Sun Life named one of the 2017 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World

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Jan 17, 2017, 08:00 ET

Only North American insurance company to be listed

TORONTO, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - For the eighth consecutive year, Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) ("Sun Life Financial") has been named among the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World (the "Global 100"), in a ranking maintained by Corporate Knights, a Toronto based media and investment advisory company. Sun Life is one of only six Canadian companies across all sectors included in the ranking, and the only North American insurance company to earn a spot on the 2017 Global 100.

"At Sun Life, we understand that sustainability is key to meeting our long-term commitments to clients, employees, advisors and shareholders," said Melissa Kennedy, Executive Vice-President, Chief Legal Officer and Public Affairs, Sun Life Financial. "Being named as one of the most sustainable companies in the world aligns with our commitment to continue to strengthen our sustainability practices and advance our strategy."

Sun Life's sustainability strategy is focused on four areas where the company continues to deepen its commitment to building sustainable, healthier communities for life:

Community Wellness – Since announcing our support of diabetes in 2012, Sun Life has proudly committed over $17 million to diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives across the globe.

Organizational Resilience – In 2017, Sun Life was recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers, and in 2015 received Excellence Canada's platinum award recognizing Sun Life as one of the nation's best-run corporations in areas such as leadership, strategy, client experience and engagement.

Environmental Responsibility – Sun Life has continued to ensure strong environmental stewardship across its properties worldwide, including its new global headquarters at One York in Toronto, Canada, and through investments across asset classes, including private fixed income investments in green and renewable energy projects.

In 2016, Sun Life invested approximately half a billion dollars in eight green and renewable energy projects
In 2017, Sun Life's headquarters will relocate to One York, a newly constructed office tower which is targeting LEED Platinum Certification
For six consecutive years, Bentall Kennedy, a Sun Life Investment Management company, has been ranked among the top firms around the world for its commitment to sustainable investing by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB)
Also for six consecutive years, Bentall Kennedy has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership and achievements in energy efficiency

Governance and Risk Management – Sun Life was the first major Canadian life insurer to become a signatory to the United Nations supported Principles for Responsible Investment in 2014, and Bentall Kennedy was an early adopter, becoming a signatory in 2009. In 2016, Sun Life ranked in the top ten in the Globe and Mail Report on Business' Board Games review of corporate governance practices of Canada's largest companies.

The Global 100 ranking was announced today by Corporate Knights at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Applying a data driven approach, Corporate Knights assesses roughly 4,000 global mid-, large-, and mega-cap companies in all industries and geographies to arrive at the 2017 Global 100. The ranking is based on companies' scores on key performance indicators covering resource, employee and financial management and supplier performance.

To learn about Sun Life's sustainability strategy and initiatives, visit the Sustainability page on www.sunlife.com.

About Sun Life Financial
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 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 September 30, 2016, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $908 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.