Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins Partners with Anderson Group

This investment will help support the development plan of this regional beacon and support emerging professionals

MONTREAL, April 26 /CNW Telbec/ - Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins announces it is acquiring 33% of Anderson Group of Chesterville, a major business specialized in the manufacturing of agricultural, forestry and biomass equipment. The investment in this regional leader, which employs more than 70 people, aims at supporting the implementation of emerging professionals and promotes the company's growth, especially in the American agricultural market and the biomass sector on a world scale that show high business potential.

The Anderson Group has the wind in its sails and over the past few years, it welcomed three young professionals aboard its management team: Patrice Desrochers, Luc D'Amours and Frédéric Lavoie. In addition to their energy and entrepreneurship, they brought new expertise to the business, thereby allowing it to offer a new line of innovative products: biomass harvesting equipment. More recently, in order to develop and guide the management team, Capital régional helped the Anderson Group build a Board of Directors consisting of well-known and experienced administrators from the area such as Marcel Dubois, former president of Princecraft boats, Michel Houle, former CEO of agricultural equipment manufacturer Houle et Fils and Michel Baril, a former high-level executive at Bombardier.

"The Anderson Group is a growing SMB, and it is with confidence and enthusiasm that Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins becomes its partner," said Investment Manager Sylvain Limoges. "Mr. Poisson and Mr. Bernier remain the main shareholders of the company but they had the foresight of hiring and training emerging professionals. The management team is based on a rich combination of experience, market knowledge and technical skills and is supported by committed employees. Jointly with the Board of Directors, our role will be to allow emerging professionals to progressively widen their field of activity in addition to contributing to the business plan."

Anderson Group President Dany Poisson added: "The support given by Desjardins gives us wings and helps us secure our financial resources to achieve our expansion plan. We hope to establish ourselves in new emerging markets, which we will serve with our solid portfolio of current products as well as promising and innovative products. Desjardins having so much trust in us shows that it is much more than a financial partner - it is a true business partner."

Over the past few years, Anderson Group has distinguished itself through innovations such as a hydraulic unloading system for inline bale wrappers that is unique on the market and whose patent is pending. The Anderson Group won several innovation awards in Finland and in Québec for its Wraptor product, which combines a self-loading trailer of 14 bales and a high-tech in-line wrapper. This new product is faster and has unprecedented endurance. Finally, this year, the Anderson Group will market globally its integrated concept of a biomass harvester that cuts, shreds, presses and bales wood residue in one single operation.

About Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins

Founded in 2001, Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins is a publicly traded company managed by Desjardins Venture Capital. With over 115,000 shareholders, the Company contributes to Québec's economic development while driving the growth of cooperatives and the resource regions. Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins currently supports more than 225 companies, cooperatives and funds in various industries spanning all Québec regions. (capitalregional.com)

For further information: (for journalists only): André Chapleau, Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins, [phone], 1-866-866-7000, ext. 7229, [email protected]