Manulife, China Bank unit launches new fund

Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corp. (MCBL), the bancassurance venture between Manulife and China Bank, has rolled out a new variable life insurance fund that allows investors to participate in a diversified portfolio of equities primarily in Asia and in other allowable investments.

The US dollar Asia First Fund is a variable life insurance fund. It is variable because investment returns depend on the market performance of the fund where the premium is invested.

“This fund is designed for clients who are looking for a US dollar-denominated fund offering long-term outperformance potential. Customers will have access to offshore investments and take advantage of opportunities in Asia. At the same time, they are fully protected with life insurance coverage,” MCBL president Jude Gomes said in a press statement.

“Long term performance is made possible by investing in companies with varying business models to better capture future opportunities,” he added.

The new fund is available through single pay and five-pay packages.

For single pay options, the minimum investment is $12,500 for the “Platinum Invest” package or those for elite investors and $2,500 for the regular “Enrich Max” package.

For five-pay options, minimum investment is $1,000.
The fund invests in what was described as a portfolio of “best-in-class” companies from Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Each company in this focused portfolio has been carefully selected based on the growth, cash flow, management, and valuation framework.