Sun Life to buy Ryan Labs, adding $5.1 billion under management

By Katia Dmitrieva

January 28, 2015 at 07:53 AM

Share & Print

(Bloomberg) — Sun Life Financial Inc., Canada's third- largest life insurer, agreed to buy Ryan Labs Inc. to add $5.1 billion under management and expand in the U.S.

The purchase will build the business overseeing bonds for investors including pension funds and institutional clients, the Toronto-based buyer said Wednesday in a statement that didn't disclose terms. The target company will retain its New York headquarters and the Ryan Labs Asset Management brand name. President Sean McShea will continue to run the operation, reporting to Sun Life Chief Investment Officer Steve Peacher.

"Bringing an established and innovative firm like Ryan Labs into our family is a significant first step in building Sun Life Investment Management's third-party business in the U.S.," Peacher said in the statement.

Sun Life started a third-party asset-management arm in 2014, seeking to add fee revenue and distance itself from more capital-intensive operations such as annuities. The insurer in May hired Carl Bang from the Qatar Foundation Endowment as president of Sun Life Investment Management Inc. to help lead a push with pension clients.

Sun Life had about C$698 billion ($561 billion) of assets under management as of Sept. 30 including mutual funds and insurance-unit holdings.

Berkshire Capital Securities LLC was financial adviser for Sun Life, and Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP provided legal advice. The seller used Corporate Partners LLC and Arnold & Porter LLP. The transaction will be completed this quarter, according to the statement.

NOT FOR REPRINT