Lebanon Seaboard Corp. announced that it has acquired the U.S. horticultural and turf division of Plant Health Care, Inc. (PHC).
Established in 1995 in Pittsburgh, Pa., PHC is regarded as a pioneer among manufacturers of biologically based products for all segments of the green industry. Among other areas, the company is highly respected for its research applied to fertility products incorporating beneficial microbes, mycorrhizal fungi and soil nutrients.
In addition to the PHC brands that had been marketed through the company’s horticultural and turf division, several PHC executives and sales personnel will join LebanonTurf, the professional division of Lebanon Seaboard, under terms of the agreement.
The acquisition reinforces LebanonTurf’s commitment to the growing field of biological plant nutrition, according to Katherine Bishop, president and CEO of Lebanon Seaboard, parent company of LebanonTurf.
“PHC products add to our ability to create both environmental and economic benefits for our customers and capitalize on a movement throughout the green industry toward natural systems and biological products that promote plant health,” Bishop said.
PHC complements Lebanon Seaboard’s 2009 acquisition of Novozymes’ turf and landscape business, including the Roots products and technologies; and its 2008 acquisition of the Emerald Isle line of foliar and granular fertilizer products from Milliken Chemical.
“As the scientific community further clarifies and substantiates the importance of microorganisms to the soil ecosystem, biofertility products will continue to grow in importance to turf and landscape managers,” said Dave Heegard, general manager of LebanonTurf. “The addition of PHC brands and expertise adds to LebanonTurf’s ability to offer a comprehensive solution to distributors and end-users.”
Terms of the agreement between privately held Lebanon Seaboard, whose LebanonTurf division focuses on the professional turf industry; and PHC, a public company with global headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa., were not disclosed.