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Affimed

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FY2015 Annual Report · Affimed
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Affimed N.V. 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

Annual Report 2015 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

Contents 

Report by Affimed’s Management Board 

Business and financial overview 

Risk Management 

Corporate Governance   

Report by Affimed’s Supervisory Board 

Consolidated Financial Statements    

Company Financial Statements  

Other information 

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Affimed Annual Report 2015 

Forward-Looking Statements 

This Annual Report contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the 
forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report can be identified by the use of forward-
looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “will,” 
“estimate” and “potential,” among others.  

Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this Annual Report and include, but are 
not limited to, statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations. Forward-looking 
statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently 
available to our management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual 
results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to 
various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified under the section “Risk Management” in 
this Annual Report.   

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any 
obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to release publicly any 
revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances or to reflect the 
occurrence of unanticipated events. 

 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

1 

Report by Affimed’s Management Board 

Overview  

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing highly 
targeted cancer immunotherapies. Our product candidates are being developed in the field of immuno-
oncology, which represents an innovative approach to cancer treatment that seeks to harness the 
body’s own immune defenses to fight tumor cells. The most potent cells of the human defense arsenal 
are types of white blood cells called Natural Killer cells, or NK-cells, and T-cells. Our proprietary, next-
generation bispecific antibodies, which we call TandAbs because of their tandem antibody structure, 
are designed to direct and establish a bridge between either NK-cells or T-cells and cancer cells. Our 
TandAbs have the ability to bring NK-cells or T-cells into proximity and trigger a signal cascade that 
leads to the destruction of cancer cells. Due to their novel tetravalent architecture (which provides for 
four binding domains), our TandAbs bind to their targets with high affinity and have half-lives that allow 
regular intravenous administration. We believe, based on their mechanism of action and the preclinical 
and clinical data we have generated to date, that our product candidates, alone or in combination, may 
ultimately improve response rates, clinical outcomes and survival in cancer patients and could 
eventually become a cornerstone of modern targeted oncology care. 

Affimed was founded in 2000 based on technology developed by the group led by Professor Melvyn 
Little at Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, the German Cancer Research Center, or DKFZ, in 
Heidelberg. 

We have focused our research and development efforts on five proprietary programs for which we 
retain global commercial rights. Because our TandAbs bind with receptors that are known to be 
present on a number of types of cancer cells, each of our TandAb product candidates could be 
developed for the treatment of several different cancers. We intend to initially develop our two clinical 
stage product candidates in orphan or high-medical need indications, including as a salvage therapy 
for patients who have relapsed after, or are refractory to, that is who do not respond to treatment with, 
standard therapies, which we refer to as relapsed/refractory. These patients have a limited life 
expectancy and few therapeutic options. We believe this strategy will allow for a faster path to 
approval and will likely require smaller clinical trials compared to indications with more therapeutic 
options and larger patient populations. We believe such specialized market segments in oncology can 
be effectively targeted with a small and dedicated marketing and sales team. We currently intend to 
establish a commercial sales force in the United States and/or Europe to commercialize our product 
candidates when and if they are approved. We are also active in preclinical development with our 
collaborator Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc. 

Our offices and laboratories are located at the Technology Park adjacent to the DKFZ in Heidelberg, 
where we employ 45 personnel, approximately 70% of whom have an advanced academic degree. 
Including AbCheck and Affimed Inc. personnel, our total headcount is 71 (64 full time equivalents). We 
are led by experienced executives with a track record of successful product development, approvals 
and launches, specifically of biologics. Our supervisory board includes highly experienced experts 
from the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, with a specific background in hematology. Affimed 
has attracted investments from top-tier venture capital firms, including Aeris Capital, BioMedInvest, 
Life Sciences Partners, the venture capital arm of Novo Nordisk A/S, OrbiMed and prominent public 
health care specialist funds. 

In 2009, we formed AbCheck, our 100% owned, independently run antibody screening platform 
company, located in the Czech Republic. AbCheck is devoted to the generation and optimization of 
fully human antibodies. Its technologies include a combined phage and yeast display antibody library 
and a proprietary algorithm to optimize affinity, stability and manufacturing efficiency. AbCheck also 
uses a super human library as well as their newly developed mass humanization technology to 
discover and optimize high-quality human antibodies. In addition to providing candidates for Affimed 
projects, AbCheck is recognized for its expertise in antibody discovery throughout the United States 
and Europe and has been working with globally active pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly, 
Daiichi Sankyo, Pierre Fabre and others. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

2 

We have recently established a subsidiary, Affimed Inc., in the U.S. with senior employees in investor 
relations, business development and corporate strategy, as well as a senior clinical function.  

Business Overview 

Our Strategy 

Our goal is to engineer targeted immunotherapies, seeking to cure patients by harnessing the power 
of innate and adaptive immunity (NK- and T-cells). We are developing single and combination 
therapies to treat cancers and other life-threatening diseases. For this, we have developed an entirely 
novel antibody platform that delivers two different types of next-generation antibodies, bispecific 
TandAbs and Trispecific Abs. Based on the unique properties and mechanism of action of these 
products and supported by the preclinical and clinical data we have generated to date, we believe that 
our product candidates, alone or in combination, may ultimately improve clinical outcomes in cancer 
patients and could eventually become a key element of modern targeted oncology care.  Key 
elements of our strategy to achieve this goal are to: 

(cid:1)  Rapidly Advance the Development of our Clinical Stage Product Candidates, including 
Combinations with Other Immunotherapies. Our product development strategy initially 
targets relapsed or refractory cancer patients who have limited therapeutic alternatives, which 
we believe will enable us to utilize an expedited regulatory approval process. We have 
initiated a phase 1b clinical trial to investigate AFM13 in combination with pembrolizumab 
(KEYTRUDA®) in HL patients that have relapsed after or are refractory to chemotherapy and 
Adcetris with an IND active and the first sites opened and recruiting. We anticipate to provide 
a first update on the study by the end of 2016 or in the first quarter 2017. In the second 
quarter of 2015, a phase 2a proof of concept trial of AFM13 as a monotherapy was initiated by 
the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) in HL patients that have received all standard 
therapies and have relapsed after or are refractory to Adcetris. This phase 2a trial is ongoing 
and recruiting. We are also supporting an investigator-sponsored phase 1b/2a clinical trial of 
AFM13 in patients with CD30+ lymphoma conducted by Columbia University for which 
Columbia submitted an IND to the FDA that has since become effective. For AFM11, we have 
begun a phase 1 dose escalation study designed to evaluate safety and tolerability and to 
potentially assess anti-tumor activity after four weeks of therapy in NHL patients. The phase 1 
clinical trial is ongoing and recruiting with a modified dose regimen. The amended study 
protocol was approved by the applicable regulatory authorities in the third quarter of 2015. We 
expect to report first data from this phase 1 trial by the end of 2016. The Company will also 
investigate AFM11 in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) with a Phase 1 study anticipated to be 
initiated in the third quarter of 2016. 

(cid:1)  Establish R&D and Commercialization Capabilities in Europe and in the United States 
We plan to retain rights for all of our product candidates, although in the future we may enter 
into additional collaborations that provide value for our shareholders. We intend to build a 
focused marketing and specialty sales team in Europe and in the United States to 
commercialize any of our product candidates that receive regulatory approval. We have 
established a U.S. presence in order to expand our access to the talent pool, maintain better 
control over our studies conducted in North America, maintain and expand our scientific and 
medical network, further increase our interaction with the FDA and maintain a close 
relationship to the financial community. 

(cid:1)  Use Our Technology Platforms and Intellectual Property Portfolio to Continue to Build 

our Cancer Immunotherapy Pipeline. We generate our product candidates from our 
proprietary antibody engineering technology platforms consisting of NK-cell TandAbs, T-cell 
TandAbs and Trispecific Abs. We plan to continue to leverage these technologies to develop 
new pipeline product candidates. We believe we can utilize our platforms to address additional 
targets that we may in-license in the future or identify internally. We intend to continue to 
innovate in our field and create additional layers of intellectual property in order to enhance 
the platform value and extend the life cycle of our products. We believe our strong intellectual 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

3 

property position can be used to support internal development as well as out-licensing and 
collaboration opportunities. 

(cid:1)  Maximize the Value of our Collaboration Arrangements with LLS, Amphivena and 

Merck. We have a research agreement with LLS under which LLS has committed to co-fund 
up to $4.4 million over two years for the phase 2a monotherapeutic development of AFM13. 
We believe that this collaboration will also allow us to expedite patient enrollment for future 
trials by leveraging the LLS’s existing relationships with key U.S. investigators. In 2013, we 
entered into a license and development agreement with Amphivena, which amended and 
restated a 2012 license agreement, to develop a CD33/CD3 TandAb candidate for AML in 
exchange for an interest in Amphivena and certain milestone payments. Amphivena has 
entered into an agreement with Janssen under which Janssen has the option to acquire 
Amphivena upon predetermined terms following acceptance by the FDA of an IND filing for 
the product candidate. Affimed has successfully reached its first three milestones, including 
the selection and acceptance of a development candidate. The third milestone was achieved 
in the first quarter of 2015. In January 2016, we entered into a clinical research collaboration 
with Merck & Co to investigate the combination of Merck’s anti PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® 
(pembrolizumab), with AFM13 for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory HL. We 
believe that these collaborations help to validate and more rapidly advance our discovery 
efforts, technology platforms and product candidates, and will enable us to leverage our 
platforms through additional high-value partnerships. As part of our business development 
strategy, we aim to enter into additional research collaborations in order to derive further value 
from our platforms and more fully exploit their potential. 

(cid:1) 

Intensify our Collaboration with Academia. We have entered into collaborations with the 
German Hodgkin Study Group, Stanford University, the Mayo Clinic, the Columbia University, 
as well as with the German Cancer Research Center DKFZ. We finalized the establishment of 
a Scientific Advisory Board in the first half of 2015 and strengthened it through addition of Dr. 
Andrew Evens in early 2016. We will continue to engage with key experts in our areas of 
interest with activities such as our Hodgkin Lymphoma KOL Day in January 2016. 

(cid:1)  Utilize AbCheck to Generate and Optimize Antibodies. We formed AbCheck in 2009 to 

leverage our antibody screening platform and partner with other biopharmaceutical companies 
in fee-for-service engagements. We use AbCheck’s state-of-the-art phage and yeast display 
screening technologies as well as a proprietary batch humanization process and 
bioinformatics tools to identify and optimize antibodies that are highly specific for the targets 
we or our customers select, and that we engineer into TandAbs or Trispecific Abs. AbCheck’s 
high-quality capabilities have been validated through multiple international collaborations 
including a strategic research partnership with Pierre Fabre. 

Our Strengths 

We believe we are a leader in developing cancer immunotherapies due to several factors: 

(cid:1)  Our Lead Product Candidate, AFM13, is a First-in-Class NK-Cell Mediated Cancer 

Immunotherapy. AFM13 is a targeted immunotherapy that is currently in development for HL 
as a salvage therapy. To engage and activate NK-cells, we have engineered AFM13 with a 
unique binding specificity for CD16A. AFM13 binds to CD16A with approximately 1,000-fold 
higher affinity than native antibody molecules via the constant region. While native antibodies 
bind to CD16A and CD16B with similar affinity, AFM13 does not bind to CD16B at all. CD16B 
is expressed on the surface of neutrophils, which show very limited anti-tumor activity and 
exist in such large amounts that little would be left for NK-cell binding and tumor cell killing 
were AFM13 not to be so selective for only CD16A. We believe that AFM13 is the only 
antibody in development that can specifically engage CD16A+ cells, in particular NK-cells, 
with very high affinity. In the second quarter of 2015, a phase 2a proof of concept trial of 
AFM13 was initiated by the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) in HL patients that have 
received all standard therapies and have relapsed after or are refractory to Adcetris. This 
phase 2a trial is ongoing and recruiting. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or LLS, has 
agreed to co-fund this phase 2a HL study, a further indication of the promise this development 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

4 

candidate holds. We are also supporting an investigator-sponsored phase 1b/2a clinical trial of 
AFM13 in patients with CD30+ lymphoma conducted by Columbia University for which 
Columbia submitted an IND to the FDA that has since become effective. In order to prepare 
for further clinical development, we have conducted preclinical studies investigating the 
combination of AFM13 with CPIs and checkpoint agonists, or CPAs (collaboration with 
Stanford University). Based on data from these studies, we have initiated a phase 1b clinical 
trial in collaboration with Merck to investigate AFM13 in combination with pembrolizumab 
(KEYTRUDA®) in HL patients that have relapsed after or are refractory to chemotherapy and 
Adcetris. We are the sole sponsor of this trial, which we have recently initiated with an IND 
active and the first sites opened and recruiting. We anticipate to provide a first update on the 
study by the end of 2016 or in the first quarter 2017. A preclinical investigation of the 
combination of AFM13 with lenalidomide (collaboration with Mayo Clinic) is still ongoing. 

(cid:1)  Growing Pipeline of Product Candidates Focused on Key Cancer Indications. By 

leveraging our technology platform, we have built a growing pipeline of additional product 
candidates. Our second product candidate, AFM11, has demonstrated in preclinical studies 
highly specific and effective engagement of T-cells, inducing rapid and potent in vitro and in 
vivo tumor cell killing. AFM11 is expected to not require continuous infusion due to its half-life 
and has shown 100-fold higher affinity to CD3 compared to a reference molecule with the 
same sequence as Amgen’s Blincyto (blinatumomab) and we believe it may have an efficacy 
advantage, especially in immunocompromised patients. We have begun a phase 1 dose 
ranging study of AFM11 designed to evaluate safety and tolerability and to potentially assess 
anti-tumor activity after four weeks of therapy in NHL patients. The phase 1 clinical trial is 
ongoing and recruiting with a modified dose regimen. The amended study protocol was 
approved by the applicable regulatory authorities in the third quarter of 2015. We believe that 
the new, less frequent dosing regimen provides a better opportunity to investigate potential 
benefits of AFM11 related to the molecular characteristics of TandAbs, i.e. the longer half-life 
and the higher affinity to T-cells compared to BiTEs. We expect to report first data from this 
phase 1 trial by the end of 2016. In addition, we are planning to investigate AFM11 in ALL 
patients and are preparing a phase 1 dose ranging study that is expected to begin recruitment 
in the third quarter of 2016. Our third product candidate, AFM21 (EGFRvIII / CD3), which is in 
preclinical development, addresses a target that to date has been elusive and that is abundant 
in certain solid tumors, including glioblastoma, prostate cancer and head and neck cancer, but 
not found on healthy tissue. In preclinical studies, AFM21 has demonstrated an ability to 
selectively kill EGFRvIII-carrying cells and not wild-type EGFR. In addition to the AFM21, 
which targets EGFRvIII on tumor cells and CD3 on T-cells, we further advanced an 
EGFRvIII/CD16A NK-cell TandAb, called AFM22. An additional CD16A NK-cell TandAb, 
called AFM24 targeting EGFR-wild type, a validated solid tumor target has been engineered 
and characterized preclinically. Based on data from ongoing experiments, we will decide 
which program to advance into IND-enabling studies.  

(cid:1)  Retained Global Commercial Rights for our Five Candidates in our Product Pipeline. 
Our five pipeline product candidates AFM13, AFM11, AFM21, AFM22 and AFM24 are 
unencumbered. We retain all options to derive value from our product candidates, including 
commercialization in all or select markets when and if they are approved. To maximize the 
value of our platform, we will continue to explore partnerships to support the development or 
commercialization of our programs in certain territories. 

(cid:1)  Experienced Management Team with Strong Track Record in the Development and 

Commercialization of New Medicines. Members of our management team have extensive 
experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, and key members of our team have played an 
important role in the development and commercialization of approved drugs. Our Chief 
Executive Officer Adi Hoess and our Chief Medical Officer Jens-Peter Marschner were 
members of the teams that developed and commercialized Firazyr® and Erbitux®, 
respectively, while our Chief Operating Officer Jörg Windisch played a leading role in the 
development of Omnitrope®, Binocrit® and Zarzio®. 

(cid:1)  Strong Technology Base and Solid Patent Portfolio in the Field of Targeted Immuno-
Oncology. We are a leader in the field of bi-and trispecific antibody therapeutics for the 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

5 

treatment of cancer. We have a patent portfolio that includes the tetravalent antibody platform 
itself. Further, we have a proprietary position in NK-cell engagement, specifically regarding 
binding domains directed at CD16A with no cross-reactivity to CD16B. We have more than a 
decade of experience in the discovery and development of such complex antibodies, and our 
molecular architecture allows for efficient and cost-effective manufacturing. In addition to 
supporting internal product development, we believe our strong intellectual property position 
can be used to support out-licensing and collaboration opportunities in the field of immuno-
oncology. 

Our research and development pipeline 

We are developing a pipeline of immune-cell engagers for the treatment of cancer as shown below: 

Our  lead  candidate,  AFM13,  is  a  first-in-class  NK-cell  TandAb  designed  for  the  treatment  of  certain 
CD30-positive  (CD30+)  B-  and  T-cell  malignancies,  including  Hodgkin  lymphoma,  or  HL.  AFM13 
selectively  binds  with  CD30,  a  clinically  validated  target  in  HL  patients,  and  CD16A,  an  integral 
membrane glycoprotein receptor expressed on the surface of NK-cells, triggering a signal cascade that 
leads to the destruction of tumor cells that carry CD30. In contrast to conventional full-length antibodies, 
AFM13 does not bind to CD16B, which prevents binding to other cells, e.g. neutrophils. 

We are initially developing AFM13 for HL in the salvage setting for patients who have relapsed after, 
or are refractory to, Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin), a CD30-targeted chemotherapy approved by the 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in August 2011 as a salvage therapy for HL. 
Approximately half of the patients treated with Adcetris experience disease progression in less than 
half a year after initiation of therapy. In a recent phase 1 dose-escalation clinical trial, AFM13 was 
well-tolerated and demonstrated tumor shrinkage or slowing of tumor growth, with disease control 
shown in 16 of 26 patients eligible for efficacy evaluation. AFM13 also stopped tumor growth in 
patients who are refractory to Adcetris. Six out of seven patients who became refractory to Adcetris as 
the immediate prior therapy experienced stabilization of disease under AFM13 treatment according 
Cheson’s criteria, standard criteria for assessing treatment response in lymphoma. We believe that 
based on its novel mode of action, AFM13 may be beneficial to patients who have relapsed or are 
refractory to treatment with Adcetris and may provide more durable clinical benefit. 

In the second quarter of 2015, a phase 2a proof of concept trial of AFM13 was initiated by the German 
Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) in HL patients that have received all standard therapies and have 
relapsed after or are refractory to Adcetris. This 2a trial is ongoing and recruiting. The Leukemia and 
Lymphoma Society, or LLS, has agreed to co-fund this phase 2a HL study, a further indication of the 
promise this development candidate holds. We are also supporting an investigator-sponsored phase 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

6 

1b/2a clinical trial of AFM13 in patients with CD30+ lymphoma conducted by Columbia University for 
which Columbia submitted an IND to the FDA that has since become effective.   

In order to prepare for further clinical development, we are continuing to perform preclinical studies 
investigating the combination of AFM13 with CPIs and checkpoint agonists, or CPAs (collaboration 
with Stanford University), and lenalidomide (collaboration with Mayo Clinic). We believe that AFM13 
and immunomodulators administered together could lead to greater tumor cell killing because these 
molecules may have a synergistic anti-tumor effect involving both NK-cells and T-cells. In preclinical 
animal studies of HL using both patient derived xenograft (PDX) and immune cells from blood 
(PBMCs), the established tumor was treated with AFM13 and CPIs/CPAs (anti-PD-1, anti-CD137 and 
anti-CTLA4) both alone and in combination. While the single agent treatment showed a significant 
reduction in tumor growth for most molecules when compared to the control treatment group 
(irrelevant IgG), all combinations of AFM13 and CPI/CPA showed enhanced anti-tumor efficacy. We 
also analyzed the change in intra-tumoral lymphocyte population compared to IgG treatment. It was 
observed that in all AFM13-treated animals (as a single agent and in all combinations), the NK-cell 
population in the tumor increased. In addition, while there was no increase of T-cells in animals 
treated with only AFM13 or CPIs/CPAs, there was an increase of cytotoxic T-cells detected in animals 
treated with AFM13 in combination with a CPI/CPA. These results provide the rationale for the 
investigation of combinations with AFM13 in the clinical setting, initially focusing on PD-1. Preclinical 
data on the combination with CPIs/CPAs were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 
(ASCO) annual meeting in 2015. Based on the preclinical data, we have entered into a collaboration 
with Merck and have initiated a clinical phase 1b study investigating the combination of AFM13 with 
Merck’s anti PD-1 antibody KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in patients with relapsed/refractory HL with 
an IND active and the first sites opened and recruiting. The trial is designed to establish a dosing 
regimen for the combination therapy and assess its safety and efficacy. We anticipate to provide a first 
update on the study by the end of 2016 or in the first quarter 2017. 

Our second clinical stage candidate, AFM11, is a T-cell TandAb designed for the treatment of certain 
CD19+ B-cell malignancies, including non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, or NHL, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, 
or ALL, and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, or CLL. AFM11 binds selectively with CD19, a clinically 
validated target in B-cell malignancies. It also binds to CD3, a component of the T-cell receptor 
complex, triggering a signal cascade that leads to the destruction of tumor cells that carry CD19. 
Based on its molecular characteristics, in particular its molecular weight, we expect AFM11 will have a 
longer half-life than blinatumomab, a bispecific antibody also targeted against CD19 and CD3 
developed by Amgen, and approved in the United States and Europe. This should allow administration 
through bolus intravenous infusion, rather than continuous infusion, which requires hospitalization or a 
portable pump over one or more cycles of four-weeks each with frequent reconstitution and refill of 
medication, as is necessary for blinatumomab. In preclinical studies, AFM11 compared to the 
blinatumomab reference compound also showed a 100-fold higher affinity to the CD3 receptor, 
resulting in up to 40-fold greater cytotoxic potency at low T-cell counts. We have begun a phase 1 
dose ranging study of AFM11 designed to evaluate safety and tolerability and to potentially assess 
anti-tumor activity after four weeks of therapy in NHL patients.  The phase 1 clinical trial is ongoing 
and recruiting with a modified dose regimen. The amended study protocol was approved by the 
applicable regulatory authorities in the third quarter of 2015. We believe that the new, less frequent 
dosing regimen provides a better opportunity to investigate potential benefits of AFM11 related to the 
molecular characteristics of TandAbs, i.e. the longer half-life compared to BiTEs and higher affinity to 
T-cells. We expect to report first data from this phase 1 trial by the end of 2016. In addition, we are 
planning to investigate AFM11 in ALL patients and are preparing a phase 1 dose ranging study that is 
expected to be initiated in the third quarter of 2016. 

We further are targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor variant III, or EGFRvIII, a receptor that 
appears to be highly specific for solid tumors and is prominent in a significant portion of patients with 
glioblastoma, hormone refractory prostate cancer and head and neck cancer. Through access to our 
proprietary antibody libraries, we isolated antibodies that bind to EGFRvIII but not to wild-type EGFR, 
which is also expressed on many healthy tissues. In this context we have developed 2 bispecific 
antibodies, AFM21, an EGFRvIII/CD3 T-cell engager, and AFM22, an EGFRvIII/CD16A NK-cell 
engager. In preclinical studies, AFM21 and AFM22 have demonstrated a highly selective kill of 
EGFRvIII- but not wild-type EGFR- carrying cells. We will further compare the preclinical efficacy of 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

7 

both TandAb molecules and thereafter decide which one to advance into IND-enabling studies, which 
we expect to commence in 2016, with a potential IND-filing estimated in 2017. 

We are also developing AFM24, an NK-cell-engaging TandAb targeting EGFR-wild type, which 
represents another validated antigen expressed by a variety of solid tumors. Constitutive EGFR 
activation through amplification or dysregulation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of 
numerous solid cancers, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or 
squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). We expect to initiate IND-enabling studies 
in 2016, with a potential IND-filing estimated in 2017. 

In our collaboration with Amphivena, we are developing a CD33/CD3-specific T-cell TandAb to treat 
acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We currently expect Amphivena to file an IND for the lead candidate in 
2016. 

In addition, we are developing Trispecific Abs for various undisclosed targets which are currently at a 
discovery stage to be developed for indications such as multiple myeloma (MM). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

8 

Operating results 

To date, we have financed our operations primarily through our public offerings of our common 
shares, private placements of equity securities, the incurrence of loans including convertible loans and 
through government grants and milestone payments for collaborative research and development 
services. Through December 31, 2015, we have raised an aggregate of €171.2 million through the 
issuance of equity and incurrence of loans. To date, we have not generated any revenues from 
product sales or royalties. Based on our current plans, we do not expect to generate product or royalty 
revenues unless and until we or any collaboration partner obtain marketing approval for, and 
commercialize, any of our product candidates. 

We have generated losses since we began our drug development operations in 2000. For the year 
ended December 31, 2015, we incurred a net loss of €20.2 million. As of December 31, 2015, we had 
an accumulated deficit of €120.2 million. 

We expect to continue incurring losses as we continue our preclinical and clinical development 
programs, apply for marketing approval for our product candidates and, subject to obtaining regulatory 
approval for our product candidates, build a marketing and sales team to commercialize our product 
candidates. Our profitability is dependent upon the successful development, approval, and 
commercialization of our product candidates and achieving a level of revenues adequate to support 
our cost structure. We may never achieve profitability, and unless and until we do, we will continue to 
need to raise additional cash. We intend to fund future operations through additional equity and debt 
financings, and we may seek additional capital through arrangements with strategic partners or from 
other sources. 

Collaboration Agreements 

We have entered into strategic collaborations for some of our therapeutic programs. As part of our 
business development strategy, we aim to increase the number of our research collaborations in order 
to derive further value from our platforms and more fully exploit their potential. Key terms of our current 
material collaborations are summarized below. 

Amphivena 

Pursuant to a July 2013 license and development agreement, which amended and restated a 2012 
license agreement between us and Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc., or Amphivena, based in San 
Francisco, California, we licensed certain technology to Amphivena that enables Amphivena to 
develop an undisclosed product candidate for hematologic malignancies. In exchange for the 
technology license to Amphivena, we received shares of stock of Amphivena, and, in connection with 
an equity financing involving us and other third-party investors, we made cash investments in 
Amphivena in exchange for additional shares of stock and entered into certain related agreements 
governing our rights as a shareholder of Amphivena. As of December 31, 2015, those cash 
investments totaled $0.9 million (€0.7 million), and we owned approximately 21% of the outstanding 
equity of Amphivena on a fully diluted basis. 

Amphivena has separately entered into a warrant agreement with Janssen Biotech Inc. that has given 
Janssen the option to acquire Amphivena following IND acceptance by the FDA of such product 
candidate, upon predetermined terms.  

Pursuant to the July 2013 license and development agreement between Amphivena and us, we will 
perform certain services for Amphivena related to the development of a product candidate for 
hematological malignancies, and we have granted Amphivena certain product and technology 
licenses, each of which includes the right to grant sublicenses to its affiliates or third parties through 
multiple tiers, subject to certain notice requirements. In consideration for the research and 
development work to be performed prior to IND acceptance, Amphivena will pay to us service fees 
totaling approximately €16 million (net of our share in funding Amphivena) payable upon the 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

9 

achievement of milestones and phase progressions as described under the license and development 
agreement.  

We recognized revenue of €4.4 million in the third quarter of 2013 upon achievement of the first 
milestone consisting of the earned milestone payment of €4.6 million less our share in funding 
Amphivena in 2013 of €0.2 million. A further payment of €2.0 million for research and development 
services was collected in the first quarter of 2014 and recognized as revenue upon achievement of the 
second milestone in the third quarter of 2014, net of our share in funding Amphivena of €0.2 million. In 
the third quarter of 2014 we received advance payments in total of €2.4 million for research and 
development services prior to achievement of the third milestone and deferred such amount as of 
December 31, 2014 until the milestone was achieved. In the first quarter of 2015, we recognized 
revenue of €2.4 million for the achievement of the third milestone which had been received in cash in 
2014 and deferred until the milestone was achieved. After the achievement of the third milestone, we 
continue to provide research and development services to Amphivena for nonrefundable advance 
payments of €7.5 million, payable in three installments (€1.3 million, €4.2 million and €2.0 million). The 
first two installments totalling €5.2 million (€5.5 million, net of Affimed’s share of €0.3 million) were 
received in 2015. We recognized €2.4 million as revenue for these research and development 
services in 2015 and €2.8 million was deferred as of December 31, 2015. We are paid in euros under 
the license and development agreement. 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 

In August 2013, we entered into a research funding agreement with The Leukemia & Lymphoma 
Society, or LLS, for the clinical development of AFM13. Pursuant to the research funding agreement, 
LLS agreed to co-fund the clinical phase 2a development of AFM13 and to contribute up to 
approximately $4.4 million (€4.0 million) over two years to support the project. We agreed to match 
LLS’s contributions toward the project budget. Our receipt of the $4.4 million (€4.0 million) total that 
LLS agreed to contribute was conditioned on the achievement of certain milestones in connection with 
the development of AFM13, four of which have been met as of December 31, 2015. We achieved 
milestones in January 2014 and April 2014 and recognized revenues of $1.5 million (€1.1 million) in 
total for related research and development services in 2014. We received additional milestone 
payments and recognized revenues of $1.8 million (€1.6 million) in the second and third quarters of 
2015. We must use the funding provided by LLS exclusively with the development program. 

In consideration of LLS’s payments to us, we have agreed to pay LLS a mid-single digit royalty on net 
sales of products containing AFM13 until we have paid LLS a low single digit multiple of the funding 
they provided to us. After we have reached this initial royalty cap, we will pay LLS a sub-single digit 
royalty on net sales until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the last to expire patent covering the AFM13 
products and (ii) ten years after the initial royalty cap is satisfied. These royalty payments are 
calculated on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis. We have also agreed to make 
certain low-to-mid-single digit royalty payments to LLS in the event of certain transfers of rights to any 
product containing AFM13 or in the event we undergo certain change of control transactions, in each 
case up to the royalty cap described above. Amounts paid to us under our agreement with LLS are 
paid in U.S. dollars.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

10 

Financial Operations Overview 

Revenue 

To date, our revenues have consisted principally of collaboration and service revenue. 

Collaboration revenue. Collaboration revenue of €4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 
was from the achievement of the first milestone under the license and development agreement with 
Amphivena. Collaboration revenue of €2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 was from the 
achievement of the second milestone under the license and development agreement with Amphivena 
(€1.8 million) and from the LLS collaboration (€1.1 million). Collaboration revenue of €6.3 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2015 was from the achievement of the third milestone under the license 
and development agreement with Amphivena (€2.4 million), from research and development services 
under the license and development agreement with Amphivena (€2.3 million) and from the LLS 
collaboration (€1.6 million).   

Service revenue. Service revenue is primarily revenue from service contracts entered into by 
AbCheck, our wholly owned, independently operated antibody screening platform. We recognized 
€0.7 million, €0.5 million and €1.3 million of service revenue in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. 
Service revenue of AbCheck is dependent from third party contracts as well as from the utilization of 
the Unit by Affimed. In case Affimed increases or decreases the use of AbCheck’s service capabilities 
that has an impact on the ability to generate third party revenues.  

In the future, the timing of our revenue may vary significantly from the receipt of the related cash flows, 
as the revenue from some upfront or initiation payments is deferred and recognized as revenue over 
the estimated service period, while other revenue is earned when received, such as milestone 
payments or service fees. Our revenue has varied substantially, especially due to the impact of 
Collaboration revenue received from Amphivena, and is expected to continue to vary, from quarter to 
quarter and year to year, depending upon, among other things, the structure and timing of milestone 
events, the number of milestones achieved, the level of revenues earned for ongoing development 
efforts, revenue from service contracts entered into by AbCheck, any new collaboration arrangements 
we may enter into and the terms we are able to negotiate with our partners. We therefore believe that 
period-to-period comparisons should not be relied upon as indicative of our future revenues. 

Other Income 

In addition, we have earned income through several grants and/or contracts with the German 
government, the European Union and other educational institutions on behalf of the German 
government, primarily with respect to research and development activities related to the use of the 
TandAb technology in various indication areas. 

Research and Development Expenses 

Research and development expenses consist principally of: 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

salaries for research and development staff and related expenses, including management 
benefits; 

costs for production of preclinical compounds and drug substances by contract manufacturers; 

fees and other costs paid to contract research organizations in connection with additional 
preclinical testing and the performance of clinical trials; 

costs of related facilities, materials and equipment; 

costs associated with obtaining and maintaining patents and other intellectual property; 

(cid:1)  amortization and depreciation of tangible and intangible fixed assets used to develop our 

product candidates; and 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

11 

(cid:1)  expenses for share-based payments. 

We expect that our total research and development expenses in 2016 will be in the range of €34 to 
€40 million. Our research and development expenses primarily relate to the following key programs: 

(cid:1)  AFM13. The phase 2a clinical trial of AFM13 in Hodgkin Lymphoma, or HL, is ongoing and 

recruiting. In addition we are supporting an investigator-sponsored phase 1b/2a clinical trial of 
AFM13 in patients with CD30+ lymphoma conducted by Columbia University and have 
initiated a phase 1b study investigating the combination of AFM13 with Merck’s anti PD-1 
antibody KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in patients with relapsed/refractory HL with an IND 
active and the first sites opened and recruiting. We anticipate that our research and 
development expense will increase substantially in connection with the preparation and 
commencement of these clinical trials. In addition we will incur substantial expenses for the 
production of AFM13 clinical trial material and the investigation of commercial scale 
production options. 

(cid:1)  AFM11. The phase 1 clinical trial of AFM11 in patients with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, or NHL, 

is ongoing and recruiting with a modified dose regimen. Due to the protocol amendment, the 
trial may require more patients compared to the original protocol. We also are planning to 
investigate AFM11 in acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL and are preparing a phase 1 dose-
finding study that is expected to begin recruitment in the third quarter of 2016. Therefore, we 
anticipate that our research and development expense for the AFM11 program will increase in 
2016. 

(cid:1)  Other development programs. Our other research and development expenses relate to our 
preclinical studies of AFM21/AFM 22 and AFM 24, our Amphivena collaboration and early 
stage development / discovery activities. We have allocated a material amount of the 
proceeds to such discovery activities. The expenses mainly consist of salaries and 
manufacturing costs for pre-clinical and clinical study material. 

(cid:1) 

Infrastructure costs. We incur a significant amount of costs associated with our research and 
development that are non-project specific, including intellectual property-related expenses, 
depreciation expenses and facility costs. Because these are less dependent on individual 
ongoing programs, they are not allocated to specific projects. We assume that facility costs for 
further laboratory space and IP related expenses may increase over time. 

Since January 1, 2012, we have cumulatively spent €54.7 million on research and development. In the 
years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, we spent €14.4 million, €9.6 million and €22.0 
million on research and development; €0.9 million, €4.2 million and €10.0 million on AFM13; and €6.5 
million, €1.2 million and €0.8 million on AFM11. Our research and development expenses may vary 
substantially from period to period based on the timing of our research and development activities, 
including due to timing of initiation of clinical trials and enrollment of patients in clinical trials. Research 
and development expenses are expected to increase as we advance the clinical development of 
AFM13 and AFM11 and further advance the research and development of our preclinical product 
candidates. The successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain. At this time we 
cannot reasonably estimate the nature, timing and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary 
to complete the development of, or the period, if any, in which material net cash inflows may 
commence from, any of our product candidates. This is due to numerous risks and uncertainties 
associated with developing drugs, including the uncertainty of: 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

the scope, rate of progress, results and cost of our clinical trials, nonclinical testing, and other 
related activities; 

the cost of manufacturing clinical supplies and establishing commercial supplies of our product 
candidates and any products that we may develop; 

the number and characteristics of product candidates that we pursue; 

the cost, timing, and outcomes of regulatory approvals; 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

12 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

the cost and timing of establishing sales, marketing, and distribution capabilities; and 

the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing, and other arrangements that we may 
establish, including any milestone and royalty payments thereunder. 

A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of AFM13, AFM11 
or any other product candidate that we may develop could mean a significant change in the costs and 
timing associated with the development of such product candidate. For example, if the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration, or FDA, or other regulatory authority were to require us to conduct preclinical and 
clinical studies beyond those which we currently anticipate will be required for the completion of 
clinical development, if we experience significant delays in enrollment in any clinical trials or if we 
encounter difficulties in manufacturing our clinical supplies, we could be required to expend significant 
additional financial resources and time on the completion of the clinical development. 

General and Administrative Expenses 

Our general and administrative expenses consist principally of: 

(cid:1) 

salaries for employees other than research and development staff, including benefits; 

(cid:1)  business development expenses, including travel expenses; 

(cid:1)  professional fees for auditors and other consulting expenses not related to research and 

development activities; 

(cid:1)  professional fees for lawyers not related to the protection and maintenance of our intellectual 

property; 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

cost of facilities, communication and office expenses; 

IT expenses; 

(cid:1)  amortization and depreciation of tangible and intangible fixed assets not related to research 

and development activities; and 

(cid:1)  expenses for share-based payments. 

We expect that our general and administrative expenses in 2016 will increase compared to the 
expenses in 2015 by roughly 25%, and will continue to increase in the future as our business expands. 
These public company-related increases will likely include costs of additional personnel, additional 
legal fees, accounting and audit fees, managing directors’ and supervisory directors’ liability insurance 
premiums and costs related to investor relations. In addition, we may grant share-based compensation 
awards to key management personnel and other employees. 

Results of Operations 

The numbers below have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for the 
years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The discussion below should be read along with 
these financial statements, and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to them. 

Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 

Total Revenue: 
Other income—net ............................................................................  
Research and development expenses ..............................................  
General and administrative expenses ...............................................  
Operating income/(loss) .................................................................  

Year ended December 31, 

2014 

2015 

(in € thousand) 

3,382 
381 
(9,595) 
(2,346) 
(8,178) 

7,562 
651 
(22,008) 
(7,548) 
(21,343) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

Finance income—net ......................................................................  
Income/(Loss) before tax ..................................................................  
Income taxes .....................................................................................  
Income/(loss) for the period ...........................................................  
Total comprehensive income/(loss) ..............................................  
Earnings/(loss) per common share in € per share ......................  

7,753 
(425) 
166 
(259) 
(259) 
(0.01) 

13 

1,104 
(20,239) 
0 
(20,239) 
(20,239) 
(0.71) 

Revenue 

Revenue increased 124% from €3.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 to €7.6 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2015, mainly due to higher revenues from the Amphivena collaboration 
and higher service revenues at AbCheck in 2015. 

Research and development expenses 

Year ended  
December 31, 

R&D Expenses by Project  

2014 

2015 

Change % 

Project 
AFM13 ....................................................................  
AFM11 ....................................................................  
Other projects and infrastructure costs  .................  
Share-based payment expense/(credit) .................  
Total .......................................................................  

(in € thousand) 

4,176 
1,249 
5,650 
(1,480) 
9,595 

10,004 
800 
10,593 
611 
22,008 

140% 
(36%) 
87% 
- 
129% 

Research and development expenses increased 129% from €9.6 million in the year ended December 
31, 2014 to €22.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2015, mainly due to higher expenses for 
AFM13, other projects and infrastructure. For the year 2016, we anticipate significantly higher 
research and development expenses particularly from the expected start of additional clinical trials 
with AFM13 (phase 1b/2a trial of AFM13 in patients with CD30+ lymphoma and phase 1b combination 
trial of AFM13 with Merck’s anti PD-1 antibody KEYTRUDA® in patients with relapsed/refractory HL), 
an additional clinical trial with AFM11 (phase 1 dose ranging study with AFM11 in ALL patients), 
production of clinical trial material and preclinical research activities. The variances in project related 
expenses between the year ended December 31, 2014 and the corresponding period in 2015 are 
mainly due to the following projects: 

(cid:1)  AFM13.  In the year ended December 31, 2015, we incurred higher expenses due to 

the ongoing phase 2a clinical trial and the manufacturing of clinical trial material for 
this study and for the additional studies expected to start in 2016. 

(cid:1)  AFM11.  In the year ended December 31, 2015, clinical expenses were lower than in 
the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily due to higher expenses associated with 
the production of the clinical study material and the preparation of the phase 1 clinical 
study of AFM11 in 2014, whereas in 2015 we incurred expenses for the ongoing 
phase 1 study as well as expenses in relation to the trial protocol amendment. 

(cid:1)  Other projects and infrastructure costs.  In the year ended December 31, 2015, 

expenses increased significantly primarily due to higher expenses associated with our 
internal R&D activities in 2015. Other projects comprise expenses incurred in relation 
to the AFM21 program and our discovery/early stage development activities. We incur 
a significant amount of costs associated with our research and development that are 
non-project specific, including intellectual property-related expenses, depreciation 
expenses and facility costs. Because these are less dependent on individual ongoing 
programs, they are not allocated to specific projects. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

14 

General and administrative expenses 

General and administrative expenses increased 222% from €2.3 million in the year ended December 
31, 2014 to €7.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. In 2014, general and administrative 
expenses were largely affected by a credit to the share-based payment expense of €3.4 million 
resulting from a re-measurement gain at consummation of the initial public offering (see Notes 2 and 
19 to our financial statements as of December 31, 2015). 

Finance income / (costs)-net 

We recognized finance income net for the year ended December 31, 2015 of €1.1 million. The income 
reflects the net gains from foreign exchange differences less interest expense for borrowings under 
the Perceptive Credit Facility. 

Finance  income  decreased  in  the  year  ended  December  31,  2015  as  compared  to  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2014. The year ended December 31, 2014 was primarily affected by the gain from the 
exchange of preferred shares of Affimed Therapeutics AG into common shares of Affimed N.V. and the 
decrease in the fair value of the derivative conversion feature embedded in the convertible loan totaling 
€10.9 million. These preferred shares and convertible loan were no longer outstanding in 2015.  

Income tax expense 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we did not incur any income tax expense.  

Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 

Total Revenue: 
Other income/(expenses)—net 
Research and development expenses 
General and administrative expenses 
Operating income/(loss) 
Finance income/(costs)—net 
Income/(Loss) before tax 
Income taxes 
Income/(loss) for the period 
Total comprehensive income/(loss)  
Earnings/(loss) per common share in € per share 

Revenue 

Year ended 
December 31, 
2013 
2014 
(in € thousand) 

5,087 
610 
(14,354) 
(7,046) 
(15,703) 
(10,397) 
(26,100) 
1 
(26,099) 
(26,099) 
(1.76) 

3,382
381
(9,595)
(2,346)
(8.178)
7,753
(425)
166
(259)
(259)
(0.01)

Revenue decreased 34% from €5.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to €3.4 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2014, mainly due to lower revenues from the Amphivena collaboration, 
partially offset by first time revenues from LLS in 2014. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

15 

Research and development expenses 

R&D Expenses by Project 

Project 
AFM13 ..............................................................................  
AFM11 ..............................................................................  
Other projects ...................................................................  
Share-based payment expense/(credit) ...........................  
Total .................................................................................  

Year ended  
December 31, 

2013 

2014 

Change % 

(in € thousand) 

921 
6,462 
3,950 
3,021 
14,354 

4,176 
1,249 
5,650 
(1,480) 
9,595 

353% 
(81%) 
43% 
- 
(33%) 

Research and development expenses decreased 33% from €14.4 million in the year ended December 
31, 2013 to €9.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, due to a credit to the share-based 
payment expense resulting from a re-measurement gain at consummation of the initial public offering 
(see Note 2 to our financial statements as of December 31, 2014). The variances in project related 
expenses between the year ended December 31, 2013 and the corresponding period in 2014 are 
mainly due to the following projects: 

•  AFM13.  In the year ended December 31, 2014 we incurred higher expenses due to the 

preparation for the phase 2a clinical trial and the manufacturing of clinical material for the 
phase 2a trial.  

•  AFM11.  In the year ended December 31, 2014, clinical expenses were significantly lower 
than in the year ended December 31, 2013. In 2013, expenses were higher due to the 
manufacturing of materials for clinical trials. 

•  Other projects.  In the year ended December 31, 2014 we continued to incur substantial costs 
related to the activities of the Amphivena collaboration. In contrast, in 2013, the collaboration 
had only been initiated at the beginning of the third quarter. 

• 

Infrastructure costs.  We incur a significant amount of costs associated with our research and 
development that are non-project specific, including intellectual property-related expenses, 
depreciation expenses and facility costs. Because these are less dependent on individual 
ongoing programs, they are not allocated to specific projects. 

General and administrative expenses 

General and administrative expenses decreased 67% from €7.0 million in the year ended December 
31, 2013 to €2.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, due to a credit to the share-based 
payment expense of €3.4 million resulting from a re-measurement gain at consummation of the initial 
public offering (see Notes 2 and 18 to our financial statements as of December 31, 2014). 

We expect that general and administrative expense will increase in the future as our business 
expands and we incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company.  

Finance income / (costs)-net 

We recognized finance income net for the year ended December 31, 2014 of €7.8 million. The income 
reflects the following transactions up to the consummation of the initial public offering and 
subsequently: the interest expense for preferred shares, the interest expense for the convertible loan, 
the interest expense for borrowings under the Perceptive Credit Facility (as defined herein), an 
extinguishment gain on the exchange of preferred shares of Affimed Therapeutics AG into common 
shares of Affimed N.V., the remeasurement gain resulting from changes in fair value and the 
extinguishment gain of the derivative conversion feature (see the table in Note 11 to our financial 
statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

16 

Finance income increased in the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended 
December 31, 2013 as a result of the transactions described above. 

Income tax expense 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we recorded a tax income of €166,000 due to changes in 
deferred tax assets. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. For the years ended December 31, 
2013, 2014 and 2015, we incurred net losses of €26.1 million, €0.3 million and €20.2 million, 
respectively. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through public offerings of our 
common shares, private placements of equity securities and loans, grants and revenues from 
collaboration partners. As of December 31, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of €76.7 million. 

Our cash and cash equivalents have been deposited primarily in savings and deposit accounts with 
original maturities of three months or less. Saving and deposit accounts generate a small amount of 
interest income. We expect to continue this investment philosophy but could consider to deposit our 
cash in savings and deposit account with slightly longer (6 months) maturities. 

Cash Flows 

Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 

The table below summarizes our consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended December 
31, 2014 and 2015: 

Year ended December 
31, 

Net cash used in operating activities ................................................................  
Net cash used for investing activities ................................................................  
Net cash generated from financing activities ....................................................  
Net changes to cash and cash equivalents ......................................................  
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year ..................................  
Exchange-rate related changes of cash and cash equivalents ........................  
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year ............................................  

2015 

2014 
(in € thousand) 
(10,547) 
(298) 
44,889 
34,044 
4,151 
1,530 
39,725 

(18,535) 
(277) 
53,498 
34,686 
39,725 
2,329 
76,740 

The increase in net cash used in operating activities by 76% from €10.5 million in the year ended 
December 31, 2014 to €18.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 was mainly due to higher 
cash expenditure for research and development efforts and higher general and administrative cost.  

Net cash used for investing activities remained unchanged with €0.3 million. 

Net cash generated from financing activities increased from €44.9 million in the year ended 
December 31, 2014 to €53.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. The 2015 amount mainly 
includes the net proceeds from the public offering in May 2015 and the net proceeds received from the 
private placement in October 2015. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

17 

Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 

The table below summarizes our consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended December 
31, 2013 and 2014: 

Net cash used in operating activities ...............................................................  
Net cash used for investing activities ...............................................................  
Net cash generated from financing activities ...................................................  
Net changes to cash and cash equivalents .....................................................  
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year .................................  
Exchange-rate related changes of cash and cash equivalents  ......................  
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year ...........................................  

Year ended December 31, 

2013 

2014 

(in € thousand) 
(5,678) 
(157) 
5,084 
(751) 
4,902 
0 
4,151 

(10,547) 
(298) 
44,889 
34,044 
4,151 
1,530 
39,725 

The increase in net cash used in operating activities by 84% from €5.7 million in the year ended 

December 31, 2013 to €10.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 was mainly due to the 
increase of cash effective expenses. While cash effective expenses in the year ended December 31, 
2013 totaled €12.3 million (total expenses of €20.8 million less non cash effective expenses totaling 
€8.5 million), cash effective expenses in the year ended December 31, 2014 totaled €16.1 million 
(total expenses of €11.6 million plus non cash effective income totaling €4.5 million). 

The increase in net cash used for investing activities from €0.2 million in the year ended 

December 31, 2013 to €0.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 was due to acquisition of 
laboratory equipment. 

The increase in net cash generated from financing activities from €5.1 million in the year ended 

December 31, 2013 to €44.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 was mainly due to an 
increase in average cash and cash equivalents following the completion of our initial public offering, 
the Series E Financing (as defined herein) and the borrowing of funds under the Perceptive Credit 
Facility.  

Cash and Funding Sources 

Cash and cash equivalents and financial assets as of December 31, 2015 were €76.7 million and were 
€66.8 million as of March 31, 2016. Funding sources generally comprise proceeds from the issuance 
of equity instruments, revenues from collaboration agreements and government grants. 

On July 24, 2014, our subsidiary Affimed Therapeutics AG (now Affimed GmbH) entered into an 
agreement for a loan facility (the “Perceptive Credit Facility”) with an affiliate of Perceptive Advisors 
LLC. The Perceptive Credit Facility originally provided for aggregate funding of $14.0 million, including 
$5.5 million in initial funding and up to an additional $8.5 million of capital available in subsequent 
tranches. In 2015, we agreed with Perceptive to cancel the option to draw the remaining available $8.5 
million. 

The loans outstanding under the Perceptive Credit Facility accrue interest at an annual rate equal to 
an applicable margin of nine percent plus one-month LIBOR, with LIBOR deemed to equal 1% if 
LIBOR is less than 1% and is payable in monthly installments of interest only through April 2016 and 
then principal and interest thereafter in monthly installments through August 2018, with the 
outstanding balance to be repaid in full at the end of August 2018. Borrowings under the Perceptive 
Credit Facility are secured by a substantial portion of our tangible assets and intellectual property. 
Under the loan agreement governing the facility, we are subject to customary affirmative and negative 
covenants including limitations on additional indebtedness, limitations on liens, limitations on 
acquisitions and other restrictions related to our tangible assets and intellectual property. Additionally, 
covenants set forth under the facility will require us to maintain a minimum cash balance of $2.0 
million. We have also agreed to achieve certain development milestones for AFM11 and AFM13. We 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

18 

have entered into a discussion regarding the facility with Perceptive, including with respect to the 
development milestones. 

Following the closing of our initial public offering, we issued to Perceptive 106,250 warrants at an 
exercise price of $8.80 in accordance with the loan agreement governing the facility. 

On September 17, 2014, we completed our initial public offering of common shares in which we sold 
an aggregate of 8,000,000 common shares at a price to the public of $7.00 per share. The proceeds 
to us from the offering were approximately €43.2 million, before deducting the underwriting discounts, 
commissions and offering expenses. 

In January 2015, we announced that we had been awarded a €2.4 million ($3 million) grant from the 
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The grant, awarded under the BMBF’s 
“KMU-innovative: Biotechnology–BioChance” program, will cover approximately 40% of expenses for a 
research  and  development  program  to  develop  multi-specific  antibodies  for  the  treatment  of multiple 
myeloma. The grant payments are scheduled to be made periodically through the end of 2017. 

On May 12, 2015, we announced the closing of our offering of 5,750,000 common shares at a public 
offering price of $7.15 per common share. The total amount includes 750,000 common shares issued 
pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares which was exercised on May 7, 2015. 
After deducting the underwriting discounts and other offering expenses, the net proceeds of the public 
offering were €33.5 million ($37.5 million). 

On October 14, 2015, we sold 3.3 million shares to SGR Sagittarius Holding AG, an existing shareholder 
affiliated with Aeris Capital AG, in a private placement exempt from registration, resulting in net proceeds 
to us of €19.1 million ($21.8 million). 

Funding Requirements 

We expect that we will require additional funding to complete the development of our product 
candidates and to continue to advance the development of our other product candidates. In addition, 
we expect that we will require additional capital to commercialize our product candidates AFM13, 
AFM11, AFM21/AFM22, AFM24 and to broaden our pre-clinical and clinical NK-cell related 
development activities. If we receive regulatory approval for AFM13, AFM11, AFM21/AFM22 or 
AFM24, and if we choose not to grant any licenses to partners, we expect to incur significant 
commercialization expenses related to product manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution, 
depending on where we choose to commercialize. We also expect to incur additional costs associated 
with operating as a public company. Additional funds may not be available on a timely basis, on 
favorable terms, or at all, and such funds, if raised, may not be sufficient to enable us to continue to 
implement our long-term business strategy. If we are not able to raise capital when needed, we could 
be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or commercialization 
efforts. 

We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents will enable us to fund our operating expenses 
and capital expenditure requirements until the first quarter of 2018. We have based this estimate on 
assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, and we could use our capital resources sooner than we 
currently expect. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including but not 
limited to: 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

the scope, rate of progress, results and cost of our clinical trials, nonclinical testing, 
and other related activities; 

the cost of manufacturing clinical supplies, and establishing commercial supplies, of 
our product candidates and any products that we may develop; 

(cid:1) 

the number and characteristics of product candidates that we pursue; 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

19 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

the cost, timing, and outcomes of regulatory approvals; 

the cost and timing of establishing sales, marketing, and distribution capabilities; and 

the terms and timing of any collaborative, licensing, and other arrangements that we 
may establish, including any required milestone and royalty payments thereunder. 

To address our financing needs, we may raise additional capital through the sale of equity or 
convertible debt securities. In such an event, your ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of 
these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a 
holder of our common shares. In this context we are also considering the restructuring of our existing 
debt financing with Perceptive or entering into new or additional debt financing agreements to address 
our funding needs, including to extend our cash reach. 

For more information as to the risks associated with our future funding needs, see “Risk 
Management.” 

JOBS Act Exemptions 

On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among 
other things, reduce certain reporting requirements for an “emerging growth company.” As an 
emerging growth company, we are electing to take advantage of the following exemptions: 

(cid:1)  not providing an auditor attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial 

reporting; 

(cid:1)  not providing all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth 
public companies under the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
Act; 

(cid:1)  not disclosing certain executive compensation-related items such as the correlation between 
executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the Chief Executive Officer’s 
compensation to median employee compensation; and 

(cid:1)  not complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting 
Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s 
report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor 
discussion and analysis). 

These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our initial public 
offering (through 2019) or until we no longer meet the requirements of being an “emerging growth 
company,” whichever is earlier. We would cease to be an emerging growth company if we were to 
have more than $1.0 billion in annual revenue or have more than $700 million in market value of our 
common shares held by non-affiliates or issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a 
three-year period. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015                                                                                                     20 

Risk Management 

Our business is exposed to specific industry risks, as well as general business risks. Our financial 
condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if any of these risks 
occurs, and as a result, the market price of our common shares could decline. This Annual Report 
also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could 
differ materially and adversely from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result 
of certain factors. 

Listed below are the risks perceived by management to be the most significant. The risks faced by 
Affimed during 2015 are not limited to this list; a more comprehensive set of risks are described in 
Affimed’s form 20-F which was filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on March 30, 2016, 
and a copy of which is available from Affimed’s website. 

Risks Related to our Business Strategy  

Any failure or delay in commencing or completing clinical trials for our products could severely harm 
our business. To obtain the requisite regulatory approvals to market and sell any of our products, we 
must demonstrate through extensive pre-clinical tests and clinical trials that the products are safe and 
effective in humans. Pre-clinical tests and clinical trials are expensive, can take many years and have 
an uncertain outcome. A failure of one or more of our pre-clinical programs on clinical trials could 
occur at any stage of testing.  

Positive or timely results from pre-clinical tests and early clinical trials do not ensure positive or timely 
results in later stage clinical trials or product approval by the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, 
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA or any other regulatory authority. Products that show 
positive preclinical or early clinical results often fail in later stage clinical trials.  

Any delay in commencing or completing clinical trials for our product candidates would delay 
commercialization of our products and severely harm our business and financial condition. It is also 
possible that none of our product candidates will complete clinical trials in any of the markets in which 
we intend to sell those product candidates. Accordingly, we would not receive the regulatory approvals 
needed to market our product candidates.  

The regulatory approval process is costly and lengthy and we may not be able to successfully obtain 
all required regulatory approvals. The pre-clinical development, clinical trials, manufacturing, 
marketing and labeling of pharmaceuticals and medical devices are all subject to extensive regulation 
by governmental authorities and agencies in the European Union (“EU”), the US and other 
jurisdictions. 

We must obtain regulatory approval for products before marketing or selling any of them. The approval 
process is typically lengthy and expensive, and approval is never certain.  

Additional clinical trials may be required if clinical trial results are negative or inconclusive, which will 
require us to incur additional costs and significant delays.  

Our products will remain subject to ongoing regulatory review even if they receive marketing approval. 
If we fail to comply with continuing regulations, we could lose these approvals and the sale of our 
products could be suspended.  

Even if we receive regulatory approval to market a particular product, the approval could be 
conditional on us conducting additional costly post-approval studies or could limit the indicated uses 
included in the labeling of our products. Moreover, the product may later cause adverse effects that 
limit or prevent its widespread use, force us to withdraw it from the market or impede or delay our 
ability to obtain regulatory approvals in additional countries. In addition, the manufacturer of our 
products, and their facilities, will continue to be subject to regulatory review and periodic inspections to 
ensure adherence to applicable regulations. After receiving marketing approval, the manufacturing, 

 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015                                                                                                     21 

labeling, packaging, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion and the product will 
remain subject to extensive regulatory requirements.  

Our products may not gain market acceptance. Sales of medical products depend on physicians’ 
willingness to prescribe the treatment, which is likely to be based on a determination by these 
physicians that the products are safe and effective from a therapeutic and cost perspective relative to 
competing treatments. We cannot predict whether physicians will make this determination in respect of 
our products.  

Even if our products achieve market acceptance, the market may prove not to be large enough to 
allow us to generate significant revenues.  

Our ability to generate revenue from any products that we may develop will depend on reimbursement 
and pricing policies and regulations.  

Our ability to commercialize our products may depend, in part, on the extent to which reimbursement 
for our products will be available from government and health administration authorities, private health 
insurers, managed care programs and other third-party payers. 

Significant uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved healthcare products. 
In many countries, healthcare and pharmaceutical products are subject to a regime of reimbursement 
by government health authorities, private health insurers or other organizations. There is increasing 
pressure from these organizations to limit healthcare costs by restricting the availability and level of 
reimbursement.  

Risks Related to our Financial Position and need for Additional Capital 

We have a history of operating losses and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the 
foreseeable future. We may never become profitable.  

The business has incurred losses in each year since inception. These losses have arisen mainly from 
costs incurred in research and development of our products and general and administrative expenses.  

No assurance can be given that we will achieve profitability in the future. Furthermore, if our products 
fail in clinical trials or do not gain regulatory approval, or if our products do not achieve market 
acceptance, we may never achieve profitability.  

Even if we achieve profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability in subsequent 
periods.  

We expect to need additional funding in the future, which may not be available to us on acceptable 
terms, or at all, which could force us to delay or impair our ability to develop or commercialize our 
products.  

Our current cash and cash equivalents balances may not be sufficient to finance our long term 
research, development and commercialization programs. Therefore, additional funds will be required. 
There can be no assurance that additional funds will be available on a timely basis, on favorable 
terms, or at all, or that such funds, if raised, would be sufficient to enable us to continue to implement 
our long term business strategy. If we are unable to raise such additional funds through collaboration 
arrangements or equity or debt financing, we may need to delay, scale back or cease expenditures for 
some of our longer term research, development and commercialization programs, or grant rights to 
develop and market products that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves, 
thereby reducing their ultimate value to us. Our inability to obtain additional funds necessary to 
operate the business could materially and adversely affect the market price of our shares and all or 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015                                                                                                     22 

part of an investment in our shares could be lost. In addition, to the extent we raise capital by issuing 
additional shares, shareholders’ equity interests would be diluted.   

Risks Related to Legal Compliance Matters 

Our operations, including our research, development, testing and manufacturing activities, are subject 
to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. If we fail to comply with such laws 
and regulations, we could be subject to fines or other sanctions. 

The third parties with whom we contract to manufacture our product candidates are also subject to 
these and other environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Liabilities they incur pursuant 
to these laws and regulations could result in significant costs or in certain circumstances, an 
interruption in operations, any of which could adversely impact our business and financial condition if 
we are unable to find an alternate supplier in a timely manner. 

Risks Related to Financial Reporting 

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial 
reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent 
fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their 
implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002 requires management of public companies to develop and implement internal 
controls over financial reporting and evaluate the effectiveness thereof.  

A material weakness is a deficiency or a combination of deficiencies in internal control over financial 
reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial 
statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. No material weaknesses were 
identified in connection with the preparation of our financial statements for the years ended December 
31, 2014 and 2015. If the implemented internal controls fail to be effective in the future, it could result 
in material misstatements in our financial statements, impair our ability to raise revenue, result in the 
loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements and subject us to regulatory 
scrutiny and sanctions, which in turn could harm the market value of our common shares. 

Risk Management regarding Financial Instruments 

Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk  

As a result of our operating and financing activities, we are exposed to market risks that may affect our 
financial position and results of operations. Market risk is the potential to incur economic losses on risk 
sensitive instruments arising from adverse changes in factors such as foreign exchange rate 
fluctuations.  

Our senior management is responsible for implementing and evaluating policies which govern our 
funding, investments and any use of derivative financial instruments. Management monitors risk 
exposure on an ongoing basis.  

Credit risk 

The Company offers services to its collaboration partners / clients with the possibility to pay with a 
certain payment term. The credit risks on these payment terms have been and will continue to be 
borne by the Company. It is impossible that these credit risks may increase in the future, which could 
have a material adverse effect on its business and/or financial results. The company is aiming to 
negotiate advance payments for services provided to clients or collaboration partners. The Company 
invoices its collaboration partners, in relation to the contractual agreements (i.e. FTE rates, milestones 
reached, etc.). The Company is therefore subject to a certain credit default risk.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015                                                                                                     23 

The cash and cash equivalents are held with banks, which are rated BBB- to AA- based on Standard 
& Poor’s and Moody’s. 

Interest rate risks 

The group’s interest rate risk arises from cash accounts and long-term borrowings at variable rates.  

Affimed entered into a loan agreement of $5.5 million with a variable interest rate of an annual rate of 
9% plus one-month LIBOR, with LIBOR deemed to equal 1% if LIBOR is less than 1%. The group 
does not expect the LIBOR to exceed the floor or 1% within the foreseeable future, and considers the 
interest risk to be low.  

Our financial assets are exposed to interest rate risk. A shift in interest rates would have an immaterial 
impact on the loss of the group.  

Currency risk 

Foreign exchange risk arises when future commercial transactions or recognized assets or liabilities 
are denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s functional currency. We use the euro as our 
functional and reporting currency. The group’s entities are exposed to Czech Koruna (CZK) and US 
Dollars (USD). As a result, we are exposed to foreign currency exchange movements. Our material 
budgeted future expenses are in euros and US dollar. We have converted into euros only the portion 
of the IPO proceeds and the proceeds from our follow-on offering in May and the private placement in 
October 2015 that will be spent in euros according to our budget. The company does not apply 
additional hedging methods. Assets and liabilities and income and expenses of Group companies, 
other than the euro, are translated to euro at foreign exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet 
date and the dates of the transactions respectively. The Company regards its positions in other 
countries (in this case outside the Eurozone) as strategic and assumes that, over the longer term, 
currency fluctuations will be neutral on balance.  

Cash surpluses, held in a currency other than the functional currency, are not used for speculative 
purposes. We do not enter into contracts that reflect the changes in the value of foreign currency 
exchange rates to preserve the value of assets, commitments and anticipated transactions. Therefore, 
fluctuations in exchange rates may distort year-to-year comparisons of financial performance.  

In 2015, if the Euro had weakened/strengthened by 10% against the US dollar with all other variables 
held constant, the loss would have been approximately €2.8 million higher/lower, mainly as a result of 
foreign exchange gains/losses on translation of US dollar-denominated financial assets. The group 
considers a shift in the exchange rates of 10% as a realistic scenario.  

Net investments in subsidiaries in foreign countries are long-term investments. Their book value 
changes through movements of foreign currency exchange rates. We do not hedge the net 
investments in foreign subsidiaries. 

Liquidity risk 

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulties in meeting the obligations associated 
with its financial liabilities which are normally settled by delivering cash. The Group’s approach to 
managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its 
liabilities when due. 

The Group continually monitors its risk of a shortage of funds using short and mid-term liquidity 
planning. This takes account of the expected cash flows from all activities. The supervisory board 
undertakes regular reviews of the budget. 

In 2014 and 2015, Affimed raised significant funding that it estimates will enable the group to fund 
operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements until Q1 2018:  

In 2015, the issue of new common shares and the exercise of stock options resulted in net proceeds 
of €53.5 million. 

 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015                                                                                                     24 

The group expects to require additional funding to complete the development of the existing product 
candidates. In addition, the group expects to require additional capital to commercialize the products if 
regulatory approval is received. 

In 2015, Affimed has filed a “shelf registration statement” with the SEC in order to offer and sell 
securities to the public in multiple, future offerings.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

25 

Corporate Governance Report 

I. 

GENERAL 

Affimed N.V. is a public limited liability company (the "Company," "Affimed," or "we") with 
corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, governed by Dutch law, and with registered office 
in Heidelberg, Germany. Affimed started as a private company with limited liability and was 
converted to a Dutch public limited liability company in connection with a corporate reorganization 
that occurred prior to the consummation of our initial public offering in 2014. The Company's 
common shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on September 12, 2014 under the 
symbol "AFMD." 

The Dutch Corporate Governance Code 

We are subject to various corporate governance requirements and best practices codes, the most 
relevant being those in the Netherlands and the United States. As a Dutch company, the Company 
is subject to the Dutch Corporate Governance Code ("DCGC" or the "Code") and is required to 
disclose in its statutory annual report, filed in the Netherlands, whether it complies with the 
provisions of the DCGC. The DCGC contains principles and best practice provisions for managing 
boards, supervisory boards, shareholders and general meetings of shareholders, financial 
reporting, auditors, disclosure, compliance and enforcement standards. If the Company does not 
comply with the provisions of the DCGC (for example, because of a conflicting Nasdaq requirement 
or otherwise), the Company must list the reasons for any deviation from the DCGC in this Annual 
Report. 

In this report, we address our overall corporate governance structure and state to what extent we 
apply the provisions of the DCGC. The Company's deviation from certain practices of the DCGC is 
due to the Company being listed in the United States with most of Affimed's investors being outside 
of the Netherlands, as well as due to the international business focus of the Company. As a 
company listed on Nasdaq, the Company also complies with Nasdaq's corporate governance listing 
standards (except for instances where we follow our home country's corporate governance 
practices in lieu of certain Nasdaq corporate governance requirements as explained below) and the 
rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC. Nasdaq investors are often more familiar with 
Nasdaq's rules than with the DCGC.  

The full text of the DCGC can be found at the website of the Monitoring Commission Corporate 
Governance Code (www.commissiecorporategovernance.nl). Further information about the 
Company’s corporate governance practices is available at our website 
(www.affimed.com/corporate-governance).  

II. 

MANAGING DIRECTORS AND SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS 

The following table lists the members of our current management board:  

Name 

Adi Hoess 
Florian Fischer   
Jens-Peter Marschner 
Jörg Windisch 

Age 

Position 

54 
48 
53 
45 

Chief Executive Officer 
Chief Financial Officer 
Chief Medical Officer 
Chief Operating Officer 

The following is a brief summary of the business experience of the members of our management 
board.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

26 

Adi Hoess, Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Hoess joined us in October 2010 as Chief Commercial 
Officer and since September 2011 has served as our Chief Executive Officer. He has more than 20 
years of professional experience with an extensive background in general management, business 
development, product commercialization, fund raising and M&A. Prior to joining us, Dr. Hoess was 
Chief Commercial Officer at Jerini AG and Chief Executive Officer of Jenowis AG. At Jerini AG he was 
responsible for business development, marketing and sales and the market introduction of Firazyr. He 
also played a major role in the sale of Jerini to Shire plc. Dr. Hoess began his professional career in 
1993 at MorphoSys. Dr. Hoess received his Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of 
Munich in 1991 and an M.D. from the Technical University of Munich in 1997. 

Florian Fischer, Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Fischer joined us in 2005 as Chief Financial Officer on a 
part-time basis, which has increased over time to a full time position since September 2014. Dr. 
Fischer is founder and Chief Executive Officer of MedVenture Partners, a Munich-based corporate 
finance and strategy advisory company focusing on the life sciences and health care industry. Dr. 
Fischer was the Chief Financial Officer of Activaero GmbH from 2002 until 2011 and has been 
involved with corporate development since 2011. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer of 
Vivendy Ltd. from 2008 until 2013 and as a managing director of AbCheck in 2009. Prior to founding 
MedVenture Partners, Dr. Fischer worked with KPMG for more than six years until 2002, where he 
was responsible for biotech and healthcare assignments. Before joining KPMG, he worked for 
Deutsche Bank AG. Dr. Fischer is also a member of the audit committee of Amphivena. He holds a 
graduate degree in business administration from Humboldt University, Berlin and a Ph.D. in public 
health from the University of Bielefeld. 

Jens-Peter Marschner, Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Marschner joined us in 2013 from Merck KGaA 
(Merck Serono). He has 19 years of professional experience in clinical development with a focus on 
biological compounds. At Merck Serono, Dr. Marschner served as Vice President Immunological 
Programs Oncology from 2009-2012 and Vice President Global Medical Affairs from 2003-2009, 
primarily in the field of oncology. Dr. Marschner led the clinical development team of cetuximab 
(Erbitux®), a monoclonal antibody to treat colorectal cancer, which was successfully launched in 2004. 
He started his pharmaceutical career in 1995 at Boehringer Mannheim, which is now part of Roche. 
He studied medicine in Jena (Germany), obtained an M.D. in 1991 from Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-
University in Frankfurt and became a board certified specialist in clinical pharmacology in 1995. 

Jörg Windisch, Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Windisch joined us in 2016 after spending 20 years at 
Sandoz Biopharmaceuticals (a Novartis company), most recently serving as Chief Science Officer. He 
joined Novartis in 1996 in the biologics unit of Sandoz, where he played a leading role in the 
development of Somatropin (Omnitrope®), the first ever biosimilar medicine, as well as of Sandoz’ 
Epoetinalfa (Binocrit®) and Filgrastim (Zarzio®) products. Over the course of 15 years he built an 
international technical development organization for biologics and for five years Dr. Windisch also led 
the joint biologics technical development and manufacturing organization for Novartis Pharma and 
Sandoz. He was involved in the development and manufacturing of about 20 biologics, six of which 
are currently marketed. Dr. Windisch was educated in Austria, Germany and the U.S. and received his 
Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics from the University of Innsbruck. 

The following table lists the supervisory directors currently in office appointed by the general 
meeting of shareholders. Thomas Hecht is the chairman of our supervisory board. The term of 
each of our supervisory directors will terminate on the date of the annual general meeting of 
shareholders in the year indicated below.  

Name 

Gender 

Nationality 

Age 

Initial appointment 

Bernhard Ehmer 
Ulrich Grau 

Thomas Hecht   

Berndt Modig 

M 
M 

M 

M 

M 
Richard B. Stead 
Ferdinand Verdonck  M 

German 
German/US 

German 

Swedish/US 

US 
Belgian 

61 

67 

65 

57 
63 
73 

January 21, 2016 
July 1, 2015 

September 17, 2014 

September 17, 2014 

September 17, 2014 
September 9, 2014 

Term 

  2019 

  2018 

  2017 

  2017 
  2016 
  2017 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

27 

The following is a brief summary of the business experience of the Company's supervisory 
directors. 

Bernhard R.M. Ehmer, Director. Dr. Ehmer has been a member of our supervisory board since 2016. 
He has been chairman of the board of management of Biotest AG since January 2015. Prior to this, he 
worked for the Imclone Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly, as president of Imclone Systems 
Corporation in the United States and as managing director in Germany. In 2007/2008 he was CEO of 
Fresenius Biotech, Germany and before this, Dr. Ehmer headed the Business Area Oncology of Merck 
KGaA, Darmstadt and served as head of Global Clinical Operations at Merck. Between 1986 and 1998 
he held various functions at Boehringer Mannheim in Germany, Italy and Singapore. Dr. Ehmer holds a 
degree in medicine and worked in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Academic Teaching 
Hospital of the University of Heidelberg. 

Ulrich M. Grau, Director. Dr. Grau served as an advisor to our board from May 2013 until June 2015 
and became a board member in July 2015. He has over 30 years of experience in the biotechnology 
and pharmaceutical industries including general management, business development, corporate 
strategy and the development of new products and technologies. Dr. Grau was Chief Operating Officer 
at Micromet from 2011 to 2012. Between 2006 and 2010, Dr. Grau was a founder, President and CEO 
of Lux Biosciences, Inc., a clinical stage ophthalmic company. Previously, Dr. Grau served as 
President of Research and Development at BASF Pharma/ Knoll where he directed a global R&D 
organization whose development pipeline included Humira. The majority of his career was at Aventis 
Pharma, where he last held the position of senior VP of global late stage development. Lantus® is 
based on his inventions made during his early years as a scientist with Hoechst AG. Dr. Grau received 
his Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Stuttgart and spent three years as a 
post-doctoral fellow at Purdue University in the field of protein crystallography. 

Thomas Hecht, Chairman. Dr. Hecht has been the chairman of our supervisory board since 2007. He 
is head of Hecht Healthcare Consulting in Küssnacht, Switzerland, a biopharmaceutical consulting 
company founded in 2002. Dr. Hecht also serves as chairman of the board of directors of Cell Medica 
Ltd., Delenex AG and as a director of Humabs BioMed AG. Until the beginning of March 2015, he 
served as chairman of the supervisory council of SuppreMol GmbH. Dr. Hecht was previously Vice 
President Marketing at Amgen Europe. A seasoned manager and industry professional, he held 
various positions of increasing responsibility in clinical development, medical affairs and marketing at 
Amgen between 1989 and 2002. Prior to joining the biopharmaceutical industry, he was certified in 
internal medicine and served as Co-Head of the Program for Bone Marrow Transplantation at the 
University of Freiburg, Germany. 

Berndt Modig, Director. Mr. Modig has been a member of our supervisory board since 2014. He has 
served as Chief Financial Officer of Prosensa Holding N.V. from March 2010 through January 2015 
when Prosensa was acquired by BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Mr. Modig also serves as member of 
the board of directors and chairman of the audit committee of Auris Medical Holding AG and Axovant 
Sciences Ltd. Mr. Modig has more than 25 years of international experience in finance and operations, 
private equity and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Prosensa, Mr. Modig was Chief Financial 
Officer at Jerini AG from October 2003 to November 2008, where he directed private financing rounds, 
its initial public offering in 2005 and its acquisition by Shire plc in 2008. Prior to Jerini, Mr. Modig 
served as Chief Financial Officer at Surplex AG from 2001 to 2003 and as Finance Director Europe of 
U.S.-based Hayward Industrial Products Inc. from 1999 to 2001. In previous positions, Mr. Modig was 
a partner in the Brussels-based private equity firm Agra Industria from 1994 to 1999 and a Senior 
Manager in the Financial Services Industry Group of Price Waterhouse LLP in New York from 1991 to 
1994. Mr. Modig served as a director of Mobile Loyalty plc from 2012 to 2013. Mr. Modig has a 
bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics and German from the University of Lund, 
Sweden and an M.B.A. degree from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France and is a Certified Public 
Accountant. 

Richard B. Stead, Director. Dr. Stead has been a member of our supervisory board since 2007. He 
has more than 25 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, designing 
and directing clinical trials, regulatory strategy and licensing activities. He is currently Founder and 
Principal of BioPharma Consulting Services, where he is involved in the development of a number of 
oncology products including different strategies for cancer immunotherapy. Previously, he was Vice 
President, Clinical Research of Immunex Corporation, responsible for oncology and neurology product 
development. Dr. Stead has served in various positions in clinical development and played a key role 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

28 

in the FDA approval and commercialization of Amgen’s first two products, Epogen and Neupogen. Dr. 
Stead graduated from the University of Wisconsin and earned an M.D. from Stanford University. He 
completed his internship and residency as well as a fellowship in Hematology at Harvard Medical 
School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital followed by post-doctoral research in the Laboratory 
of Molecular Biology at the National Cancer institute. He also serves on the boards of Ascend 
Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. and the Seattle Reparatory Theatre. 

Ferdinand Verdonck, Director. Mr. Verdonck has been a member of our supervisory board since 
July 2014. He is chairman of the supervisory board of uniQure N.V. and is a director and a member of 
the Audit Committee of Virtus Funds and Laco Information Services. In recent years he was director of 
Groupe SNEF, director and member of the audit committee of J.P. Morgan European Investment Trust 
and director and chairman of the audit committee of two biotechnology companies in Belgium, Movetis 
and Galapagos. He has previously served as chairman of Banco Urquijo and of Nasdaq Europe and 
as a director of Dictaphone Corporation. From 1992 to 2003, he was the managing director of Almanij 
NV, a financial services company which has since merged with KBC, and his responsibilities included 
company strategy, financial control, supervision of executive management and corporate governance, 
including board participation in publicly-traded and privately-held companies in many countries. Mr. 
Verdonck holds a law degree from KU Leuven and degrees in economics from KU Leuven and the 
University of Chicago. 

III. 

BOARD PRACTICES 

Governance structure 

Affimed N.V. is a public limited liability company under Dutch law with a two-tier board structure. 
Our management board (raad van bestuur) has ultimate responsibility for the overall management 
of Affimed. The management board is supervised and advised by a supervisory board (raad van 
commissarissen). The management board and the supervisory board are accountable to Affimed’s 
shareholders. 

Management board 

The management board manages our general affairs and ensures that we can effectively 
implement our strategy and achieve our objectives.  

At least once per year the management board informs the supervisory board in writing of the main 
lines of the Company's strategic policy, the general and financial risks and the management and 
control system. The management board provides the supervisory board with such necessary 
information as the supervisory board requires performing its duties. 

We have a strong centralized management board led by Adi Hoess, our Chief Executive Officer, 
who has a strong track record in the development and commercialization of new medicines. Our 
management team has extensive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, and key members 
of our team have played an important role in the development and commercialization of approved 
drugs.  

For a more detailed description of the responsibilities of the management board, please refer to the 
corporate governance section of our website at www.affimed.com. 

Composition of the management board 

The number of managing directors is determined by the supervisory board. Currently the 
management board consists of four (4) directors. 

The size and composition of our management board and the combined experience and expertise of 
its members should reflect the best fit for Affimed’s profile and strategy, irrespective of gender. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

29 

This aim for the best fit, in combination with the availability of qualifying candidates, has resulted in 
Affimed, as of April 30, 2016, having a management board in which all four members are male. In 
order to increase gender diversity of the management board, in accordance with article 2:166 
section 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, we pay close attention to gender diversity in the process of 
recruiting and appointing new management board members. In addition, we continuously recruit 
female executives, as demonstrated by the employment of several women to key leadership 
positions across the Company in 2015. 

Appointment, suspension and dismissal 

Managing directors are appointed by the general meeting of shareholders upon a binding 
nomination of the supervisory board. The general meeting of shareholders can suspend or dismiss 
a management board member by an absolute majority of votes cast, upon a proposal made by the 
supervisory board. If another party makes the proposal, a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, 
representing more than half of the issued share capital, is required. If this qualified majority is not 
achieved, second general meeting as referred to in article 2:120 section 3 of the Dutch Civil Code 
may not be convened. 

Supervisory board 

Our supervisory board supervises the policies of the management board and the general course of 
the affairs of the Company's business. The supervisory board gives advice to the management 
board and is guided by the Company's interests and its business when performing its duties. The 
management board provides the supervisory board with such necessary information as is required 
to perform its duties. Currently the supervisory board consists of six (6) supervisory directors. 

The Company's articles of association provide for a term of appointment of supervisory directors of 
up to four years. Furthermore, the Company's articles of association state that a supervisory 
director may be reappointed, but that any supervisory director may be a supervisory director for no 
longer than twelve (12) years. The Company's supervisory directors are appointed for different 
terms as a result of which only approximately one quarter of the Company's supervisory directors 
will be subject to election in any one year. Such an appointment has the effect of creating a 
staggered board and may deter a takeover attempt. 

The supervisory board meets as often as a supervisory board member deems necessary. In a 
meeting of the supervisory board, each supervisory director has a right to cast one vote. All 
resolutions by the supervisory board are adopted by an absolute majority of the votes cast. In the 
event the votes are equally divided, the chairman has the decisive vote. A supervisory director may 
grant another supervisory director a written proxy to represent him at the meeting. 

The Company's supervisory board can pass resolutions outside of meetings, provided that the 
resolution is adopted in writing and all supervisory directors have consented to adopting the 
resolution outside of a meeting. 

The Company's supervisory directors do not have a retirement age requirement under the 
Company's articles of association. 

Composition of the supervisory board 

The composition of the supervisory board, including its members’ combined experience and 
expertise, independence, and diversity of age and gender, should reflect the best fit for Affimed’s 
profile and strategy. This aim for the best fit, in combination with the availability of qualifying 
candidates, has resulted in Affimed currently having a supervisory board in which all six members 
are male. In order to increase gender diversity in the supervisory board in accordance with article 
2:166 section 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, we pay close attention to gender diversity in the process of 
recruiting and appointing new supervisory board candidates.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

30 

Appointment, suspension and dismissal 

Supervisory directors are appointed by the general meeting of shareholders upon a binding 
nomination of the supervisory board for a term of up to four years. The general meeting of 
shareholders can suspend or dismiss a supervisory board member by an absolute majority of votes 
cast, upon a proposal made by the supervisory board. If another party makes the proposal, a two-
thirds majority of the votes cast, representing more than half of the issued share capital, is 
required. If this qualified majority is not achieved, a second general meeting as referred to in article 
2:120 section 3 of the Dutch Civil Code may not be convened. 

Conflicts of interest 

Each member of the management board is required to immediately report any potential conflict of 
interest to the chairman of the supervisory board and to the other members of the management 
board and provide them with all relevant information. Each member of the supervisory board is 
required to immediately report any potential conflict of interest to the chairman of the supervisory 
board and provide him or her with all relevant information. The chairman determines whether there 
is a conflict of interest. If a member of the supervisory board or a member of the management 
board has a conflict of interest with the Company, the member may not participate in the 
discussions and/or decision-making process on subjects or transactions relating to the conflict of 
interest. The chairman of the supervisory board will arrange for such transactions to be disclosed 
in the Annual Report.  

Dr. Ulrich Grau, who was appointed as Supervisory Director effective July 1, 2015, is a significant 
shareholder and Chairman of i-novion Inc. which was engaged by the Company in 2015 prior to his 
appointment as Supervisory Director to conduct preclinical services through a services agreement. 
In accordance with best practise provision III.6.3, Affimed reports that Dr. Ulrich Grau had a conflict 
of interest in relation to the Company entering into this service agreement with i-novion Inc. 
Affimed reports that best practise provisions III.6.1 to III.6.3 inclusive have been complied with. Dr. 
Grau immediately reported this conflict of interest to the chairman of the supervisory board. The 
service agreement was agreed on terms that are customary in the sector concerned and the 
supervisory board approved the entering into this service agreement. Dr. Grau did not take part in 
discussions and/or decision-making on this topic.  

In accordance with best practice provision III.6.4 of the DCGC, Affimed reports that no transactions 
between the Company and legal or natural persons who hold at least 10% of the shares in the 
Company occurred in 2015.  

Supervisory Board Committees  

Although the supervisory board retains ultimate responsibility, the supervisory board has delegated 
certain of its tasks to its committees. 

Audit committee  

The audit committee, which consists of Ferdinand Verdonck (Chairman), Berndt Modig and 
Bernhard Ehmer (since January 2016), assists the board in overseeing our accounting and 
financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. In addition, the audit 
committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the 
work of our independent registered public accounting firm. Our supervisory board has determined 
that all members of the audit committee satisfy the “independence” requirements set forth in Rule 
10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The supervisory board has determined that Ferdinand Verdonck 
and Berndt Modig qualify as “audit committee financial experts,” as such term is defined in the 
rules of the SEC.  

The audit committee is responsible for recommending the appointment of the independent auditor 
to the general meeting of shareholders; the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of 
any accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

31 

other audit services; pre-approving the audit services and non-audit services to be provided by our 
independent auditor before the auditor is engaged to render such services; evaluating the 
independent auditor’s qualifications, performance and independence, and presenting its 
conclusions to the full supervisory board on at least an annual basis and reviewing and discussing 
with the management board and the independent auditor our annual audited financial statements 
and quarterly financial statements prior to the filing of the respective annual and quarterly reports, 
among other things. 

The audit committee meets as often as one or more members of the audit committee deem 
necessary, but in any event at least four times per year. The audit committee meets at least once 
per year with our independent accountant, without our management board being present. The audit 
committee held five meetings in person and seven meetings by conference call in 2015. 

Compensation committee  

The compensation committee, which consists of Thomas Hecht (Chairman), Ulrich Grau and 
Berndt Modig, assists the supervisory board in determining management board compensation. The 
committee recommends to the supervisory board for determination of the compensation of each of 
our managing directors. Under SEC and Nasdaq rules, there are heightened independence 
standards for members of the compensation committee, including a prohibition against the receipt 
of any compensation from us other than standard supervisory director fees. As permitted by the 
listing requirements of Nasdaq, we have opted out of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(d) which requires 
that a compensation committee consist entirely of independent directors. 

The compensation committee is responsible for identifying, reviewing and approving corporate 
goals and objectives relevant to management board compensation; analysing the possible 
outcomes of the variable remuneration components and how they may affect the remuneration of 
the managing directors; evaluating each managing director’s performance in light of such goals 
and objectives and determining each managing director’s compensation based on such evaluation 
and determining any long-term incentive component of each managing director’s compensation in 
line with the remuneration policy and reviewing our management board compensation and benefits 
policies generally, among other things. 

The compensation committee held three meetings in person and two meetings by conference call 
in 2015. 

Nomination and corporate governance committee  

The nomination and corporate governance committee, which consists of Thomas Hecht 
(Chairman), Ulrich Grau and Richard B. Stead, assists our supervisory board in identifying 
individuals qualified to become members of our supervisory board and management board 
consistent with criteria established by our supervisory board and in developing our corporate 
governance principles. As permitted by the listing requirements of Nasdaq, we have opted out of 
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(e) which requires independent director oversight of director nominations. 

The nomination and corporate governance committee held four meetings in person and one 
meeting by conference call in 2015. 

IV. 

COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD AND SUPERVISORY 
BOARD 

Affimed's remuneration policy aims to attract, motivate and retain the best-qualified workforce. The 
objectives and structure of the remuneration policy for the management board is regularly reviewed 
and/or evaluated by the supervisory board. The current remuneration policy for the management 
board and supervisory board was adopted and approved by the general meeting of shareholders 
on 17 September 2014, prior to the consummation of our initial public offering. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

32 

Compensation of Managing Directors and Supervisory Directors 

Dutch law provides that we must establish a policy in respect of the remuneration of our managing 
directors and supervisory directors. With respect to remuneration in the form of plans for shares or 
rights to shares (such as the Equity Incentive Plan 2014 mentioned below) the policy for managing 
directors must set out the maximum number of shares or rights to shares to be granted as well as 
the criteria for grants and for amending existing grants. The remuneration policy for the managing 
directors provides the supervisory board with a framework within which the supervisory board 
determines the remuneration of the managing directors. 

Our remuneration policy for our managing directors provides the supervisory board with the 
authority to enter into management services agreements with managing directors that provide for 
compensation consisting of base compensation, performance-related variable compensation, long-
term equity incentive compensation (as detailed in the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan 2014 
described below), pension and other benefits and severance pay and benefits. The remuneration 
policy for the managing directors provides that the annual cash bonus payable to managing 
directors may not exceed 100% of the annual base gross salary and will be based upon the 
achievement of set financial and operating goals for the period. The bonus payments may be 
increased in any given year by the supervisory board upon a proposal of the compensation 
committee based on any exceptional achievements of that managing director. In addition, the 
remuneration policy for managing directors allows for cash termination payments, which may not 
exceed 100% of the managing director’s base salary. This policy also allows for additional 
compensation and benefits to our managing directors following a change of control. 

The remuneration policy for the supervisory board established the compensation for our 
supervisory directors. This policy provides for payments and initial and annual equity awards. This 
is permissible under Dutch law, but constitutes a deviation from best practice provisions III.7.1 of 
the DCGC.  

The remuneration policy for our supervisory directors provides that each supervisory director is 
entitled to an annual retainer of €20,000, provided that the chairman of the supervisory board is 
entitled to an annual retainer of €75,000. In addition, the chairman of the audit committee is entitled 
to an additional annual retainer of €15,000 and the chairmen of the compensation and nomination 
and corporate governance committees are each entitled to annual retainers of €7,500. Supervisory 
directors will also be paid €3,000 for each supervisory board meeting attended in person and 
€1,500 for each supervisory board meeting attended by telephone, provided the meeting attended 
by telephone exceeds 30 minutes. The members of each committee will be paid €1,500 for each 
committee meeting attended in person and €750 for each committee meeting attended by 
telephone, provided the meeting attended by telephone exceeds 30 minutes.  

In addition, under the remuneration policy for our supervisory directors we granted the chairman of 
the supervisory board on the date of the consummation of our initial public offering in September 
2014 an initial award of stock options to purchase 35,000 common shares and we will grant any 
future chairman of the supervisory board an initial award of stock options to purchase 35,000 
common shares on the date of their election as the chairman of the supervisory board. Further, 
under the remuneration policy we granted each other supervisory director on the date of the 
consummation of our initial public offering in September 2014 an initial award of stock options to 
purchase 20,000 common shares and we will grant each other supervisory director an initial award 
of stock options to purchase 20,000 common shares on the date of their election as a supervisory 
director. These initial stock options will vest over a three-year period in three equal instalments on 
the anniversaries of the grant date. In addition, the remuneration policy provides that each 
supervisory director is entitled to an annual grant of 10,000 stock options, with the chairman of the 
supervisory board entitled to an annual grant of 20,000 stock options. These annual awards will 
vest in four quarterly instalments and will be fully vested on the first anniversary of the grant date. 
Initial awards and annual awards will be granted automatically on the respective dates of issuance 
based on the approval by the shareholders of the remuneration policy and will not require any 
further approval by the supervisory board or the company. Supervisory directors are also entitled to 
be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the supervisory 
board and its committees. 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

33 

The aggregate cash compensation, including benefits in kind, accrued or paid to our managing 
directors and supervisory directors with respect to the year ended December 31, 2015, for services 
in all capacities was approximately €1.8 million. As of December 31, 2015, we have no amounts 
set aside or accrued to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits to our managing directors 
and supervisory directors. In 2015, awards for 545,000 stock options were granted to management 
and members of the supervisory board. Further details on the managing directors and supervisory 
directors individual remuneration are outlined in Note H to the Company only financial statements 
and Note 24 to the consolidated financial statements. 

Long-term incentive plans  

Equity Incentive Plan 2014 

In conjunction with the closing of our initial public offering (“IPO”), we established the Affimed N.V. 
Equity Incentive Plan 2014 (“the 2014 Plan”) with the purpose of advancing the interests of our 
shareholders by enhancing our ability to attract, retain and motivate individuals who are expected 
to make important contributions to us. The maximum number of shares available for issuance 
under the 2014 Plan equals 7% of the total outstanding common shares on September 17, 2014, or 
1,678,891 common shares. On January 1 of any calendar year thereafter, an additional 5% of the 
total outstanding common shares on that date becomes available for issuance under the 2014 
Plan. The absolute number of shares available for issuance under the 2014 Plan will increase 
automatically upon the issuance of additional shares by the Company. The option exercise price 
for options under the 2014 Plan is the fair market value of a share as defined in the 2014 Plan on 
the relevant grant date. We are following home country rules relating to the re-pricing of stock 
options. Under applicable Dutch law, re-pricing is permissible, but constitutes a deviation from the 
best practice provisions of the DCGC. As a result, if we engage in re-pricing of stock options, we 
would be required to provide an explanation in our annual report for why we do not comply with the 
best practice provisions. 

Plan administration. The 2014 Plan is administered by our compensation committee. Approval of 
the compensation committee is required for all grants of awards under the 2014 Plan. The 
compensation committee may delegate to the managing directors the authority to grant equity 
awards under the 2014 Plan to our employees. 

Eligibility. Managing directors, supervisory directors and other employees and consultants of the 
Company are eligible for awards under the 2014 Plan. 

Awards. Awards include options and restricted stock units. 

Vesting period. Subject to any additional vesting conditions that may be specified in an individual 
grant agreement, and the accelerated vesting conditions below, the plan provides for three year 
vesting of stock options. One-third of the stock options granted to participants in connection with 
the start of their employment vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, with the remainder 
vesting in equal tranches at the end of each 3-month period thereafter. Stock options granted to 
other participants vest in equal tranches at the end of each 3-month period after the grant date 
over the course of the vesting period. The compensation committee will establish a vesting 
schedule for awards granted to supervisory directors as well as for any awards in the form of 
restricted stock units. 

Accelerated vesting. Unless otherwise specified in an individual grant agreement, the 2014 Plan 
provides that upon a change of control of the Company (as defined in the 2014 Plan) all then 
outstanding equity awards will vest and become immediately exercisable. It also provides that upon 
a participant’s termination of service due to (i) retirement (or after reaching the statutory retirement 
age), (ii) permanent disability rendering the relevant participant incapable of continuing 
employment or (iii) death, all outstanding equity awards that would have vested during a 12 month 
period following such termination of service will vest and become immediately exercisable. 
Otherwise at termination all unvested awards will be forfeited. If a participant experiences a 
termination of service without “cause” or for “good reason” (in each case, as defined in the 2014 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

34 

Plan) within six months prior to a change of control, the Company will make a cash payment 
equivalent to the economic value that the participant would have realized in connection with the 
change of control upon the exercise and sale of the equity awards that such participant forfeited 
upon his or her termination of service. In connection with a change of control and subject to the 
approval of the supervisory board, the management board may amend the exercise provisions of 
the 2014 Plan. 

Stock Option Equity Incentive Plan 2007 

Under the Stock Option Equity Incentive Plan 2007 (the “2007 SOP”), we granted options that were 
exercisable for preferred shares. In conjunction with the corporate reorganization in connection 
with our initial public offering, all outstanding awards granted under the 2007 SOP were converted 
into awards exercisable for common shares of Affimed N.V., and no additional grants will be made 
under the 2007 SOP. All awards are fully vested and can be exercised by the beneficiaries. The 
2007 SOP is administered by the management board, or with respect to awards to our officers, by 
the supervisory board.   

Carve Out Agreements 

Our pre-IPO shareholders have entered into agreements with our managing directors and certain 
of our supervisory directors and consultants that grant the beneficiaries the right to receive 
common shares of the company. These agreements were satisfied or will be satisfied in the future 
through a transfer to the beneficiaries of in the aggregate 7.78% of the common shares owned by 
our pre-IPO shareholders, or the respective market value thereof in cash to the beneficiaries. 

Managing director and Supervisory director services agreements  

Our managing directors have entered into management services agreements with us which 
became effective upon the consummation of our initial public offering in September 2014 (for three 
managing directors) and the approval of the shareholder meeting in January 2016 (for one 
managing director). These agreements provide for benefits upon a termination of service. Prior to 
the closing of our IPO certain of our managing and supervisory directors have entered into 
consulting agreements with us. All such consulting agreements were terminated in the course of 
our IPO. 

The management services agreements are for a definite period of time, which period equals the 
term of office of the managing director. In addition, the management services agreements provide 
for a termination notice period of six months, both for us and for the managing director. In the event 
of an urgent cause, the management services agreements may be terminated with immediate 
effect.  

Each management services agreement provides for payment of severance upon pre-defined 
circumstances such as a termination by us without urgent cause or the existence of certain events 
posing the managing director to terminate the management services agreement for urgent cause 
(including, but not limited to, a reduction of the managing director's salary) for which the severance 
is 100% of the managing director's gross annual compensation.  

The management services agreements provide for a lump-sum payment following a change of 
control, subject to certain conditions. In the event of termination of the managing services 
agreements following a change of control, the aforementioned severance is increased to 150% of 
the managing director's gross annual compensation. In addition, the managing director receives an 
amount equal to the average variable compensation over the last two years.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

35 

The management services agreements contain post-termination restrictive covenants, including a 
post-termination non-competition covenant, which lasts until six months after the management 
services agreement has ended, and a non-solicitation covenant, which lasts until two years after 
the management services agreement has ended. 

Insurance and Indemnification 

Our managing directors and supervisory directors have the benefit of indemnification provisions in 
our articles of association. These provisions give managing directors and supervisory directors the 
right, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to recover from us amounts, including but not limited to 
litigation expenses, and any damages they are ordered to pay, in relation to acts or omissions in 
the performance of their duties. However, there is generally no entitlement to indemnification for 
acts or omissions that amount to willful (opzettelijk), intentionally reckless (bewust roekeloos) or 
seriously culpable (ernstig verwijtbaar) conduct. In addition, upon consummation of our initial public 
offering, we entered into agreements with our managing directors and supervisory directors to 
indemnify them against expenses and liabilities to the fullest extent permitted by law. These 
agreements also provide, subject to certain exceptions, for indemnification for related expenses 
including, among others, attorneys’ fees, judgments, penalties, fines and settlement amounts 
incurred by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding. In addition to such indemnification, 
we provide our managing directors and supervisory directors with directors’ and officers’ liability 
insurance. 

Insofar as indemnification of liabilities arising under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities 
Act”) may be permitted to supervisory directors, managing directors or persons controlling us 
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC such 
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore 
unenforceable. 

V. 

Related party transactions 

The following is a description of related party transactions Affimed or its direct subsidiary Affimed 
GmbH have entered into since January 1, 2015 with any of our members of our supervisory board 
or management board and the holders of more than 5% of our common shares. 

Agreements with Supervisory Directors 

We had a consulting agreement with Ulrich M. Grau, whose term as a supervisory director became 
effective as of July 1, 2015. Dr. Grau’s remuneration under the agreement consisted of service 
fees for business development, corporate strategy and the development of new products. In June 
2015, this consulting agreement was terminated and all associated rights and obligations ceased. 
Also, according to a service agreement with i-novion Inc., of which Dr. Grau serves as Chairman of 
the Board of Directors, i-novion Inc. conducted certain preclinical services for us. In 2015,  
i-novion Inc. received related payments of €138,000 (further details are given on page 30 of this 
report).  

Agreements with Amphivena 

In 2013, we entered into a license and development agreement, which amended and restated a 
2012 license agreement, with Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc., or Amphivena, based in San 
Francisco, to develop an undisclosed product candidate for hematologic malignancies in exchange 
for an interest in Amphivena and certain milestone payments. We have also assigned and licensed 
certain technology to Amphivena and provided it with funding.  

Registration rights agreement  

Following the consummation of our IPO, we entered into a registration rights agreement with 
certain of our existing shareholders pursuant to which we granted them the rights set forth below.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

36 

Demand registration rights. Certain of our shareholders that are party to the Registration Rights 
Agreement (the “RRA Shareholders”) are entitled to request that we effect up to an aggregate of 
four demand registrations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and no more than one 
demand registration within any six-month period, covering the RRA Shareholders’ common shares 
that are subject to transfer restrictions under Rule 144 (“registrable securities”). The demand 
registration rights are subject to certain customary conditions and limitations, including customary 
underwriter cutback rights and deferral rights. No demand registration rights exist while a shelf 
registration is in effect.  

Piggyback registration rights. If we propose to register any common shares (other than in a shelf 
registration or on a registration statement on Form F-4, S-4 or S-8), the RRA Shareholders are 
entitled to notice of such registration and to include their registrable securities in that registration. 
The registration of RRA Shareholders’ registrable securities pursuant to a piggyback registration 
does not relieve us of the obligation to effect a demand registration. The managing underwriter has 
the right to limit the number of registrable securities included in a piggyback registration if the 
managing underwriter believes it would interfere with the successful marketing of the common 
shares.  

Form F-3 registration rights. When we are eligible to use Form F-3, one or more RRA Shareholders 
have the right to request that we file a registration statement on Form F-3. RRA Shareholders will 
have the right to cause us to undertake underwritten offerings from the shelf registration, but no 
more than one underwritten offering in a six-month period. Each underwritten takedown constitutes 
a demand registration for purposes of the maximum number of demand registrations we are 
obligated to effectuate.  

Subject to limited exceptions, the Registration Rights Agreement provides that we must pay all 
registration expenses in connection with a demand, piggyback or shelf registration. The 
Registration Rights Agreement contains customary indemnification and contribution provisions. 

Indemnification Agreements  

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our managing directors and supervisory 
directors. The indemnification agreements and our articles of association require us to indemnify 
our managing directors and supervisory directors to the fullest extent permitted by law. 

VI. 

INTERNAL RISK MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL SYSTEMS 

Our managing board, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, after 
evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-
15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2015, have concluded that based on the 
evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, our 
disclosure controls and procedures were effective and the risk management and control systems 
worked properly in 2015. We conclude that these systems provide a reasonable assurance that the 
financial report does not contain any errors of material importance.  

The main elements of our internal control and risk management system in relation to the financial 
reporting process comprise the following: 

-  Clear assignment of responsibilities 
-  Segregation of duties and four eyes principle 
-  Appropriate financial accounting system including authorisation concepts 
-  Use of checklists when preparing quarterly and annual financial statements 
-  Use of guidelines and work procedures 

Our internal control system has been discussed with the supervisory board's audit committee and 
the external auditors on a regular basis. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

37 

A Disclosure Committee is in place, which advises the various officers and departments involved, 
including the CEO and the CFO, on the timely review, publication and filing of periodic and current 
(financial) reports. In addition to the certification by the CEO and the CFO under U.S. law, each 
individual member of the supervisory board and management board must under Dutch law, sign 
the consolidated and the company-only financial statements being disclosed and submitted to the 
General Meeting of Shareholders for adoption. 

A description of the risk factors and the risk management approach, as well as the sensitivity of the 
Company's results to external factors and variables are described in more detail in "Risk 
Management."    

VII. 

MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL 
REPORTING 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over 
financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the 
supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer 
and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control 
over financial reporting based upon criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework 
(2013) by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that 
evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was 
effective as of December 31, 2015.  

VIII. 

CODE OF CONDUCT  

We have adopted a Code of Conduct which covers a broad range of matters including the handling 
of conflicts of interest, compliance issues and other corporate policies such as insider trading and 
equal opportunity and non-discrimination standards. Our Code of Conduct applies to all of our 
supervisory directors, managing directors and employees. We have published our Code of Conduct 
on our website, www.affimed.com. 

IX. 

SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ RIGHTS 

General meeting of shareholders 

Affimed shareholders exercise their rights through annual and extraordinary general meetings of 
shareholders. We are required to convene an annual general meeting of shareholders in the 
Netherlands each year, no later than six months after the end of the Company’s financial year.  

Additional extraordinary general meetings of shareholders may be convened at any time by the 
supervisory board and the management board. Pursuant to Dutch law, one or more shareholders, 
who jointly represent at least 10% of the issued capital may, on their application, be authorized by 
a Dutch district court to convene a general meeting of shareholder.  

The agenda for the annual general meeting of shareholders must contain certain matters as 
specified in our articles of association and under Dutch law, including the adoption of our annual 
financial statements. Shareholders are entitled to propose items for the agenda of the general 
meeting of shareholders provided that they hold at least 3% of the issued share capital. Proposals 
for agenda items for the general meeting of shareholders must be submitted at least 60 days prior 
to the date of the meeting. The general meeting of shareholders is also entitled to vote on 
important decisions regarding Affimed’s identity or character, including major acquisitions and 
divestments. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

38 

In accordance with our articles of association, for each general meeting of shareholders, the 
management board may determine that a record date will be applied in order to establish which 
shareholders are entitled to attend and vote at the general meeting of shareholders. Such record 
date shall be the 28th day prior to the day of the general meeting. The record date and the manner 
in which shareholders can register and exercise their rights will be set out in the notice of the 
meeting.  

We encourage participation in Affimed’s general meetings of shareholders. All shareholders and 
others entitled to attend general meetings of shareholders are authorized to attend the general 
meeting of shareholders, to address the meeting and, in so far as they have such right, to vote. 

Voting rights 

In accordance with Dutch law and our articles of association, each issued common share and each 
issued cumulative preferred share confers the right to cast one vote at the general meeting of 
shareholders. Each holder of shares may cast as many votes as it holds shares. Shareholders may 
vote by proxy. No votes may be cast at a general meeting of shareholders on shares held by us or 
our subsidiaries or on shares for which we or our subsidiaries hold depositary receipts. 
Nonetheless, the holders of a right of use and enjoyment (vruchtgebruik) and the holders of a right 
of pledge in respect of shares held by us or our subsidiaries in our share capital are not excluded 
from the right to vote on such shares, if the right of use and enjoyment (vruchtgebruik) or the right 
of pledge was granted prior to the time such shares were acquired by us or any of our subsidiaries. 
Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries may cast votes in respect of a share on which we or such 
subsidiary holds a right of use and enjoyment (vruchtgebruik) or a right of pledge. Shares which 
are not entitled to voting rights pursuant to the preceding sentences will not be taken into account 
for the purpose of determining the number of shareholders that vote and that are present or 
represented, or the amount of the share capital that is provided or that is represented at a general 
meeting of shareholders.  

Decisions of the general meeting of shareholders are taken by an absolute majority of votes cast, 
except where Dutch law or the articles of association provide for a qualified majority or unanimity. 

In accordance with Dutch law and generally accepted business practices, our articles of 
association do not provide quorum requirements generally applicable to general meetings of 
shareholders. To this extent, our practice varies from the requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rule 
5620(c), which requires an issuer to provide in its bylaws for a generally applicable quorum, and 
that such quorum may not be less than one-third of the outstanding voting stock. 

Under our articles of association, our managing directors and supervisory directors are appointed 
by the general meeting of shareholders upon a binding nomination by our supervisory board. The 
general meeting of shareholders may overrule the binding nomination by a resolution adopted with 
a two-thirds majority of the votes cast representing at least half of the issued share capital. If the 
general meeting of shareholders overrules the binding nomination, the supervisory board shall 
make a new binding nomination.  

Issue of additional shares and pre-emptive rights 

Shares may be issued following a resolution by the general meeting of shareholders on a proposal 
of the management board made with the approval of the supervisory board. The general meeting of 
shareholders may resolve to delegate this authority to the management board for a period of time 
not exceeding five years. At the general meeting of shareholders held at September 12, 2014, our 
management board was granted the authority, with effect from September 17, 2014 being the date 
of our conversion into a Dutch public limited liability company prior to the consummation of our 
initial public offering, for a period of five years (i.e., until September 17, 2019) and subject to the 
approval of the supervisory board, to resolve to (i) issue common shares (either in the form of 
stock dividend or otherwise) and/or grant rights to subscribe common shares in the share capital of 
the Company, for a maximum of common shares that can be issued under the size of the 
authorised share capital of the Company as per the date of adoption of such resolution and (ii) 
issue cumulative preferred shares and/or grant rights to subscribe for cumulative preferred shares, 
to a maximum of cumulative preferred shares that can be issued under the size of the authorised 
share capital of the Company as per the date of adoption of such resolution. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

39 

Upon the issuance of new common shares, holders of Affimed’s common shares have a pre-
emptive right to subscribe to common shares in proportion to the total amount of their existing 
holdings of Affimed’s common shares. According to the Company’s articles of association, this pre-
emptive right does not apply to any issuance of shares to Affimed employees. 

The general meeting of shareholders may decide to restrict or exclude pre-emptive rights. The 
general meeting of shareholders may also resolve to designate the management board as the 
corporate body authorized to restrict or exclude pre-emptive rights for a period not exceeding five 
years. 

At the general meeting of shareholders held at September 12, 2014, with effect from September 
17, 2014 being the date of our conversion into a Dutch public limited liability company prior to the 
consummation our initial public offering, our management board was granted the authority, for a 
period of five years (i.e., until September 17, 2019) and subject to the approval of the supervisory 
board, to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights of holders of common shares upon the issuance 
of common shares and/or upon the granting of rights to subscribe for common shares. 

Repurchase by Affimed of its own shares 

Affimed may only acquire fully paid shares of any class in its capital for a consideration following 
authorization by the general meeting of shareholders and subject to certain provisions of Dutch law 
and the Company’s articles of association, if: (i) the Company’s shareholders’ equity less the 
payment required to make the acquisition does not fall below the sum of paid-up and called-up 
capital and any reserves required by Dutch law or its articles of association and (ii) the Company 
and its subsidiaries would not thereafter hold shares or hold a pledge over shares with an 
aggregate par value exceeding 50% of its then current issued share capital. 

At the general meeting of shareholders held at June 9, 2015, our management board was granted 
the authority, for a period of 18 months, with effect from the same date (i.e., until December 9, 
2016) and subject to the approval of the supervisory board, to cause the repurchase of common 
shares by us of up to 10% of our issued share capital, for a price per share not exceeding 110% of 
the most recent closing price of a common share on any stock exchange where the common 
shares are listed.  

No authorization of the general meeting of shareholders is required if common shares are acquired 
by us with the intention of transferring such common shares to our employees under an applicable 
employee stock purchase plan.  

Articles of Association 

Our articles of association outline certain of the Company’s basic principles relating to corporate 
governance and organization. The current text of the articles of association is available at the 
Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Amsterdam and on our public 
website at www.affimed.com. A resolution to amend the articles of association may only be 
adopted by the general meeting at the proposal of the management board with the prior approval 
of the supervisory board. A proposal to amend the articles of association whereby any change 
would be made in the rights which vest in the holders of shares of a specific class in their capacity 
as such, shall require the prior approval of the meeting of holders of the shares of that specific 
class. 

Auditor 

The general meeting of shareholders appoints the external auditor. The audit committee was 
closely involved in the evaluation of Affimed's external auditor and recommends to the supervisory 
board the external auditor to be proposed for (re)appointment by the general meeting of 
shareholders. In addition, the audit committee evaluates and, where appropriate, recommends the 
replacement of the external auditors. On June 9, 2015, the general meeting of shareholders 
appointed KPMG Accountants N.V. as external auditor for the Company for the financial year 2015. 

Anti-Takeover Provisions 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

40 

Dutch law permits us to adopt protective measures against takeovers. Although we have not 
adopted any specific takeover measures, our management board has been designated for a period 
of five years from September 17, 2014 (i.e., until September 17, 2019) to issue cumulative 
preferred shares and grant rights to subscribe for cumulative preferred shares, up to the amount of 
our authorized share capital. Our cumulative preferred shares are a separate class of equity 
securities that could be issued for defensive purposes. Such shares would typically have both a 
liquidation and dividend preference over our common stock and otherwise accrue cash dividends 
at a fixed rate. 

X. 

COMPLIANCE WITH DUTCH CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE 

As a Dutch company, the Company is subject to the DCGC and is required to disclose in this 
Annual Report, filed in the Netherlands, whether the Company complies with the provisions of the 
DCGC. If the Company does not comply with the provisions of the DCGC (for example, because of 
a conflicting Nasdaq requirement or otherwise), the Company must list the reasons for any 
deviation from the DCGC in this Annual Report. The Company's most substantial deviations from 
the DCGC are summarized below.  

Remuneration  

(cid:1)  The Company has granted and intends to grant options and restricted stock units in the future to 
members of its supervisory board, which qualifies as a deviation from best practice provision 
III.7.1 of the DCGC. Such remuneration is in accordance with the Nasdaq corporate governance 
requirements and market practice among companies listed at Nasdaq. The Company is in 
competition with other companies in this field and intends to maintain an attractive 
compensation package for its current and any future supervisory board members. The number 
of option rights granted to each supervisory board member is determined by the general 
meeting of shareholders. 

(cid:1)  The remuneration committee of the Supervisory Board has not prepared a remuneration report 
as referred to in best practise provision II.2.12 of the DCGC, which qualifies as a deviation from 
best practice provision III.5.10 of the DCGC. An overview of the implementation and planning of 
the remuneration of managing and supervisory directors is ample given in the Annual Report. 
The disclosures set out under Note 24 of the consolidated financial statements cover to a large 
extent these requirements. In addition the remuneration policy is described in more detail in the 
annual report (20-F) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2016 
(available on our website: http://www.affimed.com/sec). 

Re-pricing of stock options 

(cid:1)  The Company is following home country rules relating to the re-pricing of stock options under 
the 2014 Plan. Under applicable Dutch law, re-pricing of stock options is permissible, but 
constitutes a deviation from best practice provision II.2.7 of the DCGC where it concerns the 
stock options granted to the Company's managing directors and supervisory directors. The 
Company is in competition with other companies in this field and intends to maintain an 
attractive compensation package for its current and any future management and supervisory 
board. Therefore such a re-pricing possibility gives the Company more flexibility to react on high 
volatility of its shares and maintain issued stock options as a valuable incentive. The re-pricing 
is subject to the approval of the respective Committees as defined in the 2014 Plan. 

Board nominations and shareholder voting 

(cid:1)  Pursuant to our articles of association, the supervisory board will nominate one or more 
candidates for each vacant seat on the management board or the supervisory board. A 
resolution of the Company's general meeting of shareholders to appoint a member of the 
management board or the supervisory board other than pursuant to a nomination by the 
Company's supervisory board requires at least two-thirds of the votes cast representing more 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

41 

than half of the Company's issued share capital, which qualifies as a deviation from best 
practice provision IV.1.1 of the DCGC. Although a deviation from the provision IV.1.1 of the 
DCGC, the supervisory board and the management board hold the view that these provisions 
will enhance the continuity of Affimed’s management and policies.  

Independence 

(cid:1)  More than one of our current members of the supervisory board are not deemed independent 
based on the standards set out in the DCGC, which qualifies as a deviation from best practice 
provisions III.2.1 and III.2.2 of the DCGC. The Company will evaluate for any future composition 
of the supervisory board whether to comply again with these best practice provisions III.2.1 and 
III.2.2 of the DCGC. 

Chairman of the compensation committee 

(cid:1)  Thomas Hecht, chairman of our supervisory board, chairs the compensation committee, which 
qualifies as a deviation from best practice provision III.5.11 of the DCGC. Our compensation 
committee is subject to the independence requirements of Nasdaq. 

May 19, 2016 

On behalf of the Management Board,  

Dr. Adi Hoess, CEO, 

Dr. Florian Fischer, CFO  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

42 

Supervisory Board report 

The Supervisory Board is an independent corporate body responsible for supervising and advising the 
Management Board and overseeing the general course of affairs and strategy of the Company. The 
Supervisory Board is guided by the interests of the Company and the enterprise connected with the 
Company and will take into consideration the overall good of the enterprise and the relevant interests of all 
the Company's stakeholders. We report on the activities of the Supervisory Board in 2015. 

We had a number of highlights last year and earlier this year. Together with our collaboration partner, 
Stanford University, we presented pre-clinical data at ASCO and ASH on the synergistic effect of our lead 
candidate AFM13, a bispecific CD30/CD16A NK-cell-engaging TandAb, in combination with anti-PD-1 
CPIs indicating AFM13’s unique ability to trigger the body’s natural immune cascade. Based on this 
exciting and encouraging data, we were able to close a collaboration with Merck in the US, which we 
announced early 2016 to evaluate AFM13 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor 
KEYTRUDA® in HL. We are currently preparing a Phase 1b clinical trial designed to establish a dosing 
regimen for this combination therapy and assess its safety and efficacy in HL patients relapsed/refractory 
to chemotherapy including Adcetris™. Affimed is the sole sponsor and Merck will supply us with 
KEYTRUDA® for this study.  

Our wholly owned subsidiary, AbCheck, and Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals entered into a strategic 
research partnership in the field of human antibody discovery and optimization, expanding their ongoing 
collaboration. Together with its partner Distributed Bio, Inc., AbCheck developed a novel, potent 
technology enabling accelerated humanization of rabbit antibodies. 

We completed two major financings in 2015. In May, we successfully closed a follow-on offering on the 
Nasdaq Global Market, raising a total of about US $37.5 million (€33.5 million) in net proceeds and in 
October, we raised $21.8 million (€19.1 million) from Aeris Capital, a long-term existing shareholder. In 
addition we received a research grant of €2.4 million from the German Government to fund our trispecific 
platform. 

In June 2015 we formalized a Scientific Advisory Board comprising renowned scientists and physicians 
from a broad range of areas relevant to Affimed’s approach including immuno-oncology, NK-cells, 
lymphoma and leukemia. 

Over the course of 2015, we established operations in the United States and strengthened our new US 
presence with key hires in the areas of Investor Relations, Clinical Development and Corporate Strategy 
and Business Development. Early 2016, we also strengthened our management team through the 
addition of Dr. Joerg Windisch as Chief Operating Officer with his broad expertise in pharmaceutical 
regulatory affairs, quality control and project management and his proven track record in the development 
and manufacturing of marketed biologics. At the same time point, Dr. Bernhard Ehmer joined our 
Supervisory Board who is a seasoned expert in the industry with extensive international clinical 
development experience in biopharmaceuticals. 

Composition 

The Supervisory Board determines the number of its members, provided that the Supervisory Board shall 
always consist of at least three members. The composition of the Supervisory Board changed in 2015. Dr. 
Frank Mühlenbeck did not stand for re-election in the Annual General Meeting held on June 9, 2015 and 
Dr. Ulrich Grau was elected effective July 1, 2015. Furthermore Michael B. Sheffery left the Supervisory 
Board effective June 29, 2015 and was replaced by Dr. Bernhard Ehmer, who was elected in the 
extraordinary general meeting on January 21, 2016. Dr. Ehmer, who meets the NASDAQ independence 
requirements, joined the Audit Committee and became the new member in addition to Ferdinand 
Verdonck (Chairman) and Berndt Modig in the beginning of 2016. The Supervisory Board profile was not 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

43 

amended in 2015 and the Supervisory Board is of the opinion that its composition is currently in 
accordance with such profile.  

The following table lists the members of the Supervisory Board. See chapter II. “Managing Directors and 
Supervisory Directors” of the Corporate Governance Report of the Management for detailed biographies 
including details on their profession, principal positions and other positions. Thomas Hecht is the chairman 
of the Supervisory Board. The term of each member will terminate on the date of the annual general 
meeting of shareholders in the year indicated below. 

Name 
Bernhard Ehmer  
Ulrich Grau 
Thomas Hecht 
Berndt Modig 
Richard B. Stead 
Ferdinand Verdonck  September 9, 2014 

Initial appointment 
January 21, 2016 
July 1, 2015 
September 17, 2014 
September 17, 2014 
September 17, 2014 

Term 
2019 
2018 
2017 
2017 
2016 
2017 

Age  
61 
67 
65 
57 
63 
73 

Gender 
M 
M 
M 
M 
M 
M 

Nationality 
German 
German/US 
German 
Swedish/US 
US 
Belgian 

Meeting and activities 

The Supervisory Board held four meetings in person in 2015. The Management Board attended these 
meetings. During these meetings, the progress of the various projects, the main risks of the business, the 
financial situation and the strategic direction of the Company including structural changes thereto were 
discussed. 

In addition, the Supervisory Board discussed the Company’s internal control system with the audit 
committee and the external independent auditor. The Supervisory Board, on the advice of the audit 
committee, also discussed the result of the assessment of the structure and operation of the internal risk 
management and control systems as well as significant changes thereto including the need for an internal 
audit function. Based on the results of the review of the audit committee the Supervisory Board currently 
does not see a need for an internal audit function. 

The Supervisory Board reviewed the Company's annual financial statements, including non-financial 
information. The report of the external auditor to the annual financial statements is included in the annual 
accounts. The Supervisory Board agrees to the contents of the annual accounts and will recommend the 
adoption thereof by the annual general meeting of shareholders.  

The Supervisory Board meetings were all attended by the complete Supervisory Board. All Supervisory 
Board members made adequate time available to give sufficient attention to matters concerning Affimed. 
Each of the members was able to frequently attend Supervisory Board meetings. 

The members of the Supervisory Board have regular contact with the members of the Management Board 
outside of the scheduled meetings of the Supervisory Board. These informal consultations ensure that the 
Supervisory Board remains well-informed about the Company’s operations. 

The Supervisory Board is responsible for the quality of its own performance and it discusses, once a year 
on its own, without the members of the Management Board both its own performance and that of the 
individual members, as well as the performance of the Management Board and its individual members. In 
2015 the Supervisory Board conducted an evaluation through a self-assessment and was positive, overall, 
about the performance of its committees and the Management Board. Further the Supervisory Board was 
satisfied with the performance of the Supervisory Board and determined that it works well together, with all 
members fully contributing to discussions. Only very few areas of improvement were identified, in 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

44 

particular the Supervisory Board came to the conclusion, that a further increase in information flow 
between the meetings via additional BoD calls would be beneficial and also allow for additional time to 
discuss strategic matters. Such activities have been implemented. 

During the financial year 2015 one conflict of interest of a Supervisory Board member was reported. We 
refer to the chapter Conflict of Interest in the corporate governance report of the annual report for further 
information. 

Committees of the Supervisory Board 

The Supervisory Board has three permanent committees to which certain tasks are assigned. The 
committees report back on their activities to the Supervisory Board on a regular basis. The composition of 
each committee is detailed in the following table. 

Name 

audit committee 

compensation committee  nomination and corporate 

governance committee 

Bernhard Ehmer 
Ulrich Grau 
Thomas Hecht 
Berndt Modig 
Richard B. Stead 
Ferdinand Verdonck 

member  

member 

chairman 

member 
chairman 
member 

member 
chairman 

member  

Audit committee 

The audit committee assists the Supervisory Board in overseeing Affimed’s accounting and financial 
reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements. The audit committee meets at least four 
times per year and during the regular meetings at least once a year with our external independent auditor, 
without the Management Board being present. In 2015, the audit committee’s main areas of focus were 
review of quarterly financial statements, the Company’s system of internal controls and risk management, 
auditing approach and auditing timelines of quarterly and annual financial statements, discussion of 
meeting intervals.   

The financial statements of the company for 2015 as presented by the Management Board have been 
audited by KPMG as independent external auditors. KPMG attended the audit committee meeting in 
which the annual accounts and the auditor’s report were discussed. The Management Board and the audit 
committee report to the Supervisory Board annually on their dealings with the external auditor, including 
the auditor’s independence. The Supervisory Board takes these reports into account when deciding on the 
nomination for the appointment of an external auditor that is submitted to the general meeting of 
shareholders.  

The audit committee held five meetings in person and seven meetings by conference call in 2015.  

Nomination and corporate governance committee  

The nomination and corporate governance committee assists the Supervisory Board in identifying 
individuals qualified to become members of the Supervisory Board and Management Board consistent 
with criteria established by the Supervisory Board and in developing our corporate governance principles. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

45 

In 2015, the committee’s main areas of focus were to identify the profile of new supervisory directors, 
discussions regarding the profile of a Chief Operating Officer and the selection of suitable candidates for 
the vacant position in the Supervisory Board and the new position of the Chief Operating Officer. 

The Nomination and corporate governance committee held four meetings in person and one meeting by 
conference call in 2015. 

Compensation committee  

The compensation committee assists the Supervisory Board in determining Management and Supervisory 
Board compensation. The main responsibilities of the compensation committee are preparing proposals 
for the Supervisory Board on the remuneration policy for the Management Board, to be adopted by the 
general meeting of shareholders, and preparing proposals on the remuneration of individual members of 
the Management Board. In 2015, the compensation committee’s main areas of focus were to discuss 
Management compensation matters and especially to review the achievement by the Management Board 
of the performance criteria for 2015. For more information on the remuneration policy, see Compensation 
of Managing Directors and Supervisory Directors in the Corporate Governance section in the 
management report. 

The compensation committee held three meetings in person and two meetings by conference call in 2015.  

Remuneration of the Supervisory Board  

The compensation of Supervisory Board members consists of a fixed annual fee in cash and an additional 
meeting fee for any Supervisory Board meeting or committee meeting. Members of the Supervisory Board 
are entitled to annual grants under our share-based compensation plans. Remuneration is subject to an 
annual review by the Supervisory Board. 

The remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board complies with almost all aspects of the provision 
of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code. The exceptions are where it conforms more closely to 
customary practice in the biotechnology industry worldwide, in particular in the United States. These 
exemptions and further details on the remuneration of the Supervisory Board are disclosed in the 
Corporate Governance section in the management report. 

Independence of the Supervisory Board 

The Supervisory Board is a separate corporate body that is independent of the Management Board of the 
Company. Members of the Supervisory Board can neither be a member of the Management Board nor an 
employee of Affimed. Three of our Supervisory Board members, Dr. Thomas Hecht, Dr. Ulrich Grau and 
Dr. Richard Stead, do not meet the independence requirements according to the Dutch Corporate 
Governance Code (see also the Corporate Governance section in the management report in which 
deviations from the Dutch Corporate Governance Code are disclosed).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

46 

Appreciation 

The Supervisory Board is of the opinion that during the year 2015, its composition, mix and depth of 
available expertise, working processes, level and frequency of engagement in all critical Company 
activities, and access to all necessary and relevant information and the Company’s management and staff 
were satisfactory and enabled it to carry out its duties towards all the Company’s stakeholders. 

The members of the Supervisory Board would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to the 
Management Board and employees of Affimed for their efforts and performance in 2015. In particular, the 
Supervisory Board would very much like to thank our shareholders for their continued support.  

May 19, 2016 

On behalf of the Supervisory Board,  

Dr. Thomas Hecht,  

Chairman of the Supervisory Board  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

47 

Consolidated Financial Statements 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Consolidated statement of financial position 

Consolidated statement of cash flows 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

52 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

1. 

Reporting entity 

Affimed N.V. (in the following Affimed or Company) is a Dutch company with limited liability (naamloze 
vennootschap) and has its corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Company was founded 
as  Affimed  Therapeutics  B.V.  on  May 14,  2014  as  private  company  with  limited  liability  (besloten 
vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) for a purpose of a corporate reorganization of Affimed 
Therapeutics AG and converted its legal form under Dutch law to a public company with limited liability 
for an initial public offering of its common shares.  

The  consolidated  financial  statements  of  Affimed  as  of  and  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2015 
comprise the Company and its wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries Affimed GmbH, Heidelberg, 
Germany (former Affimed Therapeutics AG), AbCheck s.r.o., Plzen, Czech Republic and Affimed Inc., 
Delaware,  USA.  Financial  information  presented  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  for  periods 
prior  to  the  consummation  of  the  corporate  reorganization  on  September  17,  2014  is  that  of  Affimed 
GmbH and its subsidiary AbCheck s.r.o. Affimed N.V. had not conducted any operations and had not 
held  any  assets  or  liabilities,  including  contingent  liabilities,  prior  to  the  reorganization.  Affimed  Inc. 
was formed in February 2015 and provides internal services for the Group. 

Affimed  is  a  clinical-stage  biopharmaceutical  group  focused  on  discovering  and  developing  targeted 
cancer  immunotherapies.  The  Company’s  product  candidates  are  developed  in  the  field  of  immuno-
oncology,  which  represents  an  innovative  approach  to  cancer  research  that  seeks  to  harness  the 
body’s own immune system to fight tumor cells. Affimed has own research and development programs 
and collaborations, where the Company is performing research services for third parties. 

2. 

Corporate Reorganization as of September 17, 2014 

At  the  initial  step  of  the  corporate  reorganization,  the  shareholders  of  Affimed  Therapeutics  AG 
subscribed  for  15,984,168  common  shares  in  Affimed  Therapeutics  B.V  and  agreed  to  transfer  their 
common shares and their preferred shares in Affimed Therapeutics AG to Affimed Therapeutics B.V in 
consideration  therefore.  Simultaneously,  the  share  in  Affimed  Therapeutics  B.V.  held  by  Stichting 
Affimed  Therapeutics  was  cancelled,  and  as  a  result,  Affimed  Therapeutics  AG  became  a  wholly 
owned  subsidiary  of  Affimed  Therapeutics  B.V.  The  legal  form  of  Affimed  Therapeutics  B.V.  was 
converted from a Dutch private company  with limited liability to a Dutch  public Company  with limited 
liability, which resulted in a name change into Affimed N.V. 

In  conjunction  with  the  corporate  reorganization,  the  outstanding  awards  granted  under  the  Stock 
Option Equity Incentive Plan 2007 (ESOP 2007) as well as under the carve-out plan, were converted 
into  awards  exercisable  for  common  shares  of  Affimed  N.V.  The  carve-out  plan  granted  the  right  to 
receive  a  cash  payment  equal  to  a  certain  percentage  of  the  fair  value  of  Affimed  Therapeutics  AG 
upon the occurrence of a defined exit event. 

The  securities  of  Affimed  Therapeutics  AG  were  exchanged  for  common  shares  of  Affimed  B.V. 
according to the following ratios:  

(i) 

(ii) 

Common shares and Series D preferred shares on an one-to 7.54 ratio except for shares 
held by a less than 5% shareholder, which were exchanged on a one- to 15.46 basis; 
Series E preferred shares on a one-to-13.70 basis; 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

53 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

(iii) 

ESOP 2007 awards into awards exercisable for common shares of Affimed N.V. on a one-
to 7.54 basis. 

The  carve-out  plan  provided  for  a  transfer  to  the  grantees  of  7.78%  of  the  common  shares  of  the 
Company  owned  by  the  pre-IPO  shareholders  of  the  Company  at  the  expiration  of  the  lock  up 
agreements entered into in connection with the IPO. As a result of the consummation of the corporate 
reorganization, the Company is no longer obliged to  deliver cash or common shares to the grantees 
under the carve-out plan. 

The conversion of preferred shares in Affimed Therapeutics AG that had been classified as liability into 
common shares of Affimed N.V. resulted in a gain of €4,835 recognized as finance income.

3. 

Basis of preparation – consolidated financial statements 

Statement of compliance 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting  Standards  as  issued  by  the  International  Accounting  Standards  Board  as  adopted  in  the 
European Union (EU-IFRSs) and with Section 2:362(9) of Netherlands Civil Code. 

With  reference  to  the  income  statement  of  the  Company,  use  has  been  made  of  the  exemption 
pursuant to Section 402 of Book 2 of the Netherlands Civil Code. 

The  consolidated  financial  statements  were  authorized  for  issuance  by  the  management  board  and 
supervisory board on May 19, 2016. 

Basis of measurement 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis. The Group did 
not opt for a valuation of liabilities at fair value through profit or loss. 

Consolidation 

The  Company  controls  an  entity  when  the  Company  has  power  over  the  investee,  is  exposed  to,  or 
has  rights  to,  variable  returns  from  its  involvement  with  the  entity  and  has  the  ability  to  affect  those 
returns through its power over the entity. A subsidiary is consolidated from the date on which control is 
transferred to the Company. It is de-consolidated from the date control ceases. 

Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between group companies 
are eliminated. 

Functional and presentation currency 

These  consolidated  financial  statements  are  presented  in  euro,  which  is  also  the  subsidiaries’ 
functional  currency.  All  financial  information  presented  in  euro  has  been  rounded  to  the  nearest 
thousand (abbreviated €) or million (abbreviated € million). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

54 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

Presentation of consolidated statement of comprehensive loss 

The line items include revenue, research and development expenses and general and administrative 
expenses. Cost of sales and gross profit are not meaningful measures for Affimed as a clinical-stage 
biopharmaceutical  company  with  a  focus  on  research  and  development  activities.  All  expenses  with 
regards  to  own  research  and  development  and  collaboration  and  research  service  agreements  are 
presented in research and development expenses. 

4. 

Significant accounting policies 

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these 
consolidated financial statements. 

Current and non-current distinction 

Affimed  presents  current  and  non-current  assets  and  current  and  non-current  liabilities  as  separate 
classifications  in  the  statement  of  financial  position.  Affimed  classifies  all  amounts  expected  to  be 
recovered or settled within twelve months after the reporting period as current and all other amounts 
as non-current. 

Foreign currency transactions 

Transactions  in  foreign  currencies  are  translated  to  euro  at  exchange  rates  at  the  date  of  the 
transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are 
translated to euro at the exchange rate at the reporting date. 

The foreign currency  gain or loss on monetary  items is the difference between  amortized cost in the 
functional currency at the beginning of the period, adjusted for effective interest and payments during 
the period, and the amortized cost in foreign currency translated at the exchange rate at the end of the 
reporting period. 

Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated 
using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. 

Foreign  exchange  gains  or  losses  that  relate  to  borrowings  and  cash  and  cash  equivalents  are 
presented in the statement of comprehensive loss within  ‘finance income/costs net’. All  other foreign 
exchange  gains  and  losses  are  presented  in  the  statement  of  comprehensive  loss  within  ‘Other 
income/expenses – net’. 

Notes to the cash flow statement 

The cash flow statement has been prepared using the indirect method for cash flows from operating 
activities. The cash disclosed in the cash flow statement is comprised of cash and cash equivalents. 
Cash comprises cash on hand and demand deposits. Cash equivalents are short-term bank deposits 
and are not subject to a significant risk of changes in value. Interest paid and received is included in 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

55 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

the cash flow from operating activities. 

Revenue recognition 

The Group licenses its intellectual property to third parties that use the intellectual property to develop 
product  candidates  and  provides  related  research  and  development  services  to  those  parties  or 
provides research services based on intellectual property provided by the customer for those services. 
The research services are performed on a “best efforts” basis without a guarantee of technological or 
commercial success.  

Collaboration  and  license  agreements  are  evaluated  to  determine  whether  they  involve  multiple 
elements that can be considered separate units of accounting. To date, the Group has not licensed or 
sold  its  intellectual  property  without  continuing  involvement  by  providing  the  related  research  and 
development  services.  Accordingly,  the  deliverables  under  the  Group’s  collaboration  and  license 
agreements have not qualified as separate units of accounting. 

Revenue from collaborative or other research service agreements is recognized according to the stage 
of completion. 

Non-refundable upfront licensing fees, research funding or technology access fees that have generally 
no stand-alone value to the customer and require continuing involvement in the form of research and 
development  services  or  other  efforts  by  the  Group  are  recognized  as  revenue  over  the  term  of  the 
service agreement which is the period of performance. 

Milestone  payments  are  contingent  upon  the  achievement  of  contractually  stipulated  targets.  The 
achievement  of  these  milestones  depends  largely  on  meeting  specific  requirements  laid  out  in  the 
collaboration  and  license  agreements.  Consideration  that  is  contingent  upon  achievement  of  a 
milestone is recognized in its entirety as revenue in the period in which the milestone is achieved, but 
only  if  the  consideration  earned  from  the  achievement  of  a  milestone  meets  all  the  criteria  for  the 
milestone  to  be  considered  substantive  at  the  inception  of  the  agreement.  For  a  milestone  to  be 
the  milestone  must  (i)  be 
considered  substantive, 
commensurate  with  either  the  Group's  performance  to  achieve  the  milestone  or  the  enhancement  of 
the  value  of  the  item  delivered  as  a  result  of  a  specific  outcome  resulting  from  the  Group's 
performance  to  achieve  the  milestone,  (ii)  relate  solely  to  past  performance,  and  (iii)  be  reasonable 
relative to all deliverables and payment terms in the collaboration agreement. 

the  consideration  earned  by  achieving 

Research and development 

Research  expenses  are  recognized  as  expenses  when  incurred.  Costs  incurred  on  development 
projects are recognized as intangible assets as of the date as of which it can be established that it is 
probable  that  future  economic  benefits  attributable  to  the  asset  will  flow  to  the  Group  considering  its 
technological  and  commercial  feasibility.  Given  the  current  stage  of  the  development  of  the  Group’s 
products,  no  development  expenditures  have  yet  been  capitalized.  Intellectual  property-related  costs 
for  patents  are  part  of  the  expenditure  for  the  research  and  development  projects.  Therefore, 
registration costs for patents are expensed  when  incurred as long  as the research and  development 
project concerned does not meet the criteria for capitalization. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

56 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

As  part  of  the  process  of  preparing  the  consolidated  financial  statements  Affimed  is  required  to 
estimate  its  accrued  expenses. This  process  involves  reviewing  quotations  and  contracts,  identifying 
services  that  have  been  performed  on  its  behalf,  estimating  the  level  of  service  performed  and  the 
associated cost incurred for the service when Affimed has not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified 
of the actual cost. The majority  of Affimed’s service providers invoice monthly  in arrears for services 
performed or when contractual milestones are met. Affimed makes estimates of its accrued expenses 
as  of  each  balance  sheet  date  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  based  on  facts  and 
circumstances known to it at that time. Affimed periodically confirms the accuracy of its estimates with 
the service providers and makes adjustments if necessary. 

Employee benefits 

(i) 

Short-term employee benefits 

Short-term employee benefit obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis and are expensed as 
the related service is provided. 

A  liability  is  recognized  for  the  amount  expected  to  be  paid  under  a  short-term  cash  bonus,  if  the 
Group  has  a  present  legal  or  constructive  obligation  to  pay  this  amount  as  a  result  of  past  service 
provided by the employee, and the obligation can be estimated reliably. 

(ii) 

Share-based payment transactions 

The  Company’s  share-based  payment  awards  outstanding  as  of  December  31,  2014  and  2015  are 
classified  as  equity-settled  share-based  payment  plans.  Fair  value  of  share-based  equity-settled 
compensation plans is measured at grant date and compensation cost is recognized over the vesting 
period with a corresponding increase in equity. Fair value is estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton 
formula. The formula determines the value of an option based on input parameters like the value of the 
underlying instrument, the exercise price, the expected volatility of share price returns, dividends, the 
risk-free interest rate and the time to maturity of the option. The number of stock options expected to 
vest is estimated at each measurement date. 

Prior to the corporate reorganization, all share-based payment awards were classified as cash-settled 
awards.  They  were  measured  based  on  the  services  received  and  the  fair  value  of  the  liability.  Until 
the cash-settled awards were converted into equity-settled awards in the corporate reorganization (see 
note 2), the related liability was re-measured at fair value up to the modification date with any changes 
in fair value recognized in comprehensive loss for the period. 

Government grants 

The  Group  receives  certain  government  grants  that  support  its  research  effort  in  defined  projects. 
These  grants  generally  provide  for  reimbursement  of  approved  costs  incurred  as  defined  in  the 
respective  grants.  Income  in  respect  of  grants  also  includes  contributions  towards  the  costs  of 
research  and  development.  Income  is  recognized  when  costs  under  each  grant  are  incurred  in 
accordance  with  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  grant  and  the  collectability  of  the  receivable  is 
reasonably assured. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

57 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

Government  grants  relating  to  costs  are  deferred  and  recognized  in  the  income  statement  over  the 
period  necessary  to  match  them  with  the  costs  they  are  intended  to  compensate. When  the  cash  in 
relation to recognized government grants is not yet received the amount is included as a receivable on 
the statement of financial position. 

The  Group  recognizes  income  from  government  grants  under  ‘Other  income’  in  the  consolidated 
statement of comprehensive loss. 

Lease payments 

Payments  made  under  operating  leases  are  recognized  in  profit  or  loss  on  a  straight-line  basis  over 
the term of the lease. 

Finance income and finance costs 

Finance  income  comprises  interest  income  from  interest  bearing  bank  deposits.  Interest  income  is 
recognized as it accrues in profit or loss, using the effective interest method. 

Finance  costs  comprise  interest  expense  on  borrowings  and  fair  value  adjustments  of  embedded 
derivative  conversion  features.  Borrowing  costs  are  recognized  in  profit  or  loss  using  the  effective 
interest method. 

Intangible assets 

Intangible assets comprise mainly purchased technology licenses and software. Intangible assets are 
initially measured at acquisition cost, including any directly attributable costs of preparing the asset for 
its intended use less accumulated amortization. Amortization begins when an asset is available for use 
and amortization is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their cost over their estimated 
useful lives, as follows: 

(cid:1) 
(cid:1) 

Technology licenses: 3-14 years 

Software: 3 years 

The Group only owns intangible assets with a definite useful life. 

The useful lives of intangible assets are reviewed at each reporting date. The effect of any adjustment 
to useful lives is recognized prospectively as a change of accounting estimate. 

(cid:0)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:2)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8) (cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:13)(cid:6)(cid:14)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:16)(cid:4) (cid:3)(cid:15)(cid:8) (cid:2)(cid:17)(cid:18)(cid:10)(cid:12)(cid:11)(cid:2)(cid:15)(cid:16)

Leasehold  improvements  and  equipment  comprise  mainly  leasehold  improvements,  laboratory 
equipment  and  other  office  equipment.  Leasehold  improvements  and  equipment  are  stated  at 
historical  cost  less  accumulated  depreciation.  Historical  cost  includes  expenditure  that  is  directly 
attributable to the acquisition of the items. 

All repairs and maintenance are charged to profit or loss during the financial period in which they are 
incurred, because it does not constitute a separate asset. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

58 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

Depreciation on leasehold improvements and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method to 
allocate their cost over their estimated useful lives, as follows: 

• 
• 

Leasehold improvements: 8-10 years 
Equipment: 3-14 years 

Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the expected lease term for the buildings 
the assets relate to or the estimated useful life. 

The  assets’  residual  values  and  useful  lives  are  reviewed,  and  adjusted  if  appropriate,  at  the  end  of 
each reporting period. 

Gains  and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds  with the carrying amount 
and are recognized within other income - net in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss. 

Inventories 

Inventories  are  measured  at  the  lower  of  cost  or  net  realizable  value  and  comprise  chemical 
substances  and  other  consumables  used  for  research  and  development.  The  cost  of  inventories  is 
based  on  the  average  cost-principle  and  includes  expenditure  incurred  in  acquiring  the  inventories, 
import duties, as well as transport and other costs directly attributable to the purchase. 

Financial instruments 

A financial  instrument is any contract that  gives rise  to a financial  asset of one  entity and a financial 
liability or equity instrument of another entity. 

(iii)  Non-derivative financial assets 

The Group’s only class of non-derivative financial assets is trade and other receivables and cash and 
cash equivalents. 

Receivables  are  non-derivative  financial  assets  with  fixed  or  determinable  payments  that  are  not 
quoted  in  an  active  market.  They  are  included  in  current  assets  and  measured  as  loans  and 
receivables (see note 16). Loans and receivables are subsequently carried at amortized cost using the 
effective interest method. 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits with original maturities of three 
months or less. 

(iv)  Non-derivative financial liabilities 

The Group’s classes of financial liabilities are borrowings, trade  and  other payables and, prior to the 
corporate reorganization, convertible loans and preferred shares. The Group initially recognizes non-
derivative financial liabilities on the date that they are originated and measures them at amortized cost 
using  the  effective  interest  rate  method.  The  Group  derecognizes  a  financial  liability  when  its 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

59 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

contractual obligations are discharged, cancelled or expire. 

(v)  Compound financial instruments 

The  Company  entered  into  the  Perceptive  loan  agreement  pursuant  to  which  it  issued  warrants  to 
purchase  common shares of  the  Company  at  the  option  of  the  holder  (see  note  20).  The  number  of 
shares to be issued does not vary with changes in their fair value. 

The liability component of the Perceptive loan agreement was recognized initially at the fair value of a 
similar  liability  that  did  not  have  a  warrant.  The  equity  component  was  recognized  initially  at  the 
difference between the fair value of the compound financial instrument as a whole and the fair value of 
the  liability  component.  Subsequent  to  initial  recognition,  the  liability  component  is  measured  at 
amortized  cost  using  the  effective  interest  method.  The  equity  component  is  not  re-measured 
subsequent to initial recognition except on conversion or expiry. 

(vi)  Embedded derivatives 

Embedded  derivatives  are  separated  from  the  host  contract  and  accounted  for  as  a  derivative  if  the 
economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative are not closely related to the economic 
characteristics  and  risks  of  the  host  contract.  Prior  to  the  corporate  reorganization,  the  conversion 
features into Series D preferred shares included in the convertible loan issued in 2012 and into Series 
D  or  the  highest  class  of  preferred  shares  included  in  the  convertible  loan  issued  in  2013  were 
embedded  derivatives.  The  Group  measured  the  fair  value  of  the  embedded  derivative  on  initial 
recognition as the difference between the fair value of the hybrid instrument and the fair value of the 
host  contract  -  the  loan.  The  initial  recognition  amount  of  the  host  contract  was  calculated  as  the 
difference between the issuance price and the fair value of the embedded derivative. The fair value of 
the  host  contract  was  derived  from  quoted  third  party  offers  for  similar  loans  without  a  conversion 
feature.  Subsequently,  the  embedded  derivatives  were  measured  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss 
with reference to the fair value of Series D preferred shares (see note 11). 

Offsetting 

Financial assets and liabilities are reported at their net amount in the statement of financial position if 
there  is  a  legally  enforceable  right  of  setoff  and  there  is  an  intention  to  settle  by  setoff.  The  legally 
enforceable  right  must  not  be  contingent  on  future  events  and  must  be  enforceable  in  the  normal 
course  of  business  and  in  the  event  of  default,  insolvency  or  bankruptcy  of  the  company  or  the 
counterparty. 

Impairment 

(vii)  Trade and other receivables 

Trade  and  other  receivables  are  assessed  at  each  reporting  date  to  determine  whether  there  is 
objective  evidence  that  they  are  impaired.  Trade  or  other  receivables  are  impaired  if  objective 
evidence indicates that a loss event has occurred after the initial recognition of the receivable, and that 
the loss event had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of that receivable that can be 
estimated  reliably.  A  loss  event  is  the  inability  of  a  debtor  to  pay  because  of  its  bankruptcy.  All 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

60 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

receivables are assessed for specific impairment. Losses are recognized in profit or loss and reflected 
in  an  allowance  account  against  receivables.  When  a  subsequent  event  causes  the  amount  of 
impairment  loss  to  decrease,  the  decrease  in  impairment  loss  is  reversed  through  profit  or  loss.  No 
impairments or reversals of impairments were recognized in 2013, 2014 or 2015. 

(viii)  Non-financial assets 

Assets that are subject to depreciation / amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or 
changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is 
recognized as the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The 
recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. Non- 
financial assets that were previously impaired are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at 
each reporting date. 

Income taxes 

Income taxes comprise current and deferred tax. Current tax and deferred tax are recognized in profit 
or  loss  except  to  the  extent  that  it  relates  to  items  recognized  directly  in  equity  or  in  other 
comprehensive loss. 

Current tax is the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the year, using 
tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in 
respect of previous years. 

Deferred tax is recognized in respect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets 
and  liabilities  for  financial  reporting  purposes  and  the  amounts  used  for  taxation  purposes.  Deferred 
tax is not recognized for temporary differences associated with assets and liabilities if the transaction 
which led to their initial recognition is a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects 
neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. 

Deferred  tax  is  measured  at  the  tax  rates  that  are  expected  to  be  applied  to  temporary  differences 
when  they  reverse,  based  on  the  laws  that  have  been  enacted  or  substantively  enacted  by  the 
reporting date. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented net if there is a legally enforceable right to offset. 

A  deferred  tax  asset  is  recognized  for  unused  tax  losses,  tax  credits  and  deductible  temporary 
differences,  to  the  extent  that  it  is  probable  that  future  taxable  profits  will  be  available  against  which 
they can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the 
extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized. 

Fair Value Measurement 

All assets and liabilities for which fair value is recognized in the consolidated financial statements are 
organized  in  accordance  with  the  following  fair  value  hierarchy,  based  on  the  lowest  level  input 
parameter that is significant on the whole for fair value measurement: 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

61 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

• 
• 

• 

Level 1 – Prices for identical assets or liabilities quoted in active markets (non-adjusted) 
Level 2 – Measurement procedures, in which the lowest level input parameter significant on the 
whole for fair value measurement is directly or indirectly observable for on the market 
Level 3 – Measurement procedures, in which the lowest level input parameter significant on the 
whole for fair value measurement is not directly or indirectly observable for on the market 

The carrying amount of all trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents and trade and other 
payables  is  a  reasonable  approximation  of  the  fair  value  and  therefore  information  about  the  fair 
values of those financial instruments has not been disclosed. The note disclosure for the fair value of a 
loan (financial liability) is based on level 2 measurement procedures (see note 20). 

Loss per share 

Affimed presents loss per share data for its common shares. Loss per common share is calculated by 
dividing the loss of the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during 
the  period,  adjusted  for  the  stock  split  in  2014  (see  note  18).  The  Company  has  granted  warrants 
under  the  Perceptive  loan  agreement  (see  note  20)  and  options  to  share-based  payment  programs 
(see note 19) which potentially have a dilutive effect. As of December 31, 2015, December 31, 2014 
and December 31, 2013 no instruments actually had a dilutive effect. 

Critical judgments and accounting estimates 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management 
to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and 
the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these 
estimates. 

Estimates  and  underlying  assumptions  are  reviewed  on  an  ongoing  basis.  Revisions  to  accounting 
estimates  are  recognized  in  the  period  in  which  the  estimates  are  revised  and  in  any  future  periods 
affected. 

In  preparing  these  financial  statements,  the  critical  judgments made  by  management  in  applying  the 
Group's accounting policies resulted in the following accounting estimates: 

(i) 

Share-based payments 

The  fair  value  of  stock  options  issued  by  Affimed  N.V.  is  estimated  using  the  Black-Scholes-Merton 
formula. The formula determines the value of an option based on input parameters like the value of the 
underlying instrument, the exercise price, the expected volatility of share price returns, dividends, the 
risk-free  interest  rate  and  the  time  to  maturity  of  the  option.  The  fair  value  of  share-based  equity-
settled compensation plans is measured at grant date and compensation cost is recognized over the 
vesting period with a corresponding increase in equity. The number of stock options expected to vest 
is estimated at each measurement date. 

(ii) 

Revenue recognition  

Elements  of  consideration  in  collaboration  and  license  agreements  are  non-refundable  up-front 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

62 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

research  funding  payments,  technology  access  fees  and  milestone  payments.  Generally,  the  Group 
has continuing performance obligations and therefore up-front payments are deferred and the related 
revenues recognized in the period of the expected performance. Technology access fees are generally 
deferred and recognized over the expected term of the research service agreement on a straight line 
basis. 

The  Group  estimates  that  the  achievement  of  a  milestone  reflects  a  stage  of  completion  under  the 
terms  of  the  agreements  and  recognizes  revenue  when  a  milestone  is  achieved.  If  the  research 
service is cancelled due to technical failure, the remaining deferred revenues from upfront payments 
are recognized. 

New standards and interpretations applied for the first time 

A number of amendments to standards  and new  or amended interpretations  are effective for annual 
periods beginning on or before January 1, 2015, and  have  been applied  in preparing these financial 
statements. 

Standard/interpretation 

Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2010-2012 Cycle 
Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2011-2013 Cycle 

Effective Date 1 

February 1, 2015 
January 1, 2015 

1 Shall apply for periods beginning on or after the effective date. 

None  of  these  amendments  to  standards  and  new  or  amended  interpretations  had  an  effect  on  the 
consolidated financial statements of the Group. 

New standards and interpretations not yet adopted 

The following standards, amendments to standards and interpretations are effective for annual periods 
beginning  after  December  31,  2015,  and  have  not  been  applied  in  preparing  these  consolidated 
financial statements. 

Standard/interpretation 

Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2012-2014 Cycle 
Amendments to IAS 16, 38 Clarification of acceptable methods 
of depreciation and amortization 
Amendments to IAS 1 Disclosure Initiative 
Amendments to IAS 7 Disclosure Initiative 
Amendments to IFRS 10, 12 and IAS 28 Investment Entities 
Amendment to IFRS 11 Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in  
Joint Operations 
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers 
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2014) 
IFRS 16 Leases 

Effective Date 1 

January 1, 2016 

January 1, 2016 
January 1, 2016 
January 1, 2017 
January 1, 2016 

January 1, 2016 
January 1, 2018 
January 1, 2018 
January 1, 2019 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

63 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

1 Shall apply for periods beginning on or after the effective date. 

The  Group  is  assessing  the  potential  impact  that  IFRS  9,  15  or  16  could  have  on  its  consolidated 
financial  statements.    The  other  new  or  amended  standards  and  interpretations  are  not  expected  to 
have a significant effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Group.  

5. 

Segment reporting 

(i) 

Information about reportable segment 

The Group is active in the discovery, pre-clinical and clinical development of antibodies based on core 
technology.  The  activities  are  either  conducted  as  own  project  development  or  for  third  party 
companies. Management of resources and reporting to the decision maker is based on the Group as a 
whole. 

(ii) 

Geographic information 

The  geographic  information  below  analyses  the  Group’s  revenue  and  non-current  assets  by  the 
country of domicile and other countries. In presenting the following information, segment revenue has 
been  based  on  the  geographic  location  of  the  customers  and  segment  assets  were  based  on  the 
geographic location of the assets.  

Discovery activities and research services are conducted in both the Heidelberg and Plzen premises. 
Pre-clinical and clinical activities are conducted and coordinated from Heidelberg. 

Revenues:
Germany
Europe
USA

Non-current assets as of December 31:
Germany
Czech Republic

(iii) 

Major Customers 

2013

TEUR

350
344
4,393
5,087

2014

TEUR

111
367
2,904
3,382

695
351
1,046

2015

TEUR

125
711
6,725
7,562

692
295
987

In  2013,  the  Group’s  revenue  from  the  Amphivena  collaboration  agreement  exceeded  10%.  In  2014 
and  2015,  the  Group’s  revenue  with  each  of  its  two  collaboration  partners,  Amphivena  and  the 
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (in the following LLS), exceeded 10% (see note 6).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

64 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

6. 

Revenue 

Collaboration agreement Amphivena 

Affimed  is  party  to  a  collaboration  with  Amphivena  Therapeutics  Inc.,  San  Francisco,  USA  (in  the 
following Amphivena) to develop a product candidate for hematologic malignancies. The collaboration 
consists  of  a  series  of  linked  transactions  which  in  substance  form  a  research  and  development 
collaboration. Amphivena is a structured entity with one project and uses the funding it receives from 
investors (which include Affimed) and Janssen Biotech Inc., Horsham, USA (in the following Janssen) 
to  pay  Affimed  for  its  research  and  development  services.  Once  approval  of  an  investigational  new 
drug  application  (IND)  for  the  product  candidate  is  obtained,  Janssen  has  an  option  to  acquire 
Amphivena on predetermined terms. 

The relevant linked agreements consist of: 

• 
• 

• 

a license and development agreement between Affimed and Amphivena,  
a  stock  purchase  agreement  between  Amphivena,  its  investors  (which  include  Affimed)  for 
purposes of financing Amphivena, and 
a  warrant  agreement  between  Amphivena  and  Janssen  for  purposes  of  financing  Amphivena 
and  providing  Janssen  the  option  to  acquire  the  results  of  the  research  and  development 
activities through an acquisition of Amphivena following IND approval. 

Pursuant to the license and development agreement between Affimed and Amphivena, Affimed grants 
a license to intellectual property and agreed to perform certain services for Amphivena related to the 
development of a product candidate for hematological malignancies. In consideration for the research 
and development work to be performed, Amphivena could be required to pay to Affimed service fees 
totaling approximately €16 million (net of Affimed’s share in funding Amphivena) payable according to 
the  achievement  of  milestones  and  phase  progressions  as  described  under  the  license  and 
development agreement.  

Affimed  recognized  revenue  of  €8.6  million  upon  achievement  of  three  milestones  consisting  of  the 
earned milestone payments of €9.0 million less Affimed’s share in funding Amphivena of €0.4 million in 
2013 (€4.4 million), 2014 (€1.8 million) and 2015 (€2.4 million).  

After  the  achievement  of  the  third  milestone,  the  Group  continues  to  provide  research  and 
development  services  to  Amphivena  for  nonrefundable  advance  payments  of  €7.5  million  in  the 
aggregate, payable in three installments (€1.3 million, €4.2 million and €2.0 million). Revenue for these 
research and development services is recognized, net of Affimed’s share in funding Amphivena of €0.3 
million, over the service performance period. The first two installments of €5.2 million (€5.5 million, net 
of  Affimed’s  share  of  €0.3  million)  were  received  in  2015.  The  Company  recognized  €2.4  million  as 
revenue  for  these  research  and  development  services  in  2015,  €2.8  million  were  deferred  as  of 
December 31, 2015. 

Amphivena has obtained funding solely by issuing preferred stock to investors and under the warrant 
agreement with Janssen. Investors have provided financing in exchange for preferred stock issued by 
Amphivena under the terms of a stock purchase agreement. Affimed has participated in the financing 
of Amphivena in the amount of €0.7 million.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

65 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

Collaboration agreement The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) 

Affimed is party to a collaboration with LLS to fund the development of a specific TandAb. Under the 
terms  of  the  agreement,  LLS  has  agreed  to  contribute  up  to  $4.4  million  contingent  upon  the 
achievement of certain milestones. 

In  the  event  that  the  research  and  development  is  successful,  Affimed  must  proceed  with 
commercialization of the licensed product. If Affimed decides for business reasons not to continue the 
commercialization, Affimed must at its option either repay the amount funded or grant a license to LLS 
to  enable  LLS  to  continue  with  the  development  program.  In  addition,  LLS  is  entitled  to  receive 
royalties  from  Affimed  based  on  the  Group’s  future  revenue  from  any  licensed  product,  with  the 
amount of royalties not to exceed three times the amount funded. 

The  Company  achieved  several  milestones  and  recognized  revenue  for  related  payments  of  €1.1 
million in 2014 and €1.6 million in 2015 for research and development services.  

Research service agreements 

AbCheck has entered into certain research service agreements. These research service agreements 
provide  for  non-refundable  upfront  technology  access  research  funding  or  capacity  reservation  fees 
and milestone payments. The Group recognized revenue of €344 in 2013, €478 in 2014 and €1,126 in 
2015. 

7. 

Other income and expenses - net 

Other  income  and  expense,  net  mainly  comprises  income  from  government  grants  for  research  and 
development projects of €716 (2014: €381, 2013: €533). In 2013, losses from the disposal of assets of 
€33 were included.  

8. 

Research and development expenses 

The  following  table  shows  the  different  types  of  expenses  allocated  to  research  and  development 
costs: 

Third-party services
Personnel expenses
Legal, consulting and patent expenses
Cost of Materials
Amortisation and depreciation
Operating lease expenses
Other expenses

2013

2014

2015

5,680
5,273
1,405
709
427
258
602
14,354

5,558
292
1,549
844
428
243
681
9,595

15,386
3,637
902
902
308
267
606
22,008

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

66 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

In  2014,  personnel  expenses  and  Legal,  consulting  and  patent  expenses  include  gains  for  share 
based  payments  resulting  from  the  decrease  in  the  carrying  amount  of  the  liability  for  share-based 
payments prior to the corporate reorganization (see note 19).  

9. 

General and administrative expenses 

The  following  table  shows  the  different  types  of  expenses  allocated  to  general  and  administrative 
costs: 

Personnel expenses
Legal, consulting and audit fees
Operating lease expenses
Other expenses

2013

2014

2015

5,165
1,445
71
365
7,046

-2,836
4,391
81
710
2,346

3,658
2,468
89
1,333
7,548

In  2014,  personnel  expenses  and  Legal,  consulting  and  audit  fees  include  gains  for  share  based 
payments resulting from the decrease in the carrying amount of the liability for share-based payments 
due to the corporate reorganization (see note 19). 

10.  Employee benefits 

The following table shows the items of employee benefits: 

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

2013

2014

2015

2,490
430

2,920

3,176

470
3,646

5,066

583
5,649

The  employer's  contributions  to  pension  insurance  plans  of  €269  (2014:  €242,  2013:  €216)  are 
classified  as  payments  under  a  defined  contribution  plan,  and  are  recognized  in  full  as  an  expense 
accordingly.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

67 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

11.  Finance income and finance costs  

2013

2014

2015

Gain from exchange of Preferred Shares of Affimed AG into 
Common Shares of Affimed N.V. (see note 2)

Changes in fair value of derivative conversion feature

Interest Preferred Shares

Interest Convertible Loan

Interest Perceptive Loan Agreement (see note 20)

Foreign exchange differences

Other finance income/finance costs

Finance income/costs - net

0

-5,553

-4,478

-359

0

-11

4

-10,397

4,835

6,094

-3,617

-402

-260

1,106

-3

7,753

0

0

0

0

-703

1,808

-1

1,104

On  June  23,  2014,  the  investors  and  the  Company  agreed  to  a  conversion  of  the  loan  granted  by 
several shareholders as of June 28, 2013 into Series E preferred shares of Affimed Therapeutics AG. 
Subsequently, all preferred shares were exchanged for newly issued common shares of Affimed N.V. 
(see  note  2).  Through  the  date  of  conversion,  interest  costs  of  €402  have  been  recognized  in  2014 
(2013:  €359).  A  re-measurement  gain  from  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  the  derivative  conversion 
feature of €6,094 was recognized in 2014 (2013: loss of €5,553). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

68 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

12. 

Income taxes  

The  Company  did  not  incur  any  material  income  tax  in  the  periods  presented.  As  of  December  31, 
2015 deferred tax liabilities from temporary differences result mainly from borrowings (€142) and other 
assets (€45). Deferred tax assets from differences resulting from trade and other receivables (€338), 
intangible assets (€44) and trade and other payables (€15) have not been recognized as deferred tax 
assets  as  no  sufficient  future  taxable  profits  or  offsetting  deferred  tax  liabilities  are  available.  A 
reconciliation  between  actual  income  taxes  and  the  expected  tax  benefit  from  the  loss  before  tax 
multiplied by the Company's applicable tax rate is presented below: 

Loss before tax

Income tax benefit at tax rate of 
29.825 %

Adjustments due to impairment of 
deferred tax assets

change in permanent differences

Adjustments for local tax rates

Non deductible expenses

Other

Income taxes

2013

-26,100

7,784

-7,818

0

-9

0

44

1

2014

-425

127

2,787

-2,837

119

0

-30

166

2015

-20,239

6,036

-6,251

199

18

163

-165

0

In Germany, Affimed has tax losses carried forward of €89.2 million (2014: €68.2 million) for corporate 
income tax purposes and of €89.0 million (2014: €68.0 million) for trade tax purposes that are available 
indefinitely for offsetting against future taxable profits of that entity. Restrictions on the utilization of tax 
losses 
Act 
(Wachstumsbeschleunigungsgesetz).  

Acceleration 

Economic 

mitigated 

through 

Growth 

were 

According to the provisions of this act unused tax losses of a corporation as at the date of a qualified 
change in ownership are preserved to the extent they are compensated by an excess of the fair value 
of  equity  for  tax  purposes  above  its  carrying  amount  of  the  Company.  The  maximum  amount  of  tax 
losses at risk of being lost due to ownership changes is approximately €59 million. Deferred tax assets 
have  not  been  recognized  in  respect  of  any  losses  carried  forward  as  no  sufficient  taxable  profits  of 
Affimed are expected.  

In the Czech Republic, AbCheck incurred tax losses of €0.3 million (2014: €0.6 million) available within 
five years from the year incurred for offsetting against future taxable profits for which no deferred tax 
assets has been recognized.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

69 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

13. 

Intangible assets 

The following table shows the reconciliation of intangible assets for the year 2014: 

Technology 
licenses

Office software

Total

Cost as of January 1

Additions

Reallocation

Cost as of December 31

Accumulated depreciation as of 
January 1

Reallocation

Additions
Accumulated depreciation as of 
December 31

Carrying amount as of January 1 

Carrying amount as of December 31 

342

19

200

561

222

195

115

532

120

29

301

27

-200

128

263

-195

17

85

38

43

The following table shows the reconciliation of intangible assets for the year 2015: 

Technology 
licenses

Office software

Cost as of January 1

Additions

Disposals

Cost as of December 31

Accumulated depreciation as of 
January 1

Additions

Disposals
Accumulated depreciation as of 
December 31

Carrying amount as of January 1 

Carrying amount as of December 31 

561

0

-183

378

532

10

-183

359

29

19

128

28

-48

108

85

18

-48

55

43

53

643

46

0

689

485

0

132

617

158

72

Total

689

28

-231

486

617

28

-231

414

72

72

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

70 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

14.  Leasehold improvements and equipment 

The following table shows the reconciliation of tangible assets for the year 2014: 

Leasehold
improvements

Laboratory 
equipment, 
furniture and 
fixtures

Cost as of January 1

Additions

Disposals

Cost as of December 31
Accumulated depreciation as of 
January 1

Additions

Disposals
Accumulated depreciation as of 
December 31

Carrying amount as of January 1 

Carrying amount as of December 31 

183

2

0

185

181

1

0

182

2

3

2,502

258

-55

2,705

1,470

309

-45

1,734

1,032

971

The following table shows the reconciliation of tangible assets for the year 2015: 

Leasehold
improvements

Laboratory 
equipment, 
furniture and 
fixtures

Cost as of January 1

Additions

Disposals
Cost as of December 31

Accumulated depreciation as of 
January 1

Additions

Disposals
Accumulated depreciation as of 
December 31

Carrying amount as of January 1 

Carrying amount as of December 31 

185

23

-179
29

182

4

-179

7

3

22

2,705

226

-609
2,322

1,734

304

-609

1,429

971

893

Total

2,685

260

-55

2,890

1,651

310

-45

1,916

1,034

974

Total

2,890

249

-788
2,351

1,916

308

-788

1,436

974

915

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

71 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

15. 

Inventories 

Inventories  comprise  laboratory  materials  and  supplies  of  €228  (2014:  €199).  No  impairment  was 
recognized. Total consumption of inventories recognized in profit or loss amounts to €906 (2014: €900, 
2013: €731). 

16.  Trade and other receivables 

The trade receivables as at December 31, 2015 of €105 (2014: €5) are all due in the short-term, do not 
bear  interest  and  are  neither  overdue  nor  impaired.  Other  receivables  are  all  due  short-term  and 
mainly comprise receivables for research and development grants and other government subsidies of 
€68 (2014: €114) and value-added tax receivables of €607 (2014: €697). 

17.  Other assets 

Other assets of €452 comprise deferred expenses related to short-term research projects of €300 and 
a  prepayment  of  €152  related  to  probable  future  equity  transactions  based  on  the  shelf  registration 
filing (see note 18).  

18.  Equity 

At  December  31,  2015  the  share  capital  of  €333  (2014:  €240)  is  divided  into  33,259,404  (2014: 
23,984,168) common shares with a par value of €0.01.  

As  of  September  17,  2014,  upon  consummation  of  the  corporate  reorganization,  all  common  and 
preferred  shares  in  Affimed  Therapeutics  AG  were  exchanged  for  15,984,168  common  shares  of 
Affimed  (see  note  2).  In  addition,  in  the  initial  public  offering,  the  Company  issued  an  aggregate  of 
8,000,000 common shares at a price of $7.00  per share. In the offering, capital reserves of €37,871 
were recognized net of issuing costs of €5,342. 

The exchange of 37,935 common shares of Affimed Therapeutics AG for 286,160 shares of Affimed 
N.V.  on  a  7.54-for-one  basis  was  retrospectively  accounted  as  a  stock  split.  The  exchange  of  the 
preferred shares of Affimed Therapeutics AG did not represent a stock split as the preferred shares did 
not contain a conversion right into common shares.  

On  May  12,  2015,  the  Company  issued  5,750,000  common  shares  at  a  public  offering  at  a  price  of 
$7.15 per common share. After deducting the offering expenses of €3,091, equity increased by the net 
proceeds  of  the  public  offering  of  €33,490.  In  October  2015,  an  existing  shareholder  purchased 
3,325,236 common shares at $6.55 per share in a private placement, leading to an equity increase of 
€19,064, net of related expenses of €25. 

According  to  the  articles  of  association  of  Affimed  N.V.,  up  to  55,000,000  common  shares  and 
55,000,000  preferred shares with a  par  value of €0.01 are  authorized to be issued.  As of December 
31, 2015, 33,259,404 common shares have been issued and are outstanding. Preferred shareholders 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

72 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

are entitled to receive a fixed dividend yield prior to common shareholders, unpaid preferred dividends 
accumulate. As of December 31, 2015 no preferred shares have been issued. 

19.  Share based payments 

Affimed Therapeutics AG had granted share-based payment awards to its managing and supervisory 
directors and consultants pursuant to two incentive plans: (i) the ESOP 2007 Plan granted options to 
acquire preferred shares at the issue price of EUR 30.89 per Series D preferred share after vesting but 
during the contractually agreed ten year life of the award and (ii) the carve-out plan granted the right to 
receive  a  cash  payment  equal  to  a  certain  percentage  of  the  fair  value  of  the  Company  contingent 
upon the occurrence of a defined exit event. The awards pursuant to both share-based incentive plans 
were accounted for as cash settled until their modification in the corporate reorganization (see note 2). 

The ESOP 2007 awards entitled the beneficiary to a cash payment encompassing all preference rights 
and  payments  connected  to  the  preferred  shares,  net  of  the  strike  price  owed  by  the  beneficiary.  In 
2013,  13,081  ESOP  2007  awards  were  replaced  by  awards  under  the  carve-out  plan.  The 
replacement  was  accounted  as  a  modification.  The  incremental  fair  value  of  €1,271  represents  the 
difference between the fair value of the cancelled awards and the replacement awards.  

Pursuant to the carve-out plan, awards entitled the beneficiaries to cash payments of an aggregate of 
7.78%  of  the  fair  value  of  the  Company  in  case  of  a  defined  exit  event,  including  an  initial  public 
offering.  The  plan  had  a  three  year  service  condition,  whereby  50%  of  the  entitlements  vested  after 
one year, further 25% after two years and the remaining 25% after three years. In case of a successful 
sale  of  the  Company  during  the  vesting  period  an  accelerated  vesting  would  have  applied  and  all 
entitlements vested immediately.  

The ESOP 2007 and carve-out plan were both modified in the reorganization (see note 2). 

In  2015,  200,000  options  of  the  ESOP  2007  were  exercised  at  the  exercise  price  of  $5.29.  As  of 
December 31, 2015, 534,142 (December 31, 2014: 734,142) ESOP 2007 options were outstanding. 

In  the  corporate  reorganization  on  September  17,  2014,  an  equity-settled  share  based  payment 
program  was  established  by  Affimed  N.V.  (ESOP  2014).    Based  on  this  program,  the  Company 
granted 555,000 awards in 2014 and 795,000 awards in 2015 to certain members of the Management 
Board, the Supervisory Board, consultants and employees. The awards vest in installments over three 
years, and the final exercise date of the options is 10 years after the grant date of the instruments.  

As  of  December  31,  2015,  1,350,000  ESOP  2014  awards  were  outstanding  (December  31,  2014: 
555,000),  259,583  awards  (December  31,  2014:  0)  were  vested.  No  awards  were  either  forfeited  or 
exercised. The options outstanding at December 31, 2015 had an exercise price in the range of $5.18 
to $13.47 (2014: $6.20 to $6.27). 

The  expense  of  the  granted  options  is  recorded  over  the  vesting  period,  starting  from  the  service 
commencement date, which is generally the grant date.  

In 2015, an expense of €2,220 was recognized affecting research and development expenses (€611) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

73 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

and general and administrative expenses (€1,609). In 2014, a net gain for share-based compensation 
of  €4,892  was  recognized  affecting  research  and  development  expenses  (€1,480)  and  general  and 
administrative expenses (€3,412) including a gain of €8,261 due to the re-measurement of the ESOP 
2007  awards  and  the  carve-out  plan  as  of  September  17,  2014,  the  modification  date.  In  2013,  an 
expense  of  €8,054  was  recognized  affecting  research  and  development  expenses  (€3,021)  and 
general and administrative expenses (€5,033). 

The  fair  value  of  options  granted  under  the  ESOP  2014  program  was  determined  using  the  Black-
Scholes valuation model. As the Company was listed on the NASDAQ the closing price of the common 
shares  at  grant  date  was  used.  Other  significant  inputs  into  the  model  were  volatility  of  65%,  an 
expected option life of 5.9 years, annual risk-free interest rates at grant date in the range of -0.07% to 
0.34%  and  a  zero  dividend  yield.  Expected  volatility  is  estimated  based  on  the  observed  daily  share 
price returns of selected guideline companies measured over a historic period equal to expected life, 
with the peer group as unsufficient trading data are available to use the share price returns of Affimed 
to estimate volatility over a historic period equal to expected life. As of December 31, 2015 weighted 
average fair value of the options was $4.41 (2014: $3.63) and weighted average remaining contractual 
life was 9.2 years (2014: 9.7 years). 

20.  Borrowings 

In July 2014, the Company entered into a credit facility agreement of $14 million and drew an amount 
of $5.5 million as of July 31, 2014. Repayment will start in April 2016 in monthly installments of $200, 
with  the  final  balance  due  in  August  2018.  Finance  costs  comprise  interest  of  an  annual  rate  of  9% 
plus  one  month  LIBOR,  with  LIBOR  deemed  to  equal  1%  if  LIBOR  is  less  than  1%,  and  an 
arrangement fee in the amount of 2% of the facility. In addition, the Company issued 106,250 warrants 
to the lender. The warrants are convertible into common shares of the Company with a strike price of 
$8.80. Upon initial recognition, the fair value of the warrant of €613 was recognized in equity, net of tax 
of  €183.  Fair  value  was  determined  using  the  Black-Scholes-Merton  formula,  with  an  expected 
volatility of 65% and an expected time of six years to exercise of the warrant. The contractual maturity 
of the warrant is ten years. 

In 2015, the Company  and Perceptive agreed to cancel the option to draw the outstanding facility of 
$8.5 million. 

The loan is collateralized by shares in AbCheck s.r.o., certain bank accounts, receivables and certain 
intellectual property rights with a total carrying amount of €6,202 (2014: €6,844). 

The  loan  is  measured  at  amortized  cost  using  the  effective  interest  method.  Interest  costs  of  €703 
(2014: €258) and foreign exchange losses of €527 (2014: €424) have been recognized in profit or loss. 
As of December 31, 2015 the fair value of the liability amounts to €4,978 whereas the carrying amount 
is  €4,576.  As  of  December  31,  2014  the  Company  believes  that  the  fair  value  of  the  liability  did  not 
differ  significantly  from  its  carrying  amount  (€3,895).  According  to  the  repayment  schedule  €1,472 
(December 31, 2014: €0) were classified as current liabilities. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

74 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

21.  Trade and other payables 

Trade and other payables comprise trade payables of €3,743 (2014: €3,396) and are normally settled 
within 30 days or at a separate settlement date which was agreed between the parties. Other payables 
mainly  comprise  payroll  and  employee  related  liabilities  for  withholding  taxes  and  social  security 
contributions  of  €444  (2014:  €281)  and  payables  due  to  employees  for  outstanding  bonus,  holidays 
and other accruals. Other payables are normally settled within 30 days. 

22.  Loss per share 

Loss  per  common  share  is  calculated  by  dividing  the  loss  of  the  period  by  the  weighted  average 
number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for reorganization of the Company 
(see note 2). 

2013

2014

2015

Net loss

(26,099)

(259)

(20,239)

Weighted number of common 
shares outstanding

14,803,450

17,632,825

28,477,438

Loss per share in € per share

(1.76)

(0.01)

(0.71)

No instruments had a dilutive effect. 

23.  Operating leases and other commitments and contingencies 

(ix)  Lease and other commitments 

The Group has entered into rental agreements for premises as well as into leases for vehicles and the 
use  of  licenses.  These  contracts  have  an  average  life  of  between  one  and  four  years  with  renewal 
options included in some contracts. There are no restrictions placed upon the lessee by entering into 
these  leases.  In  2015,  lease  expenses  of  €356  and  license  fees  of  €278  have  been  recognized  in 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income (2014: €324 and €248; 2013: €328 and €260). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

75 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

Future minimum lease payment obligations under non-cancellable operating leases as of the reporting 
date are as follows: 

2014

664

561

42

1,267

2015

642

990

0

1,632

Within one year

Between one and five years

More than five years

(x)  Contingencies 

Affimed  has  entered  into  various  license  agreements  that  contingently  trigger  payments  upon 
achievement  of  certain  milestones  and  royalty  payments  upon  commercialization  of  a  product  in  the 
future.  

24.  Related parties 

(i)  Shareholders 

As of December 31, 2015 one shareholder holds more than 20% of the voting rights (2014 and 2013 
two shareholders).  

(ii) Transactions with key management personnel 

The  compensation  of  managing  directors  and  other  key  management  personnel  comprised  of  the 
following: 

Short-term employee benefits

Share-based payments

2013

2014

2015

837

5,367

6,204

911

-3,253

-2,342

1,633

1,474

3,107

Remuneration  of  Affimed’s managing  directors  comprises  fixed  and  variable  components  and  share-
based  payment  awards.  In  addition,  the  managing  directors  receive  supplementary  benefits  such  as 
fringe benefits and allowances. In the case of an early termination, the managing directors receive a 
severance.  

Compensation  for  other  key  management  personnel  comprises  fixed  and  variable  components  and 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

76 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

share-based payment awards. 

The  supervisory  directors  of  Affimed  N.V.,  appointed  as  of  September  12,  2014,  received 
compensation  for  their  services  on  the  supervisory  board  of  €296  (2014:  €85),  the  supervisory 
directors of Affimed Therapeutics AG, the predecessor of Affimed N.V., did not receive compensation 
for their services on the supervisory board. In 2015, the Group recognized expenses for share-based 
payments for board members of €478 (2014: €727, 2013: €245).  

Selected managing directors and supervisory directors entered into service and consulting agreements 
with the Company: 

Dr.  Florian  Fischer  is  founder  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  MedVenture  Partners,  a  Munich-based 
corporate  finance  and  strategy  advisory  company  focusing  on  the  life  sciences  and  health  care 
industry. MedVenture Partners rendered services for a consideration of €129 in 2014 and €30 in 2013. 
The contract with MedVenture Partners was terminated following the IPO in 2014. 

Dr. Adolf Hoess received compensation for consulting services of €163 in 2014 and €314 in 2013. The 
consulting contract with Dr. Adolf Hoess was terminated following the IPO in 2014. 

Dr.  Thomas  Hecht  is  Head  of  Hecht  Healthcare  Consulting  (HHC)  in  Küssnacht,  Switzerland,  a 
biopharmaceutical consulting company. In 2013, he rendered services amounting to €65,  in 2014 he 
received €49.    

Dr.  Richard  B.  Stead  is  Founder  and  Principal  of  BioPharma  Consulting  Services  LLC,  where  he  is 
involved in the development of a number of oncology products including different strategies for cancer 
immunotherapy. In 2013, he rendered services amounting to €40, in 2014, he received €25.    

Dr.  Ulrich  Grau  is  a  significant  shareholder  and  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  i-novion  Inc., 
which  was  engaged  by  the  Company  to  conduct  preclinical  services.  In  2015,  i-novion  Inc.  received 
related payments of €138.  

The  following  table  provides  the  total  amounts  of  outstanding  balances  related  to  key  management 
personnel: 

Thomas Hecht

Richard Stead

Berndt Modig

Ferdinand Verdonck

Eugene Zhukovsky

Ulrich Grau

Outstanding balances

December 31, 
2014

December 31, 
2015

19

6

7

7

16

0

19

6

9

11

0

13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

77 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

25.  Financial risk management 

(xi)  Financial risk management objectives and policies 

The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise short-term deposits at commercial banks with a 
maturity  on  inception  of  three  months  or  less  and  investor  loans  presented  in  borrowings.  The  main 
purpose  of  these  financial  instruments  is  to  raise  funds  for  the  Group's  operations.  The  Group  has 
various other financial assets and  liabilities such as trade and other receivables and trade and other 
payables, which arise directly from its operations. 

The  main  risks  arising  from  the  Group's  financial  instruments  are  credit  risk  and  liquidity  risk.  The 
measures taken by management to manage each of these risks are summarized below. 

(xii)  Credit risk 

The  Company’s  financial  assets  comprise  to  a  large  extent  cash  and  cash  equivalents.  In  addition 
financial  assets  include  trade  and  other  receivables.  The  total  carrying  amount  of  cash  and  cash 
equivalents  (€76.7  million,  2014:  €39.7  million)  and  trade  and  other  receivables  (€0.9  million,  2014: 
€0.9 million) represents the maximum credit exposure of €77.6 million (2014: €40.7 million). 

The cash and cash equivalents are held with banks, which are rated BBB- to AA- based on Standard & 
Poor’s and Moody’s. 

(xiii) 

Interest rate risk 

The group’s interest rate risk arises from cash accounts and long-term borrowings at variable rates.  

Affimed entered into the Perceptive loan agreement pursuant to which it borrowed $5.5 million with a 
variable interest rate of an annual rate of 9% plus one-month LIBOR, with LIBOR deemed to equal 1% 
if LIBOR is less than 1%. The group does not expect the LIBOR to exceed the floor of 1% within the 
foreseeable future, and considers the interest risk to be low.  

Bank accounts of €38.5 million (2014: €7.0 million) are exposed to interest rate risk. A shift in interest 
rates (increase or decrease) would not have a material impact on the loss of the group.  

(xiv)  Foreign currency risk 

Foreign  exchange  risk  arises  when  future  commercial  transactions  or  recognized  assets  or  liabilities 
are denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s functional currency.  

The group’s entities are exposed to Czech Koruna (CZK) and US Dollars (USD). The net exposure as 
of December 31, 2015 was €27,423 (2014: €5,983) and mainly relates to US Dollars. 

In 2015, if the Euro had weakened/strengthened by 10% against the US dollar with all other variables 
held  constant,  the  loss  would  have  been  €2,794  (2014:  €611)  higher/lower,  mainly  as  a  result  of 
foreign  exchange  gains/losses  on  translation  of  US  dollar-denominated  financial  assets.  The  group 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

78 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

considers a shift in the exchange rates of 10% as a realistic scenario.  

Loss  is  more  sensitive  to  movement  in  exchange  rates  shifts  in  2015  than  in  2014  because  of  the 
increased volume of US dollar-denominated transactions. 

The following significant exchange rates have been applied during the year: 

2013

2014

2015

CZK or USD/EUR

CZK or USD/EUR

CZK or USD/EUR

CZK - Average Rate

CZK - Spot rate

USD - Average Rate

USD - Spot rate

0.03850

0.03640

0.75340

0.72633

0.03632

0.03606

0.75273

0.82366

0.03666

0.03701

0.90190

0.91853

(xv)  Liquidity risk 

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulties in meeting the obligations associated 
with  its  financial  liabilities  which  are  normally  settled  by  delivering  cash.  The  Group’s  approach  to 
managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its 
liabilities when due. 

The  Group  continually  monitors  its  risk  of  a  shortage  of  funds  using  short  and  mid-term  liquidity 
planning.  This  takes  account  of  the  expected  cash  flows  from  all  activities.  The  supervisory  board 
undertakes regular reviews of the budget. 

In  2014  and  2015,  Affimed  raised  significant  funding  that  it  estimates  will  enable  the  group  to  fund 
operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements until Q1 2018:  

In 2015, the issue of new common shares and the exercise of stock options resulted in net proceeds of 
€53,498 (see note 18). 

The group expects to require additional funding to complete the  development of the existing product 
candidates. In addition, the group expects to require additional capital to commercialize the products if 
regulatory approval is received. 

In  2015,  Affimed  has  filed  a  “shelf  registration  statement”  with  the  SEC  in  order  to  offer  and  sell 
securities to the public in multiple, future offerings.  

(xvi)  Capital management 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

79 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

The primary objective of the Group's capital management is to ensure that it maintains its liquidity in 
order to finance its operating activities and meet its liabilities when due. 

The Group manages its capital structure primarily through equity. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

80 

Company Financial Statements 

Balance sheet of Affimed N.V. 

Income statement of Affimed N.V. 

Notes to the financial statements of Affimed N.V. 

 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

83 

Notes to the Company financial statements for the year ended 31 December 
2015 

26. General information  

Affimed N.V. (in the following Affimed or Company) has its corporate seat in Amsterdam. The Company 
was founded as Affimed Therapeutics B.V. on May 14, 2014 as private company for the purpose of a 
corporate reorganization of Affimed Therapeutics AG, Heidelberg, Germany and converted its legal form 
under  Dutch  law  to  a  public  company  with  limited  liability  for  an  initial  public  offering  of  its  common 
shares. 

Prior  to  the  consummation  of  the  corporate  reorganization  on  September  17,  2014  Affimed  N.V.  or 
Affimed  B.V.  had  not  conducted  any  operations  and  had  not  held  any  assets  or  liabilities,  including 
contingent liabilities, prior to the reorganization. 

At  the  initial  step  of  the  corporate  reorganization,  the  shareholders  of  Affimed  Therapeutics  AG 
subscribed  for  15,984,168  common  shares  in  Affimed  Therapeutics  B.V  and  agreed  to  transfer  their 
common shares and their preferred shares in Affimed Therapeutics AG to Affimed Therapeutics B.V. in 
consideration  therefore.  Simultaneously,  the  share  in  Affimed  Therapeutics  B.V.  held  by  Stichting 
Affimed Therapeutics was cancelled, and as a result, Affimed Therapeutics AG became a wholly owned 
subsidiary  of  Affimed  Therapeutics  B.V.  The  legal  form  of  Affimed  Therapeutics  B.V.  was  converted 
from a private company with limited liability to a public Company with limited liability, which resulted in 
a name change into Affimed N.V. 

The Company financial statements are part of the 2015 financial statements of Affimed N.V. 

27. Basis of preparation 

The  company  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  Title  9,  Book  2  of  the 
Netherlands Civil Code.  

For setting the principles for the recognition and measurement of assets and liabilities and determination 
of the result for its company financial statements, the Company makes use of the option provided in 
section 2:362(8) of the Netherlands Civil Code. This means that the principles for the recognition and 
measurement of assets and liabilities and determination of the result (hereinafter referred to as principles 
for recognition and measurement) of the company financial statements of the Company are the same 
as those applied for the consolidated EU-IFRS financial statements. See the notes to the consolidated 
EU-IFRS financial statements for a description of these principles. 

In case no other policies are mentioned, reference is made to the accounting policies as described in 
the  accounting  policies  in  the  consolidated  EU-IFRS  financial  statements.  For  an  appropriate 
interpretation,  the  Company  financial  statements  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  EU-IFRS 
consolidated financial statements.  

Participating interests in group companies 

Participating  interests  in  group  companies  are  accounted  for  in  the  company  financial  statements 
according to the net asset method. Net asset value is based on the measurement of assets, provisions 
and liabilities and determination of net result based on the principles applied in the consolidated financial 
statements. Participations with a negative net asset value are valued at nil. A share of the profits from 
the participation, in later years, will only be processed if and insofar as the cumulative unrecognized 
share has compensated the loss. However, if the Company wholly or partly guarantees the debts of a 
participation, or has the constructive obligation to allow the participation (for its share) to pay its debts, 
a provision is recognized in the amount of the expected payments by the Company  on behalf of the 
participation. The provision is formed primarily at the expense of long-term unsecured receivables that 
should actually be seen as part of net investment, and the remainder presented under provisions. 

 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

84 

Result of participating interests 

The share in the result of participating interests consists of the share of the Company in the result of 
these  participating  interests.  Results  on  transactions  involving  the  transfer  of  assets  and  liabilities 
between  the  Company  and  its  participating  interests  and  mutually  between  participating  interests 
themselves, are eliminated to the extent that they can be considered as not realised. 

The financial information of the Company is included in the consolidated financial statements. For this 
reason, in accordance with Section 402, Book 2 Netherlands Civil Code, the income statement of the 
Company exclusively states the share in the result of participating interests after taxation and the other 
result after taxation. 

28. Financial fixed assets 

Financial fixed assets solely include the investment of the Company in its fully owned subsidiary Affimed 
GmbH (former Affimed Therapeutics AG), with statutory seat in Heidelberg, Germany.  

Movements in the financial fixed assets were as follows: 

In € thousand 

Affimed GmbH 

Total 

Opening Net asset value January 1, 2015 
Capital contribution 
Share in result of participating interest 

3,370 
14,851 
(16,619) 

3,370 
14,851 
(16,619) 

Net asset value at December 31, 2015 

1,602 

1,602 

29. Cash and cash equivalents   

All amounts are free disposal of Affimed N.V.  

30. Equity  

As of December 31, 2015 the number of issued common shares is 33,259,404 with a par value of €0.01 
per share.  All issued shares are fully  paid.  Besides the minimum amount of share capital  to be held 
under Dutch law, there are no distribution restrictions applicable to equity of the Company.  

As the structure of the  equity  components for the  Company financial statements is largely  based  on 
legal aspects, the presentation of the movement in shareholder’s equity is different from the presentation 
in the consolidated financial statements.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

85 

The movement in shareholder’s equity is as follows: 

In € thousand 

Issued 
capital 

Other  
reserves 

Unappro- 
priated 
result 

May 14, 2014 

Issue of common shares  
Effects of corporate 
reorganization 

Issue of common shares on IPO  
Share issuance costs 
Net result 
Share-based payments 

- 

160 

80 
- 
- 
- 
55 

- 

- 
1,040 

43,133 
(5,343) 
- 
299 

- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
(7,574) 
- 

Total 
equity 

- 

160 
1,040 

43,213 
(5,343) 
(7,574) 
299 

December 31, 2014 

240 

39,129 

(7,574) 

31,795 

January 1, 2015 

240 

39,129 

(7,574) 

31,795 

Issue of common shares  
Share issuance costs 
Share options exercised 
Net result 
Share-based payments 

91 
- 
2 
- 
- 
55 

55,580 
(3,117) 
942 
- 
2,220 

- 
- 

(20,239) 
- 

55,671 
(3,117) 
944 
(20,239) 
2,220 

December 31, 2015 

333 

94,754 

(27,813) 

67,274 

Issued capital  

As  of  September  17,  2014,  upon  consummation  of  the  corporate  reorganization,  all  common  and 
preferred  shares  in  Affimed  Therapeutics  AG  were  exchanged  for  15,984,168  common  shares  of 
Affimed  N.V.  (see  Note  2  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements).  In  addition,  in  the  initial  public 
offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 8,000,000 common shares at a price of $7.00 per share. 
In total an amount of €43.1 million was recognized in other reserves. 

In May and October 2015, the Company issued 5,750,000 and 3,325,236 common shares at $7.15 per 
share  and  $6.55  per  share  respectively.  In  total  an  amount  of  €55.6  million  was  recognized  in  other 
reserves. 

According  to  the  articles  of  association  of  the  Company,  up  to  55,000,000  common  shares  and 
55,000,000  preferred  shares  with  a  par  value  of  €0.01  are  authorized  to  be  issued.  Preferred 
shareholders  are  entitled  to  receive  a  fixed  dividend  yield  prior  to  common  shareholders,  unpaid 
preferred dividends accumulate. As of December 31, 2015 no preferred shares have been issued. 

Other reserves   

Upon the consummation of the corporate reorganization in 2014 an amount of €1.0 million was 
recorded in other reserves. This amount relates to the effects of the corporate reorganization as 
described in more detail in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

The  Company  has  adopted  a  share-based  compensation  plan  (ESOP  2014),  pursuant  to  which  the 
Company’s  directors,  selected  employees  and  consultants  are  granted  the  right  to  acquire  common 
shares of the Company (note 19 of the consolidated financial statements). The share-based payment 
expenses are recorded in the income statement. The ESOP 2014 plan is equity-settled. In case of an 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

86 

equity-settled plan, there is no obligation to transfer economic benefits, therefore the credit entry should 
be recognized as an increase in equity. The Company uses “Other reserves” as the equity classification.   

31. Payables to subsidiaries  

These payables relate to Affimed GmbH and do not bear interest.  

32. Other current payables   

In € thousand 

Trade payables 
Social security and wage tax 
Other liabilities 

Total 

33. Other result after taxation  

In € thousand 

Other income (service fee) 
General and administrative expenses 

Net result of net sales 

Financial income 
Financial expense 
Net financial result 

Result before taxation 
Taxation 
Result after taxation 

December 
31, 2015 

December 
31, 2014 

325 
182 
513 

1,020 

124 
137 
233 

494 

January 1 until 
December 31, 
2015 

May 14 until 
December 31, 
2014 

750 
(6,539) 

(5,789) 

2,408 
(239) 
2,169 

(3,620) 
0 
(3,620) 

294 
(2,402) 

(2,108) 

1,325 
(1) 
1,324 

(784) 
0 
(784) 

Effective October 1, 2014 the Company formalized a service agreement with Affimed Therapeutics 
AG. The service fee includes the reimbursement of the net service expenses and a mark-up rate (at 
arms-length) on these net service expenses. 

34. Employee benefits and number of employees  

The average number of employees during 2015 was three employees and consisted of managing 
directors only. The managing director’s compensation is shown in note 35. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

87 

35. Related-party transactions  

Director’s remuneration 2015 

Managing directors 

(in € thousand) 

Periodically paid compensation 
Bonuses 
Total cash compensation 

2014 Plan share-based payment 

expense4 

Total share-based payment 

expense 

Supervisory directors 

Hoess 

Fischer  Marschner 

Total 

424 
149 
573 

774 

774 

319 
83 
402 

298 

298 

319 
83 
402 

252 

252 

1,062 
315 
1,377 

1,324 

1,324 

(in € thousand) 

Grau8  Hecht  Modig 

Stead  Verdonck 

Total 

Periodically paid compensation 
Service fees 
Total cash compensation 

2014 Plan share-based payment 

expense4 .......................................  

Total share-based payment 

expense .......................................  

24 
138 
162 

47 

47 

120 
- 
120 

167 

167 

51 
- 
51 

88 

88 

40 
- 
40 

88 

88 

61 
- 
61 

88 

88 

296 
138 
434 

478 

478 

Director’s remuneration 2014 

Managing directors 

 (in € thousand) 

Periodically paid compensation ..........  
Consulting service fees .......................  
Bonuses ..............................................  
Total cash compensation .................  

2014 Plan share-based payment 

expense4 ..........................................  

Hoess1  Fischer2  Marschner  Zhukovsky3  Total 

122 
163 
175 
460 

139 

92 
129 
98 
319 

56 

254 
- 
98 
352 

50 

50 
- 
22 
72 

0 

518 
292 
393 
1,203 

245 

Other share-based payment 

(3,021) 

(916) 

1,757 

(1,318) 

(3,498) 

expense/(credit) 5 .............................  

Total share-based payment 

(2,882) 

(860) 

1,807 

(1,318) 

(3,253) 

expense/(credit) .............................  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

88 

Supervisory directors 

 (in € thousand) 

Hecht6  Modig  Stead7  Verdonck  Total 

Periodically paid compensation ..................  
Consulting service fees ...............................  
Total cash compensation .........................  

2014 Plan share-based payment expense4  
Other share-based payment expense5 .......  
Total share-based payment expense ......  

36 
49 
85 

20 
32 
52 

16 
- 
16 

11 
- 
11 

13 
25 
38 

11 
642 
653 

20 
- 
20 

11 
- 
11 

85 
74 
159 

53 
674 
727 

1 Dr. Adi Hoess received compensation for consulting services of €163,000 in 2014. The consulting 
contract with Dr. Adi Hoess was terminated following the IPO in 2014 and Dr. Adi Hoess is now 
directly employed by Affimed N.V.  

2 Dr. Florian Fischer is founder and Chief Executive Officer of MedVenture Partners, a Munich-based 
corporate finance and strategy advisory company focusing on the life sciences and health care industry. 
MedVenture Partners rendered services for a consideration of €129,000 in 2014. The service contract 
with  MedVenture  Partners  was  terminated  following  the  IPO  in  2014  and  Dr.  Florian  Fischer  is  now 
directly employed by Affimed N.V.  

3 Dr. Eugene Zhukovsky served as CSO until March 31, 2014. 

4 Expense related to the issue of options under the 2014 Plan. Details of options granted are summarized 
in the table below. 

5 Expense/(credit) related to the re-measurement of the 2007 SOP and the carve-out plan described in 
Notes 2 and 18 to our consolidated financial statements 2014. 

6 Pursuant to a consulting agreement with Hecht Healthcare Consulting (HHC), whose managing director 
is our supervisory director Thomas Hecht, we received consulting services until September 2014. 

7 Pursuant to a consulting  agreement  with BioPharma Consulting  Services  LLC (BioPharma), whose 
principal is our supervisory director Richard B. Stead, we received consulting services until September 
2014. 

8 Dr. Ulrich Grau is a significant shareholder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of i-novion Inc., 
which  was  engaged  by  the  Company  to  conduct  preclinical  services.  In  2015,  i-novion  Inc.  received 
related payments of €138,000. Dr. Ulrich Grau was appointed by the general meeting of shareholders 
on June 9, 2015, and his term was effective as of July 1, 2015. 

For further details and other information with regard to related-party transactions as well as Management 
and  Supervisory  Director’s  compensation  reference  is  made  to  note  24  of  the  consolidated  financial 
statements.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

89 

Stock options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan 2014 

Awards granted in 2015 

Managing directors 

Beneficiary 

Grant date 

Number of 
options 
outstanding* 

Strike 
price USD  Expiration date 

Adi Hoess ........................  
Florian Fischer ................  
Jens-Peter Marschner .....  
Total 

September 4, 2015 
September 4, 2015 
September 4, 2015 

290,000 
105,000 
80,000 
475,000 

9.42  September 4, 2025 
9.42  September 4, 2025 
9.42  September 4, 2025 

Supervisory directors 

Beneficiary 

Grant date 

Number of 
options 
outstanding* 

Strike 
price USD  Expiration date 

Ulrich Grau ......................  
Thomas Hecht .................  
Berndt Modig ...................  
Richard Stead .................  
Ferdinand Verdonck ........  
Total 

July 1, 2015 
June 9, 2015 
June 9, 2015 
June 9, 2015 
June 9, 2015 

20,000 
20,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
70,000 

13.47 
12.44 
12.44 
12.44 
12.44 

July 1, 2025 
June 9, 2025 
June 9, 2025 
June 9, 2025 
June 9, 2025 

Awards granted in 2014 

Managing directors 

Beneficiary 

Grant date 

Number of 
options 
outstanding* 

Strike 
price USD  Expiration date 

Adi Hoess 
Florian Fischer 
Jens-Peter Marschner 
Total 

Supervisory directors 

September 17, 2014 
September 17, 2014 
September 17, 2014 

250,000 
100,000 
90,000 
440,000 

6.27  September 17, 2024 
6.27  September 17, 2024 
6.27  September 17, 2024 

Beneficiary 

Grant date 

Number of 
options 
outstanding* 

Strike 
price USD  Expiration date 

Thomas Hecht 
Berndt Modig 
Richard Stead 
Ferdinand Verdonck 
Total 

September 17, 2014 
September 17, 2014 
September 17, 2014 
September 17, 2014 

35,000 
20,000 
20,000 
20,000 
95,000 

6.27  September 17, 2024 
6.27  September 17, 2024 
6.27  September 17, 2024 
6.27  September 17, 2024 

* There are no exercised or forfeited options as of December 31, 2014 and 2015. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

90 

For further disclosure related to the share-options we refer to note 19 of the consolidated financial 
statements. The Company aims to meet its obligations by virtue of the granted option rights by issuing 
new shares (no purchase of treasury shares).   

36. Audit fees 

With reference to Section 2:382a(1) and (2) of the Netherlands Civil Code, the following fees for the 
financial year have been charged by KPMG Accountants N.V. to the Company, its subsidiaries and 
other consolidated entities. 

(in € thousand) 

Audit of the financial statements 
Other audit engagements 
Tax-related advisory services 
Other non-audit services 

(in € thousand) 

Audit of the financial statements 
Other audit engagements 
Tax-related advisory services 
Other non-audit services 

KPMG 
Accountants 
N.V. 
2015 

Other KPMG 
network 

Total  
KPMG 

2015 

2015 

36 
0 
0 
0 

36 

106 
180 
0 
14 

300 

142 
180 
0 
14 

336 

KPMG 
Accountants 
N.V. 
2014 

Other KPMG 
network 

Total  
KPMG 

2014 

2014 

27 
0 
0 
0 

27 

425 
238 
0 
0 

663 

452 
238 
0 
0 

690 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

91 

Signing of the financial statements 

May 19, 2016 

Originally signed by: 

Management Board: 

Dr. Adi Hoess, CEO 

Dr. Florian Fischer, CFO 

Dr. Jens-Peter Marschner, CMO 

Dr. Jörg Windisch, COO 

Supervisory Board: 

Dr. Thomas Hecht, Chairman 

Dr. Bernhard Ehmer 

Dr. Ulrich Grau 

Berndt Modig 

Dr. Richard B. Stead 

Ferdinand Verdonck 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

92 

Other information  

Provisions in the Articles of Association governing the appropriation of profit  

The company’s Articles of Association provide under chapter 10 provisions about the appropriation 
of profit, the full text is as follows: 

Chapter 10  
Profit and loss. Distributions on shares.  

Article 10.1.  

10.1.1. The management board will keep a share premium reserve and profit reserve for the 
common shares to which only the holders of the common shares are entitled. 

10.1.2. The company may make distributions on shares only to the extent that its shareholders' 
equity exceeds the sum of the paid-up and called-up part of the capital and the reserves which 
must be maintained by law. 

10.1.3. Distributions of profit, meaning the net earnings after taxes shown by the adopted annual 
accounts, shall be made after the adoption of the annual accounts from which it appears that they 
are permitted, entirely without prejudice to any of the other provisions of the articles of 
association. 

10.1.4.  
a. A dividend shall be paid out of the profit, if available for distribution, first of all on the 
cumulative preference shares in accordance with this paragraph.  

b. The dividend paid on the cumulative preference shares shall be based on the percentage, 
mentioned immediately below, of the amount called up and paid-up on those shares. The 
percentage referred to in the previous sentence shall be equal to the average of the EURIBOR 
interest charged for cash loans with a term of twelve months as set by the European Central 
Bank - weighted by the number of days to which this interest was applicable - during the financial 
year for which this distribution is made, increased by a maximum margin of five hundred (500) 
basis points to be fixed upon issue by the management board; EURIBOR shall mean the Euro 
Interbank Offered Rate.  

c. If in the financial year over which the aforesaid dividend is paid the amount called up and paid-
up on the cumulative preference shares has been reduced or, pursuant to a resolution to make a 
further call on said shares, has been increased, the dividend shall be reduced or, if applicable, 
increased by an amount equal to the aforesaid percentage of the amount of such reduction or 
increase, as the case may be, calculated from the date of the reduction or, as the case may be, 
from the date when the further call on the shares was made.  

d. If and to the extent that the profit is not sufficient to pay in full the dividend referred to under a 
of this paragraph, the deficit shall be paid to the debit of the reserves provided that doing so shall 
not be in violation of article 10.1.2. If and to the extent that the dividend referred to under a. of 
this article 10.1.4 cannot be paid to the debit of the reserves, the profits earned in subsequent 
years shall be applied first towards making to the holders of cumulative preference shares such 
payment as will fully clear the deficit, before the provisions of the following paragraphs of this 
article can be applied. No further dividends on the cumulative preference shares shall be paid 
than as stipulated in this article 10.1.4, in article 10.2 and in article 11.2. Interim dividends paid 
over any financial year in accordance with article 10.2 shall be deducted from the dividend paid 
by virtue of this article 10.1.4.  

e. If the profit earned in any financial year has been determined and in that financial year one or 
more cumulative preference shares have been cancelled against repayment, the persons who 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

93 

were the holders of those shares shall have an inalienable right to payment of dividend as 
described below. The amount of profit, if available for distribution, to be distributed to the 
aforesaid persons shall be equal to the amount of the dividend to which by virtue of the provision 
under a. of this paragraph they would have been entitled if on the date of determination of the 
profit they had still been the holders of the aforesaid cumulative preference shares, calculated on 
the basis of the period during which in the financial year concerned said persons were holders of 
said shares, such dividend shall be reduced by the amount of any interim dividend paid in 
accordance with article 10.2.  

f. If in the course of any financial year cumulative preference shares have been issued, with 
respect to that financial year the dividend to be paid on the shares concerned shall be reduced 
pro rata to the day of issue of said shares.  

g. If the dividend percentage has been adjusted in the course of a financial year, then for the 
purposes of calculating the dividend over that financial year the applicable rate until the date of 
adjustment shall be the percentage in force prior to that adjustment and the applicable rate after 
the date of adjustment shall be the altered percentage.  

10.1.5. The management board may determine, with the approval of the supervisory board, that 
any amount remaining out of the profit, after application of article 10.1.4 shall be added to the 
reserves.  

10.1.6. The profit remaining after application of article 10.1.4 and 10.1.5 shall be at the disposal 
of the general meeting, provided that no further distribution shall be made on the cumulative 
preference shares. The general meeting may resolve to carry it to the reserves or to distribute it 
among the holders of common shares.  

10.1.7. On a proposal of the management board - which proposal must be approved by the 
supervisory board -, the general meeting may resolve to distribute to the holders of common 
shares a dividend in the form of common shares in the capital of the company.  

10.1.8. Subject to the other provisions of this article 10.1 the general meeting may, on a proposal 
made by the management board which proposal is approved by the supervisory board, resolve to 
make distributions to the holders of common shares to the debit of one or several reserves which 
the company is not prohibited from distributing by virtue of the law.  

10.1.9. No dividends on shares shall be paid to the company on shares which the company itself 
holds in its own capital or the depositary receipts issued for which are held by the company, 
unless such shares are encumbered with a right of use and enjoyment or pledge.  

10.1.10. Any change to an addition as referred to in article 10.1.4 under b and g shall require the 
approval of the meeting of holders of cumulative preference shares. If the approval is withheld 
the previously determined addition shall remain in force.  

10.1.11. The management board is authorised to determine how a deficit appearing from the 
annual accounts will be accounted for.  

Interim distributions.  
Article 10.2.  

10.2.1. The management board may resolve with the approval of the supervisory board, to make 
interim distributions to the shareholders or to holders of shares of a particular class if an interim 
statement of assets and liabilities shows that the requirement of article 10.1.2 has been met.  

10.2.2. The interim statement of assets and liabilities shall relate to the condition of the assets 
and liabilities on a date no earlier than the first day of the third month preceding the month in 
which the resolution to distribute is published. It shall be prepared on the basis of generally 
acceptable valuation methods. The amounts to be reserved under the law and the articles of 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015 

94 

association shall be included in the statement of assets and liabilities. It shall be signed by the 
managing directors and supervisory directors. If one or more of their signatures are missing, this 
absence and the reason for this absence shall be stated.  

10.2.3. In the event that all cumulative preference shares are cancelled against repayment, on 
the day of such repayment a dividend shall be paid, this dividend to be equal to the premium paid 
on the share concerned at its issue increased by a distribution to be calculated in accordance 
with the provisions of article 10.1.4 and over the period over which until the date of repayment no 
earlier distribution as referred to in the first sentence of article 10.1.4 has been made, all this 
provided that the requirement of article 10.1.2 has been met as demonstrated by an interim 
statement of assets and liabilities as referred to article 10.2.2.  

10.2.4. Any proposal for distribution of a dividend on common shares and any resolution to 
distribute an interim dividend on common shares shall immediately be published by the 
management board in accordance with the applicable stock exchange regulations at the 
company's request. The notification shall specify the date when and the place where the dividend 
shall be payable or - in the case of a proposal for distribution of dividend - is expected to be made 
payable.  

10.2.5. Dividends shall be payable no later than thirty (30) days after the date when they were 
declared, unless the body declaring the dividend determines a different date.  

10.2.6. Dividends which have not been claimed upon the expiry of five (5) years and one (1) day 
after the date when they became payable shall be forfeited to the company and shall be carried 
to the reserves.  

10.2.7. The management board may determine that distributions on shares shall be made 
payable either in euro or in another currency. 

Proposal for result appropriation for the Financial Year 2015 

The General Meeting of Shareholders will be asked to approve the following appropriation of the 
2015 loss for the period, amounting to EUR 20,239,000, to be added to the accumulated losses. 

Branch offices 

Affimed  N.V.  operates  through  the  following  branch  offices  (direct  or  indirect  wholly  owned 
subsidiaries): 

- Affimed GmbH, Germany 

- AbCheck s.r.o., Czech Republic 

- Affimed Inc., USA 

Other participation 

- Amphivena Therapeutics Inc., USA (participation of 21%) 

Independent auditor’s report  

The independent auditor’s report is set forth on the following page. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015                            

95 

Independent auditor’s report 

To: the General Meeting of Shareholders of Affimed N.V. 

Report on the financial statements 

We have audited the accompanying  financial  statements 2015 of Affimed  N.V., 
Amsterdam, as set forth on pages 47 to 91.  The financial statements include the 
consolidated financial  statements and the company  financial statements. The 
consolidated  financial  statements comprise the consolidated statement  of 
financial  position  as at 31 December  2015, the consolidated statements  of 
comprehensive  income, changes in equity and cash  flows for the year then 
ended, and the notes, comprising a summary of the significant accounting 
policies and  other explanatory information. The company  financial statements 
comprise the company  balance  sheet as at 31 December  2015, the company 
profit and loss account for the year then ended, and the notes, comprising a 
summary of the accounting  policies and other explanatory  information. 

The Board of Directors’ responsibility 

The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of 
these financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the European Union and with Part 9 of Book 2 of the 
Netherlands Civil Code, and for the preparation of the management board report in 
accordance with Part 9 of Book 2 of the Netherlands Civil Code. 

Furthermore, the Board of Directors is responsible for such internal control as they 
determine it is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial statements that 
are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

Auditor’s responsibility 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our 
audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Dutch law, including the Dutch 
Standards on Auditing. This requires that we comply with ethical requirements and plan 
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial 
statements are free from material misstatement. 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts 
and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the 
auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of 
the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk 
assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the company’s 
preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit 
procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of 
expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control. An audit 
also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2015                                                                                       

    96 

reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the board of directors, as well as 
evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to 
provide a basis for our audit opinion. 

Opinion with respect to the consolidated financial statements 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the 
financial position of Affimed N.V. as at 31 December 2015 and of its result and its cash 
flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the European Union and with Part 9 of Book 2 of the 
Netherlands Civil Code. 

Opinion with respect to the company financial statements 

In our opinion, the company financial statements give a true and fair view of the 
financial position of Affimed N.V. as at 31 December 2015 and of its result for the year 
then ended in accordance with Part 9 of Book 2 of the Netherlands Civil Code. 

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements 

Pursuant to the legal requirements under Section 2:393 sub 5 at e and f of the 
Netherlands Civil Code, we have no deficiencies to report as a result of our 
examination whether the board report, to the extent we can assess, has been prepared 
in accordance with Part 9 of Book 2 of this Code, and whether the information as 
required under Section 2:392 sub 1 at b – h has been annexed. Further, we report that 
the board report, to the extent we can assess, is consistent with the financial 
statements as required by Section 2:391 sub 4 of the Netherlands Civil Code. 

Utrecht, 20 May 2016 

KPMG Accountants N.V. 

J.G.R. Wilmink RA