(November 15 – 16:00 ET) – Desjardins Trust says it launched a new family of mutual funds in October, Maestral Funds. The 10 mutual funds are available through the Laurentian Financial Services network — a subsidiary of Desjardins-Laurentian Life Insurance — and Desjardins Securities.

Those Desjardins caisses that are authorized to sell third party funds will also offer the new funds. The company says the funds will eventually be made available through other networks in Quebec and throughout Canada.

The funds employ a multimanager approach. Most of the funds are managed by at least two major international fund management companies as well as key local managers.

Desjardins Trust has invited ABN AMRO Asset Management, Barclays Global Investors Canada, Elantis Investments (formerly Canagex), CDP World Management, YMG Capital Management, Nicholas-Applegate and Sanford C. Bernstein to put their respective styles to use in managing the funds.

The family includes Canadian, American and global equity funds, emerging technologies fund and fixed income funds.

Desjardins Trust says the name of the family reflects the prestige and excellence that these funds embody. Maestral stems from the words “maestro”, “mastery” and “magisterial”.
-IE Staff