Manulife USA receives Crystal Pyramid Award for overall operations support in 2002 Dalbar survey (November 7, 2002)











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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2002

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Manulife USA receives Crystal Pyramid Award for overall operations support in 2002 Dalbar survey

Boston – Manulife USA’s Annuities Division earned high marks for home office operations and was ranked #1 for Overall Operations Support by Broker/Dealers firms – garnering Dalbar’s prestigious award, the Crystal Pyramid Award – according to a new survey released from Dalbar, Inc. This award, on the heels of Manulife USA’s Annuities Division’s Crystal Pyramid Award for General Opinion by wirehouse advisors, reaffirms Manulife USA’s ability to, according to Dalbar, “reach beyond the ordinary to strive for the extraordinary.”

“Manulife traditionally has been a strong performer in the home office operations category,” said James R. Boyle, President of Manulife USA’s Annuities division. “But to receive top marks from our constituents in a difficult year for financial services companies underscores the tremendous effort put forth by every member of our team.”

Every year Dalbar surveys home office operations managers on key attributes of variable annuity providers. In 2002, Dalbar surveyed 43 broker/dealer firms on 28 providers of variable annuities.

In the Main Office Operations category, Manulife USA’s Annuities Division won the Crystal Pyramid Award for Overall Operations Support and the #1 ranking in several sub-categories:

Keeping Broker/Dealer Informed
Problem Resolution
Back Office Visits
Understanding Broker/Dealer’s Business

“Dalbar’s various surveys have confirmed that our strategy of focusing on tactics that enhance our relationships with constituents and simplify the business process is adding value. This is particularly important when market conditions increase the pressure on each link in the chain between product provider and client,” added Robert T. Cassato, President of Manulife Wood Logan, which provides sales and marketing support for Manulife USA’s variable annuity, college savings and managed account products.

About Manulife
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (Manulife USA) is committed to offering the highest quality annuity, life insurance, pension, tax-deferred college savings, and separately managed account products to its clients. Its family of products has been built around a powerful combination of investment options chosen with the goal of providing attractive risk-adjusted returns and broad diversification across asset classes, investment styles and asset managers. With its extensive product lines, competitive underwriting, excellent ratings and quality customer service, Manulife USA is dedicated to providing quality products designed to help create and preserve wealth for its clients.

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 15 countries and territories worldwide. Through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners, Manulife Financial offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services. Funds under management by Manulife Financial were US$87.8 billion (Cdn$139.2 billion) as at September 30, 2002.

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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Media Contact:
Wendy W. Smith
U.S. Communications
617-854-4348
wendy_smith@manulife.com