Manulife Investments, a division of Toronto-based Manulife Asset Management Ltd. is proposing changes to the investment strategies and names of several funds, the company announced Tuesday.
Manulife Strategic Dividend Bundle will undergo a strategy change by incorporating additional funds into its portfolio, while still maintaining a balanced fund profile of 60% equities and 40% fixed income.
“As we enter a market environment that may be characterized by more modest growth in equity markets, where interest rates continue to rise, the addition of these strategies has the potential to improve the risk/reward characteristics of the Manulife Strategic Dividend Bundle,” James Robertson, head of asset allocation, Canada, senior portfolio manager, Manulife Asset Management, says in a statement.
As previously announced, subadvisory responsibilities for two funds will transition to Pictet Asset Management Ltd. effective on or about Oct. 31. The investment strategies for both mandates will be aligned to reflect the investment approach used by Pictet. One of the funds, Manulife International Value Equity Fund will be capped to new purchases, and the other, Manulife International Focused Fund, will change its name to Manulife EAFE Equity Fund and be re-opened to investors after being capped in 2016.
Manulife Global Equity Unconstrained Fund and Manulife Global Equity Unconstrained Class will change their names to Manulife Global Franchise Fund and Manulife Global Franchise Class respectively.
Full details of the proposed changes can be found in the company’s news release.