The Manulife Balanced Income Private Pool will amend its investment strategies to meet objectives

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC    SEHK:945

TORONTO, Aug. 30, 2013 /CNW/ - As a result of the proposed technical changes to the transitional rules for character conversion tax measures, the Manulife Balanced Income Private Pool (the "Pool") will amend its investment strategies to allow it to invest in certain investments directly, and at the same time, meet its current investment objectives.

First launched in December 2012, Manulife Private Investment Pools offer a comprehensive suite of investment pools spanning a range of asset classes, and portfolio management by award-winning asset managers from Manulife Asset Management Limited and Mawer Investment Management Ltd. The minimum investment for the Manulife Private Investment Pools is $150,000 per pool, per account.

Additional information can be found at manulifeprivateinvestmentpools.ca

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 June 30, 2013, assets under management were C$247 billion. Additional information about Manulife Asset Management can be found at ManulifeAM.com

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 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 fund contracts, mutual funds, annuities, guaranteed interest contracts and structured products.

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$567 billion (US$539 billion) as at June 30, 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 Financial Corporation

Media inquiries:
Brooke Tucker-Reid 
Manulife Financial
416-434-0635
[email protected]