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Manulife Investments wins Best New Initiative and marketing honour at 2007 Canadian Investment Awards Toronto - Manulife Investments has won two 2007 Canadian Investment Awards related to the launch of IncomePlus, the first-of-its-kind product that helps Canadians manage their retirement savings. IncomePlus, launched in October 2006, was named Best New Initiative at the 13th Annual Canadian Investment Awards announced this evening in Toronto. Manulife Investments also won the Canadian Investment Marketing Award for the launch of IncomePlus, plus was a finalist in the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) Investor Education Award for its work on profiling the “Retirement Risk Zone”. “IncomePlus has been our most successful product launch here in Canada and reflects the overall collaboration within Manulife, particularly since we acquired John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. in the United States in 2004,” said Roy Firth, Executive Vice President, Canadian Individual Wealth Management, Manulife Financial. “Canadian investors benefit from knowing that this is a very popular and well-regarded product in the U.S., plus it offers them a unique approach to protecting and managing their hard-earned savings at a key point in their lives.” IncomePlus, launched in October 2006, represented the introduction of a new product and an entire new category in the Canadian financial services market: the Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB). Since the launch in Canada, Manulife has also piloted various versions in other countries where it operates in Asia. IncomePlus, a complete story “The launch posed some unique challenges given that the product was new to the Canadian market,” Mr. Firth said. “We needed to tell a complete story, from creating awareness of risk and potential pitfalls for those heading into retirement, plus how the product provides a unique solution to those needs.” In less than 10 months, IncomePlus generated more than $2 billion in sales and remains a leading product innovation in the Canadian marketplace aimed to assist Canadians to prepare and protect their retirement savings. In October this year, Manulife enhanced the product to include guaranteed income for life at no additional cost. Among its various tools, Manulife Investments launched a broad media, marketing and educational campaign, including an IncomePlus Boomer video, a broad consumer advertising portfolio and an in-house-published magazine called Solut!ons, distributed to advisors and their clients across Canada. A special edition of Solut!ons was recently inserted in newspapers across Canada. Also, a new website at www.manulifeincomeplus.ca was developed to focus on the entire product, education and marketing campaign to support IncomePlus. The awards were among those presented to fund companies and other financial firms honoured in 50 categories at an awards gala held this evening in Toronto. The Canadian Investment Awards recognize leading investment products and firms illustrating an enduring commitment to excellence within the Canadian financial services industry. For a complete list of awards categories, please visit their website at www.investmentawards.com About Manulife Financial Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through 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$399.0 billion (US$400.5 billion) as at September 30, 2007. Manulife Financial is one of two publicly traded life insurance companies in North America whose rated life insurance subsidiaries hold Standard & Poor’s Rating Services’ highest “AAA” rating and Moody’s Investor Services’ second highest “Aa1” rating, both representing financial strength. 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. - 30 - Media contact:
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