AGM Statement

Genus PLC
22 August 2002


                                22 August 2002

                                   Genus plc


                            Chairman's AGM Statement


At the Annual General Meeting of Genus plc ('Genus') to be held today at 2.30
p.m., the Chairman, John Beckett, will update shareholders on current trading
conditions.  He will say:

'Against the dramatic impact that the foot & mouth epidemic had on our UK
customer base, and then the horrors of September 11th, which temporarily brought
international business to a standstill, it says much about the strength and the
diversity of our business, that I can look back on a most successful year.
Credit for this success must go to the management team and all the staff of
Genus.  They moved quickly to re-organise and re-position the affected
businesses, so that we could best exploit our resources and maximise the
synergies from having a market leading international company.

The Company's performance returned strongly to track with underlying* profit
before tax for continuing operations up 19% to £7.6 million and profit before
tax for continuing operations up 46% to £5.7 million. Underlying* earnings per
share for continuing operations was 14.8 pence, approximately at the level prior
to the epidemic, and the time of our flotation on AIM.  A further important
feature in last year's success was our continued tight management of cash flow.
As a result, the Company reduced its net debt by 50%  in just over 2 years, well
ahead of our commitment to the banks.

Since the publication of our 2002 results, we have announced the sale of our
leasehold corporate head office in Crewe, for £3.45 million, the book value of
which was £2.4 million on 31st March 2002.  This will enable us to devolve some
of our central functions to the three operating divisions, and the head office
will reduce to just a handful of people and relocate to a small office unit in
Basingstoke and thus be closer and more accessible to London and Heathrow.

Turning now to the current year, I can confirm that the Company is continuing to
perform well.

The agricultural market remains tough in the UK, and many farmers have decided
to exit the industry.  This has meant that the customer base for both the
Breeding and Consultancy divisions has reduced.  Nevertheless, the market share
increases we achieved in 2001/2, both here and in the USA, are being held, and
prices are remaining firm;  such is the measure of our market leadership.

At the end of the first quarter, I can thus report that the Breeding division
was ahead of its plan.  The plan expects strong profit growth but not at the
record 35% it achieved in the reported year.

The recovery reported for the Distribution division is continuing and, with some
limited growth returning to the market, I feel confident that we will be able to
report a much improved result for that division this year.

Although Distribution is of less strategic importance to the Company's future
than Breeding, we took the opportunity in July to strengthen the Distribution
division's business in Scotland by acquiring Dunnwood. Dunnwood is a small
veterinary distribution business which had gone into receivership, and the
acquisition price was £861,000 plus expenses ie approximately 75% of its asset
value.  I can report that this acquisition is bedding in well and we will drive
through economies in operating costs as the year proceeds.

Consulting has been a more difficult problem to solve.  The actions we have
taken have put the division on an improving trend but the return to business
with major international clients has been slower than we had hoped.  However, we
have recently won a number of important new contracts which will hasten recovery
in the second half year, including a contract with the Department of Trade &
Industry, worth £3 million over three years, to manage non-weapons related
projects from the nuclear legacy in the former Soviet Union.

Against this background, I believe we will achieve further strong progress for
the group as a whole in this current year.'


* Before exceptional items, amortisation of goodwill and acquisition and float
costs.


- Ends -


For further information:

Genus                                               Tel:  + 44 (0)1270 536 500
Richard Wood, Chief Executive
Philip Acton, Finance Director

Buchanan Communications                             Tel:  + 44 (0)20 7466 5000
Charles Ryland
Catherine Miles

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