PHC.L Regulatory News (PHC)

3 Nov 2005 07:00

Plant Health Care PLC03 November 2005 Embargoed until 07.00 3 November 2005 Plant Health Care plc Research Agreement Plant Health Care ("PHC" or the "Group") is pleased to announce that it hasentered into a joint research agreement with Ball Horticultural Company("Ball"), a world leader in the commercial development and production ofornamental plant and seed varieties. Ball has operations around the world in 21countries on six continents and is the largest horticultural seed company in theUnited States. Under the Agreement, PHC will provide its products and expertise to assist Ballin the exploration of new production techniques using sustainable products andpractices. Ball has recently launched a new initiative, "Circle of Life," a programme thatpromotes the production of ornamental plants utilizing innovativeenvironmentally sustainable practices. This type of programme aligns itself wellwith PHC's mission of developing and selling environmentally friendly plantgrowth products. Commenting on the agreement, John Brady, CEO of Plant Health Care, said, "Theopportunity to work with a company as notable as Ball on expanding its 'green'initiative is very exciting for PHC. We are always looking for the chance to makethis a greener world, and through this joint initiative with Ball we have theability to make a significant impact on the way plants are grown worldwide." For further information please contact: Plant Health Care plcJohn Brady, CEO Tel: 001 603 525 3702 Ball Horticultural CompanyFrancis Kwong Tel: 001 630 588 3419 Tavistock Communications Tel: 020 7920 3150Jeremy CareyChristian Taylor-Wilkinson Notes to Editors: About Plant Health Care Plant Health Care plc ("PHC") is a leading provider of natural products forplants and soil. Established in 1995 in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) in the UnitedStates, PHC currently has approximately 60 employees and has operations in theUS, Mexico, UK, Spain, and the Netherlands with technical support in Austria.The Group has two principal operating subsidiaries in the US - PHC Inc (PA) andPHC-REC. The Company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange inJuly 2004. Ticker symbol is phc. PHC's products are aimed at the horticulture, agriculture, turf grass,commercial landscaping, forestry and land reclamation industries and are bothenvironmentally beneficial and on the whole more cost effective than syntheticchemical alternatives. Through the commercialisation of these products, PHC iscapitalising on current long-term trends toward natural systems and biologicalproducts for plant care and soil and water management uses. PHC-REC is an environmental and reclamation engineering consulting firm whichprovides engineering and design services for reclamation lands disturbed bymining, construction, and other activities. PHC-REC is the recognised leader inthe use of biologically based solutions using mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria forthe establishment of trees, shrubs, and grasses on these disturbed lands.PHC-REC was established in 1997 to exploit PHC's products and technology. Web Site: www.planthealthcare.com About Ball Horticultural Company Ball Horticultural Company is an internationally renowned breeder, producer andwholesale distributor of ornamental plants. A family-owned business since it wasfounded in 1905, Ball has introduced many innovative, award-winning varieties tothe world of horticulture including the Ride The Wave(R) petunia family, SuperElfin(R) impatiens and FiestaTM double impatiens; and Bingo(R) pansies. Ball hasworldwide production, sales and marketing through its many subsidiaries on sixcontinents. Web Site: www.BallHort.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange