Readers are referred to the section "Forward-Looking Statements" at the end of this release.

MONTRÉAL, March 4, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Power Financial Corporation ("Power Financial", the "Corporation" or "PFC") (TSX: PWF) today announced its intention to conduct a substantial issuer bid to repurchase for cancellation up to $1.65 billion of its common shares (the "PFC Offer"). The PFC Offer will proceed by way of a modified Dutch auction¹.

Great-West Lifeco Inc. ("Great-West") (TSX: GWO), a subsidiary of the Corporation, announced today its intention to conduct a substantial issuer bid (the "Great-West Offer") to repurchase for cancellation up to $2 billion of its common shares. The Great-West Offer follows Great-West's announcement on January 24, 2019 that it had agreed to sell its U.S. individual life insurance and annuity business. The Great-West Offer allows Great-West to repurchase shares at currently attractive market valuations while maintaining the capital to fund strategic investments to drive growth and profitability. Power Financial intends to support Great-West through its participation in the Great-West Offer by tendering a significant portion of its Great-West shares on a proportionate basis¹ and all remaining tendered shares on a non-proportionate basis¹. Consequently, Power Financial expects its ownership in Great-West will be marginally reduced.

Power Financial's Board of Directors has authorized the Corporation's intention to conduct a substantial issuer bid to repurchase for cancellation up to $1.65 billion of its common shares, allowing the Corporation to repurchase shares at currently attractive market valuations. "The PFC Offer will return capital to shareholders while maintaining Power Financial's strong capital position to fund future growth opportunities," said Jeffrey Orr, President and Chief Executive Officer. Power Financial expects to fund the PFC Offer using the expected receipt of proceeds from the Corporation's participation in the Great-West Offer and the Corporation's available resources.

Power Corporation of Canada ("Power Corporation") (TSX: POW), the Corporation's controlling shareholder, has informed Power Financial that it intends to support the Corporation through its participation in the PFC Offer by tendering a significant portion of its Power Financial shares on a proportionate basis¹ and all remaining tendered shares on a non-proportionate basis¹. Consequently, Power Corporation expects its ownership in Power Financial will be marginally reduced.

Power Financial intends to announce the terms and commence the PFC Offer shortly. Power Financial has engaged BMO Capital Markets as its financial advisor and dealer manager in connection with the PFC Offer. The offer referred to in this news release has not yet commenced. This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell shares.

About Power Financial

Power Financial Corporation is a diversified international management and holding company with interests substantially in the financial services sector in Canada, the United States and Europe. It also has significant holdings in global industrial and services companies based in Europe. Power Financial Corporation is a member of the Power Corporation Group of Companies. To learn more, visit www.PowerFinancial.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements based on certain assumptions and reflect the Corporation's current expectations, or with respect to disclosure regarding Power Corporation and Great-West, reflect their disclosed current expectations. Forward-looking statements are provided to present information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and the reader is cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the strategies and outlook of the Corporation, as well as the Corporation's intention to undertake a substantial issuer bid and the terms thereof, including the maximum dollar value of common shares the Corporation may purchase under the PFC Offer, the timing for launch and completion of the PFC Offer, the sources and availability of funding for the PFC Offer, and the effect of the financing of the PFC Offer on the Corporation's future operations and financial condition.

By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond the Corporation's and its subsidiaries' control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and their businesses, and could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations of estimated or anticipated events or results. These factors include, but are not limited to: the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors in North America and internationally, fluctuations in interest rates, inflation and foreign exchange rates, monetary policies, business investment and the health of local and global equity and capital markets, management of market liquidity and funding risks, risks related to investments in private companies and illiquid securities, risks associated with financial instruments, changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with significant judgments, estimates and assumptions), the effect of applying future accounting changes, business competition, operational and reputational risks, technological changes, cybersecurity risks, changes in government regulation and legislation, changes in tax laws, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings, catastrophic events, the Corporation's and its subsidiaries' ability to complete strategic transactions, integrate acquisitions and implement other growth strategies, the PFC Offer not occurring as expected, including failure of any condition to the PFC Offer, the Corporation's inability to finance the PFC Offer in the intended manner (including due to the unavailability of sufficient funds from the net proceeds of the Great-West Offer, borrowings, available cash on hand and/or other capital resources to fund the PFC Offer, any inability to obtain any required regulatory approvals or exemptive relief), the extent to which shareholders elect to tender their common shares under the PFC Offer, the Corporation having sufficient financial resources and working capital following completion of the PFC Offer, the market for the Corporation's common shares at the completion of the PFC Offer being materially less liquid than the market that exists at the time the PFC Offer is commenced, the PFC Offer launching and/or being completed on time, and the Corporation's and its subsidiaries' success in anticipating and managing the foregoing factors.

The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, including that the list of factors in the previous paragraph, collectively, are not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation and its subsidiaries. While the Corporation considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to management, they may prove to be incorrect.

Other than as specifically required by applicable Canadian law, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.

Additional information about the risks and uncertainties of the Corporation's business and material factors or assumptions on which information contained in forward-looking statements is based is provided in its disclosure materials, including its most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Power Financial Corporation

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