Manulife Investments Announces Quarterly Distribution For:

    --  Oil Sands Sector Fund
    --  Copernican International Financial Split Corp.
    --  Copernican World Banks Split Inc.
    --  Copernican World Financial Infrastructure Trust

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC 
SEHK:945 

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2012 /CNW/ -

Oil Sands Sector Fund (TSX: OSF.UN): A quarterly cash distribution in the 
amount of $0.125 per unit of the Fund will be paid on January 15, 2013 to 
unitholders of record as of December 31, 2012. A unitholder who has 
continually held units since inception will have received a total of $3.375 
per unit as of the payment date.

Copernican International Financial Split Corp. (TSX:  CIR/CIR.PR.A): A 
quarterly cash distribution in the amount of $0.125 per Preferred Share of the 
Corporation will be paid on January 11, 2013 to Preferred shareholders of 
record as of December 31, 2012. A shareholder who has continually held shares 
since inception will have received a total of $0.63124 per Class A Share and 
$2.89167 per Preferred Share respectively as of the payment date.

Copernican World Banks Split Inc. (TSX:  CBW/CBW.PR.A): A quarterly cash 
distribution in the amount of $0.13125 per Preferred Share of the Corporation 
will be paid on January 11, 2013 to Preferred shareholders of record as of 
December 31, 2012. A shareholder who has continually held shares since 
inception will have received a total of $0.67014 per Class A Share and 
$3.19603 per Preferred Share respectively as of the payment date.

Copernican World Financial Infrastructure Trust (TSX: CIW.UN): A quarterly 
cash distribution in the amount of $0.05 per unit of the Fund will be paid on 
January 15, 2013 to unitholders of record as of December 31, 2012. A 
unitholder who has continually held units since inception will have received a 
total of $1.61 per unit as of the payment date.

About Manulife Investments 
Manulife Investments is the brand name describing certain Canadian 
subsidiaries and operating divisions of Manulife Financial Corporation that 
offer personal wealth management products and services in Canada. As one of 
Canada's leading integrated financial services providers, Manulife Investments 
offers a variety of products and services including segregated fund contracts, 
mutual funds, annuities, guaranteed interest contracts and structured 
products. Manulife Structured Products are managed by Manulife Asset 
Management Limited.

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with 
principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. In 2012, we 
celebrate 125 years of providing clients strong, reliable, trustworthy and 
forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our 
international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers 
financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions 
of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional 
customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries 
were C$515 billion (US$523 billion) as at September 30, 2012. The Company 
operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John 
Hancock in the United States.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and 
under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at 
manulife.com.

Media contact:

Tracy Van Kalsbeek Public Relations Consultant Manulife Financial Canadian 
Division 519-594-4697 tracy_vankalsbeek@manulife.com

SOURCE: Manulife Financial Corporation

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CO: Manulife Financial Corporation
ST: Ontario
NI: INS DIV 

-0- Dec/17/2012 20:12 GMT