CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Aug 18, 2014) - Desjardins Group, North America's largest cooperative financial group, has appointed commercial real estate services firm JLL (NYSE: JLL) to provide multiple real estate services for the group's 600,000-square-foot corporate office portfolio located in Ontario, the Atlantic provinces and Western Canada. JLL will provide integrated facility management, project development and transactions services for all Desjardins' assets outside the province of Quebec. The partnership will also provide lease administration as well as occupancy planning for the entire Canadian portfolio.

"Agility, service and efficiency are critical characteristics for financial services organizations today," said Joe Brady, Managing Director and co-leader of JLL's Banking Industry group. "With Desjardins' fast-paced growth, we have the most innovative real estate solutions to help the group enhance its agility, boost productivity and achieve its business goals."

Desjardins is growing fast in a number of financial services across Canada. JLL was selected owing to its expert advice and innovative real estate technologies that will support Desjardins' change management and occupancy planning strategies. In addition, JLL brings extensive experience in providing real estate services to more than half of the world's top 25 banks and insurance companies.

"As our organization grows, we require the very best real estate solution to help maintain our momentum and support our growth," said Viviane Garneau, Managing Vice President, Procurement and Real Estate Services at Desjardins. "JLL brings extensive global banking and management experience, as well as a leading technology platform that will help us maximize our service, efficiency and workplace productivity."

A leader in the real estate advisory field, JLL's Corporate Solutions business helps corporations improve productivity in the cost, efficiency and performance of their national, regional or global real estate portfolios by creating partnerships to manage and execute a range of corporate real estate services. This service delivery capability helps corporations improve business performance, particularly as companies turn to third party expertise as a way to manage expenses and enhance profitability.

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About Desjardins Group
 Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the fourth largest cooperative financial group in the world with assets of $223 billion. It has been rated one of Canada's top 100 employers by Mediacorp Canada. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. The group has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry. It is considered as the fourth safest and strongest bank in North America according to Global Finance magazine and the first according to Bloomberg News. Desjardins Group and the International Co-operative Alliance will co-host the 2014 International Summit of Cooperatives (October 6 to 9) to be held in Quebec City.

About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying and investing in real estate. With annual fee revenue of $4.0 billion and gross revenue of $4.5 billion, JLL has more than 200 corporate offices, operates in 75 countries and has a global workforce of approximately 53,000. On behalf of its clients, the firm provides management and real estate outsourcing services for a property portfolio of 3.0 billion square feet, or 280.0 million square meters, and completed $99.0 billion in sales, acquisitions and finance transactions in 2013. Its investment management business, LaSalle Investment Management, has $50.0 billion of real estate assets under management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit www.jll.com.