Montrusco Bolton inc. and Desjardins Trust have finalized the agreement under which Desjardins Trust is now the owner of the voting shares of Fonds Croissance Québec inc.

The transaction closed on Friday, September 28. It arose out of the agreement reached on August 17 and was completed after obtaining the required approval of the regulatory authorities and of Fonds shareholders at a general meeting held September 27.

Montrusco Bolton will continue to manage the Fonds Croissance Québec inc. portfolio, as it has since the establishment of the fund in 1987.

From now on, Fonds Croissance Québec inc. is part of the Fonds Maestral family designed for market intermediaries, i.e. securities dealers, life insurers and financial planners. Accordingly, the name of the fund was changed to Fonds Maestral Croissance Québec inc.

The Maestral family, which was launched by Desjardins Trust in October 2000, now includes 11 funds whose portfolios offer investors a wide range of asset categories and ample geographical diversification. The addition of the equity fund that specializes in Quebec companies follows the normal evolution of the fund family while expanding opportunities for the distribution of Fonds Croissance Québec inc.

Sylvain Boulé, president of Montrusco Bolton, and Jean Landry, president of Desjardins Trust said they were pleased to finalize this agreement for the benefit of participants.