Effective May 1, 1999, Manulife Financial will be turning to the strong brand names of some of the largest fund families to bolster its Pinnacle 401(k) product. It plans to add five new asset managers--AIM Capital Management, Inc.; Capital Guardian Trust Company; Franklin Templeton Group; PIMCO; and State Street Global Advisors (SSgA).

The firm will also be expanding its relationships with the Fidelity Management Trust Company and Wellington Management Company. The former will manage an overseas portfolio. The latter, which already administers two portfolios for Manulife, will be given a third assignment.

The roles of the new partners are as follows:

• AIM will manage the Mid Cap Growth portfolio in a style similar to the AIM Constellation Fund (CSTGX), and the Aggressive Growth portfolio in a style similar to the AIM Aggressive Growth Fund (AAGFX);
  
  
• Capital Guardian will manage the Diversified Bond portfolio, the Income & Value portfolio, and two new portfolios;
  
  
• Franklin Advisers, Inc. will manage the Emerging Small Company portfolio in a style similar to the Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (FRSGX), and Templeton Investment Counsel, Inc. will manage one of the five new portfolios;
  
  
• PIMCO will manage the Global Bond portfolio in a style similar to the PIMCO Global Bond Fund (PIGLX) and a new portfolio as well;
  
  
• SSgA will manage the Growth portfolio.

"Clients with a variety of needs are drawn to the well-known brand names and choices in our lineup. At the same time, financial advisors are able to rely on a single, powerful investment story to successfully penetrate today's fastest growing markets: retirement and business and estate planning," stated John D. DesPrez III, executive vice president of U.S. Operations. 

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