Ball to acquire majority of share in Danish breeding company Ex-Plant A/S

WEST CHICAGO, ILL. – Ball Horticultural Company is announcing the acquisition of a majority of shares in Danish breeding company Ex-Plant A/S. Ex-Plant will become a part of Ball’s PanAmerican Seed division upon the close of this transaction, which is anticipated in January 2017. Current owner Carsten Leth will retain the remaining shares and will assume the new position of Global Business Manager-Pot Plants for PanAmerican Seed.

Carsten says, “Being a part of Ball Horticultural Company is an excellent opportunity for our team to take breeding of Ex-Plant genetics to the next level. We are located in Denmark, the homeland of pot plants, and our knowledge of product development within the pot plant segment combined with the technical breeding expertise of Ball is a perfect match. When added to the global distribution network of PanAmerican Seed, even more distributors, growers and consumers will gain access to our unique assortment of products.”

“We welcome Carsten and the Ex-Plant team to Ball. It is exciting to add these high-quality pot plants to our offering, and we are pleased to be bringing in Ex-Plant’s expertise in the pot plant market to our company,” says Anne Leventry, president of PanAmerican Seed.

Carsten will focus on the global development and implementation of Ball's assortment of pot plant products based on proprietary breeding, as well as supply from other leading breeders of pot plant products. Carsten will continue to manage the Danish operation and will remain the main contact for Ex-Plant key accounts. Daily business and customer service will continue to be available out of the Denmark office. Beginning May 1, 2017, the complete Ex- Plant assortment will be available worldwide through PanAmerican Seed distributors.

The current Ex-Plant team located in Glamsbjerg, Denmark, will remain in place and will join the global PanAmerican Seed network of breeding locations in development of market leading product for the global ornamental horticulture market.