An anonymous director reports

EARLY WARNING PRESS RELEASE IN RESPECT OF DISPOSITION OF COMMON SHARES IN HIGH LINER FOODS INCORPORATED

On Oct. 10, 2024, Bank of Montreal's BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. reduced its holdings of High Liner Foods Inc. by 800,000 common shares, representing approximately 2.67 per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares, through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange at a price of $13.60 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of $10.88-million.

As announced on June 6, 2024, the company cancelled 2,429,014 common shares under the Rubicon Resources LLC settlement. Prior to the settlement share cancellation, BMO Nesbitt Burns beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over 3.2 million common shares, representing approximately 9.74 per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares (without taking into account the settlement share cancellation).

Immediately prior to the disposition, the number of common shares beneficially owned by BMO Nesbitt Burns or over which it exercised control or direction remained unchanged at 3.2 million common shares, representing approximately 10.69 per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares as reported by the company as of Aug. 7, 2024 (which takes into account the settlement share cancellation, as well as shares repurchased for cancellation under the company's normal course issuer bid).

Immediately following the disposition, BMO Nesbitt Burns beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over 2.4 million common shares, representing approximately 8.02 per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares. Accordingly, BMO Nesbitt Burns is no longer subject to the early warning reporting requirements in respect of the company as BMO Nesbitt Burns has fallen below the 10-per-cent reporting threshold.

BMO Nesbitt Burns held and disposed of the common shares in the ordinary course of business in connection with derivative arrangements entered into by BMO Nesbitt Burns and an affiliate. In the future, BMO Nesbitt Burns and its affiliate may acquire additional securities of the company or dispose of such securities subject to a number of factors, including general market and economic conditions, and other available business opportunities, or enter into transactions that increase, decrease or hedge its economic exposure to securities of the company without affecting its beneficial ownership, in each case, subject to applicable law.

This press release is being issued pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 (the Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues), which also requires a report to be filed in accordance with applicable securities laws. A copy of the early warning report will be available under the company's profile on SEDAR+ or by contacting Kelly Hechler at Kelly.Hechler@bmo.com or 647-218-4830.

BMO Nesbitt Burns is a fully integrated Canadian investment dealer and is existing under the federal laws of Canada.

About Bank of Montreal

BMO Financial Group is the eighth-largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.4-trillion as of July 31, 2024. Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global market, and investment banking products and services to 13 million customers across Canada, across the United States and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, "to boldly grow the good in business and life," BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future and inclusive society.