Sun Life Financial Inc. - SLF STOCK NEWS

Sun Life U.S. has appointed Maya Beri as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO). Beri, who previously served as senior managing director and CIO for SLC Management, brings decades of experience in technology and IT strategy to the role. In her new position, Beri will oversee the expansion of digital solutions to enhance health and benefits accessibility for members.

Key focus areas include:

• Expanding Sun Life Link, a portfolio of APIs connecting Sun Life's benefits to HR systems
• Enhancing Sun Life Onboard for streamlined client onboarding
• Implementing AI to simplify manual tasks and improve employee efficiency

Beri's appointment aims to drive innovation and provide connected benefits solutions in the complex U.S. healthcare ecosystem.

Sun Life U.S. has been named a Top Workplace by the Hartford Courant for the fourth consecutive year, highlighting its flexible culture, strong benefits, and employee engagement. This recognition adds to the company's growing list of workplace awards in various locations across the United States.

The Top Workplaces recognition is based on employee surveys conducted by Energage and information about the company's employee programming. Sun Life U.S. offers a generous paid family and medical leave program, sabbaticals, and a flexible, hybrid work model. The company has received Top Workplace recognitions from USA Today, Hartford Courant, Boston Globe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and Baltimore Sun.

In addition, Sun Life has garnered awards from other organizations, including:

• Forbes Best Employers for Diversity
• Forbes America's Best Large Employers
• Great Place to Work certification
• Bloomberg Gender Equality Index
• Girls Club Top 25 Companies Where Women Want to Work
• 100% score on Human Rights Commission Corporate Equality Index

Sun Life U.S. and The Kansas City Royals Foundation have partnered for the seventh year on #StrikeoutDiabetes, raising $50,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. The initiative supports local organizations helping people manage health and avoid type 2 diabetes. Since its inception, #StrikeoutDiabetes has raised over $230,000 for Kansas City non-profits.

Sun Life, as a benefits provider, focuses on broadening access to care and supporting vulnerable communities. The company has been a Royals partner since 2017 and conducts similar programs with the Boston Celtics and Maine Celtics. Sun Life U.S. also offers the Health Access grant program and sponsors the American Diabetes Association. Globally, Sun Life has donated more than $37 million to diabetes and health causes.

Sun Life U.S. has launched Clinical 360+, a stop-loss program designed to improve health access and outcomes for members. This new offering expands on the original Clinical 360 program, providing personalized resources, tools, and care services to help members better manage their health. The program includes:

• A specialty and infusion drug program
• At-home kidney and heart care management
• A musculoskeletal condition program
• Access to care advocacy and navigation
• Sun Life Health 360 mobile app

Clinical 360+ is available to small-to-mid-sized self-insured employers using third-party administrators. Sun Life, the largest independent stop-loss provider in the U.S., covers high-dollar claims for self-insured customers. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 65% of covered employees in the country are enrolled in self-funded plans as of 2023.

Sun Life U.S. and the Hartford Yard Goats have raised $13,000 through their second annual Strikeout for a Cause campaign. The funds will support Hartford Behavioral Health (HBH), a local nonprofit providing behavioral health services to adults and children in need. Over two years, the partnership has raised a total of $26,000 for HBH.

HBH offers bilingual, trauma-informed services addressing issues such as grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse recovery. Sun Life's president of Health and Risk Solutions, Jen Collier, emphasized the importance of access to mental health services, particularly in underserved communities. The partnership aims to ensure HBH can continue providing essential services to Hartford residents.

Sun Life (SLF) has announced significant leadership changes for its Canadian operations, effective September 30, 2024. Jacques Goulet will transition to the role of Executive Chair, Sun Life Canada, while Jessica Tan will succeed him as President, Sun Life Canada. Goulet, who has led Sun Life Canada since 2018, will support the leadership transition and continue to drive key elements of the enterprise strategy. Tan brings extensive global experience in insurance and digital innovation, having previously served as co-CEO of a major Asian insurer and as a partner at McKinsey.

These changes aim to build on Sun Life Canada's strong momentum and further its focus on helping clients achieve financial security and live healthier lives. The transition highlights Sun Life's commitment to innovation, digital transformation, and client-centric approaches in the Canadian market.

Sun Life U.S. has announced an enhancement to its claims connectivity, integrating claims across disability, supplemental health, stop-loss, and dental products. This integration allows for automatic processing of all applicable benefits when a member files a single claim, ensuring faster and easier access to coverage. The innovation builds on a previous solution that allowed members to file one claim for all applicable leaves from work.

Key features of the enhanced connectivity include:

• Automatic processing of supplemental health benefits for short-term disability claims
• Initiation of additional supplemental health payments from an initial claim
• Automatic critical illness benefits for stop-loss cancer claims
• Wellness benefits for dental members with supplemental health coverage

This integration aims to improve the benefits experience for workers and create advantages for employers who purchase multiple Sun Life U.S. products.

Sun Life U.S. has awarded $350,000 in Health Access Grants to six community health organizations across the United States. The grants aim to address health and wellness issues in underserved communities, focusing on diabetes, oral health care, and related health concerns. Since 2016, Sun Life has donated over $2 million through this program, helping thousands of individuals and families access vital health services.

The 2024 grant recipients include organizations providing mobile dentistry, dental care for homeless teens, support for diabetic limb loss patients, nutrition programs for youth, and expanded access to oral health care in various states. These initiatives target areas with access to health providers and services, aiming to improve community health outcomes.

Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) has announced the renewal of its normal course issuer bid (NCIB) to purchase up to 15,000,000 common shares, representing approximately 2.6% of its outstanding shares. The NCIB, approved by regulatory authorities, will run from August 29, 2024, to August 28, 2025. Sun Life can purchase up to 527,068 shares daily on the TSX, subject to certain conditions. Purchases may be made through various Canadian trading platforms at market rates, and potentially through private agreements or share repurchase programs. The company has established an automatic repurchase plan with its designated broker to facilitate purchases during blackout periods. Under its prior NCIB, Sun Life purchased 10,300,710 shares at an average price of $69.40.