Sun Life Financial Announces Expansion of MFS Investment Management
July 22 2009 - 8:15AM
PR Newswire (US)
Client Interest Spurs Growth TORONTO, July 22
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sun Life Financial Inc. has announced a
broad expansion of its MFS Investment Management unit's global
investment and distribution platforms in response to significant
growth of client interest in MFS' products and services. MFS has
experienced strong net sales growth in 2009, reflecting the solid
relative performance of its investment line-up along with its
extensive global distribution capabilities. As a result, MFS will
be adding personnel in investment management throughout its global
footprint. Areas the firm is targeting include new equity research
analysts stationed in key and growing emerging markets, as well as
specialists in quantitative analysis and tactical asset allocation.
Within distribution, MFS will be expanding in relationship
management, dealer relations and sales to support the firm's
expanding efforts in global retail and institutional distribution.
"MFS is a major contributor to the SLF group of companies, and has
a bright future," said Kevin Dougherty, President, Sun Life Global
Investments. "MFS has built unique global research and distribution
platforms that align the firm very strongly with clients. Its
excellent historical investment performance is a result of its
distinctive team-approach to managing money. We intend to build on
these strengths, while allowing MFS to continue to prosper
organically, through investment of up to US$50 million in the
firm's infrastructure." "We are exceptionally fortunate to have a
parent company in Sun Life that has encouraged MFS to accelerate
its growth through direct investment in our operations," added
Robert Manning, CEO of MFS. "With their support, we have not only
been able to expand our investment management capabilities, but
also to continue to invest in our clients by expanding critical
areas within distribution and client service." Ninety-two per cent
of all MFS' fund assets ranked in the top half of their respective
Lipper categories based on three-year performance as of June 30,
2009. Performance in the U.S. equity and global/international
equity categories also has been exceptional, with 93 per cent and
96 per cent of fund assets ranking in the top half of their
respective three-year Lipper categories as of June 30, 2009. In
addition, 94 per cent of the firm's institutional separate account
composites beat their respective benchmarks over the same time
frame. Important Performance Ranking Information The percentage of
assets in the top half of the respective Lipper Category is based
on performance of Class A shares at NAV and Class A Assets. For all
MFS fund assets, 83 per cent (42 out of 65 funds), 95 per cent (45
out of 56 funds) and 89 per cent (38 out of 48 funds) ranked in the
top half of their respective Lipper Categories for one-, five- and
ten-year periods, ended June 30, 2009. For MFS U.S. equity fund
assets, 86 per cent (14 out of 28 funds), 97 per cent (16 out of 21
funds) and 88 per cent (8 out of 14 funds) ranked in the top half
of their respective Lipper Categories for one-, five- and ten-year
periods, ended June 30, 2009. For MFS global/international equity
fund assets, 76 per cent (7 out of 9 funds), 95 per cent (7 out of
8 funds) and 95 per cent (7 out of 8 funds) ranked in the top half
of their respective Lipper Categories for one-, five- and ten-year
periods, ended June 30, 2009. Past performance is no guarantee of
future results. Keep in mind, a high relative ranking does not
always mean the funds achieved a positive return during the period.
Lipper rankings do not take into account sales charges and are
based on historical total returns, which are not indicative of
future results. Note that rankings are based on the performance of
all share classes and sales load types as reported by Lipper.
Rankings for other share classes may be higher or lower. About Sun
Life Financial Sun Life Financial is a leading international
financial services organization providing a diverse range of
protection and wealth accumulation products and services to
individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life
Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets
worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China
and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2009, the Sun Life Financial group of
companies had total assets under management of CDN$375 billion. For
more information please visit http://www.sunlife.com/. Sun Life
Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and
Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under ticker symbol SLF. About MFS
Investment Management MFS is a premier global money management firm
with investment offices in Boston, London, Mexico City, Tokyo,
Singapore and Sydney. The firm's history dates back to March 21,
1924, and the establishment of the first "open-end" mutual fund.
MFS manages approximately US$124 billion in assets on behalf of
individual and institutional investors worldwide, as of March 31,
2009. DATASOURCE: Sun Life Financial Inc. CONTACT: Media Relations
Contact: Steve Kee, Assistant Vice-President, Communications, Tel:
(416) 979-6237, ; Investor Relations Contact: Paul Petrelli,
Vice-President, Investor Relations, Tel: (416) 204-8163,
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