Manulife Launches New Investment Program for Affluent Investors

- Manulife Private Investment Pools offer financial advisors an attractive new way to serve the affluent market

- Features include a comprehensive suite of investment options, tax efficiency, account householding and competitive fees

- Portfolio management provided by Manulife Asset Management and Mawer Investment Management Ltd.

TORONTO, Dec. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial today announced the launch of Manulife Private Investment Pools, a new investment program offering affluent investors high-conviction asset management through a comprehensive suite of 15 investment pools spanning a range of asset classes. With portfolio management services provided by two award-winning asset managers – Manulife Asset Management and Mawer Investment Management Ltd. – the program offers tax efficiency primarily through a corporate class structure and a lower fee structure. Minimum investment is $150,000 per pool.

"Manulife Private Investment Pools offer financial advisors an important new option in attracting and serving their affluent clients," said Paul Lorentz, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Insurance and Investment Solutions, Retail Markets. "This program enables advisors to develop a portfolio strategy that reflects the clients' goals for income, growth and capital protection, by investing in one or more of 15 investment pools. Investors in Manulife Private Investment Pools should be assured their trust is well-placed, backed by the strength of Manulife Financial, one of the world's largest global financial institutions, and managed with institutional-style discipline and expertise."

Pools offered in corporate class include:

• Manulife Equity Private Pools: Manulife Canadian Equity Private Pool, Manulife Dividend Income Private Pool, Manulife Global Equity Private Pool, and Manulife U.S. Equity Private Pool
• Manulife Balanced Private Pools: Manulife Balanced Income Private Pool, Manulife Canadian Balanced Private Pool, Manulife Balanced Private Pool, and Manulife Balanced Equity Private Pool
• Manulife Fixed Income Private Pools: Manulife Canadian Fixed Income Private Pool, Manulife Corporate Fixed Income Private Pool, and Manulife Global Fixed Income Private Pool

Pools offered in trust include:

• Manulife Fixed Income Private Trusts: Manulife Canadian Fixed Income Private Trust, Manulife Corporate Fixed Income Private Trust, Manulife Global Fixed Income Private Trust, and Manulife Money Market Private Trust

"We are committed to helping advisors become the advisor of choice to their affluent clients, and we believe Manulife Private Investment Pools comprise a solution that advisors may provide with confidence," said Jeff Ray, Assistant Vice President, Manulife Mutual Funds & Structured Products.

Additional information may be found at manulifeprivateinvestmentpools.ca.

About Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Mawer Investment Management Ltd. is one of Canada's most respected independently owned investment management firms. Founded in 1974, Mawer has built its reputation over the past 35+ years by employing a highly-disciplined, research-driven process that systematically creates broadly diversified portfolios of wealth-creating companies bought at a discount to their intrinsic value.

About Manulife Asset Management
Manulife Asset Management is the global asset management arm of Manulife Financial. Manulife Asset Management provides comprehensive asset management solutions for institutional investors and investment funds in key markets around the world. Manulife Asset Management also provides investment management services to affiliates' retail clients through product offerings of Manulife and John Hancock. This investment expertise extends across a broad range of asset classes including equity, fixed income and alternative investments such as real estate, timber, farmland, as well as asset allocation strategies.

Manulife Asset Management has offices with full investment capabilities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In addition, it has a joint venture asset management business in China, Manulife TEDA. It also has operations in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Uruguay. John Hancock Asset Management, Hancock Natural Resource Group and Declaration Management and Research are units of Manulife Asset Management.

Manulife Asset Management was named Best Asian Bond House by Asia Asset Management in 2011. As at September 30, 2012, assets under management were C$227.5 billion. Additional information about Manulife Asset Management can be found at ManulifeAM.com.

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. In 2012, we celebrate 125 years of providing clients strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$515 billion (US$523 billion) as at September 30, 2012. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

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 manulife.com.

SOURCE: Manulife Financial

Beth McGoldrick, Manulife Investments, [phone], [email protected]; or Brian Carmichael, Manulife Investments, [phone], [email protected]

http://www.manulife.com