2010 News Releases

TORONTO– Manulife Mutual Funds, a division of Elliott & Page Limited, has rebranded and relaunched the Value Leaders Portfolios as the Manulife Leaders Portfolios. The portfolios will include leading mutual funds from the Manulife family of mutual funds and a more active approach to asset allocation.

“With the integration of AIC Funds in September of 2009, we saw the opportunity to take a strong product and make it even better”, said Jeff Ray, Assistant Vice President, Mutual Fund Products. “By integrating some of Manulife’s most popular and award-winning mandates into an already strong line up of funds, and by applying an active approach to asset allocation, we believe the new Manulife Leaders Portfolios provide advisors and their clients with a highly competitive managed solution and a strong foundation for many investors’ financial plans.”

Portfolios will be available in three different mandates: Manulife Leaders Balanced Income Portfolio, Manulife Leaders Balanced Growth Portfolio and the Manulife Leaders Opportunities Portfolio. Each portfolio will contain what Manulife has identified as its leading funds, and will be managed by a team of asset allocation specialists including Mark Schmeer, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, Asset Allocation and Don Rich, PhD, Head of Tactical Asset Allocation at MFC Global Investment Management. The asset allocation team intends to take an active, hands-on approach to allocating the assets within each portfolio.

“Asset allocation portfolios and other managed product solutions are becoming increasingly popular with advisors and their investors across Canada. The Manulife Leaders Portfolios provides real value for advisors through a highly experienced team of asset allocation specialists and a competitive suite of mutual funds,” added Mr. Ray. 

About Manulife Investments

Manulife Investments is the brand name describing certain Canadian subsidiaries and operating divisions of Manulife Financial Corporation that offer personal wealth management products and services in Canada. As one of Canada's leading integrated financial services providers, Manulife Investments offers a variety of products and services including segregated funds, mutual funds, annuities and guaranteed interest contracts. 

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$446 billion (US$440 billion) as at March 31, 2010.

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.

Media contact:                                                                                                   
Tom Nunn
Manulife Financial                                                                                                         
1-877-782-2363
tom_nunn@manulife.com