40-F

 

 

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 40-F

 

 

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13(a) OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

Commission File Number 001-15014

 

 

Sun Life Financial Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Canada

(Province or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

52411

(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number (if applicable))

Not Applicable

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number (if applicable))

1 York Street, 31st Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 0B6 (416) 979-9966

(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada – U.S. Operations Holdings, Inc.

One Sun Life Executive Park

Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02481

(781) 237-6030

(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Shares   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

Not Applicable

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

Not Applicable

(Title of Class)

For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this Form:

  Annual information form     Audited annual financial statements

 

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

 

Common Shares

     610,478,656  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 1

     16,000,000  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 2

     13,000,000  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 3

     10,000,000  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 4

     12,000,000  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 5

     10,000,000  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 8R

     5,192,686  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 9QR

     6,007,314  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 10R

     6,919,928  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 11QR

     1,080,072  

Class A Preferred Shares Series 12R

     12,000,000  

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by filing 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 (the “Exchange Act”). If “Yes” is marked, indicate the file number assigned to the Registrant in connection with such Rule.

Yes  ☐    82-               No  

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  ☒            No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

 

 

 


INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The following information is incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 40-F:

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The information under the heading “Accounting and Control Matters – Disclosure Controls and Procedures” in the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “2017 Annual MD&A”) is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2017 Annual MD&A is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The information under the heading “Accounting and Control Matters – Disclosure Controls and Procedures – Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” in the Company’s 2017 Annual MD&A and the information in the management report titled “Financial Reporting Responsibilities”, with respect to the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “2017 Annual Financial Statements”) is incorporated by reference herein.

Copies of the management report titled “Financial Reporting Responsibilities” and the Company’s 2017 Annual Financial Statements are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

The “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” with respect to the audit of the internal control over financial reporting of the Company, which accompanies the Company’s 2017 Annual Financial Statements are incorporated by reference herein.

The Company’s 2017 Annual Financial Statements are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The information under the heading “Accounting and Control Matters – Disclosure Controls and Procedures – Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting” in the Company’s 2017 Annual MD&A is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2017 Annual MD&A is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Identification of Audit Committee

The information under the heading “Directors and Executive Officers – Audit Committee” in the Company’s annual information form dated February 14, 2018 (the “2017 AIF”) is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2017 AIF is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The information under the heading “Directors and Executive Officers – Audit Committee” in the Company’s 2017 AIF is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2017 AIF is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.


Code of Ethics

The information under the heading “Code of Business Conduct” in the Company’s 2017 AIF is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2017 AIF is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

A copy of the current Sun Life Financial Code of Business Conduct is attached hereto as Exhibit 14.1 and is also available on our website at sunlife.com.

In 2017, the Company’s code of business conduct was updated to reinforce its key principles and values and, in particular, the Company’s commitment to employees and clients, acting ethically and reporting ethical misconduct, and whistle-blowing protections. The most significant updates aligned the code with existing internal policies, requirements, practices and business strategy and enhanced guidance on promoting diversity, fairness and safety in the workplace, rejecting corruption and bribery, avoiding conflicts of interest, promoting a strong risk framework, treating clients fairly, and dealing with the public and other third parties.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information under the headings “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” in the Company’s 2017 AIF is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2017 AIF is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The information under the heading “Additional Financial Disclosure Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” in the Company’s 2017 Annual MD&A is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2017 Annual MD&A is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

The table entitled “Financial Liabilities and Contractual Obligations” included under the heading “Risk Management – Risk Categories – Liquidity Risk” in the Company’s 2017 Annual MD&A is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2017 Annual MD&A is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Comparison with New York Stock Exchange Governance Rules

The Company’s governance processes and practices are consistent with the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance rules for U.S. publicly-listed companies.

UNDERTAKING

Registrant undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises; or transactions in said securities.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

 

Sun Life Financial Inc.
By:  

/s/ “Melissa J. Kennedy”

  Melissa J. Kennedy
  Executive Vice-President,
  Chief Legal Officer & Public Affairs
Dated:   February 15, 2018

 

EXHIBITS:   
  14.1    Sun Life Financial Code of Business Conduct
  31.1    Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  31.2    Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of United States Code, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  99.1    Annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017
  99.2    Consolidated Annual Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2017
  99.3    Annual Information Form dated February 14, 2018
  99.4    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
  99.5    Consent of Appointed Actuary
101    Interactive Data File
   slf-20171231.xml
   slf-20171231.xsd
   slf-20171231_cal.xml
   slf-20171231_def.xml
   slf-20171231_lab.xml
   slf-20171231_pre.xml