Manulife Monthly High Income Fund Celebrates 15 Years Of Consistent, Strong Investment Performance

- $5.5B Fund Has Produced Top Quartile Ranking For 10 And 15 Years As Well As Positive Annual Returns In 12 Of 14 Calendar Years

- Senior Portfolio Manager Alan Wicks Has Managed Fund Since Inception

TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - The Manulife Monthly High Income Fund isn't built for speed, but durability and stability.

Over the past 15 years, with Senior Portfolio Manager Alan Wicks at the helm since inception (September 30, 1997), it has proven to be among the most stable and durable funds in the Canadian Neutral Balanced Fund universe of 647 funds.

The Fund, which celebrated its 15^th anniversary on September 30, 2012, has earned a 4-Star Overall Morningstar Rating™, 1^st quartile ranking for investment performance over 10 and 15 years (2^nd quartile over 1, 3 and 5 years), and has generated positive annual returns in 12 of 14 calendar years since inception.¹

"Our goal from day one in 1997 has been to provide positive absolute returns and a steady flow of monthly income for investors," Mr. Wicks said. "We are pleased with the results we have produced for our clients and appreciate the trust they have placed in us as we've gone through economic expansions, recessions and even a global financial crisis."

"Less than 10 percent of the funds in the Canadian Neutral Balanced category have a 15 year track record.¹ Rarer still is to have the same lead manager at the helm over that length of time and this continuity of management has ensured a consistent investment approach has been applied to the Fund year in and year out," said Paul Lorentz, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Manulife Insurance and Investment Solutions, Retail Markets. "Through all kinds of markets, Alan and his team have provided a steady flow of monthly income and long-term capital growth for investors.

"We firmly believe that their consistent approach and exceptional results should provide advisors with complete confidence that the Monthly High Income Fund can be a core part of their clients' investment portfolio."

The Fund invests primarily in large-cap Canadian equity securities and Canadian fixed-income. Mr. Wicks and the Canadian Value/Income Equity Team actively manage a portfolio of approximately 40-60 stocks, strictly adhering to their value based investment approach of buying the best companies at the right prices. The Fixed Income portion of the portfolio is managed by Terry Carr, Head of Canadian Fixed Income and the Canadian Fixed Income Team. Mr. Wicks and Mr. Carr and their investment teams are part of Manulife Asset Management, the global investment management arm of Manulife Financial Corporation.

About Manulife Mutual Funds
Manulife Mutual Funds, a division of Manulife Asset Management Limited, builds on 125 years of Manulife Financial's wealth and investment management expertise in managing approximately C$18.7 billion as at June 30 2012 for Canadian investors, through a diverse portfolio of forward-thinking mutual fund products. Our experienced Portfolio Managers offer access to markets in Canada, the United States and around the world, in a range of investment styles to help meet individual needs. Manulife Mutual Funds is part of Manulife Investments, which offers personal wealth management products and services, such as mutual funds, segregated fund contracts, annuities and guaranteed interest contracts. For more information, please visit manulifemutualfunds.ca.

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$514 billion (US$504 billion) as at June 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.

The Morningstar Rating, commonly referred to as the Star Rating, relates how a fund has performed on a risk-adjusted basis against its Morningstar category peers and is subject to change every month. Quartile rankings are determined by Morningstar. The quartile measure shows how well a fund has performed compared to all other funds in its Morningstar category peer group and are subject to change every month. For full fund performance details please visit manulifemutualfunds.ca/MHIF. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

¹ Source: Morningstar Direct

SOURCE: Manulife Mutual Funds

Beth McGoldrick, [phone], [email protected], or Brian Carmichael, [phone], [email protected], both of Manulife Mutual Funds

http://www.manulife.com

http://www.manulifemutualfunds.ca