Sun Life Financial (SLF) 40-F 2021 FY Annual report (Canada)

United States

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, 2021

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	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares	SLF	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	586,031,740
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	6,217,331
Class A Preferred Shares Series 9QR	4,982,669
Class A Preferred Shares Series 10R	6,838,672
Class A Preferred Shares Series 11QR	1,161,328
Class A Preferred Shares Series 14	1,000,000	1

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 has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

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.  ☐

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

1 In connection with the issuance of $1 billion principal amount of 3.60% Limited Recourse Capital Notes (LRCN) Series 2021-1 (Subordinated Indebtedness) on June 30, 2021, the Registrant issued 1 million class A Non-Cumulative Rate Reset Preferred Shares Series 14 (Series 14) at a price of $1,000 per Series 14 share. The Series 14 shares were issued to a consolidated trust to be held as trust assets in connection with the LRCN structure.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

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, 2021 (the “2021 Annual MD&A”) is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2021 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 2021 Annual MD&A and the information in the management report titled “Financial Reporting Responsibilities”, attached to the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “2021 Annual Financial Statements”) is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2021 Annual MD&A is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. A copy of the Company’s 2021 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 2021 Annual Financial Statements is incorporated by reference herein.

The Company’s 2021 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 2021 Annual MD&A is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2021 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 9, 2022 (the “2021 AIF”) is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2021 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 2021 AIF is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2021 AIF is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

Code of Ethics

The information under the heading “Code of Conduct” in the Company’s 2021 AIF is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2021 AIF is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

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

In 2021, the Company’s Code of 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 and complying with laws and regulations. The most significant updates enhanced content on data and information security, added a section on preventing human trafficking and improved the definition of sexual harassment, enhanced content on using alcohol and other substances, elaborated the guidance on conflicts of interests and further stressed the importance of cooperating with investigations.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information about aggregate fees billed to us by our principal accountant, Deloitte LLP (PCAOB ID No. 01208), under the headings “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” in the Company’s 2021 AIF is incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s 2021 AIF is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

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.

CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

The Company has previously filed a Form F-X in connection with the class of securities in relation to which the obligation to file this annual report on Form 40-F arises. Any change to the name or address of the Company’s agent for service of process shall be communicated promptly to the Securities and Exchange Commission by an amendment to the Form F-X referencing the file number of the relevant registration statement of the Company.

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 and Public Affairs

Dated: February 9, 2022

EXHIBITS:
14.1	Sun Life Financial Code of Conduct
99.1	Annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2021
99.2	Consolidated Annual Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2021
99.3	Annual Information Form dated February 9, 2022 for the year ended December 31, 2021
99.4	Certifications required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.5	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
99.6	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 01208)
99.7	Consent of Appointed Actuary
101	Interactive Data File
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).