What Power Corporation of Canada does

Power Corporation of Canada is an international management and holding company founded in 1925 and headquartered in Montreal, focused on financial services across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company operates through a portfolio of three publicly traded operating companies — Great-West Lifeco (68.6% owned), IGM Financial (63.4% owned), and GBL (17.1% owned via Parjointco) — alongside wholly-owned alternative asset management platforms Sagard and Power Sustainable. The Desmarais Family Residuary Trust controls approximately 52.65% of voting rights, maintaining multi-generational family stewardship of the enterprise.

Core subsidiaries span insurance and retirement (Canada Life, Empower, Irish Life, serving approximately 40 million customer relationships), wealth and asset management (IG Wealth Management with 3,000+ advisors, Mackenzie Investments, strategic stakes in Wealthsimple, Rockefeller Capital Management, ChinaAMC, and Northleaf), and European investment holdings (GBL with listed assets including SGS, Pernod Ricard, Imerys, adidas, and Concentrix). Alternative asset management includes Sagard ($47.7B AUM, 94% from third parties) operating across venture capital, private equity, private credit, and real estate, and Power Sustainable ($4.5B AUM) focused on energy infrastructure, infrastructure credit, agri-food, and decarbonization private equity.

Revenue is generated through dividends, interest, and investment returns from controlling interests in operating subsidiaries, with consolidated assets and assets under administration totaling approximately $4.0 trillion. The company reported adjusted net earnings of $3.4 billion CAD for 2025, returned $2.3 billion to shareholders, and achieved a 37.0% annualized 5-year total shareholder return. Recent strategic priorities include the May 2026 launch of the $150M USD Sagard AI Fund, leadership transition to James O'Sullivan effective July 2026, and continued capital deployment into Wealthsimple (which reached $124.8B AUA in Q1 2026, up 71% year-on-year) and other growth platforms.

Name

Power Corporation of Canada

Legal name

Power Corporation of Canada

Website

https://powercorporation.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Power Corporation of Canada is an international management and holding company controlling Great-West Lifeco, IGM Financial, and GBL, operating across insurance, retirement, wealth management, and asset management in North America, Europe, and Asia with approximately $4.0 trillion in consolidated assets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Dividend and Investment Income from Subsidiaries: Power Corporation generates revenue primarily through dividends, interest, and investment returns from its controlling interests in publicly traded operating companies (Great-West Lifeco, IGM Financial, GBL) and alternative asset management platforms (Sagard, Power Sustainable). Revenue also includes gains on disposals, interest income, and fees from its investment activities.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Power Corporation of Canada is an international management and holding company that owns and operates controlling interests in leading financial services businesses across North America, Europe, and Asia. Its core offerings include life and health insurance, retirement and wealth management, investment and asset management services, and alternative asset management platforms, delivered through subsidiaries such as Great-West Lifeco, IGM Financial, GBL, Sagard, and Power Sustainable.

Product overview

Power Corporation of Canada is an international management and holding company focused on financial services across North America, Europe and Asia. The company operates through a portfolio structure consisting of three publicly traded operating companies (Great-West Lifeco, IGM Financial, and GBL) and alternative asset management platforms (Sagard and Power Sustainable). Great-West Lifeco provides insurance, retirement, and wealth solutions under brands including Canada Life, Empower, and Irish Life to approximately 40 million customers. IGM Financial operates wealth and asset management businesses through IG Wealth Management, Mackenzie Investments, and strategic investments in Wealthsimple, Rockefeller Capital Management, ChinaAMC, and Northleaf. GBL is a European investment holding company with listed assets and private investments. Sagard offers alternative asset management across venture capital, private equity, private credit, and real estate ($47.7B AUM), while Power Sustainable focuses on sustainability-driven investments ($4.5B AUM).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sagard: Global multi-strategy alternative asset management firm active in venture capital, private equity, private credit and real estate, with offices in Canada, the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.
• Power Sustainable
• Canada Life
• Empower
• Irish Life
• IG Wealth Management
• Wealthsimple
• Mackenzie Investments

Products and services

• Great-West Lifeco International financial services holding company providing wealth, retirement, group benefits, and insurance and risk solutions to approximately 40 million customer relationships operating in Canada, the United States and Europe through brands including Canada Life, Empower, and Irish Life.
• IGM Financial Leading wealth and asset management company supporting financial advisors and approximately 2 million Canadians, with approximately $314 billion in assets under management and advisement, operating through IG Wealth Management, Mackenzie Investments, and strategic investments including Wealthsimple, Rockefeller Capital Management, ChinaAMC, and Northleaf.
• GBL Leading active investor in Europe focused on long-term value creation with a diversified, high-quality portfolio of listed assets (SGS, Pernod Ricard, Imerys, adidas, Concentrix) and private investments through GBL Capital and Sienna Investment Managers.
• Sagard Global multi-strategy alternative asset management firm active in venture capital, private equity, private credit, and real estate, with offices in Canada, the U.S., Europe and the Middle East; manages $47.7 billion in assets with 94% from third parties and also engages in private wealth management.
• Power Sustainable Sustainability-focused investment manager financing companies and projects for competitive returns and positive sustainability outcomes; offers Energy Infrastructure Equity, Global High-Yield Infrastructure Credit, Agri-Food Private Equity (Lios), and Decarbonization Private Equity strategies with $4.5 billion in assets under management.
• Canada Life International insurance, wealth management, and healthcare benefit products and services provider operating in Canada, the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Germany, and Ireland; offers individual insurance (life, health, dental, disability, critical illness), group workplace benefits, and investment/retirement solutions.
• Empower Leader in financial planning, investing, and advice in the United States and the nation's second-largest retirement plan recordkeeper by total participants, dedicated to creating financial freedom through people and technology.
• Irish Life One of Ireland's leading life assurance, pensions, and investment management businesses providing life assurance, pension and investment products to individuals and small businesses, group risk and defined contribution pension solutions; Irish Life Investment Managers is the largest manager of life assurance and pension assets in Ireland.
• IG Wealth Management National leader in delivering personalized financial solutions to Canadians through a network of advisors; serves approximately 1 million clients through 3,000+ advisors with an exclusive family of mutual funds, other investment vehicles, and a wide range of financial services.
• Mackenzie Investments Investment management services through multiple product offerings utilizing proprietary investment research and experienced investment professionals; distributes services through multiple channels to retail and institutional investors.
• Wealthsimple Canada's leading digital-first financial innovator serving 3.4 million clients with $124.8 billion in assets under administration as of Q1 2026; offers investing, banking, crypto, and business banking products through mobile and web platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.3 Billion capital returned to shareholders in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Nautilus Solar EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Nautilus Solar Energy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Sustainable (a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada). Nautilus is one of the largest community solar businesses in the U.S., approaching 600 MW of operating solar capacity serving over 55,000 customers across 167 sites in 12 states.
• Power SustainablecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Power Sustainable is a sustainability-focused investment manager and wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada. It finances companies and projects aiming for competitive returns and positive sustainability outcomes, with $4.5 billion in assets under management across energy infrastructure, infrastructure credit, agri-food private equity (Lios), and decarbonization private equity.
• WealthsimplecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Power Corp. is the majority shareholder of Wealthsimple, Canada's leading fintech company. Wealthsimple announced Q1 assets under administration rose 71% year-on-year to nearly $125 billion. Power Corp has maintained its $10 billion valuation for Wealthsimple since its last fundraise, and the fintech launched business banking products targeting small businesses.
• Sagard AI FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Power Corporation of Canada, through its Sagard alternative asset management business, launched a $150-million USD AI fund backed jointly by Power Corp and two of its operating companies, Great-West Lifeco and IGM Financial. The Sagard AI Fund will invest globally across the AI technology stack, targeting AI companies that accelerate adoption in financial services and other key sectors.
• Great-West LifecocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Great-West Lifeco is an international financial services holding company (68.6% owned by Power Corporation) with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management and reinsurance, operating in Canada, the US, and Europe through brands including Canada Life, Empower, and Irish Life.
• IGM FinancialcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026Power Corporation announced James O'Sullivan, currently President and CEO of IGM Financial, will become President and CEO of Power Corporation effective July 1, 2026. IGM Financial manages approximately $316 billion in total assets and achieved record client assets and earnings under O'Sullivan's leadership, with $1 billion in unallocated capital.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brookfield Asset Management: Canadian-headquartered alternative asset manager with global infrastructure, real estate, and renewable energy investments. Comparable to Power Corp's Sagard and Power Sustainable platforms in alternative asset management focus and exposure to renewable infrastructure.
• GBL (Groupe Bruxelles Lambert): European-listed holding company (17.1% owned by Power Corp via Parjointco) with diversified portfolio of listed European investments including SGS, Pernod Ricard, Imerys, and adidas. Functions as Power Corp's European investment arm with comparable long-term holding philosophy.
• IGM Financial: Core operating subsidiary (63.4% owned) and leading Canadian wealth and asset manager with $314B AUM through IG Wealth Management and Mackenzie Investments. Comparable in wealth management distribution scale and Canadian retail investor reach.
• Great-West Lifeco: Core operating subsidiary (68.6% owned) providing life insurance, health, retirement and wealth management under Canada Life, Empower, and Irish Life brands. Directly comparable in insurance and retirement services and serves as Power Corp's largest earnings driver.
• Power Financial Corporation: Former intermediate holding company entity (now wholly-owned subsidiary after 2020 reorganization). Previously functioned as Power Corp's principal operating holding vehicle for Great-West and IGM, and remains directly comparable as a historical sibling entity.
• Fairfax Financial Holdings: Canadian-based diversified holding company focused on insurance, reinsurance, and investment management with controlling shareholder structure. Highly comparable to Power Corp given shared Canadian roots, family-influenced governance, and similar insurance/asset management portfolio mix.

Broad incumbents

• Berkshire Hathaway: The archetypal diversified holding company with concentrated control, long-term investment horizon, and significant insurance float allocation. Comparable structural model to Power Corp, though with substantially different mix and scale.
• Loews Corporation: U.S. diversified holding company with controlling family ownership (Tisch family), insurance operations (CNA Financial), and offshore drilling exposure. Comparable in holding company structure with controlling family and insurance/asset management emphasis.
• Manulife Financial: Major Canadian-headquartered life insurer and wealth manager with global operations in Asia, North America and similar John Hancock brand in the U.S. Competes directly with Great-West Lifeco/Canada Life in insurance and group benefits.
• Sun Life Financial: Canadian-headquartered international financial services company providing insurance, wealth, and asset management. Overlaps directly with Great-West Lifeco, Empower, and IGM Financial businesses across Canada, U.S. and Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PowerCorpCanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/power-corporation-of-canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Power Corporation of Canada