2009 News Releases

Hong Kong - September 2009 marks Canadian-based Manulife Financial Corporation’s 10^th anniversary as a publicly traded company. Manulife was the first international life insurer to be listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (stock symbol: 945).

Manulife had its first-day trading of common shares on four stock exchanges in the same month in 1999 -- on September 24 on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, and September 27 on the Hong Kong and the Philippine stock exchanges.

Manulife Financial is one of the world’s largest life insurance companies with market capitalization of C$ 37 billion as at September 23, 2009. The company now has business operations in 22 countries and territories worldwide. By end-June 2009, its total premiums & deposits and funds under management had quadrupled over the preceding 10 years, while number of employees and agents had doubled.

“We have witnessed incredible change in this last decade and through it all, Manulife Financial kept moving ahead – our success fueled by our leading distribution capabilities, product excellence and innovation across continents. Today our reputation for strength and reliability endures and I am confident that we will continue our industry leadership into a brighter future,” said Donald Guloien, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Financial Corporation.

To commemorate ten years of success as a public company and look forward to future growth, Manulife has announced it will make a donation to have 75,000 trees planted around the world – covering Asia, Canada and the United States. The trees are a symbol of future growth and its strong roots.

In Hong Kong, the listing of Manulife Financial on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on September 27, 1999 was an historic occasion. The Company’s participating policyholders received demutualization benefits in the form of stocks or cash, while becoming publicly traded also provided impetus for Manulife’s expansion and further strengthened its competitive edge as a truly world-class financial services company.

“While Manulife is just 10 years old as a public company, it has been a trusted household name in Hong Kong for more than 110 years. The past 10 years witnessed exponential growth, and that was underscored by our expansion into the Mandatory Provident Fund business, increased penetration in the individual medical insurance and wealth management markets, and the steady rise of our highly productive and professional agency force,” commented Michael Huddart, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for Manulife in Hong Kong.

At end of June 2009, Manulife in Hong Kong had seen an increase of more than 300 per cent in premiums and deposits over the past ten years, a surge of more than 500 per cent in assets under management and close to a doubling of its number of employees. The Company’s agency force had also grown from 2,280 in 1999 to a record high of 4,200 by August 2009.

“We wish to thank our valued customers and shareholders for their unstinting support, and our agents and employees for their commitment in building this company into a clear industry leader,” added Mr. Huddart.

Between September 27, 1999 and September 24, 2009, Manulife’s share (stock symbol 945 on Stock Exchange of Hong Kong) gained a 250 per cent in value, from HK$46.38* to HK$162.2 on September 24, 2009.

Mr. Huddart added that, “All of us now look forward to celebrating even greater success as we believe the best is yet to come. Manulife will continue to grow together with Hong Kong. There will be exciting opportunities in the areas of medical insurance and health care services because of the territory’s aging population; the MPF business will become more competitive but there will be ample opportunities for Manulife and our much broader distribution and suite of innovative products will continue to support our more than 1.3 million customers and their changing financial protection and wealth management needs.”


* Stock split adjusted, based on closing price on September 27, 1999 (Hong Kong IPO date).

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 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 C$421 billion (approximately HK$ 2,805.7 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.

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Media Contact:
Helena Lee/Lily Chan
Manulife (International) Limited
Tel: (852) 2202 1050/ 2202 1284
Fax:(852) 2234 6875
E-mail: Helena_lee@manulife.com / lily_wk_chan@manulife.com