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Affimed

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FY2016 Annual Report · Affimed
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Affimed N.V. 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

Annual Report 2016 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

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 2016 

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 2016 

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, with different dosing schemes being explored to allow for improved 
exposure in heavily pretreated patient populations. 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. 

Focusing our efforts on antibodies specifically binding NK-cells through CD16A, a dominant activating 
receptor on innate immune cells, we have built a clinical and preclinical pipeline of NK-cell-engaging 
bispecific antibodies designed to activate both innate and adaptive immunity. Compared to a variety of 
T-cell-engaging technologies, our NK-cell engagers appear to have a better safety profile and have 
the potential to achieve more potent and deeper immune responses through enhancing crosstalk of 
innate to adaptive immunity. Their safety profiles also make our molecules suitable for development as 
combination therapies (e.g. with checkpoint inhibitors, or CPIs, or adoptive NK-cells). Building on our 
leadership in the NK-cell space, we are also developing tetravalent, bispecific alternative antibody 
formats (AAFs) for NK-cell engagement offering varying PK/PD profiles relevant to certain diseases. 

As of today, we have focused our research and development efforts on four 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 studies 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 also see an opportunity in the clinical development of our TandAbs in combination with other 
agents that harness the immune system to fight cancer cells, such as CPIs. Such combinations of 
cancer immunotherapies may ultimately prove beneficial for larger patient populations in earlier stages 
of diseases, beyond the relapsed/refractory disease setting. 

Our offices and laboratories are located at the Technology Park adjacent to the DKFZ in Heidelberg, 
where we employ 55 personnel, approximately 70% of whom have an advanced academic degree. 
Including AbCheck and Affimed Inc. personnel, our total headcount is 84 (75 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 Annual Report 2016 

2 

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. 

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 different types of next-generation antibodies, bispecific and 
trispecific Abs, as well as tetravalent, bispecific alternative antibody formats (AAFs). 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. In the second 
quarter of 2015, a phase 2a proof of concept study 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. Due to delays in opening study 
sites and the availability of anti-PD-1 antibodies for the treatment of relapsed/refractory HL 
patients, we have experienced slower recruitment into the study than anticipated. We have 
worked with GHSG to revise the overall study design in order to adapt to the changing 
treatment landscape, namely the availability of anti-PD-1 antibodies. The study will now 
include HL patients relapsed or refractory to treatment with both brentuximab vedotin 
(Adcetris) and anti-PD-1 antibodies. Different dosing protocols of AFM13 are being explored to 
allow for improved exposure in more heavily pretreated patient populations. The study is 
expected to begin recruiting under the new study design in the first half of 2017 and we 
anticipate providing an update on the study in the second half of 2017. We are also planning a 
clinical study of AFM13 in patients with CD30+ lymphoma. In addition, we have expanded our 
development strategy to combination therapies. In the first half of 2016 we initiated a phase 1b 
clinical study to investigate AFM13 in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in HL 
patients that have relapsed after or are refractory to chemotherapy and Adcetris. The study is 
ongoing and no dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the first and second dose cohorts. 
Data read-out is ongoing and we intend to provide an update in the second half of 2017. For 
AFM11, we have initiated 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 amended study protocol was approved by the applicable regulatory authorities in 
the third quarter of 2015. We have opened new study sites to expedite recruitment into the 
study. A phase 1 dose-finding clinical study of AFM11 in patients with acute lymphocytic 
leukemia, or ALL, commenced in the third quarter of 2016 and is enrolling. We anticipate 
providing a progress update on both studies in the first half of 2017. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

3 

(cid:1)  Establish R&D and Commercialization Capabilities in Europe and in the United States 
While we plan to retain rights for our product candidates, 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 U.S. talent pool, to maintain a close relationship 
to the financial and pharmaceutical community and to continuously measure and adapt to our 
strategic position in the competitive landscape. 

(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, trispecific Abs and AAFs. 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 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, Merck and MD 

Anderson. We have a research agreement with LLS under which LLS has committed to co-
fund the development of AFM13, with the focus having been shifted towards combination 
therapy in June 2016 due to the recent changes within the rapidly evolving cancer 
immunotherapy treatment landscape. We believe that this collaboration will also allow us to 
expedite patient enrollment for future studies by leveraging the LLS’s existing relationships 
with key U.S. investigators. 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. In 
January 2017, we entered into a clinical development and commercialization collaboration 
with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, or MD Anderson, to evaluate 
AFM13 in combination with MD Anderson’s NK-cell product. MD Anderson will be responsible 
for conducting preclinical research activities aimed at investigating its NK-cells derived from 
umbilical cord blood in combination with AFM13, which are intended to be followed by a phase 
1 study. We will fund research and development expenses for this collaboration and hold an 
option to exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize any product developed 
under the collaboration. 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 multiple collaborations 
with academic partners including the German Hodgkin Study Group, the Mayo Clinic, the 
Columbia University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, as well as the German Cancer Research 
Center (DKFZ). We finalized the establishment of a Scientific Advisory Board in 2015. We will 
continue to engage with key experts in our areas of interest with activities. 

(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, trispecific Abs or AAFs. 
AbCheck’s high-quality capabilities have been validated through multiple international 
collaborations including a clinical research partnership with globally active pharmaceutical 
companies, as well as a strategic research partnership with Pierre Fabre. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

4 

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 study 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. The 
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or LLS, has agreed to co-fund a portion of the 
development of AFM13. In addition, we are planning a clinical study of AFM13 in patients with 
CD30+ lymphoma. We initiated a clinical phase 1b study investigating the combination of 
AFM13 with Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with relapsed/refractory HL in the 
first half of 2016. The study is designed to establish a dosing regimen for the combination 
therapy and assess its safety and efficacy. We have also entered into a clinical development 
and commercialization collaboration with MD Anderson to evaluate AFM13 in combination 
with MD Anderson’s NK-cell product.

(cid:1)  Our T-cell-engaging Lead Product Candidate, AFM11. 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. 
Although the PK of TandAbs is longer as compared to Amgen’s BiTEs such as Blincyto, we 
are exploring different dosing regimens in our clinical studies to address specific features 
relating to T-cell engagement, which may require longer infusion times. We have initiated 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 
amended study protocol was approved by the applicable regulatory authorities in the third 
quarter of 2015. A phase 1 clinical study of AFM11 in patients with ALL commenced in the 
third quarter of 2016 and is enrolling. We anticipate providing a progress update on both 
studies in the first half of 2017. 

(cid:1)  Growing Pipeline of Product Candidates Focused on Key Cancer Indications. A CD16A 
NK-cell TandAb, called AFM24, targeting EGFR-wild type, a validated solid tumor target has 
been engineered and characterized preclinically and expect to provide an update on the 
program in the first half of 2017. In addition, we are developing AFM26 preclinically, a CD16A 
NK-cell TandAb targeting another validated tumor target, B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), in 
multiple myeloma. 

(cid:1)  Retained Global Commercial Rights for our Four Candidates in our Product Pipeline. 

Our four pipeline product candidates AFM13, AFM11, AFM24 and AFM26 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 was a member of the team that developed and commercialized 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

5 

Firazyr®, while our Chief Operating Officer Jörg Windisch played a leading role in the 
development of Omnitrope®, Binocrit® and Zarzio®. 

(cid:0)  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 
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 phase 1 dose-escalation clinical study, 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 to Cheson’s 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

6 

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 study 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. We have worked with GHSG to revise 
the overall study design in order to adapt to the changing treatment landscape, namely the availability 
of anti-PD-1 antibodies. The study will now include HL patients relapsed or refractory to treatment with 
both brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) and anti-PD-1 antibodies. Different dosing protocols of AFM13 are 
being explored to allow for improved exposure in more heavily pretreated patient populations. The 
study is expected to begin recruiting under the new study design in the first half of 2017 and we 
anticipate providing an update on the study in the second half of 2017. 

In order to prepare for further clinical development, we performed preclinical studies investigating the 
combination of AFM13 with check-point modulators (CPM) with collaboration partners. 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. Based 
on the preclinical data, we 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 in the first half of 2016. The study is ongoing 
and no dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the first and second dose cohorts. Data read-out is 
ongoing and we intend to provide an update in the second half of 2017. The LLS has committed to co-
fund the development of AFM13 with the focus having been shifted towards combination therapy in 
June 2016 following the greater focus of combination therapies in immunooncology. In addition, we 
are planning a clinical study of AFM13 in patients with CD30+ lymphoma. In January 2017, we entered 
into a clinical development and commercialization collaboration with MD Anderson to evaluate AFM13 
in combination with MD Anderson’s NK-cell product. MD Anderson will be responsible for conducting 
preclinical research activities aimed at investigating its NK-cells derived from umbilical cord blood in 
combination with AFM13, which are intended to be followed by a phase 1 study. We will fund research 
and development expenses for this collaboration and hold an option to exclusive worldwide rights to 
develop and commercialize any product developed under the collaboration. 

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 and Acute Lymphocytic 
Leukemia, or ALL. 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. AFM11 has shown 100-fold higher affinity to CD3 resulting 
in up to 40-fold greater cytotoxic potency at low T-cell counts compared to blinatumomab. We 
therefore believe it may have an efficacy advantage, especially in immunocompromised patients. 
Although the PK of TandAbs is longer as compared to Amgen’s BiTEs such as Blincyto, AFM11 might 
have a convenience advantage due to its half-life and we are exploring different dosing regimens in 
our clinical studies to address specific features relating to T-cell engagement, which may require 
longer infusion times. We have initiated 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 amended study protocol was approved by the applicable regulatory authorities in the 
third quarter of 2015. We have opened new study sites to expedite recruitment into the study. A phase 
1 dose-finding clinical study of AFM11 in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL, 
commenced in the third quarter of 2016 and is enrolling. We anticipate providing a progress update on 
both studies in the first half of 2017. 

We are developing AFM24, an NK-cell-engaging bispecific antibody 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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

7 

squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC). Based on the preclinical efficacy and 
safety data in cynomolgus monkey, we expect to provide an update on the program in the first half of 
2017. As planned, following the selection of AFM24 as a solid tumor candidate, we have deprioritized 
development of our preclinical solid tumor programs, AFM21 and AFM22, targeting Epidermal Growth 
Factor Receptor variant III, or EGFRvIII. 

Amphivena’s product candidate, AMV564, is a CD33/CD3-specific T-cell TandAb. In preclinical 
studies, AMV564, which was derived from our TandAb platform, has demonstrated potent and 
selective cytotoxic activity in AML patient samples as well as robust tumor growth inhibition and a 
complete elimination of leukemic blasts in xenograft models. Amphivena has recently initiated a first-
in-human phase 1 dose escalation and expansion trial of AMV564 in patients with relapsed or 
refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML)..  

In addition, we have been exploring trispecific Abs for various undisclosed targets which are currently 
at a discovery stage to be developed for indications such as multiple myeloma (MM), as well as 
tetravalent, bispecific alternative antibody formats (AAFs) for NK-cell engagement offering varying 
PK/PD profiles relevant to certain diseases. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

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, 2016, we have raised an aggregate of €176.2 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, 2016, we incurred a net loss of €32.2 million. As of December 31, 2016, we had 
an accumulated deficit of €152.4 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 a 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. 

Amphivena separately entered into a warrant agreement with Janssen Biotech Inc. that gave Janssen 
the option to acquire Amphivena following IND acceptance by the FDA of such product candidate. 
Amphivena retains full rights to the product candidate following the decision by Janssen not to 
exercise its option to acquire Amphivena upon effectiveness of the product candidate’s IND 
application in July 2016. 

Pursuant to the July 2013 license and development agreement with Amphivena, we historically 
performed certain services for Amphivena related to the development of a product candidate for 
hematological malignancies, and granted Amphivena certain product and technology licenses, each of 
which included 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 that 
was performed prior to IND acceptance, Amphivena paid us service fees totaling approximately €14.3 
million (net of our share in funding Amphivena) upon the achievement of milestones and phase 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

9 

progressions as described under the license and development agreement. We do not expect to 
provide any additional significant services or generate significant additional revenues under the 
license and development agreement. 

We recognized revenues of €4.4 million, €1.8 million, €4.8 million and €3.4 million in 2013, 2014, 2015 
and 2016 respectively (net of our total investments of €1.7 million), €0.0 million was deferred as of 
December 31, 2016 (December 31, 2015: €2.8 million deferred). 

We are paid in euros under the license and development agreement. 

Although the license and development agreement with Amphivena expired when the IND became 
effective, we continue to provide services to complete the remaining deliverables (i.e. material 
transfer) required under the agreement, and are financially supporting the future clinical development 
of AMV564 with €1.6 million in financing, €1.0 million of which was invested in Amphivena in October 
2016 and €0.6 million of which was invested in March 2017. As of March 15, 2017, the cash 
investments in relation to the July 2013 license and development agreement and cash investments 
made in October 2016 and March 2017 totaled $2.6 million (€2.3 million), and we owned 
approximately 23% of the outstanding equity of Amphivena on a fully diluted basis. 

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 (€4.2 million) over two years to support the project. We have agreed to 
match LLS’s contributions toward the project budget. Our receipt of the $4.4 million total that LLS has 
agreed to contribute is conditioned on the achievement of certain milestones in connection with the 
development of AFM13. 

The research funding agreement was amended in June 2016 to reflect a shift in development focus of 
AFM13 due to recent changes within the rapidly evolving cancer immunotherapy treatment landscape 
resulting in a shift to development of combination therapeutic approaches. Having successfully 
established a collaboration with Merck in January 2016 to test AFM13 in combination with Keytruda in 
relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma patients, we have prioritized the development of AFM13 as a 
combination therapy. Consequently, we have agreed with LLS to amend the research funding 
agreement so that the milestones now relate primarily to the development of AFM13 as a combination 
therapy. 

As of December 31, 2016 we have met five milestones and we recognized revenues of €1.1 million, 
€1.6 million and €0.4 million in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. We must use the funding provided 
by LLS exclusively with the development program, and return any excess funding to LLS. 

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 2016 

10 

Merck 

In January 2016, we entered into a collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V., or Merck, based in 
Haarlem, The Netherlands, to evaluate AFM13 in combination with Merck’s anti PD-1 therapy, 
Keytruda (pembrolizumab). Under the terms of the agreement, Affimed will fund and conduct a phase 
1b clinical trial to investigate the combination of Keytruda with Affimed’s proprietary drug candidate 
AFM13 for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory HL. Merck will supply Affimed with 
Keytruda for the clinical trial. Each party is responsible for its own internal costs and expenses to 
support the clinical trial (including the costs for the respective trial compound), while we are bearing all 
other costs associated with the trial. 

The purpose of the study is to establish a dosing regimen for this combination therapy and assess its 
safety and efficacy. 

MD Anderson 

In January 2017, we entered into a clinical development and commercialization collaboration with The 
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, or MD Anderson, to evaluate AFM13 in combination 
with MD Anderson’s NK-cell product. MD Anderson will be responsible for conducting preclinical 
research activities aimed at investigating its NK-cells derived from umbilical cord blood in combination 
with AFM13, which are intended to be followed by a phase 1 trial. We will fund research and 
development expenses for this collaboration and hold an option to exclusive worldwide rights to 
develop and commercialize any product developed under the collaboration. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

11 

Financial Operations Overview 

Revenue 

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

Collaboration revenue. 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). Collaboration revenue of €3.8 million for the year ended 
December 31, 2016 was from research and development services under the license and development 
agreement with Amphivena (€3.4 million) and from the LLS collaboration (€0.4 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 
€0.5 million, €1.3 million and €2.4 million of service revenue in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. 
Service revenue of AbCheck is dependent from third party contracts as well as from the utilization of 
the Unit by Affimed. The increase or decrease of the use of AbCheck’s service capabilities by Affimed 
has an impact on AbCheck’s 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. The amount of future revenue is dependent on our ability to conclude new 
collaboration arrangements and the terms we are able to negotiate with our partners. 

Other Income 

Other Income in 2014, 2015 and 2016 primarily relates to 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 2016 

12 

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

We expect that our total research and development expenses in 2017 will be in the range of €26 to 
€30 million. Our research and development expenses primarily relate to the following key programs: 

(cid:1)  AFM13. We initiated a phase 1b study investigating the combination of AFM13 with Merck’s 

anti-PD-1 antibody Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with r/r HL in 2016. Different dosing 
protocols are being explored in the investigator-initiated monotherapeutic phase 2a clinical 
trial of AFM13 in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma, or r/r HL, to allow for improved 
exposure in more heavily pretreated patient populations. The study is expected to begin 
recruiting under the new study design in the first half of 2017. In addition, we are planning a 
clinical study of AFM13 in patients with CD30+ lymphoma. We anticipate that our research 
and development expenses in 2017 for AFM13 will be lower than in 2016 due to the reduced 
need to produce AFM13 clinical trial material and related lower costs. 

(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. A phase 1 clinical study of AFM11 in 
patients with ALL commenced in the third quarter of 2016 and is enrolling. Therefore, we 
anticipate that our research and development expense for the AFM11 program will increase in 
2017. 

(cid:1)  Other development programs. Our other research and development expenses relate to our 
preclinical studies of our solid tumor candidate, AFM24, our multiple myeloma program 
AFM26, our Amphivena collaboration (through the third quarter of 2016) and early stage 
development / discovery activities. We have allocated a material amount of our resources to 
such discovery activities. The expenses mainly consist of salaries and manufacturing costs for 
pre-clinical and clinical study material and are expected to increase in 2017. 

(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 €84.9 million on research and development. In the 
years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, we spent €9.6 million, €22.0 million and €30.2 
million on research and development; €4.2 million, €10.0 million and €11.8 million thereof on AFM13; 
and €1.2 million, €0.8 million and €2.5 million thereof 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 and 
broaden 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) 

(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; 

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

13 

(cid:1) 

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 2017 will be on approximately the same 
level compared to the expenses in 2016, and will 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, 2014, 2015 and 2016. 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, 2015 and 2016 

Total Revenue: 
Other income-net 
Research and development expenses 
General and administrative expenses 

Year ended December 31, 

2015 
(in € thousand) 

2016 

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

6,314
145
(30,180)
(8,323)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

14 

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 

(21,343)
1,104
(20,239)
0
(20,239)
(20,239)
(0.71)

(32,044)
(230)
(32,274)
58
(32,216)
(32,216)
(0.97)

Revenue 

Revenue decreased 17% from €7.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 to €6.3 million for 
the year ended December 31, 2016. In 2016 and 2015, €3.4 million and €4.8 million of revenue related 
to the Amphivena collaboration, net of funding Amphivena with €1.0 million (2015: funding of €0.3 
million). Additional revenue of €2.4 million related to AbCheck services (2015: €1.1 million), and €0.4 
million (2015: €1.6 million) to the LLS collaboration. 

Research and development expenses 

Year ended  
December 31, 

R&D Expenses by Project  

2015 

2016 

Change % 

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

(in € thousand) 

10,004 
  800 
10,593 
611 
22,008 

11,847 
2,471 
14,684 
1,178 
30,180 

18% 
209% 
39% 
93% 
37% 

Research and development expenses increased 37% from €22.0 million in the year ended December 
31, 2015 to €30.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2016, mainly due to higher expenses for 
AFM13, AFM11 and other projects and infrastructure. For the year 2017, we anticipate research and 
development expenses to be on approximately the same level due to ongoing clinical trials with 
AFM13 (phase 1b combination trial of AFM13 with Merck’s anti-PD-1 antibody Keytruda in patients 
with relapsed/refractory HL and phase 2a clinical trial of AFM13 in relapsed/refractory HL), the 
expected start of a clinical trial of AFM13 in patients with CD30+ lymphoma, 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, 2015 and the corresponding period in 2016 are mainly due to the following 
projects: 

(cid:1)  AFM13.  In the year ended December 31, 2016, we incurred higher expenses than in 
the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily due to the ongoing phase 2a study and 
our ongoing manufacturing activities for clinical trial material including material for our 
additional clinical trials with AFM13, as well as the conduct and preparation of the 
phase 1b combination trial of AFM13 with Merck’s anti PD-1 antibody Keytruda in 
patients with r/r HL. 

(cid:1)  AFM11.  In the year ended December 31, 2016, research and development expenses 

were significantly higher than in the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to 
expenses inter alia of the opening of new sites in Central and Eastern Europe for our 
ongoing phase 1 study in NHL and additional expenses associated with the 
preparation and initiation of a phase 1 dose-finding study in ALL. 

(cid:1)  Other projects and infrastructure costs.  In the year ended December 31, 2016, 
expenses were significantly higher than in the year ended December 31, 2015 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

15 

primarily due to higher expenses incurred in relation to our discovery/early stage 
development activities including manufacturing costs for pre-clinical and clinical study 
material and preclinical activities for AFM24 and AFM26. We also incurred higher 
costs associated with our research and development that are non-project specific, 
including intellectual property-related expenses, depreciation expenses and facility 
costs. Because these costs are less dependent on individual ongoing programs, they 
are not allocated to specific projects. 

General and administrative expenses 

General and administrative expenses increased 10% from €7.5 million in the year ended December 31, 
2015 to €8.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase is primarily related to higher 
expenses for share-based payments of €2.4 million (2015: €1.6 million). 

Finance income / (costs)-net 

Finance costs for the year ended December 31, 2016 were €0.2 million, compared with finance income 
of €1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Finance costs in the year ended December 31, 
2016 include foreign exchange gains of €0.7 million while finance income for the year ended December 
31, 2015 include foreign exchange gains of €1.8 million. Finance costs relate primarily to our loan facility 
with Silicon Valley Bank and our former loan facility with Perceptive. 

Income tax expense 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded a tax income of €58,000 due to changes in 
deferred taxes. 

Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 

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, 
2014 
2015 
(in € thousand) 

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

7,562
651
(22,008)
(7,548)
(21,343)
1,104
(20,239)
0
(20,239)
(20,239)
(0.71)

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. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

16 

Research and development expenses 

R&D Expenses by Project 

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

Year ended  
December 31, 

2014 

2015 

Change % 

(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. 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: 

•  AFM13.  In the year ended December 31, 2015, we incurred higher expenses due to the 

beginning of the phase 2a clinical trial and the manufacturing of clinical trial material for this 
study. 

•  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. 

•  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. 

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. 

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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

17 

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. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. For the years ended December 31, 
2014, 2015 and 2016, we incurred net losses of €0.3 million, €20.2 million and €32.2 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, 2016, we had cash and cash equivalents and financial 
assets, which we refer to as liquidity, of €44.9 million. We subsequently raised approximately $17.7 
million from a public offering of our common shares in January and February 2017. 

Our cash and cash equivalents and financial assets consist primarily of deposits in savings and 
deposit accounts with original maturities of three months or less and certificates of deposit with original 
maturities of six months which generate a small amount of interest income. We expect to continue this 
investment philosophy. 

Cash Flows 

Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016 

The table below summarizes our consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended December 
31, 2015 and 2016: 

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 ............................................  

2016 

2015 
(in € thousand) 
(18,535) 
(277) 
53,498 
34,686 
39,725 
2,329 
76,740 

(32,127) 
(9,149) 
(236) 
(41,512) 
76,740 
179 
35,407 

The increase in net cash used in operating activities by 73% from €18.5 million in the year ended 
December 31, 2015 to €32.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 was mainly due to higher 
cash expenditure for research and development efforts. 

The increase in net cash used for investing activities from €0.3 million in the year ended December 31, 
2015 to €9.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 was due to net cash paid for investments in 
financial assets (certificates of deposit) amounting to €8.9 million (amount of cash paid for investments 
less cash received from maturity of investments). 

Net cash generated from financing activities amounted to €53.5 million in the year ended December 
31, 2015 while net cash used in financing activities was €0.2 million in the year ended December 31, 
2016. The 2016 amount includes the early repayment of the Perceptive Credit Facility and the 
borrowing of funds under the SVB Credit Facility. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

18 

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: 

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, 

2014 

2015 

(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. 

Cash and Funding Sources 

Our liquidity as of December 31, 2016 was €44.9 million and was €53.7 million as of March 31, 2017. 
Funding sources generally comprise proceeds from the issuance of equity instruments, loans, 
revenues from collaboration agreements and government grants. 

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 Calibrium AG (formerly Aeris Capital AG), in a private placement exempt from registration, 
resulting in net proceeds to us of €19.1 million ($21.8 million). 

In October 2015, we entered into an at-the-market sales agreement (“Sales Agreement”) with Cowen & 
Company, LLC (“Cowen”) pursuant to which we may from time to time, at our option, offer and sell our 
common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $50 million through Cowen, acting as our 
sales  agent.  As  of  March  15,  2017,  we  had  sold  32,211  of  our  common  shares  under  the  Sales 
Agreement at an average price of $2.11 per share for net proceeds of approximately $67,938. We plan 
to use proceeds from the Sales Agreement for general corporate purposes. 

On November 30, 2016, our subsidiary Affimed GmbH entered into a loan agreement with Silicon Valley 
Bank,  a  California  corporation  (“SVB”),  as  lender,  which  we  fully  guarantee.  The  loan  agreement 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

19 

provides us with a senior secured term loan facility (the “SVB Credit Facility”) for up to €10.0 million, 
available in two tranches, the availability of which is contingent on our satisfaction of certain conditions. 

On December 8, 2016, we drew down the initial tranche of €5.0 million. We may draw up to an additional 
€5.0 million or €2.5 million on or before May 31, 2017, in the case of each tranche, contingent on the 
satisfaction by such date of certain conditions as set forth in the loan agreement. In connection with the 
initial drawdown, we issued SVB a warrant to purchase 166,297 of our common shares, at an exercise 
price of $2.00 per common share. 

The interest rate on amounts borrowed under the SVB Credit Facility is calculated as the sum of (i) 
one-month EURIBOR plus (ii) an applicable margin of 5.5%, with EURIBOR deemed to equal zero 
percent if EURIBOR is less than zero percent. The SVB Credit Facility has a maturity date of (i) May 
31, 2020, if we draw down only under Tranche 1 or under Tranche 2a as well, with an interest-only 
period through (a) June 1, 2017 if only Tranche 1 is drawn down, or (b) December 1, 2017 if Tranche 
2a is drawn down as well, in each case with amortized payments of principal and interest thereafter in 
equal monthly installments; or (ii) November 30, 2020, if we draw down under Tranche 2b, with an 
interest only period through March 1, 2018, with amortized payments of principal and interest 
thereafter in equal monthly installments. Borrowings under the SVB Credit Facility are secured by a 
pledge of 100% of our shares in Affimed GmbH, all intercompany accounts receivables owed by our 
subsidiaries to us and a security assignment of essentially all our bank accounts, inventory, trade 
receivables and payment claims as specified in the loan agreement governing the facility. 

On January 25, 2017, we sold 10,000,000 of our common shares at a price of $1.80 per share in an 
underwritten public offering and received approximately $16.6 million in net proceeds, after deducting 
underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  and  other  offering  expenses.  The  underwriters  partially 
executed  an  option  to  purchase  additional  shares  and  on  February  9,  2017  we  sold  an  additional 
646,762 shares at a price of $1.80 per share and received approximately $1.1 million, after deducting 
underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. 

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, AFM24 and AFM26. If we receive regulatory approval for AFM13, AFM11, AFM24 or AFM26, 
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 at least until the end 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 2016 

20 

(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. 

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 2016                                                                                                     21 

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 2016 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, 2017, 
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 2016                                                                                                     22 

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 available liquidity (including cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit) 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 part of an investment in our shares could be lost. In 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016                                                                                                     23 

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, 2015 and 2016. 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. 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 2016                                                                                                     24 

The cash and cash equivalents and certificates of depost 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 the SVB loan pursuant to which the Company borrowed €5.0 million with a variable 
interest rate of an annual rate of 5.5% plus one-month EURIBOR, with EURIBOR deemed to equal zero 
percent if EURIBOR is less than zero percent. Affimed does not expect the EURIBOR to exceed the 
floor of 0% within the foreseeable future, and considers the interest risk to be low. 

Our financial assets are exposed to interest rate risk. Certain financial institutions with whom we have 
allocated our financial assets have introduced or are planning to introduce a negative interest rate on 
financial assets held by them. We could be impaceted by these negative interest rates. However the 
introduction of negative interest rates or a shift in interest rates would have an immaterial impact on 
this 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 offerings and the private placement 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.  

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 2016, if the Euro had weakened/strengthened by 10% against the US dollar with all other variables 
held constant, the loss would have been €1.9 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, 2015 and in the first quarter of 2017, Affimed raised significant funding that it estimates will 
enable the Group to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements at least until the 
end of 2018:  

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016                                                                                                     25 

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

In 2015, Affimed filed a “shelf registration statement” with the SEC in order to offer and sell securities 
to the public in multiple, future offerings and issued shares with proceeds of €6,000 in connection with 
its at-the-market sales agreement in 2016. 

On November 30, 2016, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Silicon Valley Bank which 
provides the Company with a loan facility for up to €10.0 million contingent on the satisfaction of 
certain conditions, and drew the initial tranche of €5.0 million. 

In January 2017, the Company issued 28,870 shares with proceeds of €58,000 in connection with its 
at-the-market sales agreement.  

In January and February 2017, the Company issued 10,646,742 common shares in a public offering at 
a price of $1.80 per common share and received net proceeds of approximately €16.5 million ($17.7 
million). 

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. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

26 

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 the initial public offering of common shares of Affimed, 
which 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 (“Annual Report”), 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 its Annual Report. 

In the present Annual 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 Dutch home country 
corporate governance practices, including the Code, 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).  

The Monitoring Committee Corporate Governance has published an amended version of the Code 
on 8 December 2016, which is applicable to the Company for the financial year starting on 1 
January 2017. 

II. 

MANAGING DIRECTORS AND SUPERVISORY DIRECTORS 

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

Name 

Adi Hoess 
Florian Fischer   
Jörg Windisch 

Age 

55 
49 
46 

Position 

Chief Executive Officer 
Chief Financial Officer 
Chief Operating Officer 

Jens-Peter Marschner resigned as managing director and Chief Medical Officer as per 10 August 
2016. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

27 

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

Adi Hoess, Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Hoess joined us in October 2010 as Chief Commercial 
Officer and has served as our Chief Executive Officer since September 2011. 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 director 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. 

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. In March 2017 we 
entered into a termination agreement with Dr. Windisch, who will be leaving the Company at the end 
of June 2017. He will continue to support Affimed as a consulting expert following his departure. 

The following table lists the supervisory directors currently in office, all of whom have been 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/re-appointment 

Term 

Thomas Hecht   
Bernhard Ehmer 

Ulrich Grau 

Berndt Modig 

Richard B. Stead 

M 
M 

M 

M 

M 

Ferdinand Verdonck  M 

German 
German 

German/US 

Swedish/US 

US 

Belgian 

66 

62 

68 

58 

64 
74 

September 17, 2014 
January 21, 2016 

July 1, 2015 

September 17, 2014 

June 21, 2016 
September 9, 2014 

  2017 

  2019 

  2018 

  2017 

  2019 
  2017 

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

28 

Thomas Hecht, Chairman. Dr. Hecht has been the chairman of our supervisory board since 2014, 
and previously was the chairman of the supervisory board of our German operating subsidiary 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., Vaximm 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 and until June 2016, of 
Delenex AG. 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. 

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 has been a member of our supervisory board since July 2015.  
Prior to that, he served as an advisor to the management board of our German operating subsidiary 
our board from May 2013. 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 
with a development pipeline which included Humira. The majority of his career was at Aventis Pharma 
(now Sanofi), where he last held the position of Senior Vice President of global late stage 
development. Sanofi’s product Lantus ® for the treatment of type 2 and type 1 diabetes 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. 

Berndt Modig, Director. Mr. Modig has been a member of our supervisory board since 2014. He has 
been CEO of Pharvaris B.V. since April 2016. Prior to this, 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 and as vice 
chairman of the supervisory board and chairman of the audit committee of Kiadis Pharma N.V. 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 2014, and 
previously was a member of the supervisory board of our German operating subsidiary 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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

29 

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 
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 Repertory Theatre. 

Ferdinand Verdonck, Director. Mr. Verdonck has been a member of our supervisory board since 
July 2014. He 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 biotechnology companies: uniQure N.V. in the Netherlands and Movetis and Galapagos 
in Belgium. 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 any other information 
as the supervisory board requires in 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 three 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. 
This aim for the best fit, in combination with the availability of qualifying candidates, has resulted in 
Affimed, as of April 30, 2017, having a management board in which all three members are male. In 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

30 

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 appointment of a women to a key leadership position in 
2016. 

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 
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 such information to the supervisory board 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 years. The Company's supervisory directors are appointed for overlapping 
terms.  As a result of the terms of the Company’s current supervisory directors, only one to three 
supervisory directors will be subject to re-appointment in any one year. The staggered terms of the 
supervisory directors may deter an unsolicited takeover attempt. 

The supervisory board meets as often as any supervisory director 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 qualified 
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.  

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 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

31 

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.  

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 2016.  

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, assists the board in overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes 
and the audits of our financial statements. 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 the selection of the registered public accounting firm that 
should serve as our independent auditor, and our supervisory board is responsible for 
recommending the appointment of the independent auditor to the general meeting of shareholders.  
In addition, the audit committee is responsible for the compensation, retention and oversight of the 
independent auditor appointed by the general meeting of shareholders; 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 auditor, without our management board being present. The audit 
committee held five meetings in person and three meetings by conference call in 2016. 

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 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

32 

of any compensation from the Company 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 making recommendations to the supervisory board for each managing 
director’s compensation based on such evaluation and for any long-term incentive component of 
each managing director’s compensation in line with the remuneration policy approved by the 
general meeting of shareholders. In addition, the compensation committee is responsible for 
reviewing our management board compensation and benefits policies generally, among other 
things. 

The compensation committee held four meetings in person and three meetings by conference call 
in 2016. 

Nomination and corporate governance committee  

The nomination and corporate governance committee, which consists of Ulrich Grau (Chairman), 
Thomas Hecht 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 three meetings in person and one 
meeting by conference call in 2016. 

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. The remuneration 
policy was amended where it concerns the attendance fee for meetings of the supervisory board by 
the general meeting of shareholders on 21 June 2016. 

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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

33 

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. For other, including non-formal board meetings attended either in 
person or by phone the Company will pay each member of the supervisory board EUR 500 per meeting, 
provided that the duration of such meeting 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, with one third vesting on the 
first anniversary of the grant date, and the remainder vesting in equal instalments at the end of 
each three-month period following the first anniversary 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. 

On 21 June 2016, the general meeting of shareholders resolved to award the chairman of the 
supervisory board a one-time additional grant of stock options to purchase 20,000 common shares 
and each member of the supervisory board a one-time additional grant of stock options to 
purchase 10,000 common shares. The additional stock options were awarded to compensate the 
supervisory directors for the exercise prices of the stock options exceeding the then current fair 
market value of the underlying shares. These additional stock options will vest in four quarterly 
installments and will be fully vested on the first anniversary of the date of the grant.  

The aggregate cash compensation including termination benefits, including benefits in kind, 
accrued or paid to our managing directors and supervisory directors with respect to the year ended 
December 31, 2016, for services in all capacities was approximately €2.5 million. As of December 
31, 2016, we have no amounts set aside or accrued to provide pension, retirement or similar 
benefits to our managing directors and supervisory directors. In 2016, awards for 1,250,500 stock 
options were granted to management and members of the supervisory board. Further details on 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

34 

the managing directors and supervisory directors individual remuneration are outlined in Note 35 to 
the Company only financial statements and Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements. 

In accordance with Dutch law, we are not required to disclose information regarding third party 
compensation of our directors or director nominees.  As a result, our practice varies from the third-
party compensation disclosure requirements of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(b)(3). 

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 
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 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

35 

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”), our German operating 
subsidiary 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 two of 
the current 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 connection with 
our IPO. Any existing consulting agreements between supervisory directors and us prior to their 
appointment as supervisory director were terminated before their appointment. 

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.  

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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

36 

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, 2016 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 2016, i-novion 
Inc. received related payments of €86,000. 

Agreements with former Managing Directors 

In 2016, we entered into a consulting agreement with our former Managing Director Jens-Peter 
Marschner consisting of services for the support of clinical trials and other activities in the field of 
clinical development. In 2016, Dr. Marschner received related payments of €29,000. Dr. Marschner 
has terminated the consulting agreement as of May 31, 2017.  

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 also assigned and licensed 
certain technology to Amphivena and provided it with funding. Although the license and 
development agreement with Amphivena expired when the product candidate’s IND became 
effective in July 2016, we continue to provide services to complete the deliverables required under 
the agreement, and are supporting the future clinical development of AMV564 with €1.6 million in 
financing, €1.0 million of which was invested in Amphivena in October 2016 and €0.6 million of 
which was invested in March 2017. 

Registration rights agreement  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

37 

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. 

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 management 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, 2016, 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 2016. 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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

38 

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

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, 2016.  

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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

39 

important decisions regarding Affimed’s identity or character, including major acquisitions and 
divestments. 

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) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

40 

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. 

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 21, 2016, our management board was granted 
the authority, for a period of 18 months, with effect from the same date (i.e., until December 21, 
2017) 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. 

Independent Auditor 

The general meeting of shareholders appoints the independent auditor. The audit committee was 
closely involved in the evaluation of Affimed's independent auditor and has recommended to the 
supervisory board the independent auditor to be proposed for (re)appointment by the general 
meeting of shareholders. In addition, the audit committee evaluates and, where appropriate, 

 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

41 

recommends the replacement of the independent auditors. On June 21, 2016, the general meeting 
of shareholders appointed KPMG Accountants N.V. as independent auditor for the Company for 
the financial year 2016. 

Anti-Takeover Provisions 

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 described in more detail in the 
annual report (20-F) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2017 
(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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

42 

(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 
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. We have opted out of 
the director independence requirements under applicable Nasdaq rules. 

May 21, 2017 

On behalf of the Management Board,  

Dr. Adi Hoess, CEO, 

Dr. Florian Fischer, CFO  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

43 

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 2016. 

We had a number of highlights and corporate updates in 2016 and early 2017.  

In May 2016, we initiated a Phase 1b combination trial of our lead NK-cell engager AFM13 with Merck’s 
Keytruda. We are the sole sponsor of this trial, while Merck provides Keytruda for the study. In September 
2016, we initiated a Phase 1 monotherapy trial of our T-cell engager AFM11 in acute lymphocytic 
leukemia, or ALL. 

In addition to the collaboration with Merck, we entered into an exclusive collaboration with the University 
of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to evaluate AFM13 with MD Anderson’s proprietary NK-cell 
product, which we announced in early January 2017. Also announced in January 2017, our wholly owned 
subsidiary AbCheck achieved the first clinical milestone in its collaboration with Eli Lilly. The milestone is 
the commencement of patient enrollment for a Phase 1 study of an antibody discovered under the 
collaboration agreement. It has triggered an undisclosed milestone payment to AbCheck from Eli Lilly and 
represents an important validation of AbCheck’s technology suite and its capability to reliably deliver high-
quality antibodies suitable for clinical development. 

In November 2016 we repaid the existing loan facility with Perceptive and entered into a new loan 
agreement with Silicon Valley Bank of up to €10 million. In addition, we raised €16.5 million (or $17.7 
million) in net proceeds in an underwritten follow-on financing in January and February 2017.  

In August 2016 we announced the departure of our CMO Dr. Jens-Peter Marschner. In the interim, Dr. 
Anne Kerber, is serving as acting CMO.  

We recently entered into a termination agreement with Dr. Jörg Windisch, COO, who will be leaving the 
Company at the end of June 2017. Dr. Windisch has accepted a position on the executive committee of a 
non-competing company focusing on the large-scale manufacturing of biologics and the development of 
biosimilars. He will continue to support Affimed as a consulting expert following his departure. 

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 2016. 
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 amended in 2016 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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

44 

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

Initial/re-appointment  Term 
September 17, 2014 
2017 
January 21, 2016 
2019 
July 1, 2015 
2018 
September 17, 2014 
2017 
June 21, 2016 
2019 
2017 

Age   Gender 
66 
62 
68 
58 
64 
74 

M 
M 
M 
M 
M 
M 

Nationality 
German 
German 
German/US 
Swedish/US 
US 
Belgian 

Meeting and activities 

The Supervisory Board held four meetings in person in 2016. The Management Board attended these 
meetings. During these meetings, key areas of discussion were 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. 

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 
2016 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.  

During the financial year 2016 no 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. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

45 

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 

chairman  
member  

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 2016, 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 and discussion of 
the financing situation.   

The financial statements of the company for 2016 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 three meetings by conference call in 2016.  

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.  

The Nomination and corporate governance committee held three meetings in person and one meeting by 
conference call in 2016. 

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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

46 

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. 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 four meetings in person and three meetings by conference call in 
2016.  

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. 

An overview of the implementation and planning of the remuneration of supervisory and managing 
directors and in addition the remuneration policy is given in more detail in section “Item 6. Directors, 
Senior Management and Employees – Compensation” in the annual report (20-F) filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2017 (available on our website http://www.affimed.com.sec).  

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. Two of our Supervisory Board members, Dr. Thomas Hecht and Dr. Ulrich Grau, 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 2016 

47 

Appreciation 

The Supervisory Board is of the opinion that during the year 2016, 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 2016. In particular, the 
Supervisory Board would very much like to thank our shareholders for their continued support.  

May 21, 2017 

On behalf of the Supervisory Board,  

Dr. Thomas Hecht,  

Chairman of the Supervisory Board  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

48 

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 2016 

53 

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  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 2016 

54 

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 in 2014.

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 21, 2017. 

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 2016 

55 

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, cash and cash equivalents and financial 
assets  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 2016 

56 

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  results  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 results 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 2016 

57 

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,  2015  and  2016  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. 

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. 

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. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

58 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

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  including  gains  or  losses  from  early 
extinguishment  of  debt.  Borrowing  costs  are  recognized  in  profit  or  loss  using  the  effective  interest 
method. 

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 non-derivative financial assets include trade and other receivables, certificates of deposit 
at banks with original maturities of more than three months and cash and cash equivalents.  

Loans and 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.  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  and  trade  and  other  payables.  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 contractual obligations are discharged, cancelled or expire. 

(v)  Compound financial instruments 

The Company entered into certain loan agreements pursuant to which it issued warrants to purchase 
common shares of the Company at the option of the respective holders (see note 17). The number of 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

59 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

shares to be issued does not vary with changes in their fair value. 

The liability component of the loans were 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. 

Impairment 

(vi)  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 
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 2014, 2015 or 2016. 

(vii)  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.  

(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7) (cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:7)(cid:11)

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. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

60 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

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: 

• 
• 

• 

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,  certificates  of  deposit,  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 17). 

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. 

The Company has granted warrants under certain loan agreements (see note 17) and options under 
share-based payment programs (see note 16) which potentially have a dilutive effect; 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. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

61 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

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 
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  after  January  1,  2016,  and  have  been  applied  in  preparing  these  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 IFRS 10, 12 and IAS 28 Investment Entities 
Amendment to IFRS 11 Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in  
Joint Operations 

Effective Date 1 

January 1, 2016 

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

January 1, 2016 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

62 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

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

The  Group  has  reduced  the  scope  of  notes  disclosure  according  to  the  amendment  of  IAS  1 
Disclosure Initiative. None of the other 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,  2016,  and  have  not  been  applied  in  preparing  these  consolidated 
financial statements. 

Standard/interpretation 

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers 
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2014) 
Amendments to IAS 7 Disclosure Initiative 
IFRS 16 Leases 
Clarifications to IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers 
Amendments to IFRS 2: Classification and Measurement of Share- 
based Payment Transactions 
Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2014-2016 Cycle 

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

Effective Date 1 

January 1, 2018 
January 1, 2018 
January 1, 2017 
January 1, 2019 
January 1, 2018 

January 1, 2018 
January 1, 2018 

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.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

63 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

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 

2014

111
367
2,904
3,382

2015

125
711
6,725
7,562

692
295
987

2016

6
1,397
4,911
6,314

618
259
877

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%. In 2016, the Group’s revenue 
with three customers exceeded 10%.  

6. 

Revenue 

Collaboration agreement Amphivena 

Until  July  2016,  Affimed  was  party  to  a  collaboration  with  Amphivena  Therapeutics  Inc.,  San 
Francisco, USA (in the following Amphivena). The purpose of the collaboration was the development 
of  a  product  candidate  for  hematological  malignancies.  The  collaboration  included  a  License  and 
Development Agreement between Amphivena and Affimed, which expired when Amphivena obtained 
the approval of an investigational new drug application (IND) from the FDA in July 2016. 

Pursuant  to  the  license  and  development  agreement  between  Affimed  and  Amphivena,  Affimed 
granted 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  that  was  performed,  Amphivena  was  required  to  pay  to  Affimed 
service  fees  totaling  approximately  €16  million  payable  according  to  the  achievement  of  milestones 
and  phase  progressions  as  described  under  the  license  and  development  agreement.  Since  the 
expiration  of  the  agreement,  the  parties  have  been  closing  out  the  collaboration  by  exchanging 
documentation and transferring materials and third party contracts.  

During  the  years  2014,  2015  and  2016,  the  Company  recognized  revenue  upon  achievement  of 
milestones  and  for  the  performance  of  research  and  development  services.  Revenue  in  2016 
amounted to €3.4 million, net of Affimed’s share in funding Amphivena (2015: €4.8 million, 2014: €1.8 
million).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

64 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

Amphivena  has  obtained  funding  solely  by  issuing  preferred  stock  to  investors.  Investors  provide 
financing  in  exchange  for  preferred  stock  issued  by  Amphivena  under  the  terms  of  certain  stock 
purchase  agreements.  Through  December  31,  2016,  Affimed  participated  in  the  financing  of 
Amphivena with cash investments of €1.7 million.  

(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:13)(cid:13)(cid:9)(cid:14)(cid:5)(cid:15)(cid:9)(cid:8)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:3) (cid:9)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:7)(cid:7)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:3)(cid:8) (cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:7) (cid:20)(cid:7)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:7)(cid:6)(cid:16)(cid:9) (cid:23) (cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:6)(cid:25)(cid:19)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:9) (cid:26)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:16)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:24) (cid:27)(cid:20)(cid:20)(cid:26)(cid:28)

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. 

In  June  2016,  the  research  funding  agreement  with  LLS  was  amended  to  reflect  a  shift  to  the 
development of combination therapeutic approaches so that the milestones now relate primarily to the 
development of a combination therapy. 

The  Company  achieved  several  milestones  and  recognized  revenue  for  related  payments  of  €1.1 
million in 2014, €1.6 million in 2015 and €0.4 million in 2016 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  €478  in  2014,  €1,126  in  2015  and  of 
€2,442 in 2016. 

7. 

Other income and expenses - net 

Other income and expenses, net mainly comprises income from government grants for research and 
development projects of €171 (2015: €716, 2014: €381).  

8. 

Research and development expenses 

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

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

65 

2016

€

20,170
6,648
758
1,028
322
297
957
30,180

2014

€

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

2015

€

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

In 2014, personnel expenses and Legal, consulting and patent expenses include a net gain of €1,480 
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 2).  

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

2014

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

2015

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

2016

4,729
2,210
111
1,273
8,323

In  2014,  personnel  expenses  and  Legal,  consulting  and  audit  fees  include  a  net  gain  of  €3,412  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 2).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

66 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

10.  Employee benefits 

The following table shows the items of employee benefits: 

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

2014

3,176
470

3,646

2015

5,066

583
5,649

2016

7,445

807
8,252

The  employer's  contributions  to  pension  insurance  plans  of  €362  (2015:  €269,  2014:  €242)  are 
classified as payments under a defined contribution plan, and are recognized as an expense.  

11.  Finance income and finance costs  

2014

2015

2016

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 17)

Other finance cost Perceptive Loan Agreement (see note 17)

Interest SVB Loan Agreement (see note 17)

Foreign exchange differences

Interest certificates of deposit (see note 14)

Other finance income/finance costs

Finance income/costs - net

4,835

6,094

-3,617

-402

-260

0

0

0

0

0

0

-703

0

0

1,106

1,808

0

-3

0

-1

7,753

1,104

0

0

0

0

-762

-242

-41

691

122

2

-230

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

67 

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, 
2016  deferred  tax  liabilities  from  temporary  differences  result  mainly  from  borrowings  (€129;  2015: 
€142)  and  other  assets  (€121;  2015:  €45).  Deferred  tax  assets  from  differences  resulting  from  trade 
and  other  receivables  (€292;  2015:  €338),  intangible  assets  (€49;  2015:  €44)  and  trade  and  other 
payables  (€31;  2015:  €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: 

2014    

2015    

2016 

Loss before tax 

-425    

-20,239    

-32,274    

Income tax benefit at tax rate of 
29.825 % 

Adjustments due to impairment of 
deferred tax assets 

127    

6,036    

9,626    

2,787    

-6,251    

-8,747    

Permanent differences 

-2,837    

Adjustments for local tax rates 

Non deductible expenses 

Other 

Income taxes 

119    

0    

-30    

166    

199    

18    

163    

-165    

0    

-948    

12    

154    

-39    

58    

tax 

losses  were  mitigated 

In  Germany,  Affimed  has  tax  losses  carried  forward  of  €117.6  million  (2015:  €89.2  million)  for 
corporate income tax purposes and of €117.3 million (2015: €89.0 million) for trade tax purposes that 
are  available  indefinitely  for  offsetting  against  future  taxable  profits  of  that  entity.  Restrictions  on  the 
utilization  of 
through  Economic  Growth  Acceleration  Act 
(Wachstumsbeschleunigungsgesetz).  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, all tax losses incurred in prior years (2015: €0.3 million) were used in the fiscal 
year 2016. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
     
     
  
  
  
  
     
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

68 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

13.  Trade and other receivables 

The trade receivables as of December 31, 2016 of €970 (2015: €105) are all due in the short-term, do 
not bear interest and are not impaired. As of December 31, 2016 trade receivables of €219 (2015: €0) 
were overdue. Other receivables are all due short-term and mainly comprise receivables for research 
and  development  grants  and  other  government  subsidies  of  €14  (2015:  €68),  value-added  tax 
receivables  of  €642  (2015:  €607)  and  receivables  related  to  refunding  of  research  and  development 
costs €385 (2015: €0). 

14.  Financial assets 

Financial assets include certificates of deposit denominated in U.S. dollars ($10 million) due in March 
2017.  In  2016,  the  Group  recognized  foreign  exchange  gains  of  €597  and  interest  income  of  €122 
related to certificates of deposit. 

15.  Equity 

At  December  31,  2016  the  share  capital  of  €333  (2015:  €333)  is  divided  into  33,262,745  (2015: 
33,259,404) common shares with a par value of €0.01.  

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. 

In  December  2016,  the  Company  issued  3,341  common  shares  in  connection  with  its  at-the-market 
sales agreement and received proceeds of €6.  

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,  2016,  33,262,745  (December  31,  2015:  33,259,404)  common  shares  have  been  issued  and  are 
outstanding.  Preferred  shareholders  are  entitled  to  receive  a  fixed  dividend  yield  prior  to  common 
shareholders, unpaid preferred dividends accumulate. As of December 31, 2016 no preferred shares 
have been issued. 

16.  Share based payments 

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  795,000  awards  in  2015  and  1,778,095  awards  in  2016  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.  All  outstanding  share-based  payment  awards  issued  prior  to  the  corporate 
reorganization were modified and exchanged for equity-settled awards (see note 2). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

69 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

As  of  December  31,  2016,  3,044,345  ESOP  2014  awards  were  outstanding  (December  31,  2015: 
1,350,000), 952,458 awards (December 31, 2015: 259,583) were vested. 83,750 ESOP 2014 awards 
forfeited due to termination of employment, and no options were exercised. The options outstanding at 
December 31, 2016 had an exercise price in the range of $2.51 to $13.47 (2015: $5.18 to $13.47) and 
weighted average remaining contractual life of 8.9 years (2015: 9.2 years) 

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  2016,  an  expense  of  €3,545  was  recognized  affecting  research  and  development  expenses 
(€1,178)  and  general  and  administrative  expenses  (€2,367).  In  2015,  an  expense  of  €2,220  was 
recognized  affecting  research  and  development  expenses  (€611)  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 previously issued awards under 
ESOP 2007 and the carve-out plan as of September 17, 2014, the modification date. 

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  are  as  follows  (weighted 
average): 

Fair value at grant date 

Share price at grant date

Exercise price 

Expected volatility

Expected life

Expected dividends

Risk-free interest rate

2015

$4.99

$8.72

$8.74

65%

5.90

0.00

0.17%

2016

$1.99

$3.55

$3.57

69%

5.90

0.00

-0.32%

Expected  volatility  is  estimated  based  on  the  observed  daily  share  price  returns  of  a  peer  group 
measured  over  a  historic  period  equal  to  expected  life.  In  the  second  quarter  of  2016  Affimed  was 
introduced to the peer group as sufficient trading data became available to use the share price returns 
of Affimed to estimate volatility over a historic period equal to expected life. 

17.  Borrowings 

Perceptive 

In  July  2014,  the  Company  entered  into  a  credit  facility  agreement  with  an  affiliate  of  Perceptive 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

70 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

Advisors LLC (the “Perceptive loan”) of $14 million and drew an amount of $5.5 million as of July 31, 
2014. Repayment started in April 2016 in monthly installments of $200,  with the final balance due in 
August  2018.  Finance  costs  included  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.  In  2016  the  Company  repaid  all  outstanding  amounts  under  the  Perceptive  loan.  The 
group recognized early repayment fees of €110 and extinguishment losses of the debt of €132. 

The loan was measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. Interest costs of €762 
(2015:  €703;  2014:  €258)  and  foreign  exchange  losses  of  €86  (2015:  €527;  2014:  €424)  were 
recognized in profit or loss. As of December 31, 2015 the fair value of the liability amounted to €4,978 
whereas the carrying amount was €4,576. In 2015, according to the repayment schedule €1,472 were 
classified as current liabilities. 

Silicon Valley Bank 

On  November  30,  2016,  the  Company  entered  into  a  loan  agreement  with  Silicon  Valley  Bank  (the 
“SVB loan”) which provides the Company with a senior secured term loan facility for up to €10.0 million 
available in two tranches. As of December 31, 2016 the Company has drawn the initial tranche of €5.0 
million.  

Finance costs comprise the interest rate of one-month EURIBOR plus an applicable margin of 5.5%, 
with  a  floor  of  5.5%,  related  one-time  legal  and  arrangement  fees  of  €226  and  a  final  payment  fee 
equal  to  10%  of  the  total  principal  amount  to  be  paid  with  the  last  instalment.  Pursuant  to  the  loan 
agreement, the Group also granted 166,297  warrants to SVB to purchase  Affimed’s common shares 
with a per-share exercise price of $2.00. The Group recognized the fair value of the warrant of €142 in 
equity, net of tax of €60 and net of transaction costs of €7. Fair value was determined using the Black-
Scholes-Merton  formula,  with  an  expected  volatility  of  80%  and  an  expected  time  of  five  years  to 
exercise of the warrant. The contractual maturity of the warrant is ten years. 

Up to an additional €5.0 million may be drawn by the Company until May 31, 2017, contingent on the 
satisfaction  of  certain  conditions  and  the  issue  of  additional  warrants  exercisable  for  the  Company’s 
shares in an amount equal to 9.5% of the additional amount drawn, subject to a maximum aggregate 
number  of  shares  equal  to  0.5%  of  the  outstanding  share  capital  of  the  Company  at  the  time  of  the 
drawdown of the relevant tranche.  

The  loan  is  secured  by  a  pledge  of  100%  of  Company’s  shares  in  Affimed  GmbH,  all  intercompany 
claims  owed  by  Affimed’s subsidiaries  to  Affimed  and  a  security  assignment  of  all  of  the  Company’s 
and Affimed GmbH bank accounts, inventory, trade receivables and payment claims recognized in the 
consolidated financial statements with the following book values:  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

71 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

Leasehold improvements and equipment

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Book value as of December 31, 2016
thereof 
assets 
pledged

Consolidated 
financial 
statements

822

197

2,255

9,487

35,407

48,168

542

177

1,217

9,487

34,674

46,097

As  of  December  31,  2016  the  Company  believes  that  the  fair  value  of  the  liability  did  not  differ 
significantly from its carrying amount (€4,590). The loan has a maturity date of May 31, 2020 with an 
interest-only period through June 1, 2017 with amortized payments of principal and interest thereafter 
in equal monthly installments. As of December 31, 2016, €973 were classified as current liabilities. 

18.  Trade and other payables 

Trade and other payables comprise trade payables of €4,506 (2015: €3,743) 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  €471  (2015:  €444)  and  payables  due  to  employees  for  outstanding  bonus,  unused 
holidays and other accruals. Other payables are normally settled within 30 days. 

19.  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). 

2014

2015

2016

Net loss

(259)

(20,239)

(32,216)

Weighted number of common 
shares outstanding

17,632,825

28,477,438

33,259,505

Loss per share in € per share

(0.01)

(0.71)

(0.97)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

72 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

No instruments had a dilutive effect. 

20.  Operating leases and other commitments and contingencies 

(viii) 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  2016,  lease  expenses  of  €409  and  license  fees  of  €405  have  been  recognized  in 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income (2015: €356 and €278; 2014: €324 and €248). 

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

Within one year

Between one and five years

(ix)  Contingencies 

2015

642

990

1,632

2016

700

541

1,241

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.  

21.  Related parties 

(i)  Shareholders 

As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 one shareholder holds more than 20% of the voting 
rights (2014 two shareholders).  

(ii) Transactions with key management personnel 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

73 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

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

Short-term employee benefits

Termination benefits

Share-based payments

2014

2015

2016

911

0

-3,253

-2,342

1,633

0

1,474

3,107

1,879

430

2,292

4,601

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 
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  €350  (2015:  €296),  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 2016, the Group recognized expenses for share-based 
payments for supervisory board members of €381 (2015: €478, 2014: €727).  

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.  The  contract 
with MedVenture Partners was terminated following the IPO in 2014. 

Dr.  Adolf  Hoess  received  compensation  for  consulting  services  of  €163  in  2014.  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 2014, he rendered services amounting to €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 2014, he rendered services amounting to €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  2016,  i-novion  Inc.  received 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

74 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

related payments of €86 (2015: €138).  

Jens-Peter Marschner rendered consulting services amounting to €29 in 2016 (€0 in 2015).    

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

Thomas Hecht

Richard Stead

Berndt Modig

Ferdinand Verdonck

Ulrich Grau

Bernhard Ehmer

Jens-Peter Marschner

Outstanding balances

December 
31, 2015

December 
31, 2016

19

6

9

11

13

0

0

23

14

8

10

17

11

2

22.  Financial risk management 

(x) 

Financial risk management objectives and policies 

The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents, certificates of deposit 
at commercial banks 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. 

(xi)  Credit risk 

The  Company’s  financial  assets  comprise  to  a  large  extent  cash  and  cash  equivalents.  In  addition 
financial  assets  include  certificates  of  deposit  and  trade  and  other  receivables.  The  total  carrying 
amount of cash and cash equivalents (€35.4 million, 2015: €76.7 million), certificates of deposit (€9.5 
million, 2015: €0 million) and trade and other receivables (€2.3 million, 2015: €0.9 million) represents 
the maximum credit exposure of €47.2 million (2015: €77.6 million). 

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

(xii) 

Interest rate risk 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

75 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

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

Affimed  entered  into  the  SVB  loan  pursuant  to  which  the  Company  borrowed  €5.0  million  with  a 
variable interest rate of an annual rate of 5.5% plus one-month EURIBOR, with EURIBOR deemed to 
equal zero percent if EURIBOR is less than zero percent. The group does not expect the EURIBOR to 
exceed the floor of 0% within the foreseeable future, and considers the interest risk to be low. 

Market interest rates on cash and cash equivalents were low in 2016, resulting in interest income of €9 
in 2016. A shift in interest rates (increase or decrease) would not have a material impact on the loss of 
the group.  

(xiii)  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, 2016 was €18,974 (2015: €27,423) and mainly relates to US Dollars. 

In 2016, if the Euro had weakened/strengthened by 10% against the US dollar with all other variables 
held  constant,  the  loss  would  have  been  €1,897  (2015:  €2,794)  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.  

Loss  is  less  sensitive  to  movement  in  exchange  rates  shifts  in  2016  than  in  2015  because  of  the 
decreased volume of US dollar-denominated transactions. 

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

2014

2015

2016

CZK or USD/EUR

CZK or USD/EUR

CZK or USD/EUR

0.03632
0.03606

0.75273
0.82366

0.03666
0.03701

0.90190
0.91853

0.03699
0.03701

0.90404
0.94868

CZK - Average Rate
CZK - Spot rate

USD - Average Rate
USD - Spot rate

(xiv)  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. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

76 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
(in € thousand) 

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  2015,  2016  and  at  the  beginning  of  2017,  Affimed  raised  significant  funding  that  it  estimates  will 
enable  the  group  to  fund  operating  expenses  and  capital  expenditure  requirements  at  least  until  the 
end of 2018:  

In 2015, the issue of new common shares and the exercise of stock options resulted in net proceeds of 
€53,498 (see note 15). 

In 2015, Affimed filed a “shelf registration statement” with the SEC in order to offer and sell securities 
to the public in multiple, future offerings and issued shares with proceeds of €6 in connection with its 
at-the-market sales agreement in 2016. 

On November 30, 2016, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Silicon Valley Bank which 
provides  the  Company  with  a  loan  facility  for  up  to  €10.0  million  contingent  on  the  satisfaction  of 
certain conditions, and drew the initial tranche of €5.0 million. 

In January 2017, the  Company issued 28,870 shares with  proceeds of €58 in connection  with its at-
the-market sales agreement.  

In January and February 2017, the Company issued 10,646,742 common shares in a public offering at 
a price of $1.80 per common share and received net proceeds of approximately €16.5 million ($17.7 
million). 

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. 

(xv)  Capital management 

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. 

23.  Subsequent events 

In January and February 2017, the Company issued 10,646,742 common shares in a public offering at 
a price of $1.80 per common share and received net proceeds of approximately €16.5 million ($17.7 
million). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

77 

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 2016 

80 

Notes to the Company financial statements for the year ended 31 December 
2016 

24. General information  

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

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. 

The Company financial statements are part of the 2016 financial statements of Affimed N.V. 

25. 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. 

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. 

 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

81 

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. 

26. 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. We refer to note 
32 for the pledge of the shares in Affimed GmbH. 

Movements in the financial fixed assets were as follows: 

In € thousand 

Affimed GmbH 

Total 

Opening Net asset value January 1, 2016 
Capital contribution 
Fair value of warrant note (net of taxes) 
Share in result of participating interest 

1,602 
25,390 
142 
(25,976) 

1,602 
25,390 
142 
(25,976) 

Net asset value at December 31, 2016 

1,158 

1,158 

The Company has issued a warrant note in consideration of the loan agreement between Affimed GmbH 
and SVB (see note 29). 

27. Financial assets 

Financial assets include certificates of deposit denominated in U.S. dollars ($10 million) due in March 
2017. We refer to note 32 for the pledge of all amounts of financial assets. 

28. Cash and cash equivalents   

Cash and cash equivalents have been pledged. We refer to note 32.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

82 

29. Equity  

As of December 31, 2016 the number of issued common shares is 33,262,745 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.  

The movement in shareholder’s equity is as follows: 

In € thousand 

Issued 
capital 

Other  
reserves 

Unappro- 
priated 
result 

Total 
equity 

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 

January 1, 2016 

Issue of common shares  
Issue of warrant note 
Net result 
Share-based payments 

December 31, 2016 

333 

- 
- 
- 
- 
55 

333 

94,754 

(27,813) 

67,274 

6 
142 
- 
3,545 

- 
- 
(32,216) 
- 

6 
142 
(32,216) 
3,545 

98,447 

(60,029) 

38,751 

Issued capital  

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. 

In  December  2016,  the  Company  issued  3,341  common  shares  in  connection  with  its  at-the-market 
sales agreement and received proceeds of €6,000.  

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, 2016 no preferred shares have been issued. 

Other reserves   

In 2016, the Company granted 166,297 warrants to Silicon Valley Bank to purchase Affimed’s common 
shares as part of the loan agreement entered into by the Company’s subsidiary Affimed GmbH (see 
note 32). Affimed recognized the fair value of the warrant of €142,000 in equity, net of tax of €60,000 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

83 

and  net  of  transaction  costs  of  €7,000.  Fair  value  was  determined  using  the  Black-Scholes-Merton 
formula, with an expected volatility of 80% and an expected time of five years to exercise of the warrant. 
The contractual maturity of the warrant is ten years. 

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 16 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 
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.   

30. Payables to subsidiaries  

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

31. Other current payables   

In € thousand 

Trade payables 
Social security and wage tax 
Other liabilities 

Total 

December 
31, 2016 

December 
31, 2015 

305 
187 
420 

912 

325 
182 
513 

1,020 

32. Off balance sheet commitments 

On November 30, 2016, the Company’s subsidiary Affimed GmbH entered into a loan agreement with 
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) which provides the subsidiary with a senior secured term loan facility for up 
to €10.0 million available in two tranches. As of December 31, 2016 Affimed GmbH has drawn the initial 
tranche of €5.0 million. Pursuant to the loan agreement, the Company granted 166,297 warrants to SVB 
to purchase Affimed’s common shares. 

Up to an additional €5.0 million may be drawn by the subsidiary until May 31, 2017, contingent on the 
satisfaction  of  certain  conditions  and  the  issue  of  additional  warrants  exercisable  for  the  Company’s 
shares in an amount equal to 9.5% of the additional amount drawn, subject to a maximum aggregate 
number  of  shares  equal  to  0.5%  of  the  outstanding  share  capital  of  the  Company  at  the  time  of  the 
drawdown of the relevant tranche. 

The  loan  is  secured  by  a  pledge  of  100%  of  Company’s  shares  in  Affimed  GmbH,  all  intercompany 
claims owed by Affimed’s subsidiaries to the Company and a security assignment of all of the Company’s 
and Affimed GmbH’s bank accounts, inventory, trade receivables and payment claims recognized in the 
financial statements (total value of €39.9 million in the Company’s financial statements at December 31, 
2016).  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

84 

33. Other result after taxation  

In € thousand 

Other income (service fee) 
General and administrative expenses 
Other gains/(losses) – net 
Net operating result  

Financial income 
Financial expense 
Net financial result 

Result before taxation 
Taxation 
Result after taxation 

2016 

1,408 
(8,381) 
(8) 
(6,981) 

2,148 
(1,407) 
741 

(6,240) 
0 
(6,240) 

2015 

750 
(6,539) 
0 
(5,789) 

2,408 
(239) 
2,169 

(3,620) 
0 
(3,620) 

The  Company  has  entered  into  a  service  agreement  with  Affimed  Therapeutics  AG  (now  Affimed 
GmbH). 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 2016 was 3.5 employees and consisted of managing directors 
only. The managing director’s compensation is shown in note 35. 

35. Related-party transactions  

Director’s remuneration 2016 

Managing directors 

(in € thousand) 

Periodically paid compensation 
Consulting service fees 
Bonuses 
Termination benefits 
Total cash compensation 

2014 Plan share-based payment 

expense2 

Total share-based payment 

expense 

*Including sign on bonus of €50,000 

Hoess 

Fischer  Marschner1  Windisch 

Total 

434 
0 
110 
0 
544 

1,228 

1,228 

327 
0 
60 
0 
387 

464 

464 

210 
29 
37 
430 
706 

184 

184 

324 
0 
110* 
0 
434 

162 

1,295 
29 
317 
430 
2,071 

2,038 

162 

2,038 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

85 

Supervisory directors 

(in € thousand) 

Hecht  Ehmer  Grau3  Modig  Stead  Verdonck 

Total 

Periodically paid compensation 
Service fees 
Total cash compensation 

2014 Plan share-based payment 

expense2 

Total share-based payment 

expense 

Director’s remuneration 2015 

Managing directors 

(in € thousand) 

Periodically paid compensation 
Bonuses 
Total cash compensation 

2014 Plan share-based payment 

expense2 

Total share-based payment 

expense 

Supervisory directors 

117 
0 
117 

94 

94 

40 
0 
40 

47 

47 

47 
86 
133 

93 

93 

50 
0 
50 

49 

49 

38 
0 
38 

49 

49 

58 
0 
58 

49 

49 

350 
86 
436 

381 

381 

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) 

Grau3  Hecht  Modig 

Stead  Verdonck 

Total 

Periodically paid compensation 
Service fees 
Total cash compensation 

2014 Plan share-based payment 

expense2 

Total share-based payment 

expense 

24 
138 
162 

47 

47 

120 
0 
120 

167 

167 

51 
0 
51 

88 

88 

40 
0 
40 

88 

88 

61 
0 
61 

88 

88 

296 
138 
434 

478 

478 

1 Dr.  Jens-Peter Marschner served as CMO until August 10, 2016. 

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

3  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  2016,  i-novion  Inc.  received 
related payments of €86,000.  

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  21  of  the  consolidated  financial 
statements.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

86 

Stock options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan 2014 

Awards granted in 2016 

Managing directors 

Beneficiary 

Grant date 

Number of 
options  

Strike 
price USD  Expiration date 

Adi Hoess ........................  
Florian Fischer ................  
Jörg Windisch ..................  
Jörg Windisch…………… 
Total 

July 6, 2016 
July 6, 2016 
October 19, 2015* 
July 6, 2016 

600,000 
245,000 
150,000 
95,500 
1,090,500 

July 6, 2026 
2.67 
2.67 
July 6, 2026 
7.06  October 19, 2025 
July 6, 2026 
2.67 

* Jörg Windisch was granted 150,000 stock options on signing the management service agreement. The management service 
agreement and the stock option grant became effective upon his appointment by the general meeting of shareholders on 
January 21, 2016. 

Supervisory directors 

Beneficiary 

Grant date 

Number of 
options  

Strike 
price USD  Expiration date 

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

June 21, 2016 
January 21, 2016 
June 21, 2016 
June 21, 2016 
June 21, 2016 
June 21, 2016 
June 21, 2016 

40,000 
20,000 
20,000 
20,000 
20,000 
20,000 
20,000 
160,000 

3.05 
3.34 
3.05 
3.05 
3.05 
3.05 
3.05 

June 21, 2026 
January 21, 2026 
June 21, 2026 
June 21, 2026 
June 21, 2026 
June 21, 2026 
June 21, 2026 

Awards granted in 2015 

Managing directors 

Beneficiary 

Grant date 

Number of 
options  

Strike 
price USD  Expiration date 

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

Supervisory directors 

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 

Beneficiary 

Grant date 

Number of 
options  

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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

87 

For  further  disclosure  related  to  the  share-options  we  refer  to  note  16  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. 
2016 

Other KPMG 
network 

Total  
KPMG 

2016 

2016 

36 
0 
0 
0 

36 

90 
90 
0 
7 

187 

126 
90 
0 
7 

223 

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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016 

88 

Signing of the financial statements 

May 21, 2017 

Originally signed by: 

Management Board: 

Dr. Adi Hoess, CEO 

Dr. Florian Fischer, CFO 

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 2016 

89 

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 2016 

90 

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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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91 

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 2016 

The General Meeting of Shareholders will be asked to approve the following appropriation of the 
2016 loss for the period, amounting to EUR 32,216,000, 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 23%) 

Independent auditor’s report  

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016   

92 

Independent auditor’s report  

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

Report on the accompanying financial statements 

Our opinion 

We have audited the financial statements 2016 of Affimed N.V., based in Amsterdam. The 
financial statements include the consolidated financial statements and the company financial 
statements. 

In our opinion:  

—  the accompanying consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial 
position of Affimed N.V. as at 31 December 2016 and of its result and its cash flows 2016 in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European 
Union (EU-IFRS) and with Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code; 

—  the accompanying company financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial 

position of Affimed N.V. as at 31 December 2016 and of its result 2016 in accordance with 
Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code. 

The consolidated financial statements comprise:  

1 

2 

3 

the consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 December 2016; 

the following consolidated statements 2016: the statement of comprehensive loss, changes in 
equity and cash flows; and 

the notes comprising a summary of the significant accounting policies and other explanatory 
information. 

The company financial statements comprise: 

1 

2 

3 

the company balance sheet as at 31 December 2016; 

the company income statement 2016; and 

the notes comprising a summary of the accounting policies and other explanatory information. 

Basis for our opinion 

We conducted our audit in accordance with Dutch law, including the Dutch Standards on 
Auditing. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the ‘Our 
responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements’ section of our report. 

We are independent of Affimed N.V. in accordance with the Verordening inzake de 
onafhankelijkheid van accountants bij assurance-opdrachten (ViO, Code of Ethics for 
Professional Accountants, a regulation with respect to independence) and other relevant 
independence regulations in the Netherlands. Furthermore, we have complied with the 
Verordening gedrags- en beroepsregels accountants (VGBA, Dutch Code of Ethics). 

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                
 
 
 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016   

93 

Report on the other information included in the annual report 

In addition to the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon, the annual report contains 
other information that consists of: 

—  Report by Affimed’s Management Board; 

—  Report by Affimed’s Supervisory Board; 

—  other information pursuant to Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code. 

Based on the following procedures performed, we conclude that the other information: 

—  is consistent with the financial statements and does not contain material misstatements; 

—  contains the information as required by Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code. 

We have read the other information. Based on our knowledge and understanding obtained 
through our audit of the financial statements or otherwise, we have considered whether the other 
information contains material misstatements. 

By performing these procedures, we comply with the requirements of Part 9 of Book 2 of the 
Dutch Civil Code and the Dutch Standard 720. The scope of the procedures performed is less 
than the scope of those performed in our audit of the financial statements. 

The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the other information, including the 
management board’s report, in accordance with Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code, and 
other information pursuant to Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code. 

Description of the responsibilities for the financial statements 

Responsibilities of the Board of Directors for the financial statements 

The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial 
statements in accordance with EU-IFRS and Part 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code. 
Furthermore, the Board of Directors is responsible for such internal control as they determine is 
necessary to enable the preparation of the financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to errors or fraud. 

As part of the preparation of the financial statements, the Board of Directors is responsible for 
assessing the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Based on the financial reporting 
frameworks mentioned, the Board of Directors should prepare the financial statements using the 
going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the 
Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. The Board of 
Directors should disclose events and circumstances that may cast significant doubt on the 
company’s ability to continue as a going concern in the financial statements. 

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 

Our objective is to plan and perform the audit assignment in a manner that allows us to obtain 
sufficient and appropriate audit evidence for our opinion. 

Our audit has been performed with a high, but not absolute, level of assurance, which means we 
may not have detected all material errors and fraud during our audit. 

Misstatements can arise from fraud or errors and are considered material if, individually or in the 
aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken 
on the basis of the financial statements. The materiality affects the nature, timing and extent of 
our audit procedures and the evaluation of the effect of identified misstatements on our opinion. 

 
 
 
Affimed Annual Report 2016   

94 

We have exercised professional judgement and have maintained professional scepticism 
throughout the audit, in accordance with Dutch Standards on Auditing, ethical requirements and 
independence requirements. Our audit included e.g.: 

—  identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, 
whether due to errors or fraud, designing and performing audit procedures responsive to 
those risks, and obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis 
for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher 
than for one resulting from errors, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional 
omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control; 

—  obtaining an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit 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; 

—  evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of 

accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the Board of Directors; 

—  evaluating the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including 

the disclosures; and 

—  evaluating whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events 

in a manner that achieves fair presentation. 

Because we are ultimately responsible for the opinion, we are also responsible for directing, 
supervising and performing the group audit. In this respect we have determined the nature and 
extent of the audit procedures to be carried out for group entities. Decisive were the size and the 
risk profile of the group entities or operations. On this basis, we selected group entities for which 
an audit or review had to be carried out on the complete set of financial information or specific 
items.  

We communicate with Audit Committee regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and 
timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant findings in internal 
control that we identify during our audit. 

Utrecht, 23 May 2017  

KPMG Accountants N.V. 

J.G.R. Wilmink RA