Two Desjardins Funds are rewarded at the 2008 Lipper Fund Awards Gala

Lévis (Québec), April 3, 2008 – Desjardins Group, Canada’s largest integrated cooperative financial group, is proud to announce that the Desjardins Environment Fund and the Desjardins Québec Balanced Fund have been awarded prizes at the 2008 Lipper Fund Awards gala event, held in Toronto yesterday. Awarded to funds in 21 countries throughout the world, the Lipper Fund Awards aim at rewarding the investment funds that excel in delivering consistently strong yield performance.

The Desjardins Environment Fund was awarded the first prize in the Canadian equity fund category for its 3-year yield, as at December 31, 2007. On this date, the Desjardins Environment Fund posted a yield of 20.67% for the prize’s target period. The Desjardins Québec Balanced Fund won an award in the Canadian balanced fund category for its 1-year yield, as at December 31, 2007, when its annual return reached 11.36%.

The Desjardins Environment Fund sets itself apart from other Canadian equity funds by its commitment to the environment. This commitment is reflected in the selection of securities that comprise its portfolio, since all of the companies represented actively manage the environmental aspect of their activities. These companies distinguish themselves through their proactivity and their responsible management measures taking the environmental impact of their activities into account.

As to the Desjardins Québec Balanced Fund, one of its distinctive features is that its portfolio, exclusively comprised of shares and bonds of Québec companies, allows it to participate in the expansion of the Québec economy.

The portfolios of the two rewarded Desjardins Funds are managed by Fiera Capital Inc., a Montréal-based portfolio management company with $20 billion in assets under management. Jean-Philippe Choquette ensures the management of the whole of the portfolio of the Desjardins Environment Fund and a portion of the Desjardins Québec Balanced Fund.

Furthermore, with the recent restructuring of the Desjardins Canadian Equity Fund, half of its portfolio was entrusted to Mr. Choquette, while the other half was entrusted to fund manager Picton Mahoney. The two complementary management styles will more profitably serve the objectives of the Fund as well as the interests of the holders.

About Desjardins Group

The largest integrated cooperative financial group in Canada, with global assets of over $144 billion as at December 31, 2007, Desjardins Group consists of a network of caisses/branches, credit unions and financial centres for Quebec– and Ontario-based companies, as well as about 20 subsidiaries in life and general insurance, securities, venture capital, and asset management, many of which are active nationwide. With the skills of its 40,000 employees and the commitment of more than 6,500 elected officers, Desjardins offers its 5.8 million members and clients–individuals and businesses alike–a full range of financial products and services. Its physical distribution network is rounded out by virtual access methods supported by leading-edge technology.

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Source (for journalists only):
André Chapleau
Information and Media Relations Director
514-281-7229
1-866-866-7000, ext. 7229