2005 News Releases

Company Will Offer A Full Range of Equity and Fixed Income Products To Institutional Investors

Tokyo– MFC Global Investment Management (Japan) Limited, (“MFC Global Japan”) said that the Japanese government’s Financial Services Agency has issued the company a license to operate as a discretionary investment advisory company.

As a discretionary investment advisory company, MFC Global Japan, which was established in April 2004, will be able to manage assets of pension clients as well as other 3rd party institutional clients on a fully discretionary basis.MFC Global Japan manages approximately Yen 460 billion [C$5.1 billion] on an advisory basis as of June 30, 2005. They will provide institutional clients a full range of investment capabilities and a variety of funds, initially focusing on Japanese equity and Japanese fixed income funds.

“We are very pleased to now be able to operate more fully in the Japanese investment management market as a result of receiving this license,” says Takehiko Fukuda, MFC Global Japan Representative Director. “As a part of Manulife Financial worldwide, MFC Global Japan will market its services to Japanese pension funds as well as other institutions, bringing global investment management expertise and world-class products in a broad range of asset class to the institutional investment market in Japan.”

MFC Global Investment Management (Japan) Limited is affiliated with MFC Global Investment Management, the asset management arm of Manulife Financial. Based in Canada, the firm has investment offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong and throughout Southeast Asia and has more than C$200 billion (JPY 18 trillion) in assets under management as of June 30, 2005.

About Manulife
Manulife Life Insurance Company (“Manulife Japan”), a member company of the Manulife Financial group, holds a top-class "AA+" credit rating from Standard & Poor’s, one of the world’s most prestigious credit rating agencies(as of August 2005).

Manulife Financial is 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 or www.manulife.co.jp for Manulife Japan.

For more information, please contact:

Shintaro Shibata
Telephone: 81-3-3224-1209