News Releases

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA--(Marketwire - Aug. 9, 2011) - BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE:BMO)(TSX:BMO), has hired industry veteran Dr. Jim Birchenough as a Managing Director in the firm's Healthcare Equity Research Group. Based in San Francisco, Dr. Birchenough will lead BMO coverage of the U.S. biotechnology sector.

Also joining the firm is Dr. Birchenough's longstanding team of Nicholas Abbott and Charles Whitesell.

"Research coverage of the biotechnology sector is a priority for us as we expand our equity research Healthcare team," said Jack Blackstock, Co-Head of Equity Research, BMO Capital Markets. "The addition of Jim and his team will significantly strengthen our healthcare coverage and enhance the knowledge and investment ideas we bring forth to our clients."

With more than two decades of experience as a physician, pharmaceutical industry veteran and sell side analyst, Dr. Birchenough has covered a broad range of small-, mid- and large-cap biotech companies. He has an emphasis on clinical discovery and emerging technologies and companies and is highly rated in various investor surveys. He holds a Post Graduate Medical Residency and a Medical Doctorate from McMaster University and a Bachelor of Science in Physiology from McGill University.

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider, with over 2,000 employees operating in 15 North American offices and 27 worldwide, offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a part of BMO Financial Group (NYSE:BMO)(TSX:BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with US$437 billion total assets as of April 30, 2011, and more than 45,000 employees as of July 6, 2011.