SUN LIFE ASSURANCE CO OF CANADA US
POS AM, 1997-04-23
LIFE INSURANCE
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<PAGE>

                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-58853

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                              -------------------

   
                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2
                                       TO
    

                                    FORM S-2
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                 --------------
                  SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
             DELAWARE                           04-2461439
 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF             (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
  INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)           IDENTIFICATION NO.)
 
       ONE SUN LIFE EXECUTIVE PARK, WELLESLEY HILLS, MASSACHUSETTS 02181
                                 (617) 237-6030
         (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
            AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
   
                                                         COPIES TO:
BONNIE S. ANGUS, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT            DAVID N. BROWN, ESQ.
     SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF                   COVINGTON & BURLING
             CANADA (U.S.)                      1201 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE N.W.
      ONE SUN LIFE EXECUTIVE PARK                       P.O. BOX 7566
 WELLESLEY HILLS, MASSACHUSETTS 02181              WASHINGTON, D.C. 20044
            (617) 237-6030                             (202) 662-5238
    
 
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
        INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

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


<PAGE>
               SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)

   
                   Post Effective Amendment No. 2 to
    

                   Registration Statement on Form S-2
                    Cross Reference Sheet Pursuant To
                       Regulation S-K, Item 501(b)

       Form S-2 Item Number
             and Caption                   Location in Prospectus; Caption
- --------------------------------------  --------------------------------------
 1.  Forepart of the Registration         Cover Pages
     Statement and Outside Front Cover
     Page of Prospectus

 2.  Inside Front and Outside Back        Cover Pages; Table of Contents
     Cover Pages of Prospectus

 3.  Summary Information, Risk Factors    Cover Pages (Summary); Expense Summary
     and Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
     Charges

 4.  Use of Proceeds                      A Word About the Company, the Fixed
                                          Account,the Variable Account and the
                                          Series Fund

 5.  Determination of Offering Price      Not Applicable

 6.  Dilution                             Not Applicable

 7.  Selling Security Holders             Not Applicable

 8.  Plan of Distribution                 Distribution of the Contracts

 9.  Description of Securities to be      Cover Pages; A Word About the Company,
     Registered                           the Fixed Account, the Variable
                                          Account and the Series Fund; Purchase
                                          Payments and Contract Values During
                                          Accumulation Period; Cash Withdrawals,
                                          Withdrawal Charges and Market Value 
                                          Adjustment; Other Contractual 
                                          Provisions

10.  Interests of Named Experts and       Not Applicable
     Counsel

11.  Information with Respect to         A Word About the Company, the Fixed 
     Registrant                          Account, the Variable Account and the
                                         Series Fund; Other Contractual
                                         Provisions; Additional Information
                                         About the Company; The Company's 
                                         Directors and Executive Officers; 
                                         Legal Proceedings; Legal Matters; 
                                         Financial Statements

Reggold

<PAGE>

       Form S-2 Item Number
             and Caption                   Location in Prospectus; Caption
- --------------------------------------  --------------------------------------

12.  Incorporation of Certain            Cover Pages
     Information by Reference

13.  Disclosure of Commission Position   Not Applicable
     on Indemnification for Securities
     Act Liabilities


<PAGE>
                                    PART I
                      INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


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



<PAGE>
   
                                                                      PROSPECTUS
                                                                     MAY 1, 1997
    
 
                                MFS REGATTA GOLD
 
               --------------------------------------------------
 
    The master group flexible payment deferred annuity contracts (the
"Contracts") and related certificates offered by this Prospectus are designed
for use in connection with retirement and deferred compensation plans, some of
which may qualify as retirement programs under Sections 401, 403, or 408 of the
Internal Revenue Code. The Contracts are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada (U.S.) (the "Company"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance
Company of Canada, having its Principal Executive Offices at One Sun Life
Executive Park, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181, telephone (617) 237-6030.
The Contracts provide that annuity payments will begin on a selected future
date. The Contracts provide for the accumulation of values on either a variable
basis, a fixed basis, or a fixed and variable basis and provide for fixed and
variable annuity payments as elected.
 
    Each Participant under a Contract will receive a Certificate evidencing such
Participant's coverage under the Contract. The initial Purchase Payment for each
Certificate must be at least $5,000 and each additional Purchase Payment must be
at least $1,000, unless waived by the Company. The prior approval of the Company
is required before it will accept a Purchase Payment in excess of $1,000,000.
 
   
    The Participant may elect to have values under the Certificate accumulate on
a fixed basis in the Fixed Account, which pays interest at the applicable
Guaranteed Interest Rate(s) for the duration of the particular Guarantee
Period(s) selected by the Participant, or on a variable basis in Sun Life of
Canada (U.S.) Variable Account F (the "Variable Account"), a separate account of
the Company, or divided between the Fixed Account and the Variable Account. The
assets of the Variable Account are divided into Sub-Accounts. Each Sub-Account
uses its assets to purchase, at their net asset value, shares of a specific
series of MFS/Sun Life Series Trust  (the "Series Fund"), a mutual fund
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and advised by
Massachusetts Financial Services Company, a subsidiary of the Company. Nineteen
series are available for investment under the Contracts: (1) Money Market
Series; (2) High Yield Series; (3) Capital Appreciation Series; (4) Government
Securities Series; (5) World Governments Series; (6) Total Return Series; (7)
Managed Sectors Series; (8) Conservative Growth Series; (9) Utilities Series;
(10) World Growth Series; (11) Research Series; (12) World Asset Allocation
Series; (13) World Total Return Series; (14) Emerging Growth Series; (15)
MFS/Foreign & Colonial International Growth Series; (16) MFS/Foreign & Colonial
International Growth and Income Series; (17) MFS/Foreign & Colonial Emerging
Markets Equity Series; (18) Value Series; and (19) Research Growth and Income
Series (available June 1, 1997). The Series Fund pays its investment adviser
certain fees charged against the assets of each Series. The value of the
variable portion, if any, of a Participant's Account and the amount of variable
annuity payments will vary to reflect the investment performance of the series
of the Series Fund selected by the Participant and the deduction of the contract
charges described under "How the Contract Charges Are Assessed" on page 27. For
more information about the Series Fund, see "The Series Fund" on page 15 and the
accompanying Series Fund prospectus.
    
                                                        (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
 
THE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY,
ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
THIS PROSPECTUS IS VALID ONLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE CURRENT PROSPECTUS OF
MFS/SUN LIFE SERIES TRUST. 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 SUN LIFE ANNUITY SERVICE CENTER, P.O. BOX
1024, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02103.
<PAGE>
    If the Participant elects to have values accumulated on a fixed basis,
Purchase Payments are allocated to one or more Guarantee Periods made available
by the Company in connection with the Fixed Account with durations of from one
to ten years, as selected by the Participant. The Fixed Account is the general
account of the Company (See "The Fixed Account" on page 13). The Company will
credit interest at a rate not less than the minimum specified in the applicable
Contract and Certificate (at least three percent (3%) per year), compounded
annually, to amounts allocated to the Fixed Account and guarantees these amounts
at various interest rates (the "Guaranteed Interest Rates") for the duration of
the Guarantee Period elected by the Participant, subject to the imposition of
any applicable withdrawal charge, Market Value Adjustment, or account
administration fee. The Company may not change a Guaranteed Interest Rate for
the duration of the Guarantee Period; however, Guaranteed Interest Rates
applicable to subsequent Guarantee Periods cannot be predicted and will be
determined at the sole discretion of the Company (subject to the minimum
guarantee). That part of the Contract relating to the Fixed Account is
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, but the Fixed Account is not
subject to the restrictions of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
    The Company does not deduct a sales charge from Purchase Payments. However,
if any part of a Participant's Account is withdrawn, a withdrawal charge
(contingent deferred sales charge) may be assessed by the Company. This charge
is intended to reimburse the Company for expenses relating to the distribution
of the Contracts and Certificates. A portion (specified in the applicable
Contract and Certificate) of the Participant's Account Value may be withdrawn in
each Account Year without the imposition of a withdrawal charge, and after a
Purchase Payment has been held by the Company for seven years it may be
withdrawn without charge. Also, no withdrawal charge is assessed upon
annuitization or upon transfers. Other amounts withdrawn, adjusted by any
applicable Market Value Adjustment with respect to the Fixed Account, will be
subject to a withdrawal charge ranging from 6% to 0%. In no event will the the
withdrawal charges assessed against a Participant's Account exceed 6% of
Purchase Payments (See "Withdrawal Charges" on page 22).
 
   
    In addition, any cash withdrawal of amounts allocated to the Fixed Account,
other than a withdrawal effective within 30 days prior to the Expiration Date of
the applicable Guarantee Period or the withdrawal of interest credited to a
Guarantee Amount during the current Account Year, will be subject to a Market
Value Adjustment. The Market Value Adjustment will reflect the relationship
between the Current Rate (which is the Guaranteed Interest Rate currently
declared by the Company for Guarantee Periods equal to the balance of the
Guarantee Period applicable to the amount being withdrawn) and the Guaranteed
Interest Rate applicable to the amount being withdrawn. Generally, if the
Guaranteed Interest Rate is lower than the Current Rate, then the application of
the Market Value Adjustment will result in a lower payment upon withdrawal.
Similarly, if the Guaranteed Interest Rate is higher than the Current Rate, the
application of the Market Value Adjustment will result in a higher payment upon
withdrawal (See "Market Value Adjustment" on page 25).
    
 
    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.
 
    Special restrictions on withdrawals apply to Certificates used with Tax
Sheltered Annuities established pursuant to Section 403(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code (See "Section 403(b) Annuities" on page 24).
 
   
    In addition, under certain circumstances withdrawals may result in tax
penalties (See "Federal Tax Status"). For a discussion of cash withdrawals,
withdrawal charges and the Market Value Adjustment see "Cash Withdrawals,
Withdrawal Charges and Market Value Adjustment" beginning on page 21.
    
 
    On each Account Anniversary and on surrender of a Certificate for full value
the Company will deduct an annual account administration fee ("Account Fee")
from the Participant's Account. The amount of this fee is $30 in Account Years
one through five; thereafter, it may be changed annually, subject to a maximum
of $50. After the Annuity Commencement Date an Account Fee of $30 will be
deducted pro rata from each variable annuity payment made during the year. In
addition, the Company makes a deduction from the Variable Account at the end of
each Valuation Period equal to an annual rate of 0.15% of the daily net assets
of the
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
   
Variable Account. These charges are to reimburse the Company for administrative
expenses related to the issuance and maintenance of the Contracts and
Certificates. The Account Fee may be waived by the Company under certain
circumstances (See "Administrative Charges" on page 27).
    
 
   
    The Company also deducts a mortality and expense risk charge at the end of
each Valuation Period equal to an annual rate of 1.25% 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 28).
    
 
   
    Under certain circumstances the Company may substitute shares of another
registered open-end investment company or unit investment trust both for Series
Fund shares already purchased by the Variable Account and as the security to be
purchased in the future. Also, upon notice to the Owner, Participant or the
Payee during the annuity period, the Company may modify the contract 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 or the Variable Account 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 (See "Substituted Securities" and "Change in Operation of
Variable Account" on page 34 and "Modification" on page 35).
    
 
   
    In addition, the Contracts provide that the Company may change the
withdrawal charges, Account Fee, mortality and expense risk charges,
administrative expense charges, transfer charges, the tables used in determining
the amount of the first monthly variable annuity payment and fixed annuity
payments and the formula used to calculate the Market Value Adjustment, provided
that such modification shall apply only with respect to Participant's Accounts
established after the effective date of such modification (See "Modification" on
page 35).
    
 
    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 except as may be provided under the Annuity Option elected (See
"Death Benefit" on page 25).
 
    Annuity Payments will begin on the Annuity Commencement Date. The
Participant selects the Annuity Commencement Date, frequency of payments and the
Annuity Option (See "Annuity Provisions" on page 28).
 
   
    Premium taxes payable to any governmental entity will be deducted from the
Participant's Account (See "Premium Taxes" on page 27).
    
 
   
    Subject to certain conditions, and during the Accumulation Period, the
Participant may transfer amounts among the Sub-Accounts or Guarantee Periods
available under the Contract. Currently there is no charge for transfers.
Transfers (except of interest credited during the current Account Year to the
Guarantee Amount transferred) from or within the Fixed Account will be subject
to the Market Value Adjustment unless the transfer is effective within 30 days
prior to the Expiration Date of the amount transferred and other restrictions
may apply (See "Transfer Privilege; Restriction on Market Timers" on page 21).
    
 
    After the Annuity Commencement Date, the Payee may, subject to certain
restrictions, exchange the value of a designated number of Annuity Units of
particular Sub-Accounts then credited with respect to the particular Payee for
other 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 (See "Exchange of Variable Annuity Units" on page 31).
 
    The Company will vote Series Fund shares held by the Sub-Accounts at
meetings of shareholders of the Series Fund, but will follow voting instructions
received from persons having the right to give voting instructions. The Owner or
Participant 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
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
such voting rights. Any shares attributable to the Company and Series 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 (See "Voting of Series Fund Shares" on page 33).
 
    The Company will furnish Participants and such other persons having voting
rights with certain reports and statements described under "Periodic Reports" on
page 34. Such reports, other than prospectuses, will not include the Company's
financial statements.
 
    If a Participant is not satisfied with the Certificate it may be returned to
the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address within ten days after it was
delivered to the Participant. When the Company receives the returned Certificate
it will be cancelled and the Participant's Account Value at the end of the
Valuation Period during which the Certificate was received by the Company will
be refunded. However, if applicable state law so requires, the full amount of
any Purchase Payment received by the Company will be refunded, the "free look"
period may be greater than ten days and alternative methods of returning the
Certificate may be acceptable.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
    The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), as amended, and in accordance therewith
files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"). Such reports and other information can be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission at Room 1024, 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. and at the Commission's Regional Offices
located at 75 Park Place, New York, New York and Northwestern Atrium Center, 500
West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such
materials also can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed
rates.
 
    The Company has filed registration statements (the "Registration
Statements") with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 relating to
the Contracts offered by this Prospectus. This Prospectus has been filed as a
part of the Registration Statements and does not contain all of the information
set forth in the Registration Statements and exhibits thereto, and reference is
hereby made to such Registration Statements and exhibits for further information
relating to the Company and the Contracts. The Registration Statements and the
exhibits thereto may be inspected and copied, and copies can be obtained at
prescribed rates, in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
   
    The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996
heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission under the 1934 Act is
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
    
 
    Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall
be deemed modified or superseded hereby to the extent that a statement contained
in a later-filed document or herein shall modify or supersede such statement.
Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
   
    The Company will furnish, without charge, to each person to whom a copy of
this Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a
copy of the document referred to above which has been incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus, other than exhibits to such document (unless such exhibits
are specifically incorporated by reference in the Prospectus). Requests for such
document should be directed to Bonnie S. Angus, Assistant Vice President, Sun
Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.), 50 Milk Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02109, telephone (617) 348-9655.
    
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  PAGE
<S>                                                               <C>
Definitions                                                         7
Expense Summary                                                     9
Condensed Financial Information--Accumulation Unit Values          11
Performance Data                                                   12
This Prospectus Is a Catalog of Facts                              12
Uses of the Contract                                               12
A Word About the Company, the Fixed Account, the Variable
  Account and the Series Fund                                      13
    The Company                                                    13
    The Fixed Account                                              13
    The Variable Account                                           14
    The Series Fund                                                15
Purchase Payments and Contract Values During Accumulation
  Period                                                           18
    Purchase Payments                                              18
    Participant's Account                                          18
    Variable Accumulation Value                                    18
    Fixed Accumulation Value                                       19
    Guarantee Periods                                              19
    Dollar Cost Averaging                                          20
    Guaranteed Interest Rates                                      20
    Transfer Privilege; Restriction on Market Timers               21
Cash Withdrawals, Withdrawal Charges and Market Value
  Adjustment                                                       21
    Cash Withdrawals                                               21
    Withdrawal Charges                                             22
    Amount of Withdrawal Charge                                    24
    Section 403(b) Annuities                                       24
    Market Value Adjustment                                        25
Death Benefit                                                      25
    Death Benefit Provided by the Contract                         25
    Election and Effective Date of Election                        26
    Payment of Death Benefit                                       26
    Amount of Death Benefit                                        26
How the Contract Charges Are Assessed                              27
    Administrative Charges                                         27
    Premium Taxes                                                  27
    Mortality and Expense Risk Charge                              28
    Withdrawal Charges                                             28
Annuity Provisions                                                 28
    Annuity Commencement Date                                      28
    Election--Change of Annuity Option                             29
    Annuity Options                                                29
    Determination of Annuity Payments                              30
    Fixed Annuity Payments                                         30
    Variable Annuity Payments                                      30
    Variable Annuity Unit Value                                    31
    Exchange of Variable Annuity Units                             31
    Annuity Payment Rates                                          31
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
                         TABLE OF CONTENTS--(CONTINUED)
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  PAGE
<S>                                                               <C>
Other Contractual Provisions                                       32
    Payment Limits                                                 32
    Designation and Change of Beneficiary                          32
    Exercise of Contract Rights                                    32
    Change of Ownership                                            32
    Death of Participant                                           33
    Voting of Series Fund Shares                                   33
    Periodic Reports                                               34
    Substituted Securities                                         34
    Change in Operation of Variable Account                        34
    Splitting Units                                                35
    Modification                                                   35
    Discontinuance of New Participants                             35
    Custodian                                                      35
    Right to Return                                                35
Federal Tax Status                                                 36
    Introduction                                                   36
    Tax Treatment of the Company and the Variable Account          36
    Taxation of Annuities in General                               36
    Qualified Retirement Plans                                     38
    Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans                               38
    Tax-Sheltered Annuities                                        38
    Individual Retirement Accounts                                 39
Administration of the Contracts                                    39
Distribution of the Contracts                                      39
Additional Information About the Company                           40
    Selected Financial Data                                        40
    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
     Condition and Results of Operations                           40
    Liquidity                                                      43
    Reinsurance                                                    43
    Reserves                                                       43
    Investments                                                    44
    Competition                                                    44
    Employees                                                      44
    Properties                                                     44
The Company's Directors and Executive Officers                     44
State Regulation                                                   47
Legal Proceedings                                                  48
Legal Matters                                                      48
Accountants                                                        48
Registration Statements                                            48
Financial Statements                                               48
Appendix A--Variable Accumulation Unit Value, Variable
  Annuity Unit Value and Variable Annuity Payment
  Calculations                                                     86
Appendix B--State Premium Taxes                                    86
Appendix C--Withdrawals, Withdrawal Charges and the Market
  Value Adjustment                                                 87
Appendix D--Calculation of Performance Data; Advertising and
  Sales Literature                                                 91
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
                                  DEFINITIONS
 
    The following terms as used in this Prospectus have the indicated meanings:
 
    ACCOUNT YEARS AND ACCOUNT ANNIVERSARIES:  The first Account Year shall be
the period of 12 months plus a part of a month as measured from the Date of
Coverage for each Participant to the first day of the calendar month which
follows the calendar month of coverage. All Account Years and Anniversaries
thereafter shall be 12 month periods based upon such first day of the calendar
month which follows the calendar month of coverage. If, for example, the Date of
Coverage is in March, the first Account Year will be determined from the Date of
Coverage but will end on the last day of March in the following year; all other
Account Years and all Account Anniversaries will be measured from April 1.
 
    ACCUMULATION PERIOD:  The period before the Annuity Commencement Date and
during the lifetime of the Annuitant.
 
    ANNUITANT:  The person or persons named in the Application and on whose life
the first annuity payment is to be made. The Participant may not designate a
"Co-Annuitant" unless the Participant and Annuitant are different persons. If
more than one person is so named, 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 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." The Participant is not permitted to name a
"Co-Annuitant" under a Qualified Contract.
 
    *ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE:  The date on which the first annuity payment
under each Certificate is to be made.
 
    *ANNUITY OPTION:  The method for making annuity payments.
 
    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.
 
    APPLICATION:  The document signed by each Participant that serves as his or
her application for participation under this Contract.
 
    *BENEFICIARY:  The person or entity having the right to receive the death
benefit set forth in each Certificate and, for Non-Qualified Contracts, who is
the "designated beneficiary" for purposes of Section 72(s) of the Internal
Revenue Code in the event of the Participant's death.
 
    CERTIFICATE:  The document for each Participant which evidences the coverage
of the Participant under the Contract.
 
    COMPANY:  Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.).
 
    CONTRACT APPLICATION:  The document signed by the Owner that evidences the
Owner's application for this Contract.
 
    DATE OF COVERAGE:  The date on which a Participant's Account becomes
effective.
 
    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.
 
    GUARANTEE AMOUNT:  Any portion of a Participant's Account Value allocated to
a particular Guarantee Period with a particular Expiration Date (including
interest earned thereon).
 
    GUARANTEE PERIOD:  The period for which a Guaranteed Interest Rate is
credited.
 
    GUARANTEED INTEREST RATE:  The rate of interest credited by the Company on a
compound annual basis during any Guarantee Period.
 
- ------------------------
*As specified in the Application, unless changed.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
    ISSUE DATE:  The date on which the Contract becomes effective.
 
    NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACT:  A Contract used in connection with a retirement
plan which does not receive favorable federal income tax treatment under
Sections 401, 403, or 408 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Participant's
interest in the Contract must be owned by a natural person or agent for a
natural person for the Contract to receive favorable income tax treatment as an
annuity.
 
   
    *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 may designate a trustee or custodian of a retirement plan which meets the
requirements of Section 401, Section 408(c), Section 408(k) or Section 408(p) of
the Internal Revenue Code to serve as legal owner of assets of a retirement
plan, but the term "Owner", as used herein, shall refer to the organization
entering into the Contract.
    
 
    PARTICIPANT:  The person named in the Certificate who is entitled to
exercise all rights and privileges of ownership under the Certificate, except as
reserved by the Owner.
 
    PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT:  An account established for each Participant to which
Net Purchase Payments are credited.
 
    PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT VALUE:  The Variable Accumulation Value, if any, plus
the Fixed Accumulation Value, if any, of a Participant's Account for any
Valuation Period.
 
    PAYEE:  A recipient of payments under the Contract. The term includes 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 as consideration
for the benefits provided by the Contract.
 
    QUALIFIED CONTRACT:  A Contract used in connection with a retirement plan
which receives favorable federal income tax treatment under Sections 401, 403,
or 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
    RECEIPT:  Receipt by the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address
shown on the cover of this Prospectus.
 
    SERIES FUND:  MFS/Sun Life Series Trust.
 
    SEVEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY:  The seventh Account Anniversary and each succeeding
Account Anniversary occurring at any seven year interval thereafter, for
example, the 14th, 21st and 28th Account Anniversaries.
 
    SUB-ACCOUNT:  That portion of the Variable Account which invests in shares
of a specific series or sub-series of the Series Fund.
 
    VALUATION PERIOD:  The period of time from one determination of Variable
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 and on such
other days on which there is a sufficient degree of trading in the portfolio
securities of the Variable Account so that the values of the Variable Account's
Accumulation Units and Annuity Units might be materially affected.
 
    VARIABLE ACCOUNT:  A separate account of the Company 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 ACCUMULATION UNIT:  A unit of measure used in the calculation of
the value of the variable portion of a Participant's Account.
 
    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.
 
- ------------------------
*As specified in the Application, unless changed.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
                                EXPENSE SUMMARY
 
    The purpose of the following table and Example is to help Participants and
prospective purchasers to understand the costs and expenses that are borne,
directly and indirectly, by Participants WHEN PAYMENTS ARE ALLOCATED TO THE
VARIABLE ACCOUNT. The table reflects expenses of the Variable Account as well as
of the Series Fund. The information set forth should be considered together with
the narrative provided under the heading "How the Contract Charges Are Assessed"
in this Prospectus, and with the Series Fund's prospectus. In addition to the
expenses listed below, premium taxes may be applicable.
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           CAPITAL
                                           MONEY   HIGH    APPRE-   GOVERNMENT   WORLD
 PARTICIPANT                               MARKET  YIELD   CIATION  SECURITIES GOVERNMENTS
 TRANSACTION EXPENSES                      SERIES  SERIES  SERIES    SERIES     SERIES
 ----------------------------------------  -----   -----   ------   --------   ---------
 <S>                                       <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>        <C>
 Sales Load Imposed on Purchases              0       0       0         0          0
 Deferred Sales Load (as a percentage of
   Purchase Payments
    withdrawn)(1)
   Number of Complete Account Years
    Purchase Payment in Account
     0-1.................................     6%      6%      6%        6%         6%
     2-3.................................     5%      5%      5%        5%         5%
     4-5.................................     4%      4%      4%        4%         4%
     6...................................     3%      3%      3%        3%         3%
     7 or more...........................     0%      0%      0%        0%         0%
 Exchange fee(2).........................     0       0       0         0          0
 
<CAPTION>
 ANNUAL ACCOUNT FEE (3)                            $30 Per Participant's Account
 ----------------------------------------
 SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
 ----------------------------------------
 <S>                                       <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>        <C>
 (as a percentage of average separate
 account assets)
 Mortality and Expense Risk Fees.........  1.25%   1.25%   1.25%     1.25%      1.25%
 Administrative Expense Charge...........  0.15%   0.15%   0.15%     0.15%      0.15%
 Other Fees and Expenses of the Separate
   Account...............................  0.00%   0.00%   0.00%     0.00%      0.00%
 Total Separate Account Annual
   Expenses..............................  1.40%   1.40%   1.40%     1.40%      1.40%
<CAPTION>
 SERIES FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
 ----------------------------------------
 <S>                                       <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>        <C>
 (as a percentage of Series Fund average
 net assets)
 Management Fees.........................  0.50%   0.75%   0.75%     0.55%      0.75%
 Other Expenses..........................  0.06%   0.09%   0.05%     0.08%      0.15%
 Total Series Fund Annual Expenses.......  0.56%   0.84%   0.80%     0.63%      0.90%
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                           TOTAL   MANAGED  CONSERVATIVE
 PARTICIPANT                               RETURN  SECTORS    GROWTH     UTILITIES
 TRANSACTION EXPENSES                      SERIES  SERIES     SERIES      SERIES
 ----------------------------------------  -----   ------   ----------   --------
 <S>                                       <C>     <C>      <C>          <C>
 Sales Load Imposed on Purchases              0       0          0          0
 Deferred Sales Load (as a percentage of
   Purchase Payments
    withdrawn)(1)
   Number of Complete Account Years
    Purchase Payment in Account
     0-1.................................     6%      6%         6%         6%
     2-3.................................     5%      5%         5%         5%
     4-5.................................     4%      4%         4%         4%
     6...................................     3%      3%         3%         3%
     7 or more...........................     0%      0%         0%         0%
 Exchange fee(2).........................     0       0          0          0
 ANNUAL ACCOUNT FEE (3)
 ----------------------------------------
 SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
 ----------------------------------------
 <S>                                       <C>     <C>      <C>          <C>
 (as a percentage of average separate
 account assets)
 Mortality and Expense Risk Fees.........  1.25%   1.25%      1.25%      1.25%
 Administrative Expense Charge...........  0.15%   0.15%      0.15%      0.15%
 Other Fees and Expenses of the Separate
   Account...............................  0.00%   0.00%      0.00%      0.00%
 Total Separate Account Annual
   Expenses..............................  1.40%   1.40%      1.40%      1.40%
 SERIES FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
 ----------------------------------------
 <S>                                       <C>     <C>      <C>          <C>
 (as a percentage of Series Fund average
 net assets)
 Management Fees.........................  0.68%   0.75%      0.55%      0.75%
 Other Expenses..........................  0.04%   0.07%      0.06%      0.13%
 Total Series Fund Annual Expenses.......  0.72%   0.82%      0.61%      0.88%
</TABLE>
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     WORLD      WORLD
                                               WORLD                 ASSET      TOTAL    EMERGING
PARTICIPANT                                    GROWTH   RESEARCH   ALLOCATION   RETURN    GROWTH
TRANSACTION EXPENSES                           SERIES    SERIES      SERIES     SERIES    SERIES
- ---------------------------------------------  ------   --------   ----------   ------   --------
<S>                                            <C>      <C>        <C>          <C>      <C>
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases                   0         0           0          0         0
Deferred Sales Load (as a
  percentage of Purchase
  Payments withdrawn)(1)
  Number of Complete Account Years Purchase
   Payment in Account
    0-1......................................     6%        6%          6%         6%        6%
    2-3......................................     5%        5%          5%         5%        5%
    4-5......................................     4%        4%          4%         4%        4%
    6........................................     3%        3%          3%         3%        3%
    7 or more................................     0%        0%          0%         0%        0%
Exchange fee(2)..............................     0         0           0          0         0
 
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL ACCOUNT FEE (3)                                   $30 Per Participant's Account
- ---------------------------------------------
SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
- ---------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>      <C>        <C>          <C>      <C>
(as a percentage of average separate account
assets)
Mortality and Expense Risk Fees..............  1.25%     1.25%       1.25%      1.25%     1.25%
Administrative Expense Charge................  0.15%     0.15%       0.15%      0.15%     0.15%
Other Fees and Expenses of the Separate
  Account....................................  0.00%     0.00%       0.00%      0.00%     0.00%
Total Separate Account Annual Expenses.......  1.40%     1.40%       1.40%      1.40%     1.40%
<CAPTION>
SERIES FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
- ---------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>      <C>        <C>          <C>      <C>
(as a percentage of Series Fund average net
assets)
Management Fees..............................  0.90%     0.75%       0.75%      0.75%     0.61%
Other Expenses...............................  0.14%     0.09%       0.19%      0.21%     0.09%
Total Series Fund Annual Expenses............  1.04%     0.84%       0.94%      0.96%     0.70%
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                MFS/FOREIGN     MFS/FOREIGN
                                                MFS/FOREIGN     & COLONIAL       & COLONIAL
                                                & COLONIAL     INTERNATIONAL      EMERGING                       RESEARCH
 
PARTICIPANT                                    INTERNATIONAL    GROWTH AND     MARKETS EQUITY                   GROWTH AND
 
TRANSACTION EXPENSES                           GROWTH SERIES   INCOME SERIES       SERIES       VALUE SERIES   INCOME SERIES
 
- ---------------------------------------------  -------------   -------------   --------------   ------------   -------------
 
<S>                                            <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases                       0               0               0               0               0
 
Deferred Sales Load (as a
  percentage of Purchase
  Payments withdrawn)(1)
  Number of Complete Account Years Purchase
   Payment in Account
    0-1......................................         6%              6%              6%              6%              6%
 
    2-3......................................         5%              5%              5%              5%              5%
 
    4-5......................................         4%              4%              4%              4%              4%
 
    6........................................         3%              3%              3%              3%              3%
 
    7 or more................................         0%              0%              0%              0%              0%
 
Exchange fee(2)..............................         0               0               0               0               0
 
ANNUAL ACCOUNT FEE (3)
- ---------------------------------------------
SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
- ---------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>
(as a percentage of average separate account
assets)
Mortality and Expense Risk Fees..............      1.25%           1.25%           1.25%           1.25%           1.25%
 
Administrative Expense Charge................      0.15%           0.15%           0.15%           0.15%           0.15%
 
Other Fees and Expenses of the Separate
  Account....................................      0.00%           0.00%           0.00%           0.00%           0.00%
 
Total Separate Account Annual Expenses.......      1.40%           1.40%           1.40%           1.40%           1.40%
 
SERIES FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
- ---------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>
(as a percentage of Series Fund average net
assets)
Management Fees..............................      0.00%(4)        0.79%           0.00%(4)        0.00%(4)        0.00%(4)
 
Other Expenses...............................      1.50%(5)        0.18%           1.50%(5)        0.25%(5)        0.25%(5)
 
Total Series Fund Annual Expenses............      1.50%           0.97%           1.50%           0.25%           0.25%
 
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------
 
(1) A portion of the Participant's Account may be withdrawn each year without
    imposition of any withdrawal charge, and after a Purchase Payment has been
    held by the Company for seven years it may be withdrawn free of any
    withdrawal charge.
 
(2) A Market Value Adjustment may be imposed on amounts transferred from or
    within the Fixed Account.
 
   
(3) The Annual Account Fee is the lesser of $30 and 2% of the Participant's
    Account Value in Account Years one through five; thereafter, the fee may be
    changed annually, but it may not exceed the lesser of $50 and 2% of the
    Participant's Account Value.
    
 
   
(4) The Series Fund's investment adviser (the "Adviser") has voluntarily reduced
    the management fees for the Value Series, Research Growth and Income Series
    and the MFS/Foreign & Colonial International Growth Series and Emerging
    Markets Equity Series to 0% of average daily net assets on an annualized
    basis. This voluntary fee reduction may be rescinded at any time. Absent
    this voluntary reduction, management fees payable would be 0.75% for the
    Value Series and the Research Growth and Income Series, 0.975% for the
    International Growth Series and 1.25% for the Emerging Markets Equity
    Series.
    
 
   
(5) Other expenses of the Value Series, Research Growth and Income Series and
    the MFS/Foreign & Colonial International Growth Series and Emerging Markets
    Equity Series are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
    The Adviser has undertaken to reimburse each of these series for expenses
    that exceed 0.25%, 0.25%, 1.50%, and 1.50%, respectively, of the average
    daily net assets of such series on an annualized basis, as more fully
    described in the Series Fund's Prospectus. Absent such reimbursement,
    expenses of the Value Series, MFS/Foreign & Colonial International Growth
    Series and Emerging Markets Equity Series for 1996 would have been 1.35%,
    2.50%, and 3.38%, respectively. The Research Growth and Income Series will
    commence operations in 1997.
    
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
                                    EXAMPLE
 
   
    If you surrender your Certificate 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>
 Capital Appreciation Series                 $76      $114      $154      $253
 Conservative Growth Series                   74       108       144       234
 Emerging Growth Series                       75       111       149       243
 Government Securities Series                 75       109       145       236
 High Yield Series                            77       115       156       257
 MFS/Foreign & Colonial Emerging Markets
 Equity Series                                83       135       189       322
 MFS/Foreign & Colonial International
 Growth and Income Series                     78       119       163       271
 MFS/Foreign & Colonial International
 Growth Series                                83       135       189       322
 Managed Sectors Series                       77       114       155       255
 Money Market Series                          74       107       142       229
 Research Series                              77       115       156       257
 Research Growth and Income Series            71        97       126       195
 Total Return Series                          76       111       150       245
 Utilities Series                             77       116       158       262
 Value Series                                 71        97       126       195
 World Asset Allocation Series                78       118       161       268
 World Governments Series                     77       117       159       264
 World Growth Series                          79       121       166       278
 World Total Return Series                    78       119       162       270
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------------
* Expenses under Certificates containing the cumulative free withdrawal
  provision described on page 22 of this Prospectus would be lower than those
  illustrated, for the one, three and five year periods.
 
   
    If you do not surrender your Certificate, 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>
 Capital Appreciation Series                 $22      $69       $118      $253
 Conservative Growth Series                   20       63        108       234
 Emerging Growth Series                       21       66        113       243
 Government Securities Series                 21       64        109       236
 High Yield Series                            23       70        120       257
 MFS/Foreign & Colonial Emerging Markets
 Equity Series                                29       90        153       322
 MFS/Foreign & Colonial International
 Growth and Income Series                     24       74        127       271
 MFS/Foreign & Colonial International
 Growth Series                                29       90        153       322
 Managed Sectors Series                       23       69        119       255
 Money Market Series                          20       62        106       229
 Research Series                              23       70        120       257
 Research Growth and Income Series            17       52         90       195
 Total Return Series                          22       66        114       245
 Utilities Series                             23       71        122       262
 Value Series                                 17       52         90       195
 World Asset Allocation Series                24       73        125       268
 World Governments Series                     23       72        123       264
 World Growth Series                          25       76        130       278
 World Total Return Series                    24       74        126       270
</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.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
           CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION--ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES
 
    The following information should be read in conjunction with the Variable
Account's financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus, all of
which has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent certified public
accountants.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 YEAR ENDED
                                 PERIOD ENDED                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                 DECEMBER 31,     -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1991*            1992           1993             1994           1995           1996
                                 ------------     ----------    -------------     -----------    -----------    -----------
 <S>                             <C>              <C>           <C>               <C>            <C>            <C>
 CAPITAL APPRECIATION SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......    $10.0000       $  11.5021    $     12.8402     $   14.9429    $   14.2064    $   18.8932
     End of period.............    $11.5021       $  12.8402    $     14.9429     $   14.2064    $   18.8392    $   22.5700
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................     124,454        5,131,355       13,245,142      19,909,649     27,782,739     32,796,793
 CONSERVATIVE GROWTH SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......    $10.0000       $  10.9605    $     11.4156     $   12.2052    $   11.9036    $   16.1344
     End of period.............    $10.9605       $  11.4156    $     12.2052     $   11.9036    $   16.1344    $   19.9527
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      85,141        2,557,065        6,412,270      10,979,711     16,712,586     26,199,975
 EMERGING GROWTH SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period             --               --             --               --         $   10.0000**  $   12.5675
     End of period.............      --               --             --               --         $   12.5675    $   14.5136
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --             --               --           5,346,104     16,998,044
 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......    $10.0000       $  10.3731    $     10.9166     $   11.6996    $   11.2891    $   13.0981
     End of period.............    $10.3731       $  10.9166    $     11.6996     $   11.2891    $   13.0981    $   13.1252
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................     256,848        5,447,047       13,661,303      18,784,262     18,082,586     19,714,114
 HIGH YIELD SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......    $10.0000       $  10.0378    $     11.3864     $   13.2209    $   12.7475    $   14.7137
     End of period.............    $10.0378       $  11.3864    $     13.2209     $   12.7475    $   14.7137    $   16.2674
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................       6,734        1,380,530        3,599,473       4,605,818      6,880,080      8,424,289
 MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......      --               --             --               --             --         $   10.0000**
     End of period.............      --               --             --               --             --         $    9.9199
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --             --               --             --             329,630
 MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......      --               --             --               --             --         $   10.0000**
     End of period.............      --               --             --               --             --         $    9.7460
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --             --               --             --             564,742
 MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......      --               --             --               --         $   10.0000**  $   10.0942
     End of period.............      --               --             --               --         $   10.0942    $   10.4404
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --             --               --             711,179      3,360,596
 MANAGED SECTORS SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......    $10.0000       $  11.7627    $     12.3521     $   12.6760    $   12.2606    $   15.9925
     End of period.............    $11.7627       $  12.3521    $     12.6760     $   12.2606    $   15.9925    $   18,5452
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      51,219        2,614,510        4,525,423       6,351,641      8,542,869     10,541,726
 MONEY MARKET SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......    $10.0000       $  10.0370    $     10.2288     $   10.3527    $   10.5878    $   11.0111
     End of period.............    $10.0370       $  10.2288    $     10.3527     $   10.5878    $   11.0111    $   11.3932
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................     417,559        4,101,024        6,055,673      14,774,386     17,186,041     27,275,583
 RESEARCH SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......      --               --             --           $   10.0000**  $    9.8615    $   13.3663
     End of period.............      --               --             --           $    9.8615    $   13.3663    $   16.3209
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --             --               392,528      5,341,160     19,577,745
 TOTAL RETURN SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......    $10.0000       $  10.3042    $     11.0125     $   12.3142    $   11.8694    $   14.8406
     End of period.............    $10.3042       $  11.0125    $     12.3142     $   11.8694    $   14.8406    $   16.6932
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................     280,202       12,952,314       32,979,812      48,270,556     53,091,748     59,508,016
 UTILITIES SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......      --               --        $     10.0000**   $   10.0000    $    9.3739    $   12.2403
     End of period.............      --               --        $     10.0000     $    9.3739    $   12.2403    $   14.5260
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --              279,796       2,273,439      3,410,047      4,671,192
 VALUE SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......      --               --             --               --             --         $   10.0000**
     End of period.............      --               --             --               --             --         $   10.9234
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --             --               --             --           1,520,787
 WORLD ASSET ALLOCATION SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......      --               --             --           $   10.0000**  $   10.0367    $   12.0393
     End of period.............      --               --             --           $   10.0367    $   12.0393    $   13.7702
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --             --               299,210      2,141,041      5,539,010
 WORLD GOVERNMENTS SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......    $10.0000       $  10.6125    $     10.5161     $   12.3309    $   11.6151    $   13.2523
     End of period.............    $10.6125       $  10.5161    $     12.3309     $   11.6151    $   13.2523    $   13.6780
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      44,190        3,405,280        7,008,613       8,334,019      8,272,858      7,510,766
 WORLD GROWTH SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......      --               --        $     10.0000**   $   10.6200    $   10.7803    $   12.3321
     End of period.............      --               --        $     10.6200     $   10.7803    $   12.3321    $   13.7523
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --            1,778,644       9,182,555     11,421,691     13,989,946
 WORLD TOTAL RETURN SERIES
   Unit Value:
     Beginning of period.......      --               --             --           $   10.0000**  $   10.0195    $   11.6516
     End of period.............      --               --             --           $   10.0195    $   11.6516    $   13.1290
   Units outstanding end of
    period.....................      --               --             --               138,126      1,170,586      2,836,079
<FN>
 
- ----------------------------------
 * From November 18, 1991 (date of commencement of issuance of the Contracts) to
   December 31, 1991.
** Unit value on date of commencement of operations of the respective
   Sub-Account.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
                                PERFORMANCE DATA
 
    From time to time the Variable Account may publish reports to shareholders,
sales literature and advertisements containing performance data relating to the
Sub-Accounts. Performance data will consist of total return quotations which
will always include quotations for the period subsequent to the date each Sub-
Account became available for investment under the Contracts, and for recent one
year and, when applicable, five and ten year periods. Such quotations for such
periods will be the average annual rates of return required for an initial
Purchase Payment of $1,000 to equal the actual variable accumulation value
attributable to such Purchase Payment on the last day of the period, after
reflection of all applicable withdrawal and contract charges. In addition, the
Variable Account may calculate non-standardized rates of return that do not
reflect withdrawal and contract charges. Results calculated without withdrawal
and/or contract charges will be higher. Performance figures used by the Variable
Account are based on the actual historical performance of the Series Fund for
specified periods, and the figures are not intended to indicate future
performance. The Variable Account may also from time to time compare its
investment performance to various unmanaged indices or other variable annuities
and may refer to certain rating and other organizations in its marketing
materials. More detailed information on the computations is set forth in
Appendix D.
 
                     THIS PROSPECTUS IS A CATALOG OF FACTS
 
    This Prospectus contains information about the master group deferred annuity
contract (the "Contract") which provides fixed benefits, variable benefits or a
combination of both. It describes its uses and objectives, its benefits and
costs, and the rights and privileges of the Owner and the Participant, as
applicable. It also contains information about the Company, the Variable
Account, the Fixed Account and the Series Fund. It has been carefully prepared
in non-technical language to help you decide whether the purchase of a Contract
will fit the needs of your retirement plan. We urge you to read it carefully and
retain it for future reference. The Contract has appropriate provisions relating
to variable and fixed accumulation values and variable and fixed annuity
payments. A Variable Annuity and a Fixed Annuity have certain similarities. Both
provide that Purchase Payments, less certain deductions, will be accumulated
prior to the Annuity Commencement Date. After the Annuity Commencement Date,
annuity payments will be made to the Annuitant. The Company assumes the
mortality and expense risks under the Contract, for which it receives certain
amounts. The significant difference between a Variable Annuity and a Fixed
Annuity is that under a Variable Annuity, all investment risk is assumed by the
Participant or Payee and the amounts of the annuity payments vary with the
investment performance of the Variable Account; under a Fixed Annuity, the
investment risk is assumed by the Company (except in the case of early
withdrawals (See "Cash Withdrawals" and "Market Value Adjustment")) and the
amounts of the annuity payments do not vary. However, the Participant bears the
risk that the Guaranteed Interest Rate to be credited on amounts allocated to
the Fixed Account may not exceed the minimum guaranteed rate for any Guarantee
Period.
 
                              USES OF THE CONTRACT
 
   
    The Contract is designed for use in connection with retirement plans which
meet the requirements of Section 401 (including Section 401(k)), Section 403,
Section 408(b), Section 408(c), Section 408(k) or Section 408(p) of the Internal
Revenue Code; however, the Company may discontinue offering new Contracts in
connection with certain types of qualified plans. Certain federal tax advantages
are currently available to retirement plans which qualify as (1) self-employed
individuals' retirement plans under Section 401; (2) corporate or association
retirement plans under Section 401; (3) annuity purchase plans sponsored by
certain tax exempt organizations or public school systems under Section 403(b);
or (4) individual retirement accounts, including employer or association of
employees individual retirement accounts under Section 408(c), SEP-IRAs under
Section 408(k) and Simple Retirement Accounts under Section 408(p) (See "Federal
Tax Status").
    
 
    The Contract is also designed so that it may be used in connection with
certain non-tax-qualified retirement plans, such as payroll savings plans and
such other groups (trusteed or nontrusteed) as may be eligible under applicable
law.
 
    A Contract is issued to the Owner covering all Participants. Each
Participant receives a Certificate which evidences his or her participation
under the Contract. For the purposes of determining benefits under the Contract,
a Participant's Account is established for each Participant.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
                           A WORD ABOUT THE COMPANY,
          THE FIXED ACCOUNT, THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT AND THE SERIES FUND
 
THE COMPANY
 
    The Company is a stock life insurance company incorporated under the laws of
Delaware on January 12, 1970. Its Executive Office mailing address is One Sun
Life Executive Park, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181, telephone (617)
237-6030. It has obtained authorization to do business in forty-eight states,
the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and it is anticipated that the Company
will be authorized to do business in all states except New York. The Company
issues life insurance policies and individual and group annuities. The Company
has formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of
New York, which issues individual fixed and combination fixed/variable annuity
contracts and group life and long-term disability insurance in New York and
which offers in New York contracts similar to the Contract offered by this
Prospectus. The Company's other subsidiaries are Massachusetts Financial
Services Company and Sun Capital Advisers, Inc., registered investment advisers,
Sun Investment Services Company, a registered broker-dealer and investment
adviser, Sun Benefit Services Company, Inc., which offers claims, administrative
and pension brokerage services, New London Trust, F.S.B., a federally chartered
savings bank, Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company, which issues individual
disability income policies, and Sun Life Financial Services Limited which
provides off-shore administrative services to the Company and Sun Life Assurance
Company of Canada.
 
    The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada, 150 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Sun Life Assurance
Company of Canada is a mutual life insurance company incorporated pursuant to
Act of Parliament of Canada in 1865 and currently transacts business in all of
the Canadian provinces and territories, all states except New York, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Great Britain, Ireland, Hong Kong,
Bermuda and the Philippines (See "Additional Information about the Company").
 
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 Guarantee Periods available in connection with the Fixed Account to
the extent elected by the Participant at the time of the establishment of a
Participant's Account or as subsequently changed. In addition, all or part of
the Participant's Account Value may be transferred to Guarantee Periods
available under the Contract as described under "Transfer Privilege". Assets
supporting amounts allocated to Guarantee Periods become part of the Company's
general account assets and are available to fund the claims of all classes of
customers of the Company, including claims for benefits under Certificates.
 
    The Company will invest the assets of the Fixed Account in those assets
chosen by the Company and allowed by applicable state laws 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.
 
    The Company intends to invest the assets of the Fixed Account primarily in
debt instruments as follows: (1) Securities issued by the United States
Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, which issues may or may not be
guaranteed by the United States Government; (2) Debt securities which have an
investment grade, at the time of purchase, within the four highest grades
assigned by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. (Aaa, Aa, A or Baa), Standard &
Poor's Corporation (AAA, AA, A or BBB) or any other nationally recognized rating
service; (3) Other debt instruments, including, but not limited to, issues of or
guaranteed by banks or bank holding companies and other corporations, which
obligations, although not rated by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, are deemed by
the Company's management to have an investment quality comparable to securities
which may be purchased as stated above; and (4) Other evidences of indebtedness
secured by mortgages or deeds of trust representing liens upon real estate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may also invest a portion of the
Fixed Account in below investment grade debt instruments.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
Instruments rated Baa and/or BBB or lower normally involve a higher risk of
default and are less liquid than higher rated instruments. If the rating of an
investment grade debt security held by the Company is subsequently downgraded to
below investment grade, the decision to retain or dispose of the security will
be made based upon an individual evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the
downgrading and the prospects for continued deterioration, stabilization and/or
improvement.
 
    The Company is not obligated to invest amounts allocated to the Fixed
Account according to any particular strategy, except as may be required by
applicable state insurance laws. Investment income from such Fixed Account
assets will be allocated between the Company and all contracts participating in
the Fixed Account, including the Contracts offered by this Prospectus, 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 Contract which cannot be changed
(except as described under "Modification" with respect to Participant's Accounts
established after the effective date of such modification). In addition, the
Company guarantees that it will not increase charges for maintenance of the
Contracts, regardless of its actual expenses (except as described under
"Modification" with respect to Participant's Accounts established after the
effective date of such modification).
 
    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 contracts
participating in the Fixed Account. The Company expects to derive a profit from
this compensation. The amount of investment income allocated to the Contracts
will vary from Guarantee Period to Guarantee Period in the sole discretion of
the Company. However, the Company guarantees that it will credit interest at a
minimum rate specified in the Contract and Certificate (not less than 3% per
year), compounded annually, to amounts allocated to the Fixed Account under the
Contract. The Company may credit interest at a rate in excess of the minimum
rate; however, the Company is not obligated to credit any interest in excess of
such rate. 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. The
Company's general investment strategy will be to invest amounts allocated to the
Fixed Account in investment-grade debt securities and mortgages using
immunization strategies with respect to the applicable Guarantee Periods. This
includes, with respect to investments and average terms of investments, using
dedication (cash flow matching) and/or duration matching to minimize the
Company's risk of not achieving the rates it is crediting under Guarantee
Periods in volatile interest rate environments. ANY INTEREST CREDITED TO AMOUNTS
ALLOCATED TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IN EXCESS OF THE MINIMUM RATE SPECIFIED IN THE
CONTRACT WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY. THE
PARTICIPANT ASSUMES THE RISK THAT INTEREST CREDITED ON AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO THE
FIXED ACCOUNT MAY NOT EXCEED THE MINIMUM GUARANTEE FOR ANY GIVEN YEAR.
 
    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.
 
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    The basic objective of a variable annuity contract is to provide variable
annuity payments which will be to some degree responsive to changes in the
economic environment, including inflationary forces and changes in rates of
return available from various types of investments. The Contract is designed to
seek to accomplish this objective by providing that variable annuity payments
(1) will reflect the investment performance of the Variable Account with respect
to amounts allocated to the Variable Account before the Annuity
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
Commencement Date and (2) will reflect the investment performance of the
Variable Account after that date. Since the Variable Account is always fully
invested in Series Fund shares, its investment performance reflects the
investment performance of the Series Fund. Values of Series Fund shares held by
the Variable Account fluctuate and are subject to the risks of changing economic
conditions as well as the risk inherent in the ability of the Series Fund's
management to make necessary changes in its portfolios to anticipate changes in
economic conditions. Therefore, the Participant bears the entire investment risk
that the basic objectives of the Contract may not be realized, and that the
adverse effects of inflation may not be lessened and there can be no assurance
that the aggregate amount of variable annuity payments will equal or exceed the
aggregate amount of Purchase Payments made with respect to a particular
Participant's Account for the reasons described above or because of the
premature death of a Payee.
 
    Another important feature of the Contract related to its basic objective is
the Company's promise 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 expense deductions provided for in the Contract.
 
    Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account F (the "Variable Account") was
established by the Company as a separate account on July 13, 1989 pursuant to a
resolution of its Board of Directors. 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. These assets are held in relation to
the Contracts described in this Prospectus and such other variable annuity
contracts issued by the Company and designated by it as providing benefits which
vary in accordance with the investment performance of the Variable Account.
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 Variable Account meets the definition of a separate account under the
federal securities laws and is registered as a unit investment trust under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Registration with the Securities and Exchange
Commission does not involve supervision of the management or investment
practices or policies of the Variable Account or of the Company by the
Commission.
 
    The assets of the Variable Account are divided into Sub-Accounts. Each
Sub-Account invests exclusively in shares of a specific series of the Series
Fund. All amounts allocated to the Variable Account will be used to purchase
Series Fund shares as designated by the Participant at their net asset value.
Any and all distributions made by the Series Fund 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, Account Fees, contract charges
against the assets of the Variable Account for the assumption of mortality and
expense risks, distribution expenses, administrative expenses and any applicable
taxes will, in effect, be made by redeeming the number of Series 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 Series Fund shares at all times.
 
THE SERIES FUND
 
    MFS/Sun Life Series Trust (the "Series Fund") is an open-end investment
management company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Currently shares of the Series Fund are also sold to other separate accounts
established by the Company and Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New
York in connection with individual and group variable annuity contracts and
single premium variable life insurance contracts. In the future, shares of the
Series Fund may be sold to other separate accounts established by the Company or
its affiliates to fund other variable annuity or variable life insurance
contracts. The Company and its affiliates will be responsible for reporting to
the Series Fund's Board of Trustees any potential or existing conflicts between
the interests of variable annuity contract owners/participants and the interests
of owners of variable life insurance contracts that provide for investment in
shares of the Series Fund. The Board of Trustees, a majority of whom are not
"interested persons" of the Series Fund, as that term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, also intends to monitor the Series Fund to
identify
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
the existence of any such irreconcilable material conflicts and to determine
what action, if any, should be taken by the Series Fund and/or the Company and
its affiliates (see "Management of the Series Fund" in the Series Fund
prospectus).
 
   
    The Series Fund is composed of twenty independent portfolios of securities,
each of which has separate investment objectives and policies. Shares of the
Series Fund are issued in twenty series, each corresponding to one of the
portfolios; however, the Contracts provide for investment only in shares of the
nineteen series of the Series Fund described below. Additional portfolios may be
added to the Series Fund which may or may not be available for investment by the
Variable Account.
    
 
   
    (1) MONEY MARKET SERIES will seek maximum current income to the extent
consistent with stability of principal by investing exclusively in money market
instruments maturing in less than 13 months, including U.S. government
securities and repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities,
obligations of the larger banks and prime commercial paper.
    
 
   
    (2) HIGH YIELD SERIES will seek high current income and capital appreciation
by investing primarily in fixed income securities of U.S. and foreign issuers
which may be in the lower rated categories or unrated (commonly known as "junk
bonds") and which may include equity features. These securities generally
involve greater volatility of price and risk to principal and income and less
liquidity than securities in the higher rated categories. Any person
contemplating allocating Purchase Payments to the Sub-Account investing in
shares of the High Yield Series should review the risk disclosure in the Series
Fund prospectus carefully and consider the investment risks involved.
    
 
   
    (3) CAPITAL APPRECIATION SERIES will seek capital appreciation by investing
in securities of all types, with a major emphasis on common stocks.
    
 
   
    (4) GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES will seek current income and preservation
of capital by investing in U.S. Government and Government-related Securities.
    
 
   
    (5) WORLD GOVERNMENTS SERIES will seek moderate current income and
preservation and growth of capital by investing in a portfolio of U.S. and
Foreign Government Securities.
    
 
   
    (6) TOTAL RETURN SERIES will seek primarily to obtain above-average income
(compared to a portfolio entirely invested in equity securities) consistent with
prudent employment of capital; its secondary objective is to take advantage of
opportunities for growth of capital and income. Assets will be allocated and
reallocated from time to time between money market, fixed income and equity
securities. Under normal market conditions, at least 25% of the Total Return
Series' assets will be invested in fixed income securities and at least 40% and
no more than 75% of its assets will be invested in equity securities.
    
 
   
    (7) MANAGED SECTORS SERIES will seek capital appreciation by varying the
weighting of its portfolio of common stocks among certain industry sectors.
Dividend income, if any, is incidental to its objective of capital appreciation.
    
 
   
    (8) CONSERVATIVE GROWTH SERIES will seek long-term growth of capital and
future income while providing more current dividend income than is normally
obtainable from a portfolio of only growth stocks 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 and a smaller proportion of its assets in securities whose
principal characteristic is income production.
    
 
   
    (9) UTILITIES SERIES will seek capital growth and current income (income
above that available from a portfolio invested entirely in equity securities) by
investing, under normal market conditions, at least 65% of its assets in equity
and debt securities issued by both domestic and foreign utility companies.
    
 
   
    (10) WORLD GROWTH SERIES will seek capital appreciation by investing in
securities of companies worldwide growing at rates expected to be well above the
growth rate of the overall U.S. economy.
    
 
   
    (11) RESEARCH SERIES will seek to provide long-term growth of capital and
future income.
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
   
    (12) WORLD ASSET ALLOCATION SERIES will seek total return over the long term
through investments in foreign and domestic equity and fixed income securities
and will also seek to have low volatility of share price (i.e. net asset value
per share) and reduced risk (compared to an aggressive equity/fixed income
portfolio).
    
 
   
    (13) WORLD TOTAL RETURN SERIES will seek total return by investing in
securities which will provide above average current income (compared to a
portfolio invested entirely in equity securities) and opportunities for
long-term growth of capital and income. The series will invest primarily in
global equity and fixed income securities (i.e. those of U.S. and non-U.S.
issuers).
    
 
   
    (14) EMERGING GROWTH SERIES will seek to provide long-term growth of capital
by investing primarily (i.e. at least 80% of its assets under normal
circumstances) in common stocks of emerging growth companies, including small
and medium sized companies that are early in their life cycle but which have the
potential to become major enterprises. Dividend and interest income from
portfolio securities, if any, is incidental to its objective of long-term growth
of capital.
    
 
    (15), (16) AND (17) The following three series are collectively referred to
as the "MFS/Foreign & Colonial Series."
 
   
    (15) MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH SERIES will seek capital
appreciation by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 65% of its
total assets in equity securities of companies whose principal activities are
outside the U.S. growing at rates expected to be well above the growth rate of
the overall U.S. economy.
    
 
   
    (16) MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME SERIES will seek
capital appreciation and current income by investing, under normal market
conditions, at least 65% of its total assets in equity and fixed income
securities of issuers whose principal activities are outside the U.S.
    
 
   
    (17) MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY SERIES will seek capital
appreciation by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 65% of its
total assets in equity securities of issuers whose principal activities are
located in emerging market countries.
    
 
   
    (18) VALUE SERIES will seek capital appreciation.
    
 
   
    (19) RESEARCH GROWTH AND INCOME SERIES (available June 1, 1997) will seek to
provide long-term growth of capital, current income and growth of income.
    
 
   
    The investment adviser of the Series Fund, Massachusetts Financial Services
Company ("MFS"), is paid fees by the Series Fund for its services pursuant to
investment advisory agreements. MFS, a Delaware corporation, is a subsidiary of
the Company. MFS also serves as investment adviser to each of the funds in the
MFS Family of Funds, and to certain other investment companies established by
MFS and/or the Company. MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of MFS, provides investment advice to substantial private clients.
MFS and its predecessor organizations have a history of money management dating
from 1924. MFS operates as an autonomous organization and the obligation of
performance with respect to the investment advisory and underwriting agreements
(including supervision of the sub-advisers noted below) is solely that of MFS.
The Company undertakes no obligation in this respect.
    
 
   
    The investment advisory agreements for the World Growth Series and the
MFS/Foreign & Colonial Series permit MFS from time to time to engage one or more
sub-advisers to assist in the performance of its services. MFS has engaged
Foreign & Colonial Management Limited ("FCM") and its subsidiary, Foreign &
Colonial Emerging Markets Limited ("FCEM"), as sub-advisers of these series.
    
 
    A more detailed description of the Series Fund, its management, its
investment objectives, policies and restrictions and its expenses may be found
in the accompanying current prospectus of the Series Fund and in the Series
Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
        PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND CONTRACT VALUES DURING ACCUMULATION PERIOD
 
PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
(1) PLACE, AMOUNT AND FREQUENCY
 
    All Purchase Payments are to be paid to the Company at its Annuity Service
Mailing Address. The amount of Purchase Payments may vary; however, the Company
will not accept an initial Purchase Payment to be allocated to a Participant's
Account which is less than $5,000, and each additional Purchase Payment must be
at least $1,000, unless waived by the Company. In addition, the prior approval
of the Company is required before it will accept a Purchase Payment which would
cause the value of a Participant's Account to exceed $1,000,000. If the value of
a Participant's Account exceeds $1,000,000, no additional Purchase Payments will
be allocated without the prior approval of the Company.
 
    A completed Application and the initial Purchase Payment are forwarded to
the Company for acceptance. Upon acceptance, the Contract and Certificate(s), as
applicable, are issued to the Owner and/or Participant(s), respectively, and the
initial Purchase Payment is then credited to the Participant's Account. The
initial Purchase Payment must be applied within two business days of receipt by
the Company 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 prospective participant will be informed of the reasons for the delay
and the Purchase Payment will be returned immediately unless the prospective
participant specifically consents to the Company's retaining the Purchase
Payment until the Application is made complete. Thereafter, the Purchase Payment
must be applied within two business days. Subsequent Purchase Payments are
applied at the end of the Valuation Period during which they are received by the
Company.
 
(2) ACCOUNT CONTINUATION
 
    A Participant's Account shall be continued automatically in full force
during the lifetime of the Annuitant until the Annuity Commencement Date or
until the Participant's Account is surrendered. Purchase Payments may be made at
any time while the Participant's Account is in force.
 
(3) ALLOCATION OF NET PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
    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 either to Guarantee Periods available in connection
with 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 in the particular Participant's Application, or as subsequently
changed.
 
    The allocation factors for new Payments between the Guarantee Periods and
among the Sub-Accounts may be changed by the Participant at any time by giving
written notice of the change to the Company. Any change will take effect with
the first Purchase Payment received with or after receipt of notice of the
change by the Company and will continue in effect until subsequently changed.
 
PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT
 
    The Company will establish a Participant's Account for each Participant
under a Contract and will maintain the Participant's Account during the
Accumulation Period. The Participant's Account Value for any Valuation Period is
equal to the sum of the variable accumulation value, if any, plus the fixed
accumulation value, if any, of the Participant's Account for that Valuation
Period.
 
VARIABLE ACCUMULATION VALUE
 
    The variable accumulation value of a Participant's Account, if any, for any
Valuation Period is equal to the sum of the value of all Variable Accumulation
Units credited to the Participant's Account for such Valuation Period.
 
(1) CREDITING VARIABLE 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 any Sub-Accounts in
accordance with the allocation factors will be credited to the Participant's
Account in the form of Variable Accumulation Units. The number of particular
Variable
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
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 applied by the Company to the Participant's Account.
 
(2) 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-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 the same from Valuation
Period to Valuation Period in accordance with the Net Investment Factor
described below. For a hypothetical example of the calculation of the value of a
Variable Accumulation Unit, see Appendix A.
 
(3) 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 Series 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 Series Fund on 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 Series Fund share held in the
    Sub-Account determined as of the end of the preceding Valuation Period; and
 
        (c) is the asset charge factor determined by the Company for the
    Valuation Period to reflect the charges for assuming the mortality and
    expense risks and administrative expense risk.
 
FIXED ACCUMULATION VALUE
 
    The fixed accumulation value of a Participant's Account, if any, for any
Valuation Period is equal to the sum of the values of all Guarantee Amounts
credited to the Participant's Account for such Valuation Period.
 
GUARANTEE PERIODS
 
    The Participant may elect one or more Guarantee Period(s) with durations of
from one to ten years from among those made available by the Company. The
period(s) elected will determine the Guaranteed Interest Rate(s). A Purchase
Payment, or the portion thereof (at least $1,000) (or the amount transferred in
accordance with the Transfer Privilege) allocated to a particular Guarantee
Period, less any applicable premium or similar taxes and any amounts
subsequently withdrawn, will earn interest at the Guaranteed Interest Rate
during the Guarantee Period. Initial Guarantee Periods begin on the date the
Purchase Payment is applied, or, in the case of a transfer, on the effective
date of the transfer, and end the number of calendar years in the
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
Guarantee Period elected from the end of the calendar month in which the amount
was allocated to the Guarantee Period (the "Expiration Date"). Subsequent
Guarantee Periods begin on the first day following the Expiration Date.
 
    Any portion of a Participant's Account Value allocated to a particular
Guarantee Period with a particular Expiration Date (including interest earned
thereon) will be referred to herein as a "Guarantee Amount". Interest will be
credited daily at a rate equivalent to the compound annual rate. As a result of
additional Purchase Payments, renewals and transfers of portions of the
Participant's Account Value described under "Transfer Privilege" below, which
will begin new Guarantee Periods, Guarantee Amounts allocated to Guarantee
Periods of the same duration may have different Expiration Dates. Thus each
Guarantee Amount will be treated separately for purposes of determining any
Market Value Adjustment (See "Market Value Adjustment").
 
   
    The Company will notify the Participant in writing at least 45 and no more
than 75 days prior to the Expiration Date for any Guarantee Amount. A new
Guarantee Period of the same duration as the previous Guarantee Period will
commence automatically at the end of the previous Guarantee Period unless the
Company receives, prior to the end of such Guarantee Period, a written election
by the Participant of a different Guarantee Period from among those being
offered by the Company at such time, or instructions to transfer all or a
portion of the Guarantee Amount to one or more Sub-Accounts in accordance with
the Transfer Privilege Provision. Each new Guarantee Amount must be at least
$1,000.
    
 
   
DOLLAR COST AVERAGING
    
 
GUARANTEED INTEREST RATES
 
    The Company periodically will establish an applicable Guaranteed Interest
Rate for each Guarantee Period offered by the Company. Current Guaranteed
Interest Rates may be changed by the Company frequently or infrequently
depending on interest rates available to the Company and other factors as
described below, but once established rates will be guaranteed for the duration
of the respective Guarantee Periods. However, Participant's Account Value
withdrawn from the Fixed Account will be subject to any applicable withdrawal
charge and Account Fee and may be subject to a Market Value Adjustment on
withdrawal or surrender (See "Market Value Adjustment").
 
    The Guaranteed Interest Rate will not be less than the minimum guaranteed
rate specified in the Contract and Certificate, compounded annually. The Company
has no specific formula for determining the rate of interest that it will
declare as a Guaranteed Interest Rate, as these rates will be reflective of
interest
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
rates available on the types of debt instruments in which the Company intends to
invest amounts allocated to the Fixed Account (See "The Fixed Account"). In
addition, the Company's management may consider other factors in determining
Guaranteed Interest Rates for a particular duration including: regulatory and
tax requirements; sales commissions and administrative and distribution expenses
borne by the Company; general economic trends; and competitive factors. The
Participant bears the risk that the Guaranteed Interest Rate to be credited on
amounts allocated to the Fixed Account may not exceed the minimum guaranteed
rate for any Guarantee Period.
 
TRANSFER PRIVILEGE; RESTRICTION ON MARKET TIMERS
 
   
    At any time during the Accumulation Period the Participant may, upon written
request received by the Company, transfer all or part of the Participant's
Account Value to one or more Sub-Accounts or Guarantee Periods available under
the Contract, subject to the following conditions: (1) not more than 12
transfers may be made in any Account Year; for Certificates issued after May 1,
1997 in states in which approval has been received, a minimum of 30 days must
elapse between transfers made to or from the Fixed Account or among Guarantee
Periods; (2) the amount being transferred from a Sub-Account may not be less
than $1,000, unless the total Participant's Account Value attributable to a
Sub-Account is being transferred; (3) any Participant's Account Value remaining
in a Sub-Account may not be less than $1,000; and (4) the total Participant's
Account Value attributable to the Guarantee Amount must be transferred; however,
the transfer of interest credited to such Guarantee Amount during the current
Account Year and automatic transfers to a Sub-Account of amounts allocated to a
Guarantee Period with a one-year duration in connection with an approved dollar
cost averaging program are not subject to this restriction. In addition,
transfers of a Guarantee Amount (except the automatic transfers described under
(4) above) will be subject to the Market Value Adjustment described below unless
the transfer is effective within 30 days prior to the Expiration Date applicable
to the Guarantee Amount; and transfers involving Variable Accumulation Units
shall be subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Series
Fund. Currently, there is no charge for transfers; however, the Company reserves
the right to impose a charge of up to $15 for each transfer. A transfer
generally will be effective on the date the request for transfer is received by
the Company. Under current law, there will not be any tax liability to the
Participant if a Participant makes a transfer.
    
 
    The Contracts are not designed for professional market timing organizations
or other entities using programmed and frequent transfers. The Series Fund has
reserved the right to temporarily or permanently refuse exchange requests from
the Variable Account if, in the judgment of the Series Fund's investment
adviser, a series would be unable to invest effectively in accordance with its
investment objective and policies, or would otherwise potentially be adversely
affected. In particular, a pattern of exchanges that coincide with a "market
timing" strategy may be disruptive to a series and therefore may be refused.
Accordingly, the Variable Account may not be in a position to effectuate
transfers and may refuse transfer requests without prior notice. Persons who
wish to employ such strategies should not purchase a Contract.
 
        CASH WITHDRAWALS, WITHDRAWAL CHARGES AND MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
 
CASH WITHDRAWALS
 
    At any time before the Annuity Commencement Date and during the lifetime of
the Annuitant, the Participant 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.
 
    The Participant may request a full surrender or partial withdrawal. A full
surrender will result in a cash withdrawal payment equal to the value of the
Participant's Account at the end of the Valuation Period during which the
election becomes effective less the Account Fee, plus or minus any applicable
Market Value Adjustment, and less any applicable withdrawal charge. A request
for a partial withdrawal will result in the cancellation of a portion of the
Participant's Account Value equal to the dollar amount of the cash withdrawal
payment, plus or minus any applicable Market Value Adjustment and plus any
applicable withdrawal charge. If a partial withdrawal is requested which would
leave a Participant's Account Value of less than the Account Fee, then such
partial withdrawal will be treated as a full surrender. The Account Fee and any
applicable Market Value Adjustment will be deducted from the Participant's
Account before the application of any withdrawal charge.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    In the case of a partial withdrawal, the Participant may instruct the
Company as to the amounts to be withdrawn from each Sub-Account and/or Guarantee
Amount. If not so instructed, the Company will effect such withdrawal pro-rata
from each Sub-Account and Guarantee Amount in which the Participant's Account
Value is invested at the end of the Valuation Period during which the withdrawal
becomes effective. ALL CASH WITHDRAWALS OF ANY GUARANTEE AMOUNT, EXCEPT THOSE
EFFECTIVE WITHIN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE OF SUCH GUARANTEE AMOUNT
OR THE WITHDRAWAL OF INTEREST CREDITED DURING THE CURRENT ACCOUNT YEAR, WILL BE
SUBJECT TO THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT.
 
    Cash withdrawals from a Sub-Account will result in the cancellation of
Variable Accumulation Units attributable to the Participant's Account with an
aggregate value on the effective date of the withdrawal equal to the total
amount by which the Sub-Account is reduced. The cancellation of such units will
be based on the Variable Accumulation Unit values of the Sub-Account at the end
of the Valuation Period during which the cash withdrawal is effective.
 
    The Company, upon request, will advise the Participant of the amounts that
would be payable in the event of a full surrender or partial withdrawal.
 
    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 and applicable
state insurance law. Deferral of amounts withdrawn from the Variable Account 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 Series Fund is not reasonably practicable or (b) it is not reasonably
practicable to determine the value of the net assets of the Series Fund or (3)
for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission may by order
permit for the protection of security holders. 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. The Company is not required to pay interest on amounts
so deferred.
 
    Since the Qualified Contracts offered by this Prospectus will be issued in
connection with retirement plans which meet the requirements of Sections 401,
403, and 408 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. For special restrictions applicable to withdrawals from Contracts
used with Tax-Sheltered Annuities established pursuant to Section 403(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code, see "Section 403(b) Annuities" below.
 
    A cash withdrawal under either a Qualified or Non-Qualified Contract offered
by this Prospectus also may result in a tax penalty. The tax consequences of a
cash withdrawal payment under both Qualified and Non-Qualified Contracts should
be carefully considered (See "Federal Tax Status").
 
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. Cash withdrawals may result in
a 10% tax penalty in addition to any withdrawal charge applicable under the
Contracts (See "Federal Tax Status").
 
    A portion of the Participant's 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 seven years it may be withdrawn free of any
withdrawal charge. In addition, no withdrawal charge is assessed upon
annuitization, upon payment of the death benefit or upon the transfer of
Participant's Account Value among the Sub-Accounts or between the Sub-Accounts
and the Fixed Account or within the Fixed Account.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
    The withdrawal charge is not assessed with respect to a Participant's
Account established for the personal account of an employee of the Company or of
any of its affiliates, or of a licensed insurance agent engaged in distributing
the Contracts and Certificates, and the Company may waive the withdrawal charge
with respect to Purchase Payments derived from the surrender of certificates
issued under certain single premium group combination fixed/variable annuity
contracts issued by the Company. In addition, if approval has been received from
state regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the applicable
Certificate, Certificates issued after November 1, 1994 provide that the Company
will waive the withdrawal charge arising from a full surrender if: 1) at least
one year has elapsed since the Certificate's Date of Coverage; and 2) the
Participant is confined to an eligible nursing home (a licensed hospital or
licensed skilled or intermediate care nursing facility at which treatment is
available on a daily basis and daily medical records are kept for each patient)
and has been confined there for the preceding 180 days. Such withdrawal may be
subject to the 10% tax penalty described above.
 
    All other full or partial withdrawals are subject to a withdrawal charge
which will be applied in accordance with the applicable methodology described
below:
 
PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS ESTABLISHED ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 1, 1994 IN JURISDICTIONS
WHERE APPROVAL OF THE CUMULATIVE FREE WITHDRAWAL PROVISION HAS BEEN RECEIVED
FROM THE APPROPRIATE STATE REGULATORY AUTHORITY:
 
    Certificates issued in connection with these Participants' Accounts provide
for the accumulation of the 10% annual free withdrawal amount into future years.
The applicable withdrawal charge will be determined on the following basis:
 
    (1) Old Payments and new Payments: With respect to a particular Account
Year, "new Payments" are those Payments made in that Account Year or in the six
immediately preceding Account Years, and "old Payments" are those Payments not
defined as new Payments.
 
    (2) Order of liquidation: To effect a full surrender or partial withdrawal,
each withdrawal is allocated first to the free withdrawal amount and then to
previously unliquidated Payments (on a first-in, first-out basis) until all
Purchase Payments have been liquidated.
 
    (3) Free withdrawal amount: The free withdrawal amount is equal to 10% of
any new Payments, irrespective of whether these new Payments have been
liquidated. Any portion of the free withdrawal amount that is not used in the
current Account Year is cumulative into future years.
 
    (4) Maximum withdrawal amount without a withdrawal charge: The maximum
amount that can be withdrawn without a withdrawal charge in an Account Year is
equal to the sum of (a) any previously unliquidated free withdrawal amount, and
(b) any previously unliquidated old Payments.
 
    (5) Amount subject to withdrawal charge: The amount subject to the
withdrawal charge is the amount of the partial withdrawal or full surrender less
the maximum withdrawal amount without a withdrawal charge, up to a maximum of
the sum of all unliquidated new Payments.
 
PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS ESTABLISHED BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 1994 AND THOSE ESTABLISHED
AFTER THAT DATE IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE APPROVAL OF THE CUMULATIVE FREE
WITHDRAWAL PROVISION HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE APPROPRIATE STATE REGULATORY
AUTHORITY:
 
    Certificates issued in connection with these Participants' Account do not
provide for the accumulation of the 10% annual free withdrawal amount into
future years.
 
    The applicable withdrawal charge will be determined as follows:
 
    (1) Old Payments, new Payments and accumulated value: With respect to a
particular Account Year, "new Payments" are those Payments made in that Account
Year or in the six immediately preceding Account Years; "old Payments" are those
Payments not defined as new Payments; and "accumulated value" is the
Participant's Account Value less the sum of old and new Payments.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
    (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 an Account 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 (as specified above) over (b) the remaining maximum free
withdrawal amount at the time of the withdrawal.
 
AMOUNT OF WITHDRAWAL CHARGE
 
    The withdrawal charge percentage varies according to the number of complete
Account Years between the Account Year in which a Purchase Payment was credited
to a Participant's Account and the Account Year in which it was withdrawn. The
amount of the withdrawal charge is determined by multiplying the amount subject
to the withdrawal charge by the withdrawal charge percentage, in accordance with
the following table:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    NUMBER OF COMPLETE
                      ACCOUNT YEARS     WITHDRAWAL CHARGE
                    ------------------  -----------------
                    <S>                 <C>
                    0-1                         6%
                    2-3                         5%
                    4-5                         4%
                    6                           3%
                    7 or more                   0%
</TABLE>
 
    In no event shall the aggregate withdrawal charges assessed against a
Participant's Account exceed 6% of the aggregate Purchase Payments made under a
Certificate (See Appendix C for examples of withdrawals, withdrawal charges and
the Market Value Adjustment). The Company may, upon notice to the Owner, modify
the withdrawal charges, provided that such modification shall apply only to
Participant's Accounts established after the effective date of such modification
(See "Modification").
 
SECTION 403(B) ANNUITIES
 
    The Internal Revenue Code imposes restrictions on cash withdrawals from
Contracts used with Section 403(b) Annuities. In order for these Contracts to
receive tax deferred treatment, the Contract must provide that cash withdrawals
of amounts attributable to salary reduction contributions (other than
withdrawals of accumulation account value as of December 31, 1988 ("Pre-1989
Account Value")) may be made only when the Participant attains age 59 1/2,
separates from service with the employer, dies or becomes disabled (within the
meaning of Section 72(m)(7) of the Code). These restrictions apply to any growth
or interest on or after January 1, 1989 on Pre-1989 Account Value, salary
reduction contributions made on or after January 1, 1989, and any growth or
interest on such contributions ("Restricted Account Value").
 
    Withdrawals of Restricted Account Value are also permitted in cases of
financial hardship, but only to the extent of contributions; earnings on
contributions cannot be withdrawn for hardship reasons. While specific rules
defining hardship have not been issued by the Internal Revenue Service, it is
expected that to qualify for a hardship distribution, the Participant must have
an immediate and heavy bona fide financial need and lack other resources
reasonably available to satisfy the need. Hardship withdrawals (as well as
certain other premature withdrawals) will be subject to a 10% tax penalty, in
addition to any withdrawal charge applicable under the Contract (See "Federal
Tax Status").
 
    Under the terms of a particular Section 403(b) plan, the Participant may be
entitled to transfer all or a portion of the Participant's Account Value to one
or more alternative funding options. Participants should consult the documents
governing their plan and the person who administers the plan for information as
to such investment alternatives.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
    With respect to these restrictions on withdrawals from the Variable Account,
the Company is relying upon a no-action letter dated November 28, 1988 from the
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to the American Council of Life
Insurance, the requirements for which have been complied with by the Company.
 
    For information on the federal income tax withholding rules that apply to
distributions from Qualified Contracts (including Section 403(b) Annuities) see
"Federal Tax Status".
 
MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
 
    Any cash withdrawal of a Guarantee Amount, other than a withdrawal effective
within 30 days prior to the Expiration Date of the Guarantee Amount or the
withdrawal of interest credited on such Guarantee Amount during the current
Account Year, will be subject to a Market Value Adjustment ("MVA") (for this
purpose, transfers (except automatic transfers to a Sub-Account of amounts
allocated to a Guarantee Period with a one-year duration in connection with an
approved dollar cost averaging program), distributions on the death of a
Participant and amounts applied to purchase an annuity are treated as cash
withdrawals). The MVA will be applied to the amount being withdrawn which is
subject to the MVA, after deduction of any applicable Account Fee and before
deduction of any applicable withdrawal charge.
 
    The MVA will reflect the relationship between the Current Rate (as defined
below) for the Guarantee Amount being withdrawn and the Guaranteed Interest Rate
applicable to the amount being withdrawn. It also reflects the time remaining in
the applicable Guarantee Period. Generally, if the Guaranteed Interest Rate is
lower than the applicable Current Rate, then the application of the MVA will
result in a lower payment upon withdrawal. Similarly, if the Guaranteed Interest
Rate is higher than the applicable Current Rate, the application of the MVA will
result in a higher payment upon withdrawal.
 
    The Market Value Adjustment is determined by the application of the
following formula:
 
<TABLE>
 <S>                        <C>
                              N/12
                      1 + I
                    ( ----- )      -1
                      1 + J
</TABLE>
 
where,
 
    I is the Guaranteed Interest Rate being credited to the Guarantee Amount
subject to the Market Value Adjustment,
 
    J is the Guaranteed Interest Rate declared by the Company, as of the
effective date of the application of the Market Value Adjustment, for current
allocations to Guarantee Periods equal to the balance of the Guarantee Period of
the Guarantee Amount subject to the Market Value Adjustment, rounded to the next
higher number of complete years (the "Current Rate"), and
 
    N is the number of complete months remaining in the Guarantee Period of the
Guarantee Amount subject to the Market Value Adjustment.
 
    In the determination of J, if the Company currently does not offer the
applicable Guarantee Period, then the rate will be determined by linear
interpolation of the current rates for Guarantee Periods that are available.
 
    See Appendix C for examples of the application of the Market Value
Adjustment.
 
                                 DEATH BENEFIT
 
DEATH BENEFIT PROVIDED BY THE CONTRACT
 
    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 there is no
designated Beneficiary living on the date of death of the Annuitant, the Company
will, upon receipt of Due Proof of Death of both the Annuitant and the
designated Beneficiary, pay the death benefit in one sum to the Participant or,
if the Annuitant was the Participant, to the estate of the
Participant/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 Annuity Option elected.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
ELECTION AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF ELECTION
 
    During the lifetime of the Annuitant and prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the Participant may elect to have the death benefit 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
Participant 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 single cash payment;
or (b) to have the death benefit 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. Either election described above may be made
by filing with the Company a written election in such form as the Company may
require. Any election of a method of settlement of the death benefit by the
Participant will become effective on the date it is received by the Company. For
the purposes of the Payment of Death Benefit and Amount of Death Benefit
sections below, any election of the method of settement of the death benefit by
the Participant which is in effect on the date of death of the Annuitant will be
deemed effective on the date Due Proof of Death of the Annuitant is received by
the Company. Any 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; or (b) the date Due Proof of Death of the Annuitant is
received by the Company. 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 is received by the Company, 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 Participant 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. (See "Other Contractual
Provisions -- Death of Participant").
 
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 any
such payment of amounts derived from the Variable Account in accordance with the
Investment Company Act of 1940. If the death benefit is to be paid in one sum to
the Participant or, if the Annuitant was the Participant, to the estate of the
deceased Participant/Annuitant, payment will be made within seven days of the
date Due Proof of Death of the Annuitant, the Participant and/or the designated
Beneficiary, as applicable, is received by the Company. If settlement under one
or more of the Annuity Options is elected the Annuity Commencement Date will be
the first day of the second calendar month following the effective date or the
deemed effective date of the election, and the Participant's Account will be
maintained in effect until the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFIT
 
    The death benefit is determined as of the effective date or deemed effective
date of the death benefit election.
 
    If the Annuitant was age 85 or less on the Date of Coverage, the death
benefit is equal to the greatest of (1) the Participant's Account Value for the
Valuation Period during which the death benefit election is effective or is
deemed to become effective; (2) the amount that would have been payable in the
event of a full surrender of the Participant's Account on the date the death
benefit election is effective or is deemed to become effective; (3) the
Participant's Account Value on the Seven Year Anniversary immediately preceding
the date the death benefit election is effective or is deemed to become
effective, adjusted for any subsequent Purchase Payments and partial withdrawals
and charges made between such Seven Year Anniversary and the date the election
is effective or is deemed to become effective; and (subject to state approval)
(4) the total Purchase Payments made with respect to the Participant's Account,
minus the sum of all partial withdrawals. For the purposes of determining the
amount payable under (4), each Purchase Payment and each partial withdrawal will
accumulate daily at a rate equivalent to 5% per year until the first day of the
month following the Annuitant's 80th birthday. No such accumulation will apply
to a Purchase Payment or partial withdrawal once that Purchase Payment or
partial withdrawal has, as a result of such accumulation, grown to double its
original amount.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
    If the Annuitant was age 86 or greater on the Date of Coverage, the death
benefit is equal to (2) above.
 
    If (2), (3) or (4) is operative the Participant's Account Value will be
increased by the excess of (2), (3) or (4), as applicable, over (1) and the
increase will be allocated to the Sub-Accounts based on the respective values of
the Sub-Accounts on the date the amount of the death benefit is determined. If
no portion of the Participant's Account is allocated to the Sub-Accounts, the
entire increase will be allocated to the Sub-Account invested in the Money
Market Series of the Series Fund.
 
                     HOW THE CONTRACT CHARGES ARE ASSESSED
 
    As more fully described below, charges under the Contract offered by this
Prospectus are assessed in three ways: (1) as deductions for the Account Fee
and, if applicable, for premium taxes; (2) as charges against the assets of the
Variable Account for the assumption of mortality and expense risks and
administrative expenses; and (3) as withdrawal charges (contingent deferred
sales charges). In addition, certain deductions are made from the assets of the
Series Fund for investment management fees and expenses. These fees and expenses
are described in the Series Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information.
 
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES
 
    Each year on the Account Anniversary, the Company deducts from each
Participant's Account an annual account administration fee ("Account Fee") as
partial compensation for expenses relating to the issue and maintenance of the
Contract, the Certificate and the Participant's Account. In Account Years one
through five the Account Fee is equal to the lesser of $30 and 2% of the
Participant's Account Value; thereafter the Account Fee may be changed annually,
but in no event may it exceed the lesser of $50 and 2% of the Participant's
Account Value. If a Participant's Account is surrendered for its full value on
other than the Account Anniversary, the Account Fee will be deducted in full at
the time of such surrender. The Account Fee will be deducted on a pro rata basis
from amounts allocated to each Guarantee Period and each Sub-Account in which
the Participant's Account is invested at the time of such deduction. Also, the
Account Fee will be waived by the Company when: (1) the entire Participant's
Account Value has been allocated to the Fixed Account during the entire previous
Account Year; or (2) the Participant's Account Value is greater than $75,000 at
the time of such deduction. On the Annuity Commencement Date, the value of the
Participant's Account will be reduced by a proportionate amount of the Account
Fee to reflect the time elapsed between the last Account Anniversary and the day
before the Annuity Commencement Date. After the Annuity Commencement Date, an
annual Account Fee of $30 will be deducted in equal amounts from each variable
annuity payment made during the year. No deduction will be made from fixed
annuity payments.
 
    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 0.15% to reimburse the Company for those
administrative expenses attributable to the Contracts, the Certificates, the
Participant's Accounts and the Variable Account which exceed the revenues
received from the Account Fee. The Company believes that the administrative
expense charge has been set at a level that will recover no more than the actual
costs associated with administering the Contracts and Certificates. For a
description of administrative services provided see "Administration of the
Contracts" on Page 39 of this Prospectus.
 
    The Contract provides that the Company may modify the Account Fee and the
administrative expense charge, provided that such modification shall apply only
with respect to Participant's Accounts established after the effective date of
such modification (See "Modification"). The Company does not expect to make a
profit from the Account Fee or the administrative expense charge.
 
PREMIUM TAXES
 
   
    A deduction, when applicable, is made for premium or similar state or local
taxes (See Appendix B). It is currently the policy of the Company 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.
    
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE
 
    The mortality risk assumed by the Company arises from the contractual
obligation to continue to make annuity payments to each Annuitant regardless of
how long the Annuitant lives and regardless of how long all annuitants as a
group live. This assures each annuitant that neither the longevity of fellow
annuitants nor an improvement in the life expectancy generally will have an
adverse effect on the amount of any annuity payment received under the Contract.
The Company assumes this mortality risk by virtue of annuity rates incorporated
into the Contract which cannot be changed except with respect to Participant's
Accounts established after the effective date of such change, as provided in the
section of this Prospectus entitled "Modification". The expense risk assumed by
the Company is the risk that the administrative charges assessed under the
Contract may be insufficient to cover the actual total 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 1.25%. 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. The Company will recoup its expected costs
associated with registering and distributing the Contracts by the assessment of
the withdrawal charges (contingent deferred sales charges) described below.
However, the withdrawal charges may prove to be insufficient to cover actual
distribution expenses. If this is the case, the deficiency will be met from the
Company's general corporate funds which may include amounts derived from the
mortality and expense risk charges.
 
    The Contract provides that the Company may modify the mortality and expense
risk charge; however, such modification shall apply only with respect to
Participant's Accounts established after the effective date of such modification
(See "Modification"). Mortality and expense risk and administrative expense
charges are the only expenses of the Variable Account.
 
   
    Mortality and expense risk charges, administrative charges and distribution
expense charges assessed under the Contracts or other contracts participating in
the investment experience of the Variable Account were the only expenses of the
Variable Account for the year ended December 31, 1996.
    
 
WITHDRAWAL CHARGES
 
    No deduction for sales charges is made from Purchase Payments. However, a
withdrawal charge (contingent deferred sales charge) of up to 6% of certain
amounts withdrawn, when applicable, will be used to cover certain expenses
relating to the sale of the Contract and Certificates thereunder, including
commissions paid to sales personnel, the costs of preparation of sales
literature and other promotional costs and acquisition expenses. Gross
commissions paid on the sale of these Contracts are not more than 7.34% of the
Purchase Payments. In addition, after the first Account Year, a trail commission
of no more than 0.70% of the Participant's Account Value may be paid (See "Cash
Withdrawals" and "Withdrawal Charges").
 
                               ANNUITY PROVISIONS
 
ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE
 
    Annuity payments will begin on the Annuity Commencement Date which is
selected by the Participant, as specified in the Application. The date selected
by the Participant may not be sooner than the first day of the second calendar
month following the Date of Coverage. This date may be changed by the
Participant from time to time by written notice to the Company, provided that
notice of each change is received by the Company at least 30 days prior to the
then current Annuity Commencement Date and the new Annuity Commencement Date is
a date which is: (1) at least 30 days after the date notice of the change is
received by the Company; (2) the first day of a month; and (3) not later than
the first day of the first month following the Annuitant's 90th birthday, unless
otherwise restricted, in the case of a Qualified Contract, by the particular
retirement plan or by applicable law. In most situations, current law requires
that the Annuity Commencement Date under a Qualified Contract be no later than
April 1 following the year the Annuitant
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
reaches age 70 1/2 , and the terms of 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 in the Death Benefit section of this
Prospectus.
 
    On the Annuity Commencement Date the Participant's Account will be cancelled
and its adjusted value will be applied to provide an annuity under one or more
of the options described below. No withdrawal charge will be imposed upon
amounts applied to purchase an annuity. However, the Market Value Adjustment may
apply, as noted under "Determination of Amount." NO PAYMENTS MAY BE REQUESTED
UNDER THE CONTRACT'S CASH WITHDRAWAL PROVISIONS ON OR AFTER THE ANNUITY
COMMENCEMENT DATE, AND NO CASH WITHDRAWAL WILL BE PERMITTED EXCEPT AS MAY BE
AVAILABLE UNDER THE ANNUITY OPTION ELECTED.
 
    Since the Contracts offered by this Prospectus may be issued in connection
with retirement plans which meet the requirements of Section 401, 403 or 408 of
the Internal Revenue Code, as well as certain non-qualified plans, reference
should be made to the terms of the particular plan for any limitations or
restrictions on the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
ELECTION--CHANGE OF ANNUITY OPTION
 
    During the lifetime of the Annuitant and prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date, the Participant 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. The Participant may also change any election, but
written notice of any election or change of election must be received by the
Company at least 30 days prior to 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. If there is no election of a sole Annuitant in effect on
the 30th day prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, the person designated as
"Co-Annuitant" will be the Payee under the applicable Annuity Option.
 
    Any election may specify the proportion of the adjusted value of the
Participant's Account to be applied to provide a Fixed Annuity and a Variable
Annuity. In the event the election does not so specify, or if no election is in
effect on the 30th day prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, then the portion
of the adjusted value of the Participant's Account to be applied to provide a
Fixed Annuity and a Variable Annuity will be determined on a pro rata basis from
the composition of the Participant's Account on the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
    Annuity Options may also be elected by the Participant or the Beneficiary as
provided in the Death Benefit section of this Prospectus.
 
    Reference should be made to the terms of a particular retirement plan and
any applicable legislation for any limitations or restrictions on the options
which may be elected.
 
    NO CHANGE OF ANNUITY OPTION IS PERMITTED AFTER THE ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT
DATE.
 
ANNUITY OPTIONS
 
    No lump sum settlement option is available under the Contract. The
Participant may surrender a Certificate prior to the Annuity Commencement Date;
however, any applicable surrender charge will be deducted from the cash
withdrawal payment and a Market Value Adjustment, if applicable, will be
applied.
 
    Annuity Options A, B, C and D are available to provide either a Fixed
Annuity or a Variable Annuity. Annuity Option E is 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 Annuity
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, 180 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. In the event of the death of the Payee under this
option, the Contract provides that if there is no designated beneficiary
entitled to the remaining payments then living, the
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
discounted value of the remaining payments, if any, will be calculated and paid
in one sum to the deceased Payee's estate. In addition, any beneficiary who
becomes entitled to any remaining payments under this option may elect to
receive the amounts due under this option in one sum. The discounted value for
variable annuity payments will be based on interest compounded annually at the
assumed interest rate specified in the applicable Contract and Certificate. The
discounted value for payments being made on a fixed basis will be based on the
interest rate initially used by the Company to determine the amount of each
payment.
 
    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 election of this option of the number of each type of Annuity Unit
credited to the Contract with respect to the Payee and fixed monthly payments,
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.  Monthly Payments for a Specified Period
Certain:  Monthly payments for a specified period of time (at least five years
but not exceeding 30 years), as elected. In the event of the death of the Payee
under this option, the Contract provides that, as described under Annuity Option
B above, in certain circumstances the discounted value of the remaining
payments, if any, will be calculated and paid in one sum.
 
    * 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 (at least over a
period of five years) 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 not be less than the minimum rate specified in the applicable
Contract and Certificate (at least 3% 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.
 
DETERMINATION OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
    On the Annuity Commencement Date the Participant's Account will be cancelled
and its adjusted value will be applied to provide a Variable Annuity or a Fixed
Annuity or a combination of both. The adjusted value will be equal to the
Participant's Account Value at the end of the Valuation Period which ends
immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement Date, reduced by a proportionate
amount of the Account Fee to reflect the time elapsed between the last Account
Anniversary and the day before the Annuity Commencement Date, plus or minus any
applicable Market Value Adjustment and minus any applicable premium or similar
taxes.
 
    If the amount to be applied under any annuity option is less than $2,000, or
if the first annuity payment payable in accordance with such option is less than
$20, the Company will pay the amount to be applied in a single payment to the
Payee.
 
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 the minimum guaranteed interest rate specified in the applicable Contract and
Certificate (at least 3% per year), or, if more favorable to the Payee(s), in
accordance with the Annuity Payment Rates published by the Company and in use on
the Annuity Commencement Date.
 
VARIABLE ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
    The dollar amount of the first variable annuity payment will be determined
in accordance with the Annuity Payment Rates found in the applicable Contract
which are based on an assumed interest rate of at least 3% per year, unless
these rates are changed (See "Modification"). All variable annuity payments
other
 
- ------------------------
 
* The election of this annuity option may result in the imposition of a penalty
tax.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
than the first are determined by means of Annuity Units credited to the Contract
with respect to the particular Payee. 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 at the end of the Valuation Period which
ends immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement Date. The number of Annuity
Units of each particular Sub-Account credited with respect to the particular
Payee 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, and is equal to the sum of the
amounts determined by multiplying the number of Annuity Units of a particular
Sub-Account credited with respect to the particular Payee 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. If the net
investment return on the assets of the Variable Account is the same as the
assumed interest rate, variable annuity payments will remain level. If the net
investment return exceeds the assumed interest rate variable annuity payments
will increase and, conversely, if it is less than the assumed interest rate the
payments will decrease.
 
    For a hypothetical example of the calculation of a Variable Annuity Payment,
see Appendix A.
 
VARIABLE 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
"Variable Accumulation Value, 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 used to establish the
Annuity Payment Rates found in the applicable Contract. For a one day Valuation
Period the factor is 0.99989255 using an assumed interest rate of 4% per year
and 0.99991902 using an assumed interest rate of 3% per year.
 
    For a hypothetical example of the calculation of the value of a Variable
Annuity Unit, see Appendix A.
 
EXCHANGE OF VARIABLE ANNUITY UNITS
 
    After the Annuity Commencement Date the Payee may, by filing a written
request with the Company, exchange the value of a designated number of Annuity
Units of particular Sub-Accounts then credited with respect to the particular
Payee into other 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. No more than twelve (12) exchanges may
be made within each Account Year.
 
    Exchanges may be made only between Sub-Accounts. Exchanges will be made
using the Annuity Unit values for the Valuation Period during which any request
for exchange is received by the Company.
 
ANNUITY PAYMENT RATES
 
    The Contract contains Annuity Payment Rates for each Annuity Option
described in this Prospectus. 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 specified in the applicable Contract and Certificate (at
least 3%); and (b) the monthly fixed annuity payment, when this payment is based
on the minimum guaranteed interest rate specified in the Contract and
Certificate (at least 3% per year).These rates may be changed by the Company
with respect to Participant's Accounts established after the effective date of
such change (See "Modification").
 
    The annuity payment rates may vary according to the Annuity Option elected
and the adjusted age of the Payee. The Contract also describes the method of
determining the adjusted age of the Payee. The mortality table used in
determining the annuity payment rates for Options A, B and C is the 1983
Individual Annuitant Mortality Table.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
                          OTHER CONTRACTUAL PROVISIONS
 
PAYMENT LIMITS
 
    The initial Purchase Payment credited to each Participant's Account must be
at least $5,000 and each additional Purchase Payment must be at least $1,000,
unless waived by the Company. In addition, the prior approval of the Company is
required before it will accept a Purchase Payment which would cause the value of
a Participant's Account to exceed $1,000,000. If the value of a Participant's
Account exceeds $1,000,000, no additional Purchase Payments will be accepted
without the prior approval of the Company. Purchase Payments may be made
annually, semi-annually, quarterly, monthly or at any other frequency acceptable
to the Company. The Participant may, subject to the minimum payment, increase or
decrease the amount of Purchase Payments or change the frequency of payment, but
the Participant is not obligated to continue Purchase Payments in the amount or
frequency elected. There are no penalties for failure to continue to make
Purchase Payments. While the Contract and the Participant's Account are in
force, Purchase Payments may be made at any time prior to the Annuity
Commencement Date.
 
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 and, in the case of a Non-
Qualified Contract, the Participant as well.
 
    Subject to the rights of an irrevocably designated Beneficiary, the
Participant 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, 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.
 
    Reference should be made to the terms of a particular retirement plan and
any applicable legislation for any restrictions on the beneficiary designation.
 
EXERCISE OF CONTRACT RIGHTS
 
    The Contract shall belong to the Owner. All Contract rights and privileges
may be expressly reserved by the Owner, failing which, each Participant shall be
entitled to exercise such rights and privileges in connection with such
Participant's Certificate. In any case, such rights and privileges can be
exercised 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 Payee on and after the Annuity Commencement Date.
The Beneficiary becomes the Payee on the death of the Annuitant. Such Payees may
thereafter exercise such rights and privileges, if any, of ownership which
continue.
 
CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP
 
    Ownership of a Qualified 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
employer of the Annuitant provided that the Qualified Contract after transfer is
maintained under the terms of a retirement plan qualified under Section 403(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code for the benefit of the Annuitant; (4) the trustee
of an individual retirement account plan qualified under Section 408 of the
Internal Revenue Code for the benefit of the Owner; or (5) as otherwise
permitted from time to time by laws and regulations governing the retirement or
deferred compensation plans for which a Qualified Contract may be issued.
Subject to the foregoing, a Qualified 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.
 
    The Owner of a Non-Qualified Contract may change the ownership of the
Contract during the lifetime of any Annuitant and prior to the last Annuity
Commencement Date; and each Participant, in like manner, may
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
change the ownership interest in a Contract evidenced by that Participant's
Certificate. A change of ownership will not be binding upon the Company until
written notification is received by the Company. When such notification is so
received, the change will be effective as of the date on which the request for
change was signed by the Owner or Participant, as appropriate, 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.
 
DEATH OF PARTICIPANT
 
    If a Participant under a Non-Qualified Contract dies prior to the Annuitant
and before the Annuity Commencement Date, that Participant's Account Value, plus
or minus any applicable Market Value Adjustment, must be distributed to the
"designated beneficiary" (as defined below) either (1) within five years after
the date of death of the Participant, or (2) as an annuity over some period not
greater than the life or expected life of the designated beneficiary, with
annuity payments beginning within one year after the date of death of the
Participant. For this purpose (and for purposes of Section 72(s) of the Internal
Revenue Code), the person named as Beneficiary shall be considered the
designated beneficiary, and if no person then living has been so named, then the
Annuitant shall automatically be the designated beneficiary. If the designated
beneficiary is the surviving spouse of the deceased Participant, the spouse can
elect to continue the Certificate in the spouse's own name as Participant, in
which case these mandatory distribution requirements will apply on the spouse's
death.
 
    When the deceased Participant was also the Annuitant, the Death Benefit
provision of the contract controls unless the deceased Participant's surviving
spouse is the designated beneficiary and elects to continue the Certificate in
the spouse's own name as both Participant and Annuitant.
 
    If the Payee dies on or after the Annuity Commencement Date and before the
entire accumulation under such Participant's Account has been distributed, the
remaining portion of such Participant's Account, if any, must be distributed at
least as rapidly as the method of distribution then in effect.
 
    In any case in which a non-natural person constitutes a holder of the
Certificate for the purposes of Section 72(s) of the Internal Revenue Code, (1)
the distribution requirements described above shall apply upon the death of any
Annuitant, and (2) a change in any Annuitant shall be treated as the death of an
Annuitant.
 
    In all cases, no Participant 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.
 
    Any distributions upon the death of a Participant under a Qualified Contract
will be subject to the laws and regulations governing the particular retirement
or deferred compensation plan in connection with which the Qualified Contract
was issued.
 
VOTING OF SERIES FUND SHARES
 
    The Company will vote Series Fund shares held by the Sub-Accounts at
meetings of shareholders of the Series Fund, but will follow voting instructions
received from persons having the right to give voting instructions. The Owner or
Participant 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. Any shares attributable to the
Company and Series 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 Owners, Participants and Payees.
 
    Owners of Qualified Contracts may be subject to other voting provisions of
the particular plan and of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Employees who
contribute to plans which are funded by the Contracts may be entitled to
instruct the Owners as to how to instruct the Company to vote the Series 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. If no voting instructions are received
from any such person with respect to a particular Participant's Account, the
Owner may instruct the Company as to how to vote the number of Series Fund
shares for which instructions may be given.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
    Neither the Variable Account nor the Company is under any duty to provide
information concerning the voting instruction rights of persons who may have
such rights under plans, other than rights afforded by the Investment Company
Act of 1940, nor any duty to inquire as to the instructions received or the
authority of Owners, Participants or others to instruct the voting of Series
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, the Company and any others having voting
instruction rights with respect to the Variable Account.
 
    All Series Fund proxy material, together with an appropriate form to be used
to give voting instructions, will be provided to each person having the right to
give voting instructions at least ten days prior to each meeting of the
shareholders of the Series Fund. The number of Series 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 Series 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 Participant's Account by the net asset value of one Series Fund share as of
the same date. On or after the Annuity Commencement Date, the number of Series
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 Sub-Account with respect to
the particular Payee by the net asset value of a Series Fund share as of the
same date. After the Annuity Commencement Date, the number of Series Fund shares
as to which a Payee is entitled to give voting instructions will generally
decrease due to the decrease in the reserve.
 
PERIODIC REPORTS
 
    During the Accumulation Period the Company will send the Participant, or
such other person having voting rights, at least once during each Account Year,
a statement showing the number, type and value of Accumulation Units credited to
the Participant's 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. In addition, every person having voting rights will
receive such reports or prospectuses concerning the Variable Account and the
Series Fund 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 Participant's Account as may be required by applicable laws,
rules and regulations.
 
    Upon request, the Company will provide the Participant with information
regarding fixed and variable accumulation values.
 
SUBSTITUTED SECURITIES
 
    Shares of any or all Series of the Series Fund may not always be available
for purchase by the Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account or the Company may
decide that further investment in any such 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 or unit investment trust may be
substituted both for Series Fund shares already purchased by the Variable
Account and/or as the security to be purchased in the future provided that these
substitutions have been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In
the event of any substitution pursuant to this provision, the Company may make
appropriate endorsement to the Contract to reflect the substitution.
 
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 Series 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
other action as may be necessary and appropriate to effect the change.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
SPLITTING UNITS
 
    The Company reserves the right to split or combine the value of Variable
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.
 
MODIFICATION
 
    Upon notice to the Owner and Participant(s) (or the Payee(s) during the
annuity period), the Contract may be modified by the Company 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 or the Variable Account 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-Account(s) (See "Change in Operation of Variable Account"); or (iv)
provides additional Variable Account and/or fixed accumulation options. In the
event of any such modification, the Company may make appropriate endorsement in
the Contract to reflect such modification.
 
    In addition, upon notice to the Owner the Contract may be modified by the
Company to change the withdrawal charges, Account Fees, mortality and expense
risk charges, administrative expense charges, the tables used in determining the
amount of the first monthly variable annuity and fixed annuity payments and the
formula used to calculate the Market Value Adjustment, provided that such
modification shall apply only to Participant's Accounts established after the
effective date of such modification. In order to exercise its modification
rights in these particular instances, the Company must notify the Owner of such
modification in writing. The notice shall specify the effective date of such
modification which must be at least 60 days following the date of mailing of the
notice of modification by the Company. All of the charges and the annuity tables
which are provided in the Contract prior to any such modification will remain in
effect permanently, unless improved by the Company, with respect to
Participant's Accounts established prior to the effective date of such
modification.
 
DISCONTINUANCE OF NEW PARTICIPANTS
 
    The Company, by giving 30 days' prior written notice to the Owner, may limit
or discontinue the acceptance of new Applications and the issuance of new
Certificates under a Contract. Such limitation or discontinuance shall have no
effect on rights or benefits with respect to any Participant's Accounts
established prior to the effective date of such limitation or discontinuance.
 
CUSTODIAN
 
    The Company is the Custodian of the assets of the Variable Account. The
Company will purchase Series Fund shares at net asset value in connection with
amounts allocated to the Sub-Accounts in accordance with the instructions of the
Participant and redeem Series 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.
 
RIGHT TO RETURN
 
    If the Participant is not satisfied with the Certificate it may be returned
by mailing it to the Company at the Annuity Service Mailing Address on the cover
of this Prospectus within ten days after it was delivered to the Participant.
When the Company receives the returned Certificate it will be cancelled and the
Participant's Account Value at the end of the Valuation Period during which the
Certificate was received by the Company will be refunded to the Participant.
However, if applicable state law so requires, the full amount of any Purchase
Payment(s) received by the Company will be refunded, the "free look" period may
be greater than ten days and alternative methods of returning the Certificate
may be acceptable.
 
    With respect to Individual Retirement Accounts, under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") a Participant establishing an
Individual Retirement Account must be furnished with a disclosure statement
containing certain information about the Contract and applicable legal
requirements. This statement must be furnished on or before the date the
Individual Retirement Account is established. If the Participant is furnished
with such disclosure statement before the seventh day preceding the date the
Individual Retirement Account is established, the Participant will not have any
right of revocation. If the
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
disclosure statement is furnished after the seventh day preceding the
establishment of the Individual Retirement Account, then the Participant may
give a notice of revocation to the Company at any time within seven days after
the Date of Coverage. Upon such revocation, the Company will refund the Purchase
Payment(s) made by the Participant. The foregoing right of revocation with
respect to an Individual Retirement Account is in addition to the return
privilege set forth in the preceding paragraph. The Company will allow a
participant establishing an Individual Retirement Account a "ten day free-look,"
notwithstanding the provisions of ERISA.
 
                               FEDERAL TAX STATUS
 
INTRODUCTION
 
   
    The Contracts and related Certificates described in this Prospectus are
designed for use by employer, association and other group retirement plans under
the provisions of Sections 401 (including Section 401(k)), 403, 408(b), 408(c),
408(k) and 408(p) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), as well as certain
non-qualified retirement plans, such as payroll savings plans. The ultimate
effect of federal income taxes may depend upon the type of retirement plan for
which the Contract or Certificate is purchased and a number of different
factors. This discussion 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. Also, because the Internal
Revenue Code, as amended, is not in force in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
some references in this discussion will not apply to Contracts or Certificates
issued in Puerto Rico. Any person contemplating the purchase of a Contract or
Certificate should consult a qualified tax adviser. THE COMPANY DOES NOT MAKE
ANY GUARANTEE REGARDING THE TAX STATUS, FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL, OF ANY CONTRACT
OR CERTIFICATE OR ANY TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE CONTRACTS OR CERTIFICATES.
    
 
TAX TREATMENT OF THE COMPANY AND THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
    The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under the Code. The
operations of the Variable Account are accounted for separately from other
operations of the Company for purposes of federal income taxation, but the
Variable Account is not taxable as a regulated investment company or otherwise
as an entity separate from the Company. The income of the Variable Account
(consisting primarily of interest, dividends and net capital gains) is not
taxable to the Company to the extent that it is applied to increase reserves
under contracts participating in the Variable Account.
 
TAXATION OF ANNUITIES IN GENERAL
 
    Purchase Payments made under Non-Qualified Contracts are not deductible from
the Participant's income for federal income tax purposes. Participants under
Qualified Contracts should consult a tax adviser regarding the tax treatment of
Purchase Payments.
 
    Generally, no taxes are imposed on the increase in the value of a Contract
or Certificate until a distribution occurs, either as an annuity payment or as a
cash withdrawal or lump-sum payment prior to the Annuity Commencement Date.
However, corporate Owners and Participants and other Owners and Participants
that are not natural persons are subject to current taxation on the annual
increase in the value of a Non-Qualified Contract, unless the non-natural person
holds the Contract as agent for a natural person (such as where a bank or other
entity holds a Contract as trustee under a trust agreement). This current
taxation of annuities held by non-natural persons does not apply to earnings
accumulated under an immediate annuity, which the Code defines as a single
premium contract with an annuity commencement date within one year of the date
of purchase. Also, the Internal Revenue Service could assert that Owners or
Participants under both Qualified and Non-Qualified Contracts annually receive
and are subject to tax on a deemed distribution equal to the cost of any life
insurance benefit provided by the Contract.
 
    The Code is unclear in its application to a group annuity contract where the
Owner is distinct from the individuals who receive the Contract benefits (the
Participants). The following discussion is the Company's best understanding of
the operation of the Code in the context of group contracts. However, Owners and
Participants should consult a qualified tax adviser.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
    A partial cash withdrawal (that is, a withdrawal of less than the entire
Participant's Account Value) from a Certificate issued under a Non-Qualified
Contract (a "Non-Qualified Certificate") before the Annuity Commencement Date is
treated first as a withdrawal from the increase in the Participant's Account
Value, rather than as a return of Purchase Payments. The amount of the
withdrawal allocable to this increase will be includible in the Participant's
income and subject to tax at ordinary income rates. If part or all of a
Participant's Account Value is assigned or pledged as collateral for a loan, the
amount assigned or pledged must be treated as if it were withdrawn from the
Certificate.
 
    In the case of annuity payments under a Non-Qualified Certificate after the
Annuity Commencement Date, a portion of each payment is treated as a nontaxable
return of Purchase Payments. The nontaxable portion is determined by applying to
each annuity payment an "exclusion ratio," which, in general, is the ratio that
the total amount the Participant paid for the Certificate bears to the Payee's
expected return under the Certificate. The remainder of the payment is taxable
at ordinary income rates.
 
    The total amount that a Payee may exclude from income through application of
the "exclusion ratio" is limited to the amount the Participant paid for the
Certificate. If the Annuitant survives for his full life expectancy, so that the
Payee recovers the entire amount paid for the Certificate, any subsequent
annuity payments will be fully taxable as income. Conversely, if the Annuitant
dies before the Payee recovers the entire amount paid, the Payee will be allowed
a deduction for the amount of unrecovered Purchase Payments.
 
    Taxable cash withdrawals and lump-sum payments from Non-Qualified
Certificates may be subject to a penalty tax equal to 10% of the amount treated
as taxable income. This 10% penalty also may apply to certain annuity payments.
This penalty will not apply in certain circumstances (such as where the
distribution is made upon the death of the Participant). The withdrawal penalty
also does not apply to distributions under an immediate annuity (as defined
above).
 
    In the case of a Certificate issued under a Qualified Contract (a "Qualified
Certificate"), distributions generally are taxable and distributions made prior
to age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% penalty tax, although this penalty 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 Participant 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, Participants, 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 Certificates are purchased.
 
    If the Participant under a Non-Qualified Certificate dies, the value of the
Certificate generally must be distributed within a specified period (See "Other
Contractual Provisions -- Death of Participant"). For contracts owned by
non-natural persons, a change in the Annuitant is treated as the death of the
Participant.
 
    A purchaser of a Qualified Certificate should refer to the terms of the
applicable retirement plan and consult a tax adviser regarding distribution
requirements upon the death of the Participant.
 
    A transfer of a Non-Qualified Certificate by gift (other than to the
Participant's spouse) is treated as the receipt by the Participant of income in
an amount equal to the Participant's Account Value minus the total amount paid
for the Certificate.
 
    The Company will withhold and remit to the U.S. government a part of the
taxable portion of each distribution made under a Non-Qualified Certificate or
under a Qualified Certificate issued for use with an individual retirement
account unless the Participant 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 Qualified Certificate (other than
distributions from a Certificate 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
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
above) unless the Participant 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 Qualified Certificate is not an eligible
rollover distribution, then the Participant or Payee can choose not to have
amounts withheld as described above for Non-Qualified Certificates and Qualified
Certificates issued for use with individual retirement accounts.
 
    Amounts withheld from any distribution may be credited against the
Participant's or Payee's federal income tax liability for the year of the
distribution.
 
    The Internal Revenue Service has issued regulations that prescribe
investment diversification requirements for mutual fund series underlying
nonqualified variable contracts. Contracts that do not comply with these
regulations do not qualify as annuities for federal income tax purposes, and
therefore the annual increase in the value of such contracts is subject to
current taxation. The Company believes that each series of the Series Fund
complies with the regulations.
 
    The preamble to the regulations states that the Internal Revenue Service may
promulgate guidelines under which a variable contract will not be treated as an
annuity for tax purposes if the owner has excessive control over the investments
underlying the contract. It is not known whether such guidelines, if in fact
promulgated, would have retroactive effect. If guidelines are promulgated, the
Company will take any action (including modification of the Contract, the
Certificate and/or the Variable Account) necessary to comply with the
guidelines.
 
    THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ONLY WHEN AN IMMEDIATE
ANNUITY CONTRACT AND A DEFERRED ANNUITY CONTRACT ARE PURCHASED TOGETHER: The
Company understands that the Treasury Department is in the process of
reconsidering the tax treatment of annuity payments under an immediate annuity
contract (as defined above) purchased together with a deferred annuity contract.
The Company believes that any adverse change in the existing tax treatment of
such immediate annuity contracts is likely to be prospective, that is, it would
not apply to contracts issued before such a change is announced. However, there
can be no assurance that any such change, if adopted, would not be applied
retroactively.
 
QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS
 
    The Qualified Contracts described in this Prospectus are designed for use
with several types of qualified retirement plans. The tax rules applicable to
participants in such qualified 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 Qualified Contracts
with the various types of qualified retirement plans. Participants under such
plans as well as Owners, Annuitants, Payees and Beneficiaries are cautioned that
the rights of any person to any benefits under these plans may be subject to the
terms and conditions of the plans themselves, regardless of the terms and
conditions of the Qualified Contracts issued in connection therewith. In
addition, Owners, Participants, Payees, Beneficiaries and administrators of
qualified retirement plans should consider and consult their tax adviser
concerning whether the Death Benefit payable under the Contract affects the
qualified status of their retirement plan. Following are brief descriptions of
various types of qualified retirement plans and the use of the Qualified
Contracts in connection therewith.
 
PENSION AND PROFIT-SHARING PLANS
 
    Sections 401(a), 401(k) and 403(a) of the Code permit business employers and
certain associations to establish various types of retirement plans for
employees. The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 eliminated most
differences between qualified retirement plans of corporations and those of
self-employed individuals. The Contract may be purchased by those who would have
been covered under the rules governing old H.R. 10 (Keogh) Plans as well as by
corporate plans. Such retirement plans may permit the purchase of the Qualified
Contracts to provide benefits under the plans. Employers intending to use the
Qualified Contracts in connection with such plans should seek qualified advice
in connection therewith.
 
TAX-SHELTERED ANNUITIES
 
    Section 403(b) of the Code permits public school employees and employees of
certain types of charitable, educational and scientific organizations specified
in Section 501(c) (3) of the Code to purchase annuity contracts and, subject to
certain limitations, exclude the amount of purchase payments from gross
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
income for tax purposes. These annuity contracts are commonly referred to as
"Tax-Sheltered Annuities." Purchasers of the Qualified Contracts for such
purposes should seek qualified advice as to eligibility, limitations on
permissible amounts of Purchase Payments and tax consequences of distributions
(See "Section 403(b) Annuities").
 
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
 
   
    Sections 219 and 408 of the Code permit eligible individuals to contribute
to an individual retirement program, including Simplified Employee Pension
Plans, Employer/Association of Employees Established Individual Retirement
Account Trusts, and Simple Retirement Accounts, known as an Individual
Retirement Account ("IRA"). These IRA's are subject to limitations on the amount
that may be contributed, the persons who may be eligible, and on the time when
distributions may commence. In addition, certain distributions from some other
types of retirement plans may be placed on a tax-deferred basis in an IRA. Sale
of the Contracts for use with IRA's may be subject to special requirements
imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Purchasers of the Contracts for such
purposes will be provided with such supplementary information as may be required
by the Internal Revenue Service or other appropriate agency, and will have the
right to revoke the Contract under certain circumstances as described in the
section of this Prospectus entitled "Right to Return Contract."
    
 
                        ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTRACTS
 
    The Company performs certain administrative functions relating to the
Contracts, the Participant's Accounts, and the Variable Account. These functions
include, but are not limited to, maintaining the books and records of the
Variable Account and the Sub-Accounts; maintaining records of the name, address,
taxpayer identification number, Contract number, Participant's Account number
and type, the status of each Participant's Account and other pertinent
information necessary to the administration and operation of the Contracts;
processing Applications, Purchase Payments, transfers and full and partial
surrenders; issuing Contracts and Certificates; administering annuity payments;
furnishing accounting and valuation services; reconciling and depositing cash
receipts; providing confirmations; providing toll-free customer service lines;
and furnishing telephonic transfer services.
 
                         DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS
 
   
    The offering of the Contracts is continuous. The Contracts will be sold by
licensed insurance agents in those states where the Contracts may be lawfully
sold. Such agents will be registered representatives of broker-dealers
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 who are members of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and who have entered into
distribution agreements with the Company and the General Distributor, Clarendon
Insurance Agency, Inc. ("Clarendon"), 500 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02116, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Financial Services Company,
which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Clarendon is
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 as broker-dealer and is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Clarendon also acts as the general
distributor of certain other annuity contracts issued by the Company and its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York, and
variable life insurance contracts issued by the Company. Commissions and other
distribution compensation will be paid by the Company and will not be more than
7.34% of Purchase Payments. In addition, after the first Account Year, broker
dealers who have entered into distribution agreements with the Company may
receive an annual renewal commission of no more than 0.70% of the Participant's
Account Value. In addition to commissions, the Company may, from time to time,
pay or allow additional promotional incentives, in the form of cash or other
compensation. In some instances, such other incentives may be offered only to
certain broker-dealers that sell or are expected to sell during specified time
periods certain minimum amounts of the Contracts or Certificates or other
contracts offered by the Company. Commissions will not be paid with respect to
Participant's Accounts established for the personal account of employees of the
Company or any of its affiliates, or of persons engaged in the distribution of
the Contracts. During 1994, 1995 and 1996 approximately $10,480,589, $9,315,656,
and $18,652,927, respectively, was paid to and retained by Clarendon in
connection with the distribution of the Contracts.
    
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
                    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
   
    The following selected financial data for the Company should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in this
Prospectus beginning on page 66.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1996            1995            1994            1993            1992
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
<S>                                <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
                                                                     (IN 000'S)
Revenues
  Premiums, annuity deposits and
   other revenue.................  $    2,131,939  $    1,883,901  $    1,997,525  $    2,443,310  $    1,339,282
  Net investment income and
   realized gains (losses).......         312,870         315,966         312,583         311,322         292,746
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                        2,444,809       2,199,867       2,310,108       2,754,632       1,632,028
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Benefits and expenses
  Policyholder benefits                 2,149,145       1,995,208       2,102,290       2,515,320       1,426,756
  Other expenses                          175,342         150,937         186,892         232,365         229,004
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                        2,324,487       2,146,145       2,289,182       2,747,685       1,655,760
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Operating gain (loss)                     120,322          53,722          20,926           6,947         (23,732)
Federal income tax expense
  (benefit)                                (2,702)         17,807          19,469           3,691         (15,360)
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Net income (loss)                  $      123,024  $       35,915  $        1,457  $        3,256  $       (8,372)
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Assets                             $   13,759,005  $   12,359,683  $   10,117,822  $    9,179,090  $    7,474,407
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Surplus notes                      $      315,000  $      650,000  $      335,000  $      335,000  $      265,000
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
See Note 1 to financial statements for the effect of the reinsurance agreements
on net income.
See Note 1 to financial statements for changes in accounting principles and
reporting.
    
 
   
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS.
    
 
   
FINANCIAL CONDITION
    
 
   
ASSETS
    
 
   
    For management purposes it is the Company's practice to segment its general
account to facilitate the matching of assets and liabilities; however, all
general account assets stand behind all general account liabilities. A majority
of the Company's assets are income producing investments. Particular attention
is paid to the quality of these assets.
    
 
   
    The Company's bond holdings consist of a diversified portfolio of both
public and private issues. It is the Company's policy to acquire only investment
grade securities. Private placements are rated internally with reference to the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") designation issued by
the NAIC Securities Valuation Office. The overall quality of the Company's bond
portfolio remains high. At December 31, 1996, 5.0% of the Company's holdings of
bonds were rated below investment grade (i.e. below NAIC rating "1" or "2"). Net
unrealized gains on below investment grade bonds were $837,435 at December 31,
1996.
    
 
   
    The Company holds real estate primarily because such investments
historically have offered better yields over the long-term than fixed income
investments. Real estate investments are used to enhance the yield of products
with long-term liability durations. Properties for which market value is lower
than cost
    
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
   
adjusted for depreciation (book value) are reported at market value. During
1996, the change in the difference between the market value and book value for
properties reported at market value was $4,624,000.
    
 
   
    Significant attention has been given to insurance companies' exposure to
mortgage loans secured by real estate. The Company had a mortgage portfolio of
$938,932,000 at December 31, 1996, representing 26.9% of cash and invested
assets. At December 31, 1995, mortgage loans represented 26.5% of cash and
invested assets. The Company underwrites commercial mortgages with a maximum
loan to value ratio of 75%. The Company as a rule invests only in properties
that are almost fully leased. The portfolio is diversified by region and by
property type. The level of arrears in the portfolio is substantially below the
industry average. At December 31, 1996, 0.45% of the Company's portfolio was 60
days or more in arrears, compared to the most recent industry delinquency ratio
published by the American Council of Life Insurance of 2.51%. The expense in the
year for the provision for losses and for losses on foreclosures was $2,767,000.
    
 
   
    During 1996, the Company purchased three limited partnership investments for
an aggregate total of $12,285,000 that were formed to own and operate apartment
complexes which qualify for low income tax credits. The credits are taken
annually over a ten year period, but are fully vested at the end of a fifteen
year compliance period. The Company also committed to an additional limited
partnership interest for $10,180,000 in 1995. These investments are classified
as other invested assets in the balance sheet.
    
 
   
    In the normal course of business, the Company makes commitments to purchase
investments at a future date. As of December 31, 1996 the Company had
outstanding mortgage commitments of $9,800,000 which will be funded during 1997.
    
 
   
LIABILITIES
    
 
   
    The majority of the Company's liabilities consist of reserves for life
insurance and annuity contracts and deposit funds.
    
 
   
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS
    
 
   
    Total capital stock and surplus of the Company was $567,143,000 at December
31, 1996. The Company issued surplus notes during 1995 totalling $315,000,000 to
an affiliate, Sun Canada Financial Co. The Company repaid $335,000,000 of
surplus notes to its parent in 1996. During 1994, the Company reduced its
carrying value of Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company, a wholly owned
subsidiary, by $18,397,000, the unamortized amount of goodwill. The reduction
was accounted for as a direct charge to surplus. The Company's management
considers its surplus position to be adequate.
    
 
   
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
    
 
   
1996 COMPARED TO 1995
    
 
   
    Net income from operations after dividends and before federal income taxes
increased by $61.1 million for the year ending December 31, 1996 as compared to
December 31, 1995. Net income associated with the reinsurance agreements with
the parent increased by $23.9 million in 1996. The net income improvement in the
reinsured business results from improved mortality experience, improved
investment performance and fewer significant death claims in 1996 as compared to
1995. Prior to reinsurance, earnings from the life line of business remained
relatively flat. The remaining $37.2 million increase is attributable to the
Company's retirement products and services line of business, which markets
combination fixed/variable annuities and group pension guaranteed investment
contracts. The decline in interest rates during 1995 resulted in the split of
these combination fixed/variable annuity sales to change from 45% fixed and 55%
variable in 1995 to 25% fixed and 75% variable in 1996. In addition, total gross
sales increased by $235.9 million in 1996 as compared to 1995. The declining
interest rate environment and strong market performance in 1995 resulted in
unrealized gains on assets held in the separate accounts, which generated a
substantial increase in fees calculated as a percentage of the separate account
net assets, which are then transferred to the general account. The declining
interest rates also resulted in increases in reserves due to the increase in the
market value adjustment provision of certain fixed annuities. The resultant
reserve increases were in excess of the unrealized gains causing strain on the
1995 earnings. In 1996, interest rates increased, resulting in a reduction in
the unrealized gains on assets held in the separate accounts and a
    
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
   
corresponding reduction in reserves and a release of some of the reserve strain
incurred in 1995. The earnings on these market value adjusted products fluctuate
as the change in the market value of the assets do not move in tandem with the
change in the market value of the liabilities.
    
 
   
    Total income increased by $239.4 million for the year ended December 31,
1996 as compared to December 31, 1995. Sales of combination fixed/variable
annuities (net of annuitizations) increased by $282.7 million primarily due to
an increase in variable sales held in the separate accounts. This increase in
variable sales was driven by strong performance in the stock market. Reinsurance
had the effect of increasing income by approximately $9.4 million. Premiums and
annuity considerations increased by $8.2 million reflecting increased
annuitizations. Considerations from supplementary contracts increased by $1.2
million. Sales of group pension guaranteed investment contracts decreased by $53
million as this market remains highly competitive and sensitive to small changes
in guaranteed interest rates. Net investment income decreased by $9.1 million,
reflecting a decrease in the general account invested assets.
    
 
   
    Benefits and expenses increased by $178.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 1996 as compared to December 31, 1995. Reinsurance had the effect
of decreasing benefits and expenses by $14.5 million. Deaths, annuity payments
and surrender benefits and other funds withdrawals increased by $438.9 million
as a result of increased surrenders of fixed annuities for which interest rate
guarantee periods have expired as well as withdrawals from the separate
accounts. Policy reserves increased by $9.4 million, reflecting increased
annuitizations and increased reserves for minimum death benefit guarantees. The
decrease in liability for premium and other deposit funds of $405.9 million
reflects lower interest rates and higher surrenders of contracts described
above. Commissions increased by $21.8 million, reflecting the increase in total
sales of combination fixed/variable annuities. General expenses increased by
$2.6 million reflecting an increase in salaries due to staff increases and
retainer fees. Transfers to separate accounts increased by $126.8 million,
reflecting increased exchange activity out of the general account into the
separate accounts.
    
 
   
1995 COMPARED TO 1994
    
 
   
    Net income from operations after dividends and before federal income taxes
increased by $23.7 million for the year ending December 31, 1995 as compared to
December 31, 1994. Reinsurance agreements with the parent had the effect of
increasing net income by $40.9 million from a loss of $9.6 million in 1994 to a
gain of $31.3 million in 1995. The increase in net income associated with the
reinsurance agreements is due to the lack of surplus strain associated with the
assumption of new contracts issued. No new contracts were assumed by the Company
beginning in 1994. The remaining decrease in net income from operations of $17.2
million is attributable to the Company's retirement products and services line
of business, which markets combination fixed/variable annuities and group
pension guaranteed investment contracts. The declining interest rate environment
in 1995 resulted in unrealized gains on assets held in the separate accounts,
which generated a substantial increase in fees calculated as a percentage of the
separate account net assets, which are then transferred to the general account.
The declining interest rates also resulted in increases in reserves due to the
increase in the market value adjustment provision. The resultant reserve
increases were in excess of the unrealized gains causing strain on the 1995
earnings. The earnings on these market value adjusted products fluctuate as the
change in the market value of the assets do not move in tandem with the change
in the market value of the liabilities.
    
 
   
    Total income decreased by $119.2 million for the year ended December 31,
1995 as compared to December 31, 1994. Reinsurance had the effect of decreasing
income by approximately $4.3 million. Premiums and annuity considerations
decreased by $5.5 million, reflecting decreased group pension lottery sales of
$22.1 million partially offset by increased annuitizations. Considerations from
supplementary contracts decreased by $1.8 million. Sales of combination
fixed/variable (net of annuitizations) decreased by $151.3 million, reflecting
the decline in the interest rate environment during 1995. Sales of group pension
guaranteed investment contracts increased by $49.2 million reflecting the
transfer of the parents' agent's pension fund from the parent to the Company.
Net investment income and amortization of the interest maintenance reserve
decreased by $5.6 million, primarily due to capital losses incurred late in
1994, which were then amortized through the interest maintenance reserve during
1995.
    
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
   
    Benefits and expenses decreased by $143 million for the year ended December
31, 1994. Reinsurance had the effect of decreasing benefits and expenses by
$45.2 million. Deaths, annuity payments and surrender benefits and other fund
withdrawals increased by $106.5 million as a result of increased surrenders of
fixed annuities for which interest rate guarantee periods have expired, as well
as withdrawals from the separate accounts. Policy reserves decreased by $16.7
million primarily resulting from increased reserves for minimum death benefit
guarantees. The increase in liability for premium and other deposit funds of
$83.1 million reflects fewer maturities of contracts for which the guarantee
periods have expired, and increased sales of group pension guaranteed investment
contracts described above. Commissions decreased by $5.5 million, reflecting the
decrease in total sales of combination fixed/variable annuities. General
expenses increased by $3.3 million, reflecting increased expenses allocated from
the parent and increased salaries due to staffing. Transfers to separate
accounts decreased by $268.8 million, reflecting less exchange activity out of
the separate accounts into the general account and fewer variable annuity sales
transferred to the separate accounts.
    
 
   
LIQUIDITY
    
 
   
    The Company's cash inflow consists primarily of premiums on insurance and
annuity products, income from investments, repayments of investment principal
and sales of investments. The Company's cash outflow is primarily to meet death
and other maturing insurance and annuity contract obligations, to pay out on
contract terminations, to fund investment commitments and to pay normal
operating expenses and taxes. Cash outflows are met from the normal net cash
inflows.
    
 
   
    The Company segments its business internally and matches projected cash
inflows and outflows within each segment. Targets for money market holdings are
established for each segment, which in the aggregate meet the day to day cash
needs of the Company. If greater liquidity is required, government issued bonds,
which are highly liquid, are sold to provide the necessary funds. Government and
publicly traded corporate bonds comprise 65.9% of the Company's long-term bond
holdings.
    
 
   
    Management believes that the Company's sources of liquidity are more than
adequate to meet its anticipated needs.
    
 
REINSURANCE
 
   
    The Company has agreements with its parent company which provide that the
parent company will reinsure the mortality risks of the individual life
insurance contracts previously 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 in 1996 had the effect of decreasing net income from operations
by $1,603,000.
    
 
   
    Effective January 1, 1991 the Company entered into an agreement with the
parent company under which certain individual life insurance contracts issued by
the parent were reinsured by the Company on a 90% coinsurance basis. Also
effective January 1, 1991 the Company entered into an agreement with the parent
which provides that the parent 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. Death benefits are
reinsured on a yearly renewable term basis. These agreements had the effect of
increasing income from operations by approximately $35,161,000 for the year
ended December 31, 1996.
    
 
    The life reinsurance assumed agreement requires the reinsurer to withhold
funds in an amount equal to the reserves assumed.
 
    The Company also has executed a reinsurance agreement with an unaffiliated
company which provides reinsurance of certain individual life insurance
contracts on a modified coinsurance basis and under which all deficiency
reserves are ceded.
 
RESERVES
 
    In accordance with the life insurance laws and regulations under which the
Company operates it is obligated to carry on its books, as liabilities,
actuarially determined reserves to meet its obligations on its outstanding
contracts. Reserves are based on mortality tables in general use in the United
States and are computed to equal amounts that, with additions from premiums to
be received, and with interest on such
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
   
reserves compounded annually at certain assumed rates, will be sufficient to
meet the Company's policy obligations at their maturities or in the event of an
insured's death. In the accompanying Financial Statements these reserves are
determined in accordance with statutory regulations.
    
 
INVESTMENTS
 
   
    Of the Company's total assets of $13.8 billion at December 31, 1996, 65.6%
consisted of unitized and non-unitized separate account assets, 16.4% were
invested in bonds and similar securities, 6.8% in mortgages, 1.0% in
subsidiaries, 0.7% in real estate, and the remaining 9.5% in cash and other
assets.
    
 
COMPETITION
 
   
    The Company is engaged in a business that is highly competitive because of
the large number of stock and mutual life insurance companies and other entities
marketing insurance products. According to the most recent Best's Review,
Life-Health Edition, as of December 31, 1995 the Company ranked 39th among all
life insurance companies in the United States based upon total assets. Its
parent company, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, ranked 18th. Best's
Insurance Reports, Life-Health Edition, 1996, assigned the Company and the
parent company its highest classification, A++, as of December 31, 1995.
Standard & Poor's and Duff & Phelps have assigned the Company and the parent
company their highest ratings for claims paying ability, AAA. These ratings
should not be considered as bearing on the investment performance of the Series
Fund shares held in the Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account. However, the
ratings are relevant to the Company's ability to meet its general corporate
obligations under the Contracts.
    
 
EMPLOYEES
 
   
    The Company and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada have entered into a
Service Agreement which provides that the latter will furnish the Company, as
required, with personnel as well as certain services and facilities on a cost
reimbursement basis. As of December 31, 1996 the Company had 269 direct
employees who are employed at its Principal Executive Office in Wellesley Hills,
Massachusetts and its Retirement Products & Services Division in Boston,
Massachusetts.
    
 
PROPERTIES
 
    The Company occupies office space owned by it and leased to its parent, Sun
Life Assurance Company of Canada, and certain unrelated parties for lease terms
not exceeding five years.
 
                 THE COMPANY'S DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
    The directors and principal officers of the Company are listed below,
together with information as to their ages, dates of election and principal
business occupations during the last five years (if other than their present
business occupations). Except as otherwise indicated, the directors and officers
of the Company who are associated with Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
and/or its subsidiaries have been associated with Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada for more than five years either in the position shown or in other
positions.
 
   
JOHN D. MCNEIL, 63, Chairman and Director (1982*)
150 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 1J9
    
 
   
    He is Chairman and a Director of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada and
Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York; a Director of Massachusetts
Financial Services Company; Chairman and a Trustee of MFS/Sun Life Series Trust;
Chairman and a Member of the Boards of Managers of 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; and a
Director of Shell (Canada) Limited and Canadian Pacific, Ltd.
    
 
- ------------------------
* Year Elected Director
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
   
DONALD A. STEWART, 50, President and Director (1996*)
150 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 1J9
    
 
   
    He is President and a Director of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada and
Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York; and a Director of
Massachusetts Financial Services Company, Massachusetts Casualty Insurance
Company and Sun Life Financial Services Limited.
    
 
   
DAVID D. HORN, 55, Senior Vice President and General Manager and Director (1970,
1985*)
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181
    
 
   
    He is Senior Vice President and General Manager for the United States of Sun
Life Assurance Company of Canada; Chairman and President and a Director of Sun
Investment Services Company; Senior Vice President and a Director of Sun Life
Insurance and Annuity Company of New York; President and a Director of Sun
Benefit Services Company, Inc., Sun Canada Financial Co., and Sun Life Financial
Services Limited; a Director of Sun Capital Advisers, Inc. and Massachusetts
Casualty Insurance Company; a Trustee of MFS/ Sun Life Series Trust; and a
Member of the Boards of Managers of 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.
    
 
   
ANGUS A. MACNAUGHTON, 65, Director (1985*)
Metro Tower, Suite 1170,
950 Tower Lane
Foster City, California 94404
    
 
    He is President of Genstar Investment Corporation and a Director of Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada, Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York,
Canadian Pacific, Ltd., Stelco, Inc. and Varian Associates, Inc.
 
   
JOHN S. LANE, 62, Director (1991*)
150 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 1J9
    
 
    He is Senior Vice President, Investments of Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada; and a Director of Sun Investment Services Company, Sun Capital Advisers,
Inc. and Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York.
 
   
RICHARD B. BAILEY, 70, Director (1983*)
500 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
    
 
    He is a Director of Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York and a
Director/Trustee of certain Funds in the MFS Family of Funds. Prior to October
1, 1991, he was Chairman and a Director of Massachusetts Financial Services
Company.
 
   
A. KEITH BRODKIN, 61, Director (1990*)
500 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
    
 
    He is Chairman and a Director of Massachusetts Financial Services Company; a
Director of Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York; and a
Director/Trustee and/or Officer of the Funds in the MFS Family of Funds.
 
- ------------------------
* Year Elected Director
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
   
M. COLYER CRUM, 64, Director (1986*)
104 West Cliff Street
Weston, MA 02193
    
 
   
    He is Professor Emeritus of the Harvard Business School; and a Director of
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of
New York, Merrill Lynch Ready Assets Trust, Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund,
Inc., Merrill Lynch Special Value Fund, Inc., Merrill Lynch Capital Fund, Inc.,
Merrill Lynch U.S.A. Government Reserves, Merrill Lynch Natural Resources Trust,
Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Money Fund, MuniVest California Insured Fund, Inc.,
MuniVest Florida Fund, Inc., MuniVest Michigan Insured Fund, Inc., MuniVest New
Jersey Fund, Inc., MuniVest New York Insured Fund, Inc., MuniYield Florida
Insured Fund, MuniYield Insured Fund II, Inc., MuniYield Michigan Insured Fund,
Inc., MuniYield New Jersey Insured Fund, Inc., MuniYield New York Insured Fund
III, Inc. and MuniYield Pennsylvania Fund. Prior to July, 1996, he was a
Professor at the Harvard Business School.
    
 
   
S. CAESAR RABOY, 60, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Manager and
Director (1996*)
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181
    
 
   
    He is Senior Vice President and Deputy General Manager for the United States
of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada; Senior Vice President of Sun Life
Insurance and Annuity Company of New York; and Vice President and a Director of
Sun Life Financial Services Limited.
    
 
   
ROBERT A. BONNER, 52, Vice President, Pensions (1986)
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181
    
 
   
    He is Vice President, Individual Insurance for the United States of Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada.
    
 
   
C. JAMES PRIEUR, 46, Vice President, Investments (1993)
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181
    
 
   
    He is Vice President, Investments for the United States of Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada; Vice President, Investments of Sun Investment
Services Company, Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company and Sun Life
Insurance and Annuity Company of New York; and a Director of Sun Capital
Advisers, Inc., New London Trust, F.S.B. and Sun Canada Financial Co.
    
 
   
L. BROCK THOMSON, 55, Vice President and Treasurer (1974)
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181
    
 
   
    He is Vice President, Portfolio Management for the United States of Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada; Vice President and Treasurer of Sun Investment
Services Company, Sun Capital Advisers, Inc., Sun Benefit Services Company, Inc.
and Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York; and Assistant Treasurer
of Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company.
    
 
   
ROBERT P. VROLYK, 44, Vice President and Actuary (1986)
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181
    
 
    He is Vice President, Finance for the United States of Sun Life Assurance
Company of Canada; Vice President, Controller and Actuary of Sun Life Insurance
and Annuity Company of New York; a Director of Massachusetts Casualty Insurance
Company; and Vice President and a Director of Sun Canada Financial Co.
 
- ------------------------
* Year Elected Director
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
   
MARGARET SEARS MEAD, 47, Assistant Vice President and Secretary (1996)
One Sun Life Executive Park
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02181
    
 
   
    She is Assistant Vice President and Counsel for the United States of Sun
Life Assurance Company of Canada; and Assistant Vice President and Secretary of
Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York.
    
 
    The directors, officers and employees of the Company are covered under a
commercial blanket bond and a liability policy. The directors, officers and
employees of Massachusetts Financial Services Company and Clarendon Insurance
Agency, Inc. are covered under a fidelity bond and errors and omissions policy.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
   
    All of the executive officers of the Company also serve as officers of Sun
Life Assurance Company of Canada and receive no compensation directly from the
Company. Allocations have been made as to such officers' time devoted to duties
as executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries. The allocated cash
compensation of all executive officers of the Company as a group for services
rendered in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries during 1996
totalled $936,945.
    
 
   
    Directors of the Company who are also officers of Sun Life Assurance Company
of Canada or its affiliates receive no compensation in addition to their
compensation as officers of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada or its
affiliates. Messrs. Bailey, Crum and MacNaughton receive compensation in the
amount of $5,000 per year, plus $800 for each meeting attended, plus expenses.
    
 
    No shares of the Company are owned by any executive officer or director. The
Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada,
150 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 1J9.
 
                                STATE REGULATION
 
    The Company is subject to the laws of the State of Delaware governing life
insurance companies and to regulation by the Commissioner of Insurance of
Delaware. An annual statement is filed with the Commissioner of Insurance on or
before March 1st in each year relating to the operations of the Company for the
preceding year and its financial condition on December 31st of such year. Its
books and records are subject to review or examination by the Commissioner or
his agents at any time and a full examination of its operations is conducted at
periodic intervals.
 
    The Company is also subject to the insurance laws and regulations of the
other states and jurisdictions in which it is licensed to operate. The laws of
the various jurisdictions establish supervisory agencies with broad
administrative powers with respect to licensing to transact business, overseeing
trade practices, licensing agents, approving policy forms, establishing reserve
requirements, fixing maximum interest rates on life insurance policy loans and
minimum rates for accumulation of surrender values, prescribing the form and
content of required financial statements and regulating the type and amounts of
investments permitted. Each insurance company is required to file detailed
annual reports with supervisory agencies in each of the jurisdictions in which
it does business and its operations and accounts are subject to examination by
such agencies at regular intervals.
 
    In addition, many states regulate affiliated groups of insurers, such as the
Company, its parent and its affiliates, under insurance holding company
legislation. Under such laws, inter-company transfers of assets and dividend
payments from insurance subsidiaries may be subject to prior notice or approval,
depending on the size of such transfers and payments in relation to the
financial positions of the companies involved.
 
    Under insurance guaranty fund laws in most states, insurers doing business
therein can be assessed (up to prescribed limits) for policyholder losses
incurred by insolvent companies. The amount of any future assessments of the
Company under these laws cannot be reasonably estimated. However, most of these
laws do provide that an assessment may be excused or deferred if it would
threaten an insurer's own financial strength and many permit the deduction of
all or a portion of any such assessment from any future premium or similar taxes
payable.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
   
    Although the federal government generally does not directly regulate the
business of insurance, federal initiatives often have an impact on the business
in a variety of ways. Current and proposed federal measures which may
significantly affect the insurance business include employee benefit regulation,
removal of barriers preventing banks from engaging in the insurance business,
tax law changes affecting the taxation of insurance companies, the tax treatment
of insurance products and its impact on the relative desirability of various
personal investment vehicles.
    
 
                               LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    There are no pending legal proceedings affecting the Variable Account. The
Company and its subsidiaries are engaged in various kinds of routine litigation
which, in management's judgment, is not of material importance to their
respective total assets or material with respect to the Variable Account.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The organization of the Company, its authority to issue the Contracts and
the validity of the form of the Contracts have been passed upon by David D.
Horn, Esq., Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Company. Covington
& Burling, Washington, D.C., has advised the Company on certain legal matters
concerning federal securities laws applicable to the issue and sale of the
Contracts and federal income tax laws applicable to the Contracts.
 
                                  ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
    The financial statements of the Variable Account for the year ended December
31, 1996 and the financial statements of the Company for the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 included in this Prospectus have been audited
by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports
appearing herein, and are included in reliance upon the reports of such firm
given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
    
 
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENTS
 
    Registration statements have been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Washington, D.C., under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, with
respect to the Contracts offered by this Prospectus. This Prospectus does not
contain all the information set forth in the registration statements and the
exhibits filed as part of the registration statements, to all of which reference
is hereby made for further information concerning the Variable Account, the
Fixed Account, the Company, the Series Fund, the Contract and the Certificates.
Statements found in this Prospectus as to the terms of the Contracts, the
Certificates and other legal instruments are summaries, and reference is made to
such instruments as filed.
 
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    The financial statements of the Company which are included in this
Prospectus should be considered only as bearing on the ability of the Company to
meet its obligations with respect to amounts allocated to the Fixed Account and
with respect to the death benefit and the Company's assumption of the mortality
and expense risks. They should not be considered as bearing on the investment
performance of the Series Fund shares held in the Sub-Accounts of the Variable
Account. The Variable Account value of the interests of Owners, Participants,
Annuitants, Payees and Beneficiaries under the Contracts is affected primarily
by the investment results of the Series Fund. The financial statements of the
Variable Account reflect units outstanding and expenses incurred under the
Contracts and other contracts participating in the Variable Account which impose
certain contract charges that are different from those imposed under the
Contracts.
 
                              -------------------
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
   
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
    
 
STATEMENT OF CONDITION -- December 31, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Assets:
   Investments in MFS/Sun Life Series Trust:                                              Shares          Cost           Value
                                                                                        -----------  --------------  --------------
 <S>                                                                                    <C>          <C>             <C>
     Capital Appreciation Series ("CAS")..............................................   25,132,284  $  766,909,799  $  900,536,472
     Conservative Growth Series ("CGS")...............................................   19,770,779     401,011,161     523,882,326
     Emerging Growth Series ("EGS")...................................................   16,666,213     230,812,345     247,167,495
     MFS/Foreign & Colonial Emerging Markets Equity Series ("FCE")....................      327,100       3,224,047       3,271,436
     MFS/Foreign & Colonial International Growth Series ("FCI").......................      562,577       5,592,414       5,528,287
     MFS/Foreign & Colonial International Growth and Income Series ("FCG")............    3,306,816      34,327,842      35,129,529
     Government Securities Series ("GSS").............................................   24,278,758     306,999,943     312,399,099
     High Yield Series ("HYS")........................................................   17,514,023     154,164,774     161,352,366
     Managed Sectors Series ("MSS")...................................................    9,317,147     215,659,135     244,571,670
     Money Market Series ("MMS")......................................................  361,990,229     361,990,229     361,990,229
     Research Series ("RES")..........................................................   19,366,153     278,182,415     320,982,471
     Total Return Series ("TRS")......................................................   64,136,813   1,023,618,937   1,246,814,708
     Utilities Series ("UTS").........................................................    4,863,242      54,423,213      68,022,646
     Value Series ("VAL").............................................................    1,517,402      15,964,246      16,708,887
     World Asset Allocation Series ("WAA")............................................    5,558,878      69,593,015      76,595,693
     World Governments Series ("WGS").................................................   11,343,137     133,129,911     127,697,954
     World Growth Series ("WGR")......................................................   14,821,543     177,938,986     193,180,439
     World Total Return Series ("WTR")................................................    2,817,773      33,508,607      37,379,327
                                                                                                     --------------  --------------
                                                                                                     $4,267,051,019  $4,883,211,034
                                                                                                     --------------
                                                                                                     --------------
 Liability:
   Payable to sponsor..............................................................................................         193,982
                                                                                                                     --------------
         Net assets................................................................................................  $4,883,017,052
                                                                                                                     --------------
                                                                                                                     --------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      Applicable to Owners of           Reserve
                                                Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts       for
                                              ---------------------------------------   Variable
 NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO CONTRACT OWNERS:      Units     Unit Value       Value       Annuities       Total
                                              ----------  ----------   --------------  ----------  --------------
 <S>                                          <C>         <C>          <C>             <C>         <C>
   MFS Regatta Contracts:
     CAS -- Level 1.........................   6,316,305   $24.7064    $  156,017,899  $  312,018  $  156,329,917
     CAS -- Level 2.........................      58,968     9.9433           586,262      --             586,262
     GSS -- Level 1.........................   3,362,650    15.5644        52,333,731     105,552      52,439,283
     GSS -- Level 2.........................      55,891     9.9641           557,001      --             557,001
     HYS -- Level 1.........................   1,204,380    19.7545        23,789,006       6,482      23,795,488
     MSS -- Level 1.........................   2,202,213    22.0312        48,508,121     154,423      48,662,544
     MSS -- Level 2.........................      14,270     9.8974           141,231      --             141,231
     MMS -- Level 1.........................   3,859,738    12.7175        49,130,387      70,057      49,200,444
     MMS -- Level 2.........................      59,562    10.0240           597,029      --             597,029
     TRS -- Level 1.........................  12,461,003    20.0405       249,689,122   1,231,911     250,921,033
     TRS -- Level 2.........................      32,548    10.0182           325,990      --             325,990
     WGS -- Level 1.........................   1,460,289    16.7734        24,491,432      70,682      24,562,114
     WGS -- Level 2.........................       3,325    10.0242            33,342      --              33,342
                                                                       --------------  ----------  --------------
                                                                       $  606,200,553  $1,951,125  $  608,151,678
                                                                       --------------  ----------  --------------
                                                   (continued)
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENT OF CONDITION -- continued
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      Applicable to Owners of           Reserve
 NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO CONTRACT OWNERS       Deferred Variable Annuity Contracts       for
  (CONTINUED):                                ---------------------------------------   Variable
   MFS Regatta Gold Contracts:                  Units     Unit Value       Value       Annuities       Total
                                              ----------  ----------   --------------  ----------  --------------
 <S>                                          <C>         <C>          <C>             <C>         <C>
     CAS....................................  32,796,793   $22.5700    $  740,124,719  $3,625,224  $  743,749,943
     CGS....................................  26,199,975    19.9527       522,718,845   1,066,236     523,785,081
     EGS....................................  16,998,044    14.5136       246,685,538     353,268     247,038,806
     FCE....................................     329,630     9,9199         3,269,984      --           3,269,984
     FCI....................................     564,742     9.7480         5,505,724      --           5,505,724
     FCG....................................   3,360,596    10.4404        35,086,469      44,540      35,131,009
     GSS....................................  19,714,114    13.1252       258,776,682     585,330     259,362,012
     HYS....................................   8,424,289    16.2674       137,014,091     379,983     137,394,074
     MSS....................................  10,541,726    18.5452       195,501,650     249,088     195,750,738
     MMS....................................  27,275,583    11.3932       310,768,495   1,123,193     311,891,688
     RES....................................  19,577,745    16.3209       319,523,687   1,325,790     320,849,477
     TRS....................................  59,508,016    16.6932       993,286,276   1,708,347     994,994,623
     UTS....................................   4,671,192    14.5260        67,842,478      94,818      67,937,296
     VAL....................................   1,520,787    10.9234        16,612,132      --          16,612,132
     WAA....................................   5,539,010    13.7702        76,273,571     279,123      76,552,694
     WGS....................................   7,510,766    13.6780       102,745,888     402,541     103,148,429
     WGR....................................  13,989,946    13.7523       192,388,258     837,846     193,226,104
     WTR....................................   2,836,079    13.1290        37,233,242     151,430      37,384,672
                                                                       --------------  ----------  --------------
                                                                       $4,261,357,729  $12,226,757 $4,273,584,486
                                                                       --------------  ----------  --------------
   MFS Regatta Classic Contracts:
     CAS....................................       1,892   $ 9.8765    $       18,695  $   --      $       18,695
     CGS....................................       3,545     9.8549            34,931      --              34,931
     EGS....................................       9,744     9.5644            93,182      --              93,182
     FCE....................................         140    10.4127             1,452      --               1,452
     FCI....................................       2,249    10.0270            22,563      --              22,563
     GSS....................................       6,514     9.9631            64,981      --              64,981
     HYS....................................       8,219    10.0910            82,946      --              82,946
     MMS....................................      13,813    10.0239           138,477       3,211         141,688
     RES....................................      25,665     9.8296           253,132      --             253,132
     TRS....................................      40,575     9.9034           401,899       3,152         405,051
     VAL....................................       9,578    10.1034            96,755      --              96,755
     WAA....................................       6,448    10.0430            64,803      --              64,803
     WGR....................................          71    10.0000               709      --                 709
                                                                       --------------  ----------  --------------
                                                                       $    1,274,525  $    6,363  $    1,280,888
                                                                       --------------  ----------  --------------
         Net assets.................................................   $4,868,832,807  $14,184,245 $4,883,017,052
                                                                       --------------  ----------  --------------
                                                                       --------------  ----------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS -- Year Ended December 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           CAS             CGS            EGS            FCE           FCI
                                       Sub-Account     Sub-Account    Sub-Account    Sub-Account*  Sub-Account*
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
 <S>                                  <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>           <C>
 INCOME AND EXPENSES:
   Dividend income and capital gain
    distributions received..........  $  63,903,295   $  14,154,274   $    223,676    $ --         $   --
   Mortality and expense risk
    charges.........................      9,787,529       4,790,582      1,957,296      11,630         19,294
   Distribution expense charges.....        220,157        --              --           --             --
   Administrative expense charges...        954,346         574,870        234,876       1,396          2,315
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
       Net investment income
        (expense)...................  $  52,941,263   $   8,788,822   $ (1,968,496)   $(13,026)    $  (21,609)
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
 REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS
  (LOSSES):
   Realized gains (losses) on
    investment transactions:
     Proceeds from sales............  $ 267,285,199   $  12,067,114   $ 29,861,505    $513,892     $1,726,076
     Cost of investments sold.......    205,115,450       7,554,344     25,584,337     519,604      1,727,754
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
       Net realized gains (losses)..  $  62,169,749   $   4,512,770   $  4,277,168    $ (5,712)    $   (1,678)
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
   Net unrealized appreciation
    (depreciation) on investments:
     End of year....................  $ 133,626,673   $ 122,871,165   $ 16,355,150    $ 47,389     $  (64,127)
     Beginning of year..............    106,570,446      52,910,544      3,552,956      --             --
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
       Change in unrealized
        appreciation
        (depreciation)..............  $  27,056,227   $  69,960,621   $ 12,802,194    $ 47,389     $  (64,127)
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
     Realized and unrealized gains
      (losses)......................  $  89,225,976   $  74,473,391   $ 17,079,362    $ 41,677     $  (65,805)
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
   INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS
    FROM OPERATIONS.................  $ 142,167,239   $  83,262,213   $ 15,110,866    $ 28,651     $  (87,414)
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
                                      -------------   -------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
 
<CAPTION>
                                          FCG            GSS            HYS
                                      Sub-Account    Sub-Account    Sub-Account
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
 <S>                                  <C>           <C>             <C>
 INCOME AND EXPENSES:
   Dividend income and capital gain
    distributions received..........  $   --        $  18,191,771   $  9,492,026
   Mortality and expense risk
    charges.........................     293,242        3,900,496      1,670,108
   Distribution expense charges.....      --               81,209         29,566
   Administrative expense charges...      35,189          386,851        170,847
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
       Net investment income
        (expense)...................  $ (328,431)   $  13,823,215   $  7,621,505
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
 REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS
  (LOSSES):
   Realized gains (losses) on
    investment transactions:
     Proceeds from sales............  $6,264,957    $  80,691,084   $ 89,548,001
     Cost of investments sold.......   6,013,559       83,195,407     83,844,433
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
       Net realized gains (losses)..  $  251,398    $  (2,504,323)  $  5,703,568
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
   Net unrealized appreciation
    (depreciation) on investments:
     End of year....................  $  801,687    $   5,399,156   $  7,187,592
     Beginning of year..............     111,437       15,950,791      6,347,251
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
       Change in unrealized
        appreciation
        (depreciation)..............  $  690,250    $ (10,551,635)  $    840,341
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
     Realized and unrealized gains
      (losses)......................  $  941,648    $ (13,055,958)  $  6,543,909
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
   INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS
    FROM OPERATIONS.................  $  613,217    $     767,257   $ 14,165,414
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
                                      -----------   -------------   ------------
</TABLE>
 
*For the period July 1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 1996.
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS -- continued
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               MSS             MMS            RES             TRS            UTS
                                           Sub-Account     Sub-Account    Sub-Account     Sub-Account    Sub-Account
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
 <S>                                       <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>
 INCOME AND EXPENSES:
   Dividend income and capital gain
    distributions received...............  $ 27,063,786   $  13,803,397   $  2,171,374   $  80,430,595   $  2,685,506
   Mortality and expense risk charges....     2,649,730       3,584,245      2,320,870      14,086,166        677,251
   Distribution expense charges..........        66,547          68,418        --              359,085        --
   Administrative expense charges........       251,421         361,691        278,504       1,331,255         81,270
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
       Net investment income (expense)...  $ 24,096,088   $   9,789,043   $   (428,000)  $  64,654,089   $  1,926,985
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
 REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES):
   Realized gains (losses) on investment
    transactions:
     Proceeds from sales.................  $ 31,986,225   $ 601,132,062   $  5,303,758   $  76,812,211   $  6,901,492
     Cost of investments sold............    29,087,317     601,132,062      3,452,995      56,301,150      5,283,786
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
       Net realized gains (losses).......  $  2,898,908   $    --         $  1,850,763   $  20,511,061   $  1,617,706
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
   Net unrealized appreciation
    (depreciation) on investments:
     End of year.........................  $ 28,912,535   $    --         $ 42,800,056   $ 223,195,771   $ 13,599,433
     Beginning of year...................    24,275,006        --            8,623,371     172,733,800      7,026,868
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
       Change in unrealized appreciation
        (depreciation)...................  $  4,637,529   $    --         $ 34,176,685   $  50,461,971   $  6,572,565
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
     Realized and unrealized gains
      (losses)...........................  $  7,536,437   $    --         $ 36,027,448   $  70,973,032   $  8,190,271
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
   INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM
    OPERATIONS...........................  $ 31,632,525   $   9,789,043   $ 35,599,448   $ 135,627,121   $ 10,117,256
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
                                           ------------   -------------   ------------   -------------   ------------
 
<CAPTION>
                                              VAL           WAA            WGS
                                           Sub-Account* Sub-Account    Sub-Account
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
 <S>                                       <C>          <C>           <C>
 INCOME AND EXPENSES:
   Dividend income and capital gain
    distributions received...............   $ --        $1,323,112    $  18,375,771
   Mortality and expense risk charges....     47,876       649,587        1,642,776
   Distribution expense charges..........     --            --               38,491
   Administrative expense charges........      5,745        77,950          158,642
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
       Net investment income (expense)...   $(53,621)   $  595,575    $  16,535,862
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
 REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES):
   Realized gains (losses) on investment
    transactions:
     Proceeds from sales.................   $458,854    $7,401,713    $  27,818,987
     Cost of investments sold............    435,556     5,772,117       30,531,078
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
       Net realized gains (losses).......   $ 23,298    $1,629,596    $  (2,712,091)
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
   Net unrealized appreciation
    (depreciation) on investments:
     End of year.........................   $744,641    $7,002,678    $  (5,431,957)
     Beginning of year...................     --         2,577,570        4,376,710
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
       Change in unrealized appreciation
        (depreciation)...................   $744,641    $4,425,108    $  (9,808,667)
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
     Realized and unrealized gains
      (losses)...........................   $767,939    $6,054,704    $ (12,520,758)
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
   INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM
    OPERATIONS...........................   $714,318    $6,650,279    $   4,015,104
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
                                           ----------   -----------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
*For the period June 3, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 1996.
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS -- continued
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               WGR            WTR
                                           Sub-Account    Sub-Account        Total
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
 <S>                                       <C>            <C>           <C>
 INCOME AND EXPENSES:
   Dividend income and capital gain
    distributions received...............  $ 12,008,681   $  432,723    $   264,259,987
   Mortality and expense risk charges....     2,171,808      322,479         50,582,965
   Distribution expense charges..........       --            --                863,473
   Administrative expense charges........       260,617       38,697          5,206,482
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
       Net investment income.............  $  9,576,256   $   71,547    $   207,607,067
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
 REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS:
   Realized gains on investment
    transactions:
     Proceeds from sales.................  $ 43,985,963   $3,013,874    $ 1,292,772,967
     Cost of investments sold............    37,967,798    2,468,484      1,185,987,231
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
       Net realized gains................  $  6,018,165   $  545,390    $   106,785,736
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
   Net unrealized appreciation on
    investments:
     End of year.........................  $ 15,241,453   $3,870,720    $   616,160,015
     Beginning of year...................    13,826,397    1,024,871        419,908,018
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
       Change in unrealized
       appreciation......................  $  1,415,056   $2,845,849    $   196,251,997
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
     Realized and unrealized gains.......  $  7,433,221   $3,391,239    $   303,037,733
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
   INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM
    OPERATIONS...........................  $ 17,009,477   $3,462,786    $   510,644,800
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
                                           ------------   -----------   ---------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              CAS                             CGS                             EGS
                                          Sub-Account                     Sub-Account                     Sub-Account
                                 -----------------------------   -----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                          Year Ended                      Year Ended                      Year Ended
                                         December 31,                    December 31,                    December 31,
                                 -----------------------------   -----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                     1996            1995            1996            1995            1996            1995*
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
 <S>                             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
 OPERATIONS:
   Net investment income
    (expense)..................  $  52,941,263   $   4,868,051   $   8,788,822   $   1,641,149   $  (1,968,496)  $    (274,556)
   Net realized gains..........     62,169,749       8,669,752       4,512,770       1,559,779       4,277,168       2,216,787
   Net unrealized gains........     27,056,227     131,023,503      69,960,621      52,785,863      12,802,194       3,552,956
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
     Increase in net assets
      from operations..........  $ 142,167,239   $ 144,561,306   $  83,262,213   $  55,986,791   $  15,110,866   $   5,495,187
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
 PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
   Accumulation Activity:
     Purchase payments
      received.................  $ 148,876,483   $ 120,979,478   $ 153,852,554   $  74,122,408   $ 122,215,402   $  34,471,454
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account..................     (5,608,366)     51,189,081      36,048,717      19,980,665      50,369,380      27,751,346
     Withdrawals, surrenders,
      annuitizations and
      contract charges.........    (47,835,347)    (35,672,499)    (19,835,752)    (11,060,939)     (8,085,001)       (532,429)
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
       Net accumulation
        activity...............  $  95,432,770   $ 136,496,060   $ 170,065,519   $  83,042,134   $ 164,499,781   $  61,690,371
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
   Annuitization Activity:
     Annuitizations............  $   1,193,495   $   1,153,294   $     437,102   $     201,542   $     286,409   $      50,528
     Annuity payments and
      contract charges.........       (347,090)       (216,005)       (129,806)        (58,715)        (13,624)           (593)
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts.............        119,425         531,083         116,806           2,298          44,347           4,223
     Adjustments to annuity
      reserves.................        (50,462)        131,042         (87,515)         30,462          21,044         (56,551)
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
       Net annuitization
        activity...............  $     915,368   $   1,599,414   $     336,587   $     175,587   $     338,176   $      (2,393)
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
   Increase in net assets from
    participant transactions...  $  96,348,138   $ 138,095,474   $ 170,402,106   $  83,217,721   $ 164,837,957   $  61,687,978
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
     Increase in net assets....  $ 238,515,377   $ 282,656,780   $ 253,664,319   $ 139,204,512   $ 179,948,823   $  67,183,165
 NET ASSETS:
   Beginning of year...........    662,169,440     379,512,660     270,155,693     130,951,181      67,183,165        --
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
   End of year.................  $ 900,684,817   $ 662,169,440   $ 523,820,012   $ 270,155,693   $ 247,131,988   $  67,183,165
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                 -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
* For the period May 1, 1995 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 1995.
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       FCE           FCI                  FCG                            GSS
                                   Sub-Account   Sub-Account          Sub-Account                    Sub-Account
                                   -----------   -----------   --------------------------   -----------------------------
                                   Year Ended    Year Ended
                                    December      December             Year Ended                    Year Ended
                                       31,           31,              December 31,                  December 31,
                                                               --------------------------   -----------------------------
                                      1996*         1996*          1996         1995**          1996            1995
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
 <S>                               <C>           <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>
 OPERATIONS:
   Net investment income
    (expense)....................  $  (13,026)   $  (21,609)   $   (328,431)  $   (10,744)  $  13,823,215   $  11,426,494
   Net realized gains (losses)...      (5,712)       (1,678)        251,398          (243)     (2,504,323)     (1,546,621)
   Net unrealized gains
    (losses).....................      47,389       (64,127)        690,250       111,437     (10,551,635)     29,605,147
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
       Increase (decrease) in net
        assets from operations...  $   28,651    $  (87,414)   $    613,217   $   100,450   $     767,257   $  39,485,020
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
 PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
   Accumulation Activity:
     Purchase payments
      received...................  $1,048,658    $2,460,672    $ 19,437,825   $ 4,120,619   $  54,669,405   $  47,266,837
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account....................   2,213,104     3,215,694       8,809,224     3,003,996     (14,448,899)    (42,381,252)
     Withdrawals, surrenders,
      annuitizations and contract
      charges....................     (18,977)      (60,665)       (951,163)      (46,320)    (21,010,408)    (21,245,942)
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
       Net accumulation
        activity.................  $3,242,785    $5,615,701    $ 27,295,886   $ 7,078,295   $  19,210,098   $ (16,360,357)
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
   Annuitization Activity:
     Annuitizations..............  $   --        $   --        $     43,066   $   --        $     268,329   $     354,393
     Annuity payments and
      contract charges...........      --            --              (1,385)      --             (240,819)       (168,285)
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts...............      --            --             --            --             (309,558)        (53,070)
     Adjustments to annuity
      reserves...................      --            --               1,480       --              (40,665)         33,716
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
       Net annuitization
        activity.................  $   --        $   --        $     43,161   $   --        $    (322,713)  $     166,754
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
   Increase (decrease) in net
    assets from participant
    transactions.................  $3,242,785    $5,615,701    $ 27,339,047   $ 7,078,295   $  18,887,385   $ (16,193,603)
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
     Increase in net assets......  $3,271,436    $5,528,287    $ 27,952,264   $ 7,178,745   $  19,654,642   $  23,291,417
 NET ASSETS:
   Beginning of year.............      --            --           7,178,745       --          292,768,635     269,477,218
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
   End of year...................  $3,271,436    $5,528,287    $ 35,131,009   $ 7,178,745   $ 312,423,277   $ 292,768,635
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
 * For the period July 1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December 31,
1996.
 
** For the period October 4, 1995 (commencement of operations) to December 31,
1995.
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        HYS                             MSS
                                                    Sub-Account                     Sub-Account
                                           -----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                                    Year Ended                      Year Ended
                                                   December 31,                    December 31,
                                           -----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                               1996            1995            1996            1995
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
 <S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
 OPERATIONS:
   Net investment income.................  $   7,621,505   $   5,123,994   $  24,096,088   $   2,070,924
   Net realized gains....................      5,703,568       1,889,832       2,898,908       2,778,352
   Net unrealized gains..................        840,341       6,838,912       4,637,529      30,322,483
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
       Increase in net assets from
        operations.......................  $  14,165,414   $  13,852,738   $  31,632,525   $  35,171,759
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
 PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
   Accumulation Activity:
     Purchase payments received..........  $  33,898,269   $  20,152,853   $  40,598,625   $  34,586,296
     Net transfers between Sub-Accounts
      and Fixed Account..................      4,326,619      22,611,563       7,831,933       9,193,092
     Withdrawals, surrenders,
      annuitizations and contract
      charges............................    (11,758,613)     (7,980,818)    (13,315,281)     (9,392,233)
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
       Net accumulation activity.........  $  26,466,275   $  34,783,598   $  35,115,277   $  34,387,155
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
   Annuitization Activity:
     Annuitizations......................  $     137,217   $      16,894   $      82,609   $      92,920
     Annuity payments and contract
      charges............................        (79,990)        (68,402)        (76,110)        (56,337)
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts.......................         14,805           8,428          41,877          94,161
     Adjustments to annuity reserves.....        (42,595)        (25,024)        (12,576)         (2,133)
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
       Net annuitization activity........  $      29,437   $     (68,104)  $      35,800   $     128,611
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
   Increase in net assets from
    participant transactions.............  $  26,495,712   $  34,715,494   $  35,151,077   $  34,515,766
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
     Increase in net assets..............  $  40,661,126   $  48,568,232   $  66,783,602   $  69,687,525
 NET ASSETS:
   Beginning of year.....................    120,611,382      72,043,150     177,770,911     108,083,386
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
   End of year...........................  $ 161,272,508   $ 120,611,382   $ 244,554,513   $ 177,770,911
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                        MMS
                                                    Sub-Account
                                           -----------------------------
                                                    Year Ended
                                                   December 31,
                                           -----------------------------
                                               1996            1995
                                           -------------   -------------
 <S>                                       <C>             <C>
 OPERATIONS:
   Net investment income.................  $   9,789,043   $   7,468,244
   Net realized gains....................       --              --
   Net unrealized gains..................       --              --
                                           -------------   -------------
       Increase in net assets from
        operations.......................  $   9,789,043   $   7,468,244
                                           -------------   -------------
 PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
   Accumulation Activity:
     Purchase payments received..........  $ 208,990,259   $ 172,273,093
     Net transfers between Sub-Accounts
      and Fixed Account..................    (43,233,439)   (115,663,895)
     Withdrawals, surrenders,
      annuitizations and contract
      charges............................    (46,733,186)    (34,523,223)
                                           -------------   -------------
       Net accumulation activity.........  $ 119,023,634   $  22,085,975
                                           -------------   -------------
   Annuitization Activity:
     Annuitizations......................  $   1,121,927   $     583,368
     Annuity payments and contract
      charges............................       (206,726)       (185,934)
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts.......................       (190,340)       (656,607)
     Adjustments to annuity reserves.....        (23,831)        (33,157)
                                           -------------   -------------
       Net annuitization activity........  $     701,030   $    (292,330)
                                           -------------   -------------
   Increase in net assets from
    participant transactions.............  $ 119,724,664   $  21,793,645
                                           -------------   -------------
     Increase in net assets..............  $ 129,513,707   $  29,261,889
 NET ASSETS:
   Beginning of year.....................    232,317,142     203,055,253
                                           -------------   -------------
   End of year...........................  $ 361,830,849   $ 232,317,142
                                           -------------   -------------
                                           -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       RES                               TRS
                                                   Sub-Account                       Sub-Account
                                           ----------------------------   ---------------------------------
                                                    Year Ended                       Year Ended
                                                   December 31,                     December 31,
                                           ----------------------------   ---------------------------------
                                               1996            1995            1996              1995
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
 <S>                                       <C>             <C>            <C>               <C>
 OPERATIONS:
   Net investment income (expense).......  $    (428,000)  $   (383,608)  $    64,654,089   $    20,227,983
   Net realized gains....................      1,850,763        380,832        20,511,061        16,423,720
   Net unrealized gains..................     34,176,685      8,612,162        50,461,971       159,794,143
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
     Increase in net assets from
      operations.........................  $  35,599,448   $  8,609,386   $   135,627,121   $   196,445,846
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
 PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
   Accumulation Activity:
     Purchase payments received..........  $ 156,881,700   $ 44,406,655   $   158,550,497   $   114,688,434
     Net transfers between Sub-Accounts
      and Fixed Account..................     64,021,188     15,859,913         7,794,293        (1,317,333)
     Withdrawals, surrenders,
      annuitizations and contract
      charges............................     (7,956,041)    (1,251,158)      (79,238,642)      (63,409,172)
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
       Net accumulation activity.........  $ 212,946,847   $ 59,015,410   $    87,106,148   $    49,961,929
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
   Annuitization Activity:
     Annuitizations......................  $     557,791   $    404,830   $       505,447   $       238,231
     Annuity payments and contract
      charges............................        (62,358)       (20,548)         (762,883)         (656,053)
     Net transfers between Sub-Accounts..        118,346        (57,959)           56,990            17,486
     Adjustments to annuity reserves.....         38,061         82,075           (87,530)          (16,966)
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
       Net annuitization activity........  $     651,840   $    408,398   $      (287,976)  $      (417,302)
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
   Increase in net assets from
    participant transactions.............  $ 213,598,687   $ 59,423,808   $    86,818,172   $    49,544,627
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
     Increase in net assets..............  $ 249,198,135   $ 68,033,194   $   222,445,293   $   245,990,473
 NET ASSETS:
   Beginning of year.....................     71,904,474      3,871,280     1,024,201,404       778,210,931
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
   End of year...........................  $ 321,102,609   $ 71,904,474   $ 1,246,646,697   $ 1,024,201,404
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
                                           -------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                       UTS                   VAL
                                                   Sub-Account           Sub-Account
                                           ---------------------------   ------------
                                                   Year Ended             Year Ended
                                                  December 31,           December 31,
                                           ---------------------------
                                               1996           1995          1996*
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
 <S>                                       <C>            <C>            <C>
 OPERATIONS:
   Net investment income (expense).......  $  1,926,985   $    270,357   $    (53,621)
   Net realized gains....................     1,617,706        265,908         23,298
   Net unrealized gains..................     6,572,565      7,447,367        744,641
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
     Increase in net assets from
      operations.........................  $ 10,117,256   $  7,983,632        714,318
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
 PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
   Accumulation Activity:
     Purchase payments received..........  $ 18,235,404   $ 12,426,034   $ 10,936,155
     Net transfers between Sub-Accounts
      and Fixed Account..................       835,305      2,364,291      5,122,274
     Withdrawals, surrenders,
      annuitizations and contract
      charges............................    (3,059,763)    (2,335,754)       (63,860)
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
       Net accumulation activity.........  $ 16,010,946   $ 12,454,571   $ 15,994,569
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
   Annuitization Activity:
     Annuitizations......................  $    116,582   $     16,672   $    --
     Annuity payments and contract
      charges............................       (18,434)        (7,291)       --
     Net transfers between Sub-Accounts..       --               9,915        --
     Adjustments to annuity reserves.....       (82,561)        (2,791)       --
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
       Net annuitization activity........  $     15,587   $     16,505        --
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
   Increase in net assets from
    participant transactions.............  $ 16,026,533   $ 12,471,076   $ 15,994,569
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
     Increase in net assets..............  $ 26,143,789   $ 20,454,708   $ 16,708,887
 NET ASSETS:
   Beginning of year.....................    41,793,507     21,338,799        --
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
   End of year...........................  $ 67,937,296   $ 41,793,507   $ 16,708,887
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
                                           ------------   ------------   ------------
</TABLE>
 
*For the period June 3, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 1996.
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  WAA                            WGS                             WGR
                                              Sub-Account                    Sub-Account                     Sub-Account
                                      ---------------------------   -----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                              Year Ended                     Year Ended                      Year Ended
                                             December 31,                   December 31,                    December 31,
                                      ---------------------------   -----------------------------   -----------------------------
                                          1996           1995           1996            1995            1996            1995
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
 <S>                                  <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
 OPERATIONS:
   Net investment income
    (expense).......................  $    595,575   $   (175,907)  $  16,535,862   $   5,279,650   $   9,576,256   $   1,467,987
   Net realized gains (losses)......     1,629,596        120,590      (2,712,091)         21,142       6,018,165         871,201
   Net unrealized gains (losses)....     4,425,108      2,559,790      (9,808,667)     12,299,610       1,415,056      14,693,578
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
     Increase in net assets from
      operations....................  $  6,650,279   $  2,504,473   $   4,015,104   $  17,600,402   $  17,009,477   $  17,032,766
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
 PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
   Accumulation Activity:
     Purchase payments received.....  $ 33,549,719   $ 14,182,774   $  10,730,732   $  12,226,329   $  40,398,624   $  27,109,744
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account.......................    13,363,954      6,506,983     (13,803,477)     (8,347,691)      3,588,236       5,024,725
     Withdrawals, surrenders,
      annuitizations and contract
      charges.......................    (2,987,226)      (403,056)    (11,401,973)     (8,464,694)     (9,375,496)     (7,221,767)
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
       Net accumulation activity....  $ 43,926,447   $ 20,286,701   $ (14,474,718)  $  (4,586,056)  $  34,611,364   $  24,912,702
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
   Annuitization Activity:
     Annuitizations.................  $    174,043   $    --        $      55,515   $       9,873   $     157,641   $     398,205
     Annuity payments and contract
      charges.......................       (17,132)       (10,989)       (171,649)       (159,462)        (71,968)        (48,306)
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts..................       --              78,757         (25,947)       --                13,731           6,845
     Adjustments to annuity
      reserves......................        16,443          5,357          (4,679)         49,038           8,938          42,104
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
       Net annuitization activity...  $    173,354   $     73,125   $    (146,760)  $    (100,551)  $     108,342   $     398,848
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
   Increase (decrease) in net assets
    from participant transactions...  $ 44,099,801   $ 20,359,826   $ (14,621,478)  $  (4,686,607)  $  34,719,706   $  25,311,550
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
     Increase (decrease) in net
      assets........................  $ 50,750,080   $ 22,864,299   $ (10,606,374)  $  12,913,795   $  51,729,183   $  42,344,316
 NET ASSETS:
   Beginning of year................    25,867,417      3,003,118     138,350,259     125,436,464     141,497,630      99,153,314
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
   End of year......................  $ 76,617,497   $ 25,867,417   $ 127,743,885   $ 138,350,259   $ 193,226,813   $ 141,497,630
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                      ------------   ------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -- continued
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  WTR
                                              Sub-Account                         Total
                                      ---------------------------   ---------------------------------
                                              Year Ended                       Year Ended
                                             December 31,                     December 31,
                                      ---------------------------   ---------------------------------
                                          1996           1995            1996              1995
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
 <S>                                  <C>            <C>            <C>               <C>
 OPERATIONS:
   Net investment income
    (expense).......................  $     71,547   $    (87,058)  $   207,607,067   $    58,912,960
   Net realized gains...............       545,390         62,601       106,785,736        33,713,632
   Net unrealized gains.............     2,845,849      1,020,693       196,251,997       460,667,644
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
     Increase in net assets from
      operations....................  $  3,462,786   $    996,236   $   510,644,800   $   553,294,236
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
 PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS:
   Accumulation Activity:
     Purchase payments received.....  $ 16,294,987   $ 10,064,130   $ 1,231,625,970   $   743,077,138
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts and Fixed
      Account.......................     5,434,372      1,710,064       135,880,112        (2,514,452)
     Withdrawals, surrenders,
      annuitizations and contract
      charges.......................    (1,579,132)      (505,397)     (285,266,526)     (204,045,401)
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
       Net accumulation activity....  $ 20,150,227   $ 11,268,797   $ 1,082,239,556   $   536,517,285
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
   Annuitization Activity:
     Annuitizations.................  $    --        $    141,543   $     5,137,173   $     3,662,293
     Annuity payments and contract
      charges.......................       (17,146)        (6,755)       (2,217,120)       (1,663,675)
     Net transfers between
      Sub-Accounts..................       --                (394)              482           (14,834)
     Adjustments to annuity
      reserves......................       (10,126)        15,473          (356,574)          252,645
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
       Net annuitization activity...  $    (27,272)  $    149,867   $     2,563,961   $     2,236,429
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
   Increase in net assets from
    participant transactions........  $ 20,122,955   $ 11,418,664   $ 1,084,803,517   $   538,753,714
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
     Increase in net assets.........  $ 23,585,741   $ 12,414,900   $ 1,595,448,317   $ 1,092,047,950
 NET ASSETS:
   Beginning of year................    13,798,931      1,384,031     3,287,568,735     2,195,520,785
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
   End of year......................  $ 37,384,672   $ 13,798,931   $ 4,883,017,052   $ 3,287,568,735
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
                                      ------------   ------------   ---------------   ---------------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
(1) ORGANIZATION
Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account F (the "Variable Account"), a
separate account of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.), the Sponsor,
was established on July 13, 1989 as a funding vehicle for the variable portion
of certain group combination fixed/variable annuity contracts. 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 series of MFS/Sun Life Series
Trust (the "Series Trust"), an open-end management investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Massachusetts Financial Services
Company, a subsidiary of the Sponsor, is investment adviser to the Series Trust.
 
(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 shares of the Series Trust are recorded at their net asset value.
Realized gains and losses on sales of shares of the Series Trust are determined
on the identified cost basis. Dividend income and capital gain distributions
received by the Sub-Accounts are reinvested in additional Series Trust shares
and are recognized on the ex-dividend date.
 
Exchanges between Sub-Accounts requested by participants 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 deductions are
transferred periodically to the Sponsor. Currently, the deduction is at an
effective annual rate of 1.25% for Regatta and Regatta Gold contracts and 1.00%
for Regatta Classic contracts.
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- continued
Each year on the account anniversary, an account administration fee ("Account
Fee") equal to the lesser of $30 or 2% of the participant's account value in the
case of Regatta and Regatta Gold and $50 for Regatta Classic is deducted from
the participant's account to reimburse the Sponsor for certain administrative
expenses. After the annuity commencement date the Account Fee will be deducted
pro rata from each variable annuity payment made during the year.
 
The Sponsor does not deduct a sales charge from purchase payments. However, in
the case of Regatta and Regatta Gold, a withdrawal charge (contingent deferred
sales charge) of up to 6% of certain amounts withdrawn, when applicable, may be
deducted to cover certain expenses relating to the sale of the contracts and
certificates. In the case of Regatta Classic, a withdrawal charge of 1% is
applied to purchase payments withdrawn which have been credited to a
participant's account for less than one year.
 
For assuming the risk that withdrawal charges may be insufficient to compensate
it for the costs of distributing the Regatta contracts, the Sponsor makes a
deduction from the Variable Account at the end of each valuation period for the
first seven account years at an effective annual rate of 0.15% of the net assets
attributable to such contracts. Accounts are transferred from MFS Regatta --
Level 1 to MFS Regatta -- Level 2 in the month following the seventh account
anniversary. No deduction for the distribution expense charge is made after the
seventh account anniversary.
 
As reimbursement for administrative expenses attributable to Regatta Gold and
Regatta Classic contracts which exceed the revenues received from the Account
Fees described above derived from such contracts, the Sponsor makes a deduction
from the Variable Account at the end of each valuation period at an effective
annual rate of 0.15% of the net assets attributable to such contracts.
 
(4) ANNUITY RESERVES
Annuity reserves are calculated using the 1983 Individual Annuitant Mortality
Table and an assumed interest rate of 4% or 3%, as stated in each participant's
certificate. Required adjustments to the reserves are accomplished by transfers
to or from the Sponsor.
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- continued
(5) UNIT ACTIVITY FROM PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Units Transferred
                                                                                  Between Sub-Accounts and
                                   Units Outstanding
                                   Beginning of Year        Units Purchased             Fixed Account
                                 ----------------------  ----------------------  ---------------------------
                                       Year Ended              Year Ended                Year Ended
                                      December 31,            December 31,              December 31,
                                 ----------------------  ----------------------  ---------------------------
                                    1996        1995        1996        1995         1996           1995
                                 ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------   ------------
 <S>                             <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>
 MFS REGATTA CONTRACTS
 ------------------------------
 CAS Sub-Account -- Level 1....   6,615,207   6,184,731       3,487       8,683       267,320      1,002,774
 CAS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...      --          --          62,873      --               142        --
 GSS Sub-Account -- Level 1....   3,535,152   4,235,203       1,574          48       206,595       (289,212)
 GSS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...      --          --          59,729      --             3,442        --
 HYS Sub-Account -- Level 1....   1,068,412     839,825      --          --           271,328        332,946
 MSS Sub-Account -- Level 1....   2,150,361   2,066,642      --          12,503       253,891        206,072
 MSS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...      --          --          18,662      --           --             --
 MMS Sub-Account -- Level 1....   3,453,907   3,873,044       7,940       6,171     1,420,458        315,466
 MMS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...      --          --          74,316      --            (3,576)       --
 TRS Sub-Account -- Level 1....  13,106,997  14,225,539       2,594       4,093       580,878        117,384
 TRS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...      --          --          61,666      --           --             --
 WGS Sub-Account -- Level 1....   1,730,002   1,967,375      --          --            (4,348)       (87,581)
 WGS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...      --          --           4,988      --           --             --
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                     Units Withdrawn,
                                      Surrendered and          Units Outstanding
                                        Annuitized                End of Year
                                 -------------------------   ----------------------
                                        Year Ended                 Year Ended
                                       December 31,               December 31,
                                 -------------------------   ----------------------
                                    1996          1995          1996        1995
                                 -----------   -----------   ----------  ----------
 <S>                             <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>
 MFS REGATTA CONTRACTS
 ------------------------------
 CAS Sub-Account -- Level 1....     (569,709)     (580,981)   6,316,305   6,615,207
 CAS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...       (4,047)      --            58,968      --
 GSS Sub-Account -- Level 1....     (380,671)     (410,887)   3,362,650   3,535,152
 GSS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...       (7,280)      --            55,891      --
 HYS Sub-Account -- Level 1....     (135,360)     (104,359)   1,204,380   1,068,412
 MSS Sub-Account -- Level 1....     (202,039)     (134,856)   2,202,213   2,150,361
 MSS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...       (4,392)      --            14,270      --
 MMS Sub-Account -- Level 1....   (1,022,567)     (740,774)   3,859,738   3,453,907
 MMS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...      (11,178)      --            59,562      --
 TRS Sub-Account -- Level 1....   (1,229,466)   (1,240,019)  12,461,003  13,106,997
 TRS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...      (29,118)      --            32,548      --
 WGS Sub-Account -- Level 1....     (265,365)     (149,792)   1,460,289   1,730,002
 WGS Sub-Account -- Level 2*...       (1,663)      --             3,325      --
</TABLE>
 
*For the period December 9, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December 31,
1996.
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- continued
 
(5) UNIT ACTIVITY FROM PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS -- continued
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Units Transferred
                                                                                  Between Sub-Accounts and
                                   Units Outstanding
                                   Beginning of Year        Units Purchased             Fixed Account
                                 ----------------------  ----------------------  ---------------------------
                                       Year Ended              Year Ended                Year Ended
                                      December 31,            December 31,              December 31,
                                 ----------------------  ----------------------  ---------------------------
                                    1996        1995        1996        1995         1996           1995
                                 ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------   ------------
 <S>                             <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>
 
 MFS REGATTA GOLD CONTRACTS
 ------------------------------
 CAS Sub-Account...............  27,782,739  19,909,649   7,263,696   7,106,728      (496,244)     2,287,026
 CGS Sub-Account...............  16,712,586  10,979,711   8,644,701   5,181,021     2,000,284      1,359,507
 EGS Sub-Account*..............   5,346,104      --       8,728,028   2,978,021     3,530,938      2,420,603
 FCG Sub-Account**.............     711,179      --       1,891,793     414,060       856,286        301,717
 FCI Sub-Account***............      --          --         250,279      --           323,501        --
 FCE Sub-Account***............      --          --         107,088      --           224,483        --
 GSS Sub-Account...............  18,082,586  18,784,262   4,278,441   3,836,496    (1,392,606)    (3,241,260)
 HYS Sub-Account...............   6,880,080   4,605,818   2,241,058   1,439,990       (53,191)     1,286,018
 MSS Sub-Account...............   8,542,869   6,351,641   2,422,482   2,269,426       147,148        411,655
 MMS Sub-Account...............  17,186,041  14,774,386  18,886,918  16,108,059    (5,479,056)   (11,138,037)
 RES Sub-Account...............   5,341,160     392,528  10,525,524   3,726,811     4,302,978      1,346,160
 TRS Sub-Account...............  53,091,748  48,270,556  10,291,268   8,512,923      (170,571)      (391,980)
 UTS Sub-Account...............   3,410,047   2,273,439   1,448,517   1,164,148        68,243        204,917
 VAL Sub-Account****...........      --          --       1,039,259      --           492,924        --
 WAA Sub-Account...............   2,141,041     299,210   2,590,553   1,294,348     1,048,013        590,509
 WGS Sub-Account...............   8,272,858   8,334,019     818,386     981,591    (1,036,800)      (532,375)
 WGR Sub-Account...............  11,421,691   9,182,555   3,069,026   2,422,350       227,986        475,925
 WTR Sub-Account...............   1,170,586     138,126   1,353,637     922,160       448,221        159,909
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                     Units Withdrawn,
                                      Surrendered and          Units Outstanding
                                        Annuitized                End of Year
                                 -------------------------   ----------------------
                                        Year Ended                 Year Ended
                                       December 31,               December 31,
                                 -------------------------   ----------------------
                                    1996          1995          1996        1995
                                 -----------   -----------   ----------  ----------
 <S>                             <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>
 MFS REGATTA GOLD CONTRACTS
 ------------------------------
 CAS Sub-Account...............   (1,753,398)   (1,520,664)  32,796,793  27,782,739
 CGS Sub-Account...............   (1,157,596)     (807,653)  26,199,975  16,712,586
 EGS Sub-Account*..............     (607,026)      (52,520)  16,998,044   5,346,104
 FCG Sub-Account**.............      (98,662)       (4,598)   3,360,596     711,179
 FCI Sub-Account***............       (9,038)      --           564,742      --
 FCE Sub-Account***............       (1,941)      --           329,630      --
 GSS Sub-Account...............   (1,254,307)   (1,296,912)  19,714,114  18,082,586
 HYS Sub-Account...............     (643,658)     (451,746)   8,424,289   6,880,080
 MSS Sub-Account...............     (570,773)     (489,853)  10,541,726   8,542,869
 MMS Sub-Account...............   (3,318,320)   (2,558,367)  27,275,583  17,186,041
 RES Sub-Account...............     (591,917)     (124,339)  19,577,745   5,341,160
 TRS Sub-Account...............   (3,704,429)   (3,299,751)  59,508,016  53,091,748
 UTS Sub-Account...............     (255,615)     (232,457)   4,671,192   3,410,047
 VAL Sub-Account****...........      (11,396)      --         1,520,787      --
 WAA Sub-Account...............     (240,597)      (43,026)   5,539,010   2,141,041
 WGS Sub-Account...............     (543,678)     (510,377)   7,510,766   8,272,858
 WGR Sub-Account...............     (728,757)     (659,139)  13,989,946  11,421,691
 WTR Sub-Account...............     (136,365)      (49,609)   2,836,079   1,170,586
</TABLE>
 
   *1995 activity is for the period May 1, 1995 (commencement of operations) to
December 31, 1995.
  **1995 activity is for the period October 4, 1995 (commencement of operations)
to December 31, 1995.
 ***For the period July 1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December 31,
1996.
****For the period June 3, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December 31,
1996.
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.) VARIABLE ACCOUNT F
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- continued
 
(5) UNIT ACTIVITY FROM PARTICIPANT TRANSACTIONS -- continued
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Units
                                                         Transferred       Units
                                   Units                 Between Sub-   Withdrawn,      Units
                                 Outstanding             Accounts and   Surrendered   Outstanding
                                 Beginning     Units        Fixed           and         End of
                                 of Period   Purchased     Account      Annuitized      Period
                                 ----------  ----------  ------------   -----------   ----------
 
 MFS REGATTA CLASSIC CONTRACTS
 ------------------------------
 <S>                             <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>           <C>
 CAS Sub-Account*..............    --          1,892         --             --          1,892
 CGS Sub-Account*..............    --          8,005          (4,460)       --          3,545
 EGS Sub-Account*..............    --         11,935          (2,191)       --          9,744
 FCI Sub-Account**.............    --          2,249         --             --          2,249
 FCE Sub-Account**.............    --            352            (212)       --            140
 GSS Sub-Account**.............    --          6,514         --             --          6,514
 HYS Sub-Account*..............    --          7,097           1,122        --          8,219
 MMS Sub-Account**.............    --         13,813         --             --         13,813
 RES Sub-Account***............    --         25,659               6        --         25,665
 TRS Sub-Account***............    --         33,797           6,778        --         40,575
 VAL Sub-Account*..............    --          8,416           1,162        --          9,578
 WAA Sub-Account*..............    --          7,086            (638)       --          6,448
 WGR Sub-Account****...........    --          --                 71        --             71
</TABLE>
 
   *For the period December 2, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December 31,
1996.
  **For the period December 9, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December 31,
1996.
 ***For the period November 27, 1996 (commencement of operations) to December
31, 1996.
****Operations commenced on December 31, 1996.
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
To the Participants in Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable Account F
 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 F (the "Variable Account") as of December 31, 1996, the
related statement of operations for the year then ended and the statements of
changes in net assets for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995. These
financial statements are the responsibility of management. Our responsibility is
to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities held at December 31, 1996 by correspondence with the
custodian. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Variable Account as of December 31,
1996, the results of its operations and the changes in its net assets for the
respective stated periods in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Boston, Massachusetts
   
February 7, 1997
    
 
                                       65
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF ADMITTED ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND
CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       DECEMBER 31,
                                                                              ------------------------------
                                                                                   1996            1995
                                                                              --------------  --------------
                                                                                        (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                           <C>             <C>
ADMITTED ASSETS
    Bonds                                                                     $    2,258,858  $    2,706,067
    Preferred stock                                                                        0           1,149
    Mortgage loans                                                                   938,932       1,066,911
    Investments in subsidiaries                                                      144,043         138,282
    Real estate                                                                      100,385          95,574
    Other invested assets                                                             51,378          38,387
    Policy loans                                                                      40,554          38,355
    Cash                                                                               1,305         (20,280)
    Investment income due and accrued                                                 68,190          62,719
    Funds withheld on reinsurance assumed                                            878,798         741,091
    Due from separate accounts                                                       220,999         148,675
    Other assets                                                                      27,509          26,349
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    General account assets                                                         4,730,951       5,043,279
    Unitized separate account assets                                               6,919,219       5,275,808
    Non-unitized separate account assets                                           2,108,835       2,040,596
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    Total Assets                                                              $   13,759,005  $   12,359,683
                                                                              --------------  --------------
                                                                              --------------  --------------
LIABILITIES
    Policy reserves                                                           $    2,099,980  $    1,937,302
    Annuity and other deposits                                                     1,898,309       2,290,656
    Policy benefits in process of payment                                              2,677           5,884
    Accrued expenses and taxes                                                        57,719          44,114
    Other liabilities                                                                 63,987          36,080
    Due to (from) parent and affiliates--net                                         (41,326)       (130,502)
    Interest maintenance reserve                                                      28,676          25,218
    Asset valuation reserve                                                           53,911          42,099
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    General account liabilities                                                    4,163,933       4,250,851
    Unitized separate account liabilities                                          6,919,094       5,275,784
    Non-unitized separate account liabilities                                      2,108,835       2,040,596
                                                                              --------------  --------------
                                                                                  13,191,862      11,567,231
                                                                              --------------  --------------
CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
    Capital Stock Par value $1,000:
       Authorized, 10,000 shares;
        issued and outstanding, 5,900 shares                                           5,900           5,900
    Surplus                                                                          561,243         786,552
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    Total capital stock and surplus                                                  567,143         792,452
                                                                              --------------  --------------
    Total Liabilities, Capital Stock and Surplus                              $   13,759,005  $   12,359,683
                                                                              --------------  --------------
                                                                              --------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
 
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                           ----------------------------------
                                              1996        1995        1994
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 <S>                                       <C>         <C>         <C>
                                                       (IN 000'S)
 Premiums and annuity considerations       $  282,466  $  279,407  $  316,008
 Deposit-type funds                         1,775,230   1,545,542   1,647,623
 Considerations for supplementary
  contracts without life contingencies
  and dividend accumulations                    2,340       1,088       2,906
 Net investment income                        303,753     312,872     315,433
 Amortization of interest maintenance
  reserve                                       1,557       1,025       4,128
 Miscellaneous income                          71,903      57,864      30,988
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Total                                      2,437,249   2,197,798   2,317,086
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Death benefits                                12,394      15,317       4,836
 Annuity benefits                             146,654     140,497     135,256
 Surrender benefits and other fund
  withdrawals                               1,507,263   1,074,396     965,186
 Interest on policy or contract funds           2,205         739         572
 Payments on supplementary contracts
  without life contingencies and of
  dividend accumulations                        2,120       1,888       2,334
 Increase in aggregate reserves for life
  and accident and health policies and
  contracts                                   162,678     171,975     219,334
 Increase in liability for premium and
  other deposit funds                        (392,348)     13,553     (69,541)
 Increase in reserve for supplementary
  contracts without life contingencies
  and for dividend and coupon
  accumulations                                   327        (663)        714
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Total                                      1,441,293   1,417,702   1,258,691
 Commissions on premiums and annuity
  considerations (direct business only)       109,894      88,037      93,576
 Commissions and expense allowances on
  reinsurance assumed                          18,910      22,012      59,085
 General insurance expenses                    37,206      34,580      31,243
 Insurance taxes, licenses and fees,
  excluding federal income taxes                8,431       7,685       5,638
 Increase in loading on and cost of
  collection in excess of loading on
  deferred and uncollected premiums               901      (1,377)     (2,650)
 Net transfers to Separate Account            678,663     551,784     820,671
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Total                                      2,295,298   2,120,423   2,266,254
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Net gain from operations before
  dividends to policyholders and federal
  income tax                                  141,951      77,375      50,832
 Dividends to policyholders                    29,189      25,722      22,928
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Net gain from operations after dividends
  to policyholders and before federal
  income tax                                  112,762      51,653      27,904
 Federal income taxes incurred (excluding
  tax on capital gains)                        (2,702)     17,807      19,469
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 Net gain from operations after dividends
  to policyholders and federal income tax
  and before realized capital gains or
  (losses)                                    115,464      33,846       8,435
 Net realized capital gains or (losses)
  less capital gains tax and transferred
  to the interest maintenance reserve           7,560       2,069      (6,978)
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
 NET INCOME                                $  123,024  $   35,915  $    1,457
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       67
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
 
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL STOCK AND SURPLUS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                            ----------------------------------
                                                               1996        1995        1994
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                         <C>         <C>         <C>
                                                                        (IN 000'S)
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS, BEGINNING OF YEAR                      $  792,452  $  455,489  $  483,188
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
Net income                                                     123,024      35,915       1,457
Change in net unrealized capital gains or (losses)              (1,715)      2,009        (671)
Change in non-admitted assets and related items                     67      (2,270)     (1,485)
Change in asset valuation reserve                              (11,812)    (13,690)     (8,376)
Other changes in surplus in Separate Accounts Statement            100      (4,038)       (227)
Increase (decrease) in surplus notes                          (335,000)    315,000           0
Miscellaneous gains and losses in surplus                           27       4,037     (18,397)
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
Net change in capital and surplus for the year                (225,309)    336,963     (27,699)
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
Capital and surplus, end of year                            $  567,143  $  792,452  $  455,489
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                            ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       68
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
STATUTORY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                            -------------------------------------
                                               1996         1995         1994
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 <S>                                        <C>          <C>          <C>
                                                         (IN 000'S)
 Cash Provided
   Premiums, annuity considerations and
     deposit funds received                 $ 2,059,577  $ 1,826,456  $ 2,287,695
   Considerations for supplementary
     contracts and dividend accumulations
     received                                     2,340        1,088        2,906
   Net investment income received               324,914      374,398      351,058
   Other income received                         88,295       25,348       30,989
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total receipts                               2,475,126    2,227,290    2,672,648
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
   Benefits paid (other than dividends)       1,671,483    1,231,936    1,326,223
   Insurance expenses and taxes paid
     (other than federal income and
     capital gains taxes)                       172,015      150,463      187,699
   Net cash transfers to Separate Accounts      755,605      568,188      963,127
   Dividends paid to policyholders               22,689       17,722       13,303
   Federal income tax (recoveries)
     payments (excluding tax on capital
     gains)                                     (15,363)     (20,655)       2,976
   Other--net                                     2,205          739          572
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total payments                               2,608,634    1,948,393    2,493,900
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Net cash from operations                      (133,508)     278,897      178,748
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
   Proceeds from long-term investments
     sold, matured or repaid (after
     deducting taxes on capital gains of
     $1,554,873 for 1996, $8,610,951 for
     1995 and $19,271,876 for 1994)           1,768,147    1,658,655    1,508,156
   Issuance (repayment) of surplus notes       (335,000)     315,000
   Other cash provided                          147,956      419,446       26,512
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total cash provided                          1,581,103    2,393,101    1,534,668
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Cash Applied
   Cost of long-term investments acquired     1,318,880    1,749,714    1,442,155
   Other cash applied                           235,982      796,207      264,233
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Total cash applied                           1,554,862    2,545,921    1,706,388
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 Net change in cash and short-term
   investments                                 (107,267)     126,077        7,028
 Cash and short-term investments:
 Beginning of year                              197,326       71,249       64,221
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
 End of year                                $    90,059  $   197,326  $    71,249
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
                                            -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                  SEE NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                       69
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
GENERAL
 
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) (the "Company") is incorporated as a
life insurance company and is currently engaged in the sale of individual fixed
and variable annuities, group fixed and variable annuities and group pension
contracts. The Company also underwrites a block of individual life insurance
business through a reinsurance contract with its parent. Sun Life Assurance
Company of Canada (the "parent company") is a mutual life insurance company.
 
The Company, which is domiciled in the State of Delaware, prepares its financial
statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or
permitted by the State of Delaware Insurance Department. Prescribed accounting
practices include practices described in a variety of publications of the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), as well as state laws,
regulations and general administrative rules. Permitted accounting practices
encompass all accounting practices not so prescribed. The permitted accounting
practices adopted by the Company are not material to the financial statements.
Prior to 1996, statutory accounting practices were recognized by the insurance
industry and the accounting profession as generally accepted accounting
principles for mutual life insurance companies and stock life insurance
companies wholly owned by mutual life insurance companies. In April 1993, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an interpretation (the
"Interpretation"), that became effective in 1996, that has changed the previous
practice of mutual life insurance companies (and stock life insurance companies
that are wholly-owned subsidiaries of mutual life insurance companies) with
respect to utilizing statutory basis financial statements for general purposes,
in that it will no longer allow such financial statements to be described as
having been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP"). Consequently, these financial statements prepared in conformity with
statutory accounting practices as described above, vary from and are not
intended to present the Company's financial position and results of operations
and capital in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. (See
Note 19 for further discussion relative to the Company's basis of financial
statement presentation.) The effects on the financial statements of the
variances between the statutory basis of accounting and GAAP, although not
reasonably determinable, are presumed to be material.
 
INVESTED ASSETS AND RELATED RESERVES
 
Bonds are carried at cost adjusted for amortization of premium or accrual of
discount. Investments in non-insurance subsidiaries are carried on the equity
basis. Investments in insurance subsidiaries are carried at their statutory
surplus values. Mortgage loans acquired at a premium or discount are carried at
amortized values and other mortgage loans at the amounts of the unpaid balances.
Real estate investments are carried at the lower of cost adjusted for
accumulated depreciation or appraised value, less encumbrances. Short-term
investments are carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Depreciation of buildings and improvements is calculated using the straight-line
method over the estimated useful life of the property, generally 40 to 50 years.
 
POLICY AND CONTRACT RESERVES
 
The reserves for life insurance and annuity contracts, developed by accepted
actuarial methods, have been established and maintained on the basis of
published mortality tables using assumed interest rates and valuation methods
that will provide reserves at least as great as those required by law and
contract provisions.
 
                                       70
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES (CONTINUED):
    
INCOME AND EXPENSES
 
For life and annuity contracts, premiums are recognized as revenues over the
premium paying period, whereas commissions and other costs applicable to the
acquisition of new business are charged to operations as incurred.
 
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
 
The Company has established unitized separate accounts applicable to various
classes of contracts providing for variable benefits. Contracts for which funds
are invested in separate accounts include variable life insurance and individual
and group qualified and non-qualified variable annuity contracts.
 
Assets and liabilities of the separate accounts, representing net deposits and
accumulated net investment earnings less fees, held primarily for the benefit of
contract holders are shown as separate captions in the financial statements.
Assets held in the separate accounts are carried at market values.
 
The Company has also established a non-unitized separate account for amounts
allocated to the fixed portion of certain combination fixed/variable deferred
annuity contracts. The assets of this account are available to fund general
account liabilities and general account assets are available to fund liabilities
of this account.
 
Gains (losses) from mortality experience and investment experience, not
applicable to contract owners, are transferred to (from) the general account.
Accumulated gains (losses) that have not been transferred are recorded as a
payable (receivable) to (from) the general account. Amounts payable to the
general account of the Company were $220,999,000 in 1996 and $148,675,000 in
1995.
 
CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND REPORTING
 
   
During 1996, the Company changed its method of accounting and reporting for
deposits, withdrawals, and benefits with respect to unitized separate accounts.
Previously, deposits were recorded as direct increases in liabilities of the
separate accounts while withdrawals and benefits were recorded as direct
decreases in that liability. Effective for 1996, the Company recorded: deposits
as revenue in the general account; withdrawals and benefits as expenses in the
general account; and the transfer of those funds between the general account and
the separate account are reflected as an expense (income) item. Amounts
presented for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 have been restated to
conform to this presentation. The effect of this change was to increase revenues
and expenses by $1.4 billion in 1996, $878 million in 1995, and $988 million in
1994; there is no impact on net income of the general account. This new method
of reporting is consistent with the accounting treatment for deposits and
withdrawals and benefits of the non-unitized separate account of the Company,
and is consistent with prescribed statutory accounting practices.
    
 
Prior to 1996, dividends paid to the Company by its subsidiaries and the
undistributed gains (losses) of those subsidiaries were included in net income
of the Company. For Annual Statement reporting, dividends were (and continue to
be) reported in net income while undistributed gains (losses) are reported
directly to surplus (as a separate component of unassigned surplus). As a
result, net income as reported in these financial statements is $2.5 million
less than net income reported in the Annual Statement in 1995 and $1.4 million
greater than the Annual Statement in 1994. Effective for 1996, the Company
changed its method of accounting for investments in subsidiaries to conform with
the prescribed statutory accounting practices used in the preparation of its
Annual Statement. As a result of the change, $5.7 million in undistributed
losses of subsidiaries are reported directly as a separate component of
unassigned surplus rather than being included in net income for the year ended
December 31, 1996. The amounts as reported in prior years have not been
restated.
 
                                       71
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES (CONTINUED):
    
The Company has also revised the form of its statutory statements of operations,
changes in capital stock and surplus, and cash flow in order to match more
exactly the presentation used in the preparation of its Annual Statement. As a
result, reclassifications have been made in the amounts reported in 1995 and
1994 audited financial statements to conform to the presentation used for the
1996 amounts. Other than as described in the preceding paragraph, none of the
changes have impacted net income or statutory surplus as reported in the 1995
and 1994 audited financial statements.
 
OTHER
 
Preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues
and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
2.  INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES:
The Company owns all of the outstanding shares of Sun Life Insurance and Annuity
Company of New York (Sun Life (N.Y.)), Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company
(MCIC), Sun Investment Services Company (Sunesco), New London Trust, F.S.B.
(NLT), Sun Life Financial Services Limited, Inc. (SLFSL), Sun Benefit Services
Company, Inc. (Sunbesco), Sun Capital Advisers, Inc. (Sun Capital), and Sun Life
Finance Corporation (Sunfinco).
 
The Company owns 94.8% of the outstanding shares of Massachusetts Financial
Services Company (MFS). The Company previously owned 100% of the shares. During
1996, MFS issued additional shares to officers of MFS, thereby reducing the
Company's ownership to 94.8%.
 
Sun Life (N.Y.) is engaged in the sale of individual fixed and variable annuity
contracts and group life and disability insurance contracts in the State of New
York. MCIC is a life insurance company which issues only individual disability
income policies. Sunesco is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer.
NLT is a federally chartered savings bank. SLFSL serves as the marketing
administrator for the distribution of the Parent company's offshore products.
Sun Capital, a registered investment adviser, Sunfinco, and Sunbesco are
currently inactive.
 
MFS, a registered investment adviser, serves as investment adviser to the mutual
funds in the MFS family of funds and certain mutual funds and separate accounts
established by the Company, and, through a subsidiary, provides investment
advice to substantial private clients.
 
In 1994, the Company reduced its carrying value of MCIC by $18,397,000, the
unamortized amount of goodwill. The reduction was accounted for as a direct
charge to surplus.
 
On December 31, 1996, the Company issued to the parent a $58,000,000 note which
is scheduled for repayment on February 15, 1997 at an interest rate of 5.70%.
Also on December 31, 1996, the Company was issued a $58,000,000 note by MFS at
an interest rate of 5.76% due on demand on or after March 1, 1997. On December
31, 1996 and 1995 the Company had an additional $20,000,000 in notes issued by
MFS, scheduled to mature in 2000. All of these notes are reported as due from
parent and affiliates.
 
During 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company contributed capital in the following
amounts to its subsidiaries:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           1996           1995          1994
                                                                      --------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                   <C>             <C>           <C>
MCIC                                                                  $   10,000,000  $  6,000,000  $  6,000,000
SLFSL                                                                      1,500,000             0             0
</TABLE>
 
                                       72
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
2.  INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES (CONTINUED):
    
Summarized combined financial information of the Company's subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 and for the years then ended, follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       DECEMBER 31,
                                                                         ----------------------------------------
                                                                             1996          1995          1994
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                                        (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                      <C>           <C>           <C>
Intangible assets                                                        $      9,646  $     12,174  $     13,485
Other assets                                                                1,376,014     1,233,372     1,165,595
Liabilities                                                                (1,241,617)   (1,107,264)   (1,044,273)
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
Total net assets                                                         $    144,043  $    138,282  $    134,807
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
Total revenues                                                           $    717,280  $    570,794  $    495,097
Operating expenses                                                           (624,199)     (504,070)     (425,891)
Income tax expense                                                            (42,820)      (31,193)      (29,374)
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
Net income                                                               $     50,261  $     35,531  $     39,832
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                         ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
3.  BONDS:
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investments in debt securities
are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                             GROSS        GROSS      ESTIMATED
                                                             AMORTIZED    UNREALIZED   UNREALIZED       FAIR
                                                                COST         GAINS      (LOSSES)       VALUE
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
 
<S>                                                         <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
                                                                                 (IN 000'S)
Long-term Bonds:
    United States government and government agencies and
     authorities                                            $    267,756   $  12,272    $  (8,927)  $    271,101
    States, provinces and political subdivisions                   2,253          20           (0)         2,273
    Foreign governments                                           18,812       1,351           (0)        20,163
    Public utilities                                             415,641      24,728       (1,223)       439,146
    Transportation                                               167,937      14,107       (2,243)       179,801
    Finance                                                      290,025       7,912         (472)       297,465
    All other corporate bonds                                  1,007,680      42,338      (14,496)     1,035,522
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
        Total long-term bonds                                  2,170,104     102,728      (27,361)     2,245,471
Short-term bonds:
    U.S. Treasury Bills, bankers acceptances and
     commercial paper                                             88,754           0            0         88,754
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
                                                            $  2,258,858   $ 102,728    $ (27,361)  $  2,334,225
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
                                                            ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                                       73
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
3.  BONDS (CONTINUED):
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                          -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                           GROSS        GROSS       ESTIMATED
                                                           AMORTIZED    UNREALIZED    UNREALIZED       FAIR
                                                              COST         GAINS       (LOSSES)       VALUE
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
 
<S>                                                       <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>
                                                                               (IN 000'S)
Long-term Bonds:
    United States government and government agencies and
     authorities                                          $    467,597   $  22,783   $       (443) $    489,937
    States, provinces and political subdivisions                 2,252          81             (0)        2,333
    Foreign governments                                         38,303       4,551             (6)       42,848
    Public utilities                                           513,704      45,466           (203)      558,967
    Transportation                                             215,786      22,794         (2,221)      236,359
    Finance                                                    225,074      13,846            (84)      238,836
    All other corporate bonds                                1,025,745      67,371         (7,415)    1,085,701
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
        Total long-term bonds                                2,488,461     176,892        (10,372)    2,654,981
Short-term bonds:
    U.S. Treasury Bills, bankers acceptances and
     commercial paper                                          217,606           0              0       217,606
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
                                                          $  2,706,067   $ 176,892   $    (10,372) $  2,872,587
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
                                                          ------------  -----------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of bonds at December 31, 1996 and
1995 are shown below by contractual maturity. Expected maturities will differ
from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or
prepay obligations with or without call and/or prepayment penalties.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                                                       --------------------------
                                                                                        AMORTIZED     ESTIMATED
                                                                                           COST       FAIR VALUE
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                                    <C>           <C>
                                                                                               (IN 000'S)
Maturities:
    Due in one year or less                                                            $    314,130  $    315,507
    Due after one year through five years                                                   743,215       751,858
    Due after five years through ten years                                                  268,376       280,153
    Due after ten years                                                                     714,504       775,051
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                       $  2,040,225  $  2,122,569
    Mortgage-backed securities                                                              218,633       211,656
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                       $  2,258,858  $  2,334,225
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                                                       --------------------------
                                                                                        AMORTIZED     ESTIMATED
                                                                                           COST       FAIR VALUE
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                                    <C>           <C>
                                                                                               (IN 000'S)
Maturities:
    Due in one year or less                                                            $    558,775  $    561,119
    Due after one year through five years                                                   824,446       846,230
    Due after five years through ten years                                                  256,552       269,549
    Due after ten years                                                                     884,187     1,000,908
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                          2,523,960     2,677,806
    Mortgage-backed securities                                                              182,107       194,781
                                                                                       $  2,706,067  $  2,872,587
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
                                                                                       ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                                       74
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
3.  BONDS (CONTINUED):
    
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments in debt securities during
1996, 1995, and 1994 were $1,554,016,000, $1,510,553,000, and $1,390,974,000,
gross gains were $16,975,000, $24,757,000, and $15,025,000 and gross losses were
$10,885,000, $5,742,000, and $30,041,000 , respectively.
 
Bonds included above with an amortized cost of approximately $2,060,000 and
$2,059,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, were on deposit with
governmental authorities as required by law.
 
4.  SECURITIES LENDING:
The Company has a securities lending program operated on its behalf by the
Company's primary custodian, Chemical Bank of New York. The custodian has
indemnified the Company against losses arising from this program. The total par
value of securities out on loan was $51,537,000 and $250,729,000 and the income
resulting from this program was $137,000, $2,000 and $26,000 at December 31,
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
5.  MORTGAGE LOANS:
The Company invests in commercial first mortgage loans throughout the United
States. The Company monitors the condition of the mortgage loans in its
portfolio. In those cases where mortgages have been restructured, appropriate
provisions have been made. In those cases where, in management's judgement, the
mortgage loans' values are impaired, appropriate losses are recorded.
 
The following table shows the geographical distribution of the mortgage
portfolio.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                         ------------------------
                                                                                            1996         1995
                                                                                         ----------  ------------
                                                                                                (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                      <C>         <C>
California                                                                               $  154,272  $    153,811
Massachusetts                                                                                79,929        83,999
Michigan                                                                                     57,119        69,125
New York                                                                                     67,742        81,480
Ohio                                                                                         75,405        83,915
Pennsylvania                                                                                115,584       141,468
Washington                                                                                   75,819        91,900
All other                                                                                   313,062       361,213
                                                                                         ----------  ------------
                                                                                         $  938,932  $  1,066,911
                                                                                         ----------  ------------
                                                                                         ----------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
The Company has restructured mortgage loans totalling $29,261,000, and
$49,846,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, against which there are
provisions of $5,893,000 and $8,799,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
 
The Company has made commitments of mortgage loans on real estate into the
future. The outstanding commitments for these mortgages amount to $9,800,000 and
$13,100,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
                                       75
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
6.  INVESTMENTS GAINS AND LOSSES:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                   -------------------------------
                                                                                     1996       1995       1994
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                             (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>
Net realized gains (losses)
Bonds                                                                              $   5,631  $   3,935  $    (858)
Mortgage loans                                                                           763        292     (5,689)
Real estate                                                                              599        391       (334)
Other assets                                                                             567     (2,549)       (97)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   $   7,560  $   2,069  $  (6,978)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
Changes in unrealized gains (losses):
Common stock of affiliates                                                         $  (5,739) $       0  $       0
Mortgage loans                                                                          (600)    (1,574)         0
Real estate                                                                            4,624      3,583       (671)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   $  (1,715) $   2,009  $    (671)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
Realized capital gains and losses on bonds and mortgages which relate to changes
in levels of interest rates are charged or credited to an interest maintenance
reserve (IMR) and amortized into income over the remaining contractual life of
the security sold. The gross realized capital gains and losses credited or
charged to the interest maintenance reserve were a credit of $7,710,000 in 1996,
a credit of $12,714,000 in 1995, and a charge of $14,070,000 in 1994. All gains
and losses are transferred net of applicable taxes.
 
7.  NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
Net investment income consisted of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                              ----------------------------------
                                                                                 1996        1995        1994
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                          (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                           <C>         <C>         <C>
Interest income from bonds                                                    $  178,695  $  205,445  $  200,338
Income from investment in common stock of affiliates                              50,408      35,403      39,577
Interest income from mortgage loans                                               92,591      99,766     106,404
Real estate investment income                                                     16,249      14,979      12,950
Interest income from policy loans                                                  2,790       2,777       2,669
Other                                                                              1,710       2,672       1,212
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
    Gross investment income                                                      342,443     361,042     363,150
Interest on surplus notes                                                        (23,061)    (31,813)    (31,150)
Investment expenses                                                              (15,629)    (16,357)    (16,567)
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                              $  303,753  $  312,872  $  315,433
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                                       76
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
8.  DERIVATIVES:
The Company uses derivative instruments for interest risk management purposes,
including hedges against specific interest rate risk and to minimize the
Company's exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The Company's use of
derivatives has included U.S. Treasury futures, conventional interest rate
swaps, and forward spread lock interest rate swaps.
 
In the case of interest rate futures, gains or losses on contracts that qualify
as hedges are deferred until the earliest of the completion of the hedging
transaction, determination that the transaction will no longer take place, or
determination that the hedge is no longer effective. Upon completion of the
hedge, where it is impractical to allocates gains (losses) to specific hedged
assets or liabilities, gains ( losses) are deferred in IMR and amortized over
the remaining life of the hedged assets. At December 31, 1996 and December 31,
1995 there were no futures contracts outstanding.
 
In the case of interest rate and foreign currency swap agreements and forward
spread lock interest rate swap agreements, gains or losses on terminated swaps
are deferred in IMR and amortized over the shorter of the remaining life of the
hedged asset or the remaining term of the swap contract. The net differential to
be paid or received on interest rate swaps is recorded monthly as interest rates
change.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         SWAPS OUTSTANDING
                                                                                       AT DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                                                      NOTIONAL       MARKET VALUE
                                                                                 PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS   OF POSITIONS
                                                                                 ------------------  -------------
                                                                                            (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                              <C>                 <C>
Conventional interest rate swaps                                                    $    429,000       $  (2,443)
Foreign currency swap                                                                      2,100              70
Forward spread lock swaps                                                                 50,000             (50)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         SWAPS OUTSTANDING
                                                                                       AT DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                                                      NOTIONAL       MARKET VALUE
                                                                                 PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS   OF POSITIONS
                                                                                 ------------------  -------------
                                                                                            (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                              <C>                 <C>
Conventional interest rate swaps                                                    $    367,000       $   3,275
Foreign currency swap                                                                      2,745             290
Forward spread lock swaps                                                                 50,000             112
</TABLE>
 
The market value is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay
on termination or sale, taking into account current interest rates and the
current creditworthiness of the counterparties. The Company is exposed to
potential credit loss in the event of non-performance by counterparties. The
counterparties are major financial institutions and management believes that the
risk of incurring losses related to credit risk is remote.
 
9.  LEVERAGED LEASES:
The Company is a lessor in a leveraged lease agreement entered into on October
21, 1994, under which equipment having an estimated economic life of 25-40 years
was leased for a term of 9.75 years. The Company's equity investment represented
22.9% of the purchase price of the equipment. The balance of the purchase price
was furnished by third-party long-term debt financing, collateralized by the
equipment and non-recourse to the Company. At the end of the lease term, the
Master Lessee may exercise a fixed price purchase option to purchase the
equipment.
 
                                       77
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
9.  LEVERAGED LEASES (CONTINUED):
    
The Company's net investment in leveraged leases is composed of the following
elements:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         YEARS ENDED DECEMBER
                                                                                                 31,
                                                                                        ----------------------
                                                                                           1996        1995
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                                              (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>
Lease contracts receivable                                                              $  101,244  $  111,611
Less non-recourse debt                                                                     101,227    (111,594)
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                                                17          17
Estimated residual value of leased assets                                                   41,150      41,150
Less unearned and deferred income                                                          (11,501)    (13,132)
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
Investment in leveraged leases                                                              29,666      28,035
Less fees                                                                                     (188)       (213)
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
Net investment in leveraged leases                                                      $   29,478  $   27,822
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
                                                                                        ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
The net investment is classified as other invested assets in the accompanying
statements of admitted assets, liabilities, capital stock and surplus.
 
10. REINSURANCE:
The Company has agreements with the parent company which provide that the parent
company will reinsure the mortality risks of the individual life insurance
contracts sold by the Company. Under these agreements basic death benefits and
supplementary benefits are reinsured on a yearly renewable term basis and
coinsurance basis, respectively. Reinsurance transactions under these agreements
had the effect of decreasing income from operations by approximately $1,603,000,
$2,184,000, and $2,138,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively.
 
Effective January 1, 1991, the Company entered into an agreement with the parent
company under which certain individual life insurance contracts issued by the
parent company were reinsured by the Company on a 90% coinsurance basis. Also,
effective January 1, 1991, the Company entered into an agreement with the parent
company which provides that the parent company will reinsure the mortality risks
in excess of $500,000 per policy for the individual life insurance contracts
assumed by the Company in the reinsurance agreement described above. Such death
benefits are reinsured on a yearly renewable term basis. These agreements had
the effect of increasing income from operations by approximately $35,161,000 and
$11,821,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, and
decreasing income by approximately $29,188,000 for the year ended December 31,
1994. The life reinsurance assumed agreement requires the reinsurer to withhold
funds in amounts equal to the reserves assumed.
 
                                       78
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
10. REINSURANCE (CONTINUED):
    
The following are summarized pro-forma results of operations of the Company for
the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 before the effect of
reinsurance transactions with the parent company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PRO-FORMA RESULTS PRE-REINSURANCE
                                                                                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                                            1996          1995          1994
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                                       (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>
Income:
    Premiums, annuity deposits and other revenues                       $  1,858,145  $  1,619,337  $  2,053,408
    Net investment income and realized gains                                 312,870       315,967       312,582
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
    Subtotal                                                               2,171,015     1,935,304     2,365,990
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
Benefits and Expenses:
    Policyholder benefits                                                  1,928,720     1,760,917     2,183,282
    Other expenses                                                           155,531       130,302       130,456
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
    Subtotal                                                               2,084,251     1,891,219     2,313,738
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
Income from operations                                                  $     86,764  $     44,085  $     52,252
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
The Company has an agreement with an unrelated company which provides
reinsurance of certain individual life insurance contracts on a modified
coinsurance basis and under which all deficiency reserves related to these
contracts are reinsured. Reinsurance transactions under this agreement had the
effect of decreasing income from operations by $46,000 in 1996, and by
$1,599,000 in 1995, and increasing income from operations by $1,854,404 in 1994.
 
                                       79
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
11. WITHDRAWAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANNUITY ACTUARIAL RESERVES AND DEPOSIT
LIABILITIES:
Withdrawal characteristics of general account and separate account annuity
reserves and deposits:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                                                        ----------------------------
                                                                                            AMOUNT       % OF TOTAL
                                                                                        --------------  ------------
                                                                                                 (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                     <C>             <C>
Subject to discretionary withdrawal-with adjustment
    --with market value adjustment                                                      $    3,547,683       30.44%
    --at book value less surrender charges (surrender charge >5%)                            5,626,117       48.27
    --at book value (minimal or no charge or adjustment)                                     1,264,586       10.85
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal provision                                            1,218,157       10.44
                                                                                        --------------   ------
Total annuity actuarial reserves and deposit liabilities                                $   11,656,543      100.00%
                                                                                        --------------   ------
                                                                                        --------------   ------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                                                        ----------------------------
                                                                                            AMOUNT       % OF TOTAL
                                                                                        --------------  ------------
                                                                                                 (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                                     <C>             <C>
Subject to discretionary withdrawal-with adjustment
    --with market value adjustment                                                      $    3,796,596       36.36%
    --at book value less surrender charges (surrender charge >5%)                            4,066,126       38.94
    --at book value (minimal or no charge or adjustment)                                     1,278,215       12.24
Not subject to discretionary withdrawal provision                                            1,301,259       12.46
                                                                                        --------------   ------
Total annuity actuarial reserves and deposit liabilities                                $   10,442,196      100.00%
                                                                                        --------------   ------
                                                                                        --------------   ------
</TABLE>
 
12. RETIREMENT PLANS:
The Company participates with its parent company in a non-contributory defined
benefit pension plan covering essentially all employees. The benefits are based
on years of service and compensation.
 
The funding policy for the pension plan is to contribute an amount which at
least satisfies the minimum amount required by ERISA. The Company is charged for
its share of the pension cost based upon its covered participants. Pension plan
assets consist principally of separate accounts of the parent company.
 
The Company's share of the group's accrued pension cost at December 31, 1996,
1995 and 1994 was $446,000, $420,000, and $417,000, respectively. The Company's
share of net periodic pension cost was $27,000, $3,000, and $417,000, for 1996,
1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
The Company also participates with its parent and certain affiliates in a 401(k)
savings plan for which substantially all employees are eligible. The Company
matches, up to specified amounts, employees' contributions to the plan. Company
contributions were $233,000, $185,000 and $152,000 for the years ended December
31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively.
 
OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS:
 
In addition to pension benefits the Company provides certain health, dental, and
life insurance benefits ("post-retirement benefits") for retired employees and
dependents. Substantially all employees may become eligible for these benefits
if they reach normal retirement age while working for the Company, or retire
early upon satisfying an alternate age plus service condition. Life insurance
benefits are generally set at a fixed amount.
 
                                       80
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
12. RETIREMENT PLANS (CONTINUED):
    
Effective January 1, 1994, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards ("SFAS") No. 106, "Employer's Accounting for Post-retirement Benefits
Other than Pensions.' SFAS No. 106 requires the Company to accrue the estimated
cost of retiree benefit payments during the years the employee provides
services. SFAS No. 106 allows recognition of the cumulative effect of the
liability in the year of adoption or the amortization of the obligation over a
period of up to 20 years. The Company has elected to recognize this obligation
of approximately $400,000 over a period of ten years. The Company's cash flows
are not affected by implementation of this standard, but implementation
decreased net income by $209,000, $142,000, and $114,000 for the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Effective June 5, 1996, the
Company made certain changes regarding eligibility and benefits to its post-
retirement health benefits plans for retirees on or after that date. The impact
of these changes is a decrease of 1996 post-retirement benefit costs of
$599,000. The Company's post-retirement health care plans currently are not
funded.
 
13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:
The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of
the Company's financial instruments at December 31, 1996 and 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                       ---------------------------------------
                                                        CARRYING AMOUNT   ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE
                                                       -----------------  --------------------
                                                                     (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                    <C>                <C>
ASSETS
Bonds                                                    $   2,258,858       $    2,339,126
Mortgages                                                      938,932              958,909
LIABILITIES
Insurance reserves                                             122,606              122,606
Individual annuities                                           373,488              367,878
Pension products                                             1,911,284            1,922,602
Derivatives                                                         --               (2,423)
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                       ---------------------------------------
                                                        CARRYING AMOUNT   ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE
                                                       -----------------  --------------------
                                                                     (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                    <C>                <C>
ASSETS
Bonds                                                    $   2,706,067       $    2,872,586
Mortgages                                                    1,066,911            1,111,895
LIABILITIES
Insurance reserves                                             124,066              124,066
Individual annuities                                           434,261              431,263
Pension products                                             2,227,882            2,265,386
Derivatives                                                         --                3,387
</TABLE>
 
                                       81
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED):
    
The 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
taking into account prices for publicly traded bonds of similar credit risk and
maturity and repayment and liquidity characteristics.
 
The fair values of the Company's general account reserves and liabilities under
investment-type contracts (insurance, annuity and pension contracts that do not
involve mortality or morbidity risks) are estimated using discounted cash flow
analyses or surrender values. Those contracts that are deemed to have short-term
guarantees have a carrying amount equal to the estimated market value.
 
The fair values of mortgages are estimated by discounting future cash flows
using current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with
similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.
 
The fair values of derivative financial instruments are estimated using the
process described in Note #8.
 
14. STATUTORY INVESTMENT VALUATION RESERVES:
The asset valuation reserve ("AVR") provides a reserve for losses from
investments in bonds, stocks, mortgage loans, real estate and other invested
assets with related increases or decreases being recorded directly to surplus.
 
Realized capital gains and losses on bonds and mortgages which relate to changes
in levels of interest rates are charged or credited to an interest maintenance
reserve ("IMR") and amortized into income over the remaining contractual life of
the security sold.
 
The tables shown below present changes in the major elements of the AVR and IMR.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              1996                  1995
                                                                      --------------------  --------------------
                                                                         AVR        IMR        AVR        IMR
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                           (IN 000'S)            (IN 000'S)
<S>                                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Balance, beginning of year                                            $  42,099  $  25,218  $  28,409  $  18,140
Realized investment gains (losses), net of tax                            3,160      5,011     (1,524)     7,977
Amortization of investment (gains) losses                                     0     (1,557)         0       (899)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)                                      1,502          0      3,650          0
Required by formula                                                       7,150          4     11,564          0
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Balance, end of year                                                  $  53,911  $  28,676  $  42,099  $  25,218
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
15. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES:
The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return.
Federal income taxes are calculated for the consolidated group based upon
amounts determined to be payable as a result of operations within the current
year. No provision is recognized for timing differences which may exist between
financial statement and taxable income. Such timing differences include
reserves, depreciation and accrual of market discount on bonds. Cash payments
for federal income taxes were approximately $19,264,000, $12,429,000 and
$43,200,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
                                       82
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
16. SURPLUS NOTES AND NOTE RECEIVABLE:
The Company had issued and outstanding surplus notes to its parent with an
aggregate carrying value of $335,000,000 during the period 1982 through January
16, 1996 at interest rates between 7.25% and 10%. The Company repaid all
principal and interest associated with these surplus notes on January 16, 1996.
 
On December 19, 1995 the Company issued surplus notes totalling $315,000,000 to
an affiliate, Sun Canada Financial Co., at interest rates between 5.75% and
7.25%. Of these notes, $157,500,000 will mature in the year 2007, and
$157,500,000 will mature in the year 2015. Interest on these notes is payable
semi-annually.
 
Principal and interest on surplus notes are payable only to the extent that the
Company meets specified requirements regarding free surplus exclusive of the
principal amount and accrued interest, if any, on these notes; and, in the case
of principal repayments, with the consent of the Delaware Insurance
Commissioner. In addition, with regard to surplus notes outstanding through
January 16, 1996, subsequent to December 31, 1994 interest payments required the
consent of the Delaware Insurance Commissioner. Payment of principal and
interest on the notes issued in 1995 also requires the consents of the Delaware
Insurance Commissioner and Canadian Office of the Superintendent of Financial
Institutions.
 
During 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company obtained the required consents, and
expensed $23,061,000, $31,813,000 and $31,150,000 in respect of interest on
surplus notes for the years 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
On December 19, 1995, the parent borrowed $120,000,000 at 5.6% through a
short-term note from the Company maturing on January 16, 1996. The note, which
is included in due from parent and affiliates at December 31, 1995, was repaid
in full by the parent at maturity.
 
17. MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE CONTRACTS:
The Company has an agreement with its parent company which provides that the
parent company will furnish, as requested, personnel as well as certain services
and facilities on a cost-reimbursement basis. Expenses under this agreement
amounted to approximately $20,192,000 in 1996, $20,293,000 in 1995, and
$18,452,000 in 1994.
 
18. RISK-BASED CAPITAL:
Effective December 31, 1993 the NAIC adopted risk-based capital requirements for
life insurance companies. The risk-based capital requirements provide a method
for measuring the minimum acceptable amount of adjusted capital that a life
insurer should have, as determined under statutory accounting practices, taking
into account the risk characteristics of its investments and products. The
Company has met the minimum risk-based capital requirements at December 31, 1996
and 1995.
 
19. ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES:
The financial statements of the Company have been prepared on the basis of
statutory accounting practices, which prior to 1996, were considered by the
insurance industry and the accounting profession to be in accordance with GAAP
for mutual life insurance companies. The primary differences between statutory
accounting practices and GAAP are described as follows. Under statutory
accounting practices, financial statements are not consolidated and investments
in subsidiaries are shown at net equity value. Accordingly, the assets,
liabilities and results of operations of the Company's subsidiaries are not
consolidated with the assets, liabilities and results of operations,
respectively, of the Company. Changes in net equity value of the common stock of
the Company's United States life insurance subsidiaries are directly reflected
in the
 
                                       83
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
(Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
 
NOTES TO STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
   
19. ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES (CONTINUED):
    
Company's surplus. Changes in the net equity value of the common stock of all
other subsidiaries are directly reflected in the Company's Investment Valuation
Reserves. Dividends paid by subsidiaries to the Company are included in the
Company's net investment income.
 
Other differences between statutory accounting practices and GAAP include the
following: Statutory accounting practices do not recognize the following assets
or liabilities which are reflected under GAAP-- deferred policy acquisition
costs, deferred federal income taxes and statutory non-admitted assets. Asset
Valuation Reserves and Interest Maintenance Reserves are established under
statutory accounting practices but not under GAAP. Methods for calculating real
estate depreciation and investment valuation allowances differ under statutory
accounting practices than under GAAP. Actuarial assumptions and reserving
methods differ under statutory accounting practices and GAAP. Premiums for
universal life and investment type products are recognized as income for
statutory purposes and as deposits to policyholders' accounts for GAAP.
 
Because the Company's management uses financial information prepared in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada in the normal
course of business, the management of the Company has determined that the cost
of complying with Statement No. 120 would exceed the benefits that the Company,
or the users of its financial statements would experience. Consequently, the
Company has elected not to apply such standards in the preparation of these
financial statements.
 
                                       84
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
 
We have audited the accompanying statutory statements of admitted assets,
liabilities, and capital stock and surplus of Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada (U.S.) as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statutory
statements of operations, changes in capital stock and surplus, and cash flow
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and signficant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
As described more fully in Notes 1 and 19 to the financial statements, the
Company prepared these financial statements using accounting practices
prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Department of the State of Delaware,
which practices differ from generally accepted accounting principles. The
effects on the financial statements of the variances between the statutory basis
of accounting and generally accepted accounting principles, although not
reasonably determinable, are presumed to be material.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the admitted assets, liabilities, and capital stock and
surplus of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) as of Dcember 31, 1996
and 1995, and the results of its operations and its cash flow for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 on the basis of accountng
described in Notes 1 and 19.
 
However, because of the effects of the matter discussed in the second preceding
paragraph, in our opinion, the financial statements referred to above do not
present fairly, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the
financial position of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) as of December
31, 1996 and 1995 or the results of its operations or its cash flow for each of
the three years in the period ended Decemeber 31, 1996.
 
In our previous report dated February 7, 1996, we expressed an opinion that the
1995 and 1994 financial statements, prepared using accounting practices
prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Department of the State of Delaware,
presented fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) as of December 31, 1995, and the results of
its operations, and its cash flow for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. As described in
Notes 1 and 19 to the financial statements, pursuant to the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 120, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING BY
MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE ENTERPRISES AND BY INSURANCE ENTERPRISES FOR CERTAIN
LONG-DURATION PARTICIPATING CONTRACTS, financial statements of mutual life
insurance enterprises (and stock life insurance companies that are wholly owned
subsidiaries of mutual life insurance companies) for periods ending on or before
December 15, 1996, prepared using accounting practices prescribed or permitted
by insurance regulators, are not considered presentations in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles when presented for comparative purposes
with the enterprise's financial statements for periods subsequent to the
effective date of Statement No. 120. Accordingly, our present opinion on the
presentation of the 1995 and 1994 financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, as presented herein, is different from
that expressed in our previous report.
 
As management as stated in Note 19, because the Company's management uses
financial information prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in Canada in the normal course of business, the management of
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) has determined that the cost of
complying with Statement No. 120 would exceed the benefits that the Company, or
the users of its financial statements, would experience. Consequently, the
Company has elected not to apply such standards in the preparation of these
financial statements.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
February 3, 1997
 
                                       85
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX A
 
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF VARIABLE ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE CALCULATIONS:
 
    Suppose the net asset value of a Series Fund share at the end of the current
valuation period is $18.38; at the end of the immediately preceding valuation
period was $18.32; the Valuation Period is one day; and no dividends or
distributions caused Series 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 and the administrative expense
charge of .00003809 (the daily equivalent of the current maximum charge of 1.40%
on an annual basis) gives a net investment factor of 1.00323702. 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
14.6117130 (14.5645672 X 1.00323702).
 
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 12.3843113 (12.3456789 X 1.00323702
(the Net Investment Factor) X 0.99989255). 0.99989255 is the factor, for a one
day Valuation Period, that neutralizes the assumed interest rate of four percent
(4%) per year used to establish the Annuity Payment Rates found in certain
Contracts. (The factor that neutralizes the assumed interest rate of three
percent (3%) per year used to establish the Annuity Payment Rates found in other
Contracts is 0.99991902.)
 
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF VARIABLE ANNUITY PAYMENT CALCULATIONS:
 
    Suppose that a Participant's Account 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 12.3843113. 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 12.3843113).
 
                                   APPENDIX B
 
STATE PREMIUM TAXES
 
   
    The amount of applicable tax varies depending on the jurisdiction and is
subject to change by the legislature or other authority. In many jurisdictions
there is no tax at all. The Company believes that as of April 30, 1997 premium
taxes will be imposed with respect to Contracts offered by this Prospectus only
by the jurisdictions listed below at the rates indicated. For information
subsequent to April 30, 1997 a tax adviser should be consulted.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  RATE OF TAX
                                           -------------------------
                                           QUALIFIED   NON-QUALIFIED
 STATE                                     CONTRACTS     CONTRACTS
 ----------------------------------------  ---------   -------------
 <S>                                       <C>         <C>
 California                                   .50%        2.35%
 District of Columbia                        2.25%        2.25%
 Kansas                                       --          2.00%
 Kentucky                                    2.00%        2.00%
 Maine                                        --          2.00%
 Nevada                                       --          3.50%
 South Dakota                                 --          1.25%
 West Virginia                               1.00%        1.00%
 Wyoming                                      --          1.00%
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       86
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX C
        WITHDRAWALS, WITHDRAWAL CHARGES AND THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
 
PART 1: VARIABLE ACCOUNT (THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE
VARIABLE ACCOUNT)
 
WITHDRAWAL CHARGE CALCULATION FOR CERTIFICATES WITH DATE OF COVERAGE ON OR AFTER
NOVEMBER 1, 1994 WHICH CONTAIN THE CUMULATIVE WITHDRAWAL PROVISION:
 
FULL SURRENDER:
 
    Assume a Purchase Payment of $40,000 is made on the Date of Coverage, no
additional Purchase Payments are made and there are no partial withdrawals. The
table below presents four examples of the withdrawal charge resulting from a
full surrender of the Participant's Account, based on hypothetical Account
Values.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          HYPOTHETICAL      FREE       PURCHASE    WITHDRAWAL   WITHDRAWAL
 ACCOUNT    ACCOUNT      WITHDRAWAL    PAYMENTS      CHARGE       CHARGE
  YEAR       VALUE         AMOUNT     LIQUIDATED   PERCENTAGE     AMOUNT
 -------  ------------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
 <S>      <C>            <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
    1        $41,000       $ 4,000(a)   $37,000       6.00%       $2,220
    3        $52,000       $12,000(b)   $40,000       5.00%       $2,000
    7        $80,000       $28,000(c)   $40,000       3.00%       $1,200
    9        $98,000       $28,000(d)   $40,000       0.00%       $    0
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(a) The free withdrawal amount during an account year is equal to 10% of new
    payments (those payments made in current account year or in the six
    immediately preceding account years) less any prior partial withdrawals in
    that account year. Any portion of the free withdrawal amount that is not
    used in the current Account Year is carried forward into future years. In
    the first account year 10% of new payments is $4,000. Therefore, on full
    surrender $4,000 is withdrawn free of the withdrawal charge and the purchase
    payment liquidated is $37,000 (account value less free withdrawal amount).
    The withdrawal charge amount is determined by applying the withdrawal charge
    percentage to the purchase payment liquidated.
 
(b) In the third account year, the free withdrawal amount is equal to $12,000
    ($4,000 for the current account year, plus an additional $8,000 for account
    years 1 & 2 because no partial withdrawals were taken and the unused free
    withdrawal amount is carried forward into future account years). The
    withdrawal charge percentage is applied to the liquidated purchase payment
    (account value less free withdrawal amount).
 
(c) In the seventh account year, the free withdrawal amount is equal to $28,000
    ($4,000 for the current account year, plus an additional $24,000 for account
    years 1-6, $4,000 for each account year because no partial withdrawals were
    taken and the unused free withdrawal amount is carried forward into future
    account years). The withdrawal charge percentage is applied to the
    liquidated purchase payment (account value less free withdrawal amount, but
    not greater than actual purchase payments).
 
(d) There is no withdrawal charge on any purchase payment liquidated that has
    been in the participant's account for at least seven years.
 
PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL:
 
    Assume a single purchase payment of $40,000 is deposited at issue, no
additional purchase payments are made, no partial withdrawals have been taken
prior to the fifth account year, and there are a series of three partial
withdrawals made during the fifth account year of $9,000, $12,000, and $15,000.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     HYPOTHETICAL   PARTIAL       FREE      PURCHASE   WITHDRAWAL  WITHDRAWAL
       ACCOUNT     WITHDRAWAL  WITHDRAWAL   PAYMENTS     CHARGE      CHARGE
        VALUE        AMOUNT      AMOUNT    LIQUIDATED  PERCENTAGE    AMOUNT
     ------------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
 <S> <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
 (a)    $64,000      $ 9,000     $20,000     $     0      4.00%       $  0
 (b)    $56,000      $12,000     $11,000     $ 1,000      4.00%       $ 40
 (c)    $40,000      $15,000     $     0     $15,000      4.00%       $600
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(a) The free withdrawal amount during an account year is equal to 10% of new
    payments (those payments made in current account year or in the six
    immediately preceding account years) less any prior partial withdrawals in
    that account year. Any portion of the free withdrawal amount that is not
    used in the
 
                                       87
<PAGE>
    current account year is carried forward into future years. In the fifth
    account year, the free withdrawal amount is equal to $20,000 ($4,000 for the
    current account year, plus an additional $16,000 for account years 1-4,
    $4,000 for each account year because no partial withdrawals were taken). The
    partial withdrawal amount ($9,000) is less than the free withdrawal amount
    so no purchase payments are liquidated and no withdrawal charge applies.
 
(b) Since a partial withdrawal of $9,000 was taken, the remaining free
    withdrawal amount is equal to $11,000. The $12,000 partial withdrawal will
    first be applied against the $11,000 free withdrawal amount, and then will
    liquidate purchase payments of $1,000, incurring a withdrawal charge of $40.
 
(c) The free withdrawal amount is zero since the previous partial withdrawals
    have already used the free withdrawal amount. The entire partial withdrawal
    amount will result in purchase payments being liquidated and will incur a
    withdrawal charge. At the beginning of the next account year, 10% of
    purchase payments would be available for withdrawal requests during that
    account year.
 
WITHDRAWAL CHARGE CALCULATION FOR CERTIFICATES WITH DATE OF COVERAGE BEFORE
NOVEMBER 1, 1994 AND CERTIFICATES ISSUED AFTER THAT DATE WHICH DO NOT CONTAIN
THE CUMULATIVE WITHDRAWAL PROVISION.
 
    This example assumes that the date of the full surrender or partial
withdrawal is during the 9th Account Year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             1          2           3            4         5         6
            ---      -------      ------      -------      --     -------
            <S>      <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
             1       $ 1,000      $1,000      $     0      0%     $  0
             2         1,200       1,200            0      0         0
             3         1,400       1,280          120      3         3.60
             4         1,600           0        1,600      4        64.00
             5         1,800           0        1,800      4        72.00
             6         2,000           0        2,000      5       100.00
             7         2,000           0        2,000      5       100.00
             8         2,000           0        2,000      6       120.00
             9         2,000           0        2,000      6       120.00
                     -------      ------      -------             -------
                     $15,000      $3,480      $11,520             $579.60
                     -------      ------      -------             -------
                     -------      ------      -------             -------
</TABLE>
 
EXPLANATION OF COLUMNS IN TABLE
 
  COLUMNS 1 AND 2:
 
    Represent Purchase Payments ("Payments") and amounts of Payments. Each
Payment was made on the first day of each Account Year.
 
  COLUMN 3:
 
    Represents the amounts that may be withdrawn without the imposition of
withdrawal charges, as follows:
 
        a)  Payments 1 and 2, $1,000 and $1,200, respectively, have been
    credited to the Certificate for more than seven years.
 
        b)  $1,280 of Payment 3 represents 10% of Payments that have been
    credited to the Certificate for less than seven years. The 10% amount is
    applied to the oldest unliquidated Payment, then the next oldest and so
    forth.
 
  COLUMN 4:
 
    Represents the amount of each Payment that is subject to a withdrawal
charge. It is determined by subtracting the amount in Column 3 from the Payment
in Column 2.
 
  COLUMN 5:
 
    Represents the withdrawal charge percentages imposed on the amounts in
Column 4.
 
                                       88
<PAGE>
  COLUMN 6:
 
    Represents the withdrawal charge imposed on each Payment. It is determined
by multiplying the amount in Column 4 by the percentage in Column 5.
 
    For example, the withdrawal charge imposed on Payment 8
           = Payment 8 Column 4 X Payment 8 Column 5
           = $2,000 X 6%
           = $120
 
FULL SURRENDER:
 
    The total of Column 6, $579.60, represents the total amount of withdrawal
charges imposed on Payments in this example.
 
PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL:
 
    The sum of amounts in Column 6 for as many Payments as are liquidated
reflects the withdrawal charges imposed in the case of a partial withdrawal.
 
    For example, if $7,000 of Payments (Payments 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) were
withdrawn, the amount of the withdrawal charges imposed would be the sum of
amounts in Column 6 for Payments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 which is $139.60.
 
PART 2--FIXED ACCOUNT--EXAMPLES OF THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT (MVA)
 
    The MVA factor is:
 
<TABLE>
 <S>                        <C>
                              N/12
                      1 + I
                    ( ----- )      -1
                      1 + J
</TABLE>
 
    These examples assume the following:
 
        1)  the Guarantee Amount was allocated to a five year Guarantee Period
    with a Guaranteed Interest Rate of 6% or .06 (l).
 
        2)  the date of surrender is two years from the Expiration Date (N =
    24).
 
        3)  the value of the Guarantee Amount on the date of surrender is
    $11,910.16.
 
        4)  the interest earned in the current Account Year is $674.16.
 
        5)  no transfers or partial withdrawals affecting this Guarantee Amount
    have been made
 
        6)  withdrawal charges, if any, are calculated in the same manner as
    shown in the examples in Part 1.
 
EXAMPLE OF A NEGATIVE MVA:
 
    Assume that on the date of surrender, the current rate (J) is 8% or .08
 
<TABLE>
    <C>              <S> <C>     <C>
                                   N/12
                         1 + l
    The MVA factor =   ( ------  )       -1
                         1 + J
                                   24/12
                         1 + .06
                   =   ( ------  )       -1
                         1 + .08
 
                   =   (.981)2 -1
 
                   =   .963 -1
 
                   = - .037
</TABLE>
 
    The value of the Guarantee Amount less interest credited to the Guarantee
Amount in the current Account Year is multiplied by the MVA factor to determine
the MVA
 
                   ($11,910.16 - $674.16) X (-.037) = -$415.73
 
                                       89
<PAGE>
    -$415.73 represents the MVA that will be deducted from the value of the
Guarantee Amount before the deduction of any withdrawal charge.
 
    For a partial withdrawal of $2,000 from this Guarantee Amount, the MVA would
be ($2,000.00 - $674.16) X (-.037) = -$49.06. -$49.06 represents the MVA that
will be deducted from the partial withdrawal amount before the deduction of any
withdrawal charge.
 
EXAMPLE OF A POSITIVE MVA:
Assume that on the date of surrender, the current rate (J) is 5% or .05.
 
                                   N/12
                         1 + l
    The MVA factor =   ( ------  )       -1
                         1 + J
                                   24/12
                         1 + .06
                   =   ( ------  )       -1
                         1 + .05
 
                   =   (1.010)2 -1
 
                   =   1.019 -1
 
                   =   .019
 
    The value of the Guarantee Amount less interested credited to the Guarantee
Amount in the current Account Year is multiplied by the MVA factor to determine
the MVA
 
                     ($11,910.16 - $674.16) X .019 = $213.48
 
    $213.48 represents the MVA that would be added to the value of the Guarantee
Amount before the deduction of any withdrawal charge.
 
    For a partial withdrawal of $2,000 from this Guarantee Amount, the MVA would
be ($2,000.00 - $674.16) X .019 = $25.19.
 
    $25.19 represents the MVA that would be added to the value of the partial
withdrawal amount before the deduction of any withdrawal charge.
 
                                       90
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX D
                        CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA
 
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN:
 
   
    The table below shows, for various Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account, the
Average Annual Total Return for the stated periods (or shorter period indicated
in the note below), based upon a hypothetical initial Purchase Payment of
$1,000, calculated in accordance with the formula set out below the table. For
purposes of determining these investment results, the actual investment
performance of each Series of MFS/Sun Life Series Trust is reflected from the
date such Series commenced operations ("Inception"), although the Contracts have
been offered only since November 1, 1991. No information is shown for the
MFS/Foreign & Colonial International Growth Series, MFS/Foreign & Colonial
Emerging Markets Equity Series, Value Series and Research Growth and Income
Series as they did not commence operations until 1996 and 1997.
    
 
   
                          AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
                        PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1996
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             1 YEAR       5 YEAR       10 YEAR                        DATE OF
                                             PERIOD       PERIOD       PERIOD        LIFE*           INCEPTION
                                           -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------------------
 <S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
 Capital Appreciation Series.............      13.39%       13.59%       13.82%       --          August 13, 1985
 Conservative Growth Series..............      17.41%       12.02%       12.18%       --          December 5, 1986
 Emerging Growth Series..................       9.35%       --           --           21.71%        May 1, 1995
 MFS/Foreign & Colonial Emerging Markets
  Equity Series**........................      --           --           --           (6.16%)       June 5, 1996
 MFS/Foreign & Colonial International
  Growth Series**........................      --           --           --           (7.77%)       June 3, 1996
 MFS/Foreign & Colonial International
  Growth and Income Series...............      (2.20%)      --           --           (0.68%)     October 2, 1995
 Government Securities Series............      (5.38%)       4.05%        6.10%       --          August 12, 1985
 High Yield Series.......................       4.46%        9.50%        8.12%       --          August 13, 1985
 Managed Sectors Series..................       9.81%        8.79%       --           14.78%        May 27, 1988
 Money Market Series.....................      (2.35%)       1.82%        3.72%       --          August 29, 1985
 Research Series.........................      15.94%       --           --           23.72%      November 7, 1994
 Total Return Series.....................       6.04%        9.06%       --           10.11%        May 16, 1988
 Utilities Series........................      12.61%       --           --           11.37%     November 16, 1993
 Value Series**..........................      --           --           --            3.27%        June 3, 1996
 World Asset Allocation Series...........       8.34%       --           --           14.05%      November 7, 1994
 World Governments Series................      (2.48%)       4.52%       --            7.05%        May 16, 1988
 World Growth Series.....................       5.35%       --           --            9.28%     November 16, 1993
 World Total Return Series...............       6.65%       --           --           11.43%      November 7, 1994
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
   
 *From commencement of investment operations
    
   
**Actual returns, not annualized
    
 
The length of the period and the last day of each period used in the above table
are set out in the table heading and in the footnotes above. The Average Annual
Total Return for each period was determined by finding the average annual
compounded rate of return over each period that would equate the initial amount
invested to the ending redeemable value for that period, in accordance with the
following formula:
 
                                P(1 + T)n = ERV
 
      Where: P = a hypothetical initial Purchase Payment
                 of $1,000
             T = average annual total return for the
                 period
             n = number of years
           ERV = redeemable value (as of the end of the
                 period) of a hypothetical $1,000
                 Purchase Payment made at the beginning
                 of the 1-year, 5-year, or 10-year period
                 (or fractional portion thereof)
 
   The formula assumes that: 1) all recurring fees have been deducted from the
   Participant's Account; 2) all applicable non-recurring Contract charges are
   deducted at the end of the period; and 3) there will be a full surrender at
   the end of the period.
 
                                       91
<PAGE>
    The $30 annual Account Fee will be allocated among the Sub-Accounts so that
each Sub-Account's allocated portion of the Account Fee is proportional to the
percentage of the number of Certificates that have amounts allocated to that
Sub-Account. Because the impact of Account Fees on a particular Certificate may
differ from those assumed in the computation due to differences between actual
allocations and the assumed ones, the total return that would have been
experienced by an actual Certificate over these same time periods may have been
different from that shown above.
 
NON-STANDARDIZED INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE:
 
    The Variable Account may illustrate its results over various periods and
compare its results to indices and other variable annuities in sales materials
including advertisements, brochures and reports. Such results may be computed on
a "cumulative" and/or "annualized" basis.
 
    "Cumulative" quotations are arrived at by calculating the change in the
Accumulation Unit value of a Sub-Account between the first and last day of the
base period being measured, and expressing the difference as a percentage of the
Accumulation Unit value at the beginning of the base period.
 
    "Annualized" quotations (described in the following table as "Compound
Growth Rate") are calculated by applying a formula which determines the level
rate of return which, if earned over the entire base period, would produce the
cumulative return.
 
                                       92
<PAGE>
   
                    NON-STANDARDIZED INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE
    
   
$10,000 INVESTED IN                       ...WOULD HAVE GROWN TO THIS AMOUNT ON
THIS SUB-ACCOUNT UNDER A                            DECEMBER 31, 1996*
REGATTA GOLD CONTRACT,
THIS MANY YEARS AGO...
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               CAPITAL APPRECIATION SERIES                          GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES                HIGH YIELD SERIES
      ----------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------       -----------------
NUMBER                             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER                           CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER
 OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF
YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS
- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- -----------------
<S>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>
  1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $11,980.32   19.80%   19.80%   1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $10,020.67    0.21%    0.21%   1   12/31/95-12/31/96
  2   12/31/94-12/31/96 $15,887.20   58.87%   26.04%   2   12/31/94-12/31/96 $11,626.39   16.26%    7.83%   2   12/31/94-12/31/96
  3   12/31/93-12/31/96 $15,104.16   51.04%   14.74%   3   12/31/93-12/31/96 $11,218.55   12.19%    3.91%   3   12/31/93-12/31/96
  4   12/31/92-12/31/96 $17,577.56   75.78%   15.14%   4   12/31/92-12/31/96 $12,023.13   20.23%    4.71%   4   12/31/92-12/31/96
  5   12/31/91-12/31/96 $19,622.58   96.23%   14.43%   5   12/31/91-12/31/96 $12,653.06   26.53%    4.82%   5   12/31/91-12/31/96
 10   12/31/86-12/31/96 $37,609.95  276.10%   14.16%  10   12/31/86-12/31/96 $18,610.13   86.10%    6.41%  10   12/31/86-12/31/96
 
Life   8/13/85-12/31/96 $47,965.43  379.65%   14.76% Life   8/12/85-12/31/96 $22,241.18  122.41%    7.27% Life   8/13/85-12/31/96
 
<CAPTION>
 
NUMBE             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND
 OF                GROWTH   GROWTH
YEARS    AMOUNT     RATE     RATE
- -----  ---------- --------  -------
<S>   <C>         <C>       <C>
  1    $11,055.92   10.56%   10.56%
  2    $12,761.18   27.61%   12.97%
  3    $12,304.30   23.04%    7.16%
  4    $14,286.61   42.87%    9.33%
  5    $16,206.12   62.06%   10.14%
 10    $21,985.20  119.85%    8.20%
Life   $25,709.01  157.09%    8.64%
</TABLE>
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                  TOTAL RETURN
                   MONEY MARKET SERIES                                 MANAGED SECTORS SERIES                        SERIES
      ----------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------       -----------------
NUMBER                             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER                           CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER
 OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF
YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS
- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- -----------------
<S>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>
  1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $10,346.97    3.47%    3.47%   1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $11,596.20   15.96%   15.96%   1   12/31/95-12/31/96
  2   12/31/94-12/31/96 $10,760.61    7.61%    3.73%   2   12/31/94-12/31/96 $15,125.84   51.26%   22.99%   2   12/31/94-12/31/96
  3   12/31/93-12/31/96 $11,005.02   10.05%    3.24%   3   12/31/93-12/31/96 $14,630.21   46.30%   13.52%   3   12/31/93-12/31/96
  4   12/31/92-12/31/96 $11,138.28   11.38%    2.73%   4   12/31/92-12/31/96 $15,013.85   50.14%   10.69%   4   12/31/92-12/31/96
  5   12/31/91-12/31/96 $11,351.21   13.51%    2.57%   5   12/31/91-12/31/96 $15,766.12   57.66%    9.53%   5   12/31/91-12/31/96
 10   12/31/86-12/31/96 $14,958.59   49.59%    4.11%
 
Life   8/29/85-12/31/96 $15,832.13   58.32%    4.13% Life   5/27/88-12/31/96 $33,107.14  231.07%   14.93% Life   5/16/88-12/31/96
 
<CAPTION>
 
NUMBE             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND
 OF                GROWTH   GROWTH
YEARS    AMOUNT     RATE     RATE
- -----  ---------- --------  -------
<S>   <C>         <C>       <C>
  1    $11,248.27   12.48%   12.48%
  2    $14,064.01   40.64%   18.59%
  3    $13,556.06   35.56%   10.67%
  4    $15,158.41   51.58%   10.96%
  5    $16,200.36   62.00%   10.13%
 10
Life   $23,911.00  139.11%   10.63%
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       93
<PAGE>
   
             NON-STANDARDIZED INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE -- continued:
    
   
$10,000 INVESTED IN                       ...WOULD HAVE GROWN TO THIS AMOUNT ON
THIS SUB-ACCOUNT UNDER A                            DECEMBER 31, 1996*
REGATTA GOLD CONTRACT,
THIS MANY YEARS AGO...
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 WORLD GOVERNMENTS SERIES                    CONSERVATIVE GROWTH SERIES
      ---------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
NUMBER                             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER                           CUMULATIVE COMPOUND
 OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH
YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE
- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  -------
<S>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>
  1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $10,321.21    3.21%    3.21%   1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $12,366.56   23.67%   23.67%
  2   12/31/94-12/31/96 $11,776.08   17.76%    8.52%   2   12/31/94-12/31/96 $16,761.87   67.62%   29.47%
  3   12/31/93-12/31/96 $11,092.43   10.92%    3.52%   3   12/31/93-12/31/96 $16,347.68   63.48%   17.80%
  4   12/31/92-12/31/96 $13,006.75   30.07%    6.79%   4   12/31/92-12/31/96 $17,478.49   74.78%   14.98%
  5   12/31/91-12/31/96 $12,888.58   28.89%    5.21%   5   12/31/91-12/31/96 $18,204.24   82.04%   12.73%
 
Life   5/16/88-12/31/96 $18,264.43   82.64%    7.23% Life   12/5/86-12/31/96 $32,095.43  220.95%   12.27%
 
<CAPTION>
NUMBE
 OF
YEARS
- -----
<S>   <C>         <C>       <C>
  1
  2
  3
  4
  5
Life
</TABLE>
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     UTILITIES SERIES                            WORLD GROWTH SERIES
      ---------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
NUMBER                             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER                           CUMULATIVE COMPOUND
 OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH
YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE
- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  -------
<S>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>
  1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $11,867.33   18.67%   18.67%   1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $11,151.61   11.52%   11.52%
  2   12/31/94-12/31/96 $15,496.11   54.96%   24.48%   2   12/31/94-12/31/96 $12,756.81   27.57%   12.95%
 
Life  11/16/93-12/31/96 $14,525.96   45.26%   12.69% Life  11/16/93-12/31/96 $13,752.26   37.52%   10.73%
 
<CAPTION>
NUMBE
 OF
YEARS
- -----
<S>   <C>         <C>       <C>
  1
  2
Life
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       94
<PAGE>
   
             NON-STANDARDIZED INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE -- continued:
    
   
$10,000 INVESTED IN                       ...WOULD HAVE GROWN TO THIS AMOUNT ON
THIS SUB-ACCOUNT UNDER A                            DECEMBER 31, 1996*
REGATTA GOLD CONTRACT,
THIS MANY YEARS AGO...
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   WORLD TOTAL
                     RESEARCH SERIES                               WORLD ASSET ALLOCATION SERIES                  RETURN SERIES
      ----------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------       -----------------
NUMBER                             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER                           CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER
 OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF
YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS
- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- -----------------
<S>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>
  1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $12,210.46   22.10%   22.10%   1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $11,437.65   14.38%   14.38%   1   12/31/95-12/31/96
 
Life   11/7/94-12/31/96 $16,320.85   63.21%   25.58% Life   11/7/94-12/31/96 $13,770.18   37.70%   16.04% Life   11/7/94-12/31/96
 
<CAPTION>
 
NUMBE             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND
 OF                GROWTH   GROWTH
YEARS    AMOUNT     RATE     RATE
- -----  ---------- --------  -------
<S>   <C>         <C>       <C>
  1    $11,267.95   12.68%   12.68%
Life   $13,129.01   31.29%   13.49%
</TABLE>
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                  MFS/FOREIGN &
                                                                                                                    COLONIAL
                                                            MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL INTERNATIONAL GROWTH         EMERGING MARKETS
      MFS/FOREIGN & COLONIAL GROWTH & INCOME SERIES                            SERIES                             EQUITY SERIES
      ----------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------       -----------------
NUMBER                             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER                           CUMULATIVE COMPOUND NUMBER
 OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH   OF
YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE   YEARS      PERIODS
- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  ------- ----- -----------------
<S>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>
  1   12/31/95-12/31/96 $10,343.00    3.43%    3.43%
 
Life   10/2/95-12/31/96 $10,440.42    4.40%    3.51% Life    6/3/96-12/31/96 $ 9,748.04  (2.52)%     N/A  Life    6/5/96-12/31/96
 
<CAPTION>
 
NUMBE             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND
 OF                GROWTH   GROWTH
YEARS    AMOUNT     RATE     RATE
- -----  ---------- --------  -------
<S>   <C>         <C>       <C>
  1
Life   $ 9,919.89  (0.80)%     N/A
</TABLE>
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       VALUE SERIES
      ----------------------------------------------
NUMBER                             CUMULATIVE COMPOUND
 OF                                 GROWTH   GROWTH
YEARS      PERIODS        AMOUNT     RATE     RATE
- ----- ----------------- ---------- --------  -------
<S>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>               <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>   <C>
 
Life    6/3/96-12/31/96 $10,923.38    9.23%     N/A
 
<CAPTION>
NUMBE
 OF
YEARS
- -----
<S>   <C>         <C>       <C>
Life
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       95
<PAGE>
                        ADVERTISING AND SALES LITERATURE
 
    As set forth in the Prospectus, the Company may refer to the following
organizations (and others) in its marketing materials:
    A.M. BEST'S RATING SYSTEM is designed to evaluate the various factors
affecting the overall performance of an insurance company in order to provide an
opinion as to an insurance company's relative financial strength and ability to
meet its contractual obligations. The procedure includes both a quantitative and
qualitative review of each company.
 
    DUFF & PHELPS CREDIT RATING COMPANY's Insurance Company Claims Paying
Ability Rating is an independent evaluation by a nationally accredited rating
organization of an insurance company's ability to meet its future obligations
under the contracts and products it sells. The rating takes into account both
quantitative and qualitative factors.
 
    LIPPER VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS SERVICE is a
publisher of statistical data covering the investment company industry in the
United States and overseas. Lipper is recognized as the leading source of data
on open-end and closed-end funds. Lipper currently tracks the performance of
over 5,000 investment companies and publishes numerous specialized reports,
including reports on performance and portfolio analysis, fee and expense
analysis.
 
    STANDARD & POOR's insurance claims-paying ability rating is an opinion of an
operating insurance company's financial capacity to meet obligations of its
insurance policies in accordance with their terms.
 
    VARDS (Variable Annuity Research Data Service) provides a comprehensive
guide to variable annuity contract features and historical fund performance. The
service also provides a readily understandable analysis of the comparative
characteristics and market performance of funds inclusive in variable contracts.
 
    STANDARD & POOR'S INDEX--broad-based measurement of changes in stock-market
conditions based on the average performance of 500 widely held common stocks;
commonly known as the Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500). The selection of stocks,
their relative weightings to reflect differences in the number of outstanding
shares, and publication of the index itself are services of Standard & Poor's
Corporation, a financial advisory, securities rating, and publishing firm. The
index tracks 400 industrial company stocks, 20 transportation stocks, 40
financial company stocks, and 40 public utilities.
 
    NASDAQ-OTC Price Index--this index is based on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) and represents all domestic
over-the-counter stocks except those traded on exchanges and those having only
one market maker, a total of some 3,500 stocks. It is market value-weighted and
was introduced with a base of 100.00 on February 5, 1971.
 
    DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE (DJIA)--price-weighted average of 30 actively
traded blue chip stocks, primarily industrials, but including American Express
Company and American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Prepared and Published by
Dow Jones & Company, it is the oldest and most widely quoted of all the market
indicators. The average is quoted in points, not dollars.
 
    In its advertisements and other sales literature for the Variable Account
and the Series Fund, the Company intends to illustrate the advantages of the
Contracts in a number of ways:
 
    COMPOUND INTEREST ILLUSTRATIONS.  These will emphasize several advantages of
the variable annuity contract. For example, but not by way of limitation, the
literature may emphasize the potential savings through tax deferral; the
potential advantage of the Variable Account over the fixed account; and the
compounding effect when a participant makes regular deposits to his or her
account.
 
    DOLLAR COST AVERAGING ILLUSTRATIONS.  These illustrations will generally
discuss the price-leveling effect of making regular investments in the same
Sub-Accounts over a period of time, to take advantage of the trends in market
prices of the portfolio securities purchased by those Sub-Accounts.
 
    SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM.  A service provided by the Company, through
which a Participant may take any distribution allowed by Code Section 401(a)(9)
in the case of Qualified Contracts, or permitted under Code Section 72 in the
case of Non-Qualified Contracts, by way of a series of partial withdrawals.
Withdrawals under this program may be fully or partially includible in income
and may be subject to a 10% penalty tax. Consult your tax advisor.
 
    THE COMPANY'S OR MFS'S CUSTOMERS.  Sales literature for the Variable Account
and the Series Fund may refer to the number of clients which they serve. As of
the date of this Prospectus, MFS was serving over 1.9 million investor accounts.
 
   
    THE COMPANY'S OR MFS'S ASSETS, SIZE.  The Company may discuss its general
financial condition (see, for example, the references to Standard & Poor's, Duff
& Phelps and A.M. Best Company above); it may refer to its assets; it may also
discuss its relative size and/or ranking among companies in the industry or
among any sub-classification of those companies, based upon recognized
evaluation criteria. For example, at year-end 1995 the Company was the 39th
largest U.S. life insurance company based upon overall assets and its parent
company, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, was the 18th largest.
    
 
                                       96
<PAGE>
                                   SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
                                   ANNUITY SERVICE MAILING ADDRESS:
                                   C/O SUN LIFE ANNUITY SERVICE CENTER
                                   P.O. BOX 1024
                                   BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02103
 
                                   TELEPHONE:
                                   Toll Free (800) 752-7215
                                   In Massachusetts (617) 348-9600
 
                                   GENERAL DISTRIBUTOR
                                   Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc.
                                   500 Boylston Street
                                   Boston, Massachusetts 02116
 
                                   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
 
   
GOLD-1 5/97
    
<PAGE>
                                   PART II
                   INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS.

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution


         Not applicable.


Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Article 8 of the By-Laws of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) 
provides for indemnification of directors and officers as follows:

    "Section 8.01 (a).  Every person who is or was a director, officer or 
employee of this corporation or of any other corporation which he served at 
the request of this corporation and in which this corporation owns or owned 
shares of capital stock or of which it is or was a creditor shall have a 
right to be indemnified by this corporation against all liability and 
reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any 
claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he may become involved as a party 
or otherwise by reason of his being or having been a director, officer or 
employee of this corporation or such other corporation, provided (1) said 
claim, action, suit or proceeding shall be prosecuted to a final 
determination and he shall be vindicated on the merits, or (2) in the absence 
of such a final determination vindicating him on the merits, the board of 
directors shall determine that he acted in good faith and in a manner he 
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the 
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no 
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; said determination to 
be made by the board of directors acting through a quorum of disinterested 
directors, or in its absence on the opinion of counsel.

    (b)  For purposes of the preceding subsection: (1) "liability and 
reasonable expenses" shall include but not be limited to reasonable counsel 
fees and disbursements, amounts of any judgment, fine or penalty, and 
reasonable amounts paid in settlement; (2) "claim, action, suit or 
proceeding" shall  include every such  claim, action, suit or proceeding, 
whether civil or criminal, derivative or otherwise, administrative, judicial 
or legislative, any appeal relating thereto, and shall include any reasonable 
apprehension or threat of such a claim, action, suit or proceeding; (3) a 
settlement, plea of nolo contendere, consent judgment, adverse civil 
judgment, or conviction shall not of itself create a presumption that the 
conduct of the person seeking indemnification did not meet the standard of 
conduct set forth in subsection (a)(2) hereof.

                                     II-1


<PAGE>
      (c)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following limitations shall 
apply with respect to any action by or in the right of the Corporation: (1) 
no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as 
to which the person seeking indemnification shall have been adjudged to be 
liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the 
corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the 
State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall 
determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in 
view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and  
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of 
Chancery or such other court shall deem proper; and (2) indemnification shall 
extend only to reasonable expenses, including reasonable counsel's fees and 
disbursements.

    (d)  The right of indemnification shall extend to any person otherwise 
entitled to it under this by-law whether or not that person continues to be a 
director, officer or employee of this corporation or such other corporation 
at the time such liability or expense shall be incurred.  The right of 
indemnification shall extend to the legal representative and heirs of any 
person otherwise entitled to indemnification.  If a person meets the 
requirements of this by-law with respect to some matters in a claim, action, 
suit or proceeding, but not with respect to others, he shall be entitled to 
indemnification as the former.  Advances against liability and expenses may 
be made by the corporation on terms fixed by the board of directors subject 
to an obligation to repay if indemnification proves unwarranted.

    (e)  This by-law shall not exclude any other rights of indemnification or 
other rights to which any director, officer or employee may be entitled to by 
contract, vote of the stockholders or as a matter of law. If any clause, 
provision or application of this section shall be determined to be invalid, 
the other clauses, provisions or applications of this section shall not be 
affected but shall remain in full force and effect.  The provisions of this 
by-law shall be applicable to claims, actions, suits or proceedings made or 
commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions 
to act occurring before or after the adoption hereof.

    (f)  Nothing contained in this by-law shall be construed to protect any 
director or officer of the corporation against any liability to the 
corporation or its security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by 
reason of wilful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless 
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office."

                                     II-2

<PAGE>

Item 16. Exhibits

Exhibits:

   
Exhibit
Number                Description             Method of Filing

 1         Underwriting Agreement                **
 3(a)      Certificate of Incorporation          *
 3(b)      By-laws                               *
 4(a)      Combination Fixed/Variable Group
             Annuity Contract                    ***
 4(b)      Certificate to be used in con-
             nection with Contract filed as
             Exhibit 4(a)                        ***
 5         Opinion re: Legality                  ****
23         Consents of Experts and Counsel
           (a) Independent Auditors' Consent     Filed Herewith
           (b) Consent of Counsel                Filed Herewith
24         Powers of Attorney                    ***** and ****** 
    


*      Incorporated by reference from the Registration Statement of the 
       Registrant on Form S-1, File No. 33-29851.

**     Incorporated by reference from Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to the 
       Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-29851.

***    Incorporated by reference from  Post-effective Amendment No. 3 to the 
       Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-43008.

****   Incorporated by reference from the Registration Statement of the 
       Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-43008.

*****  Incorporated by reference from the Registration Statement of the 
       Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-58853.

   
****** Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the 
       Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-58853.
    


Item 17. Undertakings

      (a)     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
          (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being 
      made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

              (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of 
          the Securities Act of 1933;

              (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising 
          after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most 
          recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in 
         the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set 
         forth in the registration statement;

                                     II-3

<PAGE>
              (iii) To include any material information with respect to the 
         plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration 
         statement or any material change to such information in the 
         registration statement;

              Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and a(1)(ii) do 
         not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, 
         and the information required to be included in a post-effective 
         amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed 
         by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 
         Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in
         the registration statement.

         (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 
    Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be 
    deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities 
    offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be 
    deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post- effective 
    amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at 
    the termination of the offering.

    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of 
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of 
the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and where applicable, each filing of an 
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the 
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement 
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such 
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering 
thereof.

    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities 
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons 
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the 
registrant 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 the 
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling 
person of the registrant 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, the registrant will, unless 
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling 
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and 
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                     II-4

<PAGE>
                                  SIGNATURES


   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 
Registrant, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.), certifies that it 
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for 
filing on Form S-2 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to 
its Registration Statement on Form S-2 to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Wellesley, Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, on the 23rd day of April, 1997.
    


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


                                  By:*    /s/ JOHN D. McNEIL   
                                       -------------------------  
                                              John D. McNeil
                                              Chairman


   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this 
Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement has been signed by
the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
    


    SIGNATURE                           TITLE                    DATE    


   
*  /s/ JOHN D. McNEIL            Chairman and Director
- --------------------------     (Principal Executive Officer)  April 23, 1997
   John D. McNeil
 
*  /s/  ROBERT P. VROLYK          Vice President and Actuary
- ----------------------------       (Principal Financial
     Robert P. Vrolyk              & Accounting Officer)      April 23, 1997

*  /s/ RICHARD B. BAILEY                Director              April 23, 1997
- ----------------------------
     Richard B. Bailey

- --------------------
* By Bonnie S. Angus pursuant to Power of Attorney filed with the 
  Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-58853.
    

                                     II-5

<PAGE>

    SIGNATURE                           TITLE                    DATE    


   
*   /s/ A. KEITH BRODKIN                Director            April 23, 1997
- ------------------------------
      A. Keith Brodkin

**  /s/ M. COLYER CRUM
- -------------------------------         Director            April 23, 1997
       M. Colyer Crum

                                  President and Director
- -------------------------------
      Donald A. Stewart

*   /s/ DAVID D. HORN              Senior Vice President
- --------------------------------    and General Manager     April 23, 1997
        David D. Horn                   Director

*   /s/ JOHN S. LANE                      Director          April 23, 1997
- --------------------------------
        John S. Lane

*   /s/ ANGUS A. MacNAUGHTON              Director          April 23, 1997
- ---------------------------------
     Angus A. MacNaughton

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

- -----------------------
*   By Bonnie S. Angus pursuant to Power of Attorney filed with the 
    Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-58853.

**  By Bonnie S. Angus pursuant to Power of Attorney filed with 
    Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of the 
    Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-58853.

    
                                     II-6

<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
   
Exhibit
Number                                              Page

 1       Underwriting Agreement....................  **
 3(a)    Certificate of Incorporation..............  *
 3(b)    By-Laws...................................  *
 4(a)    Combination Fixed/Variable Group Annuity
           Contract................................  ***
 4(b)    Certificate to be issued in connection with
           Contract Filed as Exhibit 4(a)..........  ***
 5       Opinion Re: Legality......................  ****
23(a)    Independent Auditors' Consent.............  
23(b)    Consent of Counsel........................  
24       Powers of Attorney........................  ***** and ******
    

- -------------------------
*      Filed with the Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form S-1, 
       File No. 33-29851.

**     Filed with Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement 
       of the Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-29851.

***    Filed with Post-effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement 
       of the Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-43008.

****   Filed with the Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form S-2, 
       File No. 33-43008.

*****  Filed with the Registration Statement of the Registrant on Form S-2, 
       File No. 33-58853.

   
****** Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration 
       Statement of the Registrant on Form S-2, File No. 33-58853.
    

                                  II-7



<PAGE>
                                                Exhibit 23(a)

                    INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


   
     We consent to the use in Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the 
Registration Statement on Form S-2 of Sun Life Assurance Company of 
Canada (U.S.) (Reg. No. 33-58853) of our report dated February 7, 1997
accompanying the financial statements of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Variable 
Account F and to the use of our report dated February 3, 1997 accompanying the 
financial statements of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) 
appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of such Registration Statement, 
and to the incorporation by reference of our reports dated February 3, 1997 
appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Sun Life Assurance Company of 
Canada (U.S.) for the year ended December 31, 1996.
    

   
We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Condensed 
Financial Information - Accumulation Unit Values" in such Prospectus.
    



DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Boston, Massachusetts

   
April 23, 1997
    




<PAGE>
                                               Exhibit 23(b)


                          CONSENT OF COUNSEL


   
     I hereby consent to the reference to me in Post-Effective Amendment 
No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-2 of Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada (U.S.) under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus contained 
therein.
    


                                      DAVID D. HORN, ESQ.



   
April 23, 1997
    




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