Addition of Boston Partners International Equity and Global Equity Segregated Funds to the Core investment platform

September 03, 2024

Plan sponsors may wish to consider whether this investment news has any implications for the investment options available within their plans. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada purchases units of the funds listed below, which are established as segregated funds in accordance with the Insurance Companies Act (Canada).

We’re pleased to announce the addition of Boston Partners Global Investors, Inc. (Boston Partners) as a new investment manager on Sun Life’s core platform. Starting on September 1, 2024, Sun Life GRS will offer the Boston Partners International Equity and Boston Partners Global Equity Segregated Funds.

The addition of Boston Partners as a new investment partner demonstrates Sun Life’s commitment to enhance our platform with managers and funds, which are appealing to clients and that complement our existing options. The funds add breadth to our foreign equity offerings that are managed with a Value investment style.

About the Boston Partners International Equity Segregated Fund

The Boston Partners International Equity strategy aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing in companies outside of United States and Canada. The fund targets between 75 and 125 holdings. The benchmark is the MSCI EAFE (Net) Index.

About the Boston Partners Global Equity Segregated Fund

The Boston Partners Global Equity strategy aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing in companies located throughout the world. The fund targets between 75 and 125 holdings. The benchmark for the fund is the MSCI World (Net) Index.

Boston Partners’ investment team uses a combination of quantitative modelling with bottom-up fundamental research to identify high quality companies with strong fundamentals and balance sheets.

Both funds have the flexibility to invest in large and small capitalization companies. However, most of the holdings are large capitalization companies.

Boston Partners manage both strategies independently from their respective benchmark. Therefore, the funds have broad guidelines relative to their benchmarks, as follows:

  • Cash: Remain fully invested (typically 0%-5% cash balance).
  • Issuer: Generally, no holding shall represent more than 5% of the market value of funds
  • Industry: No more than 25% invested in any one industry.
  • Sector: No more than 35% invested in any one sector.
  • Emerging Markets: While the funds will predominately invest in developed securities markets, the funds can invest up to 20% in Emerging Markets.

We believe that the investment team is well-resourced and experienced in managing foreign equities.

About Boston Partners

Boston Partners is an asset management firm based in Boston. The firm also has offices in New York, Los Angeles and Greenbrae (California) and London. As of June 30, 2024, Boston Partners had 175 employees and C$139 billion of assets under management across different regions and market capitalizations.

Do you have to take any action?

You don’t need to take any action. You may consider whether the new funds would be a suitable addition to your lineup.

Questions?

Please contact your Sun Life Group Retirement Services representative.