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Mesoblast
Annual Report 2009

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FY2009 Annual Report · Mesoblast
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Mesoblast Limited
Annual Report 2009

Contents 

Message from the Chairman 

Executive Director’s Report 

Directors’ Report 

Auditors’ Independence Declaration 

Corporate Governance 

Financial Statements 

Directors’ Declaration 

Independent Audit Report 

Shareholder Information 

Page

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Message from the Chairman

On behalf of Mesoblast Limited’s Board of Directors,  
I am pleased to present this Annual Report for the 
year ended 30 June 2009.

Mesoblast is poised to capitalise on well-defined 
clinical and commercial value drivers. Throughout 
the year, the continuous stream of excellent results 
released by your Company has underscored our 
confidence in the potential of our proprietary adult 
stem cell technology to make a considerable impact 
on the quality of life for many people worldwide.

Mesoblast continues to make substantial progress 
towards commercialisation of a range of 
orthopaedic products for major indications with 
unmet clinical needs.

The path to commercialisation for our products  
is clear:

•		Completion	of	ongoing	and	new	Phase	2	

programs;

•	Progression	towards	Phase	3	registration	trials;

•		Establishing	a	firm	foothold	in	new	jurisdictions;	

and

•		Concluding	commercial	and	strategic	partnerships	
that will enhance our execution capability, provide  
a first-tier distribution network, and maximise 
long-term product revenues.

Our United States-associated company, Angioblast 
Systems Inc., continues to drive value through 
clinical, corporate, and technical achievements. 
Angioblast is simultaneously advancing the platform 
stem cell technology towards commercialisation of 
novel treatments for non-orthopaedic indications, 
including cardiovascular diseases.

Over the past year, Angioblast has attained very 
positive results in its cardiovascular and bone 
marrow regeneration clinical trials. Consequently, 
we view our 38.4 percent equity stake in Angioblast 
as a major asset whose intrinsic value continues  
to increase.

Both Mesoblast and Angioblast completed 
successful capital raisings during the year to 
facilitate and accelerate clinical programs towards 
Pivotal/Phase	3	registration	trials.	These	clinical	
milestones are major value inflexion points for 
clinical stage, maturing biotechnology companies 
as they approach revenue generation.

Both Companies maintain quality share registers 
and we are pleased that leading institutional  
and sophisticated investors continue to show their 
support for our ongoing value creation.

The Directors would like to record their appreciation 
for the excellent work of Mesoblast staff and 
consultants. We acknowledge their tireless efforts 
and their strong commitment to delivering value.

We thank you, our shareholders, for your ongoing  
strong support and loyalty and we look forward to 
delivering on the extraordinary promise of our 
proprietary stem cell technology to create a new 
treatment paradigm for major diseases and 
disorders that affect millions of people worldwide.

Mr Brian Jamieson

“Mesoblast is poised to capitalise on well-defined 
clinical and commercial value drivers”

1

 
Executive Director’s Report

The Year in Review

Highlights

I am pleased to report on another outstanding year for 
your Company which saw Mesoblast continuing to 
progress multiple orthopaedic products towards 
commercialisation and global leadership positions. 

We have been successful at establishing a broad-based 
spinal franchise with a suite of products for both cartilage 
and bone regeneration products, and are developing a 
range of cartilage repair products for treating the 
spectrum from early to advanced stages of knee 
osteoarthritis.

Together with results obtained by our associate company 
Angioblast Systems, Inc. (Angioblast) based in the United 
States, our unique stem cell technology platform has 
demonstrably shown itself capable of addressing a 
breadth of clinical needs, including orthopaedic 
conditions, cardiovascular disorders, bone marrow 
transplantation, and degenerative diseases of the eye. 

Our clinical trials have underscored the excellent safety 
profile of the platform stem cell technology, and the initial 
efficacy results, which have paralleled the outstanding 
preclinical trial data, have served to validate the unique 
business model associated with our allogeneic, or 
“off-the-shelf”, products. Indeed the low-cost, high margin 
business model associated with our unique technology is 
one that is familiar to pharmaceutical companies and 
which should facilitate strategic alliances with global 
pharmaceutical leaders.

Whilst the 2009 financial year has been a difficult one due 
to the global financial crisis, I am pleased to inform you 
that during this period both Mesoblast and Angioblast 
were strongly supported by shareholders and investors, 
and are well capitalised to continue advancing multiple 
products towards registration and revenues. 

Mesoblast’s major accomplishments during the 2009 
financial year included:

•		Strengthened	financial	position	after	a	capital	raising	of	
$10.8 million in April, with cash reserves of $16.5 million 
at 30 June 2009.

•		Positive	results	from	preclinical	trials	of	a	new	product	
for intervertebral disc repair and regeneration, a major 
new commercial opportunity which greatly expands our 
spinal products franchise.

•		Significant	progress	in	clinical	programs	for	cervical	and	

lumbar spinal fusion, including clearance from the 
United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to 
commence	a	Phase	2	trial	of	NeoFuse™,	our	“off-the-
shelf” stem cell product, for minimally invasive interbody 
lumbar fusion surgery.

•		Significant	progress	in	a	Phase	2	trial	for	knee	
osteoarthritis, an important first step towards 
development of Mesoblast’s allogeneic stem cell 
product,	RepliCart™,	for	treatment	of	both	isolated	
cartilage defects in young, active people, and for 
reversing generalised, established osteoarthritis in older 
people. 

•		Initiation	of	a	formal	process	aimed	at	obtaining	
licenses from the Australian Therapeutic Goods 
Administration (TGA) to commercially manufacture our 
orthopaedic products. This could result in earlier 
revenues than originally forecast, as well as provide a 
template for broader geographical jurisdictions.

•		Being	named	the	2009	Frost	&	Sullivan	Emerging	
Company in the United States Soft Tissue Repair 
market. The Award citation stated that Mesoblast has 
immense potential to be a significant contributor and 
promoter of the orthopaedic soft tissue and cartilage 
repair space, and to establish a strong presence in the 
United States orthopaedic market.

2

Development of a Global Spinal Franchise 

discs over six months of follow-up. 

Intervertebral Spinal Disc Cartilage Repair and 
Regeneration
Mesoblast is developing an allogeneic, or “off-the-shelf’, 
adult stem cell product which can be injected by a 
minimally invasive approach into degenerating discs of 
unrelated recipients in order to repair and regenerate disc 
cartilage. 

Degenerative intervertebral disc disease is the principal 
cause of low back pain, affects as many as 4 million 
people in the United States alone, and can result in severe 
disability and incapacitation. For these patients, the only 
option is major back surgery involving either artificial disc 
replacement or spinal fusion. 

A simple, non-invasive injection to reverse the 
degenerative process, and regenerate the disc back to its 
healthy state, would represent a major product 
breakthrough into an unmet market segment where we 
conservatively estimate potential revenue generation to be 
in excess of $US2 billion per year.

The results of a placebo-controlled, randomised trial of 
Mesoblast’s cells for the treatment of degenerative disc 
disease in 36 sheep was presented and highlighted at the 
World Congress on Osteoarthritis, OsteoArthritis 
Research Society International (OARSI), held in Montreal, 
Canada in September 2009.

A single low-dose injection of Mesoblast’s allogeneic 
adult stem cells into severely damaged intervertebral 
discs resulted in dramatic reversal of the degenerative 
process, regrowth of disc cartilage, and sustained 
normalisation of disc pathology, anatomy and function. 

Six months after a single direct intra-discal injection of 
Mesoblast’s cells, discs that were initially severely 
damaged and degenerated were found to have become 
indistinguishable from healthy non-degenerated discs in 
their histopathology, cartilage content, height, and 
structure. In contrast, severely degenerated discs which 
served as controls and were either not injected or were 
injected with hyaluronic acid only, continued to 
demonstrate significantly reduced disc height, disordered 
disc structure, disrupted histopathology, and reduced 
cartilage content compared with healthy non-degenerated 

As a result of the outstanding results of this preclinical 
study, Mesoblast is prioritising its efforts on this major 
new	commercial	opportunity.	An	Investigational	New	Drug	
(IND)	application	is	currently	being	prepared	by	the	
Company for submission to the US FDA, and we 
anticipate	commencing	a	Phase	2	clinical	trial	in	the	first	
half of 2010.

The relatively short primary endpoint associated with the 
planned	Phase	2	and	Pivotal	trials	for	this	disc	repair	
product opens the possibility of earlier registration and 
revenue generation than for other indications.

Following our successful capital raising in April of this 
year, the Company has sufficient funds earmarked to 
complete	the	proposed	Phase	2	trial	for	intervertebral	disc	
repair and regeneration.

Intervertebral Lumbar and Cervical Spinal Bony 
Fusion - NeoFuse™
In addition to the disc regenerative product, Mesoblast is 
developing	an	allogeneic	product	called	NeoFuse™	to	
generate bony spinal fusion of the intervertebral space in 
patients with end-stage vertebral disc disease. 

Over 500,000 patients undergo spinal fusion of the 
lumbar and cervical spine in the United States alone 
annually. Mesoblast’s product aims to eliminate the need 
for an additional autograft surgical procedure (using 
patient’s own hipbone), which is the current standard of 
care in these patients, but is not effective in certain patient 
groups and is often complicated by pain and infection. 

Over the past 12 months, Mesoblast has completed 
successful	preclinical	studies	using	NeoFuse™	by	a	
minimally-invasive approach in lumbar and cervical 
fusion. These minimally invasive procedures are the 
preferred approaches taken by the majority of spinal 
surgeons worldwide. Mesoblast’s preclinical trials showed 
that	NeoFuse™	implanted	by	a	minimally-invasive	route	
resulted in significantly earlier bony fusion over 3-6 
months than autograft, without any safety issues. 

In	August	2009,	the	US	FDA	cleared	a	Phase	2	clinical	
trial	of	NeoFuse™	for	use	in	minimally	invasive	interbody	
lumbar spinal fusion surgery. The 24-patient trial, based at 
US	sites	in	California,	Texas,	North	Carolina,	Colorado	

3

Bone Marrow Aspirate

and Wisconsin, is comparing the effectiveness and safety 
of	two	low	doses	of	NeoFuse™	with	autograft	in	minimally	
invasive surgery for fusion of the lumbar spine. 

This trial will build on the safety and efficacy results 
generated to date in Mesoblast’s first spinal fusion trial at 
New	York’s	Hospital	for	Special	Surgery,	which	employed	
a more invasive surgical approach. In that trial, unilateral 
use	of	Mesoblast’s	NeoFuse™	has	generated	safe	and	
robust fusion.

Complementing the lumbar interbody program, Mesoblast 
initiated	in	Melbourne	a	Phase	2	clinical	trial	of	NeoFuse™	
in 24 patients needing bony fusion of the cervical spine at 
multiple intervertebral levels. 

The Company expects to have interim results from these 
two	trials	during	2010.	Strategic	decisions	around	Pivotal/
Phase	3	clinical	trial	designs	and	commercial	directions	
for the interbody fusion program will be made on the 
basis of these results and in conjunction with corporate 
discussions.

Development of Products for Treatment of Knee 
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the knee can occur as a spectrum from 
small, isolated cartilage defects that occur after trauma in 
young, active individuals, to a more generalised loss of 
cartilage in older people after many years of wear and 
tear. Mesoblast is developing “off-the-shelf”, or allogeneic, 
adult stem cell products to meet the needs of patients at 
either end of this spectrum of arthritic disease.

Cartilage Repair for Acute Knee Trauma - RepliCart™
Post-traumatic	osteoarthritis	represents	potentially	the	
most rapid entry point for our products into the knee 
arthritis markets. This is because technologies that are 
more precise have been validated by global regulatory 
authorities for demonstrating efficacy of new therapies in 
early stage disease, rather than in late stage disease 
where conventional x-rays remain the standard. 

Consequently,	the	size	and	duration	of	Pivotal/Phase	3	
trials are likely to be smaller and shorter when an effective 
new therapy is tested for early stage disease.

Mesoblast will move towards obtaining regulatory 
approval for its “off-the-shelf” knee cartilage repair and 
regeneration	product,	RepliCart™,	in	patients	with	either	
post-traumatic localised cartilage loss lesions (termed 
osteochondral defects) or in those patients with an acute 
knee injury who are known to have a high risk of 
progressing to established generalised osteoarthritis.

To maximize the likelihood of optimal outcome using 
RepliCart™	to	repair	localised	cartilage	defects,	the	
Company is currently executing preclinical trials 
evaluating a variety of materials in combination with our 
cells. The best performing material will be used in 
advancing our stem cell product into human clinical trials. 

To	demonstrate	that	RepliCart™	can	prevent	onset	of	
generalised cartilage loss after an acute knee injury, a 
Phase	2	trial	is	currently	underway	in	Melbourne	where	24	
patients who have undergone reconstruction of a ruptured 
Anterior Cruciate Ligament will receive an injection of 
either the Company’s allogeneic stem cells or control. The 
Company anticipates interim results from this trial being 
available in 2010. 

Cartilage Repair for Established Knee Osteoarthritis - 
RepliCart™
As many as 15 million people in the United States have 
severe established generalised knee cartilage loss, and 
there are currently no approved therapies that repair or 
regenerate knee cartilage. Our preclinical results indicate 
that	RepliCart™	is	highly	effective	for	reversing	and	
repairing generalised knee cartilage loss. 

Mesoblast is in discussions with both key opinion leaders 
and potential government funding bodies with regard  
to	initiating	Phase	2	clinical	trials	for	this	major	indication.	
Moreover, the Company will seek input into clinical trial 
design from potential global pharmaceutical partners 
since this commercial opportunity is likely to require larger 
Pivotal/Phase	3	clinical	trials	and	earlier	strategic	
corporate collaborations.

4

Identification of MPC

mAb Binding of MPC

Development of a Product for Treatment of Long 
Bone Fractures 
Non-healing	long	bone	fractures	affect	millions	of	people	
worldwide, are usually a complication of road accident 
trauma, are very debilitating, and in some cases result in 
limb amputation. In Australia alone, treatment of non-
union fractures represents a potential multi-million dollar 
annual revenue opportunity for Mesoblast. 

In	our	pilot	clinical	trial	at	The	Royal	Melbourne	Hospital,	
we demonstrated that Mesoblast’s proprietary adult stem 
cells were highly effective at repairing recalcitrant 
fractures of the long bones in the lower extremities, 
enabling patients to resume their normal quality of life.

In order to make our bone repair product available for 
these patients who have limited alternatives and a 
uniformly poor quality of life, Mesoblast has sought to 
obtain an Australian TGA license for its manufacturing 
process. This will enable us to make available our stem 
cell technology under the Special Access Scheme (SAS) 
to Australian patients, their physicians, surgeons and 
hospital centres.

Angioblast Systems
Mesoblast has maintained a highly productive relationship 
with our United States associate company, Angioblast 
Systems, Inc., as it advances the shared platform stem 
cell technology platform simultaneously in a number of 
clinical indications, notably cardiac, vascular, bone 
marrow and eye conditions. 

Significant progress across a breadth of clinical 
applications facilitates potential broad-based strategic 
collaborations with pharmaceutical partners who may be 
intent on developing a pipeline of products based on a 
single robust platform technology. 

The economic benefits of the two companies sharing 
development and staffing costs are enormous, as well as 
the implicit geographically strategic advantages of having 
headquarters in the United States and Australia. 

Angioblast’s most significant highlights for the financial 
year were:

•		Successful	completion	of	a	$10	million	equity-based	
capital raising in August 2009 from institutional and 
sophisticated investors. Mesoblast has a 38.4% equity 
stake in Angioblast, and may choose to maintain or 
increase its ownership when Angioblast completes its 
next financing event.

•		Continued	rapid	enrolment	in	Angioblast’s	60-patient	
Phase	2	clinical	trial	of	its	lead	allogeneic	cardiac	
product,	Revascor™,	for	patients	with	congestive	heart	
failure. To date, the first two dose cohorts of 40 patients 
have	completed	enrolment.	No	cell-related	adverse	
events have been seen in any treated patients to date. 
Enrolment	of	the	final	20-patient	cohort	is	expected	to	
be complete by end Q1 2010. The extent of clinical 
success in this trial will dictate the earliest timelines for 
progression	to	a	Pivotal/Phase	3	trial.

•		Positive	interim	efficacy	results	were	reported	from	the	
first 20-patient cohort of patients suffering moderate to 
severe congestive heart failure being treated with the 
lowest	dose	of	Revascor™.	Over	a	three	month	period,	
heart function significantly recovered in cell-treated 
patients but worsened in controls. The greatest 
improvement was seen in patients with the most severe 
heart failure. In those with baseline ejection fraction 
<30%, cardiac function improved by a mean of 50%. 

•		Commencing	a	second	FDA-cleared	Phase	2	clinical	

trial for congestive heart failure, in patients with class IV 
(most severe) congestive heart failure. The rationale  
for this trial was founded on the positive interim results 
obtained from patients with moderate-severe heart 
failure in the first congestive heart failure trial. This latter 
trial	is	being	funded	by	the	United	States	National	
Institutes	of	Health	(NIH)	and	will	evaluate	the	
effectiveness of RevascorT in patients with class IV heart 
failure who are being kept alive by a Left Ventricular 
Assist Device while awaiting heart transplantation. 

5

The Year Ahead
Translating our powerful stem cell technology platform 
into leading-edge products has been a major focus of 
both Companies and has been led by a very talented and 
committed group which has been carefully assembled. 

In addition, we rely closely on the members of our 
Scientific Advisory Board and expert consultants who 
continue to provide excellent advice, and who have 
capably highlighted Mesoblast’s positive clinical and 
preclinical results at leading global medical and scientific 
conferences.

We are in a very strong position to capitalise on our 
growing product pipeline and to make an enormous 
impact on clinical diseases for which there currently are 
no adequate treatments.

We remain confident that as a strong and committed team 
we will continue to execute on our broadening product 
pipeline and timely delivery of our commercial and 
business objectives. Consequently, we believe that the 
2010 financial year will see significant unlocking of value.

•		Continued	evaluation	of	the	safety	and	effectiveness	of	
Revascor™	for	the	treatment	of	new-onset	heart	failure	
early in the acute heart attack setting. Separately, the 
Company is developing a different allogeneic stem cell 
product for use immediately at the time of a heart attack 
in order to prevent heart failure from developing. Results 
from preclinical studies for this new indication, together 
with plans for a further clinical trial in patients with heart 
attacks, will be released shortly.

•		Positive	interim	results	from	the	first	five	cancer	patients	
undergoing bone marrow transplantation using cord 
blood expanded by Angioblast’s proprietary stem cells. 
These patients had markedly faster bone marrow 
engraftment and reconstitution than those who receive 
standard of care. The ground-breaking trial in up to 30 
patients	is	funded	by	the	NIH,	and	is	being	conducted	
under an FDA Orphan Drug Designation which could 
result in accelerated product registration. Results from 
this trial are expected in early 2010, with positive 
efficacy outcomes expected to support advancing with 
a	Pivotal/Phase	3	trial.	

•		Preparing	an	IND	submission	to	the	FDA	for	initiating	a	

clinical trial of its allogeneic stem cell product in 
patients with end-stage age-related macular 
degeneration 

•		Awarded	the	2008	Frost	&	Sullivan	United	States	Stem	

Cell	Market	Technology	Innovation	of	the	Year.	
According to Frost and Sullivan, the proprietary stem 
cell technology has several attractive attributes that set 
it apart from other stem cell products, including very 
accurate identification and isolation with up to 1000-fold 
greater concentration of stem cells compared to other 
conventional methods. 

6

Pictured at the awards ceremony (l-r) are Dr Tony Goldschlager, Professor Silviu Itescu,  
and Professor Graham Jenkin. 

Collaboration with leading global stem cell scientists and clinicians 
remains a priority for Mesoblast. The 2009 Monash University  
Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Research for Innovation  
and Collaboration in Research with Industry was awarded to  
Professor Graham Jenkin, Deputy Director of Monash Immunology  
and Stem Cell Laboratories, and neurosurgical registrar Dr Tony 
Goldschlager, for collaborating with Mesoblast to pioneer a new 
treatment for intervertebral disc disease.

7

Directors’ Report

The Board of Directors of Mesoblast Limited has resolved to submit the 
following annual financial report of the company for the financial year 
ended 30 June 2009. In order to comply with the provisions of the 
Corporations Act 2001, the directors report the following information:

Directors

Principal Activities & Strategy

Directors of the Company in office at any time during  
or since the end of the year (unless specified) were:

Name

Position

Brian Jamieson

Non-executive	Chairman

Byron McAllister

Non-executive	Director

Donal O’Dwyer

Non-executive	Director

Michael Spooner

Non-executive	Director

Silviu Itescu

Executive	Director

Details of directors qualifications, experience and special 
responsibilities, together with meetings attended, can be 
found on pages 14 to 15 of this report.

Overview
Mesoblast Limited is an Australian biotechnology 
company committed to the development of innovative 
adult stem cell products targeting a range of bone, 
cartilage and musculoskeletal conditions.

Mesoblast Limited has the worldwide exclusive rights for 
orthopedic indications relating to a series of patents and 
technologies that have been developed over more than  
10 years and which relate to the identification, extraction 
and	culture	of	adult	Mesenchymal	Precursor	Cells	(MPCs).	

The Company holds a 38.4% interest in Angioblast 
Systems, Inc. (Angioblast), an American company 
developing the same platform technology for the 
treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including repair and 
regeneration of blood vessels and heart muscle.

Business Model
From the outset we have outlined a business model that is 
based on low cost of goods and high margins, similar to 
pharmaceutical drug development. To achieve this, the 
focus has been on allogeneic or ‘off-the-shelf’ products 
which are generated by large-scale expansion of a small 
amount of donor starting material. Additional advantages 
of allogeneic products are that they can be batched, with 
each batch being highly reproducible and consistent to 
ensure	product	safety	and	effectiveness.	Equally	as	
important is that “off-the-shelf” products will be available 
for immediate use at hospitals when the acute trauma or 
injury needs rapid treatment.

8

 
Key Achievements

Development of a global spinal franchise 
Intervertebral Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion for end-stage vertebral disc disease is a 
major global market opportunity for Mesoblast, with over 
500,000 patients expected to undergo this procedure in 
the United States alone in the next year.

Mesoblast is developing an allogeneic or “off-the-shelf” 
cell	product,	called	NeoFuse™,	to	generate	bony	spinal	
fusion. It aims to eliminate the need for an additional 
autograft surgical procedure (using patient’s own 
hipbone), which is the current standard of care in these 
patients, but is not effective in certain patient groups and 
is often complicated by pain and infection. 

(a) Lumbar Fusion

The preferred procedure by surgeons which is currently 
used in approximately 80 per cent of lumbar spinal 
fusions is a minimally invasive posterior or lateral 
interbody approach. Competitor biologic technologies 
have not been able to gain FDA approval for use in this 
preferred type of minimally invasive lumbar fusion surgery 
due to significant safety issues. Consequently, Mesoblast 
has identified this type of surgery as a major commercial 
focus	for	its	NeoFuse™	product.	

Over the past twelve months, Mesoblast has completed 
preclinical studies in minimally invasive lumbar fusion 
surgery	showing	that	a	lower	dose	of	NeoFuse™	used	in	
this approach compared with other studies in the lumbar 
spine resulted in significantly earlier bony fusion over 
3-6 months than autograft, without any safety issues. 

In	August	2009,	the	US	FDA	cleared	a	Phase	2	clinical	
trial of our allogeneic adult stem cells for use in minimally 
invasive lumbar spinal fusion surgery. The 24-patient trial, 
based at multiple US sites, is comparing the effectiveness 
and	safety	of	two	low	doses,	NeoFuse™	with	autograft	in	
minimally invasive surgery for fusion of the lumbar spine. 

This trial will build on the safety and efficacy results 
generated to date in Mesoblast’s first spinal fusion trial 
that employed a more invasive surgical approach. In that 
trial,	unilateral	use	of	Mesoblast’s	NeoFuse™	generated	
safe and robust fusion over a 12-month period.

If Mesoblast is successful in its new clinical and 
commercial strategy, this could result in a lower-dose 
product than currently being used in our existing trial. 
Potential	advantages	of	this	new	product	are	reduced	
cost-of-goods, higher margins, and greater surgeon 
uptake due to its use in minimally invasive surgery.

(b) Cervical Fusion

Approximately 50% of cervical fusion procedures involve 
more than one vertebral level. For these patients, standard 
therapies do not work very well. In addition, the FDA has 
notified surgeons of life-threatening complications following 
use	of	recombinant	human	Bone	Morphogenic	Proteins	
(BMP),	the	main	class	of	competitor	biologic	technologies,	
in patients undergoing cervical fusion. Consequently, the 
limited options available for these patients presents a 
major commercial opportunity for Mesoblast. 

Over the past twelve months, Mesoblast has completed 
preclinical studies in cervical fusion surgery showing that 
low-dose	NeoFuse™	resulted	in	significantly	earlier	bony	
fusion over 3-6 months than autograft, without any safety 
issues. 

On the basis of these studies, Mesoblast has commenced 
a	Phase	2	clinical	trial	of	NeoFuse™	in	24	patients	needing	
bony fusion of the cervical spine at multiple intervertebral 
levels. Initiated in Melbourne, this trial seeks to confirm the 
effectiveness and safety of Mesoblast’s allogeneic cell 
product for cervical fusion.

Intervertebral Disc Repair and Regeneration
For patients with earlier stage intervertebral disc disease, 
Mesoblast is developing an allogeneic adult stem cell 
product which can be injected by a minimally invasive 
approach into degenerating discs of unrelated recipients 
in order to repair and regenerate disc cartilage. This is 
likely to be a significantly larger market than spinal fusion. 
Results of preclinical trials and plans for clinical 
development are expected to be made very shortly. 

Development of a product for treatment of knee 
osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a major degenerative disease of cartilage 
in joints, with the knee being the most commonly affected. 
Knee osteoarthritis affects as many as 15 million people in 
the United States alone, and no approved therapies 
currently have any effect on cartilage repair or regeneration. 

Osteoarthritis of the knee can initially occur as small, 
isolated cartilage defects in young, active individuals, 
or can affect the knee joint in a more generalised way in 
older people after many years of wear and tear. 
Additionally, knee injuries in healthy active people 
significantly accelerate progression to generalised 
cartilage loss, which may be seen after several years in 
as many as 50% of people with knee injuries. 

To demonstrate that Mesoblast’s cartilage product, 
RepliCart™,	can	prevent	this	progression	to	generalised	
cartilage	loss	after	knee	injury,	a	Phase	2	trial	is	underway	
in Melbourne where 24 patients who have undergone 
reconstruction of a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament 
will receive an injection of either the company’s “off-the-
shelf” allogeneic stem cells or control. 

This trial is an important first step towards commercial 
development of an allogeneic stem cell product for 
treatment of both isolated cartilage defects in young, 
active individuals and generalised osteoarthritis in older 
people. Together, these markets represent massive global 
commercial opportunities for Mesoblast.

Seeking regulatory approvals for bone and cartilage repair 
products in Australia
Mesoblast has commenced a formal process aimed at 
obtaining licenses from the Therapeutic Goods 
Administration (TGA) to commercially manufacture its 
bone and cartilage repair products. This would result in 
earlier revenues once this product is made available to 
hospitals and clinicians throughout Australia. 

9

In the first instance, Mesoblast aims to make its bone 
repair product available for those patients who have 
poorly healing fractures of their long bones and for whom 
no satisfactory alternatives are available. This follows the 
company’s successful Australian clinical trial of its 
proprietary stem cell therapy for the repair of non-healing 
long bone fractures of the legs. 

Non-healing	long	bone	fractures	affect	millions	of	people	
worldwide, are usually a complication of road accident 
trauma, are very debilitating, and in some cases result in 
limb amputation. Significantly, Australian regulatory 
approval will enable Mesoblast to formulate a template 
that could be duplicated in other jurisdictions on a 
country-by-country basis.

Mesoblast’s Investment in Angioblast Systems, Inc. 
Continues to Appreciate. 
Mesoblast maintains a highly productive relationship with 
its United States-based associate company, Angioblast 
Systems Inc. 

Angioblast is simultaneously advancing the platform stem 
cell technology towards commercialisation of novel 
treatments for cardiac, vascular, bone marrow, and eye 
conditions. To date, Angioblast has attained strong 
clinical and preclinical results in these indications, 
supporting Mesoblast’s significant equity investment and 
the inherent value associated with these indications. 

The value of Mesoblast’s 38.4% equity stake in Angioblast 
was again underscored after Angioblast successfully 
completed a $10 million financing in August 2009 by new 
and existing institutional and sophisticated investors. This 
equity-based investment emphasises the intrinsic value 
associated with Angioblast’s rapid lead product 
development and underlying pipeline. 

Mesoblast will retain its 38.4% equity in Angioblast until 
Angioblast’s next financing event, defined as an Initial 
Public	Offering,	a	Merger	and	Acquisition,	or	a	private	
equity round of at least $10 million. At that time, Mesoblast 
may seek to maintain or increase its shareholding. 

We will continue to work closely with the management and 
Board of Directors of Angioblast to protect and enhance 
our significant investment in this company.

Congestive Heart Failure
Angioblast is making strong progress with its proprietary 
allogeneic, or “off-the-shelf”, adult stem cell product 
Revascor™,	aimed	at	redefining	the	treatment	paradigm	
for patients with chronic heart failure. 

This condition affects an estimated 5 million people in the 
United States alone, with 550,000 new cases each year. 
Progresive	loss	of	heart	muscle	function	in	these	patients	
is the number one cause of recurrent hospitalisations in 
the Western world, and a major cause of mortality.

In May 2009, Angioblast announced positive three-month 
interim efficacy results from the first 20 patients enrolled in 
its	Phase	2	trial	for	patients	suffering	from	moderate	to	
severe	congestive	heart	failure	(New	York	Heart	
Association Class II and III). 

Heart	function	was	significantly	greater	at	three	months	in	
patients	receiving	Revascor™	compared	with	randomised	
controls receiving placebo, with the greatest improvement 
seen in patients with the most severe heart failure. 
Importantly, these patients received the lowest dose of 

10

Angioblast’s cells that are being trialled, and results from 
40 additional patients set to receive two higher doses 
remain to be reported. In preclinical trials, the higher doses 
were found to be more effective than the lowest dose.

These	initial	results	now	form	the	basis	for	a	Phase	2	
clinical	trial	testing	the	effectiveness	of	Revascor™	in	class	
IV heart failure patients with the worst decline in heart 
muscle function. A clinical trial in this population has 
commenced	and	will	be	fully	funded	by	the	US	National	
Institutes	of	Health	(NIH).	

Heart Attacks
Angioblast’s technology is also being trialled in patients 
with heart attacks to prevent the onset of congestive heart 
failure. The advantage of Angioblast’s “off-the-shelf” 
therapy is that it can be delivered to patients immediately 
after a heart attack by injection into the coronary arteries 
in conjunction with the standard of care angioplasty and 
stent procedures. 

An alternative way to deliver the cells is by direct injection 
into damaged heart muscle using novel catheter 
techologies within a short timeframe after the heart attack. 
The	initial	results	obtained	to	date	indicate	that	Revascor™	
is safe in the acute heart attack setting. 

Bone Marrow Transplantation
A	groundbreaking	Phase	I/II	trial	in	up	to	30	patients	is	
being conducted by Angioblast at the University of Texas 
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Stem Cell 
Transplantation and Cellular Therapy on patients 
undergoing bone marrow transplants. The trial is being 
funded	through	a	grant	awarded	by	the	US	National	
Institutes	of	Health	(NIH).	Angioblast’s	proprietary	
allogeneic adult stem cells are being used to expand 
haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from cord 
blood,	for	use	in	repair/regeneration	of	bone	marrow	of	
cancer patients after high-dose chemotherapy. 

Successful bone marrow reconstitution and engraftment 
was achieved in the first five patients with haematologic 
malignancies who received the cord blood expanded by 
Angioblast’s cells. There have been no cell-related 
adverse events. Significantly, the median time to 
engraftment was 15 days, approximately two weeks faster 
than	expected	without	MPC	expansion.

By significantly reducing the time to engraftment and 
increasing the overall success rate of an allogeneic bone 
marrow transplant, this technology has the potential to 
lower the risk of infections, bleeding, and death in critically 
ill patients with haematologic malignancies. 

Angioblast’s product used in this trial is being developed 
under a US FDA Orphan Drug Designation for an important 
disease of unmet need. This means that if the results 
continue to be positive, the company will have an 
accelerated	clinical	timetable	through	Phase	3	trials	and	
early product commercialization.

Intellectual Property

Mesoblast continues to exploit and expand its patent and 
intellectual property portfolio. Key patents have been 
granted in the United States, the world’s largest market for 
commercialisation of our products. The expanding patent 
portfolio will continue to deliver major commercial 
advantages, ensuring exclusive commercialisation of our 
stem cell platform globally.

Funding

In April this year, Mesoblast Limited successfully 
completed a capital raising of $10.8 million from Australian 
institutional and sophisticated investors. The capital is 
being used for ongoing clinical trial activities, expansion 
of preclinical opportunities, and general administrative 
operations. At 30 June 2009, Mesoblast had cash 
reserves of $16.5 million.

Financial Summary

Operating results
The net loss for the year was $12,285,459 (2008: 
$10,062,379) and is in line with expectations. The result 
reflects full year operations for the Company and the 
continued development of our platform technology. 

Income
Revenue earned during the year was $890,708 
(2008: $909,807) and is made up of: 

30 June 
2009 
$

30 June 
2008 
$

Revenue from continuing operations

Commercial Ready 
government grant 

186,295

-

Interest revenue

704,413

909,807

890,708

909,807

Expenditure
In line with the Company’s policy and to comply with 
accounting standards, all costs associated with research 
and development are fully expensed in the period in which 
they are incurred as the directors do not consider the 
Company can yet demonstrate all the factors required in 
order to capitalise development expenditure.

Total operating expenses for the year were $13,176,167 
(2008: $10,972,186) and consist of:

30 June 
2009 
$

30 June 
2008 
$

Research and development

7,145,623

6,207,372

During the year under review the Company issued a 
further 15,018,069 shares at $0.72 (2008: 10,500,000 
shares at $1.28) to sophisticated investors, providing 
approximately $10.3m (net of costs) in cash which the 
company intends to use to fund and support phase 2 
clinical trials for lumbar interbody fusion and lumbar 
intervertebral disc repair.

Balance sheet
At 30 June 2009 the Company’s cash position was 
$16,526,278 (2008: $14,094,219). On 19 August 2009 
Mesoblast announced its associate, Angioblast Systems, 
Inc., had successfully raised AU$10m. This will ensure the 
platform technology can be significantly advanced with 
these levels of cash holdings between the two entities. 

The Company’s policy is to hold its cash and cash 
equivalent deposits in “A” rated or better deposits.

The Company’s strategy is to outsource manufacturing, 
continuing research, and clinical trials to specialist, best 
of breed partner organisations. As a consequence the 
Company has not incurred any major capital expenditure 
for the period and does not intend to incur substantial 
commitments for capital expenditure in the 
immediate future.

Mesoblast has now completed its investment in 
Angioblast under the Series B agreement and as a result 
owns 38.4% of Angioblast as at 30 June 2009. This 
investment is made up of the following:

30 June 
2009 
$

30 June 
2008 
$

Investment in Angioblast Systems, Inc.

Cash invested  
(AUD denominated) 

Mesoblast share of 
Angioblast net losses after 
tax (USD denominated, 
converted	at	applicable	FX	
rates throughout the year)

18,282,792 18,082,792

(8,956,364)

(5,321,545)

Net	Book	Value

9,326,468

12,761,247

Earnings per share

Management and 
administration

Share of losses of equity 
accounted associates

3,174,079

2,642,016 

Basic losses per share

Diluted losses per share

2,856,465

2,122,798

13,176,167

10,972,186

2009
Cents

9.89

9.89

2008
Cents

8.81

8.81

Cash flow statement

Net	cash	outflow	from	operations	increased	to	$9,237,576	
in 2009 (2008: $6,202,589) largely due to the following 
reasons:

	 •	 	Fall	in	USD	FX	rate	has	impacted	US	based	clinical	

trial costs and employee costs;

	 •	 	Preclinical	cashflow	was	approximately	$1.1m	

higher in 2009 as trials were completed and final 
payments made;

Dividends
No	dividends	were	paid	or	declared	during	the	course	
of the financial year and no dividends are recommended 
in respect to the financial year ended 30 June 2009 
(2008: nil).

11

 
 
Investment In Angioblast Systems, Inc.

Mesoblast has now completed its investment in 
Angioblast under the Series B agreement and as a 
result now owns 38.4% of Angioblast (refer above). 

Angioblast Systems, Inc. is a non-listed biotechnology 
company	based	in	New	York.	The	company	was	
incorporated on 27 April 2001 in Delaware, United 
States of America.

Angioblast’s principal focus is to commercialise 
cardiovascular and other non-orthopaedic applications 
of our adult stem cell technology which was acquired 
from	the	Hanson	Institute/Institute	of	Medical	and	
Veterinary Science in South Australia.

Share Options

Magnetic Bead Binding of MPC

Shares under option 
Unissued ordinary shares of Mesoblast Limited under option at the date of this directors’ report are as follows:

Option  
Series Issued

1

1

4(a)

4(b)

4(b)

5

6(d)

6(d)

7

8

9

Issue Date

29 September 2004

29 September 2004

23 February 2006

23 February 2006

23 February 2006

23	November	2006

1 January 2007

1 January 2007

27 July 2007

7 July 2008

19 January 2009

Number of shares 
under option

Exercise price  
of options

Expiry date  
of options

1,960,000

1,960,000

66,000

200,000

350,000

150,000

15,000

15,000

2,330,000

2,586,000

240,000

9,872,000

$0.55

$0.55

$0.65

$1.20

$1.20

$0.65

$1.96

$1.96

$2.13

$1.00

$0.96

29 September 2009

16 December 2009

1 May 2010

30 June 2010

30 June 2011

23	November	2009

1 January 2010

1 January 2011

30 June 2012

30 June 2013

18 January 2014

No	option	holder	has	any	right	under	the	options	to	participate	in	any	other	share	issue	of	the	Company.	Further	details	
of	the	options	series	can	be	found	in	Note	18	to	the	financial	statements.

Shares issued on exercise of options 
Detail of shares or interests issued as a result of the exercise of options during or since the end of the financial year are:

Option Series

Grant Date

Number of  
shares issued

Amount paid  
per share

Amount unpaid  
per share

29 September 2004

16 December 2004

16 December 2004

16 December 2004

25 August 2005

23 February 2006

23 February 2006

23 February 2006

200,000

550,000

150,000

80,000

700,000

34,000

166,667

20,000

1,900,667

$0.55

$0.60

$0.60

$0.60

$0.65

$0.65

$0.65

$0.65

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

1

2(a)

2(b)

2(c)

3

4(a)

4(b)

4(c)

12

 
 
 
Significant Changes in the State of Affairs

Indemnification of Officers

During the financial year, the Company paid premiums in 
respect of a contract insuring the directors and company 
secretary of the Company, and all executive officers of the 
Company. The liabilities insured are to the extent permitted 
by the Corporations Act 2001. Further disclosure required 
under section 300(9) of the Corporations Act 2001 is 
prohibited under the terms of the insurance contract.

Proceedings on Behalf of the Company

The Corporations Act 2001 allows specified persons to 
bring, or intervene in, proceedings on behalf of the 
Company.	No	proceedings	have	been	brought	or	
intervened in on behalf of the company with leave of the 
Court under section 237 of the Corporation Act 2001.

Non-Audit Services

The Company may decide to employ the auditor on 
assignments additional to their statutory audit duties 
where the auditor’s expertise and experience are relevant 
and considered to be important. 

The board of directors has considered the position and is 
satisfied that the provision of the non-audit services is 
compatible with the general standard of independence  
for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act 2001. The 
directors are satisfied that the provision of the non-audit 
services as set out below, did not compromise the auditor 
independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 
because the services are not deemed to undermine the 
general principles relating to auditor independence as set 
out	in	APES	110	Code of Ethics for Professional 
Accountants.

During the year the following fees were paid or payable for 
non-audit services provided by the auditor of the parent 
entity, its related practices and non-related audit firms: 

30 June 
2009 
$

30 June 
2008 
$

Taxation services

Corporate tax compliance

10,000

Employment	tax	and	
withholding advice

Total taxation services

2,000

12,000

-

-

-

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

A copy of the auditor’s declaration under Section 307C  
in relation to the audit for the year ended 30 June 2009 is 
included on page 25 of the annual report.

No	significant	changes	occurred	in	the	state	of	affairs	of	
the Company during the financial year other than those 
disclosed in the review of operations.

Matters Subsequent to the End of the 
Financial Year

On 25 August 2009 Mesoblast announced that Angioblast 
Systems, Inc., (a US based associate of Mesoblast), had 
successfully raised $10m from new and existing institutional 
and sophisticated investors. Mesoblast will retain its 38.4% 
equity in Angioblast until Angioblast’s next financing event, 
defined	as	an	Initial	Public	Offering,	a	Merger	and	
Acquisition, or a private equity round of at least $10 million. 
At that time, Mesoblast may seek to maintain or increase 
its shareholding. 

No	other	matters	or	circumstances	have	arisen	since	
30 June 2009, other than those described above, up to 
the date of this report that the directors believe have 
significantly affected or may significantly affect: 

	 •	 the	Company’s	operations	in	future	financial	years;	or

	 •	 	the	results	of	those	operations	in	future	financial	

years; or

	 •	 the	Company’s	state	of	affairs	in	future	financial	years.

Business Strategy Prospects for Future Years

Mesoblast is committed to the rapid commercialisation 
of its adult stem cell platform technology. Our ongoing 
strategy is to maximise shareholder wealth through rapid 
completion of existing clinical trial programs and to 
significantly extend our market opportunities by initiating 
new programs that build logically on extensive work that 
has been completed. Mesoblast will continue to actively 
engage commercial partner organisations as a key part 
of our ongoing strategy.

At the date of this report, Mesoblast’s business strategy 
is to:

	 •	 	focus	on	patient	enrollment	and	trial	completion	

associated with our phase II clinical trial programs for 
lumbar and cervical spinal fusion (US and Aus) and 
knee osteoarthritis (Aus);

	 •	 	consider	the	filing	of	a	new	indication	with	the	

United States Food and Drug Administration for the 
commencement of clinical trials associated with 
intervertebral disc repair.

Mesoblast has a strong and ongoing relationship with 
its associate company Angioblast Systems, Inc. in the 
United States. We will continue to work closely with the 
management and board of directors of Angioblast to 
protect and enhance our significant investment in 
that company.

Environmental Regulations

Mesoblasts operations are not subject to any significant 
environmental regulation under either Commonwealth or 
State legislation. The Board, however, considers that 
adequate systems are in place to manage the Company’s 
obligations and is not aware of any breach of environmental 
requirements as they relate to the Company. 

13

 
Information on Directors

Brian Jamieson, Non-executive Chairman – FCA

Shares held: 
Options held: 

235,000
-

Mr Jamieson has over 30 years experience in providing 
advice and audit services to a diverse range of public and 
large	private	companies.	He	was	chief	executive	of	Minter	
Ellison,	Melbourne,	from	2002-2005.	Prior	to	that	he	was	
chief	executive	officer	of	KPMG	Australia	from	1998-2000,	
managing	partner	of	KPMG	Melbourne	and	Southern	
Regions	from	1993-1998,	and	chairman	of	KPMG	
Melbourne	from	2001-2002.	He	was	also	a	KPMG	board	
member in Australia and a member of the USA 
management committee.

Mr Jamieson is currently a non-executive director of Tatts 
Group	Limited	(since	May	2005),	Sigma	Pharmaceuticals	
Limited (since December 2005) and Oz Minerals Limited 
(since	August	2004),	all	ASX	listed	companies.	He	is	also	 
a non-executive director of the Bank of Western Australia 
Ltd, a subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd,  
a	director	and	treasurer	of	the	Bionic	Ear	Institute,	and	 
a	director	of	The	Sir	Robert	Menzies	Foundation.	He	is	also	
Chairman of the George Adams Tattersalls Foundation.

Silviu Itescu, Executive Director – MBBS (Hons),  
FRACP, FACP, FACR

Shares held: 
Options held: 

37,125,000
-

A	medically	trained	physician	scientist,	Professor	Itescu	
has established an outstanding international reputation  
in the fields of stem cell biology, autoimmune diseases, 
organ	transplantation,	and	heart	failure.	He	has	been	a	
faculty	member	of	Columbia	University	in	New	York	and	 
of	the	University	of	Melbourne.	His	pioneering	work	in	the	
use of adult stem cells for heart disease has laid the 
groundwork for a potential paradigm shift in the treatment 

of	cardiovascular	disorders.	Professor	Itescu	has	
consulted for various international pharmaceutical 
companies, has been an adviser to biotechnology and 
health care investor groups, and has served on the  
Board of Directors of several publicly-listed Australian life 
sciences companies. In addition, he is the founder and  
a member of the Board of Directors of Angioblast  
Systems Inc.

Donal O’Dwyer, Non-executive Director – BE, MBA

Shares held: 
150,000
Options held:  150,000

Mr O’Dwyer has over 20 years experience as a senior 
executive in the global cardiovascular and medical devices 
industries. From 1996 to 2003, Mr O’Dwyer worked for 
Cordis Cardiology, the cardiology division of Johnson  
&	Johnson’s	Cordis	Corporation,	initially	as	its	president	
(Europe)	and	from	2000	as	its	worldwide	president.	Cordis	
is the world’s largest manufacturer of innovative products 
for interventional medicine, minimally invasive computer-
based imaging, and electrophysiology. In his role, Mr 
O’Dwyer led Cordis through the launch of the revolutionary 
Cypher drug eluting coronary stent technology, and saw 
the company take over number one market share of 

coronary	stents	worldwide.	He	directly	supervised	an	
increase in sales from $US500 million in 2000 to  
$US2	billion	in	2003.	Prior	to	joining	Cordis,	Mr	O’Dwyer	
worked	for	12	years	with	Baxter	Healthcare,	rising	from	
plant manager in Ireland to president of the Cardiovascular 
Group,	Europe	,	now	Edwards	Lifesciences.	Mr	O’Dwyer	is	
a qualified civil engineer, has an MBA and is on the board 
of a number of companies including Cochlear Limited, 
Atcor	Medical	Holdings	Ltd	and	Sunshine	Heart	Inc.

Mr O’Dwyer is currently Mesoblast’s representative on the 
Board of Directors for Angioblast Systems, Inc.

14

Byron McAllister, Non-executive Director – BS M.Agr

Shares held: 
Options held: 

41,315
-

Mr McAllister has extensive expertise in product 
development, production, quality control and assurance, 
and obtaining U.S. FDA and other county product 
regulatory approvals within the healthcare industry.  
Mr McAllister has been an independent management 
consultant to industry for the past 25 years, providing 
interim management solutions and management advice 
in product, registration, and licensing matters. Most 
recently,	Mr	McAllister	served	as	Vice	President,	
Worldwide Quality Assurance, for the Ares-Serono Group 

(now Merck Serono) based in Geneva and Boston, 
overseeing operations in over a dozen countries.  
Mr McAllister has held senior management positions in 
manufacturing and quality assurance with Abbott 
Laboratories’ Ross Laboratories and Diagnostics 
Divisions, Amersham Corporation, and Coulter 
Electronics	Corporation.	He	is	a	member	of	the	PDA	
(Parenteral	Drug	Association),	American	Society	for	
Quality	(ASQ),	and	the	Regulatory	Affairs	Professionals	
Society	(RAPS).	

Michael Spooner, Non-executive Director –  
Bcom, ACA, MAICD

Shares held: 
Options held: 

1,100,000
-

Mr Spooner is a well known and respected business 
leader.	He	has	an	extensive	network	of	relationships	with	
investment firms and business communities across the 
globe, having spent the majority of the past 25 years living 
and working internationally. Mr Spooner is a non-
executive	director	of	Peplin	Inc,	a	dermatology	focused	
skin	cancer	company.	He	is	also	a	non-executive	director	
of	Hawaii	Biotech	Inc	a	specialty	developer	of	vaccines.	
Most	recently,	Mr	Spooner	was	Executive	Chairman	of	

Hunter	Immunology	Limited	a	respiratory	medicine	
company.	Previously,	Mr	Spooner	was	the	Chairman	 
of	Mesoblast	Limited	and	Managing	Director	&	CEO	of	
Ventracor Limited where he led the transformation of a 
small Australian listed life sciences company into the 
second	highest	performing	stock	on	the	S&P/ASX	200	
index.	He	was	a	Principal	Partner	and	Director	of	
Consulting	Services	with	PricewaterhouseCoopers	
(Coopers	&	Lybrand)	in	Hong	Kong	for	several	years.

Kevin Hollingsworth, Company Secretary – FCPA, FCMA

Shares held: 
Options held:  200,000

-

Mr	Hollingsworth	is	a	Fellow	of	CPA	Australia,	and	a	past	
chairman	of	both	the	National	and	Victorian	Industry	and	
Commerce	Accountants	Committees.	He	is	also	a	Fellow	
of	the	Chartered	Management	Accountants	and	a	Past	
National	President	of	CIMA	Australia.	Mr	Hollingsworth	
has most recently been non-executive director and 

company secretary for Alpha Technologies Corporation 
Ltd, a global company with operations in the US, Mexico, 
Europe	and	China,	designing	and	manufacturing	
temperature sensors for disposable medical devices, as 
well as precision thermometry and instrumentation for the 
biotechnical and life science industry.

15

Meetings of Directors

The number of meetings of the Company’s directors (including committee meetings of directors) held during the year 
ended 30 June 2009 and the numbers of meetings attended by each director were:

Director

Brian Jamieson

Silviu Itescu

Byron McAllistair

Donal O’Dwyer

Michael Spooner

Board of directors

Audit & Risk 
committee

Nomination & 
remuneration 
committee

Held

Attended

Held

Attended

Held

Attended

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

9

10

10

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Positive Selection of MPC

16

Remuneration Report

The directors of the Company present the following 
remuneration report, which forms part of the directors’ 
report and has been prepared in accordance with s300A 
of the Corporations Act 2001. The remuneration report  
has been audited as required by s308(3C) of the 
Corporations Act 2001.

The remuneration report is set out under the following 
main headings:

A.  Remuneration principles and policies
B.  Remuneration of key management personnel
C.  Service agreements
D.  Share-based compensation

A. Remuneration Principles and Policies

Board policy for determining remuneration
The Company’s goal is to engage and promote 
excellence at Board level, in staff members and in partner 
organisations. The Company looks to engage the 
services of individuals and organisations with the 
experience necessary to assist the Company in meeting 
its strategic objectives. 

The Board ensures that executive reward complies with 
good reward governance practices:

	 •	 Competitiveness	and	reasonableness

	 •	 Acceptability	to	shareholders

	 •	 Performance	linkage

	 •	 Transparency

	 •	 Capital	management

The Company has structured an executive remuneration 
framework that is market competitive and complimentary 
to the reward strategy of the organisation.

The Company’s remuneration framework is aligned to 
shareholders interests and in particular aligned to the 
rapid commercialisation of the Company’s intellectual 
property and in achieving its milestones in a highly ethical 
and professional manner.

The executive remuneration framework provides a mix of 
fixed and variable pay and performance incentive rewards.

The Board has established a remuneration committee 
which provides advice on remuneration and incentive 
policies and practices and specific recommendations on 
remuneration packages and other terms of employment 
for executive directors, non-executive directors and 
executives of the Company.

Remuneration structure
(a) Non-executive directors fees
The current base fees were reviewed and approved 
effective 1 July 2008;

Position

Chair

Non-executive	directors

Company Secretary

Base Salary

$120,000

$60,000

$40,000

Components of the above remuneration package include 
a cash element together with unquoted medium term 
options in some cases.

(b) Executive pay
The executive pay and reward framework has three 
components, which in combination comprises the 
executives’ total remuneration:

	 •	 Base	pay	and	benefits	(i)

	 •	 Short	term	performance	incentives	(ii)

	 •	 Long	term	performance	incentives	(iii)

  (i) Base pay and benefits

 A total employment cost package may include a 
combination of cash and prescribed non-financial 
benefits at the executives’ discretion.

	Executives	are	offered	a	competitive	base	pay	that	
comprises the fixed component of pay and rewards. 
The base pay for executives is reviewed annually to 
ensure the executives pay is competitive with the market. 
An executive’s pay is also reviewed on promotion.

 There is no guaranteed base pay increases included in 
any executive contracts.

  (ii) Short term performance incentives 

 Bonuses are payable to executives based upon the 
attainment of agreed corporate and individual 
milestones, which are reviewed annually and approved 
by the Board of Directors.

  (iii) Long term performance incentives

	Performance	conditions	were	previously	attached	to	
options granted to key management personnel and 
directors in previous financial years. There have not 
been any long term performance incentives attached to 
options granted in the current or previous financial 
years, nor does any remuneration reported in this report 
include remuneration as a result of long term 
performance incentives being achieved.

17

Positive Selection of MPC

 
	
 
 
	
Relationship between remuneration policy and company performance

Closing share price 

Price	increase/(decrease)	$

Price	increase/(decrease)	%

Total key management personnel 
remuneration

Remuneration	increase/
(decrease) %

30 June  
2005

30 June 
2006

30 June 
2007

30 June 
2008

30 June 
2009

$0.43

$(0.07)

(14%)

$1.52

$1.09

255%

$2.02

$0.50

33%

$0.91

$(1.11)

(55%)

$0.83

$(0.08)

(8.8%)

503,703

1,368,039

1,189,907

1,802,804

1,971,389

172%

(13%)

52%

10%

The Company’s remuneration policies seek to reward staff members for their contribution to achieving significant clinical 
and regulatory milestones. These milestones build sustainable and long term shareholder value. The increase in 
remuneration	from	IPO	(16	December	2004:	share	price	$0.50)	to	30	June	2009	reflects	the	expansion	of	the	clinical	
program of the Company. 

The directors note the stock market fell significantly between 2007 and 2008 as a result of the global financial crisis. The 
Company’s share price also fell significantly during this time despite the company continuing its clinical progress, hence 
there is no corresponding fall in remuneration levels. The Company raised a further $10.8m (at $0.72) in this difficult 
market, and is pleased to note that the share price has risen since 30 June 2009, closing at $1.17 on 14 August 2009.

Magnetic Column Isolation of MPCs

18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B.Remuneration of Key Management Personnel

Details of the remuneration of key management personnel are set out in this section of the remuneration report. Key 
management personnel includes all directors (as disclosed on page 8), and certain executives of the company, who all 
belong	to	the	Senior	Executive	Management	Group	and	they	have	authority	and	responsibility	for	planning,	directing	
and controlling the activities of the Company together with the Board of Directors. 

In addition to the directors of the Company, key management personnel, as described above, also includes the 
following people and positions held during the reporting periods:

Name

Kevin	Hollingsworth

Roger Brown

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni	Pilcher

Paul	Rennie

Jim Ryaby

 (A) Appointed to this position 
(R) Resigned from this position

Position

Chief Financial Officer 
Company Secretary

Vice	President	of	Regulatory	Affairs

Vice	President	of	Operations

Chief Financial Officer

Special	Projects	Consultant 
Chief Operating Officer

Vice	President	of	Research	and	Clinical	Affairs

Effective date

21	November	07	(R) 
Full	Year	

19 January 2009 (A)

18 March 08 (A)

21	November	07	(A)

12 May 08 (A) 
11 May 08 (R)

3 March 08 (A)

Magnetic Bead Binding of MPC

MPC Culture Expansion

19

Details of the remuneration of each director of Mesoblast Limited and the other key management personnel  
(including the five highest paid executives) of the Company are set out below:

Short term  
employee benefits

Post-employment 
benefits

Sharebased  

payments

Other

Salary & fees  
$

Cash Bonus 
(i)
$

Non-monetary 
benefits 
$

Superannuation 
$

Options  

& rights  

$

Termination  

benefits  

$

Performance 

Remuneration 

based 

consisting of 

remuneration 

Total

$

options 

%

(ii)  

%

Name

Directors
2009
Executive	directors

Silviu Itescu

Non-executive	directors

Brian Jamieson

Byron McAllister

Donal O’Dwyer

Michael Spooner

2008
Executive	directors

Silviu Itescu

Michael Spooner*

Non-executive	directors

Brian Jamieson**

Byron McAllister

Donal O’Dwyer

Michael Spooner*

275,229

110,092

60,000

55,046

55,046

555,413

174,312

63,008

66,935

40,000

36,697

41,958

422,910

Other Key Management Personnel***
2009

Roger Brown

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni	Pilcher

Paul	Rennie

James Ryaby

Kevin	Hollingsworth

2008

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni	Pilcher

Paul	Rennie****

James Ryaby

Donna Skerrett

Kevin	Hollingsworth

Total 2009

Total 2008

20

140,336

190,000

150,000

160,000

211,339

40,000

891,675

47,256

130,000

122,552

56,520

65,472

112,600

534,400

1,447,088 

957,310

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

137,615

-

-

-

-

137,615

-

-

-

29,583

-

-

29,583

-

21,918

76,697

-

20,252

-

118,867

29,583

256,482

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

19,417

-

-

-

22,271

-

41,688

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

41,688

-

14,231

9,908

-

4,954

4,954

34,047

15,688

14,990

6,024

-

3,303

3,777

43,782

-

17,100

13,500

4,750

-

-

35,350

4,253

13,682

27,912

-

-

-

45,847

69,397

89,629

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5,983

5,983

33,571

33,571

29,333

52,360

90,337

94,882

69,813

40,925

377,650

60,335

168,032

125,152

90,330

443,849

383,633

477,420

289,460

120,000

60,000

65,983

60,000

595,443

190,000

215,613

72,959

40,000

73,571

45,735

637,878

189,086

259,460

253,837

289,215

303,423

80,925

1,375,946

51,509

225,935

417,156

56,520

210,876

202,930

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

21,963

21,963

1,164,926

1,971,389

21,963

1,802,804

5.3%

21.6%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9%

1%

45.6%

15.5%

20.2%

35.6%

32.8%

23.0%

50.6%

27.4%

26.7%

40.3%

59.3%

44.5%

38.1%

19.7%

26.5%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

63.8%

9.7%

18.4%

9.6%

10.2%

1.5%

14.2%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Details of the remuneration of each director of Mesoblast Limited and the other key management personnel  

(including the five highest paid executives) of the Company are set out below:

Short term  

employee benefits

Post-employment 

benefits

Sharebased  
payments

Other

Cash Bonus 

Non-monetary 

Salary & fees  

$

(i)

$

benefits 

Superannuation 

$

$

Options  
& rights  
$

Termination  
benefits  
$

Remuneration 
consisting of 
options 
%

Total
$

Performance 
based 
remuneration 
(ii)  
%

-

-

-

5,983

-

5,983

-

-

-

-

33,571

-

33,571

29,333

52,360

90,337

94,882

69,813

40,925

377,650

-

60,335

168,032

-

125,152

90,330

443,849

383,633

477,420

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

21,963

-

-

-

289,460

120,000

60,000

65,983

60,000

595,443

190,000

215,613

72,959

40,000

73,571

45,735

637,878

189,086

259,460

253,837

289,215

303,423

80,925

1,375,946

51,509

225,935

417,156

56,520

210,876

202,930

21,963

1,164,926

-

1,971,389

21,963

1,802,804

-

-

-

9%

-

1%

-

-

-

-

45.6%

-

5.3%

15.5%

20.2%

35.6%

32.8%

23.0%

50.6%

27.4%

-

26.7%

40.3%

-

59.3%

44.5%

38.1%

19.7%

26.5%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

63.8%

-

-

-

-

21.6%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

* 

** 

 Michael Spooner was an 
executive up until 8 August 
2007, after that date became  
a non-executive director.

 Brian Jamieson was  
appointed Chairman on  
22	November	2007.

*** 

 Refer to the table on page 19 
for periods that remuneration 
has been disclosed.

****   Termination benefits included 
annual leave entitlements for 
Paul	Rennie	upon	the	expiry	of	
his	employment	contract.	His	
new contract is as a consultant 
with no leave entitlements.

9.7%

18.4%

-

9.6%

-

10.2%

1.5%

14.2%

(i) 

 All bonuses reported in the 
above table are 100% of the 
bonus entitlement for each 
relevant executive. Bonuses 
forfeited during the year as  
a result of performance 
targets not being met were 
nil (2008: nil). 

(ii)	

	Performance-based	
remuneration includes all 
bonuses paid. 

21

Name

Directors

2009

Executive	directors

Silviu Itescu

Non-executive	directors

Brian Jamieson

Byron McAllister

Donal O’Dwyer

Michael Spooner

2008

Executive	directors

Silviu Itescu

Michael Spooner*

Non-executive	directors

Brian Jamieson**

Byron McAllister

Donal O’Dwyer

Michael Spooner*

2009

Roger Brown

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni	Pilcher

Paul	Rennie

James Ryaby

Kevin	Hollingsworth

2008

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni	Pilcher

Paul	Rennie****

James Ryaby

Donna Skerrett

Kevin	Hollingsworth

275,229

110,092

60,000

55,046

55,046

555,413

174,312

63,008

66,935

40,000

36,697

41,958

422,910

140,336

190,000

150,000

160,000

211,339

40,000

891,675

47,256

130,000

122,552

56,520

65,472

112,600

534,400

Other Key Management Personnel***

Total 2009

Total 2008

1,447,088 

957,310

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

137,615

137,615

29,583

21,918

76,697

20,252

118,867

29,583

256,482

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

19,417

22,271

41,688

14,231

9,908

-

4,954

4,954

34,047

15,688

14,990

6,024

3,303

3,777

43,782

17,100

13,500

4,750

35,350

4,253

13,682

27,912

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

45,847

69,397

89,629

29,583

41,688

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C. Service Agreements

The non-executive directors and the company secretary 
are	engaged	through	a	letter	of	appointment.	Non-
executive directors are appointed by shareholders on the 
basis that one third of all non-executive directors retire 
annually and are eligible for re-election at the Company’s 
Annual General Meeting.

Remuneration and other terms of employment for the 
Executive	Director	and	other	key	management	personnel	
are formalised in service agreements. These agreements 
may provide for the provision of performance related cash 
bonuses	and	the	award	of	options.	Provisions	of	the	
agreements relating to remuneration are set out below:

Suzanne Lipe, Vice President of Operations 
•	Term	of	agreement:	commencing	18	March	2008;

•	Salary:	$190,000	per	annum;

•	Superannuation:	9%	of	$190,000	per	annum;

•	Termination:	One	month;

•		Bonus:	eligible	to	participate	in	the	Company’s	

bonus scheme.

Jenni Pilcher, Chief Financial Officer 
•	Term	of	agreement:	commencing	22	November	2007;

•	Salary:	$150,000	per	annum;

•	Superannuation:	9%	of	$150,000	per	annum;

•	Termination:	One	month;

Silviu Itescu, Executive Director
•	Term	of	agreement:	commencing	1	March	2008;

•		Bonus:	eligible	to	participate	in	the	Company’s	

bonus scheme.

•	Salary:	$250,000	per	annum

•	Superannuation:	$13,745	per	annum;

•	Termination:	no	terms	have	been	agreed;

•		Bonus:	eligible	to	participate	in	the	Company’s	

bonus scheme.

Roger Brown, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs 
•	Term	of	agreement:	commencing	19	January	2009;

•	Salary:	US$220,000	per	annum;

•	Other	benefits:	Dental	and	health	fully	covered;

•	Termination:	Three	months;

•		Bonus:	eligible	to	participate	in	the	Company’s	

bonus scheme.

Paul Rennie, Special Projects Consultant 
•	Term	of	agreement:	commencing	12	May	2008;

•	Consulting	fees:	$1,000	per	day,	three	days	per	week;

•	Termination:	30	days

•		Bonus:	eligible	to	participate	in	the	company’s	

bonus scheme.

Jim Ryaby, Vice President of Research and Clinical Affairs 
•	Term	of	agreement:	commencing	3	March	2008;

•	Salary:	US$156,000	per	annum,	3	days	per	week;

•	Other	benefits:	Dental	and	health	fully	covered;

•	Termination:	Without	notice;

•		Bonus:	eligible	to	participate	in	the	Company’s	

bonus scheme.

MPC Freezing of Product Doses

22

D. Share-Based Compensation

Options to purchase fully paid shares of the Company were granted as remuneration during the year  
as follows:

Grant 
Date

Granted 
No.

Vesting 
date*

Expiry  
Date

Exercise 
price $

Fair value $

2009

Roger Brown

19/01/2009

240,000

01/07/2009

18/01/2014

Suzanne Lipe

07/07/2008

180,000

01/07/2009

30/06/2013

Jenni	Pilcher

07/07/2008

240,000

01/07/2009

30/06/2013

Paul	Rennie

Jim Ryaby

2008

07/07/2008

150,000

01/07/2009

30/06/2013

07/07/2008

240,000

01/07/2009

30/06/2013

Kevin	Hollingsworth

27/07/2007

200,000

01/07/2008

30/06/2012

Jenni	Pilcher

Paul	Rennie

27/07/2007

100,000

01/07/2008

30/06/2012

27/07/2007

250,000

01/07/2008

30/06/2012

Donna Skerrett

27/07/2007

200,000

01/07/2008

30/06/2012

0.96

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

2.13

2.13

2.13

2.13

0.40

0.48

0.48

0.48

0.48

0.74

0.74

0.74

0.74

*	 	Each	grant	of	options	is	divided	into	three	equal	tranches.	Tranche	A	has	a	vesting	date	which	is	shown	in	the	above	table.	Tranches	
B and C have vesting dates one and two years respectively after Tranche A. All tranches have the same expiry date, exercise price 
and fair value which are as shown in the above table.

All share options issued to key management personnel were made in accordance with the provisions of the executive 
share option plan. All options issued were issued for no consideration, therefore there are no amounts unpaid with 
respect to these options. There are no performance criteria attached to any of the options granted during the year 
(2008: nil).

Modifications to terms and conditions of options granted
There has been no modification to any terms and conditions of options during the current and previous financial years.

Options held by key management personnel that vested and were exercised during the year:

Options exercised during the current year

Exercise Price

Exercise Date

Exercise #

Number of options 
vested during the year

Donal O’Dwyer

Byron McAllister

Michael Spooner

Kevin	Hollingsworth

Paul	Rennie

Jenni	Pilcher

Donna Skerrett*

*  comparative purposes only

$0.60

$0.60

$0.55
$0.60

16/12/2008

16/12/2008

03/09/2008
03/09/2008

150,000

150,000

400,000
700,000

-

-

-

-

2009

50,000

-

-

67,000

163,000

33,000

-

1,400,000

313,000

2008

50,000

-

-

-

-

60,000

100,000

210,000

23

 
 
 
 
 
 
Value of options issued to directors and key management personnel
The following table summarises the value of options granted, exercised and lapsed during the annual reporting period 
to the identified directors and executives. All values have been determined using the Black-Scholes model and in 
accordance with Australian accounting standards:

Value of options  
granted at  
grant date (i)
 $

Value of options 
exercised at the  
exercise date (ii) 
$

Value of options  
lapsed at the  
date of lapse (iii) 
$

Donal O’Dwyer

Byron McAllister

Michael Spooner

Roger Brown

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni	Pilcher

Paul	Rennie

Jim Ryaby

-

-

-

96,000

86,400

115,200

72,000

115,200

30,000

30,000

658,000

-

-

-

13,600

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(i)   The value of options granted during the period is recognised as compensation over the vesting period of the grant, 

 in accordance with Australian accounting standards.

(ii)   The value of options exercised as at exercise date with reference to market share price

(iii)  The value of options lapsed because performance milestones were not met, valued on date of lapse with reference  

to market share price.

Value of options yet to vest after the end of the current financial year

Vested  
during  
the year
%

Forfeited 
during  
the year  
%

Subsequent 
financial years 
in which 
options vest

Minimum  
total value of 
grant yet  
to vest 
$

Maximum  
total value of 
grant not yet 
expensed
$

17

34

-

-

8

15

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2010-11

2011-13

2011-12

2010-12

2010-12

2010-12

-

16,223

66,667

33,320

52,784

48,414

44,427

-

16,223

66,667

33,320

52,784

48,414

44,427

Donal O’Dwyer

Kevin	Hollingsworth

Roger Brown

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni	Pilcher

Paul	Rennie

Jim Ryaby

This report is made in accordance with a resolution of the directors.

Mr Brian Jamieson 
Chairman

26 August 2009, Melbourne

24

 
 
 
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
ABN 52 780 433 757
ABN 52 780 433 757

Freshwater Place
Freshwater Place
2 Southbank Boulevard
2 Southbank Boulevard
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
GPO Box 1331L
GPO Box 1331L
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
DX 77
DX 77
Telephone 61 38603 1000
Telephone 61 38603 1000
Facsimile 61 3 8603 1999
Facsimile 61 3 8603 1999
Website:www.pwc.com/au
Website:www.pwc.com/au

Auditor’s Independence Declaration
Auditor’s Independence Declaration
Auditor’s Independence Declaration

As lead auditor for the audit of Mesoblast Limited for the year ended 30 June 2009, I declare that to the best of  
my knowledge and belief, there have been:
As lead auditor for the audit of Mesoblast Limited for the year ended 30 June 2008, Idec lare that to
As lead auditor for the audit of Mesoblast Limited for the year ended 30 June 2008, Idec lare that to
a)   no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the 
the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:
the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:

audit; and

a)
a)
b)  no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001
no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001
in relation to the audit; and
in relation to the audit; and
no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.
no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

This declaration is in respect of Mesoblast Limited during the period.
b)
b)

This declaration is in respect of Mesoblast Limited during the period.
This declaration is in respect of Mesoblast Limited during the period.

Anton Linschoten 
Partner	
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Anton Linschoten
Anton Linschoten
Partner
Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers

Melbourne 
26	August	2009 

Melbourne
Melbourne
28 August 2008
28 August 2008

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

25

Corporate Governance

•		ratifying	and	approving	the	appointment	and	removal	 

of senior executives;

•		approving	and	reviewing	financial	plans,	financial	results	

and annual budgets;

•		determining	that	satisfactory	arrangements	are	in	place	

for auditing the Company’s financial affairs;

•		reviewing	and	approving	key	management	

recommendations (such as major capital expenditure, 
acquisitions, divestments, restructuring and funding); 
and

•		ensuring	appropriate	resources	are	available	to	 

senior management.

The Board delegates day-to-day management of the 
Company’s operations and the implementation of the 
corporate strategy and policy initiatives are delegated  
to	the	Executive	Director	and	senior	executives.

A	performance	assessment	for	the	Executive	Director	 
was	completed	in	August	2009.	Performance	
assessments for other members for Senior Management 
are yet to have been completed, however the Board  
has made a commitment to management these will be 
undertaken in the near future. The process for these 
assessments is currently being finalised and will be made 
available on the Company’s website.

Principle 2. Structure the Board to add value

The Board operates in accordance with the broad 
principles set out in its charter which is available from the 
corporate governance information section of the Company 
website at www.mesoblast.com. The charter sets out the 
Board’s composition and responsibilities.

2.1 Independence of Directors
Board composition 
During the 2009 year, the Board of Directors  
comprised five Directors, being one executive and  
four	Non-executives	(including	the	Chair).

Mesoblast Limited (the Company) and its Board of 
Directors (the Board) are committed to implementing and 
achieving the highest standards of corporate governance. 
The Board will continue to ensure that the corporate 
governance framework is relevant, efficient and cost 
effective to the Company and its shareholders.

A description of the Company’s corporate governance 
practices is set out below. All of these practices, unless 
otherwise stated, were in practice for the entire year. They 
comply	with	the	August	2007	ASX	Principles of Good 
Corporate Governance and the Best Practice 
Recommendations. The following report has been laid out 
according to those recommendations.

Principle 1. Lay solid foundations for 
management and oversight

The Board is responsible for, and has authority to 
determine, all matters relating to the policies, practices, 
management and operations of the Company. 

Specifically the Board’s functions include:

•		contributing	to,	and	approving,	corporate	strategies,	
objectives and plans for the Company to assist the 
Company with the achievement of its goals;

•		reporting	to	shareholders	on	the	Company’s	strategic	

direction and performance including constructive 
engagement in the development, execution and 
modification of the Company’s strategies;

•		ensuring	risks	to	the	business	are	identified,	and	

approving systems and controls to manage these risks 
and monitor compliance;

•		reviewing,	ratifying	and	monitoring	systems	of	risk	

management and internal control, and legal compliance.

•		approving	the	Company’s	major	human	resources	(HR)	
policies, including the code of conduct, and overseeing 
the development strategies for senior and high 
performing executives;

•		monitoring	executive	management	and	business	

performance in the implementation and achievement  
of strategic and business objectives;

26

The term in office held by each Director in office as  
at 30 June 2009 is as follows:

•		Donal	O’Dwyer	(Deputy	Chairman	of	the	Board	 
and	Chairman	of	the	Audit	&	Risk	Committee)

Name 

Term as 
director 

Position held  
at 30 June 2009

Brian Jamieson 

1 yr 7 mths 

Independent Chairman

Silviu	Itescu	

5	yrs	1	mths	 Executive	Director

Byron McAllister 

4 yrs 9 mths 

Independent Director

Donal O’Dwyer 

4 yrs 9 mths 

Independent Director 

Michael Spooner  4 yrs 9 mths  Director

Directors are appointed to the Board based on the 
specific governance skills required by the Company and 
on the independence of their decision making and 
judgment. The skills, experience and expertise relevant to 
the position of director held by each Director in office at 
the date of the annual report is included in the Director’s 
Report.	Each	member	of	the	Board	is	committed	to	
spending sufficient time to enable them to carry out their 
duties as a Director of the Company.

Board independence
The Board considers that an independent Director is  
a	Non-executive	Director	who:

•		is	not	a	substantial	shareholder	of	the	Company	or	 
an officer of, or otherwise associated directly with,  
a substantial shareholder of the Company

•		within	the	last	three	years	has	not	been	employed	in	 
an executive capacity by the Company, or been a 
director after ceasing to hold any such employment

•		is	not	a	material	supplier	to	the	Company,	or	an	officer	
of or otherwise associated directly or indirectly with,  
a material supplier

•		has	no	material	contractual	relationship	with	the	

Company other than as a director of the Company

•		are	independent	of	management	and	free	from	any	
business or other relationship that could materially 
interfere with, or could reasonably be perceived to 
materially interfere with, the exercise of their unfettered 
and independent judgement.

In the context of director independence, “materiality” is 
considered from both the Company’s and an individual 
director’s perspective. The determination of materiality 
requires consideration of both quantitative and qualitative 
elements. An item is presumed to be quantitatively 
immaterial if it is equal or less than 2% of the Company’s 
gross revenue or expenditure (whichever is the greater).  
In accordance with the definition of independence above, 
and the materiality thresholds set by the Board, the 
following Directors of Mesoblast were considered to  
be independent:

•	Byron	McAllister

Michael Spooner has held an executive role within the  
last	three	years,	and	Silviu	Itescu	is	currently	an	Executive	
Director, consequently neither of these Director’s are 
considered by the Board to be independent.

Independent professional advice
In order to facilitate director independence, there are 
procedures in place to enable Directors, in furtherance of 
their duties, to seek independent professional advice at 
the Company’s expense (subject to Board approval).

2.2 Independent Chairman
The Chair is responsible for leading the Board, ensuring 
Directors are properly briefed in all matters relevant to 
their role and responsibilities, facilitating discussions and 
managing the Board’s relationship with the Company’s 
senior executives. In accepting the position, the Chair has 
acknowledged that it will require a significant time 
commitment and has confirmed that other positions will 
not hinder his effective performance in the role of Chair. 
The Chair is an independent Director.

2.3 Role of the CEO (or equivalent)
At the date of this annual report, the equivalent role to that 
of	CEO	(Executive	Director)	for	the	Company	is	not	held	by	
the	Chairman,	which	is	in	accordance	with	the	ASXCGC	
recommendations.	The	Executive	Director	is	responsible	
for implementing Company strategies and policies.

2.4 Board Committees
The following Committees have been established to assist 
the Board in the effective discharge of its duties:

•	Nomination	and	Remuneration	Committee

•	Audit	and	Risk	Committee

Each	Committee	is	comprised	of	entirely	Non-executive	
Directors. The Committee structure and membership is 
reviewed on an annual basis. All matters determined by 
the Committees are submitted to the full Board as 
recommendations for Board decisions.

Each	Committee	has	its	own	written	charter	setting	out	its	
role and responsibilities, composition, structure, 
membership requirements and the manner in which the 
Committee is to operate. All of these charters are 
reviewed on an annual basis and are available on the 
Company’s website. 

Nomination and Remuneration Committee
The	Board	has	established	a	Nomination	and	
Remuneration Committee comprising four directors  
as follows:

Name 

Position held during the year

Brian Jamieson 

Independent Chairman

Byron McAllister 

Independent member

•		Brian	Jamieson	(Chairman	of	the	Board	and	Chairman	

Donal O’Dwyer 

Independent member

of	the	Nomination	and	Remuneration	Committee)

Michael Spooner 

Member

27

 
 
 
Nerve root now 
decompressed

Interbody cage

executives to ensure all relevant and material information 
is explained thoroughly. The induction also includes an 
explanation of the existing human resources structure of 
the Company and roles and responsibilities of key senior 
executives are explained.

Access to information
The Board is given papers, prepared by senior 
management, for every Board meeting held. These 
papers include, but are not limited to, an operational 
update, financial reporting package, report of operations 
from our associate Angioblast Systems, Inc., investor 
relations update, market activity report, and other topical 
strategic documents relevant to the Company’s 
operations and performance.

Directors are entitled to request any additional information 
from management where they consider such information 
necessary to make informed decisions.

Performance evaluation
A description of the process for performance evaluation 
for the Board and senior executives is currently being 
finalised and will be made available on the Company’s 
website in due course.

The Board has not completed a formal review of its 
members this financial year, but is committed to 
completing this review by the end of this calendar year. 

2.6 Website disclosures
The following information relating to the Boards  
structure can be found on the Company’s website at 
www.mesoblast.com:

•		a	description	of	the	procedure	for	the	selection	and	
appointment of new Directors and the re-election of 
incumbent Directors

•		the	Board’s	policy	for	the	nomination	and	appointment	

of Directors

•		the	charter	of	the	Nomination	and	Remuneration	

Committee

Details of meetings attended are found in the  
Directors’ Report. 

The	Nomination	and	Remuneration	Committee	provides	
an efficient mechanism for examination of the selection, 
appointment, and remuneration practices and policies  
of the Company. The main responsibilities of the 
Nomination	and	Remuneration	Committee	are	to:

•		conduct	an	annual	review	of	the	membership	of	the	
Board having regard to present and future needs of  
the Company and to make recommendations on  
Board composition and appointments

•		conduct	an	annual	review	of	an	conclude	on	the	

independence of each Director

•	propose	candidates	for	Board	vacancies

•	oversee	the	annual	performance	assessment	program

•		assess	and	make	recommendations	annually	on	

remuneration levels for the Board and senior executives

•	oversee	the	review	of	Board	succession	plans

•	assess	the	effectiveness	of	the	induction	process

Commitments of Directors
The	commitments	of	Non-executive	Directors	are	
considered	by	the	Nomination	Committee	prior	to	the	
directors’ appointment to the Board of the Company 
and are reviewed each year.

Prior	to	appointment	or	being	submitted	for	re-election,	
each	Non-executive	Director	is	required	to	specifically	
acknowledge that they have and will continue to have 
the time available to discharge their responsibilities to 
the company.

2.5 Performance of the Directors
Board appointments
Directors receive a formal letter of appointment setting  
out the key terms, conditions and expectations of their 
appointment.

The induction provided to new Directors and senior 
executives enables them to actively participate in Company 
decision-making as soon as possible. The induction 
includes being presented with key strategic, financial and 
relevant operational documents, and the facilitation of 
meetings with existing Directors and senior 

28

MPCs added

Interbody cage

Mesoblast

Standard of Care

Principle 3. Promote ethical and responsible 
decision-making

Principle 4. Safeguard integrity in financial 
reporting

3.1 Code of Conduct
As part of its commitment to recognising the legitimate 
interests of stakeholders, the Company has established  
a Code of Conduct to guide all employees, particularly 
Directors, the Chief Financial Officer and other senior 
executives in respect of ethical behavior expected by  
the Company. 

The Code of Conduct covers conflicts of interest, 
confidentiality, fair dealing, protection of assets, 
compliance with laws and regulations, whistle blowing, 
security trading and commitments to stakeholders. In 
summary, the Code requires that at all times all Company 
personnel act with the utmost integrity, objectivity and in 
compliance with the letter and the spirit of the law and 
Company policies. 

3.2 Trading policy applied to Directors, officers  
and employees
The Directors, employees and key consultants are 
permitted to trade in the Company’s securities at any time 
subject to the following approval procedures:

•		a	request	to	trade	is	submitted	to	the	Chief	Financial	

Officer who circulates this request to the Chairman, any 
executive Directors and the Company Secretary;

•		the	Board	have	7	business	days	to	respond	and	either	

approve or deny the request; and

•		at	the	end	of	this	7	day	period,	if	there	is	no	objection,	
then that person has a trading window of 7 business 
days from the deemed approval date, provided they do 
not hold any price sensitive information.

The Company Secretary is committed to reviewing 
regularly the contents of the share register, which is 
currently maintained by Link Market Services Limited.  
Any significant share trading by officers of the Board  
is duly noted and shall be reported to the Company in  
a timely manner.

3.3 Website disclosures
A copy of the Code of Conduct and the share trading 
policy can be found on the Company’s website.

4.1 Audit and Risk Committee establishment
The Board has established an Audit and Risk Committee, 
to which it has delegated the responsibility for ensuring 
that an effective internal control framework exists within 
the entity. This includes internal controls to deal with both 
the effectiveness and efficiency of significant business 
processes, the safeguarding of assets, the maintenance 
of proper accounting records, and the reliability of 
financial information as well as non-financial 
considerations such as the benchmarking of operational 
key performance indicators. 

4.2 Audit and Risk Committee structure
The Board has established an Audit and Risk Committee 
comprising four directors, the majority of whom are 
independent, and are as follows:

Name 

Position held during the year

Donal O’Dwyer 

Independent Chairman

Brian Jamieson 

Independent member 

Byron McAllister 

Independent member

Michael Spooner 

Member

The Chairperson of the Committee is not the Chairperson 
of the Board. All of the Directors are financially literate and 
two of the members, Brian Jamieson and Michael 
Spooner, have accounting qualifications and have worked 
in the top four chartered accounting firms. Both the Chair 
of the Committee, Donal O’Dwyer, and two Committee 
members, Michael Spooner and Byron McAllister, have 
valuable industry experience having served in the industry 
in senior positions for a number of years. Further details 
on the members of the Audit and Risk Committee and 
their qualifications, together with meetings attended, can 
be found in the Directors’ Report.

4.3 Formal charter
The Audit and Risk Committee operates under a formal 
charter approved by the Board. 

29

Mesoblast

Standard of Care

Cage inserted

The main responsibilities of the Audit and Risk Committee 
are to:

Principle 5. Make timely and balanced 
disclosure

The Board has established a policy governing continuous 
disclosure and has designated the Company Secretary  
as the person responsible for overseeing and 
coordinating disclosure of information to the Australian 
Stock	Exchange	(ASX)	as	well	as	communicating	with	the	
ASX.	In	accordance	with	the	ASX	Listing	Rules,	the	
Company	immediately	notifies	the	ASX	of	information:

•		concerning	the	Company	that	a	reasonable	person	

would expect to have a material effect on the price or 
value of the Company’s securities; and

•		that	would,	or	would	be	likely	to,	influence	persons	who	
commonly invest in securities in deciding whether to 
acquire or dispose of the Company’s securities.

Upon	confirmation	of	receipt	from	the	ASX,	the	Company	
posts all information disclosed in accordance with this 
policy on the Company’s website at www.mesoblast.com.

Principle 6. Respect the rights of shareholders

6.1 Communications strategy
The Company respects the rights of its shareholders  
and to facilitate the effective exercise of those rights the 
Company is committed to:

•		communicating	effectively	with	shareholders	through	
releases	to	the	market	via	the	ASX,	the	Company’s	
website, information mailed and emailed to shareholders 
and the general meetings of the Company;

•		giving	shareholders	ready	access	to	balanced	and	

understandable information about the Company and 
corporate proposals;

•		making	it	easy	for	shareholders	to	participate	in	general	

meetings of the Company.

The Company also makes available a telephone number 
and e-mail address (info@mesoblast.com) for 
shareholders to make enquiries of the Company.

•		review,	assess	and	approve	the	annual	full	and	concise	

reports, the half-year financial report and all other 
financial information published by the Company or 
released to the market

•		review,	and	report	to	the	Board,	on	the	effectiveness	of	
management processes supporting external reporting

•		assist	the	Board	in	reviewing	the	effectiveness	of	 
the organisation’s management internal control 
environment covering:

  –  effectiveness and efficiency of operations

  –  reliability of financial reporting

  –  compliance with applicable laws and regulations

•		determine	whether	an	internal	audit	function	is	deemed	
necessary, and if so, determine its scope, assess its 
performance and independence, and ensure that its 
resources are adequate and used effectively

•		oversee	the	effective	operation	of	the	risk	management	

framework

•		recommend	to	the	Board	the	appointment,	removal	 

and remuneration of the external auditors, and 
implement and enforce procedures governing the 
rotation of the external audit engagement partner

•		review	the	terms	of	the	external	audit	engagement,	the	
scope and quality of the audit and assess performance

•		consider	the	independence	and	competence	of	the	

external auditor on an ongoing basis

•		review	and	approve	the	level	of	non-audit	services	

provided by the external auditors and ensure it does  
not adversely impact on auditor independence

•		review	and	monitor	related	party	transactions	and	

assess their propriety

•		report	to	the	Board	on	all	matters	relevant	to	the	

Committee’s role and responsibilities

4.4 Website disclosure
The charter of the Audit and Risk Committee can be found 
on the Company’s website. Also disclosed is the process 
for the appointment of the external auditor.

30

Cage inserted

Mesoblast

Standard of Care

Principle 7. Recognise and manage risk

Principle 8. Remunerate fairly and responsibly

7.1 Establish policies on risk oversight and 
management and internal control
The Board, through its Audit and Risk Committee, is 
responsible for reviewing the Company’s policies in 
relation to risk oversight and management, compliance 
and internal control systems. These policies are available 
on the Company’s website.

7.2 Establish policies on risk oversight and 
management
The operation of the Company’s risk management and 
compliance system is managed by the risk management 
group which consists of senior executives and is chaired 
by the Chief Finiancial Officer. This group is newly 
established and is committed to providing six monthly 
reports, or more frequent if deemed necessary at the 
time, regarding the status and management of relevant 
material business risks to the Audit and Risk Committee 
for review. 

7.3 Corporate reporting
The	Executive	Director	and	the	Chief	Financial	Officer	
have made the following certifications to the Board:

•		that	the	Company’s	financial	reports	are	complete	 

and present a true and fair view, in all material respects,  
of the financial condition and operational results of the 
Company and are in accordance with relevant 
accounting standards

•		that	the	above	statement	is	founded	on	a	sound	system	

of risk management and internal compliance and 
control, which implement the policies adopted by the 
Board, and the Company’s risk management and 
internal compliance and control systems are operating 
efficiently and effectively in all material respects in 
relation to financial reporting risks.

8.1 Remuneration Committee
Composition and charter
The Board has established a Remuneration Committee. 
Details of its structure and members can be found in 
section 2.4 of this report. The Committee operates in 
accordance with a charter which can be found on the 
Company’s website.

Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Remuneration Committee 
include providing a review and recommendation to the 
Board of:

•		senior	executive	remuneration	and	incentive	policies

•		specifics	for	remuneration	packages	of	senior	executives	

and	Non-executive	directors

•		the	Company’s	recruitment,	retention	and	termination	

policies and procedures for senior executives

•		superannuation	arrangements

The Committee is also responsible for overseeing 
management succession planning, including the 
implementation of appropriate executive development 
programmes and ensuring adequate arrangements are in 
place, so that appropriate candidates are recruited for later 
promotion to senior positions.

Remuneration policies
Details of the nature and amount of each element of 
remuneration, including principles of remuneration, for 
each director and the Company’s highest-paid executives 
during the year can be found in the remuneration report 
section of the Directors’ Report.

31

32

Financial Statements
for the year ended 30 June 2009

Contents 

Income Statement 

Statement of Changes in Equity 

Balance Sheet 

Cash Flow Statement 

Notes to the Financial Statements 

Directors’ Declaration 

Independent Audit Report 

Shareholder Information 

Page

34

35

36

37

38

67

68

70

33

Income Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2009 

Revenues from continuing operations 

Expenses from continuing operations

Research and development 

Management and administration 

Share of losses of equity accounted associates 

Total expenses from continuing operations 

Loss before income tax expense 

Income tax (expense)/benefit 

Loss after related income tax expense from continuing operations 

Loss attributable to members of the company 

Loss per share – from continuing operations: 

Basic – cents per share 

Diluted – cents per share 

Note 

 $

2(a) 

30 June 
2009 

 $

30 June 
2008 

890,708 

909,807

(7,145,623) 

(3,174,079) 

(6,207,372)

(2,642,016) 

(2,856,465) 

(2,122,798)

(13,176,167) 

(10,972,186)

(12,285,459) 

(10,062,379)

- 

-

(12,285,459) 

(10,062,379)

(12,285,459) 

(10,062,379)

cents 

9.89 

9.89 

cents

8.81

8.81

4 

6 

6 

The above income statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 30 June 2009 

Contributed 
Equity  
$

Accumulated 
Losses  
$ 

Notes

Share Based 
Payment 
Reserve  
$

Foreign 
Currency 
Translation 
Reserve  
$

Total  
$

As of 1 July 2007

37,422,183

(18,497,087)

1,614,243

-

20,539,339

Exchange gain on 
translation of overseas 
associate

Net income recognised 
directly in equity

Loss for the year

Total recognised 
income and expense 
for the year

Contributions of equity 
net of transaction costs

Share based payment

At 30 June 2008

-

-

-

-

-

-

(10,062,379)

(10,062,379)

13

13,596,900

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,345,774

796,498

796,498

796,498

796,498

(10,062,379)

796,498

(9,265,881)

-

-

13,596,900

1,345,774

51,019,083

(28,559,466)

2,960,017

796,498

26,216,132

As of 1 July 2008

51,019,083

(28,559,466)

2,960,017

796,498

26,216,132

Exchange loss 
translation of overseas 
associate

Net income recognised 
directly in equity

Loss for the year

Total recognised 
income and expense 
for the year

Contributions of equity 
net of transaction costs

Share based payment

-

-

-

-

-

-

(12,285,459)

(12,285,459)

13

11,441,153

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,196,490

(778,354)

(778,354)

(778,354)

(778,354)

-

(12,285,459)

(778,354)

(13,063,813)

-

-

11,441,153

1,196,490

At 30 June 2009

62,460,236

(40,844,925)

4,156,507

18,144

25,789,962

The above statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet
as at 30 June 2009 

Current Assets

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other receivables 

Prepayments 

Total Current Assets 

Non-Current Assets

Property, plant and equipment 

Investments accounted for using the equity method 

Intangible assets 

Total Non-Current Assets 

Total Assets 

Current Liabilities

Trade and other payables 

Total Current Liabilities 

Total Liabilities 

Net Assets 

Equity

Issued capital 

Reserves 

Accumulated losses 

Total Equity 

Note 

 $

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

30 June 
2009 

 $

30 June 
2008 

16,526,278 

14,094,219

305,361 

88,533 

123,900

85,533

16,920,172 

14,303,652

246,137 

197,997

9,326,428 

12,761,247

482,275 

526,006

10,054,840 

13,485,250

26,975,012 

27,788,902

1,185,050 

1,185,050 

1,185,050 

1,572,770

1,572,770

1,572,770

25,789,962 

26,216,132

13 

14 

62,460,236 

51,019,083

4,174,651 

3,756,515

(40,844,925) 

(28,559,466)

25,789,962 

26,216,132

The above balance sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

36

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2009 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

Payments to suppliers and employees 

Government grants and other income received 

Interest and other costs of financing paid 

Note 

 $

30 June 
2009 

 $

30 June 
2008 

(9,423,871) 

(6,326,130)

186,295 

123,541

- 

-

Net cash used in operating activities 

15 (b) 

(9,237,576) 

(6,202,589)

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

Interest received 

Investment in fixed assets 

Investment in patents & licenses 

Investment in equity accounted associate 

Loan repaid/(advanced) to associate company 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

Proceeds from issue of shares 

Payments for share issue costs 

Net cash provided by financing activities 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

FX losses on the translation of foreign bank accounts 

650,778 

(170,020) 

- 

841,725

(100,956)

-

(200,000) 

(6,419,452)

(13,871) 

330,645

266,887 

(5,348,038)

11,941,443 

14,134,500

(548,290) 

(537,600)

11,393,153 

13,596,900

2,422,464 

2,046,273

14,094,219 

12,055,040

9,595 

(7,094)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

15 (a) 

16,526,278 

14,094,219

The above cash flow statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the year ended 30 June 2009

INTRODUCTION

The financial report covers Mesoblast Limited (“Mesoblast”), a company limited by shares whose shares are publicly traded on 
the Australian stock exchange. Mesoblast is incorporated and domiciled in Australia and has its registered office and principal 
place of business as follows:

Registered office 

Level 2 
517 Flinders Lane 
Melbourne 

Principal place of business

Level 39 
55 Collins Street 
Melbourne

The principal activity of the economic entity during the financial year was the commercialisation of unique intellectual property 
associated with the isolation, culture and scale-up of adult stem cells referred to as Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (“MPC”). 

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Statement of compliance

The financial report is a general purpose financial report which has been prepared in accordance with the Corporations Act 
2001, Australian Accounting Standards and Urgent Issue Group Interpretations, and complies with other requirements of the 
law. Accounting Standards include Australian equivalents to International Financial reporting Standards (“A-IFRS”). Compliance  
with AIFRS ensures that the financial report, comprising the financial statements and notes thereto, complies with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’).

The financial statements were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors of Mesoblast on the date shown on the Directors’ 
Declaration attached to the Financial Statements.

Basis of preparation

The financial report has been prepared on the basis of historical cost, except for the revaluation of certain non-current assets 
and financial instruments. Cost is based on the fair values of the consideration given in exchange for assets. All amounts are 
presented in Australian dollars unless otherwise noted.

The accounting policies have been consistently applied and, except where there is a change in accounting policy,  
are consistent with those of the previous year. 

38

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

Going concern

For the year ended 30 June 2009, the company incurred an operating loss of $12,285,459 (2008 loss: $10,062,379) as  
it continued to further its investment in research initiatives. As at year end, the company’s net assets stood at $25,789,962 
(2008: $26,216,132), with available cash of $16,526,278 (2008: $14,094,219).

During the financial year ending 30 June 2009, the company will work to further advance both the development of its core 
technologies, and if possible, the commercialisation of those technologies. Based on the forecast cash flows approved by the 
Board of Directors for the period ending 31 August 2010, which excludes any cash that may be raised through further allotment 
of capital or through collaboration arrangements with third parties, the Directors believe that sufficient cash will be available  
to fund the company’s operations over the 12 month period subsequent to the date of signing the financial statements.

Accordingly the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The financial statements do not include 
any adjustments to the carrying values or classification of assets or liabilities that would be necessary in the event that the 
company, were unable to continue as a going concern.

Early adoption of standards
The company decided to adopt AASB 8 Operating Segments for both the current and previous reporting periods. AASB 8 
replaces AASB 114 Segment Reporting. The new standard requires a “management approach”, which aligns the disclosure  
to that used internally for management reporting.

Critical accounting judgements and key assumptions

In the application of the Company’s accounting policies, which are described below, management is required to make 
judgements, estimates and assumptions about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from  
other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors  
that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstance, the results of which form the basis of making the judgements. 
Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are 
recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision 
and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

There have been no significant judgements made in applying accounting policies that the Directors consider would have  
a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

There have been no key assumptions made concerning the future, and there are no other key sources of estimation uncertainty 
at the balance date, that the Directors consider have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts 
of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.

The following significant accounting policies have been adopted in the preparation and presentation of the financial report:

(a) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash comprises cash on hand and demand deposits. Cash equivalents are short-term deposits with an insignificant risk  
of change in value. 

Bank overdrafts, if applicable, are shown within borrowing in current liabilities in the balance sheet. For the purposes of the 
cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and cash equivalents as defined above, net of outstanding 
bank overdrafts (if any).

39

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

(b) Contributed equity

Ordinary shares are classified as equity.

Transaction costs arising on the issue of equity instruments are recognised directly in equity as a reduction of the proceeds  
of the equity instruments to which the costs relate. Transaction costs are the costs that are incurred directly in connection  
with the issue of those equity instruments and which would not have been incurred had those instruments not been issued.

(c) Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to equity holders of the company, excluding  
any costs of servicing equity other than ordinary shares, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding 
during the financial year, adjusted for bonus elements in ordinary shares issued during the year.

Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earning per share adjusts the figures used in the determination of basic earnings per share to take into account the  
after income tax effect of interest and other financing costs associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares and the weighted 
average number of shares assumed to have been issued for no consideration in relation to dilutive potential ordinary shares.

(d) Employee benefits

A liability is recognised for benefits accruing to employees in respect of wages and salaries, annual leave and long service leave. 

Liabilities recognised in respect of employee benefits which are expected to be settled within 12 months, are measured at their 
nominal values using the remuneration rates expected to apply at the time of settlement.

Liabilities recognised in respect of employee benefits which are not expected to be settled within 12 months, are measured as the 
present value of the estimated future cash outflows to be made by the Company in respect of services provided by employees up 
to reporting date. 

(e) Foreign currency

Foreign currency transactions are translated to Australian currency, which is the Company’s functional currency, at the rates  
of exchange ruling at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such 
transactions are recognised in the income statement, except when they are deferred in equity as qualifying cash flow hedges 
and qualifying net investment hedges or are attributable to part of the net investment in a foreign operation.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at balance date. 
Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities at year end exchange rates 
are recognised in the income statement.

Exchange differences arising from the translation of any investment in foreign entities are taken to the foreign currency translation 
reserve in shareholders equity. When a foreign operation is sold or any borrowings forming part of the net investment are repaid, 
a proportionate share of such exchange differences are recognised in the income statement, as part of the gain or loss on sale 
where applicable. 

(f) Goods and services tax (GST)

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST except where the GST incurred on a purchase  
of goods and services is not recoverable from the taxation authority, in which case the GST is recognised as part of the cost  
of acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense.

Receivables and payables are stated with the amount of GST included. The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, 
the taxation authority is included as part of receivables or payables in the Balance Sheet. 

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

40

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

(g) Government grants

Grants from the government are recognised at their fair value where there is a reasonable assurance that the grant will  
be received and the Company will comply with all attached conditions.

Government grants relating to costs are deferred and recognised in the income statement over the period necessary  
to match them on a systematic basis with the costs that they are intended to compensate. 

Government grants whose primary condition is for the Company to purchase property, plant and equipment are included in 
non-current liabilities as deferred income and are credited to the income statement on a straight line basis over the expected 
lives of the related assets.

(h) Impairment of assets

At each reporting date, the Company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether 
there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and 
intangible assets not yet available for use are tested for impairment annually and whenever there is an indication that the asset 
may be impaired. 

An impairment loss would be recognised if the amount by which the assets carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.  
If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment 
loss (if any). Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Company estimates the 
recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. If the recoverable amount of an asset  
(or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating 
unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment of goodwill is not subsequently reversed. 

(i) Intangible assets

Patents and Licences
Patents and licences have a finite useful life and are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment. 
Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate the cost of the asset over its remaining useful life,  
which equates to the remaining life of the underlying patent.

(j) Income taxes

Income tax expense or revenue for the period is the tax payable on the current period’s taxable income based on the 
applicable income tax rate for Australia, adjusted by changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to temporary 
differences and to unused tax losses.

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases  
of assets and liabilities and their carrying amount in the financial statements. Deferred income tax is not provided if it arises 
from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction, other than a business combination, that at the time affects neither 
accounting, nor taxable, profit or loss. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates and laws that have been enacted  
by the reporting date and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax assets is realised or the deferred liability 
is settled.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary differences and unused tax losses only if it is probably that  
future taxable amounts will be available to utilise those temporary differences and losses. Current and deferred tax balances 
attributable to amounts recognised directly in equity are also recognised directly in equity.

41

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

(k) Investments accounted for using the equity method

Associates are all entities over which the Company has significant influence but not control, generally accompanying  
a shareholding of between 20% and 50% of the voting rights. The financial statements of the associate are used by the 
Company to apply the equity method. The reporting dates of the associate and the Company are identical and both  
use consistent accounting policies. 

The investment in the associate is carried in the balance sheet at cost plus post-acquisition changes in the Company’s  
share of net assets of the associate, less any impairment in value. The income statement reflects the Company’s share  
of the results of operations of the associate. 

Where there has been a change recognised directly in the associate’s equity, the Company recognised its share of any  
change and disclosed this, when applicable, in the statement of changes in equity. 

The carrying amount of an investment accounted for using the equity method is assessed annually to determine whether  
there is any indication that the asset may be impaired. Where an indicator of impairment exists, the Company makes  
a formal estimate of the recoverable amount. Where the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount,  
the asset is considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount.

(l) Property, plant and equipment

Plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment. Cost includes expenditure that  
is directly attributable to the acquisition of the item. 

Property, plant and equipment, other than freehold land, are depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight  
line method. The expected useful lives are between two and nine years, with the majority being depreciated over four years.

Gains and losses on disposal of plant and equipment are taken into account in determining the profit for the year.

(m) Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Company has a present obligation (legal and constructive) as a result of a past event,  
it is probable that the Company will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount  
of the obligation.

(n) Research and development costs

Research and development expenditure is expensed as incurred except to the extent that its future recoverability can 
reasonably be regarded as assured, in which case it is deferred and amortised on a straight line basis over the period  
in which the related benefits are expected to be realised.

The carrying value of development cost is reviewed for impairment annually when the asset is not yet in use or when  
an indicator of impairment arises during the reporting year indicating that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

(o) Revenue recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. The Company recognises revenue when  
the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, it is probably that future economic benefits will flow to the entity, and specific 
criteria have been met for each of the Company’s activities. 

Interest revenue
Interest revenue is accrued on a time basis by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate applicable, 
which is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial asset to that 
asset’s net carrying amount.

42

1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

(p) Segment reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Senior Management 
Executive Group and the Board of Directors, both of which make strategic decisions for the Company.

(q) Share-based payments

Equity-settled share-based payments with employees and others providing similar services are measured at the fair value  
of the equity instrument at the grant date. Fair value is measured by use of the Black-Scholes model. The expected life used in 
the model has been adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions, 
and behavioural considerations. Further details on how the fair value of equity-settled share-based transactions has been 
determined can be found in note 18.

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.

The above policy is applied to all equity-settled share-based payments that were granted since the date of incorporation  
and that vested after 1 January 2005. No amount has been recognised in the financial statements in respect of the other 
equity-settled share-based payments.

(r) Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables and other receivables represent the principal amounts due at balance date less, where applicable,  
any provision for doubtful debts. An estimate for doubtful debts is made when collection of the full amount is no longer 
probable and there is objective evidence of impairment. Debts which are known to be uncollectible are written off in the  
income statement. All trade receivables and other receivables are recognised at the value of the amounts receivable,  
as they are due for settlement within 60 days and therefore do not require re-measurement.

(s) Trade and other payables 

Payables represent the principal amounts outstanding at balance date plus, where applicable, any accrued interest.  
Liabilities for payables and other amounts are carried at cost which approximates fair value of the consideration to be  
paid in the future for goods and services received, whether or not billed. The amounts are unsecured and are usually  
paid within 30 days of recognition.

(t) Changes in accounting policies

There have been no significant changes in accounting policy during the reporting period.

(u) Comparative figures

Comparatives have been reclassified where necessary so as to be consistent with the figures presented in the current year. 

43

(v) New and revised accounting standards and interpretations

Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for 30 June 2009 reporting 
periods. The Company’s assessment of the impact of these new standards and interpretations is set out below:

(i)  AASB 8 Operating Segments and AASB 2007-3 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 8

AASB 8 is effective for annual reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2009. This standard allows for a 
“management” style of disclosure of operating segments. The Company decided to adopt this standard for both the 
current and previous reporting periods on the basis that it more accurately discloses the financial information pertaining 
to the segments of the Company.

(ii) Revised AASB 123 Borrowing Costs and AASB 2007-6 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards  

arising from AASB 123

Revised AASB 123 is effective for annual reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2009. The Company  
has not adopted this standard for the current reporting period as it has no borrowing costs.

(iii) Revised AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements and AASB 2007-8 Amendments to Australian Accounting 

Standards arising from AASB 101

Revised AASB 101 is effective for annual reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2009. It requires the 
presentation of a statement of comprehensive income and makes changes to the statement of equity. The Company  
has decided not to adopt this standard on the basis that the changes are of a disclosure nature only and do not impact 
what is recognised in the financial statements.

(iv) AASB 2008-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standard - Share-based Payments: Vesting Conditions  

and Cancellations

AASB 2008-1 was issued in February 2008 and will become applicable for annual reporting periods beginning on  
or after 1 January 2009. The revised standard clarifies that vesting conditions are service conditions and performance 
conditions only and that other features of a share-based payment are not vesting conditions. It also specifies that all 
cancellations, whether by the entity or by other parties, should receive the same accounting treatment. The Company  
will apply the revised standard from 1 July 2009.

44

2. REVENUE AND EXPENSES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

(a) Revenue from continuing operations

Commercial Ready government grant* 

Interest revenue 

*Further details of the grant are contained in note 17(a) to the financial statements.

(b) Expenses

Employee benefits

Salaries and employee benefits 

Defined contribution superannuation expenses 

Share based payments – employees & directors 

Depreciation and amortisation of non-current assets

Plant and equipment depreciation 

Intellectual property amortisation 

Other

Research & development – external 

Intellectual property costs (excluding amortisation as shown above) 

Share based payments – consultants 

Finance costs 

Foreign exchange losses 

Write-off of intangible assets 

Loss on disposal of plant and equipment 

30 June 
2009 

 $

 $

30 June 
2008 

186,295 

704,413 

890,708 

-

909,807

909,807

2,414,426 

1,530,719

100,907  

573,308 

110,662

425,435

3,088,641 

2,066,816

76,098 

43,731 

119,829 

62,721

94,038

156,759

2,777,798 

3,075,548

267,328 

623,182 

- 

111,312 

- 

45,783 

396,762

920,339

-

10,032

198,182

-

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. SEGMENT INFORMATION

(a) Description of segments

Management has determined the operating segments presented here are those that are internally reported on a regular  
basis to the board of directors, who are ultimately responsible for the allocation of resources to those segments and for  
making strategic decisions for the Company.

Two reportable operating segments have been identified, the orthopaedic segment and the cardiovascular segment, both 
having two distinct markets for which the MPC platform technology is currently being developed. The orthopaedic segment 
operates in Australia, and the cardiovascular segment operates in the United States of America through our investment  
in Angioblast systems, Inc. 

(b) Segment information 

2009

Revenue from external parties 

Total segment revenue 

Net loss after tax 

Net loss after tax includes the following items:

Research and development  

Equity accounted losses 

Amortisation of intellectual property purchased 

Total segment assets 

Total segment assets include:

Orthopaedic 

$ 

186,295 

186,295 

6,240,855 

6,197,123 

- 

43,731 

493,609 

Cardiovascular  
& non-orthopaedic  

$ 

- 

- 

Total

$

186,295

186,295

2,856,465 

8,911,025

- 

6,197,123

2,856,465 

2,856,465

- 

43,731

9,326,428 

9,820,037

Carrying value of investments accounted for using the equity method 

- 

9,326,428 

9,326,428

Total segment liabilities 

2008

Revenue from external parties 

Total segment revenue 

Net loss after tax 

Net loss after tax includes the following items:

Research and development  

Equity accounted losses 

Amortisation of intellectual property purchased 

Total segment assets 

Total segment assets include:

575,510 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

575,510

-

-

5,287,033 

2,122,798 

7,409,831

5,192,995 

- 

94,038 

- 

5,192,995

2,122,798 

2,122,798

- 

94,038

549,519 

12,761,247 

13,310,766

Carrying value of investments accounted for using the equity method 

- 

12,761,247 

-

Total segment liabilities 

1,194,186 

- 

1,194,186

46

 
 
 
 
 
3. SEGMENT INFORMATION CONTINUED

(c) Segment reconciliations

The following table reconciles each of the segment totals to the totals reported for the Company in the income statement  
and balance sheet. These reconciling items are not considered by the Company to be an operating segment as defined  
in AASB 8 Operating Segments (which has been early adopted in this current financial year) and therefore are not disclosed  
as such. They are administrative in nature and relate largely to the running of the Mesoblast head office.

Total segment revenue 

Interest revenue 

Total revenue from continuing operations 

Total segment net loss after tax 

Interest revenue 

Administration expenses 

Share-based payments 

Total net loss after tax 

Total segment assets 

Property, plant and equipment  

Interest receivable 

Other receivables 

GST receivable 

Prepayments 

Receivable from associate 

Cash 

Total assets 

Total segment liabilities 

Trade payables and accruals – administration 

Employee entitlements – administration 

Payable to Angioblast 

Total liabilities 

 $

30 June 
2009 

 $

186,295 

704,413 

890,708 

30 June 
2008 

-

909,807

909,807

8,911,025 

7,409,831

(704,413) 

(909,807)

2,882,357 

1,196,490 

2,216,581

1,345,774

12,285,459 

10,062,379

9,820,037 

13,310,766

246,137 

121,718 

48,945 

89,905 

77,200 

44,792 

197,997

68,081

-

39,195

62,021

16,623

16,526,278 

26,975,012 

14,094,219

27,788,902

575,510 

570,837 

37,014 

1,689 

1,194,186

293,317

22,523

62,744

1,185,050 

1,572,770

47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30 June 
2009 

 $

 $

30 June 
2008 

4. INCOME TAX EXPENSE

(a) Reconciliation of income tax to prima facie tax payable

Loss from continuing operations before income tax 

Prima facie tax benefit on operating loss before income tax at 30%  

Tax effect of amounts which are (not deductible)/taxable in calculating taxable income: 

Share based payments expense 

Equity accounting loss 

R&D Tax Offset 

FX unrealised gains/(losses) 

Amortisation of intangibles 

Capital raising expenses 

Other sundry items 

Tax benefit not recognised 

Income tax expense attributable to loss before income tax 

(b) Deferred tax asset not bought to account*

Temporary differences 

Tax losses  

12,285,459 

10,062,379

3,685,638 

3,018,713

(358,947) 

(856,940) 

250,000 

2,879 

(13,119) 

164,487 

(1,500) 

(403,732)

(636,839)

258,150

(2,071)

(28,211)

299,600

(4,118)

(2,872,498) 

(2,501,492)

- 

-

390,336 

8,742,479 

9,132,815 

267,296

5,993,021

6,260,317

*  Tax losses carried forward and temporary differences has not been brought to account at 30 June 2009 because the Directors do not 
consider it probable, at this stage of the Company’s program, that sufficient taxable amounts will become available which deductible 
temporary differences and unused tax losses can be applied to. Realisation of the benefit of tax losses would also be subject to the 
Company satisfying the conditions for deductibility imposed by tax legislation. The Company has made no assessment as to the 
satisfaction of these conditions at 30 June 2009.

5. REMUNERATION OF AUDITORS

(a) PricewaterhouseCoopers – Australia

(i) Audit and assurance services

Audit and review of financial reports  

(ii) Taxation services

Corporate tax compliance 

Employment tax and withholding advice 

Total taxation services 

90,000 

87,500

10,000 

2,000 

12,000 

-

-

-

Total remuneration of PricewaterhouseCoopers 

102,000 

87,500

(b) PKF – Australia

(i) Audit and assurance services

Audit of Commercial Ready Grant reporting 

Total remuneration of PKF 

Total remuneration paid to audit firms 

48

4,850 

4,850 

-

-

106,850 

87,500

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Net loss used in calculating basic earnings per share 

Net loss used in calculating diluted earnings per share 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating  
basic earnings per share 

Dilutive potential ordinary shares 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares and potential 
ordinary shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share 

7. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash at bank 

Deposit at call 

Term deposits 

8. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Current

Interest receivable 

Sundry Debtors 

Goods and services tax recoverable 

Loan to Angioblast Systems, Inc. (associate) 

30 June 
2009 

 $

 $

30 June 
2008 

12,285,459 

12,285,459 

10,062,379

10,062,379

No. 

No.

124,217,494 

114,209,029

- 

-

124,217,494 

114,209,029

30 June 
2009 

 $

 $

30 June 
2008 

257,352 

1,023,906 

15,245,020 

16,526,278 

753,606

4,231,882

9,108,731

14,094,219

121,718 

48,946

89,905 

44,792 

305,361 

68,082

39,195

16,623

123,900

All trade and other receivable balances are within their due dates and none are considered to be impaired at both 30 June 2009  
and 30 June 2008. See note 21 for the impact of credit risk on the Company.

9. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Plant and equipment

Cost

Balance at the beginning of year 

Additions 

Disposals 

Balance at the end of year 

Accumulated depreciation

Balance at the beginning of year 

Depreciation expense 

Disposals 

Balance at the end of year 

Net book value at the end of the year 

299,802 

170,021 

(47,560) 

422,263 

(101,805) 

(76,098) 

1,777 

(176,126) 

246,137 

197,319

102,483

-

299,802

(39,084)

(62,721)

-

(101,805)

197,997

49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10. INVESTMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE EQUITY METHOD 

Entity 

Country of Incorporation 

Principal Activity

Angioblast Systems, Inc. 

USA 

Adult stem cell research and development  
for cardiovascular indications

Ownership Interest

30 June 
2009 
% 

38.4 

30 June 
2008 
% 

39.1 

(a) Carrying amount 

Angioblast Systems, Inc. 

(b) Movement in carrying amount

Carrying amount at the beginning of year 

Additional investment 

Share of losses 

Exchange difference on translation 

Carrying amount at the end of year 

30 June 
2009 
$ 

30 June 
2008 
$

9,326,428 

12,761,247

12,761,247 

200,000 

7,668,095

6,419,452

(2,856,465) 

(2,122,798)

(778,354) 

796,498

9,326,428 

12,761,247

The following information has been extracted from the audited report of Angioblast Systems, Inc. and translated  
at the exchange rate prevailing at year end, with the exception of the company’s share of net loss which has been 
determined using exchange rates prevailing through-out the year:

Summaries financial information of associates:

Financial position

Total assets 

Total liabilities 

Net assets/(liabilities) 

Company’s share of net assets/(liabilities) 

Financial performance

Income   

Expenses 

Company’s share of associates’ loss

Share of associates’ loss before tax  

Share of associates’ income tax expense  

Share of associates’ loss  

1,820,388 

1,225,046 

595,342 

228,611 

6,244,935

(6,089,556)

155,379

60,753

248,026 

873,380

(6,992,987) 

(6,153,802)

(2,856,465) 

(2,122,798)

- 

-

(2,856,465) 

(2,122,798)

The Directors have followed the guidance of AASB136 in determining whether an investment is impaired. The Directors  
have made an assessment of the value of this investment in the accounts, reviewing the results to date against the original 
milestones and work plans and having considered current market conditions and are comfortable to continue to carry  
it at equity accounted cost. The value of the investment is dependent on its research and development and subsequent 
commercialisation. The Directors are of the view that the investment in Angioblast Systems, Inc. is not impaired at balance date.

The contingent liabilities of the associate are disclosed in Note 17(c).

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30 June 
2009 

 $

 $

30 June 
2008 

11. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Patents and licences

Gross carrying amount

Balance at the beginning of year 

Patent costs written off (i) 

Carrying amount at the end of year 

Accumulated amortisation

Balance at the beginning of year 

Amortisation expense (i) 

Patent costs written off (i) 

Carrying amount at the end of year 

Net book value 

(i) Intellectual property expenses are included in research and development in the income statement.

12. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Current

Trade payables  

Employee benefits 

Payable to Angioblast Systems, Inc.* 

*associate and related party of the company

690,000 

- 

690,000 

(163,994) 

(43,731) 

- 

(207,725) 

482,275 

904,226

(214,226)

690,000

(86,000)

(94,038)

16,044

(163,994)

526,006

1,042,335 

1,428,780

61,023 

81,692 

81,216

62,774

1,185,050 

1,572,770

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13. ISSUED CAPITAL

Ordinary shares participate in dividends and the proceeds on winding up of the company in equal proportion to the number  
of shares held. 

At shareholders meetings each ordinary share is entitled to one vote when a poll is called, otherwise each shareholder has  
one vote on a show of hands.

30 June 2009 
No. 

30 June 2009 
$ 

30 June 2008 
No. 

30 June 2008 
$

(a) Movements in issued capital during the year

Fully paid ordinary shares

Balance at beginning of financial year 

119,256,133 

51,019,083 

107,716,133 

37,422,183

Shares issued at $1.28 14 December 2007 

- 

- 

10,500,000 

13,440,000

Shares issued at $0.72 01 April 2009 

15,018,069 

10,813,009 

Transaction costs arising on issue of shares 

- 

(548,290) 

- 

- 

-

(537,600)

Issue of shares under employee share  
option plan (note 18) 

1,900,667 

1,176,434 

1,040,000 

694,500

Balance at end of financial year 

136,174,869 

62,460,236 

119,256,133 

51,019,083

(b) Options over ordinary shares

Balance at end of financial year 

Amounts unvested at end of financial year 

9,872,000 

4,396,000 

9,316,667

2,680,000

Share options granted under the employee share option plan carry no rights to dividends and no voting rights. Further details of 
the employee share option plan are contained in note 18 to the financial statements. 

52

 
 
 
 
 
 
14. RESERVES

(a) Reconciliation of reserves

Share based payments reserve 

Foreign currency translation reserve 

(b) Nature and purpose of reserves

Share based payment reserve
The share based payments reserve is used to recognise the fair value  
of options issued and vested but not exercised.

Foreign currency translation reserve
Exchange differences arising on translation of the equity accounted  
investment are taken to the foreign currency translation reserve.

15. CASH FLOW INFORMATION

(a) Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank 

Deposit at call 

Term deposits 

(b) Reconciliation of net cash flows used in operations with loss after income tax

Loss from ordinary activities 

Add/(deduct) profit and loss items as follows:

Depreciation and amortisation  

Loss on sale of plant and equipment 

Intellectual property disposal costs  

Interest received (investing activity) 

Foreign exchange losses on bank translation 

Equity settled share based payment 

Equity accounted losses (Angioblast)  

Change in operating assets & liabilities:

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables 

Increase/(decrease) in trade creditors and accruals 

Cash flows used in operations 

30 June 
2009 

 $

 $

30 June 
2008 

4,156,507 

18,144 

4,174,651 

2,960,017

796,498

3,756,515

257,352 

1,023,906 

15,245,020 

16,526,278 

753,606

4,231,882

9,108,731

14,094,219

(12,285,459) 

(10,062,379)

119,829 

45,783 

- 

(704,413) 

(9,595) 

1,196,490 

2,856,465 

156,759

-

198,182

(909,807)

7,094

1,345,774

2,122,798

(54,657) 

(402,019) 

53,766

885,224

(9,237,576) 

(6,202,589)

53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16. COMMITMENTS FOR EXPENDITURE 

(a) Capital commitments

Not longer than 1 year 

(b) Further investment in associate*

Not longer than 1 year 

Longer than 1 year and not longer than 5 years 

30 June 
2009 

 $

 $

30 June 
2008 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

200,000

-

200,000

*  As at 30 June 2009 the company has completed all of its investment into Angioblast per the Series B investment that was 

approved by shareholders of Mesoblast in November 2006. As at 30 June 2008 the company had a final $200,000 instalment 
still to be made under this agreement. This investment was made during the current financial year. The preference shares 
awarded to Mesoblast are in the process of being converted to common stock.

(c) Company’s share of associates expenditure commitments

Angioblast have report no expenditure commitments for the year ended 30 June 2009 (2008: nil).

17. CONTINGENT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

(a) Contingent assets

The company does not consider it has any contingent assets outstanding as at 30 June 2009. As at 30 June 2008, the 
company had a government grant payment due on completion of certain milestones. This payment was received during  
the current financial year. There are no unfulfilled conditions or other contingencies attached to the portions of government 
grants recognised in the year. The Company did not benefit from any other form of government assistance.

(b) Contingent liabilities

Mesoblast will be required to make a milestone payment to Medvet of US$250,000 on completion of Phase III (human)  
clinical trials and US$350,000 on FDA marketing approval. Mesoblast will pay Medvet a commercial arm’s length royalty  
based on net sales by Mesoblast of licensed products each quarter.

The company has no pending litigation as at the end of the financial year.

(c) Contingent liabilities of Angioblast in relation to Medvet

The contingent liabilities described below represent 100 per cent of the contingent obligations of Angioblast. By way  
of its equity interest, Mesoblast currently has a 38.4% interest in these contingent liabilities. Mesoblast is not liable for  
these contingent liabilities.

Angioblast has agreed to pay consideration for certain intellectual property assets assigned to it by Medvet on the basis  
of future milestones being reached. These milestones will not be reached as part of the current development program which 
envisages funding through to IND approvals. They represent payments on successful completion of subsequent clinical 
milestones. If all milestones were to be reached these payments total US$1,500,000. In addition royalties at 2.5% of net sales 
with stipulated minimum annual royalties scaling up from US$100,000 to US$500,000 over 5 years exist.

54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

The Company has adopted an Employee Share Option Plan to foster an ownership culture within the Company and to motivate 
directors, senior management and consultants to achieve performance targets of the Company and/or their respective 
business units. Selected directors, employees and consultants of the Company may be eligible to participate in the Plan at the 
absolute discretion of the Company’s board of directors. Except as outlined in the remuneration report no options or shares will 
be issued under this Plan to any directors without the prior approval of the Mesoblast shareholders.

The aggregate number of options which may be issued pursuant to the Plan and all other share purchase plans shall not at any 
time exceed 5% of the total number of issued shares of the Company. All grants of options are subject to the following general 
terms and conditions:

•	 option	grants	require	approval	from	the	board	of	directors;

•	 options	are	granted	under	the	plan	for	no	consideration;

•	 each	share	option	converts	into	one	ordinary	share	of	Mesoblast	Limited;

•	 options	carry	neither	rights	to	dividends	nor	voting	rights.

Per the Company’s current policy, options are issued in three equal tranches, each tranche having an expiry date of five years 
following grant date. The first tranche typically vests 12 months after grant date, the second tranche 24 months after grant date, 
and the third tranche 36 months after grant date. 

The exercise price is the greater of $0.20 and: 

•	

•	

in	relation	to	an	option	on	or	before	the	date	of	the	official	quotation	of	the	Company’s	shares,	an	amount	per	share	 
that	is	20%	higher	than	the	offer	price	of	$0.50;	and

in	relation	to	an	option	granted	after	the	official	quotation	of	the	company’s	shares,	the	volume	weighted	market	price	 
of a share sold on the ASX on the 5 trading days immediately before the grant date plus a premium determined by the 
Board;	and

•	 any	other	amount	that	is	specified	by	the	Board.

55

18. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED

(a) Existing share-based payment arrangements

The share options outstanding at the end of the financial year have a weighted average remaining contractual life of 772 days 
(2008: 714 days) and a range of exercises prices from 55c to $2.13. 

(i) The following share-based payment arrangements were in existence during the current and comparative  

reporting periods:

Series

1(a)(i)

1(a)(ii)

1(b)

2(a)

2(b)

2(b)

2(c)

2(c)

2(c)

3

3

4(a)

4(a)

4(b)

4(b)

4(b)

4(b)

4(b)

4(b)

4(c)

5

5

5

6(a)

6(a)

6(b)

6(b)

6(c)

6(c)

6(d)

6(d)

6(d)

6(d)

6(d)

6(d)

7

8

9

Grant date  Granted 
No.

Exercised 
No.

Lapsed /
cancelled 
No.

Balance 
No. 2009

Balance 
No. 2008

Earliest 
Vesting 
date

Expiry  
date

Exercise 
price  
$

Fair  
value  
$

29/09/04 2,160,000 (200,000)

- 1,960,000 1,960,000

29/09/05

29/09/09

29/09/04 2,160,000 (200,000)

- 1,960,000 2,160,000

16/12/05

16/12/09

26/10/04

400,000 (400,000)

16/12/04

550,000 (550,000)

16/12/04

16/12/04

16/12/04

16/12/04

16/12/04

75,000

75,000

80,000

80,000

80,000

(75,000)

(75,000)

(80,000)

(80,000)

(80,000)

25/08/05

350,000 (350,000)

25/08/05

350,000 (350,000)

23/02/06

150,000

(150,000)

23/02/06

150,000

(84,000)

23/02/06

150,000

(150,000)

23/02/06

150,000

(150,000)

23/02/06

150,000

-

23/02/06

200,000 (200,000)

23/02/06

200,000

23/02/06

200,000

-

-

23/02/06

90,000

(90,000)

23/11/06

23/11/06

23/11/06

17/03/06 

17/03/06 

17/05/06

17/05/06

06/06/06

06/06/06

01/01/07

01/01/07

01/01/07

01/01/07

01/01/07

01/01/07

50,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

10,000

10,000

10,000

10,000

15,000

45,000

30,000

40,000

30,000

30,000

27/07/07 2,480,000

07/07/08 2,736,000

19/01/09

240,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(50,000)

(50,000)

(10,000)

(10,000)

(10,000)

(10,000)

(15,000)

(45,000)

(15,000)

(25,000)

(30,000)

(30,000)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

16/12/04

30/12/07

550,000

16/12/05

16/12/08

75,000

16/12/06

16/12/08

75,000

01/05/07

16/12/08

-

-

06/09/06

06/09/07

16/12/06

16/12/07

80,000

04/07/08

04/07/09

350,000

31/12/05

31/12/08

350,000

30/06/06

30/06/09

34,000

31/03/06

31/03/09

66,000

66,000

01/05/07

01/05/10

-

-

-

-

30/06/06

30/06/09

30/06/07

30/06/10

150,000

150,000

30/06/08

30/06/11

-

166,667

30/06/06

30/06/09

200,000

200,000

30/06/07

30/06/10

200,000

200,000

30/06/08

30/06/11

-

20,000

23/02/06

23/02/09

50,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

23/11/06

23/11/09

50,000

23/11/07

23/11/09

50,000

23/11/08

23/11/09

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

17/03/07

17/03/08

50,000

17/03/08

17/03/09

-

17/05/07

17/05/08

10,000

17/05/08

17/05/09

-

-

06/12/06

06/12/07

06/06/07

06/06/08

15,000

01/07/07

01/07/08

45,000

01/01/08

01/01/09

15,000

15,000

30,000

01/01/09

01/01/10

40,000

01/01/10

01/01/11

-

-

30,000

01/08/07

01/08/08

30,000

01/02/08

01/02/09

(150,000) 2,330,000 2,480,000 01/07/08*

30/06/12

(150,000) 2,586,000

- 01/07/09*

30/06/13

-

240,000

- 19/01/10*

18/01/14

0.55

0.55

0.55

0.60

0.60

0.60

0.60

0.60

0.60

0.65

0.65

0.65

0.65

0.65

1.20

1.20

0.65

1.20

1.20

0.65

0.65

0.65

0.65

2.02

2.02

1.52

1.52

1.75

1.75

1.96

1.96

1.96

1.96

1.96

1.96

2.13

1.00

0.96

0.29

0.29

0.29

0.29

0.29

0.29

0.171

0.229

0.251

0.19

0.21

0.96

0.96

0.89

0.65

0.75

0.89

0.65

0.75

0.92

0.589

0.678

0.718

0.554

0.702

0.404

0.521

0.303

0.380

0.512

0.601

0.749

0.873

0.512

0.601

0.74

0.48

0.40

Balance at  
30 June 2009

Balance at  
30 June 2008

13,736,000

(3,264,000)

(600,000)

9,872,000

10,760,000

(1,363,333)

(80,000)

9,316,667

*Refer Note 18 (a) (ii) for vesting details.

56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED

(a) Existing share-based payment arrangements (continued)

(ii) General terms and conditions attached to each series are as follows:

1.  At the time of the IPO the Company provided initial seed investors and the underwriter with share options as follows:

(a) Seed investors, who subscribed for 4,320,000 fully paid preference shares, were provided with 4,320,000 options  

to acquire ordinary shares at an exercise price of $0.55. These options expire on the fourth anniversary of the expiry  
of two relevant imposed escrow periods being:

(i)  50% of each holder’s options are subject to an escrow period expiring on 29 September 2005, therefore these 

options expire on 29 September 2009

(ii) 50% of each holder’s options are subject to an escrow period which expired on 16 December 2005, therefore 

these options expire on 16 December 2009. 

(b) Lodge Partners Pty Limited (or nominee), as underwriter to the Offer received in aggregate 400,000 options to acquire 
400,000 ordinary shares on the terms set out in 9.5(a) of the prospectus. These options have since been transferred 
to Thorney Holdings Pty Ltd and were exercised during the current financial year.

2.  These options were granted as follows:

(a) Two equal tranches, the first tranche vesting 12 months after listing date, the second 24 months after listing.  

Both tranches expire on the fourth anniversary of the listing date.

(b) Two equal tranches, each expiring on the third anniversary of the Company being listed on the ASX. Vesting  

occurs upon reaching the following milestones:

•	 The	Company	obtaining	IND	approval	from	the	US	Food	and	Drug	Administration	(FDA)	for	initiating	multi-centre	
orthopaedic clinical trials within a period of two years after the options were granted, which was the date of listing 
on the ASX (16 December 2004). This milestone was reached on 16 December 2006, consequently the options 
vested on this date.

•	 Angioblast	Systems,	Inc.	(associate)	must	achieve	IND	approval	from	the	US	FDA	for	initiating	multi-centre	

cardiovascular clinical trials within a period of three years after the options were granted. This milestone was 
reached on 1 May 2007 consequently the options vested on this date.

(c) Three equal tranches, each expiring 12 months after vesting. Vesting occurs upon reaching the following milestones:

•	 On	achieving	Standard	Operating	Procedure	(SOP)	for	the	manufacture	of	cells. This milestone was reached  

on 6 September 2006, consequently the options vested on this date.

•	 On	approval	of	Mesoblast’s	FDA	Investigative	New	Drug	(IND)	approval. Approval was obtained on 16 December 

2006, therefore the options vested on this date.

•	 On	completing	human	pre-regulatory	trials	for	a	Mesoblast	Orthopaedic	Application	of	the	licensed	technology. 
The last patient for this trial had their final follow up visit on 4 July 2008, so the options will vest on this date.

3.  Options granted were approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held 15 November 2005.  

The options were issued in two equal tranches, each having a three year life. There are no performance conditions 
attached to these options.

57

18. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED

(a) Existing share-based payment arrangements (continued)

4.  Options granted are subject to the following conditions:

(a) Two equal tranches, each expiring 36 months after vesting. Vesting occurs upon reaching the following milestones:

•	 The	first	patient	is	treated	with	Human	Autologous	Mesenchymal	Prescursor	Cells	(MPC’s). The milestone was 

reached on 31 March 2006 and these options vested accordingly.

•	 Angioblast	Systems,	Inc.	(associate)	receives	Investigational	New	Drug	Approval	from	the	US	FDA. This was 

received on 1 May 2007 and these options vested accordingly.

(b) Three equal tranches, each expiring 36 months after vesting. The vesting dates for tranches 1, 2 and 3 are 30 June 

2007, 30 June 2008 and 30 June 2008 respectively, and the exercise prices are $0.65, $1.20 and $1.20 respectively. 
There are no performance conditions attached to these options.

(c) One tranche only, with a vesting date equal to grant date, and an exercise period of 36 months. There are no 

performance conditions attached to these options.

5.  Options granted were approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held 23 November 2006. Options were 
issued in three equal tranches, each having a three year life. The first tranche vests 12 months after grant date, the 
second tranche 24 months after grant date, and the third tranche 36 months are grant date. All tranches expire 36 
months after grant date. There are no performance conditions attached to these options.

6.  Options granted were approved by the Remuneration Committee on 14 February 2007. Options granted were in two 
equal tranches, the first tranche exercisable in twelve months following grant date, and the second exercisable in 18 
months following grant date. Grant dates are equal to commencement of employment/contract and the options have 
exercise periods of 12 months. There are no performance conditions attached to these options.

7.  Options granted were approved by the Remuneration Committee on 27 July 2007. The options were granted in three 
equal tranches vesting on 1 July 2008, 1 July 2009 and 1 July 2010 respectively. All tranches expire on 30 June 2012.

8.  Options granted were approved by the Remuneration Committee on 7 July 2008. The options were granted in three equal 

tranches vesting on 1 July 2009, 1 July 2010 and 1 July 2011 respectively. All tranches expire on 30 June 2013.

9.  Options granted were approved by the Remuneration Committee during January 2009 as per the relevant employment 

contract. The options were granted in three equal tranches vesting on 19 January 2010, 19 January 2011 and 19 January 
2012 respectively. All tranches expire on 18 January 2014.

(iii) Modifications to terms and conditions

There has been no modification to terms and conditions in either the current or previous financial years.

(b) Fair values of share options

The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year was $0.47 (2008: $0.74). The fair value of all options granted 
has been calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The model requires the Company share price volatility to be 
measured. The share price volatility has been measured with reference to the historical share prices of the Company, and also 
similar company’s given the Company has only been listed since 16 December 2004. The official measurement of share price 
volatility for the options granted on 23 February 2007 was 55%, and for the options granted 23 November 2007 it was 54%. 
Given the consistency of the two volatility measurements, both volatility rates have been used for series 8 and 9.

58

18. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED

(b) Fair values of share options (continued)

The model inputs for the valuations of options approved and issued during the current and previous financial years are  
as follows:

Option  
series 

Share price at 
grant date $

Exercise Price 
$

Expected share 
price volatility

Option  
life

Dividend  
yield

Risk-free  
interest rate

3

4(a)

4(b)

4(c)

5

6(a)

6(b)

6(c)

6(d)

7

8

9

0.505

1.48

1.48

1.48

1.205

1.81

1.35

1.41

1.84

1.91

0.91

0.848

0.65

0.65

0.65 & $1.20

0.60

0.65

2.02

1.52

1.75

1.96

2.13

1.00

0.96

56.57%

128 & 310 days

55.0%

55.0%

55.0%

54.0%

54.0%

54.0%

54.0%

55.0%

55.0%

55.0%

55.0%

3yrs & 3.98yrs

1.35-3.35 yrs

1.1-3.1 yrs

3 yrs

18 & 24 months

18 & 24 months

18 & 24 months

18 & 24 months

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

5.085%

5.18%

5.18%

5.18%

5.725%

6.39%

6.39% & 6.46%

6.27% & 6.39%

0% 6.39%, 6.45% & 6.46%

5 years

5 years

5 years

0%

0%

0%

6.25%

6.50%

3.27%

The closing share market price of an ordinary share of Mesoblast Limited on the Australian Stock Exchange at 30 June 2009 
was $0.83 (30 June 2008: $0.91).

(c) Reconciliation of outstanding share options

Share options over ordinary shares

Balance at beginning of financial year

Granted during the year

Exercised during the year

Expired or forfeited during the year

Balance at end of financial year

Unvested at end of financial year

Exercisable at end of financial year

      2009

      2008

Number of  
options

Weighted average  
exercise price $

Number of  
options

Weighted average  
exercise price $

9,316,667

2,976,000

(1,900,667)

(520,000)

9,872,000

4,396,000

5,476,000

1.06

1.00

0.62

1.73

1.09

1.40

0.85

7,956,667

2,480,000

(1,040,000)

(80,000)

9,316,667

2,680,000

6,636,667

0.69

2.13

0.67

1.89

1.06

2.05

1.51

59

 
18. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS CONTINUED

(d) Share options exercised during the year

Option series

Number exercised

Exercise date(s)

Share price at  
exercise date

2009

1

2(a)

2(b)

2(c)

3

4(a)

4(b)

4(c)

2008

2(c)

4(b)

4(c)

1

1

200,000

550,000

150,000

80,000

700,000

34,000

166,667

20,000

1,900,667

80,000

300,000

60,000

200,000

400,000

1,040,000

11 August 2008

16 December 2008

16 December 2008

30 June 2009

3 September 2008

3 April 2009

30 June 2009

23 February 2009

10 October 2007

10 October 2007

10 October 2007

13 December 2007

20 December 2007

$1.16

$0.80

$0.80

$0.83

$1.23

$0.75

$0.83

$0.79

$1.50

$1.50

$1.50

$1.28

$1.27

19.  KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

(a) Details of key management personnel

The directors and other members of key management personnel of the Company during the current and prior years were:

                                            Effective Date

Name

Position

Brian Jamieson

Non-executive Chairman (A)

Byron McAllister

Non-executive Director

Donal O’Dwyer

Non-executive Director

Michael Spooner

Non-executive	Director	(A);  
Executive Chairman (R)

Silviu Itescu

Executive Director

Company Secretary  
Chief	Financial	Officer	(R);

Vice President of Operations (A)

Chief	Financial	Officer	(A); 
Financial Controller (R)

Kevin Hollingsworth

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni Pilcher

Roger Brown

Paul Rennie

Jim Ryaby

Donna Skerrett

(A)	Appointed	to	this	position;	 
(R) Resigned from this position 

60

Vice President of Regulatory Affairs (A)

19 January 09

Special Projects Consultant (A)  
Chief	Operating	Officer	(R); 

Vice President of Research and Clinical Affairs (A)

Full Year  
n/a

Full Year

Head of Regulatory (2008) 
Medical Director (2009)

Not included for  
reporting purposes

2009

Full year

Full year

Full year

Full year

Full year

Full year  
n/a

Full Year

Full Year 
n/a

2008

22 November 07 

Full year

Full year

8 August 07  
8 August 07 

Full year

Full year  
21 November 07 

18 March 08 

n/a  
21 November 07

n/a

12 May 08  
12 May 08 

3 March 08 

Full year  
n/a

19. KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL COMPENSATION CONTINUED

(b) Key management personnel compensation

The aggregate compensation made to directors and other members of key management personnel of the Company is  
set out below:

Short-term employee benefits 

Post-employment benefits 

Share based payments 

30 June 2009 
$ 

30 June 2008  
$

 1,518,357 

1,235,755

69,397 

383,635 

89,629

477,420

1,971,389 

1,802,804

Further disclosures regarding key management personnel compensation are contained within the remuneration report.

(c) Key management personnel equity holdings

Options

Balance  
at 1 July  
No.

Granted as 
compens-
ation No.

Exercised 
No.

Net  
change 
other 
 No. 

Balance at 
30 June  
No.

Total  
vested  
30 June  
No.

Vested  
and exer- 
cisable  
No.

Unvested 
No.

2009 

Brian Jamieson

Byron McAllister

Donal O’Dwyer

-

150,000

300,000

Michael Spooner

1,100,000

Silviu Itescu

-

Kevin Hollingsworth

200,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

Roger Brown

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni Pilcher

Paul Rennie

James Ryaby

2008

Brian Jamieson

Byron McAllister

Donal O’Dwyer

Silviu Itescu

Kevin Hollingsworth

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni Pilcher

Paul Rennie

James Ryaby

-

-

240,000

180,000

160,000

240,000

250,000

150,000

-

-

150,000

300,000

-

-

-

240,000

-

-

-

-

-

200,000

-

60,000

100,000

-

-

250,000

-

Michael Spooner

1,100,000

Donna Skerrett

300,000

200,000

-

(150,000)

(150,000)

(1,100,000)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(60,000)

340,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

67,000

67,000

133,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

150,000

150,000

150,000

-

-

200,000

240,000

180,000

400,000

240,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

33,000

83,000

33,000

83,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

240,000

180,000

307,000

317,000

240,000

-

-

150,000

150,000

150,000

300,000

250,000

250,000

50,000

1,100,000

1,100,000

1,100,000

-

200,000

-

160,000

250,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

200,000

-

160,000

250,000

-

500,000

300,000

300,000

200,000

61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19. KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL COMPENSATION CONTINUED

c) Key management personnel equity holdings continued

Shareholdings

Fully paid ordinary shares held by directors and key management personnel or their personally related parties  
(as defined by AASB 124):

Balance  
at 1 July  
No.

Granted as 
compensation  
No.

Received on 
exercise of  
options  
No.

Net change  
other  
No.

2009 

Brian Jamieson (i)

Byron McAllister

Donal O’Dwyer (ii)

Michael Spooner (iii)

200,000

-

273,850

839,255

Silviu Itescu

37,120,000

Kevin Hollingsworth

Roger Brown

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni Pilcher

Paul Rennie

James Ryaby

2008

Brian Jamieson (i)

Byron McAllister

Donal O’Dwyer (ii)

Michael Spooner (iii)

Silviu Itescu

Kevin Hollingsworth

Suzanne Lipe

Jenni Pilcher

Paul Rennie

James Ryaby

Donna Skerret

-

-

-

6,000

-

-

-

-

273,850

839,255

37,120,000

-

-

6,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

150,000

150,000

1,100,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

110,000

(108,685)

5,000

(790,000)

5,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

200,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Balance at  
30 June  
No.

310,000

41,315

428,850

1,149,255

37,125,000

-

-

-

6,000

-

-

200,000

-

273,850

839,255

37,120,000

-

-

6,000

-

-

-

(i)  Brian Jamieson’s shareholding includes 275,000 (2008:125,000) shares held by a related party as defined by the accounting 

standard AASB124 Related Party Disclosures.

(ii) Donal O’Dwyer’s shareholding includes 278,950 (2008:273,850) shares held by a related party as defined by the accounting 

standard AASB124 Related Party Disclosures.

(iii) Michael Spooner’s shareholding includes 48,455 (2008:839,355) shares held by a related party as defined by AASB124 

Related Party Disclosures.

62

20. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

(a) Equity interests in related parties

Details of interests in associates are disclosed in note 10 to the financial statements.

(b) Transactions with other related parties

Accounts receivable from and accounts payable to Angioblast Systems, Inc. as at the end of the financial year are disclosed in 
notes 8 and 12 respectively. Both parties may pay invoices in their local currency on behalf of the other party to facilitate timely 
payment of suppliers. This results in a loan account between both parties which is settled monthly. The transactions being paid 
for are described below: 

Amounts paid on behalf of Angioblast, by Mesoblast

50% sharing of research and SAB fees 

50% sharing of cell and antibody manufacturing 

50% sharing of clinical research organisation costs 

50% sharing of intellectual property costs 

Research and development (Australia based) 

Other 

Amounts paid on behalf of Mesoblast, by Angioblast

Research and development (US based) 

Employees and consultants (US based) 

Other (US based) 

30 June 
2009 

 $

 $

30 June 
2008 

125,500 

216,391 

50,000 

183,589 

192,470 

54,756 

822,706 

- 

774,520 

260,682 

1,035,202 

98,418

118,515

-

157,606

209,802

19,950

604,291

428,299

112,513

57,385

598,197

63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS CONTINUED

(c) Transactions between related parties of the company

Together, Mesoblast and Angioblast have been jointly developing process manufacturing and scale-up of the MPC technology, 
as well as pre-clinical and clinical components which were necessary to obtain Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from 
the FDA for orthopaedic and cardiovascular applications (respectively). Both companies have received IND clearance for their 
respective applications during the current financial year and are now embarking on phase 2 clinical trials. In order to maximise 
economies of scale and expertise in both entities, certain members of key management personnel provide expert services to 
both entities. These relationships are outlined below:

Mesoblast key  
management personnel

Silviu Itescu

Donal O’Dwyer

Angioblast key  
management personnel

Relationship(s) with Angioblast

Nature of transaction(s)(i)

Director, Chief Scientist and Chairman  
of the Scientific Advisory Board 

Directors fees & contract  
for services

Non-executive Director, as Mesoblast 
representative

Directors fees & Angioblast  
share options

Relationship(s) with Mesoblast

Nature of transaction(s)(i)

Michael Schuster

Consultant

Donna Skerrett

Consultant

Contract for services & Mesoblast  
share options (ii)

Contract for services & Mesoblast  
share options (ii)

(i)  All contracts for services are prepared on normal commercial terms.

(ii) Mesoblast share options held by Angioblast employees are included in the  

table disclosed in note 18 to the financial statements.

21. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

Financial risks impacting the company fall into three categories:

•	 Market	risk	(includes	currency,	interest	rate	and	price	risks)

•	 Credit	risk

•	 Liquidity	risk

A description of each risk, together with the risk as it relates to the company, is presented below.

(a) Market risk

(i) Currency risk
The company has certain clinical, regulatory and manufacturing activities in the United States of America. As a result of these 
activities, the company has certain amounts owing to creditors and Angioblast Systems, Inc. and a bank account that are 
denominated in US dollars. These balances give rise to a currency risk, which is the risk of the exchange rate moving, in either 
direction, and the impact it may have on the company’s financial performance. 

The company manages the currency risk by evaluating the trend of the US dollar in comparison to the Australian dollar and 
making decisions whether to purchase US dollars in advance for the purposes of settling these liabilities. The company has  
a USD bank account for this purpose.

64

21. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

(a) Market risk continued

The balances held at the end of the year that give rise to currency risk exposure are presented in the table below,  
together with a sensitive analysis which assesses the impact that a change of +/-20% (2008: +/-10%) in the exchange  
rate as at 30 June would have had on the company’s reported net losses and/or equity balance. The USD prevailing  
as at 30 June 2009 was 0.8048 (2008: 0.9615).

30 June 2009

Balance held

                +20%

             -20%

USD bank account

Trade payables 

Amounts owing to 
Angioblast Systems, Inc 

 US$

Profit/(Loss) AU$

Equity AU$ Profit/(Loss) AU$

Equity AU$

47,439

131,275

(65,746)

(9,824)

(27,185)

13,615

112,968

(23,394)

-

-

-

-

14,736

40,779

(20,423)

55,515

-

-

-

-

30 June 2008

Balance held

                +10%

             -10%

USD bank account

Trade payables 

Amounts owing to 
Angioblast Systems, Inc 

 US$

Profit/(Loss) AU$

Equity AU$ Profit/(Loss) AU$

Equity AU$

47,368

(268,803)

(60,040)

(4,478)

25,816

6,007

(281,475)

27,345

-

-

-

-

4,478

(25,816)

(6,007)

(27,345)

-

-

-

-

(ii) Interest rate risk
The company has exposure to interest rate movements from the interest income it earns on its term deposits and deposits  
at call. The interest income derived from these balances can fluctuate due to interest rate changes. This interest rate risk is 
managed by spreading our deposits across various maturity periods and by keeping deposits subject to floating interest  
rates at a level where they can be used for managing the cash flows of the company. The balances held which derive interest 
revenue are described in (c) below. There is no material impact on the company’s net loss and equity if the interest rates were  
to be different, by any reasonable amount, as at the end of the financial year. This is because interest is calculated daily and 
has largely already been earned at the prescribed bank rates at this point in time.

(iii) Price risk
Price risk is the risk that future cashflows derived from financial instruments will be altered as a result of a market price 
movement, other than foreign currency rates and interest rates. The company does not consider it has any exposure  
to price risk other than those already described above.

65

21. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

(b) Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will fail to discharge its obligation and will therefore cause financial 
loss to the other party. As the company is non-revenue generating it generally does not have trade receivables. Its receivables 
are typically due from the government in the form of GST and government grants, and from its related party. The company 
manages the exposure to credit risk by ensuring all amounts due from Angioblast are received monthly and that the balance  
is not more than $200,000 at any one time without prior approval of a director. The credit risk to the company is detailed below: 

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents (note 7) – AAA rated  

16,526,278 

14,094,219

30 June 2009  
$ 

30 June 2008  
$ 

Trade receivables

Receivable from Australian Government (GST) 

Receivable from AAA rated bank deposits (interest) 

Receivable from related party (Angioblast) 

Receivable from other parties (non-rated) 

(c) Liquidity risk

89,905 

121,718 

44,792 

48,946 

39,195

68,082

16,623

-

Liquidity risk is the risk that the company will not be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due. The company has  
had no borrowings to date and the directors ensure that cash on hand is sufficient to meet the commitments of the company  
at all times while it is in a loss making phase of research and development. The going concern basis of preparation is further 
described in note 1.

All financial liabilities held by the Company at 30 June 2009 and 30 June 2008 are non-interest bearing and mature within  
6 months. The total contractual cash flows associated with these liabilities equate to the carrying amount disclosed within  
the financial statements.

22. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On 25 August 2009 Mesoblast announced that Angioblast Systems, Inc., (a US based associate of Mesoblast), had 
successfully raised $10m from new and existing institutional and sophisticated investors. Mesoblast will retain its 38.4% equity 
in Angioblast until Angioblast’s next financing event, defined as an Initial Public Offering, a Merger and Acquisition, or a private 
equity round of at least $10 million. At that time, Mesoblast may seek to maintain or increase its shareholding.

There are no other subsequent events that the directors consider would have a material impact on the results of the company 
for the year ending 30 June 2009.

66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Declaration

In accordance with a resolution of directors of Mesoblast Limited,

In the opinion of the directors:

(a) the accompanying financial statements and notes on pages 33 to 66 are in accordance with the Corporations 
Regulations 2001 and comply with the accounting standards and give a true and fair view of the company’s  
financial position as at 30 June 2009 and of its performance for the year ended on that date.

(b) At the date of this declaration there are reasonable grounds to believe that the company will be able to pay its  

debts as and when they become due and payable.

(c) The remuneration disclosures set out on pages 17 to 24 of the director’s report comply with accounting standard  

AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures and the Corporations Regulations 2001.

(d) The directors have been given the declarations by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer  

required by Section 295 A.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.

Mr Brian Jamieson 
Director

26 August 2009, Melbourne

67

Independent auditor’s report to the members of  
Mesoblast Limited

PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
ABN 52 780 433 757
ABN 52 780 433 757

Freshwater Place
Freshwater Place
2 Southbank Boulevard
2 Southbank Boulevard
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
GPO Box 1331L
GPO Box 1331L
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
DX 77
DX 77
Telephone 61 38603 1000
Telephone 61 38603 1000
Facsimile 61 3 8603 1999
Facsimile 61 3 8603 1999
Website:www.pwc.com/au
Website:www.pwc.com/au

Report on the financial report 
Auditor’s Independence Declaration
Auditor’s Independence Declaration
We have audited the accompanying financial report of Mesoblast Limited (the company), which comprises the 
balance sheet as at 30 June 2009, and the income statement, statement of changes in equity and cash flow 
statement for the year ended on that date, a summary of significant accounting policies, other explanatory notes 
and the directors’ declaration.
As lead auditor for the audit of Mesoblast Limited for the year ended 30 June 2008, Idec lare that to
As lead auditor for the audit of Mesoblast Limited for the year ended 30 June 2008, Idec lare that to
the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:
the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:
Directors’ responsibility for the financial report

a)
no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001
a)
no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001
The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in 
in relation to the audit; and
in relation to the audit; and
accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the 
Corporations Act 2001. This responsibility includes establishing and maintaining internal controls relevant to the 
b)
no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.
b)
no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.
preparation and fair presentation of the financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud	or	error;	selecting	and	applying	appropriate	accounting	policies;	and	making	accounting	estimates	that	are	
reasonable in the circumstances. In Note 1, the directors also state, in accordance with Accounting Standard 
This declaration is in respect of Mesoblast Limited during the period.
This declaration is in respect of Mesoblast Limited during the period.
AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements, that compliance with the Australian equivalents to International 
Financial Reporting Standards ensures that the financial report, comprising the financial statements and notes, 
complies with International Financial Reporting Standards.

Auditor’s responsibility 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. We conducted our audit in 
Anton Linschoten
Anton Linschoten
accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. These Auditing Standards require that we comply with relevant 
Partner
Partner
ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable 
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
assurance whether the financial report is free from material misstatement.

Melbourne
Melbourne
28 August 2008
28 August 2008

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

Our procedures include reading the other information in the Annual Report to determine whether it contains any 
material inconsistencies with the financial report.

Our audit did not involve an analysis of the prudence of business decisions made by directors or management.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

68

PricewaterhouseCoopers

ABN 52 780 433 757

Freshwater Place

2 Southbank Boulevard

SOUTHBANK VIC 3006

GPO Box 1331L

MELBOURNE VIC 3001

DX 77

Telephone 61 38603 1000

Facsimile 61 3 8603 1999

Website:www.pwc.com/au

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

As lead auditor for the audit of Mesoblast Limited for the year ended 30 June 2008, Idec lare that to

the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:

no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001

in relation to the audit; and

a)

b)

This declaration is in respect of Mesoblast Limited during the period.

Anton Linschoten

Partner

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Melbourne

28 August 2008

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation

Independent auditor’s report to the members of  
Mesoblast Limited (continued)

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

Independence

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

Auditor’s opinion 

In our opinion:

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

(i)   giving a true and fair view of the company’s financial position as at 30 June 2009 and of their performance 

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

for	the	year	ended	on	that	date;	and

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

and the Corporations Regulations 2001;	and

(b)  the financial report also complies with International Financial Reporting Standards as disclosed in Note 1.

Report on the Remuneration Report

We have audited the Remuneration Report included in sections A to D of the directors’ report for the year ended 
30 June 2009. The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the 
Remuneration Report in accordance with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. Our responsibility is to 
express an opinion on the Remuneration Report, based on our audit conducted in accordance with Australian 
Auditing Standards.

Auditor’s opinion 

In our opinion, the Remuneration Report of Mesoblast Limited for the year ended 30 June 2009, complies with 
section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001.

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Anton Linschoten 
Partner 

Melbourne 
26 August 2009

69

 
 
Shareholder Information

A. SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS

The company’s Holders of Relevant Interests as notified by ASX Substantial Shareholders and the number of shares in which 
they have an interest as disclosed by notices received under Part 6.7 of the Corporation Act 2001 as at 16 October 2009 are:

Shareholder 

Number of ordinary shares held

Aviva Investors Australia Limited  
(ex: Portfolio Partners Limited) 

Silviu Itescu  

Thorney Holdings Pty Ltd 

8,347,165

37,120,000

13,258,403

B. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS

Number of holders 

Ordinary shares (i) 

Share options (ii)

2,209 

29

The voting rights attaching to each class of equity securities are:

(i)  Ordinary shares

 On a show of hands, every member present at a meeting, in person or by proxy, shall have one vote and upon a poll each 
share shall have one vote.

(ii)  Share options

No voting rights.

C. DISTRIBUTION OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Distribution of holders of equity securities as at 16 October 2009

No. of holders 

1 – 1,000 

1,001 – 5,000 

5,001 – 10,000 

10,001 – 100,000 

100,000 and over 

Number of holders of less than a marketable parcel of shares 

Ordinary shares 

Share options

392 

810 

403 

521 

83 

2,209 

76

-

-

-

4

25

29

70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
D. TWENTY LARGEST HOLDERS OF QUOTED SECURITIES

The names of the 20 largest shareholders of each class of equity security as at 16 October 2009 are listed below:

No.

Name

No. of shares held

% of total shares

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Professor Silviu Itescu 

ANZ Nominees Limited 

National Nominees Limited 

J P Morgan Nominees Australia Limited 

UBS Nominees Pty Ltd 

J G M Investment Group Pty Ltd

Dalit Pty Ltd

Cogent Nominees Pty Limited 

Medvet Science Pty Ltd

RBC Dexia Investor Services Australia Nominees Pty Ltd

Cogent Nominees Pty Limited 

RBC Dexia Investor Services Australia Nominees Pty Limited  

Equity Trustees Limited

Hsbc Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited 

Michael Spooner 

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited 

Tigcorp Nominees Pty Ltd 

Thorney Holdings Pty Ltd 

Hazlaha Investments Limited

Queensland Investment Corporation 

36,632,196

16,537,077

11,202,955

10,805,688

4,455,620

3,050,000

3,040,000

2,892,431

2,790,000

2,102,919

2,078,104

1,675,622

1,257,444

1,155,831

1,100,000

985,933

960,000

700,000

637,600

618,082

26.48%

11.95%

8.10%

7.81%

3.22%

2.20%

2.20%

2.09%

2.02%

1.52%

1.50%

1.21%

0.91%

0.84%

0.80%

0.71%

0.69%

0.51%

0.46%

0.45%

104,677,502

75.65%

71

Mesoblast Limited ABN 68 109 431 870 
Board of Directors and Company Particulars

DIRECTORS
Brian Jamieson (Chairman)
Silviu Itescu
Byron McAllister
Donal O’Dwyer
Michael Spooner

COMPANY SECRETARY
Kevin Hollingsworth

REGISTERED OFFICE
Level 2
517 Flinders Lane
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Telephone (03) 9629 5566
Facsimile (03) 9629 5466

COUNTRY OF INCORPORATION
Australia

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
Level 39
55 Collins Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Telephone (03) 9639 6036
Facsimile (03) 9639 6030

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING
Australian Stock Exchange
(ASX Code: MSB)

AUDITORS
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Freshwater Place
Level 19, 2 Southbank Boulevard
MELBOURNE VIC 3006

SOLICITORS
Middletons Lawyers
Level 25, Rialto Tower
525 Collins Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000

BANKERS
National Australia Bank Ltd
221 Drummond Street
CARLTON VIC 3053

SHARE REGISTRY
Link Market Services Limited
Level 4
333 Collins Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000

WEBSITE
www.mesoblast.com

72