Manulife Mutual Funds Names New Portfolio Managers of Two Emerging Markets Funds

TORONTO, May 21, 2013 /CNW/ - Manulife Mutual Funds said today that, effective immediately, portfolio management responsibilities for the Manulife Emerging Markets Debt Fund will be led by Roberto Sanchez-Dahl, CFA, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, and Paolo H. Valle, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, of Manulife Asset Management. The fixed income portion of Manulife Emerging Markets Balanced Fund will also be managed by this new team. They will be located in the Boston office of Manulife Asset Management.

"Roberto and Paolo bring to Manulife deep experience and a well-defined investment process in emerging markets debt that fits well with our expertise in fixed income, and we welcome them to the team," said Derek Saliba, Head of Mutual Funds Product. "They employ a fundamental investment process that seeks to add returns by actively managing allocations across and within sovereign external debt, local currency debt and corporate debt."

He added: "Canadian financial advisors recognize our organization's expertise in fixed income investing, and with the extensive backgrounds and proven investment expertise of these new portfolio managers, we continue to strengthen this reputation and demonstrate our commitment to being a premier provider of investment solutions to advisors and their clients."

Mr. Sanchez-Dahl most recently was with Federated Investment Management Company, since 2001 as an Emerging Markets Senior Portfolio Manager, and as an Investment Analyst since 1997. He previously served as an Associate in the Credit Department at Goldman Sachs in New York City, from 1994 to 1997. He began his career with Moody's Investors Service in New York. He holds a BS in mechanical electric engineering from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, an associate degree in corporate finance from Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, and an MBA from Columbia University in New York.

Mr. Valle served, since 2004, as a Vice President at Federated Investment Management and most recently was an Emerging Markets Senior Portfolio Manager. Previously, he was Chief Investment Officer of Ramirez Asset Management in New York City, from 2001 to 2004. Prior to that, he was a managing partner with Valle Advisors, and a First Vice President and Head of the Emerging Markets and International Fixed Income group with Merrill Lynch Investment Management, both in Princeton, New Jersey. He holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BS in business administration from the Universidad del Pacifico in Lima, Peru.

The new team's approach has generated above average investment performance over market cycles. As of March 31, 2013, eVestment ranked their emerging markets debt strategy in the top decile on a three-year basis, and top quartile on a five-year basis when evaluated in the Emerging Markets Fixed Income – Hedged universe.

In 2011, they received the Lipper Fund award for the best emerging markets debt fund in its category for the three-year period ending December 31, 2010.

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 assets 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. Clients look to Manulife for 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$555 billion (US$547 billion) as at March 31, 2013. 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 Mutual Funds

Brian Carmichael, Manulife Financial, 617-663-4748, [email protected]

http://www.manulifemutualfunds.ca