GLG Life Tech Corporation Announces ANOC Joint Venture Progress Update

GLG Chairman and CEO Dr. Luke Zhang stated, "This is the first step for our ANOC JV development. We have carefully laid out the future plan for our ANOC JV including the selection of the best jurisdiction to set up the joint venture.

1/3/2011 --- GLG Life Tech Corporation, the vertically-integrated leader in the agricultural and commercial development of high quality stevia, announces a progress update on its China joint venture ANOC.

The shareholders of ANOC have just completed registration of the joint venture company in Hong Kong ("Dr. Zhang All Natural & Zero Calorie Beverage and Foods Group (U.S.A.)"). GLG owns 80% and CAHFC owns 20%. Now that the holding company has been set up, the setup of two wholly owned subsidiaries in China can now proceed. One will be registered as ANOC (China) for production and management and one will be registered as ANOC (Shanghai) for marketing and sales.

Hong Kong was selected as the best jurisdiction for the ANOC JV based on benefits including the preferential dividend withholding tax rate offered by the China-Hong Kong tax treaty (5%), Hong Kong's expanding tax treaty network with other Asian countries, its proximity to China, its mature capital market and business environment, and its favorable tax regime. Hong Kong is renowned for its business environment and low domestic tax. Also, in general, Hong Kong does not tax non-Hong Kong source income (such as dividends received from its Chinese subsidiary) and does not levy withholding tax on dividends paid to non residents of Hong Kong.

GLG Chairman and CEO Dr. Luke Zhang stated, "This is the first step for our ANOC JV development. We have carefully laid out the future plan for our ANOC JV including the selection of the best jurisdiction to set up the joint venture. We can move onto the important setup of the two China subsidiaries that will be the key ANOC operating subsidiaries."

Mr. Song Xiankun, Chairman and President of CAHFC said, "Hong Kong is one of the most important business and financing centers in the world. There are many different type of investors working in Hong Kong who come from North America, Europe, mainland China and Southeast Asia. Most of these investors have a deep understanding of Chinese culture and the Chinese market. We look forward to working with these investors as well as Hong Kong local investors for the development of our all natural, zero calorie beverage and food products in China first and then for possible expansion into Asia."

China's food and beverage industry has experienced a greater than 20% annual growth rate from 2002 to 2009 with the industry growing from approximately RMB900 billion to RMB4.7 trillion (equivalent to U.S.$693 billion) in 2009. As China's middle class continues to develop, this is expected to fuel consumption growth in the China food and beverage industry. The Freedonia Group estimates that the China beverage market will grow from 105,750 million liters in 2007 to 199,500 million liters in 2017.

GLG also sees issues relating to obesity and diabetes in China as important for the joint venture's products. China became the world's second largest country, in terms of the number of diabetic patients (India is largest), with 92 million cases reported in 2009 (up from 10 million in 1987). China's Ministry of Health has also reported that there are currently 350 million people considered over weight and 70 million people considered obese. Adult Chinese male obesity patients are currently increasing about 1.2% every year, surpassing the obesity growth rates in the U.S.A., the U.K. and Australia.

ANOC plans to launch its initial products in the first quarter of 2011 through a number of nationally distribution channels who have been recruited by CAHFC in the past six months as well as through a network of 600 ANOC stores in major cities that has also been developed in 2009 by CAHFC.