EX-99.1 2 d489903dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

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Manulife Financial Corporation

Consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended December 31, 2017


Responsibility for Financial Reporting

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Manulife Financial Corporation are the responsibility of management and have been approved by the Board of Directors. It is also the responsibility of management to ensure that all information in the annual report to shareholders is consistent with these consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the accounting requirements of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, Canada. When alternative accounting methods exist, or when estimates and judgment are required, management has selected those amounts that present the Company’s financial position and results of operations in a manner most appropriate to the circumstances.

Appropriate systems of internal control, policies and procedures have been maintained to ensure that financial information is both relevant and reliable. The systems of internal control are assessed on an ongoing basis by management and the Company’s internal audit department.

The actuary appointed by the Board of Directors (the “Appointed Actuary”) is responsible for ensuring that assumptions and methods used in the determination of policy liabilities are appropriate to the circumstances and that reserves will be adequate to meet the Company’s future obligations under insurance and annuity contracts.

The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that management fulfills its responsibility for financial reporting and is ultimately responsible for reviewing and approving the consolidated financial statements. These responsibilities are carried out primarily through an Audit Committee of unrelated and independent directors appointed by the Board of Directors.

The Audit Committee meets periodically with management, the internal auditors, the external auditors and the Appointed Actuary to discuss internal control over the financial reporting process, auditing matters and financial reporting issues. The Audit Committee reviews the consolidated financial statements prepared by management and then recommends them to the Board of Directors for approval. The Audit Committee also recommends to the Board of Directors and shareholders the appointment of external auditors and approval of their fees.

The consolidated financial statements have been audited by the Company’s external auditors, Ernst & Young LLP, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Ernst & Young LLP has full and free access to management and the Audit Committee.

 

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Roy Gori

President and Chief Executive Officer

  

Philip Witherington

Chief Financial Officer

Toronto, Canada

February 7, 2018

Appointed Actuary’s Report to the Shareholders

I have valued the policy liabilities and reinsurance recoverables of Manulife Financial Corporation for its Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as at December 31, 2017 and 2016 and their change in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years then ended in accordance with actuarial practice generally accepted in Canada, including selection of appropriate assumptions and methods.

In my opinion, the amount of policy liabilities net of reinsurance recoverables makes appropriate provision for all policyholder obligations and the consolidated financial statements fairly present the results of the valuation.

 

 

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Steven Finch

Appointed Actuary

Toronto, Canada

February 7, 2018

 

Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        105


Independent Auditors’ Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders of Manulife Financial Corporation

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Manulife Financial Corporation, which comprise the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as at December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Consolidated Statements of Income, Comprehensive Income, Changes in Equity and Cash Flows for the years then ended, and the related notes, comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Manulife Financial Corporation as at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and its financial performance and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), Manulife Financial Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 7, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of Manulife Financial Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

Management’s Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditors’ Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Those standards also require that we comply with ethical requirements, including independence. We are required to be independent with respect to Manulife Financial Corporation in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the consolidated financial statements in Canada, the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB.

An audit includes performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatements of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures include obtaining and examining, on a test basis, audit evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on our judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud. In making those risk assessments, we consider internal control relevant to Manulife Financial Corporation’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances.

An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies and principles used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained in our audits is sufficient and appropriate to provide a reasonable basis for our audit opinion.

We have served as Manulife Financial Corporation’s auditors since 1905.

 

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Chartered Professional Accountants

Licensed Public Accountants

Toronto, Canada

February 7, 2018

 

106        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Consolidated Financial Statements


Independent Auditors’ Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Under Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)

To the Shareholders of Manulife Financial Corporation

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Manulife Financial Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Manulife Financial Corporation (the “Company”) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the Consolidated Statements of Income, Comprehensive Income, Changes in Equity and Cash Flows for the years then ended of Manulife Financial Corporation, and our report dated February 7, 2018, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting contained in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the consolidated financial statements in Canada, the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

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Chartered Professional Accountants

Licensed Public Accountants

Toronto, Canada

February 7, 2018

 

Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        107


Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

 

As at December 31,

(Canadian $ in millions)

   2017              2016         

Assets

          

Cash and short-term securities

   $ 15,965         $ 15,151    

Debt securities

     174,000           168,622    

Public equities

     21,545           19,496    

Mortgages

     44,742           44,193    

Private placements

     32,132           29,729    

Policy loans

     5,808           6,041    

Loans to bank clients

     1,737           1,745    

Real estate

     13,810           14,132    

Other invested assets

     24,483                 22,760          

Total invested assets (note 4)

     334,222                 321,869          

Other assets

          

Accrued investment income

     2,182           2,260    

Outstanding premiums

     1,148           845    

Derivatives (note 5)

     15,569           23,672    

Reinsurance assets (note 8)

     30,359           34,952    

Deferred tax assets (note 6)

     4,569           4,439    

Goodwill and intangible assets (note 7)

     9,840           10,107    

Miscellaneous

     7,337                 7,360          

Total other assets

     71,004                 83,635          

Segregated funds net assets (note 22)

     324,307                 315,177          

Total assets

   $   729,533               $   720,681          

Liabilities and Equity

          

Liabilities

          

Insurance contract liabilities (note 8)

   $ 304,605         $ 297,505    

Investment contract liabilities (note 9)

     3,126           3,275    

Deposits from bank clients

     18,131           17,919    

Derivatives (note 5)

     7,822           14,151    

Deferred tax liabilities (note 6)

     1,281           1,359    

Other liabilities

     14,926                 15,596          
     349,891           349,805    

Long-term debt (note 11)

     4,785           5,696    

Capital instruments (note 12)

     8,387           7,180    

Segregated funds net liabilities (note 22)

     324,307                 315,177          

Total liabilities

     687,370                 677,858          

Equity

          

Preferred shares (note 13)

     3,577           3,577    

Common shares (note 13)

     22,989           22,865    

Contributed surplus

     277           284    

Shareholders’ retained earnings

     10,083           9,759    

Shareholders’ accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

          

Pension and other post-employment plans

     (364         (417  

Available-for-sale securities

     179           (394  

Cash flow hedges

     (109         (232  

Translation of foreign operations and real estate revaluation surplus

     4,381                 6,390          

Total shareholders’ equity

     41,013           41,832    

Participating policyholders’ equity

     221           248    

Non-controlling interests

     929                 743          

Total equity

     42,163                 42,823          

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 729,533               $ 720,681          

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Roy Gori

President and Chief Executive Officer

  

Richard B. DeWolfe

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

108        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Consolidated Financial Statements


Consolidated Statements of Income

 

For the years ended December 31,

(Canadian $ in millions except per share amounts)

   2017              2016         

Revenue

          

Premium income

          

Gross premiums

   $   36,361         $   36,659    

Premiums ceded to reinsurers

     (8,151               (9,027        

Net premiums

     28,210                 27,632          

Investment income (note 4)

          

Investment income

     13,649           13,390    

Realized and unrealized gains on assets supporting insurance and investment contract liabilities and on the macro hedge program

     5,718                 1,134          

Net investment income

     19,367                 14,524          

Other revenue

     10,746                 11,181          

Total revenue

     58,323                 53,337          

Contract benefits and expenses

          

To contract holders and beneficiaries

          

Gross claims and benefits (note 8)

     24,994           25,059    

Change in insurance contract liabilities

     20,023           18,014    

Change in investment contract liabilities

     173              

Benefits and expenses ceded to reinsurers

     (8,158         (8,097  

Change in reinsurance assets (note 8)

     2,269                 (842        

Net benefits and claims

     39,301           34,134    

General expenses

     7,233           6,995    

Investment expenses (note 4)

     1,673           1,646    

Commissions

     6,116           5,818    

Interest expense

     1,139           1,013    

Net premium taxes

     360                 402          

Total contract benefits and expenses

     55,822                 50,008          

Income before income taxes

     2,501           3,329    

Income tax expense (note 6)

     (239               (196        

Net income

   $ 2,262               $ 3,133          

Net income (loss) attributed to:

          

Non-controlling interests

   $ 194         $ 143    

Participating policyholders

     (36         61    

Shareholders

     2,104                 2,929          
     $ 2,262               $ 3,133          

Net income attributed to shareholders

     2,104           2,929    

Preferred share dividends

     (159               (133        

Common shareholders’ net income

   $ 1,945               $ 2,796          

Earnings per share

          

Basic earnings per common share (note 13)

   $ 0.98         $ 1.42    

Diluted earnings per common share (note 13)

     0.98           1.41    

Dividends per common share

     0.82                 0.74          

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        109


Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 

For the years ended December 31,

(Canadian $ in millions)

   2017              2016         

Net income

   $    2,262               $    3,133          

Other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”), net of tax:

          

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to net income:

          

Foreign exchange gains (losses) on:

          

Translation of foreign operations

     (2,256         (1,044  

Net investment hedges

     227           2    

Available-for-sale financial securities:

          

Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the year

     601           (218  

Reclassification of net realized gains and impairments to net income

     (32         (523  

Cash flow hedges:

          

Unrealized gains arising during the year

     110           21    

Reclassification of realized losses to net income

     13           11    

Share of other comprehensive income of associates

     1                          

Total items that may be subsequently reclassified to net income

     (1,336               (1,751        

Items that will not be reclassified to net income:

          

Change in pension and other post-employment plans

     53           104    

Real estate revaluation reserve

     30                          

Total items that will not be reclassified to net income

     83                 104          

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

     (1,253               (1,647        

Total comprehensive income, net of tax

   $ 1,009               $ 1,486          

Total comprehensive income (loss) attributed to:

          

Non-controlling interests

   $ 192         $ 141    

Participating policyholders

     (27         61    

Shareholders

     844                 1,284          

Income Taxes included in Other Comprehensive Income

 

For the years ended December 31,

(Canadian $ in millions)

   2017              2016         

Income tax expense (recovery) on:

          

Unrealized foreign exchange gains/losses on translation of foreign operations

   $ (1       $         1    

Unrealized foreign exchange gains/losses on net investment hedges

     48           22    

Unrealized gains/losses on available-for-sale financial securities

         284           (15  

Reclassification of realized gains/losses and recoveries/impairments to net income on available-for-sale financial securities

     7           (183  

Unrealized gains/losses on cash flow hedges

     49           15    

Reclassification of realized gains/losses to net income on cash flow hedges

     3           6    

Change in pension and other post-employment plans

     37           57    

Real estate revaluation reserve

     9                          

Total income tax expense (recovery)

   $ 436               $ (97        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

110        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Consolidated Financial Statements


Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

 

For the years ended December 31,

(Canadian $ in millions)

   2017              2016         

Preferred shares

          

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 3,577         $ 2,693    

Issued (note 13)

               900    

Issuance costs, net of tax

                     (16        

Balance, end of year

     3,577                 3,577          

Common shares

          

Balance, beginning of year

     22,865           22,799    

Issued on exercise of stock options

     124                 66          

Balance, end of year

     22,989                 22,865          

Contributed surplus

          

Balance, beginning of year

     284           277    

Exercise of stock options and deferred share units

     (22         (12  

Stock option expense

     15                 19          

Balance, end of year

     277                 284          

Shareholders’ retained earnings

          

Balance, beginning of year

     9,759           8,398    

Net income attributed to shareholders

     2,104           2,929    

Preferred share dividends

     (159         (133  

Common share dividends

     (1,621               (1,435        

Balance, end of year

     10,083                 9,759          

Shareholders’ accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”)

          

Balance, beginning of year

     5,347           6,992    

Change in unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses) of net foreign operations

     (2,029         (1,042  

Change in actuarial gains (losses) on pension and other post-employment plans

     53           104    

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale financial securities

     572           (739  

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges

     123           32    

Change in real estate revaluation reserve

     20              

Share of other comprehensive income of associates

     1                          

Balance, end of year

     4,087                 5,347          

Total shareholders’ equity, end of year

     41,013                 41,832          

Participating policyholders’ equity

          

Balance, beginning of year

     248           187    

Net income (loss) attributed to participating policyholders

     (36         61    

Other comprehensive income attributed to policyholders

     9                          

Balance, end of year

     221                 248          

Non-controlling interests

          

Balance, beginning of year

     743           592    

Net income attributed to non-controlling interests

     194           143    

Other comprehensive loss attributed to non-controlling interests

     (2         (2  

Contributions (distributions), net

     (6               10          

Balance, end of year

     929                 743          

Total equity, end of year

   $  42,163               $  42,823          

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        111


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

For the years ended December 31,

(Canadian $ in millions)

   2017              2016         

Operating activities

          

Net income

   $ 2,262         $ 3,133    

Adjustments:

          

Increase in insurance contract liabilities

     20,023           18,014    

Increase in investment contract liabilities

     173              

(Increase) decrease in reinsurance assets

     2,269           (842  

Amortization of (premium) discount on invested assets

     230           78    

Other amortization

     560           693    

Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses and impairment on assets

     (7,188         (2,804  

Deferred income tax recovery

     (331         (235  

Stock option expense

     15                 19          

Cash provided by operating activities before undernoted items

     18,013           18,056    

Changes in policy related and operating receivables and payables

     (222               (1,039        

Cash provided by operating activities

     17,791                 17,017          

Investing activities

          

Purchases and mortgage advances

     (87,224         (104,059  

Disposals and repayments

     70,720           82,001    

Change in investment broker net receivables and payables

     227           (186  

Net cash decrease from sale and purchase of subsidiaries and businesses

     (10               (495        

Cash used in investing activities

     (16,287               (22,739        

Financing activities

          

Decrease in repurchase agreements and securities sold but not yet purchased

     (29         (23  

Issue of long-term debt, net (note 11)

               3,899    

Redemption of long-term debt (note 11)

     (607         (158  

Issue of capital instruments, net (note 12)

     2,209           479    

Redemption of capital instruments (note 12)

     (899         (949  

Secured borrowing from securitization transactions

     741           847    

Changes in deposits from Bank clients, net

     261           (157  

Shareholders’ dividends paid in cash

     (1,780         (1,593  

Contributions from (distributions to) non-controlling interests, net

     (6         10    

Common shares issued, net (note 13)

     124           66    

Preferred shares issued, net (note 13)

                     884          

Cash provided by financing activities

     14                 3,305          

Cash and short-term securities

          

Increase (decrease) during the year

     1,518           (2,417  

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and short-term securities

     (658         (347  

Balance, beginning of year

     14,238                 17,002          

Balance, December 31

     15,098                 14,238          

Cash and short-term securities

          

Beginning of year

          

Gross cash and short-term securities

     15,151           17,885    

Net payments in transit, included in other liabilities

     (913               (883        

Net cash and short-term securities, January 1

     14,238                 17,002          

End of year

          

Gross cash and short-term securities

     15,965           15,151    

Net payments in transit, included in other liabilities

     (867               (913        

Net cash and short-term securities, December 31

   $ 15,098               $ 14,238          

Supplemental disclosures on cash flow information

          

Interest received

   $ 10,596         $ 10,550    

Interest paid

     1,118           983    

Income taxes paid

     1,360                 841          

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

112        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Consolidated Financial Statements


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Page Number   Note     

114

 

Note 1

  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

121

 

Note 2

  Accounting and Reporting Changes

123

 

Note 3

  Acquisition and Distribution Agreements

124

 

Note 4

  Invested Assets and Investment Income

131

 

Note 5

  Derivative and Hedging Instruments

137

 

Note 6

  Income Taxes

139

 

Note 7

  Goodwill and Intangible Assets

141

 

Note 8

  Insurance Contract Liabilities and Reinsurance Assets

149

 

Note 9

  Investment Contract Liabilities

150

 

Note 10

  Risk Management

157

 

Note 11

  Long-Term Debt

158

 

Note 12

  Capital Instruments

158

 

Note 13

  Share Capital and Earnings Per Share

160

 

Note 14

  Capital Management

161

 

Note 15

  Stock-Based Compensation

163

 

Note 16

  Employee Future Benefits

167

 

Note 17

  Interests in Structured Entities

169

 

Note 18

  Commitments and Contingencies

171

 

Note 19

  Segmented Information

173

 

Note 20

  Related Parties

173

 

Note 21

  Subsidiaries

175

 

Note 22

  Segregated Funds

176

 

Note 23

  Information Provided in Connection with Investments in Deferred Annuity Contracts and SignatureNotes Issued or Assumed by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)

182

 

Note 24

 

Comparatives

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        113


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Canadian $ in millions except per share amounts or unless otherwise stated)

Note 1    Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Reporting entity

Manulife Financial Corporation (“MFC”) is a publicly traded company and the holding company of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (“MLI”), a Canadian life insurance company. MFC and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Manulife” or the “Company”) is a leading financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Manulife’s international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to personal and business clients as well as asset management services to institutional customers. The Company operates as Manulife in Canada and Asia and as John Hancock in the United States.

MFC is domiciled in Canada and incorporated under the Insurance Companies Act (Canada) (“ICA”). These Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with “Risk Management” in the 2017 Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) dealing with IFRS 7 “Financial Instruments: Disclosures” as the discussion on market risk and liquidity risk includes certain disclosures that are considered an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

These Consolidated Financial Statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2017 were authorized for issue by MFC’s Board of Directors on February 7, 2018.

(b) Basis of preparation

The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The most significant estimation processes relate to assumptions used in measuring insurance and investment contract liabilities, assessing assets for impairment, determining of pension and other post-employment benefit obligation and expense assumptions, determining income taxes and uncertain tax positions and fair valuation of certain invested assets. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the year in which the estimates are revised and in any future years affected. Although some variability is inherent in these estimates, management believes that the amounts recorded are appropriate. The significant accounting policies used and the most significant judgments made by management in applying these accounting policies in the preparation of these Consolidated Financial Statements are summarized below.

(c) Fair value measurement

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction (not a forced liquidation or distress sale) between market participants at the measurement date, that is, an exit value.

When available, quoted market prices are used to determine fair value. If quoted market prices are not available, fair value is typically based upon alternative valuation techniques such as discounted cash flows, matrix pricing, consensus pricing services and other techniques. Broker quotes are generally used when external public vendor prices are not available.

The Company has a process in place that includes a review of price movements relative to the market, a comparison of prices between vendors, and a comparison to internal matrix pricing which uses predominately external observable data. Judgment is applied in adjusting external observable data for items including liquidity and credit factors.

The Company categorizes its fair value measurements according to a three-level hierarchy. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used by the Company’s valuation techniques. A level is assigned to each fair value measurement based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 – Fair value measurements that reflect unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date reflecting market transactions.

Level 2 – Fair value measurements using inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in inactive markets, inputs that are observable that are not prices (such as interest rates, credit risks, etc.) and inputs that are derived from or corroborated by observable market data. Most debt securities are classified within Level 2. Also, included in the Level 2 category are derivative instruments that are priced using models with observable market inputs, including interest rate swaps, equity swaps, and foreign currency forward contracts.

Level 3 – Fair value measurements using significant non-market observable inputs. These include valuations for assets and liabilities that are derived using data, some or all of which is not market observable, including assumptions about risk. Level 3 securities include less liquid securities such as structured asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), certain long-duration bonds and other securities that have little or no price transparency. Embedded and complex derivative financial instruments as well as real estate classified as investment property are also included in Level 3.

 

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(d) Basis of consolidation

MFC consolidates the financial statements of all entities, including certain structured entities that it controls. Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. The Company has control over an entity when the Company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity, is exposed to variable returns from its activities which are significant in relation to the total variable returns of the entity and the Company is able to use its power over the entity to affect its share of variable returns. In assessing control, significant judgment is applied while considering all relevant facts and circumstances. When assessing decision-making power, the Company considers the extent of its rights relative to the management of an entity, the level of voting rights held in an entity which are potentially or presently exercisable, the existence of any contractual management agreements which may provide the Company with power over an entity’s financial and operating policies and to the extent of other parties’ ownership in an entity, if any, the possibility for de facto control being present. When assessing returns, the Company considers the significance of direct and indirect financial and non-financial variable returns to the Company from an entity’s activities in addition to the proportionate significance of such returns. The Company also considers the degree to which its interests are aligned with those of other parties investing in an entity and the degree to which it may act in its own interest.

The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the MFC’s consolidated results from the date control is established and are excluded from consolidation from the date control ceases. The initial control assessment is performed at inception of the Company’s involvement with the entity and is reconsidered at a later date if the Company acquires or loses power over key operating and financial policies of the entity; acquires additional interests or disposes of interests in the entity; the contractual arrangements of the entity are amended such that the Company’s proportionate exposure to variable returns changes; or if the Company’s ability to use its power to affect its variable returns from the entity changes.

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared using uniform accounting policies for like transactions and events in similar circumstances. Intercompany balances, and income and expenses arising from intercompany transactions, have been eliminated in preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Non-controlling interests are interests of other parties in the equity of MFC’s subsidiaries and are presented within total equity, separate from the equity of MFC’s shareholders. Non-controlling interests in the net income and other comprehensive income (“OCI”) of MFC’s subsidiaries are included in total net income and total OCI, respectively. An exception to this occurs where the subsidiary’s shares are required to be redeemed for cash on a fixed or determinable date, in which case other parties’ interests in the subsidiary’s capital are presented as liabilities of the Company and other parties’ non-controlling interests in the subsidiary’s income and OCI are recorded as expenses of the Company.

The equity method of accounting is used to account for entities over which the Company has significant influence (“associates”), whereby the Company records its share of the associate’s net assets and financial results using uniform accounting policies for similar transactions and events. Significant judgment is used to determine whether voting rights, contractual management and other relationships with the entity, if any, provide the Company with significant influence over the entity. Gains and losses on the sale of associates are included in income when realized, while impairment losses are recognized immediately when there is objective evidence of impairment. Gains and losses on commercial transactions with associates are eliminated to the extent of the Company’s interest in the associate. Investments in associates are included in other invested assets on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

(e) Invested assets

Invested assets that are considered financial instruments are classified as fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”), loans and receivables, or as available-for-sale (“AFS”) financial assets. The Company determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition. Invested assets are recognized initially at fair value plus, in the case of investments not at FVTPL, directly attributable transaction costs. Invested assets are classified as financial instruments at FVTPL if they are held for trading, if they are designated by management under the fair value option, or if they are designated by management when they include one or more embedded derivatives. Invested assets classified as AFS are non-derivative financial assets that do not fall into any of the other categories described above.

Valuation methods for the Company’s invested assets are described above. All fair value valuations are performed in accordance with IFRS 13 “Fair Value Measurement”. Disclosure of financial instruments carried at fair value with the three levels of the fair value hierarchy and the disclosure of the fair value for financial instruments not carried at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position are presented in note 4. Fair value valuations are performed by the Company and by third-party service providers. When third-party service providers are engaged, the Company performs a variety of procedures to corroborate pricing information. These procedures may include, but are not limited to, inquiry and review of valuation techniques, inputs to the valuation and vendor controls reports.

Cash and short-term securities comprise cash, current operating accounts, overnight bank and term deposits, and fixed income securities held for the purpose of meeting short-term cash commitments. Short-term securities are carried at fair value. Short-term securities are comprised of investments due to mature within one year of the date of purchase. Commercial paper and discount notes are classified as Level 2 because these securities are typically not actively traded. Net payments in transit and overdraft bank balances are included in other liabilities.

Debt securities are carried at fair value. Debt securities are generally valued by independent pricing vendors using proprietary pricing models incorporating current market inputs for similar instruments with comparable terms and credit quality (matrix pricing). The

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        115


significant inputs include, but are not limited to, yield curves, credit risks and spreads, measures of volatility and prepayment rates. These debt securities are classified as Level 2, but can be Level 3 if the significant inputs are market unobservable. Realized gains and losses on sale of debt securities and unrealized gains and losses on debt securities designated as FVTPL are recognized in investment income immediately. Unrealized gains and losses on AFS debt securities are recorded in OCI, with the exception of unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency translation which are included in income. Impairment losses on AFS debt securities are recognized in income on an individual security basis when there is objective evidence of impairment. Impairment is considered to have occurred, based on management’s judgment, when it is deemed probable that the Company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the debt security’s contractual terms.

Equities are comprised of common and preferred equities and are carried at fair value. Equities are generally classified as Level 1, as fair values are normally based on quoted market prices. Realized gains and losses on sale of equities and unrealized gains and losses on equities designated as FVTPL are recognized in investment income immediately. Unrealized gains and losses on AFS equities are recorded in OCI. Impairment losses on AFS equities are recognized in income on an individual security basis when there is objective evidence of impairment. Impairment is considered to have occurred when fair value has declined below cost by significant amounts or for prolonged periods of time. Judgment is applied in determining whether the decline is significant or prolonged.

Mortgages are carried at amortized cost, and are classified as Level 3 for fair value purposes due to the lack of market observability of certain significant valuation inputs. Realized gains and losses are recorded in investment income immediately. Impairment losses are recorded on mortgages when there is no longer reasonable assurance as to the timely collection of the full amount of principal and interest and are measured based on the discounted value of expected future cash flows at the original effective interest rates inherent in the mortgage. Expected future cash flows of impaired mortgages are typically determined in reference to the fair value of collateral security underlying the mortgage, net of expected costs of realization and any applicable insurance recoveries. Significant judgment is applied in the determination of impairment including the timing and amount of future collections.

The Company accounts for insured and uninsured mortgage securitizations as secured financing transactions since the criteria for sale accounting are not met. For these transactions, the Company continues to recognize the mortgages and records a liability in other liabilities for the amounts owed at maturity. Interest income from these mortgages and interest expense on the borrowings are recorded using the effective interest rate method.

Private placements, which include corporate loans for which there is no active market, are carried at amortized cost and are generally classified as Level 2 for fair value disclosure purposes, but can be classified as Level 3 if significant inputs are market unobservable. Realized gains and losses are recorded in income immediately. Impairment losses are recorded on private placements when there is no longer assurance as to the timely collection of the full amount of principal and interest. Impairment is measured based on the discounted value of expected future cash flows at the original effective interest rate inherent in the loan. Significant judgment is applied in the determination of impairment including the timing and amount of future collections.

Policy loans are carried at an amount equal to their unpaid balances and are classified as Level 2 for fair value disclosure purposes. Policy loans are fully collateralized by the cash surrender value of the underlying policies.

Loans to Manulife Bank of Canada (“Manulife Bank” or “Bank”) clients are carried at unpaid principal balances less allowance for credit losses, if any, and are classified as Level 2 for fair value disclosure purposes. A loan to a Bank client is considered impaired when there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more loss events that have occurred after initial recognition, with a negative impact on the estimated future cash flows of the loan.

Once established, allowances for impairment of mortgages, private placements and loans to Bank clients are reversed only if the conditions that caused the impairment no longer exist. Reversals of impairment charges on AFS debt securities are only recognized in income to the extent that increases in fair value can be attributed to events subsequent to the impairment loss being recorded. Impairment losses for AFS equity instruments are not reversed through income. On disposition of an impaired asset, any allowance for impairment is released.

In addition to impairments and provisions for loan losses (recoveries) reported in investment income, the measurement of insurance contract liabilities via investment return assumptions, includes expected future credit losses on fixed income investments. Refer to note 8(d).

Interest income is recognized on debt securities, mortgages, private placements, policy loans and loans to Bank clients as it accrues and is calculated using the effective interest rate method. Premiums, discounts and transaction costs are amortized over the life of the underlying investment using the effective yield method for all debt securities as well as mortgages and private placements measured at amortized cost.

The Company records purchases and sales of invested assets on a trade date basis, except for loans originated by the Company, which are recognized on a settlement date basis.

Real estate consists of both own use and investment property. Own use property is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Depreciation is calculated based on the cost of an asset less its residual value and is recognized in income on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life ranging from 30 to 60 years. Impairment losses are recorded in income to the extent the recoverable amount is less than the carrying amount. Where own use property is included in assets backing insurance contract liabilities, the fair value of the property is used in the valuation of insurance contract liabilities. Own use property is classified as Level 3 for fair value disclosure purposes.

 

116        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


An investment property is a property held to earn rental income, for capital appreciation, or both. Investment properties are measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in income. Fair value is determined using external appraisals that are based on the highest and best use of the property. The valuation techniques used include discounted cash flows, the direct capitalization method as well as comparable sales analysis and include both observable and unobservable inputs. Inputs include existing and assumed tenancies, market data from recent comparable transactions, future economic outlook and market risk assumptions, capitalization rates and internal rates of return. Investment properties are classified as Level 3 for fair value disclosure purposes.

When a property changes from own use to investment property, any gain arising on the remeasurement of the property to fair value at the date of transfer is recognized in OCI, to the extent that it is not reversing a previous impairment loss. Reversals of impairment losses are recognized in income.

Other invested assets include private equity and property investments held in power and infrastructure and timber, as well as in agriculture and oil and gas sectors. Private equity investments are accounted for as associates using the equity method (as described in note 1(d) above) or are classified as FVTPL or AFS and carried at fair value. Investments in oil and gas exploration and evaluation activities are measured on the cost basis using the “successful efforts” method. Timber and agriculture properties are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in income, with the exception of buildings, equipment and bearer plants which are measured at amortized cost. The fair value of other invested assets is determined using a variety of valuation techniques as described in note 4. Other invested assets that are measured or disclosed at fair value are classified as Level 3.

Other invested assets also include investments in leveraged leases, which are accounted for using the equity method. The carrying value under the equity method reflects the amortized cost of the lease receivable and related non-recourse debt using the effective yield method.

(f) Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase consideration of an acquired business and the Company’s proportionate share of the net identifiable assets acquired. It is initially recorded at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment.

Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable at the cash generating unit (“CGU”) or group of CGUs level. The Company allocates goodwill to CGUs or groups of CGUs for the purpose of impairment testing based on the lowest level within the entity in which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes. The allocation is made to those CGUs or groups of CGUs that are expected to benefit from the business combination in which the goodwill arose. Any potential impairment of goodwill is identified by comparing the recoverable amount of a CGU or group of CGUs to its carrying value. Goodwill is reduced by the amount of deficiency, if any. If the deficiency exceeds the carrying amount of goodwill, the carrying values of the remaining assets in the CGU or group of CGUs are subject to being reduced by the excess on a pro-rata basis.

The recoverable amount of a CGU is the higher of the estimated fair value less costs to sell or the value-in-use of the CGU. In assessing value-in-use, estimated future cash flows are discounted using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. In some cases, the most recent detailed calculation made in a prior period of the recoverable amount of a CGU is used in the testing of impairment of goodwill in the current period. This is the case only if there are no significant changes to the CGU, the likelihood of impairment is remote based on the analysis of current events and circumstances, and the most recent recoverable amount substantially exceeds the carrying amount of the CGU.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives include the John Hancock brand name and certain investment management contracts. The indefinite useful life assessment for brand is based on the brand name being protected in markets where branded products are sold by trademarks, which are renewable indefinitely, and for certain investment management contracts due to the ability to renew these contracts indefinitely. In addition, there are no legal, regulatory or contractual provisions that limit the useful lives of these intangible assets. An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is not amortized but is subject to an annual impairment test which is performed more frequently if there is an indication that it is not recoverable.

Intangible assets with finite useful lives include acquired distribution networks, customer relationships, capitalized software, certain investment management contracts and other contractual rights. Distribution networks, customer relationships, and other finite life intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, six to 68 years, either based on straight-line or in relation to other asset consumption metrics. Software intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of three to five years. Finite life intangible assets are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting period. If any indication of impairment exists, these assets are subject to an impairment test.

(g) Miscellaneous assets

Miscellaneous assets include assets held in a rabbi trust with respect to unfunded defined benefit obligations, defined benefit assets, if any (refer to note 1(o)), deferred acquisition costs and capital assets. Deferred acquisition costs are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. These costs are recognized over the period where redemption fees may be charged or over the period revenue is earned. Capital assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization computed on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which vary from two to 10 years.

(h) Segregated funds

The Company manages a number of segregated funds on behalf of policyholders. The investment returns on these funds are passed directly to policyholders. In some cases, the Company has provided guarantees associated with these funds.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        117


Segregated funds net assets are measured at fair value and primarily include investments in mutual funds, debt securities, equities, real estate, short-term investments and cash and cash equivalents. With respect to the consolidation requirement of IFRS, in assessing the Company’s degree of control over the underlying investments, the Company considers the scope of its decision-making rights, the rights held by other parties, its remuneration as an investment manager and its exposure to variability of returns. The Company has determined that it does not have control over the underlying investments as it acts as an agent on behalf of segregated fund policyholders.

The methodology applied to determine the fair value of investments held in segregated funds is consistent with that applied to invested assets held by the general fund, as described above in note 1(e). Segregated funds liabilities are measured based on the value of the segregated funds net assets. Investment returns on segregated funds assets belong to policyholders and the Company does not bear the risk associated with these assets outside of guarantees offered on certain variable life and annuity products, for which the underlying investments are held within segregated funds. Accordingly, investment income earned by segregated funds and expenses incurred by segregated funds are offset and are not separately presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Fee income earned by the Company for managing the segregated funds is included in other revenue. Refer to note 22.

Liabilities related to guarantees associated with certain segregated funds, as a result of certain variable life and annuity contracts, are recorded within the Company’s insurance contract liabilities. The Company holds assets supporting these guarantees which are recognized in invested assets according to their investment type.

(i) Insurance and investment contract liabilities

Most contracts issued by the Company are considered insurance, investment or service contracts. Contracts under which the Company accepts significant insurance risk from a policyholder are classified as insurance contracts in the Consolidated Financial Statements. A contract is considered to have significant insurance risk if, and only if, an insured event could cause an insurer to make significant additional payments in any scenario, excluding scenarios that lack commercial substance at the inception of the contract. Contracts under which the Company does not accept significant insurance risk are either classified as investment contracts or considered service contracts and are accounted for in accordance with IAS 39Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement or IAS 18 “Revenue”, respectively.

Once a contract has been classified as an insurance contract it remains an insurance contract even if the insurance risk reduces significantly. Investment contracts can be reclassified as insurance contracts if insurance risk subsequently becomes significant.

Insurance contract liabilities, net of reinsurance assets, represent the amount which, together with estimated future premiums and net investment income, will be sufficient to pay estimated future benefits, policyholder dividends and refunds, taxes (other than income taxes) and expenses on policies in-force. Insurance contract liabilities are presented gross of reinsurance assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The Company’s Appointed Actuary is responsible for determining the amount of insurance contract liabilities in accordance with standards established by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. Insurance contract liabilities, net of reinsurance assets, have been determined using the Canadian Asset Liability Method (“CALM”) as permitted by IFRS 4 “Insurance Contracts”. Refer to note 8.

Investment contract liabilities include contracts issued to retail and institutional investors that do not contain significant insurance risk. Investment contract liabilities and deposits are measured at amortized cost or at fair value by election. The election reduces accounting mismatches between assets supporting these contracts and the related policy liabilities. Investment contract liabilities are derecognized when the contract expires, is discharged or is cancelled.

Derivatives embedded within insurance contracts are separated if they are not considered to be closely related to the host insurance contract and do not meet the definition of an insurance contract. These embedded derivatives are presented separately in other assets or other liabilities and are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in income.

(j) Reinsurance assets

The Company uses reinsurance in the normal course of business to manage its risk exposure. Insurance ceded to a reinsurer does not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. The Company remains liable to its policyholders for the portion reinsured to the extent that any reinsurer does not meet its obligations for reinsurance ceded to it under a reinsurance agreement.

Reinsurance assets represent the benefit derived from reinsurance agreements in-force at the reporting date, taking into account the financial condition of the reinsurer. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are estimated in accordance with the terms of the relevant reinsurance contract.

Gains or losses on reinsurance transactions are recognized in income immediately on the transaction date and are not amortized. Premiums ceded and claims reimbursed are presented on a gross basis on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Reinsurance assets are not offset against the related insurance contract liabilities and are presented separately on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Refer to note 8(a).

(k) Other financial instruments accounted for as liabilities

The Company issues a variety of other financial instruments classified as liabilities, including notes payable, term notes, senior notes, senior debentures, subordinated notes, surplus notes, subscription receipts and preferred shares.

These financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost, with issuance costs deferred and amortized using the effective interest rate method.

 

118        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(l) Income taxes

The provision for income taxes is calculated based on income tax laws and income tax rates substantively enacted as at the date of the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The income tax provision is comprised of current income taxes and deferred income taxes. Current and deferred income taxes relating to items recognized in OCI and directly in equity are similarly recognized in OCI and directly in equity, respectively.

Current income taxes are amounts expected to be payable or recoverable as a result of operations in the current year and any adjustments to taxes payable in respect of previous years.

Deferred income taxes are provided for using the liability method and result from temporary differences between the carrying values of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred income taxes are measured at the substantively enacted tax rates that are expected to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse.

A deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that future realization of the tax benefit is probable. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the tax benefit will be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax liabilities and assets and they relate to income taxes levied by the same tax authority on the same taxable entity.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for all taxable temporary differences, except in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries and associates, where the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The Company records provisions for uncertain tax positions if it is probable that the Company will make a payment on tax positions as a result of examinations by tax authorities. These provisions are measured at the Company’s best estimate of the amount expected to be paid. Provisions are reversed to income in the period in which management assesses they are no longer required or determined by statute.

The Company is subject to income tax laws in various jurisdictions. Tax laws are complex and potentially subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the relevant tax authority. The provision for income taxes and deferred income taxes represents management’s interpretation of the relevant tax laws and its estimate of current and future income tax implications of the transactions and events during the year. The Company may be required to change its provision for income taxes or deferred income tax balances when the ultimate deductibility of certain items is successfully challenged by taxing authorities, or if estimates used in determining the amount of deferred tax asset to recognize change significantly, or when receipt of new information indicates the need for adjustment in the amount of deferred income taxes to be recognized. Additionally, future events, such as changes in tax laws, tax regulations, or interpretations of such laws or regulations, could have an impact on the provision for income taxes, deferred tax balances and the effective tax rate. Any such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements in the period these changes occur.

(m) Foreign currency translation

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Company’s subsidiaries are measured by each subsidiary using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the “functional currency”).

Transactions in a foreign currency are translated to the functional currency at the exchange rate prevailing at the date of the transaction. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated to the functional currency at the exchange rate in effect at the reporting date. Revenue and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the average exchange rate prevailing during the quarter reported. Exchange gains and losses are recognized in income with the exception of translation of net investments in foreign operations and the results of hedging these positions.

These foreign exchange gains and losses are recognized in OCI until such time that the foreign operation is disposed of or control or significant influence over it is lost.

(n) Stock-based compensation

The Company provides stock-based compensation to certain employees and directors as described in note 15. Compensation expense of equity instruments is accrued based on the best estimate of the number of instruments expected to vest, with revisions made to that estimate if subsequent information indicates that actual forfeitures are likely to differ from initial estimates, unless forfeitures are due to market-based conditions.

Stock options are expensed with a corresponding increase in contributed surplus. Restricted share units and deferred share units are expensed with a corresponding liability accrued based on the market value of MFC’s common shares at the end of each quarter. Performance share units are expensed with a corresponding liability accrued based on specific performance conditions and the market value of MFC’s common shares at the end of each quarter. The change in the value of the awards resulting from changes in the market value of MFC’s common shares or changes in the specific performance conditions and credited dividends is recognized in income, offset by the impact of total return swaps used to manage the variability of the related liability.

Stock-based compensation cost is recognized over the applicable vesting period, except if the employee is eligible to retire at the time of grant or will be eligible to retire during the vesting period. Compensation cost, attributable to stock options, restricted share units, and performance share units granted to employees who are eligible to retire on the grant date or who will become eligible to retire during the vesting period, is recognized at the grant date or over the period from the grant date to the date of retirement eligibility, respectively.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        119


The Company’s contributions to the Global Share Ownership Plan (“GSOP”) (refer to note 15(d)), are expensed as incurred. Under the GSOP, subject to certain conditions, the Company will match a percentage of an employee’s eligible contributions to certain maximums. All contributions are used by the plan’s trustee to purchase MFC common shares in the open market.

(o) Employee future benefits

The Company maintains defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans and other post-employment plans for employees and agents including registered (tax qualified) pension plans that are typically funded as well as supplemental non-registered (non-qualified) pension plans for executives, retiree welfare plans and disability welfare plans that are typically not funded.

The Company’s obligation in respect of defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefits is calculated for each plan as the estimated present value of future benefits that eligible employees have earned in return for their service up to the reporting date using the projected benefit method. The discount rate used is based on the yield, as at the reporting date, of high quality corporate debt securities that have approximately the same term as the obligations and that are denominated in the same currency in which the benefits are expected to be paid.

To determine the Company’s net defined benefit asset or liability, the fair value of plan assets is deducted from the defined benefit obligations. When this calculation results in a surplus, the asset that can be recognized is limited to the present value of future economic benefit available in the form of future refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan (the asset limit). Defined benefit assets are included in other assets and defined benefit liabilities are included in other liabilities.

Changes in the net defined benefit asset or liability due to re-measurement of pension and retiree welfare plans are recorded in OCI in the period in which they occur and are not reclassified to income in subsequent periods. They consist of actuarial gains and losses, the impact of the asset limit, if any, and the return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in net interest income or expense. Changes in the net defined benefit asset or liability due to re-measurement of disability welfare plans are recorded in income in the period in which they occur.

The cost of defined benefit pension plans is recognized over the employee’s years of service to retirement while the cost of retiree welfare plans is recognized over the employee’s years of service to their date of full eligibility. The net benefit cost for the year is recorded in income and is calculated as the sum of the service cost in respect of the fiscal year, the net interest income or expense and any applicable administration expenses, plus past service costs or credits resulting from plan amendments or curtailments. The net interest income or expense is determined by applying the discount rate to the net defined benefit asset or liability. The current year cost of disability welfare plans is the year-over-year change in the defined benefit obligation, including any actuarial gains or losses.

The cost of defined contribution plans is the contribution provided by the Company and is recorded in income in the periods during which services are rendered by employees.

(p) Derivative and hedging instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments (“derivatives”) including swaps, forward and futures agreements, and options to manage current and anticipated exposures to changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, commodity prices and equity market prices, and to replicate permissible investments. Derivatives embedded in other financial instruments (“host instruments”) are separately recorded as derivatives when their economic characteristics and risks are not closely related to those of the host instrument, the terms of the embedded derivative are the same as those of a standalone derivative and the host instrument itself is not recorded at FVTPL. Derivatives are recorded at fair value. Derivatives with unrealized gains are reported as derivative assets and derivatives with unrealized losses are reported as derivative liabilities.

A determination is made for each derivative as to whether to apply hedge accounting. Where hedge accounting is not applied, changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded in investment income. Refer to note 4(c).

Where the Company has elected to apply hedge accounting, a hedging relationship is designated and documented at inception. Hedge effectiveness is evaluated at inception and throughout the term of the hedge and hedge accounting is only applied when the Company expects that the hedging relationship will be highly effective in achieving offsetting changes in fair value or changes in cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged. The assessment of hedge effectiveness is performed at the end of each reporting period both prospectively and retrospectively. When it is determined that a hedging relationship is no longer effective, or the hedging instrument or the hedged item has been sold or terminated, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively. In such cases, if the derivatives are not sold or terminated, any subsequent changes in fair value of the derivatives are recognized in investment income.

For derivatives that are designated as hedging instruments, changes in fair value are recognized according to the nature of the risks being hedged, as discussed below.

In a fair value hedging relationship, changes in fair value of the hedging instruments are recorded in investment income, offsetting changes in fair value of the hedged items, which would otherwise not be carried at fair value. Hedge ineffectiveness is recognized in investment income and arises from differences between changes in the fair values of hedging instruments and hedged items. When hedge accounting is discontinued, the carrying value of the hedged item is no longer adjusted and the cumulative fair value adjustments are amortized to investment income over the remaining term of the hedged item unless the hedged item is sold, at which time the balance is recognized immediately in investment income.

 

120        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


In a cash flow hedging relationship, the effective portion of the change in the fair value of the hedging instrument is recorded in OCI while the ineffective portion is recognized in investment income. Gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) are recognized in income during the same periods as the variability in the hedged cash flows or the hedged forecasted transactions are recognized in income. The reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) are made to investment income, with the exception of total return swaps that hedge restricted share units, which are reclassified to general expenses.

Gains and losses on cash flow hedges in AOCI are reclassified immediately to investment income when the hedged item is sold or the forecasted transaction is no longer expected to occur. When a hedge is discontinued, but the hedged forecasted transaction remains highly probable to occur, the amounts in AOCI are reclassified to investment income in the periods during which variability in the cash flows hedged or the hedged forecasted transaction is recognized in income.

In a net investment in foreign operations hedging relationship, the gains and losses relating to the effective portion of the hedge are recorded in OCI. Gains and losses in AOCI are recognized in income during the periods when gains or losses on the underlying hedged net investment in foreign operations are recognized in income.

(q) Premium income and related expenses

Gross premiums for all types of insurance contracts, and contracts with limited mortality or morbidity risk, are generally recognized as revenue when due. Premiums are reported gross of reinsurance ceded (refer to note 8). Revenue on service contracts is recognized as services are rendered.

Note 2    Accounting and Reporting Changes

(a) Changes in accounting policy

(I) Annual improvements to IFRS Standards 2014 – 2016 Cycle

Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted certain amendments issued within the Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2014-2016 Cycle, as issued by the IASB in December 2016. There are various minor amendments which are effective in 2017, with other amendments being effective January 1, 2018. The currently effective amendments were applied retrospectively. Adoption of these amendments did not have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(II) Amendments to IAS 12 “Income Taxes”

Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted the amendments issued in January 2016 to IAS 12 “Income Taxes”. These amendments were applied retrospectively. The amendments clarify recognition of deferred tax assets relating to unrealized losses on debt instruments measured at fair value. A deductible temporary difference arises when the carrying amount of the debt instrument measured at fair value is less than the cost for tax purposes, irrespective of whether the debt instrument is held for sale or held to maturity. The recognition of the deferred tax asset that arises from this deductible temporary difference is considered in combination with other deferred taxes applying local tax law restrictions where applicable. In addition, when estimating future taxable profits, consideration can be given to recovering more than the asset’s carrying amount where probable. Adoption of these amendments did not have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(III) Amendments to IAS 7 “Statement of Cash Flows”

Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted the amendments issued in January 2016 to IAS 7 “Statement of Cash Flows”. These amendments were applied prospectively. These amendments require companies to provide information about changes in their financing liabilities. Adoption of these amendments did not have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b) Future accounting and reporting changes

(I) IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”

IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” was issued in May 2014, and replaces IAS 11 “Construction Contracts” IAS 18 “Revenue” and several interpretations. Amendments to IFRS 15 were issued in April 2016. IFRS 15 as amended is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. The Company will adopt IFRS 15 effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method with no restatement of comparative information.

IFRS 15 clarifies revenue recognition principles, provides a robust framework for recognizing revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers and enhances qualitative and quantitative disclosure requirements. IFRS 15 does not apply to insurance contracts, financial instruments and lease contracts.

The Company’s service arrangements are generally satisfied over time, with revenue measured and collected from customers within a short term, as services are rendered.

Adoption of IFRS 15 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(II) IFRS Interpretation Committee (“IFRIC”) Interpretation 22 “Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration”

IFRIC 22 “Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration” was issued in December 2016 and is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 and may be applied retrospectively or prospectively. IFRIC 22 addresses which foreign

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        121


exchange rate to use to measure a foreign currency transaction when advance payments are made or received and non-monetary assets or liabilities are recognized prior to recognition of the underlying transaction. IFRIC 22 does not relate to goods or services accounted for at fair value or at the fair value of consideration paid or received at a date other than the date of initial recognition of the non-monetary asset or liability, or to income taxes, insurance contracts or reinsurance contracts. The foreign exchange rate on the day of the advance payment is used to measure the foreign currency transaction. If multiple advance payments are made or received, each payment is measured separately. The Company is assessing the impact of this standard. Adoption of IFRIC 22 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(III) Amendments to IFRS 2 “Share-Based Payment”

Amendments to IFRS 2 “Share-Based Payment” were issued in June 2016 and are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, to be applied prospectively. The amendments clarify the effects of vesting and non-vesting conditions on the measurement of cash-settled share-based payments; provide guidance on the classification of share-based payment transactions with net settlement features for withholding tax obligations; and clarify accounting for modification to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment that changes the classification of the transaction from cash-settled to equity-settled. Adoption of these amendments is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(IV) IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”

IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” was issued in November 2009 and amended in October 2010, November 2013 and July 2014, and is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, to be applied retrospectively, or on a modified retrospective basis. Additionally, the IASB issued amendments in October 2017 that are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. The standard is intended to replace IAS 39 “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement”.

The project has been divided into three phases: classification and measurement, impairment of financial assets, and hedge accounting. IFRS 9’s current classification and measurement methodology provides that financial assets are measured at either amortized cost or fair value on the basis of the entity’s business model for managing the financial assets and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. The classification and measurement for financial liabilities remains generally unchanged; however, for a financial liability designated as at fair value through profit or loss, revisions have been made in the accounting for changes in fair value attributable to changes in the credit risk of that liability. Gains or losses caused by changes in an entity’s own credit risk on such liabilities are no longer recognized in profit or loss but instead are reflected in OCI.

Revisions to hedge accounting were issued in November 2013 as part of the overall IFRS 9 project. The amendment introduces a new hedge accounting model, together with corresponding disclosures about risk management activities for those applying hedge accounting. The new model represents a substantial overhaul of hedge accounting that will enable entities to better reflect their risk management activities in their financial statements.

Revisions issued in July 2014 replace the existing incurred loss model used for measuring the allowance for credit losses with an expected credit loss model. Changes were also made to the existing classification and measurement model designed primarily to address specific application issues raised by early adopters of the standard. The revision also addresses the income statement accounting mismatches and short-term volatility issues which have been identified as a result of the insurance contracts project.

Revisions issued in October 2017 allow financial assets to be measured at amortized cost or fair value through OCI even if the lender is required to pay a reasonable compensation in the event of an early termination of the contract by the borrower (also referred to as prepayment features with negative compensation).

The Company expects to defer IFRS 9 until January 1, 2021 as allowed under the amendments to IFRS 4 “Insurance Contracts” outlined below. The Company is assessing the impact of this standard.

(V) Amendments to IFRS 4 “Insurance Contracts”

Amendments to IFRS 4 “Insurance Contracts” were issued in September 2016, which are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. The amendments introduce two approaches to address concerns about the differing effective dates of IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” and IFRS 17 “Insurance Contracts”: the overlay approach and the deferral approach. The overlay approach provides an option for all issuers of insurance contracts to adjust profit or loss for eligible financial assets by removing any additional accounting volatility that may arise from applying IFRS 9 before IFRS 17 is implemented. The deferral approach provides companies whose activities are predominantly related to insurance an optional temporary exemption from applying IFRS 9 until January 1, 2021. The Company qualifies for the exemption and intends to defer IFRS 9 until January 1, 2021.

(VI) IFRS 17 “Insurance Contracts”

IFRS 17 was issued in May 2017 and is effective for years beginning on January 1, 2021, and to be applied retrospectively. If full retrospective application to a group of contracts is impractical, the modified retrospective or fair value methods may be used. The standard will replace IFRS 4 “Insurance Contracts” and will materially change the recognition and measurement of insurance contracts and the corresponding presentation and disclosures in the Company’s Financial Statements and MD&A. The Company is assessing the implications of this standard and expects that it will have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, in certain jurisdictions, including Canada, it could have a material effect on tax and regulatory capital positions that are dependent upon IFRS accounting values.

 

122        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


For life insurance companies, such as Manulife, that have long-duration products and/or regulatory and tax regimes dependent upon IFRS accounting values, the Company believes that an effective date of January 1, 2021 is aggressive. Therefore, while the Company’s implementation project is well underway, the Company and others in the life insurance industry are encouraging the IASB to defer the effective date.

(VII) IFRS 16 “Leases”

IFRS 16 “Leases” was issued in January 2016 and is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, to be applied retrospectively or on a modified retrospective basis. It will replace IAS 17 “Leases” and IFRIC 4 “Determining whether an arrangement contains a lease”. IFRS 16 sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract, the customer (“lessee”) and the supplier (“lessor”). The standard brings most leases on-balance sheet for lessees under a single model, eliminating the previous classifications of operating and finance leases. Exemptions to this treatment are for lease contracts with low value assets or leases with duration of less than one year. The on-balance sheet treatment will result in the grossing up of the balance sheet due to right-of-use assets being recognized with offsetting liabilities. Lessor accounting will remain largely unchanged with previous classifications of operating and finance leases being maintained. The Company is assessing the impact of this standard.

(VIII) IFRS Interpretation Committee (“IFRIC”) Interpretation 23 “Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments”

IFRIC 23 “Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments” was issued in June 2017 and is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, to be applied retrospectively. IFRIC 23 provides guidance on applying the recognition and measurement requirements in IAS 12 when there is uncertainty over income tax treatments including whether uncertain tax treatments should be considered together or separately based on which approach better predicts resolution of the uncertainty. Adoption of IFRIC 23 is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(IX) Amendments to IAS 28 “Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures”

Amendments to IAS 28 “Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures” were issued in October 2017 and are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019, to be applied retrospectively. The amendments clarify that an entity applies IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” to financial interests in an associate or joint venture to which the equity method is not applied. IAS 39 is being applied to these interests until IFRS 9 is adopted in 2021. Adoption of these amendments is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(X) Annual Improvements 2015 – 2017 Cycle

Annual Improvements 2015 – 2017 Cycle was issued in December 2017 and is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2019. The IASB issued three minor amendments to different standards as part of the Annual Improvements process, with the amendments to be applied prospectively. Adoption of these amendments is not expected to have significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note 3    Acquisition and Distribution Agreements

(a) Mandatory Provident Fund business of Standard Chartered

On November 1, 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of Standard Chartered’s Mandatory Provident Fund (“MPF”) and Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance (“ORSO”) businesses in Hong Kong, and the related investment management entity. In addition, on November 1, 2016, the Company commenced its 15-year exclusive distribution partnership with Standard Chartered. These arrangements significantly expand Manulife’s retirement business in Hong Kong. Total consideration of $392 was paid in cash.

(b) Distribution agreement with DBS Bank Ltd (“DBS”)

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company entered into a 15-year regional distribution agreement with DBS covering Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and Indonesia. The arrangement expands the Company’s strategy for growth in Asia. The Company recognized $536 of distribution network intangible assets on the agreement’s effective date.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        123


Note 4     Invested Assets and Investment Income

(a) Carrying values and fair values of invested assets

 

As at December 31, 2017    FVTPL(1)      AFS(2)      Other(3)      Total carrying
value
     Total fair
value(9)
 

Cash and short-term securities(4)

   $ 439      $ 11,429      $ 4,097      $ 15,965      $ 15,965  

Debt securities(5)

              

Canadian government and agency

     17,886        4,892               22,778        22,778  

U.S. government and agency

     12,497        13,472               25,969        25,969  

Other government and agency

     16,838        2,988               19,826        19,826  

Corporate

     96,785        5,366               102,151        102,151  

Mortgage/asset-backed securities

     3,018        258               3,276        3,276  

Public equities

     18,473        3,072               21,545        21,545  

Mortgages

                   44,742        44,742        46,065  

Private placements

                   32,132        32,132        34,581  

Policy loans

                   5,808        5,808        5,808  

Loans to Bank clients

                   1,737        1,737        1,742  

Real estate

              

Own use property(6)

                   1,281        1,281        2,448  

Investment property

                   12,529        12,529        12,529  

Other invested assets

              

Alternative long-duration assets(7)

     12,018        88        8,624        20,730        21,053  

Various other (8)

     142               3,611        3,753        3,752  

Total invested assets

   $   178,096      $   41,565      $   114,561      $   334,222      $   339,488  
As at December 31, 2016      FVTPL(1)        AFS(2)        Other(3)       
Total carrying
value
 
 
    
Total fair
value(9)
 
 

Cash and short-term securities(4)

   $ 269      $ 11,705      $ 3,177      $ 15,151      $ 15,151  

Debt securities(5)

              

Canadian government and agency

     18,030        6,715               24,745        24,745  

U.S. government and agency

     13,971        13,333               27,304        27,304  

Other government and agency

     18,629        2,312               20,941        20,941  

Corporate

     87,374        5,041               92,415        92,415  

Mortgage/asset-backed securities

     2,886        331               3,217        3,217  

Public equities

     16,531        2,965               19,496        19,496  

Mortgages

                   44,193        44,193        45,665  

Private placements

                   29,729        29,729        31,459  

Policy loans

                   6,041        6,041        6,041  

Loans to Bank clients

                   1,745        1,745        1,746  

Real estate

              

Own use property(6)

                   1,376        1,376        2,524  

Investment property

                   12,756        12,756        12,756  

Other invested assets

              

Alternative long-duration assets(7)

     10,707        96        8,048        18,851        19,193  

Various other (8)

     164               3,745        3,909        3,910  

Total invested assets

   $ 168,561      $ 42,498      $ 110,810      $ 321,869      $ 326,563  

 

(1) The FVTPL classification was elected for securities backing insurance contract liabilities to substantially reduce any accounting mismatch arising from changes in the fair value of these assets and changes in the value of the related insurance contract liabilities. If this election had not been made and instead the available-for-sale (“AFS”) classification was selected, there would be an accounting mismatch because changes in insurance contract liabilities are recognized in net income rather than in OCI.
(2) Securities that are designated as AFS are not actively traded by the Company but sales do occur as circumstances warrant. Such sales result in a reclassification of any accumulated unrealized gain (loss) in AOCI to net income as a realized gain (loss).
(3) Primarily includes assets classified as loans and carried at amortized cost, own use properties, investment properties, equity method accounted investments, oil and gas investments, and leveraged leases. Refer to note 1(e) for further details regarding accounting policy.
(4) Includes short-term securities with maturities of less than one year at acquisition amounting to $2,737 (2016 – $3,111), cash equivalents with maturities of less than 90 days at acquisition amounting to $9,131 (2016 – $8,863) and cash of $4,097 (2016 – $3,177).
(5) Debt securities include securities which were acquired with maturities of less than one year and less than 90 days of $1,768 and $161, respectively (2016 – $893 and $192, respectively).
(6) Includes accumulated depreciation of $389 (2016 – $404).
(7) Alternative long-duration assets (“ALDA”) include investments in private equity of $4,959, power and infrastructure of $7,355, oil and gas of $2,813, timber and agriculture of $5,033 and various other invested assets of $570 (2016 – $4,619, $6,679, $2,093, $4,972 and $488, respectively).
(8) Includes $3,273 (2016 – $3,369) of leveraged leases. Refer to note 1(e) regarding accounting policy.
(9) The methodologies used in determining fair values of invested assets are described in note 1 and note 4(g).

 

124        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(b) Equity method accounted invested assets

Other invested assets include investments in associates and joint ventures which are accounted for using the equity method of accounting as follows.

 

     2017            2016  
As at December 31,    Carrying
value
     % of total            Carrying
value
    % of total  

Leveraged leases

   $   3,273        56        $   3,369       58  

Timber and agriculture

     451        8          430       8  

Real estate

     498        9          419       7  

Other

     1,535        27          1,562       27  

Total

   $ 5,757        100        $ 5,780       100  

The Company’s share of profit and dividends from these investments for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $291 and $14, respectively (2016 – $252 and $17, respectively).

(c) Investment income

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017    FVTPL      AFS      Other(1)      Total      Yields(2)  

Cash and short-term securities

                 0.9%  

Interest income

   $ 7      $ 153      $      $ 160     

Gains (losses)(3)

     22        (47             (25   

Debt securities

                 5.4%  

Interest income

        5,102        577               5,679     

Gains (losses)(3)

     3,690        (205             3,485     

Recovery (impairment loss), net

     16        (1             15     

Public equities

                 16.6%  

Dividend income

     524        79               603     

Gains(3)

     2,372        226               2,598     

Impairment loss

            (14             (14   

Mortgages

                 3.9%  

Interest income

                   1,685        1,685     

Gains(3)

                   69        69     

Provision, net

                   (32      (32   

Private placements

                 5.3%  

Interest income

                   1,553        1,553     

Gains(3)

                   43        43     

Impairment loss, net

                   10        10     

Policy loans

                   365        365        6.1%  

Loans to Bank clients

                 4.0%  

Interest income

                   68        68     

Real estate

                 6.2%  

Rental income, net of depreciation(4)

                   517        517     

Gains(3)

                   341        341     

Impairment loss

                   (4      (4   

Derivatives

                 n/a  

Interest income, net

     809               84        893     

Gains (losses)(3)

     (1,029             84        (945   

Other invested assets

                 10.3%  

Interest income

                   174        174     

Oil and gas, timber, agriculture and other income

                   1,690        1,690     

Gains (losses)(3)

     441        (7      50        484     

Impairment loss, net

                   (45      (45         

Total investment income

   $   11,954      $ 761      $ 6,652      $ 19,367        6.0%  

Investment income

              

Interest income

   $ 5,918      $ 730      $ 3,929      $ 10,577        3.3%  

Dividend, rental and other income

     524        79        2,207        2,810        0.9%  

Impairments, provisions and recoveries, net

     16        (15      (71      (70      0.0%  

Other

     460        (51      (77      332        0.1%  
       6,918        743        5,988        13,649     

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on assets supporting insurance and investment contract liabilities and on macro equity hedges

              

Debt securities

     3,694        (8             3,686        1.1%  

Public equities

     2,200        35               2,235        0.7%  

Mortgages

                   69        69        0.0%  

Private placements

                   40        40        0.0%  

Real estate

                   350        350        0.1%  

Other invested assets

     329        (9      121        441        0.1%  

Derivatives, including macro equity hedging program

     (1,187             84        (1,103      (0.3%
       5,036        18        664        5,718           

Total investment income

   $ 11,954      $   761      $   6,652      $   19,367        6.0%  

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        125


For the year ended December 31, 2016    FVTPL      AFS      Other(1)      Total      Yields(2)  

Cash and short-term securities

                 0.7%  

Interest income

   $ 7      $ 117      $      $ 124     

Gains (losses)(3)

     18        (18                 

Debt securities

                 4.7%  

Interest income

     5,051        588               5,639     

Gains(3)

     1,658        548               2,206     

Recovery (impairment loss), net

     (18                    (18   

Public equities

                 10.6%  

Dividend income

     534        58               592     

Gains(3)

     1,008        201               1,209     

Impairment loss

            (48             (48   

Mortgages

                 4.1%  

Interest income

                   1,667        1,667     

Gains (losses)(3)

                   81        81     

Provision, net

                   (7      (7   

Private placements

                 5.4%  

Interest income

                   1,494        1,494     

Gains(3)

                   17        17     

Impairment loss, net

                   (50      (50   

Policy loans

                   358        358        6.1%  

Loans to Bank clients

                 3.9%  

Interest income

                   68        68     

Real estate

                 4.9%  

Rental income, net of depreciation(4)

                   523        523     

Gains(3)

                   160        160     

Derivatives

                 n/a  

Interest income, net

     1,115               (33      1,082     

Losses(3)

     (2,597                    (2,597   

Other invested assets

                 10.3%  

Interest income

                   103        103     

Oil and gas, timber, agriculture and other income

                   1,162        1,162     

Gains(3)

     634        1        207        842     

Impairment loss, net

                   (83      (83         

Total investment income

   $ 7,410      $ 1,447      $ 5,667      $ 14,524        4.7%  

Investment income

              

Interest income

   $ 6,173      $ 703      $ 3,657      $ 10,533        3.4%  

Dividend, rental and other income

     534        58        1,685        2,277        0.7%  

Impairments and provisions

     (18      (48      (140      (206      (0.1%

Other

     (6      707        85        786        0.2%  
       6,683        1,420        5,287        13,390     

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on assets supporting insurance and investment contract liabilities and on macro equity hedges

              

Debt securities

     1,657        5               1,662        0.5%  

Public equities

     963        22               985        0.3%  

Mortgages

                   80        80        0.0%  

Private placements

                   12        12        0.0%  

Real estate

                   128        128        0.0%  

Other invested assets

     688               160        848        0.3%  

Derivatives, including macro equity hedging program

     (2,581                    (2,581      (0.8%
       727        27        380        1,134           

Total investment income

   $ 7,410      $ 1,447      $ 5,667      $ 14,524        4.7%  

 

(1) Primarily includes loans carried at amortized cost, own use properties, investment properties, derivative and hedging instruments in cash flow hedging relationships, equity method accounted investments, oil and gas investments, and leveraged leases.
(2) Yields are based on income and are calculated using the geometric average of the carrying value of assets held during the reporting year.
(3) Includes net realized gains (losses) as well as net unrealized gains (losses) for financial instruments at FVTPL, real estate investment properties, and other invested assets measured at fair value. Also includes net realized gains (losses) for financial instruments at AFS and other invested assets carried at amortized cost.
(4) Rental income from investment properties is net of direct operating expenses.

 

126        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(d) Investment expenses

The following table presents the Company’s total investment expenses.

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Related to invested assets

   $ 625      $ 581  

Related to segregated, mutual and other funds

     1,048        1,065  

Total investment expenses

   $   1,673      $    1,646  

(e) Investment properties

The following table presents rental income and direct operating expenses of investment properties.

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Rental income from investment properties

   $   1,120      $    1,204  

Direct operating expenses of investment properties that generated rental income

     (694      (764

Total

   $ 426      $ 440  

(f) Mortgage securitization

The Company securitizes certain insured and uninsured fixed and variable rate residential mortgages and Home Equity Lines of Credit (“HELOC”) through creation of mortgage-backed securities under the Canadian Mortgage Bond Program (“CMB”), and the HELOC securitization program.

Benefits received from the securitization include interest spread between the asset and associated liability. There are no expected credit losses on securitized mortgages under the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (“CMHC”) sponsored CMB and the Platinum Canadian Mortgage Trust (“PCMT”) HELOC securitization programs as they are insured by CMHC and other third-party insurance programs against borrowers’ default. Mortgages securitized in the Platinum Canadian Mortgage Trust II (“PCMT II”) program are uninsured.

Cash flows received from the underlying securitized assets/mortgages are used to settle the related secured borrowing liability. For CMB transactions, receipts of principal are deposited into a trust account for settlement of the liability at time of maturity. These transferred assets and related cash flows cannot be transferred or used for other purposes. For the HELOC transactions, investors are entitled to periodic interest payments, and the remaining cash receipts of principal are allocated to the Company (the “Seller”) during the revolving period of the deal and are accumulated for settlement during an accumulation period, or repaid to the investor monthly during a reduction period, based on the terms of the note.

The following table presents the carrying amount of securitized assets and secured borrowing liabilities.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Securitized assets         
Securitization program    Securitized
mortgages
     Restricted cash and
short-term securities
     Total      Secured borrowing
liabilities(2)
 

HELOC securitization(1)

   $ 2,024      $ 8      $ 2,032      $ 2,000  

CMB securitization

     1,480               1,480        1,523  

Total

   $ 3,504      $ 8      $ 3,512      $ 3,523  
As at December 31, 2016    Securitized assets         
Securitization program    Securitized
mortgages
     Restricted cash and
short-term securities
     Total      Secured borrowing
liabilities(2)
 

HELOC securitization(1)

   $   1,762      $   8      $   1,770      $   1,750  

CMB securitization

     1,018               1,018        1,032  

Total

   $ 2,780      $ 8      $ 2,788      $ 2,782  

 

(1) Manulife Bank, a MFC subsidiary, securitizes a portion of its HELOC receivables through Platinum Canadian Mortgage Trust (“PCMT”), and Platinum Canadian Mortgage Trust II (“PCMT II”). PCMT funds the purchase of the co-ownership interests from Manulife Bank by issuing term notes collateralized by an underlying pool of CMHC insured HELOCs to institutional investors. PCMT II funds the purchase of the co-ownership interests from Manulife Bank by issuing term notes collateralized by an underlying pool of uninsured HELOCs to institutional investors. The restricted cash balance for the HELOC securitization reflects a cash reserve fund established in relation to the transactions. The reserve will be drawn upon only in the event of insufficient cash flows from the underlying HELOCs to satisfy the secured borrowing liability.
(2) Secured borrowing liabilities primarily comprise of Series 2011-1 notes with a floating rate which are expected to mature on December 15, 2021, and the Series 2016-1 notes with a floating rate which are expected to mature on May 15, 2022. Manulife Bank also securitizes insured amortizing mortgages under the National Housing Act Mortgage-Backed Securities (“NHA MBS”) program sponsored by CMHC. Manulife Bank participates in CMB programs by selling NHA MBS securities to Canada Housing Trust (“CHT”), as a source of fixed rate funding.

Fair value of the securitized assets as at December 31, 2017 was $3,533 (2016 – $2,821) and the fair value of the associated liabilities was $3,503 (2016 – $2,776).

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        127


(g) Fair value measurement

The following table presents fair values and the fair value hierarchy of invested assets and segregated funds net assets measured at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Total fair
value
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Cash and short-term securities

           

FVTPL

   $ 439      $      $ 439      $  

AFS

     11,429               11,429         

Other

     4,097        4,097                

Debt securities

           

FVTPL

           

Canadian government and agency

     17,886               17,886         

U.S. government and agency

     12,497               12,497         

Other government and agency

     16,838               16,599        239  

Corporate

     96,785        2        96,073        710  

Residential mortgage/asset-backed securities

     8               7        1  

Commercial mortgage/asset-backed securities

     1,099               1,099         

Other securitized assets

     1,911               1,886        25  

AFS

           

Canadian government and agency

     4,892               4,892         

U.S. government and agency

     13,472               13,472         

Other government and agency

     2,988               2,941        47  

Corporate

     5,366               5,278        88  

Residential mortgage/asset-backed securities

     37               37         

Commercial mortgage/asset-backed securities

     138               138         

Other securitized assets

     83               82        1  

Public equities

           

FVTPL

     18,473        18,470               3  

AFS

     3,072        3,069        3         

Real estate – investment property(1)

     12,529                      12,529  

Other invested assets(2)

     16,203                      16,203  

Segregated funds net assets(3)

     324,307        286,490        33,562        4,255  

Total

   $   564,549      $   312,128      $   218,320      $   34,101  
As at December 31, 2016    Total fair
value
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Cash and short-term securities

           

FVTPL

   $ 269      $      $ 269      $  

AFS

     11,705               11,705         

Other

     3,177        3,177                

Debt securities

           

FVTPL

           

Canadian government and agency

     18,030               18,030         

U.S. government and agency

     13,971               13,971         

Other government and agency

     18,629               18,357        272  

Corporate

     87,374        2        86,721        651  

Residential mortgage/asset-backed securities

     10               8        2  

Commercial mortgage/asset-backed securities

     680               674        6  

Other securitized assets

     2,196               2,161        35  

AFS

           

Canadian government and agency

     6,715               6,715         

U.S. government and agency

     13,333               13,333         

Other government and agency

     2,312               2,261        51  

Corporate

     5,041               4,967        74  

Residential mortgage/asset-backed securities

     65               64        1  

Commercial mortgage/asset-backed securities

     123               121        2  

Other securitized assets

     143               141        2  

Public equities

           

FVTPL

     16,531        16,524               7  

AFS

     2,965        2,963        2         

Real estate – investment property(1)

     12,756                      12,756  

Other invested assets(2)

     14,849                      14,849  

Segregated funds net assets(3)

     315,177        278,066        32,537        4,574  

Total

   $ 546,051      $ 300,732      $ 212,037      $ 33,282  

 

(1) For investment properties, the significant unobservable inputs are capitalization rates (ranging from 3.50% to 9.00% during the year and ranging from 3.75% to 9.75% during the year 2016) and terminal capitalization rates (ranging from 4.0% to 9.25% during the year and ranging from 4.1% to 10.0% during the year 2016). Holding other factors constant, a lower capitalization or terminal capitalization rate will tend to increase the fair value of an investment property. Changes in fair value based on variations in unobservable inputs generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship between the directional changes of each input is not usually linear.

 

128        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(2) Other invested assets measured at fair value are held primarily in power and infrastructure and timber sectors. The significant inputs used in the valuation of the Company’s power and infrastructure investments are primarily future distributable cash flows, terminal values and discount rates. Holding other factors constant, an increase to future distributable cash flows or terminal values would tend to increase the fair value of a power and infrastructure investment, while an increase in the discount rate would have the opposite effect. Discount rates during the year ranged from 9.20% to 16.5% (2016 – ranged from 9.63% to 16.0%). Disclosure of distributable cash flow and terminal value ranges are not meaningful given the disparity in estimates by project. The significant inputs used in the valuation of the Company’s investments in timberland are timber prices and discount rates. Holding other factors constant, an increase to timber prices would tend to increase the fair value of a timberland investment, while an increase in the discount rates would have the opposite effect. Discount rates during the year ranged from 5.0% to 7.5% (2016 – ranged from 5.0% to 7.5%). A range of prices for timber is not meaningful as the market price depends on factors such as property location and proximity to markets and export yards.
(3) Segregated funds net assets are measured at fair value. The Company’s Level 3 segregated funds assets are predominantly invested in timberland properties valued as described above.

For invested assets not measured at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, the following table presents their fair values categorized by the fair value hierarchy.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Carrying
value
     Fair value      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Mortgages(1)

   $ 44,742      $ 46,065      $      $      $ 46,065  

Private placements(2)

     32,132        34,581               28,514        6,067  

Policy loans(3)

     5,808        5,808               5,808         

Loans to Bank clients(4)

     1,737        1,742               1,742         

Real estate – own use property(5)

     1,281        2,448                      2,448  

Other invested assets(6)

     8,280        8,602        88               8,514  

Total invested assets disclosed at fair value

   $   93,980      $   99,246      $ 88      $   36,064      $   63,094  
As at December 31, 2016     
Carrying
value
 
 
     Fair value        Level 1        Level 2        Level 3  

Mortgages(1)

   $ 44,193      $ 45,665      $      $      $ 45,665  

Private placements(2)

     29,729        31,459               26,073        5,386  

Policy loans(3)

     6,041        6,041               6,041         

Loans to Bank clients(4)

     1,745        1,746               1,746         

Real estate – own use property(5)

     1,376        2,524                      2,524  

Other invested assets(6)

     7,911        8,254        54               8,200  

Total invested assets disclosed at fair value

   $ 90,995      $ 95,689      $ 54      $ 33,860      $ 61,775  

 

(1) Fair value of commercial mortgages is determined through an internal valuation methodology using both observable and unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs include credit assumptions and liquidity spread adjustments. Fair value of fixed-rate residential mortgages is determined using the discounted cash flow method. Inputs used for valuation are primarily comprised of prevailing interest rates and prepayment rates, if applicable. Fair value of variable-rate residential mortgages is assumed to be their carrying value.
(2) Fair value of private placements is determined through an internal valuation methodology using both observable and unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs include credit assumptions and liquidity spread adjustments. Private placements are classified within Level 2 unless the liquidity adjustment constitutes a significant price impact, in which case the securities are classified as Level 3.
(3) Fair value of policy loans is equal to their unpaid principal balances.
(4) Fair value of fixed-rate loans to Bank clients is determined using the discounted cash flow method. Inputs used for valuation are primarily comprised of current interest rates. Fair value of variable-rate loans is assumed to be their carrying value.
(5) Fair value of own use real estate and the fair value hierarchy are determined in accordance with the methodologies described for real estate – investment property in note 1.
(6) Primarily include leveraged leases, oil and gas properties and equity method accounted other invested assets. Fair value of leveraged leases is disclosed at their carrying values as fair value is not routinely calculated on these investments. Fair value for oil and gas properties is determined using external appraisals based on discounted cash flow methodology. Inputs used in valuation are primarily comprised of forecasted price curves, planned production, as well as capital expenditures, and operating costs. Fair value of equity method accounted other invested assets is determined using a variety of valuation techniques including discounted cash flows and market comparable approaches. Inputs vary based on the specific investment.

Transfers between Level 1 and Level 2

The Company records transfers of assets and liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 at their fair values as at the end of each reporting period. Assets are transferred out of Level 1 when they are no longer transacted with sufficient frequency and volume in an active market. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company transferred $nil (2016 – $nil) of assets measured at fair value from Level 1 to Level 2. Conversely, assets are transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 when transaction volume and frequency are indicative of an active market. The Company transferred $nil (2016 – $nil) of assets from Level 2 to Level 1 during the year ended December 31, 2017.

For segregated funds net assets, the Company had $nil transfers from Level 1 to Level 2 for the year ended December 31, 2017 (2016 – $8). The Company had $5 transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 for the year ended December 31, 2017 (2016 – $nil).

Invested assets and segregated funds net assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)

The Company classifies fair values of the invested assets and segregated funds net assets as Level 3 if there are no observable markets for these assets or, in the absence of active markets, the majority of the inputs used to determine fair value are based on the Company’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions. The Company prioritizes the use of market-based inputs over entity-based assumptions in determining Level 3 fair values and, therefore, the gains and losses in the tables below include changes in fair value due to both observable and unobservable factors.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        129


The following table presents a roll forward of invested assets and segregated funds net assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

For the year ended
December 31, 2017
  Balance,
January 1,
2017
    Net
realized/
unrealized
gains
(losses)
included
in net
income(1)
    Net
realized/
unrealized
gains
(losses)
included
in AOCI(2)
    Purchases     Sales(3)     Settlements    

Transfer

into

Level 3(4)

   

Transfer

out of

Level 3(4)

    Currency
movement
    Balance,
December 31,
2017
    Change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
assets still
held
 

Debt securities

                     

FVTPL

                     

Other government & agency

  $ 272     $ (3   $     –     $ 26     $ (58   $ (6   $     $     $ 8     $ 239     $ (3

Corporate

    651       19             105       (34     (29     24       (21     (5     710       10  

Residential mortgage/asset-backed securities

    2                                                 (1     1       (1

Commercial mortgage/asset-backed securities

    6                         (5     (1                              

Other securitized assets

    35       (1                       (7                 (2     25       (1
      966       15             131       (97     (43     24       (21           975       5  

AFS

                     

Other government & agency

    51       (1     (2     14       (15     (2     1             1       47        

Corporate

    74             4       22       (10     (4                 2       88        

Residential mortgage/asset-backed securities

    1             (1                                                

Commercial mortgage/asset-backed securities

    2                         (1     (1                              

Other securitized assets

    2                               (1                       1        
      130       (1     1       36       (26     (8     1             3       136        

Public equities

                     

FVTPL

    7                         (4                             3        
      7                         (4                             3        

Real estate – investment property

    12,756       301             1,257       (1,267                       (518     12,529       264  

Other invested assets

    14,849       395             3,022       (435     (837                 (791     16,203       244  
      27,605       696             4,279       (1,702     (837                 (1,309     28,732       508  

Segregated funds net assets

    4,574       60             261       (248     (54           (184     (154     4,255       45  

Total

  $   33,282     $   770     $ 1     $   4,707     $   (2,077   $   (942   $   25     $   (205   $   (1,460   $   34,101     $   558  

 

130        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


For the year ended December 31, 2016   Balance,
January 1,
2016
    Net
realized/
unrealized
gains
(losses)
included
in net
income(1)
    Net
realized/
unrealized
gains
(losses)
included
in AOCI(2)
    Purchases     Sales(3)     Settlements    

Transfer

into

Level 3(4)

   

Transfer

out of

Level 3(4)

    Currency
movement
    Balance,
December 31,
2016
    Change in
unrealized
gains
(losses) on
assets still
held
 

Debt securities

                     

FVTPL

                     

Other government & agency

  $ 310     $ 3     $     $ 50     $ (41   $ (30   $     $     $ (20   $ 272     $ 1  

Corporate

    903       (29           83       (84     (134     58       (124     (22     651       (4

Residential mortgage/asset-backed securities

    15                         (11     (1                 (1     2       1  

Commercial mortgage/asset-backed securities

    70                         (56     (4                 (4     6       (3

Other securitized assets

    48                         (1     (7           (4     (1     35        
      1,346       (26           133       (193     (176     58       (128     (48     966       (5

AFS

                     

Other government & agency

    42                   18       (6                       (3     51        

Corporate

    90             (2     29       (32     (3           (5     (3     74        

Residential mortgage/asset-backed securities

    8       (1     1             (6                       (1     1        

Commercial mortgage/asset-backed securities

    4                               (1                 (1     2        

Other securitized assets

    5             2                   (1           (4           2        
      149       (1     1       47       (44     (5           (9     (8     130        

Public equities

                     

FVTPL

                      7                                     7        
                        7                                     7        

Real estate –investment property

    13,968       163             681       (1,782                       (274     12,756       197  

Other invested assets

    12,977       786       9       2,171       (76     (685                 (333     14,849       847  
      26,945       949       9       2,852       (1,858     (685                 (607     27,605       1,044  

Segregated funds net assets

    4,656       92             356       (312     (19     (12     (105     (82     4,574       93  

Total

  $   33,096     $   1,014     $   10     $   3,395     $   (2,407   $   (885   $   46     $   (242   $   (745   $   33,282     $   1,132  

 

(1) These amounts, except for the amount related to segregated funds net assets, are included in net investment income on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(2) These amounts are included in AOCI on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
(3) Sales in 2017 include $619 of U.S. commercial real estate sold to the Hancock US Real Estate Fund, L.P., an associate of the Company which is a structured entity based on partnership voting rights. The Company provides management services to the fund and owns approximately 11.7% of its partnership interests. Also in 2017, sales include US$313 (2016 – $1,011) of U.S. commercial real estate sold to the Manulife US Real Estate Investment Trust in Singapore, an associate of the Company which is a structured entity based on unitholder voting rights. The Company provides management services to the trust and owns approximately 9.5% of its units.
(4) For assets transferred into and out of Level 3, the Company uses fair values of the assets at the beginning of the year.

Transfers into Level 3 primarily result from securities that were impaired during the year or securities where a lack of observable market data (versus the previous period) resulted in reclassifying assets into Level 3. Transfers from Level 3 primarily result from observable market data now being available for the entire term structure of the debt security.

Note 5    Derivative and Hedging Instruments

Derivatives are financial contracts, the value of which is derived from underlying interest rates, foreign exchange rates, other financial instruments, commodity prices or indices. The Company uses derivatives including swaps, forward and futures agreements, and options to manage current and anticipated exposures to changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, commodity prices and equity market prices, and to replicate permissible investments.

Swaps are over-the-counter (“OTC”) contractual agreements between the Company and a third party to exchange a series of cash flows based upon rates applied to a notional amount. For interest rate swaps, counterparties generally exchange fixed or floating interest rate payments based on a notional value in a single currency. Cross currency swaps involve the exchange of principal amounts between parties as well as the exchange of interest payments in one currency for the receipt of interest payments in another currency. Total return swaps are contracts that involve the exchange of payments based on changes in the values of a reference asset, including any returns such as interest earned on these assets, in return for amounts based on reference rates specified in the contract.

Forward and futures agreements are contractual obligations to buy or sell a financial instrument, foreign currency or other underlying commodity on a predetermined future date at a specified price. Forward contracts are OTC contracts negotiated between counterparties, whereas futures agreements are contracts with standard amounts and settlement dates that are traded on regulated exchanges.

Options are contractual agreements whereby the holder has the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call option) or sell (put option) a security, exchange rate, interest rate, or other financial instrument at a predetermined price/rate within a specified time.

See variable annuity dynamic hedging strategy in the “Risk Management” section of the Company’s 2017 MD&A for an explanation of the Company’s dynamic hedging strategy for its variable annuity product guarantees.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        131


(a) Fair value of derivatives

The pricing models used to value OTC derivatives are based on market standard valuation methodologies and the inputs to these models are consistent with what a market participant would use when pricing the instruments. Derivative valuations can be affected by changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, financial indices, credit spreads, default risk (including the counterparties to the contract), and market volatility. The significant inputs to the pricing models for most OTC derivatives are inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data and are classified as Level 2. Inputs that are observable generally include interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rate curves. However, certain OTC derivatives may rely on inputs that are significant to the fair value that are not observable in the market or cannot be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data and these derivatives are classified as Level 3. Inputs that are unobservable generally include broker quotes, volatilities and inputs that are outside of the observable portion of the interest rate curve or other relevant market measures. These unobservable inputs may involve significant management judgment or estimation. Even though unobservable, these inputs are based on assumptions deemed appropriate given the circumstances and consistent with what market participants would use when pricing such instruments. The Company’s use of unobservable inputs is limited and the impact on derivative fair values does not represent a material amount as evidenced by the limited amount of Level 3 derivatives. The credit risk of both the counterparty and the Company are considered in determining the fair value for all OTC derivatives after considering the effects of netting agreements and collateral arrangements.

The following table presents the gross notional amount and fair value of derivative contracts by the underlying risk exposure for derivatives in qualifying hedging and derivatives not designated in qualifying hedging relationships.

 

As at December 31,    2017             2016  
         Notional
amount
     Fair value             Notional
amount
     Fair value  
Type of hedge   Instrument type       Assets      Liabilities                Assets      Liabilities  

Qualifying hedge accounting relationships

                                                        

Fair value hedges

 

Interest rate swaps

   $ 548      $      $ 20         $ 2,158      $      $ 477  
 

Foreign currency swaps

     84        1        4           91        1        3  

Cash flow hedges

 

Foreign currency swaps

     1,757        20        333           1,285               447  
 

Forward contracts

     165               4           255               23  
   

Equity contracts

     125        16        1           126        21        1  

Total derivatives in qualifying hedge accounting relationships

     2,679        37        362           3,915        22        951  

Derivatives not designated in qualifying hedge

accounting relationships

                    
 

Interest rate swaps

     246,270        12,984        6,251           281,188        21,900        10,878  
 

Interest rate futures

     11,551                         11,616                
 

Interest rate options

     10,093        312                  9,390        376         
 

Foreign currency swaps

     16,321        494        1,122           12,226        347        1,645  
 

Currency rate futures

     3,157                         4,729                
 

Forward contracts

     20,341        915        65           15,411        340        644  
 

Equity contracts

     13,597        813        22           14,989        669        33  
 

Credit default swaps

     606        14                  662        18         
   

Equity futures

     12,158                         16,072                

Total derivatives not designated in qualifying hedge accounting relationships

     334,094        15,532        7,460           366,283        23,650        13,200  

Total derivatives

   $   336,773      $   15,569      $   7,822         $   370,198      $   23,672      $   14,151  

The following table presents fair value of derivative instruments by remaining term to maturity. Fair values disclosed below do not incorporate the impact of master netting agreements. Refer to note 10.

 

     Remaining term to maturity         
As at December 31, 2017   

Less than

1 year

    

1 to 3

years

    

3 to 5

years

    

Over 5

years

     Total      

Derivative assets

   $ 605      $ 822      $ 889      $ 13,253      $ 15,569      

Derivative liabilities

     224        149        168        7,281        7,822      
     Remaining term to maturity     
As at December 31, 2016     

Less than

1 year

 

 

    

1 to 3

years

 

 

    

3 to 5

years

 

 

    

Over 5

years

 

 

     Total      

Derivative assets

   $   467      $   680      $   719      $   21,806      $   23,672      

Derivative liabilities

     593        595        511        12,452        14,151      

 

132        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


The following table presents gross notional amount by remaining term to maturity, total fair value (including accrued interest), credit risk equivalent and risk-weighted amount by contract type.

 

     Remaining term to maturity (notional amounts)            Fair value                     
As at December 31, 2017   

Under 1

year

    

1 to 5

years

    

Over

5 years

     Total             Positive      Negative      Net            

Credit risk

equivalent(1)

          

Risk-    

weighted    

amount(2)    

 

Interest rate contracts

                               

OTC swap contracts

   $ 7,161      $ 19,141      $ 112,412      $ 138,714        $ 13,379      $ (6,867    $ 6,512        $ 6,588       $ 809      

Cleared swap contracts

     1,615        12,928        93,561        108,104          245        (206      39                  –      

Forward contracts

     6,036        10,614        675        17,325          903        (38      865          285         35      

Futures

     11,551                      11,551                                         –      

Options purchased

     816        3,856        5,421        10,093                312               312                471               61      

Subtotal

     27,179        46,539        212,069        285,787          14,839        (7,111      7,728          7,344         905      

Foreign exchange

                               

Swap contracts

     999        4,481        12,682        18,162          510        (1,483      (973        1,874         200      

Forward contracts

     3,046        135               3,181          12        (31      (19        101         12      

Futures

     3,157                      3,157                                         –      

Credit derivatives

     38        568               606          14               14                  –      

Equity contracts

                               

Swap contracts

     2,612        169               2,781          60        (14      46          337         35      

Futures

     12,158                      12,158                                         –      

Options purchased

     4,693        6,148        100        10,941                769        (10      759                2,606               305      

Subtotal including accrued interest

     53,882        58,040        224,851        336,773          16,204        (8,649      7,555          12,262         1,457      

Less accrued interest

                                         635        (827      (192                            –      

Total

   $ 53,882      $ 58,040      $ 224,851      $ 336,773              $ 15,569      $ (7,822    $ 7,747              $ 12,262             $ 1,457      
     Remaining term to maturity (notional amounts)            Fair value                     
As at December 31, 2016   

Under 1

year

    

1 to 5

years

    

Over

5 years

     Total             Positive      Negative      Net            

Credit risk

equivalent(1)

          

Risk-    

weighted    

amount(2)    

 

Interest rate contracts

                               

OTC swap contracts

   $ 13,244      $ 37,395      $ 164,252      $ 214,891        $ 19,327      $ (10,154    $ 9,173        $ 10,205       $ 1,493      

Cleared swap contracts

     717        4,786        62,952        68,455          3,507        (2,117      1,390                  –      

Interest rate forwards

     7,229        6,143        873        14,245          326        (629      (303        192         29      

Futures

     11,616                      11,616                                         –      

Options purchased

     483        2,927        5,980        9,390                376               376                458               70      

Subtotal

     33,289        51,251        234,057        318,597          23,536        (12,900      10,636          10,855         1,592      

Foreign exchange

                               

Swap contracts

     425        3,917        9,259        13,601          346        (2,120      (1,774        1,491         181      

Forward contracts

     1,257        165               1,422          13        (38      (25        62         9      

Futures

     4,729                      4,729                                         –      

Credit derivatives

     47        615               662          18               18                  –      

Equity contracts

                               

Swap contracts

     3,107        192               3,299          64        (35      29          495         54      

Futures

     16,072                      16,072                                         –      

Options purchased

     6,007        5,809               11,816                626        (2      624                2,735               358      

Subtotal including accrued interest

     64,933        61,949        243,316        370,198          24,603        (15,095      9,508          15,638         2,194      

Less accrued interest

                                         931        (944      (13                            –      

Total

   $   64,933      $   61,949      $   243,316      $   370,198              $   23,672      $   (14,151    $   9,521              $   15,638             $   2,194      

 

(1) Credit risk equivalent is the sum of replacement cost and the potential future credit exposure. Replacement cost represents the current cost of replacing all contracts with a positive fair value. The amounts take into consideration legal contracts that permit offsetting of positions. The potential future credit exposure is calculated based on a formula prescribed by OSFI.
(2) Risk-weighted amount represents the credit risk equivalent, weighted according to the creditworthiness of the counterparty, as prescribed by OSFI.

The total notional amount of $337 billion (2016 – $370 billion) includes $114 billion (2016 – $177 billion) related to derivatives utilized in the Company’s variable annuity guarantee dynamic hedging and macro equity risk hedging programs. Due to the Company’s variable annuity hedging practices, a large number of trades are in offsetting positions, resulting in materially lower net fair value exposure to the Company than what the gross notional amount would suggest.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        133


The following table presents fair value of derivative contracts and the fair value hierarchy.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Fair value      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Derivative assets

           

Interest rate contracts

   $ 14,199      $      $ 13,181      $ 1,018  

Foreign exchange contracts

     527               527         

Equity contracts

     829               768        61  

Credit default swaps

     14               14         

Total derivative assets

   $ 15,569      $      $ 14,490      $ 1,079  

Derivative liabilities

           

Interest rate contracts

   $ 6,309      $      $ 6,012      $ 297  

Foreign exchange contracts

     1,490               1,490         

Equity contracts

     23               10        13  

Total derivative liabilities

   $ 7,822      $      $ 7,512      $ 310  
As at December 31, 2016    Fair value      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Derivative assets

           

Interest rate contracts

   $ 22,602      $      $ 22,045      $ 557  

Foreign exchange contracts

     362               361        1  

Equity contracts

     690               182        508  

Credit default swaps

     18               18         

Total derivative assets

   $ 23,672      $      $ 22,606      $   1,066  

Derivative liabilities

           

Interest rate contracts

   $ 11,984      $      $ 11,114      $ 870  

Foreign exchange contracts

     2,133               2,133         

Equity contracts

     34               1        33  

Total derivative liabilities

   $   14,151      $             –      $   13,248      $ 903  

The following table presents a roll forward for net derivative contracts measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Balance at the beginning of the year

   $    163      $    350  

Net realized / unrealized gains (losses) included in:

     

Net income(1)

     1,082        47  

OCI(2)

     (9      40  

Purchases

     22        373  

Settlements

     (103      (522

Transfers

     

Into Level 3(3)

             

Out of Level 3(3)

     (363      (116

Currency movement

     (23      (9

Balance at the end of the year

   $ 769      $ 163  

Change in unrealized gains (losses) on instruments still held

   $ 832      $ 145  

 

(1) These amounts are included in investment income on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(2) These amounts are included in AOCI on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
(3) For derivatives transferred into and out of Level 3, the Company uses the fair value of the items at the end and beginning of the period, respectively. Transfers into Level 3 occur when the inputs used to price the assets and liabilities lack observable market data (versus the previous year). Transfers out of Level 3 occur when the inputs used to price the assets and liabilities become available from observable market data.

(b) Hedging relationships

The Company uses derivatives for economic hedging purposes. In certain circumstances, these hedges also meet the requirements of hedge accounting. Risk management strategies eligible for hedge accounting are designated as fair value hedges, cash flow hedges or net investment hedges, as described below.

Fair value hedges

The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changes in the fair value of fixed rate financial instruments due to changes in interest rates. The Company also uses cross currency swaps to manage its exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, interest rate fluctuations, or both.

 

134        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


The Company recognizes gains and losses on derivatives and the related hedged items in fair value hedges in investment income. These investment gains (losses) are shown in the following table.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017  

Hedged items in qualifying

fair value hedging

relationships

   Gains (losses)
recognized on
derivatives
     Gains (losses)
recognized for
hedged items
     Ineffectiveness    
recognized in    
investment    
income    
 

Interest rate swaps

 

Fixed rate assets

   $ 2      $ (3    $ (1)      
 

Fixed rate liabilities

     (17      17        –       

Foreign currency swaps

 

Fixed rate assets

     (2      4        2       

Total

       $ (17    $ 18      $ 1       
For the year ended December 31, 2016  

Hedged items in qualifying

fair value hedging

relationships

   Gains (losses)
recognized on
derivatives
     Gains (losses)
recognized for
hedged items
     Ineffectiveness    
recognized in    
investment    
income    
 

Interest rate swaps

 

Fixed rate assets

   $   (52    $   30      $   (22)      
 

Fixed rate liabilities

     (1      1        –       

Foreign currency swaps

 

Fixed rate assets

            2        2       

Total

       $ (53    $ 33      $ (20)      

Cash flow hedges

The Company uses interest rate swaps to hedge the variability in cash flows from variable rate financial instruments and forecasted transactions. The Company also uses cross currency swaps and foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the variability from foreign currency financial instruments and foreign currency expenses. Total return swaps are used to hedge the variability in cash flows associated with certain stock-based compensation awards. Inflation swaps are used to reduce inflation risk generated from inflation-indexed liabilities.

The effects of derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships on the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income are shown in the following table.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017  

Hedged items in qualifying

cash flow hedging

relationships

   Gains (losses)
deferred in
AOCI on
derivatives
     Gains (losses)
reclassified
from AOCI into
investment
income
    

Ineffectiveness    
recognized in    
investment    

income    

 

Interest rate swaps

 

Forecasted liabilities

   $      $ (17    $ –      

Foreign currency swaps

 

Fixed rate assets

     3        (1      –      
 

Floating rate liabilities

     95        50        –      
 

Fixed rate liabilities

     35        7        –      

Forward contracts

 

Forecasted expenses

     10        (10      –      

Equity contracts

 

Stock-based compensation

     20        29        –      

Total

       $ 163      $ 58      $ –      
For the year ended December 31, 2016  

Hedged items in qualifying

cash flow hedging

relationships

   Gains (losses)
deferred in
AOCI on
derivatives
     Gains (losses)
reclassified
from AOCI into
investment
income
     Ineffectiveness    
recognized in    
investment    
income    
 

Interest rate swaps

 

Forecasted liabilities

   $      $ (18    $ –      

Foreign currency swaps

 

Fixed rate assets

     (4             –      
 

Floating rate liabilities

     47              23        –      
 

Fixed rate liabilities

     (15      (8      –      

Forward contracts

 

Forecasted expenses

     7        (14      –      

Equity contracts

  Stock-based compensation      39        (1      –      

Non-derivative financial instrument

  Forecasted expenses             3        –      

Total

       $       74      $ (15    $         –      

The Company anticipates that net losses of approximately $13 will be reclassified from AOCI to net income within the next 12 months. The maximum time frame for which variable cash flows are hedged is 19 years.

Hedges of net investments in foreign operations

The Company primarily uses forward currency contracts, cross currency swaps and non-functional currency denominated debt to manage its foreign currency exposures to net investments in foreign operations.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        135


The effects of net investment hedging relationships on the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Consolidated Statements of Other Comprehensive Income are shown in the following table.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017    Gains (losses)
deferred in AOCI
on derivatives
     Gains (losses)
reclassified from
AOCI into
investment income
     Ineffectiveness
recognized in
investment
income
 

Non-functional currency denominated debt

   $ 355      $      $  

Total

   $ 355      $      $  
For the year ended December 31, 2016    Gains (losses)
deferred in AOCI
on derivatives
     Gains (losses)
reclassified from
AOCI into
investment income
     Ineffectiveness
recognized in
investment
income
 

Non-functional currency denominated debt

   $   (25    $      $  

Total

   $   (25    $         –      $         –  

(c) Derivatives not designated in qualifying hedge accounting relationships

Derivatives used in portfolios supporting insurance contract liabilities are generally not designated in qualifying hedge accounting relationships because the change in the value of the insurance contract liabilities economically hedged by these derivatives is also recorded through net income. Given the changes in fair value of these derivatives and related hedged risks are recognized in investment income as they occur, they generally offset the change in hedged risk to the extent the hedges are economically effective. Interest rate and cross currency swaps are used in the portfolios supporting insurance contract liabilities to manage duration and currency risks.

The effects of derivatives not designated in qualifying hedge accounting relationships on the Consolidated Statements of Income are shown in the following table.

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Investment income (loss)

     

Interest rate swaps

   $ (927    $ (141

Interest rate futures

     372        (26

Interest rate options

     (96      (11

Foreign currency swaps

             529        (14

Currency rate futures

     (92      263  

Forward contracts

     1,231        (88

Equity futures

     (2,190      (2,387

Equity contracts

     153        (171

Credit default swaps

     (4      1  

Total

   $ (1,024)      $   (2,574

(d) Embedded derivatives

Certain insurance contracts contain features that are classified as embedded derivatives and are measured separately at FVTPL including reinsurance contracts related to guaranteed minimum income benefits and contracts containing certain credit and interest rate features.

Certain reinsurance contracts related to guaranteed minimum income benefits contain embedded derivatives requiring separate measurement at FVTPL as the financial component contained in the reinsurance contracts does not contain significant insurance risk. As at December 31, 2017, reinsurance ceded guaranteed minimum income benefits had a fair value of $1,079 (2016 – $1,408) and reinsurance assumed guaranteed minimum income benefits had a fair value of $100 (2016 – $119). Claims recovered under reinsurance ceded contracts offset claims expenses and claims paid on the reinsurance assumed are reported as contract benefits.

The Company’s credit and interest rate embedded derivatives promise to pay the returns on a portfolio of assets to the contract holder. These embedded derivatives contain a credit and interest rate risk that is a financial risk embedded in the underlying insurance contract. As at December 31, 2017, these embedded derivatives had a fair value of $123 (2016 – $218).

Other financial instruments classified as embedded derivatives but exempt from separate measurement at fair value include variable universal life and variable life products, minimum guaranteed credited rates, no lapse guarantees, guaranteed annuitization options, CPI indexing of benefits, and segregated fund minimum guarantees other than reinsurance ceded/assumed guaranteed minimum income benefits. These embedded derivatives are measured and reported within insurance contract liabilities and are exempt from separate fair value measurement as they contain insurance risk and/or are closely related to the insurance host contract.

 

136        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Note 6    Income Taxes

(a) Components of the income tax expense (recovery)

Income tax expenses (recovery) recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income:

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Current tax

     

Current year

   $ 608      $ 659  

Adjustments to prior year(1)

     (38      (228
     570        431  

Deferred tax

     

Change related to temporary differences

     (803      (235

Impact of U.S. Tax Reform

     472         

Income tax expense

   $     239      $    196  
(1) Adjustments relating to closure of multiple taxation years

Income tax expenses (recovery) recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”):

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Current income tax expense (recovery)

   $ 116      $ (72

Deferred income tax expense (recovery)

     320        (25

Income tax expense (recovery)

   $   436      $   (97

Income tax expenses (recovery) recognized directly in Equity:

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Current income tax expense (recovery)

   $      $ (2

Deferred income tax expense (recovery)

     (2      (2

Income tax expense (recovery)

   $   (2    $   (4

The effective income tax rate reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income varies from the Canadian tax rate of 26.75 per cent for the year ended December 31, 2017 (2016 – 26.75 per cent) and the reasons are disclosed below.

Reconciliation of income tax expense

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Income before income taxes

   $    2,501      $   3,329  

Income tax expense at Canadian statutory tax rate

   $ 669      $ 890  

Increase (decrease) in income taxes due to:

     

Tax-exempt investment income

     (242      (229

Differences in tax rate on income not subject to tax in Canada

     (551      (366

Recovery of unrecognized tax losses of prior years

            (10

Adjustments to taxes related to prior years

     (182      (206

Tax losses and temporary differences not recognized as deferred taxes

     14        22  

Impact of U.S. Tax Reform

     472         

Other differences

     59        95  

Income tax expense

   $ 239      $ 196  

Impact of U.S. Tax Reform

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted new tax legislation effective January 1, 2018. The legislation makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code and accordingly it will take time to assess and interpret the changes. Based on a preliminary understanding of the new legislation, the Company recorded a provisional charge of $1.8 billion, after-tax, for the estimated impact of U.S. Tax Reform on policyholder liabilities and net deferred tax assets, including the reduction in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate and the impact of specific life insurance regulations which limits the deductibility of reserves for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This provisional charge may change materially in the future, following a more comprehensive review of the legislation, including changes in interpretations and tax assumptions made in the valuation of policy liabilities as well as implementation of and guidance from the Internal Revenue Service and other bodies, and as a result of any future changes or amendments to that legislation. Refer to note 8(g) for the impact of U.S. Tax Reform on the Company’s insurance contract liabilities.

(b) Current tax receivable and payable

As at December 31, 2017, the Company has approximately $778 of current tax receivable included in other assets (2016 – $446) and a current tax payable of $178 included in other liabilities (2016 – $387).

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        137


(c) Deferred tax assets and liabilities

The following table presents the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities.

 

As at December, 31    2017      2016  

Deferred tax assets

   $ 4,569      $ 4,439  

Deferred tax liabilities

     (1,281      (1,359

Net deferred tax assets

   $    3,288      $    3,080  

The following table presents significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Balance,
January 1,
2017
    Recognized
in Income
Statement
    Recognized in
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Recognized
in Equity
    Translation
and Other
    Balance,
December 31,
2017
 

Loss carry forwards

   $ 942     $ (311   $     $ 3     $ (38   $ 596  

Actuarial liabilities

     9,366       (1,053     (17           (418     7,878  

Pensions and post-employment benefits

     352       (87     (54           (3     208  

Tax credits

     875       (369                 (52     454  

Accrued interest

     17       (12           (3     (1     1  

Real estate

     (1,396     284       (9           59       (1,062

Securities and other investments

     (6,064       2,172       (239           324       (3,807

Sale of investments

     (163     58                         (105

Goodwill and intangible assets

     (1,059     197                   37       (825

Other

     210       (548     (1     2       287       (50

Total

   $ 3,080     $ 331     $   (320)     $ 2     $    195     $ 3,288  
As at December 31, 2016    Balance,
January 1,
2016
    Recognized
in Income
Statement
    Recognized in
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Recognized
in Equity
    Translation
and Other
    Balance,
December 31,
2016
 

Loss carry forwards

   $ 1,493     $ (515   $     $     $ (36   $ 942  

Actuarial liabilities

     9,448       244       (5       (116     (205     9,366  

Pensions and post-employment benefits

     329       100       (79           2       352  

Tax credits

     750       147                   (22     875  

Accrued interest

     121       (100                 (4     17  

Real estate

     (1,812     373                   43       (1,396

Securities and other investments

     (6,218     (243     113       112       172       (6,064

Sale of investments

     (200     37                         (163

Goodwill and intangible assets

     (1,138     58                   21       (1,059

Other

     59       134       (4     6       15       210  

Total

   $    2,832     $ 235     $ 25     $ 2     $ (14   $    3,080  

The total deferred tax assets as at December 31, 2017 of $4,569 (2016 – $4,439) include $4,527 (2016 – $4,403) where the Company has suffered losses in either the current or preceding year and where the recognition is dependent on future taxable profits in the relevant jurisdictions and feasible management actions.

As at December 31, 2017, tax loss carryforwards available were approximately $3,164 (2016 – $3,556) of which $2,109 expire between the years 2020 and 2037 while $159 have no expiry date, and capital loss carryforwards available were approximately $8 (2016 – $9) and have no expiry date. A $596 (2016 – $942) tax benefit related to these tax loss carryforwards has been recognized as a deferred tax asset as at December 31, 2017, and a benefit of $171 (2016 – $139) has not been recognized. In addition, the Company has approximately $606 (2016 – $1,039) of tax credit carryforwards which will expire between the years 2030 and 2037 of which a benefit of $152 (2016 – $164) has not been recognized.

The total deferred tax liability as at December 31, 2017 was $1,281 (2016 – $1,359). This amount includes the deferred tax liability of consolidated entities. The aggregate amount of taxable temporary differences associated with the Company’s own investments in subsidiaries is not included in the Consolidated Financial Statements and was $11,780 (2016 – $13,102).

 

138        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Note 7    Goodwill and Intangible Assets

(a) Carrying amounts of goodwill and intangible assets

 

As at December 31, 2017    Balance,
January 1,
2017
     Additions/
disposals
     Amortization
expense
     Effect of changes
in foreign
exchange rates
    Balance,
December 31,
2017
 

Goodwill

   $ 5,884      $      $ n/a      $ (171   $ 5,713  

Indefinite life intangible assets

             

Brand

     805               n/a        (52     753  

Fund management contracts and other(1)

     785               n/a        (30     755  
       1,590               n/a        (82     1,508  

Finite life intangible assets(2)

             

Distribution networks

     1,093               47        (57     989  

Customer relationships

     969               56        (14     899  

Software

     494        306        121        (18     661  

Other

     77               5        (2     70  
       2,633        306        229        (91     2,619  

Total intangible assets

     4,223        306        229        (173     4,127  

Total goodwill and intangible assets

   $   10,107      $ 306      $   229      $   (344   $ 9,840  
As at December 31, 2016    Balance,
January 1,
2016
     Additions(3)/
disposals(4)
     Amortization
expense
     Effect of changes
in foreign
exchange rates
    Balance,
December 31,
2016
 

Goodwill

   $ 5,685      $ 256      $ n/a      $ (57   $ 5,884  

Indefinite life intangible assets

             

Brand

     831               n/a        (26     805  

Fund management contracts and other(1)

     723        76        n/a        (14     785  
       1,554        76        n/a        (40     1,590  

Finite life intangible assets(2)

             

Distribution networks

     726        450        50        (33     1,093  

Customer relationships

     947        79        53        (4     969  

Software

     396        229        126        (5     494  

Other

     76        6        5              77  
       2,145        764        234        (42     2,633  

Total intangible assets

     3,699        840        234        (82     4,223  

Total goodwill and intangible assets

   $ 9,384      $ 1,096      $ 234      $ (139   $   10,107  

 

(1) For fund management contracts, the significant CGUs to which these were allocated and their associated carrying values were John Hancock Investments and Retirement Plan Services with $367 (2016 – $393) and Canadian Wealth (excluding Manulife Bank of Canada) with $273 (2016 – $273).
(2) Gross carrying amount of finite life intangible assets was $1,294 for distribution networks, $1,128 for customer relationships, $1,841 for software and $126 for other (2016 – $1,363, $1,142, $1,581 and $133, respectively).
(3) In 2016, acquisitions of Standard Chartered’s MPF business in Hong Kong and Transamerica’s broker-dealer business in the USA led to additions of goodwill of $194 and $59 and intangible assets of $193 and $26, respectively. Commencement of sales through the DBS relationship led to recognition of $536 of distribution networks.
(4) In 2016, disposals include impairments of distribution networks for discontinued products of $150 in the U.S. Division.

(b) Goodwill impairment testing

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company completed its annual goodwill impairment testing by determining the recoverable amounts of its businesses using valuation techniques discussed below or based on the most recent detailed similar calculations made in a prior period (refer to notes 1(f) and 7(c)).

The Company has determined that there was no impairment of goodwill in 2017 and 2016.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        139


The Company allocates goodwill to cash-generating units (“CGU”) or groups of CGUs. Factors considered when identifying the Company’s CGUs include how the Company is organized to interact with customers, how products are presented and sold, and where interdependencies exist. The following tables present the carrying value of goodwill by CGUs.

 

As at December 31, 2017

CGU or Group of CGUs

  

Balance,
January 1,

2017

     Additions/
disposals
     Effect of
changes in
foreign
exchange
rates
    

Balance,
December 31,

2017

 

Asia (excluding Hong Kong and Japan)

   $ 160      $      $ (6    $ 154  

Hong Kong

     194               (14      180  

Japan Insurance and Wealth

     403               (12      391  

Canadian Individual Life

     155                      –        155  

Canadian Affinity Markets

     83                      83  

Canadian Wealth (excluding Manulife Bank)

     1,085                      1,085  

Canadian Group Benefits and Group Retirement Solutions

     1,773                      1,773  

International Group Program

     90               (6      84  

John Hancock Insurance

     428               (28      400  

John Hancock Investments and Retirement Plan Services

     1,220               (99      1,121  

Manulife Asset Management and Other

     293               (6      287  

Total

   $   5,884      $      $ (171    $   5,713  

As at December 31, 2016

CGU or Group of CGUs

  

Balance,
January 1,

2016

     Additions/
disposals
     Effect of
changes in
foreign
exchange
rates
    

Balance,
December 31,

2016

 

Asia (excluding Hong Kong and Japan)

   $ 166      $      $ (6    $ 160  

Hong Kong

            194               194  

Japan Insurance and Wealth

     404               (1      403  

Canadian Individual Life

     155                      155  

Canadian Affinity Markets

     83                      83  

Canadian Wealth (excluding Manulife Bank)

     1,085                      1,085  

Canadian Group Benefits and Group Retirement Solutions

     1,773                      1,773  

International Group Program

     93               (3      90  

John Hancock Insurance

     378        59        (9      428  

John Hancock Investments and Retirement Plan Services

     1,254        3        (37      1,220  

Manulife Asset Management and Other

     294               (1      293  

Total

   $ 5,685      $   256      $ (57    $ 5,884  

The valuation techniques, significant assumptions and sensitivities, where applicable, applied in the goodwill impairment testing are described below.

(c) Valuation techniques

The recoverable amount of each CGU or group of CGUs was based on value-in-use (“VIU”) for the U.S. (John Hancock) based CGUs, the Canadian Individual Life CGU and the Japan Insurance and Wealth CGU. For all other CGUs, fair value less costs to sell (“FVLCS”) was used. When determining if a CGU is impaired, the Company compares its recoverable amount to the allocated capital for that unit, which is aligned with the Company’s internal reporting practices.

Under the VIU approach, an embedded appraisal value is determined from a projection of future distributable earnings derived from both the in-force business and new business expected to be sold in the future, and therefore, reflects the economic value for each CGU’s or group of CGUs’ profit potential under a set of assumptions. This approach requires assumptions including sales and revenue growth rates, capital requirements, interest rates, equity returns, mortality, morbidity, policyholder behaviour, tax rates and discount rates.

Under the FVLCS approach, the Company determines the fair value of the CGU or group of CGUs using an earnings-based approach which incorporates forecasted earnings, excluding interest and equity market impacts and normalized new business expenses multiplied by an earnings multiple derived from the observable price-to-earnings multiples of comparable financial institutions. The price-to-earnings multiples used by the Company for testing ranged from 10.6 to 14.8 (2016 – 10.3 to 13.8).

(d) Significant assumptions

To calculate embedded value, the Company discounted projected earnings from in-force contracts and valued 10 years of new business growing at expected plan levels, consistent with the periods used for forecasting long-term businesses such as insurance. In arriving at its projections, the Company considered past experience, economic trends such as interest rates, equity returns and product mix as well as industry and market trends. Where growth rate assumptions for new business cash flows were used in the embedded value calculations, they ranged from negative five per cent to 15 per cent (2016 – negative five per cent to 15 per cent).

Interest rate assumptions are based on prevailing market rates at the valuation date.

 

140        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Tax rates applied to the projections include the impact of internal reinsurance treaties and amounted to 26.8 per cent, 35 per cent and 28.1 per cent (2016 – 26.8 per cent, 35 per cent and 28.2 per cent) for the Canadian, U.S. and Japan jurisdictions, respectively. Tax assumptions are sensitive to changes in tax laws as well as assumptions about the jurisdictions in which profits are earned. It is possible that actual tax rates could differ from those assumed.

Discount rates assumed in determining the value-in-use for applicable CGUs or groups of CGUs ranged from nine per cent to 14 per cent on an after-tax basis or 11 per cent to 15 per cent on a pre-tax basis (2016 – nine per cent to 14 per cent on an after-tax basis or 11 per cent to 15 per cent on a pre-tax basis).

The key assumptions described above may change as economic and market conditions change, which may lead to impairment charges in the future. Changes in discount rates and cash flow projections used in the determination of embedded values or reductions in market-based earnings multiples may result in impairment charges in the future which could be material.

Note 8    Insurance Contract Liabilities and Reinsurance Assets

(a) Insurance contract liabilities and reinsurance assets

Insurance contract liabilities are reported gross of reinsurance ceded and the ceded liabilities are reported separately as a reinsurance asset. Insurance contract liabilities include actuarial liabilities, benefits payable, provision for unreported claims and policyholder amounts on deposit. The components of gross and net insurance contract liabilities are shown below.

 

As at December 31,    2017      2016  

Gross insurance contract liabilities

   $ 291,767      $ 284,778  

Gross benefits payable and provision for unreported claims

     3,376        3,309  

Gross policyholder amounts on deposit

     9,462        9,418  

Gross insurance contract liabilities

     304,605        297,505  

Reinsurance assets

     (30,359      (34,952

Net insurance contract liabilities

   $   274,246      $   262,553  

Net insurance contract liabilities represent the amount which, together with estimated future premiums and net investment income, will be sufficient to pay estimated future benefits, policyholder dividends and refunds, taxes (other than income taxes) and expenses on policies in-force net of reinsurance premiums and recoveries.

Net insurance contract liabilities are determined using CALM, as required by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.

The determination of net insurance contract liabilities is based on an explicit projection of cash flows using current assumptions for each material cash flow item. Investment returns are projected using the current asset portfolios and projected reinvestment strategies.

Each assumption is based on the best estimate adjusted by a margin for adverse deviation. For fixed income returns, this margin is established by scenario testing a range of prescribed and company-developed scenarios consistent with Canadian Actuarial Standards of Practice. For all other assumptions, this margin is established by directly adjusting the best estimate assumption.

Cash flows used in the net insurance contract liabilities valuation adjust the gross policy cash flows to reflect projected cash flows from ceded reinsurance. The cash flow impact of ceded reinsurance varies depending upon the amount of reinsurance, the structure of reinsurance treaties, the expected economic benefit from treaty cash flows and the impact of margins for adverse deviation. Gross insurance contract liabilities are determined by discounting gross policy cash flows using the same discount rate as the net CALM model discount rate.

The reinsurance asset is determined by taking the difference between the gross insurance contract liabilities and the net insurance contract liabilities. The reinsurance asset represents the benefit derived from reinsurance arrangements in force at the date of the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

The period used for the projection of cash flows is the policy lifetime for most individual insurance contracts. For other types of contracts, a shorter projection period may be used, with the contract generally ending at the earlier of the first renewal date on or after the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position date where the Company can exercise discretion in renewing its contractual obligations or terms of those obligations and the renewal or adjustment date that maximizes the insurance contract liabilities. For segregated fund products with guarantees, the projection period is generally set as the period that leads to the largest insurance contract liability. Where the projection period is less than the policy lifetime, insurance contract liabilities may be reduced by an allowance for acquisition expenses expected to be recovered from policy cash flows beyond the projection period used for the liabilities. Such allowances are tested for recoverability using assumptions that are consistent with other components of the actuarial valuation.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        141


(b) Composition

The composition of insurance contract liabilities and reinsurance assets by line of business and reporting segment is as follows.

Gross insurance contract liabilities

 

     Individual insurance                                        
As at December 31, 2017    Participating     

Non-

participating

    Annuities
and
pensions
     Other
insurance
contract
liabilities(1)
     Total, net of
reinsurance
ceded
    Total
reinsurance
ceded
    Total,
gross of
reinsurance
ceded
        

Asia division

   $ 32,737      $ 22,705     $ 4,366      $ 2,435      $ 62,243     $ 911     $ 63,154    

Canadian division

     11,132        34,091       19,141        11,834        76,198       (676     75,522    

U.S. division

     8,569        57,599       26,161        43,522        135,851       29,952       165,803    

Corporate and Other

            (515     48        421        (46     172       126          

Total, net of reinsurance ceded

     52,438        113,880       49,716        58,212        274,246     $ 30,359     $ 304,605          

Total reinsurance ceded

     11,492        11,238       6,539        1,090        30,359        

Total, gross of reinsurance ceded

   $   63,930      $   125,118     $   56,255      $   59,302      $   304,605        
     Individual insurance                                        
As at December 31, 2016    Participating     

Non-

participating

    Annuities
and
pensions
     Other
insurance
contract
liabilities(1)
     Total, net of
reinsurance
ceded
    Total
reinsurance
ceded
    Total,
gross of
reinsurance
ceded
        

Asia division

   $ 29,520      $ 18,799     $ 3,599      $ 2,649      $ 54,567     $ 880     $ 55,447    

Canadian division

     10,974        31,790       19,620        11,000        73,384       593       73,977    

U.S. division

     9,419        56,484       28,529        40,760        135,192       33,220       168,412    

Corporate and Other

            (833     62        181        (590     259       (331        

Total, net of reinsurance ceded

     49,913        106,240       51,810        54,590        262,553     $ 34,952     $ 297,505          

Total reinsurance ceded

     13,558        12,122       8,159        1,113        34,952        

Total, gross of reinsurance ceded

   $ 63,471      $ 118,362     $ 59,969      $ 55,703      $ 297,505        

 

(1) Other insurance contract liabilities include group insurance and individual and group health including long-term care insurance.

Separate sub-accounts were established for participating policies in-force at the demutualization of MLI and John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. These sub-accounts permit this participating business to be operated as separate “closed blocks” of participating policies. As at December 31, 2017, $28,135 (2016 – $29,108) of both assets and insurance contract liabilities were related to these closed blocks of participating policies.

(c) Assets backing insurance contract liabilities, other liabilities and capital

Assets are segmented and matched to liabilities with similar underlying characteristics by product line and major currency. The Company has established target investment strategies and asset mixes for each asset segment supporting insurance contract liabilities which take into account the risk attributes of the liabilities supported by the assets and expectations of market performance. Liabilities with rate and term guarantees are predominantly backed by fixed-rate instruments on a cash flow matching basis for a targeted duration horizon. Longer duration cash flows on these liabilities as well as on adjustable products such as participating life insurance are backed by a broader range of asset classes, including equity and alternative long-duration investments. The Company’s capital is invested in a range of debt and equity investments, both public and private.

Changes in the fair value of assets backing net insurance contract liabilities, that the Company considers to be other than temporary, would have a limited impact on the Company’s net income wherever there is an effective matching of assets and liabilities, as these changes would be substantially offset by corresponding changes in the value of net insurance contract liabilities. The fair value of assets backing net insurance contract liabilities as at December 31, 2017, excluding reinsurance assets, was estimated at $278,521 (2016 – $266,119).

The fair value of assets backing capital and other liabilities as at December 31, 2017 was estimated at $456,278 (2016 – $459,256).

 

142        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


The carrying value of total assets backing net insurance contract liabilities, other liabilities and capital was as follows.

 

     Individual insurance                                            
As at December 31, 2017    Participating     

Non-

participating

     Annuities
and pensions
     Other insurance
contract
liabilities(1)
     Other
liabilities(2)
     Capital(3)      Total          

Assets

                       

Debt securities

   $ 27,946      $ 63,128      $ 26,621      $ 25,211      $ 6,635      $ 24,459      $ 174,000     

Public equities

     9,264        5,855        171        332        1,029        4,894        21,545     

Mortgages

     2,017        10,286        7,009        6,891        18,476        63        44,742     

Private placements

     3,645        12,128        8,059        7,739        367        194        32,132     

Real estate

     2,963        6,198        1,136        2,516        769        228        13,810     

Other

     6,603        16,285        6,720        15,523        377,352        20,821        443,304           

Total

   $   52,438      $   113,880      $   49,716      $   58,212      $   404,628      $   50,659      $   729,533           
     Individual insurance                                            
As at December 31, 2016    Participating     

Non-

participating

     Annuities
and pensions
     Other insurance
contract
liabilities(1)
     Other
liabilities(2)
     Capital(3)      Total          

Assets

                       

Debt securities

   $ 27,473      $ 56,765      $ 26,331      $ 23,012      $ 9,965      $ 25,076      $ 168,622     

Public equities

     8,055        5,401        213        351        732        4,744        19,496     

Mortgages

     2,110        10,008        8,135        5,554        18,311        75        44,193     

Private placements

     3,277        10,823        7,096        7,070        1,272        191        29,729     

Real estate

     2,811        6,397        1,480        2,561        613        270        14,132     

Other

     6,187        16,846        8,555        16,042        377,000        19,879        444,509           

Total

   $ 49,913      $ 106,240      $ 51,810      $ 54,590      $ 407,893      $ 50,235      $ 720,681           

 

(1) Other insurance contract liabilities include group insurance and individual and group health including long-term care insurance.
(2) Other liabilities are non-insurance contract liabilities which include segregated funds, bank deposits, long-term debt, deferred tax liabilities, derivatives, investment contracts, embedded derivatives and other miscellaneous liabilities.
(3) Capital is defined in note 14.

(d) Significant insurance contract liability valuation assumptions

The determination of insurance contract liabilities involves the use of estimates and assumptions. Insurance contract liabilities have two major components: a best estimate amount and a provision for adverse deviation.

Best estimate assumptions

Best estimate assumptions are made with respect to mortality and morbidity, investment returns, rates of policy termination, operating expenses and certain taxes. Actual experience is monitored to ensure that assumptions remain appropriate and assumptions are changed as warranted. Assumptions are discussed in more detail in the following table.

 

   
Nature of factor and assumption methodology    Risk management

Mortality

and

morbidity

  

Mortality relates to the occurrence of death. Mortality is a key assumption for life insurance and certain forms of annuities. Mortality assumptions are based on the Company’s internal experience as well as past and emerging industry experience. Assumptions are differentiated by sex, underwriting class, policy type and geographic market. Assumptions are made for future mortality improvements.

 

Morbidity relates to the occurrence of accidents and sickness for insured risks. Morbidity is a key assumption for long-term care insurance, disability insurance, critical illness and other forms of individual and group health benefits. Morbidity assumptions are based on the Company’s internal experience as well as past and emerging industry experience and are established for each type of morbidity risk and geographic market. Assumptions are made for future morbidity improvements.

  

The Company maintains underwriting standards to determine the insurability of applicants. Claim trends are monitored on an ongoing basis. Exposure to large claims is managed by establishing policy retention limits, which vary by market and geographic location. Policies in excess of the limits are reinsured with other companies.

 

Mortality is monitored monthly and the overall 2017 experience was unfavourable (2016 – unfavourable) when compared to the Company’s assumptions. Morbidity is also monitored monthly and the overall 2017 experience was unfavourable (2016 – unfavourable) when compared to the Company’s assumptions.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        143


   
Nature of factor and assumption methodology    Risk management
Investment returns   

The Company segments assets to support liabilities by business segment and geographic market and establishes investment strategies for each liability segment. Projected cash flows from these assets are combined with projected cash flows from future asset purchases/sales to determine expected rates of return on these assets for future years. Investment strategies are based on the target investment policies for each segment and the reinvestment returns are derived from current and projected market rates for fixed income investments and a projected outlook for other alternative long-duration assets.

 

Investment return assumptions include expected future asset credit losses on fixed income investments. Credit losses are projected based on past experience of the Company and industry as well as specific reviews of the current investment portfolio.

 

Investment return assumptions for each asset class and geographic market also incorporate expected investment management expenses that are derived from internal cost studies. The costs are attributed to each asset class to develop unitized assumptions per dollar of asset for each asset class and geographic market.

  

The Company’s policy of closely matching asset cash flows with those of the corresponding liabilities is designed to mitigate the Company’s exposure to future changes in interest rates. The interest rate risk positions in business segments are monitored on an ongoing basis. Under CALM, the reinvestment rate is developed using interest rate scenario testing and reflects the interest rate risk positions.

 

In 2017, the movement in interest rates negatively (2016 –negatively) impacted the Company’s net income. This negative impact was driven by reductions in corporate spreads and increase in swap spreads, partially offset by the impact of risk free interest rate movements on policy liabilities.

 

The exposure to credit losses is managed against policies that limit concentrations by issuer, corporate connections, ratings, sectors and geographic regions. On participating policies and some non-participating policies, credit loss experience is passed back to policyholders through the investment return crediting formula. For other policies, premiums and benefits reflect the Company’s assumed level of future credit losses at contract inception or most recent contract adjustment date. The Company holds explicit provisions in actuarial liabilities for credit risk including provisions for adverse deviation.

 

In 2017, credit loss experience on debt securities and mortgages was favourable (2016 – favourable) when compared to the Company’s assumptions.

 

Equities, real estate and other alternative long-duration assets are used to support liabilities where investment return experience is passed back to policyholders through dividends or credited investment return adjustments. Equities, real estate, oil and gas and other alternative long-duration assets are also used to support long-dated obligations in the Company’s annuity and pension businesses and for long-dated insurance obligations on contracts where the investment return risk is borne by the Company.

 

In 2017, investment experience on alternative long-duration assets backing policyholder liabilities was unfavourable (2016 – unfavourable) primarily due to losses on real estate, oil and gas properties and timber and agriculture properties, partially offset by gains on private equities. In 2017, alternative long-duration asset origination exceeded (2016 –exceeded) valuation requirements.

 

In 2017, for the business that is dynamically hedged, segregated fund guarantee experience on residual, non-dynamically hedged market risks was favourable (2016 –unfavourable). For the business that is not dynamically hedged, experience on segregated fund guarantees due to changes in the market value of assets under management was also favourable (2016 – unfavourable). This excludes the experience on the macro equity hedges.

 

In 2017, investment expense experience was unfavourable (2016 – favourable) when compared to the Company’s assumptions.

 

144        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


   
Nature of factor and assumption methodology    Risk management

Policyholder 

behaviour 

   Policies are terminated through lapses and surrenders, where lapses represent the termination of policies due to non-payment of premiums and surrenders represent the voluntary termination of policies by policyholders. Premium persistency represents the level of ongoing deposits on contracts where there is policyholder discretion as to the amount and timing of deposits. Policy termination and premium persistency assumptions are primarily based on the Company’s recent experience adjusted for expected future conditions. Assumptions reflect differences by type of contract within each geographic market.   

The Company seeks to design products that minimize financial exposure to lapse, surrender and other policyholder behaviour risk. The Company monitors lapse, surrender and other policyholder behaviour experience.

 

In aggregate, 2017 policyholder behaviour experience was unfavourable (2016 – unfavourable) when compared to the Company’s assumptions used in the computation of actuarial liabilities.

Expenses and taxes   

Operating expense assumptions reflect the projected costs of maintaining and servicing in-force policies, including associated overhead expenses. The expenses are derived from internal cost studies projected into the future with an allowance for inflation. For some developing businesses, there is an expectation that unit costs will decline as these businesses grow.

 

Taxes reflect assumptions for future premium taxes and other non-income related taxes. For income taxes, policy liabilities are adjusted only for temporary tax timing and permanent tax rate differences on the cash flows available to satisfy policy obligations.

  

The Company prices its products to cover the expected costs of servicing and maintaining them. In addition, the Company monitors expenses monthly, including comparisons of actual expenses to expense levels allowed for in pricing and valuation.

 

Maintenance expenses for 2017 were unfavourable (2016 –unfavourable) when compared to the Company’s assumptions used in the computation of actuarial liabilities.

 

The Company prices its products to cover the expected cost of taxes.

Policyholder  dividends, experience rating refunds, and  other adjustable policy elements    The best estimate projections for policyholder dividends and experience rating refunds, and other adjustable elements of policy benefits are determined to be consistent with management’s expectation of how these elements will be managed should experience emerge consistently with the best estimate assumptions used for mortality and morbidity, investment returns, rates of policy termination, operating expenses and taxes.   

The Company monitors policy experience and adjusts policy benefits and other adjustable elements to reflect this experience.

 

Policyholder dividends are reviewed annually for all businesses under a framework of Board-approved policyholder dividend policies.

Foreign

currency

   Foreign currency risk results from a mismatch of the currency of liabilities and the currency of the assets designated to support these obligations. Where a currency mismatch exists, the assumed rate of return on the assets supporting the liabilities is reduced to reflect the potential for adverse movements in foreign exchange rates.    The Company generally matches the currency of its assets with the currency of the liabilities they support, with the objective of mitigating the risk of loss arising from movements in currency exchange rates.

The Company’s practice is to review actuarial assumptions on an annual basis as part of its review of methods and assumptions. Where changes are made to assumptions (refer to note 8(h)), the full impact is recognized in income immediately.

(e) Sensitivity of insurance contract liabilities to changes in non-economic assumptions

The sensitivity of net income attributed to shareholders to changes in non-economic assumptions underlying insurance contract liabilities is shown below, assuming that there is a simultaneous change in the assumption across all business units.

In practice, experience for each assumption will frequently vary by geographic market and business and assumption updates are made on a business/geographic specific basis. Actual results can differ materially from these estimates for a variety of reasons including the interaction among these factors when more than one changes; changes in actuarial and investment return and future investment activity assumptions; changes in business mix, effective tax rates and other market factors; and the general limitations of internal models.

Potential impact on net income attributed to shareholders arising from changes to non-economic assumptions(1),(2)

 

As at December 31,

   Decrease in net income
attributable to shareholders
 
   2017      2016  

Policy related assumptions

     

2% adverse change in future mortality rates(3),(5)

     

Products where an increase in rates increases insurance contract liabilities

   $ (400    $ (400

Products where a decrease in rates increases insurance contract liabilities

     (400      (500

5% adverse change in future morbidity rates(4),(5)

       (3,900        (3,700

10% adverse change in future termination rates(5)

     (2,000      (1,900

5% increase in future expense levels

     (500      (500

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        145


(1) The sensitivities as at December 31, 2017 include the impact of lower U.S. corporate tax rates effective January 1, 2018.
(2) The participating policy funds are largely self-supporting and generate no material impact on net income attributed to shareholders as a result of changes in non-economic assumptions. Experience gains or losses would generally result in changes to future dividends, with no direct impact to shareholders.
(3) An increase in mortality rates will generally increase policy liabilities for life insurance contracts whereas a decrease in mortality rates will generally increase policy liabilities for policies with longevity risk such as payout annuities.
(4) No amounts related to morbidity risk are included for policies where the policy liability provides only for claims costs expected over a short period, generally less than one year, such as Group Life and Health.
(5) The impacts of the sensitivities on long-term care for morbidity, mortality and lapse are assumed to be moderated by partial offsets from the Company’s ability to contractually raise premium rates in such events, subject to state regulatory approval.

(f) Provision for adverse deviation assumptions

The assumptions made in establishing insurance contract liabilities reflect expected best estimates of future experience. To recognize the uncertainty in these best estimate assumptions, to allow for possible misestimation of and deterioration in experience and to provide a greater degree of assurance that the insurance contract liabilities are adequate to pay future benefits, the Appointed Actuary is required to include a margin in each assumption.

Margins are released into future earnings as the policy is released from risk. Margins for interest rate risk are included by testing a number of scenarios of future interest rates. The margin can be established by testing a limited number of scenarios, some of which are prescribed by the Canadian Actuarial Standards of Practice, and determining the liability based on the worst outcome. Alternatively, the margin can be set by testing many scenarios, which are developed according to actuarial guidance. Under this approach the liability would be the average of the outcomes above a percentile in the range prescribed by the Canadian Actuarial Standards of Practice.

Specific guidance is also provided for other risks such as market, credit, mortality and morbidity risks. For other risks which are not specifically addressed by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, a range is provided of five per cent to 20 per cent of the expected experience assumption. The Company uses assumptions within the permissible ranges, with the determination of the level set considering the risk profile of the business. On occasion, in specific circumstances for additional prudence, a margin may exceed the high end of the range, which is permissible under the Canadian Actuarial Standards of Practice. This additional margin would be released if the specific circumstances which led to it being established were to change.

Each margin is reviewed annually for continued appropriateness.

(g) Change in insurance contract liabilities

The change in insurance contract liabilities was a result of the following business activities and changes in actuarial estimates.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017    Net actuarial
liabilities
    Other
insurance
contract
liabilities (1)
    Net
insurance
contract
liabilities
    Reinsurance
assets
    Gross
insurance
contract
liabilities
        

Balance, January 1

   $ 251,738     $ 10,815     $ 262,553     $ 34,952     $ 297,505    

New policies(2)

     3,545             3,545       441       3,986    

Normal in-force movement(2)

     15,192       930       16,122       (3,097     13,025    

Changes in methods and assumptions(2)

     305       (28     277       47       324    

Impact of U.S. Tax Reform(2),(3)

     2,246             2,246             2,246    

Increase due to decision to change the portfolio asset mix supporting legacy businesses(2),(4)

     1,340             1,340       43       1,383    

Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates

     (11,275     (562     (11,837     (2,027     (13,864        

Balance, December 31

   $ 263,091     $ 11,155     $ 274,246     $ 30,359     $ 304,605          
For the year ended December 31, 2016    Net actuarial
liabilities
    Other
insurance
contract
liabilities (1)
    Net
insurance
contract
liabilities
    Reinsurance
assets
    Gross
insurance
contract
liabilities
        

Balance, January 1

   $ 239,812     $ 10,050     $ 249,862     $ 35,426     $ 285,288    

New policies(5)

     3,617             3,617       294       3,911    

Normal in-force movement(5)

     12,579       1,094       13,673       (405     13,268    

Changes in methods and assumptions(5)

     709       (54     655       699       1,354    

Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates

     (4,979     (275     (5,254     (1,062     (6,316        

Balance, December 31

   $   251,738     $   10,815     $   262,553     $   34,952     $   297,505          

 

(1) Other insurance contract liabilities are comprised of benefits payable and provision for unreported claims and policyholder amounts on deposit.
(2) In 2017, the $20,023 increase reported as the change in insurance contract liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Income primarily consists of changes due to normal in-force movement, new policies, changes in methods and assumptions, the impact of U.S. Tax Reform and the increase due to the decision to change the portfolio asset mix supporting legacy businesses. These five items in the gross insurance contract liabilities column of this table net to an increase of $20,964, of which $20,212 is included in the Consolidated Statements of Income increase in insurance contract liabilities and $752 is included in gross claims and benefits. The Consolidated Statements of Income change in insurance contract liabilities also includes the change in embedded derivatives associated with insurance contracts.
(3) The impact of U.S. Tax Reform, which includes the lowering of the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and limits on the tax deductibility of reserves, resulted in a $2,246 pre-tax ($1,774 post-tax) increase in policy liabilities due to the impact of temporary tax timing and permanent tax rate differences on the cash flows available to satisfy policyholder obligations. The $472 deferred tax impact on this increase in policy liabilities, together with the impact of U.S. Tax Reform on the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities is included in note 6.

 

146        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(4) The decision to reduce the allocation to ALDA in the portfolio asset mix supporting the Company’s North American legacy businesses resulted in an increase in policy liabilities due to the impact on future expected investment income on assets supporting the policies.
(5) In 2016, the $18,014 increase reported as the change in insurance contract liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Income primarily consists of changes due to normal in-force movement, new policies and changes in methods and assumptions. These three items in the gross insurance contract liabilities column of this table net to an increase of $18,533, of which $17,529 is included in the Consolidated Statements of Income increase in insurance contract liabilities and $1,004 is included in gross claims and benefits. The Consolidated Statements of Income change in insurance contract liabilities also includes the change in embedded derivatives associated with insurance contracts.

(h) Actuarial methods and assumptions

A comprehensive review of valuation assumptions and methods is performed annually. The review is designed to reduce the Company’s exposure to uncertainty by ensuring assumptions for both asset related and liability related risks remain appropriate. This is accomplished by monitoring experience and updating assumptions which represent a best estimate view of future experience, and margins that are appropriate for the risks assumed. While the assumptions selected represent the Company’s current best estimates and assessment of risk, the ongoing monitoring of experience and the economic environment is likely to result in future changes to the valuation assumptions, which could be material.

Annual Review 2017

The quantification of the impact of the 2017 comprehensive review of valuation methods and assumptions is as of July 1, 2017 for all lines of business.

The 2017 full year review of actuarial methods and assumptions resulted in an increase in insurance and investment contract liabilities of $277, net of reinsurance, and a decrease in net income attributed to shareholders of $35 post-tax. These charges exclude the impacts of the U.S. Tax Reform and reducing the allocation to ALDA in the Company’s portfolio asset mix. The charge to net income in the fourth quarter of 2017 for these two items was $2.8 billion, which primarily related to the post-tax change in policy liabilities. Refer to notes 6 and 8(g) for further details.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017    Change in gross
insurance and
investment
contract liabilities
    Change in insurance
and investment
contract liabilities
net of reinsurance(1)
   

Change in net

income attributed
to shareholders

(post-tax)

        

Mortality and morbidity updates

   $ (219   $ (254   $ 299    

Lapses and policyholder behaviour

     1,057       1,019       (783  

Other updates

        

ALDA and public equity investment return assumptions

     1,403       1,296       (892  

Corporate spread assumptions

     (554     (515     344    

Refinements to liability and tax cash flows

     (1,273     (1,049     696    

Other

     (90     (220     301          

Net impact

   $     324     $     277     $       (35)          

 

(1) The $277 increase in insurance and investment contract liabilities net of reinsurance, included an increase in net liabilities associated with participating insurance business resulting in a charge to net income attributed to participating policyholders of $88.

Mortality and morbidity updates

Mortality and morbidity updates resulted in a $299 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders.

The Company completed a detailed review of the mortality assumptions for its U.S. life insurance business which resulted in a $384 charge to net income attributed to shareholders. Assumptions were increased, particularly at older ages, reflecting both industry and the Company’s own experience.

Updates to actuarial standards related to future mortality improvement, and the review of mortality improvement assumptions globally, resulted in a $264 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders primarily in Canada and Asia. The updated actuarial standards include a diversification benefit for the determination of margins for adverse deviation which recognizes the offsetting impact of longevity and mortality risk.

The Company completed a detailed review of mortality assumptions for its Canadian retail insurance business which resulted in a $222 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders.

Other updates to mortality and morbidity assumptions led to a $197 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders. These updates included a reduction in the margins for adverse deviation applied to morbidity assumptions for certain medical insurance products in Japan.

Updates to lapses and policyholder behaviour

Updates to lapses and policyholder behaviour assumptions resulted in a $783 charge to net income attributed to shareholders.

In Canadian retail insurance, lapse assumptions were reduced for certain universal life products to reflect recent experience, leading to a $315 charge to net income attributed to shareholders.

For Canadian segregated fund guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit lapses, incidence and utilization assumptions were updated to reflect recent experience which led to a $242 charge to net income attributed to shareholders.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        147


Other updates to lapse and policyholder behaviour assumptions were made across several product lines including a reduction in lapse assumptions for the Company’s whole life insurance products in Japan, leading to a $226 charge to net income attributed to shareholders.

Other updates

Other updates resulted in a $449 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders.

The Company reviewed its investment return assumptions for ALDA and public equities, which in aggregate led to a reduction in return assumptions and a $892 charge to net income attributed to shareholders. The Company also reviewed future corporate spread assumptions, which led to a $344 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders.

Refinements to the projection of the Company’s liability and tax cash flows in the U.S. resulted in a $696 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders. These changes included refinements to the projection of policyholder crediting rates for certain universal life insurance products.

Other refinements resulted in a $301 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders. These changes included a review of provisions for reinsurance counterparty credit risk and several other refinements to the projection of both the Company’s asset and liability cash flows.

Annual Review 2016

The 2016 full year review of actuarial methods and assumptions resulted in an increase in insurance and investment contract liabilities of $655, net of reinsurance, and a decrease in net income attributed to shareholders of $453 post-tax.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2016    Change in gross
insurance and
investment
contract liabilities
    Change in insurance
and investment
contract liabilities
net of reinsurance
   

Change in net
income attributed
to shareholders

(post-tax)

        

JH Long-Term Care triennial review

   $ 696     $ 696     $ (452  

Mortality and morbidity updates

     (12     (53     76    

Lapses and policyholder behaviour

        

U.S. Variable Annuities guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit incidence and utilization

     (1,024     (1,024     665    

Other lapses and policyholder behaviour

     516       431       (356  

Economic reinvestment assumptions

     459       443       (313  

Other updates

     719       162       (73        

Net impact

   $     1,354     $     655     $     (453        

Long-Term Care triennial review

U.S. Insurance completed a comprehensive Long-Term Care experience study. This included a review of mortality, morbidity and lapse experience, as well as the reserve for in-force rate increases filed as a result of the 2013 review. In addition, the Company implemented refinements to the modelling of future tax cash flows for long-term care. The net impact of the review was a $452 charge to net income attributed to shareholders.

Expected future claims costs increased primarily due to claims periods being longer than expected in policy liabilities, and a reduction in lapse and mortality rates. This increase in expected future claims costs was partially offset by a number of items, including expected future premium increases resulting from this year’s review and a decrease in the margin for adverse deviations related to the rate of inflation embedded in the Company’s benefit utilization assumptions.

The review of premium increases assumed in policy liabilities resulted in a benefit to earnings of $1.0 billion; this includes future premium increases that are due to the 2016 review of morbidity, mortality and lapse assumptions, and outstanding amounts from the Company’s 2013 state filings. Premium increases averaging approximately 20 per cent will be sought on the vast majority of the in-force business, excluding the carryover of 2013 amounts requested. The Company’s assumptions reflect the estimated timing and amount of state approved premium increases. The actual experience obtaining price increases could be materially different than the Company has assumed, resulting in further increases or decreases in policy liabilities which could be material.

Mortality and morbidity updates

Mortality and morbidity assumptions were updated across several business units to reflect recent experience, including updates to morbidity assumptions for certain medical insurance products in Japan, leading to a $76 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders.

Updates to lapses and policyholder behaviour

U.S. Variable Annuities guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit incidence and utilization assumptions were updated to reflect recent experience which led to a $665 benefit to net income attributed to shareholders. The Company updated its incidence assumptions to reflect the favourable impact of policyholders taking withdrawals later than expected. This was partially offset by an increase in the Company’s utilization assumptions.

 

148        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


In Japan, lapse rates for term life insurance products were increased at certain durations which led to a $228 charge to net income attributed to shareholders. Other updates to lapse and policyholder behavior assumptions were made across several product lines, including term products in Canada, which led to a $128 charge to net income attributed to shareholders.

Updates to economic reinvestment assumptions

The Company updated economic reinvestment assumptions for risk free rates used in the valuation of policy liabilities which resulted in a $313 charge to net income attributed to shareholders. These updates included a proactive ten basis point reduction in the Company’s ultimate reinvestment rate (“URR”) assumptions and a commensurate change in the calibration criteria for stochastic risk-free rates. These updates reflect the fact that interest rates are lower than they were when the current prescribed URR and calibration criteria for stochastic risk-free rates were promulgated by the Actuarial Standards Board (“ASB”) in 2014. The ASB has indicated that it will update the promulgation periodically, when necessary. The Company expects the promulgation to be updated in 2017 and, if required, it will make further updates to its economic reinvestment assumptions at that time.

Other updates

Other model refinements related to the projection of both asset and liability cash flows across several business units led to a $73 charge to net income attributed to shareholders. This included a charge due to refinements to the Company’s CALM models and assumptions offset by a benefit due to refinements to the modelling of future tax cash flows for certain assets in the U.S.

(i) Insurance contracts contractual obligations

Insurance contracts give rise to obligations fixed by agreement. As at December 31, 2017, the Company’s contractual obligations and commitments relating to insurance contracts are as follows.

 

Payments due by period    Less than
1 year
    

1 to 3

years

    

3 to 5

years

     Over 5
years
     Total  

Insurance contract liabilities(1)

   $   9,788      $   11,236      $   17,153      $   703,877      $   742,054  

 

(1) Insurance contract liability cash flows include estimates related to the timing and payment of death and disability claims, policy surrenders, policy maturities, annuity payments, minimum guarantees on segregated fund products, policyholder dividends, commissions and premium taxes offset by contractual future premiums on in-force contracts. These estimated cash flows are based on the best estimate assumptions used in the determination of insurance contract liabilities. These amounts are undiscounted and reflect recoveries from reinsurance agreements. Due to the use of assumptions, actual cash flows may differ from these estimates. Cash flows include embedded derivatives measured separately at fair value.

(j) Gross claims and benefits

The following table presents a breakdown of gross claims and benefits.

 

For the years ended December 31,   2017     2016  

Death, disability and other claims

  $ 14,871     $ 13,819  

Maturity and surrender benefits

    6,302       6,697  

Annuity payments

    4,470       4,310  

Policyholder dividends and experience rating refunds

    1,085       1,111  

Net transfers from segregated funds

    (1,734     (878

Total

  $   24,994     $   25,059  

Note 9    Investment Contract Liabilities

Investment contract liabilities are contractual obligations that do not contain significant insurance risk. Those contracts are measured at either fair value or at amortized cost.

(a) Investment contract liabilities measured at fair value

Investment contract liabilities measured at fair value include certain investment savings and pension products sold primarily in Hong Kong and China. The following table presents movement in investment contract liabilities measured at fair value during the year.

 

For the years ended December 31,   2017     2016  

Balance, January 1

  $ 631     $ 785  

New policies

    50       53  

Changes in market conditions

    76       (103

Redemptions, surrenders and maturities

    (72     (83

Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates

    (46     (21

Balance, December 31

  $   639     $     631  

(b) Investment contract liabilities measured at amortized cost

Investment contract liabilities measured at amortized cost include several fixed annuity products sold in Canada and U.S. fixed annuity products that provide guaranteed income payments for a contractually determined period of time and are not contingent on survivorship.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        149


Investment contract liabilities measured at amortized cost are shown below. The fair value associated with these contracts is also shown for comparative purposes.

 

    2017           2016  
As at December 31,  

Amortized

cost

    Fair value          

Amortized

cost

    Fair value  

U.S. fixed annuity products

  $   1,282     $   1,433       $   1,412     $   1,516  

Canadian fixed annuity products

    1,205       1,354         1,232       1,389  

Investment contract liabilities

  $ 2,487     $ 2,787       $ 2,644     $ 2,905  

The changes in investment contract liabilities measured at amortized cost was a result of the following business activities.

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Balance, January 1

   $   2,644      $   2,712  

Policy deposits

     68        112  

Interest

     100        100  

Withdrawals

     (232      (235

Fees

     (1      (1

Other

     (1      1  

Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates

     (91      (45

Balance, December 31

   $ 2,487      $ 2,644  

Carrying value of fixed annuity products is amortized at a rate that exactly discounts the projected actual cash flows to the net carrying amount of the liability at the date of issue.

Fair value of fixed annuity products is determined by projecting cash flows according to the contract terms and discounting the cash flows at current market rates adjusted for the Company’s own credit standing. All investment contracts were categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy (2016 – Level 2).

(c) Investment contracts contractual obligations

Investment contracts give rise to obligations fixed by agreement. As at December 31, 2017, the Company’s contractual obligations and commitments relating to investment contracts are as follows.

 

Payments due by period    Less than
1 year
    

1 to 3

years

    

3 to 5

years

     Over 5
years
     Total  

Investment contract liabilities(1)

   $   283      $   536      $   481      $   3,944      $   5,244  

 

(1) Due to the nature of the products, the timing of net cash flows may be before contract maturity. Cash flows are undiscounted.

Note 10    Risk Management

The Company’s policies and procedures for managing risk related to financial instruments are presented in the “Risk Management” section of the Company’s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2017. Specifically, these disclosures are included in “Market Risk” and “Liquidity Risk” in that section. These disclosures are in accordance with IFRS 7 “Financial Instruments: Disclosures” and therefore, only the shaded text and tables in the “Risk Management” section form an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

(a) Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of loss due to inability or unwillingness of a borrower, or counterparty, to fulfill its payment obligations. Worsening regional and global economic conditions, segment or industry sector challenges, or company specific factors could result in defaults or downgrades and could lead to increased provisions or impairments related to the Company’s general fund invested assets, derivative financial instruments and reinsurance assets and an increase in provisions for future credit impairments that are included in actuarial liabilities.

The Company’s exposure to credit risk is managed through risk management policies and procedures which include a defined credit evaluation and adjudication process, delegated credit approval authorities and established exposure limits by borrower, corporate connection, credit rating, industry and geographic region. The Company measures derivative counterparty exposure as net potential credit exposure, which takes into consideration mark-to-market values of all transactions with each counterparty, net of any collateral held, and an allowance to reflect future potential exposure. Reinsurance counterparty exposure is measured reflecting the level of ceded liabilities.

The Company also ensures where warranted, that mortgages, private placements and loans to Bank clients are secured by collateral, the nature of which depends on the credit risk of the counterparty.

An allowance for losses on loans is established when a loan becomes impaired. Allowances for loan losses are calculated to reduce the carrying value of the loans to estimated net realizable value. The establishment of such allowances takes into consideration normal

 

150        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


historical credit loss levels and future expectations, with an allowance for adverse deviations. In addition, policy liabilities include general provisions for credit losses from future asset impairments. Impairments are identified through regular monitoring of all credit related exposures, considering such information as general market conditions, industry and borrower specific credit events and any other relevant trends or conditions. Allowances for losses on reinsurance contracts are established when a reinsurance counterparty becomes unable or unwilling to fulfill its contractual obligations. The allowance for loss is based on current recoverable amounts and ceded policy liabilities.

Credit risk associated with derivative counterparties is discussed in note 10(d) and credit risk associated with reinsurance counterparties is discussed in note 10(i).

Credit exposure

The following table presents the gross carrying amount of financial instruments subject to credit exposure, without considering any collateral held or other credit enhancements.

 

As at December 31,    2017      2016  

Debt securities

     

FVTPL

   $   147,024      $   140,890  

AFS

     26,976        27,732  

Mortgages

     44,742        44,193  

Private placements

     32,132        29,729  

Policy loans

     5,808        6,041  

Loans to Bank clients

     1,737        1,745  

Derivative assets

     15,569        23,672  

Accrued investment income

     2,182        2,260  

Reinsurance assets

     30,359        34,952  

Other financial assets

     5,253        4,844  

Total

   $   311,782      $   316,058  

Credit quality

Credit quality of commercial mortgages and private placements is assessed at least annually by using an internal rating based on regular monitoring of credit-related exposures, considering both qualitative and quantitative factors.

A provision is recorded when the internal risk ratings indicate that a loss represents the most likely outcome. The assets are designated as non-accrual and an allowance is established based on an analysis of the security and repayment sources.

The following table presents the credit quality and carrying value of commercial mortgages and private placements.

 

As at December 31, 2017    AAA      AA      A      BBB      BB      B and lower      Total  

Commercial mortgages

                    

Retail

   $ 110      $ 1,517      $ 4,363      $ 2,050      $ 44      $ 57      $ 8,141  

Office

     57        1,272        4,635        1,647        70        28        7,709  

Multi-family residential

     523        1,395        1,805        726                      4,449  

Industrial

     33        386        1,542        477        145               2,583  

Other

     362        331        1,012        973        14               2,692  

Total commercial mortgages

     1,085        4,901        13,357        5,873        273        85        25,574  

Agricultural mortgages

            159               405        25               589  

Private placements

     1,038        4,246        11,978        13,160        717        993        32,132  

Total

   $   2,123      $   9,306      $   25,335      $   19,438      $   1,015      $   1,078      $   58,295  
As at December 31, 2016    AAA      AA      A      BBB      BB      B and lower      Total  

Commercial mortgages

                    

Retail

   $ 97      $ 1,620      $ 4,391      $ 2,084      $      $ 7      $ 8,199  

Office

     68        1,255        3,972        1,938        55        36        7,324  

Multi-family residential

     656        1,362        1,944        844                      4,806  

Industrial

     22        360        1,452        831        169               2,834  

Other

     428        261        1,323        493        60               2,565  

Total commercial mortgages

     1,271        4,858        13,082        6,190        284        43        25,728  

Agricultural mortgages

            151        61        469        141               822  

Private placements

     1,086        4,466        10,671        11,606        936        964        29,729  

Total

   $ 2,357      $ 9,475      $ 23,814      $ 18,265      $ 1,361      $ 1,007      $ 56,279  

Credit quality of residential mortgages and loans to Bank clients is assessed at least annually with the loan being performing or non-performing as the key credit quality indicator.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        151


Full or partial write-offs of loans are recorded when management believes that there is no realistic prospect of full recovery. Write-offs, net of recoveries, are deducted from the allowance for credit losses. All impairments are captured in the allowance for credit losses.

The following table presents the carrying value of residential mortgages and loans to Bank clients.

 

     2017             2016  
As at December 31,      Insured        Uninsured        Total           Insured        Uninsured        Total  

Residential mortgages

                    

Performing

   $   7,256      $   11,310      $   18,566         $ 7,574      $ 10,050      $ 17,624  

Non-performing(1)

     4        9        13           6        13        19  

Loans to Bank clients

                    

Performing

     n/a        1,734        1,734           n/a        1,743        1,743  

Non-performing(1)

     n/a        3        3           n/a        2        2  

Total

   $ 7,260      $ 13,056      $ 20,316         $ 7,580      $ 11,808      $ 19,388  

 

(1) Non-performing refers to assets that are 90 days or more past due if uninsured and 365 days or more if insured.

The carrying value of government-insured mortgages was 17% of the total mortgage portfolio as at December 31, 2017 (2016 –19%). The majority of these insured mortgages are residential loans as classified in the table above.

Past due or credit impaired financial assets

The Company provides for credit risk by establishing allowances against the carrying value of impaired loans and recognizing impairment losses on AFS debt securities. In addition, the Company reports as impairment certain declines in the fair value of debt securities designated as FVTPL which it deems represent an impairment.

The following table presents the carrying value of past due but not impaired and impaired financial assets.

 

     Past due but not impaired                
As at December 31, 2017    Less than
90 days
     90 days
and greater
     Total      Total
impaired
         

Debt securities

              

FVTPL

   $      $      $      $ 45     

AFS

     104        2        106        1     

Private placements

     363               363        40     

Mortgages and loans to Bank clients

     76        16        92        86     

Other financial assets

     46        26        72        1           

Total

   $   589      $   44      $   633      $   173           
     Past due but not impaired                
As at December 31, 2016    Less than
90 days
     90 days
and greater
     Total      Total
impaired
         

Debt securities

              

FVTPL

   $ 90      $      $ 90      $ 38     

AFS

     16        9        25            

Private placements

     215        64        279        152     

Mortgages and loans to Bank clients

     50        20        70        33     

Other financial assets

     57        54        111        8           

Total

   $ 428      $ 147      $ 575      $ 231           

The following table summarizes the Company’s loans that are considered impaired.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Gross
carrying
value
     Allowances
for losses
     Net carrying
value
         

Private placements

   $ 79      $ 39      $ 40     

Mortgages and loans to Bank clients

     132        46        86           

Total

   $   211      $   85      $   126           
As at December 31, 2016    Gross
carrying
value
     Allowances
for losses
     Net
carrying
value
         

Private placements

   $ 244      $ 92      $ 152     

Mortgages and loans to Bank clients

     59        26        33           

Total

   $ 303      $ 118      $ 185           

 

152        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Allowance for loan losses

 

     2017             2016  
For the years ended December 31,     
Private
placements
 
 
    

Mortgages
and loans to
Bank clients
 
 
 
     Total          
Private
placements
 
 
    

Mortgages
and loans to
Bank clients
 
 
 
     Total  

Balance, January 1

   $ 92      $ 26      $ 118         $ 72      $ 29      $ 101  

Provisions

     2        33        35           112        14        126  

Recoveries

     (12      (1      (13         (62      (7      (69

Write-offs(1)

     (43      (12      (55         (30      (10      (40

Balance, December 31

   $   39      $   46      $ 85         $   92      $   26      $   118  

 

(1) Includes disposals and impact of changes in foreign exchange rates.

(b) Securities lending, repurchase and reverse repurchase transactions

The Company engages in securities lending to generate fee income. Collateral exceeding the market value of the loaned securities is retained by the Company until the underlying security has been returned to the Company. The market value of the loaned securities is monitored on a daily basis and additional collateral is obtained or refunded as the market value of the underlying loaned securities fluctuates. As at December 31, 2017, the Company had loaned securities (which are included in invested assets) with a market value of $1,563 (2016 – $1,956). The Company holds collateral with a current market value that exceeds the value of securities lent in all cases.

The Company engages in reverse repurchase transactions to generate fee income, to take possession of securities to cover short positions in similar instruments and to meet short-term funding requirements. As at December 31, 2017, the Company had engaged in reverse repurchase transactions of $230 (2016 – $250) which are recorded as short-term receivables. In addition, the Company had engaged in repurchase transactions of $228 as at December 31, 2017 (2016 – $255) which are recorded as payables.

(c) Credit default swaps

The Company replicates exposure to specific issuers by selling credit protection via credit default swaps (“CDSs”) to complement its cash debt securities investing. The Company does not write CDS protection in excess of its government bond holdings. A CDS is a derivative instrument representing an agreement between two parties to exchange the credit risk of a single specified entity or an index based on the credit risk of a group of entities (all commonly referred to as the “reference entity” or a portfolio of “reference entities”), in return for a periodic premium. CDS contracts typically have a five-year term.

The following table presents details of the credit default swap protection sold by type of contract and external agency rating for the underlying reference security.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Notional
amount(2)
     Fair value     

Weighted
average
maturity

(in years)(3)

 

Single name CDSs(1)

        

Corporate debt

        

AAA

   $ 13      $        1  

AA

     35        1        2  

A

     408        10        3  

BBB

     150        3        2  

Total single name CDSs

   $ 606      $ 14        3  

Total CDS protection sold

   $   606      $   14        3  
As at December 31, 2016    Notional
amount(2)
     Fair value     

Weighted
average
maturity

(in years)(3)

 

Single name CDSs(1)

        

Corporate debt

        

AAA

   $ 13      $        2  

AA

     37        1        3  

A

     457        13        4  

BBB

     155        4        3  

Total single name CDSs

   $ 662      $ 18        4  

Total CDS protection sold

   $ 662      $ 18        4  

 

(1) Rating agency designations are based on S&P where available followed by Moody’s, DBRS, and Fitch. If no rating is available from a rating agency, an internally developed rating is used.
(2)  Notional amounts represent the maximum future payments the Company would have to pay its counterparties assuming a default of the underlying credit and zero recovery on the underlying issuer obligation.
(3)  The weighted average maturity of the CDS is weighted based on notional amounts.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        153


The Company held no purchased credit protection as at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

(d) Derivatives

The Company’s point-in-time exposure to losses related to credit risk of a derivative counterparty is limited to the amount of any net gains that may have accrued with a particular counterparty. Gross derivative counterparty exposure is measured as the total fair value (including accrued interest) of all outstanding contracts in a gain position excluding any offsetting contracts in a loss position and the impact of collateral on hand. The Company limits the risk of credit losses from derivative counterparties by: using investment grade counterparties; entering into master netting arrangements which permit the offsetting of contracts in a loss position in the case of a counterparty default; and entering into Credit Support Annex agreements, whereby collateral must be provided when the exposure exceeds a certain threshold. All contracts are held with counterparties rated BBB- or higher. As at December 31, 2017, the percentage of the Company’s derivative exposure with counterparties rated AA- or higher was 20 per cent (2016 – 22 per cent). The Company’s exposure to credit risk was mitigated by $10,138 fair value of collateral held as security as at December 31, 2017 (2016 – $12,781).

As at December 31, 2017, the largest single counterparty exposure, without considering the impact of master netting agreements or the benefit of collateral held, was $2,629 (2016 – $3,891). The net exposure to this counterparty, after considering master netting agreements and the fair value of collateral held, was $nil (2016 – $nil). As at December 31, 2017, the total maximum credit exposure related to derivatives across all counterparties, without considering the impact of master netting agreements and the benefit of collateral held, was $16,204 (2016 – $24,603).

(e) Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities

Certain derivatives, securities lent and repurchase agreements have conditional offset rights. The Company does not offset these financial instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, as the rights of offset are conditional.

In the case of derivatives, collateral is collected from and pledged to counterparties and clearing houses to manage credit risk exposure in accordance with Credit Support Annexes to swap agreements and clearing agreements. Under master netting agreements, the Company has a right of offset in the event of default, insolvency, bankruptcy or other early termination.

In the case of reverse repurchase and repurchase transactions, additional collateral may be collected from or pledged to counterparties to manage credit exposure according to bilateral reverse repurchase or repurchase agreements. In the event of default by a counterparty, the Company is entitled to liquidate the collateral held to offset against the same counterparty’s obligation.

The following table presents the effect of conditional master netting and similar arrangements. Similar arrangements may include global master repurchase agreements, global master securities lending agreements, and any related rights to financial collateral.

 

           Related amounts not set off in the
Consolidated Statements of
Financial Position
             
As at December 31, 2017    Gross amounts of
financial instruments
presented in the
Consolidated
Statements of
Financial Position(1)
    Amounts subject to
an enforceable
master netting
arrangement or
similar agreements
    Financial and
cash collateral
pledged
(received)(2)
    Net amount
including
financing trusts(3)
    Net amounts
excluding
financing
trusts
 

Financial assets

          

Derivative assets

   $ 16,204     $ (6,714   $ (9,395   $ 95     $ 95  

Securities lending

     1,563             (1,563            

Reverse repurchase agreements

     230       (46     (184            

Total financial assets

   $ 17,997     $ (6,760   $   (11,142   $ 95     $ 95  

Financial liabilities

          

Derivative liabilities

   $ (8,649   $ 6,714     $ 1,718     $ (217   $ (30

Repurchase agreements

     (228     46       182              

Total financial liabilities

   $ (8,877   $ 6,760     $ 1,900     $   (217   $   (30

 

154        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


           Related amounts not set off in the
Consolidated Statements of
Financial Position
             
As at December 31, 2016    Gross amounts of
financial instruments
presented in the
Consolidated
Statements of
Financial Position(1)
    Amounts subject to
an enforceable
master netting
arrangement or
similar agreements
    Financial and
cash collateral
pledged
(received)(2)
    Net amount
including
financing
trusts(3)
    Net amounts
excluding
financing
trusts
 

Financial assets

          

Derivative assets

   $ 24,603     $ (12,031   $ (12,382   $ 190     $ 189  

Securities lending

     1,956             (1,956            

Reverse repurchase agreements

     250             (250            

Total financial assets

   $ 26,809     $   (12,031   $   (14,588   $ 190     $   189  

Financial liabilities

          

Derivative liabilities

   $ (15,095   $ 12,031     $ 2,800     $   (264   $ (42

Repurchase agreements

     (255           255              

Total financial liabilities

   $   (15,350)     $ 12,031     $ 3,055     $ (264   $ (42

 

(1) Financial assets and liabilities include accrued interest of $638 and $827, respectively (2016 – $935 and $944, respectively).
(2) Financial and cash collateral exclude over-collateralization. As at December 31, 2017, the Company was over-collateralized on OTC derivative assets, OTC derivative liabilities, securities lending and reverse purchase agreements and repurchase agreements in the amounts of $743, $382, $79 and $nil, respectively (2016 – $398, $494, $107 and $1, respectively). As at December 31, 2017, collateral pledged (received) does not include collateral-in-transit on OTC instruments or initial margin on exchange traded contracts or cleared contracts.
(3) Includes derivative contracts entered between the Company and its financing trusts which it does not consolidate. The Company does not exchange collateral on derivative contracts entered with these trusts. Refer to note 17.

Certain of the Company’s credit linked note assets and variable surplus note liabilities have unconditional offset rights. Under netting agreements, the Company has rights of offset including in the event of the Company’s default, insolvency, or bankruptcy. These financial instruments are offset in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

A credit linked note is a security that allows the issuer to transfer a specific credit risk to the buyer. A surplus note is a subordinated debt obligation that often qualifies as surplus (the U.S. statutory equivalent of equity) by some U.S. state insurance regulators. Interest payments on surplus notes are made after all other contractual payments are made. The following table presents the effect of unconditional netting.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Gross amounts of
financial instruments
    Amounts subject to
an enforceable
netting arrangement
    Net amounts of
financial instruments
presented in the
Consolidated
Statements of
Financial Position
 

Credit linked note(1)

   $    461     $ (461   $    –  

Variable surplus note

     (461        461        

 

(1) In 2017, the Company entered into a twenty-year financing facility with a third party, agreeing to issue variable surplus notes in exchange for an equal amount of credit linked notes. These notes are held to support John Hancock Life Insurance Company (USA) (“JHUSA”) excess reserves under U.S. National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Model Regulation XXX. In certain scenarios, the credit linked note will be drawn upon by the Company which will issue fixed surplus notes equal to the draw payment received. The third party has agreed to fund any such payment under the credit-linked notes in return for a fee. As at December 31, 2017, the Company had no fixed surplus notes outstanding.

(f) Risk concentrations

The Company defines enterprise-wide investment portfolio level targets and limits to ensure that portfolios are diversified across asset classes and individual investment risks. The Company monitors actual investment positions and risk exposures for concentration risk and reports its findings to the Executive Risk Committee and the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

As at December 31,   2017     2016  

Debt securities and private placements rated as investment grade BBB or higher(1)

    98%       97%  

Government debt securities as a per cent of total debt securities

    39%       43%  

Government private placements as a per cent of total private placements

    10%       10%  

Highest exposure to a single non-government debt security and private placement issuer

  $ 1,044     $ 1,010  

Largest single issuer as a per cent of the total equity portfolio

    2%       3%  

Income producing commercial office properties (2017 – 64% of real estate, 2016 – 65%)

  $ 8,836     $ 9,200  

Largest concentration of mortgages and real estate(2) – Ontario Canada (2017 – 25%, 2016 – 24%)

  $   14,779     $   13,882  

 

(1) Investment grade debt securities and private placements include 42% rated A, 16% rated AA and 17% rated AAA (2016 – 41%, 14% and 21%) investments based on external ratings where available.
(2) Mortgages and real estate are diversified geographically and by property type.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        155


The following table presents debt securities and private placements portfolio by sector and industry.

 

    2017           2016  
As at December 31,   Carrying value     % of total           Carrying value     % of total  

Government and agency

  $ 71,888       35       $ 76,020       38  

Utilities

    40,568       20         37,561       19  

Financial

    27,923       13         25,027       13  

Energy

    16,428       8         15,775       8  

Industrial

    14,691       7         13,088       6  

Consumer (non-cyclical)

    14,009       7         12,440       6  

Consumer (cyclical)

    5,916       3         4,256       2  

Securitized

    3,577       2         3,514       2  

Telecommunications

    3,324       2         3,091       2  

Basic materials

    3,248       2         3,387       2  

Technology

    2,475       1         2,231       1  

Media and internet

    1,136               1,175       1  

Diversified and miscellaneous

    949               786        

Total

  $   206,132       100       $   198,351       100  

(g) Insurance risk

Insurance risk is the risk of loss due to actual experience for mortality and morbidity claims, policyholder behaviour and expenses emerging differently than assumed when a product was designed and priced. A variety of assumptions are made related to these experience factors, for reinsurance costs, and for sales levels when products are designed and priced, as well as in the determination of policy liabilities. Assumptions for future claims are generally based on both Company and industry experience, and assumptions for future policyholder behaviour and expenses are generally based on Company experience. Such assumptions require significant professional judgment, and actual experience may be materially different than the assumptions made by the Company. Claims may be impacted unexpectedly by changes in the prevalence of diseases or illnesses, medical and technology advances, widespread lifestyle changes, natural disasters, large-scale man-made disasters and acts of terrorism. Policyholder behaviour including premium payment patterns, policy renewals, lapse rates and withdrawal and surrender activity are influenced by many factors including market and general economic conditions, and the availability and relative attractiveness of other products in the marketplace. Some reinsurance rates are not guaranteed and may be changed unexpectedly. Adjustments the Company seeks to make to Non-Guaranteed elements to reflect changing experience factors may be challenged by regulatory or legal action and the Company may be unable to implement them, or may face delays in implementation.

The Company manages insurance risk through global policies, standards and best practices with respect to product design, pricing, underwriting and claim adjudication, and a global underwriting manual. Each business unit establishes underwriting policies and procedures, including criteria for approval of risks and claims adjudication policies and procedures. The current global life retention limit is US$30 for individual policies (US$35 for survivorship life policies) and is shared across businesses. Lower limits are applied in some markets and jurisdictions. The Company aims to further reduce exposure to claims concentrations by applying geographical aggregate retention limits for certain covers. Enterprise-wide, the Company aims to reduce the likelihood of high aggregate claims by operating globally, insuring a wide range of unrelated risk events, and reinsuring some risk.

(h) Concentration risk

The geographic concentration of the Company’s insurance and investment contract liabilities, including embedded derivatives, is shown below. The disclosure is based on the countries in which the business is written.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Gross liabilities      Reinsurance
assets
    Net liabilities  

U.S. and Canada

   $ 237,434      $ (30,225   $ 207,209  

Asia and Other

     70,521        (134     70,387  

Total

   $   307,955      $   (30,359   $   277,596  
As at December 31, 2016    Gross liabilities      Reinsurance
assets
    Net liabilities  

U.S. and Canada

   $ 238,796      $ (34,987   $ 203,809  

Asia and Other

     62,322        35       62,357  

Total

   $ 301,118      $ (34,952   $ 266,166  

 

156        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(i) Reinsurance risk

In the normal course of business, the Company limits the amount of loss on any one policy by reinsuring certain levels of risk with other insurers. In addition, the Company accepts reinsurance from other reinsurers. Reinsurance ceded does not discharge the Company’s liability as the primary insurer. Failure of reinsurers to honour their obligations could result in losses to the Company; consequently, allowances are established for amounts deemed uncollectible. To minimize losses from reinsurer insolvency, the Company monitors the concentration of credit risk both geographically and with any one reinsurer. In addition, the Company selects reinsurers with high credit ratings.

As at December 31, 2017, the Company had $30,359 (2016 – $34,952) of reinsurance assets. Of this, 92 per cent (2016 – 92 per cent) were ceded to reinsurers with Standard and Poor’s ratings of A- or above. The Company’s exposure to credit risk was mitigated by $13,855 fair value of collateral held as security as at December 31, 2017 (2016 – $16,600). Net exposure after considering offsetting agreements and the benefit of the fair value of collateral held was $16,504 as at December 31, 2017 (2016 – $18,352).

Note 11     Long-Term Debt

(a) Carrying value of long-term debt instruments

 

As at December 31,   Issue date    Maturity date    Par value      2017      2016  

4.70% Senior notes(1),(3)

  June 23, 2016    June 23, 2046      US$  1,000      $ 1,246      $ 1,333  

5.375% Senior notes(2),(3)

  March 4, 2016    March 4, 2046      US$     750        928        994  

3.527% Senior notes(2),(3)

  December 2, 2016    December 2, 2026      US$     270        338        361  

4.150% Senior notes(2),(3)

  March 4, 2016    March 4, 2026      US$  1,000        1,246        1,333  

4.90% Senior notes(2),(3)

  September 17, 2010    September 17, 2020      US$     500        626        669  

7.768% Medium-term notes(4)

  April 8, 2009    April 8, 2019      $     600               599  

5.505% Medium-term notes(5)

  June 26, 2008    June 26, 2018      $     400        400        400  

Other notes payable(6)

  n/a    n/a      n/a        1        7  

Total

                     $   4,785      $   5,696  

 

(1) MFC may redeem the notes in whole, but not in part, on June 23, 2021 and thereafter on every June 23, at a redemption price equal to par, together with accrued and unpaid interest.
(2) MFC may redeem the senior notes in whole or in part, at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of par and a price based on the yield of a corresponding U.S. Treasury bond plus a specified number of basis points. The specified number of basis points is as follows: 5.375% – 40 bps, 3.527% – 20 bps, 4.150% – 35 bps, and 4.90% – 35 bps.
(3) These U.S. dollar senior notes have been designated as hedges of the Company’s net investment in its U.S. operations which reduces the earnings volatility that would otherwise arise from the re-measurement of these senior notes into Canadian dollars.
(4) On October 6, 2017, MFC redeemed, prior to maturity, all of its outstanding 7.768% medium term notes due April 8, 2019. The early redemption premium of $44 before income taxes was recorded as interest expense.
(5) MFC may redeem the medium-term notes in whole or in part, at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of par and a price based on the yield of a corresponding Government of Canada bond plus 39 basis points.
(6) Other notes payable were substantially repaid during the year.

The cash amount of interest paid on long-term debt during the year ended December 31, 2017 was $324 (2016 – $191). Issue costs are amortized over the term of the debt.

(b) Fair value measurement

Fair value of a long-term debt instrument is determined using quoted market prices where available (Level 1). When quoted market prices are not available, fair value is determined with reference to quoted prices of a debt instrument with similar characteristics or estimated using discounted cash flows using observable market rates (Level 2).

Long-term debt is measured at amortized cost in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Fair value of long-term debt as at December 31, 2017 was $5,187 (2016 – $6,100). Long-term debt was categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy (2016 – Level 2).

(c) Aggregate maturities of long-term debt

 

As at December 31,    2017      2016  

Less than one year

   $ 401      $ 7  

One to two years

            400  

Two to three years

     626        599  

Three to four years

            669  

Four to five years

             

Greater than five years

     3,758        4,021  

Total

   $   4,785      $   5,696  

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        157


Note 12     Capital Instruments

(a) Carrying value of capital instruments

 

As at December 31,   Issuance date   Earliest par redemption
date
  Maturity date   Par value     2017     2016  

4.165% MLI Subordinated debentures(1)

  February 17, 2012   June 1, 2017   June 1, 2022     $    500     $     $ 499  

3.938% MLI Subordinated debentures(2)

  September 21, 2012   September 21, 2017   September 21, 2022     $    400             407  

2.819% MLI Subordinated debentures(3)

  February 25, 2013   February 26, 2018   February 26, 2023     $    200       200       200  

2.926% MLI Subordinated debentures(3)

  November 29, 2013   November 29, 2018   November 29, 2023     $    250       250       249  

2.811% MLI Subordinated debentures(3)

  February 21, 2014   February 21, 2019   February 21, 2024     $    500       499       499  

7.535% MFCT II Senior debenture notes(4)

  July 10, 2009   December 31, 2019   December 31, 2108     $ 1,000       1,000       1,000  

2.64% MLI Subordinated debentures(3)

  December 1, 2014   January 15, 2020   January 15, 2025     $    500       499       499  

2.10% MLI Subordinated debentures(3)

  March 10, 2015   June 1, 2020   June 1, 2025     $    750       748       747  

2.389% MLI Subordinated debentures(3)

  June 1, 2015   January 5, 2021   January 5, 2026     $    350       349       349  

3.85% MFC Subordinated notes(5)

  May 25, 2016   May 25, 2021   May 25, 2026     S$    500       467       461  

3.181% MLI Subordinated debentures(3)

  November 20, 2015   November 22, 2022   November 22, 2027     $ 1,000       996       996  

3.049% MFC Subordinated debentures(6)

  August 18, 2017   August 20, 2024   August 20, 2029     $    750       746        

3.00% MFC Subordinated notes(5)

  November 21, 2017   November 21, 2024   November 21, 2024     S$    500       467        

4.061% MFC Subordinated notes(7)

  February 24, 2017   February 24, 2027   February 24, 2032     US$    750       935        

7.375% JHUSA Surplus notes(8)

  February 25, 1994   n/a   February 15, 2024     US$    450       584       627  

JHFC Subordinated notes(9)

  December 14, 2006   n/a   December 15, 2036     $    650       647       647  

Total

                      $   8,387     $   7,180  

 

(1) MLI redeemed in full the 4.165% subordinated debentures at par, on June 1, 2017, the earliest par redemption date.
(2) MLI redeemed in full the 3.938% subordinated debentures, originally issued by Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada at par, on September 21, 2017, the earliest par redemption date.
(3) Interest is fixed for the period up to the earliest par redemption date, thereafter the interest rate will reset to a floating rate equal to the 90-day Bankers’ Acceptance rate plus a specified number of basis points and is payable quarterly. The specified number of basis points is as follows: 2.819% – 95 bps, 2.926% – 85 bps, 2.811% – 80 bps, 2.64% – 73 bps, 2.10% – 72 bps, 2.389% – 83 bps, 3.181% – 157 bps. With regulatory approval, MLI may redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, on or after the earliest par redemption date, at a redemption price equal to par, together with accrued and unpaid interest.
(4) Issued by MLI to Manulife Financial Capital Trust II (MFCT II), a wholly owned unconsolidated related party to the Company. On the earliest par redemption date and on every fifth anniversary thereafter (each, a “Interest Reset Date”), the rate of interest will reset to equal the yield on 5-year Government of Canada bonds plus 5.2%. With regulatory approval, MLI may redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, on the earliest par redemption date and on any Interest Reset Date, at a redemption price equal to par, together with accrued and unpaid interest. The redemption price for the debentures redeemed on any day that is not an Interest Reset Date will be equal to the greater of par or the fair value of the debt based on the yield on uncallable Government of Canada bonds to the next Interest Reset Date plus (a) 1.0325% if the redemption date is on or after December 31, 2014, but prior to December 31, 2019, or (b) 2.065% if the redemption date is after December 31, 2019, together with accrued and unpaid interest. Refer to note 17.
(5) On the earliest par redemption date, the interest rate will reset to equal the 5-year Singapore Dollar Swap Rate plus a specified number of basis points. The specified number of basis points is as follows: 3.85% – 197 bps, 3.00% – 83.2 bps. With regulatory approval, MFC may redeem the debentures, in whole, but not in part, on the earliest par redemption date and thereafter on each interest payment date, at a redemption price equal to par, together with accrued and unpaid interest.
(6) Interest is fixed for the period up to the earliest par redemption date, thereafter, the interest rate will reset to a floating rate equal to the 90-day Bankers’ Acceptance rate plus 105 basis points. With regulatory approval, MFC may redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, on or after the earliest par redemption date, at a redemption price equal to par, together with accrued and unpaid interest.
(7) On the earliest par redemption date, the interest rate will reset to equal the 5-Year US Dollar Mid-Swap Rate plus 1.647%. With regulatory approval, MFC may redeem the debentures, in whole, but not in part, on the earliest par redemption date, at a redemption price equal to par, together with accrued and unpaid interest.
(8) Issued by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, now John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.). Any payment of interest or principal on the surplus notes requires prior approval from the Department of Insurance and Financial Services of the State of Michigan. The carrying value of the surplus notes reflects an unamortized fair value increment of US$23 (2016 – US$26), which arose as a result of the acquisition of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. The amortization of the fair value adjustment is recorded in interest expense.
(9) Issued by Manulife Holdings (Delaware) LLC (“MHDLL”), now John Hancock Financial Corporation (“JHFC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of MFC, to Manulife Finance (Delaware) LLC (“MFLLC”), a subsidiary of Manulife Finance (Delaware) L.P. (“MFLP”). MFLP and its subsidiaries are wholly owned unconsolidated related parties to the Company. The note bears interest at a floating rate equal to the 90-day Bankers’ Acceptance rate plus 0.72%. With regulatory approval, JHFC may redeem the note, in whole or in part, at any time, at par, together with accrued and unpaid interest. Refer to note 17.

(b) Fair value measurement

Fair value of capital instruments is determined using quoted market prices where available (Level 1). When quoted market prices are not available fair value is determined with reference to quoted prices of a debt instrument with similar characteristics or estimated using discounted cash flows using observable market rates (Level 2).

Capital instruments are measured at amortized cost in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. As at December 31, 2017, fair value of capital instruments was $8,636 (2016 – $7,417). Capital instruments were categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy (2016 – Level 2).

Note 13     Share Capital and Earnings Per Share

The authorized capital of MFC consists of:

 

    an unlimited number of common shares without nominal or par value; and
    an unlimited number of Class A, Class B and Class 1 preferred shares without nominal or par value, issuable in series.

 

158        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(a) Preferred shares

The changes in issued and outstanding preferred shares are as follows.

 

     2017             2016  
For the years ended December 31,   

Number of
shares

(in millions)

     Amount            

Number of
shares

(in millions)

     Amount  

Balance, January 1

     146      $   3,577           110      $   2,693  

Issued, Class 1 shares, Series 21

                      17        425  

Converted, Class 1 shares, Series 3

                      (2      (42

Issued, Class 1 shares, Series 4

                      2        42  

Issued, Class 1 shares, Series 23

                      19        475  

Issuance costs, net of tax

                             (16

Balance, December 31

     146      $ 3,577           146      $ 3,577  

The following table presents additional information on the preferred shares outstanding as at December 31, 2017.

 

As at December 31, 2017    Issue date      Annual
dividend
rate(1)
     Earliest redemption
date(2)
    

Number of
shares

(in millions)

     Face
amount
     Net
amount(3)
 

Class A preferred shares

                 

Series 2

     February 18, 2005        4.65%        n/a        14      $ 350      $ 344  

Series 3

     January 3, 2006        4.50%        n/a        12        300        294  

Class 1 preferred shares

                 

Series 3(4),(5)

     March 11, 2011        2.178%        June 19, 2021        6        158        155  

Series 4

     June 20, 2016        floating (6)       n/a        2        42        41  

Series 5(4),(5)

     December 6, 2011        3.891%        December 19, 2021        8        200        195  

Series 7(4),(5),(7)

     February 22, 2012        4.312%        March 19, 2022        10        250        244  

Series 9(4),(5),(8)

     May 24, 2012        4.351%        September 19, 2022        10        250        244  

Series 11(4),(5)

     December 4, 2012        4.00%        March 19, 2018        8        200        196  

Series 13(4),(5)

     June 21, 2013        3.80%        September 19, 2018        8        200        196  

Series 15(4),(5)

     February 25, 2014        3.90%        June 19, 2019        8        200        195  

Series 17(4),(5)

     August 15, 2014        3.90%        December 19, 2019        14        350        343  

Series 19(4),(5)

     December 3, 2014        3.80%        March 19, 2020        10        250        246  

Series 21(4),(5)

     February 25, 2016        5.60%        June 19, 2021        17        425        417  

Series 23(4),(5)

     November 22, 2016        4.85%        March 19, 2022        19        475        467  

Total

                                146      $   3,650      $   3,577  

 

(1) Holders of Class A and Class 1 preferred shares are entitled to receive non-cumulative preferential cash dividends on a quarterly basis, as and when declared by the Board of Directors.
(2) Redemption of all preferred shares is subject to regulatory approval. With the exception of Class A Series 2, Class A Series 3 and Class 1 Series 4 preferred shares, MFC may redeem each series, in whole or in part, at par, on the earliest redemption date or every five years thereafter. Class A Series 2 and Series 3 preferred shares are past their respective earliest redemption date and MFC may redeem these shares, in whole or in part, at par at any time, subject to regulatory approval, as noted. MFC may redeem the Class 1 Series 4, in whole or in part, at any time, at $25.00 per share if redeemed on June 19, 2021 and on June 19 every five years thereafter, or at $25.50 per share if redeemed on any other date after June 19, 2016, subject to regulatory approval, as noted.
(3) Net of after-tax issuance costs.
(4) On the earliest redemption date and every five years thereafter, the annual dividend rate will be reset to the five year Government of Canada bond yield plus a yield specified for each series. The specified yield for Class 1 shares is: Series 3 – 1.41%, Series 5 – 2.90%, Series 7 – 3.13%, Series 9 – 2.86%, Series 11 – 2.61%, Series 13 – 2.22%, Series 15 – 2.16%, Series 17 – 2.36%, Series 19 – 2.30%, Series 21 – 4.97% and Series 23 – 3.83%.
(5) On the earliest redemption date and every five years thereafter, Class 1 preferred shares are convertible at the option of the holder into a new series that is one number higher than their existing series, and the holders are entitled to non-cumulative preferential cash dividends, payable quarterly if and when declared by the Board of Directors, at a rate equal to the three month Government of Canada Treasury bill yield plus the rate specified in footnote 4 above.
(6) The floating dividend rate for the Class 1 Shares Series 4 will equal the three month Government of Canada Treasury bill yield plus 1.41%.
(7) MFC did not exercise its right to redeem all or any of the outstanding Class 1 Shares Series 7 on March 19, 2017 (the earliest redemption date). Dividend rate for Class 1 Shares Series 7 was reset as specified in footnote 4 above to an annual fixed rate of 4.312% for a five year period commencing on March 20, 2017.
(8) MFC did not exercise its right to redeem all or any of the outstanding Class 1 Shares Series 9 on September 19, 2017 (the earliest redemption date). Dividend rate for Class 1 Shares Series 9 was reset as specified in footnote 4 above to an annual fixed rate of 4.351% for a five year period commencing on September 20, 2017.

(b) Common shares

The changes in common shares issued and outstanding are as follows.

 

     2017             2016  
For the years ended December 31,   

Number of
shares

(in millions)

     Amount            

Number of
shares

(in millions)

     Amount  

Balance, January 1

     1,975      $ 22,865           1,972      $ 22,799  

Issued on exercise of stock options and deferred share units

     7        124           3        66  

Total

     1,982      $   22,989           1,975      $   22,865  

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        159


(c) Earnings per share

The following table presents basic and diluted earnings per common share of the Company.

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.98      $ 1.42  

Diluted earnings per common share

     0.98        1.41  

The following is a reconciliation of the denominator (number of shares) in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share.

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Weighted average number of common shares (in millions)

     1,978        1,973  

Dilutive stock-based awards(1) (in millions)

     8        4  

Weighted average number of diluted common shares (in millions)

     1,986        1,977  

 

(1) The dilutive effect of stock-based awards was calculated using the treasury stock method. This method calculates the number of incremental shares by assuming the outstanding stock-based awards are (i) exercised and (ii) then reduced by the number of shares assumed to be repurchased from the issuance proceeds, using the average market price of MFC common shares for the year. Excluded from the calculation was a weighted average of 2 million (2016 – 14 million) anti-dilutive stock-based awards.

(d) Quarterly dividend declaration subsequent to year end

On February 7, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share on the common shares of MFC, payable on or after March 19, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 21, 2018.

The Board also declared dividends on the following non-cumulative preferred shares, payable on or after March 19, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 21, 2018.

 

Class A Shares Series 2 – $0.29063 per share

  Class 1 Shares Series 11 – $0.25 per share

Class A Shares Series 3 – $0.28125 per share

  Class 1 Shares Series 13 – $0.2375 per share

Class 1 Shares Series 3 – $0.136125 per share

  Class 1 Shares Series 15 – $0.24375 per share

Class 1 Shares Series 4 – $0.141103 per share

  Class 1 Shares Series 17 – $0.24375 per share

Class 1 Shares Series 5 – $0.243188 per share

  Class 1 Shares Series 19 – $0.2375 per share

Class 1 Shares Series 7 – $0.2695 per share

  Class 1 Shares Series 21 – $0.35 per share

Class 1 Shares Series 9 – $0.271938 per share

  Class 1 Shares Series 23 – $0.303125 per share

Note 14     Capital Management

(a) Capital management

The Company monitors and manages its consolidated capital in compliance with the Minimum Continuing Capital and Surplus Requirement (“MCCSR”) guideline, issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (“OSFI”). Under this framework, the Company’s consolidated available capital is measured against a required amount of risk capital determined in accordance with the guideline.

The Company’s operating activities are conducted within MLI or its subsidiaries. MLI is regulated by OSFI and is also subject to consolidated risk-based capital requirements using the OSFI MCCSR framework.

OSFI will be implementing a revised approach to the regulatory capital framework in Canada in the first quarter of 2018.

The Company seeks to manage its capital with the objectives of:

 

    Operating with sufficient capital to be able to honour all commitments to its policyholders and creditors with a high degree of confidence;
    Retaining the ongoing confidence of regulators, policyholders, rating agencies, investors and other creditors in order to ensure access to capital markets; and
    Optimizing return on capital to meet shareholders’ expectations subject to constraints and considerations of adequate levels of capital established to meet the first two objectives.

Capital is managed and monitored in accordance with the Capital Management Policy. The policy is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors annually and is integrated with the Company’s risk and financial management frameworks. It establishes guidelines regarding the quantity and quality of capital, internal capital mobility, and proactive management of ongoing and future capital requirements.

The capital management framework takes into account the requirements of the Company as a whole as well as the needs of each of the Company’s subsidiaries. Internal capital targets are set above the regulatory requirements, and consider a number of factors, including expectations of regulators and rating agencies, results of sensitivity and stress testing and our own risk assessments. The Company monitors against these internal targets and initiates actions appropriate to achieving its business objectives.

 

160        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


The following measure of consolidated capital serves as the foundation of the Company’s capital management activities at the MFC level. For regulatory reporting purposes, the numbers are further adjusted for various additions or deductions to capital, as mandated by the OSFI guideline.

Consolidated capital

 

As at December 31,    2017      2016  

Total equity

   $   42,163      $   42,823  

Adjusted for AOCI loss on cash flow hedges

     (109      (232

Total equity excluding AOCI on cash flow hedges

     42,272        43,055  

Qualifying capital instruments

     8,387        7,180  

Total capital

   $ 50,659      $ 50,235  

(b) Restrictions on dividends and capital distributions

Dividends and capital distributions are restricted under the Insurance Company Act (“ICA”). These restrictions apply to both the Company and its primary operating subsidiary MLI. The ICA prohibits the declaration or payment of any dividend on shares of an insurance company if there are reasonable grounds for believing a company does not have adequate capital and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity or the declaration or the payment of the dividend would cause the company to be in contravention of any regulation made under the ICA respecting the maintenance of adequate capital and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity, or of any direction made to the company by OSFI. The ICA also requires an insurance company to notify OSFI of the declaration of a dividend at least 15 days prior to the date fixed for its payment. Similarly, the ICA prohibits the purchase for cancellation of any shares issued by an insurance company or the redemption of any redeemable shares or other similar capital transactions, if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company does not have adequate capital and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity or the payment would cause the company to be in contravention of any regulation made under the ICA respecting the maintenance of adequate capital and adequate and appropriate forms of liquidity, or any direction made to the company by OSFI. These latter transactions would require the prior approval of OSFI.

The ICA requires Canadian insurance companies to maintain adequate levels of capital at all times.

Since the Company is a holding company that conducts all of its operations through regulated insurance subsidiaries (or companies owned directly or indirectly by these subsidiaries), its ability to pay future dividends will depend on the receipt of sufficient funds from its regulated insurance subsidiaries. These subsidiaries are also subject to certain regulatory restrictions under laws in Canada, the United States and certain other countries that may limit their ability to pay dividends or make other upstream distributions.

The Company and MLI have covenanted for the benefit of holders of the outstanding Trust II Notes – Series I (the “Notes”) that, if interest is not paid in full in cash on the Notes on any interest payment date or if MLI elects that holders of Notes invest interest payable on the Notes on any interest payment date in a new series of Manufacturers Life Class 1 Shares, MLI will not declare or pay cash dividends on any MLI Public Preferred Shares (as defined below), if any are outstanding, and if no MLI Public Preferred Shares are outstanding, MFC will not declare or pay cash dividends on its Preferred Shares and Common Shares, in each case, until the sixth month following such deferral date. “MLI Public Preferred Shares” means, at any time, preferred shares of MLI which at that time: (a) have been issued to the public (excluding any preferred shares of MLI held beneficially by affiliates of MLI); (b) are listed on a recognized stock exchange; and (c) have an aggregate liquidation entitlement of at least $200, however, if at any time, there is more than one class of MLI Public Preferred Shares outstanding, then the most senior class or classes of outstanding MLI Public Preferred Shares shall, for all purposes, be the MLI Public Preferred Shares.

Note 15    Stock-Based Compensation

(a) Stock options

The Company grants stock options under its Executive Stock Option Plan (“ESOP”) to selected individuals. The options provide the holder the right to purchase MFC common shares at an exercise price equal to the higher of the prior day, prior five-day or prior ten-day average closing market price of the shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on the date the options are granted. The options vest over a period not exceeding four years and expire not more than 10 years from the grant date. Effective with the 2015 grant, options may only be exercised after the fifth-year anniversary. A total of 73,600,000 common shares have been reserved for issuance under the ESOP.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        161


Options outstanding

 

    

 

2017

 

           

 

2016

 

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

    

 

Number of

options

(in millions

 

 

 

 

    

 

Weighted

average

exercise

price

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

Number of

options

(in millions

 

 

 

 

    

 

Weighted

average

exercise

price

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding, January 1

     30      $   19.80           30      $   20.72  

Granted

     4        24.56           6        17.65  

Exercised

     (7      16.03           (3      15.49  

Expired

     (1      39.47           (2      32.92  

Forfeited

 

    

 

(1

 

 

    

 

20.86

 

 

 

       

 

(1

 

 

    

 

21.04

 

 

 

Outstanding, December 31

 

    

 

25

 

 

 

   $

 

20.45

 

 

 

       

 

30

 

 

 

   $

 

19.80

 

 

 

Exercisable, December 31

 

    

 

12

 

 

 

   $

 

19.93

 

 

 

       

 

18

 

 

 

   $

 

20.15

 

 

 

 

    

Options outstanding

 

           

Options exercisable

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017

 

    

 

Number of

options

(in millions

 

 

 

 

    

 

Weighted

average

exercise

price

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Weighted

average

remaining

contractual

life

(in years)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

Number of

options

(in millions

 

 

 

 

    

 

Weighted

average

exercise

price

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Weighted

average

remaining

contractual

life

(in years)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$11.23 – $20.99

     14      $   17.08        4.91           9      $   16.78        3.05  

$21.00 – $29.99

     10      $ 22.77        6.88           2      $ 21.40        3.77  

$30.00 – $37.71

 

    

 

1

 

 

 

   $

 

37.71

 

 

 

    

 

0.14

 

 

 

       

 

1

 

 

 

   $

 

37.71

 

 

 

    

 

0.14

 

 

 

Total

 

    

 

25

 

 

 

   $

 

20.45

 

 

 

    

 

5.44

 

 

 

       

 

12

 

 

 

   $

 

19.93

 

 

 

    

 

2.87

 

 

 

The weighted average fair value of each option granted in 2017 has been estimated at $5.18 (2016 – $3.78) using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The pricing model uses the following assumptions for these options: risk-free interest rate of 1.25% (2016 –  1.50%), dividend yield of 3.00% (2016 – 3.00%), expected volatility of 29.5% (2016 – 29.5%) and expected life of 6.7 (2016 – 6.7) years. Expected volatility is estimated by evaluating a number of factors including historical volatility of the share price over multi-year periods.

Compensation expense related to stock options was $16 for the year ended December 31, 2017 (2016 – $19).

(b) Deferred share units

In 2000, the Company granted deferred share units (“DSUs”) to certain employees under the ESOP. These DSUs vested over a three-year period and each DSU entitles the holder to receive one common share on retirement or termination of employment. When dividends are paid on common shares, holders of DSUs are deemed to receive dividends at the same rate, payable in the form of additional DSUs. In 2017, nil DSUs were granted to employees under the ESOP (2016 – nil). The number of DSUs outstanding was 610,000 as at December 31, 2017 (2016 – 633,000).

In addition, for certain employees and pursuant to the Company’s deferred compensation program, the Company grants DSUs under the RSU Plan which entitle the holder to receive payment in cash equal to the value of the same number of common shares plus credited dividends on retirement or termination of employment. In 2017, the Company granted 23,000 DSUs to certain employees which vest after 34 months (2016 – 14,000 units which vest after four years). In 2017, nil DSUs (2016 – 27,000) were granted to certain employees who elected to defer receipt of all or part of their annual bonus. These DSUs vested immediately. Also, in 2017, 43,000 DSUs (2016 – 83,000) were granted to certain employees to defer payment of all or part of their Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”) and/or Performance Share Units (“PSUs”). These DSUs also vested immediately.

The fair value of 156,000 DSUs issued during the year was $26.22 per unit, as at December 31, 2017 (2016 – 254,000 at $23.91 per unit).

Under the Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors, each eligible director may elect to receive his or her annual director’s retainer and fees in DSUs or common shares in lieu of cash. Upon termination of the Board service, an eligible director who has elected to receive DSUs will be entitled to receive cash equal to the value of the DSUs accumulated in his or her account, or at his or her direction, an equivalent number of common shares. A total of one million common shares have been reserved for issuance under this plan.

 

For the years ended December 31,

Number of DSUs (in thousands)

 

  

2017

 

    

2016

 

 

Outstanding, January 1

     2,682        2,542  

Issued

     156        254  

Reinvested

     88        97  

Redeemed

     (279      (184

Forfeitures and cancellations

 

    

 

(2

 

 

    

 

(27

 

 

Outstanding, December 31

 

    

 

2,645

 

 

 

    

 

2,682

 

 

 

 

162        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Of the DSUs outstanding as at December 31, 2017, 610,000 (2016 – 633,000) entitle the holder to receive common shares, 1,103,000 (2016 – 1,235,000) entitle the holder to receive payment in cash and 932,000 (2016 – 814,000) entitle the holder to receive payment in cash or common shares, at the option of the holder.

Compensation expense related to DSUs was $13 for the year ended December 31, 2017 (2016 – $6).

The carrying and fair value amount of the DSUs liability as at December 31, 2017 was $53 (2016 – $43) and was included in other liabilities.

(c) Restricted share units and performance share units

For the year ended December 31, 2017, 5.6 million RSUs (2016 – 7.6 million) and 1.0 million PSUs (2016 – 1.2 million) were granted to certain eligible employees under MFC’s Restricted Share Unit Plan. The fair value of the RSUs and PSUs granted during the year was $26.22 per unit as at December 31, 2017 (2016 – $23.91 per unit). Each RSU and PSU entitles the holder to receive payment equal to the market value of one common share, plus credited dividends, at the time of vesting, subject to any performance conditions.

RSUs granted in February 2017 will vest after 34 months and PSUs granted in February 2017 will vest after 36 months from their grant date and the related compensation expense is recognized over these periods, except where the employee is eligible to retire prior to a vesting date, in which case the cost is recognized over the period between the grant date and the date on which the employee is eligible to retire. Compensation expense related to RSUs and PSUs was $125 and $21, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2017 (2016 – $110 and $9, respectively).

The carrying and fair value amount of the RSUs and PSUs liability as at December 31, 2017 was $228 (2016 – $196) and was included in other liabilities.

(d) Global share ownership plan

The Company’s Global Share Ownership Plan (“GSOP”) allows qualifying employees to apply up to five per cent of their annual base earnings toward the purchase of common shares. The Company matches a percentage of the employee’s eligible contributions up to a maximum amount. The Company’s contributions vest immediately. All contributions are used to purchase common shares in the open market.

Note 16     Employee Future Benefits

The Company maintains defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans and other post-employment plans for employees and agents including registered (tax qualified) pension plans that are typically funded, as well as supplemental non-registered (non-qualified) pension plans for executives, retiree welfare plans and disability welfare plans that are typically not funded.

(a) Plan characteristics

To reduce the financial risk associated with final average pay defined benefit pension plans and retiree welfare plans, the Company has over time closed all these plans to new members and, in the case of pension plans, has replaced them with capital accumulation plans. The latter include defined benefit cash balance plans, 401(k) plans and/or defined contribution plans, depending on the country of employment. The result is that final average pay pension plans account for less than 50 per cent of the Company’s global pension obligations and the number of employees who accrue these pensions declines each year.

Prior to the Company’s acquisition of the Canadian-based operations of Standard Life plc, advance provision had been made on Standard Life’s balance sheet for continuing its practice of regularly granting increases in retiree pensions on a non-contractual ad-hoc basis. In 2016, the Company concluded that increases would no longer be regularly granted, consistent with the treatment of pensions for retirees under other Manulife plans. To reflect this change, the advance provision was removed, reducing the net defined benefit liability for the former Standard Life plan by $55 which was recorded through income.

All pension arrangements are governed by local pension committees or management but significant plan changes require approval from the Company’s Board of Directors.

The Company’s funding policy for defined benefit pension plans is to make the minimum annual contributions required by regulations in the countries in which the plans are offered. Assumptions and methods prescribed for regulatory funding purposes typically differ from those used for accounting purposes.

The Company’s remaining defined benefit pension and/or retiree welfare plans are in the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Taiwan. There are also disability welfare plans in the U.S. and Canada.

The largest defined benefit pension and retiree welfare plans are the primary plans for employees in the U.S. and Canada. These are the material plans that are discussed in the balance of this note. The Company measures its defined benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets for accounting purposes as at December 31 each year.

U.S. defined benefit pension and retiree welfare plans

The Company operates a qualified cash balance plan that is open to new members, a closed non-qualified cash balance plan, and a closed retiree welfare plan.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        163


Actuarial valuations to determine the Company’s minimum funding contributions for the qualified cash balance plan are required annually. Deficits revealed in the funding valuations must generally be funded over a period of up to seven years. It is expected that there will be no required funding for this plan in 2018. There are no plan assets set aside for the non-qualified cash balance plan.

The retiree welfare plan subsidizes the cost of life insurance and medical benefits. The majority of those who retired after 1991 receive a fixed-dollar subsidy from the Company based on service. The plan was closed to all employees hired after 2004. While assets have been set aside in a qualified trust to pay future retiree welfare benefits, this funding is optional. Retiree welfare benefits offered under the plan coordinate with the U.S. Medicare program to make optimal use of available federal financial support.

The qualified pension and retiree welfare plans are governed by the U.S. Benefits Committee, while the non-qualified pension plan is governed by the U.S. Non-Qualified Plans Subcommittee.

Canadian defined benefit pension and retiree welfare plans

The Company’s defined benefit plans in Canada include two registered final average pay pension plans, a non-registered supplemental final average pay pension plan and a retiree welfare plan, all of which have been closed to new members.

Actuarial valuations to determine the Company’s minimum funding contributions for the registered pension plans are required at least once every three years. Deficits revealed in the funding valuation must generally be funded over a period of not less than ten years. For 2018, the required funding for these plans is expected to be $31. The supplemental non-registered pension plan is not funded.

The retiree welfare plan subsidizes the cost of life insurance, medical and dental benefits. These subsidies are a fixed dollar amount for those who retired after April 30, 2013 and will be eliminated for those who retire after 2019. There are no assets set aside for this plan.

The registered pension plans are governed by Pension Committees, while the supplemental non-registered plan is governed by the Board of Directors. The retiree welfare plan is governed by management.

(b) Risks

In final average pay pension plans and retiree welfare plans, the Company generally bears the material risks which include interest rate, investment, longevity and health care cost inflation risks. In defined contribution plans, these risks are typically borne by the employee. In cash balance plans, the interest rate, investment and longevity risks are partially transferred to the employee.

Material sources of risk to the Company for all plans include:

 

    A decline in discount rates that increases the defined benefit obligations by more than the change in value of plan assets;
    Lower than expected rates of mortality; and
    For retiree welfare plans, higher than expected health care costs.

The Company has managed these risks through plan design and eligibility changes that have limited the size and growth of the defined benefit obligations. Investment risks for funded plans are managed through strategies aimed at improving the alignment between movements in the invested assets and movements in the obligations.

In the U.S., delegated committee representatives and management review the financial status of the qualified defined benefit pension plan at least monthly, and steps are taken in accordance with an established dynamic investment policy to reduce the risk in the plan as the funded status improves. As at December 31, 2017, the target asset allocation for the plan was 29% return-seeking assets and 71% liability-hedging assets.

In Canada, internal committees and management review the financial status of the registered defined benefit pension plans on at least a quarterly basis. As at December 31, 2017, the target asset allocation for the plans was 15% return-seeking assets and 85% liability-hedging assets.

(c) Pension and retiree welfare plans

     Pension plans             Retiree welfare plans  
For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016             2017      2016  

Changes in defined benefit obligation:

              

Ending balance prior year

   $ 4,767      $ 4,823         $ 682      $ 713  

Plan mergers(1)

            143                   

Current service cost

     48        52           1        1  

Past service cost

            (57                 

Interest cost

     182        196           26        28  

Plan participants’ contributions

     1        1           4        5  

Actuarial losses (gains) due to:

              

Experience

     15                  (9      (2

Demographic assumption changes

            (94                (16

Economic assumption changes

     214        116           41        20  

Benefits paid

     (315      (314         (45      (50

Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates

     (206      (99         (35      (17

Defined benefit obligation, December 31

   $   4,706      $   4,767         $   665      $   682  

 

164        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


     Pension plans             Retiree welfare plans  
For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016             2017      2016  

Change in plan assets:

              

Fair value of plan assets, ending balance prior year

   $   4,277      $ 4,122         $ 603      $ 635  

Plan mergers(1)

            129                   

Interest income

     164        169           23        25  

Employer contributions

     85        106           12         

Plan participants’ contributions

     1        1           4        5  

Benefits paid

     (315      (314         (45      (50

Administration costs

     (5      (7         (2      (2

Actuarial gains (losses)

     312        158           30        8  

Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates

     (191      (87         (38      (18

Fair value of plan assets, December 31

   $   4,328      $   4,277         $   587      $   603  

 

(1) In Canada, two smaller pension plans were merged into the primary Manulife pension plan in 2016. Amounts shown represent the value of the defined benefit obligations and assets transferred from the smaller plans into the primary Manulife plan.

(d) Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

     Pension plans             Retiree welfare plans  
As at December 31,    2017      2016             2017      2016  

Development of net defined benefit liability

              

Defined benefit obligation

   $   4,706      $   4,767               $   665          $   682  

Fair value of plan assets

     4,328        4,277           587        603  

Deficit

     378        490           78        79  

Effect of asset limit(1)

                              

Deficit and net defined benefit liability

     378        490           78        79  

Deficit is comprised of:

              

Funded or partially funded plans

     (383      (292         (72      (63

Unfunded plans

     761        782           150        142  

Deficit and net defined benefit liability

   $ 378      $ 490               $ 78          $ 79  

 

(1) No reconciliation has been provided for the effect of the asset limit since there was no effect in either year. For the funded pension plans, the present value of the economic benefits available in the form of reductions in future contributions to the plans is significantly greater than the surplus that would be expected to develop.

(e) Disaggregation of defined benefit obligation

     U.S. plans             Canadian plans  
     Pension plans      Retiree welfare plans             Pension plans      Retiree welfare plans  
As at December 31,    2017      2016      2017      2016             2017      2016      2017      2016  

Active members

   $ 592      $ 637      $ 34      $ 38         $ 393      $ 403      $ 20      $ 20  

Inactive and retired members

     2,434        2,528        481        502           1,287        1,199        130        122  

Total

   $   3,026      $   3,165      $   515      $   540         $   1,680      $   1,602      $   150      $   142  

(f) Fair value measurements

The major categories of plan assets and the actual per cent allocation to each category are as follows.

 

     U.S. plans(1)             Canadian plans(2)  
     Pension plans      Retiree welfare plans             Pension plans      Retiree welfare plans  
As at December 31, 2017    Fair value      % of total      Fair value      % of total             Fair value      % of total      Fair value      % of total  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 33        1%      $ 33        6%         $ 5        1%      $         

Equity securities(3)

     695        24%        45        8%           212        15%                

Debt securities

     1,979        67%        502        85%           1,165        84%                

Other investments(4)

     235        8%        7        1%           4        0%                

Total

   $   2,942        100%      $ 587        100%         $   1,386        100%      $       –         

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        165


     U.S. plans(1)             Canadian plans(2)  
     Pension plans      Retiree welfare plans             Pension plans      Retiree welfare plans  
As at December 31, 2016    Fair value      % of total      Fair value      % of total             Fair value      % of total      Fair value      % of total  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 15        1%      $ 19        3%         $ 21        2%      $         

Equity securities(3)

     825        28%        150        25%           460        34%                

Debt securities

     1,834        62%        427        71%           809        60%                

Other investments(4)

     259        9%        7        1%           54        4%                

Total

   $ 2,933        100%      $   603        100%         $ 1,344        100%      $     –         

 

(1) All the U.S. pension and retiree welfare plan assets have daily quoted prices in active markets, except for the private equity, timber and agriculture assets. In the aggregate, the latter assets represent approximately 6% of all U.S. pension and retiree welfare plan assets as at December 31, 2017 (2016 – 6%).
(2) All the Canadian pension plan assets have daily quoted prices in active markets, except for the group annuity contract assets that represent approximately 0.3% of all Canadian pension plan assets as at December 31, 2017 (2016 – 3%, including real estate and mortgage assets that were sold in 2017).
(3) Equity securities include direct investments in MFC common shares of $1.3 (2016 – $1.1) in the U.S. retiree welfare plan and $nil (2016 – $nil) in Canada.
(4) Other U.S. plan assets include investment in private equity, timberland and agriculture, and managed futures in 2017. Other Canadian pension plan assets include investment in the group annuity contract.

(g) Net benefit cost recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income

Components of the net benefit cost for the pension plans and retiree welfare plans were as follows.

 

     Pension plans             Retiree welfare plans  
For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016             2017      2016  

Defined benefit current service cost(1)

   $ 48      $ 52         $ 1      $ 1  

Defined benefit administrative expenses

     5        7           2        2  

Past service cost – plan amendments(2)

            (57                 

Service cost

     53        2           3        3  

Interest on net defined benefit (asset) liability(1)

     18        27           3        3  

Defined benefit cost

     71        29           6        6  

Defined contribution cost

     75        69                   

Net benefit cost

   $     146      $      98         $       6      $       6  

 

(1) Includes service and interest costs for the two plans merged into the primary Manulife plan after August 1, 2016.
(2) Past service cost in 2016 includes ($55) reflecting the removal of the advance provision made in prior years for non-contractual, ad-hoc increases in pension for Standard Life retirees.

(h) Re-measurement effects recognized in Other Comprehensive Income

    

Pension plans

 

           

Retiree welfare plans

 

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

  

2017

 

    

2016

 

           

2017

 

    

2016

 

 

Actuarial gains (losses) on defined benefit obligations:

              

Experience

   $ (15    $          $ 9                $ 2  

Demographic assumption changes

            94                    16  

Economic assumption changes

     (214      (116         (41      (20

Return on plan assets greater (less) than discount rate

     312        158              30        8  

Total re-measurement effects

 

   $

 

     83

 

 

 

   $

 

   136

 

 

 

       $

 

(2

 

 

               $

 

6

 

 

 

(i) Assumptions

The key assumptions used by the Company to determine the defined benefit obligation and net benefit cost for the defined benefit pension plans and retiree welfare plans were as follows.

 

    

U.S. Plans

 

           

Canadian Plans

 

 
    

Pension plans

 

    

Retiree welfare plans

 

           

Pension plans

 

    

Retiree welfare plans

 

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

  

2017

 

    

2016

 

    

2017

 

    

2016

 

           

2017

 

    

2016

 

    

2017

 

    

2016

 

 

To determine the defined benefit obligation at end of year(1):

                          

Discount rate

     3.6%        4.1%        3.6%        4.1%           3.5%        3.9%        3.6%        4.0%  

Initial health care cost trend rate(2)

     n/a        n/a        8.5%        8.8%           n/a        n/a        5.9%        6.0%  

To determine the defined benefit cost for the year(1):

                          

Discount rate

     4.1%        4.4%        4.1%        4.3%           3.9%        4.1%        4.0%        4.1%  

Initial health care cost trend rate(2)

 

    

 

n/a

 

 

 

    

 

n/a

 

 

 

    

 

8.8%

 

 

 

    

 

9.0%

 

 

 

       

 

n/a

 

 

 

    

 

n/a

 

 

 

    

 

6.0%

 

 

 

    

 

6.1%

 

 

 

(1) Inflation and salary increase assumptions are not shown as they do not materially affect obligations and cost.
(2) The health care cost trend rate used to measure the U.S. based retiree welfare obligation was 8.5% grading to 5.0% for 2032 and years thereafter (2016 – 8.8% grading to 5.0% for 2032) and to measure the net benefit cost was 8.8% grading to 5.0% for 2032 and years thereafter (2016 – 9.0% grading to 5.0% for 2032). In Canada, the rate used to measure the retiree welfare obligation was 5.9% grading to 4.8% for 2026 and years thereafter (2016 – 6.0% grading to 4.8% for 2026) and to measure the net benefit cost was 6.0% grading to 4.8% for 2026 and years thereafter (2016 – 6.1% grading to 4.8% for 2026).

 

 

166        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Assumptions regarding future mortality are based on published statistics and mortality tables. The current life expectancies underlying the values of the obligations in the defined benefit pension and retiree welfare plans are as follows.

 

As at December 31, 2017

 

  

U.S.

 

    

Canada

 

 

Life expectancy (in years) for those currently age 65

     

Males

     22.4        22.8  

Females

     23.9        24.7  

Life expectancy (in years) at age 65 for those currently age 45

     

Males

     24.0        23.8  

Females

 

    

 

25.5

 

 

 

    

 

25.6

 

 

 

(j) Sensitivity of assumptions on obligation

Assumptions used can have a significant effect on the obligations reported for defined benefit pension and retiree welfare plans. The potential impact on the obligations arising from changes in the key assumptions is set out in the following table. The sensitivities assume all other assumptions are held constant. In actuality, inter-relationships with other assumptions may exist.

 

As at December 31, 2017

 

 

  

Pension plans

 

    

Retiree welfare plans

 

 

Discount rate:

     

Impact of a 1% increase

   $ (451    $ (67

Impact of a 1% decrease

     536        82  

Health care cost trend rate:

     

Impact of a 1% increase

     n/a        24  

Impact of a 1% decrease

     n/a        (21

Mortality rates(1)

     

Impact of a 10% decrease

 

    

 

   119

 

 

 

    

 

   16

 

 

 

 

(1) If the actuarial estimates of mortality are adjusted in the future to reflect unexpected decreases in mortality, the effect of a 10% decrease in mortality rates at each future age would be an increase in life expectancy at age 65 of 0.9 years for U.S. males and females and 0.8 years for Canadian males and females.

(k) Maturity profile

The weighted average duration (in years) of the defined benefit obligations is as follows.

 

    

Pension plans

 

          

Retiree welfare plans

 

 

As at December 31,

 

  

2017

 

    

2016

 

          

2017

 

    

2016

 

 

U.S. plans

     9.5        9.2          9.8        9.1  

Canadian plans

 

    

 

12.8

 

 

 

    

 

12.7

 

 

 

      

 

14.2

 

 

 

    

 

14.2

 

 

 

(l) Cash flows – contributions

Total cash payments for all employee future benefits, comprised of cash contributed by the Company to funded defined benefit pension and retiree welfare plans, cash payments directly to beneficiaries in respect of unfunded pension and retiree welfare plans, and cash contributed to defined contribution pension plans, were as follows.

 

    

Pension plans

 

          

Retiree welfare plans

 

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

  

2017

 

    

2016

 

          

2017

 

    

2016

 

 

Defined benefit plans

   $ 85      $ 106        $ 12      $  

Defined contribution plans

     75        69                  

Total

 

   $

 

  160

 

 

 

   $

 

  175

 

 

 

     $

 

  12

 

 

 

   $

 

      –

 

 

 

The Company’s best estimate of expected cash payments for employee future benefits for the year ending December 31, 2018 is $101 for defined benefit pension plans, $77 for defined contribution pension plans and $9 for retiree welfare plans.

Note 17     Interests in Structured Entities

The Company is involved with both consolidated and unconsolidated structured entities (“SEs”) which are established to generate investment returns and/or fee income. The Company is also involved with SEs that are used to facilitate financing for the Company. These entities may have some or all of the following features: control is not readily identified based on voting rights; restricted activities designed to achieve a narrow objective; high amount of leverage; and/or highly structured capital.

The Company only discloses its involvement in significant consolidated and unconsolidated SEs. In assessing the significance, the Company considers the nature of its involvement with the SE, including whether it is sponsored by the Company (i.e. initially organized and managed by the Company). Other factors considered include the Company’s investment in the SE as compared to total investments, its returns from the SE as compared to total net investment income, the SE’s size as compared to total funds under management, and its exposure to any other risks from its involvement with the SE.

The Company does not provide financial or other support to its SEs, when it does not have a contractual obligation to do so.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        167


(a) Consolidated SEs

Investment SEs

The Company acts as an investment manager of timberlands and timber companies. The Company’s general fund and segregated funds invest in many of these companies. The Company has control over one timberland company which it manages, Hancock Victoria Plantations Holdings PTY Limited (“HVPH”). HVPH is a SE primarily because the Company’s employees exercise voting rights over it on behalf of other investors. As at December 31, 2017, the Company’s consolidated timber assets relating to HVPH were $884 (2016 – $920). The Company does not provide guarantees to other parties against the risk of loss from HVPH.

Financing SEs

The Company securitizes certain insured and variable rate commercial and residential mortgages and HELOC. This activity is facilitated by consolidated entities that are SEs because their operations are limited to issuing and servicing the Company’s capital. Further information regarding the Company’s mortgage securitization program is included in note 4.

(b) Unconsolidated SEs

Investment SEs

The following table presents the Company’s investment and maximum exposure to loss from significant unconsolidated investment SEs, some of which are sponsored by the Company. The Company does not provide guarantees to other parties against the risk of loss from these SEs.

 

    

Company’s investment(1)

 

          

Company’s maximum

exposure to loss(2)

 

 

As at December 31,

 

  

2017

 

    

2016

 

          

2017

 

    

2016

 

 

Leveraged leases(3)

   $   3,273      $   3,369        $   3,273      $   3,369  

Timberland companies(4)

     736        736          786        749  

Real estate companies(5)

 

    

 

361

 

 

 

    

 

327

 

 

 

            

 

361

 

 

 

    

 

327

 

 

 

Total

 

   $

 

4,370

 

 

 

   $

 

4,432

 

 

 

     $

 

4,420

 

 

 

   $

 

4,445

 

 

 

 

(1) The Company’s investments in these unconsolidated SEs are included in invested assets and the Company’s returns from them are included in net investment income and AOCI.
(2) The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from each SE is limited to amounts invested in each, plus unfunded capital commitments, if any. The Company’s investment commitments are disclosed in note 18. The maximum loss is expected to occur only upon the entity’s bankruptcy/liquidation, or as a result of a natural disaster in the case of the timber companies.
(3) These entities are statutory business trusts which use capital provided by the Company and senior debt provided by other parties to finance the acquisition of assets. These assets are leased to third-party lessees under long-term leases. The Company owns equity capital in these business trusts. The Company does not consolidate any of the trusts that are party to the lease arrangements because the Company does not have decision-making power over them.
(4) These entities own and operate timberlands. The Company invests in their equity and debt. The Company’s returns include investment income, investment advisory fees, forestry management fees and performance advisory fees. The Company does not control these entities because it either does not have the power to govern their financial and operating policies or does not have significant variable returns from them, or both.
(5) These entities, which include the Manulife U.S. REIT, own and manage commercial real estate. The Company invests in their equity. The Company’s returns include investment income, investment management fees, property management fees, acquisition/disposition fees, and leasing fees. The Company does not control these entities because it either does not have the power to govern their financial and operating policies or does not have significant variable returns from them, or both.

Financing SEs

The following table presents the Company’s interests and maximum exposure to loss from significant unconsolidated financing SEs.

 

    

Company’s interests(1)

 

 

As at December 31,

 

  

2017

 

    

2016

 

 

Manulife Finance (Delaware), L.P.(2)

   $ 835      $ 876  

Manulife Financial Capital Trust II(3)

 

    

 

1,000

 

 

 

    

 

1,000

 

 

 

Total

 

   $

 

  1,835

 

 

 

   $

 

  1,876

 

 

 

 

(1) The Company’s interests include amounts borrowed from the SEs and the Company’s investment in their subordinated capital, and foreign currency and interest swaps with them, if any.
(2) This entity is a wholly-owned partnership used to facilitate the Company’s financing. Refer to notes 12 and 18.
(3) This entity is an open-ended trust that is used to facilitate the Company’s financing. Refer to note 12.

(i) Other invested assets

The Company has investment relationships with a variety of other entities, which result from its direct investment in their debt and/or equity and which have been assessed for control. These other entities’ investments include, but are not limited to investments in power and infrastructure, oil and gas, private equity, real estate and agriculture, organized as limited partnerships and limited liability companies. Most of these other entities are not sponsored by the Company. The Company’s involvement with these other entities is not individually significant. As such, the Company neither provides summary financial data for these entities nor individually assesses whether they are SEs. The Company’s maximum exposure to losses because of its involvement with these other entities is limited to its investment in them and amounts committed to be invested but not yet funded. The Company records its income from these entities in net investment income and AOCI. The Company does not provide guarantees to other parties against the risk of loss from these other entities.

 

168        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(ii) Interest in securitized assets

The Company invests in mortgage/asset-backed securities issued by securitization vehicles sponsored by other parties, including private issuers and government sponsored issuers, to generate investment income. The Company does not own a controlling financial interest in any of the issuers. These securitization vehicles are SEs based on their narrow scope of activities and highly leveraged capital structures. Investments in mortgage/asset-backed securities are reported on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as debt securities and private placements, and their fair value and carrying value are disclosed in note 4. The Company’s maximum loss from these investments is limited to amounts invested.

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) are secured by commercial mortgages and residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) are secured by residential mortgages. Asset-backed securities (“ABS”) may be secured by various underlying assets including credit card receivables, automobile loans and aviation leases. The mortgage/asset-backed securities that the Company invests in primarily originate in North America.

The following table presents investments in securitized holdings by the type and asset quality.

 

     2017            2016  
As at December 31,    CMBS      RMBS      ABS      Total            Total  

AAA

   $ 1,390      $ 45      $ 1,068      $ 2,503        $ 2,269  

AA

                   401        401          393  

A

     16               488        504          592  

BBB

                   142        142          221  

BB and below

     12               14        26          38  

Total company exposure

   $   1,418      $   45      $   2,113      $   3,576        $   3,513  

(iii) Mutual funds

The Company sponsors and may invest in a range of public mutual funds with a broad range of investment styles. As sponsor, the Company organizes mutual funds that implement investment strategies on behalf of current and future investors. The Company earns fees which are at market rates for providing advisory and administrative services to these mutual funds. Generally, the Company does not control its sponsored mutual funds because either the Company does not have power to govern their financial and operating policies, or its returns in the form of fees and ownership interests are not significant, or both. Certain mutual funds are SEs because their decision-making rights are not vested in voting equity interests and their investors are provided with redemption rights.

The Company’s relationships with these mutual funds are not individually significant. As such, the Company neither provides summary financial data for these mutual funds nor individually assesses whether they are SEs. The Company’s interest in mutual funds is limited to its investment and fees earned, if any. The Company’s investments in mutual funds are recorded as part of its investment in public equities within the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. For information regarding the Company’s invested assets, refer to note 4. The Company does not provide guarantees to other parties against the risk of loss from these mutual funds.

As sponsor, the Company’s investment in startup capital of mutual funds as at December 31, 2017 was $1,918 (2016 – $1,903). The Company’s retail mutual fund assets under management as at December 31, 2017 were $195,472 (2016 – $169,919).

Note 18     Commitments and Contingencies

(a) Legal proceedings

The Company is regularly involved in legal actions, both as a defendant and as a plaintiff. The legal actions where the Company is a party ordinarily relate to its activities as a provider of insurance protection or wealth management products, reinsurance, or its capacity as an investment adviser, employer, or taxpayer. Other life insurers and asset managers, operating in the jurisdictions in which the Company does business, have been subject to a wide variety of other types of actions, some of which resulted in substantial judgments or settlements against the defendants; it is possible that the Company may become involved in similar actions in the future. In addition, government and regulatory bodies in Canada, the United States, Asia and other jurisdictions where the Company conducts business regularly make inquiries and, from time to time, require the production of information or conduct examinations concerning the Company’s compliance with, among other things, insurance laws, securities laws, and laws governing the activities of broker-dealers.

A class action against John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (“JHUSA”) is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in which claims are made that JHUSA breached, and continues to breach, the contractual terms of certain universal life policies issued between approximately 1990 and 2006 by including impermissible charges in its cost of insurance (“COI”) calculations. The Company believes that its COI calculations have been, and continue to be, in accordance with the terms of the policies and intends to vigorously defend this action. Briefing on class certification is scheduled to be completed in late April. It is premature to attempt to predict any outcome or range of outcomes for this matter. A similar class action based on the same policy language in dispute in the case pending in New York had been pending in California. The parties have agreed to settle all claims alleged in the California action and are preparing final documents for approval by the supervising court; the financial terms of the settlement are not expected to be material to the Company.

(b) Investment commitments

In the normal course of business, various investment commitments are outstanding which are not reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements. There were $8,235 (2016 – $7,505) of outstanding investment commitments as at December 31, 2017, of which $682 (2016 – $268) mature in 30 days, $2,177 (2016 – $2,665) mature in 31 to 365 days and $5,376 (2016 – $4,572) mature after one year.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        169


(c) Letters of credit

In the normal course of business, third-party relationship banks issue letters of credit on the Company’s behalf. The Company’s businesses utilize letters of credit for which third parties are the beneficiaries, as well as for affiliate reinsurance transactions between its subsidiaries. As at December 31, 2017, letters of credit for which third parties are beneficiary, in the amount of $77 (2016 – $83), were outstanding.

(d) Guarantees

(i) Guarantees regarding Manulife Finance (Delaware), L.P. (“MFLP”)

MFC has guaranteed the payment of amounts on the $650 subordinated debentures due on December 15, 2041 issued by MFLP, a wholly-owned unconsolidated partnership.

(ii) Guarantees regarding The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

On January 29, 2007, MFC provided a subordinated guarantee, as amended and restated on January 13, 2017, of Class A Shares and Class B Shares of MLI and any other class of preferred shares that rank in parity with Class A Shares or Class B Shares of MLI. For the following subordinated debentures issued by MLI, MFC has provided a subordinated guarantee on the day of issuance: $200 issued on February 25, 2013; $250 issued on November 29, 2013; $500 issued on February 21, 2014; $500 issued on December 1, 2014; $750 issued on March 10, 2015; $350 issued on June 1, 2015; and $1,000 issued on November 20, 2015.

The following table sets forth certain condensed consolidated financial information for MFC and MFLP.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Information

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017    MFC
(Guarantor)
     MLI
consolidated(1)
     Other
subsidiaries of
MFC on a
combined basis
     Consolidating
adjustments
     Total
consolidated
amounts
            MFLP  

Total revenue

   $ 182      $    58,445      $     270      $ (574)      $    58,323         $    29  

Net income (loss) attributed to shareholders

        2,104        2,467        (257         (2,210)        2,104           6  
For the year ended December 31, 2016    MFC
(Guarantor)
     MLI
consolidated(1)
     Other
subsidiaries of
MFC on a
combined basis
     Consolidating
adjustments
     Total
consolidated
amounts
            MFLP  

Total revenue

   $ 518      $ 53,219      $ 377      $ (777    $ 53,337         $ 44  

Net income (loss) attributed to shareholders

     2,929        2,916        (359      (2,557      2,929           (1

 

(1)  During 2017, MLI acquired John Hancock Reassurance Company Ltd. (“JHRECO”) from MFC. MLI has restated its historical IFRS financial statements to reflect the combined accounts of MLI and JHRECO on a retroactive basis.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

 

As at December 31, 2017    MFC
(Guarantor)
     MLI
consolidated(1)
     Other
subsidiaries of
MFC on a
combined basis
     Consolidating
adjustments
     Total
consolidated
amounts
            MFLP  

Invested assets

   $ 21      $ 334,191      $   10      $      $   334,222         $           5  

Total other assets

       48,688        71,180        4        (48,868      71,004           1,033  

Segregated funds net assets

              324,307                      324,307            

Insurance contract liabilities

            304,605                      304,605            

Investment contract liabilities

            3,126                      3,126            

Segregated funds net liabilities

            324,307                      324,307            

Total other liabilities

     7,696        48,145               (509      55,332           831  
As at December 31, 2016    MFC
(Guarantor)
     MLI
consolidated(1)
     Other
subsidiaries of
MFC on a
combined basis
     Consolidating
adjustments
     Total
consolidated
amounts
            MFLP  

Invested assets

   $ 161      $ 321,698      $       10      $               –      $   321,869         $ 6  

Total other assets

       48,073        83,607        4        (48,049      83,635             1,085  

Segregated funds net assets

              315,177                      315,177            

Insurance contract liabilities

            297,505                      297,505            

Investment contract liabilities

            3,275                      3,275            

Segregated funds net liabilities

            315,177                      315,177            

Total other liabilities

     6,402        55,808               (309      61,901           882  

 

(1)  During 2017, MLI acquired John Hancock Reassurance Company Ltd. (“JHRECO”) from MFC. MLI has restated its historical IFRS financial statements to reflect the combined accounts of MLI and JHRECO on a retroactive basis.

(iii) Guarantees regarding John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (“JHUSA”)

Details of guarantees regarding certain securities issued or to be issued by JHUSA are outlined in note 23.

 

170        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


(e) Pledged assets

In the normal course of business, the Company pledges its assets in respect of liabilities incurred, strictly for providing collateral to the counterparty. In the event of the Company’s default, the counterparty is entitled to apply the collateral to settle the liability. The pledged assets are returned to the Company if the underlying transaction is terminated or, in the case of derivatives, if there is a decrease in the net exposure due to market value changes.

The amounts pledged were as follows.

 

    2017          2016  
As at December 31,   Debt securities      Other          Debt securities      Other  

In respect of:

            

Derivatives

  $   3,189      $ 44        $ 4,678      $ 99  

Regulatory requirements

    398        86          409        78  

Real estate

           2                 22  

Repurchase agreements

    228                 255         

Non-registered retirement plans in trust

           412                 464  

Other

    3        271          3        174  

Total

  $ 3,818      $   815        $   5,345      $   837  

(f) Lease obligations

The Company has a number of operating lease obligations, primarily for the use of office space. The aggregate future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases are $838 (2016 – $966). Payments by year are included in the “Risk Management” section of the Company’s 2017 MD&A under Liquidity Risk.

(g) Participating business

In some territories where the Company maintains participating accounts, there are regulatory restrictions on the amounts of profit that can be transferred to shareholders. Where applicable, these restrictions generally take the form of a fixed percentage of policyholder dividends. For participating businesses operating as separate “closed blocks”, transfers are governed by the terms of MLI’s and John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company’s plans of demutualization.

(h) Fixed surplus notes

A third party contractually provides standby financing arrangements for the Company’s U.S. operations under which, in certain circumstances, funds may be provided in exchange for the issuance of fixed surplus notes. As at December 31, 2017, the Company had no fixed surplus notes outstanding.

Note 19     Segmented Information

The Company’s reporting segments are Asia, Canadian, U.S. and Corporate and Other Divisions. Each division manages profit and loss, develops products and services, defines distribution strategies based on the profile and needs of its business and market in which it operates. The significant product and service offerings of each division are as follows:

Protection (Asia, Canadian and U.S. Divisions). Includes a variety of individual life insurance and individual and group long-term care insurance. Products are distributed through multiple distribution channels, including insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners and direct marketing.

Wealth and Asset Management (Asia, Canadian and U.S. Divisions). Offers pension contracts and mutual fund products and services. These businesses also offer a variety of retirement products to group benefit plans. These businesses distribute products through multiple distribution channels, including insurance agents and brokers affiliated with the Company, securities brokerage firms, financial planners, pension plan sponsors, pension plan consultants and banks.

Other Wealth (Asia, Canadian and U.S. Divisions). Includes annuities, single premium and banking products. Manulife Bank of Canada offers a variety of deposit and credit products to Canadian customers. Annuity contracts provide non-guaranteed, partially guaranteed and fully guaranteed investment options through general and separate account products. These businesses distribute products through multiple distribution channels, including insurance agents and brokers affiliated with the Company, financial planners and banks.

Corporate and Other Segment. Comprised of investment performance on assets backing capital, net of amounts allocated to operating divisions and financing costs; Property and Casualty (“P&C”) Reinsurance Business; as well as run-off reinsurance operations including variable annuities and accident and health.

Certain allocation methodologies are employed in the preparation of segmented financial information. Indirect expenses are allocated to business segments using allocation formulas applied on a consistent basis, while capital is apportioned to the Company’s business segments using a risk based methodology. The impact of changes in actuarial methods and assumptions (refer to note 8) reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income, is included in the Corporate and Other segment.

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        171


Effective January 1, 2017, the operations of Manulife Asset Management are being reflected in the respective Divisional results. These operations were reported in the Corporate and Other division for 2016.

By segment

 

As at and for the year ended

December 31, 2017

   Asia Division     Canadian
Division
    U.S. Division     Corporate
and Other
    Total  

Revenue

          

Premium income

          

Life and health insurance

   $ 13,145     $ 4,322     $ 6,778     $ 110     $ 24,355  

Annuities and pensions

     2,568       443       844             3,855  

Net premium income

     15,713       4,765       7,622       110       28,210  

Net investment income

     4,080       4,573       10,649       65       19,367  

Other revenue

     1,739       3,517       6,166       (676     10,746  

Total revenue

     21,532       12,855       24,437       (501     58,323  

Contract benefits and expenses

          

Life and health insurance

     11,961       5,644       16,464       461       34,530  

Annuities and pensions

     2,051       1,813       907             4,771  

Net benefits and claims

     14,012       7,457       17,371       461       39,301  

Interest expense

     164       307       37       631       1,139  

Other expenses

     4,937       4,435       6,050       (40     15,382  

Total contract benefits and expenses

     19,113       12,199       23,458       1,052       55,822  

Income (loss) before income taxes

     2,419       656       979       (1,553     2,501  

Income tax recovery (expense)

     (403     95       (1,275     1,344       (239

Net income (loss)

     2,016       751       (296     (209     2,262  

Less net income (loss) attributed to:

          

Non-controlling interests

     197                   (3     194  

Participating policyholders

     (30     (6                 (36

Net income (loss) attributed to shareholders

   $ 1,849     $ 757     $ (296   $ (206   $ 2,104  

Total assets

   $   105,233     $   220,755     $   383,528     $   20,017     $   729,533  

As at and for the year ended

December 31, 2016

   Asia Division     Canadian
Division
    U.S. Division     Corporate
and Other
    Total  

Revenue

          

Premium income

          

Life and health insurance

   $   12,111     $ 4,366     $ 6,703     $ 88     $ 23,268  

Annuities and pensions

     3,474       606       284             4,364  

Net premium income

     15,585       4,972       6,987       88       27,632  

Net investment income

     2,143       4,255       7,980       146       14,524  

Other revenue

     1,566       3,480       5,591       544       11,181  

Total revenue

     19,294       12,707       20,558       778       53,337  

Contract benefits and expenses

          

Life and health insurance

     10,435       5,207       10,829       806       27,277  

Annuities and pensions

     2,913       1,179       2,765             6,857  

Net benefits and claims

     13,348       6,386       13,594       806       34,134  

Interest expense

     146       305       45       517       1,013  

Other expenses

     4,241       4,279       5,619       722       14,861  

Total contract benefits and expenses

     17,735       10,970       19,258       2,045       50,008  

Income (loss) before income taxes

     1,559       1,737       1,300       (1,267     3,329  

Income tax recovery (expense)

     (243     (250     (166     463       (196

Net income (loss)

     1,316       1,487       1,134       (804     3,133  

Less net income (loss) attributed to:

          

Non-controlling interests

     115                   28       143  

Participating policyholders

     60       1                   61  

Net income (loss) attributed to shareholders

   $ 1,141     $ 1,486     $ 1,134     $ (832   $ 2,929  

Total assets

   $ 92,843     $   214,820     $   386,619     $   26,399     $   720,681  

The results of the Company’s business segments differ from geographic segment primarily due to the allocation of Company’s Corporate and Other division into the geographic segments to which its businesses relate.

 

172        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


By geographic location

 

As at and for the year ended

December 31, 2017

   Asia      Canada      U.S.      Other      Total  

Revenue

              

Premium income

              

Life and health insurance

   $ 13,215      $ 3,894      $ 6,780      $ 466      $ 24,355  

Annuities and pensions

     2,568        443        844               3,855  

Net premium income

     15,783        4,337        7,624        466        28,210  

Net investment income

     4,258        4,642        10,407        60        19,367  

Other revenue

     1,632        3,187        5,911        16        10,746  

Total revenue

   $ 21,673      $ 12,166      $ 23,942      $ 542      $ 58,323  

As at and for the year ended

December 31, 2016

   Asia      Canada      U.S.      Other      Total  

Revenue

              

Premium income

              

Life and health insurance

   $ 12,184      $ 3,909      $ 6,705      $ 470      $ 23,268  

Annuities and pensions

     3,474        606        284               4,364  

Net premium income

     15,658        4,515        6,989        470        27,632  

Net investment income

     2,368        4,096        7,880        180        14,524  

Other revenue

     1,608        3,443        6,105        25        11,181  

Total revenue

   $   19,634      $   12,054      $   20,974      $   675      $   53,337  

Note 20    Related Parties

Related party transactions were made in the normal course of business and at the terms that would exist in arm’s-length transactions.

(a) Transactions with certain related parties

Transactions with MFLP, a wholly owned unconsolidated partnership, and MFCT, a wholly owned unconsolidated trust, are described in notes 11, 12 and 18.

(b) Compensation of key management personnel

The Company’s key management personnel are those personnel who have the authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company. Directors (both executive and non-executive) and senior management are considered key personnel. Accordingly, the summary of compensation of key management personnel is as follows.

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Short-term employee benefits

   $ 44      $ 33  

Post-employment benefits

     3        3  

Share-based payments

     43        44  

Termination benefits

     6        4  

Other long-term benefits

     2        3  

Total

   $   98      $   87  

Note 21    Subsidiaries

The following is a list of Manulife’s directly and indirectly held major operating subsidiaries.

 

As at December 31, 2017

(100% owned unless otherwise noted in brackets beside company name)

 

 

Address

 

 

Description

 

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

  Toronto, Canada  

Leading Canadian-based financial services company that offers a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services

 

Manulife Holdings (Alberta) Limited

 

 

Calgary, Canada

 

 

Holding company

 

John Hancock Financial Corporation

 

Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.

 

  Holding company

The Manufacturers Investment Corporation

 

 

Michigan, U.S.A.

 

 

Holding company

 

John Hancock Reassurance Company Ltd. U.S.A.

  Michigan, U.S.A.  

Captive insurance subsidiary that provides life, annuity and long-term care reinsurance to affiliates

 

John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)

  Michigan, U.S.A.  

U.S. life insurance company licensed in all states, except New York

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        173


As at December 31, 2017

(100% owned unless otherwise noted in brackets beside company name)

 

 

Address

 

 

Description

 

John Hancock Subsidiaries LLC

 

Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.

 

  Holding company

John Hancock Financial Network, Inc.

 

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

 

  Financial services distribution organization

John Hancock Advisers, LLC

 

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

 

  Investment advisor

John Hancock Funds, LLC

 

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

 

  Broker-dealer

Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC

 

Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.

 

  Asset management company

Hancock Natural Resource Group, Inc.

 

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

 

 

Manager of globally diversified timberland and agricultural portfolios

 

John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York

 

 

New York, U.S.A.

 

 

U.S. life insurance company licensed in New York

 

John Hancock Investment Management Services, LLC

 

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

 

  Investment advisor

John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company

 

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

 

  U.S. life insurance company licensed in all states

John Hancock Distributors LLC

 

Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.

 

  Broker-dealer

John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc.

 

Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.

 

  Insurance agency

Manulife Reinsurance Limited

 

 

Hamilton, Bermuda

 

 

Provides life and financial reinsurance to affiliates

 

Manulife Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited

 

 

Hamilton, Bermuda

 

 

Provides life and annuity reinsurance to affiliates

 

Manulife Bank of Canada

  Waterloo, Canada  

Provides integrated banking products and service options not available from an insurance company

 

Manulife Asset Management Holdings (Canada) Inc.

 

 

Toronto, Canada

 

 

Holding company

 

Manulife Asset Management Limited

  Toronto, Canada  

Provides investment counseling, portfolio and mutual fund management in Canada

 

First North American Insurance Company

 

 

Toronto, Canada

 

 

Property and casualty insurance company

 

NAL Resources Management Limited

 

 

Calgary, Canada

 

 

Management company for oil and gas properties

 

Manulife Resources Limited

 

 

Calgary, Canada

 

 

Holds oil and gas properties

 

Manulife Property Limited Partnership

 

 

Toronto, Canada

 

 

Holds oil and gas royalties

 

Manulife Property Limited Partnership II

  Toronto, Canada  

Holds oil and gas royalties and foreign bonds and equities

 

Manulife Western Holdings Limited Partnership

 

 

Calgary, Canada

 

 

Holds oil and gas properties

 

Manulife Securities Investment Services Inc.

 

 

Oakville, Canada

 

 

Mutual fund dealer for Canadian operations

 

Manulife Holdings (Bermuda) Limited

 

 

Hamilton, Bermuda

 

 

Holding company

 

Manufacturers P & C Limited

 

 

St. Michael, Barbados

 

 

Provides property and casualty reinsurance

 

Manulife Financial Asia Limited

 

 

Hong Kong, China

 

 

Holding company

 

Manulife (Cambodia) PLC

 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

 

  Life insurance company

Manufacturers Life Reinsurance Limited

 

 

St. Michael, Barbados

 

 

Provides life and annuity reinsurance to affiliates

 

Manulife (Vietnam) Limited

 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

 

  Life insurance company

Manulife Asset Management (Vietnam) Company Limited

 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

 

  Fund management company

Manulife International Holdings Limited

 

 

Hong Kong, China

 

 

Holding company

 

Manulife (International) Limited

 

 

Hong Kong, China

 

 

Life insurance company

 

Manulife-Sinochem Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (51%)

 

 

Shanghai, China

 

 

Life insurance company

 

Manulife Asset Management International Holdings Limited

 

 

Hong Kong, China

 

 

Holding company

 

Manulife Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited

  Hong Kong, China  

Investment management and advisory company marketing mutual funds

 

Manulife Asset Management (Taiwan) Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

Taipei, Taiwan

 

 

Asset management company

 

Manulife Life Insurance Company

 

 

Tokyo, Japan

 

 

Life insurance company

 

Manulife Asset Management (Japan) Limited

  Tokyo, Japan  

Investment management and advisory company and mutual fund business

 

Manulife Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited (92.1%)(1)

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand

 

 

Life insurance company

 

 

174        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


As at December 31, 2017

(100% owned unless otherwise noted in brackets beside company name)

 

 

Address

 

 

Description

 

Manulife Asset Management (Thailand) Company Limited (95.3%)(1)

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand

 

 

Investment management company

 

Manulife Holdings Berhad (59.5%)

 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

  Holding company

Manulife Insurance Berhad (59.5%)

 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

  Life insurance company

Manulife Asset Management Services Berhad (59.5%)

 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

  Asset management company

Manulife (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

 

 

Singapore

 

 

Life insurance company

 

Manulife Asset Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

 

 

Singapore

 

 

Asset management company

 

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Phils.), Inc.

 

Makati City, Philippines

 

  Life insurance company

Manulife Chinabank Life Assurance Corporation (60%)

 

Makati City, Philippines

 

  Life insurance company

PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia

 

 

Jakarta, Indonesia

 

 

  Life insurance company

PT Manulife Aset Manajemen Indonesia

  Jakarta, Indonesia  

Investment management company marketing mutual funds and discretionary funds

 

Manulife Asset Management (Europe) Limited

  London, England  

Investment management company for Manulife Financial’s international funds

 

Manulife Assurance Company of Canada

 

 

Toronto, Canada

 

 

Life insurance company

 

EIS Services (Bermuda) Limited

 

 

Hamilton, Bermuda

 

 

Investment holding company

 

Berkshire Insurance Services Inc.

 

 

Toronto, Canada

 

 

Investment holding company

 

JH Investments (Delaware) LLC

 

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

 

  Investment holding company

Manulife Securities Incorporated

 

 

Oakville, Canada

 

 

Investment dealer

 

Manulife Asset Management (North America) Limited

 

 

Toronto, Canada

 

 

Investment advisor

 

Regional Power Inc.

  Mississauga, Canada  

Developer and operator of hydro-electric power projects

 

 

(1) MFC voting rights percentages are the same as the ownership percentages except for Manulife Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited and Manulife Asset Management (Thailand) Company Limited where MFC’s voting rights are 98.1% and 98.9%, respectively.

Note 22    Segregated Funds

The Company manages a number of segregated funds on behalf of policyholders. Policyholders are provided with the opportunity to invest in different categories of segregated funds that respectively hold a range of underlying investments. The Company retains legal title to the underlying investments; however, returns from these investments belong to the policyholders. Accordingly, the Company does not bear the risk associated with these assets outside of guarantees offered on certain variable life and annuity products. The “Risk Management” section of the Company’s 2017 MD&A provides information regarding the variable annuity and segregated fund guarantees.

The composition of net assets by categories of segregated funds was within the following ranges for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

     Ranges in per cent  
Type of fund    2017      2016  

Money market funds

     2% to 3%        2% to 3%  

Fixed income funds

     14% to 15%        14% to 15%  

Balanced funds

     22% to 29%        22% to 24%  

Equity funds

     55% to 60%        59% to 61%  

Money market funds consist of investments that have a term to maturity of less than one year. Fixed income funds primarily consist of investments in fixed grade income securities and may contain smaller investments in diversified equities or high-yield bonds. Relative to fixed income funds, balanced funds consist of fixed income securities and a larger equity investment component. The types of equity funds available to policyholders range from low volatility equity funds to aggressive equity funds. Equity funds invest in a varying mix of Canadian, U.S. and global equities.

The underlying investments of the segregated funds consist of both individual securities and mutual funds (collectively “net assets”), some of which may be structured entities. The carrying value and change in segregated funds net assets are as follows.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        175


Segregated funds net assets

 

As at December 31,    2017      2016  

Investments at market value

     

Cash and short-term securities

   $ 4,756      $ 4,524  

Debt securities

     15,472        15,651  

Equities

     12,624        12,458  

Mutual funds

     288,007        278,966  

Other investments

     4,514        4,552  

Accrued investment income

     201        201  

Other assets and liabilities, net

     (766      (644

Total segregated funds net assets

   $ 324,808      $ 315,708  

Composition of segregated funds net assets

     

Held by policyholders

   $ 324,307      $ 315,177  

Held by the Company

     501        531  

Total segregated funds net assets

   $   324,808      $   315,708  

Fair value related information of segregated funds is disclosed in note 4(g).

Changes in segregated funds net assets

 

For the years ended December 31,    2017      2016  

Net policyholder cash flow

     

Deposits from policyholders

   $ 34,776      $ 33,130  

Net transfers to general fund

     (1,734      (878

Payments to policyholders

     (45,970      (39,731
       (12,928      (7,479

Investment related

     

Interest and dividends

     16,930        15,736  

Net realized and unrealized investment gains

     24,384        4,097  
       41,314        19,833  

Other

     

Management and administration fees

     (4,496      (4,386

Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates

     (14,790      (6,007
       (19,286      (10,393

Net additions

     9,100        1,961  

Segregated funds net assets, beginning of year

     315,708        313,747  

Segregated funds net assets, end of year

   $   324,808      $   315,708  

Segregated funds assets may be exposed to a variety of financial and other risks. These risks are primarily mitigated by investment guidelines that are actively monitored by professional and experienced portfolio advisors. The Company is not exposed to these risks beyond the liabilities related to the guarantees associated with certain variable life and annuity products. Accordingly, the Company’s exposure to loss from segregated fund products is limited to the value of these guarantees.

These guarantee liabilities are recorded within the Company’s insurance contract liabilities. Assets supporting these guarantees are recognized in invested assets according to their investment type.

Note 23     Information Provided in Connection with Investments in Deferred Annuity Contracts and SignatureNotes Issued or Assumed by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)

The following condensed consolidated financial information, presented in accordance with IFRS, and the related disclosure have been included in these Consolidated Financial Statements with respect to JHUSA in compliance with Regulation S-X and Rule 12h-5 of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). These financial statements are incorporated by reference in the MFC and its subsidiaries registration statements that are described below and which relate to MFC’s guarantee of certain securities to be issued by its subsidiaries.

JHUSA maintains a book of deferred annuity contracts that feature a market value adjustment and are registered with the Commission. The deferred annuity contracts may contain variable investment options along with fixed investment period options, or may offer only fixed investment period options. The fixed investment period options enable the participant to invest fixed amounts of money for fixed terms at fixed interest rates, subject to a market value adjustment if the participant desires to terminate a fixed investment period before its maturity date. The annuity contract provides for the market value adjustment to keep the parties whole with respect to the fixed interest bargain for the entire fixed investment period. These fixed investment period options that contain a market value adjustment feature are referred to as “MVAs”.

JHUSA may also sell medium-term notes to retail investors under its SignatureNotes program.

 

176        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Effective December 31, 2009, John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Company (the “Variable Company”) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company (the “Life Company”) merged with and into JHUSA. In connection with the mergers, JHUSA assumed the Variable Company’s rights and obligations with respect to the MVAs issued by the Variable Company and the Life Company’s rights and obligations with respect to the SignatureNotes issued by the Life Company.

MFC fully and unconditionally guaranteed the payment of JHUSA’s obligations under the MVAs and under the SignatureNotes (including the MVAs and SignatureNotes assumed by JHUSA in the merger), and such MVAs and the SignatureNotes were registered with the Commission. The SignatureNotes and MVAs assumed or issued by JHUSA are collectively referred to in this note as the “Guaranteed Securities”. JHUSA is, and each of the Variable Company and the Life Company was, a wholly owned subsidiary of MFC.

MFC’s guarantees of the Guaranteed Securities are unsecured obligations of MFC, and are subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all other obligations of MFC, except for other guarantees or obligations of MFC which by their terms are designated as ranking equally in right of payment with or subordinate to MFC’s guarantees of the Guaranteed Securities.

The laws of the State of New York govern MFC’s guarantees of the SignatureNotes issued or assumed by JHUSA and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts govern MFC’s guarantees of the MVAs issued or assumed by JHUSA. MFC has consented to the jurisdiction of the courts of New York and Massachusetts. However, because a substantial portion of MFC’s assets are located outside the United States, the assets of MFC located in the United States may not be sufficient to satisfy a judgment given by a federal or state court in the United States to enforce the subordinate guarantees. In general, the federal laws of Canada and the laws of the Province of Ontario, where MFC’s principal executive offices are located, permit an action to be brought in Ontario to enforce such a judgment provided that such judgment is subsisting and unsatisfied for a fixed sum of money and not void or voidable in the United States and a Canadian court will render a judgment against MFC in a certain dollar amount, expressed in Canadian dollars, subject to customary qualifications regarding fraud, violations of public policy, laws limiting the enforcement of creditor’s rights and applicable statutes of limitations on judgments. There is currently no public policy in effect in the Province of Ontario that would support avoiding the recognition and enforcement in Ontario of a judgment of a New York or Massachusetts court on MFC’s guarantees of the SignatureNotes issued or assumed by JHUSA or a Massachusetts court on guarantees of the MVAs issued or assumed by JHUSA.

MFC is a holding company. MFC’s assets primarily consist of investments in its subsidiaries. MFC’s cash flows primarily consist of dividends and interest payments from its operating subsidiaries, offset by expenses and shareholder dividends and MFC stock repurchases. As a holding company, MFC’s ability to meet its cash requirements, including, but not limited to, paying any amounts due under its guarantees, substantially depends upon dividends from its operating subsidiaries.

These subsidiaries are subject to certain regulatory restrictions under laws in Canada, the United States and certain other countries, which may limit their ability to pay dividends or make contributions or loans to MFC. For example, some of MFC’s subsidiaries are subject to restrictions prescribed by the ICA on their ability to declare and pay dividends. The restrictions related to dividends imposed by the ICA are described in note 14.

In the United States, insurance laws in Michigan, New York, and Massachusetts, the jurisdictions in which certain of MFC’s U.S. insurance company subsidiaries are domiciled, impose general limitations on the payment of dividends and other upstream distributions or loans by these insurance subsidiaries. These limitations are described in note 14.

In Asia, the insurance laws of the jurisdictions in which MFC operates either provide for specific restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions or loans by subsidiaries or impose solvency or other financial tests, which could affect the ability of subsidiaries to pay dividends in certain circumstances.

There can be no assurance that any current or future regulatory restrictions in Canada, the United States or Asia will not impair MFC’s ability to meet its cash requirements, including, but not limited to, paying any amounts due under its guarantee.

The following condensed consolidated financial information, presented in accordance with IFRS, reflects the effects of the mergers and is provided in compliance with Regulation S-X and in accordance with Rule 12h-5 of the Commission.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        177


Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

 

As at December 31, 2017    MFC
(Guarantor)
     JHUSA
(Issuer)
     Other
subsidiaries
     Consolidation
adjustments
    Consolidated
MFC
 

Assets

             

Invested assets

   $ 21      $ 108,144      $ 226,421      $ (364   $ 334,222  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries

     48,374        6,509        14,999        (69,882      

Reinsurance assets

            49,927        8,281        (27,849     30,359  

Other assets

     314        18,678        40,715        (19,062     40,645  

Segregated funds net assets

            176,139        149,812        (1,644     324,307  

Total assets

   $ 48,709      $ 359,397      $ 440,228      $ (118,801   $ 729,533  

Liabilities and equity

             

Insurance contract liabilities

   $      $ 147,155      $ 185,884      $ (28,434   $ 304,605  

Investment contract liabilities

            1,130        1,998        (2     3,126  

Other liabilities

     297        19,399        41,394        (18,930     42,160  

Long-term debt

     4,784               1              4,785  

Capital instruments

     2,615        584        5,188              8,387  

Segregated funds net liabilities

            176,139        149,812        (1,644     324,307  

Shareholders’ equity

     41,013        14,990        54,801        (69,791     41,013  

Participating policyholders’ equity

                   221              221  

Non-controlling interests

                   929              929  

Total liabilities and equity

   $   48,709      $   359,397      $   440,228      $   (118,801   $   729,533  

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

 

 

As at December 31, 2016    MFC
(Guarantor)
     JHUSA
(Issuer)
     Other
subsidiaries
     Consolidation
adjustments
    Consolidated
MFC
 

Assets

             

Invested assets

   $ 161      $ 109,063      $ 213,043      $ (398   $ 321,869  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries

     47,758        6,457        17,504        (71,719      

Reinsurance assets

            51,537        10,069        (26,654     34,952  

Other assets

     315        28,718        43,931        (24,281     48,683  

Segregated funds net assets

            174,917        142,400        (2,140     315,177  

Total assets

   $   48,234      $   370,692      $   426,947      $   (125,192   $   720,681  

Liabilities and equity

             

Insurance contract liabilities

   $      $ 147,504      $ 177,524      $ (27,523   $ 297,505  

Investment contract liabilities

            1,251        2,027        (3     3,275  

Other liabilities

     252        28,892        43,994        (24,113     49,025  

Long-term debt

     5,689               7              5,696  

Capital instruments

     461        627        6,092              7,180  

Segregated funds net liabilities

            174,917        142,400        (2,140     315,177  

Shareholders’ equity

     41,832        17,501        53,912        (71,413     41,832  

Participating policyholders’ equity

                   248              248  

Non-controlling interests

                   743              743  

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 48,234      $ 370,692      $ 426,947      $ (125,192   $ 720,681  

 

178        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017    MFC
(Guarantor)
     JHUSA
(Issuer)
     Other
subsidiaries
     Consolidation
adjustments
     Consolidated
MFC
 

Revenue

              

Net premium income

            11,084        17,130        (4      28,210  

Net investment income (loss)

     178        7,986        11,947        (744      19,367  

Net other revenue

     4        2,874        10,912        (3,044      10,746  

Total revenue

     182        21,944        39,989        (3,792      58,323  

Contract benefits and expenses

              

Net benefits and claims

            20,803        19,179        (681      39,301  

Commissions, investment and general expenses

     11        3,208        13,900        (2,097      15,022  

Other expenses

     404        194        1,915        (1,014      1,499  

Total contract benefits and expenses

     415          24,205          34,994        (3,792      55,822  

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (233      (2,261      4,995               2,501  

Income tax (expense) recovery

     62        1,134        (1,435             (239

Income (loss) after income taxes

     (171      (1,127      3,560                 2,262  

Equity in net income (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries

     2,275        628        (486      (2,417       

Net income (loss)

   $   2,104      $ (499    $ 3,074      $   (2,417    $ 2,262  

Net income (loss) attributed to:

              

Non-controlling interests

   $      $      $ 194      $      $ 194  

Participating policyholders

            (10      (36      10        (36

Shareholders

     2,104        (489      2,916        (2,427      2,104  
     $ 2,104      $ (499    $ 3,074      $ (2,417    $   2,262  

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income

 

For the year ended December 31, 2016    MFC
(Guarantor)
     JHUSA
(Issuer)
     Other
subsidiaries
     Consolidation
adjustments
     Consolidated
MFC
 

Revenue

              

Net premium income

            5,021        22,611               27,632  

Net investment income (loss)

     475        6,191        9,092        (1,234      14,524  

Net other revenue

     43        2,569        11,108        (2,539      11,181  

Total revenue

     518        13,781        42,811        (3,773      53,337  

Contract benefits and expenses

              

Net benefits and claims

            10,340        24,748        (954      34,134  

Commissions, investment and general expenses

     11        3,272        13,016        (1,840      14,459  

Other expenses

     259        59        2,076        (979      1,415  

Total contract benefits and expenses

     270          13,671          39,840          (3,773        50,008  

Income (loss) before income taxes

     248        110        2,971               3,329  

Income tax (expense) recovery

     28        251        (475             (196

Income (loss) after income taxes

     276        361        2,496               3,133  

Equity in net income (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries

     2,653        211        572        (3,436       

Net income (loss)

   $   2,929      $ 572      $ 3,068      $ (3,436    $ 3,133  

Net income (loss) attributed to:

              

Non-controlling interests

   $      $      $ 143      $      $ 143  

Participating policyholders

            (48      61        48        61  

Shareholders

     2,929        620        2,864        (3,484      2,929  
     $ 2,929      $ 572      $ 3,068      $ (3,436    $   3,133  

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        179


Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017  

MFC

(Guarantor)

   

JHUSA

(Issuer)

   

Other

subsidiaries

   

Consolidation

adjustments

   

Consolidated

MFC

 

Operating activities

         

Net income (loss)

  $    2,104     $ (499   $      3,074     $   (2,417   $ 2,262  

Adjustments:

         

Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries

    (2,275     (628     486       2,417        

Increase (decrease) in insurance contract liabilities

          16,877       3,146             20,023  

Increase (decrease) in investment contract liabilities

          55       118             173  

(Increase) decrease in reinsurance assets

            (1,890     4,159             2,269  

Amortization of (premium) discount on invested assets

          24       206             230  

Other amortization

    4       123       433             560  

Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses and impairment on assets

    (7     (2,609     (4,572           (7,188

Deferred income tax expense (recovery)

    (59     (2,239     1,967             (331

Stock option expense

          (4     19             15  

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities before undernoted items

    (233     9,210       9,036             18,013  

Dividends from unconsolidated subsidiary

    2,700       125       1,175       (4,000      

Changes in policy related and operating receivables and payables

    (45     (4,627     4,450             (222

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    2,422       4,708       14,661       (4,000     17,791  

Investing activities

         

Purchases and mortgage advances

          (30,645     (56,579             (87,224

Disposals and repayments

          26,952       43,768             70,720  

Changes in investment broker net receivables and payables

          182       45             227  

Investment in common shares of subsidiaries

    (2,473                 2,473        

Net cash decrease from sale and purchase of subsidiaries and businesses

                (10           (10

Capital contribution to unconsolidated subsidiaries

          (63           63        

Return of capital from unconsolidated subsidiaries

          11             (11      

Notes receivable from affiliates

                201       (201      

Notes receivable from parent

          368       24       (392      

Notes receivable from subsidiaries

    (16     (10           26        

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    (2,489     (3,205     (12,551     1,958       (16,287

Financing activities

         

Increase (decrease) in repurchase agreements and securities sold but not yet purchased

                (29           (29

Redemption of long-term debt

    (600           (7           (607

Issue of capital instruments, net

    2,209                         2,209  

Redemption of capital instruments

                (899           (899

Secured borrowings from securitization transactions

                741             741  

Changes in deposits from Bank clients, net

                261             261  

Shareholders’ dividends paid in cash

    (1,780                       (1,780

Dividends paid to parent

          (1,175     (2,825     4,000        

Contributions from (distributions to) non-controlling interests, net

                (6           (6

Common shares issued, net

    124             2,473       (2,473     124  

Capital contributions by parent

                63       (63      

Return of capital to parent

                (11     11        

Notes payable to affiliates

          (201           201        

Notes payable to parent

                26       (26      

Notes payable to subsidiaries

    (24           (368     392        

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    (71     (1,376     (581     2,042       14  

Cash and short-term securities

         

Increase (decrease) during the year

    (138     127       1,529             1,518  

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and short-term securities

    (2     (276     (380           (658

Balance, beginning of year

    161       3,787       10,290             14,238  

Balance, end of year

    21       3,638       11,439             15,098  

Cash and short-term securities

         

Beginning of year

         

Gross cash and short-term securities

    161       4,317       10,673             15,151  

Net payments in transit, included in other liabilities

          (530     (383           (913

Net cash and short-term securities, beginning of year

    161       3,787       10,290             14,238  

End of year

         

Gross cash and short-term securities

    21       4,133       11,811             15,965  

Net payments in transit, included in other liabilities

          (495     (372           (867

Net cash and short-term securities, end of year

  $ 21     $ 3,638     $ 11,439     $     $ 15,098  

Supplemental disclosures on cash flow information:

         

Interest received

  $ 273     $ 4,391     $ 6,504     $ (572   $ 10,596  

Interest paid

    392       96       1,202       (572     1,118  

Income taxes paid

    99       1,084       177             1,360  

 

180        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 

For the year ended December 31, 2016   

MFC

(Guarantor)

    

JHUSA

(Issuer)

    

Other

subsidiaries

    

Consolidation

adjustments

    

Consolidated

MFC

 

Operating activities

              

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,929      $ 572      $ 3,068      $ (3,436    $ 3,133  

Adjustments:

              

Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries

     (2,653      (211      (572      3,436         

Increase (decrease) in insurance contract liabilities

            5,225        12,789               18,014  

Increase (decrease) in investment contract liabilities

            58        (58              

(Increase) decrease in reinsurance assets

            (1,444      602               (842

Amortization of (premium) discount on invested assets

            (5      83               78  

Other amortization

     2        284        407               693  

Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses and impairment on assets

     (9      (917      (1,878             (2,804

Deferred income tax expense (recovery)

     3        391        (629             (235

Stock option expense

            (1      20               19  

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities before undernoted items

     272        3,952        13,832               18,056  

Dividends from unconsolidated subsidiary

     1,950        111               (2,061       

Changes in policy related and operating receivables and payables

     171        (1,291      81               (1,039

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     2,393        2,772        13,913        (2,061      17,017  

Investing activities

              

Purchases and mortgage advances

     (32      (34,656      (69,371             (104,059

Disposals and repayments

            32,343        49,658               82,001  

Changes in investment broker net receivables and payables

            (35      (151             (186

Investment in common shares of subsidiaries

     (5,706                    5,706         

Net cash decrease from sale and purchase of subsidiaries and businesses

                   (495             (495

Capital contribution to unconsolidated subsidiaries

            (350             350         

Return of capital from unconsolidated subsidiaries

            1               (1       

Notes receivable from affiliates

                   544        (544       

Notes receivable from parent

                   344        (344       

Notes receivable from subsidiaries

     (6      (40             46         

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     (5,744      (2,737      (19,471      5,213        (22,739

Financing activities

              

(Decrease) increase in repurchase agreements and securities sold but not yet purchased

                   (23             (23

Issue of long-term debt, net

     3,899                             3,899  

Redemption of long-term debt

                   (158             (158

Issue of capital instruments, net

     479                             479  

Redemption of capital instruments

                   (949             (949

Secured borrowings from securitization transactions

                   847               847  

Changes in deposits from Bank clients, net

                   (157             (157

Shareholders’ dividends paid in cash

     (1,593                           (1,593

Contributions from (distributions to) non-controlling interests, net

                   10               10  

Common shares issued, net

     66               5,706        (5,706      66  

Preferred shares issued, net

     884                             884  

Dividends paid to parent

                   (2,061          2,061         

Capital contributions by parent

                   350        (350       

Return of capital to parent

                   (1      1         

Notes payable to affiliates

            (544             544         

Notes payable to parent

                   46        (46       

Notes payable to subsidiaries

     (344                    344         

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

       3,391        (544      3,610        (3,152      3,305  

Cash and short-term securities

              

Increase (decrease) during the year

     40        (509      (1,948             (2,417

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and short-term securities

     (1      (149      (197             (347

Balance, beginning of year

     122        4,445        12,435               17,002  

Balance, end of year

     161          3,787          10,290                  14,238  

Cash and short-term securities

              

Beginning of year

              

Gross cash and short-term securities

     122        4,938        12,825               17,885  

Net payments in transit, included in other liabilities

            (493      (390             (883

Net cash and short-term securities, beginning of year

     122        4,445        12,435               17,002  

End of year

              

Gross cash and short-term securities

     161        4,317        10,673               15,151  

Net payments in transit, included in other liabilities

            (530      (383             (913

Net cash and short-term securities, end of year

   $ 161      $ 3,787      $ 10,290      $      $ 14,238  

Supplemental disclosures on cash flow information:

              

Interest received

   $      $ 4,523      $ 6,795      $ (768    $ 10,550  

Interest paid

     210        144        1,397        (768      983  

Income taxes paid

     35        68        738               841  

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   |  Manulife Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual  Report        181


Note 24    Comparatives

Certain comparative amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

 

182        Manulife  Financial Corporation  |  2017 Annual Report  |  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements