JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS INTRODUCES FOCUSED RELATIVE VALUE FUND
BOSTON, November 1, 2000- Focused mutual funds have been growing in
popularity and number over the last few years, but the bulk of them have
emphasized growth-stock investing.* To help balance the scale, John Hancock
Funds has introduced a new focused fund with a value orientation. The John
Hancock Focused Relative Value Fund seeks long-term growth of capital by
investing in a concentrated number of companies selling at what appear to be
substantial discounts to their intrinsic values.
"What sets our value strategy apart is that we look for a catalyst that will
keep us from falling into the 'value trap' of buying a cheap company that
stays that way," said lead portfolio manager Timothy E. Quinlisk, who also
manages the $1.7 billion John Hancock Large Cap Value Fund and the $550
million John Hancock Small Cap Value Fund. "The catalyst could be new
management, innovative technology, new products or a new organizational
structure-any driving force that we believe could stimulate profits and
earnings," he added.
The John Hancock Focused Relative Value Fund offers investors a focused
investment strategy with a concentration in typically 20 to 35 U.S. and
foreign companies of any size. As a non-diversified fund, it may invest
more than 5% of its assets in securities of individual companies. "We think
one of the best things about this fund is its flexibility to pick the best
opportunities from the full spectrum of stocks," said Mr. Quinlisk.
John Hancock Focused Relative Value Fund offers Class A shares with a
maximum front-end sales charge of 5%, Class B shares with a maximum deferred
sales charge of 5%, and Class C shares with maximum front-end and deferred
sales charges of 1%. The minimum initial investment is $1,000 for regular
accounts or $250 for retirement accounts.
John Hancock Funds, a global investment management firm, manages more than
$30 billion in open-end funds, closed-end funds, private accounts, variable
annuities and retirement plans for individual and institutional investors.
John Hancock Funds is a wholly owned subsidiary of John Hancock Financial
Services, Inc. (NYSE: JHF). John Hancock and its affiliated companies
provide a broad array of insurance and investment products and services to
retail and institutional customers. As of June 30, 2000, John Hancock
Financial Services and its subsidiaries had total assets under management of
$126.9 billion.
*Out of 84 focused funds, 16 are categorized as value funds, according to
Strategic Insight Simfund (as of September 30, 2000).
Investments concentrated in a few securities may fluctuate more widely than
investments diversified among many securities.
For more complete information on any John Hancock fund, including charges
and expenses, please call 1-800-225-5291 for a complete prospectus. Please
read it carefully before you invest or send money.
John Hancock Funds, Inc., Boston, MA 02199. Member NASD.
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