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Asia
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Manulife Financial has been conducting business in Asia for more than one hundred years. The Company began operations in Asia in 1897 and has the longest history of continuous operation in Asia of any international life insurer. Following is a brief chronology of highlights in the Company's history in Asia.

 
1887-1899 1900-1999 decade for 2000 onwards
 



    1887-1899

  • 1897, Manulife Financial expanded the Company's operations into Asia, including China and Hong Kong.
  • 1899, Manulife Financial wrote its first policy in India.




    • 1900-1999

  • 1902, Manulife Financial's agency in Manila, Philippines was established.
  • 1903, Manulife Financial wrote its first policy in Sumatra (Indonesia).
  • 1931, Manulife Financial Branch Office opened in Hong Kong.
  • 1980, The company entered into a joint venture in Singapore - Singapore PTE Limited (later renamed OUB Manulife).
  • 1985, The Company entered into a joint venture in Indonesia with Dharmala Group and the International Finance Corporation (the private sector arm of the World Bank) to form P.T. Asuransi Jiwi Dharmala Manulife.
  • 1991, Reinsurance operations begin in Singapore.
  • 1992, Manulife becomes the first Canadian life insurer to open a representative office in China (Beijing). Branch operations established in Taiwan.
  • 1994, Manulife representatives offices open in Shanghai and Chengdu, China. Representative office established in Vietnam.
  • 1995, Representative office opens in Guangzhou, China.
  • 1996, The Zhong Hong Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (now Manulife-Sinochem Life Insurance Co. Ltd.), Manulife Financial's joint venture in Shanghai, became China's first joint venture life insurance company. Through its Hong Kong subsidiary, Manulife (International) Limited, Manulife establishes branch operations in Macau.
  • 1999, Manulife Financial was the first Canadian life insurance company to launch a joint venture in Japan - Manulife Century Life (now Manulife Life Insurance Company).
  • 1999, Chinfon-Manulife Insurance Company (now Manulife (Vietnam) Limited) became the first wholly foreign-owned life insurance company authorized to transact business in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
  • 1999, Manulife Financial Corporation listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and the Philippines Stock Exchange following demutualization.




    • decade for 2000 onwards

  • 2001, Manulife acquired Daihyaku Mutual's large inforce business in Japan. Later in that year Manulife Century Life changed its name to Manulife Seimei in order to simplify its presentation in the Japanese market and to promote a stronger link with its successful parent organization, Manulife Financial.
  • 2001, Five years after the successful formation of a joint venture in Shanghai, China, Manulife-Sinochem was granted approval to proceed with the preparation of a branch office in Guangzhou, China.
  • 2001, Manulife announced its acquisition of CIGNA's agency business in Taiwan, significantly strengthening the Company's position in that insurance market.
  • 2001, Manulife entered into an agreement to purchase the shares of its joint-venture partner, Chinfon Global Corporation (Vietnam), increasing its interest to 100%. The new company is named Manulife (Vietnam) Limited.
  • 2002, Manulife-Sinochem Life Insurance Co. Ltd. was granted approval by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) to officially open its branch office in Guangzhou, China. This is the first branch license granted by CIRC to a foreign invested joint-venture Life Insurance Company.
  • 2002, Manulife Philippines acquired block of in-force life insurance business formerly belonging to MetLife Insurance Company of the Philippines by way of an Assumption Reinsurance Agreement.
  • 2002, Manulife entered an agreement to acquire the life insurance and pension and education operations of CMG Philippines from Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
  • 2002, Manulife announced the Company entered into an agreement to purchase the shares of OUB Manulife from its joint-venture partner Overseas Union Bank (OUB)/United Overseas Bank (UOB). Interest in the company increased to 100 per cent from 50 per cent and the company was renamed Manulife (Singapore) Pte Limited.
  • 2003, Manulife-Sinochem Life Insurance Co. Ltd. opened a branch office in Beijing, China. This was Manulife-Sinochem's second branch license and the first multiple-branch license granted to a foreign-invested joint-venture life insurance company by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.
  • 2003, PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia entered into an agreement to acquire the Indonesian life business of Zurich Financial Group, PT Zurich Life Insurance Indonesia and PT ING-Aetna Life Indonesia.
  • 2003, Manulife's Philippines operation signed an agreement to purchase the insurance portfolio of Zurich Life Philippines Inc, a subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services Group.
  • 2004, Manulife acquired the life insurance business of John Hancock in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines as part of a global merger between Manulife Financial and U.S.-based John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
  • 2005, Manulife-Sinochem received CIRC approval to expand its China operating license to include Group Life and Health and non-tax benefit Pension business.
  • 2006, Manulife enters into an agreement to acquire The Pramerica Life Insurance Company, Inc. in the Philippines from Pramerica Financial.
  • 2007, Manulife Financial named Life Insurance Company for the Year in Asia Insurance Industry Awards.
  • 2008, Manulife Financial is proud Worldwide Sponsor of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
  • 2008, Manulife-Sinochem is honored with the "Outstanding Achievement Award" by the Canadian-China Business Council in recognition of its efforts to further Canadian-Chinese business relations.