Power Corp.’s discount adds appeal

Article Excerpt

The bulk of Power Corp.’s investments are in financial services companies, and turmoil in credit markets has hurt those holdings. But both of the major businesses it controls are leaders in their fields. They remain well capitalized and are cheap in relation to earnings. POWER CORPORATION $17.23 (Toronto symbol POW; Shares outstanding: 407.5 million; Market cap: $7.0 billion; SI Rating: Above Average) is a diversified holding company. It controls one of Canada’s largest mutual-fund companies, IGM Financial, and Great-West Lifeco, one of the country’s largest life insurers. Power Financial, 66.4% held, is a holding company for Power Corp.’s financial assets, which include 72.9% of Great-West Lifeco and 58.4% of IGM Financial. As well, Power Financial holds 50% of holding company Parjointco, which, in turn, owns a 54.3% interest in Swiss-listed Pargesa Holdings SA. Pargesa has 95% of its assets in five large European companies: Imerys (minerals), Total SA (oil), Pernod Ricard (wine and spirits), Suez (energy, water and waste services) and Lafarge…