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Bicycle Therapeutics plc

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FY2021 Annual Report · Bicycle Therapeutics plc
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Bicycle Therapeutics plc

Annual Report and financial statements

for the year ended 31 December 2021

Company No: 11036004

Bicycle Therapeutics plc

Annual report and financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2021

Contents

General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Strategic Report

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

Directors’ Remuneration Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Directors’ Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Bicycle Therapeutics plc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated and Parent Company balance sheets as at 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Parent Company statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notes to the financial statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

General Information

Directors

Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos
Veronica Jordan
Richard Kender
Kevin Lee
Pierre Legault
Gregory Winter

Secretary

Jim Sutcliffe

Registered office

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Building 900
Babraham Research Campus
Babraham, Cambridgeshire
CB22 3AT

Company Number

11036004

Independent Statutory Auditors

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
The Maurice Wilkes Building
St. John’s Innovation Park
Cowley Road
Cambridge
CB4 0DS

Bankers

Barclays Bank
9-11 St Andrews Street
Cambridge
CB2 3AA

Solicitors

Cooley (UK) LLP
22 Bishopsgate
London
EC2N 4BQ

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Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report

Introduction

Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the “Parent Company”) on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, BicycleTx

Limited, BicycleRD Limited and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. (which together may be referred to as the
“Company”, “Bicycle”, “we”, “us” or “our”), is required to produce a strategic report complying with the
requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013 (the
“Regulations”) for the year ended 31 December 2021. Bicycle also filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 31 December 2021
(the “Form 10-K”), which contains additional disclosures regarding some of the matters discussed in this
report.

Principal activities

The Company carries out research and development activities developing novel bicyclic peptides both

in Cambridge, UK and Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Since 28 May 2019 the Parent Company has had American Depositary Shares representing its ordinary

shares (“ADSs”) traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) in the U.S.

Business overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, which we
refer to as Bicycles, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycles are fully synthetic
short peptides constrained to form two loops which stabilise their structural geometry. This constraint
facilitates target binding with high affinity and selectivity, making Bicycles attractive candidates for drug
development. Bicycles are a unique therapeutic modality combining the pharmacology usually associated
with a biologic with the manufacturing and pharmacokinetic, or PK, properties of a small molecule. The
relatively large surface area presented by Bicycles allow targets to be drugged that have historically been
intractable to non-biological approaches. Bicycles are excreted by the kidney rather than the liver and have
shown no signs of immunogenicity to date, which we believe together support a favourable toxicological
profile.

We have a novel and proprietary phage display screening platform which we use to identify Bicycles in

an efficient manner. The platform initially displays linear peptides on the surface of engineered bacteriophages,
or phages, before “on-phage” cyclisation with a range of small molecule scaffolds which can confer
differentiated physicochemical and structural properties. Our platform encodes quadrillions of potential
Bicycles which can be screened to identify molecules for optimisation to potential product candidates. We
have used this powerful screening technology to identify our current portfolio of candidates in oncology and
intend to use it in conjunction with our collaborators to seek to develop additional future candidates
across a range of other disease areas.

Our product candidates BT5528, BT8009 and BT1718, are each a Bicycle® Toxin Conjugate, or

BTC™. These Bicycles are chemically attached to a toxin that when administered is cleaved from the Bicycle
and kills the tumour cells. We are evaluating BT5528, a second-generation BTC targeting Ephrin type A
receptor 2, or EphA2, in a company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial and BT8009, a second-generation BTC
targeting Nectin-4, in a company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial. In addition, BT1718 is being developed
to target tumours that express Membrane Type 1 matrix metalloproteinase, or MT1 MMP, and is being
investigated for safety, tolerability and efficacy in an ongoing Phase I/IIa clinical trial sponsored and fully
funded by the Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development, or Cancer Research UK. In addition, our
product candidates BT7480 and BT7455, are each a Bicycle tumour-targeted immune cell agonist®, or
Bicycle TICATM. A Bicycle TICA links immune cell receptor binding Bicycles to tumour antigen binding

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

Bicycles. We are evaluating BT7480, a Bicycle TICA targeting Nectin-4 and agonising CD137, in a company-
sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial, and IND-enabling studies for BT7455, an EphA2/CD137 Bicycle TICA,
are ongoing. Our discovery pipeline in oncology, includes Bicycle-based systemic immune cell agonists and
Bicycle TICAs.

Beyond our wholly owned oncology portfolio, we are collaborating with biopharmaceutical companies

and organisations in additional therapeutic areas in which we believe our proprietary Bicycle screening
platform can identify therapies to treat diseases with significant unmet medical need. Our partnered programs
include collaborations in immuno-oncology, or IO, anti-infective, cardiovascular, ophthalmology, dementia,
central nervous system, neuromuscular and respiratory indications.

The following table summarises key information about our programs:

We were founded in 2009 based on innovative science conducted by Sir Greg Winter and Professor
Christian Heinis. Sir Greg Winter is a pioneer in monoclonal antibodies and, in 2018, was awarded a Nobel
Prize in chemistry for the invention of the technology underpinning our proprietary phage display screening
platform that we use to identify Bicycles. From our founding through 31 December 2021, we have generated
substantial intellectual property, including four patent families directed to novel scaffolds, 15 patent
families directed to our platform technology, 88 patent families directed to bicyclic peptides and related
conjugates, and 15 patent families directed to methods of making or using certain bicyclic peptide conjugates
for treating various indications. As of 31 December 2021, our trademark portfolio consisted of 46 trademark
registrations across 4 territories (the United Kingdom, European Union, United States and Japan) as
well as a number of pending applications for new trademarks. The work we have conducted in developing
Bicycles and our proprietary screening platform have created substantial know-how that we believe provides
us with a competitive advantage.

Our management team includes veteran executives in drug development from leading biopharmaceutical

companies including Amgen, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and Takeda. Our
board of directors and scientific advisory board include industry experts with extensive experience in drug
development.

Our Strategy

Our mission is to become a leading biopharmaceutical company by pioneering Bicycles as a novel

therapeutic modality to treat diseases that are inadequately addressed with existing treatment modalities.
Specifically, we seek to execute on the following strategy to maximise the value of our novel technology and
pipeline:

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

• Progress our most advanced internal candidates, BT5528, BT8009, and BT7480 through clinical

development. We are evaluating BT5528, a second-generation BTC targeting EphA2, in a company-
sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial, BT8009, a second-generation BTC targeting Nectin-4, in a
company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial, and BT7480, a Bicycle TICA targeting Nectin-4 and
agonising CD137, in a company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial. We intend to advance development
of these candidates across oncology indications based on target expression.

• Continue IND-enabling activities for BT7455. BT7455 is a fully synthetic Bicycle TICA that

contains a Bicycle targeting EphA2 and a Bicycle targeting the costimulatory receptor CD137.
BT7455 has been shown in preclinical models to rapidly penetrate tumours, demonstrate anti-
tumour activity, and induce immune memory specific to the implanted tumour. IND-enabling
activities are ongoing.

• Pursue clinical development of our discovery programs. We intend to continue our ongoing discovery
activities to screen and select promising candidates for oncology indications. For example, early I-O
discovery efforts have resulted in the identification of Bicycle TICA candidates targeting natural killer,
or NK, cells. We are also developing third generation BTCs. We are currently advancing these
programs into lead optimisation.

• Leverage our powerful proprietary screening platform and novel Bicycle modality to grow our

pipeline. Our novel and proprietary phage display screening platform allows us to rapidly and
efficiently identify potential candidates for development. We can incorporate a wide range of small
molecule scaffolds into Bicycles to increase diversity and confer differentiated physicochemical and
structural properties. We have used our powerful Bicycle screening platform to identify our current
pipeline of promising BTCs and TICAs, and we intend to use it to develop a broader pipeline of
diverse product candidates.

• Collaborate strategically with leading organisations to access enabling technology and expertise in

order to expand the application of our novel Bicycle modality to indications beyond oncology. We are
collaborating with leading biopharmaceutical companies and organisations to apply our novel Bicycle
modality to other disease areas, including, anti-infective, cardiovascular, ophthalmology, dementia,
central nervous system, neuromuscular and respiratory indications. We may opportunistically enter
into additional collaborations in the future to apply our technology to areas of unmet medical
need.

• Maximise the commercial potential of our product candidates, if approved, by either establishing our
own sales and marketing infrastructure or doing so through collaborations with others. Subject to
receiving marketing approval, we intend to pursue the commercialisation of our product candidates
either by building internal sales and marketing capabilities or doing so through opportunistic
collaborations with others.

Our Collaborations

We have entered into several collaborations, predominantly focused on indications beyond our internal
focus in oncology to leverage the broad applicability of Bicycles. Our strategic collaborations are based on
the ability of Bicycles to address a wide variety of targets and we are working with collaborators with deep
therapeutic expertise outside of oncology to enable us to more efficiently develop novel medicines for
patients.

Ionis

On 31 December 2020, we entered into an evaluation and option agreement, or the Evaluation and

Option Agreement, with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Ionis, pursuant to which Ionis had the option, or
the Ionis Option, to obtain an exclusive license to our intellectual property for the purpose of continued

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

research, development, manufacture and commercialisation of products within a particular application of
the Company’s platform technology. Ionis paid a non-refundable $3.0 million payment that was fully creditable
against the upfront payment to be paid upon the execution of a license agreement.

On 9 July 2021, we and Ionis entered into a collaboration and license agreement, or the Ionis
Collaboration Agreement, following the exercise on 9 July 2021 by Ionis of the Ionis Option. Pursuant to
the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, we granted to Ionis a worldwide exclusive license under our relevant
technology to research, develop, manufacture and commercialise products incorporating Bicycle peptides
directed to the protein coded by the gene TFRC1 (transferrin receptor), or TfR1 Bicycles, intended for the
delivery of oligonucleotide compounds directed to targets selected by Ionis for diagnostic, therapeutic,
prophylactic and preventative uses in humans. Ionis will maintain exclusivity to all available targets unless it
fails to achieve specified development diligence milestone deadlines. If Ionis fails to achieve one or more
development diligence milestone deadlines, we have the right to limit exclusivity to certain specific
collaboration targets, subject to the payment by Ionis of a low-single-digit million dollar amount per target
as specified in the Ionis Collaboration Agreement. Each party will be responsible for optimisation of
such TfR1 Bicycles and other research and discovery activities related to TfR1 Bicycles, as specified by a
research plan, and thereafter Ionis will be responsible for all future research, development, manufacture and
commercialisation activities. We will perform research and discovery activities including a baseline level of
effort for a period of three years for no additional consideration. The parties will negotiate a commercially
reasonable rate if additional research activities are agreed to be performed. For certain research and
discovery activities that we are responsible for performing, we may use the assistance of a contract research
organisation, or CRO. We have retained certain rights, including the right to use TfR1 Bicycles for all non-
oligonucleotide therapeutic purposes.

The activities under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement are governed by a joint steering committee, or

JSC with an equal number of representatives from us and Ionis. The JSC will oversee the performance of
the research and development activities. Upon first commercial sales of a licensed product, the JSC will have
no further responsibilities or authority under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement.

Under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, Ionis made a non-refundable upfront payment of
$31.0 million in addition to the $3.0 million already paid under the Option and Evaluation Agreement.
Additionally, Ionis is obligated to reimburse us on a pass-through basis for expenses incurred in connection
with research and discovery activities performed by a CRO. If Ionis is at risk of failing to achieve a
specified development diligence milestone deadline, it can make up to three separate payments of a mid-single-
digit million dollar amount to extend the development diligence milestone deadlines. On a collaboration
target-by-collaboration target basis, Ionis will be required to make a low-single-digit million dollar payment
upon acceptance of an investigational new drug application, or IND, for the first product directed to such
collaboration target (provided that Ionis will have a high single-digit million dollar credit to be applied towards
the IND acceptance fee for four collaboration targets, or for exclusivity payments for certain targets if
specified development diligence milestones deadlines are not achieved), and Ionis will be required to make
milestone payments upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones of up to a low
double-digit million dollar amount per collaboration target. In addition, we are also eligible to receive up
to a low double-digit million dollar amount in cumulative sales milestone payments. We are also entitled to
receive tiered royalty payments on net sales at percentages in the low single digits, subject to certain standard
reductions and offsets. Royalties will be payable, on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis,
until the latest of the expiration of specified licensed patents covering such product in such country, ten years
from first commercial sale of such product in such country, or expiration of marketing exclusivity for such
product in such country.

Either party may terminate the Ionis Collaboration Agreement for the uncured material breach of the

other party or in the case of insolvency. Ionis may terminate the Ionis Collaboration Agreement for
convenience on specified notice periods depending on the development stage of the applicable target, either
in its entirety or on a target-by-target basis.

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

Concurrently with the execution of the Ionis Collaboration Agreement on 9 July 2021, we entered into

a share purchase agreement, or the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement, with Ionis, pursuant to which Ionis
purchased 282,485 of our ordinary shares, at a price per share of $38.94, for an aggregate purchase price of
approximately $11.0 million. Pursuant to the terms of the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement, Ionis has
agreed not to, without our prior written consent and subject to certain conditions and exceptions, among
other things, directly or indirectly acquire additional shares of our outstanding equity securities, seek or
propose a tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination involving us, solicit proxies or
consents with respect to any matter, or undertake other specified actions related to the potential acquisition
of additional equity interests in us, collectively, the Standstill Restrictions. The Standstill Restrictions will
expire on the 18-month anniversary of the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement.

The Ionis Share Purchase Agreement also provides that, subject to limited exceptions, Ionis will hold
and not sell any of the Ionis Shares until the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the closing of the sale of
the shares under the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement, or
the shares under the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement (the “Closing Date”), and (ii) the termination of
the Ionis Collaboration Agreement pursuant to its terms (provided, however, that in the event the termination
of the Ionis Collaboration Agreement occurs less than six months after the Closing Date, Ionis shall hold
and will not sell or otherwise enter into a transaction regarding the Ionis Shares until at least the date that is
six months after the Closing Date).

the first anniversary of the closing of the sale of

Genentech

On 21 February 2020, we entered into a Discovery Collaboration and License Agreement with

Genentech, or the Genentech Collaboration Agreement. The collaboration is focused on the discovery and
development of Bicycle peptides directed to biological targets selected by Genentech and aimed at developing
up to four potential development candidates against multiple I-O targets suitable for Genentech to advance
into further development and commercialisation.

Under the terms of the Genentech Collaboration Agreement, we received a $30.0 million upfront, non-

refundable payment. The initial discovery and optimisation activities are focused on utilising our phage
screening technology to identify product candidates aimed at two I-O targets, or Genentech Collaboration
Programs, which may also include additional discovery and optimisation of Bicycles as a targeting element for
each Genentech Collaboration Program, or each a Targeting Arm. Genentech has the option to nominate
up to two additional I-O targets, or each an Expansion Option, which may also include an additional Targeting
Arm for each Expansion Option, as additional Genentech Collaboration Programs during a specified
period following completion of certain activities under an agreed research plan. If Genentech exercises one
or more Expansion Options, Genentech will pay us an expansion fee of $10.0 million per Expansion
Option. Genentech also has rights, under certain limited circumstances, to select an alternative target to be
the subject of a Genentech Collaboration Program, in some cases subject to payment of an additional target
selection fee.

If Genentech elects for us to perform discovery and optimisation services for certain Targeting Arms,

we will be entitled to receive an additional advance payment for the additional research services. Genentech
exercised its right to select a Targeting Arm for one of the initial Genentech Collaboration Programs at
the inception of the arrangement, which entitled us to an additional $1.0 million payment. If a Targeting
Arm achieves specified criteria in accordance with the research plan, Genentech will be required to pay a
further specified amount in the low single digit millions for each such Targeting Arm as consideration for the
additional services to be provided.

In October 2021, Genentech exercised an Expansion Option to add an additional Genentech

Collaboration Program and paid to us an expansion fee of $10.0 million during the year ended December 31,
2021. Genentech also elected for us to perform discovery and optimisation services for a Targeting Arm,
and we are entitled to receive an additional payment of $1.0 million for additional research services.

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

We granted to Genentech a non-exclusive research license under our intellectual property solely to

enable Genentech to perform any activities under the agreement. The activities under the Genentech
Collaboration Agreement are governed by a joint research committee, or JRC, with representatives from
each of Bicycle and Genentech. The JRC will oversee, review and recommend direction of each Genentech
Collaboration Program, achievement of development criteria, and variations of or modifications to the
research plans.

After we perform the initial discovery and optimisation activities in accordance with an agreed research

plan and achieves specified criteria, Genentech will have the option to have us perform initial pre-clinical
development and optimisation activities in exchange for an additional specified milestone payment in the mid-
single digit millions for each Genentech Collaboration Program, or the LSR Go Option. Upon completion
of such initial pre-clinical development and optimisation activities for each Genentech Collaboration Program,
Genentech will have the option to obtain an exclusive license to exploit any compound developed under
such Genentech Collaboration Program in exchange for an additional specified payment in the mid to high
single digit millions for each of the initial two Genentech Collaboration Programs and each of the two
Expansion Option Genentech Collaboration Programs, or the Dev Go Option.

On a Genentech Collaboration Program by Genentech Collaboration Program basis, if Genentech

elects to obtain exclusive development and commercialisation rights and pays the applicable LSR Go
Option and Dev Go Option fees, Genentech will be required to make milestone payments to us upon the
achievement of specified development, regulatory, and initial commercialisation milestones for products
arising from each collaboration program, totalling up to $200.0 million. Specifically, we are eligible for
additional development milestones totalling up to $65.0 million, as well as regulatory milestones of up to
$135.0 million for each collaboration program. In addition, we are eligible to receive up to $200.0 million in
sales milestone payments on a Genentech Collaboration Program-by-Genentech Collaboration Program
basis. In addition, to the extent any of the product candidates covered by the licenses conveyed to Genentech
are commercialised, we would be entitled to receive tiered royalty payments on net sales at percentages
ranging from the mid-single to low double-digits, subject to certain standard reductions and offsets. Royalties
will be payable, on a product by product and country by country basis, until the later of the expiration of
specified licensed patents covering such product in such country, or ten years from first commercial sale of
such product in such country.

Dementia Discovery Fund

In May 2019, we entered into a collaboration with the Dementia Discovery Fund, or DDF, to use

Bicycle technology for the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for dementia. DDF is a
specialised venture capital fund focused on discovering and developing novel therapies for dementia. In
October 2019, the collaboration with DDF was expanded to include Oxford University’s Oxford Drug
Discovery Institute (ODDI). Under the terms of the agreement, Bicycle and DDF will collaborate to identify
Bicycles that bind to clinically validated dementia targets. ODDI will then profile these Bicycles in a range
of target-specific and disease-focused assays to assess their therapeutic potential. If promising lead compounds
are identified, DDF, ODDI and Bicycle will establish a jointly-owned new company to advance the
compounds through further development towards commercialisation. The jointly-owned company will
receive a royalty and milestone-bearing assignment and license of intellectual property from Bicycle for this
purpose.

Cancer Research UK

BT1718

In December 2016, we entered into a clinical trial and license agreement with Cancer Research UK and
Cancer Research Technology Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cancer Research UK that Cancer Research

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

UK’s commercial activities operate through, or the Cancer Research UK Agreement. Pursuant to the
agreement, as amended in March 2017 and June 2018, Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development
will sponsor and fund a Phase I/IIa clinical trial of our product candidate, BT1718, in patients with
advanced solid tumours.

Cancer Research UK is responsible for designing, preparing, carrying out and sponsoring the clinical

trial at its cost. We are responsible for supplying agreed quantities of GMP materials for the study, the supply
of which has been completed. In the event that additional quantities are needed, we will provide Cancer
Research UK with all reasonable assistance to complete the arrangements necessary for the generation and
supply of such additional GMP materials but Cancer Research UK will be responsible for supplying and
paying for such additional quantities of GMP materials.

We granted to Cancer Research UK a license to our intellectual property in order to design, prepare

for, sponsor, and carry out the clinical trial. We retain the right to continue the development of BT1718
during the clinical trial. Upon the completion of the Phase I/IIa clinical study, we have the right to obtain a
license to the results of the clinical trial upon the payment of a milestone, in cash and ordinary shares,
with a combined value in the mid-six digit dollar amount. If such license is not acquired, or if it is acquired
and the license is terminated and we decide to abandon development of all products that deliver cytotoxic
payloads to the MT1 target antigen, Cancer Research Technology Limited may elect to receive an assignment
and exclusive license to develop and commercialise the product on a revenue sharing basis (in which case
we will receive tiered royalties of 70% to 90% of the net revenue depending on the stage of development when
the license is granted) less certain costs, as defined by the agreement. The Cancer Research UK Agreement
contains additional future milestone payments upon the achievement of development, regulatory and
commercial milestones, payable in cash and shares, with an aggregate total value of $50.9 million, as well as
royalty payments based on a single digit percentage on net sales of products developed.

The Cancer Research UK Agreement can be terminated by either party upon an insolvency event,

material breach of the terms of the contract, or upon a change in control (and the new controlling entity
develops, sells or manufactures tobacco products or generates the majority of its profits from tobacco
products or is an affiliate of such party). Cancer Research UK may terminate the arrangement for safety
reasons or if it determines that the objectives of the clinical trial will not be met. We were obligated to reimburse
Cancer Research UK for certain costs if the Cancer Research UK agreement was terminated by Cancer
Research UK prior to the completion of the dose escalation (Phase I) part of the clinical trial for an insolvency
event of, or material breach by, us or upon termination for safety reasons or if Cancer Research UK
determined that the objectives of the clinical trial would not be met, however, these reimbursement obligations
expired unexercised upon the completion of the Phase I portion of the clinical trial in 2020. If we are
subject to a change in control and the new controlling entity develops, sells or manufactures tobacco products
or generates the majority of its profits from tobacco products or is an affiliate of such party prior to the
last cycle of treatment under the Phase IIa clinical trial, we will reimburse Cancer Research UK in full for
all costs paid or committed in connection with the clinical trial and no further license payments, where
applicable, shall be due. In such case, Cancer Research UK will not be obliged to grant a license to us in respect
of the results of the clinical trial and we will assign or grant to CRTL an exclusive license to develop and
commercialise the product without CRTL being required to make any payment to us.

BT7401

In December 2019, we entered into a clinical trial and license agreement with Cancer Research

Technology Limited and Cancer Research UK. Pursuant to the agreement, Cancer Research UK Centre for
Drug Development will fund and sponsor development of BT7401 from current preclinical studies through
the completion of a Phase IIa trial in patients with advanced solid tumours.

We granted to Cancer Research UK a license to our intellectual property in order for Cancer Research
UK to design, prepare for, sponsor, and carry out the clinical trial and all necessary preclinical activities to

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

support the trial. We retain the right to continue the development of BT7401 during the clinical trial. Upon
the completion of the Phase I/IIa clinical study, we have the right to obtain a license to the results of the
clinical trial upon the payment of a milestone, in cash and ordinary shares, with a combined value in the mid
six-digit dollar amount. If such license is not acquired, or if it is acquired and the license is terminated and
we decide to abandon development of all products that contain BT7401 or all the pharmaceutically active
parts of BT7401, we will assign or grant to Cancer Research Technology Limited an exclusive license to
develop and commercialise the product on a revenue sharing basis (in which case we will receive tiered
royalties of 55% to 80% of the net revenue depending on the stage of development when the license is granted)
less certain costs, as defined in the agreement. The BT7401 Cancer Research UK agreement contains
additional future milestone payments upon the achievement of development, regulatory and commercial
milestones, payable in cash, with an aggregate total value of up to $60.3 million for each licensed product, as
well as royalty payments based on a single digit percentage on net sales of products developed, and sublicense
royalties to the Cancer Research UK in the low double digit percentage of sublicense income depending
on the stage of development when the license is granted.

The BT7401 Cancer Research UK agreement can be terminated by either party upon an insolvency
event, material breach of the terms of the contract, or upon a change in control (and the new controlling
entity generates its revenue from the sale of tobacco products), or upon written notice by either party prior
to the last cycle of treatment has been completed under the clinical trial. If the study is terminated by us prior
to the filing of a clinical trial authorisation, or by Cancer Research UK for an insolvency event or a
material breach by us prior to the start of a clinical trial, we will reimburse Cancer Research UK for certain
costs paid or committed prior to the start of the clinical trial. In such case where we are acquired by an
entity that generates its revenue from the sale of tobacco products, Cancer Research UK will not be obliged
to grant a license to us in respect of the results of the clinical trial and we will assign or grant to Cancer
Research Technology Limited an exclusive license to develop and commercialise the product without Cancer
Research Technology Limited being required to make any payment to us.

AstraZeneca

In November 2016, we entered into a research collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca AB, or the
AstraZeneca Collaboration Agreement. The collaboration is focused on the research and development of
Bicycle peptides that bind to an undisclosed number of biological targets for the treatment of respiratory,
cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. After discovery and initial optimisation of such Bicycle peptides,
AstraZeneca will be responsible for all research and development, including lead optimisation and drug
candidate selection. AstraZeneca receives development, commercialisation and manufacturing license rights
with regard to any selected drug candidate(s).

Under the AstraZeneca Collaboration Agreement, Bicycle performed research activities, under
mutually agreed upon research plans. The research plans include two discrete parts, on a research program
by research program basis: (i) the Bicycle Research Term, which is focused on the generation of Bicycle
peptide libraries using our peptide drug discovery platform, to be screened against selected biological
targets, with the goal of identifying compounds that meet agreed criteria set by the parties, and (ii) the AZ
Research Term, during which AstraZeneca may continue research activities with the goal of identifying
compounds that satisfy the relevant pharmacological and pharmaceutical criteria for clinical testing. Each
research program is to continue for an initial period of three years, referred to as the research term, including
one year for the Bicycle Research Term and two for the AZ Research Term. AstraZeneca may extend the
research term for each research program by twelve months (or fifteen months, if needed to complete certain
toxicology studies). The research term for a specific program can be shorter if it is ceased due to a screening
failure, a futility determination, or abandonment by AstraZeneca.

Under the terms of the AstraZeneca Collaboration Agreement, we granted to AstraZeneca the right

and license (with the right to sublicense) to certain background, foreground and platform intellectual

9

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

property, for the duration of the agreement, to the extent reasonably necessary or useful for AstraZeneca to
conduct the activities that are assigned to it in the applicable research plan or that are reasonably necessary
or useful or the purpose of researching, developing or exploiting resulting compounds and products. We have
agreed not to, directly or indirectly, by ourselves or in collaboration with others, screen the Bicycle platform
for compounds that bind to a target that is the subject of the AstraZeneca collaboration or otherwise
perform any work related to or disclose such a target until the earlier of the tenth anniversary of the date
on which such target was selected or the dosing of the first patient in the first Phase III clinical trial for a
product that modulates such collaboration target.

AstraZeneca receives development and commercialisation licenses associated with each designated
drug candidate, and owes a milestone fee of $8.0 million for the first drug candidate selected from each
research program. In addition, AstraZeneca is required to make certain other milestone payments to us upon
the achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones. For each research
program, we are eligible to receive, in addition to the milestone fee described above, up to $162.0 million in
development, regulatory and commercial milestones on a research program by research program basis, for a
total of up to $170.0 million in milestone payments per research program. In addition, to the extent any of
the drug candidates covered by the licenses conveyed to AstraZeneca are commercialised, we would be entitled
to receive tiered royalty payments of mid-single digits based on a percentage of net sales. Royalty payments
are subject to certain reductions, including in certain countries where AstraZeneca faces generic competition.

Either party may terminate the AstraZeneca Collaboration Agreement if the other party has materially

breached or defaulted in the performance of any of its material obligations and such breach or default
continues after the specified cure period. In the event of a breach, the AstraZeneca Collaboration Agreement
may be terminated in its entirety, or, if the breach is limited to a country or countries, with respect to the
country or countries to which the breach applies. Either party may terminate the AstraZeneca Collaboration
Agreement in the event of the commencement of any proceeding in or for bankruptcy, insolvency,
dissolution or winding up by or against the other party that is not dismissed or otherwise disposed of
within a specified time period. AstraZeneca may terminate the AstraZeneca Collaboration Agreement,
entirely or on a licensed product by licensed product or country by country basis, for convenience.

Under the AstraZeneca Collaboration Agreement, AstraZeneca was granted an option to nominate
additional targets on the same contractual terms as the initial targets. In May 2018, AstraZeneca made an
irrevocable election to exercise the additional target option, giving AstraZeneca the option to designate
additional targets, for $5.0 million that was paid by AstraZeneca to us in January 2019. As of 31
December 2021, two research program are in the AZ Research Term, and the remainder of the AstraZeneca
collaboration programs have been terminated.

Oxurion

In August 2013, we entered into a research collaboration and license agreement, or the Oxurion

Collaboration Agreement, with Oxurion NV, or Oxurion, which agreement was amended in November 2017.
Under the Oxurion Collaboration Agreement, we were responsible for identifying Bicycle peptides related
to the collaboration target, human plasma kallikrein, for use in various ophthalmic indications. Oxurion is
responsible for further development and product commercialisation after the defined research screening is
performed by us. THR-149 was selected as a development compound under the Oxurion collaboration
agreement. We granted certain worldwide intellectual property rights to Oxurion for the development,
manufacture and commercialisation of licensed compounds associated with plasma kallikrein. The Oxurion
collaboration agreement provides for certain milestone payments to us upon the achievement of specified
research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones. More specifically, for each collaboration
compound, we are eligible to receive up to €8.3 million in research and development milestone payments,
from which we have received €3.8 million as of 31 December 2021, in connection with the development of
THR-149, and up to €16.5 million in regulatory milestone payments (e.g., €5 million for granting of first

10

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

regulatory approval in either the United States or the European Union for the first indication). In addition,
to the extent any of the collaboration products covered by the licenses granted to Oxurion are
commercialised, we would be entitled to receive tiered royalty payments of mid-single digits based on
a percentage of net sales. Royalty payments are subject to certain reductions. Also, if Oxurion grants a
sublicense to a third party for rights to the program for non-ophthalmic use prior to the filing of an IND,
we would be entitled to receive payments in the double digits (no higher than first quartile) based on
a percentage of non-royalty sublicensing income. If Oxurion grants a sublicense to a third party for rights
to the program for non-opthalmic use after the filing of an IND, we would be entitled to receive payments of
mid-single digits to low teen-digits.

Either party may terminate the Oxurion Collaboration Agreement if the other party has breached any

of its material obligations and such breach continues after the specified cure period. Either party may
terminate the Oxurion Collaboration Agreement in the event of the commencement of any proceeding in or
for bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution or winding up by or against the other party. Oxurion may terminate
the Oxurion Collaboration Agreement for convenience. We may terminate the Oxurion Collaboration
Agreement if Oxurion challenges the validity of any licensed patents or opposes the grant of a licensed
patent.

Founder Royalty Arrangements

We have entered into two royalty agreements with our founders, Christian Heinis, John Tite, and Sir
Greg Winter, and our initial investors, Atlas Venture Fund VIII LP, Novartis Bioventures LTD. Pursuant to
the first royalty agreement, we are obligated to pay an aggregate royalty percentage in the low single digits
on net sales arising from products licensed under the Oxurion collaboration agreement. Pursuant to the
second royalty agreement, we are obligated to pay an aggregate royalty percentage in the low single digits on
net sales arising from products licensed under the AstraZeneca collaboration agreement.

Review of business performance and future developments

Since our inception, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to developing our Bicycle

platform and our product candidates, BT5528, BT8009, BT1718, BT7480, BT7455 and BT7401, conducting
research and development of our product candidates and preclinical programs, raising capital and providing
general and administrative support for our operations. To date, we have financed our operations primarily
with proceeds from the sale of our American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, ordinary shares, and convertible
preferred shares, proceeds received from upfront payments, research and development payments, and
development milestone payments from our collaboration agreements with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, or
Ionis, Genentech Inc., or Genentech, the Dementia Discovery Fund, or DDF, Sanofi (formerly Bioverativ
Inc.), AstraZeneca AB, or AstraZeneca and Oxurion NV, or Oxurion; and borrowings pursuant to our debt
facility with Hercules Capital, Inc., or Hercules. From our inception in 2009 through 31 December 2021,
we have received gross proceeds of $557.6 million from the sale of ADSs, ordinary shares and convertible
preferred shares, including the proceeds from our initial public offering, follow-on offering and at-the-market,
or ATM, offering program; and $124.2 million of cash payments under our collaboration revenue
arrangements, including $46.6 million from Ionis, $43.0 million from Genentech, $1.7 million from DDF,
$10.3 million from AstraZeneca, $15.0 million from Sanofi, $6.6 million from Oxurion; and borrowings of
$30.0 million pursuant to our Loan and Security Agreement, or Loan Agreement with Hercules. We do not
have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales.

Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our ability to generate product

revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend on the successful development and eventual
commercialisation of one or more of our product candidates. Our net losses for the year ended
31 December 2021 were $77.3 million (31 December 2020: $50.4 million) and we had net assets at book
value of $346.1 million (31 December 2020: $100.5 million). These losses have resulted primarily from costs

11

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

incurred in connection with research and development activities and general and administrative costs
associated with our operations. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating
losses for the foreseeable future.

We anticipate that our expenses and capital requirements will increase substantially in connection with
our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance the preclinical activities and clinical trials of our product
candidates and, if any product candidates are approved, pursue the commercialisation of such product
candidates by building internal sales and marketing capabilities. We expect that our expenses and capital
requirements will increase substantially if and as we:

• continue our development of our product candidates, including conducting future clinical trials of

BT5528, BT8009, BT7480 and BT1718;

• progress the preclinical and clinical development of BT7455 and BT7401;

• seek to identify and develop additional product candidates;

• develop the necessary processes, controls and manufacturing data to obtain marketing approval for

our product candidates and to support manufacturing to commercial scale;

• develop, maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio;

• seek marketing approvals for our product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, if any;

• hire and retain additional personnel, such as non-clinical, clinical, pharmacovigilance, quality
assurance, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, distribution, legal, compliance, medical affairs,
commercial and scientific personnel;

• acquire or in-license other products and technologies;

• expand our infrastructure and facilities to accommodate our growing employee base, including

adding equipment and infrastructure to support our research and development; and

• add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel
to support our research and development programs, any future commercialisation efforts and our
operations as a public company.

We do not expect to generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete

development and obtain marketing approval for one or more of our product candidates, which we expect
will take many years and is subject to significant uncertainty. We have no commercial-scale manufacturing
facilities of our own, and all of our manufacturing activities have been and are planned to be contracted out
to third parties. Additionally, we currently utilise third-party contract research organisations, or CROs, to
carry out many of our clinical development activities. If we seek to obtain marketing approval for any of our
product candidates from which we obtain promising results in clinical development, we expect to incur
significant commercialisation expenses as we prepare for product sales, marketing, manufacturing, and
distribution.

As a result, we will need substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and

pursue our growth strategy. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if
ever, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings,
collaborations, strategic alliances, charitable and governmental grants, monetisation transactions or licensing
arrangements. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or
arrangements when needed on favourable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such
agreements as, and when, needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale back, or discontinue the
development and commercialisation of one or more of our product candidates. The ongoing COVID-19
pandemic has already resulted in a significant disruption of global financial markets. If the disruption persists

12

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

and deepens, whether as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, we could experience an
inability to access additional capital.

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable
to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain
profitability. Even if we are able to generate product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become
profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, we may be unable to continue our
operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce or terminate our operations.

Our cash balance as at 31 December 2021 was $438.7 million (31 December 2020: $136.0 million). We

believe that our existing cash will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure
requirements for at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements.

Key performance indicators (‘KPIs’)

We do not consider traditional financial measures to be key performance indicators at this stage of

development of our business. However, management closely monitors our cash position and our research
and development expenses. In addition, we assess our performance through the clinical advancement of our
programs. During the year ended 31 December 2021 we achieved significant advancement of our clinical
pipeline: BT8009 and BT5528 demonstrated anti-tumour activity in two tumour types, and we initiated a
clinical trial of BT7480 in the fourth quarter of 2021. We also executed a successful partnering strategy
including entering into a strategic collaboration agreement with Ionis in July 2021 and the expansion of our
collaboration agreement with Genentech. We also raised significant funds including net proceeds of
$188.4 million from a public offering of Bicycle’s ADSs, net proceeds of $102.6 million from our
at-the-market (ATM) offering program, and $15.0 million from our debt facility with Hercules Capital. All
of this was in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Financial risk management

The directors have concluded that the management of price risk and liquidity risk are not material for

the assessment of the assets, liabilities, financial position and loss of the Company.

Currency risk

The Company raises funds in U.S. dollars, and pays for goods and services in a variety of currencies
but mainly the British pound sterling and U.S. dollar. The Company mitigates this risk by also holding cash
in these two currencies. The Company does not use derivatives to manage this risk.

Cash flow

The Company finances its operations primarily with proceeds from the sale of our ADSs, proceeds
received from upfront payments, research and development payments, and development milestone payments
from our collaboration agreements and borrowings pursuant to our debt facility with Hercules. The Board
monitors the level of cash and cash equivalents on a regular basis and cash is placed in deposit accounts to
earn a return whilst enabling the cash to be available to meet the Company’s day to day needs.

Credit Risk

The Company has receivables and cash from both its operating and financing activities. The Company
ensures that invoices are raised when performance conditions are met and that the payment terms with the
customer are adhered to. Cash is maintained in accounts of reputable financial institutions with high quality
credit ratings.

13

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

Interest risk

The Company’s outstanding indebtedness with Hercules bears interest at the greater of 8.85%, or
5.60% plus the Wall Street Journal prime rate. As of 31 December 2021, our outstanding indebtedness with
Hercules bears interest at 8.85%. If the Wall Street Journal prime rate increases to over 3.25%, the interest
on our loan with Hercules will increase. We currently do not engage in any interest rate hedging activity, and
we have no intention to do so in the foreseeable future.

Environmental matters

The Company’s activities have a minimal environmental impact. The Company complies with all

applicable environmental laws and regulations and currently does not consider it has a significant
environmental footprint due to the size and nature of its operations. It does not have an internal
manufacturing facility.

Following listing of the Parent Company’s ADSs on NASDAQ in May 2019, the Company is required
under English law to measure and report its greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the provisions of
the Regulations. The sources of emissions relate solely to the electricity and gas purchased by our premises in
the UK and U.S., the costs of which are included within these consolidated financial statements.
Management has used the most recent evidence or estimates provided by its energy suppliers to generate the
disclosure of emissions. These include the purchase of electricity, heat, steam or cooling. Standard emissions
factors from Defra’s GHG Conversion Factor Repository were applied to estimate emissions. The Company
considers that the intensity ratio of tonnes of carbon dioxide per full-time equivalent employee is a
suitable metric for its operations. The annual quantity of emissions for the Company for the year ending
31 December 2021 was 383 tonnes (31 December 2020: 531 tonnes) with an intensity ratio of 3.8 tonnes
(31 December 2020: 6.7 tonnes) based on the average number of employees in the year of 101
(31 December 2020: 79), as determined based on our electricity and gas consumption provided by our
suppliers as converted to emissions by publicly available emission converters. Approximately 55%
(31 December 2020: 55%) of these emissions were in the UK. The Company, in preparing these details,
considers ways to minimise indirect areas of emissions and where practical enables remote working and also
promotes online conferencing facilities to reduce business travel. For all of 2021 significant numbers of
employees who are not laboratory based were working substantially from home.

Employee, social, community and human rights matters

The Company places considerable value on the involvement of its employees. Regular meetings are

held with employees to discuss the operations and progress of the business and employees are encouraged
to become involved in the success of the Company through share option schemes (see note 11 to the financial
statements).

We consider a number of measures and objectives in this area, including, among others, employee
engagement, development, and training, talent acquisition and retention, employee safety and wellness,
diversity and inclusion, and compensation and pay equity. We provide our employees with salaries and
bonuses intended to be competitive for our industry and geographic locations, opportunities for equity
ownership, development programs that enable continued learning and growth and a robust benefits package
to promote well-being across all aspects of their lives, including health care, retirement planning and paid
time off. In addition, we have conducted employee surveys to gauge employee engagement and identify areas
of future focus for our human capital practices and benefits offerings.

The Company maintains and operates pursuant to a Code of Conduct and Business Ethics. This sets

out the Company’s approach to ensure that our corporate values are maintained throughout our global
business. The Company also has an anti-corruption and anti-bribery policy. The Code of Conduct and

14

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

Business Ethics, anti-corruption and anti-bribery policies apply to all employees of the Company and
certain designated consultants, who are required to comply with this policy.

The Company endeavours to impact positively on the community in which it operates. The Company

does not, at present, have a specific policy on human rights. However, we have several policies that promote
the principles of human rights. We will respect the human rights of all our employees, including:

• provision of a safe, clean working environment;

• ensuring employees are free from discrimination and coercion;

• not using child or forced labour; and

• respecting the rights of privacy and protecting access and use of employee personal information.

We also have a policy on equal opportunities and on anti-bullying and harassment.

The Company is fully committed to the elimination of unlawful and unfair discrimination and values

the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation. The Company endeavours to not
discriminate because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and
maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex or
sexual orientation.

We believe a diverse workforce is critical to our success and we are fundamentally committed to
creating and maintaining a work environment in which employees are treated fairly, with dignity, decency,
respect and in accordance with all applicable laws. We understand that varied perspectives lead to the best
ideas and outcomes. We believe that by creating a workplace where every individual can feel welcome and
valued, we will better able to achieve our corporate objectives. All employees must adhere to a code of
business conduct and ethics and our employee handbook, which combined, define standards for appropriate
behaviour and are annually trained to help prevent, identify, report, and stop any type of discrimination
and harassment.

In 2021, we formed a cross-functional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) task force. The task

force is assessing key DEI metrics and benchmarks and is exploring developing a DEI roadmap.

Employee gender diversity

Our recruitment, hiring, development, training, compensation, and advancement is based on

qualifications, performance, skills, and experience. While acknowledging the benefits of diversity, individual
appointments are made irrespective of personal characteristics such as race, ethnicity, disability, gender,
sexual orientation, religion, or age. A breakdown of employment statistics as of 31 December 2021 and 2020
is as follows:

31 December 2020 (Number of Directors and Employees)

Position

Male

Female

Total

Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C-Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vice President/Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total Directors and Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

5

12

19

40

3

0

4

46

53

7

5

16

65

93

15

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

31 December 2021 (Number of Directors and Employees)

Position

Directors

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

C-Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vice President/Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total Directors and Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Male

Female

Total

5

5

21

34

65

2

0

9

49

60

7

5

30

83

125

Notes: Directors are directors of the Parent Company; C-Band includes the Chief Financial Officer, Chief
Scientific Officer, Chief Business Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer. In both 2020
and 2021, the Chief Executive Officer was a director of the Parent Company and, accordingly, was
included in the directors totals above.

Principal risks and uncertainties

Financial

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. We have not commercialised any products or

generated any revenues from the sale of products, and absent the realisation of sufficient revenues from
product sales, we may never attain profitability in the future. We have a history of significant operating losses
(year ended 31 December 2021: $86.9 million; year ended 31 December 2020: $59.8 million) and we do not
expect to generate revenue or profitability that is necessary to finance our operations in the short-term. We
have devoted substantially all of our financial resources and efforts to research and development, including
preclinical studies and our clinical trials. Our ability to become and remain profitable depends on our ability
to generate revenue. Generating product revenue will depend on our or our collaborators’ ability to obtain
marketing approval for, and successfully commercialise, one or more of our product candidates, which cannot
be guaranteed. Our failure to become and remain profitable could impair our ability to raise capital,
expand our business or continue our operations.

Developing pharmaceutical products, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, is a

very time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete. We will be required to
expend significant funds in order to advance the development of the product candidates in our pipeline, as
well as any other product candidates we may seek to develop. We cannot be certain that additional funding
will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed would have a
negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy. There is a risk
that should we fail to obtain additional funding on the terms or timescales we require, we may be required to
delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialisation efforts or grant
rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market
ourselves.

Clinical

Our product candidates will need to undergo preclinical and clinical trials that are time consuming and
expensive and can be subject to extensive delays. We may not be able to identify, recruit and enrol a sufficient
number of patients, or those with the required or desired characteristics, to complete our clinical trials in a
timely manner. Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties when used
alone or in combination with other approved products or investigational new drugs that could halt their
clinical development and/or prevent their marketing approval and/or limit their commercial potential. The
timeline for recruiting patients, conducting trials and obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates
may be delayed, which could result in increased costs, delays in advancing our product candidates, delays

16

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

in testing the effectiveness of our product candidates or termination of the clinical trials altogether. The
outcome of preclinical studies and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical
trials, and interim results of clinical trials do not necessarily predict success in the results of completed clinical
trials. Preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses and there is
no certainty that the results obtained in clinical trials of our existing clinical candidates will be sufficient to
enable progression of those candidates through our clinical programmes or the obtaining of regulatory
approval or marketing authorisation. If we fail to receive positive results in clinical trials of our product
candidates, the development timeline and regulatory approval and commercialisation prospects for our most
advanced product candidates, and, correspondingly, our business and financial prospects, would be
negatively impacted.

Manufacturing

We do not own or operate manufacturing facilities for the production of clinical or commercial
supplies of the product candidates that we are developing or evaluating and our strategy is to outsource all
manufacturing of our product candidates and products to third parties. In order to conduct clinical trials of
product candidates, we will need to have them manufactured in potentially large quantities. Our third-party
manufacturers may be unable to successfully increase the manufacturing capacity for any of our product
candidates in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all. In addition, quality issues may arise during
scale-up activities and at other times. Our use of new third-party manufacturers increases the risk of delays
in production or insufficient supplies of our product candidates as we transfer our manufacturing technology
to these manufacturers and as they gain experience manufacturing our product candidates. Even after a
third party manufacturer has gained significant experience in manufacturing our product candidates or even
if we believe we have succeeded in optimising the manufacturing process, there can be no assurance that
such manufacturer will produce sufficient quantities of our product candidates in a timely manner or
continuously over time, or at all. While we have engaged several third-party vendors to provide clinical and non-
clinical supplies and fill-finish services, we do not currently have any agreements with third party
manufacturers for long-term commercial supplies. Our product candidates may be delayed if we need to
change the manufacturing process used by a third party, subsequently resulting in further delays from a
regulatory authority reviewing the new manufacturing process before it may be used. Reliance on third party
manufacturers entails risks, including the reliance on third parties for manufacturing process development,
regulatory compliance and quality assurance, limitations on supply availability resulting from capacity and
scheduling constraints of third parties, the possible breach of manufacturing agreements by third parties
because of factors beyond our control and the possible termination or non-renewal of the manufacturing
agreement by the third party at a time that is costly or inconvenient to us.

Third parties

For certain product candidates, we depend, or will depend, on development and commercialisation

collaborators to develop and conduct clinical trials with, obtain regulatory approvals for, and if approved,
market and sell product candidates. If such collaborators fail to perform as expected the potential for us to
generate future revenue from such product candidates would be significantly reduced and our business would
be harmed. We cannot provide assurance that our collaborators will be successful or that they will devote
sufficient resources to the development or commercialisation of the products. If our current or future
collaboration and commercialisation partners do not perform in the manner we expect or fail to fulfil their
responsibilities in a timely manner, if our agreements with them terminate or if the quality or accuracy of the
clinical data they obtain is compromised, the clinical development, regulatory approval and commercialisation
efforts related to their and our product candidates and products could be delayed or terminated and it
could become necessary for us to assume the responsibility at our own expense for the clinical development
of such product candidates.

We rely on third parties, including independent clinical investigators and CROs to conduct and sponsor
some of the clinical trials of our product candidates. Any failure by a third party to meet its obligations with

17

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

respect to the clinical development of our product candidates may delay or impair our ability to obtain
regulatory approval for our product candidates.

Commercialisation

We are substantially dependent on the success of our internal development programs and of our
product candidates from our BTC and Bicycle TICA programs which may not successfully complete clinical
trials, receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialised. In addition, we are at a very early
stage in our development efforts and our product candidates represent a new category of medicines and
may be subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny until they are established as a therapeutic modality. Our
clinical trials may not be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all and, even if completed on
schedule, there remains no guarantee that the results seen in any clinical trials will be sufficient to progress
to the next stage of any clinical approval or ultimately to the obtaining of a marketing approval for any of our
programs.

Our estimates of the potential patient population which can be treated may be inaccurate affecting the

amount of revenue obtainable for any product. Likewise, the amount of revenue that can be obtained in
relation to our programs may be impacted by the nature of pricing reimbursement coverage or schemes
available or in place in any specific country and the continuation of such coverage and schemes. If
reimbursement is not available, or is available only at limited levels, we may not be able to successfully
commercialise our product candidates, even if approved. We currently have no marketing sales or distribution
infrastructure with respect to our product candidates and we will have to establish a marketing capability
prior to bringing any product candidate to market or outsource this function to a third party. Even if we are
successful in obtaining regulatory approval, the commercial success of our product candidates will depend
upon the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, payors and others in the medical community.

In addition, we face significant competition, and our competitors may develop and market products
that are more effective, safer or less expensive than our product candidates, which may negatively impact
our commercial opportunities.

Regulation

Our product candidates are highly regulated and the regulatory process is lengthy, time-consuming and

expensive. We may experience significant delays in obtaining regulatory approval or be required to make
changes to our clinical programmes or product candidates by regulatory authorities. Even if we do receive
regulatory approval to market our product candidates, any such approval may be subject to limitations on the
indicated uses or patient populations for which we may market the product. If we are successful in obtaining
regulatory approvals in one country, this does not mean that we will be successful in other countries and
further clinical programmes may be required to obtain required regulatory approvals in such other countries.
In addition, failure to successfully validate, develop and obtain regulatory approvals for companion
diagnostics could harm our drug development strategy.

Should we obtain marketing approvals for any current or future product candidates we will be subject

to ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional
expense and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience
unanticipated problems with our products. Changes in regulations, statutes or the interpretation of existing
regulations could also impact our business in the future. Any failure to comply with regulatory requirements
at any stage in the development of our product candidates could result, among other things, in restrictions on
the labelling, distribution, marketing or manufacturing of the product, suspension or withdrawal of
marketing approvals and fines, restitution or disgorgement of profits or revenues. We are also subject to
regulation as a company both in the UK and the U.S. including in relation to anti-bribery and other anti-
corruption laws, as well as export control laws, import and customs laws, trade and economic sanctions laws
and other laws governing our operations. In addition, because we have a U.S. subsidiary and substantial

18

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

operations in the U.S., we are subject to U.S. laws that regulate non-U.S. investments in U.S. businesses and
access by non-U.S. persons to technology developed and produced in the U.S. We are also subject to
numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.

Litigation

The use of our product candidates in clinical trials and the sale of any products for which we obtain

marketing approval expose us to the risk of product liability claims from patients, healthcare providers,
pharmaceutical companies and others. We believe our product liability insurance coverage is sufficient in
light of our current commercial and clinical programs; however, we may not be able to maintain insurance
coverage at a reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses due to liability.

In November 2020 the Company entered into a Settlement and License Agreement with Pepscan Systems
B.V. (“Pepscan”) regarding the Company’s use of Pepscan’s CLIPS peptide technology. The companies agreed
to settle all intellectual property disputes worldwide. Under the terms of the settlement, the Company has
been granted a license to use CLIPS peptide technology in the development of its product candidates BT1718
and THR-149. The Company paid €3 million upfront, paid €1 million on the first anniversary of the date
of settlement in November 2021, and will make potential additional payments to Pepscan based on
achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones

Intellectual Property

Our ability to compete effectively depends, in part, on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of

our technology and manufacturing processes. We rely on research, manufacturing and other know-how,
patents, trade secrets, license agreements and contractual provisions to establish our intellectual property
rights and protect our products and product candidates. We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or
enforce our patents and other intellectual property rights, which could be expensive, time-consuming and
unsuccessful. Even if they are unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not provide us with
any meaningful protection or prevent competitors from designing around our patent claims by developing
similar or alternative technologies or therapeutics in a non-infringing manner. Third parties may claim that
our activities or products infringe upon their intellectual property which will adversely affect our operations
and prove costly and time-consuming to defend against and could ultimately prevent or delay us from
developing or commercialising our product candidates. Further, our products may infringe the intellectual
property rights of others and we may be unable to secure necessary licences to enable us to continue to
manufacture or sell our products. We may also be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators or
other third parties have an ownership interest in our patents or other intellectual property.

Cybersecurity

Cyber-attacks or other failures in telecommunications or information technology systems could result

in information theft, data corruption and significant disruption of our business operations. We utilise
information technology, systems and networks to process, transmit and store electronic information in
connection with our business activities. As the use of digital technologies has increased, cyber incidents,
including deliberate attacks and attempts to gain unauthorised access to computer systems and networks,
have increased in frequency and sophistication. These threats pose a risk to the security of our systems and
networks, the confidentiality and the availability and integrity of our data. We have been the target of a
cyber-attacks in the past. For example, in 2019 we were targeted in a phishing incident, which included email
accounts being accessed by unauthorised third parties. Promptly after discovery, we performed third party
investigations and as there was no evidence of access or acquisition of any personal information as a result of
the incident, we believe that no further action was required under UK, E.U. (GDPR) or U.S. federal or
state law. There was no material impact to our business or financial condition. While we believe we responded
appropriately, including implementing remedial measures to stop the cyber-attacks and with the goal of

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

preventing similar ones in the future, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in these remedial
and preventative measures or successfully mitigating the effects of future cyber-attacks. Similarly, there can be
no assurance that our collaborators, CROs, third-party logistics providers, distributors and other
contractors and consultants will be successful in protecting our clinical and other data that is stored on
their systems.

Any cyber-attack or destruction or loss of data could have material effects on our business and
prospects. In addition, we may suffer reputational harm or face litigation or adverse regulatory action as a
result of cyber-attacks or other data security breaches and may incur significant additional expense to respond
appropriately to such breaches and to implement further data protection measures.

Employees

We rely on the ongoing involvement of principal members of our executive team and key employees.

The loss of the services of one or more of our executive team and key employees might impede the
achievement of our research, development and commercialisation objectives. Furthermore, replacing
executive officers or other key employees may be difficult and may take extended time because of the limited
number of individuals in our industry with the breadth of skills and experience required to develop, gain
marketing approval of and commercialise products successfully.

Our focus on the development of our product candidates requires us to optimise cash utilisation and to
manage and operate our business in a highly efficient manner. We cannot provide assurance that we will be
able to hire or retain adequate staffing levels to develop our product candidates or run our operations or to
accomplish all of our objectives.

Russia and Ukraine conflict

The Company’s operations have not been directly affected by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

It does not have any significant suppliers or ongoing clinical trials based in those nations or any of the
neighbouring nations.

Brexit

Following the result of a referendum in 2016, the United Kingdom left the European Union on
January 31, 2020, commonly referred to as Brexit. Pursuant to the formal withdrawal arrangements agreed
between the United Kingdom and the European Union, the United Kingdom was subject to a transition
period until 31 December 2020 or the Transition Period, during which European Union rules continued to
apply. A trade and cooperation agreement, or the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which outlines the
future trading relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, was agreed upon in
December 2020 and formally entered into force on 1 May 2021.

The potential impact on our results of operations and liquidity resulting from Brexit remains unclear.

The actual effects of Brexit will depend upon many factors and significant uncertainty remains.

Since a significant proportion of the regulatory framework in the United Kingdom applicable to our

business and our product candidates is derived from European Union directives and regulations, Brexit has
had, and may continue to have, a material impact on the regulatory regime with respect to the development,
manufacture, importation, approval and commercialisation of our product candidates in the United Kingdom
or the European Union. For example, Great Britain is no longer covered by the centralised procedures for
obtaining European Union-wide marketing authorisation from the EMA, and a separate marketing
authorisation will be required to market our product candidates in Great Britain. It is currently unclear as
to whether the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) is sufficiently prepared to
handle the increased volume of marketing authorisation applications that it is likely to receive. Any delay

20

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, any marketing approvals, as a result of Brexit or otherwise, would
prevent us from commercialising our product candidates in the United Kingdom and/or the European Union
and restrict our ability to generate revenue and achieve and sustain profitability. If any of these outcomes
occur, we may be forced to restrict or delay efforts to seek regulatory approval in the United Kingdom and/or
European Union for our product candidates, which could significantly and materially harm our business.

COVID-19

The Company has implemented work from home policies and followed government guidelines,
including social distancing requirements, occupancy limitations and mask mandates arising from the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst most of these initial restrictions have since been relaxed, new or
renewed restrictions have been imposed from time to time as a result of continually evolving incidence and
rates of infection. These could negatively impact productivity and disrupt our business and those of
third-party manufacturers, CROs, other services providers, and collaborators with whom we conduct
business. The Company continues to closely monitor the ongoing COVID-19 situation and evolves its
business continuity plans and response strategy as necessary.

Section 172 Statement

This statement aligns to the section 172 statement requirements contained in section 414CZA of the
Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act”). This statement focuses on how the directors of the Parent
Company have had regard during the year to the matters set out in section 172(1)(a) to (f) of the Companies
Act when performing their duties by incorporating information from other areas of the Annual Report to
avoid unnecessary duplication. The Board considers that the statement focuses on those risks and
opportunities that were of strategic importance to the Parent Company consistent with the size and
complexity of the Company.

In the performance of its duty to promote the success of the Parent Company for the benefit of its

members as a whole, the Board has regard to a number of matters, including listening to and considering
the views of shareholders and holders of ADSs representing the Parent Company’s ordinary shares and the
Parent Company’s other key stakeholders to build trust and ensure it fully understands the potential
impacts of the decisions it makes for our stakeholders, the environment and the communities in which the
Parent Company operates. Further details are set out below under “Stakeholder Engagement”.

The Directors are aware of their duty under s172 of the Companies Act 2006 to act in the way which

they consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of
its members as a whole and, in doing so, to have regard (amongst other matters) to:

• the likely consequences of any decision in the long-term;

• the interests of the Company’s employees;

• the need to foster the Company’s business relationships with suppliers, customers and others;

• the impact of the Company’s operations on the community and the environment;

• the desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct;

and

• the need to act fairly as between members of the Company.

The governance framework within which the Board operates is set out in the corporate governance

guidelines adopted by the Board, a copy of which is available in the Investors & Media section on the
Company’s website. In addition, the Parent Company maintains and operates pursuant to a Code of Conduct
and Business Ethics which sets out the Company’s approach to ensuring that our corporate values are
maintained throughout our global business.

21

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

The Board fosters effective stakeholder relationships in order to align with the Parent Company’s
strategy and is responsible for seeing meaningful engagement with stakeholders. The Board’s endeavours to
implement various mechanisms to enable management and the Board to understand and consider stakeholder
views as part of their oversight and decision making. Throughout the year, the Directors recognised their
responsibility to act in good faith to promote the success of the Parent Company for the benefit of investors,
while also considering the impact of their decisions on wider stakeholders and other factors relevant to the
decision being made. Clear communication and proactive engagement to understand the issues and factors
which are most important to stakeholders is fundamental to this. The Board acknowledges that every
decision made will not necessarily result in a positive outcome for all stakeholders. By considering our
corporate values, together with our strategic priorities, the Board aims to ensure that the decisions made are
consistent and intended to promote the Parent Company’s long-term success.

Stakeholder Engagement

Our key stakeholders include our workforce, suppliers, lenders, investors and our wider communities.

We actively engage with, and listen to, our stakeholders to understand their views, seek opportunities to
learn and improve.

We are committed to effective engagement with all of our stakeholders. Our success depends on this
engagement. Direct engagement by the Board with its stakeholders, where possible, enables the Directors to
deepen their understanding of how the Company’s purpose, values and strategy are embedded across the
organisation globally. Where direct engagement is not possible, engagement takes place at the operational
level, and the Directors are kept fully informed by senior management of all matters on a regular basis for use
in the Board’s decision-making.

Stakeholder Group

Our Workforce

Why we engage

We believe that our
people are our most
important and valuable
asset. Successful
performance can be
delivered only through a
high level of
engagement where our
people share the Bicycle
vision and values and
feel supported by our
culture and code of
conduct. Maintaining a
content and engaged
workforce is key to
attract and retain top
talent.

Engagement and influence on
decision making

The Board and senior
management are
committed to enhancing
engagement with
employees at all levels to
ensure we communicate
information on
decisions taken,
emerging developments,
innovations and future
growth of the business.

The Board recognises
the importance of using
a variety of
communication
platforms and activities
to maximise employee
engagement. While the
Board cannot directly
consult with employees
on all decisions it makes,
it apprises itself of their
opinions in a variety of
ways. An example of

More information

Strategic report

− Business overview

(page 2)

− Our strategy
(page 3)

− Employee, social,

community and
human rights
matters (page 14)

− Employee gender
diversity (page 15)

Remuneration report

− Statement from the
Chair of the
Compensation
Committee
(page 28)

− Employment
conditions
(page 41)

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year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

Stakeholder Group

Why we engage

Our Collaboration
Partners

We are focused on
building deep, long-term
relationships with our
collaboration partners
which we ultimately
believe is the key to the
success of these
partnerships.

More information

Strategic report

− Business overview

(page 2)

− Our strategy
(page 3)

− Our collaborations

(page 4)

− Principal risks and
uncertainties
(page 16)

Engagement and influence on
decision making

this includes obtaining
feedback through
regular employee focus
groups and opinion
surveys which provide
the Board with honest
feedback that the Board
uses to inform and drive
business improvements.

The Board understands
that any decisions it
makes may impact
employees’ performance,
engagement and work
satisfaction. The Board
is mindful that any
decisions it makes, as
well as the manner in
which they are made,
will inform the culture
of the business. The
Board seeks to lead by
example in order to
ensure that high
standards of business
conduct are maintained
by its employees.
The Company works
closely with its key
collaborators, including
Ionis, Genentech, DDF,
Astrazeneca, Oxurion,
and Cancer Research
UK in accordance with
the terms of its
agreements with them.

The Board receives
regular feedback from
management on the
progress of the
collaborations and
encourages the
management to focus on
building long term
relationships with our
collaboration partners.

23

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

Stakeholder Group

Why we engage

Our Suppliers

We recognise the
importance of
establishing and
building strong working
relationships with all
our suppliers.

Working sustainably,
respecting human rights,
and operating with the
highest standards of
ethical conduct and
professional integrity
improve long-term
business performance.
We are dedicated to
these values and require
our suppliers to share
our commitment.

More information

Strategic report

− Business overview

(page 2)

− Our strategy
(page 3)

− Our collaborations

(page 4)

− Principal risks and
uncertainties
(page 16)

− Manufacturing /

Third Parties /
Commercialisation
(pages 17)

Engagement and influence on
decision making

The Board is responsible
for approving material
business transactions
and any key strategic
changes. Prior to
making such decisions
the Board considers the
potential impact on its
collaboration partners.
The Board approves and
implements policies
based on ethical and
legal minimum
standards, which it
requires the business to
adhere to when
engaging suppliers. As
we continue to progress
in our size and stage of
development, we intend
to continue to
implement procedures
to ensure that our key
suppliers also commit to
these standards,
including in relation to
anti-bribery and
corruption, anti-money
laundering, human
rights and modern
slavery and various
other matters.

The Company engages
regularly with its key
business partners,
including third party
manufacturers and
suppliers, independent
clinical investigators and
CROs, to ensure that
they all have appropriate
standards and policies in
place, are financially
robust and capable of
delivering their services.

24

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

Stakeholder Group

Our Investors

Why we engage

We are a public
company with ADSs
listed on NASDAQ.
Without our investors,
we cannot grow or
invest for future success.

We engage with existing
and potential investors
to ensure that we
provide sufficient,
meaningful and relevant
information which they
can use to make
informed investment
decisions.

We strictly adhere to
market regulations and
regularly consult our
advisors to ensure we
are in compliance with
such regulations at all
times.

More information

Strategic report

− Business overview

(page 2)

Remuneration report

− Shareholder views

(page 40)

Bicycle website

− Corporate

Governance
Guidelines

Engagement and influence on
decision making

Our Board and senior
management have
regular interaction with
investors, to understand
their interests and any
concerns they may have.

This feeds into the
Board’s strategic
discussions and
opportunities, ensuring
alignment over strategy,
operational
performance,
remuneration policy,
capital structure and
future expectations of
our investors.

Examples of investor
engagement by the
Board and senior
management includes
Board attendance at the
Annual General Meeting
(unfortunately this was
not possible in 2021 as
the Annual General
Meeting had to be held
as a closed meeting due
to the COVID-19
pandemic, although
shareholders were
encouraged to submit
questions for the Board
via email), NASDAQ
announcements and
press releases, Board
attendance at
conferences, regular
reports from the
Investor Relations team,
direct engagement with
investors in relation to
remuneration policy,
communications such as
quarterly trading results,
annual reports and
notices of general

25

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

Stakeholder Group

Why we engage

Our Wider
Communities

Our global operations
are an important part of
the communities in
which they are located.
We have environmental
responsibilities to the
world in which we live,
and societal
responsibilities to the
communities where we
live, work and operate.

More information

Strategic report

− Environmental

matters (page 14)

Engagement and influence on
decision making

meetings, and making
available detailed
information about
Bicycle and matters of
interest to investors on
our website

It is important to the
Board that the Group
gives back to the
communities in which it
operates. The Board
considers these
communities in
determining the
corporate culture it
wishes to promote. We
endeavour to have a
positive impact on the
community in which it
operates and aim to
provide a safe, clean
working environment
for employees.

Below are examples of how the Board took into consideration its stakeholders’ interests when making

principal decisions during the year.

Ionis collaboration

In July 2021 we entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Ionis. In

considering this transaction the Board considered the interests of its stakeholders, and in particular, its
investors and employees. The Board believes that entering into the collaboration was in the best interests of
these stakeholders. The Board determined that the terms and obligations under the collaboration were
fair and that it would enhance our reputation and provide further opportunities for our people.

COVID-19 response

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to all stakeholders. The Board has ensured
that all stakeholder groups have been engaged with and supported throughout the pandemic. In light of the
uncertain and rapidly evolving situation we have implemented measures intended to help minimise the
risk of the virus to our employees and the communities in which we operate whilst continuing progress with
our business. To this end we have implemented plans that allow non-laboratory based employees to return
to the office, with a focus on employee safety and optimal work environment. All business travel was suspended
and has now recommenced in a controlled manner.

Fundraising

In October 2021, the Company issued and sold 3,726,852 ADSs, representing the same number of

ordinary shares, at a price to the public of $54.00 per ADS, resulting in gross proceeds of $201.3 million
and net proceeds of $188.4 million. During the year the Company continued the at-the-market (“ATM”)

26

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Strategic Report (continued)

offering program that was initiated in 2020, generating gross proceeds of $105.8 million, and drew an
additional $15.0 million available under its debt facility with Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC). In
November 2021, the Company achieved certain performance milestones and the interest only period of the
debt facility was extended from 1 May 2023 to 1 February 2024 followed by equal monthly payments of
principal and interest up to the scheduled maturity date on 1 October 2024.

In considering these fundraisings the Board considered the interests of its stakeholders, and in
particular, its investors, collaborators and employees. The Board believes that entering into these
arrangements was in the best interests of these stakeholders as it strengthened the balance sheet to further
support the Company’s operations to advance our clinical and pre-clinical oncology pipeline.

This report was approved by the board of directors on 14 April 2022 and signed on its behalf by:

Kevin Lee
Director
27 April 2022

27

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report

Annual Statement from the Chair of the Compensation Committee

Dear Shareholders,

As the Chair of the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”), I am pleased to present, on behalf
of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the “Parent Company” and, together
with its subsidiaries, the “Company”, “Bicycle”, “our”, “we” or “us”), the Directors’ Remuneration Report
for the year ended 31 December 2021 (the “Remuneration Report”), which is the Company’s third such
report following the Parent Company’s initial public offering (the “IPO”) and listing on The Nasdaq Stock
Market (“NASDAQ”) on 23 May 2019.

The Remuneration Report will be subject to an advisory vote at the forthcoming Annual General

Meeting to be held on 27 June 2022 (the “AGM”). There are no other matters that the Parent Company
requires approval for under Chapter 4A of Part 10 of the Companies Act 2006. The Directors’ Remuneration
Policy (the “Remuneration Policy”) was approved by the shareholders at the Parent Company’s first AGM
on 29 June 2020. Following the IPO in May 2019, this will be the Parent Company’s third AGM as a listed
company.

Introduction

Our shareholders approved our Remuneration Policy at our first AGM following our IPO on NASDAQ
in 2019. We believe that our approved Remuneration Policy provides an appropriate framework to meet our
objectives to establish a broad range of remuneration programs and policies, that both compensate and
incentivise directors and senior executives to deliver growth in a long-term and sustainable manner, and that
are aligned strategically with our shareholders to appropriately position the Company as a global
biopharmaceutical company.

As we move into 2022 and beyond, the Committee’s role will be to continue to ensure that directors
and senior executives are appropriately compensated and incentivised to deliver growth in a long-term and
sustainable manner, and to continue to establishing remuneration programs that are grounded in market
practice, effective at driving proper executive behaviours, clearly link pay and performance and are cost-
efficient overall to shareholders. Key considerations guiding our Remuneration Policy are described in more
detail on page 30 of the Remuneration Report. The Remuneration Policy will be renewed every three years
(unless a revised policy is approved by shareholders).

The global marketplace for talent

We are a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in the UK and with operations in both the UK

and the U.S. Given that the market for experienced directors and biopharmaceutical executive talent,
particularly in the U.S., is very competitive, the Committee references the U.S. market as the leading indicator
for executive and director remuneration levels and practices. This will help attract and retain directors and
motivate the superior executive talent needed to successfully manage the Company’s complex global
operations. Being consistent in this market view of the U.S. as the primary benchmark for remuneration
practices for our Executive and Non-Executive Directors is key for the Company as it builds its global
operations in a manner designed to deliver sustainable long-term growth and shareholder value.

In taking any actions, the Committee is mindful of the general UK compensation framework, including

investor bodies’ guidance and the UK Corporate Governance Code, and has considered these when
determining the remuneration programs and policies where it believes they best serve the long-term interests
of shareholders.

Pay for performance

We believe that a significant portion of the remuneration of our Executive Director should be based on

achieving objectives designed to create inherent value in the Company, and ultimately on achieving value

28

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

creation for our shareholders. In line with this belief, the compensation of our Executive Director includes
short term incentives based on corporate and personal goals. Similarly, all directors receive equity incentives
designed to reward long-term value creation for our shareholders.

2021 remuneration outcome

As outlined above, a core principle of Bicycle’s Remuneration Policy is the link between pay and
performance. In the financial year 2021 (being the year ended 31 December 2021), the annual bonus paid to
Kevin Lee, our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), was determined by the Board following an assessment
of the corporate and personal objectives achieved in the year. Kevin Lee received a bonus of 160% of his
target bonus, which resulted in a total bonus pay out of 96% of salary earned for the financial year 2021. The
bonus was paid in cash in February 2022. This outcome was based on achievements versus goals in the
following key areas: Corporate Development, Clinical Development, Financial and Organisational
Development. In considering the above outcomes, the Committee assessed whether the outcomes reflected
the underlying performance of the Company and concluded that no discretionary adjustments were required.

Some of the key highlights of the 2021 year, all in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,

included:

• Interim BT5528 phase I clinical trial results and preliminary results from the ongoing BT8009 phase
I clinical trial both demonstrated preliminary anti-tumour activity across two tumour types, and
reported tolerability profiles that may demonstrate differentiation from antibody-based approaches;

• We initiated a clinical trial of BT7480 in the fourth quarter of 2021;

• Entered into an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals to develop
targeted oligonucleotide therapeutics. The Company received $45 million upfront, which included
a license fee, an option fee and an $11 million equity investment; and

• Raised gross proceeds of $201.3 million in upsized underwritten public offering and gross proceeds

of $105.8 million from the Company’s ATM offering program.

Please see the remainder of the Remuneration Report for additional details on this bonus outcome and

the pay for performance linkage.

Conclusion

The Committee believes the proposals put forth in this report will properly motivate our directors and

senior executives to deliver sustainable growth and shareholder value over the long term and do so in a
responsible and cost-efficient manner.

I hope that you find the information in this report helpful and I look forward to your support at our

AGM.

Yours sincerely,

Veronica Jordan
Chair of the Compensation Committee
27 April 2022

29

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Remuneration Policy

This part of the Remuneration Report sets out the Remuneration Policy and has been prepared in
accordance with the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment)
Regulations 2013, the Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018, and the Companies
(Directors’ Remuneration Policy and Directors’ Remuneration Report) Regulations 2019.

The Remuneration Policy was approved by shareholders in a binding vote at our first AGM on

29 June 2020 and took effect from the date of approval and will continue to apply for a maximum period of
three years (or until a revised policy is approved by shareholders). The Remuneration Policy is unchanged
this year, and as such is not subject to a shareholder vote.

The scenario charts have been updated to reflect the intended application of the policy for the 2022

financial year and references to prior financial years have been updated where appropriate to aid
understanding. A copy of the shareholder-approved policy (including the scenario charts for the 2020
financial year) is in the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2019,
which is available on the Company’s website.

Key considerations when determining the Remuneration Policy

The Committee designed the Remuneration Policy with a number of specific objectives in mind. The

Remuneration Policy should:

• attract, retain and motivate high calibre senior management and focus them on the delivery of the

Company’s strategic and business objectives;

• encourage a corporate culture that promotes the highest level of integrity, teamwork and ethical

standards;

• be competitive against appropriate market benchmarks (being predominantly the U.S. biotech

sector) and have a strong link to performance, providing the ability to earn above-market rewards for
strong performance;

• be simple and understandable, both internally and externally;

• encourage increased equity ownership to motivate executives in the overall interests of shareholders,

the Company, employees and customers; and

• take due account of good governance and promote the long-term success of the Company.

In seeking to achieve the above objectives, the Committee is mindful of the views of a broad range of
stakeholders in the business and accordingly takes account of a number of factors when setting remuneration
including: market conditions; pay and benefits in relevant comparator organisations; terms and conditions
of employment across the Company; the Company’s risk appetite; the expectations of institutional
shareholders; and any specific feedback received from shareholders and other stakeholders.

Remuneration Policy table

The table in the following pages sets out, for each element of pay, a summary of how remuneration is

structured and how it supports the Company’s strategy.

30

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Executive Directors

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

Not performance related.

Base salary

To recruit and retain
Executive Directors of
the highest calibre who
are capable of delivering
the Company’s strategic
objectives, reflecting the
individual’s experience
and role within the
Company.

Base salary is designed to
provide an appropriate
level of fixed income to
avoid any over-reliance
on variable pay elements
that could encourage
excessive risk taking.

Salaries are normally
reviewed annually, and
changes are generally
effective from 1 January
each year.

The annual salary review
for Executive Directors
takes a number of factors
into consideration,
including:

• business

performance;

• salary increases
awarded to the
overall employee
population;

• skills and experience
of the individual
over time;

• scope of the
individual’s
responsibilities;

• changes in the size
and complexity of
the Company;

• market

• competitiveness

assessed by periodic
benchmarking; and

• the underlying rate

of inflation.

If salary is set in USD
but paid to a UK-based
Executive Director it will
be converted and paid in
GBP pursuant to the
terms of the applicable
service agreement (as
amended from time to
time).

Whilst there is no
prescribed formulaic
maximum, any increases
will take into account
prevailing market and
economic conditions and
the approach to employee
pay throughout the
organisation.

In assessing base salaries,
the Committee takes into
account market data, but
does not target a
specific percentile when
setting pay levels, rather
considers it as one factor
along with several others
including Company and
individual performance,
tenure, past experiences
and expected future
contributions. Base salary
increases are awarded at
the discretion of the
Committee; however,
salary increases will
normally be no greater
than the general increase
awarded to the wider
workforce, in percentage
of salary terms unless the
salary is meaningfully
below peers.

In addition, a higher
increase may be made
where an individual had
been appointed to a new
role at below-market
salary while gaining
experience. Subsequent
demonstration of strong
performance may result
in a salary increase that is
higher than that awarded
to the wider workforce.

31

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

Not applicable.

Not performance related.

Benefits

Reasonable benefits-in-
kind are provided to
support Executive
Directors in carrying out
their duties and assist
with retention and
recruitment.

The Company aims to
offer benefits that are in
line with market practice.

The main benefits
currently provided
include private health
insurance, long-term
disability, critical illness
and death in service.

Under certain
circumstances the
Company may offer
relocation allowances or
assistance. Expatriate
benefits may be offered
where relevant including
fees for tax advice
associated with
completion of
international tax returns
and, if relevant, any
gross-up for tax.

Travel, accommodation
and any reasonable
business-related expenses
(including tax thereon)
may be reimbursed.

Executive Directors may
become eligible for other
benefits in future where
the Committee deems it
appropriate. Where
additional benefits are
introduced for the wider
workforce, Executive
Directors may participate
on broadly similar terms.

Executive Directors are
eligible to participate in
the Company’s all-
employee share plans on
the same terms as other
employees in the
jurisdiction in which they
are engaged.

32

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

Pensions

The Company aims to
provide a contribution
towards life in retirement.

Annual Performance
Bonus

The annual bonus scheme
rewards the achievement
of stretching objectives
that support the
Company’s corporate
goals and delivery of the
business strategy.

Not performance related.

Executive Directors are
eligible to receive
employer contributions
to the Company’s Group
Personal Pension Scheme
or a salary supplement in
lieu of pension benefits,
or a mixture of both.

Up to 12% of salary per
annum for Executive
Directors, C-level
executives and senior
managers. The rest of the
workforce is up to 10%.

Bonuses are determined
based on annual
corporate and personal
performance measures
and targets that are
agreed between the
Executive Directors and
the Board (following the
Committee’s
recommendation) at the
start of each financial
year.

Bonuses may be paid in
cash or in equity awards,
as may be agreed between
the Executive Directors
and the Committee.

Payment of bonuses is
conditional on the
Executive Directors being
in employment (and not
having served notice of
termination). No deferral
period applies to bonuses.

The maximum target
bonus opportunity for
Executive Directors is
80% of salary, with a
maximum bonus
opportunity of up to two
times the target
opportunity.

Performance measures
are determined by the
Committee each year and
may vary to ensure that
they promote the
Company’s business
strategy and shareholder
value.

For threshold
performance, no more
than 50% of target bonus
may be payable.

The performance
measures may include
financial, strategic and/or
personal objectives.

For 2022, the target
bonus opportunity for
Executive Directors will
be no more than 65% of
salary, with a maximum
bonus opportunity of up
to 150% of the target
opportunity. In addition
there is an opportunity
based on personal
objectives to receive up to
an additional 50% of the
total bonus outcome (i.e.
a maximum total of
146% of salary).

The Committee may alter
the bonus outcome (up or
down) if it considers that
the pay-out derived from
a formula is inconsistent
with the Company’s
overall performance,
taking account of any
factors it considers
relevant. This will help
ensure that payments
reflect overall Company
performance during the
period.

2019 Share Option Plan
(“SOP”)

The SOP is designed to
incentivise the successful
execution of business
strategy over the longer
term and provide
long-term retention.

Facilitates share
ownership to provide

No new options will be
granted under the SOP.

Awards will typically be
granted annually, in the
form of options although
may also be granted more
or less frequently.

Options are typically

There is no defined
maximum opportunity
under the SOP. However,
the Committee will
generally work within the
benchmarking guidelines
provided by our
compensation
consultants. We seek to

Performance conditions
may apply to awards.
Such conditions may be
strategic objectives which
may include milestones
events, financial, strategic
and/or personal
objectives.

33

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

further alignment with
shareholders.

establish equity-based
remuneration competitive
to that offered by a set of
comparable companies
with whom we may
compete for talent.

subject to vesting over a
four-year period, with
25% of the award vesting
on the first anniversary
of the grant, and the
remainder vesting in
equal monthly
instalments thereafter.
The Committee may vary
the vesting schedule of
options as it considers
appropriate.

No deferral or holding
period applies to options
or to the shares acquired
on the exercise of
options.

Share options are granted
with an exercise price no
less than the fair market
value of the shares on the
date of grant.
Accordingly, share
options will only have
value to the extent the
Company’s share price
appreciates following the
date of grant.

Any performance
conditions set will be
designed to incentivise
performance in support
of the Company’s
strategy and business
objectives.

The Committee has
flexibility to vary the mix
of measures or introduce
new measures for each
subsequent award taking
into account business
priorities at the time of
grant.

The Committee may
amend, relax or waive
performance conditions if
it considers that they
have become unfair or
impractical. This will
help ensure that vesting
reflects overall Company
performance during the
period.

Options vest in full on a
change of control.

2020 Equity Incentive
Plan (“EIP”)
The EIP is designed to
incentivise the successful
execution of business
strategy over the longer
term and provide
long-term retention.

Facilitates share
ownership to provide

Awards may be granted
in the form of options,
share appreciation rights,
restricted shares,
restricted share units or
such other form as may
be permitted under the
EIP or by any other
equity incentive plan

There is no defined
maximum opportunity
under the EIP. However,
the Committee will
generally work within the
benchmarking guidelines
provided by our
compensation
consultants. We seek to

Performance conditions
may apply to awards.
Such conditions may be
strategic objectives which
may include milestones
events, financial, strategic
and/or personal
objectives.

34

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

further alignment with
shareholders.

operated by the
Company from time to
time.

Awards will typically be
granted annually to
continuing employees,
although may also be
granted more or less
frequently.

Awards are typically
subject to vesting over a
four-year period, with
25% of the award vesting
on the first anniversary
of the grant, and the
remainder vesting in
equal monthly
instalments thereafter.
The Committee may vary
the vesting schedule of
awards as it considers
appropriate.

No deferral or holding
period applies to awards
or to the shares acquired
following the vesting of
awards.

establish equity-based
remuneration competitive
to that offered by a set of
comparable companies
with whom we may
compete for talent.

Any performance
conditions set will be
designed to incentivise
performance in support
of the Company’s
strategy and business
objectives.

The Committee has
flexibility to vary the mix
of measures or introduce
new measures for each
subsequent award taking
into account business
priorities at the time of
grant.

The Committee may
amend, relax or waive
performance conditions if
it considers that they
have become unfair or
impractical. This will
help ensure that vesting
reflects overall Company
performance during the
period. Awards vest in
full on a change of
control.

Chair and Non-Executive Directors

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

Fees and benefits

To attract Non-
Executive Directors who
have a broad range of
experience and skills to
provide independent
judgement on issues of
strategy, performance,
resources and standards
of conduct.

Not performance
related.

Non-Executive
Directors receive an
annual retainer paid in
cash, comprising a base
fee plus additional fees
for Committee
Chairpersonship or
membership. Such fees
are set based on peer
group comparator data.

The Chair’s fee is
reviewed annually by the
Committee (without the
Chair present). Fee
levels for the Non-
Executive Directors are

When reviewing fee
levels, account is taken
of market movements in
the fees of Non-
Executive Directors,
Board Committee
responsibilities and
ongoing time
commitments, as well as
the underlying rate of
inflation.

Actual fee levels are
disclosed in the Annual
Remuneration Report
for the relevant financial
year.

35

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

determined by directors
upon the
recommendation of the
Committee.

When reviewing fee
levels, account is taken
of market movements in
fee levels, Board
committee
responsibilities, ongoing
time commitments and
the general economic
environment.

In exceptional
circumstances, if there is
a temporary yet material
increase in the time
commitments for
Non-Executive
Directors, the Board
may pay additional fees
to recognise that
additional workload.

Non-Executive
Directors ordinarily do
not participate in any
pension, bonus or
performance-based
share incentive plans.
Travel, accommodation
and other business-
related expenses
incurred in carrying out
the role as well as fees
for tax advice associated
with completion of
international tax returns
will be paid by the
Company including, if
relevant, any gross-up
for tax.

Tax equalisation
benefits may be
provided to Non-
Executive Directors who
are required to relocate
or become tax resident

36

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

in a new jurisdiction.

Non-Executive Director
fees are generally
denominated and paid
in USD but may be
denominated and/or
paid in GBP, USD, or a
combination depending
on the personal situation
of each Non-Executive
Director. Any currency
conversions are
calculated in accordance
with the applicable
Company procedure
from time to time.

Non-Executive Director
fees in respect of those
Non-Executive
Directors who are
appointed by an investor
(or group of investors)
in the Parent Company
may be paid to those
investor(s) on behalf of
the relevant Non-
Executive Director.

Non-Executive
Directors may receive
equity awards under the
EIP (or options, share
appreciation rights,
restricted shares,
restricted share units or
such other form as may
be permitted by any
other equity incentive
plan operated by the
Company from time to
time).

Non-Executive
Directors will receive an
initial equity award
upon appointment or
election. Initial equity
awards normally vest

Equity Awards

To facilitate share
ownership and provide
alignment with
shareholders.

Not performance
related.

Awards vest in full on a
change of control.

There is no maximum
award level for equity
awards to Non-
Executive Directors.

The size of the equity
awards is determined by
the full Board, upon
recommendation of the
Compensation
Committee.

When reviewing award
levels, account is taken
of market movements in
equity awards, Board
committee
responsibilities, ongoing
time commitments and
the general economic
conditions.

37

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

over a period of
three years on a monthly
basis from the date of
appointment, subject
generally to continued
service.

In addition, Non-
Executive Directors who
have not announced an
intention to either resign
from the Board or not
to stand for election at
the next annual meeting
of shareholders will be
granted an equity award
in January of each year
which shall vest in full
upon grant. If a new
Non-Executive Director
joins the Board
following the date of
grant of this annual
grant in any calendar
year, such Non-
Executive Director will
be granted a pro rata
portion of the next
annual grant, based on
the time between his or
her appointment and the
date of such annual
grant.

Notes to the policy table

Legacy arrangements

For the duration of this Remuneration Policy, the Company will honour any commitments made in
respect of current or former directors before the date on which either: (i) the Remuneration Policy becomes
effective; or (ii) an individual becomes a director, even when not consistent with the Remuneration Policy
set out in this report or prevailing at the time such commitment is fulfilled. For the avoidance of doubt, all
outstanding historic awards that were granted in connection with, or prior to, listing on NASDAQ and/or
under the SOP remain eligible to vest based on their original or modified terms.

Payments may be made in respect of existing awards under the SOP and the Committee may exercise
any discretions available to it in connection with such awards in accordance with the rules of the SOP and
relevant award documentation. Options granted under the SOP vest in full on a change of control.

Payments may be made in respect of consultancy services provided by Pierre Legault pursuant to a

consulting agreement entered into between Stone Sunny Isles, Inc. and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. dated

38

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

15 March 2019 pursuant to which Stone Sunny Isles, Inc. has agreed to make available Pierre Legault to
provide advisory services to us as requested by our Board of Directors or our chief executive officer. In
consideration for the provision of the advisory services, we pay Stone Sunny Isles, Inc. a monthly retainer of
£10,416, which is billed in U.S. dollars. Pierre Legault is the President, Treasurer and Director of Stone
Sunny Isles, Inc.

Retention Bonus

Kevin Lee received a retention bonus to incentivise his continuous service in an aggregate amount of
£150k (paid in two tranches, £100k in August 2018 and £50k in October 2019). This bonus was subject to
repayment (net of statutory deductions for income tax and employee’s National Insurance contributions) if
he had given notice to terminate his employment with the Company at any time before 1 August 2020.
No such notice was given.

Performance conditions

The choice of annual bonus performance metrics reflects the Committee’s belief that any incentive

remuneration should be appropriately challenging and tied to the delivery of key strategic objectives
intended to ensure that Executive Directors are incentivised to deliver across a range of objectives for which
they are accountable. The Committee has retained flexibility on the specific measures which will be used
to ensure that any measures are fully aligned with the strategic imperatives prevailing at the time they are set.

The targets for the bonus scheme for the forthcoming year will be set out in general terms, subject to

limitations with regards to commercial sensitivity. The full details of the targets will be disclosed when they
are in the public domain and are no longer considered commercially sensitive.

Where used, performance conditions applicable to EIP awards (or other equity incentive plans
operated by the Company from time to time) will be aligned with the Company’s objective of delivering
superior levels of long-term value to shareholders. Prior to each award, the Committee has flexibility to select
measures that are fully aligned with the strategy prevailing at the time awards are granted.

The Committee will review the calibration of targets applicable to the annual bonus, and the EIP

in years where performance measures apply, annually to ensure they remain appropriate and sufficiently
challenging, taking into account the Company’s strategic objectives and the interests of shareholders.

Recovery and withholding

The Company does not have a policy on recovery and withholding provisions other than on retention
bonuses if the individual gives notice of the termination of their employment before a prescribed date (the
relevant period for which ended on 1 August 2020).

Differences in remuneration policy between Executive Directors and other employees

The overall approach to reward for employees across the workforce is a key reference point when
setting the remuneration of the Executive Directors. When reviewing the salaries of the Executive Directors,
the Committee pays close attention to pay and employment conditions across the wider workforce and in
normal circumstances the increase for Executive Directors will be no higher than the average increase for the
general workforce.

The key difference between the remuneration of Executive Directors and that of our other employees is

that, overall, at senior levels, remuneration is increasingly long-term, and ‘at risk’ with an emphasis on
performance-related pay linked to business performance and share-based remuneration. This ensures that
remuneration at senior levels will increase or decrease in line with business performance and provides alignment
between the interests of Executive Directors and shareholders. In particular, long-term incentives are

39

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

provided only to the most senior executives as they are reserved for those considered to have the greatest
potential to influence overall levels of performance.

Committee discretion in operation of variable pay schemes

The Committee operates under the powers it has been delegated by the Board. In addition, where
relevant, it complies with rules that are either subject to shareholder approval or by approval from the
Board. These rules provide the Committee with certain discretions which serve to ensure that the
implementation of the Remuneration Policy is fair, both to the individual director and to the shareholders.
The Committee also has discretions to set components of remuneration within a range, from time to time.
Where appropriate, the extent of such discretions is set out in the relevant rules and/or described in the
policy table above. To ensure the efficient administration of the variable incentive plans outlined above, the
Committee will apply certain operational discretions.

These include the following:

• selecting the individuals who will receive awards under the plans on an annual basis;

• determining the timing of grants of awards and/or payments;

• determining the quantum of awards and/or payments;

• determining the choice (and adjustment) of any performance measures and targets, vesting schedules,

exercise prices (where applicable) and other award terms for each incentive plan;

• determining the extent of vesting, including for leavers;

• making the appropriate adjustments (including to any performance targets) required in certain

circumstances, for instance for changes in capital structure;

• determining “good leaver” status and the impact of certain corporate events, if applicable, for

incentive plan purposes and determining and applying the appropriate treatment;

• interpreting the plan rules where necessary; and

• undertaking the annual review of weighting of performance measures and setting targets for the

annual bonus plan and other incentive schemes, where applicable, from year to year.

If an event occurs which results in the annual bonus plan or EIP (where performance conditions apply)

performance conditions and/or targets being deemed unfair or impractical (e.g. material acquisition or
divestment), the Committee will have the ability to make amend, relax or waive (and/or recommend such
alterations to the Board for approval) to the measures and/or targets and alter weightings. Any use of the
above discretion would, where relevant, be explained in the Annual Report on Remuneration and may, as
appropriate, be the subject of consultation with the Parent Company’s major shareholders.

The Committee may make minor amendments to the Remuneration Policy (for regulatory, exchange

control, tax or administrative purposes or to take account of a change in legislation) without obtaining
shareholder approval for that amendment.

Shareholder views

The Board is committed to dialogue with shareholders and intends to engage directly with them and
their representative bodies when considering any significant changes to our remuneration arrangements.
The Committee will consider shareholder feedback received following the AGM, as well as any additional
feedback and guidance received from time to time. This feedback will be considered by the Committee as it
develops the Company’s remuneration framework and practices going forward. Assisted by its independent
adviser, the Committee also actively monitors developments in the expectations of institutional investors
and their representative bodies.

40

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Employment conditions

The Committee is regularly updated throughout the year on pay and conditions applying to Company

employees. Where significant changes are proposed to employment conditions elsewhere in the Company
these are highlighted for the attention of the Committee at an early stage.

Whilst the Committee does not currently consult directly with employees regarding its policy for
directors, the Committee is considering the best method of bringing the employee voice to the boardroom.

Other remuneration policies

Remuneration for new appointments

Where it is necessary to appoint or replace an Executive Director or to promote an existing Executive

Director, the Committee’s approach when considering the overall remuneration arrangements in the
recruitment of a new Executive Director is to take account of the calibre, expertise and responsibilities of
the individual, his or her remuneration package in their prior role and market rates. Remuneration will be in
line with the Remuneration Policy and the Committee will not pay more than is necessary to facilitate
their recruitment.

The remuneration package for a new Executive Director will be set in accordance with the terms of the
Company’s approved remuneration policy in force at the time of appointment. Further details are provided
below:

Salary

Benefits

Pension benefits

The Committee will set a base salary appropriate to the calibre, experience and
responsibilities of the new appointee. In arriving at a salary, the Committee may
take into account, amongst other things, the market rate for the role and internal
relativities.

The Committee has the flexibility to set the salary of a new Executive Director at
a lower level initially, with a series of planned increases implemented over the
following few years to bring the salary to the desired positioning, subject to
individual performance.

In exceptional circumstances, the Committee has the ability to set the salary of a
new Executive Director at a rate higher than the market level to reflect the
criticality of the role and the experience and performance of the individual.

Benefits will be consistent with the principles of the policy set out on page 32. The
Company may award certain additional benefits and other allowances including,
but not limited to, those to assist with relocation support, temporary living and
transportation expenses, educational costs for children, reimbursement of fees for
tax advice associated with completion of international tax returns and tax
equalisation to allow flexibility in employing an overseas national.

A maximum employer pension contribution of 12% of salary (or equivalent cash
allowance) may be payable for external appointments. For an internal
appointment, his or her existing pension arrangements may continue to operate.
Any new Executive Director based outside the UK will be eligible to participate in
pension or pension allowance, insurance and other benefit programmes in line
with local practice.

Annual bonus

The maximum target bonus opportunity is 80% of base salary and the maximum
bonus opportunity for new appointments is 225% of their target bonus.

41

Other cash or
equity-based awards

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Executive Directors may receive awards under the EIP (or other equity incentive
plan operated by the Company from time to time) on appointment. The
Committee will assess and determine the award level, award vehicle, performance
conditions and vesting schedule for each individual on a case-by-case basis. In
addition, Executive Directors are eligible to participate in the Company’s all-
employee share plans on the same terms as other employees in the jurisdiction in
which they are engaged.

In addition, the Committee may offer additional cash and/or equity-based
elements in order to “buy-out” remuneration relinquished on leaving a former
employer. Any awards made in this regard may have no performance conditions,
or different performance conditions, or a different vesting schedule compared to
the Company’s existing plans, as the Committee considers appropriate.

Depending on the timing and responsibilities of the appointment, it may be necessary to set different

annual bonus or SOP performance measures and targets as applicable to other Executive Directors.

The terms of appointment for a Non-Executive Director would be in accordance with the approved

remuneration policy for Non-Executive Directors in force at the time of the appointment.

Service contracts and termination policy

Executive Directors have rolling service agreements (entered into with the Parent Company or a
subsidiary thereof) which may be terminated in accordance with the terms of these agreements. The period
of notice for Executive Directors (to be given by the employer or the Executive Director) will not normally
exceed 6 months. Executive Directors’ service agreements are available for inspection at the Parent
Company’s registered office during normal business hours and will also be available to the public if required
to be filed by the Parent Company with the SEC. The terms of the current Executive Director’s service
contract are:

Name

Kevin Lee

Position

Date of service contract

Notice period

Chief Executive Officer

26 September 2019

6 months either party

The Company’s policy on remuneration for Executive Directors who leave the Company is set out
below. The Committee will exercise its discretion when determining amounts that should be paid to leavers
(other than in respect of the relevant leaver’s contractual entitlements which will be respected), taking into
account the facts and circumstances of each case. Where applicable, the Company may elect to make a
payment in lieu of notice (“PILON”) equivalent in value to basic salary and contractual benefits for any
unexpired portion of the notice period (but excluding any annual bonus or holiday entitlement that would
have otherwise accrued during the notice period).

Where the Executive Director is terminated by the Company without “Cause” (as defined in the service

agreement), by the Executive Director for “Good Reason” (as defined in the service agreement), or on the
Executive Director’s death, severance pay in addition to any potential PILON and any entitlements in respect
of the year to the date of termination in accordance with the applicable terms shall be paid to an Executive
Director as set out below, subject to the Executive Director signing a waiver of claims:

Element of pay / benefit

Salary

Termination other than within 12 months
after a relevant “Change in Control” (as
defined in the service agreement)

Termination within 12 months after a
relevant “Change in Control” (as defined in
the service agreement)

A lump sum payment equal to
12 months’ salary payable.

A lump sum payment equal to
18 months’ salary payable.

Contractual benefits

A lump sum payment equal to the A lump sum payment equal to the

42

Element of pay / benefit

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Termination other than within 12 months
after a relevant “Change in Control” (as
defined in the service agreement)

Termination within 12 months after a
relevant “Change in Control” (as defined in
the service agreement)

cost to the Company of providing
contractual benefits for
12 months (or continuation of
such benefits).

cost to the Company of providing
contractual benefits for
18 months (or continuation of
such benefits).

Annual bonus

Not applicable.

Share Option Plan
(legacy awards)

Options treated in accordance
with plan rules.
Good leavers may exercise their
options to the extent vested at the
time of termination within
12 months after termination.
The Committee has the discretion
to accelerate vesting in whole or
in part, to extend the exercise
window, and/or to waive any
applicable performance
conditions in whole or in part.

A lump sum payment equal to 1.5
times target bonus will be paid.
Options subject to time-based
vesting (only) accelerate, vest and
become exercisable in full.
Options subject to performance
conditions treated in accordance
with plan rules (as described at
left).

Equity Incentive Plan

Awards treated in accordance
with plan rules.

Awards vest in full on a change of
control.

Unless otherwise determined by
the Committee, unvested equity
awards lapse on the date of
termination of employment.

The Company is unequivocally against rewards for failure; the circumstances of any departure,
including the individual’s performance, would be taken into account in every case. Statutory redundancy
payments may be made. Service agreements may be terminated summarily without notice (or on shorter
notice periods) and without payment in lieu of notice in certain circumstances, such as gross misconduct or
any other material breach of the obligations under their employment contract. The Company may require
the individual to work during their notice period or may place them on garden leave during which they would
be entitled to full pay and benefits.

Except in the case of gross misconduct or resignation, the Company may at its absolute discretion

reimburse for reasonable professional fees relating to the termination of employment and, where an
Executive Director has been required to re-locate, to pay reasonable repatriation costs, including possible
tax exposure costs and/or settle any other amount the Committee considers reasonable including any statutory
entitlements or sums to settle or compromise claims or potential claims in connection with a termination
(including, at the discretion of the Committee, reimbursement for legal advice and provision of outplacement
services).

Policy on external appointments

The Board believes that it may be beneficial to the Company for executives to hold certain roles outside

the Company provided that the Company’s business takes priority. Any such appointments are subject to
approval by the Board and the director may retain any fees received. Kevin Lee is currently a director of
Alchemab Therapeutics Limited and Nodthera Limited in respect of which he received an aggregate of £60k
(year ended 31 December 2020: £25k) per annum in fees.

43

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Non-Executive Directors’ terms of engagement

Each of the Non-Executive Directors is engaged under a Non-Executive Director appointment letter.

Each appointment is normally terminable by either party on no more than three months’ written notice (or,
in some cases, payment in lieu of notice), but may be terminated immediately in certain circumstances.
Under our articles of association, our Board is divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III),
with members of each class serving staggered three-year terms. In the event of termination, the Chair and Non-
Executive Directors are only entitled to fees accrued to the date of termination together with reimbursement
of expenses properly incurred before that date.

The dates of appointment of each of the Non-Executive Directors serving at 31 December 2021 are

summarised in the table below. The Parent Company was incorporated on 27 October 2017.

Non-Executive Directors
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos
Veronica Jordan
Richard Kender
Pierre Legault (Chairman)
Gregory Winter

Date of appointment letter
18 July 2019
17 March 2021
30 October 2019
20 July 2019
15 March 2019
24 May 2019

Date of appointment
18 July 2019
17 March 2021
30 October 2019
18 July 2019
15 March 2019
4 December 2017

At the time of the IPO in May 2019 all Non-Executive Directors then appointed except Pierre Legault
entered into new letters of appointment which took effect conditional upon completion of the IPO. Janice
Bourque, Richard Kender, Veronica Jordan and Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos each entered into letters of
appointment at the time of their appointment to the Board.

Non-Executive Directors’ letters of appointment are available for inspection at the Parent Company’s

registered office during normal business hours and will be available for inspection at the AGM.

A company affiliated with Pierre Legault, Stone Sunny Isles, Inc., has also entered into a consulting
agreement with Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. dated 15 March 2019 under which it will procure the provision of
consulting services by Pierre Legault to the Parent Company and is paid a monthly retainer of £10,416,
which is billed in U.S. dollars for these services. This consulting agreement is terminable on three months’
written notice (or payment in lieu of notice).

Remuneration scenario for Executive Director

The charts below show an estimate of the 2022 remuneration package for the Executive Director under
three assumed performance scenarios and these scenarios are based on the remuneration policy set out above.

Minimum (comprising fixed pay only)

Base salary as of 1 January 2022 of $734k and cash in lieu of pension of 12% of base salary net of

employer NI costs of the cash in lieu.

Target

Fixed pay as above.

Assumes target bonus of 65%.

Maximum

Fixed pay as above.

Assumes maximum bonus payout of 146%.

44

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

CEO

$2,000,000

$1,500,000

$1,000,000

$500,000

$-

Minimum

Target

Maximum

Fixed

Variable

Annual Report on Remuneration

This part of the report has been prepared in accordance with Part 3 of The Large and Medium-sized

Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 and section 420 of the
Companies Act 2006. The Annual Report on Remuneration and the Annual Statement by the Chair of the
Compensation Committee will be put to a single advisory shareholder vote at the AGM to be held on
27 June 2022. The information in this part of the report has been audited where required under the foregoing
regulations and is indicated as audited where applicable.

Compensation Committee

The current members of the Committee, who are all independent and have been members for the whole

year, are Veronica Jordan (as Chair of the Committee), Richard Kender and Janice Bourque. Decisions of
the Committee are made by majority vote or by unanimous written consent.

The Chair and members of management, the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), and the Chief Financial

Officer (“CFO”), are invited to attend meetings where appropriate. Attendees who are not members of the
Committee are not involved in any decisions and are not present for any discussions regarding their own
remuneration and did not materially assist the Committee.

No conflicts of interest have arisen during the year and none of the members of the Committee has
any personal financial interest in the matters discussed, other than as optionholders. The fees of the Non-
Executive Directors are approved by the Board on the joint recommendation of the Committee and the CEO/
Executive Director.

Meetings attendance

Director

Janice Bourque

Richard Kender

Veronica Jordan

Meetings
Attended

7 of 8

8 of 8

8 of 8

45

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Eight meetings of the Committee have taken place during 2021.

Independent advisors

Independent advice on executive remuneration is received from the Executive Compensation practice

of Radford. Radford is a member of the Remuneration Consultants Group and is a signatory to its Code of
Conduct. Radford advises the Committee on all aspects of senior executive remuneration. Since the IPO,
Radford has been appointed by the Committee to assist with the drafting of the Remuneration Policy and has
kept the Committee up to date on remuneration trends and corporate governance best practice. Radford
does not have any other remuneration-unrelated connection with the Company and is considered to be
independent by the Committee. During the year ended 31 December 2021, fees charged by Radford for advice
provided to the Committee for 2021 amounted to approximately $130k (year ended 31 December 2020:
$9k).

Activity in the year

The Committee’s principal function is to develop and implement compensation policies and plans that

ensure the attraction and retention of key management personnel, the motivation of management to achieve
the Company’s corporate goals and strategies, and the alignment of the interests of management with the
long-term interests of the Parent Company’s shareholders. In determining the remuneration policy, and in
constructing the remuneration arrangements for Executive Directors and senior employees, the Board, advised
by the Committee, aims to provide remuneration packages that are competitive and designed to attract,
retain and motivate Executive Directors and senior employees of the highest calibre.

The Committee is responsible for and considered, where applicable, during the year:

• annually reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the

CEO and CFO;

• evaluating the performance of the CEO and CFO in light of such corporate goals and objectives and

recommending or determining the compensation of the CEO;

• reviewing and recommending or determining the compensation of our other executive officers;

• reviewing and establishing our overall management compensation, philosophy and policy;

• overseeing and administering our compensation and similar plans;

• retaining and approving the compensation of any compensation advisors;

• reviewing and approving our policies and procedures for the grant of equity-based awards;

• preparing the compensation committee report required by the SEC rules to be included in our

annual proxy statement, and the directors’ remuneration policy and report as required under English
law;

• reviewing and discussing with management the compensation discussion and analysis to be included

in our annual proxy statement or Annual Report on Form 10-K, if required;

• reviewing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to director compensation; and

• reviewing and discussing with the Board our corporate succession plans for the CEO and other key

officers.

The Committee is formally constituted and operates pursuant to a written charter, which is available on

the Company’s website.

Single total figure of directors’ remuneration — year ended 31 December 2021 (audited)

The total remuneration of the individual directors who served during the financial year, from
1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, together with a comparison with the equivalent figure for the 2020

46

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

financial year is shown below. Other than shown, no directors received remuneration in the 2020 financial
year. Total remuneration is the sum of emoluments plus Company pension contributions.

Base
salary(1)/
fees
$’000

Benefits(2)
$’000

Pension(3)
$’000

Bonus(4)
$’000

Equity-
based
awards(5)
$’000

Total
remuneration
$’000

Total fixed
remuneration
$’000

Total variable
remuneration
$’000

Executive Directors

Kevin Lee . . . . . . . . . . . 2021

2020

Non-Executive Directors(6)
Michael Anstey . . . . . . . 2021

2020

Catherine Bingham . . . . . 2021

2020

Janice Bourque . . . . . . . . 2021

2020

Bosun Hau . . . . . . . . . . 2021

2020

Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-

Ramos . . . . . . . . . . . . 2021

2020

Veronica Jordan . . . . . . . 2021

Richard Kender . . . . . . . 2021

2020

677

592

2

1

— —

20 —

26 —

53 —

63 —

63 —

— —

20 —

34 —

— —

58 —

54 —

97 —

Pierre Legault(7)

2020
. . . . . . . 2021

97 —
209 —

2020

198 —

Carolyn Ng . . . . . . . . . . 2021

2020

Gregory Winter . . . . . . . 2021
2020

— —

20 —

40 —
40 —

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2021 1,204

2020 1,157

2

1

71

62

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
—

71

62

654

501

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
—

654

501

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

1,404

1,156

750

655

654

501

—

20

26

53

63

63

—

20

34

—

58

54

97

97
209

198

—

20

40
40

—

20

26

53

63

63

—

20

34

—

58

54

97

97
209

198

—

20

40
40

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
—

1,931

1,721

1,277

1,220

654

501

(1) As of 1 January 2021, the Executive Director’s salary was both set, and paid, in GBP, and the amount
reflected is based on a GBP:USD exchange rate of 1.37566 as of 31 December 2021. In 2020, the
Executive Director’s salary entitlement was expressed in USD and converted to GBP pursuant to a
mechanism set out in his service contract.

(2) The Executive Director’s benefits included private health insurance, long term disability, critical illness

and death in service benefits.

(3) Relates to pension and cash in lieu of pension.

(4) The annual bonus for 2021 was paid in cash in February 2022. The annual bonus for 2020 was paid in

cash in February 2021.

47

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

(5) There were no performance obligations linked to the equity-based awards. The value of equity-based
awards in the table is based on the market value of underlying shares at the date of grant, less the
applicable exercise price. For the CEO and Non-Executive Directors this was nil because the exercise
price is equal to the market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant. Refer to “Share
Option Plan” below. Share price appreciation did not impact the value of awards. No discretion was
exercised, and the determination of the levels of awards were not impacted, as a result of share price
appreciation.

(6) Catherine Bingham resigned on 28 June 2021 and received no payments in respect of loss of office or

otherwise following her termination date. Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos was appointed on 17 March 2021.
Michael Anstey, Bosun Hau and Carolyn Ng all resigned on 30 June 2020 and received no payments
in respect of loss of office or otherwise following their termination dates.

(7) Pierre Legault’s fees include those payable under a consulting agreement between Stone Sunny Isles,

Inc. and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. dated 15 March 2019, pursuant to which such entity is paid £125k per
year for Mr. Legault’s advisory services to the Company.

2021 Annual bonus (audited)

In 2021, the CEO’s annual bonus was based on corporate and personal objectives. Details of the
specific objectives will be disclosed when they are no longer considered commercially sensitive. The overall
bonus outcome of percentage of target resulted in a total bonus pay out of $654k or 97% of the CEO’s base
salary for the year ended 31 December 2021. The Compensation Committee is satisfied that the bonus pay-
out for 2021 is appropriate, taking into account the wider stakeholder experience, particularly that of
shareholders and employees, based on achievements versus goals in the following key areas: Corporate
Development, Clinical Development, Financial and Organisational Development. In 2020, the bonus
outcome of percentage of target resulted in a total bonus pay out of $501k or 85% of the CEO’s base salary
for the year ended 31 December 2020. Specific targets are commercially sensitive. However, full details of
the targets and performance against them will be disclosed when they are no longer considered commercially
sensitive.

Share Option Plan

Awards granted from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 (audited)

The CEO and Chairman received the following share option awards under the SOP during the year

from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, as set forth in the table below:

Executive Director

Form of Award

Date of Grant

Number of
Shares
Covered

Exercise
Price $

Face Value
at Date
of Grant(1)

Expiry Date

Vest Terms

Kevin Lee . . . . . Fair market

4 January 2021

250,000

17.95

—

3 January 2031

value options

25% vest after one year,
remaining shares vest in
36 equal monthly
instalments

Chairman
Pierre Legault . . Fair market

value options

4 January 2021

38,000

17.95

—

3 January 2031 Vest immediately

(1) The value of equity-based awards in the table is based on the market value of underlying shares at the
date of grant, less the applicable exercise price. This was nil because the exercise price is equal to the
market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant.

48

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Non-Executive Directors also received the following option awards during the year from 1 January 2021

to 31 December 2021, each vesting based on continued employment only and granted under the SOP:

Form of Award
Non-Executive Director
Catherine Bingham . . . . Fair market

Date of Grant
4 January 2021

value options

Number of
Shares
Covered
19,000

Exercise
Price $
17.95

Face
Value
at Date
of Grant(1)
—

Janice Bourque . . . . . . . Fair market

4 January 2021

19,000

17.95

Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-

Ramos . . . . . . . . . . .

value options
Fair market
value options

17 March 2021

32,000

27.90

Veronica Jordan . . . . . . Fair market

4 January 2021

19,000

17.95

value options

Richard Kender

. . . . . . Fair market

4 January 2021

19,000

17.95

value options

Gregory Winter . . . . . . . Fair market

4 January 2021

19,000

17.95

value options

—

—

—

—

—

Expiry Date

Vest Terms

3 January 2031 Vest immediately

3 January 2021 Vest immediately

16 March 2031 Vesting in 36 monthly
instalments at the end
of each calendar
month following 17
March 2021

3 January 2031 Vest immediately

3 January 2031 Vest immediately

3 January 2031 Vest immediately

(1) The value of equity-based awards in the table is based on the market value of underlying shares at the
date of grant, less the applicable exercise price. This was nil because the exercise price is equal to the
market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant.

None of the awards granted are subject to performance based conditions.

No subsequent changes were made to the exercise prices or vesting dates of options.

Statement of directors’ shareholding and share interests (audited)

Shareholdings for each director, who has held office during the period 1 January 2021 and 31
December 2021, are set out in the table below as at 31 December 2021 or their date of resignation if they
resigned in the year (together with interests held by his or her connected persons):

Executive Director

Kevin Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-Executive Directors
Catherine Bingham(1) . . . . .
Janice Bourque . . . . . . . . .

Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-

Ramos . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Veronica Jordan . . . . . . . .

Number of Shares

Beneficially owned
shares as at
31 December
2021

Number of Share Options

Exercised(2)

Vested but
unexercised

Unvested
with
performance
conditions

Unvested
without
performance
conditions

Total

225,085

200,000

534,044

—

—

—

—

35,000

61,666

8,888

59,000

—

—

—

—

49

—

—

—

—

—

441,848

1,200,977

5,334

23,112

8,000

35,000

67,000

32,000

67,000

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Number of Shares

Beneficially owned
shares as at
31 December
2021

Richard Kender . . . . . . . . .

Pierre Legault . . . . . . . . . .

—

—

Exercised(2)

Vested but
unexercised

—

61,666

195,000

175,720

Gregory Winter . . . . . . . . .

163,927

—

35,000

Unvested
with
performance
conditions

Unvested
without
performance
conditions

—

—

—

5,334

34,419

—

Total

67,000

210,139

198,927

Number of Share Options

(1) Catherine Bingham resigned on 28 June 2021

(2)

In 2021 Kevin Lee and Pierre Legault exercised some options during the year, with weighted average
exercise prices of USD 14.00 and USD 8.54, respectively. The aggregate gain received by Dr Lee and
Mr. Legault (based on the market value of the shares on the date of exercise) was USD 12,184k.

No shares were unvested.

Share ownership guidelines

Executive Directors are encouraged to build a meaningful shareholding so as to align their interests

with those of shareholders but no formal shareholding requirements apply.

Payments to former directors and for loss of office (audited)

No payments were made to former directors of the Company or in relation to loss of office during the

current or prior year. For the avoidance of doubt, Catherine Bingham received no payments in respect of
her loss of office or otherwise following her termination date. Her options were fully vested on her termination
date.

Performance graph and table

The chart below shows the Parent Company’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) performance
compared with that of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index from the date of the Parent Company’s listing
on NASDAQ to 31 December 2021. The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index has been chosen as an appropriate
comparator as it is the index of which the Parent Company is a constituent. TSR is defined as the return
on investment obtained from holding a company’s shares over a year. It includes dividends paid, the change
in the capital value of the shares and any other payments made to or by shareholders within the year.

50

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Stock Price Performance Since IPO

Stock Performance (May 2019-December 2021)

Aligning pay with performance

The total remuneration figure for the CEO is shown in the table below, along with the value of bonuses

paid, and SOP vesting, as a percentage of the maximum opportunity As explained in the report in respect
of the 2019 financial year, 2019 was the first year reported since listing, it is not possible to provide meaningful
comparative data for periods prior to that date.

Chief Executive Officer

2019

2020

2021

Total remuneration ($000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,004

1,156

1,404

Actual bonus (% of the maximum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

63%

63%

72%

SOP vesting (% of the maximum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100% 100% 100%

Percentage change in remuneration of the directors compared to all Company employees

The table below illustrates the increase in salary, benefits and annual bonus for each director and that
of the Company’s employees as a whole as between the 2019 and 2021 financial years. As explained in the
report in respect of the 2019 financial year, 2019 was the first year reported since listing on NASDAQ. There
was no change in remuneration of the CEO in that year and it was therefore not possible to provide
meaningful comparative data for prior years.

51

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Percentage change 2019-2020

Percentage change 2020-2021

Base
salary / fees

Benefits

Bonus

Base
salary / fees

Benefits

Bonus

Executive Directors

Kevin Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15%

50%

16%

14%

100% 31%

Non-Executive Directors

Michael Anstey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Catherine Bingham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Janice Bourque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(17)%

71%

117%

Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

—

Bosun Hau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(17)%

Veronica Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Richard Kender

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

Pierre Legault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

500%

120%

40%

Carolyn Ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(17)%

Gregory Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Average pay of employees as a whole . . . . . . . . .

67%

27%

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(51)%

—

—

—

7%

—

6%

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

7%

25%

10%

80% 35%

Non-Executive Directors did not receive fees for the period prior to the IPO on NASDAQ in May 2019.
Catherine Bingham resigned on 28 June 2021. Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos was appointed on 17 March 2021.
Michael Anstey, Bosun Hau and Carolyn Ng resigned on 30 June 2020. Veronica Jordan, Richard Kender
and Janice Bourque were all appointed during the course of 2019 with 2020 being their first full year in office.

Relative importance of spend on pay

The table below illustrates the Company’s expenditure on employee pay in comparison to total

expenditure on research and development. These costs are included in the disclosures in notes 6 and 9 in the
notes to the financial statements.

Total expenditure on research and development ($’000)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total employee pay expenditure ($’000)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

34,116
24,833

47,778
44,491

40%
79%

2020

2021

% change

(1) The Committee considers the Company’s research and development expenditure relative to salary

expenditure for all employees, to be the most appropriate metric for assessing overall spend on pay due
to the nature and stage of the Company’s business.

(2) Total pay expenditure includes wages and salaries, social security costs, pension contributions, bonus,

equity compensation plans and termination benefits.

52

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Statement of implementation of remuneration policy in 2022

Annual base salary

The annual base salary of the CEO is shown in the table below:

Base salary
2021
$’000

Base salary
2022
$’000

Executive Directors

Kevin Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

677

734

Prior to 2021, Kevin Lee’s salary entitlement has been expressed in USD and converted to GBP
pursuant to a mechanism set out in his service contract. To simplify administration, as of 1 January 2021,
Kevin Lee’s salary has been both set, and paid, in GBP. Accordingly, Kevin Lee’s annual base salary was GBP
494,602, effective on and from 1 January 2021 and will be GBP 544,100 on and from 1 January 2022. For
consistency and ease of comparison, we will continue to provide disclosures in USD (converted by reference
to the GBP: USD exchange rate on 31 December 2021 of 1.3497 (31 December 2020: 1.36589)).

Benefits and pension

In 2022, Executive Directors are eligible for the same benefits (such as health insurance) as provided to
all senior employees in the jurisdiction in which they reside. In the UK, where the CEO is based, this means
that employer pension contributions are 12% of base salary for Executive Directors and employees with
job title of ‘director’ and above and 10% (increased from 8% in 2021) for all other employees (or, in each case,
cash equivalent at the election of the relevant employee).

Bonus

The CEO will be entitled to a target bonus of 65% base salary in 2022 (which is an increase from 60%

in 2021), with final payout of up to 135% of base salary in the event of ‘stretch’ performance being achieved.
The bonus will be paid cash or in an equity award, as may be agreed between the Executive Director and
the Committee, and subject to the achievement of a number of corporate and personal objectives determined
by the Committee. Details of the specific objectives will be disclosed when they are no longer considered
commercially sensitive.

Specific targets are commercially sensitive and therefore are not disclosed in advance. However, full
details of the targets and performance against them will be disclosed when they are no longer considered
commercially sensitive.

Equity Incentive Plan

The Company granted the following equity incentive awards to directors and the Chairman in 2022 up
to the date of this directors’ remuneration report under the Equity Incentive Plan. These grants are a mix of
RSUs and market value options, rather than being 100% market value options as was the case in prior years.
This change was made following a review and benchmarking against our peers by our independent
compensation advisor.

53

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Director

Form of
Award

Date of
Grant

Number
of
Shares
Covered

Exercise
Price $(1)

Face Value
at Date
of
Grant(2)
$

Expiry
Date

Vest Terms

Kevin Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . Fair market

3 January 2022 100,000

60.87

value options

— 2 January 2032 25% vest after one year,
remaining shares vest in
36 equal monthly
instalments

Pierre Legault . . . . . . . . . Fair market

3 January 2022

20,000

60.87

— 2 January 2032 Vest immediately

value options

Janice Bourque . . . . . . . . Fair market

3 January 2022

10,000

60.87

— 2 January 2032 Vest immediately

Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-

Ramos . . . . . . . . . . . .

value options
Fair market
value options

3 January 2022

10,000

60.87

— 2 January 2032 Vest immediately

Veronica Jordan . . . . . . . . Fair market

3 January 2022

10,000

60.87

— 2 January 2032 Vest immediately

value options

Richard Kender . . . . . . . . Fair market

3 January 2022

10,000

60.87

— 2 January 2032 Vest immediately

value options

Gregory Winter . . . . . . . . Fair market

3 January 2022

10,000

60.87

— 2 January 2032 Vest immediately

value options

Kevin Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . Restricted

3 January 2022

50,000

—

60.87

Share Units

Pierre Legault . . . . . . . . . Restricted

3 January 2022

10,000

Share Units

Janice Bourque . . . . . . . . Restricted

3 January 2022

5,000

Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-

Ramos . . . . . . . . . . . .

Share Units
Restricted
Share Units

3 January 2022

5,000

Veronica Jordan . . . . . . . . Restricted

3 January 2022

5,000

Share Units

Richard Kender . . . . . . . . Restricted

3 January 2022

5,000

Share Units

Gregory Winter . . . . . . . . Restricted

3 January 2022

5,000

Share Units

—

—

—

—

—

—

60.87

60.87

60.87

60.87

60.87

60.87

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

25% vest after one year,
remaining shares vest in
12 equal quarterly
instalments
Vest immediately

Vest immediately

Vest immediately

Vest immediately

Vest immediately

Vest immediately

(1) Exercise price is equal to the market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant.

(2) The value of equity-based awards in the table is based on the market value of underlying shares at the
date of grant, less the applicable exercise price. This was nil for fair market value options because the
exercise price is equal to the market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant.

No other grants are currently proposed for 2022.

Non-Executive Directors’ fees

Non-Executive Directors will receive the following annual fees for 2022, which will be paid in cash, as

follows. These have been increased from the 2021 fees following review and benchmarking against our peers:

54

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Fees
(effective from 1 January 2022)
000s

Base fee:

Board Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Board member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Additional fees:

Audit Committee Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Audit Committee member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Compensation Committee Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Compensation Committee member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nomination Committee Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nomination Committee member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Strategic Committee member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scientific Committee Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scientific Committee member

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

£ 5

$45

$20

$ 9

$14

$ 7

$10

$ 5

$30

$10

$ 5

Non-Executive Director fees may be paid in GBP, USD, or a combination depending on the personal

situation of each Non-Executive Director.

Non-Executive Directors will not be eligible to participate in any performance-based incentive plans.

Each Non-Executive Director will also be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses and

reimbursement of fees for tax advice associated with completion of international tax returns and, if
relevant, any gross-up for tax due to their role as a Bicycle Therapeutics plc Non-Executive Director.

Shareholder voting on remuneration matters at AGM

The table below sets out the previous votes cast at our AGM in June 2021 in respect of the Annual

Remuneration Report.

Annual Remuneration Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

97.17

19,098,902

2.83

556,551

1,969,184

Withheld votes are not counted when calculating voting outcomes. The Directors’ Remuneration Policy

Votes for

Votes against

Votes withheld

%

Number

%

Number

Number

is renewed at least every three years.

On behalf of the Board

Veronica Jordan
Chair of the Compensation Committee
27 April 2022

55

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Report

The directors present their report and the audited financial statements of Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the
“Parent Company”) for the year ended 31 December 2021 and, the audited consolidated financial statements
of Bicycle Therapeutics plc and its subsidiaries, BicycleTx Limited, BicycleRD Limited and Bicycle
Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended 31 December 2021.

Bicycle Therapeutics plc is a public company limited by shares and incorporated and domiciled in
England and Wales. BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited are registered in England and Wales. Bicycle
Therapeutics Inc. is registered in the U.S.

This is the third year that UK statutory audited consolidated financial statements have been presented.

Where stated certain information is not shown in the directors report because it is shown in the
Strategic Report instead under section 414C(11) of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act”).

Change of name

On 22 May 2019, the Parent Company re-registered as a public company and changed its name from

Bicycle Therapeutics Limited to Bicycle Therapeutics plc.

Results and dividends

The results of the Company for the year are set out on page 68. During the year ended 31 December 2021,

no dividend was declared or paid (31 December 2020: $Nil). The directors do not recommend the payment
of any further dividend.

Directors

The directors of the Parent Company who held office during the year and up to the date of signing the

financial statements, unless otherwise stated, were as follows:

Catherine Bingham (resigned 28 June 2021)
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos (appointed 17 March 2021)
Veronica Jordan
Richard Kender
Kevin Lee
Pierre Legault
Gregory Winter

Capital structure

Details of the issued share capital, together with details of shares issued during the year, are set out in
note 18 to the financial statements. Following the Parent Company’s initial public offering there is one class
of ordinary shares which carries no right to fixed income. Each ordinary share carries the right to one
vote at a general meeting of the Parent Company.

There are no specific restrictions on the size of a holding or on the transfer of shares, which are both
governed by the general provisions of the Parent Company’s articles of association and prevailing legislation.
The directors are not aware of any agreements between holders of the Parent Company’s shares that may
result in restrictions on the transfer of securities or on voting rights.

No person has any special rights of control over the Parent Company’s share capital and all issued
shares are fully paid. Subject to the Companies Act and any relevant authority of the Parent Company in
general meeting, the Parent Company has authority to issue new shares.

56

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Report (continued)

Political donations

No political donations were made, and no political expenditure was incurred, by the Company during

the current and prior year. No contributions were made to any non-UK political party by the Company
during the current and prior year.

Research and development activities

The directors are satisfied that research activities of the Company are progressing satisfactorily. Total

research and development expenditure during the year was $47.8 million (year ended 31 December 2020:
$34.1 million). The Directors have identified that the expenditure on research and development disclosed
within Note 6 ‘Operating Loss’ to the financial statements in the prior year was overstated by $14.8 million
and has been corrected within these financial statements. The correction has no impact on profit or cash flows
for the year or on opening reserves in the current year.

Going concern

The Company is involved in research and development activities and until it is able to convert this

activity into a significant product revenue stream, it will be reliant upon obtaining additional funding in
connection with continuing operations. More detailed analysis of the risks faced by the Company is given in
the Strategic Report.

At 31 December 2021, the Company had cash of $438.7 million and the directors estimate the
Company’s existing cash at the date of approval of these financial statements is sufficient to continue to
fund the Company’s operating expense for at least 12 months from the date of that approval and that is
therefore appropriate to prepare these financial statements on a going concern basis.

Employee involvement

The Company is committed to the continued development of employee involvement by an effective
communications and consultative framework. Please refer to the “Employee, social, community and human
rights matters” section included in our Strategic Report, beginning on page 14 of this document.

Greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and energy efficiency action

Please refer to the “Environmental matters” section included in our Strategic Report, beginning on

page 14 of this document.

Financial risk management

Please refer to the “Financial risk management” section included in our Strategic Report, beginning on

page 13 of this document.

Qualifying third party indemnity provisions

The Parent Company has made qualifying third-party indemnity provisions for the benefit of its

directors and certain executives that were in force during the year and at the date of this report.

Disclosure of information to the auditors

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no
relevant audit information, being information needed by the auditors in connection with preparing its
reports, of which the auditors are unaware. Having made enquiries of fellow directors and the company’s

57

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Report (continued)

auditors, each director has taken all the steps that he/she is obliged to take as a director in order to make
himself/herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that
information.

Branches outside of the UK

The Parent Company has no overseas branches.

Future developments

Information on likely future developments in the business of the Company has been included in the

Strategic Report on page 11.

Post balance sheet events

The directors are not aware of any events that have occurred subsequent to the year-end that may

materially impact the results of the financial statements.

Statement of directors’ responsibilities in respect of the financial statements

The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance

with applicable law and regulation.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that

law the directors have prepared the Parent Company’s and the Company’s financial statements in accordance
with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards,
comprising FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”, and
applicable law).

Under company law, 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 Parent Company and the Company and of the
profit or loss of the Company for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are required
to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 102 have been
followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that

the Parent Company and the Company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Parent Company and the Company and

hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The directors are also responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show
and explain the Parent Company’s and the Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy
at any time the financial position of the Parent Company and the Company and enable them to ensure that
the financial statements and the Directors’ Remuneration Report comply with the Companies Act 2006.

Directors’ confirmations

In the case of each director in office at the date the directors’ report is approved:

58

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Directors’ Report (continued)

• so far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Parent Company’s

and the Company’s auditors are unaware; and

• they have 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 Parent Company’s and the Company’s
auditors are aware of that information.

Independent auditors

The auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, have indicated their willingness to continue in office and a
resolution concerning their re-appointment will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to
be held on 27 June 2022.

The financial statements on pages 68 to 103 were approved by the board of directors on 14 April 2022.

This report was approved by the board of directors on 14 April 2022 and signed on behalf of the

board of directors by:

Kevin Lee
Director
27 April 2022

59

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Independent auditors’ report to the
members of Bicycle Therapeutics plc

Report on the audit of the financial statements

Opinion
In our opinion, Bicycle Therapeutics plc’s group financial statements and parent company financial statements (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 loss and the group’s cash flows for the year then ended;

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United
Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and
Republic of Ireland”, and applicable law); and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

We have audited the financial statements, included within the Annual report and financial statements (the “Annual
Report”), which comprise: the consolidated and parent company balance sheets as at 31 December 2021; the
consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity, the Parent
Company statement of changes in equity and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended; and
the notes to the financial statements, which include a description of the significant accounting policies.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law.
Our responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further described in the Auditors’ 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.

Independence

We remained independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the
financial statements in the UK, which includes the FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applicable to listed entities, and we have
fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

Our audit approach

Overview

Audit scope

• Full scope audit for four entities.
• 100% coverage of group’s revenue and total assets and liabilities.

Key audit matters

• Revenue recognition (group)
• Recoverability of investments in subsidiaries and amounts owed by group undertakings (parent)

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Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Materiality

• Overall group materiality: US$4,400,000 (2020: US$2,980,000) based on 5% of loss before tax.
• Overall parent company materiality: US$5,400,000 (2020: US$2,100,000) based on 1% of total assets, (restricted

to 95% of overall group materiality for the purposes of our group audit).

• Performance materiality: US$3,300,000 (2020: US$2,235,000) (group) and US$4,050,000 (2020: US$1,575,000)

(parent company).

The scope of our audit

As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risks of material misstatement in the
financial statements.

Key audit matters

the financial statements of

Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditors’ professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit
of
the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material
misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by the auditors, 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, and any comments we make on the results of our procedures thereon, 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.

This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit.

Recoverability of investments in subsidiaries and amounts owed by group undertakings is a new key audit matter this
year. COVID-19, which was a key audit matter last year, is no longer included because of the limited impact of the
pandemic on the Group. Otherwise, the key audit matters below are consistent with last year.

Key audit matter

Revenue recognition (group)

Refer to Note 3, Note 4 and Note 5 of the financial
statements for management’s disclosure of
accounting policies, significant judgements and further
explanation in the notes to the financial statements.

The Group entered into a Collaboration and Licence
Agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Ionis”) in
the year. The Group granted to Ionis a worldwide
exclusive licence under its relevant technology to
research, develop, manufacture and commercialise
products incorporating Bicycle peptides directed to the
protein coded by the gene TFRC1 (transferrin
receptor), or TfR1 Bicycles, intended for the delivery of
oligonucleotide compounds directed to targets
selected by Ionis for diagnostic, therapeutic,
prophylactic and preventative uses in humans.

Ionis made a non-refundable upfront payment of
$31 million and will be required to make a low-single-
digit million dollar payment upon acceptance of an
investigational new drug application. Ionis will also be
required to make milestone payments upon the
achievement of specified development and regulatory
milestones of up to a low double-digit million dollar
amount per collaboration target. The Group concluded
that the low-single-digit million dollar payments upon
acceptance of an Investigational New Drug filing is a
customer option, as Ionis has the contractual right to

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

We have performed the following procedures to
address the key audit matter:

• We have gained an understanding of the control
environment surrounding the revenue cycle;

• We have read the underlying collaboration and

licence agreement and checked the consistency
of the research scope in the executed agreement
and management’s accounting analysis;

• We have assessed management’s accounting

memorandum including management’s
determination that the licence and research
services are not distinct, the estimated
standalone fair values of performance
obligations, and the manner in which revenue
should be recognised (over time or at a point in
time) and concluded that the accounting
treatment and methodology adopted is in line with
FRS 102, other guidance available and industry
practice;

• We tested the arithmetic accuracy of the model
developed to determine an option as a material
right, to determine the probability of Ionis
exercising an option, to determine transaction
price and allocate it to the separately identifiable
components, and considered the reasonableness
of key assumptions, such as, in the case of

61

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

material rights, the probability that Ionis would
exercise the option;

• We tested the accounting model being applied to
determine the extent of progress where revenue
for performance obligations is recognised over
time, including checking the arithmetic accuracy,
time incurred to date and expected time yet to be
incurred;

• We have performed testing over manual journal

postings which are considered to be at a
heightened risk of fraud using our data analysis
tool.

choose to make the payment in exchange for the
continued exclusive right to research, develop,
manufacture and commercialise the product
candidate, and the Group is not presently obligated to
provide, and does not have a right to the
consideration, for the additional goods or services
prior to Ionis’s exercise of the option.

In assessing whether the options under the
Agreement represent material rights, the Group
considered the additional consideration the Group
would be entitled to upon the option exercise and the
standalone selling price of the underlying goods and
services. For the material rights identified as
performance obligations above, the Group concluded
that each of the options to obtain credits provided
Ionis with a discount that it otherwise would not have
received without entering the Ionis Collaboration
Agreement. The amount allocated to the material
rights is recorded as deferred revenue and the Group
commences revenue recognition upon exercise of or
upon expiry of the respective option.

The total transaction price was initially determined to
be $38 million, consisting of the $31 million non-
refundable upfront fee, the $3 million under the Option
and Evaluation Agreement, that was credited against
the total upfront payment payable pursuant to the Ionis
Collaboration Agreement, the $3.4 million premium
paid under the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement, and
an estimated $0.6 million for the reimbursement of
CRO costs. Additional variable consideration including
development diligence milestone deadline extension
payments, development and regulatory milestone
payments, sales milestone payments and royalty
payments was fully constrained as a result of the
uncertainty regarding whether any of the milestones
will be achieved.

The transaction price was allocated to the
performance obligations based on the relative
estimated standalone selling prices of each
performance obligation. The estimated standalone
selling price of the Ionis combined licences and
research and discovery performance obligation was
based on the nature of the licences to be delivered, as
well as the services to be performed and estimates of
the associated effort and costs of the services,
adjusted for a reasonable profit margin for what would
be expected to be realised under similar contracts.
The estimated standalone selling price for the material
rights was determined based on the estimated value
of the underlying goods and services, and the
probability that Ionis would exercise the option.

During the year, the Group recognised revenue of
$4.2 million and $34.1 million of deferred revenue in
connection with this agreement.

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Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Recoverability of investments in subsidiaries and
amounts owed by group undertakings (parent)

Refer to Note 14 for investment in subsidiaries and
note 15 for amounts owed by the group undertakings.

We have performed following procedures to address
the key audit matter:

• We have gained an understanding of the control
environment over investments in subsidiaries and
intercompany transactions and balances;

• We have obtained management’s analysis of

recoverability of intercompany receivables and
investments, tested its mathematical accuracy;

• We confirmed that the market capitalisation of the
Parent Company exceeded the carrying value of
these balances which was the primary evidence
supporting management’s conclusions;

• We concluded that the accounting treatment and
methodology adopted is in line with FRS 102,
other guidance available and industry practice.

The Parent Company has investments in and
intercompany receivables from both BicycleTx Limited
and BicycleRD Limited (wholly owned subsidiary
companies), both of which are currently loss making.

The carrying value of the investment in subsidiary
companies in the Parent Company’s balance sheet at
31 December 2021 is $32,319k and that of amounts
receivable from subsidiary companies is $130,434k.

Under FRS102, the intrinsic value of the subsidiary
company can be determined on an expected value
basis, rather than considering specific scenarios of
default.

The measurement and recoverability of these
balances has been assessed by management and
they have concluded that there is no impairment since
the market capitalisation of the Parent company
implies a valuation of the subsidiary companies
significantly greater than the carrying value of these
balances since the intellectual property and
collaboration contracts of the group are within the
subsidiary companies.

How we tailored the audit scope

We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed enough work to be able to give an opinion on the
financial statements as a whole, taking into account the structure of the group and the parent company, the accounting
processes and controls, and the industry in which they operate.

The Group comprises four entities, Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the parent company), BicycleTX Limited, BicycleRD
Limited and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. (the subsidiary companies). Full scope audits were performed over the financial
information of these four entities and our work was fully substantive in nature. This approach provided 100% coverage
of the Group’s revenue and total assets and liabilities.

Materiality

The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for
materiality. These, together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the
nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures on the individual financial statement line items and disclosures and
in evaluating the effect of misstatements, both individually and in aggregate on the financial statements as a whole.

63

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

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

Overall
materiality

How we
determined it

Rationale for
benchmark
applied

Financial statements – group

US$4,400,000 (2020: US$2,980,000).

5% of loss before tax

Based on the benchmarks used in the annual report and
financial statements, loss before tax is one of the financial
metrics used by the shareholders in assessing the
performance of the Group and is a generally accepted
auditing benchmark.

Financial statements – parent
company

US$5,400,000 (2020:
US$2,100,000).

1% of total assets, (restricted
to 95% of overall group
materiality for the purposes of
our group audit)

We believe that total assets is
the most appropriate
benchmark as the Parent
Company is a holding
company.

For each component in the scope of our group audit, we allocated a materiality that is less than our overall group
materiality. The range of materiality allocated across components was $0.1 million and $4.2 million. Certain
components were audited to a local statutory audit materiality that was also less than our overall group materiality.

We use performance materiality to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected
and undetected misstatements exceeds overall materiality. Specifically, we use performance materiality in determining
the scope of our audit and the nature and extent of our testing of account balances, classes of transactions and
disclosures, for example in determining sample sizes. Our performance materiality was 75% (2020: 75%) of overall
materiality, amounting to US$3,300,000 (2020: US$2,235,000) for the group financial statements and US$4,050,000
(2020: US$1,575,000) for the parent company financial statements.

In determining the performance materiality, we considered a number of factors — the history of misstatements, risk
assessment and aggregation risk and the effectiveness of controls — and concluded that an amount at the upper end
of our normal range was appropriate.

We agreed with those charged with governance that we would report to them misstatements identified during our audit
above $220,000 (group audit) (2020: $130,000) and $270,000 (parent company audit) (2020: $105,000) as well as
misstatements below those amounts that, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

Conclusions relating to going concern
Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment of the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the
going concern basis of accounting included:

• Discussion with management on progress of research programs in the year as well as future developments;
• Obtaining management’s cash flow forecasts for the period to 31 December 2024, testing the mathematical accuracy

of the calculations and assessing the completeness and accuracy of the data used; and

• Evaluation of management’s assessment of key assumptions contained within the cash flow forecasts.

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’s 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 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.

However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this conclusion is not a guarantee as to the
group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

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

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Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Reporting on other information
The other information comprises all of the information in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our
auditors’ report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements
does not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except to the extent
otherwise explicitly stated in this report, any form of assurance thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing
so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge
obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify an apparent material inconsistency
or material misstatement, we are required to perform procedures to conclude whether there is a material misstatement
of the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have
performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that
fact. We have nothing to report based on these responsibilities.

With respect to the Strategic report and Directors’ report, we also considered whether the disclosures required by the
UK Companies Act 2006 have been included.

Based on our work undertaken in the course of the audit, the Companies Act 2006 requires us also to report certain
opinions and matters as described below.

Strategic report and Directors’ report

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, the information given in the Strategic report
and Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2021 is consistent with the financial statements and has been
prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and parent company and their environment obtained in the
course of the audit, we did not identify any material misstatements in the Strategic report and Directors’ report.

Directors’ Remuneration

In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance
with the Companies Act 2006.

Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit

Responsibilities of the directors for the financial statements

As explained more fully in the Statement of directors’ responsibilities in respect of the financial statements, the directors
are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable framework and for
being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. The directors are also responsible for such internal control as they
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.

Auditors’ 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 auditors’ 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.

65

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

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 irregularities, including
fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

Based on our understanding of the group and industry, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with
laws and regulations related to clinical trial regulations, patent protection and regulatory compliance, employment laws
including health and safety at work regulations, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a
material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on
the financial statements such as corporate taxation and the Companies Act 2006. We evaluated management’s
incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of
controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to misappropriation of funds, posting of inappropriate
accounting entries to manipulate financial results and management bias in significant accounting estimates. Audit
procedures performed by the engagement team included:

• enquiries of management and the entity’s General Counsel around actual and potential litigation and claims

including known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;
inspecting minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees;

•
• evaluation of control environment designed by management to detect and prevent irregularities;
• verifying financial statements disclosures and agreeing to supporting documentation to assess that disclosures are

in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
•
identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any journal entries posted with unusual account combinations;
• challenging the assumptions made by management in their significant accounting estimates, in particular in relation

to revenue recognition and project accruals; and

• designing audit procedures to incorporate unpredictability around nature, timing and extent of our testing.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances
of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the
financial statements. Also, 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 or intentional
misrepresentations, or through collusion.

Our audit testing might include testing complete populations of certain transactions and balances, possibly using data
auditing techniques. However, it typically involves selecting a limited number of items for testing, rather than testing
complete populations. We will often seek to target particular items for testing based on their size or risk characteristics.
In other cases, we will use audit sampling to enable us to draw a conclusion about the population from which the
sample is selected.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website at:
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditors’ report.

Use of this report

This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the parent company’s members as a body in
accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving these
opinions, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or
into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

66

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Other required reporting

Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:
• we have not obtained all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
• 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

• certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; 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.

We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

David Farmer (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
Cambridge
27 April 2022

67

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 December 2021

Year ended
31 December 2021
$’000

Year ended
31 December 2020
$’000

Note

Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Administrative expenses – exceptional item . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Administrative expenses – other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Operating loss

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

Interest receivable and similar income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Interest payable and similar expenses

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

Net interest (expense)/income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Loss before taxation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

6

6

6

6

7

7

Tax on loss

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

8

Loss for the financial year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other comprehensive income/(expenses)

Foreign exchange translation differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total comprehensive expense for the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11,144

—

(101,039)

2,988

(86,907)

120

(3,017)

(2,897)

(89,804)

12,474

(77,330)

1,948

(75,382)

10,390

(4,696)

(66,070)

570

(59,806)

683

(487)

196

(59,610)

9,255

(50,355)

(4,132)

(54,487)

Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

23

$

(3.09)

$

(2.63)

Weighted average ordinary shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25,061,734

19,145,938

The notes of pages 73 to 103 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

68

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004

Consolidated and Parent Company balance sheets
as at 31 December 2021

Fixed assets

Intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Investments in subsidiaries

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

Note

12

13

14

Current assets

Debtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15

Cash at bank and in hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated

Parent Company

As at
31 December
2021
$’000

As at
31 December
2020
$’000

As at
31 December
2021
$’000

As at
31 December
2020
$’000

64

3,123

—

3,187

85

2,317

—

2,402

—

—

32,319

32,319

23,746

438,680

462,426

21,341

135,990

157,331

130,463

381,774

512,237

—

—

17,048

17,048

84,192

109,745

193,937

—

193,937

210,985

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year . . . . . .

16

(39,927)

(23,287)

—

Net current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total assets less current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

422,499

425,686

134,044

136,446

512,237

544,556

Creditors: amounts falling after more than one year . .

17

(79,572)

(35,954)

(29,873)

(14,505)

Net assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

346,114

100,492

514,683

196,480

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital

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

Share premium account

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

Other reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Exchange reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

General reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(Accumulated losses)/retained earnings . . . . . . . . . .

18

18

18

18

18

18

384

266

384

266

414,071

105,014

414,071

105,014

—

(3,442)

(3,442)

(3,188)

31,857

(5,136)

16,586

(93,568)

(16,238)

(10)

31,857

71,823

—

(10)

16,586

74,624

Total shareholders’ funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

346,114

100,492

514,683

196,480

The Parent Company’s loss for the financial year ended 31 December 2021 is $2,801k (year ended 31

December 2020: income of $126k).

The Consolidated and Parent Company financial statements on pages 68 to 103 were approved by the

board of directors on 14 April 2022 and signed on behalf of the board of directors by:

Kevin Lee
Director
27 April 2022

The notes of pages 73 to 103 are an integral part of the financial statements.

69

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2021

Balance as at 1 January 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

227

56,652 (1,004) 7,596

34,117

97,588

Called up
share
capital
$’000

Share
premium
account
$’000

Exchage
reserve
$’000

General
reserve
$’000

(Accumulated
losses)/
retained
earnings
$’000

Total
shareholders’
funds
$’000

Loss for the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shares issued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Share options granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total transactions with owners, recognised

directly in equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Currency translation adjustment . . . . . . . . . . .

Balance as at 31 December 2020 . . . . . . . . . . .

Loss for the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shares issued ADS’s (net of costs of issue) . . . .

Shares issued pursuant to the Ionis share

—

39

—

39

—

266

—

104

Premium to fair value of shares issued with

respect to the Ionis Share Purchase
Agreement (note 5)

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

Shares issued from the exercise of options . . . .

Share options granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total transactions with owners, recognised

directly in equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Currency translation adjustment . . . . . . . . . . .

Balance as at 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . .

—

10

—

118

—

384

—

48,362

—

—

—

—

— 8,990

48,362

— 8,990

— (4,132)

—

— (50,355)

(50,355)

—

—

—

—

48,401

8,990

57,391

(4,132)

105,014 (5,136) 16,586

(16,238)

100,492

—

290,888

—

7,173

—

—

—

—

—

—

— (77,330)

(77,330)

—

—

— 290,992

—

11,000

— (3,442)

(3,442)

—

— 15,271

—

—

7,183

15,271

309,057

— 15,271

(3,442)

321,004

— 1,948

—

—

1,948

414,071 (3,188) 31,857

(97,010)

346,114

purchase agreement (note 5) . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

10,996

The notes of pages 73 to 103 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

70

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004

Parent Company statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2021

Balance as at 1 January 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

227

56,652

(10)

7,596 74,498

138,963

Called up
Share
Capital
$’000

Share
premium
account
$’000

Exchange
reserve
$’000

General
reserve
$’000

Retained
earnings
$’000

Total
shareholders’
funds
$’000

Profit for the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shares issued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Share options granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total transactions with owners, recognised directly
in equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Currency translation adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . .

Balance as at 31 December 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Loss for the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shares issued ADS’s (net of costs of issue) . . . . .

Shares issued pursuant to the Ionis share

—

39

—

39

—

266

—

104

Premium to fair value of shares issued with

respect to the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement
(note 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shares issued from the exercise of options . . . . .

Share options granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total transactions with owners, recognised directly
in equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Currency translation adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . .

Balance as at 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . .

—

10

—

118

—

384

—

48,362

—

48,362

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

126

126

— 48,401

8,990

—

8,990

8,990

—

— 57,391

—

—

105,014

(10)

16,586 74,624

196,480

—

290,887

—

7,174

—

—

—

—

—

— (2,801)

(2,801)

—

—

— 290,991

— 11,000

— (3,442)

(3,442)

—

—

7,184

—

— 15,271

— 15,271

309,057

— 15,271

(3,442)

321,004

—

—

—

—

—

414,071

(10)

31,857 68,381

514,683

purchase agreement (note 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

10,996

The notes of pages 73 to 103 are an integral part of the financial statements.

71

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004

Consolidated statement of cash flows
for the year ended 31 December 2021

Year ended
31 December
2021
$’000

Year ended
31 December
2020
$’000

Note

Cash flow from operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19

(24,657)

(24,728)

Taxation received . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9,135

6,777

Net cash used in operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(15,522)

(17,951)

Cash flow from investing activities

Purchase of tangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2,030)

(1,200)

Interest received . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net cash used in investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash flow from financing activities

Interest paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Proceeds from issuance of ADS’s (net of costs of issue) . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares pursuant to the Ionis share

purchase agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Proceeds from the exercise of share options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Proceeds from issuance of debt (net of costs of issue)

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

Net cash generated from financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Exchange loss on cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

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

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

120

(1,910)

(2,515)

290,992

11,000

7,183

15,000

321,660

304,228

(1,538)

135,990

438,680

756

(444)

(408)

48,129

—

272

14,427

62,420

44,025

(152)

92,117

135,990

The notes of pages 73 to 103 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

72

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements

1 General information

Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the “Parent Company”) and, together with its subsidiaries (the “Company”),
is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel and differentiated class of medicines, which
the Company refers to as Bicycles, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycles are a
unique therapeutic modality combining the pharmacology usually associated with a biologic with the
manufacturing and pharmacokinetic properties of a small molecule.

The Parent Company is a public company limited by shares and incorporated in England and Wales

and quoted on the NASDAQ capital market under the ticker BCYC.

Its registered number is: 11036004.

Its registered office is: Building 900, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridgeshire, CB22 3AT.

2 Statement of compliance

The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the financial statements of the Parent
Company have been prepared in compliance with UK Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting
Standard 102, ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of
Ireland’ and the Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act”).

3 Summary of significant accounting policies

Basis of preparation

These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention,

as modified by the recognition of certain financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value. Currently
there are no financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Bicycle

Therapeutics plc and its wholly owned subsidiaries, BicycleTx Limited, BicycleRD Limited and Bicycle
Therapeutics Inc. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost accounting rules and in accordance

with the Companies Act.

Accounting policies have been applied consistently other than when new policies have been adopted.

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption in section 408 of the Companies Act from presenting

its individual profit and loss account.

The preparation of financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also

requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Parent Company and the
Company accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where
assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements, are disclosed in note 4.

Exemptions for qualifying entities under FRS 102

FRS 102 allows a qualifying entity certain disclosure exemptions, subject to conditions, from preparing
a Parent Company statement of cash flows, on the basis that it is a qualifying entity and the Parent Company’s
cash flows are included in the consolidated statement of cashflows. In addition, the Parent Company is
exempted from disclosing share based payment arrangements required under FRS 102 paragraphs 26.18(b),
26.19 to 26.21 and 26.23 concerning its own equity instruments as the Parent Company financial statements
are presented with the consolidated financial statements and the relevant disclosures are included therein.

73

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Parent Company has also taken the exemption available from disclosing the company key management

compensation as required by FRS102 paragraph 33.7.

Going concern

The Company is involved in research and development activities and until it is able to convert this

activity into a significant product revenue stream, it will be reliant upon obtaining additional funding in
connection with continuing operations. More detailed analysis of the risks faced by the Company is given in
the Strategic Report.

At 31 December 2021, the Company had cash of $438.7 million and the directors estimate the
Company’s existing cash at the date of approval of these financial statements is sufficient to continue to
fund the Company’s operating expense for at least 12 months from the date of that approval and that is
therefore appropriate to prepare these financial statements on a going concern basis.

Revenue

Revenue represents the fair value of amounts received or receivable in respect of collaborative research
agreements, license fees or milestone payments (excluding value added tax). These are recognised as revenue
when the specific conditions stipulated in the agreements have been satisfied and the significant risks and
rewards of ownership have been transferred to the customer.

Licensing agreements may consist of multiple elements and provide for various forms of consideration

terms, such as upfront development, regulatory and sales milestones, sales-based royalties and similar
payments. To account for arrangements with multiple elements, separately identifiable components within
the contract and the arrangement transaction price are identified. Development and regulatory approval
milestones are included within the allocated transaction price only when it becomes probable that economic
benefits will flow to the entity and the amount of revenue can be measured with reliability.

The fair value of the arrangement transaction price is allocated to the different separately identifiable

components based on the relative stand-alone selling price of those services provided. The allocated
transaction price is recognised over the respective performance period of each separately identifiable
component. Amounts received in advance of the revenue recognition criteria being met are initially reported
as deferred revenue.

The Company provides research and development services to its customers which often culminate in
the provision of a license to developed intellectual property. Where services are provided in the development
or identification of a licensed molecule, the services are not considered to be a separately identifiable
component to the customer/licensor. Any upfront income received under such arrangements is considered
to be consideration for the development services and it is recognised over the development term. When the
services performed are an indeterminate number of acts over a specified period of time, revenue is recognised
on a straight-line basis. When performance of services can be estimated reliably, the Company recognises
revenue associated with the transaction by reference to the stage of completion of the transaction at the end
of the reporting period. Where arrangements involve upfront consideration allowing customers the option
to select licenses and/or research and development services in relation to additional targets that represent a
material right, such consideration is deferred until the option is exercised (in which case the revenue is
recognised as the related services are performed) or expires (in which case the revenue is recognised
immediately, as the Company has no further obligations under the arrangement).

Customer options for future deliverables are accounted for as separate arrangements when they occur.

Where the Company grants a license to its intellectual property and there are no further conditions
stipulated in the agreement related to separately identifiable components and the significant risks and rewards

74

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

of ownership have been transferred to the customer the license revenues are recognised when receipt of
subsequent milestones is probable. This is typically when the milestone event is achieved or satisfied.

Exceptional items

The Company classifies certain one-off charges or credits that have a material impact on the company’s

financial results as ‘exceptional items’. They are items that are material either because of their size or their
nature and are non-recurring. They are disclosed separately to provide further understanding of the financial
performance of the Company.

Impairment of debtors

The Company makes an estimate of the recoverable value of trade and other debtors. When assessing

impairment of trade and other debtors, management considers factors including the current credit rating of
the debtor, the ageing profile of debtors and historical experience.

Impairment of non-financial assets

At each balance sheet date non-financial assets not carried at fair value are assessed to determine
whether there is an indication that the asset may be impaired. If there is such an indication the recoverable
amount of the asset is compared to the carrying amount of the asset. If the recoverable amount of the asset
is estimated to be lower than the carrying amount, the carrying amount is reduced to its recoverable
amount. An impairment loss is recognised in the profit and loss account.

Tangible assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment
losses. The cost of tangible fixed assets is their purchase cost, together with any incidental costs of acquisition.
The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted, if appropriate, at the end of each
reporting period. The effect of any change is accounted for prospectively.

Land is not depreciated. Depreciation on other assets is calculated using the straight-line method to

their residual values over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Laboratory equipment

Office equipment

Computer equipment
Leasehold improvements

Intangible assets and amortisation

3 to 5 years

3 years

3 years
over the remaining period of the lease

Intangible assets comprise intellectual property licenses and are stated at capitalised cost less

accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

Amortisation is calculated, using the straight-line method, to allocate the depreciable amount of the
assets to their residual values over their estimated useful lives, assessed by the directors on a case-by-case
basis, as follows:

• Intellectual property licences 5 to 15 years

The assets are reviewed for impairment if there is an indication that the carrying amount may be
impaired. Provision is made against the carrying value of such assets when an impairment in value is
deemed to have occurred.

75

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Costs associated with maintaining intellectual property are recognised as an expense as incurred.

Amortisation is included in other operating expenses in the profit and loss account.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term

highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. Bank
overdrafts, when applicable, are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

Leases

Leases that do not transfer all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as operating leases.
Payments under operating leases are charged to the profit and loss account on a straight-line basis over the
period of the lease. Incentives received to enter into an operating lease are credited to the profit and loss
account, to reduce the lease expense, on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Leases of assets that transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership are classified
as finance leases. The Company has no finance leases. The Company’s lease terms include the period covered
by extension options or exclude the period covered by termination options when it is reasonably certain that
the Company will exercise that option.

Debtors

Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment.

Creditors

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including loans,

are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised
cost using the effective interest method.

Investments in subsidiaries — Parent Company

Investments in subsidiaries are held at cost less accumulated impairment losses.

Provisions and contingencies

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result
of past events; it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation; and the
amount of the obligation can be estimated reliably.

Where there are a number of similar obligations, the likelihood that an outflow will be required in

settlement is determined by considering the class of obligations as a whole.

Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the

obligation using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the
risks specific to the obligation. The increase in the provision due to passage of time is recognised as a finance
cost.

76

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Contingencies

Contingent liabilities are not recognised, except those acquired in a business combination. Contingent
liabilities arise as a result of past events when i) it is not probable that there will be an outflow of resources
or that the amount cannot be reliably measured at the reporting date or ii) when the existence will be confirmed
by the occurrence or non-occurrence of uncertain future events not wholly within the Company’s control.
Contingent liabilities are disclosed in the financial statements unless the probability of an outflow of resource
is remote. Contingent assets are not recognised. Contingent assets are disclosed in the financial statements
when an inflow of economic benefits is probable.

Grant income

Government grants are not recognised until there is reasonable assurance that the Company will
comply with the conditions of the grants and also that the grants will be received. Government grants are
recognised in profit or loss on a systematic basis over the periods in which the Company recognises as
expenses the related costs for which the grants are intended to compensate. Grant income is recognised gross
in the income statement as operating income.

Interest income

Interest income is recognised using the effective interest rate method.

Employee benefits

The Company provides a range of benefits to employees, including annual bonus arrangements, paid

holiday arrangements and defined contribution pension plans.

Short term benefits

Short term benefits, including holiday pay and other non-monetary benefits are recognised as an

expense in the period in which the service is received.

Pension costs

The Company operates a defined contribution plan for its UK employees and a defined-contribution

savings plan under Section 401(k) for its US employees. Under these plans the company pays fixed
contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the company has no further
payment obligations. The contributions are recognised as an expense when they are due. Differences between
contributions payable and contributions actually paid in the period are shown as either accruals or
prepayments at the year end. The assets of the plan are held separately from the Company in independently
administered funds.

Share-based payments

The Company provides share-based payment arrangements to certain employees.

Equity-settled arrangements are measured at fair value (excluding the effect on non-market based

vesting conditions) at the date of the grant. The fair value is expensed on a graded basis over the vesting
period. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of shares or options
that will vest. An attrition rate based on the Company’s average historic attrition over the past period
corresponding to the length of the vesting period is used.

77

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Where equity-settled arrangements are modified, and are of benefit to the employee, the incremental
fair value is recognised over the period from the date of modification to date of vesting. Where a modification
is not beneficial to the employee there is no change to the charge for share-based payment. Settlements and
cancellations are treated as an acceleration of vesting and the unvested amount is recognised immediately in
the income statement.

The fair value of each share option award is based on the fair value of the Parent Companys shares,

less any applicable purchase price. The fair value of each share option is estimated using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model which requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including the fair value
of shares, the expected share price volatility, the expected term of the award, the risk-free interest rate and
expected dividends. Expected volatility is calculated based on reported volatility data for a representative
group of publicly traded companies for which historical information was available. The historical volatility
is calculated based on a period of time commensurate with the assumption used for the expected term.

Provision is made for National Insurance contributions on outstanding share options that are expected

to be exercised using the latest enacted National Insurance rates applied to the difference between the market
value of the underlying shares at the balance sheet date and the option exercise price. The Company has no
cash-settled arrangements. The Parent Company has no employees and thus there is no charge in the income
statement for share-based payments. The charge for share-based payments has been recognised as an
increase in cost of investment in subsidiaries.

Annual bonus plan

The Company operates an annual bonus plan for employees. An expense is recognised in the profit and
loss account when the Company has a legal or constructive obligation to make payments under the plan as
a result of past events and a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.

Taxation

Taxation expense for the year comprises current and deferred tax recognised in the reporting year. Tax
is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised
in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this case tax is also recognised in other comprehensive
income or directly in equity respectively.

Current tax

Current tax is the amount of income tax payable in respect of the taxable profit for the year or
prior years. Tax is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively
enacted by the year end. 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.

Income tax credit

The Company benefits from the UK research and development tax credit regime under both the small
and medium sized enterprise (“SME”) scheme and by claiming a Research and Development Expenditure
Credit (“RDEC”) in respect of grant funded projects. Under the SME regime, a portion of the Company’s
losses are surrendered for a cash rebate of up to 33.3% of eligible expenditures. Such credits are calculated
based on the amount and nature of the research and development expenditure incurred and are accounted for
within the tax provision in the year in which the expenditures were incurred.

78

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Deferred Tax

Full provision is made for deferred tax assets and liabilities arising from timing differences between the

recognition of gains and losses in the accounts and their recognition for tax purposes.

Deferred tax is measured using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by

the period end and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference.

Deferred tax is recognised on all timing differences at the reporting date. Unrelieved tax losses and
other deferred tax assets are only recognised when it is probable that they will be recovered against the
reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits.

Research and development

Expenditure on research and development is written off against the profits in the year which it is

incurred.

Related party transactions

The Company discloses transactions with related parties which are not wholly owned within the same

group. Where appropriate, transactions of a similar nature are aggregated unless, in the opinion of the
directors, separate disclosure is necessary to understand the effect of the transactions on the financial
statements.

Foreign currencies

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded using the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the
transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using the rate
of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date and the gains or losses on translation are included in the statement
of comprehensive income. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are
remeasured into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the date of the transaction.
Adjustments that arise from exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in a currency other than
the local currency are included as income or expense as incurred.

Basis of consolidation

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Parent Company. Control exists when the Parent Company
has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity to obtain benefits from its activities.
In assessing control, the Parent Company takes into consideration potential voting rights. The acquisition
date is the date on which control is transferred to the acquirer. The financial statements of subsidiaries are
included in the financial statements from the date control is achieved to the date control ceases. All intra-
group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Functional and presentational currency

Functional currency

The Parent Company’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar.

The Parent Company’s subsidiaries in the UK, BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited, use British

pound sterling as their functional currencies and their results have been translated into U.S. dollars for
inclusion in these consolidated financial statements. The functional currency of the Parent Company’s
subsidiary in the U.S., Bicycle Therapeutics Inc., is the U.S. dollar.

79

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Presentational currency

The presentational currency is U.S. dollars, rounded to the nearest $000, for all years presented in these

financial statements.

The Company translates the assets and liabilities of BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited into

U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated at
the average exchange rate in effect during the period. Unrealised translation gains and losses are recorded as
a cumulative translation adjustment, which is included in the statement of changes in equity.

Share Capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new

ordinary shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction from the proceeds.

Warrants issued by the Company are recognised and classified as equity when upon exercise, the Parent
Company would issue a fixed amount of its own equity instruments (ordinary shares) in exchange for a fixed
amount of cash or another financial asset. Consideration received, net of incremental costs directly
attributable to the issue of such new warrants, is shown in equity. Such warrants are not remeasured at fair
value in subsequent reporting periods.

Finance costs

Finance costs are charged to the statement of comprehensive income over the term of the debt using

the effective interest method so that the amount charged is at a constant rate on the carrying amount. Issue
costs are initially recognised as a reduction in the proceeds of the associated capital instrument.

Financial Instruments

The Company has chosen to adopt Sections 11 and 12 of FRS102 in respect of financial instruments.

Financial assets:

Basic financial assets, including trade and other receivables, cash and bank balances, loans to the Parent

Company’s subsidiaries and investments in commercial paper, are initially recognised at transaction price,
unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present
value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest.

Such assets are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

At the end of each reporting year financial assets measured at amortised cost are assessed for objective

evidence of impairment. If an asset is impaired the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying
amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest
rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was

recognised the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed
what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised. The
impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.

Financial assets are derecognised when (a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire

or are settled, or (b) substantially all the risks and rewards of the ownership of the asset are transferred to

80

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

another party or (c) control of the asset has been transferred to another party who has the practical ability
to unilaterally sell the asset to an unrelated third party without imposing additional restrictions

Financial liabilities:

Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables, bank loans and preference shares that are

classified as debt net of issue costs, are initially recognised at transaction price, unless the arrangement
constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future
receipts discounted at a market rate of interest.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

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. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade payables are recognised initially at
transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the liability is extinguished, that is when the contractual

obligation is discharged, cancelled or expires.

4 Critical accounting judgements and estimation uncertainty

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other
factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Revenue in respect of the Discovery Collaboration and License Agreement with Genentech and the
Evaluation and Option, Collaboration and Share Purchase Agreements with Ionis are recognised according
to the revenue accounting policy. Because of the size and scope Note 5 includes more details of the key
assumptions and estimates. Management has identified the separate components of the agreements and has
allocated the arrangement considerations to the identified components of the agreements based on the
relative estimated fair value.

Genentech expansion option

In October 2021, Genentech exercised an expansion option to add an additional Genentech

Collaboration Program and paid to the Company an expansion fee of $10.0 million. Genentech also elected
for Bicycle to perform discovery and optimisation services for a targeting arm, and the Company received
an additional payment of $1.0 million for additional research services. Management concluded that the
exercise of the expansion option and targeting arm option is a continuation of an existing contract as the
customer decided to purchase additional goods and services contemplated in the original contract. The
arrangement consideration was allocated to the separate components on the same basis as the initial
allocation of the Genentech Collaboration Agreement (note 5).

Ionis collaboration and license

In July 2021 the Company entered into a Collaboration and Licence agreement with Ionis following

Ionis’s exercise of its option under the Evaluation and Option Agreement dated 31 December 2020.
Management determined that the option exercise by Ionis constituted a continuation of the existing
arrangement. Therefore, the $3.0 million in deferred revenue under the Evaluation and Option Agreement
at 31 December 2020 was included in the transaction price of the collaboration and license agreement.

Concurrently with the execution of the Ionis Collaboration Agreement in July, 2021, the Company

entered into the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement with Ionis, pursuant to which Ionis purchased the Ionis

81

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

4 Critical accounting judgements and estimation uncertainty (continued)

Shares at a price per share of $38.94, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $11.0 million. The
Company determined the fair value of the Ionis Shares to be $7.6 million, based on the closing price of the
Company’s ADSs of $31.11 per ADS on the date of the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement, less a discount for
lack of marketability associated with resale restrictions applicable to the Ionis Shares. Management
concluded that the premium paid by Ionis under the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement represents additional
consideration for the goods and services to be provided under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement. As such,
the total premium of $3.4 million was included in the transaction price under the Ionis Collaboration
Agreement.

The Company has concluded that the exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and
commercialise products under the Collaboration and Licence agreement is not distinct from the research
and development services as Ionis cannot obtain the intended benefit of the license without the Company
performing the agreed upon research and discovery services, and as such are a single component. In assessing
whether options to purchase additional goods and services under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement
represent material rights, management considered the additional consideration the Company would be
entitled to upon the option exercise and the standalone selling price of the underlying goods and services.
Management concluded that each of the options to obtain credits provided Ionis with a discount that it
otherwise would not have received without entering into the Ionis Collaboration Agreement (note 5) and
therefore are separate components. The transaction price was allocated to the separate identifiable
components based on the relative estimated standalone selling prices of each separate component. The
transaction price was allocated to the performance obligations based on the relative estimates by management
of standalone selling prices of each separate component.

Ionis amendment

In December 2021, the Company and Ionis entered into an amendment to the Ionis Collaboration
Agreement. Ionis paid the Company $1.6 million and the Company agreed to perform additional research
Services. Management concluded that the amendment will be accounted for as a separate contract, as the
services are distinct from the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, and the price of the contract increased by
an amount of consideration that reflects the standalone selling price. The Company concluded that the option
does not contain a material right and the Company will recognise the $0.8 million as revenue as the
underlying services are performed using a proportional performance model over the period of service using
input based measurements.

Parent company investments

The Parent Company has investments in and intercompany receivables due from both BicycleTx
Limited and BicycleRD Limited both of which are currently loss making. The Directors have assessed the
recoverability of these balances and has concluded that there is no impairment. The Company’s value is based
on its intellectual property which is held within BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited.

The Directors do not consider there to be any other critical accounting estimates or assumptions that

have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities within
the next financial year.

5 Revenue

All the Company’s revenue was generated from research collaborations. The Company’s revenues are
attributed to the operations of the Company in the United Kingdom. The following is a summary of the
Company’s customers by their geography:

82

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

5 Revenue (continued)

Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

851

North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9,902

United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

391

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

5,087

4,892

411

11,144

10,390

No further segmental information is given. A segment is a distinguishable component of the Company
that is engaged in either providing related products or services which is subject to risks and rewards that are
different from those of other segments. The CEO reviews the Company’s internal reporting in order to
assess performance and allocate resources. Management has determined that there is one operating segment
based on these reports.

Ionis Evaluation and Option Agreement

Due to the scope of this collaboration and size of the upfront fee further details of the accounting

judgements are provided below.

On 31 December 2020 the Company entered into an Evaluation and Option Agreement with Ionis.
Under the terms of this agreement, the Company agreed to transfer option materials to Ionis in order to
evaluate a particular application of the Company’s technology platform for a period of up to four months
(the “Evaluation Period”). Ionis agreed to pay a non-refundable $3.0 million option fee within five business
days after the Effective Date.

At any point during the term of the agreement and continuing through 30 days after the expiration of

the Evaluation Period, Ionis had the option (the “Ionis Option”) to obtain an exclusive license to the
Company’s intellectual property for the purpose of continued research, development, manufacture and
commercialisation of products within a particular application of the Company’s platform technology. The
upfront payment of $3.0 million was fully creditable against the upfront payment to be paid upon the execution
of a license agreement.

The Company concluded that the only performance obligation was a material right for the option to
obtain an exclusive license. All other promises under the agreement were immaterial in the context of the
contract. The Company accounted for the $3.0 million payment as deferred revenue as of 31 December 2020.
On 9 July 2021, the Ionis Option was exercised upon the parties’ entry into a collaboration and license
agreement as contemplated by the Evaluation and Option Agreement. The Company determined that the
Ionis Option exercise constituted a continuation of the existing arrangement. Therefore, the $3.0 million in
deferred revenue under agreement was included in the transaction price of the collaboration and license
agreement.

Ionis Collaboration Agreement

Following the exercise by Ionis of the Ionis Option granted pursuant to the Evaluation and Option
Agreement, on 9 July 2021, the Company and Ionis entered into a collaboration and license agreement
Pursuant to this agreement, the Company granted to Ionis a worldwide exclusive license under the Company’s
relevant technology to research, develop, manufacture and commercialise products incorporating Bicycle
peptides directed to the protein coded by the gene TFRC1 (transferrin receptor) (“TfR1 Bicycles”) intended
for the delivery of oligonucleotide compounds directed to targets selected by Ionis for diagnostic,
therapeutic, prophylactic and preventative uses in humans. Ionis will maintain exclusivity to all available
targets unless it fails to achieve specified development diligence milestone deadlines. If Ionis fails to achieve

83

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

5 Revenue (continued)

one or more development diligence milestone deadlines, the Company has the right to limit exclusivity to
certain specific collaboration targets, subject to the payment by Ionis of a low-single-digit million dollar
amount per target as specified in the Ionis Collaboration Agreement. Each party will be responsible for
optimisation of such TfR1 Bicycles and other research and discovery activities related to TfR1 Bicycles,
as specified by a research plan, and thereafter Ionis will be responsible for all future research, development,
manufacture and commercialisation activities. The Company will perform research and discovery activities
including a baseline level of effort for a period of three years for no additional consideration. The parties will
negotiate a commercially reasonable rate if additional research activities are agreed to be performed. For
certain research and discovery activities that the Company is responsible for performing, the Company may
use the assistance of a contract research organisation. The Company has retained certain rights, including
the right to use TfR1 Bicycles for all non-oligonucleotide therapeutic purposes.

Under this agreement, Ionis made a non-refundable upfront payment of $31.0 million in addition to
the $3.0 million already paid under the Option and Evaluation Agreement. Additionally, Ionis is obligated
to reimburse the Company on a pass-through basis for expenses incurred in connection with research and
discovery activities performed by a contract research organisation. If Ionis is at risk of failing to achieve a
specified development diligence milestone deadline, it can make up to three separate payments of a mid-single-
digit million dollar amount to extend the development diligence milestone deadlines. On a collaboration
target-by-collaboration target basis, Ionis will be required to make a low-single-digit million dollar payment
upon acceptance of an investigational new drug application (“IND”) for the first product directed to such
collaboration target (provided that Ionis will have a high single-digit million dollar credit to be applied towards
the IND acceptance fee for four collaboration targets, or for exclusivity payments for certain targets if
specified development diligence milestones deadlines are not achieved), and Ionis will be required to make
milestone payments upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones of up to a low
double-digit million dollar amount per collaboration target. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive
up to a low double-digit million dollar amount in cumulative sales milestone payments. The Company is also
entitled to receive tiered royalty payments on net sales at percentages in the low single digits, subject to
certain standard reductions and offsets. Royalties will be payable, on a product-by-product and country-by-
country basis, until the latest of the expiration of specified licensed patents covering such product in such
country, ten years from first commercial sale of such product in such country, or expiration of marketing
exclusivity for such product in such country.

In December 2021, the Company and Ionis entered into an amendment to agreement. Ionis paid the

Company $1.6 million and the Company agreed to perform additional research services utilising its
proprietary phage screening technology to identify and optimise new product candidates that target the
TfR1 receptor. The Company will perform the additional research services for an initial six-month period in
exchange for consideration of $0.8 million. Ionis has an option for the Company to perform additional
research services for an additional six months if specified criteria are mutually agreed to and achieved, in
exchange for the remaining consideration of $0.8 million. If the option is not exercised, the Company will
refund $0.8 million to Ionis.

Either party may terminate the Ionis Collaboration Agreement for the uncured material breach of the

other party or in the case of insolvency. Ionis may terminate the Ionis Collaboration Agreement for
convenience on specified notice periods depending on the development stage of the applicable target, either
in its entirety or on a target-by-target basis.

Ionis Share Purchase Agreement

Concurrently with the execution of the Ionis Collaboration Agreement on 9 July 2021, the Company
entered into the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement with Ionis, pursuant to which Ionis purchased shares of
the Company at a price per share of $38.94, with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $11.0 million.

84

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

5 Revenue (continued)

The Company determined the fair value of the Ionis Shares to be $7.6 million, based on the closing
price of the Company’s ADSs of $31.11 per ADS on the date of the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement, less a
discount for lack of marketability associated with resale restrictions applicable. The Company concluded
that the premium paid by Ionis under this agreement represents additional consideration for the goods and
services to be provided under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement. As such, the total premium of $3.4 million
was included in the transaction price under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement.

Upon execution of the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, the Company identified the following promises

in the arrangement: i) a worldwide exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and commercialise
products incorporating TfR1 Bicycles intended for the delivery of oligonucleotide compounds directed to
targets selected by Ionis for diagnostic, therapeutic, prophylactic and preventative uses in humans; ii) research
and discovery activities to customise and optimise such TfR1 Bicycles; iii) four material rights associated
with options to obtain credits to be applied towards the IND acceptance fee for four collaboration targets.

The total transaction price was initially determined to be $38.0 million, consisting of the $31.0 million
up front payment, the $3.0 million payment under the Option and Evaluation Agreement, that was credited
against the total upfront payment payable pursuant to the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, the $3.4 million
premium paid under the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement, and an estimated $0.6 million for the reimbursement
of contract research organisation costs. Additional variable consideration including development diligence
milestone deadline extension payments, development and regulatory milestone payments, sales milestone
payments and royalty payments was fully constrained as a result of the uncertainty regarding whether any
of the milestones will be achieved.

The transaction price was allocated to the identifiable components based on the relative estimated
standalone selling prices of each identifiable component. The estimated standalone selling price of the Ionis
combined licenses and research and discovery performance obligation was based on the nature of the
licenses to be delivered, as well as the services to be performed and estimates of the associated effort and
costs of the services, adjusted for a reasonable profit margin for what would be expected to be realised under
similar contracts. The estimated standalone selling price for the material rights was determined based on
the estimated value of the underlying goods and services, and the probability that Ionis would exercise the
option.

The Company has concluded that the exclusive license to research, develop, manufacture and
commercialise products under the Collaboration and Licence agreement is not distinct from the research
and development services as Ionis cannot obtain the intended benefit of the license without the Company
performing the agreed upon research and discovery services. In assessing whether the options under the Ionis
Collaboration Agreement represent material rights, management considered the additional consideration
the Company would be entitled to upon the option exercise and the standalone selling price of the underlying
goods and services. For the material rights identified as performance obligations above, the Company
concluded that each of the options to obtain credits provided Ionis with a discount that it otherwise would
not have received without entering into the Ionis Collaboration Agreement.

Based on the relative standalone selling price, the allocation of the transaction price as of 31

December 2021 to the separate identifiable components is as follows (in thousands):

Separately identifiable components:

Combined licenses and research and discovery performance obligation . . . . . . . .

Four material rights associated with credits for IND Acceptance fees . . . . . . . . .

Allocation of
Transaction Price
$’000

34,100

3,900

38,000

85

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

5 Revenue (continued)

The Company is recognising revenue related to amounts allocated to the combined licenses and
research and discovery performance obligation using a proportional performance model over the period of
service using input-based measurements. The amount allocated to the material rights is recorded as deferred
revenue and the Company commences revenue recognition upon exercise of or upon expiry of the respective
option. The Company anticipates that the combined licenses and research and discovery performance
obligation will be satisfied over a period of three years and anticipates the material rights may be exercisable
or may expire after approximately four years from contract execution.

The Company concluded that the amendment to the agreement will be accounted for as a separate
contract, as the services are distinct from the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, and the price of the contract
increased by an amount of consideration that reflects the Company’s standalone selling price. The Company
concluded that the option does not contain a material right. The Company will recognise the $0.8 million
as revenue as the underlying services are performed using a proportional performance model over the period
of service using input based measurements of total full time equivalent efforts and external costs incurred
to date as a percentage of total expected full time equivalent efforts and expected external costs,, which best
reflects the progress towards satisfaction of the performance obligation. As of 31 December 2021, the
Company had not commenced services related to the amendment and had recorded deferred revenue of
$1.6 million.

Revenue recognised in the financial statements is subject to ongoing estimates. We evaluate the measure
of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjust the measure of performance and related revenue
recognition. The measure of progress, and thereby periods over which revenue should be recognised, are
subject to estimates by management and may change over the course of the research and development and
licensing agreement. Changes in the estimated total level of effort expected to be performed would accelerate
or decrease the rate or revenue recognised related to combined licenses and research and discovery
component that is recognised over time, which is currently expected to be recognised over a period of
approximately two years. Specifically, a change in the overall expected effort for the combined licenses and
research and discovery components of 5% would result in a change in revenue of approximately $146k.

Discovery Collaboration and License Agreement with Genentech

Due to the scope of this collaboration and size of the upfront fee further details of the accounting

judgements are provided below.

The total transaction price under the collaboration was initially determined to be $31.0 million,
consisting of the $30.0 million upfront fee and the additional $1.0 million for Genentech’s selection of a
new Targeting Arm at inception. The Company utilises the most likely amount method to determine the
amount of research and development funding to be received. Additional consideration to be paid to the
Company upon the exercise of options by Genentech and subsequent milestones are excluded from the
transaction price as they relate to option fees and milestones that can only be achieved subsequent to the
exercise of an option. In addition, other variable consideration for development milestones not subject to
option exercises was fully constrained, as a result of the uncertainty regarding whether any of the milestones
will be achieved.

In March 2021, the Company achieved specified criteria in accordance with the research plan under

the agreement and therefore updated its estimate of the variable consideration to include an additional
$2.0 million, that is no longer constrained. The arrangement consideration was increased to $33.0 million.

The transaction price was allocated to the performance obligations based on the relative estimated
standalone selling prices of each performance obligation. The estimated standalone selling prices for the
Genentech Collaboration Programs was based on the nature of the services to be performed and estimates
of the associated effort and costs of the services, adjusted for a reasonable profit margin for what would be

86

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

5 Revenue (continued)

expected to be realised under similar contracts. The estimated standalone selling price for the material rights
was determined based on the fees Genentech would pay to exercise the options, the estimated value of the
underlying goods and services, and the probability that Genentech would exercise the option and any
underlying options. Based on the relative standalone selling price, the allocation of the transaction price as
of 31 December 2021 to the separate performance obligations is as follows (in thousands):

Allocation of
Transaction
Price
$’000

Separately identifiable components:

Genentech Collaboration Program Number 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Genentech Collaboration Program Number 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Specified Targeting Arm Material Right Arm for Genentech Collaboration Program
Number 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4,019

8,037

352

Two material rights associated with the LSR Go Option for Collaboration Programs

Number 1 and Number 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12,400

Material rights associated with limited substitution rights

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

Two material rights for Expansion Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,187

7,005

33,000

The Company will recognise revenue related to amounts allocated to the Genentech Collaboration
Program Number 1 and Genentech Collaboration Program Number 2 separately identifiable components
as the underlying services are performed using a proportional performance model over the period of service
using input-based measurements of total full-time equivalent efforts and external costs incurred to date as
a percentage of total full-time equivalent time and external expected, which best reflects the progress towards
satisfaction of the performance obligation. The amount allocated to the material rights is recorded as
deferred revenue and the Company will commence revenue recognition upon exercise of or upon expiry of
the respective option. The Company anticipates that the Genentech Collaboration Program Number 1 and
Genentech Collaboration Program Number 2 components will be performed over a period of approximately
two years, and the material rights will be exercised or expire within approximately four years from the start of
the collaboration in February 2020.

In October 2021, Genentech exercised an expansion option to add an additional Genentech

Collaboration Program (Genentech Collaboration Program Number 3) and paid to the Company an
expansion fee of $10.0 million during the year ended 31 December 2021. Genentech also elected for Bicycle
to perform discovery and optimisation services for a Targeting Arm, and the Company is entitled to
receive an additional payment of $1.0 million for additional research services. The Company accounted for
this as a continuation of an existing contract as the customer decided to purchase additional goods and
services contemplated in the original contract, as such, the additional arrangement consideration of
$11.0 million received upon the option exercises together with the amount originally allocated to the
Expansion Option material right of $3.5 million is allocated to the underlying goods and services associated
with the Expansion Option. The arrangement consideration was allocated to the separate performance
obligations on the same basis as the initial allocation of the Genentech Collaboration Agreement. The
Company will recognise $6.4 million allocated to Genentech Collaboration Program Number 3 and Targeting
Arm services as the underlying services are performed using a proportional performance model over the
period of service of approximately 2 years using input-based measurements of total full-time equivalent
efforts and external costs incurred to date as a percentage of total full-time equivalent time and external
expected, which best reflects the progress towards satisfaction of the performance obligation. The amount

87

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

5 Revenue (continued)

allocated to the material right associated with an LSR Go Option for Collaboration Program Number 3 of
$7.4 million, and limited substitution material rights of $0.7 million, are recorded as deferred revenue and the
Company will commence revenue recognition upon exercise of or upon expiry of the respective option.
Other variable consideration for development milestones not subject to option exercises was fully constrained,
as a result of the uncertainty regarding whether any of the milestones will be achieved.

Revenue recognised in the financial statements is subject to ongoing estimates. We evaluate the measure
of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjust the measure of performance and related revenue
recognition. The measure of progress, and thereby periods over which revenue should be recognised, are
subject to estimates by management and may change over the course of the research and development and
licensing agreement. Changes in the estimated total level of effort expected to be performed would accelerate
or decrease the rate or revenue recognised related to the Genentech Collaboration Program Number 1 and
Genentech Collaboration Program Number 2 components that are recognised over time, which is currently
expected to be recognised over a period of approximately two years. Specifically, a change in the overall
expected effort for the Genentech Collaboration Program Number 1 and Genentech Collaboration Program
Number 2 components of 5% would result in a change in revenue of approximately $56k.

6 Operating loss

The Company’s consolidated operating loss is stated after charging/(crediting):

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

Expenditure on research and development* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

47,778

34,116

Depreciation of tangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,398

1,276

Amortisation of intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Operating lease charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Loss (gain) on foreign exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21

1,095

2,162

20

921

(3,195)

Wages and salaries (note 9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19,441

13,346

Social security costs (note 9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8,789

1,826

Other pension costs (note 9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

990

671

Share-based payments (note 11)

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

15,271

8,990

Grant income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exceptional item on dispute settlement
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auditors’ remuneration

(2,988)

(570)
— 4,696

Audit of these financial statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audit of the Parent Company’s subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audit-related assurance services for U.S. SEC financial statements . . . . . . . . .

62
60
1,231

56
55
957

In addition, auditors’ remuneration of $149k relating to share issuance costs were charged to the share
premium account in the year ending 31 December 2021 (31 December 2020: $100k).

*

The Directors have identified that the expenditure on research and development in the prior year was
overstated by $14,758k and has been corrected within these financial statements. The correction has no
impact on profit or cash flows for the year or on opening reserves in the current year.

An exceptional item arose when the Company entered into a Settlement and License Agreement with
Pepscan Systems B.V. (“Pepscan”) regarding BicycleRD Limited’s use of Pepscan’s CLIPS peptide technology.

88

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

6 Operating loss (continued)

The companies agreed to settle all intellectual property disputes worldwide. Under the terms of the settlement,
the Company has been granted a license to use CLIPS peptide technology in the development of its
product candidates BT1718 and THR-149. The Company paid €3 million upfront, and paid a further
€1 million on the first anniversary of the date of settlement on 21 November 2021, and will make potential
additional payments to Pepscan based on achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial
milestones.

Expenditure on research and development includes staff costs as follows:

2021
$’000

Wages and salaries

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

12,592

Social security costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2,105

Other pension costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

725

7 Net interest (expense)/income

a)

Interest receivable and similar income

The Company’s interest receivable and other income consisted of the following:

2021
$’000

Bank interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

120

b)

Interest payable and similar expenses

The Company’s interest payable and similar expenses consisted of the following:

Interest payable on loan and other borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2,909

Finance charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

108

Interest payable and similar expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3,017

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

8,501

1,186

507

2020
$’000

683

2020
$’000

422

65

487

8 Tax on Loss

The Company’s tax on loss consisted of the following:

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

Current tax:

UK corporation tax on losses for the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign corporation tax on profits for the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjustment in respect of prior years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10,906)
—
101

(8,551)
(37)
10

Total current tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10,805)

(8,578)

Deferred tax:

Origination and reversal of timing differences

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

Deferred tax recognised in the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1,669)

(1,669)

(677)

(677)

Tax credit on loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(12,474)

(9,255)

89

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

8 Tax on Loss (continued)

The tax assessed for the year is higher (31 December 2020: higher) than the standard rate of corporation

tax in the UK (19%) (31 December 2020: 19%). The tax reconciliation for the year is given below:

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

Loss before taxation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(89,804)

(59,610)

Loss reconciled to the current tax rate of 19% (December 2020: 19%) . . . . . .

(17,063)

(11,326)

Effects of:

(Income)/expenses not deductible for tax purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(57)

47

Surrender of tax losses for research and development tax credit refund . . . . .

3,381

2,655

Fixed asset and other timing differences not recognised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deferred tax not recognised on share-based payment and payroll taxes . . . . .

(115)

(721)

Deferred tax not recognised on tax losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10,726

(28)

1,270

5,168

Research & Development enhanced allowance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8,066)

(6,332)

Difference in overseas tax rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Research and development expenditure credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjustment in respect of prior periods

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

(47)

(613)

101

12

(731)

10

Total tax credit on loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(12,474)

(9,255)

No corporation tax liability arises on the results for the year due to the loss incurred. A tax credit of
$10,906k (31 December 2020: $8,551k) has arisen as a result of tax losses being surrendered in respect of
research and development expenditure.

Deferred taxation

In the Spring Budget 2021, the UK Government announced that from 1 April 2023 the corporation tax

rate will increase to 25% and as it is now considered enacted its effects are included in these financial
statements. In the Spring Budget 2020, the UK Government announced that from 1 April 2020 the corporation
tax rate would remain at 19% (rather than reducing to 17%, as previously enacted). This new law was
substantively enacted on 17 March 2020. Deferred taxes at the balance sheet date have been measured using
these enacted tax rates and reflected in these financial statements.

The Company had potential and actual deferred tax assets at the prevailing rate of 25% (31

December 2020: 19%) as follows:

Amount
unrecognised
31 December
2021
$’000

Amount
unrecognised
31 December
2020
$’000

Tax effect of timing differences because of:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fixed asset and other timing differences
Share-based payment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tax losses carried forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(238)
6,228
31,011

Deferred Tax Asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

37,001

(67)
2,084
13,128

15,145

Deferred tax assets are not recognised where there is insufficient evidence that they are recoverable.
Deferred tax is calculated using tax rates that apply based on rates enacted or substantively enacted by the
reporting date.

90

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

8 Tax on Loss (continued)

The Company regularly assesses its ability to realise its deferred tax assets. Assessing the realisation of

deferred tax assets requires significant judgment. After consideration of the evidence, including the Company’s
history of cumulative net losses in the UK, and has concluded that it is more likely than not that the
Company will not realise the benefits of its UK deferred tax assets and accordingly the Company has not
recognised UK deferred tax assets. The Company has considered the Company’s history of cumulative net
profits in the U.S., estimated future taxable income and concluded that it is more likely than not that the
Company will realise the benefits of its U.S. deferred tax assets and has recognised net U.S. deferred tax
assets.

The Company has recognised deferred tax assets/(liabilities) within its U.S. subsidiary as follows:

Amount
recognised
31 December
2021
$’000

Amount
recognised
31 December
2020
$’000

Tax effect of timing differences because of:

Share-based payment

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

Research credit carry forwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deferred Tax Asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,054

1,862

312

3,228

553

1,233

(227)

1,559

Of the above $1,060k is non-current (31 December 2020: $146k). The Parent Company had no

recognised or unrecognised deferred tax assets.

Deferred tax recognised in the year is as follows:

Deferred tax asset brought forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,559

Share-based payment

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

Research credit carry forwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

501

629

539

882

213

799

(335)

Deferred tax asset carried forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3,228

1,559

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

9 Staff costs

The average monthly number of persons (including executive directors) employed by the Company

during the year was:

By activity
Research and development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2021
Number

2020
Number

78

23

101

61

18

79

91

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

9 Staff costs (continued)

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

Wages and salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19,441

13,346

Social security costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8,789

1,826

Other pension costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

990

671

Share-based payment compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15,271

8,990

2021
$000

2020
$000

The Parent Company had no employees other than directors.

10 Directors’ emoluments

The aggregate emoluments of the directors of the Company are set out below:

44,491

24,833

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

Aggregate emoluments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14,108

1,720

Company pension contributions to money purchase schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

1

14,114

1,721

One director had retirement benefits accruing to them under a money purchase scheme. One director
received cash in lieu of contributions to the money purchase scheme. One director is associated with Stone
Sunny Isles, Inc., which provided consultancy services to the Company totalling $173k for the year ended
31 December 2021 (2020: $162k) and is included in the amounts above.

Two directors exercised share options during the year (2020: Nil) at weighted average exercise prices of
USD 14.00 and USD 8.54. The gain on exercised share options included within aggregate emoluments (based
on the market value of the shares on the date of exercise) is $12,184k.

Emoluments paid to the highest paid director are set out below:

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

Aggregate emoluments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8,581

1,155

Pension contributions to money purchase schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

—

1

8,581

1,156

A gain on exercise of share options of $8,471k is included within aggregate emoluments of the highest

paid director (based on the market value of the shares on the date of exercise).

Further details of the directors’ remuneration and directors’ share options are contained in the

Directors’ Remuneration Report.

11 Share-based payments

Employees of the Parent Company’s subsidiaries have been granted options to purchase ordinary
shares in the Parent Company. Options granted typically vest over a four-year service year with 25% of the

92

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

11 Share-based payments (continued)

award vesting on the first anniversary of the commencement date and the balance thereafter in 36 equal
monthly instalments. Certain awards granted to non-employee directors are fully vested on the date of grant.

Certain historic equity awards were issued for which 20% of the award vests upon the first anniversary
of the vesting start date, 60% vests thereafter in 36 equal monthly instalments, and 20% vest upon the earlier
of the fourth anniversary of the vesting start date, or the achievement of a specified revenue threshold
from the Company’s collaboration arrangements.

Options granted generally expire 10 years from the date of grant.

A reconciliation of the Company’s share option movements over the years ended to 31 December 2021

and 31 December 2020 is shown below:

Outstanding at 1 January 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Forfeited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Number
(000)

2,634

1,371

(189)

(79)

Outstanding at 31 December 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3,737

Outstanding at 1 January 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Forfeited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Number
(000)

3,737

1,677

(107)

(704)

Outstanding at 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4,603

2020
Weighted
average
exercise price

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
(in years)

Aggregate
Intrinsic value
$’000

$ 9.57

$12.00

$11.10

$ 3.42

$10.51

9.04

6,101

—

—

—

—

—

—

8.54

27,553

2021
Weighted
average
exercise price

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
(in years)

Aggregate
Intrinsic value
$’000

$10.51

$23.07

$18.67

$10.21

$14.97

8.54

27,553

—

—

—

—

—

—

8.13

207,009

The expense recognised for share-based payments in respect of employee services received during the

year ended 31 December 2021 is $15,271k (2020: $8,990k).

The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the value of share
options granted to employees and directors during the years ended 31 December 2021 and 31 December 2020
were as follows:

Risk-free interest rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0.6% 1.3%

Expected volatility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

79.8% 74.8%

Expected dividend yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —

Expected term (in years) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5.98

5.98

2021

2020

93

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

12 Intangible assets

Intangible assets of the Company consist of the following:

Cost

At 1 January 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Foreign exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

At 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Accumulated amortisation

Intellectual
Property
License
$’000

326

(4)

322

At 1 January 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

241

Charge made in the year

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

Foreign exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21

(4)

At 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

258

Net book value

As at 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

As at 31 December 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

64

85

The Parent Company had no intangible assets.

13 Tangible assets

Tangible assets of the Company, consist of the following:

Office
equipment
$’000

Laboratory
equipment
$’000

Computer
equipment
$’000

Leasehold
Improvement
$’000

Total
$’000

Cost

At 1 January 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Additions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Disposals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Foreign exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

196

35

(3)

(2)

At 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

226

Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Charge for the year
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Disposals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

89
53
(3)
(1)

At 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

138

Net book value

At 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

At 31 December 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88

107

The Parent Company had no tangible assets.

94

5,582

1,789

(549)

(75)

6,747

3,575
1,198
(531)
(46)

4,196

2,551

2,007

188

—

(45)

—

143

175
10
(45)
—

140

3

13

383

436

—

(10)

809

193
138
—
(3)

328

481

190

6,349

2,260

(597)

(87)

7,925

4,032
1,399
(579)
(50)

4,802

3,123

2,317

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

14 Investments in subsidiaries

Investments of the Parent Company consisted of the following:

Cost

At 1 January 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Capital contribution arising from equity settled share-based payments . . . . . . . . . . .

Investment
in subsidiary
undertaking
$’000

8,058

8,990

At 31 December 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17,048

Net book value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

At 31 December 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17,048

Cost

At 1 January 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Capital contribution arising from equity settled share-based payments . . . . . . . . . . .

At 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17,048

15,271

32,319

Net book value

At 31 December 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

32,319

At 31 December 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17,048

The Parent Company has three wholly owned subsidiaries: BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited
which are based in Cambridge, UK and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc, which is based in Boston, Massachusetts,
U.S. All these subsidiaries perform research and development activities.

Subsidiary undertakings

Name

Class of shares Country of incorporation Holding

Principal activity

BicycleTx Limited . . . . . . Ordinary

England and Wales

100% Development of novel bicyclic peptides

BicycleRD Limited . . . . . Ordinary

England and Wales

100% Development of novel bicyclic peptides

Bicycle Therapeutics Inc . . N/A

United States

100% Development of novel bicyclic peptides

The registered office address of BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited is Building 900, Babraham

Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT. The registered office address of Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. is 4
Hartwell Place, Lexington, MA, 02421-3122, U.S.

15 Debtors

Consolidated

Parent Company

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

Amounts falling due within one year

Trade debtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amounts owed by group undertakings . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deferred corporation tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Research and development tax credit . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,000

—

3,228

10,910

5,456

—

1,559

9,177

—

—

130,434

84,092

—

—

—

—

95

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

15 Debtors (continued)

Consolidated

Parent Company

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

Other debtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Prepayments and accrued income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,311

7,297

713

4,436

29

—

—

100

23,746

21,341

130,463

84,192

Amounts owed by group undertakings are interest free with no fixed terms of repayment.

16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Taxation and social security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Accruals and deferred income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated

Parent Company

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

2,721

5,758

31,448

39,927

1,327

584

21,376

23,287

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

17 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Amounts falling due after more than one year

Loans and other borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Accruals and deferred income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated

Parent Company

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

29,873

49,699

79,572

14,505

21,449

35,954

29,873

14,505

—

—

29,873

14,505

On 30 September 2020 the Company entered into a loan and security agreement with Hercules Capital,

Inc. (“Hercules”), which provided for aggregate maximum loan of up to $40.0 million, consisting of (i) a
term loan of $15.0 million, which was drawn down immediately in 2020, (ii) subject to customary conditions,
an additional term loan of up to $15.0 million available from 30 September 2020 to 15 March 2021, and
(iii) subject to the Company achieving certain performance milestones and satisfying customary conditions
and available until 15 March 2022, an additional term loan of $10.0 million. On 10 March 2021 the Company
drew down the additional term loan of $15.0 million that had been available from 30 September 2020 to
15 March 2021.

The loan bears interest at an annual rate equal to the greater of (i) 8.85% or (ii) 5.60% plus the Wall
Street Journal prime rate. Payments are interest only until the first principal payment which was due on
1 November 2022. In November 2021, the Company achieved certain performance milestones and the interest
only period was extended from 1 May 2023 to 1 February 2024 followed by equal monthly payments of
principal and interest up to the scheduled maturity date on 1 October 2024.

96

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

17 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (continued)

The Parent Company may prepay all or any portion greater than $5.0 million of the outstanding
borrowings, subject to a prepayment premium equal to (i) 2.0% of the principal amount outstanding if the
prepayment occurs within the first year (ii) 1.5% of the principal amount outstanding if the prepayment
occurs during the second year and (iii) 1.0% of the principal amount outstanding if the prepayment
occurs thereafter but prior to the maturity date. The agreement also provides for an end of term charge
payable upon maturity or the repayment of obligations under the agreement, equal to 5.0% of the principal
amount repaid.

The loan is collateralised by substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than its intellectual

property.

The Parent Company incurred fees and transaction costs totalling $573k associated with the initial
term loan, which are recorded as a reduction to the carrying value of the long-term debt in the consolidated
balance sheets. The fees and transaction costs are amortised to interest expense up to the scheduled
maturity date using the effective interest method. The effective interest rate was 11.2% at 31 December 2021
(2020: 12.2%). The Parent Company assessed all terms and features of the Loan Agreement determined
that the loan is a basic financial instrument as defined in FRS102, paragraph 11. Interest expense for the year
ended 31 December 2021 was $2,909k (2020: $422k).

Loans and other borrowings consisted of the following:

Consolidated

Parent Company

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

Loan principal

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

30,000

15,000

30,000

15,000

End of term charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Unamortised debt issuance costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

376

(503)

58

(553)

376

(503)

58

(553)

29,873

14,505

29,873

14,505

Future repayments of principal, including the end of term charge, are as follows:

Within one year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Between one and five years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

—
31,500

31,500

—
15,750

15,750

18 Called up share capital and reserves

The Parent Company’s called up share capital and reserves consisted of the following:

Issued, allotted, called up and fully paid

29,579,364 (31 December 2020: 21,094,557) ordinary shares of £0.01

each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

384

384

266

266

97

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

18 Called up share capital and reserves (continued)

No dividends have been proposed or paid as at the date of approval of these financial statements.

On 9 July 2021, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. pursuant to which Ionis purchased 282,485 of the Company’s ordinary shares at a price per share of
$38.94, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $11.0 million. On 15 October 2021, the Company
issued and sold 3,726,852 ADSs, representing the same number of ordinary shares, at a price to the public of
$54.00 per ADS, resulting in gross proceeds of $201.3 million before deducting underwriting discounts,
commissions and offering expenses, for net proceeds for $188.4 million.

On 5 June 2020, the Company entered into a Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Cantor

Fitzgerald & Co. and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (the “Sales Agents”) with respect to an ATM program
pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell through the Sales Agents, from time to time at the
Company’s sole discretion, American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each ADS representing one ordinary
share. During the year ended 31 December 2021, the Company issued and sold 3,771,684 ADSs, representing
the same number of ordinary shares for gross proceeds of $105.8 million, resulting in net proceeds of
$102.6 million after deducting sales commissions and offering expenses of $3.2 million. During the year
ended 31 December 2020, the Company issued and sold 2,928,813 ADSs, representing the same number of
ordinary shares for gross proceeds of $50.0 million, resulting in net proceeds of $48.1 million after deducting
sales commissions and offering expenses of $1.9 million.

During the year ended 31 December 2021 the Company issued 703,786 ADSs (2020: 79,158) following

the exercise of share options (note 11).

Nature and purpose of reserves

Share premium

The share premium account represents the premium arising on the issue of shares net of issue costs.

Exchange reserve

The exchange reserve comprises all foreign currency differences arising from the translation of the

financial statements.

General reserve

The general reserve represents the value of share-based payments granted to employees of the Company.

(Accumulated losses)/retained earnings

Retained earnings represents cumulative profits and losses net of dividends and other adjustments

including the premium to fair value of shares issued with respect to the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement
which is part of the consideration for the goods and services to be provided under the Ionis Collaboration
Agreement (Note 5).

98

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

19 Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

Loss for the financial year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(77,330)

(50,355)

Tax on loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(12,474)

(9,255)

Interest receivable and similar income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(120)

Interest payable and similar charges

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

3,017

(683)

487

Operating loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(86,907)

(59,806)

Amortisation of intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,398

Equity settled share-based payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15,271

Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets

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

18

20

1,276

8,990

—

Working capital movements:

Decrease/(increase) in debtors

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

602

(4,481)

Increase in creditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

42,550

31,839

Net exchange differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2,390

(2,566)

Cash flow from operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(24,657)

(24,728)

Following the change in functional currency of the Parent Company in 2019 the intercompany
balances with the UK subsidiaries were designated as denominated in U.S. dollars which are not intended
to be repaid as such foreign exchange difference on these loans are reflected as non-cash net exchange
differences.

20 Pensions

The Company operated a defined contribution pension scheme for its UK executive directors and

employees.

The Company has established a defined-contribution savings plan under Section 401(k) for its

US employees.

The amount recognised as an expense for the defined contribution schemes of the Company for the
year was $990k (31 December 2020: $671k) and the amount outstanding at the 31 December 2021 was $Nil
(31 December 2020: $Nil). The Parent Company has no employees other than the directors and does not
operate a pension plan.

21 Financial instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows:

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

Financial assets measured at amortised cost

Debtors

Trade debtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,000

5,456

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

438,680

135,990

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost

99

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

21 Financial instruments (continued)

Creditors

Trade creditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Accruals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Loans and other borrowings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

2,721

12,175

29,873

44,769

1,327

10,636

14,505

26,468

The income, expenses, net gains and net losses attributable the Company’s consolidated financial

instruments are summarised as follows:

Income and (expense)

Financial assets measured at amortised cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

120

683

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3,017)

(487)

(2,897)

196

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

There were no net gains or net losses for financial assets measured at amortised cost for the years

ended 31 December 2021 and 31 December 2020. The total interest income and interest expense for
financial assets and financial liabilities that are not measured at fair value through profit or loss was $120k
(31 December 2020: $683k) and $3,017k (31 December 2020: $487k), respectively.

Cash and cash equivalents, trade and other creditors and trade and other debtors with remaining life of

less than one year, the notional amount is deemed to reflect fair value.

The carrying amounts of the Parent Company’s financial instruments are as follows:

Financial assets measured at amortised cost

Debtors
Other debtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amounts owed by group undertakings

31 December
2021
$’000

31 December
2020
$’000

—
130,434

130,434

—
84,092

84,092

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

381,774

109,745

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
Creditors
Loans and other borrowings

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

29,873

29,873

14,505

14,505

The income, expenses, net gains and net losses attributable the Parent Company’s financial instruments

are summarised as follows:

100

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

21 Financial instruments (continued)

2021
$’000

2020
$’000

Income and (expense)

Financial assets measured at amortised cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119

491

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2,909)

(422)

(2,790)

69

The total interest income and interest expense for financial assets and financial liabilities that are not

measured at fair value through profit or loss was $119k (31 December 2020: $491k) and $2,909k
(31 December 2020: $422k), respectively.

The Company and Parent Company had no financial instruments subject to interest rate benchmark

reform (31 December 2020: $nil).

22 Financial commitments and contingencies

Cash and cash equivalents, trade and other creditors and trade and other debtors with remaining life of

less than one year, the notional amount is deemed to reflect fair value.

At 31 December 2021, the Company had annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases

as follows:

Land and buildings
31 December 2021
$’000

Land and buildings
31 December 2020
$’000

Within one year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Between one and five years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total

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

3,310

13,716

17,026

921

483

1,404

There were contracted capital commitments of $2,467k at 31 December 2021 (31 December 2020:

$66k). These commitments are largely in respect of leasehold improvements to the new premises.

See note 17 for the Company’s commitments related to the long-term debt.

The Company has entered into various agreements with contract research organisations and contract

manufacturing organisations. These payments are not included in the commitments table above since the
contracts are generally cancellable at any time upon less than 90 days’ prior written notice. The Company is
not contractually able to terminate for convenience and avoid any and all future obligations to these
vendors. Under such agreements, the Company is contractually obligated to make certain minimum payments
to the vendors, with the payments in the event of a termination with less than 90 days’ notice based on the
timing of the termination and the exact terms of the agreement.

Operating Leases

The existing lease for Building 900, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT ended on
11 December 2021 and the Company entered into a new lease for a period of 5 years from 12 December 2021.
On 7 December 2021 the Company entered into a lease for new premises to which it intends to relocate to
in mid-2022. The lease has a contractual period of 10 years, but may be cancelled by the Company after
5 years.

During 2021, the amount charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in respect of

operating leases was $1,095k (2020: $921k).

101

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

22 Financial commitments and contingencies (continued)

The Parent Company had no annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases.

Cancer Research UK Agreement

The agreement with Cancer Research UK Agreement to sponsor and fund the Phase Ia and Phase IIa
clinical trial of BT1718, can be terminated by either party upon an insolvency event, material breach of the
terms of the contract, or upon a change in control (and the new controlling entity generates its revenue
from the sale of tobacco products). Cancer Research UK may terminate the arrangement for safety reasons
or if it determines that the objectives of the clinical trial will not be met, in which case, if the study is
terminated by Cancer Research UK prior to the completion of the Phase I dose escalation part of the study
for such reasons, or if Cancer Research UK refuses release of any additional quantities of good
manufacturing practice (“GMP”) materials, or if the parties cannot agree upon a plan to supply the additional
quantities of GMP materials, the Company will be obligated to refund 50% of the costs and expenses
incurred or committed by Cancer Research UK to perform the clinical trial. If the study is terminated by
Cancer Research UK for an insolvency event, a material breach by the Company, or if the Company is
acquired by an entity that generates its revenue from the sale of tobacco products, the Company will reimburse
Cancer Research UK in full for all costs paid or committed in connection with the clinical trial and no
further license payments, where applicable, shall be due.

In such case where the Company is acquired by an entity that generates its revenue from the sale of
tobacco products Cancer Research UK will not be obliged to grant a license to the Company in respect of
the results of the clinical trial and the Company will assign or grant to Cancer Research Technology Limited
an exclusive license to develop and commercialise the product without Cancer Research Technology Limited
being required to make any payment. As at 31 December 2021 Cancer Research UK had incurred costs
of approximately $3.3 million (31 December 2020: $2.6 million). Management does not consider it probable
or likely that these costs will be required to be reimbursed to Cancer Research UK.

Legal proceedings

In November 2020, the Company entered into a settlement and license agreement with Pepscan

Systems B.V. regarding Bicycle’s use of Pepscan’s CLIPS peptide technology. The companies agreed to settle
all intellectual property disputes worldwide. Under the terms of the settlement, the Company has been
granted a license to use CLIPS peptide technology in the development of its product candidates BT1718
and THR-149. The Company paid €3 million in November 2020, paid €1 million on the first anniversary of
the date of settlement in November 2021 and will make potential additional payments to Pepscan based
on achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones.

23 Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share

Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share is determined by dividing net loss by the weighted average

number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

The Parent Company’s potentially dilutive securities, which include share options to subscribe for
ordinary shares been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be to
reduce the net loss per share. Therefore, the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding used to
calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders is the same. The
Company excluded the following potentially dilutive ordinary shares, presented based on amounts outstanding
at each period end, from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders
for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:

102

Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2021

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

23 Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share (continued)

Number
31 December
2021

Number
31 December
2020

Options to purchase ordinary shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4,603,486

3,736,663

4,603,486

3,736,663

24 Related party disclosures

The Company has taken advantage of the exemptions contained within FRS 102 paragraph 33.1A not

to disclose transactions with wholly owned group undertakings.

Pierre Legault, a director of the Parent Company, is associated with Stone Sunny Isles, Inc., which

provided consultancy services to the Company totalling $173k for the year ended 31 December 2021
(2020: $162k). The amount outstanding at the year-end was $Nil (2020: $Nil).

Key management personnel include the CEO and a number of senior managers across the Company
who together have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the
Company.

The total compensation paid to key management personnel for services provided to the Company was
$5,369k (2020: $4,109k). In addition, key management personnel received an aggregate gain on the exercise
of share options (based on the market value of the shares on the date of exercise) of £5,573k (2020: $Nil).

25 Post balance sheet events

The directors are not aware of any events that have occurred subsequent to the year-end that may

materially impact the results of the financial statements.

103