Manulife Finl Stock Price, News & Analysis

Manulife (MFC) has announced the appointment of Steve Finch as President and CEO of Manulife Asia, effective May 9th, 2025. Finch, currently serving as Chief Actuary, will succeed Phil Witherington, who has been promoted to Manulife's President and CEO.

Finch, a member of Manulife's Executive Leadership team since 2016, brings 32 years of experience with the company. His track record includes leading significant transformations, managing historic transactions for reserve validation, and overseeing the transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 standards. Previously, he served as CFO of John Hancock and General Manager of US Life Insurance, where he led the business to become a market leader in life insurance sales.

The company has set ambitious goals for its Asian operations, targeting to contribute more than 50 percent of Manulife's core earnings. A successor for the Chief Actuary position will be announced later.

Manulife (MFC) has announced that Chief Financial Officer Colin Simpson will participate in a fireside chat at the 23rd Annual Financial Services Conference hosted by National Bank of Canada. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:55 a.m. EDT.

Investors and interested parties can access both the live webcast and replay through Manulife's Investor Relations website. The replay will remain available for a three-month period following the event.

Manulife (MFC) announced that over 75% of its global workforce is now engaged with GenAI tools, including ChatMFC, its proprietary GenAI assistant launched in 2024. The company has deployed more than 35 GenAI use cases across Canada, the U.S., and Asia, with an additional 70 planned by end of 2025.

The company's AI initiatives include a dedicated team of nearly 200 global data scientists, an AI-enabled translation tool supporting 9 languages, and GenAI-powered solutions handling over 110 million calls annually. Their Sales Enablement Tool, initially launched in Singapore, has expanded to multiple global markets.

Manulife expects its digital capabilities, including AI-enabled enhancements, to generate a threefold return on investment through 2027, with over $600 million in benefits realized in 2024 from global digital initiatives.

Manulife Financial (MFC) has announced the results of its conversion privilege for Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class 1 Shares Series 19. With only 3,700 Series 19 Preferred Shares elected for conversion, falling below the minimum requirement of one million shares, holders cannot convert their Series 19 shares into Series 20 Preferred Shares.

After March 19, 2025, Series 19 shareholders will receive fixed rate non-cumulative preferential cash dividends quarterly, subject to Board declaration. The dividend rate for March 20, 2025 to March 19, 2030 will be 5.16900% annually, or $0.323063 per share quarterly, calculated as the five-year Government of Canada bond yield plus 2.30%.

Manulife maintains the option to redeem Series 19 Preferred Shares, wholly or partially, on March 19, 2030, and every five years thereafter, subject to specific conditions.

Manulife (MFC) has issued a warning to investors regarding an unsolicited mini-tender offer from Ocehan to purchase up to 50,000 Manulife common shares (less than 0.003% of outstanding shares) at $34.20 per share. The company emphasizes this offer represents a significant discount of approximately 20% below current market prices on both TSX and NYSE as of February 24, 2025.

The mini-tender offer, designed to acquire less than 5% of company shares, bypasses standard disclosure and procedural requirements under Canadian and U.S. securities regulations. Both the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have expressed concerns about such offers, particularly regarding investors potentially accepting without understanding the below-market pricing.

Manulife Financial (TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC) has announced the implementation of an automatic share repurchase plan as part of its previously announced normal course issuer bid (NCIB). Under this plan, Manulife's designated broker will be able to repurchase common shares automatically, including during periods when the company would typically be inactive in the market due to internal trading blackout periods or insider trading rules.

The plan, which has received TSX pre-clearance, allows for share repurchases whose timing, volume, and price will be determined by market conditions. The company notes that actual repurchase activities will depend on various factors, including earnings, cash requirements, financial condition, market conditions, capital requirements under LICAT standards, and applicable regulations.

Manulife (TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC) has announced two strategic appointments to its Board of Directors, effective February 28, 2025. Nancy Carroll, a former partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP with over 40 years of insurance and financial services legal expertise, and John Montalbano, a former CEO of RBC Global Asset Management and current Principal of Tower Beach Capital , will join the board.

Carroll brings extensive experience in regulatory, M&A, compliance, and governance matters in the insurance sector. She will serve on the Audit Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Montalbano, with his wealth and asset management background, will join the Management Resources and Compensation Committee and Risk Committee.

Manulife Financial (TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC, SEHK: 945) has announced the filing of its 2024 audited annual financial statements and related Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for the year ended December 31, 2024. The documents have been filed with both the Canadian Securities Administrators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 40-F.

The financial information is accessible on Manulife's website in the investors section. Shareholders can request physical copies of these documents at no cost through the company's website.

Manulife Financial (TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC) has announced its quarterly preferred share dividends for multiple share classes. The dividends will be paid on or after March 19, 2025 to shareholders of record as of March 5, 2025.

The dividend payments vary by share class, ranging from $0.14675 to $0.396875 per share. The announcement covers eleven different preferred share series, including Class A Shares Series 2 and 3, and Class 1 Shares Series 3, 4, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 25.