NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO THE SAME WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

8 July 2010

FuturaGene plc ("FuturaGene" or "the Company")

Announcement of Court sanction of Scheme of Arrangement, issue of ordinary shares and directors' shareholdings

Further to the announcement on 21 June 2010 in relation to the results of the Court Meeting and General Meeting, FuturaGene is pleased to announce that the Court has today sanctioned the Scheme in connection with the recommended all cash offer for the Company by Suzano Trading Limited a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A..

The Scheme remains conditional upon the Court confirming the Reduction of Capital at the Reduction Court Hearing which is scheduled for 12 July 2010 and the Reduction Court Order and Statement of Capital as approved by the Court being delivered to and registered by the Registrar of Companies .

The last day for dealings in and for registration of transfers of FuturaGene Shares will be 9 July 2010. FuturaGene Shares will be suspended from trading on AIM with effect from 7:00 a.m. on 12 July 2010 and, subject to confirmation of the Reduction of Capital by the Court on 12 July 2010 and the Reduction Court Order, together with the Statement of Capital, being duly registered, trading in FuturaGene Shares on AIM will be cancelled with effect from 7.00 a.m. on 13 July 2010.

The Company has today issued a total of 820,000 FuturaGene Shares following exercise of FuturaGene Share Options.  The interests of the FuturaGene Directors who have exercised FuturaGene Share Options, immediately prior to, and following the issue of such FuturaGene Shares are as follows:

* Includes 1,065,751 FuturaGene Shares registered in the name of Ya'acov Messing in trust for Dr. Hirsch

** Registered in the name of Ya'acov Messing in trust for Dr. Shani.

Application has been made for these shares to be admitted to trading on AIM ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission will become effective and dealings will commence at 8.00am on 13 July 2010. However, if as scheduled, the Scheme becomes effective on 13 July 2010 these shares will be cancelled in accordance with the Scheme and accordingly will not be admitted to trading.

Following the issue of the 820,000 FuturaGene Shares, the Company's issued share capital consists of 59,792,239 FuturaGene Shares.  This figure of 59,792,239 FuturaGene Shares may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company.

Terms defined in the scheme document sent to FuturaGene Shareholders  on 28 May 2010 (the "Scheme Document") have the same meanings in this announcement.

All references to times in this announcement are to London times unless otherwise stated.

For further information, please contact:

FuturaGene Plc

Mark Pritchard, Chairman                                     +44 (0) 7802 827 846

Stanley Hirsch, CEO                                            +972 544 562 724

Evolution Securities

Neil Elliot                                                             +44 (0) 20 7071 4300

College Hill                                                        +44 (0) 20 7457 2020

Adrian Duffield/Carl Franklin/Rozi Morris

Suzano Papel e Celulose                     
André Dorf                                                         +55 11 3503 9240

BNP Paribas (financial adviser to Suzano Bidco and Suzano Papel e Celulose)
Claude Herskovits (London)                                  +44 (0) 20 7595 6709
Leandro Almeida (São Paulo)                               +55 11 3841 3626

Tulchan Communications (PR adviser to Suzano Bidco)
Andrew Grant                                                     + 44 (0) 20 7427 155