Company Overview

Power Corporation of Canada is a Canadian international management and holding company that operates primarily in the financial services, asset management, insurance, wealth management, and alternative investment industries. The company’s core business model is to control and manage leading financial services platforms through long-term strategic ownership, rather than direct operating control of day-to-day businesses. Its revenue and value creation are driven largely by dividends, earnings contributions, and asset value appreciation from its operating subsidiaries and investments.

Founded in 1925, Power Corporation evolved from a regional Canadian utility holding company into a globally diversified financial holding company. Over several decades, it strategically exited industrial operations and concentrated on financial services, particularly insurance and asset management. The company is widely recognized for its stable ownership structure, long-term investment philosophy, and influence within Canada’s financial sector, supported by controlling interests held through Power Financial Corporation and related entities.

Business Operations

Power Corporation conducts its activities through a group of publicly traded and private subsidiaries that operate across multiple financial verticals. Its principal operating holdings include Great-West Lifeco Inc., which provides life insurance, health insurance, retirement services, and reinsurance; IGM Financial Inc., a wealth and asset management company serving retail and institutional clients; and Power Financial Corporation, which functions as an intermediate holding company for several core investments. These businesses generate revenue primarily through insurance premiums, management fees, and investment income.

In addition to its core financial services platforms, Power Corporation maintains significant interests in alternative asset management and investment vehicles. Through Sagard Holdings Inc. and Power Sustainable, the company manages and invests capital in private equity, private credit, venture capital, and sustainable infrastructure and energy assets. Operations span both domestic and international markets, with controlled companies maintaining regulated financial licenses, proprietary investment platforms, and long-standing distribution networks.

Strategic Position & Investments

Power Corporation’s strategy centers on long-term value creation through disciplined capital allocation, active ownership, and selective expansion in high-growth financial and alternative investment sectors. The company continues to prioritize asset and wealth management growth, digital transformation within its financial subsidiaries, and the expansion of alternative investment platforms. Capital deployment is balanced between organic growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions that enhance scale or capabilities.

Major investments include controlling and influential stakes in Great-West Lifeco Inc., IGM Financial Inc., and Pargesa Holding SA, as well as wholly or majority owned alternative investment platforms such as Sagard Holdings Inc. and Power Sustainable. The company has increased its exposure to sustainable finance, renewable energy, and impact-focused investments, reflecting a strategic emphasis on environmental and long-term societal trends. These initiatives are supported by a conservative balance sheet and a focus on preserving capital across economic cycles.

Geographic Footprint

Power Corporation is headquartered in Canada, with its principal executive offices located in Montreal, Québec. Through its operating companies, it maintains a significant presence across North America, Europe, and Asia, serving millions of clients in both developed and select emerging markets. Its insurance and wealth management businesses are particularly well established in Canada, the United States, and Western Europe.

Internationally, the company’s influence extends through controlled subsidiaries and equity investments with operations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and parts of Asia, including China. Alternative investment platforms managed by Power Corporation also deploy capital globally, giving the company exposure to international infrastructure, private equity, and sustainable energy projects across multiple continents.

Leadership & Governance

Power Corporation is controlled by the Desmarais family and is known for a governance structure that emphasizes long-term stewardship, decentralized operations, and strong oversight at the holding-company level. Leadership philosophy focuses on prudent risk management, stable dividend generation, and reinvestment in high-quality financial platforms with durable competitive advantages.

Key members of the executive leadership include:

• Paul Desmarais, Jr. – Executive Co-Chairman
• André Desmarais – Executive Co-Chairman
• R. Jeffrey Orr – President and Chief Executive Officer
• Stéphane Lemieux – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
• Daniel R. Tisch – Vice Chairman of the Board

The board and executive team draw on extensive experience in global finance, insurance, and asset management, reinforcing the company’s reputation for continuity, disciplined governance, and strategic consistency over multiple decades.