Moody’s Investor Services today raised the insurance financial strength ratings on Manulife Financial’s rated insurance subsidiaries to ‘Aa1’ from ‘Aa2’.

This makes Manulife Financial one of only two publicly traded life insurance companies in North America with such ratings, the second highest afforded by Moody’s.

According to Moody’s Investor Services, the upgrade reflects Manulife’s success in continually strengthening the Company’s diversified and predictable earnings profile, its excellent financial flexibility and conservative capital structure, and its durable, well-positioned franchises in North America and Asia.

The upgraded ratings include the insurance financial strength ratings of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, John Hancock Life Insurance Company, John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Company, and John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) – all of which were upgraded to Aa1 from Aa2 with a stable outlook.