Manulife Strategic Income Fund Honoured With Canadian Investment Award;
Manulife Yield Opportunities Fund Recognized with Canadian Investment
Marketing Award

    
    -- Global fixed income team recognized among leaders in financial services
    industry

    -- Marketing campaign for new fund launch praised for use of multi-media,
    motivating a 'call to action'





    
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<p><span class="xn-location">TORONTO</span>, <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 2, 2010</span> /CNW/ -- Manulife Mutual Funds took home two prestigious awards at the 16th annual Canadian Investment Awards gala event, held last night at the Fairmont <span class="xn-person">Royal York</span> Hotel.  One award was for excellence in investment management, while the other honoured the highly successful marketing campaign for the launch of a new fixed income fund, Manulife Yield Opportunities Fund.</p>
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<p>The Manulife Strategic Income Fund was honoured with a Bronze award in the Global Fixed Income Fund category. The Manulife Strategic Income Fund is managed by Daniel S. Janis III, Thomas C. Goggins, John F. Iles and Barry H. Evans of MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC. The fund, launched in <span class="xn-chron">November 2005</span>, recently celebrated its five year anniversary. MFC Global Investment Management is the asset management arm of Manulife Financial Corporation.</p>
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<p>"We're pleased and proud to have Morningstar recognize the Manulife Strategic Income Fund for leadership, vision, and commitment to long-term investing in <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>," said <span class="xn-person">Paul Lorentz</span>, President of Manulife Investments. "<span class="xn-person">Dan Janis</span> and his team have produced excellent long-term returns and have demonstrated strong stewardship, helping shareholders meet their investment goals and objectives."</p>
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<p>"MFC Global Investment Management congratulates Dan and his team who embody the overall excellence of our empowered investment management teams around the world. We are pleased to work with the Manulife Mutual Funds team, and with them are committed to providing investors with access to market leading investment strategies," said J-F Courville, President and CEO of MFC Global Investment Management.</p>
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<p>The Bronze award in the Canadian Investment Marketing category highlighted the marketing campaign for the <span class="xn-chron">January 2010</span> launch of a new Manulife fund, the Manulife Yield Opportunities Fund. The campaign ran through May of 2010 and incorporated an innovative mix of radio, print and online media.</p>
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<p>"We knew from financial advisors and customers that a strong investor appetite had been building for income-oriented investments offering higher yields," said <span class="xn-person">Mr. Lorentz</span>. "Our challenge was to create awareness for our new Manulife Yield Opportunities Fund amongst advisors and investors and to motivate them to take action. Results from our campaign were very successful.  Sales exceeded expectations by more than 130 percent, and we sold more than <span class="xn-money">$222 million</span> in the first nine months after the launch. We also saw an average 100 percent increase in unique visits to our web site, and that rate has been sustained throughout the rest of the year."</p>
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<p>The Canadian Investment Awards recognize leadership in the investment industry and represent Canada's wide range of investment products, including mutual funds, pooled funds and hedge funds. Additional awards recognize outstanding individual managers, career achievement, education, technology, innovation, marketing, socially responsible investing and community service. Awards are determined by panels of industry experts. A complete list of jurors can be found on the Canadian Investment Awards website at <a href="http://www.InvestmentAwards.com">www.InvestmentAwards.com</a>.</p>
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    About Manulife Mutual Funds
    
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<p>Manulife Mutual Funds builds on over 120 years of Manulife Financial's wealth and investment management expertise to provide Canadian investors with a diverse portfolio of forward-thinking mutual fund products. Our portfolio managers offer access to markets in <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>, <span class="xn-location">United States</span> and around the world, in a range of investment styles to help meet individual needs. Manulife Mutual Funds is a division of Manulife Asset Management Limited and part of Manulife Investments (the brand name describing certain Canadian subsidiaries and operating divisions of Manulife Financial Corporation that offers personal wealth management products and services in <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>).</p>
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    About MFC Global Investment Management®
    
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<p>MFC Global Investment Management® is the asset management division of Manulife Financial. MFC Global Investment Management's diversified group of companies provides comprehensive asset management solutions for institutional investors, investment funds and individuals in key markets around the world. This investment expertise extends across a full range of asset classes including equity, fixed income and alternative investments such as oil and gas, real estate, timber, farmland, as well as asset allocation strategies.  MFC Global Investment Management has investment offices in the <span class="xn-location">United States</span>, <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>, the <span class="xn-location">United Kingdom</span>, <span class="xn-location">Japan</span>, <span class="xn-location">Hong Kong</span>, and throughout Asia. As at <span class="xn-chron">September 30, 2010</span>, assets under management for institutional clients were Cdn$121 billion (US$118 billion).</p>
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    About Manulife Financial
    
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<p>Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 22 countries and territories worldwide. For more than 120 years, clients have looked 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 provide asset management services to institutional customers worldwide as well as reinsurance solutions, specializing in life and property and casualty retrocession. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$474 billion (US$460 billion) as at <span class="xn-chron">September 30, 2010</span>. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in <span class="xn-location">Canada</span> and Asia and primarily as <span class="xn-person">John Hancock</span> in the <span class="xn-location">United States</span>.</p>
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<p>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 <a href="http://www.manulife.com">www.manulife.com</a>.</p>
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For further information: Brian Carmichael, Manulife Mutual Funds, [phone], [email protected] Web Site: http://www.InvestmentAwards.com