History
The Group was founded in 1995, specialising in the procurement and distribution of polythene bags, sheet, film and other related products in the UK in particular.
Towards the end of 1995, the Group was presented with an opportunity to extend its product range with the use of an additive based on patented technology owned by a North American company - EPI. By combining the additive with the Group's manufacturing expertise, the Group was able to develop environmentally responsible, degradable, polythene, branded at the time under the trade mark SPI-Tek. An agreement was entered into with EPI in 1997 relating to the supply of additive. That agreement was extended in 2000 for a further term of 15 years and amended at various times.
In August 2000, shares in the Group were first publicly traded following admission to the Ofex market.
In November 2001, shares in the Group were admitted to the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange alongside an open offer for shares.
In June 2003, the agreement between Symphony and EPI was terminated and Symphony focused on marketing its own degradable technology. Early in 2004 EPI filed a claim against Symphony in the UK High Court on a number of matters including copying their technology. This claim, and all but two lesser claims, were totally dismissed by the High Court in December 2004 and by the Court of Appeal in December 2005 leaving Symphony entirely free to market and further develop its own degradable technology.
