News Releases

Harris Nesbitt Hires Two Senior Investment Bankers in Media, Communications & Technology Group

NEW YORK, May 30, 2006 - Harris Nesbitt, the U.S. investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), today announced it has hired Andrew J. Buchholtz as a managing director and Seth E. Rosenfield as a director in its Media, Communications & Technology Group. Buchholtz and Rosenfield join a team of 25 investment banking professionals focusing on the media, communications and technology industries and will be based in New York.

"We are delighted to have both Andy and Seth join our firm," said Todd Freeland, managing director and head of the Media, Communications & Technology group for Harris Nesbitt. "Their extensive experience as leading advisors to the publishing and information services sectors will further strengthen our broad investment ban king capabilities in the media industry."

Buchholtz joins the firm from Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS), where he worked for over 10 years, most recently as managing director of the VSS publishing group. His transaction experience includes a variety of M&A and other advisory services, including sale mandates, buy-side advisory services, leveraged buyouts, fairness opinions and financings, for a broad array of domestic and international media clients. Some of his recent advisory assignments while at VSS include the sale of White Directory Publishers to The Hearst Corporation and the sale of Clipper Magazine to Gannett. Prior to VSS, Buchholtz served for over six years as a consultant and a senior executive in the publishing industry, including at Primedia and J.S. Eliezer.

Buchholtz earned a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, magna cum laude, from Boston University.

Rosenfield also joins the firm from VSS, where he worked since 1998, most recently as a director. During his tenure at VSS, he provided strategic and financial advice to companies in diverse media sectors, including business media, consumer publishing, professional information and yellow pages. He was involved in a variety of M&A and corporate finance transactions while at VSS, including Reader's Digest acquisition of Reiman Publications, the sale of Canon Communications to Apprise Media, and the sale of Saxon Publishers to Reed Elsevier. Prior to joining VSS, he held senior operating positions at Scholastic, Inc. and Simon & Schuster.

Rosenfield earned a Master of Business Administration from New York University's Stern Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Sciences in Finance and International Business from New York University.

Harris Nesbitt is an investment and corporate bank, offering clients access to a full range of products and services including investment and corporate banking, treasury services, market risk management, institutional investing and research. Harris Nesbitt is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO). For more information, please visit www.harrisnesbitt.com.

Contacts:
Patrick O'Herlihy, Chicago, (312) 293-8905
Kevin Windorf, New York, (212) 885-4111

Harris™ is a trade name used by various financial service subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp. Banking products and services are provided by Harris N.A., The Harris Bank N.A. and their bank affiliates. Members FDIC. Insurance and annuities are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc. (HBIS). Securities are provided by Harris Nesbitt Corp. (HNC), a registered broker dealer, member NYSE, FINRA and SIPC. HBIS and HNC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp. Products offered by HBIS and HNC are Not Insured by the FDIC or any Government Agency, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by any Bank- May Lose Value. The purchase of insurance or an annuity is not a condition on any bank loan or service. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros and Blaney, Inc., an SEC-registered investment advisor. Family Office Services are provided by Harris myCFO,Inc.. Investment Advisory services are also offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Service LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.