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Desjardins Group Pension Plan
The Desjardins Group Pension Plan was established in 1979 to deliver retirement benefits to Desjardins Group employees. Sylvain Gareau serves as VP and...
Desjardins Group Pension Plan
The Desjardins Group Pension Plan was established in 1979 to deliver retirement benefits to Desjardins Group employees. Sylvain Gareau serves as VP and Managing Director and has overseen a shift toward infrastructure assets. The plan is a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment and applies ESG integration and proxy voting across holdings. Allocation includes 7.57 percent to private equity alongside a CAD 3.4 billion infrastructure book and separate real estate portfolios in Toronto and global markets. Named assets comprise the Kingston Solar Project, SM-1 Hydroelectric Facility, and Toba Montrose run-of-river system. Geographic exposure centers on Canada and the United States through joint ventures with EDF Renewables Canada and co-investments alongside Blood Tribe. Desjardins Global Asset Management has served as investment manager since 1998. The plan belongs to the Pension Investment Association of Canada and the Association of Canadian Pension Management and joined the International Centre for Pension Management in 2024. March 2025: Sponsored the DGPP Annual Meeting covering financial health and plan management. The plan combines internal real estate vehicles managed by DGAM with external commitments to funds run by Ardian and TPG. Direct ownership stakes exist in operating companies such as Regional Power Inc. and the Cypress Wind Project, creating a hybrid structure that mixes direct infrastructure control with limited-partner positions.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Year founded
1979
Location
Region
North America
Country
Canada
City
Lévis
Corporate office
200, rue des Commandeurs, Lévis, Quebec, Canada
Principals
Sylvain Gareau
VP and Managing Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Desjardins Group Pension Plan?
Sylvain Gareau serves as VP and Managing Director. He has led the plan's allocation shift toward infrastructure and renewable assets.
How does Desjardins Group Pension Plan source proprietary deal flow?
The plan sources through long-standing joint ventures with EDF Renewables Canada and direct partnerships with First Nations groups such as Blood Tribe on wind projects.
Does Desjardins Group Pension Plan participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The plan makes both fund commitments to managers including Ardian and TPG and holds direct ownership in operating assets such as Regional Power Inc.
What investment stages does Desjardins Group Pension Plan typically target?
The plan targets mature infrastructure and real estate assets with long hold periods, alongside select private equity and venture commitments through external managers.
Which sectors does Desjardins Group Pension Plan explicitly avoid?
No explicit avoidance list appears in available records, though the plan applies exclusionary screening under its PRI commitments.
How is Desjardins Group Pension Plan related to Desjardins Global Asset Management?
DGAM acts as the plan's primary investment manager under contract since 1998 and also runs internal real estate vehicles on its behalf.
Does Desjardins Group Pension Plan maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The Desjardins Foundation operates separately with a focus on youth education and financial literacy across Canada, funded independently of pension assets.
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