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Biotron Limited

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FY2008 Annual Report · Biotron Limited
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Level 2, 66 Hunter Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia

Annual Report-2008

BIOTRON LIMITED   ABN 60 086 399 144

Contents

Operating and Financial Review 

Statement of Corporate Governance 

Directors’ Report 

Income Statement for the Year Ended 30 June 2008 1

Statement of Recognised Income and Expense for  

the Year Ended 30 June 2008 1

Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2008 1

Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended 30 June 2008 1

Notes to the Financial Statements for  

the Year Ended 30 June 2008 1

Directors’ Declaration 

Independent Audit Report to the Members of  

Biotron Limited 3

Additional Stock Exchange Information 

Corporate Directory 

2

5

7

4

5

6

7

8

32

3

34

36

Operating and Financial Review

The last 12 months have seen significant 
advances on clinical progression of Biotron 
Limited’s (‘Biotron’ or the ‘Company’) 
antiviral drug development program, with 
a major focus on developing new drugs 
for treatment of HIV and Hepatitis C virus 
(HCV).  The Company has made excellent 
progress during this time with its clinical 
HCV and HIV programs – these are truly 
world-class, with a new first-in class drug, 
BIT225, in development for treatment of 
both HIV and HCV infections.  BIT225 
offers the potential to significantly advance 
treatments of both these debilitating 
infections.

Significant events achieved during the past 
year include:

•	

Successful	completion	of	Phase	I	clinical	
trial of the Company’s lead antiviral 
drug BIT225.  This was the first trial of 
BIT225 in humans.

•	 Receipt	of	a	competitive	Commercial	
Ready Grant from the Australian 
Federal Government for aspects of 
development of BIT225.

•	 Demonstration	that	BIT225	is	highly	

synergistic with existing treatments for 
HCV, which significantly strengthens 
and advances the Company’s HCV 
development program.

•	 Demonstration	of	activity	of	Biotron	
compounds against Hepatitis B virus.

•	

•	

•	

Presentation	of	Phase	I	data	on	BIT225	
at an international HCV meeting in 
Hawaii, USA in December 2007.

Presentation	of	other	data	from	the	
Company’s HIV and HCV programs 
at several international scientific 
conferences.

Presentation	of	Biotron	programs	at	
international partnering conferences 
including BIO2008 in San Diego and 
the	Fifth	Anti-Infectives	Partnering	
& Deal Making Summit, held in 
Philadelphia,	USA.

2 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

•	

Initiation	and	successful	completion	of	
an	underwritten	Share	Purchase	Plan,	
raising $2.5 million for further clinical 
development of BIT225.

Since the end of the financial year under 
review, Biotron has progressed to the next 
stage of clinical development of BIT225 
with	the	initiation	of	a	Phase	Ib/IIa	clinical	
trial of BIT225 in HCV-infected patients at 
two trial sites.  Commencement of this trial 
is a major milestone for the Company.

Clinical Development of BIT225

BIT225 is an investigational, orally-
administered, novel antiviral compound in 
development by Biotron for treatment of 
HIV and HCV infections.  The successful 
completion of the first human trial of 
BIT225 during the second half of 2007 was 
a major value adding milestone for Biotron.  
This trial followed on from the completion 
of a comprehensive program of preclinical 
safety studies, and demonstrated the safety 
of the drug in humans and its suitability 
for progression into trials in patient 
populations.

The	data	from	this	Phase	I	clinical	trial	
indicated BIT225 was well tolerated, with 
no dose limiting toxicities.  Analysis of the 
data indicated that potentially therapeutic 
blood levels of BIT225 were achieved, 
based on calculations extrapolated from 
preclinical in vitro antiviral efficacy studies.  
The	data	from	this	Phase	I	trial	is	the	first	
human clinical analysis of BIT225, and are 
important as they set the stage for further 
studies of the drug in patient populations.  
The	Phase	I	trial	demonstrated	that	the	
absorption, distribution, half-life and 
tolerability of BIT225 were acceptable, and 
that safety and pharmacokinetic profiles 
of BIT225 supported ongoing clinical 
development.

The	completed	Phase	I	clinical	trial	in	
healthy volunteers will support trials of 
BIT225 in both HCV and HIV patient 

populations, which significantly reduces 
the costs and timelines of Biotron’s clinical 
development programs. 

The first half of 2008 has been spent in 
extensive consultation with international 
and national clinical advisors who have 
specific expertise in the design of trials 
of new drugs in patients.  As BIT225 is a 
new class of drug with a new mode of 
action, it is critical that the next series of 
trials are designed correctly to ensure that 
the required outcomes can be achieved.  
The data from these trials will be used to 
support ongoing development of BIT225 
and, critically, will be the major item 
that maximises their value to a potential 
commercial partner.  Correctly designed 
and implemented trials will benefit 
shareholders as returns to the Company 
from a commercial deal will be maximised. 

The other key reason for ensuring the 
trials are correctly designed is to maximise 
patient recruitability.  Defining inclusion 
and exclusion criteria for trial participants 
– such as stage of disease, past treatments, 
current co-treatment, unrelated diseases, 
age and gender – determine how quickly a 
trial can recruit sufficient patients and be 
completed.  Rushing into poorly designed 
trials may result in slow recruitment and 
significantly prolonged outcomes.

Since the end of the financial year, 
Biotron	has	commenced	a	Phase	Ib/IIa	
trial of BIT225 in HCV-infected patients, 
after receipt of the necessary ethics and 
regulatory approvals.  The commencement 
of this trial marks another major milestone 
for the Company.  The trial, code named 
BIT225-003, will run over two sites during 
the second half of 2008.  The trial is a 
placebo controlled, randomised study of 
the safety, pharmacokinetics and antiviral 
activity of BIT225 in patients with HCV 
infection.  The primary objective is to assess 
the safety and tolerability of BIT225, given 
twice daily, for 14 consecutive days.  The 
secondary objectives are to assess the 
pharmacokinetics of BIT225 as well as to 
assess the antiviral efficacy of BIT225 in 

OpeRating and Financial Review

these patients.  Eighteen patients will be 
randomly assigned to receive one of two 
dose levels of BIT225 or placebo.  The 
use of two trial sites, based in Sydney 
and Brisbane, is aimed at maximising the 
recruitment rate for the trial.

BIT225 represents a first-in-class drug 
for treatment of HCV, targeting the p7 
protein of HCV.  It is estimated that in 
the USA alone, some 4 million people 
have been infected with HCV with 2.7 
million suffering from chronic infection.  
Worldwide, 170 million people are infected.  
HCV causes inflammation of the liver, 
which may lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis, 
liver cancer and, ultimately, liver failure.  
Existing drugs for HCV have limited 
effectiveness and toxicity issues, leaving 
a significant need for new therapies.  The 
worldwide market is currently almost 
US$3.0 billion, but is estimated that this 
market will expand to over US$10.0 billion 
as safe, effective therapies enter the market. 

During the past 12 months independent 
research in the USA demonstrated that 
BIT225 significantly enhances the activity 
of existing HCV therapies in an in vitro 
model system.  The results of this research, 
performed by Southern Research Institute 
in Maryland, USA, are significant as they 
indicate that BIT225 has the potential to be 
used in combination therapy to achieve a 
higher level of antiviral activity against HCV 
than is currently possible, while improving 
the potency of each of the drugs in the 
combination.  The results demonstrated 
that BIT225 was highly synergistic in a 
triple combination with two of the most 
common HCV therapies in use today, 
ribavirin and interferon- .  The addition 
of BIT225 to ribavirin and interferon-  
increased the level of inhibition of viral 
replication from 70% with the two other 
drugs to 100% when BIT225 was added 
to the mix.  The potency of BIT225 was 
increased tenfold in this triple combination, 
compared to its activity on its own.  The 
studies were conducted in vitro against the 
widely accepted surrogate model of the 

HCV, bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV).  
BVDV is closely related to HCV and is an 
in vitro predictor of the efficacy of anti-
HCV	drugs	in	humans.		Previously,	Biotron	
reported that BIT225 is a potent inhibitor 
of activity in this HCV surrogate model 
system.

Biotron has filed a new patent to extend 
the current protection over its lead antiviral 
drug BIT225 and analogues.  This latest 
patent filing further strengthens Biotron’s 
extensive intellectual property portfolio in 
the antiviral drug development field.

BIT225 also represents a novel, first in class 
approach to the treatment of HIV.  BIT225 
specifically targets HIV in reservoir cells 
and represents an opportunity to attack 
HIV at its source in the body.  Current HIV 
therapies have little or no effect on HIV in 
the underlying reservoir of infected cells 
where the virus hides from the immune 
system.  The market for HIV is very large, 
with the USA market alone for HIV worth 
over US$3.3 billion per annum.  Biotron 
is currently finalising protocols and other 
documentation through the necessary 
ethics and regulatory processes, with the 
aim	of	progressing	BIT225	into	a	Phase	
Ib/IIa	trial	in	HIV-positive	patients.	

These trials in HIV and HCV patients 
are critical steps in the Company’s 
development.  Demonstration that BIT225 
can attack these viruses in patients will be 
a truly major advance in terms of Company 
and technology valuations.  The Company is 
focused on achieving a successful outcome, 
and has been holding discussions with 
potential pharmaceutical companies in 
anticipation of finalising a deal once these 
trials have been completed.  The proposed 
trials are designed to benefit shareholders 
through significantly increasing the value 
of Biotron in the market and to its future 
pharmaceutical company partners.

Biotron continues to leverage shareholder 
funds by accessing non-equity funding 
to support its development programs.  In 
the second half of 2007, the Company 

received a grant of $465,000 from the 
Federal Government’s Commercial Ready 
Grant program.  The grant is a partial 
reimbursement of expenditures incurred 
in	the	Phase	I	clinical	development	and	
testing of BIT225.  This latest grant is in 
addition to the previous grants, including a 
Biotechnology Innovation Fund Grant which 
assisted with early stage development of 
new drugs for various targeted viruses, and 
a Start Grant which facilitated the selection 
and preclinical testing of BIT225.

In December 2007 Biotron initiated and 
subsequently	completed	a	Share	Purchase	
Plan	(SPP)	to	raise	additional	capital	
for clinical development of its antiviral 
programs.  The issue of 14,700,000 shares 
to raise $2.5 million was fully underwritten 
and	the	funds	raised	by	the	SPP	are	being	
used to support the Company’s ongoing 
operational costs, including funding the 
BIT225	Phase	Ib/IIa	clinical	trials	in	infected	
patients.

The Director’s would like to thank all those 
shareholders who supported the Company 
by participating in this capital raising. 

Other Viral Programs

In addition to excellent progress with 
the Company’s anti-HIV and anti-HCV 
development programs, Biotron further 
advanced its antiviral platform with the 
finding that several of its proprietary 
compounds have shown potent activity 
against the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). 

According to the World Health 
Organisation, 350 to 400 million people 
are chronically infected with HBV.  Chronic 
Hepatitis B (CHB) is a serious global health 
problem, with infection progressing to liver 
cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, 
resulting in up to 1.2 million deaths 
worldwide each year.  Up to 80% of the 
world’s primary liver cancer, which is 
currently the fifth most frequent cancer 
worldwide, is attributable to CHB.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    3

OpeRating and Financial Review

This latest activity data against HBV 
demonstrates the depth of Biotron’s 
antiviral portfolio.  The Company has 
an impressive portfolio of clinical and 
preclinical antiviral programs developing 
drugs targeting HCV, HIV, Dengue virus 
and Influenza virus.  At present, focus is on 
development of the HCV and HIV programs 
into trials in infected patient populations, 
and additional resources will be committed 
to these additional programs once these 
more advanced programs have been 
successfully commercialised.

During the year, ongoing discussions were 
held with potential partners regarding the 
Virion technology.  Whilst keen to secure a 
partner to take the Company’s compounds 
through into clinical development, Biotron 
can significantly increase the value of the 
technology by undertaking the proposed 
Phase	Ib/IIa	clinical	trials	before	forming	
an alliance.  This will translate into much 
higher returns to the Company in the form 
of upfront payments as well as increased 
milestone and royalty payments in the 
future.

The level of interest by the international 
community in Biotron’s antiviral programs 
was reflected by the selection of Biotron 
to participate in several prestigious 
international scientific conferences 
during the year.  In July 2007 Biotron was 
selected to give two presentations at the 
International AIDS Society conference 
in Sydney, NSW, and in December 2007 
Biotron scientists were selected to present 
data at an HCV conference and at an HIV 
conference	in	Hawaii,	USA.		Presentation	
at these meetings provided an excellent 
opportunity to further discussions of the 
Company’s technologies with potential 
pharmaceutical partners.  In addition 
to these scientific meetings, Biotron 
participated in international partnering 
forums including the Fifth Anti-Infectives 
Partnering	&	Deal	Making	Summit,	held	
in	Philadelphia,	USA	and	the	annual	

4 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

biotechnology partnering conference 
BIO2008 in San Diego, USA.  These forums 
provide an excellent opportunity to 
showcase Biotron’s antiviral drug programs 
to an international audience and to hold 
meetings with business executives and 
potential partners from USA and European 
biotechnology and pharmaceutical 
companies.

Patent Update

Biotron is focused on progressing patents 
related to its antiviral programs through 
the international patenting process.  
The Company recognises that the key 
to establishment of partnerships is the 
expansion and continued strengthening of 
Biotron’s	intellectual	property	(IP)	portfolio.		
Strong, defensible, international patents are 
essential to attract partners and to ensure 
a competitive advantage for the Company’s 
products in the marketplace.  Biotron 
continues to build a strong wall of patents 
around	its	IP	to	maximise	the	value	of	the	
technologies and to ensure its competitive 
position.

As discussed above, during the past year 
Biotron has filed an additional patent to 
extend the current protection over its lead 
antiviral drug BIT225 and analogues.  This 
latest patent filing further strengthens 
Biotron’s extensive intellectual property 
portfolio in the antiviral drug development 
field.  In addition, Biotron has progressed 
existing patents through the international 
PCT	system	into	national	jurisdictions.

A summary of Biotron’s patent portfolio is 
set out below:

TITLE

WO0021538 

Method of 
modulating ion 
channel functional 
activity. 

STATUS

Granted in 
Australia, New 
Zealand and China.

Under examination 
elsewhere.

STATUS

Granted in 
Australia and USA.

Under examination 
elsewhere.

Entered into 
national phase.

Entered into 
national phase.

PCT	filed	in	August	
2008.

TITLE

WO9813514

Method of 
determining ion 
channel activity of 
a substance.

WO04112687

Antiviral 
compounds and 
methods. 

WO6135978

Antiviral 
compounds and 
methods. 

Recent	PCT	filing

Hepatitis 
C antiviral 
compositions and 
methods.

On behalf of the Board we would like 
to thank the dedicated Biotron staff for 
their commitment and efforts during the 
year.  Biotron is poised to achieve the 
outcome that we have all been working 
towards – demonstration that its antiviral 
drug development program can produce 
new, novel drugs which can attack virus 
infections in humans, resulting in significant 
clinical benefit to patients, and generating 
major financial benefits to our shareholders.  
We look forward to the next year with 
confidence. 

Michael J. Hoy 
Chairman 

Michelle Miller 
Managing Director

 
 
 
 
                                       
  
  
Statement of corporate governance

This statement outlines the main Corporate 
Governance practices that were in place 
throughout the financial year, which 
comply with the Australian Stock Exchange 
(‘ASX’) Corporate Governance Council 
recommendations, unless otherwise stated.

Board of Directors

The board of directors is responsible for 
the overall corporate governance of the 
Company including its strategic direction, 
setting remuneration, establishing goals 
for management and monitoring the 
achievement of these goals and ensuring 
the integrity of internal control and 
management information systems.  It 
is also responsible for approving and 
monitoring financial and other reporting.

The composition of the board has been 
determined on the basis of providing the 
Company with the benefit of a broad range 
of technical, administrative and financial 
skills, combined with an appropriate level of 
experience at a senior corporate level.  The 
names and further information regarding 
the skills, experience, qualifications and 
relevant expertise of the directors are set 
out in the Directors’ Report.  The board is 
composed of a minimum of three directors.

The composition of the board is monitored 
constantly to ensure that it provides the 
Company with the appropriate levels of 
both expertise and experience.  The board 
comprises a majority of independent, 
non-executive directors including the 
Chairperson.  The independence of directors 
is based on their capacity to put the 
best interests of the Company and its 
shareholders ahead of all other interests.

When a board vacancy exists, through 
whatever cause, or where it is considered 
that the board would benefit from the 
services of a new director with particular 
skills, the board identifies a panel of 
candidates with appropriate expertise and 
experience.  A selection procedure is then 

completed and the board appoints the 
most suitable candidate who must stand 
for election at the next general meeting of 
shareholders.

Directors, other than the Managing 
Director, are subject to re-election by the 
shareholders at least every three years.

Having regard to the current membership 
of the board and the size, organisational 
complexity and scope of operations of 
the entity, a Nomination Committee, a 
Remuneration Committee and an Audit 
Committee have not been established.

Each director has the right to seek 
independent professional advice at the 
Company’s	expense.		Prior	approval	of	the	
Chairman is required, but such approval is 
not unreasonably withheld.  A copy of the 
advice received by the director is made 
available to all other members of the board.

In the event that a potential conflict of 
interest may arise, involved directors must 
withdraw from all deliberations concerning 
the matter.

Remuneration

The remuneration of the directors is 
determined by the board as a whole, with 
the director to whom a particular decision 
relates being absent from the meeting 
during the time that the remuneration level 
is discussed and decided upon.  

For details on the amount of remuneration 
and any amount of equity based executive 
remuneration payment for each director, 
refer	to	the	Key	Management	Personnel	
note to the financial statements and the 
Remuneration Report in the Directors’ 
Report.

Internal Controls

The board of directors acknowledges that 
it is responsible for the overall internal 
control framework, but recognises that no 

cost effective internal control system will 
preclude all errors and irregularities.  The 
system of internal control adopted by the 
Company seeks to provide an appropriate 
division of responsibility and careful 
selection and training of personnel relative 
to the level of activities and size of the 
Company.

The full board takes responsibility for 
reviewing financial reporting procedures, 
internal controls and the performance 
of the financial management.  Selected 
internal control mechanisms employed to 
support the business include:

•	

Investment	appraisal	–	the	Company	
has documented guidelines for capital 
expenditure and investment appraisals.  
These include annual budgets, 
expenditure review procedures and 
appropriate levels of authority.

•	 Business	planning,	budgeting	and	

reporting – a comprehensive business 
planning process includes evaluation of 
strategies, objectives, and risks resulting 
in an annual budget approved by the 
board.  Monthly actual performance is 
reported against budget and revised 
forecasts for the year are prepared 
regularly.

•	 Quality	and	integrity	of	employees	

– there are clearly defined 
accountabilities, performance measures, 
and reinforcement of values and ethics 
by management.

The CEO and CFO state in writing to 
the board that the Company’s financial 
statements present a true and fair view, 
in all material respects, of the Company’s 
financial condition and operational results 
and are in accordance with relevant 
accounting standards.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    5

Statement OF cORpORate GOVERnAnCE

External Auditors

Board nominees review the performance 
of the external auditors and meet with 
them during the half yearly review and 
annual audit to discuss any issues that 
have arisen with respect to accounting 
policies, any significant operational issues 
and the level of proposed audit fees.  The 
auditor is requested to attend the Annual 
General Meeting and be available to answer 
shareholder questions about the conduct of 
the audit and the preparation and content 
of the auditor’s report.

KPMG,	the	Company’s	auditors,	were	
appointed on 20 November 2001.

Ethical Standards

All directors, managers and employees are 
expected to act with the utmost integrity 
and objectivity, endeavouring at all times to 
enhance the performance and reputation of 
the Company.  Every employee has direct 
access to a director to whom they may 
refer any ethical issues that may arise from 
their employment.

Directors, officers and employees are 
permitted to trade in the Company’s 
securities only in accordance with the 
provisions of the Corporations Act and ASX 
Listing Rules.  The directors are under an 
obligation to report any dealings by them 
in the Company’s securities.

The Role of Shareholders

The board ensures that the shareholders 
are informed of all major developments 
affecting the Company by the following 
means:

•	 Distribution	of	the	annual	report	to	all	

shareholders which contains relevant 
information about the operations of the 
Company during the year in addition to 
disclosures required by the Corporations 
Act 2001.

6 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

•	

•	

•	

Lodgement	of	quarterly	reports	with	
the ASX which show summarised 
financial information for the quarter.  
Copies of these reports are available to 
shareholders on request.

Lodgement	of	the	half	yearly	
report with the ASX which contains 
summarised and audit reviewed 
financial information.  Copies of half 
yearly financial statements prepared 
in accordance with the Corporations 
Act are available to any shareholder on 
request.

Lodgement	of	the	annual	report	with	
the ASX which contains full audited 
financial information prepared in 
accordance with the Corporations Act.  
The annual report is distributed to all 
shareholders (unless a shareholder has 
specifically requested not to receive the 
document).

•	 Announcements	to	the	ASX	concerning	
any significant development in the 
Company’s operations, financing and 
administration.  All announcements are 
immediately available to the general 
public. 

•	 Disclosure	of	all	major	announcements	

to the ASX on the Company’s website.

•	

The	Annual	General	Meeting	is	the	
main opportunity for the shareholders 
to hear the Managing Director and 
Chairman provide updates on the 
Company’s performance, ask questions 
of the board and to express views and 
vote on various matters of business on 
the agenda.

The shareholders are responsible for voting 
on the appointment of directors.

Risk Management

Due to the size of the Company, the 
number of officers and employees and 
the nature of the Company’s business, a 

formal risk management policy and internal 
compliance and control system has not 
been implemented.  The chief executive 
officer and chief financial officer declare, 
in writing, to the board that that the 
system of risk management and internal 
compliance and control which implements 
the policies adopted by the board has 
been assessed and found to be operating 
efficiently and effectively in all material 
respects.

Each director reviews the business 
risks affecting his particular area of 
expertise annually and reports to the 
board.  The board then determines the 
appropriate actions to eliminate or 
minimise the identified business risks.  The 
full board oversees the establishment, 
implementation and ongoing review of the 
Company’s risk management and internal 
control system.  The internal control 
system covers financial, operational and 
compliance risks.

Recommendations made by external 
auditors and other external advisers are 
investigated by the board and, where 
necessary, appropriate action is taken to 
ensure that the Company has the internal 
control environment to manage the key 
risks identified.  Ways of enhancing existing 
risk management strategies, including 
segregation of duties, employment 
and training of suitably qualified and 
experienced personnel are investigated by 
the board.

Performance Evaluation of the Board 
and Key Executives

Due to the size of the Company, the 
number of officers and employees and 
the nature of the Company’s business, 
the board has adopted an informal and 
continuous performance evaluation process 
of the directors and key executives.  The 
Company has not established formal 
performance review measures for the board 
or key executives nor has it established a 
nomination committee.

Directors’ Report

The directors present their report together 
with the financial report of Biotron Limited 
(‘the Company’) for the year ended 30 June 
2008 and the auditor’s report thereon.

Directors

The names and particulars of the directors 
of the Company at any time during or since 
the end of the financial year are:

Mr Michael J. Hoy
Independent and Non-Executive 
Chairman

Mr Hoy has more than 30 years’ corporate 
experience in Australia, the United 
Kingdom, USA and Asia.  He is Chairman of 
CityPrint	Holdings	Pty	Limited,	Chairman	of	
Tellesso Technologies Limited and a former 
director of John Fairfax Holdings Limited 
and FXF Trust.

He has been a director since 7 February 
2000 and Chairman since 16 March 2000.

Dr Michelle Miller, BSc, MSc, PhD, 
GCertAppFin (Finsia)
Managing Director

Dr Miller has worked for over 20 years in 
the bioscience industry, with extensive 
experience in managing commercial 
bioscience research.  She completed her 
PhD	in	the	Faculty	of	Medicine	at	Sydney	
University investigating molecular models 
of cancer development.  Her experience 
includes a number of years at Johnson 
and Johnson developing anti-HIV gene 
therapeutics through preclinical research 
to clinical trials.  She has experience in 
early-stage start-ups from time spent 
as Investment Manager with a specialist 
bioscience venture capital fund.

She was appointed as Managing Director on 
21 June 2002.

Dr Michael S. Hirshorn, MBA, MB, BS
Independent and Non-Executive 
Director

Dr Hirshorn has a 30 years career of 
founding, building, managing and investing 
in technology companies.  He played a 
major role in all commercial aspects of 
Cochlear Limited’s development, was a 
founding director of Resmed Inc., and Chief 
Executive	Marketing	for	Polartechnics	
Limited.

He has over eight years of private equity 
experience, raising a fund and investing 
and developing companies.  He has 
served on numerous government advisory 
committees, including the Start IT and T 
Committee, the Start Grants Biological 
Sciences Committee of the Department 
of Industry, Science and Resources.  He is 
currently a director of Dynamic Hearing 
and TGR BioSciences.

Dr Hirshorn was appointed as a director on 
16 March 2000.

Mr Bruce Hundertmark
Independent and Non-Executive 
Director

Mr Hundertmark is an independent 
businessman and company director with a 
wide range of experience in diverse business 
operations.  He has specialised in recent 
years in high technology based company 
start-up operations and in promoting the 
formation of venture capital companies 
including News Datacom Research Limited 
in Israel, News Datacom Limited in Hong 
Kong	and	both	PT	Indo	Bio	Products	and	PT	
Indo Bio Fuels in Indonesia.

He has been a director of numerous private 
and publicly listed companies including 
News	International	PLC,	Sky	Television	PLC,	
Prudential	Cornhill	Insurance	Limited,	Harris	
Scarfe Limited, Bernkastel Wines Limited, 
Codan Limited, Samic Limited 

and Investment & Merchant Finance 
Corporation Limited.

Mr Hundertmark was appointed as a 
director on 16 March 2000.

Mr Peter G. Scott

Non-Executive Director

Mr Scott is a founding director of Biotron 
Limited with more than 30 years of 
commercial and entrepreneurial experience 
in Australia.

He	is	a	director	of	Scott’s	Acorn	Pty	Ltd	
and was formerly Chairman and Managing 
Director	of	Scottcom	Pty	Ltd	and	Managing	
Director	of	ICAM	Pty	Ltd,	audio	visual	and	
multimedia companies.

Mr Scott has been a director since 23 
February 1999.

Peter J. Nightingale

Company Secretary

Mr Nightingale graduated with a Bachelor 
of Economics degree from the University of 
Sydney and is a member of the Institute of 
Chartered Accountants in Australia.  He has 
worked as a chartered accountant in both 
Australia and the USA.  

As a director or company secretary Mr 
Nightingale has, for the past 21 years, 
been responsible for the financial control, 
administration, secretarial and in-house 
legal functions of a number of private 
and public listed companies in Australia, 
the	USA	and	Europe	including	Pangea	
Resources Limited, Timberline Minerals Inc., 
Perseverance	Corporation	Limited,	Valdora	
Minerals N.L., ETT Limited, Bolnisi Gold NL 
and	Palmarejo	Silver	and	Gold	Corporation.	
Mr Nightingale is currently a director of 
Cockatoo	Coal	Limited	and	Planet	Gas	
Limited.

Mr Nightingale has been Company 
Secretary since 23 February 1999.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    7

 
diRectORS’ RepORt

Directors’ Meetings

The number of directors’ meetings held and number of meetings attended by each of the directors of the Company, while they were a 
director, during the year are:

no. of Meetings Held

no. of Meetings Attended

Michael J. Hoy

Michelle Miller

Michael S. Hirshorn

Bruce Hundertmark

Peter	G.	Scott

Directors’ Interests

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

6

7

7

At the date of this report, the beneficial interests of each director of the Company in the issued share capital of the Company and options, 
each exercisable to acquire one fully paid ordinary share of the Company are:

Fully Paid Ordinary Shares

Options

1,345,714

-

-

-

-

-

8,924,414

500,000

500,000

500,000

500,000

200,000

200,000

-

Option Terms
(Exercise Price and Term)

$0.35 at any time up to 30 September 2010

$0.35 at any time up to 30 September 2010

$0.40 at any time from 30 September 2006 up to  
30 September 2006 up to 30 September 2010

$0.45 at any time from 30 September 2007 up to  
30 September 2010

$0.35 at any time up to 30 September 2010

$0.35 at any time up to 30 September 2010

-

Michael J. Hoy

Michelle Miller

Michael S. Hirshorn

Bruce Hundertmark

Peter	G.	Scott

Option Holdings

The movement during the reporting period in the number of options over ordinary shares in the Company held directly, indirectly or 
beneficially, by each specified director, including their personally-related entities, is as follows:

8 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

diRectORS’ RepORt

Option holdings - 2008

Held at 
1 July 2007

Granted as 
remuneration

Expired

Held at  
30 June 2008

Vested and 
exercisable at  
30 June 2008

Directors

Michael J. Hoy

Michelle Miller

Michael S. Hirshorn

Bruce Hundertmark

Peter	G.	Scott

Executives

500,000

1,500.000

200,000

200,000

-

Peter	J.	Nightingale

200,000

Option holdings - 2007

Held at 
1 July 2006

Granted as 
remuneration

Directors

Michael J. Hoy

Michelle Miller

Michael S. Hirshorn

Bruce Hundertmark

Peter	G.	Scott

Executives

500,000

2,750.000

200,000

200,000

-

Peter	J.	Nightingale

200,000

Remuneration Report - Audited

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Expired

1,250.000

-

-

-

-

500,000

1,500.000

200,000

200,000

-

500,000

1,500.000

200,000

200,000

-

200,000

200,000

Held at  
30 June 2007

Vested and 
exercisable at  
30 June 2007

500,000

1,500.000

200,000

200,000

-

500,000

1,500.000

200,000

200,000

-

200,000

200,000

The policy of remuneration of directors and senior executives is to ensure the remuneration package properly reflects the person’s duties 
and responsibilities, and that remuneration is competitive in attracting, retaining and motivating people of the highest quality.  The board is 
responsible for reviewing its own performance.  The non-executive directors are responsible for evaluating the performance of the executive 
directors who, in turn, evaluate the performance of all other senior executives.  The evaluation process is intended to assess the Company’s 
business performance, whether long term strategic objectives are being achieved and the achievement of individual performance objectives.

Remuneration generally comprises salary and superannuation.  Longer term incentives are able to be provided through the Company’s 
Incentive	Option	Plan	which	acts	to	align	the	directors	and	senior	executives’	actions	with	the	interests	of	the	shareholders.		The	
remuneration disclosed below represents the cost to the Company for the services provided under these arrangements.

No directors or senior executives receive performance related remuneration.  No bonuses were paid during the year.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    9

 
diRectORS’ RepORt

Details of director and senior executive remuneration and the nature and amount of each major element of the remuneration of each 
director and senior executive of the Company are:

Year

Primary Salary 
and Fees

Post-
Employment 
Superannuation 
Benefits

Equity 
Compensation 
Value of 
Options

$

$

Directors

Non-executive

Michael J. Hoy 
(Chairman)

Michael S. Hirshorn

Bruce Hundertmark

Peter	G.	Scott

Executive

Michelle Miller 
(Managing Director)

Total, all specified 
directors

Executives

Peter	J.	Nightingale	
(Company Secretary) 

Total, all specified 
directors and 
executives 

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

60,000

60,000

30,000

30,000

30,000

30,000

5,000

5,000

200,000

200,000

325,000

325,000

75,000

60,848

400,000

385,848

5,400

5,400

2,700

2,700

2,700

2,700

27,700

27,700

18,000

33,385

56,500

71,885

-

-

56,500

71,885

$

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,403

15,068

2,403

15,068

-

-

2,403

15,068

Total

$

65,400

65,400

32,700

32,700

32,700

32,700

32,700

32,700

220,403

248,453

383,903

411,953

75,000

60,848

458,903

472,801

Options 
as a % of 
Remuneration

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1%

6%

1%

4%

-

-

1%

3%

10 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

diRectORS’ REPORT

Options granted as compensation - Audited

Details of options that were granted as compensation to each key management person: 

Director

Grant Date

number of  
options granted

Fair value at  
grant date

Michelle Miller

14 October 2005

500,000

$24,016

Michelle Miller

14 October 2005

500,000

$21,114

Michelle Miller

14 October 2005

500,000

$18,701

Option Terms  
(Exercise Price and Term)

$0.35 at any time up to  
30 September 2010

$0.40 at any time from 30 September 2006 
up to 30 September 2010

$0.45 at any time from 30 September 2007 
up to 30 September 2010

The number of options that had vested as at 30 June 2008 is 1,500,000 (2007 – 1,000,000).  There were 500,000 options (2007 – 500,000) 
that vested during the year ended 30 June 2008.

The fair value of the options at grant date was determined based on the Black-Scholes formula.  The model inputs of the options issued, were 
the Company’s share price of $0.17 at the grant date, a volatility factor of 50% based on historic share price performance and a risk free 
interest rate of 5.25% based on the 10 year government bond rate.

Consequences of Performance on Shareholder Wealth - Audited
In considering the Company’s performance and benefits for shareholders wealth, the board have regard to the following indices in respect of 
the current financial year and the previous four financial years.

Net loss attributable to equity 
holders of the Company

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

$1,882,093

$3,234,004

$2,198,973

$1,883,575

$2,805,115

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

Change in share price

(9.00) cents

4.50 cents

7.02 cents

(5.77) cents

(11.52) cents

The overall level of key management personnel’s compensation has been determined based on market conditions and advancement of the 
Company’s projects.

Service Contracts - Audited

There are no service contracts for the key management personnel.

Non-executive Directors - Audited 

Total compensation for all non-executive directors is determined by the board based on market conditions.

Options

At the date of this report, unissued ordinary shares of the Company under option are:

number of Options

Exercise Price

5,450,000

750,000

500,000

$0.35

$0.40

$0.45

Expiry Date

30 September 2010

30 September 2010

30 September 2010

The options do not entitle the holder to participate in any share issue of the Company or any other body corporate. 

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    11

diRectORS’ RepORt

Principal Activities

Events Subsequent to Balance Date

non-audit Services

There has not arisen in the interval between 
the end of the financial year and the date 
of this report any item, transaction or 
event of a material and unusual nature 
likely, in the opinion of the directors of 
the Company, to affect significantly the 
operations of the Company, the results of 
those operations, or the state of affairs of 
the Company, in future financial years.

Likely Developments

During the year ended 30 June 2008, the 
Company continued to fund and manage 
its research and development projects.  
The success of these research projects, 
which cannot be assessed on the same 
fundamentals as trading and manufacturing 
enterprises, will determine future likely 
developments.

In the opinion of the directors, it would 
prejudice the interests of the Company to 
provide additional information, except as 
reported in this Annual Report, relating to 
likely developments in the operations of the 
Company.

Indemnification of Officers and 
Auditors

During or since the end of the financial 
year, the Company has not indemnified or 
made a relevant agreement to indemnify an 
officer or auditor of the Company against 
a liability incurred by such an officer or 
auditor.  In addition, the Company has not 
paid or agreed to pay, a premium in respect 
of a contract insuring against a liability 
incurred by an officer or auditor.

During	the	year	KPMG,	the	Company’s	
auditor, has performed certain other 
services in addition to their statutory 
duties.

The board has considered the non-audit 
services provided during the year by the 
auditor and is satisfied that the provision 
of those non-audit services during the year 
by the auditor is compatible with, and did 
not compromise, the auditor independence 
requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 
for the following reasons:

•	

•	

all	non-audit	services	were	subject	to	
the corporate governance procedures 
adopted by the Company and have 
been reviewed by the board to ensure 
they do not impact the integrity and 
objectivity of the auditor; and

the	non-audit	services	provided	do	
not undermine the general principles 
relating to auditor independence as 
set	out	in	APES	110	Code	of	Ethics	
for	Professional	Accountants,	as	they	
did not involve reviewing or auditing 
the auditor’s own work, acting in 
a management or decision making 
capacity for the Company, acting as an 
advocate for the Company or jointly 
sharing risks and rewards.

A copy of the auditors’ independence 
declaration as required under Section 307C 
of the Corporations Act 2001 is included in 
the Directors’ Report.

The principal activities of the Company 
during the financial year were the funding 
and management of intermediate and 
applied biotechnology research and 
development projects.

Financial Result and Review of 
Operations

The operating loss of the Company for 
the financial year after income tax was 
$1,882,093 (2007 - $3,234,004).

A review of the Company’s operations for 
the year is set out in the Operating and 
Financial Review.

Impact of Legislation and Other 
External Requirements

There were no changes in environmental or 
other legislative requirements during the 
year that have significantly impacted the 
results or operations of the Company.

Dividends

The directors recommend that no dividend 
be paid by the Company.  No dividend has 
been paid or declared since the end of the 
previous financial year.

State of Affairs

In the opinion of the directors, there were 
no significant changes in the state of affairs 
of the Company that occurred during the 
financial year under review.

Environmental Regulation

The Company’s operations are not subject 
to significant environmental regulations 
under Commonwealth or State legislation 
in relation to its research projects.

12 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

diRectORS’ RepORt

Details	of	the	amounts	paid	to	the	auditor	of	the	Company,	KPMG,	and	its	related	practices	for	audit	and	non-audit	services	provided	during	
the year are set out below.

Statutory audit

-	Audit	and	review	of	financial	reports	(KPMG	Australia)

Services other than statutory audit

-	Grant	audit	(KPMG	Australia)

Lead Auditor’s Independence Declaration

2008

$

18,043

2007

$

25,783

5,000

1,000

The Lead Auditor’s Independence Declaration is set out below and forms part of the Directors’ Report for the year ended 30 June 2008.

This report has been signed in accordance with a resolution of the directors and is dated 29 August 2008:

Michael J. Hoy 

Chairman  

Michelle Miller

Managing Director

Lead Auditor’s Independence Declaration under Section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001

To the Directors of Biotron Limited:

I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, in relation to the audit for the financial year ended 30 June 2008, there have been:

(i)  no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit, and

(ii)  no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

KPMG 

29 August 2008

S.J. Board 
Partner

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    13

    
 
 
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
                         
 
income Statement FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

Other income

Administration and consultants’ expenses

Depreciation

Employee and director expenses

Direct research and development expenses

Rent and outgoings expenses

Legal expenses

Refund of grant

Other expenses from ordinary activities

Operating loss before financing income

Interest income

net financing income

Loss before tax

Income tax expense 

Loss for the year

Basic loss per share attributable to ordinary equity shareholders

Diluted loss per share attributable to ordinary equity shareholders

notes

2008

$

2007

$

2

3

3

5

4

4

431,409

402,457

(289,473)

(40,444)

(476,405)

(373,287)

(51,492)

(455,440)

(1,303,421)

(2,412,418)

(25,818)

(8,978)

-

(244,096)

(44,320)

(73,939)

(127,177)

(254,351)

(1,957,226)

(3,389,967)

75,133

75,133

155,963

155,963

(1,882,093)

(3,234,004)

-

-

(1,882,093)

(3,234,004)

(2.00) cents

(2.00) cents

(3.60) cents

(3.60) cents

14 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

Statement of Recognised income and expense  

FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

Loss for the year

Total recognised income and expense for the year

Other movements in equity arising from transactions with owners as owners are set out in note 11.

2008

$

2007

$

(1,882,093)

(1,882,093)

(3,234,004)

(3,234,004)

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    15

Balance Sheet aS at 30 JUne 2008

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Other

Total current assets

non-current assets

Plant	and	equipment

Total non-current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Employee entitlements

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

net assets

Equity

Issued capital

Reserves

Accumulated losses

Total equity

16 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

notes

2008

$

2007

$

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

2,063,596

1,378,722

59,483

29,160

41,051

6,000

2,152,239

1,425,773

115,083

115,083

93,265

93,265

2,267,322

1,519,038

317,627

106,318

423,945

423,945

117,618

45,405

163,023

163,023

1,843,377

1,356,015

19,146,365

16,865,134

359,608

296,497

(17,662,596)

(15,805,616)

1,843,377

1,356,015

Statement of cash Flows FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash receipts in the course of operations

Payments	for	research	and	development

Cash payments in the course of operations

Cash generated from operations

notes

2008

$

470,893

(1,219,196)

(937,163)

(1,685,466)

2007

$

-

(2,629,535)

(1,167,288)

(3,796,823)

Interest received

63,147

151,694

net cash from operating activities

14

(1,622,319)

(3,645,129)

Cash flows from investing activities

Proceeds	on	sale	of	intellectual	property

Payments	for	plant	and	equipment

net cash from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds	from	issue	of	shares

Cost of issue of shares

net cash from financing activities

net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents held

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year

14

-

(62,261)

(62,261)

2,499,000

(129,546)

2,369,454

684,874

1,378,722

2,063,596

402,457

(2,192)

400,265

-

-

-

(3,244,864)

4,623,586

1,378,722

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    17

notes to the Financial Statements  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

1.  REPORTInG EnTITY

Biotron Limited (the ‘Company’) is a 
company domiciled in Australia.  

Basis of preparation

Statement of compliance

The financial report is a general purpose 
financial report which has been prepared 
in accordance with Australian Accounting 
Standards (‘AASBs’) adopted by the 
Australian Accounting Standards Board 
(‘AASB’) and the Corporations Act 2001. 
The financial report of the Company also 
complies with the IFRSs and interpretations 
adopted by the International Accounting 
Standards Board. 

The financial report was authorised for 
issue by the directors on 29 August 2008.

Basis of measurement

The financial statements have been 
prepared on the historical cost basis.

Functional and presentation currency

These financial statements are presented in 
Australian dollars, which is the Company’s 
functional currency.

Use of estimates and judgements

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

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

In particular, information about significant 
areas of estimation uncertainty and critical 
judgements in applying accounting policies 
that have the most significant effect on 

18 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

the amount recognised in the financial 
statements are described in the following 
note 1, Going concern:

Going concern

The financial report has been prepared on 
a going concern basis which contemplates 
the realisation of assets and settlement of 
liabilities in the ordinary course of business.

The ongoing operation of the Company is 
dependent on:

•	

•	

The	Company	raising	additional	fund	
from	shareholders;	and/or

The	Company	reducing	expenditure	in	
line with available funding.

The directors have prepared cash flow 
projections that support the ability of the 
Company to continue as a going concern.  
These cash flow projections assume the 
Company obtaining additional funding 
from shareholders.  If such funding is 
not achieved, the Company can reduce 
expenditures significantly.

In the event that the Company does not 
obtain	additional	funding	and	/or	reduce	
expenditure in line with available funding, 
it may be unable to continue its operations 
as a going concern and therefore may not 
be able to realises its assets and extinguish 
its liabilities in the ordinary courses of 
operations and at the amounts stated in 
the financial statements.

Significant accounting policies

The accounting policies set out below have 
been applied consistently to all periods 
presented in the Company financial report 
and have been applied consistently.

New standards and interpretations  
not yet adopted

The following standards, amendments to 
standards and interpretations have been 
identified as those which may impact the 
entity in the period of initial application. 
They are available for early adoption at 30 

June 2008, but have not been applied in 
preparing this financial report:

•	 Revised	AASB	3	Business	Combinations	
changes the application of acquisition 
accounting for business combinations 
and the accounting for non-controlling 
(minority) interests.  Key changes 
include: the immediate expensing of 
all transaction costs; measurement of 
contingent consideration at acquisition 
date with subsequent changes through 
the income statement; measurement 
of non-controlling (minority) interests 
at full fair value or the proportionate 
share of the fair value of the underlying 
net assets; guidance on issues such 
as reacquired rights and vendor 
indemnities; and the inclusion of 
combinations by contract alone and 
those involving mutuals.  The revised 
standard becomes mandatory for the 
Company’s 30 June 2010 financial 
statements.  The Company has not yet 
determined the potential effect of the 
revised standard on the Company’s 
financial report.

•	 AASB	8	Operating	Segments	introduces	

the “management approach” to 
segment reporting. AASB 8, which 
becomes mandatory for the Company’s 
30 June 2010 financial statements, 
will require the disclosure of segment 
information based on the internal 
reports regularly reviewed by the 
Company’s Chief Operating Decision 
Maker in order to assess each segment’s 
performance and to allocate resources 
to them. The Company has not yet 
determined the potential effect of the 
revised standard on the Company’s 
disclosures.

•	 Revised	AASB	101	Presentation	of	
Financial Statements introduces 
as a financial statement (formerly 
“primary” statement) the “statement 
of comprehensive income”.  The 
revised standard does not change the 
recognition, measurement or disclosure 
of transactions and events that are 

nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

required by other AASBs.  The revised 
AASB 101 will become mandatory for 
the Company’s 30 June 2010 financial 
statements.  The Company has not yet 
determined the potential effect of the 
revised standard on the Company’s 
disclosures.

•	 Revised	AASB	123	Borrowing	Costs	
removes the option to expense 
borrowing costs and requires that 
an entity capitalise borrowing costs 
directly attributable to the acquisition, 
construction or production of a 
qualifying asset as part of the cost of 
that asset. The revised AASB 123 will 
become mandatory for the Company’s 
30 June 2010 financial statements and 
will constitute a change in accounting 
policy for the Company. In accordance 
with the transitional provisions the 
Company will apply the revised AASB 
123 to qualifying assets for which 
capitalisation of borrowing costs 
commences on or after the effective 
date. The Company has not yet 
determined the potential effect of the 
revised standard on future earnings.

•	 AASB	2008-1	Amendments	to	

Australian Accounting Standard - Share-
based	Payment:	Vesting	Conditions	
and Cancellations changes the 
measurement of share-based payments 
that contain non-vesting conditions.  
AASB 2008-1 becomes mandatory for 
the Company’s 30 June 2010 financial 
statements.  The Company has not yet 
determined the potential effect of the 
amending standard on the Company’s 
financial report.

 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash 
balances and call deposits.

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables are stated at 
their amortised cost less impairment losses.

Property, plant and equipment
Property	plant	and	equipment	are	stated	
at their historical cost less accumulated 
depreciation and impairment loss.  
Depreciation is recognised in profit or loss 
using the reducing balance method from 
the date of acquisition at rates between 
13% and 40% per annum.

Research and development
Grants

Where a grant is received relating to 
research and development costs that have 
been expensed, the grant is recognised as 
revenue when there is reasonable assurance 
it will be received.

Costs

Expenditure on research activities, 
undertaken with the prospect of gaining 
new scientific or technical knowledge and 
understanding, is recognised in profit and 
loss when incurred.

Development activities involve a plan 
or design for the production of new or 
substantially improved products and 
processes.  Development expenditure is 
capitalised only if development costs can 
be measured reliably, the product or process 
is technically and commercially feasible, 
future economic benefits are probable, and 
the Company intends to and has sufficient 
resources to complete development and 
to use or sell the asset.  The expenditure 
capitalised includes the cost of materials, 
direct labour and overhead costs that are 
directly attributable to preparing the asset 
for its intended use.  Other development 
expenditure is recognised in profit or loss 
when incurred. 

Capitalised development expenditure 
is measured at cost less accumulated 
amortisation and accumulated impairment 
losses.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are stated at their 
amortised cost, are non-interest bearing 
and are normally settled within 60 days.

Employee entitlements

Wages, salaries, annual leave and sick leave

Liabilities for employee entitlements for 
wages, salaries, annual leave, long service 
leave and sick leave represent present 
obligations resulting from employees’ 
services provided to reporting date, 
calculated at undiscounted amounts based 
on remuneration wages and salary rates 
that the company expect to pay as to 
reporting date including related on-cost, 
such as workers compensation insurance 
and superannuation.

Taxation

Income tax

Income tax on the profit or loss for the year 
comprises current and deferred tax.  Income 
tax is recognised in the income statement 
except to the extent that it relates to items 
recognised directly in equity, in which case 
it is recognised in equity.

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

Deferred tax is provided using the balance 
sheet method, providing for temporary 
differences between the carrying amounts 
of assets and liabilities for financial 
reporting purposes and the amounts 
used for taxation purposes.  The initial 
recognition of assets or liabilities that 
affect neither accounting nor taxable profit 
and differences relating to investments in 
subsidiaries to the extent that they will 
probably not reverse in the foreseeable 
future are temporary differences and are 
not provided for.  The amount of deferred 
tax provided is based on the expected 
manner of realisation or settlement of the 
carrying amount of assets and liabilities, 
using tax rates enacted or substantively 
enacted at the balance sheet date.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    19

nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to 
the extent that it is probable that future 
taxable profits will be available against 
which the asset can be utilised.  Deferred 
tax assets are reduced to the extent that it 
is no longer probable that the related tax 
benefit will be realised.

Goods and services tax

Revenue, expenses and assets are 
recognised net of the amount of goods 
and services tax (‘GST’), except where the 
amount of GST incurred is not recoverable 
from the taxation authority.  In these 
circumstances, the GST is recognised as 
part of the cost of acquisition of the asset 
or as part of the expense.

Receivables and payables are stated 
with the amount of GST included.  The 
net amount of GST recoverable from, or 
payable to, the ATO is included as a current 
asset or liability in the balance sheet.

Cash flows are included in the statement 
of cash flows on a gross basis.  The GST 
components of cash flows arising from 
investing and financing activities which are 
recoverable from, or payable to, the ATO are 
classified as operating cash flows.

Revenue recognition
Finance income

Interest revenue is recognised as it accrues 
using the effective interest rate method.

Earnings per share
The Company presents basic and diluted 
earnings	per	share	(EPS)	data	for	its	
ordinary	shares.		Basic	EPS	is	calculated	by	
dividing the profit or loss attributable to 
ordinary shareholders of the Company by 
the weighted average number of ordinary 
shares outstanding during the period.  
Diluted	EPS	is	determined	by	adjusting	
the profit or loss attributable to ordinary 
shareholders and the weighted average 
number of ordinary shares outstanding for 
the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary 

20 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

shares, which comprise share options 
granted to employees.

Incentive option plan
The	Incentive	Option	Plan	allows	the	
Company’s employees or directors, or 
individuals	whom	the	Plan	Committee	
determine to be employees for the 
purposes	of	the	Plan,	with	the	opportunity	
to acquire options over unissued shares 
in the Company.  The fair value of options 
granted is measured at grant date and 
spread as an expense over the period 
during which the employees or directors 
become unconditionally entitled to the 
options.  The fair value of the options 
granted is measured using Black-Scholes 
formula, taking into account the terms and 
conditions upon which the options were 
granted.  The amount recognised as an 
expense is adjusted to reflect the actual 
number of options that vest except where 
forfeiture is only due to share prices not 
achieving the threshold for vesting.

Impairment
Financial assets

A financial asset is assessed at each 
reporting date to determine whether 
there is any objective evidence that it is 
impaired.  A financial asset is considered 
to be impaired if any objective evidence 
indicates that one or more events have had 
a negative effect on the estimated future 
cash flows of that asset.

An impairment loss in respect of a financial 
asset measured at amortised cost is 
calculated as the difference between its 
carrying amount, and the present value of 
the estimated future cash flows discounted 
at the original effective interest rate.  An 
impairment loss in respect of an available-
for-sale financial asset is calculated by 
reference to its fair value.

All impairment losses are recognised in 
profit or loss.  Any cumulative loss in 
respect of an available-for-sale financial 
asset recognised previously in equity is 
transferred to the profit and loss.

An impairment loss is reversed if the 
reversal can be related objectively to an 
event occurring after the impairment 
loss was recognised.  For financial assets 
measured at amortised cost and available-
for-sale financial assets that are debt 
securities, the reversal is recognised in profit 
or loss.  For available-for-sale financial 
assets that are equity securities the reversal 
is recognised directly in equity.

 Non-financial assets

The carrying amounts of the Company’s 
non-financial assets are reviewed at each 
reporting date to determine whether 
there is any indication of impairment.  If 
any such indication exists then the asset’s 
recoverable amount is estimated.

The recoverable amount of an asset or 
cash-generating unit is the greater of its 
value in use and its fair value less costs to 
sell.  In assessing value in use, the estimated 
future cash flows are discounted to their 
present value using a pre-tax discount rate 
that reflects current market assessments 
of the time value of money and the risks 
specific to the asset.

An impairment loss is recognised if the 
carrying amount of an asset or its cash-
generating unit exceeds its recoverable 
amount. Impairment losses are recognised 
in profit or loss.

An impairment loss in respect of goodwill 
is not reversed. In respect of other assets 
impairment losses recognised in prior 
periods are assessed at each reporting 
dare for any indications that the loss 
has decreased or no longer exists.  An 
impairment loss is reversed if there has 
been a change in the estimates used to 
determine the recoverable amount. An 
impairment loss is reversed only to the 
extent that the asset’s carrying amount 
does not exceed the carrying amount 
that would have been determined, net 
of depreciation or amortisation, if no 
impairment had been recognised.

nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

2.  OTHER InCOME

Research and development grants

Sale of intellectual property

Total

3.  LOSS FROM OPERATInG ACTIVITIES

Loss from ordinary activities has been arrived at after charging the following items:

Auditors’	remuneration	paid	to	KPMG

-  Audit and review of financial reports

-  Other audit services

Depreciation

-  Office equipment

-  Plant	and	equipment

Direct research and development expenditure 

expensed as incurred

Provision	for	employee	entitlements

4.  LOSS PER SHARE 

2008

$

431,409

-

431,409

18,043

5,000

8,763

31,681

2007

$

-

402,457

402,457

25,783

1,000

4,586

46,906

1,303,421

60,913

2,412,418

(1,915)

The calculation of basic loss per share at 30 June 2008 was based on the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of $1,882,093 (2007 - 
$3,234,004) and a weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the financial year ended 30 June 2008 of 94,070,553 
(2007 - 89,743,565), calculated as follows:

Net loss for the year

1,882,093

3,234,004

Issued ordinary shares at 1 July

Effect of shares issued on 21 December 2007

Effect of shares issued on 31 March 2008

Effect of shares issued on 22 May 2008

2008

number

89,743,565

1,913,548

2,129,222

284,218

2007

number

89,743,565

-

-

-

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

94,070,553

89,743,565

Options disclosed in the Issued Capital note below are potential ordinary shares, but are not included in the calculation of diluted loss per 
share as they are not dilutive.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    21

 
 
 
nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

2008

$

2007

$

5. 

InCOME TAX EXPEnSE

numerical reconciliation between tax expense and pre-tax net profit

Loss before tax - continuing operations

(1,882,093)

(3,234,004)

Income tax using the domestic corporation tax rate of 30%

(564,628)

(970,201)

Increase in income tax expense due to:

-  Adjustments not resulting in temporary differences

-  Unrecognised temporary differences

- 

Effect of tax losses not recognised

Income tax expense current and deferred

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of the following 
items:

Deductible temporary differences (net)

Tax losses

Net

3,090

(41,243)

602,781

-

99,068

6,064,035

6,163,103

501

(22,962)

992,662

-

105,203

5,200,350

5,305,553

The deductible temporary differences and tax losses do not expire under the current tax legislation.  Deferred tax assets have not been 
recognised in respect of these items because it is not probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the Company can 
utilise the benefits of the deferred tax asset. 

6.  RECEIVABLES

Current

Other debtors

GST receivable

7.  OTHER

Current prepayments

Security deposits

22 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

15,395

44,088

59,483

3,941

25,219

29,160

4,270

36,781

41,051

6,000

-

6,000

 
  
nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

8.  PLAnT AnD EQUIPMEnT

Office equipment - at cost 

Accumulated depreciation

Plant	and	equipment	-	at	cost

Accumulated depreciation

Total plant and equipment - net book value

Reconciliations

Reconciliations of the carrying amounts for each class of plant and equipment are set out below:

Office equipment

Balance at 1 July

Additions

Depreciation

Carrying amount at the end of the financial year

Plant and equipment

Balance at 1 July

Depreciation

Carrying amount at the end of the financial year

Total carrying amount at the end of the financial year

2008

$

157,439

(93,784)

63,655

892,480

(841,052)

51,428

115,083

10,156

62,262

(8,763)

63,655

83,109

(31,681)

51,428

115,083

2007

$

95,177

(85,021)

10,156

892,480

(809,371)

83,109

93,265

12,550

2,192

(4,586)

10,156

130,015

(46,906)

83,109

93,265

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    23

nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

9.  TRADE AnD OTHER PAYABLES

Current

Creditors

Accruals

10. EMPLOYEE EnTITLEMEnTS

Current

Employee annual leave provision

Long service leave provision

Number of employees at the end of the financial year

2008

$

2007

$

227,030

90,597

317,627

72,202

34,116

106,318

2008

number

4

2008

$

117,618

-

117,618

45,405

-

45,405

2007

number

8

2007

$

11. ISSUED CAPITAL

Issued and paid up capital

104,443,565 (2007 - 89,743,565) fully paid ordinary shares

19,146,365

16,865,134

Fully paid ordinary shares

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

Issue of shares

Costs of issue

Balance at the end of financial year

24 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

16,865,134

2,499,000

(217,769)

12,651,368

4,586,894

(373,128)

19,146,365

16,865,134

 
nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

Effective 1 July 1998, the Company Law Review Act abolished the concept of par value shares and the concept of authorised capital.  
Accordingly, the Company does not have authorised capital or par value in respect of its issued shares.

Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at 
shareholders’ meetings.  In the event of winding up of the Company, ordinary shareholders rank after creditors and are fully entitled to any 
proceeds of liquidation.

During	the	year	ended	30	June	2008,	the	Company	issued	14,700,000	ordinary	shares	through	a	Share	Purchase	Plan	for	cash	totalling	
$2,499,000.  Total issue costs of $217,769 were recognised as a reduction of the proceeds of issue of these shares.

During the year ended 30 June 2008, the Company issued 1,000,000 options (2007 – 1,500,000).  No ordinary shares have been issued as a 
result of the exercise of any option during the year ended 30 June 2008 and 30 June 2007.

The following options were on issue at 30 June 2008, each exercisable to acquire one fully paid ordinary share:

•	 1,000,000	options,	each	exercisable	at	35	cents	to	acquire	one	fully	paid	ordinary	share	at	any	time	up	to	30	September	2010.		These	

options	were	issued	as	part	of	underwriting	fee	on	the	Share	Purchase	Plan	to	Martin	Place	Securities	during	the	year	ended	30	June	
2008.

•	 4,450,000	options,	each	exercisable	at	35	cents	to	acquire	one	fully	paid	ordinary	share	at	any	time	up	to	30	September	2010.	

•	 750,000	options,	each	exercisable	at	40	cents	to	acquire	one	fully	paid	ordinary	share	at	any	time	up	to	30	September	2010.	

•	 500,000	options,	each	exercisable	at	45	cents	to	acquire	one	fully	paid	ordinary	share	at	any	time	up	to	30	September	2010.

The fair value of the options at grant date was determined based on the Black-Scholes formula.  The model inputs of the options issued 
during the year ended 30 June 2008, were the Company’s share price of $0.22 at the grant date, a volatility factor of 89.4% based on historic 
share price performance and a risk free interest rate of 7.25% based on the 10 year government bond rate.

The model inputs of the options issued during the year ended 30 June 2007 were the Company’s share price of $0.22 at the grant date, a 
volatility factor of 50% based on historic share price performance and a risk free interest rate of 5.55% based on the 10 year government 
bond rate.

Total expense arising from share based payment transactions recognised during the year ended 30 June 2008 was $88,223 (2007 – nil).

During the year ended 30 June 2008, 400,000 options with a value of $25,112 lapsed unexercised.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    25

nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

12. RESERVES

Equity compensation

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

Issue of options

Transfer to accumulated losses on lapse of options

Balance at the end of the financial year

This reserve represents the fair value, at the date of issue, of options issued as compensation.

13. ACCUMULATED LOSSES

Accumulated losses at the beginning of the financial year

Transfer from reserve

Net loss attributable to members of the Company

Accumulated losses at the end of the financial year

14. STATEMEnT OF CASH FLOWS

Reconciliation of cash flows from operating activities

Loss for the period

Non-cash items

Depreciation of plant and equipment

Provisions

Equity compensation

Gain on sale of intellectual property

Changes in assets and liabilities

Decrease in receivables

Decrease in inventories

Decrease in prepayments

(Increase)/decrease	in	payables

Increase in other

2008

$

2007

$

296,497

88,223

(25,112)

359,608

251,076

94,171

(48,750)

296,497

15,805,615

(25,112)

1,882,093

12,620,362

(48,750)

3,234,004

17,662,596

15,805,616

(1,882,093)

(3,234,004)

40,444

60,913

-

-

(18,434)

-

2,059

200,010

(25,218)

51,492

(1,915)

109,239

(402,457)

(36,228)

21,538

376

(153,170)

-

Net cash used in operating activities

(1,622,319)

(3,645,129)

Reconciliation of cash

For the purposes of the Statement of Cash Flows, cash includes cash on hand and at bank and cash on deposit net of bank overdrafts and 
excluding security deposits. Cash at the end of the financial year as shown in the Statement of Cash Flows is reconciled to the related 
items in the Balance Sheet as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows

2,063,596

1,378,722

26 

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    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

15. KEY MAnAGEMEnT PERSOnnEL DISCLOSURES

The policy of remuneration of directors and senior executives is to ensure the remuneration package properly reflects the person’s duties 
and responsibilities, and that remuneration is competitive in attracting, retaining and motivating people of the highest quality.  The board is 
responsible for reviewing its own performance.  The non-executive directors are responsible for evaluating the performance of the executive 
directors who, in turn, evaluate the performance of all other senior executives.  The evaluation process is intended to assess the Company’s 
business performance, whether long term strategic objectives are being achieved and the achievement of individual performance objectives.

Remuneration generally comprises salary and superannuation.  Longer term incentives are able to be provided through the Company’s 
Incentive	Option	Plan	which	acts	to	align	the	directors	and	senior	executives’	actions	with	the	interests	of	the	shareholders.		The	
remuneration disclosed below represents the cost to the Company for the services provided under these arrangements.

No directors or senior executives receive performance related remuneration.  No bonuses were paid during the year.

Details of director and senior executive remuneration and the nature and amount of each major element of the remuneration of each 
director and senior executive of the Company are:

Year

Primary Salary and 
Fees

Directors
Non-executive
Michael J. Hoy 
(Chairman)
Michael S. Hirshorn

Bruce Hundertmark

Peter	G.	Scott

Executive
Michelle Miller 
(Managing Director)

Total, all specified 
directors

Executives
Peter	J.	Nightingale	
(Company Secretary) 

Total, all specified 
directors and executives 

2008
2007
2008
2007
2008
2007
2008
2007

2008
2007

2008
2007

2008
2007

2008
2007

$

60,000
60,000
30,000
30,000
30,000
30,000
5,000
5,000

200,000
200,000

325,000
325,000

75,000
60,848

400,000
385,848

Post-Employment 
Superannuation 
Benefits
$

Equity 
Compensation 
Value of Options
$

Total 

$

Options 
as a % of 
Remuneration

5,400
5,400
2,700
2,700
2,700
2,700
27,700
27,700

18,000
33,385

56,500
71,885

-
-

56,500
71,885

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

65,400
65,400
32,700
32,700
32,700
32,700
32,700
32,700

2,403
15,068

220,403
248,453

2,403
15,068

383,903
411,953

-
-

75,000
60,848

2,403
15,068

458,903
472,801

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

1%
6%

1%
4%

-
-

1%
3%

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    27

 
 
 
 
nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

Equity holdings and transactions

The movement during the reporting period in the number of ordinary shares in the Company held directly, indirectly or beneficially, by each 
specified director, including their personally-related entities, is as follows

Fully paid ordinary shareholdings and transactions - 2008

Held at 1 July 2007

Purchased

Received on exercise 
of options

Sales

Held at 30 June 
2008

Directors

Michael J. Hoy

Michelle Miller

Michael S. Hirshorn

Bruce Hundertmark

Peter	G.	Scott

Executives

1,316,314

29,400

-

-

-

-

-

-

8,895,014

29,400

Peter	J.	Nightingale

1,610,497

29,400

Fully paid ordinary shareholdings and transactions - 2007

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,345,714

-

-

-

8,924,414

1,639,897

Held at 1 July 2006

Purchased

Received on exercise 
of options

Sales

Held at 30 June 
2007

Directors

Michael J. Hoy

Michelle Miller

Michael S. Hirshorn

Bruce Hundertmark

Peter	G.	Scott

Executives

1,316,314

-

-

-

8,895,014

Peter	J.	Nightingale

1,610,497

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,316,314

-

-

-

8,895,014

1,610,497

During	the	year	ended	30	June	2008,	Michael	J.	Hoy	had	an	interest	in	an	entity,	CityPrint	Holdings	Pty	Limited,	which	provided	printing	
services	to	the	Company.		Payments	to	CityPrint	Holdings	Pty	Limited,	which	were	in	the	ordinary	course	of	business	and	on	normal	terms	
and conditions, amounted to $24,259 (2007 - $23,480).  Outstanding amounts at 30 June 2008 total nil (2007 - nil).

During	the	year	ended	30	June	2008,	Peter	J.	Nightingale	had	an	interest	in	an	entity,	MIS	Corporate	Pty	Limited,	which	provided	full	
administrative services, including rental accommodation, administrative staff, services and supplies, to the entity.  Fees paid to MIS Corporate 
Pty	Limited	during	the	year,	which	were	in	the	ordinary	course	of	business	and	on	normal	terms	and	conditions,	amounted	to	$122,588	
(2007 - $124,178).  Outstanding amounts at 30 June 2008 total nil (2007 - nil).

Apart from the details disclosed in this note, no director has entered into a material contact with Company since the end of the previous 
financial year and there were no material contracts involving directors; interests existing at year end.

28 

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    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

 
 
nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

16. EMPLOYEE AnD DIRECTOR InCEnTIVE OPTIOn PLAn

At 30 June 2008, the Company had 4 employees (2007 - 8).  All other personnel are contracted by the Company on a consultancy basis.

The	Company	has	an	Incentive	Option	Plan	to	provide	eligible	persons,	being	employees	or	directors,	or	individuals	whom	the	Plan	
Committee	determine	to	be	employees	for	the	purposes	of	the	Plan,	with	the	opportunity	to	acquire	options	over	unissued	ordinary	shares	in	
the	Company.		The	number	of	options	granted	or	offered	under	the	Plan	will	not	exceed	10%	of	the	Company’s	issued	share	capital	and	the	
exercise price of options will be the greater of the market value of the Company’s shares as at the date of grant of the option or such amount 
as	the	Plan	Committee	determines.		Options	have	no	voting	or	dividend	rights.

In the event that the employment or office of the optionholder is terminated, any options which have not reached their exercise period 
will lapse and any options which have reached their exercise period may be exercised within three months of the date of termination of 
employment.  Any options not exercised within this three month period will lapse.

During the year ended 30 June 2008, no options were granted to employees (2007 – 1,500,000).  No ordinary shares have been issued as a 
result	of	the	exercise	of	any	option	granted	pursuant	to	the	Incentive	Option	Plan	during	the	year	ended	30	June	2008	and	30	June	2007.

17. FInAnCIAL InSTRUMEnTS DISCLOSURE

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the risk management framework.  Risk management 
policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the Company, to set appropriate risk limits and controls, and to monitor 
risks and adherence to limits.  These policies are reviewed regularly to reflect changes in market conditions and the Company’s activities.

The main risks arising from the Company’s financial instruments are credit risk, liquidity risk and interest rate risk.  The summaries below 
present information about the Company’s exposure to each of these risks, their objectives, policies and processes for measuring and 
managing risk, the management of capital and financial instruments.

Credit risk

Credit risk arises mainly from the risk of counterparties defaulting on the terms of their agreements.  The carrying amounts of the following 
assets represent the Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk in relation to financial assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Security deposits

note

Carrying amount 
2008

Carrying amount 
2007

$

$

6

7

2,063,596

15,395

25,219

2,104,210

1,378,722

4,270

-

1,382,992

The Company mitigates credit risk on cash and cash equivalents by dealing with regulated banks in Australia.  Credit risk of trade and other 
receivables is very low as it consists predominantly of amounts recoverable from taxation authorities in Australia.

Impairment losses

No impairment has been taken up against the Company’s financial assets.

None of the Company’s trade and other receivables are past due, no amount receivable has been renegotiated.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    29

nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due.  The Company’s approach to 
managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both 
normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Company’s reputation. 

The following are the contractual maturities of financial liabilities, including estimated interest payments:

Company

Carrying amount Contractual cash 
flows

Less than one 
year

Between one and 
five years

Interest

30 June 2008

Trade and other payables

317,627

(317,627)

(317,627)

$

$

$

$

-

$

-

Ultimate responsibility for liquidity management rests with the Board of Directors.  The Company manages liquidity risk by maintaining 
adequate funding and monitoring of future rolling cash flow forecasts of its operations, which reflect management’s expectations of expected 
settlement of financial assets and liabilities.

Interest rate risk

The Company’s income statement is affected by changes in interest rates due to the impact of such changes on interest income from cash 
and cash equivalents and interest bearing security deposits.

At balance date, the Company had the following mix of financial assets exposed to variable interest rate risk that are not designated as cash 
flow hedges:

Financial Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Security deposits

Net exposure

Sensitivity analysis

note

7

2008

$

2,063,596

25,219

2,088,815

2007

$

1,378,722

-

1,378,722

An increase of 100 basis points in interest rates throughout the reporting period would have decreased the loss for the period by the amounts 
shown below, whilst a decrease would have had the increased loss by the same amount.  The Company’s equity consists of fully paid ordinary 
shares.  There is no effect on fully paid ordinary shares by an increase or decrease in interest rates during the period.

30 June 2008

30 June 2007

30 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

Loss for the period

$

20,888

13,787

nOteS tO tHe Financial StatementS  FOR tHe YeaR ended 30 JUne 2008

Capital management

The Board’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to sustain future 
development of the business. 

The Board ensures costs are not incurred in excess of available funds and will seek to raise additional funding through issues of shares for the 
continuation of the Company’s operation.  There were no changes in the Company’s approach to capital management during the year.

The Company is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

net fair values of financial assets and liabilities

The carrying amounts of financial assets and liabilities approximate their net fair values, given the short time frames to maturity and or 
variable interest rates.

18. FInAnCIAL REPORTInG BY SEGMEnTS

The Company operates in the biotechnology industry in Australia.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    31

directors’ declaration

In the opinion of the directors of Biotron Limited:

1. a) 

the financial statements and notes set out on pages 14 to 31, and the remuneration disclosures that are contained in the 
Remuneration Report in the Directors’ Report, set out on pages 9 to 11, are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

(i)  giving a true and fair view of the Company’s financial position as at 30 June 2008 and of its performance for the financial year 

ended on that date; and

(ii)  complying with Australian Accounting Standards (including Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Corporations 

Regulations 2001; 

b)  the financial report also complies with International Financial Reporting Standards as disclosed in note 1; 

c)  the remuneration disclosures that are contained in the Remuneration Report in the Directors’ Report comply with Australian 

Accounting	Standards	AASB	124	Related	Party	Disclosures,	the	Corporations	Act	2001	and	the	Corporations	Regulations	2001;	and

d)  there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.

2.  The directors have been given the declarations required by Section 295A of the Corporations Act 2001 from the chief executive officer 

and chief financial officer for the financial year ended 30 June 2008.

This report has been signed in accordance with a resolution of the directors and is dated 29 August 2008:

Michael J. Hoy 

Chairman  

Michelle Miller

Managing Director

32 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
independent audit Report tO tHe memBeRS OF BiOtROn limited

Report on the financial report

We have audited the accompanying 
financial report of Biotron Limited (the 
Company), which comprises the balance 
sheet as at 30 June 2008, and the income 
statement, statement of recognised income 
and expense and cash flow statement for 
the year ended on that date, a description 
of significant accounting policies and other 
explanatory notes 1 to 18 and the directors’ 
declaration.

Directors’ responsibility for the financial 
report 

The directors of Biotron Limited are 
responsible for the preparation and fair 
presentation of the financial report in 
accordance with Australian Accounting 
Standards (including the Australian 
Accounting Interpretations) and the 
Corporations Act 2001.  This responsibility 
includes establishing and maintaining 
internal control relevant to the preparation 
and fair presentation of the financial report 
that is free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error; selecting and 
applying appropriate accounting policies; 
and making accounting estimates that are 
reasonable in the circumstances.

In note 1, the directors also state, in 
accordance with Australian Accounting 
Standard	AASB	101	Presentation	of	
Financial Statements, that the financial 
report of the Company, comprising the 
financial statements and notes, complies 
with International Financial Reporting 
Standards.

Auditor’s responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion 
on the financial report based on our audit.  
We conducted our audit in accordance 

with Australian Auditing Standards.  These 
Auditing Standards require that we comply 
with relevant ethical requirements relating 
to audit engagements and plan and 
perform the audit to obtain reasonable 
assurance whether the financial report is 
free from material misstatement. 

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

We performed the procedures to 
assess whether in all material respects 
the financial report presents fairly, in 
accordance with the Corporations Act 
2001 and Australian Accounting Standards 
(including the Australian Accounting 
Interpretations), a view which is consistent 
with our understanding of the Company’s 
financial position and of its performance.

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

Independence

In conducting our audit, we have complied 
with the independence requirements of the 
Corporations Act 2001.  

Auditor’s opinion on the financial 
report
In our opinion:

(a)  the financial report of Biotron Limited 
is in accordance with the Corporations 
Act 2001, including:  

(i)  giving a true and fair view of the 
Company’s financial position 
as at 30 June 2008 and of its 
performance for the year ended on 
that date; and 

(ii)  complying with Australian 

Accounting Standards (including 
the Australian Accounting 
Interpretations) and the 
Corporations Regulations 2001.

(b)  the financial report also complies 

with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as disclosed in note 1. 

Report on the remuneration report
We have audited the Remuneration 
Report included in pages 9 to 11 of the 
directors’ report for the year ended 30 
June 2008. The directors of the company 
are responsible for the preparation and 
presentation of the remuneration report 
in accordance with Section 300A of the 
Corporations Act 2001. Our responsibility is 
to express an opinion on the remuneration 
report, based on our audit conducted in 
accordance with auditing standards.

Auditor’s opinion

In our opinion, the remuneration report of 
Biotron Limited for the year ended 30 June 
2008, complies with Section 300A of the 
Corporations Act 2001. 

KPMG 

29 August 2008

S.J. Board 
Partner

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    33

 
 
 
additional Stock exchange information

Home Exchange

The Company is listed on the Australian 
Stock Exchange Limited.  The home 
exchange is Sydney.

Use of Cash and Assets

Since the Company’s listing on the 
Australian Stock Exchange, the Company 
has used its cash and assets in a way 
consistent with its stated business 
objectives.

Class of Shares and Voting Rights

There is only one class of shares in the 
Company, fully paid ordinary shares.

The rights attaching to shares in the 
Company are set out in the Company’s 
Constitution.  The following is a summary 
of the principal rights of the holders of 
shares in the Company.

Every holder of shares present in person 
or by proxy, attorney or representative at 
a meeting of shareholders has one vote 
on a vote taken by a show of hands, and, 
on a poll every holder of shares who is 
present in person or by proxy, attorney or 
representative has one vote for every fully 
paid share registered in the shareholder’s 
name on the Company’s share register.

A poll may be demanded by the 
chairperson of the meeting, by at least 
5 shareholders entitled to vote on the 
resolution or shareholders with at least 
5% of the votes that may be cast on the 
resolution on a poll.

Substantial Shareholders

As at the date of the Directors’ Report, 
the Register of Substantial Shareholders 
showed the following:

Australian National University 3,378,658 
fully paid ordinary shares

Distribution of Equity Securityholders

As at 31 July 2008, the distribution of each class of equity was as follows:

Range

1 - 1,000

1,001 - 5,000

5,001 - 10,000

10,001 - 100,000

100,001 and over

Fully Paid  
Ordinary Shares

30 September 
2010 $0.35  
Options

30 September 
2010 $0.40  
Options

30 September 
2010 $0.45  
Options

48

424

317

558

119

1,466

-

-

-

-

11

11

-

-

-

-

2

2

-

-

-

-

1

1

At 31 July 2008, 203 shareholders held less than a marketable parcel of 3,847 shares.

34 

    I 

    Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008

additiOnal StOck excHange inFORmatiOn

At 31 July 2008 the twenty largest fully paid ordinary shareholders held 47.96% of fully paid ordinary as follows:

name

Dr Angela Fay Dulhunty

Scott’s	A	V	Pty	Ltd

Rigi	Investments	Pty	Ltd

Twynam	Agricultural	Group	Pty	Ltd

Australian National University 

CBDF	Pty	Ltd

Lenvat	Pty	Ltd

Linkenholt	Pty	Ltd	

Philip	and	Marylyn	Board	

Pathold	No	222	Pty	Ltd

Chris	and	Bhama	Parish	

Christopher David Hammer 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13 Michael John Hoy 

14 National Nominees Limited

15

16

17

18

Prof	Alan	Jonathan	Berrick

Carrington	Services	Pty	Ltd	

Peter	James	Nightingale

Shano	Developments	Pty	Ltd

19 Wightholme	Nominees	Pty	Ltd

20

Jey	Investment	Pty	Ltd

There are no current on-market buy-backs.

Fully Paid  
Ordinary Shares

9,905,862

8,924,414

4,380,145

3,700,000

3,378,658

2,875,254

2,100,000

2,000,000

1,799,950

1,610,000

1,600,000

1,350,265

1,345,714

1,259,300

1,200,000

1,200,000

1,175,714

1,150,000

1,100,000

879,056

%

9.48

8.54

4.19

3.54

3.23

2.75

2.01

1.91

1.72

1.54

1.53

1.29

1.29

1.21

1.15

1.15

1.13

1.10

1.05

0.84

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    35

 
corporate directory

Auditors:

KPMG	
Level	16,	Riparian	Plaza
71 Eagle Street
BRISBANE	QLD	4000

Home Exchange:

Australian Stock Exchange Limited
20 Bridge Street
SYDNEY  NSW  2000

Solicitors:

Minter Ellison
88	Phillip	Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000

Directors:

Mr Michael J. Hoy (Chairman)

Dr Michelle Miller (Managing Director)

Dr Michael S. Hirshorn

Mr Bruce Hundertmark

Mr	Peter	G.	Scott

Company Secretary:

Mr	Peter	J.	Nightingale

Registered Office:

Level 2, 66 Hunter Street
SYDNEY  NSW  2000

Phone:	
Fax: 
E-mail: 
Homepage:  www.biotron.com.au

61-2	9300	3344
61-2 9221 6333
enquiries@biotron.com.au

Principal Administration Office: 

Suite 1.9, 56 Delhi Road
NORTH RYDE NSW 2113

Phone:	
Fax: 

61-2	9805	0488
61-2 9805 0688

Share Registrar:

Computershare	Investor	Services	Pty	Limited
PO	Box	523
BRISBANE		QLD		4001

Phone:		 61-7	3237	2100
61-7 3229 9860
Fax: 

Biotron Limited, incorporated and domiciled in Australia, is a publicly listed company limited 
by shares.

Biotron Limited Annual Report 2008     I 

    36

Level 2, 66 Hunter Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia

Annual Report-2008

BIOTRON LIMITED   ABN 60 086 399 144