# Genus Continued progress with volumes, revenues and adjusted operating profits

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/genus-continued-progress-with-volumes-revenues-and-adjusted-operating-profits/412798051
- Published: 2019-11-14T07:35:10+00:00
- Author: Amilia Stone

**Genus** (LON:GNS), a leading global animal genetics company, published the following
trading update for the period from 1 July 2019 to 13 November 2019, to coincide 
with its AGM at 11:00am GMT this morning.

Trading, in the four months to 31 October 2019, showed continued progress with volumes,
revenues and adjusted operating profits for both PIC and ABS, our porcine and dairy
and beef businesses respectively, achieving growth compared with the prior year.
Royalty revenues in PIC continued to grow across all regions.  

As anticipated in the Preliminary Results announcement in September 2019, pork prices
in China have continued to increase due to the impact of African Swine Fever (‘ASF’),
which is now resulting in increased demand for Genus’s genetics. The threat of ASF
still remains for producers in the region. While we continue to closely monitor 
its spread to the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia, we expect PIC Asia
to increase profits in FY20 compared with the prior year.

Earlier this year we announced we had entered into a strategic relationship with
Beijing Capital Agribusiness Co. Ltd (‘BCA’) in relation to research, development,
registration and marketing in China of elite PIC pigs that are Porcine Reproductive
and Respiratory Syndrome virus (“PRRSv”) resistant. In line with our previously 
stated intent to further broaden this collaboration, PIC entered into a genetic 
production and distribution agreement with BCA in October 2019. This will accelerate
the use of current PIC genetics in China in the coming years through the phased 
integration into BCA’s current facilities and their planned major expansion. 

The adoption and sales of Sexcel® continue to grow rapidly and we are currently 
in the process of further expanding our production capacity in Wisconsin. During
the period under review a further sexed semen processing contract was won, in a 
competitive tendering process, in India.

Our Research and Development investment increased in the first four months to 31
October 2019, primarily from investment in our elite genetic production sites and
populations. 

For the four months to 31 October 2019, adjusted profit before tax for the Group
showed good growth from the prior year. Net debt at the end of October 2019 was 
in line with expectations and reflected normal seasonal trends.

Outlook

The Board currently anticipates that Genus will continue to make strategic and financial
progress and perform in line with its growth expectations for the financial year
2020.

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