Genus Regulatory News (GNS)

For Immediate Release

22 March 2021

Genus plc('Genus', or the 'Company')

Board Changes

Non-Executive Director Retirement and Appointment

Genus (LSE: GNS), a leading global animal genetics company, announces that Professor Ian Charles has informed the Company of his intention to step down and retire from the Genus Board, effective from 31 May 2021. Professor Charles has served as a Non-Executive Director and advisor to the Genus Portfolio Steering Committee ('GPSC') for over three years.

Genus is also pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Jason Chin to the Board as a Non-Executive Director, with effect from 1 April 2021. Professor Chin will become the Board's advisor to the GPSC upon Professor Charles' retirement.

Professor Chin is the Head of the Centre for Chemical and Synthetic Biology at the Medical Research Council Laboratory for Molecular Biology in Cambridge, where he works across disciplines to develop and apply methods for reprogramming the genetic code of living organisms. His research spans Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Synthetic Biology, and he holds Associate Faculty status at the Wellcome Sanger Institute where he researches synthetic genomics. He is a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Professor Chin brings a developed understanding of scientific advisory work and has sat on the scientific advisory boards of a number of companies, including Synaffix BV and Orbit Discovery Limited, where he retains an advisory role.

Commenting on the changes, Iain Ferguson, Chair of Genus, said:

"Over his tenure Ian has provided the Company with significant scientific expertise, guidance and insight as the Company has progressed its strategic focus on research and development in genomics, gene editing and biosystems engineering.  We thank Ian for his significant contributions during that time and are delighted to welcome to the Board Jason Chin, whose deep scientific expertise and experience will enable the Board to have a seamless transition as we continue to execute our strategy."

This announcement is available on the Genus website www.genusplc.com

About Genus

Genus is a world-leading animal genetics company. Genus creates advances to animal breeding and genetic improvement by applying biotechnology and sells added value products for livestock farming and food producers. Its technology is applicable across livestock species and is currently commercialised by Genus in the dairy, beef and pork food production sectors.

Genus's worldwide sales are made in over seventy-five countries under the trademarks 'ABS' (dairy and beef cattle) and 'PIC' (pigs) and comprise semen, embryos and breeding animals with superior genetics to those animals currently in farms. Genus's customers' animals produce offspring with greater production efficiency, and quality, and use these to supply the global dairy and meat supply chains.

The Group's competitive edge has been created from the ownership and control of proprietary lines of breeding animals, the biotechnology used to improve them and its global supply chain, technical service and sales and distribution network.

With headquarters in Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Genus companies operate in over twenty-five countries on six continents, with research laboratories located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Regulatory Notes

Details of any payments to be made to Jason Chin will be disclosed in full in the Company's 2021 Directors' Remuneration Report. Any such terms will be consistent with the Company's approved Directors' Remuneration Policy.

This announcement is made in accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.11R. There are no matters to be disclosed in connection with Listing Rule 9.6.13R (2) - (6). The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of the Group is Dan Hartley (General Counsel and Company Secretary).