Desjardins Eliminates Front-end Load Fees for External Funds and Northwest & Ethical Funds

Lévis (Québec), February 7, 2008 - Desjardins Group, the largest financial institution in Québec, announced the abolition of front-end load fees for members when they purchase external funds or Northwest & Ethical Funds through the caisse/branch network in Québec and Ontario.

"This new business practice offers greater portfolio management flexibility to members. For purchases made after January 1 this year, there will be no initial purchase or load fees on these funds for members. This means they won't have to keep the funds for seven years in a specific family of funds to avoid paying redemption fees," said Mr. Pierre Moran, Senior Vice-President, Consumer Markets at Desjardins.

The Desjardins caisses/branches offer all the major families of mutual funds in Canada (external funds), in addition to the Desjardins Funds, which are already offered with no load fees and whose assets are $11.8 billion.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the largest integrated cooperative financial group in Canada, with overall assets of $147 billion, as at September 30, 2007. It comprises a network of caisses, credit unions and business centres in Québec and Ontario, and some twenty subsidiary companies in life and general insurance, securities brokerage, venture capital and asset management, many of which are active across the country. Drawing on the expertise of its 40,000 employees and the commitment of nearly 6,800 elected officers, Desjardins offers its 5.8 million individual and corporate members and clients a full range of financial products and services. Its physical distribution network is complemented by leading-edge virtual access methods.

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