EX-99.1 2 exhibit99-1.htm EXHIBIT99-1-NR-AGM-VENUE-20MAR2020

JOINT STATEMENT BY CANADIAN BANKS AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES
REGARDING ANNUAL MEETING PLANNING
TORONTO, ON, March 20, 2020 – This is a joint statement issued by BMO, CIBC, Canadian Western Bank, Laurentian Bank, National Bank, RBC, Scotiabank, TD Bank, Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life. Each of us is actively monitoring COVID-19 developments and the directives from public health and government authorities for group gatherings and social distancing, and we have been taking a series of proactive precautionary measures to help support the health and well-being of our employees, clients and the general public. This degree of care and concern extends to all of our shareholders and policyholders, and we have been carefully considering alternatives for our respective annual meetings.
The health and well-being of our employees, clients, investors and communities is our collective priority. In line with the latest directives from public health and government authorities, we have jointly obtained a court order that allows us to hold our annual meetings, in whole or in part, using electronic means. The order permits our meetings to be conducted over one or more of webcasting, teleconference or other electronic means, in each case in addition to, or instead of, an in-person meeting, and permits alternative means for distributing meeting materials. The order was obtained because Canadian banks and insurance companies are not permitted to conduct an electronic annual meeting in lieu of an in-person meeting without relief from the court.
We believe these precautions are prudent measures to protect the health and well-being of our stakeholders, while supporting shareholder and policyholder engagement and their ability to attend and exercise their rights.
The specific arrangements for each annual meeting will be announced separately prior to the scheduled date. We encourage our shareholders and policyholders to visit our websites in advance of our annual meetings for the most current information.

Bank of Montreal
BMO Life Assurance Company
Media Relations
Paul Gammal
(416) 867-3996
paul.gammal@bmo.com
Investor Relations
Jill Homenuk
(416) 867-4770
jill.homenuk@bmo.com

 
The Bank of Nova Scotia
Media Relations
Laura Mergelas
(437) 244-7863 (m) | (416) 285-2639 (o)
laura.mergelas@scotiabank.com
 
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Media Relations
Tom Wallis
(416) 980-4048
tom.wallis@cibc.com
 
Canadian Western Bank
Investor Relations
Chris Williams
(780) 508-8229
chris.williams@cwbank.com










 
Laurentian Bank of Canada
Media Relations
Hélène Soulard
(514) 926-3295 (m)
(514) 284-4500 x 40015 (o)
helene.soulard@lbcfg.ca
 
 
 
National Bank of Canada
Media Relations
Marie-Pierre Jodoin
(514) 394-4209
mariepierre.jodoin@nbc.ca
 
Investor Relations
Marianne Ratté
1-866-517-5455
investorrelations@nbc.ca /
relationsinvestisseurs@bnc.ca
 


Royal Bank of Canada
RBC Life Insurance Company
Media Relations
Gillian McArdle
(416) 842-4231
gillian.mcardle@rbc.com
Investor Relations
Asim Imran
(416) 955-7804
asim.imran@rbc.com
 
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
Media Relations
Julie Bellissimo
(416) 965-6050
julie.bellissimo@td.com
Investor Relations
Gillian Manning
(416) 308-6014
gillian.manning@td.com
 






Great-West Lifeco Inc.
The Canada Life Assurance Company
Media Relations
Liz Kulyk
(204) 926-5012
media.relations@canadalife.com
 
 
Investor Relations
Deirdre Neary
(416) 552-3208
deirdre.neary@canadalife.com


 
Manulife Financial Corporation
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company
Media Relations
Brooke Tucker-Reid
(647) 528-9601
brooke_tucker-reid@manulife.com
 
Investor Relations
Adrienne O’Neill
(416) 926-6997
adrienne_oneill@manulife.com
 
Sun Life Financial Inc.
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
Media Relations
Rajani Kamath
(416) 979-6070
rajani.kamath@sunlife.com
Investor Relations
Leigh Chalmers
(647) 256-8201
investor.relations@sunlife.com