Distribution Agreement with Klockner Pentaplast

 

TIDMPLNT 
 
RNS Number : 1188H 
Plantic Technologies Limited 
15 February 2010 
 

15 February 2010 
 
            Plantic Technologies Limited ("Plantic" or "the Company") 
 
          Rigid film distribution agreement with Klöckner Pentaplast 
 
MELBOURNE, Australia; 15 February - Plantic (AIM:PLNT), the technology company 
engaged in the development and commercialisation of a range of environmentally 
friendly plastics from renewable resources, today announces the next phase of 
expanding its American operations.  Klöckner Pentaplast, a global leader in 
rigid plastic packaging film, will replace DuPont as Plantic's distributor for 
the rigid packaging film market in the Americas. 
 
SUMMARY: 
 
·     Klöckner Pentaplast will exclusively sell Plantic rigid film products in 
the Americas as Pentafood 
Biofilm(TM) Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) film 
 
·     The Klöckner Pentaplast Group is the world's leading producer of rigid 
film products with 19  production operations in 11 countries and sales of over 
US$1.6 billion 
 
·     DuPont is working closely with Plantic and Klöckner Pentaplast to ensure a 
smooth customer transition 
 
·     This marks the next stage in the marketing and promotion of Plantic 
products and plastics technology, with Plantic increasingly focusing on higher 
margin royalty based licensing and product development 
 
Plantic announces that effective immediately Klöckner Pentaplast will 
exclusively sell Plantic  rigid sheet products in the Americas, taking that 
function over from DuPont. DuPont is working together with Plantic and Klöckner 
Pentaplast to ensure a smooth customer transition.  Under the agreement, 
Klöckner Pentaplast also has the right to manufacture Plantic's requirements for 
rigid film under licence in the future. This builds on Plantic's previously 
announced plans to manufacture its resins in the US in conjunction with National 
Starch. 
 
As an industry leader, Klöckner Pentaplast's dedicated sales force and global 
rigid film manufacturing capability, together with the improved supply chain and 
competitiveness expected from Plantic's planned US resin plant will provide 
customers with more efficient and cost-effective access to Plantic  products. 
Plantic will continue serving rigid film markets in Australasia and Europe 
directly. Broadening the geographical scope of distribution with 
Klöckner Pentaplast is in discussion. 
 
Brendan Morris, Chief Executive of Plantic Technologies, said: 
 
"We are excited about entering the next phase of Plantic  rigid films expansion 
into the Americas.  Klöckner Pentaplast is an established global market leader 
in rigid packaging films and has extensive knowledge of the packaging markets 
which will help foster growth of our product line." 
 
Michael Tubridy, president of Klöckner Pentaplast/Americas, said: 
 
"The Plantic  product line complements our portfolio of plastic packaging films 
by offering a unique end-of-life disposal option.  Based on a renewable 
resource, this film offers our customers an option in helping meet their 
sustainable packaging goals." 
 
As previously announced, Plantic is working with a global leader in compounded 
resins with a view to completing agreements to manufacture under licence and 
market eco Plastic(TM) resins. The evaluation period has commenced and 
importantly the agreements provide for Plantic to work in conjunction with this 
global leader to develop a suite of new renewably sourced resins built on 
Plantic's proprietary resins. 
This agreement will also encompass the sales and distribution of Plantic's 
biodegradable injection moulding resins, taking over from DuPont. A transition 
plan is in place with DuPont to allow effective management of existing and 
potential customers. 
 
About Plantic Technologies Limited 
 
Plantic Technologies is based in Australia, where its head office, principal 
manufacturing and research and development facilities are located. The company 
also has sales offices in Germany and the United Kingdom, and employs 
approximately 50 people internationally. 
 
Plantic's novel polymer technology is based on the use of high-amylose corn 
starch, a material derived from annual harvesting of specialized non-GM (hybrid) 
corn and supplied by National Starch.  The unique chemical and film-forming 
properties of this type of starch allow for development of a range of 
applications across conventional plastics markets.  Plantic materials have a 
renewable bio-content of approximately 85%.  In addition to being 
renewably-sourced, Plantic materials are biodegradable, home compostable, water 
dispersible and compostable to American (ASTM 6400) and European (EN 13432) 
standards. 
 
Plantic Technologies has won numerous international awards for their innovation 
in biodegradable plastics. Plantic is listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) 
under the symbol 'PLNT'. 
 
For more information visit the company's website www.plantic.com.au. 
 
About the Klöckner Pentaplast Group 
 
The Klöckner Pentaplast Group is the world's leading producer of films for 
pharmaceutical, medical device, food, electronics, and general-purpose 
thermoform packaging, as well as printing and specialty applications.  Founded 
in 1965 in Montabaur, Germany, Klöckner Pentaplast has grown from its initial 
facility to 19 current production operations in 11 countries. 
 
The Klöckner Pentaplast Group is wholly owned by affiliates of The Blackstone 
Group. The company has sales of over $1.6 billion (EUR1.1 billion) and employs 
more than 3,200 people committed to serving customers worldwide. For more 
information, visit our web site at www.kpfilms.com. 
 
About National Starch llc 
 
National Starch, a leading global supplier of specialty starches, develops, 
makes and markets nature-based, functional and nutritional ingredients. Its 
specialty biomaterials deliver sensorial, performance and processing benefits 
along with improved levels of sustainability in a wide array of consumer goods 
and industrial applications. National Starch's deep understanding of 
technologies, customers, and product design allows it to develop new synergies 
by connecting ideas and people from around the world. 
 
FURTHER INFORMATION: 
 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Plantic Technologies:         |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Brendan Morris, Chief         | [phone]                | 
| Executive Officer             |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
|                               |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Nomura Code Securities        |                                  | 
| Limited:                      |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Juliet Thompson               | [phone]              | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
|                               |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Pelham Bell Pottinger:        |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Archie Berens                 | [phone] / +44        | 
|                               | (0)7802 442486                   | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
|                               |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Klöckner Pentaplast Group:    |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
| Nancy E. Ryan, Group          | [phone]                  | 
| Director, Corporate           |                                  | 
| Communications                |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
|                               |                                  | 
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+ 
 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
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