Desjardins Awarded by Fundata for 16 FundGrade A+® Trophies 2020

MONTREAL, Jan. 22, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Seven Desjardins mutual funds and one Desjardins exchange-traded fund (ETF) were recognized for their sustained performance during 2020 at the annual FundGrade A+® Awards ceremony held today by Fundata Canada Inc. In addition, seven Desjardins Guaranteed Investment Funds (GIFs) were awarded. Among the winners, one Desjardins Fund was also awarded in the responsible investment category for a RI FundGrade A + ®.

16 FundGrade A+® Trophies 2020 for Desjardins Group (CNW Group/Desjardins Group)

The FundGrade A+® Awards celebrate Canadian funds that displayed the best risk-adjusted returns and maintained high FundGrade scores throughout an entire calendar year.

"We're very honoured and proud that our mutual funds, ETFs and guaranteed investment funds are recognized by Fundata. Our products demonstrate Desjardins' commitment to providing our members and clients with investment solutions that meet their needs and objectives," said Jean-François Girard, Director, Mutual Fund and Guaranteed Investment Development at Desjardins.

The following mutual fund offered by Desjardins Investments Inc. has obtained Fundata's RI FundGrade A+® rating:

Fund Name	CIFSC Category*	FundGrade Start Date**	Fund Count
Desjardins SocieTerra American Equity Fund A Class	US Equity	1/31/2017	888

The following mutual funds offered by Desjardins Investments Inc. were awarded Fundata's FundGrade A+® rating:

Fund Name	CIFSC Category*	FundGrade Start Date**	Fund Count
Desjardins Global Tactical Bond Fund A Class	High Yield Fixed Income	1/31/2014	254
Melodia Moderate Growth Portfolio A Class	Global Fixed Income Balanced	1/31/2014	436
Desjardins American Equity Growth Fund A Class	US Equity	1/31/2011	888
Desjardins SocieTerra American Equity Fund A Class	US Equity	1/31/2017	888
Desjardins Overseas Equity Growth Fund A Class	International Equity	1/31/2011	391
Desjardins Global Equity Growth Fund A Class	Global Equity	1/31/2016	1223
Desjardins SocieTerra Cleantech Fund A Class	Global Small/Mid Cap Equity	1/31/2017	171

The following ETF offered by Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. was awarded Fundata's FundGrade A+® rating:

Fund Name	CIFSC Category*	FundGrade Start Date**	Fund Count
Desjardins 1-5 year Laddered Canadian Government Bond Index ETF (DCG)	Canadian Short-Term Fixed Income	1/31/2018	170

The following guaranteed investment funds (GIFs) offered by Desjardins Financial Security, Life Insurance Company were awarded Fundata's FundGrade A+® rating:

Fund Name	CIFSC Category*	FundGrade Start Date**	Fund Count
DFS GIF - Maximum Growth Series 6	Global Equity Balanced	1/31/2015	830
DFS GIF - Moderate Series 6	Canadian Fixed Income Balanced	1/31/2015	610
DFS GIF - Balanced - Series 6	Canadian Neutral Balanced	1/31/2015	876
DFS GIF - Balanced - Desjardins SocieTerra Ser 5	Canadian Neutral Balanced	1/31/2016	876
DFS GIF - Canadian Balanced - Fiera Series 1	Canadian Equity Balanced	1/31/2011	492
DFS GIF - Canadian Equity - Fidelity True North 3	Canadian Equity	1/31/2011	408
DFS GIF - International Equity Growth -Desjardins 5	International Equity	1/31/2013	243

*	The Canadian Investment Funds Standards Committee (CIFSC) is a Canadian independent organization that defines the categories of funds.
**	The end date for the FundGrade calculation is December 31, 2020 for the period from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the sixth largest in the world, with assets of $359.9 billion ¹. It has been rated one of Canada's Top 100 Employers by Mediacorp. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the World's Strongest Banks according to The Banker magazine, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.

1-	Desjardins Group assets are in Canadian dollars as at September 30, 2020.

FundGrade A+® is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. The FundGrade A+® Awards are presented annually by Fundata Canada Inc. to Canadian investment funds that achieve consistently high FundGrade scores through an entire calendar year. The FundGrade A+® calculation is supplemental to the monthly FundGrade ratings and is calculated at the end of each calendar year. The FundGrade rating system evaluates funds based on their risk-adjusted performance, measured by Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio and Information Ratio. The score for each ratio is calculated individually, covering all time periods from 2 to 10 years. The scores are then equally weighted in calculating a monthly FundGrade rating. The FundGrade ratings are divided between five tranches from "A Grade" (superior performance) to "E Grade" (lower performance). The top 10% of funds earn an A Grade; the next 20% of funds earn a B Grade; the next 40% of funds earn a C Grade; the next 20% of funds receive a D Grade; and the lowest 10% of funds receive an E Grade. To be eligible, a fund must have received a FundGrade rating every month in the previous year. The FundGrade A+® uses a GPA (Grade Point Average)-style calculation, where each monthly FundGrade rating from "A" to "E" receives a score from 4 to 0, respectively. A fund's average score for the year determines its GPA. Any fund with a GPA of 3.5 or greater is awarded a FundGrade A+® Award. The FundGrade grades are subject to change each month. For more information, please see the web site www.FundGradeAwards.com. Although Fundata makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Fundata.

The Desjardins Funds are not guaranteed, their value fluctuates frequently, and their past performance is not indicative of their future returns. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns, including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not consider sales, redemption, distribution or other optional charges, or income taxes payable by any security holder, that would have reduced returns. The Desjardins Funds are offered by registered dealers.

The Desjardins Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are not guaranteed, their value fluctuates frequently, and their past performance is not indicative of their future returns. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in exchange traded funds. Please read the prospectus before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns, including changes in security value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not consider sales, redemption, distribution or other optional charges, or income taxes payable by any security holder, that would have reduced returns. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. is the manager and portfolio manager of the Desjardins ETFs. The Desjardins ETFs are offered by registered dealers.

The Desjardins brand is a trademark of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, used under licence.

DFS Guaranteed Investment Funds are established by Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company. Helios and DFS Guaranteed Investment Funds are registered trademarks of Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company. DESJARDINS INSURANCE refers to Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company. DESJARDINS, DESJARDINS INSURANCE and related trademarks are trademarks of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec used under license by Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company.

SOURCE Desjardins Group

(media inquiries only): Desjardins Group Public Relations, 514-281-7000 or 1-866-866-7000, ext. 5553436, [email protected]

Related Links

https://www.desjardins.com/