Power Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Readers are referred to the sections "Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Presentation" and "Forward-Looking Statements" at the end of this release. All figures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 6, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Power Corporation of Canada (Power Corporation or the Corporation) (TSX: POW) today reported earnings results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021.

Power Corporation
Consolidated results for the period ended June 30, 2021

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Corporation reported net earnings per share of $1.47 for the second quarter of 2021, compared with $0.99 in 2020 and record high adjusted net earnings per share ^[1] of $1.51, compared with $0.79 per share in 2020.
• The Corporation's net asset value (NAV) per share ^[1] increased 12.3% to $51.60 at June 30, 2021, compared with $45.94 at March 31, 2021.
• Great-West Lifeco Inc. (Lifeco) announced several key strategic business transactions in the U.S., Canada, and Ireland to add scale and grow its businesses:
• On July 21, 2021, its U.S. subsidiary, which operates primarily as Empower Retirement, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Prudential Financial, Inc.'s full-service retirement business for a total value of approximately $4.45 billion (US$3.55 billion), solidifying Empower's position as the second largest retirement plan service provider in the United States.
• Irish Life Group Limited, a subsidiary of Lifeco, announced on July 13, 2021 that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Ark Life Assurance Company dac from Phoenix Group Holdings plc for €230 million, adding significant scale to its retail division and enhancing its ability to provide customers with market-leading wealth and insurance solutions.
• The Canada Life Assurance Company, a subsidiary of Lifeco, announced, on July 13, 2021, an agreement to acquire ClaimSecure Inc., an industry-leading health and dental claims management and administration firm to private and public businesses in Canada, extending its presence in a growing segment of the market.
• Lifeco's assets under administration were $2.2 trillion at June 30, 2021, an increase of 9.1% from December 31, 2020.
• IGM Financial Inc. (IGM) reported net earnings of $237.4 million, or $0.99 per share in the second quarter, the highest in its history, and up 28.6% from the second quarter of 2020.
• IGM reported record high assets under management and advisement of $262.0 billion, up 5.4% in the quarter and 39.2% from June 30, 2020, and record high second quarter investment fund net sales of $1.9 billion.
• Groupe Bruxelles Lambert's (GBL) NAV was €23.1 billion at June 30, 2021, compared with €21.1 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of 9.3%.
• Sagard Holdings Inc. (Sagard) launched Portage Fintech Acquisition Corporation (PFAC), a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of Sagard. PFAC successfully completed an initial public offering, raising gross proceeds of US$240 million.
• Wealthsimple Financial Corp. (Wealthsimple) completed its previously announced $750 million financing round on May 12, 2021, including a $500 million secondary offering by the Corporation, IGM and Lifeco (Power Group). The Power Group retained an interest of $2.1 billion in Wealthsimple.
• The Lion Electric Company (Lion) completed its business combination with Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. and on May 7, 2021 began trading as "LEV" on the TSX and the New York Stock Exchange. The Corporation held a 35.7% interest in Lion at June 30, 2021.

Net Asset Value

The Corporation's net asset value per share was $51.60 at June 30, 2021, compared with $45.94 at March 31, 2021, representing an increase of 12.3%.

SECOND QUARTER

Net earnings attributable to participating shareholders were $994 million or $1.47 per share, compared with $666 million or $0.99 per share in 2020.

Adjusted net earnings attributable to participating shareholders ^[1] were $1,020 million or $1.51 per share, compared with $533 million or $0.79 per share in 2020.

Lifeco: contribution to net earnings per share decreased by 11.6%; contribution to adjusted net earnings per share increased by 15.7%.

IGM: contribution to net earnings per share and adjusted net earnings per share increased by 29.4%.

GBL: contribution to net earnings per share of $0.03, compared to $0.11 per share in 2020. Results include a charge of $0.08 per share in the quarter for losses due to an increase in the put right liability of the non-controlling interests in Webhelp Group (Webhelp) and charges related to Webhelp's employee incentive plan.

Alternative and other investments: net earnings per share includes realized gains of $0.08 per share on the Power Pacific portfolio and a contribution from Sagard of $0.10 to net earnings per share which includes gains realized on dispositions by Sagard Europe 3.

Standalone businesses: results include a positive impact of $0.23 per share resulting from the gains on the change in ownership in Lion on the completion of Lion's business combination with Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. (Northern Genesis), including the increase in fair value of call rights held by Power Sustainable during the quarter partially offset by an increase in amounts payable for long-term incentive plans and deferred taxes.

Corporate operations and Other: As part of the reorganization completed in February 2020, the Corporation projected significant near-term cost reductions of approximately $50 million per year within two years by eliminating duplicative public company-related expenses and rationalizing other general and administrative expenses. To date, the Corporation has implemented actions to achieve 89% of the targeted reduction.

Adjustments in the second quarter of 2021, excluded from adjusted net earnings, were a negative impact to earnings of $26 million or $0.04 per share, mainly related to the Corporation's share of Lifeco's adjustments, which consist of negative market-related impacts on liabilities, transaction, restructuring and integration charges and negative impacts from the tax legislative changes in Europe, partially offset by actuarial assumption changes and management actions. Adjustments in the second quarter of 2020 were a net positive impact to earnings of $133 million or $0.20 per share mainly related to the Corporation's share of Lifeco's adjustments, which consist of positive market-related impacts on liabilities and actuarial assumption changes and management actions, as well as a recovery on the deconsolidation of IntegraMed America, Inc. (IntegraMed).

SIX MONTHS

Net earnings attributable to participating shareholders were $1,550 million or $2.29 per share, compared with $866 million or $1.40 per share in 2020.

Adjusted net earnings attributable to participating shareholders were $1,806 million or $2.67 per share, compared with $878 million or $1.42 per share in 2020.

Adjustments to net earnings in the six-month period were a negative net impact of $256 million or $0.38 per share, mainly related to the Corporation's share of Lifeco's adjustments and its share of the charge arising from the remeasurement of the put right liability of certain of the non-controlling interests in Wealthsimple to fair value of $208 million recognized in the first quarter. These were reflected in the Adjustments of the alternative and other investments and in the Effect of consolidation based on Lifeco and IGM's respective interest. Adjustments in the six-month period of 2020 were a negative net impact of $12 million or $0.02 per share, mainly related to the Corporation's share of Lifeco's adjustments, which consisted of negative market-related impacts on liabilities, partially offset by actuarial assumption changes and management actions, as well as a recovery on the deconsolidation of IntegraMed.

Great-West Lifeco, IGM Financial and Groupe Bruxelles Lambert
Results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021

GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC.

SECOND QUARTER  

Net earnings attributable to common shareholders were $784 million or $0.84 per share, compared with $863 million or $0.93 per share in 2020.

Adjusted net earnings ^[1] attributable to common shareholders were $826 million or $0.89 per share, compared with $706 million or $0.76 per share in 2020.

Adjustments in the second quarter of 2021, excluded from adjusted net earnings, were a net negative impact to earnings of $42 million, compared with a net positive impact to earnings of $157 million in 2020. Lifeco's adjustments in the second quarter of 2021 consisted of negative market-related impacts on liabilities, tax legislative changes, transaction costs related to the acquisitions of Personal Capital Corporation (Personal Capital) and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and restructuring and integration costs partially offset by positive impacts from actuarial assumption changes and other management actions.

IGM FINANCIAL INC.

SECOND QUARTER

Net earnings available to common shareholders were $237.4 million or $0.99 per share, compared with $183.5 million or $0.77 per share in 2020.

Assets under management and advisement at June 30, 2021 were $262.0 billion, up 5.4% in the quarter and 39.2% from June 30, 2020 (including $30.3 billion in net business acquisitions in 2020).

GROUPE BRUXELLES LAMBERT

SECOND QUARTER

GBL reported net earnings of €110 million, compared with net earnings of €370 million in 2020.

GBL reported a net asset value at June 30, 2021 of €23,057 million, representing €142.89 per share, compared with €21,090 million or €130.70 per share at March 31, 2021.

GBL adopted IFRS 9 in 2018. Power Corporation continues to apply IAS 39; this results in a positive adjustment to the contribution from GBL of $107 million in the second quarter of 2021.

Alternative and Other Investments
Results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021

SECOND QUARTER

Income from the Corporation's alternative and other investments, including standalone businesses, was $275 million, compared with $28 million in the corresponding period in 2020. Adjusted net earnings from alternative and other investments was $275 million, compared with $1 million in the comparative period in 2020.

Adjusted net earnings in the second quarter include a net contribution of $68 million from Sagard, and a net contribution of $48 million from Power Sustainable, primarily due to realized gains on the sale of investments by Sagard Europe 3 and within the Power Pacific portfolio.

Adjusted net earnings from the standalone businesses in the second quarter of 2021 was $154 million, compared with $5 million in the comparative period in 2020. The second quarter includes gains of $209 million related to the effect of change in ownership in Lion as a result of the completion of the merger transaction between Lion and Northern Genesis and the revaluation of certain call rights held by Power Sustainable, which were partially exercised in the quarter, partially offset by an increase in amounts payable for long-term incentive plans and deferred taxes of $56 million. The Corporation also recorded a reversal of a previously recognized impairment on its investment in GP Strategies of $33 million.

At June 30, 2021, Sagard had US$8.1 billion of assets under management, including unfunded commitments.  In July 2021, subsequent to quarter end, Sagard Credit Partners II LP completed an additional closing of approximately US$78 million, increasing the fund size to US$987 million and Portage Ventures III LP completed an additional closing of US$145 million, increasing total commitments to US$358 million.

At June 30, 2021, Power Sustainable had $3.0 billion of assets under management, including unfunded commitments, of which $370 million is managed on behalf of third-party investors in Power Pacific's China A-shares core strategy.

At June 30, 2021, the fair value of standalone businesses was $2.3 billion.

COVID-19

The outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, specifically identified as "COVID-19", has resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus. These measures, which include the implementation of travel bans, imposing restrictions on certain non-essential businesses, self-imposed quarantine periods and social distancing, have caused material disruption to businesses globally resulting in an economic slowdown. Governments and central banks have responded with significant monetary and fiscal interventions designed to stabilize economic conditions. Equity markets in particular have been volatile, experiencing material and rapid declines in the first quarter of 2020; however, the markets have since experienced recoveries.

The duration and full impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are still unknown at this time. The distribution of vaccines has resulted in the easing of restrictions in many economies; though the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause material disruption to businesses globally, resulting in continued economic pressures.  While the conditions have become more stable, many factors continue to extend economic uncertainty including the rollout and efficacy of vaccines, emergence of new COVID-19 variants and the durability and effectiveness of government and central bank interventions. It is not possible to reliably estimate the length and severity of these developments and the impact on the financial results and condition of the Corporation and its operating subsidiaries in future periods.

Dividend on Power Corporation Participating Shares

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of 44.75 cents per share on the Corporation's Participating Preferred Shares and the Subordinate Voting Shares, payable November 1, 2021, to shareholders of record September 30, 2021.

Dividends on Power Corporation Non-Participating Preferred Shares

The Board of Directors also declared quarterly dividends on the Corporation's preferred shares, payable October 15, 2021, to shareholders of record September 24, 2021:

Investor Information

About Power Corporation

Power Corporation is an international management and holding company that focuses on financial services in North America, Europe and Asia. Its core holdings are leading insurance, retirement, wealth management and investment businesses, including a portfolio of alternative asset investment platforms. To learn more, visit www.PowerCorporation.com.

At June 30, 2021, Power Corporation held the following economic interests:

Earnings Summary

Alternative and Other Investments – Earnings

Adjustments (excluded from Adjusted Net Earnings)

Net Asset Value

The Corporation's net asset value per share was $51.60 at June 30, 2021, compared with $45.94 at March 31, 2021, representing an increase of 12.3%.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES AND PRESENTATION

The Corporation completed the Reorganization and announced a change in its strategy in early 2020. Subsequent to the Reorganization, the corporate operations of both the Corporation and Power Financial are being managed together and have been presented on a combined basis throughout the "Results of the Corporation" section of the MD&A. The investment activities of Power Financial are primarily interests held in fintech investments, all of which are managed by Sagard, and have been presented combined with the investing activities of Sagard, which represents the management and oversight structure.

Net earnings attributable to participating shareholders are comprised of:

• Adjusted net earnings attributable to participating shareholders; and
• Adjustments, which include the after-tax impact of any item that in management's judgment, including those identified by management of its publicly traded operating companies, would make the period-over-period comparison of results from operations less meaningful. Adjustments includes the Corporation's share of Lifeco's impact of actuarial assumption changes and management actions, direct equity and interest rate market impacts on insurance contract liabilities net of hedging, as well as items that management believes are not indicative of the underlying business results which include those identified by a subsidiary or a jointly controlled corporation.

Management uses these financial measures in its presentation and analysis of the financial performance of Power Corporation and believes that they provide additional meaningful information to readers in their analysis of the results of the Corporation. Adjusted net earnings, as defined by the Corporation, assist the reader in comparing the current period's results to those of previous periods as it reflects management's view of the operating performance of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and excludes items that are not considered to be part of the underlying business results.

Adjusted net earnings attributable to participating shareholders and adjusted net earnings per share are non-IFRS financial measures that do not have a standard meaning and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other entities.

The Corporation also uses a non-consolidated basis of presentation to present and analyze its results whereby the Corporation's controlling interests held through Power Financial in Lifeco, IGM, Portage I, Portage II, Portage III and Wealthsimple, as well as other subsidiaries and investment funds consolidated by Power Corporation, are accounted for using the equity method. Presentation on a non-consolidated basis is a non-IFRS presentation. However, it is useful to the reader as it presents the holding company's (parent) results separately from the results of its consolidated operating companies.

Net asset value is commonly used by holding companies to assess their value. Net asset value is the fair value of Power Corporation's non–consolidated assets less its net debt and preferred shares. The investments held in public entities (including Lifeco, IGM and GBL) are measured at their market value and investments in private entities and investment funds are measured at management's estimate of fair value. This measure presents the fair value of the net assets of the holding company to management and investors and assists the reader in determining or comparing the fair value of investments held by the company or its overall fair value.

This news release may also contain other non-IFRS financial measures which are publicly disclosed by the Corporation's subsidiaries such as sales, assets under management and assets under administration. Refer to the "Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Presentation" section of the Corporation's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis for the definition of non-IFRS financial measures and their reconciliation with IFRS financial measures.

ELIGIBLE DIVIDENDS

For purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any similar provincial legislation, all of the above dividends on the Corporation's preferred shares (including the Participating Preferred Shares) and Subordinate Voting Shares are eligible dividends.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements based on certain assumptions and reflect the Corporation's current expectations, or with respect to disclosure regarding the Corporation's public subsidiaries, reflect such subsidiaries' current expectations as disclosed in their respective MD&A. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of assisting the reader in understanding the Corporation's financial performance, financial position and cash flows as at and for the periods ended on certain dates and to present information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and the reader is cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, including the fintech strategy, the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Corporation and its subsidiaries' operations, results and dividends, as well as the outlook for North American and international economies for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods, the intended effects of the Reorganization (as defined herein), the Corporation's NCIB (as defined herein), management of standalone businesses to realize value over time, fundraising activities by investment platforms, timing of the proposed GP Strategies transaction (as defined herein), and the Corporation's subsidiaries' disclosed expectations, including the acquisition of the Prudential full-service retirement business (as defined herein), ClaimSecure Inc., Ark Life (as defined herein) and related synergies, impacts, and timing thereof as well as a result of the acquisition of the retirement services business of MassMutual, Personal Capital, Northleaf and related synergies, impacts and timing thereof. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "seeks", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "may", "will", "should", "would" and "could".

By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond the Corporation's and its subsidiaries' control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and their businesses, and could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations of estimated or anticipated events or results. These factors include, but are not limited to: the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors in North America and internationally, fluctuations in interest rates, inflation and foreign exchange rates, monetary policies, business investment and the health of local and global equity and capital markets, management of market liquidity and funding risks, risks related to investments in private companies and illiquid securities, risks associated with financial instruments, changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with significant judgments, estimates and assumptions), the effect of applying future accounting changes, business competition, operational and reputational risks, technological changes, cybersecurity risks, changes in government regulation and legislation, changes in tax laws, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings, catastrophic events, man-made disasters, terrorist attacks, wars and other conflicts, or an outbreak of a public health pandemic or other public health crises (such as COVID-19), the Corporation's and its subsidiaries' ability to complete strategic transactions, integrate acquisitions and implement other growth strategies, the Corporation's and its subsidiaries' success in anticipating and managing the foregoing factors and with respect to forward-looking statements of the Corporation's subsidiaries disclosed in this news release, the factors identified by such subsidiaries in their respective MD&A.

The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties, and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, including the availability of cash to complete purchases under the NCIB, that the list of factors in the previous paragraph, collectively, are not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation and its subsidiaries and with respect to forward-looking statements of the Corporation's subsidiaries disclosed in this news release, the risks identified by such subsidiaries in their respective MD&A and Annual Information Form most recently filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at www.sedar.com. While the Corporation considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to management, they may prove to be incorrect.

Other than as specifically required by applicable Canadian law, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.

Additional information about the risks and uncertainties of the Corporation's business and material factors or assumptions on which information contained in forward-looking statements is based is provided in its disclosure materials, including its most recent annual, and subsequently filed interim, MD&A and Annual Information Form, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Power Corporation of Canada