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GW Pharmaceuticals plc

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FY2019 Annual Report · GW Pharmaceuticals plc
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Annual Report  
and Accounts 

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2019

www.gwpharm.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Contents

1  Strategic Report
15  Directors’ Report
16  Directors’ Remuneration Report
36  Directors’ Responsibilities Statement
39  Independent Auditor’s Report
45  Consolidated Income Statements
45  Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Expense
46  Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
47  Consolidated Balance Sheets
48  Consolidated Cash Flow Statements
49  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
78  Company Balance Sheets
79  Company Statements of Changes in Equity
80  Notes to the Company Financial Statements
85  Advisers

www.gwpharm.com

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GW Pharmaceuticals plc
Sovereign House  
Vision Park  
Histon  
Cambridgeshire  
CB24 9BZ  
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1223 266800  
F: +44 (0)1223 235667
www.gwpharm.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

The Directors present their Strategic Report for the Group, 
covering the year ended 31 December 2019.

Strategy, Objectives and Business Model

Overview
We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, 
developing and commercialising novel therapeutics from our 
proprietary cannabinoid product platform in a broad range of 
disease areas. In over 20 years of operations, we have established 
a world-leading position in the science, development and 
commercialisation of plant-derived cannabinoid therapeutics 
through our proven drug discovery and development processes, 
our intellectual property portfolio, regulatory, manufacturing 
and commercial expertise. 

Our lead cannabinoid product is Epidiolex®, a pharmaceutical 
formulation of cannabidiol, or CBD, for which we retain global 
commercial rights. Epidiolex is approved in the United States for 
the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut 
syndrome, or LGS, and Dravet syndrome, in patients two years 
of age and older. LGS and Dravet syndrome are severe childhood-
onset, drug-resistant epilepsy syndromes. We launched Epidiolex 
in the United States in November 2018. In September 2019, we 
received approval from the European Commission, or EC, for 
Epidyolex® (the trade name in Europe for Epidiolex) for use as 
adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with LGS or Dravet 
syndrome, in conjunction with clobazam, for patients two years 
of age and older. We have launched Epidyolex in Germany and 
the U.K. and are planning launches in France, Italy and Spain 
during 2020.

We continue to develop Epidiolex for additional indications. In 
May 2019, we announced positive results from a Phase 3 trial for 
the use of Epidiolex to treat seizures associated with Tuberous 
Sclerosis Complex, or TSC, a rare genetic disorder that causes 
non-malignant tumours to form in many different organs that 
affects approximately 50,000 individuals in the United States and 
one million worldwide. On 3 February 2020, we announced that 
we had submitted a supplemental New Drug Application, or 
sNDA, to the US Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, to 
expand the Epidiolex label to include the treatment of seizures 
associated with TSC. In March 2020 we filed for supplemental 
approval for the TSC indication in Europe. We have received 
Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA and the Committee for 
Orphan Medical Products (COMP) for TSC (we previously 
received the same designations for Dravet syndrome and LGS).

We have begun recruiting patients for a pivotal trial of Epidiolex 
in the treatment of Rett syndrome, a rare, non-inherited 
neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately one in 
10,000 to 15,000 live female births. This trial focuses on the 
behavioural abnormalities associated with the disorder.

We have a deep pipeline of additional cannabinoid product 
candidates that includes compounds in Phase 1, Phase 2, and 
Phase 3 trials. Our most advanced pipeline asset in the United 
States is nabiximols, for which we expect to commence a pivotal 
clinical programme in the first half of 2020 in the treatment of 
spasticity due to multiple sclerosis. We anticipate 
commercialising nabiximols in the US using our in-house 
commercial organisation. Nabiximols is already approved in over 

25 countries outside the United States for the treatment of 
spasticity due to multiple sclerosis under the brand name Sativex. 
We are advancing plans to commence clinical programmes for 
nabiximols in 2020 in spasticity due to spinal cord injury and 
post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

In addition to nabiximols, our pipeline includes cannabinoid 
product candidates for schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, 
or ASD, and Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, 
or NHIE. 

Our Marketed Products: Epidiolex

Epidiolex in the United States
We launched Epidiolex on 1 November 2018 in the US market 
after FDA approval for the treatment of seizures associated with 
LGS or Dravet syndrome in patients two years of age and older. 
The FDA confirmed orphan drug exclusivity for Epidiolex and 
granted us a rare paediatric disease voucher. Following the 
approval, US Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, placed 
Epidiolex in Schedule V.

Our US subsidiary, Greenwich Biosciences, Inc., markets 
Epidiolex through a commercial organisation consisting of sales, 
medical affairs, marketing, and market access/payer teams.

The US sales team includes two National Directors, eight 
Regional Managers and 65 Neurology Account Managers and is 
targeting approximately 6,400 physicians who treat patients with 
LGS or Dravet syndrome. In 2020, we will be launching a 
commercial initiative in the long-term care segment. 

Epidyolex in Europe
On 23 September 2019, we announced that the EC approved the 
marketing authorisation for Epidyolex (the trade name in Europe 
for Epidiolex) for use as adjunctive therapy of seizures associated 
with LGS or Dravet syndrome, in conjunction with clobazam, for 
patients two years of age and older. We have launched Epidyolex 
in Germany and the U.K. and are planning launches in France, 
Italy and Spain during 2020.

Epidiolex Follow-On Target Indication: TSC
In May 2019, we announced positive top-line Phase 3 results in 
the use of Epidiolex to treat seizures associated with TSC, and 
more extensive study results from this positive trial were 
presented in December 2019 at the annual meeting of the 
American Epilepsy Society. 

In early February 2020, we submitted an sNDA to the FDA to 
expand the Epidiolex label to include the treatment of seizures 
associated with TSC. In March 2020, we filed for supplemental 
approval for the TSC indication in Europe.

TSC is a genetic disorder that causes non-malignant tumours to 
form in many different organs, primarily in the brain, eyes, heart, 
kidney, skin and lungs. The brain and skin are the most affected 
organs. TSC results from a mutation in tumour suppression genes 
TSC1 or TSC2. According to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, 
TSC is estimated to affect approximately 50,000 patients in the 
US. The most common symptom of TSC is epilepsy, which occurs 
in 75 – 90% of patients, about 70% of whom experience seizure 
onset in their first year of life. 

01

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
Strategic Report continued

TSC patients typically have treatment-resistant seizures. The 
seizures of TSC are typically focal in onset, meaning that they 
are localised to one region and hemisphere of the brain. There 
are significant co-morbidities associated with TSC including 
cognitive impairment in 50%, ASD in up to 40% and 
neurobehavioural disorders in over 60% of individuals with TSC.

The safety profile observed was consistent with findings from 
previous studies, with no new safety risks identified.

Epidiolex Follow-On Target Indication: Rett Syndrome
Rett syndrome, or RTT, is a rare, non-inherited, X-linked 
neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 
to 15,000 live female births. RTT is most commonly caused by 
heterozygous de-novo mutations in the gene encoding methyl-
CpG-binding protein 2, or MeCP2, resulting in a loss of function 
of the MeCP2 protein. The condition affects predominantly 
females and it results in abnormal neuronal development and 
function in affected children. The symptomatology of RTT is 
progressive, with early onset from about 6–18 months of life, 
followed by a rapid destructive phase at the age of 1 to 4 years. 
This stage is characterised by loss of purposeful hand skills, loss 
of spoken language, breathing and cardiac irregularities, 
microcephaly, and autistic-like behaviours. After the period of 
regression, patients enter a prolonged period of stabilisation 
where most of the impairments associated with the destructive 
phase persist together with apraxia, motor problems, and 
seizures. Over time, the patient’s motor function continues to 
deteriorate, resulting in reduced mobility, scoliosis, rigidity, 
muscular weakness and spasticity.

There are no approved treatments for RTT. The management 
options target specific symptoms and are not without undesirable 
side effects. As such, there is currently a high unmet medical need. 

A Phase 3 trial of Epidiolex in patients with RTT was initiated in 
2019 and is an international multi-centre, randomised, double-
blind, placebo-controlled study. The endpoints are to evaluate the 
efficacy of up to 24 weeks of treatment with Epidiolex, compared 
with placebo, in reducing symptom severity in patients with RTT 
using the Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire and the 
Clinical Global Impressions – Improvement.

Epidiolex Formulation Lifecycle Management
In addition to the currently marketed Epidiolex oral solution 
formulation, we continue to develop additional formulations of 
CBD as part of its lifecycle management plan. We are developing 
a capsule to provide more convenient administration, particularly 
for adults and older children across our target indications. We are 
also developing an improved oral solution. 

Our Marketed Products: Nabiximols (known 
as Sativex® outside of the United States)

Nabiximols is a complex botanical medicine formulated from 
extracts of the cannabis sativa plant that contains the principal 
cannabinoids delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and CBD 
as well as specific minor cannabinoids and other non-
cannabinoid components. We developed nabiximols to be 
administered as an oromucosal spray, whereby the active 
ingredients are absorbed in part in the lining of the mouth, 
either under the tongue or inside the cheek. 

02

Nabiximols is already approved in over 25 countries outside 
the United States for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple 
sclerosis under the brand name Sativex. To support the 
development and commercialisation of Sativex internationally, 
we have licence and development agreements with commercial 
partners. These agreements provide our collaborators with the 
sole right to commercialise Sativex in exclusive territories for 
all indications. 

On 2 March 2020 the Group announced that GW will regain 
exclusive U.K. commercialisation rights for Sativex from Bayer. 
Under the terms of the agreement, there will be a transitional 
period until 31 December 2020 at which point GW will take over 
all responsibilities for nabiximols in the U.K.

Proprietary Cannabinoid Product Platform 

The cannabis plant is the unique source of more than 70 
structurally related, plant-derived cannabinoids. Although one 
cannabinoid, THC, is known to cause psychoactive effects 
associated with the use of illicit herbal cannabis, none of the 
other cannabinoids are known to share this property. In recent 
decades, there have been major scientific advances that have led 
to the discovery of new plant-derived cannabinoids and their 
potential for therapeutic use. We are a global leader in this 
developing area of science, and we believe that our proprietary 
cannabinoid product platform uniquely positions us to discover 
and develop cannabinoids as new therapeutics.

Our proprietary cannabinoid product platform consists of our: 

 > continually evolving library of internally generated novel 
cannabis plant types that produce selected cannabinoids, 
or chemotypes. We can reproduce the selected chemotypes 
through propagation of plant cuttings, or clones, in order 
to ensure that all subsequent plant material is genetically 
uniform. We can also generate seeds of selected chemotypes 
for large-scale production; 

 > in-house extraction, processing methodologies and analytical 
techniques, which yield well-characterised and standardised 
chemotype extracts; 

 > discovery of novel cannabinoid pharmacology through 

conducting in vitro and in vivo pharmacologic evaluation 
studies in validated disease models to determine the most 
promising potential therapeutic areas for each cannabinoid 
or extract; 

 > in-house formulation and manufacturing capabilities, 

supplemented by third-party contractors; 

 > global in-house development and regulatory expertise; and
 > intellectual property portfolio, which includes issued and/or 
pending claims directed to plants, plant extracts, extraction 
technology, pharmaceutical formulations, drug delivery and 
the therapeutic uses of cannabinoids, as well as plant variety 
rights, know-how and trade secrets. 

With the exception of Sativex, which is subject to licensing 
agreements described above outside of the United States, we 
retain global commercial rights to all of our product pipeline 
candidates. 

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
 
 
Pipeline Summary

Product/Product  
Candidates

Indication

Partner(s)

Status

Expected Next Steps

Epidiolex (CBD)

Childhood-onset epilepsy We retain global rights.

Initial targets:  
Treatment of seizures in 
LGS and Dravet syndrome 
in patients two years of age 
and older

Additional targets: TSC

Rett syndrome

Approved by the FDA 
and launched in the US.

Approved by the EC 
(under the brand name 
Epidyolex).

Positive Phase 3 
trial completed. 
Supplemental NDA filed 
in February 2020.

Phase 3 trial in Rett 
initiated.

Nabiximols

MS spasticity (ex-US)

Almirall, Bayer, Ipsen 
and Neopharm. 

Approved in numerous 
countries.

MS spasticity (US) 

We retain rights.

Spasticity associated with 
spinal cord injury

Post-Traumatic Stress 
Disorder

Other neurological 
symptoms

FDA meetings held 
to determine pivotal 
clinical program.

Pivotal clinical trials to 
commence in 2020.

Planning Phase 2/3 trial.

Initiate Phase 2/3 trial.

Planning Phase 2 trial.

Initiate Phase 2 trial.

Evaluating next target 
indications.

GWP42003

Schizophrenia

We retain global rights.

Positive Phase 2 proof-
of-concept.

Phase 2b trial to commence 
in 2020.

GWP42006 
(CBDV)

Autism Spectrum Disorder We retain global rights.

Rett syndrome

Epilepsy

Company sponsored 
open-label trial 
commenced. 
Investigator-led 
placebo-controlled trial 
in autism; expanded 
access Investigational 
New Drug (IND) to 
treat seizures associated 
with autism commenced 
in 2019.

Investigator-led Phase 
2 open label trial in 
Rett syndrome. Trial 
initiated in 2019.
FDA orphan designation 
in Rett syndrome.

Phase 2a trial 
completed.

Intravenous 
GWP42003

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic 
encephalopathy

We retain global rights.

Recruiting for Phase 2 
trial in neonates.

Under evaluation.

03

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Strategic Report continued

Nabiximols in the United States
Our nearest term pipeline opportunity in the United States is 
nabiximols. Following meetings with the FDA, we expect to 
commence a pivotal clinical programme in 2020 for nabiximols 
in the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis. We believe 
that nabiximols has the potential to be developed in several 
additional indications and are planning clinical programmes 
in spasticity due to spinal cord injury and PTSD.

MS is the most common disabling neurological condition 
affecting young adults. According to the World Health 
Organisation, MS affects more than 1.3 million people 
worldwide, of which over 400,000 are in the United States and 
over 600,000 are in Europe. MS affects twice as many women as 
men and typically develops between the ages of 20 and 40 years. 
Spasticity is one of the most common, chronic, and disabling 
symptoms of MS, affecting up to 80% of MS patients over their 
lifetimes. Spasticity refers to an abnormal, involuntary tightness 
of muscles, which increases when the muscles are rapidly 
stretched, so that the associated joint appears to resist movement. 
Some of the features of spasticity include muscle stiffness, muscle 
spasms and pain. As a result of the increased muscle tone due to 
spasticity, “simple” everyday movements become difficult or 
impossible altogether. In addition, painful muscle spasms can 
lead to difficulty with sleeping, sitting in a chair or lying in bed. 
Occasionally, spasms may be triggered by fairly minor irritations 
such as tight clothing, a full bladder or bowel, urinary tract 
infection or skin irritation, such as from a pressure sore. 
Moderate to severe spasticity can lead to significant impairment.

There is no cure for MS spasticity, and it is widely recognised that 
currently available oral treatments afford only partial relief and 
have clinically-important side effects. Because nabiximols has 
been approved and commercialised elsewhere around the world 
since 2005, we have collected nearly 100,000 patient years of 
safety data and believe its safety profile has been well established. 

With respect to the lifecycle for nabiximols beyond MS spasticity, 
we see potential opportunities within the broader spasticity 
markets as there are around three million patients in the United 
States with spasticity associated with various conditions. We 
are, in parallel, planning clinical programmes in two further 
indications: spasticity due to spinal cord injury and PTSD. We 
expect to commence clinical programmes in the second half of 
2020 to address these broader markets with a view to achieving 
a series of approved indications for nabiximols over the 
coming years. 

GWP 42003 in Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic disease that manifests through 
disturbances of perception, thought, cognition, emotion, 
motivation and motor activity. Over a lifetime, about 1% of the 
population will develop schizophrenia. All antipsychotic 
treatments for schizophrenia rely primarily upon their 
antagonistic action at the dopamine D2 receptor for their 
antipsychotic effect. They produce a wide range of adverse events 
and are often poorly tolerated by patients resulting in poor 
compliance with treatment. Current antipsychotics also have 
little or no effect upon the negative symptoms (blunted mood and 
lack of pleasure, motivation and movement) of schizophrenia or 

the associated cognitive deficit. Furthermore, the positive 
symptoms (such as hallucinations, delusions and thought 
disorder) of at least one-third of patients fail to respond 
adequately to current treatments.

GWP42003 features CBD as the primary cannabinoid and has 
shown notable anti-psychotic effects in accepted pre-clinical 
models of schizophrenia and importantly has also demonstrated 
the potential to reduce the characteristic movement disorders 
induced by currently available anti-psychotic agents. 

We are commencing a Phase 2b trial of GWP42003 in 
schizophrenia in the first half of 2020.

Our portfolio of intellectual property related to the use of 
cannabinoids in schizophrenia includes a number of issued 
patents and pending applications in both the US and Europe. 
This portfolio is directed to the use of various cannabinoids 
individually or in combination with other cannabinoids or 
antipsychotic medications in the treatment of schizophrenia 
or side effects relating to schizophrenia.

GWP42006 (CBDV) in Epilepsy, Rett and Autism Spectrum 
Disorder (ASD)
GWP42006 features CBDV as the primary cannabinoid. CBDV 
has shown anti-epileptic properties across a range of in vitro and 
in vivo models of epilepsy.

We have also evaluated GWP42006 in both general and 
syndromic pre-clinical models of ASD yielding promising signals 
on cognitive and social endpoints as well as repetitive behaviour. 
Initial clinical observations from treating physicians suggest a 
potential role for cannabinoids in addressing problems associated 
with ASD such as deficits in cognition, behaviour and communication.

We have initiated a company-sponsored open label trial in ASD 
in 2019. An investigator-led 100 patient placebo-controlled trial 
in ASD also commenced in 2019. An investigator-led open label 
study CBDV in children with Rett syndrome and seizures is 
ongoing. CBDV in Rett syndrome has received Orphan Drug 
Designation from the FDA.

In February 2018, we announced that a Phase 2a study of CBDV 
in adult patients with focal seizures did not meet its primary 
endpoint and showed a favourable safety and tolerability profile. 
We are currently evaluating next steps for this indication.

We have a portfolio of intellectual property relating to CBDV for 
use in various indications including epilepsy and ASD. These 
patent families include issued and pending claims to use of CBDV 
alone or in combination with standard anti-epileptic drugs in the 
treatment of seizures, and pending claims to the use of CBDV in 
the treatment of ASD and associated conditions. Other families 
include pending claims directed to the use of CBDV in other 
therapeutic areas such as neuropathic pain, Alzheimer’s disease 
and Duchenne’s disease, CBDV compositions and CBDV 
extracts. We anticipate additional patent applications being filed 
as new data is generated. 

04

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Intravenous GWP42003 (CBD) in Neonatal Hypoxic-
Ischemic Encephalopathy (NHIE) 
NHIE is acute or sub-acute brain injury due to asphyxia caused 
during birth resulting from deprivation of oxygen, referred to as 
hypoxia, as a result of a sentinel event such as ruptured placenta, 
parental shock and even increased heart rate. Hypoxic damage 
can occur to most of the infant’s organs, but brain damage is the 
most serious and least likely to heal, resulting in encephalopathy. 
This can later manifest itself as either mental retardation 
(including developmental delay and/or intellectual disability) or 
physical disabilities such as spasticity, blindness and deafness. 
Spastic diplegia and the other manifestations of cerebral palsy 
often feature asphyxiation during the birth process as a 
contributing factor. The exact timing and underlying causes of 
these outcomes remains unknown, but it is widely stipulated that 
interventions need to be administered within six hours of the 
hypoxic insult. 

According to Kurinczuk. et al. in the 2010 edition of Early 
Human Development, the incidence of NHIE is 1.5 to 2.8 per 
1,000 births in the US, or, by our estimate, 6,500 to 12,000 cases 
per year. Of these, 35% are expected to die in early life and 30% 
of cases will result in permanent disability. There are currently 
no FDA-approved medicines specifically indicated for NHIE. The 
only FDA-approved treatment is the Olympic Cool-Cap System 
and treatment guidelines in many European countries also 
support use of whole-body hypothermia. 

We held a pre-IND meeting with the FDA to discuss the 
development programme for an intravenous CBD formulation in 
the treatment of NHIE. In April 2015, we received Orphan Drug 
Designation from the FDA for CBD for the treatment of NHIE 
and in July 2015 we received fast track designation. In July 2015 
we received Orphan Drug Designation from the EMA for CBD 
for the treatment of perinatal asphyxia, an alternate term that 
describes the same condition. A Phase 1 trial of intravenous 
GWP42003 in healthy volunteers was completed, and we are now 
recruiting for a Phase 2 trial in neonates.

Business Strategy

Our goal is to capitalise on our leading position in the field of 
plant-derived cannabinoid therapeutics by pursuing the following 
strategies: 

 > Commercialise our lead product candidate Epidiolex in Dravet 

syndrome and LGS in the US and Europe using our own 
commercial organisation, and to identify the optimal 
commercial pathway in other markets around the world. 
 > Expand the market opportunity for Epidiolex within the field 
of epilepsy through the approval of the TSC indication, and 
expand beyond seizure indications initially by targeting the 
treatment of Rett syndrome.

 > Seek US approval for nabiximols in the treatment of MS 

spasticity, commercialise nabiximols in the US using our own 
commercial organisation, and expand the market to new 
indications.

 > Advance several clinical-stage proprietary cannabinoid 

product candidates to late-stage development. 

 > Leverage our proprietary cannabinoid product platform and 

world-leading position to discover, develop and commercialise 
additional novel first-in-class cannabinoid products. 

 > Further strengthen our lead competitive position. 

Review of the Business
This is the first period that the Group has presented 12-month 
financial results to 31 December, following the change in 
year-end effective as of 31 December 2018. Consistent with last 
year’s disclosures and to enable prior period comparisons, we are 
also reporting pro forma unaudited results for the 12-month 
period ended 31 December 2018 and these are set out below. The 
unaudited results have been prepared using the same accounting 
policies and procedures as the audited results. 

We believe that the presentation of these unaudited results is also 
representative of the performance in the 15-month period to 
31 December 2018. Any deviations from this are explained below.

Our portfolio of intellectual property related to the use of 
cannabinoids in NHIE includes a number of issued patents and 
pending applications in both the US and Europe. This portfolio is 
directed to the use of cannabidiol in the treatment of NHIE and 
product formulations.

The below results include the implementation of IFRS 15 Revenue 
from Contracts with Customers during the 15-month period and 
year to 31 December 2018. The results below for the three months 
and year to 31 December 2017 do not include the impact of this 
implementation.

Revenue
Cost of sales
Research and development expenditure
Sales, general and administrative expenses
Net foreign exchange (loss)/gain

Operating loss
Interest expense
Interest income
Other income

Loss before tax
Tax benefit/(charge)

Loss for the period

12 months to  
31 December 2019 
(audited)  
$000s

12 months to  
31 December 2018 
(unaudited)  
$000s

311,332
(35,569)
(146,810)
(258,944)
(2,272)

(132,263)
(2,464)
8,465
108,109

(18,153)
500

15,379
(6,722)
(126,324)
(164,157)
776

(281,048)
(1,253)
5,452
4,082

(272,767)
(1,657)

(17,653)

(274,424)

05

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Strategic Report continued

Revenue
Cost of sales
Research and development expenditure
Sales, general and administrative expenses
Net foreign exchange (loss)/gain

Operating loss
Interest expense
Interest and other income

Loss before tax
Tax benefit

Loss for the period

A
15 months to  
31 December 2018 
(audited)  
$000s

B
Unadjusted 
3 months to  
31 December 2017 
(unaudited)  
$000s

C
IFRS 15  
adoption 
31 December 2017
(unaudited)  
$000s

B-C
Adjusted 
3 months to  
31 December 2017 
(unaudited)  
$000s

A–(B–C)
12 months to  
31 December 2018 
(unaudited)  
$000s

19,391
(7,912)
(167,142)
(187,602)
(2,666)

(345,931)
(1,573)
11,155

(336,349)
(5,090)

(341,439)

7,728
(1,190)
(40,818)
(23,445)
(3,442)

(61,167)
(320)
1,621

(59,866)
(3,433)

(63,299)

(3,716)
–
–
–
–

(3,716)
–
–

(3,716)
–

(3,716)

4,012
(1,190)
(40,818)
(23,445)
(3,442)

(64,883)
(320)
1,621

(63,582)
(3,433)

15,379
(6,722)
(126,324)
(164,157)
776

(281,048)
(1,253)
9,534

(272,767)
(1,657)

(67,015)

(274,424)

Revenue
Total revenue for the year ended 31 December 2019 was $311.3 
million, compared to $15.4 million for the year ended 31 December 
2018. The increase of $295.9 million, through product sales, was 
primarily due to the November 2018 launch of Epidiolex in the 
United States.

Other revenue primarily consists of milestone revenue related to 
our Sativex licence agreements and research and development fee 
revenue related to licence and collaboration agreements. Other 
revenue in the years ended 31 December 2019 and 2018 consist of 
remaining development fees related to the Otsuka licence agreement. 

Cost of Sales
Cost of sales for the year ended 31 December 2019 of $35.6 million 
represents an increase of $28.9 million compared to the $6.7 
million recorded in the year ended 31 December 2018.

The increase in cost of sales is primarily due to an increase in 
product net sales, primarily due to the launch of Epidiolex in the 
United States. The reduction in cost of sales as a percentage of 
product net sales is due to the positive impact of directly 
commercialising Epidiolex in the United States in the year ended 
31 December 2019. In the year ended 31 December 2018, the 
majority of product net sales were sales of Sativex outside of the US 
through licence partners.

Research and Development Expenditure
Research and development expenditure increased by $20.5 million 
to $146.8 million for the year ended 31 December 2019 compared 
to $126.3 million the year ended 31 December 2018. The increase 
in expenditure is primarily due to an increase in spend on the 
Group’s nabiximols program, other earlier-phase R&D 
programmes outside of Epidiolex and a further increase in the 
headcount to support the Group’s global R&D programs.

Net Foreign Exchange (Losses)/Gains
Net foreign exchange movements resulted in a $2.3 million loss for 
the year ended 31 December 2019 compared to a $0.8 million gain 
for the year ended 31 December 2018. The movement to a foreign 
exchange loss in 2019 was due primarily to a smaller year over year 
change in the foreign currency exchange rates of the US Dollar and 
British Pound compared to the change in rates for the similar 
period in 2018.

Interest Expense
Interest expense of $2.5 million was recorded for the year ended 
31 December 2019, an increase of $1.2 million compared to the 
$1.3 million recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018. 
Interest expense is primarily related to our finance lease liabilities, 
which increased due to the adoption of IFRS 16 Leases effective 
from 1 January 2019. 

Interest Income
Interest income increased by $3.0 million to $8.5 million for the 
year ended 31 December 2019 compared to the $5.5 million 
recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018.

Other Income
Other income increased by $104.0 million to $108.1 million for the 
year ended 31 December 2019 compared to $4.1 million recorded 
for the year ended 31 December 2018.

This increase includes the one-off net proceeds of $104.1 million 
earned from the sale of the Group’s priority review voucher that 
we received from the FDA in connection with the approval of 
Epidiolex in the United States.

The remaining decrease of $0.1 million relates to the Group’s 
expected R&D large company tax credit claim (“RDEC”) in 
respect of the statutory year ended 31 December 2019.

Sales, General and Administrative Expenses
Sales, general and administrative expenses for the year ended 
31 December 2019 of $258.9 million increased by $94.7 million 
compared to the $164.2 million incurred in the year ended 
31 December 2018. This increase was primarily due to an increase 
in employee-related expenses driven by the build-out of our 
commercial functions in the United States and Europe, costs 
related to the launch of Epidyolex in Europe, an increase in our 
corporate support functions, and an increase in insurance expenses.

Tax
Our tax benefit increased by $5.6 million to a $0.5 million benefit 
for the year ended 31 December 2019, compared to a $5.1 million 
charge for the year ended 31 December 2018. This increase is 
primarily due to an additional tax charge recorded in 2018 in 
respect of the remeasurement of the Group’s deferred tax asset 
following the passing of tax legislation reform in the United States 
and higher excess tax benefits related to share-based payment 
charges.

06

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Loss
The overall impact of the above changes had resulted in a reduction 
in the Group’s loss to $17.7 million for the year ended 31 December 
2019, compared to a loss of $274.4 million for the year ended 
31 December 2018.

Consolidated Balance Sheet
The following information is on an ‘as reported’ basis as noted 
on the Consolidated Income Statements shown on page 45, and 
illustrates the movement from the end of the balance sheet periods 
of 31 December 2019 to 31 December 2018.

Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment increased by $63.0 million to 
$152.4 million at 31 December 2019 compared to $89.4 million at 
31 December 2018. This reflects the Group’s continuing investment 
in expansion of our cannabinoid extraction and production 
facilities.

Inventories
Total inventories increased by $44.5 million to $95.5 million at 
31 December 2019 compared to $51.0 million at 31 December 
2018. This increase is due to the increasing growing and 
production of product for the ongoing commercialisation of 
Epidiolex. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Total cash and cash equivalents decreased by $54.6 million to 
$536.9 million at 31 December 2019 compared to $591.5 million 
at 31 December 2019.

 > Total net cash outflow from operating activities for the year 
to 31 December 2019 was $124.7 million, representing the 
operating expenditure of the organisation and 
commercialisation scale-up activities.

 > Total cash inflow from investing activities was an inflow 
of $67.2 million, predominantly driven by the sale of net 
proceeds of $104.1 million earned from the sales of the 
Group’s priority review voucher that was received in 
connection with the approval of Epidiolex in the United States, 
offset by $42.6 million of capital expenditure associated with 
the construction of our manufacturing facilities and 
infrastructure.

 > Total net cash outflow from financing activities was $2.6 

million, representing interest payments and lease payments 
relating to the Group’s adoption of IFRS 16 during the current 
year.

Trade and Other Receivables
Total trade and other receivables increased by $48.3 million to 
$67.7 million at 31 December 2019 compared to $19.4 million at 
31 December 2018. This increase is due to an increase in accounts 
receivable on US Epidiolex sales.

Trade and Other Payables
Total current trade and other payables increased by $47.3 million 
to $110.9 million at 31 December 2019 compared to $63.6 million 
at 31 December 2018. This increase reflects the continued scale-up 
of the Group’s operations following the Epidiolex commercial 
launch, accrued sales rebates and discounts associated with US 
commercialisation and additional organisational costs associated 
with preparation for European commercialisation.

Our Key Business Trends

The following information provides a summary of the development 
and performance of the Company’s business during the year ended 
and as at 31 December 2019. We have elected to provide unaudited 
calendar year figures for the comparative periods to provide the 
maximum information to shareholders.

The Group considers that the primary key performance indicator is 
the progress on sales of Epidiolex in the United States, and 
regulatory approval, pricing and sales volumes of Epidyolex in 
Europe and the Rest of the World. The progress of regulatory 
filings and product launches are not easily quantifiable, but best 
represents the Group’s progress during 2019. 

Revenue
Our revenues consist of product sales revenues, milestone revenue 
related to our Sativex licence agreements and research and 
development fee revenue related to licence and collaboration 
agreements.

Consistent with prior year disclosures, the trend analysis below 
reflects the impact of the adoption of IFRS 15 Revenue from 
Contracts with Customers and assumes that revenue accounting 
under IFRS 15 had been in place since 1 October 2014. The impact 
of this removes any licence, collaboration and technical access fee 
for the years ended 31 December 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Our product net sales include sales of Epidiolex, which we 
launched in the United States in November 2018 and began to sell 
in certain European markets in late 2019, and sales of Sativex 
outside of the United States pursuant to licence agreements with 
commercial partners. We also sell Epidiolex through certain early 
access programmes outside of the United States.

For the year ended 31 December 2019, we recorded revenues of 
$311.3 million, an increase of $295.9 million or 1,921% from the 
$15.4 million recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018.

 > In the year to 31 December 2019, we saw the first full year of 

Epidiolex commercialisation, following its launch in 
November 2018. This is the Group’s first own commercial 
product, and first marketed into the United States. Total 
Epidiolex sales of $296.4 million were recorded in the period, 
compared to $4.7 million for the year ended 31 December 
2018.

 > We recorded Sativex product sales revenue of $13.9 million in 
the year ended 31 December 2019 compared to $10.1 million 
for the year ended 31 December 2018, an increase of $3.8 
million. This is supported by strong performance in market, 
particularly in Germany. 

 > Research and development fee income increased to $1.0 

million for the year to 31 December 2019 compared to $0.4 
million incurred for the year ended 31 December 2018. This 
reflects rechargeable activity associated with our prior 
collaboration with Otsuka, which ended in December 2017.

07

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Strategic Report continued 

We see product sales as the key driver for the Group, following the 
launch of Epidiolex in the United States in November 2018 and the 
filing of a supplementary NDA with FDA in February 2020 for 
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, and commercialisation of Epidyolex in 
Europe following approval by EMA in September 2019.

Total Group Revenue ($000s)
Year ended 31 December

350,000

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

0

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total Group Employees
The Total Group Employees graph below illustrates the total 
number of people employed by the GW Pharmaceuticals plc 
Group as at the end of the accounting period. This includes all 
of the Group’s global employees, and Executive Directors.

The total number of employees grew from 801 at 31 December 
2018 to 907 as at 31 December 2019. This increase represents 
further build of the Group’s commercial operations, both in the 
United Kingdom and United States. As at 31 December 2019, the 
Group had employees in the United Kingdom, United States and 
Switzerland.

From 30 September 2015 until 31 December 2018 the total Group 
headcount increased from 369 to 801. This significant increase 
mirrors the overall Group expansion into the United States, and 
the build-out of the manufacturing operations in the United 
Kingdom, and commercial organisations in both the United 
States and United Kingdom to support the Group’s first own-
marketed product, Epidiolex/Epidyolex.

Total Group Employees at Period End

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

08

30 Sep
2015

30 Sep
2016

30 Sep
2017

31 Dec
2018

31 Dec
2019

Total Group Expenditure
We believe that our future revenues and cash flows are most 
likely to be affected by the successful development and approval 
of our significant late-stage research and development candidates. 
As of 31 December 2019, we consider the following research and 
development projects to be our most significant late-stage 
product candidates:

  Development 
  and approval 
  milestone fees

  Licence, 
  collaboration 
  and technical 
  access fees

  Research and 
  development 

fees

  Product sales

 > Epidiolex for the treatment of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 

(United States and Europe)

 > Nabiximols for spasticity associated with MS (United States)

On 23 September 2019, we announced that the European 
Commission approved the marketing authorisation for Epidyolex 
in Europe. We have received Orphan Designation from the 
European Commission for Orphan Medicinal Products for 
Epidyolex for Dravet syndrome and LGS.

We have completed our Phase 3 trial of Epidiolex for the 
treatment of TSC. In May 2019, we reported positive top-line 
Phase 3 results and in December 2019 we reported additional 
positive trial data. On 3 February 2020, we announced that we 
submitted a supplemental new drug application with the FDA 
for this indication, and in March 2020, we filed a supplemental 
approval in Europe in early 2020.

Research and development expenses consist of internal and 
external costs to conduct our pre-clinical studies and clinical 
trials, payroll costs associated with employing our team of 
research and development staff, share-based payment expenses, 
property costs associated with leasing laboratory and office space 
to accommodate our research teams, costs of growing botanical 
raw material, costs of processing product for clinical trials, costs 
of consumables used in the conduct of our in-house research 
programs, payments for research work conducted by sub-
contractors and sponsorship of work by our network of academic 
collaborative research scientists, costs associated with safety 
studies and costs associated with the development of Epidiolex, 
Sativex, and our other pipeline product candidates.

As illustrated in the Total Group Expenditure graph below, our 
R&D expenditure has increased by $20.5 million to $146.8 
million for the year ended 31 December 2019 compared to the 
$126.3 million recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018. 
This increase represents investment in the Group’s nabiximols 
R&D program, early-stage R&D programmes and additional 
headcount to conduct and support pre-clinical and clinical studies. 

The decline to $126.3 million in 2018, a decrease of $25.8 
million, was due to the absorption of costs associated with 
inventory previously expensed as R&D which were eligible for 
capitalisation once sufficient certainty of product approval had 
been received from the FDA. Inventory capitalisation commenced 
from 1 January 2018.

Prior to this, the Group demonstrated a consistent growth trend 
from $131.8 million in 2015 to $152.1 million in 2017. This 
increase reflected the Phase 3 clinical research with Epidiolex, 
progress with other pipeline product candidates and scale-up of 
R&D activities associated with our growing programmes.

Sales, general and administrative expenditure consist primarily of 
salaries and benefits related to our executive, commercial, and 

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
corporate support functions, expenses associated with our 
commercial activities, and other general administration expenses.

Sales, general and administrative expenditure has increased from 
$23.6 million in 2014, from when all of the Group’s external 
commercial sales were conducted through partners, to $258.9 
million in 2019. The increase of $94.7 million from $164.2 
million in 2018 to $258.9 million reflects an increase in employee-
related expenses driven by the build-out of our commercial 
functions in the United States and Europe, costs related to the 
launch of Epidiolex in Europe, an increase in our corporate 
support functions, and an increase in insurance expenses. 

We expect that sales, general and administrative expenses will 
increase in the future as we expand our operating activities and 
continue to build our commercial team in preparation for the 
launch of Epidiolex in additional markets in Europe.

well funded with sufficient working capital to successfully 
execute our Epidiolex and other pipeline product development 
plans. Consequently, we completed at least one equity 
fundraising in each of 2015 through to 2018, to help execute this 
strategy, the most recent of which being 2018’s public offering of 
26,220,000 ordinary shares of the Company on the NASDAQ 
Global Market, raising net proceeds after underwriting discounts 
and commissions of $324.6 million.

2019 has seen significant cash inflows resulting from Epidiolex 
sales in the US, and was bolstered by the one-off sale of the 
Group’s rare paediatric disease Priority Review Voucher (“PRV”) 
in March 2019 of $104.1 million (net). The Group maintains a 
strong cash position and, as cash inflows from revenue increase, 
we believe that we are suitably well-funded to progress on our US 
Epidiolex sales program, progress European commercialisation 
and continue our lifecycle and clinical development programmes.

 Total R&D

 Total SG&A

Total Group Expenditure ($000s)
Year ended 31 December

)
s
0
0
0
$
(
e
r
u

t
i

d
n
e
p
x
E
p
u
o
G

r

l

t

a
o
T

450,000

400,000

350,000

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

0

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Group Cash
The graph below illustrates the trend in our 31 December closing 
cash position for each of the last five years.

Closing Group Cash ($000s)
As at 31 December

h
s
a
C
p
u
o
G
g
n
s
o
C

r

i

l

700,000

600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

0

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Since our listing on NASDAQ in May 2013, having taken the 
decision to invest in the development of Epidiolex to treat a 
number of refractory forms of childhood onset epilepsy we have 
consistently recorded operating cash outflows, offset by the 
proceeds of a series of fundraisings, each of which have been 
conducted following the achievement of key product development 
milestones. Our aim has been to ensure that the Group remains 

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

In common with other pharmaceutical development companies, 
GW faces a number of risks and uncertainties. Internal controls 
are in place to help identify, manage and mitigate these risks. 
This is further reinforced by the Group’s requirement to maintain 
effective internal control over financial reporting, based on 
criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework 
(2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of 
the Treadway Commission, in line with our NASDAQ listing on 
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A Risk Committee has been established who, based upon input 
from programme directors, functional heads and subject matter 
experts, prepare an Enterprise Risk Review outlining the status of 
risks, mitigating controls and action plans. This matrix is 
reviewed by the Board of the Company as part of their annual 
assessment of the principal risks and risk management controls.

Further details of risk factors considered by GW for the year 
ended 31 December 2019 are included on Form 10-K which was 
filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 
27 February 2020. Full disclosure of the list of risks has been 
compiled below. The risks have been identified as follows:

Marketing and Commercialisation
 > Our prospects are highly dependent on the successful 

commercialisation of Epidiolex/Epidyolex. To the extent 
Epidiolex/Epidyolex is not commercially successful, our 
business, financial condition and results of operations may 
be materially adversely affected and the price of our American 
Depositary Shares (ADSs) may decline.

 > If we do not obtain regulatory approval of Epidiolex for other 
indications in the US, Europe or for any indications in foreign 
jurisdictions, we will not be able to market Epidiolex for other 
indications or in other jurisdictions, which will limit our 
commercial revenues.

 > Our FDA and EC approval subjects us to ongoing obligations 

and continued regulatory review, which may result in 
significant additional expense. If we do not meet those 
ongoing obligations, we could be subject to significant 
penalties, including market withdrawal and/or civil or 
criminal penalties. Additionally, our other product candidates, 
if approved, could be subject to labelling and other restrictions 

09

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report continued 

and we may be subject to penalties (including market 
withdrawal) if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements 
or experience unanticipated problems with our products.

 > Epidiolex has only been studied in a limited number of 
patients and in limited populations. As we continue our 
commercial launch, Epidiolex will become available to a much 
larger number of patients, and we do not know whether the 
results of Epidiolex use in such larger number of patients will 
be consistent with the results from our clinical trials.

 > We have limited marketing experience, and have only recently 
established our sales force, distribution and reimbursement 
capabilities, and we may not be able to successfully 
commercialise Epidiolex, or any of our product candidates 
if they are approved in the future.

 > Our product candidates, if approved, may be unable to achieve 
the expected market acceptance and, consequently, limit our 
ability to generate revenue from new products.

 > If the price for Epidiolex, nabiximols or any future approved 
products decreases or if governmental and other third-party 
payers do not provide coverage and adequate reimbursement 
levels, our revenue and prospects for profitability will suffer.
 > We expect to face intense competition, often from companies 

with greater resources and experience than we have.

 > Product shipment delays could have a material adverse effect 
on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
 > Counterfeit versions of our products could harm our business.
 > Our existing collaboration arrangements and any that we may 
enter into in the future may not be successful, which could 
adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialise 
Epidiolex, nabiximols and our product candidates.

Clinical and Development
 > We are dependent on the success of our product candidates, 
some of which may not receive regulatory approval or be 
successfully commercialised.

 > Clinical trials for our product candidates are expensive, 

time-consuming, uncertain and susceptible to change, delay 
or termination. The results of clinical trials are open to 
differing interpretations.

 > There is a high rate of failure for drug candidates proceeding 

through clinical trials.

Regulatory and Legislative
 > Epidiolex, nabiximols and our product candidates contain 

controlled substances, the use of which may generate public 
controversy.

 > If product liability lawsuits are successfully brought against 
us, we will incur substantial liabilities and may be required 
to limit the commercialisation of Epidiolex, nabiximols and 
our product candidates.

 > Our employees may engage in misconduct or other improper 

remedial measures, and legal expenses, which could adversely 
affect our business, results of operations and financial 
condition.

 > Our proprietary information, or that of our customers, 

suppliers and business partners, may be lost or we may suffer 
security breaches.

 > Legislative or regulatory reform of the healthcare system in the 
US and foreign jurisdictions may affect our ability to profitably 
sell our products, if approved.

 > We expect additional federal and state legislative proposals for 
healthcare reform, which could limit the prices that can be 
charged for the products we develop and may limit our 
commercial opportunity.

 > Any failure by us to comply with existing regulations could 

harm our reputation and operating results.

 > We are subject to federal, state and foreign healthcare laws 
and regulations and implementation of or changes to such 
healthcare laws and regulations could adversely affect our 
business and results of operations.

 > If we are found in violation of federal or state “fraud and 

abuse” laws, we may be required to pay a penalty and/or be 
suspended from participation in federal or state health care 
programs, which may adversely affect our business, financial 
condition and results of operations.

 > Our ability to research, develop and commercialise Epidiolex, 
nabiximols and our product candidates is dependent on our 
ability to maintain licences relating to the cultivation, 
possession and supply of controlled substances.

 > The development of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy 
(REMS) for Epidiolex or our product candidates could cause 
delays in the approval process and would add additional layers 
of regulatory requirements that could impact our ability to 
commercialise our product candidates in the US and reduce 
their market potential.

 > Controlled substance legislation differs between countries and 
legislation in certain countries may restrict or limit our ability 
to sell Epidiolex, nabiximols and our product candidates.

 > Epidiolex is and the product candidates we are developing will 
be subject to US controlled substance laws and regulations and 
failure to comply with these laws and regulations, or the cost 
of compliance with these laws and regulations, may adversely 
affect the results of our business operations, both during 
clinical development and post approval, and our financial 
condition.

 > If one of our product candidates is approved and classified 

as a Schedule II controlled substance, federal law may impose 
additional restrictions on importation for commercial 
purposes.

 > The legalisation and use of medical and recreational marijuana 

in the US and elsewhere may impact our business.

activities, including non-compliance with regulatory standards 
and requirements.

Orphan Drug Designation and Intellectual Property
 > In respect of our product candidates targeting rare indications, 

 > If we are unable to use net operating loss carry-forwards and 

certain built-in losses to reduce future tax payments, or benefit 
from favourable tax legislation, our business, results of 
operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 > We are subject to the U.K. Bribery Act, the US Foreign 

Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws, as well 
as export control laws, customs laws, sanctions laws and other 
laws governing our operations. If we fail to comply with these 
laws, we could be subject to civil or criminal penalties, other 

relevant regulatory exclusivities such as orphan drug 
exclusivity or paediatric exclusivity may not be granted or, 
if granted, may be limited. 

 > We may not be able to adequately protect Epidiolex, 

nabiximols, our product candidates or our proprietary 
technology in the marketplace.

 > If third parties claim that intellectual property used by us 

infringes upon their intellectual property, our operating profits 
could be adversely affected.

10

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Manufacturing and Technology
 > Problems in our manufacturing process, failure to comply with 
manufacturing regulations or unexpected increases in our 
manufacturing costs could harm our business, results of 
operations and financial condition.

 > We may fail to expand our growing and manufacturing 

capability in time to meet market demand for our products 
and product candidates, and the FDA and EMA may refuse to 
accept our facilities or those of our contract manufacturers as 
being suitable for the production of our products and product 
candidates.

 > Product recalls or inventory losses caused by unforeseen 

events, cold chain interruption and testing difficulties may 
adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

 > Business interruptions could delay us in the process of 

developing our product candidates and could disrupt our 
product sales.

 > Failure of our information technology systems, including 

cybersecurity attacks or other data security incidents, could 
significantly disrupt the operation of our business.

 > Security breaches, loss of data and other disruptions could 
compromise sensitive information related to our business, 
prevent us from accessing critical information or expose us 
to liability, which could adversely affect our business and our 
reputation.

 > We depend on a limited number of suppliers for materials and 
components required to manufacture Epidiolex, nabiximols 
and our product candidates. The loss of these suppliers, or 
their failure to supply us on a timely basis, could cause delays 
in our current and future capacity and adversely affect our 
business.

Safety
 > Serious adverse events or other safety risks could require us to 
abandon development and preclude, delay or limit approval of 
our product candidates, limit the scope of any approved label 
or market acceptance, or cause the recall or loss of marketing 
approval of products that are already marketed.

Staffing
 > If we are unable to effectively train and equip our salesforce, 
our ability to successfully commercialise Epidiolex may be 
harmed.

 > We have recently grown our business and will need to further 
increase the size and complexity of our organisation in the 
future, and we may experience difficulties in managing our 
growth and executing our growth strategy.

 > We depend upon our key personnel and our ability to attract 

and retain employees.

Funding and Operational
 > We have significant and increasing liquidity needs and may 

require additional funding.

 > Operating results may vary significantly in future periods.
 > We may acquire other companies which could divert our 

management’s attention, result in additional dilution to our 
shareholders and otherwise disrupt our operations and harm 
our operating results.

 > A significant portion of our cash and cash equivalents are held 

at a small number of banks.

 > The market price of our ADSs may be volatile.
 > Our largest shareholder owns a significant percentage of our 

share capital and voting rights of the Company.

 > Substantial future sales of our ADSs in the public market, or 
the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the 
price of the ADSs to decline.

 > US investors may have difficulty enforcing civil liabilities 
against our Company, our Directors or members of senior 
management and the experts named in this Annual Report.

 > The rights of our shareholders may differ from the rights 
typically offered to shareholders of a US corporation.

 > We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company, 
or PFIC, in any taxable year and US holders of our ordinary 
shares could be subject to adverse US federal income tax 
consequences.

Brexit
 > The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union 

could lead to increased market volatility, which could 
adversely impact the market price of our ADSs and make it 
more difficult for us to do business in Europe or have other 
adverse effects on our business.

In response to this situation, the Group established a cross-
functional Brexit Taskforce early in 2018. The Group’s position 
has been to expect the most disruptive impact of Brexit, and 
therefore has pre-emptively moved any EU-dependent 
pharmaceutical product registrations and employment roles to be 
located or duplicated within the European Union.

However, until the Brexit process is concluded by the U.K. and 
EU parliaments and the impacts of transition to any new 
arrangement between them are known with clarity, it is difficult 
to anticipate the overall potential impact on the Group’s 
operations and hence the final expected costs to be incurred.

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak
In 2020, an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that 
was first reported from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019, 
emerged into a worldwide health situation which has included the 
restriction of movement of individuals within and between many 
countries across the world.

At the point of signing this Annual Report and Financial 
Statements, it is difficult to quantify the impact on the Group’s 
operations. We do not believe that this will impact the Group’s 
ability to operate as a going concern. We will continue to review 
our position as the COVID-19 situation evolves. 

Risk in Relation to the Use of Financial Instruments
The Group is exposed to a number of financial risks, including 
credit risk, liquidity risk, market price risk and exchange rate 
risk. It is the Group’s policy that no speculative trading in 
financial instruments shall be undertaken, and as such the Group 
does not enter into contracts for complicated or compound 
financial instruments. Further details are provided in note 21 to 
the financial statements.

Credit Risk
 > The Group’s principal financial assets are cash and short-term 
cash equivalents. Risk is minimised through an investment 
policy restricting the investment of surplus cash to interest-
bearing deposits principally held with the major U.K. banking 
groups and with U.K. subsidiaries of banking groups, and US 
government interest-bearing bonds with acceptable credit 
ratings.

11

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Strategic Report continued 

 > Trade receivables are concentrated in a small number of large 
customers, predominantly across the US and Europe, with 
well-established relationships, where the risk and history of 
default is considered to be low.

Liquidity Risk
 > This risk is minimised by placing surplus funds in a range of 
low-risk cash deposits and short-term liquid investments for 
periods up to 90 days. This portfolio of deposits is managed to 
ensure that a rolling programme of maturity dates is managed 
in accordance with Group expenditure plans in order to 
ensure available liquid cash funds when required.

Market Price Risk
 > Market price risk primarily comprises interest rate exposure 

risk, which is managed by maintaining a rolling programme of 
varying deposit maturity dates, up to a maximum of 90 days, 
on a breakable deposit basis. The majority of funds are 
deposited for terms of less than 90 days. This allows the 
Group to react to rate changes within a reasonable timeframe 
and to mitigate pricing risk accordingly.

Going Concern
Having reviewed cash flow forecasts for the 12-month period 
following the date of signing the financial statements, the 
Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and 
the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, they continue to adopt 
the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

Key Stakeholders: Connecting with our Stakeholders
This is the first period for which the Group is required to comply 
with the Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018 
and to report on how the Directors of the Group have met their 
duty under section 172(1) of the Companies Act 2006. Our 
business touches the lives of many people and organisations. 
We exist in a complex and evolving regulatory and scientific 
environment and we have a number of key stakeholder groups, 
some examples of which are included below.

The Group maintains and operates a Code of Business Conduct 
and Ethics called “i-CARE”. This sets out the Group’s approach 
to ensure that our corporate values are maintained throughout 
our global business through five main arms:

Exchange Rate Risk
 > The individual financial statements of each Group Company 

are prepared in the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which it operates (its functional currency). 
For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the 
results and financial position of the Group are presented in 
US Dollars.

 > Integrity
 > Compliance
 > Accountability
 > Respect
 > Ethics

This Code applies to all employees of GW Group companies, and 
all are required to attest compliance with the policy.

The Group considers that respecting human rights is a global 
standard of expected conduct for all business enterprises. The 
Group aims to comply with all applicable laws, especially health 
and safety, to prevent abuses of human rights. Regular dialogue is 
held between employees at each of the Group’s sites and senior 
management to ensure that any issues are identified and resolved.

Separately, the majority of employees are given the opportunity to 
participate in the Company’s share capital by joining one or more 
of the share option schemes operated by the Company. Details of 
the share options issued under these plans are set out in note 23 
to the financial statements. Equal opportunity is given to all 
employees regardless of their age, sex, colour, race, disability, 
religion or ethnic origin.

Exchange rate fluctuations between local currencies and the US 
Dollar create risk in several ways, including the following:

 > Weakening of the US Dollar may increase the US Dollar cost 
of overseas R&D expenses and the cost of sourced product 
components outside the US;

 > Strengthening of the US Dollar may decrease the value of our 

revenues denominated in other currencies;

 > Exchange rates on non-Dollar transactions and cash deposits 

can distort our financial results; and

 > Commercial pricing and profit margins are affected by 

currency fluctuations.

The Group holds the largest proportion of cash and cash 
equivalents in US Dollars, to mitigate the likelihood of foreign 
exchange fluctuations.

During the period the Group had exposure to Pounds sterling 
(“GBP”), Euros (“€”) and Canadian Dollars (“CAD”). The 
Group’s policy is to maintain natural hedges, where possible, 
by matching revenue and receipts with expenditure. The Group 
continues to hold a large balance of GBP, to match future 
anticipated GBP-denominated expenditure on continuing 
manufacturing, clinical and capital expenditure activities based 
in the United Kingdom. The Group expects to formalise a 
corporate hedging programme in 2020 to partially mitigate the 
potential volatility of the USD:GBP exchange rate, given the 
ongoing uncertainty on the U.K. economy following its vote to 
leave the European Union and likely conclusion of the transition 
period as of December 2020.

12

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Overview

Why it is important to engage

How the Board of  
Directors engaged

What were the key factors  
of engagement?

Shareholders and 
investors

The Board of Directors is accountable 
to shareholders, and must act in a 
way that is likely to promote the 
success of the Company for the 
benefit of its members as a whole.

Through the Board’s engagement 
activities, the Board strives to obtain 
investor buy-in into GW’s strategic 
objectives and execution plan.

The Board can create value for its 
shareholders by generating strong 
commercial progress and successful 
development of future projects. 

The Board seeks to promote an 
investor base that is interested in a 
long-term holding in the Company.

Patients and 
families

The Board places the patient at the 
centre of its activities, and as such 
engagement is required to 
understand the needs of the patient 
and their caregivers.

Suppliers

The Board directs the Group to 
spend a substantial amount of funds 
with suppliers across all aspects of 
operations, including R&D, 
manufacturing and 
commercialisation. Having an 
effective supplier process is critical to 
success of the organisation.

The Group’s Remuneration 
Policy was put to 
shareholders at the Annual 
General Meeting in June 
2019.

At the same meeting, the 
Group requested a view on 
the retrospective 
Remuneration Report for 
the 15 months ended 
31 December 2018.

An advisory vote was also 
held, on a non-binding 
basis, to hold future 
shareholder advisory votes 
on the compensation of the 
Company’s named 
Executive Officers every year.

 > Creation and support of 
bespoke websites in 
approved indications to 
enable patients to learn 
more about the 
conditions and connect 
with other patient 
groups.

 > Our patient support 
programmes provide 
patient and caregiver 
focused education and 
help provide resources. 

 > Review of Procurement 
Policy following global 
expansion of the Group.
 > Review of latest i-CARE 
policy, including Code 
of Conduct for all 
organisations, including 
suppliers.

The key mechanisms of 
engagement included:

 > Annual General Meeting
 > Investor days
 > Attendance at key 

conferences

 > Close collaboration with 

patient advocacy groups in 
the US and Europe.
 > Engaged patients in our 

development and clinical 
trial programmes to 
ensure a patient-informed 
medicine.

 > Active support of 

charitable foundations 
associated with the 
Group’s products.

 > Engaged with suppliers 
via meetings with their 
senior management, 
which allows discussion 
and the development of 
sustainable working 
partnerships between 
those suppliers and GW.

 > Third parties and 

suppliers are required to 
comply with the Group’s 
GW Code of Conduct for 
Business Partners, to 
which GW requires 
suppliers, vendors, 
customers, agents, 
consultants and 
contractors to conform.

Employees

The Board places considerable value 
on the involvement of its employees. 
We believe that any individual 
employee’s contribution is a key 
element to the future success of the 
Group.

Employees are regularly 
briefed on the Group’s 
activities in Company-wide 
meetings and updates, and 
have regular opportunities to 
share their views with 
members of the Board and 
Executive Officers at online 
and in-person meetings 
across our U.K. and US sites.

During Q4 2019, the Group 
conducted the latest version 
of its Group-wide 
engagement survey. This 
survey was open to all 
employees and completion 
rate across the organisation 
was 94%, an increase from 
the 89% rate recorded for 
the 2018 survey.

What was the impact of  
the engagement including any  
actions taken?

A revised Remuneration 
Policy was approved by 
shareholders. This provides 
the parameters for 
remuneration from June 
2019 onwards, effective for 
three years.

Shareholders endorsed the 
Remuneration Report for 
the period.

Shareholders also voted to 
hold an advisory vote on an 
annual basis.

 > Charitable days to 
support epilepsy 
organisations 
throughout the United 
States and U.K.
 > Patient support 

programmes established 
may lower patients’ 
out-of-pocket costs or 
provide product at no 
cost to eligible patients in 
the United States, where 
the product was marketed 
for the full period.

 > Establishing and 

expanding an integrated 
Procurement function, 
across the organisation.
 > On a half-yearly basis, 
disclosure of payment 
practices, policies and 
performance in line with 
Regulations made under 
section 3 of the Small 
Business, Enterprise and 
Employment Act 2015.

Similar to the 2018 
engagement survey, the 
Group will identify detailed 
actions which are then 
tracked and reported on in 
Company-wide meetings. 
As an example, 2018’s 
survey resulted in 
improvements around 
employee recognition, 
systems, diversity and 
inclusion, collaboration and 
culture.

13

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Strategic Report continued 

Environmental Matters
We have reported on all of the emission sources required under 
the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) 
Regulations 2013. Our sources of emission relate principally to 
our growing and manufacturing facilities, the costs of which are 
included within our consolidated financial statements. We have 
responsibility for any emission sources where we bear the 
associated costs in our consolidated statements.

We have used the Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) Protocol Corporate 
Accounting and Reporting Standard (revised edition) data 
gathered to fulfil our requirements under the CRC Energy 
Efficiency scheme, and emission factors from U.K. Government’s 
GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting 2016.

We have used the most recent evidence or estimates provided by 
our energy supply partners to generate our disclosure of 
emissions for the year ended 31 December 2019. These include 
the purchase of electricity, heat, steam or cooling.

We estimate that the annual quantity of emissions for the Group 
for 2019 was 2,482 tonnes of carbon dioxide (2018: 2,211 tonnes), 
produced by activities for which the Group is responsible. The 
Group considers that the intensity ratio of tonnes of carbon dioxide 
per employee is a suitable metric for its operations. This was 2.9 
tonnes per head average (15 months ended 31 December 2018: 3.2 
tonnes) for the year ended 31 December 2019.

Disabled Employees
Applications for employment by disabled persons are always fully 
considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of the applicant 
concerned. In the event of members of staff becoming disabled, 
every effort is made to ensure that their employment with the 
Group continues and that appropriate training is arranged. It is 
the policy of the Group that the training, career development and 
promotion of disabled persons should, as far as possible, be 
identical with that of other employees.

Our Employees
We aim to recruit, retain and motivate intelligent people who will 
share our passion for developing medicines that meet the needs of 
patients and who will strive to help us to achieve strategic aims. 
We appreciate that the accumulated knowledge and experience of 
our staff is one of our greatest assets and we recognise and reward 
loyalty.

As at 31 December 2019, 176 (31 December 2018: 129) of our 
staff have worked for the Group for more than five years. Fifty- 
four (2018: 50) of these have been with us for more than 10 years. 
We seek to encourage staff retention by offering participation in 
staff share option schemes, bonus schemes and the GW Above & 
Beyond scheme with which we reward those members of staff 
who have demonstrated exceptional achievements, innovative 
ideas, great teamwork and/or other praiseworthy achievements 
that go beyond the day-to-day requirements of their role.

The Group is aware of the risks of climate change and actively 
looks to minimise indirect areas of emissions by encouraging 
remote working and promoting online conferencing facilities to 
reduce business-related travel. This has resulted in significant 
investment in video conferencing across all U.K. and US locations. 

We recruit individuals who have the skills, experience and 
positive attitude needed to optimally perform the roles that we 
need in order to help us to drive our business forward. We recruit 
without regard to sex or ethnic origin, appointing and thereafter 
promoting staff based upon merit, positive attitude and success.

The Group has focused its attentions on its manufacturing 
facilities based in the United Kingdom. A number of 
improvements have already been introduced:

 > Used botanical raw material is now actively composted rather 

than incinerated

 > Zero production waste is taken to landfill
 > Odour controls implemented leading to a reduction in Total 

Volatile Organic Compounds

 > Switch from the use of non-recyclable foam packaging to 

recyclable material for product supply

 > Improved management of waste across all global sites with a 

greater emphasis on recycling

Additionally, in relation to our energy consumption, we are 
actively exploring ways to reduce the light energy used in some of 
our plant growing facilities through various low-light R&D trials, 
which may also provide significant cost savings of production. 

As a business whose core activity starts with the growing of 
plants which are actively absorbing carbon dioxide, we have a 
natural carbon capture process within our business operations. 
We have not sought to quantify the extent to which this offsets 
the carbon footprint of our business but we take some comfort 
from the fact that this helps to mitigate the environmental impact 
of our business and we expect this to increase as the scale of our 
growing operations expands to meet future demand for our 
plant-derived medicines.

14

The profile of the Group’s employees at 31 December 2019 was 
as follows:

Male 
31 December 
2019

Female 
31 December 
2019

Total 
31 December 
2019

Number of persons who 
were Directors of the Group 
(including non-Executive)

Number of persons who were 
Executive Officers of the Group

Number of persons who were 
Senior Leaders of the Group

Number of persons who were 
Employees of the Group

Total Employees at 
31 December 2019

6

6

21

405

438

2

–

11

456

469

8

6

32

861

907

This report was approved by the Board of Directors on 18 March 
2020 and signed on its behalf by:

Justin Gover
Director
18 March 2020

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Report

The Directors present their Annual Report and the audited 
consolidated financial statements for the Group and Company for 
the year ended 31 December 2019. The Company has chosen to 
set out some of the matters, as outlined below, otherwise required 
by regulations made under section 416(4) of the Companies Act 
2006 to be disclosed in the Strategic Report as the Directors 
consider they are of strategic importance to the Company.

Group Research and Development (“R&D”) 
Activities

The R&D undertaken by the Group amounted to $146.8 million 
(15-month period ended 31 December 2018: $167.1 million), all 
of which was expensed during the year ended 31 December 2019. 

Results and Dividends

The Consolidated Income Statements for the year are set out on 
page 45. The Group’s loss after tax for the year ended 
31 December 2019 was $17.7 million (15-month period to 
31 December 2018: $341.4 million).

The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend 
(15-month period ended 31 December 2018: $nil).

Share Capital

Information relating to changes to the issued share capital during 
the year is given in note 22 to the financial statements.

The Group is funded principally by ordinary share capital and 
has no bank debt as at 31 December 2019 (31 December 2018: 
$nil). The Group has lease liabilities of $33.4 million at 
31 December 2019 (31 December 2018: $6.1 million). This 
increase reflects the adoption of IFRS 16 Leases, with further 
information given in note 2 to the financial statements.

Substantial Shareholdings

On 18 March 2020 the Company had been notified, in 
accordance with the Companies Act 2006, of the following 
interests in the ordinary share capital of the Company:

Number of  
shares held

Percentage

Capital Research Global Investors (US)
Franklin Advisers, Inc.1
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Capital World Investors (US)
Victory Capital Management, Inc. 
(Investment Management)

43,476,806
27,516,372
14,100,000
13,255,261
11,663,364

11.7
7.4
3.8
3.6
3.1

1  The interest recorded by Franklin Advisers, Inc., also includes 114,408 ordinary 

shares held by the Fiduciary Trust Company International and Franklin Templeton 
Investments (Asia) Ltd. as disclosed in the Statement of Acquisition of Beneficial 
Ownership by Individuals as filed with the SEC on 4 February 2020.

Directors and Their Interests

The following Directors held office during the year and up to the 
date of signing the financial statements:
Dr Geoffrey Guy
Justin Gover
James Noble
Thomas Lynch
Cabot Brown
Catherine Mackey
Alicia Secor
William Waldegrave

Details of the beneficial interests of Directors in the ordinary 
shares of the Company are disclosed within the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on page 16.

Details of the Directors’ share options and service contracts are 
shown in the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

In accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company, 
Dr. Geoffrey Guy and Cabot Brown will retire by rotation at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) and, being 
eligible, offer themselves for re-election.

Annual General Meeting

The AGM will be held in Andover on 26 May 2020. Further details 
will be provided to shareholders prior to the meeting. Details of 
the resolutions to be proposed at the meeting are set out in the 
Notice of AGM 2020 which will be circulated to all shareholders.

Auditor and Audit Information

Each of the persons who is a Director at the date of approval of 
this Annual Report confirms that:

(a) so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit 

information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; and
(b) the Director has taken all the steps that he/she ought to have 
taken as a Director in order to make himself/herself aware of 
any relevant audit information and to establish that the 
Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in 
accordance with the provisions of section 418 of the Companies 
Act 2006. The Audit Committee has recommended the 
reappointment of the Group’s existing auditor, Deloitte LLP, 
which will be proposed at the forthcoming AGM.

This report was approved by the Board of Directors on 18 March 
2020 and signed on its behalf by

Justin Gover
Director
18 March 2020

15

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Remuneration Report

The information provided in this part of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report is not subject to audit.

Remuneration Committee Chairman’s 
Annual Statement

Dear Shareholder
As Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, and on behalf of 
the Board I am pleased to present the Remuneration Committee’s 
report for the year ended 31 December 2019. I would like to take 
this opportunity to provide you with an overview of the 
Remuneration Committee’s major decisions taken during 2019, 
together with the context in which these decisions were taken. 

We were pleased to receive a significant level of shareholder 
voting support at the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) in June 
2019, with over 97% of shareholders supporting the approval of 
the Directors’ Remuneration Policy, and over 99% approving the 
2018 Remuneration Report. The June 2019 AGM was the Group’s 
first as a US Domestic Registrant. We also asked shareholders to 
set out the frequency of future votes on executive compensation 
and over 99% requested annual advisory votes, in line with the 
Board’s recommendation.

Context of the Committee’s Decisions in 2019
For GW, 2019 reflected the first full period for Epidiolex sales in 
the United States. We believe that this has been an exceptional 
first year for the product and provides a compelling foundation 
for continued success. This was bolstered following approval by 
the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) in September 2019, 
and commercialisation commencing in France and Germany 
before the end of the year.

Looking into 2020, our goal is not only to continue to drive 
Epidiolex growth in the United States and Europe, but also 
continue to advance our pipeline. It is in this context that the 
Committee have made our major decisions during 2019. 

The Remuneration Committee
In accordance with best practice, the GW Remuneration 
Committee, consisting of independent non-executive Directors 
under my Chairmanship, manages the remuneration of the 
Executive Directors within the framework of the shareholder 
approved Policy and shareholder approved LTIP option scheme 
rules.

Our approach to remuneration:
The Group Remuneration Policy for Executive Directors aims to:

 > align the interests of Executive Directors with those of 

shareholders;

 > have regard to the individuals’ experience and the nature and 
complexity of their work in order to pay a competitive salary 
that attracts and retains management of the highest quality, 
while avoiding remunerating those Directors more than is 
necessary;

 > link individual remuneration packages to the Group’s 

short-term and long-term performance through the award of 
incentives via participation in the Group’s cash and equity-
based incentive schemes;

 > provide post-retirement benefits through defined contribution 

pension schemes; and

 > provide employment-related benefits including the provision 

of life assurance and medical assurance.

I believe that these aims, which remain unchanged from previous 
years, have been working well, continue to be relevant and 
provide a firm framework within which future remuneration will 
be determined. The shareholder approved Policy provides a set of 
parameters within which we work whilst still allowing the 
Remuneration Committee sufficient flexibility to adapt 
remuneration packages in line with the development of the 
business. This should allow the Company to attract, retain and 
motivate Directors and Executive Officers with the skills, talent 
and motivation to deliver upon our strategy and to continue to 
create value for our shareholders.

Key Remuneration Committee Activities in 2019:
During 2019 the Remuneration Committee’s key activities have 
been as follows:

 > In January 2019, consistent with previous years, we engaged 
Willis Towers Watson as independent advisers to benchmark 
the remuneration of the Directors against the selected peer 
group and to provide recommendations for basic salaries, 
Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) awards, new-hire equity 
awards, prevalence of performance plans and the structure 
of bonus incentive awards for the year. As the Company 
continues to grow in size and complexity, the Remuneration 
Committee requested that Willis Towers Watson reviewed the 
peer group of comparable US-listed biotech/pharmaceutical 
development companies. 

Willis Towers Watson suggested biopharmaceutical 
companies that had a 12-month trailing market capitalisation 
of between $1.0 billion to $11.2 billion, revenue of less than 
$500 million per annum and with greater than 100 employees, 
applying a consultative review to arrive at a shortlist of 
potential additional peers based on industry and business 
description and organisations considered to be close 
competitors. This was then subject to review, refinement and 
approval by the Remuneration Committee.

Based on these criteria, Willis Towers Watson recommended, 
and our Committee approved, removing Alder 
Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Juno Therapeutics, Inc., Pacira 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Radius Health, Inc. and adding 
Amarin Corporation plc, Array BioPharma Inc., Exelixis, Inc., 
FibroGen, Inc. and Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. The latest peer 
group consists of 19 companies with a median market 
capitalisation of $3.8 billion.

The peer group used for benchmarking in January 2019 
consisted of ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Agios 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amarin 
Corporation plc, Array Pharmaceuticals, Inc., bluebird bio, Inc., 
Clovis Oncology, Inc., Exelixis, Inc., FibroGen, Inc., Halozyme 
Therapeutics, Inc., Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc., Neurocrine 
Biosciences Inc., Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc., Puma 
Biotechnology Inc., Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Sarepta 
Therapeutics, Inc., Spark Therapeutics, Inc., Tesaro, Inc. and 
Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

16

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
 
Willis Towers Watson received $45,728 in compensation for 
their work relating to Directors’ remuneration advice.

 > In February 2019, the Remuneration Committee met to 

consider the basic salary increases to be awarded to Executive 
Officers. Inflationary increases had been given to the majority 
of our staff and the Executive Directors were given an 
inflationary basic salary increase of 3% effective from 
1 January 2019. External benchmarking analysis for the Chief 
Executive Officer, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Operating 
Officer were below the median of peer group data. The 
Remuneration Committee approved an increase in the Chief 
Executive Officer’s basic salary to $650,000, an increase in the 
Chief Medical Officer’s basic salary by 4% to $450,000, and 
the Chief Operating Officer’s basic salary by 5% to £296,000 
effective from 1 March 2019.

 > At the same time, the Remuneration Committee met to 

consider the extent of achievement of 2018 calendar year 
objectives by the executive team, and to determine the level of 
short-term bonus incentive award to be paid in respect of the 
2018 calendar year. The consensus was that 2018 had been an 
exceptional year in which substantial progress with all 
material objectives had been approved, including the Group’s 
first FDA approval. 

Under the 2018 bonus program, bonus incentive awards were 
determined by first establishing a bonus pool. The bonus pool 
was calculated by aggregating the target cash incentive awards 
for all eligible plan participants and then multiplying that sum 
by a modifier established by our Remuneration Committee 
based on our performance as measured against the 2018 
Company goals. The 2018 Company goals approved by our 
Board of Directors and Remuneration Committee at the 
beginning of the year were as follows:

2018 Company Goals:
 – Achieve FDA regulatory approval of Epidiolex
 – Progress EU regulatory submission to support approval in 

2019

 – Manufacturing sufficient inventory of Epidiolex to support 
commercial launch, and advance all steps necessary to meet 
long-term demand

 – Ensure organisation and operational readiness to execute 
successful US launch and progress EU launch preparations
 – Progress Epidiolex clinical strategy, completing close out of 

second Dravet syndrome clinical study and complete 
recruitment of Phase 3 Tuberous Sclerosis study

 – Formulate protocol and development plan for Sativex US 

multiple sclerosis development

 – Implement comprehensive programme of compliance 
policies to support US and EU commercial launches
 – Successfully manage all elements of conversion to a US 
domestic registrant, with effect from fiscal year ended 
30 September 2018

 – Progress other pipeline projects, with particular focus on 

CBDV and CBD:THC

The bonus pool was then allocated among all of the plan 
participants in accordance with the terms of the 2018 annual 
bonus incentive program. Consistent with 2017, our Chief 
Executive Officer and executive team bonus incentive awards were 
based 75% on Company goals and 25% on individual objectives.

Our Remuneration Committee assessed performance and 
determined that the executive team had met or exceeded each of 
the 2018 Company goals and, after considering the pivotal nature 
of FDA approval of Epidiolex in the United States, approved a 
bonus award equating to 150% of target for each Officer. The 
Remuneration Committee considered that the Chief Executive 
Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer 
deserved additional recognition in respect of their individual 
efforts towards the US approval of Epidiolex. The Committee 
approved an incremental bonus award taking total bonus to 
160% of target for these individuals.

 > At the same time, the Remuneration Committee approved the 
bonus objectives to be achieved by the Executive Directors 
during 2019. The approved objectives are predominantly EMA 
approval of Epidiolex and success of US commercial launch. 
These were considered by the Remuneration Committee to be 
the key value drivers for the business and therefore represent 
the optimum objectives for executive team incentive schemes 
for 2019.

It is expected that future bonus targets will be 70% of basic 
salary for the Chief Executive Officer, and 50% of basic salary 
for all other Executive Officers. Consistent with previous 
years, individual objectives have been agreed with each of the 
executive team, with 75% of the 2019 bonus award to be 
awarded by the Remuneration Committee based upon 
achievement of Group objectives, with the remaining 25% to 
be awarded based upon the achievement of individual objectives.

 > At the same time, the Remuneration Committee met and 
agreed the terms of the 2019 grant of LTIP awards to the 
Directors and Executive Officers. These were segmented so 
that (i) 50% of the value of the award is linked to rigorous 
performance conditions linked to Company key value drivers, 
which must be achieved in the three-year vesting period, (ii) 
25% of the value of the award is in the form of market-priced 
share options with a three-year vesting period, and (iii) 25% of 
the value of the award took the form of restricted stock options 
which vest at the rate of 25% per annum over a four-year 
vesting period. 

The selected performance conditions that are required to be 
achieved in order to trigger vesting of 50% of this award are 
again considered to be directly linked to key business value 
drivers creating alignment with shareholders’ interests. The 
restricted stock option element of the award is considered to 
encourage long-term retention, considered to be a key factor 
critical to future success, and the market priced options are 
intended to align further the interests of the Executive 
Directors with shareholders’ interests. The resulting mix is 
designed to create an appropriate balance of long-term 
incentives linked to value-driving objectives, aligned with 
shareholder value creation, whilst encouraging retention of the 
team considered to be a key success factor for the future. 

Recommendations for equity grants had been proposed by 
Willis Towers Watson, designed to target alignment with the 
median of peer group data. It was highlighted that an equity 
grant for the Chief Executive Officer with a fair value 
equivalent to 750% of basic salary is required to align with the 
median of peers. As this grant would have exceeded the 600% 
limit contained within the shareholder-approved 

17

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

The 2019 Company goals approved by our Board of Directors and 
Remuneration Committee at the beginning of the year were as 
follows:

2019 Company Goals:
 – Successful US commercial trajectory of Epidiolex
 – Epidyolex approval by EMA leading to launches in major 

markets

 – Manufacturing scale-up to meet in-market demand for 

medium-term capacity requirements

 – Epidiolex label expansion by completion of Tuberous 

Sclerosis study to enable sNDA filing and commencement 
of Rett syndrome study

 – Progress with development of Epidiolex lifecycle 

management

 – Pipeline progress with a focus on nabiximols

The bonus pool was then allocated among all of the plan 
participants in accordance with the terms of the 2019 annual 
bonus incentive program. Consistent with 2018, our Chief 
Executive Officer and executive team bonus incentive awards 
were based 75% on Company goals and 25% on individual 
objectives.

Our Remuneration Committee assessed performance and 
determined that the executive team had met or exceeded each of 
the 2019 Company goals and, after considering the success of 
Epidiolex commercialisation in the United States, approved a 
bonus award equating to 115% of target for each Director or 
Executive Officer. The Remuneration Committee considered that 
the Chief Operating Officer deserved additional recognition in 
respect of his individual effort towards the European approval of 
Epidyolex, the establishment of a European commercial 
organisation and the manufacturing expansion projects. The 
Committee approved an incremental bonus award taking total 
bonus to 120% of target.

Thomas Lynch
Remuneration Committee Chairman
18 March 2020

Remuneration Policy, it was resolved to proceed with the 
maximum grant of 600% and only to grant the incremental 
150% after the required amendment to the Remuneration 
Policy had been approved by shareholders at the June 2019 
Annual General Meeting. Then, having received shareholder 
approval of this policy limit change, the additional grant took 
place in June 2019.

At the grant date these awards had expected values at grant 
equivalent to 600% of basic salary for the Chief Executive 
Officer, 450% of basic salary for the Executive Chairman, 
350% of basic salary for Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal 
Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Chief Medical Officer, 
and Managing Director, U.K.

The amended Remuneration Policy was approved by 
shareholders at the June 2019 Annual General Meeting, 
resulting in an additional grant of 150% of basic salary to 
the Chief Executive Officer.

 > In April 2019, the Remuneration Committee met to consider 
the terms of the offer of employment for Darren Cline for the 
role of Chief Commercial Officer. In line with 
recommendations put forward by Willis Towers Watson in the 
January 2019 review, a basic salary of $450,000, bonus target 
of up to 50% of basic salary and a LTIP award upon joining 
equivalent to 400% of basic salary was proposed and 
approved. 

 > In September 2019, the Remuneration Committee met to 
approve the reimbursement of certain travel and expense 
amounts for US resident Directors of GW Pharmaceuticals plc 
for travel to Board meetings held in the United Kingdom. 
These expenses are taxable on the individual for services 
incurred in the United Kingdom. There are no proposed 
changes to the Remuneration Policy at the Annual General 
Meeting, scheduled for May 2020.

 > In February 2020, the Remuneration Committee met to 

consider the basic salary increases to be awarded to Executive 
Officers. Inflationary increases had been given to the majority 
of our staff and the Executive Directors were given an 
inflationary basic salary increase of 3% effective from 
1 January 2020. External benchmarking analysis for the Chief 
Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer were below the 
median of peer group data. The Remuneration Committee 
approved an increase in the Chief Financial Officer’s basic 
salary by 5.1% to $433,000, and an increase in the Chief 
Operating Officer’s basic salary by 8.1% to £320,000 effective 
from 1 March 2020.

 > At the same time, the Remuneration Committee met to 

consider the extent of achievement of 2019 calendar year 
objectives by the executive team, and to determine the level of 
short-term bonus incentive award to be paid in respect of the 
2019 calendar year. The consensus was that 2019 had been a 
very strong year for the Group, with strong sales of Epidiolex 
for the first full year in the United States and the achievement 
of an EMA approval for Epidyolex in Europe. 

Under the bonus program, bonus incentive awards were 
determined by first establishing a bonus pool. The bonus pool 
was calculated by aggregating the target cash incentive awards for 
all eligible plan participants and then multiplying that sum by a 
modifier established by our Remuneration Committee based on 
our performance as measured against the 2019 Company goals.

18

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Annual Report on Remuneration

The information provided in this part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report is subject to audit.

Single Total Figure of Remuneration for Each Director
The Directors received the following remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2019:

Name of Director

Executive
Dr Geoffrey W Guy
Justin Gover

Non-executive
James Noble
Cabot Brown
Thomas Lynch1
Catherine Mackey
Alicia Secor
William Waldegrave

Salary and 
fees 
£

Taxable 
benefits 
£

Short-term 
incentives2 
£

Long-term 
incentive 
plans3 
£

Pension 
contributions 
£

2019 
total 
£

410,000
502,187

3,566
42,955

–
398,970

5,395,149
6,259,595

– 5,808,715
7,440 7,211,147

71,965
70,401
–
54,756
52,801
50,845

–
3,163
–
5,475
1,316
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

23,683
23,683
23,683
23,683
23,683
23,683

–
–
–
–
–
–

95,648
97,247
23,683
83,914
77,800
74,528

Aggregate emoluments

1,212,955

56,475

398,970 11,796,842

7,440 13,472,682

1 

Since his appointment as a non-executive Director in July 2010, Thomas Lynch has waived his right to receive fees, taxable benefits, short-term incentives and pension 
contributions for this role.

2   Short-term incentives represent the bonus paid in February 2020 in respect of salary and fees earned in 2019.
3  LTIP gains represent the unrealised gains on LTIPs that vested during the year ended 31 December 2019, calculated according to the share price at the date of vesting. Only a 
portion of these gains had been realised by 31 December 2019, depending on whether the Directors exercised or sold these LTIPs. The following elements of the gain are 
attributable to share price appreciation/depreciation:
•  Dr. Geoffrey W Guy: Appreciation of £3,947,950
• 
• 

Justin Gover: Appreciation of £4,535,818
James Noble, Cabot Brown, Thomas Lynch, Catherine Mackey, Alicia Secor and William Waldegrave: Depreciation of £8,249 each

Details on the nature of each of the above categories can be found within the Summary Remuneration Policy table on page 31.

The Directors received the following remuneration for the 15 months ended 31 December 2018:

Name of Director

Executive
Dr Geoffrey W Guy
Justin Gover

Non-executive
James Noble
Cabot Brown
Thomas Lynch1
Catherine Mackey
Alicia Secor
William Waldegrave4

Salary and 
fees 
£

Taxable 
benefits 
£

Short-term 
incentives2 
£

Long-term 
incentive  
plans3 
£

Pension 
contributions 
£

2018  
total 
£

521,535
486,511

4,602
19,029

–
376,182

1,852,124
2,041,377

– 2,378,261
7,784 2,930,883

86,460
84,587
–
53,956
52,029
48,840

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

257,471
257,471
257,471
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

343,931
342,058
257,471
53,956
52,029
48,840

Aggregate emoluments

1,333,918

23,631

376,182

4,665,914

7,784 6,407,429

1 

Since his appointment as a non-executive Director in July 2010, Thomas Lynch has waived his right to receive fees, taxable benefits, short-term incentives and pension 
contributions for this role.
Short-term incentives represent the bonus paid in February 2019 in respect of salary and fees earned in 2018.

2 
3  LTIP gains represent the unrealised gains on LTIPs that vested during the 15 months ended 31 December 2018, calculated according to the share price at the date of vesting. These 

gains have not been realised by 31 December 2018 as the Directors have not exercised or sold these LTIPs.

4  Not included within William Waldegrave’s salary and fees received is £13,800 relating to amounts paid for services provided prior to appointment as a Director of the Company.

19

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

Long-Term Incentive Awards Vesting During the Financial Year
The table set out below illustrates the long-term incentive awards which vested during 2019. All of the following data has been 
included in the 2019 remuneration table above.

Performance  
period end

Name of Director

Award date

03/01/2019

James Noble

03/01/2018

Cabot Brown
Thomas Lynch
Catherine Mackey
Alicia Secor
William Waldegrave

Type of 
Option

RSO1

RSU2
RSO
RSU
RSU
RSO

06/01/2019

Justin Gover

06/01/2017

RSO

15/02/2019

Justin Gover

15/02/2016

RSO

Justin Gover

PSO3

Vesting condition

Vesting 
occurred?

Share price at 
vesting date

ADS price 
at vesting date

Continued employment throughout  
the vesting period

✓

62p

$99.69

718p

$108.88

979p

$150.49

Continued employment throughout  
the vesting period

Continued employment throughout  
the vesting period

✓

✓

Half of the performance stock options 
will occur upon receipt from FDA of 
their confirmation of acceptance of an 
Epidiolex NDA filing.
Half of the performance stock options 
will occur upon FDA grant of Epidiolex 
regulatory approval.

Justin Gover

Geoffrey Guy

Geoffrey Guy

MPO4 Continued employment throughout the 

vesting period

RSO

PSO

Continued employment throughout the 
vesting period

Half of the performance stock options 
will occur upon receipt from FDA of 
their confirmation of acceptance of an 
Epidiolex NDA filing.
Half of the performance stock options 
will occur upon FDA grant of Epidiolex 
regulatory approval.

Geoffrey Guy

MPO Continued employment throughout 

26/02/2019

Justin Gover

26/02/2018

RSU

Geoffrey Guy

24/06/2019

Justin Gover

24/06/2015

RSO

RSO

Geoffrey Guy

10/08/2019 Geoffrey Guy

10/08/2018

RSU

1  RSO is a restricted stock option 
2  RSU is a restricted stock unit, which automatically vests
3  PSO is a performance stock option
4  MPO is a market-priced option

the vesting period

Continued employment throughout  
the vesting period

Continued employment throughout  
the vesting period

Continued employment throughout 
the vesting period

✓

✓

✓

970p

$152.89

1125p

$172.27

1147p

$166.98

Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted to the Directors and Executive Officers in 2019
Directors and Executive Officers are awarded LTIPs at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. Awards are typically calculated 
with reference to the closing mid-market ordinary share price of the Company’s ordinary shares on the day prior to grant. During 
periods of volatility, the price used to determine award size is determined by reference to the average closing mid-market ordinary 
share price of the previous five trading days.

20

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019The Executive Directors and Officers were awarded options to subscribe for the Company’s ordinary shares split into three different 
types of options:
 > market-priced options, whereby the options have an exercise price equivalent to the market price at market close on the day prior to 

grant;

 > performance stock options, whereby the options will vest upon the third anniversary of the date of grant subject to certain 

corporate performance conditions having been achieved; and

 > restricted stock options or restricted stock units, whereby the options are subject to a four-year service condition and vesting 

period. 25% of the options will vest on each anniversary of the date of grant over the four-year period.

In general, the awards may be exercised at any time between the vesting date and the 10th anniversary of the date of grant. Our 
US-based Directors and Executive Officers will be required to exercise their performance stock before 15 March of the year following 
the year of vesting. Restricted stock units vest automatically on the vesting date. The exercise price of the performance stock options 
and restricted stock options is 0.1p per ordinary share, being the par value of the shares. Awards which do not vest at the end of the 
vesting period will lapse permanently. The Company’s share options are traded on NASDAQ as American Depositary Shares (“ADS”), 
for which 12 ordinary shares equate to one ADS.

The table below sets out the LTIPs awarded in the year to 31 December 2019 to Executive Directors:

Granted

Face value at 
date of grant (£)

Exercise  
price

Performance  
period end

Date of expiry

% of award 
vesting for 
minimum 
performance

Name of Director

Justin Gover
Market-priced options

119,472

1,292,686

Market-priced options

30,936

357,564

Performance stock options
Performance stock options
Restricted stock units year 1 – 25%
Restricted stock units year 2 – 25%
Restricted stock units year 3 – 25%
Restricted stock units year 4 – 25%
Restricted stock units year 1 – 25%
Restricted stock units year 2 – 25%
Restricted stock units year 3 – 25%
Restricted stock units year 4 – 25%

Dr Geoffrey W Guy
Market-priced options

Performance restricted stock units
Restricted stock options year 1 – 25%
Restricted stock options year 2 – 25%
Restricted stock options year 3 – 25%
Restricted stock options year 4 – 25%

226,752
55,488
17,004
17,004
17,004
17,004
4,164
4,164
4,164
4,164

2,453,317
670,097
183,973
183,973
183,973
183,973
50,286
50,286
50,286
50,286

75,252

814,151

142,824
10,704
10,704
10,704
10,704

1,593,018
115,811
115,811
115,811
115,811

1,082.0p
($172.01
per ADS)
1,155.8p
($175.74
per ADS)
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

1,082.0p
($172.01
per ADS)
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

01/03/2022

01/03/2029

100%

14/06/2022

14/06/2029

100%

01/03/2022
14/06/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2023
14/06/2020
14/06/2021
14/06/2022
14/06/2023

01/03/2022
14/06/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2023
14/06/2020
14/06/2021
14/06/2022
14/06/2023

0%
0%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

01/03/2022

01/03/2029

100%

01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2023

01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2023

0%
100%
100%
100%
100%

The face value of the above options has been derived using the closing share price of the Group’s ADSs the day prior to grant.

The vesting of the above awards is subject to the following performance conditions.

Grant Relating to Executive Directors
25% of the awards are in the form of market-priced options, whereby the options have an exercise price equivalent to the market price 
at market close on the day prior to grant ($172.01 per ADS, equivalent to 1,082.0p per ordinary share). These options become 
exercisable on the third anniversary of the date of grant. Future gains upon exercise of these options will be linked to the extent of 
share price growth over the vesting period. The committee consider that this element of the awards will help to ensure continuing 
alignment between Executive and shareholders’ interests. The Black Scholes option pricing model was used to derive the fair values.

50% of the awards are in the form of performance stock options, whereby the options will vest upon the third anniversary of the date 
of grant subject to having achieved an agreed Epidiolex net sales revenue target for 2019. 

The Remuneration Committee considers this particular milestone to be an important element of our agreed strategy and the key value 
driver for the business at this time. 

21

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

25% of the awards are in the form of restricted stock options for U.K.-based Directors, or restricted stock units for US-based Directors, 
whereby these options are subject to a four-year service condition and vesting period. 25% of the options will vest on each anniversary 
of the date of grant over the next four years. US-based Directors’ restricted stock units are automatically exercised immediately on 
vesting. The committee consider that this element of the awards should help to ensure retention of our team of Executive Directors, a 
key factor for GW’s future success. 

Following the approval of the current Remuneration Policy by shareholders at the June 2019 Annual General Meeting, an additional 
grant of 150% of basic salary was made to the Chief Executive Officer. The terms were as above, except that the exercise price 
equivalent to the market price at market close on the day prior to grant was $175.74 per ADS, equivalent to 1,155.8p per ordinary share.

Long-Term Incentive Awards Granted to the Non-Executive Directors in 2019
During February 2019, the executive members of the Board met to discuss and approve the latest such award. The table below sets out 
the LTIPs awarded in the year to 31 December 2019 to non-executive Directors:

Name of Director

James Noble
Market-priced options

Restricted stock options – year 1 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock options – year 2 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock options – year 3 (1/3rd)

Cabot Brown
Market-priced options

Restricted stock units – year 1 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock units – year 2 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock units – year 3 (1/3rd)

Thomas Lynch
Market-priced options

Restricted stock options – year 1 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock options – year 2 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock options – year 3 (1/3rd)

Catherine Mackey
Market-priced options

Restricted stock units – year 1 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock units – year 2 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock units – year 3 (1/3rd)

Alicia Secor
Market-priced options

Restricted stock units – year 1 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock units – year 2 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock units – year 3 (1/3rd)

William Waldegrave
Market-priced options

Restricted stock options – year 1 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock options – year 2 (1/3rd)
Restricted stock options – year 3 (1/3rd)

22

Granted

Face value at  
date of grant (£)

Exercise price

Performance  
period end

Date of expiry

% of award 
vesting for 
minimum 
performance

16,548

179,049

3,144
3,144
3,144

34,016
34,016
34,016

16,548

179,049

3,144
3,144
3,144

34,016
34,016
34,016

16,548

179,049

3,144
3,144
3,144

34,016
34,016
34,016

16,548

179,049

3,144
3,144
3,144

34,016
34,016
34,016

16,548

179,049

3,144
3,144
3,144

34,016
34,016
34,016

16,548

179,049

3,144
3,144
3,144

34,016
34,016
34,016

1,082.0p
($172.01
per ADS)
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

1,082.0p
($172.01
per ADS)
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

1,082.0p
($172.01
per ADS)
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

1,082.0p
($172.01
per ADS)
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

1,082.0p
($172.01
per ADS)
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

1,082.0p
($172.01
per ADS)
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

01/03/2022

01/03/2029

100%

01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

100%
100%
100%

01/03/2022

01/03/2029

100%

01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

100%
100%
100%

01/03/2022

01/03/2029

100%

01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

100%
100%
100%

01/03/2022

01/03/2029

100%

01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

100%
100%
100%

01/03/2022

01/03/2029

100%

01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

100%
100%
100%

01/03/2022

01/03/2029

100%

01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

100%
100%
100%

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019The face value of the above options has been derived using the closing share price of the Group’s ADSs the day prior to grant. 

50% of the awards are in the form of market-priced options, whereby the options have an exercise price equivalent to the market price 
at market close on the day prior to grant ($172.01 per ADS, equivalent to 821.8p per ordinary share). These options become 
exercisable on the third anniversary of the date of grant. Future gains upon exercise of these options will be linked to the extent of 
share price growth over the vesting period. The committee consider that this element of the awards will help to ensure continuing 
alignment between Executive and shareholders’ interests. The Black-Scholes option pricing model was used to derive the fair values.

50% of the awards are in the form of restricted stock options for U.K.-based non-executive Directors, or restricted stock units for 
US-based non-executive Directors, whereby these options are subject to a three-year service condition and vesting period. 33% of the 
options will vest on each anniversary of the date of grant over the next three years. US-based Directors’ restricted stock units are 
automatically exercised immediately on successful vesting. The committee consider that this element of the awards should help to 
ensure retention of our team of non-executive Directors, a key factor for GW’s future success.

Consistent with previous years, the Directors were mindful of best practice advice received from Willis Towers Watson whereby the 
award of options with vesting linked to performance is considered to have the potential to impair the independence of the non-
executive members of the Board. It is for this reason that the vesting of awards is not linked to specific future performance conditions.

Statement of Directors’ Shareholding and Share Interests
The table below shows, for each Director, the total number of ordinary shares owned, the total number of share options with and 
without performance conditions, those vested but unexercised and those exercised during the year. Details of the equity retention 
policy applicable to the Directors is set out on page 33. This policy has been applied with during 2019.

Name of Director

Executive
Dr Geoffrey W Guy
Justin Gover

Non-executive
James Noble
Cabot Brown
Thomas Lynch
Catherine Mackey
Alicia Secor
William Waldegrave

Unvested  
with 
performance 
measures

Unvested 
without 
performance 
measures2

Shares 
owned1

Vested  
not yet 
exercised

Exercised 
during the 
year

7,850,446
2,554,847

564,948
815,004

469,629
657,736

34,338
539,201

576,000
283,164

27,500
7,216
–
2,688
2,676
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

78,620
78,620
78,620
68,480
68,480
68,480

3,585
34,061
86,181
–
–
4

82,596
52,104
–
3,576
3,576
3,576

1  This comprises the Directors’ holding of ordinary shares as at 31 December 2019. Further details are given in the table below.
2  Unvested awards in this column are solely subject to a service performance requirement.
Note: Each NASDAQ listed ADS represents 12 0.1 pence ordinary shares.

The table below shows the total number of Directors’ interests in the ordinary shares of GW Pharmaceuticals plc:

Name of Director

Executive
Dr Geoffrey W Guy1
Justin Gover2

Non-executive
James Noble
Cabot Brown
Thomas Lynch
Catherine Mackey
Alicia Secor
William Waldegrave

Ordinary shares of 
0.1p  
31 December  
2019

Ordinary 
shares of 0.1p 
31 December  
2018

7,850,446
2,554,847

9,470,446
2,558,999

27,500
7,216
–
2,688
2,676
–

27,500
7,200
–
–
–
–

1  Dr Geoffrey Guy’s holding includes 103,925 ordinary shares held by his personal pension plan and 25,000 held by his wife.
2 
Note: Each NASDAQ listed ADS represents 12 ordinary 0.1 pence shares.

Justin Gover’s holding includes 2,143,308 ordinary shares held by The Gover Family Investment LLP, of which Mr. Gover owns 99% and the remaining 1% is held by his wife.

23

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

The interests of the Directors in share options over the ordinary shares of the Company as at 31 December 2019 were:

Name of Director

Dr. Geoffrey Guy

At 1 Jan 
2019

9,740
182,171
7
25,914
345,517
25,914
138,672
15,336
15,336
15,336
15,336
204,552
107,352
16,317
16,317
16,317
16,317
217,572
–
–
–
–
–
–

Granted

Exercised

Lapsed

At 31 Dec 
2019

Nominal 
value

Exercise  
price

Date of  
vesting

Date of  
expiry

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
75,252
142,824
10,704
10,704
10,704
10,704

–
(182,171)
(7)
(25,914)
(345,517)
–
–
(15,336)
–
–
–
–
–
(7,055)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

9,740
–
–
–
–
25,914
138,672
–
15,336
15,336
15,336
204,552
107,352
9,262
16,317
16,317
16,317
217,572
75,252
142,824
10,704
10,704
10,704
10,704

0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

0.1p
257.0p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
645.6p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
685.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
1,081.9p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

24/06/2019
15/02/2019
15/02/2018
15/02/2019
15/02/2019
15/02/2020
10/08/2020
10/08/2018
10/08/2019
10/08/2020
10/08/2021
10/08/2020
26/02/2021
26/02/2019
26/02/2020
26/02/2021
26/02/2022
26/02/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2023

24/06/2025
15/02/2026
15/02/2026
15/02/2026
15/02/2026
15/02/2026
10/08/2027
10/08/2027
10/08/2027
10/08/2027
10/08/2027
10/08/2027
26/02/2028
26/02/2028
26/02/2028
26/02/2028
26/02/2028
26/02/2028
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

Total

1,384,023

260,892

(576,000)

– 1,068,915

24

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019At 1 Jan  
2019

Granted

Exercised

Lapsed

At 31 Dec  
2019

Nominal 
value

Exercise  
price

Date of  
vesting

Date of  
expiry

Name of Director

Justin Gover

Total

James Noble

75,874
10,679
213,245
30,334
30,334
404,455
30,334
142,344
17,517
17,517
17,517
17,517
233,568
147,624
22,440
22,440
22,440
22,440
299,196
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
119,472
226,752
17,004
17,004
17,004
17,004
30,936
4,164
4,164
4,164
4,164
55,488

–
(10,668)
–
(30,324)
(30,334)
(171,890)
–
–
(17,508)
–
–
–
–
–
(22,440)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
(11)
–
(10)
–
–
–
–
(9)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

75,874
–
213,245
–
–
232,565
30,334
142,344
–
17,517
17,517
17,517
233,568
147,624
–
22,440
22,440
22,440
299,196
119,472
226,752
17,004
17,004
17,004
17,004
30,936
4,164
4,164
4,164
4,164
55,488

1,777,815

517,320

(283,164)

(30) 2,011,941

68,122
14,479
18,636
9,168
17,676
3,580
3,580
3,580
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

(68,117)
(14,479)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

(5)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

(5)

–
–
18,636
9,168
17,676
3,580
3,580
3,580
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

82,200

Total

138,821

25,980

(82,596)

0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

671.0p
0.1p
257.0p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
792.4p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
685.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
1,082.0p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
1,155.8p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

383.0p
0.1p
792.4p
0.1p
821.8p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
1,082.0p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

24/06/2018
24/06/2019
15/02/2019
15/02/2018
15/02/2019
15/02/2019
15/02/2020
06/01/2020
06/01/2018
06/01/2019
06/01/2020
06/01/2021
06/01/2020
26/02/2021
26/02/2019
26/02/2020
26/02/2021
26/02/2022
26/02/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2023
14/06/2022
14/06/2022
14/06/2020
14/06/2021
14/06/2022
14/06/2022

29/12/2018
29/12/2018
06/01/2020
06/01/2020
03/01/2021
03/01/2019
03/01/2020
03/01/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

24/06/2025
24/12/2019
15/02/2026
15/08/2018
15/08/2019
15/08/2019
15/08/2020
06/01/2027
15/03/2019
15/03/2020
15/03/2021
15/03/2022
15/03/2021
26/02/2028
26/02/2019
26/02/2020
26/02/2021
26/02/2022
26/02/2021
01/03/2029
01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2023
14/06/2029
14/06/2022
14/06/2020
14/06/2021
14/06/2022
14/06/2022

29/12/2025
29/12/2025
06/01/2027
06/01/2027
03/01/2028
03/01/2028
03/01/2028
03/01/2028
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

25

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

Granted

Exercised

Lapsed

At 31 Dec  
2019

Nominal 
value

Exercise  
price

Date of  
vesting

Date of  
expiry

At 1 Jan  
2019

68,122
14,479
18,636
9,168
17,676
3,580
3,580
3,580
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

(34,056)
(14,472)
–
–
–
(3,576)
–
–
–
–
–
–

(6)
(7)
–
–
–
(4)
–
–
–
–
–
–

34,060
–
18,636
9,168
17,676
–
3,580
3,580
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

138,821

25,980

(52,104)

(17)

112,680

68,122
14,479
18,636
9,168
17,676
3,580
3,580
3,580
–
–
–
–

138,821

35,340
3,580
3,580
3,580
–
–
–
–

46,080

35,340
3,580
3,580
3,580
–
–
–
–

46,080

35,340
3,580
3,580
3,580
–
–
–
–

46,080

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

25,980

–
–
–
–
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

25,980

–
–
–
–
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

25,980

–
–
–
–
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

25,980

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–
(3,576)
–
–
–
–
–
–

(3,576)

–
(3,576)
–
–
–
–
–
–

(3,576)

–
(3,576)
–
–
–
–
–
–

(3,576)

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–
(4)
–
–
–
–
–
–

(4)

–
(4)
–
–
–
–
–
–

(4)

–
(4)
–
–
–
–
–
–

(4)

68,122
14,479
18,636
9,168
17,676
3,580
3,580
3,580
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

164,801

35,340
–
3,580
3,580
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

68,480

35,340
–
3,580
3,580
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

68,480

35,340
–
3,580
3,580
16,548
3,144
3,144
3,144

68,480

Name of Director

Cabot Brown

Total

Thomas Lynch

Total

Catherine Mackey

Total

Alicia Secor

Total

William Waldegrave

Total

26

0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

383.0p
0.1p
792.4p
0.1p
821.8p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
1,082.0p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

383.0p
0.1p
792.4p
0.1p
821.8p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
1,082.0p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

821.8p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
1,082.0p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

821.8p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
1,082.0p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

821.8p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p
1,082.0p
0.1p
0.1p
0.1p

29/12/2018
29/12/2018
06/01/2020
06/01/2020
03/01/2021
03/01/2019
03/01/2020
03/01/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

29/12/2018
29/12/2018
06/01/2020
06/01/2020
03/01/2021
03/01/2019
03/01/2020
03/01/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

03/01/2021
03/01/2019
03/01/2020
03/01/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

03/01/2021
03/01/2019
03/01/2020
03/01/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

03/01/2021
03/01/2019
03/01/2020
03/01/2021
01/03/2022
01/03/2020
01/03/2021
01/03/2022

29/06/2019
29/06/2019
06/01/2027
15/03/2021
03/01/2028
03/01/2019
03/01/2020
03/01/2021
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

29/12/2025
29/12/2025
06/01/2027
06/01/2027
03/01/2028
03/01/2028
03/01/2028
03/01/2028
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

03/01/2028
03/01/2019
03/01/2020
03/01/2021
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

03/01/2028
03/01/2019
03/01/2020
03/01/2021
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

03/01/2028
03/01/2028
03/01/2028
03/01/2028
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029
01/03/2029

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019During the year ended 31 December 2019, 1,004,592 options (15-month period ended 31 December 2018: 624,780) over ordinary 
shares were exercised. The average exercise price for the year ended 31 December 2019 was 85.6p per ordinary share (15-month period 
ended 31 December 2018: 74.4p per ordinary share) and the average market price per US-listed ADS, each equivalent to 12 Ordinary 
shares and denominated in US Dollars, at date of exercise was $177.25 (15-month period ended 31 December 2018: $126.97).

The market price of the Company’s US-listed ADSs as at 31 December 2019 was $104.56 (15-month period ended 31 December 2018: 
$97.39) and the range during the year ended 31 December 2019 was $96.10 to $187.21 (15-month period ended 31 December 2018: 
$94.36 to $174.50).

Illustration of Total Shareholder Return

The information provided in this part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report is not subject to audit.

The graph below shows the Company’s performance, measured by total shareholder return, for the ADSs listed on NASDAQ as 
compared to the NASDAQ Biotech Index (“NASDAQ BTI”). GW’s ADSs are a constituent of the NASDAQ BTI, so this is considered 
to be the most suitable comparator index.

Total ADR Shareholder Return (US$)

2,250

2,000

1,750

1,500

1,250

1,000

)
$
(
e
u
a
V

l

750

500

250

0
Mar 
13

Jun 
13

Sep
13

Dec
13

Mar
14

Jun 
14

Sep
14

Dec
14

Mar
15

Jun 
15

Sep
15

Dec
15

Mar
16

Jun 
16

Sep
16

Dec
16

Mar
17

Jun 
17

Sep
17

Dec
17

Mar
18

Jun 
18

Sep
18

Dec
18

Mar
19

Jun 
19

Sep
19

Dec
19

 GW Pharmaceuticals plc ADR

 Nasdaq Biotech Index

This graph shows the daily movements to 31 December 2019 of $100 invested in GW Pharmaceuticals plc ADRs on 1 May 2013 
compared with the value of $100 invested in the Nasdaq Biotech Index.

Chief Executive Officer Total Remuneration History

The table below sets out total remuneration details for the Chief Executive Officer in British Pounds Sterling. Short-term incentives are 
included in the year paid. 

Year

Year ended 31 December 2019
15-months ended 31 December 2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010

1  This total includes unrealised gains on share options vesting in each of the financial years shown above.

CEO single  
figure of total 
remuneration1

7,188,360
2,790,719
1,610,329
3,129,535
1,295,928
1,390,235
482,084
586,171
541,294
535,325

Short-term  
incentive  
pay-out against 
maximum

Long-term  
incentive vesting  
rates against 
maximum  
opportunity

80%
100%
100%
48%
50%
100%
35%
50%
30%
70%

100%
100%
100%
100%
50%
100%
50%
100%
100%
100%

27

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

The table below shows the percentage change in remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s employees as a whole 
between 2018 and 2019.

Basic salary
Taxable benefits
Short-term incentives

Percentage increase in 
remuneration in 2019  
compared with  
remuneration in 2018

CEO 
%

All employees
%

8
33
30

6
6
9

The employee comparator Group consists of employees in the U.K. and the US. We consider this to be an appropriate comparator 
Group because it is representative of the Group and the employee populations are well balanced in terms of seniority and 
demographics. To provide a meaningful comparison of salary increases, a consistent employee comparator Group is used by which the 
same individuals appear in the 2018 and 2019 Group.

For this period, the Group has disclosed the Chief Executive Officer’s total pay and remuneration for 2019, compared to the 25th, 50th 
and 75th percentiles of the organisation. 

The Group’s overall organisation continues to expand. During 2019, the total number of employees increased from to 801 to 907. This 
growth was split between the United Kingdom and the United States. The Group expects to increase employee numbers in major 
European markets in 2020 as the commercial organisation prepares and executes launches of Epidyolex across Europe.

The ratios have been calculated in accordance with the Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Requirements 2018 (the Regulations). 
We have chosen Option A which is a calculation based on all U.K. employees on a full-time equivalent basis as at 31 December 2019. 
The group in the United Kingdom represents approximately 2/3rd of all global employees. The calculation includes basic salary, 
taxable benefits, short-term incentives and the grant of long-term incentives compared to the global population of employees. Full-
time equivalent has been determined based upon a full-time working pattern, i.e. an employee’s gross salary at 100% employment. 

Year

2019

Method

25th percentile  
pay ratio

50th percentile  
pay ratio

75th percentile  
pay ratio

Option A

151:1

111:1

68:1

There will continue to be differences between the remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer, who is based in the United States, and 
the remuneration of employees based in United Kingdom due to the nature of the employment markets. However, the Group believes 
that the calculation above is the most reflective of the percentile analysis demanded by the Requirements.

The Committee is mindful of debate on executive pay and seeks to ensure that when determining the remuneration of the CEO it sets 
the right balance between rewarding performance in a highly competitive global executive talent market, and pay across the Group. 

Relative Importance of Spend on Pay

The Committee has determined that total expenditure is the most relevant comparator for staff costs of the Group. Dividend 
distribution and share buy-back comparators have not been included as the Group has no history of such transactions.

The graph below shows the Group actual staff costs as at 31 December in each period, compared to total expenditure for the last two 
calendar years ended 31 December 2019 and 2018 respectively. This illustrates the year-on-year growth in both. Staff costs are now 
growing slower than total spend as a substantial proportion of the Group’s expenditure is now related to commercialisation costs 
directly attributable to product sales.

Relative Importance of Spend on Pay ($000s)

+40%

 2019

 2018

+23%

Total expenditure

Salary and fees
at 31 December

450,000

400,000

350,000

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

0

28

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Proposed Application of the Remuneration Policy for the Year Ended 31 December 2020 

Executive Directors’ remuneration packages are considered annually and comprise a number of elements, as follows:

i) Fixed Elements of Remuneration
Fixed elements of remuneration including basic salary, pension contributions and other benefits will be set and paid in accordance 
with our Remuneration Policy. Any changes to salary will be considered in the context of a number of factors including the annual 
peer group based benchmarking exercise carried out by Andersen Advisers for the Remuneration Committee, home-market location, 
any changes to executive responsibilities since the last review and broader employee increases.

ii) Short-Term Incentive
The Remuneration Committee met in February 2020 to assess Director and Executive Officer performance for the calendar year ended 
31 December 2019. Based upon this assessment and in accordance with the Remuneration Policy Report below, the Remuneration 
Committee awarded a cash bonus payment to each Executive Director. Further details have been provided in the Remuneration 
Committee Chairman’s Annual Statement.

It is the committee’s intention that the short-term incentive for services in 2020 will be similar to that paid in February 2020.

iii) Long-Term Incentive Plan
Equity grants under the Long-Term Incentive Plan in 2020 are expected to comprise of two elements:

 > Performance stock options, whereby the options will vest upon the third anniversary of the date of grant subject to certain 

corporate performance conditions having been achieved.

 > Restricted stock options (Or restricted stock units for US-based Directors or Executive Officers), whereby these options are subject 
to a four-year service condition and vesting period. 25% of the options will vest on each anniversary of the date of grant over the 
next four years.

It is the committee’s expectation that, unless a Director or Executive Officer no longer remains in employment when the service period 
has completed, that all market-price and restricted stock options will vest. This would be applicable to any options where vesting is 
scheduled to complete during 2020.

The performance stock option element of the January 2017 LTIP award was scheduled to vest on 6 January 2020. 50% of the overall 
awards were in the form of performance stock options, with a corporate performance condition:

 > 50% vest upon receipt from FDA of their confirmation of acceptance of an Epidiolex NDA filing
 > 50% vest upon FDA grant of Epidiolex regulatory approval.

100% of the 2017 LTIP award therefore vested on 6 January 2020.

iv) Non-Executive Director Fees and Equity-Based Incentives
We do not expect the level of cash-based fees to change during 2020 but we do expect there to be a further grant of equity-based 
incentives. This grant will be subject to approval by the executive members of the Board and is likely to be linked to a service-based 
condition.

29

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

Remuneration Committee Approach to Remuneration Matters

The Remuneration Committee comprises Cabot Brown and Alicia Secor under the chairmanship of Thomas Lynch.

During the year the Committee received advice from Adam George in his capacity as Company Secretary. The Committee also 
retained Willis Towers Watson for much of 2019 to provide ongoing peer group remuneration benchmarking, option valuations and 
Remuneration Policy related advice. In late 2019, Andersen Advisers were retained to provide benchmarking services for the 2020 
annual remuneration review and Remuneration Policy advice for 2020. A total of $25,000 was incurred in 2019 for these services, with 
a further $25,000 incurred in 2020. The Committee is satisfied that both of these advisers, signatories of the Remuneration 
Consultants’ Code of Conduct, provide independent and objective advice.

The terms of reference of the Remuneration Committee can be found on the GW website at www.gwpharm.com.

Statement of Voting at Annual General Meeting

The Group is committed to ongoing shareholder dialogue and the Remuneration Committee takes an active interest in voting 
outcomes.

Voting at our shareholder meetings is generally conducted by a show of hands by shareholders who are in attendance at the meeting. 
Such votes have resulted in unanimous approval of the Directors’ Remuneration Report at each of the last three AGMs. No votes were 
withheld.

On 13 June 2019, the Group put its most recent Remuneration Policy to shareholders for approval and at the AGM held on that date, 
97.45% of shareholders’ proxy votes approved the revised Policy. At that AGM, 99.49% of shareholders’ proxy votes approved the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report for 2018.

In the event that we experience significant levels of shareholder votes against any remuneration-related resolutions we will seek to 
investigate the reasons for such votes and in the event that the Remuneration Committee consider that changes to the Remuneration 
Policy are appropriate, we will disclose details of proposed changes in a timely manner.

Remuneration Policy Report

The information provided in this part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report is not subject to audit.

The Remuneration Policy has been designed to ensure that Executive Directors are appropriately incentivised and rewarded for their 
performance, responsibility and experience. The Remuneration Committee aims to ensure that the policy aligns the interests of 
Directors with those of shareholders.

The Remuneration Policy will next be presented to shareholders in 2022 for a binding vote, as each Policy is effective from the date of 
the AGM and will remain in use for three years, or until a revised Policy is approved by shareholders. There will continue to be an 
advisory vote on the Directors’ Remuneration Report presented to shareholders at the AGM on an annual basis.

For the avoidance of doubt, in approving this Directors’ Remuneration Policy, authority is given to the Company to honour any 
commitments entered into with current or former Directors (such as the payment of a pension or the vesting/exercise of past share 
awards). Details of any payments to former Directors will be set out in the Annual Report on Remuneration as they arise.

Future Policy Table
The policy table below describes GW’s shareholder-approved Remuneration Policy for Directors and seeks to explain how each 
element of the Directors’ remuneration packages operates:

30

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Summary Remuneration Policy – Directors

Element of 
remuneration

Purpose and link to 
strategy

Operation

Salary

Rewards skills 
and experience 
and provides 
the basis for 
a competitive 
remuneration 
package.

Retirement 
savings plan

Enables 
Executive 
Directors to 
build long-term 
retirement 
savings.

Benefits

Protects against 
risks and 
provides other 
benefits in line 
with market 
practice.

Salaries will be reviewed annually 
by reference to market practice 
and market data, on which the 
Committee receives independent 
advice, rates of inflation, broader 
employee increases, the individual’s 
experience and scope of the role.
Salaries will be benchmarked 
against comparable roles in a 
selected peer group of other US-
listed pharmaceutical development 
companies with similar market 
capitalisations and/or scale of 
operational complexity. We 
typically expect to align salaries 
with the 50th percentile of peer 
group comparator data but 
may vary from this general rule 
where we consider that special 
circumstances apply or where 
recruitment or retention of a 
particular role is required.
The Committee may also decide to 
approve future increases following 
changes to job responsibilities or 
to reflect experience within the role.

Company contribution to a 
personal pension/401k scheme 
or salary supplement. Levels will 
be reviewed annually, and the 
Committee may decide to increase 
future contribution levels should 
the review indicate such a change 
is appropriate. Statutory limits to 
employer contributions will be 
applied.

Benefits currently include 
death-in-service life insurance, 
family private medical cover, 
ill-health income protection and 
a taxed cash car allowance. The 
committee will review benefits 
offered from time to time and 
retains the discretion to add or 
substitute benefits to ensure they 
remain market competitive.
In the event that the Group 
requires a Director or Executive 
Officer to relocate, we would 
offer appropriate relocation 
assistance and would be likely to 
update the package of benefits to 
align with local market practice, 
e.g. increased health insurance 
benefits if relocating to US.

Changes to be 
proposed

None

Maximum

Performance targets

Not applicable.

Salaries will not 
exceed the 75th 
percentile of peer 
group comparator 
data for the 
relevant role. 
The committee 
will reference 
alternative 
comparator data 
for roles not 
widely represented 
in the core peer 
group.

None

Up to 5% of basic 
salary.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

None

The disclosed 
taxable value 
of benefits and 
allowances is 
not expected to 
exceed 15% of 
salary per annum. 
The Committee 
may exceed this 
in the event of 
relocation, both 
on a one-off and 
ongoing basis to 
align with local 
market norms.

31

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

Changes to be 
proposed

None

Element of 
remuneration

Purpose and link to 
strategy

Operation

Short-term 
incentive 
awards

Incentivises 
and rewards 
achievement 
of the near-
term business 
objectives, 
reflecting 
individual 
and team 
performance of 
the Directors 
and Executive 
Officers.

Objectives are set at the start of 
each calendar year.
The choice of annual performance 
objectives will reflect the 
committee’s assessment of the key 
milestones/metrics required to be 
achieved within the calendar year 
in order to make progress towards 
achieving GW’s strategic plan.
Payable in cash. 
Clawback provisions will apply 
(see details below).

Maximum

Performance targets

Up to 150%  
of salary.

Conditional awards of nominal- 
cost options, share options, 
performance shares and/or 
restricted shares.
Awards normally vest over 
periods of three or more years. 
The committee is able to grant 
awards which permit phased 
vesting over the period.
Clawback provisions will apply 
(see details below).

Individual 
awards in any 
one year will 
not exceed 
the 75th 
percentile of 
peer group 
data.

Individual awards 
in any one year will 
not exceed the 75th 
percentile of peer 
group data. 
Expected values 
are calculated in 
accordance with 
generally accepted 
methodologies 
based on Black- 
Scholes or 
binomial stochastic 
models.

Long-term 
incentive 
awards

Rewards 
execution of 
GW’s strategic 
plan and 
growth in 
shareholder 
value over 
a multi-
year period. 
Encourages 
achievement of 
strategy over 
the medium to 
long term and 
aligns Executive 
Directors’ 
interests 
with those of 
shareholders.

32

The Committee retains the 
ability to set performance 
objectives annually.
These objectives can 
be Group-based and/or 
individual, financial and/
or non-financial, and are 
likely to include various 
milestones linked to:
 > successful execution of 
key elements of the 
Epidiolex development 
programme and 
worldwide 
commercialisation;
 > identification and 

execution of other new 
orphan drug 
developments;

 > key regulatory steps 
(IND grants, NDA 
filings, regulatory 
approvals);
 > successful 

commercialisation of 
approved products, 
either by our own 
commercial 
organisation or by our 
partners;

 > the Group’s financial 
position and results; 
and

 > equity liquidity and 

valuation.

Performance conditions 
are set at the discretion 
of the Remuneration 
Committee and will 
generally consist of a 
mixture of:
 > service requirements;
 > milestone-based events, 
linked to the successful 
execution of GW’s 
strategic plan, likely to 
include items such as 
positive trial results, or 
regulatory approvals; 
and

 > market-based measures 
such as absolute or 
relative share price 
performance

Major shareholders may 
be consulted as part of 
the process of setting 
performance conditions.

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Notes to the Policy Table
Clawback of incentives: The clawback policy provides that certain incentive compensation is recoverable from a Director if the 
Company is required to restate financial statements due to the misconduct of that particular Director, and that misconduct has 
significantly contributed to the need for the restatement. Generally, eligible incentive grants shall include cash short-term incentive 
awards and equity-based long-term incentive awards that have been awarded and/or vested based upon achievement of specific 
financial or operational goals which were deemed to have been achieved but which, following restatement, are considered to no longer 
have been achieved. To be effective, intention to claw back awards which have already vested and been exercised must be notified to 
the Director within 24 months of the award having vested. The Committee may effect a clawback either through a cash or equity 
repayment by the individual, or via an adjustment to an outstanding award that is yet to vest or that has vested but is not yet exercised.

Equity retention policy: To encourage executives to retain a meaningful amount of equity in the Company, a retention policy is in 
effect for Directors and Executive Officers. The purpose of this policy is to encourage ownership of the Company’s shares, promote 
alignment of the long-term interests of the Directors and Executive Officers with those of our shareholders, and promote our 
commitment to sound corporate governance. The policy is applicable to our Directors and Executive Officers, and certain other 
members of our leadership team, as nominated by our Chief Executive Officer. Under the policy, covered Directors and officers must 
retain an agreed proportion of each new equity grant issued to them after 1 January 2015, subject to the payment of any applicable 
taxes, for a period of five years from vesting until an overall level of share ownership is achieved. The target level of ownership equates 
to four times basic salary for the Chief Executive Officer and two times basic salary for the other Directors and Officers. The target 
deadline for achieving the ownership requirement is intended to be five years from implementation of the policy. Existing 
shareholdings or direct purchases of equity by executives shall contribute towards attainment of the targeted shareholding cap. The 
committee retains the power to consider an individual ineligible for future equity incentive grants if the required target has not been 
achieved in a timely manner, subject to the consideration of individual circumstances.

General discretions relating to the operation of incentive plans: The committee will operate all incentive plans in accordance with 
Plan Rules and will retain full discretion over a number of areas relating to the operation and administration of these plans. This 
includes, but is not limited to, determining eligibility, setting performance conditions, determining the extent to which performance 
conditions are achieved, leaver terms and the vehicle of delivery.

Summary Remuneration Policy – Non-Executive Directors

Performance 
targets

Not applicable.

Maximum

The value of 
individuals’ 
aggregate fees will 
not exceed the 75th 
percentile of peer 
group comparator 
data.

Element of  
remuneration

Non-
executive 
fees

Purpose and 
link to strategy

Reflects time 
commitments and 
responsibilities of 
each role.
Reflects fees paid 
by similarly sized 
companies.

Operation 

The remuneration of the non-executive 
Directors will be determined by the 
executive members of the Board as a 
whole by reference to market practice and 
market data, on which the Committee 
receives independent advice, and reflects 
the individual’s experience, scope of the 
role, time commitment and changes to the 
job responsibilities.
Fees typically consist of a basic fee for 
non-executive Director responsibilities 
plus incremental fees for additional roles/
responsibilities such as chairmanship 
of Board sub-committees, senior non-
executive Director and US representative 
Director roles.
Fees can be paid in the form of cash or 
shares to be held until the individual 
retires from the Board. Any element of 
fees paid in the form of shares will not be 
subject to performance conditions.
The non-executive Directors do 
not receive any pension from the 
Company, nor do they participate in any 
performance-related incentive plans.

33

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Remuneration Report continued

All-Employee Comparison

The following differences exist between the Company’s policy for the remuneration of Directors and Executive Officers as set out 
above and its approach to the payment of employees generally:

 > Benefits offered to other employees are consistent with those offered to the Directors and Executive Officers.
 > All US-based employees are entitled to a contribution from the Company towards a 401k scheme. This is generally at the same level 
as contributions paid to the personal pension/401k schemes of the US-based Executive Director. U.K.-based employees are entitled 
to a personal pension scheme contribution equating to 6.67% of basic salary. U.K.-based Directors do not currently receive an 
employer’s pension contribution.

 > All employees are able to participate in the LTIP schemes although the size of LTIP awards tends to increase with seniority as there 

is a greater emphasis on performance-related pay for senior members of staff.

 > A lower level of maximum annual bonus/short-term incentive opportunity typically applies to other employees.

Approach to Recruitment Remuneration

The remuneration package for a new Director or Executive Officer, to include basic salary, benefits, pension, annual bonus/short-term 
incentive and long-term incentive awards, will be set in accordance with the terms of the Company’s prevailing approved 
Remuneration Policy at the time of appointment. The Committee will consider the role, responsibility and experience of the candidate 
and will seek independent advice and market data to help derive an appropriate level of remuneration in order to secure the right 
candidate with the required skills and experience for the role.

To facilitate recruitment, the Committee may offer additional cash and/or share-based remuneration to take account of, and 
compensate for, remuneration that the Director or Executive Officer is required to relinquish when leaving a former employer, or to 
ensure that a fully market-competitive package is offered to the candidate. Any such offer would take into account the nature, time 
horizon and performance conditions attached to any waived remuneration.

For an internal Director and Executive Officer appointment, any variable pay element awarded in respect of the prior role will be 
allowed to pay out according to its terms. In addition, any other contractual remuneration obligations existing prior to appointment 
may continue.

For external and internal appointments, the Committee may agree that the Group will provide reasonable relocation support. In all 
cases, the Committee will ensure that decisions made are in the best interests of the Group.

The remuneration for any non-executive appointments will be set in accordance with the prevailing Remuneration Policy. Typically, 
the first grant of equity-based incentive awards made after appointment of a new non-executive to the Board will be increased by 50%. 
No additional cash payments will usually be made.

Service Contracts
It is Group policy that Executive Directors should have contracts with an indefinite term providing for a maximum of 12 months’ 
notice. New appointees to the Board are typically given a six-month notice period which can then be increased to 12 months’ notice, at 
the discretion of the Remuneration Committee, once the new appointee is considered to be established within their role.

Executive Directors’ service contracts, which include details of remuneration, have been filed with the US Securities and Exchange 
Commission and so are publicly available on Form 10-K which was filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 
27 February 2020.

Details of Directors’ service contracts are as follows:

Director

Executive
Dr Geoffrey Guy
Justin Gover

Non-executive
James Noble
Thomas Lynch
Cabot Brown
Catherine Mackey
Alicia Secor
William Waldegrave

Date of contract

Notice period

March 2013

12 months
February 20131  12 months

February 2016
February 2013
January 2016
December 2017
December 2017
December 2017

3 months
3 months
3 months
3 months
3 months
3 months

1 

Justin Gover’s service contract was transferred and subject to amendment in July 2015. The majority of clauses were retained, including notice period.

34

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019The non-executive Directors have service agreements which are subject to a three month notice period. Their remuneration is reviewed 
by the executive members of the Board, annually. In accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association, non-executive Directors 
are included in the requirement that one-third of Directors are subject to retirement by rotation at each AGM. Dr Geoffrey Guy and 
Cabot Brown will be retiring by rotation at the next AGM and, being eligible, they will seek re-election.

Illustrations of the Application of the Remuneration Policy – Performance and 
Remuneration Scenarios

The following table and graphical illustrations provide an illustration of the potential remuneration for the year ended 31 December 
2020 for each of the Directors, computed in accordance with the Remuneration Policy outlined above for each of three performance 
scenarios, as follows:

The following table and graphs provide an illustration of the potential remuneration. In interpreting these scenarios it is very 
important to note that it is likely that a significant proportion of future long-term equity incentive grants to the Executive Directors are 
likely to consist partly of share options which will only have value to the Executive Directors if they are successful in generating share 
price growth during the vesting period. The Remuneration Committee believes that this approach will align the interests of Executive 
Directors with those of our shareholders. The face value of equity incentive awards shown in the graphical illustrations below is not 
therefore indicative of the amount that the Directors will earn from these awards in future, as it is principally the future growth in 
value of these awards that will generate a financial return for each Director:

Minimum 
– fixed 
elements of 
remuneration

Performance 
in line with 
expectations

This scenario assumes that the current basic salary for each Director is as per the Remuneration Committee 
determination in February 2020 (see page 31).
The value of benefits receivable for the year ended 31 December 2020 assumed to be equal to the value of benefits 
received in the year ended 31 December 2019 as set out in the single total figure of remuneration table on page 19.
The pension or 401k contribution receivable by each Director for the year ended 31 December 2019 is assumed to 
be in line with the current level of contributions. 
No short-term incentive payment is assumed for any Director. No vesting of long-term equity-based incentives is 
assumed.

This scenario is illustrative only and is not expected to be predictive of 2020 remuneration for either of the 
Executive Directors. 
Fixed elements of remuneration, as set out above, plus: 
On-target level of short-term incentive payment, for the Chief Executive Officer, is taken to be 70% of basic salary, 
being the on-target amount for 2020.
The Chairman is not entitled to an annual bonus.
This scenario assumes the grant of equity-based incentives with a Black-Scholes valuation at grant equivalent 
to 750% of basic salary to the CEO and 450% for the Chairman. It is then assumed that 50% of these awards 
will vest. We are required to illustrate the face value of these awards, i.e. where awards consist of market priced 
option awards, the face value is derived by multiplying the number of options granted by the exercise price. For 
the purposes of the illustrations below, we have assumed that the face value of options will equate to 160% of the 
Black-Scholes value. This has been derived by reference to the most recent equity incentive award to the Directors 
in 2019.
No account is taken of share price growth over the vesting period.

35

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Responsibilities Statement

Maximum 
remuneration 
receivable

This scenario is illustrative only and is not expected to be predictive of 2020 remuneration for either of the 
Executive Directors.
Fixed elements of remuneration, as set out above, plus:
On-target level of short-term incentive payment, for the Chief Executive Officer, is taken to be 150% of basic 
salary, being the maximum percentage that can be awarded by the Remuneration Committee.
This scenario assumes the grant to the Chief Executive Officer, of the maximum possible number of equity-
based incentives per the above policy, being awards with a Black-Scholes valuation at grant equivalent to the 75th 
percentile of the peer group data. For 2020, this was calculated as being 770% of gross salary.
We are required to illustrate the face value of these awards, i.e. where awards consist of market priced option 
awards, the face value is derived by multiplying the number of options granted by the exercise price. For the 
purposes of the illustrations below, we have assumed that the face value of options will equate to 160% of the 
Black-Scholes value. This has been derived by reference to the most recent equity incentive award to the Directors 
in 2019. For illustrative purposes, it is then assumed that 100% of these awards will vest. 
No account is taken of share price growth over the vesting period. 
Operation of the equity retention policy, outlined above, will also mean that Executive Directors may only be able 
to realise a proportion of the illustrated incentive gains in 2020 as they are likely to be required to retain equity 
shares acquired under such schemes for an extended period.

Chief Executive Officer ($000s)

Chairman ($000s)

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0

712

Minimum

8,248

2,511

469
712

Future – in line
with expectations

1,004

712

Maximum

Fixed remuneration
Annual variable remuneration
Long-term variable remuneration

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

4,007

1,252

561

561

561

0

Minimum

Future – in line
with expectations

Maximum

Fixed remuneration
Long-term variable remuneration

Policy for Payments for Loss of Office

The Committee’s approach to payments in the event of termination is to take account of the individual circumstances including the 
reason for termination, individual performance, contractual obligations and the terms of the LTIPs in which the Director participates. 
On notice from the Company, the Company will normally continue to pay salary, pension and other benefits during the balance of the 
notice period while the individual remains an employee. Although the Director employment contracts do not provide for payment in 
lieu of notice, the Remuneration Committee may offer payment in lieu of notice if they consider that it is in the best interests of the 
Company, subject to such payment not exceeding the contractual notice entitlement. The committee may also approve other limited 
payments in connection with a departure, which may include legal fees connected to the departure, untaken holiday/accrued vacation, 
outplacement and repatriation.

There is no automatic contractual entitlement to bonus on termination although this may be considered.

Unvested LTIP awards normally lapse although the Committee retains the power to determine, in accordance with the good leaver 
provisions of the LTIP scheme rules, what proportion of unvested awards will be retained and what proportion will lapse. In 
determining this, the Committee will give consideration to the reason for leaving, the extent of achievement of performance conditions 
at the date of leaving and may decide to time pro-rate awards.

36

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Statement of Consideration of Employment 
Conditions Elsewhere in the Company

During the annual review of remuneration, the Committee 
considers the remuneration and terms and conditions for the 
broader employee population when determining the extent of basic 
salary increases for the Directors. Employees have not been 
consulted in respect of the design of the Company’s senior 
executive Remuneration Policy to date although the Committee 
will keep this under review.

Statement of Shareholder Views

The Remuneration Committee considers shareholder feedback 
received in relation to the AGM each year at a meeting 
immediately following the AGM. This feedback, plus any 
additional feedback received from shareholders in respect of 
remuneration matters during the financial year, is then 
considered as part of the Company’s annual review of 
Remuneration Policy.

Approval

This report was approved by the Board of Directors and signed on 
its behalf by:

Justin Gover
Director
18 March 2020

37

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Directors’ Responsibilities Statement continued

Directors’ Responsibilities Statement

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

 > the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the 

relevant financial reporting framework, give a true and fair 
view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or 
loss of the Company and the undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole;

 > the Strategic Report includes a fair review of the development 

and performance of the business and the position of the 
Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation 
taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal 
risks and uncertainties that they face; and

 > the Annual Report and financial statements, taken as a whole, 

are fair, balanced and understandable and provide the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the 
Company’s position and performance, business model and 
strategy.

This responsibility statement was approved by the Board of 
Directors on 18 March 2020 and is signed on its behalf by:

Justin Gover
Director
18 March 2020

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

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors 
are required to prepare the Group financial statements in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(“IFRSs”) as adopted by the European Union, as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and have 
also chosen to prepare the Parent Company financial statements 
under IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. Under company 
law the Directors must not approve the financial statements 
unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the 
state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss of the 
Company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, 
International Accounting Standard 1 requires that Directors:

 > properly select and apply accounting policies;
 > present information, including accounting policies, in a 
manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and 
understandable information;

 > provide additional disclosures when compliance with the 

specific requirements in IFRSs are insufficient to enable users 
to understand the impact of particular transactions, other 
events and conditions on the entity’s financial position and 
financial performance; and

 > make an assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a 

going concern.

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

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

38

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Independent Auditor’s Report 

to the Members of GW Pharmaceuticals Plc

Report on the audit of the financial statements

Opinion
In our opinion:
 > the financial statements of GW Pharmaceuticals plc (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) give a true and fair 
view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2019 and of the Group’s loss for the year 
then ended;

 > the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 

(IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and IFRSs as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB);

 > the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 

Accounting Practice, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework”; and

 > the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

We have audited the financial statements which comprise:
 > the Consolidated Income Statements;
 > the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Expense;
 > the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity;
 > the Consolidated Balance Sheets;
 > the Consolidated Cash Flow Statements; 
 > the related notes 1 to 27;
 > the Company Balance Sheet;
 > the Company Statements of Changes in Equity; and
 > the related notes 1 to 13.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law and IFRSs 
as adopted by the European Union. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Parent Company 
financial statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework” 
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (U.K.) (ISAs (U.K.)) and applicable law. Our 
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
section of our report. 

We are independent of the Group and the Parent Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit 
of the financial statements in the U.K., including the Financial Reporting Council’s (the ‘FRC’s’) Ethical Standard as applied to listed 
entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

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

Summary of our audit approach

Key audit matter

The key audit matter that we identified in the current year was:
 > Epidiolex Product Net Sales – Rebates.

Materiality

Overall Group Materiality: $14.0 million based on total operating expenditure. 

Overall Parent Company Materiality: $13.8 million based on total assets. 

Scoping

We identified three significant components which required a full scope audit of their complete financial 
information due to their size. We identified one component which had one or more individual balances that 
were significant to the Group’s financial statements.

Audit procedures were performed by the U.K. Group team and US component audit team. The distribution of 
the work was consistent with the prior period.

Taken together, the above procedures accounted for 99% of the Group’s loss before tax, 99% of the Group’s net 
assets and 98% of the Group’s revenue.

The materiality benchmark used in current year is different to prior period, as discussed in further detail below.

The key audit matter identified in the current period is different to the prior year, as discussed in further 
detail below. 

Significant changes 
in our approach

39

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report continued

Conclusions Relating to Going Concern

We are required by ISAs (U.K.) to report in respect of the following matters where:
 > the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in preparation of the financial 

We have nothing to report in 
respect of these matters.

statements is not appropriate; or 

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

Key Audit Matters

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) 
that we identified. These matters included those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources 
in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team.

These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, 
and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

The key audit matter in the current period is related to Epidiolex Product Net Sales – Rebates. This has been determined as it relates to 
a material balance in the financial statements, which is recognised for the first time in this accounting period, and there is significant 
estimation and uncertainty involved in management’s assumptions in calculation. The prior year key audit matter, which pertained to 
the Epidiolex inventory balance, is no longer considered a key audit matter as at 31 December 2019 as the costing and valuation 
methodology forms an established business process and accounting policy, which remains consistent with the current year. 
Accordingly, we have concluded that this is no longer a key audit matter as at 31 December 2019.

Epidiolex Product Net Sales – Rebates

Key audit matter  
description

As more fully disclosed in note 3 to the financial statements, the Group recognises revenue from 
product sales, net of allowances for rebates, which are included in accrued liabilities on the 
Consolidated Balance Sheets ($22.9 million; FY18: $0.6 million).

How the scope of our  
audit responded to the  
key audit matter

The allowances for rebates include mandated discounts under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program 
and the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit as well as contractual rebates with commercial 
payers. The allowance for rebates is based on contracted or statutory discount rates and expected 
utilisation by benefit plan participants.

Given the significant estimation and uncertainty involved in management’s assumptions to calculate 
the rebates, such as consideration of historical claims experience, expected utilisation, unbilled 
claims, and claims submission time lags, and the limited historical data currently available, auditing 
these estimates involved significant judgement. 

Our auditing procedures related to allowances for rebates for Epidiolex product sales included the 
following, among others:
 > We tested the effectiveness of internal controls over the development of the allowances for rebates, 

including the underlying assumptions and key inputs into the Group’s allowances for rebates as well 
as controls over management’s review of the application of the governmental pricing regulations.
 > We compared the significant assumptions used by management to currently available historical 
trends, evaluated the change in the accruals from prior quarters, and assessed the historical 
accuracy of management’s estimates against actual results.

 > We estimated the rebates accrual for a sample of US programs, using a combination of Group 

internal data, historical information, executed contracts, and third-party data and compared our 
estimate to the amount recorded by the Group.

 > We tested the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in the Company’s 

calculations through reconciliation to third-party invoices, executed contracts, claims data, and 
actual cash payments.

Key observations

Based on the procedures performed, we concluded that the key management judgements and 
assumptions applied in Epidiolex Product Net Sales Rebate balances are appropriate. 

40

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
Our Application of Materiality

Materiality
We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the economic decisions 
of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality both in planning the scope of our audit 
work and in evaluating the results of our work.

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

Group financial statements

Parent company financial statements

Materiality

$14.0 million (2018: $10.2 million)

$13.8 million (2018: $10.1 million)

Basis for determining  
materiality

Approximately 3.4% of total operating expenses 
(2018: 3.4%).

Rationale for the benchmark 
applied

There is an expectation that operating 
expenditure incurred will contribute to higher 
revenue generating capacity for the future, 
which is a key metric investors consider in their 
decision-making.

This is a change from prior period where a 
combination of operating expenses and the net 
cash flows from operations was used as the 
benchmark. The significance of cash flows from 
operations reduced in the current period as the 
Group started to generate its own cash.

Equates to 2% of total assets and capped at 99% 
of Group materiality (2018: 2%, capped at 99% 
of Group materiality).

Total assets has been used as this is a non-
trading holding company and we consider this 
to be the most appropriate basis. This is 
consistent with prior period.

Operating expenditure
$405.0 million

Operating expenditure

Group materiality

Group materiality
$14.0 million

Component 
materiality range
$13.8 million to 
$5.1 million

Audit Committee 
reporting threshold
$0.7 million

Performance materiality
We set performance materiality at a level lower than materiality to reduce the probability that, in aggregate, uncorrected and 
undetected misstatements exceed the materiality for the financial statements as a whole. Group performance materiality was set at 
80% of Group materiality for the 2019 audit (2018: 75%). In determining performance materiality, we considered the following factors:
 > Our risk assessment, including our assessment of the Group’s control environment, and that we consider it appropriate to rely on 

controls over a significant number of business processes. 

 > Our past experience, which indicates a low number of corrected and uncorrected misstatements in the prior periods. 
 > Low turnover of management and key accounting personnel, which indicates a consistent control environment in the current 

period.

Error reporting threshold
We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the Committee all audit differences in excess of $0.7 million (2018: $0.5 
million), as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. We also report to 
the Audit Committee on disclosure matters that we identified when assessing the overall presentation of the financial statements.

41

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Independent Auditor’s Report continued

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT

Identification and scoping of components
Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Group and its environment, including Group-wide controls, and 
assessing the risks of material misstatement at the Group level sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are 
free from material misstatement.

We have selected the components in scope based on the financial significance of each entity to the Group, with reference to the total 
operating expenditure benchmark used in determining materiality. There are no changes in our scoping compared to the prior period.

We identified three significant components which required a full scope audit of their complete financial information due to their size. 
These components are the principal operating units within the U.K. and US. 

We identified one component which had one or more individual balances that were significant to the Group’s financial statements. The 
work was focused on cash and expenditure balances. 

Our consideration of the control environment 
From our walkthroughs and understanding of the entity (including the key controls of the business cycle and at account business 
levels), we have identified the key IT systems that are relevant to the audit. These are key IT systems that are used across all of its legal 
entities, with the exception of certain non-significant components. We audited the key controls over those systems. 

The work performed included: 
 > Identification of the relevant technology elements to the audit as well as the risks arising from IT and relevant general IT controls 

(GITCs)

 > Testing of the specific relevant automated controls
 > Testing of the specific relevant system-generated reports 
 > Testing of the management’s GITCs to maintain or monitor segregations of duties for end-user system access

As a result of the work performed we were able to rely on the general IT controls, automated controls and system-reports from the key 
systems tested. 

From our understanding of the entity, walkthroughs and the testing of controls at the business cycle level, we have relied on controls 
over the following business cycles: order to cash, purchase to pay, payroll expenditure, lease liabilities, share-based payments and 
inventory.

Working with other auditors
Consistent with last year, the U.K. Group audit team engaged component auditors in the US to audit specified balances within the plc 
(the Parent Company), and the full scope audit of the significant components, Greenwich Biosciences Inc, GW Pharma Ltd and GW 
Research Ltd. 

We have directed and supervised the component auditor in the US, which included attendance on regular calls. The Senior Statutory 
Auditor and the senior members of the U.K. Group audit engagement team also visited the component auditor in the US. We include 
the US component audit partner and team in our team briefing, as well as discuss the risk assessment, and review documentation of 
the findings from their work.

At the Group level, the procedures accounted for 99% of the Group’s loss before tax (2018: 99%), 99% of the Group’s net assets (2018: 
99%) and 98% of the Group’s revenue (2018: 100%). We tested the consolidation process and carried out risk assessment reviews on 
components that are not in scope. In addition, we have performed analytical procedures to confirm our conclusion that there were no 
significant risks of material misstatements of the aggregated financial information of the remaining components not subject to audit.

OTHER INFORMATION

The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual 
Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in 
our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider 
whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or 
otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

42

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a 
material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have 
performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTORS

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

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

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high 
level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (U.K.) will always detect a material 
misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the 
aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial 
statements.

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

REPORT ON OTHER LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
 > the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements 

are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

 > the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the Parent Company and their environment obtained in the course 
of the audit, we have not identified any material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors’ Report.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
Adequacy of explanations received and accounting records
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:
 > we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
 > adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received 

from branches not visited by us; or

 > the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns.

We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are also required to report if in our opinion certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration  
have not been made or the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited is not in agreement with the accounting records 
and returns.

We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.

43

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Independent Auditor’s Report continued

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

Lee Welham
(Senior statutory auditor)
For and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Statutory Auditor
Cambridge, United Kingdom
18 March 2020

44

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Consolidated Income Statements

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018

Revenue
Cost of sales
Research and development expenditure
Sales, general and administrative expenses
Net foreign exchange loss

Operating loss
Interest expense
Interest income
Other income

Loss before tax
Tax benefit/(charge)

Loss for the year/period
Loss per share – basic

Loss per share – diluted

12 months to
31 December
2019  
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

311,332
(35,569)
(146,810)
(258,944)
(2,272)

(132,263)
(2,464)
8,465
108,109

19,391
(7,912)
(167,142)
(187,602)
(2,666)

(345,931)
(1,573)
6,094
5,061

(18,153) (336,349)
(5,090)

500

(17,653)
(4.8)c

(341,439)
(100.3)c

(4.8)c 

(100.3)c

Notes

4

9
9
10

5
11

12

12

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Income Statements.

All activities relate to continuing operations.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Expense

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018

Loss for the year/period

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the year/period

Total comprehensive expense for the year/period

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

No tax arises relating to components of other comprehensive expense.

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018
$000s

(17,653)

(341,439)

10,792

10,792

(9,210)

(9,210)

(6,861) (350,649)

45

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018 

Group

Notes

Balance at 30 September 2017
Loss for the period
Other comprehensive expense

Total comprehensive expense for the period
Impact of adoption of IFRS 15 on opening accumulated 

deficit

Issue of share capital
Expenses of new equity issue
Exercise of share options
Share-based payment transactions
Deferred tax attributable to unrealised share option 

gains

Balance at 31 December 2018
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the year
Exercise of share options
Share-based payment transactions
Deferred tax attributable to unrealised share option 

gains

Balance at 31 December 2019

22
22
22
23

22
23

Share 
Capital  
$000s

483
–
–

–

–
79
–
2
–

–

Share 
Premium 
Account 
$000s

837,493
–
–

–

–
624,968
(2,475)
616
–

–

Merger 
Reserve 
$000s

31,119
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

564 1,460,602
–
–

–
–

31,119
–
–

Foreign 
Exchange 
Reserve  
$000s

Accumulated
Deficit
$000s

Total 
Equity 
$000s

(71,406) (426,109) 371,580
(341,439)
(341,439)
(9,210)
–

–
(9,210)

(9,210) (341,439) (350,649)

–
–
–
–
–

–

7,433
–
–
–
40,520

7,433
625,047
(2,475)
618
40,520

(123)

(123)

(80,616) (719,718) 691,951
(17,653) 

(17,653) 
10,792

–

–
10,792

–
6
–

–

–
2,872
–

–

–
–
–

–

10,792 
–
–

(17,653) 

–
48,030

(6,861)
2,878
48,030

–

(687) 

(687) 

570 1,463,474

31,119

(69,824) (690,028) 735,311

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity.

46

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Consolidated Balance Sheets

As at 31 December 2019 and 2018

Non-current assets
Intangible assets – goodwill
Other intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Deferred tax asset

Current assets
Inventories
Taxation recoverable
Trade receivables and other current assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Current tax liabilities
Lease liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Lease liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Merger reserve
Foreign exchange reserve
Accumulated deficit

Total equity

31 December
2019
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

Notes

13
14
15
11

16
11
17
21

6,959
4,057
152,387
17,752

6,959
2,417
89,430
8,380

181,155

107,186

95,469
10,302
67,682
536,933

51,007
4,833
19,424
591,497

710,386

666,761

891,541

773,947

18
11
20

(110,932)
(2,585)
(4,037)

(63,586)
(2,391)
(400)

(117,554)

(66,377)

18
20

(9,282)
(29,394)

(9,929)
(5,690)

(156,230)

(81,996)

735,311

691,951

22

24
24

570

564
1,463,474 1,460,602
31,119
(80,616)
(719,718)

31,119
(69,824)
(690,028)

735,311

691,951

The consolidated financial statements of GW Pharmaceuticals plc, registered number 04160917, on pages 45 to 77 were authorised by 
the Board and approved for issue on 18 March 2020.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Balance Sheets.

By order of the Board.

Justin Gover
Director
18 March 2020

47

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Consolidated Cash Flow Statements

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 

Loss for the year/period
Adjustments for:
Interest expense
Interest income
Other income
Tax (benefit)/charge
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation of intangible assets
Net foreign exchange losses
Increase in provision for inventories
Decrease in deferred signature fees
Share-based payment charge
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Increase in inventories
Increase in trade receivables and other current assets
Increase in trade and other payables

Cash used in operations

Income taxes paid
Research and development tax credits received

Net cash outflow from operating activities
Investing activities
Interest received
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of intangible assets
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sale of priority review voucher

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities
Financing activities
Proceeds on exercise of share options
Proceeds of new equity issue
Expenses of new equity issue
Interest paid
Repayments of fit-out funding
Repayments of lease liabilities

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year/period

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year/period

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Cash Flow Statements.

48

12 months to
31 December
2019
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018
$000s

(17,653)  (341,439)

2,464
(8,465)
(108,109)
(500)
12,719
1,240
2,272
869
–
48,030
94

1,573
(6,094)
(5,061)
5,090
10,626
1,118
2,666
1,405
(1,178)
40,520
361

(67,039) (290,413)
(43,757)
(47,025)
(44,154)
(9,254)
40,747
21,808

(114,203) (324,884)

(10,462)
–

(3,703)
27,168

(124,665)

(301,419)

8,223
(42,638)
(2,490)
–
104,117

5,190
(44,934)
(2,194)
517
–

67,212

(41,421)

2,878
–
–
(2,511)
(543)
(2,431)

618
625,047
(2,475)
(1,533)
(651)
(216)

(2,607) 620,790
5,496
(8,607)

(54,564) 269,343
591,497
322,154

536,933

591,497

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018

1. Presentation of the Financial Statements

General Information
GW Pharmaceuticals plc (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, 
developing and commercialising novel therapeutics from our proprietary cannabinoid product platform in a broad range of disease 
areas. The Company is developing a portfolio of cannabinoid medicines, of which the lead product is Epidiolex, an oral medicine for 
the treatment of certain refractory childhood epilepsies.

The Company is a public limited company, limited by ordinary shares, which has American Depository Shares (“ADSs”) registered 
with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and has been listed on NASDAQ since 1 May 2013. The Company’s ADSs 
each represent 12 ordinary shares of GW Pharmaceuticals plc. The Company is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. 
The address of the Company’s registered office and principal place of business is Sovereign House, Vision Park, Histon, 
Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

In the prior period, the Company elected to modify its financial year end to 31 December from 30 September and presented its 
15-month results to 31 December 2018. This was to align with the Group’s external financial reporting calendar. Consequently, the 
results for the year ended 31 December 2019 as presented in these financial statements may not be entirely comparable with the prior 
period.

Basis of Accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as endorsed by 
the European Union and as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). The Group financial statements also 
comply with Article 4 of the European Union IAS regulation.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Historical cost is generally based on the fair value of 
the consideration given in exchange for the assets and received for the liabilities. The principal accounting policies are set out below.

Going Concern
At 31 December 2019 the Group had cash and cash equivalents of $536.9 million (31 December 2018: $591.5 million). The Directors 
have considered the financial position of the Group, its cash position and forecast cash flows for the 12-month period from the date of 
this report when considering going concern. They have also considered the Group’s key risks and uncertainties affecting the likely 
development of the business. In the light of this review, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for at least a 12-month period from the date of this Report. Accordingly, they continue 
to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company 
(its subsidiaries) made up to 31 December. Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has the power to govern the financial and 
operating policies of the entity concerned, generally accompanying a shareholding of more than one half of the voting rights.

The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the period are included in the Consolidated Income Statement from the 
effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the 
financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by the Group. All intra-Group 
transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation. Acquisitions are accounted for under the acquisition 
method.

In future business combinations, if a non-controlling interest in a subsidiary arises, such non-controlling interest will be identified 
separately from the Group’s equity therein. The interests of non-controlling shareholders that are present ownership interests entitling 
their holders to a proportionate share of net assets upon liquidation may initially be measured at fair value or at the non-controlling 
interests’ proportionate share of the fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. The choice of measurement is made on an 
acquisition-by-acquisition basis. Other non-controlling interests are initially measured at fair value. Subsequent to acquisition, the 
carrying amount of non-controlling interests is the amount of those interests at initial recognition plus the non-controlling interests’ 
share of subsequent changes in equity. Total comprehensive income is attributed to non-controlling interests even if this results in the 
non-controlling interests having a deficit balance.

Changes in the Group’s interests in subsidiaries that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions. The 
carrying amount of the Group’s interests and the non-controlling interests are adjusted to reflect the changes in their relative interests 
in the subsidiaries. Any difference between the amount by which the non-controlling interests are adjusted and the fair value of the 
consideration paid or received is recognised directly in equity and attributed to the owners of the Company.

49

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 20191. Presentation of the Financial Statements continued

When the Group loses control of a subsidiary, the profit or loss on disposal is calculated as the difference between (i) the aggregate of 
the fair value of the consideration received and the fair value of any retained interest and (ii) the previous carrying amount of the assets 
(including goodwill), less liabilities of the subsidiary and any non-controlling interests. Amounts previously recognised in other 
comprehensive income in relation to the subsidiary are accounted for (i.e. reclassified to profit or loss or transferred directly to 
accumulated deficit) in the same manner as would be required if the relevant assets or liabilities are disposed of. The fair value of any 
investment retained in the former subsidiary at the date when control is lost is regarded as the fair value on initial recognition for 
subsequent accounting under IFRS 9 Financial Instruments or, when applicable, the costs on initial recognition of an investment in an 
associate or jointly controlled entity.

2. Adoption of New and Revised Accounting Standards

In the current period the following revised standards have been adopted in these financial statements. With the exception of the 
adoption of IFRS 16, adoption has not had a significant impact on the amounts reported in these financial statements but may impact 
the accounting for future transactions.

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (July 2014)
IFRS 16 Leases (January 2016)
IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2015 – 2017 Cycle (December 2017)
Amendments to IFRS 1: Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2014-16 (December 2016)
Amendments to IFRS 2: Classification and Measurement of Share-Based Payment Transactions (June 2016)
Amendments to IFRS 3: Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2015 – 2017 Cycle (December 2017)
Amendments to IFRS 4: Applying IFRS 9 Financial Instruments with IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts (September 2016)
Amendments to IFRS 9: Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation (October 2017)
Amendments to IAS 23: Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2015 – 2017 Cycle (December 2017)
Amendments to IAS 28: Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2014 – 2016 Cycle (December 2016)
Amendments to IAS 28: Long-Term Interests in Associates and Joint Ventures (October 2017)
Amendments to IAS 40: Transfer of Investment Property (December 2016)

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following Standards and Interpretations which have not been applied in 
these financial statements were issued by the IASB but not yet effective:

IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts (May 2017)
Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8: Definition of Material (October 2018)
Amendments to IFRS 3: Definition of a Business (October 2018)
Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28: Sale or Contribution of Assets between and Investor and its Associates or Joint Venture

The Directors do not expect that the adoption of the remaining Standards and Interpretations in future periods will have a material 
impact on the financial statements of the Group.

IFRS 16 Leases: 
The Group has adopted IFRS 16 Leases using the modified retrospective approach from 1 January 2019 and has not restated 
comparatives for the prior period, as permitted under IFRS 16. The Group has elected to measure the right-of-use asset equal to the 
lease liability, adjusted for accruals or prepayments, with the result of no net impact on opening retained earnings and no restatement 
of prior period comparatives. The reclassifications and the adjustments arising from the new leasing rules are therefore recognised in 
the opening balance sheet on 1 January 2019.

On adoption of IFRS 16, the Group recognised lease liabilities in relation to leases which had previously been classified as ‘operating 
leases’ under IAS 17 Leases. These liabilities were measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted using the 
lessee’s incremental borrowing rate at the point of adoption. The weighted average lessee’s incremental borrowing rate applied to the 
lease liabilities on 1 January 2019 was 5.9%. In order to calculate the incremental borrowing rate, reference was made to interest rates 
available on borrowing rates in the companies and countries, in which the lease is recognised, up to a period of 15 years. Initial 
adoption resulted in the recognition of additional right-of-use assets of $20.0 million and lease liabilities of $20.6 million.

For leases previously classified as finance leases the entity recognised the carrying amount of the lease asset and lease liability 
immediately before transition as the carrying amount of the right of use asset and the lease liability at the date of initial application. 

The measurement principles of IFRS 16 are only applied after that date.

50

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019The following reconciliation to the opening balance for the lease liabilities as at 1 January 2019 is based on the operating lease 
obligations as at 31 December 2018:

Operating lease commitments disclosed as at 31 December 2018
Discounted using the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate at the date of initial application
Relief option for short-term leases
Relief option for low-value leases
Non-lease components
Contracted, but not commenced
Update of estimates
Remeasurement of embedded leases
Lease liability recognised as at 1 January 2019

2018
$000s

35,849
(7,549)
(76)
(261)
(1,495)
(2,458)
(92)
(3,319)
20,599

The associated right-of-use assets for property leases were measured on a retrospective basis as if the new rules had always been 
applied. Other right-of use assets were measured at the amount equal to the lease liability, adjusted by the amount of any prepaid or 
accrued lease payments relating to that lease recognised in the balance sheet as at 31 December 2018. There were no onerous lease 
contracts that would have required an adjustment to the right-of-use assets at the date of initial application.

In applying IFRS 16 for the first time, the Group has used the following practical expedients permitted by the standard:
 > the use of a single discount rate to a portfolio of leases with reasonably similar characteristics.
 > reliance on previous assessments on whether leases are onerous.
 > the accounting for operating leases with a remaining lease term of less than 12 months as at 1 January 2019 as short-term leases.
 > the exclusion of initial direct costs for the measurement of the right-of-use asset at the date of initial application.
 > the use of hindsight in determining the lease term where the contract contains options to extend or terminate the lease.

The Group has also elected not to reassess whether a contract is, or contains, a lease at the date of initial application. Instead, for 
contracts entered into before the transition date the Group relied on its assessment made applying IAS 17 and IFRIC 4 Determining 
whether an Arrangement contains a Lease.

IFRS 9: Financial Instruments:
IFRS 9 replaces the previous IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement guidance relating to the recognition, 
classification and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities, derecognition of financial instruments, impairment of 
financial assets and hedge accounting.

The adoption of IFRS 9 was mandatory for accounting periods commencing after 1 January 2018. In accordance with the transitional 
provisions of IFRS 9, the Group’s comparative figures have not been restated. Until 31 December 2018 financial assets were accounted 
for in accordance with the requirements of IAS 39. From 1 January 2019 the requirements of IFRS 9 have been applied. The adoption 
of IFRS 9 had no impact on the opening retained losses of the Group.

The Group did not carry out any hedging activities during the current or prior accounting periods, or engage in transactions involving 
derivative financial instruments. All equity investments held across the Group relate to wholly-owned subsidiaries, which are outside 
the scope of IFRS 9.

As part of the IFRS 9 adoption process, management assessed the financial instruments held by the Group as well as the Group’s 
business model. Each identified financial instrument was then allocated to one of the required classifications under IFRS 9. This 
process did not identify any changes in the amounts already recognised in accordance with IAS 39, and therefore did not give rise to 
any IFRS 9 adoption adjustments on 1 January 2019.

In providing for credit risk on trade receivables, the Group has elected to apply the simplified model for expected credit losses arising 
on trade receivable balances. However, the adoption of IFRS 9 has not resulted in any significant change of outcome. As a consequence 
of this, there is no change in the provision against trade receivables on adopting IFRS 9.

51

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 20193. Significant Accounting Policies

The principal Group accounting policies are summarised below.

Revenue
In the prior period, the Company early adopted IFRS 15: Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and all the related amendments to 
all contracts using the modified approach. IFRS 15 and its requirements have been applied throughout the entirety of the year ended 
31 December 2019.

Under IFRS 15, an entity recognises revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that 
reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition 
for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of IFRS 15, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the 
contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate 
the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognise revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a 
performance obligation. The Group only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is highly probable that the entity will collect 
the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the 
contract is determined to be within the scope of IFRS 15, the Group assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and 
determines those that are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Group then 
recognises as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the 
performance obligation is satisfied.

Epidiolex Product Net Sales
The Group’s product sales consist of sales of its cannabidiol oral solution which is FDA approved for sale in the United States under the 
tradename “Epidiolex”, for use in treating Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, two severe paediatric forms of epilepsy. 

The Company recognises revenue from product sales upon receipt of product at specialty pharmacies (“SPs”) and specialty distributors 
(“SDs”), the date at which the control is transferred, net of the following allowances which are reflected either as a reduction to the 
related account receivable or as an accrued liability, depending on how the allowance is settled:

Distribution Fees: Distribution fees include distribution service fees paid to the SPs and SDs based on a contractually fixed percentage 
of the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC), and prompt payment discounts. Distribution fees are recorded as an offset to revenue based 
on contractual terms at the time revenue from the sale is recognised.

Rebates: Allowances for rebates include mandated discounts under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and the Medicare Part D 
prescription drug benefit, and contractual rebates with commercial payers. Rebates are amounts owed after the final dispensing of the 
product to a benefit plan participant and are based upon contractual agreements or statutory requirements. The allowance for rebates 
is based on contracted or statutory discount rates and expected utilisation by benefit plan participants. The Company’s estimates for 
expected utilisation of rebates is based on utilisation data received from the SPs since product launch. Rebates are generally invoiced 
and paid in arrears so that the accrual balance consists of an estimate of the amount expected to be incurred for the current quarter’s 
activity, plus an accrual balance for prior quarters’ unpaid rebates. If actual future rebates vary from estimates, the Company may need 
to adjust prior period accruals, which would affect revenue in the period of adjustment.

Chargebacks: Chargebacks are discounts and fees that relate to contracts with government and other entities purchasing from the SDs 
at a discounted price. The SDs charge back to the Company the difference between the price initially paid by the SDs and the 
discounted price paid to the SDs by these entities. The Company also incurs group purchasing organisation fees for transactions 
through certain purchasing organisations. The Company estimates sales with these entities and accrues for anticipated chargebacks 
and organisation fees, based on the applicable contractual terms. If actual future chargebacks vary from these estimates, the Company 
may need to adjust prior period accruals, which would affect revenue in the period of adjustment.

Co-Payment Assistance: The Company offers co-payment assistance to commercially insured patients meeting certain eligibility 
requirements. Co-payment assistance is accrued for based on actual programme participation and estimates of programme redemption 
using data provided by third-party administrators.

Product Returns: Consistent with industry practice, the Company offers the SPs and SDs limited product return rights for damages, 
shipment errors, and expiring product, provided that the return is within a specified period around the product expiration date as set 
forth in the applicable individual distribution agreement. The Company does not allow product returns for product that has been 
dispensed to a patient. As the Company receives inventory reports from the SPs and SDs and has the ability to control the amount of 
product that is sold to the SPs and SDs, it is able to make a reasonable estimate of future potential product returns based on this 
on-hand channel inventory data and sell-through data obtained from the SPs and SDs. In arriving at its estimate, the Company also 
considers historical product returns, the underlying product demand, and industry data specific to the specialty pharmaceutical 
distribution industry.

52

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019On 23 September 2019, the Company announced that the European Commission (EC) approved the marketing authorisation for 
Epidyolex™ (the trade name in Europe for Epidiolex) for use as adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut 
syndrome (LGS) or Dravet syndrome, in conjunction with clobazam, for patients two years of age and older. The Company recognises 
revenue from product sales in Europe upon delivery of the product, which is the point at which control of the goods is transferred to 
the customer. The Company recognises revenue net of standard discounts and allowances, which are reflected as accrued liabilities. 

The Company also supplies Epidiolex in certain markets outside of the United States under early access programmes that enable 
patients to receive the product prior to regulatory approval. Revenue under early access programmes is generally recognised when the 
product is delivered.

Sativex Product Net Sales
Sales of Sativex are made outside of the United States for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis, or MS, pursuant to 
licence agreements with commercial partners. Under these licence agreements, the Company sells fully labelled Sativex vials to its 
commercial partners for a contractually agreed price, which is generally based on percentages of the commercial partners’ in-market 
net selling price charged to end customers. Product net sales revenue related to Sativex shipments to commercial licence partners is 
recognised when shipped, at which point the customer obtains control of the product. The Company commercialises Sativex in 
Australia and New Zealand through a consignment relationship with a local distributor. Product net sales revenues related to Sativex 
sales in Australia and New Zealand are recognised when the product is sold through to the end customer.

Other Revenue
The Group’s other revenue primarily consists of research and development fee revenue for research and development services provided 
under a Sativex development agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (“Otsuka”) that was terminated in December 2017 and 
variable consideration milestone payments related to the Sativex licence agreements.

The research and development fee revenue is recognised at the time the underlying services are performed.

The Sativex licence agreements contain provisions for the Group to earn variable consideration in the form of regulatory milestone 
payments, sales-based milestone payments, and royalty payments. The Group has no further performance obligations related to the 
regulatory milestone payments and these amounts are recognised in accordance with IFRS 15 when receipt of these payments becomes 
highly probable and there is no significant risk of revenue reversal. Revenue related to the sales-based milestone payments and product 
royalty payments are subject to the sales-based royalty exception under IFRS 15 and will be recognised when the underlying sales 
are made.

Research and Development
Expenditure on research and development activities is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred prior to achieving 
regulatory approval.

An internally generated intangible asset arising from the Group’s development activities is recognised only if the following conditions 
can be demonstrated:
 > the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale;
 > the intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it;
 > the ability to use or sell the intangible asset;
 > how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits;
 > the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the intangible 

asset; and

 > the ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development.

The Group has determined that regulatory approval is the earliest point at which the probable threshold can be achieved. All research 
and development expenditure incurred prior to achieving regulatory approval is therefore expensed as incurred.

Borrowing Costs
Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets, which are assets that 
necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale, are added to the cost of those assets, until such 
time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use or sale. All other borrowing costs are recognised in the income 
statement using the effective interest method.

Intangible Assets – Other
Other intangible assets are stated at cost less provisions for amortisation and impairments. Licences, patents, know-how, software and 
marketing rights separately acquired or acquired as part of a business combination are amortised over their estimated useful lives 
using the straight-line basis from the time they are available for use. The estimated useful lives for determining the amortisation take 
into account patent lives and related product application, but do not exceed their lifetime. Asset lives are reviewed annually and 
adjusted where necessary. Contingent milestone payments are recognised at the point that the contingent event becomes certain. Any 
subsequent development costs incurred by the Group and associated with acquired licences, patents, know-how or marketing rights 

53

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 20193. Significant Accounting Policies continued

are written off to the income statement when incurred, unless the criteria for recognition of an internally generated intangible asset are 
met, usually when a regulatory filing has been made in a major market and approval is considered highly probable.

Amortisation is provided so as to write off the cost of assets, less their estimated residual values, over their useful lives using the 
straight-line method, as follows:

Software 
Licences 

  3 years
  3 years or term of licence if longer

Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and any recognised impairment loss. Depreciation is 
provided so as to write off the cost of assets, less their estimated residual values, over their useful lives using the straight-line method, 
as follows:

Leasehold and freehold property 
Plant, machinery and lab equipment 
Office and IT equipment 
Leasehold improvements 
Motor vehicles 

  20 years or term of lease if shorter
  3 to 20 years
  3 to 5 years
  4 to 20 years or term of the lease if shorter
  3 years

Right-of-use lease assets are depreciated over their expected useful lives on the same basis as owned assets or, where shorter, over the 
term of the relevant lease.

No depreciation is provided on assets under the course of construction. Cost includes professional fees and, for qualifying assets, 
borrowing costs capitalised in accordance with the Group’s accounting policy. Depreciation on these assets commences when the 
assets are available for use.

The gain or loss arising on disposal or scrappage of an asset is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the 
carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in operating profit/loss.

Property, plant and equipment assets are classified as assets held-for-sale when their carrying amount is to be recovered principally 
through a sale transaction and a sale is considered highly probable in its current condition. They are stated at the lower of carrying 
amount and fair value less costs to sell. Depreciation is not recorded on assets classified as held-for-sale.

Trade and Other Receivables
Financial assets included in Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value. The Group holds the Trade receivables 
with the objective to collect the contractual cash flows and therefore measures them subsequently at amortised cost using the effective 
interest rate method, less any impairment losses.

Following the adoption of IFRS 9 the Group applies the expected credit loss method to calculate a provision for doubtful receivables. 
As the Group’s trade receivables balances are short-term in nature, there was no material impact assessed as arising from the 
introduction of this approach.

Inventories
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or estimated net realisable value. We use a combination of standard and actual costing 
methodologies to determine the cost basis for our inventories, which approximates actual cost. Inventory is valued on a first-in, 
first-out basis. We reduce our inventory to net realisable value for potentially excess, dated or obsolete inventory based on an analysis 
of forecasted demand compared to quantities on hand, as well as product shelf life.

Our inventory production process includes the cultivation of botanical raw material. Because of the duration of the cultivation process, 
a substantial portion of our inventory will not be sold within one year. Consistent with the practice in other industries that cultivate 
botanical raw materials, all inventory is classified as a current asset.

Inventories manufactured prior to regulatory approval are capitalised as an asset but provided for until there is a high probability of 
regulatory approval of the product. At the point when a high probability of regulatory approval is obtained, which can vary by territory 
and product but typically will be on acceptance of application by the relevant regulatory authority, the provision is adjusted 
appropriately to increase the carrying value to expected net realisable value, which may not exceed original cost.

Adjustments to the provision for inventories manufactured prior to regulatory approval are recorded as a component of research and 
development expenditure. Adjustments to the provision against commercial product related inventories manufactured following 
achievement of regulatory approval are recorded as a component of cost of goods.

54

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable or recoverable and deferred tax. Current and deferred taxes are 
recognised in profit or loss, except when they relate to items that are recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in 
which case, the current and deferred tax are also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively. Where 
current or deferred tax arises from the initial accounting for a business combination, the tax effect is included in the accounting for the 
business combination.

The tax payable or recoverable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit before tax as reported in the 
Consolidated Income Statements because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it 
further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates and laws 
that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the 
financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance 
sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are 
recognised only to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences 
can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill 
or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the 
taxable profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, and 
interests in joint ventures, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the 
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer 
probable that sufficient future taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised 
based on tax laws and rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is charged or 
credited in the Consolidated Income Statements, except when it relates to items charged or credited in other comprehensive income, in 
which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in other comprehensive income.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax 
liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax 
assets and liabilities on a net basis.

(Loss)/Earnings per Share
Basic earnings or loss per share is calculated by dividing the net profit or loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares 
outstanding for the period, without consideration for ordinary share equivalents. Diluted profit or loss per share is computed by 
dividing the net profit or loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares and ordinary share equivalents outstanding for the 
period.

For the purposes of this calculation, market-priced share options are considered to be ordinary share equivalents but are not included 
in the calculations of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented as their effect would be antidilutive. Nominal exercise-price 
options are considered ordinary share equivalents and are included in the calculation of basic weighted average shares outstanding 
once they have become vested.

The Group incurred net losses for both periods presented and there were no reconciling items for potentially dilutive shares. More 
specifically, at 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2018, options totalling approximately 11.8 million and 13.0 million ordinary 
shares respectively were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share as their effect would have been antidilutive.

Retirement Benefit Costs
The Group does not operate any pension plans, but makes contributions to personal pension arrangements of its Executive Directors 
and employees. The amounts charged to the Consolidated Income Statements in respect of pension costs are the contributions payable 
in the year. Differences between contributions payable in the year and contributions paid are shown as either accruals or prepayments 
in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

55

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 20193. Significant Accounting Policies continued

Foreign Currency
The individual financial statements of each Group company are prepared in the currency of the primary economic environment in 
which it operates (its functional currency). For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position 
of the Group is presented in United States Dollars (US$).

During the comparative period, the Group reassessed its functional currency and considered that the Group’s Parent Company, GW 
Pharmaceuticals plc, had a functional currency of US Dollars with effect from 1 July 2018.

The functional currencies of some of the Company’s subsidiaries differ from the consolidated Group US Dollar presentation currency. 
As a result, the assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated on consolidation at the rates of exchange prevailing at the 
balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange for the period. The unrealised gain or loss 
resulting from this translation is recognised in accumulated other comprehensive income.

In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the entity’s functional 
currency (foreign currencies) are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are retranslated at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date. Non-
monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing at the date when 
the fair value was determined. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not 
retranslated.

For the purpose of presenting consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign operations are 
translated at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rate 
for the period, unless exchange rates fluctuate significantly during the period, in which case the exchange rates at the date of 
transactions are used. Exchange differences arising, if any, are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity.

Share-Based Payments
The Group operates a number of equity-settled share-based compensation plans under which the Company receives services from 
employees as consideration for equity instruments (options) of the Company. The fair value of the employee services received in 
exchange for the grant of the awards is recognised as an expense. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the 
fair value of the options granted (excluding the effect of any non-market-based performance and service vesting conditions) at the date 
of grant.

The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight- line basis over the 
vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest. At each balance sheet date, the Group revises its 
estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result of the effect of non-market-based performance and service 
vesting conditions. The impact of the revision of the original estimates, if any, is recognised in profit or loss such that the cumulative 
expense reflects the revised estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to equity reserves.

Equity-settled share-based payment transactions with parties other than employees are measured at the fair value of the goods or 
services received, except where that fair value cannot be estimated reliably, in which case they are measured at the fair value of the 
equity instruments granted, measured at the date of grant.

Leases
Prior to 1 January 2019 the requirements of IAS 17 Leases were applied. Leases were classified as finance leases whenever the terms of 
the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. All other leases were classified as operating leases. 
Rentals under operating leases were charged on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease. Assets held under finance 
leases were recognised as assets of the Group at their fair value or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments, each 
determined at the inception of the lease. The corresponding liability to the lessor was included in the balance sheet as a finance lease 
obligation. Lease payments were apportioned between finance charges and reduction of the finance lease obligation so as to achieve a 
constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance expenses were recognised immediately in profit or loss, 
unless they were directly attributable to qualifying assets, in which case they were capitalised in accordance with the Group’s general 
policy on borrowing costs.

From 1 January 2019, the Group has applied IFRS 16 Leases using the modified retrospective approach. Comparative information has 
not been restated and continues to be reported under IAS 17 and IFRIC 4, with the impact of changes disclosed in note 2. All leases 
recognised by the Group are lessee leases.

At inception of a contract the Group assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. A contract contains a lease if it conveys the 
right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. 

56

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019The Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use asset is initially 
measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at or before the 
commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred and an estimate of costs to dismantle and remove the underlying asset or to 
restore the underlying asset or the site on which it is located, less any lease incentives received. The right-of-use asset is subsequently 
depreciated using the straight-line method from the commencement date to the earlier of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the 
end of the lease term. The estimated useful lives of right-of-use assets are determined on the same basis as those of property and 
equipment. In addition, the right-of-use asset is periodically reduced by impairment losses, if any, and adjusted for certain 
remeasurements of the lease liability.

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at the commencement date, 
discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if unavailable, the Group’s incremental borrowing rate. The lease liability is 
measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. It is remeasured when there is a change in future lease payments 
arising from a change in an index or rate, if there is a change in the Group’s estimate of the amount expected to be payable under a 
residual value guarantee, or if the Group changes its assessment of whether it will exercise a purchase, extension or termination 
option. When the lease liability is remeasured in this way, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the right-of-
use asset, or is recorded in profit or loss if the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset has been reduced to zero.

Payments associated with short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognised on a straight-line basis as an expense in profit 
or loss. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of 12 months or less. Low-value assets comprise IT equipment and small items of 
office or production equipment.

The Group presents right-of-use assets that do not meet the definition of investment property in “property, plant and equipment” and 
lease liabilities in “lease liabilities” in the balance sheet. All lease balances recognised relate to lessee leases, as the Group does not 
carry out lessor lease activities.

Financial Instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are recognised in the Group’s balance sheet when the Group becomes party to the contractual 
provisions of the instrument.

All financial assets are recognised and derecognised on a trade date where the purchase or sale of a financial asset is under a contract 
whose terms require delivery of the financial asset within the timeframe established by the market concerned, and are initially 
measured at fair value, plus transaction costs, except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which 
are initially measured at fair value.

Financial Assets
Until 31 December 2018, under IAS 39 financial assets were classified into the following specified categories: financial assets “at fair 
value through profit or loss”, “held-to-maturity” investments, “available-for -sale” financial assets and “loans and receivables”. The 
classification depended on the nature and purpose of the financial assets and was determined at the time of initial recognition. 

From 1 January 2019, under IFRS 9 financial assets are classified into “amortised cost”, “at fair value through other comprehensive 
income”, and “at fair value through profit or loss”. The adoption of IFRS 9 did not result in any changes to the financial asset balances 
previously recognised under IAS 39.

Trade and Other Receivables
Trade and other receivables have fixed or determinable payments and are not quoted in an active market. They are measured at 
amortised cost, less any impairment. Interest income is recognised by applying the effective interest rate, except for short-term 
receivables when the recognition of interest would be immaterial.

Trade and other receivables are assessed for indicators of impairment at each balance sheet date. Appropriate allowances for estimated 
irrecoverable amounts are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statements. The allowance recognised is measured as the difference 
between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate 
computed at initial recognition.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and on-call deposits held with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments 
with a maturity of three months or less.

Financial Liabilities
Until 31 December 2018, under IAS 39 financial liabilities were classified as either financial liabilities “at fair value through profit and 
loss” or “other financial liabilities”.

From 1 January 2019, under IFRS 9 financial liabilities are classified into “amortised cost”, and “at fair value through profit or loss”. 
The adoption of IFRS 9 did not result in any changes to the financial liability balances previously recognised under IAS 39.

57

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 20193. Significant Accounting Policies continued

Trade payables are initially recognised at fair value and then held at amortised cost which equates to fair value. Long-term payables are 
discounted where the effect is material.

All borrowings are initially recorded at the amount of proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Borrowings are subsequently carried 
at amortised cost, using the effective interest method. The difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount 
due on redemption is recognised as a charge to the income statement over the period of the relevant borrowing.

Critical Judgements in Applying the Group’s Accounting Policies
In the application of the Group’s accounting policies, which are described above, the Board of Directors are required to make 
judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other 
sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be 
relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in 
which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revisions and future periods if the revision 
affects both current and future periods.

The following are the critical judgements, apart from those involving estimations (which are dealt with separately below), that the 
Directors have made in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on the 
amounts recognised in the financial statements.

Inventories
Inventories manufactured prior to regulatory approval are capitalised as an asset but provided for until there is a high probability of 
regulatory approval of the product.

During the period to 31 December 2018, the Group commenced capitalisation of Epidiolex inventory material and associated 
production costs at the point of acceptance of the Group’s NDA filing with FDA in December 2017. At the point of FDA approval in 
June 2018, the Group concluded that the remaining doubt of regulatory approval had been removed and the provision was adjusted to 
increase the carrying value to expected net realisable value. This adjustment to the provision was recorded as a component of research 
and development expenditure during the prior period.

Any subsequent adjustments to the provision against commercial product related inventories manufactured following achievement of 
regulatory approval have been recorded as a component of cost of goods.

Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty
The key assumptions concerning the future, and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that have a 
significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year, are 
discussed below.

Epidiolex Product Net Sales
As outlined in the revenue accounting policy above, the Company recognises revenue from product sales, net of allowances for rebates, 
which are included in accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Allowances for rebates include discounts under 
government-sponsored programmes as well as contractual rebates with commercial payers. The allowance for rebates is based on 
contracted or statutory discount rates and expected utilisation. Management’s judgements are made with consideration of historical 
claims experience, expected utilisation, unbilled claims, claim submission time lags, and the limited historical data currently available.

The total amount deducted from gross sales for the allowances described above for the year ended 31 December 2019 was $63.3 million.

Deferred Taxation
At the balance sheet date, the Group has accumulated tax losses of $609.4 million (31 December 2018: $515.0 million) and other 
temporary differences of $30.4 million (31 December 2018: $21.5 million) available to offset against future profits. If the value of these 
losses and other temporary differences were recognised within the Group’s balance sheet at the balance sheet date, the Group would 
be carrying an additional deferred tax asset of $108.6 million (31 December 2018: $91.2 million). However, as explained in the tax 
accounting policy note, the Group’s policy is to recognise deferred tax assets only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable 
profits, feasible tax-planning strategies, and deferred tax liabilities will be available against which the brought-forward trading losses 
can be utilised. Estimation of the level of future taxable profits is therefore required in order to determine the appropriate carrying 
value of the deferred tax asset at each balance sheet date. As such, a deferred tax asset of $17.8 million has been recognised at 
31 December 2019 (31 December 2018: $8.4 million) in respect of temporary timing differences relating to the Group’s US subsidiary 
that are expected to be fully recoverable.

58

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 20194. Segmental Information

In accordance with IFRS 8 – Operating Segments, the chief operating decision maker (CODM), who is responsible for allocating 
resources and assessing performance of the Group, has been identified as a sub-group of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), 
consisting of those members charged with executive management of the Group’s business activities.

The Group has one operating segment that reflects the Group’s strategy of discovering, developing and commercialising novel 
therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform in a broad range of disease areas. The Group’s track record of FDA 
approval and successful commercial release of Epidiolex during the comparative financial period reflects this strategic orientation. 
Accordingly, the information required under IFRS 8 “Operating Segments”, including the respective comparative information, is 
presented for the single operating segment below.

The Group has licensing agreements for the commercialisation of Sativex® with Almirall S.A. in Europe (excluding the United 
Kingdom) and Mexico, Bayer HealthCare AG in the United Kingdom and Canada, Neopharm Group in Israel, Emerge Health Pty. Ltd. 
in Australasia and Malaysia and Ipsen Biopharm Ltd. in Latin America (excluding Mexico and the Islands of the Caribbean). Revenues 
include product sales, royalties, licence, collaboration and technical access fees, and development and approval milestone fees.

On 2 March 2020 the Group announced that GW will regain exclusive U.K. commercialisation rights for Sativex from Bayer. Under 
the terms of the agreement, there will be a transitional period until 31 December 2020 at which point GW will take over all 
responsibilities for nabiximols in the U.K.

Revenues arising from the Group’s activities during the year/period were as follows:

Revenue
Product net sales – Epidiolex
Product net sales – Sativex

Product net sales – Total
Research and development fees
Development and approval milestones

Segment Results
Revenues from the Group’s largest customers are included within revenue as follows:

Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
Customer D
Customer E

Geographical Analysis of Revenue by Location of Customer

United Kingdom
Europe (excluding United Kingdom)
United States
Canada
Asia/Other

Allocation to geographies is made in reference to the location of each individual customer.

12 months to
31 December
2019

15 months to
31 December
2018

296,396
13,935

310,331
1,001
–

311,332

4,669
12,416

17,085
2,153
153

19,391

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

88,026
82,266
45,570
30,305
18,999

1,183
1,026
471
701
241

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

2,543
16,516
288,164
744
3,365

1,981
8,012
6,230
1,378
1,790

311,332

19,391

59

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 20195. Loss Before Tax

Loss before tax is stated after charging/(crediting):

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense
Operating lease rentals – land and buildings1
Operating lease rentals – equipment1
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

 – Owned
 – Leased2

Amortisation of intangible assets
(Decrease)/increase in provision for inventories
Foreign exchange loss
Staff costs (see note 7)

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

28,422
–
–

7,978
4,741
1,240
(152)
2,272
175,724

7,002
6,913
359

10,116
510
1,118
893
2,666
147,065

1  Operating lease rental expense figures relate to those leases formerly accounted for in accordance with IAS 17 Leases.
2  Leased asset depreciation expensed during the prior period wholly arose in relation to finance lease assets recognised in accordance with IAS 17 Leases.

6. Auditor’s Remuneration

The auditor for the year ended 31 December 2019 and period ended 31 December 2018 was Deloitte LLP
Audit fees:

 – Audit of the Group’s annual accounts1
 – Audit of the Company and subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

Total audit fees

Other services

 – Audit-related assurance2
 – Other assurance services3
 – Taxation compliance and taxation advisory services
 – All other services

Total non-audit fees

12 months to
31 December
2019
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

1,589
173

1,762

1,908
82

1,990

180
50
487
3

720

170
253
35
33

491

1  For the year ended 31 December 2019 and period ended 31 December 2018, audit fees include amounts for the audit of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with 
the International Standards of Auditing, standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and include amounts for the audit of the Group’s internal 
controls over financial reporting.

2  Audit-related assurance fees relate to fees for the performance of interim reviews, and other procedures on interim results.
3  Other assurance services represent assurance on historical financial information included in the Company’s shelf and follow-on US registration statements.

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit, audit-related and other services performed by the auditor. All such services 
were pre-approved during the year ended 31 December 2019 and 15-month period ended 31 December 2018.

60

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 20197. Staff Costs

The monthly average number of Group employees for the period was:

Production
Research and development
Sales, general and administration

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

231
282
332

845

156
293
234

683

Employees involved in production activities may produce material used in commercial or research and development activities.

Group aggregate remuneration comprised:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
Share-based payment

8. Directors’ Remuneration

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

110,690
13,652
3,351
48,031

96,901
6,266
3,378
40,520

175,724

147,065

Directors’ remuneration and other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2019 and period ended 31 December 2018 were as follows:

Emoluments
Money purchase contributions to Directors’ pension arrangements
Gain on exercise of share options

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

2,150
10
13,436

15,596

2,520
10
5,992

8,522

During 2019, one Director was a member of a defined contribution pension scheme (period ended 31 December 2018: one).

Further details concerning the Directors’ remuneration, shareholdings and share options which form part of these financial statements 
are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 16 to 35.

9. Interest income and expense

Interest expense – lease interest
Interest expense – fit-out funding interest

Total interest expense

Interest income – bank interest

Total interest income

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

(1,774)
(690)

(596)
(977)

(2,464)

(1,573)

8,465

8,465

6,094

6,094

61

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
10. Other income

Proceeds on sale of Priority Review Voucher
U.K. Research and Development Expenditure Credit

Total other income

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

104,117
3,992

108,109

–
5,061

5,061

U.K. Research and Development Expenditure Credit relates to an “above the line” credit associated with the U.K. large company R&D 
tax scheme. This represents an amount which was claimable from U.K. tax authorities in relation to qualifying expenditure incurred 
in the same period.

Proceeds on sale of Priority Review Voucher represents the profit on sale of the Priority Review Voucher (PRV) awarded to the Group 
by the US Federal Drug Administration on approval of Epidiolex in the United States. See note 14 for more information.

11. Tax

a) Analysis of Tax (Benefit)/Charge for the Period

Current period tax charge
Adjustment in respect of prior year tax credit
Movements on deferred tax assets

Tax (benefit)/charge

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

510
(132)
(878)

(500)

5,134
(55)
11

5,090

Tax credits relate to U.K. research and development tax credits claimed under the Corporation Tax 2009. In the period to 
31 December 2018, the Group was no longer eligible to claim research and development tax credits under the SME scheme. Tax credits 
are now claimed under the large company RDEC scheme and are recorded as other income in the income statement. 

The Group recognises in full the estimated benefit for qualifying current period U.K. research and development expenditures and 
resulting tax credits. Any difference in the credit ultimately received is recorded as an adjustment in respect of prior year.

The Group recognises the likely recoverable estimated benefit for qualifying current year US research and development expenditures 
and resulting tax credits. Any difference in the credit ultimately received is recorded as an adjustment in respect of prior year.

At 31 December 2019 the Group had tax losses available for carry forward of approximately $609.4 million (31 December 2018: $515.0 
million). These losses were generated in the U.K. Of such carried-forward losses, which are not subject to expiry, the Group has 
recognised a deferred tax asset of $0.4 million (31 December 2018: $1.7 million) up to the level of deferred tax liabilities arising in the 
same jurisdiction and additionally an asset supportable by taxable income projections of $nil (31 December 2018: $nil). The Group has 
also recognised a deferred tax asset of $17.8 million (31 December 2018: $8.4 million) in respect of taxable temporary timing 
differences relating to timing differences in another jurisdiction supportable by taxable income projections. In addition, the Group has 
not recognised deferred tax assets relating to other temporary differences of $30.4 million (31 December 2018: $21.5 million). These 
deferred tax assets have not been recognised as the Group’s management considers that there is insufficient future taxable income, 
taxable temporary differences and feasible tax-planning strategies to utilise all of the cumulative losses and therefore it is probable that 
the deferred tax assets will not be realised in full. If future income differs from current projections, this could significantly impact the 
tax charge or benefit in future periods.

62

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019In addition to the amount charged to the income statement and other comprehensive income, the following amounts relating to tax 
have been recognised directly in equity:

Change in estimate of excess tax deductions related to share-based payments

Total income tax recognised directly in equity

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

(687)

(687)

(123)

(123)

b) Factors Affecting the Tax (Benefit)/Charge for the Year
The tax benefit for the year can be reconciled to the tax benefit on the Group’s loss for the year at the standard U.K. corporation tax 
rate as follows:

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

Loss before tax

Tax credit on Group loss before tax at the standard U.K. corporation tax rate of 19.0%
(Period ended 31 December 2018: 19.0%)
Effects of:
Expenses not deductible in determining taxable profit
Impact of employee share acquisition relief
Current year US tax credits
Effect of unrecognised losses and temporary differences
Overseas profits taxed at different rates
Adjustment in respect of prior year tax credit

Tax

(18,153) (336,349)

(3,449)

(63,906)

(2,409)
(6,827)
(2,515)
14,335
1,374
(1,009)

1,676
(3,093)
(2,940)
67,412
5,996
(55)

(500)

5,090

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the Group and movements thereon during the current year 
and prior reporting period:

At 1 October 2017
Credited/(charged) to profit or loss
Credited to equity
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2018
Credited/(charged) to profit or loss
Credited to equity
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2019

Accelerated 
Tax 
Depreciation 
$000s

(2,419)
1,533
–
46

(840)
(26)
–
–

(866)

Tax Losses 
$000s

2,746
(1,657)
–
(53)

1,036
4,808
–
–

5,844

Share-Based 
Payment 
and Other 
Compensation 
$000s

8,064
113
123
(116)

8,184
5,203
(687)
72

Total 
$000s

8,391
(11)
123
(123)

8,380
9,985
(687)
72

12,772

17,750

Deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset where the Group has a legally enforceable right to do so, and intends to settle on a 
net basis. The taxing authority permits the Group to make or receive a single net payment for all U.K. subsidiaries. The Group’s US 
subsidiary operates in a different jurisdiction with no legally enforceable right to offset against U.K. tax charges or credits.

On 15 September 2016, the reduction in the main rate of corporation tax from 19% to 17% was enacted, with effect from 1 April 2020. 
This reduction to 17% received Royal Assent in February 2019. On 11 March 2020 it was announced that the corporation tax rate 
would remain at 19% from 1 April 2020. This is expected to be introduced in the Finance Bill 2020 on 19 March 2020 and will then be 
subject to Royal Assent.

63

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201912. Loss Per Share

The calculations of loss per share are based on the following data:

Loss for the year – basic and diluted

Weighted average number of ordinary shares
Less ESOP trust ordinary shares1

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for purposes of basic earnings per share
Effect of potentially dilutive shares arising from share options2

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for purposes of diluted earnings per share

Loss per share – basic

Loss per share – diluted

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

(17,653)

(341,439)

Number of shares

12 months to
31 December
2019 
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018 
$000s

371.6
–

371.6
–

371.6

340.4
–

340.4
–

340.4

(4.8)c

(100.3)c

(4.8)c

(100.3)c

1  As at 31 December 2019 33,054 ordinary shares were held in the ESOP trust (31 December 2018: 33,054). The effect is less than 0.1 million shares, and consequently these have 

not been presented above.

2  The Group incurred a loss in each of the financial periods above. As a result, the inclusion of potentially dilutive share options in the diluted loss per share calculation would have 
an antidilutive effect on the loss per share for the period. The impact of 11.8 million share options have therefore been excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation for the 
year ended 31 December 2019 (period ended 31 December 2018: 13.0 million).

13. Intangible Assets – Goodwill

Cost – as at year end

Net book value – as at year/period end

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018 
$000s

6,959

6,959

6,959

6,959

Goodwill arose upon the acquisition of GW Research Limited (formerly G-Pharm Limited) in 2001. For impairment testing purposes, 
all goodwill has been allocated to the single reportable segment, as described in note 4, as a separate cash-generating unit. Goodwill 
has an indefinite useful life and is tested annually for impairment or more frequently if there are indications of impairment.

The Group has determined the recoverable amount of the Commercial segment based on a value-in-use calculation. This calculation 
uses pre-tax cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a two-year period. Cash flows beyond 
the two-year period are based upon detailed internal and external third-party analysis of the Group’s product opportunity, of which 
Epidiolex is a significant contributor, or are extrapolated using the estimated growth rates stated below. The projections include 
assumptions about the timing and likelihood of product launches and pricing policy.

Management has determined the following assumptions to be the key assumptions in the calculation of value-in-use for the 
Commercial segment:

Growth rate – sales volume in each period is the main driver for revenue and costs. The same growth rates have been used in financial 
budgets and are consistent with in-market run rates and internal commercial forecasts based on a 10-year period.

Long-term growth rate – A 0% growth rate has been applied after 10 years (31 December 2018: 0% after 10 years). This approach has 
been adopted by management as it is representative of the long development and product lifecycle in the pharmaceutical sector. In 
future periods, depending on the performance of the Commercial segment, it may be necessary to revise the terminal growth rate.

Discount rate – a 14.8% (31 December 2018: 13.4%) pre-tax rate has been used. This is considered appropriate for the purpose of 
impairment reviews as it reflects the current market assessment of the time value of money and the risks specific to the cash-generating 
unit.

Any reasonably possible change in the key assumptions on which value-in-use is based would not cause the carrying amount to exceed 
the recoverable amount of the Commercial segment.

64

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201914. Other Intangible Assets

Cost
At 1 October 2017
Additions
Transfers of completed assets
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2018
Additions
Transfers of completed assets
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2019

Accumulated amortisation
At 1 October 2017
Charge for the period
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2018
Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2019

Net book value
At 31 December 2019

At 31 December 2018

Intangible 
Assets Under 
the Course of 
Construction 
$000s

Software 
$000s

Licences 
$000s

Total 
$000s

171
2,398
(2,508)
–
8

69
2,688

(588) 
–
20

1,601
–
2,508
(165)
(181)

3,763
123
588
(8)
102

2,189

4,568

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

2,189

69

516
1,078
(4)
(76)

1,514
1,210
(7)
54

2,771

1,797

2,249

174
–
–
–
(9)

165
–
–
–
5

170

29
40
–
(3)

66
30
–
3

99

71

99

1,946
2,398
–
(165)
(182)

3,997
2,811
–
(8)
127

6,927

545
1,118
(4)
(79)

1,580
1,240
(7)
57

2,870

4,057

2,417

Included in additions are $0.4 million of other intangible assets which are unpaid at the balance sheet date and are included in trade 
and other payables (31 December 2018: $nil).

In April 2019, the Group sold the rare paediatric disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) it received from the US FDA in connection 
with the United States approval of Epidiolex to Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Ltd for consideration of $105.0 million. The net 
proceeds of $104.1 million from the sale of the PRV were recognised as a gain on the sale of an intangible asset.

65

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201915. Property, Plant and Equipment

Group

Cost
At 1 October 2017
Additions
Transfers of completed assets
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2018
Additions
Transfers of completed assets
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2019

Accumulated depreciation and impairment
At 1 October 2017
Charge for the period
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2018
Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2019

Net book value
At 31 December 2019

At 31 December 2018

Assets Under 
the Course of 
Construction 
$000s

Leasehold and 
Freehold
Property  
$000s

7,280
45,743
(7,991)
–
(2,133)

42,899
40,876
(7,043)
(56)
1,807

78,483

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

4,812
–
–
–
(239)

4,573
26,651
–
–
152

31,376

324
299
–
(30)

593
3,788
–
58

4,439

Plant, 
Machinery 
and Lab 
Equipment 
$000s

28,350
163
6,002
(228)
(1,676)

32,611
181
2,444
(9)
1,110

Office and IT 
Equipment 
$000s

Leasehold 
Improvements 
$000s

Motor 
Vehicles
 $000s

Total 
$000s

2,114
232
569
(283)
(111)

2,521
725
601
(45)
76

36,043
314
1,420
–
(1,824)

35,953
1,724
3,998
(172)
1,188

–
–
–
–
–

–
2,350
–
–
–

78,599
46,452
–
(511)
(5,983)

118,557
72,507
–
(282)
4,333

36,337

3,878

42,691

2,350

195,115

10,437
4,351
(78)
(712)

13,998
3,574
(7)
504

1,297
578
(233)
(73)

1,569
493
(28)
49

8,213
5,398
–
(644)

12,967
4,076
(154)
460

18,069

2,083

17,349

–
–
–
–

–
788
–
–

788

20,271
10,626
(311)
(1,459)

29,127
12,719
(189)
1,071

42,728

78,483

26,937

18,268

1,795

25,342

1,562

152,387

42,899

3,980

18,613

952

22,986

–

89,430

Included in additions is $3.8 million of property, plant and equipment which is unpaid and is included in trade and other payables 
(31 December 2018: $0.1 million).

Included in the above net book values are right-of-use assets over the following:

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
20181
$000s

–
26,936
1,274
–
–
1,562

29,772

–
3,980
1,396
–
–
–

5,376

Group

Assets under the course of construction
Leasehold and freehold buildings
Plant, machinery and lab equipment
Office and IT equipment
Leasehold improvements
Motor vehicles

Net book value – as at year end

1 Only finance lease assets in accordance with IAS 17 Leases were recognised in the previous period.

Further details of the Group’s leasing activities are provided in note 20.

66

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201916. Inventories

Group

Raw materials
Work in progress
Finished goods

Total inventories, net of provision

The movement in the provision for inventories is as follows:

Opening balance
Write-down of inventories
Write off of inventories included in the provision
Reversal of write-down of inventories
Foreign exchange

Closing balance

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

1,976
88,489
5,004

95,469

724
41,918
8,365

51,007

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

948
996
(1,047)
(127)
26

55
24,359
(467)
(22,954)
(45)

796

948

The reversal of write-down in the prior period was as a result of the Group achieving a successful Federal Drug Administration (FDA) 
approval for Epidiolex in the United States in June 2018. This reduced the uncertainty surrounding the recoverability of existing 
commercial inventory, and therefore resulted in the reversal of the provision on Epidiolex-related inventory accumulated prior to that date.

Writing off inventory previously provided for, and reversal of write-down of inventory, does not impact cash flow.

17. Trade and Other Receivables

Amounts falling due within one year
Trade receivables, net
Prepayments and accrued income
Other receivables

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

48,884
16,013
2,785

67,682

4,192
10,967
4,265

19,424

Trade receivables disclosed above are measured at amortised cost under the requirements of IFRS 9.

Trade receivables at 31 December 2019 represent 57 days of sales (31 December 2018: 105 days). The average trade receivable days 
during the year ended 31 December 2019 was 39 days (period ended 31 December 2018: 45 days). The typical credit period extended 
to customers is 30 to 60 days.

The Group’s customers consist of a small number of large pharmaceutical companies, where the risk attributable to each customer is 
considered to be low. The Group seeks to mitigate credit risk by seeking payments in advance from pharmaceutical partners for 
significant expenditure to be incurred on their behalf. The largest single customer represented 29% (31 December 2018: 87%) of the 
total trade receivables due at 31 December 2019.

The provision for trade receivables relates to receivables for certain customer accounts for which recoverability is uncertain. The 
movement in the provision for trade receivables is as follows:

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

Opening balance
Write-down of trade receivables

Closing balance

–
330

330

No interest is charged on trade receivables. The Directors consider that the carrying value of trade receivables approximates to their 
fair value due to the short maturity thereof.

–
–

–

67

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201918. Trade and Other Payables

Amounts falling due within one year
Other creditors and accruals
Accrued sales rebates and discounts
Clinical trial and associated accruals
Trade payables
Other taxation and social security
Fit-out funding (see note 19)
Onerous lease provision

Amounts falling due after one year
Fit-out funding (see note 19)
Other creditors and accruals

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

65,243
22,995
10,382
9,971
1,746
595
–

41,196
628
10,059
9,788
1,372
539
4

110,932

63,586

9,150
132

9,282

9,434
495

9,929

120,214

73,515

Trade payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. Trade payables at 31 December 2019 
represent the equivalent of 13 days’ purchases (31 December 2018: 17 days).

The average credit period taken for trade purchases during the year ended 31 December 2019 was 12 days (period ended 31 December 
2018: 19 days).

For most suppliers, no interest is charged on invoices that are paid within a pre-agreed trade credit period. The Group has procedures 
in place to ensure that invoices are paid within agreed credit terms so as to ensure that interest charges by suppliers are minimised.

The Directors consider that the carrying value of trade payables approximates to their fair value due to the short maturity thereof.

19. Fit-out Funding

On 19 November 2013 the Group entered into an agreement with its landlord to receive fit-out funding of $13.1 million to fund the 
expansion and upgrades to manufacturing facilities. The funds were received in tranches, with the final amount received on 1 July 
2014. The repayment of the borrowing takes the form of quarterly rental payments over a period of 15 years which commenced on 
27 May 2016 when the Group entered into the associated lease of the building. As at 31 December 2019 associated interest to date of 
$4.5 million has been incurred (31 December 2018: $3.7 million). The total liability at 31 December 2019 is $9.7 million (31 December 
2018: $10.0 million). The Group has estimated that $0.6 million of the total liability will be due within one year and the remaining 
$9.1 million is due after one year.

The liability in respect of the funding was initially recognised at the amount of proceeds received, net of transaction costs, and has 
been subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method and a rate of 7.0% (31 December 2018: 7.0%).

The following table details the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its borrowings and the related interest payments. The tables 
are based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Group could be required to 
pay. The table includes cash flows for both interest, based on the rate applicable as at 31 December 2019, and principal amounts:

Forward projection of cash flows as at 31 December 2019

Principal
Interest

Total

Forward projection of cash flows as at 31 December 2018

Principal
Interest

Total

68

<1 year 
$000s

1–2 years 
$000s

2–3 years 
$000s

3–4 years 
$000s

4–5 years 
$000s

595
670

640
625

686
579

736
529

788
477

1,265

1,265

1,265

1,265

1,265

<1 year 
$000s

1–2 years 
$000s

2–3 years 
$000s

3–4 years 
$000s

4–5 years 
$000s

539
686

576
649

619
606

664
561

712
513

1,225

1,225

1,225

1,225

1,225

5+ years 
$000s

6,300
1,512

7,812

5+ years 
$000s

6,863
1,924

8,787

Total 
$000s

9,745
4,392

14,137

Total 
$000s

9,973
4,939

14,912

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201920. Leases

Due to the initial application of IFRS 16 at 1 January 2019, additional assets and liabilities from leases were recognised. Only finance 
lease liabilities in accordance with IAS 17 were recognised in the balance sheet during the comparative period.

The Group has leases for offices, production and warehousing properties as well as leases of motor vehicles. With the exception of 
short-term leases and leases of low-value underlying assets, each lease is reflected on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a 
lease liability. The Group classifies its right-of-use assets in a consistent manner to its property, plant and equipment.

Leases of manufacturing and laboratory facilities are subject to five to 20 year leases. Office properties are typically subject to one to 
10 year leases. Leases of vehicles are generally limited to a lease term of three years.

Each lease generally imposes a restriction that, unless there is a contractual right for the Group to sub-let the asset to another party, 
the right-of-use asset can only be used by the Group. Leases are either non-cancellable or may only be cancelled by incurring a 
substantive termination fee. Some leases contain an option to extend the lease for a further term. 

Right-of-Use Assets
Additional information on the right-of-use assets by class of assets is as follows:

Opening balance
Additions
Modifications
Exchange differences
Depreciation

Net book value – as at period end

Plant 
Machinery 
and Lab 
Equipment
$000s

1,396
–
–
44
(166)

1,274

Leasehold 
Property
$000s

21,841
6,993
1,246
650
(3,794)

26,936

Motor
Vehicles
$000s

2,135
215
–
–
(788)

Total
$000s

25,372
7,208
1,246
694
(4,748)

1,562

29,772

The right-of-use assets are included in the same property, plant and equipment line item as where the corresponding underlying assets 
would be presented if they were owned.

Lease Liabilities
Lease liabilities are presented in the balance sheet as follows:

Amounts payable under leases:
Amounts due for settlement within 12 months
Amounts due for settlement after 12 months

Present Value of  
Lease Payments 

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
20181
$000s

4,037
29,394

33,431

400
5,690

6,090

1 Only finance lease liabilities in accordance with IAS 17 were recognised in the previous period.

The weighted average lease term remaining is 8.4 years (31 December 2018: 15.2 years). For the year ended 31 December 2019, the 
average effective borrowing rate was 5.9% (period ended 31 December 2018: 7.7%). Interest rates are fixed at the contract date and all 
leases to date have been on a fixed repayment basis.

The carrying value of the Group’s lease obligations as at 31 December 2019 approximates to their fair value. The Group’s lease 
liabilities are secured by the related underlying assets.

69

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201920. Leases continued

The undiscounted maturity analysis of lease liabilities as recognised at 31 December 2019 is as follows:

Within one year
One to two years
Two to three years
Three to four years
Four to five years
Greater than five years

Total gross payments
Less: future cash lease incentive
Less: future finance charges

Present value of lease obligations

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
20181
$000s

6,629
6,227
5,320
4,500
4,419
17,610

826
701
701
701
701
6,696

44,705
(746)
(10,528)

10,326
–
(4,236)

33,431

6,090

1 Only finance lease liabilities in accordance with IAS 17 were recognised in the previous period.

21. Financial Instruments

The capital structure of the Group consists of cash and cash equivalents and total equity attributable to the owners of the parent. The 
Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue operating as a going concern while maximising 
shareholder returns. The Group’s overall strategy remains unchanged.

Group senior management are responsible for monitoring and managing the financial risks relating to the operations of the Group, 
which include credit risk, market risks arising from interest rate risk and currency risk, and liquidity risk. The Board of Directors and 
the Audit Committee review and approve the internal policies for managing each of these risks, as summarised below. The Group is 
not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.

The Group’s financial instruments are summarised below:

Categories of Financial Instruments

Financial assets – at amortised cost:
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash equivalents – money market liquidity fund

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade receivables
Other receivables

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities – at amortised cost:
Other creditors and accruals
Accrued sales rebates and discounts
Clinical trial accruals
Trade payables
Fit-out funding
Lease liabilities

Total financial liabilities

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

331,732
205,201

536,933
48,884
1,034

489,869
101,628

591,497
4,192
2,917

586,851

598,606

65,243
22,995
10,382
9,971
9,745
33,431

151,767

40,584
628
10,059
9,788
9,973
6,090

77,122

All Group financial assets are current in nature. All Group financial liabilities, other than the non-current element of $29.4 million in 
respect of the obligations under leases (31 December 2018: $5.7 million), $0.1 million (31 December 2018: $0.5 million) of other 
creditors and accruals and $9.2 million (31 December 2018: $9.4 million) of fit-out funding received from the Group’s landlord, are 
current in nature. In all instances, the Directors consider that the carrying value of financial assets and financial liabilities 
approximates to their fair value.

70

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019The money market liquidity fund portfolios, accounted for as cash equivalents, are managed by external third-party fund managers to 
maintain an AAA rating. The Group’s investments represent no more than 10% of each overall fund value.

It is, and has been throughout the year ended 31 December 2019 and period ended 31 December 2018, the Group’s policy that no 
speculative trading in financial instruments shall be undertaken. The Group did not carry out hedging activities during either 
accounting period reported herein.

Credit Risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. The 
Group has a policy of only dealing with creditworthy counterparties, principally involving the major U.K. clearing banks and their 
wholly-owned subsidiaries, when placing cash on deposit. In addition, the Group operates a treasury policy that dictates the 
maximum cash balance that may be placed on deposit with any single institution or group. This policy is reviewed and approved by 
the Board of Directors.

Trade receivables represent amounts due from customers for the sale of commercial product and research funding from development 
partners, consisting primarily of a small number of major pharmaceutical companies where the credit risk is considered to be low.

At the balance sheet date, the maximum credit risk attributable to any individual counterparty was $164.7 million (31 December 2018: 
$173.4 million).

The carrying amount of the financial assets recorded in the financial statements represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit 
risk as no collateral or other credit enhancements are held.

Market Risk
The Group’s activities expose it primarily to financial risks of changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. These 
risks are managed by maintaining an appropriate mix of cash deposits in various currencies, placed with a variety of financial 
institutions for varying periods according to the Group’s expected liquidity requirements. There has been no material change to the 
Group’s exposure to market risks or the manner in which it manages and measures risk.

i) Interest Rate Risk
The Group is exposed to interest rate risk as it places surplus cash funds on deposit to earn interest income. The Group seeks to ensure 
that it secures the best commercially available interest rates from those banks that meet the Group’s stringent counterparty credit 
rating criteria. In doing so, the Group manages the term of cash deposits, up to a maximum of 90 days, in order to maximise interest 
earnings while also ensuring that it maintains sufficient readily available cash in order to meet short-term liquidity needs.

Interest income of $8.5 million (period ended 31 December 2018: $6.1 million) during the year ended 31 December 2019 was earned 
from deposits with a weighted average interest rate of 2.26% (period ended 31 December 2018: 1.59%). Therefore a 100-basis point 
fluctuation in interest rates, a reasonable approximation of possible changes in the current economic environment, would have 
impacted interest income, and the loss for the year, by $3.8 million (period ended 31 December 2018: $3.9 million).

The Group does not have any balance sheet exposure to assets or liabilities which would increase or decrease in fair value with 
changes to interest rates.

ii) Currency Risk
The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences Inc is US Dollars (US$). The functional currency of 
each its subsidiaries apart from Greenwich Biosciences Inc is Pounds Sterling (GBP). The Group receives revenues and incurs 
expenditures in foreign currencies and is exposed to the risks of foreign exchange rate movements, with the impact recognised in the 
Consolidated Income Statements. The Group seeks to minimise this exposure by passively maintaining foreign currency cash balances 
at levels appropriate to meet foreseeable foreign currency expenditures, converting surplus foreign currency balances into Pounds as 
soon as they arise. The Group does not use derivative contracts to manage exchange rate exposure.

71

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201921. Financial Instruments continued

The table below shows analysis of the US Dollar equivalent of year-end cash and cash equivalent balances by currency:

Cash at bank and in hand:
Pounds Sterling
Euro
US Dollar
Australian Dollar
Canadian Dollar

Total

Short-term deposits and cash equivalents (less than 30 days):
US Dollar

Total cash and cash equivalents

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

57,174
6,036
98,724
47
3,093

43,698
4,791
116,839
44
2,493

165,074

167,865

371,859

423,632

536,933

591,497

The table below shows those transactional exposures that give rise to net currency gains and losses recognised in the Consolidated 
Income Statements. Such exposures comprise the net monetary assets and monetary liabilities of the Group that are not denominated 
in the functional currency of the relevant Group entity. As at year end these exposures were as follows:

Net Foreign Currency Assets/(Liabilities)

Pounds Sterling
Euro
Canadian Dollar
Other

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

26,470
7,771
3,345
537

20,386
1,889
2,493
(705)

38,123

24,063

Foreign Currency Sensitivity Analysis
The most significant currencies in which the Group transacts, other than Pounds Sterling, are the US Dollar, the Euro and the 
Canadian Dollar. The Group also trades in other currencies in small amounts as necessary.

The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 10% change in the period-end rate, a reasonable percentage movement, in the 
Group’s key foreign currencies against US Dollar:

Year ended 31 December 2019

Loss before tax

Equity

Fifteen-month period ended 31 December 2018

Loss before tax

Equity

Pounds
Sterling
$000s

2,647

2,647

Pounds
Sterling
$000s

2,039

2,039

Euro
$000s

777

777

Euro
$000s

189

189

Canadian
Dollar
$000s

334

334

Canadian
Dollar
$000s

249

249

Other
$000s

54

54

Other
$000s

(70)

(70)

In management’s opinion, the sensitivity analysis is unrepresentative of the inherent foreign exchange risk as the year end exposure 
does not reflect the exposure during the year.

72

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Liquidity Risk
Responsibility for liquidity risk management rests with the Board of Directors, which has built a liquidity risk management framework 
to enable the monitoring and management of short, medium and long-term cash requirements of the business.

The Board of Directors actively monitors Group cash flows and regularly reviews projections of future cash requirements to ensure 
that appropriate levels of liquidity are maintained. The Group manages its short-term liquidity primarily by planning the maturity 
dates of cash deposits in order to time the availability of funds as liabilities fall due for payment. The Group does not maintain any 
borrowing facilities.

Cash deposits, classified as cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet, comprise deposits placed on money markets for periods of 
up to three months and on call. The weighted average time for which the rate was fixed was 22 days (period ended 31 December 2018: 
32 days).

All of the Group’s financial liabilities at each balance sheet date have maturity dates of less than 12 months from the balance sheet 
date, other than the $29.4 million in respect of the obligations under leases (31 December 2018: $5.7 million) and $9.2 million 
(31 December 2018: $9.4 million) of fit-out funding received from the Group’s landlord. The obligations under leases will be repaid 
over a weighted average 8.4 year term (31 December 2018: 15.2 year term) and the fit-out funding received is being repaid over a 
15-year finance term of which repayments commenced during the year ended 30 September 2016. There have been no material 
changes to the Group’s exposure to liquidity risks or the manner in which it manages and measures liquidity risk.

22. Share Capital

As at 31 December 2019 the share capital of the Company’s allotted, called-up and fully paid amounts were as follows:

Allotted, called-up and fully paid

Changes to the number of ordinary shares in issue have been as follows:

As at 1 October 2017
Issue of new shares (net of issuance costs)
Exercise of share options

As at 31 December 2018
Exercise of share options

As at 31 December 2019

31 December
2019 
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

570

564

Number 
of Shares

304,439,740
59,340,000
2,836,948

366,616,688
4,451,748

371,068,436

Total
Nominal
Value
$000s

483
79
2

564
6

570

Total Share
Premium
$000s

837,493
622,493
616

Total
Consideration
$000s

837,976
622,572
618

1,460,602
2,872

1,461,166
2,878

1,463,474

1,464,044

The Company has one class of ordinary shares which carry no right to fixed income.

23. Share-Based Payments

Share Option Schemes
In March 2008, the Group adopted the GW Pharmaceuticals plc Long-Term Incentive Plan (“the 2008 LTIP Plan”). Share-based awards 
granted by the Group from March 2008 to March 2017 were granted under the 2008 LTIP Plan. On 14 March 2017, the Group adopted 
the GW Pharmaceuticals plc 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“the 2017 LTIP Plan”). The 2017 LTIP plan authorises the Group to issue up 
to an aggregate of 15,000,000 ordinary shares, or 1,250,000 ADSs, related to share-based awards to employees, non-employee Directors 
and consultants. No grants under the 2017 LTIP Plan may be made after 13 March 2022. As of 31 December 2019, 10,348,568 ordinary 
shares (31 December 2018: 6,706,971 ordinary shares) have been or may be issued pursuant to share-based awards that have been granted 
under the 2017 LTIP Plan.

The Group issues new ordinary shares and the commensurate number of ADS when share-based awards are exercised.

73

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201923. Share-Based Payments continued

Provisions of Share-Based Awards
The Group issues nominal exercise price share options, which have an exercise price equal to the £0.001 par value per ordinary share 
of the Company’s ordinary shares, to executive officers, employees and consultants. The Group also issues market-priced options to 
Executive Officers and non-employee Directors. Nominal exercise priced options granted to US residents prior to April 2017 contain 
short-term expiration provisions so the awards are compliant with provisions of IRS Code 409(a). Nominal exercise price options 
granted to US residents beginning in April 2017 are awarded in the form of RSU-style options.

Substantially all of the share-based awards issued by the Group have service-based vesting conditions. Many awards also have 
non-market-based performance conditions, which must be achieved within the service-based vesting period for the awards to vest. 
These performance conditions are generally linked to operational, regulatory or strategic milestones and are designed to incentivise 
individual employees and advance the Group’s progress towards its strategic objectives. Share-based awards that do not automatically 
exercise at vest date expire 10 years from the date of grant.

Share-Based Award Activity
The following tables summarise the Group’s share option activity. The number of options, the weighted average grant date fair value 
per share option, and the weighted average exercise price are all on a per ordinary share basis. The Group’s ADSs that are listed on the 
Nasdaq Global Market each represent 12 ordinary shares.

The following table summarises the Group’s nominal exercise price share option activity:

Outstanding, beginning of year
Granted
Exercised
Lapsed

Outstanding, end of year

Exercisable, end of year

The following table summarises the Group’s market-priced share option activity:

Outstanding, beginning of year
Granted
Exercised
Lapsed

Outstanding, end of year

Exercisable, end of year

12 months to
31 December 2019

15 months to
31 December 2018

Nominal  
Exercise Price  
Options 
Number

11,182,254
3,493,272
(3,797,848)
(418,401)

10,459,277

1,433,881

Weighted  
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
$

8.44
13.93
5.43
11.69

Nominal 
Exercise Price  
Options 
Number

9,752,126
4,431,675
(2,767,274)
(234,273)

11.24

11,182,254

5.47

1,053,777

Weighted 
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
$

7.90
9.35
7.22
9.07

8.44

3.65

12 months to
31 December 2019

15 months to
31 December 2018

Market
Exercise Price 
Options  
Number

Weighted  
Average  
Exercise Price
$

Market
Exercise Price 
 Options
Number

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise Price
$

2,888,870
601,548
(653,900)
(13)

2,836,505

619,973

8.49
14.82
2.32
3.89

9.35

4.99

2,173,822
784,721
(69,673)
–

2,888,870

461,317

8.28
9.65
9.03
–

8.49

6.90

The weighted average per share fair value of market priced options granted during the year ended 31 December 2019 was $14.82 
(15-month period ended 31 December 2018: $5.98).

The aggregate intrinsic value of the share options exercised in the year ended 31 December 2019 was $52.9 million. The aggregate 
intrinsic value of share options exercised in the 15-month period ended 31 December 2018 was $32.3 million. As of 31 December 
2019, the weighted average remaining contractual life of options outstanding and options exercisable are 4.6 years and 4.3 years, 
respectively. Based on the Group’s closing year-end share price of $102.01 per ADS (or $8.50 per ordinary share) at 31 December 2019, 
the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable are $92.2 million and $12.2 million, respectively.

74

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Valuation and Expense Recognition of Share-Based Awards
The fair value of share option awards that do not contain a market condition is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing 
model. The estimated fair value of each share option is then expensed over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting 
period. The determination of fair value using the Black-Scholes model is affected by the Company’s ADS NASDAQ price as well as 
assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables, including expected ADS price volatility, risk-free interest rate, 
expected dividends and projected employee share option exercise behaviours.

Share options granted during the year ended 31 December 2019 and period ended 31 December 2018 were valued using the Black-
Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

12 months to
31 December
2019

15 months to
31 December
2018

Weighted average share price
Weighted average exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected life
Risk-free rate
Expected dividend yield

$13.88
$1.75
56%

$10.15
$1,58
62%
6.5 years 6.5 years
2.35%
Nil

2.56%
Nil

The Group estimates its share price volatility using a combination of historical share price volatility and the average implied volatility 
of options traded in the open market. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on observed interest rates for the appropriate term 
of the Group’s share options. The Group has never declared or paid dividends and has no plans to do so in the foreseeable future. The 
expected option life assumption is estimated based on the mid-point between vest date and expiration date since the Group does not 
have sufficient exercise history to estimate expected option life of historical grants.

Compensation expense for share-based awards based on a service condition is recognised only for those awards that are ultimately 
expected to vest. An estimated forfeiture rate has been applied to unvested awards for the purpose of calculating compensation cost. 
Forfeitures were estimated based on historical experience. These estimates are revised, if necessary, in future periods if actual 
forfeitures differ from the estimates. Changes in forfeiture estimates impact compensation cost in the period in which the change in 
estimate occurs. Compensation expense for share-based awards with graded, service-based vesting conditions is recognised over the 
requisite service period using the accelerated attribution method.

The table below summarises the total share-based compensation expense included in the Group’s Consolidated Income Statements for 
the periods presented (in thousands):

Cost of sales
Research and development expenditure
Sales, general and administrative expenses

12 months to
31 December
2019
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018
$000s

2,805
9,757
35,468

48,030

413
11,434
28,673

40,520

As of 31 December 2019, total compensation cost related to non-vested share options not yet recognised was approximately $45.2 million, 
which is expected to be recognised over the next 42 months (10 months on a weighted average basis).

24. Other Reserves

The merger reserve credit of $31.1 million (31 December 2018: credit of $31.1 million) was created as a result of the acquisition by the 
Company of the entire issued share capital of GW Pharma Limited in 2001. This acquisition was effected by a share-for-share 
exchange which was merger accounted under U.K. Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (“U.K. GAAP”), in accordance with the 
merger relief provisions of Section 131 of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended) relating to the accounting for business combinations 
involving the issue of shares at a premium. In preparing consolidated financial statements, the amount by which the fair value of the 
shares issued exceeded their nominal value was recorded in a merger reserve on consolidation, rather than in a share premium 
account. The merger reserve was retained upon transition to IFRSs, as allowed under U.K. law. This reserve is not considered to be 
distributable.

The foreign exchange reserve debit of $69.8 million (31 December 2018: debit of $80.6 million) is due to accumulated foreign exchange 
translation differences arising on translation of the Group’s operations into a US Dollar presentational currency. This reserve is not 
considered to be distributable.

75

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201924. Other Reserves continued

ESOP Reserve
The Group’s “ESOP” is an Inland Revenue-approved all-employee share scheme constituted under a trust deed. The trust holds shares 
in the Company for the benefit of and as an incentive for the employees of the Group. The trustee of the ESOP is GWP Trustee 
Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Costs incurred by the trust are expensed in the Group’s financial 
statements as incurred. Distributions from the trust are made in accordance with the scheme rules and on the recommendation of the 
Board of Directors of the Company.

Shares held in trust represent issued and fully paid up 0.1p ordinary shares and remain eligible to receive dividends. The shares held by 
the ESOP were originally acquired in 2000 for nil consideration by way of a gift from a shareholder and hence the balance on the ESOP 
reserve is nil (31 December 2018: nil).

As at the balance sheet date, the ESOP held the following shares:

Unconditionally vested in employees
Shares available for future distribution to employees

Total

31 December
2019
Number

31 December
2018
Number

43,866
33,054

76,920

47,118
33,054

80,172

The valuation methodology used to compute the share-based payment charge related to the ESOP is based on fair value at the grant 
date, which is determined by the application of a Black-Scholes share option pricing model. The assumptions underlying the Black-
Scholes model for the ESOP shares are as detailed in note 23 relating to the LTIP awards. The exercise price for shares granted under 
the ESOP is nil, and the vesting conditions include employment by the Group over a three-year vesting period from the date of grant. 
The share-based payment charge for shares granted under the ESOP plan amounted to $nil in the year ended 31 December 2019 
(period ended 31 December 2018: $nil).

As at 31 December 2019 the number and market value of shares held by the trust which have not yet unconditionally vested in 
employees is 33,054 (31 December 2018: 33,054) and $0.3 million (31 December 2018: $0.3 million) respectively.

25. Financial Commitments

The Group had capital commitments for property, plant and equipment contracted but not provided for at 31 December 2019 of $8.5 
million (31 December 2018: $38.2 million).

Purchasing commitments contracted for, but not received as of 31 December 2019, fall due as follows:

31 December
2019
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

14,554
14,533
1,317

30,404

12,284
24,295
–

36,579

Within one year
Between two and five years
Greater than five years

76

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements continuedFor the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 201926. Related Party Transactions

Remuneration of Key Management Personnel
The remuneration of the Directors, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out below in aggregate for each of the 
categories specified in IAS 24 Related party disclosures.

Short-term employee benefits
Post-employment benefits
Share-based payments

12 months to
31 December
2019
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018
$000s

5,959
51
17,793

6,875
58
19,417

23,803

26,350

Key management personnel are defined for the purpose of disclosure under IAS 24 as the members of the Board and Executive Officers.

The Group had no other material related party transactions which might reasonably be expected to influence decisions made by the 
users of these Financial Statements.

27. Group Investments

Details of companies controlled by the Group are outlined in note 3 to the Company financial statements.

77

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Company Balance Sheets

As at 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2018

Non-current assets
Investments

Current assets
Trade receivables and other current assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Foreign exchange reserve
Accumulated profit

Total equity

31 December
2019
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

Notes

3 1,239,816

837,447

1,239,816

837,447

7

7,123
405,585

183,876
544,196

412,708

728,072

1,652,524 1,565,519

8

(5,138)

(4,565)

(5,138)

(4,565)

(5,138)

(4,565)

1,647,386 1,560,954

9

570

564
1,463,474 1,460,602
10 (134,370) (134,370)
234,158

317,712

1,647,386 1,560,954

The Company financial statements of GW Pharmaceuticals plc, registered number 04160917, on pages 78 to 84, were authorised by 
the Board and approved for issue on 18 March 2020.

No income statement or statement of comprehensive income is presented for the Company as permitted by Section 408 of the 
Companies Act 2006. The Company’s profit for the year ended 31 December 2019 was $35.5 million (15-month period ended 
31 December 2018: $17.8 million).

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Company Balance Sheets.

By order of the Board.

Justin Gover
Director
18 March 2020

78

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Company Statements of Changes in Equity

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018 

Group

Balance at 30 September 2017
Profit for the period
Other comprehensive expense

Total comprehensive expense for the period
Issue of share capital
Expenses of new equity issue
Exercise of share options
Share-based payment transactions

Balance at 31 December 2018
Profit for the year

Total comprehensive income for the year
Exercise of share options
Share-based payment transactions

Balance at 31 December 2019

Notes

9
9
9
6

9
6

Share 
Capital  
$000s

483
–
–

Share 
Premium 
Account 
$000s

Foreign 
Exchange 
Reserve  
$000s

Accumulated
Profit 
$000s

837,493 (111,971) 175,866
17,772
–

–
(22,399)

–
–

–
79
–
2
–

–
624,968
(2,475)
616
–

(22,399)
–
–
–
–

17,772
–
–
–
40,520

Total 
Equity 
$000s

901,871
17,772
(22,399)

(4,627)
625,047
(2,475)
618
40,520

564 1,460,602 (134,370) 234,158 1,560,954
35,524
–

35,524

–

–

–
6
–

–
2,872
–

–
–
–

35,524
–
48,030

35,524
2,878
48,030

570 1,463,474 (134,370) 317,712 1,647,386

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Company Statements of Changes in Equity.

79

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Notes to the Company Financial Statements

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018

1. General Information

GW Pharmaceuticals plc (the “Company”) is primarily involved in the development of cannabinoid prescription medicines using 
botanical extracts derived from the Cannabis plant. The Company represents the ultimate parent of the GW Pharmaceuticals Plc 
Group of companies. The Group is developing a portfolio of cannabinoid medicines, of which the lead product is Epidiolex, an oral 
medicine for the treatment of refractory childhood epilepsies. 

The Company is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of the Company’s registered office and principal 
place of business is Sovereign House, Vision Park, Histon, Cambridgeshire CB24 9BZ, United Kingdom.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The principal Company accounting policies are summarised below.

Basis of Accounting
These Company financial statements are prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure 
Framework’ and with U.K. accounting presentation as at 31 December 2019, with comparative figures as at 31 December 2018. There 
were no comparative figures that required adjustment as a result of adopting FRS 101 in the current year. The financial statements are 
prepared using the historical cost convention, and on a going concern basis. The company is included within the consolidated Group 
financial statements of GW Pharmaceuticals, and are publicly available.

The following exemptions from the disclosure requirements of IFRS have been applied in accordance with FRS 101:
 > Paragraphs 45(b) and 46 to 52 of IFRS 2, “Share-based payment”
 > IFRS 7, “Financial Instruments – Disclosures”
 > Paragraphs 91-99 of IFRS 13, “Fair value measurement”
 > Paragraph 38 of IAS 1, “Presentation of financial statements” comparative information requirements in respect of paragraph 79(a) 

(iv) of IAS 1

 > Paragraphs 10(d), 10(f), 16, 38(A), 38 (B to D), 40 (A to D), 111 and 134 to 136 of IAS 1, “Presentation of financial statements”
 > IAS 7, “Statement of cash flows”
 > Paragraph 30 and 31 of IAS 8, “Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors”
 > Paragraph 17 of IAS 24, “Related party disclosures” and the further requirement in IAS 24 to disclose related party transactions 

entered into between two or more members of a Group.

Further details of the adoption of new and revised accounting standards for the year ended 31 December 2019 can be found in note 2 
to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 50. The adoption of IFRS 9 during the current year did not give rise to any 
accounting adjustments in relation to the Company.

Investments in Subsidiary Companies
Investments are shown at cost less any provision for impairment. Investments in subsidiary companies which are accounted for under 
merger accounting principles are shown at the nominal value of shares issued in accordance with the provisions of Section 131 of the 
Companies Act 2006.

The carrying value of investments in subsidiary companies in the Company balance sheet is increased annually by the value of the 
capital contribution deemed to have been made by the Company in its subsidiary by the grant of equity-settled share-based payments 
to the employees of the subsidiary company. The value attributable to these equity-settled share-based payments is calculated in 
accordance with IFRS 2 Share-based Payment.

Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable or recoverable and deferred tax. Current and deferred taxes are 
recognised in profit or loss, except when they relate to items that are recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in 
which case, the current and deferred tax are also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively. Where 
current or deferred tax arises from the initial accounting for a business combination, the tax effect is included in the accounting for the 
business combination.

The tax payable or recoverable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit before tax as reported in the 
income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes 
items that are never taxable or deductible.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised 
based on tax laws and rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is charged or 
credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited in other comprehensive income, in which case the 
deferred tax is also dealt with in other comprehensive income.

80

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Foreign Currency
The individual financial statements of the Company are prepared in the currency of the primary economic environment in which it 
operates (its functional currency). For the purpose of these Company financial statements, the results and financial position of the 
Company are presented in United States Dollars (US$).

Share-Based Payments
The Company operates a number of equity-settled share-based compensation plans under which the Company and its subsidiaries 
receive services from employees as consideration for equity instruments (options) of the Company. The fair value of the employee 
services received in exchange for the grant of the awards is recognised as an expense. The total amount to be expensed is determined 
by reference to the fair value of the options granted (excluding the effect of any non-market-based performance and service vesting 
conditions) at the date of grant.

The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis over the 
vesting period, based on the Company’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest. At each balance sheet date, the Company revises 
its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result of the effect of non-market-based performance and service 
vesting conditions. The impact of the revision of the original estimates, if any, is recognised in profit or loss such that the cumulative 
expense reflects the revised estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to equity reserves.

Operating Profit
A fee of $26,780 (2018: $26,000) relating to the audit of the Company has been charged within operating profit.

Critical Judgements in Applying the Company’s Accounting Policies
In the application of the Company’s accounting policies, which are described above, the Board of Directors are required to make 
judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other 
sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be 
relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

In applying the Company’s accounting policies the Directors have not identified any critical accounting judgements, other than those 
involving estimation, that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty
The key assumptions concerning the future, and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that have a 
significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year, are 
discussed below.

Impairment of Investments in Subsidiaries and Inter-Company Receivables
The Company considers the recoverability of investments in subsidiaries and inter-company receivables on an ongoing basis, whenever 
indicators of impairment are present. If facts and circumstances indicate that investment in subsidiaries may be impaired, the estimated 
future cash flows associated with these subsidiaries would be compared to their carrying amounts to determine if a write-down to fair 
value is necessary. Further details on investments in subsidiaries and inter-company receivables are given in note 3 and note 7.

3. Investments

Investments in subsidiary undertakings

Company

At 1 October 2017
Add capital contribution in respect of share-based payment charge
Additional funds advanced during period
Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2018
Add capital contribution in respect of share-based payment charge
Additional equity investments
Additional funds advanced during period
Repayments received during period
Reclassification of loan balance to investment loan

Loans to 
Group 
undertakings 
$000s

Total  
$000s

446,902
–
224,420
(9,162)

584,283
39,742
224,420
(10,998)

Investments 
$000s

137,381
39,742
–
(1,836)

662,160
–
–
263,768

175,287
837,447
46,757
46,757
87
87
263,768
–
– (100,000) (100,000)
191,757
–

191,757

At 31 December 2019

222,131 1,017,685 1,239,816

81

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Notes to the Company Financial Statements continued

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018

3. Investments continued

Subsequent to year end, the Company capitalised $1,012.2 million of investment loans to Group undertakings that were outstanding 
at 31 December 2019 in exchange for additional share capital in the relevant subsidiaries, and reclassified them as equity investments.

During the year ended 31 December 2019, as part of a reorganisation of the Group structure the Company acquired 100% direct 
control over its 100% indirectly-controlled subsidiaries GW Pharma International BV, GW Pharma (France) SARL, and GW Pharma 
(Italy) SRL. In each case the relevant subsidiaries were acquired at the cost of their net assets at the time of acquisition, which 
approximated their fair value. 

The Company has investments in the following subsidiary undertakings:

Name of Undertaking

United Kingdom
GW Pharma Limited

GW Research Limited

GWP Trustee Company Limited

GW U.K. Services Limited

GW Global Services (International) Limited

G-Pharm Limited

Sovereign House, Vision Park, Histon, Cambridgeshire CB24 9BZ

United States
Greenwich Biosciences, Inc.

5750 Fleet Street, Carlsbad, California, United States

Australia

Type of 
ownership

Activity

Direct

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Direct

Production and development

Research and development

Employee share ownership

Commercial

Commercial

Dormant

% Holding

100

100

100

100

100

100

Direct

Commercialisation and research services 100

GW Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Limited

Direct

Dormant

Suite 2, Level 10, 45 Williams Street, Melbourne, Australia

France
GW Pharma (France) SARL

43/37 Avenue de la Grande Armee, 75116, Paris, France

Germany
GW Pharma (Germany) GmbH

Landsberger Strasse 155, 80687 Munich, Germany

Italy
GW Pharma (Italy) S.R.L.

Viale Abruzzi, 94 Cap 20131, Milan, Italy

Netherlands
GW Pharma International BV

Prins Bernhardplein 200, 1097JB Amsterdam, Netherlands

Spain
GW Pharma (Spain) S.L.

Paso de Recoletos 37-41, 1º, 28004, Madrid, Spain

Indirect

Commercial

Direct

Commercial

Indirect 

Commercial

Direct

Commercial

Direct

Commercial

100

100

100

100

100

100

All the subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated accounts, and all holdings are of ordinary voting shares. During the 
current year, the indirect subsidiary Cannabinoid Research Institute Limited was renamed GW U.K. Services Limited and ceased to 
be dormant.

82

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 20194. Staff Costs

The monthly average number of Group employees for the year/period was:

Directors

5. Directors’ Remuneration

12 months to
31 December
2019
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018
$000s

6

6

6

6

Directors’ remuneration and other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2019 and period ended 31 December 2018 were as follows:

Emoluments
Money purchase contributions to Directors’ pension arrangements
Gain on exercise of share options

12 months to
31 December
2019
$000s

15 months to
31 December
2018
$000s

2,150
10
13,436

15,596

2,520
10
5,992

8,522

During 2019, one Director was a member of a defined contribution pension scheme (period ended 31 December 2018: one).
Of the amounts disclosed above in relation to the Directors of the Company, $13.6 million was paid by another Group company 
during the year ended 31 December 2019 (period ended 31 December 2018: $8.1 million).

6. Share-Based Payment

The Company participates in a share option scheme for all employees. Options are exercisable on the shares of the Company at a price 
equal to the estimated fair value of the Company’s shares on the date of grant. The vesting periods range from one to three years. If the 
options remain unexercised after a period of 10 years from the date of grant the options expire. Options are forfeited if the employee 
leaves the Company before the options vest.

With regard to share options granted to the Company’s employees, the weighted average ADS share price at the date of exercise for 
share options exercised during the year was $180.40 (period ended 31 December 2018: no exercises by employees of the Company).
 The options outstanding at 31 December 2019 had ADS exercise prices ranging from of $0.012 to $172.01 (31 December 2018: ADS 
exercise prices ranging from $0.012 to $134.09) and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 6.67 years (31 December 2018: 
7.44 years). During the year ended 31 December 2019, options were granted on 1 March 2019. The aggregate of the estimated fair 
values of the options granted on those dates is $1.7 million. During the period ended 31 December 2018, options were granted on 
3 January 2018. The aggregate of the estimated fair values of the options granted on those dates is $1.8 million.

7. Trade and Other Receivables

Amounts falling due within one year
Prepayments and accrued income
Other receivables
Amounts due from Group undertakings

31 December
2019
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

2,401
456
4,266

1,768
2
182,106

7,123

183,876

During the year ended 31 December 2019, the Company reclassified an intra-Group loan totalling $191.8 million due from a 
subsidiary to equity investments and is therefore included within the amounts disclosed in note 3.

Amounts due from Group undertakings relate to trading balances receivable from subsidiaries in relation to recharges for services 
performed by the Company.

83

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Notes to the Company Financial Statements continued

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2019 and 15 months ended 31 December 2018

8. Trade and Other Payables

Amounts falling due within one year
Other creditors and accruals
Trade payables
Other taxation and social security
Amounts owed to Group undertakings

31 December
2019
$000s

31 December
2018
$000s

819
18
88
4,213

5,138

2,586
–
19
1,960

4,565

Amounts owed to Group undertakings relate to trading balances payable to subsidiaries in relation to recharges for services performed 
for the Company.

9. Share Capital

Details of the Company’s share capital movements for the year are included in note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

10. Other Reserves

The foreign exchange reserve debit of $134.4 million (31 December 2018: debit of $134.4 million) is due to accumulated foreign 
exchange translation differences arising on translation of the Company’s equity balances prior to the transition to a US Dollar 
functional currency in the prior accounting period. The Company was accounted for as a US Dollar functional currency entity 
throughout the year ended 31 December 2019. This reserve is not considered to be distributable.

11. Ultimate Controlling Company

The Directors regard the Company as having no ultimate controlling party or majority shareholder.

12. Related Party Transactions

The remuneration of the Directors, who are the key management personnel of the Company, is set out in note 5.

13. Subsequent Events

Subsequent to the year end, the Company capitalised $1,012.2 million of investment loans to Group undertakings that were 
outstanding at 31 December 2019, as disclosed in note 3 above, in exchange for additional share capital in the relevant wholly-owned 
subsidiaries, and reclassified them as investment equity.

84

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Advisers

Registered Office
GW Pharmaceuticals plc
Sovereign House
Vision Park
Histon
Cambridgeshire CB24 9BZ
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1223 266800
F: +44 (0)1223 235667
E: info@gwpharm.com

Registered Number
04160917 England and Wales

Solicitors to the Company
Mayer Brown LLP
201 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 3AF

Auditor
Deloitte LLP
2 New Street Square
London EC4A 3BZ

Principal Bankers
HSBC Bank plc
70 Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5EZ

Public Relations Advisers
FTI Consulting
Holborn Gate
Southampton Buildings
London WC2A 1PB

Registrars
Link Asset Services  
6th Floor
65 Gresham Street
London EC2V 7NQ 

ADR depositary
Citibank
National City Nominees
Citigroup Centre
33 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5LB
dcc.adr@citi.com

Cautionary statement:
This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements that 
reflect GW’s current expectations regarding future events, including 
statements regarding financial performance, the timing of clinical 
trials, the timing and outcomes of regulatory or intellectual property 
decisions, the relevance of GW products commercially available and 
in development, the clinical benefits of EPIDIOLEX (cannabidiol) 
oral solution and Sativex (nabiximols) and the safety profile and 
commercial potential of EPIDIOLEX and Sativex®. Forward-
looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events 
could differ materially from those projected herein and depend 
on a number of factors, including (inter alia), the success of GW’s 
research strategies, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, 
the successful and timely completion and uncertainties related to 
the regulatory process, and the acceptance of Sativex, EPIDIOLEX 
and other products by consumer and medical professionals. A 
further list and description of risks and uncertainties associated 
with an investment in GW can be found in GW’s filings with 
the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 
most recent Form 10-K filed on 27 February 2020. Existing and 
prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance 
on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the 
date hereof. GW undertakes no obligation to update or revise the 
information contained in this press release, whether as a result of 
new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. 

85

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Notes

86

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Notes

87

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019Notes

88

GW Pharmaceuticals plc | Annual Report and Accounts 2019