Maritime Life makes ROB Magazine’s Top 50, four years running

HALIFAX, Jan. 2, 2002 – One of three for four, Maritime Life Assurance Company placed 19th in the Globe and Mail’s ROB Magazine ranking of the Top 50 companies to work for in Canada. Other companies who share our achievement of being consecutively ranked include Eli Lilly and The Cumis Group. Together, we were among 128 finalists, compared to 161 in 2002, 86 in 2001 and 62 in 2000.

“We are absolutely elated,” says Maritime Life President and CEO Bill Black. “Being one of only three companies to be included in this prestigious list for four years running, is a significant achievement.”

Mr. Black also adds that key to the company’s success is its philosophy that satisfied employees lead to satisfied customers. “We strive to be an excellent employer and this achievement – along with high satisfaction results on our recent employee survey – confirms that our company is an attractive workplace where talented people want to work,” explains Mr. Black.

As well as being one of only three companies to consecutively make the list, Maritime Life is the only company ranked that is headquartered in Halifax, and the only national insurance company operating in its target market (life, group, investments) to ever make the list. Note: Maritime Life ranked 11th in the 2002 list, and held 5th and 9th places among the top 35 companies to work for in 2000 and 2001.

Conducted by Hewitt Associates, the survey of Top 50 companies sponsored by the ROB Magazine, continues to include quite a diverse group. The top 10 included companies such as BC Biomedical, Rothmans Benson and Hedges, and Mercedes-Benz Canada Ltd. They employ anywhere from 300 to 70,000 people and have head offices spread throughout the country. And, although the Top 50 prove to provide higher pay and other impressive benefits, overall employee morale continues to be the number one factor that makes these companies truly exceptional among their competitors and peers.

“Being named one of the Top 50 companies is a great advantage, because it allows us the opportunity to benchmark against the best, as all the companies profiled are leading employers from whom we can learn in pursuing our own employee satisfaction goal,” comments Mr. Black.

He also adds that this year’s achievement of being one of only three companies to consecutively make the list is particularly satisfying, considering the company has been through two acquisitions, has more than doubled its number of employees, and significantly changed its working conditions.

“We owe a lot of gratitude to our employees,” says Mr. Black. “Their continued interest and commitment to our vision and values greatly contributes to our success.”

Founded in 1922, Maritime Life is one of Canada’s fastest growing financial services companies, offering financial security through a selection of personal insurance, disability and critical illness insurance, investment products, pensions, and group life and health products and services. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with over 2,000 employees, Maritime Life provides benefits to over two million Canadian families through offices in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Kitchener, Oakville, Calgary and Vancouver.

As a subsidiary of Boston-based John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., Maritime Life comes from a tradition of strength and stability. John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: JHF) and its affiliated companies, including John Hancock Life Insurance Company, provide a broad array of insurance and investment products and services to retail and institutional customers. As of September 30, 2002, John Hancock and its subsidiaries had total assets under management of $121.2 billion US.