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DISCOVERY AND JOHN HANCOCK ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

DISCOVERY AND JOHN HANCOCK ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

A new approach to Life Insurance in the U.S. that rewards healthy living

Discovery Limited (“Discovery”) and John Hancock Insurance (“John Hancock”) have entered into a strategic partnership which will see the introduction of a comprehensive healthy living program for U.S. consumers. John Hancock, a division of the global financial services group Manulife, is one of the largest life insurers in the United States.

Adrian Gore, Chief Executive of Discovery says, “Discovery and John Hancock share a commitment to improving the lives of our customers, and with more than 150 years of experience and a history of innovation, John Hancock is the perfect partner to help expand the solution that’s at the centre of Discovery’s shared-value insurance model in the US.”

Craig Bromley, President of John Hancock Financial Services comments: “We are reinventing the consumer life insurance experience and changing the way people think about this critical component of their overall financial health. We believe this offering will make life insurance relevant for new generations of consumers and reinvigorate the entire category.”

Discovery’s shared-value insurance model is based on the combination of engaging policyholders and incentivising them to manage their health, and dynamically pricing their behaviour into the cost of insurance. The model leverages insights from behavioural economics in an immediate rewards system that drives positive behaviour change over the long term. The change in behaviour results in lower insurance costs and savings that are then used to fund incentives. Customers benefit from the shared-value model through better health and financial rewards.

Recent research conducted in South Africa showed that Vitality incentives have a positive and measurable impact towards improving healthy lifestyle choices. The research also revealed that membership of the Vitality wellness programme is closely linked to the tendency to undertake a health screening, and as a result to also take preventive measures against potentially life threating non-communicable diseases.

The partnership with John Hancock strengthens Discovery’s position as the global leader in the field of incentivised wellness. Discovery has a global presence through partnerships with Ping An in China, AIA in Asia and Australia, and The Generali Group in Europe. Discovery also wholly owns VitalityLife and VitalityHealth in the UK (previously PruProtect and PruHealth respectively).

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Vitality programme, operated by The Vitality Group, has an existing presence in the U.S. with over 700 000 members across 50 states who participate on a standalone basis through large corporates.

The partnership will enable new John Hancock policyholders to participate in the Vitality programme and determine their Vitality Age. This is an innovative and informative indicator of overall health that may be higher or lower than a policyholder’s actual age based on health risk. From their Vitality Age, policyholders get personalised health goals and through participation in the Vitality programme, they are encouraged and incentivised to take steps towards healthier living.

About Discovery

Discovery Limited is a South African-founded financial services organisation.

Discovery Limited operates in the healthcare, life assurance, short-term insurance, savings credit and investment products, as well as credit and wellness markets. Founded in 1992 by the current Group Chief Executive Adrian Gore and Group Executive Director, Barry Swartzberg, Discovery set a clear core purpose – to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. Underpinning this core purpose is the belief that through innovation Discovery can be a powerful market disruptor and a force for social good.

The company has expanded its operations globally and currently serves over 4.5 million clients across South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Singapore, and Australia. Vitality, Discovery's wellness programme, is the world's largest scientific, incentive-based wellness solution for individuals and corporates. The global Vitality membership base now approaches three million lives in six markets.

The company is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, and trades on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange under the code "DSY".

About John Hancock

John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group. The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information on John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSA, and under ‘945’ on the SEHK. Additional information on Manulife can be found at Manulife.com. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at Johnhancock.com.

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About Discovery Limited

Discovery Limited is a South African-founded financial services organisation that operates in the healthcare, life assurance, short-term insurance, savings and investment products and wellness markets. Founded in 1992 by the current Group Chief Executive Officer Adrian Gore, Discovery was guided by a clear core purpose – to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. Underpinning this core purpose is the belief that through innovation Discovery can be a powerful market disruptor.

The company, with headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, has expanded its operations globally and currently serves over seven million clients across South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, China and Singapore. Vitality, Discovery’s wellness programme, is the world’s largest scientific, incentive-based wellness solution for individuals and corporates. The global Vitality membership base now exceeds 5.5 million lives in five markets.

Discovery is an authorised financial services provider. It trades on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange under the code “DSY”. 

Follow us on Twitter @Discovery_SA

Contacts

Felicity Hudson

Felicity Hudson

Press contact Head of Reputation Management Discovery Group 0115294514
Nthabiseng Chapeshamano

Nthabiseng Chapeshamano

Press contact Senior Reputation Manager Invest, Cogence, Long & Short Term Insurance, and Sustainability
Zeenat Moorad

Zeenat Moorad

Press contact Senior Reputation Manager Banking | Vitality | Sponsorships
Karishma Jivan

Karishma Jivan

Press contact Senior Reputation Management Consultant Healthcare & Sustainability
Sesona Ngqakamba

Sesona Ngqakamba

Press contact Reputation Management Consultant Banking | Vitality | Sponsorships
Lianne Osterberger

Lianne Osterberger

Press contact Senior Manager: Media Relations and Reputation Management 083 27 27 313
Hannah Newbold

Hannah Newbold

Press contact Reputation Management Consultant Insure & Invest