Manulife Life Insurance Company (Manulife Japan; President & CEO: Craig Bromley), will commence sales of "Best Selection", a foreign currency-denominated individual fixed annuity product, on November 1 through Daiwa Securities (CEO: Takashi Hibino).

"Best Selection" is an individual fixed annuity insurance product whose policy value is invested in the U.S. dollar/Australian dollar. The product aims to satisfy customers' diverse needs, offering flexibility with a choice of two plans and additional options.

Product Features of "Best Selection"

1.     Customers may select the policy currency (U.S. dollar or Australian dollar) and the deferral period at the time of policy issue. The policy value will be invested at the interest crediting rate, which is set on the date of policy issue.

2.     Customers may choose either the Target Setting Plan or the Lifetime Annuity Plan, depending on their preference.

  • Target Setting Plan - recommended for customers who wish to secure investment profits in Japanese yen
    • Customers may set the target amount in Japanese yen.
    • Starting one year from the policy issue date, it will be determined daily whether the policy value has achieved the target amount (the determination will be performed on banking business days specified by Manulife Japan).
    • If the policy value has achieved the target amount, the policy value will automatically be fixed in Japanese yen.
    • If the policy value has not achieved the target amount, an annuity will be paid out from the annuity capital fixed at the time of policy issue.
  • Lifetime Annuity Plan - recommended for customers who wish to receive an annuity over the course of their life starting immediately
    • At the earliest, the first annuity payout may be made two months after the policy issue date, so customers may use annuities soon after issue.
    • Annuities will be paid out over the course of one's lifetime.
    • The total annuity amount is guaranteed to be at least 130% of the annuity capital (in the selected currency).

3.     The currency in which premiums are paid may be chosen from the following currencies: Japanese yen, U.S. dollar, Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar, and Euro.

Manulife Japan, as a strong, reliable, trustworthy, and forward-thinking company, is committed to providing the best solutions to meet individual customer needs. Going forward, Manulife Japan will continue to provide innovative products and quality service, with the aim of serving real customer needs by leveraging the expertise and experience of Manulife Financial group companies both in Japan and worldwide.

Explanation of Terms

  • Target Setting Plan: The Japanese Yen-Denominated Annuity Transfer Rider will be attached to the base policy. Customers may choose not to attach the Rider.
  • Lifetime Annuity Plan: The Guaranteed Annuity Payout Total Life Annuity Rider will be attached to the base policy.
  • Basic Benefit: This is the amount used as the basis of the death benefit payment. If no partial surrender has been made to the policy, the amount will be equal to the policy's single premium amount.
  • Deferral Period: This is the period from the policy issue date to the day before the annuitization date.
  • Interest Crediting Rate: This rate is used to calculate the policy value and the market value adjustment. The interest crediting rate is updated twice a month (the 1st and 16th of each month) based on the benchmark interest rate set by Manulife Japan. The interest crediting rate set on the policy issue date is applicable (the interest crediting rate set on the policy issue date will remain the same throughout the policy's life). The interest crediting rate varies by plan, currency, and other conditions.
  • Annuity Capital: This is the policy value on the day before the annuitization date. If the deferral period is set as zero for the Lifetime Annuity Plan (through the attaching of the Immediate Annuity Provision), the Annuity Capital will be equal to the amount of the single premium.

About Manulife Japan
Manulife Life Insurance Company ("Manulife Japan") is a member of the Manulife Financial Group.

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 21 countries and territories worldwide. For more than 120 years, clients worldwide have looked to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions.  Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients around the world. We provide asset management services to institutional customers worldwide as well as reinsurance solutions, specializing in life and property and casualty retrocession. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were $481 billion (US$498 billion) as at June 30, 2011. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK.www.manulife.com. Manulife Japan can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.co.jp.

Media Contact
Saeko Yoshioka
Communications Department
Manulife Life Insurance Company
Tel: 042-442-7180