Manulife Financial Corp. common shareholders in North America can now enroll in either the Canadian Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan (DRIP) or the Direct Share Purchase Program for U.S. Shareholders (DSPP).

These plans enable investors to automatically reinvest dividends paid on Manulife common shares in additional shares, or to purchase additional Manulife shares.

The dividend reinvestment programs will operate on a similar basis in both Canada and the United States in terms of structure, costs and features.

”While these programs are available to all Manulife common shareholders in North America, we expect them to be particularly attractive to our more than 600,000 direct retail shareholders who do not have access to brokerage dividend reinvestment programs or brokerage accounts,” said Terri Neville, assistant vp, shareholder services.

“With 24-hour access to online accounts, electronic delivery of statements, annual tax reporting and the ability to sell shares, the DRIP and DSPP offer our shareholders convenience, service and value with a reasonable fee structure.”

Manulife’s transfer agents, CIBC Mellon Trust Co. in Canada and Mellon Investor Services in the U.S., will administer the programs and information on the programs can be obtained from the administrators.

Information on the plans is available on Manulife’s Shareholder Services Web site at www.manulife.com/shareholders.