MFC Manulife Financial Corporation

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

Selects Pictet Asset Management for thematic investment expertise

BOSTON, July 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Investment Management, a company of Manulife Investment Management, announced today the launch of John Hancock Global Environmental Opportunities Fund (Class I ticker: JABVX), subadvised by Pictet Asset Management (Pictet).

"We're excited to offer John Hancock Global Environmental Opportunities Fund and find the launch to be quite timely," said Andrew G. Arnott, CEO, John Hancock Investment Management and head of wealth and asset management, Manulife Investment Management, United States and Europe. "Investors have become increasingly more aware of the environmental trends that will shape future business models across industries—in particular, companies operating in services, infrastructure, technology, and resources related to environmental sustainability. The fund provides access to these opportunities from Pictet—a manager that has been focused on delivering risk-adjusted returns through its thematic franchise for more than 25 years."

John Hancock Global Environmental Opportunities Fund seeks growth through capital appreciation by investing primarily in environmental companies. Environmental companies are defined by the firm as companies that both operate within the Planetary Boundaries framework and have business activities - of which all or a portion - reduce stress in at least one of the boundaries in the Planetary Boundaries framework.¹

The Planetary Boundaries framework identifies the ecological safe operating space that's essential to maintain a stable ecosystem required for human development and prosperity along nine Planetary Boundaries: climate change, ocean acidification, ozone depletion, nitrogen and phosphorus cycle, freshwater use, land-system change, biodiversity, aerosols, and chemical pollution.² Extending beyond these boundaries increases the risk of large-scale adverse or irreversible environmental changes.

In its investment process, Pictet first determines that a company is operating within the safe operating space of the Planetary Boundaries framework. Using proprietary analysis, Pictet then selects a subset of these companies with business activities that have a positive impact on at least one of the nine Planetary Boundaries. Fundamental analysis is then performed on this investable universe seeking the securities of environmental companies that may be best positioned to capitalize on the environmental theme. Environmental companies include companies whose businesses and technologies seek to contribute positively to the environment by focusing on water technologies, energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable forestry, organic agriculture, pollution control, waste management and recycling, or those the manager believes are otherwise involved in improving the efficiency of resource consumption or contributing to enhanced environmental quality.

John Hancock Global Environmental Opportunities Fund is managed by Luciano Diana and Gabriel Micheli, CFA, senior investment managers, and Yi Du, investment manager. They are additionally supported by the 40-person thematic equities team at Pictet.

"Investors are uniquely positioned to impact environmental change," said Luciano Diana, Senior Investment Manager, thematic equities, Pictet Asset Management. "In parallel, we believe companies with products and services that maximize resource efficiency and help diminish pollution have the ability to outperform the broader market over the long term."

Pictet Asset Management is a pioneer in thematic equity investing focused on long-term Megatrends, powerful structural forces of change that carry significant investment implications globally. Pictet Asset Management has $73B in assets under management in thematic equity strategies.³ John Hancock Global Environmental Opportunities fund is the second thematic equity fund John Hancock Investment Management has launched with Pictet. John Hancock Global Thematic Opportunities Fund (Class I ticker: JTKIX) launched in December 2018.

About John Hancock Investment Management
A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 17 countries and territories. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement.

As of March 31, 2021, Manulife Investment Management had CAD $764.1 billion (US $607.6 billion) in assets under management and administration. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

Request a prospectus or summary prospectus from your financial professional, by visiting jhinvestments.com, or by calling us at 800-225-5291. The prospectus includes investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other information that you should consider carefully before investing.

Investing involves risks, including the potential loss of principal.

There is no guarantee that any investment strategy illustrated will be successful or achieve any particular level of results. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be, nor shall it be interpreted or construed as, a recommendation or providing advice, impartial or otherwise, regarding any security, mutual fund, ETF, sector, or index. Investors should consult with their financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

© 2021 John Hancock Investment Management. All rights reserved. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-hancock-investment-management-launches-global-environmental-opportunities-fund-301338948.html

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management