Manulife Investments, is launching an innovative corporate mutual fund family available through independent financial advisors. Investors can switch between a broad range of 27 mutual funds managed by some of North America’s top investment managers.

“Investors now can enhance their portfolios by freely moving among equity funds, managed by various top brand name fund managers, without triggering an immediate impact on their taxes,” said Roy Firth, senior vice president, Manulife Financial. “Our new Manulife Investment eXchange Funds provide one-stop access to a variety of styles, regions and equity capitalizations, all overseen by top-quality asset managers.”

“Our national network of independent advisors also gains access to a broad range of North America’s top asset managers, all through one convenient location. It’s a first for the independent advisor.”

Funds offered by Manulife Investment Exchange Funds Corp. include a full range of core funds advised by AIM Funds Management Inc., Alliance Bernstein Institutional Investment Management, Bissett Investment Management, Fidelity Investments Canada Ltd,, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, MFC Global Investment Management, McLean Budden Ltd., SEAMARK Asset Management Ltd., Templeton Investment Management, and Wellington Management Company LLP.

All selected sub-advisors have undergone extensive reviews through Manulife Financial’s Investment Watch process. i-Watch is Manulife’s proprietary process to ensure funds stay true to their stated objectives, through comprehensive selection, monitoring and review

A complete list of the 27 MIX funds and sub-advisors in included in the company’s news release.

MIX consolidates both style-specific and manager-specific funds in one convenient investment platform. Style-specific funds adhere closely to a designated investment process and strategy while manager-specific funds – which bear the name of the sub-advisor — are typically driven by the asset manager’s own investment process.

MIX Funds are managed by Manulife Mutual Funds, a division of Elliott & Page Ltd. A prospectus for Manulife Investment Exchange Funds Corp. and associated funds has been filed with securities regulatory authorities in each province and territory in Canada.

http://www.newswire.ca/releases/October2002/31/c6874.html