BMO Launches BMO Women in Leadership Fund

The First Impact Investing Mutual Fund by a Canadian Bank

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 28, 2016) - To provide Canadians with more choice and the ability to align their investments more closely with their values, BMO Investments Inc. today launched two mutual funds, including Canada's first impact investing mutual fund by a Canadian bank - BMO Women in Leadership Fund.

"BMO is proud to take a lead on impact investing in Canada - especially in support of a cause such as the advancement of women, which is such a big priority for our bank," said Joanna Rotenberg, Head of Personal Wealth Management, BMO Financial Group. "An increasing number of investors are seeking both financial and social returns from their investments. By providing them with the opportunity to invest in organizations with a higher representation of women, we are giving those investors the ability to promote change by rewarding gender-diverse companies."

Impact investing refers to building portfolios with the intention of creating a measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return. The BMO Women in Leadership Fund offers investors the opportunity to align their investments with their personal principles to address a social challenge - the under-representation of women in corporate executive leadership. The Fund seeks to invest in North American companies that have a female CEO or a board of directors with at least 25 per cent female representation, referencing the Barclays Women in Leadership North America Index.

"This is a unique offering designed to provide investors with both financial and social value," said Kevin Gopaul, Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice-President, BMO Global Asset Management. "Research has shown that diverse leadership in companies translates into better results. Companies with gender-diverse boards tend to outperform those with no women on their boards and indices of companies with mixed-gender boards have outperformed benchmark indices."*

Ms. Rotenberg noted that BMO has a long history of championing the advancement of women in business and, with the introduction of this new fund, is now offering investors the opportunity to show their support.

BMO Fossil Fuel Free Fund

BMO Investments Inc. has also introduced BMO Fossil Fuel Free Fund, a socially responsible investment (SRI) strategy. The BMO Fossil Fuel Free Fund aims to provide long-term growth of capital by investing in a globally diversified portfolio of equity securities that excludes companies primarily involved in the development and infrastructure of fossil fuels.