Manulife Mutual Funds announces upcoming change in Co-Managers

WATERLOO, ON, Oct. 29 /CNW/ - Effective March 31, 2010 , Gerald Cooper-Key, co-manager of the Manulife Mawer World Investment Class, will withdraw from day-to-day activities as co-manager of the Fund.

While Mr. Cooper-Key will no longer be co-manager of the Manulife Mawer World Investment Class after March 31, 2010 , he will continue to maintain an active role with Mawer Investment Management Ltd., providing broad input into the Fund, as Chair of Mawer's Global Equity working group. The Global Equity working group is being formed in conjunction with the upcoming launch of the Manulife Mawer Global Equity Class and will provide co-ordination and input across Mawer's global/international large and small cap mandates sub-advised for Manulife Mutual Funds, a division of Elliott & Page Limited.

David Ragan will continue as co-manager of the Manulife Mawer World Investment Class. Mr. Ragan has been working closely with Mr. Cooper-Key since joining Mawer in 2004, and has been co-manager of the Fund since 2007.

In addition, Jim Hall , Mawer's Director of Research, is joining David Ragan as co-manager of the Fund. Mr. Hall brings over 15 years of investment experience, including 12 years with Mawer, to his role as co-manager of international equities. As Director of Research since 2004, Mr. Hall has provided oversight on all asset classes and brings a wealth of knowledge to the international equity team. Mr. Ragan and Mr. Hall are supported by the full team of fifteen portfolio managers and analysts in Mawer's Research department. The increasing depth of the Mawer Investment Management research team and the consistency of the investment approach across all asset classes will enable this transition to be both professional and seamless.

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 investment contracts.

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$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.

For further information: Media contact: Tom Nunn, Manulife Financial, [phone], [email protected]