BMO Asset Management Inc. Launches First ETF in Canada to Provide Exposure to Robert Shiller's CAPE Ratio

• New ETF (Ticker: ZEUS) leverages an equal-weight strategy that combines value and momentum
• BMO AM also introduces a suite of value ETFs, plus the first ETF in Canada to offer access to unhedged U.S. high yield bonds
• BMO AM's ETF business now stands at 95 ETF listings in Canada

TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2017 /CNW/ - BMO Asset Management Inc. (BMO AM) today introduced five new Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

Among the new funds is BMO Shiller Select US Index ETF (Ticker: ZEUS), a Canadian industry-first ETF that offers exclusive access to the Cyclically Adjusted Price Earnings (CAPE) methodology – an equal-weight strategy that combines value and momentum, leveraging the research of Professor Robert Shiller.

"The Shiller Barclays CAPE US Single Stock Index tracks seasoned companies – what I call 'Old Standbys' – that also show good value by the CAPE ratio," said Robert Shiller, Professor of Economics and Finance at Yale University. "It is a different approach to value investing and was designed to identify stocks that are well established and relatively forgotten, with a long history of earnings but underpriced in the market."

"We're thrilled to draw upon Professor Shiller's renowned scientific and academic research to offer this unique ETF," said Kevin Gopaul, Head of Quantitative Strategies & ETFs, BMO Global Asset Management. "As a leading provider of ETFs, we are committed to offering solutions that go beyond traditional exposures while staying relevant in today's market."

Other ETFs launched include:

BMO MSCI Canada Value Index ETF (Ticker: ZVC): This ETF offers investors factor-based access to Canadian companies with higher value characteristics relative to their peers.

BMO MSCI EAFE Value Index ETF (Ticker: ZVI): This fund provides investors factor-based access to international companies with higher value characteristics relative to their peers.

BMO MSCI USA Value Index ETF (Ticker: ZVU): This ETF offers investors factor-based access to U.S. companies with higher value characteristics relative to their peers.

BMO High Yield US Corporate Bond Index ETF (Ticker: ZJK): The first ETF in Canada to offer investors access to unhedged U.S. high yield corporate bonds. With the existing hedged version, BMO High Yield US Corporate Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF (ZHY), investors now have more choice when accessing high yield corporate bonds.

The offering of the new ETFs has closed, and they will begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange today.

With this announcement, BMO AM's ETF business now has 95 ETFs in Canada and has a 31.6 per cent share of the market, according to Bloomberg data.

Further information about BMO ETFs can be found at www.bmo.com/etfs.

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

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

The funds or securities referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI Inc., and MSCI Inc. bears no liability with respect to any such funds or securities or any index on which such funds or securities are based. The prospectus of each exchange traded fund contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship that MSCI Inc. has with BMO Asset Management Inc. and any related exchange traded fund.

The Shiller Barclays CAPE US Single Stock Index is the intellectual property of Barclays Bank PLC and has been licensed for use in connection with the BMO Mutual Funds and BMO ETFs.  The BMO Mutual Funds and BMO ETFs are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Barclays Bank PLC or any of its affiliates. Neither Barclays Bank PLC nor any of its affiliates makes any representations or warranties to holders of the BMO Mutual Funds and BMO ETFs or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the BMO Mutual Funds and BMO ETFs. 

The Shiller Barclays CAPE Single Stock Index Family has been developed in part by RSBB-I, LLC, the research principal of which is Robert J. Shiller. RSBB-I, LLC is not an investment advisor, and does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the Shiller Barclays CAPE Single Stock Index Family, or any data or methodology either included therein or upon which it is based.  Neither RSBB-I, LLC nor Robert J. Shiller shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, and makes no warranties, express or implied, as to performance or results experienced by any party from the use of any information included therein or upon which it is based, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect thereto, and shall not be liable for any claims or losses of any nature in connection with the use of such information, including but not limited to, lost profits or punitive or consequential damages, even if RSBB-I, LLC is advised of the possibility of same.

About BMO ETFs
Established in May 2009, BMO Financial Group's ETF business is a leading ETF provider in Canada. BMO ETFs provide Canadian investors with broader choices and greater access to an innovative portfolio of investment products.

About BMO Financial Group
Established in 1817, and currently marking its 200th year of operations, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified financial services provider based in North America. With total assets of $709 billion as of July 31, 2017, and more than 45,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group