News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO and CHICAGO, ILLINOIS--(Marketwire - Oct. 17, 2012) - BMO Financial Group has been named to the Carbon Disclosure Project's 2012 Canada 200 Carbon Performance Leadership Index (CPLI). As the only company to make the list, BMO was also awarded the highest carbon disclosure score on the list of the top 20 companies ranked in the 2012 Canada 200 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI).

The CDLI recognizes companies and organizations for their approach to disclosing climate change strategies, while the CPLI recognizes only the companies that are taking positive measures to mitigate the effects their operations have on climate change.

According to the Carbon Disclosure Project, companies included in both indexes typically show a deeper understanding of, and address more pro-actively, the risks and opportunities presented by climate change.

"BMO is extremely proud to be listed in both the Canada 200 CPLI and CDLI," said Jim Johnston, Director, Environmental Sustainability & Compliance, BMO Financial Group. "This recognition reflects BMO's ongoing commitment to good carbon management and to disclosing information on corporate climate change issues."

BMO and the Environment:

BMO achieved enterprise-wide carbon neutrality relative to its energy consumption and transportation emissions in August 2010 by targeting emissions reductions, purchasing renewable energy and using carbon credits to offset the remainder.

BMO is one of the initial investors in the Greening Canada Fund (GCF), the first-ever voluntary carbon emissions reduction fund aimed exclusively at large Canadian corporations. The fund provides direct access to high-quality carbon offset credits and helps BMO support Canadian-based energy efficiency projects in Canadian public schools, hospitals and community housing. BMO's initial investment commitment in the fund was $10 million.

BMO is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Series Index. BMO has also been included on the Maclean's/Jantzi-Sustainalytics list of the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations in Canada and Corporate Knights Magazine's Best 50 Corporate Citizens.

To review BMO's environmental performance data, visit www.bmo.com/environment.

About CDP

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the only global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information. CDP harnesses the power of market forces, including 655 institutional investors with assets of US$78 trillion, to collect information from companies on their greenhouse gas emissions and assessment of climate change and water risk and opportunity. CDP now holds the largest collection globally of primary climate change and water data and puts these insights at the heart of strategic business, investment and policy decisions. Please visit www.cdproject.net to find out more.

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 $542 billion as at July 31, 2012, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.