Selecta and Ball announce exclusive distribution agreement in North America

Selecta Klemm and Ball Horticultural Company announce that effective June 1, 2009, Ball will become the exclusive supplier of Selecta genetics in North America. All Selecta unrooted products, including annuals, perennials and pot plants will be available through Ball. Selecta’s extensive Root & Sell network will continue to supply top quality rooted liners through their existing North American broker group.

“We are very pleased to be working with Ball in this partnership”, stated Nils Klemm, Chief Executive Officer of Selecta Klemm GmbH & Co. KG. “Ball is well regarded for their strength in distribution and service in North America. Their focus on the grower fits nicely with our overall corporate direction and, together, we will provide the optimal solution to our North American customers.”

“Selecta is well known for their innovative and quality breeding. Their products, combined with our market-leading service and supply will provide growers with the best vegetative solution for their needs”, said Cees Boonman, Vice President of Ball Horticultural Company. Selecta’s MiniFamous^® is the leading calibrachoa series in the market and helped to establish Selecta’s position in North America.

Current Selecta Root and Sell stations will remain intact and will continue to offer rooted Selecta genetics through the current broker customers. Selecta will continue to host customers at their Encinitas Pack Trial location in 2009 and will be showcasing over 50 new products.

This partnership is for the North American market and does not change the relationship between these two companies in other regions of the world such as Europe.

Selecta serves the North American market through its daughter company Selecta First Class, Inc., and distributes through brokers and root & sell companies in the U.S. and Canada. Selecta isa third generation family owned group of companies active in the field of breeding, propagation and distribution of vegetative propagated ornamental plants. Selecta has over one thousand varieties that are protected under Plant Breeder's Rights and 35 genus that are subject to a breeding process in the area of Bedding and Balcony plants, Pot plants Perennials and Cut flowers, There are over 1000 staff members in seven sites located in Europe, Africa and North America.

Ball Horticultural Company is an internationally renowned breeder, producer and wholesale distributor of ornamental plants. A family-owned business since it was founded in 1905, Ball has introduced many innovative, award-winning varieties to the world of horticulture, including the Wave^® petunia family; Dazzler^® and Super Elfin^® impatiens; and Fiesta^™ double impatiens. The company offers the Simply Beautiful^® and Circle of Life^® programs exclusively for independent garden centers. Ball has worldwide production, sales and marketing through its many subsidiaries on six continents.