Guardian Capital Group Limited Obtains Final Court Approval for Plan of Arrangement

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TORONTO, Oct. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Guardian Capital Group Limited (“Guardian”) (TSX: GCG) (TSX: GCG.A) is pleased to announce that today it has obtained a final order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) approving the previously-announced plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the “Arrangement”), pursuant to which Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. (the “Purchaser”), an affiliate of Desjardins Group, will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Common shares and Class A shares of Guardian (together, the “Shares”), other than certain Shares owned by specified Shareholders who entered into equity rollover agreements, for C$68.00 per Share in cash.

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Receipt of the final order follows Guardian’s special meeting of holders of Shares (the “Shareholders”) held on October 23, 2025, where a special resolution approving the Arrangement was overwhelmingly approved by Shareholders.

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Remaining Conditions to Completion of the Arrangement

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Completion of the Arrangement remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions that are set out in the arrangement agreement entered into between Guardian and the Purchaser on August 28, 2025 (as amended, the “Arrangement Agreement”), including receipt of regulatory approvals (including under the Competition Act (Canada)). Subject to obtaining the regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction or waiver of the other closing conditions in the Arrangement Agreement, the Arrangement is anticipated to close in the first half of 2026.

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About Guardian Capital Group Limited

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Guardian Capital Group Limited (Guardian) is a global investment management company servicing institutional, retail and private clients through its subsidiaries. As at June 30, 2025, Guardian had C$164.1 billion of total client assets while managing a proprietary investment portfolio with a fair market value of C$1.25 billion. Founded in 1962, Guardian’s reputation for steady growth, long-term relationships and its core values of authenticity, integrity, stability and trustworthiness have been key to its success over six decades. Its Common and Class A shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange as GCG and GCG.A, respectively. To learn more about Guardian, visit www.guardiancapital.com.

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Forward-Looking Information

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This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to our future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include information regarding our financial position, business strategy, growth strategy, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividend policy, plans and objectives. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities is forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “targets”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “an opportunity exists”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “outlook”, “forecasts”, “projection”, “prospects”, “strategy”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “does not anticipate”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will”, “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expected participation in equity rollover arrangements, receipt of regulatory approvals (including under the Competition Act (Canada)), and the completion of the Arrangement.