News Release

For Immediate Release
January 13, 2005

Trans-Atlantic Preforms Ltd. Upgrades Plant

Sydney, NS — The Honourable Mark Eyking, MP for Sydney-Victoria, announced funding today for Trans-Atlantic Preforms Ltd. for the purchase of new machinery.

Located in the Sydport Industrial Park since 1989, Trans-Atlantic Preforms Ltd. currently employs 25 people. It produces finished, plastic beverage containers primarily for the soft drink industry.

The project involves replacing the old equipment. The new blow mold machinery will increase plant production capacity, lower production costs and extend the life of the plant.

“This funding shows the Government of Canada’s commitment to business here on Cape Breton Island,” says MP Eyking on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “We are pleased to partner with local businesses as they invest in the future of the Island’s economy. ”

“The upgraded equipment will allow us to cater to more clients,” says
André Cote, President of Trans-Atlantic Preforms. “It will also provide enhanced job security for our employees, and increase the efficiency of the plant.”

The total estimated cost of the project is $900,000. ECBC will provide a repayable contribution of $450,000 through ACOA’s Business Development Program.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs in Cape Breton and the Mulgrave area.

-30-

FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

THE HONOURABLE MARK EYKING, MP FOR SYDNEY-VICTORIA, ANNOUNCED FUNDING TODAY FOR TRANS-ATLANTIC PREFORMS LTD. OF SYDPORT, FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW MACHINERY.

TRANS-ATLANTIC PREFORMS LTD. CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 25 PEOPLE AND PRODUCES FINISHED, PLASTIC BEVERAGE CONTAINERS.

THE NEW BLOW MOLD MACHINERY WILL INCREASE PLANT PRODUCTION CAPACITY, LOWER PRODUCTION COSTS AND EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE PLANT.

MP MARK EYKING SAYS THIS PROJECT SHOWS THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA’S COMMITMENT TO BUSINESS HERE ON CAPE BRETON ISLAND.

THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT IS $900,000. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $450,000 THROUGH ACOA’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (BDP).

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Office of Mark Eyking
MP Sydney-Victoria
(902) 567-6275

André Cote
President, Trans-Atlantic Preforms
(902) 563-7601

D.A. Landry
Communications, ECBC
(902) 564-3617