2009 News Releases

Singapore — Manulife Singapore today launched a new investment platform introducing 17 Elite Funds. These funds have been carefully selected from a universe of thousands, with proven track records for consistent performance.

Darren Thomson, President & CEO of Manulife Singapore said: “Our unit trust business is the next piece of the jigsaw that will help Manulife build a one-stop financial institution for our customers. Having looked after our customers’ protection needs since our inception, it is only natural that we now look to help them with wealth creation. Our ability to offer Unit Trusts is another differentiator from our competitors.”

Covering different geographic sectors and asset classes, these Elite Funds cater to all investors’ needs irrespective of risk appetites. The handpicked partners – Aberdeen, Franklin Templeton, Legg Mason, MFC Global Investment Management, Schroders and UOB Asset Management – were selected based on their outstanding performance in the financial arena.

Describing the selection process, Nick Czolak, Senior Vice President of Wealth Management, Manulife Singapore said: “These funds and fund managers have met our most stringent criteria. To put them together, we have screened the universe of funds, performed quantitative analysis on all asset classes, identified the best-in-class funds and asset managers and conducted extensive interviews with the top candidates before finalising our selection. On top of that, we have also put in place a system to supervise the day-to-day monitoring of the investment managers, as well as conduct monthly reviews on fund performances.”

Among the 17 Elite Funds, 5 of them are newly introduced and managed by Manulife Asset Management Singapore (MAMS), which is part of MFC Global Investment Management. Of the 5 funds, 4 are Singapore based funds (equity, balance, bond and money market) while the fifth is the Greater China Opportunities equity fund.

“Our fund managers have significant experience in managing Singapore equities and fixed income. They are well respected for their track record in delivering exceptional returns. We are fortunate to have enlisted their services and are looking forward to seeing them achieve superior fund performances,” said Mr Thomson, who is also the Chairman of MAMS.

The focus of Wealth Management is on wealth creation and preservation. As such, the product offerings use both in-house and 3^rd party providers, and will be geared towards bringing wealth to our clients. The launch of these 17 funds is the first phase in creating the Elite Fund family. Eventually, the Elite Funds will comprise 40 quality funds.

“I believe we have put together a thoughtfully conceived investment platform and together with our bespoke financial planning process – Plan Right™, our customers can rest assured that their investments are in good hands, “ Mr. Thomson said. “To help them keep track of their investments, our clients can monitor and access their investment accounts whenever they want and wherever they are, through our portfolio administration service Navigator™.”

Elite Fund At A Glance

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 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$421 billion (US$362 billion) as at June 30, 2009.

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


About MFC Global Investment Management
MFC Global Investment Management® is the asset management division of Manulife Financial. MFC Global Investment Management’s diversified group of companies provides comprehensive asset management solutions for institutional investors, investment funds and individuals in key markets around the world. This investment expertise extends across a full range of asset classes including equity, fixed income and alternative investments such as oil and gas, real estate, timber, farmland, as well as asset allocation strategies.

MFC Global Investment Management has investment offices in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam. With more than 300 investment professionals, including 80 in Asia alone, MFC Global Investment Management offers worldwide expertise combined with local, on-the-ground knowledge and backed by a strong risk management framework. Additional information about MFC Global Investment Management may be found at www.mfcglobal.com.

MFC Global Investment Management®, Manulife and the block design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it and its affiliates including Manulife Financial Corporation.

- 30 -

Media Contact:
Manulife (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Cindy Cheng
Assistant Vice President, Marketing
DID: 6 833 8162
E-mail: cindy_cheng_ac@manulife.com