Manulife Investment Management Limited Announces Changes to Fund Platform

TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Manulife Investment Management Limited (Manulife IM), a company of Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, has announced the following changes to its fund platform including a proposed fund merger and investment objective changes, and fund terminations.

Fund Merger and Investment Objectives Changes

Manulife IM is proposing the merger of Manulife Global Thematic Opportunities Fund into Manulife Global All Cap Focused Fund effective on or about May 23, 2025, and will seek the required approvals from applicable securityholders of both funds to proceed at a special meeting of securityholders to be held on or about April 16, 2025.

In addition to the merger, Manulife IM is seeking approval from the securityholders of Manulife Global All Cap Focused Fund to change the investment objective of the fund, and also seeking approval from the securityholders of Manulife Global Thematic Opportunities Class for a corresponding investment objective change. Upon anticipated approval, the merger and the investment objective changes will result in changes to the portfolio management teams for both Manulife Global All Cap Focused Fund and Manulife Global Thematic Opportunities Class which will be managed by the Manulife Fundamental Equity team.

Pending the results of the mutual funds' securityholders vote, Manulife Global Thematic Opportunities Fund, offered in select segregated fund contracts, will be closing on or about May 16, 2025. Assets will be switched to the continuing fund, Manulife Global All Cap Focused Fund and impacted segregated fund advisors will be notified in the coming weeks.

Subject to the implementation of the merger and the investment objective changes, the Manulife Global All Cap Focused Fund and the Manulife Global Thematic Opportunities Class will be renamed Manulife Fundamental Global Equity Fund and Manulife Fundamental Global Equity Class respectively. The funds will also experience a management fee reduction as follows:

Fund Terminations

Manulife IM will terminate the following funds on or about May 23, 2025, and distribute the proceeds to securityholders accordingly on that date. These fund terminations help streamline Manulife IM's fund platform of actively managed investments and further its commitment to offering diverse products that are in demand by Canadian investors to help them achieve their investment goals.

Prospectus qualified securities of these funds will no longer be available for purchases or money in switches effective as of 4 p.m. ET on February 18, 2025. This includes purchases through automatic investment services such as pre-authorized chequing plans, dollar-cost averaging, or automatic rebalancing services. Prior to the termination date, impacted investors are encouraged to contact their advisor to discuss the financial and tax implications of these terminations and to discuss options, including how to switch their assets to another Manulife IM mutual fund that meets their individual investment needs and circumstances.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the fund facts as well as the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Manulife Funds are managed by Manulife Investment Management Limited.

Manulife Investment Management is a trade name of Manulife Investment Management Limited. 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 

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 Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2023, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 98,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 35 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.

About Manulife Wealth & Asset Management

As part of Manulife Financial Corporation, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Our mission is to make decisions easier and lives better by empowering people today to invest for a better tomorrow. As a committed partner to our clients and as a responsible steward of investor capital, we offer a heritage of risk management, deep expertise across public and private markets, and comprehensive retirement plan services. We seek to provide better investment and impact outcomes and to help people confidently save and invest for a more secure financial future. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

SOURCE Manulife Investment Management

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