Financial news

July 31, 2019

Sun Life reports Q2'19 reported net income of $595 million and underlying net income of $739 million

MFS increases gross sales by 22%, expands global retail presence and achieves retail net inflows of US$2 billion.

The information in this document is based on the unaudited interim financial results of Sun Life Financial Inc. ("SLF Inc.") for the period ended June 30, 2019. SLF Inc., its subsidiaries and, where applicable, its joint ventures and associates are collectively referred to as "the Company", "Sun Life", "we", "our", and "us". Unless otherwise noted, all amounts are in Canadian dollars.

 

Sun Life Financial Inc. (CNW Group/Sun Life Financial Inc.)

 

TORONTO, July 31, 2019 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) today announced its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. Second quarter reported net income was $595 million and underlying net income(1) was $739 million

     
 

Quarterly results

Year-to-date

Profitability

Q2'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

 

Reported net income ($ millions)

595

706

1,218

1,375

 

Underlying net income(1) ($ millions)

739

729

1,456

1,499

Reported EPS(2) ($)

1.00

1.16

2.04

2.25

 

Underlying EPS(1)(2) ($)

1.24

1.20

2.44

2.46

Reported ROE(1)

11.0%

13.5%

11.3%

13.3%

 

Underlying ROE(1)

13.7%

14.0%

13.5%

14.5%

Growth

Q2'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

 

Insurance sales(1) ($ millions)

657

633

1,437

1,298

 

Wealth sales(1) ($ billions)

37.0

30.8

73.0

70.6

 

Value of new business(1) ($millions)

235

266

617

600

 

Assets under management(1) ($ billions)

1,024.8

986.1

1,024.8

986.1

Financial Strength

Q2'19

Q4'18

2019

2018

 

LICAT ratios(3)
 Sun Life Financial Inc.

144%

144%

144%

149%

 

 Sun Life Assurance(4)

133%

131%

133%

134%

Financial leverage ratio(1)

20.4%

21.2%

20.4%

21.8%

 

"We delivered underlying net income of $739 million in the second quarter, up from $729 million in the prior year," said Dean Connor, President & CEO of Sun Life. "Interest rates declined in the quarter leading to lower reported net income, while balance sheet strength continued with a 144% LICAT ratio, $2.2 billion of cash at the holding company level and a low Financial leverage ratio. We are pleased to announce a new share buyback program for the repurchase of up to 15 million shares, subject to regulatory approval."

"We had a number of key developments in our Asset Management businesses this quarter. MFS achieved a pre-tax net operating profit margin ratio of 37%, expanded its non-U.S. distribution, launched two products for European distribution, increased gross sales by 22% and delivered positive net retail fund flows of US$2 billion," Connor added. "We also rebranded our alternatives asset management business to SLC Management. We consolidated our fixed income businesses, Prime Advisors, Ryan Labs and Sun Life Institutional Investments, under this one brand to create an integrated distribution team that offers institutional Clients our broad spectrum of solutions. SLC Management's real estate arm completed the acquisition of a majority stake in BentallGreenOak."

                         

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(2)

All EPS measures refer to fully diluted EPS, unless otherwise stated.

(3)

For further information on the Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test ("LICAT"), see section E - Financial Strength in this document.

(4)

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada ("Sun Life Assurance") is SLF Inc.'s principal operating life insurance subsidiary.

 

Financial and Operational Highlights - Quarterly Comparison (Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018)

Our strategy is focused on four key pillars of growth, where we aim to be a leader in the markets in which we operate, with our continued progress detailed below.

($ millions, unless otherwise noted)

 

Reported
net income (loss)

Underlying
net income (loss)(1)

Insurance
sales(1)

Wealth
sales(1)

 

Q2'19

Q2'18

change

Q2'19

Q2'18

change

Q2'19

Q2'18

change

Q2'19

Q2'18

change

Canada(3)

148

262

(44)%

243

245

(1)%

194

266

(27)%

3,248

3,039

7%

U.S.(3)

94

105

(10)%

110

125

(12)%

225

155

45%

Asset Management(3)

229

214

7%

245

216

13%

31,929

25,263

26%

Asia(3)

134

133

1%

147

145

1%

238

212

12%

1,799

2,502

(28)%

Corporate(3)

(10)

(8)

nm(2)

(6)

(2)

nm(2)

Total

595

706

(16)%

739

729

1%

657

633

4%

36,976

30,804

20%

   

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(2)

Not meaningful.

(3)

Prior to the second quarter of 2019, these business segments were referred to as Sun Life Financial Canada, Sun Life Financial U.S., Sun Life Financial Asset Management, Sun Life Financial Asia, and Corporate, respectively, in our interim and annual management's discussion and analysis.

 

Our reported net income of $595 million in the second quarter of 2019 decreased $111 million compared to the second quarter of 2018, primarily reflecting unfavourable market related and assumption changes and management actions(1) ("ACMA") impacts. Underlying net income in the second quarter of 2019 increased $10 million to $739 million compared to the same period in 2018, primarily driven by business growth, favourable expense experience and benefits from tax related items primarily in the U.S., partially offset by unfavourable morbidity experience in Canada and the U.S., lower new business gains in International in Asia, and lower available-for-sale ("AFS") gains in the U.S.

Our reported ROE(1) was 11.0% in the second quarter of 2019. Underlying ROE(1) was 13.7%, compared to 14.0% in the second quarter of 2018, reflecting higher underlying net income offset by increased common shareholders' equity due to higher retained earnings and the impact of market movements reflected in other comprehensive income. SLF Inc. and its wholly-owned holding companies ended the quarter with $2.2 billion in cash and other liquid assets, reflecting the redemption of $250 million of subordinated debt which also decreased our financial leverage ratio(1) to 20.4%.

A Leader in Insurance and Wealth Solutions in our Canadian Home Market
Canada's reported net income was $148 million in the second quarter of 2019, a decrease of $114 million compared to the same period in 2018, predominantly reflecting unfavourable market related and ACMA impacts. Underlying net income was $243 million, in line with the same period in 2018, reflecting favourable expense experience and continued business growth, offset by unfavourable morbidity and credit experience.

Canada insurance sales decreased 27% to $194 million in the second quarter of 2019, reflecting lower sales in Group Benefits ("GB") due to timing of large case sales and individual insurance. Wealth sales were up 7%, driven by increased sales in Group Retirement Services ("GRS"), which continues to lead the industry in assets under administration(1)(2)("AUA").

We are continuing to shape the Canadian market through innovation and digital capabilities that enhance our Client's experience. Our digital platform, Lumino Health, provides Canadians one point of contact for a comprehensive range of health resources, including empowering Canadians to find the health care providers and health innovations they need. Our Sun Life Health platform delivers value to Canadians, as evidenced by over 10 million health care provider user ratings and average usage of approximately 10,000 searches per day.

         

(1) 

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(2) 

Benefits Canada's 2018 CAP supplier survey, based on June 30, 2018 AUA.

 

A Leader in U.S. Group Benefits
U.S.'s reported net income was $94 million in the second quarter of 2019, a decrease of $11 million compared to the second quarter of 2018, reflecting more unfavourable market related impacts, partially offset by lower integration costs. Underlying net income was $110 million, a decrease of $15 million from the same period in the prior year, reflecting less favourable morbidity experience and lower AFS gains, partially offset by improved lapse and other policyholder behaviour experience and benefits from tax related items. The after-tax profit margin for Group Benefits1 was 7.3% as of the second quarter of 2019 compared to 6.5% as of the second quarter of 2018.

U.S. Group Benefits sales increased 40% compared to the second quarter of 2018, driven primarily by continued strong momentum and our leadership position in medical stop-loss. Medical stop-loss business in-force increased to US$1.8 billion, up 22% from the same period in the prior year.

During the quarter, the U.S. launched a program to help employers auto-enroll employees in disability coverage, which provides an extra layer of income protection and financial security when members cannot work because of a serious illness or injury, helping to close gaps in coverage for our members. In addition, as the leading independent provider of medical stop-loss coverage, we analyzed our deep database of medical claims and released our annual High-cost claims and injectable drug trends report2, which provides employers with actionable recommendations about the trends and costs affecting their health plans, enabling them to bend the medical cost curve.

A Leader in Global Asset Management
Asset Management's reported net income was $229 million in the second quarter of 2019, an increase of $15 million from the second quarter of 2018, driven by the change in underlying net income, partially offset by higher fair value adjustments in MFS's share based payment awards and acquisition costs in SLC Management. Underlying net income was $245 million, an increase of $29 million from the same quarter last year, driven by expense management, investment income including returns on seed capital and the favourable impact of foreign exchange. The pre-tax net operating profit margin ratio for MFS(1) was 37% in the second quarter of 2019, compared to 36% in the same period last year.

Asset Management ended the second quarter with $708.1 billion in assets under management, consisting of $639.9 billion (US $488.8 billion) in MFS Investment Management ("MFS") and $68.2 billion in SLC Management. MFS experienced net outflows of $8.1 billion (US$6.1 billion) in the quarter, which included positive net retail fund flows of $2.6 billion (US$2.0 billion).

In the second quarter of 2019, 93%, 92% and 84% of MFS's U.S. retail fund assets ranked in the top half of their Lipper categories based on ten-, five- and three-year performance, respectively.

On July 1, 2019, we completed the acquisition of our majority stake in BentallGreenOak, which was the product of the merger of the Bentall Kennedy group of companies and GreenOak Real Estate, a global real estate investment firm. This acquisition increases our global real estate investment footprint, while adding organizational depth and a full spectrum of solutions including equity and debt real estate strategies. The expected reduction to Total shareholders' equity as a result of the acquisition is approximately $850 million, primarily driven by the establishment of financial liabilities associated with the anticipated increase of our future ownership in BentallGreenOak.

A Leader in Asia through Distribution Excellence in Higher Growth Markets
Asia's reported net income was $134 million in the second quarter of 2019, which was in line with the second quarter of 2018, as unfavourable market related impacts were offset by the impact of acquisition, integration and restructuring costs in the second quarter of 2018. Underlying net income of $147 million was in line with the second quarter of 2018, reflecting favourable expense experience, favourable credit experience, and continued business growth, largely offset by lower new business gains in International.

Asia insurance sales were $238 million in the second quarter of 2019, up 12% compared to the second quarter of 2018, with double-digit growth in most markets. International experienced lower sales but saw improvements from the prior quarter as a result of a new product launch. Asia wealth sales were down by 28% to $1.8 billion in the second quarter of 2019, primarily due to lower sales in India as a result of weak market sentiments.

In Asia, we continue to execute our growth strategy. Agency sales in Asia were up 21% from the prior year, backed by our Most Respected Advisor program and digital enhancements to our advisor applications to improve the Advisor and Client experience. We also continued to improve our digital service experience for Clients. For example, Hong Kong launched a group medical app, which had positive adoption with both Client registrations and outpatient claim submissions, and Bowtie(3) launched its online platform and first medical insurance product in April.

         

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(2)

The 2019 High-cost claims and injectable drug trends report can be accessed at https://sunlife.showpad.com/share/7SzmNmJJs1a6msorM0DZA.

(3)

We have a strategic investment in Bowtie Life Insurance Company, the first virtual insurer in Hong Kong approved under the Fast Track process. 

 

Sun Life Financial Inc.

For the period ended June 30, 2019
Dated July 31, 2019

Table of Contents

A. 

How We Report Our Results

B.   

Financial Summary

C.

Profitability

D.

Growth

E.

Financial Strength

F.  

Performance by Business Group

 

1.

Canada

 

2.

U.S.

 

3.

Asset Management

 

4.

Asia

 

5.

Corporate

G. 

Investments

H. 

Risk Management

I.  

Additional Financial Disclosure

J. 

Legal and Regulatory Matters

K. 

Changes in Accounting Policies

L.  

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

M. 

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

N. 

Forward-looking Statements

 

About Sun Life
Sun Life Financial Inc. ("SLF Inc.") is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has 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, 2019, Sun Life had total assets under management ("AUM") of $1,025 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.

A. How We Report Our Results

SLF Inc., its subsidiaries and, where applicable, its joint ventures and associates are collectively referred to as "the Company", "Sun Life", "we", "our", and "us". We manage our operations and report our financial results in five business segments: Canada, United States ("U.S."), Asset Management, Asia, and Corporate. Prior to the second quarter of 2019, these business segments were referred to as Sun Life Financial Canada, Sun Life Financial U.S., Sun Life Financial Asset Management, Sun Life Financial Asia, and Corporate, respectively, in our interim and annual management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"). Information concerning these segments is included in our annual and interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes ("Annual Consolidated Financial Statements" and "Interim Consolidated Financial Statements", respectively, and "Consolidated Financial Statements", collectively) and interim and annual MD&A. We prepare our unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements using International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), including in accordance with the International Accounting Standard ("IAS") 34 Interim Financial Reporting. Reported net income (loss) refers to Common shareholders' net income (loss) determined in accordance with IFRS.

The information in this document is in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

1. Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures

We report certain financial information using non-IFRS financial measures, as we believe that these measures provide information that is useful to investors in understanding our performance and facilitate a comparison of our quarterly and full year results from period to period. These non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meaning and may not be comparable with similar measures used by other companies. For certain non-IFRS financial measures, there are no directly comparable amounts under IFRS. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be viewed as alternatives to measures of financial performance determined in accordance with IFRS. Additional information concerning these non-IFRS financial measures and reconciliations to the closest IFRS measures are available in section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document. Non-IFRS Financial Measures and reconciliations are also included in our annual and interim MD&A and the Supplementary Financial Information packages that are available on www.sunlife.com under Investors – Financial results and reports.

2. Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this document are forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Additional information concerning forward-looking statements and important risk factors that could cause our assumptions, estimates, expectations and projections to be inaccurate and our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements can be found in section N - Forward-looking Statements in this document.

3. Additional Information

Additional information about SLF Inc. can be found in the Consolidated Financial Statements, the annual and interim MD&A and SLF Inc.'s Annual Information Form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2018. These documents are filed with securities regulators in Canada and are available at www.sedar.com. SLF Inc.'s Annual Consolidated Financial Statements, annual MD&A and AIF are filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in SLF Inc.'s annual report on Form 40-F and SLF Inc.'s interim MD&A and Interim Consolidated Financial Statements are furnished to the SEC on Form 6-Ks and are available at www.sec.gov.

B. Financial Summary                                

 

Quarterly results  

Year-to-date

($ millions, unless otherwise noted)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

Profitability

         
 

Net income (loss)

         

Reported net income (loss)

595

623

706

1,218

1,375

 

Underlying net income (loss)(1)

739

717

729

1,456

1,499

 

Diluted Earnings per share ("EPS") ($)

         
 

Reported EPS (diluted)

1.00

1.04

1.16

2.04

2.25

 

Underlying EPS (diluted)(1)

1.24

1.20

1.20

2.44

2.46

 

Reported basic EPS ($)

1.00

1.04

1.16

2.05

2.26

Return on equity ("ROE") (%)

         

Reported ROE(1)

11.0%

11.5%

13.5%

11.3%

13.3%

 

Underlying ROE(1)

13.7%

13.3%

14.0%

13.5%

14.5%

Growth

         
 

Sales

         
 

Insurance sales(1)

657

780

633

1,437

1,298

 

Wealth sales(1)

36,976

35,993

30,804

72,969

70,629

 

Value of new business(1)

235

382

266

617

600

 

Premiums and deposits

         
 

Net premium revenue

4,480

4,370

4,315

8,850

8,960

 

Segregated fund deposits

2,872

3,064

2,703

5,936

6,098

 

Mutual fund sales(1)

23,703

23,664

19,265

47,367

43,321

 

Managed fund sales(1)

10,539

9,976

8,967

20,515

21,312

 

ASO(2) premium and deposit equivalents(1)

1,681

1,707

1,767

3,388

3,442

Total premiums and deposits(1)

43,275

42,781

37,017

86,056

83,133

Assets under management

         

General fund assets

174,325

172,348

164,709

174,325

164,709

 

Segregated funds

111,684

110,011

108,692

111,684

108,692

 

Mutual funds, managed funds and other AUM(1)

738,767

729,026

712,719

738,767

712,719

Total AUM(1)

1,024,776

1,011,385

986,120

1,024,776

986,120

Financial Strength

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q4'18

2019

2018

 

LICAT ratios(3)

         
 

Sun Life Financial Inc.

144%

145%

144%

144%

149%

 

Sun Life Assurance(4)

133%

132%

131%

133%

134%

Financial leverage ratio(1)

20.4%

21.1%

21.2%

20.4%

21.8%

Dividend

         

Dividend payout ratio(1)

42%

42%

42%

42%

38%

 

Dividends per common share ($)

0.525

0.500

0.500

1.025

0.930

Capital

         

Subordinated debt and innovative capital instruments(5)

3,491

3,739

3,738

3,491

3,737

 

Participating policyholders' equity and non-controlling interests

974

930

864

974

517

 

Total shareholders' equity

23,684

23,782

23,706

23,684

23,216

Total capital

28,149

28,451

28,308

28,149

27,470

Average common shares outstanding (millions)

593

597

602

595

609

 

Closing common shares outstanding (millions)

591.0

594.6

598.5

591.0

607.0

   

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(2)

Administrative Services Only ("ASO").

(3)

Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test ("LICAT") ratio.

(4)

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada ("Sun Life Assurance") is SLF Inc.'s principal operating life insurance subsidiary.

(5)

Innovative capital instruments consist of Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities, and qualify as regulatory capital. However, under IFRS they are reported as Senior debentures in the Consolidated Financial Statements. For additional information, see section I - Capital and Liquidity Management - 1 - Capital in our 2018 annual MD&A.

 

C. Profitability

The following table reconciles our reported net income and underlying net income. The table also sets out the impact that other notable items had on our reported net income and underlying net income. All factors discussed in this document that impact our underlying net income are also applicable to reported net income.

 

Quarterly results  

Year-to-date

($ millions, after-tax)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

Reported net income

595

623

706

1,218

1,375

Market related impacts(1)

(97)

(69)

8

(166)

(60)

Assumption changes and management actions(1)

(20)

(11)

1

(31)

(2)

Other adjustments(1)

(27)

(14)

(32)

(41)

(62)

Underlying net income(2)

739

717

729

1,456

1,499

Reported ROE(2)

11.0%

11.5%

13.5%

11.3%

13.3%

Underlying ROE(2)

13.7%

13.3%

14.0%

13.5%

14.5%

Impact of other notable items on reported and underlying net income

         

Experience related items(3)

         

Impact of investment activity on insurance contract liabilities ("investing activity")

28

61

30

89

78

Credit

12

(29)

6

(17)

27

Mortality

(3)

15

6

12

(10)

Morbidity

(3)

25

43

22

55

Lapse and other policyholder behaviour

(4)

(8)

(9)

(12)

(38)

Expenses

13

11

(26)

24

(30)

Other experience

(9)

(18)

(5)

(27)

57

   

(1)

Represents an adjustment made to arrive at a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document for a breakdown of components within this adjustment.

(2)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures.

(3)

Experience related items reflect the difference between actual experience during the reporting period and best estimate assumptions used in the determination of our insurance contract liabilities.

 

Quarterly Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018

Our reported net income of $595 million in the second quarter of 2019 decreased $111 million compared to the second quarter of 2018, primarily reflecting unfavourable market related and assumption changes and management actions ("ACMA") impacts. Underlying net income in the second quarter of 2019 increased $10 million to $739 million compared to the same period in 2018, primarily driven by business growth, favourable expense experience, and benefits from tax related items primarily in the U.S., partially offset by unfavourable morbidity experience in Canada and the U.S., lower new business gains in International in Asia, and lower available-for-sale ("AFS") gains in the U.S. Underlying net income increased by $16 million as a result of the impact of foreign exchange translation.

1.    Market related impacts

Market related impacts in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the same period last year reflected unfavourable interest rate impacts and unfavourable changes in the fair value of investment properties, partially offset by favourable equity market impacts. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document for a breakdown of the components of market related impacts.

2.    Assumption changes and management actions

The effects of assumption changes and management actions in the second quarter of 2019 decreased reported net income by $20 million compared to an increase of $1 million in the second quarter of 2018.

Due to the long-term nature of our business, we make certain judgments involving assumptions and estimates to value our obligations to policyholders. The valuation of these obligations is recorded in our financial statements as insurance contract liabilities and investment contract liabilities and requires us to make assumptions about equity market performance, interest rates, asset default, mortality and morbidity experience rates, lapse and other policyholder behaviour experience, expenses and inflation and other factors over the life of our products. We will complete our annual review of actuarial methods and assumptions in the second half of 2019, with the majority of changes being implemented in the third quarter. As this is a work in progress, it is not yet possible to determine the impact on net income at this time. See section H - Risk Management for sensitivities associated with Ultimate Reinvestment Rate ("URR").

3. Other adjustments

Other adjustments decreased reported net income by $27 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to a decrease of $32 million in the second quarter of 2018, largely reflecting lower acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs primarily in the U.S., partially offset by higher fair value adjustments on MFS's share-based payment awards and the unfavourable impact of certain hedges in Canada that do not qualify for hedge accounting.

4. Experience related items

Compared to the second quarter of 2018, the significant changes in experience related items are as follows:

  • Unfavourable morbidity experience; and
  • Favourable expense experience resulting from expense discipline while growing the businesses, as well as lower incentive compensation costs reflecting reported net income.

 

5. Income taxes

Our statutory tax rate is normally reduced by various tax benefits, such as lower taxes on income subject to tax in foreign jurisdictions, a range of tax-exempt investment income, and other sustainable tax benefits that are expected to decrease our effective tax rate.

In the second quarter of 2019, our effective income tax rates on reported net income and underlying net income(1) were 11.9% and 15.6% compared to 19.1% and 17.1% in the second quarter of 2018, respectively. Our effective tax rate on underlying net income is within our expected range of 15% to 20%.

6. Impact of foreign exchange rates

During the second quarter of 2019, our reported net income and underlying net income increased by $15 million and $16 million, respectively, due to the impact of foreign exchange translation in the second quarter of 2019 relative to the second quarter of 2018.

Year-to-Date Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018

Our reported net income was $1,218 million for the first six months of 2019, compared to $1,375 million in the first six months of 2018, predominantly reflecting unfavourable market related and ACMA impacts, partially offset by lower acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs. Underlying net income was $1,456 million, compared to $1,499 million in the first six months of 2018, reflecting interest on par seed capital(2) of $110 million in the first quarter of 2018, unfavourable credit experience, less favourable morbidity experience in Canada, and lower new business gains in International in Asia, partially offset by favourable expense experience, business growth, benefits from tax related items primarily in the U.S., improved lapse and other policyholder behaviour experience, and favourable mortality experience.

1. Market related impacts

Market related impacts in the first six months of 2019, compared to the first six months of 2018, reflected unfavourable interest rate impacts and less favourable changes in the fair value of investment properties, partially offset by favourable equity market impacts.

2.   Assumption changes and management actions

Assumption changes and management actions decreased net income by $31 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $2 million in the first six months of 2018.

3.   Other adjustments

Other adjustments in the first six months of 2019 decreased reported net income by $41 million, compared to a decrease of $62 million in the same period last year, primarily driven by lower acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs and lower fair value adjustments on MFS's share-based payment awards, partially offset by the impact of certain hedges in Canada that do not qualify for hedge accounting.

                         

(1) 

Our effective income tax rate on underlying net income is calculated using underlying net income and income tax expense associated with underlying net income, which excludes amounts attributable to participating policyholders.

(2) 

In the first quarter of 2018, the seed capital that was transferred into the participating account at demutualization was transferred into the shareholder account, along with accrued investment income. The results include income of $110 million, of which $75 million was in Canada and $35 million was in the U.S.

 

4.   Experience related items

Compared to the first six months of 2018, the significant changes in experience related items are as follows:

  • Unfavourable credit experience, including the net impact resulting from downgrades of indirect exposures to a single name in the utilities sector;
  • Less favourable morbidity experience;
  • Improved lapse and other policyholder behaviour experience; and
  • Favourable expense experience resulting from expense discipline, as well as lower incentive compensation costs.

 

Other experience for the first quarter of 2018, predominantly included the impact of accrued investment income on seed capital of $110 million - $75 million in Canada and $35 million in the U.S. ("interest on par seed capital"). For further information, please see Note 10.C in the second quarter of 2019 Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

5.   Income taxes

Our statutory tax rate is normally reduced by various tax benefits, such as lower taxes on income subject to tax in foreign jurisdictions, a range of tax-exempt investment income, and other sustainable tax benefits that are expected to decrease our effective tax rate.

For the first six months of 2019, our effective tax rates on reported and underlying net income(1) were 11.4% and 16.7%, respectively, compared to 18.0% and 16.4%, respectively, for the first six months of 2018. Our effective tax rate on underlying net income is within our expected range of 15% to 20%.

6.   Impact of foreign exchange rates

During the first six months of 2019, our reported net income and underlying net income increased by $34 million and $37 million, respectively, due to the impact of foreign exchange translation in the first six months of 2019 relative to the first six months of 2018.

D. Growth

1. Sales and Value of New Business

 

Quarterly results 

Year-to-date

($ millions)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

Insurance sales by business group(1)

         

Canada

194

362

266

556

562

U.S.

225

160

155

385

291

Asia

238

258

212

496

445

Total insurance sales(1)

657

780

633

1,437

1,298

Wealth sales by business group(1)

         

Canada

3,248

2,825

3,039

6,073

6,864

Asia

1,799

1,881

2,502

3,680

6,238

Total wealth sales excluding Asset Management(1)

5,047

4,706

5,541

9,753

13,102

Asset Management sales(1)

31,929

31,287

25,263

63,216

57,527

Total wealth sales(1)

36,976

35,993

30,804

72,969

70,629

Value of New Business(1)("VNB")

235

382

266

617

600

   

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.                                 

 

                         

(1)

Our effective income tax rate on underlying net income is calculated using underlying net income and income tax expense associated with underlying net income, which excludes amounts attributable to participating policyholders.

Total Company insurance sales were $657 million in the second quarter of 2019, up 4% (2% on a constant currency basis) compared to the same period in 2018.

  • Canada insurance sales decreased in the second quarter of 2019, reflecting lower sales in Group Benefits ("GB") and individual insurance.
  • U.S. insurance sales increased 40% in local currency, predominantly driven by medical stop-loss.
  • Asia insurance sales were up 10% on a constant currency basis, with double-digit growth in most local insurance markets offset by lower sales in International.

 

Total Company wealth sales were $37.0 billion in the second quarter of 2019, up 20% (16% on a constant currency basis) compared to the second quarter of 2018.

  • Canada wealth sales increased 7%, driven by higher sales in Group Retirement Services ("GRS").
  • Asia wealth sales were down, primarily from lower sales in India, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange translation.
  • Asset Management gross sales increased 26%, driven by higher mutual and managed fund sales in MFS Investment Management ("MFS"), the impact of foreign exchange translation and higher sales in SLC Management.

 

The Company's VNB was $235 million in the second quarter of 2019, down 12% compared to the second quarter of 2018, largely due to lower sales in International in Asia and in GB in Canada, partially offset by favourable volume of Group Benefits in the U.S.

2.  Premiums and Deposits

($ millions)

Quarterly results

Year-to-date

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

Net premium revenue

4,480

4,370

4,315

8,850

8,960

Segregated fund deposits

2,872

3,064

2,703

5,936

6,098

Mutual fund sales(1)

23,703

23,664

19,265

47,367

43,321

Managed fund sales(1)

10,539

9,976

8,967

20,515

21,312

ASO premium and deposit equivalents(1)

1,681

1,707

1,767

3,388

3,442

Total premiums and deposits(1)

43,275

42,781

37,017

86,056

83,133

Total adjusted premiums and deposits(1)(2)

42,210

41,968

37,170

83,525

83,452

   

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(2)

Adjusted premiums and deposits is a non-IFRS financial measure that excludes from premiums and deposits the impact of Constant Currency Adjustment and Reinsurance in Canada's GB Operations Adjustment as described in section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

 

Net premium revenue was $4.5 billion, up $0.2 billion from the second quarter of 2018, primarily driven by increased premium revenue in Canada and the U.S., and the currency impact from the change in the Canadian dollar, partially offset by a decrease in Asia. Net premium revenue was $8.9 billion in the first six months of 2019, compared to $9.0 billion in the same period of 2018. The decrease was primarily driven by lower premiums in Asia and Canada, partially offset by higher premium revenue in the U.S. and the impact of foreign exchange translation.

Segregated fund deposits were $2.9 billion in the second quarter of 2019, up $0.2 billion from the second quarter of 2018, largely attributable to increases in Canada partially offset by lower deposits in Hong Kong in Asia. Segregated fund deposits were $5.9 billion in the first six months of 2019, compared to $6.1 billion in the same period last year, due to lower deposits in Canada and Hong Kong in Asia.

Sales of mutual funds were $23.7 billion in the second quarter of 2019, up from $19.3 billion in the second quarter of 2018. Sales of mutual funds were $47.4 billion for the first six months of 2019, compared to $43.3 billion in the same period in 2018. The higher mutual fund sales in both the second quarter and first six months of 2019 were driven by increased sales in MFS and the impact of foreign exchange translation, partially offset by lower sales in Asia.

Managed fund sales of $10.5 billion in the second quarter of 2019 increased by $1.6 billion from the second quarter of 2018, primarily due to higher sales in MFS and SLC Management, and the currency impact from the change in the Canadian dollar. Sales of managed funds were $20.5 billion for the first six months of 2019, down compared to the same period in 2018, reflecting decreased sales in MFS, partially offset the impact of foreign exchange translation.

ASO premium and deposit equivalents in the second quarter of 2019 of $1.7 billion were slightly lower compared to the second quarter of 2018 due to lower ASO premium and deposit equivalents in Hong Kong in Asia. ASO premium and deposit equivalents for the first six months of 2019 of $3.4 billion were slightly lower compared to the first six months of 2018, due to lower ASO premiums and deposit equivalents in Hong Kong in Asia, partially offset by Canada.

The impact of foreign exchange translation increased total premiums and deposits by approximately $1.2 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively, for the second quarter and the first six months of 2019, in comparison to the respective periods in 2018.

3. Assets Under Management

AUM consist of general funds, segregated funds, and other AUM. Other AUM includes mutual funds and managed funds, which include institutional and other third-party assets managed by the Company.

 

Quarterly results

($ millions)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q4'18

Q3'18

Q2'18

Assets under management(1)

         

General fund assets

174,325

172,348

168,765

162,439

164,709

Segregated funds

111,684

110,011

103,062

108,298

108,692

Mutual funds, managed funds and other AUM(1)

738,767

729,026

679,316

712,782

712,719

Total AUM(1)

1,024,776

1,011,385

951,143

983,519

986,120

   

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

 

AUM were $1,024.8 billion as at June 30, 2019, compared to AUM of $951.1 billion as at December 31, 2018. The increase in AUM of $73.6 billion between December 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019 resulted primarily from:

(i)

an increase of $116.2 billion from favourable market movements; and

(ii)

an increase of $3.2 billion of other business activities; partially offset by

(iii)

an decrease of $31.5 billion from the impact of foreign exchange translation; and

(iv)

net outflows of mutual, managed, and segregated funds of $14.3 billion.

 

For the second quarter of 2019, net outflows of mutual, managed and segregated funds were $7.2 billion, predominantly driven by net outflows from MFS of $8.1 billion, partially offset by net inflows of $0.5 billion from Canada, $0.4 billion from Asia, and $0.2 billion from SLC Management.

E. Financial Strength

 

Quarterly results

 

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q4'18

Q3'18

Q2'18

LICAT ratio

         

Sun Life Financial Inc.

144%

145%

144%

145%

149%

Sun Life Assurance

133%

132%

131%

130%

134%

Financial leverage ratio(1)

20.4%

21.1%

21.2%

21.9%

21.8%

Dividend

         

Dividend payout ratio(1)

42%

42%

42%

40%

40%

Dividends per common share ($)

0.525

0.500

0.500

0.475

0.475

Capital

         

Subordinated debt and innovative capital instruments(2)

3,491

3,739

3,738

3,738

3,737

Participating policyholders' equity and non-controlling interests

974

930

864

802

517

Preferred shareholders' equity

2,257

2,257

2,257

2,257

2,257

Common shareholders' equity

21,427

21,525

21,449

20,577

20,959

Total capital

28,149

28,451

28,308

27,374

27,470

   

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(2)

Innovative capital instruments consist of Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities, and qualify as regulatory capital. However, under IFRS they are reported as Senior debentures in our Consolidated Financial Statements. For additional information, see section I - Capital and Liquidity Management - 1 - Capital in our 2018 annual MD&A.

 

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions ("OSFI") has developed the regulatory capital framework referred to as the Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test for Canada. LICAT measures the capital adequacy of an insurer using a risk-based approach and includes elements that contribute to financial strength through periods when an insurer is under stress as well as elements that contribute to policyholder and creditor protection wind-up.

SLF Inc. is a non-operating insurance company and is subject to the LICAT guideline. As at June 30, 2019, SLF Inc.'s LICAT ratio was 144%, in line with December 31, 2018. The favourable impact of reported net income and market movements were offset by the impact of the payment of dividends, the repurchases of common shares, the redemption of subordinated debentures, the impact from OSFI's 2019 LICAT guideline revisions and the impact from the de-registration of a U.S. reinsurer.

Sun Life Assurance, SLF Inc.'s principal operating life insurance subsidiary, is also subject to the LICAT guideline. As at June 30, 2019, Sun Life Assurance's LICAT ratio was 133%, compared to 131% as at December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to the favourable contribution of reported net income and market movements, partially offset by dividends to SLF Inc. and the unfavourable impact from OSFI's 2019 LICAT guideline revisions. The Sun Life Assurance LICAT ratios in both periods are well above OSFI's supervisory ratio of 100% and regulatory minimum ratio of 90%.

Our total capital consists of subordinated debt and other capital instruments, participating policyholders' equity, and total shareholders' equity, which includes common shareholders' equity and preferred shareholders' equity. As at June 30, 2019, our total capital was $28.1 billion, compared to $28.3 billion as at December 31, 2018. The decrease in total capital was primarily due to the payment of $611 million of dividends on common shares of SLF Inc. ("common shares"), foreign currency translation loss of $539 million included in other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI"), $400 million from the repurchase and cancellation of common shares and the redemption of $250 million principal amount of Series 2014-1 Subordinated Unsecured 2.77% Fixed/ Floating Debentures ("Series 2014-1 Debentures") detailed below, partially offset by total net income of $1,218 million and unrealized gains on AFS assets of $400 million.

SLF Inc. and its wholly-owned holding companies had $2,214 million in cash and other liquid assets(1) as at June 30, 2019 ($2,523 million as at December 31, 2018). The decrease in cash and other liquid assets in the first six months of 2019 includes the impact of the redemption of $250 million principal amount of Series 2014-1 Debentures.

On May 13, 2019, SLF Inc. redeemed all of the outstanding $250 million principal amount of Series 2014-1 Debentures, in accordance with the redemption terms attached to such debentures. The redemption was funded from existing cash and other liquid assets.

                         

(1)

Other liquid assets include cash equivalents, short-term investments, and publicly traded securities.

 

On July 2, 2019, SLF Inc.'s Series D Senior Unsecured 5.70% Debentures ("Series D Debentures") matured and SLF Inc. repaid all of the outstanding $300 million principal amount of such debentures together with all accrued and unpaid interest. Under LICAT, senior debentures do not qualify as available capital, as a result, the repayment of the Series D Debentures will have no impact on the LICAT ratio of Sun Life Assurance or SLF Inc. In addition, a separate pool of assets had been set aside to support the redemption of these debentures. As such, the redemption did not affect the cash and other liquid assets held by SLF Inc. and its wholly-owned holding companies noted above.

Normal Course Issuer Bids

SLF Inc. launched a normal course issuer bid on August 14, 2018 and amended it effective May 14, 2019 (the "2018 NCIB"). The 2018 NCIB remains in effect until the earlier of August 13, 2019 and the date on which SLF Inc. has purchased an aggregate of 18.0 million common shares under the bid. During the three months and six months ended June 30, 2019, SLF Inc. purchased approximately 3.7 million common shares at a total cost of $200 million, and 7.8 million common shares at a total cost of $400 million, respectively. All of the common shares purchased under the 2018 NCIB were subsequently cancelled. As at June 30, 2019, the total aggregate shares purchased and cancelled and associated cost under the 2018 NCIB are 16.4 million and $825 million, respectively.

On July 31, 2019, SLF Inc. announced that, subject to the approval of OSFI and the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), it intends to launch a new normal course issuer bid to purchase for cancellation up to 15 million of its common shares (the "2019 NCIB"). The 2019 NCIB is expected to commence on August 14, 2019 and continue until August 13, 2020, or such earlier date as SLF Inc. may determine or as SLF Inc. completes its purchases pursuant to the 2019 NCIB. Purchases under the 2019 NCIB may be made through the facilities of the TSX, other Canadian stock exchanges and/or alternative Canadian trading platforms, at prevailing market rates. Purchases under the 2019 NCIB may also be made by way of private agreements or share repurchase programs under issuer bid exemption orders issued by securities regulatory authorities. Any purchases made under an exemption order issued by a securities regulatory authority will generally be at a discount to the prevailing market price. The actual number of common shares purchased under the 2019 NCIB, and the timing of such purchases (if any), will be determined by SLF Inc. Any common shares purchased by SLF Inc. pursuant to the 2019 NCIB will be cancelled. The 2019 NCIB will provide the Company with the flexibility to acquire common shares in order to return capital to shareholders as part of its overall capital management strategy.

F. Performances by Business Group

($ millions)

Quarterly results

Year-to-date

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

Reported net income (loss)

         

Canada

148

237

262

385

511

U.S.

94

124

105

218

201

Asset Management

229

219

214

448

424

Asia

134

80

133

214

266

Corporate

(10)

(37)

(8)

(47)

(27)

Total reported net income (loss)

595

623

706

1,218

1,375

Underlying net income (loss)(1)

         

Canada

243

237

245

480

540

U.S.

110

150

125

260

254

Asset Management

245

227

216

472

447

Asia

147

122

145

269

273

Corporate

(6)

(19)

(2)

(25)

(15)

Total underlying net income (loss)(1)

739

717

729

1,456

1,499

   

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

 

Information describing the business groups and their respective business units is included in our 2018 annual MD&A. All factors discussed in this document that impact our underlying net income are also applicable to reported net income.  

1. Canada

 

Quarterly results

Year-to-date

($ millions)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

Individual Insurance & Wealth

(3)

106

105

103

212

Group Benefits

80

74

103

154

172

Group Retirement Services

71

57

54

128

127

Reported net income (loss)

148

237

262

385

511

Market related impacts(1)

(72)

(1)

15

(73)

(29)

Assumption changes and management actions(1)

(20)

5

(20)

(2)

Other adjustments(2)

(3)

1

(3)

(2)

2

Underlying net income (loss)(3)

243

237

245

480

540

Reported ROE (%)(3)

8.5%

13.5%

15.5%

11.0%

15.3%

Underlying ROE (%)(3)

13.8%

13.5%

14.5%

13.7%

16.2%

Insurance sales(3)

194

362

266

556

562

Wealth sales(3)

3,248

2,825

3,039

6,073

6,864

   

(1)

Represents an adjustment made to arrive at a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document for a breakdown of components within this adjustment.

(2)

Mainly comprised of certain hedges in Canada that do not qualify for hedge accounting and acquisition, integration and restructuring costs. For further information, see section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(3)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

 

Profitability

Quarterly Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Canada's reported net income was $148 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $262 million in the second quarter of 2018. Underlying net income was $243 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $245 million in the second quarter of 2018.

Reported net income in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the second quarter of 2018 predominantly reflected unfavourable market related impacts, which included the impacts from interest rates and changes in the fair value of investment properties, and unfavourable ACMA. Underlying net income in the second quarter of 2019 was in line with the same period in 2018, reflecting favourable expense experience and continued business growth, offset by unfavourable morbidity and credit experience.

Year-to-Date Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Canada's reported net income was $385 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $511 million in the same period in 2018. Underlying net income was $480 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $540 million in the same period in 2018.

Reported net income in the first six months of 2019 compared to the first six months of 2018 reflected unfavourable market related impacts, which included the impacts from interest rates and changes in the fair value of investment properties, partially offset by equity markets, and unfavourable ACMA impact. Underlying net income in the first six months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 reflected interest on par seed capital of $75 million in the first quarter of 2018 and unfavourable credit and morbidity experience, partially offset by continued business growth, favourable expense experience and higher investing activity gains.

Growth

Quarterly Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Canada individual insurance sales decreased in the second quarter of 2019 to $94 million, compared to $110 million in the same period last year. Sales in GB of $100 million decreased by 36% compared to the second quarter of 2018 due to the timing of large case sales during the first half of the year.

Canada wealth sales of $3.2 billion in the second quarter of 2019 were up compared to $3.0 billion in the second quarter of 2018, driven by increased sales in GRS.

Year-to-Date Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Canada individual insurance sales were $187 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $198 million in the same period last year. Sales in GB of $369 million were consistent with the first six months of 2018.

Canada wealth sales were $6.1 billion in the first six months of 2019, compared to $6.9 billion in the same period last year. Individual wealth sales of $3.1 billion were down 8% in the first six months of 2019 compared to the same period last year, reflecting a weaker RRSP season across the industry. GRS sales of $3.0 billion were down 15% over the first six months in 2018, mainly due to a large case defined benefit sale in the first quarter of 2018.

2. U.S.

 

Quarterly results 

  Year-to-date

(US$ millions)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

Group Benefits

41

86

57

127

90

In-force Management

29

7

24

36

67

Reported net income (loss)

70

93

81

163

157

Market related impacts(1)

(8)

(11)

(1)

(19)

(21)

Assumption changes and management actions(1)

1

(2)

(3)

(1)

(1)

Acquisition, integration and restructuring(1)

(4)

(6)

(12)

(10)

(20)

Underlying net income (loss)(2)

81

112

97

193

199

Reported ROE (%)(2)

9.9%

13.6%

11.7%

11.8%

11.5%

Underlying ROE (%)(2)

11.6%

16.3%

14.0%

13.9%

14.5%

After-tax profit margin for Group Benefits (%)(2)

7.3%

7.9%

6.5%

7.3%

6.5%

Insurance sales(2)

168

120

120

288

228

(C$ millions)

         

Reported net income (loss)

94

124

105

218

201

Underlying net income (loss)(2)

110

150

125

260

254

   

(1)

Represents an adjustment made to arrive at a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document for a breakdown of components within this adjustment.

(2)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

 

Profitability

Quarterly Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
U.S.'s reported net income was US$70 million ($94 million) in the second quarter of 2019, compared to US$81 million ($105 million) in the second quarter of 2018. Underlying net income was US$81 million ($110 million) in the second quarter of 2019, compared to US$97 million ($125 million) in the second quarter of 2018. The impact of foreign exchange translation increased reported net income and underlying net income by $3 million and $4 million, respectively.

Reported net income in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the second quarter of 2018 reflected unfavourable market related impacts, predominantly from changes in the fair value of investment properties, partially offset by lower integration costs, as the integration of the U.S. employee benefits business acquired in 2016 nears completion. Underlying net income in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the second quarter of 2018 reflected less favourable morbidity experience driven by unfavourable experience in medical stop-loss partially offset by favourable experience in employee group benefits, and lower AFS gains, partially offset by improved lapse and other policyholder behaviour experience and benefits from tax related items. The after-tax profit margin for Group Benefits(1) was 7.3% as of the second quarter of 2019, compared to 6.5% as of the second quarter of 2018.

Year-to-Date Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
U.S.'s reported net income was US$163 million ($218 million) in the first six months of 2019, compared to US$157 million ($201 million) in the same period in 2018. Underlying net income was US$193 million ($260 million) in the first six months of 2019, compared to US$199 million ($254 million) in the same period in 2018. The impact of foreign exchange translation increased reported net income and underlying net income by $9 million and $11 million, respectively.

                         

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

 

Reported net income in the first six months of 2019 compared to the first six months of 2018 was driven by lower integration costs, as the integration of the U.S. employee benefits business acquired in 2016 nears completion. Underlying net income in the first six months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 was driven by favourable mortality experience, improved lapse and other policyholder behaviour experience, benefits from tax related items, and continued business growth, partially offset by interest on par seed capital of US$28 million ($35 million) in the first quarter of 2018, lower AFS gains, and lower investing activity gains.

Growth

Quarterly Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
U.S. Group Benefits sales of US$168 million in the second quarter of 2019 increased 40% compared to US$120 million in the second quarter of 2018, driven by strong momentum and our leadership position in medical stop-loss, where business in-force increased to US$1.8 billion, up 22% from the same period in the prior year.

Year-to-Date Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018 (year-to-date)
U.S. Group Benefits sales of US$288 million in the first six months of 2019 increased 26% compared to US$228 million in the same period of 2018, primarily driven by increased medical stop-loss sales.

3. Asset Management

 

Quarterly results

Year-to-date

Asset Management (C$ millions)

 

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

Reported net income

229

219

214

448

424

Fair value adjustments on MFS's share-based payment awards(1)

(11)

(8)

(2)

(19)

(23)

Acquisition, integration and restructuring(1)

(5)

(5)

Underlying net income(2)

245

227

216

472

447

Assets under management (C$ billions)(2)

708.1

698.4

684.0

708.1

684.0

Gross sales (C$ billions)(2)

31.9

31.3

25.3

63.2

57.6

Net sales (C$ billions)(2)

(7.9)

(6.5)

(14.7)

(14.4)

(19.8)

MFS(C$ millions)

         

Reported net income

225

215

211

440

412

Fair value adjustments on MFS's share-based payment awards(1)

(11)

(8)

(2)

(19)

(23)

Underlying net income(2)

236

223

213

459

435

Assets under management (C$ billions)(2)

639.9

631.1

622.5

639.9

622.5

Gross sales (C$ billions)(2)

30.3

29.0

24.1

59.3

53.7

Net sales (C$ billions)(2)

(8.1)

(7.8)

(14.9)

(15.9)

(20.3)

MFS (US$ millions)

         

Reported net income

168

162

163

330

322

Fair value adjustments on MFS's share-based payment awards(1)

(8)

(6)

(1)

(14)

(18)

Underlying net income(2)

176

168

164

344

340

Pre-tax net operating profit margin ratio for MFS(2)

37%

38%

36%

37%

37%

Average net assets (US$ billions)(2)

480.2

456.7

480.9

468.5

487.9

Assets under management (US$ billions)(2)(3)

488.8

472.9

474.1

488.8

474.1

Gross sales (US$ billions)(2)

22.6

21.8

18.6

44.4

42.0

Net sales (US$ billions)(2)

(6.1)

(5.9)

(11.5)

(12.0)

(15.8)

Asset appreciation (depreciation) (US$ billions)

22.0

50.4

3.4

72.4

(1.7)

S&P 500 Index (daily average)

2,884

2,720

2,704

2,803

2,718

MSCI EAFE Index (daily average)

1,888

1,833

2,018

1,861

2,045

SLC Management (C$ millions)

         

Reported net income

4

4

3

8

12

Acquisition, integration and restructuring(1)

(5)

(5)

Underlying net income(2)

9

4

3

13

12

Assets under management (C$ billions)(2)

68.2

67.3

61.5

68.2

61.5

Gross sales (C$ billions)(2)

1.6

2.3

1.2

3.9

3.9

Net sales (C$ billions)(2)

0.2

1.3

0.2

1.5

0.5

   

(1) 

Represents an adjustment made to arrive at a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document for a breakdown of components within this adjustment.

(2)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(3)

Monthly information on AUM is provided by MFS in its Corporate Fact Sheet, which can be found at www.mfs.com/CorpFact. The Corporate Fact Sheet also provides MFS's U.S. GAAP assets and liabilities as at June 30, 2019.

 

Profitability

Quarterly Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Asset Management's reported net income was $229 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $214 million in the second quarter of 2018. Underlying net income was $245 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $216 million in the second quarter of 2018. The impact of foreign exchange increased reported net income and underlying net income by $8 million.

Asset Management's reported net income in the second quarter of 2019 compared with the second quarter of 2018 was driven by the change in underlying net income, partially offset by higher fair value adjustments on MFS's share based payment awards and higher acquisition costs in SLC Management related to the acquisition of BentallGreenOak ("BGO"). Underlying net income compared to the second quarter of 2018 was driven by expense management, investment income including returns on seed capital, and favourable impact of foreign exchange translation.

In U.S. dollars, MFS's reported net income was US$168 million in the second quarter of 2019 compared to US$163 million in the second quarter of 2018, driven by the change in underlying net income, partially offset by higher fair value adjustments on MFS's share based payment awards. MFS's underlying net income was US$176 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to US$164 million in the same period in 2018. Both quarters had similar average net assets ("ANA"), and improvements were driven by expense management and investment income including returns on seed capital. The pre-tax net operating profit margin ratio for MFS was 37% in the second quarter of 2019, compared to 36% in the same period last year.

Year-to-Date Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Asset Management's reported net income in the first six months of 2019 was $448 million, compared to $424 million in the same period in 2018. Underlying net income was $472 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $447 million in the same period in 2018. The impact of foreign exchange translation increased reported net income and underlying net income by $19 million and $20 million, respectively.

Asset Management's reported net income in the first six months of 2019 compared to the first six months of 2018 was driven by lower fair value adjustments on MFS's share based payment awards offset by acquisition costs related to BGO. Underlying net income compared to the second quarter of 2018 was driven by expense management, favourable results in investment income including returns on seed capital and the favourable impact of foreign exchange translation, partially offset by the impacts from lower ANA.

In U.S. dollars, MFS's reported net income was US$330 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to US$322 million in the first six months of 2018, reflecting lower fair value adjustments on MFS's share based payment awards. MFS's underlying net income was US$344 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to US$340 million for the same period in 2018, driven by expense management and favourable results in investment income including returns on seed capital, partially offset by the impacts from lower ANA.

SLC Management's reported net income in the first six months of 2019 compared to the first six months of 2018 included acquisition costs related to BGO. Underlying net income in the first six months of 2019 was in line with the same period in 2018.

Growth
Asset Management's AUM was $708.1 billion as at June 30, 2019, compared to $649.7 billion as at December 31, 2018. The increase in AUM was primarily due to asset appreciation and the impact of foreign exchange translation, partially offset by net outflows. MFS's AUM was US$488.8 billion ($639.9 billion) as at June 30, 2019, compared to US$428.4 billion ($584.2 billion) as at December 31, 2018. The increase of US$60.4 billion was primarily driven by asset appreciation of US$72.4 billion and gross sales of US$44.4 billion, partially offset by redemptions of US$56.4 billion. MFS continued to report strong retail sales, resulting in positive net retail fund flows of $2.6 billion (US$2.0 billion) for the second quarter of 2019 and $3.6 billion (US$2.7 billion) in the first half of the year.

In the second quarter of 2019, 93%, 92% and 84% of MFS's U.S. retail fund assets ranked in the top half of their Lipper categories based on ten-, five- and three-year performance, respectively.

SLC Management's AUM was $68.2 billion as at June 30, 2019, compared to $65.5 billion as at December 31, 2018.

Acquisition of BentallGreenOak
On July 1, 2019, we completed the acquisition of our majority stake in BGO, which was the product of the merger of the Bentall Kennedy group of companies and GreenOak Real Estate, a global real estate investment firm. This acquisition increases our global real estate investment footprint, while adding organizational depth and a full spectrum of solutions including equity and debt real estate strategies. The expected reduction to Total shareholders' equity as a result of the acquisition is approximately $850 million, primarily driven by the establishment of financial liabilities associated with the anticipated increase of our future ownership in BentallGreenOak. Please refer to the second quarter of 2019 Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.

4. Asia

 

    Quarterly results

Year-to-date

($ millions)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

Insurance and Wealth

117

101

86

218

191

International

17

(21)

47

(4)

75

Reported net income (loss)

134

80

133

214

266

Market related impacts(1)

(14)

(42)

(56)

4

Assumption changes and management actions(1)

1

1

1

Acquisition, integration and restructuring(1)(2)

(12)

(12)

Underlying net income (loss)(3)

147

122

145

269

273

Reported ROE (%)(3)

9.9%

6.0%

10.9%

7.9%

11.0%

Underlying ROE (%)(3)

10.9%

9.1%

11.8%

10.0%

11.3%

Insurance sales(3)

238

258

212

496

445

Wealth sales(3)

1,799

1,881

2,502

3,680

6,238

   

(1) 

Represents an adjustment made to arrive at a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document for a breakdown of components within this adjustment.

(2) 

The amount in the second quarter of 2018 pertains to a distribution arrangement in India for asset management.

(3) 

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

 

Profitability

Quarterly Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Asia's reported net income was $134 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to reported net income of $133 million in the second quarter of 2018. Underlying net income was $147 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $145 million in the second quarter of 2018. The impact of foreign exchange translation increased reported net income and underlying net income by $4 million and $5 million, respectively.

Reported net income in the second quarter of 2019 was in line with the second quarter of 2018, as unfavourable market related impacts, predominantly from interest rates partially offset by equity market impacts, were offset by the impact of acquisition, integration and restructuring costs in the second quarter of 2018. Underlying net income in the second quarter of 2019 was in line with the same period in 2018, reflecting favourable expense experience, favourable credit experience and continued business growth, largely offset by lower new business gains in International.

Year-to-Date Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Asia's reported net income was $214 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $266 million in the same period in 2018. Underlying net income was $269 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $273 million in the same period in 2018. The impact of foreign exchange translation increased reported net income and underlying net income by $6 million and $8 million, respectively.

Reported net income in the first six months of 2019 compared to the first six months of 2018 reflected unfavourable market related impacts, predominantly from interest rates, partially offset by the impacts of acquisition, integration and restructuring costs in the second quarter of 2018. Underlying net income in the first six months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 reflected lower new business gains in International, and less favourable credit experience, partially offset by higher investing activity gains, continued business growth and improved expense experience.

Growth

Quarterly Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Asia insurance sales were $238 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $212 million in the second quarter of 2018. Total individual insurance sales increased by 12%, driven by double-digit growth in most markets. International experienced lower sales but saw improvements from the prior quarter as a result of a new product launch.

Asia wealth sales were $1.8 billion in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $2.5 billion in the second quarter of 2018. The decrease mainly reflected lower mutual fund sales in India due to weak market sentiments.

Year-to-Date Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Asia insurance sales were $496 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $445 million in the first six months of 2018. Total individual insurance sales in the first six months of 2019 increased 12% from the first six months of 2018. On a constant currency basis, individual insurance sales increased 11%, with most markets achieving double-digit growth. International experienced lower sales but saw improvements from the prior quarter as a result of a new product launch.

Asia wealth sales were $3.7 billion in the first six months of 2019, compared to $6.2 billion in the first six months of 2018. This decrease mainly reflected lower mutual fund sales in India due to weak market sentiments and in the Philippines due to elevated money market sales in the first six months of 2018.

5. Corporate

 

Quarterly results  

Year-to-date

($ millions)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

2019

2018

UK

39

29

37

68

85

Corporate Support

(49)

(66)

(45)

(115)

(112)

Reported net income (loss)

(10)

(37)

(8)

(47)

(27)

Market related impacts(1)

(9)

(6)

(9)

(9)

Assumption changes and management actions(1)

(2)

(9)

(11)

Acquisition, integration and restructuring(1)

(2)

(2)

(3)

Underlying net income (loss)(2)

(6)

(19)

(2)

(25)

(15)

   

(1) 

Represents an adjustment made to arrive at a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document for a breakdown of components within this adjustment.

(2) 

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

 

Profitability

Quarterly Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Corporate's reported net loss was $10 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to reported net loss of $8 million in the second quarter of 2018. Underlying net loss was $6 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to underlying net loss of $2 million in the second quarter of 2018.

Reported net loss in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the second quarter of 2018 reflected improved market related impacts, more than offset by the change in underlying net loss. Underlying net loss in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 reflected lower earnings from the run-off businesses, partially offset by favourable expense experience.

Year-to-Date Comparison - Q2 2019 vs. Q2 2018
Corporate's reported net loss was $47 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $27 million in the same period in 2018. Underlying net loss was $25 million in the first six months of 2019, compared to $15 million in the same period in 2018.

Reported net loss in the first six months of 2019 compared to the first six months of 2018 reflected unfavourable ACMA. Underlying net loss in the first six months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 reflected lower earnings from the run-off businesses, and higher regulatory expenses including the adoption of IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts ("IFRS 17"), partially offset by favourable expense experience.

G. Investments

We had total general fund invested assets of $156.6 billion as at June 30, 2019, compared to $151.7 billion as at December 31, 2018. The increase in general fund invested assets was primarily due to the impacts of declining interest rates and operational activity, partially offset by the unfavourable impact from foreign exchange translation. Our general fund invested assets are well diversified across investment types, geographies and sectors with the majority of our portfolio invested in fixed income high-quality assets.

The following table sets out the composition of our general fund invested assets.(1)

 

June 30, 2019     

December 31, 2018

($ millions)

Carrying value

% of total
carrying value

Carrying

value

% of total
carrying value

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities

8,188

5%

9,506

6%

Debt securities

78,677

51%

74,443

49%

Equity securities

4,850

3%

4,634

3%

Mortgages and loans

47,485

30%

46,822

31%

Derivative assets

1,914

1%

1,112

1%

Other invested assets

5,095

3%

4,830

3%

Policy loans

3,196

2%

3,222

2%

Investment properties

7,229

5%

7,157

5%

Total invested assets

156,634

100%

151,726

100%

   

(1)

The values and ratios presented are based on the carrying value of the respective asset categories. Generally, the carrying values for fair value through profit or loss ("FVTPL") and AFS invested assets are equal to their fair values; however our mortgages and loans are generally carried at amortized cost. For invested assets supporting insurance contracts, in the event of default, if the amounts recovered are insufficient to satisfy the related insurance contract liability cash flows that the assets are intended to support, credit exposure may be greater than the carrying value of the assets.

 

1. Debt Securities

Our debt securities portfolio is actively managed through a regular program of purchases and sales aimed at optimizing yield, quality and liquidity, while ensuring that it remains well diversified and duration-matched to insurance contract liabilities. With the exception of certain countries where we have business operations, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, our exposure to debt securities from any single country did not exceed 1% of total invested assets on our Interim Consolidated Financial Statements as at June 30, 2019.

The carrying value of FVTPL and AFS debt securities by geographic location is presented in the following table.

 

June 30, 2019            

   December 31, 2018

($ millions)

FVTPL debt

securities

AFS debt

securities

Total

% of Total

FVTPL

debt

securities

AFS debt

securities

Total

% of Total

Debt securities

               

Canada

27,513

4,330

31,843

40%

25,091

4,217

29,308

38%

United States

22,578

6,033

28,611

36%

21,329

5,917

27,246

37%

Europe

8,720

1,399

10,119

13%

8,840

1,278

10,118

14%

Asia

3,907

555

4,462

6%

3,673

445

4,118

6%

Other

2,392

1,250

3,642

5%

2,469

1,184

3,653

5%

Total debt securities

65,110

13,567

78,677

100%

61,402

13,041

74,443

100%

 

Our debt securities with a credit rating of "A" or higher represented 73% of the total debt securities as at June 30, 2019, compared to 72% as at December 31, 2018. Debt securities with a credit rating of "BBB" or higher represented 99% of total debt securities as at June 30, 2019, consistent with December 31, 2018.

Our gross unrealized losses as at June 30, 2019 for FVTPL and AFS debt securities were $0.1 billion and $0.03 billion, respectively, compared with $1.4 billion and $0.2 billion, respectively, as at December 31, 2018. The decrease in gross unrealized losses was largely due to the impact from declining interest rates and the narrowing of credit spreads.

2. Mortgages and Loans
Mortgages and loans in this section are presented at their carrying value on our Interim Consolidated Financial Statements. Our mortgage portfolio consisted almost entirely of first mortgages and our loan portfolio consisted of private placement loans.

The carrying value of mortgages and loans by geographic location is presented in the following table.(1)

Mortgages and Loans by Geography

 

June 30, 2019

December 31, 2018

($ millions)

Mortgages

Loans

Total

Mortgages

Loans

Total

Canada

8,955

13,216

22,171

8,557

13,238

21,795

United States

7,344

11,691

19,035

7,876

11,458

19,334

Europe

4,186

4,186

3,628

3,628

Asia

314

314

332

332

Other

1,779

1,779

1,733

1,733

Total

16,299

31,186

47,485

16,433

30,389

46,822

% of Total Invested Assets

10%

20%

30%

11%

20%

31%

   

(1)

The geographic location for mortgages is based on the location of the property and for loans it is based on the country of the creditor's parent.

 

As at June 30, 2019, we held $16.3 billion of mortgages, compared to $16.4 billion as at December 31, 2018. Our mortgage portfolio consists entirely of commercial mortgages, including retail, office, multi-family, industrial and land properties. As at June 30, 2019, 34% of our commercial mortgage portfolio consisted of multi-family residential mortgages; there are no single family residential mortgages. Our uninsured commercial portfolio had a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of approximately 55% as at June 30, 2019, consistent with December 31, 2018. While we generally limit the maximum loan-to-value ratio to 75% at issuance, we may invest in mortgages with a higher loan-to-value ratio in Canada if the mortgage is insured by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation ("CMHC"). The estimated weighted average debt service coverage for our uninsured commercial portfolio is 1.76 times. Of the $3.6 billion of multi-family residential mortgages in the Canadian commercial mortgage portfolio, 93% were insured by the CMHC.

As at June 30, 2019, we held $31.2 billion of loans, compared to $30.4 billion as at December 31, 2018. Private placement loans provide diversification by type of loan, industry segment and borrower credit quality. The private placement loan portfolio consists of senior secured and unsecured loans to large- and mid-market sized corporate borrowers, securitized lease/loan obligations secured by a variety of assets, and project finance loans in sectors such as power and infrastructure.

Mortgages and Loans Past Due or Impaired
The gross carrying value and allowance for mortgages and loans past due or impaired are presented in the following table.

 

June 30, 2019

($ millions)

Gross carrying value

Allowance for losses

Mortgages

Loans

Total

  Mortgages

Loans

Total

Not past due

16,248

31,140

47,388

Past due:

           

Past due less than 90 days

12

12

Past due 90 days or more

Impaired

106

88

194

55 (1)

54

109

Total

16,354

31,240

47,594

55

54

109

 

December 31, 2018

($ millions)

Gross carrying value

Allowance for losses

Mortgages

Loans

 Total

Mortgages

Loans

Total

Not past due

16,427

30,332

46,759

Past due:

           

Past due less than 90 days

14

14

Past due 90 days or more

Impaired

31

93

124

 25 (1)

50

75

Total

16,458

30,439

46,897

25

50

75

   

(1)

Includes $20 million of sectoral provisions as at June 30, 2019, and $21 million of sectoral provisions as at December 31, 2018.

 

Our impaired mortgages and loans net of allowances for losses, were $85 million as at June 30, 2019, compared to $49 million as at December 31, 2018.

3. Derivative Financial Instruments

The values associated with our derivative instruments are presented in the following table. Notional amounts serve as the basis for payments calculated under derivatives contracts and are generally not exchanged.

($ millions)

 

June 30, 2019

 

December 31, 2018

Net fair value asset (liability)

 

110

 

(1,183)

Total notional amount

 

62,359

 

59,198

Credit equivalent amount(1)

 

794

 

542

Risk-weighted credit equivalent amount(1)

 

18

 

15

   

(1)

 Amounts presented are net of collateral received.

 

The net fair value of derivatives was an asset of $110 million as at June 30, 2019, compared to a liability of $1,183 million as at December 31, 2018. The increase in net fair value was primarily due to the impact of the strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar on foreign exchange contracts, as well as the impact of downward shifts in yield curves.

The total notional amount of our derivatives increased to $62.4 billion as at June 30, 2019 from $59.2 billion as at December 31, 2018. The change in notional is mainly attributable to an increase of $5.0 billion in foreign exchange contracts used for hedging foreign currency assets, partially offset by a $1.7 billion decrease in interest rate contracts primarily due to a reduction in interest rate exposure assets.

4. Asset Default Provision

We make provisions for possible future credit events in the determination of our insurance contract liabilities. The amount of the provision for asset default included in insurance contract liabilities is based on possible reductions in future investment yields that vary by factors such as type of asset, asset credit quality (rating), duration and country of origin. To the extent that an asset is written off, or disposed of, any amounts that were set aside in our insurance contract liabilities for possible future asset defaults in respect of that asset are released.

Our asset default provision reflects the provision relating to future credit events for fixed income assets currently held by the Company that support our insurance contract liabilities. Our asset default provision as at June 30, 2019 was $2,643 million compared to $2,389 million as at December 31, 2018. The increase of $254 million was primarily due to yield curve movement, changes in credit ratings, increases in the provision for assets purchased, net of dispositions, offset by the release of provisions on fixed income assets supporting our insurance contract liabilities.

H. Risk Management

The Company has established a Risk Management Framework to assist in identifying, measuring, managing, monitoring and reporting risks. The Risk Management Framework covers all risks and these have been grouped into six major categories: credit, market, insurance, business and strategic, operational and liquidity risks.

Through our enterprise risk management processes, we oversee the various risk factors identified in the Risk Management Framework and provide reports to senior management and to the Board Committees at least quarterly. Our enterprise risk management processes and risk factors are described in our annual MD&A and AIF.

When referring to segregated funds in this section, it is inclusive of segregated fund guarantees, variable annuities and investment products and includes Run-off reinsurance in Corporate.

1. Market Risk Sensitivities
Our net income(1) is affected by the determination of policyholder obligations under our annuity and insurance contracts. These amounts are determined using internal valuation models and are recorded in our Consolidated Financial Statements, primarily as Insurance contract liabilities. The determination of these obligations requires management to make assumptions about the future level of equity market performance, interest rates, credit and swap spreads and other factors over the life of our products. Differences between our actual experience and our best estimate assumptions are reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Refer to Additional Cautionary Language and Key Assumptions Related to Sensitivities in this section for important additional information regarding these estimates. 

The market value of our investments in fixed income and equity securities fluctuates based on movements in interest rates and equity markets. The market value of fixed income assets designated as AFS that are held primarily in our surplus segment increases with declining interest rates and decreases with rising interest rates. The market value of equities designated as AFS and held primarily in our surplus segment increases (decreases) with rising (declining) equity markets. Changes in the market value of AFS assets flow through other comprehensive income and are only recognized in net income when realized upon sale, or when considered impaired. The amount of realized gains (losses) recorded in net income in any period is equal to the unrealized gains (losses) or OCI position at the start of the period plus the change in market value during the current period up to the point of sale for those securities that were sold during the period. The sale or impairment of AFS assets held in surplus can therefore have the effect of modifying our net income sensitivity. 

We realized $33 million (pre-tax) in net gains on the sale of AFS assets during the second quarter of 2019 ($41 million pre-tax in the second quarter of 2018). The net unrealized gains (losses) or OCI position on AFS fixed income and equity assets were $267 million and $77 million, respectively, after-tax as at June 30, 2019 ($(98) million and $43 million, respectively, after-tax as at December 31, 2018).

Equity Market Sensitivities
The following table sets out the estimated immediate impact on, or sensitivity of, our net income and OCI, and Sun Life Assurance's LICAT ratio to certain instantaneous changes in equity market prices as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

As at June 30, 2019
($ millions, unless otherwise noted)

       

Change in Equity Markets(1)

25% decrease

10% decrease

10% increase

25% increase

Potential impact on net income(2)(3)

$

(350)

$

(150)

$

100

$

250

Potential impact on OCI(3)

$

(100)

$

(50)

$

50

$

100

Potential impact on LICAT(2)(4)

2.0 point decrease

0.5 point decrease

0.5 point increase

1.0 point increase

         

As at December 31, 2018

       

($ millions, unless otherwise noted)

       

Change in Equity Markets(1)

25% decrease

10% decrease

10% increase

25% increase

Potential impact on net income(2)(3)

$

(300)

$

(100)

$

100

$

250

Potential impact on OCI(3)

$

(100)

$

(50)

$

50

$

100

Potential impact on LICAT(2)(4)

2.0 point decrease

1.0 point decrease

0.5 point increase

1.0 point increase

   

(1)

Represents the respective change across all equity markets as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Assumes that actual equity exposures consistently and precisely track the broader equity markets. Since in actual practice equity-related exposures generally differ from broad market indices (due to the impact of active management, basis risk, and other factors), realized sensitivities may differ significantly from those illustrated above.
Sensitivities include the impact of re-balancing equity hedges for dynamic hedging programs at 2% intervals (for 10% changes in equity markets) and at 5% intervals (for 25% changes in equity markets).

(2)

The market risk sensitivities include the estimated mitigation impact of our hedging programs in effect as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, and
include new business added and product changes implemented prior to such dates.

(3)

Net income and OCI sensitivities have been rounded to the nearest $50 million. The sensitivities exclude the market impacts on the income from our joint ventures and associates, which we account for on an equity basis.

(4)

The LICAT sensitivities illustrate the impact on Sun Life Assurance as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. LICAT ratios are rounded to the nearest 0.5%.

 

________________

(1)

Net income refers to common shareholders' net income in section H - Risk Management in this document. 

 

Interest Rate Sensitivities

 

The following table sets out the estimated immediate impact on, or sensitivity of, our net income and OCI, and Sun Life Assurance's LICAT ratio to certain instantaneous changes in interest rates as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

Sun Life Assurance's LICAT ratio generally decreases with rising interest rates and increases with declining interest rates, which is opposite to our net income sensitivity. Increases to interest rates will reduce the value of our assets and margins in our actuarial liabilities, resulting in a lower LICAT ratio. The sensitivity of Sun Life Assurance's LICAT ratio to changes in interest rates fluctuates with changes in lapse behaviour for certain products as assumed in our insurance contract liabilities, which vary with the level of short- and long-term interest rates. Sun Life Assurance's LICAT ratio sensitivity to changes in interest rates may be non-linear due to the inter-relationships between market rates, actuarial assumptions and LICAT calculations.

     

($ millions, unless otherwise noted)

As at June 30, 2019

As at December 31, 2018

Change in Interest Rates(1)

50 basis point
decrease

50 basis point
increase

50 basis point
decrease

50 basis point
increase

Potential impact on net income(2)(3)(4)

$

(150)

$

100

$

(100)

$

50

Potential impact on OCI(3)

$

250

$

(250)

$

250

$

(250)

Potential impact on LICAT(2)(5)

3.5 point increase

3.5 point decrease

2.5 point increase

1.5 point decrease

   

(1)

Interest rate sensitivities assume a parallel shift in assumed interest rates across the entire yield curve as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 with no change to the Actuarial Standards Board ("ASB") promulgated URR. Variations in realized yields based on factors such as different terms to maturity and geographies may result in realized sensitivities being significantly different from those illustrated above. Sensitivities include the impact of rebalancing interest rate hedges for dynamic hedging programs at 10 basis point intervals (for 50 basis point changes in interest rates).            

(2)

The market risk sensitivities include the estimated mitigation impact of our hedging programs in effect as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, and include new business added and product changes implemented prior to such dates.

(3)

Net income and OCI sensitivities have been rounded to the nearest $50 million. The sensitivities exclude the market impacts on the income from our joint ventures and associates, which we account for on an equity basis.

(4)

The majority of interest rate sensitivity, after hedging, is attributed to individual insurance products. We also have interest rate sensitivity, after hedging, from our fixed annuity and segregated funds products.

(5)

The LICAT sensitivities illustrate the impact on Sun Life Assurance as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. LICAT ratios are rounded to the nearest 0.5%.

 

On July 3, 2019, the ASB announced a decrease of 15 basis points to the promulgated URR with an effective date of October 15, 2019 with early implementation allowed. As at June 30, 2019, our estimated sensitivity to a 15 basis point decrease in the URR is a decrease in reported net income of approximately $100 million. The actual impact of this change, when implemented in the third quarter of 2019, could differ from the Company's estimate.

2. Credit Spread and Swap Spread Sensitivities

We have estimated the immediate impact or sensitivity of our net income attributable to certain instantaneous changes in credit and swap spreads. The credit spread sensitivities reflect the impact of changes in credit spreads on our asset and liability valuations (including non-sovereign fixed income assets, provincial governments, corporate bonds, and other fixed income assets). The swap spread sensitivities reflect the impact of changes in swap spreads on swap-based derivative positions and liability valuations.

($ millions, unless otherwise noted)

 

Credit Spread Sensitivities(1)

   

Swap Spread Sensitivities

Net income sensitivity(2)

 

50 basis point
decrease

50 basis point 
increase

 

20 basis point
decrease

 20 basis point 
increase

June 30, 2019

$

(100)

$

75

 

$

50

$

(50)

December 31, 2018

$

(75)

$

75

 

$

25

$

(25)

   

(1)

In most instances, credit spreads are assumed to revert to long-term insurance contract liability assumptions generally over a five-year period.     

(2)

Sensitivities have been rounded to the nearest $25 million.

 

The credit and swap spread sensitivities assume a parallel shift in the indicated spreads across the entire term structure. Variations in realized spread changes based on different terms to maturity, geographies, asset classes and derivative types, underlying interest rate movements, and ratings may result in realized sensitivities being significantly different from those provided above. The credit spread sensitivity estimates exclude any credit spread impact that may arise in connection with asset positions held in segregated funds. Spread sensitivities are provided for the consolidated entity and may not be proportional across all reporting segments. Refer to Additional Cautionary Language and Key Assumptions Related to Sensitivities in this section for important additional information regarding these estimates.

3. General Account Insurance and Annuity Products
Most of our expected sensitivity to changes in interest rates and about two-thirds of our expected sensitivity to changes in equity markets are derived from our general account insurance and annuity products. We have implemented market risk management strategies to mitigate a portion of the market risk related to our general account insurance and annuity products.

Individual insurance products include universal life and other long-term life and health insurance products. Major sources of market risk exposure for individual insurance products include the reinvestment risk related to future premiums on regular premium policies, asset reinvestment risk on both regular premium and single premium policies and the guaranteed cost of insurance. Interest rate risk for individual insurance products is typically managed on a duration basis, within tolerance ranges set out in the applicable investment policy or guidelines. Targets and limits are established so that the level of residual exposure is commensurate with our risk appetite. Exposures are monitored frequently, and assets are re-balanced as necessary to maintain compliance within policy limits using a combination of assets and derivative instruments. A portion of the longer-term cash flows are backed with equities and real estate.

For participating insurance products and other insurance products with adjustability features, the investment strategy objective is to provide a total rate of return given a constant risk profile over the long term.

Fixed annuity products generally provide the policyholder with a guaranteed investment return or crediting rate. Interest rate risk for these products is typically managed on a duration basis, within tolerance ranges set out in the applicable investment guidelines. Targets and limits are established such that the level of residual exposure is commensurate with our risk appetite. Exposures are monitored frequently, and are re-balanced as necessary to maintain compliance within prescribed tolerances using a combination of fixed income assets and derivative instruments.

Certain insurance and annuity products contain minimum interest rate guarantees. Market risk management strategies are implemented to limit potential financial loss due to reductions in asset earned rates relative to contract guarantees. These typically involve the use of hedging strategies utilizing interest rate derivatives such as interest rate floors, swaps and swaptions.

Certain insurance and annuity products contain features which allow the policyholders to surrender their policy at book value. Market risk management strategies are implemented to limit the potential financial loss due to changes in interest rate levels and policyholder behaviour. These typically involve the use of hedging strategies such as dynamic option replication and the purchase of interest rate swaptions.

Certain products have guaranteed minimum annuitization rates. Market risk management strategies are implemented to limit the potential financial loss and typically involve the use of fixed income assets, interest rate swaps, and swaptions.

4. Segregated Fund Guarantees
Approximately one-third of our equity market sensitivity and a small amount of interest rate risk sensitivity as at June 30, 2019 are derived from segregated fund products. These products provide benefit guarantees, which are linked to underlying fund performance and may be triggered upon death, maturity, withdrawal or annuitization. The cost of providing these guarantees is uncertain and depends upon a number of factors including general capital market conditions, our hedging strategies, policyholder behaviour and mortality experience, each of which may result in negative impacts on net income and capital.

The following table provides information with respect to the guarantees provided for our segregated fund products by business group.

As at June 30, 2019

       

($ millions)

Fund value

Amount at Risk(1)

Value of guarantees(2)

Insurance contract
liabilities(3)

Canada

11,889

393

10,647

639

Asia

2,613

253

2,709

105

Corporate(4)

2,276

226

1,124

246

Total

16,778

872

14,480

990

         

As at December 31, 2018

       

($ millions)

Fund value

Amount at Risk(1)

Value of guarantees(2)

Insurance contract
liabilities(3)

Canada

11,202

792

10,742

552

Asia

2,798

444

3,165

147

Corporate(4)

2,215

277

1,219

255

Total

16,215

1,513

15,126

954

   

(1)

The Amount at Risk represents the excess of the value of the guarantees over fund values on all policies where the value of the guarantees exceeds the fund value. The Amount at Risk is not currently payable as the guarantees are only payable upon death, maturity, withdrawal, or annuitization if fund values remain below guaranteed values.

(2)

For guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits, the value of guarantees is calculated as the present value of the maximum future withdrawals assuming market conditions remain unchanged from current levels. For all other benefits, the value of guarantees is determined assuming 100% of the claims are made at the valuation date.

(3)

The insurance contract liabilities represent management's provision for future costs associated with these guarantees and include a provision for adverse deviation in accordance with Canadian actuarial standards of practice.

(4)

Corporate includes Run-off reinsurance, a closed block of reinsurance. The Run-off reinsurance business includes risks assumed through reinsurance of variable annuity products issued by various North American insurance companies between 1997 and 2001.

   

The movement of the items in the table above from December 31, 2018 to June 30, 2019 primarily resulted from the following factors:

 
 

(i)

the total fund values increased due to an increase in equity markets, which was partially offset by net redemptions from products closed to new business;

 

(ii)

the Amount at Risk decreased due to an increase in equity markets and net redemptions from products closed to new business;

 

(iii)

the total value of guarantees decreased due to net redemptions from products closed to new business, and the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar; and

 

(iv)

the total insurance contract liabilities increased due to a decrease in interest rates, which was partially offset by an increase in equity markets and net redemptions from products closed to new business.

 

5. Segregated Fund Hedging

Our hedging programs use derivative instruments to mitigate the interest and equity related exposure of our segregated fund contracts. As at June 30, 2019, over 90% of our segregated fund contracts, as measured by associated fund values, were included in a hedging program. While a large percentage of contracts are included in the hedging program, not all of our market risk exposure related to these contracts is hedged. For those segregated fund contracts included in the hedging program, we generally hedge the value of expected future net claims costs and associated margins.  

The following table illustrates the impact of our hedging program related to our sensitivity to a 50 basis point decrease in interest rates and a 10% and 25% decrease in equity markets for segregated fund contracts as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

Impact of Segregated Fund Hedging

June 30, 2019

   

($ millions)

Changes in interest rates(1)

Changes in equity markets(2)

Net income sensitivity(3)(4)

50 basis point decrease

10% decrease

25% decrease

Before hedging

(200)

(150)

(450)

Hedging impact

200

100

350

Net of hedging

(50)

(100)

       

December 31, 2018

     
     

($ millions)

Changes in interest rates(1)

Changes in equity markets(2)

Net income sensitivity(3)(4)

50 basis point decrease

10% decrease

25% decrease

Before hedging

(150)

(150)

(450)

Hedging impact

150

100

350

Net of hedging

(50)

(100)

   

(1)

Represents a parallel shift in assumed interest rates across the entire yield curve as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, with no change to the ASB promulgated URR. Variations in realized yields based on factors such as different terms to maturity and geographies may result in realized sensitivities being significantly different from those illustrated above. Sensitivities include the impact of re-balancing interest rate hedges for dynamic hedging programs at 10 basis point intervals (for 50 basis point changes in interest rates).          

(2)

Represents the change across all equity markets as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Assumes that actual equity exposures consistently and precisely track the broader equity markets. Since in actual practice equity-related exposures generally differ from broad market indices (due to the impact of active management, basis risk, and other factors), realized sensitivities may differ significantly from those illustrated above. Sensitivities include the impact of re-balancing equity hedges for dynamic hedging programs at 2% intervals (for 10% changes in equity markets) and at 5% intervals (for 25% changes in equity markets).

(3)

Net income sensitivities have been rounded to the nearest $50 million.

(4)

Since the fair value of benefits being hedged will generally differ from the financial statement value (due to different valuation methods and the inclusion of valuation margins in respect of financial statement values), this will result in residual volatility to interest rate and equity market shocks in net income and capital. The general availability and cost of these hedging instruments may be adversely impacted by a number of factors, including volatile and declining equity and interest rate market conditions.

 

6. Real Estate Risk
Real estate risk is the potential for financial loss arising from fluctuations in the value of, or future cash flows from our investments in real estate. We are exposed to real estate risk and may experience financial losses resulting from the direct ownership of real estate investments or indirectly through fixed income investments secured by real estate property, leasehold interests, ground rents, and purchase and leaseback transactions. Real estate price risk may arise from external market conditions, inadequate property analysis, inadequate insurance coverage, inappropriate real estate appraisals, or from environmental risk exposures. We hold direct real estate investments that support general account liabilities and surplus, and fluctuations in value will impact our profitability and financial position. A material and sustained increase in interest rates may lead to deterioration in real estate values. An instantaneous 10% decrease in the value of our direct real estate investments as at June 30, 2019 would decrease net income(1) by approximately $275 million ($275 million decrease as at December 31, 2018). Conversely, an instantaneous 10% increase in the value of our direct real estate investments as at June 30, 2019 would increase net income by approximately $275 million ($275 million increase as at December 31, 2018).

____________________

 

(1) Net income sensitivities have been rounded to the nearest $25 million.

 

 

7. Additional Cautionary Language and Key Assumptions Related to Sensitivities
Our market risk sensitivities are measures of our estimated change in net income and OCI for changes in interest rates and equity market price levels described above, based on interest rates, equity market prices and business mix in place as at the respective calculation dates. These sensitivities are calculated independently for each risk factor, generally assuming that all other risk variables stay constant. The sensitivities do not take into account indirect effects such as potential impacts on goodwill impairment or valuation allowances on deferred tax assets. The sensitivities are provided for the consolidated entity and may not be proportional across all reporting segments. Actual results can differ materially from these estimates for a variety of reasons, including differences in the pattern or distribution of the market shocks, the interaction between these risk factors, model error, or changes in other assumptions such as business mix, effective tax rates, policyholder behaviour, currency exchange rates and other market variables relative to those underlying the calculation of these sensitivities. The extent to which actual results may differ from the indicative ranges will generally increase with larger capital market movements. Our sensitivities as at December 31, 2018 have been included for comparative purposes only.

We have also provided measures of our net income sensitivity to instantaneous changes in credit spreads, swap spreads, real estate price levels, and capital sensitivities to changes in interest rates and equity price levels. The real estate sensitivities are non-IFRS financial measures. For additional information, see section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document. The cautionary language which appears in this section is also applicable to the credit spread, swap spread, real estate, and LICAT ratio sensitivities. In particular, these sensitivities are based on interest rates, credit and swap spreads, equity market, and real estate price levels as at the respective calculation dates and assume that all other risk variables remain constant. Changes in interest rates, credit and swap spreads, equity market, and real estate prices in excess of the ranges illustrated may result in other-than-proportionate impacts.

As these market risk sensitivities reflect an instantaneous impact on net income and OCI, they do not include impacts over time such as the effect on fee income in our asset management businesses.

The sensitivities reflect the composition of our assets and liabilities as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Changes in these positions due to new sales or maturities, asset purchases/sales, or other management actions could result in material changes to these reported sensitivities. In particular, these sensitivities reflect the expected impact of hedging activities based on the hedge programs in place as at the June 30 and December 31 calculation dates. The actual impact of hedging activity can differ materially from that assumed in the determination of these indicative sensitivities due to ongoing hedge re-balancing activities, changes in the scale or scope of hedging activities, changes in the cost or general availability of hedging instruments, basis risk (i.e., the risk that hedges do not exactly replicate the underlying portfolio experience), model risk, and other operational risks in the ongoing management of the hedge programs or the potential failure of hedge counterparties to perform in accordance with expectations.  

The sensitivities are based on methods and assumptions in effect as at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, as applicable. Changes in the regulatory environment, accounting or actuarial valuation methods, models, or assumptions (including changes to the ASB promulgated URR) after those dates could result in material changes to these reported sensitivities. Changes in interest rates and equity market prices in excess of the ranges illustrated may result in other than proportionate impacts.

Our hedging programs may themselves expose us to other risks, including basis risk (i.e., the risk that hedges do not exactly replicate the underlying portfolio experience), volatility risk, derivative counterparty credit risk, and increased levels of liquidity risk, model risk and other operational risks. These factors may adversely impact the net effectiveness, costs, and financial viability of maintaining these hedging programs and therefore adversely impact our profitability and financial position. While our hedging programs are intended to mitigate these effects (e.g., hedge counterparty credit risk is managed by maintaining broad diversification, dealing primarily with highly rated counterparties, and transacting through over-the-counter contracts, cleared through central clearing houses, exchange-traded contracts or bilateral over-the-counter contracts negotiated directly between counterparties that include credit support annexes), residual risk, potential reported earnings and capital volatility remain.

For the reasons outlined above, our sensitivities should only be viewed as directional estimates of the underlying sensitivities of each factor under these specialized assumptions, and should not be viewed as predictors of our future net income, OCI, and capital. Given the nature of these calculations, we cannot provide assurance that actual impact will be consistent with the estimates provided.

Information related to market risk sensitivities and guarantees related to segregated fund products should be read in conjunction with the information contained in section M - Accounting and Control Matters - 1 - Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in our 2018 annual MD&A. Additional information on market risk can be found in Note 6 of our 2018 Annual Consolidated Financial Statements and the Risk Factors section in the AIF.

I. Additional Financial Disclosure

1. Revenue 

 

        Quarterly results 

 

Year-to-date

($ millions)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

 

2019

2018

Premiums

           

Gross

5,088

4,942

4,901

 

10,030

10,118

Ceded

(608)

(572)

(586)

 

(1,180)

(1,158)

Net premiums

4,480

4,370

4,315

 

8,850

8,960

Net investment income

           

Interest and other investment income

1,465

1,398

1,398

 

2,863

2,752

Fair value(1) and foreign currency changes on assets and liabilities

2,626

4,154

(405)

 

6,780

(1,953)

Net gains (losses) on available-for-sale assets

33

23

41

 

56

77

Fee income

1,542

1,447

1,477

 

2,989

2,983

Total revenue

10,146

11,392

6,826

 

21,538

12,819

Adjusted revenue(2)

7,546

7,288

7,384

 

14,769

15,091

   

(1) 

Represents the change in FVTPL assets and liabilities.

(2) 

Adjusted revenue is a non-IFRS financial measure that excludes from revenue the impact of Constant Currency Adjustment, FV Adjustment and Reinsurance in Canada's GB Operations Adjustment as described in section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

 

Revenue in the second quarter of 2019 was $10.1 billion, up $3.3 billion compared to the second quarter of 2018. Revenue was $21.5 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2019, up $8.7 billion from the comparable period last year. In both cases, the increase was mainly driven by increases in the fair value of FVTPL assets, largely due to lower interest rate yields in 2019. The currency impact from the change in the Canadian dollar relative to average exchange rates in the second quarter of 2019 and the first six months of 2019 increased revenue by $164 million and $377 million, respectively.

Adjusted revenue was $7.5 billion in the second quarter of 2019, slightly higher than the second quarter of 2018, primarily driven by increased net premium revenue. Adjusted revenue of $14.8 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was $0.3 billion lower compared to the same period last year. The decrease was primarily driven by lower net premium revenue in Asia and Canada, partially offset by higher net premium revenue in the U.S.

2. Changes in the Statements of Financial Position and in Shareholders' Equity
Total general fund assets were $174.3 billion as at June 30, 2019, compared to $168.8 billion as at December 31, 2018, primarily driven by an increase of $6.8 billion from the change in value of FVTPL assets and an increase of $1.9 billion from business activities, partially offset by of a decrease of $3.1 billion from the impact of foreign exchange translation.

Insurance contract liabilities (excluding other policy liabilities and assets) of $120.7 billion as at June 30, 2019 increased by $5.8 billion compared to December 31, 2018, mainly due to changes in balances on in-force policies (which include fair value changes on FVTPL assets supporting insurance contract liabilities) and balances arising from new policies, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange translation.

Shareholders' equity, including preferred share capital, was $23.7 billion as at June 30, 2019, compared to $23.7 billion as at December 31, 2018. The slight change in shareholders' equity included:

(i)  

common share dividend payments of $611 million;

(ii)

a decrease of $539 million from the impacts of foreign exchange translation;

(iii) 

a decrease of $400 million from the repurchase and cancellation of common shares;

(iv) 

changes in the remeasurement of defined benefit plans of $100 million; and

(v) 

$22 million as a result of the adoption of IFRS 16 Leases; offset by

(vi)  

shareholders' net income of $1,266 million in 2019, before preferred share dividends of $48 million;

(vii) 

net unrealized gains on AFS assets in OCI of $400 million; and

(viii)

$13 million from stock options exercised and $4 million from stock-based compensation.

 

 

As at July 24, 2019, SLF Inc. had 591,039,889 common shares, 3,399,484 options to acquire SLF Inc. common shares, and 92,200,000 Class A Shares outstanding.

3. Cash Flows                                                                                          

 

Quarterly results    

 

Year-to-date

($ millions)

Q2'19

Q2'18

 

2019

2018

Net cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

5,252

5,484

 

7,194

5,956

Cash flows provided by (used in):

         

Operating activities

1,901

403

 

674

833

Investing activities

(55)

(68)

 

(92)

(90)

Financing activities

(696)

(398)

 

(1,297)

(1,354)

Changes due to fluctuations in exchange rates

(81)

38

 

(158)

114

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

1,069

(25)

 

(873)

(497)

Net cash and cash equivalents, end of period

6,321

5,459

 

6,321

5,459

Short-term securities, end of period

1,859

2,502

 

1,859

2,502

Net cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities, end of period

8,180

7,961

 

8,180

7,961

 

The operating activities of the Company generate cash flows which include net premium revenue, net investment income, fee income, and the sale and maturity of investments. They are the principal source of funds to pay for policyholder claims and benefits, commissions, operating expenses, and the purchase of investments. Cash flows used in investing activities primarily include transactions related to associates, joint ventures and acquisitions. Cash flows provided by and used in financing activities largely reflect capital transactions including payments of dividends, the issuance and repurchase of shares, as well as the issuance and retirement of debt instruments and preferred shares.

The cash flows used in financing activities in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the same period last year increased due to the repurchase of debt and repurchase of common shares for cancellation and in the second quarter of 2019.

4. Quarterly Financial Results

The following table provides a summary of our results for the eight most recently completed quarters. A more complete discussion of our historical quarterly results can be found in our interim and annual MD&A for the relevant periods.

 

Quarterly results

($ millions, unless otherwise noted)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q4'18

Q3'18

Q2'18

Q1'18

Q4'17

Q3'17

Total revenue

10,146

11,392

8,180

5,998

6,826

5,993

8,648

5,555

Common shareholders' net income (loss)

               

Reported

595

623

580

567

706

669

207

817

Underlying(1)

739

717

718

730

729

770

641

643

Diluted EPS ($)

               

Reported

1.00

1.04

0.96

0.93

1.16

1.09

0.34

1.32

Underlying(1)

1.24

1.20

1.19

1.20

1.20

1.26

1.05

1.05

Basic reported EPS ($)

               

Reported

1.00

1.04

0.96

0.94

1.16

1.10

0.34

1.33

Reported net income (loss) by segment

               

Canada

148

237

96

335

262

249

172

340

U.S.(2)

94

124

118

(267)

105

96

(63)

72

Asset Management

229

219

244

241

214

210

114

185

Asia(2)

134

80

125

164

133

133

121

216

Corporate

(10)

(37)

(3)

94

(8)

(19)

(137)

4

Total reported net income (loss)

595

623

580

567

706

669

207

817

Underlying net income (loss) by segment(1)

               

Canada

243

237

245

251

245

295

232

222

U.S.(2)

110

150

121

139

125

129

95

121

Asset Management

245

227

227

251

216

231

226

204

Asia(2)

147

122

140

110

145

128

111

130

Corporate

(6)

(19)

(15)

(21)

(2)

(13)

(23)

(34)

Total underlying net income (loss)(1)

739

717

718

730

729

770

641

643

   

(1)

Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. See section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.

(2)

Effective January 1, 2018, we transferred our International business unit from the U.S. to Asia, and comparative figures in 2017 have been changed to conform with the current year presentation.

 

First Quarter 2019
Reported net income of $623 million in the first quarter of 2019 decreased $46 million from the first quarter of 2018, while underlying net income decreased $53 million to $717 million. This variance was primarily due to interest on par seed capital of $110 million in the first quarter of 2018 and unfavourable credit experience, partially offset by favourable mortality, lapse and other policyholder behaviour, investing activity gains, morbidity experience, and other experience.

Fourth Quarter 2018
Reported net income was $580 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, an increase compared to the same quarter in 2017, reflecting the $251 million charge in 2017 related to the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, positive impacts from other adjustments and ACMA, partially offset by market related impacts. Underlying net income in the fourth quarter of 2018 increased to $718 million compared to 2017, driven by the effect of the lower income tax rate in the U.S., favourable expense experience that resulted from ongoing expense management and lower incentive compensation costs, and other experience, partially offset by mortality and morbidity experience.

Third Quarter 2018
Reported net income was $567 million in the third quarter of 2018, reflecting a $269 million unfavourable change in ACMA compared to the same quarter in 2017. Underlying net income was $730 million, primarily driven by strong business growth, the lower income tax rate in the U.S. and higher investment income on surplus assets, partially offset by new business strain.

Second Quarter 2018
Reported net income was $706 million in the second quarter of 2018, reflecting an $82 million favourable change in market related impacts compared to the same quarter in 2017. Underlying net income was $729 million, primarily driven by strong business growth and favourable morbidity experience, partially offset by expenses, credit experience, and the impact of investment activity on insurance contract liabilities.

First Quarter 2018
Reported net income was $669 million in the first quarter of 2018, reflecting a $79 million unfavourable change in market related impacts compared to the same quarter in 2017. Underlying net income was $770 million, primarily driven by interest on par seed capital of $110 million, strong business growth, the lower income tax rate in the U.S., as well as the impact of investment activity on insurance contract liabilities, partially offset by weaker mortality and lapse experience.

Fourth Quarter 2017
Reported net income was $207 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, reflecting unfavourable impact of the U.S. tax reform, a restructuring charge, and the impact from interest rates compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. Underlying net income was $641 million, reflecting the growth in our wealth businesses and favourable morbidity and mortality experience.

Third Quarter 2017
Reported net income was $817 million in the third quarter of 2017, reflecting favourable market related activity primarily driven by interest rates and changes in the fair values of real estate, and favourable impact of ACMA, partially offset by the unfavourable impact of the movement of the Canadian dollar and other adjustments compared to the third quarter of 2016. Underlying net income was $643 million, reflecting favourable mortality experience, growth in fee income on our wealth businesses and new business gains, partially offset by a lower level of gains from investing activity.

J. Legal and Regulatory Matters

Information concerning legal and regulatory matters is provided in our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements, our annual MD&A, and the AIF, in each case for the year ended December 31, 2018, and in our Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2019.

K. Changes in Accounting Policies

We have adopted several amended IFRS standards in the current year. In addition, new IFRS standards were issued in the current year. We adopted IFRS 16 Leases, which replaces IAS 17 Leases and related interpretations, on a modified retrospective basis as at January 1, 2019. The adoption of IFRS 16 reduced opening retained earnings by $22 million on an after-tax basis as at January 1, 2019. For additional information, refer to Note 2 in our Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2019.

In 2017, a new accounting standard on insurance contacts, IFRS 17, was issued, replacing the current accounting standard on insurance contracts (IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts). The original effective date was January 1, 2021. In June 2019, the IASB issued an exposure draft ("ED") that proposes targeted amendments to IFRS 17 for public consultation. As part of the ED, the IASB has proposed to defer the effective date by one year to January 1, 2022 as well as extend the deferral option of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments for insurers to that same date. Comments on the proposed amendments are due by September 25, 2019, which will be followed by a discussion period before the IASB finalizes the amendments in 2020. We will consider the implications of these amendments as we assess the financial statement and business implications of the standard as a whole.

L. Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Company's financial reporting and the preparation of its financial statements in accordance with IFRS.

There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the period, which began on April 1, 2019 and ended on June 30, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

M. Non-IFRS Financial Measures

1. Underlying Net Income and Underlying EPS

Underlying net income (loss) and financial measures based on underlying net income (loss), including underlying EPS or underlying loss per share, and underlying ROE, are non-IFRS financial measures. Underlying net income (loss) removes from reported net income (loss) the impact of the following items that create volatility in our results under IFRS and when removed assist in explaining our results from period to period: 

(a) 

market related impacts that differ from our best estimate assumptions, which include: (i) impact of returns in equity markets, netof hedging, for which our best estimate assumptions are approximately 2% per quarter. This also includes the impact of the basis risk inherent in our hedging program, which is the difference between the return on underlying funds of products that provide benefit guarantees and the return on the derivative assets used to hedge those benefit guarantees; (ii) the impact of changes in interest rates in the reporting period and on the value of derivative instruments used in our hedging programs including changes in credit and swap spreads, and any changes to the assumed fixed income reinvestment rates in determining the actuarial liabilities; and (iii) the impact of changes in the fair value of investment properties in the reporting period;

(b)

assumption changes and management actions, which include: (i) the impact of revisions to the methods and assumptions used indetermining our liabilities for insurance contracts and investment contracts; and (ii) the impact on insurance contracts and investment contracts of actions taken by management in the current reporting period, referred to as management actions which include, for example, changes in the prices of in-force products, new or revised reinsurance on in-force business, and material changes to investment policies for assets supporting our liabilities; and 

(c)

Other adjustments:

 

(i)

certain hedges in Canada that do not qualify for hedge accounting - this adjustment enhances the comparability of our net income from period to period, as it reduces volatility to the extent it will be offset over the duration of the hedges;

 

(ii)

fair value adjustments on MFS's share-based payment awards that are settled with MFS's own shares and accounted for as liabilities and measured at fair value each reporting period until they are vested, exercised and repurchased - this adjustment enhances the comparability of MFS's results with publicly traded asset managers in the United States;

 

(iii)

acquisition, integration and restructuring costs (including impacts related to acquiring and integrating acquisitions); and

 

(iv)

 other items that are unusual or exceptional in nature.

 

All factors discussed in this document that impact our underlying net income are also applicable to reported net income. 

All EPS measures in this document refer to fully diluted EPS, unless otherwise stated. As noted below, underlying EPS excludes the dilutive impact of convertible instruments. 

The following table sets out the amounts that were excluded from our underlying net income (loss) and underlying EPS, and provides a reconciliation to our reported net income (loss) and EPS based on IFRS.

Reconciliations of Select Net Income Measures                                                                                                                                            

 

Quarterly results

 

Year-to-date

($ millions, unless otherwise noted)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

 

2019

2018

Reported net income

595

623

706

 

1,218

1,375

Equity market impact

           

Impact from equity market changes

14

68

15

 

82

(20)

Basis risk impact

6

(10)

(6)

 

(4)

(16)

Equity market impact

20

58

9

 

78

(36)

Interest rate impact(1)

           

Impact of interest rate changes

(99)

(122)

(38)

 

(221)

(65)

Impact of credit spread movements

(22)

(27)

6

 

(49)

23

Impact of swap spread movements

7

16

(5)

 

23

(22)

Interest rate impact

(114)

(133)

(37)

 

(247)

(64)

Impact of changes in the fair value of investment properties

(3)

6

36

 

3

40

Market related impacts

(97)

(69)

8

 

(166)

(60)

Assumption changes and management actions

(20)

(11)

1

 

(31)

(2)

Other adjustments:

           

Certain hedges in Canada that do not qualify for hedge accounting

(5)

1

1

 

(4)

7

Fair value adjustments on MFS's share-based payment awards

(11)

(8)

(2)

 

(19)

(23)

Acquisition, integration and restructuring

(11)

(7)

(31)

 

(18)

(46)

Total of other adjustments

(27)

(14)

(32)

 

(41)

(62)

Underlying net income (loss)

739

717

729

 

1,456

1,499

Reported EPS (diluted) ($)

1.00

1.04

1.16

 

2.04

2.25

Market related impacts ($)

(0.16)

(0.12)

0.01

 

(0.27)

(0.10)

Assumption changes and management actions ($)

(0.03)

(0.02)

 

(0.05)

Certain hedges in Canada that do not qualify for hedge accounting ($)

(0.01)

 

(0.01)

0.01

Fair value adjustments on MFS's share-based payment awards ($)

(0.02)

(0.01)

 

(0.03)

(0.03)

Acquisition, integration and restructuring ($)

(0.02)

(0.01)

(0.05)

 

(0.03)

(0.08)

Impact of convertible securities on diluted EPS ($)

 

(0.01)

(0.01)

Underlying EPS (diluted) ($)

1.24

1.20

1.20

 

2.44

2.46

   

(1)

Our exposure to interest rates varies by product type, line of business, and geography. Given the long-term nature of our business, we have a higher degree of sensitivity in respect of interest rates at long durations.

 

2. Additional Non-IFRS Measures

Management also uses the following non-IFRS financial measures:

Return on equity. IFRS does not prescribe the calculation of ROE and therefore a comparable measure under IFRS is not available. To determine reported ROE and underlying ROE, respectively, reported net income (loss) and underlying net income (loss) is divided by the total weighted average common shareholders' equity for the period. The quarterly ROE is annualized. 

Financial leverage ratio. This total debt to total capital ratio is ratio of debt plus preferred shares to total capital, where debt consists of all capital qualifying debt securities. Capital qualifying debt securities consist of subordinated debt and innovative capital instruments. 

Dividend payout ratio. This is the ratio of dividends paid per share to diluted underlying EPS for the period.   

Sales. In Canada, insurance sales consist of sales of individual insurance and group benefits products; wealth sales consist of sales of individual wealth products and sales in GRS. In the U.S., insurance sales consist of sales by Group Benefits. In Asia, insurance sales consist of the individual and group insurance sales by our subsidiaries and joint ventures and associates, based on our proportionate equity interest, in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, China, Malaysia, Vietnam and sales from our International business unit; wealth sales consist of Hong Kong wealth sales, Philippines mutual fund sales, wealth sales by our India and China insurance joint ventures and associates, and Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited's equity and fixed income mutual fund sales based on our proportionate equity interest, including sales as reported by our bank distribution partners. Asset Management sales consist of gross sales (inflows) for retail and institutional Clients; unfunded commitments are not included in sales. Sales are also expressed on a constant currency basis, which is a measure of sales that provides greater comparability across reporting periods by excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuations from the translation of functional currencies to the Canadian dollar.

Value of New Business. VNB represents the present value of our best estimate of future distributable earnings, net of the cost of capital, from new business contracts written in a particular time period, except new business in our Asset Management pillar. The assumptions used in the calculations are generally consistent with those used in the valuation of our insurance contract liabilities except that discount rates used approximate theoretical return expectations of an equity investor. Capital required is based on the higher of Sun Life Assurance's LICAT operating target and local (country specific) operating target capital. VNB is a useful metric to evaluate the present value created from new business contracts. There is no directly comparable IFRS measure.

Adjusted revenue. This measure is an alternative measure of revenue that provides greater comparability across reporting periods, by excluding the impact of: (i) exchange rate fluctuations, from the translation of functional currencies to the Canadian dollar, for comparisons ("Constant Currency Adjustment"); (ii) Fair value and foreign currency changes on assets and liabilities ("FV Adjustment"); and (iii) reinsurance for the insured business in Canada's GB operations ("Reinsurance in Canada's GB Operations Adjustment").                                                                                     

 

Quarterly results

 

 Year-to-date

($ millions)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

 

2019

2018

Revenue

10,146

11,392

6,826

 

21,538

12,819

Constant Currency Adjustment

122

93

 

280

FV Adjustment

2,626

4,154

(405)

 

6,780

(1,953)

Reinsurance in Canada's GB Operations Adjustment

(148)

(143)

(153)

 

(291)

(319)

Adjusted revenue

7,546

7,288

7,384

 

14,769

15,091

 

Adjusted premiums and deposits. This measure is an alternative measure of premiums and deposits that provides greater comparability across reporting periods by excluding the impact of: (i) the Constant Currency Adjustment; and (ii) the Reinsurance in Canada's GB Operations Adjustment.

 

 Quarterly results      

 

Year-to-date

($ millions)

Q2'19

Q1'19

Q2'18

 

2019

2018

Premiums and deposits

43,275

42,781

37,017

 

86,056

83,133

Constant Currency Adjustment

1,213

956

 

2,822

Reinsurance in Canada's GB Operations Adjustment

(148)

(143)

(153)

 

(291)

(319)

Adjusted premiums and deposits

42,210

41,968

37,170

 

83,525

83,452

 

Pre-tax net operating profit margin ratio for MFS. This ratio is a measure of the profitability of MFS, which excludes the impact of fair value adjustments on MFS's share-based payment awards, investment income, and certain commission expenses that are offsetting. These commission expenses are excluded in order to neutralize the impact these items have on the pre-tax operating profit margin ratio and have no impact on the profitability of MFS. There is no directly comparable IFRS measure.

After-tax profit margin for U.S. Group Benefits. This ratio assists in explaining our results from period to period and is a measure of profitability that expresses U.S. Employee Benefits and Medical Stop-Loss underlying net income as a percentage of net premiums. This ratio is calculated by dividing underlying net income (loss) by net premiums for the trailing four quarters. There is no directly comparable IFRS measure. 

Impact of foreign exchange translation. Items impacting our Consolidated Statements of Operations, such as Revenue, Benefits and expenses, and Total net income (loss), are translated into Canadian dollars using average exchange rates for the respective period. For items impacting our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, such as Assets and Liabilities, period end rates are used for currency translation purposes.

Several IFRS financial measures are presented on a constant currency adjusted basis to exclude the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations. These measures are calculated using the average or period end foreign exchange rates, as appropriate, in effect at the date of the comparative period.

Assumption changes and management actions. In this document the impact of ACMA on shareholders' net income (after-tax) is included in reported net income and is excluded in calculating underlying net income, as described in section C - Profitability in this document. 

Real estate market sensitivities. Real estate market sensitivities are non-IFRS financial measures for which there are no directly comparable measures under IFRS so it is not possible to provide a reconciliation of these amounts to the most directly comparable IFRS measures.

Other. Management also uses the following non-IFRS financial measures for which there are no comparable financial measures in IFRS: (i) ASO premium and deposit equivalents, mutual fund sales, managed fund sales, insurance sales, and total premiums and deposits; (ii) AUM, mutual fund assets, managed fund assets, other AUM, and assets under administration; (iii) the value of new business, which is used to measure the estimated lifetime profitability of new sales and is based on actuarial calculations; and (iv) assumption changes and management actions, which is a component of our sources of earnings disclosure. Sources of earnings is an alternative presentation of our Consolidated Statements of Operations that identifies and quantifies various sources of income. The Company is required to disclose its sources of earnings by its principal regulator, OSFI. 

N. Forward-looking Statements

From time to time, the Company makes written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements contained in this document include statements (i) relating to our strategies, (ii) relating to our growth initiatives and other business objectives, (iii) relating to our potential new normal course issuer bid, (iv) relating to the expected impact of the acquisition of BGO on Total shareholders' equity, (v) relating to our annual review of actuarial methods and assumptions, (vi) relating to our expected tax range for future years, (vii) set out in this document under the heading H - Risk Management - 1. Market Risk Sensitivities - Interest Rate Sensitivities, (viii) that are predictive in nature or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and (ix) that include words such as "achieve", "aim", "ambition", "anticipate", "aspiration", "assumption", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "goal", "initiatives", "intend", "may", "objective", "outlook", "plan", "project", "seek", "should", "strategy", "strive", "target", "will", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations. These statements represent our current expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events and are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Future results and shareholder value may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements due to, among other factors, the matters set out in this document under the headings, C - Profitability - 5 - Income taxes, E - Financial Strength and H - Risk Management and in SLF Inc.'s 2018 AIF under the heading Risk Factors and the factors detailed in SLF Inc.'s other filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators, which are available for review at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively.

Important risk factors that could cause our assumptions and estimates, and expectations and projections to be inaccurate and our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this document, are set out below. The realization of our forward-looking statements, essentially depends on our business performance which, in turn, is subject to many risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to: credit risks - related to issuers of securities held in our investment portfolio, debtors, structured securities, reinsurers, counterparties, other financial institutions and other entities; market risks - related to the performance of equity markets; changes or volatility in interest rates or credit spreads or swap spreads; real estate investments; and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; insurance risks - related to policyholder behaviour; mortality experience, morbidity experience and longevity; product design and pricing; the impact of higher-than-expected future expenses; and the availability, cost and effectiveness of reinsurance; business and strategic risks - related to global economic and political conditions; the design and implementation of business strategies; changes in distribution channels or Client behaviour including risks relating to market conduct by intermediaries and agents; the impact of competition; the performance of our investments and investment portfolios managed for Clients such as segregated and mutual funds; changes in the legal or regulatory environment, including capital requirements and tax laws; the environment, environmental laws and regulations; tax matters, including estimates and judgments used in calculating taxes; our international operations, including our joint ventures; market conditions that affect our capital position or ability to raise capital; downgrades in financial strength or credit ratings; and the impact of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; operational risks - related to breaches or failure of information system security and privacy, including cyber-attacks; our ability to attract and retain employees; legal, regulatory compliance and market conduct, including the impact of regulatory inquiries and investigations; the execution and integration of mergers, acquisitions, strategic investments and divestitures; our information technology infrastructure; a failure of information systems and Internet-enabled technology; dependence on third-party relationships, including outsourcing arrangements; business continuity; model errors; information management; and liquidity risks - the possibility that we will not be able to fund all cash outflow commitments as they fall due. 

The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Earnings Conference Call

The Company's second quarter 2019 financial results will be reviewed at a conference call on Thursday, August 1, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. ET. To listen to the call via live audio webcast and to view the presentation slides, as well as related information, please visit www.sunlife.com and click on the link to Quarterly reports under Investors – Financial results and reports 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. Individuals participating in the call in a listen-only mode are encouraged to connect via our webcast. Following the call, the webcast and presentation will be archived and made available on the Company's website, www.sunlife.com, until the Q2 2021 period end. The conference call can also be accessed by phone by dialing 647-427-2311 (International) or 1-866-521-4909 (tollfree within North America). A replay of the conference call will be available from Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. ET until 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 15, 2019 by calling 416-621-4642 or 1-800-585-8367 (toll-free within North America) using Conference ID: 6379369.

Consolidated Statements of Operations                                                                                     

 

      For the three months ended    

For the six months ended

(unaudited, in millions of Canadian dollars except for per share amounts)

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2018

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2018

Revenue

               

Premiums

               

Gross

$

5,088

$

4,901

$

10,030

$

10,118

Less: Ceded

 

608

 

586

 

1,180

 

1,158

Net premiums

 

4,480

 

4,315

 

8,850

 

8,960

Net investment income (loss):

               

Interest and other investment income

 

1,465

 

1,398

 

2,863

 

2,752

Fair value and foreign currency changes on assets and liabilities

 

2,626

 

(405)

 

6,780

 

(1,953)

Net gains (losses) on available-for-sale assets

 

33

 

41

 

56

 

77

Net investment income (loss)

 

4,124

 

1,034

 

9,699

 

876

Fee income

 

1,542

 

1,477

 

2,989

 

2,983

Total revenue

 

10,146

 

6,826

 

21,538

 

12,819

Benefits and expenses

               

Gross claims and benefits paid

 

4,353

 

3,974

 

8,473

 

7,976

Increase (decrease) in insurance contract liabilities

 

3,268

 

167

 

7,908

 

(387)

Decrease (increase) in reinsurance assets

 

(119)

 

(60)

 

(140)

 

(45)

Increase (decrease) in investment contract liabilities

 

18

 

(2)

 

42

 

(9)

Reinsurance expenses (recoveries)

 

(503)

 

(519)

 

(1,011)

 

(1,047)

Commissions

 

586

 

589

 

1,150

 

1,162

Net transfer to (from) segregated funds

 

(96)

 

(74)

 

(181)

 

(91)

Operating expenses

 

1,697

 

1,626

 

3,365

 

3,244

Premium taxes

 

104

 

95

 

204

 

187

Interest expense

 

84

 

78

 

172

 

153

Total benefits and expenses

 

9,392

 

5,874

 

19,982

 

11,143

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

754

 

952

 

1,556

 

1,676

Less: Income tax expense (benefit)

 

90

 

182

 

178

 

301

Total net income (loss)

 

664

 

770

 

1,378

 

1,375

Less: Net income (loss) attributable to participating policyholders

 

45

 

41

 

112

 

(47)

Shareholders' net income (loss)

 

619

 

729

 

1,266

 

1,422

Less: Preferred shareholders' dividends

 

24

 

23

 

48

 

47

Common shareholders' net income (loss)

$

595

$

706

$

1,218

$

1,375

                   

Average exchange rates during the reporting periods:

                 
 

U.S. dollars

 

1.34

 

1.29

 

1.33

 

1.28

                   

Earnings (loss) per share

                 

Basic

 

$

1.00

$

1.16

$

2.05

$

2.26

Diluted

 

$

1.00

$

1.16

$

2.04

$

2.25

Dividends per common share

 

$

0.525

$

0.475

$

1.025

$

0.930

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

 

As at

(unaudited, in millions of Canadian dollars)

June 30,
2019

December 31,
2018

Assets

   

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term securities

$

8,188

$

9,506

Debt securities

78,677

74,443

Equity securities

4,850

4,634

Mortgages and loans

47,485

46,822

Derivative assets

1,914

1,112

Other invested assets

5,095

4,830

Policy loans

3,196

3,222

Investment properties

7,229

7,157

Invested assets

156,634

151,726

Other assets

5,114

4,498

Reinsurance assets

4,210

4,141

Deferred tax assets

1,305

1,209

Intangible assets

1,753

1,779

Goodwill

5,309

5,412

Total general fund assets

174,325

168,765

Investments for account of segregated fund holders

111,684

103,062

Total assets

$

286,009

$

271,827

Liabilities and equity

       

Liabilities

       

Insurance contract liabilities

$

127,728

$

121,923

Investment contract liabilities

3,145

3,164

Derivative liabilities

1,804

2,295

Deferred tax liabilities

393

322

Other liabilities

12,506

12,153

Senior debentures

1,300

1,299

Subordinated debt

2,791

3,039

Total general fund liabilities

149,667

144,195

Insurance contracts for account of segregated fund holders

105,168

96,663

Investment contracts for account of segregated fund holders

6,516

6,399

Total liabilities

$

261,351

$

247,257

Equity

       

Issued share capital and contributed surplus

$

10,659

$

10,749

Shareholders' retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income

13,025

12,957

Total shareholders' equity

23,684

23,706

Participating policyholders' equity

974

864

Total equity

$

24,658

$

24,570

Total liabilities and equity

$

286,009

$

271,827

         

Exchange rates at the end of the reporting periods:

U.S. dollars 

   

1.31

 

1.36

                                                                                                                                                                               

Media Relations Contact:                                                                  
Noah Zatzman
Corporate Communications
Tel: 647-256-1866
noah.zatzman@sunlife.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Leigh Chalmers
Senior Vice-President, Head of Investor Relations & Capital Management
Tel: 647-256-8201
investor.relations@sunlife.com

 

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.