Welcome to our dedicated page for Manulife Financial news (Ticker: MFC), a resource for investors and traders seeking the latest updates and insights on Manulife Financial stock.
Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE: MFC, TSX: MFC) is a Canadian multinational insurance company and financial services provider headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Known for its extensive global presence, Manulife operates across Canada and Asia under the Manulife brand, and in the United States primarily through John Hancock Financial.
Manulife offers a variety of products including life insurance, annuities, and asset management solutions for both individuals and group customers. The company boasts an investment management unit that contributes approximately 20% of its earnings, managing around CAD 1.05 trillion in assets as of the end of 2023. The U.S. segment, operating as John Hancock, focuses on insurance products for estate, business, and income protection, contributing about 27% of Manulife's earnings. The Asian segment provides insurance and wealth accumulation products in over 11 countries, contributing around 30% to the company's earnings, while the Canadian segment contributes approximately 23%.
Manulife has recently achieved significant milestones, including closing a major reinsurance transaction with Global Atlantic, marking the largest long-term care (LTC) reinsurance deal in history. This transaction has unlocked capital which will be returned to shareholders via share buybacks. Additionally, the company has entered into a landmark Universal Life reinsurance agreement with RGA Life Reinsurance Company of Canada, releasing CAD 5.8 billion in reserves.
In 2024, Manulife has expanded its digital initiatives, enhancing customer experience through innovative tools like M-Pro in Vietnam and JHINI in the U.S. The company has also formed significant partnerships, including a fund-raising collaboration with the Indonesian Investment Authority and a multi-year research collaboration with MIT AgeLab focused on longevity innovation.
Manulife's commitment to sustainability is evident through its investment management arm, which oversees 5.4 million acres of timberland and 400,000 acres of farmland, all managed under rigorous sustainability standards.
As of the end of 2023, Manulife employed over 38,000 people and had more than 98,000 agents, serving over 35 million customers worldwide. The company trades on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges under the symbol 'MFC' and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under '945'. For more information, visit manulife.com.
John Hancock Investment Management, a Manulife Wealth and Asset Management company (MFC), has launched two new actively managed ETFs: John Hancock Core Bond ETF (JHCR) and John Hancock Core Plus Bond ETF (JHCP). Both ETFs are subadvised by Manulife Investment Management and managed by the U.S. Core and Core-Plus Fixed Income team with nearly 50 years of combined experience.
JHCR aims for high current income with capital preservation, while JHCP seeks high current income with prudent investment risk. The company's ETF suite now totals 16 funds with over $7.3 billion in assets under management, covering various investment strategies including preferred income, mortgage-backed securities, bonds, and equity portfolios.
Manulife Financial has announced the Board's decision to re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP (EY) as its external auditor following a comprehensive tender process conducted in 2024. The selection process evaluated submissions from EY and two other global audit firms, with oversight from the Board's Audit Committee.
The decision came after Manulife's 2021 announcement to conduct an audit tender following the first annual audit cycle post-IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts adoption. EY's selection was based on their independence, commitment to audit quality, and their global team's qualifications suited to Manulife's complex business. The formal appointment will be submitted for shareholder approval at the Annual Meeting.
Manulife has issued a warning to investors regarding an unsolicited mini-tender offer from New York Stock and Bond to purchase up to 50,000 Manulife common shares (less than 0.003% of outstanding shares) at USD$12.50 per share. The company emphasizes that this offer represents a significant discount of approximately 61% below current market prices on both TSX and NYSE.
The company highlights that mini-tender offers, which target less than 5% of outstanding shares, often bypass standard securities regulations disclosure requirements. Both the Canadian Securities Administrators and SEC have expressed concerns about such offers, particularly regarding investors potentially accepting without understanding the price disparity with market values.
Manulife Financial announced that holders of Series 17 Preferred Shares cannot convert to Series 18 Preferred Shares due to insufficient conversion elections. Only 6,650 shares were elected for conversion, below the required minimum of one million shares.
After December 19, 2024, Series 17 Preferred Share holders will receive fixed rate non-cumulative preferential cash dividends quarterly, subject to Board declaration. The dividend rate for December 20, 2024 to December 19, 2029 will be 5.54200% per annum or $0.346375 per share per quarter, based on the five-year Government of Canada bond yield plus 2.36%.
Manulife may redeem the Series 17 Preferred Shares, wholly or partially, on December 19, 2029 and every five years thereafter, subject to conditions.
Manulife has announced that President and CEO Roy Gori will participate in a fireside chat with TD Securities Analyst Mario Mendonca. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10, 2024, beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The discussion will be accessible through a live stream on Manulife's Investor Relations website, with a replay option available for three months following the event. This engagement represents an opportunity for investors and stakeholders to gain insights into Manulife's strategy and operations directly from its top executive.
Manulife Financial (MFC) has announced plans to issue $1 billion in subordinated debentures due December 6, 2034. The debentures will carry a fixed interest rate of 4.064% until December 6, 2029, after which the rate will shift to 1.25% over Daily Compounded CORRA.
The offering is being managed by a syndicate co-led by RBC Capital Markets, CIBC Capital Markets, and Scotiabank, with an expected closing date of December 6, 2024. Subject to regulatory approval, MFC may redeem the debentures wholly or partially after December 6, 2029 at par value plus accrued interest. The company plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including subsidiary investments and potential future securities redemptions.
John Hancock has announced the addition of Apple Watch Series 10 to its Vitality Program for eligible life insurance customers. Vitality PLUS members can earn the new Apple Watch models for as little as $25 plus tax by maintaining regular physical activity. The program includes options for Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch SE, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 with an upgrade fee. Analysis shows Apple Watch users are 7 times more engaged in the program, earning significantly more points compared to non-users. Members can reduce monthly payments to $0 through regular activity over two years, while earning points that lead to additional rewards and insurance premium discounts.
John Hancock has announced the addition of Apple Watch Series 10 to its Vitality Program, offering eligible life insurance customers the opportunity to earn the latest Apple Watch models for as little as $25 plus tax through regular physical activity. Vitality PLUS members can choose from Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch SE, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 (with an upgrade fee).
The program has shown significant success, with Apple Watch users earning approximately 7 times more points compared to non-Apple Watch users in their current program year. Members can reduce their monthly payments to as low as $0 through regular activity, while earning Vitality Points that lead to additional rewards, including life insurance premium savings.
Manulife Financial has announced dividend rates for its Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class 1 Shares Series 17 and Series 18. For Series 17 shares outstanding after December 19, 2024, holders will receive fixed rate dividends of 5.542% annually or $0.346375 per share quarterly. For Series 18 shares, holders will receive floating rate dividends, with the initial rate set at 5.841% annually or $0.360063 per share for the period from December 20, 2024, to March 19, 2025. Shareholders can convert Series 17 shares to Series 18 shares by December 4, 2024. The TSX has conditionally approved listing Series 18 shares under symbol MFC.PR.S.
Manulife has announced a $5.4 billion reinsurance agreement with RGA, including $2.4 billion of long-term care (LTC) reserves. The transaction will reduce LTC reserves by 6% and morbidity sensitivity by 7%. Combined with a previous transaction, this will result in an 18% cumulative reduction in LTC reserves. The deal, priced at close to 1.0x book value, is expected to release $0.8 billion of capital which will be returned to shareholders through buybacks. The transaction includes a 75% quota share on both ceded blocks and is expected to close in early 2025. It will result in an annual reduction of $70 million in core earnings and $50 million in net income.
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