E-L FINANCIAL CORPORATION LIMITED ANNOUNCES FINAL RESULTS OF ITS SUBSTANTIAL ISSUER BID

TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2023 /CNW/ - E-L Financial Corporation Limited (TSX: ELF) (TSX: ELF.PR.F) (TSX: ELF.PR.G) (TSX: ELF.PR.H) (the "Company") announced today that upon the terms and subject to the conditions of its substantial issuer bid (the "Offer"), the Company has taken up and will pay for 90,668 common shares (the "Shares") that were validly deposited to the Offer and not withdrawn at a price of $1,050.00 per Share.

The Shares to be purchased under the Offer represent an aggregate purchase price of approximately $95,201,400 and 2.55% of the total number of the Company's issued and outstanding Shares before giving effect to the Offer. After giving effect to the Offer, the Company has 3,461,722 Shares issued and outstanding.

Payment and settlement of the Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer will be effected by Computershare Investor Services Inc. in accordance with the settlement procedures described in the Offer Documents. As the total number of Shares tendered was less than the total that could have been acquired by the Company under the terms of the Offer, all Shares validly deposited and not withdrawn prior to the expiry of the Offer will be acquired and no proration will be required.

For Canadian federal income tax purposes, a deemed dividend arises on the repurchase of Shares under the Offer. To assist holders of Shares ("Shareholders") in determining the Canadian income tax consequences of the Offer, the Company has determined that for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"), the paid-up capital per Share is estimated to be approximately $18.00 at the time of repurchase under the Offer. Shareholders should review the issuer bid circular dated November 7, 2023 for more information, including information about the tax treatment of deemed dividends (refer to Section 13 "Income Tax Considerations – Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations"). The Company designates the entire amount of the deemed dividend arising from its repurchase of Shares under the Offer as an "eligible dividend" for purposes of the Tax Act.

The "specified amount" for purposes of subsection 191(4) of the Tax Act in respect of each Share is $1,005.00.

Details of the Offer are described in the offer to purchase and issuer bid circular dated November 7, 2023, as well as the related letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery (the "Offer Documents"), copies of which were filed and are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.  

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Company's Shares.

About E-L Financial Corporation Limited

E-L Financial operates as an investment and insurance holding company. In managing its operations, the Company distinguishes between two operating segments, E-L Corporate and Empire Life.

E-L Corporate represents investments in stocks and fixed income securities held directly and indirectly through pooled funds, closed-end investment companies and other investment companies. The investment strategy is to accumulate shareholder value through long-term capital appreciation and dividend and interest income from its investments.

Empire Life is a subsidiary of the Company. Since 1923, Empire Life has provided individual and group life and health insurance, investment and retirement products to Canadians. Empire Life's mission is to make it simple, fast and easy for Canadians to get the investment, insurance and group benefits coverage they need to build wealth, generate income, and achieve financial security.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities regulation. The words "may", "will", "would", "should", "could", "expects", "plans", "intends", "trends", "indications", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "likely" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the settlement of purchases under the Offer. The Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward- looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the results or events mentioned in this press release to differ materially from those that are discussed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general, local economic, and business conditions. All forward-looking information in this press release speaks as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is disclosed in filings with securities regulators filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

SOURCE E-L Financial Corporation

Richard B. Carty, Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, E-L Financial Corporation Limited, Telephone: [phone], Fax: [phone]; Scott Ewert, Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer, E-L Financial Corporation Limited, Telephone: [phone], Fax: [phone]