Manulife-S (00945) announces the optimization of corporate strategy to drive sustained long-term growth.

Manulife-S (00945) has announced the optimization of its business strategy, proposing a series of innovative and more reinforced core strategies. These measures further consolidate Manulife's advantages, focus on its grand vision, and drive Manulife to become the preferred choice for customers. Manulife is ready to seize opportunities in a rapidly changing operating environment. The company has a thriving advantage in the current environment with a diverse global business presence. Not only is it recognized for its leading artificial intelligence capabilities in the industry, but its employee cohesion ranks in the top quarter of the industry. It also has robust businesses in high-growth Asian markets and mature North American markets. To maintain flexibility and continuously seize emerging opportunities, creating long-term value, Manulife is reshaping its strategic direction. This strategy will further strengthen the company's ability to achieve its financial goals for 2027, including raising the target core ROE to 18% or above; achieving cumulative repatriation funds exceeding CAD 22 billion between 2024 and 2027; and increasing core profit contribution from Asia to 50%. By introducing innovative and more reinforced core strategies, Manulife is opening a new chapter of high-quality and sustainable growth. Through five innovative and more reinforced core strategies, it aims to achieve its grand vision. These measures are built on the company's solid foundation, maintaining strategic coherence, embracing necessary innovations, and deploying for the company's future development: excellence in teams and culture; diverse business portfolio; helping clients achieve health, wealth, and longevity; artificial intelligence-driven enterprise; and excellent distribution capability. Cost efficiency and business portfolio optimization remain vital aspects of the company's operations. As the company continues to implement the above strategic focuses, it is expected to drive steady business growth and further consolidate the strong momentum of total shareholder returns. Manulife's optimized core strategy focuses on reshaping the major trends in insurance and asset management. The company is actively deploying to leverage its strengths, expand market influence, and accelerate expansion to seize growth opportunities. Health, wealth, and longevity. With the global population living longer, the gap between retirement security and health security continues to widen, presenting significant opportunities for the company to create shared value in customers' life stages. Manulife is taking proactive action by establishing the Manulife Longevity Research Institute. This global research, advocacy, and community investment platform, with a commitment of CAD 350 million until 2030, aims to help people live longer, healthier lives and have more stable financial security. Expanding global footprint, entering future super economies. Manulife has already entered markets that account for approximately 60% of the total global life insurance premiums and has established strong and scalable business footholds in the United States and China. Today, Manulife announced further expansion of its business footprint into one of the fastest-growing economies globally: India. Manulife has reached a joint venture agreement with Mahindra to enter the insurance market in India, partnering with this trusted current asset management partner. This collaboration allows Manulife to achieve business growth in the three most influential economies globally and create long-term value.