Manulife USA Ranked #1 -- Best Overall For VA Sales Literature by Marketing Matrix.

Business Editors

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2002

Manulife USA ranked #1 -- Best Overall in a study of variable annuity sales literature for financial advisors.

Marketing Matrix International, an independent research firm based in California, conducted personal

"We placed significant importance on the design process of our new sales kits because we wanted to provide financial advisors with effective sales tools to discuss variable annuities with their clients," said James R. Boyle, President of Manulife USA's Annuity division. "Equally important, we wanted the materials to be client-friendly so that should the investor review the materials alone, he can easily understand the costs and benefits of investing in a variable annuity."

Specifically, advisors were asked to evaluate Manulife USA's new Venture III literature against literature from other major variable annuity providers. Manulife USA earned its top billing after garnering high marks in all four sub-categories, including two #1 rankings for "readability and usability" and "information substance." Manulife USA also scored well in the other two categories, earning #2 rankings in 'motivational elements' and 'visual elements.'

"Manulife USA did a first class job in producing variable annuity sales literature," commented Dr. Marcia Selz, president and chief research director at Marketing Matrix International.

Supporting Manulife USA's top ranking, advisors made numerous positive and compelling comments about the firm's literature. When asked about specific attributes of sales literature, advisors indicated that Manulife USA's literature:

-- makes the task of explaining variable annuities easier;

-- answers clients' key questions; and

-- motivates investors to make first time investments.

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.