Sun Life Global Investments broadens fund line-up with the addition of Invesco Canada and Bridgehouse Asset Managers

Launches three new corporate class funds

TORONTO, March 30, 2015 /CNW/ - Sun Life Global Investments (Canada) Inc. has launched three new corporate class mutual funds for retail investors today, in a move that expands its product offering with Franklin Templeton Institutional and brings on board Invesco Canada Ltd. (Invesco) and Bridgehouse Asset Managers.

"The launch of these funds underscores our commitment to offering Canadians great products and more tax smart avenues for diversifying their investments," said Sadiq S. Adatia, Chief Investment Officer at Sun Life Global Investments. "We are excited to welcome Invesco and Bridgehouse Asset Managers to our growing line up of world-class sub advisors and to further enhance our relationship with Franklin Templeton Institutional."

These new funds offer Canadian retail investors access to top-tier investment companies through the Sun Life Global Investments platform. Trimark Investments, part of Invesco, and Sionna Investment Managers Inc. (Sionna), a sub-advisor of Bridgehouse Asset Managers, bring a common focus on building and protecting wealth to achieve long-term investment performance. Franklin Templeton Institutional, part of Franklin Templeton Investments, joined the Sun Life Global Investments sub-advisor roster in February this year.

"We are proud of our partnership with Sun Life Global Investments and excited to be expanding our relationship," said Scott McLean, Senior Vice President and Head of Retail Distribution, Invesco Canada. "Together, we are committed to helping Canadians grow and protect their wealth."

The new funds to be launched are:
Sun Life Franklin Bissett Canadian Equity Class
Sun Life Trimark Canadian Class
Sun Life Sionna Canadian Small Cap Equity Class

"We are honored to be included in the highly selective and successful Sun Life Global Investments line-up," said Carol Lynde, Bridgehouse Asset Managers President and COO. "Canadian small caps have historically been one of the best performing long-term asset classes and Sionna's proprietary relative value approach has been able to harness that return potential without taking on as much risk."  

Bridgehouse Asset Managers is a trade name of Brandes Investment Partners & Co. Bridgehouse is the portfolio advisor, manager, promoter and trustee of the Bridgehouse Funds. Bridgehouse retains Sionna as a portfolio sub-advisor for Canadian small cap equities mandates and this relationship will benefit Sun Life Sionna Canadian Small Cap Equity Class.

Sun Life Global Investments has over $10 billion in client assets under management, as of January 31, 2015, and now offers 61 retail mutual funds.

The new funds will be available through Sun Life Financial advisors, Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA) and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) dealers.

About Sun Life Global Investments (Canada) Inc.

Sun Life Global Investments (Canada) Inc. brings together the strength of one of Canada's most trusted names in financial services with some of the best asset managers from around the world. With a focus on risk management, our rigorous selection and monitoring process provides access to leading asset managers who use insight and innovation to manage high quality investment solutions for Canadian investors. Sun Life Global Investments (Canada) Inc. is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. For more information, visit www.sunlifeglobalinvestments.com.

About Sun Life Financial

Celebrating 150 years in 2015, Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial and its partners have operations in key 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 December 31, 2014 the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $734 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.

Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollars.

About Invesco Canada Ltd.

Invesco Canada Ltd., operating under three distinct yet complementary product brands (Trimark, Invesco and PowerShares), is one of Canada's leading investment management companies. A subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., Invesco Canada's singular focus is on investment management, offering a diversified suite of solutions to institutions, organizations, companies and individual investors across Canada and around the world. Additional information is available at www.invesco.ca

About Franklin Templeton Investments 

Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. (Canada) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN], a global investment management organization. Franklin Templeton Institutional (Canada), part of Franklin Templeton Investments Corp., offers clients global and domestic investment capabilities across a diverse range of asset classes and styles. Each manager's specialized expertise, combined with Franklin Templeton's global institutional platform, balanced portfolio services and risk management capabilities, provides clients with investment strategies that can be tailored to meet their unique objectives. The company's more than 600 investment professionals are supported by its integrated, worldwide team of risk management professionals and global trading desk network. With offices in 35 countries, the California–based company has more than 65 years of investment experience and over US$880 billion (over C$1,022 billion) in assets under management as of December 31, 2014. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.ca and ftinstitutional.ca

About Bridgehouse Asset Managers

Bridgehouse Asset Managers (Bridgehouse), a trade name of Brandes Investment Partners & Co. (Brandes), offers time-tested investment solutions to Canadians, leveraging the expertise of world-class investment managers. In everything it does, Bridgehouse is committed to partnering with investment professionals to help Canadians reach their financial goals and become smarter investors.

Bridgehouse is defined by its:

• Independence in ownership and thinking, which enables it to truly align with clients' goals, and do the right thing for client portfolios and businesses today and tomorrow.
• Dedication to advancing investor knowledge, demonstrated through its commitment to developing investor knowledge initiatives that help Canadians make informed decisions.
• Commitment to its community, dedicating time and financial support to charities that positively impact the lives of Canadians and make a real difference in their communities.

For more about Bridgehouse, Brandes, Greystone, Lazard or Sionna, visit: bridgehousecanada.com  

Units of the Bridgehouse Funds are available through registered dealers only and not available through Bridgehouse.

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Canada