NAT Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc.

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.