Power Corp. of Canada's board approved a quarterly dividend of 43.30 Canadian cents per common share, up from the payout of 41.25 cents per share in the year-ago period.

Net earnings and adjusted net earnings attributable to common shareholders came in at C$586 million, or 82 cents per share, in the first quarter, compared with net earnings of C$484 million, or 68 cents per share, and adjusted net earnings of C$501 million, or 70 cents per share, in the prior-year quarter.