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Combined wins of 20 segregated funds,10 mutual funds and 4 ETFs earn Manulife Investment Management honours for 12 consecutive years

TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2024 /CNW/ - Manulife Investment Management announced that Fundata Canada recognized 34 of its investment solutions for their competitive performance. A combination of 20 segregated funds, 10 mutual funds and four ETFs earned FundGrade A+® Ratings, extending Manulife Investment Management's recognition in investment performance to 12 consecutive years – every year since the awards' debut in 2012.

The FundGrade A+® Award is given annually to investment funds and managers who have shown consistent, outstanding, risk-adjusted performance incorporating up to 10 years of history. Achieving a FundGrade A+® Rating is an honour because only around 6% of the investment fund products available in Canada have received it.

"Manulife is committed to offering Canadians high-quality, diverse investment solutions that meet investor needs and I am very proud of our strong performance," said Jordy Chilcott, Head of Retail Intermediary Distribution, Manulife Investment Management, Canada. "With the continued economic uncertainty, following years of volatility, I want to congratulate our portfolio management teams and colleagues who have enabled us once again to be recognized by Fundata."

The following Manulife segregated funds, mutual funds, and ETFs were awarded Fundata's FundGrade A+® rating:

Segregated funds*	FundGrade start date	FundGrade calc date	Fund count	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return	10Y return	Total return since inception	Inception date
Canadian Dividend & Income Equity category
Manulife Ideal Fidelity Dividend Fund	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	225	4.47	8.72	8.39	5.53	6.1	12/12/2012
Canadian Equity Balanced category
Manulife Fundamental Balanced Class GIF Select	1/31/2021	12/31/2023	552	11.9	6.88	—	—	8.24	5/4/2020
Canadian Focused Equity category
Manulife Fundamental Equity GIF Select	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	463	15.26	10.88	12.92	9.09	8.37	10/5/2009
Manulife Ideal Canadian Equity Fund	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	463	11.57	9.6	11.56	7.45	8.67	12/12/2012
Canadian Fixed Income Balanced category
Manulife Simplicity Moderate Portfolio GIF	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	666	7.67	-0.18	3.49	3.16	3.06	12/26/2000
Manulife Simplicity Moderate Portfolio GIF Select	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	666	8.03	-0.04	3.92	3.57	4.01	10/2/2009
Canadian Fixed Income category
Manulife RetirementPlus Guaranteed Income	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	419	7.93	-8.69	-1.58	-0.18	-0.22	10/28/2013
Manulife Ideal Canadian Unconstrained Bond Fund	1/31/2015	12/31/2023	419	5.98	-3.47	0.37	—	0.12	5/17/2016
European Equity category
Manulife Invesco EQV European Equity GIF Select	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	63	13.67	-5.02	3.3	3.34	6.35	10/2/2009
Global Equity category
Manulife Global Equity Class GIF Select	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	898	15.23	6.31	9.16	9.04	10.03	10/7/2013
Global Fixed Income Balanced category
Manulife Balanced Income Portfolio GIF Select	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	262	8.01	1.29	4.75	4.03	4.89	10/2/2009
Manulife Moderate Portfolio GIF Select**	1/31/2018	12/31/2023	262	7.67	-0.05	3.67	—	2.29	5/19/2017
Manulife Moderate Private Segregated Portfolio**	1/31/2018	12/31/2023	262	8.02	0.27	4.01	—	3.57	11/29/2018
Global Neutral Balanced category
Manulife Strategic Balanced Yield GIF Select	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	875	13.42	4.92	7.5	6.14	7.53	10/31/2012
Manulife U.S. Balanced Private Segregated Pool	1/31/2015	12/31/2023	875	13.52	5	7.57	—	6.1	10/6/2014
Manulife U.S. Balanced Value Private Segregated Pool	1/31/2016	12/31/2023	875	5.72	1.49	7.54	—	5.48	4/30/2015
Manulife U.S. Monthly High Income GIF Select	1/31/2015	12/31/2023	875	5.35	1.13	7.21	—	5.43	4/7/2014
Manulife Global Balanced GIF Select**	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	875	11.32	2.82	6.21	6.53	7.01	10/7/2013
Manulife Global Balanced Private Segregated Pool**	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	875	11.69	3.16	6.53	—	6.88	10/6/2014
Manulife Global Monthly High Income GIF Select**	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	875	15.64	1.97	8.3	5.59	6.04	10/7/2013
Manulife Global Monthly High Income Private Segregated Pool**	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	875	15.9	—	—	—	0.93	5/25/2021
High Yield Fixed Income category
Manulife U.S. Unconstrained Bond GIF Select	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	153	8.76	-0.5	2.86	3.39	3.71	10/7/2013
Multi-Sector Fixed Income category
Manulife Corporate Fixed Income Private Segregated Pool	1/31/2015	12/31/2023	59	7.54	0.03	2.77	—	2.34	10/6/2014
Tactical Balanced category
Manulife Ideal Tactical Income Fund	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	106	11.49	5.31	7.67	—	5.62	5/17/2016

Mutual funds***	FundGrade start date	FundGrade calc date	Fund count	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return	10Y return	Total return since inception	Inception date
Canadian Equity Balanced category
Manulife Fundamental Balanced Class	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	229	12.26	7.21	9.3	7.03	6.83	22/03/2012
Canadian Equity category
Manulife Canadian Equity Private Pool	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	360	11.89	11.25	12.7	8.98	9.3	14/12/2012
Canadian Neutral Balanced category
Manulife Canadian Growth and Income Private Trust	1/31/2016	12/31/2023	250	9.57	5.09	7	—	4.91	10/8/2015
Canadian Focused Equity category
Manulife Fundamental Equity Fund	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	335	15.76	11.37	13.4	9.57	8.38	26/08/2003
Global Equity category
Manulife Global Equity Private Pool	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	1095	16.36	7.36	10.46	10.18	11.74	14/12/2012
Global Fixed Income Balanced category
Manulife Moderate Portfolio	1/31/2018	12/31/2023	488	8.08	0.3	4.03	—	2.63	5/5/2017
Global Neutral Balanced category
Manulife Global Balanced Fund	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	888	11.75	3.18	6.55	6.89	7.4	1/8/2013
Manulife Strategic Balanced Yield Fund	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	888	13.76	5.25	7.83	6.49	7.65	22/03/2012
Manulife U.S. Balanced Private Trust	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	888	13.84	5.3	7.86	6.55	7.11	10/6/2013
Tactical Balanced category
Manulife Tactical Income Fund	1/31/2014	12/31/2023	194	11.71	5.54	7.91	5.15	4.08	6/7/2007

ETFs****	FundGrade start date	FundGrade calc date	Fund count	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return	Total return since inception	Inception date
Canadian Equity category
ManulifeMultifactor Canadian Large Cap IndexETF (MCLC)	1/31/2018	12/31/2023	360	11.49	12.62	11.49	7.71	17/04/2017
Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity category
ManulifeMultifactor CanadianSMID Cap IndexETF (MCSM)	1/31/2018	12/31/2023	116	6.88	8.13	11.47	7.92	27/11/2017
Canadian Fixed Income category
Manulife Smart Core BondETF (BSKT)	1/31/2021	12/31/2023	311	7.8	-2.3	—	-1.94	25/11/2020
Canadian Corporate Fixed Income category
Manulife Smart Corporate BondETF (CBND)	1/31/2021	12/31/2023	57	8.79	-0.89	—	-0.44	25/11/2020

* Segregated fund performance shown for GIF Select InvestmentPlus, MPIP Segregated Pools and Manulife RetirementPlus funds are for the front-end sales charge. For Ideal funds, the performance shown is for the no-load sales charge. Performance for the winning segregated funds is for the period ending December 31, 2023. The Manulife RetirementPlus and Manulife Ideal segregated fund contracts are no longer open to new deposits effective October 2022 ** The Fundgrade A+ award applies to an entire fund family, including every segregated fund product and series where a fund is available. This fund has been listed twice to highlight that it is available in both GIF Select and MPIP Segregated Pools contracts. *** Mutual fund performance shown is for advisor series. Performance for the winning mutual funds is for the period ending December 31, 2023.

**** Performance for the winning ETFs is for the period ending December 31, 2023.

FundGrade A+^® is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. The annual FundGrade A+^® Awards are presented by Fundata Canada Inc. to recognize the "best of the best" among Canadian investment funds. The FundGrade A+^® calculation is supplemental to the monthly FundGrade ratings and is calculated at the end of each calendar year. The FundGrade rating system evaluates funds based on their risk-adjusted performance, measured by Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, and Information Ratio. The score for each ratio is calculated individually, covering all time periods from 2 to 10 years. The scores are then weighted equally in calculating a monthly FundGrade. The top 10% of funds earn an A Grade; the next 20% of funds earn a B Grade; the next 40% of funds earn a C Grade; the next 20% of funds receive a D Grade; and the lowest 10% of funds receive an E Grade. To be eligible, a fund must have received a FundGrade rating every month in the previous year. The FundGrade A+^® uses a GPA-style calculation, where each monthly FundGrade from "A" to "E" receives a score from 4 to 0, respectively. A fund's average score for the year determines its GPA. Any fund with a GPA of 3.5 or greater is awarded a FundGrade A+^® Award. For more information, see www.FundGradeAwards.com. Although Fundata makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Fundata.

Manulife Investment Management is a trade name of Manulife Investment Management Limited and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife) is the issuer of Manulife Investment Management insurance contracts and the guarantor of any guarantee provisions therein. Manulife Mutual Funds are managed by Manulife Investment Management Limited.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund, ETFs and segregated fund investments. Please read the fund facts as well as the prospectus before investing in mutual funds, the ETF Facts as well as the prospectus before investing in ETFs and information folder, contract and fund facts before investing in segregated fund contracts. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns. Mutual funds and ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Any amount that is allocated to a segregated fund is invested at the risk of the contract holder and may increase or decrease in value. Manulife, Manulife Investment Management, the Stylized M Design, and Manulife Investment Management & Stylized M Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering investors for a better tomorrow. Serving more than 17 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members, we believe our global reach, complementary businesses, and the strength of our parent company position us to help investors capitalize on today's emerging global trends. We provide our clients access to public and private investment solutions across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternative, and sustainability-linked strategies, such as natural capital, to help them make more informed financial decisions and achieve their investment objectives. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

SOURCE Manulife Investment Management

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Award-winning Funds: Manulife Investment Management Again Among Top Honourees from Fundata Canada