BOSTON, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Effective January 1, 2009, the John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Advisers, LLC, changed its fiscal year-end date from December 31 to October 31. Because the Fund has previously reported earnings through September 30, 2009, below is a comparison of the earnings for October 2009 versus October 2008.

Net investment income was $1,706,578, equal to $0.045 per common share, for the one month ended October 31, 2009. For the comparable period in 2008, net investment income was $1,960,519, equal to $0.051 per common share. As of October 31, 2009 the net asset value ("NAV") per share was $12.86, with total net assets of $746,182,912 and 38,314,317 common shares outstanding. In comparison, as of October 31, 2008 the net asset value per share was $12.97, with total net assets of $768,880,461 and 38,675,117 common shares outstanding. Total net assets include assets attributable to borrowings under Credit Facility Agreement.

About John Hancock Funds

The Boston-based mutual fund business unit of John Hancock Financial, John Hancock Funds, manages more than $50.5 billion in open-end funds, closed-end funds, private accounts, retirement plans and related party assets for individual and institutional investors at September 30, 2009.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation

John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, Manulife Financial Corporation offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$437 billion (US$407 billion) at September 30, 2009.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at www.johnhancock.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund