TORONTO, Apr 30, 2004 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- Cott Corporation (TSX:BCB and NYSE:COT) announced today that it has agreed to a request from Thomas H. Lee Partners, LP and parties related or affiliated thereto ("Thomas Lee"), to amend Cott's Registration Statement on Form S-3, originally filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2004, to include 12,722,130 of Cott's Common Shares owned by Thomas Lee, representing all of Thomas Lee's holdings in Cott. Cott will not receive any proceeds from any sale or disposition of the Common Shares under the Registration Statement.

Cott has not been advised by Thomas Lee of any immediate intention to sell or dispose of all or any of the Common Shares to be registered, and is not aware of the manner in which such sale or disposition, if any, is to be effected. The inclusion of Thomas Lee's Common Shares in the Registration Statement is intended to allow Thomas Lee the flexibility to dispose of its holdings in Cott over time, without further regulatory impediment.

The Common Shares to be offered under the Registration Statement have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State or other jurisdiction.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the registration of Common Shares of Cott owned by Thomas Lee and its disposition of such shares. The timing of any disposition of Common Shares owned by Thomas Lee is largely outside Cott's control. The registration of these shares is subject to the U.S. Securities Act of 1993, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereto, the rules and regulations of any applicable State or other jurisdiction. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Cott undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

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