Dr. Luke Zhang reports

GLG LIFE TECH CORPORATION ANNOUNCES 2014 ANNUAL AND FOURTH QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

GLG Life Tech Corp. has released financial results for the three and 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2014. The complete set of financial statements and management's discussion and analysis is available on SEDAR and on the company's website.

Financial highlights:

• GLG achieves an 82-per-cent fourth quarter sales increase in 2014 and a 25-per-cent annual sales growth for 2014 in its stevia business driven by an increase in its international sales.
• Revenue for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2014, was $7.5-million, an increase of 82 per cent, compared with $4.1-million in revenue for the same period last year.
• Revenue for the year of 2014 was $20.0-million, an increase of 25 per cent, compared with $16.0-million in revenue for the prior year. This 25-per-cent increase in sales, comparing 2014 with 2013, was driven primarily by an increase of products sold internationally compared with the prior year. International sales were up approximately 75 per cent for the 12-month period ended Dec. 31, 2014, compared with the same period in 2013.
• Net loss from continuing operations before the impact of asset impairment charges for 2014 was $18.8-million compared with $21.7-million in 2013 or a 13-per-cent decrease for the year. Net loss from continuing operations before the impact of asset impairment charges for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $4.6-million compared with $5.9-million in 2013 or a 23-per-cent decrease for the quarter.
• Net loss from continuing operations for 2014 was $32.6-million compared with $29.8-million in 2013 or a 10-per-cent increase for the year.
• Total asset impairment charges realized for 2014 were $13.8-million compared with $8.1-million in 2013.
• Loss per share from continuing operations for 2014 was 95 cents per share, compared with 89 cents in 2013, or a 7-per-cent increase.
• Non-generally accepted accounting principles financial measures improved in 2014 for both loss per share from continuing operations and before asset impairment charges and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization margin.
• Loss per share from continuing operations and before asset impairment charges was 55 cents per share for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, compared with the prior year (65 cents per share) or a 15-per-cent improvement. Loss per share from continuing operations and before asset impairment charges was 13 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013 (18 cents per share) or a 25-per-cent improvement.
• EBITDA margin for 2014 improved to negative 22 per cent from negative 28 per cent in 2013 or a 21-per-cent improvement.

Corporate and sales developments

Commencement of monk fruit business

GLG has been active in its plans to become a leading supplier of monk fruit (also known as luo han guo) extract in 2014. In 2014, it undertook a series of significant steps toward that end. In July, 2014, these efforts resulted in a milestone contract to supply monk fruit extract to a global leader in the food industry. Some of the significant achievements in GLG's development of its monk fruit capabilities, including the supply agreement, are described herein.

On Feb. 3, 2014, the company announced that it had filed a patent with the State Intellectual Property Bureau of the People's Republic of China for its proprietary process for extraction and production of high-purity monk fruit extracts, as well as monk fruit formulations used in food and beverage applications. The company is seeking international patent protection under the Patent Co-operation Treaty for this patent. The patent filing has two components: the first addresses GLG's proprietary industrial-scale purification processes for monk fruit, and the second addresses monk fruit formulations. Both components leverage the company's patented and proprietary techniques developed for purification and formulation of high-purity stevia extract products. GLG expects that its proprietary monk fruit technology covered in this patent will result in higher yields of mogroside from the fruit and greater purity of extracts. The company is currently capable of producing monk fruit extracts of up to 60-per-cent-mogroside-V purity and is working on 70- to 80-per-cent-pure mogroside V extracts. These products are expected to be the highest available in the marketplace. Formulations in the patent cover a range of formulations, including stevia monk fruit blends.

On July 21, 2014, GLG announced that it had submitted a generally recognized as safe notification with the Food and Drug Administration for its monk fruit extract products. The GRAS notification covers three distinct monk fruit extracts: MV30, MV50 and MV60, each containing a minimum level of mogroside V (30 per cent, 50 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively). On Dec. 10, 2014, the company announced that it had received from the FDA a letter of no objection regarding the company's determination of GRAS status for its monk fruit extracts.

On July 23, 2014, GLG was pleased to announce that it had signed an agreement under which it is producing and supplying monk fruit extract products to one of the global leaders in the food industry. GLG expects revenues from this 12-month agreement to be approximately $12-million. While initially encompassing a one-year term corresponding to the 2014 growing season, harvest and subsequent production, GLG and its customer have the express option to extend the agreement over future years. This agreement not only hailed GLG's entry into the monk fruit production and supply space, it also immediately positioned GLG to be a leading producer of monk fruit products.

In the latter half of 2014, GLG finished establishing its fully integrated supply chain for monk fruit, including obtaining high-quality monk fruit seedlings, contracting with monk fruit growers and storage facilities, and developing its patent-pending processing technology for high-purity monk fruit extract and quality assurance/quality control processes. GLG also completed modifications to its Runhai stevia processing facility to produce the extracts. It also consummated and completed its purchasing of its inaugural monk fruit harvest, purchasing nearly 60 million pieces of monk fruit, while maintaining its commitment to its fairness to farmers program.

Production of monk fruit extract began in the fourth quarter of 2014, continuing into early 2015. GLG has trademarked its monk fruit products under the trade names MonkGold (mogroside V purities 40 per cent and higher) and MonkSweet (mogroside V purities under 40 per cent).

Producing monk fruit products is a natural extension of GLG's core stevia product line. These product lines are each naturally sourced sweetener ingredients, and monk fruit is often used complementarily. GLG differentiates itself from other monk fruit producers in four ways: (1) its competitive advantage in establishing agriculture systems in China, including the introduction of good agriculture practices by its monk fruit farmers, superior monk fruit seedlings and its proven methods to expand the amount of farming in other crops such as stevia; (2) its commitment to its fairness to farmers program, whereby it aims to promote a healthy economy by fair, stable income for farmers in the monk-fruit-growing region; (3) its advanced processing and extraction technology, which will enable GLG to more efficiently and economically produce monk fruit extracts; and (4) its large industrial processing capacity, which well positions GLG for anticipated growth in the monk fruit market driven by international food and beverage companies.

Corporate rebranding

On Jan. 27, 2015, the company unveiled its new corporate brand and logo, in addition to the launch of its new website. GLG's rebranding emphasizes the company's Canadian heritage and reflects its new business strategy, which encompasses three complementary product lines. The new website presents a renewed focus on GLG's closed-loop system that includes superior agriculture programs, production excellence, and its focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility throughout the supply chain.

The vision for the new brand and logo came together in a symbolization of several essential aspects of the company's strategy. The maple leaf, a beloved Canadian symbol, forms the centrepiece of the company's new logo, symbolizing its roots as a public company in Canada. Two thousand fifteen marks GLG's 10th anniversary as a publicly traded company in Canada. The outer portion of the logo -- a circular trio of crescents -- symbolizes GLG's three core product lines: stevia extracts, long the company's flagship product; monk fruit, with GLG entering the market as the highest-capacity producer of this highly desired sweetener; and the company's Naturals line of ingredients that offers both functional ingredients complementary to the sweetener space, as well as products tailored to meet particular market needs. The brand and logo well capture the essence of GLG as a proudly Canadian innovator and leader in the world of natural zero-calorie sweeteners.

The launch of GLG's new website elaborates on these themes and more. Visitors will find even greater emphasis on the company's world-class agricultural programs, including the development of superior non-GMO varietals of stevia and, soon, monk fruit, its technological prowess in the production and innovation arena, and its commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Through the vision of its leaders, the excellence of its team members, and the holistic nature of and demanding standards manifest throughout its supply chain, GLG leverages these assets to provide leading natural sweeteners and ingredient solutions to businesses globally.

Agricultural achievements -- super RA leaf strain and high-purity Reb C strain

The last few months have been a resounding success for GLG's esteemed non-GMO stevia agricultural program. Through its patented and proprietary breeding programs, it has developed two new strains of leaf that are expected to have a significant impact on the company's ability to offer lower-cost products to the global stevia market.

On Dec. 9, 2014, GLG announced the first of two major agricultural breakthroughs: one that could revolutionize the global food and beverage industry's ability to utilize naturally sourced Rebaudioside C. Through GLG's development of its Reb C gold seedling using its non-GMO patented breeding methodology, the GLG agriculture team developed a new strain containing remarkably high levels of Reb C glycosides. Historically, conventional stevia leaf has had Reb C concentrations of around 1 per cent. GLG's Reb C gold strain, however, contains Reb C concentrations verging on 7 per cent. Lab tests show that Reb C comprises 53 per cent of the glycosides in the Reb C gold leaf, compared with values of 6 per cent to 8 per cent in other strains of stevia leaf -- a remarkable 600-per-cent increase. What makes GLG's Reb C gold seedling even more special is its high Rebaudioside A content. Reb C (53 per cent) and Reb A (41 per cent) alone constitute very near 95 per cent of the total steviol glycosides (TSG) in the leaf. Reb C and Reb A are two of the best-tasting glycosides in the leaf. Moreover, the Reb C gold strain has TSG levels nearing 13 per cent of leaf content -- on the high end for stevia leaf in the market today. Together, these attributes can greatly mitigate the cost and processing challenges previously associated with Reb C. Over all, this achievement is a major leap forward in the natural, non-GMO agronomic development of the historically scarcer steviol glycosides.

On Dec. 15, 2014, GLG announced the second of this year's major agricultural breakthroughs, having developed a new stevia seedling variety that is expected to decrease the cost of producing high-purity Reb A stevia extracts by 50 per cent to 60 per cent. Dubbed the super RA variety, this strain contains double the amount of TSG and nearly triple the amount of Reb A glycosides than contained in conventional stevia leaf on the market today. With such a huge increase in Reb A glycoside content, producing one ton of either intermediate or high-purity extract will require far less stevia leaf -- the predominant cost factor -- than is currently required. Other costs of production will also be reduced correspondingly. In sum, compared with the overall costs of producing Reb A extracts using today's conventional stevia seedlings, GLG expects costs for the production of Reb A extracts to be cut by more than half.

Furthermore, both of these new strains derive from GLG's Huinong line of stevia plants. This line, in addition to producing high Reb A and high TSG, carries traits of high leaf or biomass yield (typically 30 per cent to 40 per cent bigger than conventional plants) and high disease resistance.

GLG has filed for patent protection for each of the two new strains. It expects to implement both the new super RA and Reb C gold seedlings in a limited capacity in 2015. GLG looks forward to full-scale commercial implementation of both beginning in 2016.

Product accomplishments under FDA's GRAS program

Consistent with its role as a leader in the sweetener industry, GLG places great importance on adherence to the generally recognized as safe program administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Through this program, for each of its core sweetener products, GLG undertakes expert studies and in-depth consultation through GRAS Associates LLC, which convenes independent panels of scientists to spearhead safety assessments for each product to determine that the product is GRAS. The output of each study is then submitted to the FDA GRAS program, whereupon the submission is reviewed by the FDA. If the FDA finds no issues with the submission, it issues a letter of no objection, reflecting FDA's view that it has no issue with the company's determination that its product is GRAS.

The past year has been a highly productive one for the company's GRAS submissions. Since the beginning of 2014, the company has received the following letters of no objection from the FDA:

• On June 4, 2014, the company announced that it had received a letter of no objection regarding its Rebsweet and AnySweetPlus stevia extract products. These extracts each contain over 95 per cent steviol glycosides (predominantly Rebaudioside A and stevioside), with Rebaudioside A content ranging from 50 per cent to 85 per cent.
• On Oct. 27, 2014, the company announced that it had received a letter of no objection regarding its high-purity Rebaudioside M stevia extract products.
• On Dec. 10, 2014, the company announced that it had received a letter of no objection regarding its high-purity monk fruit extract products. This was a significant accomplishment for the company's 2014 entry into the monk fruit market.
• On Feb. 17, 2015, the company announced that it had received a letter of no objection regarding its high-purity Rebaudioside C extract products. GLG is the first company to have Rebaudioside C products deemed GRAS in compliance with the FDA's GRAS program.
• Additionally, the company awaits notification from the FDA regarding its Oct. 2, 2014, submission to the FDA for its high-purity Rebaudioside D extract products, wherein it notified the FDA of its determination that the products were GRAS.

GLG has the largest number of stevia extract products certified under the GRAS process, as well as GRAS status for its monk fruit extract products. Pursuing and obtaining GRAS designations further GLG's commitment to maintaining the highest-quality standards for its products and to ensuring that each of its naturally sourced sweetener products conforms to the GRAS compliance standards.

Launch of organipure

On March 7, 2014, the company announced that it was launching its new line of stevia sweeteners: organipure. The organipure line includes purity levels that pair the clean finish and rounded sweetness, that GLG stevia extracts are known for, with organic certifications that are recognized in both North America and Europe. GLG offers the largest portfolio of stevia-extract-based sweetener solutions globally, providing a number of options within the organic line, allowing for the use of organipure stevia extract in both high-end and cost-constrained formulations aiming to provide consumers with an organic certified premium finished product. organipure was a natural step in the evolution of GLG's stevia offerings after extensive consultation with its customers and distribution partners. organipure represents a premium-quality organic product with an exceptional taste profile.

Launch of BevSweet and BakeZeroCal

In February, 2015, the company announced two new products specifically formulated for two industry applications. BakeZeroCal, for the baking industry, provides significant calorie reduction while also providing the bulking and browning attributes commonly desired by bakers and consumers alike. BevSweet, for the beverage industry, allows food and beverage companies to reduce calories and naturally sweeten their products with decreased formulation time and with no solubility issues. Each product is a special blend providing an improved taste profile, including a well-rounded sucrose-like sweetness, and ease of use. BakeZeroCal and BevSweet will enable companies to formulate new products and reformulate existing products with less complexity and lower cost.

Appointment of Paul R. Block to GLG's board of directors

On March 11, 2015, the company announced the appointment of Mr. Block to its board of directors. Mr. Block brings a wealth of experience in sales, marketing and business development as a senior executive in the global food and beverage and sweetener industries. Mr. Block most recently served as chief executive officer of Merisant Worldwide Company Inc. and the Whole Earth Sweetener Co. LLC. While at Merisant, Mr. Block oversaw the company's well-recognized line of sweeteners, including the Equal sweetener brand. Prior to joining Merisant, Mr. Block held C-level positions at Sara Lee Coffee and Tea Consumer Brands, Allied Domecq Spirits USA, and Groupe Danone. Mr. Block has been a key figure in developing the global stevia tabletop market through his role as chief executive officer at Merisant and the Whole Earth Sweetener, launching the successful Pure Via line of tabletop zero-calorie stevia sweeteners.

Mr. Block is an excellent strategist who will complement the company's current board makeup and skill set. He has a proven record of innovation and building shareholder value in the sweetener and food and beverage industries. Mr. Block's board appointment is currently subject to final approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Reconstitution of audit committee

On March 23, 2015, the company was pleased to appoint Brian Palmieri to the audit committee. Mr. Palmieri is currently vice-chairman of the board of directors. Mr. Palmieri previously served as the company's CEO from 2005 until 2008, when he relinquished that role and was named as president and vice-chairman. In 2010, Mr. Palmieri relinquished his role as president and has continued to serve the board in his capacity as vice-chairman. Mr. Palmieri is an independent director. Mr. Palmieri replaces David Hall, who joined the board in 2010, and since that time had been serving on the audit committee as chairman. Mr. Hall continues to serve as a director on the board. The audit committee now consists of the following three directors: Sophia Leung (chairman of the audit committee), Liu Yingchun (member) and Mr. Palmieri (member).

Changes to convertible debt agreement

On Sept. 12, 2014, the company announced that it had finalized an agreement, then subject to regulatory approval by the TSX, that would result in the conversion of a $4.3-million obligation into shares in the company. The obligation originated with GLG's disposition of its interest in its prior AN0C joint venture. Pursuant to that disposition, on Sept. 30, 2013, GLG issued a three-year convertible note to China Agricultural Healthy Foods Ltd., with a principal amount of $4,295,532.65 due Sept. 30, 2016, or convertible into common shares of GLG at $1.80 per share.

The amended agreement required that the principal amount be instead immediately converted into common shares at $1 per share, which, as of the Sept. 11 closing price of the company's stock, equated to a premium of 435 per cent. The TSX granted approval of the agreement and the amended exercise price. On Oct. 27, 2014, these additional shares were issued, and CAHFC become an insider of GLG, holding approximately 11.4 per cent of the issued and outstanding shares of the company. At the same time, the debt obligation was eliminated.

With this accelerated conversion, GLG removed from its books this substantial $4.2-million liability.

Final dismissal and discontinuance of shareholder lawsuits

On Feb. 3, 2014, the company announced that the class action lawsuit filed against GLG for alleged failures to disclose certain information was dismissed. The company secured a dismissal with prejudice of a securities class action filed against it and two of its officers (chief executive officer Dr. Luke Zhang and president and chief financial officer Brian Meadows) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. In granting the company's motion to dismiss the class action, the court held that the company had previously disclosed "substantial information (to) the market that suggested precisely that which plaintiffs alleged defendants failed to disclose" under the U.S. securities laws. The court further found that "plaintiffs have failed to allege that defendants had a plausible motive to defraud investors," and noted the fact that Dr. Zhang "purchased a significant number of shares during the putative class period." Significantly, the court also ruled that the company "persuasively argue(d)" that it had also "disclosed all that was required" under Canadian securities regulations. On March 13, 2014, the company announced that the deadline to appeal the judgment entered in favour of the company and its officers had passed and that the dismissal of this class action was final.

In addition, on Sept. 30, 2014, the company announced that the parallel proposed class action lawsuits filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice have been discontinued. This brings an end to all shareholder actions previously brought against GLG.

Outlook

General natural sweetener market outlook

The company continues to see certain big trends driving marketplace. These include health concerns over obesity and diabetes, people looking for food and beverage items with fewer calories, customers favouring natural products and ingredients over artificial ones (such as aspartame), and food and beverage companies continue to be under consumer and even regulatory pressure to provide lower-calorie servings.

Monk fruit business

GLG officially entered the monk fruit business in 2014, with its announcement of a major supply agreement with a global leader in the food ingredient industry. The company remains on track for delivering on that agreement. All monk fruit purchased during the company's inaugural harvest -- nearly 60 million pieces of fruit -- has been processed. The company completed its first shipment in the first quarter of 2015, and expects to deliver the rest under the agreement by the end of the second quarter. While the initial agreement was for a term of one year, GLG expects to continue to do business with this customer over the coming years, and further expects an increase in product volume to be delivered, starting in fourth quarter 2015.

Over all, the company has seen much interest in the market for monk fruit since the launch of its MonkGold extract products. The market reaction has been very positive. More and more companies are exploring the benefits of and need for these extracts, whether as stand-alone sweetener solutions or as used in great-tasting blends with stevia and other ingredients.

Stevia business

GLG had been predicting a tightening in stevia leaf and product supply, and indeed, this came to pass in late 2014. There had been a decrease in stevia farming, resulting in higher prices for both leaf and, in turn, stevia extract products. The company also saw that the surplus stocks that had been available in 2011 and 2012 have largely been depleted and now need to be replenished. As an example, at the end of 2011, GLG had about $100-million in inventory. It now has less than $10-million.

Fortunately for GLG, its agricultural team had a banner year in 2014, with the development of its super RA and Reb C gold stevia strains, which, as discussed already, can be used to significantly reduce the amount of leaf required to produce a given amount of stevia extract product. The announcements of these developments attracted significant attention from major food and beverage and food ingredient multinationals that have historically been large users of stevia. GLG is working to contract with these customers for one- and two-year supply agreements, which, in light of the stevia shortage, are more willing to enter into such supply agreements. GLG expects to have a number of these complete in the coming weeks, accounting for a significant amount of international business. These commitments will enable GLG to plant with confidence for the 2015 harvest, and also to offer competitive pricing for its stevia extract products.

There has also been continued interest in its blended products that taste better than traditional stevia products alone (such as RA97 or RA95). The extract from its Reb C gold strain is a great foundation for superior-tasting blends. The company is also enthusiastic about the potential for its monk fruit/stevia blends.

Naturals

GLG completed delivery on its first major contracts for its Naturals product line in first quarter 2015, in line with prior announcements. It continues to see other opportunities for ingredients complementary to the natural high-intensity sweetener market from a variety of existing and potential customers, which are interested in these natural ingredients sourced in China. GLG has a dedicated team to help with sourcing these specialized natural ingredients from an extensive and qualified network of suppliers across China. Two thousand fifteen will be the first year where it sees significant revenues coming from this product line.

Selected financials

As noted already, the complete set of financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, is available on SEDAR and on the company's website.

Results from operations

The following results from operations have been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the company's annual consolidated financial statements for 2013 and 2014.

                      FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
      (in thousands Canadian $, except per-share amounts)

                         Three months ended        Year ended
                                Dec. 31,             Dec. 31,
                             2014      2013       2014      2013

Revenue                    $7,535    $4,138    $19,982   $16,022
Cost of sales             ($7,323)  ($2,276)  ($22,027) ($17,724)
% of revenue                  (97%)     (55%)     (110%)    (111%)
Gross profit (loss)          $212    $1,862    ($2,046)  ($1,702)    
% of revenue                    3%       45%       (10%)     (11%)      
Expenses                   $2,738    $2,769     $9,283    $8,349
% of revenue                   36%       67%        46%       52%
(Loss) from operations    ($2,525)    ($906)  ($11,328) ($10,052)     
% of revenue                  (34%)     (22%)      (57%)     (63%)      
Other income
(expenses)               ($15,555)  ($4,507)  ($21,290) ($19,708)
% of revenue                 (206%)    (109%)     (107%)    (123%)
Net (loss) before
income taxes             ($18,080)  ($5,414)  ($32,619) ($29,760)
% of revenue                 (240%)    (131%)     (163%)    (186%)
Net (loss)               ($17,994)  ($3,431)  ($32,567) ($26,430)
% of revenue                 (239%)     (83%)     (163%)    (165%)
Net (loss) from
continuing operations    ($17,994)  ($5,461)  ($32,567) ($29,808)
% of revenue                 (239%)    (132%)     (163%)    (186%)
Net gain from
discontinued
operations                     $0    $2,030         $0    $3,378
% of revenue                    0%       49%         0%       21%
(Loss) per share (LPS,
basic and diluted)         ($0.53)   ($0.10)    ($0.95)   ($0.79)
(Loss) per share from
continuing operations
(LPS, basic and
diluted)                   ($0.53)   ($0.16)    ($0.95)   ($0.89)
(Loss) per share from
discontinued
operations (LPS,
basic and diluted)          $0.00     $0.06      $0.00     $0.10
Other comprehensive
income (loss) from
continuing operations        $865    $2,020     $1,148    $4,803
% of revenue                   11%       49%         6%       30%
Other comprehensive
income (loss) from
discontinued
operations                     $0       $83         $0       $89
% of revenue                    0%        2%         0%        1%
Total comprehensive
income (loss)            ($17,130)  ($1,328)  ($31,419) ($21,538)
% of revenue                 (227%)     (32%)     (157%)    (134%)

Revenue

Revenue for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2014, was $7.5-million, an increase of 82 per cent compared with $4.1-million in revenue for the same period last year.

This 82-per-cent increase in revenue, comparing the fourth quarter in 2014 to the fourth quarter in 2013, was due to a 50-per-cent increase in sales of products in China relative to the same period in the prior year. The company was able to use proceeds of these increased low-purity stevia sales to purchase raw material (fruit) for its new product line of monk fruit in the fourth quarter. International sales also increased substantially in the fourth quarter of 2014, relative to the same period last year, increasing by 41 per cent. This reflects the company's continuing strategy focusing on increasing its sales of high-purity stevia extracts to international customers.

Revenue for the year of 2014 was $20.0-million, an increase of 25 per cent compared with $16.0-million in revenue for the last year. This 25-per-cent increase in sales, comparing 2014 with 2013, was driven primarily by an increase of products sold internationally compared with the prior year. The main revenue increase came from an increase in international sales, again reflecting the company's continuing strategy focusing on increasing its sales of high-purity stevia extracts to international customers. International sales were up approximately 75 per cent for the 12-month period ending Dec. 31, 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. International sales have contributed 41.5 per cent of 2014 annual revenues compared with only 29.6 per cent for the same period in 2013.

The other major sales growth initiatives in 2014 include the introduction of the company's second zero-calorie natural sweetener -- monk fruit or luo han guo -- and the sale of other natural ingredients complementary to stevia (its GLG Naturals line of products). GLG signed its first contract for the supply of monk fruit in July of 2014; however, there was no associated revenue realized in fiscal 2014, as deliveries commenced in the first quarter of 2015. GLG also secured its first sale within the Naturals line of products during the second quarter of 2014, with delivery and payments beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Cost of sales

For the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2014, the cost of sales was $7.3-million compared with $2.3-million in cost of sales for the same period last year ($5.0-million or a 222-per-cent increase). Cost of sales as a percentage of revenues was 97 per cent compared with 55 per cent in the prior period, an increase of 42 percentage points. The cost of sales as a percentage of revenue was higher for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2014, compared with the prior year due to the impact of a significant increase in stevia raw material costs during the quarter compared with the prior period.

Cost of sales for 2014 was $22.0-million compared with $17.7-million for 2013 or an increase of $4.3-million or 24 per cent. Cost of sales as a percentage of revenues was 110 per cent compared with 111 per cent in 2013, a decrease of 1 per cent. The cost of sales as a percentage of revenue was lower than last year due to the impact of lower idle-capacity charges resulting from improved utilization of the company's facilities due to monk fruit production. Capacity charges charged to the cost of goods sold ordinarily would flow to inventory and is the largest factor on reported gross margin. Only two of GLG's manufacturing facilities were operating during the year of 2014, and capacity charges of $1.9-million were charged to cost of sales (representing 9 per cent of cost of sales) compared with $2.5-million charged to cost of sales in 2013 (representing 14 per cent of cost of sales).

The key factors that impact stevia cost of sales and gross profit percentages in each period include:

• Capacity utilization of stevia manufacturing plants;
• The price paid for stevia leaf and the stevia leaf quality, impacted by crop quality for a particular year/period, and the price per kilogram, for which the extract is sold. These are the most important factors that will impact the gross profit of GLG's stevia business.
• Other factors which also impact stevia cost of sales to a lesser degree include:
• • Water and power consumption;
  • Manufacturing overhead used in the production of stevia extract, including supplies, power and water;
  • Net value-added tax paid on export sales;
  • Exchange rate changes;
  • Depreciation and capacity utilization of the stevia extract processing plants.

GLG's stevia business is affected by seasonality. The harvest of the stevia leaves typically occurs starting at the end of July and continues through the fall of each year. GLG's operations in China are also impacted by the Chinese New Year celebrations, which occur approximately late January to mid-February each year, during which many businesses close down operations for approximately two weeks. GLG's production year runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 each year.

Gross profit (loss)

Gross profit for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2014, was $200,000, a decrease of $1.7-million compared with $1.9-million in gross profit for the comparable period in 2013. The gross profit margin for the three-month period ended Dec. 31, 2014, was 3 per cent compared with 45 per cent for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2013, or a reduction of 42 percentage points from the previous year. The gross margin for the three-month period ended Dec. 31, 2014, was impacted by the product mix of a high volume of low-purity stevia extracts for the quarter that had lower gross margin relative to the margins of higher-purity stevia extracts. Low-purity stevia extract sales increased 99 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with the prior period in 2013 and accounted for the majority of the fourth quarter sales for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2014.

Gross loss for 2014 was $2.0-million, an increase of 16 per cent over $1.7-million in gross loss for the comparable period in 2013. The gross profit margin for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, was negative 10 per cent compared with negative 11 per cent for the year ended Dec. 31, 2013, or an improvement of one percentage point from the previous year. The improvement to gross loss for the year of 2014 was driven by: (1) reduced idle-capacity charges realized due to the new monk fruit production, which commenced in fourth quarter 2014, and (2) the positive change in product mix sold during the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, compared with the prior period with the increased sales to international customers with higher gross profit realized in 2014.

Net loss attributable to the company

For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2014, the company had a net loss attributable to the company of $18.0-million, an increase of $14.5-million or a 424-per-cent increase over the comparable period in 2013 ($3.4-million loss). The increase in net loss was driven by: (1) an increase in other expenses of $11.0-million, (2) a decrease in gross profit of $1.6-million (3) a decrease in gain from discontinued operations of $2.0-million offset by an decrease in income tax expense of $100,000.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, the company had a net loss attributable to the company of $32.6-million, an increase of $6.1-million over the comparable period in 2013 ($26.4-million loss). The increase in net loss was driven by: (1) an increase in other expenses of $1.6-million, (2) an increase in gross loss of $300,000, (3) an increase in general expenses of $900,000 and (4) a decrease in gain from discontinued operations of $3.4-million, which was offset by a decrease in income tax expense of $100,000.

Liquidity and capital resources

The company continues to progress with the following measures to manage cash flow of the company: paying down short-term loans, reducing accounts payable and negotiating with creditors for extended payment terms, working closely with the banks to restructure its loans, arranging financing with its directors and other related parties, and reducing operating expenditures, including general and administrative expenses and production-related expenses. Total loans payable (both short term and long term) are $87.6-million as of Dec. 31, 2014, an increase of $7.9-million compared with the previous year ($79.6-million). The increase in loans was primarily driven by working capital required to purchase monk fruit against a key customer contract ($7.2-million in loans as of Dec. 31, 2014). The largest impacts on the company's increase in negative working capital for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, capital are: (1) the change in classification of $21.0-million long-term debt as of Dec. 31, 2013, to short-term debt as of Dec. 31, 2014, and (2) the impairment charges realized on current assets of $7.8-million in the year ended Dec. 31, 2014.

The company worked with its Chinese banks on restructuring its Chinese debt. By the end of 2014, the Chinese debt with Agricultural Bank of China had been transferred to China Huarong Asset Management Co. Ltd., which is a state-owned capital management company. Subsequent to year-end, Construction Bank of China transferred GLG's debt to China Cinda Asset Management Co., which is another SOCMC. These two agreements account for approximately 68 per cent of the company's outstanding debt with Chinese banks. The nature of the business of these SOCMCs differs from banks, in that they take a long-term outlook on management of debt. For example, instead of simply requiring loan principal and interest payments, the SOCMCs aim to manage debts with greater flexibility, such as long-term-loan terms, debt for equity arrangements, flexible debt retirement and other long-term instruments. This debt is held at the Chinese subsidiary level, and any such potential arrangements would therefore be done at that level rather than at the corporate level. These SOCMCs could also be a source of possible future capital. The company is still in discussions with these SOCMCs as to final terms -- including interest rate and term of the debt -- for the transferred debt. Until such terms are confirmed in a formal agreement, the terms of the original loan are represented in the financial statements. The company further expects to restructure the remaining as-yet non-transferred bank debt during 2015.

Sales of stevia extracts declined by 24 per cent in 2013 from 2012 and rebounded by 25 per cent in 2014 as the company increased its sales in the international market and decreased its sales of stevia extracts to other stevia companies primarily located in China. Further, the company commenced its monk fruit operations in the fourth quarter of 2014 and produced its first products under a supply contract announced in July of 2014. The first shipment under this contract was made in the first quarter of 2015, and this new product line will add a new source of sales starting in 2015.

The company has incurred significant losses for the past three years. In 2012 and 2013, the major drivers of the loss were related to writedowns on stevia inventories due to a supply surplus of stevia extracts in the international marketplace. The company also had significant operating charges related to its idle facilities during these years. In 2014, the company commenced operations for its monk fruit products. This improved factory utilization starting in the fourth quarter and the first products were manufactured in the fourth quarter of 2014. In 2014, the company incurred significant impairments related to recoverable sales taxes and prepaid expenses in China ($6.2-million) and plant, property and equipment ($6-million) related to its ion resin equipment. These were offset by reductions in inventory impairments from the prior year (a $6.5-million reduction). The market for stevia from the start of the fourth quarter of 2014 has significantly improved since the supply surplus for stevia had been depleted from the market. Market prices for stevia extracts have now increased for the first time in two years. These issues also resulted in a decline in total assets for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 as inventories were drawn down, and further impairment charges were also taken on obsolete inventory, plant, property and equipment, and sales taxes recoverable in China.

During the year ended Dec. 31, 2012, and 2013, non-current financial liabilities increased from $8.7-million in 2012 to $25.4-million by year-end 2014. During the year ended Dec. 31, 2013, and 2014, non-current financial liabilities decreased as the company reclassified a $21.0-million long-term bank loan to a short-term loan. During these years, the company refinanced a short-term bank debt and obtained longer-term financing from the company's chairman and chief executive officer and other related parties.

Additional information

Additional information relating to the company, including its annual information form, is available on SEDAR. Additional information relating to GLG is also available on the company's website.

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