GLG Life Tech Corporation (TSX:GLG) ("GLG" or the "Company"), a
vertically-integrated leader in the agricultural and commercial
development of high quality stevia, announces the signing of a
Letter of Intent ("LOI") with COFCO Nutrition and Health Research
Institute Co Ltd. ("COFCO NHRI"), a 100% owned subsidiary of China
National Cereals, Oils, and Foodstuff Corporation ("COFCO"), for a
strategic collaboration for the Chinese market.
The LOI focuses on the two party's cooperation on the research
and development of food and beverage products and on the
development, marketing and sale of stevia extracts and formulated
products to promote the development of the stevia industry,
nutrition, and the healthy food industry in China. Under the LOI
terms, COFCO NHRI shall preferentially use the materials, products,
and technologies provided by GLG. The parties shall work together
to develop the strategies and promotions and industrialization of
stevia in the process of developing health food and functional
food. The Company expects that additional agreements will result of
this framework agreement and the LOI specifically provides for
future agreements for major developments that are to occur.
China has one of the largest populations of diabetics globally
with approximately 90 million diagnosed, and approximately 200
million people are classified as obese. Both parties are focused on
the health and social well-being of the Chinese people in the
development of products sweetened with stevia for zero or low
calories. In addition, the parties recognize the high agricultural
value of stevia to China's farmers, and the continued requirement
for China to import sweeteners.
The LOI specifies that COFCO NHRI is responsible for introducing
the related co-developed products to COFCO Innovation of Food
(Beijing) Co., Ltd and the sales channel of COFCO. NHRI will also
be responsible to bring the stevia products of GLG to China Mengniu
Dairy Company Limited and to assist in the expansion of the
distribution channel of GLG's products.
The LOI also states that investment may occur under the right
circumstances, including COFCO NHRI investment in GLG and other
forms of investment.
Dr. Luke Zhang, Chairman and CEO of GLG said, "We are very
fortunate to have entered into this strategic cooperation with
COFCO which is on the Fortune 500 list of global companies and is
the largest food company in China. We share a common vision for the
need for healthier food and beverages for the China market and
stevia is the only scalable all natural zero calorie sweetener that
can meet the scale requirements for the China market. We have had a
lot of strategic discussions with COFCO Executive over the past
several months and we have a good roadmap to begin execution of
their ambitious vision to bring healthier food and beverages to the
China market. We are truly excited to be the preferred stevia
partner to COFCO and to be recognized as the leading vertically
integrated player in the stevia industry."
COFCO HNRI President Xiao Ming Hao stated, "GLG is a company in
the global stevia industry which has developed its own intellectual
property and vertically integrated supply chain covering from seed
to shelf. This time, we will do collaborations using each party's
strength; create new mechanisms for our mutual benefit. We plan to
increase the health value of stevia from developments of
technology, basic application, products and quality safety and to
provide more health options for the Chinese diabetic and obese
population."
About GLG Life Tech Corporation
GLG Life Tech Corporation is a global leader in the supply of
high purity stevia extracts, an all-natural, zero-calorie sweetener
used in food and beverages. The Company's vertically integrated
operations cover each step in the stevia supply chain including
non-GMO stevia seed breeding, natural propagation, stevia leaf
growth and harvest, proprietary extraction and refining, marketing
and distribution of finished product. For further information,
please visit www.glglifetech.com.
About COFCO
COFCO is China's largest integrated agricultural, cereals, oils
and foodstuffs processing enterprise, has been among the Fortune
500 for 19 consecutive years and is ranked No. 1 among the Top 100
in China's food industry. Worldwide revenues were estimated to be
$28 Billion in 2012, with over 60,000 employees worldwide.
International partners include Coca-Cola Co. and Groupe Danone
SA.
About COFCO Nutrition and Health Research Institute Co.
Ltd
COFCO Nutrition and Health Research Institute Co., Ltd is the
first domestic enterprise-led R&D center, focusing on the
systematic research of nutritional requirement and metabolic
mechanism for the better health and welfare of the Chinese people,
mainly engaged in product development, technology development,
product quality and safety, application research to improve the
nutrition and health value of products, to provide nutrition
healthy choice for every family.
Forward-looking statements: This press release contains certain
information that may constitute "forward-looking statements" and
"forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking
statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such
forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements
evaluating the market, potential demand for stevia and general
economic conditions and discussing future-oriented costs and
expenditures. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can
be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or
"does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled",
"estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not
anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases
or words and phrases that state or indicate that certain actions,
events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be
taken, occur or be achieved.
While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on
its current expectations about future events, the statements are
not guarantees of the Company's future performance and are subject
to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could
cause actual results to differ materially from future results
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
factors include amongst others the effects of general economic
conditions, consumer demand for our products and new orders from
our customers and distributors, changing foreign exchange rates and
actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with
legal proceedings and negotiations, industry supply levels,
competitive pricing pressures and misjudgments in the course of
preparing forward-looking statements. Specific reference is made to
the risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the
Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended
December 31, 2012. In light of these factors, the forward-looking
events discussed in this press release might not occur.
Further, although the Company has attempted to identify factors
that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ
materially from those described in forward-looking statements,
there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results
not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
As there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements
will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.
Financial outlook information contained in this press release
about prospective results of operations, capital expenditures or
financial position is based on assumptions about future events,
including economic conditions and proposed courses of action, based
on management's assessment of the relevant information as of the
date hereof. Such financial outlook information should not be used
for purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein.
CONTACT: Stuart Wooldridge
Phone: +1 (604) 669-2602 ext 104
Email: ir@glglifetech.com
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