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Annual report and accounts | 2018

Transforming lives  
by delivering 
convenience through 
specialist expertise

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Mission Statement

Committed to transforming lives  
by breaking new ground in  
immunology treatment.

At a Glance

Strategic Report
1 
Highlights
2  What is Immunotherapy?
4 
6  Chairman’s Statement
8  Chief Executive Officer’s Review
12  Current Market Overview
14  Opportunities
16  Business Model
18  Strategic Framework
20  Key Performance Indicators
22  Product Review
26  Research & Development
30  Corporate Responsibility
34  Principal Risks and Uncertainties
36  Financial Review

Financial Statements
58 

 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

 Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members  
of Allergy Therapeutics plc
63  Consolidated Income Statement
64 
65  Consolidated Balance Sheet
66  Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
67  Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
68  Notes to the Financial Statements
103  Company Balance Sheet
104  Statement of Changes in Equity (Company)
105  Notes to Company Balance Sheet
108  Shareholder Information 

Governance
40  Board of Directors
42  Corporate Governance
46  Audit Committee Report
48  Nomination Committee Report
49  Directors’ Remuneration Report
55  Directors’ Report
57 

 Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

Allergy Therapeutics is  
an AIM listed international  
commercial biotechnology group.

Allergy Therapeutics is European-based 
and focused on the treatment and 
prevention of allergy with  
aluminium-free products.

© Allergy Therapeutics plc

Find this report online at  
www.allergytherapeutics.com/annualreport2018

Highlights

Financial
6.6% 

revenue growth in  
actual terms to £68.3m 
(2017: £64.1m)

10%

compound annual growth in net 
sales over 19 years since the 
Company formed

Operational

3.5%

revenue growth1 at constant 
currency2 to £66.4m
(2017: £64.1m)

26%

increase in operating profit 
(pre-R&D) to £9.3m4 
(2017: £7.4m)4

One

point increase to 14% in market 
share in European business3 
(2017: 13%)

£15.5m

cash at 30 June prior to the July 
2018 fundraising of £10.2m net
(2017: £22.1m)

Completion of £10.6m (gross)
oversubscribed placing in July 2018.

Successful completion of the  
Phase II PQ Grass (G205) in May, 
allowing progression to a pivotal trial 
for US registration. The Phase III PQ 
Birch (B301) study has completed 
and top line data are now expected 
by the end of the year.

Good pipeline progress, including 
initiation of Acarovac Phase I trial 
(data readout expected H1 2019) and 
positive pre-clinical Polyvac peanut 
work, with first in-human trials 
expected 2019.

1   Percentage based on figures in thousands (2018:£66.369m, 2017: £64.139m).
2   Constant currency uses prior year weighted average exchange rates to translate current year foreign currency denominated revenue to give a year-on-year comparison excluding the effects of 

foreign exchange movements. See table in the Financial Review for an analysis of revenue on page 37.

3   Market data and internal estimates for 12 months to 30 June 2018 for Allergy Therapeutics’ direct sales competitive markets excluding UK and Switzerland due to lack of competitor information.
4   Operating profit (pre-R&D) is calculated by adding back R&D expenditure for the year to the operating loss of the year to arrive at an operating profit (pre-R&D) of £9.3m (2017: £7.4m).

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 01

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsWhat is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is the practice of administering 
gradually increasing doses of an allergen extract 
(e.g. pollen) in order to reduce the symptoms of 
hay fever or asthma that it causes. 

It was first carried out almost 100 years 
ago and is now in widespread use 
around the world. It is sometimes 
referred to as ‘allergy vaccination’  
or ‘desensitisation’.

Immunotherapy may be given by 
subcutaneous injections or sublingually.

02 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportImmunology

A patient who is suffering from an allergy: 

1
1

2
2

interleukin-13

IgE

3
3

IgE

4
4

T cell

B cell

Activated
B cell 

interleukin-4

IgE

Mast cell

Histamine

Patient comes into
contact with an allergen  

Th2 cell stimulates B cells 
to produce IgE 

IgE binds to immune cells
causing histamine release
upon exposure to allergen

Histamine leads to 
classic symptoms 
of allergy  

A patient who is treated with allergen immunotherapy: 
2
2

interleukin-13

1

3
3

4
4

IgG

IgG

T cell

B cell

Activated
B cell 

IgE

interleukin-4

IgE

IgG

Mast cell

Histamine

Patient comes into 
contact with an allergen 

Th1 Cell stimulates B cells 
to produce IgG 

Increased IgG 
production inhibits the 
production of IgE 

Lower levels of IgE 
prevent excess release 
of histamine and reduce 
symptoms of allergy  

Treated with 
allergen specific 
immunotherapy 

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 03

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial Statements 
 
 
 
Sales

Markets %

  Germany | 61%
  Spain | 9%
  Italy | 7%
  Austria | 7%
  Switzerland | 4%
  Netherlands | 4%
  UK and export market | 4%
  Canada and South Korea | 2%
  Czech Republic | 1%
  Slovakia | 1%

At a Glance

Who we are 
We are a visionary immunology business with specialist 
experience in the research and development of allergy 
treatments. We have a well-established commercial presence  
in Europe and are focused on the US market opportunity.

What we do

We specialise in the diagnosis and 
treatment of allergy. Allergy vaccination 
is a successful treatment that deals 
with the underlying cause of allergies 
and not just the symptoms1. 

We mainly sell our products in European 
countries and our pipeline of products in 
clinical development includes vaccines for 
grass, tree and house dust mite, as well as  
a peanut allergy vaccine in pre-clinical 
development. Adjuvant systems to boost 
performance of vaccines outside allergy  
are also under evaluation.

What makes 
us different

Our ultra-short course treatments consist of 
4 injections over the course of 3 or 4 weeks 
compared to daily tablets or an average 
treatment in the market of a 12-15 course  
of injections. Our approach offers the 
simplicity of 4 injections, increased 
tolerability and demonstrated efficacy2. 

Our adjuvant technologies improve 
therapies by allowing them to increase 
efficacy. We are further developing this 
concept in our specialist business, Bencard 
Adjuvant Systems; improving health and 
evaluating vaccinations for infectious 
diseases and cancer treatments. 

Our values have created a culture based 
around vision, commitment and humanity. 
We take extraordinary ideas and bring them 
to market – enhancing treatments and 
transforming people’s lives. 

Zielen S., et al., Allergologie 2007 (30) Suppl 1;(S1-8).

1 
2  Patel P., et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2014; 133:121-9.

04 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportOur reach

Products %

  Pollinex Quattro | 43%
  Pollinex | 18%
  Oralvac | 13%
  Third-party products | 7%
  TyroMILBE | 6%
  Tyrosine S/TU | 5%
  Venomil | 4%
  Acarovac Plus | 3%
  Diagnostics | 1%

  Direct presence
  Distributer market

Our pipeline

Pre-clinical

Phase l

Phase ll

Phase lll

Pollinex Quattro Grass

Pollinex Quattro Birch

Pollinex Quattro Ragweed

Pollinex Quattro Trees

Oralvac Grass, Trees and House (Dust Mite)

Modified Mite Platform

Peanut SCIT

 Also available as a Named 
Patient Product

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 05

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial Statements 
 
  
Chairman’s Statement

Peter Jensen | Chairman

Overview

I am pleased to introduce the Group’s 2018 
Annual Report and Accounts. Our three-pronged 
strategy continues to develop well with an 
impressive, profitable European business despite 
a low pollen season, a large upside potential  
with the US market and a strong pipeline.

06 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportWe are pleased with the current momentum  

in the business and are confident that we  

can continue to deliver against our strategy  

in the year ahead.

Commercial and clinical performance
This year’s performance demonstrates the 
resilience of our business in relatively weak 
market conditions. We have continued to 
gain market share from competitors while 
growing revenues by 3.5%1 in constant 
currency2 and increasing pre-R&D3 
operating profit by 26%. We continue to 
build suitable infrastructure for our future 
plans with organisational development 
and an increasingly US-focused team. 

We also had a successful year with regard to 
our clinical trials, with the PQ Grass Phase II 
trial (G205) delivering positive data, further 
reinforcing the quality of our technology 
platform. Headline data from the PQ Birch 
Phase lll trial (B301) is expected by the end 
of the year, and the data from the Phase I 
Acarovac trial will readout in the first half  
of 2019. First in-human trials for Polyvac 
peanut are also expected to start in 2019.

Fundraising
In July 2018, we completed a successful 
placing and subscription of 40m shares, 
raising £10.6m gross. The Group now has 
sufficient capital to fully fund an extended 
Phase III PQ Grass trial in the US and EU. 

Governance
Corporate governance is important to the 
business and we have always developed 
our governance framework over and 
above the level required for an AIM listed 
company of our size. This year, the London 
Stock Exchange announced that from 
September 2018 all AIM listed companies 
will be required to apply a recognised 
corporate governance code. We have 
chosen to apply the QCA Governance 
Code and I am pleased to report that we 
have disclosed full compliance against the 
ten principles in the Governance Report. 
This year, the General Data Protection 
Regulations were introduced, and the 
business has taken a number of steps to 
ensure compliance with the regulations. 

Looking ahead
We are pleased with the current momentum 
in the business and are confident that we 
can continue to deliver against our strategy 
in the year ahead. We are developing the 
infrastructure to achieve the goals that we 
have set ourselves with significant growth 
in the R&D team as well as other areas. We 
look forward to the exciting developments 
in our early pipeline planned for 2019, and 
we expect to continue to grow our European 
business while progressing towards US and 
German registration for our lead products. 

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank 
all the employees of Allergy Therapeutics for 
their commitment, creativity and teamwork. 

Peter Jensen
Chairman
25 September 2018

1   Percentage based on figures in thousands (2018:£66.369m, 2017: £64.139m).
2   Constant currency uses prior year weighted average exchange rates to translate current year foreign currency denominated revenue to give a year-on-year comparison excluding the effects of 

foreign exchange movements. See table in the Financial Review for an analysis of revenue on page 36.

3   Operating profit (pre-R&D) is calculated by adding back R&D expenditure for the year to the operating loss of the year to arrive at an operating profit (pre-R&D) of £9.3m (2017: £7.4m).

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 07

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsChief Executive Officer’s Review

Manuel Llobet | Chief Executive Officer

We are reporting a year of strong progress made 
against our strategic objectives of expanding in 
Europe, preparing for entry into the US market, 
and making clinical progress with the Group’s 
lead assets. 

08 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportPhase ll PQ Grass trial: Primary endpoint 

was met with a highly statistically significant 

dose-response relationship.

In addition, we continue with the TAV 
process for products which are currently 
sold in Germany on a named patient basis. 
All ten of our products, which were initially 
registered in the process in 2010, remain in 
the pipeline. The most advanced are the PQ 
Birch and Trees followed by the PQ Grass. 
The Oralvac product for Grass, Tree and 
House Dust Mite will soon enter Phase IIa. 

Progress towards US market entry
Having successfully completed the Grass 
Phase II trial, we expect to start the pivotal 
Phase III Grass trial for the US in H2 2019. 
Our recent fundraising allows us to progress 
with the expanded trial and we will meet 
with the FDA to agree the process for the 
Phase lll CTA in the coming months. 

We continue to prepare for entry into 
the US market, including planning for 
reimbursement and manufacturing. We 
will also assess further development of 
PQ Ragweed and PQ Trees for the US.

Despite a low pollen season, we have 
maintained sales growth across our 
European business and continued to 
capture additional market share. Our clinical 
pipeline has strengthened with positive data 
readouts from our Grass Phase ll trial and we 
continue to progress our early stage assets. 
As a result of these two developments – 
growing the commercial business in Europe 
and advancing our pipeline of assets – we 
continue to make good progress towards 
entering the attractive and commercially 
significant US market. In a market with a 16% 
compliance rate, our convenient and ultra-
short course products have the potential 
to make a material impact for US patients. 

European business
This year’s performance has demonstrated 
the robustness of our European business, 
the quality of our convenient, aluminium–
free, patient-friendly and technologically-
advanced products and the excellent work 
of our sales and marketing teams. Despite a 
weak pollen season in the spring and 
summer of 2017, sales of £68.3m were up 
3.5%1 on last year on a constant2 basis (6.6% 
on an actual basis) and we captured an 
additional one point of market share3. 

In addition, operating profit pre-R&D4 
increased 26%, demonstrating a sturdy 
trading model and continued cost discipline. 
This achievement of leveraging our sales to 
deliver profit is important both for generating 
returns from our business and to finance 
more of our pipeline from internal resources.

Clinical trial success
The Group has successfully completed 
a major trial with the recent readout 
of its Phase II PQ Grass trial for the US 
and Europe, and we look forward to the 
upcoming results of the Phase lll trial 
for PQ Birch in Europe which are now 
expected by the end of the year. 

The results of the PQ Grass Phase II trial, 
reported on 21 May 2018, offered an 
excellent foundation for the Grass Phase III 
trial in the US:
 – Primary endpoint was met with a  
highly statistically significant dose-
response relationship.

 – All dosing regimes were safe and  

well tolerated.

 – Current marketed product showed 
significant improvement compared  
to placebo.

 – Significant increase in immunoglobulin 
results, highly consistent with the  
dose response observed for the  
primary endpoint.

 – Excellent adherence to short course 

treatment (>95%).

Pipeline progress
The Group has also made significant 
progress with pipeline products. The 
Acarovac Phase I trial for house dust mite 
allergies is progressing well, with readout 
expected in H1 calendar year 2019. The 
process of scaling up our Polyvac peanut 
product is also on track, and we expect to 
have the first in-human trials in 2019. 

1   Percentage based on figures in thousands (2018:£66.369m, 2017: £64.139m).
2   Constant currency uses prior year weighted average exchange rates to translate current year foreign currency denominated revenue to give a year-on-year comparison excluding the effects of 

foreign exchange movements. See table in the Financial Review for an analysis of revenue on page 37.

3   Market data and internal estimates for 12 months to 30 June 2018 for Allergy Therapeutics’ direct sales competitive markets excluding UK and Switzerland due to lack of competitor information.
4   Operating profit (pre-R&D) is calculated by adding back R&D expenditure for the year to the operating loss of the year to arrive at an operating profit (pre-R&D) of £9.3m (2017: £7.4m).

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 09

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsFinancial year 2019 is expected to show strong sales 

growth, more in line with prior years. Margins are 

expected to remain stable as we continue to invest  

in the business for future growth.

Chief Executive Officer’s Review

continued

In operational terms, financial year 2019 
is expected to show strong sales growth, 
more in line with prior years. Margins are 
expected to remain stable as we continue 
to invest in the business for future growth. 

With the foundations laid for an important 
year, we look forward to continuing to 
execute our strategy by growing our 
European business, progressing our 
lead and early-stage assets through 
clinical development, and preparing to 
enter the commercially attractive US 
market. In doing so, we hope to create 
significant value for our shareholders. 

Manuel Llobet
Chief Executive Officer
25 September 2018

Funding
In July 2018, we successfully placed 
40 million shares raising £10.6m gross. 
Alongside the Grass Phase III extension, 
part of the sum raised will go towards 
the Acarovac Phase II trial, expected 
to start in calendar year 2019 subject 
to satisfactory Phase I results. 

Outlook
The outlook for the financial year ahead is 
positive. Discussions with the regulatory 
authorities regarding the PQ Grass Phase III 
trial in the autumn will be critical, as well as 
the upcoming results of PQ Birch Phase lll 
trial. The Phase I Acarovac trial will read  
out in H1 calendar year 2019 while the  
peanut product is expected to start 
in-human studies in H1 calendar year 2019. 

As with many companies operating in 
Europe, we continue to monitor the  
potential impact of Brexit. Clearly 
uncertainty remains about the future 
relationship between the UK and the EU 
and we will continue our mitigation planning. 
We remain of the view that, assuming 
a satisfactory agreement is reached 
between the UK and the EU, Brexit will not 
have a material impact on the business.

10 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportTransforming Lives

“The benefits I’ve gained from the 
treatment are immense – my life  
is transformed. I can walk in the  
park without fear of severe hay  
fever symptoms. I now only take 
antihistamines occasionally,  
instead of daily eye drops, nasal 
spray, inhaler and tablets.”

Allergy Therapeutics’ patient

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 11

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsCurrent Market Overview

The Group continues to maintain a strong 
presence in Europe with established 
operations in significant markets including 
Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, 
the Netherlands and the UK.

In markets where we do not have a 
direct presence, we often make our 
products available through partners. 
The most important distributor markets 
for the Group are Canada, the Czech 
Republic, Slovakia, South Korea, Greece 
and the Baltics. More recently, the 
Group has seen the granting of Market 
Authorisations in Belarus and Serbia,and 
the commencement of supply in Albania. 

Germany remains the Group’s main market, 
generating approximately 61% of the Group’s 
revenue in the 12 months ending 30 June 
2018. The percentage of revenue derived 
from each country is detailed below:

Spain 9%
The whole market in Spain grew 3.5% over 
the last year however the allergoid 
immunotherapy segment has grown 11.5%. 
The advanced allergoid products at Allergy 
Therapeutics allow the Group to be in a 
strong position to achieve further growth in 
the coming years. Spain continues to be a 
large valuable market, with approximately 
150,000 immunotherapy patients a year.  
Of the injectable immunotherapy products, 
modified allergens remain the treatment of 

choice for Spanish physicians with Acarovac 
Plus® now the best-selling Group product in 
the Spanish market.

Italy 7%
The total Italian allergy immunotherapy 
market is shrinking because patients have 
been impacted by adverse economic 
conditions affecting their ability to pay for 
vaccines, compounded by the withdrawal  
of reimbursement in certain regions. 

The Italian immunotherapy market is 
dominated by sublingual products. However, 
despite these challenges, it is believed that 
there remains a significant opportunity to 
continue to grow our market share in this 
important market. Outside immunotherapy, 
the Italian synbiotics market remains one of 
the largest in Europe. 

Austria 7%
The Austrian market for allergen 
immunotherapy has been galvanised by two 
new entrants on the mites segment (Acarizax 
and Acarovac), growing by 4% in the last 
fiscal year. The German TAV registration 
process continues to indirectly influence the 
local market. Sales of tablet products have 

been the driving segment, cannibalising 
the classical sublingual allergens in 
drops but also enlarging the market. 
Modified allergen products (allergoid) 
are still cannibalising the subcutaneous 
native allergens at the same pace.

UK 4%
The UK is an important market due to 
its potential for future growth for the 
Group. Whilst currently, there is limited 
use of allergy vaccines in the UK, there 
is potential for this to change and the 
Group has focused on marketing to the 
medical community to promote greater 
awareness of more suitable treatment 
options. Pollinex is the only pollen SCIT 
product currently registered in the UK.

Netherlands 4%
Following a period of market decline, recent 
years have seen the allergen immunotherapy 
market in the Netherlands return to a stable 
state. The market is dominated by two 
companies, Allergy Therapeutics and ALK, 
with Allergy Therapeutics the only allergy 
company experiencing growth in the Dutch 
market with year-on-year growth of 10.5% in 
local currency (source: IMS Health).

12 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic Report61%

Germany

Germany is the single largest allergy 
immunotherapy market in Europe and  
is expected to show some marginal 
growth over the next two years. 

Despite a weaker than average  
pollen season, Allergy Therapeutics 
outperformed market trends. This 
confirms the quality of the products and 
the sales and marketing team. Germany 
remains a key focus for the Group with 
continued strengthening of sales and 
marketing which has been instrumental  
to an increase in market share.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 13

Switzerland 4%
The Swiss affiliate has recently aligned its 
name with the German subsidiary, Bencard 
Allergie. This change in name has been 
well accepted by local allergists. Due to a 
new study and publication completed by 
the University of Zurich, the sensitivity of 
the market towards aluminium avoidance 
in allergy treatment continues to grow. 
This, combined with the continued 
significant reduction in the product range 
of competitors, arrives at a time when 
the Group have made available the full 
product range on a named-patient basis. 

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsOpportunities

Recent developments in the US market.

Our goal to be the first allergy 
immunotherapy company to launch 
a subcutaneous grass product in the 
US remains unchanged. To achieve 
this, a successful Phase III trial is 
needed as well as a safety database to 
satisfy the requirements of the CBER, 
the biologics division of the FDA. 

The Group will also be looking to discuss 
lifting the clinical hold on PQ Ragweed and 
Trees in order to continue development 
of the rest of the PQ portfolio. This would 
provide a broader portfolio that could then 
be further complemented with the House 
Dust Mite and the Peanut products upon 
completion of applicable clinical trials. 

$2bn1

Estimated market

1 

Internal estimate.

Four sublingual immunotherapy (‘SLIT’) 
products have been granted licence 
approval in the US. These sublingual 
medications require daily treatment for 
up to three years which poses a problem 
for adherence (the patients taking 
all the necessary doses to achieve a 
beneficial effect). Allergy Therapeutics’ 
subcutaneous immunotherapies that 
require weekly injections over as little 
as four weeks offer a simpler means to 
gain the benefits of immunotherapy. For 
this reason, the research programme 
of clinical development of PQ platform 
has been extended to the US.

Allergy affects 15–40% of the US population 
(i.e. between 50 and 130 million), so the 
total market size for allergy vaccine 
products is potentially very large. About 
2–3 million Americans with moderate 
to severe allergy received some form 
of allergen immunotherapy. For the US 
market, PQ Grass has been developed 
with an extended range of doses for a dose 
selection study. The PQ Grass Phase II dose 
ranging study which took place in 2017–18 
reached its primary endpoint and was 
successfully completed. Discussions will 
take place with the FDA this autumn. The 
final, pivotal Phase III (G306) will start in the 
autumn 2019, subject to agreement with the 
FDA and take place in the US and Europe. 

14 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic Report 
 
Delivering Convenience

“Allergy Therapeutics  
understands the needs of the 
patient, always going that extra 
mile to ensure needs are met and 
treatment is delivered on time.”

Cynthia Morrison – Senior Clinical  
Nurse Specialist, Asthma and Allergy,  
St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 15

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsBusiness Model

Returns to 

shareholders

US and other  

new markets’  

sales

(potential markets)

European  

sales

Manufacturing

New  

markets

New  

products

TAV  

process

Research and  
Development

   Reinvestment 
in business

Shareholder investment

16 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportHow we create value 
for our stakeholders

For shareholders
We create value through strong 
individual market performances and 
pipeline developments. Investors are 
attracted by our portfolio of products, 
our adjuvant technologies and our 
commitment to innovation through R&D.

Healthcare professionals
We strive to deliver the best immunology 
treatments for patients. In treating the 
cause rather than just the symptoms of 
allergy with shorter course treatments, 
we are transforming lives for the better.

Patients
Healthcare professionals rely on our quality 
products, our knowledge and our trusted 
partnership to deliver the best care for their 
patients. 99% of named patient products 
were delivered on time during the year.

Employees
We put our people first knowing that 
they make our business successful; 
taking extraordinary ideas and bringing 
them to market. In return, we offer the 
opportunity to grow careers and make 
a real difference to our business.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 17

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsStrategic Framework

Our strategy is based on the 
three pillars of the business.

Strategic priorities

Three 
pillars  
of the 
business

 – Continue growth of business

 –

Leverage pre-R&D profitability

 – Focused investment

 – Develop synbiotics strategy

European

Pipeline

US Market

 – Successful completion of TAV process  

for all products

 – Completion of clinical trials on Acarovac 

MPL and global marketing approval

 – Successful design and undertaking of 

clinical trials of Polyvac Peanut leading  
to marketing approval

 – Develop Bencard Adjuvant Systems  

and enter strategic partnership

 – Complete trials of Grass MATA MPL  

and marketing approval

 – Finalise the US commercial framework

 – Release clinical hold on PQ Ragweed  

and Trees and initiate trials

 – Bring further products in the pipeline 

through clinical trials (Acarovac/Polyvac)

18 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportProgress in 2017–18

£68.3m 

Net sales of £68.3m 
(2017: £64.1m)

14%

Market share  
(2017: 13%)

99.6% 

Delivery on time in full  
by supply chain of vaccines

26%

Continued strong growth of 
pre-R&D operating profit

Objectives for 2018–19

Continue 
strong growth 
of sales and 
market share

Improve pre-R&D 
profitability further

Acarovac MPL Phase I 
trial progressing well

Papers on MCT Adjuvant 
performance and House 
Dust Mite NPP in Spain

Successful 
pivotal 
Phase III PQ 
Birch trial 

Successful 
completion 
of Acarovac 
Phase I 
Trial

Completion 
of scale-up of 
Polyvac 
Peanut and 
preparation 
for first 
in-human 
study

Successful Phase II trial for 
Grass MATA MPL

Development of KOLs  
in the US

Preparation for 
Grass Phase III 
trial

Apply for clinical 
hold on Trees  
and Ragweed  
to be lifted

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 19

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsKey Performance 
Indicators (’KPIs’)

Strategic objective

KPI

Analysis

Graph

Maximise revenue

Revenue at constant  
exchange rate (GB:EUR 
exchange rate 1.24).

Revenue at constant exchange 
rate has grown satisfactorily 
compared to the two prior years.

Total revenue measured at a 
constant budgeted foreign 
exchange rate.

EBITDA excluding R&D.

Profit before interest, tax, 
depreciation, amortisation  
and research and  
development expenditure.

EBITDA excluding R&D has 
increased year on year due  
to sales growth and good  
cost control.

Maximise funds 
available from 
operational activities 
for investment in 
other R&D and other 
value-adding 
projects

Revenue at constant
exchange rate1 £m

62.8

58.5

47.2

2016

2017

2018

EBITDA excluding
R&D £m

11.3

9.3

5.9

2016

2017

2018

Maximise market 
share in the countries 
into which we sell our 
products

Combination of IMS Health data 
and information collected by 
independent third parties.

Countries in which we have a 
distributor, agent or direct  
sales force.

The Group continues to make 
market gains based on best in 
class technology, excellent 
supply chain and a strong  
sales and marketing team.

Operational markets 
Percentage market share
in the markets which
we operate

14%

13%

12%

1  Constant currency uses prior year weighted average exchange rates to translate current year foreign currency denominated revenue to give a year-on-year comparison excluding the effects 

of foreign exchange movements.

20 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

2016

2017

2018

Strategic ReportAllergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 21

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsProduct Review

The Group sells a wide range of aluminium-
free allergy therapies and diagnostics.  
The majority of revenue arises from sales  
of allergy therapies.

By administering high doses of allergen in a 
controlled fashion, the balance between Th1 
and Th2 response to the allergen can be 
restored. Since SIT was first carried out 
successfully by Leonard Noon in 1911, it has 
become established as the only therapy 
addressing the cause of type I allergies.

Pollinex Quattro, launched in 1999, heralded 
a transformation in immunotherapy by 
introducing allergy vaccination with only 
four injections per course. The short course 
regime can be achieved due to the use of 
microcrystalline tyrosine (‘MCT®’) adsorbed 
allergoids, an improved extract allergen 
that has been modified in order to lower 
allergenicity while maintaining most of 
the immunogenicity, and the innovative 
adjuvant monophosphoryl-lipid A (‘MPL’). An 
adjuvant is a substance which improves the 
immune response to an antigen or allergen.

Our products 
The Group sells both injectable and 
sublingual (oral) allergen-specific 
immunotherapies. The most commonly 
prescribed are those for the treatment 
of pollen-related allergies, particularly 
for allergies to grasses, weeds and 
trees. The therapies trade under various 
brand names depending on the market, 
e.g. Pollinex Quattro, Polligoid and TA 
Gräser Top. Our extensive range of well-
characterised diagnostics includes in 
excess of 80 diagnostics in Germany 
with marketing authorisations and 
specialised allergens for other markets.

According to the current opinion of expert 
immunologists, immunoglobulin E (IgE) 
mediated allergies (type I allergies) are due 
to deregulation of the T helper lymphocyte 
(Th) cells. Whereas healthy people develop 
tolerance to allergens, allergy sufferers have 
a Th2-dominated immune response with 
increased IgE and corresponding clinical 
symptoms. This deregulation of the immune 
system can be counteracted efficiently using 
specific immunotherapy (SIT). 

22 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportShort-term MPL adjuvant therapy showed good 

efficacy at three years following treatment 

completion and is suited to the long-term 

improvement of patient quality of life.

Rabe et al., Long-term efficacy of specific subcutaneous, short-term MPL adjuvant immunotherapy over three treatment and three follow-up 
years, as measured by quality of life. Allergo J Int. 2017. DOI 10.1007/s40629-017-0029-8

Modified Allergen 
(Allergoid)

Native 
Allergen

Recombinant 
Allergen

Microcrystalline 
(MCT)

Monophosphoryl 
Lipid A (MPL)

Virus-Like 
Particles (VLP)

Our products

Pollinex

Pollinex Quattro

Oralvac

Acarovac Plus

Acarovac MPL1

Venomil

Peanut2

Product in phase l clinical study.

1 
2  Product under pre-clinical investigation, full product profile yet to be determined.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 23

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsAcarovac Plus is a novel MCT-adsorbed, 

modified-allergen product developed to 

address the cause of perennial mite allergy.

Product Review

continued

MPL is derived from a lipopolysaccharide 
(‘LPS’) which is obtained from the cell wall of 
Salmonella Minnesota R595 using a process 
of extraction, purification and detoxification. 
As a vaccine adjuvant, MPL has been used 
for many years. Vaccines containing MPL 
have been evaluated in various indications 
such as cervical cancer and malaria at 
GlaxoSmithKline (‘GSK’). Two vaccines 
with an adjuvant system containing MPL – 
Fendrix, a hepatitis B vaccine and Cervarix, 
a HPV vaccine to protect against cervical 
cancer – have received broad approval 
in Europe, the US, Japan and Canada. 

Synbiotics
Synbiotics are special formulations of 
prebiotics and probiotics. Synbiotics act as 
bio-immunomodulators of the immunologic 
response. In June 2012, the Group launched 
three new synbiotic products (Kallergen-
Th, ATI-Prob and Pollagen) across Spain 
and Italy. Since then, Austria and Germany 
have also been added. In 2013, the 
Group launched a further new synbiotic 
product, Syngut, specifically designed 
for food and lactose intolerance. The 
products contain specific combinations 
of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria.

Penicillin diagnostics
DAP is a product for exclusive use in 
the diagnosis of type I, or immediate 
hypersensitivity to benzyl penicillin 
and related antibiotics (beta lactams) 
by means of cutaneous tests (prick 
and intradermal). Allergic reactions to 
beta lactams are the most common 
cause of severe adverse drug reactions 
and there is an increasing prevalence 
in the population. DAP is supplied to 
Italy, the UK and the Netherlands.

1  Roger, et al., Immunotherapy 2016, 8(10), 1169-1174.

The adjuvant effect of MPL in SIT has been 
documented in numerous studies and is 
seen in its essential role of promoting the 
switch from a Th2-directed immune 
response (with IgE induction) to a Th1-
directed immune response. 

Our sublingual product is Oralvac Compact 
with a dosing schedule which allows for 
a more rapid and simple escalation of 
dosage making treatment more convenient 
for patients and doctors. The course 
can be taken by the patient in their 
own homes and is raspberry flavoured 
for improved patient compliance.

Wasp and bee treatment is provided by our 
freeze dried Venomil product, which can be 
used via a ‘Rush’ dosing regimen.

Between 2015 and 2016, two further 
products were launched in line with the WAO 
guidelines for atopic dermatitis prevention: 
our first synbiotic in drops, Kallergen Baby 
for the prevention of atopic dermatitis in 
children from birth to three years old and 
Kallergen Mamy for pregnant women with 
high risk of atopic disease. 

Acarovac Plus
Acarovac Plus was launched in Spain in 
March 2013 and is a novel MCT-adsorbed, 
modified-allergen product developed to 
address the cause of perennial mite allergy. 
The product has been standardised to 
meet a dose regime consistent with ‘one 
vial’ convenience. Clinical evaluation has 
been completed demonstrating excellent 
patient tolerability and serological analyses 
consistent with a favourable shift in Th1/
Th2 balance compared with an unmodified 
version of the product (one-year follow-
up study with Dr Albert Roger, Director 
of the Allergy Unit at Hospital Universitari 
Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain1).

24 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportAllergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 25

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsResearch & Development

Scientific developments.

The Group is now preparing for discussions 
with the regulatory authorities to discuss 
the results of the G104 and G205 studies 
such to enable the progression to a Phase 
III study (G306). These discussions will take 
place with the FDA over the requirements 
and timing of a safety database for the Grass 
MATA MPL product at a suitable point.

The Group’s goal remains to be the first 
allergy immunotherapy company to launch a 
short course, subcutaneous and aluminium 
free Grass allergy therapy in the US. 

European and US clinical development of 
Subcutaneous Immunotherapies (‘SCIT)
Clinical evaluation of Pollinex Quattro 
(‘PQ’) products is being undertaken as part 
of the German TAV (Therapieallergene-
Verordnung) regulatory framework. 
Following the successful dose selection 
study PQ Birch 204 completed in April 
2016, the Group progressed with a 
Phase III field study – PQ Birch 301. 

Following the successful G104 safety 
study, a Phase I clinical study evaluating 
safety and tolerability, conducted in 
New Jersey completed in February 2017, 
the Group progressed to the G205 dose 
selection study. The G205 study was 
a multi-centre, double-blind, placebo 
controlled study designed to explore 
the safety and response of different 
cumulative doses of PQ Grass for grass-
pollen induced seasonal allergic rhinitis. 

The PQ Birch 301 study was a multi-centre, 
double-blind, placebo-controlled study 
designed to test the efficacy of cumulative 
doses of PQ Birch for birch-pollen induced 
seasonal allergic rhinitis. The European 
study took place in Germany, Poland, 
Austria and Sweden with 582 patients 
over 59 centres being randomised into 
active and placebo arms, evaluating the 
safety and efficacy in allergic symptoms 
as determined by the combined 
symptom medication score (‘CSMS’). 

Headline data from the PQ Birch 
Phase lll trial (B301) is now expected 
by the end of the year.

The Group continues to progress 
with the plans for the launch of a 
PQ Grass product in the US.

The study took place in Germany,  
Poland and Austria and 447 patients were 
randomised into four active arms plus a 
placebo, evaluating the change in allergic 
symptoms as determined by the total 
symptom score (‘TSS’) following conjunctival 
provocation test (‘CPT’) with the objective 
to achieve a dose recommended for 
Phase III development. As announced in 
May 2018, the G205 study met the primary 
endpoint of the trial with highly statistically 
significant dose-response relationship 
(p<0.0001). In addition, all dosing regimens 
were safe and well tolerated. Furthermore, 
adherence to the short treatment course 
was excellent with more than 95% of patients 
receiving the target cumulative dose during 
six-weekly subcutaneous injections.

26 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportOur pipeline

Pre-clinical

Phase l

Phase ll

Phase lll

Market/Registered

Pollinex Grass 

Short course SCIT (EU)

Pollinex Tree 

Short course SCIT (EU)

Pollinex Ragweed 

Short course SCIT ( Canada)

Venomil Bee 

Short course SCIT (EU)

Venomil Wasp 

Short course SCIT (EU)

PQ Grass 

PQ Birch 

Short course Grass SCIT with MPL (EU + US)

Short course Birch SCIT with MPL (EU)

PQ Ragweed 

Short course Ragweed SCIT with MPL (US)

PQ Trees 

Short course Tree SCIT with MPL (US)

Oralvac Grass, Trees and House Dust Mite 

Sublingual immunotherapy with flexible-dosing

Modified Mite Platform 

Short course modified allergen house dust mite SCIT + MPL

Peanut SCIT 

Short course Peanut SCIT

Also available as a Named  
Patient product

Acarovac Plus and Acarovac MPL 
– Next generation products for dust 
mite immunotherapy
Following the success of short course 
house dust mite SCIT product Acarovac 
Plus in Portugal and Austria, MPL was 
added to Acarovac Plus to create 
Acarovac MPL with new dose regimens 
tested in the AM101 Phase I study. The 
adjuvant MPL is used in the Company’s 
successful PQ product range. 

The AM101 study was designed to assess 
safety and tolerability of Acarovac 
MPL as seven injections over six to 12 
weeks in adult patients with house dust 
mite allergic rhino conjunctivitis. This 
initial exploratory safety study will also 
evaluate efficacy via nasal provocation 
test and measurement of immunological 
parameters as was used for the Acarovac 
Plus study. The study is currently ongoing 
with results expected in H1 2019.

VLP Peanut
Preclinical data demonstrating protection 
against anaphylaxis when challenged with 
peanut enabled the Group to progress 
towards defining a target product profile 
according to timelines. The Group’s 
innovative peanut vaccine is focused 

on a subcutaneous application of 
recombinant peanut allergen coupled 
with its state-of-the-art VLP platform with 
the aim of inducing protective immunity.
Positive proof of concept data from 
the recombinant vaccine candidates 
enabled the Group to progress with GMP 
development of a defined target product 
profile to support the phase I timeline. 
Following this, the Group announced 
in February 2018 that it had signed an 
agreement with AGC Biologics to scale-
up the manufacture of VLP Peanut in 
advance of the first clinical trials. The 
Group remains on target to begin first 
in-human studies in 2019, subject to 
successful scale-up, dosing analysis and 
discussions with the regulatory authorities. 

Synbiotics
2018 saw the publication of the Lactose 
Intolerance Observational Efficacy 
SynGut Study (‘LIONESS’) that showed 
SynGut® improved the symptoms of 
people with lactose intolerance and 
after six months of treatment 81% of 
patients provided a negative breath test. 
These results open new perspectives 
in the use of specific probiotics in the 
treatment of lactose intolerance. 

Transcriptomics: analysis of the 
pathways and molecular markers 
associated with allergen 
immunotherapy 
The Group recently completed a detailed 
study investigating grass immunotherapy-
induced molecular mechanisms and 
identified signature genes associated 
with immunological pathways and cellular 
functions after treatment. Blood samples 
were taken from volunteers after they had 
undergone allergen-specific immunotherapy 
and compared to those on placebo. The 
difference in patients’ immune systems 
(genes that are switched on or off) was 
then compared to determine the effect 
of allergen-specific immunotherapy. 

The results from the study support the 
concept that the number of genetic 
markers identified may be linked to 
early time-points during successful 
SIT with 13 Grass MATA MPL.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 27

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial Statements 
We are hugely proud of the standard of the work 

completed by all R&D teams across the Group that 

have generated such high-quality results towards our 

Phase I, II and III programmes. These achievements  

lay the foundations for future commercial successes.

Murray Skinner
Chief Scientific Officer

Research & Development

continued

Other events held by the Group at EAACI 
included a satellite symposium entitled: 
‘Adjuvants through the ages’ which 
provided a summary of how adjuvant 
technologies have evolved and how 
Allergy Therapeutics is spearheading 
the design and testing of state-of-the-art 
allergen-specific immunotherapies.

Extensive scientific contributions  
to the 2018 EAACI congress
This year at the 37th Annual Congress of the 
European Academy of Allergy and Clinical 
Immunology (‘EAACI’) held in Munich, 
Germany, Allergy Therapeutics presented 
a series of 14 poster presentations with 
key highlights including an overview of the 
early-phase pre-clinical developments for 
the Group’s planned recombinant peanut 
vaccine and a discussion of the results of  
a non-interventional study investigating 
rapid up-dosing of tree Oralvac  
sublingual immunotherapy.

Published work during the period

1.  Worm M., et al., Randomised controlled trials define 

5.  Rabe U., et al., Long-term efficacy of specific 

shape of dose response for Pollinex Quattro Birch 
allergoid immunotherapy. Allergy.2018;1–11. 

2.  Hutchings J.W., et al., Immunogenicity of a Modified 

subcutaneous, short-term MPL adjuvant immunotherapy 
over three treatment and three follow-up years, as 
measured by quality of life. Allergo J Int (2017) 26: 147.

Microcrystalline Tyrosine (MCT®)–Adsorbed Ragweed 
Immunotherapeutic Product with Monophosphoryl Lipid 
A in a Murine Mode ARC Journal of Immunology and 
Vaccines Volume 2, Issue 1, 2017, PP 22-27. 

6.  Kmenta, et al. The grass pollen season 2015: a proof of 
concept multi-approach study in three different 
European cities. World Allergy Organization Journal 
(2017) 10:31.

3.  Gustavo Cabral-Miranda, et al., Microcrystalline 

7.  Fassio, F. and Guagnini, F., House dust mite-related 

Tyrosine: A Depot Adjuvant in Licensed Allergy 
Immunotherapy Offers New Opportunities in Malaria. 
Vaccines 2017, 5, 32; doi:10.3390/vaccines5040032.

4.  Leuthard D., et al., Microcrystalline Tyrosine and 
Aluminium as Adjuvants in Allergen-Specific 
Immunotherapy Protect from I.e.-Mediated Reactivity in 
Mouse Models and Act Independently of Inflammasome 
and TLR Signaling. The Journal of Immunology 2018, 200: 
3151–3159.

respiratory allergies and probiotics: a narrative review. 
Clin Mol Allergy (2018) 16:15.

28 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportSpecialist Expertise 

“As Biochemistry Team Leader at 
Allergy Therapeutics, the most 
rewarding part of my job is working 
with a strong team of scientists to 
develop and release new products 
that can go on to help patients live 
normal lives.”

Nicola Swan

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 29

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsCorporate Responsibility

In line with our commitment to transforming 
lives, we are committed to conducting our 
business in a responsible way.

Our Corporate Responsibility  
(‘CR’) initiatives focus on four core  
themes: our people, our customers,  
our communities and our planet, 
underpinned by a commitment to  
high standards of business practices. 

Our people are at the heart of our 
business and we provide a range of 
support and training opportunities that 
enable us to develop the right talent 
to implement our strategy and help 
individuals to maximise their potential. 

We support initiatives that help increase 
young people’s interests and aspirations in 
careers in Science, Technology, Engineering 
and Mathematics (‘STEM’) and act as an 
Enterprise Adviser for Davison School for 
Girls near our Worthing headquarters 
specifically providing girls with a better 
understanding of the wide range of 
opportunities in a STEM related career. 

We are committed to minimising the impact 
of our operations on the environment 
and are conscious of the principles of 
conservation: reduce, reuse and recycle. 

We demand the highest standards of health 
and safety, and ethical practices in areas 
such as modern slavery, tax evasion, bribery 
and corruption, and undertake regular 
audits of suppliers to ensure that they are 
working to the same standards. 

Community and environmental initiatives 
across the business are managed by each 
office. This report explains more about our 
activities in each of our areas of focus.

People 
Our people are the key to our success 
and we are proud of the pioneering and 
groundbreaking work they carry out 
that can transform a patient’s life. 

We aim to develop careers by identifying 
and supporting talented individuals 
to ensure that we have a workforce 
capable of realising our ambitious 
strategy. We review succession planning 
of our Senior Executives at Nomination 
Committee meetings to ensure that the 
business has procedures in place to 
safeguard continuity of leadership. 

We support our employees to make a 
difference to the business through a 
structured performance management 
process. Achievement of an individual’s 
objectives is rewarded through a 
discretionary bonus. We provide a 
competitive compensation and benefits 
package which includes discretionary 
share awards for eligible employees.

We are committed to growth and 
investing in technology, both to advance 
our product portfolio and to allow us to 
operate globally. In the past year, we have 
invested in video conferencing technology 
across the Group to improve the quality 
of cross-border meetings. We have also 
invested in a global finance system to 
increase the efficiency of Group reporting 
and a global people system that will 
support the growing business and provide 
consistency in our approach to our people.

30 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic Report2017–18 people achievements 

Values: During the year, all employees across the business attended workshops to 
engage with our corporate values, to allow them to move forward living these values  
on a day-to-day basis .

Culture: We have engaged over 10% of our employees globally in qualitative research to 
enquire about their experience of our current culture. The Executive Team has listened 
to their feedback and has shaped three cultural outcomes – One-Team, Transparency 
and Accountability – that we want to create in the Group in order to achieve our 
ambitious long-term business strategy.

Well-being: In the UK, 108 employees participated in a month-long steps challenge, 
encouraging employees to get fit and healthy. 

OD and HR Executive appointment: During the year, a Global Organisational 
Development and HR Director, Dr Pavica Barr, was appointed with remit to develop  
the organisation in alignment with the long-term strategy. 

We believe that our own operations present 
minimal risk, but recognise that a higher 
level of risk is posed by the suppliers we 
engage with to provide goods and services. 

In the year ahead, we plan to provide 
further guidance to our employees 
and continue our ongoing engagement 
and audit of our suppliers.

Culture and values
Our three core values: Visionary, 
Commitment and Menschlichkeit (Humanity) 
shape how we work and are at the heart of 
every decision the business makes. 

The ambitious and supportive culture at 
Allergy Therapeutics is reflective of our 
ambitious business strategy. Our people 
bring a positive, problem solving attitude 
and have the courage to think big. We 
encourage our people to adopt a healthy 
attitude to work-life balance and to take 
their full annual leave entitlement each year. 
We practice a flexible working approach 
to accommodate employees’ needs.

Diversity
We believe that every person in the 
Group has a part to play in creating value 
and we understand the benefits of a 
diverse workforce. There is strong female 
representation across the business and 
we are keen to develop female talent. Our 
Board does not currently have any female 
Directors and this year, in recognition of 
the benefits of diversity at all levels in the 
business, the Company announced that it 
aims to have 30% female representation 
on the Board by 2025 so that our Board 
composition will better reflect the 
gender diversity within the Group. 

Modern slavery
In accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 
2015, the Board has approved a Modern 
Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement, 
which has been published on our website. 
The statement details the steps we take to 
avoid slavery and human trafficking in our 
own operations and in our supply chain.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 31

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsAs a healthcare company with a focus on 

improving allergy treatments through 

advanced technology, we want to encourage 

and support the next generation of 

scientists and healthcare professionals.

Corporate Responsibility

continued

Our customers
Transforming lives
Allergies reduce quality of life by preventing 
individuals and their loved ones from 
enjoying the everyday activities that most 
take for granted. At their most severe, 
allergies can be fatal. Whatever the severity 
of an allergy, the wider implications are 
negative. Many patients and their families 
live in fear and can feel isolated or excluded. 
There is no doubt that our work in allergy 
treatment is transforming lives. 

We strive to deliver the best immunology 
treatments for patients. Our products and 
their associated adjuvant technologies 
address the causes of patient symptoms 
rather than masking them. We believe the 
best products for a thriving business are 
also the best products for patients. 
Therefore our product pipeline reflects this 
with programmes investigating allergens of 
serious concern such as peanut allergy. 

Delivering convenience 
Our shorter course treatments take 4 
– 6 injections, over the course of 3 to 5 
weeks. Alternative therapies in the USA 
can take 50-100 injections and up to 15 
across Europe. Our approach increases 
efficiency for healthcare professionals 
and frees up time for our patients. 

Healthcare professionals rely on our quality 
products, our knowledge and our trusted 
partnership to deliver the best care for their 
patients. 99% of our products were 
delivered on time during the year. 

Customer support 
We have dedicated customer support 
teams in every market who regularly seek 
feedback through customer satisfaction 
surveys. We also have established medical 
support where patients and health care 
professionals are able to contact our 
trained advisers via medical hotlines. 

Biodegradable adjuvants
Adjuvants are added to vaccines to 
enhance and modify immune responses 
and can increase efficacy and reduce 
the number of injections required for 
a treatment. A number of vaccines use 
aluminium salts as an adjuvant, however, 
in the 1970’s we began developing natural 
biodegradable alternatives and today, 
all our vaccines are aluminium free 
and feature natural adjuvants only. 

Our communities 
During the year, the Group worked to benefit 
the communities in which we operate and to 
support various allergy related initiatives. 

Science, Technology, Engineering and 
Mathematics (‘STEM’)
During the year, the Company became 
involved in STEM Sussex which provides 
opportunities for businesses to work with 
schools to encourage enthusiasm in the 
STEM subjects of science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics. As a 
healthcare company with a focus on 
improving allergy treatments through 
advanced technology, we want to 
encourage and support the next generation 
of scientists and healthcare professionals.

STEM activities during the year included:
 – Participation in ‘Big Bang’ – an exciting 

and interactive science and engineering 
event attended by over 500 
schoolchildren. 

 – Bev Lees, the Group Operations Director, 
was appointed Enterprise Adviser for 
Davison School for Girls. This involves 
encouraging the pupils to have a better 
understanding of the wide range of 
opportunities available in a STEM related 
career and supporting the school with 
their Gatsby Benchmarks.

 – Five-Year 10 students were provided with 

work experience places. 

 – Provided the opportunity for an A Level 
student to work on a four-week science 
project through the Nuffield Research 
placement scheme. 

32 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportCharitable support 
Beyond supporting causes linked directly to our business operations, we also support 
several other charitable causes around our global offices, including: 

Aluminium for bread
In Germany, employees collect aluminium and other metals which are then sold to 
support the Bolivian Street Children Project. 

Pfennigparade
In Germany, donations were also made during the year to Pfennigparade, a charity  
based in Munich, which aims to train and integrate people with physical disabilities into 
the workplace. 

Beekeeping
In Germany, we support the Institute for Apiculture whose objectives are to research 
sustainable solutions to beekeeping in the country. 

Worthing community
In Worthing, we provide support to a local hospice and support a charity which provides 
medicinal supplies to needy individuals. 

Allergy related initiatives 
The Group are platinum sponsors of the 
EAACI. EAACI help drive awareness of the 
existence of allergy treatments, support  
the training of a new generation of allergists 
and supports initiatives into food allergy  
and awareness.

Our planet 
We are committed to responsibly 
managing the environmental impact of 
our operations and the products that 
we sell. We also recognise that using 
resources efficiently and reducing our 
carbon footprint helps reduce costs. 

Additionally, the Group supports a 
number of allergy related initiatives 
such as the German Association for 
Allergology and Clinical Immunology 
(‘DGAKI’) and the German Foundation for 
Prevention of Allergies and Respiratory 
Diseases, the Italian Association of 
Allergists and Immunologists, and the 
Austrian Society of the Paediatricians’ 
allergy education programme. 

The energy used to power and heat 
our offices, distribution centres and 
manufacturing facilities is the greatest 
contributor to our carbon footprint and 
also represents a significant cost to the 
business. Throughout the year we have 
monitored our energy usage to identify 
energy saving opportunities in compliance 
with the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme 
Regulations (‘ESOS’). Actions taken have 
included the introduction of passive 
infrared sensors and the replacement of 
any fluorescent light bulbs with LED.

During the year, a new video conferencing 
communication system was installed 
across the Group, allowing us to operate 
globally while reducing the number of 
flights that we take, therefore reducing 
our overall carbon footprint. 

We continue to work hard to reduce 
waste within the business. Waste 
created by inefficient use of resources 
can be costly to the business. In 
response, we operate recycling and 
waste reduction initiatives in all of our 
offices. We apply the Waste Hierarchy 
principles when segregating our waste. 

Our ultra-short course treatments 
have fewer injections as compared 
to other similar available treatments; 
this reduces resource requirements 
in terms of packaging, raw materials 
and transportation costs. 

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 33

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsPrincipal Risks and Uncertainties

The Board has overall responsibility for  
the Group’s system of risk management. 

In common with many pharmaceutical 
companies, the Group faces a number of 
risks and uncertainties. Internal controls  
are in place to help identify, manage and 
mitigate these risks. The main risks have 
been identified as follows:

Commercial successful products risk
Continued development of viable new 
products and their successful registration 
and marketing is key to the success of 
the Group and is a costly and lengthy 
process. Rationale for new product 
development may indicate potential; 
however, following significant investment 
there is no guarantee that a product 
will be commercially successful.

In order to mitigate this risk, the Group is 
developing and commercialising PQ 
products in the US, seeking PEI market 
authorisation for PQ products in Germany 
and continuing to increase market share 
across Europe, as well as developing new 
markets to spread risk. 

Production risk
A significant majority of the Group’s 
products are manufactured on the Worthing 
site which is shared with GSK. Any disruption 
to production caused by internal or external 
factors could materially affect the business. 
The site is also leased from GSK and, 
therefore, there is a mid-term risk that the 
lease is terminated. Further, any failure in 
production could lead to a product recall. In 
order to minimise these risks, regular 
maintenance and upgrade of the facility is 
undertaken. The Group has a recovery plan 
in place. In respect of the lease, the Group 
has negotiated a longer termination notice 
period. The Group also has an IT disaster 
recovery plan. 

Product liability risk
Despite extensive product testing prior 
to market launch, products may produce 
unanticipated adverse side effects that 
may hinder their marketability. The Group 
may be insufficiently covered for any 
potential litigation which in some cases can 
potentially be open-ended. The Group’s 
manufacturing facilities and those of some 
of its suppliers are subject to regulatory 
requirements and there is a risk that 
such facilities may not comply with such 
requirements. The Group maintains product 
liability insurance, and ensures systems 
and processes relating to the manufacture 
of its products are compliant and regularly 
reviewed. It has a Pharmacovigilance 
Team in place to monitor and address 
any safety issues arising including non-
compliance in the treatment of patients.

34 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportIntellectual property risk
Group patents may be challenged at any 
time and any unsuccessful defence may 
cause the Group to lose protection for 
its products and subsequently affect 
further development and sales. The Group 
is reliant on some intellectual property 
owned by external stakeholders that, if 
lost, could hinder the commercialisation 
of some of it products. The Group has 
internal and external patent experts. 
Internal controls are in place to avoid 
disclosure of patentable material and to 
protect existing patents. Arrangements 
are also in place to notify the Group of 
any infringements of our intellectual 
property which it would defend robustly.

Economic risks
A high level of risk is attached to 
the research, development and 
commercialisation of innovative drugs. 
The Group ensures that business cases 
are scrutinised before Board approval and 
that any increases in costs are justified. 
Competitors may reduce prices or increase 
sales investment making maintaining market 
share less profitable. Key suppliers may be 
unable to execute contractual requirements 
that hamper product development, the 
route to markets or current sales, but the 
Group maintains appropriate measures to 
protect its supply chains. The Group may 
be unable to attract partners or licensees 
on favourable terms or recruit the right staff 
to help develop and market its products. 
Approximately 61% (2017: 59%) of Group 
sales are made in Germany and, therefore, 
Group results are particularly sensitive 
to German legislation and government 
policies and performance of the German 
market. To mitigate this risk, the Group 
continues to expand its revenue outside 
Germany. The Group also continues to 
develop new products and increase clinical 
data to protect its market position. 

Pharmaceutical products are subject to far 
greater controls on price in certain markets 
than other products in the marketplace. 
Some governments intervene directly 
in setting price levels and rebates paid 
into public sick funds, especially with an 
increasing aged population in developed 
countries. The Group cannot accurately 
predict when, where and how such controls 
and restrictions may be altered, either 
to its benefit or detriment, but it does 
conduct regular reviews of pricing and 
reimbursement levels and assessments 
of healthcare reforms on pricing.

EU referendum risks
The referendum in the UK to leave the EU 
could pose a significant risk for the Group. 
The referendum outcome has and may 
continue to impact exchange rates and 
investor confidence. The risk impact in 
relation to the operation of the business 
is not clear given the uncertain nature of 
the future arrangements between the UK 
and the rest of the EU. Significant potential 
areas of risk are regulatory, fiscal and 
financial. The Group mitigation in relation 
to currencies is noted under financial risks. 
In relation to other aspects of this risk, the 
Group is currently developing detailed 
plans as well as taking some actions to 
protect the business as much as possible. 
If implemented, these plans will lead to 
material additional cost to the business. The 
Group is also actively liaising with regulatory 
authorities in order to minimise disruption.  

Financial risks
Adequate funding may not be available 
to the Group, either through reserves or 
external partners for the advancement  
of clinical trials, manufacturing and 
marketing. Failure to obtain further  
funding may lead to postponement or 
cancellation of programmes. The Board 
actively reviews the financial requirements 
of the Group on a regular basis in order to 
ensure that adequate funding is available. 
A majority of the Group’s sales are 
denominated in Euros whilst manufacturing 
and most corporate administration costs 
are in the UK and, therefore, the Group 
is exposed to volatility in exchange rate 
fluctuations. The Group monitors exchange 
rates regularly and implements hedges to 
mitigate such risks. Note 24 in the Notes 
to the Financial Statements gives details 
of the Group’s objectives and policies for 
risk management of financial instruments.

Clinical and regulatory risk
The Group operates in a highly regulated 
environment for the testing, manufacture 
and supply of its products. Compliance 
with clinical and regulatory requirements 
within the EU affects not only the cost 
of product development and resource 
use, but also the time required to comply. 
Increased regulation may require products 
to be amended to comply with regulations 
and/or products have to be withdrawn, 
reducing revenues and/or increasing costs. 

Regulatory authorities such as the FDA 
are increasingly focused on the benefit/
risk of pharmaceutical products and 
safety data making it more onerous to 
obtain regulatory approval. Compliance 
systems are in place to ensure all clinical, 
manufacturing and marketing activities 
comply with regulations in the EU and other 
territories. Standard operating procedures 
are maintained to ensure compliance with 
good manufacturing practice. The Group 
strictly monitors new industry regulations 
and engages with key regulatory authorities 
to inform the Group’s strategic direction 
and identify factors likely to affect the 
future development, performance and 
position of the Group’s business. The 
Group maintains good relations with the 
small number of specialised suppliers 
for its raw materials for its products.

Internal controls
The internal control system is designed to 
manage rather than eliminate risk, but it can 
only provide reasonable and not absolute 
assurance against material misstatement or 
loss. Internal controls are designed for the 
safeguarding of assets, the maintenance of 
proper accounting records, the reliability 
of financial information, compliance with 
appropriate legislation, regulation and 
best practice, and the identification and 
management of business risk. The Group 
has an internal audit function, reporting 
directly to the Audit Committee, which 
carries out periodic reviews of the Group’s 
subsidiaries. The Group also has a budgeting 
and reporting system in place, with results 
compared to annual budgets and half-
yearly forecasts using variance analysis.

Key personnel
The Group is reliant on a number of 
key qualified scientific, technical and 
management personnel. Competition 
for such personnel is intense and there 
can be no assurance that the Group 
will be able to continue to attract and 
retain such personnel. Loss of these key 
personnel could adversely impact the 
effectiveness of the Group’s operations. 
The Group continues to invest in training 
and development as well as externally 
benchmarking remuneration and 
developing succession planning. 

Compliance 
The Group aims to remain compliant with 
all relevant laws and regulations. The recent 
significant increase in such regulations 
around data protection, taxation and many 
other areas has increased the risk of a 
breach of regulations that could lead to a 
substantial fine. The Group has policies 
and procedures in place in order to 
comply with legislation and considers that 
its standards are above those of quoted 
businesses of a similar size but these 
may not be enough to avoid breaches.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 35

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsFinancial Review

Nick Wykeman | Chief Financial Officer

The results for the 12 months to 30 June 2018 
demonstrate continuing growing profitability of 
the core business before R&D expense5, with an 
operating profit excluding R&D of £9.3 million 
(2017: £7.4 million). 

36 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic ReportOverview
Including R&D expense of £16.0 million 
(2017: £9.3 million), the Group reported an 
operating loss of £6.7 million (2017: loss 
£1.9 million). The operating loss includes 
a non-cash credit of £0.3 million (2017: 
credit of £0.8 million) in relation to the fair 
valuation of forward exchange contracts. 
R&D expenditure in the year was higher due 
to the Birch Phase III and the Grass Phase 
II trials. The net loss after tax for the period 
was £7.5 million (2017: loss of £2.5 million).

Revenue
Revenue increased by 6.6% to £68.3 
million (2017: £64.1 million). The weighted 
average Euro exchange rate in the year 
was €1.13 to £1 compared to €1.16 in the 
previous year; the positive impact of 
the stronger Euro on revenue was £1.9 
million. Despite a weak pollen season, 
revenue at constant currency1 was 
3.5%2 higher at £66.4 million (2017: £64.1 
million) as shown in the table below:

2018 
Germany 
£m

42.0

4.2

46.2

2018 
Other 
£m

26.3

–

26.3

2018 
Total 
£m

68.3

4.2

72.5

2017 
Germany 
£m

37.8

5.8

43.6

2017 
Other 
£m

26.3

–

26.3

2017 
Total 
£m

64.1

5.8

69.9

(1.5)

44.7

(0.6)

25.7

(2.1)

70.4

43.6

26.3

69.9

2018 
Germany 
£m

42.0

2018 
Other 
£m

26.3

2018 
Total 
£m

68.3

2017 
Germany 
£m

37.8

2017 
Other 
£m

26.3

2017 
Total 
£m

64.1

(1.4)

40.6

(0.5)

25.8

(1.9)

66.4

37.8

26.3

64.1

Revenue

Add rebates 

Gross revenue

Adjustment to 

retranslate at prior 
year foreign 
exchange rate

Gross revenue at 

constant currency1

Revenue

Adjustment to 

retranslate at prior 
year foreign 
exchange rate

Revenue at constant 

currency1

Revenue from Germany was 61% (2017: 
59%) of total reported revenue although 
the Group continues to develop new 
and existing markets to reduce reliance 
on the German market. Rebates were 
lower this year due to changes in product 
composition that may not continue in 2019. 
Sales of PQ were broadly flat reflecting 
the weak pollen season while Pollinex, 
Venomil and Acarovac Plus continued 
to grow strongly. Total sales from other 
products contributed £4.1 million for the 
year ended 30 June 2018 (2017: £4.4 million). 

Revenue in Germany grew well in the year 
with revenue at constant currency3 
increasing to £40.6 million (2017: £37.8 
million), an increase of 7%.

All the main European markets (except  
for Italy) exhibited good sales growth at 
constant currency2 with Spain showing  
4%; the Netherlands 6%; Austria 5% and  
Germany 7%.

Gross profit
Cost of sales remained flat at £17.0 million 
(2017: £16.8 million). The gross margin was 
75% (2017: 74%), leading to a gross profit of 
£51.3 million (2017: £47.4 million).

Operating expenses
Total overheads were £8.7 million 
higher against the prior year at £58.7 
million (2017: £50.0 million), including 
an increase in R&D expenditure that 
rose by £6.7 million to £16.0 million 
(2017: £9.3 million) due to the increased 
clinical study activity during the year.

1  Constant currency uses prior year weighted average exchange rates to translate current year foreign currency denominated revenue to give a year-on-year comparison excluding the effects 

of foreign exchange movements.

2   Percentage based on figures in thousands (2018:£66.369m, 2017: £64.139m).
3  Constant currency uses prior year weighted average exchange rates to translate current year foreign currency denominated revenue to give a year-on-year comparison excluding the effects of 

foreign exchange movements. See table in the Financial Review for an analysis of revenue on page 36.

4   Market data and internal estimates for 12 months to 30 June 2018 for Allergy Therapeutics’ direct sales competitive markets excluding UK and Switzerland due to lack of competitor information.
5  Operating profit (pre-R&D) is calculated by adding back R&D expenditure for the year to the operating loss of the year to arrive at an operating profit (pre-R&D) of £9.3m (2017: £7.4m).

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 37

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Review

continued

Sales, marketing and distribution costs 
which were mainly in continental Europe, 
increased by £0.2 million to £27.1 million 
(2017: £26.9 million). Administration expenses 
increased by £1.7 million to £15.5 million 
(2017: £13.8 million). The increase was driven 
by additional investment in compliance, 
rent, and staff incentives including the 
share-based payments charge arising on  
the long-term incentive programme.

Other income in the year of £0.6 million (2017: 
£0.7 million) was all due to R&D tax credits in 
the UK.

Looking forward to the current financial 
year, non-R&D expenses are expected 
to grow again due to some delay in costs 
from 2018 as well as investment in the 
expected launch of the new Birch product. 
R&D for 2019 is likely to return to the 
levels just above 2018, with some cost 
being carried over into 2019 from 2018 
due to the timing of certain work relating 
to the end of the PQ Birch Phase III trial. 

Tax
The current and prior year tax charges are 
predominately made up of provisions for tax 
in the Italian and German subsidiaries.

Balance sheet
Property, plant and equipment increased by 
£0.4 million to £10.1 million (2017: £9.7 million) 
with investment in new manufacturing plant 
and office refurbishment. Goodwill was 
similar to last year at £3.4 million (2017: £3.4 
million), whilst other intangible assets were 
reduced due to a write down of assets 
related to the bacterial products which have 
been removed from the market (£1.5 million, 
2017: £2.1 million).

Total current assets, excluding cash, 
remained at £15.3 million (2017: £15.3 million). 
Inventory increased by £1.3 million due to 
early production of commercial stock. Trade 
debtors have decreased (mainly in UK and 
Italy) reflecting the Group’s management of 
debtors despite increased sales. Cash and 
cash at hand decreased to £15.5 million  
from £22.1 million in 2017.

The fair value of derivative financial 
instruments was a liability of £0.1 million in 
2018 (2017: £0.4 million).

Retirement benefit obligations, which 
relate solely to the German pension 
scheme, increased to £10.3 million (2017: 
£9.6 million). The increase in the liability 
was mainly driven by the reduction in 
the discount rate from 2.05% to 1.85%.

The Group had a net cash outflow of £3.8 
million in the year (2017: £0.2 million cash 
surplus) primarily due to investment in its 
R&D programme.

Currency
The Group uses forward exchange 
contracts to mitigate exposure to the 
effects of exchange rates. The current 
policy of the Group is to cover, on 
average, about 70% of the net Euro 
exposure for a year on a declining basis.

Financing 
The Group’s debt on its balance sheet 
relates to activities in Spain and consists 
of the loans acquired as a result of the 
Alerpharma acquisition (£1.2 million) and 
further loans (£1.9 million) arranged to 
fund development of products in the 
Spanish market. The overdraft facility 
was unused at 30 June 2018 but has 
been renewed for a further 12 months to 
cover seasonal funding requirements.

The Directors believe that the Group will 
have adequate facilities for the foreseeable 
future and accordingly they continue to 
adopt the going concern basis in  
preparing the full year results.

Legal
On 23 February 2015, the Company received 
notification that the Federal Office for 
Economics and Export (‘BAFA’) had made 
a decision to reverse their preliminary 
exemption to the increased manufacturers 
rebate in Germany for the period July to 
December 2012. The Company was granted 
a preliminary exemption to the increased 
rebate for this period by BAFA in 2013. 
The Company recognised revenue of €1.4 
million (£1.1 million at that time) against this 
exemption in the year ended 30 June 2013. 
All other preliminary exemptions (granted for 
periods up to 30 June 2012) have previously 
been ratified as final by BAFA. After taking 
legal advice, the Company has lodged an 
appeal against this decision and is confident 
that the exemption will be reinstated. 
Therefore, as at 30 June 2018, no provision 
has been recognised for the repayment of 
the rebate refund of €1.4 million (£1.2 million). 
This position will be kept under review.

The Group is in legal proceedings with 
one of its suppliers over potential cost 
overruns on one of its clinical trials which 
may lead to additional expense for the 
Group, see Note 29 to the Financial 
Statements, Contingent Liabilities.

Nicolas Wykeman
Chief Financial Officer 

The Strategic Report, as set out on pages 
1 to 38, has been approved by the Board
On behalf of the Board

Nicolas Wykeman 
Director
25 September 2018

38 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Strategic Report 
Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 39

Strategic Report | Governance | Financial StatementsBoard of Directors

Peter Jensen |
Chairman

Manuel Llobet |
Chief Executive Officer

Nick Wykeman |
Chief Financial Officer

Peter is responsible for the leadership 
of the Board, ensuring its effectiveness 
and setting its agenda. Peter held a 
number of senior positions in his 
21 years with SmithKline-Beecham, 
including Chairman of Consumer 
Healthcare and President of Worldwide 
Supply Operations. 

He has previously held non-executive or 
Chairman roles at a number of public 
and private companies including 
Domino Printing Sciences plc, 
Glenmorangie plc and Genetix  
Group plc. 

External appointments
Chairman Sandown Park Racecourse 
Screendragon (Software) Limited 
Home of Horseracing Trust Limited 
British Sporting Art Trust
Trustee of National Horseracing 
Museum 

Manuel has been Chief Executive 
Officer of Allergy Therapeutics plc since 
2009, shaping strategy and driving 
growth. Prior to this, Manuel was the 
Principal Consultant for Biohealth LLC 
and Chief Executive Officer of 
International Operations of the 
Weinstein family’s group of companies. 

Nick joined Allergy Therapeutics plc in 
2016 as Finance Director. He leads the 
finance function developing and 
implementing financial strategy. Nick is 
a Chartered Accountant and previously 
held positions at Skyepharma PLC (now 
part of Vectura Group plc) and Quest 
International (a division of ICI PLC).

External appointments
None

External appointments
None

A   N*

Key to Committees

A    Audit Committee

N   Nomination Committee

R    Remuneration Committee

* Denotes Chairman of a Committee

40 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Governance 
Stephen Smith |
Non-Executive Director and  
Senior Independent Director

Tunde Otulana |
Non-Executive Director

Jeff Barton |
Non-Executive Director

Stephen is a Chartered Management 
Accountant, Fellow of the Association of 
Corporate Treasurers and member of 
the Institute for Turnaround. During his 
career he held a number of financial 
roles in UK listed companies. Since 1995 
he has operated as an independent 
executive and has since taken on a 
number of board, advisory or  
executive roles. 

Tunde is Senior Vice President and 
Chief Medical Officer at Mallinckrodt 
Pharmaceuticals where he has 
responsibility for all global medical 
functions. His career includes 
leadership roles at Boehringer Ingelheim 
Pharmaceutical Inc. and the US Food 
and Drug Administration (‘FDA’). 

Jeff recently retired as Vice President, 
Licensing and Acquisitions at Abbott 
Laboratories but has continued to serve 
as Abbott’s nominated Director on the 
Board while Abbott searches for a 
replacement. During his career at 
Abbott, Jeff held a variety of financial 
management positions, including in 
diagnostics, nutrition and 
pharmaceuticals.

External appointments
Roles include Chairman of Tensator 
Holdings Limited, Rio Laranja Holdings 
Limited, Icknield Limited and Non-
Executive Director of EAT Limited

External appointments
None

External appointments
None

A*   N   R*

N   R

N

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 41

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsCorporate Governance

Dear Shareholder, 

I am pleased to introduce the Company’s 2018 Corporate Governance Report.

Good corporate governance is important to the Company, its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings (the ‘Group’), and we have always 
strived to develop our governance framework over and above the level required for an AIM listed company of our size. Earlier this year, 
the London Stock Exchange announced that from 28 September 2018, all AIM listed companies would be required to apply a recognised 
corporate governance code. We have chosen to apply the Quoted Companies Alliance Governance Code (‘QCA Code’), on the basis that 
it is the most suitable governance code for the Group, having regard to its strategy, size, stage of development and resources.

The Corporate Governance Statement, together with the Committee Reports that follow, explain how our governance framework works 
and how the Group has applied the ten principles of the QCA Code this year. I am very pleased to say that we are able to report full 
compliance with each of the ten principles of the QCA Code and that our governance framework continues to ensure that the Group 
operates effectively and with integrity. 

One of the Board’s key focuses this year has been to further the three pillars of the Group strategy – expansion in Europe, maintaining strong 
pipelines and preparations for US entry. The management team has strived to pursue these targets within a framework of good governance, 
and in line with our culture, which is based on three core values: vision, commitment and humanity. We monitor and promote this culture 
through a regular and transparent dialogue with key stakeholders, including employee workshops and customer surveys.  

Regular reviews are undertaken by the Nomination Committee to ensure that the Board has, and will continue to have, the appropriate 
mix of skills and experience to deliver the Company’s strategy. This year, recognising the benefits of diversity especially with regards to 
gender, the Company announced that it aims to have 30% female representation on the Board by 2025. Female representation within our 
senior management team has been consistently strong and it is our intention that over the next few years our Board composition will 
better reflect the gender diversity within the Company. 

Peter Jensen
Chairman 
25 September 2018

Corporate Governance Statement
This Corporate Governance Statement addresses how the Group complies with each of the ten principles of the QCA Code; however  
further disclosure relating to each principle can be found in other sections of the 2018 Annual Report and Accounts (the ‘2018 Report’)  
as indicated below:

Number Principles: 

Establish a strategy and business model which promote long-term value for shareholders 

Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs and expectations 

Take into account wider stakeholder and social responsibilities, and their implications for  
long-term success 

Embed effective risk management, considering both opportunities and threats, throughout the 
organisation 

Maintain the Board as a well-functioning, balanced team led by the Chairman 

Ensure that between them the Directors have the necessary up-to-date experience, skills and capabilities  Page 48

Evaluate Board performance based on clear and relevant objectives, seeking continuous improvement 

Promote a corporate culture that is based on ethical values and behaviours 

Maintain governance structures and processes that are fit for purpose and support good decision making 
by the Board 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Disclosure in  
the 2018 Report: 

Pages 16 to 19

See page 45

Pages 30 to 33

Pages 34 and 35,  
and 47

Pages 43 to 45

Pages 45 and  
49 to 54 

Page 31

Pages 43 to 54

Page 45

10.

Communicate how the Company is governed and is performing by maintaining a dialogue with  
shareholders and other relevant stakeholders 

42 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

GovernanceStrategy and model
The Company is an immunology business, specialising in 
research and development of allergy treatments. We have a 
well-established commercial presence in Europe (where we 
mainly sell our products), but are also focused on the US market 
opportunity. Our pipeline of products in clinical development 
includes vaccines for allergic reactions to grass, tree and house 
dust mites, as well as a peanut allergy vaccine in preclinical 
development; adjuvant systems to boost performance of 
vaccines outside allergies are also under evaluation. Our 
approach to the treatment of allergies offers the simplicity of 
four to six injections, with the aim of increased tolerability and 
efficacy. For more information on our strategy please see the 
Strategic Report on pages 1 to 38 and for information about 
the key challenges posed to the Company in executing its 
strategy, please see pages 34 and 35 of the 2018 Report.

Risk management
As discussed below, the Board has collective responsibility for risk 
management, and is assisted by the Audit Committee in monitoring 
the principal risks and uncertainties posed in the life sciences 
industry, as well as other micro and macroeconomic factors that 
may present risk to the Company’s progression. The Company also 
considers Company-specific risks such as research progress, 
personnel and operational facilities and collaborations.

Further information on the Company’s internal control systems, the 
risks and uncertainties posed to the Company, and how the Board 
gets its assurance that the risk management and related control 
systems in place are effective, can be found in the Audit Committee 
Report on pages 46 to 47.

The Board
The Board is collectively responsible for the long-term success of 
the Company and for its leadership, strategy, values, standards, 
control and management.

Day-to-day management of the Group is delegated to the 
Executive Directors, subject to formal delegated authority limits; 
however, certain matters are reserved for whole Board approval. 
These matters are reviewed periodically and include Board 
and Committee composition, strategy, funding decisions and 
corporate transactions among others. Directors are required to 
commit sufficient time to their role to appropriately discharge 
their duties. All Directors are offered regular training to develop 
their knowledge and ensure they stay up-to-date on matters 
for which they have responsibility as a Board member.

Board composition:
As at 30 June 2018, the Board comprised the Chairman, two 
Executive Directors and three Non-Executive Directors. The table 
below summarises the membership of the Board and Committees.

Biographies of each Director can be found on pages 40 and 41 of the 
2018 Report.

Board independence:
The Board has considered the independence of the Non-Executive 
Directors, and the table below sets out those considered to be 
independent in character and judgement. Stephen (Steve) Smith  
has served on the Board for more than ten years and will be offering 
himself up for re-election at this year’s Annual General Meeting 
(‘AGM’). The Nomination Committee gave particular consideration  
to recommending that Steve Smith be reappointed concluding that 
Steve continues to make a valuable contribution to the work of the 
Board and its Committees. Despite the length of his service on the 
Board, the Nomination Committee concluded that Steve retains his 
independent status as he continues to challenge the Executive 
Directors and makes independent decisions.

The Board during the year
There were 10 Board meetings held during the year. The Directors’ 
attendance record at these meetings is shown in the table below.

Directors at year end 

Role

Independent/not 
independent

Date of appointment

Attendance 
at Board 
meetings 

Attendance  
at Audit 
Committee

Attendance at 
Remuneration 
Committee

Attendance at 
Nomination 
Committee

Peter Jensen

Chairman 

Independent 

October 2010

Steve Smith

Non-Executive Director, 
Senior Independent 
Director 

Independent 

September 2004

Jeff Barton 

Non-Executive Director

Not independent  February 2017

Tunde Otulana

Non-Executive Director

Independent

June 2017

Manuel Llobet 

Chief Executive Officer 

Not independent

July 2009

Nick Wykeman 

Chief Financial Officer  

Not independent

June 2016

10/10

10/10

9/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

3/3

3/3

–

–

–

–

–

2/2

–

2/2

–

–

2/2

2/2

1/2

–

–

–

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 43

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsCorporate Governance

continued

The annual calendar includes a budget meeting at which the 
Executive Team present its business unit updates and its proposed 
budget for the forthcoming financial year. The budget meetings are 
also an opportunity for the Board to spend some time with members 
of senior management in a less formal environment. This year, for the 
first time, a strategy meeting was held with the Executive Team. The 
Executive Team presented the Board with their long-term vision for 
the Company and this provided an opportunity for the Board to give 
guidance and advice. A strategy meeting with the Executive Team 
will form part of the annual meetings calendar going forward. 

Board papers are circulated by email at least three clear business 
days in advance of any meeting to ensure that Directors have 
sufficient time to read the papers and consider their content  
prior to the meeting. 

The Chairman maintains regular contact with the Non-Executive 
Directors and the Chief Executive Officer outside of meetings as 
part of his role to provide leadership to the Board and the Company.

The roles of all Board members are as follows:

Position 

Chairman

Name 

Peter Jensen

Chief Executive Officer Manuel Llobet

Responsibilities 

Leads the Board, ensures its effectiveness and sets its 
agenda. Ensures an effective link between shareholders and 
the Board.

Develops the Company’s strategy, implements policies and 
strategies agreed by the Board and manages the business.

Chief Financial Officer 

Nick Wykeman

Develops and implements financial strategy for the Group. 

Non-Executive Directors  Steve Smith, Jeff Barton, Tunde Otulana 

Constructively challenge the Executive Directors and monitor 
the delivery of the agreed corporate strategy and objectives. 

All Directors have access to the Company Secretary’s advice and support where necessary: 

Company Secretary 

Sara Goldsbrough

Provides advice on Corporate Governance matters. Ensures a 
good flow of information within the Board and its Committees 
and between senior management and Board. 

Board committees
The Board has established Audit, Remuneration and Nomination 
Committees to enable the Board to operate effectively and ensure  
a good governance framework for decision making. 

Each Committee has established terms of reference which are 
reviewed periodically and are available on the Company’s website, 
www.allergytherapeutics.com/investor-relations/corporate-
governance/. Minutes of all Committee meetings are made available 
to all Directors. The Committee Chairmen attend the AGM to answer 
any questions on the activities of the Committee. 

Matters considered by the Board
At each Board meeting, the Board receives business updates from 
the Chief Executive Officer, financial performance updates from the 
Chief Financial Officer, the Committee Chairmen update the Board 
on any Committee matters, there is a Health and Safety Report, a 
Pharmacovigilance Report and more recently a standing agenda 
item on ‘Brexit’ has been included.

R&D investment is regularly considered and clinical study budget 
variances are also brought to the attention of the Board. 

New business opportunities and any other key investment decisions 
are proposed by the Chief Executive Officer as they arise. Often, 
such matters are complex and evolve over a period of time. 

Other periodic matters considered by the Board include: annual  
and half-year results; the annual budget; principal risks posed to  
the Company; AGM resolutions; and Long-Term Incentive Plan 
awards (‘LTIP’). 

Market and broker updates are circulated to the Board outside of 
the meetings.

44 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

GovernanceThe interplay between the Board and its Committees is as follows:

The Board
Collectively responsible for the long-term success of the Company, management of strategy, leadership and risk

Audit Committee

Oversees financial reporting

Monitors internal controls  
including risk management

Monitors internal and  
external auditors

Remuneration Committee

Determines the Executive  
Directors’ salary and bonus

Agrees LTIP distribution and 
scope of the plan

Nomination Committee

Recommends Board  
appointments

Coordinates Board and executive 
succession planning

Reviews mix of skills and 
experience on the Board

Ensuring an effective Board 
In 2016, to ensure that the Board continued to be effective, an 
evaluation of the Board’s performance and that of its Committees 
and Directors was conducted by an external consultant. The report 
concluded that the Board operated well and suggested a number of 
actions that could be taken to strengthen its effectiveness which 
have been implemented. These actions included the appointment of 
a standalone Company Secretary and the regular consideration of 
Non-Executive Director succession planning. 

This year, the Board intends to undertake an internal evaluation 
which will be managed by the Chairman and the Company Secretary. 
The process that we will undertake, and any agreed actions that 
arise from the evaluation, will be reported in next year’s Annual 
Report and Accounts.

Communication with shareholders
The Board is keen to ensure that the Company’s shareholders 
and any potential investors have a good understanding of the 
business and its performance, and that Directors are aware of 
any issues and concerns that shareholders may have. Principal 
responsibility for shareholder communication lies with the 
Chairman who can be contacted by registering an enquiry 
at: www.allergytherapeutics.com/contact-us/. The Company 
communicates with shareholders in a number of ways:

Corporate website: 
Our corporate website, www.allergytherapeutics.com allows visitors 
to access company information including historical Annual Reports 
and Accounts, results presentations and webcasts. 

AGM
The AGM allows the Board to update the shareholders on the 
Company’s progress and provides an opportunity for shareholders 
to pose questions to Directors. 

Shareholders are encouraged to vote on the resolutions put to the 
meeting, either in person or by submitting a proxy card. The results 
of the votes are published on our website after the meeting.

The 2018 AGM will be held on Tuesday 27 November 2018. The notice 
of meeting will be issued to shareholders at least 20 days before the 
meeting and separate resolutions will be proposed on each issue. In 
accordance with our Articles of Association, at least one-third of the 
Board will retire from office and offer themselves for re-election by 
shareholders on a rotational basis. 

Should shareholders have any concerns that they are unable to 
successfully resolve following communication with the Chairman, 
Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer they may raise 
them through the Senior Independent Director. 

Communication with stakeholders
The Board is mindful of how the Company’s business 
activities impact on both the environment and society, and 
is conscious of the need to make a positive contribution to 
the world while delivering exceptional business results. The 
Company acknowledges its responsibilities to stakeholders 
(including staff, patients and healthcare professionals). All 
stakeholders are encouraged to relay feedback about the 
Company to the Board, via the ‘Contact Us’ section of the 
website, www.allergytherapeutics.com/contact-us/. 

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 45

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsAudit Committee Report

Dear Shareholder, 

I am pleased to introduce the Company’s 2018 Audit Committee 
(the ‘Committee’) Report. The Committee plays a key role for  
the Board, monitoring and reviewing all aspects of the  
Group’s financial reporting, internal controls and risk 
management procedures. 

The following report provides an overview of the work 
undertaken by the Committee during the year. The most 
significant topics considered by the Committee during the year 
included revenue recognition and the impact of IFRS 15. The 
Committee also reviewed the principal risk disclosures which 
are set out on pages 34 and 35. These resulted from the Group’s 
risk management process as described on page 47. 

Stephen Smith
Chairman of the Committee
25 September 2018

The Committee 
The Committee, which reports to the Board, oversees the financial 
reporting process as well as monitoring the effectiveness of internal 
control, internal audit, risk management and the external audit. It 
also monitors the independence of the external auditors and the 
provision of non-audit services. As at 30 June 2018, the Committee 
comprises two independent Non-Executive Directors, Peter Jensen 
and Steve Smith, and is Chaired by Steve Smith who is considered  
to have significant, recent and relevant financial experience. 

The Committee’s meetings were also attended (by invitation) by  
the Chief Financial Officer, Company Secretary, Group Financial 
Controller and Financial Reporting Manager together with senior 
representatives of Grant Thornton UK LLP (the ‘External Auditor’).  

The Committee met three times during the year. Attendance at  
these meetings is shown in the table on page 43 of the Corporate 
Governance Statement. The Committee also met privately during  
the year with the External Auditor. The Committee follows an  
annual programme, which is agreed in advance. 

External Auditor
The Committee oversees the relationship with the External  
Auditor, and is responsible for developing and monitoring the 
Company’s policy on external audit and for monitoring the External 
Auditor’s independence. 

The External Auditor has direct access to the Committee  
Chairman should they wish to raise any matters outside of  
formal Committee meetings. 

The Committee monitored the External Auditor’s effectiveness 
during the year and considered the views of management that  
the External Auditor was providing a good-quality audit service.  
The Committee is satisfied that the External Auditor remains 
independent and objective and that the Group is receiving a  
robust audit and has, therefore, recommended to the Board  
that the External Auditor be reappointed in 2018. 

Non-audit services
Non-audit services are normally limited to assignments that are 
closely related to the annual audit or where the work is of such a 
nature that a detailed understanding of the Group is necessary. 

The Company has adopted a policy to ensure that the provision of 
non-audit services by the External Auditor does not compromise  
its independence or objectivity. The policy requires the Committee 
to pre-approve any non-audit work with a cost exceeding £10,000. 
Approval is only given following a thorough assessment of the case. 

The total fees charged by Grant Thornton in the year are shown on 
page 80.

Internal audit
During the year, the internal audit plan included reviews of financial 
controls in Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany. This 
coming year, it is expected that the audit plan will include all our 
main Group countries. 

The Committee reviews the timetable and work of the internal audit 
programme, any matters identified as a result of internal audits and 
whether recommendations are addressed by management in a 
timely and appropriate way. 

46 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

GovernanceRisk management and internal control
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s risk 
management. It reviews principal risks and uncertainties, together 
with the actions taken to mitigate them. The Board has delegated 
responsibility for the review of the adequacy and effectiveness of 
the internal control framework to the Committee. 

During 2017, a comprehensive review of risk management across the 
business was undertaken. The purpose was to design a framework 
that managed rather than eliminated risk and developed a more 
risk-aware culture. The Executive Team is responsible for the 
day-to-day operational and commercial activity across the Group 
and is, therefore, responsible for the management of risk. The 
Committee reviews the key risks on an annual basis and any 
emerging risks can be identified and reported to the Board. 

Risk management structure: 

Overall responsibility for risk framework and internal controls

Board

Audit Committee

Monitors internal control framework

Reviews and discusses risks, controls and mitigation measures

The Executive Team

Identifies and manages risk

Compiles risk register which is reviewed on a biannual basis

Implements mitigation measures

Reports to the Board on its work and conclusions

Reports to the Audit Committee

Internal controls
The Committee monitors and reviews the effectiveness of the 
Group’s internal controls and reports to the Board on its work and 
conclusions. In reviewing the effectiveness of the Group’s internal 
controls, the Committee considers reports from the internal audit 
team and the External Auditor as part of their auditing process. No 
significant failings or weaknesses have been identified in the review 
process during the year. 

Anti-bribery and corruption
During the year, the Committee reviewed the Group’s 
Whistleblowing, and Anti-Bribery and Corruption policies 
and procedures for their appropriateness. Following the 
review, some updates were made to both policies to ensure 
that the Group procedures remain proportionate to the risks 
that it faces. All employees will receive training on the new 
policies and procedures during the next six months. 

The Group’s internal controls are managed via:
 – The schedule of matters reserved for the Board.
 – The terms of reference for Board Committees.
 – The schedule of delegated authorities.
 – Documentation of significant transactions.
 – The whistleblowing procedure under which staff may raise 

matters of concern confidentially. 

The controls relating to financial reporting are:
 – An appropriately qualified management structure, with clear lines 

of responsibility.

 – A comprehensive budget review and approval process.
 – Board and Committee updates from the Chief Financial Officer, 

which include forecasts and performance against budget.
 – Regular internal audit of the financial control procedures.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 47

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNomination Committee Report

Director development 
The Chairman and the Committee ensures that the Directors 
keep their skills and knowledge up to date to allow them to 
fulfil their roles on the Board and Committees. The Company 
Secretary updates the Board on regulatory and corporate 
governance matters and periodic briefings are arranged with 
external advisers, such as our nominated adviser (Panmure 
Gordon (UK) Limited), to provide a better understanding of 
the broader market. Directors also receive regular business 
updates from the Executive Directors and other members of the 
Executive Team. Directors may also take independent advice 
at the Company’s expense if they feel this is appropriate. 

Diversity
Diversity is important to the Company and the Board recognises that 
diversity of experience and perspective can bring benefits across 
the business. During the year, the Committee terms of reference 
were reviewed and updated and now state that when considering 
the nomination of new Directors, the Committee will evaluate the 
balance of skills, knowledge and experience on the Board, to 
establish the particular skills and experience necessary for that 
appointment and that such evaluations will pay particular attention 
to the benefits of diversity on the Board, including gender. 

The Board is committed to encouraging diversity, and aims that over 
the next few years, in the normal course of succession management, 
its composition will become more reflective of the diversity across 
our business, particularly in terms of gender. In the coming year, the 
Committee will give consideration to the Board’s policy on diversity. 

Dear Shareholder, 

I am pleased to introduce the Company’s 2018 Nomination 
Committee (the ‘Committee’) Report. 

During the year, the Committee continued to focus on 
succession planning both at Board level and within the 
Executive Team. The Committee has also monitored the 
performance of the two new Non-Executive Directors, Jeff 
Barton and Tunde Otulana, and I am pleased to report that both 
Directors have readily taken to their roles and provide excellent 
contributions at Board meetings. 

In the coming year, the Committee will continue to monitor  
Board composition, including Directors’ tenure, skills, 
experience and diversity, to ensure that it is best placed to 
deliver our strategy, and will continue to consider succession 
planning for all Directors. 

Peter Jensen
Chairman of the Committee
25 September 2018

The Committee has responsibility for making recommendations  
on Board appointments and succession to the Board. 

The members of the Committee as at 30 June 2018 comprised Peter 
Jensen (Chairman), Jeff Barton and Steve Smith. The Committee met 
twice during the year and attendance at these meetings is shown in 
the table on page 43. 

Board composition and succession planning
The Committee regularly considers Board composition and 
succession planning for both Executive and Non-Executive 
Directors and also for the Executive Team. When considering 
Non-Executive Director succession planning, the Committee 
ensures that the Board and its Committees continue to have the  
right mix of skills and experience to be able to deliver the Group’s 
strategy. A summary of the Directors’ core skills and experience  
can be found on pages 40 and 41. 

This year, the Committee will continue to consider these matters  
at meetings and will make any recommendations to the Board  
where appropriate. 

48 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

GovernanceDirectors’ 
Remuneration Report

This report is for the period to 30 June 2018. It sets out the remuneration policy and the remuneration details for the Executive and Non-
Executive Directors of the Company. As an AIM-listed company, the information provided is disclosed to fulfil the requirements of AIM Rule 
19. Allergy Therapeutics plc is not required to comply with Schedule 8 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and 
Reports) Regulations 2008; however, the Company is committed to achieving both high governance standards and a simple remuneration 
structure. The information is unaudited except where stated.

Dear Shareholder,

In light of the continuing development of the Group, the Company has decided to develop the scope and content of its Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and is this year including this letter from the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee to introduce the report, 
outline the major decisions on Directors’ remuneration and any substantial changes relating to Directors’ remuneration made during the 
year and explain the context in which these changes occurred and decisions have been taken.

Last year the Company put an advisory vote on its Directors’ Remuneration Report to shareholders at its AGM and was pleased that this 
resolution was approved with 99.3% votes in favour. A similar resolution will be put to shareholders at the 2018 AGM. The Committee 
welcomes all shareholder feedback on remuneration and I will be available at the AGM to answer any questions which shareholders  
have on this topic. 

Information on our remuneration policy is set out below this letter. The following commentary provides an overview of the work 
undertaken by the Committee during the year.

Performance and decisions on remuneration taken
Despite a weak pollen season, this year the business has continued to gain market share from competitors and increase pre-R&D 
profitability. This performance demonstrates the robustness of the business and its ability to respond to challenging market conditions. 
The most significant topics considered by the Committee during the year included a three-yearly review of the Chief Executive Officer’s 
(‘CEO’s’) salary which was benchmarked against a comparator group of companies. Following the review, the CEO’s salary was increased 
by 9% reflecting an average of 3% per annum.

Reflecting performance during the year, the CEO was awarded a 2018 bonus of 47% of salary compared to a maximum of 75% of salary; 
the Chief Financial officer (‘CFO’) was awarded a bonus of 32% of salary compared to a maximum of 50%.

In November 2017, the long-term incentive awards which were awarded in 2014 vested at 74.13%. The compounded annual earnings 
growth for the period was approximately 20.2%, which exceeded the 20% required for a maximum vesting. The compounded share price 
growth for the period was approximately 13.1%, higher than the 10% required for a minimum vesting but not reaching the 20% target for a 
maximum vesting, therefore this half of the award vested in part. 

In March 2018, the Company made long-term incentive (‘LTIP’) awards to Executive Directors and other senior team members based on a 
recommendation by the Remuneration Committee. These awards were subject to TSR and EPS performance conditions as detailed later 
in this report. The Committee normally makes a recommendation on LTIP awards once a year.

Development of remuneration policy
No significant changes to remuneration policy were made in the year ended June 2018 or are anticipated in the year ending June 2019.

Decisions for 2018–19
In September 2018, the Committee considered the salaries of the Executive Directors as detailed later in this report. No change in the 
remuneration of the Chairman and other Non-Executive Directors is expected during the year to 30 June 2019.

The Executive Bonus Plan for the year to June 2019 will operate on the same basis as in 2017–18 with a new financial performance target 
and revised personal objectives. The Committee expects that LTIP awards will be made to Executive Directors before the end of 2018.

I hope that you find the report helpful and informative and I look forward to receiving feedback from our investors on the  
information presented. 

Stephen Smith
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
25 September 2018

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 49

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsDirectors’ Remuneration Report

continued

The Remuneration Committee
The Committee’s key objectives are to develop remuneration policies and packages that ensure that the Executive Directors are 
appropriately motivated and support the delivery of business objectives in the short, medium and long term, and that the interests of 
Executive Directors are aligned with the interests of long-term shareholders. The Committee is responsible for determining and agreeing the 
overall remuneration policy, including appropriate salary levels for each Executive Director; the composition of remuneration packages, 
performance periods, measures and targets for variable remuneration components, and any clawback arrangements. In addition, the 
Committee also agrees or recommends to the Board various compensation matters, including any share-related compensation, for the 
Executive Team. 

During the financial year, the Remuneration Committee was comprised of two independent Non-Executive Directors, Steve Smith (Chairman) 
and Tunde Otulana. The terms of reference of the Committee, which were reviewed during the year, clearly set out the Committee’s duties 
and responsibilities and are available to download on our corporate website, www.allergytherapeutics.com. The number of meetings held 
during the year and attendance at those meetings is set out in the table on page 43. 

The Committee’s advisers 
During the year, the Committee appointed H2Glenfern as its independent remuneration adviser. During the year, the Committee received 
advice on various matters including the review of Executive Directors’ salaries and LTIP performance targets. H2Glenfern has no other 
connection with the Company and the Committee is satisfied that the advice received during the year was objective and independent. 

Remuneration policy
The key objectives of the Company’s remuneration policy are to: 
 – Align Executive and shareholder interests.
 – Underpin an effective pay-for-performance culture. 
 – Support retention, motivation and recruitment of talented people. 

The Committee aims to achieve an appropriate balance between fixed and variable remuneration, and between variable remuneration 
based on short-term and longer-term performance. Fixed remuneration includes base salary, benefits and pension. Variable remuneration 
includes annual bonus and awards made under the LTIP. 

The policy is aligned to the strategy and nature of the business and reflects the importance of rewarding the Executive Directors for 
delivering strong performance against the Company’s KPIs. Details of each element of remuneration, their operation, purpose, link to strategy 
and performance metrics are set out in the policy table below. 

Elements of remuneration:

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation 

Performance metric 

Base salary 

To provide an 
appropriately competitive 
base salary. 

Basic salary is reviewed annually as at 
1 October, with reference to: 
 – each Executive Directors 

performance and contribution 
during the year; 
the scope of the Executive Directors 
responsibilities; and
 – other similar companies. 

 –

The Committee considers individual 
and Company performance when 
setting base salary, as well as the 
general increase to other employees.

Benefits 

Pension 

To be appropriately 
competitive with those 
offered at comparator 
companies. 

To be appropriately 
competitive with those 
offered at comparator 
companies. 

Benefits are in line with those 
offered to other senior management 
employees and may include private 
healthcare, life insurance, travel 
insurance and a car allowance. 

The UK Company operates a 
defined-contribution personal 
pension scheme and currently 
makes pension contributions in 
respect of all Executive Directors.

n/a

n/a

50 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Governance 
Purpose and link to strategy

Operation 

Performance metric 

Annual bonus 

To incentivise and reward 
performance. 

Long-Term 
Incentive Plan 

Performance measures 
and targets are set each 
year to reinforce the 
strategic business 
priorities for the year. 

To incentivise and 
reward long-term 
outperformance, and 
help retain Executive 
Directors over the 
longer term. 

The annual cash bonus arrangements 
are reviewed annually at the start of the 
financial year and agreed by the 
Committee in September. 

Executive’s performance is measured 
relative to challenging one-year 
financial targets and other 
performance objectives. 

The maximum bonus opportunity for 
Manuel Llobet is 75% of annual salary 
and is 50% for Nick Wykeman. 

Executive Directors are eligible to 
receive awards of shares under the 
2013 LTIP, at the discretion of the 
Committee. In assessing the outcome 
of the performance conditions, the 
Committee satisfies itself that the 
figures are a genuine reflection of 
financial performance. 

LTIPs awarded since 2016 are subject 
to malus and clawback provisions. 

2013 LTIP awards vest after a 
performance period of approximately 
three years. Since 2016, 50% of 
the Executive Directors award 
is subject to a three-year post 
vesting holding period.

The vesting of the award is subject to 
continued employment and the 
Company’s performance over a 
three-year performance period based:
 – 50% on compounded annual 

growth rate in profit (EBITDA) before 
R&D spend.

 – 50% on compounded share price 

growth.

The performance measures and 
weighting are reviewed by the 
Committee annually and the 
Committee has the discretion to make 
changes to the measures or weightings 
for future awards to ensure that they 
remain relevant to the Company 
strategy and are suitably stretching. 

Notes to the policy table
Annual bonus scheme
Executive Directors may earn bonuses depending on the Company’s financial performance and performance against individual 
performance targets designed to deliver strategic goals. The principal target currently applied is EBITDA before research and development 
expenditure. The Committee sets targets it believes to be appropriately stretching, but achievable.

Long-term incentives
As mentioned above, the performance conditions for the LTIP currently comprise two measures:
 – EBITDA before research and development expenditure; and
 – Share price performance. 

The Committee believes that these two measures are currently the most appropriate measures of long-term success for the Company as 
long-term relative performance provides an appropriately objective and relevant measure of the Company’s success which is strongly 
aligned with shareholders’ interests. 

Malus and clawback
Awards granted under the long-term incentive arrangements are subject to malus and clawback until the end of the respective holding 
periods. Reasons for malus and clawback being applied would include gross misconduct of a Director and a material misstatement in the 
audited accounts of the Company. The application of any malus or clawback is at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee.

Remuneration of employees below the Board 
No element of remuneration is operated solely for Executive Directors. Employees below the Board receive base salary, benefits, annual 
bonus, and senior members of staff are invited to participate in the LTIP. 

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 51

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statements 
 
 
  
Directors’ Remuneration Report

continued

Executive Directors’ service contracts
The service contracts of Executive Directors are approved by the Remuneration Committee. The commencement dates of the current 
contracts are shown below. The service contract of Manuel Llobet contains a 12-month notice period for Nick Wykeman the notice period is 
six months. The service contracts may be viewed at the Company’s registered office. 

Executive Directors

Manuel Llobet

Nick Wykeman 

Date of contract

11 June 2009

9 June 2016

Notice period

12 months

6 months 

Non-Executive Directors’ service contracts
The Non-Executive Directors do not have service contracts but instead have letters of appointment which contain a three-month notice 
period. The Chairman’s letter of appointment contains a six-month notice period. The letters of appointment may be viewed at the 
Company’s registered office.

Non-Executive Directors

Peter Jensen

Jeff Barton

Tunde Otulana 

Steve Smith

Date of contract

1 October 2010

7 February 2017

6 June 2017

5 October 2004 

Notice period

6 months

3 months 

3 months 

3 months

Non-Executive Director fees
The Chairman and Non-Executive Director fees are reviewed periodically to ensure that the business is able to recruit and retain 
appropriately qualified Non-Executive Directors. The fees are reviewed with reference to other AIM listed companies and other UK 
companies of a similar size and nature, and the time that Non-Executive Directors are required to devote to the role. 

Annual Report on Directors’ Remuneration (audited information)
Details of remuneration of those who served as Directors during the financial year are set out below:

Manuel Llobet8

Nick Wykeman9 

Peter Jensen

Steve Smith1

Jean-Yves Pavée2,3

Jeff Barton2,4 

Tunde Otulana5

Thomas Lander 7 

Total

Basic 
Salary
 £

285,708

160,000

94,000

15,333

–

–

40,000

–

Bonus for 
the year 
£

217,106

64,409

Taxable 
benefits 
£

10,200

10,973

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Year ended 30 June 2017 

Fees 
£

Total 
£

Pension6 

£

Total 
£

Pension6 

£

–

–

–

33,400

–

37,667

–

–

513,014

42,856

323,356

235,382

16,000

179,959

41,074

14,000

94,000

48,733

–

37,667

40,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

75,000

42,500

21,972

15,695

2,923

38,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

595,041

281,515

21,173

71,067

968,796

58,856

699,405

55,074

Steve Smith’s fee payments are split between SRS Business Enterprises Limited and himself.
Fees payable to Abbott Laboratories.
Jean-Yves Pavée retired as a Director on 7 February 2017
Jeff Barton was appointed as a Director on 7 February 2017
Tunde Otulana was appointed as a Director on 6 June 2017

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6  Pension contributions are in respect of a defined contribution scheme
7 
8 
9 

Thomas Lander resigned as a Director on 30 June 2017
Includes bonus under accrual from prior year of £80,308 (2017: £24,000 over accrual).
Includes bonus under accrual from prior year of £13,016 (2017: Nil).

52 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

GovernanceExecutive Director remuneration 
Bonuses 2017 – 2018
The Executive Directors were eligible to earn a bonus of up to 75% of salary for the CEO and 50% for the CFO, based on achievement of a 
target Group EBITDA (before research and development costs) and personal objectives. The level of Group EBITDA (pre R&D) achieved 
determines the bonus level subject to the maximum bonus and with one third of the bonus only being payable if satisfactory performance 
against personal objectives is achieved. For the year, the annual performance bonus for the Executive Directors was 47% and 32% of the 
basic salary of the CEO and CFO respectively. Reported bonuses in the Directors’ Remuneration table on the opposite page include £80,308 
that was under accrued in the prior year for Manuel Llobet and £13,016 that was under accrued in the prior year for Nick Wykeman.

Salary increases
The salaries of the Executive Directors were reviewed in September 2018. Following an evaluation of personal objectives, the CEO’s salary 
was increased by 2.7% which was in line with increases across the Group. The CFO’s salary was increased by 15.6% from £160,000 to £185,000 
following a review of performance and adjustment towards market comparators.

Share options 
Awards were granted to Executive Directors under the LTIP in March 2018, with the vesting of the awards subject to the following 
performance conditions: 
 – 50% of the awards are subject to compound annual earnings growth over the 3 year performance period achieving a target
 – 50% of the awards are subject to compound share price growth over the 3 year performance period achieving a target

Conditional Share Awards granted in November 2014 vested at 74.13% in November 2017. The compounded annual earnings growth for the 
period was approximately 20.2%, which exceeded the 20% required for a maximum vesting. The compounded share price growth for the 
period was approximately 13.1%, higher than the 10% required for a minimum vesting but not reaching the 20% target for a maximum vesting, 
therefore this half of the award vested in part.

LTIPs and share options for Executive Directors who held office during the financial year 

Options/ 
LTIPs held 
1 July 
2017

LTIPs 
awarded in 
the year 

Share 
Options/ 
LTIPs lapsed/
vested in 
the year

Share 
Options/
LTIPs held at 
30 June 
2018

Subscription 
price in 
£ 

Exercise Date 
from 

Expiry 
date 

Manuel Llobet 

2,535,000

900,000

(845,000) 2,590,000

624,0241

905,0001

624,0241

905,0001

0.001 25-Nov-15 24-Nov-25

0.001

10-Mar-16 09-Mar-28

626,3991

626,3991

0.001 07-Nov-17 06-Nov-27

Nick Wykeman 

Total 

422,500

450,000

–

872,500

4,486,524 1,350,000

(218,601) 5,617,923

1 

These share options were converted from vested LTIPs

No LTIP or share option awards were made to Non-Executive Directors during the year. 

At 29 June 2018, the London Stock Exchange mid-market value of shares was 28.25 pence per share. The range of mid-market values during 
the period from 1 July 2017 to 29 June 2018 was 23.75 pence to 38 pence per share.

Non-Executive Director fees
Following a 2017 review, it was determined that the Chairman’s annual base fee would be increased from £75,000 to £94,000 per annum with 
effect from 1 July 2017. This increase was decided by the Remuneration Committee having consulted with the CEO it followed a review of 
market comparators and took account of the contribution and time commitment provided by the Chairman.

The remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors is considered by the Chairman, with regards to market comparators and recommended to 
the Board as a whole. It was agreed that the Non-Executive Director fees would be increased as set out in the table below with effect from 
1 July 2017: 

Basic fee

Audit Committee Chairman

Remuneration Committee Chairman

2018

2017

£40,000

£38,000

£4,500

£4,500

£4,500

–

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 53

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsDirectors’ Remuneration Report

continued

The Directors that held office during the financial year had the following interests in the Ordinary Shares of the Company: 

Name

Manuel Llobet1

Nick Wykeman 

Peter Jensen

Steve Smith

Jeff Barton 

Tunde Otulana

1 

Includes shares held by Wild Indigo

At beginning of year:

At end of year:

Ordinary 
Shares

Options & 
LTIPs

Ordinary 
Shares

Options & 
LTIPs

3,275,000 4,064,024  3,275,000 4,745,423

150,000

150,000

776,513

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

150,000

812,500

150,000

776,513

–

50,000

–

–

–

–

Decisions for the year ending June 2019 
The Committee considered the salaries of the Executive Directors during September 2018 and increased the salary of the CEO from 
£289,000 to £296,303 and of the CFO from £160,000 to £185,000. No change in the remuneration of the Chairman and other Non-Executive 
Directors is expected during the year to 30 June 2019.

The Executive Bonus Plan for the year June 2019 will operate on the same basis as in 2017–18 with a new financial performance target and 
revised personal objectives. 

The Committee expects that LTIP awards will be made to Executive Directors before the end of 2018.

Shareholder voting
The table below shows the results of the advisory vote on the 2017 Directors’ Remuneration Report at the 2017 AGM.

Approval of Remuneration Report 

131,133,101

99.29%

918,274

0.7%

132,077,525

26,150

Votes for

% for

Votes against

% against

Total votes cast 

Votes withheld 

This Remuneration Report has been approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 25 September 2018. 

Steve Smith
Chairman, Remuneration Committee
25 September 2018

54 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

GovernanceDirectors’ Report

The Directors present their annual report and the audited 
consolidated financial statements for the 12 months ended 30 June 
2018. The financial statements are for Allergy Therapeutics plc (the 
‘Company’) and its subsidiary companies (together, the ‘Group’). 

Strategic report 
The Group’s 2018 Strategic Report, on pages 1 to 38, which includes 
a review of the Group’s business during the financial year, the 
Group’s position at year end, post balance sheet events and a 
description of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group, 
comprises the following sections of the Annual Report: 

Chairman’s Statement 

Chief Executive Officer’s Review 

Business Model and Strategy

Key Performance Indicators 

Principal Risks and Uncertainties 

Financial Review 

Page

6

8

16

20

34

36

Directors
The Directors of the Company who held office during the year and up 
to the date of signing the financial statements were as follows:

Chairman
Peter Jensen

Executive Directors 
Manuel Llobet
Nick Wykeman

Non-Executive Directors 
Jeff Barton 
Tunde Otulana 
Steve Smith

Biographies of each Director can be found on pages 40 and 41 and 
details of each Director’s interests in the Company’s shares are set 
out on page 54.

The powers of the Directors are determined by UK legislation and the 
Company’s Articles of Association together with any specific 
authorities that shareholders may approve from time to time. 

The rules governing the appointment and replacement of  
Directors are contained in the Company’s Articles of Association  
and UK legislation. 

Compensation for loss of office
The Company does not have any agreements with any Executive 
Director or employee that would provide compensation for loss of 
office or employment resulting from a takeover except that 
provisions of the Company’s shares scheme may cause share 
options and awards to vest on a takeover. 

Directors’ indemnities and insurance
In accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association, the 
Company has indemnified the Directors to the full extent allowed  
by law. The Company maintains Directors’ and officers’ liability 
insurance which is reviewed annually. 

Dividend 
The loss for the year after taxation was £7.5 million (2017: £2.5 million). 
The results for the year are set out on page 63 and are described in 
more detail in the Financial Review.

Due to the current research and development investment strategy, 
the Company has negative distributable reserves and is unable to 
declare a dividend (2017: Nil). Further details of the Group’s research 
and development strategy can be found on pages 26 to 28. 

Capital structure
Details of the Company’s issued share capital, including details  
of movements during the year, authorities to issue or repurchase 
shares and details of shares repurchased by the Company during 
the year, of which there were none, are shown in Note 27 to the 
Financial Statements on page 98. Each share carries the right to  
one vote at general meetings of the Company. 

There are no specific restrictions on the transfer of shares beyond 
those standard provisions set out in the Articles of Association. No 
shareholder holds shares carrying special rights with regard to 
control of the Company. 

Substantial shareholdings
The significant holdings of voting rights in the share capital of the 
Company notified and disclosed in accordance with Disclosure  
and Transparency Rule 5, as at 25 September 2018 are shown in the 
table below: 

Shareholder

Abbott Laboratories

Southern Fox Investments 

Odey Asset Management 

River & Mercantile 

Number of 
Ordinary Shares

240,584,571

144,321,539

43,747,523

35,232,339

BlackRock Investment Management 

30,461,964

Invesco Perpetual Asset 
Management 

28,618,373

% of voting rights 
and issued share 
capital 

37.82

22.69

6.88

5.54

4.79

4.50

Use of financial instruments 
Information on risk management objectives and policies, including 
hedging policies, and exposure of the Company in relation to the use 
of financial instruments, can be found in Note 24 to the Financial 
Statements on pages 92 to 95. 

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 55

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsDisclosure to auditor 
So far as the Directors are aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the auditor is unaware and each Director has 
taken all steps that he ought to have taken as a Director in order  
to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to 
establish that the auditor is aware of that information. 

Independent Auditor 
The auditor, Grant Thornton UK LLP, have indicated its willingness to 
continue in office and a resolution seeking to reappoint them will be 
proposed at the forthcoming AGM. 

AGM 
The 2018 AGM of the Company will be held from 11:00 am on 
27 November 2018 at the offices of Covington & Burlington LLP in 
London. The Notice of the Meeting, together with an explanation of the 
business to be dealt with at the Meeting, is included as a separate 
document and is also available on our website. 

Nicolas Wykeman 
Chief Financial Officer
25 September 2018

Directors’ Report

continued

Employees
Information on Group employees can be found on pages 30 and 31 
and in Note 7 to the Financial Statements on page 81.

The environment 
Details of the Group’s approach to corporate responsibility and 
its aims and activities are described on the Company’s website, 
www.allergytherapeutics.com. An overview of the Group’s 
corporate responsibility activity is on pages 30 to 33. The Group 
recognises the importance of minimising the adverse impact 
of its operations on the environment and the management of 
energy consumption and waste recycling. The Company strives 
to improve its environmental performance. The environmental 
management system is regularly reviewed to ensure that the 
Company maintains its commitment to environmental matters.

Going concern
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to 
affect its future development, performance and position are set out 
in the Strategic Report on pages 1 to 38. The financial position of the 
Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are 
also described in the Chief Financial Officer’s Financial Review on 
pages 36 to 38.

In addition, Note 24 to the Financial Statements includes the Group’s 
objectives, policies and processes for managing its capital, its 
financial risk management objectives, details of its financial 
instruments and its exposures to foreign currency risk, interest  
rate risk and liquidity risk.

After making appropriate enquiries, which included a review of 
the annual budget, considering the cash flow requirements for 
the foreseeable future, noting the renewed overdraft facility, 
and the effects of sales and foreign exchange sensitivities on 
the Group’s funding plans, the Directors continue to believe 
that the Group will have adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for the foreseeable future and accordingly 
have applied the going concern principle in drawing up the 
financial statements. In reaching this view, the Directors have 
considered and prioritised the actions that could be taken to 
offset the impact of any shortfall in operating performance.

56 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

GovernanceStatement of Directors’ 
Responsibilities 

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report and 
the Directors’ Report and the financial statements in accordance 
with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements 
for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have to prepare 
the Group financial statements in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRSs’) as adopted by the European 
Union and have elected to prepare the parent company financial 
statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and 
applicable laws) including FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’. 
Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial 
statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair 
view of the state of affairs and profit or loss of the Company and 
Group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the 
Directors are required to:
 –

select suitable accounting policies and then apply  
them consistently;

 – make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable 

 –

and prudent;
state whether applicable IFRSs and UK Accounting Standards 
have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed 
and explained in the financial statements;

 – prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis 
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will 
continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that 
the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They 
are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and 
hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection 
of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors confirm that in so far as each Director is aware:
 –

there is no relevant audit information of which the Group’s auditor 
is unaware; and
the Directors have taken all the steps that they ought to have 
taken as Directors in order to make themselves aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is 
aware of that information.

 –

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of 
the corporate and financial information included on the Group’s 
website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and 
dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation  
in other jurisdictions.

This responsibility statement was approved by the Board of 
Directors on 25 September 2018 and signed on its behalf by 

Manuel Llobet  
Chief Executive Officer  

Nicolas Wykeman 
Chief Financial Officer

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 57

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsIndependent Auditor’s Report to the  
Members of Allergy Therapeutics plc

Opinion 

Our opinion on the financial statements is unmodified
We have audited the financial statements of Allergy 
Therapeutics plc (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries 
(the ‘Group’) for the year ended 30 June 2018 which comprise 
the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated 
Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated 
Balance Sheet, the Consolidated Statement of Changes 
in Equity, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, the 
Company Balance Sheet and the Statement of Changes in 
Equity (Company), and Notes to the Financial Statements, 
including a summary of significant accounting policies. The 
financial reporting framework that has been applied in the 
preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable 
law and International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRSs’) 
as adopted by the European Union. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in the preparation of the 
Parent Company financial statements is applicable law and 
United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial 
Reporting Standard ‘101 Reduced Disclosures Framework’ 
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Who we are reporting to
This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a 
body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies 
Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we 
might state to the Company’s members those matters we are 
required to state to them in an Auditor’s Report and for no 
other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do 
not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the 
Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit 
work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Conclusions relating to going concern
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in 
relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:
 –

the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in  
the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or
the Directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any 
identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt 
about the Group’s or the Parent Company’s ability to continue to 
adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at 
least 12 months from the date when the financial statements are 
authorised for issue.

 –

Overview of our audit approach
 – Overall materiality: £683,000, which 

represents 1.0% of the Group’s revenue.

 – Key audit matters were identified as 

revenue recognition, the valuation of the 
defined benefit pension scheme and 
impairment of non-current assets.

 – We performed full scope procedures at 
the Group’s operating locations in the UK 
and Germany. We performed targeted 
procedures over component locations in 
Italy, Spain and the Netherlands and 
analytical procedures over components in 
Austria and Switzerland. 

In our opinion:
 –

the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state 
of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 
30 June 2018 and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended;
the Group financial statements have been properly prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European 
Union;
the Parent Company financial statements have been 
properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 
the financial statements have been prepared in accordance 
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

 –

 –

 –

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards 
on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities 
under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s 
responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section  
of our report. We are independent of the Group and the Parent 
Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are 
relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including 
the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have 
fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these 
requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained 
is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

58 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statementsKey audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of 
the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we identified. 
These matters included those that had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing 
the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in 
forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Key audit matter – Group

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group

Revenue recognition
Revenue from the sale of the Group’s goods is recognised once 
certain criteria are met. The most critical element of these criteria  
is that revenue is recognised only when the Group has transferred  
to the buyer the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the 
goods, which is generally when the customer has physically received 
those goods. 

While determining the date of delivery to the customer and therefore 
the timing of revenue recognition requires little significant 
management judgement or estimate, due to the volume of 
transactions that occur during the year, we identified revenue 
recognition as a significant risk, which was one of the most 
significant assessed risks of material misstatement.

Defined benefit pension scheme
The Group has a defined benefit pension scheme that provides 
benefits to a number of current and former German employees. 
At 30 June 2018, the defined benefit pension net liability was 
£10.3 million. The gross value of pension scheme liabilities and 
assets which comprise the net liability amount to £11.7 million and 
£1.4 million respectively.

The measurement of pension liabilities in accordance with IAS 19 
‘Employee Benefits’ involves significant judgement and their 
valuation is subject to complex actuarial assumptions. Variations  
in those actuarial assumptions could lead to a materially different 
defined benefit pension scheme liability being recognised within  
the Group financial statements.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:
 – considering the appropriateness of the Group’s revenue 

 –

recognition policy in light of the requirements of International 
Accounting Standard (‘IAS’) 18 ‘Revenue’ and ensuring its  
consistent application;
testing the occurrence of a sample of revenue transactions from 
across the Group by agreeing to source documentation pertaining 
to the validity of the sale and the date at which the risks and 
rewards of ownership transferred to the customer; and

 – verifying that the Group’s cut-off controls were designed effectively 
across its key trading jurisdictions and testing whether delivery of 
goods to the customer had occurred for a selection of transactions 
occurring near period end.

The Group’s accounting policy on revenue recognition is set out in 
Note 2 to the Group Financial Statements and related disclosures are 
shown in Notes 3 and 4. 

Key observations
Our procedures in respect of revenue recognition, as set out above, 
did not identify any material misstatement in respect of revenue 
recognised by the Group during the year. Based on these procedures 
we are satisfied that revenues have been appropriately recognised in 
the period in which the sale occurred.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:
 – utilising the expertise of our actuarial specialists, in their capacity 
as our auditor’s expert, in order to review the assumptions used 
(such as discount rate, price inflation, pension increase and 
mortality rates) for reasonableness;
through the use of our own expert, assessing for appropriateness 
the methods employed by the scheme actuary in calculation of the 
gross liability;

 –

 – assessing the accuracy and completeness of the underlying data 
utilised by the scheme actuary through inquiry of the scheme 
actuary and comparison of the information provided to the 
scheme actuary by management; and
independently confirming the existence and valuation of pension 
scheme assets with third parties.

 –

We therefore identified the valuation of the defined benefit pension 
scheme as a as a significant risk, which was one of the most 
significant assessed risks of material misstatement.

The Group’s accounting policy on defined benefit pension schemes is 
shown within Note 2 to the Group Financial Statements and related 
disclosures are included in Note 26. 

Key observations
Our procedures, as set out above, did not identify any material 
misstatements in respect of the valuation of the defined benefit 
pension scheme as included within the consolidated balance sheet.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 59

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statements 
Independent Auditor’s Report to the  
Members of Allergy Therapeutics plc

continued

Key audit matter – Group

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets
The Directors are required to make an annual assessment to 
determine whether the Group’s goodwill, which stands at £3.4m as  
at 30 June 2018, is impaired. In addition, other intangible assets are 
tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances 
indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Other 
intangible assets as at 30 June 2018 amount to £1.5m.

The process for assessing whether impairment exists under IAS 36 
‘Impairment of assets’ is complex. The process of determining  
the value in use, through forecasting cash flows related to cash 
generating units (‘CGUs’) and the determination of the appropriate 
discount rate and other assumptions to be applied can be highly 
judgemental and can significantly impact the results of the 
impairment review.

We therefore identified the impairment of non-current assets, 
(specifically goodwill and other intangible assets), as a significant 
risk, which was one of the most significant assessed risks of  
material misstatement.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:
 – obtaining management’s assessment of the relevant CGUs used  

in the impairment calculation and comparing those to our 
understanding of the business units and operating structure  
of the Group; 

 – determining a reasonable range of values for key assumptions 

 –

within the impairment model, including growth rates, discount rates 
and terminal values, and reperforming management’s sensitivity 
analysis over those assumptions;
testing the accuracy of management’s forecasting through a 
comparison of budget to actual data and historical variance trends 
and reviewing the cash flows for exceptional or usual items or 
assumptions; and

 – assessing the arithmetical accuracy and verifying the mechanical 

integrity of the impairment calculations.

The Group’s accounting policy on impairment of non-current assets  
is shown within Note 2 to the Group Financial Statements and related 
disclosures are included in Notes 14 and 15.

Key observations
Our procedures, as set out above, did not identify any material 
misstatements in respect of the carrying value of goodwill or intangible 
assets included within the consolidated balance sheet.

No key audit matters were identified in respect of the Parent Company.

Our application of materiality
We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the economic decisions of a 
reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality in determining the nature, timing and extent of our 
audit work and in evaluating the results of that work. 

Materiality was determined as follows:

Materiality measure

Group 

Parent

Financial statements as a whole

Performance materiality used to drive the 
extent of our testing

Specific materiality

£683,000 which is 1% of Group revenue. This 
benchmark is considered the most 
appropriate because it is the primary 
reporting measure used to assess the 
Group’s performance during the year.

Materiality for the current year is higher than 
the level that we determined for the year 
ended 30 June 2017 to reflect the Group’s 
increased revenues for the year ended 
30 June 2018.

£73,000 which is 2% of the Parent 
Company’s total assets. This benchmark 
is considered the most appropriate 
because the Parent Company balance 
sheet primarily consists of investments 
in subsidiaries and intragroup debtors.

Materiality for the current year is higher than 
the level that we determined for the year 
ended 30 June 2017 to reflect the increase  
in the Company’s assets over the year.

75% of financial statement materiality.

75% of financial statement materiality.

We determined a lower level of specific 
materiality for certain areas such as 
Directors' remuneration and related  
party transactions.

We determined a lower level of specific 
materiality for certain areas such as Directors' 
remuneration and related party transactions.

Communication of misstatements to the 
Audit Committee

£34,000 and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

£2,000 and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

60 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statementsAn overview of the scope of our audit
Our audit approach was a risk-based approach founded on a 
thorough understanding of the Group’s business, its environment 
and risk profile and in particular included:
 – evaluation by the Group audit team of identified components to 
assess the significance of that component and to determine the 
planned audit response based on a measure of materiality. For 
example, significance as a percentage of the Group’s total assets, 
revenues and profit before taxation or significance based on 
qualitative factors, such as concerns over specific components; 

 – undertaking a planning visit to evaluate the Group’s internal 
control environment, perform an evaluation of the design 
effectiveness of controls over key financial statement risk areas 
identified as part of our audit risk assessment and to select 
certain transaction items to test during our procedures at the final 
audit stage; 

 – we determined that full scope audit procedures were to be 
carried out in the UK and German locations and targeted 
procedures in Spain, Italy and the Netherlands based on their 
relative materiality to the Group and an assessment of their audit 
risk. Those procedures addressed the key audit matters set out 
above. Those locations subjected to full scope audit and 
targeted procedures represent 69% and 24% of external Group 
revenues respectively. We also undertook additional substantive 
audit procedures to ensure that there was not a material amount 
of Group revenues which was not subject to substantive testing; 
the Group locations subject to full scope and targeted audit 
procedures were consistent with the prior year;
the remaining operations of the Group were subject to analytical 
procedures over the balance sheet and income statements of the 
related entities with a focus on applicable risks identified above 
and the significance to the Group balances; 

 –

 –

 – detailed audit instructions were issued to the auditors of the 
reporting components in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands 
where full scope and targeted audit approaches were 
undertaken. The instructions detailed the key audit matters and 
other audit risks that were to be addressed through their audit 
procedures. The Group Audit Team performed work remotely 
over balances held in Spain; and 
in addition, the Group audit team performed a site visit to 
Germany, which included a review of the work performed by the 
component auditors and conducted a review of working papers 
by the Italian component auditors remotely. The Group Audit 
Team communicated with all component auditors throughout the 
planning, fieldwork and concluding stages of the local audits. 

 –

Other information
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other 
information comprises the information included in the Annual Report 
and Accounts set out on pages 1 to 108, other than the financial 
statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the 
financial statements does not cover the other information and, 
except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we  
do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our 
responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent 
with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit 
or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such 
material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are 
required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in 
the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other 
information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude 
that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are 
required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Our opinion on other matters prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006 is unmodified
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of 
the audit:
 –

the information given in the Strategic Report and the 
Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial 
statements; and
the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been 
prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

 –

Matters on which we are required to report under the 
Companies Act 2006
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the 
Parent Company and its environment obtained in the course of the 
audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic 
report or the Directors’ Report. 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in 
relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to 
you if, in our opinion:
 – adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent 
Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or
the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement 
with the accounting records and returns; or

 –

 – certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law 

are not made; or

 – we have not received all the information and explanations we 

require for our audit. 

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 61

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsIndependent Auditor’s Report to the  
Members of Allergy Therapeutics plc

continued

Responsibilities of Directors for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ 
Responsibilities set out on page 57, the Directors are responsible for 
the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied 
that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as  
the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of 
financial statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible 
for assessing the Group’s and the Parent Company’s ability to 
continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters 
related to going concern and using the going concern basis of 
accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Group 
or the Parent Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic 
alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the 
Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the financial statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and 
to issue an Auditor’s Report that includes our opinion. 
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is 
not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with 
ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it 
exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error 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 these financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the 
financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s 
website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description 
forms part of our Auditor’s Report.

Jonathan Maile BSc (Hons) FCA
Senior Statutory Auditor
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants
Gatwick
25 September 2018

62 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statementsConsolidated  
Income Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2018

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Sales, marketing and distribution costs

Administration expenses – other

Research and development costs

Administration expenses

Other income

Operating loss

Finance income

Finance expense

Loss before tax

Income tax

Loss for the period

Loss per share

Basic (pence per share)

Diluted (pence per share)

Note

3

8

10

9

5

11

13

Year to 
30 June 2018 
£’000

Year to 
30 June 2018 
£’000

Year to 
30 June 2017 
£’000

Year to 
30 June 2017 
£’000

(15,543)

(16,017)

(13,778)

(9,296)

68,346

(17,013)

51,333

(27,133)

(31,560)

630

(6,730)

154

(320)

(6,896)

(637)

(7,533)

(1.27)p

(1.27)p

64,138

(16,771)

47,367

(26,888)

(23,074)

699

(1,896)

151

(225)

(1,970)

(511)

(2,481)

(0.42)p

(0.42)p

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 63

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsConsolidated Statement of  
Comprehensive Income 
for the year ended 30 June 2018

Loss for the period

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Remeasurement of net defined benefit liability

Remeasurement of investments – retirement benefit assets

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Total comprehensive loss

Year to 
30 June 2018 
£’000

Year to 
30 June 2017 
£’000

Note

(7,533)

(2,481)

26

17

(278)

(39)

1,500

(91)

(68)

(23)

(7,918)

(1,095)

64 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statementsConsolidated  
Balance Sheet

Assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets – goodwill

Intangible assets – other

Investments – retirement benefit asset

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Current borrowings

Derivative financial instruments

Total current liabilities

Net current assets

Non-current liabilities

Retirement benefit obligations

Deferred taxation liability

Non-current provisions

Long-term borrowings

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Capital and reserves

Issued share capital

Share premium

Merger reserve – shares issued by subsidiary 

Reserve – share-based payments

Revaluation reserve

Foreign exchange reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity 

Note 

30 June 2018 
£’000

30 June 2017 
£’000

16

14

15

17

18

19

20

21

22

24

26

12

23

22

10,096

3,406

1,543

5,043

20,088

8,808

6,587

15,533

30,928

51,016

9,673

3,390

2,069

4,592

19,724

7,484

7,853

22,122

37,459

57,183

(13,890)

(13,225)

(644)

(97)

(391)

(404)

(14,631)

(14,020)

16,297

23,439

(10,346)

(9,619)

(309)

(282)

(2,414)

(13,351)

(27,982)

(352)

(291)

(2,936)

(13,198)

(27,218)

23,034

29,965

27

606

604

102,420

102,420

40,128

1,656

949

(975)

40,128

900

1,254

(907)

(121,750)

(114,434)

23,034

29,965

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 25 September 2018 and signed on its  
behalf by

Manuel Llobet 
Chief Executive Officer 

Nicolas Wykeman
Chief Financial Officer

Registered number: 05141592

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 65

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statements 
Consolidated Statement of  
Changes in Equity 

Issued 
capital 
£’000

Share 
premium 
£’000

Merger 
reserve – 
shares 
issued by 
subsidiary 
£’000

Reserve – 
 share-based 
payment 
£’000

Revaluation 
reserve 
£’000

Foreign 
exchange 
reserve 
£’000

Retained 
earnings 
£’000

Total 
equity 
£’000

At 30 June 2016

599

102,392

40,128

741

1,254

(884)

(113,906)

30,324

Exchange differences on translation of  
foreign operations

Remeasurement of net defined benefit liability

Remeasurement of investments – retirement 
benefit assets

Total other comprehensive income

Loss for the period after tax

Total comprehensive income

Share-based payments

Shares issued

Transfer of lapsed options to retained earnings

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

28

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

At 30 June 2017

604

102,420

40,128

Exchange differences on translation of foreign 
operations

Remeasurement of net defined benefit liability

Remeasurement of investments – retirement 
benefit assets

Total other comprehensive loss

Loss for the period after tax

Total comprehensive loss

Share-based payments

Shares issued

Transfer of lapsed options to retained earnings

Transfer of depreciation on revalued property

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

703

–

(544)

900

–

–

–

–

–

–

985

–

(229)

–

At 30 June 2018

606

102,420

40,128

1,656

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(23) 

– 

(23) 

–

–

(23)

–

(23)

–

–

–

1,500

1,500

(91)

1,409

(2,481)

(1,072)

–

–

544

(91)

1,386

(2,481)

(1,095)

703

33

–

1,254

(907)

(114,434)

29,965

–

–

–

–

–

– 

–

–

–

(305)

949

(68) 

–

–

(68)

–

(68)

–

–

–

–

– 

(278)

(39)

(317)

(7,533)

(7,850)

–

–

229

305

(68) 

(278)

(39)

(385)

(7,533)

(7,918)

985

2

–

–

(975)

(121,750)

23,034

66 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statementsConsolidated Cash  
Flow Statement

Cash flows from operating activities

Loss before tax

Adjustments for:

Finance income

Finance expense

Non-cash movements on defined benefit pension plan

Depreciation and amortisation

Impairment of intangible assets

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

Net monetary value of above the line R&D tax credit

Charge for share-based payments

Movement in fair valuation of derivative financial instruments

Foreign exchange revaluation on US Dollar cash deposits

Decrease in trade and other receivables

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables

Net cash (used)/generated by operations

Bank loan fees and interest paid

Income tax 

Net cash (used)/generated by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Interest received

Payments for retirement benefit investments 

Payments for intangible assets

Payments for property, plant and equipment

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Share options exercised

Repayment of borrowings

Proceeds from borrowings

Net cash used by financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Effects of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

Cash at bank and in hand

Bank overdraft

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

Year to 
30 June 2018 
£’000

Year to 
30 June 2017 
£’000

Note

(6,896)

(1,970)

10

9

(154)

320

381

(151)

225

322

15, 16

2,020

1,936

15

15, 16

8

32

32

224

5

(630)

985

(307)

(10)

3,303

(1,330)

(1,762)

(3,851)

(318)

367

(3,802)

48

(367)

(179)

(2,005)

(2,503)

2

 (398)

102

(294)

69

42

(699)

703

(776)

(361)

1,004

334

823

1,501

(222)

(1,101)

178

41

(258)

(226)

(1,500)

(1,943)

33

(297)

76

(188)

(6,599)

(1,953)

10

22,122

15,533

15,533

–

669

23,406

22,122

22,122

–

15,533

22,122

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 67

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

1. Basis of preparation
Allergy Therapeutics is an International commercial biotechnology Group focused on the treatment and diagnosis of allergic disorders 
including immunotherapy vaccines that have the potential to cure disease.

The Group’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS in issue as adopted by the European Union (‘EU’) and with 
those parts of the Companies Act 2006 that are relevant to the Group preparing its accounts in accordance with EU adopted IFRS.

Allergy Therapeutics plc is the Group’s Parent Company. The Company is a limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in England. 
The address of Allergy Therapeutics plc’s registered office and its principal place of business is Dominion Way, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 
8SA and its shares are listed on the AIM.

The consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2018 (including comparatives) have been prepared under the historical 
cost convention except for land and buildings, and derivative financial instruments which have been measured at fair value. They were 
approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 25 September 2018.

New standards adopted 
There are no IFRS or IAS interpretations that are effective for the first time in this financial period that have had a material impact  
on the Group. 

Standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards that are not yet effective and have not been early adopted by 
the Group in the 30 June 2018 financial statements
At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, certain new standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards  
have been published but are not yet effective. Not all of these have yet been adopted by the EU. The Group has not adopted any of these 
pronouncements early. The new standards, amendments and interpretations that are expected to be relevant to the Group’s financial 
statements are as follows:

IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ (effective 1 January 2018)
This IFRS replaces IAS 39 and addresses the usefulness for users of financial statements by simplifying the classification and measurement 
requirements for financial instruments. This new standard will not have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements.

IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ (issued in May 2014 and effective 1 January 2018)
IFRS 15 supersedes current revenue recognition guidance including IAS 18 ‘Revenue’ and specifies how and when entities recognise revenue 
as well as requiring such entities to provide users of financial statements with more informative, relevant disclosures. The standard provides 
a single, principles-based five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers. 

IFRS 15 was issued in May 2014 and will be implemented by the Group from 1 July 2018. In its financial statements for the year ended 30 June 
2019, the Group will apply the new standard using the modified retrospective approach.

The standard provides a principles-based approach to the recognition of revenue, following a five-step procedure.

The Group has reviewed its contracts with customers under the five-step method using a portfolio approach, treating all sales as having 
substantially the same terms and conditions attached. Sales in specific territories that have differentiating factors have been considered  
as exceptions. 

The Group’s revenues are almost entirely derived from the sale of allergy vaccines and probiotics products. The Group considers that all of 
its performance obligations have been fulfilled once the products have been delivered to customers and will continue to recognise revenue 
at that point.

The Group does not currently maintain a warranty returns provision as the historical experience shows that returns are insignificant. 
The Group does not provide extended warranties that are considered to represent a separate performance obligation with respect to the 
sale of goods and therefore do not recognise warranty revenues separately. The Group will continue to monitor warranty returns and will 
create a returns provision if necessary in future periods.

In respect of royalty income (less than £0.5m p.a), earnings derived from distributors’ further sales on to customers, the Group believes 
that the amounts that would be reported under IFRS 15 are materially consistent with the current treatment under IAS 18. The Group sells to 
distributors at an initially low margin and there is further consideration receivable by the Group when the distributor sells the products. This is 
variable deferred consideration and is considered as part of the initial assessment of the transaction price for goods supplied, forming part 
of the fair valuation of consideration receivable. In these instances, the variable deferred consideration is accrued at a discounted value at 
the point of delivery.

The Group has concluded that the new standard will not have a material impact on the amount or timing of recognition of reported revenue 
for periods up to 30 June 2018. The amounts that would be reported under IFRS 15 are materially consistent with IAS 18. 

68 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements 
1. Basis of preparation continued
IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ (effective 1 January 2019)
IFRS 16 removes the current distinction between an operating and finance lease, introducing consistent requirements for all leases similar  
to the current finance lease accounting. Management are currently assessing the detailed impact on the Group’s financial statements.

Other new standards and interpretations have been issued but are not expected to have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements.

Going concern
Operating loss in the period was £6.7 million (2017: £1.9 million loss); net cash outflow from operations was £3.9 million (2017: £1.5 million net 
cash inflow). The outflow was due to investment in R&D. Excluding the R&D expenditure, the Group would have reported an operating profit 
of £9.3 million (2017: £7.4 million). The Directors do not consider the current operating loss to be a cause for concern. 

Detailed budgets have been prepared, including cash flow projections for the periods ending 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2020. These 
projections include assumptions on the trading performance of the operating business and the continued availability of the existing bank 
facilities. The Group had a cash balance of £15.5m at 30 June 2018 and the overdraft facility was renewed in August 2018. In July 2018, 
40,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 0.1 pence each were issued pursuant to a placing and subscription at a price of 26.5 pence per share  
raising £10.6m (before expenses). After making appropriate enquiries, which included a review of the annual budget and latest forecast,  
by considering the cash flow requirements for the foreseeable future and the effects of sales and other sensitivities on the Group’s funding 
plans, the Directors continue to believe that the Group will have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable 
future and accordingly have applied the going concern principle in preparing these financial statements. 

2. Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been 
consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

Consolidation
The Group’s financial statements consolidate those of the Parent Company and all of its subsidiaries drawn up to 30 June 2018. The parent 
controls a subsidiary if it is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the subsidiary and has the ability to affect 
those returns through its power over the subsidiary.

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated on the date  
control ceases.

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains and losses on transactions between Group companies are eliminated except for 
unrealised losses if they show evidence of impairment.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring accounting policies used into line with those 
used in the Group.

The Group applies the acquisition method in accounting for business combinations. The consideration transferred by the Group to obtain 
control of a subsidiary is calculated as the sum of the acquisition date fair values of assets transferred, liabilities incurred and the equity 
interests issued by the Group, which includes the fair value of any liability arising from a contingent consideration arrangement. Acquisition 
costs are expensed as incurred.

The Group recognises identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination regardless of whether they have been 
previously recognised in the acquiree’s financial statements prior to the acquisition. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are measured  
at their acquisition date fair values.

Goodwill is stated after separate recognition of identifiable intangible assets. It is calculated as the excess of the sum of: a) fair value of 
consideration transferred; b) the recognised amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree; and c) acquisition date fair value of any 
existing equity interest in the acquiree, over the acquisition date fair values of identifiable net assets. If the fair values of identifiable net 
assets exceed the sum calculated above, the excess amount (i.e. gain on a bargain purchase) is recognised in profit or loss immediately.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 69

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

2. Accounting policies continued
Goodwill
Goodwill arising from business combinations is the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid and the fair value of the 
assets and liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired. It is initially recognised as an intangible asset at cost and is subject to impairment 
testing on an annual basis or more frequently if circumstances indicate that the asset may have been impaired. Details of impairment testing 
are described in the accounting policies. 

Intangible assets acquired as part of a business combination
Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are identified and recognised separately from goodwill where they satisfy the definition 
of an asset and be identifiable. The cost of such intangible assets is their fair value at the acquisition date.

Subsequent to initial recognition, intangible assets acquired in a business combination are reported at cost less accumulated amortisation 
and accumulated impairment losses. Intangible assets are amortised over their useful economic life as follows:

Trade names 
Customer relationships 
Know-how and patents 
Distribution agreements 

15 years
5 years
10 years
15 years/period of contract

Externally acquired intangible assets
Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial recognition at cost. Following initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at 
cost less any accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. 

Intangible assets are amortised over their useful economic life as below and assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that 
the intangible asset may be impaired. The amortisation period and the amortisation method for intangible assets is reviewed at least at each 
financial year end. 

Computer software 
Other intangibles 

7 years
15 years

Changes in the expected useful life or the expected pattern of consumption of future economic benefits embodied in the asset is accounted 
for by changing the amortisation period or method, as appropriate, and are treated as changes in accounting estimates. The amortisation 
expense on intangible assets is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in the expense category consistent with the function of 
the intangible asset in either administration costs or marketing and distribution costs.

Internally generated intangible assets
An internally generated intangible asset arising from development (or the development phase) of an internal project is recognised if, and only 
if, all of the following have been demonstrated:
 –
 –
 –
 – how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits;
 –
 –

the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale;
the intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it;
the ability to use or sell the intangible asset;

the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the intangible asset; and
the ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development.

The amount initially recognised for internally generated intangible assets is the sum of the expenditure incurred from the date when the 
intangible asset first meets the recognition criteria listed above. Where no internally generated intangible asset can be recognised, R&D 
expenditure is charged to the Consolidated Income Statement in the period in which it is incurred.

Subsequent to initial recognition, internally generated intangible assets are reported at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated 
impairment losses. Amortisation shall begin when the asset is available for use, i.e. when it is in the location and condition necessary for it to 
be capable of operating in the manner intended by management. 

Amortisation of all intangible assets is calculated on a straight-line basis over the useful economic life using the following annual rates: 

Manufacturing know-how 
Non-competing know-how 
Other intangibles 

15 years
4 years
15 years

These periods were selected to reflect the assets’ useful economic lives to the Group.

The cost of amortising intangible assets is included within administration expenses in the Consolidated Income Statement.

70 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements2. Accounting policies continued
Segmental reporting 
The Group’s operating segments are market based and are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the 
Group’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (‘CODM’) which has been identified as the Executive Directors. The CODM is responsible for 
allocating resources and assessing the performance of the operating segments.

In identifying its operating segments, management follow the Group’s revenue lines which represent the main geographical markets  
within which the Group operates. These operating segments are managed separately as each requires different local expertise, regulatory 
knowledge and a specialised marketing approach. Each market-based operating segment is engaged in production, marketing and selling 
within a particular economic environment that is different from that in segments operating in other economic environments. All inter-segment 
transfers are carried out at arm’s length prices.

Foreign currency translation
Functional and presentational currency
Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which the entity operates (the functional currency). The Group’s presentational currency is Sterling, which is also the 
functional currency of the Group’s parent.

Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. 
Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation, at reporting period end 
exchange rates, of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement. 
Non-monetary items are carried at historical cost or translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction or a weighted average 
rate as an approximation where this is not materially different. 

Foreign operations
In the Group’s financial statements, all assets, liabilities and transactions of Group entities with a functional currency other than Sterling  
are translated into Sterling upon consolidation. The functional currency of the entities in the Group has remained unchanged during the 
reporting period.

On consolidation, assets and liabilities have been translated into Sterling at the closing rate at the reporting date. Goodwill and fair value 
adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity have been treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity and translated into 
Sterling at the closing rate. Income and expenses have been translated into Sterling at the weighted average rate over the reporting period 
which approximates to actual rates. Exchange differences are charged or credited to other comprehensive income (‘OCI’) and recognised in 
the currency translation reserve in equity. OCI includes those items which would be reclassified to profit or loss and those items which would 
not be reclassified to profit or loss. 

Revenue recognition
Revenue is measured by reference to the fair value of consideration received or receivable by the Group for goods supplied and services 
provided, net of statutory rebates paid in Germany and excluding value added tax. Revenue is recognised upon the performance of services 
or transfer of risk to the customer. 

Sale of goods
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when all the following conditions have been satisfied:
 –

the Group has transferred to the buyer the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods, which is generally when the customer 
has physically received the goods;
the Group retains neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over 
the goods sold which is again when the customer has physically received the goods;
the amount of revenue can be measured reliably;
it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Group; and 
the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.

 –

 –
 –
 –

Where the Group provides services to new distributors, which mainly include marketing and customer information, in exchange for an 
up-front lump sum fee, revenue is recognised in line with these services being delivered. Services are fair valued and prorated to agree to  
the total fee receivable. Where there is an ongoing responsibility to provide services, the balance relating to those services is recognised in 
future periods as the service is performed.

Part of the Group’s overseas sales are made through distributors and agents.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 71

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

2. Accounting policies continued
Arrangements for sales through distributors
For all distributor arrangements, the distributor is invoiced at the time of delivery and title to the product passes upon full and final 
settlement of the invoice to which the delivery relates. The distributor has full discretion over the setting of the final selling price to the end 
customer and is responsible for all customer returns of product. 

It is considered that the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the product are transferred to the distributor at the point of delivery and 
therefore revenue is recognised at this point in accordance with IAS 18. 

Where the Group sells to distributors at initially low margin and there is further consideration receivable by the Group, this deferred 
consideration forms part of the fair valuation of consideration receivable by the Group for goods supplied. In these instances, the deferred 
consideration is accrued at a discounted value at the point of delivery.

Arrangements for sales through agents
For all agreements with agents, the agent places orders with the Group and goods are then shipped to them. The Group, however, holds title 
to these products until they are sold on to a third party. The selling price to the end user is set by the relevant government body and the agent 
receives a fixed percentage of this selling price. The agent notifies the Group monthly on stock levels and this is reconciled to a statement 
which generates an invoice for payment by the agent. The Group is responsible for any customer returns of product.

It is considered that the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the product are not transferred from the Group until the agent has sold 
the product to a third party and, therefore, revenue on these sales is recognised only at this point by the Group in accordance with IAS 18.16.

Statutory rebates
In Germany, pharmaceutical companies are required to pay a manufacturer’s rebate to the government as a contribution to the cost of 
medicines paid for by the State and private health funds. This is similar to a sales tax and the rebate is, therefore, treated as a deduction from 
revenue in accordance with IAS18.8.

Rebates have been in the region of 6% (inclusive of VAT). However, in 2010 the German government increased the rate to 16%. In certain 
circumstances, companies could apply for an exemption from the rebate increase, for limited periods at a time. If the application for the 
exemption is successful, a preliminary exemption is normally granted to be converted to a final exemption at a later date when audited 
financial statements are available. 

Allergy Therapeutics plc has been successful in obtaining preliminary exemptions up to 30 June 2012, which have been subsequently 
confirmed as final.

Revenue is recognised initially net of the full rebate, as at that stage it is not considered probable that any refund of the rebate will be 
received. When the preliminary exemption is granted, it is considered probable, based on our past experience, that the rebate refund will be 
received. Therefore, as it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to Allergy Therapeutics plc, in accordance with IAS 18.14(d), revenue 
is adjusted at that time.

Since April 2014, the current rebate in force has been set at 7%. The rebate also incorporates a price moratorium and this applies to certain 
products in Germany. 

Expenditure recognition
Operating expenses are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement upon utilisation of the service or at the date of their origin. 

Property, plant and equipment (‘PPE’)
The Group policy is that all freehold properties will be subject to a full revaluation with sufficient regularity so that the carrying amount and 
the fair value are not materially different. 

Revaluations are performed by independent qualified and experienced valuers who have adequate local knowledge in the country 
in which the property is situated. In the intervening years between independent revaluations, the Directors review the carrying 
values of the freehold land and buildings, and adjustments are made if the carrying values differ significantly from their respective 
fair values. Increases in the carrying value from revaluations are recognised in OCI and accumulated in equity under the heading 
of revaluation reserve unless this reverses a revaluation decrease on some asset previously recognised in the income statement, 
in which case it is first credited to the Consolidated Income Statement to that extent. When an item of PPE is revalued, any 
accumulated depreciation at the date of the revaluation is restated proportionately with the change in the gross carrying amount 
of the asset. The amount of the adjustment arising on the restatement or elimination of accumulated depreciation forms part of the 
increase or decrease in carrying amount. Decreases in the carrying values arising from revaluations are first offset against increases 
from earlier revaluations in respect of the same assets and are thereafter charged to the Consolidated Income Statement.

72 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements2. Accounting policies continued
Other plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Provision for 
depreciation of all PPE assets of the Group (except land) is made over their estimated useful lives, on a straight-line basis principally using 
the following annual rates:

Freehold buildings 
Computer equipment 
Motor vehicles 
Fixtures and fittings 
Plant and machinery  

33 years
3–7 years
4 years
5–15 years
5–15 years

Residual values and useful lives are reviewed annually and amended as necessary. Assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or 
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the PPE may not be recoverable. An asset’s carrying amount is written down 
immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount exceeds the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell or value  
in use.

Depreciation charges are included in either administration expenses or cost of sales when arriving at operating profit in the Consolidated 
Income Statement.

Impairment
The Group’s goodwill, other intangible assets, freehold land and buildings, and plant and equipment are subject to impairment testing.

For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows 
(CGUs). Goodwill is allocated to those CGUs that are expected to benefit from synergies of the related business combination and represent 
the lowest level within the Group at which management controls the related cash flows. 

Individual assets or CGUs that include goodwill or intangible assets with an indefinite useful life or those not yet available for use are tested 
for impairment at least annually. All other individual assets or CGUs are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances 
indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the assets or CGUs carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The 
recoverable amount is the higher of fair value, reflecting market conditions less costs to sell and value in use, based on an internal 
discounted cash flow evaluation. Impairment losses recognised for CGUs, to which goodwill has been allocated, are credited initially to the 
carrying amount of goodwill. Any remaining impairment loss is charged pro rata to the other assets in the CGU. With the exception of goodwill, 
all assets are subsequently reassessed for indications that an impairment loss previously recognised may no longer exist. 

Inventories
Inventory is carried at the lower of cost or net realisable value. The costs of raw materials, consumables, work in progress and finished  
goods are measured by means of weighted average cost using standard costing techniques. The cost of finished goods and work in progress 
comprises direct production costs such as raw materials, consumables, utilities and labour, and production overheads such as employee 
costs, depreciation, maintenance and indirect factory costs. Standard costs are reviewed regularly in order to ensure relevant measures of 
utilisation, production lead time and appropriate levels of manufacturing expense are reflected in the standards.

Net realisable value is calculated based on the selling price in the normal course of business less any costs to sell.

R&D investment credits
Investment credits are directly related to the Group’s qualifying R&D expenditure and have a monetary value that is independent of the 
Group’s tax liability. Such investment credits are dealt with in other income in the Consolidated Income Statement. 

Leases
A finance lease exists where the economic ownership of a leased asset is transferred to the lessee and the lessee bears substantially all the 
risks and rewards of ownership of the leased asset. All other leases are operating leases in the Group.

Operating lease rentals are charged to the income statement over the term of the lease. There are no finance leases in the Group.

Financial assets
Financial assets consist of cash at bank and in hand, trade and other receivables and derivative financial instruments. Financial assets are 
assigned to their different categories by management on initial recognition, depending on the contractual arrangements.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 73

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

2. Accounting policies continued 
Cash and trade and other receivables are denominated as loans and receivables and these are measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method, less provision for impairment. Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial. Financial 
derivatives are designated at fair value through profit and loss (‘FVTPL’) upon initial recognition. 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand, demand deposits and overdrafts, together with other short-term, highly liquid 
investments with maturities of three months or less from inception that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and which  
are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

All financial assets are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument and loans and 
receivables are initially recognised at fair value, including transaction costs, with the exception of FVTPL and subsequently at amortised 
cost, with any changes going through the Consolidated Income Statement. Where securities are designated as FVTPL, gains and losses 
arising from changes in fair value are included in net profit or loss for the period. 

Derecognition of financial assets occurs when the rights to receive cash flows from the investments expire or are transferred and substantially 
all of the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred. An assessment for impairment is undertaken at least at each reporting period 
whether or not there is objective evidence that a financial asset or a group of financial assets is impaired.

Financial liabilities
The Group’s financial liabilities include borrowings, trade and other payables and derivative financial instruments. 

Financial liabilities are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual agreements of the instrument. All interest related 
charges are recognised as an expense in ‘Finance expense’ in the Consolidated Income Statement.

Trade and other payables are recognised initially at their fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest 
method. Contingent consideration on business combinations is recognised initially at their fair value and subsequently measured at FVTPL.

Borrowings comprise secured bank borrowings, and are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received net of issue costs 
associated with the borrowings. After initial recognition, interest-bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost 
using the effective interest rate method.

Derivative financial instruments
The Group uses Euro forward contracts and Euro exchange swaps to manage the exposure to changes in translation rates and these are 
classified as derivative financial instruments. All derivative financial instruments are initially measured at fair value on acquisition and are 
subsequently restated to fair value at each reporting date. Any change in the fair value of the instruments is recognised in either 
administration expenses (Foreign exchange contracts) or finance expenses (Note 9) in the Consolidated Income Statement.

Equity
Equity comprises the following:
 –
 –

‘Issued capital’ represents the nominal value of equity shares that have been issued.
‘Share premium’ represents the excess over nominal value of the fair value of consideration received for equity shares, net of expenses  
of the share issue.
‘Merger reserve’ represents the excess over nominal value of the fair value of consideration received for equity shares issued on 
acquisition of subsidiaries, net of expenses of the share issue. 
‘Reserve – share-based payments’ represents equity-settled share-based employee remuneration until such share options are exercised.
‘Revaluation reserve’ represents the revaluations of investment assets and land and buildings.
‘Foreign exchange reserve’ represents the foreign currency translation differences that have occurred since the transition date as per 
IFRS 21. Exchange differences prior to this date are included within retained earnings.
‘Retained earnings’ represents retained profits and losses.

 –

 –
 –
 –

 –

Equity is any contract which evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after deducting all its liabilities. 

Income taxes
Current income tax assets and liabilities comprise those obligations to fiscal authorities in the countries in which the Group carries out its 
operations. They are calculated according to the tax rates and tax laws applicable to the fiscal period and the country to which they relate 
that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the end of the reporting period. All changes to current tax liabilities are recognised as a 
component of tax expense in the Consolidated Income Statement.

74 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements2. Accounting policies continued
Deferred income taxes are calculated using the asset/liability method on temporary differences. Deferred tax is generally provided on the 
difference between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. However, deferred tax is neither provided on the initial 
recognition of goodwill nor on the initial recognition of an asset or liability unless the related transaction is a business combination or affects 
tax or accounting profit. Deferred tax on temporary differences associated with shares in subsidiaries is not provided if reversal of these 
temporary differences can be controlled by the Group and it is probable that reversal will not occur in the foreseeable future. Tax losses 
available to be carried forward as well as other income tax credits to the Group are assessed for recognition as deferred tax assets.

Deferred tax liabilities are provided in full, with no discounting. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that the 
underlying deductible temporary differences will be able to be offset against future taxable income. Current and deferred tax assets and 
liabilities are calculated at tax rates and laws that are expected to apply to their respective period of realisation, provided they are enacted 
or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Changes in deferred tax assets or liabilities are recognised as a component of tax expense in the income statement, except where they 
relate to items that are charged or credited directly to OCI (such as the revaluation of land and buildings) or equity, in which case the related 
deferred tax is also charged or credited directly to OCI or equity, respectively.

Defined contribution pension scheme
Payments to defined contribution schemes are charged as an expense to the Consolidated Income Statement as they fall due in the expense 
category consistent with the function of the employee to which they relate. 

Defined benefit pension scheme
Plan assets are measured at fair values. Defined benefit obligations are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit credit 
method and are discounted at appropriate high quality corporate bond rates that have terms to maturity approximating to the terms of  
the related liability. Interest expense or income is calculated on the net defined benefit liability (asset) by applying the discount rate to  
the net defined benefit liability (asset). Past service cost is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in the period when the plan  
is amended. 

Remeasurements are recognised in the balance sheet immediately with a charge or credit to OCI in the periods in which they occur. The 
related deferred tax is shown with other deferred tax balances. A surplus is recognised only to the extent that it is recoverable by the Group.

The current service cost, past service cost and costs from settlements and curtailments are charged against administrative expenses in  
the Consolidated Income Statement. Interest on the scheme liabilities and the expected return on scheme assets are included in other 
finance costs. 

Other employee benefits
Short term
Short-term employee benefits, including holiday entitlement are included in current pension and other employee obligations, within trade 
and other payables, at the undiscounted amount that the Group expects to pay as a result of the unused entitlement.

Long term 
Under Italian law, alongside each monthly salary payment an amount is accrued into a reserve for each employee. When the employee 
leaves the Company, the accrued amount is paid as a deferred salary payment. 

Investments
Investments relate to long-term insurance policies. In accordance with IAS 19, these cannot be directly deducted from the German pension 
obligation and are recognised as a separate asset, rather than as a deduction in determining the defined benefit liability. Interest income is 
recognised through the Consolidated Income Statement. They are held at fair value with any gains or losses on remeasurement charged or 
credited to OCI.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the present obligations arising from legal or constructive obligations resulting from past events, will probably 
lead to an outflow of economic resources from the Group which can be estimated reliably.

Provisions are measured at the present value of the estimated expenditure required to settle the present obligation, based on the most 
reliable evidence available at the balance sheet date.

All provisions are reviewed at each balance sheet date and adjusted to reflect the current best estimates.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 75

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

2. Accounting policies continued
Share based employee compensation
The Group operates equity-settled share based compensation plans for remuneration of its employees comprising LTIP schemes.

All employee services received in exchange for the grant of any share-based compensation are measured at their fair values. These are 
indirectly determined by reference to the share option or shares awarded. Their value is appraised at the grant date and excludes the impact 
of any non-market vesting conditions (e.g. profitability or share price growth targets). The fair value of LTIP shares, which have market 
conditions attached, includes an adjustment based on the probability of the shares vesting at the end of the vesting period. 

Details of the LTIP schemes and the conditions applying to each scheme are disclosed in Note 28 (share-based payments) on pages 98 to 100.

All share-based compensation is ultimately recognised as an expense in the Consolidated Income Statement with a corresponding credit to 
the share-based payments reserve. If vesting periods or other vesting conditions apply, the expense is allocated over the vesting period, 
based on the best available estimate of the number of shares expected to vest. Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions 
about the number of shares that are expected to become issuable. Estimates are subsequently revised if there is any indication that the 
number of shares expected to vest differs from previous estimates. No adjustment to expense recognised in prior periods is made if fewer 
shares ultimately vest than estimated, however, the expensed value of these lapsed shares is transferred from the share-based payment 
reserve to retained earnings.

Use of accounting estimates and judgements
Many of the amounts included in the financial statements involve the use of judgement and/or estimation. These judgements and estimates 
are based on management’s best knowledge of the relevant facts and circumstances, having regard to prior experience, but actual results 
may differ from the amounts included in the financial statements. Information about such judgements and estimation is contained in the 
accounting policies and/or the Notes to the Financial Statements and the key areas are summarised below:

Judgements in applying accounting policies
a)  Capitalisation of development costs requires analysis of the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the project concerned. 
Capitalisation of the costs will be made only where there is evidence that an economic benefit will accrue to the Group. To date no 
development costs have been capitalised and all costs have been expensed in the income statement as R&D costs. Costs expensed  
in the year amounted to £16.0 million (2017: £9.3 million).

b)  Where the Group sells to distributors at an initially low margin and there is further consideration receivable by the Group, this deferred 
consideration forms part of the fair valuation of consideration receivable by the Group for goods supplied. In these instances, the 
deferred consideration is accrued at a discounted value at the point of delivery. 

  The Directors considered the following points in applying this accounting treatment:
  Although a significant portion of the sales price is received upon a further sale to an end customer, substantially all the risks and rewards 
of ownership are passed to the distributor when the goods are shipped, and the distributor is acting as principal (not merely as agent) 
when arranging to resell the goods. The Directors have reached this conclusion because: 
i.  The Group does not have any continued managerial involvement in the distributor’s onward sale of goods. 
ii.  The distributor does not have the right to return any goods.

  More information on the reasoning behind the treatment of sales to distributors can be found in the ‘Sale of goods’ accounting  

policy description.

c)  Land and buildings are carried at valuation and are revalued with sufficient regularity so that the carrying amount and the fair value are  

not materially different. The Italian freehold property was revalued in June 2016 by independent valuers (see Note 16). The Italian freehold 
property was revalued to fair value at that reporting date based on this valuation. The freehold property in Spain was revalued in June 
2015 (see Note 16). The Directors do not consider an impairment provision to be required in respect of the freehold property in Spain.

d)  The Group had been awarded a provisional exemption to the increased statutory rebate charge in Germany for the period July to 

December 2012 by BAFA. Revenue of £1.1 million (equivalent of €1.4 million) was recognised in the year ended 30 June 2013 in relation  
to this exemption and the refund from the German authorities was subsequently collected. 
In February 2015, the provisional exemption was withdrawn by BAFA. The Group has lodged an appeal and, following legal advice, believe 
that the exemption will be reinstated. While the Group is confident that the exemption will be confirmed, there is a possibility that this will 
not happen. If the exemption is not confirmed, then the Group will ultimately have to repay €1.4 million (£1.2 million) with a corresponding 
impact on net income and net assets.

e)  In respect of net revenue of £1.8m relating to a certain product, an assessment has been made on the likelihood of a retrospective change 

in the level of rebates being applied. Details of this have been noted in Note 29, (Contingent liabilities).

76 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements 
2. Accounting policies continued 
f)  The Group is in litigation with one of its third party contractors (see Note 29, contingent liabilities). The Directors are required to assess  
the outcome of the litigation and to ensure that the appropriate accounting treatment is applied in accordance with IAS 37 ‘Provisions, 
Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets’. The process of assessing the likelihood of the outcome of the litigation involves significant 
judgement and estimation, and depending on the is assessment the accounting treatment could range from the recognition of a provision, 
the disclosure of a contingent liability or contingent asset, or none of the preceding. In making this assessment the Directors have taken 
appropriate legal advice and having considered the opinion of the solicitors acting on the Group’s behalf and the known facts and 
circumstances relevant to the litigation proceedings, the Directors are of the opinion that the likelihood of any liability arising is less than 
probable, but not remote. Accordingly no provision has been recorded in the financial statements but a contingent liability has been 
disclosed in relation to this matter. In the judgement of the directors the relevant legal case is not yet sufficiently progressed to lead to  
the recognition of a contingent asset.

Sources of estimation uncertainty
a)  Depreciation rates are based on estimates of the useful lives and residual values of the assets involved. There is inherent uncertainty in the 
useful lives of assets, which means that they are constantly reviewed by management (Accounting policies Note (page 73) and Note 16).

b)  Estimates of future profitability are required for the decision whether or not to carry forward a deferred tax asset. (Note 12). 
c)  Determining whether goodwill is impaired requires an estimation of the value in use of the CGU to which the goodwill has been allocated. 
This value-in-use calculation requires an estimation of the future cash flows expected to arise from the CGU and a suitable discount rate 
in order to calculate the present value.

d)  Inventory standard costs are reviewed regularly in order to ensure relevant measures of utilisation, production lead time and appropriate 

levels of manufacturing expense are reflected in the standards. 

e)  In relation to the accrued additional revenue due from distributors referred to in the judgements section (point (b) above); there is some 
uncertainty that the additional revenue will crystallise as it is dependent on a further sale by the distributor. The Directors consider that 
the additional consideration can be measured reliably because it is based on a fixed list price and our past experience indicates that the 
distributor will sell the vaccines. The Directors have assessed that the accrued consideration of £0.1 million is recoverable and will 
crystallise in future periods and has been carried forward in prepayments and accrued income (2017: £0.1m).

f)  The Group operates equity-settled share-based compensation plans for remuneration of its employees comprising LTIP schemes. As 

explained in Note 28, employee services received in exchange for the grant of any share based compensation are measured at their fair 
values and expensed over the vesting period. The fair value of this compensation is dependent on whether the provisional share awards 
will ultimately vest, which in turn is dependent on future events which are uncertain. The Directors use their judgement and experience of 
previous awards to estimate the probability that the awards will vest, which impacts the fair valuation of the compensation.

g)  Where the Group is in negotiation with third-party contractors around final account payments in relation to contracts, there is always an 

element of uncertainty as to the exact amount that will become payable. The Group accounts for its liabilities based on best estimates of 
the most likely outcome and gives extra disclosure where the range of likely outcomes could be materially different from the estimate 
accounted for.

3. Revenue
An analysis of revenue by category is set out in the table below:

Sale of goods

Rendering of services

2018
 £’000

2017 
£’000

68,321

64,113

25

25

68,346

64,138

Rendering of services relates to the supply of services to a new distributor to assist them in setting up operations in their territory.

4. Segmental reporting
The Group’s operating segments are reported based on the financial information provided to the Executive Directors, who are defined as the 
CODM, to enable them to allocate resources and make strategic decisions. 

The CODM reviews information based on geographical market sectors and assesses performance at an EBITDA (operating profit before 
interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) and operating profit level. Management have identified that the reportable segments are Central 
Europe (which includes the following operating segments; Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands), Southern Europe (Italy, Spain 
and Portugal), the UK, and Rest of World.

For all material regions that have been aggregated, management consider that they share similar economic characteristics. They are also 
similar in respect of the products sold, types of customer, distribution channels and regulatory environments. 

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 77

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

4. Segmental reporting continued
Revenue by segment

Central Europe

Germany

Other

Southern Europe

Italy

Spain

Other

UK

Rest of World

Revenue 
from external 
customers 
2018 
£’000

Inter 
segment 
revenue 
2018 
£’000

Total 
segment 
revenue 
2018 
£’000

Revenue 
from external 
customers 
2017 
£’000

Inter 
segment 
revenue 
2017 
£’000

Total 
segment 
revenue 
2017 
£’000

42,020

9,672

51,692

5,138

6,551

644

12,333

1,832

2,489

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

42,020

38,200

9,672

51,692

9,386

47,586

5,138

6,551

644

12,333

2,489

97,510

5,535

6,075

498

12,108

1,868

2,576

29,164

 30,996

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

25,787

–

38,200

9,386

47,586

5,535

6,075

498

12,108

27,655

2,576

68,346

29,164

64,138

25,787

89,925

Revenues from external customers in all segments are derived principally from the sale of a range of pharmaceutical products designed for 
the immunological treatment of the allergic condition. 

Rest of World revenues include sales through distributors and agents in several markets including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Canada and 
South Korea. These include rendering of services revenues (Note 3). Inter-segment revenues represent sales of product from the UK to the 
operating subsidiaries. The price is set on an arm’s-length basis which is eliminated on consolidation.

The CODM also reviews revenue by segment on a budgeted constant currency basis, to provide relevant year-on-year comparisons.

The following revenue table is based on a budget currency rate of €1.24: £1.00 which was the rate used in the 2018 budget.

Central Europe

Germany

Other

Southern Europe

UK 

Other

The Group has no customers which individually account for 10% or more of the Group’s revenue.

Depreciation and amortisation by segment

Central Europe

Southern Europe

UK

78 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Revenue 
from external 
customers 
2018 
£’000

Revenue 
from external 
customers 
2017 
£’000

38,148

9,054

47,202

11,256

1,832

2,487

34,754

8,220

42,974

11,062

1,869

2,589

62,777

58,494

2018 
£’000

276

406

1,338

2,020

2017 
£’000

230

488

1,218

1,936

Financial statements4. Segmental reporting continued
EBITDA by segment

Allocated EBITDA

Central Europe

Southern Europe

UK

Allocated EBITDA

Depreciation and amortisation

Operating loss

Finance income

Finance expense

Loss before tax

Total assets by segment

Central Europe

Southern Europe

UK

Inter-segment assets

Inter-segment investments

Total assets per balance sheet

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

(867)

(381)

(3,462)

(4,710)

(2,020)

(6.730)

154

(320)

380

89

(429)

40

(1,936)

(1,896)

151

(225)

(6,896)

(1,970)

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

15,180

8,632

58,271

82,083

14,577

7,154

61,666

83,397

(5,034)

(4,586)

(26,033)

(21,628)

51,016

57,183

Included within Central Europe are non-current assets to the value of £2,604,000 (2017: £2,594,000) relating to goodwill and within Southern 
Europe assets to the value of £2,691,000 (2017: £2,840,000) relating to freehold land and buildings. There were no material additions 
(excluding foreign exchange differences) to non-current assets in any country except the UK where non-current asset additions totalled 
£1,497,000 (2017: £1,485,000).

Total liabilities by segment

Central Europe

Southern Europe

UK

Inter-segment liabilities

Total liabilities per balance sheet

2018
 £’000

2017 
£’000

(15,571)

(14,964)

(5,334)

(12,111)

(6,163)

(10,677)

(33,016)

(31,804)

5,034

4,586

(27,982)

(27,218)

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 79

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

5. Loss before tax

Loss for the period has been arrived at after charging/(crediting):

(Gain) on fair valuation of foreign exchange forward contracts

(Gain) on foreign exchange forward contracts matured in the year

(Gain) on revaluation of US Dollar denominated cash deposits

Other foreign exchange gains

Depreciation and amortisation:

Depreciation of PPE (Note 16)

Amortisation of intangible assets (Note 15)

Impairment of intangible assets (Note 15)

Loss on disposal of intangible assets (Note 15)

Loss on disposal of tangible assets (Note 16)

R&D

Land and buildings held under operating leases 

Other operating leases

Audit and non-audit services:

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Group accounts

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services:

The audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

Audit related assurance

Tax compliance services

Tax advisory services

Other services

Share-based payment expense (Note 28)

6. Remuneration of key management personnel

Salaries and short-term employee benefits

Social security costs

Post-employment benefits – defined contribution plans

Share-based payment

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

(306)

870

(10)

123

1,570

450

224

–

5

16,017

876

1,232

56

83

10

8

8

9

(776)

(1,930)

(361)

(525)

1,510

426

69

29

13

9,296

752

797

51

81

10

6

8

–

985

703

2018 
£’000

969

105

59

1,133

100

1,233

2017 
£’000

699

76

55

830

63

893

Key management personnel are considered to be the Directors and full details of their remuneration are set out in the information included in 
the Directors’ remuneration table on page 52 and forms part of the financial statements.

80 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements7. Employees (including Directors)

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Share-based payments

Pension costs – defined benefit plans

Pension costs – defined contribution plans

The average number of employees during the period (including Executive Directors) was made up as follows:

R & D, marketing and administration

Sales

Production

8. Other income

Net monetary value of above the line R&D tax credit

9. Finance expense

Interest on borrowing facility

Net interest expenses on defined benefit pension liability

Other interest and charges 

10. Finance income

Bank interest

Interest on investment assets

Other finance income

Other finance income relates to the unwinding of the discount on accrued revenue.

2018 
£’000

24,377

4,167

985

330

540

2017 
£’000

21,913

3,654

703

367

451

30,399

27,088

2018

189

124

186

499

2018 
£’000

630

2018 
£’000

63

198

59

320

2018
 £’000

51

90

13

154

2017

178

126

175

479

2017 
£’000

699

2017
 £’000

70

154

1

225

2017 
£’000

45

89

17

151

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 81

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

11. Income tax expense

Current tax:

Prior period overseas tax

Overseas tax

Deferred tax – current year

Tax charge for the period

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

–

670

670

(33)

637

9

508

517

(6)

511

The tax charge assessed for the period is higher than the standard rate of corporation tax as applied in the respective trading domains where 
the Group operates. 

The differences are explained below:

Loss for the period before tax

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

(6,896)

(1,970)

Loss for the period multiplied by the respective standard rate of corporation tax applicable in each domain  
(average 19% (2017: 19.75%))

(1,310)

(389)

Effects of: 

Disallowable adjustments

Movements in unrecognised deferred tax

Adjustment of taxes for prior periods

Adjustment for different tax rates

Relief for shares acquired by employees and Directors

Gross up of R&D expenditure credit  – current year

– prior year

Deferred tax – reduction in carrying amount of deferred tax asset

Tax charge for the period

672

1,154

–

87

(43)

22

55

637

–

637

376

520

9

198

(102)

(101)

–

511

–

511

82 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements 
12. Deferred tax
Recognised deferred tax liability

At 1 July 2017

Amount (charged)/credited to the income statement

Exchange differences

At 30 June 2018

At 1 July 2016

Amount (charged)/credited to the income statement

Exchange differences

At 30 June 2017

Tax value of 
carried 
forward 
losses 
£’000

Tax value of 
accelerated 
capital 
allowances 
£’000

Acquisition 
of Bencard 
A.G. (formerly 
Teomed A.G.) 
£’000

Italian 
freehold 
property 
£’000

Tax value of 
Alerpharma 
S.A. losses 
£’000

Acquisition of 
Alerpharma 
S.A. 
£’000

359

(39)

–

320

(359)

(135)

39

–

15

11

(320)

(109)

(45)

(1)

–

(46)

199

(103)

2

98

(371)

122

(3)

(252)

Tax value of 
carried 
forward 
losses 
£’000

Tax value of 
accelerated 
capital 
allowances 
£’000

Acquisition of 
Bencard A.G. 
(formerly 
Teomed A.G.) 
£’000

Italian 
freehold 
property 
£’000

Tax value of 
Alerpharma 
S.A. losses 
£’000

Acquisition of 
Alerpharma 
S.A. 
£’000

403

(44)

–

359

(403)

44

–

(359)

(139)

15

(11)

(135)

(43)

–

(2)

(45)

243

(58)

14

199

(395)

49

(25)

(371)

Total 
£’000

(352)

33

10

(309)

Total 
£’000

(334)

6

(24)

(352)

Deferred tax is provided under the balance sheet liability method using the local tax rate for the overseas difference. Deferred tax assets and 
deferred tax liabilities are offset where the Group has a legally enforceable right to do so and when the deferred tax assets and liabilities 
relate to tax levied by the same tax authority and where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis. Deferred tax assets, in 
respect of losses, are recognised up to the value of the fixed asset liability as the nature of the asset and liability is such that they unwind at 
the same time.

The deferred tax liability in respect of the Italian freehold property relates to the revaluation of this property.

The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances after offset for financial reporting purposes:

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Unrecognised deferred tax

Non-current assets

PPE

R&D expenditure credit

Current assets

Stock

Current liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

Non-current liabilities

Pension and other employee obligations

Share options

Unused tax losses

Total

2018 
£’000

418

(727)

(309)

2017 
£’000

558

(910)

(352)

2018 
Deferred tax 
assets 
£’000

2017 
Deferred tax 
assets 
£’000

58

456

162

17

57

306

148

69

1,748

317

14,819

17,577

1,658

113

13,572

15,923

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 83

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

12. Deferred tax continued
As at 30 June 2018, the Group had approximately £86m of unutilised tax losses (2017: approximately £79m) available for offset against future 
profits. No net deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of unutilised tax losses. Substantially all the tax losses have no fixed  
expiry date.

The main UK corporation tax rate is to change from 19% to 17% with effect from 1 April 2020. The recognised and unrecognised deferred tax 
assets have been calculated at 17%, being the rate enacted at 30 June 2018.

13. Loss per share

Loss after tax attributable to equity shareholders

Issued Ordinary Shares at start of the period

Ordinary Shares issued in the period

Issued Ordinary Shares at end of the period

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares for the period

Potentially dilutive share options 

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares for diluted earnings per share

Basic loss per Ordinary Share (pence)

Diluted loss per Ordinary Share (pence)

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

(7,533)

(2,481)

Shares 
’000

Shares 
’000

594,118

589,159

2,051

4,959

596,169

594,118

595,099

592,192

–

–

595,099

592,192

(1.27)p

(1.27)p

(0.42)p

(0.42)p

The diluted loss per share does not differ from the basic loss per share as the exercise of share options would have the effect of reducing the 
loss per share and is therefore not dilutive under the terms of IAS 33.

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue

Potentially dilutive share options

Weighted average number of diluted Ordinary Shares

2018  
Number of 
shares 
‘000

2017  
Number of 
shares 
‘000

595,099

592,192

30,062

22,893

625,161

615,085

84 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements14. Goodwill

At 1 July

Addition

Exchange difference

At 30 June

For the purposes of impairment testing of goodwill, the Directors recognise the Group’s CGUs to be the following:

Germany

Spain

Total

2018 
£’000

3,390

–

16

2017 
£’000

3,271

–

119

3,406

3,390

2018 
£’000

2,604

802

3,406

2017 
£’000

2,594

796

3,390

Apart from the considerations described in determining the value in use of the CGU described below, the Group’s management is not 
currently aware of any reasonably possible changes that would necessitate changes in its key estimates. There are no reasonably possible 
changes in the assumptions that could lead to an impairment being recorded.

Management estimates discount rates using post-tax rates and post-tax cashflows that reflect the current market assessment of the time 
value of money and the risks specific to the cash generating unit.

Germany
The recoverable amount for the Germany CGU above was determined based on a value-in-use calculation, covering a detailed three-year 
forecast of future cash flows using budgeted projections assuming a 8% discount rate (2017: 13.2%) which the Group has estimated to be the 
weighted average cost of capital adjusted for risks specific to the CGU. The discount rate has been calculated using the capital asset pricing 
model (‘CAPM’). The calculated discount rate has reduced due to a reduction in the expected market return used in this model.

Management’s key assumptions include sales growth (at an average of 4% for the three-year period), which has been determined based on 
past experience in this market. The Group’s management believes that this is the best available input for forecasting this mature market.

Spain
The recoverable amount for the Spain CGU above was determined based on a value-in-use calculation, covering a detailed five-year 
forecast of future cash flows using budgeted projections assuming a 17% discount rate (2017: 17%) which the Group has estimated to be the 
weighted average cost of capital adjusted for risks specific to the CGU.

Management’s key assumptions include sales growth (at an average of 4% for the five-year period), which has been determined based on 
past experience in this market. The Group’s management believes that this is the best available input for forecasting this mature market.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 85

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

15. Intangible assets

Cost

At 1 July 2016

Asset reclassification

Additions

Disposals

Foreign exchange

At 30 June 2017

Asset reclassification

Additions

Disposals

Foreign exchange

At 30 June 2018

Amortisation

At 1 July 2016

Asset reclassification

Charge for the year

Impairment

Foreign exchange

At 30 June 2017

Asset reclassification

Disposals

Charge for the year

Impairment

Foreign exchange

At 30 June 2018

Net book value

At 1 July 2016

At 30 June 2017

At 30 June 2018

Manufacturing 
and 
Noncompeting 
know-how
 £’000

Distribution 
agreements 
(Switzerland) 
£’000

Trade names 
(Spain) 
£’000

Customer 
relationships 
(Spain) 
£’000

Know-how 
and patents 
(Spain) 
£’000

Other 
intangibles 
£’000

Computer 
software 
£’000

Total 
£’000

4,578

1,094

372

237

220

1,036

2,470

10,007

–

–

(23)

183

4,738

–

–

–

24

4,762

–

–

–

57

1,151

–

–

–

(55)

1,096

4,557

395

–

–

–

181

4,738

–

–

–

–

24

4,762

21

–

–

–

57

–

21

473

–

–

73

–

44

590

699

678

506

–

–

–

26

398

–

–

–

3

–

–

–

17

254

–

–

–

2

–

–

–

15

235

–

–

–

2

–

14

(6)

4

216

212

–

38

216

226

(29)

340

1,048

2,936

10,760

–

–

–

1

4

244

(12)

5

4

244

(12)

(18)

401

256

237

1,049

3,177

10,978

20

–

31

69

2

122

–

–

31

224

–

377

352

276

24

39

–

59

–

3

101

–

–

59

–

–

160

198

153

96

18

–

27

–

2

47

–

–

28

–

–

75

939

1,955

7,923

–

6

–

3

23

246

–

38

23

426

69

250

948

2,262

8,691

–

–

3

–

2

4

(12)

256

–

8

4

(12)

450

224

78

953

2,518

9,435

202

188

162

97

100

96

515

674

659

2,084

2,069

1,543

The class of Intangible Assets ‘Distribution agreements’ arose from the acquisition of the Swiss subsidiary, Teomed A.G. on 1 July 2010.

These distribution agreements represent the present value of the future cash flows expected to arise from the agreements and are 
amortised over a period of 15 years. 

Trade names, customer relationships, know-how and patent (Spain) assets were recognised at fair value upon the acquisition of  
Alerpharma S.A. 

An impairment of £0.2m (2017:£0.1m) has been recognised in administration expenses in respect of trade names in Spain relating to 
Alerpharma S.A.

Other intangibles relate to trademarks and licences.

86 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements 
16. Property, plant and equipment

Cost or valuation

At 1 July 2016

Asset reclassification

Additions

Foreign exchange

Disposals

At 30 June 2017

Asset reclassification

Additions

Foreign exchange

Disposals

At 30 June 2018

Depreciation

At 1 July 2016

Charge for the year

Asset reclassification

Foreign exchange

Disposals

At 30 June 2017

Charge for the year

Asset reclassification 

Foreign exchange

Disposals

At 30 June 2018

Net book value

At 1 July 2016

At 30 June 2017

At 30 June 2018

Plant and 
machinery 
£’000

Fixtures and 
fittings
 £’000

Motor 
vehicles 
£’000

Computer 
equipment 
£’000

Freehold land 
and buildings 
£’000

Total 
£’000

9,792

5,863

36

3,950

3,023

22,664

10,111

7,043

40

–

531

31

(910)

9,444

–

668

3

(4)

–

727

42

(768)

5,864

–

1,174

5

–

5,593

672

–

20

(909)

5,376

4,088

385

–

29

(756)

3,746

611

563

–

2

(1)

–

4

–

5,988

4,313

4,199

4,068

4,123

1,775

2,118

2,730

–

–

–

–

(216)

242

53

–

–

–

180

–

(216)

1,500

306

(1,678)

36

4,029

3,203

22,576

–

4

–

–

22

6

–

–

–

(4)

82

6

(139)

3,974

3,213

309

(23)

30

–

–

1

68

–

(4)

1,929

82

(143)

3,272

24,440

81

138

–

5

–

12,997

1,510

(23)

84

(1,665)

12,903

28

3,529

224

8

–

–

–

36

14

8

4

217

(3)

5

(137)

3,611

171

1,570

–

1

–

(3)

12

(138)

396

14,344

737

500

363

2,942

2,979

2.876

9,667

9,673

10,096

Note 22 provides details of the assets secured against the Group’s bank borrowings.

Freehold land and buildings relates to the Group’s office and warehouse building in Milan, Italy and the Group’s manufacturing and office 
facility in Madrid, Spain. The building in Italy was revalued in June 2016 by independent valuers based on an open market valuation. This 
property is carried at fair value. 

The Madrid premises were acquired on the acquisition of Alerpharma in June 2015 with a fair valuation of €2,299,000 (£1,607,000). The 
valuation was carried out by independent valuers. The valuation was performed using the depreciated cost replacement method (adjusted 
for reduction in value due to age). The age reduction applied related to a percentage discount to allow for the fact that the valuation reflected 
the current age of the building. The unobservable input relates to the percentage applied for this reduction in value. If the age reduction 
discount were to increase by 10% then the valuation of the building would reduce by £155,000. The net book value at acquisition was 
€1,327,000 (£937,000). 

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 87

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

16. Property, plant and equipment continued
The reconciliation of the carrying amounts of land and buildings non-financial assets classified within Level 3 is as follows:

Balance at 1 July 2017

Loss recognised in income statement – depreciation of buildings

Gain recognised in OCI – exchange differences on translating foreign operations

Balance at 30 June 2018

Spain 
£’000

1,819

(118)

59

1,760

Italy 
£’000

1,160

(53)

9

Total 
£’000

2,979

(171)

68

1,116

2,876

The Italian land and buildings were previously valued using the cost model and had a carrying value of £1. Fair values were estimated based 
on recent market transactions, which were then adjusted for specific conditions relating to the land and buildings. A valuation of the Italian 
land and buildings was carried out in June 2018 by independent valuers using the market method. The value of the property was calculated 
taking into account the sale prices achieved by other properties similar to the one in question as regards size, location, type, use quality, 
construction features etc. The valuers used an equivalent value of €1,600 (£1,416) per sqm. This compares to a range of prices from €1,300 
per sqm to €2,000 per sqm observed by the valuers. Carrying values were not adjusted as management do not consider that the fair value as 
at 30 June 2018 for the Italy and Spain land and buildings (based on the latest valuation, knowledge of the local market and enquiries of local 
experts) is significantly different to the carrying value.

If the cost basis was used, the carrying amounts of the Italian revalued land and buildings would be £1 (the carrying value of the asset at the 
point the subsidiary was first consolidated). The revalued amounts include a revaluation surplus of £1,298,000 before tax (of which £476,000 
writes back the accumulated depreciation) which is not available for distribution to the shareholders of the Group.

17. Remeasurement of retirement benefit investments
The Group carries an insurance policy which is designed to contribute towards the obligation in respect of the German defined benefit 
pension scheme (see Note 26). The policy includes a right to reimbursement and therefore does not meet the definition of a qualifying 
insurance policy under IAS 19.8. It is valued at fair value by the pension scheme administrators (SLPM) each year. SLPM value the insurance 
policies according to contractual arrangements (equivalent to cash surrender values). This is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

At 1 July

Additions

Finance income

Remeasurement of investment 

Profit on foreign exchange

18. Inventories

Raw materials and consumables

Work in progress

Finished goods

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

4,592

4,045

367

90

(39)

33

302

89

(91)

247

5,043

4,592

2018 
£’000

2,164

2,778

3,866

8,808

2017 
£’000

1,648

2,774

3,062

7,484

The value of inventories measured at fair value less cost to sell was £347,000 (2017: £305,000). The movement in the value of inventories 
measured at fair value less cost to sell during the year gave rise to a charge of £42,000 which was dealt with in the Consolidated  
Income Statement. 

88 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements19. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables

Other receivables

VAT

Prepayments and accrued revenue

2018 
£’000

3,783

1,002

576

1,226

6,587

2017 
£’000

4,336

1,546

333

1,638

7,853

Accrued revenue of £44,000 relates to deferred consideration receivable from customers (2017: £56,000). 

All amounts due as shown above are short term. The carrying value of trade receivables is considered a reasonable approximation of fair 
value. All trade and other receivables have been reviewed for indicators of impairment. During the year, £81,000 of trade receivables were 
written back and £66,000 of the provision utilised. The impaired trade receivables are mostly due from private customers in the Italian 
market who are experiencing financial difficulties.

Bad and doubtful debt provision

Balance brought forward

Foreign exchange adjustments

(Credit)/charge for the year

Utilised

Balance carried forward

2018 
£’000

612

70

(81)

(66)

535

2017 
£’000

421

28

163

–

612

In addition, some of the unimpaired trade receivables are past due as at the reporting date. The age of financial assets past due but not 
impaired is as follows. 

The financial assets which were overdue but not provided for were:

Trade receivables

Not more than three months 

More than three months but not more than six months 

More than six months but not more than one year 

More than one year 

20. Cash and cash in hand

Cash at bank and in hand

21. Trade and other payables

Due within one year

Trade payables

Social security and other taxes

Other creditors

Accrued expenses and deferred income

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

710

179

24

110

1,196

305

88

18

1,023

1,607

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

15,533

22,122

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

3,193

2,216

212

8,269

13,890

2,881

1,539

189

8,616

13,225

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 89

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

22. Borrowings

Due within one year

Bank loans

Due in more than one year

Bank loans

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

644

644

391

391

2018
 £’000

2017 
£’000

2,414

2,414

2,936

2,936

There is an overdraft facility provided by NatWest Bank plc which has a variable limit during the year up to a maximum of £5 million 
(extended to £7 million in September 2018). Interest on the overdraft is at the bank’s base rate plus a fixed margin of 2.50%. The facility is 
secured in favour of NatWest Bank plc by means of debentures granted by the Company and its principal subsidiaries and share pledge 
agreements relating to Bencard Allergie GmbH, Allergy Therapeutics Italia s.r.l. and Allergy Therapeutics Iberica S.L. In addition, the Group has 
issued a lien over the Group’s interest in the equity of subsidiary undertakings as security against the banking facilities. The overdraft facility 
is due for renewal in August 2019. The overdraft was unused at 30 June 2018 (2017: Nil).

As part of the acquisition of Alerpharma S.A., the Group acquired loans totalling €2,386,000 (£1,684,000). The loans are secured by way of a 
charge on land and buildings owned by Alerpharma Group S.A.

Bank Inter (1)

Bank Inter (2)

Santander (1)

Tecnoalcala

Santander (2)

CDTI 

Interest rate

3 month Euribor +0.55% 

1 month Euribor +5.0% 

12 month Euribor +2.5%

Interest free

Fixed rate of 2.5%

Interest free

No new loans were taken out during the year.

Capital repayments due

<1 year 
£’000

1–5 years 
£’000

>5 years 
£’000

125

34

126

26

333

–

644

224

134

252

103

1,353

114

2,180

–

167

–

–

–

67

234

90 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements23. Provisions 
The provision refers to a leaving indemnity reserve in Allergy Therapeutics Italia s.r.l. Under Italian law, alongside each monthly salary 
payment an amount is accrued into this reserve for each employee. When the employee leaves the Company the accrued amount is paid  
as a deferred salary payment.

The actuarial valuation, in accordance with IAS 19 for employee benefits is based on assumptions determinate at the valuation date. The 
methodology used is the ‘Projected unit credit method’. This method sees each year of service give rise to an additional unit of leaving 
indemnity entitlement and values each unit separately to build up to a final total obligation.

The actuarial valuation in accordance with IAS 19 was carried out by Managers & Partners Actuarial Services SpA at 30 June 2018. The major 
assumptions used were as follows:

Retail price inflation

Salary increase rate

Annual rate of leaving indemnity increase

Annual discount rate 

Demographic assumptions

Mortality

Inability

Advanced payment annual rate

Withdrawal annual rate

The movement in the leaving indemnity reserve during the year was as follows:

At 1 July

Additions

Utilisation

IAS 19 addition

Foreign exchange movement

At 30 June 

2018 
% p.a.

1.5

0.5

2.6

0.98

2017 
% p.a.

1.5

0.5

2.6

0.91

RG48

RG48

INPS tables

INPS tables

1.00%

10.00%

1.00%

10.00%

2018 
Total
 £’000

291

29

(19)

(21)

2

282

2017 
Total 
£’000

257

24

(46)

40

16

291

During the year an independent actuarial valuation of the Italy leave indemnity reserve was carried out and an adjustment made so as to 
comply with IAS 19. 

The following table summarises the effects of changes in these actuarial assumptions on the defined benefit liability at 30 June 2018:

Changes in significant actuarial assumptions

Withdrawal annual rate +1.00%

Withdrawal annual rate -1.00%

Annual discount rate +0.25%

Annual discount rate -0.25%

Annual price inflation +0.25%

Annual price inflation -0.25%

2018 
£’000

282

284

286

280

278

287

2017 
£’000

289

293

294

288

286

296

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 91

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

24. Financial instruments
Risk management
The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities within the Group will be able to continue as a going concern whilst maximising the return 
to shareholders through the effective management of liquid resources raised through share issues and loan arrangements. Capital 
management objectives are met through regular reviews of cash flows, debtor/creditor balances, budgets and forecasts.

Capital

Total equity

Borrowings

Overall financing

Capital-to-overall financing ratio (%)

There is no requirement by external parties to comply with any capital ratios.

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

23,034

29,965

23,034

29,965

3,058

3,327

26,092

33,292

0.88

0.90

The IAS 39 categories of financial assets and liabilities included in the balance sheet and the headings under which they are shown are as follows:

Categories of financial instrument

Financial assets

Current

Loans and receivables (including cash and cash equivalents)

Financial liabilities

Current

At amortised cost (including borrowings and payables)

Fair value through profit and loss – held for trading

Non-current

At amortised cost (including borrowings and payables)

2018 
£’000

2017
 £’000

20,937

20,937

28,395

28,395

(14,534)

(13,616)

(97)

(404)

(14,631)

(14,020)

(2,696)

(17,327)

(3,227)

(17,247)

Derivative financial instruments
The Group uses derivative financial instruments to mitigate the effects of exchange rate exposure through the use of forward exchange contracts.

The fair value of these instruments is calculated by reference to observable market rates (spot rate versus forward rates for matching 
maturity dates) and supported by counterparty confirmation. Within the fair value hierarchy, this financial derivative is classified as Level 2.

Euro forward contracts (including Euro exchange swaps)
The Group has Euro forward contracts with its bank that are arranged for the net sale of €15,433,000 to purchase GBP at an average blended 
rate of 1.1357 for dates from July 2018 until March 2019. 

Analysis of derivative financial instruments

Credit/(charge) to administration expenses in the Consolidated Income Statement

Euro forward contracts 

Euro forward contracts – matured in the period

2018
 £’000

2017 
£’000

306

(870)

(564)

776

(1,930)

(1,154)

Forward exchange contracts are considered by management to be part of economic hedge arrangements but have not been formally 
designated as such and hence hedge accounting is not used.

92 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements24. Financial instruments continued
Derivative financial instruments

Current liabilities

Derivative financial instruments – Euro forward contracts

2018
 £’000

2017
 £’000

(97)

(97)

(404)

(404)

The net gain at fair value of financial instruments held at the balance sheet date that has been recorded through the Consolidated Income 
Statement is £307,000 (2017 gain: £776,000). 

Foreign currency risk
The Group conducts most of its day-to-day financial activities in either the Euro (which is the functional currency of the active subsidiaries  
in Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and the Netherlands), Sterling (which is the functional currency of the UK parent entity) and Swiss Francs 
(which is the functional currency of the Swiss subsidiary). Some costs are denominated in US Dollars and some income is denominated in 
Canadian Dollars. 

The Group carries bank balances in the following currencies:

Sterling

Euro

US Dollars

Canadian Dollars

Swiss Franc

2018 
£’000

11,920

3,340

72

4

197

2017 
£’000

18,232

3,411

96

11

372

15,533

22,122

Foreign currency denominated financial assets and liabilities, translated into Sterling at closing rates, are as follows:

Current

Financial assets

Financial liabilities

Short-term exposure

Non-current

Financial liabilities

Long-term exposure

2018

2017

Sterling
 £’000

Euro 
£’000

Other 
£’000

Sterling
 £’000

Euro 
£’000

Other 
£’000

13,982

(8,114)

5,868

6,455

(6,323)

132

501

(194)

307

20,574

7,113

(7,471)

(6,285)

13,103

828

–

–

(2,696)

(2,696)

–

–

–

–

(3,227)

(3,227)

707

(264)

443

–

–

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 93

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statements 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

24. Financial instruments continued
The following table illustrates the sensitivity of the net result for the year and the equity of the Group with regard to its financial assets and 
liabilities and the Euro to Sterling exchange rate. Foreign exchange movements over the last two years have been considered and an average 
taken, and on this basis a 10% movement is considered to be a reasonable benchmark. For 2018, a 10% movement was also used.

If Sterling had strengthened against the Euro by 

Effect on net results for the year

Effect on OCI

Effect on equity

If Sterling had weakened against the Euro by

Effect on net results for the year

Effect on OCI

Effect on equity

2018 
£’000

10%

307

(577)

(270)

10%

(375)

703

328

2017 
£’000

10%

(151)

(392)

(543) 

10%

184

477

661

Interest rate risk
The Group finances its operations through operating cash-flow, equity fundraising and overdraft facilities. Interest is charged at a floating  
rate on the overdraft facility. The overdraft facility is tailored in a way to give flexibility to the Group. This flexibility provides the Group with a 
higher level of the facility in the low sales season and allows it to pay down the facility in the high sales season. The following table illustrates 
the sensitivity of the net result for the year and equity to possible changes in interest rates of +1% with effect from the beginning of the year on 
the remaining element of borrowings. Due to the current low interest rates it is not feasible to illustrate the results were the interest rates to fall 
by 1%. 

The sensitivities are considered to be reasonable given the current market conditions and the calculations are based on the financial 
instruments held at each balance sheet date, all other variables being held constant.

Movement in net results for the year

Equity

2018 
£’000

+1%

(18)

–

(18)

2018
 £’000

–1%

n/a

n/a

n/a

2017 
£’000

+1%

(15)

–

(15)

2017 
£’000

–1%

n/a

n/a

n/a

Credit risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that the counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. In order 
 to minimise this risk, the Group endeavours only to deal with companies which are demonstrably creditworthy and this, together with the 
aggregate financial exposure, is regularly monitored. The maximum exposure to credit risk is the carrying value of the debtor.

Credit risk on cash and cash equivalents is considered to be small as the counterparties are all substantial banks with high credit ratings.  
The maximum exposure is the amount of the deposit. Credit risk on assets derived from financial derivatives are also considered to be small 
as the counterparties are all substantial banks with high credit ratings. The maximum exposure is the asset recognised. 

The credit quality of financial assets that are not past due or impaired are regularly reviewed by management.

Liquidity risk
The Group’s capital management objectives are to ensure the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide adequate 
funding for its day-to-day operations. Management has access to funding through a bank facility and continues to have the option to raise 
funds from the issue of equity shares to ensure the Group remains able to meet its commitments as they fall due. The Group’s bank facility 
(Note 22) is due for renewal in August 2019. As at 30 June 2018, the Group’s contractual maturities (undiscounted and including interest) are 
summarised on the next page.

94 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements24. Financial instruments continued
Current liabilities

Borrowing facility 

Trade payables

Other short-term liabilities

Derivatives

Non-current liabilities

Borrowing facility 

Other long-term liabilities

2018
 £’000 
Within 6 
months

329

3,193

10,697

14,219

77

14,296

2018 
£’000 
6 to 12 
months

329

–

–

329

20

349

2018 
£’000 
1 to 5 
years

2018 
£’000
 Later than 
5 years

2,317

282

2,599

388

–

388

2017 
£’000 
Within 6 
months

169

2,881

10,344

13,394

271

13,665

2017 
£’000 
1 to 5 
years

2,566

291

2,857

2017 
£’000 
6 to 12 
months

169

–

–

169

133

302

2017 
£’000 
Later than 
5 years

971

–

971

25. Operating lease commitments
The following payments are due to be made on operating lease commitments:

Within one year

Two to five years

Over five years

Land and buildings

Other

Total

2018
 £’000

889

2,833

2,087

5,809

2017 
£’000

982

3,038

2,352

6,372

2018 
£’000

415

527

–

942

2017 
£’000

536

449

–

985

2018 
£’000

1,304

3,360

2,087

6,751

2017 
£’000

1,518

3,487

2,352

7,357

Of the operating lease commitments for the land and buildings of £5,809,000 (2017: £6,372,000), £1,580,000 relates to the UK premises (2017: 
£2,021,000). The production facility accounts for £1,451,000 (2017: £1,828,000) of this commitment and expires in December 2023. Premises  
in Spain account for £49,000 (2017: £97,000) expiring in 2020 and in Germany for £4,603,000 (2017: £4,045,000) expiring in June 2027. 

Of the other commitments, £746,000 (2017: £756,000) relates to leased vehicles all expiring within five years and none relate (2017: £Nil) to 
leased vehicles all expiring over five years.

26. Retirement benefit obligations
Defined contribution scheme
The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme for certain employees in the UK. The assets of the scheme are held separately 
from those of the Group in an independently administered fund. The amount charged against the profits represents the contributions 
payable under the scheme in respect of the accounting period totalling £540,000 (2017: £451,000). 

Defined benefit scheme
The Group operates a partly funded non-contributory defined benefit pension scheme for certain employees in Germany. The actuarial 
valuation was carried out by Swiss Life Pensions Management GmbH at 30 June 2018. The major assumptions used were as follows: 

Retail price inflation

Salary increase rate

Rate of pension increase

Discount rate at the beginning of the year

Discount rate at the end of the year

Increase of social security contribution ceiling

2018 
% p.a.

1.5

3.0

1.5

2.05

1.85

3.0

2017 
% p.a.

1.5

3.0

1.5

1.45

2.05

3.0

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 95

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

26. Retirement benefit obligations continued

Average life expectancies

Male, 65 years of age at the balance sheet date

Female, 65 years of age at the balance sheet date

Male, 45 years of age at the balance sheet date

Female, 45 years of age at the balance sheet date

The assets in the scheme and the expected rates of return were as follows:

Fair value of plan assets

Present value of scheme liabilities

Deficit in the scheme

Years

Years

19.9

23.9

39.7

44.7

19.8

23.8

39.5

44.6

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

1,376

1,346

(11,722)

(10,965)

(10,346)

(9,619)

The plan assets consist of long-term insurance policies held to cover the German pension obligation. The value of the plan assets is 
deducted from the value of the pension liability to give a net liability of £10.3m (2017: £9.6m). The basis used to determine the net interest cost 
is based on the net defined benefit asset or liability and the discount rate as determined by Swiss Life Pensions Management GmbH using 
the projected unit credit method. The actual gain on plan assets for the year is £77,000 (2017: £50,000). The pension charge generates an 
unrecognised deferred tax asset of £1,748,000 (2017: £1,658,000), however this is unrecognised in the Group accounts as there is uncertainty 
over the recoverability. The insurance contracts that form the plan assets are valued at fair value (market price) by the pension scheme 
administrators (SLPM) each year. SLPM value the insurance policies according to contractual arrangements (equivalent to cash surrender 
values). This is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Long-term insurance policies that do not qualify as plan assets are recognised as separate investment assets at fair value and represent a 
re-imbursement right as defined by IAS 19. See Note 17 for further details of these investment assets. 

2018
 £’000

330

2017 
£’000

366

(28)

225

197

49

89

(416)

(278)

(3,901)

(4,179)

(4,179)

(19)

170

151

31

(86)

1,555

1,500

(5,401)

(3,901)

(3,901)

Amounts charged to operating profit

Current service costs

Amounts included in other finance expenses

Interest income on plan assets

Interest on pension scheme liabilities

Net charge

Amounts recognised in OCI

Actual return less expected return on pension scheme assets

Experience gains/(losses) arising on scheme liabilities

Changes in assumptions underlying the present value of scheme liabilities

Total amount relating to year

Opening cumulative losses

Remeasurement of net defined liability

Cumulative net movement recognised

96 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements26. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Movement in assets during the year

Balance as at 1 July

Foreign currency differences

Interest income on plan assets

Remeasurement of net defined liability

Contributions from employer

Assets transferred to finance benefits paid

Balance as at 30 June

Movement in liabilities in the year

Balance as at 1 July

Foreign currency differences

Current service costs

Interest cost

Remeasurement of net defined liability

Benefits paid by employer

Benefits paid from assets

Balance as at 30 June

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

1,346

1,248

6

28

49

11

75

18

31

20

(64)

1,376

(46)

1,346

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

(10,965)

(11,422)

(75)

(330)

(225)

(327)

136

64

(654)

(366)

(170)

1,469

132

46

(11,722)

(10,965)

The expected contributions over the forthcoming year are £152,000.

The significant actuarial assumptions for the determination of the defined benefit IAS 19.173(b) obligation are the discount rate, the salary 
growth rate and the average life expectancy. The calculation of the net defined benefit liability is sensitive to these assumptions. The 
following table summarises the effects of changes in these actuarial assumptions on the defined benefit liability at 30 June 2018:

Changes in the significant actuarial assumptions 

Discount rate

(Decrease)/increase in the defined benefit liability

Salary growth rate

Increase/(decrease) in the defined benefit liability

Average life expectancies of males

Increase/(decrease) in the defined benefit liability

Average life expectancies of females

Increase/(decrease) in the defined benefit liability

2018 
£’000

2018 
£’000

2017 
£’000

2017 
£’000

Increase 
to 2.85%

Decrease 
to 0.85%

Increase 
to 3.05%

Decrease 
to 1.05%

(1,876)

2,261

(1,839)

2,238

Increase 
to 4.00%

Decrease 
to 2.00%

Increase 
to 4.00%

Decrease 
to 2.00%

460

(426)

497

(455)

Increase 
of one 
year

Decrease 
of one 
year

Increase 
of one 
year

Decrease 
of one 
year

424

(420)

381

(377)

Increase 
of one 
year

Decrease 
of one 
year

Increase 
of one 
year

Decrease 
of one 
year

467

(465)

423

(422)

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 97

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

27. Issued share capital

Authorised share capital

Ordinary Shares of 0.10 pence each 

1 July and 30 June

Deferred Shares of 0.10 pence each 

1 July and 30 June

Issued and fully paid

Ordinary Shares of 0.10 pence

At 1 July 

Issued during the year:

Share options exercised

At 30 June

Issued and fully paid

Deferred shares of 0.10 pence

At 1 July 

Issued during the year

At 30 June

Issued share capital

2018 
Shares

2018 
£’000

2017
 Shares

2017 
£’000

790,151,667

790

790,151,667

790

9,848,333

10

9,848,333

10

594,117,768

594 589,158,508

589

2,050,848

2

4,959,260

596,168,616

596

594,117,768

9,848,333

–

9,848,333

10

–

10

9,848,333

–

9,848,333

5

594

10

–

10

606,016,949

606 603,966,101

604

The deferred shares have no voting rights, dividend rights or value attached to them.

Share options issued on vesting of LTIP awards were exercised in the year with proceeds of £2,000 (2017: £33,000).

28. Share-based payments
The Group has a LTIP under which Executive Directors and senior employees may receive an annual provisional award of performance 
vesting shares.

The Group has two plans: the initial 2005 Plan and the 2013 Plan. The 2013 LTIP was adopted by the Board on 20 March 2013, the Board 
having consulted major shareholders. Awards were made under the new 2013 Plan during the year.

For the 2013 Plan, performance criteria for each award are set by the Remuneration Committee. An award shall vest at 100% if at the end of the 
plan cycle the share price has increased by 25% has been satisfied. If the share price increase is less than 10% then no shares will vest. If the 
share price increase is between 10% and 25%, share distributions will be on a straight-line basis between 25% and 100% of the initial award.  
Each plan cycle will comprise a period of three years. An award will be forfeited if the employee leaves the Group before the shares vest.

For awards under the 2013 Plan during the years ended 30 June 2014 and 2015, the performance criteria are based on a combination of share 
price performance and adjusted earnings growth.

Share options were granted to employees and Directors under earlier schemes. The vesting periods are usually from one to three years. 
The vesting of some options is dependent on the Group’s TSR performance as for the LTIPs detailed above. The options are settled in equity 
once exercised. If the options remain unexercised after a period of ten years from the date of the grant, the options expire. Options are 
forfeited if the employee leaves the Group before the options vest. 

During the current year, LTIP grants were provisionally awarded in March 2018 under the 2013 Plan subject to performance criteria being met.

98 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements28. Share-based payments continued
The following table sets out share options outstanding which are unrelated to the LTIP awards and have been disclosed separately to avoid 
distorting the weighted average exercise price (‘WAEP’):

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Exercised during the year

Lapsed during the year

Outstanding at the year end

Exercisable at the year end

2018 WAEP

2017 WAEP

Number

Price (£)

Number

Price (£)

38,739

(3,000)

–

35,739

35,739

0.18

0.18

852,539

(517,248)

–

(296,552)

0.18

0.18

38,739

38,739

0.14

–

–

0.18

0.18

The share options outstanding at the end of the year have a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.3 years (2017: 2.3 years) and all 
have an exercise price of £0.18:

Exercise price (p)

18.25

30 June 2018 
Number

30 June 2017 
Number

35,739

38,739

The movement in low cost options (LTIP awards that have been converted to share options redeemable at par) during the year was  
as follows:-

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Converted in the year from LTIPs

Exercised during the year

Lapsed during the year

Outstanding at the year end

Exercisable at the year end

2018 
Number

2017 
Number

1,648,026

 6,170,038

4,457,066

–

(2,047,842)

(4,442,012) 

–

(80,000)

4,057,250

1,648,026

4,057,250

1,648,026

For low cost options exercised during the year, the weighted average share price at the date of exercise was £0.28 (2017: £0.19).

Outstanding shares provisionally awarded under the LTIP, with a low cost exercise price, are as follows:

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Awarded during the year

Converted to options

Lapsed during the year

Outstanding at the year end

2018 
Number

2017 
Number

21,206,250

11,862,500

11,035,000

15,193,750

(4,457,066)

–

(1,815,434)

(5,850,000)

25,968,750

21,206,250

The fair values of LTIP shares conditionally awarded in December 2016 and March 2018 were determined using a Monte Carlo simulation (with 
5,000 iterations) that takes into account factors specific to the share incentive plans.

A discount has been applied for lack of marketability to the portion of the awards that would have to be retained for three years after vesting.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 99

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

28. Share-based payments continued
The following principal assumptions were used in the valuation:

Date of grant

30/12/2016

30/12/2016

30/12/2016

30/12/2016

15/03/2018

15/03/2018

Exercisable 
from

24/09/2019

24/09/2019

24/09/2019

24/09/2019

15/03/2021

15/03/2021

Exercisable 
to

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

14/03/2031

14/03/2031

Exercise 
price
 (£)

0.001

0.001

0.001

0.001

0.001

0.001

Share price 
at grant 

(£) Risk-free rate 

Volatility

0.209

0.209

0.209

0.209

0.270

0.270

0.11%

0.11%

0.11%

0.11%

0.85%

0.85%

47%

47%

50%

Number of 
awards 
expected 
 to vest 
(non-market 
conditions)

63.10%

63.10%

Fair value
 (£)

Number 
outstanding

0.055

3,225,625 

0.192

0.091

0.192

0.133

3,225,625 

4,273,750 

4,273,750 

5,485,000

71.6%

0.250

5,485,000

The share-based payment charge assumes an employee attrition rate of 5% per annum.

The Group recognised total expenses of £985,000 (2017: £703,000) related to equity-settled share-based payment transactions during  
the year. 

29. Contingent liabilities
Allergy Therapeutics (UK) Ltd, a subsidiary of Allergy Therapeutics plc, has given a guarantee in lieu of deposits for leases on cars and rented 
office space of Bencard Allergie GmbH. The amount as at 30 June 2018 was €66,917; £59,229 (2017: €107,426; £94,391).

A cross-guarantee exists between Allergy Therapeutics (Holdings) Ltd, Allergy Therapeutics (UK) Ltd, Bencard Allergie GmbH, Allergy 
Therapeutics Italia s.r.l. and Allergy Therapeutics Iberica S.L. in which the liabilities of each entity to NatWest Bank plc are guaranteed by  
all  
the others. 

In respect of net revenue relating to a certain product, there is a risk that revenue of up to £1.8m (2017: £Nil) recorded for the full year to 
30 June 2018 may be subject to a retrospective change in the level of rebate being applied. 

The Group is in litigation with one of its third-party contractors. The Group is claiming $10.2m from the third-party contractor in damages, and 
additionally, interest and legal fees. The third-party contractor is counterclaiming $4.3m in what it claims are unpaid invoices, plus interest 
and legal fees. The Group is of the opinion that it has a strong claim against the contractor and a full defence to the counterclaim. No 
liabilities or assets have been recognised in these financial statements in relation to these claims.

On 23 February 2015, the Company received notification that the BAFA had made a decision to reverse their preliminary exemption to the 
increased manufacturers rebate in Germany for the period July to December 2012. The Company was granted a preliminary exemption to  
the increased rebate for this period by BAFA in 2013. The Company recognised revenue of €1.4m (£1.1m at that time, now £1.2m) against this 
exemption in the year ended 30 June 2013. All other preliminary exemptions (granted for periods up to 30 June 2012) have previously been 
ratified as final by BAFA. After taking legal advice, the Company has lodged an appeal against this decision and is confident that the 
exemption will be reinstated. Therefore, as at 30 June 2018, no provision has been recognised for the repayment of the rebate refund.  
This position will be kept under review.

100 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements30. Capital commitments
The Group’s capital commitments at the end of the financial period, for which no provision has been made, are as follows: 

Capital commitments

30 June 2018 
£’000

30 June 2017 
£’000

1,133

201

Included in the above is £105,000 for ongoing factory refurbishments in the UK (2017: £192,000); £798,000 for new plant and machinery (2017: 
£2,000) and £230,000 for IT equipment and systems upgrades (2017: £7,000).

31. Related party transactions and ultimate control
Allergy Therapeutics plc’s related parties include its subsidiary companies and its key management. Key management personnel are the 
Company’s Directors, and as such, full disclosure of their remuneration can be found in the Directors’ remuneration table on page 52.

At 30 June 2018, the Company’s subsidiary undertakings were:

Subsidiary undertaking 

Country of 
incorporation

Principal activity

Percentage of  
shares held

Class of shares held

Allergy Therapeutics (Holdings) Ltd 

Allergy Therapeutics (UK) Ltd 

UK

UK

Holding company 

Manufacture and sale of 
pharmaceutical products

100

100

Bencard Allergie GmbH 

Germany

Sale of pharmaceutical products 100

Bencard Allergie (Austria) GmbH 

Allergy Therapeutics Italia s.r.l. 

Allergy Therapeutics Iberica S.L. 

Austria

Italy

Spain

Sale of pharmaceutical products 100

Sale of pharmaceutical products 100

Sale of pharmaceutical products 100

Bencard A.G. (name changed from Teomed A.G.) Switzerland

Sale of pharmaceutical products 100

Allergy Therapeutics Netherlands BV

Netherlands

Sale of pharmaceutical products 100

Allergy Therapeutics Argentina S.A. 

Argentina

Marketing of pharmaceutical 
products

100

Ordinary and deferred

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Bencard Allergy Therapeutics Unipessoal LDA

Portugal

Sale of pharmaceutical products 100

Ordinary

During the year, Group companies entered into the following transactions with related parties that are not members of the Group:

Related Party

Laboratorios Synthesis S.A.S.

Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A.

Total

Sales of goods

Amounts owed by/(to)  
related parties

2018
 £’000

2017
 £’000

–

–

–

–

–

–

2018
 £’000

(73)

(60)

(133)

2017 
£’000

(73)

(60)

(133)

Laboratorios Synthesis S.A.S. and Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A. are wholly-owned subsidiaries of CFR Pharmaceuticals SA.  
CFR Pharmaceuticals SA is a major investor in Allergy Therapeutics plc.

Sales of goods to related parties were made on normal commercial terms.

The amounts outstanding are unsecured and will be settled in cash. No guarantees have been given or received. No provisions have been 
made for doubtful debts in respect of the amounts owed by related parties.

There is no overall ultimate controlling party.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 101

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsNotes to the Financial Statements

continued

32. Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities
The changes in the Group’s liabilities arising from financing activities can be classified as follows:

1 July 2017

Cash flows

Repayment

Proceeds

Non-cash

Foreign exchange movements

30 June 2018

1 July 2016

Cash flows

Repayment

Proceeds

Non-cash

Foreign exchange movements

30 June 2017

£’000
Total 
borrowings

3,327

(398)

102

27

3,058

£’000
Total 
borrowings

3,365

(297)

76

183

3,327

33. Events after the balance sheet date
In July 2018, 40,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 0.1 pence each were issued pursuant to a placing and subscription at a price of 26.5 pence per 
share raising £10.6 million (before expenses).

102 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statementsCompany Balance Sheet

Fixed assets

Investments

Current assets

Debtors: amounts falling due within one year

Total assets

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities 

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital

Share premium account

Other reserves – share-based payments

Profit and loss account

Total equity 

Note

30 June 2018 
£’000

30 June 2017 
£’000

2

3

4

3,295

1,641

357

3,652

(256)

101

3,396

3,396

615

2,256

(271)

344

1,985

1,985

5

606

604

102,420

102,420

1,657

1,268

(101,287)

(102,307)

3,396

1,985

The Company has taken advantage of s.408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not included its own income statement in these financial 
statements. The Company’s profit for the period was £424,000 (2017: £798,000 loss).

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 25 September 2018 and were signed on its 
behalf by

Manuel Llobet 
Chief Executive Officer 

Nicolas Wykeman
Chief Financial Officer

Registered number: 05141592

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 103

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statementsStatement of Changes in Equity (Company)

At 30 June 2016

Loss for the period after tax

Share-based payments

Shares issued

Transfer of lapsed options to retained earnings

At 30 June 2017

Profit for the period after tax

Share-based payments

Shares issued

Transfer of lapsed options to retained earnings

At 30 June 2018

Issued 
capital
 £’000

Share 
premium 
£’000

599

102,392

–

–

5

–

–

–

28

–

Reserve –
share based 
payment 
£’000

741

–

863

–

Retained 
earnings 
£’000

(101,845)

(798)

–

–

(336)

336

Total
 equity 
£’000

1,887

(798)

863

33

–

604

102,420

1,268

(102,307)

1,985

–

–

2

–

–

–

–

–

–

985

–

(596)

424

–

–

596

424

985

2

–

606

102,420

1,657

(101,287)

3,396

104 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statementsNotes to Company 
Balance Sheet

1. Accounting policies 
Basis of preparation
The separate financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101, ‘Reduced 
Disclosure Framework’ (‘FRS 101’) and the Companies Act 2006. FRS 101 sets out a reduced disclosure framework for a ‘qualifying entity’  
as defined in the standard which addresses the financial reporting requirements and disclosure exemptions in the individual financial 
statements of qualifying entities that otherwise apply the recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements of EU-adopted IFRS.

As permitted by the Companies Act, the separate financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom 
accounting standards and under the historical cost convention. 

As permitted by FRS 101, the Company has taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions available under that standard in relation to 
business combinations, financial instruments, capital management, presentation of comparative information in respect of certain assets, 
presentation of a cash flow statement, standards not yet effective, impairment of assets and related party transactions. Where required, 
equivalent disclosures are given in the consolidated financial statements of Allergy Therapeutics plc.

In accordance with section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, no separate income statement has been presented for the Company.  
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of this financial information are set out below. These policies have been 
consistently applied to all the financial years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Going Concern
Detailed budgets have been prepared, including cash flow projections for the periods ending 30 June 2019 and 30 June 2020. These 
projections include assumptions on the trading performance of the operating business and the continued availability of the existing bank 
facilities. The Group had a cash balance of £15.5m at 30 June 2018 and the overdraft facility was renewed in August 2018. In July 2018, 
40,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 0.1 pence each were issued pursuant to a placing and subscription at a price of 26.5 pence per share  
raising £10.6m (before expenses). After making appropriate enquiries, which included a review of the annual budget and latest forecast,  
by considering the cash flow requirements for the foreseeable future and the effects of sales and other sensitivities on the Group’s funding 
plans, the Directors continue to believe that the Group and Company will have adequate resources to continue in operational existence  
for the foreseeable future and accordingly have applied the going concern principle in preparing these financial statements. 

Investments
Investments in shares in subsidiary undertakings are included at cost less any provision for impairment.

Foreign currencies
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded using an average exchange rate for the period. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated 
in foreign currencies are translated using the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date and the gains or losses on translation are 
included in the profit or loss account.

Deferred taxation
Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date where 
transactions or events have occurred at that date that will result in an obligation to pay more, or a right to pay less, tax.

Deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that the Directors consider that it is more likely than not that there will be suitable 
taxable profits from which the future reversal of the underlying timing differences can be deducted.

Deferred tax is measured on an undiscounted basis at the tax rates and laws that are expected to apply in the periods in which timing 
differences reverse, based on tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Employment costs
The Company does not have any employees. All employment costs are dealt by the Group’s subsidiaries. Details of employment costs are 
detailed on page 81 of the consolidated financial statements.

Share-based payments
Share-based payments made in respect of the Company’s shares to employees of its subsidiaries are reported as an increase in investment. 

All goods and services received in exchange for the grant of any share-based payment are measured at their fair values. Where employees 
are rewarded using share-based payments, the fair values of employees’ services are determined indirectly by reference to the fair value  
of the instrument granted to the employee. This fair value is appraised at the grant date and excludes the impact of non-market vesting 
conditions (for example, profitability and sales growth targets). 

If vesting periods or non-market-based vesting conditions apply, the expense is allocated over the vesting period, based on the best 
available estimate of share options expected to vest. Estimates are revised subsequently if there is any indication that the number of share 
options expected to vest differs from previous estimates. Any cumulative adjustment prior to vesting is recognised in the current period. 

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 105

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statements 
Notes to Company Balance Sheet

continued

1. Accounting policies continued
If market-based vesting conditions apply, the expense is allocated over the relevant period, usually the period over which performance is 
measured. Vesting assumptions and resulting expenses are fixed at the date of grant, regardless of whether market conditions are actually 
met. Any adjustment for options which lapse prior to vesting is recognised in the current period. No adjustment to expense recognised in 
prior periods is made if fewer share options ultimately are vested than estimated, however, the expensed value of these lapsed shares is 
transferred from the share-based payment reserve to the profit and loss reserve.

Full details of the Group’s share-based payments are set out in Note 28 of the consolidated financial statements.

2. Investments

Cost

Investment brought forward 

Additions

Reversal of provision

Investment carried forward

Shares in 
subsidiary 
undertaking 
£’000

1,641

985

669

3,295

The additions relate to share-based payments in respect of the Company’s shares to employees of its subsidiaries.

The diminution in value represents the shortfall in the net assets of the shares in the subsidiary undertakings’ own statutory financial 
statements as compared to the carrying value in the Company’s books. 

At 30 June 2018, the Company’s subsidiary undertakings were:

Subsidiary undertaking 

Country of 
incorporation

Principal activity

Percentage of 
shares held

Class of shares held

Allergy Therapeutics (Holdings) Ltd 

Allergy Therapeutics (UK) Ltd 

UK

UK

Holding company 

Manufacture and sale of 
pharmaceutical products

Bencard Allergie GmbH 

Germany

Sale of pharmaceutical products

Bencard Allergie (Austria) GmbH 

Allergy Therapeutics Italia s.r.l. 

Allergy Therapeutics Iberica S.L. 

Austria

Italy

Spain

Sale of pharmaceutical products

Sale of pharmaceutical products

Sale of pharmaceutical products

Bencard A.G. (name changed from Teomed A.G.) Switzerland

Sale of pharmaceutical products

Allergy Therapeutics Netherlands BV

Netherlands

Sale of pharmaceutical products

Allergy Therapeutics Argentina S.A. 

Argentina

Marketing of pharmaceutical 
products

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Ordinary and deferred

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Bencard Allergy Therapeutics Unipessoal LDA

Portugal

Sale of pharmaceutical products

100

Ordinary

Allergy Therapeutics (Holdings) Ltd is fully owned by Allergy Therapeutics plc. All other subsidiary undertakings except Bencard Allergie 
(Austria) GmbH and Allergy Therapeutics S.A. are fully owned by Allergy Therapeutics (Holdings) Ltd. Bencard Allergie (Austria) GmbH is fully 
owned by Bencard Allergie GmbH. 

106 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statements3. Debtors

Amounts falling due within one year

Amount owed by subsidiary undertakings

Prepayments and accrued income

The amount owed by subsidiary undertakings is stated net of provisions of £101,625,458 (2017: £100,646,170).

4. Creditors – amounts falling due within one year

Accruals

30 June 2018 
£’000

30 June 2017 
£’000

349

8

357

180

435

615

30 June 2018 
£’000

30 June 2017 
£’000

255

255

271

271

5. Called up share capital
Full details of the Company’s share capital are set out in Note 27 of the consolidated financial statements.

6. Share-based payments
Allergy Therapeutics plc (the ‘Company’) does not have any employees. All share-based payments are recharged to the respective Group 
employing subsidiary. Full details of the Company’s share-based payments are set out in Note 28 of the consolidated financial statements.

7. Directors’ emoluments
Full details of the Company’s Directors’ emoluments are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 52 to 54.

8. Contingent Liabilities
Full details of the Company’s contingent liabilities are set out in Note 29 of the consolidated financial statements.

9. Related party transactions
In accordance with the provisions of FRS 101, the Company is exempt from the requirements in IAS 24 (‘Related Party Disclosures’) to 
disclose related party transactions entered into between members of a group, as all parties to the transactions are wholly owned by the 
Company. Details of other related party transactions can be found in Note 31 to the consolidated financial statements.

10. Events after the balance sheet date
Full details of events after the balance sheet date are set out in Note 33 of the consolidated financial statements.

Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018 | 107

Strategic report | Governance | Financial statements 
Shareholder Information

Registered office
Dominion Way
Worthing
West Sussex
BN14 8SA

Advisers
Nominated Adviser and Broker
Panmure Gordon & Co
1 New Change
London
EC4M 9AT

Auditor
Grant Thornton UK LLP
St Johns House 
Crawley  
West Sussex
RH10 1HS 

Lawyers
Covington and Burling LLP
265 Strand
London
WC2R 1BH

Cooley’s (UK) LLP 
Dashwood
69 Old Broad Street
London
EC2M 1QS

Actuary
Swiss Life Pensions Management GmbH
Swiss Life Gruppe
Berliner Strasse 85
80805 München
Germany

Registrars
Link Asset Services 
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent 
BR3 4TU

Bankers
NatWest Bank plc
South East Corporate Centre
Turnpike House
123 High Street
Crawley  
West Sussex
RH10 1DQ

Public relations advisers
Consilium Strategic Communications
41 Lothbury 
London
EC2R 7HG

108 | Allergy Therapeutics plc | Annual report and accounts 2018

Financial statementsDominion Way 
Worthing  
West Sussex 
BN14 8SA 

www.allergytherapeutics.com

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