Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer advises Genus on the acceleration of its porcine joint venture with Beijing Capital Agribusiness

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has advised Genus plc (Genus), a leading global animal genetics company, on the acceleration of its porcine joint venture in China, which will be 49% owned by Genus and 51% owned by Beijing Capital Agribusiness Co. Ltd (BCA). 

Genus and BCA have been working together since May 2019 as part of a strategic collaboration to jointly research, develop, register and market the PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus) resistant pig in China with the ultimate goal of obtaining regulatory approval for the PRRS resistant pig in the jurisdiction. The acceleration brought about by this transaction is a positive step to achieving this goal. 

The transaction is expected to complete in 2026, subject to receipt of Chinese regulatory approvals for the formation of the joint venture.

Headquartered in Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Genus companies operate in over 24 countries on six continents. Genus helps farmers rear healthier animals that produce more high-quality animal protein with fewer resources, and advances genetic improvement through genomic selection and biotechnology. The Group sells its products and services to livestock farmers and food producers predominantly in the dairy, beef and pork food production sectors. The PRRS resistant pig is a market leading innovation in gene editing, which Genus is looking to commercialise in the porcine industry once regulatory approval is gained in certain markets.

The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer team worked closely with the Genus legal team led by Lucie Grant, Group General Counsel at Genus, and supported by Sonia Teas, Christopher Arnold and Yolanda Wu. The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer team was led by Corporate partners Shaun Williamson and Alan Montgomery, supported by partners Nanda Lau and Andrew Wells, senior consultant Angela Zhao, senior associate Tianchan Li and associates Georgie Crawford and Kate Peck. The wider team included David Coulling, Will Arrenberg, Adelaide Luke, Rachel Kane, Aya Aboulatta, Trevor Lowe, Chiazam Mozie, Tonnie Zhang and Hazel Xu. 
 
Partner Shaun Williamson said: "It has been a real pleasure to have advised long-standing client Genus on this successful transaction, following on from our role in 2019 relating to formation of the strategic collaboration with BCA. The transaction will strengthen Genus' presence in the Chinese porcine industry and is a positive step forward in seeking to achieve regulatory approval for the PRRS resistant pig in China."