OREANDA-NEWS. Manulife Investments today announced that Susan Da Sie will assume key portfolio management responsibilities for the Manulife Asset Management Canadian Fundamental Equity Team’s income-oriented strategies. In addition, Manulife Investments announced that Walter McCormick will be retiring from the Manulife U.S. Core Value Equity Team.

Changes to Canadian Fundamental Equity Team
Susan Da Sie, Senior Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager will assume portfolio management responsibilities for the following funds:

  • Manulife Canadian Monthly Income Fund (formerly known as Standard Life Monthly Income Fund)
  • Manulife Canadian Monthly Income Class (formerly known as Standard Life Monthly Income Class)
  • Manulife Conservative Income Fund (formerly known as Standard Life Diversified Income Fund)
  • Manulife Canadian Dividend Income Fund (formerly known as Standard Life Dividend Income Fund)
  • Manulife Canadian Dividend Income Class (formerly known as Standard Life Dividend Income Class)
  • Manulife Canadian Dividend Growth Fund (formerly known as Standard Life Canadian Dividend Growth Fund)
  • Manulife Canadian Dividend Growth Class (formerly known as Standard Life Canadian Dividend Growth Class)
  • Manulife Tactical Income Fund (formerly known as Standard Life Tactical Income Fund)
  • Manulife Canadian Growth & Income Private Trust

Ms. Da Sie will succeed Marie-Eve Savard who has indicated her desire to leave the company.  Ms. Savard will remain with the company until the end of February to ensure a smooth transition of her portfolio management responsibilities to Ms. Da Sie. The investment philosophy of the funds will not change.

“We would like to thank Marie-Eve for the dedication and high degree of professionalism she has brought to her team and to her mandate,” said Derek Saliba, Assistant Vice President, Mutual Funds Product, Manulife Investments. “Susan’s experience leading this team and her previous role as head of the equity team at the former Standard Life Investments Inc. will ensure a smooth transition for all involved.”

Ms. Da Sie will partner with Steven Belisle, Senior Portfolio Manager, Equities who currently co-manages these funds. Mr. Belisle has a proven track record of managing Canadian income-oriented equities as the lead manager on the 5-star Overall Morningstar rated Manulife Canadian Dividend Income Fund.

Ms. Da Sie joined Manulife Asset Management when Standard Life's Canadian operations were acquired by Manulife in January 2015. Ms. Da Sie joined the former Standard Life Investments Inc. in 2007 as a Vice-President with the Equity Team, and has 31 years of investment experience. 

The fixed income portion of Manulife Canadian Monthly Income Fund, Manulife Canadian Monthly Income Class, Manulife Conservative Income Fund and Manulife Tactical Income Fund will continue to be managed by Jean-Pierre D'Agnillo , Managing Director, Canadian Fixed Income and Terry Carr, Head of Canadian Fixed Income.

Walter McCormick Retirement
Manulife Investments also announced that Walter McCormick, Senior Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC, will be retiring. The effective date will be March 31, 2016.

Walter McCormick joined Manulife Asset Management in 2010.

“Walter has co-led the Manulife Asset Management U.S. Core Value Equity Team with Sandy Sanders and has delivered strong returns for our investors,” said Chris Conkey, Global Chief Investment Officer, Manulife Asset Management. “We anticipate a seamless transition given the depth of the team’s experience.”

The Manulife U.S. Core Value Equity team currently consists of six experienced portfolio managers and three analysts. This well-resourced team employs a repeatable fundamental investment process that has delivered consistent long-term results over various market cycles since inception. Mr. McCormick is co-manager of the following funds along with Sandy Sanders, Senior Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC. Once Mr. McCormick retires, Mr. Sanders will continue as lead manager of the funds.

  • Manulife Balanced Equity Private Pool
  • Manulife Strategic Balanced Yield Fund
  • Manulife U.S. All Cap Equity Fund
  • Manulife U.S. All Cap Equity Class
  • Manulife U.S. Balanced Private Trust
  • Manulife U.S. Dollar U.S. All Cap Equity Fund
  • Manulife U.S. Dollar Strategic Balanced Yield Fund
  • Manulife U.S. Equity Private Pool
  • Manulife U.S. Large Cap Equity Class
  • Manulife U.S. Large Cap Equity Fund

“Walter has had an exceptional career, and we wish him all the best in his retirement,” said Derek Saliba. “Walter helped us forge this team and their funds into one of the key brands of our mutual fund business and the team’s success will continue given Sandy’s proven leadership and the team’s high standards.”

Manulife Canadian Dividend Income Fund

Category Inception Date Since Inception Return % 1 Year Return % 3 Year Return % 5 Year Return %
Canadian Dividend Income and Equity 7/6/2007 2.83% 0.41% 10.72% 9.05%

Source: Morningstar Direct, as of November 30, 2015.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Manulife Funds are managed by Manulife Investments, a division of Manulife Asset Management Limited.

The Morningstar Rating, commonly referred to as the Star Rating, relates how a fund has performed on a risk-adjusted basis against its Morningstar category peers and is subject to change every month. The Star Ratings as of November 30, 2015 for the Funds shown and the number of funds within their categories for each period are: Manulife Canadian Dividend Income Fund within the Canadian Dividend Income and Equity category: 1 year period, ranked 104 out of 506 funds, 4 stars, 3 year period, ranked 58 out of 357 funds, 4 stars, 5 year period, ranked 19 out of 253 funds, 5 stars.