Impress Group announces the purchase of Blacks Harbour, NB, can-making facility from Connors Bros. Income Fund

CARNEGIE, PA, May 21st, 2005: Impress USA Inc. announced today that Clover Leaf Seafoods, L.P. a subsidiary of Connors Bros. Income Fund (TSX: CBF.UN), have signed an agreement for the acquisition by Impress of Clover Leaf’s canmaking facility in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick.

The canmaking facility manufactures aluminum containers and lids for sardines, which are then packed in Clover Leaf’s processing facility in Blacks Harbour as well as in a Bumble Bee Seafoods facility in Maine. The agreement is linked to a longterm supply contract for the continuing supply of cans and lids to these facilities. The remainder of the Blacks Harbour sardine processing facility is unaffected by this agreement, and will continue to be owned and operated by Clover Leaf.

“Impress is very pleased to be selected by Connors as their partner in this acquisition and longterm supply agreement,” said Francis Labbé, Chief Executive Officer of Impress. “In addition to expanding our business with a major strategic customer, we are also adding highquality assets to our North American operation and strengthening our position as the world’s leading supplier of cans for seafood.”

Added Chris Lischewski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Connors Bros. Ltd., “This transaction allows us to focus on our core competency, which is marketing and supplying quality branded seafood and protein products, rather than in canmaking. We believe that a strong partner like Impress will bring enough critical mass and expertise to this area such that even with the sale of this facility, we will be able to maintain good control over can costs by working together.”

Connors Bros. Income Fund indirectly holds, through its subsidiaries, Clover Leaf Seafoods, L.P. and Bumble Bee Seafoods, LLC. Together, these two operating companies comprise North America's largest branded seafood company, offering a full line of canned tuna, salmon, sardine, clam, and specialty products, marketed under leading brands including Clover Leaf®, Bumble Bee®, Brunswick®, Snow's®, and Beach Cliff®. Additionally, Bumble Bee offers a wide variety of canned chicken and canned meat products in the United States under leading brands including Castleberry's®, Sweet Sue®, and Bryan®.

Impress is a leading international company focused on metal packaging. It is the worldwide leader in the seafood can market, European leader in cans for paints and coatings, European leader in cans for dry foods, and second in the European food can market. Impress is based in Deventer, Holland, and has a worldwide turnover of 1.3 billion euros. It employs over 7,000 people in 40 facilities operating out of 16 countries in Europe, USA, Japan and the Seychelles.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of May.

For further Information, please contact:

Connors Bros., Ltd: John Stiker
t: +1 858 715 4057

Impress USA, Inc., Dennis Kester
t: +1 412 429 5290

Impress B.V., Richard Moore
t: +33 1 45 19 18 14

Marie de Fouchier : Talents et Compagnie
t: +33 1 56 89 56 52
e: fouchier@talentscompagnie.com

Connors Bros. Income Fund: http://www.connors.ca/
Discover Impress on: www.impressgroup.com

Forward Looking Statements
The statements contained in this news release that are forwardlooking are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to: availability of resource, competitive pressures and changes in market activity, risks associated with U.S. and international sales and foreign exchange, and regulatory requirements. Further information can be found in the disclosure documents filed by Connors Bros. Income Fund with the securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com.