SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month
of September 2015 |
Commission File Number: 001-15014 |
SUN LIFE FINANCIAL INC.
(the "Company")
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
150 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1J9
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will
file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information
to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned
to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- N/A
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to
the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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Sun
Life Financial Inc.
(Registrant) |
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Date: September 1,
2015 |
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By: |
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/s/
“Eric Weinheimer” |
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Eric Weinheimer, |
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Vice-President and
Associate General Counsel |
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Exhibits |
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Description |
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99.1 |
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News Release Dated September 1, 2015 - Sun Life Financial completes acquisition of Bentall Kennedy Group
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Exhibit 99.1
Sun Life Financial completes acquisition of Bentall Kennedy Group
Sun Life Investment Management adds leading North American
real estate investment capabilities to institutional investment platform
TORONTO, Sept. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. ("Sun
Life Financial") (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) and Bentall Kennedy Group ("Bentall Kennedy") announced today that Sun Life
Financial has completed the purchase of Bentall Kennedy, one of North America's largest real estate investment advisors and providers
of real estate services.
"Today, Sun Life Investment Management achieved a significant
milestone, adding the premier real estate investment expertise of Bentall Kennedy to our high calibre real estate and commercial
mortgage investment capabilities," said Steve Peacher, President, Sun Life Investment Management, and Chief Investment Officer,
Sun Life Financial. "This transaction continues to expand and diversify Sun Life Financial's asset management pillar as part
of our growth strategy, and further extends and strengthens our offering to institutional investors seeking alternative asset classes."
With over 100 years of history, Bentall Kennedy is a leading
real estate investment company serving a global base of institutional clients and investors. Bentall Kennedy specializes in real
estate investment management and real estate services, including property management and leasing. As of June 30, 2015, Bentall
Kennedy had assets under management of approximately $28 billion and provided real estate services across 91 million square feet
of properties.
"We are excited about the additional capabilities and
resources that Bentall Kennedy will have as a Sun Life Investment Management company to further strengthen our North American real
estate platform," said Gary Whitelaw, Group Chief Executive Officer of Bentall Kennedy. "We have seen overwhelmingly
positive response to this next step in our evolution from our clients, from our industry and from our employees. We look forward
to working together with our new Sun Life colleagues to continue to deliver exceptional client service and consistently strong
results."
Bentall Kennedy continues to be managed by its current team,
led by Gary Whitelaw, who joins the Sun Life Investment Management leadership team, reporting to Steve Peacher. Bentall Kennedy
retains its brand and will operate as a unit of Sun Life Investment Management, which provides investment services to third parties
and manages Sun Life Financial's general account assets. The two firms will combine their real estate and commercial mortgage investment
management teams to have approximately $48 billion in assets under management, serving over 550 institutional clients and investors
in these asset classes.
Bentall Kennedy's management team unanimously supports the
transaction and is committed to continuing top-tier service and strong client relationships. Bentall Kennedy's former institutional
shareholders, the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (bcIMC) and the California Public Employees' Retirement System
(CalPERS) will continue as key clients of Bentall Kennedy under Sun Life Financial's ownership.
RBC Capital Markets served as financial advisor and McCarthy
Tétrault LLP as legal advisor to Sun Life Financial Inc. Hodes Weill Securities, LLC served as financial advisor, Alexander
Capital as Canadian sub-advisor, and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP as legal advisor to Bentall Kennedy.
Forward-looking Information
Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including the statement concerning bcIMC and CalPERS continuing as
clients of Bentall Kennedy, which is predictive in nature and depends upon or refers to future events or conditions. Such forward-looking
statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour provisions" of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements in this news release represent our current
expectations regarding future events and are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future
performance and involve risks and uncertainties and are based on key factors and assumptions are difficult to predict. Except as
may be required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements
contained in this news release. Forward-looking statements are presented to assist investors and others in understanding our expected
financial position and results of operations as at the date of this news release, as well as our objectives for the transaction,
strategic priorities and business outlook following the transaction, and in obtaining a better understanding of our anticipated
operating environment following the transaction. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements may not be appropriate
for other purposes and undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially
from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements in this news release due to various risk factors. These risks
all could have an impact on the business relationships of Sun Life Financial and Bentall Kennedy (including with future and prospective
employees, customers, distributors and partners) and could have a material adverse effect on our current and future operations,
financial conditions and prospects.
Additional information about risk factors can be found in
the annual information form of Sun Life Financial Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2014 under the heading "Risk Factors"
and other regulatory filings filed or furnished to Canadian and U.S. securities regulators available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.
About Sun Life Financial
Celebrating 150 years in 2015, Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse
range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial and its partners
have operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong,
the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2015, the
Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $808 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York
(NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
About Sun Life Investment Management
Sun Life Investment Management is an institutional investment management arm of Sun Life Financial. Sun Life Investment Management
includes the investment operations of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, Sun Life Investment Management Inc. in Canada, Ryan
Labs Asset Management Inc. and Prime Advisors, Inc. in the United States, and Bentall Kennedy Group in North America. These Sun
Life Investment Management operations have combined third-party assets under management of over $50 billion, as of June 30, 2015.
About Bentall Kennedy Group
Bentall Kennedy is one of North America's largest real estate investment advisors and one of its foremost providers of real estate
services. Bentall Kennedy is a recognized global leader in Responsible Property Investing, currently ranked first globally in its
category in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) study, the broadest measure of governance quality and sustainability
performance in the global real estate industry. Bentall Kennedy is a member of UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and
has received the Energy Star Partner of The Year—Sustained Excellence Award for the past 5 years.
The GRESB benchmark, based in the Netherlands, is committed
to assessing the sustainability performance of real estate portfolios around the globe. They conduct an annual survey that measures
the ESG performance of listed and private property funds. The 2014 GRESB study included 637 participants covering 56,000 buildings
with an aggregate value of US$2.1 trillion. The published report cites the organization and/or fund ranked first for each asset
class; retail, industrial, office, residential, healthcare and hotels, and a diversified category in each of the following regions;
North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Bentall Kennedy ranked as the top performer among the 157 companies globally
in the Diversified category, including all its asset classes. Bentall Kennedy was ranked as the top firm globally for the Diversified
property type in the 2014 GRESB study.
The Energy Star Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence
Award is issued by Energy Star and recognizes Bentall Kennedy's continuous commitment to improve the energy performance of its
real estate portfolio through the use of Energy Star tools and resources. Energy Star is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
voluntary program, which was established in 1992. It promotes the adoption of energy efficient products, practices and services.
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars unless
stated otherwise.
SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.
%CIK: 0001097362
For further information:
Sun Life Financial Media Relations Contact:
Joanna Nicholson
Senior Communications Specialist
Corporate Communications
Tel: +1-416-204-3779
joanna.nicholson@sunlife.com
Sun Life Financial Investor Relations Contact:
Greg Dilworth
Vice-President
Investor Relations
Tel: +1-416-979-6230
investor.relations@sunlife.com
Bentall Kennedy Media Relations Contact:
Shaun Little
Director
Corporate Communications
Tel: +1-416-681-2726
slittle@bentallkennedy.com
CO: Sun Life Financial Inc.
CNW 08:59e 01-SEP-15
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