BMO Capital Markets Named World's Best Metals & Mining Investment Bank

NEW YORK and TORONTO, April 26 /CNW/ - BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), has been named the Best Metals & Mining Investment Bank in the world by Global Finance Magazine.

BMO Capital Markets was selected as part of Global Finance's annual World's Best Investment Banks 2010 awards which will be published in its June 2010 issue.

Global Finance editors, with input from industry experts, used several criteria to arrive at their selections. These included market share, number and size of deals, quality of service and advice, structuring capabilities, distribution network, efforts to address market conditions, innovation, pricing, after-market performance of underwritings and market reputation. Deals announced or completed in the last three quarters of 2009 or the first quarter of 2010 were considered.

"The last 12 months were decidedly mixed for investment bankers, "said Global Finance publisher Joseph D. Giarraputo. "But many institutions such as BMO Capital Markets continue to provide outstanding service to their clients, and we salute them."

"We are honoured to be named 2010's Best Investment Bank in the Metals & Mining category by Global Finance which is testament to our experience and deep sector knowledge," said Bill Butt, Global Head of Investment & Corporate Banking, BMO Capital Markets. "We have been a trusted advisor to metals & mining companies for nearly a century and this tradition of excellence carries over in everything we do."

About BMO Capital Markets' Metals & Mining Capabilities

    
    -   BMO Capital Markets has acted as bookrunner in more than CAD$7.8
        billion in metals & mining equity issuance underwritings since 2004
        and in 2007 led the largest ever North American IPO for Franco-
        Nevada.
    -   BMO Capital Markets has advised on more than 80 major metals & mining
        M&A transactions, making BMO the No. 1 global M&A provider to the
        industry since 2004.
    -   Each year, BMO Capital Markets hosts one of the world's pre-eminent
        metals & mining investor conferences in Hollywood, Fla., attracting
        the international mining community.
    

With nearly a century of service to the metals & mining sector, BMO Capital Markets understands the forces that shape this industry. BMO's dedicated team delivers a full range of investment and corporate banking services to leading metals & mining clients through 28 offices worldwide. As a leading underwriter of equity issues for metals & mining companies, BMO can assist clients of all sizes - whether they are in the early stages of exploration or in full production. BMO's extensive industry contacts and transactional experience enable the firm to provide strategic advice throughout the merger and acquisition process. BMO also offers complete treasury and risk management services. The cornerstone of BMO's metals & mining effort is its Equity Research team. With 10 dedicated analysts in Toronto, London and Denver, BMO's mining research team collectively covers 135 metals & mining companies, making it one of the largest mining research efforts globally.

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider, with over 2,200 employees operating in 15 North American offices and 28 worldwide, offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with US$373 billion total assets and more than 36,000 employees as at January 31, 2010. For more information, visit www.bmocm.com

About Global Finance Magazine

Global Finance, founded in 1987, has a circulation of 50,050 and readers in 163 countries. Its circulation is audited by BPA. Global Finance's audience includes chairmen, presidents, CEOs, CFOs, treasurers and other senior financial officers responsible for making investment and strategic decisions at multinational companies and financial institutions. Global Finance also targets the 8,000 international portfolio investors responsible for more than 80% of all global assets under professional management. Its website -- www.gfmag.com -- offers analysis and articles that are the heritage of 23 years of experience in international financial markets, and provides a valuable source of data on 192 countries. Global Finance is headquartered in New York and has offices in London, Rio de Janeiro and Milan.

For further information: Media Contacts: Kim Hanson, Toronto, [email protected], [phone]; Ronald Monet, Montreal, [email protected], [phone]; Holly Holt, New York, [email protected], [phone]; Global Finance: Dan Keeler, Editor, [email protected], [phone]