News Releases

BMO Innovation Honoured At 16th Annual Canadian Investment Awards

TORONTO, December 3, 2010 – BMO Asset Management Inc. received the Best ETF Initiative award at the 16th annual Canadian Investment Awards, which recognizes the best investment products in the Canadian financial services industry.

BMO Asset Management Inc. won this award due to its success in designing and introducing an extensive line-up of ETFs, as well as introducing a suite of well-diversified ETF-based mutual funds. With comprehensive marketing and sales support behind both initiatives, BMO ETFs have reached $1.35 billion in assets under management in less than two years.

“We are delighted to receive this award and credit the success of BMO ETFs to our innovative product line-up, which provides effective solutions to address the evolving needs of the diverse requirements of investors," said Rajiv Silgardo, CEO, BMO Asset Management Inc. "Our clients' needs are constantly changing and we pride ourselves on our ability to keep pace. With BMO ETFs, investors benefit from lower costs, portfolio transparency and investment flexibility. Our wide breadth of products, combined with the strength of our BMO ETF management team, provides investors with access to some of the premier investment products in the market."

BMO Investments Inc. was also singled out and took the silver award in the Investor Education Award category for BMO's Registered Disabilities Savings Plan (RDSP) offering.

Several other BMO offerings were honoured during the evening, including:

BMO Guardian Asian Growth and Income Fund (Silver, Best Asian Equity Fund)
BMO Guardian Global Bond Fund (Silver, Best Global Fixed Income Fund)
BMO Guardian Global Technology Fund (Silver, Best Science & Technology Equity Fund)
BMO Guardian Enterprise Fund (Bronze, Best Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund)

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly-diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $397 billion as at July 31, 2010, and more than 38,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.

BMO Guardian Funds are offered by BMO Investments Inc., a financial services firm and separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investment. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

� Registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal.

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Media Relations Contacts:
Martha McInnis, Toronto, martha.mcinnis@bmo.com, 416-867-3996
Sarah Bensadoun, Montreal, sarah.bensadoun@bmo.com , 514-877-8224