| BMO
Financial Group announces the launch of BMO Exchange Traded Funds
(ETFs)
TORONTO, June 4, 2009 – Today
marked the first day of trading for BMO Exchange Traded Funds, making BMO
Financial Group, through Jones Heward Investment Counsel Inc., the only
major Canadian financial group to offer a family of ETFs.
“BMO is a leader in helping clients make sense of financial matters.
We are pleased to provide a home-grown Canadian investment option that
can help investors achieve their financial goals,” said Gilles
Ouellette, President and CEO, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group. “This
is the first phase of our ETF offering, with additional products to come.
Based on the popularity of ETFs world-wide, we anticipate this will contribute
to the growth of BMO’s wealth management business.”
BMO ETFs (www.bmo.com/etfs)
- BMO Canadian
Government Bond Index ETF (BGB) has been designed
to replicate, to the extent possible, the performance of the Citigroup
Canadian Government
Bond Index.
- BMO Dow
Jones Canada Titans 60 Index ETF (BCA) has been designed to replicate,
to the extent possible, the performance of the Dow Jones Canada
Titans 60 Index.
- BMO US
Equity Index ETF (BUE) has been designed to replicate, to the
extent possible, the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap
Index (CAD hedged).
- BMO Dow
Jones DiamondsSM Index ETF (BDJ) has been designed to replicate,
to the extent possible, the performance of the Dow Jones Industrial
Average (CAD hedged).
The BMO US Equity Index ETF and BMO Dow Jones DiamondsSM Index ETF
will hedge their exposure to U.S. dollars. The ETFs are offered through
Jones
Heward Investment Counsel Inc. (Jones Heward), an operating company
within BMO Asset Management, and the trustee and manager of BMO ETFs.
ETFs are similar to index mutual funds, except they are listed and
traded on a stock exchange like regular stocks. Each fund consists
of a basket
of stocks that tracks the performance of a specific market index, such
as the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
About BMO Asset Management
BMO Asset Management is the umbrella structure for BMO Financial Group’s
institutional investment management companies, including Jones Heward
Investment Counsel Inc., Harris Investment Management, Inc., HIM Monegy,
Inc. and Pyrford International Limited. As a group, BMO Asset Management
has $46 billion in assets under management (April 30, 2009). About Jones Heward
Jones Heward Investment Counsel Inc. is a Canadian investment manager
and has over $29 billion in total assets under management as at April
30, 2009. Its clients include pensions, endowments, trusts, insurance
company reserves, corporations and mutual funds. Jones Heward is an
indirect, wholly-owned, subsidiary of Bank of Montreal.
Commissions, management fees and expenses may be associated with mutual
fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual
funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance
may not be repeated.
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news media inquiries, please contact: (416) 867-3996
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