TORONTO, ON; WELLESLEY, MA; MONUMENT, CO – (February 1, 2023) – Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) (“Sun Life”) today announced the completion of its acquisition of a 51%1 stake in Advisors Asset Management, Inc. (“AAM”), a leading independent U.S. retail distribution firm. AAM will be part of SLC Management, Sun Life’s institutional fixed income and alternatives asset manager. AAM will become the U.S. retail distribution arm of SLC Management.

AAM provides a range of solutions and products to financial advisors at wirehouses, registered investment advisors and independent broker-dealers. AAM will have exclusive rights to market and promote SLC Management’s specified alternative investment products to the U.S. retail market. AAM oversees US$40.5 billion (approximately C$55 billion) in assets as of December 31, 2022. With 10 offices across nine U.S. states, AAM has a team of more than 270 professionals.

With the growing demand among high-net-worth (“HNW”) retail investors for alternative assets in the U.S., the acquisition of a majority stake in AAM will allow SLC Management and its affiliated investment managers, BentallGreenOak, Crescent Capital Group and InfraRed Capital Partners, to offer their investment strategies to the U.S. HNW market. The transaction is also strategic for AAM, which will expand its product roster to include a range of alternative products in commercial real estate, private credit and infrastructure.

The transaction includes a put / call option, pursuant to which Sun Life may acquire the remaining outstanding ownership interests of AAM starting in 2028. AAM will continue to operate under its current leadership and will retain its individual brand, office locations and clients.