Great-West Narrows its Focus

Article Excerpt

GREAT-WEST LIFECO $35.63 (Toronto symbol GWO; SI Rating: Above-average) has agreed to sell its U.S. health care business, which provides medical, dental, vision, life and disability coverage to 5,200 groups and 2.2 million individuals. The business faces strong competition from larger insurers, whose size lets them negotiate better deals with medical service suppliers, so selling it makes sense. Great-West will use the net proceeds of $1.6 billion U.S. to finance the $3.9 billion U.S. acquisition of mutual fund manager Putnam Investments in August, 2007. Great-West Lifeco is still a buy. buy…