John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund Declares Quarterly Distribution

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund Declares Quarterly
Distribution

BOSTON, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global
Shareholder Yield Fund (NYSE: HTY) declared a quarterly distribution of $0.36
per share today. This distribution rate equates to an annualized rate of
13.10%, based on the Fund's closing market price of $10.99 as of May 29, 2009.
The distribution rate is payable June 30, 2009 to shareholders of record on
June 11, 2009 and with an ex-date of June 9, 2009.

The Fund's investment objective is to provide total return consisting of a
high level of current income and gains and long term capital appreciation. In
pursuing its investment objective, the Fund will seek to achieve favorable
after-tax returns for its shareholders by seeking to minimize the federal
income tax consequences on income and gains generated by the Fund.

A portion of the Fund's current distribution may include sources other than
net investment income, including a return of capital. The ultimate
composition of the distribution may vary because it may be materially impacted
by future realized capital gains or losses, and income from holdings. As
required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund will provide a
notice to shareholders at the time of payment of a distribution that may not
consist solely of net income. Such notification will also be posted to the
Fund's website at www.jhfunds.com where it will be viewable under the "Funds &
Performance" tab, by clicking on "Closed-End Funds" and then "19(a)
Distribution Notices." The notice is for informational purposes only and
should not be used to prepare tax returns as the estimates indicated in the
notice may differ from the ultimate federal income tax characterization of
distributions reported to shareholders on Form 1099 DIV at the end of the
calendar year. As noted, distributions may include return of capital.
Investors should understand that return of capital is not a distribution from
income or gains from the Fund.
About John Hancock Funds
The Boston-based mutual fund business unit of John Hancock Financial, John
Hancock Funds manages more than $35.8 billion in open-end funds, closed-end
funds, private accounts, retirement plans and related party assets for
individual and institutional investors at March 31, 2009.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation
John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation (the
Company), a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions
of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife
Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the
United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial
protection products and wealth management services through its extensive
network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management
by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$405 billion (US$322
billion) at March 31, 2009.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and
under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at
www.manulife.com.

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

SOURCE John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund

Media, Alex Chen, +1-617-663-2412, or Investors, +1-800-843-0900, both of John
Hancock