’ report
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Equity Trust and Shareholders of John Hancock
Technology Leaders Fund,
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund (the “Fund”) at October 31, 2006, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at October 31, 2006 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. The financial highlights for each of the three years ended on or before October 31, 2004 were audited by other independent registered public accounting firms, whose reports dated November 7, 2003 and December 23, 2004, expressed unqualified opinions thereon.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 13, 2006
27
Tax information
Unaudited
For federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions of the Fund, if any, paid during its taxable year ended October 31, 2006.
The fund hereby designates the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividend income as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. This amount will be reflected on Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year 2006.
Shareholders will be mailed a 2006 U.S. Treasury Department Form 1099-DIV in January 2007. This will reflect the total of all distributions that are taxable for calendar year 2006.
28
Board Consideration of and
Continuation of Investment Advisory
Agreement and Sub-Advisory
Agreement: John Hancock Technology
Leaders Fund
The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) requires the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of John Hancock Equity Trust (the “Trust”), including a majority of the Trustees who have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory agreement and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), annually to review and consider the continuation of: (i) the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and (ii) the investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) for the John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund (the “Fund”). The Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”
At meetings held on May 1–2 and June 5–6, 20061, the Board considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser and the continuation of the Advisory Agreements. During such meetings, the Board’s Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel.
In evaluating the Advisory Agreements, the Board, including the Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees, reviewed a broad range of information requested for this purpose by the Independent Trustees, including: (i) the investment performance of the Fund relative to a category of relevant funds (the “Category”) and a peer group of comparable funds (the “Peer Group”) each selected by Morningstar Inc. (“Morningstar”), an independent provider of investment company data, for a range of periods ended December 31, 2005; (ii) advisory and other fees incurred by, and the expense ratios of, the Fund relative to a Category and a Peer Group; (iii) the advisory fees of comparable portfolios of other clients of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser; (iv) the Adviser’s financial results and condition, including its and certain of its affiliates’ profitability from services performed for the Fund; (v) br eakpoints in the Fund’s and the Peer Group’s fees, and information about economies of scale; (vi) the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s record of compliance with applicable laws and regulations, with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions and with the applicable Code of Ethics, and the structure and responsibilities of the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s compliance department; (vii) the background and experience of senior management and investment professionals and (viii) the nature, cost and character of advisory and non-investment management services provided by the Adviser and its affiliates and by the Sub-Adviser.
The Board’s review and conclusions were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information presented to the Board and not the result of any single controlling factor. It was based on performance and other information as of December 31, 2005; facts may have changed between that date and the date of this shareholders report. The key factors considered by the Board and the conclusions reached are described below.
Nature, extent and quality of services
The Board considered the ability of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, based on their resources, reputation and other attributes, to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance programs and compliance records of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the administrative services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates.
Based on the above factors, together with those referenced below, the Board concluded that, within the context of its full deliberations, the nature, extent and quality of the investment advisory services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser were sufficient to support renewal of the Advisory Agreements.
29
Fund performance
The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended December 31, 2005. The Board also considered these results in comparison to the performance of the Category, as well as the Fund’s Peer Group and benchmark index. Morningstar determined the Category and the Peer Group for the Fund. The Board reviewed with a representative of Morningstar the methodology used by Morningstar to select the funds in the Category and the Peer Group. The Board noted the imperfect comparability of the Peer Group.
The Board noted that the Fund’s performance during the one- and three- year periods was lower than the performance of the Peer Group and Category medians, and its benchmark index, the NYSE Arca Tech 100 Index. The Board also noted that Fund’s performance during the five-year period higher than the performance of the Peer Group and Category medians, and lower than the performance of its benchmark index. The Adviser discussed with the Board factors that contributed to the Fund’s under-performance and described changes in investment personnel and processes which have been and are being implemented with the objective of improving performance. The Board evaluated the actions that had been taken and intends to continue to monitor the Fund’s performance trends to assess the effectiveness of these changes and whether other remedial changes are warranted.
Investment advisory fee and sub-advisory
fee rates and expenses
The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rate”). The Board received and considered information comparing the Advisory Agreement Rate with the advisory fees for the Peer Group and Category. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement Rate was higher than the median rate of the Peer Group and Category.
The Board received and considered expense information regarding the Fund’s various components, including advisory fees, distribution and fees other than advisory and distribution fees, including transfer agent fees, custodian fees and other miscellaneous fees (e.g., fees for accounting and legal services). The Board also considered peer-adjusted comparisons for the transfer agent fees. The Board considered comparisons of these expenses to the Peer Group median. The Board also received and considered expense information regarding the Fund’s total operating expense ratio (“Gross Expense Ratio”) and total operating expense ratio after taking the fee waiver arrangement applicable to the Advisory Agreement Rate into account (“Net Expense Ratio”). The Board received and considered information comparing the Gross Expense Ratio and Net Expense Ratio of the Fund to that of the Peer Group and Category medians. The Board noted that the Fund’s Gross and Net Expense Ratios were appreciably higher than the median of its Peer Group and Category. The Board favorably considered the impact of fee caps towards ultimately lowering the Fund’s total operating expense ratio.
The Adviser also discussed the Morningstar data and rankings, and other relevant information, for the Fund. Based on the above-referenced considerations and other factors, the Board concluded that the Fund’s plans to reduce the Fund’s overall expenses and plans for improving the Fund’s performance supported the re-approval of the Advisory Agreements.
The Board also received information about the investment sub-advisory fee rate (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate”) payable by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services. The Board concluded that the Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate was fair and equitable, based on its consideration of the factors described here.
Profitability
The Board received and considered a detailed profitability analysis of the Adviser based on the Advisory Agreements, as well as on other relationships between the Fund and the Adviser and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser. The Board concluded that, in light of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund, the profits and other ancillary benefits reported by the Adviser were not unreasonable.
30
Economies of scale
The Board received and considered general information regarding economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund, including the Fund’s ability to appropriately benefit from economies of scale under the Fund’s fee structure. The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of the Adviser’s costs are not specific to individual Funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.
Information about services to other clients
The Board also received information about the nature, extent and quality of services and fee rates offered by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to their other clients, including other registered investment companies, institutional investors and separate accounts. The Board concluded that the Advisory Agreement Rate and the Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate were not unreasonable, taking into account fee rates offered to others by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, respectively, after giving effect to differences in services.
Other benefits to the Adviser
The Board received information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund. Such benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to the relationship of the Adviser with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in the business of the Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund (such as the ability to market to shareholders other financial products offered by the Adviser and its affiliates).
The Board also considered the effectiveness of the Adviser’s, Sub-Adviser’s and Fund’s policies and procedures for complying with the requirements of the federal securities laws, including those relating to best execution of portfolio transactions and brokerage allocation.
Other factors and broader review
As discussed above, the Board reviewed detailed materials received from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser as part of the annual re-approval process. The Board also regularly reviews and assesses the quality of the services that the Fund receives throughout the year. In this regard, the Board reviews reports of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser at least quarterly, which include, among other things, fund performance reports and compliance reports. In addition, the Board meets with portfolio managers and senior investment officers at various times throughout the year.
After considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board concluded that approval of the continuation of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements.
1 The Board previously considered information about the Sub-Advisory Agreement at the September and December
2005 Board meetings in connection with the Adviser’s reorganization.
31
Trustees and Officers
This chart provides information about the Trustees and Officers who oversee
your John Hancock fund. Officers elected by the Trustees manage the day-to-day
operations of the Fund and execute policies formulated by the Trustees.
Independent Trustees | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
Ronald R. Dion , Born: 1946 | 2005 | 53 |
Independent Chairman (since 2005); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, | ||
R.M. Bradley & Co., Inc.; Director, The New England Council and Massachusetts | ||
Roundtable; Trustee, North Shore Medical Center; Director, Boston Stock | ||
Exchange; Director, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. and a corporator of the Eastern | ||
Bank; Trustee, Emmanuel College; Director, Boston Municipal Research Bureau; | ||
Member of the Advisory Board, Carroll Graduate School of Management at | ||
Boston College. | ||
James F. Carlin , Born: 1940 | 2005 | 53 |
Director and Treasurer, Alpha Analytical Laboratories Inc. (chemical analysis) | ||
(since 1985); Part Owner and Treasurer, Lawrence Carlin Insurance Agency, | ||
Inc. (since 1995); Part Owner and Vice President, Mone Lawrence Carlin | ||
Insurance Agency, Inc. (until 2005); Director and Treasurer, Rizzo Associates | ||
(engineering) (until 2000); Chairman and CEO, Carlin Consolidated, Inc. | ||
(management/investments) (since 1987); Director and Partner, Proctor Carlin | ||
& Co., Inc. (until 1999); Trustee, Massachusetts Health and Education Tax | ||
Exempt Trust (since 1993); Director of the following: Uno Restaurant Corp. | ||
(until 2001), Arbella Mutual (insurance) (until 2000), HealthPlan Services, Inc. | ||
(until 1999), Flagship Healthcare, Inc. (until 1999), Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc. | ||
(until 1999); Chairman, Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (until 1999). | ||
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.,2 Born: 1935 | 2005 | 53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer, Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (lending) (since | ||
1972); Chairman and Director, Lumber Insurance Co. (insurance) (until 2000); | ||
Chairman and Director, Northeast Retirement Services, Inc. (retirement | ||
administration) (since 1998); Vice Chairman, Northeastern University Board | ||
of Trustees (since 2004). | ||
William H. Cunningham , Born: 1944 | 2005 | 158 |
Former Chancellor, University of Texas System and former President of the | ||
University of Texas, Austin, Texas; Chairman and CEO, IBT Technologies (until | ||
2001); Director of the following: Hire.com (until 2004), STC Broadcasting, Inc. | ||
and Sunrise Television Corp. (until 2001), Symtx, Inc. (electronic manufacturing) | ||
(since 2001), Adorno/Rogers Technology, Inc. (until 2004), Pinnacle Foods | ||
Corporation (until 2003), rateGenius (until 2003), Lincoln National Corporation | ||
(insurance) (since 2006), Jefferson-Pilot Corporation (diversified life insurance | ||
company) (until 2006), New Century Equity Holdings (formerly Billing Concepts) |
32
Independent Trustees (continued) | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
William H. Cunningham , Born: 1944 (continued) | 2005 | 158 |
(until 2001), eCertain (until 2001), ClassMap.com (until 2001), Agile Ventures | ||
(until 2001), AskRed.com (until 2001), Southwest Airlines, Introgen and | ||
Viasystems Group, Inc. (electronic manufacturer) (until 2003); Advisory | ||
Director, Interactive Bridge, Inc. (college fundraising) (until 2001); Advisory | ||
Director, Q Investments (until 2003); Advisory Director, JPMorgan Chase Bank | ||
(formerly Texas Commerce Bank – Austin), LIN Television (since 2002), WilTel | ||
Communications (until 2003) and Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. | ||
(diversified automotive parts supply company) (since 2003). | ||
Charles L. Ladner,2 Born: 1938 | 2005 | 158 |
Chairman and Trustee, Dunwoody Village, Inc. (retirement services) (until 2003); | ||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, UGI Corporation (public utility | ||
holding company) (retired 1998); Vice President and Director for AmeriGas, Inc. | ||
(retired 1998); Director of AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (gas distribution) (until 1997); | ||
Director, EnergyNorth, Inc. (until 1995); Director, Parks and History Association | ||
(until 2007). | ||
John A. Moore,2 Born: 1939 | 2005 | 53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Evaluating Health Risks, | ||
(nonprofit institution) (until 2001); Senior Scientist, Sciences International | ||
(health research) (until 2003); Former Assistant Administrator and Deputy | ||
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Principal, Hollyhouse | ||
(consulting) (since 2000); Director, CIIT Center for Health Science Research | ||
(nonprofit research) (since 2002). | ||
Patti McGill Peterson,2 Born: 1943 | 2005 | 53 |
Executive Director, Council for International Exchange of Scholars and Vice | ||
President, Institute of International Education (since 1998); Senior Fellow, Cornell | ||
Institute of Public Affairs, Cornell University (until 1998); Former President of | ||
Wells College and St. Lawrence University; Director, Niagara Mohawk Power | ||
Corporation (until 2003); Director, Ford Foundation, International Fellowships | ||
Program (since 2002); Director, Lois Roth Endowment (since 2002); Director, | ||
Council for International Educational Exchange (since 2003). | ||
Steven R. Pruchansky, Born: 1944 | 2005 | 53 |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. | ||
(since 2000); Director and President, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. | ||
(until 2000); Managing Director, JonJames, LLC (real estate) (since 2001); | ||
Director, First Signature Bank & Trust Company (until 1991); Director, Mast | ||
Realty Trust (until 1994); President, Maxwell Building Corp. (until 1991). |
33
Non-Independent Trustee3 | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
James R. Boyle, Born: 1959 | 2005 | 260 |
President, John Hancock Annuities; Executive Vice President, John Hancock | ||
Life Insurance Company (since June, 2004); Chairman and Director, John | ||
Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”), John Hancock Funds, LLC and The | ||
Berkeley Financial Group, LLC (“The Berkeley Group”) (holding company) (since | ||
2005); President, U.S. Annuities; Senior Vice President, The Manufacturers | ||
Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (until 2004). | ||
Principal officers who are not Trustees | ||
Name, age | ||
Position(s) held with Fund | Officer | |
Principal occupation(s) and | of Fund | |
directorships during past 5 years | since | |
Keith F. Hartstein, Born: 1956 | 2005 | |
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Senior Vice President, Manulife Financial Corporation (since 2004); Director, | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer, the Adviser, The Berkeley Group, John | ||
Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2005); Director, MFC Global Investment Management | ||
(U.S.), LLC (“MFC Global (U.S.)”) (since 2005); Director, John Hancock Signature | ||
Services, Inc. (since 2005); President and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock | ||
Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2006); President and Chief Executive | ||
Officer, John Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust; | ||
Director, Chairman and President, NM Capital Management, Inc. (since 2005); | ||
Chairman, Investment Company Institute Sales Force Marketing Committee | ||
(since 2003); Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, MFC Global (U.S.) | ||
(2005–2006); Executive Vice President, John Hancock Funds, LLC (until 2005). | ||
Thomas M. Kinzler, Born: 1955 | 2006 | |
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | ||
Vice President and Counsel, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) | ||
(since 2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, John Hancock Funds, John | ||
Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2006); | ||
Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Massachusetts Mutual Life | ||
Insurance Company (1999–2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel, MML | ||
Series Investment Fund (2000–2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel, | ||
MassMutual Institutional Funds (2000–2004); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel, | ||
MassMutual Select Funds and MassMutual Premier Funds (2004–2006). | ||
Francis V. Knox, Jr., Born: 1947 | 2005 | |
Chief Compliance Officer | ||
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Investment | ||
Management Services, LLC, the Adviser and MFC Global (U.S.) (since 2005); | ||
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Funds II, John | ||
Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and | ||
Assistant Treasurer, Fidelity Group of Funds (until 2004); Vice President and | ||
Ethics & Compliance Officer, Fidelity Investments (until 2001). |
34
Principal officers who are not Trustees (continued) | |
Name, age | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Officer |
Principal occupation(s) and | of Fund |
directorships during past 5 years | since |
Gordon M. Shone, Born: 1956 | 2006 |
Treasurer | |
Treasurer, John Hancock Funds (since 2006), John Hancock Funds II, John | |
Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and | |
Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Trust (2003–2005); Senior Vice President, | |
John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (since 2001); Vice President, | |
John Hancock Investment Management Services, Inc., John Hancock Advisers, | |
LLC (since 2006) and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) | |
(1998–2000). | |
John G. Vrysen, Born: 1955 | 2005 |
Chief Financial Officer | |
Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Adviser, The | |
Berkeley Group and John Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2005); Executive Vice | |
President and Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Investment Management | |
Services, LLC (since 2005); Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, MFC Global | |
(U.S.) (since 2005); Director, John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. (since 2005); | |
Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John | |
Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and General Manager, Fixed Annuities, | |
U.S. Wealth Management (until 2005); Vice President, Operations, Manulife | |
Wood Logan (2000–2004). |
The business address for all Trustees and Officers is 601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210-2805.
The Statement of Additional Information of the Fund includes additional information about members of the Board of Trustees of the Fund and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-5291.
1Each Trustee serves until resignation, retirement age or until his or her successor is elected.
2Member of Audit Committee.
3Non-Independent Trustee holds positions with the Fund’s investment adviser, underwriter and certain other affiliates.
35
For more information
The Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures and records are available without charge,
upon request:
By phone | On the Fund’s Web site | On the SEC’s Web site |
1-800-225-5291 | www.jhfunds.com/proxy | www.sec.gov |
Investment adviser | Custodian | Legal counsel |
John Hancock Advisers, LLC | The Bank of New York | Kirkpatrick & Lockhart |
601 Congress Street | One Wall Street | Nicholson Graham LLP |
Boston, MA 02210-2805 | New York, NY 10286 | 1 Lincoln Street |
Boston, MA 02110-2950 | ||
Subadviser | Transfer agent | |
MFC Global Investment | John Hancock Signature | Independent registered |
Management (U.S.), LLC | Services, Inc. | public accounting firm |
101 Huntington Avenue | 1 John Hancock Way, | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
Boston, MA 02199 | Suite 1000 | 125 High Street |
Boston, MA 02217-1000 | Boston, MA 02110 | |
Principal distributor | ||
John Hancock Funds, LLC | ||
601 Congress Street | ||
Boston, MA 02210-2805 |
The Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses are included in the prospectus and should be considered carefully before investing. For a prospectus, call your financial professional, call John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291 or visit the Fund’s Web site at www.jhfunds.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
How to contact us | ||
Internet | www.jhfunds.com | |
Regular mail: | Express mail: | |
John Hancock | John Hancock | |
Signature Services, Inc. | Signature Services, Inc. | |
1 John Hancock Way, Suite 1000 | Mutual Fund Image Operations | |
Boston, MA 02217-1000 | 380 Stuart Street | |
Boston, MA 02116 | ||
Phone | Customer service representatives | 1-800-225-5291 |
24-hour automated information | 1-800-338-8080 | |
TDD line | 1-800-554-6713 |
A listing of month-end portfolio holdings is available on our Web site, www.jhfunds.com. A more detailed portfolio holdings summary is available on a quarterly basis 60 days after the fiscal quarter on our Web site or upon request by calling 1-800-225-5291, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site, www.sec.gov.
36
J O H N H A N C O C K F A M I L Y O F F U N D S
EQUITY | INTERNATIONAL |
Balanced Fund | Greater China Opportunities Fund |
Classic Value Fund | International Classic Value Fund |
Classic Value Fund II | International Core Fund |
Core Equity Fund | International Fund |
Focused Equity Fund | International Growth Fund |
Growth Fund | |
Growth Opportunities Fund | INCOME |
Growth Trends Fund | Bond Fund |
Intrinsic Value Fund | Government Income Fund |
Large Cap Equity Fund | High Yield Fund |
Large Cap Select Fund | Investment Grade Bond Fund |
Mid Cap Equity Fund | Strategic Income Fund |
Mid Cap Growth Fund | |
Multi Cap Growth Fund | TAX-FREE INCOME |
Small Cap Equity Fund | California Tax-Free Income Fund |
Small Cap Fund | High Yield Municipal Bond Fund |
Small Cap Intrinsic Value Fund | Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund |
Sovereign Investors Fund | New York Tax-Free Income Fund |
U.S. Core Fund | Tax-Free Bond Fund |
U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | |
Value Opportunities Fund | MONEY MARKET |
Money Market Fund | |
ASSET ALLOCATION & LIFESTYLE | U.S. Government Cash Reserve |
Allocation Core Portfolio | |
Allocation Growth + Value Portfolio | CLOSED-END |
Lifestyle Aggressive Portfolio | Bank & Thrift Opportunity |
Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio | Financial Trends |
Lifestyle Conservative Portfolio | Income Securities |
Lifestyle Growth Portfolio | Investors Trust |
Lifestyle Moderate Portfolio | Patriot Global Dividend |
Patriot Preferred Dividend | |
SECTOR | Patriot Premium Dividend I |
Financial Industries Fund | Patriot Premium Dividend II |
Health Sciences Fund | Patriot Select Dividend |
Real Estate Fund | Preferred Income |
Regional Bank Fund | Preferred Income II |
Technology Fund | Preferred Income III |
Technology Leaders Fund | Tax-Advantaged Dividend |
For more complete information on any John Hancock Fund and an Open-End fund prospectus, which includes charges and expenses, call your financial professional, or John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291 for Open-End fund information and 1-800-852-0218 for Closed-End fund information. Please read the Open-End fund prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/techleadersx40x1.jpg)
1-800-225-5291
1-800-338-8080 EASI-Line
1-800-554-6713 (TDD)
www.jhfunds.com
Now available: electronic delivery
www.jhfunds.com/edelivery
This report is for the information of the shareholders of John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund.
0600A 10/06
12/06
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/growthtrendsx1x1.jpg)
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/growthtrendsx2x1.jpg)
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Your fund at a glance |
page 1 |
Managers’ report |
page 2 |
A look at performance |
page 6 |
Your expenses |
page 8 |
Fund’s investments |
page 1 0 |
Financial statements |
page 1 5 |
Notes to financial |
statements |
page 2 1 |
Trustees and officers |
page 3 3 |
For more information |
page 4 0 |
CEO corner
To Our Shareholders,
The future has arrived at John Hancock Funds.
We have always been firm believers in the powerful role the Internet can play in providing fund information to our shareholders and prospective investors. Recently, we launched a redesigned, completely overhauled Web site that is more visually pleasing, easier to navigate and, most importantly, provides more fund information and learning tools without overwhelming the user.
Not long after we embarked on this major project, a study was released by the Investment Company Institute, the mutual fund industry’s main trade group, which found that an overwhelming majority of shareholders consider the Internet the “wave of the future” for accessing fund information.
Our new site sports fresher and faster ways to access account information. New innovations allow investors to view funds by risk level, track the performance of the John Hancock funds of their choice or sort funds by Morningstar, Inc.’s star ratings. Investors who own a John Hancock fund through a qualified retirement plan and don’t pay sales charges when making a purchase have the option of sorting by a “Load Waived” Morningstar Rating, thereby creating an apples-to-apples comparison with no-load funds that may also be available in their retirement plan.
The new site also has more educational tools and interactive modules to educate and assist investors with their financial goals, from college savings to retirement planning. A new “I want to…” feature allows investors to check performance, invest more money, update personal information or download prospectuses and forms quickly and easily.
In another of our ongoing efforts to provide our shareholders with top-notch service, we also redesigned our shareholder reports, as you may have noticed with this report. We hope the larger size, more colorful cover and redesigned presentation of the commentary and data tables will draw you in and make them easier to read.
After you’ve read your shareholder report, we encourage you to visit our new Web site — www.jhfunds.com — and take a tour. It’s easy, fast and fun and allows you to be in control of what you see and do. In short, it’s the wave of the future!
Sincerely,
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/growthtrendsx2x2.jpg)
Keith F. Hartstein,
President and Chief Executive Officer
This commentary reflects the CEO’s views as of October 31, 2006. They are subject to change at any time.
Your fund at a glance
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing approximately one-third of its assets in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies in each of the following sectors: financial services, health care and technology.
Over the last twelve months
► Stocks rallied, bolstered by strong economic, corporate revenue and earnings growth, a more favorable interest-rate environment and declining oil prices.
► The Fund's three sectors — financial, technology and health care — produced positive results.
► Financial stocks turned in the best performance, as they outperformed the broad market, followed by technology and health care, both of which had more modest returns.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/growthtrendsx3x1.jpg)
Top holdings | ||||||
Financial Services | Health Care | Technology | ||||
American International | Shire Plc | 10.5% | Microsoft Corp. | 9.8% | ||
Group, Inc. | ||||||
9.8% | Aetna, Inc. | 4.9% | Cisco Systems, Inc. | 6.4% | ||
Bank of America Corp. | 8.5% | Baxter International, Inc. | 4.7% | Hewlett-Packard Co. | 6.4% | |
Wachovia Corp. | 8.5% | Bayer AG | 4.5% | Mentor Graphics Corp. | 4.3% | |
American Express Co. | 5.8% | Inverness Medical | QUALCOMM, Inc. | 4.3% | ||
Innovations, Inc. | 4.3% | |||||
Citigroup, Inc. | 5.5% | |||||
As a percentage of Financial Services, Health Care and Technology net assets, respectively, on October 31, 2006.
1
Managers’ report
John Hancock
Growth Trends Fund
Stocks produced solid returns for the 12 months ended October 31, 2006, when the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index rose 16.34% . Corporate earnings growth remained healthy, while energy prices retreated from record highs and the Federal Reserve ended its long-running campaign for higher interest rates. Against this backdrop, John Hancock Growth Trends Fund’s Class A, Class B and Class C shares posted total returns of 10.21%, 9.24% and 9.24% at net asset value, surpassing the 9.05% return of the average large growth fund, according to Morningstar, Inc.1 The Fund’s three sectors — financials, technology and health care — produced positive results. Financial stocks outperformed the broad market and the other two Fund sectors.
FINANCIALS By James K. Schmidt, CFA
Financial shares outperformed the broader market, as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Financial Index returned 19.65% . Companies whose revenues are tied to the market — investment banks, asset managers and custody banks — performed best, thanks to robust capital-markets activity. However, regional bank returns were limited by the interest rate environment, where an inverted yield curve put pressure on margins.
In the financial portfolio, we continued to favor capital-market names — where earnings growth has been quite strong among investment bankers, money managers and trading firms. Indeed, many of the top contributors for the period were in the investment banking, asset management and
SCORECARD
INVESTMENT | PERIOD’S PERFORMANCE... AND WHAT’S BEHIND THE NUMBERS | |
Bank of America | ▲ | Better-than-expected earnings |
Cisco Systems | ▲ | Strong profit growth on increased global spending on its products |
Nektar | ▼ | Company delays launch of inhaled insulin product |
2
MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC Financial, Health Care and
Technology Management Teams
custody banks industry segments, or were money center banks such as Bank of America Corp., Citigroup, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co., which saw significant boosts to their revenue from capital-markets activity.
It also helped to underweight the regional banks, where earnings are vulnerable to intense deposit competition and an unfavorable interest rate environment, which is taking a bite out of net interest margins. Instead, we added a select number of diversified foreign banks that we believed had solid balance sheets, better growth potential and were trading at more attractive valuations than some of their domestic counterparts.
“The Fund’s three sectors —
financials, technology and health
care — produced positive results.”
Insurance was a mixed bag, as good stock selection among property and casualty insurance stocks made this industry a key contributor. However, performance was limited by overweights among reinsurance, insurance brokers and multi-line insurance names, which generated positive returns but lagged the index. One of the financial portfolio’s biggest detractors was Scottish Re Group, a leading global life re-insurer, which saw its management team replaced and debt downgraded before being put up for sale.
We remain generally positive on the financials sector, though valuations in several industries are full and need solid earnings growth to sustain stock prices. However, it’s worth noting that the current environment of low inflation and moderate economic growth is favorable for exactly that.
HEALTH CARE By Robert C. Junkin, CPA
Health care stocks posted solid returns for the 12-month period ended October 31, 2006, although the sector lagged the broader stock market during that time span.
Growth Trends Fund
3
Some of our largest holdings in the health care portfolio were our best performers for the year. Shire Plc posted strong financial results, following the success of its newly launched patch treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We also saw good gains from Abenix, which was acquired by Amgen. FDA approval of a drug to treat HIV infection that combines three widely used medications into one pill helped propel the stock of Gilead Sciences, Inc.
On the flip side, detracting from performance was our stake in Rigel Pharmaceuticals, which plunged when the company announced that its treatment for hay fever failed to show favorable results in improving seasonal nasal allergy symptoms. Our holdings in Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corp., which identifies, develops and commercializes new indications for approved drugs and late-stage drug candidates, declined sharply amid worries about the patent expiration of the company’s sole product. Nektar Therapeutics performed poorly as investors expressed frustration when the company delayed the launch of its new inhaled insulin product.
We’re increasingly optimistic as we head into year-end. We believe that a slowing economy will be beneficial for health care stocks. One of the key issues remains whether investors will return to more highly valued sectors — namely biotech — as opposed to the more attractively valued groups such as drug stocks in light of the events of the past two quarters of 2006.
TECHNOLOGY By Thomas P. Norton, CFA
Although they lagged the overall stock market, technology stocks posted strong returns for the 12 months ended October 31, 2006. Among our best performers was Cisco Systems, Inc., which makes routers, switchers and other networking gear. It benefited from strong revenue and profit growth in response to increases in global spending on its products and services. Hewlett-Packard Co. was another winner, rebounding under a new leadership team. We also enjoyed strong gains from electronic design software company Mentor Graphics Corp., which rose significantly thanks to better-than-expected financial results. Investors bid up the shares of Akamai Technologies, Inc., which provides Internet delivery services for Web sites and corporations, as the company generated strong sales.
SECTOR DISTRIBUTION2 | |
Health care | 33% |
Financials | 32% |
Information technology | 28% |
Energy | 2% |
Materials | 2% |
Telecommunication | |
services | 1% |
Consumer discretionary | 1% |
Industrials | 1% |
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4
Detracting from performance was our stake in Broadcom, maker of semiconductor chips for set-top boxes, cable modems, network communications equipment and a variety of other items. It declined sharply early in the period in response to disappointing financial results. We eliminated our positions in Broadcom based on our view that the company’s problems could linger for some time. Shares of Red Hat, Inc., the open-source-software developer, sank due to the company’s disappointing earnings results, stemming partly from the company’s recent acquisition of rival JBoss. Investors also were troubled by Oracle’s decision to enter the open-source-software business. Online search giant Yahoo!, Inc. also worked against us, facing increased competition for online advertising dollars from both new and established rivals.
“Financial stocks outperformed
the broad market and topped the
Fund’s results.”
Over the near term, we’re optimistic about the prospects for technology stocks. The group tends to do well in the fourth quarter of the year, in part due to the rising seasonality of the business. Additionally, technology stocks have lagged those from other industries for most of 2006, which potentially makes them attractive to value-seeking investors.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/growthtrendsx7x1.jpg)
This commentary reflects the views of the managers through the end of the Fund’s period discussed in this report. The managers’ statements reflect their own opinions. As such, they are in no way guarantees of future events, and are not intended to be used as investment advice or a recommendation regarding any specific security. They are also subject to change at any time as market and other conditions warrant.
Sector investing is subject to greater risks than the market as a whole.
1 Figures from Morningstar, Inc. include reinvested dividends and do not take into account sales charges. Actual load-adjusted performance is lower.
2 As a percentage of net assets on October 31, 2006.
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5
A look at performance
For the periods ending October 31, 2006
Average annual returns | Cumulative total returns | ||||||||
with maximum sales charge (POP) | with maximum sales charge (POP) | ||||||||
Inception | Since | Since | |||||||
Class | date | 1-year | 5-year | 10-year | inception | 1-year | 5-year | 10-year | inception |
A | 9-22-00 | 4.70% | 2.26% | — | –6.64% | 4.70% | 11.81% | — | –34.27% |
B | 9-22-00 | 4.24 | 2.21 | — | –6.53 | 4.24 | 11.55 | — | –33.80 |
C | 9-22-00 | 8.24 | 2.57 | — | –6.53 | 8.24 | 13.55 | — | –33.80 |
Performance figures assume all distributions are reinvested. Returns with maximum sales charge reflect a sales charge on Class A shares of 5%, and the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) on Class B and Class C shares. The returns for Class C shares have been adjusted to reflect the elimination of the front-end sales charge effective July 15, 2004. The Class B shares’ CDSC declines annually between years 1–6 according to the following schedule: 5, 4, 3, 3, 2, 1%. No sales charge will be assessed after the sixth year. Class C shares held for less than one year are subject to a 1% CDSC.
The returns reflect past results and should not be considered indicative of future performance. The return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Due to market volatility, the Fund’s current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-225-5291 or visit the Fund’s Web site at www.jhfunds.com.
The performance table above and the chart on the next page do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
The Fund’s performance results reflect any applicable expense reductions, without which the expenses would increase and results would have been less favorable.
Growth Trends Fund
6
Growth of $10,000
This chart shows what happened to a hypothetical $10,000 investment in Class A shares
for the period indicated. For comparison, we’ve shown the same investment in the
Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/growthtrendsx9x1.jpg)
With maximum | ||||
Class | Period beginning | Without sales charge | sales charge | Index |
B1 | 9-22-00 | $6,620 | $6,620 | $10,527 |
C1 | 9-22-00 | 6,620 | 6,620 | 10,527 |
Assuming all distributions were reinvested for the period indicated, the table above shows the value of a $10,000 investment in the Fund’s Class B and Class C shares, respectively, as of October 31, 2006. The Class C shares investment with maximum sales charge has been adjusted to reflect the elimination of the front-end sales charge effective July 15, 2004. Performance of the classes will vary based on the difference in sales charges paid by shareholders investing in the different classes and the fee structure of those classes.
Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is an unmanaged index that includes 500 widely traded common stocks.
It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not reflect sales charges which would have resulted in lower values if they did.
1 No contingent deferred sales charge applicable.
Growth Trends Fund
7
Your expenses
These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing operating expenses.
Understanding fund expenses
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs:
■Transaction costs which include sales charges (loads) on purchases or redemptions (varies by share class), minimum account fee charge, etc.
■ Ongoing operating expenses including management fees, distribution and service fees (if applicable) and other fund expenses.
We are going to present only your ongoing operating expenses here.
Actual expenses/actual returns
This example is intended to provide information about your fund’s actual ongoing operating expenses, and is based on your fund’s actual return. It assumes an account value of $1,000.00 on May 1, 2006, with the same investment held until October 31, 2006.
Account value | Ending value | Expenses paid during period | |
on 5-1-06 | on 10-31-06 | ended 10-31-061 | |
Class A | $1,000.00 | $1,008.80 | $8.34 |
Class B | 1,000.00 | 1,006.10 | 11.84 |
Class C | 1,000.00 | 1,006.10 | 11.84 |
Together with the value of your account, you may use this information to estimate the operating expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value at October 31, 2006 by $1,000.00, then multiply it by the “expenses paid” for your share class from the table above. For example, for an account value of $8,600.00, the operating expenses should be calculated as follows:
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/growthtrendsx10x1.jpg)
Growth Trends Fund
8
Hypothetical example for comparison purposes
This table allows you to compare your fund’s ongoing operating expenses with those of any other fund. It provides an example of the Fund’s hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each class’s actual expense ratio and an assumed 5% annual return before expenses (which is not your fund’s actual return). It assumes an account value of $1,000.00 on May 1, 2006, with the same investment held until October 31, 2006. Look in any other fund shareholder report to find its hypothetical example and you will be able to compare these expenses.
Account value | Ending value | Expenses paid during period | |
on 5-1-06 | on 10-31-06 | ended 10-31-061 | |
Class A | $1,000.00 | $1,016.90 | $8.37 |
Class B | 1,000.00 | 1,013.40 | 11.88 |
Class C | 1,000.00 | 1,013.40 | 11.88 |
Remember, these examples do not include any transaction costs, such as sales charges; therefore, these examples will not help you to determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. If transaction costs were included, your expenses would have been higher. See the prospectus for details regarding transaction costs.
1 Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of 1.65%, 2.35% and 2.35% for Class A, Class B and Class C, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by [number of days in most recent fiscal half-year/365 or 366] (to reflect the one-half year period).
Growth Trends Fund
9
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Fund’s investments
Securities owned by the Fund on 10-31-06
This schedule is divided into two main categories: common stocks and short-term investments. Common stocks are further broken down by industry group. Short-term investments, which represent the Fund’s cash position, are listed last.
Issuer | Shares | Value |
Common stocks 99.54%�� | $110,823,789 | |
(Cost $88,907,153) | ||
Application Software 3.38% | 3,766,984 | |
BEA Systems, Inc. (I)(L) | 57,900 | 942,033 |
Mentor Graphics Corp. (I) | 91,000 | 1,535,170 |
Opsware, Inc. (I) | 50,800 | 461,772 |
Red Hat, Inc. (I)(L) | 50,550 | 828,009 |
Asset Management & Custody Banks 4.10% | 4,563,568 | |
Bank of New York Co., Inc. (The) | 49,420 | 1,698,565 |
Franklin Resources, Inc. | 9,500 | 1,082,620 |
State Street Corp. | 27,750 | 1,782,383 |
Biotechnology 5.55% | 6,175,156 | |
Amgen, Inc. (I) | 9,500 | 721,145 |
Exelixis, Inc. (I) | 6,750 | 65,475 |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (I) | 18,000 | 1,240,200 |
Invitrogen Corp. (I) | 20,000 | 1,160,200 |
Medarex, Inc. (I) | 41,800 | 540,056 |
OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (I) | 16,000 | 612,480 |
Regeneration Technologies, Inc. (I) | 140,000 | 891,800 |
Theravance, Inc. (I) | 30,000 | 943,800 |
Coal & Consumable Fuels 0.40% | 440,340 | |
Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (I) | 17,900 | 440,340 |
Communications Equipment 7.57% | 8,427,449 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. (I) | 95,450 | 2,303,208 |
Comverse Technology, Inc. (I) | 44,300 | 964,411 |
Corning, Inc. (I) | 55,500 | 1,133,865 |
Finisar Corp. (I) | 92,400 | 321,552 |
Motorola, Inc. | 66,509 | 1,533,698 |
Nokia Corp., American Depositary Receipt (ADR) (Finland) | 32,036 | 636,876 |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 42,150 | 1,533,839 |
Computer & Electronics Retail 0.48% | 538,687 | |
Best Buy Co., Inc. | 9,750 | 538,687 |
See notes to financial statements
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10
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Issuer | Shares | Value |
Computer Hardware 3.09% | $3,440,054 | |
Apple Computer, Inc. (I) | 14,350 | 1,163,498 |
Hewlett-Packard Co. | 58,765 | 2,276,556 |
Computer Storage & Peripherals 0.60% | 668,590 | |
SanDisk Corp. (I) | 13,900 | 668,590 |
Consumer Finance 2.32% | 2,582,413 | |
American Express Co. | 36,250 | 2,095,613 |
SLM Corp. | 10,000 | 486,800 |
Data Processing & Outsourced Services 0.77% | 855,936 | |
Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (I) | 28,800 | 855,936 |
Diversified Banks 7.48% | 8,329,579 | |
Bank of America Corp. | 57,524 | 3,098,818 |
HSBC Holdings Plc (ADR) (United Kingdom) (L) | 8,743 | 834,694 |
Kookmin Bank (ADR) (South Korea) | 6,986 | 554,409 |
Wachovia Corp. | 55,455 | 3,077,753 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | 21,050 | 763,905 |
Diversified Chemicals 1.58% | 1,756,066 | |
Bayer AG (Germany) (C) | 35,000 | 1,756,066 |
Diversified Financial Services 2.71% | 3,019,806 | |
Citigroup, Inc. | 40,000 | 2,006,400 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 12,550 | 595,372 |
National Financial Partners Corp. | 10,610 | 418,034 |
Electronic Manufacturing Services 1.49% | 1,661,179 | |
Jabil Circuit, Inc. | 19,900 | 571,329 |
MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (I) | 30,700 | 1,089,850 |
Health Care Distributors 0.88% | 981,750 | |
Cardinal Health, Inc. | 15,000 | 981,750 |
Health Care Equipment 3.92% | 4,358,587 | |
Baxter International, Inc. | 40,000 | 1,838,800 |
Hospira, Inc. (I) | 35,000 | 1,272,250 |
NMT Medical, Inc. (I) | 21,500 | 342,065 |
Stereotaxis, Inc. (I) | 41,400 | 495,972 |
Thoratec Corp. (I) | 26,000 | 409,500 |
Health Care Services 3.92% | 4,365,115 | |
Aveta, Inc. (I)(S) | 97,210 | 1,652,570 |
Digene Corp. (I) | 20,000 | 928,600 |
Nektar Therapeutics (I) | 105,000 | 1,515,150 |
Systems Xcellence, Inc. (Canada) (I) | 16,360 | 268,795 |
Health Care Supplies 2.64% | 2,942,550 | |
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (I)(K) | 45,000 | 1,696,050 |
PolyMedica Corp. | 30,000 | 1,246,500 |
See notes to financial statements
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11
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Issuer | Shares | Value |
Health Care Technology 0.21% | $237,033 | |
AnorMED, Inc. (Canada) (I) | 17,600 | 237,033 |
Household Appliances 0.60% | 666,575 | |
iRobot Corp. (I)(L) | 32,500 | 666,575 |
Human Resource & Employment Services 0.60% | 668,415 | |
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (I) | 16,500 | 668,415 |
Insurance Brokers 0.32% | 356,224 | |
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. | 12,100 | 356,224 |
Integrated Oil & Gas 0.64% | 709,858 | |
Sasol Ltd., (ADR) (South Africa) | 20,750 | 709,858 |
Internet Retail 0.76% | 844,788 | |
Redback Networks, Inc. (I) | 53,400 | 844,788 |
Internet Software & Services 2.47% | 2,753,313 | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (I) | 25,350 | 1,187,901 |
Google, Inc. (Class A) | 2,100 | 1,000,419 |
Yahoo!, Inc. (I) | 21,450 | 564,993 |
Investment Banking & Brokerage 4.76% | 5,300,968 | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | 9,800 | 1,859,942 |
Legg Mason, Inc. | 11,050 | 994,721 |
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. | 9,350 | 727,804 |
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. | 6,500 | 568,230 |
Morgan Stanley | 15,050 | 1,150,271 |
Life & Health Insurance 1.70% | 1,892,666 | |
Aflac, Inc. | 18,300 | 822,036 |
Conseco, Inc. (I) | 13,680 | 278,251 |
Prudential Financial, Inc. | 10,300 | 792,379 |
Managed Health Care 1.74% | 1,937,340 | |
Aetna, Inc. | 47,000 | 1,937,340 |
Multi-Line Insurance 4.51% | 5,019,923 | |
American International Group, Inc. | 53,100 | 3,566,727 |
Genworth Financial, Inc. (Class A) | 29,250 | 978,120 |
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) | 5,450 | 475,076 |
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services 0.96% | 1,065,114 | |
Grant Prideco, Inc. (I) | 28,200 | 1,065,114 |
Pharmaceuticals 13.87% | 15,436,474 | |
Anesiva, Inc. (I) | 60,000 | 443,400 |
Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Canada) (I) | 22,300 | 405,637 |
Astellas Pharma, Inc. (Japan) | 31,545 | 1,418,993 |
AstraZeneca Plc (United Kingdom) | 15,000 | 880,500 |
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (I) | 100,000 | 1,260,000 |
Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (I) | 75,000 | 1,670,250 |
Johnson & Johnson | 20,000 | 1,348,000 |
See notes to financial statements
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12
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Issuer | Shares | Value |
Pharmaceuticals (continued) | ||
MGI Pharma, Inc. (I) | 50,000 | $951,500 |
Roche Holding AG (Switzerland) | 7,000 | 1,225,148 |
Santarus, Inc. (I) | 40,000 | 307,600 |
Schering-Plough Corp. | 60,000 | 1,328,400 |
Shire Plc (ADR) (United Kingdom) | 75,000 | 4,113,750 |
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (I) | 15,340 | 83,296 |
Property & Casualty Insurance 0.69% | 763,934 | |
Ambac Financial Group, Inc. | 9,150 | 763,934 |
Reinsurance 1.52% | 1,692,484 | |
PartnerRe Ltd. (Bermuda) | 19,850 | 1,387,912 |
Platinum Underwriters Holdings Ltd. (Bermuda) | 10,200 | 304,572 |
Semiconductor Equipment 0.77% | 861,738 | |
Cymer, Inc. (I) | 18,600 | 861,738 |
Semiconductors 2.85% | 3,170,732 | |
RF Micro Devices, Inc. (I)(L) | 137,000 | 1,000,100 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 22,295 | 672,863 |
Trident Microsystems, Inc. (I)(L) | 70,850 | 1,497,769 |
Specialized Finance 0.86% | 961,494 | |
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (I) | 26,910 | 961,494 |
Systems Software 5.55% | 6,178,171 | |
Adobe Systems, Inc. (I) | 25,000 | 956,250 |
Macrovision Corp. (I) | 41,000 | 1,091,010 |
Microsoft Corp. | 121,850 | 3,498,313 |
Oracle Corp. (I) | 34,250 | 632,598 |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 0.62% | 694,326 | |
Hudson City Bancorp, Inc. | 50,570 | 694,326 |
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.66% | 738,410 | |
American Tower Corp. (Class A) (I) | 20,500 | 738,410 |
See notes to financial statements
Growth Trends Fund
13
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Interest | Par value | |||
Issuer, description, maturity date | rate | (000) | Value | |
Short-term investments 5.43% | $6,043,183 | |||
(Cost $6,043,183) | ||||
Joint Repurchase Agreement 0.85% | 947,000 | |||
Investment in a joint repurchase | ||||
agreement transaction with | ||||
Morgan Stanley — Dated 10-31-06 | ||||
due 11-01-06 (secured by U.S. | ||||
Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond | ||||
3.375% due 4-15-32). | ||||
Maturity value: $947,137 | 5.27% | $947 | 947,000 | |
Shares | ||||
Cash Equivalents 4.58% | 5,096,183 | |||
AIM Cash Investment Trust (T) | 5,096,183 | 5,096,183 | ||
Total investments (cost $94,950,336) 104.97% | $116,866,972 | |||
Other assets and liabilities, net (4.97%) | ($5,531,389) | |||
Total net assets 100.00% | $111,335,583 | |||
(C) Parenthetical disclosure of a country in the security description represents country of issuer; however, the security is | ||||
euro-denominated. | ||||
(I) Non-income-producing security. | ||||
(K) Direct placement securities are restricted to resale. They have been fair valued in accordance with procedures | ||||
approved by the Trustees after consideration of restrictions as to resale, financial condition and prospects of | ||||
the issuer, general market conditions and pertinent information in accordance with the Fund’s bylaws and the | ||||
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund has limited rights to registration under the Securities Act | ||||
of 1933 with respect to these restricted securities. | ||||
Additional information on these securities is as follows: | ||||
Value as a | ||||
percentage | ||||
Acquisition | Acquisition | of Fund’s | Value as of | |
Issuer, description | date | cost | net assets | October 31, 2006 |
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. | 8-17-06 | $1,361,250 | 1.52% | $1,696,050 |
(L) All or a portion of this security is on loan as of October 31, 2006.
(S) This security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. Such security may be resold, normally to qualified institutional buyers, in transactions exempt from registration. Rule 144A securities amounted to $1,652,570 or 1.48% of the Fund’s net assets as of October 31, 2006.
(T) Represents investment of securities lending collateral.
Parenthetical disclosure of a foreign country in the security description represents country of a foreign issuer; however, security is U.S. dollar-denominated.
The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of the net assets of the Fund.
See notes to financial statements
Growth Trends Fund
14
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial statements
Statement of assets and liabilities 10-31-06
This Statement of Assets and Liabilities is the Fund’s balance sheet. It shows the value of what the Fund owns, is due and owes. You’ll also find the net asset value and the maximum offering price per share.
Assets | |
Investments at value (cost $94,950,336) including $4,968,333 of securities loaned | $116,866,972 |
Receivable for investments sold | 260,042 |
Receivable for shares sold | 8,428 |
Dividends and interest receivable | 54,046 |
Receivable from affiliates | 149,686 |
Other assets | 9,578 |
Total assets | 117,348,752 |
Liabilities | |
Due to custodian | 295,787 |
Payable for investments purchased | 82,966 |
Payable for shares repurchased | 228,546 |
Payable upon return of securities loaned | 5,096,183 |
Payable to affiliates | |
Management fees | 74,087 |
Distribution and service fees | 11,437 |
Other | 151,011 |
Other payables and accrued expenses | 73,152 |
Total liabilities | 6,013,169 |
Net assets | |
Capital paid-in | 285,646,168 |
Accumulated net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions | (196,224,052) |
Net unrealized appreciation of investments and translation of assets and | |
liabilities in foreign currencies | 21,916,793 |
Accumulated net investment loss | (3,326) |
Net assets | $111,335,583 |
Net asset value per share | |
Based on net asset values and shares outstanding — the Fund has an | |
unlimited number of shares authorized with no par value | |
Class A ($40,011,745 ÷ 5,793,175 shares) | $6.91 |
Class B ($52,638,154 ÷ 7,950,572 shares) | $6.62 |
Class C ($18,685,684 ÷ 2,822,425 shares) | $6.62 |
Maximum offering price per share | |
Class A1 ($6.91 ÷ 95%) | $7.27 |
1 On single retail sales of less than $50,000. On sales of $50,000 or more and on group sales the offering price is reduced.
See notes to financial statements
Growth Trends Fund
15
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Statement of operations For the year ended 10-31-06.
This Statement of Operations summarizes the Fund’s investment income earned and expenses incurred in operating the Fund. It also shows net gains (losses) for the period stated.
Investment income | |
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $5,322) | $1,282,495 |
Interest | 143,426 |
Securities lending | 26,889 |
Total investment income | 1,452,810 |
Expenses | |
Investment management fees (Note 2) | 1,237,622 |
Distribution and service fees (Note 2) | 931,900 |
Transfer agent fees (Note 2) | 623,002 |
Accounting and legal services fees (Note 2) | 27,498 |
Compliance fees | 3,723 |
Custodian fees | 53,448 |
Printing | 47,891 |
Blue sky fees | 42,174 |
Professional fees | 21,207 |
Interest | 13,469 |
Trustees’ fees | 6,736 |
Securities lending fees | 1,059 |
Miscellaneous | 22,160 |
Total expenses | 3,031,889 |
Less expense reductions (Note 2) | (429,200) |
Net expenses | 2,602,689 |
Net investment loss | (1,149,879) |
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) on | |
Investments | 15,209,485 |
Foreign currency transactions | (13,623) |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of | |
Investments | (2,616,379) |
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies | 1,120 |
Net realized and unrealized gain | 12,580,603 |
Increase in net assets from operations | $11,430,724 |
See notes to financial statements
Growth Trends Fund
16
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Statement of changes in net assets
These Statements of Changes in Net Assets show how the value of the Fund’s net assets has changed during the last two periods. The difference reflects earnings less expenses, any investment gains and losses, distributions, if any, paid to shareholders and the net of Fund share transactions.
Year | Year | |
ended | ended | |
10-31-05 | 10-31-06 | |
Increase (decrease) in net assets | ||
From operations | ||
Net Investment loss | ($668,807) | ($1,149,879) |
Net realized gain | 11,846,400 | 15,195,862 |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 3,680,758 | (2,615,259) |
Increase in net assets resulting from operations | 14,858,351 | 11,430,724 |
From Fund share transactions | (54,072,041) | (34,872,929) |
Net assets | ||
Beginning of period | 173,991,478 | 134,777,788 |
End of period1 | $134,777,788 | $111,335,583 |
1 Includes accumulated net investment loss of $3,326 and $3,326, respectively.
See notes to financial statements
Growth Trends Fund
17
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
The Financial highlights show how the Fund’s net asset value for a share has changed since the end of the previous period.
CLASS A SHARES | |||||
Period ended | 10-31-02 | 10-31-03 | 10-31-04 | 10-31-05 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $5.87 | $4.49 | $5.51 | $5.67 | $6.27 |
Net investment loss1 | (0.05) | (0.03) | (0.04) | —2,6 | (0.03) |
Net realized and unrealized | |||||
gain (loss) on investments | (1.33) | 1.05 | 0.20 | 0.60 | 0.67 |
Total from investment operations | (1.38) | 1.02 | 0.16 | 0.60 | 0.64 |
Net asset value, end of period | $4.49 | $5.51 | $5.67 | $6.27 | $6.91 |
Total return3,4 (%) | (23.51) | 22.72 | 2.90 | 10.58 | 10.21 |
Ratios and supplemental data | |||||
Net assets, end of period | �� | ||||
(in millions) | $65 | $69 | $58 | $46 | $40 |
Ratio of net expenses to average | |||||
net assets (%) | 1.65 | 1.65 | 1.65 | 1.65 | 1.65 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | |||||
net assets5 (%) | 1.88 | 2.02 | 1.86 | 1.95 | 2.00 |
Ratio of net investment income | |||||
(loss) to average net assets (%) | (0.91) | (0.64) | (0.62) | 0.016 | (0.48) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 68 | 76 | 40 | 27 | 70 |
See notes to financial statements
Growth Trends Fund
18
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
CLASS B SHARES | |||||
Period ended | 10-31-02 | 10-31-03 | 10-31-04 | 10-31-05 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $5.83 | $4.42 | $5.40 | $5.51 | $6.06 |
Net investment loss1 | (0.09) | (0.06) | (0.07) | (0.04)6 | (0.07) |
Net realized and unrealized | |||||
gain (loss) on investments | (1.32) | 1.04 | 0.18 | 0.59 | 0.63 |
Total from investment operations | (1.41) | 0.98 | 0.11 | 0.55 | 0.56 |
Net asset value, end of period | $4.42 | $5.40 | $5.51 | $6.06 | $6.62 |
Total return3,4 (%) | (24.19) | 22.17 | 2.04 | 9.98 | 9.24 |
Ratios and supplemental data | |||||
Net assets, end of period | |||||
(in millions) | $102 | $104 | $85 | $66 | $53 |
Ratio of net expenses to average | |||||
net assets (%) | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | |||||
net assets5 (%) | 2.58 | 2.72 | 2.56 | 2.65 | 2.70 |
Ratio of net investment loss | |||||
to average net assets (%) | (1.61) | (1.34) | (1.32) | (0.67)6 | (1.18) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 68 | 76 | 40 | 27 | 70 |
See notes to financial statements
Growth Trends Fund
19
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
CLASS C SHARES | |||||
Period ended | 10-31-02 | 10-31-03 | 10-31-04 | 10-31-05 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $5.83 | $4.42 | $5.40 | $5.51 | $6.06 |
Net investment loss1 | (0.09) | (0.06) | (0.07) | (0.04)6 | (0.07) |
Net realized and unrealized | |||||
gain (loss) on investments | (1.32) | 1.04 | 0.18 | 0.59 | 0.63 |
Total from investment operations | (1.41) | 0.98 | 0.11 | 0.55 | 0.56 |
Net asset value, end of period | $4.42 | $5.40 | $5.51 | $6.06 | $6.62 |
Total return3,4 (%) | (24.19) | 22.17 | 2.04 | 9.98 | 9.24 |
Ratios and supplemental data | |||||
Net assets, end of period | |||||
(in millions) | $42 | $41 | $31 | $23 | $19 |
Ratio of net expenses to average | |||||
net assets (%) | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | |||||
net assets5 (%) | 2.58 | 2.72 | 2.56 | 2.65 | 2.70 |
Ratio of net investment loss | |||||
to average net assets (%) | (1.61) | (1.34) | (1.32) | (0.66)6 | (1.17) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 68 | 76 | 40 | 27 | 70 |
1 Based on the average of the shares outstanding.
2 Less than $0.01 per share.
3 Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
4 Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the period shown.
5 Does not take into consideration expense reductions during the periods shown.
6 Net investment income (loss) per share and ratio of net investment loss to average net assets reflects a special dividend received by the Fund which amounted to the following amounts:
Percentage | ||
Per share | of net assets | |
Class A | $0.04 | 0.61% |
Class B | 0.04 | 0.62 |
Class C | 0.04 | 0.62 |
See notes to financial statements
Growth Trends Fund
20
Notes to financial statements
Note 1
Accounting policies
John Hancock Growth Trends Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of John Hancock Equity Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), as amended. The investment objective of the Fund is to achieve long-term growth of capital. The Fund will invest in a number of industry groups without concentration in any particular industry.
The Trustees have authorized the issuance of multiple classes of shares of the Fund, designated as Class A, Class B and Class C shares. The shares of each class represent an interest in the same portfolio of investments of the Fund and have equal rights as to voting, redemptions, dividends and liquidation, except that certain expenses, subject to the approval of the Trustees, may be applied differently to each class of shares in accordance with current regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service. Shareholders of a class that bears distribution and service expenses under the terms of a distribution plan have exclusive voting rights to that distribution plan. Class B Shares will convert to Class A shares eight years after purchase.
Significant accounting policies of the Fund are as follows:
Valuation of investments
Securities in the Fund’s portfolio are valued on the basis of market quotations, valuations provided by independent pricing services or, if quotations are not readily available, or the value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of a foreign market, at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees. Short term debt investments which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Investments in AIM Cash Investment Trust are valued at their net asset value each business day. All portfolio transactions initially expressed in terms of foreign currencies have been translated into U.S. dollars as described in “Foreign currency translation” below.
Joint repurchase agreement
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund, along with other registered investment companies having a management contract with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”), a wholly owned subsidiary of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation (“MFC”), may participate in a joint repurchase agreement transaction. Aggregate cash balances are invested in one or more large repurchase agreements, whose underlying securities are obligations of the U.S. government and/or its agencies. The Fund’s custodian bank receives delivery of the underlying securities for the joint account on the Fund’s behalf. The Adviser is responsible for ensuring that the agreement is fully collateralized at all times.
Foreign currency translation
All assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on London currency exchange quotations as of 4:00 p.m., London time, on the date of any determination of the net asset value of the Fund. Transactions affecting statement of operations accounts and net realized gain (loss) on investments are translated at the rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.
The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.
Growth Trends Fund
21
Reported net realized foreign currency exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign currency exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, resulting from changes in the exchange rates.
Investment transactions
Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily net asset value calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are reported on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the identified cost basis. Capital gains realized on some foreign securities are subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable.
Class allocations
Income, common expenses and realized and unrealized gains (losses) are determined at the fund level and allocated daily to each class of shares based on the appropriate net asset value of the respective classes. Distribution and service fees, if any, are calculated daily at the class level based on the appropriate net asset value of each class and the specific expense rate(s) applicable to each class.
Expenses
The majority of expenses are directly identifiable to an individual fund. Expenses that are not readily identifiable to a specific fund are allocated in such a manner as deemed equitable, taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the relative sizes of the funds.
Bank borrowings
The Fund is permitted to have bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests that otherwise might require the untimely disposition of securities. The Fund has entered into a syndicated line of credit agreement with various banks. This agreement enables the Fund to participate, with other funds managed by the Adviser, in an unsecured line of credit with banks, which permits borrowings of up to $150 million, collectively. Interest is charged to each fund based on its borrowing. In addition, a commitment fee is charged to each fund based on the average daily unused portion of the line of credit, and is allocated among the participating funds. The Fund had no borrowing activity under the line of credit during the year ended October 31, 2006.
Securities lending
The Fund may lend securities to certain qualified brokers who pay the Fund negotiated lender fees. The loans are collateralized at all times with cash or securities with a market value at least equal to the market value of the securities on loan. As with other extensions of credit, the Fund may bear the risk of delay of the loaned securities in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral, should the borrower of the securities fail financially. On October 31, 2006, the Fund loaned securities having a market value of $4,968,333 collateralized by cash in the amount of $5,096,183. The cash collateral was invested in a short-term instrument. Securities lending expenses are paid by the Fund to the Adviser.
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts
The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts as a hedge against the effect of fluctuations in currency exchange rates. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a set price. The aggregate principal amounts of the contracts are marked to market daily at the applicable foreign currency exchange rates. Any resulting unrealized gains and losses are included in the determination of the Fund’s daily net asset value. The Fund records realized gains and losses at the time the forward foreign currency exchange contracts are closed out. Risks may arise upon entering these contracts from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of the contracts and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. These contracts
Growth Trends Fund
22
involve market or credit risk in excess of the unrealized gain or loss reflected in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Fund may also purchase and sell forward contracts to facilitate the settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio transactions, under which it intends to take delivery of the foreign currency. Such contracts normally involve no market risk if they are offset by the currency amount of the underlying transactions.
The Fund had no open forward foreign currency exchange contracts on October 31, 2006.
Federal income taxes
The Fund qualifies as a “regulated investment company” by complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that is distributed to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. For federal income tax purposes, the Fund has $196,013,787 of a capital loss carryforward available, to the extent provided by regulations, to offset future net realized capital gains. To the extent that such carryforward is used by the Fund, no capital gain distributions will be made. The loss carryforward expires as follows: October 31, 2009 — $57,002,933, October 31, 2010 — $87,616,374 and October 31, 2011 — $51,394,480. Capital loss carryforward utilized for the year ended October 31, 2006, amounted to $14,881,322.
New accounting pronouncements
In June 2006, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (the “Interpretation”) was issued and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. The Interpretation prescribes a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and requires certain expanded disclosures. Management is currently evaluating the application of the Interpretation to the Fund and has not at this time quantified the impact, if any, resulting from the adoption of the Interpretation on the Fund’s financial statements. In September 2006, FASB Standard No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157”) was issued, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. FAS 157 defines fair value, establishing a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. Management is currently evaluating the application of FAS 157 to the Fund and its impact, if any, resulting from the adoption of FAS 157 on the Fund’s financial statements.
Dividends, interest and distributions
Dividend income on investment securities is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, in the case of some foreign securities, on the date thereafter when the Fund identifies the dividend. Interest income on investment securities is recorded on the accrual basis. Foreign income may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, which are accrued as applicable.
The Fund records distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, on the ex-dividend date. Distributions paid by the Fund with respect to each class of shares are calculated in the same manner, at the same time and are in the same amount, except for the effect of expenses that may be applied differently to each class.
As of October 31, 2006, there were no distributable earnings on a tax basis.
Such distributions and distributable earnings, on a tax basis, are determined in conformity with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits, if any, are reported in the Fund’s financial statements as a return of capital.
Use of estimates
The preparation of these financial statements, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, incorporates estimates made by management in determining the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Fund. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Growth Trends Fund
23
Note 2
Management fee and transactions with
affiliates and others
The Fund has an investment management contract with the Adviser. Under the investment management contract, the Fund pays a monthly management fee to the Adviser equivalent, on an annual basis, to the sum of: (a) 1.00% of the first $2,400,000,000 of the Fund’s average daily net asset value and (b) 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net asset value in excess of $2,400,000,000.
The Adviser has agreed to limit the Fund’s management fee to 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, at least until February 28, 2007. Accordingly, the expense reductions related to management fee limitation amounted to $309,405 for the year ended October 31, 2006. The Adviser reserves the right to terminate this limitation in the future.
Effective December 31, 2005, the investment management teams of the Adviser were reorganized into Sovereign Asset Management LLC (“Sovereign”), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of John Hancock Life Insurance Company (“JHLICO”), a subsidiary of MFC. The Adviser remains the principal advisor on the Fund and Sovereign acts as subadviser under the supervision of the Adviser. The restructuring did not have an impact on the Fund, which continues to be managed using the same investment philosophy and process. The Fund is not responsible for payment of the subadvisory fees.
Effective October 1, 2006, Sovereign changed its name to MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC.
The Adviser has agreed to limit the Fund’s total expenses, excluding distribution and service fees, to 1.35% of the Fund’s average daily net asset value, on an annual basis, at least until February 28, 2008. Pursuant to this agreement, there was no reimbursement for the year ended October 31, 2006. The Adviser reserves the right to terminate this limitation in the future.
The Fund has a Distribution Agreement with John Hancock Funds, LLC (“JH Funds”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The Fund has adopted Distribution Plans with respect to Class A, Class B and Class C pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, as amended, to reimburse JH Funds for the services it provides as distributor of shares of the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund makes monthly payments to JH Funds at an annual rate not to exceed 0.30%, 1.00% and 1.00% of average daily net asset value of Class A, Class B and Class C, respectively. A maximum of 0.25% of such payments may be service fees, as defined by the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Under the Conduct Rules, curtailment of a portion of the Fund’s 12b-1 payments could occur under certain circumstances.
Expenses under the agreements described above for the period ended October 31, 2006 were as follows:
Distribution and | |
Share class | service fees |
Class A | $131,024 |
Class B | 595,539 |
Class C | 205,337 |
Total | $931,900 |
Class A shares are assessed up-front sales charges. During the year ended October 31, 2006, JH Funds received net up-front sales charges of $44,965 with regard to sales of Class A shares. Of this amount, $6,769 was retained and used for printing prospectuses, advertising, sales literature and other purposes, $30,710 was paid as sales commissions to unrelated broker-dealers and $7,486 was paid as sales commissions to sales personnel of Signator Investors, Inc. (“Signator Investors”), a related broker-dealer. The Adviser’s indirect parent, JHLICO is the indirect sole shareholder of Signator Investors.
Class B shares that are redeemed within six years of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) at declining rates, beginning at 5.00% of the lesser of the current market value at the time of redemption or the original purchase cost of the shares being redeemed. Class C shares that are redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a CDSC at a rate of 1.00% of the lesser of the current market value at the time of redemption or the original purchase cost of
Growth Trends Fund
24
the shares being redeemed. Proceeds from the CDSCs are paid to JH Funds and are used, in whole or in part, to defray its expenses for providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sale of Class B and Class C shares. During the year ended October 31, 2006, CDSCs received by JH Funds amounted to $198,499 for Class B shares and $928 for Class C shares.
The Fund has a transfer agent agreement with John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. (“Signature Services”), an indirect subsidiary of JHLICO. The Fund pays a monthly transfer agent fee at an annual rate of 0.05% of each class’s average daily net asset value, plus a fee based on the number of shareholder accounts and reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses aggregated and allocated to each class on the basis of its relative net asset value. Signature Services agreed to voluntarily reduce the Fund’s asset-based portion of the transfer agent fee if the total transfer agent fee exceeded the median transfer agency fee for comparable mutual funds by greater than 0.05% . Accordingly, the transfer agent expense for Class A, Class B and Class C shares was reduced by $55,056 for the year ended October 31, 2006. Signature Services terminated this reimbursement agreement June 30, 2006.
Effective July 1, 2006, the transfer agent has contractually limited transfer agent fees by implementing a transfer agent fee cap of 0.25% until at least June 30, 2007. Accordingly, the expense reductions related to transfer agent fee limitations amounted to $64,739 for the year ended October 31, 2006. Signature Services reserves the right to terminate this reimbursement limitation at any time.
The Fund has an agreement with the Adviser and affiliates to perform necessary tax, accounting and legal services for the Fund. The compensation for the year amounted to $27,498. The Fund also paid the Adviser the amount of $859 for certain publishing services, included in the printing fees. The Fund also reimbursed JHLICO for certain compliance costs, included in the Fund’s Statement of Operations.
Mr. James R. Boyle is Chairman of the Adviser, as well as affiliated Trustee of the Fund, and is compensated by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. The compensation of unaffiliated Trustees is borne by the Fund. The unaffiliated Trustees may elect to defer, for tax purposes, their receipt of this compensation under the John Hancock Group of Funds Deferred Compensation Plan. The Fund makes investments into other John Hancock funds, as applicable, to cover its liability for the deferred compensation. Investments to cover the Fund’s deferred compensation liability are recorded on the Fund’s books as an other asset. The deferred compensation liability and the related other asset are always equal and are marked to market on a periodic basis to reflect any income earned by the investments, as well as any unrealized gains or losses. The Deferred Compensation Plan investments had no impact on the operations of the Fund.
Growth Trends Fund
25
Note 3
Fund share transactions
This listing illustrates the number of Fund shares sold and repurchased during the last two periods, along with the corresponding dollar value.
Year ended 10-31-05 | Year ended 10-31-06 | |||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |
Class A shares | ||||
Sold | 812,760 | $4,813,555 | 608,065 | $4,037,541 |
Repurchased | (3,640,225) | (21,625,434) | (2,170,522) | (14,362,453) |
Net decrease | (2,827,465) | ($16,811,879) | (1,562,457) | ($10,324,912) |
Class B shares | ||||
Sold | 457,988 | $2,642,345 | 383,374 | $2,452,637 |
Repurchased | (5,094,452) | (29,305,114) | (3,299,870) | (21,016,012) |
Net decrease | (4,636,464) | ($26,662,769) | (2,916,496) | ($18,563,375) |
Class C shares | ||||
Sold | 156,457 | $901,460 | 116,717 | $749,987 |
Repurchased | (2,001,617) | (11,498,853) | (1,059,886) | (6,734,629) |
Net decrease | (1,845,160) | ($10,597,393) | (943,169) | ($5,984,642) |
Net decrease | (9,309,089) | ($54,072,041) | (5,422,122) | ($34,872,929) |
Note 4
Investment transactions
Purchases and proceeds from sales or maturities of securities, other than short-term securities and obligations of the U.S. government, during the year ended October 31, 2006, aggregated $84,879,729 and $113,860,684, respectively.
The cost of investments owned on October 31, 2006, including short-term investments, for federal income tax purposes, was $95,160,601. Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments aggregated $25,005,049 and $3,298,678, respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $21,706,371. The difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation of investments is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses certain sales of securities.
Note 5
Reclassification of accounts
During the year ended October 31, 2006, the Fund reclassified amounts to reflect a decrease in accumulated net realized loss on investments of $13,623, a decrease in accumulated net investment loss of $1,149,879 and a decrease in capital paid-in of $1,163,502. This represents the amounts necessary to report these balances on a tax basis, excluding certain temporary differences, as of October 31, 2006. Additional adjustments may be needed in subsequent reporting periods. These reclassifications, which have no impact on the net asset value of the Fund, are primarily attributable to certain differences in the computation of distributable income and capital gains under federal tax rules versus accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, book and tax differences in accounting for certain foreign currency adjustments and net operating loss. The calculation of net investment income (loss) per share in the Fund’s Financial Highlights excludes these adjustments.
Growth Trends Fund
26
Auditors’ report
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Equity Trust and Shareholders of John Hancock Growth Trends Fund,
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of John Hancock Growth Trends Fund (the “Fund”) at October 31, 2006, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those sta ndards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at October 31, 2006 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 13, 2006
27
Tax information
Unaudited
For federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions of the Fund, if any, paid during its taxable year ended October 31, 2006.
The Fund hereby designates the maximum amount allowable of its net taxable income as qualified dividend income as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. This amount will be reflected on Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year 2006.
Shareholders will be mailed a 2006 U.S. Treasury Department Form 1099-DIV in January 2007. This will reflect the total of all distributions that are taxable for calendar year 2006.
28
Board Consideration of and
Continuation of Investment Advisory
Agreement and Sub-Advisory
Agreement: John Hancock Growth
Trends Fund
The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) requires the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of John Hancock Equity Trust (the “Trust”), including a majority of the Trustees who have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory agreement and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), annually to review and consider the continuation of: (i) the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and (ii) the investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) for the John Hancock Growth Trends Fund (the “Fund”). The Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and the Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements. 8;
At meetings held on May 1–2 and June 5–6, 2006,1 the Board considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser and the continuation of the Advisory Agreements. During such meetings, the Board’s Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel.
In evaluating the Advisory Agreements, the Board, including the Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees, reviewed a broad range of information requested for this purpose by the Independent Trustees, including: (i) the investment performance of the Fund relative to a category of relevant funds (the “Category”) and a peer group of comparable funds (the “Peer Group”) each selected by Morningstar Inc. (“Morningstar”), an independent provider of investment company data, for a range of periods ended December 31, 2005; (ii) advisory and other fees incurred by, and the expense ratios of, the Fund relative to a Category and a Peer Group; (iii) the advisory fees of comparable portfolios of other clients of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser; (iv) the Adviser’s financial results and condition, including its and certain of its affiliates’ profitability from services performed for the Fund; (v) br eakpoints in the Fund’s and the Peer Group’s fees, and information about economies of scale; (vi) the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s record of compliance with applicable laws and regulations, with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions and with the applicable Code of Ethics, and the structure and responsibilities of the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s compliance department; (vii) the background and experience of senior management and investment professionals and (viii) the nature, cost and character of advisory and non-investment management services provided by the Adviser and its affiliates and by the Sub-Adviser.
The Board’s review and conclusions were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information presented to the Board and not the result of any single controlling factor. It was based on performance and other information as of December 31, 2005; facts may have changed between that date and the date of this shareholders report. The key factors considered by the Board and the conclusions reached are described below.
Nature, extent and quality of services
The Board considered the ability of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, based on their resources, reputation and other attributes, to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance programs and compliance records of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the administrative services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates.
Based on the above factors, together with those referenced below, the Board concluded that, within the context of its full deliberations, the nature, extent and quality of the investment advisory services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser were sufficient to support renewal of the Advisory Agreements.
29
Fund performance
The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended December 31, 2005. The Board also considered these results in comparison to the performance of the Category, as well as the Fund’s Peer Group and benchmark index. Morningstar determined the Category and the Peer Group for the Fund. The Board reviewed with a representative of Morningstar the methodology used by Morningstar to select the funds in the Category and the Peer Group. The Board noted the imperfect comparability of the Peer Group.
The Board noted that the Fund’s performance during the five-year period was lower than the performance of the Peer Group and Category medians, and its benchmark index — the Russell 1000 Growth Index. The Board also noted that the Fund’s performance during the three-year period was lower than the Peer Group and Category medians and higher than the performance of the benchmark index. The Board viewed favorably that the more recent performance of the Fund for the one-year period ended December 31, 2005 was higher than the performance of the Category median, and its benchmark index, and not appreciably lower than the performance of the Peer Group median.
Investment advisory fee and sub-advisory fee rates and expenses
The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rate”). The Board received and considered information comparing the Advisory Agreement Rate with the advisory fees for the Peer Group and Category. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement Rate was higher than the median rate of the Peer Group and Category.
The Board received and considered expense information regarding the Fund’s various components, including advisory fees, distribution and fees other than advisory and distribution fees, including transfer agent fees, custodian fees and other miscellaneous fees (e.g., fees for accounting and legal services). The Board also considered peer-adjusted comparisons for the transfer agent fees. The Board considered comparisons of these expenses to the Peer Group median. The Board also received and considered expense information regarding the Fund’s total operating expense ratio (“Gross Expense Ratio”) and total operating expense ratio after taking the fee waiver arrangement applicable to the Advisory Agreement Rate into account (“Net Expense Ratio”). The Board received and considered information comparing the Gross Expense Ratio and Net Expense Ratio o f the Fund to that of the Peer Group and Category medians. The Board noted that the Fund’s Gross and Net Expense Ratios were higher than the median of its Peer Group and Category. The Board favorably considered the impact of fee caps towards ultimately lowering the Fund’s total operating expense ratio.
The Adviser also discussed the Morningstar data and rankings, and other relevant information, for the Fund. Based on the above-referenced considerations and other factors, the Board concluded that the Fund’s overall performance and expenses supported the re-approval of the Advisory Agreements.
The Board also received information about the investment sub-advisory fee rate (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate”) payable by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services. The Board concluded that the Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate was fair and equitable, based on its consideration of the factors described here.
Profitability
The Board received and considered a detailed profitability analysis of the Adviser based on the Advisory Agreements, as well as on other relationships between the Fund and the Adviser and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser. The Board concluded that, in light of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund, the profits and other ancillary benefits reported by the Adviser were not unreasonable.
Economies of scale
The Board received and considered general information regarding economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund, including the Fund’s ability to appropriately
30
benefit from economies of scale under the Fund’s fee structure. The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of the Adviser’s costs are not specific to individual Funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.
To the extent the Board and the Adviser were able to identify actual or potential economies of scale from Fund-specific or allocated expenses, in order to ensure that any such economies continue to be reasonably shared with the Fund as its assets increase, the Adviser and the Board agreed to continue the existing breakpoints to the Advisory Agreement Rate.
Information about services to other clients
The Board also received information about the nature, extent and quality of services and fee rates offered by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to their other clients, including other registered investment companies, institutional investors and separate accounts. The Board concluded that the Advisory Agreement Rate and the Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate were not unreasonable, taking into account fee rates offered to others by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, respectively, after giving effect to differences in services
Other benefits to the Adviser
The Board received information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund. Such benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to the relationship of the Adviser with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in the business of the Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund (such as the ability to market to shareholders other financial products offered by the Adviser and its affiliates).
The Board also considered the effectiveness of the Adviser’s, Sub-Adviser’s and Fund’s policies and procedures for complying with the requirements of the federal securities laws, including those relating to best execution of portfolio transactions and brokerage allocation.
Other factors and broader review
As discussed above, the Board reviewed detailed materials received from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser as part of the annual re-approval process. The Board also regularly reviews and assesses the quality of the services that the Fund receives throughout the year. In this regard, the Board reviews reports of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser at least quarterly, which include, among other things, fund performance reports and compliance reports. In addition, the Board meets with portfolio managers and senior investment officers at various times throughout the year.
After considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board concluded that approval of the continuation of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements.
Information about services to other clients
The Board also received information about the nature, extent and quality of services and fee rates offered by the Adviser to its other clients, including other registered investment companies, institutional investors and separate accounts. The Board concluded that the Advisory Agreement Rate was not unreasonable, taking into account fee rates offered to others by the Adviser and giving effect to differences in services covered by such fee rates.
Other benefits to the Adviser
The Board received information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund. Such benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to the relationship of the Adviser with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in the business of the Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund (such as the ability to market to shareholders other financial products offered by the Adviser and its affiliates).
31
The Board also considered the effectiveness
of the Adviser’s and the Fund’s policies and
procedures for complying with the require-
ments of the federal securities laws, including
those relating to best execution of portfolio
transactions and brokerage allocation.
Other factors and broader review
As discussed above, the Board reviewed
detailed materials received from the Adviser
and Sub-Adviser as part of the annual re-
approval process. The Board also regularly
reviews and assesses the quality of the services
that the Fund receives throughout the year. In
this regard, the Board reviews reports of the
Adviser and Sub-Adviser at least quarterly,
which include, among other things, fund per-
formance reports and compliance reports. In
addition, the Board meets with portfolio man-
agers and senior investment officers at various
times throughout the year.
After considering the above-described factors
and based on its deliberations and its evalu-
ation of the information described above,
the Board concluded that approval of the
continuation of the Advisory Agreements for
the Fund was in the best interest of the Fund
and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board
unanimously approved the continuation of the
Advisory Agreements.
The Board previously considered informa-
tion about the Sub-Advisory Agreement at the
September and December 2005 Board meetings
in connection with the Adviser’s reorganization.
1 The Board previously considered information about the Sub-Advisory Agreement at the September and December 2005 Board meetings in connection with the Adviser’s reorganization.
32
Trustees and Officers
This chart provides information about the Trustees and Officers who oversee your John Hancock fund. Officers elected by the Trustees manage the day-to-day operations of the Fund and execute policies formulated by the Trustees.
Independent Trustees | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
Ronald R. Dion , Born: 1946 | 2004 | 53 |
Independent Chairman (since 2005); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, | ||
R.M. Bradley & Co., Inc.; Director, The New England Council and Massachusetts | ||
Roundtable; Trustee, North Shore Medical Center; Director, Boston Stock | ||
Exchange; Director, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. and a corporator of the Eastern | ||
Bank; Trustee, Emmanuel College; Director, Boston Municipal Research Bureau; | ||
Member of the Advisory Board, Carroll Graduate School of Management at | ||
Boston College. | ||
James F. Carlin, Born: 1940 | 2004 | 53 |
Director and Treasurer, Alpha Analytical Laboratories Inc. (chemical analysis) | ||
(since 1985); Part Owner and Treasurer, Lawrence Carlin Insurance Agency, | ||
Inc. (since 1995); Part Owner and Vice President, Mone Lawrence Carlin | ||
Insurance Agency, Inc. (until 2005); Director and Treasurer, Rizzo Associates | ||
(engineering) (until 2000); Chairman and CEO, Carlin Consolidated, Inc. | ||
(management/investments) (since 1987); Director and Partner, Proctor Carlin | ||
& Co., Inc. (until 1999); Trustee, Massachusetts Health and Education Tax | ||
Exempt Trust (since 1993); Director of the following: Uno Restaurant Corp. | ||
(until 2001), Arbella Mutual (insurance) (until 2000), HealthPlan Services, Inc. | ||
(until 1999), Flagship Healthcare, Inc. (until 1999), Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc. | ||
(until 1999); Chairman, Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (until 1999). | ||
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.,2 Born: 1935 | 2000 | 53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer, Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (lending) (since | ||
1972); Chairman and Director, Lumber Insurance Co. (insurance) (until 2000); | ||
Chairman and Director, Northeast Retirement Services, Inc. (retirement | ||
administration) (since 1998); Vice Chairman, Northeastern University Board | ||
of Trustees (since 2004). | ||
William H. Cunningham, Born: 1944 | 2004 | 158 |
Former Chancellor, University of Texas System and former President of the | ||
University of Texas, Austin, Texas; Chairman and CEO, IBT Technologies (until | ||
2001); Director of the following: Hire.com (until 2004), STC Broadcasting, Inc. | ||
and Sunrise Television Corp. (until 2001), Symtx, Inc. (electronic manufacturing) | ||
(since 2001), Adorno/Rogers Technology, Inc. (until 2004), Pinnacle Foods | ||
Corporation (until 2003), rateGenius (until 2003), Lincoln National Corporation | ||
(insurance) (since 2006), Jefferson-Pilot Corporation (diversified life insurance | ||
company) (until 2006), New Century Equity Holdings (formerly Billing Concepts) |
33
Independent Trustees (continued) | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
William H. Cunningham, Born: 1944 (continued) | 2004 | 158 |
(until 2001), eCertain (until 2001), ClassMap.com (until 2001), Agile Ventures | ||
(until 2001), AskRed.com (until 2001), Southwest Airlines, Introgen and | ||
Viasystems Group, Inc. (electronic manufacturer) (until 2003); Advisory | ||
Director, Interactive Bridge, Inc. (college fundraising) (until 2001); Advisory | ||
Director, Q Investments (until 2003); Advisory Director, JPMorgan Chase Bank | ||
(formerly Texas Commerce Bank – Austin), LIN Television (since 2002), WilTel | ||
Communications (until 2003) and Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. | ||
(diversified automotive parts supply company) (since 2003). | ||
Charles L. Ladner,2 Born: 1938 | 2004 | 158 |
Chairman and Trustee, Dunwoody Village, Inc. (retirement services) (until 2003); | ||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, UGI Corporation (public utility | ||
holding company) (retired 1998); Vice President and Director for AmeriGas, Inc. | ||
(retired 1998); Director of AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (gas distribution) (until 1997); | ||
Director, EnergyNorth, Inc. (until 1995); Director, Parks and History Association | ||
(until 2007). | ||
John A. Moore,2 Born: 1939 | 2000 | 53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Evaluating Health Risks, | ||
(nonprofit institution) (until 2001); Senior Scientist, Sciences International | ||
(health research) (until 2003); Former Assistant Administrator and Deputy | ||
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Principal, Hollyhouse | ||
(consulting) (since 2000); Director, CIIT Center for Health Science Research | ||
(nonprofit research) (since 2002). | ||
Patti McGill Peterson,2 Born: 1943 | 2000 | 53 |
Executive Director, Council for International Exchange of Scholars and Vice | ||
President, Institute of International Education (since 1998); Senior Fellow, Cornell | ||
Institute of Public Affairs, Cornell University (until 1998); Former President of | ||
Wells College and St. Lawrence University; Director, Niagara Mohawk Power | ||
Corporation (until 2003); Director, Ford Foundation, International Fellowships | ||
Program (since 2002); Director, Lois Roth Endowment (since 2002); Director, | ||
Council for International Educational Exchange (since 2003). | ||
Steven R. Pruchansky, Born: 1944 | 2004 | 53 |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. | ||
(since 2000); Director and President, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. | ||
(until 2000); Managing Director, JonJames, LLC (real estate) (since 2001); | ||
Director, First Signature Bank & Trust Company (until 1991); Director, Mast | ||
Realty Trust (until 1994); President, Maxwell Building Corp. (until 1991). |
34
Non-Independent Trustee3 | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
James R. Boyle, Born: 1959 | 2005 | 260 |
President, John Hancock Annuities; Executive Vice President, John Hancock | ||
Life Insurance Company (since June, 2004); Chairman and Director, John | ||
Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”), John Hancock Funds, LLC and The | ||
Berkeley Financial Group, LLC (“The Berkeley Group”) (holding company) (since | ||
2005); President, U.S. Annuities; Senior Vice President, The Manufacturers | ||
Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (until 2004). | ||
Principal officers who are not Trustees | ||
Name, age | ||
Position(s) held with Fund | Officer | |
Principal occupation(s) and | of Fund | |
directorships during past 5 years | since | |
Keith F. Hartstein, Born: 1956 | 2005 | |
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Senior Vice President, Manulife Financial Corporation (since 2004); Director, | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer, the Adviser, The Berkeley Group, John | ||
Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2005); Director, MFC Global Investment Management | ||
(U.S.), LLC (“MFC Global (U.S.)”) (since 2005); Director, John Hancock Signature | ||
Services, Inc. (since 2005); President and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock | ||
Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2006); President and Chief Executive | ||
Officer, John Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust; | ||
Director, Chairman and President, NM Capital Management, Inc. (since 2005); | ||
Chairman, Investment Company Institute Sales Force Marketing Committee | ||
(since 2003); Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, MFC Global (U.S.) | ||
(2005–2006); Executive Vice President, John Hancock Funds, LLC (until 2005). | ||
Thomas M. Kinzler, Born: 1955 | 2006 | |
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | ||
Vice President and Counsel, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) | ||
(since 2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, John Hancock Funds, John | ||
Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2006); | ||
Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Massachusetts Mutual Life | ||
Insurance Company (1999–2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel, MML | ||
Series Investment Fund (2000–2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel, | ||
MassMutual Institutional Funds (2000–2004); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel, | ||
MassMutual Select Funds and MassMutual Premier Funds (2004–2006). | ||
Francis V. Knox, Jr., Born: 1947 | 2005 | |
Chief Compliance Officer | ||
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Investment | ||
Management Services, LLC, the Adviser and MFC Global (U.S.) (since 2005); | ||
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Funds II, John | ||
Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and | ||
Assistant Treasurer, Fidelity Group of Funds (until 2004); Vice President and | ||
Ethics & Compliance Officer, Fidelity Investments (until 2001). |
35
Principal officers who are not Trustees (continued) | |
Name, age | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Officer |
Principal occupation(s) and | of Fund |
directorships during past 5 years | since |
Gordon M. Shone, Born: 1956 | 2006 |
Treasurer | |
Treasurer, John Hancock Funds (since 2006), John Hancock Funds II, John | |
Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and | |
Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Trust (2003–2005); Senior Vice President, | |
John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (since 2001); Vice President, | |
John Hancock Investment Management Services, Inc., John Hancock Advisers, | |
LLC (since 2006) and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) | |
(1998–2000). | |
John G. Vrysen, Born: 1955 | 2005 |
Chief Financial Officer | |
Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Adviser, The | |
Berkeley Group and John Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2005); Executive Vice | |
President and Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Investment Management | |
Services, LLC (since 2005); Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, MFC Global | |
(U.S.) (since 2005); Director, John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. (since 2005); | |
Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John | |
Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and General Manager, Fixed Annuities, | |
U.S. Wealth Management (until 2005); Vice President, Operations, Manulife | |
Wood Logan (2000–2004). |
The business address for all Trustees and Officers is 601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210-2805.
The Statement of Additional Information of the Fund includes additional information about members of the Board of Trustees of the Fund and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-5291.
1Each Trustee serves until resignation, retirement age or until his or her successor is elected.
2Member of Audit Committee.
3Non-Independent Trustee holds positions with the Fund’s investment adviser, underwriter and certain other affiliates.
36
For more information
The Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures and records are available without charge, upon request:
By phone | On the Fund’s Web site | On the SEC’s Web site |
1-800-225-5291 | www.jhfunds.com/proxy | www.sec.gov |
Investment adviser | Custodian | Legal counsel |
John Hancock Advisers, LLC | The Bank of New York | Kirkpatrick & Lockhart |
601 Congress Street | One Wall Street | Nicholson Graham LLP |
Boston, MA 02210-2805 | New York, NY 10286 | 1 Lincoln Street |
Boston, MA 02110-2950 | ||
Subadviser | Transfer agent | |
MFC Global Investment | John Hancock Signature | Independent registered |
Management (U.S.), LLC | Services, Inc. | public accounting firm |
101 Huntington Avenue | 1 John Hancock Way, | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
Boston, MA 02199 | Suite 1000 | 125 High Street |
Boston, MA 02217-1000 | Boston, MA 02110 | |
Principal distributor | ||
John Hancock Funds, LLC | ||
601 Congress Street | ||
Boston, MA 02210-2805 |
The Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses are included in the prospectus and should be considered carefully before investing. For a prospectus, call your financial professional, call John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291 or visit the Fund’s Web site at www.jhfunds.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
How to contact us | ||
Internet | www.jhfunds.com | |
Regular mail: | Express mail: | |
John Hancock | John Hancock | |
Signature Services, Inc. | Signature Services, Inc. | |
1 John Hancock Way, Suite 1000 | Mutual Fund Image Operations | |
Boston, MA 02217-1000 | 380 Stuart Street | |
Boston, MA 02116 | ||
Phone | Customer service representatives | 1-800-225-5291 |
24-hour automated information | 1-800-338-8080 | |
TDD line | 1-800-554-6713 |
A listing of month-end portfolio holdings is available on our Web site, www.jhfunds.com. A more detailed portfolio holdings summary is available on a quarterly basis 60 days after the fiscal quarter on our Web site or upon request by calling 1-800-225-5291, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site, www.sec.gov.
40
J O H N H A N C O C K F A M I L Y O F F U N D S
EQUITY | INTERNATIONAL |
Balanced Fund | Greater China Opportunities Fund |
Classic Value Fund | International Classic Value Fund |
Classic Value Fund II | International Core Fund |
Core Equity Fund | International Fund |
Focused Equity Fund | International Growth Fund |
Growth Fund | |
Growth Opportunities Fund | INCOME |
Growth Trends Fund | Bond Fund |
Intrinsic Value Fund | Government Income Fund |
Large Cap Equity Fund | High Yield Fund |
Large Cap Select Fund | Investment Grade Bond Fund |
Mid Cap Equity Fund | Strategic Income Fund |
Mid Cap Growth Fund | |
Multi Cap Growth Fund | TAX-FREE INCOME |
Small Cap Equity Fund | California Tax-Free Income Fund |
Small Cap Fund | High Yield Municipal Bond Fund |
Small Cap Intrinsic Value Fund | Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund |
Sovereign Investors Fund | New York Tax-Free Income Fund |
U.S. Core Fund | Tax-Free Bond Fund |
U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | |
Value Opportunities Fund | MONEY MARKET |
Money Market Fund | |
ASSET ALLOCATION & LIFESTYLE | U.S. Government Cash Reserve |
Allocation Core Portfolio | |
Allocation Growth + Value Portfolio | CLOSED-END |
Lifestyle Aggressive Portfolio | Bank & Thrift Opportunity |
Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio | Financial Trends |
Lifestyle Conservative Portfolio | Income Securities |
Lifestyle Growth Portfolio | Investors Trust |
Lifestyle Moderate Portfolio | Patriot Global Dividend |
Patriot Preferred Dividend | |
SECTOR | Patriot Premium Dividend I |
Financial Industries Fund | Patriot Premium Dividend II |
Health Sciences Fund | Patriot Select Dividend |
Real Estate Fund | Preferred Income |
Regional Bank Fund | Preferred Income II |
Technology Fund | Preferred Income III |
Technology Leaders Fund | Tax-Advantaged Dividend |
For more complete information on any John Hancock Fund and an Open-End fund prospectus, which includes charges and expenses, call your financial professional, or John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291 for Open-End fund information and 1-800-852-0218 for Closed-End fund information. Please read the Open-End fund prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/growthtrendsx44x1.jpg)
1-800-225-5291
1-800-554-6713 (TDD)
1-800-338-8080 EASI-Line
www.jhfunds. com
Now available: electronic delivery
www.jhfunds. com/edelivery
This report is for the information of the shareholders of John Hancock Growth Trends Fund.
4600A 10/06
12/06
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/smallcapfundx1x1.jpg)
CEO corner
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/smallcapfundx2x1.jpg)
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Your fund at a glance |
page 1 |
Manager’s report |
page 2 |
A look at performance |
page 6 |
Your expenses |
page 8 |
Fund’s investments |
page 1 0 |
Financial statements |
page 1 3 |
Notes to financial |
statements |
page 2 0 |
Trustees and officers |
page 3 1 |
For more information |
page 3 6 |
To Our Shareholders,
The future has arrived at John Hancock Funds.
We have always been firm believers in the powerful role the Internet can play in providing fund information to our shareholders and prospective investors. Recently, we launched a redesigned, completely overhauled Web site that is more visually pleasing, easier to navigate and, most importantly, provides more fund information and learning tools without overwhelming the user.
Not long after we embarked on this major project, a study was released by the Investment Company Institute, the mutual fund industry’s main trade group, which found that an overwhelming majority of shareholders consider the Internet the “wave of the future” for accessing fund information.
Our new site sports fresher and faster ways to access account information. New innovations allow investors to view funds by risk level, track the performance of the John Hancock funds of their choice or sort funds by Morningstar, Inc.’s star ratings. Investors who own a John Hancock fund through a qualified retirement plan and don’t pay sales charges when making a purchase have the option of sorting by a “Load Waived” Morningstar Rating, thereby creating an apples-to-apples comparison with no-load funds that may also be available in their retirement plan.
The new site also has more educational tools and interactive modules to educate and assist investors with their financial goals, from college savings to retirement planning. A new “I want to…” feature allows investors to check performance, invest more money, update personal information or download prospectuses and forms quickly and easily.
In another of our ongoing efforts to provide our shareholders with top-notch service, we also redesigned our shareholder reports, as you may have noticed with this report. We hope the larger size, more colorful cover and redesigned presentation of the commentary and data tables will draw you in and make them easier to read.
After you’ve read your shareholder report, we encourage you to visit our new Web site — www.jhfunds.com — and take a tour. It’s easy, fast and fun and allows you to be in control of what you see and do. In short, it’s the wave of the future!
Sincerely,
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/smallcapfundx2x2.jpg)
Keith F. Hartstein,
President and Chief Executive Officer
This commentary reflects the CEO’s views as of October 31, 2006. They are subject to change at any time.
Your fund at a glance
The Fund seeks capital appreciation by normally investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of small-capitalization companies (which, for purposes of this fund, are companies with market capitalizations under $2 billion, or market capitalizations within the range of those companies in the Russell 2000 Index or the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index.)
Over the last twelve months
► Small-caps led the U.S. stock market to double-digit gains, with value outpacing growth by a healthy margin.
► The Fund lagged the Russell 2000 Index, as strong buying of small-cap ETFs drove the advance of numerous lower-quality issues, and several ill-timed picks sidetracked the Fund’s results.
► Toward the end of the period, the Fed stopped raising interest rates and energy prices fell sharply, both of which fueled the advance in stocks.
John Hancock Small Cap Fund
Fund performance for the year ended October 31, 2006.
Total returns for the Fund are at net asset value with all distributions reinvested. These returns do not reflect the deduction of the maximum sales charge, which would reduce the performance shown above.
Top 10 holdings | ||||
Trimble Navigation Ltd. | 4.2% | LKQ Corp. | 3.0% | |
Avocent Corp. | 4.1% | PetroQuest Energy, Inc. | 3.0% | |
Gaylord Entertainment Co. | 3.7% | Transaction Systems | ||
Philadelphia Consolidated | Architects, Inc. (Class A) | 2.8% | ||
Holding Corp. | 3.6% | Warnaco Group, Inc. (The) | 2.6% | |
Cytec Industries, Inc. | 3.3% | Daktronics, Inc. | 2.6% | |
As a percentage of net assets on October 31, 2006.
1
Manager’s report
John Hancock
Small Cap Fund
Small-cap stocks posted strong gains during the one-year review period, handily outperforming their large-cap and mid-cap counterparts. Small caps did well on a relative basis at the beginning and end of the period, when share prices were advancing. However, from roughly mid-April through early August, which included a market correction, investors favored less risky investments and large caps performed best. Value stocks maintained a considerable lead over growth shares, in part reflecting investors’ caution during the period’s more volatile phases.
Concerns on investors’ minds included the possibility of continued hikes in interest rates by the Federal Reserve Board, rising inflation and high energy prices. However, all three of those concerns eased as the summer progressed, setting the stage for a rebounding stock market in the final three months of the period. Inflation data — particularly readings on core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices — eased a bit, providing the Fed with greater flexibility in implementing monetary policy. Accordingly, the central bank held short-term interest rates steady in August 2006 after 17 consecutive rate hikes from June 2004 through June 2006 and repeated its decision to stand pat in September and October. The wisdom of maintaining the status quo on interest rates was confirmed by further evidence of a softening housing market and news that the U.S. economy had slowed in the third calendar quarter to an estimated 1.6% growth rate from 2.6% in the second quarter.
SCORECARD
INVESTMENT | PERIOD’S PERFORMANCE AND WHAT’S BEHIND THE NUMBERS | |
Daktronics | ▲ | Expanding market for digital billboards |
James River Coal | ▼ | Falling coal prices, rising labor costs |
Secure Computing | ▼ | Acquisitions hampered earnings growth |
2
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/smallcapfundx5x1.jpg)
Portfolio Manager, Independence Investments LLC Charles S. Glovsky, CFA
Along with the Fed’s decision to put its rate-hike campaign on hold, the stock market benefited from sharp declines in crude oil and natural gas prices near the end of the period. These declines were immediately felt by consumers, as pump prices for gasoline fell from over $3.00 per gallon to near the $2.00 level. Declining fuel prices freed up cash for consumers to spend elsewhere and bolstered consumer confidence.
“Small-cap stocks posted
strong gains during the
one-year review period…”
Looking at performance
For the 12 months ended October 31, 2006, John Hancock Small Cap Fund’s Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares returned 9.71%, 8.99%, 8.99% and 10.20%, respectively, at net asset value. By comparison, the average small-cap core fund monitored by Morningstar, Inc. returned 13.17% 1, while the Russell 2000 Index finished with a 19.98% return and the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index returned 16.11% . Keep in mind that your returns will differ from those listed above if you were not invested in the Fund for the entire period and did not reinvest all distributions. Historical performance information can be found on pages six and seven.
Our methodology of investing in undervalued stocks of companies with improving fundamentals was not in synch with the market for much of the review period. For one thing, a substantial flow of money into small-cap ETFs (exchange-traded funds) boosted the results of many lower-quality stocks that our emphasis on quality deters us from owning. Secondarily, a minimal exposure to REITs (real estate investment trusts) and utilities, both relatively defensive groups that performed well during the period, worked against the Fund’s results compared with its benchmarks. Lastly, we made a few picks that significantly detracted from performance.
Small Cap Fund
3
Energy, financials and consumer discretionary disappoint
Energy was by far the sector having the most detrimental impact on the Fund’s returns versus the Russell 2000 Index. Within that group, James River Coal Co. was the main problem, losing more than two-thirds of its value due to falling coal prices, rising labor costs and greater substitution of natural gas for coal. In the financial sector, reinsurance provider Scottish Re Group was the biggest detractor. Overly rapid expansion, combined with disappointing earnings growth and profit margins, sank the stock. Meanwhile, consumer discretionary holding Escala Group ran into trouble when the auction house experienced some challenging issues with its largest customer. Elsewhere, technology stock Secure Computing Corp., a provider of security software to enterprises, made two acquisitions that had a negative near-term impact on earnings. Also hindering performance was Cantel Medical Corp., a distributor of infection prevention and control products. Consolidation in the dial ysis center market and the loss of a major contract hurt the company’s growth prospects. The Fund no longer owned Escala Group at the end of the period.
Industrials and technology boost results
Several technology holdings had an especially positive impact on the Fund’s performance. For example, Daktronics, Inc., a maker of video boards, performed well, driven by accelerating order growth for its digital billboards. Trimble Navigation Ltd. also posted strong gains. The company supplies a variety of equipment with GPS (global positioning system) capabilities and benefited from the rapid growth in that market. LKQ Corp., a leading provider of auto salvage parts, was aided by both geographic expansion and a broadening of its product line to include generic parts and refurbished wheels. Although the Fund’s health care holdings were disappointing overall compared with the Russell 2000 Index, our returns benefited from Hologic, Inc., a maker of medical imaging equipment. The company continued to experience robust demand for its new line of digital mammography devices.
INDUSTRY DISTRIBUTION2 | |
Information technology | 25% |
Consumer discretionary | 18% |
Health care | 16% |
Financials | 14% |
Energy | 9% |
Industrials | 6% |
Materials | 5% |
Consumer staples | 3% |
Utilities | 2% |
Small Cap Fund
4
“Energy was by far the sector
having the most detrimental
impact on the Fund’s returns
versus the Russell 2000 Index.”
Outlook
While the small-cap group is no longer undervalued, we believe significant opportunities still exist on a stock-by-stock basis. Our management style is designed to find stocks that can do well even when the overall market is struggling. As we’ve just seen, high-quality small caps can temporarily underperform relative to the broader market, but we believe that over complete market cycles, they could outperform the market averages. Further, we expect the broader market environment to remain constructive, with inflation under control, a neutral if not accommodative Fed and an economy that continues to expand, albeit at a relatively modest pace. Against that backdrop, we look forward to the remainder of 2006 and the beginning of 2007.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/smallcapfundx7x1.jpg)
This commentary reflects the views of the portfolio manager through the end of the Fund’s period discussed in this report. The manager’s statements reflect his own opinions. As such, they are in no way guarantees of future events, and are not intended to be used as investment advice or a recommendation regarding any specific security. They are also subject to change at any time as market and other conditions warrant.
See the prospectus for the risks of investing in small-cap stocks.
1 Figures from Morningstar include reinvested dividends and do not take into account sales charges. Actual load-adjusted performance is lower.
2 As a percentage of net assets on October 31, 2006.
Small Cap Fund
5
A look at performance
For the periods ending October 31, 2006
Average annual returns | Cumulative total returns | ||||||||
with maximum sales charge (POP) | with maximum sales charge (POP) | ||||||||
Inception | Since | Since | |||||||
Class | date | 1-year | 5-year | 10-year | inception | 1-year | 5-year | 10-year | inception |
A1 | 12-16-98 | 4.23% | 10.85% | — | 10.58% | 4.23% | 67.38% | — | 120.74% |
B | 12-6-04 | 3.99 | — | — | 3.98 | 3.99 | — | — | 7.71 |
C | 12-6-04 | 7.99 | — | — | 6.00 | 7.99 | — | — | 11.71 |
I 2 | 12-6-04 | 10.20 | — | — | 7.15 | 10.20 | — | — | 14.03 |
Performance figures assume all distributions are reinvested. Returns with maximum sales charge reflect a sales charge on Class A shares of 5% and the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) on Class B and Class C shares. The Class B shares’ CDSC declines annually between years 1–6 according to the following schedule: 5, 4, 3, 3, 2, 1%. No sales charge will be assessed after the sixth year. Class C shares held for less than one year are subject to a 1% CDSC. Sales charge is not applicable for Class I shares.
The returns reflect past results and should not be considered indicative of future performance. The return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Due to market volatility, the Fund’s current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. For performance data current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-225-5291 or visit the Fund’s Web site at www.jhfunds.com.
The performance table above and the chart on the next page do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
The Fund’s performance results reflect any applicable expense reductions, without which the expenses would increase and results would have been less favorable.
1 Effective December 3, 2004, shareholders of the former Independence Small Cap Portfolio became owners of that number of full and fractional shares of Class A shares of the John Hancock Small Cap Fund. Additionally, the accounting and performance history of the former Independence Small Cap Portfolio was redesignated as that of Class A of John Hancock Small Cap Fund.
2 For certain types of investors as described in the Fund’s Class I share prospectus.
Small Cap Fund
6
Growth of $10,000
This chart shows what happened to a hypothetical $10,000 investment in Class A shares for the period indicated. For comparison, we’ve shown the same investment in two separate indexes.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/smallcapfundx9x1.jpg)
Without sales | With maximum | ||||
Class | Period beginning | charge | sales charge | Index 1 | Index 2 |
B1 | 12-6-04 | $11,171 | $10,771 | $12,271 | $12,330 |
C1,3 | 12-6-04 | 11,171 | 11,171 | 12,271 | 12,330 |
I 1,2 | 12-6-04 | 11,403 | 11,403 | 12,271 | 12,330 |
Assuming all distributions were reinvested for the period indicated, the table above shows the value of a $10,000 investment in the Fund’s Class B, Class C and Class I shares, respectively, as of October 31, 2006. Performance of the classes will vary based on the difference in sales charges paid by shareholders investing in the different classes and the fee structure of those classes.
Russell 2000 Index — Index 1 — is an unmanaged index composed of 2,000 U.S. small-capitalization stocks.
Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index — Index 2 — is an unmanaged index of 600 domestic stocks of small-size companies.
It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index figures do not reflect sales charges which would have resulted in lower values if they did.
1 Index 2 figure as of November 30, 2004.
2 For certain types of investors as described in the Fund’s Class I share prospectus.
3 No contingent deferred sales charge applicable.
Small Cap Fund
7
Your expenses
These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing operating expenses.
Understanding fund expenses
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs:
■ Transaction costs which include sales charges (loads) on purchases or redemptions (varies by share class), minimum account fee charge, etc.
■ Ongoing operating expenses including management fees, distribution and service fees (if applicable) and other fund expenses.
We are going to present only your ongoing operating expenses here.
Actual expenses/actual returns
This example is intended to provide information about your fund’s actual ongoing operating expenses, and is based on your fund’s actual return. It assumes an account value of $1,000.00 on May 1, 2006, with the same investment held until October 31, 2006.
Account value | Ending value | Expenses paid during period | |
on 5-1-06 | on 10-31-06 | ended 10-31-061 | |
Class A | $1,000.00 | $950.30 | $7.80 |
Class B | 1,000.00 | 947.60 | 11.20 |
Class C | 1,000.00 | 947.60 | 11.20 |
Class I | 1,000.00 | 952.80 | 5.27 |
Together with the value of your account, you may use this information to estimate the operating expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value at October 31, 2006 by $1,000.00, then multiply it by the “expenses paid” for your share class from the table above. For example, for an account value of $8,600.00, the operating expenses should be calculated as follows:
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/smallcapfundx10x1.jpg)
Small Cap Fund
8
Hypothetical example for comparison purposes
This table allows you to compare your fund’s ongoing operating expenses with those of any other fund. It provides an example of the Fund’s hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each class’s actual expense ratio and an assumed 5% annual return before expenses (which is not your fund’s actual return). It assumes an account value of $1,000.00 on May 1, 2006, with the same investment held until October 31, 2006. Look in any other fund shareholder report to find its hypothetical example and you will be able to compare these expenses.
Account value | Ending value | Expenses paid during period | |
on 5-1-06 | on 10-31-06 | ended 10-31-061 | |
Class A | $1,000.00 | $1,017.20 | $8.07 |
Class B | 1,000.00 | 1,013.70 | 11.58 |
Class C | 1,000.00 | 1,013.70 | 11.58 |
Class I | 1,000.00 | 1,019.81 | 5.45 |
Remember, these examples do not include any transaction costs, such as sales charges; therefore, these examples will not help you to determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. If transaction costs were included, your expenses would have been higher. See the prospectus for details regarding transaction costs.
1 Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of 1.59%, 2.29%, 2.29% and 1.07% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by [number of days in most recent fiscal half-year/365 or 366] (to reflect the one-half year period).
Small Cap Fund
9
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Fund’s investments
Securities owned by the Fund on 10-31-06
This schedule is divided into two main categories: common stocks and short-term investments. Common stocks are further broken down by industry group. Short-term investments, which represent the Fund’s cash position, are listed last.
Issuer | Shares | Value |
Common stocks 97.94% | $250,899,860 | |
(Cost $220,402,710) | ||
Apparel Retail 2.00% | 5,115,370 | |
New York & Co., Inc. (I)(L) | 393,490 | 5,115,370 |
Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods 3.64% | 9,335,337 | |
Hartmarx Corp. (I) | 358,830 | 2,551,281 |
Warnaco Group, Inc. (The) (I) | 319,400 | 6,784,056 |
Application Software 6.59% | 16,889,510 | |
Parametric Techonology Corp. (I) | 284,450 | 5,558,153 |
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. (Class A) (I) | 209,210 | 7,052,469 |
Witness Systems, Inc. (I) | 241,200 | 4,278,888 |
Auto Parts & Equipment 3.05% | 7,809,519 | |
LKQ Corp. (I)(L) | 337,490 | 7,809,519 |
Coal & Consumable Fuels 0.62% | 1,600,452 | |
James River Coal Co. (I)(L) | 137,260 | 1,600,452 |
Communications Equipment 4.09% | 10,484,376 | |
Avocent Corp. (I) | 285,600 | 10,484,376 |
Electronic Equipment Manufacturers 2.62% | 6,724,156 | |
Daktronics, Inc. | 283,600 | 6,724,156 |
Electronic Manufacturing Services 4.19% | 10,741,528 | |
Trimble Navigation Ltd. (I) | 232,400 | 10,741,528 |
Health Care Equipment 6.86% | 17,567,336 | |
Cantel Medical Corp. (I) | 157,300 | 2,260,401 |
Hologic, Inc. (I)(L) | 58,100 | 2,797,515 |
IRIS International, Inc. (I)(L) | 193,160 | 2,315,988 |
Kensey Nash Corp. (I)(L) | 199,020 | 6,052,198 |
SurModics, Inc. (I)(L) | 118,660 | 4,141,234 |
Health Care Services 3.92% | 10,050,128 | |
Air Methods Corp. (I)(L) | 186,530 | 4,514,026 |
inVentiv Health, Inc. (I)(L) | 193,570 | 5,536,102 |
Health Care Supplies 2.22% | 5,676,114 | |
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (I)(L) | 150,600 | 5,676,114 |
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
10
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Issuer | Shares | Value |
Health Care Technology 1.09% | $2,785,986 | |
Emageon, Inc. (I)(L) | 174,670 | 2,785,986 |
Home Entertainment Software 1.67% | 4,276,463 | |
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (I)(L) | 305,680 | 4,276,463 |
Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines 3.74% | 9,579,328 | |
Gaylord Entertainment Co. (I) | 205,830 | 9,579,328 |
Industrial Machinery 3.71% | 9,510,572 | |
CLARCOR, Inc. | 121,100 | 3,945,438 |
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (L) | 149,520 | 5,565,134 |
Investment Banking & Brokerage 0.17% | 434,274 | |
SWS Group, Inc. | 15,627 | 434,274 |
It Consulting & Other Services 1.93% | 4,936,549 | |
Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. (I) | 729,180 | 4,936,549 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services 2.01% | 5,137,608 | |
Kendle International, Inc. (I) | 148,400 | 5,137,608 |
Oil & Gas Drilling 1.51% | 3,880,443 | |
Hercules Offshore, Inc. (I) | 108,940 | 3,880,443 |
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services 0.62% | 1,575,884 | |
Metretek Technologies, Inc. (I)(L) | 120,850 | 1,575,884 |
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 5.86% | 15,014,053 | |
Forest Oil Corp. (I) | 93,200 | 3,042,048 |
Mariner Energy, Inc. (I) | 214,240 | 4,246,237 |
PetroQuest Energy, Inc. (I) | 678,890 | 7,725,768 |
Personal Products 3.18% | 8,136,961 | |
Inter Parfums, Inc. | 215,110 | 4,222,609 |
Playtex Products, Inc. (I) | 280,800 | 3,914,352 |
Property & Casualty Insurance 5.18% | 13,268,280 | |
James River Group, Inc. (I) | 54,740 | 1,641,105 |
National Interstate Corp. | 85,359 | 2,405,417 |
Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp. (I) | 235,730 | 9,221,758 |
Publishing 1.60% | 4,098,098 | |
Courier Corp. | 104,490 | 4,098,098 |
Railroads 2.25% | 5,775,866 | |
Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. (Class A) (I) | 205,620 | 5,775,866 |
Regional Banks 7.77% | 19,898,914 | |
Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. | 184,100 | 5,088,524 |
First Community Bancorp. (Class A) | 89,400 | 4,780,218 |
Placer Sierra Bancshares | 146,970 | 3,486,128 |
SVB Financial Group (I) | 142,200 | 6,544,044 |
Semiconductors 2.13% | 5,459,900 | |
Silicon Image, Inc. (I) | 461,530 | 5,459,900 |
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
11
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Issuer | Shares | Value | |
Specialty Chemicals 4.97% | $12,737,711 | ||
Arch Chemicals, Inc. | 126,000 | 4,215,960 | |
Cytec Industries, Inc. | 153,850 | 8,521,751 | |
Specialty Stores 4.01% | 10,268,147 | ||
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (I)(L) | 196,010 | 5,719,572 | |
Tractor Supply Co. (I)(L) | 93,940 | 4,548,575 | |
Systems Software 1.92% | 4,910,833 | ||
Secure Computing Corp. (I) | 683,960 | 4,910,833 | |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 1.23% | 3,156,106 | ||
TierOne Corp. | 98,690 | 3,156,106 | |
Water Utilities 1.59% | 4,064,058 | ||
Aqua America, Inc. (L) | 167,590 | 4,064,058 | |
Interest | Par value | ||
Issuer, description, maturity date | rate | (000) | Value |
Short-term investments 21.50% | $55,088,923 | ||
(Cost $55,088,923) | |||
Joint Repurchase Agreement 2.19% | 5,610,000 | ||
Investment in a joint repurchase | |||
agreement transaction with | |||
Morgan Stanley — Dated 10-31-06 | |||
due 11-01-06 (secured by U.S. | |||
Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond | |||
3.375% due 4-15-32). | |||
Maturity value: $5,610,821 | 5.270% | $5,610 | 5,610,000 |
Shares | |||
Cash Equivalents 19.31% | 49,478,923 | ||
AIM Cash Investment Trust (T) | 49,478,923 | 49,478,923 | |
Total investments (cost $275,491,633) 119.44% | $305,988,783 | ||
Other assets and liabilities, net (19.44%) | ($49,800,193) | ||
Total net assets 100.00% | $256,188,590 |
(I) Non-income-producing security.
(L) All or a portion of this security is on loan as of October 31, 2006.
(T) Represents investment of securities lending collateral.
The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of the net assets of the Fund.
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
12
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial statements
Statement of assets and liabilities 10-31-06
This Statement of Assets and Liabilities is the Fund’s balance sheet. It shows the value of what the Fund owns, is due and owes. You’ll also find the net asset value and the maximum offering price per share.
Assets | |
Investments at value (cost $275,491,633) including $47,881,580 | |
of securities loaned | $305,988,783 |
Cash | 473 |
Receivable for shares sold | 667,114 |
Dividends and interest receivable | 15,549 |
Other assets | 696 |
Total assets | 306,672,615 |
Liabilities | |
Payable for shares repurchased | 680,256 |
Payable upon receipt of securities loaned | 49,478,923 |
Payable to affiliates | |
Management fees | 201,265 |
Distribution and service fees | 14,224 |
Other | 24,604 |
Other payables and accrued expenses | 84,753 |
Total liabilities | 50,484,025 |
Net assets | |
Capital paid-in | 229,693,323 |
Accumulated net realized loss on investments | (4,001,877) |
Net unrealized appreciation of investments | 30,497,150 |
Accumulated net investment loss | (6) |
Net assets | $256,188,590 |
Net asset value per share | |
Based on net asset values and shares outstanding — the Fund has an | |
unlimited number of shares authorized with no par value | |
Class A ($162,093,278 ÷ 12,834,743 shares) | $12.63 |
Class B ($10,523,159 ÷ 844,175 shares) | $12.47 |
Class C ($43,663,818 ÷ 3,502,406 shares) | $12.47 |
Class I ($39,908,335 ÷ 3,134,053 shares) | $12.73 |
Maximum offering price per share | |
Class A1 ($12.63 ÷ 95%) | $13.29 |
1 On single retail sales of less than $50,000. On sales of $50,000 or more and on group sales the offering price is reduced.
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
13
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Statement of operations For the year ended 10-31-06.
This Statement of Operations summarizes the Fund’s investment income earned and expenses incurred in operating the Fund. It also shows net gains (losses) for the period stated.
Investment income | |
Dividends | $703,146 |
Interest | 319,860 |
Securities lending | 396,171 |
Total investment income | 1,419,177 |
Expenses | |
Investment management fees (Note 2) | 2,099,239 |
Distribution and service fees (Note 2) | 946,345 |
Class A, B and C transfer agent fees (Note 2) | 518,817 |
Class I transfer agent fees (Note 2) | 19,175 |
Accounting and legal services fees (Note 2) | 42,631 |
Compliance fees | 6,947 |
Blue sky fees | 76,915 |
Custodian fees | 56,373 |
Printing | 53,443 |
Professional fees | 21,908 |
Securities lending fees | 17,980 |
Trustees’ fees | 10,129 |
Miscellaneous | 23,510 |
Total expenses | 3,893,412 |
Less expense reductions (Note 2) | (24,586) |
Net expenses | 3,868,826 |
Net investment loss | (2,449,649) |
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) | |
Net realized loss on investments | (3,242,650) |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments | 22,459,623 |
Net realized and unrealized gain | 19,216,973 |
Increase in net assets from operations | $16,767,324 |
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
14
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Statement of changes in net assets
These Statements of Changes in Net Assets show how the value of the Fund’s net assets has changed during the last two periods. The difference reflects earnings less expenses, any investment gains and losses, distributions, if any, paid to shareholders and the net of Fund share transactions.
Year | Year | |
ended | ended | |
10-31-05 | 10-31-06 | |
Increase (decrease) in net assets | ||
From operations | ||
Net investment loss | ($1,311,516) | ($2,449,649) |
Net realized gain (loss) | 3,160,062 | (3,242,650) |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 6,081,356 | 22,459,623 |
Increase in net assets resulting from operations | 7,929,902 | 16,767,324 |
Distributions to shareholders | ||
From net realized gain | ||
Class A | (3,749,244) | (472,311) |
Class B | (40,294) | |
Class C | (142,287) | |
Class I | (152,976) | |
(3,749,244) | (807,868) | |
From Fund share transactions | 147,506,351 | 60,516,796 |
Net assets | ||
Beginning of period | 28,025,329 | 179,712,338 |
End of period1 | $179,712,338 | $256,188,590 |
1 Includes accumulated net investment loss of $6 and $6, respectively.
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
15
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
The Financial highlights show how the Fund’s net asset value for a share has changed since the end of the previous period.
CLASS A SHARES | |||||
Period ended | 10-31-021 | 10-31-03 | 10-31-04 | 10-31-052 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $12.99 | $8.22 | $10.06 | $11.44 | $11.56 |
Net investment loss3 | (0.16) | (0.05) | (0.09) | (0.11) | (0.12) |
Net realized and unrealized | |||||
gain on investments | 0.364 | 2.22 | 1.61 | 1.61 | 1.24 |
Total from investment operations | 0.20 | 2.17 | 1.52 | 1.50 | 1.12 |
Less distributions | |||||
From net realized gain | (4.97) | (0.33) | (0.14) | (1.38) | (0.05) |
Net asset value, end of period | $8.22 | $10.06 | $11.44 | $11.56 | $12.63 |
Total return5,6 (%) | (3.59) | 27.41 | 15.25 | 13.44 | 9.71 |
Ratios and supplemental data | |||||
Net assets, end of period | |||||
(in millions) | $11 | $16 | $28 | $105 | $162 |
Ratio of expenses to average | |||||
net assets (%) | 2.28 | 1.18 | 1.23 | 1.57 | 1.59 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | |||||
net assets7 (%) | 2.69 | 2.60 | 2.23 | 1.65 | 1.60 |
Ratio of net investment loss | |||||
to average net assets (%) | (1.92) | (0.57) | (0.80) | (0.99) | (0.98) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 92 | 79 | 129 | 145 | 74 |
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
16
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
CLASS B SHARES | ||
Period ended | 10-31-052,8 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | ||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $11.21 | $11.49 |
Net investment loss3 | (0.17) | (0.20) |
Net realized and unrealized | ||
gain on investments | 0.45 | 1.23 |
Total from investment operations | 0.28 | 1.03 |
Less distributions | ||
From net realized gain | — | (0.05) |
Net asset value, end of period | $11.49 | $12.47 |
Total return5,6 (%) | 2.509 | 8.99 |
Ratios and supplemental data | ||
Net assets, end of period | ||
(in millions) | $9 | $11 |
Ratio of expenses to average | ||
net assets (%) | 2.2710 | 2.29 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | ||
net assets7 (%) | 2.3510 | 2.30 |
Ratio of net investment loss | ||
to average net assets (%) | (1.67)10 | (1.67) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 145 | 74 |
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
17
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
CLASS C SHARES | ||
Period ended | 10-31-052,8 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | ||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $11.21 | $11.49 |
Net investment loss 3 | (0.17) | (0.20) |
Net realized and unrealized | ||
gain on investments | 0.45 | 1.23 |
Total from investment operations | 0.28 | 1.03 |
From net realized gain | — | (0.05) |
Net asset value, end of period | $11.49 | $12.47 |
Total return5,6 (%) | 2.509 | 8.99 |
Ratios and supplemental data | ||
Net assets, end of period | ||
(in millions) | $31 | $44 |
Ratio of expenses to average | ||
net assets (%) | 2.2710 | 2.29 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | ||
net assets7 (%) | 2.3510 | 2.30 |
Ratio of net investment loss | ||
to average net assets (%) | (1.67)10 | (1.68) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 145 | 74 |
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
18
F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Financial highlights
CLASS I SHARES | ||
Period ended | 10-31-052,8 | 10-31-06 |
Per share operating performance | ||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $11.21 | $11.60 |
Net investment loss3 | (0.05) | (0.06) |
Net realized and unrealized | ||
gain on investments | 0.44 | 1.24 |
Total from investment operations | 0.39 | 1.18 |
Less distributions | ||
From net realized gain | — | (0.05) |
Net asset value, end of period | $11.60 | $12.73 |
Total return5,6 (%) | 3.489 | 10.20 |
Ratios and supplemental data | ||
Net assets, end of period | ||
(in millions) | $34 | $40 |
Ratio of expenses to average | ||
net assets (%) | 1.1010 | 1.08 |
Ratio of gross expenses to average | ||
net assets (%) | 1.187,10 | 1.08 |
Ratio of net investment loss | ||
to average net assets (%) | (0.53)10 | (0.47) |
Portfolio turnover (%) | 145 | 74 |
1 On 6-24-02, the Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund Independence Small Cap Portfolio acquired the assets and liabilities of the UAM Independence Small Cap Portfolio, a series of the UAM Funds, Inc. The operations of the Advisers’ Inner Circle Fund Independence Small Cap Portfolio prior to the acquisition were those of the predecessor fund, the UAM Independence Small Cap Portfolio.
2 Effective 12-3-04, shareholders of the former Independence Small Cap Portfolio became owners of an equal number of full and fractional Class A shares of the John Hancock Small Cap Fund. Additionally, the accounting and performance history of the Independence Small Cap Portfolio was redesignated as that of Class A of John Hancock Small Cap Fund.
3 Based on the average of the shares outstanding.
4 The per share amount does not accord with the aggregate net losses on investments because of the sales and repurchase of the Fund’s shares in relation to fluctuating market value of the investments in the Fund.
5 Assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
6 Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced during the periods shown.
7 Does not take into consideration expense reductions during the periods shown.
8 Class B, Class C and Class I shares began operations on 12-6-04.
9 Not annualized.
10 Annualized.
See notes to financial statements
Small Cap Fund
19
Notes to financial statements
Note 1
Accounting policies
John Hancock Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of John Hancock Equity Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), as amended. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek capital appreciation.
The Trustees have authorized the issuance of multiple classes of shares of the Fund, designated as Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares. The shares of each class represent an interest in the same portfolio of investments of the Fund and have equal rights as to voting, redemptions, dividends and liquidation, except that certain expenses, subject to the approval of the Trustees, may be applied differently to each class of shares in accordance with current regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service. Shareholders of a class that bears distribution and service expenses under the terms of a distribution plan have exclusive voting rights to that distribution plan. Class B shares will convert to Class A shares eight years after purchase.
The Fund is the accounting and performance successor to Independence Small Cap Portfolio, a diversified open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust. On December 3, 2004, the Fund acquired substantially all the assets and assumed the liabilities of the former Independence Small Cap Portfolio pursuant to an agreement and plan of reorganization, in exchange for Class A shares of the Fund.
Significant accounting policies of the Fund are as follows:
Valuation of investments
Securities in the Fund’s portfolio are valued on the basis of market quotations, valuations provided by independent pricing services or, if quotations are not readily available, or the value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of a foreign market, at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees. Short-term debt investments which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Investments in AIM Cash Investment Trust are valued at their net asset value each business day. All portfolio transactions initially expressed in terms of foreign currencies have been translated into U.S. dollars as described in “Foreign currency translation” below.
Joint repurchase agreement
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund, along with other registered investment companies having a management contract with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”), a wholly owned subsidiary of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation (“MFC”), may participate in a joint repurchase agreement transaction. Aggregate cash balances are invested in one or more large repurchase agreements, whose underlying securities are obligations of the U.S. government and/or its agencies. The Fund’s custodian bank receives delivery of the underlying securities for the joint account on the Fund’s behalf. The Adviser is responsible for ensuring that the agreement is fully collateralized at all times.
Foreign currency translation
All assets or liabilities initially expressed in terms of foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on London currency exchange quotations as of 4:00 p.m., London time, on the date of any determination of the net asset value of the Fund. Transactions affecting statement of operations accounts and net realized gain (loss) on investments are translated at the rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.
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20
The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.
Reported net realized foreign currency exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign currency exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, resulting from changes in the exchange rates.
Investment transactions
Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily net asset value calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are reported on trade date. Net realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the identified cost basis. Capital gains realized on some foreign securities are subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable.
Class allocations
Income, common expenses and realized and unrealized gains (losses) are determined at the fund level and allocated daily to each class of shares based on the appropriate net asset value of the respective classes. Distribution and service fees, if any, and transfer agent fees for Class I shares are calculated daily at the class level based on the appropriate net asset value of each class and the specific expense rate(s) applicable to each class.
Expenses
The majority of expenses are directly identifiable to an individual fund. Expenses that are not readily identifiable to a specific fund are allocated in such a manner as deemed equitable, taking into consideration, among other things, the nature and type of expense and the relative size of the funds.
Bank borrowings
The Fund is permitted to have bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests that otherwise might require the untimely disposition of securities. The Fund has entered into a syndicated line of credit agreement with various banks. This agreement enables the Fund to participate, with other funds managed by the Adviser, in an unsecured line of credit with banks, which permits borrowings of up to $150 million, collectively. Interest is charged to each fund based on its borrowing. In addition, a commitment fee is charged to each fund based on the average daily unused portion of the line of credit, and is allocated among the participating funds. The Fund had no borrowing activity under the line of credit during the year ended October 31, 2006.
Securities lending
The Fund may lend securities to certain qualified brokers who pay the Fund negotiated lender fees. The loans are collateralized at all times with cash or securities with a market value at least equal to the market value of the securities on loan. As with other extensions of credit, the Fund may bear the risk of delay of the loaned securities in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral, should the borrower of the securities fail financially. At October 31, 2006, the Fund loaned securities having a market value of $47,881,580 collateralized by cash in the amount of $49,478,923. The cash collateral was invested in a short-term instrument. Securities lending expenses are paid by the Fund to the Adviser.
Federal income taxes
The Fund qualifies as a “regulated investment company” by complying with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that is distributed to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. For federal income tax purposes, the Fund has $3,318,724 of a capital loss carryforward available, to the extent provided by regulations, to offset future net realized capital gains. To the extent that such carryforward is used by the Fund, no capital gain distributions
Small Cap Fund
21
will be made. The entire amount of the loss carryforward expires October 31, 2014.
New accounting pronouncements
In June 2006, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (the “Interpretation”) was issued, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. The Interpretation prescribes a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and requires certain expanded disclosures. Management is currently evaluating the application of the Interpretation of the Fund, and has not at this time quantified the impact, if any, resulting from adoption of the Interpretation on the Fund’s financial statements.
In September 2006, FASB Standard No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (the “FAS 157”) was issued, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. FAS 157 defines fair value, establishing a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. Management is currently evaluating the application of FAS 157 to the Fund, and its impact, if any, resulting from the adoption of FAS 157 on the Fund’s financial statements.
Dividends, interest and distributions
Dividend income on investment securities is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, in the case of some foreign securities, on the date thereafter when the Fund identifies the dividend. Interest income on investment securities is recorded on the accrual basis. Foreign income may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, which are accrued as applicable.
The Fund records distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, on the ex-dividend date. During the year ended October 31, 2005, the tax character of distributions paid was as follows: ordinary income $929,281 and long-term capital gain $2,819,963. During the year ended October 31, 2006, the tax character of distributions paid was as follows: ordinary income $62,230 and long-term capital gain $745,638.
Distributions paid by the Fund with respect to each class of shares are calculated in the same manner, at the same time and are in the same amount, except for the effect of expenses that may be applied differently to each class.
Such distributions and distributable earnings, on a tax basis, are determined in conformity with income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits, if any, are reported in the Fund’s financial statements as a return of capital.
Use of estimates
The preparation of these financial statements, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, incorporates estimates made by management in determining the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Fund. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Note 2
Management fee and transactions with affiliates and others
The Fund has an investment management contract with the Adviser. Under the investment management contract, the Fund pays a monthly management fee to the Adviser equivalent, on an annual basis, to the sum of: (a) 0.90% of the first $1,000,000,000 of the Fund’s average daily net asset value and (b) 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net asset value in excess of $1,000,000,000. The Adviser has a subadvisory agreement with Independence Investments, LLC (the “Subadviser”). The Fund is not responsible for payment of the subadvisory fees. Until December 3, 2005, the subadviser has agreed to waive its fee unless the net revenue received by the Adviser from its advisory fee exceeded the Adviser’s cumulative cost and to limit its subadvisory fee to the amount of such net revenue if less than the subadvisory fee.
The Subadviser was a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of John Hancock Life Insurance Company (“JHLICO”) and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation (“MFC”). MFC sold the assets of the Subadviser to a subsidiary of City National Corp. The
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closing took place on May 31, 2006. The Board of Trustees has approved a new subadvisory agreement with the successor to the Subadviser’s business and an interim subadvisory agreement pending shareholder approval.
The Adviser has agreed to limit the Fund’s expenses, excluding distribution and service fees and transfer agent fees, to not exceed 1.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets with respect to Class A, Class B and Class C shares and net operating expenses to 1.65%, 2.35%, 2.35% and 1.10% of the average daily net asset value of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares, respectively, until February 28, 2008. There were no fee reductions during the year ended October 31, 2006. The Adviser reserves the right to terminate this limitation in the future.
The Fund has a Distribution Agreement with John Hancock Funds, LLC (“JH Funds”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Adviser. The Fund has adopted Distribution Plans with respect to Class A, Class B and Class C, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, as amended, to reimburse JH Funds for the services it provides as distributor of shares of the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund makes monthly payments to JH Funds at an annual rate not to exceed 0.30%, 1.00% and 1.00% of average daily net asset value of Class A, Class B and Class C, respectively. A maximum of 0.25% of such payments may be service fees, as defined by the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Under the Conduct Rules, curtailment of a portion of the Fund’s 12b-1 payments could occur under certain circumstances.
Expenses under the agreement described above for the year ended October 31, 2006 were as follows:
Distribution and | |
Share Class | service fees |
Class A | $429,710 |
Class B | 105,823 |
Class C | 410,812 |
Total | $946,345 |
Class A shares are assessed up-front sales charges. During the year ended October 31, 2006, JH Funds received net up-front sales charges of $527,053 with regard to sales of Class A shares. Of this amount, $71,835 was retained and used for printing prospectuses, advertising, sales literature and other purposes, $451,120 was paid as sales commissions to unrelated broker-dealers and $4,098 was paid as sales commissions to sales personnel of Signator Investors, Inc. (“Signator Investors”), a related broker-dealer. The Adviser’s indirect parent, JHLICO is the indirect sole shareholder of Signator Investors.
Class B shares that are redeemed within six years of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) at declining rates, beginning at 5.00% of the lesser of the current market value at the time of redemption or the original purchase cost of the shares being redeemed. Class C shares that are redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a CDSC at a rate of 1.00% of the lesser of the current market value at the time of redemption or the original purchase cost of the shares being redeemed. Proceeds from the CDSCs are paid to JH Funds and are used, in whole or in part, to defray its expenses for providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sale of Class B and Class C shares. During the year ended October 31, 2006, CDSCs received by JH Funds amounted to $28,306 for Class B shares and $12,331 for Class C shares.
The Fund has a transfer agent agreement with John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. (“Signature Services”), an indirect subsidiary of JHLICO. For Class A, Class B and Class C shares, the Fund pays a monthly transfer agent fee at an annual rate of 0.05% of each class’s average daily net asset value, plus a fee based on the number of shareholder accounts and reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses, aggregated and allocated to each class on the basis of its relative net asset value. For Class I shares the Fund pays a monthly transfer agent fee at a total annual rate of 0.05% of Class I average daily net asset value. Signature Services agreed to limit transfer agent fees on Class A, Class B and Class C shares to 0.30% of each class’s average daily net asset value, at least until February 28, 2007. Signature Services has also agreed to voluntarily reduce the Fund’s asset-based portion of the transfer agent fee on Class A, Class B and Class C s hares if the total transfer agent fee exceeded the median transfer agency fee for comparable mutual funds by
Small Cap Fund
23
greater than 0.05% . Accordingly, the transfer agent expense for Class A, Class B and Class C shares was reduced by $24,586 for the year ended October 31, 2006. Signature Services terminated this agreement June 30, 2006.
The Fund has an agreement with the Adviser and affiliates to perform necessary tax, accounting and legal services for the Fund. The compensation for the year amounted to $42,631. The Fund also paid the Adviser the amount of $659 for certain publishing services, included in the printing fees. The Fund also reimbursed JHLICO for certain compliance costs, included in the Fund’s Statement of Operations.
The Adviser and other subsidiaries of JHLICO owned 89 Class A, 89 Class B, 89 Class C and 89 Class I shares of beneficial interest of the Fund on October 31, 2006.
Mr. James R. Boyle is Chairman of the Adviser, as well as affiliated Trustee of the Fund, and is compensated by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. The compensation of unaffiliated Trustees is borne by the Fund. The unaffiliated Trustees may elect to defer, for tax purposes, their receipt of this compensation under the John Hancock Group of Funds Deferred Compensation Plan. The Fund makes investments into other John Hancock funds, as applicable, to cover its liability for the deferred compensation. Investments to cover the Fund’s deferred compensation liability are recorded on the Fund’s books as another asset. The deferred compensation liability and the related other asset are always equal and are marked to market on a periodic basis to reflect any income earned by the investments, as well as any unrealized gains or losses. The Deferred Compensation Plan investments had no impact on the operations of the Fund.
Small Cap Fund
24Note 3
Fund share transactions
This listing illustrates the number of Fund shares sold, reinvested and repurchased during the last two periods, along with the corresponding dollar value.
Year ended 10-31-05 | Year ended 10-31-06 | |||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |
Class A shares | ||||
Sold | 13,170,020 | $148,607,095 | 7,213,368 | $90,180,663 |
Distributions reinvested | — | — | 36,036 | 433,506 |
Repurchased | (6,497,042) | (74,263,560) | (3,536,982) | (43,450,941) |
Net increase | 6,672,978 | $74,343,535 | 3,712,422 | $47,163,228 |
Class B shares | ||||
Sold | 873,470 | $9,848,449 | 368,860 | $4,601,372 |
Distributions reinvested | — | — | 3,184 | 38,048 |
Repurchased | (81,490) | (919,888) | (319,849) | (3,855,544) |
Net increase | 791,980 | $8,928,561 | 52,195 | $783,876 |
Class C shares | ||||
Sold | 2,801,679 | $31,674,244 | 1,601,647 | $19,839,715 |
Distributions reinvested | — | — | 11,360 | 135,754 |
Repurchased | (65,504) | (757,401) | (846,776) | (10,158,283) |
Net increase | 2,736,175 | $30,916,843 | 766,231 | $9,817,186 |
Class I shares | ||||
Sold | 3,620,434 | $41,599,404 | 1,453,384 | $17,845,858 |
Distributions reinvested | — | — | 12,549 | 151,472 |
Repurchased | (717,801) | (8,281,992) | (1,234,513) | (15,244,824) |
Net increase | 2,902,633 | $33,317,412 | 231,420 | $2,752,506 |
Net increase | 13,103,766 | $147,506,351 | 4,762,268 | $60,516,796 |
Note 4
Investment transactions
Purchases and proceeds from sales or maturities of securities, other than short-term securities and obligations of the U.S. government, during the year ended October 31, 2006, aggregated $226,045,177 and $167,573,599, respectively.
The cost of investments owned on October 31, 2006, including short-term investments, for federal income tax purposes, was $276,174,786 Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments aggregated $40,224,117 and $10,410,120, respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $29,813,997. The difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation of investments is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on certain sales of securities.
Note 5
Reclassification of accounts
During the year ended October 31, 2006, the Fund reclassified amounts to reflect an increase in accumulated net realized loss on investments of $28, a decrease in accumulated net investment loss of $2,449,649 and a decrease in capital paid-in of $2,449,621. This represents the amount necessary to report these balances on a tax basis, excluding certain temporary differences, as of October 31, 2006. Additional adjustments may be needed in subsequent reporting periods. These reclassifications, which have no impact on the net asset value of the Fund, are primarily attributable to book and tax differences in accounting for net operating losses. The calculation of net investment income per share in the Fund’s Financial Highlights excludes these adjustments.
Small Cap Fund
25
Auditors’ report
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Equity Trust and Shareholders of John Hancock Small Cap Fund,
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of John Hancock Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”) at October 31, 2006, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standar ds require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at October 31, 2006 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 13, 2006
26
Tax information
Unaudited
For federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions of the Fund, if any, paid during its taxable year ended October 31, 2006.
The Fund has designated distributions to shareholders of $745,638, as a long-term capital gain dividend.
The Fund hereby designates the maximum amount of its net taxable income as qualified dividend income as provided in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Tax Act of 2003. This amount will be reflected on Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year 2006.
Shareholders will be mailed a 2006 U.S. Treasury Department Form 1099-DIV in January 2007. This will reflect the total of all distributions that are taxable for calendar year 2006.
27
Board Consideration of and Continuation of Investment Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement: John Hancock Small Cap Fund
The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) requires the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of John Hancock Equity Trust (the “Trust”), including a majority of the Trustees who have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory agreement and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), annually to review and consider the continuation of the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) for the John Hancock Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”). The Board also considered the continuation of an interim investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Independence Investment LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) and a proposed investment sub-advisory agreement (the “New Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with a newly formed subsidiary of Convergent C apital Management (“New Independence”). The Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and the Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”
At meetings held on May 1-2 and June 5-6, 2006,1 the Board considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser and the continuation of the Advisory Agreements. The Board also considered factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of New Independence and the approval of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement. During such meetings, the Board’s Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees also met in executive sessions with their independent legal counsel.
In evaluating the Advisory Agreements, the Board, including the Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees, reviewed a broad range of information requested for this purpose by the Independent Trustees, including: (i) the investment performance of the Fund relative to a category of relevant funds (the “Category”) and a peer group of comparable funds (the “Peer Group”) each selected by Morningstar Inc. (“Morningstar”), an independent provider of investment company data, for a range of periods ended December 31, 2005, (ii) advisory and other fees incurred by, and the expense ratios of, the Fund relative to a Category and a Peer Group, (iii) the advisory fees of comparable portfolios of other clients of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, (iv) the Adviser’s financial results and condition, including its and certain of its affiliates’ profitability from services performed for the Fund, (v) br eakpoints in the Fund’s and the Peer Group’s fees, and information about economies of scale, (vi) the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s record of compliance with applicable laws and regulations, with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions, and with the applicable Code of Ethics, and the structure and responsibilities of the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s compliance department, (vii) the background and experience of senior management and investment professionals, and (viii) the nature, cost and character of advisory and non-investment management services provided by the Adviser and its affiliates and by the Sub-Adviser.
In evaluating the New Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board, including the Contracts/Operations Committee and the Independent Trustees, reviewed a broad range of information provided to the Independent Trustees, including: (i) the description of the transaction in which New Independence would be formed as a subsidiary of Convergent Capital Management (the “Transaction”), (ii) a description of Convergent Capital Management, (iii) the nature and quality of services rendered to the Fund, (iv) the sub-advisory fee payable to New Independence by the Adviser, (v) the qualifications and background of New Independence, as well as the qualifications of its personnel, and (vi) possible conflicts of interest that may result from or be reflected in the terms of the Transaction.
The Board’s review and conclusions were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information presented to the Board and not the result of any single controlling factor. It was based on performance and other information as of December 31, 2005; facts may have changed between that date and the date of this shareholders report. The key factors considered by the Board and the conclusions reached are described below.
28
Nature, extent and quality of services
The Board considered the ability of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, based on their resources, reputation and other attributes, to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory, and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance programs and compliance records of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the administrative services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates.
Based on the above factors, together with those referenced below, the Board concluded that, within the context of its full deliberations, the nature, extent and quality of the investment advisory services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser were sufficient to support renewal of the Advisory Agreements.
Fund performance
The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended December 31, 2005. The Board also considered these results in comparison to the performance of the Category, as well as the Fund’s Peer Group and benchmark index. Morningstar determined the Category and the Peer Group for the Fund. The Board reviewed with a representative of Morningstar the methodology used by Morningstar to select the funds in the Category and the Peer Group. The Board noted the imperfect comparability of the Peer Group.
The Board noted that the Fund’s performance during the periods under review was generally competitive with the performance of the Peer Group and Category medians, and its benchmark index, the Russell 2000 Growth Index. The Board noted that the Fund’s performance during the 5-year period was appreciably higher than the performance of the Peer Group and Category medians, and its benchmark index. The Board also noted that, during the 3-year period under review, the Fund’s performance was equal to or not appreciably lower than the Peer Group and Category medians, and its benchmark index. The Board noted that, during the 1-year period under review, the Fund’s performance was higher than its benchmark index and lower than the Peer Group and Category medians.
Investment advisory fee and sub-advisory fee rates and expenses
The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rate”). The Board received and considered information comparing the Advisory Agreement Rate with the advisory fees for the Peer Group and Category. The Board noted that the Advisory Agreement Rate was equal to the median rate of the Peer Group and Category.
The Board received and considered expense information regarding the Fund’s various components, including advisory fees, distribution and fees other than advisory and distribution fees, including transfer agent fees, custodian fees, and other miscellaneous fees (e.g., fees for accounting and legal services). The Board also considered peer-adjusted comparisons for the transfer agent fees. The Board considered comparisons of these expenses to the Peer Group median. The Board also received and considered expense information regarding the Fund’s total operating expense ratio (“Gross Expense Ratio”) and total operating expense ratio after taking the fee waiver arrangement applicable to the Advisory Agreement Rate into account (“Net Expense Ratio”). The Board received and considered information comparing the Gross Expense Ratio and Net Expense Ratio of the Fund to that of the Peer Group and Category medians. The Board noted that the Fund’s Gross and Net Expense Ratios were higher than the median of its Category. The Board also noted that the Fund’s Gross and Net Expense Ratios were equal to or not appreciably higher than the median of its Peer Group.
The Adviser also discussed the Morningstar data and rankings, and other relevant information, for the Fund. Based on the above-referenced considerations and other factors, the Board concluded that the Fund’s overall performance and expenses supported the re-approval of the Advisory Agreements.
The Board also received information about the investment sub-advisory fee rate (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate”) payable by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser for investment
29
sub-advisory services. The Board concluded that the Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate was fair and equitable, based on its consideration of the factors described here.
Profitability
The Board received and considered a detailed profitability analysis of the Adviser based on the Advisory Agreements, as well as on other relationships between the Fund and the Adviser and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser. The Board concluded that, in light of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund, the profits and other ancillary benefits reported by the Adviser were not unreasonable.
Economies of scale
The Board received and considered general information regarding economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund, including the Fund’s ability to appropriately benefit from economies of scale under the Fund’s fee structure. The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of the Adviser’s costs are not specific to individual Funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.
To the extent the Board and the Adviser were able to identify actual or potential economies of scale from Fund-specific or allocated expenses, in order to ensure that any such economies continue to be reasonably shared with the Fund as its assets increase, the Adviser and the Board agreed to continue the existing breakpoints to the Advisory Agreement Rate.
Information about services to other clients
The Board also received information about the nature, extent and quality of services and fee rates offered by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to their other clients, including other registered investment companies, institutional investors and separate accounts. The Board concluded that the Advisory Agreement Rate and the Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate were not unreasonable, taking into account fee rates offered to others by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, respectively, after giving effect to differences in services.
Other benefits to the Adviser
The Board received information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund. Such benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to the relationship of the Adviser with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in the business of the Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund (such as the ability to market to shareholders other financial products offered by the Adviser and its affiliates).
The Board also considered the effectiveness of the Adviser’s, Sub-Adviser’s and Fund’s policies and procedures for complying with the requirements of the federal securities laws, including those relating to best execution of portfolio transactions and brokerage allocation.
Other factors and broader review
As discussed above, the Board reviewed detailed materials received from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser as part of the annual re-approval process. The Board also regularly reviews and assesses the quality of the services that the Fund receives throughout the year. In this regard, the Board reviews reports of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser at least quarterly, which include, among other things, fund performance reports and compliance reports. In addition, the Board meets with portfolio managers and senior investment officers at various times throughout the year.
After considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board concluded that approval of the continuation of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements.
New sub-advisory agreement with New Independence
In evaluating the New Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board considered that the employees of the Sub-Adviser would be offered employment with New Independence. The Board also considered the Sub-Adviser’s belief that most of its employees, including the portfolio managers
30
and analysts responsible for the Fund and the executives responsible for the management of the Sub-Adviser, would become employees of New Independence. The Board considered that no material changes in the investment process or resources were anticipated to occur as a result of the Transaction. The Board strongly considered that the sub-advisory fees payable under the New Sub-Advisory Agreement would be borne by the Adviser and not the Fund, and that the proposed Transaction would not have any effect on the fees paid by the Fund to the Adviser or the consideration paid to New Independence by the Adviser. The Board also considered that sub-advisory fees to be paid by the Adviser to New Independence were identical to the fees under the existing Sub-Advisory Agreement.
After considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board concluded that approval of the New Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Fund was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously approved, and voted to recommend to shareholders that the Fund adopt, the New Sub-Advisory Agreement.
1 The Board considered additional information about the New Sub-Advisory Agreement and New Independence at the March 2006 Board meetings. The New Sub-Advisory Agreement became effective August 4, 2006 after shareholder approval.
31
Trustees and Officers
This chart provides information about the Trustees and Officers who oversee your John Hancock fund. Officers elected by the Trustees manage the day-to-day operations of the Fund and execute policies formulated by the Trustees.
Independent Trustees | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
Ronald R. Dion , Born: 1946 | 2004 | 53 |
Independent Chairman (since 2005); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, | ||
R.M. Bradley & Co., Inc.; Director, The New England Council and Massachusetts | ||
Roundtable; Trustee, North Shore Medical Center; Director, Boston Stock | ||
Exchange; Director, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. and a corporator of the Eastern | ||
Bank; Trustee, Emmanuel College; Director, Boston Municipal Research Bureau; | ||
Member of the Advisory Board, Carroll Graduate School of Management at | ||
Boston College. | ||
James F. Carlin, Born: 1940 | 2004 | 53 |
Director and Treasurer, Alpha Analytical Laboratories Inc. (chemical analysis) | ||
(since 1985); Part Owner and Treasurer, Lawrence Carlin Insurance Agency, | ||
Inc. (since 1995); Part Owner and Vice President, Mone Lawrence Carlin | ||
Insurance Agency, Inc. (until 2005); Director and Treasurer, Rizzo Associates | ||
(engineering) (until 2000); Chairman and CEO, Carlin Consolidated, Inc. | ||
(management/investments) (since 1987); Director and Partner, Proctor Carlin | ||
& Co., Inc. (until 1999); Trustee, Massachusetts Health and Education Tax | ||
Exempt Trust (since 1993); Director of the following: Uno Restaurant Corp. | ||
(until 2001), Arbella Mutual (insurance) (until 2000), HealthPlan Services, Inc. | ||
(until 1999), Flagship Healthcare, Inc. (until 1999), Carlin Insurance Agency, Inc. | ||
(until 1999); Chairman, Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (until 1999). | ||
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.,2 Born: 1935 | 2004 | 53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer, Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (lending) (since | ||
1972); Chairman and Director, Lumber Insurance Co. (insurance) (until 2000); | ||
Chairman and Director, Northeast Retirement Services, Inc. (retirement | ||
administration) (since 1998); Vice Chairman, Northeastern University Board | ||
of Trustees (since 2004). | ||
William H. Cunningham, Born: 1944 | 2004 | 158 |
Former Chancellor, University of Texas System and former President of the | ||
University of Texas, Austin, Texas; Chairman and CEO, IBT Technologies (until | ||
2001); Director of the following: Hire.com (until 2004), STC Broadcasting, Inc. | ||
and Sunrise Television Corp. (until 2001), Symtx, Inc. (electronic manufacturing) | ||
(since 2001), Adorno/Rogers Technology, Inc. (until 2004), Pinnacle Foods | ||
Corporation (until 2003), rateGenius (until 2003), Lincoln National Corporation | ||
(insurance) (since 2006), Jefferson-Pilot Corporation (diversified life insurance | ||
company) (until 2006), New Century Equity Holdings (formerly Billing Concepts) |
32
Independent Trustees (continued) | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
William H. Cunningham, Born: 1944 (continued) | 2004 | 158 |
(until 2001), eCertain (until 2001), ClassMap.com (until 2001), Agile Ventures | ||
(until 2001), AskRed.com (until 2001), Southwest Airlines, Introgen and | ||
Viasystems Group, Inc. (electronic manufacturer) (until 2003); Advisory | ||
Director, Interactive Bridge, Inc. (college fundraising) (until 2001); Advisory | ||
Director, Q Investments (until 2003); Advisory Director, JPMorgan Chase Bank | ||
(formerly Texas Commerce Bank – Austin), LIN Television (since 2002), WilTel | ||
Communications (until 2003) and Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. | ||
(diversified automotive parts supply company) (since 2003). | ||
Charles L. Ladner,2 Born: 1938 | 2004 | 158 |
Chairman and Trustee, Dunwoody Village, Inc. (retirement services) (until 2003); | ||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, UGI Corporation (public utility | ||
holding company) (retired 1998); Vice President and Director for AmeriGas, Inc. | ||
(retired 1998); Director of AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (gas distribution) (until 1997); | ||
Director, EnergyNorth, Inc. (until 1995); Director, Parks and History Association | ||
(until 2007). | ||
John A. Moore,2 Born: 1939 | 2004 | 53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Evaluating Health Risks, | ||
(nonprofit institution) (until 2001); Senior Scientist, Sciences International | ||
(health research) (until 2003); Former Assistant Administrator and Deputy | ||
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Principal, Hollyhouse | ||
(consulting) (since 2000); Director, CIIT Center for Health Science Research | ||
(nonprofit research) (since 2002). | ||
Patti McGill Peterson,2 Born: 1943 | 2004 | 53 |
Executive Director, Council for International Exchange of Scholars and Vice | ||
President, Institute of International Education (since 1998); Senior Fellow, Cornell | ||
Institute of Public Affairs, Cornell University (until 1998); Former President of | ||
Wells College and St. Lawrence University; Director, Niagara Mohawk Power | ||
Corporation (until 2003); Director, Ford Foundation, International Fellowships | ||
Program (since 2002); Director, Lois Roth Endowment (since 2002); Director, | ||
Council for International Educational Exchange (since 2003). | ||
Steven R. Pruchansky, Born: 1944 | 2004 | 53 |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. | ||
(since 2000); Director and President, Greenscapes of Southwest Florida, Inc. | ||
(until 2000); Managing Director, JonJames, LLC (real estate) (since 2001); | ||
Director, First Signature Bank & Trust Company (until 1991); Director, Mast | ||
Realty Trust (until 1994); President, Maxwell Building Corp. (until 1991). |
33
Non-Independent Trustee3 | ||
Name, age | Number of | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Trustee | John Hancock |
Principal occupation(s) and other | of Fund | funds overseen |
directorships during past 5 years | since1 | by Trustee |
James R. Boyle, Born: 1959 | 2005 | 260 |
President, John Hancock Annuities; Executive Vice President, John Hancock | ||
Life Insurance Company (since June, 2004); Chairman and Director, John | ||
Hancock Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”), John Hancock Funds, LLC and The | ||
Berkeley Financial Group, LLC (“The Berkeley Group”) (holding company) (since | ||
2005); President, U.S. Annuities; Senior Vice President, The Manufacturers | ||
Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (until 2004). | ||
Principal officers who are not Trustees | ||
Name, age | ||
Position(s) held with Fund | Officer | |
Principal occupation(s) and | of Fund | |
directorships during past 5 years | since | |
Keith F. Hartstein, Born: 1956 | 2005 | |
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Senior Vice President, Manulife Financial Corporation (since 2004); Director, | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer, the Adviser, The Berkeley Group, John | ||
Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2005); Director, MFC Global Investment Management | ||
(U.S.), LLC (“MFC Global (U.S.)”) (since 2005); Director, John Hancock Signature | ||
Services, Inc. (since 2005); President and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock | ||
Investment Management Services, LLC (since 2006); President and Chief Executive | ||
Officer, John Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust; | ||
Director, Chairman and President, NM Capital Management, Inc. (since 2005); | ||
Chairman, Investment Company Institute Sales Force Marketing Committee | ||
(since 2003); Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, MFC Global (U.S.) | ||
(2005–2006); Executive Vice President, John Hancock Funds, LLC (until 2005). | ||
Thomas M. Kinzler, Born: 1955 | 2006 | |
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | ||
Vice President and Counsel, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) | ||
(since 2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, John Hancock Funds, John | ||
Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2006); | ||
Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Massachusetts Mutual Life | ||
Insurance Company (1999–2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel, MML | ||
Series Investment Fund (2000–2006); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel, | ||
MassMutual Institutional Funds (2000–2004); Secretary and Chief Legal Counsel, | ||
MassMutual Select Funds and MassMutual Premier Funds (2004–2006). | ||
Francis V. Knox, Jr., Born: 1947 | 2005 | |
Chief Compliance Officer | ||
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Investment | ||
Management Services, LLC, the Adviser and MFC Global (U.S.) (since 2005); | ||
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, John Hancock Funds II, John | ||
Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and | ||
Assistant Treasurer, Fidelity Group of Funds (until 2004); Vice President and | ||
Ethics & Compliance Officer, Fidelity Investments (until 2001). |
34
Principal officers who are not Trustees (continued) | |
Name, age | |
Position(s) held with Fund | Officer |
Principal occupation(s) and | of Fund |
directorships during past 5 years | since |
Gordon M. Shone, Born: 1956 | 2006 |
Treasurer | |
Treasurer, John Hancock Funds (since 2006), John Hancock Funds II, John | |
Hancock Funds III and John Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and | |
Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Trust (2003–2005); Senior Vice President, | |
John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (since 2001); Vice President, | |
John Hancock Investment Management Services, Inc., John Hancock Advisers, | |
LLC (since 2006) and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) | |
(1998–2000). | |
John G. Vrysen, Born: 1955 | 2005 |
Chief Financial Officer | |
Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Adviser, The | |
Berkeley Group and John Hancock Funds, LLC (since 2005); Executive Vice | |
President and Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Investment Management | |
Services, LLC (since 2005); Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, MFC Global | |
(U.S.) (since 2005); Director, John Hancock Signature Services, Inc. (since 2005); | |
Chief Financial Officer, John Hancock Funds II, John Hancock Funds III and John | |
Hancock Trust (since 2005); Vice President and General Manager, Fixed Annuities, | |
U.S. Wealth Management (until 2005); Vice President, Operations, Manulife | |
Wood Logan (2000–2004). |
The business address for all Trustees and Officers is 601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210-2805.
The Statement of Additional Information of the Fund includes additional information about members of the Board of Trustees of the Fund and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-225-5291.
1Each Trustee serves until resignation, retirement age or until his or her successor is elected.
2Member of Audit Committee.
3Non-Independent Trustee holds positions with the Fund’s investment adviser, underwriter and certain other affiliates.
35
For more information
The Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures and records are available without charge, upon request:
By phone | On the Fund’s Web site | On the SEC’s Web site |
1-800-225-5291 | www.jhfunds.com/proxy | www.sec.gov |
Investment adviser | Custodian | Legal counsel |
John Hancock Advisers, LLC | The Bank of New York | Kirkpatrick & Lockhart |
601 Congress Street | One Wall Street | Nicholson Graham LLP |
Boston, MA 02210-2805 | New York, NY 10286 | 1 Lincoln Street |
Boston, MA 02110-2950 | ||
Subadviser | Transfer agent | |
Independence Investments LLC | John Hancock Signature | Independent registered |
53 State Street | Services, Inc. | public accounting firm |
Boston, MA 02109 | 1 John Hancock Way, | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
Suite 1000 | 125 High Street | |
Principal distributor | Boston, MA 02217-1000 | Boston, MA 02110 |
John Hancock Funds, LLC | ||
601 Congress Street | ||
Boston, MA 02210-2805 |
The Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses are included in the prospectus and should be considered carefully before investing. For a prospectus, call your financial professional, call John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291 or visit the Fund’s Web site at www.jhfunds.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
How to contact us | ||
Internet | www.jhfunds.com | |
Regular mail: | Express mail: | |
John Hancock | John Hancock | |
Signature Services, Inc. | Signature Services, Inc. | |
1 John Hancock Way, Suite 1000 | Mutual Fund Image Operations | |
Boston, MA 02217-1000 | 380 Stuart Street | |
Boston, MA 02116 | ||
Phone | Customer service representatives | 1-800-225-5291 |
24-hour automated information | 1-800-338-8080 | |
TDD line | 1-800-554-6713 |
A listing of month-end portfolio holdings is available on our Web site, www.jhfunds.com. A more detailed portfolio holdings summary is available on a quarterly basis 60 days after the fiscal quarter on our Web site or upon request by calling 1-800-225-5291, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site, www.sec.gov.
36
J O H N H A N C O C K F A M I L Y O F F U N D S
EQUITY | INTERNATIONAL |
Balanced Fund | Greater China Opportunities Fund |
Classic Value Fund | International Classic Value Fund |
Classic Value Fund II | International Core Fund |
Core Equity Fund | International Fund |
Focused Equity Fund | International Growth Fund |
Growth Fund | |
Growth Opportunities Fund | INCOME |
Growth Trends Fund | Bond Fund |
Intrinsic Value Fund | Government Income Fund |
Large Cap Equity Fund | High Yield Fund |
Large Cap Select Fund | Investment Grade Bond Fund |
Mid Cap Equity Fund | Strategic Income Fund |
Mid Cap Growth Fund | |
Multi Cap Growth Fund | TAX- FREE INCOME |
Small Cap Equity Fund | California Tax-Free Income Fund |
Small Cap Fund | High Yield Municipal Bond Fund |
Small Cap Intrinsic Value Fund | Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund |
Sovereign Investors Fund | New York Tax-Free Income Fund |
U.S. Core Fund | Tax-Free Bond Fund |
U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund | |
Value Opportunities Fund | MONEY MARKET |
Money Market Fund | |
ASSET ALLOCATION & LIFESTYLE | U.S. Government Cash Reserve |
Allocation Core Portfolio | |
Allocation Growth + Value Portfolio | CLOSED-END |
Lifestyle Aggressive Portfolio | Bank & Thrift Opportunity |
Lifestyle Balanced Portfolio | Financial Trends |
Lifestyle Conservative Portfolio | Income Securities |
Lifestyle Growth Portfolio | Investors Trust |
Lifestyle Moderate Portfolio | Patriot Global Dividend |
Patriot Preferred Dividend | |
SECTOR | Patriot Premium Dividend I |
Financial Industries Fund | Patriot Premium Dividend II |
Health Sciences Fund | Patriot Select Dividend |
Real Estate Fund | Preferred Income |
Regional Bank Fund | Preferred Income II |
Technology Fund | Preferred Income III |
Technology Leaders Fund | Tax-Advantaged Dividend |
For more complete information on any John Hancock Fund and an Open-End fund prospectus, which includes charges and expenses, call your financial professional, or John Hancock Funds at 1-800-225-5291 for Open-End fund information and 1-800-852-0218 for Closed-End fund information. Please read the Open-End fund prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000928816-07-000008/smallcapfundx40x1.jpg)
1-800-225-5291
1-800-554-6713 (TDD)
1-800-338-8080 EASI-Line
www.jhfunds. com
Now available: electronic delivery
www.jhfunds.com/edelivery
This report is for the information of the shareholders of John Hancock Small Cap Fund.
8200A 10/06
12/06
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
As of the end of the period, October 31, 2006, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, that applies to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (respectively, the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer and the principal accounting officer, the “Senior Financial Officers”). A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
Charles L. Ladner is the audit committee financial expert and is “independent”, pursuant to general instructions on Form N-CSR Item 3.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant(s) for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant(s) in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements amounted to $51,175 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 (broken out as follows: John Hancock Growth Trends Fund - $20,175, John Hancock Small Cap Fund - $18,500 and John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund - $12,500) and $47,400 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 (broken out as follows: John Hancock Growth Trends Fund - $17,050, John Hancock Small Cap Fund - $15,850 and John HancockTechnology Leaders - $14,500. John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund commenced operations on June 20, 2005. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the registrant’s audit committee.
(b) Audit-Related Services
There were no audit-related fees during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 and fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 billed to the registrant or to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant ("control affiliates").
(c) Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant(s) for the tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (“tax fees”) amounted to $7,400 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 (broken out as follows: John Hancock Growth Trends Fund - $2,400, John Hancock Small Cap Fund - $2,500 and John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund - $2,500) $6,650 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 (broken out as follows: John Hancock Growth Trends Fund - $2,150, John Hancock Small Cap Fund - $2,000 and John Hancock Technology Leaders Fund - $2,500). The nature of the services comprising the tax fees was the review of the registrant’s income tax returns and tax distribution requirements. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the registrant’s audit committee. There were no tax fees billed to the control affiliates.
(d) All Other Fees
There were no other fees during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 and fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 billed to the registrant or to the control affiliates.
(e)(1) See attachment "Approval of Audit, Audit-related, Tax and Other Services", with the audit committee pre-approval policies and procedures.
(e)(2) There were no fees that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to the de minimis exception for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2005 and October 31, 2006 on behalf of the
registrant or on behalf of the control affiliates that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.
(f) According to the registrant’s principal accountant, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, the percentage of hours spent on the audit of the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons who were not full-time, permanent employees of principal accountant was less than 50%.
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant's accountant(s) for services rendered to the registrant and rendered to the registrant's control affiliates for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant were $210,062 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, and $520,432 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006.
(h) The audit committee of the registrant has considered the non-audit services provided by the registrant’s principal accountant(s) to the control affiliates and has determined that the services that were not pre-approved are compatible with maintaining the principal accountant(s)' independence.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee comprised of independent trustees. The members of the audit committee are as follows:
Dr. John A. Moore - Chairman
Richard P. Chapman, Jr.
Charles L. Ladner
Patti McGill Peterson
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-
END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT
COMPANIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
The registrant has adopted procedures by which shareholders October recommend nominees to the registrant's Board of Trustees. A copy of the procedures is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. See attached “John Hancock Funds – Governance Committee Charter”.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) Based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-CSR, the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers is attached.
(a)(2) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.
(b) Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached. The certifications furnished pursuant to this paragraph are not deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certifications are not deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates them by reference.
(c)(1) Approval of Audit, Audit-related, Tax and Other Services is attached.
(c)(2) Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders is attached. See attached “John Hancock Funds – Governance Committee Charter”.
(c)(3) Contact person at the registrant.
(c)(4) Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are attached.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
John Hancock Equity Trust
By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: January 2, 2007
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: January 2, 2007
By: /s/ John G. Vrysen
-------------------------------------
John G. Vrysen
Chief Financial Officer
Date: January 2, 2007