Desjardins Securities, the brokerage arm of Desjardins Group, is making major inroads into the fixed income market. Not only has the firm increased its share in the distribution of Hydro-Québec and Quebec government bonds, but it has just been promoted to a position in the management group of the debt syndicate whose mandate is to sell Quebec fixed income securities on the Quebec, Canadian and foreign markets.


“We are very happy about this news, which recognizes the significant progress we have made in the last two years. Among other things, this new step could enable us to participate in new issues as joint market leader starting in 2007,” said Steven Shelton, senior vp of the Fixed Income group of Desjardins Securities, in a news release.

The company, which manages $16 billion in assets, has 42 full-service securities brokerage offices and employs more than 1,200 people, including 309 investment advisors throughout Quebec and Ontario.