Desjardins Investments Makes Changes to Its Mutual Fund Lineup
Montreal, December 3, 2024 – Desjardins Investments Inc. ("DI"), as manager of the Desjardins Funds, announces changes to its mutual fund lineup. These changes, described in detail below, include amendments to its line of Wise ETF Portfolios as well as the withdrawal of one of the sub-managers for the Desjardins Global Small Cap Equity Fund and a reduction to the maximum exposure to foreign securities for the Desjardins Dividend Growth Fund.
DI regularly reviews its mutual fund's offer to ensure they continue to meet the evolving investment needs of financial advisors and investors.
- Wise ETF Portfolios
DI announces amendments regarding the Wise Conservative ETF Portfolio, the Wise Moderate ETF Portfolio (formerly Wise Balanced ETF Portfolio), the Wise Balanced 50 ETF Portfolio, the Wise Growth ETF Portfolio, the Wise Aggressive ETF Portfolio (formerly Wise Maximum Growth ETF Portfolio) and the Wise 100 % Equity ETF Portfolio (individually a "Wise ETF Portfolio", and collectively, the "Wise ETF Portfolios").
These amendments include, among others, changes to the investment strategies and a name change of the Wise ETF Portfolios as well as a reduction of the management fees and trailing commissions for certain unit classes of the Wise ETF Portfolios. The changes described below will take effect on or around March 10, 2025.
- Changes to the investment strategies of the Wise ETF Portfolios
On or about March 10, 2025, the Manager will amend the investment strategies of the Wise ETF Portfolios such that the Portfolio Manager will invest almost all of the Wise ETF Portfolios' assets in securities of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that use passive management strategies. However, both the fundamental investment objective and the risk rating of the Wise ETF Portfolios remain unchanged.
- Change of names of the Wise ETF Portfolios
As part of these changes, DI also plans to rename the Wise ETF Portfolios as follows:
CURRENT NAMES | NEW NAMES |
Wise Conservative ETF Portfolio | Desjardins Conservative ETF Portfolio |
Wise Moderate ETF Portfolio | Desjardins Moderate ETF Portfolio |
Wise Balanced 50 ETF Portfolio | Desjardins Balanced ETF Portfolio |
Wise Growth ETF Portfolio | Desjardins Growth ETF Portfolio |
Wise Aggressive ETF Portfolio | Desjardins Aggressive ETF Portfolio |
Wise 100% Equity ETF Portfolio | Desjardins Global Equity ETF Portfolio |
- Reduced management fees for the C- and F-Class Units of the Wise ETF Portfolios
DI is also announcing, in connection with the above-mentioned changes, a reduction of the management fees for the C- and F-Class Units of the Wise ETF Portfolios as follows:
| CURRENT MANAGEMENT FEES* | MANAGEMENT FEES* STARTING MARCH 10, 2025 | REDUCTIONS (%) |
Desjardins Funds (C-Class Units) | |||
Wise Conservative ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | 1.33% | 1.32% | (0.01) |
Wise Moderate ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | 1.33% | 1.32% | (0.01) |
Wise Balanced 50 ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | 1.36% | 1.35% | (0.01) |
Wise Growth ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | 1.38% | 1.37% | (0.01) |
Wise Aggressive ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | 1.38% | 1.37% | (0.01) |
Wise 100% Equity ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | 1.43% | 1.42% | (0.01) |
Desjardins Funds (F-Class Units) | |||
Wise Conservative ETF Portfolio (F-Class Units) | 0.33% | 0.32% | (0.01) |
Wise Moderate ETF Portfolio (F-Class Units) | 0.33% | 0.32% | (0.01) |
Wise Balanced 50 ETF Portfolio (F-Class Units) | 0.36% | 0.35% | (0.01) |
Wise Growth ETF Portfolio (F-Class Units) | 0.38% | 0.37% | (0.01) |
Wise Aggressive ETF Portfolio (F-Class Units) | 0.38% | 0.37% | (0.01) |
Wise 100% Equity ETF Portfolio (F-Class Units) | 0.43% | 0.42% | (0.01) |
* Not including applicable taxes |
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- Reduced trailing commissions for the C-Class Units of certain Wise ETF Portfolios
DI is also announcing, in connection with the above-mentioned changes, a reduction of the trailing commissions for the C-Class Units of certain Wise ETF Portfolios as follows:
| CURRENT MANAGEMENT FEES | ANNUAL RATES STARTING MARCH 10, 2025 | REDUCTIONS (%) |
Wise Conservative ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | Up to 1.00 % | Up to 0.80 % | (0.20) |
Wise Moderate ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | Up to 1.00 % | Up to 0.80 % | (0.20) |
Wise Balanced 50 ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | Up to 1.00 % | Up to 0.90 % | (0.10) |
Wise Growth ETF Portfolio (C-Class Units) | Up to 1.00 % | Up to 0.90 % | (0.10) |
- Desjardins Global Small Cap Equity Fund
- Withdrawal of one of the sub-managers of Desjardins Global Small Cap Equity Fund
DI announces the withdrawal of the portfolio sub-manager Grandeur Peak Global Advisors LLC (“Grandeur Peak”). Wellington Management Canada ULC will continue to act as the Fund's sole portfolio sub-manager and will assume management of the portfolio assets effective on or about February 10, 2025.
- Adjustments to the investment strategies of the Desjardins Global Small Cap Equity Fund
On or about February 10, 2025, DI will adjust the investment strategies of the Fund to reflect the withdrawal of the sub-manager. As a result of these adjustments, the maximum net assets that the Fund may invest in emerging markets securities will be reduced from 20% to 15%. However, both the fundamental investment objective and the risk rating of the Fund remain unchanged.
- Reduced management fees for the A-, C-, F- and D-Class Units of the Desjardins Global Small Cap Equity Fund
DI is also announcing, in connection with the above-mentioned changes, a reduction of the management fees for the A-, C-, F- and D-Class Units of the Desjardins Global Small Cap Equity Fund, effective on or around January 20, 2025, as follows :
| CURRENT MANAGEMENT FEES* | MANAGEMENT FEES* STARTING JANUARY 20, 2025 | REDUCTIONS (%) |
Desjardins Funds (A- and C-Class Units) | |||
Global Small Cap Equity (A- and C-Class Units) | 1.91% | 1.88% | (0.03) |
Desjardins Funds (F-Class Units) | |||
Global Small Cap Equity (F-Class Units) | 0.75% | 0.74% | (0.01) |
Desjardins Funds (D-Class Units) | |||
Global Small Cap Equity (Parts de catégorie D) | 0.91% | 0.88% | (0.03) |
* Not including applicable taxes |
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- Desjardins Dividend Growth Fund
On or about January 20, 2025, DI will amend the investment strategies of the Desjardins Dividend Growth Fund to reduce the maximum permitted exposure to foreign securities from 20% to 10%.
The above-mentioned changes with respect to the Wise ETF portfolios, the Desjardins Global Small Cap Equity Fund and the Desjardins Dividend Growth Fund will be made subject to approval from the regulatory authorities. DI reserves the right to suspend or defer the implementation of said changes to a later date.
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 may all be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Desjardins Funds are offered by registered dealers.
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