Ninety One, a global investment manager with C$231 billion in assets under management (as at 09.30.24), today announced that Desjardins Investments Inc. ("DI"), the leading cooperative financial group in Canada, as manager of the Desjardins Funds, has appointed the firm as sub-manager of the C$411 million Desjardins Sustainable International Equity Fund (the Fund).
DI has approved changes to the investment strategy of the Fund to better reflect the philosophy of Ninety One as the sub-portfolio manager, in line with the Ninety One International Franchise Strategy, managed by Lead Portfolio Manager, Elias Erickson. Both the fundamental investment objectives and the risk rating of the Fund remain unchanged. The Fund will align to the approach taken by Ninety One’s International Franchise strategy, with adjustments to align to DI’s responsible investment specific requirements.
Launched in 2019, the Ninety One International Franchise Strategy aims to achieve long-term outperformance primarily through investment in a select number of high-quality, attractively valued, well-run companies outside the US. These companies have enduring competitive advantages, strong balance sheets, dominant market positioning, and low sensitivity to the economic and market cycle.
This mandate strengthens the partnership between DI and Ninety One. In 2023, DI appointed Ninety One as sub-manager to an Emerging Markets Equity Fund.
Katherine Tweedie, Co-Head of North America Institutional Client Group, Ninety One: “Ninety One’s International Franchise strategy seeks to compound investor value faster and more consistently than the broader market across a full market cycle. We believe that a focused, quality-oriented portfolio can be both an attractive alternative and complement to classic investment styles with the potential to deliver desirable, stable outcomes, without sacrificing upside. We look forward to further deepening our partnership with Desjardins Investments as they continue to deliver on their mission as a cooperative financial group contributing to the development of communities, as well as helping them to provide their members and clients with the support they require to be financially empowered. This partnership aligns with our commitment to meeting our clients’ needs while expanding our services and investment capabilities in Canada.”