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GLG Life Tech Corporation Announces Agreed Revisions to Strategic Alliance Supply Agreement With Cargill and US$ 20 Million Leaf Financing

2008-07-17 05:00:00

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(EMWNews – July 17, 2008) – GLG Life Tech Corporation (“GLG”) (TSX:GLG) announces that it has agreed to certain revisions to its strategic alliance and long-term renewable supply agreement dated April 30, 2008 (the “Original Agreement”) with Cargill Inc. (“Cargill”) relating to the supply of stevia extract. GLG also announces the completion of financing from Cargill for the supply of Rebaudioside A (“RA”) extract as part of the Cargill supply agreement. The companies continue to work in close partnership to develop a world-class supply chain for the ingredient, including leaf supply and extract manufacturing.

Highlights of the proposed amendments to the Original Agreement include:

– GLG and Cargill have agreed to reduce the rolling three year minimum commitment to a rolling twelve month commitment. For the period from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009, the twelve month committed revenue to GLG is estimated at a minimum of $US 25 million. For each of years two and three, once volume and price have been agreed, Cargill will be required to either take the committed volume or pay the agreed price.

– GLG will take the lead role in arranging working capital financing for GLG’s stevia leaf purchases each year beyond 2008 and Cargill may assist or participate but will not be required to do so.

– Cargill and GLG have agreed to amend the exclusivity terms to allow GLG to develop its stevia extract business with customers other than Cargill.

– Cargill will pay GLG a one-time restructuring fee of $2.5 million.

– Cargill will provide GLG with an additional US$5 million, which, pending approval, Cargill plans to do through the exercise of warrants of GLG. If Cargill’s approval for the warrant exercise is not achieved, Cargill will provide the $US 5 Million as an additional restructuring fee.

GLG agreed to the requested revisions by Cargill in the spirit of building a long term successful partnership and supply chain for rebiana with Cargill. The revisions are expected to provide GLG with a greater opportunity to develop its stevia extract business with customers other than Cargill. In addition, GLG continues to expect that it’s previously announced EBITDA margin forecasts will be achieved.

Key provisions that will remain unchanged from the Original Agreement include:

– GLG will provide a minimum of 80% of Cargill’s global requirements of RA stevia extract for the first five years of the agreement.

– GLG will be Cargill’s exclusive Chinese supplier of RA stevia extract for the term of the agreement. GLG will also be Cargill’s agent in China for any additional RA stevia extract sourcing opportunities that should arise.

– Cargill has the right of first refusal to purchase up to 93% of GLG’s production of RA extract.

– New product opportunities from GLG are to be offered to Cargill on a right of first refusal basis.

– Should Cargill wish to terminate the agreement early, it may do so on three years notice.

Cargill has provided a US$20 million loan facility to GLG to allow GLG to make leaf purchases from its suppliers during the current growing season. As security for that financing, GLG has provided Cargill with a general security agreement securing all the assets of GLG, which includes provisions for accommodation of other leaf financing lenders as well as term lenders for capital expenditure and working capital purposes. The term of this financing is for fifteen months at a floating rate based on LIBOR + 6%.

“We expect these developments to provide GLG additional customers and higher margins than we would have under the original agreement. Cargill’s long term commitment to our business continues to provide a solid foundation for future growth, capital investment and secures a leading market position for our company,” said Dr. Luke Zhang, Chairman and CEO of GLG.

“GLG is a valued partner in our supply chain strategy for TruviaTM rebiana. In a new market, time and flexibility are required for demand and supply to balance. Cargill works with select partners around the globe to meet current and future needs. GLG is positioned to capture market leadership in the cultivation of stevia. All of our collective efforts are aimed at delivering what the consumers and customers want – a natural, great tasting and zero calorie sweetener,” said Marcelo Montero, President, Cargill Health and Nutrition.

The principal terms of the amendments have been agreed and are effective today, and will reflected in definitive documentation expected to be signed on or about August 1, 2008.

In addition, GLG is pleased to report that there have been positive developments in the market for rebiana since the signing of the Original Agreement. On May 15, 2008 new science was published that definitively established the safety of rebiana as a general purpose sweetener in the United States. The peer-reviewed science was published in the journal Food & Chemical Toxicology and contained the results of more than 2 1/2 years of scientific evaluation of rebiana. The FDA was notified of the findings that the product is safe for use as a general purpose sweetener. In June 2008, JECFA (Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives for the World Health Organization) convened and evaluated steviol glycosides including high purity Rebaudioside A and set a permanent ADI (acceptable daily intake) increasing the level by two fold. In July 2008, Cargill announced its US market launch of TruviaTM tabletop sweetener and TruviaTM rebiana as an ingredient for use in food and beverages.

About GLG Life Tech Corporation

GLG Life Tech Corporation specializes in growing, refining, and producing high grade stevia extract, a natural, zero-calorie sweetener. With fully integrated stevia operations, GLG is the leading supplier of high quality stevia production in China. The Corporation is also engaged in the distribution of nutritional products in China and holds exclusive agreements with Weider Global Nutrition and Shandong Yong He Tang Health Products Chain Stores Ltd., whose franchise network includes over 1,400 locations. Please visit www.glglifetech.com for further information.

About Cargill, Incorporated

Cargill, Incorporated is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 158,000 employees in 66 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For more information, visit http://www.cargill.com.

Forward-looking statements: Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements”. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements evaluating the market and general economic conditions and discussing future-oriented costs, expenditures and other financial or operating performances. 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, 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. Please refer to the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Information Form in respect of our year-ended December 31, 2007 and the risk factors in our Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) for the year ended December 31, 2007 for a discussion of these and other factors underlying forward-looking statement, both of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company’s names. 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.

For more information, please contact

GLG Life Tech Corporation
Brian Meadows
Chief Financial Officer
(604) 641-1368
(604) 641-1214 (FAX)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.glglifetech.com

or

Cargill, Incorporated
Ann Tucker
Director Media Relations & Public Affairs
(952) 742-4057
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cargill.com

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