Manulife Mutual Funds launched five new funds, effective Dec. 24, 2013.

The new funds expand the U.S. equity and balanced fund offering from Manulife Mutual Funds, and capitalize on its asset management expertise in Canada and the U.S. The portfolio advisor for all five funds is Manulife Asset Management Limited.

“The launch of these five new funds serves to strengthen Manulife Mutual Funds position as a leading provider of U.S.-based investment opportunities,” says Derek Saliba, assistant vice president, Manulife Mutual Funds.

The five funds are: Manulife U.S. Monthly High Income Fund; Manulife U.S. Dividend Class; Manulife U.S. Dividend Registered Fund; Manulife U.S. Dollar U.S. All Cap Equity Fund; and Manulife U.S. Dollar Strategic Balanced Yield Fund.

Manulife U.S. Monthly High Income Fund seeks to provide a combination of income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of U.S. dividend paying and other equity securities, as well as fixed income securities. The fund is managed by Alan Wicks, Jonathan Popper, Conrad Dabiet, Howard Greene, Jeffrey Given and Konstantin Kizunov of Manulife Asset Management Limited and Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC.

Manulife U.S. Dividend Class seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in a portfolio of U.S. dividend paying stocks and other equity securities. It is managed by Walter McCormick and Sandy Sanders of Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC.

Manulife U.S. Dividend Registered Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in a portfolio of U.S. dividend paying stocks and other equity securities. This fund is offered only to certain registered plans with qualified planholders. Unlike some other Canadian mutual funds that are generally subject to a 15 per cent U.S. withholding tax on dividends received from U.S. companies, Manulife U.S. Dividend Registered Fund aims to qualify for an exemption from this tax. The fund is managed by Walter McCormick and Sandy Sanders of Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC.

Manulife U.S. Dollar U.S. All Cap Equity Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation in U.S. dollars by investing primarily in equity securities of U.S. companies of all sizes. This U.S. dollar denominated fund is modeled after Manulife U.S. All Cap Equity Fund with a similar investment objective and strategy. The fund is managed by Sandy Sanders and Walter McCormick of Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC. With the launch of Manulife U.S. Dollar U.S. All Cap Equity Fund, the U.S. dollar purchase option of Manulife U.S. All Cap Equity Fund has been closed to new purchases (buys and switch-ins) effective Dec. 20, 2013.

Manulife U.S. Dollar Strategic Balanced Yield Fund seeks to provide a combination of income and capital appreciation in U.S. dollars by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of dividend paying equity securities and fixed income securities. This U.S. dollar denominated fund is modeled after Manulife Strategic Balanced Yield Fund with a similar investment objective and strategy. The fund is managed by a team of experienced U.S. equity portfolio managers and global multi-sector fixed income managers from Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC and Manulife Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited. With the launch of Manulife U.S. Dollar Strategic Balanced Yield Fund, the U.S. dollar purchase option of Manulife Strategic Balanced Yield Fund has been closed to new purchases (buys and switch-ins) effective Dec. 20, 2013.

With the exception of Manulife U.S. Dividend Registered Fund, the new funds are offered for sale in Advisor Series, Series F, Series FT, Series I, Series IT and Series T securities.

Manulife U.S. Dividend Registered Fund is offered for sale in Advisor Series, Series F and Series I securities only.

Manulife U.S. Monthly High Income Fund Manulife U.S. Dividend Class and Manulife U.S. Dividend Registered Fund may be purchased in both Canadian and U.S. dollars, while Manulife U.S. Dollar U.S. All Cap Equity Fund and Manulife U.S. Dollar Strategic Balanced Yield Fund may only be purchased in U.S. dollars.

Manulife Mutual Funds is a division of Manulife Asset Management Limited.