Manulife Investment Management announces updates to investment offerings

"I'm immensely proud of the team that has been built over the years, the performance we have delivered and the relationships we have formed with clients," said Alan Wicks, Senior Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Manulife Investment Management. "I am excited about the next series of challenges and triumphs as we move forward together."  

Manulife Value Balanced Fund/Class Name Changes

As part of the updates, Manulife Investment Management is announcing the following name changes to two of the team's Mutual Fund products, which become effective on or about the close of business on August 3, 2021.

The retail class and fund will remain in the Global Neutral Balanced category, and its investment process will stay the same.

Addition of Sub Advisor to Select Funds

Effective on or about the close of business on August 3, 2021, the following individual will be added as a portfolio manager for the Manulife Global Unconstrained Bond Fund and the Manulife Global Strategic Balanced Yield Fund, and will share joint responsibility with the currently named portfolio managers for the day-to-day investment decisions of the funds.

• Murray Collis, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income, Asia ex-Japan

As a result of this development, Manulife Investment Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. will be added as a Sub-Advisor to the two impacted funds.

Changing Risk Ratings on Select Funds

Manulife Investment Management is also announcing a number of risk rating changes to its Mutual Fund platform as part of its annual Prospectus renewal process. These changes become effective on or about the close of business on August 3, 2021.

Risk rating increase:

Risk rating decrease:

The risk rating changes are based on an annual review following the methodology mandated by the Canadian Securities Administrators and are not the result of any changes to the investment objectives, strategies or management of these funds.

Changes to Deferred Sales Charges (DSC) and order-entry only dealer commissions

Following the decision from the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) to ban DSC, Manulife Investment Management is announcing its intention to discontinue new sales of its deferred sales charge options, including Low Load Sales Charges option, on or before May 31, 2022. In addition, Manulife Investment Management will be stopping the payment of any trailing commission to order-entry only dealers implementing the CSA restriction on such payments.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 17 countries and territories. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. 

As of March 31, 2021, Manulife Investment Management had CAD $764.1 billion (US $607.6 billion) in assets under management and administration. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

SOURCE Manulife Investment Management