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Private markets

Our clients rely on our long-standing private markets expertise to capitalize on inefficient markets, add diversification potential, and seek attractive risk-adjusted returns across a range of strategies.

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Leading capabilities

For decades, we've employed private markets strategies to enhance portfolio diversification and pursue attractive risk-adjusted returns. Today, we offer our institutional and high-net-worth clients access to leading capabilities across a range of private asset classes. At the same time, our size and position in the marketplace afford access to a broad investment platform and market insight that are essential for success.

 

Private equity and credit

Senior and junior private credit, fund investing, and equity co-investments focused on the North America and Asia middle markets

 

$25.8B in AUM1
20+ years of experience

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Real estate

Investment solutions across core, core-plus, and value-add office, industrial, multifamily, and retail assets in the United States, Canada, and Asia

 

$19.4B in AUM
95+ years of experience

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Timberland

Fully integrated, global, sustainable timber investment solutions across a variety of tree species, age classes, and geographies

 

$11.4B in AUM2
35+ years of experience

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Infrastructure equity

Equity investments in core and core-plus infrastructure assets focusing on the United States, Canada, and Europe

 

$18.7B in AUM3
40+ years of experience4

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Agriculture

Customized, vertically integrated, sustainable agricultural investment solutions across a variety of commodity types and geographies 

 

$4.3B in AUM5
30+ years of experience

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All assets under management (AUM) are calculated on a fair value basis in U.S. dollars (USD); AUM and years of experience are as of June 30, 2024. Data includes assets managed by Manulife Investment Management and its affiliates on behalf of Manulife's Canadian and U.S. general accounts, as well as certain third-party investors. Investment advisory services to third-party investors and certain affiliated investors are offered by Manulife Investment Management Private Markets (US) LLC (Manulife IM PM (US)). Of the AUM figures shown for Manulife IM PM (US) entities, the private equity and credit team manages $5.9 billion in AUM on a discretionary basis, the real estate equity team manages $1.1 billion in AUM on a discretionary basis, the real estate debt team manages $2.6B in AUM on a discretionary basis, and the infrastructure team manages $4.3 billion in AUM on a discretionary basis.

1 Assets Under Management (“AUM”) includes funded capital and $8.3 billion of unfunded commitments. Effective with the quarter-ended March 31, 2024, a calculation error was identified for the total PE&C AUM presented herein. The error was caused by inconsistent booking of unfunded commitments across internal reporting systems and was identified in the AUM data roll forward as of June 30, 2024. This error impacted the AUM presented as of December 31, 2023, which was initially reported as $25.7 billion and should have been reported as $24.6 billion (an overstatement of less than 4.5%), which also contemplates updates in AUM based on updated reporting from underlying managers and other adjustments. The AUM presented above as of March 31, 2024, of $25.3 billion represents an approximately 3% increase quarter over quarter based on the corrected AUM as of December 31, 2023. This correction only impacts the PE&C AUM figures and does not change the strategy level deployment or performance statistics as presented. 2 Represents assets of Manulife Investment Management’s timberland group, managed on a discretionary and nondiscretionary basis for the general account, its affiliates, and third-party clients. 3 Represents assets of Manulife Investment Management’s private equity and credit group. 4 Experience of North American corporate finance. 5 Represents assets of Manulife Investment Management’s agriculture group managed on a discretionary and nondiscretionary basis for the general account, its affiliates, and third-party clients.

Investing in natural capital

As the world’s largest investment manager of natural capital assets,6 we’re uniquely placed to recognize existing opportunities and emerging themes and to provide long-term value for our stakeholders while supporting a positive trajectory for the global economy.

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2023 Private Markets
Annual Investor Conference

This conference provided a unique opportunity to bring all our private markets clients together at our historic Toronto headquarters in one of the world’s most enterprising cities.

Watch the highlights

6 Source: IPE research as of January 29, 2024. Ranking is based on total natural capital AUM, which includes forestry/timberland and agriculture/farmland AUM. Firms were asked to provide AUM and the as of dates vary from December 31 2022, to December 31, 2023.

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A long-term, risk-conscious approach

Across our private markets strategies is a long-term focus, a risk-conscious investment philosophy, in-house sector expertise, and strong internal governance. Our private markets business units are supported by board governance and investment committees with independent legal, compliance, and risk teams that hold deep asset management expertise.

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A commitment to sustainability

Responsible stewardship of our clients' capital is integral to our business and culture, and we seek to be a global leader in creating long-term value for our stakeholders. The incorporation of ESG considerations starts with the integration of ESG factors into our investment analysis and due diligence process. In segments where we own and operate assets, we hold ourselves to a high standard of stewardship and sustainability. We do this to both protect and grow the value of those assets and for the benefit of the communities they touch. Where we don't directly own assets, we're committed to intensive due diligence and engagement with our partners and asset owners.

100% of our managed global forests7 and U.S. farmland8 is certified sustainable

Nearly 2.1 million metric tons of C02 removed annually over the past five years through our managed forests and farms

56 million square feet—90% of our real estate equity portfolio is certified to a green building standard, such as LEED, BREEAM, ENERGY STAR, or BOMA BEST.9

Our infrastructure team has invested approximately $4.0 billion in the renewables space.10

Our human rights due diligence processes, in our investments and operations, are aligned with United Nations Business Principles and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct.¹¹

Important disclosures

Source: Manulife Investment Management. All data is as of December 31, 2022. Please refer to the 2022 real assets sustainable investing reports for details.

7 100% of our forests were certified under either the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and some of our forests in Australia and New Zealand carry dual FSC and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) accreditation. As a condition of certification, forests must have management plans, including consideration of biodiversity. 8 Certification is by Leading Harvest and is based on an annual assessment of the conformation to its Farmland Management Standard. Most current data is shown. 9 Rating is as of December 31, 2023. Based on square footage or building size of the gross floor area (GFA) of properties in the global portfolio. Based on operational assets held in the fund for more than one year. Totals from different certification standards do not sum as properties with multiple certifications are only counted once. Certifications are provided by LEED, ENERGY STAR Certification, BOMA BEST, GBCA Greenstar, BCA Green Mark, NABERS, Casbee, BOMA360, Fitwel, BREEAM. Based on operational assets held in the fund for more than one year. Information on GRESB: https://gresb.com. Information on PRI:  https://www.unpri.org/. Real Estate Sustainability Report can be downloaded here. 10 The infrastructure team manages renewable energy-related private equity investments on behalf of external clients and the insurance business of Manulife. Total includes $1.73 billion of assets managed on behalf of external clients. For reporting, renewable energy in our infrastructure equity assets under management (third-party and general account) include investments in solar power December 31, 2023. 11 We have conducted human rights risk and impact assessments for our private markets asset classes. These assessments provide insight into salient human rights matters for our investments as monitoring emerging human rights risks and the effectiveness of our controls is an integral part of our strategy.

Related resources

Timber and agriculture sustainability reports

As a steward of agricultural and forest holdings, we're committed to conducting all of our business activities in a manner that recognizes the need to preserve and enhance the quality of our environment and local communities, empower our people, and provide market rate returns for our clients. Simply put, adopting sustainable and responsible investing practices is who we are and how we do business.

Read our sustainability reports for timber and agriculture

Timber and agriculture climate disclosure

We take climate change seriously. We have a moral responsibility to mitigate it, a business imperative to adapt to it, and a unique opportunity to address it. In this document, we consider what climate change means, as well as our role in assessing and managing climate-related impacts, risks, and opportunities.

Read our 2020 timber and agriculture climate report

Real estate sustainability report

Our approach to sustainability in real estate is based on responsible property investment that aligns with global standards. This means we incorporate ESG considerations into all our investment management and operational practices across the real estate value chain.

Read our real estate sustainability report

Infrastructure sustainable investing framework

Download

Private equity and credit sustainable investing framework

Download

Timberland and agriculture sustainable investing framework

 

Download

Real estate climate disclosure (TCFD)

Download

Real estate sustainability framework

Download

Explore the strategies

Timberland

Agriculture

Private equity and credit

Real estate

Infrastructure

Real assets

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