Manulife Mutual Funds announces Lipper Award Winners

WATERLOO - Manulife Mutual Funds is proud to announce that four of its mutual funds have been recognized for excellence in the investment industry at the 2009 Lipper Fund Awards.

Manulife Growth Opportunities Class - 10 year performance, Manulife Monthly High Income Fund - 10 year performance, Manulife Structured Bond Class - 5 year performance and Manulife China Opportunities Class - 1 year performance were all recognized for consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers. The funds are managed by MFC Global Investment Management, Manulife's asset management arm.

"This recognition by Lipper reinforces not only the strength and expertise of the investment managers available through Manulife Mutual Funds, but the fact that we can provide advisors and their investors with a depth and breadth of high quality fund offerings across a wide range of fund categories," said Roy Firth, Executive Vice President, Individual Wealth Management.

We are also pleased to congratulate Mawer Investment Management Ltd., managers of the Manulife Mawer family of funds who won five Lipper awards, including "Best Equity Fund Family".

"Mawer has proven to be a top performer in these volatile times," said Mr. Firth. "We are very pleased to be able to offer their award-winning investment management approach through the Manulife Mawer fund family" 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