John Hancock Funds Posts Record 2010 Sales of $9.7 Billion

BOSTON, Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Funds set a new sales record of $9.7 billion in 2010, a level 48 percent higher than full-year 2009 sales of $6.5 billion, the company announced.  Moreover, John Hancock Funds had the fifth highest(1) net flows in the non-proprietary market segment through year-end 2010, compared with 23rd place for the same period in 2009.  

"John Hancock Funds is delivering better performance results to shareholders, across a wider spectrum of equity and fixed income funds, than ever before.  Financial advisors and investors are taking notice of the improvements, as evidenced by last year's record sales year in both gross and net sales," said Keith F. Hartstein, President & CEO.

John Hancock Funds offered 21 four-and five-star Morningstar™-rated mutual funds as of December 31, 2010, Mr. Hartstein noted.

He added:  "Since Manulife's acquisition of John Hancock in 2004, substantial effort has been put into expanding and improving the depth, breadth and performance of our offerings through fund adoptions, acquisitions, new product development of both our affiliated John Hancock Asset Management team and our unaffiliated strategic partners. Our strong lineup of four- and five-star funds is a testament to the fact that we are succeeding, and I would like to thank everyone at John Hancock Funds for contributing to our success."  

"Our competitive fund lineup at John Hancock Funds, along with broad diversification of sales across distribution channels and improved market conditions, were key factors in our results," said Jeff Duckworth, President of Distribution for John Hancock Funds. "In 2010, the diversification of sales was the best in our history, with our three top-selling funds representing just 32 percent of total year-to-date open-end sales, versus 42 percent in 2009. Furthermore, in a year dominated by bond fund inflows, John Hancock Funds achieved remarkable success by selling equity funds. In fact, four of our five top-selling funds are equity-oriented. Seventy percent of John Hancock Funds' overall sales went into equity-based funds last year, while 30 percent went into fixed income funds."  

Mr. Duckworth added:  "Our sales results are also due in part to outstanding diversification by channel, as the three top-selling funds in the Institutional, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), and Defined Contribution Investment Only (DCIO) channels were not the same as the top-selling funds in the wirehouse or financial planner channels."

2010 saw new fund launches and fund adoptions for John Hancock Funds, activities that are expected to continue in 2011. The John Hancock Currency Strategies Fund (JCUAX), sub-advised by First Quadrant, in October became the fourth new fund launch of the year. It was preceded by the John Hancock Natural Resources Fund (JNRAX), sub-advised by Wellington Management, in April, and the John Hancock Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (JIPAX), sub-advised by John Hancock Asset Management, in February.  In addition, John Hancock Funds in July adopted the Robeco Boston Partners Mid Cap Value Fund and re-launched it as the John Hancock Disciplined Value Mid Cap Fund (JVMAX), marking the 11th fund adoption in eight years for John Hancock Funds.

(1) Source:  Strategic Insight Simfund. Net new flows is calculated including only John Hancock retail long-term open end funds, excluding money market funds and covers only classes A, B, C, and I shares.

About John Hancock Funds

The Boston-based mutual fund business unit of John Hancock Financial, John Hancock Funds manages more than $65.9 billion in open-end funds, closed-end funds, private accounts, retirement plans and related party assets for individual and institutional investors as at December 31, 2010.  

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation

John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, Manulife Financial Corporation offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. For more than 120 years, clients have looked to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$475 billion (US$478 billion) as at December 31, 2010.  

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

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at www.johnhancock.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Funds