a_incomesecutitiestrust.htm
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- 4186 
 
John Hancock Income Securities Trust 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) 
 
601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) 
 
Salvatore Schiavone
Treasurer
 
601 Congress Street 
 
Boston, Massachusetts 02210 
(Name and address of agent for service) 
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 617-663-4497 
 
Date of fiscal year end:                                                                       October 31   
 
 
Date of reporting period:  April 30, 2009   

ITEM 1. REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS.




Portfolio summary

Portfolio diversification1       

Bonds      62% 

U.S. government & agencies      23% 

Collateralized mortgage obligations      12% 

Short-term investments & other      3% 

 
Sector composition1,2       

U.S. government & agencies  23%  Telecommunication services  6% 


Financials  16%  Industrials  6% 


Mortgage bonds  10%  Consumer staples  5% 


Consumer discretionary  9%  Materials  4% 


Energy  8%  Health care  3% 


Utilities  7%  Short-term investments & other  3% 


 
Quality distribution1       

AAA  26%     

 
AA  4%     

 
A  22%     

 
BBB  25%     

 
BB  10%     

 
B  6%     

 
CCC  4%     

 
Short-term investments & other  3%     

 

1 As a percentage of the Fund’s total investments on April 30, 2009.

2 Sector investing is subject to greater risks than the market as a whole. Because the Fund may focus on particular sectors of the economy, its performance may depend on the performance of those sectors.

6  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


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 4-30-09 (unaudited)

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Bonds 88.24%          $106,400,626 

(Cost $129,658,998)           
 
Aerospace & Defense 0.16%          197,638 

Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc.,           
 Sr Note   8.000%  07-15-11  CCC  $485  197,638 
 
Agricultural Products 0.41%          496,634 

Bunge Ltd. Finance Corp.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  5.350  04-15-14  BBB–  555  496,634 
 
Air Freight & Logistics 0.33%          402,460 

Fedex Corp.,           
 Sr Note  7.375  01-15-14  BBB  370  402,460 
 
Airlines 1.75%          2,112,219 

Continental Airlines, Inc.,           
 Ser 1999-1 Class A  6.545  02-02-19  A–  337  297,866 
 Ser 2000-2 Class B  8.307  04-02-18  B+  375  258,483 
 Ser 2001-1 Class C  7.033  06-15-11  B+  105  85,750 

Delta Airlines, Inc.,           
 Ser 2002-1 Class G2  6.417  07-02-12  BBB+  825  660,000 
 Ser 2007-1 Class A  6.821  08-10-22  A–  722  523,095 

Northwest Airlines, Inc.,           
 Gtd Collateralized Note Ser 2007-1  7.027  11-01-19  BBB+  445  287,025 
 
Aluminum 0.72%          871,231 

CII Carbon, LLC,           
 Gtd Sr Sub Note (S)  11.125  11-15-15  CCC+  1,015  588,700 

Rio Tinto Alcan, Inc.,           
 Gtd Note  6.125  12-15-33  BBB  415  282,531 
 
Apparel Retail 0.23%          280,382 

TJX Cos., Inc,           
 Sr Note  6.950  04-15-19  A  270  280,382 
 
Asset Management & Custody Banks 0.50%        607,711 

Northern Trust Co.,           
 Note  6.500  08-15-18  AA–  225  233,375 
 Sr Note  4.625  05-01-14  AA–  370  374,336 
 
Auto Parts & Equipment 0.87%          1,043,250 

Allison Transmission, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note (S)  11.000  11-01-15  CCC+  1,000  600,000 

Exide Technologies,           
 Sr Sec Note Ser B  10.500  03-15-13  B–  445  333,750 

Tenneco, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Sub Note  8.625  11-15-14  CCC  365  109,500 

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  7 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Brewers 0.67%          $806,787 

Miller Brewing Co.,           
 Gtd Note (S)   5.500%  08-15-13  BBB+  $365  350,337 

SABmiller PLC,           
 Note (S)  6.500  07-15-18  BBB+  465  456,450 
 
Broadcasting & Cable TV 0.41%          499,326 

Charter Communications Holdings           
 II, LLC,           
 Gtd Sr Note (H)(S)  10.250  10-01-13  C  447  397,830 

Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.,           
 Gtd Note PIK (G)(S)  7.000  01-15-14  CCC  254  71,676 
 Sr Sub Note  7.000  01-15-14  CCC  84  29,820 
 
Cable & Satellite 2.44%          2,943,118 

Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc.,           
 Sr Note (G)  12.750  02-15-14  CCC+  979  220,275 

Comcast Cable Communications           
 Holdings, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  8.375  03-15-13  BBB+  1,095  1,207,416 

COX Communications, Inc.,           
 Bond (S)  8.375  03-01-39  BBB–  205  198,949 

CSC Holdings, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  7.875  02-15-18  BB  390  378,300 

Time Warner Cable, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  8.750  02-14-19  BBB  290  326,009 
 Gtd Sr Note  6.750  07-01-18  BBB  605  612,169 
 
Casinos & Gaming 3.42%          4,117,150 

Chukchansi Economic           
 Development Authority,           
 Sr Note (S)  8.000  11-15-13  B+  460  195,500 

Downstream Development Authority of           
 the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma,           
 Sr Sec Note (S)  12.000  10-15-15  B–  500  195,000 

Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings, LLC,           
 Note (S)  11.000  06-15-15  CC  995  34,825 

Greektown Holdings, LLC,           
 Sr Note (G)(H)(S)  10.750  12-01-13  D  1,015  60,900 

Jacobs Entertainment, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  9.750  06-15-14  B–  500  361,250 

Little Traverse Bay Bands of           
 Odawa Indians,           
 Sr Note (S)  10.250  02-15-14  CCC  500  200,000 

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Sub Note Ser B  9.000  06-01-12  CCC  290  136,300 

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.,           
 Sr Sub Note  7.500  06-15-15  B+  1,000  830,000 

Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment,           
 Sr Sec Note (P)(S)  3.820  03-15-14  BB  500  330,000 

Seminole Tribe of Florida,           
 Bond (S)  6.535  10-01-20  BBB  650  465,575 

Turning Stone Resort &           
 Casino Enterprise,           
 Sr Note (S)  9.125  09-15-14  B+  1,540  1,124,200 

Waterford Gaming, LLC,           
 Sr Note (S)  8.625  09-15-14  B  306  183,600 

See notes to financial statements

8  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Coal & Consumable Fuels 0.17%          $210,250 

Drummond Co., Inc.,           
 Sr Note (S)  7.375%  02-15-16  BB–  $290  210,250 
 
Commodity Chemicals 0.27%          330,000 

Sterling Chemicals, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Sec Note  10.250  04-01-15  B–  400  330,000 
 
Computer Hardware 0.33%          391,445 

NCR Corp.,           
 Sr Note  7.125  06-15-09  BBB–  390  391,445 
 
Construction & Farm Machinery & Heavy Trucks 0.28%      340,000 

Manitowoc Co., Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  7.125  11-01-13  BB  500  340,000 
 
Consumer Finance 2.22%          2,670,410 

American Express Credit Co.,           
 Sr Note Ser C  7.300  08-20-13  BBB+  670  671,209 

American General Finance Corp.,           
 Note Ser J  6.900  12-15-17  BB+  1,470  592,430 

Capital One Financial Corp.,           
 Sr Note  6.750  09-15-17  BBB+  1,000  844,844 

Ford Motor Credit Co.,           
 Sr Note  8.000  12-15-16  CCC+  140  106,796 

Nelnet, Inc.,           
 Note (7.400% to 9-1-11 then variable)  7.400  09-29-36  BB–  715  214,543 

SLM Corp.,           
 Sr Note Ser MTN  8.450  06-15-18  BBB–  395  240,588 
 
Data Processing & Outsourced Services 0.36%        437,992 

Fiserv, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  6.800  11-20-17  BBB  460  437,992 
 
Department Stores 0.69%          826,144 

J.C. Penney Co., Inc.,           
 Debenture  7.650  08-15-16  BB  445  402,770 

Macy’s Retail Holdings, Inc.,           
 Gtd Note  7.875  07-15-15  BB  450  423,374 
 
Diversified Banks 2.52%          3,041,902 

Barclays Bank PLC,           
 Bond (6.860% to 6-15-32 then           
 variable) (S)  6.860  06-15-32  BBB+  1,655  743,012 

Chuo Mitsui Trust & Banking Co. Ltd.,           
 Jr Sub Note (5.506% to 4-15-15 then           
 variable) (S)  5.506  04-15-15  A2  940  488,800 

Mizuho Financial Group, Ltd.,           
 Gtd Sub Bond  8.375  12-29-49  A1  750  675,000 

Natixis SA,           
 Sub Bond (10.000% to 4-30-18 then           
 variable) (S)  10.000  12-18-49  BBB  420  172,275 

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC,           
 Jr Sub Bond Ser MTN (7.640% to           
 9-29-17 then variable)  7.640  03-31-49  B+  400  116,000 

Sovereign Capital Trust VI,           
 Gtd Note  7.908  06-13-36  BBB+  480  313,659 

Wachovia Bank NA,           
 Sub Note  5.850  02-01-37  AA  390  277,446 
 Sub Note Ser BKNT  6.600  01-15-38  AA  325  255,710 

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  9 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Diversified Chemicals 0.61%          $740,700 

EI Du Pont de Nemours & Co.,           
 Sr Note   5.875%  01-15-14  A  $695  740,700 
 
Diversified Financial Services 0.93%          1,126,641 

ERAC USA Finance Co.,           
 Gtd Sr Note (S)  6.375  10-15-17  BBB  465  344,776 

General Electric Capital Corp.,           
 Sr Note  6.875  01-10-39  AA+  475  372,181 

SMFG Preferred Capital,           
 Sub Bond (6.078% to 1-25-17 then           
 variable) (S)  6.078  01-25-49  BBB+  590  409,684 
 
Diversified Metals & Mining 0.61%          734,912 

Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Ltd.,           
 Gtd Note  8.950  05-01-14  BBB  710  734,912 
 
Drug Retail 1.13%          1,364,980 

CVS Caremark Corp.,           
 Jr Sub Bond (6.302% to 6-1-12           
 then variable)  6.302  06-01-37  BBB–  990  643,500 
 Note  6.600  03-15-19  BBB+  340  359,653 
 Sr Note  5.750  06-01-17  BBB+  360  361,827 
 
Electric Utilities 7.52%          9,072,593 

Beaver Valley Funding,           
 Sec Lease Obligation Bond  9.000  06-01-17  BBB  680  668,284 

BVPS II Funding Corp.,           
 Collateralized Lease Bond  8.890  06-01-17  BBB  680  677,541 

Commonwealth Edison Co.,           
 Sec Bond  5.800  03-15-18  BBB+  705  670,992 

Delmarva Power & Light Co.,           
 1st Mtg  6.400  12-01-13  A–  345  360,342 

Duke Energy Carolinas LLC,           
 1st Ref Mtg  5.750  11-15-13  A  1,000  1,080,790 

Duke Energy Corp.,           
 Sr Note  6.300  02-01-14  BBB+  340  358,545 

FPL Energy National Wind LLC,           
 Sr Sec Note (S)  5.608  03-10-24  BBB–  309  247,619 

Indiantown Cogeneration LP,           
 1st Mtg Note Ser A–9  9.260  12-15-10  BB+  212  207,376 

ITC Holdings Corp.,           
 Sr Note (S)  5.875  09-30-16  BBB–  175  161,631 

Midwest Generation LLC,           
 Note Ser B  8.560  01-02-16  BB+  330  314,083 

Monongahela Power Co.,           
 Note (S)  7.950  12-15-13  BBB+  635  671,345 

Oncor Electric Delivery Co.,           
 Sr Sec Note  6.375  05-01-12  BBB+  820  834,087 

Pepco Holdings, Inc.,           
 Note  6.450  08-15-12  BBB–  565  564,254 

PNPP II Funding Corp.,           
 Debenture  9.120  05-30-16  BBB  387  404,311 

Progress Energy, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  7.050  03-15-19  BBB  485  514,144 

Southern Power Co.,           
 Sr Note Ser D  4.875  07-15-15  BBB+  270  252,807 

See notes to financial statements

10  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
Electric Utilities (continued)           

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings           
 Co. LLC,           
 Gtd Sr Note Ser A  10.250%  11-01-15  CCC  $1,000  $567,500 

Waterford 3 Funding Corp.,           
 Sec Lease Obligation Bond  8.090  01-02-17  BBB  524  516,942 
 
Electrical Components & Equipment 0.97%        1,165,572 

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  8.875  12-15-14  CCC  1,000  340,000 

GrafTech Finance, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  10.250  02-15-12  Ba3  41  38,130 

Thomas & Betts Corp.,           
 Sr Note  7.250  06-01-13  BBB  775  787,442 
 
Electronic Manufacturing Services 0.48%        578,428 

Tyco Electronics Group SA,           
 Gtd Note  6.550  10-01-17  BBB–  260  200,106 
 Gtd Note  6.000  10-01-12  BBB–  415  378,322 
 
Environmental & Facilities Services 0.08%        92,400 

Blaze Recycling & Metals LLC,           
 Gtd Sr Sec Note (G)(S)  10.875  07-15-12  B  165  92,400 
 
Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals 0.72%        871,810 

Mosiac Co.,           
 Sr Note (S)  7.625  12-01-16  BBB–  480  482,400 

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  5.250  05-15-14  A–  380  389,410 
 
 
Food Retail 0.07%          78,133 

SUPERVALU, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  8.000  05-01-16  B+  80  78,133 
 
Gas Utilities 0.68%          820,406 

Atmos Energy Corp.,           
 Sr Note  8.500  03-15-19  BBB+  395  418,622 

DCP Midstream LLC,           
 Sr Note (S)  9.750  03-15-19  BBB  405  401,784 
 
Gold 0.30%          361,991 

Barrick Gold Corp.,           
 Sr Note  6.950  04-01-19  A–  350  361,991 
 
Health Care Equipment 1.51%          1,815,115 

Covidien International Finance SA,           
 Gtd Sr Note  6.000  10-15-17  A–  405  415,109 
 Gtd Sr Note  5.450  10-15-12  A–  930  965,354 

Hospira, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  6.050  03-30-17  BBB  485  434,652 
 
Health Care Facilities 1.38%          1,664,025 

Community Health Systems, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Sub Note  8.875  07-15-15  B  695  691,525 

Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Sub Note  9.125  04-15-15  CCC+  1,000  972,500 
 
Health Care Services 0.73%          875,270 

Medco Health Solutions, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  7.250  08-15-13  BBB  850  875,270 

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  11 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Home Improvement Retail 0.19%          $234,490 

Home Depot, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  5.875%  12-16-36  BBB+  $320  234,490 
 
Household Appliances 0.57%          684,080 

Whirlpool Corp.,           
 MTN  8.600  05-01-14  BBB–  335  343,254 
 MTN  8.000  05-01-12  BBB–  335  340,826 
 
Household Products 0.27%          320,775 

Yankee Acquisition Corp.,           
 Gtd Sr Sub Note  8.500  02-15-15  B–  455  320,775 
 
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders 1.27%      1,532,309 

AES Eastern Energy LP,           
 Ser 1999-A  9.000  01-02-17  BB+  938  868,028 

Constellation Energy Group, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  4.550  06-15-15  BBB  415  337,656 

IPALCO Enterprises, Inc.,           
 Sr Sec Note  8.625  11-14-11  BB  325  326,625 
 
Industrial Conglomerates 0.66%          791,753 

Hutchison Whampoa International Ltd.,           
 Gtd Sr Note (S)  6.500  02-13-13  A–  750  791,753 
 
Industrial Machinery 0.84%          1,017,374 

Ingersoll-Rand Global Holding Co., Ltd.,           
 Gtd Note  6.875  08-15-18  BBB+  545  493,051 
 Gtd Note  6.000  08-15-13  BBB+  540  524,323 
 
Industrial REIT’s 0.33%          394,820 

Prologis,           
 Sr Sec Note  6.625  05-15-18  BBB–  605  394,820 
 
Integrated Oil & Gas 2.84%          3,428,419 

ConocoPhillips,           
 Gtd Note  6.500  02-01-39  A  800  792,623 
 Gtd Note  4.400  05-15-13  A  1,000  1,022,578 

Marathon Oil Corp.,           
 Sr Note  7.500  02-15-19  BBB+  200  209,561 

Petro-Canada,           
 Debenture  9.250  10-15-21  BBB  1,000  1,039,363 
 Sr Note  6.050  05-15-18  BBB  400  364,294 
 
Integrated Telecommunication Services 4.72%        5,695,830 

AT&T, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  6.700  11-15-13  A  980  1,086,824 

Bellsouth Corp.,           
 Debenture  6.300  12-15-15  A  823  839,507 

Cincinnati Bell, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Sub Note  8.375  01-15-14  B–  1,025  1,012,187 

Qwest Corp.,           
 Sr Note (S)  8.375  05-01-16  BBB–  330  328,350 
 Sr Note  7.875  09-01-11  BBB–  445  441,663 

Telecom Italia Capital,           
 Gtd Sr Note  7.721  06-04-38  BBB  765  667,957 

Verizon Communications, Inc.,           
 Sr Bond  6.900  04-15-38  A  405  399,882 

See notes to financial statements

12  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Integrated Telecommunication Services (continued)       

Verizon Wireless Capital LLC,           
 Sr Note (S)   7.375%  11-15-13  A  $355  $394,985 

West Corp.,           
 Gtd Sr Sub Note  11.000  10-15-16  B–  630  524,475 
 
Investment Banking & Brokerage 6.30%        7,598,539 

Bear Stearns Cos., Inc.,           
 Sr Note  7.250  02-01-18  A+  1,000  1,021,218 

Citigroup, Inc.,           
 Jr Sub Bond (8.400% to 4-30-18           
 then variable) (H)  8.400  04-30-18  C  330  220,727 
 Sr Note  6.125  05-15-18  A  1,790  1,504,346 
 Sr Note  5.850  12-11-34  A  300  225,750 

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  7.500  02-15-19  A  485  497,670 
 Sr Note  5.125  01-15-15  A  760  720,182 

JPMorgan Chase & Co.,           
 Jr Sub Note Ser 1 (7.900% to 4-30-18           
 then variable)  7.900  12-31-49  BBB+  655  498,291 
 Sr Note  6.300  04-23-19  A+  765  752,793 

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.,           
 Jr Sub Bond  7.750  05-14-38  A–  495  338,070 
 MTN  6.150  04-25-13  A  1,000  919,400 

Morgan Stanley Co.,           
 Sr Note  5.375  10-15-15  A  1,000  900,092 
 
Life & Health Insurance 0.18%          219,134 

Lincoln National Corp.,           
 Jr Sub Bond (6.050% to 4-20-17 then           
 variable)  6.050  04-20-67  BBB  250  72,500 

Symetra Financial Corp.,           
 Jr Sub Bond (8.300% to 10-1-17 then           
 variable) (S)  8.300  10-15-37  BB+  440  146,634 
 
Managed Health Care 0.45%          540,123 

Humana, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  8.150  06-15-38  BBB  755  540,123 
 
Marine 0.73%          884,500 

CMA CGM SA,           
 Sr Note (S)  7.250  02-01-13  BB–  700  269,500 

Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  9.500  12-15-14  B+  1,000  615,000 
 
Metal & Glass Containers 0.67%          802,812 

BWAY Corp.,           
 Sr Sub Note (S)  10.000  04-15-14  B–  315  295,312 

Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  8.250  05-15-13  BB+  500  507,500 
 
Movies & Entertainment 2.07%          2,500,047 

Cinemark, Inc.,           
 Sr Disc Note  9.750  03-15-14  CCC+  245  243,163 

News America Holdings, Inc.,           
 Gtd Note  7.750  01-20-24  BBB+  1,020  885,547 
 Gtd Note  7.600  10-11-15  BBB+  1,000  990,202 

News America, Inc.,           
 Gtd Note (S)  6.900  03-01-19  BBB+  405  381,135 

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  13 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Multi-Line Insurance 1.53%          $1,849,118 

Genworth Financial, Inc.,           
 Jr Sub Note (6.150% to 11-15-16 then           
 variable)   6.150%  11-15-66  BB+  $430  60,051 

Horace Mann Educators Corp.,           
 Sr Note  6.850  04-15-16  BBB  395  327,254 

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.,           
 Bond (S)  7.500  08-15-36  BBB–  885  557,298 
 Gtd Bond (S)  7.800  03-15-37  BB  705  289,050 
 Gtd Bond (S)  7.300  06-15-14  BBB–  750  615,465 
 
Multi-Utilities 1.27%          1,531,072 

CalEnergy Co., Inc.,           
 Sr Bond  8.480  09-15-28  BBB+  550  589,717 

Sempra Energy,           
 Sr Bond  8.900  11-15-13  BBB+  345  378,559 

Teco Finance Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  7.000  05-01-12  BB+  337  319,744 
 Gtd Sr Note  6.572  11-01-17  BB+  298  243,052 
 
Office Electronics 0.46%          556,100 

Xerox Corp.,           
 Sr Note  6.750  02-01-17  BBB  670  556,100 
 
Office REIT’s 0.15%          176,301 

HRPT Properties Trust,           
 Sr Note  6.650  01-15-18  BBB  285  176,301 
 
Oil & Gas Drilling 0.17%          201,267 

Delek & Avner Yam Tethys Ltd.,           
 Sr Sec Note (S)  5.326  08-01-13  BBB–  202  201,267 
 
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services 0.13%        154,100 

Allis-Chalmers Energy, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  8.500  03-01-17  B  335  154,100 
 
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 1.94%        2,339,314 

Devon Energy Corp.,           
 Sr Note  5.625  01-15-14  BBB+  1,025  1,067,066 

EnCana Corp.,           
 Sr Note  6.500  05-15-19  A–  210  215,530 

McMoRan Exploration Co.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  11.875  11-15-14  B  340  251,600 

Nexen, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  5.875  03-10-35  BBB–  355  245,618 

XTO Energy, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  5.900  08-01-12  BBB  545  559,500 
 
Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation 6.11%        7,368,241 

Energy Transfer Partners LP,           
 Sr Note  9.700  03-15-19  BBB–  330  366,589 
 Sr Note  8.500  04-15-14  BBB–  330  356,193 

Enterprise Products Operating LP,           
 Gtd Jr Sub Note (7.034% to 1-15-18           
 then variable)  7.034  01-15-68  BB  590  371,700 
 Gtd Sr Note Ser B  5.600  10-15-14  BBB–  650  603,414 

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP,           
 Sr Bond  7.750  03-15-32  BBB  195  186,359 
 Sr Note  9.000  02-01-19  BBB  505  548,641 
 Sr Note  5.125  11-15-14  BBB  240  228,215 

See notes to financial statements

14  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation (continued)         

Markwest Energy Partners LP,           
 Gtd Sr Note Ser B   8.500%  07-15-16  B+  $545  $455,075 

NGPL PipeCo LLC,           
 Sr Note (S)  7.119  12-15-17  BBB–  1,580  1,559,405 

ONEOK Partners LP,           
 Gtd Sr Note  6.150  10-01-16  BBB  705  635,873 
 Sr Note  8.625  03-01-19  BBB  350  355,733 

Plains All American Pipeline LP,           
 Gtd Sr Note  6.500  05-01-18  BBB–  345  308,808 

Southern Union Co.,           
 Jr Sub Note Ser A (7.200% to 11-1-11           
 then variable)  7.200  11-01-66  BB  565  290,975 

TEPPCO Partners LP,           
 Gtd Jr Sub Note (7.00% to 6-1-17 then           
 variable)  7.000  06-01-67  BB  695  377,261 

Williams Partners LP,           
 Gtd Sr Note  7.250  02-01-17  BBB–  800  724,000 
 
Packaged Foods & Meats 1.63%          1,968,256 

General Mills, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  5.200  03-17-15  BBB+  155  156,181 

Kraft Foods, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  6.875  01-26-39  BBB+  315  310,056 
 Sr Note  6.125  02-01-18  BBB+  770  781,613 
 Sr Note  6.000  02-11-13  BBB+  685  720,406 
 
Paper Packaging 0.65%          777,662 

Graphic Packaging International, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  8.500  08-15-11  B–  445  434,987 

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.,           
 Sr Note (H)  8.375  07-01-12  D  1,000  210,000 
 Sr Note (H)  8.000  03-15-17  D  245  52,675 

U.S. Corrugated, Inc.,           
 Sr Sec Note  10.000  06-12-13  B  160  80,000 
 
Paper Products 0.75%          899,326 

International Paper Co.,           
 Sr Note  7.950  06-15-18  BBB  505  439,326 

Verso Paper Holdings LLC,           
 Gtd Sr Note Ser B  9.125  08-01-14  B+  1,000  460,000 
 
Pharmaceuticals 0.68%          818,690 

Roche Holdings, Inc.,           
 Gtd Note (S)  5.000  03-01-14  AA–  560  587,056 

Wyeth,           
 Sr Sub Note  5.500  03-15-13  A+  220  231,634 
 
Property & Casualty Insurance 0.54%          654,133 

Progressive Corp.,           
 Jr Sub Debenture (6.700% to 6-1-17           
 then variable)  6.700  06-15-37  A–  330  163,434 

QBE Insurance Group, Ltd.,           
 Sr Note (S)  9.750  03-14-14  A–  486  490,699 
 
Publishing 0.05%          59,688 

R.H. Donnelley Corp.,           
 Sr Disc Note Ser A-1  6.875  01-15-13  C  200  11,500 
 Sr Disc Note Ser A-2  6.875  01-15-13  C  300  17,250 
 Sr Note Ser A-4 (H)  8.875  10-15-17  C  495  30,938 

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  15 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Railroads 1.81%          $2,184,652 

CSX Corp.,           
 Sr Note   6.300%  03-15-12  BBB–  $1,000  1,000,679 
 Sr Note  5.500  08-01-13  BBB–  620  603,075 

Union Pacific Corp.,           
 Sr Note  5.450  01-31-13  BBB  580  580,898 
 
Real Estate Management & Development 0.20%        235,000 

Ventas Realty LP/Capital Corp.,           
 Sr Note  6.625  10-15-14  BBB–  250  235,000 
 
Retail REIT’s 0.30%          360,100 

Simon Property Group LP,           
 Sr Note  10.350  04-01-19  A–  345  360,100 
 
Soft Drinks 0.56%          676,573 

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.,           
 Gtd Note  6.120  05-01-13  BBB–  200  199,858 

PepsiCo, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  7.900  11-01-18  A+  395  476,715 
 
Specialized Consumer Services 0.28%        331,200 

Sotheby’s,           
 Sr Note (S)  7.750  06-15-15  BBB–  460  331,200 
 
Specialized Finance 2.86%          3,450,772 

American Honda Finance Corp.,           
 Note (S)  7.625  10-01-18  A+  655  621,570 

Astoria Depositor Corp.,           
 Ser B (S)  8.144  05-01-21  BB  1,000  750,000 

Bosphorous Financial Services,           
 Sec Floating Rate Note (P)(S)  3.034  02-15-12  Baa2  375  324,012 

CIT Group, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  5.000  02-13-14  BBB–  120  67,204 
 Sr Note Ser MTN  5.125  09-30-14  BBB–  255  140,837 

CME Group, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  5.750  02-15-14  AA  490  515,515 

ESI Tractebel Acquisition Corp.,           
 Gtd Sec Bond Ser B  7.990  12-30-11  BB  688  671,634 

USB Realty Corp.,           
 Perpetual Bond (6.091% to 1-15-12           
 then variable) (S)  6.091  12-22-49  A  800  360,000 
 
Specialized REIT’s 0.72%          872,105 

Health Care REIT, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  6.200  06-01-16  BBB–  505  397,349 

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  8.125  05-01-11  BBB–  175  168,152 

Plum Creek Timberland Co., Inc.,           
 Gtd Note  5.875  11-15-15  BBB–  365  306,604 
 
Specialty Chemicals 0.71%          855,800 

American Pacific Corp.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  9.000  02-01-15  B+  590  513,300 

Momentive Performance,           
 Gtd Sr Note  9.750  12-01-14  CCC  1,000  342,500 
 
Specialty Stores 0.46%          548,685 

Staples, Inc.,           
 Sr Note  9.750  01-15-14  BBB  500  548,685 

See notes to financial statements

16  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Steel 0.42%          $503,914 

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.,           
 Sr Note   8.375%  12-15-11  BBB–  $275  281,861 

Commercial Metals Co.,           
 Sr Note  7.350  08-15-18  BBB  310  222,053 
 
Tires & Rubber 0.37%          448,850 

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.,           
 Sr Sec Note  8.625  12-01-11  B+  470  448,850 
 
Tobacco 2.35%          2,836,363 

Alliance One International, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  8.500  05-15-12  B+  245  218,050 

Altria Group, Inc.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  9.950  11-10-38  BBB  685  751,905 
 Gtd Sr Note  8.500  11-10-13  BBB  800  885,033 

Reynolds American, Inc.,           
 Sr Sec Note  7.250  06-01-13  BBB  1,000  981,375 
 
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.46%        548,134 

GATX Corp.,           
 Sr Note  8.750  05-15-14  BBB+  550  548,134 
 
Wireless Telecommunication Services 2.12%        2,561,180 

Digicel Group Ltd.,           
 Sr Note (S)  8.875  01-15-15  Caa1  1,080  783,000 

Rogers Cable, Inc.,           
 Sr Sec Note  6.750  03-15-15  BBB–  455  468,805 

Sprint Capital Corp.,           
 Gtd Sr Note  8.375  03-15-12  BB  500  479,375 
 Gtd Sr Note  6.900  05-01-19  BB  1,000  830,000 
 
 
  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Convertible bonds 0.24%          $293,693 

(Cost $250,000)           
Auto Parts & Equipment 0.24%          293,693 

BorgWarner, Inc.,           
 Bond   3.500%  04-15-12  BBB  $250  293,693 
 
    Credit     
Issuer, description    rating (A)  Shares  Value (Z) 
 
Preferred stocks 2.98%          $3,590,772 

(Cost $5,106,105)           
 
Agricultural Products 0.82%          985,156 

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., 6.250%, Ser A (S)  BBB–  12,500  985,156 
 
Diversified Financial Services 0.31%          372,316 

Bank of America Corp., 8.625%    BB–  26,575  372,316 
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.61%          739,600 

Public Storage, Inc., 6.500%, Depositary           
 Shares, Ser W    BBB  40,000  739,600 

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  17 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

                   Credit    
Issuer, description                  rating (A)  Shares  Value (Z) 
 
Real Estate Management & Development 0.65%        $777,700 

Apartment Investment & Management Co.,         
 8.000%, Ser T    B+  55,000  777,700 
 
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.59%        716,000 

Telephone & Data Systems, Inc., 7.600%,           
 Ser A                   BBB– 40,000  716,000 
 
  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Tranche loans 0.21%          $250,000 

(Cost $495,000)           
Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines 0.21%          250,000 

East Valley Tourist           
 Development Authority,           
 Tranche (Facility LN5501750)   7.000%  08-06-12  B–  $500  250,000 
 
  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 

U.S. government & agency securities 32.74%        $39,477,303 
(Cost $38,725,580)           
 
U.S. Government 1.01%          1,218,710 

United States Treasury,           
 Bond   4.500%  05-15-38  AAA  $840  903,919 
 Note  2.750  02-15-19  AAA  325  314,791 
 
U.S. Government Agency 31.73%          38,258,593 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,           
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  11.250  01-01-16  AAA  10  11,334 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  4.500  03-01-39  AAA  4,360  4,435,960 

Federal National Mortgage Assn.,           
 15 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  7.000  09-01-12  AAA  2  1,956 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  5.500  02-01-36  AAA  3,532  3,669,102 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  5.500  03-01-37  AAA  2,104  2,182,297 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  5.500  06-01-37  AAA  4,322  4,484,030 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  5.500  06-01-38  AAA  4,529  4,698,921 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  5.500  10-01-38  AAA  6,718  6,969,381 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  4.500  03-01-38  AAA  2,939  2,993,431 
 Note (E)  6.000  05-30-25  AAA  1,720  1,720,833 
 TBA (C)  4.500  12-01-99  AAA  1,000  1,017,500 

Government National Mortgage Assn.,           
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  10.000  11-15-20  AAA  4  4,661 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  9.500  01-15-21  AAA  4  4,370 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  9.500  02-15-25  AAA  12  13,658 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  5.500  11-15-38  AAA  1,012  1,053,297 
 30 Yr Pass Thru Ctf  4.500  03-15-39  AAA  4,000  4,087,812 

SBA CMBS Trust,           
 Sub Bond Ser 2005-1A Class D (S)  6.219  11-15-35  Baa2  225  209,250 
 Sub Bond Ser 2005-1A Class E (S)  6.706  11-15-35  Baa3  200  186,000 
 Sub Bond Ser 2006-1A Class H (S)  7.389  11-15-36  Ba3  365  321,200 
 Sub Bond Ser 2006-1A Class J (S)  7.825  11-15-36  B1  220  193,600 

See notes to financial statements

18  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 

Tax-exempt long-term bonds 0.41%          $494,584 
(Cost $477,028)           
 
California 0.41%          494,584 

California, State of,           
 GO Unltd.   5.650%  04-01-39  A  $475  494,584 
 
 
  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 

Collateralized mortgage obligations 16.99%        $20,486,855 
(Cost $37,380,728)           
 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations 16.99%        20,486,855 

American Home Mortgage Assets,           
 Ser 2006-6 Class XP IO   2.750%  12-25-46  BBB  $13,136  328,405 
 Ser 2007-5 Class XP IO  3.332  06-25-47  AA  9,644  433,979 

American Home Mortgage           
 Investment Trust,           
 Ser 2007-1 Class GIOP IO  2.078  05-25-47  AAA  7,988  359,458 

American Tower Trust,           
 Ser 2007-1A Class D (S)  5.957  04-15-37  BBB  865  743,832 

Banc of America Commercial           
 Mortgage, Inc.,           
 Ser 2005-6 Class A4 (P)  5.352  09-10-47  AAA  300  260,141 

Banc of America Funding Corp.,           
 Ser 2006-B Class 6A1 (P)  5.892  03-20-36  B  881  513,731 
 Ser 2006-D Class 6B2 (P)  5.889  05-20-36  CCC  1,823  106,312 

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate           
 Mortgage Trust,           
 Ser 2005-1 Class B2 (P)  5.047  03-25-35  AA+  805  89,102 

Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust,           
 Ser 2005-3 Class B2 (P)  5.249  04-25-35  AA+  552  91,203 
 Ser 2006-4 Class 3B1 (P)  6.221  07-25-36  CCC  2,521  89,978 

Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage           
 Securities, Inc.,           
 Ser 2006-PW14 Class D (S)  5.412  12-11-38  A  655  83,007 

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.,           
 Ser 2005-10 Class 1A5A (P)  5.830  12-25-35  AAA  672  406,073 
 Ser 2005-5 Class 2A3  5.000  08-25-35  AAA  398  332,206 

Citigroup/Deutsche Bank Commercial           
 Mortgage Trust,           
 Ser 2005-CD1 Class C (P)  5.399  07-15-44  AA  295  92,912 

ContiMortgage Home Equity Loan Trust,           
 Ser 1995-2 Class A–5  8.100  08-15-25  CCC  58  50,136 

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust,           
 Ser 2005-59 Class 2X IO  3.629  11-20-35  AA  9,887  282,700 
 Ser 2006-0A12 Class X IO  4.122  09-20-46  AAA  16,542  537,603 
 Ser 2006-11CB Class 3A1  6.500  05-25-36  Caa2  2,627  1,424,740 

Crown Castle Towers LLC,           
 Ser 2006-1A Class G (S)  6.795  11-15-36  Ba2  3,000  2,639,935 
 Sub Bond Ser 2005-1A Class D (S)  5.612  06-15-35  Baa2  1,340  1,252,900 

DB Master Finance LLC,           
 Ser 2006-1 Class M1 (S)  8.285  06-20-31  BB  340  215,387 

DSLA Mortgage Loan Trust,           
 Ser 2005-AR5 Class X2 IO  0.151  08-19-45  AAA  22,892  400,610 

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  19 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (continued)       

First Horizon Alternative           
 Mortgage Securities,           
 Ser 2004-AA5 Class B1 (P)   5.212%  12-25-34  AA  $411  $43,673 

Global Signal Trust,           
 Ser 2004-2A Class D (S)  5.093  12-15-14  Baa2  495  487,575 
 Ser 2006-1 Class E (S)  6.495  02-15-36  Baa3  460  411,754 

GSR Mortgage Loan Trust,           
 Ser 2004-9 Class B1 (G)(P)  4.586  08-25-34  AA  812  243,323 
 Ser 2006-4F Class 6A1  6.500  05-25-36  BB  3,388  2,233,803 

Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust,           
 Ser 2005-8 Class 1X IO  3.104  09-19-35  AAA  6,851  68,515 
 Ser 2007-3 Class ES IO  0.350  05-19-47  AAA  21,438  100,489 
 Ser 2007-4 Class ES IO  0.350  07-19-47  AAA  21,942  109,710 
 Ser 2007-6 Class ES IO (G)(S)  0.342  08-19-37  BB  15,596  73,107 

Harborview NIM Corp.,           
 Ser 2006-9A Class N2 (S)  8.350  11-19-36  AAA  323   

Indymac Index Mortgage Loan Trust,           
 Ser 2004-AR13 Class B1  5.296  01-25-35  B  331  67,181 
 Ser 2005-AR18 Class 1X IO  3.553  10-25-36  AAA  14,188  212,818 
 Ser 2005-AR18 Class 2X IO  3.256  10-25-36  AAA  14,305  170,224 
 Ser 2005-AR5 Class B1 (P)  4.573  05-25-35  AA  439  37,551 

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage           
 Security, Corp.,           
 Ser 2005-LDP4 Class B (P)  5.129  10-15-42  Aa2  2,035  483,702 

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust,           
 Ser 2005-S3 Class 2A2  5.500  01-25-21  B  687  611,656 

Luminent Mortgage Trust,           
 Ser 2006-1 Class X IO  3.739  04-25-36  AAA  21,167  343,960 

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust,           
 Ser 2006-AF1 Class MF1 (P)  6.185  08-25-36  CCC  1,187  200,325 

MLCC Mortgage Investors, Inc.,           
 Ser 2007-3 Class M1 (P)  5.930  09-25-37  AA  420  89,473 
 Ser 2007-3 Class M2 (P)  5.930  09-25-37  A  155  11,627 
 Ser 2007-3 Class M3 (P)  5.930  09-25-37  BBB  105  5,776 

Morgan Stanley Capital I,           
 Ser 2005-HQ7 Class A4 (P)  5.378  11-14-42  AAA  840  742,831 
 Ser 2006-IQ12 Class E (P)  5.538  12-15-43  A+  640  80,266 

Provident Funding Mortgage Loan Trust,           
 Ser 2005-1 Class B1 (P)  4.425  05-25-35  AA  411  69,745 

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc.,           
 Ser 2005-QA12 Class NB5 (P)  5.952  12-25-35  AAA  2,989  1,433,103 

Washington Mutual, Inc.,           
 Ser 2005-6 Class 1CB  6.500  08-25-35  AAA  411  250,151 
 Ser 2005-AR4 Class B1 (P)  4.668  04-25-35  AA  1,510  282,731 
 Ser 2007-0A4 Class XPPP IO  1.039  04-25-47  Ca  18,173  102,223 
 Ser 2007-0A5 Class 1XPP IO  1.000  06-25-47  Caa3  43,230  324,223 
 Ser 2007-0A5 Class 2XPP IO  1.421  06-25-47  Caa3  50,968  302,624 
 Ser 2007-0A6 Class 1XPP IO  1.000  07-25-47  Caa3  25,338  158,366 

See notes to financial statements

20  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

  Interest  Maturity  Credit  Par value   
Issuer, description  rate  date  rating (A)  (000)  Value (Z) 
 
Asset backed securities 0.35%          $416,121 

(Cost $1,423,267)           
 
Asset Backed Securities 0.35%          416,121 

Dominos Pizza Master Issuer LLC,           
 Ser 2007-1 Class M1 (S)  7.629%  04-25-37  BB  $1,000  300,000 

TXU Corp.,           
 Sec Bond  7.460  01-01-15  CCC  384  116,121 
 
 
Short-term investments 0.50%          $600,000 

(Cost $600,000)           
 
U.S. Government Agency 0.50%          600,000 

Federal Home Loan Bank,           
 Discount Note (G)  Zero  05-01-09  AAA  $600  600,000 

Total investments (Cost $214,116,706)142.66%      $172,009,954 

Liabilities in excess of other assets (42.66%)        ($51,432,937) 

Total net assets 100.00%          $120,577,017 


The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of the net assets applicable to common shareholders.

GO General Obligation Gtd Guaranteed

IO Interest Only (carries notional principal amount)

MTN Medium-Term Note

PIK Paid In Kind

REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

SBA Small Business Administration

TBA To Be Announced

(A) Credit ratings are unaudited and are rated by Moody’s Investors Service where Standard & Poor’s ratings are not available unless indicated otherwise.

(C) Purchased on a forward commitment.

(E) All or a portion of this security has been segregated as collateral for the security with forward commitments.

(G) Security rated internally by John Hancock Advisers, LLC.

(H) Non-income-producing issuer filed for protection under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or is in default of interest payment.

(P) Variable rate obligation. The coupon rate shown represents the rate at period end.

(S) These securities are exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. Such securities may be resold, normally to qualified institutional buyers, in transactions exempt from registration. Rule 144A securities amounted to $28,059,912 or 23.27% of the net assets of the Fund as of April 30, 2009.

(Z) All or a portion of these securities are segregated as collateral for the Revolving Credit Agreement (see Note 9).

† At April 30, 2009, the aggregate cost of investment securities for federal income tax purposes was $214,647,809. Net unrealized depreciation aggregated $42,637,855, of which $5,542,963 related to appreciated investment securities and $48,180,818 related to depreciated investment securities.

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  21 


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 4-30-09 (unaudited)

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 per share.

Assets   

Investments, at value (Cost $214,116,706)  $172,009,954 
Cash  18,543 
Receivable for investments sold  2,188,828 
Interest receivable  4,353,772 
Prepaid RCA administration fees (Note 9)  11,654 
Receivable from affiliates  28,156 
 
Total assets  178,610,907 
 
Liabilities   

Payable for investments purchased  2,333,631 
Payable for delayed delivery securities purchased  1,022,148 
Revolving credit agreement payable (Note 9)  53,000,000 
Unrealized depreciation of swap contracts (Note 3)  1,482,838 
Interest payable (Note 9)  10,714 
Payable to affiliates   
 Accounting and legal services fees  6,912 
 Transfer agent fees  11,224 
 Management fees  69,585 
Other liabilities and accrued expenses  96,838 
 
Total liabilities  58,033,890 
 
Net assets   

Capital paid-in  $181,316,657 
Accumulated net investment income  1,813,334 
Accumulated net realized loss on investments and swap contracts  (18,963,384) 
Net unrealized depreciation on investments and swap contracts  (43,589,590) 
 
Net assets  $120,577,017 
 
Net asset value per shares   

Based on 11,436,233 shares of beneficial interest outstanding — unlimited   
 number of shares authorized with no par value  $10.54 

See notes to financial statements

22  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

Statement of operations For the period ended 4-30-09 (unaudited)1

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   

Interest  $8,387,696 
Dividends  193,215 
Less foreign taxes withheld  (803) 
 
Total investment income  8,580,108 
 
Expenses   

Investment management fees (Note 6)  521,415 
Accounting and legal services fees (Note 6)  16,836 
Interest expense (Note 9)  632,284 
Transfer agent fees  65,832 
Printing fees  50,580 
Professional fees  96,328 
Custodian fees  27,943 
Registration and filing fees  27,799 
Trustees’ fees  23,573 
Miscellaneous  10,720 
 
Total expenses  1,473,310 
 
Net investment income  7,106,798 
 
Realized and unrealized gain (loss)   

Net realized loss on   
Investments  (7,457,032) 
Swap contracts  (330,497) 
  (7,787,529) 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of   
Investments  5,667,241 
Swap contracts  (356,577) 
  5,310,664 
Net realized and unrealized loss  (2,476,865) 
 
Increase in net assets from operations  $4,629,933 

1 Semiannual period from 11-1-08 to 4-30-09.

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  23 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

Statements 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 three 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.

  Period  Period  Year 
  ended  ended  ended 
  4-30-091  10-31-082  12-31-07 
 
Increase (decrease) in net assets       

From operations       
Net investment income  $7,106,798  $11,880,844  $15,109,704 
Net realized loss  (7,787,529)  (526,797)  (1,642,786) 
Change in net unrealized appreciation       
 (depreciation)  5,310,664  (43,911,252)  (6,071,134) 
Distributions to APS    (1,747,235)  (4,740,155) 
 
Increase (decrease) in net assets       
 resulting from operations  4,629,933  (34,304,440)  2,655,629 

Distributions to common shareholders       
From net investment income  (6,010,695)  (9,560,908)  (10,400,867) 
 
From Fund share transactions (Note 7)  494,618  515,172  889,931 
Total decrease  (886,144)  (43,350,176)  (6,855,307) 
 
Net assets       

Beginning of period  121,463,161  164,813,337  171,668,644 
 
End of period  $120,577,017  $121,463,161  $164,813,337 
 
Accumulated net investment income  $1,813,334  $717,231  $276,098 

1 Semiannual period from 11-1-08 to 4-30-09. Unaudited.

2 For the ten month period ended October 31, 2008, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from December 31 to October 31.

See notes to financial statements

24  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

Statement of cash flows 4-30-09 (unaudited)

This statement of cash flows shows cash flow from operating and financing activities for the period stated.

  For the 
  period ended 
  4-30-09 
Cash flows from operating activities   

Net increase in net assets from operations  $4,629,933 
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets from operations to net   
cash provided by operating activities:   
Investments purchased  (95,620,672) 
Investments sold  96,700,272 
Increase in short term investments  (600,000) 
Net amortization of premium (discount)  2,593,449 
Increase in dividends and interest receivable  (937,920) 
Increase in receivable from affiliates  (12,302) 
Increase in payable for investments purchased  2,118,209 
Increase in receivable for investments sold  (1,455,983) 
Decrease in prepaid arrangement fees  62,039 
Increase in unrealized depreciation of swap contracts  356,577 
Decrease in payable to affiliates  (19,800) 
Decrease in interest payable  (11,602) 
Increase in accrued expenses  9,709 
Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments  (5,667,241) 
Net realized (gain) loss on investments  7,457,032 
Net cash provided by operating activities  $9,601,700 

Cash flows from financing activities   
Repayments of revolving credit agreement payable  ($5,000,000) 
Cash distributions to common shareholders net of reinvestments  (5,516,077) 
 
Net cash used in financing activities  ($10,516,077) 
 
Net decrease in cash  (914,377) 
 
Cash at beginning of period  $932,920 
 
Cash at end of period  $18,543 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information   

Cash paid for interest  $599,254 
Noncash financing activities not included herein consist of   
reinvestment of distributions  494,618 

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust 25


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.

COMMON SHARES               
Period ended  4-30-091 10-31-082  12-31-07  12-31-06  12-31-05  12-31-04  12-31-03 
Per share operating performance             

Net asset value, beginning               
 of period  $10.67  $14.53  $15.22  $15.30  $16.19  $16.53  $16.31 
Net investment income3  0.62  1.05  1.34  1.26  1.20  1.22  0.93 
Net realized and unrealized               
 gain (loss) on investments  (0.22)  (3.92)  (0.69)  (0.03)  (0.81)  (0.25)  0.63 
Distribution to APS4    (0.15)  (0.42)  (0.38)  (0.25)  (0.12)  (0.02) 
Total from investment               
 operations  0.40  (3.02)  0.23  0.85  0.14  0.85  1.54 
Less distributions               
 to common shareholders               
From net investment income  (0.53)  (0.84)  (0.92)  (0.93)  (1.03)  (1.19)  (0.96) 
From net realized gain              (0.26) 
Total distributions  (0.53)  (0.84)  (0.92)  (0.93)  (1.03)  (1.19)  (1.22) 
Capital charges               
Offering costs               
 and underwriting discounts               
 related to APS              (0.10) 
Net asset value, end               
 of period  $10.54  $10.67  $14.53  $15.22  $15.30  $16.19  $16.53 
Per share market value,               
 end of period  $10.33  $9.67  $12.85  $14.75  $13.68  $15.68  $15.39 
Total return at net asset               
 value (%)5  4.066  (21.36)6  1.97  6.24  1.367  5.707  9.577 
Total return at market               
 value (%)5  12.546  (19.41)6  (6.94)  15.15  (6.42)  9.95  13.49 
 
Ratios and supplemental data             

Net assets applicable               
 to common shares, end               
 of period (in millions)  $121  $121  $165  $172  $172  $180  $183 
Ratios (as a percentage               
 of average net assets):               
 Expenses (excluding               
  interest expense)  1.468  1.418  1.169  1.179  1.169  1.149  0.879 
 Interest expense (Note 9)  1.098  0.768           
 Expenses (including interest               
  expense)  2.558  2.178  1.169  1.179  1.169  1.149  0.879 
 Net investment income  12.318  9.378       8.8710       8.3010       7.6210       7.4410       5.5810 
Portfolio turnover (%)  46  40  54  94  148  135  273 

See notes to financial statements

26  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S

Period ended  4-30-091 10-31-082  12-31-07  12-31-06  12-31-05  12-31-04  12-31-03 
 
Senior securities               

 
Total value of APS outstanding               
 (in millions)      $90  $90  $90  $90  $90 
Involuntary liquidation               
 preference per unit               
 (in thousands)      $25  $25  $25  $25  $25 
Average market value per unit               
 (in thousands)      $25  $25  $25  $25  $25 
Asset coverage per unit11    12 $71,228  $73,375  $72,470  $75,049  $75,402 
Total debt outstanding end               
 of period (in millions) (Note 9)  $53  $58           
Asset coverage per $1,000               
 of APS13      $2,851  $2,928  $2,928  $3,027  $3,047 
Asset coverage per $1,000               
 of debt14  $3,275  $3,094           
 

1 Semiannual period from 11-1-08 to 4-30-09. Unaudited.

2 For the ten month period ended October 31, 2008, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from December 31 to October 31.

3 Based on the average of the shares outstanding.

4 APS were issued on 11-4-03.

5 Total return based on net asset value reflects changes in the Fund’s net asset value during each period. Total return based on market value reflects changes in market value. Each figure assumes that dividend and capital gain distributions, if any, were reinvested. These figures will differ depending upon the level of any discount from or premium to net asset value at which the Fund’s shares traded during the period.

6 Not annualized.

7 Unaudited.

8 Annualized.

9 Ratios calculated on the basis of expenses relative to the average net assets of common shares. Without the exclusion of preferred shares, the annualized ratio of expenses would have been 0.81%, 0.76%, 0.77%, 0.77%, and 0.76% for the periods ended 12-31-03, 12-31-04, 12-31,05, 12-31-06 and 12-31-07, respectively.

10 Ratios calculated on the basis of net investment income relative to the average net assets of common shares. Without the exclusion of preferred shares, the annualized ratio of net investment income would have been 5.19%, 4.99%, 5.06%, 5.45%, and 5.82% for the periods ended 12-31-03, 12-31-04, 12-31-05, 12-31-06 and 12-31-07, respectively.

11 Calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities from the Fund’s total assets and dividing that amount by the number of APS outstanding, as of the applicable 1940 Act Evaluation Date, which may differ from the financial reporting date.

12 In May 2008, the Fund entered into a Revolving Credit Agreement with a third-party commercial bank in order to refinance the APS. The redemption of all APS was completed on June 12, 2008.

13 Asset coverage equals the total net assets plus APS divided by the APS of the Fund outstanding at period end (Note 8).

14 Asset coverage equals the total net assets plus borrowings divided by the borrowing of the Fund outstanding at period end (Note 8).

See notes to financial statements

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  27 


Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

Note 1
Organization

John Hancock Income Securities Trust (the Fund) is a closed-end diversified investment management company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act).

Note 2
Significant accounting policies

The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following summarizes the significant accounting policies of the Fund:

Security valuation

Investments are stated at value as of the close of the regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally at 4:00 P.M., Eastern Time. Equity securities held by the Fund are valued at the last sale price or official closing price (closing bid price or last evaluated price if no sale has occurred) as of the close of business on the principal securities exchange (domestic or foreign) on which they trade. Debt obligations are valued based on the evaluated prices provided by an independent pricing service, which utilizes both dealer-supplied and electronic data processing techniques, which take into account factors such as institutional-size trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other market data. Securities traded only in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last bid price quoted by brokers making markets in the securities at the close of trading. Equity and debt obligations, for which there are no prices available from an independent pricing service, are valued based on broker quotes or fair valued as described below. Short-term debt investments that have a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, and thereafter assume a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, which approximates market value.

Other portfolio securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Pricing Committee in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. Generally, trading in non-U.S. securities is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the NYSE. The values of such securities used in computing the net asset value of the Fund’s shares are generally determined as of such times. Occasionally, significant events that affect the values of such securities may occur between the times at which such values are generally determined and the close of the NYSE. Upon such an occurrence, these securities will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees.

Valuations change in response to many factors including the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of the issuer’s assets, general economic and market conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.

The Fund adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (FAS 157), Fair Value Measurements, effective with the beginning of the Fund’s fiscal year. FAS 157 established a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the assumptions, referred to as inputs, used in valuation techniques to measure fair value. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

Level 2 — Prices determined using other significant observable inputs. Observable inputs are inputs that other market participants would use in pricing a security. These may include quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk and others.

28  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


Level 3 — Prices determined using significant unobservable inputs. In situations where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable, such as when there is little or no market activity for an investment, unobservable inputs may be used. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the factors that market participants would use in pricing an investment and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s net assets as of April 30, 2009:

  INVESTMENTS IN  OTHER FINANCIAL 
VALUATION INPUTS  SECURITIES  INSTRUMENTS* 

Level 1 — Quoted Prices  $2,605,616   

Level 2 — Other Significant Observable Inputs  163,965,323  ($1,482,838) 

Level 3 — Significant Unobservable Inputs  5,439,015   
 
Total  $172,009,954  ($1,482,838) 

*Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in the Portfolio of Investments, such as futures, forwards, options and swap contracts, which are stated at value based upon futures’ settlement prices, foreign currency exchange forward rates, option prices and swap prices.

The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

  INVESTMENTS IN  OTHER FINANCIAL 
  SECURITIES  INSTRUMENTS 

Balance as of October 31, 2008  $9,581,198  $— 

Accrued discounts/premiums  (274,660)   

Realized gain (loss)  (15,084)   

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)  (634,140)   

Net purchases (sales)  (2,164,222)   

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3  (1,054,077)   
 
Balance as of April 30, 2009  $5,439,015  $— 

Security transactions and related investment income

Investment security 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. Interest income is accrued as earned. Dividend income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Discounts/premiums are accreted/amortized for financial reporting purposes. Non-cash dividends are recorded at the fair market value of the securities received. Debt obligations may be placed in a non-accrual status and related interest income may be reduced by ceasing current accruals and writing off interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of interest has become doubtful.

The Fund uses identified cost method for determining realized gain or loss on investments for both financial statement and federal income tax reporting purposes.

Overdrafts

Pursuant to the custodian agreement, State Street Corporation (the Custodian) may, in its discretion, advance funds to the Fund to make properly authorized payments. When such payments result in an overdraft, the Fund is obligated to repay the Custodian for any overdraft together with interest due thereon. With respect to the amount of any overdraft, the Custodian has a lien, security interest or security entitlement in Fund property to the extent such property or assets are not pledged under the Committed Facility Agreement and to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  29 


Expenses

The majority of expenses are directly identifiable to an individual fund. 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. Expense estimates are accrued in the period to which they relate and adjustments are made when actual amounts are known.

Stripped securities

Stripped mortgage backed securities are financial instruments that derive their value from other instruments so that one class receives all of the principal from the underlying mortgage assets PO (principal only), while the other class receives the interest cash flows IO (interest only). Both the PO and IO investments represents an interest in the cash flows of an underlying stripped mortgaged backed security. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, a Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in an interest only security. The market value of these securities can be extremely volatile in response to changes in interest rates. Credit risk reflects the risk that the Funds may not receive all or part of its principal because the issuer or credit enhancer has defaulted on its obligation.

When-issued/delayed delivery securities

The Fund may purchase or sell debt securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities for a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place beyond the customary settlement period. When delayed-delivery purchases are outstanding, the Fund will designate liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. When purchasing a security on a delayed-delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its NAV. The Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a delayed-delivery transaction after it is entered into, and may sell delayed-delivery securities before they are delivered, which may result in a capital gain or loss. When the Fund has sold a security on a delayed-delivery basis, the Fund does not participate in future gains and losses with respect to the security. The Fund may receive compensation for interest forgone in the purchase of delayed-delivery securities. The market values of the securities purchased on a forward-delivery basis are identified in the Portfolio of Investments.

In a “To Be Announced” (TBA) transaction, the Fund commits to purchasing or selling securities for which all specific information is not yet known at the time of the trade, particularly the face amount and maturity date of the underlying security transactions. Securities purchased on a TBA basis are not settled until they are delivered to the Fund, normally 15 to 45 days later.

Statement of cash flows

The cash amount shown in the Statement of cash flows of a Fund is the amount included in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and represents the cash on hand at its custodian and does not include any short-term investments.

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 $10,665,168 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, they will reduce the amount of capital gain distributions to be paid. The loss carryforwards expire as follows: October 31, 2012 — $2,123,466, October 31, 2013 —$2,443,482, October 31, 2014 — $3,342,775, October 31, 2015 — $1,351,797 and October 31, 2016 — $1,403,648.

30  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


As of April 30, 2009, the Fund had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, de-recognition, or disclosure. Each of the Fund’s federal tax returns filed in the 3-year period ended October 31, 2008 remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

Distribution of income and gains

The Fund records distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, on the ex-dividend date. The Fund declares dividends and distributes income quarterly. Capital gains distributions, if any, are distributed annually. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the tax character of distributions paid was ordinary income of $15,141,022. During the period ended October 31, 2008, the tax character of distributions paid was as follows: ordinary income $11,308,143. 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, 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.

New accounting pronouncement

In March 2008, FASB No. 161 (FAS 161), Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (FAS 133), was issued and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. FAS 161 amends and expands the disclosure requirements of FAS 133 in order to provide financial statement users an understanding of a company’s use of derivative instruments, how derivative instruments are accounted for under FAS 133 and related interpretations and how these instruments affect a company’s financial position, performance, and cash flows. FAS 161 requires companies to disclose information detailing the objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, the level of derivative activity entered into by the company, and any credit risk-related contingent features of the agreements. As of April 30, 2009, management does not believe that the adoption of FAS 161 will have a material impact on the amounts reported in the financial statements.

Note 3
Financial instruments

Swap contracts

The Fund may enter into interest rate, credit default, cross-currency, and other forms of swap transactions to manage its exposure to credit, currency and interest rate risks, or to enhance the Fund’s income. Swap agreements are privately negotiated agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to exchange investment cash flows, assets, foreign currencies or market-linked returns at specified, future intervals.

Swaps are marked to market daily based upon values from third party vendors or quotations from market makers to the extent available, and the change in value, if any, is recorded as an unrealized appreciation/depreciation of swap contracts on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. In the event that market quotations are not readily available or deemed reliable, certain swap agreements may be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Pricing Committee in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.

Entering into swap agreements involves, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk in excess of the amounts recognized on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreements and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates. The Fund may also suffer losses if it is unable to terminate outstanding swap contracts or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions.

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  31 


The Fund is a party to International Swap Dealers Association, Inc. Master Agreements (ISDA Master Agreements) with select counterparties that govern over-the-counter derivative transactions, which may include foreign exchange derivative transactions, entered into by the Fund and those counterparties. The ISDA Master Agreements typically include standard representations and warranties, events of default, termination events and other standard provisions. A Credit Support Annex that accompanies a Schedule (Schedule) to ISDA Master Agreements includes provisions outlining the general obligations of the Fund and counterparties relating to collateral. Termination events may include a decline in a Fund’s net asset value below a certain point over a certain period of time that is specified in the Schedule to the ISDA Master Agreement; such an event may entitle counterparties to elect to terminate early and calculate damages based on that termination with respect to some or all outstanding transactions under the applicable damage calculation provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement. An election by one or more counterparties to terminate ISDA Master Agreements could have a material impact on the financial statements of the Fund.

Interest rate swap agreements

Interest rate swaps represent an agreement between two counterparties to exchange cash flows based on the difference in the two interest rates, applied to the notional principal amount for a specified period. The payment flows are usually netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other. The Fund settles accrued net receivable or payable under the swap contracts on a periodic basis.

The Fund had the following interest rate swap contract open on April 30, 2009:

NOTIONAL  FIXED PAYMENTS  VARIABLE PAYMENTS  TERMINATION    UNREALIZED 
AMOUNT  MADE BY FUND  RECEIVED BY FUND  DATE  COUNTERPARTY  DEPRECIATION 

        Bank of   
$29,000,000  4.6875%  3-month LIBOR (a)  Sep 2010  America  ($1,482,838) 

(a) At April 30, 2009, the 3-month LIBOR rate was 1.0163%.

Note 4
Risk and uncertainties

Derivatives and counterparty risk

The use of derivative instruments may involve risks different from, or potentially greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities. Specifically, derivative instruments expose the Fund to the risk that the counterparty to an over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives contract will be unable or unwilling to make timely settlement payments or otherwise to honor its obligations. OTC derivatives transactions typically can only be closed out with the other party to the transaction. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that the counterparty will meet its contractual obligations or that, in the event of default, the Fund will succeed in enforcing them.

Fixed income risk

Fixed income securities are subject to credit and interest rate risk and involve some risk of default in connection with principal and interest payments.

Leverage utilization risk

The Fund utilizes leverage to increase assets available for investment. See Note 8 for risks associated with the utilization of leverage.

Mortgage security risk

The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in issuers and/or securities of issuers that hold mortgage securities, including subprime mortgage securities. The value of these securities is sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/ or defaults, and may be adversely affected by shifts in the market’s perception of the issuers and changes in interest rates. Decreases in interest rates may cause prepayments

32  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


on underlying mortgages to an IO security to accelerate resulting in a lower than anticipated yield and increases the risk of loss on the IO investment.

Note 5
Guarantees and indemnifications

Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its Officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.

Note 6
Management fee and transactions with affiliates and others

The Fund has an investment 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). Under the investment management contract, the Fund pays a quarterly management fee to the Adviser, equivalent on an annual basis, to the sum of (a) 0.650% of the first $150,000,000 of the Fund’s average weekly net asset value and the value attributable to the revolving credit agreement (collectively, managed assets), (b) 0.375% of the next $50,000,000, (c) 0.350% of the next $100,000,000 and (d) 0.300% of the Fund’s average weekly managed assets in excess of $300,000,000. The effective management fee rate is 0.62% of the Fund’s average managed assets for the period ended April 30, 2009. The Adviser has a subadvisory agreement with MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC, an indirectly owned subsidiary of MFC and an affiliate of the Adviser. The Fund is not responsible for payment of subadvisory fees.

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund reimburses the Adviser for all expenses associated with providing the administrative, financial, legal, accounting and recordkeeping services of the Fund, including the preparation of all tax returns, annual, semiannual and periodic reports to shareholders and the preparation of all regulatory reports. These expenses are allocated based on the relative share of net assets of each class at the time the expense was incurred.

The accounting and legal services fees incurred for the period ended April 30, 2009, were equivalent to an annual effective rate of less than 0.02% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

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 affili-ates. Mr. John G. Vrysen is a Board member 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.

The Fund is listed for trading on the NYSE and has filed with the NYSE its chief executive officer certification regarding compliance with the NYSE’s listing standards. The Fund also files with the Securities and Exchange Commission the certification of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  33 


Note 7
Fund share transactions

Common shares

The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares with no par value. Transactions in common shares for the periods ended April 30, 2009 and October 31, 2008, and the year ended December 31, 2007, are as follows:

  Period ended 4-30-091  Period ended 10-31-082  Year ended 12-31-07 
  Shares  Amount  Shares Amount  Shares  Amount 
Distributions             
reinvested    49,524  $494,618  40,345 $515,172  64,325  $889,931 

1Semiannual period from 11-1-08 to 4-30-09.

2For the ten month period ended October 31, 2008, the Fund changed its fiscal year end from December 31 to October 31.

Note 8 Leverage

The Fund utilizes a Revolving Credit Agreement (RCA) to increase its assets available for investment. In prior fiscal periods, the Fund used Auctioned Preferred Shares (APS) for leverage. When the Fund leverages its assets, common shareholders pay all fees associated with and have the potential to benefit from leverage. Consequently, the Fund and the Adviser may have differing interests in determining whether to leverage the Fund’s assets. Leverage creates risks which may adversely affect the return for the holders of common shares, including:

• the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of common shares

• fluctuations in the interest rate paid for the use of the credit RCA

• increased operating costs, which may reduce the Fund’s total return to the holders of common shares

• the potential for a decline in the value of an investment acquired through leverage, while the Fund’s obligations under such leverage remains fixed

• the fund is more likely to have to sell securities in a volatile market in order to meet asset coverage or other debt compliance requirements

To the extent the income or capital appreciation derived from securities purchased with funds received from leverage exceeds the cost of leverage, the Fund’s return will be greater than if leverage had not been used, conversely, return would be lower if the cost of the leverage exceeds the income or capital appreciation derived.

The Fund issued 3,560 shares of APS on November 4, 2003, in a public offering. Effective May 2, 2008, the Fund’s Trustees approved a plan whereby a third party commercial bank has agreed to provide a revolving credit agreement that will enable a refinancing of the Fund’s APS. The facility was used to redeem the outstanding APS and allowed the Fund to change its form of leverage from APS to debt. The redemption of all series was completed on June 12, 2008. Below is a comparison of the leverage methods utilized by the Fund:

34  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


  APS  RCA 

Required Asset Coverage  200%  300% at the time of any borrowing 
 
Maximum Leverage  $90 million  $77 million 
Amount     
 
Costs Associated  Dividends paid to preferred  Interest expense (overnight 
with Leverage  shareholders (maximum rate  Eurodollar plus 0.95%), or elect 
  equals the overnight commercial  to convert the interest rate to an 
  paper rate plus 1.25%)  alternative rate, which is the greater 
    of the prime rate in effect on such 
    day or the Federal Funds rate in effect 
    on such day plus 0.50% 
 
 
  APS auction fees  Arrangement fee * 
 
  Auction agent expenses  Facility fees (0.20% and $38,500 
    per annum). 
 
  Preferred share transfer   
  agent expenses   

*Administration fee is $124,768 amortized over the first year of the RCA.

Note 9
Revolving credit agreement

Effective June 5, 2008, the Fund entered into a RCA with a third party commercial bank that allows it to borrow up to an initial limit of $77 million and to invest the borrowings in accordance with its investment practices. Borrowings under the RCA are secured by all the assets of the Fund. Interest is charged at annualized Eurodollar rate plus 0.95% and is payable monthly. In addition, the Fund may elect to convert the interest rate to an alternative rate, which is the greater of the prime rate in effect on such day or the Federal Funds rate in effect on such day plus 0.50%.

Under the terms of the RCA, the Fund also pays an administration fee of $38,500 in each year of the agreement and facility fees of 0.20% per annum on the unused portion of the facility. In addition, the Fund incurred $86,268 of legal fees associated with the execution of the RCA. The administration fees and the legal fees are amortized during the first year of the agreement. Administration and facility fees expensed for the period ended April 30, 2009 amounted to $62,040 and $23,167, respectively, and are included in interest expense in the Statement of Operations. As of April 30, 2009, the Fund had borrowings of $53,000,000 at an interest rate 1.4033% and is reflected in the revolving credit agreement on the Statement of Asset and Liabilities. For the period from November 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009, the average borrowings under the RCA and the effective average interest rate (annualized) were $53,364,641 and 2.3893%, respectively. The maturity date of the RCA is June 3, 2009. However, the maturity date may be extended up to 364 days by giving written notice to the lender of not more than 150 days and not less 60 days of the maturity date. Also, the RCA may be in default and result in immediate termination if certain asset coverage requirements or minimum net asset amounts are not met. Finally, the Fund may terminate the agreement with one business day’s notice.

Note 10
Purchase and sale of securities

Purchases and proceeds from sales or maturities of securities, other than short-term securities and obligations of the U.S. government, during the period ended April 30, 2009, aggregated $72,003,720 and $72,613,523, respectively. Purchases and proceeds from sales or maturities of obligations of the U.S.

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  35 


government aggregated $6,072,796 and $4,758,731, respectively, during the period ended April 30, 2009.

Note 11
Subsequent event

Effective June 2, 2009, the Fund entered into a new Committed Facility Agreement (the CFA) agreement with a third party commercial bank. This agreement replaces the existing RCA, which was set to terminate on June 3, 2009. The new agreement allows the Fund to borrow up to a limit of $58 million and to invest the borrowings in accordance with its investment practices. Borrowings under the CFA are secured by the assets of the Fund.

36  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


Investment objective and policy

The Fund is a closed-end diversified management investment company, common shares of which were initially offered to the public on February 14, 1973, and are publicly traded on the NYSE. The Fund’s investment objective is to generate a high level of current income consistent with prudent investment risk. The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of freely marketable debt securities and may invest an amount not exceeding 20% of its assets in income-producing preferred and common stock. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of net assets in income securities. Income securities will consist of the following: (i) marketable corporate debt securities, (ii) governmental obligations and (iii) cash and commercial paper. “Net assets” is defined as net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund will notify shareholders at least 60 days prior to any change in this 80% investment policy.

It is contemplated that at least 75% of the value of the Fund’s total assets will be represented by debt securities, which have at the time of purchase a rating within the four highest grades as determined by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Corporation. The Fund intends to engage in short-term trading and may invest in repurchase agreements.

Bylaws and Declaration of Trust

In November 2002, the Board of Trustees adopted several amendments to the Fund’s bylaws, including provisions relating to the calling of a special meeting and requiring advance notice of shareholder proposals or nominees for Trustee. The advance notice provisions in the bylaws require shareholders to notify the Fund in writing of any proposal which they intend to present at an annual meeting of shareholders, including any nominations for Trustee, between 90 and 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the mailing date of the notice from the prior year’s annual meeting of shareholders. The notification must be in the form prescribed by the bylaws. The advance notice provisions provide the Fund and its Trustees with the opportunity to thoughtfully consider and address the matters proposed before the Fund prepares and mails its proxy statement to shareholders. Other amendments set forth the procedures that must be followed in order for a shareholder to call a special meeting of shareholders. Please contact the Secretary of the Fund for additional information about the advance notice requirements or the other amendments to the bylaws.

On August 21, 2003, shareholders approved the amendment of the Fund’s bylaws effective August 26, 2003, to provide for the issuance of preferred shares. Effective March 9, 2004, the Trustees approved additional changes to conform with the Fund’s maximum dividend rate on the preferred shares with the rate used by other John Hancock funds.

On September 14, 2004, the Trustees approved an amendment to the Fund’s bylaws increasing the maximum applicable dividend rate ceiling on the preferred shares to conform with the modern calculation methodology used by the industry and other John Hancock funds.

On March 31, 2008, the shareholders approved an amendment to the Fund’s Declaration of Trust to permit the Fund’s Board of Trustees to delegate the authority to declare dividends to a Dividend Committee consisting of officers, employees or agents of the Fund.

Financial futures contracts and options

The Fund may buy and sell financial futures contracts and options on futures contracts to hedge against the effects of fluctuations in interest rates and other market conditions. The Fund’s ability to hedge successfully will depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict accurately the future direction of interest rate changes and other market factors. There is no assurance that a liquid market for futures and options will always exist. In addition, the Fund could be prevented from opening, or realizing the benefits of closing out a futures or options position because of position limits or limits on daily price fluctuations imposed by an exchange.

The Fund will not engage in transactions in futures contracts and options on futures for speculation, but only for hedging or other permissible risk management purposes. All of

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  37 


the Fund’s futures contracts and options on futures will be traded on a U.S. commodity exchange or board of trade. The Fund will not engage in a transaction in futures or options on futures if, immediately thereafter, the sum of initial margin deposits on existing positions and premiums paid for options on futures would exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets.

Dividends and distributions

During the period ended April 30, 2009, dividends from net investment income totaling $0.5273 per share were paid to shareholders. The dates of payments and the amounts per share were as follows:

  INCOME 
PAYMENT DATE  DIVIDEND 

December 31, 2008  $0.2672 
March 31, 2009  0.2601 

Dividend reinvestment plan

The Fund offers its common shareholders a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the Plan), which offers the opportunity to earn compounded yields. Any holder of common shares of record of the Fund may elect to participate in the Plan and receive the Fund’s common shares in lieu of all or a portion of the cash dividends. The Plan is available to all common shareholders without charge. Mellon Investor Services (the Plan Agent) will act as agent for participating shareholders.

Shareholders may join the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent by telephone, in writing or by visiting the Plan Agent’s Web site at www. melloninvestor.com showing an election to reinvest all or a portion of dividend payments. If received in proper form by the Plan Agent prior to the record date for a dividend, the election will be effective with respect to all dividends paid after such record date. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact the broker or nominee to determine whether and how they may participate in the Plan.

The Board of Trustees of the Fund has authorized the Dividend Committee to declare dividends from net investment income payable in cash or, in the case of shareholders participating in the Plan, partially or entirely in the Fund’s common shares. The number of shares to be issued for the benefit of each shareholder will be determined by dividing the amount of the cash dividend, otherwise payable to such shareholder on shares included under the Plan, by the per share net asset value of the common shares on the date for payment of the dividend, unless the net asset value per share on the payment date is less than 95% of the market price per share on that date, in which event the number of shares to be issued to a shareholder will be determined by dividing the amount of the cash dividend payable to such shareholder, by 95% of the market price per share of the common shares on the payment date. The market price of the common shares on a particular date shall be the mean between the highest and lowest sales price on the NYSE on that date. Net asset value will be determined in accordance with the established procedures of the Fund. However, if as of such payment date the market price of the common shares is lower than such net asset value per share, the number of shares to be issued will be determined on the basis of such market price. Fractional shares, carried out to four decimal places, will be credited to the shareholder’s account. Such fractional shares will be entitled to future dividends.

The shares issued to participating shareholders, including fractional shares, will be held by the Plan Agent in the name of the participant. A confirmation will be sent to each shareholder promptly, normally within five to seven days, after the payment date of the dividend. The confirmation will show the total number of shares held by such shareholder before and after the dividend, the amount of the most recent cash dividend that the shareholder has elected to reinvest and the number of shares acquired with such dividend.

Participation in the Plan may be terminated at any time by contacting the Plan Agent by telephone, in writing or by visiting the Plan Agent’s Web site, and such termination will be effective immediately. However, notice of termination must be received prior to the record date of any distribution to be effective for that distribution. Upon termination, certificates will be issued representing the number of full shares of common shares held by the Plan Agent. A

38  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


shareholder will receive a cash payment for any fractional share held.

The reinvestment of dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax, which may be due with respect to such dividend. Dividends reinvested in common shares will be treated on your federal income tax return as though you had received a dividend in cash in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares received, as determined by the prices for common shares of the Fund on the NYSE as of the dividend payment date. Distributions from the Fund’s long-term capital gains will be processed as noted above for those electing to reinvest in common shares and will be taxable to you as long-term capital gains. The confirmation referred to above will contain all the information you will require for determining the cost basis of shares acquired and should be retained for that purpose. At year end, each account will be supplied with detailed information necessary to determine total tax liability for the calendar year. All correspondence or additional information concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent, Mellon Bank, N.A., c/o Mellon Investor Services, P.O. Box 3338, South Hackensack, New Jersey 07606-1938 (Telephone: 1-800-852-0218).

Shareholder communication and assistance

If you have any questions concerning the Fund, we will be pleased to assist you. If you hold shares in your own name and not with a brokerage firm, please address all notices, correspondence, questions or other communications regarding the Fund to the transfer agent at:

Mellon Investor Services
Newport Office Center VII
480 Washington Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07310
Telephone: 1-800-852-0218

If your shares are held with a brokerage firm, you should contact that firm, bank or other nominee for assistance.

Shareholder meeting (unaudited)

On May 18, 2009, an adjourned session of the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of John Hancock Income Securities Trust was held at 601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts, for the purpose of considering and voting upon the proposals listed below.

Shareholders of the Fund approved Proposal 1 and Proposal 3 and the votes cast were as follows:

Proposal 1: To elect eleven Trustees to serve until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified.

    WITHHELD 
  FOR  AUTHORITY 

James R. Boyle  7,052,704  352,784 
James F. Carlin  7,143,183  262,305 
William H. Cunningham  7,128,892  276,596 
Deborah C. Jackson  7,126,368  279,120 
Charles L. Ladner  7,131,790  273,698 
Stanley Martin  7,134,723  270,765 
Patti McGill Peterson  7,133,457  272,031 
John A. Moore  7,135,268  270,220 
Steven R. Pruchansky  7,143,594  261,894 
Gregory A. Russo  7,144,372  261,116 
John G. Vrysen  7,138,169  267,319 

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  39 


*Proposal 2: To amend the Fund’s Declaration of Trust to divide the Board into three classes of Trustees and to provide for shareholder approval of each such class every three years.

For  4,535,324 
Against  1,666,253 
Withheld  177,377 
Broker Non-Votes  1,026,534 

*The proposal to amend the Declaration of Trust did not receive sufficient votes from the Fund’s shareholders.

Proposal 3: To adopt a new form of investment advisory agreement.

For  5,833,485 
Against  269,097 
Withheld  255,162 
Broker Non-Votes  1,047,744 

40  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


Evaluation by the Board of New Form of Investment Advisory Agreement

At its meeting on December 8-9, 2008, the Board, including all the Independent Trustees, approved a new form of Advisory Agreement for the Fund.

The Board, including the Independent Trustees, is responsible for selecting the Fund’s investment adviser, approving the Adviser’s selection of fund subadvisers and approving the Fund’s advisory and subadvisory agreements, their periodic continuation and any amendments.

Consistent with SEC rules, the Board regularly evaluates the Fund’s advisory and subadvisory arrangements, including consideration of the factors listed below. The Board may also consider other factors (including conditions and trends prevailing generally in the economy, the securities markets and the industry) and does not treat any single factor as determinative, and each Trustee may attribute different weights to different factors. The Board is furnished with an analysis of its fiduciary obligations in connection with its evaluation and, throughout the evaluation process, the Board is assisted by counsel for the Fund and the Independent Trustees are also separately assisted by independent legal counsel. The factors considered by the Board are:

• the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided by the Adviser or subadviser, as the case may be, to the Fund;

• the investment performance of the Fund;

• the extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows and whether fee levels reflect these economies of scale for the benefit of shareholders of the Fund;

• the costs of the services to be provided and the profits to be realized by the Adviser (including any subadvisers affiliated with the Adviser) and its affiliates from the Adviser’s relationship with the Fund; and

• comparative services rendered and comparative advisory fee rates.

The Board believes that information relating to all these factors is relevant to its evaluation of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement.

At its meeting on June 10, 2008, the Board approved the annual continuation of the Advisory Agreement with respect to the Fund and considered each of the factors listed above. A discussion of the basis of the Board’s approval of the Advisory Agreement and its consideration of such factors at that meeting is included in the shareholder report dated October 31, 2008. A copy of the relevant report may be obtained by calling 1-800-225-5291 (TDD – 1-800-554-6713) or by writing to the Fund at 601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, Attn.: Salvatore Schiavone, and is also available on the Internet at www.jhfunds.com.

In evaluating the Advisory Agreement at its meeting on June 10, 2008, the Board reviewed a broad range of information requested for this purpose. This information included:

(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). The funds within each Category and Peer Group were selected by Morningstar Inc. (Morningstar), an independent provider of investment company data. Data typically covered the period since the Fund’s inception through December 31, 2007;

(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;

(iv) the Adviser’s financial results and condition, including its and certain of its affiliates’ profitability from services performed for the Fund;

(v) breakpoints in the Fund’s and the Peer Group’s fees, and information about economies of scale;

(vi) the Adviser’s record of compliance with applicable laws and regulations, with the

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  41 


Fund’s investment policies and restrictions, and with the applicable Code of Ethics, and the structure and responsibilities of the 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. 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, based on its resources, reputation and other attributes, to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory, and supervisory personnel. The Board considered the investment philosophy, research and investment decision-making processes of the Adviser. The Board considered the Adviser’s execution of its oversight responsibilities. The Board further considered the culture of compliance, resources dedicated to compliance, compliance programs and compliance records of the Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the non-advisory 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 supported renewal of the Advisory Agreement.

Fund performance

The Board considered the Fund’s performance results in comparison to the performance of the Category, as well as the Fund’s Peer Group and benchmark index. The Board reviewed the methodology used by Morningstar to select the funds in the Category and the Peer Group. The Board concluded that the Fund’s investment process and particular investments seemed consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, strategy and style.

Investment 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 in comparison to the advisory fees for the Peer Group.

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 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 and net expense ratio after waivers and reimbursements.

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 expenses supported the re-approval of the Advisory Agreement.

Profitability

The Board received and considered a detailed profitability analysis of the Adviser based on the Advisory Agreement, as well as on other relationships between the Fund and the Adviser and its affiliates. The Board also considered a comparison of the Adviser’s profitability to that of other similar investment advisers whose profitability information is publicly available. 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

42  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 


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 to its other clients, including other registered investment companies, institutional investors and separate accounts. The Board concluded that the Fund’s advisory fees were not unreasonable, taking into account fee rates offered to others by the Adviser, 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 their 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 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 and the 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 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 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.

December 2008 Meeting

In approving the proposed new form of Advisory Agreement at the December 8–9, 2008 meeting, the Board determined that it was appropriate to rely upon its recent consideration at its June 10, 2008 meeting of such factors as: fund performance; the realization of economies of scale; profitability of the Advisory Agreement to the Adviser; and comparative advisory fee rates (as well as its conclusions with respect to those factors). The Board noted that it had, at the June 10, 2008 meeting, concluded that these factors, taken as a whole, supported the continuation of the Advisory Agreement. The Board, at the December 8–9, 2008 meeting, revisited particular factors to the extent relevant to the proposed new form of Agreement. In particular, the Board noted the skill and competency of the Adviser in its past management of the Fund’s affairs and subadvisory relationships, the qualifications of the Adviser’s personnel who perform services for the Fund, including those who served as officers of the Fund, and the high level and quality of services that the Adviser may reasonably be expected to continue to provide the Fund and concluded that the Adviser may reasonably be expected to perform its services ably under the proposed new form of Advisory Agreement. The Board also took into consideration the extensive analysis and efforts undertaken by a working group comprised by a subset of the Board’s Independent Trustees, which met several times, both with management representatives and separately, to evaluate the proposal to approve a new form of Agreement, prior to the Board’s December 8–9, 2008 meeting. The Board considered the differences between the current Advisory Agreement and proposed new form of Agreement, and agreed that the new Advisory Agreement structure would bring all advisory fee payment mechanics for the John Hancock Fund Complex into conformity and will result in greater administrative efficiencies for the Fund.

Semiannual report | Income Securities Trust  43 


More information

Trustees  Investment adviser 
Patti McGill Peterson, Chairperson  John Hancock Advisers, LLC 
James R. Boyle†   
James F. Carlin  Subadviser 
William H. Cunningham*  MFC Global Investment Management 
Deborah C. Jackson*    (U.S.), LLC 
Charles L. Ladner   
Dr. John A. Moore  Custodian 
Steven R. Pruchansky  State Street Bank and Trust Company 
Gregory A. Russo   
John G. Vrysen†  Transfer agent 
*Member of the Audit Committee  Mellon Investor Services 
†Non-Independent Trustee   
Legal counsel 
Officers  K&L Gates LLP 
Keith F. Hartstein   
President and Chief Executive Officer  Stock symbol 
  Listed New York Stock Exchange: JHS 
Thomas M. Kinzler 
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer  For shareholder assistance  
  refer to page 39 
Francis V. Knox, Jr. 
Chief Compliance Officer 
 
Charles A. Rizzo   
Chief Financial Officer   
 
Salvatore Schiavone   
Treasurer   
 
John G. Vrysen   
Chief Operating Officer   
 
 
 

The Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures, as well as the Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve month period ended June 30, are available free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Website at sec.gov or on our Website.

The Fund’s complete list of portfolio holdings, for the first and third fiscal quarters, is filed with the SEC on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on our Website and the SEC’s Website, www.sec.gov, and can be reviewed and copied (for a fee) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Call 1-800-SEC-0330 to receive information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room.

We make this information on your fund, as well as monthly portfolio holdings, and other fund details available on our Website www.jhfunds.com or by calling 1-800-852-0218.

You can also contact us:     
  1-800-852-0218  Regular mail: 
  jhfunds.com  Mellon Investor Services 
    Newport Office Center VII 
    480 Washington Boulevard 
    Jersey City, NJ 07310 


44  Income Securities Trust | Semiannual report 



1-800-852-0218
1-800-231-5469 TDD
1-800-843-0090 EASI-Line
www.jhfunds.com

PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MIS

P60SA 4/09
6/09


ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Not applicable at this time.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Not applicable at this time.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable at this time.

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

(a) Not applicable.
(b) 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 may 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) 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) Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders is attached. See attached and “John Hancock Funds – Governance Committee Charter”.

(c)(2) Contact person at the registrant.


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 Income Securities Trust

By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: June 18, 2009

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: June 18, 2009

By: /s/ Charles A. Rizzo
-------------------------------------
Charles A. Rizzo
Chief Financial Officer

Date: June 18, 2009