Manulife Financial recognized as one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC
SEHK:945

TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife Financial is pleased to announce that it has been named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers 2012 by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers. The annual competition identifies companies that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work.

"We are proud to be recognized as a Top Employer in Greater Toronto," says Stephani Kingsmill, Executive Vice-President, Human Resources. "This award acknowledges Manulife's ongoing commitment to offering employees valuable and challenging career experiences. As a strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking global company, we understand that employee engagement is critical to the successful execution of our business strategy."

Manulife's support for employees includes innovative learning and career development, continuous learning subsidies, global projects, recognition programs and a variety of services such as financial and professional development seminars. Manulife was also recognized for:

• offering a range of financial benefits, including a share purchase plan as well as a defined contribution pension plan;
• allowing employees to customize their health benefits to align with their needs and stages in life through a flexible health benefits plan; and
• fostering community citizenship that encourages employees to volunteer in their communities through matching donations and paid time off to volunteer.

The award follows Manulife's recognition as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in October, 2011.

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group operating in 21 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 property and casualty retrocession. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$492 billion (US$473 billion) as at September 30, 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 manulife.com.

SOURCE Manulife Financial