BMO Global Asset Management Introduces ETFs in Europe

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 9, 2015) - BMO Global Asset Management, a part of BMO Financial Group, today launched its first Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in Europe, solidifying its position as a global provider of investment solutions focused on meeting the evolving needs of investors. In so doing, BMO becomes the first Canadian bank to offer ETFs in Europe.

The nine ETFs, listed on the London Stock Exchange and designed specifically for UK and European investors, include four global corporate bond ETFs to help them diversify their exposure to global investment grade corporate bonds and high yield bonds, and five equity ETFs focused on generating high quality income for investors.

"Establishing our ETF offering in Europe is a key strategic milestone for us as we continue to expand across the region," said Richard Wilson, CEO, BMO Global Asset Management (EMEA). "We are very proud of our track record of developing relevant, innovative and client-focused products. Since the launch of the BMO Global Asset Management brand in Europe earlier this year, we have successfully brought our investment expertise to help new clients in new markets. Building on this momentum, we have used our experience managing ETFs in Canada and Hong Kong to develop and deliver a tailored offering for European investors, marking another step in delivering on the ambitious plans we have for the business."

BMO Global Asset Management is the fastest growing, and the second largest, provider of ETFs in Canada with more than 60 different ETFs. Expanding on this success, the firm launched three ETFs in Hong Kong in 2014.

Included among the nine new ETFs are three global corporate bond ETFs across a range of maturity bands¹. These building blocks are designed to give investors the ability to implement a more precise positioning in an uncertain interest rate environment, allowing investors to tailor their exposure more flexibly across the yield curve and express their own views on interest rates. The three global corporate bond ETFs and a global high yield ETF track the Barclays Very Liquid Index (VLI), a subset of the Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index. The Barclays Global Corporate VLI applies filters to exclude more illiquid bond issues.