2010 News Releases

Shanghai - Manulife-Sinochem in cooperation with the financial newspaper Money Week published a Research Report on Chinese middle-class family happiness. The report surveyed 100,000 people in 35 cities across China over two months to better understand the level of contentment among middle class Chinese families. The report can be used as a guideline to help families find ways to improve the level of joy in their lives.

The results show that Jiangsu, Sichuan, Fujian, Chongqing are the top four happiest provinces, while the most developed places in China – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Zhejiang – had the lowest levels of happiness. However, nearly half of all respondents expressed satisfaction with their family life.

Based on the data, Manulife-Sinochem identified five factors that support happiness: health; emotional intelligence, financial intelligence, family responsibilities and social environment.

About 70% of respondents noted that family income greatly impacts family happiness. After the financial crises in the past year, middle class families have paid significant attention to defense against risk. People have been transferring family wealth from traditional basic savings to insurance and investment options. Insurance has increasingly become an important financial product to avoid financial risk.

“Happiness is an enormous benefit for a family and is its own form of wealth. It is sometimes difficult to find happiness in our day-to-day lives but having financial security can make a big difference. Happiness is something everyone can and should have,” said Mr. James Lin, President of Manulife-Sinochem.

As the first joint venture life insurance company in China, Manulife-Sinochem is focused on providing excellent products and service to the middle class. With the Happiness Research Report, Manulife-Sinochem is seeking to help middle class families increase awareness about happiness to help improve their quality of life.

About Manulife-Sinochem
Manulife-Sinochem is a joint venture company between Manulife (International) Limited and China Foreign Economy and Trade Trust Company (a member of the Sinochem group). It was the first Chinese-foreign joint-venture life insurance company established in China. Manulife-Sinochem began operations in November 1996. To date it has over 11,000 professionally trained agents and employees, providing financial and insurance services to over 500,000 customers. The company is now developing steadily in over 30 cities including Shanghai and Beijing, and in provinces including Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Shandong, Fujian, and Chongqing Liaoning. With more than ten years’ successful experience, Manulife-Sinochem is committed to offering comprehensive insurance products combined with excellent customer service and professionalism.

Manulife-Sinochem can be found on the internet at www.manulife-sinochem.com

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 Cdn$437 billion (US$407 billion) as at September 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.

About Sinochem
China Foreign Economy and Trade Trust Company (FOTIC) is a core enterprise of Sinochem. Sinochem is an important state-owned enterprise in China, with main focus in the sectors of agriculture, energy, chemicals, finance and real estate. It is also one of the four largest state-owned oil companies in China and the largest fertilizer provider that manufactures, distributes and markets all varieties of fertilizers. Sinochem has been listed among the Fortune Global 500 companies eighteen times and ranked 170th in 2009.

Sinochem can be found on the Internet at www.sinochem.com.

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