TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945
C$ unless otherwise stated
TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2017 /CNW/ - Manulife Investments today
announced plans to launch a series of multifactor exchange traded funds (ETFs) in partnership with Dimensional Fund Advisors
Canada ULC (DFAC) as sub-advisor*. Founded in 1981, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (Dimensional), DFAC's parent company, is a
global investment manager with USD$460 billion in AUM (as at Dec. 31,
2016) and a long record of applying insights from academic research into a systematic investment process across asset
classes. The firm focuses on the factors that have been shown to have the potential for higher expected returns, which is based
in part on the research of Nobel Laureate Eugene Fama and renowned researcher Kenneth French, both
of whom serve on Dimensional's board of directors. The ETFs will seek to track indexes designed by Dimensional which leverage
their time-tested, factor-based approach.
Manulife Investments will launch four multifactor equity ETF strategies spanning multiple geographies (Canadian Large Cap,
Developed International, U.S. Large Cap and U.S. Mid Cap).
"A key component of our strategy is to employ only the highest quality managers for our investment platform, and that's
precisely what we have gained with our Dimensional partnership," said Bernard Letendre, President,
Manulife Investments. "ETFs have become an essential component of investors' portfolios, now we can offer Canadians a
best-in-class product managed by the bench strength of Dimensional."
"Dimensional has applied advanced financial science to investment solutions for more than 35 years and our approach is rooted
in decades of research into the factors that drive higher expected returns," said Eduardo Repetto,
Co-CEO and Co-CIO of Dimensional. "We are excited to work with Manulife to bring our investment approach to the Canadian ETF
market."
Manulife Investments' ETFs are scheduled to launch in April 2017.
*Manulife and DFAC have entered into an agreement which provides Manulife with exclusive access to DFAC's subadvisory services
with respect to Canadian ETFs for a period of 7 years, subject to certain conditions.
Neither Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC nor its affiliates are affiliated with Manulife Investments.
A preliminary prospectus containing important information relating to securities of the Manulife ETFs has been filed with
securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. The preliminary prospectus is still subject to completion or amendment. Copies of the preliminary
prospectus may be downloaded at www.sedar.com. There will not be any sale or
acceptance of an offer to buy the securities until a receipt for the final prospectus has been issued.
Commissions, management fees, and expenses all may be associated with the Manulife ETFs. ETFs are not guaranteed, their
values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.
Neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional guarantees the accuracy and/or the completeness of an index (each an
underlying index) or any data included therein, and neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional shall have any liability
for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein. Neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional makes any warranty,
express or implied, as to results to be obtained by an ETF, owners of the units of an ETF, or any other person or entity from the
use of an underlying index, trading based on an underlying index, or any data included therein, either in connection with an ETF
or for any other use. Neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional makes any express or implied warranties, and expressly
disclaims all warranties, of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to an underlying index or
any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall either John Hancock Advisers, LLC or
Dimensional have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect, or consequential damages (including lost profits)
arising out of matters relating to the use of an underlying index, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.
About Manulife Investments
Manulife Investments, a division of Manulife Asset Management Limited, builds on 125 years of Manulife's wealth and investment
management expertise in managing assets for Canadian investors. As one of Canada's leading
integrated financial services providers, Manulife Investments and its affiliates offer a variety of products and services
including segregated fund contracts, mutual funds, annuities and guaranteed interest contracts.
About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group that helps people achieve their dreams and
aspirations by putting customers' needs first and providing the right advice and solutions. We operate as John Hancock in the United States and Manulife elsewhere. We provide
financial advice, insurance, as well as wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At
the end of 2015, we had approximately 34,000 employees, 63,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving 20 million
customers. At the end of September 2016, we had $966 billion
(US$736 billion) in assets under management and administration, and in the previous 12 months we
made more than $24.4 billion in benefits, interest and other payments to our customers. Our
principal operations are in Asia, Canada and the United States where we have served customers for more than 100 years. With our global headquarters
in Toronto, Canada, we trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto,
New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. Follow Manulife
on Twitter @ManulifeNews or visit www.manulife.com or www.johnhancock.com.
SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation
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