General Counsel

Manulife launches new Advisor AI Assistant, expanding AI-enabled underwriting support for advisors. Oct 14, 2026, 08:00 ET New AI-powered capability provides 24/7 underwriting guidance, supporting Manulife's vision for a more connected advisor experience TORONTO, Oct. 14, 2026 /CNW/ - Manulife today announced the launch of the Manulife Advisor AI Assistant(TM), a new AI-powered capability designed to help advisors access underwriting guidance 24/7. Advisors can ask questions in plain language and receive AI-generated guidance drawn from content in Manulife's underwriting advisor handbooks. The assistant helps advisors prepare for client conversations, understand potential underwriting requirements and gather information earlier in the insurance process. By helping advisors access guidance sooner, it can support clearer client conversations and better-informed expectations before an application is submitted. The first release supports life insurance, critical illness insurance, and Synergy(R) products. This launch is part of Manulife's broader effort to create a more connected advisor experience by making it easier for advisors to access the information, tools, and support they need. The assistant helps advisors access underwriting guidance earlier in the process, while MAUDE, Manulife's AI-enabled underwriting engine, supports decision-making after an application is submitted. Together, these capabilities are designed to support advisors as they move through the underwriting process and demonstrate how Manulife is applying AI to assist advisors throughout the underwriting journey. "The faster advisors can get to the information they need, the more confidently they can help clients move forward," said Karen Cutler, Chief Underwriter, Manulife Canada. "The Manulife Advisor AI Assistant puts underwriting guidance at their fingertips, making the process easier to navigate while laying the foundation for new ways we can support advisors in the future." Over time, Manulife plans to evolve the assistant beyond underwriting guidance with additional knowledge areas and capabilities that support advisors across more aspects of doing business with Manulife. The launch builds on Manulife's broader investment in AI-powered capabilities for advisors, including sales and advisor enablement tools announced earlier this year. This momentum reflects Manulife's continued investment in AI across underwriting, operations and digital experiences while maintaining strong governance and oversight. Earlier this year, Manulife was named the number one life insurer for AI maturity for a second consecutive year by Evident. The company also earned Celent Model Insurer recognition for AI leadership in underwriting. "AI is most powerful when it takes complexity out of the way and helps people do their best work," said Jamie Campbell, Head of Artificial Intelligence and Data, Canada, Manulife. "The Manulife Advisor AI Assistant does exactly that, making underwriting information easier to find so advisors can spend more time focused on their clients. It's another example of how we're applying AI in practical ways across the insurance journey." Manulife Advisor AI Assistant is designed to complement, not replace, the expertise of Manulife's underwriters and wholesalers. The tool helps advisors quickly access underwriting guidance and information, but does not make underwriting decisions or provide a binding indication of insurability, premium, coverage or application outcome. All insurance applications remain subject to Manulife's applicable underwriting requirements and evaluation. Advisors are expected to exercise professional judgment when using the assistant, as AI-generated responses may contain errors. The assistant was developed using Manulife's underwriting advisor handbooks and operates within Manulife's broader AI governance framework, which includes risk management, human oversight, privacy safeguards and ongoing monitoring. Becoming an AI-powered organization is one of Manulife's strategic priorities. Manulife expects to generate more than $1 billion[1] of enterprise value by 2027, with $300 million achieved as of year-end 2025, improving productivity and efficiency and delivering real impact for customers, colleagues and shareholders. The Manulife Advisor AI Assistant is now available through Advisor Portal. Caution regarding forward-looking statements This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbour" provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to Manulife's use of its digital capabilities and the expected benefits it expects to realize from AI. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to general business and economic conditions; changes in laws and regulations with respect to the use of AI-enabled tools; our ability to execute our digital plans and to deploy future digital use cases; our ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; our ability to attract and retain key employees and our ability to protect our intellectual property and exposure to claims of infringement from others. Additional information about material risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations may be found in our most recent annual and interim reports and elsewhere in our filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators. The forward-looking statements in this document are, unless otherwise indicated, stated as of the date hereof. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. About Manulife Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Anchored in our ambition to be the number one choice for customers, we operate as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance and health solutions for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. | [_____________________________________] | | [1] The expected value from our AI initiatives include realized run-rate expense reductions, top-line revenue uplift from AI-powered workflows, fraud reduction, and growth absorption. | SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation

Manulife launches Enterprise AI Platform to scale AI solutions and deliver business value across global operations. Oct 13, 2026, 08:00 ET Unified platform helps teams build once, scale globally, guided by our Responsible AI Principles TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2026 /CNW/ - Manulife today announced the launch of its proprietary enterprise AI platform, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey to become AI-powered across its core operations. The platform provides a robust operating environment that enables teams across the enterprise to build, deploy and manage AI solutions consistently. By providing a common foundation for development and governance, it will allow Manulife to scale AI across markets while supporting the unique needs of different businesses and jurisdictions. This launch marks the next stage of Manulife's AI evolution, moving beyond discrete use case solutions to a unified enterprise platform that enables repeatable, governed AI delivery at scale, guided by our Responsible AI Principles. Driving enterprise value through scaled AI adoption "We have already demonstrated that AI can deliver meaningful impact across Manulife, from improving experiences for customers, agents, and colleagues to driving measurable business value," said Phil Witherington, President and CEO, Manulife. "The platform positions us to move beyond individual solutions to a shared enterprise capability that encourages and enables teams around the world to innovate, collaborate, and scale AI responsibly. This is a critical next step toward our strategic priority to become a truly AI-powered organization." By embedding AI across its businesses, platforms, and workflows, Manulife expects to generate $1 billion in cumulative enterprise AI value by 2027[i], with $300 million achieved as of year-end 2025. This includes run-rate expense reductions, top-line revenue uplift from AI-powered workflows, fraud reduction, and growth absorption. Enabling faster delivery through reuse and embedded controls The platform provides a robust operating environment that will allow Manulife to deliver faster, scale AI across the enterprise and focus on the use case specific requirements. Teams can reuse use cases that have already been reviewed and approved, reducing development time and accelerating models through security, risk and governance controls. "AI is moving from isolated use cases to capabilities that will reshape how financial services are delivered," said Jodie Wallis, Global Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Manulife. "Our AI Platform gives us the foundation to take proven ideas, scale them across our franchise, and create better experiences for customers, advisors and colleagues. The opportunity is not just to work faster, it is to remove friction, solve problems in new ways, and unlock value at a scale that was not previously possible." Examples of success Solutions being integrated onto the Enterprise AI Platform will help colleagues work more efficiently, automate manual tasks and access information more quickly. These include: * Singapore Sales Agent: This tool helps sales teams find information quickly, answer questions and prepare for customer conversations. By providing AI-powered support in real time, the tool helps employees work more efficiently and deliver a better customer experience. * Intelligent Document Processing (IDP): A shared AI service available to teams across Manulife that automatically reads documents and extracts key information. By reducing manual data entry and processing time, IDP improves efficiency, increases accuracy and helps teams make faster decisions. * Quick Quote: Launched in the U.S., this AI-enabled solution simplifies and accelerates the preliminary life insurance assessment process. By automating key steps and delivering faster access to preliminary underwriting information, Quick Quote reduces manual effort, improves efficiency, and helps provide a more seamless experience for customers and advisors. A responsible approach to AI Manulife's AI strategy is designed to maintain human accountability, foster creativity and support decision-making. All solutions developed on the platform adhere to Manulife's Responsible AI Principles, seeking to ensure AI is deployed safely, ethically, and transparently. "AI is creating new opportunities for innovation across Manulife, and our focus is on helping teams bring those ideas to life in a secure and responsible way," said Shamus Weiland, Chief Technology & Operations Officer at Manulife. "Our AI platform creates a strong, centralized foundation that empowers our developers and data scientists to build once and scale globally, while maintaining the highest standards of security, governance, and responsible AI." The platform also supports efficient, scalable AI development, including the use of right-sized models where appropriate, matching the size of the model to the task to reduce cost and energy use[ii]. AI leadership For two consecutive years, Manulife has been recognized as the number one life insurance company for AI maturity in the Evident AI Insurance Index. Manulife was also recognized as the top-ranked insurer in Canada, earned the number one position in the AI Leadership category, and placed third overall. Caution regarding forward-looking statements This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbour" provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to Manulife's use of its digital capabilities and the expected benefits it expects to realize from AI and its proprietary AI platform. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to general business and economic conditions; changes in laws and regulations with respect to the use of AI-enabled tools; our ability to execute our digital plans and to deploy future digital use cases; our ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; our ability to attract and retain key employees and our ability to protect our intellectual property and exposure to claims of infringement from others. Additional information about material risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations may be found in our most recent annual and interim reports and elsewhere in our filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators. The forward-looking statements in this document are, unless otherwise indicated, stated as of the date hereof. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. About Manulife Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Anchored in our ambition to be the number one choice for customers, we operate as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance and health solutions for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. | [______________________________________ i] The expected value from our AI initiatives include realized run-rate expense reductions, top-line revenue uplift from AI-powered workflows, fraud reduction, and growth absorption. | | [ii] Manulife's Responsible AI principles: AI efforts are designed to be energy-efficient and aligned with a sustainable future, including partnerships with organizations that share Manulife's values. | SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation

Manulife Philippines earns Tech Empowerment and People Transformation awards. Manulife Philippines, the local arm of leading international financial services provider Manulife, has been named one of HR Asia's 2026 Best Companies to Work for in Asia, while also earning the Tech Empowerment Award and People Transformation Award. Presented during HR Asia's awards ceremony in Pasay City on October 6, 2026, the recognitions highlight the company's commitment to creating an exceptional employee experience through continuous learning, innovation, and a people-first culture. The awards build on Manulife Philippines' ongoing efforts to develop future-ready talent, enhance colleague well-being, and empower teams with the tools and capabilities needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving workplace. HR Asia's Best Companies to Work for in Asia recognizes organizations identified by their employees as employers of choice, demonstrating high levels of employee engagement and strong workplace cultures. The award is based on employee survey results benchmarked against market scores and an assessment of the organization's people practices. The award recognizes Manulife Philippines' commitment to fostering an inclusive, engaging, and high-performing workplace where colleagues can learn, grow, and succeed. "These awards affirm that the future belongs to organizations bold enough to invest in their people. Talent and technology are the twin engines of our growth strategy, and being recognized validates that our investments in innovation, capability-building, and colleague experience are translating into a stronger, more future-ready organization," said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines. Discover more Track Investments Hora added, "Our ambition to become Filipino customers' no. 1 choice for trusted financial advice starts from within. Empowered, future-ready teams deliver better experiences for the customers and communities we serve, while a strong culture enables us to attract, develop, and retain the very best talent. That shared purpose is what drives us to keep building better, together." The HR Asia Tech Empowerment Award acknowledges companies that harness technological innovation to empower employees, enhance collaboration, and create meaningful progress. The HR Asia People Transformation Award recognizes companies that place learning at the center of their people strategy, investing in upskilling their workforce with the capabilities needed for tomorrow's challenges. Manulife Philippines earned the Tech Empowerment Award for embedding innovation into the daily employee experience, including the rollout of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) capabilities including the rollout of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) capabilities that give colleagues new ways to collaborate and work. The company received the People Transformation Award for placing learning and growth at the core of its people strategy and by investing in continuous upskilling through its proprietary online platform, Pursuit, and LinkedIn Learning, alongside programs that champion inclusion, wellness, recognition, and engagement. Discover more Optimize Ops Find Suppliers Recognition Extends to the Regional Stage: HR Excellence Awards Singapore 2026 Manulife Philippines has also been named a finalist in two categories at the 14th Annual HR Excellence Awards Singapore 2026, one of the region's most prestigious platforms celebrating innovation and excellence in human resources. * Excellence in Leadership Development, recognizing the company's investment in building capable, future-ready leaders across the organization. * Excellence in Total Rewards Strategy, recognizing a holistic approach to compensation, benefits, and well-being that supports Manulife colleagues at every stage of their careers. "These HR awards affirm the intentional choices we've made: to develop future-ready leaders, reward our people meaningfully, and embed learning and technology into everyday work. Through AI and innovation, we're giving our colleagues the tools to work smarter and collaborate better. More importantly, these recognitions are a testament to our colleagues, who show up every day with curiosity, care, and commitment and are the true engine behind every achievement we celebrate," said Ardhi Siregar, Chief People Officer, Manulife Philippines. Siregar added, "To be recognized for empowering our people is deeply meaningful, and it inspires us to keep raising the bar, building an organization where every colleague can reach their fullest potential as part of our high-performing team." Together, these recognitions underscore Manulife Philippines' commitment to being an employer of choice. From fostering a culture of engagement and inclusion to investing in technology, leadership development, learning, and colleague well-being, the company continues to build a workplace where talent, innovation, and purpose advance side by side.