Sun Life to Acquire Prime Advisors

Sun Life Financial, the Canadian financial services company, announced today that it will acquire Redmond, WA-based investment manager Prime Advisors Inc. in a deal that's expected to close in Q3. While they haven't yet disclosed terms, the deal is expected to add US$13 billion in assets to the Toronto-based firm’s investment-management unit, bringing the total it oversees for third parties to $50 billion, according to a Financial Post article. The acquisition is part of Sun Life's strategy to broaden its asset management pillar by expanding and diversifying the capabilities of Sun Life Investment Management. Following completion of the transaction, Prime Advisors will operate as a standalone unit of Sun Life Investment Management.

"With its customized approach to liability-based investing for insurance companies, Prime Advisors is a natural fit as we continue to build our Sun Life Investment Management organization," said Steve Peacher, President, Sun Life Investment Management, and Chief Investment Officer, Sun Life Financial. "Prime has a strong team with extensive experience in managing assets and providing investment-related services to institutional investors. The addition of Prime together with our recently announced acquisition of Bentall Kennedy and completed acquisition of Ryan Labs Asset Management will grow Sun Life Investment Management's third-party assets under management to a combined C$50 billion in just over a year, and give us an excellent platform for serving institutional clients and expanding our business in the U.S."

"We are very pleased to join Sun Life Financial and to continue providing our clients with the same high level service and investment focus we have committed to since our founding. Sun Life shares our understanding of the unique needs of insurance companies and fixed income investors. We look forward to offering our clients additional asset management resources and the added benefits of a global, highly respected financial organization," added Don McDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer of Prime Advisors. "This is an important next step for our firm as we continue developing our business and serving our clients."

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