Desjardins Group 2012 Annual Report and Annual Information Forms of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, Caisse centrale Desjardins and Capital Desjardins inc. are now available

LÉVIS, QC, March 28, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Desjardins Group 2012 Annual Report is now available on the Desjardins website at www.desjardins.com/DesjardinsGroupannualreport. Published only in electronic format, the report presents the year's major achievements and includes a section with the 2012 financial statements.

In addition to the annual report, Desjardins publishes — on the information site SEDAR — the Annual Information Forms of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, Caisse centrale Desjardins and Capital Desjardins inc.

These forms contain information regarding the compensation of those who are the most highly paid at Desjardins Group.

Desjardins Group's compensation policy

According to Desjardins Group's compensation policy, the compensation of the Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer must be comparable to that of executives of some 50 financial cooperatives of a similar size and should be around 75% of the Canadian financial industry's median.

In 2012, Ms. Monique F. Leroux's total compensation was slightly less than that of her peers in cooperative financial groups of the same size, at 98% of the median value. It also stood at 62% of the median value of the Canadian financial market.

Also of note, the President's compensation is 38 times that of the average employee.

In 2012, Ms. Leroux, earned a salary of $1,047,729 ($983,220 in 2011), plus an annual incentive pay of $1,112,663 ($1,095,982). Compensation also includes an amount of $1,180,021 ($1,001,656) resulting from commitments to her pension plan, for a total compensation of $3.3 million ($3.1 million). Ms. Leroux is not eligible for the long-term incentive plan available to senior executives.

"Under Ms. Leroux's leadership, Desjardins has continued to grow in its various business segments and across Canada, where it has an ever-increasing presence," said Denis Paré, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Committee on the Aggregate Remuneration of the President and Chief Executive Officer of Desjardins Group. "In addition, the Board of Directors found that Ms. Leroux's performance surpassed the objectives entrusted to her."

Monique Leroux's five major strategic objectives for Desjardins Group were related to the further development of its governance, cooperative development and education, financial performance, overall growth and development, and employee and elected officer engagement.

"Ms. Leroux's efforts during the International Summit of Cooperatives and throughout the International Year of Cooperatives helped to significantly increase the visibility of Desjardins Group and cooperation — not only in Canada, but on a global scale," added Mr. Paré.

Advisory vote

Finally, during this year's Annual General Meeting with caisse delegates, Desjardins Group will introduce an advisory vote on a general approach of compensation of executives, management and non-management staff alike.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada with assets of nearly $200 billion. Drawing on the strength of its caisse network in Québec and Ontario and its subsidiaries across Canada, it offers a full range of financial products and services to its members and clients. Desjardins specializes in Wealth Management and Life and Health Insurance, in Property and Casualty Insurance, in Personal Services, in Business and Institutional Services. Best Corporate Citizen in Canada for 2012 and among Canada's Top 100 Employers, Desjardins is supported by the skills of its 44,942 employees and the commitment of 5,268 elected officers. Desjardins members and the general public are invited to visit Desjardins Group's education and cooperation program website at www.desjardins.com/co-opme.

SOURCE: DESJARDINS GROUP

Information (for journalists only):
André Chapleau
Media Relations
Desjardins Group
514-281-7229 or 1-866-866-7000, ext. 7229
[email protected]