Genus Regulatory News (GNS)

18 Aug 2005 07:00

Genus PLC18 August 2005 For Immediate Release 18 August 2005 GENUS plc Annual General Meeting Trading Update At the Annual General Meeting of Genus plc ("Genus") to be held today at 2.30pm, the Chairman, John Hawkins, will make the following statement: "During the first quarter, trading throughout the Group has been in line withmanagement's expectations although, for Bovine Genetics, some marketuncertainties remain in Europe because of the change to the EU agriculturalprice support mechanism, as already outlined in the Annual Report." "The top bulls, recently introduced to the Genus stud, have contributedsignificantly to margins and competitiveness throughout the world. "Both the subsidiary businesses, Animal Health and Development Consulting, havecontinued to progress well." Since the publication of the Annual Report & Accounts, Genus has acquired twosmall retail businesses, in the cow-dense state of Victoria, Australia. Thesecompanies had a combined turnover of AUS$6.2m (£2.6m) and will combine with thesmall retail company acquired in December 2004, and mentioned in the AnnualReport & Accounts, as a route to developing market potential in this importantcountry. Contact:Richard Wood, Chief Executive, Genus plc 01256 347101David Timmins, Group Finance Director, Genus plc 01256 347102 Charles Ryland/Suzanne Brocks, Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000 About Genus: Genus is the world's leading Bovine Genetics company. At the core of itsbusiness lies an approximately £9m per year research and development programme.Laboratory bioscience is used to target and augment traditional mating andselection programmes testing 400 new bulls each year. The rolling five yearprogramme aims continuously to improve the genetic make-up of the successivegenerations of the bulls created. Semen from the bulls selected from thisprogramme for stud is sold for use on customers' herds, to improve the outputand stature of their offspring. Genus distributes beef and dairy semen, both for tropical and temperateagricultures, from its six studs located in four continents to farmers inseventy countries. It operates an unrivalled network of overseas selling officesand exclusive agents. In some countries it also offers insemination services andthe sale of supporting products. In the UK, Genus Animalcare markets licensed veterinary pharmaceuticals andGenusxpress wholesales a range of other companies' veterinary pharmaceuticalsand products. Genus also operates an overseas consultancy practice which managesprojects funded by aid agencies for less developed countries. Genus offers unrivalled expertise in its sector of modern agriculturaltechnology. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange