Sionna's Purchase of Empire Company Limited Non-Voting Class A Shares

Market Wire, September, 2006

Sionna Investment Managers Inc. ("Sionna") of Toronto, Ontario, advises that, as the result of its appointment as the investment adviser to certain managed accounts during January, 2006, it exercised control and direction over 3,260,571 Non-Voting Class A shares ("Class A shares") of Empire Company Limited ("Empire"), representing approximately 10.46% of the then issued and outstanding Class A shares of Empire, effective January 31, 2006. Since January 31, 2006, Sionna has acquired for, and on behalf of, its managed account clients an additional 551,139 Class A shares of Empire, representing approximately 1.77% of the issued and outstanding Class A shares of Empire as at September 8, 2006. Accordingly, as at September 8, 2006, Sionna exercises, for and on behalf of its managed account clients, control and direction over 3,811,710 Class A shares of Empire, representing approximately 12.23% of the issued and outstanding Class A shares of Empire.

All purchases of Class A shares that were made by Sionna for, and on behalf of, its managed account clients were executed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Class A shares were acquired by Sionna for investment purposes only. Sionna has no intention of acquiring ownership of, or control over, any additional Class A shares of Empire.

Sionna carries on the business of an investment counsel and portfolio manager. Located in Toronto, Sionna currently manages approximately CAD $9 billion on behalf of institutional and individual investors.

Contacts: Sionna Investment Managers Inc. Maureen Farrow Chief Operating Officer (416) 203-8033