Manulife Financial receives Silver Quality Award from National Quality Institute

WATERLOO, ON, Sept. 9 2008 – Manulife Financial’s Canadian Individual Wealth Management Operations, which serves Manulife Investments and Manulife Securities International businesses, has been recognized for outstanding achievements in quality.

The National Quality Institute will present the 2008 Canada Awards for Excellence Silver recognition for Quality to Manulife at an annual gala dinner to be held October 20, 2008 in Toronto.

“We are very proud of our accomplishment,” said Guy Vaillant, Vice President Operations, Individual Wealth Management, Manulife Financial. “Excellent customer service and a positive, healthy work environment are our top priorities.”

The award recognizes excellence in multiple categories, including leadership, planning, people, customer service, process, and supplier/vendor relationships. The award follows a submission from Manulife, plus on-site verification by NQI staff who examined various customer and other processes.

“This honour recognizes our ongoing goal to develop and keep an excellent and engaged team who delivers quality client service,” added Mr. Vaillant. “We’ll continue to build upon this success by keeping our clients’ needs top of mind as we work towards Gold recognition.”

The Canada Awards for Excellence have been presented annually since 1984 to recognize business excellence in quality, customer service, and a healthy workplace to organizations that display outstanding performance in the areas of Quality and Healthy Workplace(R).

About NQI

The National Quality Institute is a not-for-profit, independent organization whose goal is to help Canadian private and public sector organizations to implement programs of excellence. The National Quality Institute works with organizations to manage self-assessment activities, review business processes, and develop improvement programs. Today, Canadian organizations and businesses increasingly recognize that a healthy workplace helps to attract and retain staff.

For more information on the National Quality Institute or its programs, please visit their website at www.nqi.ca.

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 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$400 billion (US$393 billion) as at June 30, 2008.

Manulife Financial is one of two publicly traded life insurance companies in the world whose rated life insurance subsidiaries hold Standard & Poor’s Rating Services’ highest “AAA” rating.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘0945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

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