News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 1, 2013) - Sixteen BMO investment funds have been recognized by Fundata Canada Inc. with FundGrade A+ ratings, signifying consistent top performance - with risk-adjusted returns - in a calendar year.

The recognitions were announced at the Fundata A+ Awards, held on January 24, 2013 in Toronto and January 28, 2013 in Vancouver. Fundata Canada Inc. is a leading data provider which distributes fund and stock information in Canada.

The following BMO investment funds achieved the prestigious A+ ranking:

• BMO European Fund
• BMO Global Infrastructure Index ETF
• BMO Guardian Asian Growth and Income Class
• BMO Guardian Asian Growth and Income Fund
• BMO Emerging Markets Fund
• BMO Guardian Growth Solution
• BMO Guardian Income Solution
• BMO Guardian Monthly High Income Fund II
• BMO International Value Class
• BMO LifeStage Plus 2015 Fund
• BMO LifeStage Plus 2020 Fund
• BMO LifeStage Plus 2025 Fund
• BMO Long Corporate Bond Index ETF
• BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Hedged to CAD Index ETF
• BMO S&P/TSX Equal Weight Banks Index ETF
• BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF

"We're thrilled that sixteen of our funds have been recognized by Fundata for their impressive performance," said Ross Kappele, Executive Vice President & Head of Retail Distribution, BMO Asset Management Inc. "The depth of our fund lineup has captured the attention of investors, advisors and institutions; it reflects the ongoing commitment of our team in addressing and anticipating the needs of investors and developing innovative solutions to help them achieve their financial goals."

For more information on Fundata FundGrade A+ Ratings, please visit http://fundata.com/ProductsServices/FundgradeAPlusList.aspx.

For more information on investing at BMO, please visit: www.bmo.com/investments.

Get the latest BMO press releases via Twitter by following @BMOmedia.

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 $525 billion as at October 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.

BMO Mutual Funds and BMO Guardian Funds are offered by BMO Investments Inc., a financial services firm and separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal.

BMO ETFs are managed and administered by BMO Asset Management, a portfolio manager and investment fund manager and separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in mutual funds or investments in exchange traded funds. Please read the appropriate mutual fund or exchange traded fund prospectus before investing. Mutual funds and exchange traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

"S&P®" is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and "TSX" is a trade-mark of TSX Inc. These and other associated trade-marks and/or service marks have been licensed for use by BMO Asset Management Inc. None of the BMO ETFs are sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by any of its aforementioned trade-mark owners and the related index providers, or their respective affiliates or their third-party licensors, and these entities make no representation, warranty or condition regarding the advisability of buying, selling or holding units in the BMO ETFs.

Nasdaq®, OMX®, NASDAQ OMX®, Nasdaq-100®, and Nasdaq-100 Index®, are registered trademarks of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (which with its affiliates is referred to as the "Corporations") and are licensed for use by BMO Asset Management Inc. The BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Hedged to CAD Index ETF has not been passed on by the Corporations as to its legality or suitability and is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO The BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Hedged to CAD Index ETF.