TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK:945

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2015 /CNW/ – Manulife Investments, a division of Manulife Asset Management Limited, announced today the receipt of the required approvals from securityholders to proceed with the previously announced proposed investment objective change and mutual fund merger. Approval was received for the investment objective change for Manulife Emerging Markets Class (formerly known as Standard Life Emerging Markets Dividend Class) as outlined in the Management Information Circular dated October 13, 2015.  This change is expected to take effect on or about January 4, 2016.

For the merger listed below, Manulife Investments has received approval from securityholders of Manulife Global Equity Unconstrained Class (formerly known as Standard Life Global Equity Class) to proceed with implementing the merger:

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 offers 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 providing forward-thinking solutions to help people with their big financial decisions.  We operate as John Hancock in the United States, and Manulife elsewhere.  We provide financial advice, insurance and wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions.  At the end of 2014, we had 28,000 employees, 58,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving 20 million customers.  At the end of September 2015, we had $888 billion (US$663 billion) in assets under management and administration, and in the previous 12 months we made more than $23 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.