News Releases

BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (TSX, NYSE: BMO), continues its expansion in the United States with the hiring of two senior individuals who will each lead an important line of business for the firm.

In Chicago, Scott Humphrey has been appointed Executive Managing Director and Head of U.S. Mergers & Acquisitions. BMO Capital Markets has also hired Tod Benton as Managing Director and Head of the firm's Energy & Power Group, based in Houston. Both have extensive industry experience and deep sector knowledge.

“The appointments of Scott and Tod will greatly help BMO Capital Markets accelerate our growth in the U.S., a key priority for 2007. They will also be instrumental in our efforts to increase our market share while continuing to provide our clients with the flawless execution they expect,” said Tom Milroy, Co-President of BMO Capital Markets.

“There are a number of factors driving record levels of M&A activity and we expect that pace to continue. Scott's talent will help us expand our presence in this important area of the market,” said Eric Tripp, Co-President of BMO Capital Markets. “Likewise, with the success of transactions such as last year's Petrohawk / KCS Energy merger deal, we have high expectations for the future of the energy sector. Tod's expertise will help fuel our continued momentum in this area.”

Humphrey will work with a growing base of clients from a broad range of sectors in identifying strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, create liquidity and / or enter new markets. He will oversee a team of more than 20 M&A professionals based in key client centers that include Chicago, New York and Houston. He will also work closely with the firm's M&A Group in Canada to help clients capitalize on cross-border strategies.

Humphrey has more than a decade of experience at a senior level and has advised on numerous middle market transactions. He joins from Deutsche Bank, where he spent nearly ten years in the M&A Group, including most recently as the Managing Director and lead senior banker responsible for the Chicago M&A Group. Prior to that role, Humphrey spent seven years in New York City with Deutsche Bank, having joined through BT Wolfensohn (the M&A Group of Bankers Trust). Humphrey is a graduate of the University of Arizona in Tucson.

On the energy front, Benton will manage a team of more than 35 professionals dedicated to serving clients engaged in the energy and power business across the United States. Benton has more than 20 years of experience in the energy and power industry. In his most recent role, he was Managing Director and Head of Corporate Banking for the Energy, Utility and Chemical Industry Group of Deutsche Bank. Prior to that, he worked at J.P. Morgan, where he held increasingly senior positions focused on the energy sector. Benton earned his MBA in Finance from the University of Houston and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Youngstown State University in Ohio.

About BMO Capital Markets' M&A Group
BMO Capital Markets combines the agility of an M&A boutique with the resources and industry connections of a large financial institution. Each member of the BMO Capital Markets M&A Group, totalling more than 50 professionals across North America, offers specialized expertise in industries such as Business Services, Commercial & Industrial, Construction, Consumer & Leisure, Diversified Industries, Energy & Power, Financial Institutions, Financial Sponsors, Food, Forest Products, Government, Healthcare, Media, Communications & Technology, Metals & Mining, and Real Estate. To learn more about BMO Capital Markets' M&A Group, visit:
www.bmocm.com/products/investment/advisory/default.aspx

About BMO Capital Markets' U.S. Energy & Power Group
For over 40 years, BMO Capital Markets has been working with companies engaged in the North American energy and power business. Clients of the firm include publicly traded exploration and production, power, utility and pipeline companies; publicly traded master limited partnerships, royalty and income trusts; and private companies engaged in the energy and power business. To learn more about BMO Capital Markets' Energy & Power Group, visit: www.bmocm.com/industry/us/energy/default.aspx.

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