John Hancock Investments Posts Breakout Year in 2013

BOSTON, Feb. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Investments, a wealth management business of John Hancock Financial, posted a breakout year in 2013.  Full-year 2013 sales increased across all distribution channels, rising 79 percent over 2012, to $23.3 billion. In comparison, mutual fund industry overall sales in 2013 increased approximately 21 percent, with sales in the intermediary channel increasing approximately 20 percent.  

John Hancock Investments' sales in the fourth quarter of 2013 were $5.6 billion, 49 percent higher than the prior year quarter. These strong sales results for the quarter and year helped propel John Hancock Investments' retail funds under management to $60.9 billion, a 44 percent increase from full-year 2012.  Total assets under management across retail mutual funds, college savings plans, and retirement plans exceeded $111 billion at the end of 2013.

"We credit our strong business results to our manager of managers model and our commitment to placing our shareholders' interests first and foremost," said Andrew G. Arnott, President and CEO of John Hancock Investments. "Our business operates as an independent and well-resourced investment advisor. This means we are able to develop new funds and investment vehicles based on investor need, and then search the industry to find the portfolio manager team with the best specialized expertise and experience to manage shareholder assets. Our continuing momentum is also due to strong performance across asset classes, including those in high demand among investors today, such as alternatives, non-traditional fixed income and both international and domestic equity products."

Among firms in the intermediary channel that had sales greater than $10 billion in 2013, John Hancock Investments ranked second in terms of organic growth with a rate of 30 percent (Organic growth is defined as the ratio of net sales to beginning of year assets).  [Source: Simfund data as of 11.30.2013]

"Today we are one of the fastest-growing firms based on new mutual fund sales. We base our future growth plans on continuing to deliver real investment value for our shareholders, apply an unparalleled level of investment oversight and monitoring, operate with the highest ethical standards and transparency, and expand the potential of our distribution network to strengthen relationships with our partners," added Mr. Arnott. 

As of December 31, 2013, John Hancock Investments offered 34 four- or five-star Morningstar-rated equity and fixed income mutual funds, representing more than half of the firm's eligible funds.*

John Hancock Financial is the U.S. division of Manulife Financial, a leading financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada, and the United States, based in Toronto.  Manulife Financial reported its full-year and fourth quarter 2013 results yesterday.

Last month John Hancock Investments launched its two newest mutual funds:  the John Hancock Seaport Fund (Class A: JSFBX), which employs a multi-sleeve equity strategy utilizing a hedge fund approach to pursue a  more favorable risk/return profile than global equities, and the John Hancock Enduring Equity Fund (Class A: JEEBX), which employs a flexible approach to global equities that offers the potential for lower volatility, inflation protection and an attractive dividend income.

In September of 2013, the business, which had been known as John Hancock Funds, changed its name to John Hancock Investments, a move designed to reflect its role as an asset manager with a unique investment model, and also to highlight a product mix encompassing a range of investments beyond mutual funds.

* For each fund with at least a 3-year history, Morningstar calculates a Morningstar Rating based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return that accounts for variation in a fund's monthly performance (including effects of sales changes, loads and redemption fees), placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of funds in each category, the next 22.5%, 35%, 22.5%, and bottom 10% receive 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 star, respectively. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a fund is derived from a weighted average of the performance associated with its 3-, 5- and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The overall rating includes the effects of sales changes, loads and redemption fees, while the load-waived does not. Load-waived rating for Class A shares should only be considered by investors who are not subject to a front-end sales charge.

A fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses should be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the fund. To obtain a prospectus, contact your financial professional, call John Hancock Investments at 800-225-5291, or visit our website at jhinvestments.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

About John Hancock Investments
John Hancock Investments provides asset management services to individuals and institutions through a unique manager-of-managers approach. We combine unbiased asset management with vigorous investment oversight to offer investors a deeper level of diversification and proven results across asset classes. A wealth management business of John Hancock Financial, we managed more than $111 billion in assets as of December 31, 2013, across mutual funds, college savings plans, and retirement plans.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife Financial, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada, and the United States. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents, and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$599 billion (US$563 billion) as of December 31, 2013.  Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

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

SOURCE John Hancock Financial