Sun Life Financial

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This article is about the Canadian financial and insurance company. For the UK insurance company, see SunLife.
Sun Life
Number of employees
50,000 (2021)[3]
Subsidiaries
Websitesunlife.com

Sun Life Financial Inc. is a

Canadian financial services company. It is primarily known as a life insurance
company.

Sun Life has a presence in investment management with over CAD$1.3[4] trillion in assets under management operating in a number of countries.[5] Sun Life ranks number 235 on the Forbes Global 2000 list for 2022.

History

Pre-World War II

Founded in

Great Flu Epidemic
of 1918.

The company's original

head office of the Royal Bank of Canada on St. James Street was taller by several floors, the Sun Life Building was at the time the largest building in terms of square footage anywhere in the British Empire
.

Chartered in 1865, its traditional base business worldwide remains life insurance. However, it now also has significant asset management operations. In 1919, it was the first Canadian company to offer group life insurance. Having begun its first US operations in 1895, the company sold its first group life plan in the U.S. in 1924.[citation needed]

World War II

In World War II, as part of Operation Fish, securities from the United Kingdom were secretly moved to the Sun Life Building for safekeeping. A persistent, but incorrect, rumour is that the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom had been illegally shipped out of the United Kingdom during WWII and stored there was deliberately spread in Montreal to account for increased activity at the building.[6]

1977–1980

In 1977, the newly-elected sovereigntist Quebec government passed the Charter of the French Language (known as Bill 101), making the use of French language mandatory for medium- and large-scale companies when communicating with French-speaking staff. The law was received negatively by the English-speaking business community, many of whom perceived that the historical rights of the English-speaking minority should be respected. The new government also promised a referendum on Quebec sovereignty, injecting instability into the Montreal business community.[7] On January 6, 1978, Sun Life became the first large company to leave Quebec post-election, announcing that it would move its head office to rented space in Toronto, Ontario.[7][8][9] Officially, Sun Life said it was motivated by the political instability and economic uncertainty of Quebec's future, but skeptics said it was the company's unwillingness to comply with the requirements of Bill 101.[9] In a reaction the next day, the province's finance minister Jacques Parizeau called Sun Life "one of the worst exporters of Quebec capital",[10] and threatened to freeze some $400 million CAD in assets.[10][11]

In 1979, the company acquired a property at University Avenue and King Street in downtown Toronto and constructed a new office complex, the Sun Life Centre, which was completed in 1984.[12]

Dean A. Connor, the former President and CEO of Sun Life

For the largest employer of English-speaking people in Montreal, this would make things very difficult. Many, if not most, of Sun Life's Head Office employees in 1979 were not fluent in French. Sun Life was quite clear that this was the reason for its move when it made the announcement. The PQ government was quick to label Sun Life "bad corporate citizens" and claimed that if "they had only warned us, we could have worked something out."[13]

The downsizing of Sun Life's Montreal office did not take place overnight. Transfers and moves occurred on a departmental basis and did not commence until several months after the announcement. By 1980, 300 head office employees were located in Toronto.[14]

The Sun Life building in Montreal, Quebec

2000s

In 2008, Sun Life sold its 37% interest in CI Financial Income Fund to

ownership interest in the firm by selling its Canadian mutual fund subsidiaries to CI Financial in 2002.[15]

2010s

In addition, in July 2019, SLC's real estate division was merged under the name BentallGreenOak Real Estate.[16]

In December 2020, Dean Connor announced his intent to retire as President and CEO in August 2021. He was then replaced by Kevin Strain, who was the former Chief Financial Officer at Sun Life.[17]

Sun Life in North America

Canada

Sun Life contributes to the local economy as one of the top 5 major employers in the region, with approximately 3,500 employees – more than 40% of Sun Life's employee base in Canada.[18]

In 2012, Sun Life celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Canadian head office building, located on King Street, right on the border of the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo.[19]

United States

Sun Life U.S. has the sixth-largest group benefits business in the United States and serves more than 60,000 employers in small, medium and large workplaces.[20]

In 2018, Sun Life U.S. was named one of the Top Places to Work in Massachusetts for 2018 by The Boston Globe.[21]

Sun Life Asset Management

Sun Life's asset management operation includes subsidiaries:

  • MFS Investment Management, which serves individual and institutional investors around the world;
  • SLC Management, which provides investment solutions[buzzword] for defined benefit pension plans, insurance companies and other institutional investors globally. SLC Management has two distinct units: a fixed-income pillar operating under the SLC Management banner (including Sun Life affiliates Prime Advisors, Ryan Labs Asset Management and Sun Life Institutional Investments); and a real estate division named Bentall GreenOak.[22]
  • In December 2019, Sun Life announced an intention to acquire a majority stake in InfraRed Capital Partners, which will see InfraRed form part of SLC Management[23]
  • In October 2020, Sun Life announced an intent to acquire a 51% stake in alternative credit investment manager Crescent Capital LP. Crescent will be part of SLC Management.[24]

As of March 31, 2019, SLC Management's collective operations have assets under management of C$212 billion (US$159 billion).[25]

SLC Management

SLC Management, formerly Sun Life Investment Management (SLIM), began in 2014 when Sun Life created Sun Life Institutional Investments (Canada) Inc., to offer a range of institutional alternative asset class funds to investors in Canada.

In June 2019, Sun Life re-branded SLIM to SLC Management and fully merged its fixed income businesses, Ryan Labs Asset Management Inc. and Prime Advisors, Inc. with Sun Life Capital Management (U.S.) In addition, in July 2019, SLC's real estate division was merged under the name BentallGreenOak Real Estate.[16]

Sun Life in Asia

Sun Life operates in eight Asian markets - Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines and Malaysia.[26][27]

In 1891, the company persuaded businessman Ira Thayer to go to Asia to start an insurance business. Thayer set up a business in China in 1892 that went on to prosper for the next 54 years.

Sun Life grew to become the biggest foreign insurer in China until the Second World War when it shut down operations. The company returned to China in 1995 via a joint venture.[28]

China

In 1995, Sun Life joined with the China Everbright Group to form Sun Life Everbright.

In 2002, Sun Life Everbright was granted approval to sell life insurance in Tianjin, China, becoming the first foreign life insurance joint venture to operate in that city and its neighbouring counties.[29]

In 2011, Sun Life Everbright received regulatory approval in China to establish Sun Life Everbright Insurance Asset Management Company, only the 12th such license issued in China.[29]

Hong Kong

Sun Life started operating in Hong Kong since February 22, 1892.[30]

There was a name change from SunLife Financial (HK) Ltd to Sun Life Hong Kong Ltd.

Sun Life acquired CMG Asia ComServe Financial from Commonwealth Bank of Australia in 2005.[31]

For some years, it had taken over the MPF schemes from a number of other competitors in 2010s due to its strong performance of the Hong Kong equity fund. For example, in 2016, Schroder Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited transferred its MPF scheme to Sun Life Hong Kong.[32]

India

Birla Sun Life Asset Management, now known as the Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund (ABSLAMC), is an investment managing company registered under the Securities and Exchange Board of India. It is a joint venture between Sun Life and the Aditya Birla Group of India
.

Established in 1994, BSLAMC has been a joint venture between the Aditya Birla Group and Sun Life since 1999.

With more than $34 billion U.S. in assets under management as of 2017, Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company is one of the largest asset managers in India.[33]

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance was established on August 4, 2000, and began operations in 2001 with three insuarance plans.[34] The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) granted registration in principle to Birla Sun Life.[35] Initially, Sun Life Financial held a 26% stake in this joint venture,[36] and later increased its stake to 49%.[37][38]

The company received awards such as the Bhartiya Shiromani Puraskar in 2006 and the Silver award in the Insurance category at the ICAI Awards for Excellence in Financial Reporting in 2009. In 2011, ABSLI introduced the BSLI Foresight Plan, followed by the BSLI Wealth Secure Life Plan in 2012. In June 2023, ABSLI launched the Nishchit Pension Plan, aimed at assisting individuals in retirement planning. .[39][40] In August 2023, ABSLI announced the ABSLI Nishchit Laabh Plan, a non-linked, non-participating individual life insurance savings plan.[41]

Philippines

Sun Life entered the Philippines in 1895, and established its Cebu operations in the 1960s. As of 2019, Sun Life is the number one provider of insurance products to Filipinos. Sun Life has been in Asia since the early 1890s.

In 1895, Sun Life began its operations in the Philippines through the representation of the H.J. Andrews and Co., a British trading firm. Throughout the Philippine Revolution, Sun Life Philippines experienced continuous growth.

Sun Life had underground operations during the Japanese Occupation which occurred between 1942 and 1945. Sun Life was the only life insurance company who paid post-war death claims amounting to USD 1.3 million even without documents attesting to the validity of the claims. In the end, all claims were found to be legitimate.

Through the years, Sun Life flourished even as the country faced economic crises and Martial Law (1972-1981).

In 2011, Sun Life signed a joint venture agreement with the Yuchengco Group of companies for the creation of Sun Life Grepa Financial Inc. marking Sun Life's entry into the bancassurance business.

better source needed
]

Sustainability

In March 2021, Sun Life announced new sustainable investing commitments, including an additional C$20 billion in sustainable investments over the next five years across its General Account and third party investments.[42] The company is also pushing to scale back its GHG emissions intensity by 30% by 2030.[43]

DEI efforts

Sun Life committed to having 25% of under-represented minorities and gender parity at senior leader level by 2025.[44]

New Global Headquarters - One York

See also: Sun Life Centre

Sun Life Global Headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, is located at One York Street in Toronto's South Core.

The building was developed by Menkes Developments Ltd, and Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), which is also a tenant of the building.

The 800,000 square-foot office tower is

LEED Platinum certified under the Canada Green Building Council
.

This location along the Gardiner Expressway is a prominent position on the Toronto skyline,

Before the Corporate Office moved to its new Global HQ at One York Street, the Sun Life Centre on King Street served as its headquarters. Previously, Sun Life Building in Montreal was the head office. The Sun Life Building in Montreal is a historic 122 m (400 ft), 24-storey office building at 1155 Metcalfe Street on Dorchester Square in downtown Montreal.

Sports Marketing

Former Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard wearing the Sun Life patch on his jersey

Miami Dolphins NFL Stadium Sponsorship (2010–2016)

In 2010, Sun Life purchased the naming rights for the home field of the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Florida, for a reported US$7.5 million per year.[45]

Corporate governance

Presidents of the company have been:

  • Thomas Workman, 1871–1889
  • Robertson Macaulay, 1889–1915
  • Thomas Bassett Macaulay, 1915–1934
  • Arthur Barton Wood, 1934–1950
  • George Wesley Bourke, 1950–1962
  • Alistair Matheson Campbell, 1962–1970
  • Anthony Rivers Hicks, 1970–1971
  • Thomas Maunsell Galt, 1972–1978
  • George F. S. Clarke, 1978–1983
  • John A. Brindle, 1984–1986
  • John R. Gardner, 1987–1996
  • Donald A. Stewart, 1996–1999
  • C. James Prieur, 1999–2006
  • Jon A. Boscia, 2008–2011
  • Dean A. Connor, 2011–2021
  • Kevin D. Strain, 2021–

Current members of the board of directors of Sun Life are:[46]

  • Scott F. Powers (Chair of the Board)
  • Deepak Chopra (Corporate Director)
  • Stephanie L. Coyles (Corporate Director)
  • Ashok K. Gupta (Corporate Director)
  • M. Marianne Harris (Corporate Director)
  • David H.Y. Ho (Corporate Director)
  • Helen M. Mallovy Hicks (Corporate Director)
  • Marie-Lucie Morin (Corporate Director)
  • Kevin D. Strain (President & CEO)
  • Barbara G. Stymiest (Corporate Director)

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e "Anual Report 2021" (PDF). Sun Life.
  2. ^ "News releases".
  3. ^ "2019 4Q Results Fact Sheet" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Sun Life Reports First Quarter 2021 Results". ca.finance.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Sun Life reaches Q1'19 milestone of $1 trillion Assets Under Management. Sun Life. pp. https://www.sunlife.com/en/investors/financial-news/announcement/sun-life-reaches-q119-milestone-of-1-trillion-assets-under-management/123259/.
  6. ISBN 978-0-304-30068-6
    .
  7. ^
    TheGuardian.com
    . July 6, 2016.
  8. ^ "La Financière Sun Life veut repartir à zéro avec le Québec". March 21, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Sun Life Financial now remembers: Yes, we left Quebec in 1978 | Montreal Gazette". February 9, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "BAnQ numérique".
  11. ^ Rowland Mans (1978). Canada's Constitutional Crisis: Separatism and Subversion. Institute for the Study of Conflict.
  12. ISBN 978-1-4597-1330-7
    .
  13. ^ Reporters: Karen Birchard, Richard Inwood (January 6, 1978). "CBC reports on Sun Life leaving Montreal in 1978". The World at Six. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  14. ^ "Il y a 40 ans : Le déménagement surprise de la Sun Life".
  15. ^ "CBC News – CI Funds to acquire mutual fund businesses of Spectrum, Clarica". May 22, 2002. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Sun Life completes BentallGreenOaks acquisition".
  17. ^ "Sun Life CEO Dean Connor to retire next year". financialpost. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  18. ^ "Waterloo Top".
  19. ^ "Canadian head office".
  20. ^ "Sun Life Financial U.S. – Group Benefits key facts and figures" (PDF).
  21. ^ "Greater Boston Top Employers". The Boston Globe.
  22. ^ "Sun Life combines asset management businesses under SLC Management". June 18, 2019.
  23. ^ "Sun Life completes acquisition of InfraRed Capital Partners". Insurance Portal (in French). Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  24. ^ News, Bloomberg (October 22, 2020). "Sun Life buys majority stake in Attanasio's Crescent Capital - BNN Bloomberg". BNN. Retrieved December 4, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  25. ^ "Sun Life Announces Establishment of SLC Management".
  26. ^ "Sun Life sees Asia profit doubling to almost $1 billion, eyes bigger stake in China venture". Financial Post. June 27, 2018.
  27. ^ Libatique, Roxanne. "Sun Life expands presence in Asia with Singapore branch". www.insurancebusinessmag.com. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  28. ^ "Sun Life: 150 years of making life brighter". April 2, 2015.
  29. ^ a b c "Our History".
  30. ^ "About us".
  31. ^ "Sun Life completes deal for CMG Asia, CommServe Financial". October 18, 2005.
  32. ^ "Schroders and Sun Life form MPF strategic relationship in Hong Kong".
  33. ^ "Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Management".
  34. ^ "rediff.com: Birla Sun Life to sell insurance via DHFL: Reuters". m.rediff.com. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  35. ^ Datta, Kausik. "Kumar Mangalam: The biggest Birla". www.rediff.com. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  36. ^ "Some of The Major Deals in The Indian Insurance Sector". News18. January 17, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  37. ^ Mallick, Jayanta (July 1, 2013). "Birla Sun Life hikes stake in ICRA". BusinessLine. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  38. ^ "Sun Life Financial hikes stake to 49% in Birla Sun Life Insurance". Business-standard.
  39. ^ Dhawan, Sunil (October 22, 2008). Freedom 58. Outlook Money.
  40. ^ Bhosale, Kaustubh (June 25, 2023). "Aditya Birla Launches New Guaranteed Pension Plan - ABSLI Nishchit Pension Plan". mint.
  41. ISBN 978-93-91818-41-8
    .
  42. ^ Inc, Sun Life Financial. "Sun Life announces new sustainable investing and climate change commitments". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved May 10, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  43. ^ "Sun Life doubles down on ESG commitments". www.wealthprofessional.ca. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  44. ^ Adriano, Lyle. "Sun Life increases diversity and inclusion efforts". www.insurancebusinessmag.com. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  45. ^ Lefton, Terry (January 18, 2010). "Dolphins sell stadium naming rights to Sun Life". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  46. ^ "Board of Directors".

External links

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