BMO Asset Management Inc. Announces Changes to the Risk-Ratings for Certain BMO ETF Listings

TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2019 /CNW/ - BMO Asset Management Inc. today announced changes to the risk rating for 16 BMO Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), effective immediately.

These changes are the result of an annual review conducted using the investment risk classification methodology set forth in National Instrument 81-102 – Investment Funds.

No material changes have been made to the investment objectives, strategies or management of the BMO ETFs. 

The risk-rating changes are as follows:

Ticker	ETF Name	Current Rating	New Rating
ZEO	BMO S&P/TSX Equal Weight Oil & Gas Index ETF	High	Medium to High
ZHY	BMO High Yield US Corporate Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium	Low to Medium
ZEM	BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF	Medium to High	Medium
ZQQ	BMO NASDAQ 100 Equity Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium to High	Medium
ZIC.U	BMO Mid-Term US IG Corporate Bond Index ETF	Low to Medium	Low
ZMU	BMO Mid-Term US IG Corporate Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Low to Medium	Low
ZHP	BMO US Preferred Share Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium to High	Medium
ZUP	BMO US Preferred Share Index ETF	Medium to High	Medium
ZUP.U	BMO US Preferred Share Index ETF	Medium to High	Medium
BANK	BMO Global Banks Hedged to CAD Index ETF	High	Medium to High
DISC	BMO Global Consumer Discretionary Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium to High	Medium
ZVC	BMO MSCI Canada Value ETF	Medium to High	Medium
ZPW	BMO US Put Write ETF	Medium	Low to Medium
ZPW.U	BMO US Put Write ETF	Medium	Low to Medium
ZLE	BMO Low Volatility Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Medium to High	Medium
ZPH	BMO US Put Write Hedged to CAD ETF	Medium	Low to Medium

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

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

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in BMO ETFs.  Please read the ETF facts or prospectus of the relevant BMO ETF before investing.  BMO ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs, please see the specific risks set out in the prospectus.  BMO ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase the risk of loss.  Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination.

NASDAQ®, and NASDAQ-100 Index® Hedged to CAD, are registered trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc. (which with its affiliates is referred to as the "Corporations") and are licensed for use by BMO Asset Management Inc. BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Hedged to CAD Index ETF has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their 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.

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

S&P^® is a trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"). "TSX" is a trademark of TSX Inc. These trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sublicensed to BMO Asset Management Inc. in connection with ZCN. ZCN is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones LLC, S&P, TSX, or their respective affiliates and S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, S&P, TSX and their affiliates make no representation regarding the advisability of trading or investing in such ETF.

About BMO Exchange Traded Funds (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
Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8^th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $774 billion as of October 31, 2018, and a team of diverse and highly engaged 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, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group

For further information: Media Contacts: Amanda Robinson, Toronto, [e-mail], [phone]; Valérie Doucet, Montreal, [e-mail], [phone]