AGM Statement

Genus PLC
12 August 2004


12TH AUGUST, 2004

Not for distribution into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or the
Republic of Ireland

             Completion of acquisition of Supersires (2004) Limited
                         Cash Placing for £2.1 million
                             Annual General Meeting

Genus plc ('Genus' or the 'Company'), the World Leading Bovine Genetics Company
announces that, following clearance from the Office of Fair Trading, it has now
completed the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Supersires
(2004) Limited ('Supersires'). The total consideration of £1.34 million plus
expenses will be financed by a cash placing by the Company (the 'Placing')
comprising 1,000,000 ordinary shares at 210p per share (the 'Placing Shares').
The placing has been arranged by Panmure Gordon, a division of Lazard & Co.,
Limited.

Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for Admission of
1,000,000 ordinary shares of 10 pence each to AIM and trading is expected to
commence at 8.00 am on Tuesday, 17 August, 2004. The total number of shares in
issue following the placing will be 36,428,748.

Acquisition of Supersires (2004) Limited

Supersires distributes semen and provides artificial insemination services to
cattle farmers in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. For the year ended 31 March 2004
it had a turnover of £1.9m. Supersires distributes bull semen principally
supplied from French and German co-operatives.

The acquisition was subject to the satisfactory completion of due diligence and
approval of the Office of Fair Trading. Both of these conditions have now been
fulfilled.

Commenting on the acquisition Genus CEO, Richard Wood, said:

'Supersires will extend market coverage for Bovine Genetics in the important
cow-dense South West of England and will offer the opportunity to introduce the
Genus product range as an additional service to Supersires' customers.'


Annual General Meeting

At the Annual General Meeting of Genus to be held today at 2.30 pm, the retiring
Chairman, John Beckett, will make the following statement:

'Trade in the first quarter has been in line with expectations with semen sales
strengthening to more normal levels after last year's weaker market. We are now
moving into the main selling season for the northern hemisphere. In this market,
we are well placed to continue our historically strong business growth. Dollar
prices are firmer in the USA than they were last year and we have new
high-ranking bulls in most international markets. For the other large market,
the UK, we have just completed the Supersires acquisition. This should add to
the potential of sales in the UK selling season this year. Also, our new bull,
Picston Shottle, has been independently ranked the highest bull ever for
conformity and structure which confers the new trait we have been pursuing,
'longevity', so important to successful dairy farming for the future.'

'Both of our subsidiary businesses, Animal Health and Development Consultancy,
have together performed well ahead of last year and we believe this progress
will continue throughout the remainder of the year.'

Additionally, John Hawkins, the new Chairman following the AGM, will make the
following statement:

'I have recently reviewed the work we have been doing on five parallel
approaches to producing commercial quantities of sexed semen. I can say that I
am convinced that we have the best chance of any company in the field at making
a breakthrough.'

'Additionally, I have been impressed with the diversity and international
strength of Genus' core business. It is well managed and, as market leaders, we
are very able to drive through growth by increasing market share, even when
market economics are difficult. We are planning further cost and other
efficiencies which will comprise a reorganisation of the regional companies into
local branches with support elements being provided centrally. I am convinced
that we will be able to improve both productivity and service while reducing
costs by reorganising to operate more globally.'

Board Changes

As previously announced, John Beckett, the Non-Executive Chairman of Genus, will
be retiring following the AGM and John Hawkins, a Non-Executive Director, will
be appointed as Non-Executive Chairman.

Additionally, Genus announces that with effect from 1 September 2004, John
Graham Worby will be joining the Board as a Non-Executive Director. John, who is
53 years old, was previously Deputy Chairman and Finance Director of UNIQ plc
and will bring to the Board considerable financial and corporate governance
experience gained in much larger companies than Genus. He is currently a
director of Uniq Pension Scheme Trustees Ltd and, in the previous five years,
was a director of a number of subsidiaries of UNIQ plc.

There is no further information concerning John Worby that is required to be
disclosed in accordance with Schedule 2(f) of the AIM Rules.

Contact:

Richard Wood, Chief Executive, Genus plc 01256 347101
David Timmins, Group Finance Director, Genus plc 01256 347102

Edward Farmer, Director, Panmure Gordon 020 7187 2047

Charles Ryland/Suzanne Brocks, Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000


This announcement is not for distribution in the United States, Canada,
Australia, Japan or the Republic of Ireland. The information contained herein
does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States,
Canada, Australia, Japan or the Republic of Ireland. Securities may not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the US Securities
Act or an exemption therefrom. The Company has not and does not intend to
register any of its securities under US securities law. Accordingly, the Placing
Shares may not be offered or sold in the United States unless they are
registered or exempt form registration under applicable law or in transactions
that are exempt from registration. The Placing Shares will not be offered or
sold to the public in the United States.

Panmure Gordon is acting for the Company in connection with the Placing and no
one else, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for
providing the protections offered to clients of the Company nor for providing
advice in relation to the Placing.



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