Manulife Asset Management Japan Wins Yen Bond

TOKYO, June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Manulife Asset Management has been awarded a Japan Core Fixed Income Active mandate by Daiwa Asset Management Co. Ltd. to be added to their 'Japan Bond Select' platform, a part of their wrap account product 'Daiwa Fund Wrap'. The JPY 7,335 million (approx US$89 million) mandate was awarded to Manulife Asset Management following a competitive pitch process. Manulife Asset Management is one of three managers to be chosen by Daiwa to be added to this platform.

Managing the mandate is Manulife Asset Management's Japan fixed income team, led by Head of Fixed Income, Japan and Portfolio Manager, Keisuke Tsumoto, with support of a team of five—made up of two portfolio managers and three credit analysts.

Naru Ishida, Head of Manulife Asset Management Japan said: "We are delighted that Daiwa Asset Management Co. Ltd., has awarded Manulife Asset Management with such an important mandate for its Daiwa Fund Wrap. The local expertise and experience of our investment team, which averages to over 18 years, together with the investment management rigor of a global organization means that we are well placed to deliver strong returns for this mandate."

'Daiwa Fund Wrap' is a renowned and sought after account in Japan. A fund-of-fund structure, it is distributed by Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd., the second largest security company in Japan, and managed by Daiwa Asset Management Co. Ltd. as an investment advisor. This flagship product is aimed at retail investors in Japan and available from Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.

About Manulife Asset Management

Manulife Asset Management™ is the global asset management arm of Manulife Financial. Manulife Asset Management and its affiliates provide comprehensive asset management solutions for institutional investors and investment funds 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 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. As at March 31, 2011 total assets under management were US$ 217 billion. Additional information about Manulife Asset Management can be found at ManulifeAM.com.

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 22 countries and territories worldwide. For more than 120 years, clients worldwide 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 around the world. 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 $478 billion (US$492 billion) as at March 31, 2011. 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 www.manulife.com.

SOURCE Manulife Asset Management

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