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Midatech Pharma PLC

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FY2020 Annual Report · Midatech Pharma PLC
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Improving  
the bio-delivery 
and biodistribution 
of medicines

Annual Report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
Introduction

Midatech is a drug 
delivery technology 
company focused on 
improving the bio-delivery 
and biodistribution  
of medicines
The Company has developed three in-house technology 
platforms, each with its own unique mechanism to 
improve delivery of medications to sites of disease. 

All of the Company's technologies have successfully 
entered human use in the clinic, providing important 
validation of the potential for each platform:

Q-Sphera™ platform:  
a disruptive micro-
technology used for 
sustained release to 
prolong and control the 
release of therapeutics over 
an extended period of time 
(from weeks to months).

MidaSolve™ platform:  
an innovative 
nanotechnology used  
to dissolve insoluble drugs 
so that they can be 
administered in liquid form 
directly and locally into 
tumours.

MidaCore™ platform:  
a leading-edge 
nanotechnology used for 
targeting medications to 
sites of disease.

See page 4 for more  
information

See page 6 for more  
information

See page 7 for more  
information

Strategic Report
01  Our Business Model and  

Strategy

04  Our Technologies

– Q-Sphera
– MidaSolve
– MidaCore 

08  Chief Executive’s review
12  Financial review
16  Stakeholder Engagement
18  Risk management

Governance
22  The Board of Directors
24  Executive Management
26  Chairman’s introduction
29  Audit committee report
31  Directors’ remuneration report
35  Directors’ report

Financial Statements
37  Independent auditor’s report
41  Consolidated statements of 
comprehensive income
42  Consolidated statement of  

financial position 

43  Consolidated statements of  

cash flows 

44  Consolidated statements of  

changes in equity

45  Notes forming part of the  

financial statements
84  Company balance sheet
85  Company Statement of  

Changes in Equity

86  Notes forming part of the  

company financial statements

91  Company information

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Our Business Model and Strategy

Realigned
strategy

Headquartered in Cardiff, UK, and quoted on the AIM market of the 
London Stock Exchange and on NASDAQ in the US, Midatech is an 
R&D biotechnology company focused on improving the bio-delivery 
and biodistribution of medicines using its three proprietary drug 
delivery technologies. 

Since the announcement of a Strategic Review in March 2020 and 
the termination of further in-house development of MTD201, we 
have sought to broaden our R&D pipeline through technology 
collaborations with third party pharmaceutical companies, initiating 
new internal programmes and adding new indications to MTX110.

Our realigned strategy is to advance our development  
programmes to proof of concept stage before seeking licensee  
partners to fund further development, manufacturing  
scale up and commercialisation.

patent families36

Development
Our intention is to build a balanced 
portfolio of Q-Sphera programmes 
employing a bi-fold strategy to create an:

• 

internal pipeline of long-acting 
injectable products by re-formulating 
existing, approved therapies; and 

•  external pipeline by entering into 

research collaborations with partners 
to formulate their proprietary products 
into long-acting injectable products.

We have applied our MidaSolve 
technology to panobinostat to create 
our proprietary product MTX110. Our 
development strategy for MTX110 is 
to demonstrate its utility in a range of 
intractable brain cancers with a series 
of pilot proof of concept studies before 
seeking licensee partners. 

Once a licensing partner has been 
secured, Midatech would expect any 
future development costs to be 
reimbursed by that partner and 
for Midatech to receive milestone 
payments and, ultimately royalties 
on sales of the product.

Commercialisation
Once proof of concept has been 
established, Midatech intends to seek 
to license its products to a partner who 
would complete the clinical 
development and subsequently market 
and sell them in the licensed territory. 
In addition to reimbursement of 
development costs, the partner would 
be expected to make milestone 
payments based on sales targets and 
royalty payments.

Manufacturing
To establish proof of concept in pre-
clinical studies for potential licensees, 
Midatech is able to manufacture non-GMP 
Q-Sphera products at pilot scale at 
its Cardiff facility. Our intention is to 
technology transfer GMP manufacture 
of clinical trial supplies and ultimately 
full GMP commercial manufacture to 
a third party Contract Manufacturing 
Organisation (“CMO”). 

Midatech would expect a licensee to 
assume the cost of manufacturing GMP 
product and commercial scale up 
pursuant to a technology transfer 
agreement. 

MTX110 is currently being manufactured 
to GMP standards at a CMO.

3

Proprietary technologies designed 
to improve the targeting and 
delivery of drugs

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

01

Multiple shots 
on goal

Time and  
cost to 
partnerability

In 2020 Midatech pivoted from a largely singular focus on the clinical development and manufacturing scale up of MTD201 to a 
strategy based on a broader, but earlier stage, pipeline. The two strategic drivers behind Midatech’s development pipeline, 
multiple shots on goal and time and cost to partnerability, are designed to provide optimal opportunities for partnering 
success while focusing the Company’s resources on those projects that will deliver near term data that could attract a 
development partner.

Midatech’s development pipeline includes 10 projects of which three are partnered with the European affiliate of a global 
healthcare company:

ID

API

Therapeutic Area Administration

Formulation Pre-clinical

Phase I

Phase II

Partnering Status

MTD211

MTD219

Brexpiprazole

CNS

Long acting Injectable

Tacrolimus

Anti-rejection

Long acting Injectable

Q-Sphera

MTD201

Octreotide

Carcinoid cancer  
and acromegaly

Long acting Injectable

In-house development terminated

MTX213

MTX214

MTX216

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

MidaSolve

MTX110

Panobinostat

Brain cancer in 
children (DIPG)

Direct to tumour  
via CED

MTX110

MTX110

Panobinostat

Medulloblastoma

Direct to tumour

Panobinostat

Glioblastoma

Direct to tumour via CED

MTX114

Methotrexate

Psoriasis Immuno-rx

Topical

MidaCore

Partnered

Partnered

Partnered

02

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

2020 Performance summary

Operational
•  In January 2020, a study of subcutaneous administration 
of MTD201 compared with intramuscular administration 
in healthy volunteers showed similar pharmacokinetics 
and bioavailability, offering the potential for a differentiated, 
more patient-friendly product profile for Q-Sphera products.
•  In March 2020, the Company announced a Strategic Review 
including termination of MTD201, closure of the Company’s 
Bilbao operations and a realignment of the Board. The 
Strategic Review was subsequently updated to include 
a ‘formal sale process’ under the Takeover Code.
•  In June 2020, Midatech entered into its first research 

collaboration to apply Q-Sphera drug delivery technology 
to molecules nominated by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd 
(“Dr Reddy’s”).

•  In June 2020, the Company received a letter sent on behalf 
of Secura Bio, Inc. purporting to terminate an agreement 
to license certain patents of panobinostat, the active 
pharmaceutical ingredient of MTX110. 

•  In July 2020, Midatech added to its Q-Sphera business model 
with the announcement of a multi-product collaboration with 
a European affiliate of a global healthcare company.

•  In October 2020, headline results of a Phase I study of MTX110 
in DIPG were announced, including encouraging patient 
survival data.

•  In November 2020, posters were presented at a meeting of 

the Society of Neuro-oncology (SNO) on MTX110 (1) Phase I 
results in DIPG and (2) pre-clinical data in adult glioblastoma.
•  In December 2020, posters were presented at a meeting of the 
International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-oncologists 
(ISPNO) on MTX110 (1) in a Phase I study using an alternative 
Convection Enhanced Delivery (CED) system, (2) administration 
via the fourth ventricle of the brain in a pre-clinical model, and 
(3) Phase I results in DIPG.

Financial
•  Total gross revenue(1) for the year of £0.3m (2019: £0.7m,  

2018: £1.9m).

•  Statutory revenue(2) for 2020 of £0.2m (2019: £0.3m,  

2018: £0.1m).

•  Combined Placing in the UK and Registered Direct Offering  
in the US in May 2020 raised £3.7m, net of expenses.
•  UK Placing in July 2020 raised £5.3m, net of expenses.
•  Cash and deposits at 31 December 2020 of £7.5m  

(2019: £10.9m, 2018: £2.3m).

•  Net loss from continuing operations of £22.2m (2019: £9.1m 
loss, 2018: £10.4m loss) with net cash outflow in the year of 
£3.6m (2019: £8.4m inflow, 2018: £10.9m outflow).
•  Tax credit receivable of £1.2m (2019: £1.8m, 2018: £1.9m).

1)  Total gross revenue represents collaboration income from continuing 

operations plus grant revenue.

2)  Statutory revenue represents total gross revenue, excluding grant revenue.

Post period end
•  In January 2021, the Company announced a business 

update including expansion of the collaboration with the 
European affiliate of a global healthcare company from one 
to three active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”), mutual 
termination of the Dr Reddy’s collaboration, expansion of 
the MTX110 development programme to include GBM, 
confirmation that the Company would not qualify for the 
GlioKIDS grant and termination of the Strategic Review.
•  In March 2021, the Company announced non-binding 
Heads of Terms had been agreed with a third party in 
connection with the potential co-development of MTX110.
•  In April 2021, the Group signed an agreement for lease on 
new premises in Cardiff to house our corporate offices and 
laboratories. The new premises comprise 8,118 square feet 
and the lease is for a five year term.

£7.5m

Cash and deposits at  
31 December 2020

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

03

Our Technologies

Next Generation
Microsphere Technology

Q-Sphera
Technology

Our Q-Sphera technology employs 3-D printing techniques 
to encapsulate medicines in polymer-based bioresorbable 
microspheres. The microspheres may be injected to form 
depots in the body which release drug over predictable, 
sustained periods from one week up to several months. 
The features and benefits of Q-Sphera technology offer 
numerous potential advantages to patients and payors 
compared with immediate release products and other 
polymer-based technologies:

FEATURES

Biocompatible,
biodegradeable

Small
footprint, 
scalable 
manufacturing

Low viscosity,
small gauge 
needles

Tuneable,
predictable

Homogenous,
monodisperse

Localised
delivery

Increased 
dosage
intervals

Low cost,
environment
friendly

Improved
injectability

Targeted to
therapeutic
window

Low inter
patient
variability

Targeted site
of action,
lower sytemic
toxicity

Q-Sphera products offer localised delivery to the site of injury including intra tumoral, intra articular, intra ocular  
and transdermal applications, in each case reducing the potential for systemic toxicity.

BENEFITS

Sub cutaneous

Intra muscular

Intra tumoral

Intra articular

Intra ocular

Transdermal

120,000

Mono dispersed microspheres per second

04

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

 “

A tunable, flexible 
technology that can  
target and deliver drugs 
for periods from a week  
to six months.”

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

05

Pipeline
We have an internal Q-Sphera pipeline 
comprising MTD211 and MTD219 for 
central nervous system and transplant 
anti-rejection indications, respectively. 
The APIs included in MTD211 and MTD219 
are already marketed as immediate 
release products and both are currently 
undergoing pre-clinical in vivo studies  
to demonstrate proof of concept. If 
successful, MTD211 and MTD219 will be 
made available for licensing to partners 
for clinical development.

MTD201
Following the announcement of a  
Strategic Review, we ceased further 
in-house development of MTD201, our 
Q-Sphera formulation of octreotide for 
acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumours. 
Further discussion of the Strategic Review 
is included in the Chief Executive’s Review.

Our Technologies continued

Solubilising 
Insoluble Drugs

MidaSolve 
Technology

Our MidaSolve technology increases the aqueous solubility 
of certain classes of anti-cancer drugs using complexes that 
solubilise these agents in water, thereby enabling them to 
be injected in liquid form directly into tumours.

The complexed molecules comprise a 
hydrophobic inner surface and a hydrophilic 
outer surface, and as a result are capable 
of forming host-guest complexes with 
normally water-insoluble molecules. The 
hydrophobic, poorly water-soluble drug 
associates with the inner, more hydrophobic 
surface of the MidaSolve host, while the 
hydrophilic outer surface allows the 
complex to dissolve at biological pH. 

MTX110
Using our MidaSolve technology in 
combination with panobinostat, an 
otherwise insoluble drug, MTX110 is 
designed for direct-to-tumour treatment 
of intractable brain cancers. Panobinostat 
is currently marketed under the brand 
Farydak® which is used orally in 
combination therapy for the treatment 
of multiple myeloma. We are currently 
researching the utility of MTX110 to proof 
of concept stage in three indications:

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG):
DIPG tumours are located in the pons 
(middle) of the brain stem and are 
diffusely infiltrating. Occurring mostly in 
children, approximately 1,000 patients(1) 
are diagnosed with DIPG per annum  
and median survival is approximately  
10 months(2). 

There is no effective treatment since 
surgical resection is not possible. The 
standard of care is radiotherapy, which 
transiently improves symptoms and 
survival. Chemotherapy does not improve 
survival and one likely reason is that 

many anti-cancer drugs cannot cross the 
blood-brain barrier to access the tumour.

ventricle, enabling it to circulate 
throughout the CSF.

In October 2020, we reported the 
first-in-human study by the University of 
California, San Francisco (“UCSF”) of 
MTX110 in DIPG using a convection 
enhanced delivery (“CED”) system. The 
Phase I study established a recommended 
dose range for Phase II, a good safety and 
tolerability profile but also encouraging 
survival data in the seven patients treated. 
We are in the process of planning for a 
Phase II study to confirm the safety and 
efficacy of MTX110 in DIPG.

Medulloblastoma:
Medulloblastomas are malignant 
embryonal tumours that start in the 
cerebellum. They are invasive and, unlike 
most brain tumours, spread through the 
cerebrospinal fluid (“CSF”) and frequently 
metastasise to different locations in the 
brain and spinal cord. Treatments include 
resection, radiation and chemotherapy. 
Approximately 350 patients(3) are 
diagnosed with medulloblastoma per 
annum and 3,800 people are living with 
the disease in the US. The cumulative 
survival rate is approximately 60%, 52%, 
and 47% at 5 years, 10 years, and 20 years, 
respectively(4); however, recurrence is 
nearly always fatal with no established 
standard of care (SOC).

The University of Texas is undertaking 
a Phase I exploratory study in recurrent 
medulloblastoma patients using direct 
administration of MTX110 into the fourth 

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM):
GBM is the most common and aggressive 
form of brain cancer in adults, usually 
occurring in the white matter of the 
cerebrum. Treatments include radiation, 
surgical resection and chemotherapy 
although, in almost all cases, tumours 
recur. There are approximately 
2-3/100,000(5) diagnoses of GBM per 
annum. Survival with SOC treatment 
ranges from approximately 13 months 
in unmethylated MGMT patients to 
approximately 30 months in highly 
methylated MGMT patients(6). 

We are in the process of planning for a 
Phase I exploratory study to assess the 
utility of MTX110 in GBM. 

(1)  Louis DN, Ellison DW, et al. The 2016 World 

Health Organisation Classification of Tumors 
of the Central Nervous System: a summary. 
Acta Neuropathol 2016; 131:803–820

(2)  Jansen et al, 2015. Neuro-Oncology 17(1):160-166
(3)   Aboian et al (2018). Neuro-Oncology Practice, 

Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2018

(4)  Smoll NR (March 2012). “Relative survival of 
childhood and adult medulloblastomas and 
primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs)”. 
Cancer. 118 (5): 1313–22

(5)  American Association of Neurosurgeons
(6)  Radke et al (2019). Predictive MGMT status 
in a homogeneous cohort of IDH wildtype 
glioblastoma patients. Acta Neuropathologica 
Communications 7:89 Online: https://doi.
org/10.1186/s40478-019-0745-z 

06

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Working at 
the Nanoscale

MidaCore 
Technology

The MidaCore technology platform is based on ultra-small gold 
nanoparticle (GNP) drug conjugates, which at 2-4nm are among 
the smallest particles in biomedical use. They are composed of 
a core of gold atoms decorated with a permutation of therapeutic  
and/or targeting molecules. The small size and multi-functional 
arrangement around the gold core underpin the ability to improve 
biodistribution and target tumour and/or immune sites.

MidaCore design and synthesis GNP 
technology enables the production of 
nano-medications, which we believe are 
five-to-tenfold smaller than any other 
delivery vehicle in medical use. MidaCore’s 
therapeutics are comprised of a core of 
gold atoms (approximately 100 gold atoms 
per GNP) surrounded by an organic layer 
of carbohydrates that stabilise the metallic 
core and make the particle water-soluble 
and biocompatible.

MTX114
Using MidaCore technology, we have 
developed a re-engineered version of 
methotrexate, an immuno-suppressant 
for topical application in psoriasis. 
If successful, MTX114 would be a first 
topical formulation of methotrexate, thus 
avoiding the need for potentially toxic 
systemic administration. Pre-clinical data 
have shown that MTX114 normalises skin 
thickness in psoriatic skin models.

100m

People worldwide suffer  
from psoriasis

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

07

Chief Executive’s review

Last year was one of 
significant transition 
for Midatech

Introduction
Last year was one of significant transition 
for Midatech. The precipitous fall in global 
capital markets in the first quarter of 2020 
and the reduced prospects for raising 
capital and partnering of assets, triggered 
a Strategic Review of operations. 

As a direct consequence of the Strategic 
Review, we restructured and realigned 
our development and commercial strategy 
as discussed below. The resultant halving 
of the cash burn rate also allowed the 
Company to re-finance, extend its cash 
runway, expand its R&D pipeline and 
increase opportunities for partnering 
success.

Stephen Stamp
Chief Executive Officer

08

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

 “

Our realigned strategy is 
focused on exploiting our 
technologies to develop 
multiple products to proof 
of concept stage before 
seeking partners.”

We retain the capability to manufacture 
Q-Sphera products to non-GMP pilot 
scale in our laboratory in Cardiff. Following 
the closure of our Bilbao operations, 
we intend that all clinical trial supplies 
and commercial products will be 
manufactured at a GMP facility by a CMO.

The clarity of our realigned strategy and 
the simplification of the investment case 
enabled us to attract new investment in 
two separate fundraises in the middle of 
the year which, in turn, allowed us to begin 
executing on our new strategy.

Commercial Update
Our commercial strategy is gaining 
traction. In June, we announced a 
collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories 
Ltd and in July we announced a second 
collaboration with the European affiliate 
of a global healthcare company, in each 
case to explore the feasibility of applying 
our Q-Sphera technology to the partners’ 
chosen APIs. At their option, the 
collaboration with the second partner 
has expanded to three APIs. The 
collaboration agreement with Dr Reddy’s 
has been terminated by mutual consent 
for reasons of technical feasibility.

The Q-Sphera collaborations are 
encouraging early validation of our 
technology platform and, if we are 
successful in developing proof of concept 
formulations, we would expect to enter 
into licensing and technology transfer 
agreements with partners including 
milestone payments and royalties with 
the medium term goal of becoming 
a self-sustaining, profitable business.

10 

Products in development pipeline

3

Products in collaboration  
with partners

Realignment of Strategy
The Strategic Review was a catalyst for 
a re-evaluation of our priorities in the 
context of available resources. We quickly 
pivoted away from a largely single focus 
on MTD201 towards a more broadly-
based collaborative strategy. Our 
realigned strategy is focused on exploiting 
our technologies to develop multiple 
products to proof of concept stage before 
seeking partners to fund pivotal studies 
and take those products through to 
market. Our financial returns will come 
from development and sales milestone 
payments and, ultimately, royalties. 

Our intention is to maintain a balanced 
portfolio of internal and external Q-Sphera 
projects. Internal projects are based on 
already marketed APIs. External projects 
may be proposed by partners and based 
on their proprietary APIs. We work with 
partner APIs under R&D collaboration 
agreements until proof of concept is 
established. Our Q-Sphera pipeline is 
significantly expanded to 5 active projects, 
providing more opportunities for partnering 
success. Three of our current Q-Sphera 
projects are partnered. Similarly, our re 
alignment of the MTX110 clinical programme 
to include GBM, an opportunity 30-50 times 
the size of DIPG, significantly enhances the 
potential for that product. 

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

09

Chief Executive’s review continued

R&D Update
With termination of further in-house 
development of MTD201 and a change in 
strategic emphasis towards collaborating 
and partnering at proof of concept 
stage, the Company’s R&D portfolio is 
significantly more diversified as follows:

Q-Sphera
We have developed two formulations 
for our internal Q-Sphera pipeline: one 
in CNS (MTD211) and one in transplant 
anti-rejection (MTD219). Each of the APIs 
was identified after a comprehensive 
evaluation of potential candidates. 
Both MTD211 and MTD219 address large 
markets and, as first in class long-acting 
injectables, have the potential to offer 
significant clinical benefits compared with 
current therapies and, importantly for 
reimbursement, savings to the healthcare 
system. Both formulations are currently 
undergoing IND-enabling in vivo studies. 
Once completed, we will seek licensing 
and technology transfer agreements 
with partners for further development, 
manufacturing and, ultimately marketing.

We are collaborating with a partner 
on three APIs. While the APIs under 
development and their respective 
indications remain confidential, our aim 
is to enter into licences and technology 
transfer agreements with our partners 
once proof of concept has been established.

MTD201, a long-acting Q-Sphera 
formulation of octreotide for the treatment 
of acromegaly and neuroendocrine 
tumours, reported a second Phase I  
study (Study 102) in 28 healthy  
volunteers comparing subcutaneous 
versus intramuscular routes of  
administration. The results showed similar 
pharmacokinetics and bioavailability for 
the two routes of administration.  

Although inhouse development of MTD201 
has been terminated, the pre-clinical and 
two Phase I studies have demonstrated 
Q-Sphera proof of concept as a long-
acting injectable formulation technology 
with several potential advantages 
compared with other polymer-based 
technologies including; predictable 
kinetics, minimal burst release, improved 
injectability, simpler reconstitution and 
now, subcutaneous administration.

Insofar as the Company is aware, there 
are no approved long-acting injectable 
formulations of biologic products such 
as monoclonal antibodies or other forms 
of high molecular weight proteins. 
Although there remain significant 
technical challenges, we are investigating 
the feasibility of encapsulating a 
monoclonal antibody using a model 
protein, representative of closely related 
therapeutics, to demonstrate proof of 
concept. If successful, we plan to apply the 
know-how to commercial opportunities.

MidaSolve/MTX110
The Company’s MidaSolve project, 
MTX110, is being developed initially for 
the treatment of DIPG, the ultra-rare, 
highly aggressive and inoperable form 
of childhood brain cancer. We are also 
evaluating the utility of MTX110 in 
medulloblastoma in a pilot study at the 
University of Texas and we are planning 
to initiate a pilot, signal finding study in 
GBM in the second half of 2021. GBM, in 
particular, is potentially a very significant 
opportunity with annual diagnoses of 
2-3/100,000(5) population and market 
potential of $3-5Bn.

In October 2020, we announced headline 
results from a Phase I study at UCSF in 
seven DIPG patients. MTX110 was 
administered directly into the DIPG 

tumour via a micro-catheter using CED 
with gadolinium-enhanced intra-operative 
MRI to guide and track drug distribution 
to the tumour. The UCSF study met its 
primary endpoint, supporting a dose of 
between 60μM and 90μM of MTX110, 
depending upon patient tolerance in 
Phase II. At the interim cut-off date of 
30 September 2020, median overall 
survival based on Kaplan Meier analysis 
was 26.06 months and overall survival 
at 12 months (OS12) was 71.4% (five of 
seven patients alive). This compares with 
a median survival rate of 10.0 months 
and an OS12 of 35% in a cohort of 316 
reported cases(1). Although survival was 
not an endpoint of the UCSF study nor 
was the study powered for statistical 
significance, the survival data nevertheless 
provide significant encouragement for 
further research of MTX110 in DIPG. 
An additional Phase I exploratory study 
of MTX110 in DIPG is ongoing at Columbia 
University using an alternative CED 
system. We are planning a Phase II study 
in the US to start in the second half of 
2021 with an expected endpoint of patient 
survival after 12 months.

As announced in June 2020, the Company 
received a letter from counsel to Secura 
Bio Inc. (Secura Bio), the licensor of 
panobinostat and API component of 
MTX110, purporting to terminate the 
Company’s licence to panobinostat. 
Secura Bio has twice declined an invitation 
to withdraw its termination of the license. 
The Company continues to enjoy freedom 
to use panobinostat for research purposes 
and believes the relevant Secura Bio 
patents may marginally delay a launch of 
MTX110 for DIPG but not MTX110 for GBM.

10

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

MidaCore
In MTX114 we have deployed our GNP 
technology to engineer a formulation of 
methotrexate for the topical treatment of 
psoriasis. If successful, MTX114 would be 
a first topical formulation of methotrexate, 
thus avoiding the need for potentially  
toxic systemic administration. Pre-clinical 
data have shown that MTX114 normalises 
skin thickness in mouse psoriatic skin 
models. There are estimated to be over 
100 million(2) people who suffer from 
psoriasis worldwide.

Certain other indications using gold 
nanoparticle technology have been 
licensed to Emergex Vaccines.

(1)  Jansen et al, 2015. Neuro-Oncology 17(1):160-166
(2)  Psoriasis.org

Strategic Review 
and Restructuring
On 31 March 2020 we announced that 
the Board had initiated a formal Strategic 
Review of the Company’s operations. 
The Board had concluded that, in the 
context of its cash runway at the time, 
the Company was unlikely to consummate 
a license transaction or raise sufficient 
funds to continue the required remaining 
investment in MTD201. We therefore 
decided to immediately terminate further 
in-house development of the MTD201 
programme and close the Company’s 
MTD201 dedicated manufacturing 
facilities in Bilbao, Spain. These decisions 
also resulted in the redundancy of 48 
dedicated staff members. I should like 
to thank them all for the grace with which 
they accepted a difficult situation.

Alongside the announcement of the 
Strategic Review, Craig Cook resigned 
as Chief Executive Officer. In addition, 
recognising the narrowed focus of the 
Company, Huaizheng Peng and Frédéric 
Duchesne graciously offered their 
resignations which were also accepted 
by the Board. 

Financing
The termination of MTD201, closure 
of Bilbao operations and re alignment 
of strategy towards collaborations and 
partnerships all helped reduce the 
average monthly cash outflow by 
around half. These fundamental changes, 
although painful at the time, allowed us 
to re-position the Company and execute 
a concurrent US/UK fundraise in May 2020 
followed by a UK Placing in July 2020, 
raising a total of £9.0 million before 
expenses. Significantly, the July fundraise 
was oversubscribed and also brought 
new institutional investors onto the 
shareholder register. The Company 
currently has funding into the fourth 
quarter of 2021.

COVID-19
In response to the pandemic and 
government imposed restrictions on 
movement, we established a COVID-19 
Task Force in mid-March 2020 with the 
dual objectives of safeguarding the health 
and wellbeing of our staff members and 
monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on our 
vendors and collaborators. We have 
reorganised, as far as possible, the layout 
of our offices and laboratories in Cardiff 
to conform to social distancing policies 
and allow employees to return to the 
workplace. Notwithstanding these actions, 
there has been disruption to internal 
workplans and delays in the recruitment 
of ongoing clinical trials.

Outlook
Following the Strategic Review we are 
seeing signs of our re aligned strategy of 
collaborating and earlier partnering of our 
technologies beginning to gain traction. 
The expansion of our development 
programme to include GBM could add 
significant value to MTX110. We have 
reasons to view the future with excitement 
and confidence.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

11

Financial review

 “

The Strategic Review announced on 
31 March 2020 resulted in a further 
narrowing of focus of operations and 
significant expected closure and 
redundancy costs.”

Stephen Stamp
Chief Executive Officer

Following the announcement of a Strategic Review on 31 March 2020, the Company 
restructured its operations including the termination of further in-house 
development of MTD201, closure of its Bilbao operations and redundancy of 48 
personnel. The financial impact of the Strategic Review on the Company’s financial 
results are described below.

Introduction 
Midatech Pharma plc (the “Company”) was incorporated as a company on 
12 September 2014 and is domiciled in England and Wales.

Financial analysis
Key performance indicators

2020

2019

Total gross revenue(1)
Statutory revenue
R&D expenditure
R&D as % of operating costs
Loss from continuing operations 
Net cash (outflow)/inflow for the year
Average headcount

£0.34m
£0.18m
£6.07m
56%
£(22.19)m
£(3.64)m
40

£0.67m
£0.31m
£7.84m
65%
£(9.14)m
£8.44m
65

Change

(49)%
(42)%
(23)%
n/a
143%
n/m
(38)%

(1)  Total gross revenue represents collaboration income from continuing operations plus grant revenue.

In the year ended 31 December 2020, Midatech generated consolidated total gross 
revenue of £0.34m (2019: £0.67m), a decrease of 49% on the prior year. Statutory 
revenue for the year was £0.18m (2019: £0.31m), the difference between gross and 
statutory revenue being grant revenue of £0.16m (2019: £0.36m). Statutory revenue 
was derived from the Company’s collaboration agreements.

12

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Impact of Midatech Pharma España SL (MPE)

Gross revenue
R&D expenditure
Administrative expenses
Loss from operations (before impairment of intangible assets

Midatech 
consolidated
£000

343 
(6,068)
(4,952)
(10,671)

2020

MPE
(Note 32)
£000

163 
(2,820)
(1,146)
(3,803)

Excluding MPE
£000

180 
(3,248)
(3,806)
(6,868)

2019

Midatech 
consolidated
£000

674 
(7,843)
(3,841)
(11,318)

Staff costs
During the year, the average number of 
staff decreased to 40 (2019: 65), reflecting 
the closure of Bilbao operations and the 
redundancy of five UK-based employees 
following the Strategic Review. Total staff 
cost for continued operations fell by 17% 
to £2.79m (2019: £3.38m).

Capital expenditure
The total cash expenditure on property 
plant and equipment in 2020 was £0.21m 
(2019: £0.31m), largely in respect of 
investment in our laboratory and 
pilot-scale manufacturing facility in Cardiff. 

Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income in 2020 
comprised a foreign exchange gain of 
£0.51m (2019: loss of £0.21m) arising 
on retranslation of Midatech’s non-UK 
operations. 

by Midatech pursuant to an indemnity 
claim following the sale of MPUS to 
Barings LLC in November 2018. Under 
the terms of the sale and purchase 
agreement, Midatech indemnified the 
purchaser against, inter alia, any liability 
related to any prescription drug user fee 
amounts owed to the FDA under the 
Prescription Drug Fee User Act (“PDUFA”) 
by MPUS for the United States 
government’s fiscal year ended 
30 September 2018.

Impairment of intangible assets
In connection with our decision to 
terminate further in-house development 
of MTD201, we recognised an impairment 
loss for in-process research and 
development of £9.30m. In addition, 
because no other Q-Sphera products 
were advanced beyond the formulation 
stage as of 31 December, 2020, we 
recognised an impairment of goodwill 
arising from our acquisition of Q Chip 
Limited in December 2014 of £2.29m. 
In connection with the purported 
termination of our license to panobinostat 
by Secura Bio in June 2020, we recognised 
an impairment of an intangible asset of 
£0.78m as of 31 December, 2020.

Research and 
development expenditure
Research and development costs 
decreased by £1.77m, or 23% to £6.07m 
(2019: £7.84m) in the year primarily due 
to lower aggregate clinical development 
costs of £3.38m, including reduced 
expenditure on MTD201 of £2.33m. Lower 
clinical development expenses were offset 
by £0.89m of redundancy costs and 
£0.85m of accelerated depreciation 
in connection with the closure of the 
Company’s operations in Bilbao, Spain.

Distribution costs, sales 
and marketing
Distribution costs, sales and marketing 
costs in 2020 were £6,000 (2019: £0.32m) 
representing a reduction in market and 
payor research expenses associated with 
our pipeline R&D products.

Administrative costs
Administrative costs in the year 
increased by £1.11m, or 29% to £4.95m 
(2019: £3.84m) and included increases 
in professional fees and insurance of 
£0.48m and £0.36m, respectively offset by 
a reduction in personnel costs of £0.40m.  
In addition, administrative costs in 2020 
included £0.72m in connection with the 
closure of the Company’s operations in 
Bilbao, Spain of which £0.55m related 
to interest on repaid Spanish soft loans 
and £0.17m related to the settlement of 
a lawsuit.

Loss from 
discontinued operations
Loss from discontinued operations relates 
to the sale of Midatech Pharma US (MPUS) 
in November 2018. The loss of £0.95m in 
2019 is the impairment of a deposit paid 

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

13

Financial review continued

Cash flow
Net cash outflow from operating activities in 2020 was £9.30m (2019: outflow £6.49m) driven by a net loss of £22.19m (2019: loss 
£10.08m) and after negative movements in working capital of £1.56m (2019: positive £1.80m), taxes received of £1.95m (2019: £1.92m), 
non-cash impairment of intangible assets of £12.37m (£2019: nil) and other net positive adjustments for non-cash items totalling 
£0.12m (2019: negative £0.13m). 

Investing activities inflow in 2020 of £2.57m (2019: outflow of £3.81m) included purchases of property, plant and equipment of £0.21m 
(2019: £0.31m) offset in 2020 by proceeds from the disposal of assets of £0.14m. In addition, a guarantee deposit of £2.64m in respect 
of a Spanish government loan repaid during the year was released (2019: £2.55m outflow). The remaining investing activities outflow 
of £0.95m in 2019 related to the disposal of MPUS. 

Financing activities inflow in 2020 of £3.08m (2019: inflow of £18.73m) was driven by receipts from share issues, including exercise of 
warrants, of £9.74m (2019: £14.11m) offset by the repayment of Spanish government loans of £6.18m (2019: £5.57m inflow). Spanish 
government grants of £0.23m were repaid in 2020 (2019: £nil). The other principal outflow in 2019 was the repayment of borrowings 
of £0.58m.

As a result of the foregoing, net cash outflow for the year were £3.64m (2019: inflow of £8.44m).

Capital structure
Following approval by shareholders at a General Meeting of the Company on 2 March 2020, the Ordinary Shares of 0.005 pence each 
were consolidated on a one for 20 basis with effect from 3 March 2020 with new ISIN GB00BKT14T00. Midatech’s capital structure on 
a post-consolidation basis as of 31 December 2020 was as follows:

Ordinary Shares
Warrants 2022 exercisable at £10.00 per Ordinary Share
Warrants exercisable at $6.25 per American Depositary Share
Warrants 2022 exercisable at £0.34 per Ordinary Share
Warrants exercisable at $2.05 per American Depositary Share
Warrants exercisable at $2.0625 per American Depositary Share
Options over Ordinary Shares with a weighted average exercise price of £0.83
Warrants assumed in connection with DARA acquisition with a weighted average exercise price of $110.51
Options assumed in connection with DARA acquisition with a weighted average exercise price of $95.17

In addition, there were 1,000,001 deferred shares of £1 each, unaffected by the consolidation.

Post-consolidation  
Ordinary Shares of 
 0.1 pence

63,073,852
15,692,276
3,150,000
6,999,999
6,590,910
454,546
1,482,978
4,624
2,835

As a consequence of the consolidation, per share amounts have been restated based on one twentieth of the weighted average 
number of Ordinary Shares outstanding during the year, being 42,839,961 (2019 restated: 18,330,588).

Restructuring
In March 2020, the Company announced a wide ranging Strategic Review of its operations. The Board decided to terminate further 
in-house development of MTD201, close the Company’s MTD201 dedicated facilities in Bilbao and make redundant all 43 Bilbao based 
employees and five UK employees. The cash and non-cash impact of the restructuring on the financial statements during 2020 may 
be summarised as follows:

Staff redundancy
Repayment of loans, net of deposit returned (incl. penalties)
Settlement of leases (incl. penalties)
Repayment of grant funding (incl. penalties)
Impairment of acquired IPRD
Impairment of goodwill
Write down of tangible assets
Write back of right of use asset – IFRS16
Legal, advisory fees
Share based payments

Profit and loss

Balance sheet

Cash
£000

959
324
122
229
–
–
–
–
157
–

Non-cash
£000

–
–
–
–
9,300
2,291
778
(110)
–
(520)

1,791

11,739

Cash
£000

–
3,543
122
229
–
–
–
–
–
–

3,894

Non-cash 
£000

–
–
–
–
9,300
2,291
778
110
–
–

12,479

As of 31 December 2020, all loans, grants and subsidies other than one Spanish government loan of £0.1m had been repaid. The 
remaining loan was repaid in February 2021.

14

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Environmental matters, 
community, human rights 
issues and employees
With 21 employees, of whom 17 are 
routinely based at its offices in Cardiff, 
the Company believes it has a relatively 
modest environmental impact. All 
materials imported into the Company’s 
laboratories are assessed for safety 
purposes and appropriate handling and 
storage safeguards imposed as necessary. 
Any small quantities of hazardous 
materials are removed by licensed waste 
management contractors. A number 
of policies and procedures governing 
expectations of ethical standards and 
the treatment of employees and other 
stakeholders are set out in the Company’s 
Employee Handbook. The Company has 
also established an anti-slavery policy 
pursuant to the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The Company strives to be an equal 
opportunity employer, irrespective of 
race or gender. At 31 December 2020; the 
number of male/female employees was 
44%/56%, the number of male/female 
senior managers was 50%/50% and the 
number of male/female Directors was 
100%/0%.

In addition, the global pandemic COVID-19 
virus places increased uncertainty over 
the Directors’ forecasts. The restrictions 
being placed on the movement of people 
will likely cause delays to some of the 
Group’s plans. It is difficult to assess 
to what extent, and for how long, 
COVID-19 will cause delays to the 
Group’s operations. The Directors 
have established a COVID-19 task force 
internally to monitor the impact of 
COVID-19 on the business and prioritise 
activities to minimise its effect.

The Directors are evaluating a number 
of near-term funding options potentially 
available to the Group, including 
fundraising and the partnering of 
assets and technologies of the Company. 
After considering the uncertainties, the 
Directors consider it is appropriate to 
continue to adopt the going concern basis 
in preparing these financial statements.

Macro-economic environment
The United Kingdom completed exited 
from the European Union (“EU”) on 
31 January 2020 and the transition period 
concluded on 31 December, 2020. A 
new trade agreement with the EU was 
negotiated and became effective on 
1 January 2021. The impact of the new 
trade agreement on the general and 
economic conditions in the United 
Kingdom remain uncertain. There may, 
for example be additional costs in 
materials and equipment sourced from 
the EU and/or delays to delivery timelines 
due to additional administration.

Going concern
The Group and Company has experienced 
net losses and significant cash outflows 
from cash used in operating activities over 
the past years as it develops its portfolio. 
For the year ended 31 December, 2020, 
the Group incurred a consolidated loss 
from operations of £22.2m and negative 
cash flows from operations of £9.3m. 
As of 31 December, 2020, the Group had 
an accumulated deficit of £122.4m.

The Group’s future viability is dependent 
on its ability to generate cash from 
operating activities, to raise additional 
capital to finance its operations and to 
successfully obtain regulatory approval 
to allow marketing of its development 
products. The Group’s failure to raise 
capital as and when needed could have 
a negative impact on its financial condition 
and ability to pursue its business 
strategies. 

The Group’s consolidated financial 
statements have been presented on a 
going concern basis, which contemplates 
the realisation of assets and the 
satisfaction of liabilities in the normal 
course of business.

As at 31 December 2020, the Group 
had cash and cash equivalents of £7.5m. 
The Directors forecast that the Group 
currently has enough cash to fund its 
planned operations into the fourth 
quarter of 2021.

The Directors have prepared cash flow 
forecasts and considered the cash flow 
requirement for the Company for the next 
three years including the period twelve 
months from the date of approval of the 
consolidated financial statements. These 
forecasts show that further financing will 
be required before the fourth quarter 
of 2021 assuming, inter alia, that certain 
development programs and other 
operating activities continue as currently 
planned. This requirement for additional 
financing in the short term represents 
a material uncertainty that may cast 
significant doubt upon the Group and 
parent company’s ability to continue 
as a going concern.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

15

Stakeholder Engagement

Working with our
stakeholders

In accordance with the QCA Code, as 
well as what is most likely to promote 
the success of the Group in the 
long-term, the Board considers the 
interests of the Group’s employees 
and other stakeholders in its decision 
making and understands the 
importance of taking into account their 
views and considers the impact of the 
Group’s activities on the community, 
environment and its reputation. 

Our stakeholders

Material topics

How we engage

Collaboration partners
We are engaged in R&D 
collaborations with our commercial 
partners to develop proof of concept 
formulations using our Q-Sphera 
technology. 

•  Project management
•  Effective communication
•  Setting and management 

of expectations
•  Financial stability

Our strategy of collaborating with partners is relatively new. 

We are careful to align our deliverables with the 

expectations of collaboration partners through discreet 

work packages with well-defined deliverables. We schedule 

regular meetings with our partners to appraise them of 

progress and resolve issues.

s.172 of the Companies 
Act 2006 statement
The Directors are required to include a 
statement of how they have had regard 
to stakeholders to promote the success 
of the Company, in accordance with 
s.172 of the Companies Act 2006. Under 
s.172, a Director must act in the way 
he considers, in good faith, would be 
most likely to promote the success of 
the company for the benefit of its 
members, as a whole, and in doing so 
have regard to: 
• 

the likely consequences of any 
decision in the long-term, 
the interests of the Company’s 
employees, 
the need to foster the Company’s 
business relationships with suppliers, 
customers and others, 
the impact of the Company’s 
operations on the community and 
the environment,
the desirability of the Company 
maintaining a reputation for high 
standards of business conduct, and 
the need to act fairly as between 
members of the Company. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

16

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Employees
We are privileged to have a 
committed team of skilled employees 
based at our facilities in Cardiff. We 
seek to maintain an environment 
which fosters innovation and allows 
our employees to thrive.

•  Opportunities for career 

development

•  Freedom to experiment and innovate
•  Ownership of projects
•  Rewards and incentives
•  Company financial performance

Alongside intellectual property, our employees are the 

Company’s key asset. We engage with our employees 

through regular project team meetings. We also hold 

plenary “all hands” meetings for employees on an ad hoc 

basis. We have a formal annual appraisal process which 

facilitates two-way feedback for our employees and their 

line managers. 

Shareholders
Listed on two exchanges, we 
recognise the importance of our 
shareholders as providers of capital 
and feedback on strategy and 
governance.

•  Operational and financial 

performance

•  Business strategy and model
•  Market conditions
•  Allocation of resources
•  Working capital

Regulators
We work in a highly regulated 
industry. Interactions with regulators 
on compliance and guidance on our 
clinical programmes is key to our 
success.

•  Compliance with regulations
•  Transparency 
•  Quality Assurance processes 

and procedures
Integrity of data

• 
•  Advice on clinical development

We strive to keep our shareholders informed through 

regulated contact. We offer conference calls and one-on-

one meetings (virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19) twice yearly 

to coincide with interim and year end results. We report 

important events through press releases, RNS and 6-Ks, 

some of which are supplemented with conference calls. 

One-on-one meetings provide opportunities for 

shareholders to share their views.

We maintain a Quality Management System including a 

comprehensive suite of Standard Operating Procedures 

designed to ensure compliance with Good Laboratory 

Practice and Good Clinical Practice. We seek the advice of 

UK/European and US regulators in the design and of clinical 

trials before their initiation. We supplement in-house 

expertise with consultants, Key Opinion Leaders and 

Contract Research Organisations, as appropriate.

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Our stakeholders

Material topics

How we engage

Principle decisions in 2020

Collaboration partners

We are engaged in R&D 

•  Project management

collaborations with our commercial 

•  Effective communication

partners to develop proof of concept 

•  Setting and management 

formulations using our Q-Sphera 

technology. 

of expectations

•  Financial stability

Our strategy of collaborating with partners is relatively new. 
We are careful to align our deliverables with the 
expectations of collaboration partners through discreet 
work packages with well-defined deliverables. We schedule 
regular meetings with our partners to appraise them of 
progress and resolve issues.

Employees

We are privileged to have a 

•  Opportunities for career 

committed team of skilled employees 

development

based at our facilities in Cardiff. We 

•  Freedom to experiment and innovate

seek to maintain an environment 

•  Ownership of projects

which fosters innovation and allows 

•  Rewards and incentives

our employees to thrive.

•  Company financial performance

Alongside intellectual property, our employees are the 
Company’s key asset. We engage with our employees 
through regular project team meetings. We also hold 
plenary “all hands” meetings for employees on an ad hoc 
basis. We have a formal annual appraisal process which 
facilitates two-way feedback for our employees and their 
line managers. 

Shareholders

Listed on two exchanges, we 

recognise the importance of our 

•  Operational and financial 

performance

shareholders as providers of capital 

•  Business strategy and model

and feedback on strategy and 

governance.

•  Market conditions

•  Allocation of resources

•  Working capital

Regulators

We work in a highly regulated 

•  Compliance with regulations

industry. Interactions with regulators 

•  Transparency 

on compliance and guidance on our 

•  Quality Assurance processes 

clinical programmes is key to our 

success.

and procedures

• 

Integrity of data

•  Advice on clinical development

We strive to keep our shareholders informed through 
regulated contact. We offer conference calls and one-on-
one meetings (virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19) twice yearly 
to coincide with interim and year end results. We report 
important events through press releases, RNS and 6-Ks, 
some of which are supplemented with conference calls. 
One-on-one meetings provide opportunities for 
shareholders to share their views.

We maintain a Quality Management System including a 
comprehensive suite of Standard Operating Procedures 
designed to ensure compliance with Good Laboratory 
Practice and Good Clinical Practice. We seek the advice of 
UK/European and US regulators in the design and of clinical 
trials before their initiation. We supplement in-house 
expertise with consultants, Key Opinion Leaders and 
Contract Research Organisations, as appropriate.

Significant decision
On 31 March 2020 the Board decided to conduct a 
Strategic Review of the Company’s operations and 
immediately terminated further in-house development 
of MTD201. This entailed the closure of the Company’s 
operations in Bilbao and the redundancy of 48 employees.

Reasons for the decision
The Board had concluded that, in the context of its cash 
runway at the time, the Company was unlikely to conclude 
a license transaction or raise sufficient funds to continue 
the required remaining investment in MTD201 on a timely 
basis.

Stakeholders impacted and engagement
Collaboration partners: our first collaboration 
partnership was secured after the Strategic Review 
decision.
Employees: the redundancy of our Bilbao employees 
was conducted under a process under Spanish law 
called Expediente de Regulación de Empleo which 
entailed extensive consultation with a Worker’s Council.
Shareholders: the Strategic Review was announced via 
RNS and a 6-K. There followed a series of one-on-one 
virtual meetings with shareholders. Shareholders were 
updated with subsequent announcements, conference 
calls and meetings.
Regulators: we notified regulators of the closure of Bilbao 
operations and suspended our manufacturing licence.

Anticipated effects
Our realigned strategy opened up opportunities to engage 
with potential partners to collaborate on the development 
of products using our technologies. Employees who lost 
their jobs were offered redundancy payments to assist 
while they sought alternative employment. Qualifying 
individuals were also offered outplacement services. Roles 
and responsibilities for continuing employees were 
realigned, in many cases presenting opportunities for 
career development. The closure of Bilbao operations was 
managed within regulatory guidelines including retention 
of records and long term storage of materials used in 
completed clinical studies.

Progress
The Bilbao operations have been closed and, with the 
exception of one small Spanish government loan, all 
liabilities have been settled. It is expected the Spanish 
subsidiary will be liquidated shortly.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

17

Risk management

Managing risks
and uncertainties

The Group has formal procedures to 
monitor and manage risk.

Principal risks and uncertainties
The Directors consider the principal risks 
facing the business to be as follows:

Regulation
Midatech operates in a highly regulated 
sector.

Government authorities in the United 
Kingdom, United States and in other 
countries and jurisdictions, including the 
European Union, extensively regulate, 
among other things, the research, 
development, testing, manufacture, 
quality control, approval, distribution, sale, 
marketing, post-approval monitoring and 
reporting of pharmaceutical products. 
The processes for obtaining regulatory 
approvals, along with subsequent 
compliance with applicable statutes and 
regulations require the expenditure of 
substantial time and financial resources.

Following the announcement on 31 March 
2020 that the Company had terminated 
further inhouse development of MTD201, 
the Company also closed its facilities in 
Bilbao which were largely dedicated to the 
manufacture of MTD201. The Company’s 
strategy is to deploy its drug delivery 
technologies to develop new formulations 
to proof of concept stage and then seek 
a licensing partner to undertake further 
development and commercial 
manufacturing. 

Accordingly, the successful development, 
manufacture and commercialisation of 
its products will be dependent upon the 
expertise and compliance of its licensee 
partners with regulations. These include 
current Good Clinical Practice (“GCP”) and 
current Good Manufacturing Practice 
(“GMP”). 

Waste solutions and products are 
suitably disposed of under contract with 
a licensed provider for this purpose. Prior 
to disposal, hazardous waste materials 
are stored under appropriate conditions. 
Solvents and other inflammable reagents 
are stored in appropriate fire containment 
storage cabinets.

Competition and technological 
advances
Midatech’s Q-Sphera sustained release 
technology relies on a novel 
manufacturing process that, the Directors 
believe, is unique in the pharmaceutical 
industry. Although competing sustained 
release technologies are well established 
in the market, the Q-Sphera platform has 
the potential for improved drug delivery 
kinetics and manufacturing efficiency.

The Group’s MidaSolve technology 
increases the aqueous solubility of small 
molecule cancer therapeutics to enable 
parenteral administration. This platform 
relies on internal know-how that uniquely 
applies prevailing chemistry techniques to 
enhance the solubility of insoluble agents.

The Group’s MidaCore drug GNP platform 
is among the latest generation of 
nanomedicine technologies. Liposomes 
followed by various polymeric nanoparticles 
were the first nanotechnologies and now 
inorganic nanoparticles like Midatech GNPs 
are an emerging technology within the 
nanomedicine market.

Commercial success of Midatech’s 
portfolio of development product 
candidates depends in part on the 
market’s acceptance of these products 
and technologies. There can be no 
guarantee that this acceptance will be 
forthcoming or that Midatech’s 
technologies will succeed as an alternative 
to competing products. Furthermore, 
demand for Midatech’s products may 
decrease if competitor products are 
introduced with perceived advantages 
over Midatech’s product candidates.

The speed and nature of technological 
change means that medicinal science is 
always evolving and new competition and 
alternatives are always a possibility. As a 
result of the combination of its platform 
technologies, intellectual property and 
proprietary know-how, the Group has a 
protected position in the sustained 
release, solubility enhancement and 
nanoparticle spaces which offer the 
potential for highly differentiated drugs 
serving high unmet needs, such as orphan 
oncology, to be rapidly and independently 
manufactured and scaled.

18

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Clinical development and regulatory 
risk
There can be no guarantee that any of the 
Group’s products will obtain or maintain 
the necessary regulatory approvals in any 
or all of the territories in respect of which 
applications for such approvals are made. 
Where regulatory approvals are obtained, 
there can be no guarantee that the 
conditions attached to such approvals 
will not be considered too onerous by 
the Group or its distribution partners in 
order to be able to market its products 
effectively. The Group seeks to reduce this 
risk by developing products using safe, 
well-characterised active compounds, by 
seeking advice from regulatory advisers, 
consulting with regulatory approval bodies 
and by working with experienced 
distribution partners.

Financial risk management 
objectives and policies
The Group is exposed to a variety of 
financial risks which result from both its 
operating and investing activities. The 
Board is responsible for coordinating the 
Group’s risk management and focuses 
on actively securing the Group’s short 
to medium term cash flows.

Finance risk
The Group enters into very few 
transactions involving significant 
complexity, potential material financial 
exposure or atypical risk. The Group does 
not actively engage in the trading of 
financial assets and has no financial 
derivatives other than equity settled 
derivative financial liabilities as set out 
in note 21. 

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Funding risk
The Group continues to incur substantial 
operating expenses. The IPO in December 
2014 and subsequent fundraises in 
October 2016, October 2017, February 
2019, October 2019 and most recently in 
May 2020 and July 2020, allowed the 
Group to advance the development 
pipeline products towards future value 
inflection points. However, until the Group 
generates positive net cash inflows from 
the out-licence or commercialisation of its 
development products it is expected to 
have to seek additional funding, whether 
through the injection of further equity 
capital from share issues, grants or debt 
finance. The Group may not be able 
to generate positive net cash inflows 
in the future or be able to attract such 
additional funding as may be required, 
either at all, or on suitable terms. In 
such circumstances the development 
programmes may be delayed or cancelled 
and business operations cut back.

The Group seeks to reduce this risk by 
keeping a tight control on expenditure, 
avoiding long-term supplier contracts 
(other than for clinical trials), prioritising 
development spend on products closest 
to potential revenue generation, obtaining 
government grants (where possible), 
maintaining a focused portfolio of 
products under development and by 
keeping shareholders informed of 
progress.

Political landscape and external risk
In the referendum in June 2016, voters 
approved the UK’s exit from the European 
Union (“EU”) (commonly referred to as 
“Brexit”). On 31 January 2020, the UK 
formally completed its exit from the EU 
and the transition period extended 
through 31 December 2020. A new trade 
agreement with the EU was negotiated 
and became effective on 1 January 2021. 
The impact of the new trade agreement 
on the general and economic conditions 
in the United Kingdom remain uncertain. 
There may, for example be additional 
costs in materials and equipment sourced 
from the EU and/or delays to delivery 
timelines due to additional administration.

COVID-19
In response to the pandemic and 
government imposed restrictions on 
movement, the Company established a 
COVID-19 Task Force in mid-March 2020 
with the dual objectives of safeguarding 
the health and wellbeing of staff members 
and monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on 
vendors and collaborators. The Group has 
reorganised, as far as possible, the layout 
of its offices and laboratories in Cardiff 
to conform to social distancing policies 
and allow employees to return to the 
workplace. Notwithstanding these actions, 
there has been disruption to internal 
workplans and delays in the recruitment 
of ongoing clinical trials.

From a regulatory perspective, a basic 
requirement of EU law relating to the 
grant of a marketing authorisation for 
a medicinal product in the EU is that the 
applicant is established in the EU. The 
scope of a marketing authorisation for 
a medicinal product granted by the 
European Commission pursuant to the 
centralised procedure might not, in 
the future, include the UK. In these 
circumstances, an authorisation granted 
by competent UK authorities would be 
required to place medicinal products 
on the UK market. 

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

19

Risk management continued

Risk mitigation
The Group has formal procedures to monitor and mitigate risk. Some of the principal risks facing the Group include:

Risk 

Description

Mitigation

Change 
from prior 
year

No change

•  Securing fee-for-service contracts to formulate 
third parties’ APIs together with development 
of an attractive inhouse pipeline for licensing 
should provide additional cash flow to support 
operations

•  Securing license and technology transfer 

agreements with third parties should result in 
the payment of upfront and success-based 
milestones to the Company

•  Dual AIM and NASDAQ listings may provide 

access to additional funding sources

No change

•  Keep a watching brief on drug delivery industry 
developments and academic outputs to identify 
generic competition and disruptive technology 
and products early

•  Protect our own technologies and products as 

broadly as possible with patents and trademarks

•  Review commercial relevance of the Group’s 

technology platforms regularly

•  Direct innovation effort towards identified 

strengths and USPs

•  Examine opportunities to diversify the pipeline 
by adding additional sustained release and 
GNP projects

•  Develop products using safe, well-characterised 

active compounds

•  Seek early scientific and regulatory advice
•  Track the changing regulatory environment to 
ensure that we remain in compliance with all 
regulations and expectations

No change

No change

•  Maintain a detailed understanding of in-house 
platform technologies to maximise successful 
application thereof in Midatech therapeutic areas, 
whether in relation to chemistry, manufacturing, 
development or commercialisation

•  Have clear go/no-go decision criteria allowing 

early identification of projects unlikely to succeed

•  Portfolio management to balance higher risk 

projects with lower risk projects

•  Hold Scientific and Therapeutic Advisory Board 
meetings to review the viability of the pipeline 
and allocate resources accordingly

Availability of 
funding

Competition/
technological 
progress

Obtaining/
maintaining 
regulatory 
approval

Commercial 
viability of 
products

Until the Group generates positive net cash 
inflows from the commercialisation of its 
development products it may be required 
to seek additional funding, whether through 
the injection of further equity capital from 
share issues, grant or debt finance. The 
Group may not be able to generate positive 
net cash inflows in the future or be able to 
attract such additional funding as may be 
required, either at all, or on suitable terms. 
In such circumstances the development 
programmes may be delayed or cancelled 
and business operations cut back. The risk 
of availability of funding is exacerbated by 
recent macro-economic developments 
including Brexit and COVID-19.

Although R&D is directed towards large 
market opportunities, existing and 
prospective competitors may have 
superior capabilities, and/or alternative 
products may become available. There is 
a risk of our products losing commercial 
viability in the fast-moving biotechnology 
sector.

There can be no certainty that our products 
will receive regulatory approvals in the 
countries where we intend to operate, 
either within the timescale envisaged or 
at all. Regulations may also change after 
approval has been granted and subsequent 
regulatory difficulties with products may 
result in impositions against us.

There can be no assurance that our 
products will be commercially viable; the 
amounts and costs of production may 
not be acceptable for commercial use, or 
superior products may be developed. The 
ability to sell products at an acceptable 
cost would also be affected by healthcare 
reform and by access to appropriate sales 
channels and infrastructure in individual 
countries where we plan to operate.

20

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Risk 

Description

Mitigation

Dependence  
on third party 
manufacturing 
capability

We no longer operate our own in-house 
manufacturing facility and will therefore 
be reliant on third party contract 
manufacturers. There can be no assurance 
that we will be able to contract with third 
party contract manufacturers on 
appropriate terms or at all. In addition, we 
cannot be sure such third parties will be 
capable of manufacturing sufficient 
quantities, in compliance with regulatory 
requirements at an acceptable cost or 
within an acceptable timeframe.

Dependence  
on suppliers, 
partners and 
customers

We source materials from certain 
suppliers, depend on contract research 
organisations to undertake clinical 
research, and have collaboration 
agreements with various partners for 
aspects of the product development 
and commercialisation processes.

Change 
from prior 
year

Increased

•  Early involvement of experienced and suitably 
qualified organisations and individuals to plan 
and manage the commercial scale up process
•  Commitment of appropriate resources to ensure 

the scale up plan can be properly executed

•  Audit of external contract manufacturing 

organisations to ensure compliance with GMP
•  Clear go/no-go decision criteria to determine 

the optimal manufacturing partner

Increased

• 

Identify and maintain relationships with 
alternative suppliers, particularly for 
critical materials

•  Seek partnerships with companies of diverse 

interests and sizes

•  Hold regular dialogue with partners to increase 

understanding of respective interests
•  Optimise the portfolio mix and number 

of projects, and improve R&D productivity 
to expand the pipeline

COVID-19

Brexit

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in 
global restrictions on movement of people 
which, in turn has caused delays in the 
provision of supply chain materials and 
services. It has also resulted in volatility 
in the capital markets, impacting on 
fundraising activities.

•  Preserve the health and wellbeing of employees 
by working from home and staggering essential 
workplace attendance

•  Establish a COVID-19 task force to (1) monitor 

government recommendations and implement 
as appropriate and (2) identify potential delays in 
vendor deliverables and recommend corrective/
alternative action, if viable 

Increased

The UK formally withdrew from the EU on 
31 December 2020. The EU-UK Trade and 
Cooperation Agreement governs the UK’s 
trading arrangements with the EU and the 
long term macro- and micro- economic 
effects of the new arrangements remain 
uncertain.

Identify EU-based collaborators and suppliers
• 
•  Verify any additional duties or taxes payable by 
the Company or deductible by collaborators
Identify alternative, non-EU suppliers as 
necessary

• 

New

This Strategic Report was approved by the Board on 
30 April 2021 and signed on its behalf.

Stephen Stamp
Chief Executive Officer 
Chief Financial Officer

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

21

  
  
  
The Board
of Directors

As at 31 December 2020 the Board 
consisted of one Executive Director 
and three Non-executive Directors. 

in September 2019, was also appointed 
Chief Executive Officer with effect from 
31 March 2020. 

On 31 March 2020, in line with the 
Company’s streamlined strategy and 
operations and narrower focus, Craig Cook 
resigned as Chief Executive Officer and 
Director and Dr Huaizheng Peng and 
Frédéric Duchesne resigned as Non-
executive Directors. Stephen Stamp, who 
joined the Company as Chief Financial 
Officer and was appointed to the Board 

Biographies of the current Directors are 
set out below.

The Directors believe that the combined 
functional and industry expertise of Board 
members provides Midatech Pharma plc 
with a strong platform to lead the 
business.

Executive

Non-executive

Stephen Stamp
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer (59)

Rolf Stahel 
Non-Executive Chairman (age 77) 

Mr Stamp is an experienced public company CFO and has 
held senior positions in a number of healthcare companies 
in the UK and the US including CFO of Shire plc, Chief 
Operating Officer of Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals Inc., CFO of 
Assurex Health, Inc and CFO and latterly CEO, of Ergomed 
plc. He has also been CFO of Regus plc (now IWG plc) and 
EZCORP Inc. Mr Stamp also has considerable M&A 
experience, having worked for Lazard in London.

He is a Chartered Accountant and qualified with KPMG and 
has a BA(Econ) from the University of Manchester.

Mr Stahel has approximately 40 years of experience in the 
pharmaceutical industry, of which around 20 years were 
spent at Chief Executive and Board level in public (United 
Kingdom, Switzerland and United States) and private life 
science companies registered in Europe, the United States 
and Asia. Mr Stahel joined Shire as CEO in 1994 following 
a 27-year career at Wellcome plc (now GlaxoSmithKline). 

He is currently the non-executive chairman of Ampha 
Limited and was previously the non-executive chairman 
of Ergomed plc, Connexios Life Sciences Pvt Limited, EUSA 
Pharma Inc., Cosmo Pharmaceuticals SpA, PowderMed 
Limited and Newron Pharmaceuticals SpA.

22

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Non-executive

Non-executive

Sijmen de Vries
Non-Executive Director (61)

Dr de Vries has extensive senior level experience in 
both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. He is 
currently CEO of Pharming group N.V., the Euronext-listed 
pharmaceutical company. Dr de Vries was previously  
CEO of both Switzerland-based 4-Antibody and 
Morphochem AG, and prior to this he worked at Novartis 
Pharma, Novartis Ophthalmics and at SmithKline Beecham 
Pharmaceuticals Plc, where he held senior business and 
commercial positions. 

Dr de Vries holds an MD degree from the University of 
Amsterdam and a MBA in General Management from 
Ashridge Management College (UK).

Simon Turton 
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director (54)

Dr Turton previously headed Warburg Pincus’ healthcare 
investing activities in Europe and was a principal at Index 
Ventures in Geneva. He has over 10 years of experience 
investing in biopharma companies following a ten-year 
career in the international pharmaceutical industry 
incorporating roles in research, business development  
and general management. Dr Turton has an MBA from 
INSEAD and a Ph.D. in pharmacy from the University of 
London. He has been a board director of private and  
public biomedical companies: Archimedes Pharma, Eurand, 
ProStrakan and Tornier. Dr Turton was most recently 
Chairman of Q Chip prior to its acquisition by the Group. 

He is currently CEO of Gensmile, a new dental corporate 
building a group of dental clinics in the UK.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

23

Executive Management

Our leadership
team

As a small company, Midatech is able to 
operate a relatively flat organisational 
structure with short lines of communication 
for rapid problem solving and execution. 
The multi-disciplinary leadership team is 
drawn from diverse backgrounds and 
diversity of thought is encouraged and 
rewarded.

Stephen Stamp
Chief Executive Officer,  
Chief Financial Officer (59)

Steve Damment Ph.D
EVP Research & Development

Dr Damment is an experienced leader 
in drug development with a 30-year 
track record of advancing drug 
candidates through key development 
milestones to successful product 
registration. He has held a number of 
senior pharmaceutical research and 
development positions including roles 
with Glaxo-Wellcome (now GSK) and 
Shire Pharmaceuticals where he was 
Senior Vice President of Biosciences.

Paul Seaman Ph.D
VP Pharmaceutical & Technology 
Development

Dr Paul Seaman has a PhD in 
pharmaceutical microbiology and over 
15 years of experience working in the 
pharmaceutical industry, including 
GlaxoSmithKline and Q Chip Ltd prior 
to Midatech Pharma. Paul specialises 
in development of novel drug delivery 
technologies, with particular focus 
on parenteral delivery and having 
worked with approved and novel 
drug candidates across both small 
molecules and biologics. Paul has led 
the development of Midatech Pharma’s 
Q Sphera platform from the lab bench 
to clinical trials and is responsible for 
Pharmaceutical Development across 
all Midatech Pharma drug delivery 
platforms.

Fiona Sharp
Group Financial Controller

Fiona is a qualified accountant and has 
held senior finance positions within 
the PR and advertising industry, 
including Group Finance Director 
of Chime Communications Group. 
Fiona is a member of Council and 
Chair of Resources and Performance 
Committee at Aberystwyth University. 
Fiona is a Fellow of the Chartered 
Association of Certified Accountants.

24

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Sam Barker Ph.D
Director of Business Development

Sam joined Midatech Pharma in 
January 2020 as Director of Business 
Development and has responsibility 
for all commercial activities. He is an 
experienced biotechnology 
professional with over 5 years 
experience in drug discovery and 
emerging technologies.

Prior to Midatech Pharma, Sam  
served as Senior Business 
Development & Alliance Manager  
at PhoreMost Ltd, a Cambridge, UK 
based biopharmaceutical company 
dedicated to drugging ‘undruggable’ 
disease targets. Sam holds a BSc in 
Biology from the University of Exeter 
and a PhD in drug discovery from  
the University of Exeter where he 
worked in collaboration with DSTL, 
Porton Down and the Drug  
Discovery Unit (DDU) at the  
University of Dundee.

Kelly Conlon Ph.D
VP Translational Medicine

Nitu Sharma
Senior Project Manager

Dr Kelly Conlon is a non clinical 
development specialist with more than 
20 years experience leading projects 
from early discovery through to clinical 
transition. Kelly has a PhD in 
Physiology and is a Fellow of the Royal 
Society of Biology. Prior to joining 
Midatech in 2017, Kelly held senior 
positions at Astra Zeneca, Shire 
Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer. In addition 
to leading a number of Midatech’s 
early discovery projects, Kelly provides 
translational medicine support across 
the Midatech portfolio.

Nitu is a Scrum Master and a PMP with 
over 12years experience of working 
with Agile methodologies.

She completed her Masters in 
Molecular Biology from the university 
of Hertfordshire. Being a scientist at 
heart and having worked for market 
leaders like Pfizer and Thermofisher 
she decided to keep serving science 
even after gaining project 
management certification. She 
believes in integrity, transparency, 
commitment and focus to achieve 
PMO goals while valuing servant 
leadership.

In her spare time she loves meditating. 
She is also associated with a local 
hospice for managing their projects  
on voluntary basis to help them  
raise funds.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

25

Chairman’s introduction to corporate governance

I am pleased to present the Company’s Corporate Governance 
Report for the year ended 31 December 2020.

This last year has been a year of significant transition for 
Midatech. There have been changes at Board level, changes 
to our corporate structure and changes to our strategic focus. 
The principal decisions arose from the Strategic Review 
referenced in the Stakeholder Report section of the Strategic 
Report. Corporate governance has always been a priority for 
Midatech and in 2020, the Board had a number of critical 
decisions to make, requiring much analysis and debate over 
the course of 22 Board meetings. 

As the Board of an AIM and NASDAQ listed company we are 
committed to ensuring the Midatech Group is managed in 
accordance with best practice and, specifically, in accordance 
with the principles and provisions set out in Quoted Companies 
Alliance Corporate Governance Code for Small and Mid-Sized 
Quoted Companies (QCA Code). This Corporate Governance 
Report, together with the Audit Committee and Directors’ 
Remuneration Reports that follow, set out the principles of  
our governance framework and how the Group has applied  
the QCA Code.

The Board, through its Committees plays a key role in providing 
the necessary framework, challenge and support to the business 
and the executives by ensuring that a culture of good governance 
exists throughout the Midatech Group.

As Chairman, my role is to ensure that the Board operates in an 
open and transparent environment, allowing the Non-executive 
Directors an opportunity to critically assess, challenge and 
support the CEO and senior management team.

QCA Code
With effect from 28 September 2018, all AIM listed companies 
were required to formally apply a recognised corporate 
governance code. Midatech chose to adopt the principles of 
the QCA Code which identifies 10 principles to be followed in
order for companies to deliver growth in long term shareholder 
value, encompassing an efficient, effective and dynamic 
management framework, accompanied by good communication, 
to promote confidence and trust. I am very pleased to say that 
we are able to report full compliance with each of the 10 
principles of the QCA Code. Details of the principles and how we 
comply are set out on our website www.midatechpharma.com.

Strategic Review and realignment of strategy
On 31 March 2020, the Company announced that the Board had 
concluded, in the context of its then current cash runway, that 
the Company was unlikely to conclude a license transaction 
or raise sufficient funds to continue the required remaining 
investment in MTD201 on a timely basis. The Board therefore 
decided to terminate further in-house development of the 
MTD201 programme with immediate effect. The Company 
continues to seek licensing partners for this asset.

In line with the decision to terminate MTD201, the Board also 
took the difficult decision to close the Company’s MTD201 
dedicated manufacturing facilities in Bilbao and make redundant 
all 43 employees. In addition, a further five UK-based employees 
in clinical research and administrative roles were made 
redundant. 

26

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Following these changes, Midatech’s remaining 20 employees 
and operations are now concentrated in Cardiff. The Company’s 
near-term goal is to deploy its proprietary Q-Sphera drug delivery 
technologies to formulate a compelling portfolio of novel 
first-in-class sustained release formulations of products with 
significant commercial potential for licensing to pharmaceutical 
company partners at proof of concept stage. Similarly, the 
Company’s strategy is develop MTX110 for rare cancers of the 
brain to proof of concept and then seek partners for continued 
development and commercialisation. The Board believes the 
realigned strategy will allow the Group to expand its R&D 
portfolio, albeit with earlier stage products, to increase the 
opportunities for partnering success.

Board of Directors
The Board’s role is to establish the vision and strategy for the 
Midatech Group and is responsible for the long-term success 
of the Company. The Board is responsible to the Company’s 
shareholders with its main objective being to increase the 
sustainable value of assets and long-term viability of the 
Company. The Board reviews business opportunities and 
determines the risks and control framework. It also makes 
decisions on budgets, strategy and major capital expenditure. 
The day-to-day management of the business is delegated to the 
CEO and senior management team. 

As at 31 December 2020 the Board comprised four Directors, 
three of whom were Non-executive Directors and the CEO, the 
only Executive Director. 

The Group regards all the Non-executive Directors as 
independent. 

No remuneration is paid to any Non-executive Directors in the 
form of shares. Sijmen de Vries holds share options granted by 
Midatech Limited, prior to the incorporation of Midatech Pharma 
PLC in 2014.

Relationship with NASDAQ
The Company’s shares are also listed on the NASDAQ market 
in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Following 
a one-for-20 consolidation of the Company’s ordinary shares of 
0.001p each with effect from 3 March 2020, the exchange ratio 
of ADRs for Ordinary Shares was also changed from one for 20 
to one for five. The Company’s status as a Foreign Private Issuer 
means that we are permitted to follow English corporate law 
and the Companies Act 2006 with regard to certain aspects of 
corporate governance; such practices differ in significant 
respects from the corporate governance requirements applicable 
to US companies on NASDAQ.

Board and Committee Meetings 
The Board and its Committees meet regularly to consider 
strategy, performance and the framework of internal controls. 
To enable the Board and/or its Committees to discharge its 
duties, all Directors receive appropriate and timely information. 
Briefing papers are distributed to all Directors in advance 
of Board meetings. The Company has established audit, 
remuneration, and nomination committees of the Board 
with formally delegated duties and responsibilities.

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

The Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board in discharging its 
responsibilities with regard to financial reporting, the external 
audit and internal controls. This includes reviewing and 
monitoring the integrity of the Group’s annual and interim 
financial statements, advising on the appointment of external 
auditors, reviewing and monitoring the extent of any non-audit 
work undertaken by external auditors, overseeing the Group’s 
relationship with its external auditors, reviewing the 
effectiveness of the external audit process and reviewing the 
effectiveness of the Group’s internal control review function. 
The ultimate responsibility for reviewing and approving the 
annual report and accounts and the half-yearly reports remains 
with the Board.

The Audit Committee is chaired by Simon Turton who is 
considered to have significant, recent and relevant financial 
experience, and its other members are Sijmen de Vries and 
Rolf Stahel. During 2020, the Audit Committee met six times. 

The Report of the Audit Committee for the year ended 
31 December 2020 can be found on pages 29 and 30.

The Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee assists the Board in carrying 
out its responsibilities in relation to remuneration, including 
making recommendations to the Board on the Group’s policy 
on executive remuneration, setting the over-arching principles, 
parameters and governance framework of the Group’s 
remuneration policy and determining the individual 
remuneration and benefits package of each of the Executive 
Directors and the Group Secretary, including any payment of 
a discretionary bonus and the award of all share options. The 
Remuneration Committee ensures compliance with the QCA 
Code in relation to remuneration wherever possible.

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Sijmen de Vries, and 
its other members are Simon Turton and Rolf Stahel. During 
2020, the Remuneration Committee met four times. 

The report of the Remuneration Committee for the year ended 
31 December 2020 can be found on pages 31 to 34.

The Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee assists the Board in discharging its 
responsibilities relating to the composition and make-up of the 
Board and any committees of the Board. It is responsible for 
periodically reviewing the Board’s structure and identifying 
potential candidates to be appointed as Directors or committee 
members as the need may arise. The Nomination Committee is 
responsible for evaluating the balance of skills, knowledge and 
experience and the size, structure and composition of the Board 
and committees of the Board, retirements and appointments of 
additional and replacement Directors and committee members 
and will make appropriate recommendations to the Board on 
such matters.

The Nomination Committee is chaired by Rolf Stahel and its other 
members are all members of the Board. The Nominations 
Committee was not formally convened during 2020.

Going concern
As disclosed in the Directors’ Report on pages 35 and 36 the 
Group financial statements have been prepared on the going 
concern basis. The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts 
and considered the cash flow requirement for the next three 
years, including the period twelve months from the date of the 
approval of the financial statements. These forecasts show that 
further financing will be required during the course of the next 12 
months, assuming, inter alia, that certain development programs 
and other operating activities continue as currently planned. 
This requirement for additional financing represents a material 
uncertainty that may cast significant doubt over about our ability 
to continue as a going concern. The Directors believe that the 
Group will be able to access adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for the foreseeable future and therefore 
the Directors, after considering the uncertainties, consider it is 
appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the financial statements.

Relationship with shareholders
The Directors seek to build and maintain a mutual understanding 
of objectives between the Company and its shareholders. The 
Company reports formally to shareholders in its Annual Report 
and Interim Statements setting out details of the Group’s 
activities. In addition, the Company keeps shareholders informed 
of events and progress through the issue of regulatory news in 
accordance with the AIM Rules for Companies (“AIM Rules”) of the 
London Stock Exchange and the Foreign Private Issuer reporting 
requirements as set out in Rules 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the United 
States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. There is regular dialogue 
with financial stakeholders with the intention of providing 
transparent communication. The Chief Executive/Chief Financial 
Officer meets with institutional shareholders following interim 
and final results. The Chairman also makes himself available 
to liaise with shareholders as necessary. The Company also 
maintains investor relations pages and other information 
regarding the business, the Group’s products and activities 
on its website at www.midatechpharma.com.

Suppliers 
We aim to work collaboratively with our suppliers to build 
long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. The Group is 
committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and to 
promoting equality and diversity in its professional dealings with 
suppliers and other third parties. The Group endeavours to enter 
into clear and fair contracts with its suppliers.

Employees
Our people are the foundation of our business and imperative to 
its success. The Group promotes a positive working environment 
for all employees with rigorous policies and procedures that 
protect, develop and satisfy our existing and future employees. 

Community
The Group seeks to support as many interactions with research 
and development community as possible through regular 
meetings and continuous collaborations.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

27

Chairman’s introduction to corporate governance continued

Health, safety and environment 
The Directors are committed to ensuring the highest standards 
of health and safety, both for their employees and for the 
communities within which the Group operates. The Directors are 
committed to minimising the impact of the Group’s operations on 
the environment. As set out in the Chief Executive’s Review we 
established a COVID-19 Task Force in mid-March 2020 with the 
objectives of safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our staff 
members and monitoring the impact on our vendors and 
collaborators.

The Annual Report is made available to shareholders at least 21 
days before the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) along with 
notice of the AGM. Directors are required to attend the AGM, 
unless unable to do so for personal reasons or due to pressing 
commercial commitments, and shareholders are given the 
opportunity to vote on each separate resolution proposed at the 
AGM. The Company counts all proxy votes and will indicate the 
level of proxies lodged for each resolution after it has first been 
dealt with by a show of hands.

I should like to recognise the contributions of three Directors that 
resigned following the announcement of the Strategic Review on 
31 March 2020. Craig Cook, then CEO, resigned after six years’ 
service to the Midatech Group. Non-executive directors 
Huaizheng Peng and Frédéric Duchesne also stepped down 
from the Board. 

Lastly, I would like to add my thanks to all stakeholders including 
you our shareholders, fellow Directors, employees and partners 
for their support during 2020.

Rolf Stahel
Chairman
30 April 2021

28

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Audit committee report

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the report of the 
Audit Committee Report for the year ended 31 December 2020. 
The Committee monitors and reviews all aspects of the Group’s 
financial reporting, risk management procedures and internal 
controls on behalf of the Board.

The following report provides an overview of the work 
undertaken by the Committee during the year. The most 
significant topics considered by the Committee during the year 
included the carrying value of goodwill and intangibles, revenue 
recognition and going concern. The Committee also reviewed the 
principal risk and mitigation disclosures which are set out on 
pages 18 to 21.

The Audit Committee
The Committee, which reports to the Board, is responsible for 
overseeing the Group’s financial reporting process as well as 
monitoring the effectiveness of internal control, risk management 
and conduct of the external audit. It also monitors the 
independence of the external auditors and the provision of 
non-audit services, if any. The Audit Committee is chaired by 
Simon Turton who is considered to have significant, recent and 
relevant financial experience, and its other members are Sijmen 
de Vries and Rolf Stahel.

The Committee’s meetings are also attended (by invitation) by the 
Chief Financial Officer, Group Financial Controller and senior 
representatives of the external auditor. 

Change of External Auditor
The Committee determined that it would be in the Company’s 
interests to invite two firms to tender for the role of the 
Company’s External Auditor. Following the tender process, the 
Committee made a recommendation to the Board and the Board 
appointed Mazars LLP as External Auditor for the 2020 year end 
audit. The Committee oversees the relationship with the External 
Auditor and is responsible for developing and monitoring the 
Group’s policy on external audit and for monitoring the External 
Auditor’s independence. The External Auditor has direct access 
to the Committee Chairman should they wish to raise any matters 
outside of formal Committee meetings.

The Committee monitors the External Auditor’s effectiveness on 
an ongoing basis, taking into account the views of management. 
The Committee is satisfied that Mazars remains independent and 
objective and that the Group is receiving a robust audit. 

Non-audit services
During the year there were £7,000 in respect of non-audit 
services provided by Mazars prior to their appointment. These 
services included a review of the Company’s interim statement 
for the six months ended 30 June 2020 and the accounting for 
the closure of the Company’s operations in Spain.

The total fees charged by Mazars in the year are shown in note 5.

Internal audit
The annual review of internal control and financial reporting 
procedures did not highlight any issues warranting the 
introduction of an internal audit function. It was concluded, given 
the current size and transparency of the operations of the Group 
and the robustness of the Group’s accounting and business 
management systems, that an internal audit function was not 
required, however this remains a matter for ongoing review.

Risk management and internal controls
The Board has collective responsibility for risk management and 
is assisted by the Audit Committee in monitoring the principal 
risks and uncertainties faced by the Group, including those 
specific to the pharmaceutical sector, as well as other micro and 
macroeconomic factors. The Board also considers risks specific 
to the Group such as those relating to progress of the R&D 
programmes, the recently closed Spanish manufacturing 
operation and personnel.

The Board is responsible for reviewing and maintaining the 
Group’s system of internal control and for monitoring its 
effectiveness. The system of internal control is designed 
to manage, rather than eliminate, the risk of failure of the 
achievement of business objectives and can only provide 
reasonable but not absolute assurance against material 
misstatement or loss. 

The Audit Committee continues to monitor and review the 
effectiveness of the system of internal control and report to the 
Board when appropriate with recommendations.

The main features of the internal control system are outlined 
below:
•  The Group uses SAP Business One accounting and business 
management software that supports a comprehensive and 
auditable purchasing control and approvals process. This is 
supplemented by the close management of the business by 
the Executive Directors and Senior Management Team. The 
Group has a defined organisational structure with delineated 
responsibilities and approval limits.

•  The Board and Committees of the Board have schedules of 
matters expressly reserved for their consideration. Matters 
reserved for the Board include acquisitions and disposals, 
major capital projects, treasury and risk management policies 
and approval of budgets.

•  The Group utilises a detailed budgeting and forecasting 

process. Detailed budgets are prepared annually by the senior 
management team before submission to the Board for 
approval. Budgets are updated to reflect significant, known 
changes in the business. Actual results, the cash position and 
future cash flow projections are all monitored against annual 
budgets in detail on a monthly basis, with variances 
highlighted to the Board and investigated.

Financial risks are identified and evaluated for each major 
transaction for consideration by the Board and senior 
management.
•  Standard financial control procedures are operated 

throughout the Group to ensure that the assets of the Group 
are safeguarded and that proper accounting records are 
maintained.

•  A risk review process has been developed whereby the Chief 
Financial Officer presents a report to the Board each year on 
the key business risks.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

29

Audit committee report continued

Material weaknesses
As a US registrant, we are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 
of 2002 which requires, among other things, that we maintain 
effective internal controls for financial reporting and disclosure 
controls and procedures. We are required, under Section 404 of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to furnish a report by management on, 
among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over 
financial reporting. This assessment includes disclosures of any 
material weaknesses identified by management in its internal 
control over financial reporting.

A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of 
control deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting 
that results in more than a reasonable possibility that a material 
misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not 
be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Section 404 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act also generally requires an attestation from 
our independent auditor on the effectiveness of our internal 
control over financial reporting. However, for as long as we 
remain an emerging growth company, we intend to take 
advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting 
requirements that are applicable to other public companies 
that are emerging growth companies including, but not limited 
to, not being required to comply with the independent auditor 
attestation requirement.

In preparing our interim financial statements for the six months 
ending 30 June, 2019, we and our independent auditor identified 
a material weakness in the effectiveness of our internal controls 
over financial reporting, specifically that we had expensed a 
deposit in our income statement, as opposed to classifying it as a 
recoverable financial asset in other receivables during the six 
months ended 30 June, 2019. As previously disclosed, in October 
2018, pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement 
dated September 26, 2018, or Purchase Agreement, by and 
among the Company, Midatech Pharma US, Inc and Kanwa 
Holdings, LP, an affiliate of Barings LLC, we sold our subsidiary, 
Midatech Pharma US, Inc to Kanwa Holdings, LP. During the fiscal 
year ended 31 December, 2019, following a request by Midatech 
Pharma US, Inc, we paid a deposit of £947,000 in connection with 
a certain indemnity obligation set forth in the Purchase 
Agreement.  The deposit was originally expensed in the income 
statement.  Following a review by our independent auditor of the 
interim financial information for the six months ended 30 June, 
2019, this deposit was reclassified as a recoverable financial asset 
in other receivables. 

Furthermore, as part of their audit procedures, our previous 
independent auditor identified the following material weaknesses 
in our internal control environment during the course of their 
procedures in respect of the 2019 audit:
•  Regarding our IT general controls environment material 

weaknesses included an absence of new vendor approval, 
inappropriate access to administration accounts of finance 
systems, password segregation and access security which 
were not designed or operating effectively. The lack of 
appropriate IT general controls could lead to a material 
misstatement of our financial statements that will not be 
prevented or detected in a timely manner.

•  Several control deficiencies were identified related to the 
consolidation and financial reporting close functions 
including; the adoption of IFRS 16, adjustments required 
to align the results of foreign subsidiaries prepared under 
Spanish GAAP to IFRS, the recognition of certain costs not yet 
incurred that occurred during the process of preparing our 
financial information during the period that, when considered 
in aggregate, would be considered a material weakness.

•  The design and operation of our revenue recognition process, 
in which required policies and procedures either were not 
designed or were not operating effectively at the period 
end. While no adjustments to our consolidated financial 
statements during the course of the audit were required, 
there were no mitigating controls that would have prevented 
or detected such a material error should it have occurred.

During 2020 we have taken a number of corrective measures to 
address the material weaknesses identified by our previous firm 
of external auditors. The measures introduced were as follows:
•  Regarding IT general controls environment, we introduced a 
new vendor approval process, carried out reorganisation of 
administration access accounts and introduced regular user 
access reviews;

•  Regarding previous deficiencies identified in the consolidation 
and financial reporting close process, robust processes and 
greater oversight have been introduced to provide greater 
assurance. External technical accounting advice has also 
been sought during the year where necessary; and

•  Regarding the revenue recognition process, we carried out 
a review and introduced additional steps within the process 
to ensure revenue is recognised appropriately. 

Although we are instituting remedial measures to address the 
material weaknesses identified and to continually review and 
evaluate our internal control systems to allow management to 
report on the sufficiency of our internal control over financial 
reporting, we cannot assure you that we will not discover 
additional weaknesses in our internal control over financial 
reporting. Any such additional weaknesses or failure to 
adequately remediate any existing weakness could materially and 
adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations, 
as well as our ability to accurately report our financial condition 
and results of operations in a timely and reliable manner.

Additionally, the material weaknesses described above, or other 
material weaknesses or significant deficiencies we may become 
aware of in the future, could result in our determining that our 
controls and procedures are not effective in future periods or 
could result in a material misstatement of the consolidated 
financial statements that would not be prevented or detected.

Simon Turton
Chairman of the Audit Committee
30 April 2021 

30

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Directors’ remuneration report

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the report of 
the Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2020, 
which sets out the remuneration policy for the Directors and the 
amounts earned during the year.

The Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee assists the Board in carrying 
out its responsibilities in relation to remuneration, including 
making recommendations to the Board on the Group’s policy 
on executive remuneration, setting the over-arching principles, 
parameters and governance framework of the Group’s 
remuneration policy and determining the individual 
remuneration and benefits package of the Executive Director.

The Remuneration Committee ensures compliance with the QCA 
Code in relation to remuneration wherever possible.

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Sijmen de Vries 
and its other members are Simon Turton and Rolf Stahel.

Policy on Executive Directors’ remuneration
Executive remuneration packages are designed to attract and 
retain executives of the necessary skill and calibre to run the 
Group, with reference to benchmarking comparable groups. 
The Remuneration Committee recommends remuneration 
packages to the Board by reference to individual performance. 
It also uses the knowledge and experience of the Committee 
members, published surveys relating to AIM companies and 
the pharmaceutical industry, as well as advice and external 
benchmarking from a UK remuneration specialist company 
and market changes generally. The Remuneration Committee 
has responsibility for recommending any long-term incentive 
schemes. 

The Board determines whether Executive Directors are 
permitted to serve in roles with other companies. Such 
permission is only granted where a role is on a strictly limited 
basis, where there are no conflicts of interest or competing 
activities and providing there is no adverse impact on the 
commitments required to the Group. Earnings from such 
roles are not disclosed to the Group.

There are four main elements of the remuneration package 
for Executive Directors and staff:

(i)  Basic salaries and benefits in kind
  Basic salaries are recommended to the Board by the 
Remuneration Committee, taking into account the 
performance of the individual and the rates for similar 
positions in comparable companies. Benefits in kind 
comprising death in service cover and private medical 
insurance are available to staff and Executive Directors. 
Benefits in kind are non-pensionable.

(ii)  Share options and other share-based incentives

The Group currently operates two distinct share option 
schemes for employees including the Executive Directors, to 
motivate those individuals through equity participation. The 
choice of scheme depends on the location of the individual:

a)  Approved share options awarded to UK based staff under 
the 2014 Midatech Pharma plc Enterprise Management 
Incentive Scheme (the “UK Plan”); and

b)  Unapproved share options awarded to non-UK staff.

  Prior to the Company’s IPO in December 2014, some 

unapproved share options were granted to certain staff and 
key consultants. Since then, the award of unapproved share 
options has been limited to employees of Midatech Pharma 
España SL and Midatech Pharma US, Inc. prior to the closure 
and sale, respectively of those businesses. Exercise of all 
share options under the schemes is subject to specified 
exercise periods and compliance with the AIM Rules.

The schemes are overseen by the Remuneration Committee, 
which recommends all grants of share options to the Board 
based on the Remuneration Committee’s assessment of 
personal performance and specifying the terms under which 
eligible individuals may be invited to participate. The quantum 
of any award made since 2016 is made with reference to a 
fixed percentage of base salary dependent upon the position 
of the employee within the Group. The exercise price of all 
awards is the closing mid-market price on the London Stock 
Exchange on the trading day immediately before the Board 
meeting at which the award is made.

The QCA Code requires a significant proportion of the total 
remuneration package of Executive Directors to comprise 
performance related remuneration and should be designed 
to align Executive Directors’ interests with those of the 
shareholders. The Remuneration Committee currently 
considers that the best alignment of these interests is through 
the continued use of performance-based incentives through 
the award of share options or other share-based 
arrangements.

(iii) Bonus scheme

The Group has a discretionary bonus scheme for staff and 
the Executive Director. Bonus payments are based on a fixed 
on-target percentage of base salary dependent upon the 
position of the employee within the Group. The bonus is 
moderated depending on the achievement of corporate 
and personal objectives.

Specific details of the objectives used to measure 
performance are considered commercially sensitive and 
hence are not disclosed in detail, however, the corporate and 
personal objectives for 2020, used to determine bonus 
payments, included the following:

•  Fund raising and liquidity measures;
•  Orderly and efficient closure of the Company’s Bilbao 

operations business; and

•  Collaborations with partners and licensing of the 

Company’s technologies.

Each specific objective had an associated bonus weighting. 
The Remuneration Committee reviews actual performance 
against each objective and applies the appropriate weighting 
to individuals’ maximum potential bonus in order to determine 
the amount payable. The maximum amount payable against 
these objectives is 155% of the individual’s fixed, on-target 
percentage of base salary.

The Remuneration Committee and the Board seek to set 
objectives that encourage optimal, short-term financial 
performance and maximise potential progress with the R&D 
portfolio thereby creating medium and long-term 
improvements in stakeholder value.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ remuneration report continued

(iv) Pension contributions

The Group pays a defined contribution to the pension 
schemes of the Executive Director and other employees. 
The individual pension schemes are private, and their assets 
are held separately from the Group.

Stephen Stamp
Craig Cook(1)
Jim Phillips(2)

2020
£’000

135
131
–

2019
£’000

–
266
–

2018
£’000

–
146
214

Loss of office
The Group has no specific policy on loss of office other than 
to ensure that employees and Directors are compensated in 
accordance with their contractual entitlements.

Review of executive remuneration
This last year has been a year of significant transition for 
Midatech. There have been changes to the corporate structure 
including the closure of operations in Bilbao and changes to 
the Group’s strategic focus. These are detailed in the Chief 
Executive’s review on pages 8 to 13 of this Annual Report. 
Based on a set of objectives agreed by it, the Remuneration 
Committee determined that 74% of these objectives, weighted 
by importance, have been achieved and therefore bonuses 
of 74% were generally payable to the senior management in 
accordance with their individual bonus entitlements. The bonus 
for the CEO for 2020 was deferred pending further evaluation 
of Company performance.

Service contracts
Set out below are summary details of the service agreements 
and letters of appointment entered into between the Company 
and the Directors:

Executive Directors
Dr Craig Cook (Former Chief Executive Officer)
Dr Cook entered into a service agreement with the Company 
to act as Chief Executive Officer on 1 June 2018. His continuous 
employment with the Group commenced 1 January 2014. 
Dr Cook resigned as a Director and Chief Executive Officer 
with effect from 31 March 2020.

Stephen Stamp (Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer)
Mr Stamp entered into a service agreement with the Company 
to act as Chief Financial Officer on 9 September 2019. He was 
also appointed Chief Executive Officer with effect from 31 March 
2020 at which time the Committee recommended that his 
salary be increased from £160,000 to £180,000 pa to reflect his 
increased responsibilities. His appointment is terminable upon 
six months’ notice.

Relative importance of spend on pay
The total amount paid by the Group in remuneration to all 
employees, as disclosed in note 6, is as follows:

Remuneration

2020 
£’000

2,795

2019 
£’000

3,383

2018 
£’000

6,145

No dividends to shareholders have yet been paid.

Chief Executive Officer remuneration
The total remuneration paid to Stephen Stamp, since his 
appointment as Chief Executive Officer and to Dr Craig Cook 
and to Dr Jim Phillips, the previous Chief Executive Officers, is 
as follows:

32

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

(1)  Includes an ex gratia payment of £30,000 in 2020 on resignation.
(2)  Includes payment of £99,000 in 2018 on termination of employment. 

Midatech has chosen to provide disclosure on executive pay 
in line with initiatives such as the 2011 Dodd-Frank Wall Street 
Reform and Consumer Protection Act in the United States, where 
the US Securities and Exchange Commission was charged with 
drawing up rules for mandatory disclosure of pay ratios. The 
emoluments paid to the Chief Executive Officer Stephen Stamp, 
taken from the date of his appointment as CEO, is a multiple of 
3.9 times (2019: 4.2 times) the average remuneration of an 
employee of the Midatech Group.

The average amount paid per employee for all operations in the 
year, excluding share based payment charges, increased by 53% 
(2019: decrease of 28%).

No performance related share options vested during the year. 
Of the 50,000 options granted to Stephen Stamp on 2 October 
2019:
•  20,000 vested upon the Company raising $20 million during 
the 12 months ended 8 September 2020. This condition was 
not met and, accordingly all 20,000 options lapsed during the 
year; and

•  7,500 time-based options vested on 9 September 2020. 

Non-executive Directors
The service contracts of the Non-executive Directors are made 
available for inspection at the AGM.

Rolf Stahel (Non-executive Chairman)
Mr Stahel entered into an agreement with Midatech Limited on 
13 April 2014 and was subsequently appointed Chairman with 
effect from 1 March 2014. Mr Stahel subsequently entered 
into a revised appointment agreement with the Company on 
2 December 2014. The appointment is terminable upon the 
election of the Board. 

Sijmen de Vries (Non-executive Director)
Dr de Vries entered into a non-executive director appointment 
letter with the Company on 2 December 2014. Dr de Vries was 
originally appointed as a non-executive director of Midatech 
Limited on 29 October 2004 (subsequently terminated on 
2 December 2014). The appointment is terminable upon the 
election of the Board. 

Frédéric Duchesne (Non-executive Director)
Mr Duchesne entered into a non-executive director appointment 
letter with the Company on 31 July 2019. Mr Duchesne resigned 
from the Board on 31 March 2020.

Huaizheng Peng (Non-executive Director) 
Dr Peng entered into a non-executive director appointment letter 
with the Company on 26 February 2019 following the investment 
in the Company by China Medical System Holdings. Dr Peng 
resigned from the Board on 31 March 2020.

 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Simon Turton (Senior Independent Non-executive Director)
Dr Turton entered into a non-executive director appointment letter with Midatech Limited on 2 December 2014. Dr Turton was 
originally appointed as chairman of Q Chip Limited on 24 March 2014 (subsequently terminated on 2 December 2014). The 
appointment is terminable upon the election of the Board.

Policy on Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration
The Non-executive Directors receive a fee for their services as a Director, which is approved by the Board, giving due consideration to 
the time commitment and responsibilities of their roles and of current market rates for comparable organisations and appointments. 
Non-executive Directors are reimbursed for travelling and other incidental expenses incurred on Group business in accordance with 
the Group expenses policy.

The Board encourages the ownership of Midatech shares by executives and in normal circumstances does not expect Directors to 
undertake dealings of a short-term nature. Non-executive Directors are preferred to remain independent to the extent that they do 
not trade in the Company’s shares themselves.

The emoluments of the Directors of Midatech Pharma plc are set out below. No emoluments were paid to any Director by any other 
Group company:

Non-Executive Directors
Rolf Stahel(1)
Sijmen de Vries
Frédéric Duchesne(2)
Huaizheng Peng(3)
Simon Turton
John Johnston(4)
Michele Luzi(4)
Pavlo Protopapa(4)

Executive Directors
Craig Cook(5)
Stephen Stamp
Nick Robbins-Cherry(6)
Jim Phillips(7)

Directors’ remuneration

Salary and fees
£

Bonus
£

Pensions
£

Benefits in Kind
£

90,000
30,400
7,600
7,600
30,400
–
–
–

130,530
175,000
–
–

471,530

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

6,773
17,100
–
–

23,873

177
1,069
–
–

1,246

2020
total
£

90,000
30,400
7,600
7,600
30,400
–
–
–

137,480
193,169
–
–

2019
£

2018
£

90,000
30,400
12,784
25,765
30,400
7,600
7,600
7,600

357,521
60,821
151,925

95,000
30,400
–
–
30,400
30,400
30,400
30,400

158,772
–
172,600
213,282

496,649

782,416

791,654

(1)  Mr Stahel’s remuneration included Directors’ fees of £40,000 and consulting fees of £50,000 from Chesyl Pharma, a company wholly-owned by Mr Stahel.
(2)  M. Duchesne resigned as a Director on 31 March 2020.
(3)  Dr Peng resigned as a Director on 31 March 2020.
(4)  Messrs. Johnston, Luzi and Protopapa resigned as Directors on 26 February 2019.
(5)  Dr Cook resigned as a Director on 31 March 2020. Included in salary and fees is an ex gratia payment of £30,000 for loss of office.
(6)  Mr Robbins-Cherry resigned as a Director on 9 September 2019.
(7)  Dr Phillips resigned as a Director 31 May 2018.

Share based payment credit of £459,415 in respect of Dr Cook and Mr Stamp was released to the income statement during the year 
(in respect of Dr Cook and Mr Stamp for 2019: £29,014).

Details of the payments to other related parties are disclosed in note 29.

Directors’ interests in shares

Non-Executive Directors
Rolf Stahel(1)
Sijmen de Vries
Simon Turton

Executive Director
Stephen Stamp

31 December 2020

31 December 2019

Beneficial 
Interests 
£

Non-Beneficial 
Interests 
£

Beneficial 
Interests 
£

Non-Beneficial 
Interests 
£

58,853
23,284
55,325

–
2,957
–

58,853
23,284
55,325

–
2,957
–

50,000

–

50,000

–

(1)  At 31 December 2020, 12,244 of Rolf Stahel’s shares were subject to restrictions preventing their disposal or transfer to another party. These restrictions fall 

away on the following events:
a.  6,122 shares become unrestricted when the market capitalisation of the Company achieves £155m
b.  6,122 shares become unrestricted when the market capitalisation of the Company achieves £213m

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

33

Directors’ remuneration report continued

Directors’ interests in share options
Other than as shown in the table and note above, no Director had any interest in the shares of any subsidiary company.

The Board uses share options to align Executive Directors’ and employees’ interests with those of shareholders in order to provide 
incentives and reward them based on improvements in Group performance.

Non-Executive Directors
Rolf Stahel
Sijmen de Vries
Simon Turton

Executive Director
Stephen Stamp

31 December 2020 
Options Held over 
Ordinary shares

31 December 2019 
Options Held over  
Ordinary shares

–
700
–

–
700
–

330,000

50,000

All share options were granted with an exercise price based on the mid-market price at close of business on the previous day. As 
detailed below, some of the share options vest when the Company’s share price achieves certain targets. Otherwise the main vesting 
condition of all share options is that the Director or employee remains employed with the Group as at the date of exercise or 
continues to provide consultancy services as at the date of exercise. The share options of the Directors (included in totals in note 27) 
are set out below:

Grant Date

Options 
Awarded

Options 
Lapsed

Options 
outstanding

Exercise Price
£

Vesting Criteria

Expiry Date

Non-Executive Director
Sijmen de Vries

Executive Director

20/04/2012
30/06/2014

200
500

–
–

–
–

83.80
1.50

Fully vested
Share price(1)

20/04/2022
30/06/2024

Stephen Stamp

02/10/2019
17/06/2020

50,000
300,000

(20,000)
–

30,000
300,000

1.05
0.202

350,700

(20,000)

330,000

Time 
based and 
performance

based(2)
Time based(3)

02/10/2029
17/01/2030

(1)  For those options noted as vesting based on share price; 50% vest when the share price reaches £106.20 per share, a further 25% vests when the share price 

reaches £274.40 and the remaining 25% when the share price reaches £377.20.

(2)  40% of the options would have vested if the Company had raised $20 million before 9 September 2020 and have now therefore lapsed, 15% vest on 

9 September 2020 and the remainder vest in equal tranches at the end of the subsequent 12 quarters.

(3)  25% of the options vest 12 months after the grant date, followed by vesting of 12 equal quarterly tranches, over a subsequent three-year period.

Directors’ interests in warrants
Certain Directors acquired Warrants over ordinary shares as part of the purchase of Units (one Ordinary Share and one Warrant) in 
the Company’s fundraise in February 2019.

Non-executive Directors
Rolf Stahel
Sijmen de Vries
Simon Turton

Executive Director
Stephen Stamp

31 December 2020 
Warrants over  
Ordinary shares

31 December 2019 
Warrants over  
Ordinary shares

23,856
21,344
41,854

23,856
21,344
41,854

–

–

The warrants may be exercised through February 2022 at an exercise price of £10.00 per Ordinary Share.

Sijmen de Vries 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
30 April 2021

34

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Directors’ report

The Directors present their report and the consolidated financial 
statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Directors
The Directors during the year were:

Rolf Stahel
Craig Cook (resigned 31 March 2020)
Sijmen de Vries
Frédéric Duchesne (resigned 31 March 2020)
Huaizheng Peng (resigned 31 March 2020)
Stephen Stamp
Simon Turton

Research and development
The Group is continuing to develop products to proof of concept 
stage through deployment of its proprietary drug delivery 
technologies.

Matters covered in the Strategic Report
Details of the Group’s risk management, including financial risk 
objectives, and future developments and policies are given in the 
Strategic Report.

Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
The Company has, as permitted by s.234 and s.235 of the 
Companies Act 2006, maintained insurance cover on behalf of 
the Directors and Company Secretary indemnifying them against 
certain liabilities which may be incurred by them in relation to the 
Company. 

Employees
Midatech recognises the essential importance of employees 
to the success of the business and ensures that they are fully 
informed of events that directly affect them and their working 
conditions. Information on matters of concern to employees is 
given in briefings that seek to provide a common awareness on 
the part of all employees of the financial and economic factors 
affecting the Group’s performance.

Disabled employees
Applications for employment by disabled persons are given full 
and fair consideration for all vacancies in accordance with their 
particular aptitudes and abilities. It is the policy of the Group 
that training and promotion opportunities should be available 
to all employees.

Dividend
The Directors are not recommending the payment of a dividend 
at this time due to the level of maturity of the Group.

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

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors 
have elected to prepare the Group financial statements in 
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, 
and they are prepared  in accordance with international financial 
reporting standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 
1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union, and the Company 
financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law 
the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless 
they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of 
affairs of the Group and Company and of the profit or loss of the 
Group for that period. The Directors are required to prepare 
financial statements in accordance with the rules of the London 
Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on the 
Alternative Investment Market. The Directors are also required to 
prepare and file a Form 20-F in accordance with the rules of the 
US Securities and Exchange Commission which require the 
financial statements to also be prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

Post balance sheet events
In February 2021 the Group received a fine of €149,835 from the 
Spanish Tax Authorities in relation to the late repayment of a 
Government loan in 2020 as a result of the closure of its 
operation in Spain. The Group consider the fine is without 
foundation and are currently appealing the fine. The directors 
note that in the event of an unfavourable outcome the Group 
would not be able to recoup the loss from another party. This 
liability has been recognised in the Statement of Financial 
Position and the related expenses in Administrative costs in the 
Income Statement.

On 26 January 2021 the Company announced that it was engaged 
in tentative discussions with a third party around the potential 
co-development of MTX110. On 25 March 2021 the Company 
announced these discussions had now advanced and a non-
binding Heads of Terms had been agreed. The Heads of Terms 
envisage that, if the deal progresses to definitive agreements,  
the Company would expect to receive a modest upfront payment 
upon execution, success-based development and sales 
milestones and royalties typical for a licensing agreement with 
products in a similar stage of development. R&D expenses would 
be assumed by the two parties with the apportionment to be 
agreed based on their respective territories. There can be no 
assurance on the timing for concluding the discussions nor any 
assurance that the parties will enter into definitive agreements. 

On 23 April 2021 the Group signed an agreement for lease on 
new premises in Cardiff to house our corporate offices and 
laboratories. The new premises comprise 8,118 square feet and 
the lease is for a 5 year term.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

35

Directors’ report continued

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are 
required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are 

reasonable and prudent;

•  state whether they have been prepared in conformity with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance 
with international financial reporting standards adopted 
pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the 
European Union; and

•  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis 
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will 
continue in business.

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

Directors’ statement as to the disclosure of 
information to auditors
All of the current directors have taken all steps that they ought to 
have taken to make themselves aware of any information needed 
by the Group’s auditors for the purposes of their audit and to 
establish that the auditors are aware of that information. The 
Directors are not aware of any relevant audit information of 
which the auditors are unaware.

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

By order of the Board

Stephen Stamp
Company Secretary
30 April 2021

36

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Midatech Pharma plc

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Midatech Pharma plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) for the year 
ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of 
financial position, the consolidated statement of cash flows, the consolidated statement of changes in equity, the Company balance 
sheet, the Company statement of changes in equity and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant 
accounting policies. 

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law and 
international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.  

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the parent company financial statements is applicable 
law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102, The Financial Reporting Standard in the 
United Kingdom and Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion, the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and:
•  give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 31 December 2020 and of the Group’s 

loss for the year then ended; 
the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity 
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006;
the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice; and
the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

• 

• 

• 

Separate opinion in relation to IFRSs as issued by the IASB
As explained in note 1 to the Group financial statements, in addition to complying with its legal obligation to apply international 
accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the Group has also applied IFRSs as issued by 
the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

In our opinion the Group financial statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of the Group as at 
31 December 2020 and of its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for the year then ended in 
accordance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our 
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit 
of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other 
ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Material uncertainty related to going concern
We draw attention to note 1 in the financial statements on page 46, which indicates that there is a material uncertainty in relation to 
the Group and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern. As detailed in note 1 and in the Financial Review on page 15, 
the Group’s and parent company’s future viability is dependent on its ability to generate cash from operating activities, to raise 
additional capital to finance its operations and to successfully obtain regulatory approval to allow marketing of its development 
products. The Group’s failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on its financial condition and ability to 
pursue its business strategies. As at 31 December 2020, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of £7.5m. The Directors have 
prepared cash flow forecasts that indicate that further financing will be required before the fourth quarter of 2021. This requirement 
for additional financing represents a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s and parent company’s ability 
to continue as a going concern, and consequently over the appropriateness of the going concern basis of preparation of these 
financial statements, Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the 
preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the appropriateness of the going concern basis of preparation of these financial 
statements included, but was not limited to:
•  Undertaking an initial assessment at the planning stage of the audit to identify events or conditions that may cast significant doubt 

on the Group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern;

•  Reviewing the directors’ formal going concern assessment, including the supporting cash flow projections that included the twelve 

months from the date of approval of these financial statements;

•  Evaluating the key assumptions used and judgements applied by the directors in forming their conclusions on going concern; and
•  Reviewing the appropriateness of the disclosures made by the Directors in the financial statements.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

37

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Midatech Pharma plc continued

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

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

Overall materiality

£213,000

How we determined it

2% of operating and capital expenditure  (excluding exceptional items in relation to the impairment 
of assets).

Rationale for benchmark 
applied 

In determining our materiality, we considered financial metrics which we believed to be relevant. The 
benchmark of expenditure is considered most appropriate for both Group and parent company as a 
measure of activity in the business.

Performance materiality

Performance materiality is set to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that the 
aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements in the financial statements exceeds 
materiality for the financial statements as a whole. 

Performance materiality was set at £128,000, being 60% of overall materiality.

Reporting threshold

We agreed with the audit committee that we would report to them misstatements identified during 
our audit above £6,000 as well as misstatements below that amount that, in our view, warranted 
reporting for qualitative reasons.

As part of designing our audit, we assessed the risk of material misstatement in the financial statements, whether due to fraud or 
error, and then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks. In particular, we looked at where the Directors 
made subjective judgements, such as making assumptions on significant accounting estimates.

We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed sufficient work to be able to give an opinion on the financial 
statements as a whole. We used the outputs of a risk assessment, our understanding of the Group and parent company, their 
environment, controls and critical business processes, to consider qualitative factors in order to ensure that we obtained sufficient 
coverage across all financial statement line items.

Our Group audit scope included an audit of the Group and the parent company financial statements of Midatech Pharma plc. Based 
on our risk assessment, Midatech Pharma plc, Midatech Limited and Midatech Pharma (Wales) Limited were subject to full scope audit 
performed by the Group audit team. In addition, the Group audit team performed specific audit procedures on Midatech Pharma 
(Espana) SL, which is in liquidation.

At the parent company level we also tested the consolidation process and carried out analytical procedures to confirm our conclusion 
that there were no significant risks of material misstatement of the aggregated financial information.

Other information
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual 
report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover 
the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance 
conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider 
whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or 
otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are 
required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other 
information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we 
are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

38

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• 

• 

the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are 
prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the parent company and its environment obtained in the course of the 
audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors’ Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you 
if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received 

from branches not visited by us; or
the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• 
•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 35, the Directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the 
directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether 
due to fraud or error.

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

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

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our 
responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. 

Based on our understanding of the Group and the parent company and its industry, we identified that the principal risks of non-
compliance with laws and regulations related to the UK tax legislation, pensions legislation, employment regulation and health and 
safety regulation, anti-bribery, corruption and fraud, money laundering, non-compliance with implementation of government support 
schemes relating to COVID-19, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial 
statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements 
such as the Companies Act 2006. 

We evaluated the Directors’ and management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements 
(including the risk of override of controls) and determined that the principal risks were related to posting manual journal entries to 
manipulate financial performance, management bias through judgements and assumptions in significant accounting estimates and 
significant one-off or unusual transactions. 

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to those identified risks, including non-compliance with laws and regulations 
(irregularities) and fraud that are material to the financial statements. Our audit procedures included but were not limited to:

•  Discussing with the Directors and management their policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations;
•  Communicating identified laws and regulations throughout our engagement team and remaining alert to any indications of 

non-compliance throughout our audit; and

•  Considering the risk of acts by the Group and the parent company which were contrary to the applicable laws and regulations, 

including fraud. 

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

39

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Midatech Pharma plc continued

Our audit procedures in relation to fraud included but were not limited to:

•  Making enquiries of the Directors and management on whether they had knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;
•  Gaining an understanding of the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud;
•  Discussing amongst the engagement team the risks of fraud; and
•  Addressing the risks of fraud through management override of controls by performing journal entry testing.

The primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities including fraud rests with both those charged with 
governance and management. As with any audit, there remained a risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve 
collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal controls.

As a result of our procedures, we did not identify any key audit matters relating to irregularities. The risks of material misstatement 
that had the greatest effect on our audit, including fraud, are discussed under Key audit matters within this report. 

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

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

William Neale Bussey (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of Mazars LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor 
Tower Bridge House
London
E1W 1DD

30 April 2021 

40

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Consolidated statements of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2020

Revenue
Grant revenue

Total revenue
Other income
Research and development costs 
Distribution costs, sales and marketing 
Administrative costs 
Impairment of intangible assets

Loss from operations
Finance income
Finance expense

Loss before tax
Taxation 

Loss from continuing operations 
Loss from discontinued operations net of tax
Loss for the year attributable to the owners of the parent

Other comprehensive income:
Items that will or may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Exchange (losses)/gains arising on translation of foreign operations
Exchange losses realised on disposal of subsidiaries

Total other comprehensive income/(loss ) net of tax

Total comprehensive loss attributable to the owners of the parent

Loss per share 
Continuing operations
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share – pence
Discontinued operations
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share – pence

The notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Note

3

12,13

5
7
7

8

4

4

9

9

2020
£’000

180
163

343
12
(6,068)
(6)
(4,952)
(12,369)

(23,040)
1
(431)

(23,470)
1,281

(22,189)
–
(22,189)

508
–

508

2019
£’000

312
362

674
15
(7,843)
(323)
(3,841)
-

(11,318)
492
(97)

(10,923)
1,785

(9,138)
(947)
(10,085)

(207)
–

(207)

(21,681)

(10,292)

(52)p

–

(50)p

(5)p

2018
£’000

149
1,789

1,938
–
(9,359)
–
(4,394)
–

(11,815)
2
(587)

(12,400)
2,032

(10,368)
(4,662)
(15,030)

1,156
(3,842)

(2,686)

(17,716)

(339)p

(153)p

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

41

Consolidated statement of financial position 
As at 31 December 2020

Company number 09216368

Note

Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 
Intangible assets
Other receivables due in greater than one year

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

Total assets

Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Provisions

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Provisions
Derivative financial liability

Total liabilities

Issued capital and reserves attributable to owners of the parent
Share capital
Share premium
Merger reserve
Warrant reserve
Foreign exchange reserve
Accumulated deficit

Total equity

Total equity and liabilities

10
12
15

17
15
8
16

19
20

18
19
20
21

24
25
25
25
25
25

2020
£’000

542
–
–

542

–
572
1,157
7,546

9,275

9,817

60
50

110

1,230
200
–
1,559

2,989

3,099

1,063
74,364
53,003
720
–
(122,432)

6,718

9,817

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

2,154
12,379
2,625

17,158

–
992
1,817
10,928

13,737

30,895

5,670
–

5,670

4,494
412
97
664

5,667

11,337

1,023
65,879
53,003
–
(508)
(99,839)

19,558

30,895

1,983
12,374
469

14,826

–
1,323
1,952
2,343

5,618

20,444

884
165

1,049

2,103
368
–
–

2,471

3,520

1,003
52,939
53,003
–
(301)
(89,720)

16,924

20,444

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 30 April 2021 and were signed on its 
behalf by:

Stephen Stamp
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer

The notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

42

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Consolidated statements of cash flows 
For the year ended 31 December 2020

Cash flows from operating activities
Loss for the year 
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Depreciation of right of use asset
Amortisation of intangible fixed assets
(Profit)/Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Impairment of intangible assets
Finance income
Finance expense
Share-based payment credit
Taxation
Loss on sale of subsidiary
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
Foreign exchange (gains)/losses

Cash flows from operating activities before changes in working capital
Decrease in inventories
Decrease in trade and other receivables
(Decrease)/Increase in trade and other payables
(Decrease)/Increase in provisions

Cash used in operations
Taxes received

Net cash used in operating activities

Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets
Purchase of intangibles
Long term deposit for guarantee for Government loan 
Disposal of discontinued operation, net of cash disposed of
Deposit paid in connection with disposed subsidiary
Interest received

Net cash generated/(used in) from investing activities
Financing activities
Interest paid
 Receipts from sub-lessors 
 Amounts paid on lease liabilities (2018: Amounts paid on finance leases) 
Repayment of Government grants
Repayment of borrowings
Proceeds from bank borrowings
(Repayment)/Proceeds from Government loan
Proceeds from Government subsidy
Share issues including warrants, net of costs

Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Exchange gains/(losses) on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

The notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Note

2020
£’000

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

(22,189)

(10,085)

(15,030)

10
10
12

12,13
7
7
5
8
4
4

10

12

4
4

19

16

16

1,089
118
10
(226)
12,369
(1)
431
(404)
(1,281)
–
–
387

(9,697)
–
493
(2,004)
(47)

(11,255)
1,954

(9,301)

(209)
143
–
2,639
–
–
1

2,574

(34)
45
(258)
(229)
–
–
(6,182)
–
9,742

3,084
(3,643)
10,928
261

7,546

979
303
3
–
-
(492)
97
(34)
(1,785)
–
947
(140)

(10,207)
–
725
1,141
(68)

(8,409)
1,920

(6,489)

(310)
–
(9)
(2,549)
 –
(947)
8

(3,807)

(30)
107
(450)
–
(577)
–
4,436
1,139
14,108

18,733
8,437
2,343
148

10,928

1,016
–
434
165
–
(2)
587
(36)
(2,032)
1,407
–
130

(13,361)
347
1,030
(2,995)
165

(14,814)
1,364

(13,450)

(244)
25
–
-
 9,259
–
2

9,042

(587)
-
(64)
–
(5,821)
–
-
-
–

(6,472)
(10,880)
13,204
19

2,343

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

43

Share  
capital
£’000

Share 
premium
£’000

Merger 
reserve
£’000

Warrant 
reserve
£’000

1,023 65,879 53,003
–
–

–
–

–
–

–

16

21

3

–

–

2,527
(544)
5,729
(489)
1,278
(16)
–

–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

Foreign 
exchange 
reserve
£’000

Accumulated 
deficit
£’000

Total  
equity
£’000

(508)
–
508

(99,839) 19,558
(22,189)
(22,189)
508
–

(508)

(22,189) (21,681)

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–
–
–
(404)

3,263
(544)
5,750
(489)
1,281
(16)
(404)

(404)

8,841

(122,432)

6,718

–
–
–

–

720
–
–
–
–
–
–

720

720

–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–

–

(301)
–
(207)

(89,720)
(10,085)
–

16,924
(10,085)
(207)

(207)

(10,085)

(10,292)

–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
(34)

13,405
(1,120)
1,214
(539)
(34)

(34)

12,926

(508)

(99,839)

19,558

2,385
–
(3,842)
1,156

(74,654)
(15,030)
–
–

34,676
(15,030)
(3,842)
1,156

(2,686)

(15,030)

(17,716)

–

–

(36)

(36)

(36)

(36)

(301)

(89,720)

16,924

Consolidated statements of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2020

At 1 January 2020
Loss for the year
Foreign exchange translation

Total comprehensive loss

Transactions with owners
Shares issued on 18 May 2020 – note 16
Costs associated with share issue on 18 May 2020 – note 16
Shares issued on 27 July 2020 – note 16
Costs associated with share issue on 27 July 2020 – note 16
Shares issued on 19 August 2020 – note 16
Costs associated with share issue on 19 August 2020 – note 16
Share-based payment credit

Total contribution by and distributions to owners

40

8,485

At 31 December 2020

1,063 74,364 53,003

At 1 January 2019
Loss for the year
Foreign exchange translation

Total comprehensive loss

Transactions with owners
Shares issued on 26 February 2019 – note 16
Costs associated with share issue on 26 February 2019 – note 16
Shares issued on 29 October 2019 – note 16
Costs associated with share issue on 29 October 2019 – note 16
Share-based payment credit

1,003
–
–

52,939 53,003
–
–

–
–

–

17
–
3
–
–

–

13,388
(1,120)
1,211
(539)
–

Total contribution by and distributions to owners

20

12,940

At 31 December 2019

1,023 65,879 53,003

At 1 January 2018
Loss for the year
Reclassification of foreign exchange on disposal
Foreign exchange translation

Total comprehensive loss

Share-based payment credit

Total contribution by and distributions to owners

At 31 December 2018

1,003
–
–
–

52,939 53,003
–
–
–

–
–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,003

52,939 53,003

The notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

44

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Notes forming part of the financial statements
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

1 Accounting policies
General information
Midatech Pharma plc (the ‘Company’) is a company registered and domiciled in England and Wales. The Company was incorporated on 
12 September 2014.

The Company is a public limited company, which has been listed on the Alternative Investment Market (‘AIM’), which is a submarket of 
the London Stock Exchange, since 8 December 2014.

In addition, since 4 December 2015 the Company has American Depository Receipts (‘ADRs’) registered with the US Securities and 
Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) and is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

Basis of preparation
The Group was formed on 31 October 2014 when Midatech Pharma plc entered into an agreement to acquire the entire share capital 
of Midatech Limited and its wholly owned subsidiaries through the issue of equivalent shares in the Company which took place on 
13 November 2014. 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006, and they are prepared in accordance with international financial reporting standards 
adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union.

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. The policies have been 
consistently applied to all the periods presented. 

On 2 March 2020 a resolution was passed at a general meeting of shareholders of the Company to consolidate its ordinary shares on 
a one for 20 basis into new ordinary shares of 0.1p each in the capital of the Company. At the same meeting a resolution was passed to 
change the ratio of the Company’s American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). This changed from one ADR representing 20 Existing 
Ordinary Shares to one ADR representing five new ordinary shares. Comparative numbers of shares and share options/warrants and 
related exercise/issue prices and earnings per share reflect the impact of the March 2020 share consolidation.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for the following item (refer to individual 
accounting policies for details): 

•  Financial instruments – fair value through profit or loss.

Adoption of new and revised standards
New standards, interpretations and amendments effective from 1 January 2020
New standards adopted by the Group in the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 are:

•  Definition of a Business (Amendments to IFRS 3);
• 
•  COVID-19-Related Rent Concessions (Amendments to IFRS 16).

Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – IBOR ‘phase 2’ (Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7); and

The adoption of the above new standards has not had a material impact on the financial statements during the year ended 
31 December 2020.

New standards, interpretations and amendments not yet effective 
 There are a number of standards, amendments to standards, and interpretations which have been issued by the IASB that are 
effective in future accounting periods that the Group has decided not to adopt early. The following amendments are effective for the 
period beginning 1 January 2022:

•  Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract (Amendments to IAS 37);
•  Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before Intended Use (Amendments to IAS 16);
•  Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2020 (Amendments to IFRS 1, IFRS 9, IFRS16 and IAS 41); and
•  References to Conceptual Framework (Amendments to IFRS 3).

In January 2020, the IASB issued amendments to IAS 1, which clarify the criteria used to determine whether liabilities are classified as 
current or non-current. These amendments clarify that current or non-current classification is based on whether an entity has a right at 
the end of the reporting period to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting period. The amendments 
also clarify that ‘settlement’ includes the transfer of cash, goods, services, or equity instruments unless the obligation to transfer equity 
instruments arises from a conversion feature classified as an equity instrument separately from the liability component of a compound 
financial instrument. The amendments were originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022.
However, in May 2020, the effective date was deferred to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023.

These new accounting standards and amendments are not expected to have a material impact on the Group.

The Group does not expect any other standards issued by the IASB, but not yet effective, to have a material impact on the Group.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

45

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

1 Accounting policies continued
Basis for consolidation
The Group financial statements consolidate those of the parent company and all of its subsidiaries. The parent controls a subsidiary if 
it has power over the investee to significantly direct the activities, exposure, or rights to variable returns from its involvement with the 
investee, and the ability to use its power over the investee to affect the amount of the investor’s returns. All subsidiaries have a 
reporting date of 31 December.

All transactions and balances between Group companies are eliminated on consolidation, including unrealised gains and losses on 
transactions between Group companies. Where unrealised losses on intra-Group asset sales are reversed on consolidation, the 
underlying asset is also tested for impairment from a Group perspective. Amounts reported in the financial statements of subsidiaries 
have been adjusted where necessary to ensure consistency with the accounting policies adopted by the Group.

The loss and other comprehensive income of Midatech Pharma US, Inc.(‘MPUS’), formerly DARA Biosciences Inc, acquired in December 
2015 is recognised from the effective date of acquisition i.e. 4 December 2015 through to the date of sale on 1 November 2018. 
Similarly, the loss and other comprehensive income of Zuplenz®, acquired as a business by Midatech Pharma plc, is recognised from 
24 December 2015 until 31 October 2018 (up to the formal completion of the sale of MPUS on 1 November 2018).

Discontinued operations are presented in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as a single line which comprises the 
post-tax profit or loss of the discontinued operation along with the post-tax gain or loss recognised on the re-measurement to fair 
value less costs to sell or on disposal of the assets or disposal groups constituting discontinued operations.

The consolidated financial statements consist of the results of the following entities:

Entity

Midatech Pharma plc
Midatech Limited 
Midatech Pharma (Espana) SL (formerly Midatech Biogune SL)
PharMida AG
Midatech Pharma (Wales) Limited (formerly Q Chip Limited)
Midatech Pharma Pty
Midatech Pharma US, Inc. (formerly DARA Biosciences, Inc.) (until 1 November 2018)
Dara Therapeutics, Inc. (until 1 November 2018)

Summary description

Ultimate holding company
Trading company
In liquidation
Dormant
Trading company
Dissolved – 2020
Trading company
Dormant

Going concern
The Group and Company has experienced net losses and significant cash outflows from cash used in operating activities over the past 
years as it develops its portfolio. For the year ended 31 December 2020, the Group incurred a consolidated loss from operations of £22.2m 
and negative cash flows from operations of £9.3m. As of 31 December 2020, the Group had an accumulated deficit of £122.4m.

The Group’s future viability is dependent on its ability to generate cash from operating activities, to raise additional capital to finance its 
operations and to successfully obtain regulatory approval to allow marketing of its development products. The Group’s failure to raise 
capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on its financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategies. 

The Group’s consolidated financial statements have been presented on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realisation of assets 
and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

As at 31 December 2020, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of £7.5m. The Directors forecast that the Group currently has enough 
cash to fund its planned operations into the fourth quarter of 2021.

The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts and considered the cash flow requirement for the Company for the next three years 
including the period twelve months from the date of approval of the consolidated financial statements. These forecasts show that further 
financing will be required during the fourth quarter of 2021 assuming, inter alia, that certain development programs and other operating 
activities continue as currently planned. This requirement for additional financing in the short term represents a material uncertainty that 
may cast significant doubt upon the Group and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

In addition, the global pandemic COVID-19 virus places increased uncertainty over the Directors’ forecasts. The restrictions being placed on 
the movement of people will likely cause delays to some of the Group’s plans. It is difficult to assess to what extent, and for how long, 
COVID-19 will cause delays to the Group’s operations. The Directors have established a COVID-19 task force internally to monitor the impact 
of COVID-19 on the business and prioritise activities to minimise its effect.

The Directors are evaluating a number of near-term funding options potentially available to the Group, including fundraising and the 
partnering of assets and technologies of the Company. After considering the uncertainties, the Directors consider it is appropriate to 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

46

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Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Revenue 
Revenue is accounted for in line with principles of IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from contracts with customers’.

Revenue from licensing agreements
The Group entered into a Licence Agreement during 2019. The licence consists of two distinct performance conditions, which is the 
grant of the license to use of its intellectual property (“IP”) and the supply of Product. After the Company has granted the license, and 
the Product is granted applicable marketing authorisations in the EU, the US, or the UK, France, Germany or Switzerland and China, 
there are no further obligations to participate in, or provide additional services to its customer. The transaction price for the grant of 
the license to use the Company’s IP comprises of fixed and variable payment streams and the grant of the license is considered to be a 
right to use IP. Upfront fees earned, are recognised as revenue at a point in time, upon transfer of control over the license to the 
licensee and the grant of the applicable marketing authorisation by the relevant statutory authority. Revenue from variable 
consideration, which is contingent on achievements of future milestones is recognised as revenue when it is highly probable the 
revenue will not reverse, that is when the underlying contingencies have been resolved. For future royalty payments associated with a 
license, the Company applies the IFRS 15 exception for sales-based royalties and recognises the revenue only when the subsequent 
sale occurs.

Supply of goods
Revenue from sales of goods to a customer is recognised when all performance obligations are met. These criteria are considered to 
be met when the goods are delivered to the customer. Revenue represents the full list price of products shipped to wholesalers and 
other customers less product returns, discounts, rebates and other incentives based on the sales price.

Supply of services
Revenue from the supply of services is subject to specific agreement. This is recognised over the contract term, proportionate to the 
progress in overall satisfaction of the performance obligations (the services performed by the Group), measured by cost incurred to 
date out of total estimate of costs.

Milestones
The Group’s revenue also includes milestone income from research and development contracts. Milestone income is recognised as 
revenue in the accounting period in which the milestones are achieved. Milestones are agreed on a project by project basis and will be 
evidenced by set deliverables.

Grant revenue
Where grant income is received, which is not a direct re-imbursement of related costs and at the point at which the conditions have 
been met for recognition as income, this has been shown within grant revenue.

Government grants and government loans
Where government grants are received as a re-imbursement of directly related costs they are credited to research and development 
expense in the same period as the expenditure towards which they are intended to contribute. 

The Group receives government loans that have a below-market rate of interest. These loans are recognised and measured in 
accordance with IFRS 9. The benefit of the below-market rate of interest is measured as the difference between the initial carrying 
value of the loan discounted at a market rate of interest and the proceeds received.

The difference is held within deferred revenue as a government grant and is released as a credit to grant income or to research and 
development expense in line with the expenditure to which it relates. In a situation where the proceeds were invested in plant and 
equipment, the deferred revenue is credited to research and development within the income statement in line with the depreciation 
of the acquired asset.

Business combinations and externally acquired intangible assets
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method at the acquisition date, which is the date at which the Group 
obtains control over the entity. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the amount of the consideration transferred to the seller, 
measured at the acquisition date fair value, and the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. The Group measures 
goodwill initially at cost at the acquisition date, being: 

• 
• 
• 

• 

the fair value of the consideration transferred to the seller, plus;
the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree, plus;
if the business combination is achieved in stages, the fair value of the existing equity interest in the acquiree re-measured at the 
acquisition date, less; 
the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired and assumed liabilities.

Acquisition costs incurred are expensed and included in administrative costs. Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the 
acquirer is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration, 
whether it is an asset or liability, will be recognised either as a profit or loss or as a change to other comprehensive income. If the 
contingent consideration is classified as equity, it is not re-measured.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

47

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

1 Accounting policies continued
Business combinations and externally acquired intangible assets continued
An intangible asset, which is an identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance, is recognised to the extent that it is 
probable that the expected future economic benefits attributable to the asset will flow to the Group and that its cost can be 
measured reliably. The asset is deemed to be identifiable when it is separable or when it arises from contractual or other legal rights. 

Externally acquired intangible assets other than goodwill are initially recognised at cost and subsequently amortised on a straight-line 
basis over their useful economic lives where they are in use. The amortisation expense is included within the distribution costs, sales 
and marketing in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment 
losses.

The amounts ascribed to intangibles recognised on business combinations are arrived at by using appropriate valuation techniques 
(see section related to critical estimates and judgements below).

In-process research and development (‘IPRD’) programmes acquired in business combinations are recognised as assets even if 
subsequent expenditure is written off because the criteria specified in the policy for development costs below are not met. IPRD is 
subject to annual impairment testing until the completion or abandonment of the related project. No further costs are capitalised in 
respect of this IPRD unless they meet the criteria for research and development capitalisation as set out below.

As per IFRS 3, once the research and development of each defined project is completed, the carrying value of the acquired IPRD is 
reclassified as a finite-lived asset and amortised over its useful life.

The product and marketing rights recognised in 2017 related to various licences the Group held via its US subsidiary. These rights 
were disposed of with the sale of the subsidiary. 

The significant intangibles recognised by the Group and their useful economic lives are as follows:

Goodwill 
IPRD 
IT and website costs 
Product and marketing rights  – Between 2 and 12 years

– Indefinite life
– In process, not yet amortising
– 4 years

The useful economic life of IPRD will be determined when the in-process research projects are completed. Amortisation of product 
and marketing rights ceased in June 2018 when the US entity was classified as held for sale.

Internally generated intangible assets (development costs)
Expenditure on the research phase of an internal project is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred. Development 
costs incurred on specific projects are capitalised when all the following conditions are satisfied:

•  completion of the asset is technically feasible so that it will be available for use or sale;
• 
• 

the Group intends to complete the asset and use or sell it;
the Group has the ability to use or sell the asset and the asset will generate probable future economic benefits (over and above 
cost);
there are adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the asset; and
the expenditure attributable to the asset during its development can be measured reliably.

• 
• 

Judgement is applied when deciding whether the recognition criteria are met. Judgements are based on the information available. In 
addition, all internal activities related to the research and development of new projects are continuously monitored by the Directors. 
The Directors consider that the criteria to capitalise development expenditure are not met for a product prior to that product 
receiving regulatory approval in at least one country.

Development expenditure not satisfying the above criteria, and expenditure on the research phase of internal projects are included in 
research and development costs recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as incurred. No projects have 
yet reached the point of capitalisation.

Impairment of non-financial assets
Assets that have an indefinite useful life, for example goodwill, or intangible assets not ready for use, such as IPRD, are not subject to 
amortisation and are tested annually for impairment. Assets that are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever 
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for 
the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s 
fair value less costs to sell and value in use.

48

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Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

An impairment charge of £12.4m has been recognised in 2020 within continuing operations. This charge is split £9.3m against the  
IPRD and £2.3m of goodwill, both of these relate to Midatech Pharma (Wales) Ltd cash generating unit and £0.8m against acquired 
IRPD on MTX110.

For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows 
(cash-generating units). After the disposal of the US operation on 1 November 2018, the Group at 31 December 2020 had only one cash 
generating unit (2019: one, 2018: one), as set out in note 13. Non-financial assets other than goodwill that suffered impairment are 
reviewed for possible reversal of impairment at each reporting date.

Impairment charges are included in profit or loss, except, where applicable, to the extent they reverse gains previously recognised in 
other comprehensive income. An impairment loss recognised for goodwill is not reversed. 

Patents and trademarks
The costs incurred in establishing patents and trademarks are either expensed in accordance with the corresponding treatment of 
the development expenditure for the product to which they relate or capitalised if the development expenditure to which they relate 
has reached the point of capitalisation as an intangible asset.

Joint arrangements
The Group is a party to a joint arrangement when there is a contractual arrangement that confers joint control over the relevant 
activities of the arrangement to the Group and at least one other party. Joint control is assessed under the same principles as control 
over subsidiaries.

The Group classifies its interests in joint arrangements as either:

• 
• 

Joint ventures: where the Group has rights to only the net assets of the joint arrangement; or
Joint operations: where the Group has both the rights to assets and obligations for the liabilities of the joint arrangement.

In assessing the classification of interests in joint arrangements, the Group considers:

the structure of the joint arrangement;
the legal form of joint arrangements structured through a separate vehicle;
the contractual terms of the joint arrangement agreement; and

• 
• 
• 
•  any other facts and circumstances (including any other contractual arrangements).

The results and assets and liabilities of joint ventures are incorporated in the financial statements using the equity method of 
accounting, except when the investment is classified as held for sale, in which case it is accounted for in accordance with IFRS 5. Under 
the equity method, an investment in a joint venture is recognised initially in the consolidated statement of financial position at cost 
and adjusted thereafter to recognise the Group’s share of the profit or loss and other comprehensive income of the joint venture. 
When the Group’s share of losses of a joint venture exceeds the Group’s interest in that joint venture (which includes any long-term 
interests that, in substance, form part of the Group’s net investment in the joint venture), the Group discontinues recognising its share 
of further losses. Additional losses are recognised only to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or 
made payments on behalf of the joint venture.

Foreign currency
Transactions entered into by subsidiary entities in a currency other than the currency of the primary economic environment, in which 
they operate, are recorded at the rates ruling when the transactions occur. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are 
translated at the rates ruling at the reporting date. Exchange differences arising on the retranslation of unsettled monetary assets and 
liabilities are recognised immediately in profit or loss.

The presentational currency of the Group is Pounds Sterling, and the functional currency is also Pounds Sterling. Foreign subsidiaries 
use the local currencies of the country where the operate. On consolidation, the results of overseas operations are translated into 
Pounds Sterling at rates approximating to those ruling when the transactions took place. All assets and liabilities of overseas 
operations, including goodwill arising on the acquisition of those operations, are translated at the rate ruling at the reporting date. 
Exchange differences arising on translating the opening net assets at opening rate and the results of overseas operations at actual 
rate are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the foreign exchange reserve. 

Exchange differences recognised in the profit or loss of Group entities on the translation of long-term monetary items forming part of 
the Group’s net investment in the overseas operation concerned are reclassified to other comprehensive income and accumulated in 
the foreign exchange reserve on consolidation.

On disposal of a foreign operation, the cumulative exchange differences recognised in the foreign exchange reserve relating to that 
operation up to the date of disposal are transferred to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as part of the gain or 
loss on disposal.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

49

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

1 Accounting policies continued
Financial assets and liabilities
Assets at amortised cost
The Group does not have any financial assets which it would classify as fair value through profit or loss. Therefore, all financial assets 
are classed as assets at amortised cost as defined below.

These assets are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They arise 
principally through the provision of goods and services to customers (e.g. trade receivables), but also incorporate other types of contractual 
monetary asset. They are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributable to their acquisition or 
issue, and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less provision for impairment. 

For impairment provisions, the Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measure expected credit losses using a lifetime 
expected credit loss provision for trade receivables to measure expected credit losses on a collective basis. Trade receivables are 
grouped based on a similar credit risk and ageing.

The expected loss rates are based on the Group’s historic credit losses experienced over the three-year period prior to the period end. The 
historic loss rates are then adjusted for current and forward-looking information on macroeconomic factors.

The Group’s assets at amortised costs comprise trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated 
statement of financial position.

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with original maturities of three months or less.

Financial liabilities
The Group classifies its financial liabilities into one of two categories, depending on the purpose for which the liability was acquired.

Fair value through profit and loss (‘FVTPL’)
The Group has outstanding warrants in the ordinary share capital of the company. The number of ordinary shares to be issued when 
exercised is fixed, however the exercise price is denominated in US Dollars being different to the functional currency of the parent 
company. Therefore, the warrants are classified as equity settled derivative financial liabilities recognised at fair value through the 
profit and loss account. 

The financial liability is valued using the either the Monte Carlo model or the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Financial liabilities at 
FVTPL are stated at fair value, with any gains or losses arising on re-measurement recognised in profit or loss. The net gain or loss 
recognised in profit or loss incorporates any interest paid on the financial liability and is included in the ‘finance income’ or ‘finance 
expense’ lines item in the income statement. Fair value is determined in the manner described in note 22.

Other financial liabilities include the following items:

•  Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value net of any transaction costs directly attributable to the issue of the instrument. 
Such interest-bearing liabilities are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, which 
ensures that any interest expense over the period to repayment is at a constant rate on the balance of the liability carried in the 
consolidated statement of financial position. Interest expense in this context includes initial transaction costs and premium 
payable on redemption, as well as any interest or coupon payable while the liability is outstanding.

•  Government loans received on favourable terms below market rate are discounted at a market rate of interest. The difference 

between the present value of the loan and the proceeds is held as a government grant within deferred revenue and is released to 
research and development expenditure or grant income in line with when the asset or expenditure is recognised in the income 
statement.

•  Trade payables and other short-term monetary liabilities are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently carried at amortised 

cost using the effective interest method.

Share capital
Financial instruments issued by the Group are classified as equity only to the extent that they do not meet the definition of a financial 
liability or financial asset. The Group has two classes of share in existence: 

•  ordinary shares of £0.001 each are classified as equity instruments;
•  deferred shares of £1 each are classified as equity instruments.

On 2 March 2020 a resolution was passed at a general meeting of shareholders of the Company to consolidate its ordinary shares on 
a one for 20 basis into new ordinary shares of £0.001 each in the capital of the Company. 

Comparative figures in these financial statements reflect the impact of the share consolidation.

50

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Retirement benefits: defined contribution schemes
Contributions to defined contribution pension schemes are charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in the 
year to which they relate.

Provisions 
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event; it is probable that 
an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of 
the amount of the obligation. 

Share-based payments
The Group operates a number of equity-settled, share-based compensation plans, under which the entity receives services from 
employees as consideration for equity instruments (options) of the Group. The fair value of the employee services received in 
exchange for the grant of the options is recognised as an expense. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the 
fair value of the options granted:

including any market performance conditions (including the share price);

• 
•  excluding the impact of any service and non-market performance vesting conditions (for example, remaining an employee of the 

entity over a specified time period); and
including the impact of any non-vesting conditions (for example, the requirement for employees to save).

• 

Non-market performance and service conditions are included in assumptions about the number of options that are expected to vest. 
The total expense is recognised over the vesting period, which is the period over which all of the specified vesting conditions are to be 
satisfied. Where vesting conditions are accelerated on the occurrence of a specified event, such as a change in control or initial public 
offering, such remaining unvested charge is accelerated to the income statement.

In addition, in some circumstances employees may provide services in advance of the grant date and therefore the grant date fair value 
is estimated for the purposes of recognising the expense during the period between service commencement period and grant date.

At the end of each reporting period, the Group revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest based on the 
non-market vesting conditions. It recognises the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in the income statement, with a 
corresponding adjustment to equity. When the options are exercised, the Company issues new shares. The proceeds received net of 
any directly attributable transaction costs are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium. 

Leases
Identifying Leases 
The Group accounts for a contract, or a portion of a contract, as a lease when it conveys the right to use an asset for a period of time 
in exchange for consideration. Leases are those contracts that satisfy the following criteria: 

(a)  There is an identified asset; 
(b) The Group obtains substantially all the economic benefits from use of the asset; and
(c)  The Group has the right to direct use of the asset.

The Group considers whether the supplier has substantive substitution rights. If the supplier does have those rights, the contract is 
not identified as giving rise to a lease.

In determining whether the Group obtains substantially all the economic benefits from use of the asset, the Group considers only the 
economic benefits that arise from the use of the asset, not those incidental to legal ownership or other potential benefits.

In determining whether the Group has the right to direct use of the asset, the Group considers whether it directs how and for what 
purpose the asset is used throughout the period of use. If there are no significant decisions to be made because they are pre-
determined due to the nature of the asset, the Group considers whether it was involved in the design of the asset in a way that 
predetermines how and for what purpose the asset will be used throughout the period of use. If the contract or portion of a contract 
does not satisfy these criteria, the Group applies other applicable IFRSs rather than IFRS 16.

All leases are accounted for by recognising a right-of-use asset and a lease liability except for:

•  Leases of low value assets; and 
•  Leases with a duration of 12 months or less. 

Lease liabilities are measured at the present value of the contractual payments due to the lessor over the lease term, with the 
discount rate determined by reference to the Group’s incremental borrowing rate on commencement of the lease.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

51

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

1 Accounting policies continued
Leases continued
Identifying Leases continued
Right of use assets are initially measured at the amount of the lease liability, reduced for any lease incentives received, and increased 
for lease payments made at or before commencement of the lease.

Subsequent to initial measurement lease liabilities increase as a result of interest charged at a constant rate on the balance 
outstanding and are reduced for lease payments made. Right-of-use assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over the remaining 
term of the lease.

 When the Group revises its estimate of the term of any lease (because, for example, it re-assesses the probability of a lessee 
extension or termination option being exercised), it adjusts the carrying amount of the lease liability to reflect the payments to make 
over the revised term, which are discounted using a revised discount rate. An equivalent adjustment is made to the carrying value of 
the right-of-use asset, with the revised carrying amount being amortised over the remaining (revised) lease term. If the carrying 
amount of the right-of-use asset is adjusted to zero, any further reduction is recognised in profit or loss.

In 2018 the Group entered into a sublease agreement to mitigate the impact of an otherwise onerous lease on the closure of its 
Abingdon site. This has been recognised as a lease receivable as the Group determined that the sublease meets the definition of a 
finance lease under the transitional provisions of IFRS16 and therefore, no right-of-use asset is recognised. During 2020 the lease and 
sub-lease ended.

Nature of leasing activities (in the capacity as lessee) 
The Group leased a number of properties in the jurisdictions from which it operates. In some jurisdictions it is customary for lease 
contracts to provide for payments to increase each year by inflation or and in others to be reset periodically to market rental rates. As 
at 31 December 2020 the Group had one property lease in place in the UK.

Deferred taxation
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised where the carrying amount of an asset or liability in the consolidated statement of 
financial position differs from its tax base, except for differences arising on:

• 
• 

• 

the initial recognition of goodwill;
the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction which is not a business combination and at the time  
of the transaction affects neither accounting or taxable profit; and
investments in subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities where the Group is able to control the timing of the reversal of the 
difference and it is probable that the difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Recognition of deferred tax assets is restricted to those instances where it is probable that taxable profit will be available against 
which the difference can be utilised.

The amount of the asset or liability is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting 
date and are expected to apply when the deferred tax assets or liabilities are recovered or settled. 

Property, plant and equipment
Items of property, plant and equipment are initially recognised at cost. As well as the purchase price, cost includes directly  
attributable costs.

Depreciation is provided on all items of property, plant and equipment so as to write off their carrying value over their expected useful 
economic lives. It is provided at the following rates:

Fixtures and fittings 
Leasehold improvements 
Computer equipment 
Laboratory equipment 
Right of use asset 

– 25% per annum straight line
– the shorter of 10% per annum straight line or over the lease term
– 25% per annum straight line
– 15% – 25% per annum straight line
– Economic life of contractual relationship

Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Net realisable value is the market value. In evaluating whether 
inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realisable value, management considers such factors as the amount of inventory on 
hand and in the distribution channel, estimated time required to sell such inventory, remaining shelf life, and current and expected 
market conditions, including levels of competition.

If net realisable value is lower than the carrying amount a write down provision is recognised for the amount by which the carrying 
value exceeds its net realisable value.

Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market value using the FIFO method. Inventory is charged to the income statement as cost 
of sales as it is sold.

52

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires the Group to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that can 
have a significant impact on the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosure of contingent 
assets and liabilities, at the respective dates of our financial statements. The Group bases its estimates, assumptions and judgments 
on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ 
from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Management evaluates estimates, assumptions and judgments on a 
regular basis and makes changes accordingly, and discusses critical accounting estimates with the Board of Directors. 

The following are considered to be critical accounting estimates:

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets not yet ready for use
Goodwill and intangibles not yet ready for use are tested for impairment at the cash generating unit level on an annual basis at the 
year end and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of 
a cash generating unit below its carrying value. These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business 
climate, legal factors, operating performance indicators, competition, or sale or disposition of a significant portion of a reporting unit.

Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of cash generating units, assignment of 
assets and liabilities to such units, assignment of goodwill to such units and determination of the fair value of a unit and for intangible 
assets not yet ready for use, the fair value of the asset. The fair value of each cash generating unit or asset is estimated using the 
income approach, on a discounted cash flow methodology. This analysis requires significant judgments, including estimation of future 
cash flows, which is dependent on internal forecasts, including for revenues and development costs, estimation of the long term rate 
of growth for the business, estimation of the useful life over which cash flows will occur and determination of our weighted-average 
cost of capital.

The carrying value of goodwill was £Nil (2019: £2.3m; 2018: £2.3m) and intangibles not yet ready for use was £Nil (2019: £10.1m;  
2018: £10.1m) as at 31 December 2020 (note 12).

The estimates used to calculate the fair value of a cash generating unit change from year to year based on operating results and market 
conditions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value and goodwill impairment 
for each such unit.

 As a result of the Strategic Review undertaken by the Group in March 2020 as set out in the Chief Executives Review on page 11 an 
impairment charge of £2.3m has been recognised against goodwill in the year ended 31 December 2020 (2019: £Nil; 2018: £Nil) and an 
impairment charge against the IPRD of the Midatech Pharma (Wales) Ltd cash generating unit of £9.3m (2019: £Nil; 2018: £Nil). As a result 
of the purported termination of our license to panobinostat by Secura Bio in June 2020 there is an impairment charge of £0.8m against 
the acquired IPRD in relation to MTX110. See note 12 and 13.

Share-based payments
The Group accounts for share-based payment transactions for employees in accordance with IFRS 2 Share-based Payment, which 
requires the measurement of the cost of employee services received in exchange for the options on our ordinary shares, based on the 
fair value of the award on the grant date.

The Directors selected the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model as the most appropriate method for determining the estimated 
fair value of our share-based awards without market conditions. For performance-based options that include vesting conditions 
relating to the market performance of our ordinary shares, a Monte Carlo pricing model was used in order to reflect the valuation 
impact of price hurdles that have to be met as conditions to vesting.

The resulting cost of an equity incentive award is recognised as expense over the requisite service period of the award, which is 
usually the vesting period. Compensation expense is recognised over the vesting period using the straight-line method and classified 
in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The assumptions used for estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions are disclosed in note 27 to our consolidated 
financial statements and are estimated as follows:

•  volatility is estimated based on the average annualised volatility of a number of publicly traded peer companies in the biotech 

• 

• 

sector;
the estimated life of the option is estimated to be until the first exercise period, which is typically the month after the option vests; 
and
the dividend return is estimated by reference to our historical dividend payments. Currently, this is estimated to be zero as no 
dividend has been paid in the prior periods.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

53

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements continued
Financial liabilities
Fair value through profit and loss (‘FVTPL’)
The Group has outstanding warrants in the ordinary share capital of the company. The number of ordinary shares to be issued when 
exercised is fixed, however the exercise price is denominated in US Dollars being different to the functional currency of the parent 
company. Therefore, the warrants are classified as equity settled derivative financial liabilities recognised at fair value through the 
profit and loss account.

The financial liability is valued using the either the Monte Carlo model or the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Financial liabilities at 
FVTPL are stated at fair value, with any gains or losses arising on re-measurement recognised in profit or loss. The net gain or loss 
recognised in profit or loss incorporates any interest paid on the financial liability and is included in the ‘finance income’ or ‘finance 
expense’ lines item in the income statement. Fair value is determined in the manner described in note 22.

The following are considered to be critical accounting judgments:

Revenue
Supply of services
There are significant management judgements and estimates involved in the recognition of revenue from the supply of services. 
Revenue on services is recognised over the contract term, proportionate to the progress in overall satisfaction of the performance 
obligations (the services performed by the Group), measured by cost incurred to date out of total estimate of costs.

Income taxes
Deferred tax assets are recognised for unused tax losses to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against 
which the losses can be utilised. Significant management judgment is required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that 
can be recognised based upon the likely timing and the level of future taxable profits together with future tax planning strategies.

In 2020, there were approximately £63.2m of gross unutilised tax losses carried forward (2019: £49.6m; 2018: £40.7m). No deferred tax 
asset has been provided in respect of these losses as there was insufficient evidence to support their recoverability in future periods.

Research and development costs
Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred and are typically made up of salaries and benefits, clinical and 
preclinical activities, drug development and manufacturing costs, and third-party service fees, including for clinical research 
organisations and investigative sites. Costs for certain development activities, such as clinical trials, are periodically recognised as 
intangible assets based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrolment, clinical 
site activations, or information provided by vendors on their actual costs incurred. Payments for these activities are based on the 
terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in the financial 
statements as prepaid or accrued expenses.

Leases
IFRS 16 defines the lease term as the non-cancellable period of a lease together with the options to extend or terminate a lease, if the 
lessee were reasonably certain to exercise that option. This will take into account the length of time remaining before the option is 
exercisable, current trading, future trading forecasts as to the ongoing profitability of the organisation and the level and type of 
planned future capital investment. The judgement is reassessed at each reporting period. A reassessment of the remaining life of the 
lease could result in a recalculation of the lease liability and a material adjustment to the associated balances. 

During 2020 following the closure of Midatech Pharma (Espana) SL and the termination of a property lease occupied by the Company 
a profit on disposal has been recognised in the financial statements of £109,000. 

During 2019 Management considered the appropriate life of a new property lease entered into in Spain. The lease was for an initial 
period of 5 years, however the lease allowed the Group to break the lease at any-time with one-month notice, provided it returned the 
property to its original condition. At 31 December 2019, Management assessed it was reasonably certain the expected life of the lease 
would be 5 years. 

The discount rate used in the calculation of the lease liability involves estimation. The discount rate used is the incremental borrowing 
rate. This rates represents the rate the Group would have had to pay to borrow, over a similar term and with similar security, the funds 
necessary to obtain an asset of similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment.

54

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Discontinued Operations
Under the terms of the Sale Agreement the Group agreed to indemnify the Purchaser against, inter alia, any liability related to any 
prescription drug user fee amounts owed to the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) under the Prescription Drug Fee 
User Act (“PDUFA”) by MPUS for the United States government’s fiscal year ended 30 September 2018.

MPUS had successfully obtained waivers for user fees for all prior fiscal periods in which it was liable under PDUFA and entered into 
the Sale Agreement with the Purchaser confident that a further waiver would be obtained. However, during 2019 MPUS sought 
approval from the FDA for a filing relating to one of its commercial products and was informed by the FDA that the approval would not 
be forthcoming whilst the PDUFA fee remained unpaid. Consequently, MPUS paid the PDUFA fee of £0.95m and then, in accordance 
with the terms of the SPA, Midatech deposited the same amount with MPUS, pending completion of the waiver application process. 

At 30 June 2019 Management considered the amount recoverable from MPUS, this was based on the waiver application process being 
on-going and the historical success MPUS have had in obtaining the waiver.

 At 31 December 2019 Management reconsidered the recoverability of the sum paid under the warranty, and although the waiver 
process was still on-going, Management concluded, based on third party advice, that the probability of successfully achieving the 
waiver had diminished and therefore took the decision to expense the cost of the warranty claim in the second half of 2019. 

During 2020 Fortovia Theraputics Inc (formerly MPUS) filed for bankruptcy. 

Going Concern
The Group and Company has experienced net losses and significant cash outflows from cash used in operating activities over the past 
years as it develops its portfolio. For the year ended 31 December 2020, the Group incurred a consolidated loss from operations of 
£22.2m and negative cash flows from operations of £9.3m. As of 31 December 2020, the Group had an accumulated deficit of £122.4m.

The Group’s future viability is dependent on its ability to generate cash from operating activities, to raise additional capital to finance 
its operations and to successfully obtain regulatory approval to allow marketing of its development products. The Group’s failure to 
raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on its financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategies. 

The Group’s consolidated financial statements have been presented on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realisation of 
assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

As at 31 December 2020, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of £7.5m. The Directors forecast that the Group currently has 
enough cash to fund its planned operations into the fourth quarter of 2021.

The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts and considered the cash flow requirement for the Company for the next three years 
including the period 12 months from the date of approval of the consolidated financial statements. These forecasts show that further 
financing will be required during the fourth quarter of 2021 assuming, inter alia, that certain development programs and other 
operating activities continue as currently planned. This requirement for additional financing in the short term represents a material 
uncertainty that may cast significant doubt upon the Group and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

In addition, the global pandemic COVID-19 virus places increased uncertainty over the Directors’ forecasts. The restrictions being 
placed on the movement of people will likely cause delays to some of the Group’s plans. It is difficult to assess to what extent, and for 
how long, COVID-19 will cause delays to the Group’s operations. The Directors have established a COVID-19 task force internally to 
monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the business and prioritise activities to minimise its effect.

The Directors are evaluating a number of near-term funding options potentially available to the Group, including fundraising and the 
partnering of assets and technologies of the Company. After considering the uncertainties, the Directors consider it is appropriate to 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

55

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

3 Segment Information
Revenue from contracts with customers
Geographical analysis of revenue by destination of customer

Revenue from continuing operations:
United Kingdom
Rest of Europe
Rest of the World

Revenue from discontinued operations
United States

2020
£’000

4
114
62

180

–

2019
£’000

197
55
60

312

–

2018
£’000

149
–
–

149

3,882

All revenue from continuing operations came from the sale of services in 2020, 2019 and 2018.

In 2020, all revenue from continuing operations came from 3 customers (2019: 3 customers; 2018: 1 customer). Within revenue from 
discontinued operations for 2018, reported in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income under loss from discontinued 
operations, four customers each accounted for at least 10% of revenue from discontinued operations:

Customer A
Customer B
Customer C

2020
£’000

64%
34%
2%

2019
£’000

63%
19%
18%

2018
£’000

100%
–
–

Following the disposal of the US commercial business in 2018, the Group contains one reportable operating segment, Pipeline 
Research and Development (‘Pipeline R&D’). This segment seeks to develop products using the Group’s nanomedicine and sustained 
release technology platforms.

The accounting policies of the reportable segments are consistent with the Group’s accounting policies described in note 1.  
Segment results represent the result of each segment without the allocation of head office expenses, interest expense, interest 
income and tax.

No measures of segment assets and segment liabilities are reported to the Group’s Board of Directors in order to assess performance 
and allocate resources. There is no intersegment activity and all revenue is generated from external customers.

Both the UK and Spanish entities meet the aggregation criteria and have therefore been presented as a single reportable segment 
under Pipeline R&D. The research and development activities involve the discovery and development of pharmaceutical products in 
the field of nanomedicine and sustained release technology. The US operating company was engaged in the sale and marketing of 
cancer supportive care products and was reported historically under the Commercial segment.

In the following segmented results tables, depreciation and amortisation allocated to research and development costs, and 
administrative costs in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, are presented separately.

56

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Segmented results for the year ended 31 December 2020

Revenue
Grant revenue

Total revenue
Other income
Cost of sales
Research and development costs
Distribution costs, sales and marketing
Administrative costs
Depreciation
Amortisation
Impairment

Loss from operations
Finance income
Finance expense

Loss before tax
Taxation

Loss for the year

Loss from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations

Segmented results for the year ended 31 December 2019

Revenue
Grant revenue

Total revenue
Other income
Cost of sales
Research and development costs
Distribution costs, sales and marketing
Administrative costs
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
Depreciation
Amortisation

Loss from operations
Finance income
Finance expense

Loss before tax
Taxation

Loss for the year

Loss from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations

Pipeline R&D
£’000

Commercial 
(discontinued)
£’000

Consolidated 
(including 
discontinued 
operations)
£’000

180
163

343
12
-
(4,886)
(6)
(4,917)
(1,207)
(10)
(12,369)

(23,040)
1
(431)

(23,470)
1,281

(22,189)

–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–

–
–

–

Pipeline R&D
£’000

Commercial 
(discontinued)
£’000

312
362

674
15
–
(6,624)
(323)
(3,775)
–
(1,282)
(3)

(11,318)
492
(97)

(10,923)
1,785

(9,138)

–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
(947)
–
–

(947)
–
–

(947)
–

(947)

180
163

343
12
–
(4,886)
(6)
(4,917)
(1,207)
(10)
(12,369)

(23,040)
1
(431)

(23,470)
1,281

(22,189)

(22,189)
–

Consolidated 
(including 
discontinued 
operations)
£’000

312
362

674
15
–
(6,624)
(323)
(3,775)
(947)
(1,282)
(3)

(12,265)
492
(97)

(11,870)
1,785

(10,085)

(9,138)
(947)

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

57

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

3 Segment Information continued
Segmented results for the year ended 31 December 2018

Revenue
Grant revenue

Total revenue
Cost of sales
Research and development costs
Distribution costs, sales and marketing
Administrative costs
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations
Depreciation
Amortisation

Loss from operations
Finance income
Finance expense

Loss before tax
Taxation

Loss for the year

Loss from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations

Pipeline R&D
£’000

Commercial 
(discontinued)
£’000

149
1,789

1,938
–
(8,555)
–
(4,087)
–
(1,011)
(100)

(11,815)
2
(587)

(12,400)
2,032

(10,368)

3,882
–

3,882
(1,286)
(283)
(4,357)
(872)
(1,407)
(5)
(334)

(4,662)
–
–

(4,662)
–

(4,662)

Consolidated 
(including 
discontinued 
operations)
£’000

4,031
1,789

5,820
(1,286)
(8,838)
(4,357)
(4,959)
(1,407)
(1,016)
(434)

(16,477)
2
(587)

(17,062)
2,032

(15,030)

(10,368) 
(4,662)

All material additions to non-current assets in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were in the Pipeline R&D segment.

Non-current assets by location of assets

United Kingdom
Spain

2020
£’000

542
–

542

2019
£’000

12,775
4,383

17,158

2018
£’000

12,966
1,860

14,826

58

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

4 Discontinued operations
During 2018 the Group made the decision to sell its Commercial business based in the US. The sale completed on 1 November 2018 to 
Barings LLC, a member of the MassMutual Financial Group, for total consideration of up to $19m. This included $6m of consideration 
contingent payable on the achievement of various net revenue milestones for the MPUS business for the financial years 2018 and 2019. 
MPUS did not achieve the net revenue milestones in either 2018 or 2019, as a result no contingent consideration was received during 2019. 

During 2019 a claim was made by MPUS under the warranties provided by Midatech under the disposal agreement, see note 2. The 
statement of cash flows includes the following amounts relating to discontinued operations:

Cash consideration received
Other consideration received
Total consideration received

Cash disposed of 

Net cash inflow on disposal of discontinued operation
Net assets disposed (other than cash):
Property, plant and equipment
Intangibles
Inventory
Trade and other payables

Total net assets disposed of (other than cash)

Loss on disposal of discontinued operation before and after tax
Foreign exchange gain realised on disposal

Loss on disposal

The post-tax loss on disposal of discontinued operations was determined as follows:

Result of discontinued operations

Revenue
Expenses other than finance costs
Finance costs
Impairment

Loss from discontinued operations before tax
Taxation
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations

Loss for the year from discontinued operations after tax

Statement of cash flows

The statement of cash flows includes the following amounts relating to  

discontinued operations:

Operating activities 
Investing activities
Financing activities

Net cash flow from discontinued operations

2020
£’000

2019
£’000

–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–
– 

–

– 
–

– 

2020
£’000

–
–
–
–

–
–
–

–

2020
£’000

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–
– 

–

– 
–

– 

2019
£’000

–
(947)
–
–

(947)
–
– 

(947)

2019
£’000

– 
(947)
–

(947)

2018
£’000

9,350
–
9,350

(91)

9,259
3
15,662
948
629
(2,734)

(14,508)

(5,249)
3,842

(1,407)

2018
£’000

3,882
(7,137)
–
–

(3,255)
–
(1,407)

(4,662)

2018
£’000

(5,368)
–
(7)

(5,375)

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

59

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

5 Loss from operations

Loss from operations is stated after charging/(crediting):
Changes in inventories of finished goods and work in progress
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
– From continuing operations
– From discontinued operations
Depreciation of right of use asset 
– From continuing operations
– From discontinued operations
Amortisation of intangible assets – product and marketing rights
– From continuing operations
– From discontinued operations
Impairment of intangible assets
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the parent Company
Fees payable to the Company’s subsidiary auditors for the audits of the  

subsidiary accounts

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for:
– Other services
Fees payable to the Company’s previous auditor for the audit of the parent Company
Fees payable to the Company’s previous auditor for:
– Other services
Operating lease expense:
– Property
– Plant and machinery
Arrangement/penalty fees for loan facility
Foreign exchange(gain)/loss
Profit/(Loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Equity settled share-based payment

2020
£’000

–

1,089
–

118
–

10
–
12,369
87

43

7
15

171

–
–
–
96
(226)
(404)

2019
£’000

–

979
–

303
–

3
–
–
110

48

66
–

–

–
–
–
131
–
(34)

2018
£’000

(976)

1,011
5

–
–

100
334
–
111

143

83
–

–

386
–
469
212
165
(36)

Amortisation of product and marketing rights are included in distribution costs, sales and marketing expenses. Amortisation ceased 
when the assets were reclassified as held for sale on 30 June 2018 and were sold on 1 November 2018.

6 Staff costs
Staff costs (including Directors), for continuing and discontinued operations, comprise:

Wages and salaries
Defined contribution pension cost (note 26)
Social security contributions and similar taxes
Share-based payment

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

2020
£’000

2,727
75
397
(404)

2,795

2,795
–

2,795

2019
£’000

2,762
90
565
(34)

3,383

3,383
–

3,383

2018
£’000

5,393
149
639
(36)

6,145

4,352
1,793

6,145

Employee numbers
The average number of staff employed by the Group during the financial year, for continuing and discontinued operations, amounted to:

Research and development
General and administration
Sales and marketing

60

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

2020

31
9
–

40

2019

52
13
–

65

2018

63
16
6

85

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Key management personnel compensation 
Key management personnel are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities 
of the Group, including the Directors of the Company listed on page 35.

Wages and salaries
Defined contribution pension cost
Payments made to third parties
Social security contributions and similar taxes
Benefits in kind

Share-based payment

2020
£’000

394
24
63
29
16

526
(472)

54

2019
£’000

656
42
82
72
2

854
(58)

796

Emoluments disclosed above include the following amounts in respect of the highest paid Director. Directors’ emoluments are 
disclosed on page 33.

Salary
Total pension and other post-employment benefit costs
Benefits in kind
Termination benefits

2020
£’000

175
17
1
-

193

None of the Directors have exercised share options during the year (2019: nil, 2018: nil).

During the year 2 Directors (2019:3; 2018: 3) participated in a defined contribution pension scheme.

7 Finance income and expense

Finance income
Interest received on bank deposits
Gain on equity settled derivative financial liability

Total finance income

Finance expense
Bank loans
Interest expense on lease liabilities
Other loans
Loss on equity settled derivative financial liability

Total finance expense

2020
£’000

1
–

1

2020
£’000

–
20
14
397

431

2019
£’000

266
22
1
-

289

2019
£’000

8
484

492

2019
£’000

–
30
67
–

97

2018
£’000

900
39
142
77
3

1,161
(92)

1,069

2018
£’000

110
4
1
99

214

2018
£’000

2
–

2

2018
£’000

582
5
–
–

587

The gain/(loss) on the equity settled derivative financial liability in 2020 and 2019 arose as a result of the movement in share price 
(note 21).

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

61

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

8 Taxation

Current tax credit
Current tax credited to the income statement
Taxation payable in respect of foreign subsidiary
Adjustment in respect of prior year

Deferred tax credit
Reversal of temporary differences

Total tax credit

2020
£’000

1,144
(21)
158

1,281

–

1,281

2019
£’000

1,782
–
3

1,785

–

1,785

2018
£’000

1,952
(67)
128

2,013

19

2,032

There was no tax charge relating to discontinued operations for 2020, 2019 and 2018.

The reasons for the difference between the actual tax charge for the year and the standard rate of corporation tax in the United 
Kingdom applied to losses for the year are as follows:

Loss before tax

Expected tax credit based on the standard rate of United Kingdom corporation tax at 

the domestic rate of 19% (2019: 19%; 2018: 19%) 

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Income not taxable
Unrelieved tax losses and other deductions
Adjustment in respect of prior period
Surrender of tax losses for R&D tax refund
Unrelieved tax losses and other deductions arising in the period
Foreign exchange differences
Deferred tax not recognised

Total tax credited to the income statement

2020
£’000

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

(23,470)

(11,870)

(17,062)

(4,459)
596
(75)
–
(158)
(491)
–
–
3,306

(1,281)

(2,255)
1,087
–
(114)
(3)
(1,810)
–
1
1,309

(1,785)

(3,241)
2,492
–
–
(129)
(1,955)
(220)
(26)
1,047

(2,032)

The taxation credit arises on the enhanced research and development tax credits accrued for the respective periods.

An adjustment has been recognised in 2020 in respect of the prior period of £158k, this is as a result of a more detailed review of cost 
classification prior to the submission of tax returns to HMRC in 2020.

9 Loss per share

Numerator
Loss used in basic EPS and diluted EPS:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Denominator
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in basic EPS:

Basic and diluted loss per share:
Continuing operations – pence
Discontinued operations – pence

2020
£’000

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

(22,189)
–

(9,138)
(947)

(10,368)
(4,662)

42,839,961

18,330,588

3,056,303

(52)p
–

(50)p
(5)p

(339)p
(153)p

On 2 March 2020 a resolution was passed at a general meeting of shareholders of the Company to consolidate its ordinary shares on 
a one for 20 basis into new ordinary shares of 0.1p each in the capital of the Company. The comparative denominator has been 
calculated to reflect the share consolidation.

The Group has made a loss in the current and previous years presented, and therefore the options and warrants are anti-dilutive. As a 
result, diluted earnings per share is presented on the same basis for all periods shown.

62

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

10 Property, plant and equipment

Fixtures
and fittings
£’000

Leasehold
improvements
£’000

Computer
equipment
£’000

Laboratory
equipment
£’000

Right of use
 asset
 £’000 

Cost
At 1 January 2018
Additions 
Disposal
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2018

Adoption of IFRS 16 Leases
Additions 
Effect of modification to lease terms
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2019

Additions 
Effect of modification to lease terms
Disposal
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2020

Accumulated depreciation 
At 1 January 2018
Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2018

Charge for the year
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2019

Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 31 December 2020

Net book value
At 31 December 2020

At 31 December 2019
At 31 December 2018

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

3,738

1,124

7,551

252
4
(5)
2

253

–
4
–
(9)

248

-
–
(202)
7

53

2,112
106
(229)
24

2,013

–
137
–
(112)

2,038

58
–
(2,184)
92

4

342
40
–
1

383

–
23
–
(3)

403

16
–
(185)
2

236

3,669
353
(401)
30

3,651

–
223
–
(136)

–
–
–
–

–

395
822
(82)
(11)

135
–
(2,323)
112

1,662

(678)
(316)
58

188

Fixtures
and fittings
£’000

Leasehold
improvements
£’000

Computer
equipment
£’000

Laboratory 
equipment
£’000

Right of use
 asset
 £’000

196
43
–
2

241

2
(8)

235

9
(202)
7

49

4

13
12

1,238
403
(175)
19

1,485

400
(91)

1,794

310
(2,183)
81

2

2

244
528

192
72
(3)
4

265

70
(3)

332

50
(185)
2

199

37

71
118

2,220
499
(421)
28

2,326

507
(93)

2,740

720
(2,300)
79

1,239

423

998
1,325

–
–
–
–

–

303
(7)

296

118
(316)
14

112

76

828
–

Total
£’000

6,375
503
(635)
57

6,300

395
1,209
(82)
(271)

209
(678)
(5,210)
271

2,143

Total
£’000

3,846
1,016
(599)
53

4,317

1,282
(202)

5,397

1,207
(5,186)
183

1,601

542

2,154
1,983

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

63

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

11 Leases

Right of Use Asset

At 1 January
Additions
Effect of modification to lease terms
Depreciation
Exchange differences

At 31 December

Lease Liabilities

At 1 January
Additions
Effect of modification to lease terms
Interest expenses
Lease payments
Exchange differences

At 31 December

2020
£’000

828
–
(678)
(118)
44

76

2020
£’000

907
–
(788)
15
(105)
47

76

2019
£’000

395
822
(82)
(303)
(4)

828

2019
£’000

546
822
(82)
24
(391)
(12)

907

During 2020 as a result of the closure of the Group’s operations in Spain two property leases were terminated early. This impacted 
both the right of use asset and the lease liability. Management considered the appropriate life of a lease in the UK in 2020 and 2019 
and adjusted the right of use asset and lease liability accordingly.

The Group had commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as set out below, from 1 January 2019, the Group has 
recognised right-of-use assets for these leases, exception for low value leases.

Land and 
buildings
£’000

Other 
£’000

–
–

–

–
–

–

383
189

572

2020
£’000

10

10

–
–

–

–
–

–

1
4

5

2019
£’000

29

29

2020
Expiring In one year or less
Expiring over one year

2019
Expiring In one year or less
Expiring over one year

2018
Expiring In one year or less
Expiring over one year

Low value leases expensed in year:

Low value leases expensed

64

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

12 Intangible assets

Cost
At 1 January 2018
Disposals
Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2018

Additions
Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2019

Disposal
Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2020

Accumulated amortisation and impairment
At 1 January 2018
Amortisation charge for the year
Disposal
Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2018

Amortisation charge for the year
Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2019

Amortisation charge for the year
Disposal
Impairment
Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2020

Net book value
At 31 December 2020

At 31 December 2019
At 31 December 2018

In-process 
research and 
development
£’000

Product and 
marketing rights
£’000

Goodwill
£’000

IT/Website costs
£’000

Total
£’000

13,378
–
–

13,378

–
–

13,378

–
–

13,378

19,856
(21,022)
1,166

–

–
–

–

–
–

–

13,444
(11,808)
655

2,291

–
–

2,291

–
–

2,291

27
–
1

28

9
(2)

35

(36)
1

–

In-process
research and
development
£’000

Product and
marketing
rights
£’000

Goodwill
£’000

IT/Website
Costs
£’000

3,300
–
–
–

3,300

–
–

3,300

–
–
10,078
–

13,378

–

10,078
10,078

15,739
431
(17,103)
933

–

–
–

–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–
–
2,291
–

2,291

–

2,291
2,291

19
3
–
1

23

3
(1)

25

10
(36)
–
1

–

–

10
5

46,705
(32,830)
1,822

15,697

9
(2)

15,704

(36)
1

15,669

Total
£’000

19,058
434
(17,103)
934

3,323

3
(1)

3,325

10
(36)
12,369
1

15,669

–

12,379
12,374

The individual intangible assets, excluding goodwill, which are material to the financial statements are:

Midatech Pharma (Wales) Limited acquired IPRD
Midatech Pharma US, Inc., product and marketing rights
Zuplenz® product and marketing rights

MTX110 acquired IPRD

Carrying amount

Remaining amortisation period

2020
£’000

2019
£’000

2018 
£’000

2020
(years)

2019
(years)

2018
(years)

–
–
–

–

–

9,300
–
–

9,300
–
–

778

778

10,078

10,078

n/a in 
process
n/a
n/a
n/a in 
process

n/a in 
process
n/a
n/a
n/a in 
process

n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

65

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

13 Impairment testing
Midatech Pharma (Wales) Ltd
Details of goodwill and IPRD allocated to the acquired cash generating unit and the valuation basis are as follows: 

Name

Indefinite lived

IPRD carrying amount

Goodwill carrying amount

2020
£’000

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

2020
£’000

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

Valuation 
Basis

CGU – Midatech Pharma (Wales) Ltd
MTX110 acquired IPRD

–
–

9,300
778

9,300
778

–
–

2,291
–

2,291
–

Value  
in use
–

As set out in the Strategic Report on page 13 an impairment charge of £11.6m was recorded in 2021 in the assets of Midatech Pharma 
(Wales) Ltd (‘MPW’) CGU as a result of the Board’s decision on 31 March 2020 to terminate the MTD201.The impairment charge was 
£9.3m of IPRD and £2.3m acquired goodwill.

In 2020 an impairment charge of £0.8m was recorded in relation to the acquire IPRD on MTX110. The impairment is as a result of the 
termination of a License Agreement between the Company and Secura Bio Inc. Pursuant to the License Agreement, Midatech Limited 
was granted a non-exclusive worldwide, sub-licenseable license to certain patents of Panobinostat, the active pharmaceutical 
ingredient of the Company’s development product MTX110. 

The assets of MPW were valued as at 31 December 2019 and 2018 and were found to support the IPRD and goodwill carrying amounts 
set out above. The IPRD was valued using (2019:12-13 year; 2018: 12–13 year), risk adjusted cash flow forecasts, in line with patent life, 
that have been approved by the Board. A period longer than 5 years was appropriate on the basis that the investment was long term 
and the development and commercialisation process is typically in excess of 5 years. Beyond the period from product launch and 
initial market penetration, a long term growth rate of Nil was used.

The key assumptions used in the valuation model examining the MPW Ltd cash generating unit include the following:

Assumptions

Pre-tax discount rate
Cumulative probability of success of projects

2020

n/a
n/a

2019

18.4%
81%

2018

17.7%
81%

The discount rate is an estimated market-based weighted average cost of capital for the MPW business, determined at the date of 
acquisition. Cumulative probability of success of projects is the product of the probability of success of each remaining major phase of 
development for each individual IPRD component. These phase probabilities were determined by management with reference to the 
risks associated with each remaining development stage.

Sensitivity analysis
If any one of the following changes were made to the above key assumptions, the carrying value and recoverable amount would be equal.

Assumptions

Pre-tax discount rate for all projects
Cumulative probability of success of project

2020

n/a
n/a

2019

2018

increase to 
21%
59%

increase to 
29.8%
34%

66

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

14 Subsidiaries
The subsidiaries of Midatech Pharma plc, all of which are 100% owned, either directly or through subsidiaries where indicated, and 
have been included in these financial statements in accordance with the details set out in the basis of preparation and basis of 
consolidation note 1, are as follows:

Name

Midatech Limited
Midatech Pharma (España) SL

PharMida AG
Midatech Pharma (Wales) Limited
Midatech Pharma PTY

Registered
office

Oddfellows House, 19 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AA
Parque Tecnológico de Vizcaya, Edificio 800 Planta 2, Derio, 
48160, Vizcaya, Spain
c/o Kellerhals, Hirschgässlein 11, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Oddfellows House, 19 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AA

Nature of
business

Trading company
In liquidation

Dormant
Trading company
Dissolved – 2020

Notes

(a)

(a) (b)

(c)

Notes:
(a)  Wholly owned subsidiary of Midatech Limited.
(b)  PharMida AG became dormant in January 2016.
(c)  Midatech Pharma PTY was incorporated on 16 February 2015 and dissolved November 2020.

15 Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Prepayments
Other receivables 

Total trade and other receivables
Less: non-current portion (rental deposit and on bond)

Current portion

2020
£’000

95
258
219

572
–

572

2019
£’000

22
151
3,444

3,617
(2,625)

992

2018
£’000

89
139
1,564

1,792
(469)

1,323

Trade and other receivables do not contain any impaired assets. The Group does not hold any collateral as security and the maximum 
exposure to credit risk at the consolidated statement of financial position date is the fair value of each class of receivable. 

Book values approximate to fair value at 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018.

During 2019 a cash-backed guarantee was provided to the Spanish Government in relation to a loan provided to the Group under its 
Reindustrialisation programme, see note 19. As a result of the closure of Midatech Pharma (España) SL during 2020 the cash-back 
guarantee was released on the repayment of the loan to the Spanish Government.

16 Cash and cash equivalents and cash flow supporting notes
Cash and cash equivalents for purposes of the consolidated statement of cash flows comprises:

Cash at bank available on demand

2020
£’000

7,546

2019
£’000

10,928

2018
£’000

2,343

During 2020 and 2019, cash inflows arose from equity financing transactions, included within financing activities on the face of the 
cash flow statement. As part of the equity transaction in May 2020 warrants to the value of £1.0m (October 2019 : £1.1m) were issued 
as disclosed in note 21. 

Gross proceeds
Transaction costs

2020
£’000

10,792
(1,050)

9,742

2019
£’000

15,767
(1,659)

14,108

2018
£’000

–
–

–

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

67

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

16 Cash and cash equivalents and cash flow supporting notes continued
The following changes in loans and borrowings arose as a result of financing activities during the year:

Non-current 
liabilities
£’000

5,670
(6,182)

252
1,176
(877)

51
(30)

60

Current 
liabilities
£’000

412
(258)

23
–
89

(51)
(15)

200

Non-current 
liabilities
£’000

Current liabilities
£’000

884
5,575

(42)
(1,139)
163
–
805

(685)
–
108

5,670

Non-current 
liabilities, bank 
loans
£’000

6,185
(5,580)

296
168

(232)
47

884

2020
£’000

–

–

368
(1,027)

(29)
–
383
(82)
95

685
(14)
34

412

Current liabilities, 
bank loans
£’000

361
(305)

4
76

232
–

368

2019
£’000

–

–

Total
£’000

6,082
(6,440)

275
1,176
(788)

–
(45)

260

Total
£’000

1,252
4,548

(71)
(1,139)
546
(82)
900

–
(14)
142

6,082

Total
£’000

6,546
(5,885)

300
244

–
47

1,252

2018
£’000

–

–

At 1 January 2020
Cash flows
Non-cashflows:
Foreign Exchange
Fair value changes
Effect of modification to lease term – IFRS 16
Loans and borrowings classified as non-current 31 December 2019  

becoming current in 2020
Interest accruing in period

At 31 December 2020

At 1 January 2019
Cash flows
Non-cashflows:
Foreign Exchange
Fair value changes
Adoption of IFRS16 leases
Effect of modification to lease term – IFRS 16
New leases
Loans and borrowings classified as non-current 31 December 2018 becoming current in 

2019

Transfer to grant income
Interest accruing in period

At 31 December 2019

At 1 January 2018
Cash flows
Non- cashflows:
Foreign Exchange
New leases
Loans and borrowings classified as non-current 31 December 2018 becoming current in 

2019

Interest accruing in period

At 31 December 2018

17 Inventories

Finished goods

Total inventories

There was no stock held at 31 December 2020.

68

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

18 Trade and other payables

Current

Trade payables
Other payables
Accruals

Total financial liabilities, excluding loans and borrowings,  

classified as financial liabilities measured at amortised cost

Tax and social security 
Deferred revenue and government grants

Total trade and other payables

2020
£’000

337
26
768

1,131
31
68

1,230

2019
£’000

725
13
1,765

2,503
86
1,905

4,494

2018
£’000

286
–
1,025

1,311
347
445

2,103

Book values approximate to fair value at 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018.

All current trade and other payables are payable within 3 months of the period end date shown above.

Government grants 
The Group received development grant funding from the European Union under the Horizon 2020 ‘Nanofacturing’ project, a European 
Union funded programme to develop a scalable manufacturing platform for the production of nanopharmaceutical products. 
Midatech participated in this programme, along with seven other entities, through two Group companies, Midatech Pharma (España) 
SL (‘MPE’), which acted as project coordinator, and Midatech Limited (‘MTL’). The project commenced in February 2015 and completed 
in January 2019. During the year £nil (2019: £124k, 2018: £1,610k) revenue was recognised in relation to this project and the deferred 
revenue balance as at 31 December 2020 was £nil (2019: £nil, 2018: £124k).

19 Borrowings

Current
Bank loans
Lease liabilities
Government and research loans

Total

Non-current
Bank loans
Lease liabilities
Government and research loans

Total

2020
£’000

–
93
107

200

–
60
–

60

2019
£’000

–
233
179

412

–
912
4,758

5,670

2018
£’000

4
80
284

368

–
170
714

884

During 2020 £4.8m government and research loans were repaid.

Book values approximate to fair value at 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Obligations under finance leases are secured by a fixed charge over the fixed assets to which they relate.

Government loans in Spain 
In September 2019, Midatech Pharma (España) SL received €6.6m of funding awarded under the Spanish Government 
Reindustrialisation programme. The Spanish Government required the company to provide a €2.9 million cash-backed guarantee as 
security for the loan. The funds were to be used to support Midatech’s manufacturing scale-up facilities construction. As a result of 
the Group’s decision on 31 March 2020 to terminate further in-house development of MTD201 and the subsequent closure of its 
dedicated manufacturing facilities in Bilbao the Group repaid the loans during 2020. As a result of the early termination of the loan 
interest was charged at market rates up to the date of satisfaction of the loan.

There remains one outstanding government loan which was received by Midatech Pharma (España) SL for the finance of research, 
technical innovation and the construction of their laboratory. The loan is a term loan which carries an interest rate below the market 
rate and is repayable in 2021. The Group made requests to the Spanish Government during 2020 to repay the loan early but were 
unsuccessful with their request, the loan was repaid in February 2021. During 2020 the Group repaid two government loans.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

69

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

19 Borrowings continued
Government loans in Spain continued
The loans carried default interest rates in the event of scheduled repayments not being met. On initial recognition, the loans are 
discounted at a market rate of interest with the credit being classified as a grant within deferred revenue. The deferred grant revenue 
is released to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income within research and development costs in the period to which the 
expenditure is recognised. 

The deferred revenue element of the government loans is designated within note 18 as deferred revenue and Government grants, the 
gross contractual repayment of the loans is disclosed in note 22. As a result of the repayment of the loans these were fully amortised 
during 2020.

Midcap loan facility
In December 2017, the Company entered into a secured loan agreement with Midcap Financial Trust (MidCap). The total facility was for 
$15m to be drawn down in three separate tranches. Interest was charged on the outstanding balance of the loan at an annual rate of 
LIBOR plus 7.5% subject to a LIBOR floor of 1.25%. MidCap was granted 247,881 warrants to purchase shares which was equal to 2% of 
the amount funded divided by the Exercise Price of £0.42. The Exercise Price was calculated as the average closing price for the 30-day 
period prior to the date of grant. The loan was secured against the assets of the Group.

The first tranche of $7m was drawn down on 28 December 2017 and is disclosed under bank loans. This loan was repaid on 
31 October 2018.

20 Provisions

Opening provision at 1 January
Provision (released)/recognised in the year

At 31 December
Less: non-current portion 

Current portion

2020
£’000

97
(47)

50
(50)

–

2019
£’000

165
(68)

97
–

97

2018
£’000

–
165

165
(165)

–

The provision as at 31 December 2020 relates to the ‘making good’ clause on the Cardiff office which is due to be vacated during 2021. 
The provision in previous years relates to the ‘making good’ clause on the Abingdon office which was vacated in December 2018. The 
Abingdon office was sub-let for the remaining period of the lease, which terminated in February 2020.

21 Derivative financial liability – current

Equity settled derivative financial liability
At 1 January
Warrants issued 
Transfer to share premium on exercise of warrants
Gain recognised in finance income within the consolidated statement of comprehensive income

At 31 December 

Equity settled derivative financial liability is a liability that is not to be settled for cash.

2020
£’000

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

664
997
(499)
397

1,559

–
1,148
–
(484)

664

–
–
–
–

–

In May 2020 the Group issued 9,545,456 warrants in the ordinary share capital of the company as part of a Registered Direct Offering. 
The number of ordinary shares to be issued when exercised is fixed, however the exercise price is denominated in US Dollars being 
different to the functional currency of the parent company. Therefore, the warrants are classified as equity settled derivative financial 
liabilities recognised at fair value through the profit and loss account (‘FVTPL’). The financial liability is valued using the Monte Carlo 
model. Financial liabilities at FVTPL are stated at fair value, with any gains or losses arising on re-measurement recognised in profit or 
loss. The net gain or loss recognised in profit or loss incorporates any interest paid on the financial liability and is included in the 
‘finance income’ or ‘finance expense’ lines item in the income statement. Fair value is determined in the manner described in note 22. 
A key input in the valuation of the instrument is the Company share price.

On 19 August 2020 2,500,000 pre-existing warrants were exercised at $0.41. The gross proceeds received by the company was $1,025,000. 
The fair value of the warrants on the date of exercise was £498,502. At 31 December 2020 7,045,455 warrants were outstanding.

70

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

In October 2019 the Group issued 3,150,000 warrants in the ordinary share capital of the company as part of a Registered Direct 
Offering. The number of ordinary shares to be issued when exercised is fixed, however the exercise price is denominated in US 
Dollars. The warrants are classified equity settled derivative financial liabilities and accounted for in the same way as those issued in 
May 2020. The financial liability is valued using the Monte Carlo model. At 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019, 3,150,000 
warrants were outstanding.

The Group also assumed fully vested warrants and share options on the acquisition of DARA Biosciences, Inc. (which took place in 
2015). The number of ordinary shares to be issued when exercised is fixed, however the exercise prices are denominated in US 
Dollars. The warrants are classified equity settled derivative financial liabilities and accounted for in the same way as those issued in 
May 2020. The financial liability is valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

At 31 December 2018 a further 8,846 options and 38,844 warrants had lapsed and the share price had fallen to £1.20. As the liability 
had already been reduced to zero there was no movement on re-measurement.

At 31 December 2019 a further 3,332 options and 111,582 warrants had lapsed and the share price had fallen to £0.56. As the liability 
had already been reduced to zero there was no movement on re-measurement.

During 2020 no options or warrants lapsed and the share price had fallen to £0.265. As the liability had already been reduced to zero 
there was no movement on re-measurement.

22 Financial instruments – risk management
The Group is exposed through its operations to the following financial risks:

•  Credit risk
•  Foreign exchange risk
•  Liquidity risk

In common with all other businesses, the Group is exposed to risks that arise from its use of financial instruments. This note describes 
the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for managing those risks and the methods used to measure them. The Board does not 
believe that its risk exposure to financial instruments, its objectives, policies and processes for managing those risks or the methods 
used to measure them from previous periods unless otherwise stated in this note has changed in the past year.

Principal financial instruments
The principal financial instruments used by the Group, from which financial instrument risk arises, are as follows:

•  Trade and other receivables 
•  Cash and cash equivalents
•  Trade and other payables
•  Accruals
•  Loans and borrowings
•  Derivative financial liability

A summary of the financial instruments held by category is provided below:

Financial assets – amortised cost

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade receivables 
Other receivables

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities – amortised cost

Trade payables
Other payables
Accruals
Borrowings

Total financial liabilities – amortised cost

2020
£’000

7,546
95
–

7,641

2020
£’000

337
26
768
260

1,391

2019
£’000

10,928
22
2,625

13,575

2019
£’000

725
13
1,765
6,082

8,585

2018
£’000

2,343
89
469

2,901

2018
£’000

286
–
1,025
1,252

2,563

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

71

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

22 Financial instruments – risk management continued
Financial liabilities – fair value through profit and loss – current

Equity settled derivative financial liability

2020
£’000

1,559

2019
£’000

664

2018
£’000

–

General objectives, policies and processes
The Board has overall responsibility for the determination of the Group’s risk management objectives and policies and, whilst retaining 
ultimate responsibility for them, it has delegated the authority for designing and operating processes that ensure the effective 
implementation of the objectives and policies to the Group’s management.

The overall objective of the Board is to set policies that seek to reduce risk as far as possible without unduly affecting the Group’s 
competitiveness and flexibility. Further details regarding these policies are set out below:

Fair value hierarchy 
The Group uses the following hierarchy for determining and disclosing the fair value of financial instruments by valuation technique:

•  Level 1: quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; 
•  Level 2: other techniques for which all inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are observable, either 

directly or indirectly; and 

•  Level 3: techniques which use inputs that have a significant effect on the recorded fair value that are not based on observable 

market data. 

The fair value of the Group’s derivative financial liability is measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The following table gives 
information about how the fair value of this financial liability is determined, additional disclosure is given in note 21:

Financial  
liabilities

Fair value as at 
31/12/2020

Fair value 
hierarchy

Valuation technique(s) 
and key input(s)

Significant unobservable input(s)

Equity settled 
financial derivative 
liability

£1,187,000

Level 3

Monte Carlo 
simulation model

Volatility rate of 105.0% determined 
using historical volatility of 
comparable companies. 

Relationship of unobservable inputs 
to fair value

The higher the volatility the 
higher the fair value.

Expected life between a range of 0.1 
and 4.49 years determined using the 
remaining life of the share options.

The shorter the expected 
life the lower the fair value.

Risk-free rate of 0.07% determined 
using the expected life assumptions.

The higher the risk-free rate 
the higher the fair value.

Equity settled 
financial derivative 
liability

£372,000

Level 3

Monte Carlo 
simulation model

Volatility rate of 105.0% determined 
using historical volatility of 
comparable companies. 

The higher the volatility the 
higher the fair value.

Expected life between a range of 0.1 
and 4.888 years determined using the 
remaining life of the share options.

The shorter the expected 
life the lower the fair value.

Risk-free rate of 0.08% determined 
using the expected life assumptions.

The higher the risk-free rate 
the higher the fair value.

Equity settled 
financial derivative 
liability

–

Level 3

Black-Scholes 
option pricing 
model

Volatility rate of 105.0% determined 
using historical volatility of 
comparable companies. 

The higher the volatility the 
higher the fair value.

Expected life between a range of 1.0 
and 1.9 years determined using the 
remaining life of the share options.

The shorter the expected 
life the lower the fair value.

Risk-free rate of 0.8% determined 
using the expected life assumptions.

The higher the risk-free rate 
the higher the fair value.

72

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Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Financial  
liabilities

Fair value as at 
31/12/2019

Fair value 
hierarchy

Valuation technique(s) 
and key input(s)

Significant unobservable input(s)

Equity settled 
financial derivative 
liability

£664,000

Level 3

Monte Carlo 
simulation model

Volatility rate of 78.4% determined 
using historical volatility of 
comparable companies. 

Relationship of unobservable inputs 
to fair value

The higher the volatility the 
higher the fair value.

Expected life between a range of 0.1 
and 5.68 years determined using the 
remaining life of the share options.

The shorter the expected 
life the lower the fair value.

Risk-free rate between a range of 
0.59% and 1.69 % determined using 
the expected life assumptions.

The higher the risk-free rate 
the higher the fair value.

Equity settled 
financial derivative 
liability

–

Level 3

Black-Scholes 
option pricing 
model

Volatility rate of 78.3% determined 
using historical volatility of 
comparable companies. 

The higher the volatility the 
higher the fair value.

Expected life between a range of 2.0 
and 2.9 years determined using the 
remaining life of the share options.

The shorter the expected 
life the lower the fair value.

Risk-free rate between a range of 
0.0% and 0.26 % determined using 
the expected life assumptions.

The higher the risk-free rate 
the higher the fair value.

Financial  
liabilities

Fair value as at 
31/12/2018

Fair value 
hierarchy

Valuation technique(s) 
and key input(s)

Significant unobservable input(s)

Equity settled 
financial derivative 
liability

–

Level 3

Black-Scholes 
option pricing 
model

Volatility rate of 42.5% determined 
using historical volatility of 
comparable companies. 

Relationship of unobservable inputs 
to fair value

The higher the volatility the 
higher the fair value.

Expected life between a range of 0.1 
and 7.6 years determined using the 
remaining life of the share options.

The shorter the expected 
life the lower the fair value.

Risk-free rate between a range of 
0.0% and 1.14% determined using 
the expected life assumptions.

The higher the risk-free 
rate the higher the fair 
value.

Changing the unobservable risk free rate input to the valuation model by 10% higher while all other variables were held constant, 
would not impact the carrying amount of shares (2019: nil, 2018: nil).

There were no transfers between Level 1 and 2 in the period.

The financial liability measured at fair value on Level 3 fair value measurement represents consideration relating to warrants issued in 
May 2020 and October 2019 as part of Registered Direct offerings and also a business combination. In 2018 this only related to 
consideration relating to a business combination. 

Credit risk 
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a development partner or a counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet  
its contractual obligations. The Group is mainly exposed to credit risk from amounts due from collaborative partners which is deemed 
to be low.

Credit risk also arises from cash and cash equivalents and deposits with banks and financial institutions. For banks and financial 
institutions, only independently rated parties with high credit status are accepted.

The Group does not enter into derivatives to manage credit risk.

The consolidated entity recognises a loss allowance for expected credit losses on financial assets which are either measured at 
amortised cost or fair value through other comprehensive income. The measurement of the loss allowance depends upon the 
consolidated entity’s assessment at the end of each reporting period as to whether the financial instrument’s credit risk has increased 
significantly since initial recognition, based on reasonable and supportable information that is available, without undue cost or effort 
to obtain.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

73

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

22 Financial instruments – risk management continued
Where there has not been a significant increase in exposure to credit risk since initial recognition, a 12-month expected credit loss 
allowance is estimated. This represents a portion of the asset’s lifetime expected credit losses that is attributable to a default event 
that is possible within the next 12 months. Where a financial asset has become credit impaired or where it is determined that credit 
risk has increased significantly, the loss allowance is based on the asset’s lifetime expected credit losses. The amount of expected 
credit loss recognised is measured on the basis of the probability weighted present value of anticipated cash shortfalls over the  
life of the instrument discounted at the original effective interest rate. For financial assets measured at fair value through other 
comprehensive income, the loss allowance is recognised within other comprehensive income. In all other cases, the loss allowance is 
recognised in profit or loss.

The gross carrying amount of a financial asset is written off (either partially or in full) to the extent that there is no realistic prospect  
of recovery.

Quantitative disclosures of the credit risk exposure in relation to financial assets are set out in note 15. This includes details regarding 
trade and other receivables, which are neither past due nor impaired.

The total exposure to credit risk of the Group is equal to the total value of the financial assets held at each year end as noted above. 

Cash in bank 
The Group is continually reviewing the credit risk associated with holding money on deposit in banks and seeks to mitigate this risk by 
holding deposits with banks with high credit status. 

Foreign exchange risk 
Foreign exchange risk arose because the Group had a material operation located in Bilbao, Spain, until 2020, whose functional 
currency was not the same as the functional currency of the Group. The Group’s net assets arising from the overseas operation were 
exposed to currency risk resulting in gains or losses on retranslation into sterling. Given the levels of materiality, the Group did not 
hedge its net investments in overseas operations as the cost of doing so would be disproportionate to the exposure.

Foreign exchange risk also arises when individual Group entities enter into transactions denominated in a currency other than their 
functional currency; the Group’s transactions outside the UK to the US, Europe and Australia drive foreign exchange movements 
where suppliers invoice in currency other than sterling. These transactions are not hedged because the cost of doing so is 
disproportionate to the risk.

The table below shows analysis of the Pounds Sterling equivalent of year-end cash and cash equivalent balances by currency:

Cash and cash equivalents:
Pounds Sterling
US Dollar
Euro
Other

Total

2020
£’000

7,247
120
179
–

7,546

2019
£’000

3,153
2,021
5,750
4

10,928

2018
£’000

457
1,421
459
6

2,343

The table below shows the foreign currency exposure that gives rise to net currency gains and losses recognised in the consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income. Such exposures comprise the net monetary assets and monetary liabilities of the Group that 
are not denominated in the functional currency of the relevant Group entity. As at 31 December, these exposures were as follows:

2020
£’000

120
54
1

175

2019
£’000

2,021
1,460
7

3,488

2018
£’000

1,421
552
8

1,981

Net Foreign Currency Assets/(Liabilities):
US Dollar
Euro
Other

Total

74

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Foreign currency sensitivity analysis
The most significant currencies in which the Group transacts, other than Pounds Sterling, are the US Dollar and the Euro. The Group 
also trades in other currencies in small amounts as necessary. 

The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 10% change in year-end exchange rates, which the Group feels is the maximum 
likely change in rate based upon recent currency movements, in the key foreign currency exchange rates against Pounds Sterling:

Year ended 31 December 2020

Loss before tax

Total equity

Year ended 31 December 2019

Loss before tax

Total equity

Year ended 31 December 2018

Loss before tax

Total equity

US Dollar
£’000

12

12

US Dollar
£’000

202

202

US Dollar
£’000

–

142

Euro
£’000

(293)

(293)

Euro
£’000

54

31

Euro
£’000

168

168

Other
£’000

(4)

(4)

Other
£’000

–

1

Other
£’000

–

–

The sale of the Midatech Pharma US, Inc. operation prior to 31 December 2018 resulted in there not being any US Dollar denominated 
assets or liabilities to report on other than a US Dollar cash balance held by Midatech Pharma PLC. In management’s opinion, the 
sensitivity analysis for the year ended 31 December 2018 is unrepresentative of the inherent foreign exchange risk as the year-end 
exposure does not reflect the exposure during the year.

Liquidity risk 
Liquidity risk arises from the Group’s management of working capital. It is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting 
its financial obligations as they fall due. It is the Group’s aim to settle balances as they become due.

In May 2020, the Company completed a concurrent Registered Direct Offering in the US and a Placing in the UK whereby the Company 
raised £4.26m before expenses. In July 2020, the Company completed a UK Placing which raised £5.75m before expenses. In August 
2020, previously issued warrants were exercised resulting in the Company receiving £0.78m before expenses.

The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts and considered the cash flow requirement for the Company for the next three years 
including the period twelve months from the date of approval of the consolidated financial statements. These forecasts show that 
further financing will be required during the fourth quarter of 2021 assuming, inter alia, that certain development programs and other 
operating activities continue as currently planned. This requirement for additional financing in the short term represents a material 
uncertainty that may cast significant doubt upon the Group and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

In addition, the global pandemic COVID-19 virus places increased uncertainty over the Directors’ forecasts. The restrictions being 
placed on the movement of people will likely cause delays to some of the Group’s plans. It is difficult to assess to what extent, and for 
how long, COVID-19 will cause delays to the Group’s operations. The Directors have established a COVID-19 task force internally to 
monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the business and prioritise activities to minimise its effect.

The Directors are evaluating a number of near-term funding options potentially available to the Group, including fundraising and the 
partnering of assets and technologies of the Company. After considering the uncertainties, the Directors consider it is appropriate to 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

75

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

22 Financial instruments – risk management continued
The following table sets out the contractual maturities (representing undiscounted contractual cash-flows) of financial liabilities: 

2020

Trade and other payables
Bank loans
Lease liabilities
Government research loans

Total

2019

Trade and other payables
Bank loans
Lease liabilities
Government research loans

Total

2018

Trade and other payables
Bank loans
Finance leases
Government research loans

Total

Up to 3 
months
£’000

1,131
–
25
107

1,263

Up to 3 
months
£’000

2,503
–
79
–

2,582

Up to 3 
months
£’000

1,311
3
22
44

1,380

Between  
3 and 12  
months
£’000

Between 
1 and 2 
years
£’000

Between 
2 and 5 
years
£’000

–
–
75
–

75

Between  
3 and 12  
months
£’000

–
–
165
272

437

Between  
3 and 12  
months
£’000

–
2
65
240

307

–
–
61
–

61

Between 
1 and 2  
years
£’000

–
–
317
238

555

Between 
1 and 2  
years
£’000

–
–
79
406

485

–
–
8
–

8

Between 
2 and 5 
years
£’000

–
–
735
2,851

3,586

Between 
2 and 5 
years
£’000

–
–
117
414

531

Over 
5 years
£’000

–
–
–
–

–

Over 
5 years
£’000

–
–
–
3,317

3,317

Over 
5 years
£’000

–
–
–
–

–

More details with regard to the line items above are included in the respective notes: 

•  Trade and other payables – note 18 
•  Borrowings – note 19 

As a result of the Strategic Review undertaken in March 2020 the Group repaid all but one Government Research loans during 2020. 
The remaining loan was repaid in 2021.

Capital risk management 
The Group monitors capital which comprises all components of equity (i.e. share capital, share premium, foreign exchange reserve 
and accumulated deficit).

The Group’s objectives when maintaining capital are: 

• 
• 

to safeguard the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern; and 
to have sufficient resource to take development projects forward towards commercialisation. 

The Group continues to incur substantial operating expenses. Until the Group generates positive net cash inflows from the 
commercialisation of its products it remains dependent upon additional funding through the injection of equity capital and 
government funding. The Group may not be able to generate positive net cash inflows in the future or to attract such additional 
required funding at all, or on suitable terms. In such circumstances the development programmes may be delayed or cancelled, and 
business operations cut back. 

The Group seeks to reduce this risk by keeping a tight control on expenditure, avoiding long term supplier contracts (other than 
clinical trials), prioritising development spend on products closest to potential revenue generation, obtaining government grants 
(where applicable), maintaining a focussed portfolio of products under development and keeping shareholders informed of progress. 

There have been no changes to the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for managing capital and what the Group manages as 
capital, unless otherwise stated in this note, since the previous year.

76

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

23 Deferred tax
Deferred tax is calculated in full on temporary differences under the liability method using tax rates applicable in the tax jurisdictions 
where the tax asset or liability would arise

The movement on the deferred tax account in 2020 is £nil (2019: £nil, 2018: £nil) as the net credit arising on the amortisation of 
intangible assets and other timing differences has been matched by a reduction in the deferred tax asset recognised on the losses 
offsetting the liability remaining.

Unused tax losses carried forward, subject to agreement with local tax authorities, were as follows:

31 December 2020
31 December 2019
31 December 2018

Gross losses
£’000

Potential deferred 
tax asset
£’000

63,183
49,565
40,741

13,076
8,426
6,926

During 2020 the remaining deferred tax asset and liability arising on the business combination of Midatech Pharma (Wales) Ltd (2019: 
£1.6m) was de-recognised as a result of the impairment of the assets through the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. 
The deferred tax asset which qualifies for offset against the deferred tax liability, mainly arising on the acquisitions of Midatech 
Pharma (Wales) Limited in 2020 is nil (2019: £1.6m, 2018: £1.7m). The remaining potential deferred tax asset of £13.1m (2019 £9.0m, 
2018: £7.3m) has not been provided in these accounts due to uncertainty as to whether the asset would be recovered.

Deferred tax asset balances disclosed as at 31 December 2020 have been calculated at 19%. The Finance Bill 2021 enacts an increase 
in the tax rate to 25% from 1 April 2023. The deferred tax assets balance using a rate of 25% would be £17.2m.

Unrecognised deferred tax asset balances include £0.9m in relation to Midatech Pharma (España) SL, this company was put into 
liquidation in 2021. 

Details of the deferred tax liability are as follows:

2020

Business Combinations

2019

Business Combinations

2018

Business Combinations

24 Share capital

Authorised, allotted and fully paid  
– classified as equity

At 31 December
Ordinary shares of £0.001 each
Deferred shares of £1 each

Total 

Asset
£’000

–

Asset
£’000

1,581

Asset
£’000

1,690

Liability
£’000

–

Liability
£’000

(1,581)

Liability
£’000

(1,690)

2020
Number

2020
£

2019
Number

2019
£

2018
Number

Net
£’000

–

Net
£’000

–

Net
£’000

–

2018
£

63,073,852
1,000,001

63,074
1,000,001

1,063,075

23,494,981
1,000,001

23,495
1,000,001

1,023,496

3,059,207
1,000,001

3,059
1,000,001

1,003,060

On 2 March 2020 a resolution was passed at a general meeting of shareholders of the Company to consolidate its ordinary shares on 
a one for 20 basis into new ordinary shares of 0.1p each in the capital of the Company. The above table reflects the share 
consolidation in the comparative figures.

In accordance with the Articles of Association for the Company adopted on 13 November 2014, the share capital of the Company consists 
of an unlimited number of ordinary shares of nominal value £0.001 each. Ordinary and deferred shares were recorded as equity.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

77

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

24 Share capital continued
Rights attaching to the shares following the incorporation of Midatech Pharma plc
Shares classified as equity
The holders of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company have the following rights:

a.  to receive notice of, to attend and to vote at all general meetings of the Company, in which case shareholders shall have one vote 

for each share of which he is the holder; and,

b.  to receive such dividend as is declared by the Board on each share held.

The holders of deferred shares in the capital of the Company:

a.  shall not be entitled to receive notice of or to attend or speak at any general meeting of the Company or to vote on any resolution 

to be proposed at any general meeting of the Company; and

b.  shall not be entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution of out of the profits of the Company.

In the event of a distribution of assets, the deferred shareholders shall receive the nominal amount paid up on such share after the 
holder of each ordinary share shall have received (in cash or specie) the amount paid up or credited as paid up on such ordinary share 
together with an additional payment of £100 per share. The Company has the authority to purchase the deferred shares and may 
require the holder of the deferred shares to sell them for a price not exceeding 1p for all the deferred shares.

Ordinary  
Shares
Number

Deferred  
Shares
Number

Share  
Price
£

Total 
consideration
£’000

At 1 January 2018
2018
1 August 2018

At 31 December 2018

2019
26 February 2019
8 October 2019
29 October 2019

At 31 December 2019

2020
18 May 2020
27 July 2020
19 August 2020
30 September 2020

At 31 December 2020

3,054,207

1,000,001

Share issue to SIPP trustee (see note 27)

5,000

0.001

3,059,207

1,000,001

Subscription, Placing and Open Offer
Share issue to SIPP trustee (see note 27)
Registered Direct Offering

17,410,774
25,000
3,000,000

23,494,981

1,000,001

Placing & Registered Direct Offering
Placing 
Exercise of warrants
Share issue to SIPP trustee (see note 27)

15,757,576
21,296,295
2,500,000
25,000

63,073,852

1,000,001

0.77
0.001
0.7874

0.27
0.27
0.3132
0.001

69,870

–

69,870

13,406
–
2,362

85,638

4,255
5,750
783
–

96,426

25 Reserves
The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within equity:

Reserve

Description and purpose

Share premium

Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value.

Merger reserve

Represents the difference between the fair value and nominal value of shares issued on the acquisition 
of subsidiary companies where the Company has elected to take advantage of merger relief. 

Foreign exchange reserve

Gains/losses arising on retranslating the net assets of overseas operations into sterling.

Warrant reserve

Represents the fair value of warrants denominated in £ at the date of grant

Accumulated deficit

All other net gains and losses and transactions with owners (e.g. dividends) not recognised elsewhere.

On 18 May 2020 6,999,999 warrants were granted as part of the UK placing. Their fair value at the date of grant has been recognised 
in the Warrant Reserve.

78

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

26 Retirement benefits
The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme for the benefit of its employees. The assets of the scheme are 
administered by trustees in funds independent from those of the Group.

27 Share-based payments
Share Options
The Group has issued options over ordinary shares under the 2014 Midatech Pharma plc Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme, 
the Midatech Pharma plc 2016 U.S. Option Plan, which is a sub-plan of the approved UK plan, and unapproved share options awarded 
to non-UK or non-US staff. In addition, certain share options originally issued over shares in Midatech Limited under the Midatech 
Limited 2008 unapproved share option scheme or Midatech Limited 2013 approved Enterprise Incentive scheme were reissued in 
2015 over shares in Midatech Pharma plc under the 2014 Midatech Pharma plc Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme. Exercise of 
an option is subject to continued employment.

On 2 March 2020 a resolution was passed at a general meeting of shareholders of the Company to consolidate it ordinary shares on a 
one for 20 basis into new ordinary shares of 0.1p each in the capital of the Company. The following tables reflect the share 
consolidation in the comparative tables.

Details of all share options granted under the Schemes are set out below:

Granted  
in 2020

Exercised  
in 2020

Date of grant

1 April 2010
20 August 2010
13 September 2011
20 April 2012
9 May 2014
30 June 2014
11 July 2014
31 October 2016
14 December 2016
14 December 2016
14 December 2016
14 December 2016
15 December 2016
19 December 2016
15 December 2017
2 April 2018
2 April 2018
24 April 2019
2 October 2019
17 April 2020
17 June 2020

At  
1 January 
2020

1,255
2,088
150
1,589
10,000
18,500
100
16,271
400
500
2,000
1,625
4,600
22,391
29,560
997
4,500
169,500
50,000
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
100,000
1,363,000

336,026

1,463,000

Options exercisable at 31 December 2020
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options at 31 December 2020
Weighted average exercise price of options exercised in 2020
Weighted average exercise price of options forfeited in 2020
Weighted average exercise price of options granted in 2020
Weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options at 31 December 2020

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

–

Forfeited  
in 2020

(1,255)
(2,088)
–
–
–
(18,000)
(100)
(8,350)
(400)
(500)
(2,000)
(1,625)
(4,600)
(12,373)
(26,260)
(997)
(4,500)
(124,000)
(20,000)
–
(89,000)

At  
31 December 
2020

–
–
150
1,589
10,000
500
–
7,921
–
–
–
–
–
10,018
3,300
–
–
45,500
30,000
100,000
1,274,000

(316,048)

1,482,978

Exercise 
Price

£80.00
£83.80
£83.80
£83.80
£1.50
£1.50
£1.50
£53.60
£31.00
£34.00
£37.40
£37.60
£24.20
£24.20
£9.20
£16.60
£24.20
£1.46
£1.05
£0.24
£0.202

195,171
£0.835
n/a
£7.192
£0.205
9.2 years

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

79

Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

27 Share-based payments continued
Share Options continued

Granted  
in 2019

Exercised  
in 2019

Date of grant

1 April 2010
20 August 2010
13 September 2011
20 April 2012
9 May 2014
30 June 2014
11 July 2014
31 October 2016
31 October 2016
14 December 2016
14 December 2016
14 December 2016
14 December 2016
15 December 2016
19 December 2016
15 December 2017
2 April 2018
2 April 2018
24 April 2019
2 October 2019

At  
1 January 
2019

1,255
2,088
150
1,589
10,000
21,500
100
2,500
23,411
400
500
2,000
1,625
4,600
35,866
45,885
997
4,500
–
–

158,966

269,000

Options exercisable at 31 December 2019
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options at 31 December 2019
Weighted average exercise price of options exercised in 2019
Weighted average exercise price of options forfeited in 2019
Weighted average exercise price of options granted in 2019
Weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options at 31 December 2019

Granted  
in 2018

Exercised  
in 2018

Date of grant

31 December 2008
31 December 2008
1 April 2010
20 August 2010
13 September 2011
20 April 2012
9 May 2014
30 June 2014
11 July 2014
31 October 2016
31 October 2016
14 December 2016
14 December 2016
14 December 2016
14 December 2016
15 December 2016
19 December 2016
15 December 2017
2 April 2018
2 April 2018

At  
1 January 
2018

1,306
150
1,255
2,088
150
1,789
10,000
44,000
100
2,500
30,380
400
500
2,000
2,000
5,100
55,210
67,560
–
–

226,488

5,497

80

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
219,000
50,000

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
997
4,500

Forfeited  
in 2019

–
–
–
–
–
(3,000)
–
(2,500)
(7,140)
–
–
–
–
–
(13,475)
(16,325)
–
–
(49,500)
–

At 
31 December 
2019

1,255
2,088
150
1,589
10,000
18,500
100
–
16,271
400
500
2,000
1,625
4,600
22,391
29,560
997
4,500
169,500
50,000

(91,940)

336,026

Forfeited  
in 2018

(1,306)
(150)
–
–
–
(200)
–
(22,500)
–
–
(6,969)
–
–
–
(375)
(500)
(19,344)
(21,675)
–
–

At  
31 December 
2018

–
–
1,255
2,088
150
1,589
10,000
21,500
100
2,500
23,411
400
500
2,000
1,625
4,600
35,866
45,885
997
4,500

(73,019)

158,966

Exercise 
Price

£80.00
£83.80
£83.80
£83.80
£1.50
£1.50
£1.50
£34.20
£53.60
£31.00
£34.00
£37.40
£37.60
£24.20
£24.20
£9.20
£16.60
£24.20
£1.46
£1.05

131,094
£8.48
n/a
£13.26
£1.38
7.9 years

Exercise 
Price

£28.50
£79.70
£80.00
£83.80
£83.80
£83.80
£1.50
£1.50
£1.50
£34.20
£53.60
£31.00
£34.00
£37.40
£37.60
£24.20
£24.20
£9.20
£16.60
£24.20

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

–

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

–

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Options exercisable at 31 December 2018
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options at 31 December 2018
Weighted average exercise price of options exercised in 2018
Weighted average exercise price of options forfeited in 2018
Weighted average exercise price of options granted in 2018
Weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding options at 31 December 2018

112,393
£22.02
n/a
£15.98
£16.60
5.7 years

The following information is relevant in the determination of the fair value of options granted during the year 2020 under the equity 
share based remuneration schemes operated by the Group. 

April 2020

June 2020

Number of options
Option pricing models used
Share price
Exercise price of options issued in year
Contractual life
Expected life
Volatility
Expected dividend yield
Risk free rate

100,000

1,363,000
Black-Scholes Black-Scholes
£0.213*
£0.202
10 years
5 years
92.55%**
0%
0.10%

£0.24*
£0.24
10 years
5 years
84.76%**
0%
0.11%

*  The share price used in the determination of the fair value of the options granted in 2020 was the share price on the date of grant.
**  Volatility was calculated with reference to the historic share price volatility of comparable companies measured over a five-year period.

The following information is relevant in the determination of the fair value of options granted during the year 2019 under the equity 
share based remuneration schemes operated by the Group. 

Number of options
Option pricing models used
Share price
Exercise price of options issued in year
Contractual life
Expected life
Volatility
Expected dividend yield
Risk free rate

April 2019

June 2019

219,000
Black-Scholes
£2.30*
£1.46
10 years
5 years
75.3%**
0%
0.85%

50,000
Black-Scholes
£1.126*
£1.05
10 years
5 years
78.3%**
0%
0.26%

*  The share price used in the determination of the fair value of the options granted in 2019 was the share price on the date of grant.
**  Volatility was calculated with reference to the historic share price volatility of comparable companies measured over a five-year period.

The following information is relevant in the determination of the fair value of options granted during the year 2018 under the equity 
share based remuneration schemes operated by the Group. 

Number of options
Option pricing models used
Share price
Exercise price of options issued in year
Contractual life
Expected life
Volatility
Expected dividend yield
Risk free rate

*  The share price used in the determination of the fair value of the options granted in 2018 was the share price on the date of grant.
**  Volatility was calculated with reference to the historic share price volatility of comparable companies measured over a five-year period.

All other share options relate to the Midatech Limited 2008 unapproved share option scheme. 

2018

5,500
Monte-Carlo
£5.40*
£16.60–£24.40
10 years
5 years
45.2%**
0%
1.03%

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

81

 
 
 
Notes forming part of the financial statements continued
For the years ended 31 December 2020, 2019 and 2018

27 Share-based payments continued
Share Incentive Plan
In April 2017 the Group set up the Midatech Pharma Share Incentive Plan (MPSIP). Under the MPSIP, Group employees and Directors 
can acquire ordinary shares in the Company via a salary sacrifice arrangement. Midatech grants matching shares for every share 
bought. In order to retain these shares, scheme participants must remain employed by the Group for three years from the date of 
acquisition. All shares purchased by the MPSIP are held by an Employee Benefit Trust that is not under the control of Midatech. Shares 
must be left in the plan for 5 years to qualify for full income tax and NIC relief.

28 Capital commitments
The Group had no capital commitments at 31 December 2020, 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2018.

29 Related party transactions
Details of Directors’ remuneration are given in the Directors Remuneration Report on page 31 and note 6.

Trading Transactions
The Directors consider BioConnection BV to be a related party by virtue of the fact that there is a common Director with the Company. 
2019 was the first year where this relationship existed.

During the year Group companies entered into the following transactions with related parties who are not members of the Group.

BioConnection BV

Purchase of good

Amounts owed by related parties

2020
€’000

296

2019
€’000

18

2018
€’000

–

2020
€’000

–

2019
€£’000

8

2018
€’000

–

During 2019 Midatech Pharma (Espana) SL entered into a commercial contract with BioConnection BV in connection with the Group’s 
MTD201 program, this contract was subsequently terminated in 2020 as a result of the termination of the program.

The Group has not made any allowances for bad or doubtful debts in respect of related party debtors nor has any guarantee been 
given or received during 2020,2019 or 18 regarding related party transactions.

30 Contingent liabilities
As at 31 December 2019 the Group was party to a claim by the estate of a former employee for unfair dismissal. The claim comprised 
various elements totalling €258,000. During the year the case was settled by the Group for €190,000. This has been recognised in 
Administrative costs in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

The Group had no contingent liabilities at 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2018.

31 Ultimate controlling party
The Directors do not consider that there is an ultimate controlling party.

82

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

32 Results of Midatech Pharma (España) SL
Included within the Group Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income are the results of the Group’s Spanish operation that 
was closed on 3 June 2020. The Group appointed a Liquidator to liquidate the company with documentation being submitted to the 
Spanish Authorities in February 2021.

Management assessed whether Midatech Pharma (España) SL should be accounted for as a discontinued operation under IFRS 5 and 
concluded that it did not meet the criteria as it did not meet the definition of a cash generating unit as the activity of the company was 
the same as the remaining operations of the Group.

The audited results of Midatech Pharma (España) SL for the year to 31 December 2020 are as follows:

Grant revenue

Total revenue
Research and development costs 
Administrative costs 

Loss from operations
Finance expense

Loss before tax
Taxation 

Loss from operations after tax

Year ended  
31 December 
2020
£’000

163

163
(2,820)
(1,146)

(3,803)
(11)

(3,814)
(21)

(3,835)

33 Post balance sheet events
On 26 January 2021 the Company announced that it was engaged in tentative discussions with a third party around the potential 
co-development of MTX110. On 25 March 2021 the Company announced these discussions had now advanced and a non-binding 
Heads of Terms had been agreed. The Heads of Terms envisage that, if the deal progresses to definitive agreements, the Company 
would expect to receive a modest upfront payment upon execution, success-based development and sales milestones and royalties 
typical for a licensing agreement with products in a similar stage of development. R&D expenses would be assumed by the two parties 
with the apportionment to be agreed based on their respective territories. There can be no assurance on the timing for concluding 
the discussions nor any assurance that the parties will enter into definitive agreements.

In February 2021 the Group received a fine of €149,835 from the Spanish Tax Authorities in relation to the late repayment of a 
Government loan in 2020 as a result of the closure of its operation in Spain. The Group consider the fine is without foundation and are 
currently appealing the fine. The directors note that in the event of an unfavourable outcome the Group would not be able to recoup 
the loss from another party. This liability has been recognised in the Statement of Financial Position and the related expenses in 
Administrative costs in the Income Statement.

On 23 April 2021 the Group signed an agreement for lease on new premises in Cardiff to house our corporate offices and 
laboratories. The new premises comprise 8,118 square feet and the lease is for a five year term. 

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

83

Company balance sheet
At 31 December 2020

Company number 09216368

Fixed assets
Investments
Property, Plant & Equipment

Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Creditors: amounts due falling after one year

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Warrant reserve
Accumulated deficit

Total equity attributable to owners of the parent company

Note

2020
£’000

247
5,510

5,757
(1,941)

4
5

6

7

8

9
13

13

2020
£’000

1,200
19

1,219

3,816

5,035

–

5,035

1,063
74,364
720
(71,112)

5,035

2019*
Restated
£’000

23,945
4,021

27,966
(1,505)

2019*
Restated
£’000

1,536
42

1,578

26,461

28,039

–

28,039

1,023
65,879
–
(38,863)

28,039

The loss for the financial period, of the Company, as approved by the Board, was £31.85m (2019: £4.09m, 2018: £24.99m).

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 30 April 2021 and were signed on its 
behalf by:

Stephen Stamp
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer

The notes on pages 86 to 90 form part of these financial statements.

84

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Company Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 31 December 2020

At 1 January 2020 (restated)
Loss for the year

Total comprehensive loss
Transactions with owners
Shares issued (net of issue costs of £1.0m)
Share option credit

Total contribution by and distributions to owners

Share  
capital
£’000

1,023
–

–

40
–

40

Share  
premium
£’000

65,879
–

–

8,485
–

8,485

At 31 December 2020

1,063

74,364

At 1 January 2019 (restated)
Loss for the year

Total comprehensive loss
Transactions with owners
Shares issued (net of issue costs of £1.7m)
Share option credit

Total contribution by and distributions to owners

At 31 December 2019 (restated)

* Restated

Share  
capital
£’000

1,003
–

–

20
–

20

1,023

Warrant  
reserve 
£’000

Accumulated 
deficit* 
£’000

–
–

–

720
–

720

720

Share  
premium
£’000

52,939
–

–

12,940
–

12,940

65,879

(38,863)
(31,845)

(31,845)

–
(404)

(404)

(71,112)

Accumulated 
deficit* 
£’000

(34,742)
(4,087)

(4,087)

–
(34)

(34)

(38,863)

Total 
equity*
£’000

28,039
(31,845)

(31,845)

9,245
(404)

8,841

5,035

Total 
equity*
£’000

19,200
(4,087)

(4,087)

12,960
(34)

12,926

28,039

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

85

Notes forming part of the company financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020

1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
Midatech Pharma plc is a company incorporated in England & Wales under the Companies Act. The address of the registered office is 
given on the contents page and the nature of the Group’s operations and its principal activities are set out in the Strategic Report. The 
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United 
Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (‘FRS102’).

The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also 
requires Group management to exercise judgement in applying the Group’s accounting policies. 

Parent company disclosure exemptions 
In preparing the separate financial statements of the parent company, advantage has been taken of the following disclosure 
exemptions available in FRS 102:

•  only one reconciliation of the number of shares outstanding at the beginning and end of the period has been presented as the 

reconciliations for the Group and the parent company would be identical;

•  no cash flow statement has been presented for the parent company;
•  disclosures in respect of the parent company’s financial instruments and share-based payment arrangements have not been 

presented as equivalent disclosures have been provided in respect of the Group as a whole; and

•  no disclosure has been given for the aggregate remuneration of the key management personnel of the parent company as their 

remuneration is included in the totals for the Group as a whole.

The following principal accounting policies have been applied:

Restatement of prior year
During 2020 management reassessed the accounting for share based payments within the Group. As a result of this reassessment 
management  have recognised a capital contribution in the subsidiary equivalent to the cumulative share based payment charge.

Valuation of investments
Investments in subsidiaries are measured at cost less accumulated impairment. Where merger relief is applicable, the cost of the 
investment in a subsidiary undertaking is measured at the nominal value of the shares issued together with the fair value of any 
additional consideration paid. Costs of acquisition of investments are capitalised. 

Taxation
Current tax is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

A deferred tax asset in respect of unutilised tax losses has not been recognised on the basis that the future economic benefit is not 
certain.

Going concern
Accounting standards require the Directors to consider the appropriateness of the going concern basis when preparing the financial 
statements. The Directors are of the opinion that they consider the going concern basis will remain appropriate. The Directors have 
taken notice of the Guidance on the Going Concern Basis of Accounting and Reporting on Solvency and Liquidity Risk Guidance for 
directors of companies that do not apply the UK Corporate Governance Code (April 2016). 

The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts and considered the cash flow requirement for the Company for the next three years 
including the period 12 months from the date of approval of the consolidated financial statements. These forecasts show that further 
financing will be required during the fourth quarter of 2021 assuming, inter alia, that certain development programs and other 
operating activities continue as currently planned. This requirement for additional financing in the short term represents a material 
uncertainty that may cast significant doubt upon the Group and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

In addition, the global pandemic COVID-19 virus places increased uncertainty over the Directors’ forecasts. The restrictions being 
placed on the movement of people will likely cause delays to some of the Group’s plans. It is difficult to assess to what extent, and for 
how long, COVID-19 will cause delays to the Group’s operations. The Directors have established a COVID-19 task force internally to 
monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the business and prioritise activities to minimise its effect.

The Directors are evaluating a number of near-term funding options potentially available to the Group, including fundraising and the 
partnering of assets and technologies of the Company. After considering the uncertainties, the Directors consider it is appropriate to 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

86

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Financial assets and liabilities
Financial assets 
Financial assets, other than investments and derivatives, are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs) and 
subsequently held at cost, less any impairment. 

Financial liabilities and equity 
Financial liabilities and equity are classified according to the substance of the financial instrument’s contractual obligations, rather 
than the financial instrument’s legal form. Financial liabilities, excluding convertible debt and derivatives, are initially measured at 
transaction price (after deducting transaction costs) and subsequently held at amortised cost.

Depreciation
Depreciation on assets is charged so as to allocate the cost of assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using 
the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives range as follows:

Computer Equipment and Software – 4 years

The assets’ residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted prospectively if appropriate, if there is 
an indication of a significant change since the last reporting date. 

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised within ‘other 
operating income or losses’ in the statement of comprehensive income.

2 Staff costs

Staff costs (including Directors) comprise:
Wages and salaries
Defined contribution pension cost
Social security contributions and similar taxes
Share-based credit

Employee numbers
The average number of staff employed by the Company during the financial year amounted to: 

General and administration

2020
£’000

592
28
80
(68)

657

2020
£’000

3

3

2019
£’000

635
38
106
(108)

671

2019
£’000

4

4

Please also refer to note 6 in the consolidated financial statements regarding Directors’ remuneration.

3 Loss attributable to shareholders
Under Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 the Company is exempt from the requirement to present its own profit and loss 
account. The loss for the financial period, of the holding Company, as approved by the Board, was £31.85m (2019: £4.09m, 2018: 
£24.99m).

4 Investments

Brought forward 1 January
Capital contribution re Share Based Payments in subsidiaries
Reversal of capital contribution re share based payments in subsidiaries

Total investments at 31 December

2020
£’000

1,536
29
(365)

1,200

2019*
Restated
£’000

1,462
74
–

1,536

A capital (reversal)/contribution was made in the year to the underlying subsidiaries corresponding to the share based payment 
(credit)/charge recognised in the period. 

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

87

Notes forming part of the company financial statements continued
For the year ended 31 December 2020

4 Investments continued
At 31 December 2020, the Company held share capital in the following subsidiaries and joint arrangements:

Name

Registered Office or Country of Incorporation

Nature of
Business

Proportion
held

Notes

Midatech Limited
Midatech Pharma (España) SL

Oddfellows House, 19 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AA
Parque Tecnológico de Vizcaya, Edificio 800 Planta 2, Derio, 

Trading company
In-liquidation

100%
100%

48160, Vizcaya, Spain

Dormant
Trading company
Dissolved – 2020
Dormant JV
Dormant JV

100%
100%
100%
50%
50%

Computer 
equipment  
and software
£’000

247
(54)
1

194

205
(51)
21

175

19

Computer
equipment and 
software
£’000

235
12

247

150
55

205

42

PharMida AG
Midatech Pharma (Wales) Limited Oddfellows House, 19 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AA
Midatech Pharma PTY Limited
MidaSol Therapeutics GP
Syntara LLC

Incorporated in the Cayman Islands
Incorporated in the United States

c/o Kellerhals, Hirschgässlein 11, 4051 Basel, Switzerland

Notes:
(a)  Wholly owned subsidiary of Midatech Limited.

5 Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 January 2020
Disposals
Additions

At 31 December 2020

Depreciation
At 1 January 2020
Disposals
Charge for year

At 31 December 2020

Net book value 
At 31 December 2020

Cost
At 1 January 2019
Additions

At 31 December 2019

Depreciation
At 1 January 2019
Charge for year

At 31 December 2019

Net book value 
At 31 December 2019

88

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

(a)

(a)

Total
£’000

247
(54)
1

194

205
(51)
21

175

19

Total
£’000

235
12

247

150
55

205

42

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

6 Debtors

Amounts due from Group companies
Trade debtors
Other debtors 
Prepayments

2020
£’000

–
–
61
186

247

2019
£’000

23,652
23
163
107

23,945

During 2020 an impairment provision was made of £28.9m against intercompany balances owed by other Group companies. 

7 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Accruals
Other creditors
Provision
Derivative financial liability 

Details of the derivative financial liability are provided in note 21 of the consolidated financial statements.

Details of the provision are provided in note 20 of the consolidated financial statements.

8 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year

Bank Loan
Provision

9 Share capital

Allotted and fully paid 

Ordinary shares of £0.001 each
Deferred shares of £1 each

Total

2020
Number

63,073,852
1,000,001

2019
Number

23,494,981
1,000,001

2020
£’000

63
1,000

1,063

On 2 March 2020 a resolution was passed at a general meeting of shareholders of the Company to consolidate its ordinary shares on 
a one for 20 basis into new ordinary shares of £0.001 each in the capital of the Company. The above table reflects the share 
consolidation in the comparative figures.

Details of shares issued by the Company in the year are given in note 24 of the consolidated financial statements.

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

89

2020
£’000

160
200
22
–
1,559

1,941

2020
£’000

–
–

–

2019
£’000

197
484
63
97
664

1,505

2019
£’000

–
–

–

2019
£’000

23
1,000

1,023

Notes forming part of the company financial statements continued
For the year ended 31 December 2020

10 Capital commitments
The Company had no capital commitments at 31 December 2020 or at 31 December 2019.

11 Contingent liabilities
The Company had no contingent liabilities at 31 December 2020, or at 31 December 2019.

12 Ultimate controlling party
The Directors do not consider that there is an ultimate controlling party.

13 Reserves
The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within the equity:

Reserve

Description and purpose

Share premium
Accumulated deficit

Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value.
All other net gains and losses and transactions with owners (e.g. dividends) not recognised elsewhere.

14 Post balance sheet events
On 26 January 2021 the Company announced that it was engaged in tentative discussions with a third party around the potential 
co-development of MTX110. On 25 March 2021 the Company announced these discussions had now advanced and a non-binding 
Heads of Terms had been agreed. The Heads of Terms envisage that, if the deal progresses to definitive agreements, the Company 
would expect to receive a modest upfront payment upon execution, success-based development and sales milestones and royalties 
typical for a licensing agreement with products in a similar stage of development. R&D expenses would be assumed by the two parties 
with the apportionment to be agreed based on their respective territories. There can be no assurance on the timing for concluding 
the discussions nor any assurance that the parties will enter into definitive agreements. 

In February 2021 the Group received a fine of €149,835 from the Spanish Tax Authorities in relation to the late repayment of a 
Government loan in 2020 as a result of the closure of its operation in Spain. The Group consider the fine is without foundation and are 
currently appealing the fine. The directors note that in the event of an unfavourable outcome the Group would not be able to recoup 
the loss from another party. This liability has been recognised in the Statement of Financial Position and the related expenses in 
Administrative costs in the Income Statement.

On 23 April 2021 the Group signed an agreement for lease on new premises in Cardiff to house our corporate offices and 
laboratories. The new premises comprise 8,118 square feet and the lease is for a five year term. 

90

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Company information

Directors:  

Rolf Stahel
Sijmen de Vries
Stephen Stamp
Simon Turton

Secretary: 

Stephen Stamp

Registered office: 

Oddfellows House
19 Newport Road
Cardiff, CF24 0AA
United Kingdom

Registered number: 

09216368

Auditor: 

Mazars LLP
Tower Bridge House
St Katharine’s Way
London E1W 1DD
United Kingdom

Nominated Adviser: 

Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited
One New Change
London EC4M 9AF
United Kingdom

Registrars: 

Depositary: 

Neville Registrars Limited
Neville House
Steelpark Road
Halesowen B62 8HD
United Kingdom

Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street
New York
NY 10286
United States of America

Midatech Pharma plc – Annual Report 2020

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Midatech Pharma plc
Oddfellows House
19 Newport Road
Cardiff, CF24 0AA

www.midatechpharma.com