Manulife Financial says CGI Group Inc. will create and run an information technology support centre in Halifax for the insurance giant.

The five-year arrangement, worth $120 million, will provide systems development, maintenance and integration services to Manulife and other CGI clients in the United States and Europe, Manulife said today.

As part of the agreement, 300 Halifax-based technology professionals will join CGI in September. Over time, Montreal-based CGI expects to increase staff at the centre to 500 technology professionals.

Manulife and John Hancock Financial Services Inc., including Canadian subsidiary Maritime Life Assurance Co., completed their $15 billion merger on April 28.

“We are committed to a substantial presence in Halifax following our recent acquisition of Maritime Life and this is a major step toward that goal,” said Bruce Gordon, senior executive vice president and general manager of Manulife Financial’s Canadian operations, in a news release.

“We see Halifax as a central part of our business and sought a leader in applications maintenance and development with a strong client service focus.”