SUN LIFE OF CANADA U S VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
485BPOS, 1998-04-16
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<PAGE>
   
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 1998
    
                                                        Registration No. 2-78738
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C.  20549

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

                                    FORM N-4
   
                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 20
    
                                       to
          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  /X/
                                       and
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 20
                                        to
    
                   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:  (781) 237-6030

                   Margaret Hankard, Senior Associate Counsel
                   Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)
                       Retirement Products & Services
                                 One Copley Place
                            Boston, Massachusetts  02116
                      (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, 1998
     pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
    


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

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
   
                          Amendment No. 20 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                        Expense Summary; Example; Synopsis

   4.   Condensed Financial             Condensed Financial Information -- 
        Information                     Accumulation Unit Values

   5.   General Description of          Cover Page; A Word About the Company,
        Registrant, Depositor           the Variable Account, and the Funds;
        and Portfolio Companies         Other Contractual Provisions -- 
                                        Voting of Fund Shares

   6.   Deductions and Expenses         Synopsis; Expense Summary; Cash 
                                        Withdrawals; Contract Charges

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

   8.   Annuity Period                  Synopsis; Annuity Provisions

   9.   Death Benefit                   Synopsis; Death Benefit

  10.   Purchases and Contract          Synopsis; Purchase Payments and Contract
        Value                           Values During Accumulation
                                        Period; Distribution of the Contracts

  11.   Redemptions                     Synopsis; Cash Withdrawals 

  12.   Taxes                           Synopsis; 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 --
                                        Custodian*; Accountants

  19.   Purchase of Securities          Distribution of the Contracts
        Being Offered

  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,
1998.
    
<PAGE>
   
                                                                      PROSPECTUS
                                                                     MAY 1, 1998
    
 
                                   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  Retirement  Products  and Services,  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 the 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,  an affiliate  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, 1998  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 19 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 CONTAINS THE BASIC INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE  INVESTING
IN  A CONTRACT AND IS VALID ONLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE CURRENT PROSPECTUSES OF
THE MUTUAL FUNDS. YOU SHOULD RETAIN THESE PROSPECTUSES FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
    
 
   
* ANY REFERENCE IN THIS  PROSPECTUS TO RECEIPT BY  THE COMPANY MEANS RECEIPT  AT
  ITS  ANNUITY SERVICE  MAILING ADDRESS,  c/o RETIREMENT  PRODUCTS AND SERVICES,
  P.O. BOX 1024, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02103.
    
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
<S>                                                                         <C>
Definitions                                                                   2
Synopsis                                                                      3
Expense Summary                                                               4
Condensed Financial Information--Accumulation Unit Values                     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                                                           14
Other Contractual Provisions                                                 15
Federal Tax Status                                                           17
Distribution of the Contracts                                                18
Legal Proceedings                                                            19
Contract Owner Inquiries                                                     19
Table of Contents for Statement of Additional Information                    19
Appendix A--State Premium Taxes                                              19
</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     MIT     MFR     MIG
- -------------------------------------------------------  -----   -----   -----   -----   -----   -----   -----   -----   -----
 
<S>                                                      <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases........................     0       0       0       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%      5%      5%      5%
 
    more than 5........................................     0%      0%      0%      0%      0%      0%      0%      0%      0%
 
Exchange Fee...........................................     0       0       0       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%   1.30%   1.30%   1.30%
 
Other Account Fees and Expenses........................  0.00%   0.00%   0.00%   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%   1.30%   1.30%   1.30%
FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
- -------------------------------------------------------
(as a percentage of Fund average net assets)
 
Management Fees........................................  0.48%   0.45%   0.75%   0.41%   0.46%   0.38%   0.22%   0.41%   0.63%
 
Other Expenses(2)......................................  0.32%   0.42%   0.60%   0.59%   0.55%   0.55%   0.52%   0.55%   0.08%
 
Total Fund Annual Expenses.............................  0.80%   0.87%   1.35%   1.00%   1.01%   0.93%   0.74%   0.96%   0.71%
 
<CAPTION>
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES                       MGO     MEG
- -------------------------------------------------------  -----   -----
<S>                                                      <C>     <C>
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases........................     0       0
Deferred Sales Load (as a percentage of Purchase
 Payments withdrawn)(1)
  Years Payment in Account
    0-5................................................     5%      5%
    more than 5........................................     0%      0%
Exchange Fee...........................................     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%
Other Account Fees and Expenses........................  0.00%   0.00%
Total Separate Account Annual Expenses.................  1.30%   1.30%
FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
- -------------------------------------------------------
(as a percentage of Fund average net assets)
Management Fees........................................  0.39%   0.71%
Other Expenses(2)......................................  0.45%   0.50%
Total Fund Annual Expenses.............................  0.84%   1.21%
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
(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.
 
                                       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      $111      $158       $243
MCG.....................................   $67      $113      $161       $250
MWG.....................................   $72      $127      $186       $298
MFB.....................................   $68      $117      $168       $264
MFH.....................................   $68      $117      $169       $265
MTR.....................................   $68      $115      $164       $256
MIT.....................................   $66      $109      $155       $237
MFR.....................................   $68      $116      $166       $260
MIG.....................................   $65      $108      $153       $234
MGO.....................................   $67      $112      $160       $247
MEG.....................................   $70      $123      $179       $285
</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      $ 66      $113       $243
MCG.....................................   $22      $ 68      $116       $250
MWG.....................................   $27      $ 82      $141       $298
MFB.....................................   $23      $ 72      $123       $264
MFH.....................................   $23      $ 72      $124       $265
MTR.....................................   $23      $ 70      $119       $256
MIT.....................................   $21      $ 64      $110       $237
MFR.....................................   $23      $ 71      $121       $260
MIG.....................................   $20      $ 63      $108       $234
MGO.....................................   $22      $ 67      $115       $247
MEG.....................................   $25      $ 78      $134       $285
</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,
                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        1988       1989       1990       1991       1992       1993       1994       1995       1996       1997
                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
MIT
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 18.6638  $ 20.3467  $ 27.3399  $ 26.9745  $ 34.0429  $ 36.0967  $ 39.2065  $ 38.3097  $ 52.6746  $ 65.4965
    End of period     $ 20.3467  $ 27.3399  $ 26.9745  $ 34.0429  $ 36.0967  $ 39.2065  $ 38.3097  $ 52.6746  $ 65.4965  $ 85.1160
  Units outstanding
   end of period:       386,881    367,624    366,752    316,483    299,263    263,601    233,419    228,398    211,924    191,532
MIG
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 15.4097  $ 15.8380  $ 21.2145  $ 19.9645  $ 29.1252  $ 30.6143  $ 34.5944  $ 31.8549  $ 40.3897  $ 48.9432
    End of period     $ 15.8380  $ 21.2145  $ 19.9645  $ 29.1252  $ 30.6143  $ 34.5944  $ 31.8549  $ 40.3897  $ 48.9432  $ 71.6206
  Units outstanding
   end of period        317,516    292,277    264,246    234,979    237,389    210,268    191,666    183,386    137,226    116,839
MTR
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 19.5387  $ 22.1974  $ 26.9600  $ 26.0022  $ 31.2350  $ 33.9389  $ 38.5828  $ 37.0619  $ 46.4569  $ 52.6180
    End of period     $ 22.1974  $ 26.9600  $ 26.0022  $ 31.2350  $ 33.9389  $ 38.5828  $ 37.0619  $ 46.4569  $ 52.6180  $ 62.6622
  Units outstanding
   end of period        985,669  1,022,129  1,028,444    761,746    699,832    646,262    580,826    502,308    445,574    376,845
MGO
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 14.5019  $ 15.6008  $ 19.7926  $ 18.6788  $ 22.6160  $ 24.0443  $ 27.4921  $ 26.0211  $ 34.5473  $ 41.5395
    End of period     $ 14.5019  $ 15.6008  $ 19.7926  $ 18.6788  $ 22.6160  $ 24.4921  $ 26.0211  $ 34.5473  $ 41.5395  $ 50.5718
  Units outstanding
   end of period      2,727,497  2,184,592  1,827,215  1,517,720  1,303,035  1,126,904    952,138    835,555    752,698    682,668
MFR
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 16.4422  $ 17.8986  $ 22.2941  $ 20.6700  $ 27.1037  $ 29.7380  $ 35.7429  $ 35.2820  $ 48.2543  $ 59.3112
    End of period     $ 17.8986  $ 22.2941  $ 20.6700  $ 27.1037  $ 29.7380  $ 35.7429  $ 35.2820  $ 48.2543  $ 59.3112  $ 70.5612
  Units outstanding
   end of period        532,334    435,924    340,420    285,749    253,146    232,537    189,988    158,916    143,843    129,195
MFB
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 17.0748  $ 18.2668  $ 20.4642  $ 21.4953  $ 25.2705  $ 26.5208  $ 29.8082  $ 27.9595  $ 33.5161  $ 34.3871
    End of period     $ 18.2668  $ 20.4642  $ 21.4953  $ 25.2705  $ 26.5208  $ 29.8082  $ 27.9595  $ 33.5161  $ 34.3871  $ 37.4559
  Units outstanding
   end of period        648,976    689,054    577,242    461,410    421,711    368,774    233,449    226,571    186,637    158,314
MCM
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 13.7848  $ 14.5714  $ 15.6562  $ 16.6504  $ 17.3549  $ 17.6517  $ 17.8424  $ 18.2359  $ 18.9505  $ 19.5956
    End of period     $ 14.5714  $ 15.6562  $ 16.6504  $ 17.3549  $ 17.6517  $ 17.8424  $ 18.2359  $ 18.9505  $ 19.5956  $ 20.2949
  Units outstanding
   end of period      2,081,739  1,661,689  1,574,435  1,090,472    646,162    512,329    480,850    371,369    401,141    301,313
MCG
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 13.5212  $ 14.2436  $ 15.2737  $ 16.1947  $ 16.8311  $ 17.1053  $ 17.2531  $ 17.5882  $ 18.2642  $ 18.8643
    End of period     $ 14.2436  $ 15.2737  $ 16.1947  $ 16.8311  $ 17.1053  $ 17.2531  $ 17.5882  $ 18.2642  $ 18.8643  $ 19.4875
  Units outstanding
   end of period        740,766    545,293    538,594    375,155    218,074    162,009    139,248    108,206     73,345     68,686
MFH
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 17.4636  $ 19.3661  $ 18.7620  $ 15.1874  $ 22.6883  $ 26.2356  $ 30.9007  $ 29.6848  $ 34.3557  $ 38.2245
    End of period     $ 19.3661  $ 18.7620  $ 15.1874  $ 22.6883  $ 26.2356  $ 30.9007  $ 29.6848  $ 34.3557  $ 38.2245  $ 42.8235
  Units outstanding
   end of period      1,428,696  1,079,466    624,184    515,396    450,376    408,637    339,549    264,391    229,079    200,252
MWG
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 21.0147  $ 21.6384  $ 22.9549  $ 26.7105  $ 29.9468  $ 29.9680  $ 34.9430  $ 32.3034  $ 36.8194  $ 38.3007
    End of period     $ 21.6384  $ 22.9549  $ 26.7105  $ 29.9468  $ 29.9680  $ 34.9430  $ 32.3034  $ 36.8194  $ 38.3007  $ 37.9444
  Units outstanding
   end of period        341,247    248,462    227,935    200,763    157,841    125,704    101,661     83,177     70,278     55,822
MEG
  Unit Value:
    Beginning of
     period           $ 11.3094  $ 12.8148  $ 15.9033  $ 13.8995  $ 23.3793  $ 24.8430  $ 31.1131  $ 32.2107  $ 44.8831  $ 50.8597
    End of period     $ 12.8148  $ 15.9033  $ 13.8995  $ 23.3793  $ 24.8430  $ 31.1131  $ 32.2107  $ 44.8831  $ 50.8597  $ 60.5646
  Units outstanding
   end of period      1,012,310    830,401    585,909    511,153    439,127    405,542    390,605    372,726    321,077    280,589
</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  an indirect  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.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
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.
 
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
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
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.
 
        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
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
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.
 
    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
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
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 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
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
   
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.
    
 
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.
 
    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 taxes 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.
    
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                               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.
 
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.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
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 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.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
    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 or in connection with similar solicitations, 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 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.
 
   
PERIODIC REPORTS
    
 
   
    During the accumulation period the Company may send the Owner, or such other
person having  voting  rights,  at  least once  during  each  Contract  Year,  a
statement  showing the number, type and  value of Accumulation Units credited to
the Contract's Accumulation  Account and  the fixed accumulation  value of  such
account, which statement shall be accurate as of a date not more than two months
previous  to the  date of mailing.  These periodic  statements contain important
information concerning  the Contract's  Accumulation Account  transactions  with
respect  to a Contract.  It is the obligation  of the Owner  to review each such
statement carefully and to  report to the Company,  at the address or  telephone
number provided on the statement, any errors or discrepancies in the information
presented  therein within  60 days  of the  date of  such statement.  Unless the
Company receives notice of any such  error or discrepancy from the Owner  within
such time period, the Company may not be responsible for correcting the error.
    
 
   
    In  addition, every person having voting rights will receive such reports or
prospectuses concerning the Variable Account and the Funds as may be required by
the Investment Company Act of 1940 and  the Securities Act of 1933. The  Company
will  also  send  such  statements  reflecting  transactions  in  the Contract's
Accumulation  Account  as  may  be  required  by  applicable  laws,  rules   and
regulations.
    
 
   
    Upon  request, the Company will provide the Owner with information regarding
fixed and variable accumulation values.
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
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, if required, 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  or (v)  as may
otherwise be in the best  interests of Owners or  Payees, as applicable. 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 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
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
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.
 
                         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., One Sun
Life Executive  Park,  Wellesley  Hills,  Massachusetts  02181,  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary  of the Company. 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.
    
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
                               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 February 27, 1998, the
Contracts were subject to  premium taxes in certain  jurisdictions at the  rates
indicated. For more current information 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>
 
                                       19
<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, 1998  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 Retirement Products and Services
     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
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
 
   
                                        PROSPECTUS
 
                                        MAY 1, 1998
 
                                        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 5/98
    
 
   
        ISSUED BY
        SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
        Annuity Service Mailing Address:
        c/o Retirement Products and Services
        P.O. Box 1024
        Boston, Massachusetts 02103
    
 
   
        GENERAL DISTRIBUTOR
        Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc.
        One Sun Life Executive Park
        Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181
    
 
        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, 1998.
    

<PAGE>
   
                                                                     MAY 1, 1998
    
                                   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
Accountants..........................................................     6
Financial Statements.................................................     7
Appendix A--The Fixed Account........................................    36
Appendix B--Illustrative Examples....................................    38
Appendix C--Withdrawals and Withdrawal Charges.......................    39
</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, 1998. 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 Retirement Products and Services, 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 an indirect 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 "Appendix A--The Fixed
Account").
    
 
                               ANNUITY PROVISIONS
 
DETERMINATION OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
   
    On the Annuity Commencement Date the Contract's Accumulation Account will be
canceled 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.
 
    For a description of fixed annuity payments, see Appendix A.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
    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
the Company's Annuity Service Mailing Address within ten days after it was
delivered to the Owner. When the Company receives the returned Contract, it will
be canceled and the full amount of any Purchase Payment(s) received by the
Company will be refunded.
    
 
   
    Under the Internal Revenue Code, an Owner establishing an Individual
Retirement Account ("IRA") 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 IRA is
established. If the Owner is furnished with such disclosure statement before the
7th day preceding the date the IRA 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 IRA, 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 IRA is in addition to the return
privilege set forth in the preceding paragraph. The Company will allow an Owner
establishing an IRA a "ten day free look," notwithstanding the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code.
    
 
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 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,
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
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 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.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
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.
 
                         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
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
   
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"), One Sun
Life Executive Park, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company. 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 1995, 1996 and 1997, approximately $35,000, $32,000 and
$        , respectively, was paid to and retained by Clarendon in connection
with the distribution of 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, 1997
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS:
  Investments in mutual funds:                         Shares         Cost         Value
                                                    ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>           <C>
    Massachusetts Investors Trust ("MIT")*........       941,569  $ 12,164,764  $ 16,494,283
    Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund
     ("MIG")*.....................................       681,103     7,453,052     8,460,457
    MFS Total Return Fund ("MTR")*................     1,510,751    20,453,360    23,900,329
    MFS Growth Opportunities Fund ("MGO")*........     2,502,414    29,126,966    34,834,288
    MFS Research Fund ("MFR")*....................       429,789     6,239,839     9,151,154
    MFS Bond Fund ("MFB")*........................       449,090     5,941,973     6,114,649
    MFS Money Market Fund ("MCM").................     6,188,254     6,188,254     6,188,254
    MFS Government Money Market Fund ("MCG")......     1,339,023     1,339,023     1,339,023
    MFS High Income Fund ("MFH")*.................     1,554,446     7,941,425     8,596,469
    MFS World Governments Fund ("MWG")*...........       203,014     2,355,295     2,201,378
    MFS Emerging Growth Fund ("MEG")*.............       471,855     9,244,300    17,073,244
                                                                  ------------  ------------
                                                                  $108,448,251  $134,353,528
                                                                  ------------
                                                                  ------------
 
<CAPTION>
 
LIABILITY:
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>           <C>
 
  Payable to sponsor..........................................................        93,383
                                                                                ------------
        Net assets............................................................  $134,260,145
                                                                                ------------
                                                                                ------------
</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......................................  191,532   $85.1160    $ 16,299,924    $   215,987   $ 16,515,911
    MIG......................................  116,839    71.6206       8,364,201        106,708      8,470,909
    MTR......................................  376,845    62.6622      23,587,818         63,258     23,651,076
    MGO......................................  682,668    50.5718      34,698,532        205,337     34,903,869
    MFR......................................  129,195    70.5612       9,117,939         44,955      9,162,894
    MFB......................................  158,314    37.4559       6,016,248        116,289      6,132,537
    MCM......................................  301,313    20.2949       6,111,687         85,081      6,196,768
    MCG......................................   68,686    19.4875       1,338,053          1,167      1,339,220
    MFH......................................  200,252    42.8235       8,500,168        134,233      8,634,401
    MWG......................................   55,822    37.9444       2,117,957         42,898      2,160,855
    MEG......................................  280,589    60.5646      16,992,975         98,730     17,091,705
                                                                     ------------  -------------   ------------
        Net assets................................................   $133,145,502    $ 1,114,643   $134,260,145
                                                                     ------------  -------------   ------------
                                                                     ------------  -------------   ------------
</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
    
 
   
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS-- Year Ended December 31, 1997
    
 
   
<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.........................................  $ 1,277,616  $1,295,658  $2,795,205  $ 4,313,661  $  407,032  $  419,047
  Mortality and expense risk charges................      193,480      94,410     300,282      436,256     114,990      75,767
                                                      -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
      Net investment income.........................  $ 1,084,136  $1,201,248  $2,494,923  $ 3,877,405  $  292,042  $  343,280
                                                      -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
  Realized gains (losses) on investment
   transactions:
    Proceeds from sales.............................  $ 2,532,047  $1,711,573  $4,718,889  $ 4,107,750  $1,502,503  $1,448,870
    Cost of investments sold........................    2,140,186   1,691,407   3,553,458    2,915,736     857,095   1,549,093
                                                      -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
      Net realized gains (losses)...................  $   391,861  $   20,166  $1,165,431  $ 1,192,014  $  645,408  $ (100,223)
                                                      -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
  Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on
   investments:
    End of year.....................................  $ 4,329,519  $1,007,405  $3,446,969  $ 5,707,322  $2,911,315  $  172,676
    Beginning of year...............................    1,892,538    (526,374)  3,006,328    4,176,084   2,324,846     (97,970)
                                                      -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
      Change in unrealized appreciation
       (depreciation)...............................  $ 2,436,981  $1,533,779  $  440,641  $ 1,531,238  $  586,469  $  270,646
                                                      -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
  Realized and unrealized gains.....................  $ 2,828,842  $1,553,945  $1,606,072  $ 2,723,252  $1,231,877  $  170,423
                                                      -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
  Increase in net assets from operations............  $ 3,912,978  $2,755,193  $4,100,995  $ 6,600,657  $1,523,919  $  513,703
                                                      -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
                                                      -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------
</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..........................................  $  332,894  $ 58,061  $  729,766  $  96,701  $  160,958  $11,886,599
  Mortality and expense risk charges.................      89,090    16,536     109,154     29,209     221,777    1,680,951
                                                       ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
      Net investment income (expense)................  $  243,804  $ 41,525  $  620,612  $  67,492  $  (60,819) $10,205,648
                                                       ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
  Realized gains (losses) on investment transactions:
    Proceeds from sales..............................  $3,916,262  $327,538  $1,898,424  $ 649,769  $3,522,932  $26,336,557
    Cost of investments sold.........................   3,916,262   327,538   1,879,243    700,654   1,563,730   21,094,402
                                                       ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
      Net realized gains (losses)....................  $   --      $  --     $   19,181  $ (50,885) $1,959,202  $ 5,242,155
                                                       ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on
investments:
    End of year......................................  $   --      $  --     $  655,044  $(153,917) $7,828,944  $25,905,277
    Beginning of year................................  $   --      $  --        383,786   (105,147)  6,751,376   17,805,467
                                                       ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
      Change in unrealized appreciation
       (depreciation)................................  $   --      $  --     $  271,258  $ (48,770) $1,077,568  $ 8,099,810
                                                       ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
  Realized and unrealized gains (losses).............  $   --      $  --     $  290,439  $ (99,655) $3,036,770  $13,341,965
                                                       ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
  Increase (decrease) in net assets from
   operations........................................  $  243,804  $ 41,525  $  911,051  $ (32,163) $2,975,951  $23,547,613
                                                       ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
                                                       ----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------
</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,
                                     -----------------------------   ----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                         1997            1996            1997            1996           1997            1996
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                  <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income............   $  1,084,136    $  1,193,000    $  1,201,248    $ 1,521,770    $  2,494,923    $  2,283,612
  Net realized gains...............        391,861          50,400          20,166        392,892       1,165,431         869,395
  Net unrealized gains (losses)....      2,436,981       1,596,117       1,533,779       (536,315)        440,641        (264,098)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
      Increase in net assets from
       operations..................   $  3,912,978    $  2,839,517    $  2,755,193    $ 1,378,347    $  4,100,995    $  2,888,909
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
 
PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments received.....   $    295,282    $    336,122    $    161,450    $   205,998    $    375,661    $    528,206
    Net transfers between
     Sub-Accounts and
     Fixed Account.................        443,283          88,376         190,511       (203,622)       (117,230)       (145,482)
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations and contract
     charges.......................     (2,182,271)     (1,397,434)     (1,420,037)    (2,057,962)     (4,140,788)     (3,143,002)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
      Net accumulation activity....   $ (1,443,706)   $   (972,936)   $ (1,068,076)   $(2,055,586)   $ (3,882,357)   $ (2,760,278)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations.................   $     73,820    $     33,004    $   --          $   --         $   --          $      8,227
    Annuity payments...............        (26,781)        (17,495)        (24,415)        (3,060)       (132,212)         (8,688)
    Adjustments to annuity
     reserve.......................         12,259          11,899           4,039          1,203        (139,226)        (41,600)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
      Net annuitization activity...   $     59,298    $     27,408    $    (20,376)   $    (1,857)   $   (271,438)   $    (42,061)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
  Decrease in net assets from
   participant transactions........   $ (1,384,408)   $   (945,528)   $ (1,088,452)   $(2,057,443)   $ (4,153,795)   $ (2,802,339)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets........................   $  2,528,570    $  1,893,989    $  1,666,741    $  (679,096)   $    (52,800)   $     86,570
 
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year................     13,987,341      12,093,352       6,804,168      7,483,264      23,703,876      23,617,306
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
  End of year......................   $ 16,515,911    $ 13,987,341    $  8,470,909    $ 6,804,168    $ 23,651,076    $ 23,703,876
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       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,
                                     -----------------------------   ----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                         1997            1996            1997            1996           1997            1996
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                  <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income............   $  3,877,405    $  3,016,977    $    292,042    $   313,648    $    343,280    $    413,938
  Net realized gains (losses)......      1,192,014         686,961         645,408        710,834        (100,223)       (158,835)
  Net unrealized gains (losses)....      1,531,238       1,861,809         586,469        645,674         270,646        (113,191)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
      Increase in net assets from
       operations..................   $  6,600,657    $  5,565,747    $  1,523,919    $ 1,670,156    $    513,703    $    141,912
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
 
PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments received.....   $    396,402    $    446,789    $    115,867    $   143,449    $     97,957    $    155,303
    Net transfers between
     Sub-Accounts and Fixed
     Account.......................       (331,038)       (284,146)        112,699        382,929         137,968          32,233
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations and contract
     charges.......................     (3,356,390)     (3,282,766)     (1,160,821)    (1,327,739)     (1,220,161)     (1,500,550)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
      Net accumulation activity....   $ (3,291,026)   $ (3,120,123)   $   (932,255)   $  (801,361)   $   (984,236)   $ (1,313,014)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations.................   $     40,042    $      4,584    $         --    $        --    $     52,142    $         --
    Annuity payments...............        (22,778)        (30,270)         (9,402)          (662)        (12,112)         (8,224)
    Adjustments to annuity
     reserve.......................         12,645          17,719           1,887         10,666          11,228           1,076
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
      Net annuitization activity...   $     29,909    $     (7,967)   $     (7,515)   $    10,004    $     51,258    $     (7,148)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
  Decrease in net assets from
   participant transactions........   $ (3,261,117)   $ (3,128,090)   $   (939,770)   $  (791,357)   $   (932,978)   $ (1,320,162)
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets........................   $  3,339,540    $  2,437,657    $    584,149    $   878,799    $   (419,275)   $ (1,178,250)
 
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year................     31,564,329      29,126,672       8,578,745      7,699,946       6,551,812       7,730,062
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
  End of year......................   $ 34,903,869    $ 31,564,329    $  9,162,894    $ 8,578,745    $  6,132,537    $  6,551,812
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
                                     -------------   -------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   -------------
</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,
                                 ------------------------------   -----------------------------   ------------------------------
                                     1997             1996            1997            1996            1997             1996
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
<S>                              <C>             <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income........   $   243,804     $   240,460      $   41,525      $   53,885      $   620,612     $   663,084
  Net realized gains...........       --              --              --              --                19,181          52,257
  Net unrealized gains.........       --              --              --              --               271,258         222,093
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
      Increase in net assets
       from operations.........   $   243,804     $   240,460      $   41,525      $   53,885      $   911,051     $   937,434
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
 
PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments
     received..................   $   107,567     $   136,550      $   29,140      $   80,866      $    66,166     $   121,432
    Net transfers between Sub-
     Accounts and Fixed
     Account...................      (678,009)      1,635,082          55,363        (278,103)         (76,758)       (411,820)
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations and
     contract charges..........    (1,416,396)     (1,188,558)       (171,168)       (449,456)      (1,125,638)       (968,697)
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
      Net accumulation
       activity................   $(1,986,838)    $   583,074      $  (86,665)     $ (646,693)     $(1,136,230)    $(1,259,085)
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations.............   $    49,826         --              --              --               --              --
    Annuity payments...........        (7,711)         (4,013)           (194)           (196)         (19,721)        (21,880)
    Annuity transfers..........       --              --              --              --                (3,495)        --
    Adjustments to annuity
     reserve...................         9,057             543              76              67            9,135            (927)
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
      Net annuitization
       activity................   $    51,172     $    (3,470)     $     (118)     $     (129)     $   (14,081)    $   (22,807)
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
  Increase (decrease) in net
   assets from participant
   transactions................   $(1,935,666)    $   579,604      $  (86,783)     $ (646,822)     $(1,150,311)    $(1,281,892)
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets....................   $(1,691,862)    $   820,064      $  (45,258)     $ (592,937)     $  (239,260)    $  (344,458)
 
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year............     7,888,630       7,068,566       1,384,478       1,977,415        8,873,661       9,218,119
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
  End of year..................   $ 6,196,768     $ 7,888,630      $1,339,220      $1,384,478      $ 8,634,401     $ 8,873,661
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
                                 -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------
</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,
                                 -----------------------------   -------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                     1997            1996             1997             1996             1997             1996
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
<S>                              <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income........   $   67,492      $   38,593      $   (60,819)     $   (27,082)     $ 10,205,648     $  9,711,885
  Net realized gains
   (losses)....................      (50,885)       (108,086)       1,959,202        1,792,780         5,242,155        4,288,598
  Net unrealized gains
   (losses)....................      (48,770)        174,859        1,077,568          341,977         8,099,810        3,928,925
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
      Increase (decrease) in
       net assets from
       operations..............   $  (32,163)     $  105,366      $ 2,975,951      $ 2,107,675      $ 23,547,613     $ 17,929,408
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
 
PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
  Accumulation activity:
    Purchase payments
     received..................   $   20,613      $   32,241      $   273,824      $   413,103      $  1,939,929     $  2,600,059
    Net transfers between Sub-
     Accounts and Fixed
     Account...................      (57,194)       (103,978)         180,160         (785,333)         (140,245)         (73,864)
    Withdrawals, surrenders,
     annuitizations and
     contract charges..........     (504,226)       (400,559)      (2,750,634)      (2,122,298)      (19,448,530)     (17,839,021)
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
      Net accumulation
       activity................   $ (540,807)     $ (472,296)     $(2,296,650)     $(2,494,528)     $(17,648,846)    $(15,312,826)
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
  Annuitization activity:
    Annuitizations.............   $   12,236      $  --           $     4,465      $   --           $    232,531     $     45,815
    Annuity payments...........       (5,464)         (7,791)         (22,268)         (19,817)         (283,058)        (122,096)
    Annuity transfers..........      --              --                 3,495          --               --               --
    Adjustments to annuity
     reserve...................        2,064          (2,303)           2,764            1,874           (74,072)             217
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
      Net annuitization
       activity................   $    8,836      $  (10,094)     $   (11,544)     $   (17,943)     $   (124,599)    $    (76,064)
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
  Decrease in net assets from
   participant transactions....   $ (531,971)     $ (482,390)     $(2,308,194)     $(2,512,471)     $(17,773,445)    $(15,388,890)
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
    Increase (decrease) in net
     assets....................   $ (564,134)     $ (377,024)     $   667,757      $  (404,796)     $  5,774,168     $  2,540,518
 
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of year............    2,724,989       3,102,013       16,423,948       16,828,744       128,485,977      125,945,459
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
  End of year..................   $2,160,855      $2,724,989      $17,091,705      $16,423,948      $134,260,145     $128,485,977
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
                                 -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------   --------------   --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                       See notes to financial statements
    
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
    
 
   
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
    
 
   
(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"), an affiliate 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%.
    
 
   
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.
    
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT C
    
 
   
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
    
 
   
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.
    
 
   
(5) TRANSACTIONS IN UNITS OUTSTANDING
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  MIT               MIG               MTR                MGO                MFR
                              Sub-Account       Sub-Account       Sub-Account        Sub-Account        Sub-Account
                            ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ------------------  ----------------
                               Year Ended        Year Ended        Year Ended         Year Ended         Year Ended
                              December 31,      December 31,      December 31,       December 31,       December 31,
                            ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ------------------  ----------------
                             1997     1996     1997     1996     1997     1996     1997      1996      1997     1996
                            -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------
<S>                         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>
Units outstanding,
 beginning of year........  211,924  228,398  137,226  183,386  445,574  502,308  752,698    835,555  143,843  158,916
  Units purchased.........    3,952    5,745    2,689    4,638    6,597   10,862    8,648     11,777    1,771    2,691
  Units transferred
   between Sub-Accounts
   and Fixed Account......    5,860    1,726    2,571   (4,521)  (1,968)  (2,602)  (6,742)    (8,450)   2,007    6,223
  Units withdrawn,
   surrendered and
   annuitized.............  (30,204) (23,945) (25,647) (46,277) (73,358) (64,994) (71,936)   (86,184) (18,426) (23,987)
                            -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------
Units outstanding, end of
 year.....................  191,532  211,924  116,839  137,226  376,845  445,574  682,668    752,698  129,195  143,843
                            -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------
                            -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------
 
<CAPTION>
                                  MFB
                              Sub-Account
                            ----------------
 
                               Year Ended
                              December 31,
                            ----------------
                             1997     1996
                            -------  -------
<S>                         <C>      <C>
Units outstanding,
 beginning of year........  186,637  226,571
  Units purchased.........    2,751    4,694
  Units transferred
   between Sub-Accounts
   and Fixed Account......    3,481      970
  Units withdrawn,
   surrendered and
   annuitized.............  (34,555) (45,598)
                            -------  -------
Units outstanding, end of
 year.....................  158,314  186,637
                            -------  -------
                            -------  -------
</TABLE>
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    MCM                   MCG                   MFH                   MWG
                                                Sub-Account           Sub-Account           Sub-Account           Sub-Account
                                            --------------------  --------------------  --------------------  --------------------
                                                 Year Ended            Year Ended            Year Ended            Year Ended
                                                December 31,          December 31,          December 31,          December 31,
                                            --------------------  --------------------  --------------------  --------------------
                                              1997       1996       1997       1996       1997       1996       1997       1996
                                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Units outstanding, beginning of year......    401,141    371,369     73,345    108,206    229,079    264,391     70,278     83,177
  Units purchased.........................      5,399      7,091      1,523      4,338      1,652      3,422        554        882
  Units transferred between Sub-Accounts
   and Fixed Account......................    (33,845)    84,305      2,802    (14,954)    (2,180)   (11,805)    (1,541)    (2,797)
  Units withdrawn, surrendered and
   annuitized.............................    (71,382)   (61,624)    (8,984)   (24,245)   (28,299)   (26,929)   (13,469)   (10,984)
                                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Units outstanding, end of year............    301,313    401,141     68,686     73,345    200,252    229,079     55,822     70,278
                                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                    MEG
                                                Sub-Account
                                            --------------------
 
                                                 Year Ended
                                                December 31,
                                            --------------------
                                              1997       1996
                                            ---------  ---------
<S>                                         <C>        <C>
Units outstanding, beginning of year......    321,077    372,726
  Units purchased.........................      4,900      8,398
  Units transferred between Sub-Accounts
   and Fixed Account......................      4,053    (16,860)
  Units withdrawn, surrendered and
   annuitized.............................    (49,441)   (43,187)
                                            ---------  ---------
Units outstanding, end of year............    280,589    321,077
                                            ---------  ---------
                                            ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       14
<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, 1997, the
related statements of operations for the year then ended and the statements of
changes in net assets for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996. 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, 1997 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,
1997, 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 6, 1998
    
 
                    ----------------------------------------
 
   
This report is prepared for the general information of contract owners. It is
authorized for distribution to prospective purchasers only when preceded or
accompanied by an effective prospectus.
    
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF ADMITTED ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND
CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 (IN 000'S)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   1997            1996
                                                                              --------------  --------------
<S>                                                                           <C>             <C>
ADMITTED ASSETS
    Bonds                                                                     $    1,910,699  $    2,170,103
    Common stocks                                                                    117,229         144,043
    Mortgage loans on real estate                                                    684,035         938,932
    Properties acquired in satisfaction of debt                                       22,475          23,391
    Investment real estate                                                            78,426          76,995
    Policy loans                                                                      40,348          40,554
    Cash and short-term investments                                                  544,418         148,059
    Other invested assets                                                             55,716          51,378
    Premiums and annuity considerations due and uncollected                            9,203          11,282
    Investment income due and accrued                                                 39,279          68,191
    Receivable from parent, subsidiaries and affiliates                               28,825          40,829
    Funds withheld on reinsurance assumed                                            982,653         878,798
    Other assets                                                                       1,841           1,343
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    General account assets                                                         4,515,147       4,593,898
    Separate account assets
      Unitized                                                                     9,068,021       6,919,219
      Non-unitized                                                                 2,343,877       2,108,835
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    Total Admitted Assets                                                     $   15,927,045  $   13,621,952
                                                                              --------------  --------------
                                                                              --------------  --------------
LIABILITIES
    Aggregate reserve for life policies and contracts                         $    2,188,243  $    2,099,980
    Supplementary contracts                                                            2,247           2,205
    Policy and contract claims                                                         2,460           2,108
    Policyholders' dividends and coupons payable                                      32,500          27,500
    Liability for premium and other deposit funds                                  1,450,705       1,898,309
    Surrender values on cancelled policies                                               215              72
    Interest maintenance reserve                                                      33,830          28,675
    Commissions to agents due or accrued                                               2,826           3,245
    General expenses due or accrued                                                    7,202           4,654
    Transfers from Separate Accounts due or accrued                                 (284,078)       (232,743)
    Taxes, licenses and fees accrued, excluding federal income taxes                     105             342
    Federal income taxes due or accrued                                               58,073          49,479
    Unearned investment income                                                            34              19
    Amounts withheld or retained by company as agent or trustee                           47              27
    Remittances and items not allocated                                                1,363           1,359
    Borrowed money                                                                   110,142          58,000
    Asset valuation reserve                                                           47,605          53,911
    Payable for securities                                                            27,104          22,177
    Other liabilities                                                                  1,959           7,561
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    General account liabilities                                                    3,682,582       4,026,880
    Separate account liabilities
      Unitized                                                                     9,067,891       6,919,094
      Non-unitized                                                                 2,343,877       2,108,835
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    Total liabilities                                                             15,094,350      13,054,809
                                                                              --------------  --------------
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 notes                                                                    565,000         315,000
    Gross paid in and contributed surplus                                            199,355         199,355
    Unassigned funds                                                                  62,440          46,888
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    Surplus                                                                          826,795         561,243
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    Total capital stock and surplus                                                  832,695         567,143
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    Total Liabilities, Capital Stock and Surplus                              $   15,927,045  $   13,621,952
                                                                              --------------  --------------
                                                                              --------------  --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
    
   
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995 (IN 000'S)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              1997        1996        1995
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 <S>                                       <C>         <C>         <C>
 INCOME:
     Premiums and annuity considerations   $  270,700  $  282,466  $  279,407
     Deposit-type funds                     2,155,298   1,775,230   1,545,542
     Considerations for supplementary
      contracts without life
      contingencies and dividend
      accumulations                             1,615       2,340       1,088
     Net investment income                    270,249     303,753     312,872
     Amortization of interest maintenance
      reserve                                   1,166       1,557       1,025
     Net gain from operations from
      Separate Accounts                             5          --          --
     Other income                              86,123      71,903      57,864
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
     Total                                  2,785,156   2,437,249   2,197,798
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 BENEFITS AND EXPENSES:
     Death benefits                            17,284      12,394      15,317
     Annuity benefits                         148,135     146,654     140,497
     Surrender benefits and other fund
      withdrawals                           1,854,004   1,507,263   1,074,396
     Interest on policy or contract funds         699       2,205         739
     Payments on supplementary contracts
      without life contingencies and of
      dividend accumulations                    1,687       2,120       1,888
     Increase in aggregate reserves for
      life and accident and health
      policies and contracts                  127,278     162,678     171,975
     Increase (decrease) in liability for
      premium and other deposit funds        (447,603)   (392,348)     13,553
     Increase (decrease) in reserve for
      supplementary contracts without
      life contingencies and for dividend
      and coupon accumulations                     42         327        (663)
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
     Total                                  1,701,526   1,441,293   1,417,702
     Commissions on premiums and annuity
      considerations (direct business
      only)                                   132,700     109,894      88,037
     Commissions and expense allowances
      on reinsurance assumed                   17,951      18,910      22,012
     General insurance expenses                47,102      37,206      34,580
     Insurance taxes, licenses and fees,
      excluding federal income taxes            7,790       8,431       7,685
     Increase (decrease) in loading on
      and cost of collection in excess of
      loading on deferred and uncollected
      premiums                                    523         901      (1,377)
     Net transfers to separate accounts       734,373     678,663     551,784
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
     Total                                  2,641,965   2,295,298   2,120,423
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
     Net gain from operations before
      dividends to policyholders and
      federal income taxes                    143,191     141,951      77,375
     Dividends to policyholders                33,316      29,189      25,722
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
     Net gain from operations after
      dividends to policyholders and
      before federal income taxes             109,875     112,762      51,653
     Federal income tax expense (benefit)
      (excluding tax on capital gains)         10,742      (2,702)     17,807
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
     Net gain from operations after
      dividends to policyholders and
      federal income taxes and before
      realized capital gains                   99,133     115,464      33,846
     Net realized capital gains less
      capital gains tax and transfers to
      the interest maintenance reserve         30,109       7,560       2,069
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 NET INCOME                                $  129,242  $  123,024  $   35,915
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
    
 
   
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995 (IN 000'S)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1997        1996        1995
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                         <C>         <C>         <C>
Capital and surplus, beginning of year                      $  567,143  $  792,452  $  455,489
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
Net income                                                     129,242     123,024      35,915
Change in net unrealized capital gains                           1,153      (1,715)      2,009
Change in non-admitted assets and related items                   (463)         67      (2,270)
Change in reserve on account of change in valuation basis       39,016          --          --
Change in asset valuation reserve                                6,306     (11,812)    (13,690)
Other changes in surplus in Separate Accounts Statement             --         100      (4,038)
Change in surplus notes                                        250,000    (335,000)    315,000
Dividends to stockholder                                      (159,722)         --          --
Miscellaneous gains in surplus                                      20          27       4,037
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
Net change in capital and surplus for the year                 265,552    (225,309)    336,963
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
Capital and surplus, end of year                            $  832,695  $  567,143  $  792,452
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
    
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995 (IN 000'S)
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               1997         1996         1995
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 <S>                                        <C>          <C>          <C>
 Cash Provided
   Premiums, annuity considerations and
     deposit funds received                 $ 2,427,554  $ 2,059,577  $ 1,826,456
   Considerations for supplementary
     contracts and dividend accumulations
     received                                     1,615        2,340        1,088
   Net investment income received               323,199      324,914      374,398
   Other income received                         81,701       88,295       25,348
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total receipts                               2,834,069    2,475,126    2,227,290
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
   Benefits paid (other than dividends)       2,020,615    1,671,483    1,231,936
   Insurance expenses and taxes paid
     (other than federal income and
     capital gains taxes)                       203,650      172,015      150,463
   Net cash transferred to Separate
     Accounts                                   785,708      755,605      568,188
   Dividends paid to policyholders               28,316       22,689       17,722
   Federal income tax (recoveries)
     payments (excluding tax on capital
     gains)                                       1,397      (15,363)     (20,655)
   Other--net                                       699        2,205          739
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total payments                               3,040,385    2,608,634    1,948,393
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Net cash from operations                      (206,316)    (133,508)     278,897
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
   Proceeds from long-term investments
     sold, matured or repaid (after
     deducting taxes on capital gains of
     $750,449, $1,554,873 and $8,610,951)     1,343,803    1,768,147    1,658,655
   Issuance of surplus notes                    250,000     (335,000)     315,000
   Other cash provided                          117,297      147,956      419,446
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total cash provided                          1,711,100    1,581,103    2,393,101
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Cash Applied
   Cost of long-term investments acquired       773,721    1,318,880    1,749,714
   Other cash applied                           334,704      177,982      796,207
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total cash applied                           1,108,425    1,496,862    2,545,921
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Net change in cash and short-term
   investments                                  396,359      (49,267)     126,077
 Cash and short term investments
 Beginning of year                              148,059      197,326       71,249
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 End of year                                $   544,418  $   148,059  $   197,326
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
    
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
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 engaged in the sale of individual variable life
insurance, 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 the
Company's ultimate parent, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada ("SLOC"). SLOC
is a mutual life insurance company.
    
 
   
Effective May 1, 1997, the Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the newly
established Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc. ("Life Holdco"). On
December 18, 1997, Life Holdco became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada - U.S. Operations Holdings, Inc. ("US Holdco"). US
Holdco is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SLOC. Prior to December 18, 1997 Life
Holdco was a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of SLOC.
    
 
   
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, which 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, results of operations or
cash flow 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 are carried 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.
    
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES (CONTINUED):
    
   
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.
    
 
   
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 value.
    
 
   
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 of the
separate accounts, 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 $284,078,000 in 1997 and
$232,743,000 in 1996.
    
 
   
CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND REPORTING
    
 
   
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. Effective for
1996, the Company changed its method of accounting for investments in
subsidiaries to conform with a preferable 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.
    
 
   
As described more fully in Note 10, during 1997 the Company changed certain
assumptions used in determining actuarial reserves.
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES (CONTINUED):
    
   
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.
    
 
   
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to amounts as
presented in the current year.
    
 
   
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 Life of Canada (U.S.) Distributors, Inc. (formerly Sun
Investment Services Company) ("Sundisco"), New London Trust, F.S.B. ("NLT"), Sun
Life Financial Services Limited, ("SLFSL"), Sun Benefit Services Company, Inc.
("Sunbesco"), Sun Capital Advisers, Inc. ("Sun Capital"), and Sun Life Finance
Corporation ("Sunfinco").
    
 
   
On October 30, 1997, the Company established a wholly-owned special purpose
corporation, Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) SPE 97-1, Inc. (SPE 97-1). SPE 97-1 was
organized for the purpose of engaging in activities incidental to securitizing
mortgage loans.
    
 
   
Prior to December 24, 1997, the Company owned 93.6% of the outstanding shares of
Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS"). On December 24, 1997, the
Company transferred all of its shares of MFS to Life Holdco in the form of a
dividend valued at $159,722,000. As a result of this transaction the Company
realized a gain of $21,195,000 of undistributed earnings.
    
 
   
MFS, a registered investment adviser, serves as investment adviser to the mutual
funds in the MFS family of funds as well as certain mutual funds and separate
accounts established by the Company. The MFS Asset Management Group provides
investment advice to substantial private clients.
    
 
   
On December 31, 1997, the Company purchased all of the outstanding shares of
Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc. ("Clarendon") from MFS.
    
 
   
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 issues only individual disability income policies. Sundisco 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 offshore products of SLOC, an affiliate. Sun Capital is a registered
investment adviser. Sunfinco and Sunbesco are currently inactive. Clarendon is a
registered broker-dealer that acts as the general distributor of certain annuity
and life insurance contracts issued by the Company and its affiliates.
    
 
   
On December 23, 1997, the Company issued a $110,000,000 note to US Holdco at an
interest rate of 5.80%, which is scheduled for repayment on March 1, 1998, and
is included in borrowed money. A $110,000,000 note was also issued by MFS on
December 23, 1997 to the Company at an interest rate of 5.85% due on March 1,
1998 and is included in cash and short-term investments.
    
 
   
On December 31, 1996, the Company issued a $58,000,000 note to SLOC which was
repaid on February 10, 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%. This note was repaid to the Company on February 10, 1997. On December 31,
1997 and 1996 the Company had an additional $20,000,000 in notes issued by MFS,
scheduled to mature in 2000.
    
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
2.  INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES (CONTINUED):
    
   
During 1997, 1996, and 1995, the Company contributed capital in the following
amounts to its subsidiaries:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          1997            1996           1995
                                                                     --------------  --------------  ------------
<S>                                                                  <C>             <C>             <C>
MCIC                                                                 $    2,000,000  $   10,000,000  $  6,000,000
SLFSL                                                                     1,000,000       1,500,000            --
SPE 97-1                                                                 20,377,000              --            --
</TABLE>
    
 
   
Summarized combined financial information of the Company's subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 and for the years then ended, follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                                     -------------------------------------------
                                                                         1997           1996           1995
                                                                     -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                                     (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                  <C>            <C>            <C>
Intangible assets                                                    $           0  $       9,646  $      12,174
Other assets                                                             1,190,951      1,376,014      1,233,372
Liabilities                                                             (1,073,966)    (1,241,617)    (1,107,264)
                                                                     -------------  -------------  -------------
Total net assets                                                     $     116,985  $     144,043  $     138,282
                                                                     -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                     -------------  -------------  -------------
Total revenues                                                       $     750,364  $     717,280  $     570,794
Operating expenses                                                        (646,896)      (624,199)      (504,070)
Income tax expense                                                         (43,987)       (42,820)       (31,193)
                                                                     -------------  -------------  -------------
Net income                                                           $      59,481  $      50,261  $      35,531
                                                                     -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                     -------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
3.  BONDS:
    
   
Investments in debt securities are as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                             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                                            $    126,923   $   5,529    $      --   $    132,452
    States, provinces and political subdivisions                  22,361       2,095           --         24,456
    Public utilities                                             398,939      35,338          (91)       434,186
    Transportation                                               214,130      22,000         (390)       235,740
    Finance                                                      157,891       5,885         (120)       163,656
    All other corporate bonds                                    990,455      52,678       (5,456)     1,037,677
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
        Total long-term bonds                                  1,910,699     123,525       (6,057)     2,028,167
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
Short-term bonds:
    U.S. Treasury Bills, bankers acceptances and
     commercial paper                                            431,032          --           --        431,032
    Affiliates                                                   110,000          --           --        110,000
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
        Total short-term bonds                                   541,032          --           --        541,032
Total bonds                                                 $  2,451,731   $ 123,525    $  (6,057)  $  2,569,199
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
3.  BONDS (CONTINUED):
    
 
   
<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           --          2,273
    Foreign governments                                           18,812       1,351           --         20,163
    Public utilities                                             415,641      24,728       (1,223)       439,146
    Transportation                                               167,937      14,107       (2,243)       179,801
    Finance                                                      290,024       7,914         (472)       297,466
    All other corporate bonds                                  1,007,680      42,338      (14,496)     1,035,522
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
        Total long-term bonds                                  2,170,103     102,730      (27,361)     2,245,472
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
Short-term bonds:
    U.S. Treasury Bills, bankers acceptances and
     commercial paper                                             88,754          --           --         88,754
    Affiliates                                                    58,000          --           --         58,000
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
        Total short-term bonds                                   146,754          --           --        146,754
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
Total bonds                                                 $  2,316,857   $ 102,730    $ (27,361)  $  2,392,226
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of bonds at December 31, 1997 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, 1997
                                                                                       --------------------------
                                                                                        AMORTIZED     ESTIMATED
                                                                                           COST       FAIR VALUE
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                                    <C>           <C>
                                                                                               (IN 000'S)
Maturities:
    Due in one year or less                                                            $    699,548  $    700,280
    Due after one year through five years                                                   533,901       541,382
    Due after five years through ten years                                                  270,607       286,651
    Due after ten years                                                                     735,624       821,002
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                          2,239,680     2,349,315
    Mortgage-backed securities                                                              212,051       219,884
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
Total bonds                                                                            $  2,451,731  $  2,569,199
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments in debt securities during
1997, 1996, and 1995 were $980,264,000, $1,554,016,000, and $1,510,553,000,
gross gains were $10,732,000, $16,975,000, and $24,757,000 and gross losses were
$2,446,000, $10,885,000, and $5,742,000, respectively.
    
 
   
Bonds included above with an amortized cost of approximately $2,578,000 and
$2,060,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1996, 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, Chase Manhattan of New York. The custodian has
indemnified the Company against losses arising from this
    
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
4.  SECURITIES LENDING (CONTINUED):
    
   
program. The total par value of securities out on loan was $0 and $51,537,000 at
December 31, 1997 and 1996 respectively. Income resulting from this program was
$200,000, $137,000 and $2,000 for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and
1995, 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
allowances for losses have been made. In those cases where, in management's
judgment, the mortgage loans' values are impaired, appropriate losses are
recorded.
    
 
   
The following table shows the geographical distribution of the mortgage loan
portfolio.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                           ----------------------
                                                                                              1997        1996
                                                                                           ----------  ----------
                                                                                                 (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                        <C>         <C>
California                                                                                 $  119,122  $  154,272
Massachusetts                                                                                  58,981      79,929
Michigan                                                                                       42,912      57,119
New York                                                                                       45,696      67,742
Ohio                                                                                           51,862      75,405
Pennsylvania                                                                                   97,949     115,584
Washington                                                                                     54,948      75,819
All other                                                                                     212,565     313,062
                                                                                           ----------  ----------
                                                                                           $  684,035  $  938,932
                                                                                           ----------  ----------
                                                                                           ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
The Company has restructured mortgage loans totaling $26,284,000 and $29,261,000
at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, against which there are allowances
for losses of $3,026,000 and $5,893,000, respectively.
    
 
   
Mortgage loans from Sun Life (U.S.)'s portfolio with an approximate book value
of $53,188,000 were included in a transaction also involving loans from the
portfolios of other SLOC entities with an aggregate book value of $256 million,
whereby such loans were securitized for sale to the public markets.
    
 
   
The Company has made commitments of mortgage loans on real estate into the
future. The outstanding commitments for these mortgages amount to $12,300,000
and $9,800,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
    
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
6.  INVESTMENT GAINS AND LOSSES:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                   -------------------------------
                                                                                     1997       1996       1995
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                             (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>
Net realized gains (losses)
Bonds                                                                              $   2,882  $   5,631  $   3,935
Common stock of affiliates                                                            21,195         --         --
Mortgage loans                                                                         3,837        763        292
Real estate                                                                            2,912        599        391
Other invested assets                                                                   (717)       567     (2,549)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   $  30,109  $   7,560  $   2,069
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
Changes in unrealized gains (losses):
Common stock of affiliates                                                         $  (2,894) $  (5,739) $      --
Mortgage loans                                                                         1,524       (600)    (1,574)
Real estate                                                                            3,377      4,624      3,583
Other invested assets                                                                   (854)        --         --
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   $   1,153  $  (1,715) $   2,009
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
</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 net realized capital gains credited to the interest
maintenance reserve were $6,321,000 in 1997, $7,710,000 in 1996, and $12,714,000
in 1995. All gains and losses are transferred net of applicable income taxes.
    
 
   
7.  NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
    
   
Net investment income consisted of:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                              ----------------------------------
                                                                                 1997        1996        1995
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                          (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                           <C>         <C>         <C>
Interest income from bonds                                                    $  188,924  $  178,695  $  205,445
Income from investment in common stock of affiliates                              41,181      50,408      35,403
Interest income from mortgage loans                                               76,073      92,591      99,766
Real estate investment income                                                     17,161      16,249      14,979
Interest income from policy loans                                                  3,582       2,790       2,777
Other                                                                               (193)      1,710       2,672
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
    Gross investment income                                                      326,728     342,443     361,042
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
Interest on surplus notes and notes payable                                      (42,481)    (23,061)    (31,813)
Investment expenses                                                              (13,998)    (15,629)    (16,357)
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
Net investment income                                                         $  270,249  $  303,753  $  312,872
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
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 allocate 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, 1997 and 1996 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.
    
 
   
Options are used to hedge the stock market interest exposure in the mortality
and expense risk charges and guaranteed minimum death benefit features of the
Company's variable annuities. The Company's open positions are as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         SWAPS OUTSTANDING
                                                                                       AT DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                                                      NOTIONAL       MARKET VALUE
                                                                                 PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS   OF POSITIONS
                                                                                 ------------------  -------------
                                                                                            (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                              <C>                 <C>
Conventional interest rate swaps                                                    $     80,000       $  (2,891)
Foreign currency swap                                                                      1,700             208
Forward spread lock swaps                                                                 50,000             274
Asian Put Option S & P 500                                                                70,000             693
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<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>
    
 
   
The market value of swaps is the estimated amount that the Company would receive
or pay on termination or sale, taking into account current interest rates and
the current credit worthiness 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
    
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
9.  LEVERAGED LEASES (CONTINUED):
    
   
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.
    
 
   
The Company's net investment in leveraged leases is composed of the following
elements:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         YEARS ENDED DECEMBER
                                                                                                 31,
                                                                                        ----------------------
                                                                                           1997        1996
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                                              (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>
Lease contracts receivable                                                              $   92,605  $  101,244
Less non-recourse debt                                                                     (92,589)   (101,227)
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                                                16          17
Estimated residual value of leased assets                                                   41,150      41,150
Less unearned and deferred income                                                          (10,324)    (11,501)
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
Investment in leveraged leases                                                              30,842      29,666
Less fees                                                                                     (163)       (188)
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
Net investment in leveraged leases                                                      $   30,679  $   29,478
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
The net investment is included as an other invested asset.
    
 
   
10. REINSURANCE:
    
   
The Company has agreements with SLOC which provide that SLOC 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 $1,381,000, $1,603,000 and $2,184,000
for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
    
 
   
Effective January 1, 1991, the Company entered into an agreement with SLOC under
which certain individual life insurance contracts issued by SLOC were reinsured
by the Company on a 90% coinsurance basis. During 1997 SLOC changed certain
assumptions used in determining the gross and the ceded reserve balance. The
Company reflected the effect of the changes in assumptions to its assumed
reserves as a direct credit to surplus. The effect of the change was a
$39,016,000 decrease in reserves. Also, effective January 1, 1991, the Company
entered into an agreement with SLOC which provides that SLOC 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 $37,050,000, $35,161,000 and $11,821,000 for the years ended
December 31, 1997,1996 and 1995, respectively. The life reinsurance assumed
agreement requires the reinsurer to withhold funds in amounts equal to the
reserves assumed.
    
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
10. REINSURANCE (CONTINUED):
    
   
The following are summarized pro-forma results of operations of the Company for
the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 before the effect of
reinsurance transactions with SLOC.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                                            1997          1996          1995
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                                       (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>
Income:
    Premiums, annuity deposits and other revenues                       $  2,230,980  $  1,858,145  $  1,619,337
    Net investment income and realized gains                                 300,669       312,870       315,967
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
    Subtotal                                                               2,531,649     2,171,015     1,935,304
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
Benefits and Expenses:
    Policyholder benefits                                                  2,240,597     1,928,720     1,760,917
    Other expenses                                                           187,591       155,531       130,302
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
    Subtotal                                                               2,428,188     2,084,251     1,891,219
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
Income from operations                                                  $    103,461  $     86,764  $     44,085
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
</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 $2,658,000 in 1997, $46,000 in
1996, and by $1,599,000 in 1995.
    
 
   
11. WITHDRAWAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANNUITY ACTUARIAL RESERVES AND DEPOSIT
LIABILITIES:
    
   
The withdrawal characteristics of general account and separate account annuity
reserves and deposits are as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                                                                        -----------------------------
                                                                                            AMOUNT       % OF TOTAL
                                                                                        --------------  -------------
                                                                                                 (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                     <C>             <C>
Subject to discretionary withdrawal-with adjustment:
    With market value adjustment                                                        $    3,415,394          25%
    At book value less surrender charges (surrender charge >5%)                              7,672,211          57
    At book value (minimal or no charge or adjustment)                                       1,259,698           9
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal provision                                            1,164,651           9
                                                                                        --------------         ---
Total annuity actuarial reserves and deposit liabilities                                $   13,511,954         100%
                                                                                        --------------         ---
                                                                                        --------------         ---
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<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          31%
    At book value less surrender charges (surrender charge >5%)                              5,626,117          48
    At book value (minimal or no charge or adjustment)                                       1,264,586          11
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal provision                                            1,218,157          10
                                                                                        --------------         ---
Total annuity actuarial reserves and deposit liabilities                                $   11,656,543         100%
                                                                                        --------------         ---
                                                                                        --------------         ---
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
12. RETIREMENT PLANS:
    
   
The Company participates with SLOC 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; currently the plan is
fully funded. 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 SLOC.
    
 
   
The Company's share of the group's accrued pension cost at December 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995 was $593,000, $446,000 and $420,000, respectively. The Company's
share of net periodic pension cost was $146,000, $27,000 and $3,000, for 1997,
1996 and 1995, respectively.
    
 
   
The Company also participates with SLOC 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 $259,000, $233,000 and $185,000 for the years ended December
31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, 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.
    
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
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, 1997 and 1996:
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                                       ---------------------------------------
                                                        CARRYING AMOUNT   ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE
                                                       -----------------  --------------------
                                                                     (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                    <C>                <C>
ASSETS:
Bonds                                                    $   2,451,731       $    2,569,199
Mortgages                                                      684,035              706,975
LIABILITIES:
Insurance reserves                                       $     123,128       $      123,128
Individual annuities                                           307,668              302,165
Pension products                                             1,527,433            1,561,108
Derivatives                                                         --               (1,716)
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                       ---------------------------------------
                                                        CARRYING AMOUNT   ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE
                                                       -----------------  --------------------
                                                                     (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                    <C>                <C>
ASSETS:
Bonds                                                    $   2,316,857       $    2,392,226
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)
</TABLE>
    
 
   
The major methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of
financial instruments are as follows:
    
 
   
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
by 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 insurance 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.
    
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
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>
                                                                              1997                  1996
                                                                      --------------------  --------------------
                                                                         AVR        IMR        AVR        IMR
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                           (IN 000'S)            (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Balance, beginning of year                                            $  53,911  $  28,675  $  42,099  $  25,218
Net realized investment gains, net of tax                                17,400      6,321      3,160      5,011
Amortization of net investment gains                                         --     (1,166)        --     (1,557)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)                                     (2,340)        --      1,502         --
Required by formula                                                     (21,366)        --      7,150          3
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Balance, end of year                                                  $  47,605  $  33,830  $  53,911  $  28,675
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</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 $31,000,000, $19,264,000 and
$12,429,000 for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
    
 
   
16. SURPLUS NOTES AND NOTES RECEIVABLE (PAYABLE):
    
   
On December 22, 1997, the Company issued a $250,000,000 surplus note to Life
Holdco. This note has an interest rate of 8.625% and is due on or after November
6, 2027.
    
 
   
On May 9, 1997, the Company issued a short-term note of $600,000,000 to Life
Holdco at an interest rate of 5.10%, which was extended at various interest
rates. This note was repaid on December 22, 1997.
    
 
   
The Company had issued and outstanding surplus notes to SLOC 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 totaling $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 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
    
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
16. SURPLUS NOTES AND NOTES RECEIVABLE (PAYABLE) (CONTINUED):
    
   
the consent of the Delaware Insurance Commissioner. Payment of principal and
interest on the notes issued in 1995 and in 1997 also requires the consents of
the Delaware Insurance Commissioner and Canadian Office of the Superintendent of
Financial Institutions.
    
 
   
The Company obtained the required consents and expensed $42,481,000, $23,061,000
and $31,813,000 for interest on surplus notes and notes payable for the years
ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
    
 
   
17. MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE CONTRACTS:
    
   
The Company has an agreement with SLOC which provides that SLOC will furnish, as
requested, personnel as well as certain services and facilities on a
cost-reimbursement basis. Expenses under this agreement amounted to
approximately $15,997,000 in 1997, $20,192,000 in 1996, and $20,293,000 in 1995.
    
 
   
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, 1997
and 1996.
    
 
   
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 Company's surplus. Changes in the net equity value of the common stock of
all other subsidiaries are directly reflected in the Company's Asset Valuation
Reserve. 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 and 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 Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
(U.S.) has determined that the cost of complying with Statement No. 120
"Accounting and Reporting by Mutual Insurance Enterprises and by Insurance
Enterprises for Certain Long
    
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.)
    
 
   
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
    
 
   
19. ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES (CONTINUED):
    
   
Duration Participating Contracts" 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.
    
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
   
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
    
 
   
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS
    
   
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, 1997 and 1996, 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, 1997. 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 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. 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.
    
 
   
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 December 31, 1997
and 1996, and the results of its operations and its cash flow for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1997 on the basis of accounting
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, 1997 and 1996 or the results of its operations or its cash flow for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997.
    
 
   
As management has 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
    
 
   
Boston, Massachusetts
February 5, 1998
    
 
                                       35
<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 state
law regarding the nature and quality of investments that may be made by life
insurance companies and the percentage of their assets that may be committed to
any particular type of investment. In general, these laws permit investments,
within specified limits and subject to certain qualifications, in federal, state
and municipal obligations, corporate bonds, preferred and common stocks, real
estate mortgages, real estate and certain other investments. 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.
    
 
   
    Fixed 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 Contracts 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, distribution expenses and
administrative expenses borne by the Company in connection with Fixed Account
Contracts. The Company expects to derive a profit from this compensation. The
amount of 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.
    
 
                                       36
<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.
 
                                       37
<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 EXAMPLES
    
 
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).
 
                                       38
<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 canceled
       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. In 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.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
   
                           SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
                           ANNUITY SERVICE MAILING ADDRESS:
                           C/O RETIREMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
                           P.O. BOX 1024
                           BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02103
    
 
   
                           GENERAL DISTRIBUTOR
                           Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc.
                           One Sun Life Executive Park
                           Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181
    
 
                           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 5/98
    
<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, 1997;

     2.   Statement of Operations, Year Ended December 31, 1997;

     3.   Statements of Changes in Net Assets, Years Ended December 31, 1997 and
          1996;
    
     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, 1997 and 1996;

     2.   Statutory Statements of Operations, Years Ended December 31, 1997, 
          1996 and 1995;

     3.   Statutory Statements of Changes in Capital Stock and Surplus, Years 
          Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995;

     4.   Statutory Statements of Cash Flow, Years Ended December 31, 1997, 
          1996 and 1995;
    
     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*;
    
     (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)  Form of Marketing Coordination and Administrative Services 
Agreement between the depositor, Massachusetts Financial Services Company and 
Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc.**;

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

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

          (b)(iii) Specimen General Agent Agreement**;

     (4)  Flexible Payment Deferred Combination Variable and Fixed Annuity
Contract***;

     (5)  Not Applicable;

     (6)  Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the depositor*;
    
     (7)  Not Applicable;

     (8)  None;
   
     (9)  Previously filed;

     (10) Consent of Deloitte & Touche***;
    

<PAGE>

     (11) None; 

     (12) Not Applicable; 

     (13) Not Applicable;
   
     (14) Not Applicable; and

     (15) Powers of Attorney***.


  * Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement of the 
Registrant on Form N-4, File No. 333-37907, filed on October 14, 1997.

 ** Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the 
Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form N-4, File No. 333-37907,
filed on January 16, 1998.

*** 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                                  Director
56 Pinckney Street                             
Boston, MA  02114                              
    
John S. Lane                                   Director
150 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
  Canada  M5H 1J9

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

   
    

M. Colyer Crum                                 Director
104 Westcliff Road
Weston, MA 02193

Angus A. MacNaughton                           Director
Metro Tower, Suite 1170
950 Tower Lane
Foster City, CA  94404-2121
   
S. Caesar Raboy                                Senior Vice President,
One Sun Life Executive Park                    Deputy General Manager and 
Wellesley Hills, MA 02181                      Director

Robert A. Bonner                               Vice President, Individual
One Sun Life Executive Park                    Insurance
Wellesley Hills, MA  02181

James M.A. Anderson                            Vice President, Investments
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, MA  02181
    

<PAGE>


Name and Principal                             Positions and Offices
Business Address                               with Depositor        
- ------------------                             ---------------------
   
C. James Prieur                                Senior Vice President, 
One Sun Life Executive Park                    General Manager and Director
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.),
an indirect 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>

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Percent of
                                                State or Country  Ownership
                                                or Jurisdiction   of Voting
                                                of Incorporation  Securities
                                                ----------------  ----------
<S>                                             <C>               <C>
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada            Canada                100%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada -- 
  U.S. Operations Holdings, Inc. ...........    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 of Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc. ...    Delaware                0%*
Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Financial
  Services Holdings, Inc. ..................    Delaware                0%*
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada 
  (U.S.) ...................................    Delaware                0%**
Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of
  New York .................................    New York                0%****
Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Distributors, 
  Inc. .....................................    Delaware                0%****
Sun Benefit Services Company, Inc. .........    Delaware                0%****
Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) SPE 97-1, 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%****
</TABLE>
- --------------------
     * 100% of the issued and outstanding voting securities of Sun Life of 
       Canada (U.S.) Holdings, Inc. and Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Financial 
       Services Holdings, Inc. is owned by Sun Life Assurance Company of 
       Canada -- U.S. Operations Holdings, Inc.
    ** 100% of the issued and outstanding voting securities of Sun Life 
       Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) is owned by Sun Life of Canada 
       (U.S.) Holdings, Inc.
   *** 93.6% of the issued and outstanding voting securities of Massachusetts  
       Financial Services Company is owned by Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) 
       Financial Services Holdings, Inc.
  **** 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 
       Life of Canada (U.S) Distributors, Inc., Sun Benefit Services Company,
       Inc., Sun Capital Advisers, Inc., Sun Life Financial Services Limited,
       Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) SPE 97-1, Inc., Clarendon Insurance Agency,
       Inc., and Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company is owned by Sun Life
       Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.).
 ***** 100% of the issued and outstanding voting securities of MFS Service 
       Center, Inc., MFS International, Ltd., MFS Institutional Advisers, Inc.,
       MFS Fund Distributors, Inc., and MFS Retirement Services, Inc. is owned
       by Massachusetts Financial Services Company.
****** 100% of the issued and outstanding voting securities of MFS/Sun Life
       Series Trust is 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 of Canada 
(U.S.).
    
Item 27.  NUMBER OF CONTRACT OWNERS:
   
     As of February 27, 1998 there were 5,302 Contracts, 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 of Canada (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 of Canada (U.S.) 
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, controlling person of Sun 
Life of Canada (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 of Canada (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 Sun Life of Canada (U.S.), acts as general distributor for the Registrant, 
Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Accounts D, E, F, and G, 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>

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Name and Principal                 Positions and Offices
Business Address*                  with Underwriter
- ------------------                 ---------------------
<S>                                <C>
Jane Mancini.....................  President and Director
Robert P. Vrolyk.................  Director
Donald E. Kaufman................  Vice President
S. Caesar Raboy..................  Director
C. James Prieur..................  Director
L. Brock Thompson................  Vice President and Treasurer
Roy P. Creedon...................  Secretary
Cindy Orcutt.....................  Vice President
Laurie Lennox....................  Vice President
Margaret Sears Mead..............  Assistant Secretary
Peter Marion.....................  Tax Officer
</TABLE>
- --------------------
 *   The principal business address of all directors and officers of the
     principal underwriter except Ms. Mancini and Ms. Lennox is One Sun Life
     Executive Park, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181. The principal 
     business address of Ms. Mancini and Ms. Lennox is One Copley Place, Boston,
     Massachusetts 02116.
    
     (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 and at the offices of its Retirement 
Products and Services Division at One Copley Place, 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 Contracts, 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 City of Boston
and Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 14th day of April, 1998.
    
                                               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/ MARGARET HANKARD
                ----------------------------
                    Margaret Hankard
                    Senior Associate Counsel
    
       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, 1998


*  /s/  ROBERT P. VROLYK        Vice President and Actuary
- ----------------------------     (Principal Financial &
    Robert P. Vrolyk             Accounting Officer)         April 14, 1998


- --------------------------
*   By Margaret Hankard pursuant to Power of Attorney filed herewith.
    

<PAGE>

   
      Signatures                        Title                    Date
      ----------                        ------                   ----

   /s/ DONALD A. STEWART           President and             April 14, 1998
- ----------------------------       Director
       Donald A. Stewart


* /s/ RICHARD B. BAILEY           Director                   April 14, 1998
- ----------------------------
      Richard B. Bailey


* /s/ DAVID D. HORN               Director                   April 14, 1998
- ----------------------------                                 
      David D. Horn


* /s/ JOHN S. LANE                Director                   April 14, 1998
- ----------------------------
      John S. Lane


* /s/ ANGUS A. MacNAUGHTON        Director                   April 14, 1998
- ----------------------------
      Angus A. MacNaughton


* /s/ M. COLYER CRUM              Director                   April 14, 1998
- ----------------------------
      M. Colyer Crum


* /s/ S. CAESAR RABOY             Senior Vice President      April 14, 1998
- ----------------------------       and Deputy General 
      S. Caesar Raboy              Manager and Director

* /s/ C. JAMES PRIEUR             Senior Vice President      April 14, 1998
- ---------------------------        General Manager and 
      C. James Prieur              Director

- --------------------------
*   By Margaret Hankard pursuant to Power of Attorney filed herewith.
    


<PAGE>

SunLife
OF CANADA (U.S.)

                              Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)
                              A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance 
                               Company of Canada

Executive Office:       Home Office:            Annuity Service Mailing Address:
One Sun Life            Wilmington, Delaware    Sun Life Annuity Service Center 
 Executive Park                                 P.O. Box 1024                   
Wellesley Hills,                                Boston, Massachusetts 02103     
 Massachusetts 02181                            

                                 C [LOGO] MPASS-1

      Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) (the "Company") will pay an
annuity commencing on the Annuity Commencement Date to the Annuitant if then
living, by applying the adjusted value of the Accumulation Account of the
Contract in accordance with the Settlement Provisions. If the Annuitant dies
while the Contract is in effect and before the Annuity Commencement Date, the
Company will pay a death benefit to the Beneficiary upon receipt of due proof of
death of the Annuitant.
    
      All payments will be made to the persons and in the manner set forth in
this Contract. Provisions and endorsements printed or written by the Company on
the following pages form part of the Contract.
    
      Signed by the Company at its Executive Office, Wellesley Hills,
Massachusetts on the Issue Date.


/s/ Donald A. Stewart                             /s/ Margaret Sears Mead
Donald A. Stewart                                 Margaret Sears Mead    
President                                         Secretary              


   Flexible Payment Deferred Combination Variable and Fixed Annuity Contract
                                Nonparticipating

    ALL PAYMENTS AND VALUES PROVIDED BY THIS CONTRACT WHEN BASED ON THE
                           INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
  0F A VARIABLE ACCOUNT ARE VARIABLE AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED AS TO DOLLAR AMOUNT
 
USE OF CONTRACT. This Contract is available for retirement and deferred
compensation plans which may qualify for special tax treatment under Internal
Revenue Code Sections 401 and 457. 

RIGHT TO RETURN CONTRACT. Please read this Contract. If not satisfied with 
it, the Owner may, within 10 days after its receipt, return it by delivering 
or mailing it to the Annuity Service Mailing Address indicated above. 
Immediately upon receipt of the Contract by the Company, the Contract will be 
deemed void as though it had never been applied for, and the Purchase 
Payment(s) paid will be refunded to the Owner.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
If is not necessary to employ any person to collect any payment or benefit
provided by this Contract. When you require help or advice, write directly to
the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address. This Contract contains many
benefits. In your own best interest you should consult the Company if anyone
advises you to surrender this Contract or to replace it with a new contract.


VA82Q-MFS-1
<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                         Page
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Specifications                                                   4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Definitions                                                                5
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed and Variable Accounts                                                6
   Fixed Account                                                           6
   Variable Account and Sub-Accounts                                       6
   Ownership of Assets                                                     7
   Investments of the Sub-Accounts                                         7
   Substitution                                                            7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase Payments                                                          7
   Payments                                                                7
   Amount                                                                  7
   Contract Continuation                                                   7
   Net Purchase Payments and their Allocation                              8   
   Limitations on Allocations to Fixed Account                             8   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Values During Accumulation Period                                 8  
   Accumulation Account                                                    8   
   Crediting Variable Accumulation Units                                   8   
   Variable Accumulation Unit Value                                        8   
   Variable Accumulation Value                                             9   
   Net Investment Factor                                                   9   
   Crediting Fixed Accumulation Units                                      9   
   Fixed Accumulation Unit Value                                           9   
   Fixed Accumulation Value                                                10  
   Conversion of Accumulation Units                                        10  
   Contract Maintenance Charge                                             10  
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Withdrawals and Withdrawal Charges                                    10  
   Cash Withdrawals                                                        10  
   Withdrawal Charges                                                      11 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Death Benefit                                                              12  
   Death Benefit Provided by the Contract                                  12  
   Election and Effective Date of Election                                 12  
   Payment of Death Benefit                                                12  
   Amount of Death Benefit                                                 13  
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Settlement Provisions                                                     13 
   General                                                                 13  
   Election and Effective Date of Election                                 13  
   Determination of Amount                                                 14  
   Effect of Annuity Commencement Date on Accumulation Account             14 
                                                                           


                                       2
<PAGE>

                         TABLE OF CONTENTS--(Continued)

                                                                           Page
Settlement Provisions (cont.)
    Annuity Commencement Date                                               14 
    Fixed Annuity                                                           14  
    Variable Annuity                                                        14  
    Annuity Unit Value                                                      15  
    Exchange of Annuity Units                                               15  
    Contract Maintenance Charge                                             15  
    Description of Annuity Options                                          15  
    Amounts Payable on Death of Payee                                       16  
    Annuity Payment Rates                                                   16 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ownership Provisions                                                        18 
    Owner                                                                   18  
    Change of Ownership                                                     18  
    Voting of Fund Shares                                                   18  
    Periodic Reports                                                        19  
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficiary Provision                                                       19  
    Designation and Change of Beneficiaries                                 19 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Provisions                                                          19  
    Age and Sex                                                             19  
    Contract                                                                19  
    Currency                                                                19 
    Determination of Values                                                 20  
    Guarantees                                                              20  
    Incontestability                                                        20  
    Modification                                                            20  
    Nonparticipating                                                        20  
    Payments by the Company                                                 20  
    Proof of Age                                                            20  
    Proof of Survival                                                       20  
    Splitting Units                                                         20  
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                       3
<PAGE>
                                                                               
                                 DEFINITIONS

      ACCUMULATION ACCOUNT: An account established for the Contract to which Net
Purchase Payments are credited in the form of Accumulation Units.

      ACCUMULATION PERIOD: The period before the Annuity Commencement Date and
during the lifetime of the Annuitant.

      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 Application and on whose
life the first annuity payment is to be made. If more than one person is so
named, due to the Owner's designation of a "Co-Annuitant", all provisions of the
Contract which are based on the death of the "Annuitant" will be based on the
date of death of the last survivor of the persons so named. By example, the
death benefit of the Contract will become due only upon the death, prior to the
Annuity Commencement Date, of the last survivor of the persons so named.
Collectively, these persons are referred to in this Contract as "Annuitants."
Each Annuitant is as specified in the Application, unless changed.

      ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE: The date on which the first annuity payment is
to be made. It is the date specified in the Application, unless changed.

    ANNUITY  OPTION:  The method for making  annuity  payments.  The  Annuity
Option is specified in the Application, unless changed.

    ANNUITY  UNIT:  A unit of measure used in the  calculation  of the amount
of  the  second  and  each  subsequent  variable  annuity  payment  from  the
Variable Account.

    BENEFICIARY:  The  person  who has the  right to the  death  benefit  set
forth in the  Contract.  The  Beneficiary  is specified  in the  Application,
unless changed.

      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 Issue
Date to the first day of the calendar month which follows the calendar month of
issue. All Contract Years and Anniversaries thereafter shall be twelve (12)
month periods based upon such first day of the calendar month which follows the
calendar month of issue. If, by example, the Issue Date of this Contract is in
March, the first Contract Year will be determined from the Issue Date but will
end on the last day of March in the following year; all other Contract Years and
all Contract Anniversaries will be measured from April 1.

      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 a separate account of the Company.

      FIXED ANNUITY: An annuity with payments which do not vary as to dollar
amount.

      INITIAL ANNUAL INTEREST RATE PERCENTAGE: The annual rate of increase,
during the first Contract Year, of Fixed Accumulation Unit Values.

      ISSUE DATE: The date on which the Contract becomes effective.

      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, Section 408 (excluding Section 408(b)), or Section
457 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Owner is specified in the Application,
unless changed.

      PAYEE: The recipient of annuity payments under the Contract. The term
includes an Annuitant or a Beneficiary who becomes entitled to benefits upon the
death of the Annuitant.

 
                                       5
<PAGE>

      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.

      SUCCESSOR BENEFICIARY: The person or persons named to become the
Beneficiary if the Beneficiary is not alive. The Successor Beneficiary is
specified in the Application, unless changed.

      SUCCESSOR OWNER: The person, persons or entity named to become the 
Owner if the Owner dies prior to the Annuity Commencement Date. The Owner's 
right to name a Successor Owner may be restricted under the provisions of the 
retirement or deferred compensation plan for which this Contract is issued. 
The Successor Owner is specified in the Application, unless changed.

      VALUATION PERIOD: The period of time from one determination of 
Accumulation Unit and Annuity Unit values to the next subsequent 
determination of these values. Such determination shall be made as of the 
close of the New York Stock Exchange on each day the Exchange is open for 
trading.

      VARIABLE ACCOUNT: A separate account of the Company described in this 
Contract consisting of assets set aside by the Company, the investment 
performance of which is kept separate from that of the general assets of the 
Company.

      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.

                         FIXED AND VARIABLE ACCOUNTS

Fixed Account

      The Fixed Account consists of all assets of the Company other than those
allocated to any separate account of the Company.

Variable Account and Sub-Accounts

      The Variable Account to which the variable accumulation values and
variable annuity payments, if any, under this Contract relate is entitled "Sun
Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C". It was established by the Company on
March 31, 1982 pursuant to a resolution of its Board of Directors and is
registered as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
That portion of the assets of the Variable Account equal to the reserves and
other contract liabilities with respect to the Variable Account shall not be
chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business the Company may
conduct.

      The assets of the Variable Account are divided into Sub-Accounts. Each
Sub-Account invests in shares of a specific mutual fund. The values of the
Variable Accumulation Units and the Annuity Units described in this Contract
reflect the investment performance of the Sub-Accounts.

      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 mutual 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. In the event of any change in the operation of the
Variable Account pursuant to this provision, the Company may make appropriate
endorsement in this and other contracts providing benefits which vary in
accordance with the investment performance of Sub-Accounts to reflect the change
and take such other action as may be necessary and appropriate to effect the
change.


                                       6
<PAGE>

Ownership of Assets

      The Company shall have exclusive and absolute ownership and control of its
assets, including all assets of the Sub-Accounts.

Investments of the Sub-Accounts

      Any amounts allocated to a Sub-Account will be used to purchase shares of
a mutual fund ("Fund") as specified on the Application or as subsequently
changed, at the net asset value next computed following receipt by the Company
of the Purchase Payment to which the particular amount allocated is
attributable. The Funds available on the Issue Date are shown on the Contract
Specifications Page; more Funds may be subsequently added. The Funds are
open-end investment companies or "mutual funds" registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Any and all distributions made by a Fund with respect to
the Fund shares held by a Sub-Account will be reinvested to purchase additional
shares of that Fund at net asset value. Deductions from the Sub-Accounts will,
in effect, be made by redeeming a number of Fund shares at net asset value equal
in total value to the amount to be deducted. The Sub-Accounts will be fully
invested at all times.

Substitution

      Shares of any of the Funds may not always be available for purchase by the
Sub-Accounts 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
Sub-Account and/or as the security to be purchased in the future, provided that
any such substitution has been approved by the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In the event of any substitution pursuant to this provision, the
Company may make appropriate endorsement in this and other contracts providing
benefits which vary in accordance with the investment performance of the
Sub-Account to reflect the substitution.


                             PURCHASE PAYMENTS

Payments

      All Purchase Payments are to be paid to the Company at its Annuity Service
Mailing Address. Purchase Payments may be made at any time during the life of
the Annuitant and before the Annuity Commencement Date.

Amount

      The Initial Purchase Payment is shown on the Contract Specifications Page.
Subsequent Payments may vary. Each Purchase Payment must be at least $25. The
Company will not accept Purchase Payments which, on an annualized basis, are
less than $300 for the first Contract Year. In addition, the Company will not
accept a Purchase Payment which would cause the value of the Accumulation
Account to exceed $1,000,000; if the value of an Accumulation Account exceeds
$1,000,000, Purchase Payments will not be accepted.

Contract Continuation

      The Contract shall automatically be continued in full force during the
lifetime of the Annuitant until the Annuity Commencement Date or until it is
surrendered. The Contract will not be in default, even if no additional Purchase
Payments are made.


                                       7
<PAGE>

Net Purchase Payments and Their Allocation

      The Net Purchase Payment is that portion of a Purchase Payment which
remains after deduction of any applicable premium or similar tax. Each Net
Purchase Payment will be allocated, upon receipt by the Company at its Annuity
Service Mailing Address, either to Sub-Accounts or to the Fixed Account or to
both Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account in accordance with the allocation
factors specified in the Application or as subsequently changed.

      The allocation factors for Net Purchase Payments between the Fixed Account
and the Variable Account and among the Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account may
be changed by the Owner at any time by giving written notice of the change to
the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address. Any change will take effect
with the first Purchase Payment received with or after the receipt of the notice
of the change by the Company and will continue in effect until subsequently
changed.

Limitations on Allocations to Fixed Account

      The amount of Net Purchase Payments which can be allocated to the Fixed
Account in any Contract Year may not exceed $50,000. This limit will be reduced
by the amount of all conversions (as described below in the section entitled
"Conversion of Accumulation Units") from the Variable Account to the Fixed
Account in the same Contract Year. In addition, the amount of Net Purchase
Payments allocated to the Fixed Account in any Contract Year may not exceed
seven (7) times the total of Net Purchase Payments which were allocated to the
Fixed Account during the first sixty (60) days of that Contract Year.

      If the limits described in the previous paragraph are reached during a
Contract Year then no additional allocations or conversions to the Fixed Account
will be accepted in that Contract Year and, unless instructions to the contrary
are received from the Owner, the Company will, temporarily for the balance of
the Contract Year, allocate any Net Purchase Payments which would otherwise have
been allocated to the Fixed Account to a Sub-Account of the Variable Account
which invests only in shares of a mutual fund which invests exclusively in
short-term securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or agencies or
instrumentalities of the U.S. government.


                   CONTRACT VALUES DURING ACCUMULATION PERIOD

Accumulation Account

      The Company will establish an Accumulation Account for the Contract and
will maintain the Accumulation Account during the Accumulation Period. The
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.

Crediting Variable Accumulation Units

      Upon receipt of a Purchase Payment by the Company at its Annuity Service
Mailing Address, all or that portion, if any, of the Net Purchase Payment which
is allocated to 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 by the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing
Address.

Variable Accumulation Unit Value

      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-


                                       8
<PAGE>

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 the value determined as of the end of the particular Valuation Period and may
increase, decrease or remain constant from Valuation Period to Valuation Period.

Variable Accumulation Value

      The Variable Accumulation Value of the Contract, if any, for any Valuation
Period is equal to the sum of the value of all Variable Accumulation Units
credited to the Accumulation Account for such Valuation Period.

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 Unit may increase, decrease or remain the same.

      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 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;

            (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.

      The risk charge factor for any Valuation Period is equal to the daily risk
charge factor multiplied by the number of 24 hour periods in the Valuation
Period. The daily risk charge factor will be determined by the Company annually,
but in no event may it exceed the Maximum Daily Risk Charge Factor specified on
the Contract Specifications Page.


Crediting Fixed Accumulation Units

      Upon receipt of a Purchase Payment by the Company at its Annuity Service
Mailing Address, all or that portion, if any, of the Net Purchase Payment which
is allocated to the Fixed Account 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 at
its Annuity Service Mailing Address.

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 Issue Date occurs, and will
increase for each successive Valuation Period as interest is accrued. All
contracts whose Issue Dates occur in the same calendar month and which are
issued 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 their first Contract Year.


                                       9
<PAGE>

      At the first Contract Anniversary, the Fixed Accumulation Units credited
to the 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 rate at which interest accrues to the Fixed Accumulation Value of the
Contract will be determined by the Company, at its discretion, before the
beginning of each Contract Year; however, this rate will not be less than 40%
per annum compounded annually. Once set, the rate applicable to the Contract may
not be changed by the Company 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 period.

Fixed Accumulation Value

      The Fixed Accumulation Value of the 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.

Conversion of Accumulation Units

      During the Accumulation Period the Owner may, upon written request
received by the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address, convert the
value of a designated number of Fixed Accumulation Units then credited to the
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 then credited to the Accumulation Account into other
Variable Accumulation Units and/or Fixed Accumulation Units having an equal
aggregate value. These conversions shall, however, be subject to the following
conditions: (1) conversions involving Fixed Accumulation Units may be made only
during the forty-five (45) day period before and the forty-five (45) day period
after each Contract Anniversary; (2) not more than eight (8) 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 Variable
Accumulation Units credited to the Accumulation Account are being converted. Any
conversion shall be made using the Accumulation Unit Values for the Valuation
Period during which the request for conversion is received by the Company at its
Annuity Service Mailing Address.

Contract Maintenance Charge

      Prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, at the end of each Contract Year,
the Company will deduct from the value of the Accumulation Account a contract
maintenance charge of $25 to reimburse it for administrative expenses relating
to the Contract, the Fixed Account, the Variable Account and the Sub-Accounts.
The contract maintenance charge will be deducted in equal portions from the
Fixed Account and each Sub-Account in which the Owner has Accumulation Units on
the Contract Anniversary. If the Contract is surrendered for the full value of
the Accumulation Account on other than the Contract Anniversary, the contract
maintenance charge will be deducted at the time of such surrender.


                     CASH WITHDRAWALS AND WITHDRAWAL CHARGES

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 by filing with the Company a written election in such form as the
Company may require. Any such election shall specify the amount of the cash
withdrawal payment and will be effective on the date that it is received by the
Company at its


                                       10
<PAGE>

Annuity Service Mailing Address. For withdrawals in excess of $5,000, the
signature(s) of the Owner(s) must 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. In some cases (for example, requests by a corporation,
partnership, agent, fiduciary, or surviving joint owner), the Company will
require additional documentation of a customary nature.

      The amount of the cash withdrawal payment may be equal to the total value
of the Accumulation Account at the end of the Valuation Period during which the
election becomes effective less the contract maintenance charge and any
withdrawal charge which applies (a full "surrender"), or it may be for a lesser
amount (a "partial withdrawal"). 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.

      The cash withdrawal payment shall result in a 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 in the same proportion that
the total value of Fixed Accumulation Units and Variable Accumulation Units then
credited to the Accumulation Account bear to the value of the Accumulation
Account at the end of the Valuation Period during which the election becomes
effective. Any cash withdrawal payment will be paid within seven (7) 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.

Withdrawal Charges

      If a cash withdrawal payment is made, a withdrawal charge may be assessed
by the Company. The amount of any withdrawal charge is determined as follows:

            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.

            Order of liquidation: For purposes of 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.

            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.

            Amount subject to withdrawal charge: On a particular partial
      withdrawal or full surrender, the amount subject to a withdrawal charge
      will be the excess, if any, of (a) amounts liquidated from old and new
      Payments (as specified in the "order of liquidation" section above) over
      (b) the remaining maximum free withdrawal amount at the time of the
      partial withdrawal or surrender.

            Amount of withdrawal charge: The amount of the withdrawal charge is
      equal to (a) minus (b) where (a) is the amount subject to withdrawal
      charge, if any, divided by 0.95, and (b) is the amount subject to
      withdrawal charge, if any.


                                       11
<PAGE>

                               DEATH BENEFIT

Death Benefit Provided by the Contract

      If the Annuitant dies while this Contract is in effect and before the
Annuity Commencement Date, the Company, upon receipt of due proof of death of
the Annuitant, will pay a death benefit to the Beneficiary in accordance with
this "Death Benefit" provision. If there is no designated Beneficiary living on
the date of death of the Annuitant, the Company will pay the death benefit upon
receipt of due proof of the death of both the Annuitant and the designated
Beneficiary in one sum to the Owner, or, if the Annuitant was the Owner, to the
estate of the Owner/Annuitant. 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 form of annuity elected.

Election and Effective Date of Election

      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 of the Annuity Options in accordance with the Settlement
Provisions 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. This
election may be made or subsequently revoked by filing with the Company a
written election or revocation of an election in such form as the Company may
require. Any written election or revocation of an election of a method of
settlement of the death benefit by the Owner will become effective on the date
it is received by the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address. 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 in which event the
Accumulation Account will be cancelled, or (b) to have the value of the
Accumulation Account applied under one or more of the Annuity Options in
accordance with the Settlement Provisions to effect, on the Annuity Commencement
Date determined in the section "Payment of Death Benefit" below, a Variable
Annuity or a Fixed Annuity or a combination of both for the Beneficiary as
payee. This election may be made by filing with the Company a written election
in such form as the Company may require. Any written election of a method of
settlement of the death benefit by the Beneficiary will become effective on the
later of: (a) the date the election is received by the Company at its Annuity
Service Mailing Address; or (b) the date due proof of the death of the Annuitant
and any required release or consent from any inheritance taxing authority is
received by the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address. If a written
election by the Beneficiary is not received by the Company within sixty (60)
days following the date due proof of the death of the Annuitant and any required
release or consent from any inheritance taxing authority is received by the
Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address, the Beneficiary shall be deemed
to have elected a cash payment as of the last day of the sixty (60) day period.

Payment of Death Benefit

      If the death benefit is to be paid in cash to the Beneficiary, payment
will be made within seven (7) 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. 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 (7) days of the date due proof of
the death of the Annuitant and the designated Beneficiary, is received by the
Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address. 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 the date due proof
of the death of the Annuitant and the Beneficiary, if any, is received by the
Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address. If settlement under one or more
of the Annuity Options is elected by the Beneficiary, the Annuity Commencement
Date will be the first day of the second calendar month following the effective
date of the election. The Owner or Beneficiary, as applicable, may elect an
Annuity


                                       12
<PAGE>

Commencement Date later than that specified above provided that such date is (a)
the first day of a calendar month and (b) not later than the first month
following the 85th birthday of the Beneficiary or other Payee designated by the
Owner, as the case may be. If a later Annuity Commencement Date has been elected
and the Owner or Beneficiary dies before this later Annuity Commencement Date,
the Contract's accumulated value will be paid in cash to the estate or
beneficiary, as appropriate, of the individual making the election.

Amount of Death Benefit

      The death benefit is equal to the greater of (a) the Contract's
Accumulation Account value or (b) the sum of all Purchase Payments made under
the Contract less the sum of all cash withdrawal payments. If (b) is operative,
the Accumulation Account value will be increased by the excess of (b) over (a)
and the amount of the increase will be allocated to the Fixed Account and the
Sub-Account based on the respective values of the Fixed Account and the
Sub-Accounts on the date the amount of the death benefit is determined.

      The Accumulation Unit Values used in determining the amount of the death
benefit will be those for the Valuation Period during which due proof of the
death of the Annuitant is received by the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing
Address 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 either becomes
effective or is deemed effective, or the values for the Valuation Period during
which due proof of the death of both the Annuitant and the designated
Beneficiary is received by the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address if
the amount of the death benefit is to be paid in one sum to the deceased
Owner/Annuitant's estate.


                           SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS

General

      On the Annuity Commencement Date, the adjusted value of the Accumulation
Account as determined in accordance with the "Determination of Amount" provision
will be applied, as specified by the Owner, under one or more of the Annuity
Options provided in the Contract or under such other settlement options as may
be agreed to by the Company.

Election and Effective Date of Election

      During the lifetime of the Annuitant and prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the Owner may elect to have the adjusted value of the Accumulation Account
applied on the Annuity Commencement Date under one or more of the Annuity
Options provided in the Contract; if more than one person is named as Annuitant,
due to the Owner's designation of a "Co-Annuitant", the Owner may elect to name
one of such persons to be the sole Annuitant as of the Annuity Commencement
Date. The Owner may also change any election but any election or change of
election must be effective at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annuity
Commencement Date. This election or change of election may be made by filing
with the Company a written election or change of election in such form as the
Company may require. Any such election or change of election will become
effective on the date it is received by the Company at its Annuity Service
Mailing Address. If no such election is in effect on the 30th day prior to the
Annuity Commencement Date, the adjusted value of the Accumulation Account will
be applied under Annuity Option B, for a Life Annuity with 120 monthly payments
certain. If there is no election of a sole Annuitant in effect on the 30th day
prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, the person who the Owner has designated
as Co-Annuitant will be the payee under the applicable Annuity Option.

      Any such election may specify the proportion of the adjusted value of the
Accumulation Account to be applied to the Fixed Account and the various
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 various Sub-Accounts will be determined on a pro rata basis from
the composition of the Accumulation Account on the Annuity Commencement Date.


                                       13
<PAGE>

      The Annuity Options in the Contract may also be elected by the Owner or
the Beneficiary as provided in the section of the Contract entitled "Death
Benefit".

Determination of Amount

      The adjusted value of the Accumulation Account of the Contract to be
applied to provide a Variable Annuity or a Fixed Annuity or a combination of
both, shall be equal to the value of the Accumulation Account for the Valuation
Period which ends immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement Date, minus the
sum of any applicable premium or similar tax 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.


Effect of Annuity Commencement Date on Accumulation Account

      On the Annuity Commencement Date the Accumulation Account of this Contract
will be cancelled.

Annuity Commencement Date

      The Annuity Commencement Date is set forth on the Contract Specifications
Page. This date may be changed from time to time by the Owner provided that each
change is effective at least thirty (30) days prior to the then current Annuity
Commencement Date and the new Annuity Commencement Date is a date which is: (1)
at least thirty (30) days after the effective date of the change; (2) the first
day of a month; and (3) not later than the first day of the first month
following the Annuitant's 85th birthday. Any change of the Annuity Commencement
Date may be made by filing with the Company a written designation of a new
Annuity Commencement Date in such form as the Company may require. Any such
change will become effective on the date the designation is received by the
Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address.

      The Annuity Commencement Date may also be changed by an election of a
settlement option as provided in the section of the Contract entitled "Death
Benefit".

Fixed Annuity

      The dollar amount of each fixed annuity payment shall be determined in
accordance with the Annuity Payment Rates found in the Contract which are based
on the 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.

Variable Annuity

      The dollar amount of the first variable annuity payment shall 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 pursuant to the "Exchange of Annuity
Units" section. 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.


                                       14
<PAGE>

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 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 this Contract. The factor
is 0.99989255 for a one day Valuation Period.

Exchange of Annuity Units

      After the Annuity Commencement Date the Payee may, by filing a written
request with the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address, exchange the
value of a designated number of Variable Annuity Units of particular
Sub-Accounts then credited to the Contract into 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 exchange. These exchanges
shall, however, be subject to the following conditions: (1) not more than four
(4) exchanges may be made within each Contract Year; and (2) the value of the
Annuity Units exchanged must affect at least $25 of monthly annuity payment at
the time of the exchange.

      Exchanges may be made within the Variable Account only. Exchanges shall be
made using the Annuity Unit Values for the Valuation Period during which the
request for exchange is received by the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing
Address.

Contract Maintenance Charge

      After the Annuity Commencement Date, a contract maintenance charge
amounting to $25 on an annual basis will be deducted pro rata from each annuity
payment made during the year to reimburse the Company for administrative
expenses relating to the Contract, the Fixed Account, the Variable Account and
the Sub-Accounts.

Description of Annuity Options

      Annuity Options A, B and C are available on either a fixed annuity or a
variable annuity basis. Annuity Options D and E are available on a fixed annuity
basis only.

      Annuity Option A. Life Annuity: Monthly payments during the lifetime of
the Payee.

      Annuity Option B. Life Annuity with 120 or 240 Monthly Payments Certain:
Monthly payments during the lifetime of the Payee and in any event for one
hundred twenty (120) or two hundred forty (240) months certain as elected.

      Annuity Option C. Joint and Two-Thirds 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 two-thirds of the
number of each type of Annuity Unit credited to the Contract and each fixed
monthly payment, if any, will be equal to two-thirds of a 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 any specified period of time, three (3) years or more but
not exceeding thirty (30) years as elected.

      Annuity Option E. Fixed Payments: The amount applied to provide fixed
payments in accordance with this Annuity 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. The final payment will be for the balance
remaining and may be less than the amount of each preceding payment. 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


                                       15
<PAGE>

not be less than 4% per year compounded annually. The rate so determined may be
changed at any time and as often as may be determined by the Company, provided,
however, that the rate may not be reduced more frequently than once during each
calendar year.

Amounts Payable on Death of Payee

      In the event of the death of the Annuitant on or after the Annuity
Commencement Date, the Company will pay the Beneficiary any remaining payments
under any Annuity Option then in effect as they become due. If there is no
designated Beneficiary then living, the Company will pay the amount specified in
the Schedule below for any Annuity Option then in effect in one sum to the
deceased Annuitant's estate. Any Beneficiary who becomes entitled to any
remaining payments under any Annuity Option may elect to receive the amount
specified in the Schedule below for such Option in one sum. In the event of the
death of a Beneficiary who has become entitled to receive any remaining payments
under any Annuity Option, the Company will pay the amount specified for such
Option in the Schedule below in one sum to the deceased Beneficiary's estate.
All payments made in one sum by the Company as provided in this paragraph are
made in lieu of paying any remaining payments under any Annuity Option then in
effect.

     Option   Amount
     ------   ------

        B      The discounted value of the remaining payments, if any, for the
               certain period.
        D      The discounted value of the remaining payments, if any, for the
               certain period. 
        E      The unpaid balance of the proceeds and interest.

      In the case of Option B the discounted value will be based, for payments
being made on a variable basis, on interest compounded annually at the assumed
interest rate, and for payments being made on a fixed basis, at the interest
rate initially used in determining the amount of each payment. For Variable
Annuity payments this calculation will also be based on the assumptions that the
particular Annuity Unit Values applicable to the remaining payments will be the
particular Annuity Unit Values for the Valuation Period which ends on the day
before the date of the determination and that this value will remain unchanged
thereafter. In the case of Option D the discounted value will be based on the
interest rate initially used in determining the amount of each payment.

Annuity Payment Rates

      The Annuity Payment Rates below show, for each $1,000 applied, the dollar
amount of both (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 mortality table used in determining the Annuity Payment Rates for
Options A, B and C is the 1971 Individual Annuitant Mortality Table. In using
this mortality table, ages of Annuitants will be reduced by one year for Annuity
Commencement Dates occurring during the 1980's, reduced two years for Annuity
Commencement Dates occurring during the 1990's, and so on.

      The Annuity Payment Rates in the tables shown below already reflect rates
of mortality appropriate for Annuity Commencement Dates occurring during the
1980's. Thus, for Annuity Commencement Dates occurring during the 1980's the
term "Adjusted Age", as used in the table below, means actual age. "Adjusted
Age" shall mean actual age less one year for Annuity Commencement Dates
occurring during the 1990's, actual age less two years for Annuity Commencement
Dates occurring in the decade 2000-2009, and so on.

      Adjusted ages will be determined based on the actual age(s) of
Annuitant(s), in completed years and months, as of the Annuity Commencement
Date. The tables below show Annuity Payment Rates for exact Adjusted Ages; rates
for Adjusted Ages expressed in completed years and months will be based on
straight line interpolation between the appropriate Annuity Payment Rates.

      The dollar amount of annuity payment for any Adjusted Age or combination
of Adjusted Ages not shown below or for any other form of Annuity Option agreed
to by the Company will be quoted by the Company on request.


                                       16
<PAGE>

               AMOUNT OF FIRST MONTHLY ANNUITY PAYMENT PER $1,000
                               SINGLE LIFE ANNUITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

               OPTION A                               OPTION B              
             LIFE ANNUITY                LIFE ANNUITY WITH PAYMENTS CERTAIN 
                                                 
                                        120 PAYMENTS            120 PAYMENTS
Adjusted                             -------------------     ------------------
  <S>        <C>       <C>           <C>       <C>          <C>       <C>
    Age        Male      Female        Male      Female       Male      Female  
    20         3.72      3.62          3.71      3.61         3.71      3.61    
    25         3.82      3.70          3.82      3.69         3.80      3.69    
    30         3.96      3.80          3.95      3.79         3.93      3.78    
    35         4.13      3.93          4.12      3.92         4.08      3.91    
    40         4.35      4.09          4.33      4.08         4.26      4.06    
    45         4.63      4.31          4.60      4.29         4.48      4.24    
    50         5.00      4.59          4.93      4.56         4.73      4.47    
    55         5.47      4.96          5.34      4.91         5.01      4.75    
    60         6.06      5.45          5.84      5.35         5.30      5.07    
    65         6.87      6.11          6.48      5.93         5.59      5.41    
    70         8.01      7.08          7.26      6.71         5.81      5.71    
    75         9.67      8.57          8.14      7.68         5.95      5.90    
    80        12.12     10.86          9.01      8.69         6.00      5.98    
    85        15.84     14.43          9.67      9.45         6.00      6.00    
                                                                      

</TABLE>

                      JOINT AND TWO-THIRDS SURVIVOR ANNUITY

                                    OPTION C

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


     Adjusted Age                      Adjusted Age of Female
      of Male       ----------------------------------------------------------
      -------          55         60        65         70         75
      <S>            <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>
        55             4.95       5.19      5.45       5.75       6.10      
        60             5.15       5.43      5.74       6.11       6.53      
        65             5.37       5.69      6.07       6.52       7.04      
        70             5.61       5.98      6.43       6.99       7.65      
        75             5.87       6.30      6.82       7.50       8.35      
                                                                

</TABLE>

                  FIXED PAYMENT FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD CERTAIN
                                              
                                    OPTION D

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Years          Amount      Years     Amount     Years      Amount       
      <S>           <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>
        3             29.40       13        8.17        22        5.64     
        4             22.47       14        7.72        23        5.49     
        5             18.32       15        7.34        24        5.35     
        6             15.56       16        7.00        25        5.22     
        7             13.59       17        6.71        26        5.10     
        8             12.12       18        6.44        27        5.00     
        9             10.97       19        6.21        28        4.90     
       10             10.06       20        6.00        29        4.80     
       11              9.31       21        5.81        30        4.72     
       12              8.69                                          

</TABLE>

                                       17
<PAGE>

                            OWNERSHIP PROVISIONS

Owner

      The Contract shall belong to the Owner or 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 or any other person. Such rights and privileges may be exercised
only during the lifetime of the Annuitant except as otherwise provided in the
Contract.

Change of Ownership

      Ownership of the Contract may not be transferred except (1) to the
Annuitant, (2) to a trustee or successor trustee of a pension or profit sharing
trust which is qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, (3) to
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 law and regulation governing the retirement or
deferred compensation plans for which this 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 Company. A
change of ownership will not be binding upon the Company until it is received at
the Annuity Service Mailing Address. When it is so received, the change will be
effective as of the date on which the change was made, 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.

Voting of Fund Shares

      The Company will vote Fund shares held by the Sub-Accounts at regular and
special meetings of shareholders of the particular Fund, but will follow voting
instructions received at least one day prior to each such meeting 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 right.

      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 receiving or entitled to receive variable annuity payments is the person
having such right.

      Neither the Variable Account nor the Company is under any duty to inquire
as to the instructions received or the authority of Owners or others to instruct
the voting or particular Fund shares. Except as the Variable Account or the
Company has actual knowledge to the contrary, the instructions given by Owners
and Payees will be valid as they affect the Variable Account and the Company.

      All Fund proxy material together with an appropriate form to be used to
give voting instructions will be provided to each Owner and each Payee having
the right to give voting instructions at least ten (10) days prior to each
meeting of the shareholders of the particular Fund. 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 ninety (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 by the Owner is determined by dividing the value of all of the Variable
Accumulation Units of the particular Sub-Account credited to the Accumulation
Account of the Contract 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 the particular Fund share
as of the same date.


                                       18
<PAGE>

Periodic Reports

      The Company will send the Owner, or such other person having voting
rights, at least once during each Contract Year, a statement showing the number,
type and value of the Accumulation Units or Annuity Units credited to the
Contract, which statement shall be accurate as of a date not more than two (2)
months previous to the date of mailing. In addition, every person having voting
rights will receive such reports or prospectuses concerning the Variable Account
and the particular Funds as may be required by the Investment Company Act of
1940 and the Securities Act of 1933. The Company will also send such statements
reflecting transactions in the Accumulation Account as may be required by
applicable laws, rules and regulations.


                              BENEFICIARY PROVISION

Designation and Change of Beneficiaries

      The Beneficiary designation contained in the Application will remain in
effect until changed. The interest of any Beneficiary is subject to the
Beneficiary surviving the Annuitant.

      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 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 at the Annuity Service
Mailing Address. 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 but the change or revocation 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 or revocation.


                             GENERAL PROVISIONS

Age and Sex

      If any date of birth or sex, or both, have been misstated the amounts
payable pursuant to the Contract will be the amounts which would have been
provided using the correct age or sex, or both. Any deficiency in the payments
already made by the Company shall be paid immediately and any excess in the
payments already made by the Company shall be charged against the benefits
falling due after adjustment.

Contract

      The Contract is issued in consideration of the Application and payment of
the first Purchase Payment. The Contract and the Application, a copy of which is
attached, constitute the entire Contract. All statements made in the Application
will, in the absence of fraud, be deemed representations and not warranties, and
no statement will void the Contract or be used in defense to a claim under the
Contract unless it is contained in the Application and a copy of the Application
is attached at issue. Only the President, a Vice President, the Actuary or the
Secretary of the Company has authority to agree on behalf of the Company to any
alteration of the Contract or to any waiver of the rights or requirements of the
Company.

Currency

      All amounts due under the Contract are payable in United States Dollars,
lawful money of the United States of America.


                                       19
<PAGE>

Determination of Values

      The method of determination by the Company of the Net Investment Factor
and the number and value of Accumulation Units and Annuity Units shall be
conclusive upon the Owner, any Payee and any Beneficiary.

Guarantee

      Subject to the Net Investment Factor provision, the Company guarantees
that the dollar amount of Variable Annuity payments made during the lifetime of
the Payee(s) will not be adversely affected by the actual mortality experience
of the Company or by the actual expenses incurred by the Company in excess of
the expense deductions provided for in this and other Contracts providing
benefits which vary in accordance with the investment performance of the
Sub-Accounts.

Incontestability

      This Contract is incontestable.

Modification

      Upon notice to the Owner or the Payee(s) the Contract may be modified by
the Company, but only if such modification (i) is necessary to make the Contract
comply with any law or regulation issued by a governmental agency to which the
Contract 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 variable annuity contracts or (iii) is
necessary to reflect a change in the operation of the Variable Account or the
Sub-Accounts. In the event of any such modification, the Company may make
appropriate endorsement in this Contract to reflect the modification.

Nonparticipating

      The Contract is nonparticipating and will not share in any surplus
earnings of the Company.

Payments by the Company

      All sums payable by the Company pursuant to the Contract are payable only
at its Executive Office or such other place as may be designated by the Company.
The Company may require surrender of the Contract upon final payment of all sums
payable by the Company pursuant to the Contract.

Proof of Age

      The Company shall have the right to require evidence of the age of any
Payee under Annuity Options A, B and C prior to the Annuity Commencement Date.

Proof of Survival

      The Company shall have the right to require evidence of the survival of
any Payee under Annuity Options A, B and C at the time any payment payable to
such Payee is due.

Splitting Units

      The Company reserves the right to split or combine the value of the
Variable Accumulation Units, the Fixed Accumulation Units, the Annuity Units or
any of them. In effecting any such change of unit values, strict equity will be
preserved and any change will have no material effect on the benefits or other
provisions of this Contract.


                                       20
<PAGE>

[LOGO]
                                     Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)
               A Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada

Executive Office:       Home Office:            Annuity Service Mailing Address:
One Sun Life            Wilmington, Delaware    Sun Life Annuity Service Center 
 Executive Park                                 P.O. Box 1024                   
Wellesley Hills,                                Boston, Massachusetts 02103     
 Massachusetts 02181                                                            


    Flexible Payment Deferred Combination Variable and Fixed Annuity Contract
                  Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C
                                Nonparticipating


                   ALL PAYMENTS AND VALUES PROVIDED BY THIS CONTRACT
                 WHEN BASED ON THE INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE OF A VARIABLE
            ACCOUNT ARE VARIABLE AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED AS TO DOLLAR AMOUNT

  VA82Q.MFS-1

<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10


                      INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
   
     We consent to the use in this Post-effective Amendment No. 20 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 6, 1998 accompanying the 
financial statements of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C and our 
report dated February 5, 1998 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 16, 1998
    


<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that Robert P. Vrolyk, whose signature 
appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, Margaret Sears 
Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with 
the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign a 
Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments thereto, and to file the 
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming 
all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may 
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



                                     /s/ Robert P. Vrolyk
                                     -----------------------
                                         Robert P. Vrolyk


March 23, 1998

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that John D. McNeil, whose signature 
appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, Margaret Sears 
Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with 
the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign a 
Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments thereto, and to file the 
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming 
all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may 
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



                                     /s/ John D. McNeil
                                     -----------------------
                                         John D. McNeil


March 23, 1998

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that John S. Lane, whose signature 
appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, Margaret Sears 
Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with 
the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign a 
Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments thereto, and to file the 
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming 
all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may 
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



                                     /s/ John S. Lane
                                     -----------------------
                                         John S. Lane


March 23, 1998

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that Donald A. Stewart, whose signature 
appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, Margaret Sears 
Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with 
the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign a 
Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments thereto, and to file the 
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming 
all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may 
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                     /s/ Donald A. Stewart
                                     -----------------------
                                         Donald A. Stewart


March 23, 1998

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that Angus A. MacNaughton, whose 
signature appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, 
Margaret Sears Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his 
attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him in any and 
all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of 
Canada (U.S.) Variable Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments 
thereto, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in 
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby 
ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his 
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                     /s/ Angus A. MacNaughton
                                     -------------------------
                                         Angus A. MacNaughton


March 23, 1998

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that S. Caesar Raboy, whose signature 
appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, Margaret Sears 
Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with 
the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign a 
Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments thereto, and to file the 
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming 
all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may 
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                     /s/ S. Caesar Raboy
                                     -----------------------
                                         S. Caesar Raboy


March 23, 1998

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that M. Colyer Crum, whose signature 
appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, Margaret Sears 
Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with 
the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign a 
Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments thereto, and to file the 
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming 
all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may 
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                     /s/ M. Colyer Crum
                                     -----------------------
                                         M. Colyer Crum


March 23, 1998

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that David D. Horn, whose signature 
appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, Margaret Sears 
Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with 
the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign a 
Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments thereto, and to file the 
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming 
all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may 
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                     /s/ David D. Horn
                                     -----------------------
                                         David D. Horn


March 23, 1998

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that C. James Prieur, whose signature 
appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, Margaret Sears 
Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with 
the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign a 
Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments thereto, and to file the 
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming 
all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may 
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                     /s/ C. James Prieur
                                     -----------------------
                                         C. James Prieur


March 23, 1998

<PAGE>

                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that Richard B. Bailey, whose signature 
appears below, constitutes and appoints Margaret E. Hankard, Margaret Sears 
Mead and David N. Brown, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with 
the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign a 
Registration Statement on Form N-4 of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account C (Reg. No. 2-78738), and any amendments thereto, and to file the 
same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming 
all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may 
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                     /s/ Richard B. Bailey
                                     -----------------------
                                         Richard B. Bailey


March 23, 1998



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