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Arix Bioscience

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FY2021 Annual Report · Arix Bioscience
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Investing in life
changing science

Annual report and accounts 2021

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 13Black Line Level: 4Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600Job No: 46255Proof Event: 13Black Line Level: 4Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600Arix Bioscience plc is a global venture 
capital company focused on investing 
in breakthrough biotechnology 
companies to deliver superior  
risk-adjusted returns to shareholders.

Our Purpose

Our Goal

Our Values and Expectations

To generate superior returns for our 
investors and to make a tangible 
difference to patients’ lives, by 
investing in a focused portfolio of 
innovative biotechnology companies 
addressing areas of high unmet need 
in healthcare

Delivery of double digit NAV growth 
through a diversified portfolio of 
biotechnology investments

Contents

Strategic Report
02  At a Glance
04  Investment Proposition
05  Chairman’s Statement
08  Chief Executive Officer’s Review
11  Market Insight
12  Portfolio Company Case Study
14  Our Investment Strategy
15  Business Model
16  Our Strategic Objectives
17  Key Performance Indicators
18  Portfolio Review
20  Clinical Pipeline

21  Core Portfolio
27  Financial Review
30  Risk Management
35  Our Stakeholders
36  Sustainability

Corporate Governance
38  Chairman’s Introduction
43  Board of Directors
44   Report of the Nomination 

Committee

46   Report of the Audit and Risk 

Committee

Our values and expectations are 
at the heart of everything we do 
and form an important part of our 
culture.
• Integrity
• Respect
• Transparency
• Collaboration
• Discipline
• Accountability

50  Directors’ Remuneration Report
71  Directors’ Report

Financial Statements
75  Financial Statements

Other information
110 Shareholder Information
111  Glossary

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 13Black Line Level: 4Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600Highlights

Performance snapshot

Net Asset Value (NAV)  

NAV per share 

Gross Portfolio net revaluation* 

£255m

2020: £328m

198p

2020: 242p

(£54m)

2020: £136m

Business highlights

Realised capital 

Capital pool 

£39m

2020: £158m

£134m

2020: £174m

Operational highlights

Capital raised by portfolio 
companies in 2021  

$776m

2020: $580m

>  Second M&A exit from the portfolio with Amplyx being acquired by Pfizer, resulting in a 

1.1x return on the upfront payment 

>  Two IPOs within the portfolio, including Aura which raised $75m on Nasdaq to fund its 

clinical development

>  Further cost reduction targeting a cost run rate within 2% of Net Asset Value under 

normal market conditions

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* Includes FX and impairment

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Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther information 
 
 
 
 
 
At a glance

Who we are: 
Arix Bioscience plc is a global venture 
capital company focused on investing  
in breakthrough biotechnology 
companies.

We collaborate with experienced 
entrepreneurs and provide the capital, 
expertise and global networks to help 
accelerate the science they have developed 
into important new treatments for 
patients. As a listed company, we are able 
to bring this exciting growth phase of our 
industry to a broader range of investors.

We are here for two key reasons. To generate superior returns for our investors 
and to make a tangible difference to patients’ lives.

Investment strategy providing resilience through market cycles
We focus on innovation and partner with highly experienced entrepreneurs to create companies that can significantly 
improve patients’ lives.

Diverse portfolio

Geographic split

Therapeutic split

Development stage split

8%

23%

15%

54%

8%

46%

UK
US
Europe
RoW

31%

15%

38%

Oncology
Immunology
Genetic
diseases
Rare 
diseases

Clinical
Preclinical

62%

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ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021

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NAV per share  

198p 2020: 242p

Rolling 36 month goals

Double Digit NAV per share 
Growth

Capital Pool 

£134m 2020: £174m

2 x successful exits

2 x IPOs

15% annualised in 2019 - 2021

ON TARGET

ON TARGET

Maintain cost base  
within 2% of NAV 

ON TARGET

Read more in the Chairman’s statement on page 5.

Strong clinical trials pipeline
Collectively our portfolio companies were running 22 clinical trials at 31 December 2021, with a further 19 in preclinical 
development.

Clinical trials  

22 One exit achieved

Read more on our Pipeline on page 20.

3

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationInvestment proposition
Public market access to ground-breaking medical innovation

5 Uncorrelated returns 
The healthcare and pharma sector is generally uncorrelated 
with other industries and the wider macroeconomic 
environment. As big pharma are a key driver of the biotech 
sector through M&A, the potential for cash exits from our 
portfolio is less impacted by the broader economic cycle.

Our core purpose is to help translate 
scientific innovation into new medicines 
for patients. Through the portfolio of 
companies that we back and build, we 
aim to address significant challenges 
in healthcare in the areas of oncology, 
genetic diseases, immunology and anti-
infectives.
At Arix we focus on outcomes beyond financial 
performance and through our portfolio companies we hope 
to make a tangible difference to patients’ lives. To date, we 
have invested more than £200m into innovative biotech 
companies in our Gross Portfolio, which, in turn, have since 
raised more than $3bn of funding. Multiple jobs been 
created through Arix and our portfolio companies, which 
collectively have more than 330 employees today.

£200m+
deployed into life 
sciences since 2016

$3bn+
Capital raised by 
portfolio companies

330+
number of employees 
across Arix portfolio 
companies

22
live clinical trials across 
our portfolio at year end

 1 Large, high-growth industry
Biotech’s core fundamentals are strong: long term, 
sustainable growth drivers, resilient, attractive M&A 
environment.

Arix provides unique exposure to a portfolio of high growth 
global biotech companies, both private and public, through 
a listed vehicle.

Read more in Market Insight on page 11.

2 High impact and value creation 
potential
Diverse portfolio of companies addressing significant 
unmet needs in healthcare, with the potential to deliver 
breakthrough treatments to patients.

Multiple near to mid-term milestones anticipated with the 
potential to deliver significant returns, including: new data 
readouts, initiation of new trials, further funding rounds 
including IPOs and M&A.

Read more in the portfolio review from page 18.

3 Expertise and networks
Expert team with deep scientific, commercial and 
transactional expertise and a proven track record of success 
to drive growth in portfolio value.

Arix’s global networks and transatlantic team provide 
access to a large pool of opportunities across the full 
spectrum of biotech disciplines and a deep understanding 
of the industries and markets in which we invest.

4 Active, disciplined capital management
Initial investments are typically tranched to pre-agreed 
milestones supportive of the original investment thesis.

Active management of public portfolio positions to manage 
risk and optimise returns.

Transparent valuation policy; valuations adhere to IPEV 
Guidelines.

Read more in the Financial review on page 27.

To see how our investment case works in practice, please 
see our Business Model on page 15.

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Chairman’s Statement 

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Introduction
The coming two years look very promising for Arix. 
Following a year of significant change, we have a newly 
constituted board of directors dedicated to creating 
shareholder value, a well-integrated investment team and 
a highly prospective portfolio of companies with clinical 
readouts coming to fruition over the coming quarters. 
Operational progress in 2021 was set against the most 
extended and extreme bear market for biotechnology 
shares in many years, which inevitably impacted our 
financial performance. The Company’s share price 
reached an all-time high of 222p on 29 December 2020 
and declined along with our net asset value. In spite of 
the challenging market conditions we made progress on a 
number of fronts, including the introduction of improved 
risk control protocols. While much of our decline in net 
asset value was attributable to positions in listed shares 
which were restricted by lock-up agreements, some of our 
other legacy positions were free to trade and we have now 
made selective exits. Our unlisted portfolio is continuing to 
progress with a number of positive developments which 
augur well for the coming year. Our investment team 
has also started to build a portfolio of highly attractive 
publicly-listed shares at valuations substantially lower than 
the levels that the same company would command in the 
private market. 

Last year was a time of great change at Arix led by a 
period of stakeholder engagement and a strategic review 
that resulted in the reconstitution of the Board and the 
strengthening of our corporate governance. Following these 
developments, and with the benefits of the additional 
skills and expertise that the new Board brings, we are now 
very well-positioned to provide disciplined and effective 
oversight and governance of the company’s assets for the 
benefit of shareholders.

Performance and valuation
Compared to the prior year end, the net asset value fell 
from £328 million to £255 million, or 242p to 198p per 
share. The reduction was predominantly driven by share 
price declines in some of our Nasdaq-listed holdings as a 
result of unfavourable market conditions across the biotech 
sector. Much of this weakness occurred during periods 
when we were subject to market-standard lock-ins on 
key holdings. This decline in public market valuations was 
partially offset by a modest increase in the valuation of 
our private portfolio, where a number of our investments 
saw valuation uplifts through private financing rounds. 
While the reduction in NAV is disappointing, we believe that 
it does not reflect the underlying quality of the portfolio, 
which continued to make significant operational and clinical 
progress in the period.

attractive opportunities arising from reduced valuations 
and opportunities resulting from the contraction in 
the IPO market and continuing need for capital in the 
biotech sector. Current valuations of many well-managed 
companies with a number of therapeutic drugs in clinical 
trials make our sector most compelling at this time. At the 
time of writing we have been able to buy such shares at 
substantial negative enterprise value, meaning that their 
net cash is more than their entire market capitalisations. 
These companies have considerable cash burn but most 
already have the wherewithal to fund themselves through 
to clinical read-outs and beyond. Many of these companies’ 
share prices are down 90% or more from their highs, and an 
added attraction of this sector is the substantial discount 
to NAV on our shares (38% discount at 31 December 2021 
with 53% of NAV in cash) and those of biotech closed-end 
investment funds. 

Not all of our portfolio companies’ trials will be successful 
but those that are should generate extraordinary returns, 
which are largely uncorrelated with sectors that are 
driven by macroeconomic factors. In the same way that 
oil exploration companies use the latest scientific tools 
to inform their drilling programs, so do our investment 
experts use their deep knowledge of the companies and 
the science to select the most prospective targets. Perhaps 
one important difference between biotechnology and 
oil exploration that should encourage our investors is the 
positive impact any successful drugs will have on many 
people’s lives. Biotechnology on the whole is less affected 
by supply bottlenecks, higher energy prices and a slow down 
in the general economy than most other sectors which face 
the headwinds of higher inflation, rising interest rates, the 
reorganisation of changing global production and supply 
chains, as well as  international conflicts. In view of these 
considerable uncertainties, our current stance is primarily 
focused on the optimised management of our existing 
portfolio, hoping to achieve a successful exit before making 
further substantial unlisted company commitments. While 
the market price and discount to NAV of our shares reflect 
considerable risk aversion with regards to venture capital 
investments in biotech companies, it is wise to adopt a 
conservative strategy to help protect the downside on our 
shares. I believe, however, that our existing portfolio has 
a sufficient number of prospects which should allow us to 
attain our return goal during this coming year.

Corporate Governance
In April 2021 the Company announced that the roles of 
Chairman and Chief Executive would be split, resulting 
in the departure of Executive Chairman, Naseem Amin, 
who had stepped in to lead the business in 2020, and my 
appointment as Independent Non-Executive Chairman.

We ended the year with a strong cash position of 
£134.2 million compared to £174.4 million in the prior 
year. Conserving cash allows the company to exploit 

I was joined on the board by Maureen O’Connell and 
Isaac Kohlberg as non-executive directors. A certified 
public accountant, Maureen has extensive executive 

ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC

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Chairman’s Statement continued

and non-executive board experience and is currently 
non-executive Chair of Acacia Research Corporation 
(“Acacia”). Isaac is Chief Technology Development Officer 
at Harvard University and a non-executive director of 
Acacia. Subsequently, Sir Michael Bunbury was appointed 
as a Senior Independent Director. Sir Michael has had 
a distinguished and successful career in the investment 
business. Robert Lyne stepped up to the Board as 
interim Chief Executive, having previously served as 
Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, and was 
subsequently appointed to the role on a permanent basis. 
Maureen, Isaac and Sir Michael have already demonstrated 
the value they bring to Arix and together with Robert I am 
confident in the reconstituted Board’s ability to deliver for 
shareholders. These developments saw the departure from 
the Board of Professor Trevor Jones CBE who decided not 
to seek re-election at the AGM in June, and Giles Kerr, who 
retired in October, both having served for four years on 
the Board. I would like to thank them both for their help 
and support during the transition to our new governance 
structure. 

The Board believes that it is important for suitable further 
new skills as well as appropriate balance to be introduced 
and, as such, anticipates the appointment of an additional 
new independent non-executive director during the course 
of the year. 

The new Board and improved governance leaves the Group 
well-placed going forward in 2022. 

Progress on key targets 
The disappointment of the valuation reductions in listed 
shares should not entirely obscure the progress that has 
been made in the year under review, which reflects the 
achievement of a number of the goals that were set out in 
our 2020 interim report:

• We pledged to drive down annual run-rate net operating 
costs to under £5 million by the end of 2021, and seek to 
maintain costs to within 2% of NAV under normal market 
conditions in subsequent years. I am pleased to report 
that following cost reductions instigated by the newly 
constituted Board, we are delivering on our commitment 
and anticipate that we will continue to do so.

• Well ahead of our 2023 target of two strategic exits, we 
achieved our second M&A sale of a portfolio company 
with the acquisition of Amplyx by Pfizer in April, resulting 
in a small increase on our previous holding value. The 
maturation of the portfolio enables us to demonstrate 
our strategy in action, and our ability to identify and 
support businesses with products and technologies that 
are attractive to large pharmaceutical company buyers. 

• 2021 was a bumper year for biotech fundraising. Two 
of our portfolio companies, Aura and Pyxis Oncology, 

6

ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021

completed initial public offerings on Nasdaq, collectively 
raising $243 million and meeting our target of two further 
IPOs. 

The goals laid out in 2020 reflected the focus of the 
business at the time and were designed to ensure that 
the core value-creating portfolio companies received the 
appropriate level of strategic and financial support to 
maximise the company’s risk-adjusted investment return. 
The newly constituted Board has now had the opportunity 
to review the relevance of these targets with a focus on 
one primary objective: to deliver significant returns to 
shareholders through double-digit Net Asset Value growth.

The Board considers that an agile approach is essential 
when operating in a dynamic and fluctuating sector, where 
success can depend on prevailing conditions as well as 
underlying potential, among other factors. We believe that 
double-digit NAV growth per share can be achieved through 
a range of different portfolio events, the timing of which 
may vary.  We will target two successful exits on a rolling 
36-month basis. In the current market conditions these are 
more likely to be via strategic pharmaceutical acquisitions 
rather than through IPOs.

Market overview 
The XBI (an equal-weighted biotechnology index) has fallen 
more than 45% since peaking in February 2021 versus a rise 
of 3% and 17% for the Nasdaq and S&P 500, respectively. 
The index includes a number of fairly large capitalisation 
companies which have fared much better in the market 
rout but do not feature in our investment universe which 
is focused on new therapeutic advances which should 
generate extraordinary returns. Smaller non-revenue 
generating companies have been hit the hardest as is 
usual in this sort of stock market. During the first half of 
the pandemic, we saw record fundraisings for life sciences 
companies with a high quantity of sector transactions and 
some valuations pushed to excessively high levels due to 
an influx of new investors. While some of those companies 
may have come to market prematurely, the subsequent 
market sell off has been broad, with many new and non-
specialist investors reducing their exposure to the sector. 

While many early-stage technology companies rely on 
the expectation of future funding as they build revenues, 
biotech companies that are financed through the period 
of clinical trials are likely to either succeed or fail. If they 
report positive data and are targeting indications that are 
of interest to acquisitive pharma companies the returns 
can be very substantial with very little exposure to the 
macroeconomic environment and little correlation with the 
performance of other securities. 

With many patents protecting blockbuster products 
expected to expire before the end of the decade, and the 
boost from Covid-19 revenues expected to subside, many 

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larger groups will be seeking new engines of growth. Large 
pharmaceutical companies have historically outsourced 
much of the research and development of new drugs to 
smaller companies, often start-ups, which are faster and 
more agile in making cutting-edge medical breakthroughs. 
Analysts have forecast that big US and European pharma 
groups could have $500 billion to deploy on acquisitions in 
the coming years, providing a clear path to exit for biotech 
companies that do succeed.

Inevitably because of our exposures to the public markets, 
our own portfolio has been hit by the significant decline 
in valuations. However, our strong cash position offers 
an unprecedented opportunity for Arix to participate in 
the undervalued growth potential that the sector has to 
offer. Arix’s presence and knowledge in Europe and the 
US combined with our ability to invest in both private 
and publicly-listed companies gives us the flexibility to 
optimise our portfolio. Not only can we select situations 
with the best upside potential but also, we can avoid buying 
overpriced shares.

Applying our flexible investment strategy
One of our competitive advantages is our ability to be 
nimble in responding to changing market conditions and 
the opportunities that they present on both sides of the 
Atlantic. In the current environment, we are seeing an 
increasing number of excellent investment opportunities, 
both in the private and the public markets as they have 
become more compelling. As I have already indicated, the 
precipitous decline in our sector has allowed us to purchase 
shares in a number of NASDAQ listed companies, many of 
which we had assessed when they were still private and 
are now trading in some cases at market values less than 
their cash balances. This “public opportunities” portfolio 
is currently around 5% of NAV and will be managed 
dynamically alongside our core venture investments as long 
as their valuations and prospects remain compelling. 

Given the significant disconnect between depressed public 
valuations and elevated private valuations which are not 
yet reflecting the reduced public valuations, we currently 
see greater value in public market investing rather than 
private companies and will be highly selective about further 
private investments until the valuation differential reduces. 
For private investments, we are focusing on areas where 
there is a need for capital and where the likelihood of a 
positive outcome is easier to predict than in early stage 
seed investments. Whereas in the past we incubated 
companies and helped them develop, now there are 
improved mechanisms and pools of capital that address 
this requirement. During the past two years there has been 
an increase in late stage “crossover round” investors keen 
to take advantage of upcoming IPOs in which they would 
then have to participate. This led to excessive pricing and a 
crowded investment arena, causing returns on this activity 
to be negative for many. We are continuing to avoid this 
overcrowded space. 

We have been concentrating on clinical stage companies 
requiring funding through to meaningful trial results 
preferably in areas of great interest to large pharmaceutical 
companies. Two new portfolio companies, Disc Medicine 
and Sorriso Pharmaceuticals, are good examples of the 
consequence of this focus. 

Share Repurchases
Following the trade sale of VelosBio in 2020, the Company 
launched a share buyback programme in the period 
under review, during which it purchased 6,428,853 shares, 
representing 4.7% of its issued share capital prior to 
starting the programme, at a cost of £11.6 million.

Given the continuing market uncertainty and signs of 
ongoing negative momentum, as well as the promising 
investment opportunities that were beginning to appear, 
the Company decided that the cash could be more 
profitably deployed elsewhere and more beneficially at a 
future date. Therefore the programme was suspended in 
October. The suspension of the share buyback programme 
enables Arix to make a continuous assessment of 
the relative attractiveness of compelling investment 
opportunities against that of its own shares. 

Consequently, consistent with our strategy of creating and 
delivering value for all stakeholders, the Board is seeking 
to renew the authority to purchase up to 10% of its issued 
share capital, to be cancelled or held in treasury for future 
reissuance. The Board may not necessarily use the authority 
in 2022 but considers that buybacks are an attractive 
mechanism to improve liquidity for sellers while potentially 
generating a substantial uplift in NAV for ongoing 
shareholders.

Peregrine Moncreiffe 
Chairman
4 May 2022

7

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationChief Executive Officer’s Review

Introduction
It has been a busy year for Arix and the portfolio, and my 
first as CEO. When Arix began investing in 2016, it was a 
response to the opportunities in the healthcare and life 
sciences sectors driven by the development of a growing 
number of novel therapies and technologies. The aim was to 
provide public market investors with access to this exciting 
investment opportunity through a liquid, evergreen listed 
vehicle. While Arix has been through much change in the 
years since, its founding purpose remains as essential and 
relevant now as it did then, and I am honoured to be leading 
the business during a time when the need for scientific 
innovation in healthcare has never been greater.

Performance
2021 saw significant developmental progress within the 
portfolio, however this did not translate into growth in NAV 
or the share price. The prior year of 2020 had been one 
of extraordinary financial progress, with the share price 
rising from lows of 58p in mid-2020 to reach an all-time 
high of £2.22 by December of that year, and NAV per share 
growing from £1.49 to £2.42 over the period. From this 
position, 2021 saw a retrenchment in NAV, reducing by 22% 
from £328 million to £255 million at 2021 year end. The 
decline in NAV per share was lessened by the effects of 
the share buyback programme, falling by 18% to £1.98 by 
the end of 2021. This reduction was accompanied by a very 
significant decline in the share price when measured over 
the period against the record highs at the start of 2021, 
falling 44% over the year to £1.22 at 31 December 2021. 
The fall in the share price relative to the decline in NAV saw 
the discount widen from 10% in December 2020 to 38% in 
2021, with an unaudited monthly average across the year of 
23% (2020: 49%). 

The decline in the NAV was largely driven by a reduction 
in the valuation of the Gross Portfolio of £53.9 million 
(including £1.6 million foreign exchange loss and £5.9 million 
impairment), reflecting the wind down of Quench Bio and 
impairment of Atox Bio during the year, and the significant 
falls in the share prices of our largest listed holdings. The 
unrealised movement in the public portfolio companies 
totalled £44.8 million. Of these positions, Imara recorded 
the largest decline reducing by £20 million during the 
year, with other material declines in the holding values of 
Harpoon (£14.1 million), LogicBio (£11.5 million), and Autolus 
(£5.9 million).

At year end we held cash of £134.2 million, a reduction 
of £40.1 million from year end 2020, with £59.2 million 
deployed into new and existing portfolio companies during 
the year.

Whilst 2021 has clearly been a year of disappointing 
financial progress for the portfolio and shareholders, our 
experience demonstrates that performance within the 
portfolio can drive significant growth in NAV, close the 

8

ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021

discount and therefore drive growth in the share price for 
the benefit of our shareholders. It is with this focus that 
we intend to manage the portfolio, in order to deliver the 
performance which will more than make up the ground that 
we lost in 2021.

Portfolio Overview
Financial progress within the portfolio will be driven by the 
clinical progress of the companies which we invest in. As 
further described below, we have seen important clinical 
progress during the year, and it is this potential which gives 
us confidence that portfolio valuations can recover in 2022 
and beyond.

Our portfolio companies require capital to deliver on the 
promise of their clinical programmes and pre-clinical 
development. We are therefore pleased to see that they 
collectively raised over $776 million in 2021. This is both 
a validation of the attractiveness of these businesses, 
demonstrating their ability to attract capital from a broad 
base of investors, and places them in a strong position to 
deliver their value driving clinical development programmes.

Notable amongst the fundraisings were Aura and Pyxis 
Oncology, which completed IPOs on Nasdaq raising 
$243 million collectively. This was complemented by 
follow-on public offerings on Nasdaq by Autolus, Harpoon, 
and Imara, between them generating proceeds of 
approximately $180 million.

The start of 2021 saw the expansion of the portfolio, with 
the addition of Pyxis Oncology. Following the reorganisation 
of the Board we continued to make new investments in 
the second half of 2021, with Disc Medicine and Sorriso 
Pharmaceuticals joining the portfolio. Both of these 
companies were founded in areas of scientific innovation 
which is of interest to large pharmaceutical companies and 
we are excited by their potential.

We achieved our second strategic exit with the sale of 
Amplyx to Pfizer in April 2021. Following the acquisition of 
VelosBio by Merck in December 2020 for $2.75 billion, it 
was a further demonstration of our ability to identify and 
support businesses with products and technologies that are 
attractive to large pharmaceutical company buyers.

Investment team
The newly reconstituted Board worked quickly in 2021 to 
review the composition of the investment team, following 
departures at the start of the year. This resulted in the 
return of Mark Chin as Managing Director. Mark led some 
of Arix’s most successful investments to date and I was 
delighted to welcome him back to the team. Mark has 
already made a significant contribution since his return, 
leading the expansion of our portfolio with our investments 
in Disc Medicine and Sorriso in the second half of the year.

Job No: 46255

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Portfolio progress 
Our core portfolio made good progress overall in 2021, with 
several companies reaching important clinical milestones 
and completing additional financing rounds. 

Artios Pharma (Value £24.9 million) transitioned to a 
clinical-stage company, advancing its two lead programmes 
into early clinical trials. Both ART4215, a Pol0 Inhibitor, and 
ART0380, an ATR inhibitor, are now being dosed in patients. 
The successful transition of two independent programmes 
into the clinic in 2021 consolidated Artios’ position as a 
leading DNA damage response (DDR) company with first-
in-class and potential best-in-class treatments for cancer.

To support the further development of its pipeline, Artios 
completed a Series C financing of $153 million, following 
strong interest from leading global healthcare investors. 
Arix participated in the Series C and retained its position 
as the largest shareholder in Artios. Importantly, Artios 
announced a collaboration with Novartis worth up to 
$1.3bn to create next generation DDR cancer therapies.

Another of our private companies also successfully raised 
further funds, with Depixus (Value £7.8 million) raising 
€30.6 million in a Series A financing during 2021, providing 
funds for further development of Depixus’ MAGNA 
instrument system towards commercial launch.

Aura Bioscience (Value £20.0 million) presented final Phase 
2 data of its lead asset, AU-011, in choroidal melanoma, 
demonstrating good safety and significant clinical benefit 
in patients. To further advance clinical development Aura 
closed an oversubscribed $80 million financing, with 
participation from Arix, in March 2021 and later priced its 
Nasdaq IPO for gross proceeds of $75.6 million. Aura is now 
well set up for advancing its asset into pivotal studies in 
ocular cancer patients. Aura marked the sixth IPO from our 
portfolio since inception. Whilst the public markets became 
increasingly challenging for biotech companies in 2021, this 
strong record of IPOs demonstrates the high calibre of 
our portfolio companies which have been able to attract 
the support and funding of sophisticated investors on the 
Nasdaq where they have all listed.

Harpoon Therapeutics (Value £12.2 million) announced 
post year end that it would discontinue work on its lead 
drug in prostate cancer. Whilst this was disappointing news, 
Harpoon continues to advance its pipeline of T-cell engagers 
in other indications and had a strong cash position of 
$136 million at the end of 2021. Encouraging interim data 
was released on Harpoon’s small cell lung cancer and 
multiple myeloma trials in 2021, with further read-outs 
expected in 2022.

We achieved our second strategic exit in the year. 
Amplyx Pharmaceuticals (Value £1.2 million), a privately 
held company dedicated to the development of therapies 
for debilitating and life-threatening diseases that affect 

people with compromised immune systems, was acquired 
by Pfizer Inc. Whilst the upfront return was modest at 1.1x 
our original investment, the acquisition by a strategic buyer 
further demonstrates our ability to identify gaps in the 
pipelines of the large pharmaceutical groups and to select 
companies with products and technologies of interest. It 
also ensures that Amplyx’s pipeline of novel treatments 
is well-supported with the potential for new drugs to be 
approved in the future. In addition, the terms of the sale 
provide for an expected escrow release in October 2022 
and potential milestone payments from 2025. We have 
applied a discount for time and probability of success to 
these amounts, resulting in the current holding value of 
£1.2 million. 

During the year we invested £59.2 million into the gross 
portfolio, including further funding of Twelve Bio (Value 
£3.8 million), which has made good progress throughout 
2021 advancing its novel gene editing platform based on 
pioneering work into CRISPR- Cas12a technology. Arix is the 
sole venture capital investor in the company, with a 49% 
ownership stake.

The first new investment of the year was Pyxis Oncology 
(Value £14.1 million), where we led the $152 million Series B 
financing to advance Pyxis’ differentiated antibody-drug 
conjugate (ADC) and immune oncology programmes to 
next value inflection points. Subsequently, Pyxis completed 
a Nasdaq IPO, generating gross proceeds of $167.2 million. 
Following a review by the Board, this investment was exited 
post year end.

In September 2021, we participated in our first investment 
following the reorganisation of the Board, committing 
$11m to the  Series B financing for Disc Medicine (Value 
£8.1 million). We joined a syndicate of leading global 
biotech investors and Mark Chin now sits on Disc Medicine’s 
Board of Directors to help advance the company’s clinical 
programmes across multiple hematologic diseases.

For our third new investment of 2021, we co-led the 
$31 million Series A financing for the new portfolio 
company Sorriso Pharmaceuticals (Value £5.9 million), 
which is led by Ciara Kennedy, former CEO of Amplyx 
Pharmaceuticals. Sorriso is advancing a pipeline of disease-
modifying antibody-based therapies for the treatment 
of inflammatory diseases with high unmet medical need, 
including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Series A 
proceeds will be used to advance the lead asset, a bispecific 
antibody construct inhibiting two clinically validated disease 
drivers, into clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease.

Other portfolio updates
Towards the end of the year, LogicBio Therapeutics 
(Value £4.9 million) announced early clinical trial results 
with LB-001, its investigational, single-administration, 
adeno-associated virus (AAV) genome editing therapy, 
in paediatric patients with methylmalonic acidemia 

9

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationChief Executive Officer’s Review continued

value of our companies, and in turn our NAV, as well as 
leading to further cash realisations.

We began 2022 with a significant capital pool and will look 
to maintain this strong cash position at a time when public 
markets are depressed and private valuations have yet to 
adjust. Whilst the poor performance of many biotechnology 
stocks in 2021 has negatively impacted our NAV, it has 
also presented us with an opportunity to take advantage 
of lower public valuations. At the start of 2022, we began 
investing in a Public Opportunities Portfolio of listed 
biotechnology stocks which we believe are undervalued, 
having carefully assessed their clinical programmes and 
potential. Initially comprised of ten companies with a 
total investment of around 5% of our NAV, the individual 
positions are small enough to be easily liquidated and will be 
actively managed in response to market movements. New 
additions to the private portfolio will be made selectively 
with a disciplined approach to private valuation. In doing 
so, we retain our focus on cutting-edge science which 
will deliver best-in-class or first-in-class treatments for 
patients in areas of high unmet need, targeting companies 
with near-term milestones which are attractive targets 
for acquisition, in order to deliver value for Arix and its 
shareholders.

We look to the future with confidence.

Robert Lyne 
Chief Executive Officer
4 May 2022

(MMA). After the year end, the company reported that 
it had received a notice from the US Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) that its trial would be placed on 
clinical hold following a second drug-related serious adverse 
event. LogicBio is working with the FDA and the data safety 
monitoring board to determine the next steps for the trial 
and for the clinical development programme.

In December 2020, Atox Bio filed a New Drug Application 
(NDA) with the FDA for reltecimod, a small, synthetic 
peptide that is host-oriented and pathogen-agnostic. 
The proposed indication was the treatment of suspected 
organ dysfunction or failure in patients of 12 or over with 
necrotising soft tissue infections (NSTI), in conjunction with 
surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, and supportive 
care. Whilst Atox Bio’s Phase 3 trial results had indicated 
that reltecimod had a positive effect on resolution of 
organ dysfunction in patients with NSTI, it had not met the 
endpoint set by the FDA. Following engagement with the 
FDA, the company believed there was a potential pathway 
for approval, particularly in light of NSTI’s devasting effect 
on patients and the lack of FDA-approved treatment. In 
February 2022, it became clear that approval would not 
be possible without an additional clinical study. We have 
written off our remaining investment in Atox Bio and the 
company is now examining strategic options for its assets.

Active management of the portfolio
We continue to actively manage our listed holdings and 
reduce our positions where appropriate, whilst retaining, 
and in certain cases, building our positions, where we have 
conviction that we will see greater value in the future. We 
have been reducing our exposure to legacy public companies 
that have become less compelling. During the period under 
review, we substantially reduced our holding in Autolus and 
post year end have subsequently now exited our position in 
the stock.

Outside of the public portfolio, we took the decision 
together with our co-investors to close down Quench Bio 
resulting in a write down of £7.1 million. The closure followed 
a review of initial preclinical work and is consistent with 
our disciplined approach to capital deployment and active 
portfolio management.

Outlook
The year ahead will be significant for a number of our 
portfolio companies as they reach important clinical and 
development milestones throughout 2022. Our portfolio 
companies were collectively running 22 clinical trials at year 
end. There is already significant value in these companies, 
however it is multiple clinical milestones expected over the 
next 12-18 months which we believe can drive significant 
growth across the portfolio in the near term. In addition to 
anticipated clinical milestones, there is potential for further 
M&A, strategic partnerships and other financing events 
across the portfolio which could significantly increase the 

10

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Market insight
A vibrant sector, transforming lives worldwide

 The coming years are rich with 
opportunity for companies in life 
sciences, as a series of key drivers 
combine with the continuing realities 
of the pandemic to demonstrate the 
enormous value of the sector – to 
investors, to economies and ultimately to 
the health and wellbeing of every person 
on our planet. 
1 Covid-19 has underlined the role of life sciences
Governments across the world have invested huge sums 
to support biotech companies in the search for vaccines 
to Covid-19 and these investments have successfully 
transformed lives around the world as vaccination 
programmes have been rolled out globally and at an 
unprecedented pace throughout 2021. This has shone a 
spotlight on life sciences and underlined their importance, 
not only to retail investors but to the future of our planet’s 
entire population. Stakeholders view the sector in an 
overwhelmingly positive light. It is regarded increasingly as 
a safe haven – respected for its resilience during pandemics 
and recessions, and admired for its focus on long-term 
value and positive impact on human wellbeing. With other 
sectors underdelivering versus expectations, increased 
investor funds are being allocated to life sciences, building 
on the good momentum established pre-pandemic and 
laying the foundations for continued M&A activity.

2 Scientific discovery continues at pace
Entrepreneurial scientists have changed the life science 
landscape forever. Biotech innovation is shaping a new 
understanding of the causes and dynamics of disease at 
a molecular level – and this is driving an acceleration in 
discovery. For example, the number of new clinical trials 
added per year has increased from fewer than 11,000 in 
2006 to more than 33,000 new trials initiated in 2021. 
Therapeutic approaches are making new treatments 
possible and transforming lives across therapeutic areas, 
from oncology and inflammatory to infectious diseases.

3 Demographics are driving demand
The world’s population is growing older and living longer 
– and with that trend comes an inevitable increase in the 
prevalence of chronic diseases. Cardiovascular, cancer 
and neurological conditions are the biggest killers on the 
planet, and all three are diseases of ageing. In the US, EU 
and Japan the number of people aged over 65 is expected 
to double from 200 million to 400 million in the next 
decade. The pattern repeats in the emerging markets, 
where increased longevity is matched by a growing middle 
class able to afford medical care. In China, Brazil, India and 
Russia, the average total number of prescriptions filled per 
year has doubled since 2009 and continues to rise. While 

economies go through cycles, demand for treatments 
increases inexorably – this is a long-term defensive sector, 
with great resilience to other factors.

4 The regulatory environment is increasingly favourable
As the global response to Covid-19 has demonstrated, 
regulators are willing and capable of acting at speed. 
Scientists are now more effective at evaluating targets and 
selecting the appropriate patients than ever before – and 
this has led to more products successfully navigating the 
approvals process, to the benefit of companies, investors 
and patients alike. For example, in 2007 only 18 new drugs 
were approved by the FDA, the US approval authority. 
In 2021, despite severe challenges from the Covid-19 
pandemic, 50 new drugs were approved, the third highest 
number in more than 20 years. This increase in approvals 
in the world’s largest market comes on the back of new 
policies introduced by the FDA to reduce the time, cost and 
approval risk for new drugs in development.

5 The route to exit is clear
Our role is to invest in young companies, position them for 
growth and reap the rewards for our investors when these 
bright, successful companies are acquired, often by Big 
Pharma. In the last ten years, the average amount invested 
by venture capital companies in biotech businesses has 
remained broadly flat at around $50 million per company. 
However, the average total exit value has risen from 
approximately $200 million to $561 million in the same 
period, demonstrating significant and increasing returns 
on investment. There is also a trend for pharmaceutical 
companies to compete with each other and agree deals at 
an earlier stage – and with smaller and younger companies. 
In the recent past, larger pharmaceutical companies 
focused primarily on products in phase two or three of 
clinical trials. Today, they are acquiring companies involved 
in phase one or even those still working in the pre-clinical 
stage. It is interesting to note that companies acquired at 
the early stages of clinical development often generate 
higher return multiples than later stage companies. 

50
New drugs approved by 
the FDA in 2021

51%
Novel drug approvals 
originated by smaller 
biopharma companies

33,276
Increase in the number 
of clinical trials in 2021

$63bn
Value of Biotech 
companies acquired in 
2021

Sources: FDA, S&P CapIQ, clinicaltrials.gov

11

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationPortfolio company case study
Mark Chin talks about Arix’s investment strategy and new portfolio company Disc Medicine

Mark Chin, Managing Director at Arix Bioscience and Board Member at Disc Medicine

DISC MEDICINE

Therapeutic area Hematology

Stage Clinical

Ownership 4.2%

Value £8.1m

Arix representatives Mark Chin, MBA (Board Director)

Why did you get excited about Disc 
Medicine and how does the company fit 
into Arix’s investment strategy?
At the time we invested into Disc Medicine, August 2021, 
the company had completed the in-licensing of a Phase 
2-ready asset, bitopertin, and received IND clearance by 
the FDA to advance a second independent programme into 
human clinical trials. Imminently upon closing the Series B 
financing Disc was therefore a clinical stage company with 
several shots on goal for clinical success. Since bitopertin 
was previously in advanced clinical development by Roche 
for schizophrenia, deep expertise around the mechanism 
of action and tolerability profile means that bitopertin is 
a clinically validated and de-risked asset. Multiple near-
term clinical milestones within the next 12-18 months 
give Disc Medicine the opportunity to either be subject to 
M&A activity by Big Pharma, or raise further capital at an 
attractive valuation to continue clinical development of 
its programmes. For us at Arix, backing leadership teams 
with a track record of success in the biopharmaceuticals 
industry is critical. Disc’s high-quality senior management 
team and board includes industry veterans and former 
C-level executives from Acceleron. More specifically, Disc’s 
Chief Executive Officer is John Quisel, who was Acceleron’s 
Chief Business Officer. One month after we invested into 
Disc Medicine, Merck acquired Acceleron for $11.5bn, which 
highlighted Arix’s approach of investing in and partnering 
with companies that are led by high calibre management 
teams with a track record of building biotech companies 
that are bought by Big Pharma. 

For the many reasons outlined above coupled with 
favourable deal terms, which included a seat on Disc’s 
Board of Directors, an appropriate company valuation and 
a top tier investor syndicate, we have had strong conviction 
that Disc Medicine presents a great late-stage investment 
opportunity for Arix and we remain excited about what lies 
ahead for Disc Medicine. 

What attracted your attention to Disc 
Medicine’s development pipeline?
The two leading programmes that Disc Medicine is 
advancing through clinical development are in-licensed Big 
Pharma assets, which are modulating clinically validated 
targets. The partly de-risked approach that Disc Medicine is 
taking attracted us to investing into the Series B. 

Disc Medicine obtained global rights to DISC-0974 and 
related molecules under a license agreement from AbbVie. 
DISC-0974 is an investigational, first-in-class monoclonal 
antibody designed to suppress hepcidin production by 
inhibiting the hemojuvelin (HJV) co-receptor, a highly 
selective and critical target of the hepcidin pathway. 
Hepcidin is the primary regulatory hormone of iron 
homeostasis and plays a central role by restricting iron 
absorption and preventing deployment from internal iron 
stores. In 2021, Disc announced the initiation of the Phase 1 
study in healthy volunteers to assess safety and tolerability 
as well as the effect of DISC-0974-mediated inhibition of 
HJV on hepcidin and iron biomarkers. In 2022, Disc expects 
to report findings from this Phase 1 study and initiate Phase 
1b/2a clinical studies in anemia of myelofibrosis and other 
anemias of inflammation. This clinical development path 
highlights the plethora of opportunities for DISC-0974 to 
address unmet medical needs across multiple indications. 

Shortly before we invested into the company, Disc Medicine 
expanded its pipeline with a worldwide licensing agreement 
for bitopertin, a first-in-class modulator of heme synthesis. 
Bitopertin is a clinical stage, orally administered small 
molecule inhibitor of glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1). Glycine 
is an essential precursor for heme biosynthesis and GlyT1 
is required to maintain adequate levels of intracellular 
glycine in developing erythrocytes. The first clinical stage 
bitopertin programme is positioned to enter a Phase 2 trial 
in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) in 2022. We believe 
very few investment opportunities, even at late stage, 
provide as many clinical shots on goal across independent 
clinical programmes as Disc Medicine does. 

12

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021What is your vision for Disc Medicine?
The next 12-18 months will be a transformational period 
for Disc Medicine as the company reaches Phase 1 and 
Phase 2 clinical trial read-outs from both of its two most 
advanced programmes, resulting in four trial read-outs in 
total. If successful, these read-outs will demonstrate the 
safety of the drugs they have under development and, for 
the Phase 2 trials, provide clinical signs of efficacy in the 
targeted diseases. We are excited to work closely with John 
and the team to reach these important clinical milestones, 
if successful, will represent material value inflexion points 
for the business. Disc Medicine has the optimal foundation 
to become a leader for novel therapeutic approach to treat 
a range of hematologic diseases with potentially life-
changing outcomes for patients. 

13

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationOur Investment strategy
Investing in life changing science

Our focus: We focus on true innovation and partner with the most experienced entrepreneurs, management teams 
Our goal is to make a tangible difference to patients’ lives and generate superior returns for shareholders,  
and investors to develop treatments that can significantly improve patients’ lives.
by investing in innovative biotech companies addressing areas of unmet needs in healthcare.

High impact innovation
Invest in breakthrough therapies which have the potential 
to revolutionise patient outcomes.

Focused Geographies
Source primarily from the USA and Europe, areas with 
world-leading science and biotech ecosystems in which we 
have strong networks.

Therapeutics focus
Novel therapeutics with first or best-in-class approach, 
focusing on therapeutic areas with high unmet need, 
significant market opportunity and a disease and 
mechanism of action which are well understood.

Clinical and late pre-clinical opportunities
Investing into assets which are partially de-risked with near 
term value inflexion points of clinical progress with the 
potential for valuation uplifts and exits.

Our approach
We focus purely on life sciences, with a team that is 
highly experienced in this sector. We aim to remain at the 
forefront of new exciting therapeutic areas by anticipating 
hot areas across the biotech and life science sectors and by 
identifying the most promising investment opportunities 
early. We invest in true innovation and disease areas where 
in our belief, the most opportunity exists to advance new 
treatment options for patients.

We have a global network across top tier biotech 
investors and world-leading management teams with a 
proven track record of success in biotech. This network 
of excellence ensures that we have access to top tier 
syndicates and premier deals across Europe and the US. 
We have a renowned group of advisors, including serial drug 
developers and biotech executives, who aid in the sourcing 
and assessment of potential investment opportunities. 
We take a proactive approach when we invest, frequently 
either leading or co-leading financing rounds and joining the 
board of portfolio companies. We can help secure funding, 
develop business strategy, make connections and recruit 
experienced and talented management teams.

How we allocate capital and manage risk
Private venture
To minimise risk, we focus on investments into later stage 
private companies which are already conducting clinical 
trials. The majority of these companies are clinical stage 
and have begun testing their treatments in patients. These 
companies will have at least one live clinical trial, in either 
Phase 1, Phase 2 or Phase 3 and have raised significant 
capital, supported by a strong syndicate of leading venture 
investors. A recent example of such a new investment is 
Disc Medicine.

We also retain the flexibility to invest in companies which 
are late pre-clinical. These companies would have the goal 
of advancing their lead asset into clinical development 
within 12 to 18 months of investing. As these companies 
are not yet assessing their drug candidates in patients, 
these opportunities are of higher translational risk and 
therefore we allocate a minority of our capital to such 
opportunities. However, the increased risk is typically offset 
by greater return multiples than late-stage investments. 
We minimise that risk by investing into clinically de-risked 
programmes based upon well-understood biology. Sorriso 
Pharmaceuticals is a recent example of such an investment.

PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity)
Whilst the majority of our investments are into private 
biotech companies, the public markets can offer investment 
opportunities at attractive valuations. By investing through 
structured PIPE transactions, we can act as a catalyst to 
provide funding for and unblock opportunities in clinical 
stage public companies with depressed valuations. These 
businesses will typically have clinical readouts within 
18 months of our investment. Their public status provides 
a mechanism for the re-rating of our investment in short 
order when clinical read-outs are published, as well as 
liquidity to return funds to our balance sheet.

Types of companies we invest in
New investments are predominantly made into private 
biotech companies. However, we do have the flexibility 
to invest in public companies, if we believe there is the 
potential to make significant investment returns.

14

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Business model
How we create sustainable value

Key strengths and resources

1. DiscoVer 
We source globally and review 
hundreds of companies each year

2. Evaluate 
Rigorous due diligence for new and 
follow-on investments

3. Invest 
Invest in innovation with a clear 
commercial pathway, approx  
1 out of every 90 seen

6. Reinvest 
Capital is recycled onto the 
balance sheet for reinvestment

5. Exit 
We take a long-term view and 
seek to exit when the optimum 
value is reached

4. Develop 
We typically take a board seat 
and play an active role to help our 
companies grow

For society
•  We invest in companies that address 
serious unmet needs in healthcare 
and have the potential to transform 
patient outcomes

•  New company creation and job 

For employees
•  Employee engagement
•  Talent development
•  Working for a business that helps 
create companies which address 
serious unmet needs in healthcare

creation

For shareholders
•  Investing in a business that has  
a meaningful impact on society

•  A diverse portfolio of opportunities 

and exposure to disruptive,  
high-growth biotech companies

•  Financial returns
•  Balanced portfolio

Value created and shared

For portfolio companies
•  Flexible, long-term capital
•  Deep industry and capital  

markets expertise

•  Access to a broad range of  
co-investment opportunities

•  Introduction to potential  

acquisition targets

•   Due diligence and company building 

support

Underpinned by our values

• Integrity

• Respect

• Transparency

• Discipline

• Collaboration

• Accountability

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See more on stakeholders on page 35.

ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC

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T: 0207 055 6500  F: 020 7055 6600

 
 
 
 
Our strategic objectives

To generate superior returns for investors and to make a tangible difference to patients’ lives by investing in a 
Our goal is to make a tangible difference to patients’ lives and generate superior returns for shareholders,  
focused portfolio of innovative biotechnology companies addressing areas of high unmet need in healthcare.
by investing in innovative biotech companies addressing areas of unmet needs in healthcare.

Discover
high impact innovation in areas of 
unmet need, with the potential to deliver 
transformative treatments to patients

Develop
and build the value of these companies 
through hands-on support

Deliver
double digit NAV growth

Performance in 2021
•  Provided £59.2m new capital  

to portfolio companies

Performance in 2021
•  $776m of capital raised by portfolio 

Performance in 2021
•  NAV decreased by 22% to £255m 

companies

(198p per share)

•   New investments including Disc 

•  New clinical trials initiated by Artios 

Medicine and Sorriso Pharmaceuticals 

£59m
capital deployed

and Disc Medicine in the period
•  Two Nasdaq IPOs, including Aura 

Biosciences

$776m
capital raised by portfolio companies

Priorities going forward
•  Maintain exposure to quality life 

science opportunities across the globe

Priorities going forward
Increase value of portfolio
companies through hands-on
support including:
•  Raising capital
•   Clinical development
•  Management search
•  Business strategy
•  Developing strategic interest

•  £39.1m cash realised during the year
•  Gross portfolio IRR of 19% from 

inception to date

•  Share price decreased by 44%
•  Cost base run-rate now below  

2% NAV

£39m
capital realised

Priorities going forward
•   Targeting a cost run rate within 2% 
of Net Asset Value under normal 
market conditions

•  Targeting double digit NAV growth

Link to KPIs
•   Diverse portfolio
•   Active clinical pipeline

Link to KPIs
•   NAV growth
•   Capital pool

Link to KPIs
•   NAV growth
•   TSR
•   Capital pool

16

ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Job No: 46255

Customer: Arix Bioscience

Proof Event: 1

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Black Line Level: 0

Park Communications Ltd  Alpine Way  London E6 6LA

T: 0207 055 6500  F: 020 7055 6600

Key performance indicators
Key performance indicators

Financial KPI

Description/rationale

Performance 2021 

Links to strategic goals

Link to risks

1
NAV growth*

Includes performance of 
portfolio companies  
and capital pool.

•  22% decline in NAV in 

2021

2
Total 
Shareholder 
Return

3
Capital pool

Measures performance 
of delivering value to 
shareholders.

•  Share price decreased 
from 219p to 122p in 
2021

•  TSR decrease of 44%

•  £134m of cash and 
cash equivalents

Maintain sufficient 
capital to support 
growth of portfolio 
companies and 
take advantage of 
new investment 
opportunities.

1

32

4

5

6

1

32

4

5

6

1

32

4

5

6

DISCOVER high impact 
innovation in areas of unmet 
need, with the potential 
to deliver transformative 
treatments to patients

DEVELOP and build the 
value of these companies 
through hands-on support

DELIVER attractive returns 
to shareholders

DELIVER attractive returns 
to shareholders

DISCOVER high impact 
innovation in areas of unmet 
need, with the potential 
to deliver transformative 
treatments to patients

DEVELOP and build the 
value of these companies 
through hands-on support

DELIVER attractive returns 
to shareholders

Non-financial KPI Description/rationale

Performance 2021

Links to strategic goals

Link to risks

4
Robust and 
active clinical 
pipeline*

Measures number of 
clinical trials across 
the portfolio, with 
the potential to 
deliver important new 
treatments to patients.

5
Diverse 
and broad 
portfolio*

KEY

Measures Arix’s 
commitment to invest in 
the best opportunities 
worldwide, across 
different stages of 
development and 
therapeutic areas.

1  Clinical trial risks

2  Unlisted investments

3  Taxation

•  22 clinical programmes DISCOVER high impact 

1 6

innovation in areas of unmet 
need, with the potential 
to deliver transformative 
treatments to patients

DEVELOP and build the 
value of these companies 
through hands-on support

DISCOVER high impact 
innovation in areas of unmet 
need, with the potential 
to deliver transformative 
treatments to patients

1

2

4

6

•  13 companies in Arix’s 

core portfolio

4  Personnel

5  Macroeconomic conditions

6  Legislation and Regulation

* Alternative Performance Measure , as defined by the Financial Reporting Council

17

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationPortfolio review

At year end, our portfolio companies 
were collectively running 22 clinical trials 
and conducting 19 pre-clinical studies, 
providing Arix with multiple shots on goal 
for value creation.
In aggregate, our portfolio companies raised $776m during 
the period, putting them in a strong position to execute on 
their important clinical development programmes. Overall, 
the portfolio made good progress in 2021, with several 
companies reaching important clinical milestones and 
completing additional financing rounds, as detailed below. 

Operationally, there was continued progress across the 
portfolio. Notably, our portfolio company, Artios Pharma, 
transitioned from a preclinical to a clinical-stage company, 
advancing its two lead programmes into clinical trials. 
Both ART4215, a Poltheta Inhibitor, and ART0380, an 
ATR inhibitor, are now dosed in patients. The successful 
transition of two independent programmes into the clinic 
in 2021 consolidated Artios’ position as a leading DNA 
damage response (DDR) company with first-in-class 
treatments for cancer. To support the further development 
of its pipeline, Artios completed a Series C financing of 
$153 million, following strong interest from leading global 
healthcare investors. Arix participated in the Series C 
and retained its position as the largest shareholder in 
Artios. Importantly, Artios announced a collaboration with 
Novartis worth up to $1.3bn to create next generation 
DDR cancer therapies. As one of the top forces in oncology 
drug development globally, Novartis makes the perfect 
partner to maximise the potential impact of Artios’ DDR 
discovery platform to advance development of proprietary 
radioligand therapies for the benefit of patients. 

Aura Biosciences presented final Phase 2 data of its lead 
asset, AU-011, in choroidal melanoma, demonstrating good 
safety and significant clinical benefit in patients. To further 
advance clinical development Aura closed an oversubscribed 
$80m financing, with participation from Arix, in March 
2021 and later priced its Nasdaq IPO for gross proceeds of 
$75.6m. Aura is now well set up for advancing its asset into 
pivotal studies in cancer patients. Aura marked the seventh 
IPO from our portfolio since inception, demonstrating the 
high calibre of our portfolio companies which are able to 
attract funding on public markets. 

An additional portfolio company to note is LogicBio 
Therapeutics, which announced early clinical trial results 
towards the end of the year demonstrating first-ever in 
vivo gene editing in children. Subsequently, the FDA placed 
the trial on clinical hold, pausing development. LogicBio is 
engaging with the FDA to determine next steps for the trial 
and programme. 

Harpoon Therapeutics announced post year end that it 
would discontinue work on its lead drug in prostate cancer. 
Whilst this was disappointing news, Harpoon continues to 
advance its pipeline of T-cell engagers in other indications 
and had a strong cash position of $136 million at the end of 
2021. Encouraging interim data was released on Harpoon’s 
small cell lung cancer and multiple myeloma trials in 2021, 
with further readouts expected in 2022. 

2021 saw the second M&A activity in our portfolio when 
Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, a privately held company 
dedicated to the development of therapies for debilitating 
and life-threatening diseases that affect people with 
compromised immune systems, was acquired by Pfizer 
Inc. The acquisition of Amplyx followed an initial equity 
investment by Pfizer in December 2019 as part of Amplyx’s 
Series C financing. Given Pfizer’s deep heritage in infectious 
diseases, this Big Pharma company provided the ideal 
acquirer for Amplyx’s clinical-stage asset. 

During the period we invested £59.2 million into the gross 
portfolio, including the second tranche of investment in 
Twelve Bio, which has made good progress throughout 
2021 advancing its novel gene editing platform based on 
pioneering work into CRISPR-Cas12a technology. Arix is 
the sole venture capital investor in the company, with a 
49% ownership stake. In addition, we co-led the $31m 
Series A financing for the new portfolio company Sorriso 
Pharmaceuticals, which is led by Ciara Kennedy, former 
CEO of Amplyx Pharmaceuticals. Sorriso is advancing a 
pipeline of disease-modifying antibodies for the treatment 
of inflammatory diseases with high unmet medical need, 
including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Series A 
proceeds will be used to advance the lead asset, a bispecific 
antibody inhibiting two clinically validated disease drivers, 
into clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease. We 
also participated in the $90m Series B financing for Disc 
Medicine. Here we joined a syndicate of leading global 
biotech investors and Mark Chin now sits on Disc Medicine’s 
Board of Directors to help advance the company’s clinical 
programmes across multiple hematologic diseases. 
The third new transatlantic investment featured Pyxis 
Oncology, where we led the $152 million Series B financing 
to advance Pyxis’ differentiated antibody-drug conjugate 
(ADC) and immune oncology programmes to next value 
inflection points. Subsequently, Pyxis priced its Nasdaq 
IPO for gross proceeds of $167.2m. Additional financing 
events in the portfolio included a €30.6m Series A raised by 
Depixus and a financing of up to $250m from Blackstone 
Life Sciences into Autolus Therapeutics to develop obe-cel 
in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia and advance the 
broader platform. 

The year ahead will be significant for a number of our 
portfolio companies as they reach important clinical and 
development milestones throughout 2022. Our portfolio 
companies are collectively running 22 clinical trials, a 

18

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021number of which are expected to read out over the next 12 
months with the potential for value inflection if the results 
are positive. There is already significant value in these 
companies and with multiple clinical milestones expected 
over the next 12-18 months, we see significant growth 
potential across this portfolio in the near term. 

In addition to clinical milestones, there is potential for M&A, 
strategic partnerships and other financing events across 
the portfolio which could significantly increase the value of 
our companies, and in turn our NAV.

We continue to see a strong pipeline of new investment 
opportunities and are currently in late-stage diligence on 
several new investment opportunities.

Key achievements in 2021

$776m
raised by portfolio companies in the year

22
clinical trials across the portfolio at year end

3
new additions to the portfolio

2
IPOs by portfolio companies on Nasdaq

1
portfolio company acquisition by Big Pharma

19

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationBroad and rich clinical pipeline

Across our portfolio at year-end we have 22 studies in the clinic, focusing on areas of high unmet medical need.

Company

Programme

Indication

Clinical Stage

Gensight†

LUMEVOQ® LHON ND4 (EU)

Atox Bio

Reltecimod NSTI (US)

Gensight†

LUMEVOQ® LHON ND4 (US)

Imara‡

Imara‡

Imara‡

Aura 

Aura 

Autolus†

Harpoon‡

Harpoon‡

Harpoon‡

Harpoon‡

Autolus†

Autolus†

Autolus†

IMR-687

IMR-687

IMR-687

AU-011

AU-011

AUTO1 
(Obe-cel) 

HPN424

HPN536

HPN217

Sickle cell disease

TDT ß-thalassemia^

NTDT ß-thalassemia^^

Choroidal melanoma (IVT*)

Choroidal melanoma (SC**)

Adult ALL+

Prostate cancer

Ovarian and pancreatic cancer

Multiple myeloma

HPN328

Small cell lung cancer

AUTO1  
(Obe-cel)

AUTO1  
(Obe-cel)

B-NHL++ & CLL+++

PCNSL

AUTO1/22

Paediatric ALL

Autolus†

AUTO4

Peripheral T Cell 
lymphoma

Artios

ART0380

Advanced or metastatic solid 
tumours

LogicBio

LB-001

Methylmalonic acidemia

Gensight†

GS030

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Artios

ART4215

PARP resistant cancers

Disc Medicine DISC-0974 Healthy volunteer study

Registration

Registration

Phase 3

Phase 2

Phase 2

Phase 2

Phase 2

Phase 2

Phase 2

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Phase 1

Expected next  
steps in 2022

Potential 
EU approval 

Company wind down

BLA submission 

Select pivotal study design

Phase 2 data

Phase 1 and  
Phase 2 data

Phase 1/2 data

Phase 1/2 data 

Phase 1/2 data 

Phase 1 data

Phase 1 data

Phase 1 data

Interim Phase 1 data 

Interim Phase 1 data

Interim Phase 1/2 data

Recruitment  
completion

Interim Phase 1 data

Phase 1 data 

Multiple undisclosed preclinical programmes
Preclinical – At this stage, the focus is on researching the feasibility and safety of a treatment before commencing clinical trials.

Phase 1 – This is the first time a product is tested in humans. The focus at this stage is testing the side effects and safety.

Phase 2 – Phase 2 involves further trials testing the efficacy and safety and different dosing levels.

Phase 3 – This is the final stage of testing before registration. Phase 3 trials focus on testing the effectiveness of the new 
product compared to existing treatments or to a placebo.

* 
Intravitreal
**  Suprachoroidal
^  Transfusion dependent thalassemia

^^  Non-transfusion dependent thalassemia
+  Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia 
†  Exited post year end 

++  B cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
+++ Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia 
‡  Discontinued post year end

20

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Core portfolio

Artios Pharma
Artios is a leading independent DNA Damage Response 
(DDR) company with a strong pipeline of novel cancer 
therapies in development with first-in-class potential.

Aura Biosciences (NASDAQ: AURA)
Aura is a biopharmaceutical company developing a new 
class of oncology therapies based on the combination of a 
viral like particle with high affinity to tumour cells coupled 
to a laser-activatable dye.

Therapeutic area: Oncology

Holding value: £24.9m

Original cost: £20.2m

% of Gross Portfolio: 21.1%

Outstanding commitment: £nil

Phase

1

Therapeutic area: Oncology

Holding value: £20.0m

Realised to date: £1.5m

Original cost: £11.5m

% of Gross Portfolio: 16.9%

Phase

2

Aura’s drug binds to malignant tumour cells with high 
specificity and once the dye is activated by a short laser 
treatment there is an acute tumour cell necrosis. AU-11, 
Aura’s lead asset, is being developed for the first line 
treatment of indeterminate lesions and small choroidal 
melanoma, a life and vision threatening and rare disease 
with no approved therapies besides radiation.

During the period, Aura presented final Phase 1b/2 data 
with intravitreal administration. Overall encouraging 
data demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in 
tumour growth rate and a high visual acuity preservation 
rate, which is superior to the current standard of care with 
radiotherapy. In addition, Aura announced interim Phase 2 
safety data with suprachoroidal administration. Preliminary 
results demonstrated a favourable safety and tolerability 
profile for AU-011 with suprachoroidal administration. 
The company plans to present 6-12mo safety and efficacy 
data from this trial in 2022 and select the route of 
administration as well as treatment regimen to initiate the 
pivotal programme in the second half of 2022. 

Notably, Aura raised an oversubscribed $80m financing in 
March 2021, with participation from Arix, and the company 
priced its Nasdaq IPO for gross proceeds of $75.6M later 
in the year. Moreover, Aura announced the appointment 
of David Johnson, former CEO of Arix’s portfolio company 
VelosBio, as Chairman of the Board to further strengthen 
the excellent leadership at Aura. 

The year of 2021 was a transformational year for Artios 
as it advanced two programmes into clinical trials. Artios 
has continued to advance its world-leading DNA damage 
response (DDR) programmes, announcing the start of 
its first clinical trial of the small molecule ATR inhibitor, 
ART0380, in patients with advanced or metastatic solid 
tumours in February 2021. In September 2021, Artios 
initiated a Phase 1/2a study evaluating its Pol0 inhibitor, 
ART4215, in patients with advanced or metastatic solid 
tumors. Interim safety and efficacy data are expected 
from ART0380 in 2022. The successful transition of 
two independent programmes into the clinic in 2021 
consolidated Artios’ position as a leading DDR company 
with first-in-class treatments for cancer. 

To further support the development of its pipeline, Artios 
completed a Series C financing of $153 million, following 
strong interest from leading global healthcare investors. Arix 
participated in the Series C and retained its position as the 
largest shareholder in Artios. Importantly, Artios announced 
a collaboration with Novartis worth up to $1.3bn to create 
next generation DDR cancer therapies. As one of the top 
forces in oncology drug development globally, Novartis 
makes the perfect partner to maximise the potential impact 
of Artios’ DDR discovery platform to advance development 
of proprietary radioligand therapies for the benefit of 
patients. The Novartis deal marked the second industry 
partnership after the strategic collaboration with Merck 
KGaA, which highlights the strategic interest in DDR, and 
more specifically Artios, by Big Pharma.

Artios further expanded its US leadership team with the 
appointment of Abid Ansari as Chief Financial Officer in 
January 2021. Abid has 18 years of finance experience 
in life science businesses and brings a variety of US 
financial experience to Artios, including a background with 
global public companies in corporate finance, business 
development, licensing, and investor relations. 

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O

ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC

21

Job No: 46255

Customer: Arix Bioscience

Proof Event: 1

Project Title: Annual Report

Black Line Level: 0

Park Communications Ltd  Alpine Way  London E6 6LA

T: 0207 055 6500  F: 020 7055 6600

 
 
 
 
Core portfolio continued

Pyxis Oncology (NASDAQ: PYXS)
Pyxis Oncology is building a differentiated portfolio 
of biologics, including antibody-drug conjugates and 
immunotherapies, to improve the lives of patients with 
difficult-to-treat cancers. 

Therapeutic area: Oncology

Holding value: £14.1m

Original cost: £14.5m

% of Gross Portfolio: 11.9%

Outstanding commitment: £nil

Operationally, Pyxis has added seasoned industry 
executives to its senior management team and board. 
Pyxis appointed Jay Feingold as Chief Medical Officer. Jay 
holds 20 years of experience in clinical development and 
medical affairs with a history of successfully bringing new 
hematology and oncology drugs to market. Most recently, 
Jay served as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice 
President of ADC Therapeutics, where he led the clinical 
development of six ADCs for hematologic malignancies 
and solid tumors. His ADC expertise will be integral as 
Pyxis drives its ADC programmes towards human trials. In 
addition, Freda Lewis-Hall joined Pyxis’ Board of Directors. 
Freda has held numerous senior executive roles in the 
biopharmaceuticals industry during her 40-year career, 
most recently as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice 
President at Pfizer, Inc. 

Following a review by the Board, the position was exited 
post year end.

Harpoon Therapeutics (NASDAQ: HARP) 
Harpoon is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company 
developing a novel class of T cell engagers that harness 
the power of the body’s immune system to treat patients 
suffering from cancer and other diseases.

Phase

1

Therapeutic area: Oncology

Holding value: £12.2m

Realised to date: £12.5m

Original cost: £20.5m

% of Gross Portfolio: 10.3%

Following a thorough review of clinical data to date, 
Harpoon decided in March 2022 to discontinue the HPN424 
dose escalation study. Albeit HPN424 discontinuation, the 

22

company continues to make good clinical progress with its 
TriTAC® T cell engager pipeline. Dose escalation continues 
across three programmes and additional clinical data 
is expected to read out across 2022. Furthermore, the 
company has advanced development of HPN217, a BCMA-
targeted T cell engager, for the treatment of multiple 
myeloma. Harpoon received Fast Track designation for 
HPN217 in relapsed, refractory myeloma. Positive interim 
data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial reported clinical 
activity at higher dose levels. More specifically, a small dose 
cohort achieved 63% overall response rate and 88% disease 
control rate with manageable safety.

In addition, Harpoon obtained interim Phase 1/2 data 
from its trial with HPN328, a DLL3-targeted T cell 
engager. Notably, 3 out of 4 patients with small cell lung 
cancer experienced target lesion reduction at high doses. 
Preliminary efficacy and safety data of HPN328 look 
promising, which provides an encouraging outlook as dose 
escalation continues into 2022. Harpoon announced Orphan 
Drug designation for HPN328 in small cell lung cancer.

Disc Medicine
Disc Medicine is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company 
that is dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with 
hematologic disorders. 

Phase

1

Therapeutic area: Hematology

Holding value: £8.1m

Original cost: £8.0m

% of Gross Portfolio: 6.9%

Outstanding commitment: £nil

In September 2021, Arix participated in the $90m Series 
B financing for Disc Medicine, a clinical stage hematology 
company. Arix joined a financing round led by OrbiMed and 
the syndicate comprised top tier global biotech investors. 
Series B proceeds will enable Disc Medicine to advance 
multiple programmes in Disc’s hematology pipeline into 
Phase 2 development. Based in Boston, MA, Disc Medicine 
is building a unique portfolio of innovative, first-in-class 
therapeutic candidates based on fundamental pathways 
of red blood cell biology. Disc is committed to building a 
brighter future for patients who suffer from hematologic 
disease, ranging from severe orphan conditions to widely 
prevalent diseases.

During the period, Disc Medicine expanded its pipeline with 
a worldwide licensing agreement for bitopertin, a first-in-
class modulator of heme synthesis, which was previously 
developed by Roche for non-hematologic indications. The 
clinical-stage programme for bitopertin is ready to enter 

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021a Phase 2 trial in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), 
a rare metabolic disorder, in 2022. Interim Phase 2 data 
will be announced by the end of 2022. In addition, Disc 
announced the initiation of the first-in-human Phase 1 
study in healthy volunteers for DISC-0974, a first-in-class 
inhibitor of hemojuvelin (HJV). HJV is a novel, genetically 
validated target for modulating iron metabolism and red 
blood cell formation. DISC-0974 is being advanced through 
clinical development as a potential treatment for anemia 
of inflammation. Following confirmation of favourable 
tolerability in the ongoing Phase 1, the company will initiate 
Phase 1b/2a clinical trials in anemia of myelofibrosis and 
other anemias in 2022. 

Depixus
Depixus is developing technology for the fast, accurate, 
and inexpensive extraction of genetic and epigenetic 
information from single molecules of DNA and RNA.

Therapeutic area: Genetic diseases

Holding value: £7.8m

Original cost: £4.6m

% of Gross Portfolio: 6.6%

Outstanding commitment: £nil

Depixus has had a productive year as it closed its €30.6m 
(£26.1m) Series A financing in late 2021. The financing was 
supported by a global investor syndicate, led by Lansdowne 
Partners and Bpifrance, with participation from Arix. 
The financing will support development of a commercial 
instrument system based on Depixus’ proprietary MAGNA™ 
technology, which is being developed to decode valuable 
new layers of genetic information from DNA, RNA and 
protein. In early 2021, Depixus announced the publication 
of a scientific paper showcasing the MAGNA™ capabilities 
in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Biology, part 
of Nature Research journals. The overall concept of the 
company’s technology is very strong and over the next 12-18 
months Depixus expects to reach significant milestones, 
including proof of concept on a functional prototype. 

Sorriso Pharmaceuticals
Sorriso is a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline 
of disease-modifying antibodies for the treatment of 
inflammatory diseases, including Crohn’s disease and 
ulcerative colitis.

Therapeutic area: Immunology

Holding value: £5.9m

Original cost: £6.0m

% of Gross Portfolio: 5.0%

Outstanding commitment: £3.7m

Arix co-led a Series A financing in new portfolio company, 
Sorriso Pharmaceuticals, alongside New Enterprise 
Associates, Inc. As part of the financing, Arix has 
committed $13 million (£9.8 million) for a 26% stake on a 
fully diluted basis. The Sorriso platform generates potent 
antibodies that can be delivered orally and are designed to 
maintain activity throughout the intestinal system. The lead 
programme, SOR102, is being developed for the treatment 
of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an area of high unmet 
medical need. SOR102 simultaneously inhibits TNFa and 
IL-23, two clinically validated drivers of IBD. This unique 
approach combines the strong clinical impact of antibody 
therapeutics with the benefits of oral administration, 
resulting in targeted activity, negligible systemic exposure 
and minimal immunogenicity.

Sorriso is led by Ciara Kennedy, former CEO of Amplyx 
Pharmaceuticals, a former portfolio company of Arix 
until its acquisition by Pfizer in April 2021. The Series A 
financing will enable Sorriso to advance SOR102 into early 
clinical trials and advance its early-stage pipeline through 
preclinical development.

23

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationCore portfolio continued

LogicBio Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LOGC)
LogicBio Therapeutics is a genome editing company, 
dedicated to extending the reach of genetic medicine with 
pioneering targeted delivery platforms.

Imara (NASDAQ: IMRA) 
Imara is developing IMR-687 for the chronic treatment of 
sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassemia.

Therapeutic area: Genetic diseases

Phase

Therapeutic area: Genetic diseases

Holding value: £4.9m

Realised to date: £3.8m

Original cost: £13.3m

% of Gross Portfolio: 4.1%

1

Holding value: £3.9m

Realised to date: £7.3m

Original cost: £19.6m

% of Gross Portfolio: 3.3%

Phase

2

LogicBio previously announced that the FDA cleared 
its IND application for LB-001 for the treatment of 
methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) in paediatric patients. This 
was an important step forward for LogicBio, enabling the 
company to move LB-001 towards clinical development. 
The SUNRISE study is a multi-centre, open-label, Phase 1/2 
clinical trial designed to assess the safety and tolerability 
of a single intravenous infusion of LB-001 in paediatric 
patients with MMA characterised by methylmalonyl-CoA 
mutase gene (MMUT) mutations.

During the period, LogicBio announced clinical trial results 
demonstrating the first-ever in vivo genome editing in 
children. Early data from the company’s Phase 1/2 SUNRISE 
clinical trial in paediatric patients with MMA showed 
measurable levels of albumin-2A, a technology-related 
biomarker indicating site-specific gene insertion and protein 
expression. After the year end, LogicBio reported that it 
had received a notice from the FDA that its trial would 
be placed on clinical hold following a second drug-related 
serious adverse event. LogicBio is engaging with the FDA 
and the data safety monitoring board to determine the 
next steps for the trial and programme. 

The company has continued clinical development of 
its non-brain penetrant PDE9 inhibitor in SCD and 
beta-thalassemia. In January 2021, Imara reported 
topline results from its Phase 2a clinical trial of IMR-687 
(tovinontrine) in adult patients with SCD. The data from 
this completed clinical trial demonstrated that IMR-687 
was well tolerated as a monotherapy and in combination 
with hydroxyurea, the current standard of care. As part 
of the safety analysis, promising reductions in the rate of 
vaso-occlusive crises/sickle cell-related pain crises, were 
observed in certain IMR-687 monotherapy-treated patients 
versus placebo and this will be the primary endpoint for 
approval based on agreement with the FDA. In April 2022 
Imara announced interim analyses of tovinontrine Phase 
2b clinical trials in sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. 
Interim results for sickle cell disease showed no significant 
difference in median annualised rate of vaso-occlusive 
crises between the tovinontrine-treated and placebo group. 
Besides, interim results for beta-thalassemia showed no 
significant benefit in transfusion burden or improvement in 
disease-related biomarkers. Imara decided to discontinue 
both Phase 2b clinical trials and terminate any further 
development of tovinontrine in sickle cell disease and 
beta-thalassemia. 

The company plans to initiate a new Phase 2 trial of IMR-687 
in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) 
in 2022. The company is also exploring potential clinical 
development paths for IMR-261, an activator of nuclear 
factor erythroid 2–related factor 2, which it added to its 
pipeline in November 2021.

24

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Twelve Bio
Twelve Bio is developing a gene editing platform based 
on CRISPR-Cas12a variants for the treatment of genetic 
diseases with high unmet medical need. 

STipe Therapeutics
STipe is developing first-in-class drugs that sensitize the 
STING pathway, a major driver of innate immunity, to 
enable a patient’s immune system to overcome the immune 
suppression often observed within solid tumours.

Therapeutic area: Genetic diseases

Holding value: £3.8m

Original cost: £3.5m

% of Gross Portfolio: 3.2%

Outstanding commitment: £nil

Since the completion of the seed investment in Twelve Bio 
in September 2020, the company has made continuous 
progress to advance its CRISPR-Cas12a toolbox and build 
out the team. 

Gita Dittmar is now Executive Chair. Gita is a seasoned 
biotech executive with more than 20 years of experience 
in strategy and operations. She has worked with both 
established biopharmaceutical companies and start-
ups, holding roles of increasing responsibility in business 
and corporate development and as CEO. Under Gita’s 
leadership, Twelve Bio is well positioned to continue to 
mature and hit important development milestones. 

Twelve Bio is developing novel gene editing tools based on 
deep understanding of the structure of naturally occurring 
proteins, more specifically Cas12 enzymes, that bind and 
cut DNA. During the period, Twelve Bio has designed 
proprietary Cas12 variants and potential lead variants are 
currently subjected to in-depth characterisation. The gene 
editing space continues to be highly attractive both for 
small and large biotech. We continue to be excited about 
Twelve Bio following its good progress during 2021. 

Therapeutic area: Oncology

Holding value: £2.9m

Original cost: £3.0m

% of Gross Portfolio: 2.5%

Outstanding commitment: £1.9m

STipe has a differentiated approach from other 
programmes targeting the STING pathway since it does 
not rely on direct overstimulation and therefore has the 
potential to be a systemically delivered therapy with 
broader applications.

STipe has made good progress over the past year 
continuing to characterise compounds that sensitise 
the STING pathway in a variety of preclinical models. 
This resulted in the company nominating a development 
candidate for its lead asset in late 2021. As STipe now 
prepares for IND-enabling studies the company has 
successfully transitioned from a drug discovery to a 
preclinical stage. We remain excited about the potential of 
this differentiated approach to deliver important medicines 
to patients with a broad range of solid tumours. 

25

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationCore portfolio continued

Autolus (NASDAQ: AUTL)
Autolus is developing next-generation programmed T cell 
therapies for the treatment of cancer.

Phase

1/2

Therapeutic area: Oncology

Holding value: £1.9m

Realised to date: £14.2m

Original cost: £24.6m

% of Gross Portfolio: 1.6%

Autolus continued to make good progress on the clinical 
evaluation of obe-cel in the Phase 2 portion of the FELIX 
study and remains on track to deliver primary endpoint 
data by mid-2022. Notably, response rates and safety 
data from patients in the multi-center Phase 1b cohort 
were consistent with data reported from the academic 
ALLCAR19 study of obe-cel in relapsed/refractory adult 
B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). 

The latest ALLCAR19 extension data of obe-cel in relapsed/
refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (B-NHL) and 
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) were presented 
by the company in late 2021. This cohort comprised 15 r/r 
B-NHL and 1 B-CLL patient, who had received obe-cel 
with 14 patients evaluable for response. Encouraging data 
demonstrated that 14 of 14 patients responded to obe-cel, 
of which 13 of 14 patients achieved complete metabolic 
responses and 15 of 16 patients were without disease 
progression at the last follow-up. Importantly, Autolus’ 
treatment demonstrated a favourable safety profile. 

The AUTO4 Phase 1 clinical trial in peripheral T cell 
lymphoma is progressing through dose escalation and 
Autolus expects to provide its next data update from the 
trial in the first half of 2022.

In addition, Autolus announced its entry into an agreement 
with Moderna, Inc., granting Moderna an exclusive license 
to develop and commercialize mRNA-based therapeutics 
incorporating Autolus’ proprietary binders for up to four 
immuno-oncology targets. 

Autolus entered into a strategic collaboration and financing 
agreement under which Blackstone Life Sciences will 
provide up to $250 million in equity and product financing 
to support Autolus’ advancement of obe-cel, as well as 
next generation product therapies of obe-cel in B-cell 
malignancies. 

Following a review by the Board, the position was exited 
post year end. 

26

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Financial review
Year ended 31 December 2021

The Group has seen a reduction in net asset value 
(NAV) due to the pressure on public market prices 
throughout the year. However, cash reserves remain 
strong and the portfolio decline has been largely 
driven by a negative movement in the value of public 
companies held. 

Nikki Edgar 
Head of Finance

2021 was another year of transition 
for Arix, as the business continued to 
adopt a leaner structure, with a cost 
base appropriately proportioned to the 
business. The Group has significant cash 
reserves representing 53% of net asset 
value (NAV), and is well positioned to 
take advantage of funding opportunities 
both within the current portfolio and the 
strong new deal pipeline.

Portfolio revaluations
The value of Gross Portfolio, including investments and 
realisations in the year, reduced by £33.8 million to £118.2 
million predominantly as a result of downward movement 
in the public assets. Decreases at Harpoon (£14.1 million), 
and Imara (£20.1 million) were partially offset by a positive 
movement at Aura (£9.1 million).

In the private portfolio, a downward movement was seen 
from the wind down of Quench Bio (£7.2 million). Atox Bio 
(£5.9 million) was written down in the year and is shown 
as an impairment of investment in the Consolidated 
Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Portfolio realisations
The public nature of a number of Arix’s investments 
provides opportunities to realise proceeds based upon 
a risk–based appraisal of individual investments, an 
assessment which is constantly shifting with the inevitable 
volatility that accompanies publicly traded early–stage 
biotech investments. This resulted in Arix exiting its 
holding in Autolus, generating $19.6 million (£14.2 million). 
Realisations of $5.5 million (£4.0 million) from Imara and 
EUR 6.7 million (£6.2 million) from Gensight were also made 
during the year.

2021 highlights

Net Asset Value (NAV) 
£255m
2020: £328m
Read more on our NAV growth, TSR and capital pool KPIs on page 17

Portfolio investment
Arix continued to see positive progress from its portfolio 
during the year, with further investment across several 
companies. 

Arix participated in the $80 million financing by Aura in 
March 2021 prior to its listing on the Nasdaq later in the 
year. 

At year end, NAV totalled £255.4 million, a decrease of 
£72.9 million, or 22%, compared to 2020’s £328.2 million. 
The loss for the year was £61.1 million (2020: profit of 
£126.3 million), while cash decreased by 23% to £134.2 
million (2020: £174.4 million), following net investments 
made of £20.1 million, and the repurchase of shares under 
the buyback programme of £11.6 million.

As a business we have continued to monitor the Covid–19 
pandemic throughout the year, but the steps previously 
taken in 2020 to close our offices and move to remote 
working ensured that we were able to adapt accordingly. 
Most of the businesses in the Arix portfolio are well funded, 
and they raised an additional $776 million during the year, 
putting them in a strong position to execute on their clinical 
development programmes.

Although the public companies within the portfolio have 
seen tough conditions, we go into 2022 with good progress 
made on the portfolio and look ahead to a number of 
clinical trials due for read out within the next 12 months.

Artios completed a Series C financing of $153 million and 
Arix participated, retaining its position as the largest 
shareholder.

There were three additions to the Arix portfolio in the year.

In March 2021, Arix led the $152 million Series B financing 
for Pyxis Oncology, a preclinical oncology company.

In September 2021 Arix participated in the $90 million 
Series B financing for Disc Medicine, a clinical stage 
hematology company. 

Arix co–led a Series A financing in Sorriso Pharmaceuticals, 
and has committed $13 million (£9.7 million) for a 26% 
stake.

Foreign exchange
The GBP/USD exchange rate stayed fairly range bound 
during 2021. Starting at $1.36 it peaked at $1.42 in May 
2021, before dropping back to $1.35 by the year end. This 
resulted in a small net negative impact of £1.5 million on 
portfolio valuations with the majority of Arix’s investments 

27

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationFinancial review continued
Year ended 31 December 2021

being denominated in US dollars.

Arix continues to expect that the majority of future 
investment cash flows, both in and out, will be in US dollars 
and as such, does not consider hedging strategies to be 
appropriate, particularly given the uncertainty over the 
quantum and timing of these movements.

Cash and deposits
With a cash balance of £134.2 million at 31 December 
2021, Arix has a very strong capital pool to support both 
the current portfolio and new biotech opportunities. 
During the year, the Company paid £11.6 million in relation 
to the repurchase of its own shares under the buyback 
programme. The prior year cash balance of £174.4 million 
at 31 December 2020 had been swelled by the realisation 
of VelosBio during 2020. At year–end, £5.6 million was 
committed to existing portfolio companies.

Counterparty risk is managed by holding cash across 
financial institutions, all of which have a credit rating of 
at least F1, according to Fitch ratings. Returns on cash 
have been historically low but Arix continues to target 
yield where possible, weighed against the anticipated 
timing and quantum of the needs of the portfolio. The 
Company’s Treasury Policy is overseen by the Audit and Risk 
Committee.

Net operating costs
Following management changes in April 2020, Arix pledged 
to reduce net operating costs (revenue and finance income 
less administrative expenses excluding depreciation 
and amortisation) to a run rate of below £5.0 million in 
2021 (compared to £8.0 million in 2019). Targeted cost 
reductions were made during 2020 and 2021.

During 2021, exceptional charges of £1.49 million were 
incurred relating to shareholder engagement and 
restructuring costs. Excluding this amount, the net 
operating costs for the year were £5.1 million, representing 
2.0% of NAV at year end, compared to 2.1% in 2020, and 
4.0% in 2019.

This reflects headcount reductions and the reduced office 
spend following our move from the Berkeley Square office 
in April 2021. The new premises in the West End, on which 
we negotiated competitive terms, has significantly reduced 
our property spend.

Finance income of £0.16 million was generated in the year 
reflecting the continuing low interest rate environment 
across the globe.

Fund management fee income of £0.3 million, received 
from managing The Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund, 
continues to reduce in line with expectation.

28

Other deductions relate to a foreign exchange loss (£1.4 
million) arising predominantly on cash held in currencies 
other than sterling. The share–based payment was a credit 
in the year (£0.3 million).

Based on the current business, 2022 run–rate net operating 
costs have been reduced to below £4.5 million. This 
represents 1.8% of December 2021 NAV. Going forward, 
we will seek to maintain run rate costs to within 2% of NAV 
under normal market conditions.

Taxation
As a UK operating group, Arix is subject to UK corporation 
tax on the majority of its activities, which can include 
the gains arising on investments. However, wherever 
possible we aim to take advantage of the UK’s Substantial 
Shareholding Exemption (SSE), which exempts taxable 
gains or losses arising from the disposal of shares, where 
certain conditions are met. This is a nuanced exemption and 
is always dependent on individual investment fact patterns. 

Where investment gains are unrealised and are not 
expected to qualify for SSE, the anticipated tax due based 
on the current valuation of the underlying investment is 
reflected in a deferred tax balance.

These factors, combined with the ability to utilise certain 
brought forward losses, reduce the Group’s tax expense in 
any given year. The tax expense for 2021 was £nil (2020: 
£nil).

Valuation policy
Arix’s investments are valued in accordance with 
International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation 
Guidelines December 2018 (IPEV Guidelines). Listed 
investments are marked–to–market at the period end. 
Unlisted investments are valued with reference to the 
most recent funding round; milestones; or by discounted 
cash flow. The Group uses valuation techniques that 
management consider appropriate in the circumstances 
and for which sufficient data are available to measure fair 
value, maximising the use of relevant observable inputs 
and minimising the use of unobservable inputs taking 
into account any discounts required for non-marketability 
and other risks inherent in early-stage businesses. 
Further information is available in Note 2 to the financial 
statements on page 90.

Post Year End
In February 2022, the decision was taken to wind down 
Atox Bio Inc, after the company had received a final decision 
from the FDA denying the resubmission of an NDA without 
a new clinical trial for its NSTI programme. For further 
detail on events after the reporting date, please see note 24 
of the financial statements.

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Investment 
in period
£m

Realisations 
in period
£m

Impairment 
in period
£m

Change in 
valuation
£m

FX 
movement
£m

Value 
31 Dec 
2021 
£m

Fully 
diluted* 
equity 
interest
%

Committed, 
not  
invested
£m

Fully 
funded
 %

Investment summary

Investment

Core portfolio 

Listed on NASDAQ

Aura

Pyxis Oncology

Harpoon

LogicBio

Imara

Autolus

Unlisted

Artios

Disc Medicine

Depixus

Sorriso

Twelve Bio

STipe

Amplyx

VelosBio

AtoxBio

Quench

Other public 
market 
investments

GenSight 
(Euronext Paris)

Legacy assets

Value 
1 Jan 
2021
£m

8.8

–

26.9

16.1

22.2

21.9

19.0

–

4.2

–

1.4

2.0

4.7

2.2

5.9

8.0

7.1

1.6

Gross Portfolio

152.0

Other interests

2.4

3.6

14.5

1.1

0.5

5.8

–

6.3

8.0

2.4

6.0

2.2

1.0

–

–

–

–

(1.5)

–

(1.7)

(0.2)

(4.0)

(14.2)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(5.3)

(2.5)

–

(0.8)

7.4

(6.2)

0.4

59.2

–

(2.7)

(39.1)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(5.9)

–

–

–

8.8

(0.8)

(13.9)

(11.5)

(20.1)

(5.5)

(0.4)

–

1.6

–

0.4

0.1

1.9

0.4

–

(7.1)

0.3

0.4

(0.2)

–

–

(0.3)

–

0.1

(0.4)

(0.1)

(0.2)

(0.2)

(0.1)

(0.1)

–

(0.1)

20.0

14.1

12.2

4.9

3.9

1.9

24.9

8.1

7.8

5.9

3.8

2.9

1.2

–

–

–

5.5%

5.3%

6.7%

8.9%

8.9%

0.7%

8.8%

4.2%

21.4%

26.0%

49.0%

17.8%

–

–

6.4%

–

(1.4)

(0.6)

6.3

2.9%

1.0

–

0.3

(5.9)

(46.5)

(1.5)

118.2

–

–

–

2.4

Total investments

154.4

59.2

(39.1)

(5.9)

(46.5)

(1.5)

120.6

*  Fully diluted reflects the shareholding inclusive of unexercised and unvested share options.

5.5%

5.3%

6.7%

8.9%

8.9%

0.7%

8.8%

4.2%

21.4%

26.0%

49.0%

20.0%

–

–

6.4%

–

2.9%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3.7

–

1.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

5.6

–

5.6

29

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationExecutive management
The management team is responsible for identifying, 
assessing and mitigating the day-to-day operational risks. 
Emerging risks are monitored by the management team 
with the support of the Board. These risks are considered 
in the context of the Company’s business and stakeholders. 
Where potentially significant new emerging risks are 
identified, these are reported to the Board for consideration 
and mitigation. No new emerging risks have been identified 
during the period.

Portfolio company boards and independent assurance 
The boards of our portfolio companies are responsible for 
ensuring they meet key commercial objectives, and in this 
they are typically supported by Arix appointee directors.

Independent assurance is provided by industry experts 
when required. For example, external advisers are engaged 
to provide regulatory compliance support to the board of 
Arix Capital Management, Arix Bioscience’s FCA-regulated 
fund management subsidiary.

Risk Management

The Group monitors a number of 
principal risks and uncertainties that 
may impact the business. These include 
financial, non-financial, internal and 
external concerns.
Risk management framework
The Directors are able to manage the business, and 
achieve its strategic objectives, due to an effective risk 
management framework which features multiple layers.

Board
Managing risk is a key responsibility of the Board, which 
sets a strong tone, in line with best practice corporate 
governance.

Key committees
The Audit and Risk Committee oversees the effectiveness 
of the risk management processes.

The Remuneration Committee ensures incentives and 
reward are balanced and appropriate for achieving the 
strategy.

The Nomination Committee addresses the need for 
continuing strength at the senior levels of the Company and 
is responsible for succession planning.

The Strategy & Investment Committee reviews investment 
and divestment proposals for management and 
recommends actions to the Board for approval. It also 
formulates strategy for the Group for ratification by the 
Board.

The Board
Sets the tone for corporate governance

Internal knowledge

Key committees
Three committees oversee the effectiveness; they ensure balance  
and are responsible for succession

Audit & Risk 
Committee

Nomination 
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Strategy & 
Investment 
Committee

External assurance

Executive management

Portfolio company boards and independent assurance

30

ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021

Job No: 46255

Customer: Arix Bioscience

Proof Event: 1

Project Title: Annual Report

Black Line Level: 0

Park Communications Ltd  Alpine Way  London E6 6LA

T: 0207 055 6500  F: 020 7055 6600

Risks and mitigants
The key risks to Arix have been assessed in light of the current environment; these, along with the steps taken by Arix to 
manage such risks, are detailed below. As the UK’s withdrawal from the EU has been finalised, risks to the business relating 
to Brexit have diminished, meaning this is no longer seen as a key risk area. Similarly, the Covid-19 pandemic was an area 
of significant risk for all businesses during 2020 and into 2021. However its impact on Arix and our portfolio companies has 
diminished to such an extent that is it no longer seen as a key risk area going forward. There have been no other changes to 
Arix’s risk profile during the year, although Arix continues to consider and reflect on emerging risks, currently with particular 
regard to cyber security and climate change and their potential impact on the business and its stakeholders.

Area

1

Clinical trial 
risks

Risk

Impact

Mitigation

Arix’s portfolio typically 
comprises companies that are 
engaged in clinical trials.

There is a risk that the trials 
may produce negative or 
inconclusive results.

Negative clinical trial read outs 
may reduce the value of the 
portfolio company, potentially 
to nil. This would therefore 
result in a decrease in Arix’s 
profitability, and reduce Arix’s 
ability to generate positive cash 
flows from future realisations.

Inconclusive read outs may both 
reduce the value of the portfolio 
company, impacting Arix’s 
profitability, and require further 
capital to fund additional trials 
to seek further clarity in the 
results, adversely impacting 
Arix’s cash flow.

Portfolio companies are usually 
not revenue-generating and are 
typically only funded through 
to an anticipated subsequent 
clinical milestone. Negative 
or inconclusive clinical trial 
readouts might impact the 
portfolio company’s ability to 
attract further capital and 
therefore may be unable to 
continue in operation.

Arix has an experienced team 
responsible for identifying and 
developing portfolio companies, 
resulting in a high standard 
of due diligence before the 
commitment of any capital. 
Post‐investment, Arix typically 
has representatives on the 
company’s board of directors, 
ensuring it is fully aware of 
business developments, and 
allowing for mitigation of 
possible issues as they arise.

Arix’s commitments to 
investments are typically 
tranched, such that capital 
is not overly committed to a 
company at a single stage, with 
further funds only invested once 
pre-agreed milestones have 
been reached.

Arix funds a range of portfolio 
companies and continues to 
develop its portfolio across a 
range of therapeutic areas. Its 
diverse portfolio means that 
Arix’s financial performance 
is not overly reliant on any one 
business.

31

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationRisk Management continued

Area

2

Unlisted 
investments

Risk

Impact

Mitigation

Arix’s portfolio comprises 
certain investments which 
are not listed on a recognised 
stock exchange, making them 
both harder to value and more 
difficult to liquidate.

There is a risk that ultimate cash 
proceeds from an investment 
may be significantly below an 
investment’s current fair value.

Arix may be unable to 
realise returns on its unlisted 
investments at prevailing fair 
values. This may result in a 
reduction in the carrying value 
of investments, reducing Arix’s 
profitability.

If investments cannot ultimately 
be realised, this will reduce Arix’s 
ability to generate positive 
cash flows and reduce Arix’s 
ability to continue to fund new 
investment opportunities.

3

Taxation

Arix aims to generate significant 
gains on its investments, which 
can result in potentially large 
corporation tax charges.

Where possible, Arix aims to 
take advantage of available 
exemptions to reduce its tax 
liabilities.

There is a risk that tax 
authorities challenge the use of 
these exemptions.

Where Arix believes it has met 
the appropriate qualifying 
criteria, Arix claims the UK’s 
Substantial Shareholding 
Exemption which reduces the 
tax on such gains and losses to 
nil.

If the use of this exemption 
were rejected by HMRC, this 
would increase Arix’s tax 
liabilities, reducing Arix’s profit 
after tax. It would also reduce 
Arix’s cash reserves, resulting 
in fewer funds being available 
to fund Arix’s operations 
and future investment 
opportunities.

32

Arix has an experienced team 
responsible for identifying and 
developing portfolio companies, 
resulting in a high standard 
of due diligence before the 
commitment of any capital. 
Post‐investment, Arix typically 
has representatives on the 
company’s board of directors, 
ensuring it is fully aware of 
business developments, and 
allowing for mitigation of 
possible issues as they arise.

This should therefore improve 
the likelihood of the investment 
being a desirable acquisition 
target, and therefore Arix’s 
investment being monetised.

Arix funds a range of portfolio 
companies and continues to 
develop its portfolio across a 
range of therapeutic areas. Its 
diverse portfolio means that 
Arix’s financial performance 
is not overly reliant on any one 
business.

Arix’s finance team comprises 
chartered accountants who 
are experienced with the tax 
treatments and exemptions 
associated with venture capital 
investments.

Arix employs the use of a ‘Big 
Four’ professional services firm 
to assist with all tax disclosures, 
returns and regulatory 
correspondence.

For areas of significant 
judgement in relation to tax, 
Arix seeks further advice from 
eminent professionals in the 
field, such as a Queen’s Counsel 
Barrister, to support the tax 
treatment adopted.

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Area

4

Personnel

Risk

Impact

Mitigation

Arix’s success is predicated on 
the quality of its investment 
decisions, which in turn is a 
product of the calibre of its 
investment team.

There is a risk of Arix being 
unable to attract or retain staff 
of sufficient calibre.

The financial performance 
of Arix depends on its ability 
to identify and develop 
outstanding portfolio 
companies and, as such, is 
reliant on its key personnel.

Loss of key individuals could 
reduce the quality of Arix’s 
investment decision-making 
and therefore negatively affect 
Arix’s financial performance and 
future prospects.

5

Macroeconomic 
and geopolitical 
conditions

Adverse macroeconomic and 
geopolitical market conditions 
may impact Arix’s operational 
model.

In particular, the current conflict 
in Ukraine, including sanctions 
imposed on Russia.

Adverse geopolitical and/or 
macroeconomic conditions may 
reduce opportunities for Arix 
to realise capital from portfolio 
companies, affecting cash flow 
and financial performance if 
portfolio valuations are reduced. 

The same conditions may 
also negatively impact the 
availability of capital for any 
external fundraising by Arix or 
its portfolio companies.

Arix’s investment team have 
strong scientific backgrounds 
and are experienced life sciences 
investors.

Arix is implementing a market-
competitive carried interest 
scheme for its investment team. 
Corporate staff and executive 
directors will continue to be 
incentivised with a share option 
scheme which aligns with Arix’s 
performance and shareholder 
experience.

Arix’s Nomination Committee 
is responsible for appropriate 
succession planning.

Arix’s strategy is to deploy 
capital into innovative 
businesses which, if successful, 
will have unique, high impact 
outcomes on patients’ lives. Arix 
believes that the inherent value 
of such businesses to patients 
and therefore acquirers, is less 
susceptible to macroeconomic 
cycles and disruptive geopolitical 
events.

Arix has generally well-funded 
portfolio companies across the 
USA and Europe. As such, it 
is not overly reliant on capital 
markets in the short term.

Arix monitors its availability 
of capital closely, ensuring 
sufficient funds are available for 
the investment and operational 
needs of the business.

33

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationRisk Management continued

Area

6

Legislation  
& regulation

Risk

Impact

Mitigation

Changes to government policy 
or regulation in the research, 
healthcare or life sciences 
industries could impact Arix or 
its portfolio companies.

A change in government 
regulation (for example CFIUS 
in the United States) may 
adversely affect the profitability 
of the healthcare and life 
sciences industry, resulting 
in a reduction in the number 
of investment opportunities, 
availability of external funding 
or potential exit opportunities 
for portfolio companies.

Arix’s portfolio is diversified by 
geography, with exposure to 
the USA and Europe, protecting 
the company from the adverse 
actions of any one government.

Arix’s corporate team actively 
monitors changes to laws 
and regulation, and where 
necessary enlists the advice of 
relevant experts to consider any 
company or portfolio impacts.

Viability statement
The Board has assessed the prospects of Arix over a period 
greater than 12 months. We have considered a period of 
three years from the balance sheet date, as the Board 
expects the majority of Arix’s current commitments and 
new proceeds raised to be committed over the next three 
years, and therefore reflects the period over which the 
Group’s cash flows are assessed internally.

A robust assessment of the principal risks and their 
mitigants has been carried out. The Board assessed 
Arix’s business model, particularly its approach to future 
cash commitments to existing portfolio companies. Key 
judgements reflected how future cash requirements may 
change from restrictive regulations and how the availability 
of capital may be impacted by the loss of key personnel.

Having initially started with a base case scenario 
considering Arix’s finances over the assessment period, the 
estimated impacts on the Group’s cash flow, as described 
above, are modelled, creating a range of adverse scenarios. 
An extreme downside case is then considered, reflecting the 
estimated cash flow impact of all considered risks occurring 
concurrently. Finally, the analysis considers the mitigating 
actions the Group could take to reduce the financial impact 
of the noted risks. Although the new recommendations 
from the Task-Force on Climate-related Financial 
Disclosures have not been addressed in isolation, the Board 
considers that the extreme downside case captures the 
degree of uncertainty around this issue in the short term.

Based on its review, and the consideration of any changes 
that had occurred post year-end, including the risk of 
additional market volatility due to the emerging conflict in 
Ukraine (note 24), the Board has a reasonable expectation 
that Arix will be able to continue in operation and meet its 
liabilities as they fall due over a three-year period from the 
date of this report and confirm that preparing the financial 
statements on a going concern basis is appropriate.

34

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Portfolio companies
Our portfolio companies are at the heart of our business 
as it is their operational and clinical progress which will 
ultimately deliver value for our shareholders. However, 
whilst the Board is naturally focused on their development 
and what it will mean for the growth in our NAV, we 
are also conscious of the benefit we can bring to those 
companies as an engaged and supportive shareholder. 
Arix is closely involved with its portfolio companies and 
the members of the investment team provide a direct 
connection from the Board to the portfolio companies, 
ensuring that the Board is regularly updated on their 
progress and can support their development. 

Decisions
Investment: The Board has supported the continued 
deployment of capital into the portfolio, including Pyxis 
Oncology, Disc Medicine and Sorriso Pharmaceuticals. 
This continued investment not only supports our portfolio 
companies as they work to deliver new treatments for 
patients, but also provides the opportunity for significant 
financial returns to shareholders.

Cost reduction: 2021 saw a further reduction in the run-
rate net operating costs of the business. In approving 
these changes, the Board had particular regard to Arix’s 
shareholders but also the interests of its employees and 
portfolio companies in building a sustainable business which 
can deliver superior returns over the longer term.

Amplyx: The Board was engaged and supportive of the exit 
of Amplyx to Pfizer in April 2021. Whilst the upfront return 
on investment was modest, it returned capital to Arix which 
supports the company’s long-term goals and provided a 
strong future for Amplyx and its vital clinical research as it 
ultimately seeks to bring a new drug to market.

Share buyback programme: The Board agreed a share 
buyback programme in March 2021. The Company had 
bought back 6,428,853 shares at the time of its suspension 
in October 2021.

Our stakeholders
s172 Companies Act 2006

The Board sought to understand the 
views of stakeholders through its 
interaction with them during the year 
and had regard for their interests in 
Board discussions and decision-making.

How we engage with our stakeholders
The Board is satisfied, through the careful tracking of 
the outcomes of these discussions and decisions, that 
the approach it takes to stakeholder engagement is 
proportionate to its business and effective.

Statement by the Board in accordance 
with s172 Companies Act 2006 
The Directors of the Board are cognisant of their duties 
under s172 of the Companies Act and consider that they 
have acted in a way they each considers, in good faith, 
would be most likely to promote the success of the Company 
for the benefit of its members as a whole. In doing so they 
have had regard to those stakeholders identified under s172, 
as well as the additional stakeholders set out here.

Shareholders
The Board naturally considers its shareholders to be key 
stakeholders of the Company and is focused upon delivering 
long-term value for their benefit. This purpose is evident 
throughout the Board’s decision-making and is a constant 
consideration when addressing the interests of our other 
stakeholders.

The Company engages with its shareholders on a regular 
basis with significant engagement in 2021. Whilst physical 
meetings have been impossible for much of 2021, virtual 
meetings have continued to be held throughout the year. 
The results of this investor engagement are reported to the 
Board to help inform our communications and strategy. 

Employees
The Board considers its employees to be primary 
stakeholders of the Company and is conscious of the regard 
it has to them under s172. 2021 saw further evolution 
of the executive management team which saw internal 
progression for certain employees, whilst strengthening 
the Company’s ability to deliver on its strategy. The Board, 
and especially the Remuneration Committee, have also had 
particular regard to employees as they have implemented 
the Company’s long-term incentive arrangements as part 
of its strategy to attract, retain and motivate employees in 
order to deliver value for shareholders. These actions were 
consistent with the Board’s commitment to investing in and 
responsibility rewarding employees as they deliver on the 
Company’s strategy.

Job No: 46255

Customer: Arix Bioscience

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35

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationSustainability
Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting

The section below includes our mandatory Streamlined 
Energy and Carbon Reporting requirements. The reporting 
period is the same as the Group’s financial year, 1 January 
2021 to 31 December 2021.

Emissions
We have reported on all of the emission sources required 
under the Companies (Directors’ Report) and Limited 
Liability Partnerships (Energy and Carbon Report) 
Regulations 2018. These sources fall within the Group’s 
consolidated financial statement.

Absolute Emissions
The total Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from the Group’s 
operations in the year ending 31 December 2021 were: 

• 7.53 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) using a ‘location-

based’ emission factor methodology for Scope 2 
emissions; and 

• 7.80 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) using a ‘market-

based’ emission factor methodology for Scope 2 
emissions.

An operational control approach has been used in order 
to define our organisational boundary. This is the basis 
for determining the Scope 1 and 2 emissions for which the 
Group is responsible.

The emissions sources that constitute our boundary for the 
year to 31 December 2021 are: 

• Scope 1: natural gas combustion within boilers and 

refrigerant gas losses; and

2021

2020

Total Energy Use
The total energy use for the Group for FY2021 was 39,089 
kWh.

Electricity/Fuel

Electricity 
(kWh)

12,524

29,006

Gas 
(kWh)

26,565

27,331

Total 
Energy Use 
(kWh)

39,089

56,337

• Scope 2: purchased electricity for our own use. 

Methodology
For the Group’s reporting, the Group has employed the 
services of a specialist adviser, Verco, to quantify and verify 
the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with the 
Group’s operations.

The following methodology was applied by Verco in the 
preparation and presentation of this data:

• the Greenhouse Gas Protocol published by the World 

Business Council for Sustainable Development and the 
World Resources Institute (the “WBCSD/WRI GHG 
Protocol”); 

• application of appropriate emission factors to the Group’s 

activities to calculate GHG emissions;

• application of 2 reporting methods, location-based and 
market-based emission factors, for electricity supplies;

• inclusion of all the applicable Kyoto gases, expressed in 

carbon dioxide equivalents, or CO2e;

• presentation of gross emissions as the Group does not 

purchase carbon credits (or equivalents);

• presentation of global annual energy use;

• where data was missing, values were estimated using an 
extrapolation of available data or available benchmarks;

• calculation of electricity and gas consumption using 

CIBSE energy benchmarks where data was not available.

36

Intensity Ratio
As well as reporting the absolute emissions, the Group’s 
GHG emissions are reported on the metrics of tonnes of 
CO2 equivalent per employee and tonnes of CO2 equivalent 
per square foot of the occupied areas. These are the most 
appropriate metrics given that the majority of emissions 
result from the operation of the Group’s offices and the 
day-to-day activities of the employees.

The intensity metrics for FY2021 were as follows:

• 1.29 tonnes of CO2e per employee (location-based 

method) and 0.55 tonnes of CO2e per employee (market-
based method)

• 0.004 tonnes of CO2e per square foot of occupied space 
(location-based method) and 0.002 tonnes of CO2e per 
square foot of occupied space (market-based method)

Change in Emissions
There has been a reduction in emission for both location-
based of 36% and an increase in emissions market-based 
methods of 53%. The market-based emissions have 
increased due to different electricity suppliers in FY2021 
and therefore different emissions factors.

The London office moved to new premises in May 2021. A 
New York office was opened 9 November 2021. Some of the 
consumption data has been estimated as energy data was 
not available

Job No: 46255

Customer: Arix Bioscience

Proof Event: 1

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Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 
Key Figures

Arix Bioscience plc – Breakdown of emissions by scope

2020

5.02

6.77

0.09

  Scope 1

  Scope 2 (location-based)

  Scope 3 (market-based)

2021

4.86

2.67

2.94

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

GHG emissions

Scope 11

Scope 22

Scope 23

Total GHG emissions  
(Location-based Scope 2)

Total GHG emissions  
(Market-based Scope 2)

Tonnes
CO2e
4.86

2.67

2.94

7.53

7.80

2021

tCO2e /
emp.4

tCO2e /
sq. ft.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Tonnes
CO2e
5.02

6.77

0.09

11.8

2020

tCO2e /
emp.4

0.55

0.74

0.00

1.29

tCO2e /
sq. ft.5

0.002

0.002

0.00

0.004

5.1

0.55

0.002

1   Scope 1 being emissions from the Group’s combustion of fuel and operation of facilities.
2  Scope 2 being emissions from electricity (from location-based calculations), heat, steam and cooling purchased for the Group’s own use.
3  Scope 2 being emissions from electricity (from market-based calculations), heat, steam and cooling purchased for the Group’s own use.
4  Employee numbers: 15 (FY2021); 9 (FY2020). Intensity ratio not calculated as data was not available for the full year and employee numbers changed during the year.
5  Occupied office space: Intensity ratio not calculated as data was not available for the full year and due to office moves. The floor area for FY2020 was 2,844 ft2.

Efficiency actions undertaken
There were no energy efficiency actions taken during the 
reporting year.

Job No: 46255

Customer: Arix Bioscience

Proof Event: 1

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37

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationCorporate Governance Report

Chairman’s introduction to corporate 
governance

Dear Shareholder,
I am pleased to present this year’s Report on Corporate 
Governance. This report forms part of the Directors’ 
Report which follows. Since its listing on the London Stock 
Exchange in February of 2017, the Company has voluntarily 
applied the UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code) as 
an integral part of its approach to governance. This report 
includes a description of how the Company has applied 
the Code in the context of the Company’s governance 
structures.

As part of the strategic and management changes 
announced in April 2021, Naseem Amin stepped down 
from the Board and I was appointed as Non-Executive 
Chairman. At the same time, Maureen O’Connell and Isaac 
Kohlberg joined the Board as Non-Executive Directors and 
having been proposed by our largest shareholder Acacia are 
therefore not deemed to be independent directors for the 
purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code. Maureen 
serves as the non-executive Chair of Acacia. Isaac serves as 
a non-executive director of Acacia.

Earlier in April 2021, Mark Breuer had resigned as Non-
Executive Director and at our 2021 AGM in June we saw 
the departure of  Professor Trevor Jones also as a Non-
Executive Director. In October 2021 Giles Kerr resigned from 
the Board and Sir Michael Bunbury was appointed, taking 
up the role of Senior Independent Director.

On behalf of the Board I would like to thank those that 
have stepped down this year for their contributions to the 
Company in its initial phase of development.

Peregrine Moncreiffe
Chairman 
4 May 2022

38

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021UK Corporate Governance Code –  
Compliance Statement
As a company admitted to the standard segment of the Official List, the Company is not required to adopt the UK 
Corporate Governance Code but it has voluntarily chosen to observe the requirements of the Code. During the year the 
Company has applied all of the main principles of the Code and provides below explanations of its non-compliance with 
the Code provisions:

Provision 5 – The Company operates a lean business model employing only 7 (at 31 December 2021) employees across 
Europe and the USA; this scale means that the Board has not felt it necessary to designate a Non-Executive Director to 
specially engage with the workforce, as the Board has regular contact with much of the organisation through both Non-
Executive and Executive Director.

Provision 9 – The roles of Chairman and Chief Executive were combined until April 2021, when they were separated with 
the appointment of Peregrine Moncreiffe as non-executive Chairman.

Provision 11 – Only one quarter of the board, excluding the chair, is currently comprised of independent non-executive 
directors. The Board is looking to add a further independent non-executive director to address this balance.

Provision 12 – Sir Michael Bunbury was appointed as the Senior Independent Director in October 2021. Giles Kerr had 
previously fulfilled this role from February 2021, prior to which it was vacant.

Provision 24 – Membership of the Audit Committee includes the chair and a non-independent non-executive director. 
However, the committee is chaired by an independent non-executive director and including the chair, it is comprised of a 
majority of independent non-executive directors.

Focus

Operation

Leadership, strategy and 
management

•   Providing leadership and setting values and standards

•   Approving the Company’s strategic aims and objectives

•   Overseeing operations

Structure and capital

•   Changes to the Group’s capital or corporate structure

•   Changes to the Group’s management and control structure

Financial reporting

•   Approval of financial statements

•   Approval of the dividend policy

•   Approval of material changes in accounting policies

•   Approval of major capital expenditure

Risk management and 
internal controls

•   Ensuring maintenance of a sound system of internal control and risk management

•   Determining the principal risks of the Company and how they are managed and 

mitigated

•   Reviewing the effectiveness of the risk and controls processes

Board membership

•   Changes to the structure, size and composition of the Board

•   Ensuring adequate succession planning

•   Appointment or removal of the Chairman, CEO, SID and Company Secretary

Corporate governance

•   Review of Group’s overall governance framework

•   Determining the independence of Directors

•   Considering the balance of interests between shareholders and other stakeholders

•   Authorising any conflicts of interest

39

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021  ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationCorporate Governance Report continued

Focus

Remuneration

Operation

•   Determining the policy for remuneration of Chairman, the Executive Directors, Executive 
Committee (including the Company Secretary) and senior investment team members

•   Ensuring that the pension contribution rates for executive directors, or payments in lieu, 

are aligned with those available to the workforce

•   Ensuring that workforce remuneration and related policies are taken into account when 

setting Directors’ remuneration

•   Ensuring that employee engagement has taken place to explain how executive 

remuneration aligns with wider company pay policy

•   Determining the remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors

•   Introducing new share incentive plans or major changes to existing plans

Other

•   Approval and monitoring of the share dealing code

•   Approval and monitoring of CSR

•   Approving policies and political and charitable donations

•   Approval of the overall levels of insurance for the Group

Board leadership and company purpose
An effective Board
The role of the Board is to provide entrepreneurial 
leadership to the Group, set strategy and monitor 
performance, and to ensure that the necessary financial 
and human resources are in place to enable the Group 
to meet its objectives. In addition, the Board ensures the 
appropriate financial and business systems and controls are 
in place to safeguard shareholders’ interests and maintain 
effective corporate governance.

The Board operates in accordance with the Company’s 
Articles of Association and its own written terms of 
reference. The Board has established a number of 
committees. Each has its own terms of reference, which are 
reviewed at least annually. 

Assessing and monitoring culture
The Board is keen to ensure that the culture of the 
Company is aligned to Arix’s Purpose, Goal and Values 
as set out on the inside front cover. Individual Board 
members have regular, direct contact with the business 
and are confident that the culture of the Company and 
its employees is consistent with what it expects in order 
to maintain a high standard of business conduct and 
deliver the Company’s strategy. This is consistent with the 
Board’s duties under s172 of the Companies Act as further 
described on page 35.

Stakeholder and employee engagement
The Board has actively engaged with stakeholders, 
including employees, throughout the period and has taken 
their interests into account when making decisions. Due 
to the very low headcount of the Company, it is possible 

for the Board to have regular and direct interaction 
with a large proportion of the Company’s employees, 
many of whom participate at meetings of the Board. 
A full description of the Company’s engagement with its 
stakeholders is set out on page 35 with specific description 
of engagement with employees on remuneration on page 
51 of the Remuneration Report. As described on page 49 of 
the Audit and Risk Committee Report, the Company has 
kept its Whistleblowing Policy and arrangements under 
review during 2021.

External relationships
Due to the nature of the Company’s business it has few 
suppliers or direct customers; however, the Board carefully 
considers the need to foster its business relationships with 
its key stakeholders. Our stakeholders section on page 35 
explains how this is achieved and the impact that this need 
has had.

Conflicts of interest
The Company’s Articles of Association set out the policy 
for dealing with Directors’ conflicts of interest, in line with 
the Companies Act 2006. The Articles permit the Board 
to authorise conflicts and potential conflicts, as long as 
the potentially conflicted Director is not counted in the 
quorum and does not vote on the resolution to authorise. All 
Directors declare any potential conflicts of interest before 
their appointment, such that the Board can consider how 
to address any pre-existing potential conflicts before an 
appointment is confirmed. A record of Directors’ interests 
is kept and Directors are reminded at the beginning of each 
Board meeting to notify the Board of any further conflicts 
of interest, in accordance with Sections 175, 177 and 182 of 
the Companies Act 2006.

40

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Board attendance

Peregrine Moncreiffe

Sir Michael Bunbury

Isaac Kohlberg

Maureen O’Connell

Robert Lyne

Giles Kerr

Professor Trevor Jones

Naseem Amin

Mark Breuer

Board

Audit

Remuneration

 Nomination

5/5

2/2

5/5

5/5

6/6

5/7

5/5

3/3

3/3

1/1

1/1

2/2

2/2

1/1

3/3

3/3

3/3

5/5

2/2

1/1

1/1

1/1

 Strategy & 
Investment 

2/2

2/2

2/2

2/2

Attendance is expressed as the number of scheduled meetings attended out of the number of such meetings possible or applicable for the Director to attend.

Board independence
Non-Independent
Current directors
Robert Lyne (being an executive director), appointed  

29 April 2021

Isaac Kohlberg (having been proposed by and a 

non-executive director of the Company’s largest 
shareholder, Acacia), appointed 29 April 2021
Maureen O’Connell (having been proposed by and 

the non-executive Chair of the Company’s largest 
shareholder, Acacia), appointed 29 April 2021

Former director
Naseem Amin (being an executive director), resigned 

29 April 2021

Independent
Current directors
Peregrine Moncreiffe, appointed 29 April 2021
Sir Michael Bunbury, appointed 6 October 2021

Former directors
Giles Kerr, resigned 15 October 2021
Professor Trevor Jones, resigned 14 June 2021
Mark Breuer, resigned 1 April 2021

Read more on the Board of Directors on page 43.

Board process
The Board meets formally at least four times a year, with 
ad hoc meetings called as and when circumstances require 
at short notice. The table above shows the attendance of 
each Director at formal meetings of the Board and the 
Code governed committees of which they are a member.

All Directors are expected to attend all meetings of the 
Board, and any committees they are members of, and to 
devote sufficient time to the Company’s affairs to fulfil 
their duties as Directors. Where Directors are unable to 
attend a meeting, they will be encouraged to submit to the 
Chairman any comments on papers to be considered at the 
meeting in advance, to ensure their views are recorded and 
taken into account.

The Non-Executive Directors meet at least once per year 
without the Chairman present and on such additional times 
as are required.

Training and development of Board Directors
The Company Secretary regularly provides the Board 
with updates on Corporate Governance and regulatory 
matters at Board meetings. All Directors are provided with 
an introduction to the Company and relevant background 
materials. All Directors have access to the advice of the 
Company Secretary who is responsible for advising the 
Board on all governance matters.

Information and support
An agenda and accompanying detailed papers are 
circulated to the Board in advance of each Board meeting. 
These include reports from the Chairman and other 
members of senior management, and all Directors have 
direct access to senior management should they require 
additional information on any of the items to be discussed.

The information supplied to the Board and its committees 
will be kept under review to ensure it is fit and proper for 
purpose, and that it enables sound decision-making.

The Company has adopted a formal procedure through 
which Directors may obtain independent professional 
advice at the Company’s expense. The Directors also have 
access to the services of the Company Secretary. 

41

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021  ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationCorporate Governance Report continued

Division of responsibilities
Key Board roles and responsibilities
The Board currently consists of five Directors (including the 
Chief Executive Officer), two of whom are considered to be 
independent.

• Driving the execution of the strategy.

• Chairing the Management Investment Committee.

• Ensuring implementation of the Board’s decisions.

Role of the Chairman
The Chairman role is responsible for:

• Ensuring the timely communication of information to 
the Board in sufficient detail to allow it to monitor the 
performance of the Group’s business as a whole.

• Leading the Board to ensure its effectiveness on all 
aspects of its role in particular, the formulation of 
strategy and its alignment with culture, governance 
(having regard to best practice); and Board changes and 
succession planning.

• Communicating to the Board their own views and those 

of the executive team, on business issues facing the Group 
such that the Board may have a full and balanced view 
of the issues and factors it should consider when making 
decisions.

• Ensuring constructive relations between Executive and 
Non-Executive Directors and between Directors and 
senior management.

• Managing their direct reports and ensuring that the 

overall team is motivated and develops in order to deliver 
on the Group’s strategy.

• Ensuring that new Directors receive a full, formal and 

tailored induction on joining the Board. 

• Ensuring the effective implementation of the Company’s 

wider stakeholder engagement programmes.

Commitment
The Board expects Non-Executive Directors to commit 
sufficient time to allow them to meet their obligations to 
the Company. The Non-Executive Directors are required to 
confirm, on acceptance of the role, that they have sufficient 
time to meet the expectations of their role. Non-Executive 
Directors will need to attend scheduled and emergency 
Board meetings and committees as well as the AGM, as 
well as allowing appropriate preparation time ahead of 
each meeting. 

Peregrine Moncreiffe
Chairman 
4 May 2022

• Monitoring stakeholder engagement including employee 

and shareholder engagement.

• Ensuring that the Company Secretary is effective and 

supported.

• Chairing the Company’s AGM and all other formal 

shareholder meetings.

Role of the Senior Independent Director
Sir Michael Bunbury has acted as the Senior Independent 
Director (SID) since October 2021. His role as SID is to 
act as a sounding board for the Chairman and serve as 
an intermediary for the other Directors when necessary. 
In order to fulfil this role:

• The SID will meet other Non-Executive Directors without 

the Chairman present at least once a year, to appraise the 
Chairman’s performance, taking into account the views of 
any Executive Directors, plus on such other occasions as 
are deemed appropriate.

• The SID is also available to shareholders should they wish 
to discuss concerns they have failed to resolve through 
the normal channels of the Chairman or any Executive 
Director or for which such contact is inappropriate.

Role of the Chief Executive Officer
Robert Lyne was appointed as the permanent Chief 
Executive Officer in October 2021, having previously held 
the role on an Interim basis. The Chief Executive role is 
primarily responsible for the running of the Group and for 
executing strategy as agreed by the Board. This involves:

42

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Board of Directors

Peregrine Moncreiffe
Chairman

Peregrine Moncreiffe has extensive experience in investment 
management and investment banking. In his past career, 
Mr Moncreiffe held various corporate finance and trading positions in 
New York, London and East Asia within the Credit Suisse First Boston 
(CSFB) group over a ten year period, ending up as an Executive 
Director of CSFB in London in 1982. He held a number of trading 
management roles at Lehman Brothers as a Managing Director 
in New York and London until 1986 when he joined E F Hutton as 
Managing Director of International Capital Markets before it was 
acquired by Shearson Lehman in 1988. From 1990 to 2000 he was 
Chief Executive Officer of Buchanan Partners Ltd, a proprietary 
investment company which he co-founded. In 1998 he became 
Chairman of UA Group, the agricultural services and property 
investment business sold to Elphinstone in 2005. He remains a 
director of North Atlantic Investment Trust plc after stepping 
down this year from the Chair after more than 9 years in that role. 
Peregrine received an undergraduate degree from the University 
of Oxford. He is a director of Metage Funds Limited and of a Jersey 
holding company through which Acacia, alongside other shareholders, 
hold an interest in Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Sir Michael Bunbury
Senior Independent Director

Sir Michael Bunbury is an experienced director of listed and private 
investment and financial services companies. He was formerly the 
Chairman of HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited, BH Global 
Ltd and of JP Morgan Claverhouse Investment Trust plc. He was 
a director of Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc, and of Foreign & 
Colonial Investment Trust plc. Sir Michael began his career in 1968 at 
Buckmaster & Moore, before joining Smith & Williamson, Investment 
Managers and Chartered Accountants, in 1974 as a Partner. He later 
served as director and chairman and was a consultant to the firm 
until 2017. Sir Michael received an undergraduate degree from Trinity 
College, University of Cambridge.

Isaac Kohlberg
Non-Executive Director, Cambridge, US

Isaac Kohlberg has had a distinguished career protecting and 
commercializing IP for leading universities and research institutions. 
He currently is a Senior Associate Provost and Chief Technology 
Development Officer at Harvard University, where he responsible 
for the strategic management and commercial development of all 
technologies and intellectual property (IP) arising from Harvard’s 
research enterprise. Mr. Kohlberg’s role at Harvard University 
includes industry liaising and outreach, IP management, business 
development, technology commercialization and the formation of 
startup companies and new ventures around Harvard technology 
platforms. In tandem, he is also responsible for generating, 
structuring, and negotiating research alliances and collaborations 
with industry and generating industry-sponsored research funding 
for Harvard faculty.

Mr. Kohlberg has served as a Director at Anchiano Therapeutics Ltd 
(TLV: ANCN, NASDAQ: ANCN), a pivotal-stage biopharmaceutical 
company, since 2017 and as a Director at Clal Biotechnology 
Industries Ltd. (TLV: CBI), a life sciences investment company, since 
2015. Mr. Kohlberg currently serves as a non-executive director of 
Acacia, Arix’s largest shareholder, and received his M.B.A. from 
INSEAD and LL.B. from Tel Aviv University.

Maureen O’Connell
Non-Executive Director, New York, US

Maureen O’Connell is a global business executive, Chief Financial 
Officer and corporate director recognized for significant value 
creation through strategic initiatives in a variety of industries 
including media, education, digital, retail, technology, professional 
services, biotech, pharma, homebuilding, real estate and insurance.

From 2007 to 2017, Ms. O’Connell, served as the Chief Financial 
Officer of Scholastic Corporation, the world’s largest publisher and 
distributor of children’s books. In her role as Chief Financial Officer, 
Ms. O’Connell had significant experience licensing rights, partnering 
with trademark and copyright owners and overseeing the protection 
and assertion of rights on a world basis. Earlier in her career, Ms. 
O’Connell served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the 
Gartner Group the world’s leading research and advisory company 
which has developed more than 300,000 business case studies of 
intellectual property since 1979.

Maureen O’Connell has received numerous and diverse awards 
including CFO Studio’s CFO World Class Award in 2017, Treasury and 
Risk magazine’s 30 Outstanding Women in Business in 2012 and Irish 
Voice’s Top 75 Influential Women in 2009.

Ms. O’Connell also served as an independent director, audit 
committee chair and transaction committee chair at Sucampo 
Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the 
development and commercialization of highly specialized medicines, 
from 2013 to 2018 when it was acquired by Mallinckrodt in a $1.2 
billion transaction. At Sucampo, Ms. O’Connell played a key role 
in evaluating the acquisition of highly specialized medicines in 
development resulting in the acquisition of two companies. She was 
previously an independent director at Harte-Hanks Inc. and previously 
served on the board of directors of Beazer Homes USA Inc. Maureen 
O’Connell currently serves as non-executive Chair of Acacia, Arix’s 
largest shareholder.

Maureen graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Accounting and 
Economics (dual major) from New York University Stern School of 
Business in 1985 and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Robert Lyne
Chief Executive Officer, London, UK

Robert Lyne has 15 years’ experience working with high growth 
technology companies having spent several years working in listed 
venture capital. He joined Arix in 2017 as General Counsel and 
Company Secretary before being promoted to Chief Operating 
Officer in 2019. He joined the Board in April 2021 and was appointed 
Interim Chief Executive Officer before subsequently appointed to 
the role on a permanent basis. He began his career as a lawyer at 
international law firm Bird & Bird LLP in London. He has worked on 
over 80 venture capital financings in Europe and North America as 
well as multiple trade exits and IPOs, working with both company 
boards and investors to successfully execute complex cross-border 
transactions. As an experienced plc Company Secretary, Robert has 
broad experience of public company governance.

Robert has a BA from the University of Oxford and an LLB from 
Oxford Brookes University.

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necessary balance of skills amongst management under 
regular review to inform succession plans for executive 
roles.

The Committee has not engaged an independent external 
search consultant during 2021.

In accordance with past practice, and the new Code, all 
Directors will be subject to re-election at each AGM.

Diversity Policy
The Board’s Diversity Policy was last reviewed in 2020. 
The Policy acknowledges the benefits of greater 
diversity, including gender diversity and states that 
the Company remains committed to ensuring that 
the Company’s Directors bring a wide range of skills, 
knowledge, experience, backgrounds and perspectives. 
All appointments will, however, continue to be on merit 
against objective criteria, in the context of the overall 
balance of skills and backgrounds that the Board needs 
to maintain in order to remain effective. The objectives 
of the Policy set out the process to be followed by the 
Nomination Committee during the recruitment process 
in order to ensure that an appropriately diverse pool of 
candidates is considered to enhance the balance of skills 
and backgrounds on the Board. The Board is satisfied that 
the Policy is in line with its strategic priorities, as described 
on page 16 and is looking to improve the Board’s diversity 
with future appointments.

Annual evaluation
The performance of the Board, its Committees, the 
Chairman and individual Directors are evaluated 
throughout the period. Due to the significant change in the 
composition of the Board during 2021, the Board has not 
yet conducted a written evaluation. However, this will be 
considered during 2022. 

Peregrine Moncreiffe 
Chairman of the Nomination Committee 

4 May 2022

Peregrine Moncreiffe 
Chairman of the Nomination Committee

Composition
Peregrine Moncreiffe (Chairman)
Isaac Kohlberg
Sir Michael Bunbury

Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the 
Nomination Committee report for the year ended 31 
December 2021.

Role and responsibilities
The role of the Nomination Committee is set out in its 
terms of reference, available on the Company’s website.

The Nomination Committee assists the Board in 
discharging its responsibilities relating to the composition 
and make-up of the Board and its committees.

Specific duties of the Nomination Committee include:

• Reviewing the composition of the Board and the Board’s 

committees.

• Reviewing the balance of skills required by the Board and 

its committees and the business as a whole.

• Considering the need for succession planning within the 

Board and the Board’s committees.

• Setting and managing the process for the search for new 

Non-Executive Directors (NEDs).

Meetings
The number of meetings of the Nomination Committee 
and attendance is set out on page 41 of the Corporate 
Governance Report.

Only members of the Nomination Committee have the 
right to attend meetings, but we may invite other Directors, 
executives or advisers to attend all or part of any meeting 
as appropriate.

Board changes
There were a number of Board changes during the year 
as explained in the Corporate Governance Report. Two 
appointments were made following nomination by Arix’s 
largest shareholder, with two further appointments being 
made following a review of available candidates by the 
Board. The fifth appointment during the year was an 
executive appointment. The Nomination Committee has 
worked throughout 2021 to ensure that the Board and its 
committees continue to have the necessary balance of 
skills and appropriate succession plans in place to ensure 
its continued effectiveness. The Nomination Committee 
in conjunction with the rest of the Board also keeps the 

44

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Effectiveness and succession planning
• Review the results of the Board performance evaluation 

process that relate to the composition of the Board

• Ensure all members of the Board are devoting sufficient 

time to fulfil their duties

• Assist with succession planning, and keep informed 

about strategic and commercial changes affecting the 
Company

• Satisfy itself that processes and plans are in place for 

succession planning

Appointments
• Prepare role description for Board appointments

• Identify and nominate to the Board candidates to fill 

Board vacancies

• Make recommendations to the Board regarding the 

reappointment of NEDs at the end of their term of office

• Make recommendations to the Board regarding the re-

election of Directors by shareholders at each AGM

Board and Committee composition
• Review structure, size and composition of the Board 

regularly

• Evaluate the balance of skills, knowledge, experience and 

diversity on the Board

• Recommend changes to membership of the Board’s 

committees

• Recommend suitable candidates for the role of the Senior 

Independent Director

• Consider and review the Board’s policy on diversity

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Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021  ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationReport of the Audit and Risk Committee

Sir Michael Bunbury 
Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee

Composition
Sir Michael Bunbury (Chair) 
Peregrine Moncreiffe 
Maureen O’Connell

Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the Audit 
and Risk Committee report for the year ended 31 December 
2021.

The Committee is chaired by an independent non-executive 
director and including the Committee chair, it is comprised 
of a majority of independent non-executive directors.

The Board considers that I have recent and relevant 
financial experience as recommended under Provision 24 
of the UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code) as it 
applies to the Company. In line with the Code, the Audit and 
Risk Committee as a whole is deemed to have competence 
relevant to the sector in which the Company operates.

The Committee’s role is to assist the Board with the 
discharge of its responsibilities in relation to internal and 
external audits and controls, including reviewing the 
Group’s annual financial statements, considering the 
scope of the annual audit and the extent of the non-
audit work undertaken by external auditors, advising on 
the appointment of external auditors and reviewing the 
effectiveness of the internal control systems in place within 
the Group.

During the year, the Committee has met once during 
my chairmanship and twice in the year prior to my 
appointment. Further details on the activities of the 
Committee during the year and how it has discharged its 
responsibilities are provided in the report below.

Sir Michael Bunbury 
Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee

4 May 2022

Duties and responsibilities
The Audit and Risk Committee’s duties and responsibilities 
are set out in its terms of reference which are available on 
the Company’s website.

Internal controls and risk management
• Monitor and review the adequacy and effectiveness 
of the Company’s internal financial controls and risk 
management systems

• Review and recommend to the Board the disclosures in 
the Annual Report concerning internal controls and risk 
management

• Promote sound risk management and internal control 

systems

• Monitor and keep under review the policies and overall 

process for identifying and assessing business risk

Whistleblowing, fraud, bribery and other compliance
• Review the Company’s arrangements for its employees 

and contractors to raise concerns in confidence

• Review procedures for detecting fraud and preventing 

bribery

• Review the Company’s code of corporate conduct/

business ethics

Financial and narrative reporting
• Monitor the integrity of the financial statements

• Review and report to the Board on significant financial 

issues and judgements

• Review and challenge accounting policies, methods used 
to account for significant or unusual transactions, clarity 
and completeness of disclosure

External audit
• Recommend the appointment, reappointment or removal 
of the auditors, including conducting a tender for new 
appointments

• Oversee the relationship, make recommendations on their 
remuneration, approve terms of engagement and review 
independence and objectivity

• Meet regularly without management present

• Develop policy on the supply of non-audit services

• Ensure the audit contract is tendered at least every ten 

years

• Review and approve the audit plan

• Review the findings of the audit

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To review the need for an internal audit function

Activity during the year
Matters discussed during the year have included:

• If an internal audit function is appointed:

–  Approve the appointment or termination of the head of 

internal audit

–  Consider and approve the Terms of Reference for the 

internal audit

–  Monitor and review the operation and the effectiveness

• Reviewing the Committee’s terms of reference and 

recommending changes to the Board

• Reviewing the Company’s internal controls environment

• Reviewing the Company’s Whistleblowing Policy

• Reviewing the Company’s Treasury Policy for 

recommendation to the Board

• Considering the Group’s policy on the provision of non-

–  Review and assess the internal audit plan and reports

audit services by the external auditors

Meetings and attendees
The Audit and Risk Committee has met three times during 
the year. The Audit and Risk Committee will normally meet 
no fewer than three times a year with further meetings 
being called as required.

• Reviewing the going concern and viability assessment of 

the Company and the Group

• Reviewing the external auditor’s audit plan, process and 

scope

The external auditors are invited to attend the majority of 
the meetings. Outside of the formal meeting programme, 
the Audit and Risk Committee chairman maintains a 
dialogue with key individuals involved in the Company’s 
governance, including the Chairman, the Group Head of 
Finance and the external audit lead partner.

• Reviewing the independence of the external auditor

• Reviewing the significant issues in the external audit 

report

• Reviewing the Annual Report and Accounts and 

recommending their approval by the Board

• Reviewing the need for an internal audit function and 

concluding that it is not required.

Significant issues considered in relation to the financial statements
Significant issues and accounting judgements are identified by the finance team and are considered and reviewed by the 
Audit and Risk Committee. The significant issues considered by the Committee in respect of the year ended 31 December 
2021 are set out in the table below:

Significant issues  
and judgements

Valuation of unlisted 
Investments

How the issues were addressed

The Audit and Risk Committee reviewed management’s determination of the valuations 
of the unlisted investments, including the valuation methodology applied. The Committee 
concluded that the valuations of the unlisted investments were properly prepared in 
accordance with the stated accounting policy and the evidence available.

Calculation of  
share-based payment 
expense

The Audit and Risk Committee considered management’s calculation of the share-based 
payment expense relating to management options and the Executive Incentive Plan, 
including the assumptions made regarding volatility and the risk-free interest rate. The 
Committee was satisfied that the expense had been calculated appropriately.

Presentation of the 
Annual Report

The Audit and Risk Committee reviewed management’s presentation of the Annual 
Report. The Committee noted that the inputs into, and disclosures and accounting policies 
included, in the Annual Report are reviewed by people with relevant financial experience 
and knowledge of the business, up to and including the Audit and Risk Committee. The 
Committee concluded that management has presented the report in a suitable manner, 
and that it is fair, balanced and understandable.

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Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021  ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationReport of the Audit and Risk Committee continued

Risk management and internal control
The Board has overall responsibility for setting the 
Group’s risk appetite and ensuring there is an effective 
risk management framework to maintain levels of 
risk within this risk appetite. The Board has, however, 
delegated responsibility for reviewing the risk management 
methodology and effectiveness of internal control to the 
Audit and Risk Committee. The Audit and Risk Committee 
provides oversight and advice to the Board on current risk 
exposures and future risk strategy. Further details of the 
Group’s risk management approach, structure and principal 
risks are set out in the Strategic Report on pages 30 to 34.

The Group’s system of internal control comprises entity-
wide high level controls, controls over business processes 
and centre level controls. Policies and procedures are 
clearly defined. Levels of delegated authority have been 
communicated across the Group and management has 
identified the key operational and financial processes 
which exist within the business and implemented internal 
controls over these processes, in addition to the higher level 
review and authorisation based controls. Policies cover 
defined lines of accountability and delegation of authority; 
financial reporting procedures; and preparation of monthly 
management accounts; these facilitate the accuracy and 
reliability of financial reporting and govern the preparation 
of financial statements.

The Board is ultimately responsible for the Group’s system 
of internal controls and risk management. It has discharged 
its duties in this area by:

• holding regular Board meetings to consider the matters 

reserved for its consideration;

• receiving regular management reports which provide an 

assessment of key risks and controls;

• scheduling annual Board reviews of strategy, including 

reviews of the material risks and uncertainties facing the 
business;

• ensuring there is a clear organisational structure, with 

defined responsibilities and levels of authority;

• ensuring there are documented policies and procedures in 

place; and

• reviewing regular reports containing detailed information 
regarding financial performance, rolling forecasts, actual 
and forecast covenant compliance and financial and non-
financial KPIs.

In reviewing the effectiveness of the system of internal 

controls, the Audit and Risk Committee:

• reviews the risk register compiled and maintained by 

senior management within the Group and questions and 
challenges where necessary;

48

• reviews the system of financial and accounting controls 

regularly; and

• reports to the Board on the risk and control culture within 

the Group.

No significant failings or weaknesses were identified.

Internal audit
The Group does not have an internal audit function. The 
Audit and Risk Committee reviews the need for an internal 
audit function at least annually but following the most 
recent review in December 2021 feels it is not currently 
required given the Group’s size.

External auditors
The Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for overseeing 
the Group’s relationship with its external auditors. 
This includes the ongoing assessment of the auditors’ 
independence and the effectiveness of the external 
audit process, by regular meetings and assessment of 
non-audit engagements. The results of this inform the 
Committee’s recommendation to the Board as to the 
auditors’ appointment (subject to shareholder approval) or 
otherwise.

Appointment and tenure
The Board appointed BDO LLP (BDO) as new external 
auditors in June 2020. BDO was recommended to the 
Board for appointment by the Audit and Risk Committee 
following a competitive tender process conducted in 
accordance with the Financial Reporting Council’s best 
practice for Audit Tenders. The current lead audit partner 
for BDO is therefore in their second year.

Regulations require the rotation of the lead audit partner 
every five years for a listed client. Therefore, we expect a 
new lead audit partner to be selected for the 2025 audit. 
In accordance with EU legislation, the Committee intends 
to put the external audit out to tender at least every ten 
years.

Non-audit services
The engagement of the external audit firm to provide non-
audit services to the Group can affect the independence 
assessment, and the Group has therefore adopted a policy 
which conforms to the Revised Ethical Standard 2016 
published by the Financial Reporting Council. Under the 
policy the engagement of the external auditors to provide 
statutory audit services, certain assurance, taxation and 
certain advisory services with fees of less than £5,000 is 
pre-approved. Any engagement of the external auditors to 
provide permitted services above £5,000 is subject to the 
specific approval of the Audit and Risk Committee. 

The policy recognises that certain non-audit services may 
not be carried out by the external auditors (in accordance 
with the EU Statutory Audit regime).

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021During the year ended 31 December 2021, BDO provided 
non-audit services in relation to reviewing the Group’s 
Interim financial statements (£16,000); and performing 
an FCA CASS Audit of Arix Capital Management Limited, 
a 100% subsidiary of Arix Bioscience plc (£4,000). The fees 
paid to BDO for non-audit services during the year totalled 
£20,000 representing 14% of the total audit fee.

Whistleblowing
The Group has adopted procedures where employees 
may, in confidence, raise concerns relating to possible 
improprieties in matters of financial reporting, financial 
control or any other matter. The whistleblowing policy 
applies to all Group employees. The Audit and Risk 
Committee is responsible for monitoring the Group’s 
whistleblowing arrangements and the Board reviews 
the policy periodically. The Audit and Risk Committee, on 
behalf of the Board, reviewed the Group’s whistleblowing 
arrangements in December 2021 and it was considered 
that they were still appropriate in their current form.

Sir Michael Bunbury 
Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee

4 May 2022

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Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021  ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther informationDirectors’ Remuneration Report

Maureen O’Connell
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Composition
Maureen O’Connell (Chair)
Peregrine Moncreiffe
Sir Michael Bunbury

Annual Statement by the Chair of the 
Remuneration Committee
Dear Shareholders,
As the Chair of the Remuneration Committee (the 
“Committee”) I am delighted to introduce our 2021 
Directors’ Remuneration Report.

This is my first report as Chair of the Committee having 
joined the Board on 29 April 2021 and having succeeded 
Professor Trevor Jones with effect from 14 June 2021.

2021 was a year of significant change and progress in the 
business. Amplyx was acquired by Pfizer in April 2021, 
marking the second M&A exit from the portfolio. A total 
of £59.2m was deployed into the existing portfolio and our 
two new portfolio companies, Disc Medicine and Sorriso. 
However, the key target of NAV growth was not achieved, 
with a decline in NAV of 22% over the period. The year 
also saw a number of changes to the Board, including the 
appointment of Robert Lyne as CEO on 6 October 2021, 
having been appointed in an interim capacity effective from 
29 April 2021. Further details of the changes to the Board 
are set out below. This leaves Arix well placed to continue 
to build a compelling portfolio of innovative life science 
companies.

Board changes
Executive Director changes
As part of the wider strategic change at Arix, Naseem 
Amin stepped down as Executive Chairman of the Board 
on 29 April 2021. In line with his contractual arrangements, 
Naseem Amin received a payment in lieu of his six months 
notice period, which included base salary only. On stepping 
down from the Board, Naseem forfeited his entitlement to 
any bonus in respect of the 2021 financial year. Reflecting 
on service provided by Naseem as Executive Chair, the 
Remuneration Committee treated him as a good leaver 
for the purpose of the 2020 EIP award, with the number 
of shares under award pro-rated for time in employment. 
The 2020 EIP award will vest at the normal time, subject 
to performance over the performance period ending 
31 December 2022. Full details of the remuneration 
provided to Naseem Amin on stepping down from the 
Board are provided on page 64.

Robert Lyne was appointed as interim CEO and General 
Counsel on 29 April 2021. On 6 October, following a 
comprehensive process, Robert Lyne was appointed as 
CEO. His remuneration package following appointment as 
CEO remained unchanged from his time as interim CEO, as 
set out below:

• Base salary: £285,000

• Pension: 7.5% of salary (in line with the wider workforce)

• Annual bonus opportunity: 125% of salary

• EIP opportunity: 225% of salary

The proposed remuneration package for Robert was 
structured to ensure that there was a clear focus on 
performance related pay, and in particular long-term 
performance through the EIP award. The Committee is 
conscious that the base salary for Robert, and as a result 
the total remuneration package, has been set towards 
the lower end of market to reflect that this is his first role 
as the CEO of a listed business. As Robert progresses in 
role, the Remuneration Committee intends to keep this 
positioning under review. 

Non-executive Director changes
During the year, there were also a number of non-Executive 
Director changes, including my appointment to the Board 
on 29 April 2021, as set out below:

• Peregrine Moncreiffe joined the Board as Non-Executive 

Chairman on 29 April 2021

• Isaac Kohlberg joined the Board as a non-Executive 

Director on 29 April 2021

• Sir Michael Bunbury joined the Board as the Senior 

Independent Director on 6 October 2021

• Mark Breuer stepped down from the Board on 1 April 2021

• Professor Trevor Jones stepped down from the Board on 

14 June 2021

• Giles Kerr stepped down from the Board on 15 October 

2021.

I would like to give my personal thanks and gratitude to all 
the Board members that stepped down during the year 
for their help and support provided to the Company during 
their respective tenures. No payments for loss of office 
were made to non-executive directors that stepped down 
from the board.

Pay for performance 
As noted above, 2021 saw a decline in NAV from £328 
million at the end of 2020 to £255 million at 31 December 
2021. The Gross Portfolio declined in value to £118.2 million, 
driven largely by a significant fall in the value of the listed 
holdings. Against this disappointing financial performance, 

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the year saw progress on an operational basis with a 
significant restructuring of the business further reducing 
operating costs. We also completed our second M&A exit 
with the sale of Amplyx in April 2021 and continued to 
refresh the portfolio by reducing our exposure to companies 
in which we did not see significant upside potential and 
adding two new private investments to the portfolio.

The Committee undertook a full review of the Policy during 
the course of 2021. Following this review, the Committee 
determined that the Policy remains fit for purpose and 
therefore the structure should remain broadly the same. 
However, in recognition of recent corporate governance 
developments, we have made a number of best practice 
changes, as set out below: 

Annual bonus
Given the level of corporate change through the year, 
the Remuneration Committee determined that the 2021 
annual bonus for the CEO should be based 50% on financial 
performance of the company and 50% on non-financial 
targets.

Given the level of uncertainty at the outset of the year, 
including the strategic review of the business that was 
to be undertaken due to the changes in the Board, the 
Remuneration Committee agreed that it would not be 
appropriate to set formulaic financial targets for the 
bonus, but performance against financial and non-financial 
metrics would be assessed based on a rounded assessment 
of performance in the year.

As detailed later in this report, the Committee determined 
that there should be no pay-out under the financial 
element of the bonus. Given the key achievements of 
the CEO since appointment, including in managing the 
Company’s relationship with shareholders and corporate 
partners during the course of extensive shareholder and 
wider stakeholder engagement; and the successful cost 
reduction exercise (reducing the cost base of the Company 
by 25%) further improving the financial position of the 
Company, the Committee determined that the outcome 
of the non-financial element of the annual bonus should be 
80% - therefore equating to an overall bonus of 40% of the 
maximum opportunity.

The Committee considered that this outcome was 
reflective of the individual performance of Robert Lyne 
as well as the overall business performance and therefore 
determined that no discretion should be exercised to reduce 
the formulaic outcome.

EIP
The 2019 EIP award was based on compound share price 
growth and NAV per share growth targets to 31 December 
2021. Performance against these targets resulted in a 
vesting outcome of 0%.

New Remuneration Policy and 
implementation in 2022
The Remuneration Policy was last approved by shareholders 
at the 2019 AGM and therefore the Company is required 
to submit a revised Remuneration Policy to shareholders at 
the 2022 AGM.

• The maximum pension contribution rate has been adjusted 

such that it is in line with the wider workforce rate.  

• The discretion the Committee has to adjust incentive 

outturns, taking into account all relevant factors including 
underlying business performance, has been formalised in 
the Policy.

• Formal post-cessation shareholding guidelines have been 

introduced.

Other minor changes have been made to clarify the intention 
of the Policy and to improve its operation over its lifetime.

Implementation in 2022
For 2022, Robert Lyne’s salary will be increased by 5% 
to £300,000, which is in line with the range of increases 
award to the wider workforce at Arix. The proposed 
increase is below the average increase for the wider 
workforce, albeit noting the relative limited size of the 
workforce at Arix.

He will remain eligible for an annual bonus, with the 
maximum opportunity unchanged at 125% of salary. The 
2022 annual bonus will be based on the achievement of 
specific financial, strategic and personal goals, which will be 
disclosed retrospectively as part of the 2022 annual report 
due to targets being considered commercially sensitive.

An award of up to 225% of salary will be made under the 
EIP. In line with the Directors’ Remuneration Policy, a two- 
year post-vesting holding period will apply to the EIP award.

Non-executive Director fees have been set by reference 
to the elevated time commitments of the Non-executive 
Directors. Due to the small size of the Board, the Non-
Executive Directors all serve on at least two Board 
committees and are closely involved in the operation of the 
business.

Alignment of executive and employee pay
Consistent with best practice and the 2018 UK Corporate 
Governance Code, the Remuneration Committee considers 
pay and employment conditions across the Company when 
reviewing the remuneration of the CEO and other senior 
employees.

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Arix has a small number of employees and as a result is 
not required to publish the ratio of the CEO remuneration 
relative to that of employees more widely. The Committee 
is confident that there is considerable alignment between 
the structure of the CEO pay and the arrangements in 
place for other employees, with all employees participating 
in a similar bonus structure.

While the Company does not directly consult with 
employees as part of the process of reviewing executive pay 
and formulating the Remuneration Policy, the Committee 
receives updates from the CEO on his discussions and 
reviews with senior management and employees.

I hope that you find the information contained in this report 
helpful, thoughtful and clear. The Remuneration Committee 

Remuneration snapshot

continues to welcome dialogue with shareholders on 
remuneration matters and any questions or feedback you 
have would be gratefully received.

At the forthcoming AGM, shareholders will be asked to 
approve an advisory resolution on the contents of the 
Annual Report on Remuneration as well as a binding vote on 
the revised Remuneration Policy. I hope the Committee can 
count on your continued support for these resolutions.

Maureen O’Connell
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

4 May 2022

The following table sets out how the Remuneration Policy will be implemented in 2022.

Topic

CEO Base salary

Benefits

Description

£300,000 (c.5% increase from prior year, which is in line with the range of increases for 
the wider workforce)

Eligible to receive private health cover, life assurance, income protection and a company 
car or car allowance

Pension contribution

A maximum contribution of 7.5% of salary, in line with the wider workforce

Annual bonus

•   Annual Bonus maximum of 125% of salary 

•   Bonus for 2022 will be based on a range of challenging financial, strategic and personal 

measures aligned with the Company’s KPIs. Specific targets will not be disclosed 
upfront because the Remuneration Committee consider forward looking targets to be 
ommercially sensitive. However, the Committee intends to disclose these retrospectively 
in next year’s Remuneration Report to the extent that they do not remain commercially 
sensitive

•   Up to 50% of the annual bonus can be deferred and invested into shares which must be 

held for a period of three years

Long-term incentive

•   EIP maximum of 225% of salary 

•   The current intention is for awards to be based upon share price and NAV growth 

targets (in line with the 2021 EIP Award). Reflecting the current external uncertainty, 
however, at the time of writing the report, the Remuneration Committee were still in the 
process of discussing the performance targets to be attached to the 2022 EIP Award. 
Details of the finalised performance measures and targets to be attached to awards will 
be published as soon as practicable

•  Any shares which vest will be subject to a two-year post-vesting holding period

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NED Fees

Description

With effect from the 2022 AGM, Fees for 2022 will be as follows:

•   Non-Executive Chairman: £150,000

• Senior Independent Director: £10,000

• Non-Executive Director: £65,000

• Chairs of Audit and Risk, Remuneration and Nomination Committees: £10,000

• Chair of Board Investment Committee: £20,000

• Member of the Audit Committee: £10,000

Directors’ Remuneration Policy
Introduction
The Directors’ Remuneration Policy as set out below will 
be put to a binding shareholder vote at the 2022 AGM and 
will apply for up to three years from the date of approval. 
Subject to shareholder approval, the policy replaces the 
policy approved at the AGM on 3 June 2019.

The table on the following pages sets out each element of 
remuneration for Executive Directors and how it supports 
the Company’s short and long-term strategic objectives.

Policy summary
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for 
determining the Remuneration Policy for the Executive 
Director, and other senior executives for current and future 
years. In setting the policy, the Committee has sought 
to ensure that it is sufficiently flexible to take account of 
future changes in the Company’s business environment and 
in executive remuneration practices. The policy is designed 
around the following key principles:

• Alignment with the long-term interests of shareholders;

• Competitive remuneration which is set at an appropriate 

level to attract, retain and motivate executive 
management of the quality required to help ensure 
growth and success as a company operating in the listed 
environment;

• Strategic alignment, having regard to the risk appetite of 
the Company and alignment to the Company’s long-term 
strategic goals;

• Encourage and support a high performance culture with 

appropriate reward for superior performance; and

adjustments made to all employees across the Group and 
taking into consideration:

• Business strategy over the period;

• Overall corporate performance;

• Market conditions affecting the Company;

• The recruitment market;

• Changing practice in the markets where the Company 

competes for talent; and

• Changing views of institutional shareholders and their 

representative bodies.

Changes to the policy
The Committee reviewed the Policy during the course 
of 2021 and early 2022. As part of this, the Committee 
followed a robust process which included discussions on the 
content of the Remuneration Policy, taking into account 
input received from the CEO, while ensuring that conflicts 
of interest were suitably mitigated, and our independent 
advisors. Following our review, the Committee determined 
that the Policy remains fit for purpose and therefore the 
structure should remain broadly the same. In recognition of 
recent corporate governance developments, we have made 
the following changes to the Policy:

• The maximum pension contribution rate has been 

adjusted such that it is in line with the wider workforce 
rate.

• Committee discretion on incentive outturns, taking into 
account all relevant factors including the underlying 
business performance, has been formalised.

• Avoid creating incentives that will encourage excessive 
risk-taking or unsustainable Company performance.

• Formal post-cessation shareholding guidelines have been 

introduced.

The Remuneration Committee will review annually the 
remuneration arrangements for the Executive Directors 
and key senior management, drawing on trends and 

• Other minor changes have been made to clarify the 

intention of the Policy and to improve its operation over 
its lifetime.

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Remuneration policy table (executive directors)

Element of  
remuneration

Salary

How it supports the Company’s 
short and long-term strategic 
objectives

Provide salaries that support 
the Company to acquire and 
retain the highly qualified 
Executive Directors who 
are needed to develop and 
implement the Group’s strategy.

Benefits

Provides a benefits package 
in line with standard market 
practice to enable the Group 
to recruit and retain Executive 
Directors with the experience 
and expertise to deliver the 
Group’s strategy.

54

Opportunity and performance 
metrics

The Committee ensures that 
maximum salary levels are 
positioned with consideration 
for:

•   the need to acquire and retain 
Executives with the skills and 
experience to develop and 
implement the Company’s 
strategy;

•   companies that are 

comparable in terms of 
business activities, complexity 
and size to Arix, which we 
would compete for talent 
against.

In general, increases for 
Executive Directors will be 
in line with the increase for 
employees. Increases above 
this level may be considered 
in certain circumstances such 
as where there is a significant 
change in responsibility or 
where the salary for a new hire 
is deliberately set below market 
levels with the intention to 
implement larger increases in 
subsequent years.

The maximum will be set at the 
cost of providing the benefits 
described.

Operation

An Executive Director’s basic 
salary is set on appointment 
and reviewed annually or when 
there is a change in position or 
responsibility.

When determining an 
appropriate level of salary, the 
Committee considers:

•   individual degree of 

responsibility;

•   the general operational 

performance of the Group 
and individual performance (if 
applicable);

•   the economic environment 

and the sustainable 
development of the Group;

•   remuneration structures 
in companies that are 
comparable in terms of 
business activities, complexity 
and size;

•   any change in scope, role and 

responsibilities; and

•   remuneration practices within 

the Group.

The Executive Directors are 
eligible to receive private health 
cover, life assurance, income 
protection and a company car 
or car allowance.

The Committee recognises 
the need to maintain suitable 
flexibility in the benefits 
provided to ensure it is able 
to support the objective of 
attracting and retaining 
personnel in order to deliver the 
Group strategy. 

Additional benefits may 
therefore be offered, such 
as relocation allowances on 
recruitment and reasonable tax 
advice and filing support.

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Element of  
remuneration

Pensions

How it supports the Company’s 
short and long-term strategic 
objectives

Provides a pension provision 
in line with standard market 
practice to enable the Company 
to recruit and retain Executive 
Directors with the experience 
and expertise to deliver the 
Group’s strategy.

Annual bonus

The bonus plan provides an 
incentive to the Executive 
Directors linked to achievement 
in delivering goals that are 
closely aligned with the 
Company’s strategy and 
the creation of value for 
shareholders.

The plan supports the 
Company’s objectives, allowing 
the setting of annual targets 
based on the business strategy 
at the time, meaning that a 
wider range of performance 
metrics can be used that are 
relevant and achievable.

Opportunity and performance 
metrics

The maximum contribution 
will be in line with the rates 
available to the workforce in 
the Executive Director’s local 
jurisdiction. The maximum 
contribution for UK employees is 
currently 7.5% of salary.

The maximum bonus deliverable 
in respect of any financial year 
under the plan will not exceed 
125% of a participant’s annual 
basic salary.

Bonus targets and weightings 
are set each year and will take 
into account the strategic 
priorities of the business at the 
time. 

Details of the performance 
conditions, targets and their 
level of satisfaction for the 
year being reported on will be 
set out in the Annual Report on 
Remuneration.

Percentage of bonus 
maximum earned for levels of 
performance (with straight line 
pay-outs between these points):

Threshold: 0%

On target: 50%

Maximum: 100%

Operation

The Group contributes to 
defined contribution (DC) 
pensions schemes for UK 
employees and US employees 
contribute into the Arix 401(k) 
pension scheme (which is 
open to all employees) with 
a contribution made by Arix 
alongside an employee’s 
contribution. An equivalent cash 
allowance may be paid where 
appropriate.

The Committee will normally 
determine the bonus to be 
delivered following the end 
of the relevant financial year, 
taking into account all relevant 
factors including performance 
against any targets set and the 
underlying performance of the 
business.

The Committee retains 
the discretion to adjust the 
formulaic outcome if considered 
appropriate in the context of 
overall company and individual 
performance.

The Committee can require 
part of any bonus (up to 50% 
of the maximum bonus earned) 
to be deferred on a post-tax 
basis and invested into shares. 
These shares must be held for a 
minimum period, normally, three 
years.

The Group will set out in the 
Remuneration Report in the 
following financial year the 
decisions taken around any 
requirement to invest in shares.

The bonus plan includes malus 
and clawback provisions.

The Remuneration Committee 
may adjust and amend awards 
in accordance with the relevant 
plan rules.

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Element of  
remuneration

Long-Term 
Incentive Plan 
(“EIP”)

How it supports the Company’s 
short and long-term strategic 
objectives

The purpose of the EIP is 
to incentivise and reward 
Executive Directors in relation 
to long-term performance and 
achievement of Group strategy.

This will better align Executive 
Directors’ interests with the 
long-term interests of the 
Group and will also act as a 
retention mechanism.

The award is designed to 
incentivise Executive Directors 
to grow the investment 
portfolio and value creation 
by successfully delivering the 
Group’s strategy.

Operation

Awards are granted annually to 
Executive Directors in the form 
of a conditional share award 
or nil cost option. Awards are 
normally subject to a three-year 
performance period, with a 
subsequent two-year holding 
period. 

Performance targets are 
normally set annually for 
each three-year cycle by the 
Remuneration Committee. 

The Committee retains 
the discretion to adjust 
the formulaic outcome, if 
considered appropriate, taking 
into account all relevant 
factors including the underlying 
performance of the business.

The Committee may award 
dividend equivalents on awards 
in either shares or cash to the 
extent that these vest.

The Remuneration Committee 
may adjust and amend awards 
in accordance with the EIP rules.

Awards are subject to malus 
and clawback.

Opportunity and performance 
metrics

Normal maximum value of 
225% of salary in respect of 
any financial year, based on the 
market value at the date of 
grant set in accordance with the 
rules of the Plan.

In exceptional circumstances 
the Committee may grant an 
award with a maximum of 
300% of salary.

The amount payable for 
threshold performance is up to 
25% of maximum of the award.

EIP awards will be subject to 
the achievement of challenging 
performance conditions set by 
the Remuneration Committee 
prior to each grant linked to the 
achievement of the Company’s 
long-term strategic priorities 
and the creation of long-term 
shareholder value. 

The Remuneration Committee 
retains discretion to change 
performance measures and 
targets and the weightings 
attached to performance 
measures part way through a 
performance period if there is a 
significant and material event 
which causes the Remuneration 
Committee to believe the 
original measures, weightings 
and targets are no longer 
appropriate. Any changes made 
and the circumstances for such 
a change will be clearly disclosed 
to shareholders in the Annual 
Report on Remuneration.

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remuneration

Minimum 
shareholding 
requirement

How it supports the Company’s 
short and long-term strategic 
objectives

Operation

Opportunity and performance 
metrics

The Committee has adopted formal shareholding guidelines that will encourage the Executive 
Directors to build up and then subsequently hold a shareholding equivalent to a percentage of base 
salary. Adherence to these guidelines is a condition of continued participation in the equity incentive 
arrangements. This policy ensures that the interests of Executive Directors and those of shareholders 
are closely aligned.

The Committee will determine the relevant shareholding guideline on an annual basis. 

Post-cessation of employment, Executive Directors are also expected to remain aligned with 
the interests of shareholders for an extended period after leaving the Company, other than in 
exceptional circumstances. Details of the application of this policy are set out in the Annual Report on 
Remuneration.

Performance conditions and target-setting
Performance measures applying to the annual bonus plan 
and the EIP are chosen by the Remuneration Committee 
on an annual basis taking into account the strategic 
priorities of the business. The chosen measures and the 
specific targets are designed to be consistent with the 
policy principles as set out on page 53. The Committee 
takes into account a range of factors including business 
forecasts; degree of stretch against the performance 
targets in the business plan, the economic environment and 
market expectations when setting performance targets for 
incentive awards. Full details of the performance conditions 
and applicable performance targets applying to any year’s 
awards are set out in the appropriate Annual Report on 
Remuneration.

Legacy arrangements
The Committee reserves the right to make any 
remuneration payments and payments for loss of office 
(including exercising any discretions available to it in 
connection with such payments) notwithstanding that they 
are not in line with the policy set out above where the terms 
of the payment were agreed: 

(i) 

 before 5 June 2017 (the date the Company’s first 
shareholder-approved Directors’ Remuneration Policy 
came into effect); 

(ii)   at a time when a previous policy, approved by 

shareholders, was in place provided the payment is in 
line with the terms of that policy or 

(iii)   at a time when the relevant individual was not a 

Director of the Company and, in the opinion of the 
Committee, the payment was not in consideration for 
the individual becoming a Director of the Company. 

For these purposes ‘payments’ includes the Committee 
satisfying variable remuneration awards and, in relation 
to an award over shares, the terms of the payment are 
‘agreed’ at the time the award is granted.

Discretion
The Remuneration Committee has discretion in 
several areas of Policy as set out in this report. The 
Remuneration Committee may also exercise operational 
and administrative discretions under relevant plan rules 
approved by shareholders as set out in those rules, including 
(but not limited to): change of control, variation of share 
capital, demerger, special dividend, winding up or similar 
events. In addition, the Remuneration Committee has 
discretion to amend the Policy with regard to minor or 
administrative matters where it would be, in the opinion of 
the Remuneration Committee, disproportionate to seek or 
await shareholder approval.

In addition, the Committee retains the discretion to 
override the formulaic outcomes of incentive schemes. The 
purpose of this discretion is to ensure that the incentive 
scheme outcomes are consistent with overall Company 
performance and the experience of shareholders.

Malus and Clawback
The annual bonus plan and the EIP include malus and 
clawback provisions. Malus is the adjustment of unpaid 
bonus awards under the bonus plan and outstanding EIP 
awards as a result of the occurrence of one or more specific 
circumstances. The adjustment may result in the value 
being reduced to nil. Clawback is the recovery of payments 
or vested awards under the bonus plan and vested EIP 
awards as a result of the occurrence of one or more specific 
circumstances. Clawback may apply to all or part of a 
participant’s award and may be effected, among other 
means, by requiring the transfer of shares, payment of cash 
or reduction of awards or bonuses.

The circumstances in which malus and clawback could apply 
are set out in the Annual Report on Remuneration. The 
table below indicates the timeframe over which malus and 
clawback are applicable.

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Malus

Up to the date of payment of a bonus

To the end of the three-year vesting-
period

Annual Bonus

EIP

Clawback

Three years following determination of 
bonus

Two years post vesting

The Committee believes that the rules of the Plans provide sufficient powers to enforce malus and clawback where 
required.

Recruitment Policy
The Group’s principle is that the remuneration of any new 
recruit will be assessed in line with the same principles, set 
out in the respective Remuneration policy tables above. The 
Committee is mindful that it wishes to avoid paying more 
than it considers necessary to secure a preferred candidate 
with the appropriate calibre and experience needed for the 
role.

In setting the remuneration for new recruits, the 

Committee will have regard to guidelines and shareholder 
sentiment regarding one-off or enhanced short-term 
or long-term incentive payments as well as giving 
consideration for the appropriateness of any performance 
measures associated with an award.

The Group’s detailed policy when setting remuneration for 
the appointment of new Directors is summarised in the 
table below.

Area

Recruitment policy

Salary, Benefits and Pension

These will be set in line with the policy for existing Executive Directors.

Variable remuneration – 
Annual Bonus and EIP

“Buy Out” of remuneration 
terms forfeited on cessation of 
employment

The remuneration package offered to new appointments may include any element 
of remuneration included in the remuneration policy set out in this report, or any 
other element which the Remuneration Committee considers is appropriate given 
the particular circumstances but not exceeding the maximum level of variable 
remuneration set out below.

Maximum variable remuneration will not exceed 350% of salary in normal 
circumstances (excluding “buyouts”), in line with the total incentive opportunity 
available for existing Executive Directors. In exceptional circumstances, the maximum 
variable remuneration will not exceed 425% of salary (excluding “buyouts”), in line with 
the total incentive opportunity available for existing Executive Directors in exceptional 
circumstances.

Where the Committee determines that the individual circumstances of recruitment 
justifies the provision of a buyout, the equivalent value of any remuneration terms 
that will be forfeited on cessation of an Executive Director’s previous employment 
will be calculated. This will take into account, among other things, the performance 
conditions attached to the vesting of such awards, the likelihood of vesting and the 
vehicle of awards. The Committee may then grant up to the same value as the lapsed 
value, where possible, under the Company’s incentive plans. To the extent that it was 
not possible or practical to provide the buyout within the terms of the Company’s 
existing incentive plans, a bespoke arrangement would be used.

Internal promotions

In the case of internal promotions, the Remuneration Committee will honour existing 
commitments entered into before promotion.

Payment for Loss of Office
The Committee will honour Executive Directors’ contractual 
entitlements. Service contracts do not contain liquidated 
damages clauses. If a contract is to be terminated, the 
Committee will determine such mitigation as it considers 
fair and reasonable in each case. There is no agreement 

between the Company and its Executive Directors providing 
for compensation for loss of office or employment that 
occurs because of a takeover bid.

The Committee reserves the right to make additional 
payments where such payments are made in good faith 

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damages for breach of such an obligation); or by way 
of settlement or compromise of any claim arising in 

connection with the termination of an Executive Director’s 
office or employment.

Remuneration element

Treatment on Cessation of Employment

Salary, Benefits and Pension

These will be paid over the notice period. The Company has discretion to make a lump 
sum payment in lieu. 

Annual Bonus

Good Leaver Reason
•   Performance conditions will be measured at the bonus measurement date. Bonus 

will normally be prorated for the period worked during the financial year. 

EIP

Other Reason:
• No bonus payable for year of cessation.

Discretion:
The Committee has the following elements of discretion:

•   To determine that an executive is a good leaver. It is the Committee’s intention to 
only use this discretion in circumstances where there is an appropriate rationale 
which will be explained to shareholders; and

•   To determine whether to prorate the bonus for time served. The Remuneration 
Committee’s policy is that it will prorate bonus for time. It is the Remuneration 
Committee’s intention to use discretion to not prorate in circumstances where there 
is an appropriate rationale which will be explained in full to shareholders.

•   To determine whether the bonus will be measured at the date of cessation (e.g. in 

exceptional circumstances, such as death).

Good Leaver:
•   Prorated to time in respect of each subsisting EIP award and will be released at the 
scheduled vesting date, subject to performance. Subsequent holdings periods will 
also normally apply.

Other Reason:
• Lapse of any unvested EIP awards.

Discretion:
The Committee has the following elements of discretion:

•   To determine that an executive is a good leaver. It is the Committee’s intention to 
only use this discretion in circumstances where there is an appropriate rationale 
which will be explained in full to shareholders;

•   To measure performance over the original performance period or at the date of 

cessation. The Committee will make this determination depending on the type of 
good leaver reason resulting in the cessation; and

•   To determine whether to prorate the maximum number of shares to the time from 
the date of grant to the date of cessation. The Remuneration Committee’s policy is 
that it will prorate awards for time. It is the Remuneration Committee’s intention 
to use discretion to not prorate in circumstances where there is an appropriate 
rationale which will be explained in full to shareholders.

Other contractual obligations

•   There are no other contractual provisions other than those set out above agreed 

prior to 27 June 2012, the date at which the new regime of Directors’ Remuneration 
Report obligations applies.

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A good leaver reason is defined as cessation in the following 
circumstances:

• transfer of employment to a company which is not a 

Group company; and

•  death;

• ill health;

• injury or disability;

•  retirement;

• at the discretion of the Committee (as described above).

Cessation of employment in circumstances other than 
those set out above is cessation for other reasons.

• employing company ceasing to be a Group company;

Change of Control

Name of Incentive Plan

Change of Control

Discretion

Annual Bonus

Normally prorated for time to the date 
of the change of control and taking into 
account performance. 

EIP

The number of shares subject to subsisting 
EIP awards will normally vest on a change of 
control taking into account time served as a 
proportion of the performance period and 
performance. 

The Committee has discretion regarding 
whether to prorate the bonus to time.

The Committee’s policy is that it will 
prorate the bonus for time. It is the 
Committee’s intention to use its discretion 
to not prorate in circumstances only 
where there is an appropriate rationale 
with appropriate context provided to 
shareholders as required. 

The Committee will determine the 
proportion of the EIP Award which vests 
taking into account, among other factors, 
the period of time the EIP Award has been 
held by the participant and the extent 
to which any applicable performance 
conditions have been satisfied at that 
time.

The Committee has discretion regarding 
whether to prorate the EIP Award for 
time. The Committee’s policy is that will 
prorate the EIP Award for time. It is the 
Committee’s intention to use its discretion 
to not prorate in circumstances only where 
there is a rationale with appropriate 
context provided to shareholders as 
required.

Service agreements and letters of appointment
The Executive Director’s service agreement is for a rolling term and may be terminated by the Company by giving 12 
months’ notice.

Name

Robert Lyne

Date of service agreement

29 April 2021

Notice periods by Company 
(months)

Notice periods by Director 
(months)

12

6

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The charts above illustrate the potential remuneration payable to the CEO under different performance scenarios. The 
scenarios exclude the impact of any dividend equivalents. The basis of the calculation for each scenario is set out in the 
table below.

£2,000k

£1,500k

£1,000k

£500k

£0k

£346k

100%

CEO

£871k

39%

22%

40%

£1,396k

48%

27%

25%

£1,733k

19%

39%

22%

20%

Fixed Pay

On Target

Maximum

Maximum + 50%
share price growth

Fixed Pay

Annual bonus

EIP

Share price growth

Fixed pay

-  Salary effective 1 January 2022

Minimum

Target

Maximum

Maximum plus 
50% share price 
growth

-  Full year equivalent of benefits provided in FY21

-  Pension of 7.5% of salary (in line with wider workforce)

Annual bonus

EIP

n/a

n/a

50% of maximum

50% of maximum

100% of 
maximum

100% of 
maximum

100% of 
maximum

100% of 
maximum plus 
50% share price 
growth

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Remuneration policy table (non-executive directors)

Approach to fees

Operation 

Other items

Provide a level of fees to 
support recruitment and 
retention of high- calibre Non- 
Executive Directors with the 
necessary experience to advise 
and assist with establishing 
and monitoring the Group’s 
strategic objectives.

Non Executive Directors (including 
a Non-Executive Chairman) are not 
eligible to participate in any incentive 
arrangements.

The Chairman and Non-Executive 
Directors may be eligible for benefits 
such as use of secretarial support 
or other benefits which may be 
appropriate for performing their 
duties including travel allowances, if 
considered appropriate.

The Company will pay reasonable 
business-related expenses incurred by 
the Non-Executive Directors and may 
settle any tax incurred in relation to 
these.

The Board as a whole is responsible for 
setting the remuneration of the  
Non-Executive Directors. Non-Executive 
Directors are paid an annual fee and 
additional fees for additional responsibilities, 
such as chairmanship and membership of 
committees or being appointed the Senior 
Independent Director. Additional fees 
may be paid for other responsibilities or 
time commitments (including committee 
membership or for substantial additional 
time requirements above those expected for 
the role).

The Board is responsible for setting the pay 
of the Chairman. The Chairman receives an 
all-inclusive fee.

Fees are normally paid in cash.

In general, the level of fee increase for the 
Non-Executive Directors will be set taking 
account of any change in responsibility and 
workload.

The Non-Executive Directors of the Company do not have service contracts, but are appointed by letters of appointment. 
Each Non-Executive Director’s term of office runs for an initial term of up to and including the next AGM after their 
appointment unless terminated earlier upon written notice or upon their resignations.

The terms of the Non-Executive Directors’ appointments are subject to their re-election by the Company’s shareholders at 
the 2022 AGM and to re-election at any subsequent AGM at which the Non-Executive Directors stand for re-election.

The details of each Non-Executive Director’s term are set out below:

Name

Date of appointment

Peregrine Moncreiffe

29 April 2021

Sir Michael Bunbury

6 October 2021

Isaac Kohlberg

Maureen O’Connell

29 April 2021

29 April 2021

Current term 
 (full years)

Notice periods 
by Company
(months)

Notice periods 
by Director 
(months)

0

0

0

0

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

The Company’s policy when setting fees for the 
appointment of new Non-Executive Directors is to apply 
the policy which applies to current Non Executive Directors.

Statement of conditions elsewhere in the Company
The Remuneration Committee considers pay and 
employment conditions across the Company when 
reviewing the remuneration of the Executive Directors and 
other senior employees. In particular, the Remuneration 
Committee considers the range of base pay increases 

across the Group. The key components of pay for the 
Executive Directors are similar to those available to other 
employees, although the levels of pay for the Directors and 
their maximum variable opportunity are higher in light of 
their role and level of responsibilities. While the Company 
does not directly consult with employees as part of the 
process of reviewing executive pay and formulating the 
Remuneration Policy set out in this report, the Company 
does receive updates from the Executive Director on their 
discussions and reviews with senior management and 

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Consideration of shareholder views
The Company welcomes dialogue with its shareholders; 
shareholder views are considered when evaluating and 
setting the remuneration strategy and the Remuneration 
Committee will consult with key shareholders prior to any 
significant changes to its Remuneration Policy.

Annual Report on Remuneration
This section sets out details of the remuneration of the 
Executive and Non-Executive Directors received during the 
financial year ended 31 December 2021 and also describes 
the operation of the Remuneration Committee.

Remuneration Committee
Membership
Maureen O’Connell is currently the Chair of the 
Committee, and has several years’ experience of serving 
on remuneration committees. The other members of the 
Committee are Peregrine Moncreiffe and Sir Michael 
Bunbury. During the year, Professor Trevor Jones (until 14 
June 2021); Giles Kerr (until 15 October 2021); and Mark 
Breuer (until 1 April 2021) also served on the Remuneration 
Committee.

The Committee met 5 times during the year under review. 
Meeting attendance is shown on page 41.

The Board considers a majority of the members of the 
Committee to be independent when considered against 
the UK Corporate Governance Code (“the Code”). The CEO 
attended meetings of the Committee by invitation, but was 
not be present when matters relating to his remuneration 
were discussed.

Role of the Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee’s responsibilities are set out 
in its Terms of Reference which are available on request to 
shareholders and on the Company’s website.

The Committee’s role includes:

•  Setting the Remuneration Policy for all Executive 

Directors of the Company, the Chairman of the Board 
and key management (being the Executive Committee 
(including the Company Secretary) and all personnel 
receiving an annual basic salary of £250,000 or more).

•  Within the terms of the Remuneration Policy and in 

consultation with the Chairman of the Board and/or the 
CEO, where appropriate, determining the total individual 
remuneration package of the CEO, the Chairman and 
other designated senior executives including bonuses, 
incentive payments and share option or other share 
awards.

•  Approving the design of, and determining targets for, 

any performance-related pay schemes operated by the 
Company and approving total annual payments made 
under such schemes.

•  Ensuring that contractual terms on termination, and 
any payments made, are fair to the individual and 
the Company, that failure is not rewarded, that the 
duty to mitigate loss is fully recognised and that any 
payments are consistent with the shareholder-approved 
Remuneration Policy.

In carrying out its duties the Remuneration Committee 
takes into account any legal and regulatory requirements, 
including the Code and the UK Listing Rules, as well as 
good practice guidance issued by investors and investor 
representative bodies. 

The Committee believes that its approach to Executive 
Director remuneration is consistent with the factors set out 
in Provision 40 of the Code:

• Clarity: the Remuneration Policy and its implementation 

are set out in extensive detail in this report;

•  Simplicity: Remuneration is based on a mix of fixed and 
variable pay, and is well understood by both participants 
and shareholders. Incentives involve an annual bonus 
scheme based on the achievement of key corporate 
objectives, and a long-term plan which rewards the 
generation of value for shareholders;

•  Risk: Performance targets for incentive schemes are 

calibrated carefully to ensure that the ultimate rewards 
will correspond closely with an appropriate level of 
performance. For example, EIP awards will only vest if a 
certain level of share price and NAV per share growth is 
achieved. Malus and Clawback provisions apply to both 
the Annual Bonus and EIP;

•  Predictability: annual participation in the bonus 

scheme and the EIP is capped (as a percentage of basic 
salary), and awards cannot exceed these levels. Our 
Remuneration Policy contains details of threshold, target 
and maximum opportunity levels under the Annual Bonus 
and EIP, with potential outcomes in different performance 
scenarios illustrated by the charts on page 61. The 
ultimate value of any vested EIP award will depend on the 
share price at the time which cannot be predicted but is 
simple to calculate;

•  Proportionality: there is a clear link between the delivery 
of strategy and individual awards through the annual 
bonus scheme. The EIP rewards the successful delivery of 
long-term outperformance. If there is little or no growth 
in share price or NAV, awards will not vest; and

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• Alignment to culture: Arix’s high performance culture and 
the awareness within the Company of what ultimately 
drives shareholder value are reflected in the incentive 
schemes operated and the choice of performance 
metrics.

Key matters considered by the 
Remuneration Committee
Key issues reviewed and discussed by the Remuneration 
Committee during 2021 included:

•  Review of the Directors’ remuneration policy, ahead of the 
presentation of a new policy for shareholder approval at 
the 2022 AGM; 

• The appointment terms for the CEO;

• The leaver terms for the previous Executive Chairman;

• Review of Executive Director and senior manager bonuses 

and equity incentive awards for 2021;

• Pay benchmarking for key roles within the organisation 

and a review of alternative incentive structures;

•  Development of an appropriate incentive plan for the 
investment team within the organisation reflecting 
the nature of the business, whilst reflecting the group’s 
ownership profile. 

Advisers to the Committee
Following a competitive tender to advise on all aspects of 
the Directors’ Remuneration Policy and its implementation, 
Deloitte were appointed as advisers to the Remuneration 
Committee on 30 June 2020. 

The Committee is satisfied that the advice received during 
the year was objective and independent. Deloitte is a 
founding member of the Remuneration Consultants Group. 
Deloitte received fees of £57,450 for its advice during the 
year (fees charged on a costs incurred basis). Deloitte also 
provided Group tax advice during the year. 

Single figure table – Executive Directors (audited)

Basic salary

Benefits

Annual bonus

EIP

Pension

Other

Total

Total 
fixed pay

Total 
variable pay

2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000

Robert Lyne1

188

–

Former Executive Director

Naseem Amin2

88 148

7

3

– 143

–

7

– 100

–

–

–

–

14

–

6

11

–

–

– 352

– 209

– 143

–

–

97 266

97 166

– 100

1   Joined the Board on 29 April 2021 as interim CEO and was appointed as permanent Chief Executive Officer on 6 October 2021. Values shown above relate to 

remuneration received since appointment to the Board.

2   Stepped down from the Board on 29 April 2021. Remuneration shown in 2020 is his remuneration received as Executive Chairman from 6 April 2020 to 31 December 2020 

while remuneration shown in 2021 is remuneration received between 1 January 2021 and 29 April 2021.

• Basic salary: amount earned for the year.

• Annual Bonus: see separate section below for explanation 

•  Benefits: the taxable value of benefits received in 

the year, including life assurance, long-term sickness 
insurance, private healthcare and company car cash 
allowance.

• Pension: the value of the Company’s contribution in the 

year: 7.5%.

of determination of bonus amounts.

•  Subject to Board approval, the Company allows its 
Executive Directors to hold non-executive positions 
outside of the Company that complement and 
enhance their current role. Any fees may be retained 
by the Director. Robert Lyne did not hold any external 
directorships during the year. 

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Fees

Benefits

Pension

Annual bonus

LTIP

Other*

Total

Total 
fixed pay

Total 
variable pay

2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000

Current Directors

Peregrine 
Moncreiffe1

Sir Michael 
Bunbury2

Isaac Kohlberg1

Maureen 
O’Connell1

Former Directors

101

20

44

44

–

–

–

–

Naseem Amin3

–

13

Professor 
Trevor Jones4

Giles Kerr5

Mark Breuer6

27

66

13

60

60

50

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 101

– 101

–

–

–

21

44

44

–

–

–

21

44

44

–

–

–

–

94

– 107

– 107

–

–

30

27

66

13

60

60

80

27

66

13

60

60

80

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

*   Other amounts in 2020 relate to additional one-off share awards made to Non-Executive Directors in connection with their appointment, as set out in the Directors’ 

Remuneration Policy.

1  Joined the Board on 29 April 2021. Remuneration relates to fees received between 29 April 2021 and 31 December 2021.
2  Joined the Board on 6 October 2021. Remuneration relates to fees received between 6 October 2021 and 31 December 2021. Other relates to use of office.
3  2020 figures relate to service as Non-Executive Director until his appointment as Executive Chair on 6 April 2020.
4  Stepped down from the Board on 14 June 2021. 2021 remuneration relates to fees received between 1 January 2021 to 14 June 2021.
5  Stepped down from the Board on 15 October 2021. 2021 remuneration relates to fees received between 1 January 2021 and 15 October 2021.
6  Stepped down from the Board on 1 April 2021. 2021 remuneration relates to fees received between 1 January 2021 and 1 April 2021.

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Annual bonus payout table (audited)
Given the level of corporate change through the year, the 
Remuneration Committee determined that the 2021 annual 
bonus for the CEO and General Counsel should be based 
50% on financial performance of the company and 50% on 
non-financial targets.

Given the level of uncertainty at the outset of the year, 
including the strategic review of the business that was 
to be undertaken due to the change in the Board, the 
Remuneration Committee agreed that it would not be 

appropriate to set formulaic financial targets for the 
bonus, but performance against financial and non-financial 
metrics would be assessed based on a rounded assessment 
of performance in the year. In determining the outcome 
of the non-financial element of the annual bonus, the 
Committee took into account the significant change that 
had taken place within the business over the course of 
the year and considered Robert Lyne’s key achievements 
since his appointment to the Board. Details of key factors 
considered in relation to both elements are set out in the 
table below. 

Element of bonus 
(weighting)

Key factors / achievements considered by the 
Remuneration Committee 

Outcome

Financial (50%)

In considering the financial element of the bonus 
(weighted at 50%) the Committee took into account

Non-financial 
(50%)

• Net Asset Value per share performance; 

• The Group’s capital position pool position;

• Total shareholder returns over the year; 

•   Performance against KPIs related to the clinical 

pipeline;

•   Performance against KPIs related to creating a 

diverse and broad portfolio.

•   Key role, as the sole full-time executive on the 

Board, in managing the Company’s relationship 
with shareholders and corporate partners during 
the course of extensive shareholder and wider 
stakeholder engagement.

•   Stabilised the operations of the Company during a 

time of significant change.

•   Pivotal in ensuring the retention of key personnel to 

the business during a challenging time. 

•   Orchestrated a key senior hire to increase the 

capabilities of the Company.

•   Undertook a successful cost reduction exercise 

(reducing the cost base of the Company by 25%) 
further improving the financial position of the 
Company. 

•   Re-organised key internal functions related to 

investor and public relations to further strengthen 
the reputation of the Company with key 
stakeholders.

Notwithstanding progress made against 
the pipeline and wider portfolio KPIs, the 
Committee agreed that due to the 22% 
decline in NAV and 44% decline in share 
price over the period, this element of the 
bonus should lapse in full.

The Committee considers that Robert 
Lyne has been instrumental in navigating 
the business during a challenging time. 
Based on his key achievements since 
appointment to the role of CEO, including 
restructuring the headcount from 12 
to 6 permanent employees resulting in 
an increased workload, the Committee 
considered that achievement against 
the non-financial element of the 
business should be 80% of maximum. 
The Committee considered awarding 
a full bonus against this element given 
the achievements in a period of such 
significant corporate change, however, 
felt that 80% of maximum was a more 
balanced outcome.

Outcome (percentage of maximum annual bonus)

40%

The Committee considered the appropriateness of the 
annual bonus outcome for Robert Lyne in the context 
of the overall Company performance and his individual 
performance and determined that the bonus outcome was 
appropriate.

Naseem Amin, the former Executive Chairman stepped 
down from the Board on 29 April 2021 and was not eligible 
to receive a 2021 annual bonus.

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Awards were made to previous executive directors in 2019 under the EIP. Robert Lyne received a grant as part of the 2019 
EIP award. The performance against the targets is set out in the table below.

Metric

Weighting

Threshold

Maximum

Actual

Level of vesting

Compound share 
price growth

NAV per share 
growth

Overall

60%

7% p.a. growth

15% p.a. growth

7% p.a. growth

15% p.a. growth

40%

100%

Decline in  
share price

Decline in  
NAV per share

0%

0%

0%

Scheme interests awarded in 2021 (audited)
During the year ended 31 December 2021, the following Directors were awarded nil-cost options under the EIP, details of 
which are summarised below.

Metric

Robert Lyne

Date of grant

Number of 
shares 
awarded

13/08/2021

352,335

Award
price £1

1.97

Face 
value £

694,010

% of 
base salary

Vesting date

225%

1/08/2024 

Performance measure

Weighting

Performance period

Performance

% vesting

Compound share price 
growth

NAV per share growth

60%

40%

1 January 2021 
to 31 December 2023

1 January 2021 
to 31 December 2023

<7% per annum

7% per annum

0%

25%

>7% < 15% per annum

25%-100%

≥15% per annum

<7% per annum

7% per annum

100%

0%

25%

>7% < 15% per annum

25%-100%

≥15% per annum

100%

1  Starting price based on the 30 day rolling average to the start of the performance period.

Payments for loss of office/payments to 
past Directors (audited)
During the year, certain payments were made to directors 
in relation to their loss of office. 

Naseem Amin 
Naseem Amin stepped down from the Board on 29 April 
2021.

Mr Amin was paid a payment in lieu of notice for a six 
month period in line with his service agreement, covering his 
base salary only, with a value of £100,000, and £8,462 in 
lieu of accrued but untaken holiday.

Mr Amin forfeited his entitlement to a 2021 annual bonus 
payment. 

In lineline with the Remuneration Policy and EIP plan rules, 
Mr Amin retained his entitlement to the 2020 EIP award, 
subject to time pro-rating from the date of grant to the 
date he stepped down from the Board. The award may 
vest at the normal time, subject to the achievement of the 
performance conditions. The maximum number of shares 
that are capable of vesting, subject to performance and 
dividend equivalents, is 154,142. Awards will continue to be 
subject to the performance conditions set out on page 74 of 
the Annual Report 2020.

Mr Amin retains no interest in any other incentive scheme.

During the year, no payments were made to past Directors. 

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Executive Directors’ shareholdings and 
share interests (audited)
The interests of Executive Directors’ in the Company as at 
31 December 2021 (or, if earlier, the date of stepping down 
from the Board) are shown in the table below. Only the EIP 
Awards (2019, 2020 and 2021) are subject to performance 
conditions. Robert Lyne is required to build a shareholding 
equivalent to 225% of basic salary. This shareholding 
requirement was not met at the end of the financial year 
given his recent appointment to the Board.

Under the new post-cessation shareholding requirements 
introduced this year, and being implemented from the date 

of the 2022 AGM (subject to shareholder approval of the 
new Remuneration Policy), departing Executive Directors 
will normally be required to hold shares with a value of 
100% of their incumbent shareholding requirement (or 
their actual shareholding, excluding personal investment, 
on cessation if lower) for two years post cessation as an 
Executive Director. The Committee retains the discretion to 
operate this policy flexibly and waive part or all of the policy, 
for example in compassionate circumstances.

No options were exercised during the year. 

Metric

Robert Lyne

Former Executive Director

Naseem Amin3

Ordinary 
Shares held

2020 EIP
Awards1
(unvested)

2021 EIP
Awards1
(unvested)

Shareholding 
as % of basic
salary2

41,666

471,676

352,335

18%

240,803

154,142

–

–

1    Awards are nil-cost options. The 2019, 2020 and 2021 EIP Awards include performance conditions which must be met prior to vesting. Details of the specific performance 

targets in place for each grant are included in the relevant year’s Annual Report on Remuneration.

2   Reflects value of ordinary shares calculated at closing share price on 31 December 2021.
3  Reflects the position as at the date of his departure (29 April 2021).

There has been no change in the Executive Directors’ shareholdings since the balance sheet date.

Non-Executive Directors’ shareholdings (audited)
Non-Executive Directors are not subject to a shareholding requirement. Details of their interests in Ordinary Shares in the 
Company are set out below:

Non-Executive Director

Current Directors

Peregrine Moncreiffe

Sir Michael Bunbury

Isaac Kohlberg1

Maureen O’Connell1

Former Directors

Professor Trevor Jones2

Giles Kerr3

Mark Breuer4

Shareholding as at 
31 December 2021

84,000

40,000

–

–

37,312

35,746

36,630

1   Opportunity to purchase Company shares is restricted by potential conflict of interest, due to directorship of Acacia which is a significant shareholder in the Company.
2  Reflects the position as at the date of his departure from the Board (14 June 2021).
3  Reflects the position as at the date of his departure from the Board (15 October 2021).
4  Reflects the position as at the date of his departure from the Board (1 April 2021).

There has been no change in the Non-Executive Directors’ shareholdings since the balance sheet date.

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The graph below shows the value of £100 invested in the Company’s shares since listing in February 2017 compared to 
the FTSE SmallCap index (excluding investment trusts) and the Biotech ETF. Although Arix is not a member of the FTSE 
SmallCap index, the index has been chosen as a broad equity market index, the constituents of which include companies of 
a similar size and scale to Arix. The Biotech ETF has been chosen as this is reflective of the industry in which we operate.

Total Shareholder Return.
Source: Datastream (Thomson Reuters)

250

200

150

100

50

0

Dec-16

Dec-17

Dec-18

Dec-19

Dec-20

Dec-21

Arix Bioscience

FTSE Small Cap (excluding Investment Trusts)

Biotech ETF

CEO – historic remuneration information (audited)

Single figure total

Annual variable against maximum 
opportunity

EIP vesting rates against maximum 
opportunity

Robert  
Lyne
2021
£’000

352

Naseem 
Amin 
2021
£’000

Naseem 
Amin
2020
£’000

Joe  
Anderson
2020
£’000

97

266

40%

N/A

100%

2019
£’000

737

2018
£’000

633

2017
£’000

1,726

50%

75%

80%

417

0%

0%

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Comparison of Directors’ and employees’ pay
The table below sets out the percentage change in each Director’s salary/fees, benefits and annual bonus between the 
year ended 31 December 2021 and the year ended 31 December 2020 and between 31 December 2020 and 31 December 
2019. The table also shows the average percentage change in the same remuneration over the same periods in respect of 
the employees of the Company on a full-time equivalent basis. 

The average employee change has been calculated by reference to the median of employee pay. Peregrine Moncreiffe, Sir 
Michael Bunbury,  Isaac Kohlberg and Maureen O’Connell were appointed in 2021, while Naseem Amin (Executive Chair), 
Professor Trevor Jones, Giles Kerr and Mark Breuer stepped down from the Board during the year ended 31 December 
2021.

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2021

2020

Base  

salary/fees Benefits

Annual 
incentive

Base  
salary/
fees

Benefits

Annual 
incentive

Current CEO/Former Executive Chair1

23%

8%

(29%)

(66%)

(70%)

(60%)

Current Directors

Peregrine Moncreiffe2

Sir Michael Bunbury2

Isaac Kohlberg2

Maureen O’Connell2

Former Directors

Professor Trevor Jones

Giles Kerr

Mark Breuer

Employee Group3

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

(55%)

10%

(74%)

4%

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

3%

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

–

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

20%

0%

47%

5%

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2%

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

32%

1   Where more than one individual performed the role in the year, the sum of the amounts as disclosed in the single figure of remuneration on a full-time equivalent basis, 

has been used in accordance with disclosure requirements.

2   Non-executive directors that joined during the year – therefore a comparison to 2020 is not available. 
3  Average employee change has been calculated by reference to the median of employee pay.

Underlying operating (loss)/profit

Dividends/share buybacks

Total Company spend on remuneration

Total Company spend on remuneration excluding exceptional costs

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

(58,647)

128,011

11,593

3,529

3,070

–

5,066

5,066

The table above shows the relative importance of total spend on pay in the 2021 and 2020 financial years compared with 
distributions to shareholders. The Company did not pay a dividend in either 2021 or 2020 and only undertook a share 
buyback programme in 2021 and not 2020. Underlying operating (loss)/profit is considered the most appropriate metric 
given the current stage of the Group.

Total Group spend on remuneration decreased by 30% compared to the previous year:

Statement of voting on remuneration
The results of the voting on the Directors’ Remuneration Policy and the Annual Report on Remuneration at the AGM held 
on 3 June 2019 and 14 June 2021 respectively are set out below:

Votes for 
#

Votes for 
%

Votes 
against 
#

Votes 
against 
%

Votes 
withheld 
#

To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Policy 
(2019 AGM)

To approve the Annual Report on Remuneration 
(2021 AGM)

40,079,954

50.26% 39,658,365

49.74%

5,590

58,196,535

92.34% 4,825,953

7.66% 3,298,154

70

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Director’s Report
For the year ended 31 December 2021

The Directors present their report for the year ended 31 December 2021. Additional information which is incorporated by 
reference into this Directors’ Report, including information required in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, can be 
found as follows:

Disclosure

Important events affecting the Company since the year-
end, likely future business developments and research and 
development activities

Financial risk management objectives and policies (including 
hedging policy and use of financial instruments)

Location

• Strategic Report pages 2 to 37

• Notes to the financial statements pages 92 to 93

Going concern

• Strategic Report page 34

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

•  Page 74

Diversity Policy

• Report of the Nomination Committee page 44

Details of long-term incentive schemes

•  Note 19 to the financial statements pages 102 to 

Significant Interests

103

• Directors’ Report page 73

Waiver of emoluments by a Director

• Directors’ Remuneration Report pages 50 to 70

Compensation for loss of office arrangements

• Directors’ Remuneration Report pages 50 to 70

For the purposes of LR 9.8.4CR, the information required to be disclosed by LR 9.8.4R can be found in the following 
locations:

Disclosure

Interest capitalised

Publication of unaudited financial information

Location

Not applicable

Not applicable

Details of long-term incentive schemes

• Directors’ Remuneration Report pages 50 to 70

Waiver of emoluments by a Director

• Directors’ Remuneration Report pages 50 to 70

Waiver of future emoluments by a Director

• Directors’ Remuneration Report pages 50 to 70

Non pre-emptive issues of equity for cash

Non pre-emptive issues of equity for cash in relation to major 
subsidiary undertakings

Parent participation in a placing by a listed subsidiary

Contract of significance in which a Director is interested

Contract of significance with a controlling shareholder

Provision of services by a controlling shareholder

Shareholder waiver of dividends

Shareholder waiver of future dividends

Agreements with controlling shareholder

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Compensation for loss of office arrangements

• Directors’ Remuneration Report pages 50 to 70

The Strategic Report on pages 2 to 37 and this Directors’ Report have been drawn up and presented in accordance with, 
and in reliance upon, applicable English company law and any liability of the Directors in connection with these reports shall 
be subject to the limitations and restrictions provided by such law.

ANNUAL REPORT 2021  ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC

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Director’s Report continued

Directors
The Directors of the Company who held office during the 
year are:

Peregrine Moncreiffe
Appointed 29 April 2021

Sir Michael Bunbury
Appointed 6 October 2021

Isaac Kohlberg
Appointed 29 April 2021

Robert Lyne
Appointed 29 April 2021

Maureen O’Connell
Appointed 29 April 2021

Past Directors
Giles Kerr
Resigned 15 October 2021

Professor Trevor Jones
Resigned 14 June 2021

Naseem Amin
Resigned 29 April 2021

Mark Breuer
Resigned 1 April 2021

Results and dividend
The results for the year ended 31 December 2021 are set 
out in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
Income on page 83.

The Board is not recommending a dividend for the year 
ended 31 December 2021.

Articles of Association
The rules governing the appointment and replacement 
of Directors are set out in the Company’s Articles of 
Association. The Articles of Association may be amended 
by a special resolution of the Company’s shareholders.

Share capital
Details of the Company’s share issued capital, including 
changes during the year, are set out in Note 18 to the 
financial statements. As at 31 December 2021, the 
Company’s share capital consisted of:

• 129,180,800 Ordinary Shares of £0.00001 each (99.96% 
of total share capital by number, 2.66% by nominal value) 
of which 6,428,853 are held in Treasury

72

• 49,671 C Shares of £1.00 each (0.04% of total share 

capital by number, 97.34% by nominal value)

Ordinary shareholders are entitled to receive notice of, 
and to attend and speak at, any general meeting of the 
Company. 

On a show of hands every shareholder present in person 
or by proxy (or being a corporation represented by a duly 
authorised representative) shall have one vote, and on 
a poll every shareholder who is present in person or by 
proxy shall have one vote for every share they hold. The 
Notice of Annual General Meeting specifies deadlines for 
exercising voting rights and appointing a proxy or proxies. 
Ordinary Shares held as Restricted Shares pursuant to 
the Restrictive Share Agreement are disenfranchised and, 
accordingly, holders of such Restricted Shares are not 
entitled to vote, attend the meetings of the Company or 
receive dividends or other distributions made or paid on the 
Ordinary Share capital of the Company.

No voting rights attach to the C Shares and their holders 
are not entitled to receive notice of, or to attend and 
speak at, any general meeting of the Company. Holders 
of C Shares are not entitled to receive any dividend or 
distributions made or paid on the Ordinary Share capital of 
the Company.

Other than the general provisions of the Articles of 
Association (and prevailing legislation), there are no specific 
restrictions of the size of a holding or on the transfer of any 
class of shares in the Company except as follows:

• Prior consent of the Directors is required for the transfer 

of C Shares.

• Holders of Restricted Shares may not dispose of 

Restricted Shares until and unless the relevant Restricted 
Shares are released from their respective undertakings 
pursuant to the Restrictive Share Agreement.

Other than as set out above, the Directors are not aware of 
any other agreements between holders of the Company’s 
shares that may result in the restriction of the transfer 
of securities or on voting rights. No shareholder holds 
securities carrying any special rights or control over the 
Company’s share capital.

Authority for the Company to purchase its own shares
Subject to authorisation by shareholder resolution, the 
Company may purchase its own shares in accordance with 
the Act. Any shares which have been bought back may 
be held as treasury shares or cancelled immediately upon 
completion of the purchase.

At the AGM on 14 June 2021, the Company was generally 
and unconditionally authorised by its shareholders to make 
market purchases (within the meaning of section 693 of the 

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Companies Act 2006) of up to a maximum of 13,289,380 of 
its Ordinary Shares. The Company repurchased 6,428,853 
of its Ordinary Shares under this authority before the 
programme was suspended on 18 October 2021. The 
authority is due to expire on the earlier of the date of this 
year’s AGM or 30 June 2022.

Change of control – significant agreements
There are a number of agreements that may take effect, 
alter or terminate on a change of control of the Company, 
such as commercial contracts and property lease 
agreements.

Directors’ interests
The number of Ordinary Shares of the Company in which 
the Directors were beneficially interested at 31 December 
2021, is set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on 
pages 68.

Directors’ indemnities
The Company’s Articles of Association (the “Articles”) 
provide, subject to the provisions of UK legislation, an 
indemnity for Directors and officers of the Company and 
the Group in respect of liabilities they may incur in the 
discharge of their duties or in the exercise of their powers. 
The Company has made qualifying third party indemnity 
provisions for the benefit of its Directors during the period 
and these remain in force at the date of this report.

The Company maintains Directors’ and Officers’ liability 
insurance cover and this is in place for all the Company’s 
Directors at the date of this report. The Company will 
review its level of cover annually.

Overseas offices
Arix Bioscience, Inc. has an office in New York, USA.

Political donations
The Group did not make any political donations during 
the year.

None of these are considered to be significant in their likely 
impact on the business as a whole.

Audit information
Each Director has taken all the steps that they ought to 
have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware 
of any relevant audit information and to establish that the 
company’s auditors are aware of that information. The 
auditors have been provided with:

• access to all information of which the Directors are 

aware that is relevant to the preparation of the financial 
statements such as records, documentation and other 
matters;

• additional information that has been requested for the 

purpose of the audit; and

• unrestricted access to persons within the Group from 
whom it was determined necessary to obtain audit 
evidence.

Significant interests
The table below shows the interests in shares notified to 
the Company in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance 
and Transparency Rules:

Name of Shareholder

Acacia Research Corporation

Fosun International

Ruffer

Christopher Chipperton (including restricted 
shares)

Ipsen

UCB

Hargreaves Lansdown, stockbrokers (EO)

Takeda Ventures

Polygon Investment Partners

*  Actual percentage 19.99% 

As at 31 December 2021

As at 4 May 2022

Number of  
Ordinary 
Shares of 0.001 
pence each held

Percentage  
of total  
voting rights 
held

Number of  
Ordinary 
Shares of 0.001 
pence each held

Percentage  
of total  
voting rights 
held

25,833,311

11,189,403

9,163,000

6,862,889

6,666,666

5,647,679

5,511,258

4,787,638

4,500,000

20.0%*

8.7%

7.1%

5.3%

5.2%

4.4%

4.3%

3.7%

3.5%

27,182,317

11,189,403

9,163,000

6,862,889

6,666,666

5,647,679

5,511,258

4,787,638

4,500,000

21.0%

8.7%

7.1%

5.3%

5.2%

4.4%

4.3%

3.7%

3.5%

73

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 19Black Line Level: 9Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021  ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsOther information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 are responsible for ensuring 
that the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, 
are fair, balanced, and understandable and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the 
group’s performance, business model and strategy. 

Website publication
The directors are responsible for ensuring the annual 
report and the financial statements are made available 
on a website. Financial statements are published on 
the company’s website in accordance with legislation 
in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and 
dissemination of financial statements, which may vary 
from legislation in other jurisdictions. The maintenance and 
integrity of the company’s website is the responsibility of 
the directors. The directors’ responsibility also extends to 
the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained 
therein.

Directors’ responsibilities pursuant to DTR4
The directors confirm to the best of their knowledge:

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance 
with the applicable set of accounting standards, give a true 
and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and 
profit and loss of the group.

The annual report includes a fair review of the development 
and performance of the business and the financial position 
of the group and company, together with a description of 
the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

By order of the Board

Kin Company Secretarial Limited 
Company Secretary 
4 May 2022

Director’s Report continued

So far as each Director is aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the auditors are unaware.

The confirmation is given and should be interpreted in 
accordance with the provisions of section 418 of the 
Companies Act 2006.

Independent auditors
BDO LLP have indicated their willingness to continue in 
office and a resolution seeking to reappoint them will be 
proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 7 June 2022 in 
central London. Details of the time, venue and access will be 
announced in the Notice of Annual General Meeting to be 
published in due course and will be subject to any applicable 
Covid-related regulations and guidance on attendance 
at AGMs.

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
The directors are responsible for preparing the annual 
report and the financial statements in accordance with UK 
adopted international accounting standards and applicable 
law and regulations. 

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the 
directors are required to prepare the group financial 
statements and have elected to prepare the company 
financial statements in accordance with UK adopted 
international accounting standards. 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 of the group and company and of the 
profit or loss for the 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 they have been prepared in accordance 
with UK adopted international accounting standards, 
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 group 
and the company will continue in business; 

• prepare a directors’ report, a strategic report and 

directors’ remuneration report which comply with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

74

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to the members of Arix Bioscience plc

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Opinion on the financial statements
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 31 December 2021 and of the Group’s losses for the 
year then ended;

requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial 
statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard 
as applied to listed public interest entities, and we have 
fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with 
these requirements. The non-audit services prohibited by 
that standard were not provided to the Group or the Parent 
Company. 

• the Group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with UK adopted international 
accounting standards;

• the Parent Company financial statements have been 
properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted 
international accounting standards and as applied in 
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 
2006; and

• the financial statements have been prepared in 

accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 
2006.

We have audited the financial statements of Arix 
Bioscience Plc (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries 
(the ‘Group’) for the year ended 31 December 2021 which 
comprise the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
Income, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, 
the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the Company 
Statement of Financial Position, the Company Statement 
of Changes in Equity and notes to the financial statements, 
including a summary of significant accounting policies. The 
financial reporting framework that has been applied in their 
preparation is applicable law and UK adopted international 
accounting standards and as regards the Parent Company 
financial statements, as applied in accordance with the 
provisions 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 believe 
that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Our audit 
opinion is consistent with the additional report to the audit 
committee. 

Independence
Following the recommendation of the audit committee, 
we were appointed by the board in May 2020 to audit the 
financial statements for the year ending 31 December 
2020 and subsequent financial periods. The period of 
total uninterrupted engagement including retenders and 
reappointments is 2 years, covering the years ending 
2020 to 2021. We remain independent of the Group 
and the Parent Company in accordance with the ethical 

Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded 
that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of 
accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is 
appropriate. Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of 
the Group and the Parent Company’s ability to continue to 
adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:

• Reviewing the latest Board approved forecasts covering 3 
years from the year-end date of the financial statements. 

• Considering the appropriateness and accuracy of these 
forecasts, corroborating the key inputs such as cash 
inflows to our knowledge of the entity and evidence 
obtained from our work on other areas of the financial 
statements, as well as reviewing the Board’s stress 
test to ascertain the likelihood of the Group and Parent 
Company not having the ability to meet their obligations 
as they fall due.

• Enquiring on the impact of COVID-19 and have also 
considering this in our review of the going concern. 

• Challenging the Board about the implications of the 

ongoing conflict in Ukraine on the business.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not 
identified any material uncertainties relating to events 
or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast 
significant doubt on the Group and the Parent Company’s 
ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 
twelve months from when the financial statements are 
authorised for issue. 

In relation to the Parent Company’s reporting on how it 
has applied the UK Corporate Governance Code, we have 
nothing material to add or draw attention to in relation to 
the Directors’ statement in the financial statements about 
whether the Directors considered it appropriate to adopt 
the going concern basis of accounting.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors 
with respect to going concern are described in the relevant 
sections of this report.

ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC

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Independent Auditors’ report continued

Overview

Coverage

Key audit matters

100% (2020: 100%) 

Valuation of Unquoted Investments 
Share Based Payments 

2021 
Yes 
No 

2020
Yes
Yes

Share based payments is no longer considered a key audit 
matter because the valuation is not complex and share 
based payment charge is not material.

Materiality

Group financial statements as a whole

£3.8m (2020: £4.8m) based on 1.5% (2020: 1.5%) of net 
assets.

An overview of the scope of our audit
Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding 
of the Group and its environment, including the Group’s 
system of internal control, and assessing the risks of 
material misstatement in the financial statements. We 
also addressed the risk of management override of internal 
controls, including assessing whether there was evidence of 
bias by the Directors that may have represented a risk of 
material misstatement.

We identified six components in the Group, five of which 
operate in the United Kingdom (‘UK’) and one in the 
United States (‘US’). All five UK components were subject 
to full scope audits by the Group Engagement Team to 
our component materiality. The material balances and 
transactions of the US component were audited to our 
component materiality by the Group Engagement Team for 
group purposes. 

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, including those which 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.

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Key audit matter

Valuation of Unquoted Investments

Refer to page 90 (accounting policies) 
and page 98 (note 12).

There is a high level of estimation 
uncertainty involved in determining the 
valuation of the unquoted investments 
in the portfolio.

Investments are also the most 
significant balance contributing 
to the Net Asset Value (NAV) of 
the fund, and therefore may be 
subject to management bias. We 
therefore determined the valuation of 
investments to be a key audit matter.

How the scope of our audit addressed 
the key audit matter

We tested the valuations of a sample 
of unquoted investments.

For all investments in our sample we:

• Considered whether the valuation 

methodology chosen was in 
accordance with accounting 
standards and was the most 
appropriate in the circumstances 
under the International Private 
Equity and Venture Capital (IPEV) 
Guidelines;

• Held meetings with management to 
understand the recent performance 
of the investee companies in the 
context of their “milestones”, and 
corroborated information obtained 
in these meetings to board papers, 
management information and 
publicly available industry articles, 
reports and press releases;

• Where a valuation had been 
amended based on the price 
of a recent funding round, we 
obtained associated Sale Purchase 
Agreements for the funding round in 
order to corroborate the price of the 
round, and considered whether the 
funding round had been carried out 
on an arm’s length basis;

• Where a valuation had been 

amended based on an investee 
company achieving or failing to meet 
certain key milestones, we challenged 
the basis of the change in value 
and obtained third party evidence. 
We assessed this by enquiries with 
management and corroborated 
this by inspecting board packs and 
financial performance of the investee 
companies.

Key observations:

Based on the procedures performed, 
we consider the estimates made by 
management in valuing the unquoted 
investments to be reasonable.

77

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Our application of materiality
We apply the concept of materiality both in planning 
and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect 
of misstatements. We consider materiality to be the 
magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, 
could influence the economic decisions of reasonable users 
that are taken on the basis of the financial statements. 

In order to reduce to an appropriately low level the 
probability that any misstatements exceed materiality, 
we use a lower materiality level, performance materiality, 

to determine the extent of testing needed. Importantly, 
misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be 
evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the 
nature of identified misstatements, and the particular 
circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating their 
effect on the financial statements as a whole. 

Based on our professional judgement, we determined 
materiality for the financial statements as a whole and 
performance materiality as follows:

Materiality

Group financial statements

Parent Company financial statements

2021
£m

3.8

2020
£m

4.8

2021
£m

2.8

2020
£m

3.0

Basis for determining materiality

1.5% net assets

1.5% net assets

1.5% net assets

1.5% net assets

Rationale for the benchmark applied Given the activities of the Group as a 

venture capital group and the needs of 
the users of the financial statements, 
we determined that Net Assets was 
the most appropriate benchmark. 

The nature of the parent company 
as a holding company and therefore 
being an asset based entity.

Performance materiality

2.8

3.1

2.1

2.0

Basis for determining performance 
materiality

75% materiality

65% materiality

75% materiality

65% materiality

On the basis of our risk assessment together with our assessment of 
the overall control environment and expected total value of known and 
likely misstatements, based on past experience, our judgement was that 
overall performance materiality for the Group and Parent should be 75% 
of materiality. Given the previous financial year was our first year audit, 
performance materiality was set at 65%.

Component materiality
We set materiality for each component of the Group based 
on a percentage of between 49% (2020: 60%) and 80% 
(2020: 90%) of Group materiality dependent on the size 
and our assessment of the risk of material misstatement 
of that component. Component materiality ranged from 
£1.7m (2020: £2.2m) to £2.8m (2020: £4.3m). In the audit 
of each component, we further applied performance 
materiality levels of 75% (2020: 65%) of the component 
materiality to our testing to appropriately mitigate the risk 
of errors exceeding component materiality.

Reporting threshold  
We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report 
to them all individual audit differences in excess of £70k 
(2020: £95k). We also agreed to report differences below 
this threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on 
qualitative grounds.

Other information
The directors are responsible for the other information. 
The other information comprises the information included 
in the Annual report and accounts 2021 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. 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 
course of 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 this gives rise to a material 
misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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.

78

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As the Group has voluntarily adopted the UK Corporate 
Governance Code 2018, we are required to review the 
Directors’ statement in relation to going concern, longer-
term viability and that part of the Corporate Governance 
Statement relating to the parent company’s compliance 
with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code 
specified for our review. 

Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we 
have concluded that each of the following elements of the 
Corporate Governance Statement is materially consistent 
with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained 
during the audit. 

Going concern and longer-term viability

• The Directors’ statement with regards to the 

Other Code provisions 

appropriateness of adopting the going concern basis of 
accounting and any material uncertainties identified set 
out on page 34; and

• The Directors’ explanation as to their assessment of the 

Group’s prospects, the period this assessment covers and 
why the period is appropriate set out on page 34.

• Directors’ statement on fair, balanced and 

understandable set out on page 74; 

• Board’s confirmation that it has carried out a robust 

assessment of the emerging and principal risks set out on 
page 30; 

• The section of the annual report that describes the 

review of effectiveness of risk management and internal 
control systems set out on page 46; and

• The section describing the work of the audit committee 

set out on page 46.

79

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Other Companies Act 2006 reporting
Based on the responsibilities described below and our work performed during the course of the audit, we are required by 
the Companies Act 2006 and ISAs (UK) to report on certain opinions and matters as described below.  

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.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the 
Group and 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.

In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ remuneration 
report to be audited has been properly prepared in 
accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course 
of the audit the information about internal control and 
risk management systems in relation to financial reporting 
processes and about share capital structures, given in 
compliance with rules 7.2.5 and 7.2.6 in the Disclosure 
Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook made by the 
Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA Rules), is consistent 
with the financial statements and has been prepared in 
accordance with applicable legal requirements. 

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 this information.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course 
of the audit information about the Parent Company’s 
corporate governance code and practices and about its 
administrative, management and supervisory bodies and 
their committees complies with rules 7.2.2, 7.2.3 and 7.2.7 of 
the FCA Rules.

We have nothing to report arising from our responsibility to 
report if a corporate governance statement has not been 
prepared by the Parent Company.

Strategic report and Directors’ report 

Directors’ remuneration

Corporate governance statement

80

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021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 and the part 

of the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited 
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.

irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our 
procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including 
fraud is detailed below:

We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory 
framework applicable to the Group and the industry 
in which it operates, and considered the risk of acts by 
the company and its subsidiaries which were contrary 
to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. 
These included but were not limited to compliance with 
Companies Act 2006, the FCA listing and DTR rules, 
the principles of the UK Corporate Governance Code, 
requirements of PAYE and VAT legislation and IFRS. 

We assessed the extent of compliance with these laws and 
regulations as part of our procedures which included, but 
were not limited to:

-  enquiries with Management and those charged with 

governance, including consideration of known or 
suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and 
regulations and fraud;

-  agreement of the financial statements disclosures to 

underlying supporting documentation; and

-  review of relevant board meeting minutes and legal 

correspondence.

The engagement team was deemed to collectively have 
the appropriate competence and capabilities to identify or 
recognise non-compliance with laws and regulations.

We communicated relevant identified laws and regulations 
and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members 
and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-
compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

81

Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Director’s 
Responsibilities, 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.

Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting 
irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-
compliance with laws and regulations. We design 
procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined 
above, to detect material misstatements in respect of 

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCOther informationStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsIndependent Auditors’ report continued

Based on our understanding of the Group and industry, 
we evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities 
for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements 
(including the risk of override of controls) and discussed 
among the engagement team how and where fraud 
might occur in the financial statements and any potential 
indicators of fraud. We determined that the principal risks 
were related to management bias in accounting estimates 
including in relation to valuation of investments. The key 
audit matters section of our report explains this matter in 
more detail and also describes the specific procedures we 
performed in response to that key audit matter.

Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Parent 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 Parent 
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 
Parent Company and the Parent Company’s members as a 
body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions 
we have formed.

Vanessa-Jayne Bradley (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor
London, United Kingdom
Date: 4 May 2022

BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in 
England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).

We addressed the risk of management override of internal 
controls through testing journals, in particular any entries 
posted with unusual account combinations or posted by 
senior management and designed audit procedures to 
incorporate unpredictability around the nature, timing or 
extent of our testing. We evaluated whether there was 
evidence of bias by the Directors in accounting estimates 
that represented a risk of material misstatement due to 
fraud. We challenged assumptions and judgements made 
by management in their significant accounting estimates.

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks 
of material misstatement in the financial statements, 
recognising that the risk of not detecting a material 
misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of 
not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may 
involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, 
misrepresentations or through collusion. There are 
inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed 
and the further removed non-compliance with laws and 
regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in 
the financial statements, the less likely we are to become 
aware of it.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on 
the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.
uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of 
our auditor’s report.

82

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2021

Change in fair value of investments
Impairment of investments
Revenue
Administrative expenses

Operating (loss)/profit before exceptional costs

Exceptional costs

Operating (loss)/profit after exceptional costs

Finance income
Foreign exchange loss 
Impairment of right-of-use and intangible assets
Share-based payment

(Loss)/profit before taxation

Taxation

(Loss)/profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(expense)

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
Taxation

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year

Attributable to

Owners of Arix Bioscience plc

(Loss)/Earnings per share

Basic (loss)/earnings per share (p)
Diluted earnings per share (p)

Note

12
12
3
6

8

7

19

10

10

11
11

2021
£’000

(47,975)
  (5,943)
340
(5,069)

(58,647)

2020
£’000

135,297
–
477
(7,763)

128,011

(1,490)

–

(60,137)
156
(1,369)
–
266

(61,084)

128,011
101
(1,619)
(167)
(25)

126,301

–

–

(61,084)

126,301

91
–

(225)
–

(60,993)

126,076

(60,993)

126,076

(48.0)
n/a*

96.6
88.6

The above consolidated statement of comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

* n/a as anti-dilutive.

83

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCOther informationStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsConsolidated statement of financial position
As at 31 December 2021

ASSETS
Non-current assets

Investments held at fair value
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Right of use asset
Investment property

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash on long-term deposit
Other assets

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities

Trade and other payables
Deferred tax liability

Non-current liabilities

Lease liability

TOTAL LIABILITIES

NET ASSETS

EQUITY

Share capital and share premium
Retained earnings
Other reserves

TOTAL EQUITY

Note

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

12
13
14

16
16
15

17
10

18

120,635
168
85
121
–

121,009

134,230
–
1,839

136,069

257,078

154,416
312
49
90
106

154,973

112,085
62,276
1,378

175,739

330,712

(1,600)

–

(1,600)

(2,235)
–

(2,235)

(121)

(268)

(1,721)

(2,503)

255,357

328,209

188,585
80,694
(13,922)

188,585
142,044
(2,420)

255,357

328,209

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. The financial statements on pages 83 to 109 
were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 4 May 2022, and were signed on its behalf by

Peregrine Moncreiffe 
Chairman

84

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year 31 December 2021

Share 
Capital and
Premium
£’000

Other 
Equity
£’000

Other
Reserves
£’000

Treasury
 Share
Reserve
£’000

Retained 
Earnings
£’000

Total
£’000

As at 1 January 2021

188,585

(1,240)

(1,180)

–

142,044

328,209

Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income
Share-based payment
Acquisition of own shares
Issue of own shares to employees

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
24

–
91
–
–
(24)

–
–
–
(11,593)
–

(61,084)
–
(266)
–
–

(61,084)
91
(266)
(11,593)
–

As at 31 December 2021

188,585

(1,216)

(1,113)

(11,593)

80,694

255,357

The Treasury Share Reserve has been established during the year to reflect the cost of the Company’s shares bought 
under the share buyback programme.

For the year 31 December 2020

As at 1 January 2020
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive expense
Share-based payment
Acquisition of own shares
Issue of own shares to employees

As at 31 December 2020

Share 
Capital and
Premium
£’000

188,585
–
–
–
–
–

188,585

Other 
Equity
£’000

(1,754)
–
–
–
–
514

Other
Reserves
£’000

Treasury
 Share
Reserve
£’000

(441)
–
(225)
–
–
(514)

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

(1,240)

(1,180)

Retained 
Earnings
£’000

15,718
126,301
–
25
–
–

Total
£’000

202,108
126,301
(225)
25
–
–

142,044

328,209

85

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCOther informationStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsConsolidated statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 December 2021

Net cash used in operating activities

Finance income
Finance expenses
Tax paid

Net cash used in operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of equity investments
Disposal of equity and loan investments
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Net cash received from/(placed on) long-term deposit

Net cash from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Net proceeds from issue of shares
Purchase of own shares 

Net cash used in financing activities

Note

20

2021
£’000

(7,294)
156
–
–

(7,138)

(59,221)
39,084
(101)
62,276

42,038

–
(11,593)

(11,593)

2020
£’000

(6,833)
101
–
–

(6,732)

(28,923)
157,528
(7)
(62,276)

66,322

–
–

–

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

23,307

59,590

Cash and cash equivalents at start of year
Effect of exchange rate changes

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

112,085
(1,162)

134,230

54,638
(2,143)

112,085

86

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2021Notes to the financial statements

1. General Information
The principal activity of Arix Bioscience plc (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together the “Arix Group” or “the Group” 
or “Arix”) is to invest in breakthrough biotechnology companies to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns to shareholders.

The Company is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. Arix Bioscience plc was incorporated on 15 September 
2015 as Perceptive Bioscience Investments Limited and changed its name to Arix Bioscience Limited. It subsequently re-
registered as a public limited company and changed its name to Arix Bioscience plc. The address of its registered office is 
Duke Street House, 50 Duke Street, London, W1K 6JL. The registered number is 09777975. The Company is the ultimate 
parent company into which the results of all subsidiaries are consolidated.

2. Accounting Policies
A. Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of the Arix Group have been prepared in accordance with international accounting 
standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and prepared in accordance with UK adopted 
international accounting standards.

The financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for certain financial assets which have 
been measured at fair value. The financial statements are presented in British pounds sterling, which is the functional 
and presentational currency of the Company, and the presentational currency of the Group; balances are presented in 
thousands of British pounds sterling unless otherwise stated.

The Arix Group has applied all standards and interpretations issued by the IASB that were effective at the period end date. 
The accounting policies set out below have, unless otherwise stated, been applied consistently to all periods presented.

Use of judgements and estimates
In preparing these financial statements, management has made judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the 
application of the Arix Group’s accounting policies and reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual 
results may differ from those estimates.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to estimates are recognised 
prospectively.

Significant estimates are made by the Arix Group when determining the appropriate methodology for valuing investments 
(see Note 2(I)), share-based payments (see Note 2(O) and Note 19) and taxation (see below and Note 10). Sensitivity of the 
investment portfolio is disclosed in Note 12.

The Group primarily seeks to generate capital gains from its portfolio company investments, which would ordinarily be 
subject to UK corporation tax. However, where the Group holds or has held in excess of 10% of the share capital of a 
portfolio company, and those companies are themselves trading or preparing to carry on a trade, the Directors continue to 
believe that these holdings will qualify for the UK’s Substantial Shareholdings Exemption (“SSE”), which exempts taxable 
gains or losses from corporation tax. For unrealised gains and losses that are expected to meet the qualifying criteria, no 
deferred tax provision will be made in the Group’s financial statements. Where investment gains or losses are unrealised 
and are not expected to qualify for SSE, the anticipated tax due based on the current valuation of the underlying 
investment is reflected in a deferred tax balance, to the extent that these exceed the Group’s historical operating losses 
from time to time. SSE has not been applied to any realised gains in the year (2020: £127.5 million). The Directors have 
taken what they consider to be all necessary steps to support the determination that the gains in 2020 in the Arix portfolio 
qualify for SSE, including close collaboration with their appointed tax advisers and further consultation and receipt of 
written opinion from a Queen’s Counsel Barrister at a leading tax chambers. 

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors have considered the relationship that the Group has with The Wales 
Life Sciences Investment Fund (the “WLSIF”) and specifically as to whether the Group controls WLSIF. The Directors 
note that while Arix Capital Management Limited (a 100% subsidiary of Arix Bioscience plc), in its role as fund manager 
to WLSIF, and Arthurian Life Sciences SPV GP Limited (a 100% subsidiary of Arix Bioscience plc) in its role as general 
partner of the WLSIF, both exercise power over the activities of WLSIF, they do not have sufficient exposure to variability 
of returns from WLSIF to meet the definition of control and therefore acts as agents, rather than principals of WLSIF. 
Accordingly, WLSIF has not been consolidated into these financial statements.

87

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2. Accounting Policies continued
In preparing these financial statements, the Directors have concluded that the Company meets the definition of an 
investment entity as per IFRS 10, as it has the typical characteristics set out in the standard, including holding more than 
one investment and having more than one investor which is not a related party of the entity.

Going concern 
The financial information presented within these financial statements has been prepared on a going concern basis. The 
Directors have made an assessment of going concern over a period of greater than 12 months, taking into account the 
Group’s current performance and outlook, which considered the risks the business is exposed to, and concluded that no 
material uncertainty exists around the Company or the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. 

B. Basis of consolidation
Subsidiaries
The Directors have concluded that the Group has all the elements of control as prescribed by IFRS 10 “Consolidated 
financial statements” in relation to all its subsidiaries and that the Company satisfies three essential criteria to be 
regarded as an investment entity as defined in IFRS 10, IFRS 12 “Disclosure of Interests in other entities” and IAS 27 
“Separate Financial Statements”. The three essential criteria are such that the entity must: obtain funds from more than 
one investor for the purpose of providing these investors with professional investment management services; commit to 
its investors that its business purpose is to invest its funds solely for returns from capital appreciation, investment income 
or both; and measure and evaluate the performance. 

Subsidiaries are therefore measured at Fair Value through profit or loss in accordance with IFRS 13 “Fair Value 
measurement” and IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”.

Notwithstanding this, IFRS 10 requires subsidiaries that provide services that relate to the investment entity’s investment 
activities to be consolidated. Accordingly, the financial statements consolidate the results of the entities listed in the table 
below. This table contains the disclosures required by Section 409 of the Companies Act 2006 for subsidiaries:

Entity

Country of Incorporation Registered Address

Ownership

Arix Bioscience Holdings Limited

England and Wales

Arix Bioscience, Inc

United States

Arix Capital Management Limited

England and Wales

Arthurian Life Sciences GP Limited

Scotland

ALS SPV Limited

England and Wales

Arthurian Life Sciences SPV GP Limited

England and Wales

Arix Bioscience plc Employee Benefit Trust

Jersey

Arthurian Life Sciences Carried Interest Partner LP Scotland

Duke Street House, 50 Duke 
Street, London, W1J 6JL
401 Park Avenue South, New 
York, NY 10016
Sophia House, 28 Cathedral 
Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ
101 Rose Street South Lane, 
Edinburgh, Scotland,  
EH2 3JG 
Duke Street House, 50 Duke 
Street, London, W1J 6JL
Sophia House, 28 Cathedral 
Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ
26 New Street, St Helier, 
Jersey, JE2 3RA
101 Rose Street South Lane, 
Edinburgh, Scotland,  
EH2 3JG 

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred. They are deconsolidated from the date 
that control ceases. The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for business. All companies are involved in 
investing in and building breakthrough biotech companies around cutting edge advances in life sciences, other than Arix 
Capital Management and the Arthurian Life Sciences companies, which are engaged in fund management activity, and 
Arthurian Life Sciences Carried Interest Partner LP, which holds a financial interest in a limited partnership. Intercompany 
transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised losses 
are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the transferred asset.

88

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLC ANNUAL REPORT 20212. Accounting Policies continued
Associates
The Group has taken the exemption permitted by IAS 28 “Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures” and IFRS 11 “Joint 
Arrangements” for entities similar to investment entities and measures its investments in associates and joint ventures at 
fair value. The Directors consider an Associate to be an entity over which the Group has significant influence, but does not 
control, generally accompanied by a shareholding of between 20% and 50% of the voting rights.

No associates are presented on the Statement of Financial Position as the Group elects to hold such investments at fair 
value through profit and loss. This treatment is permitted by IAS 28 Investment in Associates and Joint Ventures, which 
permits investments held by entities that are akin to venture capital organisations to be excluded from its measurement 
methodology requirements where those investments are designated, upon initial recognition, at fair value through profit or 
loss and accounted for in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. Changes in fair value of associates are recognised 
in the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the period in which the change occurs. The Group has no interests in 
associates through which it carries on its business.

The disclosures required by Section 409 of the Companies Act 2006 for associated undertakings are included in Note 12 
to the financial statements. Similarly, those investments which may not have qualified as an associate but fall within the 
wider scope of significant holdings and so are subject to Section 409 disclosure acts are also included in Note 12 to the 
financial statements.

WLSIF is considered neither a subsidiary (as detailed in Note 2(A)) nor an associate, as the Group does not have a 20-50% 
interest in the entity nor considered to have significant influence.

C. Adoption of new and revised standards
Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for 31 December 2021 
reporting periods and have not been early adopted by the Group. These standards are not expected to have a material 
impact on the Group in the current or future reporting periods or on foreseeable future transactions. 

D. Revenue recognition
Revenue is generated from fund management fees, and from board adviser fees. Fund management fees are earned as a 
percentage of funds managed and are recognised in the period in which these services are provided. Board adviser fees are 
recognised on an accruals basis. 

E. Foreign currency translation
The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated to Group’s presentational currency (British pounds sterling) 
at foreign exchange rates ruling at the period-end date. The revenues and expenses of foreign operations are translated 
at an average rate for the period where this rate approximates to the foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates of the 
transactions. Exchange differences arising from this translation of foreign operations are reported as an item of other 
comprehensive income and accumulated in the translation reserve. Foreign exchange movements on Investments held 
at fair value are reported within Change in fair value of investments on the face of the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income. This was a presentational change in 2020, these movements having previously been presented 
within foreign exchange movements on the face of the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. An amount 
of £3.8 million has been reclassified at 31 December 2020. Foreign exchange differences arising from other items are 
disclosed separately on face of the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. 

F. Leases
A lease liability is recognised representing the present value of the remaining lease payments and a related right of use 
asset. Right of use assets are measured at the amount equal to the lease liability. There were no onerous lease contracts 
that would have required an adjustment to the right of use assets at the date of initial application, although one right of 
use asset has subsequently been impaired, in line with IFRS 16.

G. Exceptional items
Items that are material in size and unusual in nature are disclosed separately to provide a more accurate indication of 
underlying performance.

89

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCOther informationStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsNotes to the financial statements continued

2. Accounting Policies continued
H. Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. 
Cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. Depreciation is calculated using the 
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets: 

Office equipment
Fixtures and fittings
Office furniture
Leasehold property

Three years
Five years
Five years
Five years

I. Financial assets
The Arix Group classifies its financial assets as either at fair value through profit or loss or amortised cost. The 
classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets have been acquired and is determined on initial 
recognition.

Amortised cost assets are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not listed in an 
active market. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the end of the 
reporting period, which are classified as non-current assets. The Arix Group’s loans and receivables comprise trade and 
other receivables and cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

Regular purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on the trade date – the date on which the Arix Group 
commits to purchase or sell the asset. Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the 
investments have expired or have been transferred and the Arix Group has transferred substantially all risks and rewards 
of ownership.

Equity investments
Those investments in the Arix Group that are held with a view to the ultimate realisation of capital gains are recognised 
as equity investments within the scope of IFRS 9 and are classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. 
This includes investments in associated undertakings, as per Note 12, and investment subsidiaries. When financial assets 
are initially recognised they are measured at fair value. They are subsequently remeasured at their fair value if a valuation 
event occurs. 

Valuation of investments
The fair value of the Group’s investments is determined using International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation 
Guidelines December 2018 (“IPEV Guidelines”), which comply with IFRS.

The fair value of listed investments is based on bid prices at the period end date.

Upon investment, the fair value of unlisted securities is recognised at cost. Similarly, following a further funding round with 
participation by at least one third party, the price paid by the external investor is generally considered to represent the 
investment’s fair value at the transaction date, although the specific terms and circumstances of each funding round must 
always be considered.

Following the transaction date, each investment is observed for objective evidence of an increase or impairment in its 
value. This reflects the fact that investments made in seed, start-up and early stage biotech companies often have 
no current and no short-term future revenues or positive cash flows; in such circumstances, it can be difficult to gauge 
the probability and financial impact of the success or failure of development or research activities and to make reliable 
cash flow forecasts. As such, the Group carries out an enhanced assessment based on milestone analysis, which seeks 
to determine whether there is an indication of a change in fair value based on changes to the company’s prospects. A 
milestone event may include, but is not limited to, technical measures, such as clinical trial progress; financial measures, 
such as a company’s availability of cash; and market measures, such as licensing agreements agreed by the company. 
Indicators of impairment might include significant delays to clinical progress, technical complications or financial 
difficulties. Often qualitative milestones provide a directional indication of the movement of fair value. Calibrating such 
milestones may result in a fair value equal to the transaction value. Any ultimate change in valuation reflects the assessed 
impact of the progress against milestones and the consequential impact on a potential future external valuation point, 
such as a future funding round or initial public offering.

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When forming a view of the fair value of its investment, the Arix Group takes into account circumstances where an 
investment’s equity structure involves different class rights on a sale or liquidity event.

The valuation metrics used in these financial statements are discussed in Note 12.

Although the Directors use their best judgement, there are inherent limitations in any valuation techniques. Whilst fair value 
estimates presented herein attempt to present the amount the Arix Group could realise in a current transaction, the final 
realisation may be different, as future events will also affect the current estimates of fair value. The effects of such events on 
the estimates of fair value, including the ultimate realisation of investments, could be material to the financial statements.

Treatment of gains and losses arising on fair value
Realised and unrealised gains and losses on financial assets at fair value through profit and loss are included in the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income in the period in which they arise.

Recognition of financial assets
Purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on trade-date, the date on which the Group commits to purchase 
or sell the asset. Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the financial assets have 
expired or have been transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership.

Loans and receivables are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Impairment of financial assets
At the end of each reporting period the Group assesses whether there is objective evidence that its loans and other 
receivables are impaired. The amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and 
the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate. The 
asset’s carrying amount is reduced through the use of an allowance account and the amount of the loss is recognised in 
the Statement of Comprehensive Income within administrative expenses. If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the 
impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was 
recognised, the reversal of the previously recognised impairment loss is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income within administrative expenses. The Group’s financial assets that are subject to IFRS 9’s expected credit loss model 
are its loans and receivables, cash and cash equivalents and cash on long-term deposit. The identified impairment loss is 
considered immaterial.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset the recognised amounts 
and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. The legally 
enforceable right must not be contingent on future events and must be enforceable in the normal course of business and in 
the event of default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Arix Group or the counterparty. Where these conditions are met, the 
net amount is reported in the Statement of Financial Position.

J. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and in hand and call deposits. Cash on long-term deposit comprises cash 
held on term deposit for a period of at least three months.

K. Goodwill and intangible assets
Intangibles were acquired by the Arix Group as part of the acquisition of Arix Capital Management Limited and Arthurian 
Life Sciences SPV GP Limited.

It is the policy of the Arix Group to amortise these fair values over the period in which the Arix Group is expected to obtain 
economic benefit from the related intangible assets. The excess of consideration transferred over the fair value of net 
identifiable assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If those amounts are less than the fair value of the net identifiable 
assets of the business acquired, the difference is recognised directly in the Statement of Comprehensive Income as a 
bargain purchase. The asset is assessed for impairment periodically and marked down appropriately if an indication of 
impairment is noted.

L. Share capital
Ordinary Shares and Series C Shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments issued by the Arix Group are recorded at 
the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

Own shares represent shares of Arix Bioscience plc that are held by an employee share trust for the purpose of fulfilling 
obligations in respect of various employee share plans. Own shares are treated as a deduction from equity until the shares 
are cancelled, reissued or disposed of. When they vest, they are transferred from own shares to retained earnings at their 
weighted average cost.

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2. Accounting Policies continued
M. Trade payables
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from 
suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less (or in the normal 
operating cycle of the business if longer).

If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade payables are initially recognised at fair value, generally being the invoiced amount and are subsequently measured at 
amortised cost, using the effective interest method.

N. Current and deferred taxation
The tax expense for the year comprises current tax and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance 
sheet date in the countries where the Arix Group operates and generates taxable income. Management periodically 
evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to 
interpretation. It establishes provisions where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax 
authorities.

Deferred income tax is recognised on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and 
their carrying amounts in the balance sheets, using the liability method. However, the deferred income tax is not accounted 
for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the 
time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred income tax is determined using tax 
rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the Statement of Financial Position date and are 
expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.

Deferred income tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available 
against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets 
against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the 
same taxation authority on either the taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the 
balances on a net basis.

O. Share-based payments
The Arix Group operates an equity incentive plan and an executive share option plan in which the Group’s founders 
also participate. Share options must be measured at fair value and recognised as an expense in the Statement of 
Comprehensive Income with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value of the option is estimated at the date 
of grant using a Black-Scholes Model or Monte Carlo simulation and is charged as an expense in the Statement of 
Comprehensive Income over the vesting period. Where relevant, the charge is adjusted each year to reflect the expected 
and actual level of vesting. Estimation uncertainty arises with this balance as the calculation incorporates assumptions for 
share price, exercise price, expected volatility (based on similar listed companies), risk-free interest rate and share option 
term. Further detail on Share-based Payments is available in Note 19.

P. Other reserves
Other reserves relate to a Translation Reserve, for foreign exchange differences which arise on the translation of foreign 
operations; and a reserve relating to the issue of shares by the Company’s Employee Benefit Trust upon vesting of 
employee share schemes.

Q. Treasury share reserve
The Treasury Share Reserve comprises the cost of the Company’s shares bought under the share buyback programme. 

R. Financial risk management
The Arix Group is exposed to market risk, interest rate risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The senior management oversees 
the management of these risks and ensures that the financial risk taking is governed by appropriate policies and 
procedures and that financial risks are identified, measured and managed in accordance with the Arix Group’s policies and 
risk appetite.

The Board of Directors review and agree the policies for managing each of these risks, which are summarised below:

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Market risk
Foreign exchange risk – the Arix Group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from 
various currency exposures, primarily with respect to the US dollar and euros. Foreign exchange risk arises from future 
commercial transactions, recognised assets and liabilities and net investments in foreign operations. The Arix Group has 
certain investments whose net assets are exposed to foreign currency translation risk; at period-end the Arix Group held 
US dollar-denominated assets valued at $131.0m and euro-denominated assets valued at €24.7m. A 10% appreciation in 
each currency would have a £11.8m positive impact on Arix’s Income Statement; a 10% depreciation would have a £11.8m 
negative impact on Arix’s income statement. The impact of foreign exchange on these holdings is closely monitored.

Price risk – the Arix Group is exposed to equity securities price risk because investments are held at fair value through profit 
or loss.

The Group’s strategy is to deploy long-term capital into innovative companies which have novel, high-impact outcomes; 
Arix believes that such companies are less susceptible to macroeconomic cycles. The Group monitors the availability of its 
capital closely, ensuring sufficient balances are available for the continuing operation of the business throughout the period 
assessed in the viability statement.

Interest rate risk
Cash flow interest rate risk is the risk that the future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes 
in market interest rates. Fair value interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value of a financial instrument will fluctuate 
due to changes in market interest rates.

The Arix Group’s income is substantially independent of changes in market interest rates. Interest-bearing assets include 
only cash and cash equivalents and cash on long-term deposit, which earn interest at variable rates. The Arix Group has 
a treasury policy to manage cash and cash equivalents. In the year ended 31 December 2021, a 10% change in underlying 
interest rates would have impacted Arix’s finance income by £16k (2020: £10k).

Credit risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the 
Arix Group. The major classes of financial assets of the Arix Group are cash and cash equivalents (£134m (2020: £112m)); 
cash on long-term deposit £nil (2020:£62m); and trade and other receivables (£1.8m (2020: £1.4m)).

Risk of counterparty default arising on cash and cash equivalents is controlled within a framework of dealing with high 
quality institutions.

As at 31 December 2021, 100% of cash and cash equivalents was deposited with institutions that have a short-term credit 
rating of at least F1, according to Fitch Ratings.

No counterparty has failed to meet its obligations over the period. The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented 
by the carrying amount of each asset. Management does not expect any significant counterparty to fail to meet its 
obligations.

Liquidity risk
The Arix Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining sufficient cash to enable it to meet its operational requirements. 
The following table details the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its financial liabilities based on undiscounted 
contractual payments: 

Trade, Other Payables and Accruals (excluding non-financial liabilities)

Within 
one year 
£’000

1,600

Total 
£’000

1,600

Capital risk management
The Arix Group manages its capital to ensure that it will be able to continue as a going concern, whilst also maximising the 
operating potential of the business. The capital structure of the Arix Group consists of equity attributable to equity holders 
of the Arix Group, comprising issued capital and retained earnings as disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Changes 
in Equity. The Arix Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

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3. Revenue

Fund management fee income
Other income

2021
£’000

321
19

340

2020
£’000

346
131

477

The total revenue for the Arix Group has been derived from its principal activity of investing in breakthrough biotechnology 
companies. All of this revenue relates to trading undertaken in the United Kingdom.

4. Segmental Information
Information for the purposes of resource allocation and assessment of performance is reported to the Arix Group’s Chief 
Executive Officer, who is considered to be the chief operating decision-maker, based wholly on the overall activities of the 
Arix Group. Although Arix makes investments globally, these are considered by one Investment Committee and reported 
internally as a single portfolio. It has therefore been determined that the Arix Group has only one reportable segment 
under IFRS 8 (“Operating Segments”), which is that of sourcing, financing and developing healthcare and life science 
businesses globally. The Arix Group’s revenue, results and assets for this one reportable segment can be determined by 
reference to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. 
The geographic split of the portfolio is shown on page 2.

5. (Loss)/Profit Before Taxation

Amortisation
Depreciation
Impairment of intangible asset

Auditors’ remuneration

Statutory audit services
Fees payable for the audit of the Arix Group accounts
Fees payable for the audit of the accounts of subsidiaries of the Arix 
Group

Non-audit services

Other assurance and advisory services

Total auditors’ remuneration

2021
£’000

(144)
(65)
–

2020
£’000

(217)
(116)
(159)

97
43

20

160

92
41

25

158

Non-audit services in the year relate to the Arix Bioscience plc interim review (£16k) and an FCA Client Asset Report (£4k) 
(2020:interim review £20k; FCA Client Asset Report £4k).

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The administrative expenses charge broken down by nature is as follows:

Employment costs
Recruitment costs
Consultancy fees
Other expenses

7. Net Finance Income

Bank interest
Bank charges

8. Exceptional costs

Shareholder engagement costs
Restructuring costs

Total exceptional costs

2021
£’000

3,070
169
25
1,805

5,069

2021
£’000

156
–

156

2021
£’000

1,032
458

1,490

2020
£’000

5,066
46
54
2,597

7,763

2020
£’000

101
–

101

2020
£’000

–
–

–

Items that are of exceptional size or material in size and unusual in nature are included in administrative expenses and 
disclosed separately to provide a more accurate indication of underlying performance.

The shareholder engagement process resulted in a change to the composition of the Board. Restructuring costs include the 
costs of separation pay and payments in lieu of notice.

9. Employee Costs
Employee costs (including Directors) comprise:

Salary and bonus
Social security costs
Pension and benefits costs
Employee costs excluding share-based payments

Share-based payments (Note 19)

2021
£’000

2,735
200
135
3,070

(266)

2,804

2020
£’000

4,445
418
203
5,066

25

5,091

The average number of employees during the year was 11 (2020: 14) (investment team: 5 (2020: 6); non-investment team: 
6 (2020: 8)).

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10. Income Tax

Current year tax charge

Current tax
Deferred tax – current year
Deferred tax – effect of change in tax rates
Adjustment in respect of previous periods

Total tax charge

Reconciliation of tax charge

(Loss)/profit before tax
Expected tax based on 19.00% (2020: 19.00%)

Effects of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Adjustment in respect of previous periods
Income not taxable
Tax rate changes
Employee share options
Deferred tax not recognised

Total tax charge

Recognised deferred tax provisions

Brought forward
Adjustments in respect of prior year
Relating to profit and loss

Carried forward

Represented by:

Unutilised tax losses
ACAs
Intangibles
Employee benefits
Investments
Other timing differences

Unrecognised deferred tax provisions

Unutilised tax losses
Priority profit share outstanding
Other timing differences

96

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

–
–
–
–

–

–
207
(185)
(22)

–

(61,084)
(11,606)

126,301
23,997

10,765
–
(434)
–
(51)
1,326

–

–

–
–
–

–

(3,461)
–
–
–
3,462
(1)

–

(11,390)
363
(8,565)

(19,592)

2,489
(185)
(26,706)
(22)
(789)
1,216

–

–

–
(185)
185

–

(925)
–
–
–
926
(1)

–

(6,443)
95
(1,179)

(7,527)

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The corporation tax rate for the year was 19%. The UK corporation tax rate will increase from 19% to 25% from 1 April 
2023. This change has been enacted at the balance sheet date and therefore the deferred tax assets and liabilities as at 31 
December 2021 have been measured using the rates that would be expected to apply in the periods when the underlying 
timing differences, on which deferred tax is recognised, are expected to unwind. The Group is subject to UK corporation tax 
on the majority of its activities, which can include gains arising on investments. However, where possible the Group aims 
to take advantage of the UK’s Substantial Shareholding Exemption (“SSE”), which exempts taxable gains or losses arising 
from the disposal of shares, where certain conditions are met. Where SSE has been applied in prior years, the Directors 
have taken what they consider to be all necessary steps to support the determination that these gains and losses in the 
Arix portfolio qualify for SSE, including close collaboration with their appointed tax advisers and further consultation and 
receipt of written opinion from a Queen’s Counsel Barrister at a leading tax chambers. The Directors continue to believe 
that the application of SSE to the tax computation remains appropriate.

11. (Loss)/Earnings per Share
During 2021, the Group undertook a share buyback programme and this resulted in 6,428,853 shares being held in treasury 
at the time that the programme was suspended, on 18 October 2021. As at 31 December 2021 the Group had 129,180,800 
ordinary shares in issue (2020: 135,609,653).

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to equity holders of Arix Bioscience plc by the 
weighted average number of enfranchised shares (as adjusted for capital subscription in accordance with the terms of the 
restrictive share agreement) in issue during the period.

Potentially dilutive ordinary shares include options and conditional share awards issued under the Company’s long term 
incentive plans. At the year end date, the weighted average number of shares in relation to: (i) options and conditional 
share awards was 4,398,713; and (ii) ordinary shares subject to restrictions was 5,080,582. Restricted ordinary shares are 
not entitled to vote, attend meetings or to receive dividends or other distributions. Consequently, they have been excluded 
from the calculation of the weighted average number of shares in issue.

(Loss)/profit attributable to equity holders of Arix Bioscience plc
Weighted average number of shares in issue for the purposes of basic earnings per 
share
Weighted average number of shares in issue for the purposes of diluted earnings per 
share
Basic (loss)/earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share

* n/a as anti-dilutive.

As at 
31 December
2021
£’000

As at 
31 December
2020
£’000

(60,993)
126,950,904

126,076
130,499,853

136,430,200

142,340,844

(48.0)p
n/a*

96.6p
88.6p

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12. Investments

At 1 January 2021
Additions
Disposals
Transfers
Impairment
Change in fair value
Foreign exchange losses

At 31 December 2021

Level 1 – 
Listed
Investments
£’000

Level 3 – 
Unlisted
Investments
£’000

95,712
15,277
(30,530)
26,908
–
(43,210)
(459)

63,698

58,704
43,944
(8,554)
(26,908)
(5,943)
(3,308)
(998)

56,937

Total
£’000

154,416
59,221
(39,084)
–
(5,943)
(46,518)
(1,457)

120,635

Transfers from Level 3 to Level 1 reflects companies which have listed during the year, being Aura Biosciences Inc and 
Pyxis Oncology Inc during 2021. Level 3 investments are valued with reference to either the most recent funding round 
(£53.3m, 2020: £22.9m); net asset value (£1.0m, 2020: £1.1m); market-based write-up (£nil, 2020: £31.2m); discretionary 
write-down (£1.4m, 2020: £1.3m) or deferred consideration (£1.2m, 2020: £2.2m). See Note 2(I) for further details on the 
valuation of Level 3 investments.

The Group’s milestone valuation approach cannot be readily sensitised and therefore the Group has not disclosed sensitiv-
ity analysis for Level 3 inputs. A 10% movement in the share price of Level 1 inputs would resulting a £6.4m (2020: £9.5m) 
movement in the investment portfolio value. 

Equity investments – 2020

Level 1 – 
Listed
Investments
£’000

Level 3 – 
Unlisted
Investments
£’000

87,844
13,487
(18,821)
11,707
112
7,278
(5,895)

95,712

64,077
11,127
(138,707)
(11,707)
–
139,903
(5,989)

58,704

Total
£’000

151,921
24,614
(157,528)
–
112
147,181
(11,884)

154,416

At 1 January 2020
Additions
Disposals
Transfers
Capitalisations
Change in fair value
Foreign exchange losses

At 31 December 2020

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As permitted by IAS 28 ‘Investment in Associates’ and in accordance with the Arix Group accounting policy, investments 
are held at fair value even though the Arix Group may have significant influence over the companies. Significant influence is 
determined to exist when the Group holds more than 20% of the holding or when less than 20% is held but in combination 
with a certain level of board representation is deemed to be able to exert significant influence. As at 31 December 2021, 
the Arix Group is deemed to have significant influence over the following entities:

Company

Country of 
Incorporation

Registered 
Address

Depixus SAS (EUR) France

3-5 Impasse 
Reille, 75014 Paris

United States 6 Northridge 

Sorriso 
Pharmaceuticals Inc 
(USD)

STipe Therapeutics 
Aps (EUR)

Denmark

Twelve Bio ApS 
(EUR)

Denmark

Way Sandy, UT 
84092 US

Inge Lehmans 
Gade 10, Aarhus 
Centrum, 8000 
Aarhus, Denmark

Ole Maaloes 
Vej 3, 2200 
Copenhagen, 
Denmark

% of Issued 
Share Capital 
Held

Net Assets 
of Company

Profit/(Loss) 
of Company

21.4%

€3,109k

€(967)k

26.0%

N/A

N/A

17.8%

€3,764k

€(3,868)k

49.0%

€1,517k

€(671)k

Date of 
Financial 
Information

31 December 
2019
Not publicly
available

31 December
2020

16 months to
31 December
 2020

In addition, at 31 December 2021, the Group held the following investments in companies where it is not considered to have 
significant influence:

Company

Artios Pharma Limited
Atox Bio, Inc.
Aura Biosciences, Inc.
Autolus Therapeutics plc
Disc Medicine Inc.
Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc.
GenSight Biologics SA
Imara, Inc.
Iterum Therapeutics Limited
LogicBio Therapeutics, Inc.
Pyxis Oncology Inc.

Contractural
Board seat

Arix executive 
on Board

% of Issued 
Share Capital
Held

Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N

Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
Y

9.9%
6.4%
5.5%
0.7%
4.2%
6.7%
2.9%
8.9%
0.7%
8.9%
5.3%

The Arix Group has an interest in one structured entity, The Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund (registered address: 
Sophia House, 28 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, Wales, CF11 9LJ). The fund has interests in Welsh life sciences opportunities. 
A structured entity is an entity that is structured in such a way that voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in 
deciding who controls the entity. The Arix Group is not deemed to have control over this fund for the reasons disclosed in 
Note 2(A). The Group’s interest is £1.0m (2020: £1.1m).

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13. Intangible Assets

Brought forward
Amortisation
Impairment in period

Year Ended 
31 December
2021
£’000

Year Ended 
31 December
2020
£’000

312
(144)
–

168

688
(217)
(159)

312

An intangible asset arose on Arix Bioscience plc’s acquisition of Arthurian Life Sciences entities, relating to management 
fees due to Arix Capital Management Limited as a result of managing The Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund. At the 
date of acquisition, the fees for the remaining life of the fund were calculated and then amortised over the remaining life 
of the fund. The expected fees to be received over the remaining life of the fund were reduced during 2020, resulting in an 
impairment to the asset in that year.

14. Property, Plant and Equipment
Year ended 31 December 2021

Fixtures and
Fittings
£’000

Leasehold 
Improvements
£’000

Office 
Equipment
£’000

36
96
–
(55)

77

5
–
–
(5)

–

8
5
–
(5)

8

Fixtures and
Fittings
£’000

Leasehold 
Improvements
£’000

Office 
Equipment
£’000

138
–
–
(102)

36

15
–
–
(10)

5

7
7
(2)
(4)

8

Total
£’000

49
101
–
(65)

85

Total
£’000

160
7
(2)
(116)

49

As at 1 January 2021
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation charge

At 31 December 2021

Year ended 31 December 2020

As at 1 January 2020
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation charge

At 31 December 2020

100

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Trade receivables
Prepayments
VAT receivable

As at 
31 December
2021
£’000

As at 
31 December
2020
£’000

1,656
148
35

1,839

1,130
236
12

1,378

Trade and other receivables are recognised at amortised cost in accordance with IFRS 9, which includes the requirement to 
calculate expected credit losses. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each 
asset class listed above and the fair value is akin to book value. The Arix Group does not hold any collateral as security.

16. Cash and Cash Equivalents and Cash on Long-Term Deposit

Cash at bank and in hand
Cash on long-term deposit

As at 
31 December
2021
£’000

As at 
31 December
2020
£’000

134,230
-

134,230

112,085
62,276

174,361

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and cash on long-term deposit approximates to its fair value.

17. Trade and Other Payables
The carrying values of trade and other payables approximates their fair value.

Trade payables
Accruals and other payables

18. Share Capital and Share Premium

Allotted and called up
129,180,800 Ordinary Shares of £0.00001 each (2020: 135,609,653 shares)
49,671 Series C Shares of £1 each (2019: 49,671 shares)
Share Premium

6,428,853 shares were held in Treasury at 31 December 2021 (2020: nil).

As at 
31 December
2021
£’000

As at 
31 December
2020
£’000

77
1,523

1,600

3
2,232

2,235

As at 
31 December
2021
£’000

As at 
31 December
2020
£’000

1
50
188,534

1
50
188,534

101

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCOther informationStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsNotes to the financial statements continued

19. Share Options
During 2021, share-based payment (credits)/expenses have been recognised relating to a range of share schemes operated 
by the Arix Group.

Executive Incentive Plan 2017
Executive Incentive Plan 2018
Executive Incentive Plan 2019
Executive Incentive Plan 2020
Executive Incentive Plan 2021
Executive Share Option Plan
Non-Executive Director Awards

Year Ended 
31 December
2021
£’000

Year Ended 
31 December
2020
£’000

–
(186)
(108)
(14)
42
–
–

(266)

173
(415)
(143)
334
–
26
50

25

Executive Incentive Plan
The Arix Group operates an Executive Incentive Plan for Executive Directors and certain employees of the Company.

In May 2018, the former Executive Directors and certain employees were awarded options or conditional awards which, 
in case of options, will become exercisable at nil cost and, in the case of the conditional share awards, were scheduled to 
vest at nil cost on the third anniversary of their grant, on 17 May 2021, subject to performance criteria. This required the 
share price to have grown by a set percentage over the assessment period, with the quantum of shares vesting dependent 
on the level of share price growth; all options lapsed during the year due to performance conditions not being met (2020: 
unvested 769,515). In the year ended 31 December 2021, a share-based payment credit of £186k (2020: credit £415k) was 
recognised in relation to the Executive Incentive Plan.

In May 2019, the former Executive Directors and certain employees were awarded options or conditional awards which, in 
case of options, will become exercisable at nil cost and, in the case of the conditional share awards, will vest at nil cost at 
the end of the three year performance period, subject to performance criteria. This required the net asset value and the 
share price to have grown a minimum of 7% pa compound over the assessment period to 1 January 2022, and up to 15% 
pa compound to achieve 100% of the award. All options lapsed during the year due to performance conditions not being 
met. In the year ended 31 December 2021, a share-based payment credit of £108k (2020: credit £143k) was recognised in 
relation to the Executive Incentive Plan.

In June 2020, the Executive Directors and certain employees were awarded options or conditional awards which, in case 
of options, will become exercisable at nil cost and, in the case of the conditional share awards, will vest at nil cost at the 
end of the three year performance period, subject to performance criteria. This requires the net asset value and the share 
price to have grown by a minimum of 7% pa compound over the assessment period to 1 January 2023, and up to 21% 
pa compound to achieve 100% of the award. 1,658,441 are unvested at year end (2020: unvested 3,414,241) £14k (2020: 
charge £334k) was recognised in relation to the Executive Incentive Plan. 

In August 2021, the Executive Directors and certain employees were awarded options or conditional awards which, in case 
of options, will become exercisable at nil cost and, in the case of the conditional share awards, will vest at nil cost at the 
end of the three year performance period, subject to performance criteria. This requires the net asset value and the share 
price to have grown by a minimum of 7% pa compound over the assessment period to 1 January 2024, and up to 15% pa 
compound to achieve 100% of the award. 408,460 were issued in the period, all of which are unvested at year-end. In 
the year ended 31 December 2021, a share-based payment charge of £42k (2020: £nil) was recognised in relation to the 
Executive Incentive Plan. The charge relating to net asset value growth was calculated based upon the share price at grant 
of £1.82, and the assessed likelihood of vesting (2021: 50%). The charge relating to share price growth was calculated using 
a Monte Carlo simulation model, using assumptions relating to share price at grant (£1.82); risk free interest rate (-0.08%); 
time to vesting (2 years and 6 months); and expected volatility based on comparable listed investments 23.5%).

102

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Executive Share Option Plan and Founder Incentive Shares
At the Arix Group’s inception, an Executive Share Option Plan was in operation, in which two Directors participated. 
Options were granted on 8 February 2016 with an original exercise price of £1.80 per ordinary share. This was subsequently 
amended for one Director, with the exercise price reducing by £0.18. The number of ordinary shares subject to the options 
totals 5,520,559. The options vested in four equal proportions on 8 February of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The options 
may not be exercised after the tenth anniversary of the grant date and it will lapse on that date if it has not lapsed or been 
exercised in full before then. All options vest at the end of the vesting period relating to that option or on the occurrence of a 
contingent event; these include a change of control or cessation of employment in accordance with ‘good leaver’ provisions.

No options have been exercised to date. In the year ended 31 December 2021, a share-based payment charge of £nil 
(2020: £26k) was recognised in relation to the Executive Share Option Plan, calculated using the Black–Scholes model. 
Assumptions used in the model relating to the risk free interest rate and expected volatility were unchanged from those 
used in the prior period.

Restricted shares with identical terms, including a £1.80 price for the lifting of restrictions, were offered to the founders of 
the Company, totalling 5,080,582 shares. A charge of £nil was recognised in the year ended 31 December 2021 (2020: £nil). 
The charge was calculated using the Black–Scholes model. Assumptions used in the model relating to the risk free interest 
rate and expected volatility were unchanged from those used in the prior period.

Non-Executive Director Awards
In the prior year, certain Non-Executive Directors received a one-off share award. None were awarded in 2021. A share 
based payment charge of £nil (2020: £50k) was recognised during the period.

20. Net Cash From Operating Activities

(Loss)/profit before income tax

Adjustments for:
Change in fair value of investments
Impairment of investments   
Foreign exchange losses

Share-based payment 
Depreciation and amortisation
Impairment of assets
Finance income

Changes in working capital
Increase in trade and other receivables
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables

Cash used in operations

Year Ended 
31 December
2021
£’000

Year Ended 
31 December
2020
£’000

(61,084)

126,301

47,975
5,943
1,328

(266)
209
–
(156)

(461)
(782)

(7,294)

(135,297)
–
1,619

25
335
167
(101)

(272)
390

(6,833)

21. Financial Commitments
The Group has amounts committed to portfolio companies but not yet invested; at 31 December 2021 these totalled 
£5.6m (2020: £9.3m).

103

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCOther informationStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsNotes to the financial statements continued

22. Financial Instruments
Financial Assets
The Arix Group has other receivables and cash that derive directly from its operations. Financial assets at fair value 
through profit or loss are measured as either Level 1 or Level 3 under the fair value hierarchy, as described in Note 2(i) and 
disclosed in Note 12.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Equity and loan note investments
Other receivables (excluding prepayments)
Long-term cash on deposit
Cash and cash equivalents

As at 
31 December
2021
£’000

As at 
31 December
2020
£’000

120,635
1,656
–
134,230

154,416
1,130
62,276
112,085

The credit quality of financial assets that are neither past due nor impaired can be assessed by reference to external 
credit ratings (if available) or to historical information about counterparty default rates. The Arix Group’s cash and cash 
equivalents are deposited with F1 or above rated institutions. Investments and other receivables do not have a credit 
rating. However, the Group does not believe these to be past due nor impaired.

Financial Liabilities
The Arix Group’s principal financial liabilities comprise trade and other payables. The primary purpose of these financial 
liabilities is to finance the operations.

Trade, other payables and accruals (excluding non-financial liabilities)
Lease liability

As at 
31 December
2021
£’000

As at 
31 December
2020
£’000

1,600
121

2,235
268

23. Related Party Transactions
During the period, key management has comprised Executive Directors, whose remuneration is disclosed in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report.

104

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The emerging conflict in Ukraine that has developed since year end may have widespread ramifications for Europe, 
including the effect of Sanctions on Russia. In particular this may lead to additional volatility in the public markets. 

In January 2022, $1.6m (£1.2m) was realised from Aura Biosciences Inc. Arix’s stake in the company now totals 5.2%.

In January 2022, $2.1m (£1.6m) was realised from Autolus therapeutics Inc. Arix is now totally divested.

During January to April 2022, €1.9 m (£1.6m) was realised from GenSight Biologics Inc. Arix has now exited this investment.

During January to April 2022, $0.9m (£0.7m) was realised from LogicBio Therapeutics Inc. Arix’s stake in the company as 
at the last practical date before signing totals 5.6%. On 2 February 2022, LogicBio announced that the U.S. Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) had notified the company that its Phase 1/2 SUNRISE clinical trial of LB-001 in paediatric patients 
with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) has been placed on clinical hold.

In February 2022, Atox Bio Inc received a final decision from the FDA, and it has denied the submission of an NDA for NSTI.

In April 2022 Imara Inc announced interim analyses of tovinontrine Phase 2b clinical trials in sickle cell disease and beta-
thalassemia. Following these results, Imara decided to discontinue both Phase 2b clinical trials and terminate any further 
development of tovinontrine in sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia.

In April 2022, following a review by the Board, the investment in Pyxis Oncology was exited, realising $5.2m (£4.1m).

Following market purchases since 31 December 2021, Arix has a new holding in each of the companies listed below:

Listed on Nasdaq

Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc.
Bolt Bio Therapeutics Inc.
Cullinan Oncology Inc.
Dyne Therapeutics Inc.
Edgewise Therapeutics Inc.
Inozyme Pharma Inc.
Kinnate Biopharma Inc.
Kronos Bio Inc
Olema Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Prelude Therapeutics Inc.
Silverback Therapeutics Inc.
TCR2 Therapeutics Inc.

No. of shares

Cost £

Percentage 
ownership

 481,900 
 118,500 
 66,500 
 155,100 
 50,200 
151,006 
 190,000 
 149,000 
 610,000 
 150,000 
 470,300 
 465,000 

 1,482,061 
 330,367 
556,615 
 866,838 
 313,732 
652,894 
 1,495,868 
 808,931 
 2,521,731 
 1,158,895 
 1,598,857 
 1,114,384 

1.3%
0.3%
0.2%
0.3%
0.1%
0.6%
0.4%
0.3%
1.5%
0.3%
1.3%
1.2%

105

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCOther informationStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsCompany statement of financial position
As at 31 December 2021

Note

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

2
4

3
3

891
57,164

58,055

130,232
–
72

130,304

188,359

891
29,927

30,818

110,581
62,276
38

172,895

203,713

(566)

(475)

(566)

(475)

187,793

203,238

188,585
(3,586)
16,584
(13,790)

187,793

188,585
(4,148)
20,998
(2,197)

203,238

ASSETS
Non-current assets

Investments in subsidiary undertakings
Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash on long-term deposit
Trade and other receivables

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables

TOTAL LIABILITIES

NET ASSETS

EQUITY

Share capital and share premium
Loss for the period
Retained earnings
Other reserves

TOTAL EQUITY

106

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For the year 31 December 2021

As at 1 January 2021

Loss for the year
Share-based payment
Acquisition of own shares
Issue of own shares to employees

Share 
Capital and
Premium
£’000

188,585

–
–
–
–

Other 
Equity
£’000

(1,240)

–
–
–
24

Other
Reserves
£’000

Treasury
 Share
Reserve
£’000

Retained 
Earnings
£’000

Total
£’000

(957)

–

16,850

203,238

–
–
–
(24)

–
–
(11,593)
–

(3,586)
(266)
–
–

(3,586)
(266)
(11,593)
–

As at 31 December 2021

188,585

(1,216)

(981)

(11,593)

12,998

187,793

The Treasury Share Reserve has been established during the year to reflect the cost of the Company’s shares bought 
under the share buyback programme.

For the year 31 December 2020

As at 1 January 2020
Loss for the year
Share-based payment
Acquisition of own shares
Issue of own shares to employees

As at 31 December 2020

Share 
Capital and
Premium
£’000

188,585
–
–
–
–

188,585

Other 
Equity
£’000

(1,754)
–
–
–
514

(1,240)

Other
Reserves
£’000

Treasury
 Share
Reserve
£’000

(443)
–
–
–
(514)

(957)

–
–
–
–
–

–

Retained 
Earnings
£’000

20,973
(4,148)
25
–
–

Total
£’000

207,361
(4,148)
25
–
–

16,850

203,238

107

Job No: 46255Proof Event: 17Black Line Level: 8Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: Arix BioscienceProject Title: Annual ReportT: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600ANNUAL REPORT 2021 ARIX BIOSCIENCE PLCOther informationStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsNotes to the Company financial statements

1. Accounting Policies
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure 
Framework (“FRS 101”).

In preparing these financial statements, the Company applies the recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements 
of International Financial Reporting Standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and 
prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards. The Company has set out below where 
advantage of the FRS 101 disclosure exemptions has been taken.

Under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 the Company is exempt from the requirement to present its own profit and 
loss account. In these financial statements, the Company has applied the exemptions available under FRS 101 in respect of 
the following disclosures:

Statement of Cash Flows and related notes; disclosures in respect of transactions with wholly owned subsidiaries; 
disclosures in respect of capital management; the effects of new but not yet effective IFRSs; and disclosures of 
transactions with a management entity that provides key management personnel services to the Company.

As the consolidated financial statements include the equivalent disclosures, the Company has also taken the exemptions 
under FRS 101 available in respect of the following disclosures: IFRS 2 Share Based Payments; certain disclosures required 
by IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement; and the disclosures required by IFRS 7 Financial Instrument Disclosures.

The Company proposes to continue to adopt the reduced disclosure framework of FRS 101 in its next financial statements. 
The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently. Where relevant, the accounting policies of the Arix 
Group have been applied to the Company.

Investments in subsidiary undertakings
Unlisted investments are held at cost less any provision for impairment.

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings
All amounts due from subsidiary undertakings are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at 
amortised cost. Amounts provided to subsidiaries are intended for use on a continuing basis in the Company’s activities, 
with no intention of their settlement in the foreseeable future; as such, they are presented as non-current fixed assets.

2. Non-Current Fixed Assets

Opening balance
Additions
Disposals

At 31 December

2021
£’000

891
–
–

891

2020
£’000

891
–
–

891

The Company’s subsidiary undertakings are detailed in Note 2(B) to the Group financial statements.

3. Cash and Cash Equivalents and Cash on Long-Term Deposit

Cash at bank and in hand
Cash on long-term deposit

As at 
31 December
2021
£’000

As at 
31 December
2020
£’000

130,232
–

110,581
62,276

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and cash on long-term deposit approximates to its fair value.

108

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Opening balance
Net additions/(repayments) during the year
Impairments during the year

At 31 December

As at 
31 December
2021
£’000

As at 
31 December
2020
£’000

29,927
27,237
–

57,164

157,061
(127,134)
–

29,927

The amounts due from subsidiary undertakings are interest free, repayable on demand and unsecured. Arix Bioscience plc 
currently has no intention to request repayment of any amounts due.

5. Employees
The average number of employees during the year was one (2020: 1).

109

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Warning about unsolicited approaches to 
shareholders and ‘boiler room’ scams
In recent years, many companies have become aware that 
their shareholders have received unsolicited phone calls 
or correspondence concerning investment matters. These 
are typically from overseas-based ‘brokers’ who target UK 
shareholders, offering to sell them what often turn out to 
be worthless or high risk shares in UK investments. These 
operations are commonly known as ‘boiler rooms’.

These ‘brokers’ can be very persistent and persuasive. Arix 
Bioscience plc shareholders are advised to be extremely 
wary of such approaches and are advised to only deal with 
firms authorised by the FCA. You can check whether an 
enquirer is properly authorised and report scam approaches 
by contacting the FCA on www.fca.org.uk/scams (where 
you can also review the latest scams) or by calling the FCA 
Consumer Helpline: 0800 111 6768.

If you have already paid money to share fraudsters then 
contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Registrar
The Company’s register of shareholders is maintained 
by our Registrar, Equiniti Limited. All enquiries regarding 
shareholder administration, including lost share certificates 
or changes of address, should be communicated in writing 
or by calling 0371 384 2030 for callers from the UK (lines 
are open 8.30am to 5.30pm Mondays to Fridays, excluding 
Bank Holidays in England and Wales) or +44 (0)121 415 7047 
for callers from outside the UK.

Shareholders can also view and manage their shareholdings 
online by registering at www.shareview.co.uk.

Forward-looking statements
This Annual Report has been prepared for, and only for, 
the members of Arix Bioscience plc (“the Company”) as a 
body, and for no other persons. The Company, its Directors, 
employees, agents or advisers do not accept or assume 
responsibility to any other person to whom this document 
is shown or into whose hands it may come and any such 
responsibility or liability is expressly disclaimed.

By their nature, the statements concerning the risks and 
uncertainties facing the Group in this Annual Report 
involve uncertainty since future events and circumstances 
can cause results and developments to differ materially 
from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements 
reflect knowledge and information available at the date 
of preparation of this Annual Report and the Company 
undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking 
statements. Nothing in this Annual Report should be 
construed as a profit forecast.

Directors
Peregrine Moncreiffe
Sir Michael Bunbury 
Isaac Kohlberg 
Robert Lyne 
Maureen O’Connell
Company Secretary
Kin Company Secretarial Limited
Hyde Park House
5 Manfred Road
London SW15 2RS  
Registered Office
Duke Street House
50 Duke Street
London W1K 6JL
United Kingdom
Company Number
09777975

Advisors
Joint Broker
Jefferies International Limited
100 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4JL

Joint Broker
Peel Hunt LLP
100 Liverpool Street
London EC2M 2AT
Legal advisers
Brown Rudnick LLP 
8 Clifford Street
London W1S 2LQ 
United Kingdom

One Financial Center Boston 
MA 02111 
United States
Independent Auditors
BDO LLP 
55 Baker Street 
London W1U 7EU 
United Kingdom
Registrar
Equiniti Limited 
Aspect House 
Spencer Road 
Lancing BN99 6DA 
United Kingdom

110

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aALL/pALL
Adult/paediatric acute lymphocytic leukaemia – a cancer 
of the bone marrow and blood in which the body makes 
abnormal white blood cells (lymphocytes).

BCMA
B cell maturation antigen is a novel treatment target for 
multiple myeloma.

BLA
Biologics License Application is submitted after an 
investigational new drug has been approved. The biologics 
license application is a request for permission to introduce, 
or deliver for introduction, a biologic product into interstate 
commerce.

Core Portfolio
Arix’s core portfolio comprises investments in companies 
that are developing novel therapeutics with first or best-
in-class approach in a range of therapeutics areas with 
high unmet need and significant market opportunity. These 
companies have raised significant capital, supported by 
a strong syndicate of leading venture investors, and have 
reached validating milestones.

Gross Portfolio
Arix’s Core Portfolio, Listed Portfolio and Public 
Opportunities Portfolio.

Hematology
The branch of medicine concerned with the study of the 
cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases 
related to blood.

IL23
Interleukin 23 

Myeloma
A type of blood cancer arising from plasma cells found in 
the bone marrow.

Net Asset Value (NAV)
A company’s assets less its liabilities.

Net Asset Value per share
A company’s net asset value divided by the number of 
shares in issue.

Neuroblastoma
A cancer that develops from immature nerve cells found in 
several areas of the body, and most commonly arises in and 
around the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys.

NSTI
Necrotising Soft Tissue Infections; serious bacterial 
infections that cause inflammation and damage to the soft 
tissue layers underneath the surface of the skin.

Phase 1
A clinical study testing a therapy in humans (healthy 
volunteers or in some cases in patients) for the first time to 
establish the safety of a range of doses.

Phase 2
A clinical study testing a therapy in patients to establish 
the safety and efficacy of one or more doses. Intended to 
provide ‘Proof of Concept’ and to influence design of one or 
more Phase 3 studies. 

Phase 3
A clinical study testing a therapy in a larger group of 
patients (vs. Phase 2) to establish efficacy and safety with 
statistical significance in order to support registration and 
approval by a regulatory agency (e.g. FDA, EMA).

Preclinical
Testing of drug in non-human subjects, to gather efficacy, 
toxicity and pharmacokinetic information.

Public Opportunities Portfolio
Arix taking advantage of low public valuations in publicly 
listed clinical-stage biotech companies, focusing on de-
risked opportunities that are well funded, trading at 
negative enterprise value or close to an equivalent of cash 
reserves, with expected clinical milestones over the next 6 
to 18 months.

SCD
Sickle Cell Disease – an inherited health condition that 
affects the red blood cells.

Solid Tumour
A cancer comprising solid tissue (i.e. not a blood cancer).

T Cell Lymphoma
A type of blood cancer arising from a type of white blood 
cell (T cells).

T Cell
A type of lymphocyte white blood cell, which forms part 
of the immune system and develops from stem cells in the 
bone marrow.

TNFa
Tumour necrosis factor alpha 

TriTAC
Tri-specific T cell Activating Construct – Harpoon’s 
approach for targeted penetration and destruction of solid 
tumours and haematologic malignancies.

ẞ-thalassemia NTDT/TDT
Non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia – a rare 
inherited disease that reduces the production of healthy 
haemoglobin. Severe patients often require frequent blood 
transfusions to ensure they have enough functional red 
blood cells (TDT Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia). 
Patients with less severe mutations may not require 
regular transfusions (NTDT Non-Transfusion Dependent 
Thalassemia).

111

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