John Hancock Financial Services
U.S. Wealth Management
601 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 663-3241
Fax: (617) 663-2197
E-Mail: dbarr@jhancock.com
Name: David D. Barr
Title: Counsel
January 25, 2010
VIA EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
Attention: Brion Thompson
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549
RE: | John Hancock Equity Trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of: File Nos. 002-92548; 811-04079 |
Dear Mr. Thompson:
Pursuant to Rule 477 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), the Trust hereby submits this application for withdrawal of Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 under the Act and Amendment No. 37 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (the “Amendment”) together with all exhibits filed therewith (Accession No. 0000950123-09-071543). The Amendment was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission via EDGAR on December 17, 2009 pursuant to Rule 485(a) under the Act. Absent the withdrawal, in accordance with Rule 485(a), the Amendment will become effective on March 1, 2010.
The purpose of the Amendment was to amend the Trust’s Registration Statement to comply with recent amendments to Form N-1A. The Trust is requesting that the Amendment be withdrawn because the Fund reorganized into the John Hancock Small Cap Equity Fund, a series of John Hancock Investment Trust II, on Friday, January 22, 2010. No securities have been issued or sold in connection with the Amendment. The Trust believes that the withdrawal would be consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors. Therefore, the Trust respectfully requests that pursuant to Rule 477 under the Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission consent to this application for withdrawal as soon as possible.
If you have any questions or comments concerning the foregoing, please call me at (617) 663-3241.
Sincerely,
/s/ David D. Barr
David D. Barr, Esq.