For immediate release 9 June 2017
Genus plc
('Genus' or the 'Group')
US LITIGATION UPDATE
Genus plc (LSE: GNS), a global pioneer in animal genetics, announces that on 7 June 2017 Inguran, LLC, XY LLC and Cytonome/ST, LLT (collectively ST) filed patent infringement proceedings against ABS Global, Inc., Genus plc and Premium Genetics (UK) Limited (collectively ABS) in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. The new litigation alleges that ABS infringes seven ST patents and asserts trade secret and breach of contract claims. ABS intends to vigorously defend ST's latest legal action.
The litigation is part of the long running dispute between ST and ABS in connection with the development and launch of Genus Sexed Semen technology (GSS), a proprietary product designed to compete with ST's monopoly in the processing of sexed bovine semen. In previous litigation initiated by ABS, the Court for the Western District of Wisconsin awarded ABS a permanent injunction against ST based on the finding that ST had wilfully maintained an illegal monopoly in the market for sexed bovine semen processing in the US since July 2012. The Court also found ABS had infringed two ST patents and awarded damages and post judgment royalties. ABS has filed a notice of appeal on one of these patents and an Inter-Partes Review oral hearing at the US Patent Office is scheduled shortly on the other. The US Patent Office had earlier found two other ST patents challenged by ABS to be unpatentable.
GSS is a novel and proprietary technology for sexing bovine semen that focuses on fertility outcomes and does not subject the sperm cells to the high pressures and sheer forces of the technology currently in use in the industry. The new litigation will not delay the commercial launch of GSS which will launch as scheduled in 2017 in the US and other key markets.
For further information, please contact:
Genus Tel: +44(0)1256 345970
Karim Bitar, Chief Executive
Stephen Wilson, Group Finance Director
Dan Hartley, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary (for legal enquiries)
Buchanan Tel: +44(0)207 466 5000
Charles Ryland / Vicky Hayns
About Genus
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 all 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 production. Genus's customers' animals produce offspring with greater production efficiency, and quality, and use these to supply the global dairy and meat supply chain.
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.
