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 fund listed below, which is established as a segregated fund in accordance with the Insurance Companies Act (Canada).

 

Sun Life regularly reviews the Core investment platform in response to Client interest and evolving fund offerings in the market.

Effective April 1st 2021, Sun Life added Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. (“Global Alpha”) as a new investment partner on our core investment platforms. Sun Life added the following fund to the DC and DB core platforms:

  • Global Alpha Group Global Small Cap Fund

 

About Global Alpha

Founded in 2008, Global Alpha is a Quebec-based investment management firm. They manage solely global and international small capitalization equities. The firm managed C$5.3 billion in assets as of December 31, 2020.

Global Alpha is an affiliate of Connor, Clark and Lunn Financial Group Ltd. (CC&L), who own 49% of the organization. The remaining 51% of the firm is owned by six members of the Global Alpha team. This allows them to focus their efforts on portfolio management while CC&L provide non-investment management functions.

 

About Global Alpha Group Global Small Cap Fund

The fund seeks to maximize long-term total return through investment in global small capitalization stocks. The firm’s investment style is characterized as Core with a Growth style bias. It’s driven by bottom-up security selection and based on fundamental analysis. They use a global thematic perspectives and a risk controlled approach. The strategy consists of a concentrated portfolio of 50-70 global small capitalization stocks, with generally low turnover. The fund’s benchmark is the MSCI World Small Cap Index Net ($C).

Global Alpha integrates Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) factors into the investment analysis. They use a proprietary scoring methodology and incorporate these scores when analyzing companies. The firm also monitors the carbon footprint of its portfolios. Global Alpha became a signatory to the United Nations’ Principles of Responsible Investment (UNPRI) in 2012.

 

Do you have to take any action?
You do not need to take any action. You may consider whether the new fund would be a suitable addition to your lineup.

 

Questions?
Please contact your Sun Life Group Retirement Services representative.