BMO's Global Debt Capital Markets Group Expands U.S. Leveraged Finance
Distribution and Trading Capabilities with Key Hire

- Veteran high yield specialist David Weiss to focus on building BMO's growing U.S. leveraged finance distribution and trading business

- Greater financing opportunities in 2010 for issuers looking to grow

NEW YORK, Jan. 13 /CNW/ - BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), is pleased to announce it has appointed David Weiss as Managing Director and Head of U.S. Leveraged Finance Distribution and Trading.

Mr. Weiss , a 25-year Wall Street veteran, will be based in New York. He will be responsible for continuing to build BMO Capital Markets' sales and trading of U.S. leveraged loans and bonds, an important growth area for the firm. Mr. Weiss will work closely with Colleen Campbell and Jim Moglia , in BMO's Leveraged Finance and Debt Capital Markets Group.

"Leveraged finance distribution, sales and trading represents a very significant part of our global debt capital markets effort," said Charlie Piermarini , Executive Managing Director and Head of BMO's Debt Products Group. "Dave's tremendous industry experience will significantly bolster our rapidly developing pipeline of corporate client business in the U.S."

Mr. Weiss has built and managed high yield and leveraged finance distribution teams throughout his career including 14 years at JPMorgan Chase & Company where, as a producing manager, he oversaw the firm's high yield sales team. Most recently, he was with a New York-based independent firm where he established its high yield sales, trading and research efforts. Mr. Weiss is a graduate of the State University of New York.

"Dave represents a critical addition to our team as we increase our focus and expand our capabilities to deliver distribution-driven solutions for clients," said Bill Butt , Executive Managing Director and Global Head of Investment and Corporate Banking, BMO Capital Markets. "Dave will work closely with our highly regarded U.S. investment and corporate banking teams. We believe adding additional resources and people to this area of the business will produce substantial rewards," added Mr. Butt .

Within the last year, BMO Capital Markets has hired more than 350 people globally. Most recently, the firm appointed key bankers in BMO's Financial Sponsors Group to work with private equity investors. Last month, BMO hired a team of four healthcare investment bankers in New York and Boston .

Debt Industry Trends

As debt markets grow more specialized, BMO Capital Markets anticipates clients will continue to seek knowledgeable partners to help them secure the lowest cost of capital. Some of the trends BMO expects to see within the U.S. leveraged finance industry in 2010 include:

    
    -   The availability of capital at low interest rates in a recovering
        economic environment will lead to greater financing opportunities for
        issuers looking to refinance or grow
    -   Institutional demand worldwide remains strong as inflows from
        investors seeking higher returns continues to increase
    

About BMO's Global Debt Capital Markets Group

BMO's decades of experience includes raising capital through a large number of high-grade, high-yield and private placement transactions for clients in the U.S. and Canada . For more information, visit www.bmocm.com/products/capitalraising

BMO Capital Markets is also proud of its leadership and commitment to the municipal bond market. BMO's dedicated public finance professionals have developed solutions for all types of municipalities and infrastructure projects. The firm currently ranks among the top three underwriters of taxable municipal issues in the U.S. For more information, visit www.bmocm.com/industry/uspublicfinance

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider, with more than 2,200 employees operating in 14 North American offices and 27 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$359 billion total assets and more than 36,000 employees as at October 31, 2009 .

For further information: Media Relations Contacts: Kim Hanson, Toronto, [email protected] [phone]; Holly Holt, New York, [email protected], [phone]