GWO expands in the U.S.

Article Excerpt

GREAT-WEST LIFECO, $38.00, is still a hold. The insurer (Toronto symbol GWO; shares outstanding: 928.4 million; Market cap: $35.0 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.6%; www.greatwestlifeco.com), through its Empower Retirement division, is buying the full-service retirement business of U.S.-based Prudential Financial Inc. (New York symbol PRU) for $4.45 million. That unit covers 4,300 workplace savings plans, with about 4 million participants and $314 billion U.S. in assets under administration. The purchase will expand Empower’s business to 71,000 workplace savings plans with 16.6 million participants and $1.4 trillion U.S. in assets. Great-West expects cost savings from the merger will increase its annual per-share earnings by 8% to 9% by the end of 2023. This is the latest in a series of acquisitions meant to diversify the insurer’s operations. However, expanding by acquisition adds risk. Great-West Lifeco is still a hold. hold…