Manulife Launching Impact Forests, a Global Forest Restoration Initiative, Powered by veritree's Smart Forest Technology

Rhea-AI Summary

Manulife (TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC) launched Manulife Impact Forests on January 13, 2026, a global network of restoration sites using veritree's Smart Forest technology to guide planting and monitoring.

The program currently includes sites in Canada, the U.S., Cambodia, Japan, and the Philippines and has restored more than 160 hectares and planted over 185,000 trees. veritree's platform combines satellite imagery, ground data, and bioacoustic monitoring to deliver real-time mapping, species selection, and measurable outcomes such as tonnes of carbon sequestered, hectares restored, biodiversity gains, and community benefits.

News Market Reaction

-0.92%

1 alert

-0.92% News Effect

On the day this news was published, MFC declined 0.92%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Land restored: 160 hectares Equivalent area: 8,161 tennis courts Trees planted: 185,000 trees

3 metrics

Land restored 160 hectares Manulife Impact Forests to date

Equivalent area 8,161 tennis courts Area equivalent of land restored

Trees planted 185,000 trees Trees planted in Manulife Impact Forest sites so far

Market Reality Check

Price: $36.58 Vol: Volume 2,842,805 vs 20-da...

high vol

$36.58 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,842,805 vs 20-day avg 1,813,893 (relative volume 1.57x) ahead of this ESG announcement. high

Technical Price 37.13 is trading above 200-day MA at 32.04 and within 1.18% of the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

MFC fell 0.62% while key life-insurance peers showed mixed moves (e.g., MET -0.4...

MFC fell 0.62% while key life-insurance peers showed mixed moves (e.g., MET -0.48%, AFL -0.63%, PRU +0.51%, GL +0.85%), suggesting a company-specific tone rather than a uniform sector move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 22 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 22	AI partnership	Positive	+1.0%	Multi-year deal to apply reinforcement learning across enterprise AI use cases.
Dec 22	Investor caution	Neutral	+1.0%	Company warned shareholders about a discounted unsolicited mini‑tender offer.
Dec 12	Ratings affirmation	Positive	-0.5%	AM Best affirmed strong financial strength and issuer credit ratings with stable outlook.
Dec 02	Debt offering	Neutral	+0.5%	Priced <b>US$1,000,000,000</b> 4.986% senior notes due 2035 for general corporate purposes.
Nov 21	Conference appearance	Neutral	+2.0%	CFO scheduled for fireside chat at Desjardins Toronto Conference with webcast access.

Pattern Detected

Recent news—including AI, ratings, and financing—has mostly seen price moves align with the generally positive or neutral tone, with only one notable divergence on a ratings affirmation.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Manulife has reported several strategic and credit-related developments. On Dec 22, 2025, it signed a multi-year AI agreement with Adaptive ML to enhance underwriting and sales support, coinciding with a +1.02% move. The same day, it cautioned investors about a discounted mini‑tender offer, also followed by a +1.02% reaction. AM Best affirmed key ratings at A+ and aa- on Dec 12, 2025, after which shares slipped 0.48%. A US$1,000,000,000 senior notes offering on Dec 2 and a conference appearance on Nov 25 were met with modest gains.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Manulife’s Manulife Impact Forests, using veritree’s Smart Forest techn...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Manulife’s Manulife Impact Forests, using veritree’s Smart Forest technology to restore over 160 hectares and plant more than 185,000 trees across several countries. In the context of recent AI and ratings developments, it adds another pillar to the company’s strategic and sustainability story. Investors may watch how these initiatives translate into measurable outcomes—such as carbon sequestration and community benefits—alongside traditional drivers like earnings, capital deployment, and credit profile.

Key Terms

biodiversity, satellite imagery, bioacoustic monitoring, nature-based solutions

4 terms

biodiversity medical

"a global network of restoration sites designed to enhance biodiversity, create opportunities"

Biodiversity is the variety of living things — different species, genetic traits and natural habitats — that make ecosystems function. For investors it matters because healthy biodiversity supports predictable resources and services (like pollination, clean water and resilient supply chains); loss or damage can create regulatory, operational and reputational risks, and undermine long‑term returns. Think of it like diversity in a garden or a portfolio: more variety usually means greater stability and fewer single‑point failures.

satellite imagery technical

"veritree's technology combines satellite imagery, ground-level data, and bioacoustic monitoring"

Satellite imagery consists of pictures of the Earth's surface taken from satellites orbiting above. These images can reveal changes in land use, natural resources, or infrastructure over time, helping investors assess economic activity, environmental conditions, or geopolitical developments. By providing a bird’s-eye view, satellite imagery offers valuable, real-time insights that support informed decision-making across various industries.

bioacoustic monitoring technical

"veritree's technology combines satellite imagery, ground-level data, and bioacoustic monitoring"

Bioacoustic monitoring is the use of sound-capturing sensors and software to listen to and analyze biological signals — such as breathing, heartbeats, coughs, or animal calls — to detect health, behavior or environmental changes. Think of it as a continuous, automated stethoscope or nature microphone that turns sounds into data investors can evaluate for product demand, recurring services, regulatory approval pathways, and potential cost savings in healthcare or environmental monitoring.

nature-based solutions technical

""This is what scalable, verifiable restoration looks like," said Derrick Emsley... "Nature-based solutions are only as powerful as the trust"

Nature-based solutions are actions that use or restore natural systems—like wetlands, forests, or coastal marshes—to address problems such as flooding, carbon emissions, or soil erosion. For investors, these projects can reduce long-term costs and risks, generate revenue through carbon credits or ecosystem services, and strengthen the resilience of assets much like installing a living sponge or green roof protects a building from water damage while lowering energy bills.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

C$ unless otherwise stated                                            TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC     SEHK: 945

Manulife is the first corporate partner to implement veritree's Smart Forest technology in sites across the globe

veritree's technology will be brought to Asia for the first time in Manulife Impact Forest sites in Japan and the Philippines 

To date, Manulife Impact Forests have restored 160 hectares of land—an area roughly equivalent to 8,161 tennis courts

TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife is today announcing the launch of Manulife Impact Forestsⁱ a global network of restoration sites designed to enhance biodiversity, create opportunities for local communities, and contribute to climate resilience. Working with our community planting partnersⁱⁱ and veritree, the platform powering verified nature restoration, Impact Forests enhance Manulife's efforts to contribute to a healthier planet, with benefits for people and planet alike.

Manulife is the first corporate partner to implement veritree's Smart Forest technology in its reforestation efforts. This collaboration also marks the debut of this technology in Asia, with deployments in Manulife Impact Forest locations in Japan and the Philippines.

veritree's technology combines satellite imagery, ground-level data, and bioacoustic monitoring to guide sustainable forest management. This innovative approach ensures accurate mapping of planting areas and selection of tree species that promote healthy forests and lasting benefits. Embedded into Manulife Impact Forest sites, veritree's proprietary platform will deliver real-time insights and transparency throughout the lifecycle of each restoration project. The Manulife Impact Forests currently include sites in Canada, the U.S., Cambodia, Japan, and the Philippines. To date, more than 160 hectares of land, an area roughly equivalent to 8,161 tennis courts, have been restored.

"Manulife is proud to announce the Manulife Impact Forests and to collaborate with veritree in deploying their groundbreaking Smart Forest Design technology around the world," said Ariel Kangasniemi, Global Chief Sustainability Officer at Manulife. "As a business that is driven to help people live better, for longer, we believe that when nature does well, people do well. This collaboration exemplifies how innovation, accountability, and environmental stewardship can come together for the benefit of both."

Data from Manulife's Impact Forests will be uploaded within Manulife's veritree impact platform, enabling real-time monitoring of Smart Forests. Trees planted within these sites across the globe will be tied to measurable outcomes: tonnes of carbon sequestered, hectares restored, biodiversity gains, and community benefits such as job creation and education. More than 185,000 trees have been planted so far.

"This is what scalable, verifiable restoration looks like," said Derrick Emsley, CEO and Co-Founder of veritree. "Nature-based solutions are only as powerful as the trust people have in them. Through this partnership with Manulife, we're proving that restoration can be both high-integrity and high-tech, connecting trees planted to real data, real people, and real results."

To learn more about Manulife's sustainability initiatives and community partnerships, visit Manulife.com/sustainability. To learn more about veritree's technology, visit veritree.com.

About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping our customers make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice and insurance for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2024, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 109,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 36 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' in Hong Kong.

Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

About veritree
veritree is a platform powering the global restorative economy. Its platform brings trust, traceability, and impact to nature-based solutions. Having reached 100 million trees pledged, it connects forward-thinking companies with verified action. From mangroves and kelp to wildfire reforestation, veritree helps organizations move from intention to measurable environmental and social outcomes. Learn more at veritree.com.

Disclosure Statement

This document contains forward-looking statements with respect to the impact of Manulife Impact Forests and sustainability. Such outcomes are not guaranteed and are based on assumptions and factors that may cause actual results to be different from the results expressed or implied in such statements, including the anticipated impact of the Manulife Impact Forests on sustainability commitments and a sustainable future.

Media Contacts

Manulife:
Emily English
Emily_English@Manulife.ca
(647) 544-2800

Veritree:
veritree@yulupr.com

____________________

i All references to tree planting sites, data, and related environmental metrics in this release pertain exclusively to Manulife's Impact Forests initiative.

ii Manulife's planting partners are: veritree, More Trees, Haribon Foundation and APSARA National Authority

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/manulife-launching-impact-forests-a-global-forest-restoration-initiative-powered-by-veritrees-smart-forest-technology-302658947.html

SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation

FAQ

What did Manulife announce on January 13, 2026 about Impact Forests (MFC)?

Manulife announced the launch of Manulife Impact Forests, a global restoration network powered by veritree's Smart Forest technology.

How many hectares and trees has Manulife restored and planted through Impact Forests (MFC) to date?

The program has restored more than 160 hectares and planted over 185,000 trees to date.

Which countries host Manulife Impact Forest sites (MFC)?

Current sites are in Canada, the U.S., Cambodia, Japan, and the Philippines.

What technology does Manulife use in its Impact Forests (MFC) and what does it measure?

Manulife uses veritree's Smart Forest platform, which uses satellite imagery, ground data, and bioacoustic monitoring to measure carbon sequestered, hectares restored, biodiversity gains, and community benefits.

Is veritree's Smart Forest technology new to Asia in Manulife Impact Forests (MFC)?

Yes; the partnership marks the first deployment of veritree's Smart Forest technology in Asia with sites in Japan and the Philippines.