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Great-West Lifeco reports third quarter 2016 results

Readers are referred to the cautionary notes regarding Forward-Looking Information and Non-IFRS Financial Measures at the end of this release.  All figures are expressed in Canadian dollars, except as noted.

Great-West Lifeco reports third quarter 2016 results

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (Lifeco or the Company) has reported net earnings attributable to common shareholders (net earnings) of $674 million or $0.682 per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to $720 million or $0.724 per common share for the same period in 2015.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net earnings were $1,965 million, compared to $2,079 million for the same period in 2015.  This represents $1.982 per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to $2.086 per common share for the same period in 2015.

Consolidated assets under administration at September 30, 2016 were over $1.2 trillion, an increase of $16.0 billion from December 31, 2015.

Highlights – In Quarter

  • Lifeco premiums and deposits in the third quarter of 2016 of $29.3 billion were comparable to the same quarter in 2015:
    • Canada premiums and deposits were $6.1 billion, up 7%, primarily due to strong Individual Insurance and Single Premium Group Annuity sales.
    • Europe premiums and deposits were $8.3 billion, down 16%, primarily due to a $3.5 billion sale to an institutional client in the third quarter of 2015. Excluding this impact, premiums and deposits increased $2.0 billion primarily due to an increase in premiums from reinsurance agreements, higher fund management sales in Ireland and higher payout annuity sales in the U.K.
    • Great-West Financial premiums and deposits were US$2.7 billion, up 3%, primarily as a result of higher premiums due to sales from the executive benefits line of business. Empower Retirement sales were down in the third quarter compared to 2015 driven by lower very large plan sales.
    • Putnam gross sales were US$8.7 billion, up 11% overall. Institutional sales increased 36% as the pipeline continues to remain strong, while mutual fund sales decreased 11%, reflective of the decline in industry segments where Putnam operates.
  • Lifeco’s capital position remained very strong. The Great-West Life Assurance Company reported a Minimum Continuing Capital Surplus Requirements (MCCSR) ratio of 227% at September 30, 2016.
  • Lifeco reported a ROE of 13.8%.
  • Lifeco declared a quarterly common dividend of $0.3460 per common share payable December 30, 2016.
  • Lifeco completed its previously announced Irish health insurance acquisitions and will operate its new business under the Irish Life Health brand. The Company has set annual cost savings targets of €16 million pre-tax to be achieved through operating efficiencies from the combination of the businesses. Integration activities, with an expected cost of €16 million pre-tax, are anticipated to be completed in the next 18 to 24 months.

OPERATING RESULTS

Consolidated net earnings of Lifeco include the net earnings of The Great-West Life Assurance Company (Great-West Life) and its operating subsidiaries, London Life Insurance Company (London Life), The Canada Life Assurance Company (Canada Life) and Irish Life Group Limited (Irish Life); Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (Great-West Financial) and Putnam Investments, LLC (Putnam), together with Lifeco’s Corporate operating results.   For reporting purposes, the consolidated operating results are grouped into four reportable segments – Canada, United States, Europe and Lifeco Corporate – reflecting geographic lines as well as the management and corporate structure of the companies.

CANADA

Net earnings attributable to common shareholders for the third quarter of 2016 were $289 million compared to $326 million in the third quarter of 2015.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net earnings attributable to common shareholders were $892 million compared to $933 million for the same period in 2015.

Total sales in the third quarter of 2016 of $3.1 billion increased from $2.9 billion in the third quarter of 2015, reflecting higher Participating Life and Universal Life product sales as well as very strong Single Premium Group Annuity sales. Total sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 of $9.1 billion were comparable to the same period in 2015.

Total Canada segment assets under administration at September 30, 2016 were $174 billion compared to $166 billion at December 31, 2015.

UNITED STATES

Net earnings attributable to common shareholders for the third quarter of 2016 were $78 million, reflecting Great-West Financial net earnings of $84 million and a net loss of $6 million for Putnam, compared to net earnings of $96 million in the third quarter of 2015.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net earnings attributable to common shareholders were $194 million compared to $284 million for the same period in 2015.

Great-West Financial sales in the third quarter of 2016 were US$8.9 billion, down from US$11.9 billion in the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to lower Empower Retirement very large plan sales.  Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were US$33.9 billion, up from US$27.7 billion in 2015.

Putnam assets under management at September 30, 2016 were US$153.8 billion compared to US$146.6 billion at September 30, 2015, an increase of 5%, primarily due to the cumulative impact of positive markets and net asset inflows from the institutional business.  Net asset inflows for the third quarter of 2016 were US$0.5 billion compared to US$0.1 billion for the same quarter in 2015, as in-quarter institutional net asset inflows of US$2.1 billion were partially offset by mutual fund net asset outflows of US$1.6 billion.

Total United States segment assets under administration at September 30, 2016 were $818 billion compared to $808 billion at December 31, 2015.

EUROPE

Market uncertainty and volatility continues following the U.K.’s June 23, 2016 vote to leave the European Union, most notably resulting in a weaker British pound.  The Company remains committed to its operations in the U.K. which are strong and are primarily domestic businesses with well-diversified investment portfolios.  Customer needs for insurance, wealth and annuity products remain as before and the Company is well placed to continue to serve these customers.

Net earnings attributable to common shareholders for the third quarter of 2016 were $313 million, up from $296 million in the third quarter of 2015.  While the Company’s U.K. domestic businesses continue to perform well, net earnings were negatively impacted by $45 million as a result of a decrease in the exchange rate of the British pound to the Canadian dollar compared to the same quarter last year.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net earnings attributable to common shareholders were $893 million up from $871 million for the same period in 2015.

Insurance & Annuities sales for the third quarter of 2016 were $4.6 billion, down from $7.7 billion in the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to the $3.5 billion sale to an institutional client in the third quarter of 2015. Excluding this item, sales increased $0.4 billion primarily due to higher fund management sales in Ireland and payout annuity sales in the U.K., partially offset by the impact of currency movement driven by the weakening of the British pound compared to the Canadian dollar. Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $14.8 billion compared to $15.6 billion for the same period in 2015.

Total Europe segment assets under administration at September 30, 2016 were $237 billion compared to $238 billion at December 31, 2015.

LIFECO CORPORATE

Lifeco Corporate segment’s net loss attributable to common shareholders was $6 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared to net earnings of $2 million in the third quarter of 2015.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the net loss was $14 million compared to a net loss of $9 million for the same period in 2015.

QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS

At its meeting today, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.3460 per share on the common shares of Lifeco payable December 30, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business December 2, 2016.

In addition, the Directors approved quarterly dividends on Lifeco’s preferred shares, as follows:

First Preferred Shares Record Date Payment Date Amount, per share
Series F December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.36875
Series G December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.3250
Series H December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.30313
Series I December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.28125
Series L December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.353125
Series M December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.3625
Series N December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.1360
Series O December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.114180
Series P December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.3375
Series Q December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.321875
Series R December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.3000
Series S December 2, 2016 December 30, 2016 $0.328125

For purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), and any similar provincial legislation, the dividends referred to above are eligible dividends.

GREAT-WEST LIFECO

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSX:GWO) is an international financial services holding company with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management and reinsurance businesses.  Lifeco has operations in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia through Great-West Life, London Life, Canada Life, Irish Life Group Limited, Great-West Financial and Putnam Investments.  Lifeco and its companies have over $1.2 trillion in consolidated assets under administration and are members of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies.  To learn more, visit www.greatwestlifeco.com.

Basis of presentation

The consolidated financial statements of Lifeco have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and are the basis for the figures presented in this release, unless otherwise noted.

Cautionary note regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release may contain forward-looking statements.  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”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates” and other similar expressions or negative versions thereof.  These statements may include, without limitation, statements about Lifeco’s operations, business, financial condition, expected financial performance (including revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future actions by Lifeco, including statements made with respect to the expected benefits of acquisitions and divestitures.  Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections and conclusions about future events that were current at the time of the statements and are inherently subject to, among other things, risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Lifeco, economic factors and the financial services industry generally, including the insurance and mutual fund industries.  They are not guarantees of future performance, and the reader is cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements.  Material factors and assumptions that were applied in formulating the forward-looking information contained herein include the assumption that the business and economic conditions affecting Lifeco’s operations will continue substantially in their current state, including, without limitation, with respect to customer behaviour, Lifeco’s reputation, market prices for products provided, sales levels, premium income, fee income, expense levels, mortality experience, morbidity experience, policy lapse rates, reinsurance arrangements, liquidity requirements, capital requirements, credit ratings, taxes, inflation, interest and foreign exchange rates, investment values, hedging activities, global equity and capital markets, business competition and other general economic, political and market factors in North America and internationally.  Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Lifeco and there is no assurance that they will prove to be correct.  Other important factors and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements include customer responses to new products, impairments of goodwill and other intangible assets, Lifeco’s ability to execute strategic plans and changes to strategic plans, technological changes, breaches or failure of information systems and security (including cyber attacks), payments required under investment products, changes in local and international laws and regulations, changes in accounting policies and the effect of applying future accounting policy changes, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings, catastrophic events, continuity and availability of personnel and third party service providers, Lifeco’s ability to complete strategic transactions and integrate acquisitions and unplanned material changes to Lifeco’s facilities, customer and employee relations or credit arrangements.  The reader is cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions and factors is not exhaustive, and there may be other factors listed in other filings with securities regulators, including factors set out in Lifeco’s 2015 Annual MD&A under “Risk Management and Control Practices” and “Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates”, which, along with other filings, is available for review at www.sedar.com.  The reader is also cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  Other than as specifically required by applicable law, Lifeco does not intend to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Cautionary note regarding Non-IFRS Financial Measures

This release contains some non-IFRS financial measures.  Terms by which non-IFRS financial measures are identified include, but are not limited to, “operating earnings”, “constant currency basis”, “premiums and deposits”, “sales”, “assets under management”, “assets under administration” and other similar expressions.  Non-IFRS financial measures are used to provide management and investors with additional measures of performance to help assess results where no comparable IFRS measure exists.  However, non-IFRS financial measures do not have standard meanings prescribed by IFRS and are not directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies.  Refer to the appropriate reconciliations of these non-IFRS financial measures to measures prescribed by IFRS.

Further information

Selected financial information is attached.

Lifeco’s third quarter conference call and audio webcast will be held November 3, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. (ET).  The call and webcast can be accessed through www.greatwestlifeco.com or by phone at:

  • Participants in the Toronto area: 416-340-2216
  • Participants from North America: 1-866-223-7781
  • For International participants: Look up the dial-in information for your location here:

https://www.confsolutions.ca/ILT/?lang=E&oss=1P49R8662237781Opens a new website in a new window

A replay of the call will be available from November 3, 2016 to November 10, 2016, and can be accessed by calling 1-800-408-3053 or 905-694-9451 in Toronto (passcode: 6396358#). The archived webcast will be available on www.greatwestlifeco.com from November 3, 2016 to November 2, 2017.

Additional information relating to Lifeco, including the most recent interim unaudited consolidated financial statements, interim Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and CEO/CFO certification will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.comOpens a new website in a new window.

For more information:

Media Contact:
Marlene Klassen, APR
204-946-7705
Email: marlene.klassen@gwl.ca

Investor Relations Contact:
Wendi Thiessen
204-946-7452
Email: wendi.thiessen@gwl.ca