Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Business
Conduct
and Ethics
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2 Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
16 Conflicts of Interest 21 Handling Information: 26 A Final Word
Deal at Arm’s Length with Protect Personal and Other Policies
Suppliers and other Confidential Further Helpful Information
Counterparties Information
Bribery and Kickbacks are
Follow Disclosure Requirements
Prohibited
Respect Copyrighted Materials
Be Careful about Gifts
Keep Full and Accurate Records
Be Careful about Personal
Benefits Use Communications System
and Services for Business
Follow Company Policy about
Family Members Social Media
Invest in an Ethical Manner
Working for Competitors May
Jeopardize the Company
External Directorships
24 Ethics and the Law
Use Caution Regarding Outside
Positions Know and Comply with the Law
We must all be thoroughly familiar with The Code is meant to provide principles-
its provisions and conduct ourselves based guidance for our daily conduct at
according to both the letter and the work. It is not meant to be a compendium
spirit of the Code. With a long tradition of all rules or of all Manulife policies that
of uncompromising dedication to govern our behaviour. Nevertheless,
the highest standards of business specific provisions are included to
conduct, Manulife enjoys a reputation of help illustrate certain principles and to
unquestioned integrity and honesty. This address general governance needs where
reputation is among our most valuable necessary.
assets and we must protect it. For purposes of this Code, the
“Company” or “Manulife” means Manulife
Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries.
Why Ethics Matter to You and the principles and values set out in the Code
Company when representing Manulife to the public
First and foremost, acting ethically is or performing services for, or on behalf
always the right thing to do. Second, of, Manulife. This Code is available on the
operating in an ethical manner is essential Company’s website, on MFCentral and is
to our success. Our customers, investors also available in print upon request.
and other stakeholders rely on us to be Manulife does not waive actual conflicts
honest and fair. We must behave ethically of interest under any circumstances. Any
in the communities where we operate in potential conflicts of interest, including
order to maintain the confidence of all of but not limited to the appearance of a
our stakeholders and ultimately to keep conflict of interest, must be managed to
their business. It is in our best interest preclude the potential conflict of interest
to set high standards for ourselves at all from becoming an actual conflict of
times and to align ourselves with agents, interest. Typical controls include clear
representatives, suppliers and business and complete disclosure of the potential
associates who have similar high conflict of interest and recusal from any
standards of business conduct. decision-making relating to the situation
giving rise to the potential conflict of
The Purpose of this Code interest.
This Code provides standards for At the end of each section is a list of
ethical behaviour when representing related Company policies you should refer
the Company and when dealing with to for more information. These Company
customers, investors, employees, field policies should be consulted to determine
representatives, external suppliers, their applicability to any given Segment,
competitors, government authorities and subsidiary or affiliate.
the public. Like the prohibition on actual conflicts
of interest, certain additional provisions
Application of the Code of this Code may never be waived; for
Manulife’s Code of Business Conduct example, the duty to always act in an
and Ethics applies to directors, officers ethical manner. Although very unusual,
and employees of Manulife and its certain sections of the Code not relating
subsidiaries. Sales representatives, third to the prohibition of actual conflicts of
party business associates, contractors interest may only be waived in exceptional
and others with certain duties and circumstances. For employees below the
obligations to the Company are also level of Vice President, such waivers may
expected to abide by all applicable only be granted with the explicit written
provisions of the Code and adhere to the approval of the Global Compliance Chief.
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6 Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
For directors and employees at the level of You may report suspected or potential
Vice President and above, any such waiver illegal or unethical behaviour without fear
will be granted only upon approval by of retaliation. The Company absolutely
the Manulife Board of Directors or Board prohibits retaliation of any kind for
Committee and will be disclosed promptly good faith reports of illegal or unethical
as required by law or stock exchange behaviour.
regulation. All reports are presumed to be made in
good faith. No report will be found to have
What if Someone Violates this Code? been made in bad faith without clear and
All our activities must be able to withstand convincing evidence of bad faith.
close scrutiny. To protect Manulife’s good Speak to your manager, your Segment
name, the Company may discipline and/ Chief Compliance Officer, a member of
or terminate its relationship or affiliation the Law Department or a member of the
with any director, officer, employee, Human Resources Department if you
representative, associate or supplier have:
who breaches this Code or any related • doubts about a particular situation;
Company policy. If violating the Code also • questions or concerns about a business
violates the law, you may also be subject practice;
to prosecution. • questions about potential conflicts of
Unless prohibited under local law, interest or the appearance thereof; or
where the Company has reason to believe • concerns about potential or suspected
that an employee’s violation of the Code illegal, unprofessional, fraudulent or
constitutes criminal conduct, Manulife other unethical behaviour.
may, in addition to terminating the Unethical, unprofessional, illegal,
employee’s employment without notice, fraudulent or other questionable
refer the matter to law enforcement and behaviour, including any concern with
disclose (internally and/or externally) respect to auditing and accounting
relevant facts underlying the conduct and matters, may also be reported by calling
the Company’s remedial measures. a confidential toll-free Ethics Hotline
or at www.manulifeethics.com. Ethics
Where to Go for Help Hotline telephone numbers can be found
It is critical that all of us who represent on the Manulife Ethics website. The
Manulife and its subsidiaries use good Ethics Hotline system allows for two-way
judgment and common sense. It is the communication, and you may also use
best way to ensure that our Company this process to pose questions to the
continues to meet high standards of Global Compliance Office. Ethics Hotline
business conduct. Since we cannot communications may be anonymous if
anticipate every situation that will arise, the reporter chooses.
it is important that we have a way to If you feel that your questions or
approach questions and concerns. Always concerns have not been appropriately
ask first, act later. If you are unsure of addressed, you should direct your
what to do in any situation, seek guidance complaint to the Manulife Global
before you act. Compliance Chief or the Manulife General
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12 Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
countries and communities in which we allowed under the Code, the matter must be
operate. We must ensure compliance with escalated to the Global Compliance Chief.
applicable laws, rules and regulations in the While the Company expresses views
jurisdictions where we do business. on local and national issues that affect
its operations, officers and employees
Take Care in Government and Political cannot represent themselves as Company
Dealings spokespeople without proper authorization.
We must take special care to use our Questions regarding whether authorization
corporate positions responsibly when has been properly given must be referred to
dealing with government agencies and the Global Compliance Chief.
representatives. This is especially true The Company respects and supports
in relation to the political process. It is the right of every individual to participate
important that we comply with all laws in the political process. However, the
and regulations that apply when offering Company will not provide reimbursement
to provide entertainment, meals, nominal for any political contributions made by any
gifts, gratuities and other items of value to individual, including the purchase of tickets
any employee or representative of federal, to political fundraising events such as
provincial, state or local governments or dinners. These are to be handled personally
state-owned enterprises, or when accepting by the employee. Similarly, if an individual
such items of value from any employee chooses to volunteer in support of a political
or representative of federal, provincial, campaign, (s)he must do so after work, on
state or local governments or state-owned weekends or during vacation leaves and not
enterprises. during regular working hours.
The giving of gifts to or the payment of Please also remember many jurisdictions
expenses for, or on behalf of, public officials have prohibitions such as the U.S. ‘Pay to
is governed by a complicated array of Play’ rules that may require pre-clearance
regulations, which vary from jurisdiction to for political contributions and other
jurisdiction. Before making any expenditure activities. If you have any questions in this
for, or on behalf of, public officials you area, please consult your Segment Chief
must contact your Segment Chief Legal Compliance Officer.
Officer for explicit approval. This includes, The Company’s general policy is that it
but is not limited to, expenditures for will not make any political contributions.
travel, sponsorships and conferences. For No director, officer, employee or Company
Segments with a Government Relations representative may make or authorize any
function, you should also seek concurrence payment by or on behalf of the Company
from Government Relations. Gifts of a to any political party, organization,
significant value to a government official, committee, candidate or public official,
party official, or an employee of a state- or in connection with any political caucus,
owned enterprise are prohibited. After convention or election, except as permitted
escalation to the Segment Chief Legal by law and approved by the Segment
Officer, if there is any remaining concern Chief Legal Officer and, where the position
about whether the gift or expenditure is exists, the Segment Government Relations
A conflict situation can arise when you the matter to your manager, you must
take actions, have interests or are involved immediately recuse yourself from any
in outside activities that make it difficult decision-making relating to the situation
to perform Company work objectively and giving rise to the conflict of interest.
effectively, or affect your judgment to act Any potential conflicts of interest must
in the best interest of customers, investors be managed to preclude the potential
and other stakeholders. conflict of interest from becoming an
Conflicts of interest damage the trust actual conflict of interest. Typical controls
between you, the public and the Company. include clear and complete disclosure
Moreover, even the appearance of a of the potential conflict of interest and
conflict may be harmful to the Company. recusal from any decision-making relating
We all must be vigilant in this regard, and to the situation giving rise to the potential
must avoid all interactions, relationships conflict of interest. If you need further
or situations that could reasonably advice, consult the procedures described
give rise to a conflict of interest or the in the section of this Code titled “Where to
appearance of a conflict of interest. go for help.”
To help prevent conflicts or the The following are some of the most
appearance of conflicts, you must update common areas of potential conflicts of
your Code of Business Conduct and Ethics interest, but the most reliable guideline is
Certification and Conflict of Interest your own common sense.
Disclosure Questionnaire annually. You
are also responsible for updating the Deal at Arm’s Length with Suppliers
Questionnaire as your circumstances and other Counterparties
change during the year. You must not be associated in any way
As outlined above in the section ‘Why with agreements between the Company
Ethics Matter,’ Manulife does not waive and suppliers in which you or a member
actual conflicts of interest under any of your immediate family have an interest,
circumstances. If an actual conflict, or which might result in any personal gain
potential conflict or the appearance of or benefit to you or to any member of your
a conflict of interest arises, in addition family.
to updating your Conflict of Interest You must not engage in transactions or
Disclosure Questionnaire, report it other business decision-making relating
immediately to your manager. to suppliers, vendors, customers or other
If an actual conflict of interest arises business relationships that may benefit
unexpectedly, in addition to reporting you or a member of your immediate
Know and Comply with the Law Identify and Report Fraud and Theft
You are required to understand the laws As a provider of financial services,
that affect your work and make sure your Manulife is vulnerable to losses from
business conduct complies with those dishonesty and fraud. Fraud can take
laws. You must promptly report violations many forms, such as mishandling of
and always act in accordance with this money, theft of cash or property, money
Code and other applicable Company laundering, corrupt payments of money
policies. and provision of things of value, terrorist
A formal compliance management financing, misrepresentation and
program is in place at Manulife. It falsification or forgery of documents.
is designed to promote consistent Dishonest activities, combining personal
management and monitoring of and business funds and fraud are all
compliance with laws and regulations illegal. It is management’s responsibility to
in all Company operations. If you have ensure there are proper internal controls
questions or concerns relating to to deter and detect fraud and other
compliance, consult the procedures dishonest activities, but everyone in the
described in the section of this Code titled Company must help. If you are aware of
“Where to go for help.” any suspicious activity, you have a duty
If you belong to a professional to report it immediately to the relevant
association, you are also expected to immediate supervisor, Business Unit
abide by that association’s governing rules Compliance Officer and the Segment
of professional responsibility and conduct Chief Compliance Officer, or to the Ethics
in the performance of your job. Hotline. Furthermore, you have a duty
to fully and truthfully cooperate with any
Manage Assets Properly investigations pertaining to Company
Customers expect that the money matters.
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24 Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Reminder: Reporting Any Illegal or
Unethical Behaviour
For more guidance
You have a duty to report suspected or See the following sections in
potential illegal or unethical behaviour this Code:
and to seek input when you are in • Conflicts of Interest
doubt about the best course of action • Ethics in your Business
in a particular situation. Consult the Relationships
procedures described in the section of • Handling Information
this Code titled “Where to go for help”
on reporting any suspected or potential See the following related
illegal or unethical behaviour. policies:
As outlined above, you may report • Anti-Fraud Policy and Anti-
suspected or potential illegal or unethical Fraud Guidelines
behaviour without fear of retaliation. • Anti-Money Laundering
The Company absolutely prohibits and Anti-Terrorist Financing
retaliation of any kind for good faith Policy
reports of illegal or unethical behavior. In • Regulatory Compliance
addition, directors, officers, employees, Management Policy
representatives and other associates are
expected to fully and truthfully cooperate
in internal investigations of alleged
misconduct.
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26 Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
questions about our Code of Business For more guidance
Conduct and Ethics or report suspected
misconduct. In addition to other available Additional resources are
avenues of reporting, which include available to you from the Global
speaking with your manager, legal, Compliance Office. You can
compliance, human resources and find the materials through
employee relations, the Ethics Hotline is MFCentral.
available 24-hours per day, seven days • Conflicts of Interest - Best
per week and can be used anonymously Practices
if you choose. You may report suspected • Conflicts of Interest -
or potential illegal or unethical behaviour Frequently Asked Questions
without any fear of retaliation. • Anti-Fraud and Anti-Money
Contact the hotline at: Laundering
www.manulifeethics.com or
866-294-9534.
Elena Papoulias
AVP & Counsel, Global Compliance
617-663-4214 x 734214