Manulife Mutual Funds announces Lipper Award Winner

TORONTO - Manulife Mutual Funds is proud to announce that the Manulife Monthly High Income Fund has been recognized for excellence in the investment industry at the 2008 Lipper Fund Awards.

The Manulife Monthly High Income Fund, managed by Alan Wicks and the Value Equity Team at MFC Global Investment Management, placed first in the Canadian Equity Balanced category, in recognition of the fund's consistently strong, risk-adjusted performance relative to its peers over a 10-year period.

The Lipper Fund Awards are part of a global program of events held in 21 countries, to reward funds that deliver consistently strong risk-adjusted performance. The winners are selected using the Lipper Leader rating for consistent return. For more information on Lipper Leaders, please visit www.lipperweb.com

"We are very pleased that Alan and his team have received this highly coveted award," said Doug Conick, Vice President, Investment Funds for Manulife Investments. "Alan's excellent work within this well-established category has produced an enviable track record of risk-adjusted returns. Recognition of Alan's fund as the most competitive in its category highlights how Manulife Mutual Funds continues to provide advisors and their investors with the best possible solutions for reaching financial goals."

Alan joined MFC Global Investment Management in 1996, and has more than 15 years of investment industry experience. He is responsible for MFC Global's Value Equity team, managing both value equity and income portfolios.

Under Alan's leadership, the team has experienced a tenfold growth in assets to more than $7 billion (as at December 31, 2007).