SUN LIFE OF CANADA U S VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
485BPOS, 1997-04-23
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<PAGE>

                                                        Registration No. 2-78738
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                              


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C.  20549

                              ---------------------

                                    FORM N-4
   
                         POST EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 19
    
                                       to
          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  /X/
                                       and
                   REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT
                               COMPANY ACT OF 1940               /X/

                  SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
                           (Exact Name of Registrant)

                   SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
                               (Name of Depositor)

                           One Sun Life Executive Park
                      Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts  02181
                            (Address of Depositor's 
                          Principal Executive Offices)

                  Depositor's Telephone Number:  (617) 237-6030
   
                           Bonnie S. Angus, Assistant Vice President
                   Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)
                           One Sun Life Executive Park
                      Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts  02181
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)
    

                         Copies of Communications to:  

                              David N. Brown, Esq.
                               Covington & Burling
                         1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
                                  P.O. Box 7566
                             Washington, D.C.  20044

   
/X/  It is proposed that this filing will become effective on May 1, 1997
     pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
    

   
Pursuant to the provisions of Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of
1940, the Registrant has registered an indefinite amount of securities under
the Securities Act of 1933.  The Rule 24f-2 Notice  for the fiscal  year ended
December 31, 1996 was filed on February 28, 1997.
    

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
   
                          Amendment No. 19 to Form N-4
    
               Cross Reference Sheet Required by Rule 495(a) under
                           The Securities Act of 1933



Item Number in Form N-4                 Location in Prospectus; Caption
- -----------------------                 -------------------------------

PART A
- ------

   1.   Cover Page                      Cover Page

   2.   Definitions                     Definitions

   3.   Synopsis                        Synopsis; Expense Summary 

   4.   Condensed Financial             Condensed Financial Information
        Information

   5.   General Description of          A Word About the Company, the
        Registrant, Depositor           Variable Account, and the Funds
        and Portfolio Companies         

   6.   Deductions                      Contract Charges; Cash
                                        Withdrawals

   7.   General Description of          Purchase Payments and Contract
        Variable Annuity Contracts      Values During Accumulation
                                        Period; Other Contractual
                                        Provisions

   8.   Annuity Period                  Annuity Provisions

   9.   Death Benefit                   Death Benefit

  10.   Purchases and Contract          Purchase Payments and Contract
        Value                           Values During Accumulation
                                        Period

  11.   Redemptions                     Cash Withdrawals 

  12.   Taxes                           Federal Tax Status

  13.   Legal Proceedings               Legal Proceedings

  14.   Table of Contents of the        Table of Contents for
        Statement of Additional         Statement of Additional
        Information                     Information
<PAGE>

                                        Location in Statement of 
Item Number in Form N-4                 Additional Information; Caption
- -----------------------                 -------------------------------

PART B
- ------

  15.   Cover Page                      Cover Page

  16.   Table of Contents               Table of Contents

  17.   General Information and         General Information
        History

  18.   Services                        Other Contractual Provisions* 

  19.   Purchase of Securities          Purchase Payments and Contract
        Being Offered                   Values During Accumulation Period*

  20.   Underwriters                    Distribution of the Contracts*

  21.   Calculation of Performance      Not Applicable
        Data

  22.   Annuity Payments                Annuity Provisions

  23.   Financial Statements            Financial Statements







*  In the Prospectus

<PAGE>

                                     PART A

                      INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS


   
      Attached hereto and made a part hereof is the Prospectus dated May 1,
1997.
    

<PAGE>
   
                                                                      PROSPECTUS
                                                                     MAY 1, 1997
    
 
                                   COMPASS I
 
The  individual flexible  payment deferred  annuity contracts  (the "Contracts")
offered by this Prospectus  are designed for use  in connection with  retirement
plans  which meet  the requirements  of Sections  401 or  408 (excluding Section
408(b)) of the Internal Revenue Code. No  Contracts have been issued for use  in
connection  with deferred compensation plans established pursuant to Section 457
of the Code since May  1, 1990. The Contracts are  issued by Sun Life  Assurance
Company  of Canada (U.S.) (the "Company"). The Company's Annuity Service Mailing
Address: is  c/o  Sun  Life  Annuity Service  Center,  P.O.  Box  1024,  Boston,
Massachusetts 02103.
 
    The  Owner of a Contract may elect  to have Contract values accumulated on a
fixed basis in the Fixed Account (which is part of the Company's general account
and pays interest at a guaranteed fixed rate) or on a variable basis in Sun Life
of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C (the "Variable Account"), a separate account
of the Company,  or divided among  the Fixed Account  and Variable Account.  The
Variable  Account uses its assets to purchase, at their net asset value, Class A
shares in one or more of the  following mutual funds selected by the Owner  from
among  a  group  of mutual  funds  advised by  Massachusetts  Financial Services
Company, a  wholly-owned subsidiary  of the  Company: MFS-Registered  Trademark-
Money  Market  Fund;  MFS-Registered Trademark-  Government  Money  Market Fund;
MFS-Registered Trademark- World Governments Fund; MFS-Registered Trademark- Bond
Fund; MFS-Registered  Trademark-  High Income  Fund;  MFS-Registered  Trademark-
Total  Return  Fund;  Massachusetts Investors  Trust;  MFS-Registered Trademark-
Research Fund; Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund;
MFS-Registered Trademark- Growth Opportunities Fund; and
MFS-Registered Trademark-  Emerging Growth  Fund (the  "Mutual Fund(s)"  or  the
"Fund(s)".  If the  Owner elects  certain forms  of an  annuity as  a retirement
benefit, payments may be  funded from either the  Fixed Account or the  Variable
Account  or from both of the Accounts. Contract values allocated to the Variable
Account and annuity payments  elected on a variable  basis will vary to  reflect
the investment performance of the Funds selected by the Owner.
 
   
    This  Prospectus sets forth information about the Contracts and the Variable
Account that a  prospective purchaser should  know before investing.  Additional
information about the Contracts and the Variable Account has been filed with the
Securities  and  Exchange Commission  in a  Statement of  Additional Information
dated May 1, 1997  which is incorporated herein  by reference. The Statement  of
Additional Information is available from the Company without charge upon written
request  to the  above address  or by telephoning  (800) 752-7215.  The Table of
Contents for the Statement of Additional Information is shown on page 18 of this
Prospectus.
    
 
THE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED  BY,
ANY  BANK,  AND  ARE NOT  FEDERALLY  INSURED  BY THE  FEDERAL  DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
THIS PROSPECTUS IS VALID  ONLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY  THE CURRENT PROSPECTUSES  OF
THE MUTUAL FUNDS.
 
THIS PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
<S>                                                                         <C>
Definitions                                                                   2
Synopsis                                                                      3
Expense Summary                                                               4
Condensed Financial Information                                               6
Financial Statements                                                          6
A Word About the Company, the Variable Account and the Funds                  7
Purchase Payments and Contract Values During Accumulation Period              9
Cash Withdrawals                                                             10
Death Benefit                                                                11
Contract Charges                                                             12
Annuity Provisions                                                           13
Other Contractual Provisions                                                 15
Federal Tax Status                                                           16
Distribution of the Contracts                                                18
Legal Proceedings                                                            18
Contract Owner Inquiries                                                     18
Table of Contents for Statement of Additional Information                    18
Appendix A--State Premium Taxes                                              18
</TABLE>
 
                                  DEFINITIONS
 
    The following terms as used in this Prospectus have the indicated meanings:
 
Accumulation  Account:   An account  established for  the Contract  to which net
Purchase Payments are credited in the form of Accumulation Units.
 
Accumulation Unit:  A unit  of measure used in the  calculation of the value  of
the  Accumulation Account. There  are two types  of Accumulation Units: Variable
Accumulation Units and Fixed Accumulation Units.
 
Annuitant:  The person or  persons named in the Contract  and on whose life  the
first annuity payment is to be made.
 
Annuity Commencement Date:  The date on which the first annuity payment is to be
made.
 
Annuity  Unit:  A unit of  measure used in the calculation  of the amount of the
second and each subsequent Variable Annuity payment.
 
Beneficiary:  The person who has the right to the death benefit set forth in the
Contract.
 
Contract Years and Contract Anniversaries:  The first Contract Year shall be the
period of  12 months  plus a  part of  a month  as measured  from the  date  the
Contract  is issued  to the first  day of  the calendar month  which follows the
calendar month of issue. All  Contract Years and Anniversaries thereafter  shall
be  12  month periods  based upon  such first  day of  the calendar  month which
follows the calendar month of issue.
 
Due  Proof  of  Death:    An  original  certified  copy  of  an  official  death
certificate,  an original  certified copy  of a decree  of a  court of competent
jurisdiction as to the finding of death, or any other proof satisfactory to  the
Company.
 
Fixed  Account:  The Fixed  Account consists of all  assets of the Company other
than those allocated to separate accounts of the Company.
 
Fixed Annuity:  An annuity with payments which do not vary as to dollar amount.
 
Owner:  The person, persons or entity entitled to the ownership rights stated in
the Contract and in whose name or  names the Contract is issued. The Owner  must
be the trustee or custodian of a retirement plan which meets the requirements of
Section  401 or Section  408 (excluding Section 408(b))  of the Internal Revenue
Code.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
Payee:  The recipient of  payments under the Contract.  The term may include  an
Annuitant  or a Beneficiary who  becomes entitled to benefits  upon the death of
the Annuitant.
 
Purchase Payment (Payment):  An  amount paid to the Company  by the Owner or  on
the Owner's behalf as consideration for the benefits provided by the Contract.
 
Sub-Account:   That portion of the Variable Account which invests in shares of a
specific Mutual Fund.
 
Valuation Period:   The period of  time from one  determination of  Accumulation
Unit  and  Annuity Unit  values to  the next  subsequent determination  of these
values.
 
Variable Annuity:  An annuity  with payments which vary  as to dollar amount  in
relation to the investment performance of specified Sub-Accounts of the Variable
Account.
 
                                    SYNOPSIS
 
    Purchase  Payments are allocated to Sub-Accounts  of the Variable Account or
to the Fixed Account or to both  Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account as  selected
by  the Owner. Purchase Payments must total at least $300 for the first Contract
Year and each Purchase Payment must be at least $25 (see "Purchase Payments"  on
page 9). Subject to certain conditions, during the accumulation period the Owner
may,  without charge,  transfer amounts among  the Sub-Accounts  and between the
Sub-Accounts and the Fixed  Account (see "Transfers/Conversions of  Accumulation
Units" on page 10).
 
    No  sales charge is deducted from Purchase Payments; however, if any portion
of a  Contract's Accumulation  Account  is surrendered  the Company  will,  with
certain  exceptions, deduct  a 5%  withdrawal charge  (contingent deferred sales
charge) to  cover certain  expenses relating  to the  sale of  the Contracts.  A
portion  of  the Accumulation  Account may  be withdrawn  each year  without the
assessment of a withdrawal charge and after a Purchase Payment has been held  by
the  Company  for  five years  it  may  be withdrawn  without  charge.  Also, no
withdrawal   charge    is   assessed    upon   annuitization    or   upon    the
transfers/conversions  described above  (see "Cash  Withdrawals" and "Withdrawal
Charges" on pages 10 and 12, respectively).
 
    In the event of the death of the Annuitant prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the Company will pay a death  benefit to the Beneficiary. If the death  of
the Annuitant occurs on or after the Annuity Commencement Date, no death benefit
will  be payable under the Contract except  as may be provided under the annuity
option elected (see "Death Benefit" on page 11).
 
    On each  Contract Anniversary  and on  surrender of  the Contract  for  full
value,  the Company will  deduct a contract  maintenance charge of  $25 from the
Accumulation Account to reimburse it for administrative expenses related to  the
issuance  and maintenance of the Contracts.  After the Annuity Commencement Date
the charge will be deducted pro rata  from each annuity payment made during  the
year (see "Contract Maintenance Charge" on page 12).
 
    The  Company also deducts a mortality and  expense risk charge at the end of
each Valuation Period, equal to an annual rate of 1.30% of the daily net  assets
of  the Variable Account, for mortality and expense risks assumed by the Company
(see "Mortality and Expense Risk Charge" on page 12).
 
    Premium taxes payable to any governmental entity will be charged against the
Contracts (see "Premium Taxes" on page 13).
 
    Annuity payments  will begin  on the  Annuity Commencement  Date. The  Owner
selects  the Annuity Commencement  Date, frequency of  payments, and the annuity
option (see "Annuity Provisions" on page 13).
 
    If the Owner is not  satisfied with the Contract it  may be returned to  the
Company  at its  Annuity Service  Mailing Address within  ten days  after it was
delivered to the Owner. When the Company receives the returned Contract it  will
be  cancelled and  the full  amount of any  Purchase Payment(s)  received by the
Company will be refunded.
 
    ANY PERSON  CONTEMPLATING  THE  PURCHASE  OF A  CONTRACT  SHOULD  CONSULT  A
QUALIFIED TAX ADVISER.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                                EXPENSE SUMMARY
 
    The  purpose  of  the following  table  is  to help  Owners  and prospective
purchasers to understand  the costs and  expenses that are  borne, directly  and
indirectly,  by Contract  Owners. The  table reflects  expenses of  the Variable
Account as well as of the Funds.  The expense information for certain Funds  has
been  restated  to reflect  current fees.  The information  set forth  should be
considered together  with the  narrative provided  under the  heading  "Contract
Charges"  in this Prospectus,  and with the Funds'  prospectuses. In addition to
the expenses listed below, premium taxes may be applicable.
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES                        MCM        MCG        MWG        MFB        MFH        MTR
- -------------------------------------------------------  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
 
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases........................     0          0          0          0          0          0
Deferred Sales Load (as a percentage of Purchase
 Payments withdrawn)(1)
  Years Payment in Account
 
    0-5................................................     5%         5%         5%         5%         5%         5%
 
    more than 5........................................     0%         0%         0%         0%         0%         0%
 
Exchange Fee...........................................     0          0          0          0          0          0
ANNUAL CONTRACT FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------  -----------------$25 per contract -----------------
SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
- -------------------------------------------------------
(as a percentage of average separate account assets)
 
Mortality and Expense Risk Fees........................     1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%
 
Other Account Fees and Expenses........................     0.00%      0.00%      0.00%      0.00%      0.00%      0.00%
 
Total Separate Account Annual Expenses.................     1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%
FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
- -------------------------------------------------------
(as a percentage of Fund average net assets)
 
Management Fees........................................     0.48%      0.50%      0.75%      0.20%      0.19%      0.25%
 
Other Expenses(2)......................................     0.31%      0.39%      0.67%      0.85%      1.01%      0.66%
 
Total Fund Annual Expenses.............................     0.79%      0.89%      1.42%      1.05%      1.20%      0.91%
 
<CAPTION>
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES                        MIT        MFR        MIG        MGO        MEG
- -------------------------------------------------------  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases........................     0          0          0          0          0
Deferred Sales Load (as a percentage of Purchase
 Payments withdrawn)(1)
  Years Payment in Account
    0-5................................................     5%         5%         5%         5%         5%
    more than 5........................................     0%         0%         0%         0%         0%
Exchange Fee...........................................     0          0          0          0          0
ANNUAL CONTRACT FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                         -----------------$25 per contract  -----------------
SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
- -------------------------------------------------------
(as a percentage of average separate account assets)
Mortality and Expense Risk Fees........................     1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%
Other Account Fees and Expenses........................     0.00%      0.00%      0.00%      0.00%      0.00%
Total Separate Account Annual Expenses.................     1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%      1.30%
FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
- -------------------------------------------------------
(as a percentage of Fund average net assets)
Management Fees........................................     0.23%      0.31%      0.30%      0.43%      0.73%
Other Expenses(2)......................................     0.48%      0.60%      0.42%      0.39%      0.47%
Total Fund Annual Expenses.............................     0.71%      0.91%      0.72%      0.82%      1.20%
<FN>
- ------------
(1)  A  portion of  the Accumulation  Account value  may be  withdrawn each year
     without imposition of any withdrawal  charge, and after a Purchase  Payment
     has been held by the Company for five years it may be withdrawn free of any
     withdrawal charge.
 
(2)  Other  expenses for all of the Funds  except MCM and MCG include annualized
     fees assessed under Distribution Plans adopted pursuant to Section 12(b) of
     the Investment  Company Act  of 1940  and Rule  12b-1 thereunder  (see  the
     Funds'  prospectuses). The  Distribution Plans  commenced on  the following
     dates: MTR and MWG,  October 1, 1989,  MIT, January 2,  1991 and MFB,  MFH,
     MFR, MIG, MGO and MEG, March 1, 1991.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                                    EXAMPLE
 
    If you surrender your Contract at the end of the applicable time period, you
would  pay the following expenses  on a $1,000 investment,  assuming a 5% annual
return on assets:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                          ------   -------   -------   --------
<S>                                       <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
MCM.....................................   $66      $110      $157       $242
MCG.....................................   $67      $114      $162       $252
MWG.....................................   $73      $129      $189       $305
MFB.....................................   $69      $118      $171       $269
MFH.....................................   $70      $123      $178       $283
MTR.....................................   $67      $114      $163       $254
MIT.....................................   $65      $108      $153       $234
MFR.....................................   $67      $114      $163       $254
MIG.....................................   $66      $108      $154       $235
MGO.....................................   $67      $111      $159       $245
MEG.....................................   $70      $123      $178       $284
</TABLE>
    
 
    If you do NOT surrender your Contract, or if you annuitize at the end of the
applicable time  period,  you would  pay  the  following expenses  on  a  $1,000
investment, assuming a 5% annual return on assets:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                          ------   -------   -------   --------
<S>                                       <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
MCM.....................................   $21      $ 65      $112       $242
MCG.....................................   $22      $ 69      $117       $252
MWG.....................................   $28      $ 84      $144       $305
MFB.....................................   $24      $ 73      $126       $269
MFH.....................................   $25      $ 78      $133       $283
MTR.....................................   $22      $ 69      $118       $254
MIT.....................................   $20      $ 63      $108       $234
MFR.....................................   $22      $ 69      $118       $254
MIG.....................................   $21      $ 63      $109       $235
MGO.....................................   $22      $ 66      $114       $245
MEG.....................................   $25      $ 78      $133       $284
</TABLE>
    
 
    THE  EXAMPLE SHOULD  NOT BE  CONSIDERED A  REPRESENTATION OF  PAST OR FUTURE
EXPENSES, AND ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
           CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION--ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES
 
    The following information should  be read in  conjunction with the  Variable
Account's   financial  statements  appearing  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information, all of which has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
certified public accountants.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        1987       1988       1989       1990       1991       1992       1993       1994       1995       1996
                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
MIT
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 17.6098  $ 18.6638  $ 20.3467  $ 27.3399  $ 26.9745  $ 34.0429  $ 36.0967  $ 39.2065  $ 38.3097  $ 52.6746
    End of period     $ 18.6638  $ 20.3467  $ 27.3399  $ 26.9745  $ 34.0429  $ 36.0967  $ 39.2065  $ 38.3097  $ 52.6746  $ 65.4965
  Units outstanding
   end of period:       416,047    386,881    367,624    366,752    316,483    299,263    263,601    233,419    228,398    211,924
MIG
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 14.7557  $ 15.4097  $ 15.8380  $ 21.2145  $ 19.9645  $ 29.1252  $ 30.6143  $ 34.5944  $ 31.8549  $ 40.3897
    End of period     $ 15.4097  $ 15.8380  $ 21.2145  $ 19.9645  $ 29.1252  $ 30.6143  $ 34.5944  $ 31.8549  $ 40.3897  $ 48.9432
  Units outstanding
   end of period        347,188    317,516    292,277    264,246    234,979    237,389    210,268    191,666    183,386    137,226
MTR
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 19.1128  $ 19.5387  $ 22.1974  $ 26.9600  $ 26.0022  $ 31.2350  $ 33.9389  $ 38.5828  $ 37.0619  $ 46.4569
    End of period     $ 19.5387  $ 22.1974  $ 26.9600  $ 26.0022  $ 31.2350  $ 33.9389  $ 38.5828  $ 37.0619  $ 46.4569  $ 52.6180
  Units outstanding
   end of period        935,528    985,669  1,022,129  1,028,444    761,746    699,832    646,262    580,826    502,308    445,574
MGO
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 14.1278  $ 14.5019  $ 15.6008  $ 19.7926  $ 18.6788  $ 22.6160  $ 24.0443  $ 27.4921  $ 26.0211  $ 34.5473
    End of period     $ 14.1278  $ 14.5019  $ 15.6008  $ 19.7926  $ 18.6788  $ 22.6160  $ 24.4921  $ 26.0211  $ 34.5473  $ 41.5395
  Units outstanding
   end of period      3,368,456  2,727,497  2,184,592  1,827,215  1,517,720  1,303,035  1,126,904    952,138    835,555    752,698
MFR
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 15.8064  $ 16.4422  $ 17.8986  $ 22.2941  $ 20.6700  $ 27.1037  $ 29.7380  $ 35.7429  $ 35.2820  $ 48.2543
    End of period     $ 16.4422  $ 17.8986  $ 22.2941  $ 20.6700  $ 27.1037  $ 29.7380  $ 35.7429  $ 35.2820  $ 48.2543  $ 59.3112
  Units outstanding
   end of period        634,120    532,334    435,924    340,420    285,749    253,146    232,537    189,988    158,916    143,843
MFB
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 17.4007  $ 17.0748  $ 18.2668  $ 20.4642  $ 21.4953  $ 25.2705  $ 26.5208  $ 29.8082  $ 27.9595  $ 33.5161
    End of period     $ 17.0748  $ 18.2668  $ 20.4642  $ 21.4953  $ 25.2705  $ 26.5208  $ 29.8082  $ 27.9595  $ 33.5161  $ 34.3871
  Units outstanding
   end of period        654,979    648,976    689,054    577,242    461,410    421,711    368,774    233,449    226,571    186,637
MCM
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 13.1522  $ 13.7848  $ 14.5714  $ 15.6562  $ 16.6504  $ 17.3549  $ 17.6517  $ 17.8424  $ 18.2359  $ 18.9505
    End of period     $ 13.7848  $ 14.5714  $ 15.6562  $ 16.6504  $ 17.3549  $ 17.6517  $ 17.8424  $ 18.2359  $ 18.9505  $ 19.5956
  Units outstanding
   end of period      2,110,060  2,081,739  1,661,689  1,574,435  1,090,472    646,162    512,329    480,850    371,369    401,141
MCG
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 12.9010  $ 13.5212  $ 14.2436  $ 15.2737  $ 16.1947  $ 16.8311  $ 17.1053  $ 17.2531  $ 17.5882  $ 18.2642
    End of period     $ 13.5212  $ 14.2436  $ 15.2737  $ 16.1947  $ 16.8311  $ 17.1053  $ 17.2531  $ 17.5882  $ 18.2642  $ 18.8643
  Units outstanding
   end of period        613,841    740,766    545,293    538,594    375,155    218,074    162,009    139,248    108,206     73,345
MFH
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 17.6354  $ 17.4636  $ 19.3661  $ 18.7620  $ 15.1874  $ 22.6883  $ 26.2356  $ 30.9007  $ 29.6848  $ 34.3557
    End of period     $ 17.4636  $ 19.3661  $ 18.7620  $ 15.1874  $ 22.6883  $ 26.2356  $ 30.9007  $ 29.6848  $ 34.3557  $ 38.2245
  Units outstanding
   end of period      1,665,986  1,428,696  1,079,466    624,184    515,396    450,376    408,637    339,549    264,391    229,079
MWG
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 17.0891  $ 21.0147  $ 21.6384  $ 22.9549  $ 26.7105  $ 29.9468  $ 29.9680  $ 34.9430  $ 32.3034  $ 36.8194
    End of period     $ 21.0147  $ 21.6384  $ 22.9549  $ 26.7105  $ 29.9468  $ 29.9680  $ 34.9430  $ 32.3034  $ 36.8194  $ 38.3007
  Units outstanding
   end of period        322,118    341,247    248,462    227,935    200,763    157,841    125,704    101,661     83,177     70,278
MEG
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 12.7526  $ 11.3094  $ 12.8148  $ 15.9033  $ 13.8995  $ 23.3793  $ 24.8430  $ 31.1131  $ 32.2107  $ 44.8831
    End of period     $ 11.3094  $ 12.8148  $ 15.9033  $ 13.8995  $ 23.3793  $ 24.8430  $ 31.1131  $ 32.2107  $ 44.8831  $ 50.8597
  Units outstanding
   end of period      1,240,140  1,012,310    830,401    585,909    511,153    439,127    405,542    390,605    372,726    321,077
</TABLE>
    
 
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    Financial Statements of the Variable Account and the Company are included in
the Statement of Additional Information.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
          A WORD ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT AND THE FUNDS
 
THE COMPANY
 
    Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) (the "Company") is a stock  life
insurance  company incorporated under the laws  of Delaware on January 12, 1970.
Its Executive Office is located at One Sun Life Executive Park, Wellesley Hills,
Massachusetts 02181.
 
    The Company is a  wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun  Life Assurance Company  of
Canada,  150 King Street West,  Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H  1J9, a mutual life
insurance company incorporated in Canada in 1865.
 
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    Sun Life of Canada  (U.S.) Variable Account C  (the "Variable Account")  was
established as a separate account of the Company on March 31, 1982 pursuant to a
resolution  of its Board of Directors. The Variable Account meets the definition
of a separate account under the  federal securities laws and is registered  with
the  Securities and  Exchange Commission  as a  unit investment  trust under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Under  Delaware insurance law and the  Contract,
the  income, gains or losses of the  Variable Account are credited to or charged
against the assets of the Variable  Account without regard to the other  income,
gains  or losses of the Company. Although  the assets maintained in the Variable
Account will  not be  charged with  any  liabilities arising  out of  any  other
business  conducted by the Company, all obligations arising under the Contracts,
including  the  promise  to  make   annuity  payments,  are  general   corporate
obligations of the Company.
 
    The  assets  of the  Variable Account  are  divided into  Sub-Accounts. Each
Sub-Account invests exclusively in shares of one of the Funds described below.
 
THE MUTUAL FUNDS
 
    All amounts allocated to the Variable Account will be used to purchase  Fund
shares  as  designated  by the  Owner  at their  net  asset value.  Any  and all
distributions made by the Funds with respect to the shares held by the  Variable
Account  will be  reinvested to  purchase additional  shares at  their net asset
value. Deductions  from  the  Variable Account  for  cash  withdrawals,  annuity
payments,  death benefits, administrative charges,  contract charges against the
assets of the Variable Account for the assumption of mortality and expense risks
and any applicable taxes  will, in effect,  be made by  redeeming the number  of
Fund  shares at their net asset  value equal in total value  to the amount to be
deducted. The Variable  Account will  be fully invested  in Fund  shares at  all
times.
 
    A  summary of  the investment  objectives of each  Fund is  contained in the
description below.  More  detailed  information  may be  found  in  the  current
prospectuses  of the  Funds and  their Statements  of Additional  Information. A
prospectus for each Fund  must accompany this Prospectus  and should be read  in
conjunction herewith.
 
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- MONEY MARKET FUND ("MCM")
AND MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND ("MCG")
 
    MCM  and  MCG  seek as  high  a level  of  current income  as  is considered
consistent with  the preservation  of capital  and liquidity.  MCM and  MCG  are
separate  series of MFS Series Trust  IV. Each represents a separate diversified
portfolio with separate investment policies.
 
    MCM invests primarily in short-term money market instruments, including U.S.
Government  securities  and   repurchase  agreements   collateralized  by   such
securities,  obligations of  the larger banks,  prime commercial  paper and high
quality corporate obligations.
 
    MCG invests only in short-term securities  issued or guaranteed by the  U.S.
Treasury  or agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government and repurchase
agreements collateralized by such securities.
 
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- WORLD GOVERNMENTS FUND ("MWG")
 
    MWG (a series of MFS Series Trust VII) seeks preservation, as well as growth
of capital,  together  with moderate  current  income through  a  professionally
managed,  internationally  diversified  portfolio consisting  primarily  of debt
securities, and, to a lesser extent, equity securities.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- BOND FUND ("MFB")
 
    MFB (a series of MFS Series Trust IX) invests a major portion of its  assets
in  "investment grade" debt  securities. Its primary  investment objective is to
provide as high a level of current  income as is believed to be consistent  with
prudent  investment  risk. A  secondary  objective is  to  protect shareholders'
capital.
 
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- HIGH INCOME FUND ("MFH")
 
    MFH (a  series  of  MFS Series  Trust  III)  seeks high  current  income  by
investing  primarily in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities, some
of which may involve equity features. Capital growth, if any, is a consideration
incidental to  the  investment  objective of  high  current  income.  Securities
offering  the high current  income sought by  the Fund (commonly  known as "junk
bonds") are  ordinarily in  the  lower rating  categories of  recognized  rating
agencies  or are unrated  and generally involve greater  volatility of price and
risk of principal and  income than securities in  the higher rating  categories.
Accordingly, an investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors.
 
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- TOTAL RETURN FUND ("MTR")
 
    MTR  (a series of MFS  Series Trust V) seeks  to obtain above-average income
consistent with  what  its  management  believes to  be  prudent  employment  of
capital.  While current income is the  primary objective, the Fund believes that
there also should be a reasonable opportunity for growth of capital and  income,
since  many  securities offering  a better-than-average  yield may  also possess
growth potential. Under normal market conditions,  MTR will invest at least  25%
of  its assets in fixed income securities and  at least 40% but no more than 75%
of its assets in equity securities.
 
MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS TRUST ("MIT")
 
    MIT seeks  to provide  reasonable  current income  and long-term  growth  of
capital and income. The Fund is believed to constitute a conservative medium for
that  portion of capital which an investor wishes to have invested in securities
considered to be of high or improving investment quality. The assets of the Fund
are normally invested  in common  stocks or securities  convertible into  common
stocks.  However, the Fund may  hold its assets in  cash or invest in commercial
paper, repurchase agreements or other forms of debt securities either to provide
reserves for  future purchases  of common  stock or  as a  defensive measure  in
certain economic environments.
 
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- RESEARCH FUND ("MFR")
 
    MFR  (a series of MFS  Series Trust V) seeks  to provide long-term growth of
capital and future income by investing a substantial proportion of its assets in
the common  stocks or  securities convertible  into common  stocks of  companies
believed  to possess better than average prospects for long-term growth. A small
proportion of  the assets  may  be invested  in bonds,  short-term  obligations,
preferred  stocks  or common  stocks  whose principal  characteristic  is income
production rather than growth. Such securities may also offer opportunities  for
growth of capital as well as income.
 
MASSACHUSETTS INVESTORS GROWTH STOCK FUND ("MIG")
 
    MIG  seeks to provide  long-term growth of capital  and future income rather
than current  income by  investing, except  for working  cash balances,  in  the
common  stocks,  or  securities  convertible into  common  stocks,  of companies
believed by the Fund's management  to possess better-than-average prospects  for
long-term   growth.  Emphasis  is  placed   on  the  selection  of  progressive,
well-managed companies.
 
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND ("MGO")
 
    MGO (formerly Massachusetts Capital  Development Fund ("MCD")) seeks  growth
of  capital.  Dividend income,  if  any, is  a  consideration incidental  to the
objective of  capital growth.  The Fund  maintains a  flexible approach  towards
types  of companies as well as types  of securities, depending upon the economic
environment and the relative attractiveness  of the various securities  markets.
Generally  emphasis is placed  upon companies believed  to possess above average
growth opportunities.
 
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- EMERGING GROWTH FUND ("MEG")
 
    MEG (a series of MFS Series Trust  II) seeks long-term growth of capital  by
investing  primarily in common  stocks of small  and medium-sized companies that
are early in  their life cycle,  but which  have the potential  to become  major
enterprises  (emerging growth  companies). These investments  are generally more
volatile in price and involve higher  risk than investments in more  established
companies.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
        PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND CONTRACT VALUES DURING ACCUMULATION PERIOD
 
PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
    All  Purchase Payments are to be paid  to the Company at its Annuity Service
Mailing  Address.  Purchase  Payments  may  be  made  annually,   semi-annually,
quarterly,  monthly or on any other  frequency acceptable to the Company. Unless
the Contract has  been surrendered, Purchase  Payments may be  made at any  time
during  the life of the Annuitant and  before the Annuity Commencement Date. The
amount of Purchase Payments may vary;  however, Purchase Payments must total  at
least  $300 for the  first Contract Year,  and each Purchase  Payment must be at
least $25. In addition, the prior approval of the Company is required before  it
will  accept a  Purchase Payment  which would  cause the  value of  a Contract's
Accumulation Account  to  exceed  $1,000,000.  If  the  value  of  a  Contract's
Accumulation Account exceeds $1,000,000, no additional Purchase Payments will be
accepted without prior approval.
 
    Completed application forms, together with the initial Purchase Payment, are
forwarded  to the Company. Upon acceptance, the  Contract is issued to the Owner
and the initial  Purchase Payment is  credited to  the Contract in  the form  of
Accumulation  Units. The  initial Purchase  Payment must  be applied  within two
business days of receipt of a completed application. The Company may retain  the
Purchase  Payment for up to  five business days while  attempting to complete an
incomplete application. If the application  cannot be made complete within  five
business  days, the applicant will be informed  of the reasons for the delay and
the  Purchase  Payment  will  be  returned  immediately  unless  the   applicant
specifically  consents to the Company's retaining the Purchase Payment until the
application is made complete. Thereafter,  the Purchase Payment will be  applied
within two business days. All subsequent Purchase Payments must be applied using
the  Accumulation Unit values for the Valuation Period during which the Purchase
Payment is received by the Company.
 
    The Company will establish  an Accumulation Account  for each Contract.  The
Contract's  Accumulation Account value for any  Valuation Period is equal to the
variable accumulation value, if any, plus the fixed accumulation value, if  any,
for  that Valuation Period. The variable accumulation  value is equal to the sum
of the  value of  all Variable  Accumulation Units  credited to  the  Contract's
Accumulation Account.
 
    Each net Purchase Payment will be allocated to either the Fixed Account (see
Appendix  A to the Statement of Additional  Information for a description of the
Fixed  Account)  or  to  Sub-Accounts  of  the  Variable  Account  or  to   both
Sub-Accounts  and the  Fixed Account in  accordance with  the allocation factors
specified by  the Owner  in the  application or  as subsequently  changed.  Upon
receipt  of a Purchase Payment, all or that portion, if any, of the net Purchase
Payment to be allocated to the Sub-Accounts will be credited to the Accumulation
Account in the  form of Variable  Accumulation Units. The  number of  particular
Variable  Accumulation Units to be credited is determined by dividing the dollar
amount allocated to the particular Sub-Account by the Variable Accumulation Unit
value for the particular Sub-Account for  the Valuation Period during which  the
Purchase Payment is received.
 
    The Variable Accumulation Unit value for each Sub-Account was established at
$10.00  for  the  first  Valuation Period  of  the  particular  Sub-Account. The
Variable  Accumulation  Unit  value  for  the  particular  Sub-Account  for  any
subsequent   Valuation  Period  is  determined   by  methodology  which  is  the
mathematical equivalent of multiplying the Variable Accumulation Unit value  for
the particular Sub-Account for the immediately preceding Valuation Period by the
Net  Investment  Factor  for  the  particular  Sub-Account  for  such subsequent
Valuation Period. The Variable Accumulation Unit value for each Sub-Account  for
any Valuation Period is determined at the end of the particular Valuation Period
and may increase, decrease or remain constant from Valuation Period to Valuation
Period,  depending  upon the  investment performance  of the  Fund in  which the
Sub-Account is invested, and the expenses and charges deducted from the Variable
Account.
 
NET INVESTMENT FACTOR
 
    The Net Investment  Factor is  an index  applied to  measure the  investment
performance  of a  Sub-Account from  one Valuation Period  to the  next. The Net
Investment Factor may be  greater or less  than or equal  to one; therefore  the
value of a Variable Accumulation Unit may increase, decrease or remain the same.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    The  Net Investment Factor  for any Sub-Account for  any Valuation Period is
determined by  dividing (a)  by (b)  and then  subtracting (c)  from the  result
where:
 
    (a) is the net result of:
 
        (1)  the  net  asset value  of  a  Fund share  held  in  the Sub-Account
           determined as of the end of the Valuation Period, plus
 
        (2) the per share amount of any dividend or other distribution  declared
           by  the  Fund  issuing the  shares  held  in the  Sub-Account  if the
           "ex-dividend" date occurs during the Valuation Period, plus or minus
 
        (3) a per  share credit or  charge with  respect to any  taxes paid,  or
           reserved  for by  the Company during  the Valuation  Period which are
           determined by the Company to be attributable to the operation of  the
           Sub-Account  (no federal  income taxes  are applicable  under present
           law);
 
    (b) is  the  net  asset value  of  a  Fund share  held  in  the  Sub-Account
       determined as of the end of the preceding Valuation Period; and
 
    (c)  is the risk charge  factor determined by the  Company for the Valuation
       Period to  reflect the  charge  for assuming  the mortality  and  expense
       risks.
 
TRANSFERS/CONVERSIONS OF ACCUMULATION UNITS
 
    During  the  accumulation  period  the  Owner may  convert  the  value  of a
designated number  of Fixed  Accumulation Units  then credited  to a  Contract's
Accumulation Account into Variable Accumulation Units of particular Sub-Accounts
having  an equal aggregate value, or convert the value of a designated number of
Variable Accumulation Units into other Variable Accumulation Units and/or  Fixed
Accumulation  Units having an equal aggregate value. These transfers/conversions
are subject  to  the  following  conditions:  (1)  conversions  involving  Fixed
Accumulation  Units may be made only during the  45 day period before and the 45
day period after each Contract Anniversary; (2) not more than 12 conversions may
be made in any Contract Year; and (3) the value of Accumulation Units  converted
may not be less than $1,000 unless all of the Fixed Accumulation Units or all of
the  Variable Accumulation  Units of  a particular  Sub-Account credited  to the
Accumulation   Account    are    being    converted.    In    addition,    these
transfers/conversions  shall be subject  to such terms and  conditions as may be
imposed by each Fund.  The conversion will be  made using the Accumulation  Unit
values  for  the Valuation  Period during  which the  request for  conversion is
received by  the  Company.  Conversions  may  be  made  pursuant  to  telephoned
instructions.
 
                                CASH WITHDRAWALS
 
    At  any time before the Annuity Commencement Date and during the lifetime of
the Annuitant, the Owner may elect to receive a cash withdrawal payment from the
Company. Any such election shall specify  the amount of the withdrawal and  will
be  effective on the date that it is received by the Company. For withdrawals in
excess of $5,000 the Company may  require a signature guarantee. The  withdrawal
will  result in the  cancellation of Accumulation Units  with an aggregate value
equal to the dollar amount of  the cash withdrawal payment plus, if  applicable,
the  contract maintenance charge and any withdrawal charge. Unless instructed to
the contrary,  the Company  will cancel  Fixed Accumulation  Units and  Variable
Accumulation Units of the particular Sub-Accounts on a pro rata basis reflecting
the  existing composition of  the Contract's Accumulation  Account. If a partial
withdrawal is requested which would leave an Accumulation Account value of  less
than  the  contract maintenance  charge, then  such  partial withdrawal  will be
treated as a full surrender.
 
    Under certain conditions, the Company will  assess a withdrawal charge if  a
cash  withdrawal payment is  made. The amount  of any withdrawal  charge and the
conditions under which  the charge  will apply are  discussed under  "Withdrawal
Charges".
 
    Any cash withdrawal payment will be paid within seven days from the date the
election becomes effective, except as the Company may be permitted to defer such
payment  in accordance  with the  Investment Company  Act of  1940. Deferment is
currently permissible only  (1) for  any period (a)  during which  the New  York
Stock  Exchange is closed other than customary week-end and holiday closings, or
(b) during
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted as determined by  the
Securities and Exchange Commission, (2) for any period during which an emergency
exists  as a result of which (a) disposal of securities held by the Funds is not
reasonably practicable, or (b) it is not reasonably practicable to determine the
value of the  net assets  of the Funds,  or (3)  for such other  periods as  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission may by  order permit for  the protection of
security holders.
 
    Since the Contracts will be issued only in connection with retirement  plans
which  meet the  requirements of Section  401 or Section  408 (excluding Section
408(b)) of the Internal Revenue Code, reference  should be made to the terms  of
the  particular  retirement plan  for any  limitations  or restrictions  on cash
withdrawals. The  tax  consequences  of  a cash  withdrawal  payment  should  be
carefully considered (see "Federal Tax Status").
 
                                 DEATH BENEFIT
 
    In the event of the death of the Annuitant prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date,  the Company will pay a death benefit  to the Beneficiary. If the death of
the Annuitant occurs on or after the Annuity Commencement Date, no death benefit
will be payable under the Contract except  as may be provided under the  annuity
option elected.
 
    During  the lifetime of the Annuitant  and prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the Owner may elect to have the value of the Accumulation Account  applied
under  one  or more  annuity options  to effect  a Variable  Annuity or  a Fixed
Annuity or a combination of both for the Beneficiary as Payee after the death of
the Annuitant. If no election of a method of settlement of the death benefit  by
the  Owner is in effect  on the date of death  of the Annuitant, the Beneficiary
may elect (a) to receive the death benefit in the form of a cash payment; or (b)
to have the value of the Accumulation  Account applied under one or more of  the
annuity  options (on the  Annuity Commencement Date  described under "Payment of
Death Benefit") to effect a Variable Annuity or a Fixed Annuity or a combination
of both for the Beneficiary as Payee.  If an election by the Beneficiary is  not
received  by the Company within 60 days following the date Due Proof of Death of
the Annuitant and any required release  or consent is received, the  Beneficiary
will  be deemed to have elected a cash payment  as of the last day of the 60 day
period.
 
    In all cases,  no Owner  or Beneficiary shall  be entitled  to exercise  any
rights  that would adversely affect the treatment  of the Contract as an annuity
contract under the Internal Revenue Code.
 
    Reference should be made to the terms of the particular retirement plan  and
any  applicable legislation for any limitations  or restrictions on the election
of a method of settlement and payment of the death benefit.
 
PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFIT
 
    If the death benefit is to be paid in cash to the Beneficiary, payment  will
be  made within  seven days  of the  date the  election becomes  effective or is
deemed to become effective, except as the Company may be permitted to defer such
payment in  accordance  with  the  Investment Company  Act  of  1940  under  the
circumstances  described under "Cash Withdrawals." If the death benefit is to be
paid in  one sum  to the  Owner, or  to the  estate of  the deceased  Annuitant,
payment  will be made  within seven days of  the date Due Proof  of Death of the
Annuitant, and the Beneficiary is received.  If settlement under one or more  of
the  annuity options is elected by the Owner, the Annuity Commencement Date will
be the first day of the second calendar month following receipt of Due Proof  of
Death  of the Annuitant and the Beneficiary, if  any. In the case of an election
by the Beneficiary, the Annuity Commencement Date  will be the first day of  the
second  calendar month following the effective  date of the election. An Annuity
Commencement Date later than that described above may be elected by an Owner  or
Beneficiary  provided that such date  is (a) the first  day of a calendar month,
and (b) not  later than  the first  day of the  first month  following the  85th
birthday  of the Beneficiary or other Payee designated by the Owner, as the case
may be, unless  otherwise restricted  by the  particular retirement  plan or  by
applicable law (see "Annuity Commencement Date").
 
AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFIT
 
    The  death  benefit  is equal  to  the greatest  of:  (1) the  value  of the
Contract's Accumulation Account, (2) the total Purchase Payments made under  the
Contract  reduced  by  all  withdrawals  or  (3)  the  value  of  the Contract's
Accumulation Account on the fifth  (5th) Contract Anniversary, adjusted for  any
Purchase Payments or cash withdrawal payments made and contract charges assessed
subsequent  to  such fifth  (5th)  Contract Anniversary.  The  Accumulation Unit
values   used   in    determining   the    amount   of    the   death    benefit
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
under  (1) above will  be the values  for the Valuation  Period during which Due
Proof of Death  of the Annuitant  is received  by the Company  if settlement  is
elected by the Owner under one or more of the annuity options or, if no election
by  the Owner is  in effect, either  the values for  the Valuation Period during
which an  election  by  the Beneficiary  is  effective  or the  values  for  the
Valuation  Period during which Due Proof of  Death of both the Annuitant and the
designated Beneficiary is  received by the  Company if the  amount of the  death
benefit is to be paid in one sum to the deceased Owner/Annuitant's estate.
 
                                CONTRACT CHARGES
 
    Contract charges may be assessed under the Contracts as follows:
 
CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE
 
    On each Contract Anniversary and on surrender of the Contract for full value
on   other  than  the  Contract  Anniversary,   the  Company  deducts  from  the
Accumulation Account a contract  maintenance charge of $25  to reimburse it  for
administrative  expenses  relating  to  the  issuance  and  maintenance  of  the
Contract. The contract maintenance charge will be deducted in equal amounts from
the Fixed Account and each Sub-Account in which the Owner has Accumulation Units
at the time of such deduction. On the Annuity Commencement Date the value of the
Contract's Accumulation Account will be reduced by a proportionate amount of the
contract maintenance  charge  to  reflect  the time  elapsed  between  the  last
Contract Anniversary and the day before the Annuity Commencement Date. After the
Annuity  Commencement Date, the contract maintenance charge will be deducted pro
rata from each annuity payment made during the year.
 
    The amount of the  contract maintenance charge may  not be increased by  the
Company.  The Company reserves  the right to  reduce the amount  of the contract
maintenance charge for groups of participants with individual Contracts under an
employer's retirement program in situations in  which the size of the group  and
established   administrative   efficiencies   contribute  to   a   reduction  in
administrative expenses. The Company does not  expect to make a profit from  the
contract maintenance charge.
 
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE
 
    The  mortality and expense risks  assumed by the Company  are the risks that
Annuitants may live for a longer period of time than estimated by the Company in
establishing the guaranteed  annuity rates incorporated  into the Contract,  and
the  risk  that  administrative  charges assessed  under  the  Contracts  may be
insufficient to cover actual administrative expenses incurred by the Company.
 
    For assuming these risks,  the Company makes a  deduction from the  Variable
Account  at the end of each Valuation Period during both the accumulation period
and after annuity payments begin at an effective annual rate of 1.30%. The  rate
of this deduction may be changed annually but in no event may it exceed 1.30% on
an  annual basis. If the  deduction is insufficient to  cover the actual cost of
the mortality and  expense risk  undertaking, the  Company will  bear the  loss.
Conversely,  if the  deduction proves more  than sufficient, the  excess will be
profit to the Company  and would be available  for any proper corporate  purpose
including,  among  other  things,  payment  of  distribution  expenses.  If  the
withdrawal  charges  described  below  prove  insufficient  to  cover   expenses
associated  with the distribution  of the Contracts, the  deficiency will be met
from the Company's general  corporate funds, which  may include amounts  derived
from the mortality and expense risk charges.
 
   
    For the year ended December 31, 1996 mortality and expense risk charges were
the only expenses of the Variable Account.
    
 
WITHDRAWAL CHARGES
 
    No  sales charges are deducted from Purchase Payments. However, a withdrawal
charge (contingent deferred sales charge), when applicable, will be assessed  to
reimburse  the Company for certain expenses  relating to the distribution of the
Contracts, including commissions, costs of  preparation of sales literature  and
other promotional costs and acquisition expenses.
 
    A  portion  of the  Accumulation Account  value may  be withdrawn  each year
without imposition of any  withdrawal charge, and after  a Purchase Payment  has
been  held  by the  Company  for five  years  it may  be  withdrawn free  of any
withdrawal  charge.  In  addition,  no   withdrawal  charge  is  assessed   upon
annuitization  or upon  the transfer  of Accumulation  Account values  among the
Sub-Accounts or between the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    All  other full  or partial withdrawals  are subject to  a withdrawal charge
equal to 5% of the amount withdrawn  which is subject to the charge. The  charge
will be applied as follows:
 
       (1) Old  Payments, new Payments and accumulated value:  With respect to a
           particular Contract Year, "new Payments"  are those Payments made  in
    that Contract Year or in the four immediately preceding Contract Years; "old
    Payments"  are those Payments not defined  as new Payments; and "accumulated
    value" is the value of the Accumulation Account less the sum of old and  new
    Payments.
 
       (2) Order  of  liquidation:    To  effect  a  full  surrender  or partial
           withdrawal, the oldest previously unliquidated Payment will be deemed
    to have been liquidated first, then the next oldest, and so forth. Once  all
    old  and new Payments have been withdrawn, additional amounts withdrawn will
    be attributed to accumulated value.
 
       (3) Maximum free  withdrawal amount:    The maximum  amount that  can  be
           withdrawn  without a withdrawal charge in a Contract Year is equal to
    the sum of (a) any old Payments  not already liquidated; and (b) 10% of  any
    new   Payments,  irrespective  of  whether  these  new  Payments  have  been
    liquidated.
 
       (4) Amount subject  to withdrawal  charge:   The  amount subject  to  the
           withdrawal  charge  will  be  the  excess,  if  any,  of  (a) amounts
    liquidated from old  and new Payments  over (b) the  remaining maximum  free
    withdrawal amount at the time of the withdrawal.
 
    In  no  event  shall the  aggregate  withdrawal charges  assessed  against a
Contract exceed 5% of  the aggregate Purchase Payments  made under the  Contract
(see  Appendix  C in  the Statement  of Additional  Information for  examples of
withdrawals and withdrawal charges).
 
PREMIUM TAXES
 
   
    A deduction, when applicable, is made for premium or similar state or  local
taxes  ranging from 0% to 2.25% (see  Appendix A). It is currently the Company's
policy to deduct the tax  from the amount applied to  provide an annuity at  the
time  annuity  payments commence;  however, the  Company  reserves the  right to
deduct such taxes on or after the date they are incurred.
    
 
CHARGES OF THE FUNDS
 
    The Variable Account purchases shares of  the Funds at net asset value.  The
net  asset value of these shares reflects investment management fees, Rule 12b-1
(i.e. distribution  plan) fees  and  expenses (including,  but not  limited  to,
compensation  of  trustees/directors, governmental  expenses,  interest charges,
taxes,  fees  of  auditors,  legal   counsel,  transfer  agent  and   custodian,
transactional  expenses  and brokerage  commissions)  already deducted  from the
assets of the Funds.  These fees and  expenses are more  fully described in  the
Funds' Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information.
 
                               ANNUITY PROVISIONS
 
ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE
 
    Annuity  payments under  a Contract will  begin on  the Annuity Commencement
Date which is selected  by the Owner  at the time the  Contract is applied  for.
This  date may be changed by the Owner as provided in the Contract; however, the
new Annuity Commencement Date  must be the  first day of a  month and not  later
than  the first day of the first  month following the Annuitant's 85th birthday,
unless otherwise limited or restricted by  the particular retirement plan or  by
applicable  law.  In  most situations,  current  law requires  that  the Annuity
Commencement Date be  no later  than April 1  following the  year the  Annuitant
reaches  age 70  1/2 and  the particular  retirement plan  may impose additional
limitations. The Annuity Commencement Date may also be changed by an election of
an annuity option as described under "Death Benefit".
 
    On the Annuity Commencement Date the Contract's Accumulation Account will be
cancelled and its  adjusted value  will be applied  to provide  an annuity.  The
adjusted  value will be equal  to the value of  the Accumulation Account for the
Valuation Period which ends immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement Date,
reduced by any applicable premium or similar taxes and a proportionate amount of
the contract maintenance  charge (see  "Contract Maintenance  Charge"). No  cash
withdrawals  will be permitted after the Annuity Commencement Date except as may
be available under the annuity option elected.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
ANNUITY OPTIONS
 
    Unless restricted  by  the  particular retirement  plan  or  any  applicable
legislation,  during  the lifetime  of the  Annuitant and  prior to  the Annuity
Commencement Date  the  Owner may  elect  one or  more  of the  annuity  options
described  below or  such other  settlement option  as may  be agreed  to by the
Company for the Annuitant as Payee. Annuity  options may also be elected by  the
Owner  or the Beneficiary, as provided under  "Death Benefit." The Owner may not
change any election after 30 days prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, and no
change of annuity option is permitted after the Annuity Commencement Date. If no
election is in effect on  the 30th day prior  to the Annuity Commencement  Date,
Annuity  Option B, for a Life Annuity with 120 monthly payments certain, will be
deemed to have been elected.
 
    Any election  may  specify the  proportion  of  the adjusted  value  of  the
Contract's  Accumulation  Account to  be applied  to the  Fixed Account  and the
Sub-Accounts. In the event the election does not so specify, then the portion of
the adjusted  value of  the Accumulation  Account  to be  applied to  the  Fixed
Account  and the Sub-Accounts  will be determined  on a pro  rata basis from the
composition of the Accumulation Account on the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
    Annuity options A, B and C are  available to provide either a Fixed  Annuity
or  a Variable Annuity. Annuity options D and  E are available only to provide a
Fixed Annuity.
 
Annuity Option A.  Life Annuity:   Monthly payments during  the lifetime of  the
Payee. This option offers a higher level of monthly payments than options B or C
because  no further payments are payable after  the death of the Payee and there
is no provision for a death benefit payable to a Beneficiary.
 
Annuity  Option  B.  Life  Annuity  with   60,  120  or  240  Monthly   Payments
Certain:  Monthly payments during the lifetime of the Payee and in any event for
60,  120, 180 or 240 months certain as  elected. The election of a longer period
certain results in smaller monthly payments than would be the case if a  shorter
period certain were elected.
 
Annuity  Option C. Joint and Survivor  Annuity:  Monthly payments payable during
the joint lifetime of the  Payee and a designated  second person and during  the
lifetime  of the survivor. During the lifetime of the survivor, variable monthly
payments, if any, will be determined using the percentage chosen at the time  of
the  election of this option of the number of each type of Annuity Unit credited
to the Contract and  each fixed monthly  payment, if any, will  be equal to  the
same  percentage of the fixed monthly  payment payable during the joint lifetime
of the Payee and the designated second person.
 
Annuity Option D. Fixed Payments for a Specified Period Certain:  Fixed  monthly
payments  for a specified period of time,  three years or more but not exceeding
30 years, as elected.
 
Annuity Option E. Fixed Payments:  The amount applied to provide fixed  payments
in  accordance with this option  will be held by  the Company at interest. Fixed
payments will be made in  such amounts and at such  times as may be agreed  upon
with  the Company and  will continue until  the amount held  by the Company with
interest is exhausted. Interest will be credited yearly on the amount  remaining
unpaid  at a rate which shall be determined by the Company from time to time but
which shall  not be  less than  4% per  year compounded  annually. The  rate  so
determined  may be changed by the Company at any time; however, the rate may not
be reduced more frequently than once during each calendar year.
 
DETERMINATION OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
    The dollar amount of the first  variable annuity payment will be  determined
in  accordance with the  annuity payment rates  found in the  Contract which are
based on an assumed interest rate of 4% per year. All variable annuity  payments
other  than the first are  determined by means of  Annuity Units credited to the
Contract. The number of Annuity Units to be credited in respect of a  particular
Sub-Account is determined by dividing that portion of the first variable annuity
payment  attributable  to that  Sub-Account by  the Annuity  Unit value  of that
Sub-Account for  the  Valuation  Period which  ends  immediately  preceding  the
Annuity  Commencement  Date.  The number  of  Annuity Units  of  each particular
Sub-Account credited to the Contract then
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
remains fixed unless an  exchange of Annuity Units  is made as described  below.
The dollar amount of each variable annuity payment after the first may increase,
decrease  or  remain constant  depending on  the  investment performance  of the
Sub-Accounts.
 
    The  Statement  of  Additional  Information  contains  detailed   disclosure
regarding  the method of determining the amount of each variable annuity payment
and calculating the value  of a Variable Annuity  Unit, as well as  hypothetical
examples of these calculations.
 
EXCHANGE OF VARIABLE ANNUITY UNITS
 
    After  the Annuity Commencement Date  the Payee may exchange  the value of a
designated number  of Variable  Annuity Units  of particular  Sub-Accounts  then
credited  to the Contract for  other Variable Annuity Units,  the value of which
would be such that the dollar amount of  an annuity payment made on the date  of
the  exchange would be unaffected by the  fact of the exchange. Exchanges may be
made only between Sub-Accounts  of the Variable  Account. Twelve such  exchanges
may be made within each Contract Year.
 
ANNUITY PAYMENT RATES
 
    The  Contract  contains  annuity  payment  rates  for  each  annuity  option
described above. The rates show, for  each $1,000 applied, the dollar amount  of
(a)  the first  monthly variable annuity  payment based on  the assumed interest
rate of 4%,  and (b) the  monthly fixed  annuity payment, when  this payment  is
based  on  the minimum  guaranteed interest  rate  of 4%  per year.  The annuity
payment rates may vary according to the annuity option elected and the  adjusted
age  of the  Payee. Over a  period of time,  if the Sub-Accounts  achieved a net
investment return exactly equal to the  assumed interest rate of 4%, the  amount
of  each  variable  annuity  payment  would  remain  constant.  However  if  the
Sub-Accounts achieved a  net investment result  greater than 4%,  the amount  of
each  variable  annuity payment  would  increase; conversely,  a  net investment
result smaller  than 4%  would  decrease the  amount  of each  variable  annuity
payment.
 
                          OTHER CONTRACTUAL PROVISIONS
 
OWNER
 
    The Owner is entitled to exercise all Contract rights and privileges without
the  consent of the Beneficiary or any  other person. Such rights and privileges
may be exercised  only during the  lifetime of  the Annuitant and  prior to  the
Annuity  Commencement Date,  except as otherwise  provided in  the Contract. The
Annuitant becomes the  Owner on  and after  the Annuity  Commencement Date.  The
Beneficiary  becomes the Owner on the death  of the Annuitant. In some qualified
plans the  Owner of  the Contract  is a  Trustee and  the Trust  authorizes  the
Annuitant/participant to exercise certain Contract rights and privileges.
 
    Transfer  of ownership of a Contract is governed by the laws and regulations
applicable to the retirement plan for which the Contract was issued. Subject  to
the  foregoing, a Contract may not be sold, assigned, transferred, discounted or
pledged as  collateral for  a loan  or as  security for  the performance  of  an
obligation or for any other purpose to any person other than the Company.
 
    Subject  to the rights  of an irrevocably  designated Beneficiary, the Owner
may change or  revoke the designation  of a  Beneficiary at any  time while  the
Annuitant  is living. Reference  should be made  to the terms  of the particular
retirement plan  and any  applicable  legislation for  any restrictions  on  the
beneficiary designation.
 
VOTING OF FUND SHARES
 
    The  Company will vote Fund  shares held by the  Sub-Accounts at meetings of
shareholders of the  Funds, but  will follow voting  instructions received  from
persons  having the right to give voting  instructions. Fund shares for which no
timely voting instructions are received will be voted by the Company in the same
proportion as the shares for which instructions are received from persons having
such voting rights.  The Owner is  the person  having the right  to give  voting
instructions  prior to  the Annuity Commencement  Date. On or  after the Annuity
Commencement Date the Payee is the person having such voting rights.
 
    Owners of  Contracts  may be  subject  to  other voting  provisions  of  the
particular  retirement plan. Employees who  contribute to retirement plans which
are   funded    by    the   Contracts    are    entitled   to    instruct    the
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
Owners as to how to instruct the Company to vote the Fund shares attributable to
their  contributions. Such plans may also provide the additional extent, if any,
to which the  Owners shall  follow voting  instructions of  persons with  rights
under the plans.
 
    The  number  of particular  Fund  shares as  to  which each  such  person is
entitled to give instructions will  be determined by the  Company on a date  not
more  than 90 days prior to each such meeting. Prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the number of particular Fund  shares as to which voting instructions  may
be  given to  the Company  is determined  by dividing  the value  of all  of the
Variable Accumulation  Units  of  the particular  Sub-Account  credited  to  the
Contract's  Accumulation Account by  the net asset value  of one particular Fund
share as of the same date. On or after the Annuity Commencement Date, the number
of particular Fund shares as to which such instructions may be given by a  Payee
is  determined by  dividing the  reserve held by  the Company  in the particular
Sub-Account for the Contract by the net  asset value of a particular Fund  share
as of the same date.
 
SUBSTITUTED SECURITIES
 
    Shares  of  any of  the particular  Funds  may not  always be  available for
purchase by  the  Variable  Account  or the  Company  may  decide  that  further
investment  in any such  Fund's shares is  no longer appropriate  in view of the
purposes of the Variable Account. In either event, shares of another  registered
open-end  investment company  may be  substituted both  for Fund  shares already
purchased by the Variable  Account and as  the security to  be purchased in  the
future  provided that these  substitutions have been  approved by the Securities
and Exchange  Commission. In  the event  of any  substitution pursuant  to  this
provision,  the  Company may  make appropriate  endorsement  to the  Contract to
reflect the substitution.
 
MODIFICATION
 
    Upon notice to the  Owner, or to  the Payee during  the annuity period,  the
Contract  may be modified by  the Company, but only  if such modification (i) is
necessary to make the Contract  or the Variable Account  comply with any law  or
regulation  issued by a governmental  agency to which the  Company is subject or
(ii) is necessary to  assure continued qualification of  the Contract under  the
Internal  Revenue Code  or other  federal or  state laws  relating to retirement
annuities or annuity contracts or (iii) is necessary to reflect a change in  the
operation  of  the  Variable  Account  or  the  Sub-Accounts  or  (iv)  provides
additional Variable Account and/or fixed  accumulation options. In the event  of
any  such  modification, the  Company may  make  appropriate endorsement  to the
Contract to reflect such modification.
 
CHANGE IN OPERATION OF VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    At the  Company's election  and subject  to any  necessary vote  by  persons
having  the right to give instructions with respect to the voting of Fund shares
held by the Sub-Accounts, the Variable  Account may be operated as a  management
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or it may be deregistered under
the  Investment  Company Act  of 1940  in  the event  registration is  no longer
required. Deregistration  of  the Variable  Account  requires an  order  by  the
Securities  and Exchange Commission. In the event of any change in the operation
of the  Variable  Account pursuant  to  this  provision, the  Company  may  make
appropriate  endorsement to  the Contract  to reflect  the change  and take such
action as may be necessary and appropriate to effect the change.
 
SPLITTING UNITS
 
    The Company reserves  the right to  split or combine  the value of  Variable
Accumulation  Units, Fixed Accumulation Units, Annuity  Units or any of them. In
effecting any such change of unit values, strict equity will be preserved and no
change will have a material  effect on the benefits  or other provisions of  the
Contract.
 
                               FEDERAL TAX STATUS
 
INTRODUCTION
 
    The  Contracts  described  in  this  Prospectus  are  designed  for  use  by
retirement plans under the provisions of Sections 401 and 408 (excluding Section
408(b)) of  the Internal  Revenue  Code (the  "Code").  The ultimate  effect  of
federal  income taxes  on the value  of the Contract's  Accumulation Account, on
annuity
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
payments and on the economic benefit to  the Owner, the Annuitant, the Payee  or
the  Beneficiary  may depend  upon the  type  of retirement  plan for  which the
Contract is purchased and upon the  tax and employment status of the  individual
concerned.
 
    The  following  discussion of  the  treatment of  the  Contracts and  of the
Company under the federal income  tax laws is general  in nature, is based  upon
the  Company's  understanding of  current federal  income tax  laws, and  is not
intended as tax advice.  Congress has the power  to enact legislation  affecting
the  tax treatment of  annuity contracts, and such  legislation could be applied
retroactively to  Contracts  purchased before  the  date of  enactment.  A  more
detailed  discussion of the federal tax status  of the Contracts is contained in
the Statement of Additional Information.  Any person contemplating the  purchase
of  a Contract should consult a qualified tax adviser. THE COMPANY DOES NOT MAKE
ANY GUARANTEE REGARDING ANY TAX STATUS, FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL, OF ANY CONTRACT
OR ANY TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE CONTRACTS.
 
TAX TREATMENT OF THE COMPANY
 
    Under existing federal income tax laws, the income of the Variable  Account,
to  the extent that it  is applied to increase  reserves under the Contracts, is
not taxable to the Company.
 
TAXATION OF ANNUITIES IN GENERAL
 
    The Contracts offered by this Prospectus are designed for use in  connection
with  retirement plans. All or a portion of the contributions to such plans will
be used to  make Purchase  Payments under the  Contracts. Generally,  no tax  is
imposed  on the increase in the value of a Contract until a distribution occurs.
Monthly annuity payments made as retirement distributions, and lump-sum payments
or cash withdrawals (when permitted by  the applicable retirement plan) under  a
Contract are generally taxable to the Annuitant as ordinary income to the extent
that  such payments  are not  deemed to come  from the  Owner's previously taxed
investment in the Contract. Distributions made prior to age 59 1/2 generally are
subject to  a 10%  penalty tax,  although this  tax will  not apply  in  certain
circumstances.   Owners,  Annuitants,  Payees   and  Beneficiaries  should  seek
qualified advice  about  the  tax consequences  of  distributions,  withdrawals,
rollovers  and payments under the retirement  plans in connection with which the
Contracts are purchased.
 
    In certain circumstances, the Company is  required to withhold and remit  to
the  U.S. government part of the taxable portion of each distribution made under
a Contract.
 
RETIREMENT PLANS
 
   
    The Contracts described  in this Prospectus  are designed for  use with  the
following  types of qualified  retirement plans: (1)  Pension and Profit-Sharing
Plans established by business employers  and certain associations, as  permitted
by  Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Code, including those purchasers who would
have been covered under the rules governing  old H.R. 10 (Keogh) Plans; and  (2)
Individual  Retirement Accounts ("IRA's")  permitted by Sections  219 and 408 of
the Code (excluding IRA's established as "Individual Retirement Annuities" under
Section 408(b),  but  including  Simplified  Employee  Pensions  established  by
employers pursuant to Section 408(k)) and Simple Retirement Accounts established
pursuant to Section 408(p).
    
 
    The  tax  rules applicable  to participants  in  such retirement  plans vary
according to  the type  of plan  and  its terms  and conditions.  Therefore,  no
attempt is made herein to provide more than general information about the use of
the  Contracts with the various types  of retirement plans. Participants in such
plans as well as Owners, Annuitants, Payees and Beneficiaries are cautioned that
the rights of any person  to any benefits under these  plans are subject to  the
terms  and  conditions of  the  plans themselves,  regardless  of the  terms and
conditions of the Contracts.  The Company will  provide purchasers of  Contracts
used  in connection with  Individual Retirement Accounts  with such supplemental
information as  may  be  required  by the  Internal  Revenue  Service  or  other
appropriate  agency. Any person contemplating the  purchase of a Contract should
consult a qualified tax adviser.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
                         DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS
 
    The Contracts will  be sold  by licensed  insurance agents  in those  states
where  the  Contracts  may be  lawfully  sold.  Such agents  will  be registered
representatives of broker-dealers registered  under the Securities Exchange  Act
of  1934 who are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
The Contracts  will be  distributed  by Clarendon  Insurance Agency,  Inc.,  500
Boylston  Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts 02116,  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Massachusetts  Financial  Services  Company,  the  Funds'  investment   adviser.
Commissions  and other distribution compensation will be paid by the Company and
will not be more  than 5.11% of  the Purchase Payments.  In addition, after  the
fifth  (5th) Contract  Year, broker-dealers  who have  entered into distribution
agreements with the Company may receive an annual renewal commission of no  more
than 0.20% of the Contract's Accumulation Account value.
 
                               LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    There  are no pending legal proceedings  affecting the Variable Account. The
Company is engaged in various kinds of routine litigation which, in management's
opinion, is not material with respect to the Variable Account.
 
                            CONTRACT OWNER INQUIRIES
 
    All Contract  Owner inquiries  should  be directed  to  the Company  at  its
Annuity Service Mailing Address.
 
           TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
General Information
Annuity Provisions
Other Contractual Provisions
Federal Tax Status
Administration of the Contracts
Distribution of the Contracts
Legal Matters
Accountants
Financial Statements
 
                                   APPENDIX A
                              STATE PREMIUM TAXES
 
   
    The  amount of  applicable tax varies  depending on the  jurisdiction and is
subject to change by the legislature  or other authority. In many  jurisdictions
there  is no tax at all. The Company  believes that as of April 30, 1997 premium
taxes will  be imposed  on Contracts  offered  by this  Prospectus only  by  the
jurisdictions listed below at the rates indicated. For information subsequent to
April 30, 1997 a tax adviser should be consulted.
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STATE                                                       RATE OF TAX
- -------------------------------------------------------     -----------
<S>                                                         <C>
California                                                      .50%
District of Columbia                                           2.25%
Kentucky                                                       2.00%
West Virginia                                                  1.00%
</TABLE>
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
   
    This  Prospectus sets forth information about the Contracts and the Variable
Account that a  prospective purchaser should  know before investing.  Additional
information about the Contracts and the Variable Account has been filed with the
Securities  and  Exchange Commission  in a  Statement of  Additional Information
dated May 1, 1997  which is incorporated herein  by reference. The Statement  of
Additional  Information is  available upon request  and without  charge from Sun
Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.). To receive a copy, return this  request
form to the address shown below or telephone (800) 752-7215.
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
To:   Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)
     c/o Sun Life Annuity Service Center
     P.O. Box 1024
     Boston, Massachusetts 02103
 
    Please send me a Statement of Additional Information for
    Compass I--Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C.
Name  ____________________________________________
Address  ____________________________________________
     ____________________________________________
City____________________________ State___________ Zip______________
Telephone  ____________________________________________
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
   
                                        PROSPECTUS
 
                                        MAY 1, 1997
 
                                        COMBINATION FIXED/VARIABLE
                                        ANNUITY FOR QUALIFIED
                                        RETIREMENT PLANS
 
                                                      [Compass I]
 
    
 
   
                                                  ISSUED IN CONNECTION WITH
                                                  SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.)
                                                  VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
CO1US-1 5/97
    
 
        ISSUED BY
        SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
        Annuity Service Mailing Address:
        c/o Sun Life Annuity Service Center
        P.O. Box 1024
        Boston, Massachusetts 02103
        GENERAL DISTRIBUTOR
        Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc.
        500 Boylston Street
        Boston, Massachusetts 02116
        CUSTODIAN
        State Street Bank and Trust Company
        225 Franklin Street
        Boston, Massachusetts 02110
        LEGAL COUNSEL
        Covington & Burling
        1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
        P.O. Box 7566
        Washington, D.C. 20044
        AUDITORS
        Deloitte & Touche LLP
        125 Summer Street
        Boston, Massachusetts 02110
<PAGE>

                                     PART B

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A STATEMENT OF

                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

   

     Attached hereto and made a part hereof is a Statement of Additional
Information dated May 1, 1997.

    

<PAGE>
                                                                     MAY 1, 1997
                                   COMPASS I
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                  SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                    <C>
General Information..................................................     2
Annuity Provisions...................................................     2
Other Contractual Provisions.........................................     3
Federal Tax Status...................................................     4
Administration of the Contracts......................................     5
Distribution of the Contracts........................................     6
Legal Matters........................................................     6
Accountants..........................................................     6
Financial Statements.................................................     7
</TABLE>
 
    This Statement of Additional Information sets forth information which may be
of interest to prospective purchasers of Compass I Combination Fixed/Variable
Annuity Contracts (the "Contracts") issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada (U.S.) (the "Company") in connection with Sun Life of Canada (U.S.)
Variable Account C (the "Variable Account") which is not necessarily included in
the Prospectus dated May 1, 1997. This Statement of Additional Information
should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus, a copy of which may be
obtained without charge from the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address
c/o Sun Life Annuity Service Center, P.O. Box 1024, Boston, Massachusetts 02103,
or by telephoning (800) 752-7215.
 
    The terms used in this Statement of Additional Information have the same
meanings as in the Prospectus.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT A PROSPECTUS AND IS AUTHORIZED
FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS ONLY IF PRECEDED OR ACCOMPANIED BY A
CURRENT PROSPECTUS.
<PAGE>
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
THE COMPANY
 
    Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) (the "Company") is a stock life
insurance company incorporated under the laws of Delaware on January 12, 1970.
Its Executive Office is located at One Sun Life Executive Park, Wellesley Hills,
Massachusetts 02181.
 
    The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada, 150 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a mutual life insurance
company incorporated in Canada in 1865.
 
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C (the "Variable Account") is a
separate account of the Company which meets the definition of a separate account
under the federal securities laws and which is registered with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company
Act of 1940.
 
THE FIXED ACCOUNT
 
    If the Owner elects to have Contract values accumulated on a fixed basis,
Purchase Payments are allocated to the Fixed Account, which is the general
account of the Company. Because of exemptive and exclusionary provisions, that
part of the Contract relating to the Fixed Account is not registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act") and the Fixed Account is not registered as
an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act").
Accordingly, neither the Fixed Account, nor any interests therein are subject to
the provisions or restrictions of the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act, and the staff of
the Securities and Exchange Commission has not reviewed the disclosures in this
Statement of Additional Information with respect to that portion of the Contract
relating to the Fixed Account. Disclosures regarding the fixed portion of the
Contract and the Fixed Account, however, may be subject to certain generally
applicable provisions of the federal securities laws relating to the accuracy
and completeness of statements made herein (see "Fixed Account" in Appendix A).
 
                               ANNUITY PROVISIONS
 
DETERMINATION OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
    On the Annuity Commencement Date the Contract's Accumulation Account will be
cancelled and its adjusted value will be applied to provide a Variable Annuity
or a Fixed Annuity or a combination of both. The adjusted value will be equal to
the value of the Accumulation Account for the Valuation Period which ends
immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement Date, reduced by any applicable
premium or similar taxes and a proportionate amount of the contract maintenance
charge to reflect the time elapsed between the last Contract Anniversary and the
day before the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
    The dollar amount of the first variable annuity payment will be determined
in accordance with the annuity payment rates found in the Contract which are
based on an assumed interest rate of 4% per year. All variable annuity payments
other than the first are determined by means of Annuity Units credited to the
Contract. The number of Annuity Units to be credited in respect of a particular
Sub-Account is determined by dividing that portion of the first variable annuity
payment attributable to that Sub-Account by the Annuity Unit value of that
Sub-Account for the Valuation Period which ends immediately preceding the
Annuity Commencement Date. The number of Annuity Units of each particular
Sub-Account credited to the Contract then remains fixed unless an exchange of
Annuity Units is made as described in the Prospectus. The dollar amount of each
variable annuity payment after the first may increase, decrease or remain
constant, and is equal to the sum of the amounts determined by multiplying the
number of Annuity Units of a particular Sub-Account credited to the Contract by
the Annuity Unit value for the particular Sub-Account for the Valuation Period
which ends immediately preceding the due date of each subsequent payment.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
    For a description of fixed annuity payments, see Appendix A.
 
    For a hypothetical example of the calculation of a variable annuity payment,
see Appendix B.
 
ANNUITY UNIT VALUE
 
    The Annuity Unit value for each Sub-Account was established at $10.00 for
the first Valuation Period of the particular Sub-Account. The Annuity Unit value
for the particular Sub-Account for any subsequent Valuation Period is determined
by multiplying the Annuity Unit value for the particular Sub-Account for the
immediately preceding Valuation Period by the Net Investment Factor (see "Net
Investment Factor" in the Prospectus) for the particular Sub-Account for the
current Valuation Period and then multiplying that product by a factor to
neutralize the assumed interest rate of 4% per year used to establish the
annuity payment rates found in the Contract. The factor is 0.99989255 for a one
day Valuation Period.
 
    For a hypothetical example of the calculation of the value of a Variable
Annuity Unit, see Appendix B.
 
                          OTHER CONTRACTUAL PROVISIONS
 
RIGHT TO RETURN CONTRACT
 
    The Owner should read the Contract carefully as soon as it is received. If
the Owner wishes to return the Contract, it must be returned to the Company at
its Annuity Service Mailing Address within ten days after it was delivered to
the Owner. When the Company receives the returned Contract, it will be cancelled
and the full amount of any Purchase Payment(s) received by the Company will be
refunded.
 
    Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), an
Owner establishing an Individual Retirement Account must be furnished with a
disclosure statement containing certain information about the Contract and
applicable legal requirements. This statement must be furnished on or before the
date the Individual Retirement Account is established. If the Owner is furnished
with such disclosure statement before the 7th day preceding the date the
Individual Retirement Account is established, the Owner will not have any right
of revocation. If the disclosure statement is furnished after the 7th day
preceding the establishment of the Individual Retirement Account, then the Owner
may revoke the Contract any time within seven days after the issue date. Upon
such revocation, the Company will refund all Purchase Payment(s) made by the
Owner. The foregoing right of revocation with respect to an Individual
Retirement Account is in addition to the return privilege set forth in the
preceding paragraph. The Company will allow an Owner establishing an Individual
Retirement Account a "ten day free look," notwithstanding the provisions of
ERISA.
 
OWNER AND CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP
 
    The Contract shall belong to the Owner or to the successor Owner or
transferee of the Owner. All Contract rights and privileges may be exercised by
the Owner, the successor Owner or transferee of the Owner without the consent of
the Beneficiary (other than an irrevocably designated beneficiary) or any other
person. Such rights and privileges may be exercised only during the lifetime of
the Annuitant and prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, except as otherwise
provided in the Contract. The Annuitant becomes the Owner on and after the
Annuity Commencement Date. The Beneficiary becomes the Owner on the death of the
Annuitant. In some qualified plans the Owner of the Contract is a Trustee and
the Trust authorizes the Annuitant/participant to exercise certain contract
rights and privileges.
 
    Ownership of the Contract may not be transferred except to: (1) the
Annuitant; (2) a trustee or successor trustee of a pension or profit sharing
trust which is qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code; (3) the
trustee of an individual retirement account plan qualified under Section 408 of
the Internal Revenue Code for the benefit of the Owner; or (4) as otherwise
permitted from time to time by laws and regulations governing the retirement
plans for which the Contract may be issued. Subject to the foregoing, the
Contract may not be sold, assigned, transferred, discounted or pledged as
collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for
any other purpose to any person other than the
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
Company. A change of ownership will not be binding upon the Company until
written notification is received by the Company. Once received by the Company
the change will be effective as of the date on which the request for change was
signed by the Owner but the change will be without prejudice to the Company on
account of any payment made or any action taken by the Company prior to
receiving the change. The Company may require that the signature of the Owner be
guaranteed by a member firm of the New York, American, Boston, Midwest,
Philadelphia or Pacific Stock Exchange, or by a commercial bank (not a savings
bank) which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or, in
certain cases, by a member firm of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. which has entered into an appropriate agreement with the Company.
 
DESIGNATION AND CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY
 
    The Beneficiary designation contained in the application will remain in
effect until changed. The interest of any Beneficiary is subject to the
particular Beneficiary surviving the Annuitant.
 
    Subject to the rights of an irrevocably designated Beneficiary, the Owner
(or the Annuitant, as permitted by the Owner) may change or revoke the
designation of a Beneficiary at any time while the Annuitant is living by filing
with the Company a written beneficiary designation or revocation in such form as
the Company may require. The change or revocation will not be binding upon the
Company until it is received by the Company. When it is so received the change
or revocation will be effective as of the date on which the beneficiary
designation or revocation was signed by the Owner or the Annuitant, as
applicable.
 
    Reference should be made to the terms of the particular retirement plan and
any applicable legislation for any restrictions on the beneficiary designation.
 
CUSTODIAN
 
    The Custodian of the assets of the Variable Account is State Street Bank and
Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. The Company
will direct the Custodian to purchase Fund shares at net asset value in
connection with amounts allocated to the particular Sub-Account in accordance
with the instructions of the Owner and to redeem Fund shares at net asset value
for the purpose of meeting the contractual obligations of the Variable Account,
paying charges relative to the Variable Account or making adjustments for
annuity reserves held in the Variable Account.
 
                               FEDERAL TAX STATUS
 
INTRODUCTION
 
    The Contracts described in this Prospectus are designed for use by
retirement plans under the provisions of Sections 401 or 408 (excluding Section
408(b)) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). The ultimate effect of
federal income taxes on the value of the Contract's Accumulation Account, on
annuity payments and on the economic benefit to the Owner, the Annuitant, the
Payee or the Beneficiary may depend upon the type of retirement plan for which
the Contract is purchased and upon the tax and employment status of the
individual concerned. The discussion contained herein is general in nature, is
based upon the Company's understanding of federal income tax laws as currently
interpreted, and is not intended as tax advice. Congress has the power to enact
legislation affecting the tax treatment of annuity contracts, and such
legislation could be applied retroactively to Contracts purchased before the
date of enactment. Any person contemplating the purchase of a Contract should
consult a qualified tax adviser. THE COMPANY DOES NOT MAKE ANY GUARANTEE
REGARDING THE TAX STATUS OF ANY CONTRACT OR ANY TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE
CONTRACTS.
 
TAX TREATMENT OF THE COMPANY AND THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under the Code. Although
the operations of the Variable Account are accounted for separately from other
operations of the Company for purposes of federal income taxation, the Variable
Account is not separately taxable as a regulated investment company
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
or otherwise as a taxable entity separate from the Company. Under existing
federal income tax laws, the income and capital gains of the Variable Account to
the extent applied to increase reserves under the Contracts are not taxable to
the Company.
 
TAXATION OF ANNUITIES IN GENERAL
 
    A participant in a retirement plan is the individual on whose behalf a
Contract is issued. Certain federal income tax advantages are available to
participants in retirement plans which meet the requirements of Section 401 or
Section 408 (excluding Section 408(b)) of the Code. The Contracts offered by
this Prospectus are designed for use in connection with such retirement plans
and accordingly all or a portion of the contributions to such plans will be used
to make Purchase Payments under the Contracts. Monthly annuity payments made as
retirement distributions under a Contract are generally taxable to the Annuitant
as ordinary income under Section 72 of the Code. Distributions prior to age
59 1/2 generally are subject to a 10% penalty tax, although this tax will not
apply in certain circumstances. Certain distributions, known as "eligible
rollover distributions," if rolled over to certain other qualified retirement
plans (either directly or after being distributed to the Owner or Payee), are
not taxable until distributed from the plan to which they are rolled over. In
general, an eligible rollover distribution is any taxable distribution other
than a distribution that is part of a series of payments made for life or for a
specified period of ten years or more.
 
    Owners, Annuitants, Payees and Beneficiaries should seek qualified advice
about the tax consequences of distributions, withdrawals, rollovers and payments
under the retirement plans in connection with which the Contracts are purchased.
 
    The Company will withhold and remit to the U.S. government a part of the
taxable portion of each distribution made under a Contract issued in connection
with an individual retirement account unless the Owner or Payee provides his or
her taxpayer identification number to the Company and notifies the Company (in
the manner prescribed) before the time of the distribution that he or she
chooses not to have any amounts withheld.
 
    In the case of distributions from a Contract (other than a Contract issued
for use with an individual retirement account), the Company or the plan
administrator must withhold and remit to the U.S. government 20% of each
distribution that is an eligible rollover distribution (as defined above) unless
the Owner or Payee elects to make a direct rollover of the distribution to
another qualified retirement plan that is eligible to receive the rollover. If a
distribution from a Contract is not an eligible rollover distribution, then the
Owner or Payee can choose not to have amounts withheld as described above for
individual retirement accounts.
 
    Amounts withheld from any distribution may be credited against the Owner's
or Payee's federal income tax liability for the year of the distribution.
 
    The Tax Reform Act of 1984 authorizes the Internal Revenue Service to
promulgate regulations that prescribe investment diversification requirements
for segregated asset accounts underlying certain variable annuity contracts.
These regulations do not affect the tax treatment of qualified contracts, such
as the Contracts offered by this Prospectus.
 
    Due to the complex nature and frequent revisions of the federal income tax
laws affecting retirement plans, a person contemplating the purchase of a
Contract for use in connection with a retirement plan, the distribution or
surrender of a Contract held under a retirement plan, or the election of an
annuity option provided in a Contract should consult a qualified tax adviser.
 
                        ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTRACTS
 
    The Company performs certain administrative functions relating to the
Contracts and the Variable Account. These functions include, among other things,
maintaining the books and records of the Variable Account and the Sub-Accounts,
and maintaining records of the name, address, taxpayer identification number,
Contract number, type of Contract issued to each Owner, the status of the
Accumulation Account under each Contract and other pertinent information
necessary to the administration and operation of the Contracts.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
                         DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS
 
    The offering of the Contracts is continuous. The Contracts will be sold by
licensed insurance agents in those states where the Contracts may be lawfully
sold. Such agents will be registered representatives of broker-dealers
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 who are members of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The Contracts will be
distributed by Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc. ("Clarendon"), 500 Boylston
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFS.
Commissions and other distribution compensation will be paid by the Company and
will not be more than 5.11% of the Purchase Payments. In addition, after the
fifth (5th) Contract Year, broker-dealers who have entered into distribution
agreements with the Company may receive an annual renewal commission of no more
than 0.20% of the Contract's Accumulation Account values. During 1994, 1995 and
1996, approximately $42,000, $35,000, and $32,000, respectively, was paid to and
retained by Clarendon in connection with the distribution of the Contracts.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The organization of the Company, its authority to issue the Contracts and
the validity of the form of the Contracts have been passed upon by David D.
Horn, Esq., Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Company. Covington
& Burling, Washington, D.C., have advised the Company on certain legal matters
concerning federal securities laws applicable to the issue and sale of the
Contracts and federal income tax laws applicable to the Contracts.
 
                                  ACCOUNTANTS
 
    Deloitte & Touche LLP, 125 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, are
the Variable Account's independent certified public accountants, providing
auditing and other professional services.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
STATEMENT OF CONDITION -- December 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS:
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>           <C>
  Investments in mutual funds:                         Shares         Cost         Value
                                                    ------------  ------------  ------------
    Massachusetts Investors Trust ("MIT")*........       966,416  $ 12,085,434  $ 13,977,972
    Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund
     ("MIG")*.....................................       681,422     7,324,130     6,797,756
    MFS Total Return Fund ("MTR")*................     1,609,824    20,807,575    23,813,903
    MFS Growth Opportunities Fund ("MGO")*........     2,429,946    27,331,309    31,507,393
    MFS Research Fund ("MFR")*....................       462,597     6,244,045     8,568,891
    MFS Bond Fund ("MFB")*........................       494,800     6,643,122     6,545,152
    MFS Money Market Fund ("MCM").................     7,889,174     7,889,174     7,889,174
    MFS Government Money Market Fund ("MCG")......     1,384,357     1,384,357     1,384,357
    MFS High Income Fund ("MFH")*.................     1,655,686     8,461,078     8,844,864
    MFS World Governments Fund ("MWG")*...........       244,980     2,872,725     2,767,578
    MFS Emerging Growth Fund ("MEG")*.............       541,628     9,656,872    16,408,248
                                                                  ------------  ------------
                                                                  $110,699,821  $128,505,288
                                                                  ------------
                                                                  ------------
 
<CAPTION>
 
LIABILITIES:
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>           <C>
 
  Payable to sponsor..........................................................        19,311
                                                                                ------------
        Net assets............................................................  $128,485,977
                                                                                ------------
                                                                                ------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Applicable to Owners of
                                                   Deferred Variable Annuity
                                                           Contracts                Reserve for
                                               ----------------------------------    Variable
NET ASSETS OF CONTRACT OWNERS:                  Units   Unit Value      Value        Annuities        Total
                                               -------  ----------   ------------  -------------   ------------
<S>                                            <C>      <C>          <C>           <C>             <C>
    MIT......................................  211,924   $65.4965    $ 13,878,043    $   109,298   $ 13,987,341
    MIG......................................  137,226    48.9432       6,713,830         90,338      6,804,168
    MTR......................................  445,574    52.6180      23,422,668        281,208     23,703,876
    MGO......................................  752,698    41.5395      31,409,730        154,599     31,564,329
    MFR......................................  143,843    59.3112       8,533,053         45,692      8,578,745
    MFB......................................  186,637    34.3871       6,496,679         55,133      6,551,812
    MCM......................................  401,141    19.5956       7,857,887         30,743      7,888,630
    MCG......................................   73,345    18.8643       1,383,240          1,238      1,384,478
    MFH......................................  229,079    38.2245       8,737,289        136,372      8,873,661
    MWG......................................   70,278    38.3007       2,691,523         33,466      2,724,989
    MEG......................................  321,077    50.8597      16,329,244         94,704     16,423,948
                                                                     ------------  -------------   ------------
        Net assets................................................   $127,453,186    $ 1,032,791   $128,485,977
                                                                     ------------  -------------   ------------
                                                                     ------------  -------------   ------------
</TABLE>
 
*Investments are made in Class A shares of the Fund.
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS -- Year Ended December 31, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      MIT         MIG         MTR          MGO         MFR         MFB
                                                     Sub-         Sub-        Sub-        Sub-         Sub-        Sub-
                                                    Account     Account     Account      Account     Account     Account
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                               <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>
Income and expenses:
  Dividend income and capital gain distributions
   received.....................................  $ 1,360,768  $1,613,641  $2,584,561  $ 3,410,898  $  421,247  $  503,122
  Mortality and expense risk charges............      167,768      91,871     300,949      393,921     107,599      89,184
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
      Net investment income.....................  $ 1,193,000  $1,521,770  $2,283,612  $ 3,016,977  $  313,648  $  413,938
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
  Realized gains (losses) on investment
   transactions:
    Proceeds from sales.........................  $ 1,776,789  $2,466,325  $3,990,956  $ 4,161,499  $1,752,819  $1,873,338
    Cost of investments sold....................    1,726,389   2,073,433   3,121,561    3,474,538   1,041,985   2,032,173
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
      Net realized gains (losses)...............  $    50,400  $  392,892  $  869,395  $   686,961  $  710,834  $ (158,835)
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
  Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on
   investments:
    End of year.................................  $ 1,892,538  $ (526,374) $3,006,328  $ 4,176,084  $2,324,846  $  (97,970)
    Beginning of year...........................      296,421       9,941   3,270,426    2,314,275   1,679,172      15,221
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
      Change in unrealized appreciation
       (depreciation)...........................  $ 1,596,117  $ (536,315) $ (264,098) $ 1,861,809  $  645,674  $ (113,191)
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
  Realized and unrealized gains (losses)........  $ 1,646,517  $ (143,423) $  605,297  $ 2,548,770  $1,356,508  $ (272,026)
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
  Increase in net assets from operations........  $ 2,839,517  $1,378,347  $2,888,909  $ 5,565,747  $1,670,156  $  141,912
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
                                                  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       MCM        MCG        MFH         MWG        MEG
                                                       Sub-       Sub-       Sub-       Sub-        Sub-
                                                     Account    Account    Account     Account    Account       Total
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>
Income and expenses:
  Dividend income and capital gain distributions
   received.......................................  $  333,700  $ 75,667  $  776,979  $  75,412  $  200,183  $11,356,178
  Mortality and expense risk charges..............  $   93,240  $ 21,782  $  113,895  $  36,819  $  227,265  $ 1,644,293
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
      Net investment income (expense).............  $  240,460  $ 53,885  $  663,084  $  38,593  $  (27,082) $ 9,711,885
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
  Realized gains (losses) on investment
   transactions:
    Proceeds from sales...........................  $3,838,287  $836,694  $2,506,867  $ 795,055  $3,756,989  $27,755,618
    Cost of investments sold......................   3,838,287   836,694   2,454,610    903,141   1,964,209   23,467,020
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
      Net realized gains (losses).................  $   --      $  --     $   52,257  $(108,086) $1,792,780  $ 4,288,598
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on
investments:
    End of year...................................  $   --      $  --     $  383,786  $(105,147) $6,751,376  $17,805,467
    Beginning of year.............................      --         --        161,693   (280,006)  6,409,399   13,876,542
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
      Change in unrealized appreciation
       (depreciation).............................  $   --      $  --     $  222,093  $ 174,859  $  341,977  $ 3,928,925
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
  Realized and unrealized gains...................  $   --      $  --     $  274,350  $  66,773  $2,134,757  $ 8,217,523
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
  Increase in net assets from operations..........  $  240,460  $ 53,885  $  937,434  $ 105,366  $2,107,675  $17,929,408
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
                                                    ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      MIT                              MIG                      MTR
                                                  Sub-Account                      Sub-Account              Sub-Account
                                        -------------------------------   ------------------------------   --------------
                                                  Year Ended                        Year Ended               Year Ended
                                                 December 31,                      December 31,             December 31,
                                        -------------------------------   ------------------------------   --------------
                                             1996             1995             1996            1995             1996
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
<S>                                     <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income...............   $   1,193,000    $     992,999    $   1,521,770    $    897,494    $   2,283,612
  Net realized gains (losses).........          50,400          (65,122)         392,892          94,187          869,395
  Net unrealized gains (losses).......       1,596,117        2,424,177         (536,315)        616,173         (264,098)
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
      Increase in net assets from
       operations.....................   $   2,839,517    $   3,352,054    $   1,378,347    $  1,607,854    $   2,888,909
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
 
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments received........   $     336,122    $     369,642    $     205,998    $    179,962    $     528,206
    Net transfers between Sub-Accounts
     and
     Fixed Account....................          88,376          632,110         (203,622)        129,225         (145,482)
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations, and contract
     charges..........................      (1,397,434)      (1,247,573)      (2,057,962)       (602,589)      (3,143,002)
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
      Net accumulation activity.......   $    (972,936)   $    (245,821)   $  (2,055,586)   $   (293,402)   $  (2,760,278)
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations....................   $      33,004    $       6,637    $    --          $     16,780    $       8,227
    Annuity payments and contract
     charges..........................         (17,495)         (10,426)          (3,060)        (10,536)          (8,688)
    Adjustments to annuity reserve....          11,899             (896)           1,203             334          (41,600)
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
      Net annuitization activity......   $      27,408    $      (4,685)   $      (1,857)   $      6,578    $     (42,061)
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
  Decrease in net assets from contract
   owner transactions.................   $    (945,528)   $    (250,506)   $  (2,057,443)   $   (286,824)   $  (2,802,339)
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets...........................   $   1,893,989    $   3,101,548    $    (679,096)   $  1,321,030    $      86,570
 
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year...................      12,093,352        8,991,804        7,483,264       6,162,234       23,617,306
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
  End of year.........................   $  13,987,341    $  12,093,352    $   6,804,168    $  7,483,264    $  23,703,876
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
                                        --------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                             1995
                                        --------------
<S>                                     <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income...............   $   1,805,498
  Net realized gains (losses).........         847,811
  Net unrealized gains (losses).......       2,464,418
                                        --------------
      Increase in net assets from
       operations.....................   $   5,117,727
                                        --------------
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments received........   $     632,542
    Net transfers between Sub-Accounts
     and
     Fixed Account....................        (573,277)
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations, and contract
     charges..........................      (3,299,740)
                                        --------------
      Net accumulation activity.......   $  (3,240,475)
                                        --------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations....................   $      16,421
    Annuity payments and contract
     charges..........................         (33,654)
    Adjustments to annuity reserve....         (16,418)
                                        --------------
      Net annuitization activity......   $     (33,651)
                                        --------------
  Decrease in net assets from contract
   owner transactions.................   $  (3,274,126)
                                        --------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets...........................   $   1,843,601
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year...................      21,773,705
                                        --------------
  End of year.........................   $  23,617,306
                                        --------------
                                        --------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       MGO                              MFR                      MFB
                                                   Sub-Account                      Sub-Account              Sub-Account
                                         -------------------------------   ------------------------------   -------------
                                                   Year Ended                        Year Ended              Year Ended
                                                  December 31,                      December 31,            December 31,
                                         -------------------------------   ------------------------------   -------------
                                              1996             1995            1996             1995            1996
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
<S>                                      <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income................   $   3,016,977    $   3,299,790    $    313,648    $     379,798    $    413,938
  Net realized gains (losses)..........         686,961          510,987         710,834          329,788        (158,835)
  Net unrealized gains (losses)........       1,861,809        3,975,183         645,674        1,571,031        (113,191)
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
      Increase in net assets from
       operations......................   $   5,565,747    $   7,785,960    $  1,670,156    $   2,280,617    $    141,912
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
 
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments received.........   $     446,789    $     453,315    $    143,449    $     135,168    $    155,303
    Net transfers between Sub-Accounts
     and
     Fixed Account.....................        (284,146)         (83,265)        382,929         (299,560)         32,233
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations, and contract
     charges...........................      (3,282,766)      (4,010,089)     (1,327,739)      (1,142,203)     (1,500,550)
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
      Net accumulation activity........   $  (3,120,123)   $  (3,640,039)   $   (801,361)   $  (1,306,595)   $ (1,313,014)
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations.....................   $       4,584    $      17,843    $   --          $      13,047    $   --
    Annuity payments and contract
     charges...........................         (30,270)         (17,899)           (662)          (3,401)         (8,224)
    Adjustments to annuity reserve.....          17,719            8,499          10,666           (1,016)          1,076
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
      Net annuitization activity.......   $      (7,967)   $       8,443    $     10,004    $       8,630    $     (7,148)
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
  Decrease in net assets from contract
   owner transactions..................   $  (3,128,090)   $  (3,631,596)   $   (791,357)   $  (1,297,965)   $ (1,320,162)
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets............................   $   2,437,657    $   4,154,364    $    878,799    $     982,652    $ (1,178,250)
 
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year....................      29,126,672       24,972,308       7,699,946        6,717,294       7,730,062
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
  End of year..........................   $  31,564,329    $  29,126,672    $  8,578,745    $   7,699,946    $  6,551,812
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
                                         --------------   --------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                             1995
                                         -------------
<S>                                      <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income................   $    446,610
  Net realized gains (losses)..........        (88,404)
  Net unrealized gains (losses)........        939,231
                                         -------------
      Increase in net assets from
       operations......................   $  1,297,437
                                         -------------
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments received.........   $    149,502
    Net transfers between Sub-Accounts
     and
     Fixed Account.....................        633,442
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations, and contract
     charges...........................       (990,064)
                                         -------------
      Net accumulation activity........   $   (207,120)
                                         -------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations.....................   $   --
    Annuity payments and contract
     charges...........................         (7,848)
    Adjustments to annuity reserve.....          1,914
                                         -------------
      Net annuitization activity.......   $     (5,934)
                                         -------------
  Decrease in net assets from contract
   owner transactions..................   $   (213,054)
                                         -------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets............................   $  1,084,383
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year....................      6,645,679
                                         -------------
  End of year..........................   $  7,730,062
                                         -------------
                                         -------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           MCM                              MCG                             MFH
                                       Sub-Account                      Sub-Account                     Sub-Account
                              ------------------------------   -----------------------------   ------------------------------
                                        Year Ended                      Year Ended                       Year Ended
                                       December 31,                    December 31,                     December 31,
                              ------------------------------   -----------------------------   ------------------------------
                                  1996             1995            1996            1995            1996             1995
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
<S>                           <C>             <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income.....   $  240,460      $   293,849      $   53,885      $   84,729      $  663,084      $   724,913
  Net realized gains........      --               --              --              --               52,257          150,663
  Net unrealized gains......      --               --              --              --              222,093          581,065
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
      Increase in net assets
       from operations......   $  240,460      $   293,849      $   53,885      $   84,729      $  937,434      $ 1,456,641
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
 
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments
     received...............   $  136,550      $   238,984      $   80,866      $   66,406      $  121,432      $   221,528
    Net transfers between
     Sub-Accounts and Fixed
     Account................    1,635,082         (301,095)       (278,103)       (259,690)       (411,820)        (211,934)
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations, and
     contract charges.......   (1,188,558)      (1,961,874)       (449,456)       (364,427)       (968,697)      (2,451,712)
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
      Net accumulation
       activity.............   $  583,074      $(2,023,985)     $ (646,693)     $ (557,711)     $(1,259,085)    $(2,442,118)
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations..........   $  --           $   --           $  --           $  --           $  --           $   --
    Annuity payments and
     contract charges.......       (4,013)          (4,026)           (196)           (196)        (21,880)         (19,590)
    Adjustments to annuity
     reserve................          543              464              67              62            (927)          (5,594)
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
      Net annuitization
       activity.............   $   (3,470)     $    (3,562)     $     (129)     $     (134)     $  (22,807)     $   (25,184)
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
  Increase (decrease) in net
   assets from contract
   owner transactions.......   $  579,604      $(2,027,547)     $ (646,822)     $ (557,845)     $(1,281,892)    $(2,467,302)
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
    Increase (decrease) in
     net assets.............   $  820,064      $(1,733,698)     $ (592,937)     $ (473,116)     $ (344,458)     $(1,010,661)
 
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year.........    7,068,566        8,802,264       1,977,415       2,450,531       9,218,119       10,228,780
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
  End of year...............   $7,888,630      $ 7,068,566      $1,384,478      $1,977,415      $8,873,661      $ 9,218,119
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
                              -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           MWG                              MEG
                                       Sub-Account                      Sub-Account                          Total
                              -----------------------------   -------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                       Year Ended                       Year Ended                        Year Ended
                                      December 31,                     December 31,                      December 31,
                              -----------------------------   -------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                  1996            1995             1996             1995             1996             1995
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
<S>                           <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income
   (expense)................   $   38,593      $  351,401      $   (27,082)     $  (185,410)     $  9,711,885     $  9,091,671
  Net realized gains
   (losses).................     (108,086)        (49,998)       1,792,780          529,814         4,288,598        2,259,726
  Net unrealized gains......      174,859         132,378          341,977        4,423,528         3,928,925       17,127,184
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
      Increase in net assets
       from operations......   $  105,366      $  433,781      $ 2,107,675      $ 4,767,932      $ 17,929,408     $ 28,478,581
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
 
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments
     received...............   $   32,241      $   56,089      $   413,103      $   313,173      $  2,600,059     $  2,816,311
    Net transfers between
     Sub-Accounts and Fixed
     Account................     (103,978)         (8,929)        (785,333)         252,941           (73,864)         (90,032)
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations, and
     contract charges.......     (400,559)       (694,187)      (2,122,298)      (1,159,186)      (17,839,021)     (17,923,644)
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
      Net accumulation
       activity.............   $ (472,296)     $ (647,027)     $(2,494,528)     $  (593,072)     $(15,312,826)    $(15,197,365)
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations..........   $  --           $   19,499      $   --           $   --           $     45,815     $     90,227
    Annuity payments and
     contract charges.......       (7,791)         (5,171)         (19,817)         (15,686)         (122,096)        (128,433)
    Adjustments to annuity
     reserve................       (2,303)         (5,384)           1,874            5,819               217          (12,216)
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
      Net annuitization
       activity.............   $  (10,094)     $    8,944      $   (17,943)     $    (9,867)     $    (76,064)    $    (50,422)
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
  Decrease in net assets
   from contract owner
   transactions.............   $ (482,390)     $ (638,083)     $(2,512,471)     $  (602,939)     $(15,388,890)    $(15,247,787)
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
    Increase (decrease) in
     net assets.............   $ (377,024)     $ (204,302)     $  (404,796)     $ 4,164,993      $  2,540,518     $ 13,230,794
 
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year.........    3,102,013       3,306,315       16,828,744       12,663,751       125,945,459      112,714,665
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
  End of year...............   $2,724,989      $3,102,013      $16,423,948      $16,828,744      $128,485,977     $125,945,459
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
                              -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
(1) ORGANIZATION
Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C (the "Variable Account"), a
separate account of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.), the Sponsor,
was established on March 31, 1982 as a funding vehicle for individual variable
annuities issued in connection with qualified retirement plans. The Variable
Account is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 as a unit investment trust.
 
The assets of the Variable Account are divided into Sub-Accounts. Each
Sub-Account is invested in shares of a specific mutual fund or series thereof
selected by contract owners from among available mutual funds (the "Funds")
advised by Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS"), a subsidiary of the
Sponsor.
 
(2) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
GENERAL
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
 
INVESTMENT VALUATIONS
Investments in the Funds are recorded at their net asset value. Realized gains
and losses on sales of shares of the Funds are determined on the identified cost
basis. Dividend income and capital gain distributions received by the
Sub-Accounts are reinvested in additional Fund shares and are recognized on the
ex-dividend date.
 
Exchanges between Sub-Accounts requested by contract owners are recorded in the
new Sub-Account upon receipt of the redemption proceeds.
 
FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
The operations of the Variable Account are part of the operations of the Sponsor
and are not taxed separately; the Variable Account is not taxed as a regulated
investment company. The Sponsor qualifies for the federal income tax treatment
granted to life insurance companies under Subchapter L of the Internal Revenue
Code. Under existing federal income tax law, investment income and capital gains
earned by the Variable Account on contract owner reserves are not subject to
tax.
 
(3) CONTRACT CHARGES
A mortality and expense risk charge based on the value of the Variable Account
is deducted from the Variable Account at the end of each valuation period for
the mortality and expense risks assumed by the Sponsor. The deduction is at an
effective annual rate of 1.3%.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- continued
Each year on the contract anniversary, a contract maintenance charge of $25 is
deducted from each contract's accumulation account to cover administrative
expenses relating to the contract. After the annuity commencement date the
charge is deducted pro rata from each annuity payment made during the year.
 
The Sponsor does not deduct a sales charge from purchase payments. However, a
withdrawal charge (contingent deferred sales charge) may be deducted to cover
certain expenses relating to the sale of the contract. In no event shall the
aggregate withdrawal charges exceed 5% of the purchase payments made under the
contract.
 
A deduction, when applicable, is made for premium or similar state or local
taxes. It is currently the policy of the Sponsor to deduct the taxes from the
amount applied to provide an annuity at the time annuity payments commence;
however, the Sponsor reserves the right to deduct such taxes when incurred.
 
(4) ANNUITY RESERVES
Annuity reserves for contracts with annuity commencement dates prior to February
1, 1987 are calculated using the 1971 Individual Annuitant Mortality Table.
Annuity reserves for contracts with annuity commencement dates on or after
February 1, 1987 are calculated using the 1983 Individual Annuitant Mortality
Table. All annuity reserves are calculated using an assumed interest rate of 4%.
Required adjustments to the reserve are accomplished by transfers to or from the
Sponsor.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- continued
(5) TRANSACTIONS IN UNITS OUTSTANDING
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   MIT                   MIG                   MTR                   MGO              MFR
                               Sub-Account           Sub-Account           Sub-Account           Sub-Account       Sub-Account
                           --------------------  --------------------  --------------------  --------------------  ---------
<S>                        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                                                                                     Year
                                                                                                                     Ended
                                Year Ended            Year Ended            Year Ended            Year Ended       December
                               December 31,          December 31,          December 31,          December 31,         31,
                           --------------------  --------------------  --------------------  --------------------  ---------
 
<CAPTION>
                             1996       1995       1996       1995       1996       1995       1996       1995       1996
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Units outstanding,
 beginning of year.......    228,398    233,419    183,386    191,666    502,308    580,826    835,555    952,138    158,916
  Units purchased........      5,745      8,255      4,638      5,027     10,862     15,382     11,777     15,050      2,691
  Units transferred
   between Sub-Accounts
   and Fixed Account.....      1,726     14,317     (4,521)     3,509     (2,602)   (13,411)    (8,450)    (3,016)     6,223
  Units withdrawn,
   surrendered and
   annuitized............    (23,945)   (27,593)   (46,277)   (16,816)   (64,994)   (80,489)   (86,184)  (128,617)   (23,987)
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Units outstanding, end of
 year....................    211,924    228,398    137,226    183,386    445,574    502,308    752,698    835,555    143,843
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 
<CAPTION>
                                              MFB
                                          Sub-Account
                                      --------------------
<S>                        <C>        <C>        <C>
 
                                           Year Ended
                                          December 31,
                                      --------------------
                             1995       1996       1995
                           ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                        <C>        <C>        <C>
Units outstanding,
 beginning of year.......    189,988    226,571    233,449
  Units purchased........      3,374      4,694      4,911
  Units transferred
   between Sub-Accounts
   and Fixed Account.....     (7,419)       970     19,907
  Units withdrawn,
   surrendered and
   annuitized............    (27,027)   (45,598)   (31,696)
                           ---------  ---------  ---------
Units outstanding, end of
 year....................    158,916    186,637    226,571
                           ---------  ---------  ---------
                           ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   MCM                      MCG                       MFH                 MWG
                                               Sub-Account              Sub-Account               Sub-Account         Sub-Account
                                          ----------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------  -----------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
                                                                                                                      Year Ended
                                                Year Ended               Year Ended                Year Ended          December
                                               December 31,             December 31,              December 31,            31,
                                          ----------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------  -----------
 
<CAPTION>
                                             1996        1995        1996         1995         1996         1995         1996
                                          -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Units outstanding, beginning of year....     371,369     480,850     108,206      139,248      264,391      339,549       83,177
  Units purchased.......................       7,091      12,892       4,338        3,707        3,422        7,012          882
  Units transferred between Sub-Accounts
   and Fixed Account....................      84,305     (16,523)    (14,954)     (14,383)     (11,805)      (6,198)      (2,797)
  Units withdrawn, surrendered and
   annuitized...........................     (61,624)   (105,850)    (24,245)     (20,366)     (26,929)     (75,972)     (10,984)
                                          -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Units outstanding, end of year..........     401,141     371,369      73,345      108,206      229,079      264,391       70,278
                                          -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                          -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                 MEG
                                                             Sub-Account
                                                       ------------------------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>
 
                                                              Year Ended
                                                             December 31,
                                                       ------------------------
                                             1995         1996         1995
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>
Units outstanding, beginning of year....     101,661      372,726      390,605
  Units purchased.......................       1,602        8,398        8,332
  Units transferred between Sub-Accounts
   and Fixed Account....................        (229)     (16,860)       5,480
  Units withdrawn, surrendered and
   annuitized...........................     (19,857)     (43,187)     (31,691)
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
Units outstanding, end of year..........      83,177      321,077      372,726
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
To the Participants in Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C
  and the Board of Directors of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.):
 
We have audited the accompanying statement of condition of Sun Life of Canada
(U.S.) Variable Account C (the Variable Account) as of December 31, 1996, the
related statements of operations for the year then ended and the statements of
changes in net assets for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995. These
financial statements are the responsibility of management. Our responsibility is
to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities held at December 31, 1996 by correspondence with the
custodian. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Variable Account as of December 31,
1996, the results of its operations and the changes in its net assets for the
respective stated periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Boston, Massachusetts
February 7, 1997
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF ADMITTED ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND
CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                                             ------------------------------
                                                                                  1996            1995
                                                                             --------------  --------------
                                                                                       (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                          <C>             <C>
ADMITTED ASSETS
    Bonds                                                                    $    2,258,858  $    2,706,067
    Preferred stock                                                                       0           1,149
    Mortgage loans                                                                  938,932       1,066,911
    Investments in subsidiaries                                                     144,043         138,282
    Real estate                                                                     100,385          95,574
    Other invested assets                                                            51,378          38,387
    Policy loans                                                                     40,554          38,355
    Cash                                                                              1,305         (20,280)
    Investment income due and accrued                                                68,190          62,719
    Funds withheld on reinsurance assumed                                           878,798         741,091
    Due from separate accounts                                                      220,999         148,675
    Other assets                                                                     27,509          26,349
                                                                             --------------  --------------
    General account assets                                                        4,730,951       5,043,279
    Unitized separate account assets                                              6,919,219       5,275,808
    Non-unitized separate account assets                                          2,108,835       2,040,596
                                                                             --------------  --------------
    Total Assets                                                             $   13,759,005  $   12,359,683
                                                                             --------------  --------------
                                                                             --------------  --------------
LIABILITIES
    Policy reserves                                                          $    2,099,980  $    1,937,302
    Annuity and other deposits                                                    1,898,309       2,290,656
    Policy benefits in process of payment                                             2,677           5,884
    Accrued expenses and taxes                                                       57,719          44,114
    Other liabilities                                                                63,987          36,080
    Due to (from) parent and affiliates--net                                        (41,326)       (130,502)
    Interest maintenance reserve                                                     28,676          25,218
    Asset valuation reserve                                                          53,911          42,099
                                                                             --------------  --------------
    General account liabilities                                                   4,163,933       4,250,851
    Unitized separate account liabilities                                         6,919,094       5,275,784
    Non-unitized separate account liabilities                                     2,108,835       2,040,596
                                                                             --------------  --------------
                                                                                 13,191,862      11,567,231
                                                                             --------------  --------------
CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
    Capital Stock Par value $1,000:
       Authorized, 10,000 shares;
        issued and outstanding, 5,900 shares                                          5,900           5,900
    Surplus                                                                         561,243         786,552
                                                                             --------------  --------------
    Total capital stock and surplus                                                 567,143         792,452
                                                                             --------------  --------------
    Total Liabilities, Capital Stock and Surplus                             $   13,759,005  $   12,359,683
                                                                             --------------  --------------
                                                                             --------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                           ----------------------------------
                                              1996        1995        1994
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 <S>                                       <C>         <C>         <C>
                                                       (IN 000'S)
 Premiums and annuity considerations       $  282,466  $  279,407  $  316,008
 Deposit-type funds                         1,775,230   1,545,542   1,647,623
 Considerations for supplementary
   contracts without life contingencies
   and dividend accumulations                   2,340       1,088       2,906
 Net investment income                        303,753     312,872     315,433
 Amortization of interest maintenance
   reserve                                      1,557       1,025       4,128
 Miscellaneous income                          71,903      57,864      30,988
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Total                                      2,437,249   2,197,798   2,317,086
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Death benefits                                12,394      15,317       4,836
 Annuity benefits                             146,654     140,497     135,256
 Surrender benefits and other fund
   withdrawals                              1,507,263   1,074,396     965,186
 Interest on policy or contract funds           2,205         739         572
 Payments on supplementary contracts
   without life contingencies and of
   dividend accumulations                       2,120       1,888       2,334
 Increase in aggregate reserves for life
   and accident and health policies and
   contracts                                  162,678     171,975     219,334
 Increase in liability for premium and
   other deposit funds                       (392,348)     13,553     (69,541)
 Increase in reserve for supplementary
   contracts without life contingencies
   and for dividend and coupon
   accumulations                                  327        (663)        714
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Total                                      1,441,293   1,417,702   1,258,691
 Commissions on premiums and annuity
   considerations (direct business only)      109,894      88,037      93,576
 Commissions and expense allowances on
   reinsurance assumed                         18,910      22,012      59,085
 General insurance expenses                    37,206      34,580      31,243
 Insurance taxes, licenses and fees,
   excluding federal income taxes               8,431       7,685       5,638
 Increase in loading on and cost of
   collection in excess of loading on
   deferred and uncollected premiums              901      (1,377)     (2,650)
 Net transfers to Separate Account            678,663     551,784     820,671
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Total                                      2,295,298   2,120,423   2,266,254
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Net gain from operations before
   dividends to policyholders and federal
   income tax                                 141,951      77,375      50,832
 Dividends to policyholders                    29,189      25,722      22,928
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Net gain from operations after dividends
   to policyholders and before federal
   income tax                                 112,762      51,653      27,904
 Federal income taxes incurred (excluding
   tax on capital gains)                       (2,702)     17,807      19,469
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Net gain from operations after dividends
   to policyholders and federal income
   tax and before realized capital gains
   or (losses)                                115,464      33,846       8,435
 Net realized capital gains or (losses)
   less capital gains tax and transferred
   to the interest maintenance reserve          7,560       2,069      (6,978)
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 NET INCOME                                $  123,024  $   35,915  $    1,457
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                           -------------------------------------
                                                              1996         1995         1994
                                                           -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                        <C>          <C>          <C>
                                                                        (IN 000'S)
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS, BEGINNING OF YEAR                     $   792,452  $   455,489  $   483,188
                                                           -----------  -----------  -----------
Net income                                                     123,024       35,915        1,457
Change in net unrealized capital gains or (losses)              (1,715)       2,009         (671)
Change in non-admitted assets and related items                     67       (2,270)      (1,485)
Change in asset valuation reserve                              (11,812)     (13,690)      (8,376)
Other changes in surplus in Separate Accounts Statement            100       (4,038)        (227)
Increase (decrease) in surplus notes                          (335,000)     315,000            0
Miscellaneous gains and losses in surplus                           27        4,037      (18,397)
                                                           -----------  -----------  -----------
Net change in capital and surplus for the year                (225,309)     336,963      (27,699)
                                                           -----------  -----------  -----------
Capital and surplus, end of year                           $   567,143  $   792,452  $   455,489
                                                           -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                           -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                            -------------------------------------
                                               1996         1995         1994
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 <S>                                        <C>          <C>          <C>
                                                         (IN 000'S)
 Cash Provided
   Premiums, annuity considerations and
     deposit funds received                 $ 2,059,577  $ 1,826,456  $ 2,287,695
   Considerations for supplementary
     contracts and dividend accumulations
     received                                     2,340        1,088        2,906
   Net investment income received               324,914      374,398      351,058
   Other income received                         88,295       25,348       30,989
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total receipts                               2,475,126    2,227,290    2,672,648
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
   Benefits paid (other than dividends)       1,671,483    1,231,936    1,326,223
   Insurance expenses and taxes paid
     (other than federal income and
     capital gains taxes)                       172,015      150,463      187,699
   Net cash transfers to Separate Accounts      755,605      568,188      963,127
   Dividends paid to policyholders               22,689       17,722       13,303
   Federal income tax (recoveries)
     payments (excluding tax on capital
     gains)                                     (15,363)     (20,655)       2,976
   Other--net                                     2,205          739          572
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total payments                               2,608,634    1,948,393    2,493,900
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Net cash from operations                      (133,508)     278,897      178,748
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
   Proceeds from long-term investments
     sold, matured or repaid (after
     deducting taxes on capital gains of
     $1,554,873 for 1996, $8,610,951 for
     1995 and $19,271,876 for 1994)           1,768,147    1,658,655    1,508,156
   Issuance (repayment) of surplus notes       (335,000)     315,000
   Other cash provided                          147,956      419,446       26,512
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total cash provided                          1,581,103    2,393,101    1,534,668
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Cash Applied
   Cost of long-term investments acquired     1,318,880    1,749,714    1,442,155
   Other cash applied                           235,982      796,207      264,233
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total cash applied                           1,554,862    2,545,921    1,706,388
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Net change in cash and short-term
   investments                                 (107,267)     126,077        7,028
 Cash and short-term investments:
 Beginning of year                              197,326       71,249       64,221
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 End of year                                $    90,059  $   197,326  $    71,249
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
GENERAL
 
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) (the "Company") is incorporated as a
life  insurance company and is currently engaged in the sale of individual fixed
and variable annuities,  group fixed  and variable annuities  and group  pension
contracts.  The Company  also underwrites a  block of  individual life insurance
business through  a reinsurance  contract with  its parent.  Sun Life  Assurance
Company of Canada (the "parent company") is a mutual life insurance company.
 
The Company, which is domiciled in the State of Delaware, prepares its financial
statements  in  accordance  with statutory  accounting  practices  prescribed or
permitted by the State of  Delaware Insurance Department. Prescribed  accounting
practices  include  practices  described in  a  variety of  publications  of the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners  (NAIC), as well as state  laws,
regulations  and  general administrative  rules. Permitted  accounting practices
encompass all accounting practices not  so prescribed. The permitted  accounting
practices  adopted by the Company are  not material to the financial statements.
Prior to 1996, statutory accounting  practices were recognized by the  insurance
industry   and  the  accounting  profession  as  generally  accepted  accounting
principles  for  mutual  life  insurance  companies  and  stock  life  insurance
companies  wholly owned by  mutual life insurance companies.  In April 1993, the
Financial Accounting  Standards Board  ("FASB")  issued an  interpretation  (the
"Interpretation"),  that became effective in 1996, that has changed the previous
practice of mutual life insurance companies (and stock life insurance  companies
that  are  wholly-owned subsidiaries  of mutual  life insurance  companies) with
respect to utilizing statutory basis financial statements for general  purposes,
in  that it will  no longer allow  such financial statements  to be described as
having been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP"). Consequently, these financial  statements prepared in conformity  with
statutory  accounting  practices  as  described above,  vary  from  and  are not
intended to present the Company's  financial position and results of  operations
and  capital in conformity  with generally accepted  accounting principles. (See
Note 19 for  further discussion  relative to  the Company's  basis of  financial
statement  presentation.)  The  effects  on  the  financial  statements  of  the
variances between  the statutory  basis  of accounting  and GAAP,  although  not
reasonably determinable, are presumed to be material.
 
INVESTED ASSETS AND RELATED RESERVES
 
Bonds  are carried at  cost adjusted for  amortization of premium  or accrual of
discount. Investments in  non-insurance subsidiaries are  carried on the  equity
basis.  Investments  in insurance  subsidiaries are  carried at  their statutory
surplus values. Mortgage loans acquired at a premium or discount are carried  at
amortized values and other mortgage loans at the amounts of the unpaid balances.
Real  estate  investments  are  carried  at  the  lower  of  cost  adjusted  for
accumulated depreciation  or  appraised  value,  less  encumbrances.  Short-term
investments  are  carried  at  amortized cost,  which  approximates  fair value.
Depreciation of buildings and improvements is calculated using the straight-line
method over the estimated useful life of the property, generally 40 to 50 years.
 
POLICY AND CONTRACT RESERVES
 
The reserves for  life insurance  and annuity contracts,  developed by  accepted
actuarial  methods,  have  been  established  and  maintained  on  the  basis of
published mortality tables  using assumed interest  rates and valuation  methods
that  will  provide reserves  at least  as great  as those  required by  law and
contract provisions.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES: (CONTINUED):
INCOME AND EXPENSES
 
For life and  annuity contracts, premiums  are recognized as  revenues over  the
premium  paying period,  whereas commissions and  other costs  applicable to the
acquisition of new business are charged to operations as incurred.
 
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
 
The Company has  established unitized  separate accounts  applicable to  various
classes  of contracts providing for variable benefits. Contracts for which funds
are invested in separate accounts include variable life insurance and individual
and group qualified and non-qualified variable annuity contracts.
 
Assets and liabilities of the  separate accounts, representing net deposits  and
accumulated net investment earnings less fees, held primarily for the benefit of
contract  holders are  shown as separate  captions in  the financial statements.
Assets held in the separate accounts are carried at market values.
 
The Company has  also established  a non-unitized separate  account for  amounts
allocated  to the fixed  portion of certain  combination fixed/variable deferred
annuity contracts. The  assets of  this account  are available  to fund  general
account liabilities and general account assets are available to fund liabilities
of this account.
 
Gains   (losses)  from  mortality  experience  and  investment  experience,  not
applicable to contract owners,  are transferred to  (from) the general  account.
Accumulated  gains (losses)  that have  not been  transferred are  recorded as a
payable (receivable)  to (from)  the  general account.  Amounts payable  to  the
general  account of  the Company were  $220,999,000 in 1996  and $148,675,000 in
1995.
 
CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND REPORTING
 
During 1996, the  Company changed  its method  of accounting  and reporting  for
deposits  withdrawals, and benefits with  respect to unitized separate accounts.
Previously, deposits were  recorded as  direct increases in  liabilities of  the
separate  accounts  while  withdrawals  and  benefits  were  recorded  as direct
decreases in that liability. Effective for 1996, the Company recorded:  deposits
as  revenue in the general account; withdrawals  and benefits as expenses in the
general account; and the transfer of those funds between the general account and
the separate  account  are  reflected  as  an  expense  (income)  item.  Amounts
presented  for the years ended December 31,  1995 and 1994 have been restated to
conform to this presentation. The effect of this change was to increase revenues
and expenses by $1.4 billion in 1996, $878 million in 1995, and $988 million  in
1994;  there is no impact on net income  of the general account. This new method
of reporting  is  consistent with  the  accounting treatment  for  deposits  and
withdrawals  and benefits of  the non-unitized separate  account of the Company,
and is consistent with prescribed statutory accounting practices.
 
Prior to  1996,  dividends paid  to  the Company  by  its subsidiaries  and  the
undistributed  gains (losses) of those subsidiaries  were included in net income
of the Company. For Annual Statement reporting, dividends were (and continue  to
be)  reported  in net  income while  undistributed  gains (losses)  are reported
directly to  surplus (as  a  separate component  of  unassigned surplus).  As  a
result,  net income  as reported in  these financial statements  is $2.5 million
less than net income reported in the  Annual Statement in 1995 and $1.4  million
greater  than  the Annual  Statement in  1994. Effective  for 1996,  the Company
changed its method of accounting for investments in subsidiaries to conform with
the prescribed statutory  accounting practices  used in the  preparation of  its
Annual  Statement.  As a  result of  the change,  $5.7 million  in undistributed
losses of  subsidiaries  are  reported  directly  as  a  separate  component  of
unassigned  surplus rather than being included in  net income for the year ended
December 31,  1996.  The  amounts as  reported  in  prior years  have  not  been
restated.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES: (CONTINUED):
The Company has also revised the form of its statutory statements of operations,
changes  in capital  stock and  surplus, and  cash flow  in order  to match more
exactly the presentation used in the  preparation of its Annual Statement. As  a
result,  reclassifications have  been made in  the amounts reported  in 1995 and
1994 audited financial statements  to conform to the  presentation used for  the
1996  amounts. Other than as  described in the preceding  paragraph, none of the
changes have impacted net  income or statutory surplus  as reported in the  1995
and 1994 audited financial statements.
 
OTHER
 
Preparation  of the financial  statements requires management  to make estimates
and assumptions that  affect reported amounts  of assets, liabilities,  revenues
and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
2.  INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES:
The Company owns all of the outstanding shares of Sun Life Insurance and Annuity
Company  of New York (Sun Life (N.Y.)), Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company
(MCIC), Sun  Investment Services  Company (Sunesco),  New London  Trust,  F.S.B.
(NLT),  Sun Life Financial Services Limited,  Inc. (SLFSL), Sun Benefit Services
Company, Inc. (Sunbesco), Sun Capital Advisers, Inc. (Sun Capital), and Sun Life
Finance Corporation (Sunfinco).
 
The Company  owns 94.8%  of the  outstanding shares  of Massachusetts  Financial
Services  Company (MFS). The Company previously owned 100% of the shares. During
1996, MFS issued  additional shares  to officers  of MFS,  thereby reducing  the
Company's ownership to 94.8%.
 
Sun  Life (N.Y.) is engaged in the sale of individual fixed and variable annuity
contracts and group life and disability insurance contracts in the State of  New
York.  MCIC is a life insurance  company which issues only individual disability
income policies. Sunesco is a  registered investment adviser and  broker-dealer.
NLT  is  a  federally chartered  savings  bank.  SLFSL serves  as  the marketing
administrator for the  distribution of the  Parent company's offshore  products.
Sun  Capital,  a  registered  investment  adviser,  Sunfinco,  and  Sunbesco are
currently inactive.
 
MFS, a registered investment adviser, serves as investment adviser to the mutual
funds in the MFS family of funds and certain mutual funds and separate  accounts
established  by  the Company,  and,  through a  subsidiary,  provides investment
advice to substantial private clients.
 
In 1994, the  Company reduced  its carrying value  of MCIC  by $18,397,000,  the
unamortized  amount of  goodwill. The  reduction was  accounted for  as a direct
charge to surplus.
 
On December 31, 1996, the Company issued to the parent a $58,000,000 note  which
is  scheduled for repayment on  February 15, 1997 at  an interest rate of 5.70%.
Also on December 31, 1996, the Company  was issued a $58,000,000 note by MFS  at
an  interest rate of 5.76% due on demand  on or after March 1, 1997. On December
31, 1996 and 1995 the Company had  an additional $20,000,000 in notes issued  by
MFS,  scheduled to mature in  2000. All of these notes  are reported as due from
parent and affiliates.
 
During 1996, 1995  and 1994, the  Company contributed capital  in the  following
amounts to its subsidiaries:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           1996           1995          1994
                                                                      --------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                   <C>             <C>           <C>
MCIC                                                                  $   10,000,000  $  6,000,000  $  6,000,000
SLFSL                                                                      1,500,000             0             0
</TABLE>
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
2.  INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES: (CONTINUED):
Summarized  combined financial information  of the Company's  subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 and for the years then ended, follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       DECEMBER 31,
                                                                         ----------------------------------------
                                                                             1996          1995          1994
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                                        (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                      <C>           <C>           <C>
Intangible assets                                                        $      9,646  $     12,174  $     13,485
Other assets                                                                1,376,014     1,233,372     1,165,595
Liabilities                                                                (1,241,617)   (1,107,264)   (1,044,273)
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
Total net assets                                                         $    144,043  $    138,282  $    134,807
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
Total revenues                                                           $    717,280  $    570,794  $    495,097
Operating expenses                                                           (624,199)     (504,070)     (425,891)
Income tax expense                                                            (42,820)      (31,193)      (29,374)
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
Net income                                                               $     50,261  $     35,531  $     39,832
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
3.  BONDS:
The amortized cost and  estimated fair value of  investments in debt  securities
are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                             GROSS        GROSS      ESTIMATED
                                                             AMORTIZED    UNREALIZED   UNREALIZED       FAIR
                                                                COST         GAINS      (LOSSES)       VALUE
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
 
<S>                                                         <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
                                                                                 (IN 000'S)
Long-term Bonds:
    United States government and government agencies and
     authorities                                            $    267,756   $  12,272    $  (8,927)  $    271,101
    States, provinces and political subdivisions                   2,253          20           (0)         2,273
    Foreign governments                                           18,812       1,351           (0)        20,163
    Public utilities                                             415,641      24,728       (1,223)       439,146
    Transportation                                               167,937      14,107       (2,243)       179,801
    Finance                                                      290,025       7,912         (472)       297,465
    All other corporate bonds                                  1,007,680      42,338      (14,496)     1,035,522
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
        Total long-term bonds                                  2,170,104     102,728      (27,361)     2,245,471
Short-term bonds:
    U.S. Treasury Bills, bankers acceptances and
     commercial paper                                             88,754           0            0         88,754
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
                                                            $  2,258,858   $ 102,728    $ (27,361)  $  2,334,225
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
3.  BONDS: (CONTINUED):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                          -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                           GROSS        GROSS       ESTIMATED
                                                           AMORTIZED    UNREALIZED    UNREALIZED       FAIR
                                                              COST         GAINS       (LOSSES)       VALUE
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
 
<S>                                                       <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>
                                                                               (IN 000'S)
Long-term Bonds:
    United States government and government agencies and
     authorities                                          $    467,597   $  22,783   $       (443) $    489,937
    States, provinces and political subdivisions                 2,252          81             (0)        2,333
    Foreign governments                                         38,303       4,551             (6)       42,848
    Public utilities                                           513,704      45,466           (203)      558,967
    Transportation                                             215,786      22,794         (2,221)      236,359
    Finance                                                    225,074      13,846            (84)      238,836
    All other corporate bonds                                1,025,745      67,371         (7,415)    1,085,701
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
        Total long-term bonds                                2,488,461     176,892        (10,372)    2,654,981
Short-term bonds:
    U.S. Treasury Bills, bankers acceptances and
     commercial paper                                          217,606           0              0       217,606
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
                                                          $  2,706,067   $ 176,892   $    (10,372) $  2,872,587
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
The  amortized cost and estimated  fair value of bonds  at December 31, 1996 and
1995 are shown below  by contractual maturity.  Expected maturities will  differ
from  contractual maturities  because borrowers  may have  the right  to call or
prepay obligations with or without call and/or prepayment penalties.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                                                       --------------------------
                                                                                        AMORTIZED     ESTIMATED
                                                                                           COST       FAIR VALUE
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                                    <C>           <C>
                                                                                               (IN 000'S)
Maturities:
    Due in one year or less                                                            $    314,130  $    315,507
    Due after one year through five years                                                   743,215       751,858
    Due after five years through ten years                                                  268,376       280,153
    Due after ten years                                                                     714,504       775,051
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                       $  2,040,225  $  2,122,569
    Mortgage-backed securities                                                              218,633       211,656
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                       $  2,258,858  $  2,334,225
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                                                       --------------------------
                                                                                        AMORTIZED     ESTIMATED
                                                                                           COST       FAIR VALUE
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                                    <C>           <C>
                                                                                               (IN 000'S)
Maturities:
    Due in one year or less                                                            $    558,775  $    561,119
    Due after one year through five years                                                   824,446       846,230
    Due after five years through ten years                                                  256,552       269,549
    Due after ten years                                                                     884,187     1,000,908
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                          2,523,960     2,677,806
    Mortgage-backed securities                                                              182,107       194,781
                                                                                       $  2,706,067  $  2,872,587
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
3.  BONDS: (CONTINUED):
Proceeds from  sales and  maturities of  investments in  debt securities  during
1996,  1995, and  1994 were $1,554,016,000,  $1,510,553,000, and $1,390,974,000,
gross gains were $16,975,000, $24,757,000, and $15,025,000 and gross losses were
$10,885,000, $5,742,000, and $30,041,000 , respectively.
 
Bonds included  above with  an amortized  cost of  approximately $2,060,000  and
$2,059,000  at December  31, 1996 and  1995, respectively, were  on deposit with
governmental authorities as required by law.
 
4.  SECURITIES LENDING:
The Company  has a  securities lending  program operated  on its  behalf by  the
Company's  primary  custodian,  Chemical Bank  of  New York.  The  custodian has
indemnified the Company against losses arising from this program. The total  par
value  of securities out on loan was $51,537,000 and $250,729,000 and the income
resulting from this  program was $137,000,  $2,000 and $26,000  at December  31,
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
5.  MORTGAGE LOANS:
The  Company invests  in commercial first  mortgage loans  throughout the United
States. The  Company  monitors  the  condition of  the  mortgage  loans  in  its
portfolio.  In those cases  where mortgages have  been restructured, appropriate
provisions have been made. In those cases where, in management's judgement,  the
mortgage loans' values are impaired, appropriate losses are recorded.
 
The  following  table  shows  the  geographical  distribution  of  the  mortgage
portfolio.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                         ------------------------
                                                                                            1996         1995
                                                                                         ----------  ------------
                                                                                                (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                      <C>         <C>
California                                                                               $  154,272  $    153,811
Massachusetts                                                                                79,929        83,999
Michigan                                                                                     57,119        69,125
New York                                                                                     67,742        81,480
Ohio                                                                                         75,405        83,915
Pennsylvania                                                                                115,584       141,468
Washington                                                                                   75,819        91,900
All other                                                                                   313,062       361,213
                                                                                         ----------  ------------
                                                                                         $  938,932  $  1,066,911
                                                                                         ----------  ------------
                                                                                         ----------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
The  Company  has  restructured   mortgage  loans  totalling  $29,261,000,   and
$49,846,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, against which there are
provisions  of  $5,893,000  and  $8,799,000  at  December  31,  1996  and  1995,
respectively.
 
The Company  has made  commitments of  mortgage loans  on real  estate into  the
future. The outstanding commitments for these mortgages amount to $9,800,000 and
$13,100,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
6.  INVESTMENTS GAINS AND LOSSES:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                   -------------------------------
                                                                                     1996       1995       1994
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                             (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>
Net realized gains (losses)
Bonds                                                                              $   5,631  $   3,935  $    (858)
Mortgage loans                                                                           763        292     (5,689)
Real estate                                                                              599        391       (334)
Other assets                                                                             567     (2,549)       (97)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   $   7,560  $   2,069  $  (6,978)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
Changes in unrealized gains (losses):
Common stock of affiliates                                                         $  (5,739) $       0  $       0
Mortgage loans                                                                          (600)    (1,574)         0
Real estate                                                                            4,624      3,583       (671)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   $  (1,715) $   2,009  $    (671)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
Realized capital gains and losses on bonds and mortgages which relate to changes
in  levels of interest rates are charged  or credited to an interest maintenance
reserve (IMR) and amortized into income  over the remaining contractual life  of
the  security  sold. The  gross realized  capital gains  and losses  credited or
charged to the interest maintenance reserve were a credit of $7,710,000 in 1996,
a credit of $12,714,000 in 1995, and a charge of $14,070,000 in 1994. All  gains
and losses are transferred net of applicable taxes.
 
7.  NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
Net investment income consisted of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                              ----------------------------------
                                                                                 1996        1995        1994
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                          (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                           <C>         <C>         <C>
Interest income from bonds                                                    $  178,695  $  205,445  $  200,338
Income from investment in common stock of affiliates                              50,408      35,403      39,577
Interest income from mortgage loans                                               92,591      99,766     106,404
Real estate investment income                                                     16,249      14,979      12,950
Interest income from policy loans                                                  2,790       2,777       2,669
Other                                                                              1,710       2,672       1,212
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
    Gross investment income                                                      342,443     361,042     363,150
Interest on surplus notes                                                        (23,061)    (31,813)    (31,150)
Investment expenses                                                              (15,629)    (16,357)    (16,567)
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                              $  303,753  $  312,872  $  315,433
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
8.  DERIVATIVES:
The  Company uses derivative instruments  for interest risk management purposes,
including hedges  against  specific  interest  rate risk  and  to  minimize  the
Company's  exposure  to fluctuations  in interest  rates.  The Company's  use of
derivatives has  included  U.S.  Treasury futures,  conventional  interest  rate
swaps, and forward spread lock interest rate swaps.
 
In  the case of interest rate futures, gains or losses on contracts that qualify
as hedges  are deferred  until the  earliest of  the completion  of the  hedging
transaction,  determination that the  transaction will no  longer take place, or
determination that the  hedge is  no longer  effective. Upon  completion of  the
hedge,  where it is  impractical to allocates gains  (losses) to specific hedged
assets or liabilities, gains  ( losses) are deferred  in IMR and amortized  over
the  remaining life of the hedged assets.  At December 31, 1996 and December 31,
1995 there were no futures contracts outstanding.
 
In the case of  interest rate and foreign  currency swap agreements and  forward
spread  lock interest rate swap agreements,  gains or losses on terminated swaps
are deferred in IMR and amortized over the shorter of the remaining life of  the
hedged asset or the remaining term of the swap contract. The net differential to
be paid or received on interest rate swaps is recorded monthly as interest rates
change.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         SWAPS OUTSTANDING
                                                                                       AT DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                                                      NOTIONAL       MARKET VALUE
                                                                                 PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS   OF POSITIONS
                                                                                 ------------------  -------------
                                                                                            (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                              <C>                 <C>
Conventional interest rate swaps                                                    $    429,000       $  (2,443)
Foreign currency swap                                                                      2,100              70
Forward spread lock swaps                                                                 50,000             (50)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         SWAPS OUTSTANDING
                                                                                       AT DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                                                      NOTIONAL       MARKET VALUE
                                                                                 PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS   OF POSITIONS
                                                                                 ------------------  -------------
                                                                                            (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                              <C>                 <C>
Conventional interest rate swaps                                                    $    367,000       $   3,275
Foreign currency swap                                                                      2,745             290
Forward spread lock swaps                                                                 50,000             112
</TABLE>
 
The  market value is the estimated amount  that the Company would receive or pay
on termination  or sale,  taking into  account current  interest rates  and  the
current  creditworthiness  of  the  counterparties. The  Company  is  exposed to
potential credit loss  in the  event of non-performance  by counterparties.  The
counterparties are major financial institutions and management believes that the
risk of incurring losses related to credit risk is remote.
 
9.  LEVERAGED LEASES:
The  Company is a lessor in a  leveraged lease agreement entered into on October
21, 1994, under which equipment having an estimated economic life of 25-40 years
was leased for a term of 9.75 years. The Company's equity investment represented
22.9% of the purchase price of the equipment. The balance of the purchase  price
was  furnished by  third-party long-term  debt financing,  collateralized by the
equipment and non-recourse to  the Company. At  the end of  the lease term,  the
Master  Lessee  may  exercise a  fixed  price  purchase option  to  purchase the
equipment.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
9.  LEVERAGED LEASES: (CONTINUED):
The Company's net investment  in leveraged leases is  composed of the  following
elements:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         YEARS ENDED DECEMBER
                                                                                                 31,
                                                                                        ----------------------
                                                                                           1996        1995
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                                              (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>
Lease contracts receivable                                                              $  101,244  $  111,611
Less non-recourse debt                                                                     101,227    (111,594)
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                                                17          17
Estimated residual value of leased assets                                                   41,150      41,150
Less unearned and deferred income                                                          (11,501)    (13,132)
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
Investment in leveraged leases                                                              29,666      28,035
Less fees                                                                                     (188)       (213)
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
Net investment in leveraged leases                                                      $   29,478  $   27,822
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
The  net investment is  classified as other invested  assets in the accompanying
statements of admitted assets, liabilities, capital stock and surplus.
 
10. REINSURANCE:
The Company has agreements with the parent company which provide that the parent
company will  reinsure the  mortality  risks of  the individual  life  insurance
contracts  sold by the Company. Under  these agreements basic death benefits and
supplementary benefits  are  reinsured on  a  yearly renewable  term  basis  and
coinsurance basis, respectively. Reinsurance transactions under these agreements
had the effect of decreasing income from operations by approximately $1,603,000,
$2,184,000, and $2,138,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively.
 
Effective January 1, 1991, the Company entered into an agreement with the parent
company  under which certain  individual life insurance  contracts issued by the
parent company were reinsured by the  Company on a 90% coinsurance basis.  Also,
effective January 1, 1991, the Company entered into an agreement with the parent
company which provides that the parent company will reinsure the mortality risks
in  excess of  $500,000 per policy  for the individual  life insurance contracts
assumed by the Company in the reinsurance agreement described above. Such  death
benefits  are reinsured on  a yearly renewable term  basis. These agreements had
the effect of increasing income from operations by approximately $35,161,000 and
$11,821,000 for the years  ended December 31, 1996  and 1995, respectively,  and
decreasing  income by approximately $29,188,000 for  the year ended December 31,
1994. The life reinsurance assumed agreement requires the reinsurer to  withhold
funds in amounts equal to the reserves assumed.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
10. REINSURANCE: (CONTINUED):
The  following are summarized pro-forma results of operations of the Company for
the years  ended  December  31,  1996,  1995  and  1994  before  the  effect  of
reinsurance transactions with the parent company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PRO-FORMA RESULTS PRE-REINSURANCE
                                                                                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                                            1996          1995          1994
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                                       (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>
Income:
    Premiums, annuity deposits and other revenues                       $  1,858,145  $  1,619,337  $  2,053,408
    Net investment income and realized gains                                 312,870       315,967       312,582
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
    Subtotal                                                               2,171,015     1,935,304     2,365,990
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
Benefits and Expenses:
    Policyholder benefits                                                  1,928,720     1,760,917     2,183,282
    Other expenses                                                           155,531       130,302       130,456
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
    Subtotal                                                               2,084,251     1,891,219     2,313,738
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
Income from operations                                                  $     86,764  $     44,085  $     52,252
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
The   Company  has  an  agreement  with  an  unrelated  company  which  provides
reinsurance of  certain  individual  life  insurance  contracts  on  a  modified
coinsurance  basis  and under  which all  deficiency  reserves related  to these
contracts are reinsured. Reinsurance transactions  under this agreement had  the
effect  of  decreasing  income  from  operations  by  $46,000  in  1996,  and by
$1,599,000 in 1995, and increasing income from operations by $1,854,404 in 1994.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
11. WITHDRAWAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANNUITY ACTUARIAL RESERVES AND DEPOSIT
LIABILITIES:
Withdrawal characteristics  of  general  account and  separate  account  annuity
reserves and deposits:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                                                        ----------------------------
                                                                                            AMOUNT       % OF TOTAL
                                                                                        --------------  ------------
                                                                                                 (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                     <C>             <C>
Subject to discretionary withdrawal-with adjustment
    --with market value adjustment                                                      $    3,547,683       30.44%
    --at book value less surrender charges (surrender charge >5%)                            5,626,117       48.27
    --at book value (minimal or no charge or adjustment)                                     1,264,586       10.85
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal provision                                            1,218,157       10.44
                                                                                        --------------   ------
Total annuity actuarial reserves and deposit liabilities                                $   11,656,543      100.00%
                                                                                        --------------   ------
                                                                                        --------------   ------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                                                        ----------------------------
                                                                                            AMOUNT       % OF TOTAL
                                                                                        --------------  ------------
                                                                                                 (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                     <C>             <C>
Subject to discretionary withdrawal-with adjustment
    --with market value adjustment                                                      $    3,796,596       36.36%
    --at book value less surrender charges (surrender charge >5%)                            4,066,126       38.94
    --at book value (minimal or no charge or adjustment)                                     1,278,215       12.24
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal provision                                            1,301,259       12.46
                                                                                        --------------   ------
Total annuity actuarial reserves and deposit liabilities                                $   10,442,196      100.00%
                                                                                        --------------   ------
                                                                                        --------------   ------
</TABLE>
 
12. RETIREMENT PLANS:
The  Company participates with its parent  company in a non-contributory defined
benefit pension plan covering essentially all employees. The benefits are  based
on years of service and compensation.
 
The  funding policy  for the pension  plan is  to contribute an  amount which at
least satisfies the minimum amount required by ERISA. The Company is charged for
its share of the pension cost based upon its covered participants. Pension  plan
assets consist principally of separate accounts of the parent company.
 
The  Company's share of the  group's accrued pension cost  at December 31, 1996,
1995 and 1994 was $446,000, $420,000, and $417,000, respectively. The  Company's
share  of net periodic pension cost was $27,000, $3,000, and $417,000, for 1996,
1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
The Company also participates with its parent and certain affiliates in a 401(k)
savings plan for  which substantially  all employees are  eligible. The  Company
matches,  up to specified amounts, employees' contributions to the plan. Company
contributions were $233,000, $185,000 and $152,000 for the years ended  December
31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively.
 
OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS:
In addition to pension benefits the Company provides certain health, dental, and
life  insurance benefits ("post-retirement benefits")  for retired employees and
dependents. Substantially all employees may  become eligible for these  benefits
if  they reach normal  retirement age while  working for the  Company, or retire
early upon satisfying an  alternate age plus  service condition. Life  insurance
benefits are generally set at a fixed amount.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
12. RETIREMENT PLANS: (CONTINUED):
Effective January 1, 1994, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards  ("SFAS") No. 106, "Employer's Accounting for Post-retirement Benefits
Other than Pensions.' SFAS No. 106 requires the Company to accrue the  estimated
cost  of  retiree  benefit  payments  during  the  years  the  employee provides
services. SFAS  No. 106  allows  recognition of  the  cumulative effect  of  the
liability  in the year of adoption or  the amortization of the obligation over a
period of up to 20 years. The  Company has elected to recognize this  obligation
of  approximately $400,000 over a period of  ten years. The Company's cash flows
are  not  affected  by  implementation  of  this  standard,  but  implementation
decreased  net income  by $209,000, $142,000,  and $114,000 for  the years ended
December 31, 1996,  1995 and  1994, respectively.  Effective June  5, 1996,  the
Company  made certain  changes regarding eligibility  and benefits  to its post-
retirement health benefits plans for retirees on or after that date. The  impact
of  these  changes  is  a  decrease of  1996  post-retirement  benefit  costs of
$599,000. The  Company's post-retirement  health care  plans currently  are  not
funded.
 
13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:
The  following table presents the carrying  amounts and estimated fair values of
the Company's financial instruments at December 31, 1996 and 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                       ---------------------------------------
                                                        CARRYING AMOUNT   ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE
                                                       -----------------  --------------------
                                                                     (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                    <C>                <C>
ASSETS
Bonds                                                    $   2,258,858       $    2,339,126
Mortgages                                                      938,932              958,909
LIABILITIES
Insurance reserves                                             122,606              122,606
Individual annuities                                           373,488              367,878
Pension products                                             1,911,284            1,922,602
Derivatives                                                         --               (2,423)
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                       ---------------------------------------
                                                        CARRYING AMOUNT   ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE
                                                       -----------------  --------------------
                                                                     (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                    <C>                <C>
ASSETS
Bonds                                                    $   2,706,067       $    2,872,586
Mortgages                                                    1,066,911            1,111,895
LIABILITIES
Insurance reserves                                             124,066              124,066
Individual annuities                                           434,261              431,263
Pension products                                             2,227,882            2,265,386
Derivatives                                                         --                3,387
</TABLE>
 
The major  methods  and  assumptions  used in  estimating  the  fair  values  of
financial instruments are as follows:
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS: (CONTINUED):
The  fair values of short-term bonds are estimated to be the amortized cost. The
fair values of long-term bonds which  are publicly traded are based upon  market
prices  or dealer quotes. For privately  placed bonds, fair values are estimated
taking into account prices for publicly traded bonds of similar credit risk  and
maturity and repayment and liquidity characteristics.
 
The  fair values of the Company's general account reserves and liabilities under
investment-type contracts (insurance, annuity and pension contracts that do  not
involve  mortality or morbidity risks) are  estimated using discounted cash flow
analyses or surrender values. Those contracts that are deemed to have short-term
guarantees have a carrying amount equal to the estimated market value.
 
The fair values  of mortgages  are estimated  by discounting  future cash  flows
using  current rates  at which  similar loans  would be  made to  borrowers with
similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.
 
The fair  values of  derivative financial  instruments are  estimated using  the
process described in Note #8.
 
14. STATUTORY INVESTMENT VALUATION RESERVES:
The  asset  valuation  reserve  ("AVR")  provides  a  reserve  for  losses  from
investments in bonds,  stocks, mortgage  loans, real estate  and other  invested
assets with related increases or decreases being recorded directly to surplus.
 
Realized capital gains and losses on bonds and mortgages which relate to changes
in  levels of interest rates are charged  or credited to an interest maintenance
reserve ("IMR") and amortized into income over the remaining contractual life of
the security sold.
 
The tables shown below present changes in the major elements of the AVR and IMR.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              1996                  1995
                                                                      --------------------  --------------------
                                                                         AVR        IMR        AVR        IMR
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                           (IN 000'S)            (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Balance, beginning of year                                            $  42,099  $  25,218  $  28,409  $  18,140
Realized investment gains (losses), net of tax                            3,160      5,011     (1,524)     7,977
Amortization of investment (gains) losses                                     0     (1,557)         0       (899)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)                                      1,502          0      3,650          0
Required by formula                                                       7,150          4     11,564          0
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Balance, end of year                                                  $  53,911  $  28,676  $  42,099  $  25,218
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
15. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES:
The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax  return.
Federal  income  taxes  are calculated  for  the consolidated  group  based upon
amounts determined to be  payable as a result  of operations within the  current
year.  No provision is recognized for timing differences which may exist between
financial  statement  and  taxable  income.  Such  timing  differences   include
reserves,  depreciation and accrual  of market discount  on bonds. Cash payments
for  federal  income  taxes  were  approximately  $19,264,000,  $12,429,000  and
$43,200,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
16. SURPLUS NOTES AND NOTE RECEIVABLE:
The  Company had  issued and  outstanding surplus  notes to  its parent  with an
aggregate carrying value of $335,000,000 during the period 1982 through  January
16,  1996  at interest  rates  between 7.25%  and  10%. The  Company  repaid all
principal and interest associated with these surplus notes on January 16, 1996.
 
On December 19, 1995 the Company issued surplus notes totalling $315,000,000  to
an  affiliate, Sun  Canada Financial  Co., at  interest rates  between 5.75% and
7.25%.  Of  these  notes,  $157,500,000  will  mature  in  the  year  2007,  and
$157,500,000  will mature in the  year 2015. Interest on  these notes is payable
semi-annually.
 
Principal and interest on surplus notes are payable only to the extent that  the
Company  meets specified  requirements regarding  free surplus  exclusive of the
principal amount and accrued interest, if any, on these notes; and, in the  case
of   principal  repayments,   with  the   consent  of   the  Delaware  Insurance
Commissioner. In  addition, with  regard to  surplus notes  outstanding  through
January 16, 1996, subsequent to December 31, 1994 interest payments required the
consent  of  the  Delaware  Insurance  Commissioner.  Payment  of  principal and
interest on the notes issued in 1995 also requires the consents of the  Delaware
Insurance  Commissioner and Canadian  Office of the  Superintendent of Financial
Institutions.
 
During 1996, 1995  and 1994,  the Company  obtained the  required consents,  and
expensed  $23,061,000,  $31,813,000 and  $31,150,000 in  respect of  interest on
surplus notes for the years 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
On December  19,  1995, the  parent  borrowed  $120,000,000 at  5.6%  through  a
short-term  note from the Company maturing on  January 16, 1996. The note, which
is included in due from parent and  affiliates at December 31, 1995, was  repaid
in full by the parent at maturity.
 
17. MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE CONTRACTS:
The  Company has an  agreement with its  parent company which  provides that the
parent company will furnish, as requested, personnel as well as certain services
and facilities  on a  cost-reimbursement basis.  Expenses under  this  agreement
amounted  to  approximately  $20,192,000  in  1996,  $20,293,000  in  1995,  and
$18,452,000 in 1994.
 
18. RISK-BASED CAPITAL:
Effective December 31, 1993 the NAIC adopted risk-based capital requirements for
life insurance companies. The risk-based  capital requirements provide a  method
for  measuring the  minimum acceptable  amount of  adjusted capital  that a life
insurer should have, as determined under statutory accounting practices,  taking
into  account  the risk  characteristics of  its  investments and  products. The
Company has met the minimum risk-based capital requirements at December 31, 1996
and 1995.
 
19. ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES:
The financial  statements of  the Company  have been  prepared on  the basis  of
statutory  accounting practices,  which prior  to 1996,  were considered  by the
insurance industry and the accounting profession  to be in accordance with  GAAP
for  mutual life insurance companies.  The primary differences between statutory
accounting  practices  and  GAAP  are  described  as  follows.  Under  statutory
accounting  practices, financial statements are not consolidated and investments
in subsidiaries  are  shown  at  net  equity  value.  Accordingly,  the  assets,
liabilities  and results  of operations  of the  Company's subsidiaries  are not
consolidated  with   the  assets,   liabilities  and   results  of   operations,
respectively, of the Company. Changes in net equity value of the common stock of
the  Company's United States life  insurance subsidiaries are directly reflected
in the
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
19. ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES: (CONTINUED):
Company's surplus. Changes in the  net equity value of  the common stock of  all
other  subsidiaries are directly reflected in the Company's Investment Valuation
Reserves. Dividends paid  by subsidiaries  to the  Company are  included in  the
Company's net investment income.
 
Other  differences between statutory  accounting practices and  GAAP include the
following: Statutory accounting practices do not recognize the following  assets
or  liabilities  which are  reflected under  GAAP-- deferred  policy acquisition
costs, deferred federal  income taxes and  statutory non-admitted assets.  Asset
Valuation  Reserves  and  Interest Maintenance  Reserves  are  established under
statutory accounting practices but not under GAAP. Methods for calculating  real
estate  depreciation and investment valuation  allowances differ under statutory
accounting practices  than  under  GAAP.  Actuarial  assumptions  and  reserving
methods  differ  under statutory  accounting  practices and  GAAP.  Premiums for
universal life  and  investment  type  products are  recognized  as  income  for
statutory purposes and as deposits to policyholders' accounts for GAAP.
 
Because   the  Company's  management  uses  financial  information  prepared  in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada in the normal
course of business, the management of  the Company has determined that the  cost
of  complying with Statement No. 120 would exceed the benefits that the Company,
or the users  of its  financial statements would  experience. Consequently,  the
Company  has elected  not to  apply such standards  in the  preparation of these
financial statements.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
 
We  have  audited  the  accompanying statutory  statements  of  admitted assets,
liabilities, and capital  stock and  surplus of  Sun Life  Assurance Company  of
Canada  (U.S.)  as of  December 31,  1996  and 1995,  and the  related statutory
statements of operations, changes  in capital stock and  surplus, and cash  flow
for  each  of the  three  years in  the period  ended  December 31,  1996. These
financial statements are  the responsibility  of the  Company's management.  Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion  on these financial statements based on
our audits.
 
We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted   auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also  includes
assessing  the  accounting  principles  used and  signficant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement  presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
As  described more  fully in  Notes 1  and 19  to the  financial statements, the
Company  prepared  these   financial  statements   using  accounting   practices
prescribed  or permitted by  the Insurance Department of  the State of Delaware,
which practices  differ  from  generally  accepted  accounting  principles.  The
effects on the financial statements of the variances between the statutory basis
of  accounting  and  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  although  not
reasonably determinable, are presumed to be material.
 
In our opinion, the  financial statements referred to  above present fairly,  in
all  material respects, the admitted assets,  liabilities, and capital stock and
surplus of Sun Life Assurance  Company of Canada (U.S.)  as of Dcember 31,  1996
and  1995, and the results of  its operations and its cash  flow for each of the
three years in  the period ended  December 31,  1996 on the  basis of  accountng
described in Notes 1 and 19.
 
However,  because of the effects of the matter discussed in the second preceding
paragraph, in our  opinion, the financial  statements referred to  above do  not
present fairly, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the
financial position of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) as of December
31,  1996 and 1995 or the results of its operations or its cash flow for each of
the three years in the period ended Decemeber 31, 1996.
 
In our previous report dated February 7, 1996, we expressed an opinion that  the
1995   and  1994  financial  statements,  prepared  using  accounting  practices
prescribed or permitted by  the Insurance Department of  the State of  Delaware,
presented  fairly, in all material respects,  the financial position of Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) as of  December 31, 1995, and the results  of
its operations, and its cash flow for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994
in  conformity with  generally accepted  accounting principles.  As described in
Notes 1  and 19  to the  financial  statements, pursuant  to the  provisions  of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 120, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING BY
MUTUAL  LIFE  INSURANCE ENTERPRISES  AND  BY INSURANCE  ENTERPRISES  FOR CERTAIN
LONG-DURATION PARTICIPATING  CONTRACTS,  financial  statements  of  mutual  life
insurance  enterprises (and stock life insurance companies that are wholly owned
subsidiaries of mutual life insurance companies) for periods ending on or before
December 15, 1996, prepared using  accounting practices prescribed or  permitted
by  insurance regulators,  are not  considered presentations  in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles when presented for comparative purposes
with the  enterprise's  financial  statements  for  periods  subsequent  to  the
effective  date of  Statement No. 120.  Accordingly, our present  opinion on the
presentation of  the  1995 and  1994  financial statements  in  accordance  with
generally accepted accounting principles, as presented herein, is different from
that expressed in our previous report.
 
As  management  as stated  in  Note 19,  because  the Company's  management uses
financial  information  prepared  in   accordance  with  accounting   principles
generally accepted in Canada in the normal course of business, the management of
Sun  Life Assurance  Company of  Canada (U.S.) has  determined that  the cost of
complying with Statement No. 120 would exceed the benefits that the Company,  or
the  users  of its  financial  statements, would  experience.  Consequently, the
Company has elected  not to  apply such standards  in the  preparation of  these
financial statements.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
February 3, 1997
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX A
                               THE FIXED ACCOUNT.
 
    THAT PORTION OF THE CONTRACT RELATING TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IS NOT REGISTERED
UNDER  THE SECURITIES  ACT OF  1933 ("1933  ACT") AND  THE FIXED  ACCOUNT IS NOT
REGISTERED AS AN  INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER  THE INVESTMENT COMPANY  ACT OF  1940
("1940  ACT"). ACCORDINGLY, NEITHER THE FIXED  ACCOUNT NOR ANY INTERESTS THEREIN
ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OR RESTRICTIONS  OF THE 1933 ACT OR THE 1940  ACT,
AND  THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS APPENDIX A HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY THE STAFF OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. HOWEVER, THE FOLLOWING DISCLOSURE ABOUT  THE
FIXED  ACCOUNT MAY BE SUBJECT TO  CERTAIN GENERALLY APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE
FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS REGARDING THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF DISCLOSURE.
 
A WORD ABOUT THE FIXED ACCOUNT
 
    The Fixed Account is  made up of  all of the general  assets of the  Company
other  than those allocated  to any separate account.  Purchase Payments will be
allocated to the Fixed Account as elected  by the Owner at the time of  purchase
or  as subsequently  changed. The  Company will invest  the assets  of the Fixed
Account in those  assets chosen by  the Company and  allowed by applicable  law.
Investment  income from such Fixed Account  assets will be allocated between the
Company and the contracts participating in the Fixed Account, in accordance with
the terms of such contracts.
 
    Annuity payments made to Annuitants under the Contracts will not be affected
by the mortality experience (death rate)  of persons receiving such payments  or
of  the general population. The Company  assumes this "mortality risk" by virtue
of annuity  rates incorporated  in  the Contract  which  cannot be  changed.  In
addition,  the  Company  guarantees  that  it  will  not  increase  charges  for
maintenance of the Contracts regardless of its actual expenses.
 
    Investment income from the Fixed  Account allocated to the Company  includes
compensation  for mortality and expense risks borne by the Company in connection
with Fixed Account Contracts. The Company  expects to derive a profit from  this
compensation.  The amount of  such investment income  allocated to the Contracts
will vary from year to year in the sole discretion of the Company. However,  the
Company  guarantees that it will  credit interest at a rate  of not less than 4%
per year, compounded annually, to amounts  allocated to the Fixed Account  under
the  Contracts. The Company  may credit interest at  a rate in  excess of 4% per
year; however, the Company is not obligated to credit any interest in excess  of
4%  per  year. There  is no  specific  formula for  the determination  of excess
interest credits. Such credits, if any, will be determined by the Company  based
on  information as to expected  investment yields. Some of  the factors that the
Company may  consider  in determining  whether  to credit  interest  to  amounts
allocated  to  the Fixed  Account and  the amount  thereof are  general economic
trends, rates of  return currently  available and anticipated  on the  Company's
investments,  regulatory  and  tax  requirements  and  competitive  factors. ANY
INTEREST CREDITED TO AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IN EXCESS OF 4%  PER
YEAR WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY. THE OWNER ASSUMES
THE  RISK THAT INTEREST CREDITED TO FIXED ACCOUNT ALLOCATIONS MAY NOT EXCEED THE
MINIMUM GUARANTEE OF 4% FOR ANY GIVEN YEAR.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
    The Company is aware  of no statutory limitations  on the maximum amount  of
interest  it may  credit, and  the Board  of Directors  has set  no limitations.
However, inherent in the Company's exercise of discretion in this regard is  the
equitable  allocation of  distributable earnings  and surplus  among its various
policyholders and contract owners and to its sole stockholder.
 
    Excess interest, if any, will be  credited on the fixed accumulation  value.
The  Company guarantees that, at any time, the fixed accumulation value will not
be less than  the amount of  Purchase Payments allocated  to the Fixed  Account,
plus  interest  at  the rate  of  4%  per year,  compounded  annually,  plus any
additional interest which  the Company  may, in  its discretion,  credit to  the
Fixed  Account, less  the sum of  all administrative or  withdrawal charges, any
applicable premium  taxes,  and  less  any amounts  surrendered.  If  the  Owner
surrenders  the Contract,  the amount available  from the Fixed  Account will be
reduced by any  applicable withdrawal  charge (See "Withdrawal  Charges" in  the
Prospectus).
 
    If  on  any  Contract Anniversary  the  rate  at which  the  Company credits
interest to amounts allocated  to the Fixed Account  under the Contract is  less
than  80% of the average  discount rate on 52-week  United States Treasury Bills
for the  most recent  auction prior  to the  Contract Anniversary  on which  the
declared  interest rate becomes applicable, then  during the 45-day period after
the Contract  Anniversary  the Owner  may  elect to  receive  the value  of  the
Contract's  Accumulation Account without assessment of a withdrawal charge. Such
withdrawal may, however, result in  adverse tax consequences. (See "Federal  Tax
Status").
 
    The  Company reserves  the right to  defer the payment  of amounts withdrawn
from the Fixed  Account for  a period  not to exceed  six months  from the  date
written request for such withdrawal is received by the Company.
 
FIXED ACCUMULATION VALUE
(1) CREDITING FIXED ACCUMULATION UNITS
 
    Upon  receipt of a Purchase Payment by  the Company, all or that portion, if
any, of  the net  Purchase  Payment to  be allocated  to  the Fixed  Account  in
accordance  with  the allocation  factor will  be  credited to  the Accumulation
Account  in  the  form  of  Fixed  Accumulation  Units.  The  number  of   Fixed
Accumulation  Units to be  credited is determined by  dividing the dollar amount
allocated to the  Fixed Account  by the Fixed  Accumulation Unit  value for  the
Contract  for the Valuation Period during which the Purchase Payment is received
by the Company.
 
(2) FIXED ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE
 
    A Fixed  Accumulation Unit  value is  established at  $10.00 for  the  first
Valuation  Period of the calendar month in which the Contract is issued and will
increase for  each  successive Valuation  Period  as interest  is  accrued.  All
Contracts  issued in  a particular  calendar month and  at a  particular rate of
interest, as specified in advance by the Company from time to time, will use the
same series  of Fixed  Accumulation Unit  values throughout  the first  Contract
Year.
 
    At the first Contract Anniversary the Fixed Accumulation Units credited to a
Contract's  Accumulation Account  will be exchanged  for a second  type of Fixed
Accumulation Unit with an equal aggregate  value. The value of this second  type
of  Fixed Accumulation Unit will increase  for each Valuation Period during each
Contract Year as interest is accrued at a rate which shall have been  determined
by the Company prior to the first day of each Contract Year.
 
    The  Company  will  credit  interest to  the  Contract's  Fixed Accumulation
Account at a rate of  not less than 4% per  year, compounded annually. Once  the
rate applicable to a specific Contract is established by the Company, it may not
be changed for the balance of the Contract Year. Additional Payments made during
the Contract Year will be credited with interest for the balance of the Contract
Year  at the rate applicable  at the beginning of  that Contract Year. The Fixed
Accumulation Unit value for the Contract  for any Valuation Period is the  value
determined as of the end of such Valuation Period.
 
(3) FIXED ACCUMULATION VALUE
 
    The fixed accumulation value of a Contract, if any, for any Valuation Period
is  equal  to  the  value  of  the  Fixed  Accumulation  Units  credited  to the
Accumulation Account for such Valuation Period.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
LOANS FROM THE FIXED ACCOUNT
 
    Loans will be permitted from  the Contract's Fixed Accumulation Account  (to
the  extent  permitted  by  the  retirement  plan  for  which  the  Contract  is
purchased). The maximum loan amount is the amount determined under the Company's
maximum loan formula  for qualified plans.  The minimum loan  amount is  $1,000.
Loans  will be secured by a security interest in the Contract. Loans are subject
to applicable retirement  program legislation and  their taxation is  determined
under  the federal income tax laws. The amount borrowed will be transferred to a
fixed minimum guarantee  accumulation account in  the Company's general  account
where  it will accrue interest  at a specified rate  below the then current loan
interest rate. Generally, loans must be repaid within five years.
 
    The amount of the death benefit, the amount payable on a full surrender  and
the  amount applied to provide an annuity  on the Annuity Commencement Date will
be reduced  to  reflect any  outstanding  loan balance  (plus  accrued  interest
thereon). Partial withdrawals may be restricted by the maximum loan limitation.
 
FIXED ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
    The  dollar  amount of  each  fixed annuity  payment  will be  determined in
accordance with the annuity payment rates found in the Contract which are  based
on  a minimum guaranteed interest rate of 4%  per year, or, if more favorable to
the Payee(s), in accordance with  the Single Premium Immediate Settlement  Rates
published by the Company and in use on the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
                                   APPENDIX B
 
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF VARIABLE ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE CALCULATIONS
 
    Suppose  the net  asset value  of a  Fund share  at the  end of  the current
Valuation Period is $18.38;  at the end of  the immediately preceding  Valuation
Period is $18.32; the Valuation Period is one day; no dividends or distributions
caused  Fund shares  to go  "ex-dividend" during  the current  Valuation Period.
$18.38 divided by $18.32 is 1.00327511. Subtracting the one day risk factor  for
mortality  and expense risks  of .00003539 (the daily  equivalent of the current
charge of 1.3% on an annual basis) gives a net investment factor of  1.00323972.
If  the value  of the Variable  Accumulation Unit for  the immediately preceding
Valuation Period had been 14.5645672, the value for the current Valuation Period
would be 14.6117523 (14.5645672 x 1.00323972).
 
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF VARIABLE ANNUITY UNIT VALUE CALCULATIONS
 
    Suppose the circumstances of  the first example exist,  and the value of  an
Annuity Unit for the immediately preceding Valuation Period had been 12.3456789.
If  the first variable annuity payment is determined by using an annuity payment
based on an assumed interest rate of 4% per year, the value of the Annuity  Unit
for  the current Valuation Period would be 12.3843446 (12.3456789 x 1.00323972 x
0.99989255).
 
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF VARIABLE ANNUITY PAYMENT CALCULATIONS
 
    Suppose that the  Accumulation Account  of a deferred  Contract is  credited
with  8,765.4321 Variable Accumulation Units of  a particular Sub-Account but is
not credited with any Fixed  Accumulation Units; that the Variable  Accumulation
Unit  value and the  Annuity Unit value  for the particular  Sub-Account for the
Valuation Period which ends immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement  Date
are  14.5645672 and 12.3456789, respectively; that  the annuity payment rate for
the age and option elected is $6.78 per $1,000; and that the Annuity Unit  value
on  the day prior to the second variable annuity payment date is 12.3843446. The
first variable annuity payment would be $865.57 (8,765.4321 x 14.5645672 x  6.78
divided  by  1,000).  The number  of  Annuity  Units credited  would  be 70.1112
($865.57 divided by 12.3456789) and the second variable annuity payment would be
$868.28 (70.1112 x 12.3843446).
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX C
                       WITHDRAWALS AND WITHDRAWAL CHARGES
 
    Suppose, for example, that the initial Purchase Payment under a Contract was
$2,000, and that $2,000 Purchase Payments were made on each Contract Anniversary
thereafter. The maximum free withdrawal amount would be $200, $400, $600,  $800,
and  $1,000 in Contract Years 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively; these amounts are
determined as 10%  of the  new Payments  (as new  Payments are  defined in  each
Contract Year).
 
    In years after the 5th, the maximum free withdrawal amount will be increased
by  any  old Payments  which have  not already  been liquidated.  Continuing the
example, consider a partial  withdrawal of $4,500 made  during the 7th  Contract
Year.  Let us  consider this withdrawal  under two sets  of circumstances, first
where there were  no previous partial  withdrawals, and second  where there  had
been an $800 cash withdrawal payment made in the 5th Contract Year.
 
    1. In  the first instance,  there were no  previous partial withdrawals. The
       maximum free withdrawal amount in the  7th Contract Year is then  $5,000,
       which  consists of $4,000 in old Payments  ($2,000 from each of the first
       two Contract Years) and $1,000 as 10%  of the new Payments in years  3-7.
       Because  the  $4,500 partial  withdrawal is  less  than the  maximum free
       withdrawal amount of $5,000, no withdrawal charge would be imposed.
 
       This withdrawal would liquidate the Purchase Payments which were made  in
       Contract  Years 1 and 2, and would liquidate $500 of the Purchase Payment
       which was made in Contract Year 3.
 
    2. In the second instance, an $800 cash withdrawal payment had been made  in
       the  5th Contract Year. Because the cash withdrawal payment was less than
       the $1,000 maximum free  withdrawal amount in the  5th Contract Year,  no
       surrender  charge  would  have  been imposed.  The  $800  cash withdrawal
       payment would have  liquidated $800 of  the Purchase Payment  in the  1st
       Contract Year.
 
       As  a consequence, the maximum free withdrawal amount in the 7th Contract
       Year is  only  $4,200,  consisting  of $3,200  in  old  Payments  ($1,200
       remaining  from year 1 and  $2,000 from year 2) and  $1,000 as 10% of new
       Payments. A $4,500 partial withdrawal exceeds the maximum free withdrawal
       amount by $300. Therefore the amount subject to the withdrawal charge  is
       $300  and the withdrawal charge is $300 X 0.05, or $15. The amount of the
       cash withdrawal payment is the  $4,500 partial withdrawal, minus the  $15
       withdrawal  charge,  or $4,485.  The $4,500  partial withdrawal  would be
       charged to the Contract's Accumulation  Account in the form of  cancelled
       Accumulation Units.
 
       This  withdrawal would liquidate  the remaining $1,200  from the Purchase
       Payment in  Contract  Year  1,  the full  $2,000  Purchase  Payment  from
       Contract Year 2, and $1,300 of the Payment from Contract Year 3.
 
    Suppose  that the Owner of  the Contract wanted to  make a full surrender of
the Contract in year 7 instead of a $4,500 partial withdrawal. The  consequences
would be as follows:
 
    1. In  the  first instance,  where there  were  no previous  cash withdrawal
       payments, we know from above that  the maximum free withdrawal amount  in
       the  7th Contract year is $5,000. The sum of the old and new Payments not
       previously liquidated is  $14,000 ($2,000 from  each Contract Year).  The
       amount  subject to the  withdrawal charge is  thus $9,000. The withdrawal
       charge on full surrender would then be $9,000 X 0.05 or $450.
 
    2. ln the second instance, where $800 had previously been withdrawn, we know
       from above that the  maximum free withdrawal amount  in the 7th  Contract
       Year is $4,200. The sum of old and new Payments not previously liquidated
       is $14,000 less the $800 which was previously liquidated, or $13,200. The
       amount  subject  to  the withdrawal  charge  is still  $9,000  ($13,200 -
       $4,200). The withdrawal charge on full  surrender would thus be the  same
       as in the first example.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
                           SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
                           ANNUITY SERVICE MAILING ADDRESS:
                           C/O SUN LIFE ANNUITY SERVICE CENTER
                           P.O. BOX 1024
                           BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02103
 
                           GENERAL DISTRIBUTOR
                           Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc.
                           500 Boylston Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02116
 
                           CUSTODIAN
                           State Street Bank and Trust Company
                           225 Franklin Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02110
 
                           LEGAL COUNSEL
                           Covington & Burling
                           1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
                           P.O. Box 7566
                           Washington, D.C. 20044
 
                           AUDITORS
                           Deloitte & Touche LLP
                           125 Summer Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02110
 
                            CO1US-13 5/97
<PAGE>

                                     PART C

                                OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

     (a)  The following Financial Statements are included in the Registration
Statement:  

Included in Part A:  

A.   Condensed Financial Information -- Accumulation Unit Values

Included in Part B:  


A.   Financial Statements of the Registrant:  

   
     1.   Statement of Condition, December 31, 1996;

     2.   Statement of Operations, Year Ended December 31, 1996;

     3.   Statements of Changes in Net Assets, Years Ended December 31, 1996 and
          1995;
    
     4.   Notes to Financial Statements;

     5.   Independent Auditors' Report;

B.   Financial Statements of the Depositor:  
   
     1.   Statutory Statements of Admitted Assets, Liabilities and Capital 
          Stock and Surplus, December 31, 1996 and 1995;

     2.   Statutory Statements of Operations, Years Ended December 31, 1996, 
          1995 and 1994;

     3.   Statutory Statements of Changes in Capital Stock and Surplus, Years 
          Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994;

     4.   Statutory Statements of Cash Flow, Years Ended December 31, 1996, 
          1995 and 1994;

     5.   Notes to Statutory Financial Statements; and
    
     6.   Independent Auditors' Report.  
<PAGE>

     (b)  The following Exhibits are incorporated in this Amendment to the
Registration Statement by reference unless otherwise indicated:  

     (1)  Resolution of Board of Directors of the depositor dated March 31, 1982
authorizing the establishment of the Registrant (Filed as Exhibit A.(1) to the
Registration Statement on Form N-8B-2, File No. 811-3530);

     (2)  Custodian Agreement between State Street Bank and Trust Company and
the depositor dated November 1, 1982 (Filed as Exhibit A.(2) to Amendment No. 1
to the Registration Statement on Form N-8B-2);

     (3)  (a)      Marketing Coordination and Administrative Services Agreement
between the depositor, Massachusetts Financial Services Company and Clarendon
Insurance Agency, Inc. dated July 22, 1982 (Filed as Exhibit A.(3)(a) to the
Registration Statement on Form N-8B-2);

          (b)(i)   Specimen Sales Operations and General Agent Agreement; 

          (b)(ii)  Specimen Broker-Dealer Supervisory and Service Agreement;
and

          (b)(iii) Specimen Registered Representatives Agent Agreement (Filed
as Exhibits A.(3)(b)(i), A.(3)(b)(ii) and A.(3)(b)(iii), respectively, to the
Registration Statement on Form N-8B-2);

     (4)  Flexible Payment Deferred Combination Variable and Fixed Annuity
Contract (Filed as Exhibit A.(5)(a) to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-8B-2); 

     (5)  Form of Application used with the variable annuity contract filed as
Exhibit (4) (Filed as Exhibit A.(10) to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-8B-2);

     (6)  Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the depositor (Filed as
Exhibits A.(6)(a) and A.(6)(b), respectively, to the Registration Statement on
Form N-8B-2,);

     (7)  Not Applicable;

     (8)  None;

     (9)  Opinion of Counsel and Consent to its use as to the legality of the
securities being registered (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Pre-effective Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-6, Reg. No. 2-78738);

     (10) (a)  Consent of Deloitte & Touche (Filed herewith);

          (b)  Consent of David D. Horn, Esq. (Filed herewith); 

          (c)  Certification of Counsel (Filed herewith);

<PAGE>

     (11) None; 

     (12) Not Applicable; 

     (13) Not Applicable; and

     (14) Financial Data Schedule which meets the requirements of Rule 483 under
the Securities Act of 1933 (Filed herewith).  

Item 25.  DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE DEPOSITOR

Name and Principal                             Positions and Offices
Business Address                               with Depositor        
- ------------------                             ---------------------

John D. McNeil                                 Chairman and Director
150 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
  Canada  M5H 1J9

   
Donald A. Stewart                              President and Director
150 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
  Canada  M5H 1J9
    

David D. Horn                                  Senior Vice President
One Sun Life Executive Park                    and General Manager
Wellesley Hills, MA  02181                     and Director

John S. Lane                                   Director
150 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
  Canada  M5H 1J9

Richard B. Bailey                              Director
500 Boylston Street
Boston, MA  02116

A. Keith Brodkin                               Director
500 Boylston Street
Boston, MA  02116

   
M. Colyer Crum                                 Director
104 West Cliff Rd.
Weston, MA 02193
    
   
Angus A. MacNaughton                           Director
950 Tower Lane
Metro Tower, Suite 1170
Foster City, CA  94404-2121
    

   
S. Caesar Raboy                                 Senior Vice President and
One Sun Life Executive Park                     Deputy General Manager and 
Wellesley Hills, MA 02181                       a Director
    

Robert A. Bonner                               Vice President, Pensions
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, MA  02181
<PAGE>


Name and Principal                             Positions and Offices
Business Address                               with Depositor        
- ------------------                             ---------------------
   
    

C. James Prieur                                Vice President, Investments
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, MA  02181

Robert P. Vrolyk                               Vice President and Actuary
One Sun Life Executive Park                    
Wellesley Hills, MA  02181

L. Brock Thomson                               Vice President
One Sun Life Executive Park                    and Treasurer
Wellesley Hills, MA  02181

   
Margaret Sears Mead                            Assistant Vice President and
One Sun Life Executive Park                    Secretary
Wellesley Hills, MA  02181
    

Item 26.  PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE DEPOSITOR OR
          REGISTRANT

     No person is directly or indirectly controlled by the Registrant.  The
Registrant is a separate account of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.),
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.  

     The following is a list of all corporations directly or indirectly
controlled by or under common control with Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada,
showing the state or other sovereign power under the laws of which each is
organized and the percentage ownership of voting securities giving rise to the
control relationship:  
<PAGE>

   

                                                                  Percent of
                                                State or Country  Ownership
                                                or Jurisdiction   of Voting
                                                of Incorporation  Securities
                                                ----------------  ----------
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada            Canada                100%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
  (U.S.)....................................    Delaware              100%
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
  (U.K.) Limited ...........................    United Kingdom        100%
Sun Life of Canada Investment Management
  Limited ..................................    Canada                100%
Sun Life of Canada Benefit Management 
  Limited ..................................    Canada                100%
Spectrum United Holdings, Inc. .............    Canada                100%
Sun Canada Financial Co. ...................    Delaware              100%
Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of
  New York .................................    New York                0%**
Sun Investment Services Company ............    Delaware                0%**
Sun Benefit Services Company, Inc. .........    Delaware                0%**
Massachusetts Financial Services Company ...    Delaware                0%*
New London Trust, F.S.B.....................    Federally Chartered     0%**
Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company....    Massachusetts           0%**
Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc. ...........    Massachusetts           0%***
MFS Service Center, Inc.....................    Delaware                0%***
MFS/Sun Life Series Trust ..................    Massachusetts           0%****
Sun Capital Advisers, Inc. .................    Delaware                0%**
MFS International, Ltd. ....................    Ireland                 0%***
MFS Institutional Advisers, Inc. ...........    Delaware                0%***
MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. ................    Delaware                0%***
MFS Retirement Services, Inc. ..............    Delaware                0%***
Sun Life Financial Services Limited.........    Bermuda                 0%**

    

- --------------------
   
   *   94.8% of the issued and outstanding voting securities of Massachusetts  
       Financial Services Company are owned by Sun Life Assurance Company of   
       Canada (U.S.).                                                          
    

  **   100% of the issued and outstanding voting securities of New London 
       Trust, F.S.B., Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York, Sun 
       Investment Services Company, Sun Benefit Services Company, Inc., Sun 
       Capital Advisers, Inc., Sun Life Financial Services Limited and 
       Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company are owned by Sun Life 
       Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.).

 ***   100% of the issued and outstanding voting securities of Clarendon
       Insurance Agency, Inc., MFS Service Center, Inc., MFS International,
       Ltd., MFS Institutional Advisers, Inc., MFS Fund Distributors, Inc., and
       MFS Retirement Services, Inc. are owned by Massachusetts Financial
       Services Company.
****   100% of the issued and outstanding voting securities of MFS/Sun Life
       Series Trust are owned by separate accounts of Sun Life Assurance
       Company of Canada (U.S.) and Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of
       New York.  

   
    

<PAGE>

     Omitted from the list are subsidiaries of Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada which, considered in the aggregate, would not constitute a "significant
subsidiary" (as that term is defined in Rule 8b-2 under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940) of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.  

     None of the companies listed is a subsidiary of the Registrant, therefore
the only financial statements being filed are those of Sun Life Assurance
Company of Canada (U.S.).  

Item 27.  NUMBER OF CONTRACT OWNERS:
   
     As of February 28, 1997 there were 5,987 Contracts participating in the
investment experience of the Variable Account, all of which were established
pursuant to qualified plans. 
    

Item 28.  INDEMNIFICATION

     Pursuant to Section 145 of the Delaware Corporation Law, Article 8 of the
By-laws of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.), a copy of which was
filed as Exhibit A.(6)(b) to Form N-8B-2, provides for the indemnification of
directors, officers and employees of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
(U.S.).  

     Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Sun
Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) pursuant to the certificate of
incorporation, by-laws, or otherwise, Sun Life (U.S.) has been advised that in
the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by Sun Life (U.S.) of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer, controlling person of Sun Life (U.S.) in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, Sun Life (U.S.) will,
unless in the opinion of their counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by them is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue. 

Item 29.  PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS

     (a)  Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Massachusetts Financial Services Company, acts as general distributor for the
Registrant, Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Accounts D, E,and F, Sun Life
(N.Y.) Variable Accounts A, B and C and Money Market Variable Account, High
Yield Variable Account, Capital Appreciation Variable Account, Government
Securities Variable Account, World Governments Variable Account, Total Return
Variable Account and Managed Sectors Variable Account.  
<PAGE>

Name and Principal                          Positions and Offices
Business Address*                              with Underwriter
- ------------------                          ---------------------
   
A. Keith Brodkin.................          Chairman and Director**
Jeffrey L. Shames................                 Director
Arnold D. Scott..................                 Director
Cynthia M. Orcutt................                President
Bruce C. Avery...................             Vice President
Stephen E. Cavan.................                Secretary
Joseph W. Dello Russo............                Treasurer
Robert T. Burns..................            Assistant Secretary
Thomas B. Hastings...............            Assistant Treasurer
    
- --------------------
 *   The principal business address of all directors and officers of the
     principal underwriter except Ms. Orcutt is 500 Boylston Street, Boston,
     Massachusetts 02116. The principal business address of Ms. Orcutt is One
     Sun Life Executive Park, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181.  

**   Mr. Brodkin is a Director of  Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)
     and Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York.  

     (c)  Inapplicable.  

Item 30.  LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

     Accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section
31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated 
thereunder are maintained by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.), in
whole or in part, at its executive office at One Sun Life Executive Park,
Wellesley  Hills, Massachusetts 02181, at the offices of the Sun Life Annuity
Service Center at 50 Milk Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 or at the offices
of Massachusetts Financial Services Company, at 500 Boylston Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02116, or at the offices of the custodian, State Street Bank and
Trust Company, at either 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 or
5-West, North Quincy, Massachusetts 02171.  

Item 31.  MANAGEMENT SERVICES

     Not Applicable.  

Item 32.  UNDERTAKINGS
   
     Representation with respect to Section 26(a) of the Investment Company 
     Act of 1940.
    
   
     Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) represents that the fees and 
     charges deducted under the contract, in the aggregate, are reasonable in 
     relation to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred,
     and the risks assumed by the insurance company.
    

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES
   
       As required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company
Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for
effectiveness of this Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule
485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has caused this Amendment to its
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf in the Town of Wellesley
and Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 14th day of April, 1997.
    


                                               Sun Life of Canada (U.S.)
                                                Variable Account C

                                               (Registrant)


                                               Sun Life Assurance Company of
                                               Canada (U.S.)

                                               (Depositor)



                                               By:*   /s/ JOHN D. McNEIL
                                                 ----------------------
                                                       John D. McNeil
                                                       Chairman
   
Attest:         /s/ BONNIE S. ANGUS
                ----------------------------
                    Bonnie S. Angus
                    Assistant Vice President
    

       As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities with the Depositor, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.), and
on the dates indicated.

      Signatures                        Title                    Date
      ----------                        ------                   ----
   
                                  Chairman and
*  /s/ JOHN D. McNEIL              Director
- ----------------------------       (Principal
     John D. McNeil                Executive Officer         April 14, 1997


   /s/  ROBERT P. VROLYK          Vice President and Actuary
- ----------------------------       (Principal Financial &
    Robert P. Vrolyk               Accounting Officer)       April 14, 1997
    

- --------------------------
*   By Bonnie S. Angus pursuant to Power of Attorney filed with Post-Effective
    Amendment No. 16 to the Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration
    No. 2-78738.

<PAGE>


      Signatures                        Title                    Date
      ----------                        ------                   ----
   
                                   President and      
- ----------------------------       Director
       Donald A. Stewart


* /s/ RICHARD B. BAILEY           Director                   April 14, 1997
- ----------------------------
      Richard B. Bailey


* /s/ A. KEITH BRODKIN            Director                   April 14, 1997
- ----------------------------
      A. Keith Brodkin


*  /s/ DAVID D. HORN              Senior Vice President
- ----------------------------       and General Manager       April 14, 1997
       David D. Horn               and Director


*   /s/ JOHN S. LANE              Director                   April 14, 1997
- ----------------------------
        John S. Lane


* /s/ ANGUS A. MacNAUGHTON        Director                   April 14, 1997
- ----------------------------
      Angus A. MacNaughton


*   /s/ M. COLYER CRUM            Director                   April 14, 1997
- ----------------------------
        M. Colyer Crum


                                   Senior Vice President   
- ----------------------------       and Deputy General 
        S. Caesar Raboy            Manager and Director


- --------------------------
*   By Bonnie S. Angus pursuant to Power of Attorney filed with Post-Effective
    Amendment No. 16 to the Registration Statement on Form N-4, Registration
    No. 2-78738.

    


<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10(a)


                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
   
     We consent to the use in this Post-effective Amendment No. 19 to 
Registration Statement No. 2-78738 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C on Form N-4 of our report dated February 7, 1997 accompanying the 
financial statements of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C and our 
report dated February 3, 1997 accompanying  the financial statements of Sun 
Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) appearing in the Statement of 
Additional Information, which is part of such Registration Statement. We also 
consent to the reference to us under the heading "Condensed Financial 
Information - Accumulation Unit Values" appearing in the Prospectus, which is 
part of such Registration Statement.
    




DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
   
April 23, 1997
    


<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10(b)


                               CONSENT OF COUNSEL
   
     I hereby consent to the reference to me in Post-effective Amendment No. 19
to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable
Account C under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Statement of Additional 
Information contained therein.  
    


                                   DAVID D. HORN, ESQ.


   
April 14, 1997
    


<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10(c)


                            CERTIFICATION OF COUNSEL


   
            I, David D. Horn, in my capacity as counsel for Sun Life Assurance
Company of Canada (U.S.), have reviewed Post-effective Amendment No. 19 to 
the Registration Statement of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C (the
"Account") which is being filed pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485 under
the Securities Act of 1933.  Based on my review of this Post-effective Amendment
and such other material relating to the operations of the Account as I deemed
relevant, I hereby certify as of April 23, 1997, the date of filing of this 
Amendment, that the Amendment does not contain disclosure which would render 
it ineligible to become effective pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
    
   
            I hereby consent to the filing of this certification as part of
Post-effective Amendment No. 19 to the Registration Statement of the Account.
    


                                   DAVID D. HORN, ESQ.

   
April 23, 1997
    



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SUNLIFE OF
CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      110,699,821
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     128,505,288
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             128,505,288
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       19,311
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             19,311
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        2,972,822
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        3,335,003
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                               128,485,977
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           11,356,178
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               1,644,293
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      9,711,885
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     4,288,598
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    3,928,925
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       17,929,408
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         64,538
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    426,719
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       2,540,518
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              1,644,293
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       127,215,718
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                0
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                  0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


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