PINEVILLE, LA. - Cleco Corporation (NYSE: CNL) today announced that it has recently received indications of interest from third parties with respect to a strategic transaction. Cleco has retained Goldman Sachs & Co. and Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. as its financial advisors, and Locke Lord LLP as its legal advisor, to assist the Board of Directors in reviewing and evaluating any proposals and comparing any such proposals to Cleco's standalone strategic plan. The independent members of Cleco's Board of Directors have also retained Hunton & Williams LLP as legal counsel. Consistent with the Board's fiduciary duties, the Company will work with its financial and legal advisors to consider and evaluate these indications of interest and other potential opportunities in comparison to the Company's long-term strategic plan.

The Company has not established a definitive timeline to complete this review and no decision has been reached at this time. There can be no assurance that the review being undertaken will result in a merger or business combination, or a path different from the Company's current strategic plan. The Company does not intend to make any further announcements regarding the review unless and until the Board of Directors has approved a specific transaction or other course of action requiring disclosure.