Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report20 22ANNUAL REPORT BUSINESS REVIEWDirectors’ Report to Shareholders 2Financial Performance7Delivering for Customers 8Disciplined Choices that Enable Growth 10Striving for a Better Tomorrow 12Our ESG Journey 16Investing in Our Communities 17FINANCIAL REVIEWManagement’s Discussion and Analysis 18Financial Reporting Responsibility112Consolidated Financial Statements113Independent Auditor’s Report 197Sources of Earning 203Five-Year Summary205Directors and Seniors Officers 206Shareholder Information207The financial information in this report is presented in millions of Canadian dollars for the period ended December 31, 2022, unless otherwise indicated.Refer to the Cautionary Notes regarding forward-looking information and non-GAAP financial measures on page 19.iiGreat-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report GREAT-WEST LIFECO
BY THE NUMBERS
38+ million
Customer relationships
234,500+
Advisor relationships supporting
our customers
31,000+
Employees supporting
our customers
175 years
Of delivering on our promises
$58.8 billion
Benefits paid to our customers
$2.5 trillion
Assets under administration*
*This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to
the ˝Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios˝ section
of this document for additional details.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
1
Directors’ Report to Shareholders
JEFFREY ORR
chair of the board
PAUL MAHON
president and chief executive officer
Great-West Lifeco’s performance is guided by a steadfast commitment to our purpose:
to build stronger, more inclusive, and financially secure futures.
We are here for life. By responding to the unique needs and challenges of customers,
advisors, and communities, we’re delivering on our commitments, and earning the
trust of our shareholders and other stakeholders. This focus has helped drive continued
momentum in 2022 and strong results across our businesses.
2022 was a challenging year for so many. Our
service. We made disciplined choices through
colleagues, customers, and communities grappled
our investments to enable our long-term growth
with rising inflation, higher interest rates, the
and stability and created lasting value for our
effects of climate change, and the lingering
shareholders and other stakeholders.
COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing war in Ukraine,
supply chain disruptions, and global energy market
prices have also had a tangible impact on people’s
everyday lives.
Throughout these challenges, Great-West Lifeco has
continued to focus on supporting our stakeholders
by living up to our commitments – demonstrating
strength, resilience and positive momentum.
Throughout 2022, we remained focused on
what matters. We delivered for our customers
by improving access to advice, solutions, and
Taken together, we’re contributing to a better
tomorrow and having a positive impact on the
world around us.
DELIVERING FOR CUSTOMERS
We believe in the fundamental value of advice.
We provide guidance and solutions that empower
our customers through all of life’s moments.
Over our 175-year history, we’ve earned a trusted
reputation by continuously striving to deliver
solutions in a responsible way.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Our belief in the value of advice informs how we’ve
Empower’s reach to more than 17 million
made investments across our businesses to generate
Americans
success over the long term.
• Canada Life’s launch of SecurePak through
Through our leading workplace benefits and
ClaimSecure, enhancing our ability to provide
retirement solutions, we connect with millions of
client-focused workplace benefit solutions to
customers each year. The addition of new digital
Canadians
experiences and capabilities are making advice and
solutions available to more people than ever before.
In the U.S., Empower has extended the reach of
their Personal Capital enabled wealth management
services to millions of Americans. In Canada, our
Freedom Experience better meets the unique needs
of customers, beyond their workplace benefit plans.
These platforms are providing the tools and insights
customers need to achieve better outcomes over
the course of their lifetime.
No matter the challenge, we’re here for our
customers, anticipating their needs and tailoring our
• Putnam Investments’ creation of new sustainable
investment options to meet evolving market
demand; and,
• Canada Life Reinsurance’ expansion into new
markets with innovative solutions.
We are driving responsible growth by expanding
access to advice-enabled insurance, wealth,
retirement and wellness solutions for our diverse
customers – now and into the future.
STRIVING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
solutions to meet them. As part of our commitment
Responsible management has long been a core
to service excellence, Irish Life partnered with a
value of Great-West Lifeco; it’s essential to our
leading primary care provider in 2022 to offer a
long-term value creation.
blended in-person and digital healthcare offering,
and Canada Life expanded its benefits payment
back office to process claims faster and continually
improve the member experience.
Guided by our purpose, we’ve been focused on
what we can do to build a stronger, more inclusive,
and diverse company today – with a view to an even
better tomorrow.
DISCIPLINED CHOICES
THAT ENABLE GROWTH
Our ability to deliver customer centred advice and
solutions across multiple channels is grounded
in the financial strength of our company and the
deep expertise of our people. Across our business
segments, we are positioned for continued strong
performance, bolstered by the diversification of our
portfolio, and supported by a disciplined, deliberate
approach to growing stakeholder value.
We continue to deliver strong results that reflect organic
growth, the benefits of recent strategic acquisitions, and
disciplined capital deployment.
We continue to deploy capital where we see
promising opportunities. In 2022, this included:
• The acquisition of Prudential’s full-service
retirement services business, expanding
We have been hard at work thoughtfully
developing and implementing strategies in support
of sustainability, including equity, diversity, and
inclusion, across our organization.
In 2022, we established an Executive Steering
group to drive coordination, collaboration and
performance around a clear sustainability and
impact strategy. We have set goals to achieve
carbon neutrality and net zero greenhouse gas
emissions, for our operations and investments by
2050, and we are on track to grow representation
of women in management roles to 50% across our
business segments by 2030. We are also working
to increase representation of underrepresented
minorities in management roles to 25% by 2030.
The importance of helping more people achieve
financial, physical, and mental well-being is clearer
than ever before. Community support has long
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
3
been an integral part of this work and our
In an increasingly complex and uncertain world,
group of companies play a critical role in our
our people, our customers, and our communities
local communities.
look to us to be a partner during times of challenge
Through targeted funding, we’ve helped create
quality career paths for diverse talent in the
BIPOC community, including through the James
W. Burns Leadership Institute in Manitoba, and a
new BIPOC Legacy Award at Western University.
We’ve contributed to greater financial security for
underserved populations, made investments in
and opportunity. Whether it be advice and
solutions to support customers' changing needs,
career opportunities and growth for our people,
or investments that build communities, we will
continue to focus our efforts on delivering solutions
that last – with impact today, tomorrow and for the
generations that follow.
arts and education, and helped ensure the delivery
As we enter 2023, our business is well-positioned to
of aid in the wake of global crises, including to
deliver on our commitments and create even greater
Ukrainian refugees.
As a leading financial services company with
strong Canadian roots and history, we recognize
our responsibility to Canada’s First Peoples and
our defining role in the commitment to Truth and
Reconciliation. We continue to take steps to promote
Indigenous ways of knowing and education. This
year, we took further steps and responded to
Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls
to Action #80 and #92, by providing a paid day away
from work for all employees to engage meaningfully
in truth and reconciliation. We’re supporting our
employees in their journeys by providing curated
learning resources and enabling them to participate
in Indigenous-led activities.
THE YEAR AHEAD
value for shareholders and other stakeholders. We
will pursue our growth plans with discipline and
purpose, by leveraging our strengths and navigating
challenges, as we seize new opportunities.
THANK YOU
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to
our customers, advisors, and shareholders for
your confidence in us, and to our employees and
associates for your hard work and dedication. We
look forward to continuing our work together
delivering advice and solutions that individuals,
families and businesses can count on, for life.
At Great-West Lifeco, we believe in doing
what’s right, creating lasting value, and thinking
JEFFREY ORR
chair of the board
generations ahead.
PAUL MAHON
president and
chief executive officer
Stable and Effective Governance
Effective governance is key to creating consistently
At our 2022 Annual Meeting we announced
strong long-term performance and for developing
the retirement of one of our directors, Elizabeth C.
positive outcomes for all our stakeholders.
Lempres. We thank Ms. Lempres for her
We sincerely thank our Board of Directors, who
lead our companies with strong governance and
dedicated service and valuable contributions to
Great-West Lifeco.
management oversight.
Learn more about our Board of Directors and
Officers on page 206.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Our Purpose
To build stronger,
more inclusive, and
financially secure
futures.
We’re here for life.
Our Commitments
We are invested for the long-term, to achieve growth and create lasting value for our people, our
customers, our communities, and our planet.
Building Better
Financial Futures
Creating Inclusive
Communities
Protecting
Our Planet
Our Four Value-Creation Priorities
Focused on the customer and leveraging our risk and investment expertise, our four value-creation
priorities help drive growth across our business' portfolio. These priorities represent areas of strength
where we are committed to investing to create shareholder value.
Advice-Centered
Value Creation
Digital
Capabilities
Workplace
Extensions
Risk & Investment
Expertise
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
5
As a partner and companion
on life’s journey, we help
stakeholders pursue personal
success. We support our
customers throughout life’s
moments, from difficulty to
opportunity.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Financial Performance
The strength of our results reflects the resilience and diversification of our businesses, and a disciplined
approach to capital deployment.
MEDIUM TERM
FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES1
1-YEAR
2021-2022
5-YEAR
2017-2022
BASE2
NET
BASE2
NET
8-10% base EPS growth
(1.5)%
2.7%
8.8% CAGR
9.7% CAGR
14-15% base ROE
13.6%
13.6%
13.1%
13.5%
Target dividend payout ratio
45-55% of base earnings
56.7%
56.7%
58.3%
average
56.7%
average
EARNINGS ($ billions)
2.7
2.9
3.3
3.1
3.2
3.2
2020
2021
2022
EARNINGS PER SHARE2 ($)
2.88
3.17
3.51
3.37
3.46
3.46
2020
2021
2022
RETURN ON EQUITY3 (%)
12.8
14.1
14.6
14.0
13.6
13.6
2020
2021
2022
LICAT RATIO4
$3.22 billion
$3.46 per share
13.6% ROE
120%
1 2017 base earnings were calculated by excluding items from net earnings as discussed in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of Lifeco’s 2022 Annual MD&A,
which is included in this Annual Report. Refer to note 2 on page 22 for additional details regarding the calculation of 2017 base earnings.
2 Base earnings per common share (EPS), base return on common shareholders´ equity (ROE) and target dividend payout ratio (base) are non-GAAP ratios calculated using base earnings,
a non-GAAP financial measure. These ratios/measures do not have standardized meanings under GAAP and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other
issuers. Additional information on these ratios/measures is incorporated by reference and can be found under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” on page 102 of this report.
3 The description of net ROE is incorporated by reference and can be found under “Glossary” in our 2022 Annual MD&A on page 106 of this report.
4 LICAT ratio of The Canada Life Assurance Company, calculated in accordance with the OSFI Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test guideline. For additional information, see “Capital
Management and Adequacy” on page 46 of this report.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
7
Delivering for Customers
“MY CANADA LIFE” GETS EVEN EASIER
IRISH LIFE DEBUTS ALL-IN-ONE APP
In Canada, a newly launched customer site called
MyLife is a personalised health and wellbeing app
My Canada Life is providing customers with easy
that rewards people to lead a healthier and more
access to insurance and investments information
active life. The app helps people better understand
in one spot. More than 80% of our customers are
their health and supports them to improve it.
choosing to enroll in e-documents. E-documents
offer the convenience of viewing and downloading
paperless statements and information.
FOCUSING ON FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS
The Canada Life Financial Solutions Centre™ (FSC)
team of financial security advisors and investment
representatives is providing Canadian clients with
advice and services to meet their needs.
The FSC, launched in 2020, now serves more than
75,000 clients – an increase of more than 200%
from the prior year.
GROUP PLAN MEMBERS ENJOY
FLEXIBLE RESP SAVINGS OPTIONS
Canadian group benefits and retirement savings
plan members have embraced Canada Life RESPs’
new automatic payroll contributions and multi-plan
options. Multi-plans help family members come
together to invest in their child’s future education.
A simple online process empowers members to
set up auto contributions in a worry-free way that
Through the FSC, we’re partnering with advisors
works best for them.
to help them streamline their practices. The
opportunity to transfer clients to the FSC allows
advisors more time to focus on growing their
business and deepening relationships with their
target client segments.
SUPPORTING ADVISORS & CLIENTS
In 2022, we enhanced our wealth offering in
Canada with the launch of new digital capabilities
and processes to support advisors. This included the
successful implementation of CapIntel, an industry-
leading digital investment sales platform. CapIntel
will help Canada Life provide a better experience
to both their advisors and clients, which will lead
to better advice, stronger relationships and realized
financial goals.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
NEW CARE-CONNECT VENTURE
HELPS REDUCE HOSPITAL VISITS
Irish Life and Centric Health’s new venture Care-
Connect is custom made for the market, aiming to
help reduce the expense and stress of unnecessary
hospital visits. Care-Connect’s first program, Heart
Care, helps people recovering from heart failure to
manage their condition more effectively from home.
By providing community healthcare access via a
blend of remote monitoring, in addition to digital
and in-person care, it helps members and their
families manage chronic conditions, improving both
patients’ experience and health outcomes.
CANADA LIFE U.K.’S WECARE DOUBLES USER REGISTRATIONS
WeCare’s digital health and wellbeing services hit a milestone this year in the U.K.: more than 100,000
people have registered to access the diverse range of support services. Services offered include physician
and second medical opinion consultants, as well as mental health, smoking cessation counselling, and diet
and fitness advice.
FEELING THE FREEDOM EXPERIENCE™
Canada Life’s Freedom Experience™ is centered
around meeting members where they are on
their journey. Previously known as Plan Member
as Customer, it supports Canadian customers in
building health and wealth plans that will help them
live their definition of freedom – whatever that
means to them.
The company also re-branded its optional group
savings and benefits products to offer a simplified,
cohesive experience for members. The re-branding
builds on the legacy of our Freedom 55 Financial
brand which has stood for guidance, planning
and choice.
EMPOWER PERSONAL WEALTH
READIES FOR LIFT OFF IN 2023
Pairing smart technology with a financial advisor’s
expertise, the combination of Personal Capital and
Empower provides customers with financial wellness
like never before. From offering a birds-eye view
of a customer’s finances and helping them save
and spend smarter, to simulating and planning
their retirement, the newly combined entity known
as Empower Personal Wealth joins both firms’
expertise. For Lifeco, this combination is helping
harness a significant retail wealth management
opportunity, allowing us to serve the broader
financial needs of Empower’s plan participants as
well as new retail customers.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
9
Disciplined Choices that Enable Growth
EMPOWER COMPLETES ACQUISITION
OF PRUDENTIAL’S FULL-SERVICE
RETIREMENT BUSINESS
Empower completed the acquisition of Prudential
Financial Inc.’s full-service retirement business
including its defined contribution and defined
benefit businesses; non-qualified and rollover
IRA business; as well as stable value and separate
account investment products and platforms. This
expanded Empower’s reach to more than 17 million
retirement plan participants with $1.3 trillion in
assets under administration on behalf of over
81,000 clients.
The company also finished integrating MassMutual’s
retirement business. Through this transaction,
Empower earned the trust of over 20,000
MassMutual clients and 2.3 million participants,
achieving a 92% participant retention rate as of
Aug. 31, 2022. In addition, Empower retained 87%
of all plans, and 91% of client assets at a value of
over $174 billion.
CAPITAL AND RISK SOLUTIONS
EXPANDS TO NEW MARKETS
Through Canada Life Reinsurance, our Capital
and Risk Solutions business continues to expand
and grow by providing tailored solutions to their
customers while providing greater diversification
within our portfolio. In 2022, we expanded our
reinsurance business in Asia and collaborated with
an Israeli company to develop the first mortgage
reinsurance product in Israel. We also completed
a structured mortality transaction with Allianz in
Indonesia – our first transaction in the Indonesian
market. Under the agreement, Canada Life
Reinsurance provides protection against adverse
mortality experience on a portfolio of credit life
business.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
PUTNAM LAUNCHES NEW EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
Putnam Investments introduced two new transparent, actively managed equity exchange-traded funds
(ETFs). The firm launched Putnam BDC Income ETF, concentrating in business development companies
(BDCs). The second fund, Putnam BioRevolution™ ETF, is centered on companies operating at the
intersection of technology and biology in the “biology revolution.” Importantly, the Putnam BDC
Income ETF represented the first actively managed BDC ETF in the marketplace, investing with an eye
toward generating income for investors. The new offerings further expanded Putnam’s ETF lineup in
the marketplace.
CLAIMSECURE & CANADA LIFE
LAUNCH SECUREPAK IN CANADA
Leveraging the strengths of two organizations,
Canada Life and ClaimSecure launched SecurePak.
The bundled offering combines Canada Life’s
insurance benefits with ClaimSecure’s health and
dental claims adjudication services.
SecurePak provides a standout client experience,
requiring only one quote and application for a
single product at a competitive price. In addition to
its simple, efficient sales and on-boarding, group
benefits plan sponsors value the use of modernized
claims processing through ClaimSecure paired with
the security of Canada Life’s pooled products.
CANADA LIFE WELCOMES CANADIAN
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC SERVICE
HEALTH CARE PLAN
Canada Life is gearing up to support the well-
being of approximately 1.5 million more Canadians
covered by the Public Service Health Care Plan
(PSHCP). With close to 750,000 eligible public
servants and their dependants from coast to coast,
the plan brings an estimated $26 billion in annual
premium over a 12-year contract that goes live on
July 1, 2023. Being the provider of choice for the
PSHCP is a major strategic achievement for our
business and an endorsement of our capabilities
and our brand in the Canadian market.
LAUNCH OF NEW FORUM & SAMA FUNDS EXPANDS ADVISERS’ OPTIONS
Irish Life Investment Managers (ILIM) FORUM funds offer a range of risk-rated passively managed funds
targeting long-term growth. The Multi-Asset (SAMA) funds from Setanta Asset Managers are actively
managed portfolios with a combination of equities, bonds, property, cash, and alternatives.
These new funds, available through the company’s brokerage platform, expand the range of solutions
available to meet diverse customer needs, while also complementing the existing multi-asset portfolio risk
managed funds (MAPS) and post retirement funds (REPS) offerings.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
11
Striving for a Better Tomorrow
Building Better Financial Futures
RESPONSIBLE INVESTING’S INNOVATION, DEMAND GROWS
The rapidly growing field of responsible investing demands a focus on innovation. Canada Life launched
the Canada Life U.S. Carbon Transition Equity Fund and the Canada Life Sustainable Emerging Markets
Equity Fund. Both were added to the Canada Life Sustainable Portfolios and Target Date Funds. These
were included to optimize the portfolios multi-strategy approach, blending several responsible investing
approaches into one portfolio. Notably, the Sustainable Portfolios’ assets have grown to over $275 million.
Additionally, Canada Life launched new Index ETF Portfolios in the third quarter of 2022, providing
customers with the convenience of an all-in-one managed solution that offers the protection of a
segregated fund policy along with the value of a cost-efficient structure.
Creating Inclusive Communities
RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH
& BLACK CULTURE IN AMERICA
ATTRACTING DIVERSE
FINANCIAL ADVISOR TALENT
The Juneteenth federal holiday marks when the last
Canada Life’s advisor practice development and
slaves were freed in Galveston, Texas on June 19,
talent business unit is designed to support financial
1865 – 2.5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation
advisors’ vision of business growth throughout the
was signed. Empower and Putnam Investments
evolution of their practice. As the Canadian industry
recognize Juneteenth as a company holiday and
evolves, our training and recruiting reflect those
close their U.S. operations. Throughout the year,
changes, too. The business unit’s diversity, equity,
Empower's BOLD (Black Organization for Leadership
inclusion and belonging training has seen very high
& Development) business resource group provides
participation. The training has supported increased
educational resources and inspiring speakers on
diversity in recruiting – specifically helping
a variety of topics, including to honor the history,
to attract more women and Mandarin-
culture, and contributions of Black and African
speaking advisors to
American people. Empower and Putnam Investments
join Canada Life.
believe it is essential to have a workforce as diverse
as the clients and participants they serve and strive
for diversity in hiring at all levels.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
TAKING STEPS TOWARDS TRUTH AND
RECONCILIATION IN CANADA
U.K. WORKPLACE CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS
WOMEN MOVING THROUGH MENOPAUSE
Canadian employees received a paid day away
Canada Life signed the U.K. workplace menopause
from work to take part in reconciliation activities
pledge to help support gender diversity and raise
on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on
awareness about menopause in the workplace.
September 30. Curated resources guided employees
The company went further by launching a
toward learning and participating in Indigenous-
menopause toolkit and providing employees with
led activities that honoured the spirit of truth and
access to the Peppy support app. Peppy offers
reconciliation. The company has also invested more
women moving through menopause a broad range
than $2.5 million to Indigenous-focused initiatives
of support, including practical advice on how to
across the country in the last 5 years.
manage symptoms and provides access to experts
who can provide emotional support during this
transition in life.
IRISH LIFE DUBLIN MARATHON: THE FRIENDLY MARATHON FOR ALL ABILITIES
Under beautiful clear blue skies, almost 15,000 runners, wheelchair participants, walkers, and joggers of all
abilities tackled 26.2 miles in the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on October 29.
This year is the first of Irish Life’s three-year event title sponsorship, which aligns with the company’s goal
to help people live healthier lives and build better futures.
World-renowned for its fan support, the event is also known as “the friendly marathon” as more than
330,000 spectators line the route to cheer racers on. The marathon contributes nearly €25 million
to the Dublin economy and raises an estimated €9 million for charity.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
13
Protecting Our Planet
CARBON CALCULATOR & SOLAR
BILLBOARD EDUCATE IRELAND
One of the best ways an individual can make a
positive change to the environment is by investing
their pension in responsible funds. Yet research
told Irish Life that people often meet this fact with
disbelief, surprise, and hesitance.
This insight led Irish Life to create a national
advertising and communication campaign to
show people how they can do right by their
money – for their future, their families’ future,
and the planet.
The first solar powered billboard in Ireland helped
bring the campaign message to life. Meanwhile,
the launch of an innovative carbon calculator
enabled customers’ understanding of the positive
impact made through their responsibly invested
Irish Life pension fund.
Photo credit: MicroHabitat
GWLRA ROOFTOP GARDENS SUPPLY
HEALTHY VEGGIES TO FOODBANKS
Working with Microhabitat, GWL Realty Advisors
(GWLRA) continued to host incredible rooftop
gardens on 17 managed office properties across
Canada. In total, the gardens yielded a harvest of
over 6,400 lbs of vegetables, herbs, and edible
flowers in the 2022 season. Sharing the harvest
with local food banks and community organizations
allowed GWLRA to directly help fill a need for
accessible and fresh nutritious food at a time when
Canadian food bank usage is quickly rising.
CHOOSING SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
CANADA’S COMMUTER CHALLENGE
E-BIKE LEASING SUPPORTS
During Canadian Environment Week in June, the
ECO-COMMUTING IN GERMANY
Commuter Challenge encourages Canadians to
According to the European Environment Agency,
choose active, sustainable transportation to get to
25% of the EUs greenhouse gas emissions
work. Over 300 Canada Life employees across the
stem from transportation. To help protect the
country participated in the event in 2022, tracking
environment, Canada Life Germany’s offices
almost 38,000 kilometers on their sustainable
encourage employees to be green commuters
commutes. Their efforts to walk or cycle, take
through their affordable electric bike, or e-bike,
transit or carpool, or telecommute offset nearly
leasing program. E-bikes are a more environmentally
8,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
friendly way to get around and offer excellent
Thats equivalent to the amount of carbon
health and fitness benefits.
sequestered by over 130 tree seedlings grown for
10 years, according to the U.S. EPAs Greenhouse
Gas Equivalencies greenhouse gas equivalencies
calculator.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Our commitment to responsible
management underpins our
approach to ESG. We are building
a resilient business to help drive
sustainable long-term value for all
our stakeholders.
Great-West Lifeco has been
a supporter since 2020
Irish Life Investment
Managers, Putnam
Investments, PanAgora
Asset Management, and
Setanta Asset Management
are signatories
GWLRA, Irish Life IM,
and Canada Life AM (UK)
submit to Global Real Estate
Sustainability Benchmark
(GRESB) – with three
submissions each attaining
‘5-Star’ rankings in 2022 and
GWLRA placing in the top 5%
globally in its peer group
GWLRA maintains more
than 350 green building
certifications under LEED®
and/or BOMA BEST®.
GWLRA also pursues
health and wellness,
accessibility, and inclusive
design certifications from
FitWel®, WELL®, and the
Rick Hansen Foundation,
including for Canada Life’s
head offices.
2022 ESG HIGHLIGHTS
CDP* Score
of A-
The top ranked North American
life insurance company
$127 billion
in ESG-related strategies managed
by Lifeco asset management
affiliates
$6.35+ billion**
Invested in wind, solar,
hydroelectric renewable
energy projects
On track to achieve
50%
women in management
roles by 2030
Making progress
towards achieving
25%
underrepresented groups in
management roles by 2030
* CDP’s (formerly known as Carbon Disclosure Project)
annual environmental disclosure and scoring process is a
widely recognized standard of corporate environmental
transparency and action.
**this figure also includes environmentally-minded
private equity investments such as a sustainable food
and agriculture fund.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
15
Our ESG Journey
Lifeco sets objective to
achieve 50% women
in management
roles by 2030
Lifeco sets objective
to achieve 25%
underrepresented
groups in
management
roles by 2030
Lifeco sets objective to
achieve net zero GHG
emissions by 2050
Canada Life signs
BlackNorth Initiative
Lifeco appoints first
Chief Sustainability
Officer
2020
2021
2022
Lifeco publishes
inaugural ESG KPI
scorecard
Lifeco convenes
Sustainable
Investment Council
chaired by Global CIO
GWLRA ranks 1st
globally in its peer
group by GRESB
Lifeco adopts first Board
& Senior Management
Diversity Policy
GWLRA makes first
GRESB submission,
attaining Green Star
ranking
Lifeco submits
first CDP response
2014
2018
2019
2017
2013
2015
GWLRA publishes
first Global Reporting
Institute (GRI)
annual review
Putnam Investments
debuts first sustainable
funds
Canada Life signs
Winnipeg Indigenous
Accord
Lifeco becomes official
Task Force on Climate-
related Financial
Disclosures (TCFD)
supporter
16
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Canada Life U.K.
attains A2 Moody’s
sustainability rating
Lifeco submits 10th CDP
report & receives A-,
marking the 6th time
Lifeco scores an
A- or higher
U.S. & Canadian
employees given paid-
day off to recognize
Juneteenth & National
Truth & Reconciliation
Day, respectively
Investing in Our Communities
SUPPORTING UKRAINE
& UKRAINIAN REFUGEES
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Great-
West Lifeco’s group of companies have stepped up to
support humanitarian causes in the country in a variety
of ways.
In Europe, Canada Life donated €250,000 supporting
UNICEF’s humanitarian work on the ground in Ukraine
and bordering countries. In Canada, the group of
companies provided over $200,000 to support the
Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.
But the companies support goes beyond financial
donations. For instance, in Europe, war-displaced
families in Germany were invited to join Canada Life
employees and their families for a relaxing summer
picnic day at a local park. And in Canada, a hygiene
product drive across five main offices gathered more
than 70 boxes filled to the brim with soap, toothpaste,
and other necessities, bound for local chapters of the
Ukrainian Canadian Congress to provide to newcomers.
Lifeco contributed to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’ 27th Triennial
Conference which took place in Winnipeg in October. At the congress,
over 400 delegates and guests from Ukrainian Canadian organizations
and communities adopted resolutions that will guide the important
work of the UCC over the next three years.
Photo credit: Norbert K. Iwan
In the last 10 years,
we've contributed
over $150 million to
communities across
Canada, the U.S.,
and Europe.
From reforestation by tree
planting, to blood donation, to
helping secure emergency aid
after crisis and natural disasters,
we’ve been there. Together, we’re
making a positive difference for
our people, our customers, our
communities, and our world.
2022 GIVING HIGHLIGHTS
$16.3 million
Invested by Great-West Lifeco
companies to build community
capacity
675
organizations
Supported across Canada, the
U.S., and Europe
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
17
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) presents management’s view of the financial condition, financial performance and cash
flows of Great-West Lifeco Inc. (Lifeco or the Company) for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 and includes a comparison to
the corresponding periods in 2021, to the three months ended September 30, 2022, and to the Company’s financial condition as at December 31,
2021, as applicable. This MD&A provides an overall discussion, followed by analysis of the performance of Lifeco’s four major reportable
segments: Canada, United States (U.S.), Europe and Capital and Risk Solutions.
Businesses of Lifeco
Lifeco has operations in Canada, the United States and Europe through The Canada Life Assurance Company (Canada Life), Empower Annuity
Insurance Company of America (Empower, formerly known as Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company), Putnam Investments, LLC
(Putnam) and Irish Life Group Limited (Irish Life).
In Canada, Canada Life offers a broad portfolio of financial and benefit plan solutions for individuals, families, businesses and organizations
through two primary business units: Individual Customer and Group Customer. Through the Individual Customer business unit, the Company
provides life, disability and critical illness insurance products as well as wealth savings and income products to individual customers. These
products are distributed through multiple channels: Advisor Solutions, managing general agencies (MGAs), national accounts and Financial
Horizons Group. Through the Group Customer business unit, the Company provides life, accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness,
disability, health and dental protection, creditor insurance as well as retirement savings and income and annuity products and other specialty
products to group clients in Canada. These products are distributed through an extensive network of group sales offices located across the country
through brokers, consultants and financial security advisors.
In the U.S., Empower is a leading provider of employer-sponsored retirement savings plans in the public/non-profit and corporate sectors that
offers saving, investment and advisory services through employer-sponsored plans and individual product solutions. This includes the full-
service retirement services business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential) acquired on April 1, 2022. Personal Capital Corporation (Personal
Capital) is a hybrid wealth manager that combines a leading-edge digital experience with personalized advice. Empower’s products and services
are marketed nationwide through its sales force, brokers, consultants, advisors, third-party administrators and financial institutions. Putnam
provides investment management services and related administrative functions and distribution services, through a broad range of investment
products, including the Putnam Funds, its own family of mutual funds, which are offered to individual and institutional investors.
The Europe segment is comprised of three distinct business units serving customers in the United Kingdom (U.K.), Ireland and Germany, offering
individual and group protection and wealth management products, including payout annuity products, equity release mortgages, pensions and
investments products. The U.K. and Germany business units operate under the Canada Life brand and the Ireland business unit operates under
the Irish Life brand.
The Capital and Risk Solutions segment includes the Reinsurance business unit, which operates primarily in the U.S., Barbados, Bermuda and
Ireland. Reinsurance products are provided through Canada Life and its subsidiaries and include both reinsurance and retrocession business
transacted directly with clients or through reinsurance brokers. As a retrocessionaire, the Company provides reinsurance to other reinsurers to
enable those companies to manage their insurance risk.
Lifeco currently has no other material holdings and carries on no business or activities unrelated to its holdings in Canada Life, Empower,
Putnam, Irish Life and their subsidiaries. However, Lifeco is not restricted to investing in those companies and may make other investments in
the future.
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Accounting Policies
The consolidated financial statements of Lifeco, which are the basis for data presented in this report, have been prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) unless otherwise noted
and are presented in millions of Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Company’s
annual consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2022.
18
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This report contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future
events or conditions, or include words such as “will”, “may”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, “objective”, “target”,
“potential” and other similar expressions or negative versions thereof. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements about the Company’s
operations, business (including business mix), financial condition, expected financial performance (including revenues, earnings or growth rates and medium-
term financial objectives), ongoing business strategies or prospects, climate-related and diversity-related measures, objectives and targets, anticipated global
economic conditions and possible future actions by the Company, including statements made with respect to the expected cost (including deferred consideration),
benefits, timing of integration activities and timing and extent of revenue and expense synergies of acquisitions and divestitures, including but not limited to the
acquisitions of the full-service retirement business of Prudential, Personal Capital and the retirement services business of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance
Company (MassMutual), expected capital management activities and use of capital, estimates of risk sensitivities affecting capital adequacy ratios, expected
dividend levels, expected cost reductions and savings, expected expenditures or investments (including but not limited to investment in technology infrastructure
and digital capabilities and solutions), the timing and completion of the joint venture between Allied Irish Banks plc (AIB) and Canada Life Irish Holding Company
Limited, the impact of regulatory developments on the Company’s business strategy and growth objectives, the expected impact of the ongoing pandemic health
event resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19) and related economic and market impacts on the Company’s business operations, financial results and financial
condition. Forward-looking information also includes, without limitation, statements about the expected impact (or lack of impact) of IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts
and IFRS 9, Financial Instruments on the Company’s business strategy, financial strength, deployable capital, Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT) ratio, base
and net earnings, shareholders’ equity, ratings and leverage ratios.
Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, forecasts, estimates, 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 the Company, economic factors and
the financial services industry generally, including the insurance, mutual fund and retirement solutions 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. Many of
these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
In particular, statements about the expected impact of IFRS 17 on the Company (including statements about the impact on base and net earnings and the Canada
Life Assurance Company LICAT Ratio) are based on the Company’s expected 2023 earnings mix and composition as at the start of 2023, including the reflection of
insurance contract earnings on an IFRS 17 basis and adjusted to reflect fully synergized earnings from the acquisitions of MassMutual and Prudential’s retirement
services businesses, and on current market and economic conditions. Further, the LICAT sensitivities presented in this MD&A have been prepared on the basis of
IFRS 4, Insurance Contracts and IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (IAS 39) and may change on transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9. In all
cases, whether or not actual results differ from forward-looking information may depend on numerous factors, developments and assumptions, including, without
limitation, the severity, magnitude and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of governments’ and
other businesses’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and the Company’s financial results, financial condition and operations), the duration
of COVID-19 impacts and the availability and adoption of vaccines, the effectiveness of vaccines, the emergence of COVID-19 variants, geopolitical tensions
and related economic impacts, assumptions around sales, fee rates, asset breakdowns, lapses, plan contributions, redemptions and market returns, the ability to
integrate the acquisitions of Personal Capital and the retirement services businesses of MassMutual and Prudential, the ability to leverage Empower’s, Personal
Capital’s, MassMutual’s and Prudential’s retirement services businesses and achieve anticipated synergies, customer behaviour (including customer response to
new products), the Company’s reputation, market prices for products provided, sales levels, premium income, fee income, expense levels, mortality experience,
morbidity experience, policy and plan lapse rates, participant net contribution, reinsurance arrangements, liquidity requirements, capital requirements, credit
ratings, taxes, inflation, interest and foreign exchange rates, investment values, hedging activities, global equity and capital markets (including continued access
to equity and debt markets), industry sector and individual debt issuers’ financial conditions (including developments and volatility arising from the COVID-19
pandemic, particularly in certain industries that may comprise part of the Company’s investment portfolio), business competition, impairments of goodwill and
other intangible assets, the Company’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, changes in actuarial standards, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings,
catastrophic events, continuity and availability of personnel and third party service providers, the Company’s ability to complete strategic transactions and integrate
acquisitions, unplanned material changes to the Company’s facilities, customer and employee relations or credit arrangements, levels of administrative and
operational efficiencies, changes in trade organizations, and other general economic, political and market factors in North America and internationally.
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 the Company’s 2022 Annual MD&A under “Risk Management and Control Practices” and “Summary of Critical Accounting
Estimates” and in the Company’s annual information form dated February 8, 2023 under “Risk Factors”, 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 information.
Other than as specifically required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
19
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Important Note Regarding Sustainability Disclosure
Certain forward-looking statements in this report relate to the Company’s climate-related and diversity-related measures, objectives, priorities, strategies and
commitments or actions that will be taken to achieve them. The climate-related statements include statements with respect to reducing the Company’s greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions related to its own activities and energy consumption and achieving net-zero GHG emissions for its operating and financing activities by 2050,
the causes and potential impacts of climate change globally, and the Company’s approach to identifying and managing climate-related risks and opportunities.
The diversity-related statements include statements with respect to growing representation of women and underrepresented minorities in management.
The forward-looking climate-related and diversity-related information in this report is presented for the purpose of assisting our stakeholders in understanding how
we intend to address climate-related governance, strategy, risks, opportunities, and objectives, and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Any commitments, goals or targets discussed in this report, including but not limited to the Company’s net-zero related commitments and diversity-related
measures, are aspirational and may need to be changed or recalibrated as data improve and as climate science, regulatory requirements and market practices
regarding standards, methodologies, metrics and measurements evolve. Our climate risk analysis and net-zero strategy remain under development, and the data
underlying our analysis and strategy remain subject to evolution over time. We are also continuing to develop our diversity-related data. There is a strong possibility
that our expectations, forecasts, estimates, predictions and conclusions may not prove to be accurate and our assumptions may prove to be incorrect, and there is a
material risk we will not achieve our climate-related and diversity-related objectives, priorities, strategies and commitments. In addition, many of the assumptions,
standards, metrics and measurements used in preparing these forward-looking statements are not audited or independently verified, have limited comparability
and continue to evolve.
There are limitations and uncertainties inherent in climate science, climate risk analysis and reporting. There are many factors that are the subject of ongoing climate
science and that we cannot foresee or accurately predict, which will impact the Company’s ability to achieve its climate-related objectives, priorities, strategies and
commitments. There are also many factors which will impact the Company’s ability to achieve its diversity-related objectives, priorities, strategies and commitments.
These factors include, without limitation, the transition to a low-carbon economy, the need for more and better climate data and standardization of climate-
related measurement methodologies, our ability to gather and verify data, our ability to develop indicators to effectively monitor our advancements and assess
and manage climate-related risks, the need for active and continued action by stakeholders (including governmental and non-governmental organizations, our
counterparties and other businesses and individuals), compliance with our policies and procedures, our ability to recruit and retain key personnel in a competitive
environment for talent, technological advancements, the evolution of consumer behaviour, varying decarbonization efforts across economies, the challenges
of balancing emission reduction objectives with an orderly, just and inclusive transition and geopolitical factors that impact global energy needs, the legal and
regulatory environment, and regulatory compliance considerations.
Cautionary Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios
This report contains some non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measures and non-GAAP ratios as defined in National Instrument 52-112
“Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure”. Terms by which non-GAAP financial measures are identified include, but are not limited to, “base earnings
(loss)”, “base earnings (loss) (US$)”, “core net earnings (loss)”, “premiums and deposits”, “assets under management” and “assets under administration”. Terms
by which non-GAAP ratios are identified include, but are not limited to, “base earnings per common share (EPS)”, “base return on equity (ROE)”, “base dividend
payout ratio” and “effective income tax rate – base earnings – common shareholders “. Non-GAAP financial measures and ratios are used to provide management
and investors with additional measures of performance to help assess results where no comparable GAAP (IFRS) measure exists. However, non-GAAP financial
measures and ratios do not have standard meanings prescribed by GAAP (IFRS) and are not directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Refer
to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section in this MD&A for the appropriate reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to measures
prescribed by GAAP as well as additional details on each measure and ratio.
20
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Consolidated Operating Results
Selected consolidated financial information
(in Canadian $ millions, except for per share amounts)
Earnings
Base earnings 1
Net earnings – common shareholders
Per common share
Basic:
Base earnings 2
Net earnings
Diluted net earnings
Dividends paid
Book value 3
Base return on equity 2
Return on equity 3
As at or for the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
892
1,026
$
688
688
$
825
765
$
3,219
3,219
$
3,260
3,128
0.957
1.101
1.100
0.490
26.60
13.6%
13.6%
0.738
0.738
0.738
0.490
25.61
13.5%
12.7%
0.887
0.822
0.820
0.490
24.71
14.6%
14.0%
3.455
3.455
3.452
1.960
3.507
3.365
3.360
1.804
Total net premiums
Total premiums and deposits 1
Fee and other income
Net policyholder benefits, dividends and experience refunds
$
8,544
44,165
1,979
16,193
$
13,921
44,265
1,897
14,162
$
12,989
47,654
1,885
12,241
$
52,821
174,179
7,598
58,132
$
52,813
168,803
7,294
47,252
Total assets per financial statements
Total assets under management 1
Total assets under administration 1,4
Total equity
$ 701,455
1,033,189
2,497,712
32,318
$
$ 672,764
991,905
2,384,273
31,361
$
$ 630,488
1,007,643
2,291,592
30,483
$
The Canada Life Assurance Company consolidated LICAT Ratio 5
120%
118%
124%
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 This metric is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
3 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
4 2021 comparative figures have been restated to include Financial Horizons Group and Excel Private Wealth Inc. assets under administration in the Canada segment.
5 The Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT) Ratio is based on the consolidated results of The Canada Life Assurance Company (Canada Life), Lifeco’s major Canadian operating subsidiary.
The LICAT Ratio is calculated in accordance with the Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions’ Guideline - Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test. Refer to the “Capital Management and
Adequacy” section of this document for additional details.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
21
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Lifeco 2022 Highlights
Financial Performance
• For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, base earnings per common share were $3.455 compared to $3.507 a year ago, reflecting the
Company’s strong performance, against a backdrop of market volatility and elevated inflation, supported by a diversified business portfolio
and operational discipline. 2022 base earnings included a net provision for estimated claims resulting from the impact of Hurricane Ian of
$128 million after-tax in the Capital and Risk Solutions segment. The third quarter of 2021 also included a provision for major weather events
for $61 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, base earnings of $3,219 million were down $41 million or 1% compared to
2021 base earnings of $3,260 million.
• For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, net earnings per common share were $3.455, compared to $3.365 for the previous year, an
increase of 3%. In 2022, in addition to base earnings, Lifeco’s net earnings included transaction, restructuring and integration costs of $180
million compared to $255 million in 2021, primarily related to recent acquisitions in the United States and Europe segments. 2022 net earnings
also included a net positive $84 million impact from tax legislative changes in the Canada segment compared to a net negative impact of
$21 million in the Europe segment in 2021. These items were partially offset by market-related impacts on liabilities of negative $33 million
compared to positive $24 million in 2021.
• The Company maintained its strong capital position as evidenced by a Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT) Ratio at December 31,
2022 of 120% for Canada Life, Lifeco’s major operating subsidiary, which exceeded the OSFI Supervisory Target Total Ratio of 100%, and
Supervisory Minimum Total Ratio of 90%.
• For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, Lifeco’s combined quarterly dividends paid to common shareholders increased by 8.6% to
$1.960 per share.
• The Company’s financial leverage ratio at December 31, 2022 was 34.4% compared to 33.2% in the previous year. The increase was primarily
due to a temporary increase in short-term debt to fund the acquisition of the retirement services business of Prudential and the issuance of
a €500 million senior 4.70% euro bond on November 16, 2022. The Company currently expects to redeem the €500 million senior 2.50% euro
bond at maturity on April 18, 2023, which would reduce pro forma leverage at December 31, 2022 by 1.1%.
Medium-Term Financial Objectives
The Company introduced medium-term financial objectives in 2021, with medium-term defined as 3 to 5 years. The Company aims to create
value through disciplined capital deployment to achieve, over the medium-term, 8-10% base EPS growth per annum, 14-15% base return on
equity (ROE) and to deliver strong cash generation.
Medium-Term Financial Objectives
8-10% base EPS growth per annum 1
14-15% base ROE 1
Target dividend payout ratio 45-55% of base earnings 1
Net Financial Highlights
Net EPS growth per annum
Net ROE
Dividend payout ratio 3
1-Year
Base 1
(1.5)%
13.6%
56.7%
Net
2.7%
13.6%
56.7%
5-Year
Base 1
8.8% CAGR 2
13.1% average
58.3% average
Net
9.7% CAGR
13.5% average
56.7% average
1 This metric is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details. Upon adoption of the IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts
accounting standard effective January 1, 2023, the Company will increase the target range for its base ROE objective to 16-17% reflecting changes to shareholders’ equity on transition.
2 2017 base earnings were calculated by excluding items from net earnings as discussed in the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document. In addition, the Company
excluded earnings related to the business transferred to Protective Life under an indemnity reinsurance agreement in 2019 to provide a more accurate comparison for the 5-year growth rate.
2017 base earnings were $2,244 million and base earnings per share was $2.269 compared to net earnings of $2,149 million and net earnings per share of $2.173. Items excluded from 2017
base earnings included a positive impact on actuarial assumption changes and management actions of $243 million, a negative impact on market-related impacts on liabilities of $3 million,
restructuring and integration costs of $160 million, a net charge on business disposition of $122 million, a net charge on tax legislative impacts of $216 million and $163 million of earnings related
to the business transferred to Protective Life in 2019.
3 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
22
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
2022 Developments
Strategic Highlights and Transactions
The Company announced the following strategic business transactions in the U.S., Canada and Ireland to add scale, grow and extend
their businesses.
United States
On April 1, 2022, a Lifeco subsidiary, Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America (formerly Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company),
which operates primarily as “Empower”, completed the acquisition of the full-service retirement services business of Prudential Financial, Inc.
(Prudential). With the completion of the acquisition, Empower’s reach in the U.S. has expanded to approximately 81,000 workplace savings plans
as of December 31, 2022.
The Company funded the total transaction value of US$3,480 million with US$1,193 million of limited recourse capital notes and US$823 million
of short-term debt, in addition to existing resources.
Empower anticipates realizing cost synergies through the migration of Prudential’s retirement services business onto Empower’s recordkeeping
platform. Estimated run-rate cost synergies of US$180 million are expected to be phased in over 24 months primarily when systems migrations
are completed. As of December 31, 2022, US$43 million of pre-tax run rate cost synergies have been achieved. Revenue synergies of US$20
million are expected on a run-rate basis by the end of 2024 and are expected to grow to US$50 million by 2026.
The Company completed the integration of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company’s retirement business (MassMutual) as of December
31, 2022, and has achieved US$160 million of final pre-tax run rate cost synergies in line with original expectations. In the fourth quarter of 2022
pre-tax run rate cost synergies increased US$59 million pre-tax compared to US$101 million pre-tax as of September 30, 2022. Empower is on
track to achieve run rate revenue synergies of US$30 million pre-tax in 2024 and revenue synergies are expected to continue to grow beyond 2024.
In July 2022, Empower initiated a new brand identity, with the name “Empower” replacing “Empower Retirement”, capturing the essence of the
company’s mission: to increase people’s financial confidence and successfully achieve short and long-term financial wellness goals on their
path to retirement. The change also simplifies customer connections and better represents the company’s expansion into financial wellness. The
Company believes the new public-facing brand name will help to continue to drive business growth as it more accurately reflects its broadening
stature and rapid growth.
Canada
On April 4, 2022, Canada Life and ClaimSecure Inc. (ClaimSecure) launched SecurePak, a bundled offering of Canada Life’s insurance benefits
and ClaimSecure’s health and dental claims adjudication services. SecurePak offers plan sponsors the advantage of modernized claims processing
through ClaimSecure and the security of Canada Life’s pooled products for plans in the small-case market with 25 to 200 plan members.
On October 1, 2022, Plan Member as Customers was rebranded as Freedom Experience. The Company is leveraging this brand by renaming
several direct-to-consumer products distributed by Group Customer with the Freedom Experience brand. A dedicated team will be focused on
distributing these products and bringing the Freedom Experience to Canadians.
Europe
In Q4 2022, Irish Life completed the portfolio transfer of Ark Life Assurance Company dac (Ark Life), which was integrated into Irish Life’s Retail
division effective October 1, 2022. This follows the purchase of Ark Life on November 1, 2021 by Irish Life Group Limited. During the fourth
quarter of 2022, Ark Life changed its legal name to Irish Life Ark Dublin dac.
Capital Transactions
On November 16, 2022, the Company completed the offering of €500 million senior 4.70% euro bonds maturing on November 16, 2029. Net
proceeds of the transaction are being used for general corporate purposes.
On March 30, 2022, Great-West Lifeco U.S. LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, established a 2-year US$500 million non-revolving credit facility
with interest on the drawn balance equal to a float rate based on the Adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR). The facility
is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. The $645 million (US$500 million) facility was fully drawn, along with $416 million
(US$323 million) from an existing revolving credit facility to finance a portion of the Prudential retirement service business acquisition on
the acquisition date.
On July 1, 2022, Great-West Lifeco U.S. LLC made an initial payment of US$150 million on its existing revolving credit facility, followed by a final
payment of US$173 million on December 30, 2022. As at December 31, 2022, the $675 million (US$500 million) facility remained fully drawn and
the existing revolving credit facility balance was nil.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
23
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Macroenvironmental Risks
While governments in different regions have now moved to ease COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, many factors continue to extend economic
uncertainty. Global financial markets continue to be volatile, in part due to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and the related sanctions. This
volatility has contributed to global supply chain disruptions and in turn, elevated levels of inflation, prompting central banks to raise interest
rates in response in many of the countries in which the Company operates.
The outlook for financial and real estate markets over the short and medium-term remains highly uncertain and the Company actively monitors
events and information globally. To date, net impacts have been modest, reflecting the Company’s diversified business and portfolio investments.
The Company continues to manage risks of changes to mortality and longevity rates as well as to monitor financial market conditions and
heightened cyber and global supply chain risks which could negatively affect the Company’s financial outlook, results and operations.
The Company’s well-diversified businesses, combined with business strength, resilience and experience managing through market volatility,
puts the Company in a strong position in the current environment to leverage opportunities for the future. Lifeco’s strategies are resilient and
flexible, positioning the Company to navigate current market conditions and continue to identify and pursue opportunities, including organic
growth and acquisition activities, while supporting customers and employees in an evolving environment.
Update on Transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9
As noted in the “Accounting Policies” section of this document, IFRS 17, Insurance Contracts (IFRS 17) has replaced IFRS 4, Insurance Contracts
(IFRS 4) effective January 1, 2023. While the new standard will change the recognition and measurement of insurance contracts and the
corresponding presentation and disclosures in the Company’s financial statements, it is not expected to have a material financial impact or
to change the Company’s underlying business strategy. IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (IFRS 9) has replaced IAS 39, Financial Instruments:
Recognition and Measurement effective January 1, 2023, and is not expected to lead to a material change in the level of invested assets. Upon
adoption of IFRS 17 and IFRS 9, the Company expects an increase in net earnings volatility.
The Company will report under the new standards for the first time for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The Company continues to evaluate the
impact of the adoption of these standards. Based on analysis to date, the expected impacts of the adoption of IFRS 17 include:
• Businesses now representing approximately 65% of base earnings 1,2 are expected to experience limited or no impact;
• The January 1, 2022 shareholders’ equity is expected to decrease by approximately 12% on the adoption of IFRS 17 on January 1, 2023 in line
with original expectations, primarily due to the establishment of the contractual service margin (CSM), partially offset by the removal of
provisions no longer required under IFRS 17;
• The CSM established for in-force contracts as at January 1, 2022 was $6.3 billion associated with the shareholders’ account and $2.3 billion
associated with the participating account. This does not include the CSM on in-force segregated fund business which does not have a material
impact on capital or opening equity;
• Low-single digit percentage decrease in proforma base earnings 1,2 is expected as a result of transition with no material change to base earnings
trajectory; however, increased volatility in net earnings is expected driven by the de-linking of asset and liability measurement. Actual
differences between IFRS 4 and IFRS 17 results in any given period will vary depending on the composition of earnings drivers;
• Medium-term financial objectives for base EPS 3 growth and base dividend payout ratio 3 remain unchanged;
• Medium-term financial objective for base ROE 3 is increased by 2% to 16-17% reflecting the change in shareholders’ equity; and
• Financial strength will be maintained and a positive impact of approximately 10 points to the March 31, 2023 Canada Life consolidated LICAT
Ratio is expected 4 based on the 2023 LICAT Guideline and current market and economic conditions.
1
This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 Proforma base and net earnings are calculated based on the expected 2023 earnings mix and composition as at the start of 2023, including the reflection of insurance contract earnings on an
IFRS 17 basis and adjusted to reflect fully synergized earnings from the acquisitions of MassMutual’s and Prudential’s retirement services businesses. Many of these estimates and assumptions
are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company’s management and there is no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Refer to “Cautionary Note regarding
Forward-looking Information” and “Cautionary Note regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the beginning of this document.
3 This metric is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
4 Actual impact will depend on market and economic conditions and the Company’s operating results at the time of transition.
24
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Outlook for 2023
Refer to Cautionary Note regarding Forward-looking Information and Cautionary Note regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios at
the beginning of this document.
In 2022, Lifeco’s solid results, despite challenging market conditions, reflected the resilience of its diversified business portfolio and focus on
operational efficiency. In 2023, Lifeco will continue to center its efforts on managing current challenges and adapting to an uncertain environment.
Focused on the customer and leveraging its risk and investment expertise, Lifeco will continue to make disciplined choices consistent with
its four value-creation priorities to drive growth across its business portfolio. The priorities represent areas of strength where the Company is
committed to investing to create shareholder value:
• Continue to scale and leverage millions of customer relationships to capture value through advice-based wealth and insurance solutions;
• Deliver efficient and effective advice, solutions and service for customers through multiple digitally-enabled channels;
• Extend workplace participant relationships into lifetime customer relationships through hybrid advice, solutions and services; and
• Leverage risk and investment expertise to enable and augment wealth and insurance solutions.
The Company intends to invest strategically, both organically and through acquisitions, to drive growth and productivity, while maintaining
strong risk and expense discipline, to deliver sustainable long-term value to its customers and shareholders.
With the acquisitions announced and completed in 2021 and 2022, the Company will continue to focus on completing and integrating acquisitions
to enhance the customer experience and realize target synergies to maximize contributions to earnings in 2023.
In 2023, the Company will continue to expand its analytical capabilities following the successful implementation of accounting changes related
to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9, which are effective on January 1, 2023.
In Canada, the Company will continue to leverage the strength of the Canada Life brand to develop innovative products and services, broaden
and deepen its distribution channels and ultimately, better serve its customers. Specifically, in its Individual Customer business, Canada Life
will continue to advance on its strong advisor value proposition across all channels with a comprehensive range of individual insurance and
individual wealth management products, ensuring the best tools and strategies are in place to drive long-term financial security for its customers.
In its Group Customer business, Canada Life will continue to invest in new digital capabilities and innovative benefits solutions, driving enhanced
personalization and insights for its clients and their plan members, while improving efficiency and customer service. Group Customer plans to
capitalize on its recent acquisition of ClaimSecure and leverage newly acquired capabilities to offer an enhanced product shelf as well as grow
in the third party administrator business segment. Operational resiliency and disciplined expense management across Canada Life’s diversified
portfolio of products and services will also be key to delivering strong financial results in 2023 in Canada.
In the U.S., Empower expects continued investments in improving customer web experiences, including adding innovative capabilities and ease
of service products with the aim of increasing customer retention and ultimately increasing participant retirement savings by helping customers
better understand their current financial needs through financial advice and goal setting. Empower also expects continued growth in retail
by leveraging the capabilities of Personal Capital to deliver hybrid digital advice and wealth management solutions to drive increased retail
penetration. Similar to the recent Personal Capital and MassMutual business acquisitions, additional cost synergies related to Prudential are
anticipated to be realized throughout 2023 and the first half of 2024 as the migration of Prudential’s retirement services business onto Empower’s
recordkeeping platform continues. Putnam is focused on innovative product and service offerings to drive strong investment performance and
enhanced brand recognition while managing firm-wide expenses, as it seeks to further build a scalable and profitable asset management franchise.
In the United Kingdom (U.K.), the Company is focusing on the growing retirement market by developing solutions for individuals who require
additional pension flexibility and further develop its presence in the bulk annuity market. In Ireland, the focus will be on strengthening positions
in the wealth and employee benefits consulting markets following recent acquisitions in 2020 and 2021 and leveraging technology to enhance the
customer experience. In Germany, the Company plans to grow its assets under management and market share through the continued investment
and innovation in product development, service enhancement and distribution.
In Capital and Risk Solutions, the Reinsurance business unit will continue to support its clients in existing markets and explore opportunities in
new geographies where the Company’s innovative reinsurance solutions can be deployed to support clients’ evolving needs.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
25
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Base and Net Earnings
Consolidated base earnings and net earnings of Lifeco include the base earnings and net earnings of Canada Life (and its operating subsidiaries),
Empower and Putnam, together with Lifeco’s Corporate operating results.
Base earnings 1 and net earnings – common shareholders
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Base earnings (loss) 1
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Lifeco Corporate
Lifeco base earnings 1
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions 2
Market-related impacts on liabilities 2
Transaction costs related to acquisitions 3
Restructuring and integration costs
Tax legislative changes impact
Net gain/charge on business dispositions 4
$
$
$
$
$
$
295
185
239
187
(14)
892
49
38
(5)
(32)
84
–
$
$
$
283
204
200
1
–
688
68
(45)
20
(43)
–
–
Items excluded from Lifeco base earnings
$
134
$
–
$
Net earnings (loss) – common shareholders
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Lifeco Corporate
$
$
380
162
287
211
(14)
Lifeco net earnings – common shareholders
$
1,026
$
160
164
249
115
–
688
$
$
317
156
213
145
(6)
825
23
20
(74)
(15)
–
(14)
(60)
307
92
239
133
(6)
765
$
1,146
652
892
532
(3)
$
1,220
671
830
547
(8)
$
3,219
$
3,260
$
$
$
$
129
(33)
(49)
(131)
84
–
–
$
$
1,116
460
984
662
(3)
134
24
(189)
(66)
(21)
(14)
(132)
1,187
499
976
532
(66)
$
3,219
$
3,128
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
3 The transaction costs relate to acquisitions in the U.S. segment (the full-service retirement business of Prudential, Personal Capital and the retirement services business of MassMutual) as well as
acquisitions in the Europe segment. In addition, the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 included a provision for payments relating to the Company’s acquisition of Canada Life.
4 For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021, net gain/charge on business dispositions includes a $14 million net charge on business disposition in the Europe Corporate business unit.
The information in the table above is a summary of results for base and net earnings of the Company. Additional commentary regarding base and
net earnings is included in the “Segmented Operating Results” section.
Base earnings
Base earnings for the fourth quarter of 2022 of $892 million ($0.957 per common share) increased by $67 million or 8% from $825 million ($0.887
per common share) a year ago. The increase was primarily due to strong new business growth and favourable longevity and improved claims
experience on the U.S. life business in the Capital and Risk Solutions segment, Prudential related base earnings of $64 million (US$47 million) as
well as favourable investment and longevity experience in the Europe segment. The increase was partially offset by lower fee income driven by
lower assets as well as less favourable mortality and investment experience in the Canada segment.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, Lifeco’s base earnings were $3,219 million ($3.455 per common share) compared to $3,260
million ($3.507 per common share) a year ago. The decrease was primarily due to lower fee income driven by lower assets, negative currency
movement impacts, less favourable mortality, morbidity and investment experience in the Canada segment and the net provision for estimated
claims resulting from the impact of Hurricane Ian of $128 million after-tax in the Capital and Risk Solutions segment. These items were partially
offset by changes in certain tax estimates and higher earnings on surplus in the Canada segment, favourable investment and mortality experience
in the Europe segment and base earnings related to the Prudential acquisition in the U.S. segment.
26
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Net earnings
Lifeco’s net earnings for the three month period ended December 31, 2022 of $1,026 million ($1.101 per common share) increased by $261
million or 34% compared to $765 million ($0.822 per common share) a year ago. The increase was primarily due to an increase in base
earnings as well as more favourable market-related impacts on liabilities and actuarial assumption changes. In addition, the Company had
a net favourable impact of revaluation of net deferred tax assets and actuarial liabilities resulting from an increase to the Canadian federal
corporation tax rate substantively enacted during the fourth quarter of 2022. These items were partially offset by higher restructuring and
integration costs in the U.S. segment.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, Lifeco’s net earnings were $3,219 million ($3.455 per common share) compared to $3,128
million ($3.365 per common share) a year ago. The 3% increase was primarily due to lower Personal Capital transaction costs as well as the net
favourable impact of revaluation of net deferred tax assets and actuarial liabilities discussed for the in-quarter results. The increase was partially
offset by lower base earnings, negative currency movement impacts as well as unfavourable market-related impacts on liabilities driven by
property cash flows in the Europe segment as well as market volatility resulting in hedge ineffectiveness.
Lifeco’s net earnings for the three month period ended December 31, 2022 of $1,026 million ($1.101 per common share) increased by $338
million or 49% compared to $688 million ($0.738 per common share) in the previous quarter. Net earnings for the third quarter of 2022 included a
net provision for estimated claims resulting from the impact of Hurricane Ian of $128 million after-tax in the Capital and Risk Solutions segment.
The increase also reflects new business growth in the Capital and Risk Solutions segment, changes in certain tax estimates in the Canada segment
as well as favourable market-related impacts on liabilities.
Actuarial Assumption Changes and Other Management Actions
The impact of actuarial assumption changes resulting from an increase to the Canadian statutory income tax rate is reported under ‘Tax legislative
changes impact’ within items excluded from base earnings.
For the three months ended December 31, 2022, other actuarial assumption changes and other management actions resulted in a positive net
earnings impact of $49 million. This compares to a positive impact of $23 million for the same quarter last year and a positive impact of $68
million for the previous quarter.
In the Europe segment, net earnings were positively impacted by $37 million, primarily due to management actions including the completion
of the Ark Life acquisition and integration in Ireland. In the Capital and Risk Solutions segment, net earnings were positively impacted by $10
million, primarily due to updated annuitant mortality assumptions, partially offset by updated expense assumptions. In the Canada segment,
there were no material updates other than the changes related to the Canadian tax rate.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, other actuarial assumption changes and management actions resulted in a positive net
earnings impact of $129 million, compared to positive $134 million for the same period in 2021.
In the Capital and Risk Solutions segment, net earnings were positively impacted by $129 million for the twelve months ended December 31,
2022, primarily due to updated annuitant mortality assumptions, partly offset by updated life mortality and expense assumptions. In the Europe
segment, net earnings were positively impacted by $117 million, primarily due to updated annuitant mortality assumptions and management
actions including the completion of the Ark Life acquisition and integration in Ireland. In the Canada segment, net earnings were negatively
impacted by $117 million, primarily due to updated policyholder behaviour assumptions, partially offset by updated life mortality assumptions
and model refinements.
Market-Related Impacts
In the regions where the Company operates, average equity market indices for the three months ended December 31, 2022 were down by 16%
in the U.S. (as measured by S&P 500), 11% in broader Europe (as measured by EURO STOXX 50), 7% in Canada (as measured by S&P TSX) and
consistent in the U.K. (as measured by FTSE 100) compared to the same period in 2021. The major equity indices finished the fourth quarter of
2022 up 14% in broader Europe, 8% in the U.K., 7% in the U.S. and 5% in Canada compared to September 30, 2022. For the twelve months ended
December 31, 2022, average equity market levels were lower in the U.S., broader Europe, Canada and remained consistent in the U.K. compared
to the same period in 2021.
Market-related impacts on liabilities positively impacted net earnings by $38 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 (positive impact of $20 million
in the fourth quarter of 2021), primarily reflecting the impact of equity markets and interest rate movements on the value of segregated fund and
variable annuity guarantees, including hedge ineffectiveness, partially offset by the impact of updated cash flow projections for real estate which
support insurance contract liabilities in the Europe segment.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, market-related impacts on liabilities negatively impacted net earnings by $33 million (positive
impact of $24 million in 2021). The 2022 year-to-date negative impact was primarily due to the negative impact of equity markets and interest rate
movements on the value of segregated fund and variable annuity guarantees, including hedge ineffectiveness.
In countries where the Company operates, interest rates increased during 2022, resulting in a modest positive impact on net earnings reflecting
higher income on surplus assets, partially offset by lower fees on fixed income products. In order to mitigate the Company’s exposure to interest
rate fluctuations, the Company follows disciplined processes for matching asset and liability cash flows. As a result, the impact of changing
interest rates is mostly mitigated in the current period, with the impact of changes in fair values of bonds backing insurance contract liabilities
mostly offset by a corresponding change in the insurance contract liabilities.
For a further description of the Company’s sensitivity to equity market and interest rate fluctuations, including expanded sensitivity disclosure
as a result of current market conditions, refer to “Financial Instruments Risk Management”, note 8 to the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual
consolidated financial statements.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
27
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Foreign Currency
The average currency translation rate for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased for the U.S. dollar and decreased for the British pound and the euro
compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. The overall impact of currency movement on the Company’s net earnings for the three months ended
December 31, 2022 was a decrease of $4 million (decrease of $95 million year-to-date) compared to translation rates a year ago.
From September 30, 2022 to December 31, 2022, the market rates at the end of the reporting period used to translate the U.S. dollar assets and
liabilities to the Canadian dollar decreased, while the euro and British pound increased. The movements in end-of-period exchange rates impact
the translation of foreign operations, including related hedge activities, resulting in post-tax unrealized foreign exchange gains of $183 million
in-quarter ($613 million net unrealized gains year-to-date) recorded in other comprehensive income.
Translation rates for the reporting period and comparative periods are detailed in the “Translation of Foreign Currency” section.
Credit Markets
Credit markets impact on common shareholders’ net earnings (after-tax)
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total
Total
Impairment
(charges) /
recoveries
Changes in
provisions
for future
credit losses 1
Total
Impairment
(charges) /
recoveries
Changes in
provisions
for future
credit losses 1
Total
For the three months ended December 31, 2022
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022
$
$
$
(1)
(11)
(2)
–
(14)
$
$
1
–
2
–
3
$
$
–
(11)
–
–
(11)
$
$
(1)
(12)
(5)
–
(18)
$
$
2
11
–
(1)
12
$
$
1
(1)
(5)
(1)
(6)
For the three months ended December 31, 2021
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021
(2)
$
3
$
1
$
(14)
$
(6)
$
(20)
1
Impact of changes in credit ratings in the Company’s fixed income portfolio on provisions for future credit losses in insurance contract liabilities.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company experienced net charges on impaired investments, including dispositions, which negatively impacted
common shareholders’ net earnings by $14 million ($2 million net negative impact in the fourth quarter of 2021), primarily due to charges on
impaired commercial mortgages. Net charges on impaired investments reflect net allowances for credit losses included in net investment income
and the associated release of actuarial provisions for future credit losses, as applicable. Separately, related to non-impaired invested assets,
changes in credit ratings in the Company’s fixed income portfolio resulted in a net decrease in provisions for future credit losses in insurance
contract liabilities, which positively impacted common shareholders’ net earnings by $3 million ($3 million positive impact in the fourth quarter
of 2021), primarily due to upgrades of certain corporate bond and commercial mortgage holdings.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, the Company experienced net charges on impaired investments, including dispositions, which
negatively impacted common shareholders’ net earnings by $18 million ($14 million net negative impact in 2021), primarily due to the same
reasons discussed for the in-quarter results. Separately, related to non-impaired invested assets, changes in credit ratings in the Company’s
fixed income portfolio resulted in a net decrease in provisions for future credit losses in insurance contract liabilities, which positively impacted
common shareholders’ net earnings by $12 million year-to-date ($6 million net negative impact in 2021), primarily due to the same reasons
discussed for the in-quarter results.
There could be negative impacts from downgrades in future periods resulting from certain economies that are materially affected by inflationary
pressures or geopolitical tensions.
28
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Income Taxes
The Company’s effective income tax rate on earnings attributable to common shareholders and total Lifeco earnings are presented below.
Effective income tax rate
Base earnings – Common shareholders 1
Net earnings – Common shareholders
Net earnings – Total Lifeco
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
11.6%
7.7%
9.9%
6.4%
(3.3)%
1.5%
9.4%
9.8%
3.8%
9.6%
5.9%
6.2%
9.5 %
9.9 %
7.9 %
1 This metric is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
The Company’s effective income tax rates are generally lower than the statutory income tax rate of 27.5% due to benefits related to non-taxable
investment income and lower income tax in certain foreign jurisdictions.
A Canadian federal corporate income tax rate change, enacted in 2022 (effective after April 7, 2022), increased the statutory income tax rate from
26.5% to 28.0% (prorated to 27.5% in 2022).
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the effective income tax rate on base earnings for the common shareholders of 11.6% was up from 9.4% in the fourth
quarter of 2021, primarily due to changes in certain tax estimates. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the effective income tax rate on net earnings for
the common shareholders of 7.7% was down from 9.8% in the fourth quarter of 2021, primarily due to the revaluation of a net deferred tax asset
resulting from the increase to the Canadian statutory income tax rate as well as jurisdictional mix of earnings. These items were partially offset
by changes in certain tax estimates.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the overall effective income tax rate on net earnings of 9.9%, was up from 3.8% in the fourth quarter of 2021, primarily
due to changes in certain tax estimates as well as the revaluation of a net deferred tax liability resulting from the increase to the Canadian
statutory income tax rate.
The Company had an effective income tax rate on base earnings for the common shareholders of 9.6% for the twelve months ended December 31,
2022, which was comparable to 9.5% for the same period last year. The Company had an effective income tax rate on net earnings for the common
shareholders of 5.9%, down from 9.9% for the same period last year, primarily due to the revaluation of a net deferred tax asset resulting from the
increase to the Canadian statutory income tax rate, as well as jurisdictional mix of earnings.
The Company had an overall effective income tax rate on net earnings of 6.2% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, down from 7.9%
for the same period last year, primarily due to jurisdictional mix of earnings and changes in certain tax estimates.
Refer to note 26 to the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for further details.
In December 2021, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published model rules outlining a structure for
a new global minimum tax regime to be implemented by all participating countries at an agreed future date, currently expected to be 2024.
Detailed commentary on the rules was released by the OECD during 2022. The Canadian government confirmed its commitment to implement
the global minimum tax, with implementation, including timing, to be coordinated with international partners. Canadian legislation is expected
in 2023. In December 2022, the European Union adopted a directive that member countries must enact the 15% minimum tax into their national
laws by end of 2023 . The U.K. plans to implement the minimum tax effective for 2024. At this point, the countries where the Company currently
operates have all indicated their participation; however, none have implemented legislation. A number of these countries currently operate at a
lower tax rate than the proposed minimum, and when legislation is enacted the Company expects an increase in the effective income tax rate.
The Company is awaiting the legislation and detailed guidance to assess the full implications in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates.
The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, signed into law in August 2022 and effective January 1, 2023, introduced a 15% corporate alternative
minimum tax on financial statement income. While it is expected that this tax will advance cash tax payments, the Company does not expect
there will be any impact on its overall effective income tax rate.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
29
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Total Net Premiums, Premiums and Deposits and Sales
Total net premiums
Canada
United States 1
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total net premiums
Premiums and deposits 2
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total premiums and deposits 2
Sales 3,4
Canada
United States
Europe
Total sales 3,4
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
4,582
(5,515)
1,025
8,452
$
3,597
2,327
786
7,211
$
4,114
611
1,042
7,222
$
15,103
2,025
3,962
31,731
$
13,900
4,518
4,862
29,533
$
8,544
$
13,921
$
12,989
$
52,821
$
52,813
$
8,212
20,249
7,252
8,452
$
7,136
22,957
6,961
7,211
$
7,918
24,932
7,582
7,222
$
30,727
82,099
29,622
31,731
$
29,357
79,896
30,017
29,533
$
44,165
$
44,265
$
47,654
$ 174,179
$ 168,803
$
4,029
40,278
6,438
$
3,087
35,854
6,582
$
4,881
40,104
6,493
$
14,639
165,268
27,280
$
16,425
204,584
26,613
$
50,745
$
45,523
$
51,478
$ 207,187
$ 247,622
1 On December 31, 2022, Empower completed two separate agreements to cede, via indemnity reinsurance, insurance contract liabilities to a non-related party. As a result of the transaction,
the Company recognized an increase of $8,005 million to ceded premiums, as well as a decrease of $8,005 million to total paid or credited to policyholders. Refer to note 3(d) of the Company’s
December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for further details.
2 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
3 Sales is not a relevant measure for the Capital and Risk Solutions segment due to the nature of operations.
4 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
The information in the table above is a summary of results for the Company’s total net premiums, premiums and deposits and sales. Additional
commentary regarding total net premiums and sales is included, as applicable, in the “Segmented Operating Results” section.
Net Investment Income
Investment income earned (net of investment properties expenses)
Net Allowances for credit losses on loans and receivables
Net realized gains (losses)
Regular investment income
Investment expenses
Regular net investment income
Changes in fair value through profit or loss
Total net investment income
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
2,327
(20)
(56)
2,251
(75)
2,176
1,373
$
2,262
(11)
(1)
2,250
(54)
2,196
(5,642)
$
1,647
(2)
42
1,687
(50)
1,637
1,611
$
8,489
(42)
(58)
8,389
(243)
8,146
(23,903)
$
6,481
(30)
139
6,590
(197)
6,393
(2,083)
$
3,549
$
(3,446)
$
3,248
$
(15,757)
$
4,310
30
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Total net investment income in the fourth quarter of 2022 increased by $301 million compared to the same quarter last year. The changes in fair
value in the fourth quarter of 2022 were an increase of $1,373 million compared to $1,611 million for the fourth quarter of 2021. In the fourth
quarter of 2022, the net increase to fair values was primarily due to a decline in U.S. and U.K. corporate bond yields. In the fourth quarter of 2021,
the net increase to fair values was primarily due to a decline in bond yields across all geographies and an increase in Canadian equity markets.
Regular net investment income in the fourth quarter of 2022 of $2,176 million increased by $539 million compared to the same quarter last year.
The increase was primarily due to income earned on bonds and mortgages acquired through the Prudential acquisition, partially offset by lower
net realized gains. Net realized gains (losses) include losses on available-for-sale securities of $29 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 compared
to gains of $8 million for the same quarter last year.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, total net investment income decreased by $20,067 million compared to the same period last
year. The changes in fair value for the twelve month period in 2022 were a decrease of $23,903 million compared to $2,083 million during the same
period in 2021. The changes in fair value were primarily due to a greater increase in bond yields across all geographies driven by higher interest
rates resulting from elevated inflation and also due to a decline in the Canadian equity markets over the year, compared to a smaller increase in
bond yields across all geographies, partially offset by an increase in Canadian equity markets in 2021.
Regular net investment income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 of $8,146 million increased by $1,753 million compared to the
same period last year. The increase was primarily due to the same reasons discussed for the in-quarter results. Net realized gains (losses) include
losses on available-for-sale securities of $44 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 compared to gains of $27 million for the
same period last year.
Fee and Other Income
In addition to providing traditional risk-based insurance products, the Company also provides certain products on a fee-for-service basis. The
most significant of these products are segregated funds and mutual funds, for which the Company earns investment management fees on assets
managed and other fees, as well as administrative services only (ASO) contracts, under which the Company provides group benefit plan
administration on a cost-plus basis.
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Canada
Segregated funds, mutual funds and other
Administrative services only (ASO) contracts
United States
$
$
425
67
492
427
63
490
$
Segregated funds, mutual funds and other
1,156
1,095
452
69
521
998
364
2
$
1,725
263
1,988
4,271
1,334
5
$
1,765
226
1,991
3,880
1,415
8
328
3
312
–
$
1,979
$
1,897
$
1,885
$
7,598
$
7,294
Europe
Segregated funds, mutual funds and other
Capital and Risk Solutions
Reinsurance and other
Total fee and other income
The information in the table above is a summary of gross fee and other income for the Company. Additional commentary regarding fee and other
income is included, as applicable, in the “Segmented Operating Results” section.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
31
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Net Policyholder Benefits, Dividends and Experience Refunds
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
3,190
4,140
1,022
7,841
$
2,561
3,687
765
7,149
$
2,522
1,654
1,000
7,065
$
10,608
13,472
3,518
30,534
$
10,171
7,310
3,909
25,862
$
16,193
$
14,162
$
12,241
$
58,132
$
47,252
Net policyholder benefits, dividends and experience refunds include life and health claims, policy surrenders, maturities, annuity payments,
segregated fund guarantee payments, policyholder dividends and experience refund payments. The amounts do not include payments for ASO
contracts, segregated funds or mutual funds.
For the three months ended December 31, 2022, net policyholder benefits, dividends and experience refunds were $16.2 billion, an increase of
$4.0 billion from the same quarter last year, driven by higher net policyholder benefits. The increase in net policyholder benefits was primarily
due to the addition of the Prudential business in the U.S. segment as well as new reinsurance agreements and volume changes relating to existing
business in the Capital and Risk Solutions segment. The increase was partially offset by lower surrenders in the U.S. segment.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, net policyholder benefits, dividends and experience refunds were $58.1 billion, an increase of
$10.9 billion from the same period last year, driven by higher net policyholder benefits. The increase in net policyholder benefits was primarily
due to the same reasons discussed for the in-quarter results.
Other Benefits and Expenses
Operating and administrative expenses
Commissions
Premium taxes
Amortization of finite life intangible assets and impairment reversal
Financing charges
Restructuring and integration expenses
Total
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
1,943
715
139
93
114
43
$
1,711
628
123
101
98
58
$
1,688
717
134
89
89
21
$
7,109
2,675
497
373
398
178
$
6,337
2,664
500
336
328
90
$
3,047
$
2,719
$
2,738
$
11,230
$
10,255
Other benefits and expenses for the fourth quarter of 2022 of $3,047 million increased by $309 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2021,
primarily due to higher operating and administrative expenses. The fourth quarter of 2022 included Prudential operating and administrative
expenses of $211 million. In addition, higher operating and administrative expenses were due to business growth at Empower.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, other benefits and expenses increased by $975 million to $11,230 million compared to
the same period last year, primarily due to higher operating and administrative expenses as discussed for the in-quarter results. The twelve
months ended December 31, 2022 included Prudential operating and administrative expenses of $604 million. In addition, restructuring and
integration expenses increased compared to the same period last year, primarily due to the acquisition of Prudential. The Company completed
the integrations of Personal Capital and MassMutual during the fourth quarter of 2022.
32
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Consolidated Financial Position
Assets
Assets under administration 1
December 31, 2022
Assets
Invested assets
Goodwill and intangible assets
Other assets
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders
Total assets
Other assets under management 2
Total assets under management 1
Other assets under administration 2
Total assets under administration 1
December 31, 2021
Assets
Invested assets
Goodwill and intangible assets
Other assets
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders
Total assets
Other assets under management 2
Total assets under management 1
Other assets under administration 2,3
Total assets under administration 1,3
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
$
90,751
5,794
4,721
93,816
195,082
4,057
199,139
26,344
$
98,929
7,966
37,584
166,274
310,753
277,138
587,891
1,426,834
$
39,420
3,053
8,994
127,807
179,274
50,539
229,813
11,345
$
8,738
–
7,608
–
16,346
–
16,346
–
$ 237,838
16,813
58,907
387,897
701,455
331,734
1,033,189
1,464,523
$ 225,483
$ 2,014,725
$ 241,158
$
16,346
$ 2,497,712
$
92,400
5,722
4,323
101,537
203,982
5,742
209,724
29,615
$
55,376
5,826
30,090
116,919
208,211
310,933
519,144
1,241,974
$
48,669
3,047
10,220
138,963
200,899
60,480
261,379
12,360
$
9,359
–
8,037
–
17,396
–
17,396
–
$ 205,804
14,595
52,670
357,419
630,488
377,155
1,007,643
1,283,949
$ 239,339
$ 1,761,118
$ 273,739
$
17,396
$ 2,291,592
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
3 2021 comparative figures have been restated to include Financial Horizons Group and Excel Private Wealth Inc. assets under administration in the Canada segment.
Total assets under administration (AUA) at December 31, 2022 increased by $206.1 billion to $2.5 trillion compared to December 31, 2021, due to
the Prudential acquisition during the second quarter of 2022 as well as the impact of currency movement in the U.S. segment. These items were
partially offset by the impacts of lower equity market levels, higher interest rates and the impact of currency movement in the Europe segment.
The Prudential acquisition added $119 billion in total assets, $1 billion in other assets under management and $267 billion in other assets under
administration to the U.S. segment as at December 31, 2022.
For additional details on assets acquired through business acquisitions, refer to “Business Acquisitions and Other Transactions”, note 3 in the
Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements.
Invested Assets
The Company manages its general fund assets to support the cash flow, liquidity and profitability requirements of the Company’s insurance
and investment products. The Company’s investment policies are designed to be prudent and conservative, so that assets are not unduly
exposed to concentration, credit or market risks. Within the framework of the Company’s policies, the Company implements strategies and
reviews and adjusts them on an ongoing basis considering liability cash flows and capital market conditions. The majority of investments of
the general fund are in medium-term and long-term fixed-income investments, primarily bonds and mortgages, reflecting the characteristics
of the Company’s liabilities.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
33
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Invested asset distribution
December 31, 2022
Bonds
Government & related
Corporate & other
Sub-total bonds
Mortgages
Stocks
Investment properties
Sub-total portfolio investments
Cash and cash equivalents
Loans to policyholders
Total invested assets
December 31, 2021
Bonds
Government & related
Corporate & other
Sub-total bonds
Mortgages
Stocks
Investment properties
Sub-total portfolio investments
Cash and cash equivalents
Loans to policyholders
Total invested assets
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
$
19,936
30,848
50,784
17,106
12,400
5,759
86,049
1,444
3,258
$
4,901
67,668
72,569
15,955
1,378
33
89,935
3,561
5,433
$
14,621
13,852
28,473
6,105
490
2,552
37,620
1,798
2
$
4,011
3,750
7,761
363
–
–
8,124
487
127
$
43,469
116,118
159,587
39,529
14,268
8,344
221,728
7,290
8,820
18%
49
67
17
6
3
93
3
4
$
90,751
$
98,929
$
39,420
$
8,738
$ 237,838
100%
$
21,863
31,409
53,272
16,703
13,036
4,913
87,924
1,392
3,084
$
4,313
36,515
40,828
6,170
673
8
47,679
2,581
5,116
$
19,411
18,265
37,676
5,891
474
2,842
46,883
1,784
2
$
5,289
3,547
8,836
88
–
–
8,924
318
117
$
50,876
89,736
140,612
28,852
14,183
7,763
191,410
6,075
8,319
25%
43
68
14
7
4
93
3
4
$
92,400
$
55,376
$
48,669
$
9,359
$ 205,804
100%
At December 31, 2022, total invested assets were $237.8 billion, an increase of $32.0 billion from December 31, 2021. The increase in invested
assets was primarily due to bonds and mortgages acquired through the Prudential acquisition, partially offset by a decline in the fair value of
bonds resulting from an increase in bond yields across all geographies. The distribution of assets has not changed significantly and remains
heavily weighted to bonds and mortgages.
Bond portfolio – It is the Company’s policy to acquire primarily investment grade bonds subject to prudent and well-defined investment policies.
Modest investments in below investment grade rated securities may occur while not changing the overall discipline and conservative approach to
the investment strategy. The total bond portfolio, including short-term investments, was $159.6 billion or 67% of invested assets at December 31,
2022 compared to $140.6 billion or 68% at December 31, 2021. The increase in the bond portfolio was primarily due to bonds acquired through
the Prudential acquisition, partially offset by a decline in fair values resulting from an increase in bond yields across all geographies. The overall
quality of the bond portfolio remained high, with 99% of the portfolio rated investment grade and 71% rated A or higher.
Bond credit ratings reflect bond rating agency activity up to December 31, 2022. Management continues to closely monitor bond rating agency
activity and general market conditions as economies emerge from the pandemic and are now being impacted by geopolitical tensions.
Bond portfolio quality
AAA
AA
A
BBB
BB or lower
Total
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
$
25,399
32,244
55,063
45,080
1,801
16%
20
35
28
1
$
20,254
35,460
48,764
35,098
1,036
14%
25
35
25
1
$ 159,587
100%
$ 140,612
100%
At December 31, 2022, non-investment grade bonds were $1.8 billion or 1.1% of the bond portfolio compared to $1.0 billion or 0.7% of the bond
portfolio at December 31, 2021. The increase in non-investment grade bonds was primarily due to bonds acquired through the Prudential acquisition.
34
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Mortgage portfolio – It is the Company’s practice to acquire high-quality commercial mortgages meeting strict underwriting standards and
diversification criteria. The Company has a well-defined risk-rating system, which it uses in its underwriting and credit monitoring processes
for commercial loans. Residential loans are originated by the Company’s mortgage specialists in accordance with well-established underwriting
standards and are well diversified across each geographic region, including specific diversification requirements for non-insured mortgages.
Equity release mortgages are originated in the Europe segment following well-defined lending criteria and held in the Canada, Europe and
Capital and Risk Solutions segments. Equity release mortgages are loans provided to people who want to continue living in their homes while
accessing some of the underlying equity value in their homes. Loans are typically repaid when the borrower dies or moves into long-term care.
Mortgage portfolio
Mortgage loans by type
Single family residential
Multi-family residential
Equity release
Commercial
Total
Insured 1
Non-insured
Total
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Total
$
418
2,718
–
–
$
1,438
7,628
3,365
23,962
$
1,856
10,346
3,365
23,962
5%
$
26
9
60
1,979
7,601
2,609
16,663
7%
26
9
58
$
3,136
$
36,393
$
39,529
100%
$
28,852
100%
1
Insured mortgages include mortgages where insurance is provided by a third party and protects the Company in the event that the borrower is unable to fulfill their mortgage obligations.
The total mortgage portfolio was $39.5 billion or 17% of invested assets at December 31, 2022, compared to $28.9 billion or 14% of invested assets
at December 31, 2021. The increase in the mortgage portfolio was primarily related to mortgages acquired through the Prudential acquisition.
The Canada segment ceased residential mortgage origination in November 2022. Total insured loans were $3.1 billion or 8% of the mortgage
portfolio. The equity release mortgages had a weighted average loan-to-value, calculated as the weighted average of the total outstanding loan
balance divided by the appraised value of the properties, of 36% (31% at December 31, 2021).
Commercial mortgages
December 31, 2022
Retail & shopping centres
Industrial
Office buildings
Other
Total
December 31, 2021
Retail & shopping centres
Industrial
Office buildings
Other
Total
Canada
U.S.
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
$
$
$
3,712
3,654
1,695
65
9,126
3,770
3,126
2,088
380
$
1,167
5,845
2,846
1,420
$
11,278
$
521
1,430
1,282
463
$
$
$
$
$
$
951
704
1,150
698
3,503
991
617
1,209
736
$
9,364
$
3,696
$
3,553
$
2
34
19
–
55
2
30
18
–
50
$
5,832
10,237
5,710
2,183
$
23,962
$
5,284
5,203
4,597
1,579
$
16,663
Throughout 2022, commercial real estate office markets in Europe and North America showed signs of slowdown due to dampened demand
from a continued lag faced by employers on return-to-office plans, leading to higher vacancy rates and deteriorating operating performance,
driven as well by challenging economic and capital market conditions. This has resulted in certain valuation reductions for the underlying office
properties in 2022 reflecting the current outlook. The Company is monitoring and will work proactively with borrowers to manage exposures. It
is the Company’s practice to acquire high-quality commercial mortgages meeting strict underwriting standards and diversification criteria. The
Company has a well-defined risk-rating system, which it uses in its underwriting and credit monitoring processes for commercial loans.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
35
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Equity portfolio – The total equity portfolio was $22.6 billion or 9% of invested assets at December 31, 2022 compared to $21.9 billion or 11% of
invested assets at December 31, 2021. The equity portfolio consists of publicly traded stocks, privately held stocks and investment properties.
The decrease in publicly traded stocks of $1.0 billion was primarily due to market value declines and the increase in privately held stocks of $1.1
billion was primarily due to purchases. The increase in investment properties of $0.6 billion was mainly the result of property acquisitions.
Equity portfolio
Equity portfolio by type
Publicly traded stocks
Privately held stocks
Sub-total
Investment properties
Total
Investment properties 1
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
$
11,380
2,888
14,268
8,344
50 %
13
63
37
$
12,424
1,759
14,183
7,763
57%
8
65
35
$
22,612
100%
$
21,946
100%
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Canada
U.S.
Europe
Total
Canada
U.S.
Europe
Total
Industrial
Office buildings
Retail
Other
Total
$
$
2,304
1,260
218
1,977
$
5,759
$
–
25
–
8
33
$
900
564
765
323
$
3,204
1,849
983
2,308
$
1,740
1,384
227
1,562
$
$
2,552
$
8,344
$
4,913
$
–
–
–
8
8
$
1,009
626
848
359
$
2,749
2,010
1,075
1,929
$
2,842
$
7,763
1 The Capital and Risk Solutions segment does not hold any investment properties.
Throughout 2022, commercial real estate office markets in Europe and North America showed signs of slowdown due to dampened demand
from a continued lag faced by employers on return-to-office plans, leading to higher vacancy rates and deteriorating operating performance,
driven as well by challenging economic and capital market conditions. This has resulted in certain valuation reductions in 2022 reflecting the
current outlook for office properties. As market conditions evolve, the Company may be required to apply further valuation reductions.
Impaired investments – Impaired investments include bonds in default, mortgages in default or in the process of foreclosure and other assets
where management no longer has reasonable assurance that all contractual cash flows will be received.
Impaired investments
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Gross
amount
Impairment
recovery
Impairment
provision
Carrying
amount
Gross
amount
Impairment
recovery
Impairment
provision
Carrying
amount
Fair value through profit or loss $
Available-for-sale
Loans and receivables
Total
$
16
–
56
72
$
$
–
–
–
–
$
$
(5)
–
(16)
(21)
$
$
11
–
40
51
$
$
18
6
99
$
123
$
1
1
–
2
$
$
(5)
–
(28)
(33)
$
$
14
7
71
92
The gross amount of impaired investments totaled $72 million or 0.1% of invested assets at December 31, 2022 compared to $123 million or 0.1%
at December 31, 2021, a net decrease of $51 million. The decrease in impaired investments was primarily due to the disposal of an impaired
commercial mortgage in the Canada segment.
The impairment provision at December 31, 2022 was $21 million compared to $33 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily
due to the disposal of an impaired commercial mortgage in the Canada segment. These assets remain impaired based on impairment factors as
described in the “Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates” section of this document and in note 2 of the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual
consolidated financial statements.
36
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Provision for future credit losses
As a component of insurance contract liabilities, the total actuarial provision for future credit losses is determined consistent with the Canadian
Institute of Actuaries’ Standards of Practice and includes provisions for adverse deviation. The provisions reflect the current credit ratings
and potential future rating migration. No provision is held for government or government related debt rated A+ or higher where the issuer is
monetarily sovereign.
At December 31, 2022, the total actuarial provision for future credit losses in insurance contract liabilities was $3,223 million compared to $3,271
million at December 31, 2021, a decrease of $48 million, primarily due to interest rate movements and the impact of currency movements,
partially offset by the acquisition of Prudential.
The aggregate of impairment provisions of $21 million ($33 million at December 31, 2021) and actuarial provisions for future credit losses in
insurance contract liabilities of $3,223 million ($3,271 million at December 31, 2021) represents 1.5% of bond and mortgage assets, including
funds held by ceding insurers, at December 31, 2022 (1.8% at December 31, 2021).
Derivative Financial Instruments
There were no major changes to the Company’s policies and procedures with respect to the use of derivative financial instruments in 2022. The
Company’s derivative transactions are generally governed by International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) Master Agreements,
which provide for legally enforceable set-off and close-out netting of exposure to specific counterparties in the event of an early termination
of a transaction, which includes, but is not limited to, events of default and bankruptcy. In the event of an early termination, the Company is
permitted to set off receivables from a counterparty against payables to the same counterparty, in the same legal entity, arising out of all included
transactions. The Company’s ISDA Master Agreements may include Credit Support Annex provisions, which require both the pledging and
accepting of collateral in connection with its derivative transactions.
At December 31, 2022, total financial collateral, including initial margin and overcollateralization, received on derivative assets was $1,348
million ($318 million at December 31, 2021) and pledged on derivative liabilities was $754 million ($480 million at December 31, 2021). The
increase in collateral received on derivatives assets was primarily driven by the impact of the U.S. dollar strengthening against the British pound
and euro on cross-currency swaps that pay British pounds and euros and receive U.S. dollars. The increase in collateral pledged on derivative
liabilities was primarily driven by the impact of increases to market interest rates on interest rate swaps that receive fixed and pay floating rates.
During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2022, the outstanding notional amount of derivative contracts increased by $10.0 billion to
$46.6 billion, primarily due to increases to cross-currency swaps related to the Prudential acquisition and regular hedging activities.
The Company’s exposure to derivative counterparty credit risk, which reflects the current fair value of those instruments in a gain position,
increased to $2,314 million at December 31, 2022 from $967 million at December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily driven by the impact of
the U.S. dollar strengthening against the British pound and euro on cross-currency swaps that pay British pounds and euros and receive U.S.
dollars. There were no changes to derivative counterparty ratings during the fourth quarter of 2022 and all had investment grade ratings as
of December 31, 2022. Refer to “Financial Instruments Risk Management”, note 8 in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated
financial statements for details of the Company’s derivative counterparties’ ratings.
Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill
Indefinite life intangible assets
Finite life intangible assets
Total
December 31
2022
2021
$
10,604
2,882
3,327
$
9,081
2,786
2,728
$
16,813
$
14,595
The Company’s goodwill and intangible assets relate primarily to business acquisitions made by the Company, including the recent acquisitions
of Personal Capital, MassMutual and Prudential. Goodwill and intangible assets of $16.8 billion at December 31, 2022 increased by $2.2 billion
from December 31, 2021. Goodwill increased by $1.5 billion, finite life intangible assets increased by $0.6 billion and indefinite life intangible
assets increased by $0.1 billion, primarily due to the acquisition of Prudential and the impact of currency movement.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company conducted its annual impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets based on September 30,
2022 asset balances. It was determined that the recoverable amounts of cash generating unit (CGU) groupings for goodwill and CGUs for
intangible assets were in excess of their carrying values and there was no evidence of impairment. Recoverable amount is based on fair value less
cost of disposal.
Refer to note 10 in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for further details of the Company’s goodwill
and intangible assets. Also, refer to the “Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates” section of this document for details on impairment testing
of these assets.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
37
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Other general fund assets
Reinsurance assets
Funds held by ceding insurers
Premiums in course of collection, accounts and interest receivable
Other assets
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax assets
Owner occupied properties
Fixed assets
Current income taxes
Total
December 31
2022
2021
$
25,018
15,186
6,980
6,798
2,314
1,152
724
399
336
$
21,138
17,194
6,366
4,522
967
1,057
736
422
268
$
58,907
$
52,670
Total other general fund assets at December 31, 2022 were $58.9 billion, an increase of $6.2 billion from December 31, 2021. The increase was
primarily due to an increase of $3.9 billion in reinsurance assets, an increase of $2.3 billion in other assets as well as an increase of $1.3 billion in
derivative financial instruments, partially offset by a decrease of $2.0 billion in funds held by ceding insurers. The increase in reinsurance assets
was driven by two separate agreements completed by Empower to cede, via indemnity reinsurance, insurance contract liabilities to a non-related
party, partially offset by fair value adjustments driven by an increase in bond yields.
Other assets comprise several items including prepaid expenses and accounts receivable. Refer to note 12 in the Company’s December 31, 2022
annual consolidated financial statements for a breakdown of other assets.
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders
Mutual funds
Stocks and units in unit trusts
Bonds
Investment properties
Cash and other
Mortgage loans
Sub-total
Non-controlling mutual funds interest
Total
December 31
2022
2021
$ 168,459
117,878
69,371
13,035
10,607
2,159
$ 381,509
6,388
$ 133,916
134,568
60,647
12,776
10,010
2,377
$ 354,294
3,125
$ 387,897
$ 357,419
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders, which are measured at fair value, increased by $30.5 billion to $387.9 billion at
December 31, 2022 compared to December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $77.7 billion related to business acquisitions,
driven by the acquisition of Prudential and the impact of currency movement of $9.5 billion. The increase was partially offset by the combined
impact of net investment income and market value losses of $53.7 billion, net withdrawals of $6.2 billion as well as non-controlling mutual funds
interest of $3.3 billion.
38
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Other assets under management 1
Mutual funds
Blend equity
Growth equity
Equity value
Fixed-income
Exchange Traded Funds
Money market
Empower Funds 2
Sub-total
Institutional assets
Equity
Fixed-income
Other
Sub-total
Total other assets under management
December 31
2022
2021
$
18,864
18,744
31,686
36,444
230
232
58,247
$
22,334
26,605
30,479
46,246
58
199
57,749
$ 164,447
$ 183,670
$ 104,602
59,843
2,842
$ 126,064
60,681
6,740
$ 167,287
$ 193,485
$ 331,734
$ 377,155
1 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
2 At December 31, 2022, Empower funds exclude $26.4 billion of Putnam managed funds ($24.9 billion at December 31, 2021), which are included in the categories above.
Total other assets under management decreased by $45.4 billion, primarily due to market movement and net cash outflows, partially offset
by the impact of currency movement. Empower includes proprietary mutual funds of $1 billion acquired in the Prudential acquisition as at
December 31, 2022.
Liabilities
Insurance and investment contract liabilities
Other general fund liabilities
Investment and insurance contracts on account of segregated fund policyholders
Total
December 31
2022
2021
$ 247,698
33,542
387,897
$ 220,833
21,753
357,419
$ 669,137
$ 600,005
Total liabilities increased by $69.1 billion to $669.1 billion at December 31, 2022 from December 31, 2021.
Insurance and investment contract liabilities increased by $26.9 billion. The increase was primarily due to $44.2 billion acquired through the
Prudential acquisition, the impacts of new business, and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, partially offset by fair value adjustments.
Investment and insurance contracts on account of segregated fund policyholders increased by $30.5 billion, primarily due to an increase of $77.7
billion related to the acquisition of Prudential, the impact of currency movement of $9.5 billion and non-controlling mutual funds interest of
$3.3 billion. The increase was partially offset by the combined impact of net investment income and market value losses of $53.7 billion and net
withdrawals of $6.2 billion.
Other general fund liabilities increased by $11.8 billion, primarily due to an increase of $6.7 billion in funds held under reinsurance contracts
driven by two separate agreements completed by Empower to cede, via indemnity reinsurance, insurance contract liabilities to a non-related
party. In addition, other liabilities increased by $2.7 billion and debentures and other debt instruments increased $1.7 billion.
Insurance and investment contract liabilities represent the amounts that, together with estimated future premiums and investment income,
will be sufficient to pay estimated future benefits, dividends and expenses on policies in-force. Insurance and investment contract liabilities are
determined using generally accepted actuarial practices, according to standards established by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. Also, refer to
the “Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates” section of this document for further details.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
39
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Assets supporting insurance and investment contract liabilities
December 31, 2022
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Stocks
Investment properties
Other assets 1
Total
Total insurance and investment contract liabilities
December 31, 2021
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Stocks
Investment properties
Other assets 1
Total
Total insurance and investment contract liabilities
Participating
Account
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
Non-Participating
$
$
$
$
$
$
25,462
12,313
8,226
4,527
10,881
61,409
61,409
26,978
11,781
8,665
4,021
10,325
61,770
61,770
$
$
$
$
$
$
21,731
4,287
2,764
715
2,559
$
58,238
12,616
817
–
33,329
32,056
$ 105,000
32,056
$ 105,000
23,620
4,661
3,116
579
2,804
34,780
34,780
$
$
$
32,302
4,641
211
–
26,784
63,938
63,938
$
$
$
$
$
$
24,270
6,105
388
2,345
4,307
37,415
37,415
33,208
5,891
391
2,743
4,982
47,215
47,215
$
$
$
$
$
$
5,374
224
–
–
6,220
$ 135,075
35,545
12,195
7,587
57,296
11,818
$ 247,698
11,818
$ 247,698
6,394
80
–
–
6,656
$ 122,502
27,054
12,383
7,343
51,551
13,130
$ 220,833
13,130
$ 220,833
1 Other assets include reinsurance assets, premiums in the course of collection, interest due and accrued, other investment receivables, deferred acquisition costs, accounts receivable, current income
taxes and prepaid expenses.
Asset and liability cash flows are matched within established limits to minimize the financial effects of a shift in interest rates and mitigate the
changes in the Company’s financial position due to interest rate volatility.
Other General Fund Liabilities
Debentures and other debt instruments
Other liabilities
Funds held under reinsurance contracts
Accounts payable
Deferred tax liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Current income taxes
Total
December 31
2022
2021
$
10,509
8,794
8,247
3,194
1,009
1,639
150
$
8,804
6,063
1,542
3,032
1,089
1,030
193
$
33,542
$
21,753
Total other general fund liabilities at December 31, 2022 were $33.5 billion, an increase of $11.8 billion from December 31, 2021. The increase
was primarily due to an increase of $6.7 billion in funds held under reinsurance contracts driven by two separate agreements completed by
Empower to cede, via indemnity reinsurance, insurance contract liabilities to a non-related party. In addition, other liabilities increased by
$2.7 billion and debentures and other debt instruments increased by $1.7 billion. The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $0.1 billion
in deferred tax liabilities.
Other liabilities of $8.8 billion include pension and other post-employment benefits, lease liabilities, deferred income reserve, bank overdraft
and other liability balances. Refer to note 17 in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for a breakdown
of the other liabilities balance and note 15 in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for details of the
debentures and other debt instruments.
40
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Segregated Fund and Variable Annuity Guarantees
The Company offers retail segregated fund products, unitized with profits (UWP) products and variable annuity products that provide for certain
guarantees that are tied to the market values of the investment funds.
In Canada, the Company offers individual segregated fund products through Canada Life. These products provide guaranteed minimum death
benefits (GMDB) and guaranteed minimum accumulation on maturity benefits (GMAB).
In the U.S., the Company has a mix of open and closed blocks of group variable annuities with guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits
(GMWB) and a closed block of group standalone GMDB products which mainly provide return of premium on death. A block of GMWB policies
was acquired from Prudential on April 1, 2022.
In Europe, the Company offers UWP products, which are similar to segregated fund products but include minimum credited interest rates and
pooling of policyholders’ funds, as well as a GMWB product in Germany.
The GMWB products offered by the Company in the U.S. and Germany, and previously offered in Canada and Ireland, provide the policyholder
with a guaranteed minimum level of annual income for life. The minimum level of income may increase depending upon the level of growth in
the market value of the policyholder’s funds. Where the market value of the policyholder’s funds is ultimately insufficient to meet the level of
guarantee purchased by the policyholder, the Company is obligated to make up the shortfall.
Capital and Risk Solutions has a closed portfolio of GMAB and guaranteed minimum income benefits (GMIB) that it has reinsured from other
U.S. and Canadian life insurance and reinsurance companies.
These products involve cash flows of which the magnitude and timing are uncertain and are dependent on the level of equity and fixed-income
market returns, interest rates, currency markets, market volatility, policyholder behaviour and policyholder longevity.
The Company has a hedging program in place to manage a portion of the market and interest rate risk associated with options embedded in its
GMWB products. The program methodology quantifies both the embedded option value and its sensitivity to movements in equity markets,
currency markets and interest rates. Equity derivative instruments, currency derivative instruments and interest rate derivative instruments
are used to mitigate changes in the embedded option value attributable to movements in equity markets, currency markets and interest rates
respectively. The hedging program, by its nature, requires continuous monitoring and rebalancing to avoid over or under hedged positions.
Periods of heightened market volatility will increase the frequency of hedge rebalancing.
By their nature, certain risks associated with the GMWB product either cannot be hedged or cannot be hedged on a cost-effective basis. These
risks include policyholder behaviour, policyholder longevity, basis risk and market volatility. Consequently, the hedging program will not
mitigate all risks to the Company associated with the GMWB products and may expose the Company to additional risks including the operational
risk associated with the reliance upon sophisticated models, and counterparty credit risk associated with the use of derivative instruments.
Other risk management processes are in place aimed at appropriately limiting the Company’s exposure to the risks it is not hedging or are otherwise
inherent in its GMWB hedging program. In particular, the GMWB product has been designed with specific regard to limiting policyholder anti-
selection, and the array of investment funds available to policyholders has been determined with a view to minimizing underlying basis risk.
Certain GMWB products offered by the Company offer levels of death and maturity guarantees. At December 31, 2022, the amount of GMWB
product in-force in Canada, the U.S., Ireland and Germany was $7,033 million ($3,316 million at December 31, 2021). The increase in in-force
amount was primarily a result of the Prudential acquisition in the U.S. segment.
Segregated fund and variable annuity guarantee exposure
December 31, 2022
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions 2
Total
Investment deficiency by benefit type
Market Value
Income
Maturity
Death
Total 1
$
$
32,799
23,465
10,609
656
$
67,529
$
–
758
32
169
959
$
$
27
–
–
–
27
$
402
12
1,352
–
$
402
770
1,352
169
$
1,766
$
2,693
1 A policy can only receive a payout from one of the three trigger events (income election, maturity or death). Total deficiency measures the point-in-time exposure assuming the most costly trigger
event for each policy occurred on December 31, 2022.
2 Capital and Risk Solutions exposure is to markets in Canada and the U.S.
Investment deficiency at December 31, 2022 increased by $1,731 million to $2,693 million compared to December 31, 2021, primarily due to a
decrease in market values and the Prudential acquisition in the U.S. segment. The investment deficiency measures the point-in-time exposure
to a trigger event (i.e., income election, maturity or death) assuming it occurred on December 31, 2022 and does not include the impact of the
Company’s hedging program for GMWB products. The actual cost to the Company will depend on the trigger event having occurred and the
market values at that time. The actual claims before tax associated with these guarantees were $4 million in-quarter ($3 million for the fourth
quarter of 2021) and $13 million year-to-date ($10 million year-to-date for 2021), with the majority arising in the Capital and Risk Solutions
segment related to a legacy block of business. The market value decreased by $3,353 million to $67,529 million compared to December 31, 2021,
primarily due to the year-to-date decrease in equity markets.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
41
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Lifeco Capital Structure
In establishing the appropriate mix of capital required to support the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, management utilizes a
variety of debt, equity and other hybrid instruments considering both the short and long-term capital needs of the Company.
Debentures and Other Debt Instruments
At December 31, 2022, debentures and other debt instruments increased by $1,705 million to $10,509 million compared to December 31, 2021.
On March 30, 2022, Great-West Lifeco U.S. LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, established a 2-year US$500 million non-revolving credit facility
with interest on the drawn balance equal to a float rate based on the Adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR). The facility is fully
and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. The $645 million (US$500 million) facility was fully drawn, along with $416 million (US$323
million) from an existing revolving credit facility to finance a portion of the Prudential retirement service business acquisition on the acquisition
date.
On July 1, 2022, Great-West Lifeco U.S. LLC made an initial payment of US$150 million on its existing revolving credit facility, followed by a final
payment of US$173 million on December 30, 2022. As at December 31, 2022, the $675 million (US$500 million) facility remained fully drawn and
the existing revolving credit facility balance was nil.
On November 16, 2022, the Company issued €500 million aggregate principal amount 4.70% senior bonds at par, maturing on November 16,
2029. The bonds are admitted to the Official List of Euronext Dublin and are listed for trading on the Global Exchange Market of Euronext Dublin.
Refer to note 15 in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for further details of the Company’s debentures
and other debt instruments.
Capital Trust Securities
At December 31, 2022, the Company had $150 million principal outstanding of Canada Life Capital Trust Securities – Series B (CLiCS – Series B).
Included in the Company’s invested assets at December 31, 2022 were CLiCS – Series B with a fair value of $44 million and principal value of $37
million (fair value of $53 million at December 31, 2021).
Each holder of the CLiCS – Series B is entitled to receive a semi-annual non-cumulative fixed cash distribution of $37.645 per CLiCS – Series B,
representing an annual yield of 7.529% payable out of Canada Life Capital Trust’s (CLCT) distributable funds. Subject to regulatory approval,
CLCT may redeem the CLiCS – Series B, in whole or in part, at any time and the CLiCS – Series B are callable at par on June 30, 2032.
Equity
Share capital outstanding at December 31, 2022 was $10,011 million, which comprises $5,791 million of common shares and $2,720 million of
preferred shares and $1,500 million LRCN Series 1 discussed below. Preferred shares included $2,470 million of non-cumulative First Preferred
Shares and $250 million of 5-year rate reset First Preferred Shares.
Common shares
At December 31, 2022, the Company had 931,853,110 common shares outstanding with a stated value of $5,791 million compared to 930,620,338
common shares with a stated value of $5,748 million at December 31, 2021.
The Company renewed its normal course issuer bid (NCIB) effective January 27, 2022 for one year to purchase and cancel up to 20,000,000 of its
common shares at market prices in order to mitigate the dilutive effect of stock options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan and for
other capital management purposes. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, the Company did not purchase any common shares
under the current NCIB (nil for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, under the previous NCIB).
Subsequent to December 31, 2022, in order to mitigate the dilutive effect of stock options granted under the Company’s Stock Option Plan and
for other capital management purposes, the Company announced a new NCIB commencing January 27, 2023 and terminating January 26, 2024
to purchase for cancellation up to but not more than 20,000,000 of its common shares at market prices.
Preferred shares
At December 31, 2022, the Company had 11 series of fixed rate First Preferred Shares and one series of 5-year rate reset First Preferred Shares
outstanding with aggregate stated values of $2,470 million and $250 million, respectively.
42
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis The terms and conditions of the outstanding First Preferred Shares are set out in the table below:
General Type
Cumulative/Non-Cumulative
Date Issued
Shares Outstanding
Amount Outstanding (Par)
Yield
Earliest Issuer Redemption Date
General Type
Cumulative/Non-Cumulative
Date Issued
Shares Outstanding
Amount Outstanding (Par)
Yield
Earliest Issuer Redemption Date
Series G
Series H
Series I
Series L
Series M
Series N
Great-West Lifeco Inc.
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
Sep 14, 2004
12,000,000
$300,000,000
5.20%
Dec 31, 2009
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
Aug 12, 2005
12,000,000
$300,000,000
4.85%
Sep 30, 2010
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
Apr 12, 2006
12,000,000
$300,000,000
4.50%
Jun 30, 2011
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
Oct 2, 2009
6,800,000
$170,000,000
5.65%
Dec 31, 2014
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
Mar 4, 2010
6,000,000
$150,000,000
5.80%
Mar 31, 2015
5-Year Rate Reset
Non-cumulative
Nov 23, 2010
10,000,000
$250,000,000
1.749%
Dec 31, 2020
Series P
Series Q
Series R
Series S
Series T
Series Y
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
Feb 22, 2012
10,000,000
$250,000,000
5.40%
March 31, 2017
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
Jul 6, 2012
8,000,000
$200,000,000
5.15%
Sep 30, 2017
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
Oct 11, 2012
8,000,000
$200,000,000
4.80%
Dec 31, 2017
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
May 22, 2014
8,000,000
$200,000,000
5.25%
Jun 30, 2019
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
May 18, 2017
8,000,000
$200,000,000
5.15%
Jun 30, 2022
Fixed Rate
Non-cumulative
Oct 8, 2021
8,000,000
$200,000,000
4.50%
Dec 31, 2026
The terms and conditions of the First Preferred Shares do not allow the holder to convert to common shares of the Company or to otherwise
cause the Company to redeem the shares. Preferred shares issued by the Company are commonly referred to as perpetual and represent a form
of financing that does not have a fixed term.
Non-controlling Interests
The Company’s non-controlling interests include participating account surplus in subsidiaries and non-controlling interests in subsidiaries.
Refer to note 18 in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for further details of the Company’s non-
controlling interests.
Participating account surplus in subsidiaries:
Canada Life
Empower
Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries
December 31
2022
2021
$
$
$
3,147
9
3,156
152
$
$
$
3,126
12
3,138
129
At December 31, 2022, the carrying value of non-controlling interests increased by $41 million to $3,308 million compared to December 31, 2021.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, net earnings attributable to the participating account before policyholder dividends were
$1,809 million and policyholder dividends were $1,627 million.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
43
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Liquidity and Capital Management and Adequacy
Liquidity
Total Liquid Assets
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term bonds
Cash and cash equivalents 1
Short-term bonds 2
Sub-total
Other assets and marketable securities
Government bonds 2
Corporate bonds 2
Stocks 1
Mortgage loans 1
Sub-total
Total
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term bonds
Cash and cash equivalents 1
Short-term bonds 2
Sub-total
Other assets and marketable securities
Government bonds 2
Corporate bonds 2
Stocks 1
Mortgage loans 1
Sub-total
Total
December 31, 2022
On-balance
sheet assets
Non-liquid/
Pledged
Net
liquid assets
$
$
$
$
7,290
4,241
$
11,531
$
40,784
114,562
14,268
39,529
83
30
$
7,207
4,211
113
$
11,418
11,239
55,833
2,888
36,393
$
29,545
58,729
11,380
3,136
$ 209,143
$ 106,353
$ 102,790
$ 220,674
$ 106,466
$ 114,208
December 31, 2021
On-balance
sheet assets
Non-liquid/
Pledged
Net
liquid assets
$
6,075
5,671
$
11,746
$
47,126
87,815
14,183
28,852
$ 177,976
$ 189,722
$
$
$
$
$
32
1,923
1,955
11,795
37,324
1,759
25,446
$
$
$
6,043
3,748
9,791
35,331
50,491
12,424
3,406
76,324
$ 101,652
78,279
$ 111,443
1 Refer to the consolidated balance sheet in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for on-balance sheet amounts.
2 Refer to note 8(ii) in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for on-balance sheet amounts.
The Company’s liquidity requirements are largely self-funded, with short-term obligations being met by internal funds and maintaining levels
of liquid investments adequate to meet anticipated liquidity needs. The Company holds cash, cash equivalents and short-term bonds at the
Lifeco holding company level and with the Lifeco consolidated subsidiary companies. At December 31, 2022, the Company and its operating
subsidiaries held liquid cash, cash equivalents and short-term bonds of $11.4 billion ($9.8 billion at December 31, 2021) and other liquid assets
and marketable securities of $102.8 billion ($101.7 billion at December 31, 2021). Included in the cash, cash equivalents and short-term bonds
at December 31, 2022 was $1.0 billion ($0.6 billion at December 31, 2021) held at the Lifeco holding company level which includes cash at
Great-West Lifeco U.S. LLC, the Company’s U.S. holding company. In addition, the Company maintains committed lines of credit with Canadian
chartered banks for potential unanticipated liquidity needs, if required.
The Company does not have a formal common shareholder dividend policy. The Company maintains a target dividend payout ratio range of 45%
to 55% of base earnings that is considered in dividend decisions. Dividends on outstanding common shares of the Company are declared and
paid at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company. The decision to declare a dividend on the common shares of the Company
takes into account a variety of factors including the level of earnings, adequacy of capital and availability of cash resources.
As a holding company, the Company’s ability to pay dividends and, in part, its ability to deploy capital is dependent upon the Company receiving
dividends from its operating subsidiaries. The Company’s operating subsidiaries are subject to regulation in a number of jurisdictions, each of
which maintains its own regime for determining the amount of capital that must be held in connection with the different businesses carried on
by the operating subsidiaries. The requirements imposed by the regulators in any jurisdiction may change from time to time, and thereby impact
the ability of the operating subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company.
44
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Cash Flows
Cash flows relating to the following activities:
Operations
Financing
Investment
Effects of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the period
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
For the three months ended
December 31
For the twelve months ended
December 31
2022
2021
2022
2021
$
1,495
35
(2,889)
(1,359)
13
(1,346)
8,636
$
1,829
(425)
(2,201)
(797)
(18)
(815)
6,890
$
7,047
(620)
(5,493)
934
281
1,215
6,075
$
10,373
(992)
(11,212)
(1,831)
(40)
(1,871)
7,946
$
7,290
$
6,075
$
7,290
$
6,075
The principal source of funds for the Company on a consolidated basis is cash provided by operating activities, including premium income,
net investment income and fee income. These funds are used primarily to pay policy benefits, policyholder dividends and claims, as well as
operating expenses and commissions. Cash flows generated by operations are mainly invested to support future liability cash requirements. Cash
flows related to financing activities include the issuance and repayment of capital instruments and associated dividends and interest payments.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, cash and cash equivalents decreased by $1.3 billion from September 30, 2022. Cash flows provided by operations
during the fourth quarter of 2022 were $1.5 billion, a decrease of $0.3 billion compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. Cash flows provided by
financing were nil as the issuance of the euro-denominated debt of $0.7 billion was offset by the payment of dividends to common and preferred
shareholders of $0.5 billion as well as a net decrease in the line of credit of a subsidiary of $0.2 billion. For the three months ended December 31,
2022, cash flows were used by the Company to acquire an additional $2.9 billion of investment assets.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents increased by $1.2 billion from December 31, 2021. Cash flows
provided by operations were $7.0 billion, a decrease of $3.3 billion compared to the same period in 2021. Cash flows used in financing of $0.6
billion were primarily used for the payment of dividends to common and preferred shareholders of $2.0 billion, partially offset by the issue of
euro-denominated debt discussed for the in-quarter period and a net increase in the line of credit of a subsidiary of $0.6 billion. For the twelve
months ended December 31, 2022, cash flows were used by the Company to acquire an additional $5.5 billion of investment assets.
Commitments/Contractual Obligations
Payments due by period
At December 31, 2022
Total
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
1) Debentures and other debt instruments
2) Lease obligations
3) Purchase obligations
4) Credit-related arrangements
(a) Contractual commitments
(b) Letters of credit
5) Pension contributions
$
$
9,544
634
537
725
79
184
$
5,336
see note 4(b) below
315
5,245
315
$
$
$
–
72
108
84
–
675
62
79
–
–
725
56
55
–
–
540
55
47
–
–
Over
5 years
$
6,879
310
64
7
–
Total contractual obligations
$
16,366
$
6,548
$
264
$
816
$
836
$
642
$
7,260
1) Refer to note 15 in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements. Excluded from debentures and other debt instruments are unamortized transaction costs.
2) For a further description of the Company’s lease obligations, refer to note 17 in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements.
3) Purchase obligations are commitments to acquire goods and services, essentially related to information services.
4) (a) Contractual commitments are essentially commitments of investment transactions made in the normal course of operations in accordance with policies and guidelines that are to be
disbursed upon fulfillment of certain contract conditions.
(b) Letters of credit (LC) are written commitments provided by a bank. The total amount of LC facilities is US$1,913 million of which US$1,497 million were issued as of December 31, 2022.
The Reinsurance business unit periodically uses LC as collateral under certain reinsurance contracts for on-balance sheet policy liabilities. The Company may be required to seek collateral
alternatives if it is unable to renew existing LCs on maturity.
A total of US$1,116 million has been issued to subsidiaries or branches of Canada Life and the additional US$70 million has been issued to Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of
South Carolina.
The remaining US$311 million has been issued to external parties. Clients residing in the United States are required pursuant to their insurance laws to obtain LCs issued on the Company’s
behalf from approved banks in order to further secure the Company’s obligations under certain reinsurance contracts.
5) Pension contributions include funding estimates for defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution pension plans and other post-employment plans. These contributions are subject to
change, as contribution decisions are affected by many factors including market performance, regulatory requirements and management’s ability to change funding policy. Funding estimates
beyond 2023 are excluded due to the significant variability in the assumptions required to project the timing of future contributions.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
45
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Capital Management and Adequacy
The Board of Directors reviews and approves an annual capital plan as well as capital transactions undertaken by management pursuant to
the plan. The capital plan is designed to ensure that the Company maintains adequate capital, taking into account the Company’s strategy, risk
profile and business plans. The Company has established policies and procedures designed to identify, measure and report all material risks.
Management is responsible for establishing capital management procedures for implementing and monitoring the capital plan. In addition to
undertaking capital transactions, the Company uses and provides traditional and structured reinsurance to support capital and risk management.
At the holding company level, the Company monitors the amount of consolidated capital available and the amounts deployed in its various
operating subsidiaries. The amount of capital deployed in any particular company or country is dependent upon local regulatory requirements
as well as the Company’s internal assessment of capital requirements in the context of its operational risks and requirements and strategic plans.
The Company’s practice is to maintain the capitalization of its regulated operating subsidiaries at a level that will exceed the relevant minimum
regulatory capital requirements in the jurisdictions in which they operate. The capitalization decisions of the Company and its operating
subsidiaries also give consideration to the impact such actions may have on the opinions expressed by various credit rating agencies that provide
financial strength and other ratings to the Company.
In Canada, OSFI has established a regulatory capital adequacy measurement for life insurance companies incorporated under the Insurance
Companies Act (Canada) and their subsidiaries, known as the Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT). The LICAT Ratio is calculated in
accordance with the OSFI Guideline - Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test.
The LICAT Ratio compares the regulatory capital resources of a company to its required capital. The required capital is calibrated so that a life
insurer can both withstand severe stress events and support the continuity of existing business. The LICAT guideline uses a risk-based approach
for measuring specific life insurer risks and for aggregating the results to calculate the amount of a life insurer’s capital requirements.
OSFI has established a Supervisory Target Total Ratio of 100% and a Supervisory Minimum Total Ratio of 90%. The Internal Target LICAT Ratio
for Canada Life is now being expressed as a specific percentage rather than a range. The updated Internal Target is 115% which is the midpoint
of the prior target range (110-120%).
Canada Life’s consolidated LICAT Ratio at December 31, 2022 was 120% (124% at December 31, 2021). The LICAT Ratio does not take into
account any impact from $1.0 billion of liquidity at the Lifeco holding company level at December 31, 2022 ($0.6 billion at December 31, 2021).
The following provides a summary of the LICAT information and ratios for Canada Life:
LICAT Ratio
Tier 1 Capital
Tier 2 Capital
Total Available Capital
Surplus Allowance & Eligible Deposits
Total Capital Resources
Required Capital
Total Ratio (OSFI Supervisory Target = 100%) 1
1 Total Ratio (%) = (Total Capital Resources / Required Capital)
December 31
2022
2021
$
$
$
13,201
4,644
17,845
10,531
28,376
23,582
120%
$
$
$
12,584
4,417
17,001
13,225
30,226
24,323
124%
The LICAT Ratio decreased four points in the year. This was caused by materially increased interest rates during the year which caused the
Surplus Allowance element of LICAT Total Capital Resources to decrease. The contribution of earnings less dividends and decreased capital
requirements from the ongoing phasing in of the LICAT interest rate scenario shift in North America offset part of the ratio decrease.
The LICAT Ratio increased by two points in the quarter from 118% at September 30, 2022 to 120% at December 31, 2022. The main drivers of the
increase were the impact of earnings less dividends and decreased capital requirements from the ongoing phasing in of the LICAT interest rate
scenario shift in North America. Currency movements in quarter also had a positive impact on the ratio. The increase was partially offset by both
capital requirement increases from business activity and the impact of interest rate movements on capital requirements and capital resources.
Empower, Lifeco’s regulated U.S. operating company, has established an internal target Risk-Based Capital (RBC) ratio of 400-425% of the
Company Action Level set by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, based upon an assessment of the risks within its businesses
as well as business needs to support future growth. Accordingly, Empower’s target RBC ratio may change as future risks and business needs
change. Empower reports its RBC ratio annually to U.S. Insurance Regulators. The RBC ratio is included for information only and is not intended
as a means to rank insurers generally or for any other purposes. At December 31, 2022, Empower’s RBC ratio is estimated to be in excess of 400%.
46
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
LICAT Interest Rate Scenario Shift
The LICAT interest rate risk capital requirements are based on the results of the most adverse of four scenarios. The determination of the most
adverse scenario is dependent on government treasury rates and credit spreads, as well as the position of the Company’s assets and liabilities. A
shift in the interest rate scenario applied in the LICAT calculation can result in a discontinuity where capital requirements can change materially.
OSFI prescribes a calculation to smooth potential volatility in the interest rate risk capital requirement for participating insurance products.
The smoothing calculation averages the participating interest rate risk capital requirements over the trailing six quarters, thereby reducing
unwarranted volatility.
The Company last experienced a shift in the interest rate scenario in North America during the fourth quarter of 2021. As a result of the scenario
change, a smoothing of the impact of reduced requirements for participating interest rate risk will conclude next quarter. Assuming the Company
remains on the current scenario, the smoothing calculation is expected to increase the Canada Life LICAT Ratio by approximately one point next
quarter, when the scenario shift is fully incorporated into results.
LICAT Sensitivities
Caution Related to Sensitivities
This section includes estimates of Canada Life consolidated LICAT Ratio sensitivities for certain risks. Actual results can differ significantly from
these estimates for a variety of reasons including:
• Assessment of the circumstances that led to the scenario may lead to changes in (re)investment approaches and interest rate scenarios considered;
• Changes in actuarial, investment return and future investment activity assumptions;
• Actual experience differing from the assumptions;
• Changes in business mix, effective income tax rates and other market factors;
• Interactions among these factors and assumptions when more than one changes; and
• The general limitations of the Company’s internal models.
For these reasons, the sensitivities should only be viewed as directional estimates of the underlying sensitivities for the respective factors. Given
the nature of these calculations, the Company cannot provide assurance that the actual impact on the Canada Life consolidated LICAT Ratio will
be as indicated.
LICAT sensitivities are rounded to the nearest full point, are prepared on an IFRS 4 basis and may change under IFRS 17 and the LICAT 2023 OSFI
Guideline which comes into effect during the first quarter of 2023.
Publicly Traded Common Stocks
The following table sets out the estimated immediate impact to Canada Life’s consolidated LICAT Ratio of certain instantaneous changes in
publicly traded common stock values as at December 31, 2022. These sensitivity estimates assume instantaneous shocks, followed by a return to
historical average growth levels for broader equity markets. The sensitivity estimates relate to publicly traded common stocks and do not cover
other non-fixed income assets. These estimates are illustrative as actual equity exposures may vary due to active management of the public
stock portfolios.
Immediate change in publicly traded common stock values
Potential increase (decrease) on LICAT Ratio
December 31, 2022
20%
increase
0 point
10%
increase
0 point
10%
decrease
20%
decrease
(1 point)
(3 points)
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
47
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Interest Rates
Canada Life’s consolidated LICAT Ratio will generally reduce in an environment of rising interest rates and benefit from declining rates. Higher
interest rates will decrease the fair value of the Company’s surplus assets and other regulatory capital resources including actuarial margins
within the Surplus Allowance. However, LICAT uses static interest rates for the calculation of insurance risk capital requirements, and hence
these capital requirements do not change with interest rate movements. This means that while rising interest rates are generally favourable for
the Company, they will lead to a decrease in the calculated LICAT ratio.
The sensitivity estimates shown here are illustrative. The impacts shown are based on a parallel shift in the interest rate yield curve. Actual
movement in credit spreads or government treasury rates may produce different movements in Canada Life’s consolidated LICAT Ratio.
Sensitivity to interest rates is dependent on many factors and may result in non-linear impacts to the LICAT Ratio. These sensitivities do not
include a change in the ultimate interest rates outlined in Actuarial Standards or the impact of a LICAT interest rate risk scenario shift.
Immediate parallel shift in yield curve
Potential increase (decrease) on LICAT Ratio
OSFI Regulatory Capital Initiatives
December 31, 2022
50 bps
increase
50 bps
decrease
(2 points)
2 points
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has issued IFRS 17, which replaced IFRS 4 effective January 1, 2023. Refer to the
“Developments - Update on Transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9” and “Accounting Policies - International Financial Reporting Standards” sections
of this document for further details.
OSFI has released the 2023 LICAT Guideline, as amended for reporting under IFRS 17. The Company will first report under this guideline for the
March 31, 2023 reporting period. Under current market and economic conditions, the Company expects a positive impact of approximately 10
points to the ratio.
OSFI is developing a new approach, to be implemented in 2025, to determine capital requirements for Segregated Fund Guarantee Risk. The
Company will continue to participate in future public consultations relating to these developments.
Return On Equity (ROE) 1
Base Return on Equity 2
Canada
U.S. Financial Services
U.S. Asset Management (Putnam)
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total Lifeco Base Earnings Basis 2
Return on Equity 1
Canada
U.S. Financial Services
U.S. Asset Management (Putnam)
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total Lifeco Net Earnings Basis 1
1 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
2 This metric is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
48
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Dec. 31
2022
15.0%
10.9%
(2.9)%
16.7%
25.0%
13.6%
Dec. 31
2022
14.6%
7.9%
(2.9)%
18.5%
31.2%
13.6%
Sept. 30
2022
15.4%
10.3%
0.8%
16.0%
25.3%
13.5%
Sept. 30
2022
13.7%
6.4%
0.8%
17.3%
30.1%
12.7%
Dec. 31
2021
17.2%
12.2%
5.3%
14.6%
33.7%
14.6%
Dec. 31
2021
16.7%
8.7%
5.0%
17.2%
32.8%
14.0%
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
The Company reported base return on equity of 13.6% at December 31, 2022, compared to 13.5% at September 30, 2022 and 14.6% at
December 31, 2021. The Company reported return on equity of 13.6% at December 31, 2022, compared to 12.7% at September 30, 2022 and 14.0%
at December 31, 2021.
The Company has a capital allocation methodology, which allocates financing costs in proportion to allocated capital. For the Canada, Europe
and Capital and Risk Solutions segments (essentially Canada Life), this allocation method generally tracks the regulatory capital requirements,
while for U.S. Financial Services and U.S. Asset Management (Putnam), it tracks the financial statement carrying value of the business units. Total
leverage capital is consistently allocated across all business units in proportion to total capital resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio in each business
unit consistent with the consolidated Company.
Ratings
Lifeco maintains ratings from five independent ratings companies. Credit ratings 1 are intended to provide investors with an independent
measure of the credit quality of a corporation and securities of a corporation and are indicators of the likelihood of payment and the capacity of
a corporation to meet its obligations in accordance with the terms of each obligation.
In 2022, the existing credit ratings for Lifeco and its major operating subsidiaries were unchanged 1. The Company continued to receive strong
ratings relative to its North American peer group resulting from its conservative risk profile, stable net earnings and strong capitalization.
Lifeco’s operating companies are assigned a group rating from each rating agency. This group rating is predominantly supported by the Company’s
leading position in the Canadian insurance market and competitive positions in the U.S. and European markets. Each of Lifeco’s operating
companies benefit from the strong implicit financial support and collective ownership by Lifeco. There were no changes to the Company’s group
credit ratings in 2022.
Rating agency
Measurement
Lifeco
Canada Life
Irish Life
Empower
A.M. Best Company
DBRS Morningstar
Fitch Ratings
Financial Strength
Issuer Rating
Financial Strength
Senior Debt
Subordinated Debt
Insurer Financial Strength
Senior Debt
Subordinated Debt
Moody’s Investors Service
Insurance Financial Strength
S&P Global Ratings
Insurer Financial Strength
Senior Debt
Subordinated Debt
Segmented Operating Results
A (high)
A (high)
A (low)
A
BBB+
A+
A-
A+
AA
AA
AA (low)
AA
A+
Aa3
AA
AA-
AA
A+
NR
AA
Aa3
AA
The consolidated operating results of Lifeco, including the comparative figures, are presented on an IFRS basis after capital allocation.
Consolidated operating results for Lifeco comprise the net earnings of Canada Life (and its operating subsidiaries), Empower (Financial Services)
and Putnam (Asset Management), together with Lifeco’s corporate results. The following sections analyze the performance of Lifeco’s four major
reportable segments: Canada, United States (U.S.), Europe and Capital and Risk Solutions.
Translation of Foreign Currency
For the United States, Europe and Capital and Risk Solutions segments, foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated into Canadian dollars
at the market rate at the end of the financial period. All income and expense items are translated at an average rate for the period.
1
These ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the securities of the Company or its subsidiaries and do not address market price or other factors that might determine suitability
of a specific security for a particular investor. The ratings also may not reflect the potential impact of all risks on the value of securities and are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by
the rating agency.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
49
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Canada
The Canada segment of Lifeco includes the operating results of the Canadian businesses operated by Canada Life, together with an allocation of
a portion of Lifeco’s corporate results. There are two primary business units included in this segment. Through the Individual Customer business
unit, the Company provides life, disability and critical illness insurance products as well as wealth savings and income products to individual
clients. Through the Group Customer business unit, the Company provides life, accidental death and dismemberment, disability, critical illness,
health and dental protection, creditor insurance as well as retirement savings and income and annuity products and other specialty products to
group clients in Canada.
Business Profile
Individual Customer
Individual Customer comprises both insurance and wealth management product lines sold to individual customers.
Individual insurance includes individual life, disability and critical illness insurance products and services. Individual wealth management
includes individual wealth savings and income products and services. The Company is a leader in Canada for all insurance and wealth
management products and services and utilizes diverse, complementary distribution channels: Advisor Solutions, managing general agencies
(MGAs) and national accounts, including IG Wealth Management, a member of the Power Corporation of Canada group of companies. Through
Financial Horizons Group, the Company participates in the MGA channel, distributing products from across the insurance industry.
By offering this broad suite of products and services through multiple distribution channels, the Company is able to provide advice and product
solutions to meet the needs of Canadians at all phases of their lives.
Group Customer
Group Customer includes group life and health benefits, group creditor, and group retirement and investment product lines.
Through its group life and health benefits product lines, the Company offers effective benefit solutions for small, medium and large plan
sponsors. The Company offers a wide range of traditional group products and services including life, accidental death and dismemberment,
critical illness, disability, health and dental as well as specialty products. In addition, specialty product development, in particular growing the
Freedom Experience has been a focus recently as the Company seeks to provide customized solutions to increasingly unique customer needs.
The Freedom Experience suite of products allows members to apply for life, health, and critical illness products and maintain this coverage
even when leaving their employers. These products also serve to close any group health and wealth gaps that members might experience with
their current coverage. Products and programs have also been developed to address the needs of mental health in the workplace, high-cost
medications and employee wellness. Traditional group products are generally offered on an insured or an ASO basis, where clients self-insure
the products and Group Customer administers on their behalf. With the acquisition of ClaimSecure, Group Customer’s ASO capabilities have
been significantly enhanced.
The Company’s creditor business offers creditor insurance products through large financial institutions and credit card companies. Canada Life
is a leader in the creditor insurance business in Canada.
Group retirement and investment product lines include group Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP), Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSA),
Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP), group retirement income products and institutional investment services. The Company is focused
on innovation within its savings and investment product lines.
Through the Company’s extensive network of group sales offices located across the country, it distributes its products through brokers, consultants
and financial security advisors.
50
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Market Overview
Products and Services
Individual Customer
The Company provides an array of individual insurance and individual wealth management products that are distributed through multiple sales
channels.
Market Position
• A leader in individual life insurance sales
measured by new annualized premium with
15.8% market share 1
• A significant provider of individual disability
and critical illness insurance with 12.7%
market share of new sales 1
• An industry leader with 26.1% market share of
individual segregated fund assets 2
Distribution 3,4
Advisor Solutions
• 4,329 financial security advisors
Affiliated Partnerships
• 7,102 independent brokers associated with 31
MGAs 5
• 1,240 advisors associated with 12 national
accounts
• 1,530 IG Wealth Management consultants
who actively sell Canada Life products
• 84 direct brokers and producer groups
Financial Horizons Group 5
• 5,330 independent brokers selling products
from across the insurance industry, including
Canada Life
Quadrus Investment Services Ltd.
(also included in Advisor Solutions advisor
counts):
• 2,860 investment representatives
Products and Services
Individual Life Insurance
• Term life
• Universal life
• Participating life
Living Benefits
• Disability
• Critical illness
Individual Wealth Management
• Savings plans
• RRSPs
• Non-registered savings programs
• TFSAs
• RESPs
Invested in:
• Segregated funds
• Mutual funds
• Guaranteed investment options
• Retirement Income Plans
• Retirement income funds
• Life income funds
• Payout annuities
• Deferred annuities
• Residential mortgages 6
• Banking products
1 For the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
2 As at October 31, 2022.
3 As at November 30, 2022.
4 Advisor Solutions includes all contracted advisors. Affiliated Partnerships and Financial Horizons Group include advisors who placed new business in 2022.
5 Financial Horizons Group advisors that placed Canada Life business in 2022 are also included in the MGA independent broker count.
6 The Canada segment ceased residential mortgage origination in November 2022.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
51
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Group Customer
The Company provides an array of life, health and creditor insurance as well as retirement and investment products that are distributed primarily
through Group sales offices across the country.
Market Position
Products and Services
Distribution
• Group Life and Health Benefits and Group
Retirement and Investment Services are
distributed through brokers, consultants, third
party administrators/payers and financial
security advisors. Sales and service support
are provided by an integrated team of over
610 employees, located in 22 offices across the
country, including 116 account executives. 1
• Group Creditor products and services are
distributed primarily though large financial
institutions and serviced through a dedicated
sales and service organization.
• Employee benefits to over 28,100 plan
sponsors 1
Group Life & Health Benefits
• Life
• 20% market share for employee benefit plans 2
• Disability
• Critical illness
• Accidental death & dismemberment
• Dental
• Expatriate coverage
• Extended health care
Group Creditor
• Life
• Disability
• Job loss
• Critical illness
Group Retirement & Investment Services
• Group capital accumulation plans including:
• Defined contribution pension plans
• Group RRSPs, RESPs & TFSAs
• Deferred profit sharing plans
• Non-registered savings programs
Invested in:
• Segregated funds
• Guaranteed investment options
• Single company stock
• Retirement income plans
• Payout annuities
• Deferred annuities
• Retirement income funds
• Life income funds
•
Investment management services only plans;
invested in:
• Segregated funds
• Guaranteed investment options
• Securities
Specialty Products and Services
• Individual health, life and critical illness
offered through the Freedom Experience
• Consult+TM
• Teledoc Medical ExpertsTM
• ContactTM
• Leading market share for creditor products
with coverage provided to 6.8 million plan
members 1
• 19% market share of group capital
accumulation plans 2
1 As at December 31, 2022.
2 As at December 31, 2021.
52
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Competitive Conditions
Individual Customer
Competition in the Canadian individual insurance market focuses on service, technology, product features, price and financial strength, as
indicated by ratings issued by nationally recognized agencies. The Company’s broad spectrum of distribution associates, including affiliated and
independent channels, provide important strategic advantages within the Canadian market.
The individual wealth management marketplace is also very competitive. The Company’s main competitors include mutual fund companies,
insurance companies, banks and investment advisors as well as other service and professional organizations. New financial technology
(Fintech) competitors have entered the marketplace leading to increased competition. Competition focuses on ease of doing business through
technology, service, variety of investment options, investment performance, product features, price (fees) and financial strength. Individual
wealth management’s broad spectrum of distribution associates, including affiliated and independent channels, provide important strategic
advantages within the Canadian market.
Group Customer
The group life and health benefits market in Canada mainly comprises three large group insurance carriers with significant market positions, a
number of smaller companies operating nationally and several regional and niche competitors. The Company has a significant market share of
20%, which is supported by an extensive distribution network that has access to a wide range of products and services. This strong market share
position is a distinct advantage for competing successfully in the Canadian group insurance market.
The group capital accumulation plan market is also very competitive. Three major insurance companies hold a significant market share while
several smaller insurance companies have an important market presence.
The pension risk transfer business continues to grow in the Canadian marketplace as more companies with defined benefit pension plans (open
or closed) look to transfer the investment and longevity risk to insurance companies. Providing the market with the capacity to meet this demand,
existing companies have increased their presence in the marketplace, including major independent and bank-owned insurance companies with
strong balance sheets and new entrants.
2022 Developments
• The Company’s commitment to improved product offering and service experience for clients:
º On April 4, 2022, Canada Life and ClaimSecure Inc. (ClaimSecure) launched SecurePak, a bundled offering of Canada Life’s insurance
benefits and ClaimSecure’s health and dental claims adjudication services. SecurePak offers plan sponsors the advantage of modernized
claims processing through ClaimSecure and the security of Canada Life’s pooled products for plans in the small-case market with 25 to 200
plan members.
º In September 2022, Canada Life launched the option to make Consult+ a “one-stop-shop” virtual care solution with Employee Assistance
Program (EAP) and Mental Health Services (MHS) bundled into the base Consult+ offering. Adding EAP and MHS enables a robust
combination of physical and mental health services available through one application at a competitive rate.
º During the fourth quarter of 2022, Canada Life accessed capabilities in Bangalore, India, for the processing of client claims. The expansion
leverages existing Empower operations to drive efficiency and adds to our existing Canadian benefits payment back office and resource
complement, allowing the Company to process claims for Canadians nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, to keep pace with customer
expectations and deliver an improved experience.
• The Company continued to advance its digital capabilities to serve advisors and clients:
º Canada Life continues to modernize legacy technology platforms and expand its SimpleProtect digital app features and coverage to improve
the advisor and customer experience.
º The Company has enriched its member sites to allow even earlier access to Canadians. Now, members can register for the MyCanadaLife
at Work website, and get access to their plan and see information about coverages, even before they are fully eligible for their
employment benefits.
• On October 1, 2022, Plan Member as Customers was rebranded as Freedom Experience. The Company is leveraging this brand by renaming
several direct-to-consumer products distributed by Group Customer with the Freedom Experience brand. A dedicated team will be focused
on distributing these products and bringing the Freedom Experience to Canadians.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
53
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Selected Financial Information – Canada
Base earnings (loss) 1
Individual Customer
Group Customer
Canada Corporate
Base earnings (loss) 1
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions 2
Market-related impacts on liabilities 2
Tax legislative changes impact
Net earnings
Sales 2
Individual Insurance
Individual Wealth
Group Insurance
Group Wealth
Sales 2
Wealth Management net cash flows 2
Individual Customer
Group Customer
Wealth Management net cash flows 2
Fee and other income
Individual Customer
Group Customer
Canada Corporate
Fee and other income
Total assets
Other assets under management 2,3
Total assets under management 1
Other assets under administration 2,4
Total assets under administration 1,4
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
126
213
(44)
295
2
(1)
84
380
130
2,630
138
1,131
4,029
(329)
186
(143)
278
207
7
492
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
91
178
14
283
(120)
(3)
–
160
93
1,988
116
890
3,087
(756)
203
(553)
281
201
8
490
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
140
194
(17)
317
(13)
3
–
307
120
3,274
189
1,298
4,881
332
(509)
(177)
292
217
12
521
$
$
$
$
$
437
736
(27)
1,146
(117)
3
84
1,116
413
9,929
610
3,687
$
$
$
$
$
580
705
(65)
1,220
(43)
10
–
1,187
421
11,468
667
3,869
$
14,639
$
16,425
$
$
$
(1,324)
1,016
(308)
1,135
822
31
$
$
$
1,324
(1,252)
72
1,138
794
59
$
1,988
$
1,991
$ 195,082
4,057
$ 189,196
3,964
$ 203,982
5,742
199,139
26,344
193,160
25,505
209,724
29,615
$ 225,483
$ 218,665
$ 239,339
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
3 At December 31, 2022, proprietary mutual funds excluded $2.9 billion in funds accounted for as investments on account of segregated fund policyholders ($2.4 billion at December 31, 2021).
4 2021 comparative figures have been restated to include Financial Horizons Group and Excel Private Wealth Inc. assets under administration in the Canada segment.
54
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Base and net earnings
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Canada segment’s net earnings of $380 million increased by $73 million compared to the same quarter last
year. Base earnings of $295 million decreased by $22 million compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to lower fee income driven by
lower assets, less favourable mortality experience as well as lower policyholder behaviour experience in Individual Customer and less favourable
investment experience on equity release mortgages. These items were partially offset by changes in certain tax estimates and strong Group long-
term disability results driven by effective claims management and disciplined pricing actions.
Items excluded from base earnings were positive $85 million compared to negative $10 million for the same quarter last year. The fourth quarter
of 2022 included the favourable impact of the revaluation of net deferred tax assets and actuarial liabilities of $84 million resulting from an
increase to the Canadian statutory income tax rate. Actuarial assumption changes and management actions were positive $2 million compared
to negative $13 million for the same quarter last year. Market-related impacts were negative $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to
positive $3 million in the same quarter last year.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, net earnings decreased by $71 million to $1,116 million compared to the same period last year.
Base earnings of $1,146 million decreased by $74 million compared to the same period last year, primarily due to the same reasons discussed for
the in-quarter results.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, items excluded from base earnings were negative $30 million compared to negative $33
million for the same period last year. Actuarial assumption changes and management actions were negative $117 million compared to negative
$43 million for the same period last year, primarily due to updated policyholder behaviour assumptions, partially offset by mortality updates
and model refinements in the third quarter of 2022. The twelve months ended December 31, 2022 also included the favourable impact of the
revaluation of net deferred tax assets and actuarial liabilities as discussed for the in-quarter results. Market-related impacts were positive $3
million compared to positive $10 million for the same period last year.
For the fourth quarter of 2022, net earnings attributable to the participating account were $9 million compared to a net loss of $25 million for the
same quarter last year, primarily due to more favourable impacts of actuarial assumption changes, partially offset by lower earnings on surplus.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, net earnings attributable to the participating account were $188 million compared to $304
million for the same period last year, primarily due to lower earnings on surplus and lower impacts of new business.
Sales
Sales for the fourth quarter of 2022 of $4.0 billion decreased by $0.9 billion compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to lower
individual mutual fund and segregated fund sales. The Company saw fewer opportunities in the group insurance medium and large case markets.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, sales decreased by $1.8 billion to $14.6 billion compared to the same period last year, primarily
due to the same reasons discussed for the in-quarter results.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, wealth management net cash outflows were $143 million compared to net cash outflows of $177 million for the
same quarter last year. The improvement in net cash outflows was primarily due to strong Group retirement wealth product sales and lower
terminations and withdrawals in Group Customer, partially offset by lower segregated fund deposits in Individual Customer.
Net cash outflows for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 were $308 million compared to net cash inflows of $72 million for the same
period last year, primarily due to the same reasons discussed for the in-quarter results as well as higher mutual fund withdrawals in Individual
Customer, partially offset by the non-recurrence of a large group termination in the third quarter last year.
Fee and other income
Fee and other income for the fourth quarter of 2022 of $492 million decreased by $29 million compared to the same quarter last year. The
decrease was primarily due to lower fee income from wealth management businesses as a result of lower asset levels.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, fee and other income decreased by $3 million to $1,988 million compared to the same period
last year, primarily due to the same reasons discussed for the in-quarter results as well as lower fee income in Canada Corporate as a result of the
sale of EverWest Real Estate Investors, LLC and EverWest Advisors, LLC (EverWest) in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
55
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Outlook
Refer to Cautionary Note regarding Forward-looking Information and Cautionary Note regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios
at the beginning of this document.
Individual Customer
The strong Canada Life brand, prudent business practices, the depth and breadth of its distribution channels and the Company’s reputation for
strength and stability, positions the Company well for 2023 and beyond.
In 2023, Individual Customer will continue to advance on strategies to position for growth. The Company will further establish the value
propositions for advisors in all channels, providing them with strategies and tools for helping customers focus on achieving long-term financial
security regardless of life stage and market fluctuations. This commitment to advice is beneficial to strong customer retention as well as helping
advisors attract new customers to the Company. In 2022, the Company acquired a majority interest in two distribution firms to continue
strengthening its distribution network. Distribution channels will maximize the use of common tools, processes and support, while tailoring
support to specific segments of advisors, where appropriate.
The Company will continue to competitively develop, price and market a comprehensive range of individual insurance and individual wealth
management products while maintaining its focus on sales and service support to customers and advisors in all channels. The Company will also
continue to monitor and respond to the impacts of long-term interest rates and fee income compression.
Operational expense management continues to be critically important to delivering strong financial results. The Company will seek to achieve
this through disciplined expense controls and effective development and implementation of strategic initiatives. Management has identified
key areas of focus for these initiatives to facilitate the objective of organic growth, including continuing to invest in digital solutions to support
advisors and customers and addressing its legacy of administration systems and processes to unlock the potential for future growth.
Group Customer
During 2022, Group Customer delivered strong business results and enhanced its competitive position in the Canadian group market with its
acquisition of ClaimSecure and being awarded the Public Service Health Care Plan. Group Customer has leading or strong market share in all
case size, regional and benefit market segments. The Company believes that this market share position, together with its distribution capacity,
will facilitate continued growth in net premium income.
In 2023, Group Customer will continue to advance its core strategies to drive growth in the business. Group Customer plans to enhance its
competitive position in the marketplace by focusing on improving its operational resilience. Group Customer will enhance its productivity as
well as customer and employee experience by making further investments in workflow, automation, digital innovation and artificial intelligence.
Group Customer also plans to take advantage of being awarded the Public Service Health Care Plan by building additional digital capabilities that
will be leveraged by the rest of the business improving efficiency and customer service.
The focus on operational resilience, combined with a strong expense management culture, will be key to delivering strong financial results in
2023 and beyond. While maintaining focus on all areas of the business, Group Customer plans to put increased focus and investment in its
disability offering, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of disability operations to support growth and profitability in this business.
Group Customer will also focus on expanding its distribution footprint and offering its member base enhanced products that will be more readily
available through the Freedom Experience suite of products. Group Customer plans to capitalize on its recent acquisition of ClaimSecure and
leverage newly acquired capabilities to offer an enhanced product shelf as well as to grow in the third party administrator business segment.
56
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis United States
The United States segment operating results for Lifeco include the results of Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America (Empower),
Putnam Investments (Putnam) and the results of the insurance businesses in the U.S. branch of Canada Life, together with an allocation of a
portion of Lifeco’s corporate results.
Through its Financial Services business unit, and specifically Empower, the Company helps people with saving, investing and advice through
employer sponsored plans and individual product solutions. The Financial Services business unit also includes a retained block of life insurance,
predominantly participating policies, which are now administered by Protective Life, as well as a closed retrocession block of life insurance.
Through its Asset Management business unit, and specifically the Putnam brand, the Company provides investment management services and
related administrative functions and distribution services, through a broad range of investment products.
Business Profile
Financial Services
Empower offers employer-sponsored defined contribution, defined benefit and non-qualified plans including enrollment services,
communication materials, investment options and education services. In addition to employer sponsored products, it offers individual
retirement accounts and taxable brokerage accounts to individuals. The Empower Investments brand offers fund management, investment
and advisory services. The Empower Institutional brand offers private label recordkeeping and administrative services for other providers of
employer-sponsored defined contribution plans. Personal Capital is a hybrid wealth manager that combines a leading-edge digital experience
with personalized advice delivered by dedicated advisors.
Asset Management
Putnam provides investment management services and related administrative functions and distribution services. Putnam offers a broad range
of investment products, including equity, fixed-income, absolute return and alternative strategies, through Putnam Funds, Putnam Exchange
Traded Funds (ETF), Putnam World Trust Funds, institutional portfolios (including hedge fund and other alternative strategies), model-based
separately managed accounts (SMAs) and model portfolios. Revenue is derived from the value and composition of assets under management
and performance fees as well as service and distribution fees. Accordingly, fluctuations in the financial markets and changes in the composition
of assets or accounts affect revenues and results of operations.
Market Overview
Products and Services
The Company provides a focused product offering that is distributed through a variety of channels.
Financial Services
Market Position
Products and Services
Distribution
• Second largest defined contribution service
provider in the country 1 by participants
providing services for 17.8 million participant
accounts and approximately 81,000 plans, 2
with clients in all 50 states, Puerto Rico
and Guam
• 25.8% market share in state and local
government deferred compensation plans,
based on number of participant accounts 3
• Employer-sponsored defined contribution,
defined benefit and non-qualified
plans including enrollment services,
communication materials, investment options
and education services
• Administrative and recordkeeping services for
financial institutions and employer-sponsored
defined contribution, defined benefit and
non-qualified plans
• Empower Lifetime Funds are the 16th largest
• Fund management, investment and advisory
• Retirement services products distributed to
plan sponsors through brokers, consultants,
advisors, third-party administrators and banks
• Empower Institutional recordkeeping and
administrative services distributed through
institutional clients
• IRAs and taxable brokerage accounts available
to individuals through the Retirement
Solutions Group as well as distributed directly
to consumers through Personal Capital
target date fund offering in the U.S. 2
services
• Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and
taxable brokerage accounts
1 As at July 21, 2022.
2 As at December 31, 2022.
3 As at September 30, 2021.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
57
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Asset Management
Market Position
Products and Services
Distribution
• A global investment manager with assets
under management of US$164.7 billion 1
• Global distribution includes sales teams that
are focused on major institutional markets
in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia
and Australia and through a long-standing
strategic distribution relationship in Japan
Investment Management Products & Services
• Individual retail investors – a family of open-
end mutual funds and closed-end funds, a
line of actively-managed ETFs, college savings
plans, mutual funds underlying variable
annuity products, and model-only separately
managed accounts and model portfolios for
clients of third party financial firms
• Institutional investors – defined benefit plans
sponsored by corporations, state, municipal
and other governmental authorities,
university endowment funds, charitable
foundations, sovereign wealth funds and
collective investment vehicles (both U.S. and
non-U.S.)
Individual Retail Investors
• A broad network of distribution relationships
with unaffiliated broker dealers, financial
planners, registered investment advisors and
other financial institutions that distribute
the Putnam Funds and defined contribution
investment only offerings to their customers,
which, in total, includes approximately
130,000 advisors 1
• Sub-advisory relationships and Putnam-
labeled funds as investment options for
insurance companies and non-U.S. residents
• Retail distribution channels are supported by
Putnam’s sales and relationship management
team
• Investment offerings for defined contribution
• Retirement plan sponsors and participants
plans
• Alternative investment products across the
fixed-income and equity groups as well as
PanAgora Asset Management Inc., a Putnam
subsidiary offering quantitative strategies
• Seven equity model-based separately
managed accounts (SMAs) and six multi-asset
model portfolios
Administrative Services
• Transfer agency, underwriting, distribution,
shareholder services, and trustee and other
fiduciary services
are supported by Putnam’s dedicated defined
contribution investment only professionals
and through a relationship with Empower and
other recordkeeping firms
Institutional Investors
• Supported by Putnam’s dedicated account
management, product management and
client service professionals
1 As at December 31, 2022.
Competitive Conditions
Financial Services
The retirement and investment marketplaces are competitive. The Company’s competitors include mutual fund companies, insurance
companies, banks, investment advisors and certain service and professional organizations. No one competitor or small number of competitors is
dominant. Competition focuses on name recognition, service, technology, cost, variety of investment options, investment performance, product
features, price and financial strength as indicated by ratings issued by nationally recognized agencies.
Asset Management
The investment management business is competitive. Putnam competes with other providers of investment products and services, primarily
based on the range of investment products offered, investment performance, distribution, scope and quality of shareholder and other services,
as well as general reputation in the marketplace. Putnam’s investment management business is also influenced by general securities market
conditions, government regulations, global economic conditions, as well as advertising and sales promotional efforts. Putnam competes with
other mutual fund firms and institutional asset managers that offer investment products similar to Putnam, as well as products that Putnam
does not offer. Putnam also competes with a number of mutual fund sponsors that offer their funds directly to the public. Conversely, Putnam
generally offers its funds only through intermediaries.
58
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis 2022 Developments
Financial Services Developments
• Strategic Transaction Updates
º
º
In July 2022, Empower initiated a new brand identity, with the name “Empower” replacing “Empower Retirement.” The Company believes
the new public-facing brand name will help to continue to drive business growth as it more accurately reflects its broadening stature and
rapid growth.
On April 1, 2022, Empower completed the acquisition of the full-service retirement services business of Prudential Financial, Inc.
(Prudential). With the completion of the acquisition, Empower’s reach in the U.S. has expanded to approximately 81,000 workplace
savings plans as of December 31, 2022.
The Company funded the total transaction value of US$3,480 million with US$1,193 million of limited recourse capital notes and US$823
million of short-term debt, in addition to existing resources.
Empower anticipates realizing cost synergies through the migration of Prudential’s retirement services business onto Empower’s
recordkeeping platform. Estimated run-rate cost synergies of US$180 million are expected to be phased in over 24 months primarily when
systems migrations are completed. As of December 31, 2022, US$43 million of pre-tax run rate cost synergies have been achieved. Revenue
synergies of US$20 million are expected on a run-rate basis by the end of 2024 and are expected to grow to US$50 million by 2026.
Empower expects to incur one-time integration and restructuring expenses of US$170 million pre-tax related to the Prudential acquisition,
US$18 million pre-tax of which were incurred in the fourth quarter of 2022. The integration is expected to be completed in the first half
of 2024.
(in US$ millions)
Restructuring and integration (pre-tax)
Restructuring and integration (post-tax)
Transaction costs (pre-tax)
Transaction costs (post-tax)
For the three
months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
For the
twelve
months
ended
Dec. 31
2022
Total
expensed
to date
Dec. 31
2022
$
$
18
14
–
–
$
15
11
25
20
$
68
51
79
63
68
51
86
69
º
The Company completed the integration of MassMutual as of December 31, 2022, and has achieved US$160 million of final pre-
tax run rate cost synergies in line with original expectations. In the fourth quarter of 2022 pre-tax run rate cost synergies increased
US$59 million pre-tax compared to US$101 million pre-tax as of September 30, 2022. Empower is on track to achieve run rate revenue
synergies of US$30 million pre-tax in 2024 and revenue synergies are expected to continue to grow beyond 2024. To date, the Company
has incurred US$125 million pre-tax of restructuring and integration costs, US$116 million of which has been expensed, in line with
original expectations.
(in US$ millions)
Restructuring and integration (pre-tax)
Restructuring and integration (post-tax)
For the three
months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
For the
twelve
months
ended
Dec. 31
2022
Total
expensed
to date
Dec. 31
2022
$
$
–
–
$
25
18
$
42
31
116
87
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
59
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
º
The integration of Personal Capital was completed as of December 31, 2022. To date, the Company has incurred US$57 million pre-tax of
restructuring and integration costs, US$43 million of which has been expensed, in line with original expectations. During the third quarter
of 2022, a contingent consideration provision of US$41 million pre-tax was released, as the growth in assets under management is below
the level where further contingent consideration is payable.
(in US$ millions)
Restructuring and integration (pre-tax)
Restructuring and integration (post-tax)
Transaction costs (pre-tax)
Transaction costs (post-tax)
For the three
months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
For the
twelve
months
ended
Dec. 31
2022
Total
expensed
to date
Dec. 31
2022
$
$
4
3
–
–
$
4
3
(41)
(39)
$
17
12
(41)
(39)
43
31
61
57
• Empower assets under administration (AUA) were US$1.3 trillion at December 31, 2022, an increase of US$0.1 trillion compared to
December 31, 2021 and an increase of US$0.1 trillion compared to September 30, 2022. Empower participant accounts have grown to 17.8
million at December 31, 2022, up from 13.0 million at December 31, 2021 and 17.5 million at September 30, 2022. The increases in AUA
and participants compared to December 31, 2021 were primarily the result of the Prudential acquisition. The increase in AUA compared to
September 30, 2022 was primarily due to an increase in equity markets.
• During 2022, the Company received the following awards and rankings:
º
º
º
In January 2022, Empower earned 28 “Best in Class” ratings from its customers in an annual survey from PLANSPONSOR Magazine that
gauges employers’ satisfaction with their retirement plan providers.
Empower was named by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” for its policies, practices
and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees.
In October 2022, Empower received the 2022 Service Awards Gold Medal for best participant tools and best reporting from Financial
Advisor IQ.
Asset Management Developments
• Putnam’s ending assets under management (AUM) at December 31, 2022 of US$164.7 billion decreased by US$37.8 billion compared to the
same period last year, while average AUM for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 of US$176.6 billion decreased by US$21.6 billion
compared to the same period last year.
• Putnam continues to sustain strong investment performance relative to its peers.
º
º
º
Putnam ranked 13th (out of 49) and sixth (out of 45) for the five-year and ten-year performance, respectively, in the 2021 Barron’s Annual
Best Fund Families rankings, which were released in the first quarter of 2022.
As of December 31, 2022, approximately 73% and 78% of Putnam’s fund assets performed at levels above the Lipper median on a three-
year and five-year basis, respectively. In addition, 43% and 66% of Putnam’s fund assets were in the Lipper top quartile on a three-year and
five-year basis, respectively. Putnam has 40 funds currently rated 4 or 5 stars by Morningstar Ratings.
In March 2022, Putnam Convertible Securities Fund received a 2022 Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award for its top performance over a five-year
period, recognizing the fund’s consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to its peers in the convertible securities category.
• Putnam expanded its offering of innovative products:
º
º
During 2022, Putnam made a series of product-related announcements to meet evolving market demand for sustainable investment
options including three actively managed, transparent exchange traded funds (ETFs) which were launched in January 2023, the
repositioning of Putnam’s RetirementReady Funds target-date series as the Putnam Sustainable Retirement Funds, the launching of
three active fixed income and two active quantitative equity ETFs with an ESG focus.
During the third quarter of 2022, Putnam launched two new transparent and actively managed equity ETFs. The Putnam BDC Income
ETF is concentrated on business development companies (BDCs) and Putnam BioRevolution ETF is centered on companies operating
at the intersection of technology and biology. Putnam BDC Income ETF is the first actively managed BDC ETF in the marketplace.
60
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Selected Financial Information – United States
Base earnings 1
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions 2
Market-related impacts on liabilities 2
Restructuring and integration costs
Transaction costs related to acquisitions
Net earnings – common shareholders
Sales 2
Fee and other income
Base earnings (US$) 1
Items excluded from base earnings (US$)
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions 2
Market-related impacts on liabilities 2
Restructuring and integration costs
Transaction costs related to acquisitions
Net earnings – common shareholders (US$)
Sales (US$) 2
Fee and other income (US$)
Total assets (US$) 3
Other assets under management 2,3
Total assets under management 1,3
Other assets under administration 2,3
Total assets under administration (US$) 1,3
Total assets under administration (C$) 1,3
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
185
–
9
(32)
–
162
40,278
1,156
135
–
7
(23)
–
119
29,616
850
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
204
–
(22)
(43)
25
164
35,854
1,095
156
–
(18)
(32)
19
125
27,370
836
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
156
2
(1)
(15)
(50)
92
$
$
$
$
652
–
(32)
(131)
(29)
$
460
$
671
6
(5)
(66)
(107)
499
40,104
$ 165,268
$ 204,584
998
125
1
(1)
(12)
(40)
73
$
$
4,271
499
–
(26)
(100)
(24)
$
$
3,880
535
5
(3)
(54)
(86)
$
349
$
397
31,829
$ 127,010
$ 162,455
792
3,270
3,092
$ 230,187
205,287
435,474
1,056,914
$ 219,580
194,513
$ 163,946
244,829
414,093
982,770
408,775
977,932
$ 1,492,388
$ 1,396,863
$ 1,386,707
$ 2,014,725
$ 1,927,671
$ 1,761,118
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
3 The Prudential acquisition during the second quarter of 2022 added US$88 billion (C$119 billion) in total assets, US$1 billion (C$1 billion) in other assets under management and US$197 billion
(C$267 billion) in other assets under administration as at December 31, 2022.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
61
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Financial Services Operating Results
Base earnings 1
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions 2
Market-related impact on liabilities 2
Restructuring and integration costs
Net earnings – common shareholders
Sales 2
Fee and other income
Base earnings (US$) 1
Items excluded from base earnings (US$)
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions 2
Market-related impact on liabilities 2
Restructuring and integration costs
Net earnings – common shareholders (US$)
Sales (US$) 2
Fee and other income (US$)
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
206
–
9
(28)
187
25,923
862
151
–
7
(20)
138
19,061
634
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
214
–
(22)
(22)
170
24,720
824
164
–
(18)
(16)
130
18,870
629
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
137
2
(1)
(15)
$
$
710
–
(32)
(94)
604
6
(5)
(55)
123
$
584
$
550
22,672
$ 115,112
$ 147,534
673
110
1
(1)
(12)
98
17,994
534
$
$
$
$
3,136
544
–
(26)
(72)
$
$
2,640
482
5
(3)
(44)
446
$
440
88,603
$ 117,036
2,400
2,103
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
Base and net earnings
In the fourth quarter of 2022, net earnings of US$138 million increased by US$40 million compared to the same quarter last year. Base earnings of
US$151 million increased by US$41 million compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to base earnings of US$47 million related to the
Prudential acquisition as well as higher contributions from investment experience. These items were partially offset by lower fee income driven
by lower average equity markets and transaction volumes as well as higher expenses driven by business growth.
Items excluded from base earnings of negative US$13 million were comparable to the same quarter last year as higher restructuring and
integration costs related to the Prudential acquisition were offset by positive contributions from hedge ineffectiveness related to Prudential
guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit products resulting from higher in-quarter equity market levels.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, net earnings increased by US$6 million to US$446 million compared to the same period last
year. Base earnings of US$544 million increased by US$62 million compared to the same period last year, primarily due to base earnings of
US$129 million related to the Prudential acquisition as well as the same reason discussed for the in-quarter results.
Items excluded from base earnings were negative US$98 million compared to negative US$42 million in the same period last year. The increase
was primarily due to higher restructuring and integration costs related to the Prudential acquisition as well as market volatility resulting in hedge
ineffectiveness related to Prudential guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit products.
Sales
Sales in the fourth quarter of 2022 of US$19.1 billion increased by US$1.1 billion compared to the same quarter last year. The increase was
primarily due to an increase in large plan sales. Large plan sales can be highly variable from period to period and tend to be lower margin;
however, contribute to covering fixed overhead costs.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, sales decreased by US$28.4 billion to US$88.6 billion compared to the same period last year,
primarily due to lower large plan sales. Included in sales for the first quarter of 2021 was one Empower large plan sale relating to a new client
with approximately 316,000 participants.
62
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Fee and other income
Fee income is derived primarily from assets under management, assets under administration, shareholder servicing fees, administration and
recordkeeping services, investment advisory services, investment management fees, performance fees, transfer agency and other service fees, as
well as underwriting and distribution fees.
Fee and other income for the fourth quarter of 2022 of US$634 million increased by US$100 million compared to the same quarter last year. The
increase was primarily due to Prudential related fee income of US$157 million, partially offset by lower Empower fee income driven by lower
average equity markets and lower transaction volumes.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, fee and other income increased by US$297 million to US$2,400 million compared to the same
period last year, primarily due to Prudential related fee income of US$463 million, partially offset by the same reasons discussed for the in-
quarter results.
Empower – assets under administration (US$)
General account
Segregated funds
Other assets under management 1,2
Other assets under administration 3
December 31
2022
2021
$
73,955
118,445
62,706
1,056,914
$
37,329
86,181
65,075
977,932
$ 1,312,020
$ 1,166,517
1 At December 31, 2022, other assets under management included US$19.6 billion in Putnam managed funds (US$19.6 billion at December 31, 2021) and US$89 billion in Prudential managed
funds (nil at December 31, 2021).
2 2021 comparative figure has been restated to include Personal Capital assets under management.
3 At December 31, 2022 other assets under administration included US$197 billion in Prudential managed funds (nil at December 31, 2021).
Empower customer account values at December 31, 2022 of US$1.3 trillion increased by US$145.5 billion compared with December 31, 2021,
primarily due to the Prudential acquisition.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
63
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Asset Management Operating Results
Core net earnings (loss) 1
Non-core net earnings (loss) 1
Net earnings (loss) 2
Sales 3
Fee income
Investment management fees
Performance fees
Service fees
Underwriting & distribution fees
Fee income
Core net earnings (loss) (US$) 1
Non-core net earnings (loss) (US$) 1
Net earnings (loss) (US$) 2
Sales (US$) 3
Fee income (US$)
Investment management fees
Performance fees
Service fees
Underwriting & distribution fees
Fee income (US$)
Core margin (pre-tax) 4
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
2
(29)
(27)
$
$
(17)
(5)
(22)
$
$
25
18
43
$
$
(23)
(43)
(66)
$
$
92
3
95
$
14,355
$
11,134
$
17,432
$
50,156
$
57,050
$
$
$
$
196
17
36
45
294
1
(21)
(20)
$
10,555
$
$
144
13
26
33
216
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
193
(3)
35
46
271
(13)
(4)
(17)
$
$
$
$
220
12
37
56
325
20
15
35
$
$
$
$
792
11
142
190
1,135
(18)
(32)
(50)
$
$
$
$
855
15
146
224
1,240
74
2
76
8,500
$
13,835
$
38,407
$
45,419
147
(2)
27
35
207
$
$
175
9
29
45
258
$
$
607
9
108
146
870
$
$
682
12
116
179
989
1.2%
(7.2)%
11.4%
(2.4)%
10.1%
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 For the Asset Management business unit, there were no differences between net earnings (loss) and base earnings (loss) in the periods presented.
3 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
4 This metric is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
Net earnings
For the Asset Management business unit, there were no differences between net earnings (loss) and base earnings (loss) in the periods presented.
The net loss for the fourth quarter of 2022 was US$20 million compared to net earnings of US$35 million for the same period last year, primarily
due to lower other AUM-based fee income and the unfavourable impact of certain tax items.
The net loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 was US$50 million compared to net earnings of US$76 million for the same period
last year, primarily due to the same reasons discussed for the in-quarter results.
Sales
Sales in the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased by US$3.3 billion to US$10.6 billion compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to a
decrease in institutional sales of US$3.7 billion.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, sales decreased by US$7.0 billion to US$38.4 billion compared to the same period last year,
primarily due to the same reason discussed for the in-quarter results.
64
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Fee income
Fee income is derived primarily from investment management fees, performance fees, transfer agency and other service fees, as well as
underwriting and distribution fees. Generally, fees are earned based on AUM and may depend on financial markets, the relative performance of
Putnam’s investment products to benchmarks, the number of retail accounts and sales. Performance fees are generated on certain mutual funds
and institutional portfolios and are generally based on a rolling 36-month performance period for mutual funds and a 12-month performance
period for institutional portfolios. Performance fees on mutual funds are symmetric, and as a result, can be positive or negative.
Fee income for the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased by US$42 million to US$216 million compared to the same quarter last year. The decrease
was primarily due to lower investment management fees and underwriting and distribution fees driven by lower other AUM as a result of lower
equity and fixed income markets. The decrease in underwriting and distribution fees was mostly offset by lower distribution expenses.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, fee income decreased by US$119 million to US$870 million compared to the same period last
year, primarily for the same reasons as the in-quarter results.
Other Assets Under Management (AUM) – Putnam (US$) 1,2
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Beginning other AUM
$ 157,738
$ 166,965
$ 196,887
$ 202,532
$ 191,554
Sales – Mutual funds and ETFs 1
Redemptions – Mutual funds and ETFs
Net asset flows – Mutual funds and ETFs 1
Sales – Institutional 1
Redemptions – Institutional
Net asset flows – Institutional 1
Net asset flows – Total 1
5,577
(7,203)
(1,626)
4,978
(4,836)
142
4,697
(5,845)
(1,148)
3,803
(4,695)
(892)
5,206
(6,812)
(1,606)
8,629
(7,063)
1,566
21,254
(27,545)
(6,291)
17,153
(21,195)
(4,042)
22,343
(26,605)
(4,262)
23,076
(26,109)
(3,033)
(1,484)
(2,040)
(40)
(10,333)
(7,295)
Impact of market/performance
8,458
(7,187)
5,685
(27,487)
18,273
Ending other AUM 3
$ 164,712
$ 157,738
$ 202,532
$ 164,712
$ 202,532
Average AUM 1
Mutual funds and ETFs
Institutional assets
Total average other AUM 1
79,219
85,771
82,029
87,854
98,425
102,090
84,741
91,813
97,155
100,968
$ 164,990
$ 169,883
$ 200,515
$ 176,554
$ 198,123
1 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
2 Other assets under management excluded US$1,061 million at December 31, 2022 in assets for which Putnam provides investment recommendations, but has no control over implementation
of investment decisions and no trading authority, including model portfolios and model-only separately managed accounts, and Putnam-designed custom indices that serve as the reference
benchmark for third-party insurance investment products (US$836 million at September 30, 2022 and US$412 million at December 31, 2021).
3 At December 31, 2022, ending other AUM included US$22.1 billion of assets managed for other business units within the Lifeco group of companies (US$20.4 billion at September 30, 2022 and
US$22.8 billion at December 31, 2021).
Putnam’s average other AUM for the three months ended December 31, 2022 were US$165.0 billion, a decrease of US$35.5 billion or 18%
compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to the cumulative impact of lower equity and fixed income markets as well as net outflows.
In-quarter mutual fund net asset outflows of US$1.6 billion were comparable with the same quarter last year while institutional net asset inflows
were US$1.4 billion lower.
Average other AUM for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 decreased by US$21.6 billion to US$176.6 billion compared to the same
period last year, for the same reason as the in-quarter results. Net asset outflows for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 were US$10.3
billion compared to US$7.3 billion for the same period last year.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
65
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
United States Corporate Operating Results
U.S. Corporate consists of items not associated directly with or allocated to the United States business units, including the impact of certain non-
continuing items related to the U.S. segment.
Base earnings (loss) 1
Items excluded from base earnings (loss)
Transaction costs related to acquisitions
Restructuring and integration costs
Net earnings (loss) – common shareholders
Base earnings (loss) (US$) 1
Items excluded from base earnings (loss) (US$)
Transaction costs related to acquisitions
Restructuring and integration costs
Net earnings (loss) – common shareholders (US$)
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
6
$
12
$
(24)
$
8
$
(28)
–
(4)
2
4
–
(3)
1
$
$
$
$
$
25
(21)
16
9
19
(16)
12
$
$
$
$
$
(50)
–
(74)
(20)
(40)
–
(60)
$
$
$
$
$
(29)
(37)
(58)
5
(24)
(28)
(47)
$
$
$
$
$
(107)
(11)
(146)
(23)
(86)
(10)
(119)
$
$
$
$
$
$
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
Net earnings
In the fourth quarter of 2022, net earnings were US$1 million compared to a net loss of US$60 million for the same period in the same quarter
last year, primarily due to lower transaction costs and the impact of changes in certain tax estimates. The fourth quarter of 2021 included US$39
million of additional contingent consideration expense related to the acquisition of Personal Capital.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, the net loss decreased by US$72 million to US$47 million compared to the same period last
year. The decrease was primarily due to the impact of certain tax items as well as lower transaction costs, which were driven by a contingent
consideration provision release of US$39 million related to Personal Capital in the third quarter of 2022. The twelve months ended December
31, 2021 included US$76 million of additional contingent consideration expense related to the acquisition of Personal Capital. These items were
partially offset by higher restructuring and integration costs related to the Prudential and MassMutual acquisitions.
66
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Outlook
Refer to Cautionary Note regarding Forward-looking Information and Cautionary Note regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios at
the beginning of this document.
Financial Services
Empower is positioned for significant growth opportunities with expertise and diversification across all plan types, company sizes and market
segments. The acquisition of the full-service retirement business of Prudential in the first half of 2022 added significant expertise, a broader set
of capabilities and an expanded product portfolio to Empower. Additionally, the acquisition further solidifies Empower’s position as the second
largest player in the U.S. retirement market. The Financial Services business unit continues to examine opportunities to structure products and
develop strategies to stimulate growth in AUM.
In 2023, Empower’s strategies to drive sales growth will continue to include active marketing of the brand, investing in product differentiation and
offering a best-in-class service model. In 2022, the integrations of Personal Capital and MassMutual were completed in the second half of the year.
The Company realized further cost synergies related to the migration of MassMutual’s retirement services business onto Empower’s recordkeeping
platform throughout 2022, while also beginning to realize cost synergies related to the migration of Prudential’s retirement services business in
the second half of 2022. Additional cost synergies related to Prudential are anticipated to be realized throughout 2023 and the first half of 2024.
In addition to those business integrations, it is expected that continued investments in improving customer web experience, including adding
innovative capabilities and ease of service products, will be made in 2023. These efforts are expected to increase customer retention and ultimately
increase participant retirement savings. Leveraging new capabilities from the acquisition of Personal Capital will allow Empower to continue to
better integrate Prudential’s existing business of helping customers better understand their current financial needs through financial advice and
goal setting.
Asset Management
Putnam remains committed to providing strong, long-term risk-adjusted investment performance across asset classes for its clients and investors
in the mutual fund, institutional and retirement marketplaces.
Putnam continues to focus efforts on driving growth and market share through new sales and asset retention in all of its businesses, including
Global Institutional, PanAgora (Putnam’s quantitative institutional manager), U.S. Retail and Defined Contribution Investment Only, while
maintaining its industry recognized reputation for service excellence.
Innovation will remain a key differentiator in 2023 as Putnam further develops and refines its product offerings, service features and operational
functions, while seeking to bolster its corporate and brand image in the marketplace. As a cloud-first company, Putnam continues to increasingly
utilize digital technology across its business to drive greater efficiencies and create opportunities.
Putnam is also focused on managing firm-wide expenses as it seeks to further build a scalable and profitable asset management franchise.
Europe
The Europe segment is comprised of three distinct business units serving customers in the U.K., Ireland and Germany and offers protection and
wealth management products, including payout annuity products. The U.K. and Germany business units operate under the Canada Life brand
and the Ireland business unit operates under the Irish Life brand.
Business Profile
United Kingdom
The core products offered by the U.K. business unit are bulk and individual payout annuities, equity release mortgages, investments (including
life bonds, retirement drawdown and pension), and group insurance. These products are distributed through independent financial advisors and
employee benefit consultants in the U.K. and by companies in the Isle of Man selling into the U.K. Canada Life Management (CLAM) is the U.K.’s
fund management company managing a broad range of assets on behalf of the U.K. businesses and companies in the Lifeco group.
Ireland
The core products offered by Irish Life in Ireland are savings and investments, individual and group life insurance, health insurance and pension
products. These products are distributed through independent brokers, a direct sales force and tied agent bank branches. Irish Life Health offers
individual and corporate health plans, distributed through independent brokers and direct channels. Irish Life Investment Managers (ILIM)
is one of the Company’s fund management operations in Ireland. In addition to managing assets on behalf of companies in the Lifeco group,
ILIM also manages assets for a wide range of institutional clients including pension schemes, insurance companies, wealth managers, fiduciary
managers and sovereign wealth funds across Europe and North America. Setanta Asset Management, a subsidiary of the Company, manages
assets for third-party institutional clients and a number of companies in the Lifeco group. The Company also owns a number of leading employee
benefits and wealth consultancy businesses in Ireland, serving over 300,000 customers.
Germany
The core products offered by the Germany business unit are individual and group pensions and life insurance products. These products are
distributed through independent brokers and multi-tied agents.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
67
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Market Overview
Products and Services
Europe
Market Position
Products and Services
U.K.
• Group life market share 23% 1
U.K.
• Individual and bulk payout annuities
• Group income protection market share 14% 1
• Fixed term annuities
Distribution
U.K.
• Financial advisors
• Private banks
• Payout annuities market share 20% (Advisor
• Individual savings and investments
• Employee benefit consultants
only) 2
• A market leading international life company
selling into the U.K. market with over 23%
market share 3
(retirement drawdown & pension, onshore &
international bonds and collective investment
funds)
• Group and individual life insurance
• Among the top three in the onshore unit-
• Group income protection (disability)
linked single premium bond market, with 9%
market share (Advisor only) 3
• A leading company in the equity release
market with 18% market share 4
Ireland
• Life assurance market share 38% 5
• ILIM is one of the largest institutional fund
managers in Ireland with €93 billion assets
under management 6
• Third largest health insurance business
through Irish Life Health with a market share
of 21% 5
Germany
• 4% share of the broker market 6
• Group and individual critical illness
• Equity release mortgages
Ireland
• Individual and group risk & pensions
• Individual and bulk payout annuities
• Health insurance
• Wealth management services
• Individual savings and investment
• Institutional investment management
Germany
• Pensions
• Income protection (disability)
• Critical illness
• Variable annuities (GMWB)
• Individual life insurance
Ireland
• Independent brokers
• Pensions and investment consultants
• Direct sales force made up of primarily self
employed tied agents and a smaller employed
sales team
• Tied bank branch distribution
• Direct digital and contact centre
Germany
• Independent brokers
• Multi-tied agents
1 As at December 31, 2021.
2 Market share based on third quarter 2022 data through financial advisors, restricted whole market advisors and non-advised distributor.
3 Market share position is based on sales for the twelve month period ended September 30, 2022.
4 Equity Release Council market statistics for the fourth quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 2022.
5 As at September 30, 2022.
6 As at December 31, 2022.
68
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Competitive Conditions
United Kingdom
In the U.K., the Company has strong market positions for payout annuities, wealth management and group risk, where it is a market leader.
Combined sales from the onshore and international wealth management businesses puts Canada Life as one of the top investment bond
providers in the U.K.
For individual annuities, the Company has benefited in recent years from an increase in the proportion of customers seeking the best price in the
open market, increasing the proportion of customers buying annuities through financial advisors, which are the Company’s primary distribution
channel. The Company continues to offer both standard and enhanced annuities as well as investment based pension and drawdown products
for customers wanting to take advantage of pension flexibility. The Company is well positioned for further growth in the retirement retail market,
supported by its equity release mortgage expertise, which is an important part of the retirement market. Adverse financial market conditions in
the U.K. led to a temporary suspension of equity release mortgage applications in late September of 2022. These applications recommenced in
November of 2022. The Company also offers bulk annuities aimed at trustees of defined benefits plans who want to insure pension annuities in
payment. This is a large and growing market and demand from trustees remains strong as they consider ways to reduce risk. With considerable
expertise and experience in longevity and investment products, the Company is well placed in the bulk annuity market.
In November of 2022, the Company announced its exit from the U.K.’s individual protection market to refocus on the group protection and
international protection markets. Future estate planning continues to be an area of focus for U.K. advisors and Canada Life International remains
one of the leading companies in this sector of the market.
Canada Life Asset Management (CLAM) is based in the U.K. with approximately £37 billion of assets under management, as at December 31,
2022. CLAM’s core fund management solutions include a broad asset sourcing capability that supports its institutional client mandates, bulk
annuity and reinsurance customers and retail collective funds. CLAM distributes its products through a network of platforms, discretionary fund
managers and financial advisors.
Ireland
The Company is the largest life assurance company in Ireland with a market share of 38% as at September 30, 2022. Irish Life follows a multi-
channel distribution strategy with a large broker distribution network, the largest direct sales force and the largest Bancassurance distribution
network where it has tied relationships with five banks. Two of the smaller banks are currently in the process of winding down their Irish
operations and will formally exit from the Irish market in 2023.
ILIM is one of Ireland’s largest institutional fund managers with approximately €93 billion of assets under management, as at December 31,
2022. ILIM continues to expand its real estate offerings, broaden its ESG capabilities, evolve its asset and liability management and focus on bulk
annuity services to large defined benefit pension schemes.
Setanta Asset Management had approximately €13 billion of assets under management as at December 31, 2022.
Irish Life Health has a top three position in the Irish market and provides access to healthcare through its health insurance plans, offering
preventative health benefits through a combination of innovative digital and in-person services.
The intermediary division of Irish Life provides employee benefits and wealth consultancy to individuals and companies in Ireland through a
number of specialist intermediary firms.
Germany
The Company has a leading position among providers of low guarantee unitized products to the German independent intermediary market. The
move of insurance companies from traditional German insurance products with guarantees to the unitized lighter guarantee product categories
that Canada Life offers continues, increasing the level of competition. The Company has enhanced its ongoing product, technology and service
improvements to help strengthen its position in the competitive German market.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
69
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
2022 Developments
• The Company continued to advance its digital capabilities to serve advisors and clients:
º
º
During the first quarter of 2022, Canada Life U.K. announced the launch of its redesigned Home Finance Adviser Portal which allows
advisers streamlined access to obtain quotes, submit applications and track case progress conveniently using the custom-built portal.
Additionally, the Simplified Platform Programme launched Customer Online Access which marks the successful completion of a major
commitment the wealth business had made toward key adviser relationships.
In the second quarter of 2022, Irish Life invested in a minority shareholding in U.K. based financial technology company Multiply.AI
(Multiply), enabling Irish Life to design and build compliant digital customer journeys specific to the Irish market.
• The Company’s commitment to sustainability were further evidenced:
º
º
From April 2022, Canada Life U.K.’s Potters Bar and London offices have been supplied with 100% renewable REGO-certified electricity
(Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin), making the carbon emissions from electricity in these offices effectively zero.
Canada Life Asset Management supported a regeneration plan in the North of England and agreed to fund the development of two
Grade-A office buildings for £75 million.
• The Company expanded its product and service capabilities:
º
º
In the third quarter of 2022, Irish Life entered into a new partnership with Centric Health Primary Care Limited, a leading Irish primary
care provider. The partnership agreement received regulatory approval during the fourth quarter of 2022 with the newly established joint
venture named Care Connect.
In the third quarter of 2022, Canada Life Asset Management launched the LF Canlife Sterling Short Term Bond Fund which broadens
options for investors with short and medium-term cash requirements. The fund aims to provide a stable income by investing in sterling-
denominated short-term fixed income and variable rate bonds, including money market instruments.
• Adverse financial market conditions in the U.K. led to a temporary suspension of equity release mortgage applications in late September.
Applications recommenced in November with interest rate increases reducing both the total market size and the average case size.
• During the year, the Company received the following rankings:
º
º
The recent group protection industry survey ‘Group Watch 2022’ from Swiss Re confirmed Canada Life U.K. as the leading provider by in-
force premium, policies and lives insured.
Assekurata Assekuranz Rating-Agentur GmbH, a German financial strength rating agency, raised the credit rating of Canada Life
Assurance Europe plc, a subsidiary of Canada Life, from AA- to AA, making Canada Life one of the highest rated life insurance companies
in Germany.
• Strategic Transactions Update:
º
º
In the second quarter of 2021, a 50:50 joint venture agreement was reached by Allied Irish Banks plc (AIB) and Canada Life Irish Holding
Company Limited to form a new life assurance company. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company incurred transaction costs of $3
million ($18 million incurred to date) related to this agreement. In December 2022, the joint venture agreement received authorization in
principle from the Central Bank of Ireland.
In Q4 2022, Irish Life completed the portfolio transfer of Ark Life, which was integrated into ILA’s Retail division effective October 1,
2022. This follows the purchase of Ark Life on November 1, 2021 by Irish Life Group Limited. During the fourth quarter of 2022, Ark Life
Assurance Company dac changed its legal name to Irish Life Ark Dublin dac.
70
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Selected Financial Information – Europe
Base earnings (loss) 1
United Kingdom
Ireland
Germany
Europe Corporate
Base earnings (loss) 1
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions 2
Market-related impacts on liabilities 2
Transaction costs related to acquisitions
Tax legislative changes impact
Net gain/charge on business dispositions
Net earnings – common shareholders
Sales 2
Insurance
Wealth Management
Sales 2
Wealth and investment only net cash flows 2
United Kingdom
Ireland
Germany
Wealth and investment only net cash flows 2
Fee and other income
United Kingdom
Ireland
Germany
Fee and other income
Total assets
Other assets under management 2
Total assets under management 1
Other assets under administration 2,3
Total assets under administration 2
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
153
59
37
(10)
239
37
16
(5)
–
–
287
887
5,551
6,438
190
856
174
1,220
40
180
108
328
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
105
65
37
(7)
200
69
(15)
(5)
–
–
249
966
5,616
6,582
198
309
170
677
37
174
101
312
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
110
67
41
(5)
213
46
18
(24)
–
(14)
239
909
5,584
6,493
42
1,354
266
1,662
42
200
122
364
$
$
$
$
$
497
267
156
(28)
892
117
(5)
(20)
–
–
984
3,975
23,305
$
$
$
$
$
366
288
196
(20)
830
186
19
(24)
(21)
(14)
976
4,202
22,411
$
27,280
$
26,613
$
827
3,207
820
$
4,854
$
166
733
435
$
$
$
348
3,085
925
4,358
175
772
468
$
1,334
$
1,415
$ 179,274
50,539
$ 165,283
46,749
$ 200,899
60,480
229,813
11,345
212,032
10,640
261,379
12,360
$ 241,158
$ 222,672
$ 273,739
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
3 At December 31, 2022, other assets under administration excludes $10.8 billion of assets managed for other business units within the Lifeco group of companies ($10.0 billion at September 30, 2022
and $10.8 billion at December 31, 2021).
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
71
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Base and net earnings
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Europe segment’s net earnings of $287 million increased by $48 million compared to the same quarter last
year. Base earnings of $239 million increased by $26 million compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to favourable investment
experience in the U.K. and Ireland as well as favourable longevity experience in the U.K. These items were partially offset by less favourable
morbidity experience in Ireland, the unfavourable impact of currency movement, and the non-recurrence of changes to certain tax estimates in
the U.K. in the prior year.
Items excluded from base earnings for the fourth quarter of 2022 were positive $48 million compared to positive $26 million for the same quarter
last year. The increase was primarily due to lower transaction costs, including contingent consideration provisions, related to acquisitions
in Ireland and a net charge on business disposition in the prior year. These items were partially offset by lower contributions from actuarial
assumption changes and other management actions. Market-related impacts on liabilities were comparable to the same quarter last year as
reductions in property market values in the U.K. were mostly offset by favourable impacts on investment guarantee business and positive interest
rate impacts in Ireland.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, net earnings increased by $8 million to $984 million compared to the same period last year.
Base earnings of $892 million increased by $62 million compared to the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to favourable
investment experience in the U.K. and Ireland, higher fee income and favourable mortality experience in Ireland. The increase was partially offset
by unfavourable longevity experience in the U.K., the unfavourable impact of currency movement, and the non-recurrence of a 2021 pension
settlement gain in Ireland.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, items excluded from base earnings decreased by $54 million to $92 million, primarily due
to lower contributions from actuarial assumption changes and other management actions as well as unfavourable market-related impacts
driven by the same reasons discussed for the in-quarter results. The twelve months ended December 31, 2021 included unfavourable impacts
of tax legislative changes on deferred tax liabilities as well as lower transaction costs, including contingent consideration provisions, related to
acquisitions in Ireland, and a net charge on business disposition in Corporate.
Sales
Sales for the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased by $0.1 billion to $6.4 billion compared to the same quarter last year. Higher fund management
and bulk annuity sales in Ireland were more than offset by lower bulk annuity sales in the U.K., lower wealth management sales in Ireland and
Germany as well as the impact of currency movement.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, sales increased by $0.7 billion to $27.3 billion compared to last year, primarily due to higher
fund management sales in Ireland, higher wealth management sales in Ireland and the U.K., growth in equity release mortgage sales in the U.K.
as well as bulk annuity sales in Ireland. These items were partially offset by lower bulk annuity sales in the U.K. and lower wealth management
sales in Germany and the impact of currency movement.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, wealth and investment only net cash inflows were $1,220 million compared to net inflows of $1,662 million for
the same quarter last year. The decrease was primarily due to higher fund management outflows in Ireland. For the twelve months ended
December 31, 2022, net cash inflows were $4,854 million compared to $4,358 million for the same period last year, primarily due to higher wealth
management sales in Ireland and the U.K.
Fee and other income
Fee and other income for the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased by $36 million to $328 million compared to the same quarter last year. The
decrease was primarily due to lower management fees on segregated fund assets and other management fees in Ireland and Germany as well as
the impact of currency movement.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, fee and other income decreased by $81 million to $1,334 million compared to the same period
last year. Higher management fees on segregated fund assets and other management fees across all business units were more than offset by the
impact of currency movement.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Outlook
Refer to Cautionary Note regarding Forward-looking Information and Cautionary Note regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios
at the beginning of this document.
United Kingdom
The retail payout annuities market is expected to show modest growth in the medium to long-term. Some individuals have chosen to remain
invested in the market while drawing pension income rather than buying a payout annuity; however, the Company expects that the attractiveness
of guaranteed income from annuities will remain a key part of customers’ retirement planning in the future. The Company expects the opportunity
to grow its payout annuity business in line with the expected growth in the overall retirement market given the higher interest rate environment.
The overall size of the retirement market continues to grow as more employers transition from defined benefit to defined contribution pension
plans, with significant growth expected in equity release mortgages, pension consolidation and income drawdown. The Company plans to
continue to develop products for individuals who require additional pension flexibility and to further develop its presence in the bulk annuity
market where trustees of defined benefit schemes want to remove risk by insuring pension liabilities near to or already in payment.
Canada Life continues to be a key player in the single premium investment bond marketplace. Canada Life plans to continue to develop its
presence in both the international and onshore market segments. The Company’s distribution strategy for onshore will remain focused on
financial advisors. In the international wealth management segment, the outlook is cautiously optimistic, with the majority of the Company’s
business growth expected to be through discretionary fund management wealth advisors, the retail market and through tax and estate planning
products.
The Group protection business remains the market leader and the Company believes that this market share position will facilitate continued
growth in premium income. The Company anticipates employment contraction arising from the U.K. economy entering recession, although it
does not expect material impacts on earnings due to the offsetting impact of wage inflation.
Ireland
Irish Life’s vision to be “Ireland’s home of Health and Wealth” continues to progress strongly driven by a number of innovation and transformation
initiatives across the Irish business unit. The Company also continues to expand its Wealth & Intermediary Division.
The Irish business is accruing benefits from being a collaborative, centrally connected, inquisitive and digitally enabled organization that embraces
technology for the benefit of all its stakeholders. In 2022 it has again actively reviewed and amended its strategy to accelerate developments that
help its customers and advisers face the challenges presented by the current economic climate. The launch of the MyIrishLife digital portal
presents existing and new Irish Life customers a best-in-market view of our services and products.
Irish Life continues to expand its well-being offering in line with the Company’s commitment to support its customers, employees and wider
community in managing their mental, physical and financial well-being. In 2022, Irish Life Health exceeded 500,000 customers and as a group,
its insurance companies now serve more than 1.5 million adult customers.
The Company’s broadly diversified product portfolio, distribution channels and target market segments have helped it adapt successfully to
the economic challenges presented in the post-pandemic world, and position it well in relation to opportunities expected to be present in the
Irish economy in 2023. Further evidence of Irish Life’s strong positioning can be seen from its high customer satisfaction scores and the current
market-leading position it holds with ILA now having a 38% market share.
Germany
The outlook for the German business continues to be positive and the Company expects growth in its share of the market and assets under
management as the German economy improves during 2023. The Company has positioned itself to further strengthen its presence in the unit-
linked market through increased investments in product development, distribution technology and service improvements.
The Company will focus on the independent intermediary distribution channel and has a strong distribution technology platform in Germany,
which offers considerable service flexibility.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
73
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Capital and Risk Solutions
The Capital and Risk Solutions segment of Lifeco includes the operating results of the Reinsurance business unit which operates primarily in the
U.S., Barbados, Bermuda and Ireland, together with an allocation of a portion of Lifeco’s corporate results. Capital and Risk Solutions Corporate
includes the results for the segment’s legacy international businesses.
Business Profile
Reinsurance
Reinsurance provides capital and risk solutions and operates primarily in the U.S., Barbados, Bermuda and Ireland. In the U.S., the reinsurance
business operates through a branch of Canada Life, subsidiaries of Canada Life and a subsidiary of Empower. In Barbados, the reinsurance
business operates primarily through a branch of Canada Life and subsidiaries of Canada Life. In Bermuda and Ireland, the reinsurance business
operates through a subsidiary of Canada Life.
The Company’s business includes both reinsurance and retrocession business transacted directly with clients or through reinsurance brokers. As
a retrocessionaire, the Company provides reinsurance to other reinsurers to enable those companies to manage their insurance risk.
The product portfolio offered by the Company includes life, health, annuity/longevity, mortgage surety and property catastrophe reinsurance,
provided on both a proportional and non-proportional basis.
In addition to providing reinsurance products to third parties, the Company also utilizes internal reinsurance transactions between companies
in the Lifeco group. These transactions are undertaken to better manage insurance risks relating to retention, volatility and concentration; and to
facilitate capital management for the Company, its subsidiaries and branch operations. These internal reinsurance transactions produce benefits
that are reflected in one or more of the Company’s other business units.
Market Overview
Products and Services
Reinsurance
Market Position
• 4th largest reinsurer worldwide by premium
volume 1
Products and Services
Life, Health and Annuity
• Yearly renewable term
Distribution
• Independent reinsurance brokers
• Direct placements
• Largest life reinsurer worldwide by premium
• Co-insurance
volume 1
• Leading provider of structured reinsurance
solutions in the U.S. and Europe markets
• Leading provider of U.K. and European
longevity reinsurance
• Ranked 8th for traditional mortality
reinsurance in the U.S in terms of market
share 1
• Long-standing provider of a range of property
and casualty catastrophe retrocession
coverages
• Modified co-insurance
• Risk & capital management solutions
Longevity
• Longevity swaps
• Capital management solutions
Mortgage and Surety Reinsurance
• Stop loss and quota share
Property and Casualty
• Catastrophe retrocession
• Capital management solutions
Funded reinsurance
• Coinsurance of life and annuity blocks with
assets
1 As at December 31, 2021.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Competitive Conditions
In the U.S. life reinsurance market, insurers continue to view reinsurance as an important tool for risk and capital management. Several
competitors are now focusing on growing their market share, which resulted in increased competition. Nevertheless, a biennial independent
industry survey released in October 2021 confirmed that the Company remains one of the top two providers of risk and capital management
solutions in the U.S. market. The Company’s financial strength and ability to offer risk and capital solutions and traditional mortality reinsurance
continues to be a competitive advantage.
In Europe, Solvency II dominates the regulatory landscape and interest in reinsurance solutions that produce capital benefits continues to grow.
Demand for longevity reinsurance remains strong in the U.K., the Netherlands and other continental European countries. As a result, there are
now more reinsurers participating in the European market.
2022 Developments
• The Capital and Risk Solutions segment continued to grow by providing tailored solutions to customers while increasing diversification within
the portfolio. During 2022, the Capital and Risk Solutions segment expanded its international presence in targeted new markets, including
Asia, while continuing to focus on core markets and product expansion in Europe and the U.S.
• The Company offers property catastrophe coverage to reinsurance companies and as a result, the Company is exposed to potential claims
arising from major weather events and other catastrophic events. The Company has been closely following the impacts of Hurricane Ian, which
caused a high level of insured losses. The Company’s net earnings for the third quarter of 2022 included a $128 million after-tax provision
primarily relating to estimated claims net of reinstatement premiums on these coverages. The Company’s loss estimate is based on currently
available information and the exercise of judgment and may change as additional information becomes available.
Selected Financial Information – Capital and Risk Solutions
Base earnings (loss) 1
Reinsurance
Capital and Risk Solutions Corporate
Base earnings (loss) 1
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions 2
Market-related impact on liabilities 2
Net earnings – common shareholders
Total net premiums
Reinsurance
Capital and Risk Solutions Corporate
Total net premiums
Total assets 3
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
$
$
$
190
(3)
187
10
14
211
8,446
6
8,452
$
$
$
$
$
3
(2)
1
119
(5)
115
7,205
6
7,211
$
$
$
$
$
147
(2)
145
(12)
–
133
7,216
6
7,222
$
$
$
$
540
(8)
532
129
1
662
31,711
20
$
$
$
$
552
(5)
547
(15)
–
532
29,514
19
$
31,731
$
29,533
$
16,346
$
15,265
$
17,396
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
3 The Capital and Risk Solutions segment does not have assets under management or other assets under administration.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
75
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Base and net earnings
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Capital and Risk Solutions segment’s net earnings of $211 million increased by $78 million compared to the
same quarter last year. Base earnings of $187 million increased by $42 million compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to strong
new business growth, favourable longevity experience and improved claims experience on the U.S. life business. The increase was partially offset
by the impact of currency movement.
Items excluded from base earnings were positive $24 million compared to negative $12 million for the same quarter last year. The fourth quarter
of 2022 included positive contributions from insurance contract liability basis changes and a decrease in actuarial liabilities on a legacy block of
business with investment performance guarantees.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, net earnings increased by $130 million to $662 million compared to the same period last year.
Base earnings of $532 million decreased by $15 million compared to the same period last year, primarily due to the net provision for estimated
claims resulting from the impact of Hurricane Ian of $128 million after-tax recorded in the third quarter of 2022, mostly offset by business growth,
favourable longevity experience and improved claims experience on the U.S. life business. The third quarter of 2021 also included a provision
for major weather events for $61 million.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, items excluded from base earnings increased by $145 million to positive $130 million compared
to the same period last year, primarily due to the same reasons discussed for the in-quarter results.
Total net premiums
Reinsurance premiums can vary significantly from period to period depending on the terms of underlying treaties. For certain life reinsurance
transactions, premiums will vary based on the form of the transaction. Treaties where insurance contract liabilities are assumed on a proportionate
basis will typically have significantly higher premiums than treaties where claims are not incurred by the reinsurer until a threshold is exceeded.
Earnings are not directly correlated to premiums received.
Total net premiums for the fourth quarter of 2022 of $8.5 billion increased by $1.2 billion compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due
to new business in the current period.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, total net premiums increased by $2.2 billion to $31.7 billion compared to the same period last
year, primarily due to the same reason discussed for the in-quarter results.
Outlook
Refer to Cautionary Note regarding Forward-looking Information and Cautionary Note regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios
at the beginning of this document.
The U.S. health individual market continues to create expanded opportunities for reinsurance.
The Company’s Reinsurance business unit continues to help European clients and other affiliated companies meet these capital challenges
through innovative reinsurance solutions. Demand for longevity reinsurance remains strong and will remain a focus for 2023.
Internationally, Canada Life continued to explore opportunities where the Company’s reinsurance solutions can support clients in new
geographies and executed a number of value generating transactions. Measured international expansion will remain a focus in 2023.
2022 was the sixth consecutive year of significant hurricane and flood events. The Company expects 2023 retrocessional pricing to continue to
increase. Insurance linked securities capacity has decreased due to trapped collateral from 2017 to 2022 events, together with a lower appetite
for these risks. The Company’s primary focus in the property catastrophe market for 2023 will be to continue to support the core client base with
prudent attachment levels and risk adjusted premiums.
Lifeco Corporate Operating Results
The Lifeco Corporate segment includes operating results for activities of Lifeco that are not associated with the major business units of
the Company.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Lifeco Corporate segment’s net loss was $14 million compared to a net loss of $6 million for the same period last
year, primarily due to higher operating expenses driven by variable compensation expenses, partially offset by higher net investment income.
There were no differences between net loss and base loss for the fourth quarter of 2022.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, the Lifeco Corporate segment’s net loss was $3 million compared to a net loss of $66 million
for the same period last year. Base loss of $3 million decreased by $5 million compared to the same period last year, primarily due to higher net
investment income and lower operating expenses. Items excluded from base earnings were nil compared to negative $58 million for the same
period last year, primarily due to a provision in the prior year for payments relating to the Company’s 2003 acquisition of Canada Life.
76
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Risk Management
Overview
As a diverse financial services company, the effective management of risk is integral to the success of the Company’s business. The Company is
committed to a comprehensive system of risk management, which is embedded across all business activities, operated through a three lines of
defense organization and overseen by the Board of Directors. The Company’s three lines of defense include business unit and support functions,
oversight functions including actuarial, finance, risk and compliance, and the Company’s internal audit function. The Company has a prudent
and measured approach to risk management. This approach is built on a strong risk culture and is guided by an integrated Enterprise Risk
Management (ERM) Framework.
The Company’s ERM Framework facilitates the alignment of business strategy with risk appetite, informs and improves the deployment of
capital; and supports the identification, mitigation and management of exposure to possible losses and risks. The Company’s Risk Function
is responsible for developing and maintaining the Risk Appetite Framework (RAF), the supporting risk policies and risk limit structure, and
provides independent risk oversight across the Company’s operations.
There are three main sections to this Risk Management disclosure: ERM Framework, Risk Management and Control Practices and Exposures
and Sensitivities.
Enterprise Risk Management Framework
The Company’s Board and Management Committees provide oversight of the ERM Framework which is comprised of five components: Risk
Culture, Risk Governance, RAF, Risk Processes and Risk Infrastructure & Policies.
• Board Committees
• Senior Management
Committees
• 3 Lines of Defense
• Risk Policies
• Risk systems
• Operating standards
and guidelines
Risk
Governance
Risk Appetite
Framework
Risk Culture
Risk
Infrastucture
and Policies
Risk
Processes
• Risk Strategy
• Risk Appetite
Statement
• Risk Preferences
• Risk Limit
Framework
• Identification
• Measurement
• Management
• Monitoring
• Reporting
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
77
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Risk Culture
Risk culture is defined as the system of norms, values, attitudes and behaviours that influences and informs risk decision-making. Our risk
culture reflects the Company’s collective sense of responsibility to fulfill our commitments and promises to our stakeholders. Our risk culture is
guided by our corporate purpose and core values with a customer first approach. We safeguard our financial strength and strong reputation while
growing shareholder value in a manner that balances the interests of all stakeholders.
This culture is instilled through a mindset of risk awareness as demonstrated by:
• Consistent tone from the Board, senior management and throughout the organization in respect of behavioural and ethical expectations, and
alignment of business decisions with business strategies, corporate purpose, core values and risk appetite
• Recognition that risk is inherent in our business success and reflects opportunity when appropriately managed
• Individual and shared commitment to the importance of continuous management of risk, including clear accountability for and ownership of
specific risks and risk areas
• Rewarding of positive risk taking and management behaviours while challenging and remediating those that are inconsistent with corporate
purpose, core values or risk appetite
• Encouragement of risk event reporting and the presence of robust whistleblowing processes, actively seeking to learn from mistakes and
near misses
• Accountability to all stakeholders
• Recognition that risk management is a responsibility of all employees, officers and directors, both individually and collectively; risk
management skills and knowledge are developed and core to our ongoing success; effective challenge is expected and respected across all
business operations and all three lines of defense. Oversight and assurance functions are valued and appropriately resourced throughout
the organization
Risk Governance
Risk governance sets out the roles and responsibilities for the Board of Directors (Board) and Board Committees.
Board of Directors
The mandate of the Board, which it discharges directly or through one of its Committees, is to supervise the management of the business and
affairs of the Company. The Board is ultimately accountable and responsible for the governance and oversight of risk throughout the Company.
The Board annually approves the strategic goals, objectives, plans and initiatives for Lifeco, and in so doing reviews the risks associated with
Lifeco’s diverse business, strategic goals and high priority initiatives. Key risk responsibilities include:
• Approving the ERM Policy and RAF;
• Monitoring the implementation and maintenance by management of appropriate systems, policies, procedures and controls to manage the
risks associated with the Company’s businesses and operations;
• Annually approving Lifeco’s business, financial and capital plans and monitoring the implementation by management thereof;
• Upon the recommendation of the Risk Committee, adopting a Code of Conduct applicable to Directors, officers and employees of the Company;
• Periodically approving policies designed to support independence of the Risk, Finance, Actuarial and Compliance oversight functions as well
as the Internal Audit assurance function; and
• Overseeing the Company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, monitoring management’s execution against this strategy
and reviewing the related impacts, risks, initiatives and reporting.
Risk Committee
The Risk Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for assisting the Board with risk management oversight and governance throughout
the Company. The Risk Committee’s responsibilities include:
• Review and oversight of the ERM Policy and RAF;
• Review, approval and oversight of the credit, market and liquidity, insurance, operational, conduct, strategic and other risk policies;
• Approval of the risk limit framework, associated risk limits and monitoring adherence to those limits;
• Approval of the organizational and reporting structures, budget and resources of the Risk and Compliance functions;
• Discussion of the risks in aggregate and by type of risk, including actions taken or planned to mitigate those risks where appropriate;
• Review relevant reports including stress testing and Financial Condition Testing;
• Review and approval of the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) Report;
• Periodic approval of the Recovery Plan Playbook;
• Advise the Board of any developments that would materially alter the risk profile;
• Review of the risk impact of business strategies, capital plans, financial plans and new business initiatives;
• Review and approval of the mandate for and assessment of the performance of the Company’s CRO, CCO and the effectiveness of the Risk and
Compliance functions;
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis • Review and monitoring of compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct;
• Periodic consideration and input regarding the relationships between risk and compensation; and
• Review and assessment of the effectiveness of risk management across the Company including processes to ensure effective identification,
measurement, management, monitoring and reporting on significant current and emerging risks.
The Risk Committee is required to meet, at least annually, with the Audit Committee and with the Company’s Chief Internal Auditor. The Risk
Committee meets with the Investment Committee as appropriate. Members of the Risk Committee are independent of management.
Audit Committee – The primary mandate of the Audit Committee is to review the financial statements of the Company and public disclosure
containing financial information and to report on such reviews to the Board, to be satisfied that adequate procedures are in place for the review
of the Company’s public disclosures containing financial information and to oversee the work and review the independence of the external
auditor. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing, evaluating and approving the internal control procedures that are implemented
and maintained by management. The Audit Committee meets as often as necessary to discharge its duties and responsibilities and meets at least
annually with the Risk Committee. Members of the Audit Committee are independent of management.
Conduct Review Committee – The primary mandate of the Conduct Review Committee is to require management to establish satisfactory
procedures for the consideration and approval of transactions with related parties and to review and, if deemed appropriate, to approve related
party transactions in accordance with such procedures. Members of the Conduct Review Committee are independent of management.
Governance and Nominating Committee – The primary mandate of the Governance and Nominating Committee is to oversee the Company’s
approach to governance matters, to recommend to the Board effective corporate governance policies and processes, to assess the effectiveness
of the Board, Board Committees and the Directors and to recommend to the Board candidates for election as Directors and candidates for
appointment to Board Committees.
Human Resources Committee – The primary mandate of the Human Resources Committee is to support the Board in its oversight of
compensation, talent management and succession planning. This includes the responsibility to approve compensation policies, to review the
designs of major compensation programs, to approve compensation arrangements and any benefit or perquisite plan for senior executives of the
Company and to recommend to the Board compensation arrangements for the Directors and for the President and Chief Executive Officer. The
mandate also includes the responsibility to review succession plans for the President and Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives,
to review talent management programs and initiatives and to review the leadership capabilities required to support the advancement of the
Company’s strategic objectives. The Human Resources Committee is also responsible for considering the implications of the risks associated with
the Company’s compensation policies, plans and practices and in doing so meets annually with the Chief Risk Officer. The Human Resources
Committee also meets with the Risk Committee on an as needed basis.
Investment Committee – The primary mandate of the Investment Committee is to oversee the Company’s global investment strategy and
activities, including approving the Company’s Investment Policy and monitoring the Company’s compliance with the Investment Policy. The
global investment strategy includes climate-related transition risks and opportunities such as cleaner energy sectors that could impact our
investment growth strategies. The mandate also includes reviewing the Company’s annual investment plan and monitoring emerging risks,
market trends and performance, investment regulatory issues and any other matters relevant to the oversight of the Company’s global investment
function. The Investment Committee meets as often as necessary to discharge its duties and responsibilities and meets with the Risk Committee
as appropriate.
Reinsurance Committee – The primary mandate of the Reinsurance Committee is to advise on the Company’s reinsurance transactions. The
mandate also includes reviewing and approving management’s recommendations with respect to policies applicable to reinsurance.
Senior Management Risk Committees
The Executive Risk Management Committee (ERMC) is the primary senior management committee that oversees all forms of risk and the
implementation of the ERM Framework. The members are the CEO, the heads of each major business segment, the heads of key oversight
functions and heads of support functions as appropriate. The Company’s CRO leads the Risk Function and chairs the ERMC. Its responsibilities
include reviewing compliance with the RAF, risk policies and risk standards. It also assesses the risk impact of business strategies, capital and
financial plans and material initiatives. The Board Risk Committee delegates authority for the approval and management of lower level risk limits
to the ERMC. The following three enterprise-wide sub-committees, chaired by the Risk Function, report to the ERMC to provide advice and
recommendations on each of the key risk categories:
• Market and Credit Risk Committee
• Insurance Risk Committee
• Operational Risk Committee
The oversight responsibilities of the above Committees include identification, measurement, management, monitoring and reporting of their
respective risks. In addition, each business segment has established its own executive risk management committee providing oversight for all
forms of risk and the implementation of the ERM Framework.
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79
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Accountabilities
The Company has adopted a Three Lines of Defense model to clearly segregate risk management and risk oversight responsibilities and applies
the ERM Framework rigorously across the enterprise.
• First Line: Business units and business support functions, including Investment Management, Human Resources, Information Services and
Legal, are the ultimate owners of risk and have primary risk management as well as risk-taking responsibility and accountability through day-
to-day operations within ongoing business processes.
• Second Line: The Risk Function has the primary and overall responsibility and accountability for independent oversight and effective
challenge of risk-taking and risk management of the first line of defense. In this role, the Risk Function receives support from other oversight
functions including Actuarial, Compliance and Finance; and
• Third Line: Internal Audit is responsible for independent assurance of the adequacy of the design and operational effectiveness of the
Company’s ERM Framework.
The Company’s CRO reports directly, both to the President and Chief Executive Officer and to the Board Risk Committee. The CRO is responsible
for ensuring that the Risk Function is appropriately resourced and effective in executing its responsibilities. The accountabilities of the CRO
include reporting on compliance with the ERM Policy and RAF as well as for escalating matters that require attention.
Business segment ERMCs monitor all risk categories for businesses and operations within their respective business segments. Risk resources
and capabilities are aligned with the Company’s business segments and operating units and further support is provided by centrally based risk
areas of expertise.
Although the Company takes steps to anticipate and minimize risks in general, no risk management framework can guarantee that all risks will
be identified, appreciated or mitigated effectively. Unforeseen future events may have a negative impact on the Company’s business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Risk Appetite Framework
The Company has an articulated Risk Appetite Framework (RAF) that includes the following elements along with the associated
governance structure:
• Risk Strategy: Risk philosophy of the Company that links to the business strategy
• Risk Appetite Statement: Reflects the aggregate level of risk and types of risk that the Company is willing to accept to achieve its
business objectives
• Risk Preference: Qualitative description of risk tolerances
• Risk Limit Framework: Quantitative components of the RAF including excess and escalation process
Risk Strategy
Our main purpose is to help our customers achieve financial security and well-being while keeping our commitments and growing shareholder
value. Effective and efficient risk management is key to achieving these aims. This is achieved by:
• Establishing a risk awareness culture that is ingrained in all business activities with a risk governance model based on three lines of defense.
Business units have full accountability for all risk-taking decisions. The Risk Function has primary responsibility for independent risk oversight
and effective challenge within the second line of defense. As the third line of defense, Internal Audit provides independent assurance over the
Company’s ERM Framework;
• Employing a prudent and measured approach to risk-taking;
• Conducting business to safeguard the Company’s reputation and deliver fair customer outcomes through maintaining high standards of
integrity based on the employee Code of Conduct and sound sales and marketing practices; and
• Generating returns to grow shareholder value through profitable and growing operations while maintaining a strong balance sheet.
Risk Appetite Statement
The Company’s Risk Appetite Statement has four key components:
• Strong Capital Position: The Company intends to maintain a strong balance sheet and not take risks that would jeopardize its
financial strength;
• Mitigated Earnings Volatility: The Company seeks to avoid substantial earnings volatility through appropriate diversification and limiting
exposure to more volatile lines of business;
• Strong Liquidity: The Company intends to maintain a high quality, diversified investment portfolio with sufficient liquidity to meet the
demands of policyholder and financing obligations under normal and stressed conditions; and
• Treating Customers Fairly and Maintaining the Company’s Reputation: The Company seeks to maintain a high standing and positive
reputation with all stakeholders including its customers, counterparties, creditors and other stakeholders. This includes building and
maintaining trust, fair treatment of customers, consideration of corporate social responsibility, and effective management of sustainability
and reputational risks.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Risk Preference
The Company has established qualitative risk preferences for each risk type. Each risk is assigned a risk preference level, in the context of
understanding and managing these risks. The current level of exposure is regularly measured and risk tolerances are expressed quantitatively
through actual constraints to the Company’s risk profile within pre-agreed limits. Maximum guidelines are established to monitor risk
concentration and inform the risk limit setting process.
Risk Limit Framework
A comprehensive structure of risk limits and controls is in place across the Company. Enterprise risk limits are further broken down by business
unit and risk type. The limit structure is accompanied by comprehensive limit approval and excess management processes to ensure effective
governance and oversight of the RAF.
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory regimes. The capital requirements under these regulatory capital regimes are
reflected in the development of risk limits. Business units are responsible for operating within the risk appetite and the risk limit framework and
satisfying local needs as required.
Risk Processes
Risk processes follow a cycle of identification, measurement, management, monitoring and reporting and are designed to ensure both current
and emerging risks are assessed against the RAF.
Risk Identification, Measurement and Management
Risk identification requires the structured analysis of the current and emerging risks facing the Company, so that they are understood and
appropriately managed. Processes are designed to ensure risks are considered, assessed, prioritized and addressed in all business initiatives,
operations and changes, including investment strategies, product design, significant transactions, annual planning and budgeting as well as
potential business acquisitions and disposals.
Risk measurement provides the means to quantify and assess the Company’s risk profile and monitor the profile against the risk limits. Any
material new business development or change in strategy warrants an independent assessment of risk and potential impact on reputation, in
addition to measurement of the impact on capital, earnings and liquidity. Stress and scenario testing is used to evaluate risk exposures against
the risk appetite. Sensitivity testing of key risks is used to evaluate the impact of risk exposures independent of other risks. Scenario testing is used
to evaluate the combined impact of multiple risk exposures.
The Company has processes in place to identify risk exposures on an ongoing basis and, where appropriate, develops mitigation strategies to
proactively manage these risks. Effective risk management requires the selection and implementation of approaches to accept, reject, transfer,
avoid or control risk, including mitigation plans. It is based on a control framework for financial and non-financial risks that includes risk limits,
Risk Function Indicators (RFIs) and stress and scenario testing to ensure appropriate escalation and resolution of potential issues in a timely
manner.
A key responsibility of the Risk Function is to ensure that the risk appetite is applied consistently across the Company and that limits are
established to ensure that risk exposures comply with the risk appetite and Company-wide risk policies. The Risk Function provides ongoing and
independent challenge to the first line of defense. In addition, in the event of a significant internal or external change that could introduce new
risks or heighten existing risks that could materially impact the business, the Risk Function provides a formal Risk Opinion or thematic review.
Risk Monitoring, Reporting and Escalation
Risk monitoring relates to ongoing oversight and tracking of the Company’s risk exposures, ensuring that the risk management approaches in
place remain effective. Monitoring may also identify risk-taking opportunities.
Risk reporting presents an accurate and timely picture of existing and emerging risk issues and exposures as well as their potential impact on
business activities. Reporting highlights the risk profile relative to the risk appetite and associated risk limits.
A clearly defined escalation protocol is in place to address any excesses against thresholds or limits established by the RAF, risk policies, operating
standards and guidelines. Remediation plans are reviewed and monitored by the Risk Function and escalated to designated management and
Board committees.
Risk Infrastructure and Policies
The Company’s organization and infrastructure is established to provide resources and risk systems to support adequate and appropriate risk
policies, operating standards and guidelines and processes. The Company endeavours to take a consistent approach to risk management across
key risk types.
The Company has codified its procedures and operations related to risk management and oversight requirements in a set of guiding documents
composed of risk policies, operating standards and associated guidelines. This comprehensive documentation framework provides detailed and
effective guidance across all risk management processes. These documents enable a consistent approach to risk management and oversight
across the Company’s businesses and are reviewed and approved regularly, in accordance with an established authority hierarchy, by the Board
of Directors, the Board Risk Committee or a senior management committee. Similar policy structures have been developed and are maintained
by each business segment.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Risk Management and Control Practices
The Company’s risk profile is impacted by a variety of risks and its risk management and independent oversight processes are tailored to the type,
volatility and magnitude of each risk. The Company has defined specific risk management and oversight processes for risks, broadly grouped in
the following categories:
1. Market and Liquidity Risk
2. Credit Risk
3. Insurance Risk
4. Operational Risk
5. Conduct Risk
6. Strategic Risk
Market and Liquidity Risk
Risk Description
Market risk is the risk of loss resulting from potential changes in market rates and prices in various markets such as for interest rates, real estate,
currency, common shares and commodities. Exposure to this risk results from business activities including investment transactions which create
on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet positions.
Liquidity risk is the risk of the Company’s inability to generate the necessary funds to meet its obligations as they come due, including off-balance
sheet commitments and obligations.
Market and Liquidity Risk Management
The Company’s Market & Liquidity Risk Policy sets out the market and liquidity risk management framework and principles. This policy is
supported by other policies and guidelines that provide detailed guidance.
A governance structure has been implemented for the management of market and liquidity risk. The business units, including Investment
Management, are the ultimate owners of market and liquidity risk and as such have primary responsibility for the identification, measurement,
management, monitoring and reporting. The Company has established a senior management committee to provide oversight of market and
liquidity risk, which includes completing reviews and making recommendations regarding risk limits, the risk policy and associated compliance,
excess management and mitigation pertaining to market and liquidity risk. Each business segment has established oversight committees and
operating committees to help manage market and liquidity risk within the segment. The Company has developed risk limits, RFIs and other
measures to support the management of market and liquidity risk in compliance with the Company’s RAF. The Risk Function works with the
business units and other oversight functions to identify current and emerging market and liquidity risks and take appropriate action, if required.
The Company is willing to accept market and liquidity risk in certain circumstances as a consequence of its business model and seeks to
mitigate the risks wherever practical. To reduce market risk, the Company has established a framework using dynamic hedging programs
associated with segregated fund and variable annuity guarantees. Hedging programs are grouped by product-level hedging, tactical portfolio
hedging and macro-hedging. This is supplemented by a general macro equity hedging program that has been established to execute hedge
transactions in circumstances and at levels that have been determined by the Company. To reduce liquidity risk, the Company seeks to
maintain a high quality, diversified investment portfolio with sufficient liquidity to meet demands of policyholders and financing obligations
under normal and stress conditions.
Risks and risk management activities associated with the broad market and liquidity risk categories are detailed below.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk of loss resulting from the effect of the volatility and uncertainty of future interest rates on asset cash flows relative to
liability cash flows and on assets backing surplus. This also includes changes in the amount and timing of cash flows related to asset and liability
optionality, including interest rate guarantees and book value surrender benefits in the liabilities.
The Company’s principal exposure to interest rate risk arises from certain general fund and segregated fund products. The Company’s Asset
Liability Management (ALM) strategy has been designed to mitigate interest rate risks associated with general fund products, with close matching
of asset cash flows and insurance and investment contract obligations. Products with similar risk characteristics are grouped together to ensure
an effective aggregation and management of the Company’s ALM positions. Asset portfolios supporting insurance and investment contract
liabilities are segmented to align with the duration and other characteristics (e.g. liquidity) of the associated liabilities.
Crediting rates within general fund products are set prudently and a significant proportion of the Company’s portfolio of crediting rate products
includes pass-through features, which allow for the risk and returns to be shared with policyholders. However, a rapid rise in interest rates may
adversely impact certain general fund products with guaranteed benefits as a result of losses associated with early disposal of fixed income
securities to meet contractual surrender benefits. Asset management and related products permit redemptions; however, the Company attempts
to mitigate this risk by establishing long-term customer relationships, built on a strategic customer focus and an emphasis on delivering strong
fund performance.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis A prolonged period of low interest rates may adversely impact the Company’s earnings and capital and could impact the Company’s business
strategy. During periods of prolonged low interest rates, investment earnings may be lower because the interest earned on new fixed income
investments will likely have declined with the market interest rates, and hedging costs may increase. Also, early repayment on investments held
such as mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and callable bonds, may be experienced and proceeds forced to be reinvested at
lower yields, which will reduce investment margins.
The Company has established dynamic hedging programs to hedge interest rate risk sensitivity associated with segregated fund and variable
annuity guarantees. These hedging programs are designed to offset changes in the economic value of liabilities using derivative instruments. The
Company’s approach to dynamic hedging of interest rate risk principally involves transacting in interest rate swaps. The hedge asset portfolios
are dynamically rebalanced within approved thresholds and rebalancing criteria.
Where the Company’s insurance and investment products have benefit or expense payments that are dependent on inflation (e.g. inflation-
indexed annuities, pensions and disability claims), the Company generally invests in real return instruments to mitigate changes in the real
dollar liability cash flows. Some protection against changes in the inflation index can be achieved, as any related change in the fair value of the
assets will be largely offset by a similar change in the fair value of the liabilities.
Equity Risk
Equity risk is the risk of loss resulting from the sensitivity of the value of assets, liabilities, financial instruments and fee revenue to changes in the
level or in the volatility of market prices of common shares and real estate. This includes the equity risk associated with the Company’s general
fund assets and investments on account of segregated fund policyholders.
The Company’s principal exposure to equity risk arises from segregated funds and fee income associated with the Company’s assets under
management. Approved investment and risk policies also provide for general fund investments in equity markets within defined limits.
The Company has established dynamic hedging programs to hedge equity risk sensitivity associated with segregated fund and variable annuity
guarantees. Hedging programs are grouped by product-level hedging, tactical portfolio hedging and macro-hedging. The hedging programs
are designed to mitigate exposure to changes in the economic value of these liabilities using derivative instruments. The Company’s approach
to dynamic hedging of equity risk principally involves the short selling of equity index futures. The hedge asset portfolios are dynamically
rebalanced within approved thresholds and rebalancing criteria. The Company’s product-level hedging programs are supplemented by a general
macro hedging strategy that has been established to execute hedge transactions in circumstances and at levels that have been determined by
the Company.
For certain very long-dated liabilities it is not practical or efficient to closely match liability cash flows with fixed-income investments. Therefore,
certain long-dated asset portfolios target an investment return sufficient to meet liability cash flows over the longer term. These liabilities are
partially backed by a diversified portfolio of non-fixed income investments, including equity and real estate investments, in addition to long dated
fixed-income instruments. Real estate losses can arise from fluctuations in the value of or future cash flows from the Company’s investments in
real estate.
The Company has established a macro equity hedging program to execute hedge transactions in circumstances and at levels that have been
determined by the Company. The objective of the program is to reduce the Company’s exposure to equity tail-risk and to maintain overall capital
sensitivity to equity market movements within Board approved risk appetite limits. The program is designed to hedge a portion of the Company’s
capital sensitivity due to movements in equity markets arising from sources outside of dynamically hedged segregated fund and variable
annuity exposures.
Foreign Exchange Risk
Foreign exchange risk is the risk of loss resulting from changes in currency exchange rates against the reporting currency. The Company’s foreign
exchange investment and risk management policies and practices are to match the currency of the Company’s general fund investments with
the currency of the underlying insurance and investment contract liabilities. To enhance portfolio diversification and improve asset liability
matching, the Company may use foreign exchange derivatives to mitigate currency exchange risk to the extent this is practical using forward
contracts and swaps.
The Company has net investments in foreign operations. As a result, the Company’s revenue, expenses and income denominated in currencies
other than the Canadian dollar are subject to fluctuations due to the movement of the Canadian dollar against these currencies. Such fluctuations
affect the Company’s financial results. The Company has exposures to the U.S. dollar resulting from the operations of Empower and Putnam in
the United States segment and the Reinsurance business unit within the Capital and Risk Solutions segment; and to the British pound and the
euro resulting from operations of business units within the Europe and Capital and Risk Solutions segments operating in the U.K., the Isle of Man,
Ireland and Germany.
In accordance with IFRS, foreign currency translation gains and losses from net investments in foreign operations, net of related hedging activities
and tax effects, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Strengthening or weakening of the Canadian dollar end-of-
period market rate compared to the U.S. dollar, British pound and euro end-of-period market rates impacts the Company’s total share capital and
surplus. Correspondingly, the Company’s book value per share and capital ratios monitored by rating agencies are also impacted.
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83
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Management may use forward foreign currency contracts and foreign currency denominated debt to mitigate the volatility arising from the
movement of currency rates as they impact the translation of net investments in foreign operations. The Company uses non-GAAP financial
measures such as constant currency calculations to assist in communicating the effect of currency translation fluctuation on financial results.
• A 5% appreciation (depreciation) of the average exchange rate of the Canadian dollar to each of the British pound, euro and U.S. dollar would
decrease (increase) net earnings in 2022 by $46 million, $30 million and $34 million, respectively.
• A 5% appreciation (depreciation) of the Canadian dollar end-of-period market rate compared to each of the U.S. dollar, British pound and euro
end-of-period market rates would decrease (increase) the unrealized foreign currency translation gains 1 in accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss) of shareholders’ equity by approximately $499 million, $218 million and $93 million, respectively, as at December 31, 2022.
Liquidity Risk
The Company’s liquidity risk management framework and associated limits are designed to ensure that the Company can meet cash and
collateral commitments as they fall due, both on an expected basis and under a severe liquidity stress.
In the normal course of certain reinsurance business, the Company provides letters of credit (LCs) to other parties, or beneficiaries. A beneficiary
will typically hold a LC as collateral to secure statutory credit for insurance and investment contract liabilities ceded to or amounts due from
the Company.
The Company may be required to seek collateral alternatives if it is unable to renew existing LCs at maturity. The Company monitors its use of LCs
on a regular basis and assesses the ongoing availability of these and alternative forms of operating credit. The Company has contractual rights to
reduce the amount of LCs issued to the LC beneficiaries for certain reinsurance treaties. The Company staggers the maturities of LCs to reduce
the renewal risk.
Liquidity 1
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term bonds
Other liquid assets and marketable securities
Government bonds
Corporate bonds 2
Stocks
Mortgage loans
Total
Cashable liability characteristics
Surrenderable insurance and investment contract liabilities 1,3
At market value
At book value
Total
December 31
2022
2021
$
11,418
$
9,791
29,545
58,729
11,380
3,136
35,331
50,491
12,424
3,406
$ 102,790
$ 101,652
$ 114,208
$ 111,443
December 31
2022
2021
$
66,329
79,228
$
48,767
54,232
$ 145,557
$ 102,999
1 Amounts presented exclude non-liquid and pledged assets. Refer to the “Liquidity and Capital Management and Adequacy” section of this document for additional details regarding the composition
of these metrics.
2
Includes public short-term bonds and public long-term bonds that are rated BBB or higher.
3 Cashable liabilities include insurance and investment contract liabilities classified as held for sale.
The carrying value of the Company’s liquid assets and marketable securities is approximately $114.2 billion or 0.8 times the Company’s
surrenderable insurance and investment contract liabilities. The Company believes that it holds adequate and appropriate liquid assets to meet
anticipated cash flow requirements as well as to meet cash flow needs under a severe liquidity stress.
Approximately 35% (approximately 48% in 2021) of insurance and investment contract liabilities are non-cashable prior to maturity or claim, with a
further 30% approximately (24% in 2021) of insurance and investment contract liabilities subject to fair value adjustments under certain conditions.
The majority of liquid assets and other marketable securities comprise fixed-income securities whose value decrease when interest rates rise.
Also, a high interest rate environment may encourage holders of certain types of policies to terminate their policies, thereby placing demands on
the Company’s liquidity position.
For a further description of the Company’s financial instrument risk management policies, refer to note 8 in the Company’s December 31, 2022
annual consolidated financial statements.
1 Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) include the impact of instruments designated as hedges of net investments on foreign operations.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Credit Risk
Risk Description
Credit risk is the risk of loss resulting from an obligor’s potential inability or unwillingness to fully meet its contractual obligations. Exposure to
this risk occurs any time funds are extended, committed or invested through actual or implied contractual agreements. Components of credit
risk include: loan loss/principal risk, pre-settlement/replacement risk and settlement risk. Obligors include issuers, debtors, borrowers, brokers,
policyholders, reinsurers, derivative counterparties and guarantors.
Credit exposure results from the purchase of fixed-income securities, which are primarily used to support policyholder liabilities. The Company
also manages financial contracts with counterparties. Such contracts may be used to mitigate insurance and market risks (reinsurance ceded
agreements and derivative contracts) or they may arise from the Company’s direct business operations (Reinsurance business unit) and may
result in counterparty risk. The risk arising from these types of arrangements is included in the Company’s measurement of its risk profile.
Credit Risk Management
The Company’s credit risk management framework focuses on minimizing undue concentration of assets, in-house credit analysis to identify
and measure risks, continuous monitoring, and proactive management. Diversification is achieved through the establishment of appropriate
concentration limits (by asset class, issuers, credit rating, industries, and individual geographies) and transaction approval authority protocols.
The Company’s approach to credit risk management includes the continuous review of its existing risk profile relative to the RAF as well as to
the assessment of potential changes in the risk profile under stress scenarios.
A governance structure has been implemented for the management of credit risk. The business units, including Investment Management, are
the ultimate owners of credit risk and as such have primary responsibility for the identification, measurement, management, monitoring and
reporting. The Company has established a senior management committee to provide oversight of credit risk, which includes completing reviews
and making recommendations regarding risk limits, the risk policy and associated compliance, excess management and mitigation pertaining to
credit risk. Each business segment has established oversight committees and operating committees to help manage credit risk within the segment.
The Company has developed risk limits, RFIs and measures to support the management of credit risk in compliance with the Company’s RAF.
The Company has established business segment-specific Investment and Lending Policies, including investment limits for each asset class.
These policies and limits are complemented by the Credit Risk Policy which sets out the credit risk management framework and principles. This
policy is supported by other policies and guidelines that provide detailed guidance.
The Company identifies credit risk through an internal credit risk rating system which includes a detailed assessment of an obligor’s
creditworthiness based on a thorough and objective analysis of business risk, financial profile, structural considerations and security
characteristics including seniority and covenants. Credit risk ratings are expressed using a 22-point scale that is consistent with those used
by external rating agencies. In accordance with the Company’s policies, internal credit risk ratings cannot be higher than the highest rating
provided by certain independent ratings companies. The Risk Function reviews and approves the credit risk ratings assigned by Investment
Management for all new investments and reviews the appropriateness of ratings assigned to outstanding exposures.
The Risk Function assigns credit risk parameters (probabilities of default, rating transition rates, loss given default, exposures at default) to all
credit exposures to measure the Company’s aggregate credit risk profile. In addition, the Risk Function establishes limits and processes, performs
stress and scenario testing (using stochastically generated and deterministic scenarios) and assesses compliance with the limits established in
the RAF. It regularly reports on the Company’s credit risk profile to executive management, the Board of Directors and various committees at
enterprise, business segment and legal entity levels.
Investment Management and the Risk Function are responsible for the monitoring of exposures relative to limits as well as for the management
and escalation of risk limit excesses as they occur. Investment Management is also responsible for the continuous monitoring of its portfolios for
changes in credit outlook, and performs regular credit reviews of all relevant obligors and counterparties, based on a combination of bottom-
up credit analysis and top-down views on the economy and assessment of industry and sub-sector outlooks. Watch Lists are also used at the
business segment levels to plan and execute the relevant risk mitigation strategies for obligors experiencing heightened credit stress.
Counterparty Risk
Counterparties include both reinsurers and derivative counterparties.
The Company uses reinsurance to mitigate insurance risks. This mitigation results in increased credit risk to reinsurance counterparties from the
potential failure to collect reinsurance recoveries due to either the inability, or an unwillingness to fulfill their contractual obligation.
Counterparties providing reinsurance to the Company are reviewed for financial soundness as part of an ongoing monitoring process. The
minimum financial strength of reinsurers is outlined in the Reinsurance Risk Management Policy. The Company seeks to minimize reinsurance
credit risk through diversification as well as seeking protection in the form of collateral or funds withheld arrangements where possible.
The Company enters into derivative contracts primarily to mitigate market risks. Derivative counterparty risk is the risk of loss resulting from
the potential failure of the derivative counterparty to meet their financial obligations under the contract. Derivative products are traded through
exchanges or with counterparties approved by the Board of Directors or the Investment Committee. The Company seeks to mitigate derivative
credit risk through diversification and through collateral arrangements where possible. In addition, the Company includes potential future
exposure of derivatives in its measure of total exposure against single name limits.
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85
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Insurance Risk
Risk Description
Insurance risk is the risk of loss resulting from adverse changes in experience associated with contractual promises and obligations arising
from insurance contracts. Insurance risk includes uncertainties around the ultimate amount of net cash flows (premiums, commissions, claims,
payouts and related settlement expenses), the timing of the receipt and payment of these cash flows, as well as the impact of policyholder
behaviour (e.g. lapses).
The Company identifies six broad categories of insurance risk, which may contribute to financial losses: mortality risk, morbidity risk, longevity
risk, policyholder behaviour risk, expense risk and property catastrophe risk. Mortality risk, morbidity risk, longevity risk and expense risk are
core business risks and the exchange of these risks into value is a core business activity. Policyholder behaviour risk is associated with offering
core products and is accepted as a consequence of the business model and mitigated where appropriate. Property catastrophe risk is a selectively
accepted business risk which is constrained, actively managed and controlled within risk limits.
Insurance Risk Management
Insurance products involve commitments by the insurer to provide services and financial obligations with coverage for extended periods of
time. To provide insurance protection effectively, the insurer must design and price products so that the premiums received, and the investment
income earned on those premiums, will be sufficient to pay future claims and expenses associated with the product. This requires the insurer, in
pricing products and establishing insurance contract liabilities, to make assumptions regarding expected levels of income, claims and expenses
and how policyholder behaviours and market risks might impact these assumptions. As a result, the Company is exposed to product design and
pricing risk which is the risk of financial loss resulting from transacting business where the costs and liabilities arising in respect of a product line
exceed the pricing expectations.
Insurance contract liabilities are established to fund future claims and include a provision for adverse deviation, set in accordance with
professional actuarial standards. Insurance contract liability valuation requires regular updating of assumptions to reflect emerging experience.
A governance structure has been implemented for the management of insurance risk. Business units are the ultimate owners of insurance
risk and as such have primary responsibility for the identification, measurement, management, monitoring and reporting of insurance risk.
The Risk Function, supported by Corporate Actuarial, is primarily responsible for oversight of the insurance risk management framework. The
Company has established an Insurance Risk Committee to provide oversight of insurance risk, which includes completing reviews and making
recommendations regarding risk limits, the risk policy and associated compliance, excess management and mitigation pertaining to insurance
risk. Each business segment has established oversight committees and operating committees to help manage insurance risk within the segment.
The Company’s Insurance Risk Policy sets out the insurance risk management framework and provides the principles for insurance risk
management. This policy is supported by several other policies and guidelines that provide detailed guidance, including:
• Product Design and Pricing Risk Management Policy and Reinsurance Risk Management Policy, which provide guidelines and standards for
the product design and pricing risk management processes and reinsurance ceded risk management practices;
• Corporate Actuarial Valuation Policy, which provides documentation and control standards consistent with the valuation standards of the
Canadian Institute of Actuaries; and
• Participating Account Management Policies and Participating Policyholder Dividend Policies, which govern the management of participating
accounts and provide for the distribution of a portion of the earnings in the participating account as participating policyholder dividends.
The Risk Function, in conjunction with Corporate Actuarial, implements a number of processes to carry out its responsibility for oversight
of insurance risk. It reviews the Insurance Risk Policy relative to current risk exposures and updates it as required. It reviews insurance risk
management processes carried out by the business units, including product design and pricing, underwriting, claims adjudication, and
reinsurance ceding, and provides challenge as required.
The Risk Function works with the business units and other oversight functions to identify current and emerging insurance risks and take
appropriate action, if required. Insurance risk limits, risk budgets and RFIs are set to keep the insurance risk profile within the Company’s appetite
for insurance risk and the Risk Function regularly monitors the insurance risk profile relative to these measures. Any excesses are required to
be escalated so that appropriate remediation may be implemented. The Risk Function performs stress testing and does analysis of insurance
risks, including review of experience studies. It provides regular reporting on these activities to the business units, senior management, and risk
oversight committees. The Risk Function performs thematic reviews and/or enhances the monitoring and reporting of associated exposures to
these risks.
Risks and risk management activities associated with the broad insurance risk categories are detailed below.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Mortality and Morbidity Risk
Mortality risk is the risk of loss resulting from adverse changes in the level, trend, or volatility of mortality rates, where an increase in the mortality
rate leads to an increase in the value of insurance contract liabilities.
Morbidity risk is the risk of loss resulting from adverse changes in the level, trend, or volatility of disability, health, dental, critical illness and other
sickness rates, where an increase in the incidence rate or a decrease in the disability recovery rate leads to an increase in the value of insurance
contract liabilities.
There is a risk that the Company will mis-estimate the level of mortality or morbidity, or write business which generates worse mortality and
morbidity experience than expected.
The Company employs the following practices to manage its mortality and morbidity risk:
• Research and analysis is done regularly to provide the basis for pricing and valuation assumptions to properly reflect the insurance and
reinsurance risks in markets where the Company is active.
• Underwriting limits, practices and policies control the amount of risk exposure, the selection of risks insured for consistency with claims
expectations and support the long-term sustainability of the Company.
• The insurance contract liabilities established to fund future claims include a provision for adverse deviation, set in accordance with actuarial
standards. This margin is required to provide for the possibilities of mis-estimation of the best estimate and/or future deterioration in the best
estimate assumptions.
• The Company sets retention limits for mortality and morbidity risks. Aggregate risk is managed through a combination of reinsurance and
capital market solutions to transfer the risk where appropriate.
• For Group life products, exposure to a concentrated mortality event due to concentration of risk in specific locations for example, could have
an impact on financial results. To manage the risk, concentrations are monitored for new business and renewals. The Company may impose
single-event limits on some group plans and declines to quote in localized areas where the aggregate risk is deemed excessive.
• Effective plan design and claims adjudication practices, for both morbidity and mortality risks are critical to the management of the risk. As
an example, for Group healthcare products, inflation and utilization will influence the level of claims costs, which can be difficult to predict.
The Company manages the impact of these and similar factors through plan designs that limit new costs and long-term price guarantees and
include the ability to regularly re-price for emerging experience.
• The Company manages large blocks of business, which, in aggregate, are expected to result in relatively low statistical fluctuations in any given
period. For some policies, these risks are shared with the policyholder through adjustments to future policyholder charges or in the case of
participating policies through future changes in policyholder dividends.
Longevity Risk
Longevity risk is the risk of loss resulting from adverse changes in the level, trend, or volatility of mortality rates, where a decrease in the mortality
rate leads to an increase in the value of insurance contract liabilities. Annuities, some segregated fund products with Guaranteed Minimum
Withdrawal Benefits and longevity reinsurance are priced and valued to reflect the life expectancy of the annuitant. There is a risk that annuitants
could live longer than was estimated by the Company, which would increase the value of the associated insurance contract liabilities.
Business is priced using mortality assumptions which consider recent Company and industry experience and the latest research on expected
future trends in mortality.
Aggregate risk is managed through reinsurance to transfer the risk as appropriate, as well as consideration of capital market solutions if deemed
necessary. The Company has processes in place to verify annuitants’ eligibility for continued income benefits. These processes are designed
to ensure annuity payments accrue to those contractually entitled to receive them and help ensure mortality data used to develop pricing and
valuation assumptions is as complete as possible.
Policyholder Behaviour Risk
Policyholder behaviour risk is the risk of loss resulting from adverse changes in the level or volatility of the rates of policy lapses, terminations,
renewals, surrenders, or exercise of embedded policy options.
Many products are priced and valued to reflect the expected duration of contracts and the exercising of options embedded in those contracts.
There is a risk that contracts may be terminated earlier or later than assumed in pricing and plan design. To the extent that higher costs are
incurred in early contract years, there is a risk that contracts are terminated before higher early expenses can be recovered. Conversely, on certain
long-term level premium products where costs increase by age, there is risk that contracts are terminated later than assumed.
Business is priced using policy termination assumptions which consider product designs and policyholder options, recent Company and
industry experience and the latest research on expected future trends. Assumptions are reviewed regularly and are updated as necessary for both
pricing of new policies and valuation of in-force policies.
The Company also incorporates early surrender charges into certain contracts and incorporates commission chargebacks in its distribution
agreements to reduce unrecovered expenses.
Policyholder taxation rules in many jurisdictions help encourage the retention of insurance coverage.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Expense Risk
Expense risk is the risk of loss resulting from adverse variability of expenses incurred with fee-for-service business or in servicing and maintaining
insurance, savings or reinsurance contracts, including direct expenses and allocations of overhead costs.
Expense management programs are regularly monitored to control unit costs while maintaining effective service delivery.
Property Catastrophe Risk
Property catastrophe risk is the risk of loss resulting from adverse changes in property damage experience and is mainly related to extreme or
catastrophic events.
The reinsurance business in particular has exposure to extreme or catastrophic events that result in property damage. As a retrocessionaire
for property catastrophe risk, the Company generally participates at more remote event-loss exposures than primary carriers and reinsurers.
Generally, an event of significant size must occur prior to the Company incurring a claim. The Company limits the total maximum claim amount
under all property catastrophe contracts. The Company monitors cedant companies’ claims experience and research from third party expert risk
models on an ongoing basis and incorporates this information in pricing models to ensure that the premium is adequate for the risk undertaken.
Operational Risk
Risk Description
Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from potential problems relating to internal processes, people and systems or from external events.
Exposure to operational risk results from either normal day-to-day operations or a specific unanticipated event, and can have material financial
and/or reputational consequences.
Operational Risk Management
The Company has established processes to identify, assess, mitigate and mange operational risks. However, the Company’s operations require
multiple processes, systems and stakeholders to interact across the enterprise on an ongoing basis and operational risk remains an inherent
feature of the Company’s business model that cannot be fully eliminated.
The Company actively manages operational risks to support operational resilience across key processes and services and to maintain a strong
reputation, standing and financial strength.
A governance structure has been implemented for the management of operational risk. Business units are the ultimate owners of operational
risk and as such have primary responsibility for the identification, measurement, management, monitoring and reporting of operational risk. The
Company has established an Operational Risk Committee to provide oversight of operational risk, which includes completing reviews, reporting,
and monitoring risks; and making recommendations regarding risk limits, risk policies and mitigation pertaining to operational risks. Each
business segment has established oversight committees and operating committees to help manage operational risk across their business.
The Company’s Operational Risk Policy is supported by standards and guidelines that relate to specialized functions including detailed practices
related to stress testing, modeling, fraud, regulatory compliance, technology and cybersecurity risk management, risk data aggregation and
risk reporting. The Company implements controls to manage operational risk through integrated policies, procedures and processes, with
consideration given to the cost/benefit trade-off. Processes and controls are monitored and refined by the business areas and periodically
reviewed by the Company’s Internal Audit department. Financial reporting processes and controls are further examined by external auditors.
The Company also manages operational risks through the corporate insurance program which mitigates a portion of the operational risk exposure
by purchasing insurance coverage that provides protection against unexpected material losses resulting from events such as property loss, cyber-
attack or damage and liability exposures. The nature and amount of insurance protection purchased is assessed with regard to the Company’s risk
profile, risk appetite and tolerance for the associated risks, as well as legal requirements and contractual obligations.
The Company employs a combination of operational risk management methods including risk and control assessments, internal control factors
and risk event analyses. For the identification of operational risks, the Company utilizes risk and control assessments which systematically
identify and assess potential operational risks and associated controls. Internal and external operational risk events are analyzed to identify
root causes and provide insights into potential new operational risks that could impact the Company. In addition, scenario analysis is employed
to identify and quantify potential severe operational risk exposures, while RFIs, risk appetite preferences, and other processes are leveraged to
measure, manage and monitor operational risks.
The Risk Function monitors the status of actions being undertaken to remediate risks to ensure that risk exposures are mitigated in a timely
manner. Processes are in place to escalate significant matters to senior management to inform and enable management to take appropriate
action when needed. The Risk Function regularly reports on the Company’s operational risk profile to executive management, the Board of
Directors and various committees at enterprise, business segment and legal entity levels.
Operational resilience is an outcome from the ability to embed capabilities, processes, and systems to successfully deliver critical operations,
through disruption. Operational resilience emphasizes preparation, response, recovery, learning, and adaptation by assuming disruptions,
including simultaneous disruptions, will occur.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Key operational risks and the Company’s approach to managing them are outlined below.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance Risk
Legal and regulatory risk is the risk of loss resulting from non-compliance with specific local or international rules, laws, regulations, or prescribed
practices, as well as civil or criminal litigation engaged in/by the Company. As a multi-national enterprise, the Company and certain of its
subsidiaries are subject to extensive legal and regulatory requirements in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Germany and other jurisdictions.
These requirements cover most aspects of the Company’s operations including capital adequacy, privacy, liquidity and solvency, investments,
the sale and marketing of insurance and wealth products, the business conduct of insurers, asset managers and investment advisors as well as
reinsurance processes. Material changes in the legal or regulatory framework or the failure to comply with legal and regulatory requirements
could have an adverse effect on the Company. An increase in the pace of regulatory change could lead to increased operational costs to implement
changes and ensure ongoing compliance.
Legal and regulatory risk is managed through coordination between first and second line of defense functions. The Company records, manages
and monitors the regulatory compliance environment closely, using the subject matter expertise of both local and enterprise-wide Compliance
and Legal stakeholders and reporting on emerging changes that could have a significant impact on the Company’s operations or business.
The Company is subject to the risk of litigation and regulatory action relating to its business, operations, products, securities and contractual
relationships and it establishes contingency reserves for litigation that it determines are appropriate.
People Risk
People risk is the risk of loss resulting from the inadequate management of human capital or the misalignment of human resources policies,
programs and practices with employment-related legislation, regulatory expectations or the Company’s strategic objectives, risk appetite and
values. The Company has compensation programs, succession planning, talent management and employee engagement processes that are
designed to manage these risks, support a high performance culture and maintain a highly skilled workforce that is reflective of the diverse
cultures and practices of the countries in which the Company operates. The Company’s ability to recognize and accommodate changing trends
with respect to human resources in the industry is important to execute upon business strategies.
Technology Risk
Technology risk is the risk of loss from improper system or control design, improper operation, delivery of or unauthorized access to information
and technology resources that can significantly impact the Company’s ability to operate efficiently, stay compliant with regulations and maintain
its financial integrity and reputation. More specifically, technology risk includes cyber and information security risk, technology operations risk
and technology delivery risk.
The nature of advancing technology introduces additional uncertainty as to how the insurance industry will evolve. Cloud services, which
are being adopted by the Company to improve systems flexibility and information security, require scrutiny as digital supply chains grow
in complexity.
Technology is a critical component of the Company’s business operations and is also central to the Company’s customer-focused digital strategy.
The Company continues to face technology and cyber risks stemming from legacy technology constraints and the advancement of techniques
used in cyber-attacks.
The Company continues to implement new risk management processes and practices designed to allow it to better identify, measure, mitigate and
report on technology risk, but those processes and practices continue to require further development as well as ongoing updates as technology
and business needs evolve. The Company’s strategy and approach to managing technology and cyber risks includes policies that govern the
technology environment and set standards related to information security and the use of technology, including:
• the use of multiple layers of technologies that are designed to prevent unauthorized access, ransomware attacks, distributed denial of service
and other cyber-attacks;
• coordinated global and regional information security offices that gather threat intelligence, detect, monitor and respond to security events and
conduct regular threat and vulnerability risk assessments;
• independent oversight and assessment of the approach taken to mitigate technology and cyber risks by the Technology Risk Management
team, an independent group that acts as the second line of defense; and
• regular cyber security awareness sessions and mandatory cyber security training for all employees.
Business Continuity Risk
Business continuity risk is the risk of loss as a result of the failure to provide for business processes and operations under adverse conditions that
may arise from natural, technological or human caused events involving the loss of workplace, workforce, technology and supply chain outages
and disruptions.
A business continuity management framework has been implemented to manage business continuity risks and impacts through the development,
testing, training and maintenance in four key areas: emergency response planning, incident management planning, business continuity planning
and technology resilience which includes disaster recovery planning.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Process & Infrastructure Risk
Process and infrastructure risk is the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed business processes that deliver products and services and grow
shareholder value, or the risk of loss resulting from the reduction or non-availability of corporate facilities, physical assets or physical security.
These processes include change management, data aggregation and reporting, product development, product introduction, new business
(including the distribution and sales process) and renewal (including the underwriting process), investment activities, client administration,
claims and benefit payments, financial modelling and financial management. The inadequacy can arise in transaction processing, governance,
communication or general process management.
Risk management seeks strategic alignment and congruency across all of the Company’s business activities, including change initiatives and
business-as-usual activities, with the Company’s operational risk appetite and considers the potential impact on the Company’s reputation. The
Company monitors change initiatives to mitigate risks and realize benefits. Core business operational activities have quality control measures
in place.
One of the processes relates to model risk and use of models. The Company uses models in many functions and processes that support business
decisions and reporting. Model risk arises from the potential for adverse consequences from decisions based on incorrect models or misused
model outputs and reports. Robust processes are in place for the management and oversight of model risk as outlined in the Model Risk
Management and Validation Standard.
Further, the Company seeks to control processes across the value chain through automation, standardization and process improvements to
prevent or reduce operational losses.
Fraud Risk
Fraud risk is the risk of loss resulting from acts or activities that are intended to defraud, misappropriate assets, or circumvent laws or regulations
by customers, contractors or other third parties, directors, officers, employees or advisors. The fraud environment continues to intensify for
financial institutions, due to increased financial pressures that may motivate and rationalize fraudulent behavior and progressively sophisticated
methods of organized fraud and cyber fraud. Fraud can result in a financial loss or reputational impact to the Company and have other impacts
that are detrimental to customers and other stakeholders.
The Company has established a formal program with governance, principles and process requirements outlined in a Fraud Risk Management
Policy and the corresponding Fraud Risk Operating Standard to assess, prevent, detect, investigate and respond to fraud in a timely manner.
Additionally, the Code of Conduct and Fraud Risk Management Policy highlight management’s commitment to acting with integrity and strong
fraud risk awareness culture.
Supplier Risk
Supplier risk is the risk of loss resulting from the failure to establish and manage adequate supplier arrangements, transactions or other
interactions to meet the expected or contracted service level. Supplier risk is applicable to both external and internal suppliers.
The Company strategically engages suppliers to maintain cost efficiency, to optimize internal resources and capital and to utilize skills, expertise
and resources not otherwise available to the Company. Suppliers are engaged based on our prescribed supplier risk management principles in
our Supplier Risk Management Policy. The Company applies a supplier risk management framework and risk mitigation activities needed (e.g.
risk assessments, due diligence, etc.) to oversee and monitor interactions with suppliers throughout the entire supplier lifecycle, including how
they meet standards for quality of service and protect stakeholders and the interests of the Company.
Conduct Risk
Risk Description
Conduct risk is the risk of unfair outcomes for customers as a result of inadequate or failed processes and/or inappropriate behaviours, offerings
or interactions by the Company or its agents. A failure to identify and mitigate conduct risk impacts not only the Company’s customers but can
also have adverse reputational and financial consequences for the Company due to the cost of customer remediation, damage to reputation and/
or regulatory fines.
Conduct Risk Management
The Company manages conduct risk through various processes which include:
• formalized policies, frameworks, employee training and senior management reporting;
• providing appropriate and clear customer disclosures and communications;
• applying product design, complaint, claims management and sales and advice processes that consider outcomes to customers and customer
vulnerability; and
• conducting risk-based advisor assessments and suitability reviews, maintaining controls and adhering to Board-approved policies and
processes, including the Conduct Risk Policy and the Code of Conduct.
Conduct risk is incorporated in risk management and compliance activities, including risk and control assessments, internal events reporting,
emerging risk assessments, and other measurement, monitoring and reporting activities.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Strategic Risk
Risk Description
Strategic risk is the risk of failing to set or meet appropriate strategic objectives in the context of the internal and external operating environment
resulting in a material impact on business performance (e.g. earnings, capital, reputation or standing).
Strategic risk may reflect intentional risk-taking in anticipation or response to industry forces or it may emerge as unintended consequences from
changes to strategy, execution of strategy, or from lack of responsiveness to external forces.
Strategic Risk Management
Strategic risk-taking is inherent to achieving strategic objectives and arises from the fundamental decisions made and actions taken concerning
an organization’s objectives. It may relate to or stem from the design and development of strategy, including the formulation, evaluation and
ongoing validation of strategy, or execution of corporate and business strategies, and management of associated risks stemming from the same.
The Company’s Strategic Risk Management Framework is designed to identify, measure, manage, monitor and report on strategic risk, and is
supported by Policies, Standards and Guidelines for both first and second lines of defense.
Strategic risk management spans the development and refinement of strategy, the translation of strategy into tangible activities, alignment of
resources to requirements for executing the strategy, execution of strategy, and ongoing activities to monitor and adjust strategies or related
initiatives. Strategic risks are monitored at all stages of the strategy management lifecycle.
The Company aligns business strategies with its risk appetite and mitigates exposure to strategic risk through strategic planning and value-based
decision making, establishing appropriate performance indicators, reporting of strategy execution and implementation against strategic goals
and ongoing monitoring, together with robust oversight and challenge.
The Company identifies and manages strategic risk in relation to both new and existing strategies, strategic initiatives, and any new business
development with the potential to have significant strategic impact on the business or overall portfolio. Major initiatives undergo a comprehensive
risk assessment to review alignment with risk appetite, and are subject to regular and robust monitoring and oversight.
Other Risks
Sustainability Risk
Sustainability risk is the risk that the interests of the Company’s customers and other stakeholders are not protected or that business operations
and business growth are not sustained due to failure to meet societal expectations related to corporate social responsibilities.
Dynamics and attitudes towards societal issues continue to evolve. Factors such as diversity and inclusion and climate change are now a
significant focus on the Company’s strategic agenda. The Company may experience direct or indirect financial, operational or reputational impact
stemming from societal related events, which include climate change, regulatory enforcement or costs associated with changes in environmental
laws and regulations as well as diversity and inclusion-related matters.
Sustainability considerations are formally reflected in the Company’s risk management principles and associated policies. The Company
recognizes that sustainability risk impacts both financial risks (market, credit and insurance) as well as non-financial risks (operational, conduct
and strategic). Sustainability risk is not a stand-alone risk type, but underlies all risk types. As a result, the processes for managing sustainability
risk are embedded in the processes for managing each risk type.
The Company takes a balanced and sustainable approach to conducting business. The Company has established environmental policies and
guidelines pertaining to the acquisition and ongoing management of investment properties, loans secured by real property and investments in
equity and fixed-income securities. These policies are approved by the Board of Directors and are reviewed annually.
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) established the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to develop recommendations for
climate-related disclosure that could encourage more informed investment, credit and insurance underwriting decisions and allow for a better
understanding of carbon-related assets in the financial sector and the financial system’s exposures to climate risks. The Company is an official
supporter of the TCFD recommendations. The Company is also an active participant in the UN-sponsored “Capital as a Force for Good” project
and a member of the Canada Sustainable Finance Action Council.
The Company has made available on its website its annual disclosure to CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) which is in alignment with
the TCFD recommendations. Through its CDP reporting, the Company has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability across its operations,
risk management practices and in assessing the exposure of its investment portfolio to a broad range of climate-related risks and opportunities.
The Company’s annual response to CDP’s Climate Change Questionnaire details our commitment to understanding and proactively addressing
the potential impacts that climate change may have on our business and that our business may have on the environment.
The Company’s objective is to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 for both operations and investments. The Company is
continuing to work towards setting interim science-based targets. In addition, the Company is on track to grow women in management roles to 50%
across its business segments by 2030 and it is working to increase representation of underrepresented minorities in management to 25% by 2030.
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91
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Holding Company Structure Risk
As a holding company, the Company’s ability to pay interest, dividends and other operating expenses and to meet its obligations generally
depends upon receipt of sufficient funds from its principal subsidiaries and its ability to raise additional capital.
In the event of bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these subsidiaries, insurance and investment contract liabilities of these
subsidiaries will be completely provided for before any assets of such subsidiaries are made available for distribution to the Company. In
addition, the other creditors of these subsidiaries will generally be entitled to the payment of their claims before any assets are made available for
distribution to the Company except to the extent that the Company is recognized as a creditor of the relevant subsidiaries.
Any payment (including payment of interest and dividends) by the principal subsidiaries is subject to restrictions set forth in relevant insurance,
securities, corporate and other laws and regulations, which require that solvency and capital standards be maintained by Canada Life, Empower
and their subsidiaries and certain subsidiaries of Putnam. There are considerable risks and benefits related to this structure.
Management monitors the solvency and capital positions of its principal subsidiaries opposite liquidity requirements at the holding company
level. Management also establishes lines of credit for additional liquidity and may also access capital markets for funds. Management monitors
compliance with the regulatory laws and regulations at both the holding company and operating company levels.
Mergers and Acquisitions Risk
Periodically, the Company and its subsidiaries evaluate existing companies, businesses, assets, products and services. Such reviews could result
in the Company or its subsidiaries acquiring or divesting of businesses or assets. In the ordinary course of business, the Company considers and
discusses the purchase or sale of companies, businesses segments or assets.
If effected, such transactions could be material to the Company in size or scope, could result in risks and contingencies relating to companies,
businesses or assets that the Company acquires or expose it to the risk of claims relating to those it has divested, could result in changes in the
value of the securities of the Company, including the common shares of the Company, and could result in the Company holding additional
capital for contingencies that may arise after the transaction is completed. Strategic and integration risks related to mergers and acquisitions
can also emerge due to external risks that are difficult to anticipate and may result in reduced synergies and negative impact on value capture.
To mitigate these risks, due diligence reviews of potential transactions are undertaken, and risks are assessed in the context of our Risk Appetite.
For acquisitions, an integration strategy is established that considers the values, norms, and culture of the target company, including monitoring
of new and emerging risks that may impede efficiency and delay the consolidation process. Before acquiring or divesting companies, businesses,
business segments, or assets, Operating Segments assess and provide assurance that systems and processes are appropriate to manage the risks
after the transaction is completed, and regular monitoring and oversight of transaction activities is conducted.
Tax Regime Risk
The Company operates in a number of countries each with its own distinct tax regime, encompassing various levels of government and a range
of tax mechanisms, such as income taxes, capital taxes, payroll taxes, value add taxes, sales taxes, etc. and further, may provide tax incentives for
certain types of products (examples include support for pensions, retirement savings and life & health insurance). These jurisdictions periodically
review and amend various aspects of the tax regime that can have an impact on the business of the Company.
There is a risk that changes to tax rates may increase the tax expense to the Company, adversely impacting earnings. There is also a risk that a
reduction or elimination in the level of tax incentives on products offered by the Company may adversely impact demand for those products.
Management actively monitors changes in tax regimes in countries where it has operations and proactively responds to tax changes that may
have potential impacts on its business. Refer to the “Income Tax” section of this document for additional details.
Product Distribution Risk
Product distribution risk is the risk of loss resulting from the Company’s inability to market its products through its network of distribution
channels and intermediaries. These intermediaries generally offer their clients products in addition to, and in competition with, the Company’s
products, and are not obligated to continue working with the Company. In addition, certain investors rely on consultants to advise them on
the choice of provider and the consultants may not always consider or recommend the Company. The loss of access to a distribution channel,
the failure to maintain effective relationships with intermediaries or the failure to respond to changes in distribution channels could have a
significant impact on the Company’s ability to generate sales.
Product distribution risk is managed by maintaining a broad network of distribution relationships, with products distributed through numerous
broker-dealers, managing general agencies, financial planners, banks and other financial institutions.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis Exposures and Sensitivities
Insurance and Investment Contract Liabilities
In determining the Company’s insurance contract liabilities, valuation assumptions are made regarding rates of mortality/morbidity, investment
returns, levels of operating expenses, rates of policy termination and rates of utilization of elective policy options or provisions. When the
assumptions are revised to reflect emerging experience or change in outlook, the result is a change in the value of liabilities which in turn affects
the Company’s earnings.
The following table illustrates the approximate impact to the Company’s earnings that would arise as a result of changes to management’s best
estimate of certain assumptions. For changes in asset related assumptions, the sensitivity is shown net of the corresponding impact on earnings
of the change in the value of the assets supporting liabilities. These earnings sensitivities represent impacts under the Company’s accounting
policies as at December 31 2022, including accounting for insurance contracts under IFRS 4 and IAS 39. These sensitivities may change on
transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9.
Mortality – 2% increase
Annuitant mortality – 2% decrease
Morbidity – 5% adverse change
Investment returns
Parallel shift in yield curve
1% increase
1% decrease
Change in interest rates
1% increase
1% decrease
Change in publicly traded common stock values
20% increase
10% increase
10% decrease
20% decrease
Change in other non-fixed income asset values
10% increase
5% increase
5% decrease
10% decrease
Change in best estimate return assumptions for equities
1% increase
1% decrease
Expenses – 5% increase
Policy termination and renewal – 10% adverse change
Increase (decrease)
in net earnings
2022
2021
(247)
(522)
(253)
–
–
79
(290)
37
27
(28)
(146)
52
26
(70)
(236)
525
(620)
(193)
(945)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
(276)
(722)
(262)
–
–
197
(555)
21
13
(19)
(66)
79
39
(30)
(112)
567
(649)
(207)
(1,002)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Refer to the “Accounting Policies – Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates” section of this document for additional information on earnings
sensitivities.
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93
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Accounting Policies
Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the reporting date, and the reported
amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The results of the Company reflect management’s judgments regarding the
impact of prevailing market conditions related to global credit, equities, investment properties and foreign exchange and prevailing health and
mortality experience. The fair value of portfolio investments, the valuation of goodwill and other intangible assets, the valuation of insurance
contract liabilities and the recoverability of deferred tax asset carrying values reflect management’s judgement based on current expectations but
could be impacted in the future depending on current market developments.
The provision for future credit losses within the Company’s insurance contract liabilities relies upon investment credit ratings. The Company’s
practice is to use independent third-party credit ratings where available as an input to its internal credit rating process. Investment properties,
which are primarily held in the U.K. and Canada, rely upon independent third-party appraisals for their valuation which impact the estimation
of insurance contract liabilities. Independent appraisals for the portfolio occur over the year with management adjustments for material changes
in the interim periods. Credit rating changes for fixed income investments and market values for investment properties may lag developments
in the current environment. Subsequent credit rating adjustments and market value adjustments on investment properties will impact actuarial
liabilities.
The significant accounting estimates include the following:
Fair Value Measurement
Financial and other instruments held by the Company include portfolio investments, various derivative financial instruments, debentures and
other debt instruments.
Financial instrument carrying values reflect the liquidity of the markets and the liquidity premiums embedded in the market pricing methods
the Company relies upon.
The Company’s assets and liabilities recorded at fair value have been categorized based upon the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1 inputs utilize observable, quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability
to access.
Level 2 inputs utilize other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 inputs utilize one or more significant inputs that are not based on observable market inputs and include situations where there is little, if
any, market activity for the asset or liability.
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair
value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to
the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its
entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.
Refer to note 9 in the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements for disclosure of the Company’s financial
instruments fair value measurement by hierarchy level as at December 31, 2022.
Fair values for bonds classified as fair value through profit or loss or available-for-sale are determined using quoted market prices. Where prices
are not quoted in an active market, fair values are determined by valuation models primarily using observable market data inputs. Market values
for bonds and mortgages classified as loans and receivables are determined by discounting expected future cash flows using current market rates.
Fair values for equity release mortgages classified as fair value through profit or loss are determined by an internal valuation model that uses
discounted future cash flows. Inputs to the model include market observable and non-market observable inputs.
Fair values for public stocks are generally determined by the last bid price for the security from the exchange where it is principally traded. Fair
values for stocks for which there is no active market are determined by discounting expected future cash flows based on expected dividends and
where market value cannot be measured reliably, fair value is estimated to be equal to cost. Fair values for investment properties are determined
using independent appraisal services and include management adjustments for material changes in property cash flows, capital expenditures or
general market conditions in the interim period between appraisals.
Investment impairment
Investments are reviewed regularly on an individual basis to determine impairment status. The Company considers various factors in the
impairment evaluation process, including, but not limited to, the financial condition of the issuer, specific adverse conditions affecting an industry
or region, decline in fair value not related to interest rates, bankruptcy or defaults and delinquency in payments of interest or principal. Investments
are deemed to be impaired when there is no longer reasonable assurance of timely collection of the full amount of the principal and interest due.
The fair value of an investment is not a definitive indicator of impairment, as it may be significantly influenced by other factors including the
remaining term to maturity and liquidity of the asset; however, market price is taken into consideration when evaluating impairment.
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Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis For impaired mortgages and bonds classified as loans and receivables, provisions are established or write-offs made to adjust the carrying value
to the net realizable amount. Wherever possible the fair value of collateral underlying the loans or observable market price is used to establish
the estimated realizable value. For impaired available-for-sale bonds recorded at fair value, the accumulated loss recorded in accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss) is reclassified to net investment income. Impairments on available-for-sale debt instruments are reversed if there
is objective evidence that a permanent recovery has occurred. All gains and losses on bonds classified or designated as fair value through profit
or loss are already recorded in net investment income; therefore, in the event of an impairment, the reduction will be recorded in net investment
income. As well, when determined to be impaired, interest is no longer accrued and previous interest accruals are reversed.
Goodwill and intangibles impairment testing
Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets, including those resulting from an acquisition during the year, are tested for impairment annually
or more frequently if events indicate that impairment may have occurred. Intangible assets that were previously impaired are reviewed at each
reporting date for evidence of reversal. In the event that certain conditions have been met, the Company would be required to reverse the
impairment loss or a portion thereof.
Goodwill has been allocated to (cash generating unit) CGU groupings, representing the lowest level that the assets are monitored for internal
reporting purposes. Goodwill is tested for impairment by comparing the carrying value of each CGU grouping to its recoverable amount. An
impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.
Intangible assets have been allocated to CGUs, representing the lowest level that the assets are monitored for internal reporting purposes.
Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are reviewed annually to determine if there are indicators of impairment. If indicators of impairment
have been identified, a test for impairment is performed and recognized as necessary. Impairment is assessed by comparing the carrying values
of the assets to their recoverable amounts. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its
recoverable amount.
The recoverable amount is the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs of disposal and value-in-use.
Finite life intangible assets are reviewed annually to determine if there are indicators of impairment and assess whether the amortization periods
and methods are appropriate. If indicators of impairment have been identified, a test for impairment is performed and then the amortization of
these assets is adjusted or impairment is recognized as necessary.
Insurance and investment contract liabilities
Insurance and investment contract liabilities represent the amounts required, in addition to future premiums and investment income, to provide
for future benefit payments, policyholder dividends, commission and policy administrative expenses for all insurance and annuity policies in-
force with the Company. The Appointed Actuaries of the Company’s subsidiaries are responsible for determining the amount of the liabilities
to make appropriate provisions for the Company’s obligations to policyholders. The Appointed Actuaries determine the liabilities for insurance
contracts using generally accepted actuarial practices, according to the standards established by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. The
valuation uses the Canadian Asset Liability Method (CALM). This method involves the projection of future events in order to determine the
amount of assets that must be set aside currently to provide for all future obligations and involves a significant amount of judgment.
In the computation of insurance contract liabilities, valuation assumptions have been made regarding rates of mortality/morbidity, investment
returns, levels of operating expenses, rates of policy termination and rates of utilization of elective policy options or provisions. The valuation
assumptions use best estimates of future experience together with a margin for adverse deviation. These margins are necessary to provide for
possibilities of mis-estimation and/or future deterioration in the best-estimate assumptions and provide reasonable assurance that insurance
contract liabilities cover a range of possible outcomes. Margins are reviewed periodically for continued appropriateness.
Investment contract liabilities are measured at fair value determined using discounted cash flows utilizing the yield curves of financial instruments
with similar cash flow characteristics.
The earnings sensitivities illustrated in this “Accounting Policies – Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates” section represent impacts under
the Company’s accounting policies as at December 31 2022, including accounting for insurance contracts under IFRS 4 and IAS 39. These
sensitivities may change on transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9. The methods for arriving at these valuation assumptions are outlined below.
Mortality – A life insurance mortality study is carried out regularly for each major block of insurance business. The results of each study are used
to update the Company’s experience valuation mortality tables for that business. Annuitant mortality is also studied regularly, and the results are
used to modify established annuitant mortality tables. When there is insufficient data, use is made of the latest industry experience to derive an
appropriate valuation mortality assumption. Improvement scales for life insurance and annuitant mortality are updated periodically based on
population and industry studies, product specific considerations, as well as professional guidance. In addition, appropriate provisions are made
for future mortality deterioration on term insurance.
• A 2% increase in the best estimate life insurance mortality assumption would cause a decrease in net earnings of approximately $247 million.
• A 2% decrease in the best estimate annuitant assumption would cause a decrease in net earnings of approximately $522 million.
Morbidity – The Company uses industry developed experience tables modified to reflect emerging Company experience. Both claim incidence
and termination are monitored regularly, and emerging experience is factored into the current valuation. For products for which morbidity is a
significant assumption, a 5% decrease in best estimate termination assumptions for claim liabilities and a 5% increase in best-estimate incidence
assumptions for active life liabilities would cause a decrease in net earnings of approximately $253 million.
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95
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Property and casualty reinsurance – Insurance contract liabilities for property and casualty reinsurance written by the Capital and Risk
Solutions segment are determined using accepted actuarial practices for property and casualty insurers in Canada. The insurance contract
liabilities are based on cession statements provided by ceding companies. In addition, insurance contract liabilities also include an amount for
incurred but not reported losses, which may differ significantly from the ultimate loss development. The estimates and underlying methodology
are continually reviewed and updated and adjustments to estimates are reflected in net earnings. The Capital and Risk Solutions segment
analyzes the emergence of claims experience against expected assumptions for each reinsurance contract separately and at the portfolio level. If
necessary, a more in depth analysis is undertaken of the cedant experience.
Investment returns – The assets which correspond to the different liability categories are segmented. For each segment, projected cash flows
from the current assets and liabilities are used in CALM to determine insurance contract liabilities. Cash flows from assets are reduced to provide
for asset default losses. Testing under a number of interest rate scenarios (including increasing, decreasing and fluctuating rates) is done to
provide for reinvestment risk because the Company’s sensitivity to interest rate movements varies at different terms.
The total provision for interest rate is sufficient to cover a broader or more severe set of risks than the minimum arising from the current Canadian
Institute of Actuaries prescribed scenarios. The range of interest rates covered by these provision is set in consideration of long-term historical
results and is monitored quarterly with a full review annually. The impact to the value of liabilities from an immediate parallel 1% increase or 1%
decrease in the interest rates would be largely offset by changes in the value of assets supporting the liabilities. Actual movements in interest rates
may produce different impacts on the value of liabilities, net of changes in the value of assets supporting liabilities, depending on the extent of
the change in interest rates in different geographies and at different durations. An immediate 1% increase in interest rates in Canada could lead
to an increase in the value of liabilities, net of changes in the value of assets supporting liabilities, and a decrease in net earnings, but the impact
would not be expected to be material.
The following is the impact to the value of liabilities net of changes in the value of assets supporting liabilities of an immediate parallel 1% increase
or 1% decrease in the interest rates as well as a corresponding parallel shift in the ultimate reinvestment rates, as defined in the actuarial standards.
• The effect of an immediate 1% increase in the low and high end of the range of interest rates recognized in the provisions would be to decrease
these insurance and investment contract liabilities by approximately $92 million causing an increase in net earnings of approximately $79 million.
• The effect of an immediate 1% decrease in the low and high end of the range of interest rates recognized in the provisions would be to increase
these insurance and investment contract liabilities by approximately $386 million causing a decrease in net earnings of approximately $290 million.
In addition to interest rates, the Company is also exposed to movements in equity markets.
Some insurance and investment contract liabilities with long-tail cash-flows are supported by publicly traded common stocks and investments
in other non-fixed income assets, primarily comprised of investment properties, real estate funds, private stocks, and equity release mortgages.
The value of the liabilities may fluctuate with changes in the value of the supporting assets. The liabilities for other products such as segregated
fund products with guarantees also fluctuate with equity values.
There may be additional market and liability impacts as a result of changes in the value of publicly traded common stocks and other non-fixed
income assets that will cause the liabilities to fluctuate differently than the equity values. This means that there is a greater impact on net earnings
from larger declines in equity values, relative to the change in equity values. Declines in equity values beyond those shown below would have a
greater impact on net earnings, relative to the change in equity values.
The following shows the expected impact of an immediate 10% or 20% increase or decrease in the value of publicly traded common stocks on
insurance and investment contract liabilities and on the shareholders’ net earnings of the Company. The expected impacts take into account the
expected changes in the value of assets supporting liabilities and hedge assets:
• A 10% increase in publicly traded common stock values would be expected to additionally decrease non-participating insurance and
investment contract liabilities by approximately $31 million, causing an increase in net earnings of approximately $27 million.
• A 10% decrease in publicly traded common stock values would be expected to additionally increase non-participating insurance and
investment contract liabilities by approximately $31 million, causing a decrease in net earnings of approximately $28 million.
• A 20% increase in publicly traded common stock values would be expected to additionally decrease non-participating insurance and
investment contract liabilities by approximately $43 million, causing an increase in net earnings of approximately $37 million.
• A 20% decrease in publicly traded common stock values would be expected to additionally increase non-participating insurance and
investment contract liabilities by approximately $180 million, causing a decrease in net earnings of approximately $146 million.
The following provides information on the expected impacts of an immediate 5% or 10% increase or decrease in the value of other non-fixed
income assets on insurance and investment contract liabilities and on the shareholders’ net earnings of the Company. The expected impacts take
into account the expected changes in the value of assets supporting liabilities:
• A 5% increase in other non-fixed income asset values would be expected to decrease non-participating insurance and investment contract
liabilities by approximately $32 million, causing an increase in net earnings of approximately $26 million.
• A 5% decrease in other non-fixed income asset values would be expected to increase non-participating insurance and investment contract
liabilities by approximately $90 million, causing a decrease in net earnings of approximately $70 million.
• A 10% increase in other non-fixed income asset values would be expected to decrease non-participating insurance and investment contract
liabilities by approximately $63 million, causing an increase in net earnings of approximately $52 million.
• A 10% decrease in other non-fixed income asset values would be expected to increase non-participating insurance and investment contract
liabilities by approximately $302 million, causing a decrease in net earnings of approximately $236 million.
96
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis The Canadian Institute of Actuaries Standards of Practice for the valuation of insurance contract liabilities establish limits on the investment
return assumptions for publicly traded common stocks and other non-fixed income assets which are generally based on historical returns on
market indices. The sensitivities shown in the tables above allow for the impact of changes in these limits following market declines.
The best-estimate return assumptions for publicly traded common stocks, and other non-fixed income assets are primarily based on long-term
historical averages. Changes in the current market could result in changes to these assumptions and will impact both asset and liability cash flows.
• A 1% increase in the best estimate assumption would be expected to decrease non-participating insurance contract liabilities by approximately
$676 million causing an increase in net earnings of approximately $525 million.
• A 1% decrease in the best estimate assumption would be expected to increase non-participating insurance contract liabilities by approximately
$806 million causing a decrease in net earnings of approximately $620 million.
For a further description of the Company’s sensitivity to equity market and interest rate fluctuations, refer to “Financial Instruments Risk
Management”, note 8 in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2022.
Expenses – Contractual policy expenses (e.g. sales commissions) and tax expenses are reflected on a best estimate basis. Expense studies for
indirect operating expenses are updated regularly to determine an appropriate estimate of future operating expenses for the liability type being
valued. An inflation assumption is incorporated in the estimate of future operating expenses consistent with the interest rate scenarios projected
under CALM as inflation is assumed to be correlated with new money interest rates. A 5% increase in the best estimate maintenance unit expense
assumption would cause a decrease in net earnings of approximately $193 million.
Policy termination – Studies to determine rates of policy termination are updated regularly to form the basis of this estimate. Industry data is
also available and is useful where the Company has no experience with specific types of policies or its exposure is limited. The Company’s most
significant exposures are in respect of the T-100 and Level Cost of Insurance Universal Life products in Canada and policy renewal rates at the end
of the term for renewable term policies in the Canada and Capital and Risk Solutions segments. Industry experience has guided the Company’s
assumptions for these products as its own experience is very limited. A 10% adverse change in the best-estimate policy termination and renewal
assumptions would cause a decrease in net earnings of approximately $945 million.
Utilization of elective policy options – There are a wide range of elective options embedded in the policies issued by the Company. Examples
include term renewals, conversion to whole life insurance (term insurance), settlement annuity purchase at guaranteed rates (deposit annuities)
and guarantee re-sets (segregated fund maturity guarantees). The assumed rates of utilization are based on Company or industry experience
when it exists and otherwise based on judgement considering incentives to utilize the option. Generally, whenever it is clearly in the best interests
of an informed policyholder to utilize an option, then it is assumed to be elected.
Policyholder dividends and adjustable policy features – Future policyholder dividends and other adjustable policy features are included in
the determination of insurance contract liabilities with the assumption that policyholder dividends or adjustable benefits will change in the
future in response to the relevant experience. The dividend and policy adjustments are determined consistent with policyholders’ reasonable
expectations, such expectations being influenced by the participating policyholder dividend policies and/or policyholder communications,
marketing material and past practice. It is the Company’s expectation that changes will occur in policyholder dividend scales or adjustable
benefits for participating or adjustable business respectively, corresponding to changes in the best estimate assumptions, resulting in an
immaterial net change in insurance contract liabilities. Where underlying guarantees may limit the ability to pass all of this experience back to
the policyholder, the impact of this non-adjustability impacting shareholders’ net earnings is reflected in the impacts of changes in best estimate
assumptions above.
Income taxes
The Company is subject to income tax laws in various jurisdictions. The Company’s operations are complex and related income tax interpretations,
regulations and legislation that pertain to its activities are subject to continual change. As life insurance companies, the Company’s primary
Canadian operating subsidiaries are subject to a regime of specialized rules prescribed under the Income Tax Act (Canada) for purposes of
determining the amount of the companies’ income that will be subject to tax in Canada.
Tax planning strategies to obtain tax efficiencies are used. The Company continually assesses the uncertainty associated with these strategies and
holds an appropriate level of provisions for uncertain income tax positions. Accordingly, the provision for income taxes represents management’s
interpretation of the relevant income tax laws and its estimate of current and deferred income tax balances for the period. Deferred income tax
assets and liabilities are recorded based on expected future income tax rates and management’s assumptions regarding the expected timing of
the reversal of temporary differences. The Company has substantial deferred income tax assets. The recognition of deferred income tax assets
depends on management’s assumption that future earnings will be sufficient to realize the deferred benefit. The amount of the asset recorded is
based on management’s best estimate of the realization of the asset.
The audit and review activities of tax authorities may affect the ultimate determination of the amounts of income taxes payable or receivable,
deferred income tax assets or liabilities and income tax expense. Therefore, there can be no assurance that income taxes will be payable as
anticipated and/or the amount and timing of receipt or use of the income tax related assets will be as currently expected. Management’s
experience indicates the taxation authorities are more aggressively pursuing perceived income tax issues and have increased the resources they
put to these efforts.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
97
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Employee future benefits
The Company’s subsidiaries maintain contributory and non-contributory defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans for eligible
employees and advisors. The defined benefit pension plans provide pensions based on length of service and final average pay; however,
these plans are closed to new entrants. Many of the subsidiaries’ defined benefit pension plans also no longer provide future defined benefit
accruals. The Company’s defined benefit plan exposure is expected to reduce in future years. Where defined benefit pension accruals continue,
active plan participants share in the cost of benefits through employee contributions in respect of current service. Certain pension payments
are indexed on either an ad hoc basis or a guaranteed basis. The determination of the defined benefit obligation reflects pension benefits in
accordance with the terms of the plans. Assets supporting the funded pension plans are held in separate trusteed pension funds. Obligations
for the wholly unfunded plans are included in other liabilities and are supported by general assets. New hires and active plan participants in
defined benefit plans closed to future defined benefit accruals are eligible for defined contribution benefits. The defined contribution pension
plans provide pension benefits based on accumulated employee and employer contributions. The Company’s subsidiaries also provide
post-employment health, dental and life insurance benefits to eligible employees, advisors and their dependents. These plans are also closed to
new entrants. For further information on the pension plans and other post-employment benefits refer to note 23 in the Company’s December 31,
2022 annual consolidated financial statements.
For the defined benefit plans, service costs and net interest costs are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Service costs
include current service cost, administration expenses, past service costs and the impact of curtailments and settlements. Re-measurements of
the defined benefit liability (asset) due to asset returns less (greater) than interest income, actuarial losses (gains) and changes in the asset ceiling
are recognized immediately in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Accounting for defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefits requires estimates of expected increases in compensation levels,
indexation of certain pension payments, trends in health-care costs, the period of time over which benefits will be paid, as well as the appropriate
discount rates for past and future service liabilities. These assumptions are determined by management using actuarial methods, and are
reviewed and approved annually. Emerging experience that differs from the assumptions will be revealed in future valuations and will affect the
future financial position of the plans and net periodic benefit costs.
Actuarial assumptions – employee future benefits
At December 31
Actuarial assumptions used to determine benefit cost
Discount rate – past service liabilities
Discount rate – future service liabilities
Rate of compensation increase
Future pension increases 1
Actuarial assumptions used to determine defined benefit obligation
Discount rate – past service liabilities
Rate of compensation increase
Future pension increases 1
Medical cost trend rates
Initial medical cost trend rate
Ultimate medical cost trend rate
Year ultimate trend rate is reached
Defined benefit pension plans
Other post-employment benefits
2022
2021
2022
2021
2.6%
3.3%
3.1%
1.7%
5.0%
3.8%
2.3%
2.2%
2.8%
3.0%
1.2%
2.6%
3.1%
1.7%
3.1%
3.0%
–
–
5.3%
–
–
4.8%
4.1%
2039
2.5%
2.6%
–
–
3.1%
–
–
4.7%
4.1%
2039
1 Represents the weighted average of plans subject to future pension increases.
Actuarial assumptions – The period of time over which benefits are assumed to be paid is based on best estimates of future mortality, including
allowances for mortality improvements. This estimate is subject to considerable uncertainty, and judgment is required in establishing this
assumption. As mortality assumptions are significant in measuring the defined benefit obligation, the mortality assumptions applied by the
Company take into consideration such factors as age, gender and geographic location, in addition to an estimation of future improvements
in longevity.
The mortality tables are reviewed at least annually, and assumptions are in accordance with accepted actuarial practices. Emerging plan
experience is reviewed and considered in establishing the best estimate for future mortality.
As these assumptions relate to factors that are long-term in nature, they are subject to a degree of uncertainty. Differences between actual
experience and the assumptions, as well as changes in the assumptions resulting from changes in future expectations, result in increases or
decreases in the pension and post-employment benefits expense and defined benefit obligation in future years. There is no assurance that the
plans will be able to earn assumed rates of return, and market driven changes to assumptions could impact future contributions and expenses.
98
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
The following table indicates the impact of changes to certain key assumptions related to pension and post-employment benefits.
Impact of a change of 1.0% in actuarial assumptions on defined benefit obligation 1
Defined benefit pension plans:
Impact of a change to the discount rate
Impact of a change to the rate of compensation increase
Impact of a change to the rate of inflation
Other post-employment benefits:
Impact of a change to assumed medical cost trend rates
Impact of a change to the discount rate
1% increase
1% decrease
2022
2021
2022
2021
$
$
(733)
173
340
14
(22)
$
$
(1,199)
299
578
24
(36)
$
$
926
(156)
(299)
(12)
25
$
$
1,568
(269)
(507)
(21)
44
1 To measure the impact of a change in an assumption, all other assumptions were held constant. It is expected that there would be interaction between at least some of the assumptions.
Funding – The Company’s subsidiaries have both funded and unfunded pension plans as well as other post-employment benefit plans that are
unfunded. The Company’s subsidiaries’ funded pension plans are funded to or above the amounts required by relevant legislation. During the year,
the Company’s subsidiaries contributed $293 million ($299 million in 2021) to the pension plans and made benefit payments of $18 million ($19
million in 2021) for post-employment benefits. The Company’s subsidiaries expect to contribute $296 million to the pension plans and make benefit
payments of $19 million for post-employment benefits in 2022.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
99
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
International Financial Reporting Standards
Due to the evolving nature of IFRS, there are a number of IFRS changes impacting the Company in 2022, as well as standards that could impact
the Company in future reporting periods. The Company actively monitors future IFRS changes proposed by the International Accounting Standards
Board (IASB) to assess if the changes to the standards may have an impact on the Company’s results or operations.
The Company adopted the amendments to IFRS for IAS 37, Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets and Annual Improvements
2018-2020 Cycle for the amendment to IFRS 16, Leases effective January 1, 2022. The adoption of these amendments did not have a significant
impact on the Company’s financial statements.
For a further description of the impact of the accounting policy change, refer to note 2 of the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated
financial statements.
IFRS that have changed or may change subsequent to 2022 and could impact the Company in future reporting periods, are set out below and in the
following table:
IFRS 17 has replaced IFRS 4, effective January 1, 2023.
IFRS 17 sets out the requirements for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosures of insurance contracts a company issues,
reinsurance contracts it holds, and investment contracts with discretionary participation features issued. Under IFRS 17, the Company will:
• Identify insurance contracts as arrangements where the Company accepts significant insurance risk from another party (the policyholder) by
agreeing to compensate the policyholder or beneficiary of the contract for specified uncertain future events that adversely affect the policyholder
and whose amount and timing is unknown.
• Separately account for specified embedded derivatives, distinct investment components, and distinct non-insurance goods and services from
insurance contracts.
• Identify portfolios of insurance contracts, which comprises contracts that are subject to similar risks and managed together. Portfolios are further divided
based on expected profitability at inception. At a minimum, each portfolio of insurance contracts issued shall be divided into the following groups:
º
º
º
Contracts that are onerous at initial recognition;
Contracts that at initial recognition have no significant possibility of becoming onerous subsequently; and
Any of the remaining contracts in the portfolio.
• Apply the three measurement models introduced by IFRS 17 as further described below:
General Measurement Model (GMM)
The Company applies this model to its medium to long-term insurance products, such as individual protection, payout annuities, and longevity
swaps.
Under this model, the Company will measure insurance contract liabilities on the balance sheet as the total of:
º
º
The fulfilment cash flows (FCF) – the current estimates of amounts that a company expects to collect (e.g. premiums) and pay out (e.g. claims,
benefits, expenses), including adjustments for the timing and the financial and non-financial risks of those amounts; and
The contractual service margin (CSM) – unearned profit for providing insurance coverage, which is subsequently recognized into profit or loss
over time as the insurance services are provided.
At the end of each period, the Company will recalculate the FCF and CSM, with the CSM subject to adjustments for interest accretion and certain
changes to FCF relating to future service.
Premium Allocation Approach (PAA)
The Company applies this model to its short-term insurance products, such as group life and health.
This simplified model can be used when the contract boundary is less than one year or the approach is expected to produce a similar liability amount
as under the GMM. Under the PAA, the Company is exempted from calculating and explicitly accounting for the CSM. Instead the liability is set as the
premiums received less acquisition expenses, premium revenue recognized, and amounts transferred to fund incurred claims.
Variable Fee Approach (VFA)
The Company applies this model to contracts with direct participating features such as participating insurance and segregated fund business
with insurance guarantees, where an investment return is provided to the policyholder based on a defined pool of items (e.g. a portfolio
of assets).
Similar to the GMM, the VFA initially measures the insurance contract liabilities as the FCF plus CSM. Subsequently, the Company will recalculate
the FCF and CSM, with the latter reflecting changes in the Company’s share of the pool of items (e.g. future fees and guarantee costs) and certain
changes to FCF relating to future service.
A group of insurance contracts issued is considered onerous when the measurement leads to a negative CSM either at issue or when subsequently
measured. In this case, the CSM is not allowed to decrease below zero and a loss component is tracked.
The measurement of reinsurance contracts held is similar to insurance contracts issued with the following key differences: the CSM can be positive
or negative, and the VFA measurement model cannot be used.
On transition to IFRS 17, the Company will apply the full retrospective approach to all identified insurance contracts unless it is impracticable to do
so. When impracticable, the fair value approach will be applied.
The fair value approach calculates the CSM or loss component of the liability for remaining coverage as the difference between the fair value of a
group of insurance contracts at the date of transition and the FCF measured at that date.
100 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
In addition, IFRS 9 will replace IAS 39, effective January 1, 2023. The standard provides changes to financial instruments accounting for
the following:
•
•
Classification and measurement of financial instruments based on a business model approach for managing financial assets and the
contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. All financial assets are measured as Fair Value Through Profit or Loss (FVTPL), Fair
Value Through Other Comprehensive Income (FVOCI), or amortized cost;
Allowances for credit losses (ACL) are based on an Expected Credit Loss (ECL) model for all financial assets, except for financial assets classified
or designated as FVTPL and equity securities designated as FVOCI. Under the ECL model, a loss allowance is recognized and maintained
equal to 12 months of expected credit losses upon initial recognition. If credit risk subsequently increases significantly, or an asset becomes
credit-impaired, the loss allowance is increased to cover full, lifetime expected credit losses. Changes in the required loss allowance will be
recorded in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings; and
•
Hedge accounting that incorporates the risk management practices of an entity, which will not have a material impact to the Company.
The current disclosure for the measurement and classification of the Company’s portfolio investments (note 6 to the Company’s December 31, 2022
annual consolidated financial statements) provides most of the information required by IFRS 9.
The Company’s date of initial application of IFRS 9 is January 1, 2023 and the Company anticipates electing the option of presenting comparative
information about a financial asset as if the classification and measurement requirements of IFRS 9 had been applied to that financial asset in the
comparative period, as permitted by the amendment to IFRS 17 published by the IASB in December 2021. IFRS 9 includes an accounting policy
choice to retain the IAS 39 requirements for hedge accounting, which the Company is currently evaluating.
The adoption of IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 is expected to result in an overall reduction of total assets of approximately $16.4 billion, total liabilities of $13.0
billion, and total equity of approximately $3.4 billion to the transition balance sheet as at January 1, 2022.
Asset and liability reclassifications in the transition balance sheet were primarily driven by changes to the groupings of certain assets and liabilities,
reclassifications of certain insurance contract liabilities to investment contract liabilities, and presenting liabilities on account of segregated fund
policyholders separately between insurance and investment contract liabilities. IFRS 9 adjustments primarily relate to a change in designation
of certain loans and receivables held at amortized cost under IAS 39 to FVTPL under IFRS 9. IFRS 17 adjustments relate to changes in insurance
contract liabilities and reinsurance assets, which are primarily the result of the establishment of CSM for in-force contracts of $6.3 billion associated
with the shareholders’ account and $2.3 billion associated with the participating account, partially offset by the removal of provisions no longer
required under IFRS 17. This does not include the CSM on in-force segregated fund business which does not have a material impact on capital or
opening equity.
Total equity is expected to decrease by approximately $3.4 billion, split $0.2 billion for the participating account surplus and $3.2 billion for the
shareholders’ account surplus.
These impacts are based on the assessments undertaken to date. The exact financial impacts of the accounting changes of adopting IFRS 17 and IFRS
9 may be revised as further analysis is completed prior to presentation of financial information for periods including the date of initial application.
The Company expects to be in a position to issue further guidance on the impact of adopting IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 in conjunction with the first quarterly
report to shareholders for the financial year commencing January 1, 2023.
Standard
Summary of Future Changes
IAS 1 – Presentation of
Financial Statements
In February 2021, the IASB published Disclosure of Accounting Policies, amendments to IAS 1, Presentation of Financial
Statements. The amendments clarify how an entity determines whether accounting policy information is material.
These amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, with earlier application
permitted. The Company does not anticipate a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of
these amendments.
IAS 8 – Accounting Policies,
Changes in Accounting
Estimates and Errors
In February 2021, the IASB published Definition of Accounting Estimates, amendments to IAS 8, Accounting Policies,
Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors. The amendments clarify the difference between an accounting policy and
an accounting estimate.
IAS 12 – Income Taxes
IFRS 16 – Leases
These amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, with earlier application
permitted. The Company does not anticipate a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of
these amendments.
In May 2021, the IASB published Deferred Tax Related to Assets and Liabilities from a Single Transaction, amendments
to IAS 12, Income Taxes. The amendments clarify that for transactions in which both deductible and taxable temporary
differences arise on initial recognition that result in deferred tax assets and liabilities of the same amount, deferred tax
assets and liabilities are to be recognized.
These amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, with earlier application
permitted. The Company does not anticipate a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of
these amendments.
In September 2022, the IASB published Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback, amendments to IFRS 16, Leases. The
amendments clarify that in a sale and leaseback transaction, the seller-lessee subsequent measurement of the lease
liability arising from a leaseback does not recognize any amount of gain or loss related to the right of use it retains.
These amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2024 with earlier application
permitted. The Company does not anticipate a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of
these amendments.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
101
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Other Information
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios
The Company uses several non-GAAP financial measures to measure overall performance of the Company and to assess each of its business
units. A financial measure is considered a non-GAAP measure for Canadian securities law purposes if it is presented other than in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) used for the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial
statements of the Company have been prepared in compliance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have a
standardized meaning under GAAP and may not be comparable to similar financial measures presented by other issuers. Investors may find
these financial measures useful in understanding how management views the underlying business performance of the Company.
Base earnings (loss)
Base earnings (loss) reflect management’s view of the underlying business performance of the Company and provides an alternate measure to
understand the underlying business performance compared to IFRS net earnings. Base earnings (loss) exclude the following items:
• The impact of actuarial assumption changes and other management actions;
• The net earnings impact related to the direct equity and interest rate market impacts on insurance and investment contract liabilities, net of
hedging, and related deferred tax liabilities, which includes:
º the impact of hedge ineffectiveness related to segregated fund guarantee liabilities that are hedged and the performance of the related
hedge assets;
º the impact on segregated fund guarantee liabilities not hedged;
º the impact on general fund equity and investment properties supporting insurance contract liabilities;
º other market impacts on insurance and investment contract liabilities and deferred tax liabilities, including those arising from the difference
between actual and expected market movements; and
• Certain items that, when removed, assist in explaining the Company’s underlying business performance including restructuring costs,
integration costs related to business acquisitions, material legal settlements, material impairment charges related to goodwill and intangible
assets, impact of substantially enacted income tax rate changes and other tax impairments and net gains, losses or costs related to the
disposition or acquisition of a business.
Lifeco
Base earnings
Items excluded from Lifeco base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Market-related impact on liabilities (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Transaction costs related to acquisitions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Restructuring and integration costs (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Tax legislative changes impact (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Net gain/charge on business dispositions (pre-tax)
Total pre-tax items excluded from base earnings
Impact of items excluded from base earnings on income taxes
Net earnings – common shareholders
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
$
$
$
$
Dec. 31
2022
892
49
–
46
(8)
(5)
–
(43)
11
55
29
–
$
102
32
$
1,026
$
$
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
688
24
44
(54)
9
16
4
(58)
15
–
–
–
(72)
72
688
$
$
$
$
825
$
3,219
$
3,260
28
(5)
22
(2)
(76)
2
(21)
6
–
–
(14)
(61)
1
765
$
$
88
41
(41)
8
(68)
19
(178)
47
55
29
–
148
(14)
35
(11)
(207)
18
(90)
24
–
(21)
(14)
$
(144)
144
$
(128)
(4)
$
3,219
$
3,128
102 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Canada
Base earnings
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Market-related impacts on liabilities (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Tax legislative changes impact (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
$
$
Dec. 31
2022
295
1
1
(2)
1
55
29
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
$
$
283
(164)
44
(4)
1
–
–
317
$
1,146
$
1,220
$
$
(18)
5
4
(1)
–
–
(161)
44
4
(1)
55
29
(58)
15
13
(3)
–
–
Net earnings – common shareholders
$
380
$
160
$
307
$
1,116
$
1,187
United States
Base earnings
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Market-related impact on liabilities (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Restructuring and integration costs (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Transaction costs related to acquisitions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Net earnings – common shareholders
Europe
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
$
$
$
$
Dec. 31
2022
185
–
–
12
(3)
(43)
11
–
–
$
$
Sept. 30
2022
204
–
–
(28)
6
(58)
15
21
4
$
162
$
164
$
Dec. 31
2021
156
2
–
(1)
–
(21)
6
(52)
2
92
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
$
$
652
–
–
(40)
8
(178)
47
(48)
19
$
460
$
671
7
(1)
(5)
–
(90)
24
(115)
8
499
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Base earnings
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Market-related impact on liabilities (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Transaction costs related to acquisitions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Tax legislative changes impact
Net gain/charge on business dispositions (pre-tax)
$
$
Dec. 31
2022
239
38
(1)
21
(5)
(5)
–
–
–
$
$
$
$
Sept. 30
2022
200
77
(8)
(17)
2
(5)
–
–
–
$
$
Dec. 31
2021
213
59
(13)
19
(1)
(24)
–
–
(14)
Net earnings – common shareholders
$
287
$
249
$
239
$
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
892
128
(11)
(7)
2
(20)
–
–
–
984
$
$
$
830
219
(33)
27
(8)
(24)
–
(21)
(14)
976
Capital and Risk Solutions
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Base earnings
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Market-related impact on liabilities (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
$
$
Dec. 31
2022
187
10
–
15
(1)
$
$
Net earnings – common shareholder
$
211
$
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
1
111
8
(5)
–
115
$
$
$
$
145
(15)
3
–
–
$
133
$
532
121
8
2
(1)
662
$
$
547
(20)
5
–
–
$
532
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
103
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Lifeco Corporate
Base earnings (loss)
Items excluded from base earnings (loss)
Transaction costs related to acquisitions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Net earnings (loss) – common shareholder
Premiums and deposits
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
$
(14)
$
–
–
(14)
$
$
–
–
–
–
$
$
$
(6)
$
(3)
$
(8)
–
–
(6)
$
$
–
–
(3)
$
$
(68)
10
(66)
Total premiums and deposits include premiums on risk-based insurance and annuity products net of ceded reinsurance (as defined under IFRS
as net premium income), premium equivalents on self-funded group insurance ASO contracts, deposits on individual and group segregated
fund products as well as deposits on proprietary mutual funds and institutional accounts. This measure provides an indicator of top-line growth.
Total net premiums
Policyholder deposits (segregated funds) 1
Self-funded premium equivalents (ASO contracts) and other
Proprietary mutual funds and institutional deposits
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
8,544
13,775
2,684
19,162
$
13,921
11,723
2,637
15,984
$
12,989
8,337
4,556
21,772
$
52,821
40,618
10,953
69,787
$
52,813
29,657
11,108
75,225
Total premiums and deposits
$
44,165
$
44,265
$
47,654
$ 174,179
$ 168,803
1 For additional details, refer to note 14(b) to the Company’s December 31, 2022 annual consolidated financial statements.
Assets under management (AUM) and assets under administration (AUA)
Assets under management and assets under administration are non-GAAP measures that provide an indicator of the size and volume of the
Company’s overall business. Administrative services are an important aspect of the overall business of the Company and should be considered
when comparing volumes, size and trends.
Total assets under administration includes total assets per financial statements, proprietary mutual funds and institutional assets and other
assets under administration.
Lifeco
Total assets per financial statements
Other AUM
Total AUM
Other AUA 1
Total AUA 1
Dec. 31
2022
$ 701,455
331,734
$ 1,033,189
1,464,523
Sept. 30
2022
$ 672,764
319,141
$ 991,905
1,392,368
Dec. 31
2021
$ 630,488
377,155
$ 1,007,643
1,283,949
$ 2,497,712
$ 2,384,273
$ 2,291,592
1 2021 comparative figures have been restated to include Financial Horizons Group and Excel Private Wealth Inc. assets under administration in the Canada segment.
Canada
Canada wealth fee business AUA 1
Segregated fund assets
Other AUM
Wealth fee business other AUA 1
Total Canada wealth fee business AUA 1
Add: Other balance sheet assets
Add: Other AUA
Consolidated Canada balance sheet assets
Consolidated Canada other AUM
Consolidated Canada other AUA 1
Total Canada AUA 1
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
93,816
4,057
23,975
$
89,892
3,964
23,143
$ 101,537
5,742
27,340
$ 121,848
$ 116,999
$ 134,619
$ 101,266
2,369
$
99,304
2,362
$ 102,445
2,275
$ 195,082
4,057
26,344
$ 189,196
3,964
25,505
$ 203,982
5,742
29,615
$ 225,483
$ 218,665
$ 239,339
1 2021 comparative figures have been restated to include Financial Horizons Group and Excel Private Wealth Inc. assets under administration.
104 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
United States
Financial Services
Personal Capital other AUM
Empower AUA
General account
Segregated funds
Other AUM
Other AUA
Empower AUA
Putnam other AUM
Subtotal
Add: Other AUM consolidation adjustment
Add: Other balance sheet assets
Consolidated United States balance sheet assets
Consolidated United States other AUM
Consolidated United States other AUA
Total United States AUA
Europe
Europe wealth and investment only AUA
Segregated fund assets
Other AUM
Other AUA
Total Europe wealth and investment only AUA
Add: Other balance sheet assets
Consolidated Europe balance sheet assets
Consolidated Europe other AUM
Consolidated Europe other AUA
Total Europe AUA
Core net earnings (loss)
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
31,171
$
28,371
$
29,231
99,839
159,901
53,482
1,426,834
102,856
156,492
50,544
1,356,223
47,408
109,450
53,413
1,241,974
$ 1,740,056
$ 1,666,115
$ 1,452,245
$ 222,363
$ 217,679
$ 257,216
$ 1,993,590
$ 1,912,165
$ 1,738,692
$
(29,878)
51,013
$
(28,166)
43,672
$
(28,927)
51,353
$ 310,753
277,138
1,426,834
$ 303,020
268,428
1,356,223
$ 208,211
310,933
1,241,974
$ 2,014,725
$ 1,927,671
$ 1,761,118
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$ 127,807
50,539
11,345
$ 116,788
46,749
10,640
$ 138,963
60,480
12,360
$ 189,691
$ 174,177
$ 211,803
$
51,467
$
48,495
$
61,936
$ 179,274
50,539
11,345
$ 165,283
46,749
10,640
$ 200,899
60,480
12,360
$ 241,158
$ 222,672
$ 273,739
For its Asset Management (Putnam) business unit in the U.S segment, the Company discloses core net earnings (loss), which is a measure of the
business unit’s performance. Core net earnings (loss) includes the impact of dealer commissions and software amortization and excludes the
impact of certain corporate financing charges and allocations, certain tax adjustments and other non-recurring transactions.
(In US$ million, unless otherwise noted)
Fee and net investment income
Less: Expenses
Core earnings
Less: Income taxes
Core net earnings (loss)
Non-core net earnings (loss)
Net earnings (loss)
Net earnings (loss) (C$)
For the three months ended
For the twelve months ended
Dec. 31
2022
Sept. 30
2022
Dec. 31
2021
Dec. 31
2022
Dec. 31
2021
$
$
$
$
$
220
218
2
1
1
(21)
(20)
(27)
$
$
$
$
$
200
214
(14)
(1)
(13)
(4)
(17)
(22)
$
$
$
$
$
254
225
29
9
20
15
35
43
$
$
$
$
$
853
873
(20)
(2)
(18)
(32)
(50)
(66)
$
$
$
$
$
990
890
100
26
74
2
76
95
1 For the Asset Management business unit, there were no differences between net earnings (loss) and base earnings (loss) in the periods presented.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
105
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Non-GAAP Ratios
A non-GAAP ratio is a financial measure in the form of a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar representation that is not disclosed in the financial
statements of the Company and has a non-GAAP financial measure as one or more of its components. These financial measures do not have a
standardized definition under IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers.
The non-GAAP ratios disclosed by the Company each use base earnings (loss) as the non-GAAP component. Base earnings (loss) reflect
management’s view of the underlying business performance of the Company and provides an alternate measure to understand the underlying
business performance compared to IFRS net earnings.
• Base dividend payout ratio – Dividends paid to common shareholders are divided by base earnings (loss).
• Base earnings per share – Base earnings (loss) for the period is divided by the number of average common shares outstanding for the period.
• Base earnings per share (diluted) – Base earnings (loss) for the period is divided by the number of average common shares outstanding on
a diluted basis for the period.
• Base return on equity – Base earnings (loss) for the trailing four quarters are divided by the average common shareholders’ equity over the
trailing four quarters. This measure provides an indicator of business unit profitability.
• Core margin (pre-tax) – The metrics relates to the Asset Management line of business within the United States segment and is calculated by
dividing core earnings by fee and net investment income.
• Cost of management ratio – Compares the amount paid by the Company to compensate its Named Executive Officers (NEOs) relative to the
Company’s base earnings for the same period. Calculated by dividing total annual compensation paid to NEOs (as disclosed in the Executive
Compensation section of the Company’s management proxy circular) by base earnings for the year.
• Effective income tax rate – base earnings – common shareholders – Calculated by adjusting the Company’s reported income taxes and net
earnings before income taxes attributable to common shareholders to remove the impact of items excluded from base earnings, to calculate
the effective tax rate for common shareholders.
Glossary
• Actuarial assumption changes and other management actions – In accordance with the OSFI “Source of Earnings Disclosure (Life Insurance
Company)” Guideline D-9, actuarial assumption changes and other management actions represent the impact on net income resulting from
management actions, changes in actuarial assumptions or methodology, changes in margins for adverse deviations, and correction of errors.
Within the Source of Earnings Disclosure, management actions include the net gain or charge on business dispositions and transactions
costs related to acquisition. The reconciliation between net earnings (loss) - common shareholders and base earnings (loss) presents the net
gain or charge on business dispositions and transactions costs related to acquisition separately from actuarial assumption changes and other
management actions.
• Book value per common share – Measure is calculated by dividing Lifeco’s common shareholder’s equity by the number of common shares
outstanding at the end of the period.
• Common shareholder’s equity – A financial measure comprised of the following items from Lifeco’s balance sheet: share capital – common
shares, accumulated surplus, accumulated other comprehensive income and contributed surplus.
• Dividend payout ratio – Dividends paid to common shareholders are divided by net earnings – common shareholders.
• Financial leverage ratio – Defined as debt, hybrid securities, and preferred shares divided by total consolidated capitalization.
• Impact of currency movement (constant currency basis) – Items impacting the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings, such as
income and benefits and expenses and net earnings, are translated into Canadian dollars at an average rate for the period. These measures
highlight the impact of changes in currency translation rates on Canadian dollar equivalent IFRS results and have been calculated using the
average rates, as shown below, in effect at the date of the comparative period. These measures provide useful information as it facilitates the
comparability of results between periods.
Period ended
United States dollar
British pound
Euro
106 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
December 31
2022
2021
1.36
1.59
1.39
1.26
1.70
1.44
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
• Market-related impacts on liabilities – The net earnings impact related to the direct equity and interest rate market impacts on insurance and
investment contract liabilities, net of hedging, and related deferred tax liabilities, which includes:
º the impact of hedge ineffectiveness related to segregated fund guarantee liabilities that are hedged and the performance of the related
hedge assets;
º the impact on segregated fund guarantee liabilities not hedged;
º the impact on general fund equity and investment properties supporting insurance contract liabilities;
º other market impacts on insurance and investment contract liabilities and deferred tax liabilities, including those arising from the difference
between actual and expected market movements.
• Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI) – is an independent Canadian federal government agency that
regulates and supervises federally regulated financial institutions and pension plans to determine whether they are in sound financial
condition and meeting their requirements.
• Return on common shareholder’s equity (ROE) – Net earnings (loss) for the trailing four quarters are divided by the average common
shareholders’ equity over the trailing four quarters. This measure provides an indicator of business unit profitability.
• Sales – Sales are measured according to product type:
º For risk-based insurance and annuity products, sales include 100% of single premium and annualized premiums expected in the first twelve
months of the plan.
º Group insurance and ASO sales reflect annualized premiums and premium equivalents for new policies and new benefits covered or
expansion of coverage on existing policies.
º For individual wealth management products, sales include deposits on segregated fund products, proprietary mutual funds and institutional
accounts as well as deposits on non-proprietary mutual funds.
º For group wealth management products, sales include assets transferred from previous plan providers and the expected annual contributions
from the new plan.
• Segmented common shareholder’s equity – The Company has a capital allocation methodology, which allocates financing costs in proportion
to allocated capital. For the Canada, Europe and Capital and Risk Solutions segments (essentially Canada Life), this allocation method
generally tracks the regulatory capital requirements, while for U.S. Financial Services and U.S. Asset Management (Putnam), it tracks the
financial statement carrying value of the business units. Total leverage capital is consistently allocated across all business units in proportion
to total capital resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio in each business unit mirroring the consolidated Company.
The capital allocation methodology allows the Company to calculate comparable ROE for each business unit. These ROEs are therefore
based on the capital the business unit has been allocated and the financing charges associated with that capital. IFRS does not prescribe the
calculation of ROE and therefore a comparable measure under IFRS is not available.
• Other assets under management – Includes external client funds where the Company has oversight of the investment policies. Services
provided in respect of proprietary mutual funds and institutional assets include the selection of investments, the provision of investment
advice and discretionary portfolio management on behalf of clients.
• Other assets under administration – Includes assets where the Company only provides administration services for which the Company earns
fees and other income. These assets are beneficially owned by the clients and the Company does not direct the investing activities. Services
provided relating to assets under administration include recordkeeping, safekeeping, collecting investment income, settling of transactions
or other administrative services. Administrative services are an important aspect of the overall business of the Company and should be
considered when comparing volumes, size and trends.
• Net cash flows and net asset flows – Indicator of the Company’s ability to attract and retain business. Net cash flows and net asset flows are
measured by the following:
º Canada wealth management net cash flows include cash inflows and outflows related to segregated fund assets and proprietary and non-
proprietary mutual funds.
º Europe wealth and investment only net cash flows include cash inflows and outflows related to segregated fund assets, proprietary mutual
funds and institutional assets as well as other assets under administration.
º Empower net cash flows include cash inflows and outflows related to segregated fund assets, general fund assets, proprietary and non-
proprietary mutual funds as well as other assets under management.
º Putnam net asset flows include mutual fund and institutional sales and redemptions.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
107
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Selected Annual Information
(in $ millions, except per share amounts)
Total revenue
Earnings – common shareholders
Net earnings
Base earnings 1
Net earnings per common share
Basic – net earnings
Diluted – net earnings
Basic – base earnings 2
Diluted – base earnings 2
Total assets under administration
Total assets
Proprietary mutual funds and institutional assets 3
Total assets under management 1
Other assets under administration 3,4
Total assets under administration 1,4
Total liabilities
Dividends paid per share
Series F First Preferred 5
Series G First Preferred
Series H First Preferred
Series I First Preferred
Series L First Preferred
Series M First Preferred
Series N First Preferred 6
Series O First Preferred 7
Series P First Preferred
Series Q First Preferred
Series R First Preferred
Series S First Preferred
Series T First Preferred
Series Y First Preferred 8
Common
Years ended December 31
2022
2021
2020
$
44,662
$
64,417
$
60,583
3,219
3,219
3.455
3.452
3.455
3.452
3,128
3,260
3.365
3.360
3.507
3.502
2,943
2,669
3.173
3.172
2.878
2.877
$ 701,455
331,734
1,033,189
1,464,523
$ 630,488
377,155
1,007,643
1,283,949
$ 600,490
350,943
951,433
1,034,096
$ 2,497,712
$ 2,291,592
$ 1,985,529
$ 669,137
$ 600,005
$ 573,475
–
1.3000
1.21252
1.1250
1.41250
1.450
0.437252
–
1.350
1.2875
1.200
1.312500
1.2875
1.1250
1.960
1.4750
1.3000
1.21252
1.1250
1.41250
1.450
0.437252
–
1.350
1.2875
1.200
1.312500
1.2875
0.2589
1.804
1.4750
1.3000
1.21252
1.1250
1.41250
1.450
0.544000
0.556412
1.350
1.2875
1.200
1.312500
1.2875
–
1.752
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 This metric is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
3 Refer to the “Glossary” section of this document for additional details on the composition of this measure.
4 2021 and 2020 comparative figures have been restated to include Financial Horizons Group and Excel Private Wealth Inc. assets under administration in the Canada segment.
5 On December 31, 2021, Lifeco redeemed all of its outstanding 5.90% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares, Series F, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share plus an amount equal to all declared
and unpaid dividends, less any tax required to be deducted and withheld by Lifeco.
6 The Series N First Preferred Share dividend was reset to a five year fixed dividend rate of 1.749% per annum which applies until December 30, 2025.
7 Floating dividend rate which is reset quarterly to the three month Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield plus 1.30%. On December 31, 2020, all outstanding Series O Shares were automatically
converted into Series N Shares on a one-for-one basis.
8 On October 8, 2021, the Company issued 8,000,000, 4.50% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares, Series Y. Please refer to the “Lifeco Capital Structure” section of this document for additional details
on the issuance.
108 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Quarterly Financial Information
(in $ millions,
except per share amounts)
Q4
Q3
2022
2021
Q2
Q1
Q4
Q3
Q2
Q1
Total revenue
$
14,072
$
12,372
$
9,188
$
9,030
$
18,122
$
17,432
$
17,955
$
10,908
Common shareholders
Base earnings
Total 2
Basic – per share 1
Diluted – per share 1
Net earnings
Total
Basic – per share
Diluted – per share
$
$
892
0.957
0.956
1,026
1.101
1.100
$
$
688
0.738
0.738
688
0.738
0.738
$
$
830
0.893
0.892
735
0.789
0.788
$
$
809
0.869
0.868
770
0.827
0.825
$
$
825
0.887
0.885
765
0.822
0.820
$
$
870
0.934
0.932
872
0.938
0.936
$
$
826
0.889
0.888
784
0.844
0.842
$
$
739
0.796
0.796
707
0.762
0.761
1 This metric is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” section of this document for additional details.
2 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure. The following items were excluded from base earnings in each quarter:
Items excluded from base earnings
Actuarial assumption changes and
other management actions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Market-related impact on liabilities
$
(pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Transaction costs related to
acquisitions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Restructuring and integration costs
(pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Net gain/charge on business
dispositions (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Tax legislative changes impact (pre-tax)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Total post-tax items excluded
Q4
Q3
Q2
Q1
Q4
Q3
Q2
Q1
2022
2021
$
49
–
46
(8)
(5)
–
(43)
11
–
–
55
29
24
44
(54)
9
16
4
(58)
15
–
–
–
–
–
$
$
24
(3)
(19)
4
(71)
14
(60)
16
–
–
–
–
$
(9)
–
(14)
3
(8)
1
(17)
5
–
–
–
–
$
28
(5)
22
(2)
(76)
2
(21)
6
(14)
–
–
–
$
(95)
$
(39)
$
(60)
$
74
(5)
52
(5)
(104)
14
(32)
8
–
–
–
–
2
$
$
42
(5)
(14)
(5)
(25)
1
(21)
6
–
–
–
(21)
4
1
(25)
1
(2)
1
(16)
4
–
–
–
–
$
(42)
$
(32)
from base earnings
$
134
$
Lifeco’s consolidated net earnings attributable to common shareholders were $1,026 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $765
million reported a year ago. On a per share basis, this represents $1.101 per common share ($1.100 diluted) for the fourth quarter of 2022
compared to $0.822 per common share ($0.820 diluted) a year ago.
Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $14,072 million and comprises premium income of $8,544 million, regular net investment
income of $2,176 million, a positive change in fair value through profit or loss on investment assets of $1,373 million and fee and other income
of $1,979 million.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
109
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by
the Company in reports filed or submitted by it under provincial and territorial securities legislation is: (a) recorded, processed, summarized
and reported within the time periods specified in the provincial and territorial securities legislation, and (b) accumulated and communicated to
the Company’s senior management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial
Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures as at December 31, 2022 and, based on such evaluation, the President and Chief Executive Officer and the
Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. The Company’s management is responsible
for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting. All internal control systems have inherent limitations and
may become ineffective because of changes in conditions. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable
assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
The Company’s management, under the supervision of the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice-President and Chief
Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the 2013 Internal Control
- Integrated Framework (COSO Framework) published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The
Company’s management adopted the revised 2013 COSO Framework in 2015 as the basis to evaluate the effectiveness of the Lifeco’s internal
control over financial reporting.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that
have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Internal controls
over financial reporting have been adapted for the remote work environment that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, as necessary,
and were effective. Management evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2022
and, based on such evaluation, the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer have
concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and that there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting.
Limitation on Disclosure Controls and Procedures & Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
As permitted by securities legislation, for the period ended December 31, 2022, the Company’s management has limited the scope of its design of
the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting to exclude controls, policies and
procedures of the Prudential’s full-service retirement services business, which the Company acquired on April 1, 2022.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the acquired Prudential retirement services business had revenue of $609 million, net earnings of $94
million post-tax (base earnings of $172 million post-tax excluding negative market-related impact on liabilities of $9 million and integration costs
of $19 million post-tax) and other comprehensive loss of $43 million. The initial amounts assigned to the assets acquired, goodwill and intangible
assets on April 1, 2022 and reported as at December 31, 2022 were $124,967 million. The initial amounts assigned to the liabilities assumed
on April 1, 2022 and reported as at December 31, 2022 were $122,339 million. During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company completed its
comprehensive evaluation of the fair value of net assets acquired from Prudential and the purchase price allocation.
Relationship with Power Corporation Group of Companies
Lifeco’s controlling shareholder is Power Financial Corporation (Power Financial), which is controlled by Power Corporation of Canada (Power
Corporation) and, ultimately, by the Desmarais Family Residuary Trust. The Company is related to other members of the Power Corporation
group of companies including IGM Financial Inc. (IGM), a company in the financial services sector, along with its subsidiaries. Power Corporation
also controls Sagard Holdings Management Inc. (Sagard), a multi-strategy alternative asset manager, Power Sustainable, a global multi-platform
alternative asset manager, and Portage Ventures (Portage), a global fintech venture capital investment strategy. Lifeco has a minority investment
in Sagard. Lifeco and Mackenzie Financial Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IGM, are investors in Northleaf Capital Partners Ltd.
(Northleaf ), a global private equity, private credit and infrastructure fund manager. The Company and its subsidiaries invest in funds managed
by Sagard, Power Sustainable, Portage and Northleaf. Some of these related entities operate in similar or related sectors to those in which Lifeco’s
subsidiaries operate. A number of the Company’s directors are also directors or officers of Power Corporation or one of its affiliates.
Lifeco’s relationship with Power Financial, Power Corporation, Power Sustainable, IGM, Sagard, Portage and other members of the Power
Corporation group of companies enables Lifeco to access expertise and industry knowledge, achieve economies of scale and access investment
opportunities. As a result of these relationships, Lifeco and other members of the Power Corporation group of companies may become aware
of opportunities that are also of potential interest to other members of the group and Lifeco may share information for that purpose. Power
Corporation and Power Financial from time to time also assist Lifeco to identify and analyze strategic corporate opportunities that may be
of potential interest to it. However, Power Corporation and Power Financial have no commitment to Lifeco that would require them or their
respective subsidiaries, directors or officers to offer any particular opportunity to Lifeco.
110 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Management’s Discussion and Analysis The Company has related party procedures that require, among other things, transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries and any
member of the Power Corporation group of companies to be on terms no less favourable than market terms or where there is no open market,
on terms that would reasonably be expected to provide at least fair value to the Company. Under the related party procedures, any material
related party transactions must be reviewed and approved by a conduct review committee composed entirely of directors who are independent
of management and Power Corporation and its affiliates.
Transactions with Related Parties
In the normal course of business, Canada Life and Putnam enter into various transactions with related companies which include providing
insurance benefits and sub-advisory services to other companies within the Power Corporation group of companies. In all cases, transactions
were at market terms and conditions.
During the year, Canada Life provided to and received from IGM and its subsidiaries, a member of the Power Corporation group of companies,
certain administrative and information technology services. During 2021, Canada Life and IGM executed a termination agreement covering the
transition of shared information technology services from Canada Life to alternate providers over a number of years. Canada Life also provided
life insurance, annuity and disability insurance products under a distribution agreement with IGM. In addition, Canada Life provided distribution
services to IGM. All transactions were provided at market terms and conditions.
The Company owns 9,200,448 shares, held through Canada Life, representing 3.87% ownership interest in IGM, an affiliated company controlled
by Power Corporation. The Company uses the equity method to account for its investment in IGM as it exercises significant influence. In 2022,
the Company earned equity income of $30 million and received dividends of $21 million from the investment in IGM.
Segregated funds of the Company were invested in funds managed by IG Wealth Management and Mackenzie Investments. Mackenzie
Investments also manages certain of the Company’s portfolio investments. The Company also has interests in mutual funds, open-ended
investment companies and unit trusts. Some of these funds are sub-advised by related parties of the Company and receive sub-advisory fees
related to these services. During the year, the Company and its subsidiaries made additional investments in funds managed by related parties. All
transactions were provided at market terms and conditions.
At December 31, 2022, the Company held $85 million ($105 million in 2021) of debentures issued by IGM.
The Company provides asset management, employee benefits and administrative services for employee benefit plans relating to pension
and other post-employment benefits for employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. These transactions were provided at market terms
and conditions.
There were no material loans or guarantees issued to or from related parties during 2022. There were no significant outstanding loans or guarantees
with related parties at December 31, 2022. There were no provisions for uncollectible amounts with related parties at December 31, 2022.
Translation of Foreign Currency
Through its operating subsidiaries, Lifeco conducts business in multiple currencies. The four primary currencies are the Canadian dollar, the
U.S. dollar, the British pound and the euro. Throughout this document, foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated into Canadian dollars
at the market rate at the end of the reporting period. All income and expense items are translated at an average rate for the period. The rates
employed are:
Period ended
United States dollar
Balance sheet
Income and expenses
British pound
Balance sheet
Income and expenses
Euro
Balance sheet
Income and expenses
Dec. 31
Sept. 30
June 30
Mar. 31
Dec. 31
Sept. 30
June 30
Mar. 31
2022
2021
$
$
$
$
$
$
1.35
1.36
1.64
1.59
1.45
1.39
$
$
$
$
$
$
1.38
1.31
1.54
1.54
1.35
1.31
$
$
$
$
$
$
1.29
1.28
1.57
1.60
1.35
1.36
$
$
$
$
$
$
1.25
1.27
1.64
1.70
1.38
1.42
$
$
$
$
$
$
1.27
1.26
1.71
1.70
1.44
1.44
$
$
$
$
$
$
1.27
1.26
1.71
1.74
1.47
1.48
$
$
$
$
$
$
1.24
1.23
1.71
1.72
1.47
1.48
$
$
$
$
$
$
1.26
1.27
1.73
1.75
1.47
1.53
Additional information relating to Lifeco, including Lifeco’s most recent consolidated financial statements, CEO/CFO certification and Annual
Information Form are available at www.sedar.com.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
111
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Financial Reporting Responsibility
The consolidated financial statements of Great-West Lifeco Inc. are the responsibility of management and are prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The financial information contained elsewhere in the annual report is consistent with that
in the consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements necessarily include amounts that are based on management’s
best estimates. These estimates are based on careful judgments and have been properly reflected in the consolidated financial statements. In
the opinion of management, the accounting practices utilized are appropriate in the circumstances and the consolidated financial statements
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and the results of its operations and its cash flows in accordance
with IFRS.
In carrying out its responsibilities, management maintains appropriate internal control over financial reporting designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS.
The consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors, which has oversight responsibilities with respect to financial
reporting. The Board of Directors carries out this responsibility principally through the Audit Committee, which comprises independent
directors. The Audit Committee is charged with, among other things, the responsibility to:
• Review the interim and annual consolidated financial statements and report thereon to the Board of Directors.
• Review internal control procedures.
• Review the independence of the external auditors and the terms of their engagement and recommend the appointment and compensation of
the external auditors to the Board of Directors.
• Review other audit, accounting and financial reporting matters as required.
In carrying out the above responsibilities, this Committee meets regularly with management, and with both the Company’s external and
internal auditors to review their respective audit plans and to review their audit findings. The Committee is readily accessible to the external
and internal auditors.
The Board of Directors of each of The Canada Life Assurance Company and Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America appoints an
Actuary who is either a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries or a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. The Actuary:
• Ensures that the assumptions and methods used in the valuation of policy liabilities are in accordance with accepted actuarial practice,
applicable legislation and associated regulations and directives.
• Provides an opinion regarding the appropriateness of the policy liabilities at the balance sheet date to meet all policyholder obligations.
Examination of supporting data for accuracy and completeness and analysis of assets for their ability to support the policy liabilities are
important elements of the work required to form this opinion.
Deloitte LLP Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Company’s external auditors, have audited the consolidated financial statements. The
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Shareholders is presented following the consolidated financial statements. Their opinion is based upon an
examination conducted in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards, performing such tests and other procedures as they
consider necessary in order to obtain reasonable assurance that the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of the Company and the results of its operations and its cash flows in accordance with IFRS.
Paul Mahon
Garry MacNicholas
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Vice-President and
Chief Financial Officer
Toronto, Ontario
February 8, 2023
112 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in Canadian $ millions except per share amounts)
For the years ended December 31
Income
Premium income
Gross premiums written
Ceded premiums
Total net premiums
Net investment income (note 6)
Regular net investment income
Changes in fair value through profit or loss
Total net investment income (loss)
Fee and other income
Benefits and expenses
Policyholder benefits
Gross
Ceded
Total net policyholder benefits
Changes in insurance and investment contract liabilities
Gross
Ceded
Total net changes in insurance and investment contract liabilities
Policyholder dividends and experience refunds
Total paid or credited to policyholders
Commissions
Operating and administrative expenses (note 27)
Premium taxes
Financing charges (note 16)
Amortization of finite life intangible assets (note 10)
Restructuring and integration expenses (note 4)
Earnings before income taxes
Income taxes (note 26)
Net earnings before non-controlling interests
Attributable to non-controlling interests (note 18)
Net earnings
Preferred share dividends (note 20)
Net earnings – common shareholders
Earnings per common share (note 20)
Basic
Diluted
2022
2021
$
64,718
(11,897)
$
52,821
8,146
(23,903)
(15,757)
7,598
44,662
58,836
(2,888)
55,948
(24,006)
(4,462)
(28,468)
2,184
29,664
2,675
7,109
497
398
373
178
3,768
234
3,534
185
3,349
130
57,397
(4,584)
52,813
6,393
(2,083)
4,310
7,294
64,417
49,355
(3,544)
45,811
1,152
1,891
3,043
1,441
50,295
2,664
6,337
500
328
336
90
3,867
304
3,563
301
3,262
134
$
3,219
$
3,128
$
$
3.455
3.452
$
$
3.365
3.360
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
113
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in Canadian $ millions)
For the years ended December 31
Net earnings
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses) on translation of foreign operations
Unrealized gains (losses) on hedges of the net investment in foreign operations
Income tax (expense) benefit
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale assets
Income tax (expense) benefit
Realized (gains) losses on available-for-sale assets
Income tax expense (benefit)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges
Income tax (expense) benefit
Realized (gains) losses on cash flow hedges
Income tax expense (benefit)
Non-controlling interests
Income tax (expense) benefit
Total items that may be reclassified
Items that will not be reclassified to Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Re-measurements on defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefit plans (note 23)
Income tax (expense) benefit
Non-controlling interests
Income tax (expense) benefit
Total items that will not be reclassified
Total other comprehensive income
Comprehensive income
2022
2021
$
3,349
$
3,262
497
88
28
(986)
186
44
(7)
(45)
12
–
–
260
(73)
4
505
(130)
(41)
11
345
349
(391)
117
(12)
(131)
35
(28)
3
60
(16)
(48)
13
107
(30)
(321)
705
(190)
(67)
18
466
145
$
3,698
$
3,407
114 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in Canadian $ millions)
December 31
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents (note 5)
Bonds (note 6)
Mortgage loans (note 6)
Stocks (note 6)
Investment properties (note 6)
Loans to policyholders
Funds held by ceding insurers (note 7)
Reinsurance assets (note 13)
Goodwill (note 10)
Intangible assets (note 10)
Derivative financial instruments (note 28)
Owner occupied properties (note 11)
Fixed assets (note 11)
Other assets (note 12)
Premiums in course of collection, accounts and interest receivable
Current income taxes
Deferred tax assets (note 26)
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders (note 14)
Total assets
Liabilities
Insurance contract liabilities (note 13)
Investment contract liabilities (note 13)
Debentures and other debt instruments (note 15)
Funds held under reinsurance contracts
Derivative financial instruments (note 28)
Accounts payable
Other liabilities (note 17)
Current income taxes
Deferred tax liabilities (note 26)
Investment and insurance contracts on account of segregated fund policyholders (note 14)
Total liabilities
Equity
Non-controlling interests (note 18)
Participating account surplus in subsidiaries
Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries
Shareholders’ equity
Share capital (note 19)
Limited recourse capital notes
Preferred shares
Common shares
Accumulated surplus
Accumulated other comprehensive income (note 24)
Contributed surplus
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity
Approved by the Board of Directors:
2022
2021
$
7,290
159,587
39,529
14,268
8,344
8,820
237,838
15,186
25,018
10,604
6,209
2,314
724
399
6,798
6,980
336
1,152
387,897
$
6,075
140,612
28,852
14,183
7,763
8,319
205,804
17,194
21,138
9,081
5,514
967
736
422
4,522
6,366
268
1,057
357,419
$ 701,455
$ 630,488
$ 233,888
13,810
10,509
8,247
1,639
3,194
8,794
150
1,009
387,897
$ 208,378
12,455
8,804
1,542
1,030
3,032
6,063
193
1,089
357,419
669,137
600,005
3,156
152
3,138
129
1,500
2,720
5,791
17,809
981
209
32,318
1,500
2,720
5,748
16,424
632
192
30,483
$ 701,455
$ 630,488
Jeffrey Orr
Chair of the Board
Paul Mahon
President and Chief Executive Officer
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
115
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(in Canadian $ millions)
December 31, 2022
Balance, beginning of year
Net earnings
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Dividends to shareholders
Preferred shareholders (note 20)
Common shareholders
Shares exercised and issued under share-based
payment plans (note 19)
Share-based payment plans expense
Equity settlement of Putnam share-based plans
Recognition of non-controlling interest
Disposal of investment in subsidiary
Shares cancelled under Putnam share-based plans
Preferred share redemption costs
Dilution loss on non-controlling interests
Share
capital
Contributed
surplus
Accumulated
surplus
$
$
9,968
–
–
9,968
–
–
43
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
192
–
–
192
–
–
(54)
67
–
–
–
4
–
–
$
16,424
3,349
–
19,773
(130)
(1,826)
–
–
–
–
8
–
(4)
(12)
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
$
632
–
349
981
Non-
controlling
interests
$
3,267
185
(157)
3,295
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
50
–
(66)
15
6
(4)
–
12
$
Total
equity
30,483
3,534
192
34,209
(130)
(1,826)
39
67
(66)
15
14
–
(4)
–
Balance, end of year
$
10,011
$
209
$
17,809
$
981
$
3,308
$
32,318
Balance, beginning of year
Net earnings
Other comprehensive income (loss)
$
Dividends to shareholders
Preferred shareholders (note 20)
Common shareholders
Shares exercised and issued under share-based
payment plans (note 19)
Share-based payment plans expense
Equity settlement of Putnam share-based plans
Shares cancelled under Putnam share-based plans
Issuance of limited recourse capital notes (note 19)
Limited recourse capital notes issue costs (note 19)
Issuance of preferred shares (note 19)
Redemption of preferred shares
Share issue costs (note 19)
Dilution loss on non-controlling interests
December 31, 2021
Share
capital
Contributed
surplus
Accumulated
surplus
$
8,365
–
–
8,365
–
–
97
–
–
–
1,500
–
200
(194)
–
–
186
–
–
186
–
–
(59)
63
–
2
–
–
–
–
–
–
$
14,990
3,262
–
18,252
(134)
(1,677)
–
–
–
–
–
(13)
–
–
(3)
(1)
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
$
487
–
145
632
Non-
controlling
interests
$
2,987
301
(28)
3,260
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
46
–
(38)
(2)
–
–
–
–
–
1
$
Total
equity
27,015
3,563
117
30,695
(134)
(1,677)
84
63
(38)
–
1,500
(13)
200
(194)
(3)
–
Balance, end of year
$
9,968
$
192
$
16,424
$
632
$
3,267
$
30,483
116 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in Canadian $ millions)
For the years ended December 31
Operations
Earnings before income taxes
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received
Adjustments:
Change in insurance and investment contract liabilities
Change in funds held by ceding insurers
Change in funds held under reinsurance contracts
Change in reinsurance assets
Changes in fair value through profit or loss
Other
Financing Activities
Issue of common shares (note 19)
Issue of preferred shares (note 19)
Redemption of preferred shares (note 19)
Issue of limited recourse capital notes (note 19)
Limited recourse capital notes issue costs (note 19)
Issue of euro-denominated debt (note 15)
Increase in line of credit of subsidiaries 1
Decrease in line of credit of subsidiaries 1
Increase (decrease) in debentures and other debt instruments
Share issue costs (note 19)
Preferred share redemption costs
Dividends paid on common shares
Dividends paid on preferred shares (note 20)
Investment Activities
Bond sales and maturities
Mortgage loan repayments
Stock sales
Investment property sales
Change in loans to policyholders
Business acquisitions, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired (note 3)
Investment in bonds
Investment in mortgage loans
Investment in stocks
Investment in investment properties
Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest income received
Interest paid
Dividend income received
2022
2021
$
3,768
(348)
$
3,867
(351)
(23,273)
(294)
(294)
3,830
23,903
(245)
7,047
43
–
–
–
–
691
1,096
(495)
5
–
(4)
(1,826)
(130)
(620)
27,036
3,080
4,278
55
(171)
(2,155)
(26,810)
(5,635)
(4,461)
(710)
(5,493)
281
1,215
6,075
1,819
845
(84)
1,915
2,083
279
10,373
97
200
(194)
1,500
(13)
–
63
(827)
(4)
(3)
–
(1,677)
(134)
(992)
27,288
3,276
6,286
40
64
(380)
(35,169)
(4,574)
(7,073)
(970)
(11,212)
(40)
(1,871)
7,946
$
7,290
$
6,075
$
5,833
408
403
$
4,965
348
382
1 The Company has reclassified certain comparative figures to conform to the current year’s presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on the equity or net earnings of the Company.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
117
(in Canadian $ millions except per share amounts)
1. Corporate Information
Great-West Lifeco Inc. (Lifeco or the Company) is a publicly listed company (Toronto Stock Exchange: GWO), incorporated and domiciled in
Canada. The registered address of the Company is 100 Osborne Street North, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3C 1V3. Lifeco is a member of the
Power Corporation of Canada (Power Corporation) group of companies and is a subsidiary of Power Corporation.
Lifeco is a financial services holding company with interests in the life insurance, health insurance, retirement savings, investment management
and reinsurance businesses, primarily in Canada, the United States and Europe through its operating subsidiaries including The Canada Life
Assurance Company (Canada Life), Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America (Empower, formerly known as Great-West Life & Annuity
Insurance Company) and Putnam Investments, LLC (Putnam). Effective August 1, 2022, Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company changed
its legal name to Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America.
The consolidated financial statements (financial statements) of the Company as at and for the year ended December 31, 2022 were approved by
the Board of Directors on February 8, 2023.
2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Accounting Policies
The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Consistent accounting policies were applied in the preparation of the
consolidated financial statements of the subsidiaries of the Company.
Changes in Accounting Policies
The Company adopted the amendments to IFRS for IAS 37, Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets and Annual Improvements
2018-2020 Cycle for the amendment to IFRS 16, Leases effective January 1, 2022. The adoption of these amendments did not have a significant
impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the Company were prepared as at and for the year ended December 31, 2022 with comparative
information as at and for the year ended December 31, 2021. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on
which the Company obtains control, and continue to be consolidated until the date that such control ceases. The Company has control when it
has the power to direct the relevant activities, has significant exposure to variable returns from these activities and has the ability to use its power
to affect the variable returns. All intercompany balances and transactions, including income and expenses, profits or losses and dividends, are
eliminated on consolidation.
Impact of COVID-19 and the Conflict Between Russia and Ukraine on Significant Judgments, Estimates and Assumptions
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to result in uncertainty in global financial markets and the economic environment in which the Company
operates. The duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be unknown at this time, as is the efficacy of the associated fiscal and
monetary interventions by governments and central banks.
Global financial markets continued to be volatile during 2022, in part due to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and the related sanctions and
economic fallout. The Company continues to monitor potential impacts of the conflict, including financial impacts, heightened cyber risks, and
risks related to the global supply chain.
The results of the Company reflect management’s judgments regarding the impact of prevailing market conditions related to global credit,
equities, investment properties, foreign exchange and inflation, as well as prevailing health and mortality experience.
The provision for future credit losses within the Company’s insurance contract liabilities relies upon investment credit ratings. In addition to
its own credit assessments, the Company’s practice is to use third party independent credit ratings where available. Management judgment is
required when setting credit ratings for instruments that do not have a third party credit rating. Given rapid market changes, third party credit
rating changes may lag developments in the current environment.
The fair value of portfolio investments (note 6), the valuation of goodwill and other intangible assets (note 10), the valuation of insurance contract
liabilities (note 13) and the recoverability of deferred tax asset carrying values (note 26) reflect management’s judgment.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the current environment, the actual financial results could differ from the estimates made in preparation of
these financial statements.
118 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Use of Significant Judgments, Estimates and Assumptions
In preparation of these consolidated financial statements, management is required to make significant judgments, estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, net earnings and related disclosures. Although some uncertainty is inherent in these judgments
and estimates, management believes that the amounts recorded are reasonable. Key sources of estimation uncertainty and areas where significant
judgments have been made are listed below and discussed throughout the notes to these consolidated financial statements including:
• Management uses judgment to determine the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.
• Management uses independent qualified appraisal services to determine the fair value of investment properties, which utilize judgments
and estimates. These appraisals are adjusted by applying management judgments and estimates for material changes in property cash flows,
capital expenditures or general market conditions (note 6).
• Management uses internal valuation models which utilize judgments and estimates to determine the fair value of equity release mortgages.
These valuations are adjusted by applying management judgments and estimates for material changes in projected asset cash flows, and
discount rates (note 6).
• In the determination of the fair value of financial instruments, the Company’s management exercises judgment in the determination of fair
value inputs, particularly those items categorized within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy (note 9).
• Cash generating units for intangible assets and cash generating unit groupings for goodwill have been determined by management as the
lowest level that the assets are monitored for internal reporting purposes, which requires management judgment in the determination of the
lowest level of monitoring (note 10).
• Management evaluates the future benefit for initial recognition and measurement of goodwill and intangible assets as well as testing the
recoverable amounts. The determination of the carrying value and recoverable amounts of the cash generating unit groupings for goodwill and
cash generating units for intangible assets relies upon the determination of fair value or value-in-use using valuation methodologies (note 10).
• Judgments are used by management in determining whether deferred acquisition costs and deferred income reserves can be recognized on
the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred acquisition costs are recognized if management determines the costs meet the definition of an
asset and are incremental and related to the issuance of the investment contract. Deferred income reserves are amortized on a straight-line
basis over the term of the policy (notes 12 and 17).
• Management uses judgment to evaluate the classification of insurance and reinsurance contracts to determine whether these arrangements
should be accounted for as insurance, investment or service contracts.
• The actuarial assumptions, such as interest rates, inflation, policyholder behaviour, mortality and morbidity of policyholders, used in the
valuation of insurance and certain investment contract liabilities under the Canadian Asset Liability Method require significant judgment and
estimation (note 13).
• The actuarial assumptions used in determining the expense and benefit obligations for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans and
other post-employment benefits requires significant judgment and estimation. Management reviews previous experience of its plan members
and market conditions including interest rates and inflation rates in evaluating the assumptions used in determining the expense for the
current year (note 23).
• The Company operates within various tax jurisdictions where significant management judgments and estimates are required when interpreting
the relevant tax laws, regulations and legislation in the determination of the Company’s tax provisions and the carrying amounts of its tax
assets and liabilities (note 26).
• Management applies judgment in assessing the recoverability of the deferred income tax asset carrying values based on future years’ taxable
income projections (note 26).
• Legal and other provisions are recognized resulting from a past event which, in the judgment of management, has resulted in a probable
outflow of economic resources which would be passed to a third-party to settle the obligation. Management uses judgment to evaluate the
possible outcomes and risks in determining the best estimate of the provision at the balance sheet date (note 29).
• The operating segments of the Company are the segments reviewed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to assess performance and
allocate resources within the Company. Management applies judgment in the aggregation of the business units into the Company’s operating
segments (note 31).
• The Company consolidates all subsidiaries and entities which management determines that the Company controls. Control is evaluated on
the ability of the Company to direct the activities of the subsidiary or entity to derive variable returns and management uses judgment in
determining whether control exists. Judgment is exercised in the evaluation of the variable returns and in determining the extent to which the
Company has the ability to exercise its power to generate variable returns.
• Management uses judgments, such as the determination of whether the Company retains the primary obligation with a client in sub-advisor
arrangements. Where the Company retains the primary obligation to the client, revenue and expenses are recorded on a gross basis.
• Within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, purchases and sales of portfolio investments are recorded within investment activities due
to management’s judgment that these investing activities are long-term in nature.
• The results of the Company reflect management’s judgments regarding the impact of prevailing global credit, equity and foreign exchange
market conditions. The provision for future credit losses within the Company’s insurance contract liabilities relies upon investment credit
ratings. The Company’s practice is to use third-party independent credit ratings where available. Management judgment is required when
setting credit ratings for instruments that do not have a third-party rating.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
119
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Accounting Policies (cont’d)
The significant accounting policies are as follows:
(a) Portfolio Investments
Portfolio investments include bonds, mortgage loans, stocks and investment properties. Portfolio investments are classified as fair
value through profit or loss, available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, loans and receivables, equity-method investments or as non-financial
instruments based on management’s intention relating to the purpose and nature of the instrument or characteristics of the investment.
The Company has not classified any investments as held-to-maturity.
Investments in bonds and stocks normally actively traded on a public market or where fair value can be reliably measured are either
designated or classified as fair value through profit or loss or classified as available-for-sale on a trade date basis. Equity release mortgages
are designated as fair value through profit or loss or classified as available-for-sale. A financial asset is designated as fair value through
profit or loss on initial recognition if it eliminates or significantly reduces an accounting mismatch. Changes in the fair value of financial
assets designated as fair value through profit or loss are generally offset by changes in insurance contract liabilities, since the measurement
of insurance contract liabilities is determined with reference to the assets supporting the liabilities. A financial asset is classified as fair
value through profit or loss on initial recognition if it is part of a portfolio that is actively traded for the purpose of earning investment
income. Fair value through profit or loss investments are recognized at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets with realized and
unrealized gains and losses reported in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Available-for-sale investments are recognized at fair
value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets with unrealized gains and losses recorded in other comprehensive income. Realized gains and
losses on available-for-sale investments are reclassified from other comprehensive income and recorded in the Consolidated Statements
of Earnings when the investment is sold. Interest income earned on both fair value through profit or loss and available-for-sale bonds is
calculated using the effective interest method and is recorded as net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Investments in stocks where a fair value cannot be measured reliably are classified as available-for-sale and carried at cost. Investments
in stocks for which the Company exerts significant influence over but does not control are accounted for using the equity method of
accounting. Investments in stocks over which the Company exerts significant influence but does not control include the Company’s
investment in an affiliated company, IGM Financial Inc. (IGM), a member of the Power Corporation group of companies.
Investments in mortgages and bonds not normally actively traded on a public market are classified as loans and receivables and are carried
at amortized cost net of any allowance for credit losses. Interest income earned and realized gains and losses on the sale of investments
classified as loans and receivables are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and included in net investment income.
Investment properties are real estate held to earn rental income or for capital appreciation. Investment properties are initially measured
at cost and subsequently carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All changes in fair value are recorded as net investment
income in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Properties held to earn rental income or for capital appreciation that have an
insignificant portion that is owner occupied or where there is no intent to occupy on a long-term basis are classified as investment
properties. Properties that do not meet these criteria are classified as owner occupied properties. Property that is leased that would
otherwise be classified as investment property if owned by the Company is also included within investment properties.
Fair Value Measurement
Financial instrument carrying values necessarily reflect the prevailing market liquidity and the liquidity premiums embedded within the
market pricing methods that the Company relies upon.
Fair value movement on the assets supporting insurance contract liabilities is a major factor in the movement of insurance contract
liabilities. Changes in the fair value of bonds designated or classified as fair value through profit or loss that support insurance and
investment contract liabilities are largely offset by corresponding changes in the fair value of liabilities except when the bond has been
deemed impaired.
The following is a description of the methodologies used to value instruments carried at fair value:
Bonds – Fair Value Through Profit or Loss and Available-for-Sale
Fair values for bonds classified and designated as fair value through profit or loss or available-for-sale are determined with reference to
quoted market bid prices primarily provided by third-party independent pricing sources. Where prices are not quoted in an active market,
fair values are determined by valuation models. The Company maximizes the use of observable inputs when measuring fair value. The
Company obtains quoted prices in active markets, when available, for identical assets at the balance sheet date to measure bonds at fair
value in its fair value through profit or loss and available-for-sale portfolios.
The Company estimates the fair value of bonds not traded in active markets by referring to actively traded securities with similar attributes,
dealer quotations, matrix pricing methodology, discounted cash flow analyses and/or internal valuation models. This methodology
considers such factors as the issuer’s industry, the security’s rating, term, coupon rate and position in the capital structure of the issuer, as
well as, yield curves, credit curves, prepayment rates and other relevant factors. For bonds that are not traded in active markets, valuations
are adjusted to reflect illiquidity, and such adjustments generally are based on available market evidence. In the absence of such evidence,
management’s best estimate is used.
120 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Bonds and Mortgages – Loans and Receivables
For disclosure purposes only, fair values for bonds and mortgages classified as loans and receivables are determined by discounting
expected future cash flows using current market rates for similar instruments. Valuation inputs typically include benchmark yields and
risk-adjusted spreads based on current lending activities and market activity.
Equity Release Mortgages – Fair Value Through Profit or Loss and Available-for-Sale
There are no market observable prices for equity release mortgages; therefore an internal valuation model is used discounting expected
future cash flows and includes consideration of the embedded no negative equity guarantee. Inputs to the model include market observable
inputs such as benchmark yields and risk-adjusted spreads. Non market observable inputs include property growth and volatility rates,
expected rates of voluntary redemptions, death, moving to long term care and interest cessation assumptions and the value of the no
negative equity guarantee.
Stocks – Fair Value Through Profit or Loss and Available-for-Sale
Fair values for stocks traded on an active market are generally determined by the last bid price for the security from the exchange where
it is principally traded. Fair values for stocks for which there is no active market is typically based upon alternative valuation techniques
such as discounted cash flow analysis, review of price movement relative to the market and utilization of information provided by the
underlying investment manager. The Company maximizes the use of observable inputs when measuring fair value. The Company obtains
quoted prices in active markets, when available, for identical assets at the balance sheet date to measure stocks at fair value in its fair value
through profit or loss and available-for-sale portfolios.
Investment Properties
Fair values for investment properties are determined using independent qualified appraisal services and include management adjustments
for material changes in property cash flows, capital expenditures or general market conditions in the interim period between appraisals.
The determination of the fair value of investment property requires the use of estimates including future cash flows (such as future leasing
assumptions, rental rates, capital and operating expenditures) and discount, reversionary and overall capitalization rates applicable to
the asset based on current market conditions. Investment property under construction is valued at fair value if such values can be reliably
determined; otherwise they are recorded at cost.
Impairment
Investments are reviewed regularly on an individual basis to determine impairment status. The Company considers various factors in the
impairment evaluation process, including, but not limited to, the financial condition of the issuer, specific adverse conditions affecting
an industry or region, decline in fair value not related to interest rates, bankruptcy or defaults, and delinquency in payments of interest
or principal.
Investments are deemed to be impaired when there is objective evidence that timely collection of future cash flows can no longer be
reliably estimated. The fair value of an investment is not a definitive indicator of impairment, as it may be significantly influenced by
other factors including the remaining term to maturity and liquidity of the asset; however, market price is taken into consideration when
evaluating impairment.
For impaired mortgages and bonds classified as loans and receivables, provisions are established or write-offs made to adjust the carrying
value to the net realizable amount. Wherever possible, the fair value of collateral underlying the loans or observable market price is
used to establish the net realizable value. For impaired available-for-sale bonds recorded at fair value, the accumulated loss recorded in
accumulated other comprehensive income is reclassified to net investment income. Impairments on available-for-sale debt instruments
are reversed if there is objective evidence that a permanent recovery has occurred. All gains and losses on bonds classified or designated
as fair value through profit or loss are recorded in net investment income, therefore, in the event of an impairment, the reduction will be
recorded in net investment income.
Securities Lending
The Company engages in securities lending through its securities custodians as lending agents. Loaned securities are not derecognized,
and continue to be reported within invested assets, as the Company retains substantial risks and rewards and economic benefits related
to the loaned securities.
(b) Transaction Costs
Transaction costs are expensed as incurred for financial instruments classified as fair value through profit or loss. Transaction costs for
financial assets classified as available-for-sale or loans and receivables are added to the value of the instrument at acquisition and taken
into net earnings using the effective interest method. Transaction costs for financial liabilities classified as other than fair value through
profit or loss are included in the value of the instrument issued and taken into net earnings using the effective interest method.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
121
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Accounting Policies (cont’d)
(c) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash, current operating accounts, overnight bank and term deposits with maturities of three months
or less held for the purpose of meeting short-term cash requirements. Net payments in transit and overdraft bank balances are included
in other liabilities.
(d) Trading Account Assets
Trading account assets consist of investments in sponsored funds, open ended investment companies and sponsored unit-trusts, which
are carried at fair value based on the net asset value of these funds. Investments in these assets are included in other assets on the
Consolidated Balance Sheets with realized and unrealized gains and losses reported in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
(e) Debentures and Other Debt Instruments and Capital Trust Securities
Debentures and other debt instruments and capital trust securities are initially recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value
and subsequently carried at amortized cost using the effective interest method with amortization expense recorded in financing charges
in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. These liabilities are derecognized when the obligation is cancelled or redeemed.
(f) Other Assets and Other Liabilities
Other assets, which include prepaid expenses, deferred acquisition costs, finance leases receivable, right-of-use assets and other
miscellaneous assets, are measured at cost or amortized cost. Other liabilities, which include deferred income reserves, bank overdraft,
lease liabilities and other miscellaneous liabilities are measured at cost or amortized cost.
Provisions are recognized within other liabilities when the Company has a present obligation, either legal or constructive, resulting from
a past event, and in management’s judgment, it is probable that an outflow of economic resources will be required to settle the obligation
and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount. The amount recognized for provisions are management’s best estimate at the balance
sheet date. The Company recognizes a provision for restructuring when a detailed formal plan for the restructuring has been established
and that the plan has raised a valid expectation in those affected that the restructuring will occur.
Pension and other post-employment benefits also included within other assets and other liabilities are measured in accordance with note 2(x).
(g) Disposal Group Classified as Held for Sale
Disposal groups are classified as held for sale when the carrying amount will be recovered through a sale transaction rather than continuing
use. The fair value of a disposal group is measured at the lower of its carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. Individual assets
and liabilities in a disposal group not subject to these measurement requirements include financial assets, investment properties and
insurance contract liabilities. These assets and liabilities are measured in accordance with the relevant accounting policies described for
those assets and liabilities included in this note before the disposal group as a whole is measured to the lower of its carrying amount and
fair value less cost to sell. Any impairment loss for the disposal group is recognized as a reduction to the carrying amount for the portion
of the disposal group under the measurement requirements for IFRS 5, Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.
Disposal group assets and liabilities classified as held for sale are presented separately on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Gains and losses from disposal groups held for sale are presented separately in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
(h) Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company uses derivative products as risk management instruments to hedge or manage asset, liability and capital positions, including
fee and investment income. The Company’s policy guidelines prohibit the use of derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.
The Company includes disclosure of the maximum credit risk, future credit exposure, credit risk equivalent and risk weighted equivalent
in note 28 as prescribed by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) in Canada.
All derivatives including those that are embedded in financial and non-financial contracts that are not closely related to the host contracts
are recorded at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The method of recognizing unrealized and realized fair value gains and
losses depends on whether the derivatives are designated as hedging instruments. For derivatives that are not designated as hedging
instruments, unrealized and realized gains and losses are recorded in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
For derivatives designated as hedging instruments, unrealized and realized gains and losses are recognized according to the nature of
the hedged item.
Derivatives are valued using market transactions and other market evidence whenever possible, including market based inputs to
models, broker or dealer quotations or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. When models are used,
the selection of a particular model to value a derivative depends on the contractual terms of, and specific risks inherent in, the instrument,
as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. The Company generally uses similar models to value similar instruments.
Valuation models require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices and rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of
volatility, prepayment rates and correlations of such inputs.
122 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements To qualify for hedge accounting, the relationship between the hedged item and the hedging instrument must meet several strict
conditions on documentation, probability of occurrence, hedge effectiveness and reliability of measurement. If these conditions are not
met, the relationship does not qualify for hedge accounting treatment and both the hedged item and the hedging instrument are reported
independently as if there was no hedging relationship.
Where a hedging relationship exists, the Company documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well
as its risk management objectives and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking derivatives that
are used in hedging transactions to specific assets and liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets or to specific firm commitments or
forecasted transactions. The Company also assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether derivatives that are
used in hedging transactions are effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. Hedge effectiveness is reviewed
quarterly through correlation testing. Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging no longer qualifies for hedge accounting.
Derivatives not designated as hedges for accounting purposes
For derivative investments not designated as accounting hedges, changes in fair value are recorded in net investment income.
Fair value hedges
For fair value hedges, changes in fair value of both the hedging instrument and the hedged risk are recorded in net investment income and
consequently any ineffective portion of the hedge is recorded immediately in net investment income.
The Company currently uses foreign exchange forward contracts designated as fair value hedges.
Cash flow hedges
For cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the changes in fair value of the hedging instrument is recorded in the same manner as the
hedged item while the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in net investment income. Gains and losses that accumulate in other
comprehensive income are recorded in net investment income in the same period the hedged item affects net earnings. Gains and losses
on cash flow hedges are immediately reclassified from other comprehensive income to net investment income if and when it is probable
that a forecasted transaction is no longer expected to occur.
The Company currently uses interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps and equity total return swaps designated as cash flow hedges.
Net investment hedges
For net investment hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument are recorded in other comprehensive
income while the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in net investment income. The unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses)
on the instruments are recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income and will be reclassified into net earnings when the
Company disposes of the foreign operation.
The Company currently uses cross-currency swaps, foreign exchange forward contracts, and debt instruments designated as net
investment hedges.
(i) Embedded Derivatives
An embedded derivative is a component of a host contract that modifies the cash flows of the host contract in a manner similar to a
derivative, according to a specified interest rate, financial instrument price, foreign exchange rate, underlying index or other variable.
Embedded derivatives are treated as separate contracts and are recorded at fair value if their economic characteristics and risks are not
closely related to those of the host contract and the host contract is not itself recorded at fair value through the Consolidated Statements of
Earnings. Embedded derivatives that meet the definition of an insurance contract are accounted for and measured as an insurance contract.
(j) Foreign Currency Translation
The Company operates with multiple functional currencies. The Company’s consolidated financial statements are presented in Canadian
dollars as this presentation is most meaningful to financial statement users. For those subsidiaries with different functional currencies,
exchange rate differences arising from the translation of monetary items that form part of the net investment in the foreign operation are
recorded in unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses) on translation of foreign operations in other comprehensive income.
For the purpose of presenting consolidated financial statements, assets and liabilities are translated into Canadian dollars at the rate of
exchange prevailing at the balance sheet dates and all income and expense items are translated at an average of daily rates. Unrealized
foreign currency translation gains and losses on translation of the Company’s net investment in its foreign operations are presented
separately as a component of other comprehensive income. Unrealized gains and losses will be recognized proportionately in net
investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings when there has been a disposal of the investment in the foreign operations.
Foreign currency translation gains and losses on foreign currency transactions of the Company are included in net investment income.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
123
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Accounting Policies (cont’d)
(k) Loans to Policyholders
Loans to policyholders are classified as loans and receivables and measured at amortized cost. Loans to policyholders are shown at their
unpaid principal balance and are fully secured by the cash surrender values of the policies. Carrying value of loans to policyholders
approximates their fair value.
(l) Reinsurance Contracts
The Company, in the normal course of business, is a user of reinsurance in order to limit the potential for losses arising from certain
exposures and a provider of reinsurance. Assumed reinsurance refers to the acceptance of certain insurance risks by the Company
underwritten by another company. Ceded reinsurance refers to the transfer of insurance risk, along with the respective premiums, to
one or more reinsurers who will share the risks. To the extent that assuming reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations, the Company
remains liable to its policyholders for the portion reinsured. Consequently, allowances are made for reinsurance contracts which are
deemed uncollectible.
Reinsurance contracts are insurance contracts and undergo the classification as described within the Insurance and Investment Contract
Liabilities section of this note. Assumed reinsurance premiums, commissions and claim settlements, as well as the reinsurance assets
associated with insurance and investment contracts, are accounted for in accordance with the terms and conditions of the underlying
reinsurance contract. Reinsurance assets are reviewed for impairment on a regular basis for any events that may trigger impairment.
The Company considers various factors in the impairment evaluation process, including but not limited to, collectability of amounts
due under the terms of the contract. The carrying amount of a reinsurance asset is adjusted through an allowance account with any
impairment loss being recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Any gains or losses on buying reinsurance are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings immediately at the date of purchase
in accordance with the Canadian Asset Liability Method.
Assets and liabilities related to reinsurance are reported on a gross basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amount of liabilities
ceded to reinsurers is estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with reinsured risks.
(m) Funds Held by Ceding Insurers/Funds Held Under Reinsurance Contracts
On the asset side, funds held by ceding insurers are assets that would normally be paid to the Company but are withheld by the cedant
to reduce potential credit risk. Under certain forms of reinsurance contracts it is customary for the cedant to retain amounts on a funds
withheld basis supporting the insurance or investment contract liabilities ceded. For the funds withheld assets where the underlying asset
portfolio is managed by the Company, the credit risk is retained by the Company. The funds withheld balance where the Company assumes
the credit risk is measured at the fair value of the underlying asset portfolio with the change in fair value recorded in net investment income.
See note 7 for funds held by ceding insurers that are managed by the Company. Other funds held by ceding insurers are general obligations
of the cedant and serve as collateral for insurance contract liabilities assumed from cedants. Funds withheld assets on these contracts do
not have fixed maturity dates, their release generally being dependent on the run-off of the corresponding insurance contract liabilities.
On the liability side, funds held under reinsurance contracts consist mainly of amounts retained by the Company from ceded business written
on a funds withheld basis. The Company withholds assets related to ceded insurance contract liabilities in order to reduce credit risk.
(n) Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The Company identifies and classifies, in accordance with the
Company’s accounting policies, all assets acquired and liabilities assumed as at the acquisition date. Goodwill represents the excess
of purchase consideration over the fair value of net assets of the acquired subsidiaries of the Company. Following initial recognition,
goodwill is measured at cost less accumulated impairment losses.
Intangible assets represent finite life and indefinite life intangible assets of acquired subsidiaries of the Company and software acquired
or internally developed by the Company. Finite life intangible assets include the value of technology/software, certain customer contracts
and distribution channels. These finite life intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, typically ranging between 3
and 30 years.
Indefinite life intangible assets include brands and trademarks, certain customer contracts and the shareholders’ portion of acquired
future participating account profits. Amounts are classified as indefinite life intangible assets when based on an analysis of all the relevant
factors, there is no foreseeable limit to the period over which the asset is expected to generate net cash inflows for the Company. The
identification of indefinite life intangible assets is made by reference to relevant factors such as product life cycles, potential obsolescence,
industry stability and competitive position. Following initial recognition, indefinite life intangible assets are measured at cost less
accumulated impairment losses.
124 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Impairment Testing
Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets, including those resulting from an acquisition during the year, are tested for impairment
annually or more frequently if events indicate that impairment may have occurred. Intangible assets that were previously impaired are
reviewed at each reporting date for evidence of reversal. In the event that certain conditions have been met, the Company would be
required to reverse the impairment loss or a portion thereof.
Goodwill has been allocated to cash generating unit groupings, representing the lowest level that the assets are monitored for internal
reporting purposes. Goodwill is tested for impairment by comparing the carrying value of each cash generating unit grouping to its
recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.
Intangible assets have been allocated to cash generating units, representing the lowest level that the assets are monitored for internal
reporting purposes.
Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are reviewed annually to determine if there are indicators of impairment. If indicators of
impairment have been identified, a test for impairment is performed and recognized as necessary. Impairment is assessed by comparing
the carrying values of the assets to their recoverable amounts. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset’s
carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.
The recoverable amount is the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs of disposal and value-in-use.
Finite life intangible assets are reviewed annually to determine if there are indicators of impairment and assess whether the amortization
periods and methods are appropriate. If indicators of impairment have been identified, a test for impairment is performed and then the
amortization of these assets is adjusted or impairment is recognized as necessary.
(o) Revenue Recognition
Premiums for all types of insurance contracts, and contracts with limited mortality or morbidity risk, are generally recognized as revenue
when due and collection is reasonably assured.
Interest income on bonds and mortgages is recognized and accrued using the effective interest method.
Dividend income is recognized when the right to receive payment is established. This is the ex-dividend date for listed stocks, and usually
the notification date or date when the shareholders have approved the dividend for private equity instruments.
Investment property income includes rents earned from tenants under lease agreements and property tax and operating cost recoveries.
Rental income leases with contractual rent increases and rent-free periods are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
Fee income includes fees earned from management of segregated fund assets, proprietary mutual fund assets, record-keeping, fees earned
on administrative services only Group health contracts, commissions and fees earned from management services. Fee and other income
is recognized on the transfer of services to customers for the amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange
for those services promised.
The Company has sub-advisor arrangements where the Company retains the primary obligation with the client; as a result, fee income
earned is reported on a gross basis with the corresponding sub-advisor expense recorded in operating and administrative expenses.
(p) Owner Occupied Properties and Fixed Assets
Property held for own use and fixed assets are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation, disposals and impairments. Depreciation is
expensed to write-off the cost of assets, over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method, on the following bases:
Owner occupied properties
Furniture and fixtures
Other fixed assets
15 - 20 years
5 - 10 years
3 - 10 years
Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at least annually and adjusted if necessary.
(q) Deferred Acquisition Costs
Included in other assets are deferred acquisition costs related to investment contracts and service contracts. These are recognized as assets
if the costs are incremental and incurred due to the contract being issued and are primarily amortized on a straight-line basis over the term
of the contract, not to exceed 20 years.
(r) Segregated Funds
Segregated fund assets and liabilities arise from contracts where all financial risks associated with the related assets are borne by
policyholders and are presented separately on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The assets and liabilities are set equal to the fair value of
the underlying asset portfolio. Investment income and changes in fair value of the segregated fund assets are offset by a corresponding
change in the segregated fund liabilities.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
125
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Accounting Policies (cont’d)
(s)
Insurance and Investment Contract Liabilities
Contract Classification
When significant insurance risk exists, the Company’s products are classified at contract inception as insurance contracts, in accordance
with IFRS 4, Insurance Contracts (IFRS 4). Significant insurance risk exists when the Company agrees to compensate policyholders or
beneficiaries of the contract for specified uncertain future events that adversely affect the policyholder and whose amount and timing is
unknown. Refer to note 13 for discussion of insurance risk.
In the absence of significant insurance risk, the contract is classified as an investment contract or service contract. Investment contracts
with discretionary participating features are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 4 and investment contracts without discretionary
participating features are accounted for in accordance with IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition & Measurement (IAS 39). The
Company has not classified any contracts as investment contracts with discretionary participating features.
Investment contracts may be reclassified as insurance contracts after inception if insurance risk becomes significant. A contract that is
classified as an insurance contract at contract inception remains as such until all rights and obligations under the contract are extinguished
or expire.
Investment contracts are contracts that carry financial risk, which is the risk of a possible future change in one or more of the following:
interest rate, commodity price, foreign exchange rate, or credit rating. Refer to note 8 for discussion of Financial Instruments Risk
Management.
Measurement
Insurance contract liabilities represent the amounts required, in addition to future premiums and investment income, to provide for
future benefit payments, policyholder dividends, commission and policy administrative expenses for all insurance and annuity policies
in force with the Company. The Appointed Actuaries of the Company’s subsidiary companies are responsible for determining the amount
of the liabilities to make appropriate provisions for the Company’s obligations to policyholders. The Appointed Actuaries determine the
liabilities for insurance contracts using generally accepted actuarial practices, according to the standards established by the Canadian
Institute of Actuaries. The valuation uses the Canadian Asset Liability Method. This method involves the projection of future events in
order to determine the amount of assets that must be set aside currently to provide for all future obligations and involves a significant
amount of judgment.
In the computation of insurance contract liabilities, valuation assumptions have been made regarding rates of mortality/morbidity,
investment returns, levels of operating expenses, rates of policy termination and rates of utilization of elective policy options or
provisions. The valuation assumptions use best estimates of future experience together with a margin for adverse deviation. These
margins are necessary to provide for possibilities of mis-estimation and/or future deterioration in the best estimate assumptions and
provide reasonable assurance that insurance contract liabilities cover a range of possible outcomes. Margins are reviewed periodically for
continued appropriateness.
Investment contract liabilities are measured at fair value determined using discounted cash flows utilizing the yield curves of financial
instruments with similar cash flow characteristics.
(t) Deferred Income Reserves
Included in other liabilities are deferred income reserves relating to investment contracts. These are amortized on a straight-line basis to
recognize the initial policy fees over the policy term, not to exceed 20 years.
(u) Income Taxes
The income tax expense for the period represents the sum of current income tax and deferred income tax. Income tax is recognized as an
expense or income in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to items that are recognized outside profit or loss (whether in other
comprehensive income or directly in equity), in which case the income tax is also recognized outside profit or loss.
Current Income Tax
Current income tax is based on taxable income for the year. Current income tax liabilities (assets) for the current and prior periods are
measured at the amount expected to be paid to (recovered from) the taxation authorities using the tax rates that have been enacted or
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date in each respective jurisdiction. Current income tax assets and current income tax liabilities
are offset if a legally enforceable right exists to offset the recognized amounts and the entity intends either to settle on a net basis, or to
realize the assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously.
A provision for tax treatment uncertainties which meet the probable threshold for recognition is measured using either the most likely
amount or the expected value, depending upon which method provides the better prediction of the resolution of the uncertainty. The
provision for tax uncertainties will be classified as current or deferred based on how a disallowance of the underlying uncertain tax
treatment would impact the tax provision accrual as of the balance sheet date.
126 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Deferred Income Tax
Deferred income tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences arising between the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable income and is
accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred income tax liabilities are generally recognized for all taxable temporary
differences and deferred income tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against
which deductible temporary differences, unused tax losses and carryforwards can be utilized.
Recognition is based on the fact that it is probable that the entity will have taxable profits and/or tax planning opportunities available to
allow the deferred income tax asset to be utilized. Changes in circumstances in future periods may adversely impact the assessment of the
recoverability. The uncertainty of the recoverability is taken into account in establishing the deferred income tax assets. The Company’s
annual financial planning process provides a significant basis for the measurement of deferred income tax assets.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates expected to apply in the year when the asset is realized or the
liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Deferred
income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities are offset if a legally enforceable right exists to net current income tax assets against
current income tax liabilities and the deferred income taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.
The carrying amount of deferred income tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer
probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred income tax asset to be utilized. Unrecognized
deferred income tax assets are reassessed at each balance sheet date and are recognized to the extent that it has become probable that
future taxable profit will allow the deferred income tax asset to be recovered.
Deferred income tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates,
except where the group controls the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary differences
will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
(v) Policyholder Benefits
Policyholder benefits include benefits and claims on life insurance contracts, maturity payments, annuity payments and surrenders. Gross
benefits and claims for life insurance contracts include the cost of all claims arising during the year and settlement of claims. Death claims
and surrenders are recorded on the basis of notifications received. Maturities and annuity payments are recorded when due.
(w) Repurchase Agreements
The Company accounts for certain forward settling to be announced security transactions as derivatives as the Company does not regularly
accept delivery of such securities when issued.
(x) Pension Plans and Other Post-Employment Benefits
The Company’s subsidiaries maintain contributory and non-contributory defined benefit pension plans for eligible employees and
advisors. The Company’s subsidiaries also provide post-employment health, dental and life insurance benefits to eligible employees,
advisors and their dependents.
The present value of the defined benefit obligations and the related current service cost is determined using the projected unit credit
method (note 23). Pension plan assets are recorded at fair value.
For the defined benefit plans of the Company’s subsidiaries, service costs and net interest costs are recognized in the Consolidated
Statements of Earnings. Service costs include current service cost, administration expenses, past service costs and the impact of
curtailments and settlements. To determine the net interest costs (income) recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, the
Company’s subsidiaries apply a discount rate to the net benefit liability (asset), where the discount rate is determined by reference to
market yields at the beginning of the year on high quality corporate bonds.
For the defined benefit plans of the Company’s subsidiaries, re-measurements of the net defined benefit liability (asset) due to asset
returns less (greater) than interest income, actuarial losses (gains) and changes in the asset ceiling are recognized in the Consolidated
Statements of Comprehensive Income.
The Company’s subsidiaries also maintain defined contribution pension plans for eligible employees and advisors. For the defined
contribution plans of the Company’s subsidiaries, the current service costs are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
127
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Accounting Policies (cont’d)
(y) Equity
Financial instruments issued by the Company are classified as share capital if they represent a residual interest in the assets of the
Company. Preferred share capital is classified as equity if it is non-redeemable, or retractable only at the Company’s option and any
dividends are discretionary.
Limited recourse capital notes are classified as share capital as the Company has the sole discretion to settle the obligation to noteholders
through the issuance of a fixed number of the Company’s own equity instruments. Interest incurred on these instruments is expensed
within financing charges in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Incremental costs that are directly attributable to the issue of share capital are recognized as a deduction from equity, net of income tax.
Contributed surplus represents the vesting expense on unexercised equity instruments under share-based payment plans.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) represents the total of the unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses) on translation of
foreign operations, the unrealized gains (losses) on hedges of the net investment in foreign operations, the unrealized gains (losses) on
available-for-sale assets, the unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, the re-measurements on defined benefit pension and other
post-employment benefit plans net of tax and the revaluation surplus on transfer to investment properties, where applicable.
Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries represents the proportion of equity that is attributable to minority shareholders.
Participating account surplus in subsidiaries represents the proportion of equity attributable to the participating account of the
Company’s subsidiaries.
(z) Share-Based Payments
The Company provides share-based compensation to certain employees and Directors of the Company and its subsidiaries.
The Company follows the fair value based method of accounting for the valuation of compensation expense for shares and share
options granted to employees under its stock option plans (note 22). This share-based payment expense is recognized in operating and
administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and as an increase to contributed surplus over the vesting period of
the granted options. When options are exercised, the proceeds received, along with the amount in contributed surplus, are transferred to
share capital.
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have Deferred Share Unit Plans (DSU Plans) in which the Directors and certain employees of
the Company participate. Units issued to Directors under the DSU Plans vest when granted. Units issued to certain employees under the
DSU Plans primarily vest over a three year period. The Company recognizes an increase in operating and administrative expenses for the
units granted under the DSU Plans. The Company recognizes a liability for units granted under the DSU Plans which is remeasured at each
reporting period based on the market value of the Company’s common shares.
Certain employees of the Company are entitled to participate in the Performance Share Unit Plan (PSU Plan). Units issued under the PSU
Plan vest over a three year period. The Company uses the fair value method to recognize compensation expense for the units granted
under the plan over the vesting period, net of related hedges. The liability is remeasured at fair value at each reporting period.
The Company has an Employee Share Ownership Program (ESOP) where, subject to certain conditions being met, the Company will
match contributions up to a maximum amount. The Company’s contributions are expensed within operating and administrative expenses
as incurred.
(aa) Earnings Per Common Share
Earnings per common share is calculated using net earnings after preferred share dividends and the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting common shareholders’ net earnings and the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding for the effects of all potential dilutive common shares assuming that all convertible instruments
are converted and outstanding options are exercised.
(ab) Leases
Where the Company is the lessee, a right-of-use asset and a lease liability are recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as at the
lease commencement date.
Right-of-use assets are initially measured based on the initial amount of lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at or before
the commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred and an estimate of costs to dismantle and remove the underlying asset
or to restore the underlying asset or the site on which it is located, less any lease incentive received. Right-of-use assets are included
within other assets with the exception of right-of-use assets which meet the definition of investment property which are presented within
investment properties and subject to the Company’s associated accounting policy. Right-of-use assets presented within other assets are
depreciated to the earlier of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the lease term using the straight-line method. Depreciation expense
on right-of-use assets is included within operating and administrative expenses.
128 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements Lease liabilities are initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at the commencement date, discounted
using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the Company shall use the lessee’s incremental
borrowing rate. Generally, the Company uses the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate as its discount rate. The lease liability is measured at
amortized cost using the effective interest method and is included within other liabilities. Interest expense on lease liabilities is included
within operating and administrative expenses.
The Company has elected to apply a practical expedient not to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases that
have a lease term of 12 months or less and leases of low-value assets.
Where the Company is the lessor under an operating lease for its investment property, the assets subject to the lease arrangement are
presented within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income from these leases is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings
on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Investments in a lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee are classified as a finance lease. The
Company is the lessor under a finance lease and the investment is recognized as a receivable at an amount equal to the net investment
in the lease, which is represented as the present value of the minimum lease payments due from the lessee and is presented within the
Consolidated Balance Sheets. Payments received from the lessee are apportioned between the recognition of finance lease income and
the reduction of the finance lease receivable. Income from the finance leases is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings at
a constant periodic rate of return on the Company’s net investment in the finance lease.
(ac) Operating Segments
Operating segments have been identified based on internal reports that are regularly reviewed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to
allocate resources and assess performance of segments and for which discrete financial information is available. The Company’s operating
segments include Canada, United States, Europe, Capital and Risk Solutions, and Lifeco Corporate. The Canada segment comprises the
Individual Customer and Group Customer business units. Empower (financial services) and Putnam (asset management) are included in
the United States segment. The Europe segment comprises United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany. Reinsurance is reported in the Capital
and Risk Solutions segment. The Lifeco Corporate segment represents activities and transactions that are not directly attributable to the
measurement of the operating segments of the Company.
(ad) Future Accounting Policies
The Company actively monitors changes in IFRS, both proposed and released, by the IASB for potential impact on the Company. The
following sets out significant standards that will be adopted on January 1, 2023:
IFRS 17 – Insurance Contracts (IFRS 17), and IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments (IFRS 9)
IFRS 17 will replace IFRS 4, effective January 1, 2023.
IFRS 17 sets out the requirements for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosures of insurance contracts a company
issues, reinsurance contracts it holds, and investment contracts with discretionary participation features issued. Under IFRS 17, the
Company will:
• Identify insurance contracts as arrangements where the Company accepts significant insurance risk from another party (the
policyholder) by agreeing to compensate the policyholder or beneficiary of the contract for specified uncertain future events that
adversely affect the policyholder and whose amount and timing is unknown.
• Separately account for specified embedded derivatives, distinct investment components, and distinct non-insurance goods and
services from insurance contracts.
• Identify portfolios of insurance contracts, which comprises contracts that are subject to similar risks and managed together. Portfolios
are further divided based on expected profitability at inception. At a minimum, each portfolio of insurance contracts issued shall be
divided into the following groups:
• Contracts that are onerous at initial recognition;
• Contracts that at initial recognition have no significant possibility of becoming onerous subsequently; and
• Any of the remaining contracts in the portfolio.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
129
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Accounting Policies (cont’d)
• Apply the three measurement models introduced by IFRS 17 as further described below:
General Measurement Model (GMM)
The Company applies this model to its medium to long-term insurance products, such as individual protection, payout annuities, and
longevity swaps.
Under this model, the Company will measure insurance contract liabilities on the balance sheet as the total of:
a) The fulfilment cash flows (FCF) – the current estimates of amounts that a company expects to collect (e.g. premiums) and pay out
(e.g. claims, benefits, expenses), including adjustments for the timing and the financial and non-financial risks of those amounts; and
b) The contractual service margin (CSM) – unearned profit for providing insurance coverage, which is subsequently recognized
into profit or loss over time as the insurance services are provided.
At the end of each period, the Company will recalculate the FCF and CSM, with the CSM subject to adjustments for interest accretion
and certain changes to FCF relating to future service.
Premium Allocation Approach (PAA)
The Company applies this model to its short-term insurance products, such as group life and health.
This simplified model can be used when the contract boundary is less than one year or the approach is expected to produce a similar
liability amount as under the GMM. Under the PAA, the Company is exempted from calculating and explicitly accounting for the CSM.
Instead the liability is set as the premiums received less acquisition expenses, premium revenue recognized, and amounts transferred
to fund incurred claims.
Variable Fee Approach (VFA)
The Company applies this model to contracts with direct participating features such as participating insurance and segregated fund
business with insurance guarantees, where an investment return is provided to the policyholder based on a defined pool of items (e.g.
a portfolio of assets).
Similar to the GMM, the VFA initially measures the insurance contract liabilities as the FCF plus CSM. Subsequently, the Company
will recalculate the FCF and CSM, with the latter reflecting changes in the Company’s share of the pool of items (e.g. future fees and
guarantee costs) and certain changes to FCF relating to future service.
A group of insurance contracts issued is considered onerous when the measurement leads to a negative CSM either at issue or when subsequently
measured. In this case, the CSM is not allowed to decrease below zero and a loss component is tracked.
The measurement of reinsurance contracts held is similar to insurance contracts issued with the following key differences: the CSM can be
positive or negative, and the VFA measurement model cannot be used.
On transition to IFRS 17, the Company will apply the full retrospective approach to all identified insurance contracts unless it is impracticable to
do so. When impracticable, the fair value approach will be applied.
The fair value approach calculates the CSM or loss component of the liability for remaining coverage as the difference between the fair value of a
group of insurance contracts at the date of transition and the FCF measured at that date.
In addition, IFRS 9 will replace IAS 39, effective January 1, 2023. The standard provides changes to financial instruments accounting for
the following:
• Classification and measurement of financial instruments based on a business model approach for managing financial assets and the
contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. All financial assets are measured as Fair Value Through Profit or Loss (FVTPL), Fair
Value Through Other Comprehensive Income (FVOCI), or amortized cost;
• Allowances for credit losses (ACL) are based on an Expected Credit Loss (ECL) model for all financial assets, except for financial assets classified
or designated as FVTPL and equity securities designated as FVOCI. Under the ECL model, a loss allowance is recognized and maintained
equal to 12 months of expected credit losses upon initial recognition. If credit risk subsequently increases significantly, or an asset becomes
credit-impaired, the loss allowance is increased to cover full, lifetime expected credit losses. Changes in the required loss allowance will be
recorded in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings; and
• Hedge accounting that incorporates the risk management practices of an entity, which will not have a material impact to the Company.
The current disclosure for the measurement and classification of the Company’s portfolio investments (note 6) provides most of the information
required by IFRS 9.
The Company’s date of initial application of IFRS 9 is January 1, 2023 and the Company anticipates electing the option of presenting comparative
information about a financial asset as if the classification and measurement requirements of IFRS 9 had been applied to that financial asset in the
comparative period, as permitted by the amendment to IFRS 17 published by the IASB in December 2021. IFRS 9 includes an accounting policy
choice to retain the IAS 39 requirements for hedge accounting, which the Company is currently evaluating.
130 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements The expected quantitative impact of transitioning to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 is illustrated in the opening balance sheet reconciliation table
below.
Balance Sheet
Condensed View
As Reported
IFRS 4
IAS 39
Dec. 31, 2021
Asset /
Liability
Reclassification
IFRS 9
IFRS 17
Restated
IFRS 17 & 9
Balance Sheet
Jan. 1, 2022
Income
Tax
Assets
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Stocks
Other assets impacted by IFRS 17 & 9
Other assets not impacted by IFRS 17 & 9
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders
$ 140,612
28,852
14,183
67,677
21,745
357,419
$
$
–
–
16
(20,040)
–
–
$
2,041
505
26
–
–
–
Total assets
$ 630,488
$
(20,024)
$
2,572
$
–
–
–
697
–
–
697
Liabilities
Insurance contract liabilities
Investment contract liabilities
Other liabilities impacted by IFRS 17 & 9
Other liabilities not impacted by IFRS 17 & 9
Investments and insurance contracts on account
of segregated fund policyholders
Insurance contracts on account of segregated fund
policyholders
Investment contracts on account of segregated fund
policyholders
Total liabilities
Total equity
$ 208,378
12,455
11,726
10,027
$
(58,904)
41,210
(1,815)
–
$
357,419
(357,419)
–
–
600,005
30,483
65,253
292,166
(19,509)
(515)
2,572
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
$
6,812
–
–
–
–
–
–
6,812
(6,115)
$
$
$
Total liabilities and equity
$ 630,488
$
(20,024)
$
2,572
$
697
$
–
–
–
350
–
–
350
$ 142,653
29,357
14,225
48,684
21,745
357,419
$ 614,083
–
–
(325)
–
$ 156,286
53,665
9,586
10,027
–
–
–
(325)
675
350
–
65,253
292,166
586,983
27,100
$ 614,083
The adoption of IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 is expected to result in an overall reduction of total assets of approximately $16.4 billion, total liabilities
of $13.0 billion, and total equity of approximately $3.4 billion to the transition balance sheet as at January 1, 2022.
Asset and liability reclassifications were primarily driven by changes to the groupings of certain assets and liabilities, reclassifications of
certain insurance contract liabilities to investment contract liabilities, and presenting liabilities on account of segregated fund policyholders
separately between insurance and investment contract liabilities. IFRS 9 adjustments primarily relate to a change in designation of certain
loans and receivables held at amortized cost under IAS 39 to FVTPL under IFRS 9. IFRS 17 adjustments relate to changes in insurance
contract liabilities and reinsurance assets, which are primarily the result of the establishment of CSM for in-force contracts of $6.3 billion
associated with the shareholders’ account and $2.3 billion associated with the participating account, partially offset by the removal of
provisions no longer required under IFRS 17. This does not include the CSM on in-force segregated fund business which does not have a
material impact on capital or opening equity.
Total equity is expected to decrease by approximately $3.4 billion, split $0.2 billion for the participating account surplus and $3.2 billion
for the shareholders’ account surplus.
These impacts are based on the assessments undertaken to date. The exact financial impacts of the accounting changes of adopting IFRS
17 and IFRS 9 may be revised as further analysis is completed prior to presentation of financial information for periods including the date
of initial application. The Company expects to be in a position to issue further guidance on the impact of adopting IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 in
conjunction with the first quarterly report to shareholders for the financial year commencing January 1, 2023.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
131
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Accounting Policies (cont’d)
Standard
Summary of Other Future Changes
IAS 1 – Presentation of
Financial Statements
In February 2021, the IASB published Disclosure of Accounting Policies, amendments to IAS 1, Presentation of Financial Statements. The amendments clarify
how an entity determines whether accounting policy information is material.
These amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, with earlier application permitted. The Company does
not anticipate a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of these amendments.
IAS 8 – Accounting
Policies, Changes in
Accounting Estimates
and Errors
IAS 12 – Income Taxes
In February 2021, the IASB published Definition of Accounting Estimates, amendments to IAS 8, Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and
Errors. The amendments clarify the difference between an accounting policy and an accounting estimate.
These amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, with earlier application permitted. The Company does
not anticipate a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of these amendments.
In May 2021, the IASB published Deferred Tax Related to Assets and Liabilities from a Single Transaction, amendments to IAS 12, Income Taxes. The
amendments clarify that for transactions in which both deductible and taxable temporary differences arise on initial recognition that result in deferred
tax assets and liabilities of the same amount, deferred tax assets and liabilities are to be recognized.
These amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, with earlier application permitted. The Company does
not anticipate a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of these amendments.
IFRS 16 – Leases
In September 2022, the IASB published Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback, amendments to IFRS 16, Leases. The amendments clarify that in a sale and
leaseback transaction, the seller-lessee subsequent measurement of the lease liability arising from a leaseback does not recognize any amount of gain
or loss related to the right of use it retains.
These amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2024 with earlier application permitted. The Company does
not anticipate a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements as a result of these amendments.
132 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
3. Business Acquisitions and Other Transactions
(a) Acquisition of Personal Capital Corporation
On August 17, 2020, Empower completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity of Personal Capital Corporation. Upon completion of the
purchase price allocation in the fourth quarter of 2020, a contingent consideration earn-out provision of $26 (U.S. $20) was recognized,
representing management’s best estimate of growth in assets under management metrics defined in the Merger Agreement. The contingent
consideration provision was increased by $101 (U.S. $80) in 2021 for a total contingent consideration provision of $127 (U.S. $100) at
December 31, 2021. The increase in 2021 was due to growth in net new assets above the amount assumed at the date of acquisition.
The Merger Agreement allows for contingent consideration of up to $236 (U.S. $175) based on the achievement of growth in assets under
management metrics, payable following measurements through December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022. Changes in the fair value of
the contingent consideration measured in accordance with the Merger Agreement subsequent to the completion of the purchase price
allocation are recognized in operating and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. During the first quarter of
2022, the Company made its first payment of U.S. $59 based on assets under management metrics achieved through December 31, 2021.
During the third quarter of 2022, the remaining contingent consideration provision of $54 (U.S. $41) was released, resulting in a recovery
of $54 to operating and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, as the current growth in net new assets was
below the level where further contingent consideration would be payable. The fair value of contingent consideration was nil at
December 31, 2022.
(b) Acquisition of Prudential Retirement Services Business
On April 1, 2022, Empower completed the purchase, through a share purchase and a reinsurance transaction, of the full-service retirement
business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential). The Company assumed the economics and risks associated with the business, while
Prudential continues to retain the obligation to the contract holders of the reinsured portion. The Company acquired the business for
$4,350 (U.S. $3,480) of total value which includes purchase consideration of $2,628 (U.S. $2,102) including the base purchase price, ceding
commission and working capital adjustments and $1,722 (U.S. $1,378) of required capital to support the business.
The transaction was funded with $1,500 (U.S. $1,193) of limited recourse capital notes and U.S. $823 of short-term debt, in addition to
existing resources. On March 30, 2022, Great-West Lifeco U.S. LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, established a 2-year U.S. $500 non-
revolving credit facility with interest on the drawn balance equal to a floating rate based on Adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing
Rate (SOFR). The facility is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. On the acquisition date, the U.S. $500 facility was fully
drawn, along with U.S. $323 from an existing revolving credit facility, to finance a portion of the acquisition. The existing revolving credit
facility incurs interest on the drawn balance equal to a floating rate based on Adjusted Term SOFR. On July 1, 2022, Great-West Lifeco U.S.
LLC made a payment of U.S. $150 on its existing revolving credit facility, followed by a final payment of U.S. $173 on December 30, 2022. As
at December 31, 2022, the $675 (U.S. $500) facility was fully drawn, along with nil from the existing revolving credit facility.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company completed its comprehensive evaluation of the fair value of net assets acquired from
Prudential and the purchase price allocation. The initial purchase consideration was adjusted from $2,744 to $2,628 (U.S. $2,195 to
U.S. $2,102).
Initial goodwill presented in the Company’s June 30, 2022 consolidated financial statements of $1,109 (U.S. $887) was adjusted to $1,264
(U.S. $1,011). Adjustments were made to the provisional amounts disclosed in the Company’s June 30, 2022 consolidated financial
statements for the recognition and measurement of intangible assets, assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Intangible assets recognized
include customer contracts of $450 (U.S. $360), which have accumulated amortization of $22 (U.S. $16) as at December 31, 2022. Included
in other liabilities, the Company also assumed an investment advisory contract with unfavourable out-of-market terms, initially recognized
at $38 (U.S. $30), of which $5 (U.S. $4) has been amortized through the year ended December 31, 2022.
The Company determined the fair value of the intangible assets and insurance contract liabilities acquired, using valuation techniques
that incorporate projections of cash flows and discount rates. The valuation of intangible assets acquired is determined by applying
judgments and estimates for forecasted revenues and earnings, and discount rates. Further, the valuation of the actuarial liabilities
assumed are determined by applying judgments and assumptions to determine appropriate valuation models, and projections of cash
inflows and outflows using the best estimate of future experience, specifically policyholder behaviour, together with the discount rates.
Adjustments were also made to the provisional amounts reported for investments on account of segregated fund policyholders acquired
and investment and insurance contracts on account of segregated fund policyholders assumed, which had no impact on the fair value of
net assets acquired.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
133
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
3. Business Acquisitions and Other Transactions (cont’d)
The initial amounts assigned to the assets acquired, goodwill, intangible assets and liabilities assumed on April 1, 2022, and reported as at
December 31, 2022 are as follows:
Assets acquired and goodwill
Cash and cash equivalents
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Stocks
Goodwill
Intangible assets
Other assets
Premiums in the course of collection, accounts and interest receivable
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders
Total assets acquired and goodwill
Liabilities assumed
Insurance contract liabilities
Investment contract liabilities
Accounts payable
Other liabilities
Investment and insurance contracts on account of segregated fund policyholders
Total liabilities assumed
The following provides the change in the carrying value from April 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 of the goodwill on acquisition:
Goodwill previously reported at June 30, 2022
Final measurement of intangible assets
Purchase consideration adjustments
Other measurement period adjustments
Goodwill reported at December 31, 2022
$
487
36,292
8,017
381
1,264
450
100
276
77,700
$ 124,967
$
43,550
690
11
388
77,700
$ 122,339
$
1,109
285
(116)
(14)
$
1,264
The goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets, representing the synergies or future economic
benefits arising from other assets acquired that are not individually identifiable and separately recognized in the acquisition. These
synergies represent meaningful expense and revenue opportunities which are expected to be accretive to earnings. The goodwill is
deductible for tax purposes.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company incurred acquisition expenses of $102 (U.S. $79), which are recorded in the
Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, Prudential contributed revenue of $609 (U.S. $525), net earnings of $94 (U.S. $70) and other
comprehensive loss of $43 (U.S. $34). These amounts are included in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income.
Supplemental pro-forma revenue and net earnings for the combined entity, as though the acquisition date for this business combination
had been as of the beginning of the annual reporting period, has not been included as it is impracticable as Prudential had a different
financial reporting basis than the Company.
134 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(c) Acquisition of Ark Life Assurance Company
On November 1, 2021, Irish Life Group Limited (Irish Life), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, completed the
acquisition of Ark Life Assurance Company dac (Ark Life) from Phoenix Group Holdings plc for total cash consideration of $332 (€230).
Ark Life is closed to new business and manages a range of pensions, savings and protection policies for its customers in the Irish market.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company completed its comprehensive evaluation of the fair value of the net assets acquired from
Ark Life, and the purchase price allocation.
Initial goodwill presented in the Company’s December 31, 2021 consolidated financial statements of $21 (€15), was adjusted upon the
completion of the purchase price allocation. An excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired over the purchase price of $20 (€14) was
recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings as regular net investment income and is non-taxable. Adjustments were made
to the provisional amounts disclosed in the Company’s December 31, 2021 consolidated financial statements for the recognition and
measurement of intangible assets and liabilities assumed. Intangible assets recognized include customer contracts of $48 (€34), which
have accumulated amortization of $4 (€3) as at December 31, 2022.
Comparative information in the Company’s consolidated financial statements has not been restated.
The Company determined the fair value of the intangible assets using valuation techniques that incorporate projections of discounted
cash flows by applying judgments and estimates for forecasted revenues, renewal expenses, and discount rates.
The amounts assigned to the assets acquired, goodwill and liabilities assumed on November 1, 2021, reported as at December 31, 2022
are as follows:
Assets acquired and goodwill
Cash and cash equivalents
Bonds
Intangible assets
Reinsurance assets
Premiums in the course of collection, accounts and interest receivable
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders
Total assets acquired and goodwill
Liabilities assumed
Insurance contract liabilities
Investment contract liabilities
Other liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
Investment and insurance contracts on account of segregated fund policyholders
Total liabilities assumed
The following provides the change in the carrying value of goodwill from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022:
Goodwill previously reported at December 31, 2021
Recognition and measurement of intangible assets
Recognition of deferred tax liabilities on intangible assets and other measurement period adjustments
Excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired over the purchase price at December 31, 2022
$
17
333
48
1,238
89
2,844
$
4,569
$
1,257
43
62
11
2,844
$
4,217
$
$
21
(48)
7
(20)
During the fourth quarter of 2022, Ark Life Assurance Company dac changed its legal name to Irish Life Ark Dublin dac.
(d) U.S. Reinsurance Agreement
On December 31, 2022, Empower completed two separate agreements to cede, via indemnity reinsurance, $7,946 of insurance contract
liabilities to a non-related party. As a result of the transaction, $7,946 of reinsurance assets (note 13), $7,031 of funds held under
reinsurance contracts and $918 of other liabilities (note 17) were recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2022.
Within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, the Company recognized an increase of $8,005 to ceded premiums, as well as a decrease
of $8,005 to total paid or credited to policyholders and an increase of $3 to operating and administrative expenses (note 27) as a result of
the transaction.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
135
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
4. Restructuring and Integration Expenses
(a) Canada Restructuring
At December 31, 2022, the Company has a restructuring provision of $14 ($56 at December 31, 2021) remaining in other liabilities. The
change in the restructuring provision for the Canada restructuring is set out below:
Balance, beginning of year
Amounts used
Balance, end of year
2022
2021
$
$
56
(42)
14
$
$
86
(30)
56
The Company expects to utilize a significant portion of these amounts during 2023.
(b) Empower Restructuring and Integration
The Company recorded integration expenses of $128 ($74 in 2021) and restructuring expenses of $50 ($10 in 2021) in the Consolidated
Statements of Earnings during year ended December 31, 2022. The restructuring is primarily attributable to staff reductions and other exit
costs related to the Company’s acquisitions of the retirement services businesses of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and
Prudential (note 3).
At December 31, 2022, the Company has a restructuring provision of $28 ($19 at December 31, 2021) remaining in other liabilities. The
change in the restructuring provision for the Empower restructuring is set out below:
Balance, beginning of year
Restructuring expenses
Amounts used
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Balance, end of year
2022
2021
$
$
19
50
(43)
2
28
$
$
37
10
(28)
–
19
The Company expects to pay out a significant portion of these amounts during 2023. The Company expects to incur further restructuring
and integration expenses associated with the Prudential acquisition in 2023 (note 3).
5. Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include amounts held at the Lifeco holding company level and amounts held in Lifeco’s consolidated
subsidiary companies.
Cash
Short-term deposits
Total
2022
2021
$
$
4,013
3,277
7,290
$
$
3,202
2,873
6,075
At December 31, 2022, cash and short-term deposits of $879 were restricted for use by the Company ($1,303 at December 31, 2021) in respect
of cash held in trust for reinsurance agreements or with regulatory authorities, cash held under certain indemnity arrangements, client monies
held by brokers and cash held in escrow.
136 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
6. Portfolio Investments
(a) Carrying values and estimated fair values of portfolio investments are as follows:
Bonds
Designated fair value through profit or loss 1
Classified fair value through profit or loss 1
Available-for-sale
Loans and receivables
Mortgage loans
Residential
Designated fair value through profit or loss 1
Available-for-sale
Loans and receivables
Commercial
Stocks
Designated fair value through profit or loss 1
Available-for-sale
Available-for-sale, at cost 2
Equity method
Investment properties
Total
2022
2021
Carrying
value
Fair
value
Carrying
value
Fair
value
$ 113,596
181
11,864
33,946
$ 113,596
181
11,864
30,448
$ 103,645
168
12,123
24,676
$ 103,645
168
12,123
26,717
159,587
156,089
140,612
142,653
3,125
240
12,202
15,567
23,962
39,529
13,305
206
119
638
14,268
8,344
3,125
240
11,256
14,621
21,953
36,574
13,305
206
119
610
14,240
8,344
2,609
–
9,580
12,189
16,663
28,852
13,269
209
124
581
14,183
7,763
2,609
–
9,860
12,469
17,189
29,658
13,269
209
124
633
14,235
7,763
$ 221,728
$ 215,247
$ 191,410
$ 194,309
1
Under IAS 39, a financial asset is designated as fair value through profit or loss on initial recognition if it eliminates or significantly reduces an accounting mismatch. Changes in the fair
value of financial assets designated as fair value through profit or loss are generally offset by changes in insurance contract liabilities, since the measurement of insurance contract liabilities
is determined with reference to the assets supporting the liabilities.
A financial asset is classified as fair value through profit or loss on initial recognition if it is part of a portfolio that is actively traded for the purpose of earning investment income.
2 Fair value cannot be reliably measured, therefore the investments are held at cost.
(b) Carrying value of bonds and mortgages by term to maturity are as follows:
Bonds 1
Mortgage loans 2
Total
Bonds 1
Mortgage loans 2
Total
2022
1 year
or less
$
13,560
2,688
Term to maturity
Over 1 year
to 5 years
$
42,892
19,108
Over
5 years
Total
$ 103,095
17,722
$ 159,547
39,518
$
16,248
$
62,000
$ 120,817
$ 199,065
2021
1 year
or less
Term to maturity
Over 1 year
to 5 years
Over
5 years
Total
$
11,118
1,698
$
28,207
11,281
$ 101,269
15,802
$ 140,594
28,781
$
12,816
$
39,488
$ 117,071
$ 169,375
1 Excludes the carrying value of impaired bonds as the ultimate timing of collectability is uncertain.
2
Excludes the carrying value of impaired mortgage loans as the ultimate timing of collectability is uncertain. Mortgage loans include equity release mortgages which do not have a fixed
redemption date. The maturity profile of the portfolio has therefore been estimated based on previous redemption experience.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
137
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
6. Portfolio Investments (cont’d)
(c) Certain stocks where equity method earnings are computed are discussed below:
A significant amount of the Company’s equity method investments relate to the Company’s investment, held through Canada Life, in an
affiliated company, IGM, a member of the Power Corporation group of companies, over which it exerts significant influence but does
not control. The Company’s proportionate share of IGM’s earnings is recorded in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements
of Earnings. The Company owns 9,200,448 shares of IGM at December 31, 2022 (9,200,448 at December 31, 2021) representing a 3.87%
ownership interest (3.85% at December 31, 2021). The Company uses the equity method to account for its investment in IGM as it exercises
significant influence. Significant influence arises from several factors, including, but not limited to the following: common control of the
Company and IGM by Power Corporation, shared representation on the Boards of Directors of the Company and IGM, interchange of
managerial personnel, certain shared strategic alliances, significant intercompany transactions and service agreements that influence the
financial and operating policies of both companies.
Carrying value, beginning of year
Equity method share of IGM net earnings
Dividends received
Carrying value, end of year
Share of equity, end of year
Fair value, end of year
2022
2021
$
$
$
$
366
30
(21)
375
237
347
$
$
$
$
354
33
(21)
366
243
418
The Company and IGM both have a year-end date of December 31. The Company’s year-end results are approved and reported before
IGM publicly reports its financial result; therefore, the Company reports IGM’s financial information by estimating the amount of
earnings attributable to the Company, based on prior quarter information as well as other market expectations, to complete equity
method accounting. The difference between actual and estimated results is reflected in the subsequent quarter and is not material to the
Company’s consolidated financial statements.
IGM’s financial information as at December 31, 2022 can be obtained in its publicly available information.
At December 31, 2022, IGM owned 37,337,133 (37,337,133 at December 31, 2021) common shares of the Company.
(d) Included in portfolio investments are the following:
(i)
Carrying amount of impaired investments
Impaired amounts by classification
Fair value through profit or loss
Available-for-sale
Loans and receivables
Total
2022
2021
$
$
11
–
40
51
$
$
14
7
71
92
The carrying amount of impaired investments includes $40 bonds and $11 mortgage loans at December 31, 2022. ($18 bonds, $71
mortgage loans and $3 stocks at December 31, 2021). The above carrying values for loans and receivables are net of allowances of
$16 at December 31, 2022 and $28 at December 31, 2021.
(ii)
The allowance for credit losses and changes in the allowance for credit losses related to investments classified as loans and
receivables are as follows:
2022
Mortgage
loans
Bonds
Total
Bonds
2021
Mortgage
loans
Total
Balance, beginning of year
Net provision for credit losses – in year
Write-offs, net of recoveries
Balance, end of year
$
$
–
–
–
–
$
$
28
42
(54)
16
$
$
28
42
(54)
16
$
$
–
–
–
–
$
$
57
30
(59)
28
$
$
57
30
(59)
28
The allowance for credit losses is supplemented by the provision for future credit losses included in insurance contract liabilities.
138 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(e) Net investment income comprises the following:
Total
$
(16,767)
$
553
$
Regular net investment income:
Investment income earned
Net realized gains (losses)
Available-for-sale
Other classifications
Net allowances for credit losses on loans
and receivables
Other income (expenses)
Changes in fair value through profit or loss assets:
Classified fair value through profit or loss
Designated fair value through profit or loss
Recorded at fair value through profit or loss
Regular net investment income:
Investment income earned
Net realized gains
Available-for-sale
Other classifications
Net allowances for credit losses on loans
and receivables
Other income (expenses)
Changes in fair value through profit or loss assets:
Classified fair value through profit or loss
Designated fair value through profit or loss
Recorded at fair value through profit or loss
Bonds
Mortgage
loans
Stocks
Investment
properties
Other
Total
2022
$
5,858
$
1,217
$
404
$
459
$
705
$
8,643
(71)
–
–
–
–
17
(42)
–
5,787
1,192
4
(22,558)
–
(22,554)
–
(639)
–
(639)
27
–
–
–
431
–
(636)
–
(636)
(205)
–
–
–
(154)
305
–
–
(41)
(41)
–
(31)
–
(243)
431
–
(33)
–
(33)
(44)
(14)
(42)
(397)
8,146
4
(23,866)
(41)
(23,903)
$
264
$
398
$
(15,757)
Bonds
Mortgage
loans
Stocks
2021
Investment
properties
Other
Total
$
4,262
$
916
$
391
$
422
$
636
$
6,627
13
12
–
–
4,287
(104)
(4,693)
–
(4,797)
–
59
(30)
–
945
–
(121)
–
(121)
14
7
–
–
412
–
2,150
–
2,150
–
–
–
(146)
276
–
–
615
615
891
–
34
–
(197)
473
–
70
–
70
27
112
(30)
(343)
6,393
(104)
(2,594)
615
(2,083)
$
543
$
4,310
Total
$
(510)
$
824
$
2,562
$
Investment income earned comprises income from investments that are classified as available-for-sale, loans and receivables and
investments classified or designated as fair value through profit or loss. Investment income from bonds and mortgages includes interest
income and premium and discount amortization. Income from stocks includes dividends, distributions from private equity and equity
income from the investment in IGM. Investment properties income includes rental income earned on investment properties, ground
rent income earned on leased and sub-leased land, fee recoveries, lease cancellation income, and interest and other investment income
earned on investment properties. Other income includes policyholder loan income, foreign exchange gains and losses, income earned
from derivative financial instruments and other miscellaneous income.
(f) Transferred Financial Assets
The Company engages in securities lending to generate additional income. The Company’s securities custodians are used as lending
agents. Collateral, which exceeds the fair value of the loaned securities, is deposited by the borrower with the Company’s lending agent and
maintained by the lending agent until the underlying security has been returned. The fair value of the loaned securities is monitored on a
daily basis by the lending agent who obtains or refunds additional collateral as the fair value of the loaned securities fluctuates. Included
in the collateral deposited with the Company’s lending agent is cash collateral of $191 at December 31, 2022 ($169 at December 31,
2021). In addition, the securities lending agent indemnifies the Company against borrower risk, meaning that the lending agent agrees
contractually to replace securities not returned due to a borrower default. As at December 31, 2022, the Company had loaned securities
(which are included in invested assets) with a fair value of $9,550 ($10,525 at December 31, 2021).
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
139
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
7. Funds Held by Ceding Insurers
At December 31, 2022, the Company had amounts on deposit of $15,186 ($17,194 at December 31, 2021) for funds held by ceding insurers on
the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income and expenses arising from the agreements are included in net investment income in the Consolidated
Statements of Earnings.
The details of the funds on deposit for certain agreements where the Company has credit risk are as follows:
(a) Carrying values and estimated fair values:
Cash and cash equivalents
Bonds
Mortgages
Other assets
Total
Supporting:
Reinsurance liabilities
Surplus
Total
2022
2021
Carrying
value
Fair
value
Carrying
value
$
222
11,172
457
129
$
222
11,172
457
129
$
336
14,105
558
126
$
Fair
value
336
14,105
558
126
$
11,980
$
11,980
$
15,125
$
15,125
$
11,825
155
$
11,825
155
$
14,907
218
$
14,907
218
$
11,980
$
11,980
$
15,125
$
15,125
(b) The following provides details of the carrying value of bonds included in the funds on
deposit by issuer and industry sector:
Bonds issued or guaranteed by:
Treasuries
Government related
Agency securitized
Non-agency securitized
Financials
Communications
Consumer products
Energy
Industrials
Technology
Transportation
Utilities
Total long-term bonds
Short-term bonds
Total
2022
2021
$
383
1,122
139
1,350
2,020
327
1,728
517
1,029
386
319
1,652
$
1,032
1,463
183
1,660
2,628
427
2,031
644
1,243
498
404
1,892
10,972
200
14,105
–
$
11,172
$
14,105
(c) The following provides details of the carrying value of mortgages included in the funds
on deposit by property type:
Multi-family residential
Commercial
Total
140 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
2022
2021
$
$
110
347
457
$
$
126
432
558
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(d) Asset quality:
Bond Portfolio by Credit Rating
AAA
AA
A
BBB
BB and lower
Total
2022
2021
$
1,037
2,607
4,289
3,124
115
$
1,251
3,721
5,222
3,749
162
$
11,172
$
14,105
8. Financial Instruments Risk Management
The Company has policies relating to the identification, measurement, management, monitoring and reporting of risks associated with financial
instruments. The key risks related to financial instruments are credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk (currency, interest rate and equity). The
Risk Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for the oversight of the Company’s key risks.
The following sections describe how the Company manages each of these risks.
(a) Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk of loss resulting from an obligor’s potential inability or unwillingness to fully meet its contractual obligations.
The following policies and procedures are in place to manage this risk:
• Investment and risk policies aim to minimize undue concentration within issuers, connected companies, industries or individual
geographies.
• Investment and risk limits specify minimum and maximum limits for each asset class.
• Identification of credit risk through an internal credit risk rating system which includes a detailed assessment of an obligor’s
creditworthiness. Internal credit risk ratings cannot be higher than the highest rating provided by certain independent ratings
companies.
• Portfolios are monitored continuously, and reviewed regularly with the Risk Committee and the Investment Committee of the Board
of Directors.
• Credit risk associated with derivative instruments is evaluated quarterly based on conditions that existed at the balance sheet date,
using practices that are at least as conservative as those recommended by regulators. The Company manages derivative credit risk
by including derivative exposure to aggregate credit exposures measured against rating based obligor limits and through collateral
arrangements where possible.
• Counterparties providing reinsurance to the Company are reviewed for financial soundness as part of an ongoing monitoring process.
The minimum financial strength of reinsurers is outlined in the Reinsurance Risk Management Policy. The Company seeks to minimize
reinsurance credit risk by setting rating based limits on net ceded exposure by counterparty as well as seeking protection in the form of
collateral or funds withheld arrangements where possible.
• Investment guidelines also specify collateral requirements.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
141
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
8. Financial Instruments Risk Management (cont’d)
(i) Maximum Exposure to Credit Risk
The following summarizes the Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk related to financial instruments. The maximum credit
exposure is the carrying value of the asset net of any allowances for losses.
Cash and cash equivalents
Bonds
Fair value through profit or loss
Available-for-sale
Loans and receivables
Mortgage loans
Loans to policyholders
Funds held by ceding insurers 1
Reinsurance assets
Interest due and accrued
Accounts receivable
Premiums in course of collection
Trading account assets
Finance leases receivable
Other assets 2
Derivative assets
Total
2022
2021
$
7,290
$
6,075
113,777
11,864
33,946
39,529
8,820
15,186
25,018
1,709
3,556
1,715
2,972
536
1,995
2,314
103,813
12,123
24,676
28,852
8,319
17,194
21,138
1,239
3,183
1,944
1,671
433
1,196
967
$ 270,227
$ 232,823
1 Includes $11,980 ($15,125 at December 31, 2021) of funds held by ceding insurers where the Company retains the credit risk of the assets supporting the liabilities ceded (note 7).
2 Includes items such as current income taxes receivable and miscellaneous other assets of the Company (note 12).
Credit risk is also mitigated by entering into collateral agreements. The amount and type of collateral required depends on an
assessment of the credit risk of the counterparty. Guidelines are implemented regarding the acceptability of types of collateral
and the valuation parameters. Management monitors the value of the collateral, requests additional collateral when needed and
performs an impairment valuation when applicable. The Company has $1,348 of collateral received from counterparties as at
December 31, 2022 ($318 at December 31, 2021) relating to derivative assets.
As at December 31, 2022, $12,061 of the $25,018 of reinsurance assets are ceded to Protective Life Insurance Company ($14,512 of
$21,138 at December 31, 2021). This concentration risk is mitigated by funds held in trust and other arrangements of $13,685 as at
December 31, 2022 ($15,963 at December 31, 2021).
142 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(ii)
Concentration of Credit Risk
Concentrations of credit risk arise from exposures to a single obligor, a group of related obligors or groups of obligors that have
similar credit risk characteristics and operate in the same geographic region or in similar industries. The characteristics are similar
in that changes in economic or political environments may impact their ability to meet obligations as they come due.
The following provides details of the carrying value of bonds by issuer, industry sector and operating segment:
Bonds issued or guaranteed by:
Treasuries
Government related
Agency securitized
Non-agency securitized
Financials
Communications
Consumer products
Energy
Industrials
Technology
Transportation
Utilities
Total long-term bonds
Short-term bonds
Total
Bonds issued or guaranteed by:
Treasuries
Government related
Agency securitized
Non-agency securitized
Financials
Communications
Consumer products
Energy
Industrials
Technology
Transportation
Utilities
Total long-term bonds
Short-term bonds
Total
Canada
United
States
2022
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
$
892
17,054
175
2,355
3,625
1,008
4,352
2,277
2,187
848
3,503
9,507
47,783
3,001
$
330
3,283
1,270
15,022
13,507
1,872
10,934
3,698
8,670
3,394
2,090
8,482
72,552
17
$
7,539
6,631
–
734
4,520
667
1,743
406
1,250
392
638
3,131
27,651
822
$
3,222
373
15
123
921
137
968
285
418
298
122
478
7,360
401
$
11,983
27,341
1,460
18,234
22,573
3,684
17,997
6,666
12,525
4,932
6,353
21,598
155,346
4,241
$
50,784
$
72,569
$
28,473
$
7,761
$ 159,587
Canada
United
States
2021
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
$
529
19,501
178
2,215
3,794
1,104
4,029
2,602
2,092
729
3,674
9,971
50,418
2,854
$
109
2,183
497
7,788
6,251
1,235
5,461
2,634
4,707
1,732
1,227
5,028
38,852
1,976
$
10,334
8,694
–
1,149
5,748
1,032
2,412
482
1,393
411
897
4,480
37,032
644
$
4,735
349
17
165
886
113
736
330
348
319
135
506
8,639
197
$
15,707
30,727
692
11,317
16,679
3,484
12,638
6,048
8,540
3,191
5,933
19,985
134,941
5,671
$
53,272
$
40,828
$
37,676
$
8,836
$ 140,612
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
143
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
8. Financial Instruments Risk Management (cont’d)
The following provides details of the carrying value of mortgage loans by operating segment:
Single family residential
Multi-family residential
Equity release
Commercial
Total
Single family residential
Multi-family residential
Equity release
Commercial
Total
(iii) Asset Quality
Bond Portfolio by Credit Rating
AAA
AA
A
BBB
BB and lower
Total
Derivative Portfolio by Credit Rating
Over-the-counter contracts (counterparty ratings):
AA
A
Exchange-traded
Total
(iv)
Loans Past Due, But Not Impaired
$
Canada
1,856
4,732
1,392
9,126
$
United
States
–
4,677
–
11,278
2022
Europe
$
–
897
1,705
3,503
$
17,106
$
15,955
$
6,105
$
Capital and
Risk Solutions
$
$
Canada
1,979
4,297
1,063
9,364
$
United
States
–
2,474
–
3,696
2021
Europe
$
–
792
1,546
3,553
$
16,703
$
6,170
$
5,891
$
Capital and
Risk Solutions
$
–
40
268
55
363
–
38
–
50
88
$
Total
1,856
10,346
3,365
23,962
$
39,529
$
Total
1,979
7,601
2,609
16,663
$
28,852
2022
2021
$
25,399
32,244
55,063
45,080
1,801
$
20,254
35,460
48,764
35,098
1,036
$ 159,587
$ 140,612
2022
2021
$
$
1,604
697
13
$
2,314
$
662
304
1
967
Loans that are past due but not considered impaired are loans for which scheduled payments have not been received, but
management has reasonable assurance of collection of the full amount of principal and interest due. The following provides
carrying values of the loans past due, but not impaired:
Less than 30 days
30 - 90 days
Greater than 90 days
Total
2022
2021
$
$
530
348
147
$
1,025
$
164
34
141
339
(v)
The following outlines the future asset credit losses provided for in insurance contract liabilities. These amounts are in addition to
the allowance for asset losses included with assets:
Participating
Non-participating
Total
144 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
2022
2021
$
$
1,327
1,896
3,223
$
$
1,376
1,895
3,271
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(b) Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet all cash outflow obligations as they come due. The following policies and
procedures are in place to manage this risk:
• The Company closely manages operating liquidity through cash flow matching of assets and liabilities and forecasting earned and
required yields, to ensure consistency between policyholder requirements and the yield of assets. Approximately 35% (approximately
48% in 2021) of insurance and investment contract liabilities are non-cashable prior to maturity or claim, with a further 30%
approximately (24% in 2021) of insurance and investment contract liabilities subject to fair value adjustments under certain conditions.
• Management closely monitors the solvency and capital positions of its principal subsidiaries opposite liquidity requirements at the
holding company. Additional liquidity is available through established lines of credit or via capital market transactions. At December 31,
2022, the Company maintains $950 of liquidity at the Lifeco level through committed lines of credit with Canadian chartered banks. As
well, the Company maintains a U.S. $500 revolving credit agreement and a U.S. $500 non-revolving credit agreement at Great-West
Lifeco U.S. LLC, a U.S. $300 revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks for use by Putnam, and a U.S. $50 line of credit
at Empower.
In the normal course of business the Company enters into contracts that give rise to commitments of future minimum payments that
impact short-term and long-term liquidity. The following summarizes the principal repayment schedule for certain of the Company’s
financial liabilities.
Total
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
Debentures and other debt instruments
Capital trust securities 1
Purchase obligations
Pension contributions
$
9,544
150
537
315
$
$
725
–
184
315
$
–
–
108
–
Total
$
10,546
$
1,224
$
108
$
675
–
79
–
754
$
$
725
–
55
–
780
$
$
540
–
47
–
587
Over
5 years
$
6,879
150
64
–
$
7,093
Payments due by period
1 Payments due have not been reduced to reflect that the Company held capital trust securities of $37 principal amount ($44 carrying value).
(c) Market Risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate as a result of changes in market factors
which include three types: currency risk, interest rate (including related inflation) risk and equity risk.
Caution Related to Risk Sensitivities
These consolidated financial statements include estimates of sensitivities and risk exposure measures for certain risks, such as the
sensitivity due to specific changes in interest rate levels projected and market prices as at the valuation date. Actual results can differ
significantly from these estimates for a variety of reasons including:
• Assessment of the circumstances that led to the scenario may lead to changes in (re)investment approaches and interest rate
scenarios considered,
• Changes in actuarial, investment return and future investment activity assumptions,
• Actual experience differing from the assumptions,
• Changes in business mix, effective income tax rates and other market factors,
• Interactions among these factors and assumptions when more than one changes, and
• The general limitations of the Company’s internal models.
For these reasons, the sensitivities should only be viewed as directional estimates of the underlying sensitivities for the respective factors
based on the assumptions outlined above. Given the nature of these calculations, the Company cannot provide assurance that the actual
impact on net earnings attributed to shareholders will be as indicated.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
145
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
8. Financial Instruments Risk Management (cont’d)
(i)
Currency Risk
Currency risk relates to the Company operating and holding financial instruments in different currencies. For the assets backing
insurance and investment contract liabilities that are not matched by currency, changes in foreign exchange rates can expose
the Company to the risk of foreign exchange losses not offset by liability decreases. The Company has net investments in foreign
operations. The Company’s debt obligations are denominated in Canadian dollars, euros, and U.S. dollars. In accordance with IFRS,
foreign currency translation gains and losses from net investments in foreign operations, net of related hedging activities and tax
effects, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Strengthening or weakening of the Canadian dollar spot rate
compared to the U.S. dollar, British pound and euro spot rates impacts the Company’s total equity. Correspondingly, the Company’s
book value per share and capital ratios monitored by rating agencies are also impacted.
The following policies and procedures are in place to mitigate the Company’s exposure to currency risk:
• The Company uses financial measures such as constant currency calculations to monitor the effect of currency
translation fluctuations.
• Investments are normally made in the same currency as the liabilities supported by those investments. Segmented Investment
Guidelines include maximum tolerances for unhedged currency mismatch exposures.
• For assets backing liabilities not matched by currency, the Company would normally convert the assets back to the currency of
the liability using foreign exchange contracts.
• A 10% weakening of the Canadian dollar against foreign currencies would be expected to increase non-participating insurance
and investment contract liabilities and their supporting assets by approximately the same amount resulting in an immaterial
change to net earnings. A 10% strengthening of the Canadian dollar against foreign currencies would be expected to decrease
non-participating insurance and investment contract liabilities and their supporting assets by approximately the same amount
resulting in an immaterial change in net earnings.
(ii)
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk exists if asset and liability cash flows are not closely matched and interest rates change causing a difference in value
between the asset and liability. The following policies and procedures are in place to mitigate the Company’s exposure to interest
rate risk:
• The Company utilizes a formal process for managing the matching of assets and liabilities. This involves grouping general fund
assets and liabilities into segments. Assets in each segment are managed in relation to the liabilities in the segment.
• Interest rate risk is managed by investing in assets that are suitable for the products sold.
• Where these products have benefit or expense payments that are dependent on inflation (inflation-indexed annuities, pensions
and disability claims) the Company generally invests in real return instruments to hedge its real dollar liability cash flows. Some
protection against changes in the inflation index is achieved as any related change in the fair value of the assets will be largely
offset by a similar change in the fair value of the liabilities.
• For products with fixed and highly predictable benefit payments, investments are made in fixed income assets or real estate
whose cash flows closely match the liability product cash flows. Where assets are not available to match certain period cash flows,
such as long-tail cash flows, a portion of these are invested in equities and the rest are duration matched. Hedging instruments
are employed where necessary when there is a lack of suitable permanent investments to minimize loss exposure to interest rate
changes. To the extent these cash flows are matched, protection against interest rate change is achieved and any change in the
fair value of the assets will be offset by a similar change in the fair value of the liabilities.
• For products with less predictable timing of benefit payments, investments are made in fixed income assets with cash flows of a
shorter duration than the anticipated timing of benefit payments, or equities as described below.
• For products that provide policyholders the right to redeem balances at book value, the Company has product features to mitigate
interest rate risk.
• The risk associated with the mismatch in portfolio duration and cash flow, asset prepayment exposure and the pace of asset
acquisition are quantified and reviewed regularly.
Projected cash flows from the current assets and liabilities are used in the Canadian Asset Liability Method to determine insurance
contract liabilities. Valuation assumptions have been made regarding rates of returns on supporting assets, fixed income, equity
and inflation. The valuation assumptions use best estimates of future reinvestment rates and inflation assumptions with an
assumed correlation together with margins for adverse deviation set in accordance with professional standards. These margins are
necessary to provide for possibilities of misestimation and/or future deterioration in the best estimate assumptions and provide
reasonable assurance that insurance contract liabilities cover a range of possible outcomes. Margins are reviewed periodically for
continued appropriateness.
Projected cash flows from fixed income assets used in actuarial calculations are reduced to provide for potential asset default losses.
The net effective yield rate reduction averaged 0.11% in 2022 (0.11% in 2021). The calculation for future credit losses on assets is
based on the credit quality of the underlying asset portfolio.
Testing under a number of interest rate scenarios (including increasing, decreasing and fluctuating rates) is done to assess
reinvestment risk because the Company’s sensitivity to interest rate movements varies at different terms.
146 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements The total provision for interest rates is sufficient to cover a broader or more severe set of risks than the minimum arising from
the current Canadian Institute of Actuaries prescribed scenarios. The range of interest rates covered by these provisions is set in
consideration of long-term historical results and is monitored quarterly with a full review annually.
The impact to the value of liabilities from an immediate parallel 1% increase or 1% decrease in the interest rates would be largely
offset by changes in the value of assets supporting the liabilities. Actual movements in interest rates may produce different impacts
on the value of liabilities, net of changes in the value of assets supporting liabilities, depending on the extent of the change in
interest rates in different geographies and at different durations. An immediate 1% increase in interest rates in Canada could lead to
an increase in the value of liabilities, net of changes in the value of assets supporting liabilities, and a decrease in net earnings, but
the impact would not be expected to be material.
The following table provides information on the impact to the value of liabilities net of changes in the value of assets supporting
liabilities of an immediate parallel 1% increase or 1% decrease in the interest rates as well as a corresponding parallel shift in the
ultimate reinvestment rates, as defined in the actuarial standards.
Change in interest rates
Increase (decrease) in non-participating insurance and
investment contract liabilities
Increase (decrease) in net earnings
2022
2021
1% increase
1% decrease 1
1% increase
1% decrease 1
$
$
(92)
79
$
$
386
(290)
$
$
(219)
197
$
$
678
(555)
1 For the 1% decrease, initial risk-free yields are floored at zero, wherever risk-free yields are not currently negative.
The earnings sensitivities illustrated in this section represent impacts under the Company’s accounting policies as at December 31,
2022, including accounting for insurance contracts under IFRS 4 and financial instruments under IAS 39. These sensitivities may
change on transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9.
(iii) Equity Risk
Equity risk is the uncertainty associated with the valuation of assets and liabilities arising from changes in equity markets and other
pricing risk. To mitigate pricing risk, the Company has investment policy guidelines in place that provide for prudent investment in
equity markets within clearly defined limits. The risks associated with segregated fund guarantees on lifetime Guaranteed Minimum
Withdrawal Benefits have been mitigated through a hedging program using equity futures, currency forwards, and interest
rate derivatives.
Some insurance and investment contract liabilities with long-tail cash-flows are supported by publicly traded common stocks and
investments in other non-fixed income assets, primarily comprised of investment properties, real estate funds, private stocks, and
equity release mortgages. The value of the liabilities may fluctuate with changes in the value of the supporting assets. The liabilities
for other products such as segregated fund products with guarantees also fluctuate with equity values.
There may be additional market and liability impacts as a result of changes in the value of publicly traded common stocks and other
non-fixed income assets that will cause the liabilities to fluctuate differently than the equity values. This means that there is a greater
impact on net earnings from larger falls in equity values, relative to the change in equity values. Falls in equity values beyond those
shown in the table below would have a greater impact on net earnings, relative to the change in equity values.
The following table provides information on the expected impacts of an immediate 10% or 20% increase or decrease in the value
of publicly traded common stocks on insurance and investment contract liabilities and on the shareholders’ net earnings of the
Company. The expected impacts take into account the expected changes in the value of assets supporting liabilities and hedge assets.
2022
2021
20%
increase
10%
increase
10%
decrease
20%
decrease
20%
increase
10%
increase
10%
decrease
20%
decrease
Change in publicly traded
common stock values
Increase (decrease) in
non-participating insurance and
investment contract liabilities
$
Increase (decrease) in net earnings $
(43)
37
$
$
(31)
27
$
$
31
(28)
$ 180
(146)
$
$
$
(26)
21
$
(16)
$ 13
$
$
22
(19)
$ 76
$ (66)
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
147
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
8. Financial Instruments Risk Management (cont’d)
The following table provides information on the expected impacts of an immediate 5% or 10% increase or decrease in the value
of other non-fixed income assets on insurance and investment contract liabilities and on the shareholders’ net earnings of the
Company. The expected impacts take into account the expected changes in the value of assets supporting liabilities.
2022
2021
10%
increase
5%
increase
5%
decrease
10%
decrease
10%
increase
5%
increase
5%
decrease
10%
decrease
Change in other non-fixed
income asset values
Increase (decrease) in
non-participating insurance and
investment contract liabilities
$
Increase (decrease) in net earnings $
(63)
52
$
$
(32)
26
$
$
90
(70)
$ 302
(236)
$
$
$
(92)
79
(46)
$
$ 39
$
$
38
(30)
$ 144
$ (112)
The Canadian Institute of Actuaries Standards of Practice for the valuation of insurance contract liabilities establish limits on the
investment return assumptions for publicly traded common stocks and other non-fixed income assets which are generally based
on historical returns on market indices. The sensitivities shown in the tables above allow for the impact of changes in these limits
following market falls.
The best estimate return assumptions for publicly traded common stocks and other non-fixed income assets are primarily based on
long-term historical averages. The following provides information on the expected impacts of a 1% increase or 1% decrease in the
best estimate assumptions:
Change in best estimate return assumptions
Increase (decrease) in non-participating insurance contract liabilities
Increase (decrease) in net earnings
$
$
(676)
525
$
$
806
(620)
$
$
(715)
567
$
$
829
(649)
2022
2021
1% increase
1% decrease
1% increase
1% decrease
The Company sponsors a number of deferred compensation arrangements for employees where payments to participants are
deferred and linked to the performance of the common shares of Lifeco. The Company hedges its exposure to the equity risk
associated with its PSU Plan through the use of total return swaps.
The earnings sensitivities illustrated in this section represent impacts under the Company’s accounting policies as at December 31,
2022, including accounting for insurance contracts under IFRS 4 and financial instruments under IAS 39. These sensitivities may
change on transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9.
148 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(d) Enforceable Master Netting Arrangements or Similar Agreements
The Company enters into International Swaps and Derivative Association’s (ISDA’s) master agreements for transacting over-the-counter
derivatives. The Company receives and pledges collateral according to the related ISDA’s Credit Support Annexes. The ISDA’s master
agreements do not meet the criteria for offsetting on the Consolidated Balance Sheets because they create a right of set-off that is
enforceable only in the event of default, insolvency, or bankruptcy.
For exchange-traded derivatives subject to derivative clearing agreements with the exchanges and clearinghouses, there is no provision
for set-off at default. Initial margin is excluded from the table within this disclosure as it would become part of a pooled settlement process.
The table sets out the potential effect on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets on financial instruments that have been shown in a
gross position where right of set-off exists under certain circumstances that do not qualify for netting on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Financial instruments – assets
Derivative financial instruments
Total financial instruments – assets
Financial instruments – liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Total financial instruments – liabilities
Financial instruments – assets
Derivative financial instruments
Total financial instruments – assets
Financial instruments – liabilities
Derivative financial instruments
Total financial instruments – liabilities
2022
Related amounts not set-off
in the Balance Sheet
Offsetting
counterparty
position 1
Financial
collateral
received/
pledged 2
Net
exposure
$
$
$
$
(856)
(856)
(856)
(856)
$
$
$
$
(1,274)
(1,274)
(513)
(513)
2021
Related amounts not set-off
in the Balance Sheet
Offsetting
counterparty
position 1
Financial
collateral
received/
pledged 2
$
$
$
$
(527)
(527)
(527)
(527)
$
$
$
$
(293)
(293)
(279)
(279)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
184
184
270
270
Net
exposure
147
147
224
224
Gross amount
of financial
instruments
presented in
the Balance
Sheet
$
$
$
$
2,314
2,314
1,639
1,639
Gross amount
of financial
instruments
presented in
the Balance
Sheet
$
$
$
$
967
967
1,030
1,030
1
Includes counterparty amounts recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets where the Company has a potential offsetting position (as described above) but does not meet the criteria
for offsetting on the balance sheet, excluding collateral.
2 Financial collateral presented above excludes overcollateralization and, for exchange-traded derivatives, initial margin. At December 31, 2022, total financial collateral, including initial
margin and overcollateralization, received on derivative assets was $1,348 ($318 at December 31, 2021), and pledged on derivative liabilities was $754 ($480 at December 31, 2021).
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
149
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
9. Fair Value Measurement
The Company’s assets and liabilities recorded at fair value have been categorized based upon the following fair value hierarchy:
Level 1: Fair value measurements utilize observable, quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the
Company has the ability to access. Assets and liabilities utilizing Level 1 inputs include actively exchange-traded equity securities, exchange-
traded futures, and mutual and segregated funds which have available prices in an active market with no redemption restrictions.
Level 2: Fair value measurements utilize inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either
directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices
that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. The fair
values for some Level 2 securities were obtained from a pricing service. The pricing service inputs include, but are not limited to, benchmark
yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, offers and reference data. Level 2 assets
and liabilities include those priced using a matrix which is based on credit quality and average life, government and agency securities, restricted
stock, some private bonds and investment funds, most investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds, most asset-backed securities, most
over-the-counter derivatives, and mortgage loans. Investment contracts that are measured at fair value through profit or loss are mostly included
in the Level 2 category.
Level 3: Fair value measurements utilize one or more significant inputs that are not based on observable market inputs and include situations
where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The values of the majority of Level 3 securities were obtained from single broker
quotes, internal pricing models, or external appraisers. Assets and liabilities utilizing Level 3 inputs generally include certain bonds, certain
asset-backed securities, some private equities, investments in mutual and segregated funds where there are redemption restrictions, certain
over-the-counter derivatives, investment properties and equity release mortgages.
The following presents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by hierarchy level:
Assets measured at fair value
Cash and cash equivalents
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Stocks
Total financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Available-for-sale financial assets
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Stocks
Total available-for-sale financial assets
Investment properties
Funds held by ceding insurers
Derivatives 1
Reinsurance assets
Other assets:
Trading account assets
Other 2
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
2022
$
7,290
$
–
$
–
$
7,290
–
–
10,532
10,532
–
–
–
–
–
222
13
–
309
11
113,651
–
76
113,727
11,864
–
10
11,874
–
11,629
2,301
73
1,723
180
126
3,125
2,697
5,948
–
240
196
436
8,344
–
–
–
940
–
113,777
3,125
13,305
130,207
11,864
240
206
12,310
8,344
11,851
2,314
73
2,972
191
Total assets measured at fair value
$
18,377
$ 141,507
$
15,668
$ 175,552
Liabilities measured at fair value
Derivatives 3
Investment contract liabilities
Other liabilities
Total liabilities measured at fair value
1 Excludes collateral received from counterparties of $1,348.
2
Includes collateral received under securities lending arrangements.
3 Excludes collateral pledged to counterparties of $532.
$
$
–
–
11
11
$
$
1,639
13,810
180
$
15,629
$
–
–
–
–
$
1,639
13,810
191
$
15,640
There were no transfers of the Company’s assets and liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 in the year.
150 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Assets measured at fair value
Cash and cash equivalents
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Stocks
Total financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Available-for-sale financial assets
Bonds
Stocks
Total available-for-sale financial assets
Investment properties
Funds held by ceding insurers
Derivatives 1
Reinsurance assets
Other assets:
Trading account assets
Other 2
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
2021
$
6,075
$
–
$
–
$
6,075
–
–
11,577
11,577
–
4
4
–
336
1
–
307
76
103,713
–
12
103,725
12,123
1
12,124
–
14,663
966
106
833
93
100
2,609
1,680
4,389
–
204
204
7,763
–
–
–
531
–
103,813
2,609
13,269
119,691
12,123
209
12,332
7,763
14,999
967
106
1,671
169
Total assets measured at fair value
$
18,376
$ 132,510
$
12,887
$ 163,773
Liabilities measured at fair value
Derivatives 3
Investment contract liabilities
Other liabilities
Total liabilities measured at fair value
1 Excludes collateral received from counterparties of $317.
2
Includes collateral received under securities lending arrangements.
3 Excludes collateral pledged to counterparties of $370.
$
$
3
–
76
79
$
$
1,027
12,455
93
$
13,575
$
–
–
–
–
$
1,030
12,455
169
$
13,654
There were no transfers of the Company’s assets and liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 in the year.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
151
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
9. Fair Value Measurement (cont’d)
The following presents additional information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis which the Company
classifies as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:
Balance, beginning of year
Total gains (losses)
Included in net earnings
Included in other comprehensive income 1
Purchases
Issues
Sales
Settlements
Other
Transfers into Level 3 2
Transfers out of Level 3 2
Balance, end of year
2022
Fair value
through
profit
or loss
mortgage
loans
Fair value
through
profit or
loss bonds
Fair value
through
profit
or loss
stocks 3
Available-
for-sale
mortgage
loans
Available-
for-sale
stocks
Investment
properties
Trading
account
assets
Total
Level 3
assets
$
100
$ 2,609
$ 1,680
$
–
$
204
$ 7,763
$
531
$ 12,887
(5)
–
51
–
(20)
–
–
–
–
(654)
(70)
–
1,401
–
(161)
–
–
–
209
20
888
–
(100)
–
–
–
–
–
10
–
230
–
–
–
–
–
27
(36)
29
–
(28)
–
–
–
–
(41)
(42)
710
–
(55)
–
9
–
–
(125)
30
710
–
(168)
–
–
12
(50)
(589)
(88)
2,388
1,631
(371)
(161)
9
12
(50)
$
126
$ 3,125
$ 2,697
$
240
$
196
$ 8,344
$
940
$ 15,668
Total gains (losses) for the year included in net
investment income
$
(5) $
(654) $
209
$
–
$
27
$
(41) $
(125) $
(589)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) for the year included
in earnings for assets held at December 31, 2022
$
(5) $
(652) $
209
$
–
$
–
$
(34) $
(126) $
(608)
1 Amount of other comprehensive income for fair value through profit or loss bonds, mortgage loans and investment properties represents the unrealized gains (losses) on foreign exchange.
2 Transfers into Level 3 are due primarily to decreased observability of inputs in valuation methodologies or the placement of redemption restrictions on investments in mutual and segregated funds.
Transfers out of Level 3 are due primarily to increased observability of inputs in valuation methodologies as evidenced by corroboration of market prices with multiple pricing vendors or the lifting
of redemption restrictions on investments in mutual and segregated funds.
3
Includes investments in mutual and segregated funds where there are redemption restrictions. The fair value is based on observable, quoted prices.
152 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Balance, beginning of year
Total gains (losses)
Included in net earnings
Included in other comprehensive income 1,2
Purchases
Issues
Sales
Settlements
Transfers into Level 3 2,3
Transfers out of Level 3 3,5
Balance, end of year
Total gains (losses) for the year included in net investment income
Change in unrealized gains (losses) for the year
included in earnings for assets held at December 31, 2021
2021
Fair value
through
profit or
loss bonds
Fair value
through
profit or loss
mortgage
loans
Fair value
through
profit or
loss stocks 4
Available-
for-sale
stocks
Investment
properties
Trading
account
assets
Total
Level 3
assets
$
73
$ 2,020
$ 1,374
$
16
$ 6,270
$
58
$ 9,811
4
(5)
28
–
–
–
–
–
(121)
(21)
–
896
–
(165)
–
–
164
–
798
–
(199)
–
–
(457)
7
117
31
–
(7)
–
40
–
615
(52)
970
–
(40)
–
–
–
16
–
597
–
(140)
–
–
–
685
39
2,424
896
(386)
(165)
40
(457)
100
$ 2,609
$ 1,680
$
204
$ 7,763
$
531
$ 12,887
4
$
(121) $
164
$
7
$
615
$
16
$
685
4
$
(115) $
161
$
–
$
621
$
16
$
687
$
$
$
1 Amount of other comprehensive income for fair value through profit or loss bonds, mortgage loans and investment properties represents the unrealized gains (losses) on foreign exchange.
2 During 2021, certain stocks previously classified as available-for-sale, at cost were remeasured at a fair value of $147, are now classified as available-for-sale, and have been transferred into Level
3 as reliable measure of fair value was identified during the period. The carrying value of $40 was transferred into Level 3 and the difference between the carrying value and fair value of $107 was
recognized as an unrealized gain on available-for-sale assets with an income tax expense of $15 in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
3 Transfers into Level 3 are due primarily to decreased observability of inputs in valuation methodologies or the placement of redemption restrictions on investments in mutual and segregated funds.
Transfers out of Level 3 are due primarily to increased observability of inputs in valuation methodologies as evidenced by corroboration of market prices with multiple pricing vendors or the lifting
of redemption restrictions on investments in mutual and segregated funds.
4
Includes investments in mutual and segregated funds where there are redemption restrictions. The fair value is based on observable, quoted prices.
5 On January 11, 2021, Canada Life lifted the temporary suspension on contributions to and transfers into its Canadian real estate investment funds, and on April 19, 2021, the temporary suspension on
redemptions and transfers out was fully lifted, as confidence over the valuation of the underlying properties returned as a result of increased market activity. As a result of the lifting of these temporary
suspensions, the Company’s investment in these funds with a fair value of $457 was transferred on April 19, 2021 from Level 3 to Level 1.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
153
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
9. Fair Value Measurement (cont’d)
The following sets out information about significant unobservable inputs used at year-end in measuring assets categorized as Level 3 in the fair
value hierarchy:
Type of
asset
Investment
properties
Mortgage
loans – equity
release
mortgages (fair
value through
profit or loss
and available-
for-sale)
Stocks
Valuation approach
Significant
unobservable
input
Input value
Inter-relationship between key
unobservable inputs and fair value
measurement
Investment property valuations are generally
determined using property valuation models
based on expected capitalization rates and
models that discount expected future net cash
flows. The determination of the fair value of
investment property requires the use of estimates
such as future cash flows (such as future leasing
assumptions, rental rates, capital and operating
expenditures) and discount, reversionary and
overall capitalization rates applicable to the
asset based on current market rates.
for equity
The valuation approach
release
mortgages is to use an internal valuation model
to determine the projected asset cash flows,
including
the stochastically calculated cost
of the no negative equity guarantee for each
individual loan, to aggregate these across all
loans and to discount those cash flows back
to the valuation date. The projection is done
monthly until expected redemption of the loan
either voluntarily or on the death/entering into
long term care of the loanholders.
The determination of the fair value of stocks
requires the use of estimates such as future
cash flows, discount rates, projected earnings
multiples, or recent transactions.
Discount rate
Range of 3.9% – 14.0%
Reversionary rate
Range of 4.0% – 7.5%
Vacancy rate
Weighted average of 2.5%
Discount rate
Range of 4.3% – 6.9%
A decrease in the discount rate would result in an
increase in fair value. An increase in the discount rate
would result in a decrease in fair value.
A decrease in the reversionary rate would result in an
increase in fair value. An increase in the reversionary
rate would result in a decrease in fair value.
A decrease in the expected vacancy rate would
generally result in an increase in fair value. An increase
in the expected vacancy rate would generally result in
a decrease in fair value.
A decrease in the discount rate would result in an
increase in fair value. An increase in the discount rate
would result in a decrease in fair value.
Discount rate
Various
A decrease in the discount rate would result in an
increase in fair value.
An increase in the discount rate would result in a
decrease in fair value.
The following presents the Company’s assets and liabilities disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis by hierarchy level:
Assets disclosed at fair value
Loans and receivables financial assets
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Loans to policyholders
Total loans and receivables financial assets
Available-for-sale financial assets
Stocks 1
Other stocks 2
Funds held by ceding insurers
Total assets disclosed at fair value
Liabilities and equity disclosed at fair value
Debentures and other debt instruments
Limited recourse capital notes
Total liabilities and equity disclosed at fair value
2022
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Other assets/
liabilities not
held at fair
value
Total
$
$
$
$
–
–
–
–
–
347
–
347
877
–
877
$
$
30,379
33,209
8,820
72,408
–
–
–
$
69
–
–
69
–
–
–
$
72,408
$
69
$
–
–
–
–
119
263
129
511
$
30,448
33,209
8,820
72,477
119
610
129
$
73,335
$
8,485
1,125
$
9,610
$
$
–
–
–
$
$
–
–
–
$
9,362
1,125
$
10,487
1 Fair value of certain stocks available for sale cannot be reliably measured, therefore, these investments are recorded at cost.
2 Other stocks include the Company’s investment in IGM.
154 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Assets disclosed at fair value
Loans and receivables financial assets
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Loans to policyholders
Total loans and receivables financial assets
Available-for-sale financial assets
Stocks 1
Other stocks 2
Funds held by ceding insurers
Total assets disclosed at fair value
Liabilities disclosed at fair value
Debentures and other debt instruments
Limited recourse capital notes
Total liabilities disclosed at fair value
2021
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Other assets/
liabilities not
held at fair
value
Total
$
$
$
$
–
–
–
–
–
418
–
418
186
–
186
$
$
26,668
27,049
8,319
62,036
–
–
–
$
49
–
–
49
–
–
–
$
62,036
$
49
$
–
–
–
–
124
215
126
465
$
26,717
27,049
8,319
62,085
124
633
126
$
62,968
$
9,569
1,475
$
11,044
$
$
–
–
–
$
$
–
–
–
$
9,755
1,475
$
11,230
1 Fair value of certain stocks available for sale cannot be reliably measured, therefore, these investments are recorded at cost.
2 Other stocks include the Company’s investment in IGM.
10. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
(a) Goodwill
(i) The carrying value and changes in the carrying value of goodwill are as follows:
Cost
Balance, beginning of year
Business acquisitions and dispositions
Purchase price allocation adjustments
Allocated to intangible assets
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Balance, end of year
Accumulated impairment
Balance, beginning of year
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Balance, end of year
Net carrying amount
2022
2021
$
10,258
1,281
31
(55)
338
$
11,283
46
161
(1,181)
(51)
$
11,853
$
10,258
$
$
$
(1,177)
(72)
(1,249)
10,604
$
$
$
(1,177)
–
(1,177)
9,081
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
155
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
10. Goodwill and Intangible Assets (cont’d)
(ii)
Within each of the three operating segments, goodwill has been assigned to cash generating unit groupings, representing the lowest
level in which goodwill is monitored for internal reporting purposes. Lifeco does not allocate insignificant amounts of goodwill
across multiple cash generating unit groupings. Goodwill is tested for impairment by comparing the carrying value of each cash
generating unit grouping to which goodwill has been assigned to its recoverable amount as follows:
Canada
Group Customer
Individual Customer
Europe
United States
Financial Services
Total
(b) Intangible Assets
2022
2021
$
1,482
2,560
2,355
4,207
$
1,479
2,549
2,379
2,674
$
10,604
$
9,081
Intangible assets of $6,209 ($5,514 as at December 31, 2021) include indefinite life and finite life intangible assets. The carrying value and
changes in the carrying value of these intangible assets are as follows:
(i)
Indefinite life intangible assets:
2022
Brands and
trademarks
Customer
contract related
Shareholders’
portion of
acquired future
participating
account profit
$
$
$
$
$
1,048
31
1,079
(130)
(7)
(137)
942
$
$
$
$
$
2,542
136
2,678
(1,028)
(64)
(1,092)
1,586
$
$
$
$
$
2021
354
–
354
–
–
–
354
Brands and
trademarks
Customer
contract related
Shareholders’
portion of
acquired future
participating
account profit
$
$
$
$
$
1,063
(15)
1,048
(133)
3
(130)
918
$
$
$
$
$
2,542
–
2,542
(1,028)
–
(1,028)
1,514
$
$
$
$
$
354
–
354
–
–
–
354
Total
3,944
167
4,111
(1,158)
(71)
(1,229)
2,882
Total
3,959
(15)
3,944
(1,161)
3
(1,158)
2,786
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Cost
Balance, beginning of year
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Balance, end of year
Accumulated impairment
Balance, beginning of year
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Balance, end of year
Net carrying amount
Cost
Balance, beginning of year
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Balance, end of year
Accumulated impairment
Balance, beginning of year
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Balance, end of year
Net carrying amount
156 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(ii)
Indefinite life intangible assets have been assigned to cash generating unit groupings as follows:
Canada
Group Customer
Individual Customer
Europe
United States
Asset Management
Financial Services
Total
(iii) Finite life intangible assets:
Amortization period range
Amortization method
Cost
Balance, beginning of year
Additions
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Disposals
Balance, end of year
Accumulated amortization and impairment
Balance, beginning of year
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Disposals
Amortization
Balance, end of year
Net carrying amount
2022
2021
$
354
649
218
1,566
95
$
354
649
221
1,473
89
$
2,882
$
2,786
2022
Customer
contract
related
Distribution
channels
Technology/
Software
Total
7 - 30 years
Straight-line
30 years
Straight-line
3 - 10 years
Straight-line
$
$
2,494
522
140
–
$
3,156
$
$
(821)
(32)
–
(160)
$
$
(1,013)
2,143
$
$
$
107
–
(2)
–
105
(66)
2
–
(4)
(68)
37
$
2,488
352
76
(30)
$
5,089
874
214
(30)
$
2,886
$
6,147
$
$
$
(1,474)
(58)
2
(209)
(1,739)
1,147
$
$
$
(2,361)
(88)
2
(373)
(2,820)
3,327
During 2022, the Company recognized an impairment of $25 on software assets in the United Kingdom which is presented within
operating and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
157
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
10. Goodwill and Intangible Assets (cont’d)
Amortization period range
Amortization method
Cost
Balance, beginning of year
Additions
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Disposals
Balance, end of year
Accumulated amortization and impairment
Balance, beginning of year
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Disposals
Amortization
Balance, end of year
Net carrying amount
2021
Customer
contract
related
Distribution
channels
Technology/
Software
Total
7 - 30 years
Straight-line
30 years
Straight-line
3 - 10 years
Straight-line
$
$
1,248
1,261
(15)
–
$
2,494
$
$
$
$
(688)
4
–
(137)
(821)
1,673
$
$
$
111
–
(4)
–
107
(65)
3
–
(4)
(66)
41
$
2,185
340
(21)
(16)
$
3,544
1,601
(40)
(16)
$
2,488
$
5,089
$
$
$
(1,304)
11
14
(195)
(1,474)
1,014
$
$
$
(2,057)
18
14
(336)
(2,361)
2,728
The weighted average remaining amortization period of the customer contract related and distribution channels are 15 and 11 years
respectively (15 and 12 years respectively at December 31, 2021).
(c) Recoverable Amount
For the purposes of annual impairment testing, the Company allocates intangible assets to cash generating units and goodwill to cash
generating unit groupings. Any potential impairment of indefinite life intangible assets is identified by comparing the recoverable amount
of a cash generating unit to its carrying value. Any potential impairment of goodwill is identified by comparing the recoverable amount of
a cash generating unit grouping to its carrying value.
Fair value is initially assessed with reference to valuation multiples of comparable publicly-traded financial institutions and precedent
business acquisition transactions. The calculations utilize earnings and cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by
management. These valuation multiples may include price-to-earnings or price-to-book measures for life insurers and asset managers.
This assessment may give regard to a variety of relevant considerations, including expected growth, risk and capital market conditions,
among other factors. The valuation multiples used in assessing fair value represent Level 2 inputs.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company conducted its annual impairment testing of intangible assets and goodwill based on September
30, 2022 asset balances. It was determined that the recoverable amounts of cash generating units for intangible assets and cash generating
unit groupings for goodwill were in excess of their carrying values and there was no evidence of impairment.
Any reasonable changes in assumptions and estimates used in determining recoverable amounts of cash generating units or cash
generating unit groupings is unlikely to cause carrying values to exceed recoverable amounts.
158 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
11. Owner Occupied Properties and Fixed Assets
The carrying value of owner occupied properties and the changes in the carrying value of owner occupied properties are as follows:
Carrying value, beginning of year
Less: accumulated depreciation/impairments
Net carrying value, beginning of year
Additions
Disposals
Impairments
Depreciation
Foreign exchange
Net carrying value, end of year
2022
2021
$
$
882
(146)
736
14
–
(18)
(19)
11
724
$
$
871
(130)
741
21
(1)
–
(16)
(9)
736
The net carrying value of fixed assets is $399 at December 31, 2022 ($422 at December 31, 2021).
The following provides details of the net carrying value of owner occupied properties and fixed assets by operating segment:
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total
2022
2021
$
$
601
334
187
1
652
317
188
1
$
1,123
$
1,158
There are no restrictions on the title of the owner occupied properties and fixed assets, nor are they pledged as security for debt.
12. Other Assets
Deferred acquisition costs
Right-of-use assets
Trading account assets 1
Finance leases receivable
Defined benefit pension plan assets (note 23)
Prepaid expenses
Miscellaneous other assets
Total
2022
2021
$
663
371
2,972
536
463
134
1,659
$
615
389
1,671
433
363
123
928
$
6,798
$
4,522
1
Includes bonds of $2,647 and stocks of $325 at December 31, 2022 (bonds of $1,322 and stocks of $349 at December 31, 2021).
Total other assets of $4,799 ($2,752 at December 31, 2021) are expected to be realized within 12 months from the reporting date. This amount
excludes deferred acquisition costs, the changes in which are noted below.
Deferred acquisition costs
Balance, beginning of year
Additions
Amortization
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Disposals
Balance, end of year
2022
2021
$
$
615
121
(58)
8
(23)
663
$
$
618
113
(55)
(34)
(27)
615
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
159
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
12. Other Assets (cont’d)
Right-of-use assets
Cost, beginning of year
Additions
Modifications
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Cost, end of year
Accumulated depreciation, beginning of year
Depreciation
Modifications
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Accumulated depreciation, end of year
Carrying amount, end of year
Cost, beginning of year
Additions
Modifications
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Cost, end of year
Accumulated depreciation, beginning of year
Depreciation
Modifications
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Accumulated depreciation, end of year
Carrying amount, end of year
Finance leases receivable
2022
Property
Equipment
Total
578
40
(8)
16
626
(194)
(66)
6
(5)
(259)
367
$
$
$
$
$
12
2
(1)
–
13
(7)
(3)
1
–
(9)
4
$
$
$
$
$
590
42
(9)
16
639
(201)
(69)
7
(5)
(268)
371
2021
Property
Equipment
Total
568
21
(10)
(1)
578
(134)
(66)
7
(1)
(194)
384
$
$
$
$
$
8
5
(1)
–
12
(5)
(2)
–
–
(7)
5
$
$
$
$
$
576
26
(11)
(1)
590
(139)
(68)
7
(1)
(201)
389
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
The Company has a finance lease on one property in Canada which has been leased for a 25-year term. The Company has nine finance leases on
properties in Europe. These properties have been leased for terms ranging between 27 and 40 years.
The terms to maturity of the lease payments receivable are as follows:
One year or less
Over one year to two years
Over two years to three years
Over three years to four years
Over four years to five years
Over five years
Total undiscounted lease payments
Less: unearned finance lease income
Total finance leases receivable
Finance income on the net investment in the leases
160 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
2022
2021
$
$
$
34
36
37
37
37
879
1,060
524
536
28
$
$
$
30
31
32
33
33
717
876
443
433
27
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
13. Insurance and Investment Contract Liabilities
(a) Insurance and investment contract liabilities
Insurance contract liabilities
Investment contract liabilities
Total
Insurance contract liabilities
Investment contract liabilities
Total
Gross
liability
$ 233,888
13,810
2022
Reinsurance
assets
$
24,945
73
Net
$ 208,943
13,737
$ 247,698
$
25,018
$ 222,680
Gross
liability
2021
Reinsurance
assets
Net
$ 208,378
12,455
$
21,032
106
$ 187,346
12,349
$ 220,833
$
21,138
$ 199,695
(b) Composition of insurance and investment contract liabilities and related supporting assets
(i)
The composition of insurance and investment contract liabilities is as follows:
Participating
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Non-Participating
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total
Participating
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Non-Participating
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total
Gross
liability
2022
Reinsurance
assets
$
$
49,871
10,649
128
761
32,056
105,000
37,415
11,818
(226)
4,003
–
–
274
16,193
4,688
86
$
Net
50,097
6,646
128
761
31,782
88,807
32,727
11,732
$ 247,698
$
25,018
$ 222,680
Gross
liability
2021
Reinsurance
assets
$
50,049
10,694
141
886
34,780
63,938
47,215
13,130
$
$
(115)
13
–
–
207
14,708
6,197
128
Net
50,164
10,681
141
886
34,573
49,230
41,018
13,002
$ 220,833
$
21,138
$ 199,695
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
161
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
13. Insurance and Investment Contract Liabilities (cont’d)
(ii) The composition of the assets supporting liabilities and equity is as follows:
Carrying value
Participating liabilities
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Non-participating liabilities
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Other
Total equity
Total carrying value
Fair value
Carrying value
Participating liabilities
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Non-participating liabilities
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Other
Total equity
Total carrying value
Fair value
Bonds
Mortgage
loans
Stocks
Investment
properties
Other
Total
2022
$
$
20,382
4,472
54
554
21,731
58,238
24,270
5,374
13,653
10,859
$ 159,587
$ 156,089
$
$
11,710
597
–
6
4,287
12,616
6,105
224
3,076
908
39,529
36,574
$
$
8,043
137
46
–
2,764
817
388
–
1,229
844
$
$
14,268
14,240
$
$
2021
4,519
–
8
–
715
–
2,345
–
327
430
8,344
8,344
$
5,217
5,443
20
201
$
49,871
10,649
128
761
2,559
33,329
4,307
6,220
403,154
19,277
32,056
105,000
37,415
11,818
421,439
32,318
$ 479,727
$ 701,455
$ 479,727
$ 694,974
Bonds
Mortgage
loans
Stocks
Investment
properties
Other
Total
$
21,370
4,876
66
666
23,620
32,302
33,208
6,394
7,257
10,853
$
$
11,166
607
–
8
4,661
4,641
5,891
80
1,202
596
$
8,522
76
67
–
3,116
211
391
–
873
927
$ 140,612
$ 142,653
$
$
28,852
29,658
$
$
14,183
14,235
$
$
4,013
–
8
–
579
–
2,743
–
157
263
7,763
7,763
$
$
4,978
5,135
–
212
2,804
26,784
4,982
6,656
369,683
17,844
50,049
10,694
141
886
34,780
63,938
47,215
13,130
379,172
30,483
$ 439,078
$ 630,488
$ 439,078
$ 633,387
Cash flows of assets supporting insurance and investment contract liabilities are matched within reasonable limits. Changes in the
fair values of these assets are largely offset by changes in the fair value of insurance and investment contract liabilities.
Changes in the fair values of assets backing capital and surplus, less related income taxes, would result in a corresponding change
in surplus over time in accordance with investment accounting policies.
162 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(c) Change in insurance contract liabilities
The change in insurance contract liabilities during the year was the result of the following business activities and changes in actuarial
estimates:
Balance, beginning of year
Impact of new business
Normal change in force
Management action and changes in assumptions
Business movement from/to external parties
Impact of foreign exchange rate changes
Balance, end of year
Balance, beginning of year
Impact of new business
Normal change in force
Management action and changes in assumptions
Business movement from/to external parties
Prudential acquisition (note 3)
Impact of foreign exchange rate changes
Balance, end of year
Balance, beginning of year
Impact of new business
Normal change in force
Management action and changes in assumptions
Impact of foreign exchange rate changes
Balance, end of year
Balance, beginning of year
Impact of new business
Normal change in force
Management action and changes in assumptions
Business movement from/to external parties
Ark Life acquisition (note 3)
Impact of foreign exchange rate changes
Balance, end of year
2022
Participating
Reinsurance
assets
$
(102)
(4)
11
(138)
4,038
(28)
$
Gross
liability
61,770
(60)
(571)
(415)
–
685
$
Net
61,872
(56)
(582)
(277)
(4,038)
713
$
61,409
$
3,777
$
57,632
Non-participating
Gross
liability
Reinsurance
assets
$ 146,608
5,881
(28,141)
264
(29)
43,550
4,346
$
21,134
(374)
(5,733)
433
5,084
–
624
Net
Total Net
$ 125,474
6,255
(22,408)
(169)
(5,113)
43,550
3,722
$ 187,346
6,199
(22,990)
(446)
(9,151)
43,550
4,435
$ 172,479
$
21,168
$ 151,311
$ 208,943
2021
Participating
Reinsurance
assets
$
$
Gross
liability
58,264
(78)
3,819
(223)
(12)
$
61,770
$
$
Net
58,450
(78)
3,792
(280)
(12)
$
61,872
(186)
–
27
57
–
(102)
Gross
liability
$ 150,638
10,559
(12,920)
(673)
(613)
1,257
(1,640)
Non-participating
Reinsurance
assets
$
22,177
84
(1,472)
(540)
(37)
1,238
(316)
Net
Total Net
$ 128,461
10,475
(11,448)
(133)
(576)
19
(1,324)
$ 186,911
10,397
(7,656)
(413)
(576)
19
(1,336)
$ 146,608
$
21,134
$ 125,474
$ 187,346
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
163
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
13. Insurance and Investment Contract Liabilities (cont’d)
Under IFRS 4, movement in the fair value of the supporting assets is a major factor in the movement of insurance contract liabilities. Changes
in the fair value of assets are largely offset by corresponding changes in the fair value of liabilities. The change in the value of the insurance
contract liabilities associated with the change in the value of the supporting assets is included in the normal change in force above.
In 2022, the major contributor to the increase in net insurance contract liabilities was the Prudential acquisition of $43,550. This was
partially offset by decreases due to normal change in the in force business of $22,990, primarily due to fair value adjustments due to
increased interest rates. Business movement from/to external parties includes a new reinsurance arrangement (note 3).
Net non-participating insurance contract liabilities decreased by $169 in 2022 due to management actions and changes in assumptions
including a $127 decrease in Capital & Risk Solutions and $147 decrease in Europe, partially offset by an increase of $105 in Canada.
The decrease in Capital & Risk Solutions was primarily due to updated longevity assumptions of $194, partially offset by increases due to
updated mortality assumptions of $55 and updated expense and tax assumptions of $24.
The decrease in Europe was primarily due to updated longevity assumptions of $128.
The increase in Canada was primarily due to updated policyholder behaviour assumptions of $311. This was partially offset by decreases
due to updated mortality assumptions of $76, modeling refinements of $58, and a decrease of $55 due to a change in the corporate tax rate.
There was no change in the U.S. due to management actions or changes in assumptions.
Net participating insurance contract liabilities decreased by $277 in 2022 due to management actions and changes in assumptions.
Effective October 15, 2021, the Canadian Actuarial Standards Board published revised standards for the valuation of insurance contract
liabilities. The revised standards include decreases to ultimate reinvestment rates, revised calibration criteria for stochastic risk-free
interest rates and an increase to the maximum net credit spread on reinvestment over the long term.
In 2021, the major contributor to the increase in net insurance contract liabilities was the impact of new business of $10,397. This was
partially offset by decreases due to normal change in the in force business of $7,656 and foreign exchange rate changes of $1,336.
Net non-participating insurance contract liabilities decreased by $133 due to management actions and changes in assumptions including
a $219 decrease in Europe and $7 decrease in the U.S., partially offset by increases of $75 in Canada and $18 in Capital and Risk Solutions.
The decrease in Europe was primarily due to updated economic and asset related assumptions of $165, updated longevity assumptions of
$29, and updated policyholder behaviour assumptions of $22.
The decrease in the U.S. was primarily due to updated economic assumptions, which includes the net impact of the new standards, of $5.
The increase in Canada was primarily due to updated policyholder behaviour assumptions of $172, mortality updates of $44, and updated
morbidity assumptions of $37. This was partially offset by decreases due to updated economic and asset related assumptions, which
includes the net impact of the new standards, of $146, and modeling refinements of $29.
The increase in Capital and Risk Solutions was primarily due to updated expense assumptions of $11, and updated life mortality and
longevity assumptions of $6.
Net participating insurance contract liabilities decreased by $280 in 2021 due to management actions and changes in assumptions.
164 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (d) Change in investment contract liabilities measured at fair value
Balance, beginning of year
Normal change in force business
Investment experience
Management action and changes in assumptions
Prudential acquisition (note 3)
Ark Life acquisition (note 3)
Impact of foreign exchange rate changes
2022
Gross
liability
Reinsurance
assets
$
$
12,455
2,433
(2,523)
1
690
–
754
106
38
(76)
–
–
–
5
$
Net
12,349
2,395
(2,447)
1
690
–
749
$
Gross
liability
9,145
3,497
(242)
–
–
43
12
Balance, end of year
$
13,810
$
73
$
13,737
$
12,455
$
2021
Reinsurance
assets
$
$
Net
9,015
3,459
(180)
–
–
43
12
$
12,349
130
38
(62)
–
–
–
–
106
The carrying value of investment contract liabilities approximates their fair value. The impact to investment experience in 2022 was due to
fair value adjustments related to increased interest rates.
(e) Gross premiums written and gross policyholder benefits
(i)
Premium Income
Direct premiums
Assumed reinsurance premiums
Total
(ii)
Policyholder Benefits
Direct
Assumed reinsurance
Total
(f) Actuarial Assumptions
2022
2021
$
30,016
34,702
$
26,219
31,178
$
64,718
$
57,397
2022
2021
$
24,628
34,208
$
20,903
28,452
$
58,836
$
49,355
In the computation of insurance contract liabilities, valuation assumptions have been made regarding rates of mortality/morbidity,
investment returns, levels of operating expenses, rates of policy termination and rates of utilization of elective policy options or
provisions. The valuation assumptions use best estimates of future experience together with a margin for adverse deviation. These
margins are necessary to provide for possibilities of misestimation and/or future deterioration in the best estimate assumptions and
provide reasonable assurance that insurance contract liabilities cover a range of possible outcomes. Margins are reviewed periodically for
continued appropriateness.
The methods for arriving at these valuation assumptions are outlined below:
Mortality
A life insurance mortality study is carried out annually for each major block of insurance business. The results of each study are used to
update the Company’s experience valuation mortality tables for that business. When there is insufficient data, use is made of the latest
industry experience to derive an appropriate valuation mortality assumption. Improvement scales for life insurance and annuitant
mortality are updated periodically based on population and industry studies, product specific considerations, as well as professional
guidance. In addition, appropriate provisions have been made for future mortality deterioration on term insurance.
Annuitant mortality is also studied regularly and the results are used to modify established annuitant mortality tables.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
165
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
13. Insurance and Investment Contract Liabilities (cont’d)
Morbidity
The Company uses industry developed experience tables modified to reflect emerging Company experience. Both claim incidence and
termination are monitored regularly and emerging experience is factored into the current valuation.
Property and casualty reinsurance
Insurance contract liabilities for property and casualty reinsurance written by entities within the Capital and Risk Solutions operating
segment are determined using accepted actuarial practices for property and casualty insurers in Canada. The insurance contract liabilities
are based on cession statements provided by ceding companies. In addition, insurance contract liabilities also include an amount
for incurred but not reported losses which may differ significantly from the ultimate loss development. The estimates and underlying
methodology are continually reviewed and updated, and adjustments to estimates are reflected in earnings. Capital and Risk Solutions
analyzes the emergence of claims experience against expected assumptions for each reinsurance contract separately and at the portfolio
level. If necessary, a more in-depth analysis is undertaken of the cedant experience.
Investment returns
The assets which correspond to the different liability categories are segmented. For each segment, projected cash flows from the current
assets and liabilities are used in the Canadian Asset Liability Method to determine insurance contract liabilities. Cash flows from assets are
reduced to provide for asset default losses. Testing under several interest rate and equity scenarios (including increasing and decreasing
rates) is done to provide for reinvestment risk (note 8(c)).
Expenses
Contractual policy expenses (e.g. sales commissions) and tax expenses are reflected on a best estimate basis. Expense studies for indirect
operating expenses are updated regularly to determine an appropriate estimate of future operating expenses for the liability type being
valued. An inflation assumption is incorporated in the estimate of future operating expenses consistent with the interest rate scenarios
projected under the Canadian Asset Liability Method as inflation is assumed to be correlated with new money interest rates.
Policy termination
Studies to determine rates of policy termination are updated regularly to form the basis of this estimate. Industry data is also available and
is useful where the Company has no experience with specific types of policies or its exposure is limited. The Company’s most significant
exposures are in respect of the T-100 and Level Cost of Insurance Universal Life products in Canada and policy renewal rates at the end of
term for renewable term policies in Canada and Capital and Risk Solutions. Industry experience has guided the Company’s assumptions
for these products as the Company’s own experience is very limited.
Utilization of elective policy options
There are a wide range of elective options embedded in the policies issued by the Company. Examples include term renewals, conversion
to whole life insurance (term insurance), settlement annuity purchase at guaranteed rates (deposit annuities) and guarantee re-sets
(segregated fund maturity guarantees). The assumed rates of utilization are based on Company or industry experience when it exists and
when not on judgment considering incentives to utilize the option. Generally, whenever it is clearly in the best interests of an informed
policyholder to utilize an option, then it is assumed to be elected.
Policyholder dividends and adjustable policy features
Future policyholder dividends and other adjustable policy features are included in the determination of insurance contract liabilities
with the assumption that policyholder dividends or adjustable benefits will change in the future in response to the relevant experience.
The dividend and policy adjustments are determined consistent with policyholders’ reasonable expectations, such expectations being
influenced by the participating policyholder dividend policies and/or policyholder communications, marketing material and past
practice. It is the Company’s expectation that changes will occur in policyholder dividend scales or adjustable benefits for participating
or adjustable business respectively, corresponding to changes in the best estimate assumptions, resulting in an immaterial net change in
insurance contract liabilities. Where underlying guarantees may limit the ability to pass all of this experience back to the policyholder, the
impact of this non-adjustability on shareholders’ earnings is reflected in the changes in best estimate assumptions above.
166 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (g) Risk Management
(i)
Insurance risk
Insurance risk is the risk that the insured event occurs and that there are large deviations between expected and actual actuarial
assumptions including mortality, persistency, longevity, morbidity, expense variations and investment returns.
The Company is in the business of accepting risk associated with insurance contract liabilities. The objective of the Company is
to mitigate its exposure to risk arising from these contracts through product design, product and geographical diversification, the
implementation of the Company’s underwriting strategy guidelines, and through the use of reinsurance arrangements.
The following provides information about the Company’s insurance contract liabilities sensitivities to management’s best estimate
of the approximate impact as a result of changes in assumptions used to determine the Company’s liability associated with
these contracts.
Mortality – 2% increase
Annuitant mortality – 2% decrease
Morbidity – 5% adverse change
Investment returns
Parallel shift in yield curve
1% increase
1% decrease
Change in interest rates
1% increase
1% decrease
Change in publicly traded common stock values
20% increase
10% increase
10% decrease
20% decrease
Change in other non-fixed income asset values
10% increase
5% increase
5% decrease
10% decrease
Change in best estimate return assumptions for equities
1% increase
1% decrease
Expenses – 5% increase
Policy termination and renewal – 10% adverse change
Increase (decrease)
in net earnings
2022
2021
(247)
(522)
(253)
–
–
79
(290)
37
27
(28)
(146)
52
26
(70)
(236)
525
(620)
(193)
(945)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
(276)
(722)
(262)
–
–
197
(555)
21
13
(19)
(66)
79
39
(30)
(112)
567
(649)
(207)
(1,002)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
The earnings sensitivities illustrated in the table above represent impacts under the Company’s accounting policies as at December
31, 2022, including accounting for insurance contracts under IFRS 4 and financial instruments under IAS 39. These sensitivities may
change on transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9.
Concentration risk may arise from geographic regions, accumulation of risks and market risk. The concentration of insurance risk
before and after reinsurance by geographic region is described below.
Canada
United States
Europe
Capital and Risk Solutions
Total
Gross
liability
$
81,927
115,649
37,543
12,579
2022
Reinsurance
assets
$
48
20,196
4,688
86
$
Net
81,879
95,453
32,855
12,493
Gross
liability
$
84,829
74,632
47,356
14,016
2021
Reinsurance
assets
$
92
14,721
6,197
128
$
Net
84,737
59,911
41,159
13,888
$ 247,698
$
25,018
$ 222,680
$ 220,833
$
21,138
$ 199,695
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
167
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
13. Insurance and Investment Contract Liabilities (cont’d)
(ii)
Reinsurance risk
Maximum limits per insured life benefit amount (which vary by line of business) are established for life and health insurance, and
reinsurance is purchased for amounts in excess of those limits.
Reinsurance costs and recoveries as defined by the reinsurance agreement are reflected in the valuation with these costs and
recoveries being appropriately calibrated to the direct assumptions.
Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honour their
obligations could result in losses to the Company. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers to minimize its
exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies.
Certain of the reinsurance contracts are on a funds withheld basis where the Company retains the assets supporting the reinsured
insurance contract liabilities, thus minimizing the exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvency on those contracts.
14. Segregated Funds and Other Structured Entities
The Company offers segregated fund products in Canada, the U.S. and Europe that are referred to as segregated funds, separate accounts and
unit-linked funds in the respective region. These funds are contracts issued by insurers to segregated fund policyholders where the benefit is
directly linked to the performance of the investments, the risks or rewards of the fair value movements and net investment income is realized by
the segregated fund policyholders. The segregated fund policyholders are required to select the segregated funds that hold a range of underlying
investments. While the Company has legal title to the investments, there is a contractual obligation to pass along the investment results to the
segregated fund policyholder and the Company segregates these investments from those of the Company.
In Canada and the U.S., the segregated fund and separate account assets are legally separated from the general assets of the Company under the
terms of the policyholder agreement and cannot be used to settle obligations of the Company. In Europe, the assets of the funds are functionally
and constructively segregated from those of the Company. As a result of the legal and constructive arrangements of these funds, the assets and
liabilities of these funds are presented as line items within the Consolidated Balance Sheets titled investments on account of segregated fund
policyholders and with an equal liability titled investment and insurance contracts on account of segregated fund policyholders.
In circumstances where the segregated funds are invested in structured entities and are deemed to control the entity, the Company has presented
the non-controlling ownership interest within the segregated funds for the risk of policyholders as equal and offsetting amounts in the assets and
liabilities. The amounts presented within are $6,388 at December 31, 2022 ($3,125 at December 31, 2021).
Within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, all segregated fund policyholders’ income, including fair value changes and net investment
income, is credited to the segregated fund policyholders and reflected in the assets and liabilities on account of segregated fund policyholders
within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As these amounts do not directly impact the revenues and expenses of the Company, these amounts are
not included separately in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Segregated Funds Guarantee Exposure
The Company offers retail segregated fund products, unitized with profits (UWP) products and variable annuity products that provide for certain
guarantees that are tied to the market values of the investment funds. While these products are similar to mutual funds, there is a key difference
from mutual funds as the segregated funds have certain guarantee features that protect the segregated fund policyholder from market declines in
the underlying investments. These guarantees are the Company’s primary exposure on these funds. The Company accounts for these guarantees
within insurance and investment contract liabilities within the consolidated financial statements. In addition to the Company’s exposure on the
guarantees, the fees earned by the Company on these products are impacted by the market value of these funds.
In Canada, the Company offers retail segregated fund products through Canada Life. These products provide guaranteed minimum death
benefits (GMDB) and guaranteed minimum accumulation on maturity benefits.
In the U.S., the Company has a mix of open and closed blocks of group variable annuities with guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits
(GMWB) and a closed block of group standalone GMDB products which mainly provide return of premium on death. A block of GMWB policies
was acquired from Prudential on April 1, 2022.
In Europe, the Company offers UWP products in Germany and unit-linked products with investment guarantees in Ireland. These products are
similar to segregated fund products but include minimum credited interest rates and pooling of policyholders’ funds.
The Company also offers a GMWB product in the U.S., and Germany, and previously offered GMWB product in Canada and Ireland. Certain
GMWB products offered by the Company offer levels of death and maturity guarantees. At December 31, 2022, the amount of GMWB product
in-force in Canada, the U.S., Ireland and Germany was $7,033 ($3,316 at December 31, 2021).
168 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements The following presents further details of the investments, determined in accordance with the relevant statutory reporting requirements of each
region of the Company’s operations, on account of segregated fund policyholders:
(a) Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders
Cash and cash equivalents
Bonds
Mortgage loans
Stocks and units in unit trusts
Mutual funds
Investment properties
Accrued income
Other liabilities
Non-controlling mutual funds interest
Total 1
$
2022
14,562
69,371
2,159
117,878
168,459
13,035
385,464
692
(4,647)
6,388
$
2021
12,500
60,647
2,377
134,568
133,916
12,776
356,784
442
(2,932)
3,125
$ 387,897
$ 357,419
1 At December 31, 2022, $66,283 of investments on account of segregated fund policyholders are reinsured by the Company on a modified coinsurance basis ($83,754 at December 31,
2021). Included in this amount are $157 of cash and cash equivalents, $12,437 of bonds, $15 of stocks and units in unit trusts, $53,778 of mutual funds, $103 of accrued income and
$(207) of other liabilities.
(b) Investment and insurance contracts on account of segregated fund policyholders
Balance, beginning of year
Additions (deductions):
Policyholder deposits
Net investment income
Net realized capital gains on investments
Net unrealized capital gains (losses) on investments
Unrealized gains (losses) due to changes in foreign exchange rates
Policyholder withdrawals
Business acquisitions 1
Change in Segregated Fund investment in General Fund
Change in General Fund investment in Segregated Fund
Net transfer (to) from General Fund
Non-controlling mutual funds interest
Total
Balance, end of year
2022
2021
$ 357,419
$ 334,032
40,618
8,019
1,082
(62,823)
9,487
(46,859)
77,700
64
(14)
(59)
3,263
30,478
29,657
9,442
15,799
11,473
(7,109)
(40,324)
2,844
(30)
(22)
22
1,635
23,387
$ 387,897
$ 357,419
1
Investment and insurance contracts on account of segregated fund policyholders acquired through the Prudential acquisition in 2022 and the acquisition of Ark Life in 2021 (note 3).
(c)
Investment income on account of segregated fund policyholders
Net investment income
Net realized capital gains on investments
Net unrealized capital gains (losses) on investments
Unrealized gains (losses) due to changes in foreign exchange rates
Total
Change in investment and insurance contracts liability on account of segregated fund policyholders
Net
2022
2021
$
8,019
1,082
(62,823)
9,487
(44,235)
(44,235)
$
9,442
15,799
11,473
(7,109)
29,605
29,605
$
–
$
–
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
169
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
14. Segregated Funds and Other Structured Entities (cont’d)
(d) Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders by fair value hierarchy level (note 9)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
2022
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders 1
$ 270,907
$ 106,720
$
14,455
$ 392,082
1 Excludes other liabilities, net of other assets, of $4,185.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
2021
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders 1
$ 249,543
$
96,575
$
13,822
$ 359,940
1 Excludes other liabilities, net of other assets, of $2,521.
During 2022, certain foreign stock holdings valued at $2,301 have been transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 ($2,137 were transferred from
Level 2 to Level 1 at December 31, 2021) primarily based on the Company’s change in use of inputs in addition to quoted prices in active
markets for certain foreign stock holdings at year end. Level 2 assets include those assets where fair value is not available from normal
market pricing sources, where inputs are utilized in addition to quoted prices in active markets and where the Company does not have
access to the underlying asset details within an investment fund.
As at December 31, 2022, $3,928 ($5,394 at December 31, 2021) of the segregated funds were invested in funds managed by related parties
IG Wealth Management and Mackenzie Investments, members of the Power Corporation group of companies (note 25).
The following presents additional information about the Company’s investments on account of segregated fund policyholders for which
the Company has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value:
Balance, beginning of year
Total gains (losses) included in segregated fund investment income
Purchases 1
Sales
Transfers into Level 3
Transfers out of Level 3
Balance, end of year
1
Includes $236 of Level 3 assets acquired through the Prudential acquisition (note 3).
2022
2021
$
13,822
(310)
1,011
(366)
343
(45)
$
13,556
415
333
(482)
5
(5)
$
14,455
$
13,822
Transfers into Level 3 are due primarily to decreased observability of inputs in valuation methodologies. Transfers out of Level 3 are due
primarily to increased observability of inputs in valuation methodologies as evidenced by corroboration of market prices with multiple
pricing vendors.
In addition to the segregated funds, the Company has interests in a number of structured unconsolidated entities including mutual funds, open-
ended investment companies, and unit trusts. These entities are created as investment strategies for its unit-holders based on the directive of
each individual fund.
Some of these funds are sub-advised by related parties of the Company, who are paid sub-advisory fees at normal market rates for their services.
The Company earns management fees related to managing the segregated fund products. Management fees can be variable due to performance
of factors – such as markets or industries – in which the fund invests. Fee income derived in connection with the management of investment
funds generally increases or decreases in direct relationship with changes of assets under management which is affected by prevailing market
conditions, and the inflow and outflow of client assets.
Factors that could cause assets under management and fees to decrease include declines in equity markets, changes in fixed income markets,
changes in interest rates and defaults, redemptions and other withdrawals, political and other economic risks, changing investment trends and
relative investment performance. The risk is that fees may vary but expenses and recovery of initial expenses are relatively fixed, and market
conditions may cause a shift in asset mix potentially resulting in a change in revenue.
During 2022, fee and other income earned by the Company resulting from the Company’s interests in segregated funds and other structured
entities was $6,332 ($6,194 during 2021).
Included within other assets (note 12) at December 31, 2022 is $2,777 ($1,525 at December 31, 2021) of investments by the Company in bonds
and stocks of Putnam and Empower sponsored funds and $195 ($146 at December 31, 2021) of investments in stocks of sponsored unit trusts
in Europe.
170 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
15. Debentures and Other Debt Instruments
Short-term
Commercial paper and other short-term debt instruments with interest rates
4.628% (0.172% to 0.203% at December 31, 2021), unsecured
Revolving credit facility with interest equal to LIBOR plus 0.70%
(U.S. $50; U.S. $50 at December 31, 2021), unsecured
Non-revolving credit facility with interest based on Adjusted Term SOFR
(U.S. $500; U.S. $0 at December 31, 2021), unsecured
Total short-term
Capital:
Long-term
Lifeco
6.74% Debentures due November 24, 2031, unsecured
6.67% Debentures due March 21, 2033, unsecured
5.998% Debentures due November 16, 2039, unsecured
4.70% Senior bonds due November 16, 2029, unsecured, (€500)
3.337% Debentures due February 28, 2028, unsecured
2.981% Debentures due July 8, 2050, unsecured
2.50% Senior bonds due April 18, 2023, unsecured, (€500) 1
2.379% Debentures due May 14, 2030, unsecured
1.75% Senior bonds due December 7, 2026, unsecured, (€500) 1
Canada Life
6.40% Subordinated debentures due December 11, 2028, unsecured
Canada Life Capital Trust (CLCT)
7.529% due June 30, 2052, unsecured, face value $150
Great-West Lifeco Finance 2018, LP
4.581% Senior notes due May 17, 2048, unsecured, (U.S. $500)
4.047% Senior notes due May 17, 2028, unsecured, (U.S. $300)
Great-West Lifeco Finance (Delaware) LP
4.15% Senior notes due June 3, 2047, unsecured, (U.S. $700)
Great-West Lifeco U.S. Finance 2020, LP
0.904% Senior notes due August 12, 2025, unsecured, (U.S. $500)
Empower Finance 2020, LP
3.075% Senior notes due September 17, 2051, unsecured, (U.S. $700)
1.776% Senior notes due March 17, 2031, unsecured, (U.S. $400)
1.357% Senior notes due September 17, 2027, unsecured, (U.S. $400)
Total long-term
Total
1 Designated as hedges of the net investment in foreign operations.
2022
2021
Carrying value
Fair value
Carrying value
Fair value
$
135
$
135
$
122
$
122
67
675
877
196
395
343
721
498
494
725
597
722
67
675
877
223
447
372
744
467
342
724
507
665
64
–
186
195
394
342
–
498
493
720
597
717
64
–
186
270
549
478
–
533
479
743
602
768
4,691
4,491
3,956
4,422
100
157
669
403
1,072
930
672
935
537
538
2,010
9,632
108
177
555
380
935
729
600
588
406
451
1,445
8,485
100
157
629
379
1,008
874
632
879
506
506
1,891
8,618
125
215
820
431
1,251
1,057
617
899
490
493
1,882
9,569
$
10,509
$
9,362
$
8,804
$
9,755
On March 30, 2022, Great-West Lifeco U.S. LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, established a 2-year U.S. $500 non-revolving credit facility with
interest on the drawn balance equal to a floating rate based on Adjusted Term SOFR. The facility is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by
the Company. On April 1, 2022, the U.S. $500 facility was fully drawn, along with U.S. $323 from an existing revolving credit facility, to finance a
portion of the Prudential acquisition (note 3). The existing revolving credit facility incurs interest on the drawn balance equal to a floating rate
based on Adjusted Term SOFR. On July 1, 2022, Great-West Lifeco U.S. LLC made a payment of U.S. $150 on its existing revolving credit facility,
followed by a final payment of U.S. $173 on December 30, 2022. As at December 31, 2022, the $675 (U.S. $500) facility was fully drawn, along with
nil from the existing revolving credit facility.
On November 16, 2022, the Company issued €500 aggregate principal amount 4.70% senior bonds at par, maturing on November 16, 2029, which
had a carrying value of $721 at December 31, 2022. The bonds are admitted to the Official List of Euronext Dublin and are listed for trading on the
Global Exchange Market of Euronext Dublin.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
171
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
15. Debentures and Other Debt Instruments (cont’d)
Capital Trust Securities
CLCT, a trust established by Canada Life, had issued $150 of Canada Life Capital Securities - Series B (CLiCS - Series B), the proceeds of which
were used by CLCT to purchase Canada Life senior debentures in the amount of $150.
Distributions and interest on the capital trust securities are classified as financing charges in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings (note 16).
The fair value for capital trust securities is determined by the bid-ask price. Refer to note 8 for financial instrument risk management disclosures.
Subject to regulatory approval, CLCT may redeem the CLiCS - Series B, in whole or in part, at any time.
16. Financing Charges
Financing charges consist of the following:
Operating charges:
Interest on operating lines and short-term debt instruments
Financial charges:
Interest on long-term debentures and other debt instruments
Interest on limited recourse capital notes
Interest on capital trust securities
Other
Total
17. Other Liabilities
Pension and other post-employment benefits (note 23)
Lease liabilities
Bank overdraft
Deferred income reserves
Other
Total
2022
2021
$
24
$
7
280
54
11
29
374
398
$
275
20
11
15
321
328
2022
2021
563
507
274
293
7,157
$
989
522
407
314
3,831
$
$
$
8,794
$
6,063
172 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Total other liabilities of $6,636 ($4,238 at December 31, 2021) are expected to be realized within 12 months from the reporting date. This amount
excludes deferred income reserves, the changes in which are noted below.
Deferred income reserves
Balance, beginning of year
Additions
Amortization
Changes in foreign exchange
Disposals
Balance, end of year
Lease liabilities
Balance, beginning of year
Additions
Modifications
Lease payments
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Interest
Balance, end of year
Balance, beginning of year
Additions
Modifications
Lease payments
Changes in foreign exchange rates
Interest
Balance, end of year
The following table presents the contractual undiscounted cash flows for lease obligations:
One year or less
Over one year to two years
Over two years to three years
Over three years to four years
Over four years to five years
Over five years
Total undiscounted lease obligations
2022
2021
$
$
314
63
(63)
(7)
(14)
293
$
$
345
70
(71)
(14)
(16)
314
$
$
$
$
2022
Property
Equipment
Total
517
40
(2)
(86)
15
19
503
$
$
5
2
–
(3)
–
–
4
$
$
522
42
(2)
(89)
15
19
507
2021
Property
Equipment
Total
565
21
(2)
(86)
(2)
21
517
$
$
$
$
3
5
–
(3)
–
–
5
$
$
568
26
(2)
(89)
(2)
21
522
2022
2021
79
72
62
56
55
310
634
$
$
83
71
63
55
52
340
664
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
173
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
18. Non-Controlling Interests
The Company has a controlling equity interest in Canada Life, Empower, and Putnam at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
Non-controlling interests attributable to participating account surplus is the proportion of the equity attributable to the participating account of
the Company’s subsidiaries.
Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries also include non-controlling interests for the issued and outstanding shares of Putnam and PanAgora
held by employees of the respective companies, and non-controlling interests through Irish Life’s controlling interest in Invesco Ltd. (Ireland) as
well as through a Canada Life subsidiary’s controlling interest in certain Canadian advisor businesses.
(a) The non-controlling interests recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings and
other comprehensive income are as follows:
Net earnings attributable to participating account before policyholder dividends
Canada Life
Empower
Policyholder dividends
Canada Life
Empower
Net earnings – participating account
Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries
Total
2022
2021
$
$
1,809
–
1,809
(1,625)
(2)
(1,627)
182
3
185
$
$
1,708
–
1,708
(1,405)
(1)
(1,406)
302
(1)
301
The non-controlling interests recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $(157) ($(28) for
the year ended December 31, 2021).
(b) The carrying value of non-controlling interests consists of the following:
Participating account surplus in subsidiaries:
Canada Life
Empower
Total
Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries
2022
2021
$
$
$
3,147
9
3,156
152
$
$
$
3,126
12
3,138
129
174 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
19. Share Capital
(a) Limited Recourse Capital Notes
Limited recourse capital notes
Series 1
Earliest
redemption date
Interest
rate
Carrying
value
Fair
value
Carrying
value
Fair
value
November 30, 2026
3.60%
$
1,500
$
1,125
$
1,500
$
1,475
2022
2021
On August 16, 2021, the Company issued $1,500 aggregate principal amount 3.60% Limited Recourse Capital Notes Series 1 (Subordinated
Indebtedness) at par, maturing on December 31, 2081 (LRCN Series 1). The LRCN Series 1 bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.60% per annum
payable semi-annually, up to but excluding December 31, 2026. On December 31, 2026 and every five years thereafter until December 31,
2076, the interest rate on the LRCN Series 1 will be reset at an interest rate equal to the five-year Government of Canada Yield, plus 2.641%.
Commencing November 30, 2026, the Company will have the option to redeem the LRCN Series 1 every five years during the period from
November 30 to December 31, in whole or in part at par, together in each case with accrued and unpaid interest.
Non-payment of interest or principal when due on the LRCN Series 1 will result in a recourse event, with the noteholders’ sole remedy
being receipt of their proportionate share of Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series U (Series U Preferred Shares)
held in a newly formed consolidated trust (Limited Recourse Trust). All claims of the holders of LRCN Series 1 against the Company will be
extinguished upon receipt of the corresponding trust assets. The Series U Preferred Shares are eliminated on the Company’s Consolidated
Balance Sheets while being held within the Limited Recourse Trust.
(b) Preferred Shares
Authorized
Unlimited First Preferred Shares, Class A Preferred Shares and Second Preferred Shares
Unlimited Common Shares
Issued and outstanding and fully paid
First Preferred Shares
Series G, 5.20% Non-Cumulative
Series H, 4.85% Non-Cumulative
Series I, 4.50% Non-Cumulative
Series L, 5.65% Non-Cumulative
Series M, 5.80% Non-Cumulative
Series N, 1.749% Non-Cumulative Rate Reset
Series P, 5.40% Non-Cumulative
Series Q, 5.15% Non-Cumulative
Series R, 4.80% Non-Cumulative
Series S, 5.25% Non-Cumulative
Series T, 5.15% Non-Cumulative
Series Y, 4.50% Non-Cumulative
Total
Common shares
Balance, beginning of year
Exercised and issued under stock option plan
Balance, end of year
2022
2021
Number
Carrying
value
Number
Carrying
value
12,000,000
12,000,000
12,000,000
6,800,000
6,000,000
10,000,000
10,000,000
8,000,000
8,000,000
8,000,000
8,000,000
8,000,000
108,800,000
930,620,338
1,232,772
931,853,110
$
$
$
$
$
300
300
300
170
150
250
250
200
200
200
200
200
12,000,000
12,000,000
12,000,000
6,800,000
6,000,000
10,000,000
10,000,000
8,000,000
8,000,000
8,000,000
8,000,000
8,000,000
300
300
300
170
150
250
250
200
200
200
200
200
2,720
108,800,000
5,748
43
927,853,106
2,767,232
5,791
930,620,338
$
$
$
2,720
5,651
97
5,748
The Series G, 5.20% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are currently redeemable at the option of the Company for $25.00 per share,
together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption.
The Series H, 4.85% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are currently redeemable at the option of the Company for $25.00 per share,
together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption.
The Series I, 4.50% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are currently redeemable at the option of the Company for $25.00 per share,
together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
175
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
19. Share Capital (cont’d)
The Series L, 5.65% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are currently redeemable at the option of the Company for $25.00 per share,
together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption.
The Series M, 5.80% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are currently redeemable at the option of the Company for $25.00 per share,
together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption.
The Series N, Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset First Preferred Shares carry an annual fixed non-cumulative dividend rate of 1.749% up
to but excluding December 31, 2025 and are redeemable at the option of the Company on December 31, 2025 and on December 31 every
five years thereafter for $25.00 per share plus all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption. Subject to
the Company’s right of redemption and certain other restrictions on conversion described in the Series N share conditions, each Series N
share is convertible into one Series O, Non-Cumulative Floating Rate First Preferred Share at the option of the holders on December 31,
2025 and on December 31 every five years thereafter.
The Series P, 5.40% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are currently redeemable at the option of the Company for $25.00 per share,
together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption.
The Series Q, 5.15% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are currently redeemable at the option of the Company for $25.00 per share,
together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption.
The Series R, 4.80% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are currently redeemable at the option of the Company for $25.00 per share,
together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption.
The Series S, 5.25% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are redeemable at the option of the Company for $25.00 per share plus a
premium if redeemed prior to June 30, 2023, together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the date of redemption.
The Series T, 5.15% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are redeemable at the option of the Company on or after June 30, 2022 for
$25.00 per share plus a premium if redeemed prior to June 30, 2026, together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but excluding
the date of redemption.
The Series Y, 4.50% Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares are redeemable at the option of the Company on or after December 31, 2026
for $25.00 per share plus a premium if redeemed prior to December 31, 2030, together with all declared and unpaid dividends up to but
excluding the date of redemption.
(c) Common Shares
Normal Course Issuer Bid
The Company renewed its normal course issuer bid (NCIB) effective January 27, 2022 for one year to purchase and cancel up to 20,000,000
of its common shares at market prices in order to mitigate the dilutive effect of stock options granted under the Company’s Stock Option
Plan and for other capital management purposes. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company did not purchase any common
shares under the NCIB (nil for the year ended December 31, 2021, under the previous NCIB).
Subsequent Event
On January 25, 2023, the Company announced a new NCIB commencing January 27, 2023 and terminating January 26, 2024 to purchase
for cancellation up to but not more than 20,000,000 of its common shares at market prices.
20. Earnings Per Common Share
The following provides the reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Earnings
Net earnings
Preferred share dividends
Net earnings – common shareholders
Number of common shares
Average number of common shares outstanding
Add: Potential exercise of outstanding stock options
Average number of common shares outstanding – diluted basis
Basic earnings per common share
Diluted earnings per common share
Dividends per common share
176 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
2022
2021
$
$
$
3,349
(130)
3,219
$
3,262
(134)
3,128
931,682,589
598,494
929,461,348
1,496,586
932,281,083
930,957,934
$
$
$
3.455
3.452
1.960
$
$
$
3.365
3.360
1.804
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
21. Capital Management
(a) Policies and Objectives
Managing capital is the continual process of establishing and maintaining the quantity and quality of capital appropriate for the Company
and ensuring capital is deployed in a manner consistent with the expectations of the Company’s stakeholders. For these purposes, the
Board considers the key stakeholders to be the Company’s shareholders, policyholders and holders of subordinated liabilities in addition
to the relevant regulators in the various jurisdictions where the Company and its subsidiaries operate.
The Company manages its capital on both a consolidated basis as well as at the individual operating subsidiary level. The primary
objectives of the Company’s capital management strategy are:
• to maintain the capitalization of its regulated operating subsidiaries at a level that will exceed the relevant minimum regulatory capital
requirements in the jurisdictions in which they operate;
• to maintain strong credit and financial strength ratings of the Company ensuring stable access to capital markets; and
• to provide an efficient capital structure to maximize shareholders’ value in the context of the Company’s operational risks and
strategic plans.
The target level of capitalization for the Company and its subsidiaries is assessed by considering various factors such as the probability of
falling below the minimum regulatory capital requirements in the relevant operating jurisdiction, the views expressed by various credit
rating agencies that provide financial strength and other ratings to the Company, and the desire to hold sufficient capital to be able to
honour all policyholder and other obligations of the Company with a high degree of confidence.
The Company has established policies and procedures designed to identify, measure and report all material risks. Management is
responsible for establishing capital management procedures for implementing and monitoring the capital plan.
The capital planning process is the responsibility of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. The capital plan is approved by the Company’s
Board of Directors on an annual basis. The Board of Directors reviews and approves all capital transactions undertaken by management.
(b) Regulatory Capital
In Canada, OSFI has established a regulatory capital adequacy measurement for life insurance companies incorporated under the
Insurance Companies Act (Canada) and their subsidiaries.
The Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test (LICAT) Ratio compares the regulatory capital resources of a company to its required capital,
defined by OSFI, as the aggregate of all defined capital requirements. The total capital resources are provided by the sum of Available
Capital, Surplus Allowance and Eligible Deposits.
The following provides a summary of the LICAT information and ratios for Canada Life:
Tier 1 Capital
Tier 2 Capital
Total Available Capital
Surplus Allowance & Eligible Deposits
Total Capital Resources
Required Capital
Total LICAT Ratio (OSFI Supervisory Target = 100%) 1
1 Total Ratio (%) = (Total Capital Resources / Required Capital)
2022
2021
$
13,201
4,644
17,845
10,531
$
12,584
4,417
17,001
13,225
$
28,376
$
30,226
$
23,582
$
24,323
120%
124%
For entities based in Europe, the local solvency capital regime is the Solvency II basis. At December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, all
European regulated entities met the capital and solvency requirements as prescribed under Solvency II.
Empower is subject to the risk-based capital regulatory regime in the U.S. Other foreign operations and foreign subsidiaries of the
Company are required to comply with local capital or solvency requirements in their respective jurisdictions. At December 31, 2022
and December 31, 2021, the Company maintained capital levels above the minimum local regulatory requirements in each of its
foreign operations.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
177
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
22. Share-Based Payments
(a)
The Company has a stock option plan (the Plan) pursuant to which options to subscribe for common shares of Lifeco may be granted to
certain officers and employees of Lifeco and its affiliates. The Company’s Human Resources Committee (the Committee) administers the
Plan and, subject to the specific provisions of the Plan, fixes the terms and conditions upon which options are granted. The exercise price
of each option granted under the Plan is fixed by the Committee, but cannot under any circumstances be less than the weighted average
trading price per Lifeco common share on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five trading days preceding the date of the grant. Options
granted prior to January 1, 2019 vest over a period of five years. Options granted on or after January 1, 2019 vest 50% three years after the
grant date and 50% four years after the grant date. Options have a maximum exercise period of ten years from the grant date. Termination
of employment may, in certain circumstances, result in forfeiture of the options, unless otherwise determined by the Committee. In 2022,
the maximum number of Lifeco common shares issuable under the Plan was 72,500,000.
During 2022, 2,369,100 common share options were granted (2,638,300 during 2021). The weighted average fair value of common share
options granted during 2022 was $3.57 per option ($2.60 in 2021). The fair value of each common share option was estimated using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for those options granted in 2022: dividend
yield 5.07% (5.43% in 2021), expected volatility 18.15% (18.47% in 2021), risk-free interest rate 1.60% (1.18% in 2021), and expected life of
eight years (eight in 2021).
The following summarizes the changes in options outstanding and the weighted average exercise price:
Outstanding, beginning of year
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited/expired
Outstanding, end of year
Options exercisable at end of year
2022
2021
Options
16,123,727
2,369,100
(1,232,772)
(166,440)
17,093,615
8,950,405
Weighted
average
exercise price
$
$
$
32.92
38.68
31.24
34.41
33.82
33.73
Options
16,399,279
2,638,300
(2,767,232)
(146,620)
16,123,727
8,522,967
Weighted
average
exercise price
$
$
$
32.69
32.28
30.90
33.39
32.92
33.78
The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of stock options for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $39.35 ($36.11 in 2021).
Compensation expense due to the Plan transactions accounted for as equity-settled share-based payments of $6 after-tax in 2022 ($5 after-
tax in 2021) has been recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
The following summarizes information on the ranges of exercise prices including weighted average remaining contractual life at
December 31, 2022:
Exercise price ranges
$27.13 - $36.87
$30.28 - $36.87
$34.68 - $36.87
$30.28 - $36.87
$30.28 - $36.87
$30.28 - $34.21
$30.28 - $32.50
$32.22 - $32.22
$32.10 - $38.75
$31.59 - $38.71
Outstanding
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Weighted
average
exercise price
0.30
1.32
2.19
3.19
4.19
5.16
6.16
7.16
8.16
9.16
30.15
32.53
35.67
34.50
36.41
34.19
30.33
32.22
32.28
38.68
Exercisable
Options
777,980
1,166,380
1,453,683
1,888,352
1,255,300
1,237,010
1,171,700
–
–
–
Weighted
average
exercise price
30.15
32.53
35.67
34.50
36.41
34.20
30.33
–
–
–
Expiry
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
Options
777,980
1,166,380
1,453,683
1,888,352
1,255,300
1,551,020
2,345,500
1,782,800
2,503,500
2,369,100
178 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
To promote greater alignment of interests between the Directors and Lifeco’s shareholders, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries
have mandatory DSU Plans and/or voluntary DSU Plans (the “Mandatory DSU Plans” and the “Voluntary DSU Plans” respectively) in
which the Directors of the Company participate. Under the Mandatory DSU Plans, each Director who is a resident of Canada or the United
States must receive 50% of their annual Board retainer in the form of Deferred Share Units (DSUs). Under the Voluntary DSU Plans, each
Director may elect to receive the balance of their annual Board retainer and Board Committee fees entirely in the form of DSUs, entirely
in cash, or equally in cash and DSUs. In both cases, the number of DSUs granted is determined by dividing the amount of remuneration
payable to the Director by the weighted average trading price per Lifeco common share on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) for the last
five trading days of the preceding fiscal quarter. Directors receive additional DSUs for dividends payable on the Company’s common
shares based on the value of a DSU at the dividend payment date. DSUs are redeemable when an individual ceases to be a Director, or
as applicable, an officer or employee of the Company or any of its affiliates by a lump sum cash payment, based on the weighted average
trading price per Lifeco common share on the TSX for the last five trading days preceding the date of redemption. In 2022, $6 in Directors’
fees were used to acquire DSUs ($6 in 2021). At December 31, 2022, the carrying value of the DSU liability is $66 ($69 in 2021) recorded
within other liabilities.
Certain employees of the Company are entitled to receive DSUs. Under these DSU Plans, certain employees may elect to receive DSUs as
settlement of their annual incentive plan or as settlement of PSUs issued under the Company’s PSU Plan. In both cases these employees
are granted DSUs equivalent to the Company’s common shares. Employees receive additional DSUs in respect of dividends payable on the
common shares based on the value of the DSUs at the time. DSUs are redeemable when an individual ceases to be an officer or employee
of the Company or any of its affiliates, by a lump sum cash payment representing the value of the DSUs at that date. The Company uses
the fair-value based method to account for the DSUs granted to employees under the plans. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the
Company recognized compensation expense of $2 ($16 in 2021) for the DSU Plans recorded in operating and administrative expenses in
the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. At December 31, 2022, the carrying value of the DSU liability is $40 ($40 in 2021) recorded within
other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Certain employees of the Company are entitled to receive PSUs. Under the PSU Plan, these employees are granted PSUs equivalent to the
Company’s common shares vesting over a three-year period. Employees receive additional PSUs in respect of dividends payable on the
common shares based on the value of a PSU at that time. At the maturity date, employees receive cash representing the value of the PSU at
this date. The Company uses the fair-value based method to account for the PSUs granted to employees under the plan. For the year ended
December 31, 2022, the Company recognized compensation expense, excluding the impact of hedging, of $74 ($102 in 2021) for the PSU
Plan recorded in operating and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. At December 31, 2022, the carrying
value of the PSU liability is $131 ($156 in 2021) recorded within other liabilities.
The Company’s Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a voluntary plan where eligible employees can contribute up to 5% of their
previous year’s eligible earnings to purchase common shares of Lifeco. The Company matches 50% of the total employee contributions.
The contributions from the Company vest immediately and are expensed. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized
compensation expense of $13 ($13 in 2021) for the ESOP recorded in operating and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements
of Earnings.
Putnam sponsors the Putnam Investments, LLC Equity Incentive Plan. Under the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan, Putnam is authorized
to grant or sell Class B Shares of Putnam (the Putnam Class B Shares), subject to certain restrictions, and to grant options to purchase
Putnam Class B Shares (collectively, the Awards) to certain senior management and key employees of Putnam at fair value at the time of
the award. Fair value is determined under the valuation methodology outlined in the Equity Incentive Plan. Awards vest over a period of
up to five years and are specified in the individual’s award letter. Holders of Putnam Class B Shares are not entitled to vote other than in
respect of certain matters in regards to the Equity Incentive Plan and have no rights to convert their shares into any other securities. The
number of Putnam Class B Shares that may be subject to Awards under the Equity Incentive Plan is limited to 16,764,705.
During 2022, Putnam granted 3,519,634 (2,824,156 in 2021) restricted Class B common shares to certain members of senior management
and key employees.
Compensation expense recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022 related to restricted Class B common shares and Class B stock
options earned was $49 ($41 in 2021) and is recorded in operating and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
(f)
Certain employees of PanAgora, a subsidiary of Putnam, are eligible to participate in the PanAgora Management Equity Plan under which
Class C Shares of PanAgora and options and stock appreciation rights on Class C Shares of PanAgora may be issued. Holders of PanAgora
Class C Shares are not entitled to vote and have no rights to convert their shares into any other securities. The number of PanAgora Class
C Shares may not exceed 20% of the equity of PanAgora on a fully exercised and converted basis.
Compensation expense recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022 related to restricted Class C Shares and stock appreciation rights
was $13 in 2022 ($13 in 2021) and is included as a component of operating and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements
of Earnings.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
179
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
23. Pension Plans and Other Post-Employment Benefits
Characteristics, Funding and Risk
The Company’s subsidiaries maintain contributory and non-contributory defined benefit pension plans for eligible employees and advisors. The
Company’s subsidiaries also maintain defined contribution pension plans for eligible employees and advisors.
The defined benefit pension plans provide pensions based on length of service and final average pay; however, these plans are closed to new
entrants. Many of the defined benefit pension plans also no longer provide future defined benefit accruals. The Company’s defined benefit plan
exposure is expected to reduce in future years. Where defined benefit pension accruals continue, active plan participants share in the cost by
making contributions in respect of current service. Certain pension payments are indexed either on an ad hoc basis or a guaranteed basis. The
determination of the defined benefit obligation reflects pension benefits in accordance with the terms of the plans. Assets supporting the funded
pension plans are held in separate trusteed pension funds. Obligations for the wholly unfunded plans are included in other liabilities and are
supported by general assets.
New hires and active plan participants in defined benefit plans closed to future defined benefit accruals are eligible for defined contribution
pension benefits. The defined contribution pension plans provide pension benefits based on accumulated employee and employer contributions.
Employer contributions to these plans are a set percentage of employees’ annual income and may be subject to certain vesting requirements.
The Company’s subsidiaries also provide post-employment health, dental and life insurance benefits to eligible employees, advisors and their
dependents. Retirees share in the cost of benefits through deductibles, co-insurance and caps on benefits. These plans are closed to new hires
and were previously amended to limit which employees could become eligible to receive benefits. The amount of some of the post-employment
benefits other than pensions depends on future cost escalation. These post-employment benefits are not pre-funded and the amount of the
obligation for these benefits is included in other liabilities and is supported by general assets.
The Company’s subsidiaries have pension and benefit committees or a trusteed arrangement that provides oversight for the benefit plans. The
benefit plans are monitored on an ongoing basis to assess the benefit, funding and investment policies, financial status, and funding requirements.
Significant changes to a subsidiary company’s benefit plans require approval from that company’s Board of Directors.
The funding policies of the Company’s subsidiaries for the funded pension plans require annual contributions equal to or greater than those
required by the applicable regulations and plan provisions that govern the funding of the plans. Where funded plans have a net defined benefit
pension plan asset, the Company determines if an economic benefit exists in the form of potential reductions in future contributions by the
Company, from the payment of expenses from the plan and in the form of surplus refunds, where permitted by applicable regulation and
plan provisions.
By their design, the defined benefit plans expose the Company to the typical risks faced by defined benefit plans such as investment performance,
changes to the discount rates used to value the obligations, longevity of plan members, and future inflation. Pension and benefit risk is managed
by regular monitoring of the plans, applicable regulations and other factors that could impact the expenses and cash flows of the Company.
180 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements The following reflects the financial position of the contributory and non-contributory defined benefit plans of the Company’s subsidiaries:
(a) Plan Assets, Benefit Obligation and Funded Status
Defined benefit pension plans
Other post-employment benefits
2022
2021
2022
2021
Change in fair value of plan assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year
Interest income
Actual return over (less than) interest income
Employer contributions
Employee contributions
Benefits paid
Settlements
Administrative expenses
Foreign exchange rate changes
Fair value of plan assets, end of year
Change in defined benefit obligation
Defined benefit obligation, beginning of year
Current service cost
Interest cost
Employee contributions
Benefits paid
Curtailments and termination benefits
Settlements
Actuarial loss (gain) on financial assumption changes
Actuarial loss (gain) on demographic assumption changes
Actuarial loss (gain) arising from member experience
Foreign exchange rate changes
Defined benefit obligation, end of year
$
5,825
$
7,961
$
Asset (liability) recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Funded status of plans – surplus (deficit)
Unrecognized amount due to asset ceiling
Asset (liability) recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Recorded in:
Other assets (note 12)
Other liabilities (note 17)
Asset (liability) recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Analysis of defined benefit obligation
Wholly or partly funded plans
Wholly unfunded plans
$
$
$
$
$
$
466
(310)
156
463
(307)
156
5,586
239
$
$
$
$
$
$
(218)
(41)
(259)
363
(622)
(259)
7,646
315
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
7,743
193
(1,420)
109
21
(324)
(10)
(8)
(13)
$
7,602
159
498
115
18
(306)
(142)
(8)
(193)
$
–
–
–
18
–
(18)
–
–
–
$
6,291
$
7,743
$
–
$
$
$
7,961
72
197
21
(324)
(2)
(10)
(2,074)
(1)
8
(23)
$
8,554
91
181
18
(306)
(1)
(200)
(150)
(16)
(16)
(194)
–
–
–
19
–
(19)
–
–
–
–
409
3
10
–
(19)
–
–
(25)
(10)
(1)
–
367
(367)
–
(367)
–
(367)
(367)
–
367
367
3
11
–
(18)
–
–
(60)
(33)
(16)
2
256
(256)
–
(256)
–
(256)
(256)
–
256
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
181
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
23. Pension Plans and Other Post-Employment Benefits (cont’d)
Under IFRIC 14, The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction, the Company must assess
whether each pension plan’s asset has economic benefit to the Company through future contribution reductions, from the payment of
expenses from the plan, or surplus refunds; in the event the Company is not entitled to a benefit, a limit or ‘asset ceiling’ is required on the
balance. The following provides a breakdown of the changes in the asset ceiling:
Change in asset ceiling
Asset ceiling, beginning of year
Interest on asset ceiling
Change in asset ceiling
Foreign exchange rate changes
Asset ceiling, end of year
Defined benefit pension plans
2022
2021
$
$
41
1
251
17
310
$
$
29
1
11
–
41
(b) Pension and Other Post-Employment Benefits Expense
The total pension and other post-employment benefit expense included in operating expenses and other comprehensive income are
as follows:
Defined benefit current service cost
Defined contribution current service cost
Employee contributions
Employer current service cost
Administrative expense
Curtailments
Settlements
Net interest cost
Expense – profit or loss
Actuarial (gain) loss recognized
Return on assets (greater) less than assumed
Change in the asset ceiling
Re-measurements – other comprehensive (income) loss
Total expense (income) including re-measurements
All pension plans
Other post-employment benefits
2022
2021
2022
2021
$
93
184
(21)
256
8
(2)
–
5
267
(2,067)
1,420
251
(396)
(129)
$
$
$
109
184
(18)
275
8
(1)
(58)
23
247
(182)
(498)
11
(669)
(422)
$
$
3
–
–
3
–
–
–
11
14
(109)
–
–
(109)
$
(95)
$
3
–
–
3
–
–
–
10
13
(36)
–
–
(36)
(23)
(c) Asset Allocation by Major Category Weighted by Plan Assets
Equity securities
Debt securities
Real estate
Cash and cash equivalents
Total
Defined benefit pension plans
2022
2021
36%
52%
8%
4%
39%
51%
7%
3%
100%
100%
No plan assets are directly invested in the Company’s or related parties’ securities. Plan assets include investments in segregated funds
and other funds managed by subsidiaries of the Company of $5,614 at December 31, 2022 and $6,980 at December 31, 2021, of which
$5,520 ($6,902 at December 31, 2021) are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Plan assets do not include any property occupied
or other assets used by the Company.
182 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(d) Details of Defined Benefit Obligation
(i)
Portion of Defined Benefit Obligation Subject to Future Salary Increases
Benefit obligation without future salary increases
Effect of assumed future salary increases
Defined benefit obligation
Defined benefit pension plans
Other post-employment benefits
2022
2021
2022
2021
$
$
5,393
432
5,825
$
$
7,361
600
7,961
$
$
256
–
256
$
$
367
–
367
The other post-employment benefits are not subject to future salary increases.
(ii)
Portion of Defined Benefit Obligation Without Future Pension Increases
Benefit obligation without future pension increases
Effect of assumed future pension increases
Defined benefit obligation
Defined benefit pension plans
Other post-employment benefits
2022
2021
2022
2021
$
$
5,151
674
5,825
$
$
7,137
824
7,961
$
$
256
–
256
$
$
367
–
367
The other post-employment benefits are not subject to future pension increases.
(iii) Maturity Profile of Plan Membership
Actives
Deferred vesteds
Retirees
Total
Defined benefit pension plans
Other post-employment benefits
2022
2021
2022
2021
37%
16%
47%
100%
41%
18%
41%
100%
14%
n/a
86%
100%
15%
n/a
85%
100%
Weighted average duration of defined benefit obligation
14.5 years
17.6 years
9.9 years
11.8 years
(e) Cash Flow Information
Expected employer contributions for 2023:
Funded (wholly or partly) defined benefit plans
Unfunded plans
Defined contribution plans
Total
Pension
plans
Other post-
employment
benefits
Total
$
$
62
25
209
296
$
$
–
19
–
19
$
$
62
44
209
315
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
183
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
23. Pension Plans and Other Post-Employment Benefits (cont’d)
(f) Actuarial Assumptions and Sensitivities
(i)
Actuarial Assumptions
To determine benefit cost:
Discount rate – past service liabilities
Discount rate – future service liabilities
Rate of compensation increase
Future pension increases 1
To determine defined benefit obligation:
Discount rate – past service liabilities
Rate of compensation increase
Future pension increases 1
Medical cost trend rates:
Initial medical cost trend rate
Ultimate medical cost trend rate
Year ultimate trend rate is reached
1 Represents the weighted average of plans subject to future pension increases.
(ii)
Sample Life Expectancies Based on Mortality Assumptions
Sample life expectancies based on mortality assumption:
Male
Age 65 in fiscal year
Age 65 for those age 35 in the fiscal year
Female
Age 65 in fiscal year
Age 65 for those age 35 in the fiscal year
Defined benefit pension plans
Other post-employment benefits
2022
2021
2022
2021
2.6%
3.3%
3.1%
1.7%
5.0%
3.8%
2.3%
2.2%
2.8%
3.0%
1.2%
2.6%
3.1%
1.7%
3.1%
3.0%
–
–
5.3%
–
–
4.8%
4.1%
2039
2.5%
2.6%
–
–
3.1%
–
–
4.7%
4.1%
2039
Defined benefit pension plans
Other post-employment benefits
2022
2021
2022
2021
22.8
24.6
24.8
26.7
22.6
24.5
24.7
26.6
22.8
24.2
25.1
26.5
22.5
24.0
24.9
26.2
The period of time over which benefits are assumed to be paid is based on best estimates of future mortality, including allowances
for mortality improvements. This estimate is subject to considerable uncertainty, and judgment is required in establishing this
assumption. As mortality assumptions are significant in measuring the defined benefit obligation, the mortality assumptions
applied by the Company take into consideration such factors as age, gender and geographic location, in addition to an estimation
of future improvements in longevity.
The mortality tables are reviewed at least annually, and assumptions are in accordance with accepted actuarial practice. Emerging
plan experience is reviewed and considered in establishing the best estimate for future mortality.
The calculation of the defined benefit obligation is sensitive to the mortality assumptions. The effect of a one-year increase in life
expectancy would be an increase in the defined benefit obligation of $164 for the defined benefit pension plans and $5 for other
post-employment benefits.
(iii)
Impact of Changes to Assumptions on Defined Benefit Obligation
Defined benefit pension plans:
Impact of a change to the discount rate
Impact of a change to the rate of compensation increase
Impact of a change to the rate of inflation
Other post-employment benefits:
Impact of a change to assumed medical cost trend rates
Impact of a change to the discount rate
1% increase
1% decrease
2022
2021
2022
2021
$
(733)
173
340
$
(1,199)
299
578
$
14
(22)
24
(36)
926
(156)
(299)
(12)
25
$
1,568
(269)
(507)
(21)
44
To measure the impact of a change in an assumption, all other assumptions were held constant. It is expected that there would be
interaction between at least some of the assumptions.
184 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
24. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Unrealized
foreign
exchange
gains (losses)
on translation
of foreign
operations
Unrealized
gains (losses)
on hedges
of the net
investment
in foreign
operations
Unrealized
gains (losses)
on available-
for-sale assets
Unrealized
gains (losses)
on cash flow
hedges
2022
Re-measurements
on defined
benefit pension
and other post-
employment
benefit plans
Revaluation
surplus on
transfer to
investment
properties
Total
Non-controlling
interest
Shareholders
948
$
(30)
$
145
$
33
$
(463)
$
10
$
643
$
(11)
$
632
497
–
497
88
28
116
86
(942)
179
(763)
(45)
12
(33)
505
(130)
375
$
(618)
$
–
$
(88)
$
–
–
–
10
103
89
192
835
$
219
(62)
157
$ 146
$
322
27
349
981
Balance, end of year
$
1,445
$
Balance, beginning of year $
Other comprehensive
income (loss)
Income tax
Unrealized
foreign
exchange
gains (losses)
on translation
of foreign
operations
Unrealized
gains (losses)
on hedges
of the net
investment
in foreign
operations
Unrealized
gains (losses)
on available-
for-sale assets
Unrealized
gains (losses)
on cash flow
hedges
2021
Re-measurements
on defined
benefit pension
and other post-
employment
benefit plans
Revaluation
surplus on
transfer to
investment
properties
Total
Non-controlling
interest
Shareholders
$
1,339
$
(135)
$
266
$
24
$
(978)
$
10
$
526
$
(39)
$
487
Balance, beginning of year
Other comprehensive
income (loss)
Income tax
(391)
–
(391)
117
(12)
105
(159)
38
(121)
12
(3)
9
33
705
(190)
515
$
(463)
$
–
–
–
10
284
(167)
117
643
$
40
(12)
28
$
(11)
$
324
(179)
145
632
Balance, end of year
$
948
$
(30)
$
145
$
25. Related Party Transactions
Power Corporation, which is incorporated and domiciled in Canada, is the Company’s parent and has voting control of the Company. The
Company is related to other members of the Power Corporation group of companies including IGM, a company in the financial services sector
along with its subsidiaries IG Wealth Management, Mackenzie Financial and Investment Planning Council, and Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, a
holding company based in Europe with substantial holdings in global industrial and services companies.
(a) Principal subsidiaries
The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the operations of the following subsidiaries and their subsidiaries:
Company
The Canada Life Assurance Company
Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America
Putnam Investments, LLC
Incorporated in
Primary business operation
Canada
United States
United States
Insurance and wealth management
Financial services
Asset management
% Held
100.00%
100.00%
100.00% 1
1 Lifeco holds 100% of the voting shares and 96.39% of the total outstanding shares.
(b) Transactions with related parties included in the consolidated financial statements
In the normal course of business, Canada Life and Putnam enter into various transactions with related companies which include
providing insurance benefits and sub-advisory services to other companies within the Power Corporation group of companies. In all
cases, transactions were at market terms and conditions.
During the year, Canada Life provided to and received from IGM and its subsidiaries, a member of the Power Corporation group of
companies, certain administrative and information technology services. During 2021, Canada Life and IGM executed a termination
agreement covering the transition of shared information technology services from Canada Life to alternate providers over a number of
years. Canada Life also provided life insurance, annuity and disability insurance products under a distribution agreement with IGM. In
addition, Canada Life provided distribution services to IGM. All transactions were provided at market terms and conditions.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
185
25. Related Party Transactions (cont’d)
The Company owns 9,200,448 shares, held through Canada Life, representing a 3.87% ownership interest in IGM. The Company uses the
equity method to account for its investment in IGM as it exercises significant influence. In 2022, the Company recognized $30 for the
equity method share of IGM net earnings and received dividends of $21 from its investment in IGM (note 6).
Segregated funds of the Company were invested in funds managed by IG Wealth Management and Mackenzie Investments. Mackenzie
Investments also manages certain of the Company’s portfolio investments. The Company also has interests in mutual funds, open-ended
investment companies and unit trusts. Some of these funds are sub-advised by related parties of the Company, who are paid sub-advisory
fees related to these services. During 2022, the Company and its subsidiaries made additional investments in funds managed by related
parties. All transactions were provided at market terms and conditions (note 14).
The Company held debentures issued by IGM; the interest rates and maturity dates are as follows:
3.44%, matures January 26, 2027
6.65%, matures December 13, 2027
7.45%, matures May 9, 2031
7.00%, matures December 31, 2032
4.56%, matures January 25, 2047
4.115%, matures December 9, 2047
4.174%, matures July 13, 2048
Total
2022
2021
$
$
19
14
11
11
18
8
4
85
$
21
16
13
14
24
11
6
$
105
Power Corporation also controls Sagard Holdings Management Inc. (Sagard), a multi-strategy alternative asset manager, Power Sustainable,
a global multi-platform alternative asset manager, and Portage Ventures (Portage), a global fintech venture capital investment strategy.
Lifeco has a minority investment in Sagard. Lifeco and Mackenzie Financial Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IGM, are investors
in Northleaf Capital Partners Ltd. (Northleaf ), a global private equity, private credit and infrastructure fund manager. The Company and
its subsidiaries invest in funds managed by Sagard, Power Sustainable, Portage and Northleaf.
The Company provides asset management, employee benefits and administrative services for employee benefit plans relating to pension
and other post-employment benefits for employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. These transactions were provided at market
terms and conditions.
There were no material loans or guarantees issued to or from related parties during 2022 or 2021. There were no significant outstanding
loans or guarantees with related parties at December 31, 2022 or December 31, 2021. There were no provisions for uncollectible amounts
with related parties at December 31, 2022 or December 31, 2021.
(c) Key management compensation
Key management personnel constitute those individuals that have the authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling
the activities of Lifeco, directly or indirectly, including any Director. The individuals that comprise the key management personnel are the
Board of Directors as well as certain key management and officers.
The following describes all compensation paid to, awarded to, or earned by each of the key management personnel for services rendered
in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries:
Salary
Share-based awards
Option-based awards
Annual non-equity incentive plan compensation
Pension value
Total
186 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
2022
2021
$
$
20
19
7
29
–
75
$
$
19
17
6
24
(1)
65
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
26. Income Taxes
(a) Components of the income tax expense
(i)
Income tax recognized in Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Current income tax
Total current income tax
Deferred income tax
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
Effect of changes in tax rates or imposition of new income taxes
Tax expense (recovery) arising from unrecognized tax losses, tax credits or temporary differences
Total deferred income tax
Total income tax expense
(ii)
Income tax recognized in other comprehensive income (note 24)
Current income tax expense (recovery)
Deferred income tax expense (recovery)
Total
(iii)
Income tax recognized in Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
Current income tax (recovery)
Deferred income tax (recovery)
Total
2022
2021
$
421
$
148
2022
2021
(232)
24
21
(187)
234
$
$
$
147
21
(12)
156
304
2022
2021
(157)
68
(89)
$
$
(38)
205
167
2022
2021
(1)
7
6
$
$
(1)
(6)
(7)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
(b) The effective income tax rate reported in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings varies
from the combined Canadian federal and provincial income tax rate of 27.50%1 for the
following items:
Earnings before income taxes
Combined basic Canadian federal and provincial tax rate
Increase (decrease) in the income tax rate resulting from:
2022
2021
$
3,768
1,036
27.50%
$
3,867
1,025
Non-taxable investment income
Operations outside of Canada subject to a lower average foreign tax rate
Impact of rate changes on deferred income taxes
(Recognition) de-recognition of deferred tax assets associated with prior year tax losses
Other
Total income tax expense and effective income tax rate
Total income tax expense and effective income tax rate – common shareholders
(228)
(444)
24
8
(162)
234
209
$
$
(6.05)
(11.79)
0.64
0.21
(4.30)
6.21%
5.88%
$
$
(266)
(374)
21
(15)
(87)
304
358
26.50%
(6.88)
(9.66)
0.54
(0.39)
(2.25)
7.86%
9.89%
1
A Canadian federal corporate income tax rate change, enacted in 2022 (effective after April 7, 2022), increased the statutory income tax rate from 26.50% to 28.0% (prorated to 27.50%
in 2022).
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
187
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
26. Income Taxes (cont’d)
In December 2021, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published model rules outlining a structure
for a new global 15% minimum tax regime to be implemented by all participating countries at an agreed future date, currently expected
to be 2024. Detailed commentary on the rules was released by the OECD during 2022. At this point, the countries where the Company
currently operates have all indicated their participation; however, none have implemented legislation. A number of these countries
currently operate at a lower tax rate than the proposed minimum, and when legislation is enacted the Company expects an increase in
the effective tax rate. The Company is awaiting the legislation and detailed guidance to assess the full implications in the jurisdictions in
which the Company operates.
(c) Composition and changes in net deferred income tax assets are as follows:
Balance, beginning of year
Recognized in Statements of Earnings
Recognized in Statements of
Comprehensive Income
Recognized in Statements of
Changes in Equity
Acquired in business acquisitions
Foreign exchange rate changes and other
Insurance and
investment
contract
liabilities
$
(575)
(1,494)
–
–
(90)
(70)
2022
Portfolio
investments
Losses
carried
forward
Intangible
assets
Tax
credits
Other
Total
$
(644)
1,471
$
1,388
144
$
$
(807)
(58)
$
324
(46)
51
–
(4)
(14)
–
(5)
–
92
–
–
139
(60)
–
–
–
12
$
282
170
(119)
(2)
34
24
(32)
187
(68)
(7)
79
(16)
Balance, end of year
$
(2,229)
$
860
$
1,619
$
(786)
$
290
$
389
$
143
Insurance and
investment
contract
liabilities
Portfolio
investments
Losses
carried
forward
Intangible
assets
Tax
credits
Other
Total
2021
Balance, beginning of year
Recognized in Statements of Earnings
Recognized in Statements of
Comprehensive Income
Recognized in Statements of
Changes in Equity
Acquired in business acquisitions
Foreign exchange rate changes and other
$
$
(320)
(236)
(766)
116
$
1,411
(19)
$
$
(670)
(125)
285
39
$
–
–
–
(19)
8
–
(1)
(1)
–
(2)
1
(3)
–
–
(17)
5
–
–
–
–
$
389
69
(213)
8
(4)
33
Balance, end of year
$
(575)
$
(644)
$
1,388
$
(807)
$
324
$
282
$
329
(156)
(205)
6
(21)
15
(32)
Recorded on Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities
Total
2022
2021
$
$
1,152
(1,009)
143
$
$
1,057
(1,089)
(32)
A deferred income tax asset is recognized for deductible temporary differences and unused losses and carryforwards only to the extent
that realization of the related income tax benefit through future taxable profits is probable.
Recognition is based on the fact that it is probable that the entity will have taxable profits and/or tax planning opportunities available to
allow the deferred income tax asset to be utilized. Changes in circumstances in future periods may adversely impact the assessment of the
recoverability. The uncertainty of the recoverability is taken into account in establishing the deferred income tax assets. The Company’s
annual financial planning process provides a significant basis for the measurement of deferred income tax assets.
Management assesses the recoverability of the deferred income tax assets carrying values based on future years’ taxable income projections
and believes the carrying values of the deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2022 are recoverable.
At December 31, 2022, the Company has recognized a deferred tax asset of $1,619 ($1,388 at December 31, 2021) on tax loss carryforwards
totaling $7,319, of which $4,478 expire between 2026 and 2042 while $2,841 have no expiry date. The Company will realize this benefit in
future years through a reduction in current income taxes payable.
188 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
One U.S. subsidiary has had a history of losses. The subsidiary has a net deferred income tax asset balance of $466 (U.S. $345) as at
December 31, 2022, comprised principally of net operating losses. Management has concluded that it is probable that the subsidiary and
other historically profitable subsidiaries with which it files or intends to file a consolidated U.S. income tax return will generate sufficient
taxable income to utilize the unused U.S. losses and deductions.
The Company has not recognized a deferred tax asset of $109 ($42 in 2021) on tax loss carryforwards totaling $550 ($212 in 2021). Of this
amount, $156 expire between 2023 and 2038 while $394 have no expiry date. In addition, the Company has not recognized a deferred
tax asset of $11 ($20 in 2021) on other temporary differences of $55 ($94 in 2021) associated with investments in subsidiaries, branches,
and associates.
A deferred income tax liability has not been recognized in respect of the temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries,
branches and associates as the Company is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences, and it is probable that
the temporary differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
27. Operating and Administrative Expenses
Salaries and other employee benefits
General and administrative
Interest expense on leases
Depreciation of fixed assets
Depreciation of right-of-use assets
Total
2022
2021
$
4,614
2,291
19
116
69
$
4,191
1,938
21
119
68
$
7,109
$
6,337
28. Derivative Financial Instruments
In the normal course of managing exposure to fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates, and to market risks, the Company is an end-
user of various derivative financial instruments. It is the Company’s policy to transact in derivatives only with the most creditworthy financial
intermediaries. Note 8 discloses the credit quality of the Company’s exposure to counterparties. Credit risk equivalent amounts are presented net of
eligible collateral received, including initial margin on exchange-traded derivatives, of $378 as at December 31, 2022 ($65 at December 31, 2021) 1.
1 The Company has adjusted certain comparative figures to conform to the current year’s presentation. These adjustments had no impact on the equity or net earnings of the Company.
(a) The following summarizes the Company’s derivative portfolio and related credit exposure
using the following definitions of risk as prescribed by OSFI:
Maximum Credit Risk
The total replacement cost of all derivative contracts with positive values.
Future Credit Exposure
The potential future credit exposure is calculated based on a formula prescribed by OSFI. The factors
prescribed by OSFI for this calculation are based on derivative type and duration.
Credit Risk Equivalent
The sum of maximum credit risk and the potential future credit exposure less any collateral held.
Risk Weighted Equivalent
Represents the credit risk equivalent, weighted according to the creditworthiness of the counterparty,
as prescribed by OSFI.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
189
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
28. Derivative Financial Instruments (cont’d)
Interest rate contracts
Swaps
Futures – long
Futures – short
Options purchased
Foreign exchange contracts
Cross-currency swaps
Forward contracts
Other derivative contracts
Equity contracts
Futures – long
Futures – short
Other forward contracts
Equity options-purchased
Equity options-written
Credit default swaps
Notional
amount
Maximum
credit
risk
2022
Future
credit
exposure
Credit
risk
equivalent
Risk
weighted
equivalent
$
$
6,267
6
169
1
6,443
30,522
5,828
36,350
1,750
12
1,134
271
1
3
675
3,846
$
99
–
–
–
99
2,108
35
2,143
55
–
13
4
–
–
–
72
$
72
–
–
–
72
1,890
77
1,967
109
–
–
–
–
–
–
109
$
130
–
–
–
130
3,687
97
3,784
164
–
–
–
–
–
–
164
2
–
–
–
2
63
1
64
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
1
Total
$
46,639
$
2,314
$
2,148
$
4,078
$
67
Notional
amount
Maximum
credit
risk
2021
Future
credit
exposure
Credit
risk
equivalent
Risk
weighted
equivalent
Interest rate contracts
Swaps
Futures – long
Futures – short
Options purchased
Foreign exchange contracts
Cross-currency swaps
Forward contracts
Other derivative contracts
Equity contracts
Futures – long
Futures – short
Other forward contracts
$
$
5,075
1
147
11
5,234
22,654
4,455
27,109
2,146
15
578
1,488
4,227
Total
$
36,570
$
207
–
–
–
207
564
50
614
142
–
1
3
146
967
$
$
59
–
–
–
59
1,424
65
1,489
134
–
–
129
263
$
263
–
–
–
263
1,958
100
2,058
261
–
–
133
394
5
–
–
–
5
36
1
37
1
–
–
1
2
$
1,811
$
2,715
$
44
190 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(b) The following provides the notional amount, term to maturity and estimated fair value
of the Company’s derivative portfolio by category:
2022
Notional Amount
1 year
or less
Over 1 year
to 5 years
Over 5
years
Total
Total
estimated
fair value
Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges
Interest rate contracts
Swaps
Futures – long
Futures – short
Options purchased
Foreign exchange contracts
Cross-currency swaps
Forward contracts
Other derivative contracts
Equity contracts
Futures – long
Futures – short
Other forward contracts
Equity options-purchased
Equity options-written
Credit default swaps
Fair value hedges
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate contracts
Swaps
Foreign exchange contracts
Cross-currency swaps
Other derivative contracts
Equity contracts
Net investment hedges
Cross-currency swaps
Foreign exchange forward contracts
$
581
6
169
1
757
3,215
3,262
6,477
1,482
12
1,134
271
1
3
–
2,903
83
–
–
58
58
–
2,027
2,027
$
$
1,341
–
–
–
1,341
7,521
–
7,521
$
4,320
–
–
–
4,320
17,416
–
17,416
–
–
–
–
–
–
500
500
–
–
100
210
310
–
456
456
–
–
–
–
–
–
175
175
–
25
–
–
25
2,270
–
2,270
$
6,242
6
169
1
6,418
28,152
3,262
31,414
1,482
12
1,134
271
1
3
675
3,578
83
25
100
268
393
2,270
2,483
4,753
Total
$
12,305
$
10,128
$
24,206
$
46,639
$
(358)
–
–
–
(358)
943
(66)
877
6
–
13
3
–
–
–
22
(3)
3
6
22
31
134
(28)
106
675
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
191
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
28. Derivative Financial Instruments (cont’d)
Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges
Interest rate contracts
Swaps
Futures – long
Futures – short
Options purchased
Foreign exchange contracts
Cross-currency swaps
Forward contracts
Other derivative contracts
Equity contracts
Futures – long
Futures – short
Other forward contracts
Fair value hedges
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Cash flow hedges
Interest rate contracts
Swaps
Other derivative contracts
Equity contracts
Net investment hedges
Cross-currency swaps
Foreign exchange forward contracts
2021 1
Notional Amount
1 year
or less
Over 1 year
to 5 years
Over 5
years
Total
Total
estimated
fair value
$
518
1
147
11
677
2,574
2,450
5,024
1,952
15
578
1,488
4,033
78
–
43
43
–
1,409
1,409
$
948
–
–
–
948
4,298
–
4,298
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
151
151
–
518
518
$
$
3,586
–
–
–
3,586
13,462
–
13,462
–
–
–
–
–
–
23
–
23
2,320
–
2,320
$
5,052
1
147
11
5,211
20,334
2,450
22,784
1,952
15
578
1,488
4,033
78
23
194
217
2,320
1,927
4,247
164
–
–
–
164
(420)
(4)
(424)
52
–
(2)
3
53
(1)
8
89
97
–
48
48
Total
$
11,264
$
5,915
$
19,391
$
36,570
$
(63)
1 The Company has reclassified certain comparative figures to conform to the current year’s presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on the equity or net earnings of the Company.
Futures contracts included in the above are exchange traded contracts; all other contracts are over-the-counter.
(c) The following provides details of the Company’s derivative portfolio by type of instrument:
Interest Rate Contracts
Interest rate swaps, futures and options are used as part of a portfolio of assets to manage interest rate risk associated with investment
activities and insurance and investment contract liabilities. Interest-rate swap agreements require the periodic exchange of payments
without the exchange of the notional principal amount on which payments are based. Call options grant the Company the right to enter
into a swap with predetermined fixed-rate payments over a predetermined time period on the exercise date. Call options are used to
manage the variability in future interest payments due to a change in credited interest rates and the related potential change in cash flows
due to surrenders. Call options are also used to hedge minimum rate guarantees.
Foreign Exchange Contracts
Cross-currency swaps are used in combination with other investments to manage foreign currency risk associated with investment
activities, and insurance and investment contract liabilities. Cross-currency swaps are also used to hedge the Company’s net investment in
foreign operations. Under these swaps principal amounts and fixed or floating interest payments may be exchanged in different currencies.
The Company also enters into certain foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge certain product liabilities.
192 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Other Derivative Contracts
Equity index swaps, futures and options are used to hedge certain product liabilities. Equity index swaps are also used as substitutes for
cash instruments and are used to periodically hedge the market risk associated with certain fee income. Equity put options are used to
manage potential credit risk impact of significant declines in certain equity markets.
Equity total return swaps are used to manage exposure to fluctuations in the total return of common shares related to deferred compensation
arrangements. Total return swaps require the exchange of net contractual payments periodically or at maturity without the exchange of the
notional principal amounts on which the payments are based. These instruments are designated as cash flow hedges.
Credit default swaps are used to transfer credit risk to another party.
The ineffective portion of the cash flow hedges during 2022, which includes interest rate contracts, foreign exchange contracts, and equity
total return swap contracts, and the anticipated net gains (losses) expected to be reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive
income within the next twelve months is nil. The maximum time frame for which variable cash flows are hedged is 22 years.
29. Legal Provisions and Contingent Liabilities
The Company and its subsidiaries are from time-to-time subject to legal actions, including arbitrations and class actions. Provisions are
established if, in management’s judgment, it is probable a payment will be required and the amount of the payment can be reliably estimated.
It is inherently difficult to predict the outcome of any of these proceedings with certainty, and it is possible that an adverse resolution could
have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company. However, based on information presently known, it is
not expected that any of the existing legal actions, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated
financial position of the Company. Actual results could differ from management’s best estimates.
Subsidiaries of the Company in the United States are defendants in legal actions, including class actions, relating to the costs and features of their
retirement and fund products and the conduct of their businesses. Management believes the claims are without merit and will be vigorously
defending these actions. Based on the information presently known these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated
financial position of the Company.
30. Commitments
(a) Letters of Credit
Letters of credit are written commitments provided by a bank. The total amount of letter of credit facilities is U.S. $1,913 of which U.S.
$1,497 were issued as of December 31, 2022.
The Capital and Risk Solutions segment periodically uses letters of credit as collateral under certain reinsurance contracts for on balance
sheet policy liabilities.
(b) Investment Commitments
Commitments of investment transactions made in the normal course of operations in accordance with policies and guidelines that are to
be disbursed upon fulfillment of certain contract conditions were $5,336 as at December 31, 2022, with $5,245 maturing within one year,
$84 maturing within two years and $7 maturing in over 5 years.
(c) Pledged Assets
In addition to the assets pledged by the Company disclosed elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements:
(i)
The amount of assets included in the Company’s balance sheet which have a security interest by way of pledging is $1,467 ($1,263
at December 31, 2021) in respect of reinsurance agreements.
In addition, under certain reinsurance contracts, bonds presented in portfolio investments are held in trust and escrow accounts.
Assets are placed in these accounts pursuant to the requirements of certain legal and contractual obligations to support contract
liabilities assumed.
(ii)
The Company has pledged, in the normal course of business, $74 ($63 at December 31, 2021) of assets of the Company for the
purpose of providing collateral for the counterparty.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
193
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
31. Segmented Information
The operating segments of the Company are Canada, United States, Europe, Capital and Risk Solutions and Lifeco Corporate. These segments
reflect the Company’s management structure and internal financial reporting. Each of these segments operates in the financial services industry
and the revenues from these segments are derived principally from interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment
services, asset management and reinsurance businesses.
Transactions between operating segments occur at market terms and conditions and have been eliminated upon consolidation.
The Company has a capital allocation model to measure the performance of the operating segments. The impact of the capital allocation model
is included in the segmented information presented below.
(a) Consolidated Net Earnings
Income
Total net premiums
Net investment income
Regular net investment income
Changes in fair value through profit or loss
Total net investment income (loss)
Fee and other income
Benefits and expenses
Paid or credited to policyholders
Other 1
Financing charges
Amortization of finite life intangible assets
Restructuring and integration expenses
Earnings before income taxes
Income taxes
Net earnings before non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests
Net earnings
Preferred share dividends
Net earnings before capital allocation
Impact of capital allocation
Canada
United
States
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Lifeco
Corporate
Total
2022
$
15,103
$
2,025
$
3,962
$
31,731
$
–
$
52,821
3,066
(6,900)
(3,834)
1,988
13,257
7,628
3,893
133
111
–
1,492
160
1,332
188
1,144
112
1,032
84
3,253
(8,088)
(4,835)
4,271
1,461
(3,941)
4,374
228
205
178
417
(10)
427
(6)
433
–
433
27
460
1,526
(7,066)
(5,540)
1,334
(244)
(3,193)
1,741
22
56
–
1,130
59
1,071
3
1,068
18
1,050
(66)
$
984
$
250
(1,856)
(1,606)
5
30,130
29,170
248
9
1
–
702
18
684
–
684
–
684
(22)
662
51
7
58
–
58
–
25
6
–
–
27
7
20
–
20
–
20
(23)
8,146
(23,903)
(15,757)
7,598
44,662
29,664
10,281
398
373
178
3,768
234
3,534
185
3,349
130
3,219
–
$
(3)
$
3,219
Net earnings (loss) – common shareholders
$
1,116
$
1 Includes commissions, operating and administrative expenses, and premium taxes.
194 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Canada
United
States
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Lifeco
Corporate
Total
2021
$
13,900
$
4,518
$
4,862
$
29,533
$
–
$
52,813
Income
Total net premiums
Net investment income
Regular net investment income (loss)
Changes in fair value through profit or loss
Total net investment income (loss)
Fee and other income
Benefits and expenses
Paid or credited to policyholders
Other 1
Financing charges
Amortization of finite life intangible assets
Restructuring and integration expenses
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
Income taxes
Net earnings (loss) before non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests
Net earnings (loss)
Preferred share dividends
Net earnings (loss) before capital allocation
Impact of capital allocation
2,878
522
3,400
1,991
19,291
13,577
3,792
134
110
–
1,678
182
1,496
304
1,192
114
1,078
109
Net earnings (loss) – common shareholders
$
1,187
$
1 Includes commissions, operating and administrative expenses, and premium taxes.
The revenue by source currency for Capital and Risk Solutions:
Revenue
United States
United Kingdom
Japan
Other
Total revenue
1,937
(900)
1,037
3,880
9,435
4,797
3,654
159
171
90
564
73
491
(7)
498
–
498
1
499
1,325
(1,375)
(50)
1,415
6,227
3,200
1,736
24
55
–
1,212
140
1,072
4
1,068
18
1,050
(74)
$
976
$
262
(334)
(72)
8
29,469
28,721
212
9
–
–
527
(30)
557
–
557
–
557
(25)
532
(9)
4
(5)
–
(5)
–
107
2
–
–
(114)
(61)
(53)
–
(53)
2
(55)
(11)
(66)
6,393
(2,083)
4,310
7,294
64,417
50,295
9,501
328
336
90
3,867
304
3,563
301
3,262
134
3,128
–
$
3,128
2022
2021
27,369
1,089
(383)
2,055
$
21,256
1,369
4,297
2,547
$
$
$
30,130
$
29,469
Negative income in the table above is primarily due to unrealized fair value losses through profit or loss on bonds, which are largely offset
through changes in insurance contract liabilities.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
195
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
31. Segmented Information (cont’d)
(b) Consolidated Total Assets and Liabilities
Assets
Invested assets
Goodwill and intangible assets
Other assets
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders
Total
Liabilities
Canada
United
States
2022
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
$
90,751
5,794
4,721
93,816
$
98,929
7,966
37,584
166,274
$
39,420
3,053
8,994
127,807
$
8,738
–
7,608
–
$ 237,838
16,813
58,907
387,897
$ 195,082
$ 310,753
$ 179,274
$
16,346
$ 701,455
Canada
United
States
2022
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
Insurance and investment contract liabilities
Other liabilities
Investment and insurance contracts on account of
segregated fund policyholders
Total
$
81,927
8,238
$ 115,649
20,204
$
37,542
4,112
$
12,580
988
$ 247,698
33,542
93,816
166,274
127,807
–
387,897
$ 183,981
$ 302,127
$ 169,461
$
13,568
$ 669,137
Assets
Invested assets
Goodwill and intangible assets
Other assets
Investments on account of segregated fund policyholders
Total
Liabilities
Canada
United
States
2021
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
$
92,400
5,722
4,323
101,537
$
55,376
5,826
30,090
116,919
$
48,669
3,047
10,220
138,963
$
9,359
–
8,037
–
$ 205,804
14,595
52,670
357,419
$ 203,982
$ 208,211
$ 200,899
$
17,396
$ 630,488
Canada
United
States
2021
Europe
Capital and
Risk Solutions
Total
Insurance and investment contract liabilities
Other liabilities
Investment and insurance contracts on account of
segregated fund policyholders
Total
$
84,829
7,752
$
74,632
8,800
$
47,356
4,309
$
14,016
892
$ 220,833
21,753
101,537
116,919
138,963
–
357,419
$ 194,118
$ 200,351
$ 190,628
$
14,908
$ 600,005
The assets by source currency for Capital and Risk Solutions:
Assets
United Kingdom
United States
Japan
Other
Total assets
196 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
2022
2021
$
5,396
6,832
3,310
808
$
6,507
5,902
4,102
885
$
16,346
$
17,396
Deloitte LLP
360 Main Street
Suite 2300
Winnipeg MB R3C 3Z3
Canada
Tel: 204-942-0051
Fax: 204-947-9390
www.deloitte.ca
Independent Auditor’s Report
To the Shareholders of Great-West Lifeco Inc.
Opinion
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Great-West Lifeco Inc. (the “Company”), which
comprise the consolidated balance sheets as at December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the consolidated
statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for the years then ended,
and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies
(collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of the Company as at December 31, 2022 and 2021, and its financial performance and its cash flows
for the years then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards (“Canadian
GAAS”). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for
the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in
accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in Canada,
and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that
the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our
audit of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022. These matters were
addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements as a whole, and in forming our
opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Insurance Contract Liabilities – Refer to Notes 2 and 13 to the financial statements
Key Audit Matter Description
The Company has insurance contract liabilities representing a significant portion of its total liabilities.
Insurance contract liabilities are determined in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices
established by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries using the Canadian Asset Liability Method (CALM). This
method requires the use of complex valuation models incorporating projections of cash inflows and outflows
using the best estimate of future experience together with a margin for adverse deviation.
While there are many assumptions which management makes, the assumptions with the greatest estimation
uncertainty are those related to mortality, including the impact, if any, of the COVID-19 pandemic, and
policyholder behaviour. These assumptions required significant auditor attention in specific circumstances
where (i) there is limited Company and industry experience data, and (ii) the historical experience may not
be a good indicator of the future. Auditing of certain valuation models, mortality and policyholder behaviour
assumptions required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of audit effort, including
the need to involve actuarial specialists.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
197
Great-West Lifeco Inc.
February 8, 2023
Page 2
How the Key Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to certain valuation models, mortality and policyholder behaviour assumptions
included the following, among others:
• With the assistance of actuarial specialists, tested the appropriateness of certain valuation models
used in the estimation process by:
o Calculating an independent estimate of the insurance contract liabilitiy for a sample of
insurance policies and comparing the results to the Company’s estimate;
o Testing the accuracy of certain valuation models for changes in key assumptions.
• With the assistance of actuarial specialists, tested the reasonableness of mortality and policyholder
behaviour assumptions by:
o Evaluating whether management’s assumptions were determined in accordance with
actuarial principles and practices under the Canadian actuarial standards of practice;
o Testing experience studies and other inputs used in the determination of the policyholder
behaviour and mortality assumptions;
o Analyzing management’s interpretation and judgment of its experience study results and
emerging claims experience, evaluating triggers and drivers for revisions of assumptions,
assessing reasonable possible alternative assumptions, and considering industry and other
external sources of benchmarking where applicable.
Income Taxes – Refer to Notes 2 and 26 to the financial statements
Key Audit Matter Description
The Company recognizes deferred income taxes for the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on
differences arising between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities, and is recorded at
enacted or substantively enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to be
realized. The Company applies judgment in assessing the recoverability of the deferred income tax asset
carrying values based on future years’ taxable income projections. Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries
have had a history of losses and have a deferred income tax asset comprised principally of net operating
losses. The Company has concluded that through the use of certain tax planning opportunities, it is probable
that sufficient taxable income will be generated to utilize certain of the unused losses.
The determination of the recoverability of the Company’s deferred tax assets in the Company’s subsidiaries
required management to make judgments related to the assessment of management’s planned
implementation of tax strategies. In addition, management makes significant estimates and assumptions in
projecting future taxable income, specifically the revenue growth rates and projected expense margins and in
the determination of whether the deferred tax asset will be realized. Auditing these judgments required a
high degree of auditor judgment as the estimations made by management contain significant measurement
uncertainty. This resulted in an increased extent of audit effort, including the need to involve income tax
and other specialists.
How the Key Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the tax strategies, revenue growth rates and projected expense margins,
and the determination of whether the deferred tax assets in the Company’s subsidiaries will be realized
included the following, among others:
• With the assistance of income tax specialists, analyzed the reasonableness of management’s
projected future taxable income available to determine whether the models properly factored in the
impact of the tax planning strategies.
•
Tested the reasonableness of the revenue growth rates and projected expense margins used to
project future taxable income that was available to realize the deferred tax asset by:
o Assessing the key factors influencing management’s revenue growth rates and projected
198 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Great-West Lifeco Inc.
February 8, 2023
Page 3
expense margins used in the projections through both market and internally entity specific
driven evidence;
o Performing a retrospective analysis of projected future taxable income against actual results
from prior years.
• With the assistance of income tax and other specialists, evaluated the proposed tax planning
strategies considered in the recoverability analysis to assess whether the deferred tax asset will be
realized.
Prudential Financial Retirement Business Acquisition – Refer to Note 3(b) to the financial
statements
Key Audit Matter Description
On April 1, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of the full-service retirement business of Prudential
Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”), through a share purchase and reinsurance transaction. The Company
recognized the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their respective acquisition-date fair
values, including customer contract intangible assets (“intangible assets”) and certain insurance contract
liabilities (“insurance contract liabilities”).
Management used discounted cash flow models to determine the fair value of the intangible assets. While
there are several assumptions and estimates required, those with the highest degree of subjectivity are the
forecasted revenues and earnings, and discount rates.
There are many components embedded in the determination of the fair value of the insurance contract
liabilities that required management to make judgments and assumptions relating to (1) the appropriate
accounting treatment, and (2) the appropriateness of valuation models that incorporate projections of cash
inflows and outflows using the best estimate of future experience together with the discount rates. The
judgments and assumptions with the greatest subjectivity are the determination of the appropriate
accounting treatment, appropriateness of the valuation models, policyholder behaviour and discount rate
assumptions.
Auditing of these judgments, assumptions and estimates required a high degree of auditor judgment and an
increased extent of audit effort, including the need to involve fair value, actuarial, and financial instrument
specialists.
How the Key Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to these judgments, assumptions, estimates and the accounting treatment used
to determine the fair value of intangible assets and insurance contract liabilities included the following,
among others:
Intangible assets:
•
Evaluated the reasonableness of forecasted revenue and earnings by comparing the forecasts to:
o Historical results of the acquired entity;
o Actual results of the acquired entity post-acquisition;
o Underlying analyses detailing business strategies and growth plans including estimated
revenue and cost per participant;
o Third-party reports and comparable company performance.
• With the assistance of fair value specialists, evaluated the reasonableness of the discount rates used
by testing the source information underlying the determination of the discount rates and developing
a range of independent estimates and comparing those to the discount rates selected by
management.
Insurance contract liabilities:
• With the assistance of financial instrument specialists, evaluated management’s assessment related
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
199
Great-West Lifeco Inc.
February 8, 2023
Page 4
to the accounting treatment of the insurance contract liabilities by:
o Assessing the executed contracts to understand the nature of the products and to determine
whether all key facts and circumstances were incorporated into management’s assessment;
o Analyzing relevant accounting standards, including various aspects of IFRS, conceptual
framework and guidance.
• With the assistance of actuarial specialists, tested the appropriateness of the valuation models used
in the estimation process by:
o Testing the valuation models for the incorporation of the key assumptions;
o Recalculating management’s estimate of the insurance contract liability for a sample of
insurance policies and comparing the results to the Company’s estimate.
• With the assistance of actuarial specialists, tested the reasonableness of policyholder behaviour
assumptions, by:
o Evaluating whether management’s assumptions were determined in accordance with
actuarial principles and practices;
o Testing experience studies and other inputs used in the determination of the policyholder
behaviour assumptions;
o Analyzing management’s interpretation and judgments based on the relative inputs,
considering reasonable possible alternative assumptions, and considering industry and other
external sources of benchmarking where applicable.
Adoption of new and amended Accounting Standards – IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts
(“IFRS 17”) – Refer to Note 2 to the financial statements
Key Audit Matter Description
For the period beginning on January 1, 2023, the Company will be adopting IFRS 17 and has included an
estimate of the financial impact on the opening consolidated balance sheet as at January 1, 2022 (the
transition date) in accordance with IAS 8, Changes in Accounting Errors and Estimates. IFRS 17 is a complex
accounting standard requiring considerable judgment and interpretation in its implementation, and will
impact how the Company recognizes, measures, presents and discloses insurance contracts. In adopting the
new standard, the Company has made certain accounting policy choices, and has disclosed the expected
opening retained earnings impact along with certain reclassifications and other transitional adjustments
which reflect the future application of IFRS 17 requirements including the establishment of the initial
contractual service margin. These disclosures will be more extensive in 2023, once the new standard is
adopted.
Management was required to make judgments and estimates to determine the accounting treatment at
transition and to estimate the expected opening retained earnings impact. This resulted in an increased
extent of audit effort, including the involvement of various specialists.
How the Key Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit
When additional IFRS 17 disclosures are required in the December 31, 2023 consolidated financial
statements, further testing of the impacts of transition will be performed. With the assistance of various
specialists, our audit procedures related to management’s determination of the accounting treatment at
transition and the estimate of the expected opening retained earnings impact included the following, among
others:
•
Evaluated management’s judgments to determine the accounting treatment at transition by
analyzing the disclosures against IFRS 17 accounting guidance;
200 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Great-West Lifeco Inc.
February 8, 2023
Page 5
• Assessed the appropriateness and reasonableness of certain reclassifications, key models, significant
assumptions and other relevant inputs used in determining the transitional adjustments including the
contractual service margin and their related impact on the expected opening retained earnings.
Other Information
Management is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises:
● Management’s Discussion and Analysis;
● The information, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon, in the Annual
Report.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not and will not
express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements,
our responsibility is to read the other information identified above and, in doing so, consider whether the
other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the
audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
We obtained Management’s Discussion and Analysis prior to the date of this auditor’s report. If, based on the
work we have performed on this other information, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this
other information, we are required to report that fact in this auditor’s report. We have nothing to report in
this regard.
The Annual Report is expected to be made available to us after the date of the auditor’s report. If, based on
the work we will perform on this other information, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this
other information, we are required to report that fact to those charged with governance.
Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Financial
Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in
accordance with IFRS, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the
preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to
continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going
concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease
operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Company’s financial reporting process.
Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are
free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes
our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit
conducted in accordance with Canadian GAAS will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate,
they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these
financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with Canadian GAAS, we exercise professional judgment and maintain
professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
●
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud
or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is
sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material
misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve
collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
201
Great-West Lifeco Inc.
February 8, 2023
Page 6
● Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that
are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control.
● Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates
and related disclosures made by management.
● Conclude on the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern basis of accounting and,
based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or
conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we
conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to
the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our
opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report.
However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
● Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the
disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a
manner that achieves fair presentation.
● Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business
activities within the Company to express an opinion on the financial statements. We are responsible for
the direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit
opinion.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope
and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control
that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant
ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other
matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related
safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were
of most significance in the audit of the consolidated financial statements of the current period and are
therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor's report unless law or regulation
precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a
matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would
reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this independent auditor’s report is Paul Stauch.
/s/ Deloitte LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Winnipeg, Manitoba
February 8, 2023
202 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Sources of Earnings
The following is provided in accordance with the OSFI guideline requiring Sources of Earnings (SOE) disclosure. SOE is not an International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) measure. There is no standard SOE methodology. The calculation of SOE is dependent on and sensitive to
the methodology, estimates and assumptions used.
SOE identifies various sources of IFRS net earnings. It provides an analysis of the difference between actual net income and expected net
income based on assumptions made at the beginning of the reporting period. The terminology used in the discussion of sources of earnings
is described below:
Expected Profit on In-Force Business
This component represents the portion of the consolidated net income on business in-force at the start of the reporting period that
was expected to be realized based on the achievement of the best-estimate assumptions. It includes releases of provisions for adverse
deviations, expected net earnings on deposits, and expected net management fees.
Impact of New Business
This component represents the point-of-sale impact on net income of writing new business during the reporting period. This is the
difference between the premium received and the sum of the expenses incurred as a result of the sale and the new liabilities established
at the point of sale.
Experience Gains and Losses
This component represents gains and losses that are due to differences between the actual experience during the reporting period and the
best-estimate assumptions at the start of the reporting period.
Management Actions and Changes in Assumptions
This component represents the impact on net income resulting from management actions, changes in actuarial assumptions or
methodology, changes in margins for adverse deviations, and correction of errors.
Other
This component represents the amounts not included in any other line of the sources of earnings.
Earnings on Surplus
This component represents the earnings on the Company’s surplus funds.
Great-West Lifeco’s sources of earnings are shown below for 2022 and 2021.
Sources of Earnings
(in Canadian $ millions)
For the year ended December 31, 2022
Expected profit on in-force business
Impact of new business
Experience gains and losses
Management actions and changes in assumptions
Other
Earnings on surplus
Net earnings before tax
Taxes
Net earnings before non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests
Net earnings – shareholders
Preferred share dividends
Canada
United
States
Europe
Capital and Risk
Solutions
Lifeco
Corporate
Total
Shareholders net earnings
$
$
1,321
(25)
100
(106)
–
72
1,362
(134)
1,228
–
1,228
(112)
$
1,029
(296)
34
(69)
(157)
(91)
450
9
459
1
460
–
$
855
(78)
235
128
(20)
(56)
1,064
(59)
1,005
(3)
1,002
(18)
$
673
69
(117)
121
–
(66)
680
(18)
662
–
662
–
(21)
–
(4)
–
–
29
4
(7)
(3)
–
(3)
–
(3)
$
3,857
(330)
248
74
(177)
(112)
3,560
(209)
3,351
(2)
3,349
(130)
$
3,219
Net earnings – common shareholders
$
1,116
$
460
$
984
$
662
$
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
203
Sources of Earnings
Sources of Earnings
(in Canadian $ millions)
For the year ended December 31, 2021
Expected profit on in-force business
Impact of new business
Experience gains and losses
Management actions and changes in assumptions
Other
Earnings on surplus
Net earnings before tax
Taxes
Net earnings before non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests
Net earnings – shareholders
Preferred share dividends
Shareholders net earnings
Canada
United
States
Europe
Capital and Risk
Solutions
Lifeco
Corporate
Total
$
$
1,314
(20)
260
(58)
–
41
1,537
(236)
1,301
–
1,301
(114)
$
895
(241)
128
(8)
(190)
(15)
569
(74)
495
4
499
–
$
889
(37)
152
212
(31)
(48)
1,137
(140)
997
(3)
994
(18)
$
691
90
(235)
(20)
–
(24)
502
30
532
–
532
–
$
(18)
–
(21)
–
(68)
(18)
(125)
61
(64)
–
(64)
(2)
3,771
(208)
284
126
(289)
(64)
3,620
(359)
3,261
1
3,262
(134)
Net earnings – common shareholders
$
1,187
$
499
$
976
$
532
$
(66)
$
3,128
Analysis of Results
Expected profit on in-force business is the major driver of earnings. The expected profit on in-force business of $3,857 in 2022 was $86 higher than
2021. The increase year-over-year is primarily a result of the acquisition of Prudential, partially offset by lower fee income due to lower market
values, the negative impact of currency movements and lower provision releases in Capital and Risk Solutions.
The strain on new sales of $330 in 2022 was $122 higher than 2021 primarily due to higher sales expense in the U.S., higher sales expense and
lower sales in Europe, and lower gains on new sales in Capital and Risk Solutions than in prior year.
Experience gains of $248 in 2022 were $36 lower than 2021.
The gains in 2022 were primarily a result of positive investment experience, favourable annuitant mortality experience across all regions,
favourable life mortality experience in Europe, and favourable morbidity experience in Canada. These were partially offset by unfavourable
expense and fee-based experience across all regions, unfavourable policyholder behaviour experience in Canada and Capital and Risk Solutions,
property and casualty losses in Capital and Risk Solutions, and unfavourable life mortality experience in Canada.
The gains in 2021 were primarily a result of positive investment experience, favourable morbidity experience in Canada and Europe, favourable
expense and fee-based experience in the U.S. and favourable annuitant mortality experience across all regions. These were partially offset
by unfavourable life mortality experience in Europe and Capital and Risk Solutions, unfavourable expense and fee-based experience across
Canada, Europe, Capital and Risk Solutions and Lifeco Corporate, property and casualty losses in Capital and Risk Solutions and unfavourable
policyholder behaviour experience in Canada.
Management actions and changes in assumptions contributed $74 to pre-tax earnings in 2022 compared to $126 in 2021. Management actions
and changes in assumptions were $(106) in Canada, $(69) in the U.S., $128 in Europe and $121 in Capital and Risk Solutions.
In Canada, assumption changes and management actions included updated policyholder behaviour assumptions, partially offset by modelling
refinements and mortality and tax assumption updates.
In the U.S., management actions included transaction costs related to the acquisition of Prudential and there were no changes in
assumptions in 2022.
In Europe, assumption changes and management actions included updated longevity, policyholder behaviour, and expense assumptions,
partially offset by updated economic and asset related assumptions.
In Capital and Risk Solutions, assumption changes and management actions included updates to longevity assumptions, partially offset by
mortality and expense assumption updates.
Other of $(177) in 2022 was due to restructuring and integration costs in the U.S. and transaction costs related to acquisitions in the
U.S. and Europe.
Earnings on surplus of $(112) in 2022 was $48 lower than 2021 primarily due to higher financing costs and lower gains on seed capital, partially
offset by higher other investment income.
Taxes of $(209) in 2022 reflected jurisdictional mix of earnings and tax-exempt income.
204 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Five-Year Summary
(in Canadian $ millions except per share amounts)
At December 31
Total assets
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
$ 701,455
$ 630,488
$ 600,490
$ 451,167
$ 427,689
Total assets under administration 1
$ 2,497,712
$ 2,291,592
$ 1,975,847
$ 1,629,681
$ 1,398,873
For the Year Ended December 31
Premiums and deposits:
Total net premiums
Self-funded premium equivalents (Administrative services only contracts)
Segregated funds deposits
Proprietary mutual funds and institutional deposits
Add back: U.S. Individual Life Insurance & Annuity Business –
$
52,821
10,953
40,618
69,787
$
52,813
11,108
29,657
75,225
$
43,019
6,123
21,916
100,287
$
24,510
3,295
24,685
84,259
$
35,461
3,068
24,475
76,258
initial reinsurance ceded premiums
Total premiums and deposits 1
–
–
–
13,889
–
$ 174,179
$ 168,803
$ 171,345
$ 150,638
$ 139,262
Condensed Statements of Earnings
Income
Total net premiums
Net investment income
Regular net investment income
Changes in fair value through profit or loss
Total net investment income (loss)
Fee and other income
Total income
Benefits and expenses
Paid or credited to policyholders
Other 2
Amortization of finite life intangible assets
Restructuring and integration expenses
Earnings before income taxes
Income taxes
Net earnings before non-controlling interests
Attributable to non-controlling interests
Net earnings – shareholders
Preferred share dividends
Net earnings – common shareholders
Earnings per common share
Return on common shareholders’ equity 3
Book value per common share 3
Dividends to common shareholders – per share
$
52,821
$
52,813
$
43,019
$
24,510
$
35,461
8,146
(23,903)
(15,757)
7,598
44,662
29,664
10,679
373
178
3,768
234
3,534
185
3,349
130
3,219
3.455
13.6%
26.60
1.960
$
$
$
$
6,393
(2,083)
4,310
7,294
64,417
50,295
9,829
336
90
3,867
304
3,563
301
3,262
134
3,128
3.365
14.0%
24.71
1.804
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
5,963
5,699
11,662
5,902
60,583
48,487
8,652
238
134
3,072
(82)
3,154
78
3,076
133
2,943
3.173
14.1%
22.97
1.752
6,161
6,946
13,107
7,081
44,698
33,091
8,451
224
52
2,880
373
2,507
15
2,492
133
2,359
2.494
11.7%
21.53
1.652
$
$
$
$
6,358
(3,606)
2,752
5,819
44,032
32,068
8,223
212
67
3,462
387
3,075
(19)
3,094
133
2,961
2.996
14.0%
22.08
1.556
$
$
$
$
1 This metric is a non-GAAP financial measure, does not have standard meanings prescribed by GAAP and is not directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Additional
information regarding this non-GAAP financial measure, including a reconciliation of such non-GAAP financial measure to a measure prescribed by GAAP, is incorporated by reference herein
and can be found in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios section of the Company’s 2022 Annual MD&A, available for review under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
2
Includes commissions, operating and administrative expenses, premium taxes and financing charges.
3 Additional information regarding the composition of this financial measure has been incorporated by reference herein and can be found in the Glossary section of the Company’s 2022 Annual
MD&A, available for review under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
205
Directors and Senior Officers
As of February 8, 2023
Board of Directors
R. Jeffrey Orr 3, 4, 5, 6
Chair of the Board, Lifeco
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Power Corporation of Canada
Michael R. Amend 2, 7
Chief Enterprise Technology Officer,
Ford Motor Company
Deborah J. Barrett, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D 1, 2, 5
Corporate Director
Robin A. Bienfait 1, 7
Chief Executive Officer,
Emnovate
Heather E. Conway 1, 4, 7
Chair of the Board,
Amex Bank of Canada
Marcel R. Coutu 3, 4, 5
Corporate Director
André Desmarais, O.C., O.Q. 3, 4, 7
Deputy Chairman,
Power Corporation of Canada
Paul Desmarais, Jr., O.C., O.Q. 3, 5
Chairman,
Power Corporation of Canada
Gary A. Doer, O.M. 4, 7
Senior Business Advisor,
Dentons Canada LLP
David G. Fuller 2, 5
Corporate Director
Claude Généreux 4, 5
Executive Vice-President,
Power Corporation of Canada
Paula B. Madoff 5, 6
Corporate Director
Paul A. Mahon 6
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Lifeco
Susan J. McArthur 3, 4, 5
Co-Founder and Executive Chair,
LockDocs Inc.
T. Timothy Ryan 3, 4, 7
Corporate Director
Senior Officers
Paul A. Mahon
President and Chief Executive Officer
Arshil Jamal
President and Group Head,
Strategy, Investments, Reinsurance
and Corporate Development
David M. Harney
President and Chief Operating Officer,
Europe
Graham R. Bird
Executive Vice-President and
Chief Risk Officer
Sharon C. Geraghty
Executive Vice-President and
General Counsel
Garry MacNicholas
Executive Vice-President and
Chief Financial Officer
Jeffrey F. Macoun
President and Chief Operating Officer,
Canada
Grace M. Palombo
Executive Vice-President and
Chief Human Resources Officer
Edmund F. Murphy III
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Empower
Steven M. Rullo
Executive Vice-President and
Global Chief Information Officer
Robert L. Reynolds
Chair,
Great-West Lifeco U.S. LLC
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Putnam Investments, LLC
Nancy D. Russell
Senior Vice-President and
Chief Internal Auditor
206 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
Gregory D. Tretiak, FCPA, FCA 6, 7
Executive Vice-President and
Chief Financial Officer,
Power Corporation of Canada
Siim A. Vanaselja, FCPA, FCA 1, 7
Corporate Director
Brian E. Walsh 3, 4, 5, 6
Principal and Chief Strategist,
Titan Advisors, LLC
Committees
1. Audit Committee
Chair: Siim A. Vanaselja
2. Conduct Review Committee
Chair: Deborah J. Barrett
3. Governance and Nominating Committee
Chair: R. Jeffrey Orr
4. Human Resources Committee
Chair: Claude Généreux
5. Investment Committee
Chair: Paula B. Madoff
6. Reinsurance Committee
Chair: Gregory D. Tretiak
7. Risk Committee
Chair: Gregory D. Tretiak
David B. Simmonds
Senior Vice-President and
Global Chief Communications and
Sustainability Officer
Anne C. Sonnen
Senior Vice-President and
Chief Compliance Officer
Raman Srivastava
Executive Vice-President and
Global Chief Investment Officer
Dervla M. Tomlin
Executive Vice-President and
Chief Actuary
Jeremy W. Trickett
Senior Vice-President and
Chief Governance Officer
Shareholder Information
Great-West Lifeco Inc.
Head Office
100 Osborne Street North
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 1V3
Phone: 204 946-1190
Website: greatwestlifeco.com
Stock Exchange Listings
Great-West Lifeco Inc. trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the ticker symbol GWO.
The following shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange:
Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares:
Series G:
Series H:
Series I:
Series L:
Series M:
Series N:
GWO.PR.G
GWO.PR.H
GWO.PR.I
GWO.PR.L
GWO.PR.M
GWO.PR.N
Shareholder Services
Series P:
Series Q:
Series R:
Series S:
Series T:
Series Y:
GWO. PR.P
GWO.PR.Q
GWO.PR.R
GWO.PR.S
GWO.PR.T
GWO.PR.Y
For information or assistance regarding your registered share account, including dividends, changes of address or ownership, share certificates,
direct registration, to eliminate duplicate mailings or to receive shareholder material electronically, please contact our transfer agent in Canada,
the United States, United Kingdom or in Ireland directly. If you hold your shares through a broker, please contact your broker directly.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar of Great-West Lifeco is Computershare Investor Services Inc.
In Canada, the Common Shares are transferable at the following locations:
Canadian Offices
Computershare Investor Services Inc.
100 University Avenue, 8th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
800, 324 8th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 2Z2
1500 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, 7th Floor, Montréal, Québec H3A 3S8
510 Burrard Street, 3rd Floor, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3B9
Phone: 1-888-284-9137 (toll free in Canada and the United States), 514-982-9557 (direct dial)
The Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares, Series G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T and Y are only transferable at the Toronto office of Computershare
Investor Services Inc.
Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
207
Shareholder Information
Internationally, the Common Shares are also transferable at the following locations:
United States Offices
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021
480 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310
462 South 4th Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Phone: 1-888-284-9137 (toll free in Canada and the United States)
United Kingdom Office
Computershare Investor Services PLC
The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS13 8AE
Phone: 0370 702 0003
Ireland Office
Computershare Investor Services (Ireland) Limited
3100 Lake Drive, Citywest, Business Campus, Dublin 24, D24 AK82
Phone: 447 5566
Shareholders wishing to contact the transfer agent by email can do so at GWO@computershare.com.
Investor Information
Financial analysts, portfolio managers and other investors requiring information may contact Investor Relations by emailing
investorrelations@canadalife.com. Financial information may also be accessed at greatwestlifeco.com.
For copies of our annual or quarterly reports, visit greatwestlifeco.com or contact the Corporate Secretar y’s Office at
corporate.secretary@canadalife.com.
Trademarks contained in this report are owned by Great-West Lifeco Inc. or a member of the Power Corporation group of companies. Trademarks not owned by Great-West Lifeco Inc. are used with permission.
208 Great-West Lifeco Inc. 2022 Annual Report
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About UsGreat-West Lifeco Inc. is an international financial services holding company with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management and reinsurance businesses. We operate in Canada, the United States and Europe under the brands Canada Life, Empower, Putnam Investments and Irish Life. At the end of 2022, our companies had approximately 31,000 employees, 234,500 advisor relationships, and thousands of distribution partners – all serving over 38 million customer relationships across these regions. Great-West Lifeco trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the ticker symbol GWO, and is a member of the Power Corporation group of companies. To learn more, visit greatwestlifeco.com.OUR BRANDS 100 Osborne Street NorthWinnipeg Manitoba Canada R3C 1V3greatwestlifeco.comA member of the Power Corporation Group of Companies®E987(22LIFECO)-3/23