PORTLAND, OR, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Naturally
Advanced Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: NADVF, TSXV: NAT; the "Company")
today announced that it has contracted the services of Guidance
Counsel based in Portland, OR, to
augment the Company's shareholder and investor relations
activities. Guidance Counsel's investor relations efforts are led
by Rick Anguilla, former VP of Investor Relations at Nike, Inc.
After continued success in scaling up to commercial scale
production trials, the Company is now working on reaching a wider
investor audience as it brings to market its proprietary CRAILAR(R)
technology platform.
Under the terms of the Company's agreement with Guidance
Counsel, (the "Agreement"); which is subject to the prior review
and, if required, approval of the TSX Venture Exchange
("Approval"), Guidance Counsel will provide certain shareholder and
investor services to NAT for the implementation of the Company's
financial communications program.
Rick has extensive experience in his field, most notably with
industry leading apparel brands Nike and Under Armour. He spent ten
years at Nike as the VP of Brand Communications and VP of Investor
Relations. At Nike, he built the framework for the Company's
investor relations department and helped the financial community
understand the value of its strong brand equity. After Nike, he was
instrumental in the Initial Public Offering for Under Armour,
helping the company articulate its strong brand position to Wall
Street. In late 2005, Under Armour became the first US-based IPO in
five years to rise at least 100% in its first day of trading. He
continues to work with Under Armour as a strategic advisor, helping
them manage their continued growth.
In addition, Guidance Counsel principal Meredith Chase has over sixteen years of
strategic brand marketing experience, helping develop marketing
strategies and communication platforms for some of the worlds most
visible brands. Her career successes include The Walt Disney Co.,
J. Walter Thompson, Wieden +
Kennedy Portland and Australia, Lucy and Nike. She oversaw the
Olympic TV and print campaign that aired for Nike in summer 2008
and has managed both the women's and apparel marketing teams at
Nike.
"We are very excited to be working with Guidance Counsel,"
stated Ken Barker, CEO of NAT.
"Guidance Counsel brings extensive, focused, industry targeted
experience to our IR activities, with the reputation to translate
our commercial opportunity to a global institutional investor base.
The added strength of their brand marketing and communication
skills augments our branding platform for CRAiLAR, at this critical
juncture of our go-to-market execution".
The initial term of the Agreement is for a period of 12 months.
NAT will compensate Guidance Counsel, LLC with an average monthly
retainer of $10,000 together with the
issuance of an aggregate of 125,000 incentive stock options of the
Company; issuable to Rick Anguilla and Meredith Chase; vesting over a period of 12
months; exercisable at a price of CAD$1.04/US$1.01
per option share and expiring August 9,
2015.
About Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc.
Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. is committed to unlocking
the potential of renewable and environmentally sustainable biomass
resources from hemp and other bast fibers. The Company, through its
wholly owned subsidiary, Crailar Fiber Technologies Inc., is
developing proprietary technologies for production of bast fibers,
cellulose pulp, and their resulting by-products, in collaboration
with Canada's National Research Council and the Alberta Research
Council. Crailar(R) technology offers cost-effective and
environmentally sustainable processing and production of natural,
bast fibers such as hemp and flax, resulting in increased
performance characteristics for use in textile, industrial, energy,
medical and composite material applications. The Company was
founded in 1998 as a provider of environmentally friendly, socially
responsible clothing and adheres to a "triple bottom line"
philosophy, respecting the human rights of employees, the
environmental impact of the Company's operations and fiscal
responsibility to its shareholders. See
www.naturallyadvanced.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking Statement Disclaimer
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed
"forward-looking statements". All statements in this news release,
other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements or information are subject
to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual
events or results to differ from those reflected in the
forward-looking statements or information and including, without
limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to: any market
interruptions that may delay the trading of the Company's shares,
technological and operational challenges, needs for additional
capital, changes in consumer preferences, market acceptance and
technological changes, dependence on manufacturing and material
supplies providers, international operations, competition,
regulatory restrictions and the loss of key employees. In addition,
the Company's business and operations are subject to the risks set
forth in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other
SEC filings which are available through EDGAR at www.sec.gov. These
are among the primary risks we foresee at the present time. The
Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking
statements.
SOURCE Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc.
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