2005 News Releases

Boston– In an effort to assist shareholders with their year-end tax planning, John Hancock Funds has released estimates of capital gain payments for 13 of its retail, open-end mutual funds, which will distribute gains in either November or December of this year. At this time, the company does not anticipate capital gain distributions on any of its other funds. However, projected gains as well as record dates and payable dates are only estimates and may change as a result of market conditions and portfolio changes. (Please see chart at the end of this release.)

Keith F. Hartstein, chief executive officer of John Hancock Funds, said, “We want to ensure that our shareholders and their financial intermediaries have the tools they need to make informed investment decisions. We feel it’s important to give investors an advantage when it comes to year-end tax planning.”

John Hancock Funds, a Boston-based investment management organization, manages more than $33.8 billion in open-end funds, closed-end funds, private accounts, retirement plans and related party assets for individual and institutional investors as of June 30, 2005.

John Hancock, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including fixed and variable annuities, long-term care insurance, mutual funds, college savings products, life insurance and various forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock can be found on the website: www.johnhancock.com.

About John Hancock and Manulife Financial
John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 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 Cdn$364 billion (US$297 billion) as at June 30, 2005.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘0945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

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