BMO Asset Management Inc. Announces Risk-Rating Changes to Select BMO ETFs

TORONTO, Feb. 9, 2018 /CNW/ - BMO Asset Management Inc. today announced changes to the risk rating for certain BMO Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)*, effective immediately.

These changes are the result of the annual review which was conducted using the new investment risk classification methodology introduced 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
BANK	BMO Global Banks Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium to High	High
DISC	BMO Global Consumer Discretionary Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium	Medium to High
INSR	BMO Global Insurance Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium	Medium to High
ZBK	BMO Equal Weight US Banks Index ETF	Medium to High	High
ZEO	BMO Equal Weight Oil & Gas Index ETF	Medium to High	High
ZHP	BMO US Preferred Share Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium	Medium to High
ZHY	BMO High Yield US Corporate Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Low to Medium	Medium
ZIC	BMO Mid-Term US IG Corporate Bond Index ETF	Low	Low to Medium
ZIC.U	BMO Mid-Term US IG Corporate Bond Index ETF	Low	Low to Medium
ZMU	BMO Mid-Term US IG Corporate Bond Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Low	Low to Medium
ZPH	BMO US Put Write Hedged To CAD ETF	Low to Medium	Medium
ZPW	BMO US Put Write ETF	Low to Medium	Medium
ZPW.U	BMO US Put Write ETF	Low to Medium	Medium
ZQQ	BMO NASDAQ 100 Equity Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium	Medium to High
ZTL	BMO Long-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF	Low to Medium	Medium to High
ZTL.U	BMO Long-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF	Low to Medium	Medium
ZTM	BMO Mid-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF	Low	Medium
ZTS	BMO Short-Term US Treasury Bond Index ETF	Low	Low to Medium
ZUB	BMO Equal Weight US Banks Hedged to CAD Index ETF	Medium to High	High
ZUP	BMO US Preferred Share Index ETF	Medium	Medium to High
ZUP.U	BMO US Preferred Share Index ETF	Medium	Medium to High
ZVC	BMO MSCI Canada Value ETF	Medium	Medium to High

The changes described above are reflected in the BMO ETFs' prospectuses and each applicable ETF Facts, which have been with Canadian securities regulators and are dated February 2, 2018.

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

*BMO ETFs are administered and managed by BMO Asset Management Inc., which is an investment fund manager and portfolio manager and a 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.

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.

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.

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 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $710 billion as of October 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

Media Contacts: Alicia Skrinjar, Toronto, [email protected], [phone]; Valérie Doucet, Montreal, [email protected], [phone]