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ReNeuron

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9

Changing 
patients’ 
lives

ReNeuron Group plc  
Annual Report and  
Accounts 2019

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our vision is to 
deliver life-changing 
therapies to patients

As a leader in cell-based therapeutics, we develop proprietary 
allogeneic stem cell technology platforms to address significant 
areas of unmet medical need. 

Our therapeutic portfolio is comprised of two clinical stage 
candidates: hRPC and CTX stem cell therapies. In addition we are 
developing an exosome technology platform.

Inside this report

Group at a glance

Our unique stem cell technologies deliver ‘off the 
shelf’ stem cell treatments without the need for 
immunosuppresive drugs.

Read ‘Group at a glance’ on pages 04 to 05

Our progress towards changing patients’ lives

We have made significant progress with both of our 
clinical programmes in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and stroke 
disability and our exosome technology is being developed 
as a novel drug delivery vehicle.

Read about ‘Our progress towards changing 
patients’ lives’ on pages 10 to 15

Our business model and competitive advantages

Our competitive advantages and robust business model 
place us in a position for success with significant recent 
interest being shown from potential commercial partners in 
all of our programmes.

  Read more about ‘Our business model’ and ‘Our competitive 
advantages’ on pages on pages 16 to 17

See our website at:
www.reneuron.com/investors

01

Contents

Introduction
A year of progress
Group at a glance
Chairman’s statement

Strategic Report
Our process for developing  
life-changing therapies
Our progress towards changing patients’ lives
Our business model
Our competitive advantages
Our marketplace
Chief Executive Officer’s review of performance
Financial review
Risks and uncertainties

Governance
Board of Directors
Senior management
Directors’ report
Corporate governance
Audit Committee report
Directors’ remuneration report

Financial Statements
Independent auditor’s report
Group statement of comprehensive income
Group and Parent Company statements 
of financial position
Group and Parent Company statements of 
changes in equity
Group and Parent Company statements  
of cash flows
Notes to the financial statements

Annual General Meeting
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Explanatory notes to the business of the  
Annual General Meeting

Other Information
Advisers
Shareholder information
Glossary of scientific terms

02
04
06

08
10
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25
26

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83

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 201902

A year of progress 
towards changing 
patients’ lives

hRPC stem cell therapy 
candidate for retinal 
diseases:
Strongly positive preliminary efficacy data from the 
first three Phase 2a patients in ongoing US Phase 1/2a 
clinical trial in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). 

Top line data from all treated patients in the Phase 2a 
element of study expected to be presented in  
October 2019.

Second site opened during the year at Retinal 
Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.

Read more about our progress with hRPC
stem cell therapy on pages 10 to 11

CTX stem 
cell therapy candidate 
for stroke disability: 
During the period we continued to progress 
the clinical development of our CTX cell therapy 
candidate for stroke disability. The study (PISCES III) 
is a randomised placebo-controlled Phase 2b clinical 
trial in 110 patients across up to 40 sites.

Patient dosing commenced in January 2019,  
with top-line data expected in late 2020.

Read more about our progress with CTX
stem cell therapy on pages 12 to 13

Exosome  
nanomedicine 
platform: 
We are exploring the use of our exosome 
technology platform as a potential drug 
delivery vehicle. Recent data show that 
exosomes can be loaded with miRNA and 
proteins.

We have made a significant advance towards  
an industrial scale production of exosomes  
without affecting the quality and consistence of 
the final product. 

Read more about our progress with exosome 
nanomedicine on pages 14 to 15

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com03

Post period end

•  In April 2019, further data was presented 

in relation to the ongoing Phase 
1/2a clinical trial of our hRPC therapy 
candidate in RP. It was reported that 
the improvement in vision experienced 
by the patients in the first cohort in the 
Phase 2a element had been sustained. 

•  An initial licence fee of £6 million  
(before withholding tax) has been 
received from Fosun Pharma.

Corporate

Strong business development activity with active 
discussions ongoing with a number of commercial 
third parties.

Collaboration agreement signed with a US-based 
biopharmaceutical company to explore the use of 
our exosome technology platform as a potential 
delivery vehicle for synthetic oligonucleotides 
used in gene therapy.

Successful negotiation of an exclusive licence 
agreement (signed post year end) with Shanghai 
Fosun Pharmaceutical Industrial Development 
Co., Ltd (“Fosun Pharma”) for the development, 
manufacture and commercialisation of our hRPC 
and CTX therapy programmes in the People’s 
Republic of China (“China”).

Read more about our Progress in the last  
12 months’ on page 9

Financial highlights

Loss for the period of 

£14.3 million

(2018: loss of £17.6 million)

Cash used in operating activities

£12.0 million

(2018: £14.9 million)

Cash, cash equivalents and bank  
deposits at 31 March 2019 of 

£26.4 million

(2018: £37.4 million)

Winner of the Breakthrough 
of the Year Award 

In June 2019, we won the ‘Breakthrough 
of the Year’ award at the 2019 European 
Mediscience Awards. This award underlines 
the strong clinical development and 
commercial progress we have made over the 
past year.

“ We are greatly encouraged by the progress 
we have made with our cell therapy clinical 
development programmes for retinitis 
pigmentosa and stroke disability over the 
past year and look forward to continuing 
to advance our clinical and business 
development activities in the months 
ahead.”

Olav Hellebø 
Chief Executive Officer

14 June 2019

For scientific terms see the glossary on page 83

INTRODUCTIONReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 201904

Group at a glance

Our hRPC stem cell 
therapy could change 
the lives of patients 
suffering from retinitis 
pigmentosa (RP).

Our CTX stem cell 
therapy could change the 
lives of patients suffering 
from stroke disability.

What are hRPCs?

What are CTX stem cells?

Allogeneic, cryopreserved cell-based therapy 
for treatment of retinal diseases.

What can they do?

Human retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs)  
have the ability to differentiate into all  
of the nerve cells and nerve support  
cells of the retina.

Allogeneic, cryopreserved, immortalised 
neural stem cells for treatment of stroke 
disability.

What can they do?

CTX stem cells have the ability to 
differentiate into a repertoire of specific 
nerve and nerve support cells.

How it is used

How it is used

Our therapy is initially targeting the inherited 
retinal degenerative disease, retinitis 
pigmentosa, by implantation of our cell 
therapy into the retina.

Our cell therapy is directly injected into the 
brain near to the area damaged by the stroke.

Key facts about retinal disease

Key facts about stroke disability

RP is an inherited, degenerative eye 
disease that results in the loss  
of peripheral vision(1). 

The end result is blindness. 
1 in 3,000 to 4,000 people are  
affected by RP(1).

Our therapy could potentially  
benefit patients suffering from this 
rare disease.

Around 800,000 strokes happen in the US 
each year(2).

Stroke mortality rate has decreased by 
33% since 1996 suggesting that more 
people are suffering from  
stroke disability(3).

More people than ever might be able to 
benefit from our potentially  
life-changing therapy to reduce their 
disability, and dependence on others.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com05

Our CTX-derived 
exosomes could change 
the lives of patients where 
current treatment 
options are limited.

What are CTX-derived exosomes?

These are nano-sized packages of  
information released by CTX cells. 

What can they do?

Therapeutic agents can be loaded to  
our exosomes and potentially be used to  
treat a host of poorly met medical needs.

How it is used

CTX-derived exosomes can be delivered  
either locally or systemically depending  
upon the desired final destination.

Key facts about exosomes

Our studies have identified the potential 
of ExoPr0 (our first CTX exosome 
therapeutic candidate) as both a novel 
therapeutic candidate and as a drug 
delivery vehicle.

We are focusing on the use of our 
exosome technology as a novel drug 
delivery vehicle. 

One of the key advantages of our  
CTX-derived exosomes is that they can 
cross the blood brain barrier. 

(1) RP Fighting Blindness
(2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(3) National Institutes of Health

For scientific terms see the glossary on page 83

INTRODUCTIONReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 201906

Chairman’s statement

I am pleased to introduce the Group’s 
results for the year ended 31 March 
2019. 

The Company’s programmes have 
continued to progress well during the 
period. The most notable milestone 
achieved was the announcement, 
and subsequent presentation in 
conference, of positive preliminary 
data from the first cohort of three 
patients in the Phase 2a element of 
the ongoing US Phase 1/2a clinical trial 
with our hRPC cell therapy candidate 
for retinitis pigmentosa. We remain 
highly encouraged by these early 
efficacy results, with all three patients 
demonstrating a rapid improvement 
in vision compared with their pre-
treatment baseline. We look forward to 
reporting further Phase 2a data from the 
study later this year. 

Elsewhere, we commenced patient 
dosing during the period 
in the US Phase 2b 
study of our CTX cell 
therapy candidate 
for stroke disability. 
Top-line results 
from this study are 
expected in late 
2020. We have 
also refocused our 
exosome technology 
programme towards 
value-generating 
business partnerships, 
in which our exosomes may 
be exploited as a novel vector for 
delivering third party biological drugs. 

We have highlighted previously the 
interest our therapeutic programmes 
have attracted from commercial 
third parties. In April 2019, this 
interest culminated in the signing 
of an exclusive licence agreement 

with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical 
Industrial Development Co., Ltd. 
(“Fosun Pharma”) for the development, 
manufacture and commercialisation 
of both our CTX and hRPC cell 
therapy programmes in the People’s 
Republic of China. We are delighted 
to be partnering with Fosun Pharma, a 
leading healthcare group in China with 
extensive healthcare business interests 
worldwide. 

In June 2019, ReNeuron won the 
‘Breakthrough of the Year’ award at 
the annual European Mediscience 
Awards in London, in recognition of 
the strong clinical development and 
commercial progress the Company has 
made over the past year. The European 
Mediscience Awards is one of the 
largest annual gatherings of private and 
publicly quoted healthcare, biotech and 
life sciences companies in Europe. 

Despite the substantial 

progress we have made 
during the period, 

we have continued 
to maintain tight 
control over our 
operating costs, 
reflected in the 
Group’s financial 
results for the year 
ended 31 March 

2019.

ReNeuron continues 
to make sound progress 

across its therapeutic programmes and 
we look forward to reporting further 
progress in the year ahead. The Board 
and I would like to extend our thanks 
to our employees for their ongoing 
commitment and hard work during the 
year. I would also like to thank all of 
our shareholders for their continued 
support.

John Berriman
Non-executive Chairman

On page 78 of this report is the Notice 
of the 2019 Annual General Meeting 
(AGM) to be held at 10 a.m. on 
12 September 2019. A short explanation 
of the resolutions to be proposed at 
the AGM is set out on page 81. The 
Directors recommend that you vote in 
favour of the resolutions to be proposed 
at the AGM, as they intend to do in 
respect of their own beneficial holdings 
of Ordinary shares.

John Berriman
Non-executive Chairman
18 July 2019

Our therapeutic programmes have attracted the interest of a number of commercial third partiesReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comStrategic Report

08

Our process for developing 
life-changing therapies

Pre-clinical trials

Pre-clinical studies (in vitro and in vivo) are conducted to assess 
feasibility, efficacy and safety of any potential drug product prior to it 
being tested in humans.

Clinical trials

Phase 1

We assess the safety of a biologically active substance in a small, 
select group of subjects.

Phase 2a

We evaluate the efficacy and safety of our therapy in selected 
populations of patients.

Phase 2b

We then evaluate the efficacy and safety of our therapy in patients in 
a controlled, rigorous trial.

Phase 3

Once our therapy has been shown to be both efficacious and safe 
(in Phase 1 and Phase 2) we carry out large-scale clinical trials.

Review and approval

Once a therapy has been deemed safe and effective, it is submitted 
for approval to regulatory bodies. These bodies review the available 
evidence and approve it if the benefits appear to outweigh the risks.

Our exosome technology platform is undergoing  pre-clinical evaluation as a  drug delivery vehicle.Our CTX cell therapy (for stroke disability) has had both Phase 1 and Phase 2a success, and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2b, placebo-controlled clinical trial in the US in 110 patients at up to 40 clinical trial sites.Our hRPCs (for retinitis pigmentosa therapy) have recently been shown to be safe and well-tolerated, and have moved into the Phase 2a part of the current US clinical trial to evaluate safety and preliminary efficacy. Results will form the basis for interactions with both European and US regulatory authorities regarding future clinical development of hRPC.ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com09

Progress in the last 12 months

The Phase 2a part of the current US 
Phase 1/2a trial in retinitis pigmentosa  
is ongoing.

Patient dosing commenced in the study 
PISCES III, a randomised, placebo-
controlled clinical trial in 110 patients. 

All three subjects in the first cohort 
of the Phase 2a element have 
demonstrated an improvement in vision 
compared with their pre-treatment 
baseline. 

In March 2019, the dosing of the second 
cohort of three Phase 2a patients 
commenced. 

We have partnered with Fosun Pharma 
for the development, manufacture and 
commercialisation of our hRPC stem cell 
therapy in China. 

In January 2019, the first patient 
was treated in the Phase 2b study. 
We are seeking a one point or more 
improvement in the modified Rankin 
Scale (mRS) score, at six months post 
surgery, in CTX-treated patients that 
have a mRS score of three or four at 
baseline. 

We have partnered with Fosun Pharma 
for the development, manufacture and 
commercialisation of our CTX stem cell 
therapy in China. 

Our focus has been on the potential of 
our exosomes as a drug delivery vehicle, 
providing greater scope for near-term 
third party collaboration deals. 

We have signed a collaboration 
agreement with a US-based 
pharmaceutical company to explore 
use of exosome technology as a novel 
delivery vehicle in gene therapy.

Data has been presented that shows 
that exosomes can be loaded with 
miRNA and proteins. 

We have made a significant advance 
towards an industrial scale production of 
exosomes without affecting the quality 
and consistence of the final product. 

Read more about our progress with
hRPC stem cells on page 10

Read more about our progress with
CTX stem cells on page 12

Read more about our progress with
CTX-derived exosomes on page 14 

Pipeline with Near Term Catalysts

Programme

Indication

Pre-clinical

Phase 1

Phase 2

Next Milestone

hRPCs

Retinitis 
Pigmentosa

CTX cells

Stroke Disability

Exosomes

Drug Delivery /
Therapy

Top line Phase 1/2a data read  
out expected Q4 2019

PISCES III, pivotal, multi-centre 
U.S. Phase 2b study, data read 
out expected Q4 2020

Collaboration / Partnering deals 
targeted

CTX CellshRPCsCTX-derived exosomesReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORT10

Our progress towards 
changing patients’ lives

hRPCs for retinitis 
pigmentosa therapy

Pre-clinical data

Phase 1 element of combined Phase 1/2a trial

•  A rodent model of retinal 

degeneration was used to study 
the effects of our hRPC therapy. 
These hRPCs were injected 
subretinally (just beneath the 
photoreceptor layer of the retina).

•  The results from this study 

demonstrated that these cells can  
treat retinal degeneration.

They are able to . . .

1. Preserve retinal structure and function.

2. Differentiate into components of the 

retina. 

•  This study was a single centre, open-
label, dose escalation trial to assess 
the safety of hRPCs in patients with 
established retinitis pigmentosa.

•  Three different doses of hRPCs  

were tested.

•  We successfully developed a 

cryopreserved formulation of our 
hRPC stem cell therapy.

•  This will enable cells to be frozen 

for shipping/storage and be easily 
thawed at the point of clinical use.

•  Patients received a single, subretinal 

injection of one dose and were 
followed up for one year.

•  It was determined that subretinal 

injections of hRPCs at the three doses 
tested were safe and well tolerated.

•  The success of this stage means that 
we were able to progress into the  
Phase 2a element of the combined 
Phase 1/2a study. 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com11

What does this mean for 
future development?

•  If the Phase 1/2a data continue to 
be positive, this will enable us to 
progress into a Phase 2b clinical trial 
in RP and potentially other retinal 
diseases.

Figure 1

Phase 2a element of combined Phase 1/2a study

•  We progressed into the Phase 2a 

•  Second cohort: In March 2019, the 

dosing of the second cohort of three 
Phase 2a patients commenced. This 
dosing is now complete and dosing 
of the remaining two cohorts is in 
progress.

•  These later cohorts comprise patients 
with a greater baseline level of visual 
acuity than those treated earlier in the 
study as we seek to assess preliminary 
efficacy in patient groups with 
differing levels of remaining vision. 
The clinical protocol allows for up to 
12 patients to be treated in the Phase 
2a element.

element of the combined Phase 1/2a 
study. 

•  We were able to expand our 

assessment of efficacy into RP patients 
that have a greater baseline level of 
visual acuity (clarity of vision).

•  First cohort: As seen on Figure 2, all 
three of the first cohort of subjects in 
the Phase 2a part of the study reported 
a rapid and significant improvement 
in vision, on average equivalent to 
reading an additional three lines of five 
letters on the Early Treatment Diabetic 
Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) eye chart, 
the standardised eye chart used in 
clinical trials to measure visual acuity, 
as seen in Figure 1. 

Figure 2

Cohort 5 efficacy results* – changes in letters read (ETDRS chart)

Subject 1

Subject 2

Subject 3

+25 from BL

+21 from BL

+23 from BL

Treated

Contralateral

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

BL   2

 15

30

60

90 120

BL   2

 15

18

30 60

BL 

2   15

 18

30 60

Subject 1 treated at Mass Eye & Ear 

Subjects 2 and 3 treated at Retinal Consultants of Arizona

* Sixth annual Retinal Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation Summit, Vancouver, Canada – April 2019 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
12

Our progress towards 
changing patients’ lives

CTX cells for 
stroke disability

Pre-clinical data

Clinical trials: Phase 1 study

Clinical trials: Phase 2a study

•  A well-established rodent model of 

stroke was used to study the effects of 
our CTX cell therapy.

•  The CTX cells were directly injected 

into the brain.

•  Our results were particularly positive 
given that restricted blood supply to 
the brain, following a stroke, results in 
nerve cell death.

•  The effects of our CTX cell therapy 

included the formation of new blood 
vessels, new nerve cells and new 
connections between nerve cells. 

•  In this study, we included 11 stable, 
disabled stroke patients who were 
between 6 months and 5 years  
post-stroke.

•  This study was a single centre, open-
label, ascending dose trial to assess 
safety.

•  The CTX cells were directly injected 
into the putamen (an area of the 
brain), and patients were followed up 
for over two years post-implantation.

•  It was determined that these CTX cell 
injections at the doses tested were 
safe and well tolerated.

Modified Rankin Scale (mRS)

After 12 months

1

2

3

4

5

0 No symptoms at all
1  No significant disability despite 

symptoms 

2  Slight disability; unable to carry 

out all previous activities, but able 
to look after own affairs without 
assistance 

3  Moderate disability; requiring some 

help, but able to walk without 
assistance 

4  Moderately severe disability; unable 
to walk and attend to own bodily 
needs without assistance 
5  Severe disability; bedridden, 

incontinent and requiring constant 
nursing care and attention

)

S
R
m

i

l

(
e
a
c
S
n
k
n
a
R
d
e
fi
d
o
M

i

•  In this study, we included 23 disabled, 

stable stroke patients, who were 
between 2 and 13 months post-
stroke.

•  This study was a single arm, open-
label trial using the highest dose 
tested in Phase 1. This trial was ‘single 
arm’ because all the patients were 
administered the same dose.

•  CTX cells (20 million cells) were 

directly injected into the putamen, 
and patients were followed up for 12 
months post-implantation.

•  No cell-related safety issues were 

identified.

•  The Modified Rankin Scale (or mRS, 

a globally used measure of functional 
disability and dependence in stroke 
sufferers) was used as a secondary 
end-point for this study. 

•  As shown by the figure to the left, 7 

out of 20 (35%) patients demonstrated 
a clinically meaningful improvement 
at 12 months post-implantation. An 
even higher response rate (50%; 6/12) 
was observed in pre-specified patients 
who had some residual upper limb 
movement at time of treatment. 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com 
 
 
13

Clinical trials: Phase 2b study

• 

Patient dosing commenced in the 
study PISCES III, a randomised, 
placebo-controlled clinical trial in 
110 patients. 

•  We are seeking a one point or more 
improvement in the mRS scoring, at 
six months post surgery, in CTX-
treated patients that have a mRS 
score of 3 or 4 at baseline.

• 

• 

• 

The study will be conducted in up 
to 40 sites of which 15 surgical sites 
and 22 assessment sites have been 
approved by the end of June 2018. 

• 

Subject to relevant regulatory 
approvals, the ongoing PISCES III 
study may be expanded to include 
clinical sites in China. 

Top-line data from PISCES III is 
expected in late 2020. 

What does this mean for 
future development?

If the Phase 2b results are positive, 
our intention is to seek a partner to 
progress the programme through 
late clinical development and to 
commercialisation.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORT 
14

Our progress towards 
changing patients’ lives

CTX-derived exosomes as 
a novel drug delivery vehicle 

Potential as a novel drug 
delivery vehicle

Scaleability

What does this mean for 
future development?

•  Our studies have identified the 

•  We have tested the production of 

•  We will continue to develop our CTX-

potential of our exosome technology 
platform as both a novel therapeutic 
candidate and as a drug delivery 
vehicle. Our focus has been on the 
potential of our exosomes as a drug 
delivery vehicle.

•  We have signed a collaboration 
agreement with a US-based 
pharmaceutical company to explore 
use of exosome technology as a novel 
delivery vehicle in gene therapy. The 
initial feasibility stage will optimise the 
process of loading molecules called 
oligonucleotides into exosomes. If 
successful, exosomes could be able 
to deliver these molecules to targeted 
parts of the body. 

exosomes through our grant-funded 
collaboration between University 
College London and the Cell and 
Gene Therapy Catapult. 

•  The new data demonstrate the 

feasibility of scaling up the production 
of our CTX-derived exosomes utilising 
state-of-the-art bioreactor systems.

•  This represents a significant advance 

towards an industrial scale production 
process without affecting the quality 
and consistency of the final product.

derived exosomes as a novel vector for 
delivering third party biological drugs.

•  We intend to pursue opportunities to 
capitalise on the significant scientific 
and life sciences industry interest in 
exosomes. We will do this by forming 
further value-generating business 
partnerships covering this exosome 
technology.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com15

CTX-derived exosomes explained

What are exosomes?
The exosomes released by our CTX cells 
are nano-sized packages of signalling 
molecules.

Therapeutic agents can be attached to 
exosomes as cargo. Exosomes have the 
ability to deliver this cargo to specifically 
targeted cells in the body. 

Advantages of exosomes 
as a delivery vehicle
•  Natural carrier of nucleic acids and 
proteins, amenable for loading 
complex, hard-to-deliver therapeutic 
agents.

•  Ease of bioengineering.

•  Low immunogenicity.

•  Intrinsically durable. 

Advantages of ReNeuron’s 
exosome technology
•  Stable, consistent, high-yield.

•  Proven ability to load miRNA and 

proteins. 

•  There is a potential for exosomes to 

work as a therapeutic in gene therapy. 

•  Able to cross the blood brain barrier.

•  Could be engineered to target 

particular tissues.

Exosomes as a therapeutic delivery vehicle

Exosome

MHC I

MVB Biogenesis

Protein*

Receptors

Exosomes

Membrane
trafficking

Loaded Cargo*

Lipid 
Rafts

miRNA*

Tetraspanins

Adhesion & 
Targeting 
Molecules

There are two ways that cargo can be delivered, through:

Delivery by 
cell fusion

Delivery by 
endocytosis

Target
cell

Non-target
cell

Target
cell

Non-target
cell

Non-target
cell

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORT16

Our business model

Key resources

Value chain

Develop best-in-class cell-based 
therapies for life-changing 
high-value products.

Gain clinical validation for our 
therapeutic programmes, via 
robust clinical trials in well 
regulated territories.

Realise value for our technologies 
and therapeutic programmes,  
via direct sales or substantial 
licence deals.

Our relationships

CTX cells
As part of the clinical trials for the CTX 
cell therapy for stroke disability,  
we develop strong relationships with  
the sites and neurosurgeons who  
administer the therapy.

This will support our value proposition  
in the long run, once our 
therapy has been reviewed and 
approved, because we will have 
already developed a relationship 
with a number of the sites and 
neurosurgeons who will be 
administering the therapy to patients.

We signed an exclusive licence 
agreement with Fosun Pharma 
to develop our CTX cell therapy 
programme in China. 

hRPCs

We are developing good relationships 
with inherited retinal disease 
specialists, who administer the hRPC 
therapy to study participants.

This will support the clinical 
development to advance this 
potential therapy to patients with 
inherited retinal disease.

Our licence agreement with  
Fosun Pharma for China also includes 
our hRPC therapy programme. 

CTX-derived exosomes
We are developing strong 
relationships with academic and 
clinical key opinion leaders. 

We also have relationships with 
commercial organisations who we will 
be collaborating with as we broaden  
our therapeutic pipeline. 

We have established a relationship 
with a US-based biopharmaceutical 
company to explore the use of 
our exosome technology to create 
delivery vehicles for gene therapy. 

IntellectualWe use proprietary technology to produce our life-changing therapies.HumanWe have established relationships with researchers and academic collaborators. Industry-leading knowledge has helped the progress of therapeutic development process and will continue to  do so. FinancialFunds are raised by commercial partnerships, the issues of shares and from grant funding bodies. These financial resources enable us to advance the development of our therapies. PhysicalOur contract manufacturing organisations are instrumental in the therapy production process. ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comOur competitive advantages

17

With our proprietary 
technology…

With our development 
pipeline…

•  CTX drug product is a proprietary allogeneic cell 

•  Our therapy development pipeline spans the pre-clinical 

therapy produced by our well-established, scalable 
manufacturing process. (Allogeneic: recipients from  
cells are immunologically different from cell donor).

•  The same proprietary CTX cell line is used to produce 

our exosome product.

•  A different, highly efficient, patented process is used to 

produce hRPCs on a large scale.

With our flexible 
cryopreservation process…
•  Our CTX cells and hRPCs can be cryopreserved, which 

provides flexibility in terms of scheduling patient 
treatment.

•  This makes our product similar to conventional ‘off-the-

shelf’ pharmaceuticals/biologics.

•  Our cryopreservation process allows us to develop the 

therapies and transport them globally. 

and clinical development process.

•  We have seen positive early Phase 2a data with our 

hRPC therapy showing sustained improvements in vision 
in our first cohort of patients. 

•  We are continuing to progress with the clinical 

development of our CTX cell therapy with the treatment 
of our first patient in January 2019 in PISCES III. 

•  There are significant clinical validation milestones due in 
the next 18 months across both clinical programmes. 

•  The exosomes we are harnessing for use are a by-

product of our CTX cells, which means they are likely to 
be safe in patients, are derived from a cGMP compliant 
process, and can be produced at an industrial scale 
without affecting the quality and consistency of the final 
product. 

We
are

positioned
for success

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORT18

Our marketplace

How do our therapies 
address the market need?

Retinal diseases

Market need
No approved treatment for 
vast majority of patients with 
retinitis pigmentosa (RP). 

Key facts

$0.5bn – $1.6bn
Market potential for  
RP therapy(1)

Market characteristics 
There is currently no general cure and 
limited treatment options for RP and 
sufferers remain reliant on both health 
and social care services.

As with all forms of blindness, the 
quality of the patient’s life is significantly 
diminished. 

Given that this condition is inherited it 
can affect every part of the patient’s life; 
from their career to decisions around 
starting a family.

Current treatments target specific genes 
and therefore are only appropriate for 
a limited number of the RP population 
as there are over 100 gene defects 
causing RP. 

Our response 
Our hRPC therapy is non-gene specific, 
so it can target the entire patient 
population.

Our research suggests that hRPC 
therapy may be able to slow the 
progression of RP through its ability to 
differentiate into components of the 
retina and its ability to maintain existing 
photoreceptors.

Our hRPC therapy doesn’t require 
immunosuppressants. 

Normal Vision

Retinitis Pigmentosa

(1) Analysts’ estimates: Stifel March 2018, N+1 Singer April 2017, Edison May 2017. (2) Benjamin et al (2017) Circulation 135, e146-e603. 
(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (4) Stroke Association. 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com19

Stroke disability

Market need
Treatment options are  
limited, and they are only 
available within 4.5 hours  
of stroke onset.

Key facts

$34bn
Spent each year in the US on 
stroke disability

$3.4bn
Spent each year in the UK 
on stroke disability

Our response 
Our CTX cell therapy aims to treat 
patients months after their stroke.

The Phase 2a clinical trial (PISCES II) for 
our CTX cell therapy demonstrated that 
it can reduce a patient’s global disability 
post stroke as assessed by mRS.

In our Phase 2b study, we are seeking a 
one point or more improvement in mRS 
scoring, at six months post surgery, in 
CTX-treated patients that are mRS score 
of 3 or 4 at baseline.

Market characteristics
Stroke disability significantly affects 
a patient’s quality of life, and the 
treatment and care of these patients is a 
burden on health and social care as well 
as family and caregivers. 

There are currently no treatments for 
stroke disability after the early phase.

US

Stroke is the leading cause of morbidity 
and long-term disability in the US(2). 
In the US, $34 billion is spent each year 
on stroke disability (this includes health 
care services, medications and lost 
productivity)(3). 

UK

In the UK, the NHS spends £3.4 billion 
each year on stroke disability and 
the social care spend is £5.2 billion 
annually(4).

Swedish study

The graph on the right shows 
the results from a 2017 Swedish 
study which demonstrated that 
patient care cost is proportionate 
to their level of stroke disability (as 
measured by the mRS). Our Phase 
2b study targets patients with a 
mRS score of 3 or 4 and will be 
looking for an improvement of one 
or more points.

)

0
0
0

(

$
r
y
/
e
ar
c
t
n
e
i
t
a
P

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Source: Company data; adapted from Lekander et al 2017,  
42,114 patients from 2007-2012, costs from Sweden translated into $

mRS 5

mRS 4

mRS 3

mRS 0–2

Level of disability

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
 
 
20

Our marketplace

Drug delivery vehicles

One of our primary objectives is the development of novel stem cell derived exosomes as a delivery vehicle targeting areas of 
significant unmet or poorly met medical need. There are drawbacks with the current delivery technologies.

Limitations of current delivery technologies

Advantages of exosomes

Lipid Nanoparticles (LNP) induce a significant 
inflammatory response.

An advantage of exosomes are their low 
immunogenicity, which means they do not 
provoke immune responses in the body.

Less than 5% of LNPs deliver their cargo to the 
correct cellular compartment.

LNPs are generally taken up by a certain type of 
pathway in the body which results in lysosomal 
destruction. Exosomes however have the ability 
to be taken up by a number of different pathways, 
including cell fusion. If the exosome fuses with the 
cell membrane, its cargo will be directly released into 
the cell to have its desired functional effect.

It has been demonstrated that current available 
delivery technologies can deliver siRNA but 
primarily only to the liver.

There is a potential for exosomes to deliver 
molecules to specifically targeted areas.

Our response:
Our CTX-derived exosomes can cross 
the BBB. We believe our exosomes can 
do this because of their cell of origin.

The CTX producer cell line is derived 
from the cortical region of the brain. This 
cell line produces exosomes with specific 
surface markers that allow the exosomes 
to cross the BBB and communicate with 
other cells within the brain.

Why ReNeuron’s exosomes?

Limitations of current exosome 
delivery technologies:
Very few therapies successfully cross the 
blood brain barrier (BBB), making central 
nervous system disorders difficult to treat.

Why does it make it difficult 
to treat?
If drugs do not cross the BBB easily, it 
either rules out systemic administration 
via intravenous injection (IV) or very high 
doses are needed to get an efficacious 
dose to the brain. If IV is ruled out, then 
local administration is your only option 
which will be much more complex, 
expensive and less accessible. If higher 
doses are given via IV, the chance of 
off-target effects (side-effects) increases 
significantly. 

References: Vader et al 2016 – Extracellular vesicles for drug delivery; Ha et al 2016 – 
Exosomes as therapeutic drug carriers and delivery across biological barriers.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com21

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORTOlav Hellebø
Chief Executive Officer

22

Chief Executive Officer’s 
review of performance

Commenting on the results,  
Olav Hellebø, Chief Executive Officer, 
said:

“ The past year has been a 
transformational one for 
ReNeuron. During the period, 
we commenced patient dosing 
in the US placebo-controlled 
Phase 2b clinical trial of our 
CTX cell therapy candidate in 
chronic stroke disability. This was 
followed shortly afterwards by 
the announcement of strongly 
positive preliminary efficacy data 
from the first three Phase 2a 
patients in the ongoing US Phase 
1/2a clinical trial of our hRPC 
cell therapy candidate in retinitis 
pigmentosa. We look forward 
to delivering further significant 
clinical data in our stroke and 
retinitis pigmentosa programmes 
over the next 18 months.

We are pleased to be working 
with Fosun Pharma as our partner 
for China, following the signing of 
the exclusive licence agreement 
for both our CTX and hRPC 
programmes in that territory. 
We are also encouraged by the 
level of interest other potential 
collaborators are showing in all 
of our programmes, including 
our exosome technology which 
is being developed as a novel 
system for delivering third party 
drugs. 

We look forward to providing 
further updates on our clinical 
and commercial progress in the 
months ahead.”

Review of clinical programmes 
hRPC for retinal disease
During the period under review, and 
subsequent to it, we have made 
significant progress advancing the 
clinical development of our human 
retinal progenitor cell (hRPC) therapy 
candidate in the blindness-causing 
disease, retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A 
Phase 1/2a open-label clinical trial 
is ongoing to evaluate the safety, 
tolerability and preliminary efficacy of 
our hRPC stem cell therapy candidate 
in patients with advanced RP. The Phase 
2a element of the study, which uses a 
cryopreserved hRPC formulation, enrols 
subjects with some remaining retinal 
function and is being conducted at two 
clinical sites in the US: Massachusetts 
Eye and Ear in Boston and Retinal 
Research Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

In February 2019, we reported positive 
preliminary data in the first cohort of 
three patients in the Phase 2a element 
of the study, with all three subjects 
in the cohort demonstrating a rapid 
improvement in vision compared with 
their pre-treatment baseline. 

In April 2019, further data from the 
first patient cohort in the study were 
presented at the sixth annual Retinal 
Cell and Gene Therapy Innovation 
Summit in Vancouver, Canada, which 
preceded the 2019 annual meeting 
of the Association for Research in 
Vision and Ophthalmology. In the 
presentation, it was reported that the 
first cohort of patients in the Phase 2a 
element of the study had demonstrated 
a sustained and further improvement 
in vision compared with baseline, with 
a mean improvement from baseline 
in visual acuity of + 23 letters on 
the ETDRS eye chart in the treated 
eye (the untreated control eyes did 
not show meaningful improvement). 
An improvement of + 23 letters is 
equivalent to reading an additional four 
lines of letters on the ETDRS eye chart, 
the standardised eye chart used to 
measure visual acuity in clinical trials. 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com23

The primary end-point of the PISCES 
III study is the proportion of patients 
showing a clinically important 
improvement (at least one point) on 
the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at six 
months post treatment compared with 
baseline. The mRS is a global measure 
of disability or dependence upon 
others in carrying out activities of daily 
living and is accepted by regulatory 
authorities as an appropriate end-
point for marketing approval in stroke 
disability.

Based on current patient recruitment 
and resource planning, we expect to 
report top-line data from the PISCES 
III study in late 2020. We expect the 
PISCES III clinical trial, if positive, to be 
one of two pivotal studies required to 
support marketing authorisations for 
CTX in stroke disability.

Exosome technology
During the period, we reassessed how 
best to exploit our CTX cell-based 
exosome platform to maximise potential 
near-term commercial opportunities. 
We are pursuing opportunities to 
capitalise on the significant scientific 
and life sciences industry interest in 
exosomes by forming value-generating 
business partnerships covering our 
exosome technology. In this regard, 
ExoPr0, our first CTX-derived exosome 
candidate arising from this technology, 
is being developed as a novel vector for 
delivering third party biological drugs. 

In January 2019, we signed a 
collaboration agreement with a US-
based biopharmaceutical company 
to explore the use of our exosome 
technology to create delivery vehicles 
for synthetic oligonucleotides used in 
gene therapy. We are in active early 
discussions with other commercial third 
parties regarding potential collaboration 
agreements for our exosome 
technology.

An improvement of at least + 15 letters 
from baseline is considered to be 
clinically meaningful by the US Food 
and Drug Administration (FDA), as 
stated in their recent guidance on gene 
therapy for retinal disorders. In addition 
to these objective measurements, 
all three subjects had also noted a 
subjective improvement in vision in their 
treated eye.

Dosing of the second cohort of three 
subjects in the Phase 2a element of the 
study is complete and dosing of the 
remaining two cohorts is in progress. 
These later cohorts comprise patients 
with a greater baseline level of visual 
acuity than those patients earlier in the 
study, as we seek to assess preliminary 
efficacy in patient groups with differing 
levels of remaining vision. The clinical 
protocol for the study allows for up 
to 12 patients (four cohorts of three 
patients each) to be treated in the Phase 
2a element of the study. 

We expect to treat the remaining 
patients in the study shortly and to 
report preliminary data from all treated 
Phase 2a subjects in October at the 
American Academy of Ophthalmology 
2019 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. 
These results will form the basis of our 
future interactions with the European 
and US regulatory authorities regarding 
the future clinical development path 
of hRPC for the treatment of RP. Our 
clinical programme in RP benefits from 
Orphan Drug Designation in both 
Europe and the US, as well as Fast Track 
designation from the US Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA). 

CTX for stroke disability
During the period, we have continued 
to progress the clinical development 
of our CTX cell therapy candidate 
for stroke disability. In January 2019, 
we announced that patient dosing 
had commenced in PISCES III, a 
randomised, placebo-controlled, Phase 
2b clinical trial in 110 patients at up to 
40 clinical trial sites in the US. 

Patients in the study are treated 
between 6 and 12 months after 
their stroke and are randomised to 
receive either CTX therapy or placebo 
treatment. 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORTWe look forward to delivering further 
significant clinical data in our stroke and 
retinitis pigmentosa programmes over 
the next 18 months.

We are pleased to be working with 
Fosun Pharma as our partner for China, 
following the signing of the exclusive 
licence agreement for both our CTX 
and hRPC programmes in that territory. 
We are also encouraged by the level of 
interest other potential collaborators 
are showing in all of our programmes, 
including our exosome technology 
which is being developed as a novel 
system for delivering third party drugs. 

We look forward to providing further 
updates on our clinical and commercial 
progress in the months ahead.

Olav Hellebø
Chief Executive Officer
18 July 2019

24

Chief Executive Officer’s  
review of performance continued

Also in January 2019, new data were 
presented in conference from a 
grant-funded collaboration between 
ReNeuron, University College 
London and the Cell and Gene 
Therapy Catapult. The new data 
demonstrated the feasibility of scaling 
up the production of our CTX-derived 
exosomes utilising state-of-the-art 
bioreactor systems, representing a 
significant advance towards an industrial 
scale production process without 
affecting the quality and consistency of 
the final product.

Business development activities
Our technologies and therapeutic 
programmes have increasingly attracted 
the interest of commercial third parties. 
During the period, a non-refundable 
exclusivity fee of US$2.5 million was 
received from one such third party 
relating to a potential out-license of 
our hRPC retinal stem cell technology. 
As previously announced, this potential 
licensee ultimately withdrew from 
the deal for reasons unrelated to 
ReNeuron’s technology.

In April 2019, we announced the signing 
of an exclusive licence agreement 
with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical 
Industrial Development Co., Ltd. 
(“Fosun Pharma”) for the development, 
manufacture and commercialisation of 
both our CTX and hRPC cell therapy 
programmes in the People’s Republic of 
China. 

Under the terms of the licence 
agreement, Fosun Pharma will fully 
fund the development of our CTX 
and hRPC cell therapy programmes in 
China, including clinical development 
and subsequent commercialisation 
activities. Fosun Pharma has also been 
granted rights to manufacture the 
licensed products in China. In return, 
ReNeuron received £6.0 million (before 
withholding tax) on entering into the 
agreement and will receive up to 
£6.0 million in near-term operational 
milestones and up to £8.0 million in 
future regulatory milestone payments. 

In addition, ReNeuron will receive 
estimated post-launch profit threshold 
milestone payments of £80.0 million 
provided all milestones and profit 
thresholds relating to the licensed 
products are successfully met, as well 
as tiered royalties at rates between 
12% and 14% on sales of the licensed 
products in the Chinese market. 

We remain in discussions with other 
commercial third parties regarding 
potential collaboration and/or out-
licensing deals across our programmes.

Other activities
In October 2018, we presented data 
demonstrating for the first time that our 
lead CTX cell line can be successfully 
reprogrammed to an embryonic stem 
cell-like state and then differentiated 
along a different path from the original 
cell line. Importantly, ReNeuron’s 
immortalisation technology remained 
functional in the reprogrammed cells. 
These results demonstrate that our CTX 
cell line could be used to produce new 
conditionally immortalised allogeneic 
(i.e. non-donor-specific) cell lines from 
any of the three germ layers: ectoderm, 
mesoderm and endoderm. We are 
now working to develop further new 
allogeneic cell lines, including NK and 
T-cells (the cells that can be modified 
to attack cancer cells), as potential 
therapeutic agents for out-licensing to 
third parties.

Summary and outlook
The last year has been a 
transformational one for ReNeuron. 
During the period, we commenced 
patient dosing in the US placebo-
controlled Phase 2b clinical trial of our 
CTX cell therapy candidate in chronic 
stroke disability. This was followed 
shortly afterwards by the announcement 
of strongly positive preliminary efficacy 
data from the first three Phase 2a 
patients in the ongoing US Phase 1/2a 
clinical trial of our hRPC cell therapy 
candidate in retinitis pigmentosa. 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com25

Michael Hunt ACA
Chief Financial Officer

The total tax credit for the period was 
£2.9 million (2018: £3.35 million). The 
2018 figure included £0.35 million 
received relating to 2017. The reduction 
in the accrual on the previous year 
reflects the reduction in applicable 
costs.

As a result of the above, the total 
comprehensive loss for the year reduced 
to £14.3 million (2018: £17.6 million).

Cash used in operating activities was 
£12.0 million (2018: £14.9 million), 
largely reflecting the operating costs 
incurred during the period, net of tax 
credits received. The Group had cash, 
cash equivalents and bank deposits 
totalling £26.4 million at the year end 
(2018: £37.4 million). Post year end, the 
Group has received £5.4 million, net 
of withholding tax, pertaining to the 
licence agreement with Fosun Pharma. 

Michael Hunt ACA
Chief Financial Officer
18 July 2019

Financial review

Revenues in the year amounted to 
£49,000 (2018: £43,000), being royalties 
from non-therapeutic licensing activities. 
Grant income of £0.8 million (2018: 
£0.85 million) was also recognised 
in other income. In addition, £1.9 
million (2018: £Nil) was recognised in 
other income relating to an exclusivity 
fee received during out-licensing 
negotiations.

Research and development costs were 
slightly reduced at £16.3 million (2018: 
£16.7 million) and accounted for 77% 
of operating expenses (2018: 78%). The 
higher cost in the prior period reflects 
increased manufacturing and process 
development activity ahead of the 
commencement of the ongoing clinical 
trials in retinitis pigmentosa and stroke 
disability.

General and administrative expenses 
have increased by £0.1 million (2%) to 
£4.7 million (2018: £4.6 million). This 
increase is primarily explained by higher 
legal and professional fees driven by an 
increase in business development and 
contracting activities. 

Finance income represents income 
received from the Group’s cash and 
investments and gains from foreign 
exchange with losses from foreign 
exchange shown in finance costs. 
Finance income was £1.1 million in 
the period (2018: £0.3 million). In 
2019, finance income included foreign 
exchange gains of £0.8 million (2018: 
£Nil). In 2018, foreign exchange rate 
movements led to a foreign exchange 
loss of £0.91 million. The Group 
holds cash and investments in foreign 
currencies in order to hedge against 
operational spend in those currencies. 
The strengthening of sterling against the 
US dollar during the period has resulted 
in a relative appreciation of the Group’s 
foreign currency deposits.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORT26

Risks and uncertainties 

Risk

Potential impact

Mitigation action/control

Clinical and regulatory risk
There are significant inherent risks in 
developing stem cell therapies for 
commercialisation due to the long and 
complex development process. Any 
therapy which we wish to offer commercially 
to the public must be put through 
extensive research, pre-clinical and clinical 
development, all of which takes several 
years and is extremely costly. The regulatory 
process is both complex and multi-
jurisdictional.

Intellectual property risk
Intellectual property protection remains 
fundamental to the Group’s strategy of 
developing novel drug candidates. The 
Group’s ability to stop others making 
a drug, using it or selling the invention 
or proprietary rights by obtaining and 
maintaining protection is critical to our 
success. The Group manages a portfolio 
of patents and patent applications which 
underpin its research and development 
programmes. 

Manufacturing and supply risk
The Group’s ability to successfully scale 
up production processes to viable clinical 
trial or commercial levels is vital to the 
commercial viability of any product.

Clinical potential impact
The Group may fail to develop a drug 
candidate successfully because we cannot 
demonstrate in clinical trials that it is safe  
and efficacious.

Delays in achieving regulatory approval may 
impose substantial costs on the business.

If a product is approved, the regulators 
may impose additional requirements, 
for example, restrictions on the 
therapy’s indicated uses or the levels of 
reimbursement receivable. Once approved, 
the product and its manufacture will continue 
to be reviewed by the regulators and may be 
withdrawn or restricted.

Regulatory potential impact
Reduction of an income stream through 
regulation could adversely affect the 
commercial viability of a drug product.

Withdrawal of a drug product by a particular 
regulatory agency would prevent sale in that 
particular territory and may be followed by 
regulators in other territories.

The Group’s internal development expertise 
and knowledge in its targeted clinical 
areas will enable it to develop therapeutic 
products in a manner which will substantially 
mitigate, but which cannot eliminate this risk 
in the future.

The Group looks to employ suitably qualified 
and experienced staff. It also consults, where 
necessary, with regulatory advisers and 
regulatory approval bodies to ensure that 
regulatory requirements are met.

Additionally, the Group seeks to foster a 
culture where quality is a key priority. Both it 
and its clinical and manufacturing partners 
comply with Good Clinical Practice and 
Good Manufacturing Practice and employs 
rigorous processes in its research and 
development of therapeutic products.

The Group uses experienced and reputable 
clinical research organisations in its clinical 
trials.

There is a risk that intellectual property may 
become invalid or expire before, or soon 
after, commercialisation of a drug product 
and the Group may be blocked by other 
companies’ patents and intellectual property.

The Group invests significantly in maintaining 
and protecting this intellectual property 
through the use of expert lawyers and patent 
agents to reduce the risks over the validity 
and enforceability of our patents.

The protection of the Group’s intellectual 
property is a significant consideration 
throughout the Group’s contracting activity.

The Group utilises reputable contract 
manufacturing organisations, experienced 
in meeting the requirements of Good 
Manufacturing Practice. 

The Group maintains contractual 
relationships with key manufacturers and 
suppliers to ensure availability of supply and 
sufficient notice of disruption.

Additionally, the Group seeks to avoid 
reliance upon any single supplier or 
manufacturer.

Manufacturing potential impact
Inability to sell a drug product on a 
commercially viable scale.

Product manufacture is subject to continual 
regulatory control and products must be 
manufactured in accordance with Good 
Manufacturing Practice. Any changes to 
the approved process may require further 
regulatory approval.

Availability of raw materials is extremely 
important to ensure that manufacturing 
campaigns are performed on schedule.

Supply potential impact
Substantial cost increases and delays in 
production which could adversely impact 
on the Group’s financial results and cash 
liquidity.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com27

Risk

Potential impact

Mitigation action/control

Financial risk
The financial risks faced by the Group 
include foreign currency risk, liquidity 
risk and risk associated with cash held on 
deposit with financial institutions.

These risks may adversely affect the Group’s 
financial results and cash liquidity.

Fundraising risk
The Group has incurred considerable losses 
since its inception and is dependent upon 
equity and public grant financing. It does 
not currently have any approved or revenue 
generating products.

The Group may not be able to raise 
additional funds that will be needed 
to support its product development 
programmes or commercialisation efforts. 
Any new funds raised may lead to dilution of 
existing investors.

Cyber risk
There is risk that third parties may seek to 
disrupt the Group’s business, or perpetrate 
acts of fraud using digital media.

Loss of IT systems for a significant period 
may result in delays in the development and 
commercialisation of drug product. Fraud 
may result in financial loss.

Site and system disruption risk
Unexpected events could disrupt the 
business by affecting its key facility, critical 
equipment, IT systems or a number of 
employees.

Loss of IT systems for a significant period or 
key employees may result in delays in the 
development and commercialisation of  
drug product.

Staff turnover risk
The Group is dependent upon its ability  
to attract and retain highly qualified and 
skilled staff. 

Loss of key staff could delay the 
development and commercialisation of drug 
product.

The Board reviews and agrees policies for 
managing each of these risks. The Group’s 
main objectives in using financial instruments 
are the maximisation of returns from funds 
held on deposit, balanced with the need to 
safeguard the assets of the business. The 
Group does not enter into forward currency 
contracts. The Group holds currency in 
US dollars and euros to cover short and 
medium-term expenses in those currencies.

The Group is continually seeking business 
development opportunities which enable it 
to support the future costs of development 
of its drug products and commercialise them 
successfully. 

Additionally, the Board places considerable 
emphasis on communication with 
shareholders and potential investors, to 
maximise the chances of successful future 
fundraising. 

The Group is focused on maintaining a 
robust and secure IT environment that 
protects its corporate data and systems. IT 
systems are continuously monitored and 
employees are trained to be aware of cyber 
security and the associated risks.

The Group has developed a business 
continuity plan to ensure that it can respond 
effectively to identified risks. All critical 
equipment will have active service contracts 
in place.

Business continuity insurance is in place.

The Group offers attractive employment 
packages, including share incentive 
plans, and actively encourages employee 
engagement in the business. Employees also 
have significant opportunities for learning 
and development as well as promotion 
opportunities born out of the Group’s staff 
appraisal and succession planning processes.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019STRATEGIC REPORT28

Risks and uncertainties continued

Risk

Potential impact

Mitigation action/control

Risks associated with the departure of the United Kingdom from the EU (“Brexit”)

SME and Orphan Drug status
Within the EU, the Group holds SME status, 
together with Orphan Drug Designation in 
respect of its hRPC product.

Loss of SME status and Orphan Drug 
Designation within the EU upon the United 
Kingdom’s exit would expose the Group 
to increased costs of development and 
commercialisation of drug product within 
the EU.

The Group has incorporated ReNeuron 
Ireland Limited to enable it to maintain 
a presence within the EU and to manage 
and mitigate the risks and uncertainties 
surrounding the final outcome of exit 
negotiations between the United Kingdom 
and the EU.

Regulatory risks
After Brexit, regulatory requirements for the 
development and approval of drug products 
and medical devices may diverge between 
the EU and the UK.

The EU is seen as a major future market 
for the Group’s products and regulatory 
divergence may complicate and slow the 
process of developing and commercialising 
drug product in the EU.

The Group has considerable experience 
of dealing with major overseas regulators 
including both the EU and the USA and will 
monitor changing requirements and adapt 
accordingly.

Currency risks
The Group makes purchases of supplies and 
services overseas, notably in the EU and  
the USA.

Currency volatility or a post-Brexit 
depreciation of Sterling may increase costs.

The Group will monitor the situation and will 
utilise the methods described under financial 
risk above to mitigate the risks. 

In addition, and in common with other small biotechnology companies, the Group is subject to a number of other risks and 
uncertainties, which include:

•  the early stage of development of the business;

•  availability and terms of capital needed to sustain operations, and failure to secure partnerships that will fund late-stage trials 

and commercial exploitation;

•  competition from other companies and market acceptance of its products; and

•  its reliance on consultants, contractors and personnel at third-party research institutions.

Pages 8 to 28 of this Annual Report and Accounts comprise the Strategic Report for the Group which has been prepared  
in accordance with chapter 4A of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

Approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by:

Michael Hunt
Director
18 July 2019

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comGovernance

30

Board of Directors

N

A R N

John Berriman
Non-executive Chairman

Olav Hellebø
Chief Executive Officer 

Michael Hunt ACA
Chief Financial Officer 

Simon Cartmell OBE
Non-executive Director 

Appointed 
John Berriman was 
appointed to the Board 
in July 2011 and became 
Chairman in March 2015. 

External appointments
He is currently also chairman 
of Confo Therapeutics 
NV, Autifony Therapeutics 
Ltd and Depixus SAS, 
and Deputy Chairman 
(non-executive) of Autolus 
Therapeutics Ltd.

Experience and skills
He is past chairman of 
Heptares Therapeutics Ltd 
(sold to Sosei in February 
2015) and Algeta ASA 
(sold to Bayer AG in 
2014) and was a director 
of Micromet Inc. until its 
sale to Amgen in 2012. 
Previously he was a director 
of Abingworth Management, 
an international healthcare 
venture capital firm.

Appointed 
Olav Hellebø was appointed 
to the Board in September 
2014.

Experience and skills
Prior to ReNeuron, he held 
the role of CEO at Clavis 
Pharma ASA, a Norwegian, 
oncology-focused, listed 
biotechnology company. 
He joined Clavis from UCB 
where he built the global 
organisation responsible for 
the successful registration 
and launch of the anti-TNF 
Cimzia®. Mr Hellebø was 
COO of Novartis UK and 
prior to that held a series 
of senior roles at Schering 
Plough, including US 
marketing director for Claritin 
and head of the Biotech 
Oncology Business Unit in 
the USA.

Key: Committees

A

Audit

R

Remuneration

N Nominations and Corporate Governance

N Committee Chair

Appointed 
Michael Hunt joined 
ReNeuron in 2001. Between 
2005 and 2014 he served 
as its CEO, leading the 
business through its early 
development to its current 
position as one of the global, 
clinical-stage leaders in the 
regenerative medicine field. 
He was appointed as Chief 
Financial Officer in 2014.

External appointments
He sits on the Board and 
Executive Committee of 
the US-based Alliance for 
Regenerative Medicine 
(ARM) and is a founding 
member and co-chair of 
ARM’s European Section.  
He sits on the UK BioIndustry 
Association’s Cell & Gene 
Therapy Advisory Committee 
and its Finance and Tax 
Advisory Committee and is  
a member of the Cell &  
Gene Therapy Catapult’s 
Advisory Panel.

Experience and skills
Prior to ReNeuron, he spent 
six years at Biocompatibles 
International plc (sold to 
BTG plc) where he held a 
number of senior financial 
and general management 
positions. His early industrial 
career was spent at Bunzl plc. 
He qualified as a chartered 
accountant with Ernst & 
Young.

Appointed 
Simon Cartmell OBE was 
appointed to the Board in 
July 2011. 

External appointments
He is an experienced non-
executive director currently 
chairing OssDsign AB, 
Oviva AG and Ieso Digital 
Health Ltd. He is also 
non-executive director of 
BoneSupport Holding AB 
and is active in charitable 
educational activities through 
the Worshipful Company of 
Haberdashers.

Experience and skills
As CEO of ApaTech Ltd, 
he built a world leader in 
orthobiologics and led its 
sale to Baxter International 
Inc. in March 2010. Prior 
to ApaTech he was CEO of 
Celltech Pharmaceuticals 
and a director of Celltech 
Group plc before which 
he was COO of Vanguard 
Medica plc. His early career 
was spent at Glaxo plc in 
multiple senior UK and 
global commercial strategy, 
product development, supply 
chain, marketing, sales and 
business development roles. 
Most recently he has served 
as an operating partner for 
Imperial Innovations plc, 
latterly IP Group plc after 
its acquisition, a leading UK 
bioscience venture capital 
firm.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com31

A R

A N

Dr Tim Corn
Non-executive Director

Dr Claudia D’Augusta
Non-executive Director

Professor 
Sir Chris Evans OBE
Non-executive Director

R

Dr Mike Owen
Non-executive Director

Appointed 
Dr Tim Corn was appointed 
to the Board in June 2012.

External appointments
He serves as a non-executive 
director on the Board of 
Neurocentrx Pharma Ltd, 
as chairman of the Board 
of Trustees of The Neuro 
Foundation and as Chief 
Medical Officer of Izana 
Bioscience. 

Experience and skills
He was formerly Chief 
Medical Officer at EUSA 
Pharma International, 
a division of Jazz 
Pharmaceuticals, at EUSA 
Pharma Inc and at Zeneus 
Pharma, as well as non-
executive director at Circassia 
Pharmaceuticals plc and HRA 
Pharma.

He has held senior medical, 
clinical and regulatory 
positions in both big and 
small pharma as well as in the 
UK regulatory agency and 
has played a key role in more 
than 20 regulatory approvals 
in the USA and Europe for 
products in the fields of 
neurology and oncology.

Fellowships
He is a Fellow of both the 
Faculty of Pharmaceutical 
Medicine and the Royal 
College of Psychiatrists.

Appointed
Dr Claudia D’Augusta was 
appointed to the Board in 
September 2017.

Appointed 
Professor Sir Chris Evans OBE 
was appointed to the Board 
in August 2013. 

Appointed 
Dr Mike Owen was 
appointed to the Board in 
December 2015. 

External appointments
She is the CFO of VectivBio 
AG, a global biotechnology 
company created in July 
2019 as a spin-out of 
Therachon, recently acquired 
by Pfizer for up to $810 
million.

Experience and skills
She has over 20 years’ 
experience in corporate 
finance, capital markets 
and M&A. Before joining 
Therachon in January 2019, 
she was CFO, then general 
manager at Tigenix (now 
Takeda) where she led the 
company’s IPO on NASDAQ 
in 2016. She also served as 
CFO of Cellerix and led its 
merger with Tigenix. She 
was also finance director 
of Aquanima (Santander 
Group). Previous experience 
includes roles in corporate 
finance and M&A at Deloitte 
& Touche in Milan and Apax 
Partners in Madrid.  
She holds a degree in 
Economics and a Ph.D.  
in Business Administration 
from the University of 
Bocconi, Italy. 

External appointments
He was the founder of 
Chiroscience, Celsis, Biovex, 
Merlin Biosciences, Vectura, 
Piramed, Excalibur Group, 
Arthurian Life Sciences, Arix 
Bioscience plc and Proton 
Partners. He is also currently 
Founder and Chairman 
of Ellipses Pharma, a new 
cancer medicines company.

Experience and skills
He has built over 50 medical 
companies from scratch, 
many from his own ideas 
and inventions, and floated 
20 new medical businesses 
on stock markets in six 
different countries. He has 
created companies worth 
over $7 billion employing 
over 4,000 scientists, built 
hundreds of complex medical 
laboratories and facilities 
around the world and 
positively impacted many 
millions of lives with his work. 
He has also raised $2 billion 
for cancer research projects. 
He has received numerous 
prestigious awards and 
medals for his work and was 
knighted in the year 2000.

External appointments
He currently serves as a 
director of Zealand Pharma, 
Ossianix Inc. (chairman), 
Avacta plc, GammaDelta 
Therapeutics, Sareum plc 
and Glythera Ltd and is a 
member of the scientific 
advisory board at Avacta. 

Experience and skills
His career in biotech, the 
pharmaceutical industry 
and academia spans almost 
40 years. He was formerly 
senior vice president for 
biopharmaceuticals research 
at GlaxoSmithKline and was 
also a founder and chief 
scientific officer of Kymab 
Ltd, an antibody-based 
biotech company. He has 
also previously served as a 
director for BLINK Biomedical 
SAS. For many years he held 
a research position at the 
Imperial Cancer Research 
Fund (now CR-UK) and he 
has previously served on the 
scientific advisory board of 
the CRT Pioneer Fund LP. 

He is also a member of the 
European Molecular Biology 
Organisation. 

Fellowships
He is a Fellow of the 
Academy of Medical 
Sciences.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019GOVERNANCE32

Senior management

Nicholas Adams VP, Business Development & Alliance Management

Appointed
Nicholas Adams was appointed VP, Business 
Development & Alliance Management in July 
2019.

Experience and skills
Nick Adams has considerable experience leading a 
range of international deal types including in- and 
out-licensing, divestments, spin-outs, and mergers 
and acquisitions. 

After graduating from the University of Hertfordshire 
with a B.Sc. in Biology, he started his career in 

Dr Richard Beckman Chief Medical Officer

Appointed
Dr Richard Beckman was appointed Chief 
Medical Officer in April 2018. 

Experience and skills
Prior to joining ReNeuron, Dr Beckman was the 
Chief Medical Officer of several innovative biotech 
and device firms, including Clearside, Ophthotech 
and Neurotech. Prior to that, he had leadership roles 
at Alcon, Lux Bio, Becton Dickinson and Allergan.

Dr Randolph Corteling Head of Research

clinical development working for Ciba-Geigy (now 
part of Novartis), Cephalon and Eisai. He then 
studied Law full-time at the College of Law, London 
before moving into Business Development at 
Antisoma where he started as In-Licensing Manager 
but later became VP, Business Development. During 
his time at Antisoma more non-dilutive income was 
generated through licensing deals/divestments 
(>US$160 million) than through the capital markets 
– primarily through deals with Novartis and Sanofi. 
More recently he has worked as Chief Business 
Officer at both Clavis Pharma and Redx Pharma.

Dr Beckman received his MD from the University of 
Michigan, completed a residency in ophthalmology 
at Henry Ford Hospital, and a glaucoma fellowship 
at the Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard 
University. Prior to joining the industry, he practised 
in academic medicine for three years at Cornell 
University Medical College and was in private 
practice for ten years.

Appointed 
Dr Randolph Corteling was appointed Head 
of Research in April 2015 having been a senior 
member of the research team since 2007.

Experience and skills
Prior to joining ReNeuron, Dr Corteling started his 
scientific career as a Research Associate at Novartis, 

before undertaking a PhD in Medical and Surgical 
Sciences at The University of Nottingham. He then 
spent three years in Canada as a Heart and Stroke 
Foundation Fellow before joining ReNeuron in 2007. 
During his career Dr Corteling has developed a 
number of new discoveries along with a thorough 
understanding of cell and stem cell biology, with 
a particular interest and expertise in the role of 
extracellular vesicles and exosomes.

Sharon Grimster General Manager, Wales

Appointed 
Sharon Grimster joined ReNeuron in 2013 and 
was appointed as VP Development & General 
Manager, Wales in April 2015.

Experience and skills
Sharon Grimster has significant experience in 
pharmaceutical development and she has a particular 
expertise in biologics manufacturing. Prior to working 

at ReNeuron, she held senior team roles at F-star 
and Antisoma, where she was responsible for a 
range of development functions, including project 
management, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, 
quality and business operations. She started her 
pharmaceutical career at Celltech, where she led 
teams in project management, manufacturing  
and research.

Shaun Stapleton Vice President Regulatory Affairs and Pharmacovigilance

Appointed 
Shaun Stapleton was appointed Head of 
Regulatory Affairs in June 2015.

Experience and skills
Shaun Stapleton joined ReNeuron from RRG (a 
Voisin Consulting Life Sciences company), where 
he was a Director and Vice President of Regulatory 
Science. He supported clients on a number of global 
development and registration projects, including 
advanced therapies and orphan drugs. Having 
graduated in Biochemistry from Imperial College 

London, he began his career in research with the 
Imperial Cancer Research Fund, before moving 
into the pharmaceutical industry. He held positions 
of increasing responsibility in regulatory affairs at 
Sterling Winthrop, Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim 
before becoming Senior Director of Regulatory 
Affairs at Ipsen, where he managed regulatory input 
into development programmes globally, securing 
new product approvals in the US, the EU and 
internationally in the neurology, endocrinology and 
oncology therapeutic areas.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comDirectors’ report

for the year ended 31 March 2019

The Directors present their report and 
the audited consolidated financial 
statements of the Company for the year 
ended 31 March 2019.

Presentation of financial 
statements
The Group accounts include the 
financial statements of the Company 
and its subsidiary undertakings made up 
to 31 March 2019.

Future developments
Future developments are set out in the 
Strategic Report on pages 08 to 28.

Results and dividends
The results for the year are given in the 
Group statement of comprehensive 
income set out on page 54. The 
Directors do not recommend the 
payment of a dividend (2018: £nil).

Research and development
During the year the Group incurred 
research and development costs of 
£16,255,000 (2018: £16,657,000) 
all charged to the statement of 
comprehensive income. 

Events after the reporting 
period
On 9 April 2019 ReNeuron Limited 
signed an exclusive licensing agreement 
with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical 
Development Co. Ltd. Further details 
are set out in note 29 to the financial 
statements.

Financial risk management
Financial risk management is set out in 
note 21 to the financial statements and 
also in risks and uncertainties on pages 
26 to 28.

Directors 
The Directors who held office during 
the year and up to the signing of the 
financial statements, unless otherwise 
stated, are listed below:

John Berriman,  
Non-executive Chairman

Olav Hellebø,  
Chief Executive Officer

Michael Hunt,  
Chief Financial Officer

Simon Cartmell OBE,  
Non-executive Director

33

Dr Tim Corn,  
Non-executive Director

Dr Claudia D’Augusta,  
Non-executive Director

Professor Sir Chris Evans OBE,  
Non-executive Director

Dr Mike Owen,  
Non-executive Director

Qualifying third party indemnity
Certain Directors benefited from 
qualifying third party indemnity 
provisions in place during the year  
and at the date of this report.

Going concern
The Group is expected to incur 
significant further costs as it 
continues to develop its therapies 
and technologies through clinical 
development. The operation of the 
Group is currently being financed from 
funds that have been raised from share 
placings, commercial partnerships and 
grants and the Directors are currently 
considering a number of options for 
further funding of the Company’s 
ongoing clinical programmes.

After making enquiries, the Directors 
expect that the Group’s current financial 
resources can, where appropriate, 
be managed such that they will be 
sufficient to support operations for at 
least the next 12 months from the date 
of these financial statements. The Group 
therefore continues to adopt the going 
concern basis in the preparation of 
these financial statements.

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

Company law requires the Directors 
to prepare financial statements for 
each financial year. Under that law the 
Directors have prepared the Group and 
Parent Company financial statements in 
accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted 
by the European Union. Under company 
law the Directors must not approve the 
financial statements unless they are 
satisfied that they give a true and fair 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019GOVERNANCE34

Directors’ report

Directors’ confirmations
In the case of each Director in office 
at the date the Directors’ report is 
approved:

•  so far as the Director is aware, there is 
no relevant audit information of which 
the Group and Parent Company’s 
auditors are unaware; and

•  they have taken all the steps that they 
ought to have taken as a Director in 
order to make themselves aware of 
any relevant audit information and to 
establish that the Group and Parent 
Company’s auditors are aware of that 
information. 

Independent auditors
The auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers 
LLP, have indicated their willingness 
to continue in office and a resolution 
concerning their reappointment will 
be proposed at the Annual General 
Meeting.

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the 
Company will be held at the offices of 
Covington & Burling LLP, 265 Strand, 
London WC2R 1BH on 12 September 
2019 at 10.00 a.m. The Notice of the 
Annual General Meeting is enclosed on 
page 78 of this document.

By order of the Board

Michael Hunt
Director
18 July 2019

view of the state of affairs of the Group 
and Parent Company and of the profit 
or loss of the Group and Parent 

Company for that period. In preparing 
the financial statements, the Directors 
are required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies 
and then apply them consistently;

•  state whether applicable IFRSs as 

adopted by the European Union have 
been followed for the Group and 
Parent Company financial statements, 
subject to any material departures 
disclosed and explained in the 
financial statements;

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

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

The Directors are also responsible for 
safeguarding the assets of the Group 
and Parent Company and hence 
for taking reasonable steps for the 
prevention and detection of fraud 
and other irregularities. The Directors 
are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that are sufficient 
to show and explain the Group and 
Parent Company’s transactions and 
disclose with reasonable accuracy 
at any time the financial position of 
the Group and Parent Company and 
enable them to ensure that the financial 
statements comply with the Companies 
Act 2006 and, as regards the Group 
financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS 
Regulation.

The Directors are responsible for 
the maintenance and integrity of the 
Parent Company’s website. Legislation 
in the United Kingdom governing 
the preparation and dissemination of 
financial statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comCorporate governance

35

This report provides general information 
on the Group’s adoption of corporate 
governance principles. As an AIM-listed 
company, ReNeuron intends to adopt 
as far as possible the principles of the 
Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate 
Governance Code (the “QCA Code”). 
The QCA Code identifies ten 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.

The sections below set out the ways 
in which the Group applies the ten 
principles of the QCA Code in support 
of the Group’s medium to long-term 
success. The Investor Centre (Corporate 
Governance Section) on the Group’s 
website also contains an index setting 
out the locations of relevant disclosures 
on the website and/or in the Group’s 
Annual Report pertaining to the Group’s 
application of the QCA Code.

1.  Establish a strategy and 
business model which 
promote long-term value for 
shareholders

The strategy and business operations 
of the Group are set out in the Strategic 
Report on pages 08 to 28. 

The Group’s strategy and business 
model, and amendments thereto, are 
developed by the Chief Executive 
Officer and his senior management 
team, and approved by the Board. 
The management team, led by the 
Chief Executive Officer, is responsible 
for implementing the strategy 
and managing the business at an 
operational level.

The Group’s overall strategic objective 
is to develop best-in-class cell-based 
therapies in its areas of therapeutic focus.

The Group has a balanced portfolio 
of cell-based platform technologies 
and therapeutic programmes targeting 
significant, unmet or poorly met areas 
of medical need. The Group deploys 
its financial and other resources 
towards gaining clinical validation 
for its therapeutic programmes, via 
well-designed clinical trials in well-
regulated territories. Ultimately, the 
Directors believe that this approach will 
deliver significant long-term value for 
shareholders if the resulting clinical trial 
data are compelling. 

At the appropriate stage of 
development, the Group may choose to 
realise monetary value in a therapeutic 
programme via high-value out-
licensing deals with pharmaceutical 
or biotechnology companies with 
interests in the relevant therapeutic 
field and/or geographical territories. 

The out-licensing in April 2019 of the 
development and commercialisation 
of the Group’s hRPC and CTX products 
to Fosun Pharma in China represents a 
successful manifestation of this strategy. 
Alternatively, and if resources permit, 
the Group may choose to advance a 
therapeutic candidate through late-
stage clinical development unpartnered 
in order to retain the full value of the 
programme within the Group.

The Group has adopted a portfolio 
approach to its strategic assets and 
is not dependent on one particular 
platform technology, having developed 
therapeutic programmes around its CTX 
neural and hRPC retinal stem cell assets, 
as well as its CTX-derived exosome 
nanomedicine platform. The Directors 
believe that this approach helps to 
mitigate the risk of failure in any one 
particular programme. 

The Group operates in an inherently 
high-risk and heavily regulated sector 
and this is reflected in the principal risks 
and uncertainties set out on pages 26 
to 28. In executing the Group’s strategy 
and operational plans, management will 
typically confront a range of day-to-day 
challenges associated with these key 
risks and uncertainties, and will seek to 
deploy the identified mitigation steps 
to manage these risks as they manifest 
themselves.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019GOVERNANCE36

Corporate governance

2.  Seek to understand and 

meet shareholder needs and 
expectations

The Group seeks to maintain a regular 
dialogue with both existing and 
potential new shareholders in order to 
communicate the Group’s strategy and 
progress and to understand the needs 
and expectations of shareholders. 

Beyond the Annual General 
Meeting, the Chief Executive Officer, 
Chief Financial Officer and, where 
appropriate, other members of the 
senior management team meet 
regularly with investors and analysts 
to provide them with updates on 
the Group’s business and to obtain 
feedback regarding the market’s 
expectations of the Group.

The Group’s investor relations activities 
encompass dialogue with both 
institutional and private investors. The 
Company is a regular presenter at 
private investor events, providing an 
opportunity for those investors to meet 
with representatives from the Group in a 
more informal setting. 

3.  Take into account wider 
stakeholder and social 
responsibilities and their 
implications for long-term 
success

The Group is aware of its corporate 
social responsibilities and the need to 
maintain effective working relationships 
across a range of stakeholder groups. 
These include the Group’s employees, 
partners, suppliers, regulatory 
authorities and the patients involved 
in the Group’s clinical development 
activities. The Group’s operations and 
working methodologies take account 
of the need to balance the needs of 
all of these stakeholder groups while 
maintaining focus on the Board’s 
primary responsibility to promote the 
success of the Group for the benefit 
of its members as a whole. The 
Group endeavours to take account of 
feedback received from stakeholders, 
making amendments to working 
arrangements and operational plans 
where appropriate and where such 
amendments are consistent with the 
Group’s longer term strategy.

The Group takes due account of any 
impact that its activities may have on 
the environment and seeks to minimise 
this impact wherever possible. Through 
the various procedures and systems 
it operates, the Group ensures full 
compliance with health and safety and 
environmental legislation relevant to its 
activities.

4.  Embed effective risk 

management, considering 
both opportunities and 
threats, throughout the 
organisation

The Board is responsible for the systems 
of risk management and internal control 
and for reviewing their effectiveness. 
The internal controls are appropriate to 
a business of this size and complexity 
and are designed to manage rather 
than eliminate risk and provide 
reasonable but not absolute assurance 
against material misstatement or loss. 
Through the activities of the Audit 
Committee, the effectiveness of these 
internal controls is reviewed annually. 
Key elements of the system of internal 
control include:

•  setting and communicating clear 

strategic goals;

•  a comprehensive budgeting process 

The Group maintains appropriate 
insurance cover in respect of actions 
taken against the Directors because of 
their roles, as well as against material 
loss or claims against the Group. 
The insured values and type of cover 
are comprehensively reviewed on a 
periodic basis.

The senior management team meet 
at least twice monthly to consider new 
risks and opportunities presented to the 
Group, making recommendations to 
the Board and/or Audit Committee as 
appropriate.

A summary of the principal risks and 
uncertainties facing the Group, as well 
as mitigating actions, are set out on 
pages 26 to 28.

5.  Maintain the Board as a well-
functioning, balanced team 
led by the Chair

As at 31 March 2019, the Board 
comprised six Non-executive Directors, 
and two Executive Directors. 

All of the Directors are subject to 
election by shareholders at the first 
Annual General Meeting after their 
appointment to the Board and will 
continue to seek re-election at least 
once every three years.

is completed once a year and is 
reviewed and approved by the Board;

Directors’ biographies are set out on 
pages 30 and 31.

•  the Group’s results, compared 

with the budget, are reported on a 
monthly basis;

•  the Group reforecasts the budget 
as necessary during the financial 
year, with the results reviewed and 
approved by the Board;

•  working within a defined set of 

delegated authorities, approved by 
the Board; and

•  all material contracts are reviewed by 
an Executive Director of the Company 
and external legal advice is taken as 
appropriate.

The Group’s regulated activities are 
governed by appropriate Standard 
Operating Procedures. Staff behaviour 
is governed by appropriate policies 
including an Anti-Bribery Policy.

The Board is responsible to the 
shareholders for the proper 
management of the Group and meets at 
least six times a year to set the overall 
direction and strategy of the Group, 
to review scientific, operational and 
financial performance and to advise 
on management appointments. All key 
operational and investment decisions 
are subject to Board approval. A 
schedule of Matters Reserved for the 
Board may be found in the Corporate 
Governance Policies on the Group’s 
website.

Eight formal Board meetings were held 
in the year ended 31 March 2019.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com37

A summary of Board and Committee meetings attended in the year ended 31 March 2019 is set out below:

Board meetings

Nominations and Corporate 
Governance Committee

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Director

Attended

Eligible

Attended

Eligible

Attended

Eligible

Attended

Eligible

J Berriman

O Hellebø

M Hunt

S Cartmell

T Corn

C D’Augusta

C Evans

M Owen

8

8

8

8

7

8

6

7

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

2

0

0

2

0

2

0

0

2

0

0

2

0

2

0

0

2

0

0

2

0

2

0

0

2

0

0

2

0

2

0

0

4

0

0

5

5

0

0

1

4

0

0

5

5

0

0

1

The Board considers itself to be 
sufficiently independent. The QCA 
Code suggests that a board should 
have at least two independent Non-
executive Directors. All of the Non-
executive Directors who currently sit on 
the Board of the Company are regarded 
as independent under the QCA 
Code’s guidance for determining such 
independence.

Until 19 February 2019, Professor Sir 
Chris Evans sat on the board of Arix 
Bioscience plc who, by virtue of its 
ownership of Arthurian Life Sciences 
Limited, has an interest in 9.5% of the 
share capital of the Company. This is 
beneath the 10% threshold the UK 
Corporate Governance Code suggests 
when determining independence.

Non-executive Directors receive their 
fees in the form of a basic cash fee and 
an equity-based fee which takes the 
form of nominal price share options 
under the Company’s Non-executive 
Share Option Scheme. To avoid any 
incentive effect that may influence the 
Non-executive Directors’ independence, 
these share options vest over three 
years on a straight-line basis and are 
not subject to performance conditions. 
The option grants concerned are 
not deemed to be significant, either 
for any individual Non-executive 
Director or in aggregate. The current 

remuneration structure for the Board’s 
Non-executive Directors is deemed to 
be proportionate and was subject to a 
shareholder consultation process prior 
to its implementation.

6.  Ensure that between 

them, the Directors have 
the necessary up-to-date 
experience, skills and 
capabilities 

The Board considers that all of the 
Non-executive Directors are of sufficient 
competence and calibre to add strength 
and objectivity to the Board, and bring 
considerable experience in scientific, 
operational and financial development 
of biopharmaceutical products and 
companies.

The Directors’ biographies are set 
out on pages 30 and 31. The Board 
regularly reviews the composition of 
the Board to ensure that it has the 
necessary breadth and depth of skills to 
support the ongoing development of 
the Group.

The Chairman, in conjunction with the 
Company Secretary, ensures that the 
Directors’ knowledge is kept up to 
date on key issues and developments 
pertaining to the Group, its operational 
environment and to the Directors’ 
responsibilities as members of the 
Board. During the course of the year, 

Directors received updates from the 
Company Secretary and various external 
advisers on a number of corporate 
governance matters.

Directors’ service contracts or 
appointment letters make provision 
for a Director to seek personal advice 
in furtherance of his or her duties 
and responsibilities, normally via the 
Company Secretary.

7.  Evaluate Board performance 
based on clear and relevant 
objectives, seeking 
continuous improvement
The Board has a process for evaluation 
of its own performance, that of its 
committees and individual Directors, 
including the Chairman. This process is 
conducted biennially and last took place 
in May 2019. The Board utilises the 
services of an independent third party 
organisation to manage the evaluation 
process, analyse the results and report 
back to the Board for subsequent 
follow-up. Evaluation criteria include 
Controls and Procedures, Strategic 
Aims, Entrepreneurial Leadership and 
Communications and Relationships. 

The Board may utilise the results of the 
evaluation process when considering 
the adequacy of the composition of the 
Board and for succession planning.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019GOVERNANCE38

Corporate governance continued

8.  Promote a corporate culture 

that is based on ethical values 
and behaviours

The Board seeks to maintain the highest 
standards of integrity and probity in 
the conduct of the Group’s operations. 
These values are enshrined in the 
written policies and working practices 
adopted by all employees in the Group. 
An open culture is encouraged within 
the Group, with regular communications 
to staff regarding progress and staff 
feedback regularly sought. There is 
an Employee Engagement Group and 
a Staff Engagement Survey has been 
introduced which has delivered positive 
feedback. The Executive Committee 
regularly monitors the Group’s cultural 
environment and seeks to address any 
concerns that may arise, escalating 
these to Board level as necessary.

The Group is committed to providing 
a safe environment for its staff and all 
other parties for which the Group has 
a legal or moral responsibility in this 
area. The Group operates a Health and 
Safety Committee which meets monthly 
to monitor, review and make decisions 
concerning health and safety matters. 
The Group’s health and safety policies 
and procedures are enshrined in the 
Group’s documented quality systems, 
which encompass all aspects of the 
Group’s day-to-day operations.

9.  Maintain governance 

structures and processes 
that are fit for purpose and 
support good decision-making 
by the Board

The Board has overall responsibility for 
promoting the success of the Group. 
The Executive Directors have day-to-
day responsibility for the operational 
management of the Group’s activities. 
The Non-executive Directors are 
responsible for bringing independent 
and objective judgement to Board 
decisions.

There is a clear separation of the roles 
of Chief Executive Officer and Non-
executive Chairman. The Chairman is 
responsible for overseeing the running 
of the Board, ensuring that no individual 
or group dominates the Board’s 
decision-making and ensuring the 
Non-executive Directors are properly 
briefed on matters. The Chairman has 
overall responsibility for corporate 
governance matters in the Group and 
chairs the Nominations and Corporate 
Governance Committee. The Chief 
Executive Officer has the responsibility 
for implementing the strategy of the 
Board and managing the day-to-day 
business activities of the Group. The 
Company Secretary is responsible for 
ensuring that Board procedures are 
followed and applicable rules and 
regulations are complied with.

The Board has established an Audit 
Committee, Remuneration Committee 
and Nominations and Corporate 
Governance Committee with formally 
delegated duties and responsibilities. 
Dr Claudia D’Augusta chairs the Audit 
Committee, Simon Cartmell OBE chairs 
the Remuneration Committee and John 
Berriman chairs the Nominations and 
Corporate Governance Committee.

The Audit Committee normally meets 
twice a year, which the Board deems 
to be sufficiently frequent in order 
for the Committee to discharge its 
responsibilities in the normal course 
of annual events. It has responsibility 
for, amongst other things, planning 
and reviewing the annual report and 
accounts and interim statements 
involving, where appropriate, the 
external auditors. The Committee also 
approves external auditors’ fees and 
ensures the auditors’ independence 
as well as focusing on compliance with 
legal requirements and accounting 
standards. It is also responsible for 
ensuring that an effective system of 
internal control is maintained. The 
ultimate responsibility for reviewing 
and approving the annual financial 
statements and interim statements 
remains with the Board.

The Audit Committee Report is set out 
on page 40.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com39

10.  Communicate how the 

Group is governed and is 
performing by maintaining a 
dialogue with shareholders 
and other relevant 
stakeholders

The Group places a high priority on 
regular communications with its various 
stakeholder groups and aims to ensure 
that all communications concerning 
the Group’s activities are clear, fair 
and accurate. The Group’s website is 
regularly updated and users can register 
to be alerted when announcements or 
details of presentations and events are 
posted onto the website.

Historical annual reports and other 
governance-related material can be 
found on the Group’s website in the 
relevant sections in the Investor Centre 
section of the site. 

The results of voting on all resolutions in 
future general meetings will be posted 
on the Group’s website, including 
any actions to be taken as a result of 
resolutions for which votes against have 
been received from at least 20% of 
independent shareholders.

By order of the Board

John Berriman
Non-executive Chairman
18 July 2019

The Remuneration Committee, which 
meets as required, but at least once 
a year, has responsibility for making 
recommendations to the Board on the 
compensation of senior executives and 
determining, within agreed terms of 
reference, the specific remuneration 
packages for each of the Executive 
Directors. It also supervises the 
Company’s share incentive schemes and 
sets performance conditions for share 
options granted under the schemes.

During the year ended 31 March 2019, 
the Remuneration Committee met five 
times. The Committee reviewed and 
approved:

i) 

the degree of achievement of 
objectives for the year ended 
31 March 2018 and consequent 
bonus awards and other 
adjustments to remuneration for 
Executive Directors and senior 
management;

ii) 

the corporate and personal 
objectives for the Group and 
Executive Directors for the year 
ended 31 March 2019;

iii)  new share incentive plans for the 

Executive Directors and other staff 
in both the UK and the USA;

iv)  the award of stock options to 
Directors, senior management 
and staff under the Group’s 
share incentive schemes and the 
treatment of existing share option 
awards to staff made redundant 
during the year;

v) 

the remuneration package for Dr 
Rick Beckman (appointed as Chief 
Medical Officer during the year);

vi)  staff retention and succession 

planning;

vii)  departure arrangements in respect 

of Dr John Sinden who ceased to 
serve as Chief Scientific Officer on 
30 April 2019, and;

viii)  the Executive Directors’ salaries and 

benefits.

The Directors’ Remuneration Report is 
set out on pages 41 to 48. The Directors 
believe that this, together with the 
above summary of the work of the 
Remuneration Committee, constitutes 
sufficient disclosure to meet the QCA 
Code’s requirement for a Remuneration 
Committee Report. Consequently, a 
separate Remuneration Committee 
Report is not presented.

The Nominations and Corporate 
Governance Committee, which meets 
as required, but at least twice a year, 
has responsibility for reviewing the 
size and composition of the Board, 
the appointment of replacement or 
additional Directors, regularly evaluating 
the performance of the Board and the 
CEO, the monitoring of compliance 
with applicable laws, regulations and 
corporate governance guidance and 
making appropriate recommendations 
to the Board.

During the year ended 31 March 
2019, the Nominations and Corporate 
Governance Committee met twice. The 
Committee reviewed and approved:

i) 

the format of the Board evaluation 
exercise undertaken in May 2019; 
and

ii)  the amendment of the Group’s 

Corporate Governance Policies and 
Share Dealing Code.

The terms of reference of the above 
Committees are set out in the 
Company’s Corporate Governance 
Policies document, which is regularly 
updated and can be found in the 
Investor Centre (Corporate Governance 
Section) on the Group’s website. 
The Corporate Governance Policies 
document also contains a schedule of 
matters specifically reserved for Board 
decision or approval and sets out the 
Company’s share dealing code and 
its public interest disclosure (‘whistle-
blowing’) policy and procedures.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019GOVERNANCE40

Audit Committee report

for the year ended 31 March 2019

As Chair of the Audit Committee, I am 
pleased to present the Committee’s 
report for the year ended 31 March 2019. 

•  review and challenge, if appropriate, 

any significant related party 
transactions;

The Audit Committee is a subcommittee 
of the Board and is responsible for 
ensuring effective governance over 
financial reporting and internal controls. 
The Committee represents the interests 
of the shareholders in relation to 
the integrity of information and the 
effectiveness of audit processes in place.

The Audit Committee consists of three 
Non-executive Directors. It is chaired by 
me and its other members are Simon 
Cartmell OBE and Dr Tim Corn, who has 
replaced John Berriman as a member of 
the Audit Committee during the year.  
I would like to thank John for his work as 
an Audit Committee member. I am an 
independent Director and have relevant 
financial experience. Audit Committee 
meetings are also attended, by invitation, 
by the Chief Financial Officer, Financial 
Controller and, where appropriate, other 
members of the Board. Representatives 
of the external auditor also attend by 
invitation and meet with the Audit 
Committee at least twice a year, with 
time allowed for discussion without any 
members of the executive team being 
present, to allow the external auditor to 
raise any issues of concern.

The Audit Committee acts independently 
of management to ensure that the 
interests of shareholders are protected 
in relation to the financial reporting and 
internal controls.

The principal duties of the Committee 
are to:

•  monitor the integrity of the Group’s 

financial reporting including the review 
of significant financial reporting issues 
and judgements;

•  review and challenge whether 

appropriate accounting policies 
have been adopted, in particular for 
significant or unusual transactions 
where different approaches are 
possible;

•  where requested by the Board, 

review the content of the Annual 
Report and Accounts and advise the 
Board on whether, taken as a whole, 
it is fair, balanced, understandable 
and provides the information for 
shareholders to assess the Group’s 
performance, business model and 
strategy;

•  keep under review the adequacy and 
effectiveness of the internal financial 
controls and internal control and risk 
management systems;

•  oversee the external audit process 
including monitoring the external 
auditor’s independence, objectivity, 
effectiveness and performance;

•  review the Group’s systems and 
controls for detecting fraud and 
preventing bribery; and

•  monitor and review the Group’s 
whistleblowing arrangements.

The Audit Committee has primary 
responsibility for the relationship 
between the Group and the external 
auditor. 

This includes: 

•  considering and recommending to 

the Board, to be put to shareholders 
for approval at the Annual General 
Meeting, in relation to the 
appointment, reappointment and 
removal of the Group’s external 
auditors;

•  considering the auditor’s 

independence, objectivity, 
qualifications and effectiveness;

•  reviewing the audit plan presented by 
the auditor and considering the risks 
identified therein;

•  reviewing the auditors’ findings 

reports on the Group’s Annual Report 
and Accounts; and

•  approving the level of fees paid to 

the auditors for audit and non-audit 
services.

During the year ended 31 March 2019, 
the Audit Committee met twice. The 
Committee reviewed and approved the 
financial statements for the year ended 
31 March 2018, the interim results for 
the six months to 30 September 2018 
and the external auditor’s plan and fee 
for the 2019 external audit. 

The Audit Committee considers risk 
areas in the financial statements 
throughout the year and before the 
audit commences. The Committee 
considered the following items to be 
areas of risk.

The Group incurs research and 
development expenditure from 
third parties. The Group recognises 
this expenditure in line with the 
management’s best estimation of the 
stage of completion of each research 
and development project. This includes 
the calculation of accrued costs at each 
period end to account for expenditure 
that has been incurred. This requires 

management to estimate full costs to 
complete for each project and also to 
estimate its current stage of completion. 
The Committee pays particular attention 
to management’s estimates of these 
items, its analysis of any unusual 
movements and their impact on cost 
recognition.

The Committee reviews the going 
concern basis that the accounts are 
prepared. The Group is in clinical-stage 
development and suffers significant 
operating losses from expenses incurred 
in research and development of its 
therapeutic programmes, as well as 
from general and administrative costs 
that have been incurred building our 
business infrastructure. The Group 
expects to continue to incur significant 
operating losses for the foreseeable 
future as it furthers its therapeutic 
programmes. 

The Committee has reviewed cash 
balances and short and long term 
cashflow forecasts as well as plans to 
raise funding and is confident the going 
concern basis is appropriate. 

The Audit Committee has satisfied itself 
that the external auditor is independent. 
The Audit Committee has concluded 
that the external audit process was 
effective, that the scope of the audit 
was appropriate and that significant 
judgements have been robustly 
challenged. No significant issues have 
been reported by the auditor.

The Audit Committee does not believe 
it necessary at this time to propose re-
tendering of the audit contract.

A resolution for the reappointment of 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the 
statutory auditor will be proposed at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting. 

No formal recommendations other than 
the approval of the Interim Statement 
and Annual Report and Accounts have 
been made to the Board by the Audit 
Committee and no external reports 
have been commissioned on financial 
control processes during the year ended 
31 March 2019.

By order of the Board

Dr Claudia D’Augusta
Chair – Audit Committee 
18 July 2019

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com41

Non-executive Directors’ 
remuneration
The remuneration of the Non-executive 
Directors is determined by the 
Remuneration Committee with regard 
to market comparatives. In setting the 
remuneration policy for Non-executive 
Directors, the Committee has sought 
independent advice and, where 
appropriate, has consulted with certain 
of its shareholders. Non-executive 
Directors are appointed for an initial 
three-year term via an appointment 
letter from the Company, with a three 
months’ notice period. The appointment 
term is renewable for further three-year 
terms after the initial term has expired. 
Appointment letters stipulate that the 
Non-executive Director is expected to 
commit sufficient time to the role to 
meet the Company’s expectations.

Non-executive Directors receive their 
fees in the form of a basic cash fee and 
an equity-based fee which takes the 
form of nominal price share options 
under the Company’s Non-executive 
Share Option Scheme. To avoid any 
incentive effect that may influence the 
Non-executive Director’s independence, 
these share options will vest over three 
years on a straight-line basis and are not 
subject to performance conditions.

Non-executive Directors do not receive 
any pension, bonus or other benefits 
from the Company. The remuneration of 
the Non-executive Directors is reviewed 
by the Board annually. 

Directors’ remuneration report

for the year ended 31 March 2019

This report sets out the remuneration 
policy operated by the Company in 
respect of the Executive and Non-
executive Directors, as of the date of 
this report. No Director is involved 
in discussions relating to their own 
remuneration.

Remuneration policy for 
Executive Directors
The Remuneration Committee sets 
the remuneration policy that aims to 
align Executive Director remuneration 
with shareholders’ interests and to 
attract and retain the best talent for the 
benefit of the Group. The Committee 
has sought independent advice when 
setting the remuneration policy. 
Executive Directors are appointed under 
service contracts with notice periods 
not exceeding 12 months. The basic 
contractual working week is 37.5 hours 
but contracts stipulate that Executive 
Directors are required to work whatever 
hours are necessary in order for them to 
fulfil their executive responsibilities.

Remuneration for Executive Directors is 
composed of the following elements:

Basic salary
Basic salaries are reviewed annually and 
revised salaries take effect from the start 
of the financial year. The review process 
is managed by the Remuneration 
Committee with reference to market 
salary data and the Executive’s 
performance during the year.

Bonuses
Annual bonuses are based on 
achievement of Group strategic and 
operational objectives, and personal 
performance objectives. The maximum 
annual bonus that may be payable in 
cash is set at 50% of base salary for the 
Executive Directors. Up to a further 50% 
of base salary may be awarded, payable 
in nominal price share options under the 
Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan.

Longer Term Incentives
In order to further incentivise Executive 
Directors and align their interests with 
shareholders, the Company operates 
a Long Term Incentive Plan under 
which nominal price share options may 
be granted from time to time. The 
quantum of these awards will relate to 
the Executive Director’s base salary and 
will vest subject to the performance 
conditions detailed in the tables and 
notes on pages 43 to 48 of this report. 

Executive Directors are expected to 
build a direct stake in the Company’s 
shares over time, either through the 
purchase of shares in the market from 
time to time and/or through the future 
exercise of share options.

The Company has the ability to grant 
share options under its active Share 
Option schemes subject to a cap of up 
to 10% of total issued share capital in 
any ten-year period.

Pension
The Group operates a defined 
contribution pension scheme which 
is available to all employees. The 
Company contribution in respect of 
Executive Directors is currently set 
at 10% of base salary. The Executive 
Director may choose to take some or 
all of this benefit as a cash alternative, 
subject to the Company remaining cash 
neutral after relevant payroll taxes.

Other benefits
Other benefits provided are life 
assurance, private medical insurance 
and professional subscriptions, where 
relevant to the duties of the Executive 
Director, and a car allowance of £10,000 
per annum to each Executive Director 
(disclosed as part of Salaries and fees in 
the remuneration table below). During 
the year, the Company paid a living 
allowance of £50,000 (2018: £42,000) to 
the Chief Executive Officer pertaining 
to the relocation of the Group to 
the Pencoed, South Wales site (also 
disclosed as part of Salaries and fees in 
the remuneration table below). 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019GOVERNANCE42

Directors’ remuneration report continued

for the year ended 31 March 2019

Directors’ emoluments
The Directors received the following remuneration during the year:

Audited
John Berriman
Olav Hellebø
Michael Hunt
Simon Cartmell OBE
Dr Tim Corn
Dr Claudia D’Augusta
Professor Sir Chris Evans OBE
Dr Mike Owen
Total

Salaries
and fees
£’000
52
358
217
38
30
37
26
27

785

Bonuses
£’000
–
149
104
–
–
–
–
–

253

Benefits
in kind
£’000
–
2
2
–
–
–
–
–

2019
Pension
contributions
£’000
–
30
21
–
–
–
–
–

2019
Total
£’000
52
509
323
38
30
37
26
27

4

1,042

51

2018
Pension
contributions
£’000
–
27
19
–
–
–
–
–

46

2018
Total
£’000
53
413
280
38
25
21
26
26

882

Bonuses disclosed above represent a cash element paid as a percentage of base salary, being 50% in both cases, based on 
achievement of corporate and personal performance objectives in the financial year ended 31 March 2019. 

In addition to the above cash bonus, and in line with the above stated remuneration policy, the Executive Directors earned a 
non-cash bonus based on achievement of corporate and personal performance objectives in the financial year ended 31 March 
2019, paid in the form of nominally priced share options awarded under the Group’s Long-term Incentive Plan. The estimated 
gain on these options at the date of grant was £72,000 for Olav Hellebø (2018: £Nil) and £56,000 for Michael Hunt (2018: £Nil).

The Executive Directors elected to take some of their pension benefit as a cash alternative.

The Non-executive Directors also received an equity-based fee in the year which took the form of nominal price share options 
under the Company’s Non-executive Share Option Scheme. The estimated gain on these options at the time of grant was 
£11,859 (2018: £3,500) to each of the Non-executive Directors. 

Directors’ emoluments include amounts payable to third parties in respect of fees as described in note 28 of the financial 
statements.

The Directors, who held office at the end of the year, held the following interests in the Ordinary shares of the Company. The 
date of 8 July 2019 is the latest practicable date for amendment prior to publication of results.

John Berriman
Olav Hellebø
Michael Hunt
Simon Cartmell OBE
Dr Tim Corn
Dr Claudia D’Augusta
Professor Sir Chris Evans OBE
Dr Mike Owen

Ordinary shares of 1p each

8 July
2019 
Number
90,434
21,630
30,036
15,633
2,000
–
254,605
4,237

 31 March 
2019 
Number
10,434
21,630
27,546
7,875
2,000
–
240,105
–

 31 March 
2018 
Number
10,434
6,694
20,084
7,875
2,000
–
240,105
–

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com43

The Directors, who held office at the end of the year, held the following interests in options over shares of the Company. 

John Berriman

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Olav Hellebø

Options – approved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Note
3

5

7

9

14

15

17

Note
10

10

11

12

13

16

18

At 
1 April
2018
Number
4,800

Lapsed
during 
the year
Number
–

Granted
during
the year
Number 
–

At
31 March
2019
Number
4,800

Exercise
price
£3.75

5,752

6,000

6,000

3,000

5,000

–

30,552

At 
1 April
2018
Number
72,463

83,091

181,236

190,666

25,000

97,666

–

650,122

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5,752

£2.87

6,000

£3.60

6,000

£3.45

3,000

£1.00

5,000

£1.00

17,700

17,700

£0.01

17,700

48,252

Lapsed
during 
the year
Number
–

Granted
during
the year
Number 
–

At
31 March
2019
Number
72,463

Exercise
price
£1.00

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

83,091

£1.00

181,236

£1.00

190,666

£1.00

25,000

£1.00

97,666

£1.00

155,738

155,738

£0.01

155,738

805,860

Exercise period*
September 2014 
– September 2021

September 2015 
– September 2022

September 2016 
– September 2023

September 2017 
– September 2024

August 2016 
– July 2026

October 2017 
– September 2027

October 2018 
– September 2028 

Exercise period*
September 2017 
– September 2024

September 2017 
– September 2024

October 2018 
– October 2025

July 2019 
– July 2026

July 2018 
– July 2026

July 2020 
– September 2027

September 2021 
– September 2028

*  The exercise periods indicate the earliest dates for which the options are exercisable subject to meeting the performance conditions disclosed in the 

following notes.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019GOVERNANCE 
 
 
44

Directors’ remuneration report continued

for the year ended 31 March 2019

Michael Hunt

At 
1 April
2018
Number
3,478

Lapsed
during 
the year
Number
–

Granted
during
the year
Number 
–

At
31 March
2019
Number
3,478

Note
1

Exercise
price
£1.00

Options – approved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – approved

Options – approved

Options – unapproved

Options – approved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – parallel

Simon Cartmell OBE

2

4

6

8

8

10

10

11

12

13

16

18

19

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Note
3 

5

7

9

14

15

17

10,355

14,583

31,818

6,945

32,638

17,153

23,471

70,909

82,916

12,500

68,000

–

–

374,766

At 
1 April
2018
Number
4,800

5,752

6,000

6,000

3,000

5,000

–

30,552

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

10,355

£1.00

14,583

£1.00

31,818

£1.00

6,945

£1.00

32,638

£1.00

17,153

£1.00

23,471

£1.00

70,909

£1.00

82,916

£1.00

12,500

£1.00

68,000

£1.00

33,334

33,334

£0.01

Exercise period*
August 2011 
– August 2019

August 2013 
– August 2020

September 2014 
– September 2021

September 2015 
– September 2022

September 2016 
– September 2023

September 2016 
– September 2023

September 2017 
– September 2024

September 2017 
– September 2024

October 2018 
– October 2025

July 2019 
– July 2026

July 2018 
– July 2026

July 2020 
– September 2027

September 2021 
– September 2028

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

44,117

44,117

77,451

452,217

£0.01 or 
£0.68

September 2021 
– September 2028

Lapsed
during 
the year
Number
–

Granted
during
the year
Number 
–

At
31 March
2019
Number
4,800

Exercise
price
£3.75

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5,752

£2.87

6,000

£3.60

6,000

£3.45

3,000

£1.00

5,000

£1.00

17,700

17,700

£0.01

17,700

48,252

Exercise period*
September 2014 
– September 2021

September 2015 
– September 2022

September 2016 
– September 2023

September 2017 
– September 2024

August 2016 
– July 2026

October 2017 
– September 2027

October 2018 
– September 2028 

*  The exercise periods indicate the earliest dates for which the options are exercisable subject to meeting the performance conditions disclosed in the 

following notes.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com 
 
 
 
45

Dr Tim Corn 

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Dr Claudia D’Augusta 

Options – unapproved

Note
5

7

9

14

15

17

Note
15

At 
1 April
2018
Number
5,752

5,000

5,000

3,000

5,000

–

23,752

At 
1 April
2018
Number
5,000

Options – unapproved

17

–

Professor Sir Chris Evans OBE

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Dr Mike Owen 

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Options – unapproved

Note
7

9

14

15

17

Note
14

15

17

5,000

At 
1 April
2018
Number
5,000

5,000

3,000

5,000

–

18,000

At 
1 April
2018
Number
3,000

5,000

–

8,000 

Lapsed
during 
the year
Number
–

Granted
during
the year
Number 
–

At
31 March
2019
Number
5,752

Exercise
price
£2.87

–

–

–

–

–

–

Lapsed
during 
the year
Number
–

–

–

Lapsed
during 
the year
Number
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5,000

£3.60

5,000

£3.45

3,000

£1.00

5,000

£1.00

17,700

17,700

£0.01

17,700

41,452

Granted
during
the year
Number 
–

At
31 March
2019
Number
5,000

Exercise
price
£1.00

17,700

17,700

£0.01

17,700

22,700

Granted
during
the year
Number 
–

At
31 March
2019
Number
5,000

Exercise
price
£3.60

–

–

–

5,000

£3.45

3,000

£1.00

5,000

£1.00

17,700

17,700

£0.01

17,700

35,700

Exercise period*
September 2015 
– September 2022

September 2016 
– September 2023

September 2017 
– September 2024

August 2016 
– July 2026

October 2017 
– September 2027

October 2018 
– September 2028 

Exercise period*
October 2017 
– September 2027

October 2018 
– September 2028 

Exercise period*
September 2016 
– September 2023

September 2017 
– September 2024

August 2016 
– July 2026

October 2017 
– September 2027

October 2018 
– September 2028 

Lapsed
during 
the year
Number
–

Granted
during
the year
Number 
–

At
31 March
2019
Number
3,000

Exercise
price
£1.00

–

–

–

–

5,000

£1.00

17,700

17,700

£0.01

17,700

25,700

Exercise period*
August 2016 
– July 2026

October 2017 
– September 2027

October 2018 
– September 2028 

*  The exercise periods indicate the earliest dates for which the options are exercisable subject to meeting the performance conditions disclosed in the 

following notes.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019GOVERNANCE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
46

Directors’ remuneration report continued

for the year ended 31 March 2019

Note 1:

Note 5:

These options have been issued in accordance with the 
Group’s Deferred Share-based Bonus Plan in respect of 
corporate and personal objectives achieved in the financial 
year ending 31 March 2009 and carry no further performance 
conditions; at 31 March 2019 these options were exercisable.

These options were issued subject to a performance 
condition, being the first patient administered with a 
ReNeuron cell therapy in a fourth clinical trial; at 31 March 
2019 these options were exercisable.

Note 6:

Note 2:

These options were issued subject to the amended 
performance conditions below. If all the performance 
conditions bar performance condition (ii) are met then 50% 
of the options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of 
these options were exercisable.

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s 
Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the amended 
performance conditions set out below. If all the performance 
conditions bar performance condition (ii) are met then 50% 
of the options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of 
these options were exercisable.

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell 

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell 

therapy in a second clinical trial;

therapy in a fourth clinical trial;

ii)  The Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of the Company meets 
or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-
year period from date of grant of the option;

ii)  The Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of the Company meets 
or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-
year period from date of grant of the option;

iii)  The business must have operated within its internal 
financial budgets throughout the period to vesting;

iii)  The business must have operated within its internal 
financial budgets throughout the period to vesting;

iv)  The business must be a going concern (under the 

iv)  The business must be a going concern (under the 

accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise 
of an option.

accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise 
of an option.

Note 3:

Note 7:

These options were issued subject to a performance 
condition, being the first patient administered with a 
ReNeuron cell therapy in a third clinical trial; at 31 March 2019 
these options were exercisable.

These options were issued subject to a performance 
condition, being the first patient administered with a 
ReNeuron cell therapy in a fifth clinical trial; at 31 March 2019 
these options were exercisable.

Note 4:

Note 8:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s 
Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the amended 
performance conditions set out below. If all the performance 
conditions bar performance condition (ii) are met then 50% 
of the options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of 
these options were exercisable.

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s 
Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the amended 
performance conditions set out below. If all the performance 
conditions bar performance condition (ii) are met then 50% 
of the options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of 
these options were exercisable.

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell 

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell 

therapy in a third clinical trial;

therapy in a fifth clinical trial;

ii)  The Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of the Company meets 
or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-
year period from date of grant of the option;

ii)  The Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of the Company meets 
or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-
year period from date of grant of the option;

iii)  The business must have operated within its internal 
financial budgets throughout the period to vesting;

iii)  The business must have operated within its internal 
financial budgets throughout the period to vesting;

iv)  The business must be a going concern (under the 

iv)  The business must be a going concern (under the 

accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise 
of an option.

accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise 
of an option.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com47

Note 9:

Note 13:

These options were issued subject to a performance 
condition, being the first patient administered with a 
ReNeuron cell therapy in a sixth clinical trial; at 31 March 2019 
these options were exercisable.

Note 10:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s 
Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the amended 
performance conditions set out below. If all the performance 
conditions bar performance condition (ii) are met then 50% 
of the options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of 
these options were exercisable.

These options have been issued in accordance with the 
Group’s Deferred Share-based Bonus Plan in respect of 
corporate and personal objectives achieved in the financial 
year ending 31 March 2016 and carry no further performance 
conditions; at 31 March 2019 these options were exercisable.

Note 14:

These options have been issued in accordance with the Non-
executive Share Option Scheme. These share options vest 
over three years on a straight-line basis and are not subject to 
performance conditions; at 31 March 2019, 88.88% of these 
options were exercisable.

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell 

Note 15:

therapy in a sixth clinical trial;

ii)  The Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of the Company meets 
or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-
year period from date of grant of the option;

iii)  The business must have operated within its internal 
financial budgets throughout the period to vesting;

iv)  The business must be a going concern (under the 

accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise 
of an option.

Note 11:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s 
Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the performance 
conditions set out below; at 31 March 2019, 66.66% of these 
options were exercisable.

i)  33.3% vest when the first patient is administered with a 

ReNeuron cell therapy in a sixth clinical trial;

These options have been issued in accordance with the Non-
executive Share Option Scheme. These share options vest 
over three years on a straight-line basis and are not subject 
to performance conditions; at 31 March 2019, 50.0% of these 
options were exercisable.

Note 16:

These options were issued subject to the performance 
conditions set out below. At 31 March 2019, these options 
were not exercisable.

i)  33.3% vest when the first patient is administered with a 

ReNeuron cell therapy in an eighth clinical trial;

ii)  33.3% vest on completion of the sixth clinical trial of a 

ReNeuron cell therapy;

iii)  33.4% vest if the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of 

the Company meets or exceeds that of the FTSE AIM 
Healthcare Index in any three-year period from the date of 
grant of the option.

ii)  33.3% vest on completion of the fourth clinical trial of a 

ReNeuron cell therapy;

Note 17:

These options have been issued in accordance with the Non-
executive Share Option Scheme. These share options vest 
over three years on a straight-line basis and are not subject to 
performance conditions; at 31 March 2019, 16.66% of these 
options were exercisable.

iii)  33.4% vest if the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of the 
Company meets or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare 
Index in any three-year period from date of grant of the 
option.

Note 12:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s 
Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the performance 
conditions set out below; at 31 March 2019 these options 
were not exercisable.

i)  33.3% vest when the first patient is administered with a 

ReNeuron cell therapy in a seventh clinical trial;

ii)  33.3% vest on completion of the fifth clinical trial of a 

ReNeuron cell therapy;

iii)  33.4% vest if the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of the 
Company meets or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare 
Index in any three-year period from date of grant of the 
option.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019GOVERNANCE48

Note 18:

Note 19:

These options were issued subject to the performance 
conditions set out below. At 31 March 2019, these options 
were not exercisable.

i)  33.3% vest when the Company signs an out-licensing 

deal (or deals) for any of its technologies or programmes 
which provides sufficient funding to allow the achievement 
of clinical proof of concept data for the CTX and hRPC 
products;

ii)  33.3% vest when the sixth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell 

therapy completes;

iii)  33.4% vest if the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of 

the Company meets or exceeds that of the FTSE AIM 
Healthcare Index in any three-year period from the date of 
grant of the option.

These are parallel options which may be exercised either 
as an unapproved option at an exercise price of 1p, or 
alternatively, at the choice of the option holder, as approved 
CSOP options at an exercise price of 68p. These options were 
issued subject to the performance conditions set out below. 
At 31 March 2019, these options were not exercisable.

i)  33.3% vest when the Company signs an out-licensing 

deal (or deals) for any of its technologies or programmes 
which provides sufficient funding to allow the achievement 
of clinical proof of concept data for the CTX and hRPC 
products;

ii)  33.3% vest when the sixth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell 

therapy completes;

iii)  33.4% vest if the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of 

the Company meets or exceeds that of the FTSE AIM 
Healthcare Index in any three-year period from the date of 
grant of the option.

By order of the Board

Simon Cartmell OBE
Chair – Remuneration Committee
18 July 2019

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comFinancial 
Statements

50

Independent auditor’s report

to the members of ReNeuron Group plc

Report on the audit of the financial statements

Opinion
In our opinion, ReNeuron Group plc’s Group financial statements and Parent Company financial statements (the “financial 
statements”):

•  give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 March 2019 and of the 

Group’s loss and the Group’s and the Parent Company’s cash flows for the year then ended;

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 

European Union and, as regards the Parent Company’s financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of 
the Companies Act 2006; and

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

We have audited the financial statements, included within the Annual Report and Accounts (the “Annual Report”), which 
comprise: the Group and Parent Company statements of financial position as at 31 March 2019; the Group statement of 
comprehensive income, the Group and Parent Company statements of cash flows, and the Group and Parent Company 
statements of changes in equity for the year then ended; and the notes to the financial statements, which include a description 
of the significant accounting policies.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law. Our 
responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further described in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for 
our opinion.

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

Our audit approach
Overview

Materiality

Audit scope

Key audit
matters

•  Overall Group materiality: £859,000 (2018: £1,048,000), based on 5% of loss before tax.

•  Overall Parent Company materiality: £677,000 (2018: £800,000), based on 1% of total assets.

•  The UK audit team performed an audit of the complete financial information of the one 

operating entity in the UK (ReNeuron Limited) as well as the parent company based in the UK 
(ReNeuron Group Plc), which comprise over 99% of the Group’s loss before tax and over 99% 
of the Group’s total assets.

•  Accounting for research and development expenditure.

The scope of our audit
As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risks of material misstatement in the financial 
statements. In particular, we looked at where the Directors made subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant 
accounting estimates that involved making assumptions and considering future events that are inherently uncertain. As in all 
of our audits we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including evaluating whether there was 
evidence of bias by the Directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditors’ professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit of the 
financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether 
or not due to fraud) identified by the auditors, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; 
the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters, and any comments 
we make on the results of our procedures thereon, were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a 
whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. This is not a complete 
list of all risks identified by our audit. 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com51

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Accounting for research and development expenditure

We performed the following procedures:

Research and development expenditure has decreased in 
the year.

Due to the nature of the clinical trials and general research it is 
often difficult to estimate the amount of time a particular trial 
is going to take. ReNeuron outsources most of its research 
and development to third parties which restricts visibility and 
the ability to monitor the progression of a piece of research, 
or a trial’s stage of completion.

As a result it can be difficult for ReNeuron to measure what 
costs have been incurred in relation to a trial at a particular 
point in time and as such, based on billings received, whether 
project accruals and prepayments recorded are reasonably 
estimated. Our audit risk is focussed on whether the relevant 
expenditure has been appropriately included in the income 
statement and whether prepayments and accruals are 
appropriately calculated and recognised.

•  We verified the status of projects through a meeting with 

the Chief Medical Officer where the progress and status of 
each project was discussed.

•  We obtained management’s calculations that support the 
research and development costs incurred during the year 
and verified the mathematical formulae used.

•  We obtained the contracts register and for a sample of 

contracts agreed that management had recognised costs in 
line with the underlying terms of the contract.

•  We sampled invoices detailed in management’s calculations 

and tested back to invoice and verified that the cost 
description in the invoice matched costs included in 
management’s schedule.

•  We obtained management’s calculation of the accrual 

and prepayment position and verified the mathematical 
formulae.

•  We sampled the accrual position and tested back to either 
contract or invoice and verified the accuracy and existence 
of the accrual included in management’s schedule.

•  We reviewed invoices received post 31 March 2019 to 

identify any costs not included in management’s schedules.

We determined that there were no key audit matters applicable to the Parent Company to communicate in our report.

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

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

ReNeuron Group plc is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange and its principal 
activities are research and clinical development of cell-based therapeutics.

The Group’s accounting process is structured around a local finance function based in the United Kingdom. There are three 
active entities in the group; ReNeuron Group plc (which raises the equity to support the principal activity of the Group), 
ReNeuron Limited (which records the majority of Group activity) and ReNeuron Inc. (which incurs the costs of supervising the 
Group’s clinical trials in the United States of America and recharge these back to ReNeuron Limited). There are three dormant 
entities in the Group: ReNeuron (UK) Limited, ReNeuron Holdings Limited and ReNeuron Ireland Limited.

For each active entity we determined whether we required an audit of their complete financial information (“full scope”) or 
whether specified procedures addressing specific risk characteristics of particular financial statement line items would be sufficient.

It was assessed that ReNeuron Group plc and ReNeuron Limited required full scope audit procedures whilst ReNeuron Inc., 
which contributes less than 1% of the loss before tax and 1% of Group total assets, and contained no financial statement items 
that comprised more than 15% of the Group total, did not.

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

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS52

Independent auditor’s report continued

to the members of ReNeuron Group plc

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

Group financial statements

Parent Company financial statements

Overall materiality

£859,000 (2018: £1,048,000).

£677,000 (2018: £800,000).

How we determined it

5% of loss before tax.

1% of total assets.

Rationale for  
benchmark applied

Based on the benchmarks used in the Annual 
Report, loss before tax is the most relevant 
measure in assessing the performance of the 
Group, and is a generally accepted auditing 
benchmark.

We believe that total assets is the most 
appropriate measure since this entity is a 
holding company, and is a generally accepted 
auditing benchmark. This has been restricted to 
c. 50% of the benchmark.

For each component in the scope of our Group audit, we allocated a materiality that is less than our overall Group materiality. 
The range of materiality allocated across components was £677,000 and £859,000. Certain components were audited to a 
local statutory audit materiality that was also less than our overall Group materiality.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them misstatements identified during our audit above £43,000 
(Group audit) (2018: £50,000) and £34,000 (Parent Company audit) (2018: £40,000) as well as misstatements below those 
amounts that, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

Conclusions relating to going concern
ISAs (UK) require us to report to you when: 

•  the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; 

or 

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

We have nothing to report in respect of the above matters.

However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a guarantee as to the Group’s and 
Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. For example, the terms on which the United Kingdom may withdraw 
from the European Union are not clear, and it is difficult to evaluate all of the potential implications on the Group’s trade, 
customers, suppliers and the wider economy. 

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

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

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

Based on the responsibilities described above and our work undertaken in the course of the audit, ISAs (UK) require us also to 
report certain opinions and matters as described below.

Strategic Report and Directors’ Report
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, the information given in the Strategic Report and 
Directors’ Report for the year ended 31 March 2019 is consistent with the financial statements and has been prepared in 
accordance with applicable legal requirements. 

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

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com53

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

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

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

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

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

Other required reporting
Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 

received from branches not visited by us; or

•  certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

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

We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility. 

Other voluntary reporting
Directors’ remuneration
The Parent Company voluntarily prepares a Directors’ Remuneration Report in accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006. The Directors requested that we audit the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report specified by the 
Companies Act 2006 to be audited as if the Parent Company were a quoted company.

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

Jason Clarke BSc ACA (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 
Cardiff

18 July 2019

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS54

Group statement of  
comprehensive income 

for the year ended 31 March 2019

Revenue: royalty income

Other income

Research and development costs

General and administrative costs
Operating loss

Finance income

Finance expense
Loss before income tax

Income tax credit
Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year

Loss and total comprehensive loss attributable to equity owners of the Company 

Basic and diluted loss per Ordinary share

Note

5 

6 

7 

7 

8

9

12 

13 

2019
£’000

49

2,671

(16,255)

(4,747)

(18,282)

1,103

–

(17,179)

2,887

(14,292)

(14,292)

(45.2p)

2018
£’000

43

854

(16,657)

(4,616)

(20,376)

320

(911)

(20,967)

3,352

(17,615)

(17,615)

(55.7p)

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com 
 
 
 
Group and Parent Company  
statements of financial position 

as at 31 March 2019

55

Assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Investment in subsidiaries

Current assets

Trade and other receivables

Income tax receivable

Investments – bank deposits

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Equity

Equity attributable to owners of the Company

Share capital

Share premium account

Capital redemption reserve

Merger reserve
Accumulated losses

At 1 April

Loss for the year attributable to the owners

Other changes in accumulated losses

 At 31 March
Total equity

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

Group

Company

Note

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

14

15

16 

17 

18

19 

22 

632

186

–

818

875

2,768

5,954

20,432

30,029

30,847

316

97,704

40,294

2,223

(103,868)

(14,292)

1,040

726

186

–

912

1,285

3,010

9,500

27,911

41,706

42,618

316

97,704

40,294

2,223

(87,380)

(17,615)

1,127

(117,120)

(103,868)

–

–

–

–

112,625

112,625

103,225

103,225

20

–

5,954

19,083

25,057

73

–

9,500

25,026

34,599

137,682

137,824

316

97,704

40,294

1,858

(7,838)

(1,182)

1,040

(7,980)

316

97,704

40,294

1,858

(6,037)

(2,928)

1,127
(7,838)

23,417

36,669

132,192

132,334

20 

7,430

7,430

7,430

5,949

5,949

5,949

5,490

5,490

5,490

5,490

5,490

5,490

30,847

42,618

137,682

137,824

The financial statements on pages 54 to 77 were approved by the Board of Directors on 18 July 2019 and were signed on its 
behalf by:

Michael Hunt
Director

Company registered number: 05474163

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
56

Group and Parent Company  
statements of changes in equity 

for the year ended 31 March 2019

Group

As at 1 April 2017

Effect of share consolidation

Credit on share-based payment

Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year
As at 31 March 2018

Credit on share-based payment

Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year
As at 31 March 2019

Company

As at 1 April 2017

Effect of share consolidation

Credit on share-based payment

Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year
As at 31 March 2018

Credit on share-based payment

Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year
As at 31 March 2019

Share 
capital 
£’000

31,646 

(31,330)

–

–

316

–

–
316

Share 
capital 
£’000

31,646 

(31,330)

–

–

316

–

–
316 

Share 
premium 
account 
£’000

97,704 

–

–

–

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£’000

8,964 

31,330

–

–

Merger 
reserve 
£’000

2,223 

–

–

–

97,704

40,294

2,223

–

–
97,704

Share 
premium 
account 
£’000

97,704 

–

–

–

–

–
40,294

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£’000

8,964 

31,330

–

–

–

–
2,223

Merger 
reserve 
£’000

1,858 

–

–

–

97,704

40,294

1,858 

–

–
97,704

–

–
40,294

–

–
1,858 

Accumulated 
losses 
£’000

(87,380)

–

1,127

(17,615)

(103,868)

1,040

(14,292)
(117,120)

Accumulated 
losses 
£’000

Total
 equity 
£’000

53,157

–

1,127

(17,615)

36,669

1,040

(14,292)
23,417

Total
 equity 
£’000

(6,037)

134,135 

–

1,127

(2,928)

(7,838)

1,040

(1,182)
(7,980)

–

1,127

(2,928)

132,334

1,040

(1,182)
132,192

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comGroup and Parent Company  
statements of cash flows 

for the year ended 31 March 2019

57

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash used in operations

Income tax credit received
Net cash used in operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Capital expenditure

Loans provided investment in subsidiaries

Interest received
Net cash generated from/(used in) investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Bank deposit matured
Net cash generated from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

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

Group

Company

Note

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

25

(15,121)

3,129

(11,992)

(19,244)

4,357

(14,887)

(1,415)

(1,450)

–

–

(1,415)

(1,450)

(188)

–

342

154

4,359

4,359

(7,479)

27,911

20,432

(235)

–

383

148

14,525

14,525

(214)

28,125

27,911

–

–

(9,230)

(11,648)

343

380

(8,887)

(11,268)

4,359

4,359

(5,943)

25,026

19,083

14,525

14,525

1,807

23,219

25,026

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58

Notes to the financial statements

1. General information
ReNeuron Group plc (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together, the “Group”) research and develop therapies using 
stem cells. The Company is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of its 
registered office is Pencoed Business Park, Pencoed, Bridgend CF35 5HY. Its shares are listed on the Alternative Investment 
Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange.

2. Accounting policies and basis of preparation
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies 
have been consistently applied to all of the financial years presented for both the Group and the Company. The accounting 
policies relate to the Group unless otherwise stated.

Basis of preparation
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 
adopted by the European Union, the interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) 
and the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

These financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, as modified by the valuation of certain assets and 
liabilities at fair value through profit or loss.

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Parent Company’s Statement of Comprehensive Income has not 
been presented in these Financial Statements.

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings made 
up to 31 March 2019.

The purchase method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group. The cost of an 
acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed at the 
date of exchange, plus costs directly attributable to the acquisition. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent 
liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date, irrespective of the 
extent of any minority interest. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable 
net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary 
acquired, the difference is recognised directly in the Group statement of comprehensive income.

Intercompany transactions and balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. 
Unrealised losses are also eliminated but considered an impairment indicator of the asset transferred. Accounting policies of 
subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

The Group elected not to apply IFRS 3 “Business Combinations” retrospectively to business combinations which took place 
prior to 1 April 2006 that have been accounted for by the merger accounting method.

Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of accounting estimates and assumptions that 
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income 
and expenses during the reporting period. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current 
events and actions, actual results ultimately may differ from those estimates. IFRS also requires management to exercise its 
judgment in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies.

The areas involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to 
the consolidated financial statements are as follows:

a) Recognition of research and development expenditure

The Group incurs research and development expenditure from third parties. The Group recognises this expenditure in line with 
the management’s best estimation of the stage of completion of each research and development project. This includes the 
calculation of accrued costs at each period end to account for expenditure that has been incurred. This requires management 
to estimate full costs to complete for each project and also to estimate its current stage of completion. Costs relating to clinical 
research organisation expenses in the year were £2.5 million. The related accruals were £1.0 million.

Foreign currency translation
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling (£), which is the Company’s functional and 
presentational currency. Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com59

rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such 
transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies are recognised in the Group statement of comprehensive income in the year in which they occur.

Revenue
Revenue represents income received from royalties arising from collaborations with third parties and is recognised when they 
fall due to the Group.

Other income
Other income represents government grants, together with transactions that do not arise in the course of an entity’s normal 
activities and outside the definition of revenue above. Government grants related to expenses are recognised in the same 
period as the relevant expense. Other items are recognised when there is an unconditional right to the income, they fall due, 
and there is no risk of clawback to the Group.

Research and development expenditure
Capitalisation of expenditure on product development commences from the point at which technical feasibility and commercial 
viability of the product can be demonstrated and the Group is satisfied that it is probable that future economic benefits will 
result from the product once completed. No such costs have been capitalised to date, given the early stage of the Group’s 
intellectual property.

Expenditure on research and development activities that do not meet the above criteria, including ongoing costs associated 
with acquired intellectual property rights and intellectual property rights generated internally by the Group, is charged to the 
Group statement of comprehensive income as incurred.

Pension benefits
The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable for the year are charged to the Group 
statement of comprehensive income. Differences between contributions payable in the year and contributions actually paid are 
shown as either accruals or prepayments in the Group and Parent Company statements of financial position. The Group has no 
further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid.

Leases
Leasing arrangements which transfer to the Group substantially all the benefits and risks of ownership of assets are treated as 
finance leases, as if the asset had been purchased outright. The assets are included within the relevant category of property, 
plant and equipment and the capital elements of the leasing commitments are shown as obligations under finance leases. 
Assets held under finance leases are depreciated over the lower of their useful life and the terms of the lease. The interest 
element of the lease rental is included in the Group statement of comprehensive income.

All other leases are considered operating leases, the costs of which are charged to the Group statement of comprehensive 
income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Benefits such as rent-free periods, and amounts received or receivable as 
incentives to take on operating leases, are spread on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Government and other grants
Revenue grants are credited to other income within the Group statement of comprehensive income, assessed by the level of 
expenditure incurred on the specific grant project, when it is reasonably certain that amounts will not need to be repaid.

Share-based payments
The Group operates a number of equity-settled share-based compensation plans. The fair value of share-based payments 
under such schemes is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that 
will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of market-based vesting conditions. Vesting periods are estimated to be two 
years for options issued under the deferred bonus and four years for other schemes. 

The fair value calculation of share-based payments requires several assumptions and estimates as disclosed in note 24. The 
calculation uses the Black-Scholes model. At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews its estimate of the number of options 
that are expected to vest and recognises any revision to original estimates in the Group statement of comprehensive income, 
with a corresponding adjustment to equity.

For equity-settled share-based payments where employees of subsidiary undertakings are rewarded with shares issued by the 
Parent Company, a capital contribution is recorded in the subsidiary, with a corresponding increase in the investment in the 
Parent Company.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS60

Notes to the financial statements continued

Warrants
Where warrants have been issued together with Ordinary shares, the proportion of the proceeds received that relates to the 
warrants is credited to reserves.

Where warrants have been issued as recompense for services supplied, the fair value of warrants is charged to the Group 
statement of comprehensive income over the period the services are received and a corresponding credit is made to reserves.

Intangible assets
Intangible assets relating to intellectual property rights acquired through licensing or assigning patents and know-how are 
carried at historical cost less accumulated amortisation and any provision for impairment. Milestone payments associated with 
these rights are capitalised when incurred. Where a finite useful life of the acquired intangible asset cannot be determined, the 
asset is not subject to amortisation but is tested for impairment annually or more frequently whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. No amortisation other than historical impairment has 
been charged to date as the products underpinned by the intellectual property rights are not yet available for commercial use.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment. Cost includes the 
original purchase price of the asset and the costs attributable to bringing the asset to its working condition for its intended 
use. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost less their estimated residual values on a straight-line basis over the 
expected useful economic lives of the assets concerned. The principal annual periods used for this purpose are:

Leasehold improvements  

Term of the lease

Plant and equipment 

Computer equipment 

3–8 years

3–5 years 

Investments in subsidiaries
Investments in subsidiaries are shown at cost less any provision for impairment. Any monies paid to subsidiaries are deemed to 
be a capital contribution.

Current income tax
The credit for current income tax is based on the results for the year, adjusted for items which are non-assessable or disallowed. 
It is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the financial year end.

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

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the 
temporary differences can be utilised.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method, less loss allowance. The Group assesses, on a forward-looking basis, the expected credit losses 
associated with its trade and other receivables carried at amortised cost. The impairment methodology applied depends on 
whether there has been a significant increase in credit risk.

Bank deposits, cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the Group and Parent Company statements of cash flows and the Group and Parent Company 
statements of financial position include cash in hand and deposits held on call with banks with original maturities of three 
months or less. Bank deposits with original maturities in excess of three months are classed as investments and measured at 
amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Bank deposits with maturities between four and twelve months are 
disclosed within current assets and those with maturities greater than twelve months are disclosed within non-current assets.

Trade and other payables
These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the end of the financial year which 
are unpaid. The amounts are unsecured and are, when correctly submitted, usually paid within 30 days of recognition. Trade 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com61

and other payables are presented as current liabilities unless payment is not due within 12 months after the reporting period. 
They are recognised initially at their fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest 
method.

Capital redemption reserve
Section 733 of the Companies Act 2006 provides that where shares of a company are redeemed or purchased wholly out of the 
Company’s profits, or by a fresh issue, the amount by which the Company’s issued share capital is diminished on cancellation 
of the shares shall be transferred to a reserve called the “capital redemption reserve”. It also provides that the reduction of the 
Company’s share capital shall be treated as if the capital redemption reserve were paid-up capital of the Company.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has an obligation as a result of past events, for which it is probable that an outflow 
of resources will be required to settle the obligation and the amount can be reliably estimated. 

Contractual milestone payments
The Group is expected to incur future contractual milestone payments linked to the future development of its therapeutic 
programmes. These costs will be recognised as and when a contractual milestone is expected to be achieved.

Accounting developments
The following new standards, new interpretations and amendments to standards and interpretations are applicable for the first 
time for the financial year ended 31 March 2019. None of them have any impact on the financial statements of the Group:

•  IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” (effective 1 January 2018);

•  IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (effective 1 January 2018);

•  Clarifications to IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (effective 1 January 2018);

•  Annual improvements to IFRS Standards 2014-2016 Cycle (effective 1 January 2018);

•  Amendments to IFRS 2 “Classification and Measurement of Share Based Payment Transactions” (effective 1 January 2018); 

and

•  IFRIC Interpretation 22 “Foreign Currency Translation and Advance Consideration” (effective 1 January 2018).

There are a number of new standards, interpretations and amendments to existing standards that are not yet effective and 
have not been adopted early by the Group. The future introduction of these standards, with the exception of IFRS 16 Leases is 
not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements of the Group.

•  IFRS 16 Leases (effective 1 January 2019);

•  Amendments to IFRS 9 Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation (effective 1 January 2019);

•  IFRIC Interpretation 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments (effective 1 January 2019); and

•  Annual improvements to IFRS 2015-17 cycle (effective 1 January 2019).

IFRS 16 “Leases” is effective for accounting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2019. The Group will apply the 
standard for the first time for the year ending 31 March 2020. IFRS 16 represents a fundamental change in lease accounting 
for lessees, because, with the exception of leases of less than 12 months duration and leases of low value assets, all leases are 
brought on balance sheet. The impact of this, had the Group applied IFRS 16 for the year ended 31 March 2019, is as follows:

Right of use asset

Accruals

Lease creditor

Reduction in reserves

2019
£’000

696

170

(1,030)

(164)

The right of use asset represents the economic value of the Group’s enjoyment of the assets and is amortised over the life 
of the lease. The lease creditor is the value of the minimum lease payment, discounted at the rate implicit in the lease. The 
adjustment to accruals reflects the reversal of the existing treatment under IAS 17.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS62

Notes to the financial statements continued

The estimated impact of the depreciation charge in respect of the right of use asset and the interest charge on the lease 
creditor is as follows:

Depreciation charge

Interest charge

2019
£’000

101

39

The operating lease costs relative to the above for 2018-19 were £89,000. Under IFRS 16 these are no longer charged to the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income.

3. Going concern
The Group is expected to incur significant further costs as it continues to develop its therapies and technologies through 
clinical development. The operation of the Group is currently being financed from funds that have been raised from share 
placings, commercial partnerships and grants and the Directors are currently considering a number of options for further 
funding of the Company’s ongoing clinical programmes.

After making enquiries, the Directors expect that the Group’s current financial resources can, where appropriate, be managed 
such that they will be sufficient to support operations for at least the next 12 months from the date of these financial 
statements. The Group therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in the preparation of these financial statements.

4. Segment analysis
The Group has identified the Chief Executive Officer as the chief operating decision maker (CODM). The CODM manages the 
business as one segment, the development of cell-based therapies, and activities and assets are predominantly based in the 
UK. Since this is the only reporting segment, no further information is included. The information used internally by the CODM 
is the same as that disclosed in the financial statements.

5. Revenue: royalty income
Revenue represents income received from royalties arising from collaborations with third parties. The Group’s revenue derives 
wholly from assets in the UK. All revenue is derived from customers in the US.

6. Other income

Government grants

Exclusivity fee

Total

2019
£’000

778

1,893

2,671

2018
£’000

854

–

854

The non-refundable exclusivity fee was received from an interested party relating to the potential out-licensing of the Group’s 
hRPC retinal technology.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com7. Operating expenses

Loss before income tax is stated after charging:

Research and development costs:

Employee benefits (note 11)

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (note 14)

Operating lease charges – computer equipment

Other expenses
Total research and development costs

General and administrative costs:

Employee benefits (note 11)

Legal and professional fees

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (note 14)

Operating lease charges – land and buildings

Other expenses
Total general and administrative costs

Total research and development costs and general and administrative costs

During the year the Group obtained services from the Group’s auditors and its associates as detailed below:

Services provided by the Group’s auditors
Fees payable to the Group’s auditors: 

– for the audit of the Parent Company and consolidated financial statements

– for the audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

– audit related assurance services

– advisory services
Total

8. Finance income

Interest receivable on short-term and investment bank deposits

Foreign exchange gains

Total

9. Finance expenses

Foreign exchange losses

2019
£’000

22

23

3

65

113

2019
£’000

291

812

1,103

2019
£’000

–

63

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

4,712

208

16

11,319

16,255

2,300

1,304

74

163

906

4,747

21,002

4,795

154

–

11,708

16,657

2,071

949

78

176

1,342

4,616

21,273

2018
£’000

20

23

30

48

121

2018
£’000

320

–

320

2018
£’000

911

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
64

Notes to the financial statements continued

10. Directors’ emoluments
The Directors of the Company have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the 
Group and they therefore comprise key management personnel as defined by IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’.

Aggregate emoluments of Directors:

Salaries and other short-term employee benefits

Pension contributions

Share-based payments

Directors’ emoluments including share-based payments

2019
£’000

1,042

51

1,093

570

1,663

2018
£’000

902

46

948

525

1,473

Two Directors (2018: two) had retirement benefits accruing to them under defined contribution pension schemes in respect of 
qualifying services.

None of the Directors exercised share options during the year nor in the previous year.

For detailed disclosure of Directors’ emoluments, including highest paid Director, please refer to the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report on pages 41 to 48.

Directors’ emoluments include amounts payable to third parties as described in note 28.

11. Employee information
The monthly average number of persons (including Executive Directors) employed by the Group during the year was:

By activity:

Research and development

Administration

Group

Staff costs:

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Share-based payment charge

Other pension costs

2019
Number

2018
Number

49

10

59

2019
£’000

5,162

572

1,040

238

7,012

52

10

62

2018
£’000

4,927

574

1,127

238

6,866

The Company holds the employment contracts for the two Executive Directors (2018: two) but all employee costs relating to 
these individuals are incurred by ReNeuron Limited.

The Group operates defined contribution pension schemes for UK employees and Directors. The assets of the schemes are 
held in separate funds and are administered independently of the Group. The total pension cost during the year was £238,000 
(2018: £238,000). There were no prepaid or accrued contributions to the scheme at the year end (2018: £Nil).

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
65

12. Income tax credit

UK research and development tax credit at 14.5% (2018: 14.5%)

No corporation tax liability arises on the results for the year due to the loss incurred. 

2019
£’000

2,887

2018
£’000

3,352

As a loss-making small and medium-sized enterprise, the Group is entitled to research and development tax credits at 14.5% 
(2018: 14.5%) on 230% (2018: 230%) of qualifying expenditure for the year to 31 March 2019.

The tax credit compares with the loss for the year as follows:

Loss before income tax

Loss before income tax multiplied by the main rate of corporation tax of 19% (2018: 19%)
Effects of:

– difference between depreciation and capital allowances

– expenses not deductible for tax purposes

– losses not recognised

– overseas losses utilised

– adjustments in respect of prior year
Tax credit

2019
£’000

17,179

3,264

(2)

(197)

(302)

5

119

2018
£’000

20,967

3,984

20

(220)

(774)

–

342

2,887

3,352

No deferred tax asset has been recognised by the Group or Company as there are currently no foreseeable trading profits. 

The potential deferred tax assets/(liabilities) of the Group are as follows:

Tax effect of timing differences because of:

Accelerated capital allowances

Short-term timing differences not recognised

Losses carried forward

The potential deferred tax assets of the Company are as follows:

Tax effect of timing differences because of:

Losses carried forward

13. Basic and diluted loss per Ordinary share

Amount not 
recognised
2019
£’000

Amount not
recognised
2018
£’000

10

–

16,058

16,068

6

85

14,408

14,499

Amount not 
recognised
2019
£’000

Amount not
recognised
2018
£’000

921

868

The basic and diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss for the financial year of £14,292,000 (2018: £17,615,000) 
by 31,646,186 shares (2018: 31,646,186 shares), being the weighted average number of 1 pence Ordinary shares in issue 
during the year.

Potential Ordinary shares are not treated as dilutive as the entity is loss making.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
66

Notes to the financial statements continued

14. Property, plant and equipment

Group
Cost

At 1 April 2017

Additions 
At 31 March 2018

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 April 2017

Charge for the year
At 31 March 2018

Net book amount

At 31 March 2018

Cost

At 1 April 2018

Additions 

Disposals
At 31 March 2019

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 April 2018

Charge for the year

Disposals
At 31 March 2019

Net book amount

At 31 March 2019

Plant and
equipment
£’000

Computer
equipment
£’000

Total
£’000

1,205

234

1,439

481

232

713

726

1,439

188

(183)

1,444

713

282

(183)

812

250

49

299

172

60

232

67

299

19

(132)

186

232

60

(132)

160

26

632

955

185

1,140

309

172

481

659

1,140

169

(51)

1,258

481

222

(51)

652

606

The figures stated above include plant and equipment held under finance leases at cost of £Nil (2018: £3,000), depreciation of 
£Nil (2018: £2,000) and net book value of £Nil (2018: £1,000).

The Company had no property, plant or equipment at 31 March 2019 (2018: £Nil).

15. Intangible assets

Group
At 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019

Cost

Accumulated amortisation and impairment
Net book amount at 31 March 2018 and 31 March 2019

The Company holds no intangible assets (2018: £Nil).

Intellectual
property
rights not
amortised
£’000

6,143

(6,143)

–

Licence
fees
£’000

2,070

(1,884)

186

Total
£’000

8,213

(8,027)

186

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16. Investment in subsidiaries
Company

Net book amount

At the start of the year

Increased investment in subsidiaries

Capital contribution arising from share-based payments
Net book amount at 31 March 

67

2019
£’000

103,225

9,230

170

2018
£’000

91,337

11,648

240

112,625

103,225

The Company has invested in ReNeuron Limited to allow it to carry on the trade of the Group. A capital contribution arises 
where share-based payments are provided to employees of subsidiary undertakings settled with equity to be issued by the 
Company.

Taking into account the market capitalisation of the Group, the prospect of its therapies and the investor appetite for this 
sector, there has been no impairment to investments in subsidiaries in the year.

The Company’s investments comprise interests in Group undertakings, details of which are shown below:

Name of undertaking

Country of incorporation

Description of shares held

Proportion of nominal value of 
shares held by the Company

ReNeuron 
Holdings 
Limited

England  
and Wales

£0.10  
Ordinary 
shares

ReNeuron Limited

England  
and Wales

£0.001  
Ordinary 
shares

£0.10  
Ordinary 
shares

ReNeuron (UK) 
Limited

ReNeuron, Inc.

ReNeuron 
Ireland Limited

England  
and Wales

£0.10  
Ordinary 
shares

Delaware,  
USA

$0.001  
Common  
stock

Republic  
of Ireland

€1 
Ordinary 
shares

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

ReNeuron Limited is the principal trading company in the Group. ReNeuron Inc. employs staff who supervise the Group’s 
clinical trials in the USA. The other subsidiaries are dormant.

ReNeuron Limited, ReNeuron Holdings Limited and ReNeuron, Inc. are held directly by ReNeuron Group plc. ReNeuron (UK) 
Limited is held directly by ReNeuron Holdings Limited. ReNeuron Ireland Limited is held directly by ReNeuron Limited. The 
registered office address for the UK subsidiaries is Pencoed Business Park, Pencoed, Bridgend CF35 5HY. The registered office 
addresses of the non-UK subsidiaries are: 

•  ReNeuron Inc., 155 Federal Street, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02110, USA; and 

•  ReNeuron Ireland Limited, The Black Church, St Mary’s Place, Dublin 7, D07 P4AX, Ireland.

ReNeuron Ireland Limited has been incorporated to enable the Group to maintain a presence in the EU after the United 
Kingdom’s exit, and to mitigate the risks and uncertainties surrounding the final outcome of the exit negotiations.

17. Trade and other receivables

Current

Other receivables

Prepayments and accrued income

Total trade and other receivables

Group

Company

2019
£’000

400

475

875

2018
£’000

330

955

1,285

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

20

–

20

73

–

73

The classes within trade and other receivables do not include impaired assets.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
68

Notes to the financial statements continued

18. Investments – bank deposits

Bank deposits maturing:

Four to twelve months: current asset investments

19. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand

20. Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Taxation and social security

Accruals and deferred income

Amounts owed to Group undertakings
Total payables falling due within one year

Group

Company

2019
£’000

5,954

2018
£’000

9,500

2019
£’000

5,954

2018
£’000

9,500

Group

Company

2019
£’000

20,432

2018
£’000

27,911

2019
£’000

19,083

2018
£’000

25,026

Group

Company

2019
£’000

2,546

131

4,753

–

7,430

2018
£’000

1,924

186

3,839

–

5,949

2019
£’000

3

–

–

5,487

5,490

2018
£’000

3

–

–

5,487

5,490

Amounts owed by the Company to Group undertakings are not interest-bearing and have no fixed repayment date. 

21. Financial risk management
Capital management
The Group’s key objective in managing its capital is to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern. In particular it 
has sought and obtained equity funding alongside non-dilutive grant support commercial partnerships and collaborations to 
pursue its programmes. The Group strives to optimise the balance of cash spend between research and development and 
general and administrative expenses and, in so doing, maximise progress for all pipeline products.

Risk
The financial risks faced by the Group include liquidity and credit risk, interest rate risk and foreign currency risk.

Liquidity and credit risk
The Group seeks to maximise the returns from funds held on deposit balanced with the need to safeguard the assets of the 
business. 

The agreed policy is to invest surplus cash in interest-bearing current/liquidity accounts and term deposits and to spread the 
credit risk across a number of counterparties, the selection criteria being as follows:

•  UK-based banks;

•  minimum credit rating with Fitch and/or Moody’s (long-term A-/A3; short-term F1/P-1); and

•  familiar and respected names.

At 31 March 2019 and 31 March 2018 no current asset receivables were aged over three months. No receivables were 
impaired or discounted.

Ageing profile of the Group’s and the Company’s financial liabilities
The Group’s and the Company’s financial liabilities consist of:

Trade and other payables due within three months

Group

Company

2019
£’000

7,299

2018
£’000

5,763

2019
£’000

5,490

2018
£’000

5,490

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com69

Interest rate risk
A portion of the Group’s cash resources are placed on fixed deposit, with a maximum original term of 24 months, to secure 
fixed and higher interest rates. The Directors do not currently consider it necessary to use derivative financial instruments to 
hedge the Group’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.

Foreign currency risk
The Group holds part of its cash resources in US Dollars and Euros to cover payments committed in the immediate future. At 
31 March 2019 cash and bank deposits of £13,216,000 (2018: £15,424,000) were held in these currencies. Creditors of the 
Group include £1,162,000 (2018: £347,000) denominated in US Dollars and £761,000 (2018: £443,000) denominated in Euros. 
All of the Group’s receivables are denominated in Pounds Sterling. 

At 31 March 2019, if Pounds Sterling had weakened/strengthened by 5% against the US Dollar with all other variables held 
constant, the recalculated post-tax loss for the year would have been £414,000 (2018: £728,000) higher/lower. 

At 31 March 2019, if Pounds Sterling had weakened/strengthened by 5% against the Euro with all other variables held 
constant, the recalculated post-tax loss for the year would have been £21,000 (2018: £6,000) higher/lower. 

The Group has not entered into forward currency contracts.

Currency profile of the Group’s and the Company’s cash and cash equivalents

Currency

Pounds Sterling 

US Dollars

Euros

Group

Company

2019
£’000

10,481

9,417

534

20,432

2018
£’000

12,487

14,867

557

27,911

2019
£’000

10,199

8,539

345

19,083

Currency profile of the Group’s and the Company’s bank deposit investments

Currency

Pounds Sterling 

US Dollars

Group

Company

2019
£’000

2,500

3,454

5,954

2018
£’000

9,500

–

9,500

2019
£’000

2,500

3,454

5,954

2018
£’000

10,566

13,903

557

25,026

2018
£’000

9,500

–

9,500

Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities
The following table provides a comparison by category of the carrying amounts and the fair value of the Group’s and the 
Company’s financial assets and liabilities at 31 March. Fair value is the amount at which a financial instrument could be 
exchanged in an arm’s length transaction between informed and willing parties, other than a forced or liquidation sale, and 
excludes accrued interest. 

Group

Investments – bank deposits

Cash at bank and in hand

Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments

Trade and other payables excluding accruals and deferred income

Company

Investments – bank deposits

Cash at bank and in hand

Receivables: current

Trade and other payables

2019

2018

Book value
£’000

Fair value
£’000

Book value
£’000

Fair value
£’000

5,954

20,432

400

2,546

5,954

20,432

400

2,546

9,500

27,911

330

1,924

9,500

27,911

330

1,924

2019

2018

Book value
£’000

Fair value
£’000

Book value
£’000

Fair value
£’000

5,954

19,083

20

5,490

5,954

19,083

20

5,490

9,500

25,026

73

5,490

9,500

25,026

73

5,490

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
70

Notes to the financial statements continued

22. Share capital

Authorised

Issued and fully paid  
31,646,186 Ordinary shares of 1.0 pence each (2018: 31,646,186 of 1.0 pence each)

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

Unlimited

Unlimited

316

316

During the year to 31 March 2019, no Ordinary shares were issued as a result of the exercise of options awarded under the 
Group’s share option schemes (2018: Nil). However, since the year end, a number of employees have exercised share options 
and 158,431 new Ordinary shares of 1.0 pence each have been issued. Accordingly, at the date of signature of these financial 
statements the authorised issued and fully paid share capital was 31,804,617 Ordinary shares of 1.0 pence each with a nominal 
value of £318,046.

23. Warrants
Warrant instrument with Novavest Growth Fund Limited
Novavest Growth Fund Limited has the right to subscribe for 58,239 ReNeuron Limited Ordinary shares at a price of £17.16 
per Ordinary share. Pursuant to a put/call agreement dated 6 November 2000, on exercise of such warrant, shares acquired by 
Novavest in ReNeuron Limited will be exchanged for 582,390 Ordinary shares of ReNeuron (UK) Limited. The Company intends 
in due course to enter into an agreement with Novavest whereby, if the warrant is exercised, the ReNeuron Limited shares 
acquired by Novavest are exchanged directly for 5,823 Ordinary shares of the Company.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com71

24. Share options
The Group operates share option schemes for Directors and employees of Group companies and specific consultants. Options 
have been issued through a combination of an Inland Revenue-approved Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) scheme and 
Company Share Option Scheme (“CSOP”) together with unapproved schemes. Incentive Stock Options are provided to US staff.

Awards to Non-Executive Directors are made in accordance with the Group’s Non-Executive Share Option Scheme.

The awards of share options to Executive Directors and employees of the Group are made in accordance with the Group’s 
previous Deferred Share-based Bonus Plan, its Long Term Incentive Plans and US Incentive Stock Option Plan. Total options 
existing over 1.0 pence Ordinary shares in companies in the Group as at 31 March 2019 are summarised below. At 31 March 
2019, the total outstanding options represented 9.54% of the total shares in issue.

Number of 
options at
1 April 2018

Granted
during
the year

As at
31 March

2019 Note

Exercise 
price

Date from which
exercisable*

Date of grant

August 2009

August 2009

August 2009

August 2010

August 2010

September 2011

September 2011

September 2012

September 2012

September 2013

September 2013

September 2014

September 2014

October 2015

October 2015

July 2016

July 2016

July 2016

July 2016

September 2017

September 2017

September 2017

September 2018

September 2018

September 2018

September 2018

February 2019

February 2019

Lapsed
during
the year

(5,866)

–

–

(3,196)

(3,319)

(4,800)

(3,119)

(5,752)

(3,500)

(5,000)

(4,090)

(9,000)

(4,000)

(7,500)

(77,575)

–

–

(3,000)

(16,500)

10,101

3,478

17,136

9,268

36,222

21,600

44,537

26,574

64,261

31,450

75,387

52,250

247,343

37,250

434,749

467,664

42,500

15,000

50,500

–

328,332

(24,000)

–

–

–

–

(4,500)

–

84,500

30,000

106,200

383,339

161,582

86,500

18,000

–

132,000
(184,717) 3,017,723

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

106,200

383,339

161,582

91,000

18,000

132,000

892,121

15,967

3,478

17,136

12,464

39,541

26,400

47,656

32,326

67,761

36,450

79,477

61,250

251,343

44,750

512,324

467,664

42,500

18,000

67,000

328,332

108,500

30,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

August 2012

August 2011

August 2012

August 2013

August 2013

Date of expiry †

August 2019

August 2019

August 2019

August 2020

August 2020

September 2014

September 2021

September 2014

September 2021

September 2015

September 2022

September 2015

September 2022

September 2016

September 2023

September 2016

September 2023

September 2017

September 2024

September 2017

September 2024

October 2018

October 2025

October 2018

October 2025

July 2019

July 2018

August 2016

July 2019

July 2026

July 2026

July 2026

July 2026

July 2020

September 2027

July 2020

September 2027

October 2017

September 2027

October 2018

September 2028

September 2021

September 2028

September 2020

September 2028

£4.22

£1.00

£1.00

£3.85

£1.00

£3.75

£1.00

£2.87

£1.00

£3.60

£1.00

£3.45

£1.00

£1.00

£1.00

£1.00

£1.00

£1.00

£1.00

£1.00

£1.00

£1.00

£0.01

£0.01

£0.68

£0.01  September 2021

September 2028

£0.53

£0.01

February 2021

February 2029

February 2022

February 2029

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

25

27

Total

2,310,319

*   The exercise periods indicate the earliest dates for which the options are exercisable subject to meeting the performance conditions disclosed overleaf. 

†      All options lapse in full if they are not exercised by the date of expiry.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
72

Notes to the financial statements continued

Note 1:

These options were issued subject to a performance condition, being the first patient administered with a ReNeuron cell 
therapy in a second clinical trial; at 31 March 2019 these options were exercisable. 

Note 2:

These options have been issued in accordance with the Group’s Deferred Share-based Bonus Plan in respect of corporate 
and personal objectives achieved in the financial year ending 31 March 2009 and carry no further performance conditions; 
at 31 March 2019 these options were exercisable.

Note 3:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the performance 
conditions below; at 31 March 2019 these options were exercisable.

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a second clinical trial.

ii)  The total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company must exceed that of the FTSE All-Share Pharmaceutical and 

Biotechnology Index in any given three-year period from date of grant. Where the TSR ranks between median and upper 
quartile of the Index over the three-year period, the options will vest pro rata between 25% and 100%. Where the TSR 
ranks below the median in the performance period, no options will vest.

iii) The business must have operated within its internal financial budgets throughout the period to vesting.

iv) The business must be a going concern (under the accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise of an option.

Note 4:

These options were issued subject to a performance condition, being the successful completion of a second clinical trial of a 
ReNeuron cell therapy. At 31 March 2019, these options were exercisable.

Note 5:

These options were issued subject to the amended performance conditions below. If all the performance conditions bar 
performance condition (ii) are met then 50% of the options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of these options were 
exercisable.

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a second clinical trial.

ii)  The total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company meets or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-year 

period from date of grant of the option.

iii) The business must have operated within its internal financial budgets throughout the period to vesting. 

iv) The business must be a going concern (under the accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise of an option.

Note 6:

These options were issued subject to a performance condition, being the first patient administered with a ReNeuron cell 
therapy in a third clinical trial; at 31 March 2019 these options were exercisable.

Note 7:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the amended 
performance conditions set out below. If all the performance conditions bar performance condition (ii) are met then 50% of the 
options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of these options were exercisable.

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a third clinical trial.

ii)  The total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company meets or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-year 

period from date of grant of the option.

iii) The business must have operated within its internal financial budgets throughout the period to vesting. 

iv) The business must be a going concern (under the accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise of an option.

Note 8:

These options were issued subject to a performance condition, being the first patient administered with a ReNeuron cell 
therapy in a fourth clinical trial; at 31 March 2019 these options were exercisable.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com73

Note 9:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the amended 
performance conditions set out below. If all the performance conditions bar performance condition (ii) are met then 50% of the 
options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of these options were exercisable.

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a fourth clinical trial.

ii)  The total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company meets or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-year 

period from date of grant of the option.

iii) The business must have operated within its internal financial budgets throughout the period to vesting. 

iv) The business must be a going concern (under the accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise of an option.

Note 10:

These options were issued subject to a performance condition, being the first patient administered with a ReNeuron cell 
therapy in a fifth clinical trial; at 31 March 2019, these options were exercisable.

Note 11:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the amended 
performance conditions set out below. If all the performance conditions bar performance condition (ii) are met then 50% of the 
options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of these options were exercisable.

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a fifth clinical trial.

ii)  The total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company meets or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-year 

period from date of grant of the option.

iii) The business must have operated within its internal financial budgets throughout the period to vesting.

iv) The business must be a going concern (under the accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise of an option.

Note 12:

These options were issued subject to a performance condition, being the first patient administered with a ReNeuron cell 
therapy in a sixth clinical trial; at 31 March 2019, these options were exercisable.

Note 13:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the amended 
performance conditions set out below. If all the performance conditions bar performance condition (ii) are met then 50% of the 
options become exercisable; at 31 March 2019, 50% of these options were exercisable.

i)  The first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a sixth clinical trial.

ii)  The total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company meets or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any three-year 

period from date of grant of the option.

iii) The business must have operated within its internal financial budgets throughout the period to vesting.

iv) The business must be a going concern (under the accepted accounting definition) at the time of any exercise of an option.

Note 14:

These options were issued subject to the performance conditions set out below; at 31 March 2019, these options were 
exercisable.

i)  50% vest when the first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a sixth clinical trial.

ii)  50% vest on completion of the fourth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy.

Note 15:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the performance 
conditions set out below; at 31 March 2019, 66.6% of these options were exercisable.

i)  33.3% vest when the first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a sixth clinical trial.

ii)  33.3% vest on completion of the fourth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy.

iii) 33.4% vest if the total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company meets or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any 

three-year period from date of grant of the option.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS74

Notes to the financial statements continued

Note 16:

These options were awarded in accordance with the Group’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the performance 
conditions set out below; at 31 March 2019 these options were not exercisable.

i)  33.3% vest when the first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a seventh clinical trial.

ii)  33.3% vest on completion of the fifth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy.

iii) 33.4% vest if the total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company meets or exceeds that of the AIM Healthcare Index in any 

three-year period from date of grant of the option.

Note 17:

These options have been issued in accordance with the Group’s Deferred Share-based Bonus Plan in respect of corporate and 
personal objectives achieved in the financial year ended 31 March 2016 and carry no further performance conditions;  
at 31 March 2019 these options were exercisable.

Note 18:

These options have been issued in accordance with the Non-executive Share Option Scheme. These share options vest over 
three years on a straight-line basis and are not subject to performance conditions; at 31 March 2019, 88.88% of these options 
were exercisable.

Note 19:

These options were issued subject to the performance conditions set out below; at 31 March 2019, these options were not 
exercisable.

i)  50% vest when the first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in a seventh clinical trial.

ii)  50% vest on completion of the fifth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy.

Note 20:

These options were issued subject to the performance conditions set out below. At 31 March 2019, these options were not 
exercisable.

i)  33.3% vest when the first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in an eighth clinical trial.

ii)  33.3% vest on completion of the sixth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy.

iii) 33.4% vest if the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of the Company meets or exceeds that of the FTSE AIM Healthcare 

Index in any three-year period from the date of grant of the option.

Note 21:

These options were issued subject to the performance conditions set out below. At 31 March 2019, these options were not 
exercisable.

i)  50% vest when the first patient is administered with a ReNeuron cell therapy in an eighth clinical trial.

ii)  50% vest on completion of the sixth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy. 

Note 22:

These options have been issued in accordance with the Non-executive Share Option Scheme. These share options vest over 
three years on a straight-line basis and are not subject to performance conditions; at 31 March 2019, 50.00% of these options 
were exercisable.

Note 23:

These options have been issued in accordance with the Non-executive Share Option Scheme. These share options vest over 
three years on a straight-line basis and are not subject to performance conditions; at 31 March 2019, 16.66% of these options 
were exercisable.

Note 24:

These options were issued under the Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the performance conditions set 
out below. At 31 March 2019, these options were not exercisable.

i)  33.3% vest when the Company signs an out-licensing deal (or deals) for any of its technologies or programmes which 

provides sufficient funding to the allow the achievement of clinical proof of concept data for the CTX and hRPC products.

ii)  33.3% vest when the sixth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy completes.

iii) 33.4% vest if the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) of the Company meets or exceeds that of the FTSE AIM Healthcare 

Index in any three-year period from the date of grant of the option.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com75

Some of these options (186,145 as at 31 March 2019) will be exercisable at the option holder’s choice either as a tax 
advantaged option at an exercise price of 68p, or alternatively as a non-tax advantaged option with an exercise price of 1p.

Note 25:

These options were issued under the Company’s US ISO Scheme and are subject to the performance conditions set out below. 
At 31 March 2019, these options were not exercisable.

i)  50% vest when the Company signs an out-licensing deal (or deals) for any of its technologies or programmes which 

provides sufficient funding to the allow the achievement of clinical proof of concept data for the CTX and hRPC products.

ii)  50% vest when the sixth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy completes.

iii) A maximum of $100,000 across all ISO grants, based upon market value at the date of grant, is exercisable per employee 

in a calendar year.

Note 26:

These options were issued under the Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the performance conditions set 
out below. At 31 March 2019, these options were not exercisable.

i)  50% vest when the Company signs an out-licensing deal (or deals) for any of its technologies or programmes which 

provides sufficient funding to the allow the achievement of clinical proof of concept data for the CTX and hRPC products.

ii)  50% vest when the sixth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy completes. 

These options will be exercisable at the option holder’s choice either as a tax advantaged option with an exercise price of 68p, 
or alternatively as a non-tax advantaged option with an exercise price of 1p.

Note 27:

These options were issued under the Company’s Long Term Incentive Plan and are subject to the performance conditions set 
out below. At 31 March 2019, these options were not exercisable.

i)  50% vest when the Company signs an out-licensing deal (or deals) for any of its technologies or programmes which 

provides sufficient funding to the allow the achievement of clinical proof of concept data for the CTX and hRPC products.

ii)  50% vest when the sixth clinical trial of a ReNeuron cell therapy completes. 

These options will be exercisable at the option holder’s choice either as a tax advantaged option at an exercise price of 53p, or 
alternatively as a non-tax advantaged option with an exercise price of 1p. 

Fair value charge
Fair value charges for share options have been prepared based on a Black-Scholes model with the following key assumptions:

Date of grant

September 2014

September 2014

October 2015

July 2016

September 2017

September 2018 UK Plan

September 2018 US ISO plan

February 2019 UK Plan 

February 2019 US ISO Plan

Exercise
price
£

Share price
at date of 
grant
£

Risk-free
rate
%

Assumed
time to 
exercise
Years

Assumed
volatility
%

Fair value
per option
£

3.45

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

0.01*

0.68

0.01*

0.53

3.45

3.60

4.125

3.00

1.70

0.68

0.68

0.53

0.53

2.54

2.54

1.74

0.80

1.34

1.60

1.60

1.18

1.18

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

61.3

61.3

58.3

58.4

50.4

58.9

58.9

57.7

57.7

1.85

2.74

3.37

2.25

1.01

0.67

0.35

0.52

0.26

*   Certain of these non-tax advantaged options were issued in parallel with tax advantaged CSOP options, either of which lapses upon the exercise of the other.

The risk-free rate is taken from the average yields on government gilt edged stock. No dividends are assumed. The assumed 
vesting period is four years. No lapses are assumed until they take place. Assumed volatility is based on historical experience 
up to the date of the grant.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS76

Notes to the financial statements continued

The weighted average exercise prices for options were as follows:

Outstanding at 1 April

Granted

Lapsed

Outstanding at 31 March

Exercisable at 31 March

2019

2018

Number of 
options
’000

Weighted 
average 
exercise price
£

Number of 
options
’000

Weighted 
average 
exercise price
£

2,310

892

(185)

3,017

821

1.20

0.14

1.45

0.83

1.44

2,004

528

(222)

2,310

454

1.58

1.00

4.14

1.20

1.69

The share price on 31 March 2019 was 102.5 pence (2018: 86 pence).

The pattern of exercise price and life is shown below:

2019

Weighted average  
remaining life (years)

2018

Weighted average  
remaining life (years)

Range  
of exercise  
prices

Weighted 
average 
exercise price

£1.00

Up to £10.00

Total

0.69

3.50

Number of 
options

2,866,480

151,243

3,017,723

25. Cash used in operations

Expected

Contractual

2.25

2.71

7.56

3.88

Weighted 
average 
exercise price

1.00

3.51

Number of 
options

2,125,462

184,857

2,310,319

Expected

Contractual

1.55

1.44

7.65

4.76

Loss before income tax

Adjustments for:

Finance income

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Share-based payment charges

Finance expense

Changes in working capital:

Receivables

Payables

Cash used in operations

Group

Company

Year ended 
31 March 
2019 
£’000

Year ended 
31 March 
2018 
£’000

Year ended 
31 March 
2019 
£’000

Year ended 
31 March 
2018 
£’000

(17,179)

(20,967)

(1,182)

(2,928)

(1,103)

282

1,040

–

358

1,481

(320)

232

1,127

911

(289)

62

(1,103)

–

870

–

–

–

(320)

– 

887

911

– 

– 

(15,121)

(19,244)

(1,415)

(1,450)

26. Financial commitments
The future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Not later than one year

Later than one year and no later than five years

Later than five years

Total lease commitments

Group

2019
£’000

182

677

307

1,166

2018
£’000

33

659

472

1,164

The operating lease commitment is in respect of the lease of offices and laboratories in Pencoed. The ten-year lease was 
signed by the Company with the Welsh Ministers on 11 February 2016 for the offices and laboratory space in new premises in 
Pencoed, South Wales, with the initial rent being reduced over the first three years.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com77

An agreement for lease entered into on 31 March 2014 remains in force but has subsequently been varied in supplemental 
agreements and is currently under review. Pursuant to this agreement and supplemental agreements, on satisfactory 
completion of a GMP production facility, a new lease will be entered into over c.25,700 sq ft for offices, laboratories and the 
GMP production facility at the premises in Pencoed.

The Company had no other financial commitments at 31 March 2019 (2018: £Nil).

The Group is expected to incur future contractual milestone payments linked to the future development of its therapeutic 
programmes. These costs will be recognised when each contractual milestone has been achieved.

27. Contingent liabilities 
The Group had no contingent liabilities as at 31 March 2019 (2018: £Nil).

28. Related party disclosures
The following transactions were carried out with some of the Directors of the Company who are key management personnel as 
defined by IAS 24 “Related Party Disclosures”.

Aesclepius Consulting Limited charged fees of £19,000 (2018: £11,875) in respect of services provided as a Non-executive Director 
by Dr Tim Corn, together with £2,750 (2018: £Nil) relating to consultancy services provided on an arm’s length basis by Dr Tim Corn.

Biomedicon Limited charged fees of £Nil (2018: £15,214) in respect of services provided as a Non-executive Director by Dr Paul Harper. 

Parent Company and subsidiaries
The Parent Company is responsible for financing and setting Group strategy. ReNeuron Limited carries out the Group strategy, 
employs all UK-based staff, excluding the Directors, and owns and manages all of the Group’s intellectual property. Funds are 
passed by the Parent Company when required to ReNeuron Limited and treated as an investment. ReNeuron Limited makes 
payments including the expenses of the Parent Company. ReNeuron Inc. employs US-based staff who supervise the Group’s 
clinical trials in the USA. ReNeuron Limited finances the activities of ReNeuron Inc. via investments in the US subsidiary.

Company: transactions with subsidiaries

Purchases and staff:  
Parent Company expenses paid by subsidiary

Transactions involving Parent Company shares:  
Share options

Cash management:  
Capital contribution to subsidiary

Company

Year-end balance of investment in subsidiary

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

1,347

1,046

170

240

9,230

2019
£’000

109,038

11,648

2018
£’000

99,638

29. Events after the reporting period
On 9 April 2019, ReNeuron Limited signed an exclusive licensing agreement (“the Agreement”) with Shanghai Fosun 
Pharmaceutical Development Co. Ltd (“Fosun Pharma”), a subsidiary of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. for 
the development, manufacture and commercialisation of ReNeuron’s CTX and hRPC cell therapy programmes (“the Licensed 
Products”) in the People’s Republic of China (“China”).

Under the terms of the Agreement, Fosun Pharma will fully fund the development of ReNeuron’s CTX and hRPC cell therapy 
programmes in China including clinical development and subsequent commercialisation activities. Fosun Pharma has also been 
granted rights to manufacture the Licensed Products in China. 

In May 2019, ReNeuron received an initial Licensing Fee of £6.0 million before withholding tax.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS78

Notice of annual general meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual general meeting of ReNeuron Group plc (incorporated and registered in England 
and Wales with registered no. 5474163) (the “Company”) will be held at the offices of Covington & Burling LLP, 265 Strand, 
London WC2R 1BH on 12 September 2019 at 10.00 a.m. to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, of which 
Resolutions 1 to 6 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and Resolution 7 will be proposed as a special resolution.

Ordinary business
1.  To receive and adopt the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2019 and the 

Directors’ Report, and the Independent Auditors’ Report on those accounts.

2.  To reappoint as a Director Simon Cartmell OBE, who is retiring by rotation in accordance with Article 122 of the Company’s 

articles of association and who, being eligible, is offering himself for reappointment.

3.  To reappoint as a Director Professor Sir Chris Evans OBE, who is retiring by rotation in accordance with Article 122 of the 

Company’s articles of association and who, being eligible, is offering himself for reappointment.

4.  To reappoint as a Director Dr Mike Owen, who is retiring by rotation in accordance with Article 122 of the Company’s articles 

of association and who, being eligible, is offering himself for reappointment.

5.  To reappoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors of the Company from the conclusion of this annual general meeting 
until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company at which accounts are laid and to authorise the 
Directors to determine the remuneration of the auditors.

Special business
6.  That the Directors of the Company be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised, pursuant to Section 551 of 

the Companies Act 2006 (the “2006 Act”) to:

a)  allot Ordinary shares and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into Ordinary shares in the Company 
(all of which shares and rights are hereafter referred to as “Relevant Securities”) representing up to £106,015 in nominal 
value in aggregate of shares; and

b)  allot Relevant Securities (other than pursuant to paragraph (a) above) representing up to £106,015 in nominal value in 
aggregate of shares in connection with a rights issue, open offer, scrip dividend, scheme or other pre-emptive offer to 
holders of Ordinary shares where such issue, offer, dividend, scheme or other allotment is proportionate (as nearly as may 
be) to the respective number of Ordinary shares held by them on a fixed record date (but subject to such exclusions or 
other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient to deal with legal or practical problems under 
the laws of any overseas territory, the requirements of any regulatory body or any stock exchange in any territory, in 
relation to fractional entitlements, or any other matter which the Directors consider merits any such exclusion or other 
arrangements),

provided that in each case such authority shall expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in 
general meeting) 15 months after the date of the passing of this resolution or at the conclusion of the next annual general 
meeting of the Company following the passing of this resolution, whichever occurs first, save that the Company may before 
such expiry, variation or revocation make an offer or agreement which would or might require such Relevant Securities to be 
allotted after such expiry, variation or revocation and the Directors may allot Relevant Securities pursuant to such an offer or 
agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired or been varied or revoked.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.com79

7.  That the Directors are hereby empowered pursuant to Section 570 of the 2006 Act:

a)  subject to and conditionally upon the passing of Resolution 6 to allot equity securities (as defined by Section 560 of the 
2006 Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 6 as if Section 561 of the 2006 Act did not apply to 
such allotment; and

b)  to sell Ordinary shares if, immediately before such sale, such shares are held as treasury shares (within the meaning of 

Section 724 of the 2006 Act) as if Section 561 of the 2006 Act did not apply to such sale,

provided that such powers:

1.  shall be limited to:

i) 

ii) 

the allotment of equity securities (or sale of Ordinary shares) representing up to £106,015 in nominal value in 
aggregate of shares pursuant to the authority conferred by paragraph (b) of Resolution 6; and

the allotment of equity securities (or sale of Ordinary shares), otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) above, 
representing up to £63,609 in nominal value in aggregate of shares (and including, for the avoidance of doubt, 
in connection with the grant of options (or other rights to acquire Ordinary shares) in accordance with the rules of 
the Company’s share option schemes (as varied from time to time) or otherwise to employees, consultants and/or 
Directors of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries); and

2.  shall expire 15 months after the passing of this resolution or at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of 

the Company following the passing of this resolution, whichever occurs first, but so that the Company may before such 
expiry, revocation or variation make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted 
(or Ordinary shares to be sold) after such expiry, revocation or variation and the Directors may allot equity securities 
(or sell Ordinary shares) in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if such powers had not expired or been revoked or 
varied.

18 July 2019 
By order of the Board

Michael Hunt 
Company Secretary

Registered office 
Pencoed Business Park 
Pencoed 
Bridgend 
CF35 5HY 
United Kingdom

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019AGM80

Notice of annual general meeting continued

Notes
1)  In this Notice “Ordinary shares” shall mean Ordinary shares in the capital of the Company, having a nominal value of 1.0 

pence per share.

2)  A shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is also entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend, speak 
and vote on a show of hands and on a poll instead of him or her. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. Where 
a shareholder appoints more than one proxy, each proxy must be appointed in respect of different shares comprised in his 
or her shareholding which must be identified on the Form of Proxy. Each such proxy will have the right to vote on a poll in 
respect of the number of votes attaching to the number of shares in respect of which the proxy has been appointed. Where 
more than one joint shareholder purports to appoint a proxy in respect of the same shares, only the appointment by the 
most senior shareholder will be accepted as determined by the order in which their names appear in the Company’s register 
of members. If you wish your proxy to speak at the meeting, you should appoint a proxy other than the Chairman of the 
meeting and give your instructions to that proxy.

3)  A corporation which is a shareholder may appoint one or more corporate representatives who have one vote each on a 

show of hands and otherwise may exercise on behalf of the shareholder all of its powers as a shareholder provided that they 
do not do so in different ways in respect of the same shares.

4)  To be effective, an instrument appointing a proxy and any authority under which it is executed (or a notarially certified copy 
of such authority) must be deposited at the offices of Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, 
Bristol BS99 6ZY, by no later than 10.00 a.m. on 10 September 2019 except that should the meeting be adjourned, such 
deposit may be made not later than 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting, provided that the Directors may in 
their discretion determine that in calculating any such period no account shall be taken of any day that is not a working day. 
A Form of Proxy is enclosed with this Notice. Shareholders who intend to appoint more than one proxy may photocopy the 
Form of Proxy prior to completion. Alternatively, additional Forms of Proxy may be obtained by contacting Computershare 
Investor Services PLC on 0370 707 1272. The Forms of Proxy should be returned in the same envelope and each should 
indicate that it is one of more than one appointments being made. Completion and return of the Form of Proxy will not 
preclude shareholders from attending and voting in person at the meeting.

5)  A “Vote withheld” option has been included on the Form of Proxy. The legal effect of choosing the “Vote withheld” option 
on any resolution is that the shareholder concerned will be treated as not having voted on the relevant resolution. The 
number of votes in respect of which there are abstentions will, however, be counted and recorded, but disregarded in 
calculating the number of votes for or against each resolution.

6)  In accordance with Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, the Company specifies that only 

those shareholders registered in the register of members of the Company as at the close of business on the day which is 
two working days before the day of the meeting shall be entitled to attend or vote (whether in person or by proxy) at the 
meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their names at the relevant time. Changes after the relevant time 
will be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting. 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comExplanatory notes to the business  
of the annual general meeting

81

Resolution 1 
The Company’s Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended on 31 March 2019 and the Directors’ Report and the 
Independent Auditors’ Report on those accounts will be presented to shareholders for approval.

Resolutions 2, 3 and 4 
Article 122 of the Company’s articles of association requires that at every annual general meeting of the Company at least one 
third of the Directors for the time being (or, if their number is not a multiple of three, the number nearest to but not greater 
than one third) shall retire from office by rotation and that all Directors holding office at the start of business on the date of this 
Notice, and who also held office at the time of both of the two immediately preceding annual general meetings and did not 
retire at either such meeting, shall retire from office and shall be counted in the number required to retire at the annual general 
meeting. Having so retired by rotation in accordance with Article 122, the following Directors are standing for reappointment 
by the shareholders at the annual general meeting:

•  Simon Cartmell OBE, who is a Non-executive Director of the Company;

•  Professor Sir Chris Evans OBE, who is a Non-executive Director of the Company;

•  Dr Mike Owen, who is a Non-executive Director of the Company.

Resolution 5
At every annual general meeting at which accounts are presented to shareholders, the Company is required to appoint 
auditors to serve until the next such annual general meeting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP have confirmed that they are 
willing to continue as the Company’s auditors for the next financial year. The Company’s shareholders are asked to reappoint 
them and to authorise the Directors to determine their remuneration, which will, in accordance with the Company’s practice 
concerning good corporate governance, be subject to the recommendation of the Audit Committee.

Resolution 6
This resolution seeks to authorise the Directors to allot shares, subject to the normal pre-emption rights reserved to 
shareholders contained in the 2006 Act. The Investment Association (“IA”) regards as routine a request by a company 
seeking an annual authority to allot new shares in an amount of up to a third of the existing issued share capital. In addition, 
the IA will also regard as routine a request for authority to allot up to a further third of the existing issued share capital 
provided such additional third is reserved for fully pre-emptive rights issues. Resolution 6 seeks to reflect the spirit of the IA’s 
recommendations, though sub-paragraph (b) of Resolution 6 covers a broader range of offers, issues and allotments. The limits 
imposed under sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of Resolution 6 each represent one third of the existing issued share capital of the 
Company.

Resolution 7
Pursuant to Section 561 of the 2006 Act, existing shareholders of the Company have a right of pre-emption in relation to 
future issues of shares. Sub-paragraph (1)(i) of Resolution 7 allows the disapplication of pre-emption rights to allow the issue 
of shares to existing shareholders, for example, by way of a rights issue or open offer. The limit imposed in respect of the 
general disapplication pursuant to sub-paragraph 1(ii) of Resolution 7 represents 20% of the existing issued share capital of the 
Company. The Company is increasingly competing for capital on an international basis against other companies incorporated 
in the US and elsewhere who are not subject to allotment or pre-emption restrictions such as those applicable to the Company. 
The Directors consequently consider it important that they have the authority set out in sub-paragraph (1)(ii), which they regard 
as providing the required flexibility to allow the Company to raise funds at the appropriate time via the issue of such shares 
as efficiently as possible, on the best terms available and in a timely fashion. The authority set out in sub-paragraph (1)(ii) also 
enables the Company to issue shares in connection with the grant of options (or other rights to acquire Ordinary shares) in 
accordance with the rules of the Company’s share option schemes and more generally for other purposes. 

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019AGM82

Advisers

Company Secretary and 
registered office
Michael Hunt 
Pencoed Business Park 
Pencoed 
Bridgend 
CF35 5HY

Principal banker
Barclays Bank plc 
PO Box 326 
28 Chesterton Road 
Cambridge 
CB4 3UT

Patent agents
Elkington & Fife 
Prospect House 
6 Pembroke Road 
Sevenoaks 
TN13 1XR

Solicitors
Covington & Burling LLP 
265 Strand 
London 
WC2R 1BH

Independent auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Chartered Accountants and  
Statutory Auditors 
1 Kingsway 
Cardiff 
CF10 3PW

Nominated adviser and joint 
broker
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited 
150 Cheapside 
London 
EC2V 6ET

Joint broker
Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP 
One Bartholomew Lane 
London 
EC2N 2AX

Financial PR consultants
Buchanan 
107 Cheapside 
London 
EC2V 6DN

Registrars
Computershare Services plc 
The Pavilions 
Bridgwater Road 
Bristol 
BS13 8AE

Shareholder information

Shareholder enquiries
Any shareholder with enquiries should, in the first instance, contact our registrar, Computershare Services, using the address 
provided above in the Advisers section. 

Share price information
London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (AIM) symbol: RENE

Information on the Company’s share price is available on the ReNeuron website at www.reneuron.com

31 March 2019 
11 July 2019 
12 September 2019

Financial calendar
Financial year end  
Full year end results announced  
Annual General Meeting  

Investor relations
ReNeuron Group plc 
Pencoed Business Park 
Pencoed 
Bridgend 
CF35 5HY

Email: info@reneuron.com 
Phone: +44 (0) 203 819 8400

Website: www.reneuron.com

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comGlossary of scientific terms

Allogeneic:
Where a tissue donor and recipient of the cells are different individuals. 

Cell line:
A well characterised cell culture that has been demonstrated to be consistent. Cell lines may comprise a family of cells isolated 
from a single tissue or organ, or may be clonally derived from a single ancestor cell.

Cell therapy: 
A process by which healthy cells are introduced into a tissue or an organ to reconstruct or promote regeneration in order to 
treat disease.

Cryopreservation:
Maintenance of the viability of cells using agents to protect them from damage that can occur during cooling and storage at 
very low temperatures. 

Differentiation:
Development of a stem cell into a more specialised type.

ETDRS eye chart
This chart is designed to enable a more accurate estimate of visual acuity and is the standardised eye chart used in clinical trials 
to measure visual acuity.

ExoPr0:
Our first CTX-derived exosome therapeutic candidate which targets cancer. 

Exosomes:
These are nanoparticles secreted from many different types of cells, including the Company’s proprietary CTX stem cell line. 
They play a key role in cell-to-cell signalling. 

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP):
Regulations, codes and guidelines to ensure that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality 
standards appropriate to their intended use and as required by the product specification (c GMP refers to current good 
manufacturing practice).

Immortalised cell line:
A population of cells from a multicellular organism which would normally not proliferate indefinitely but, due to mutation, have 
evaded normal cellular senescence and instead can keep undergoing division. The cells can therefore be grown for prolonged 
periods in vitro.

Immunogenicity
Immunogenicity can be stated as the ability of a substance to provoke an immune response or the degree to which it provokes 
an immune response.

Immunosuppressants :
An agent that can suppress or prevent the body’s immune response.

In vitro vs in vivo:
‘In vitro’ is in an artificial environment whereas ‘in vivo’ is in a more natural environment (animal model).

Investigational New Drug Application (IND)
First step in the drug review process whereby a request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is made to authorise 
administration of an investigational drug to humans.

Lipid nanoparticles
Lipid nanoparticles (abbreviated LNPs) are a mixture of lipids manufactured in the laboratory to a specific size and density to 
mimic low-density lipoproteins which allow them to be taken up into living cells. 

83

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ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019 
84

Glossary of scientific terms continued

miRNA:
A short segment of RNA that regulates gene expression by binding to complementary segments of messenger RNA to down 
regulate the subsequent formation of protein. 

Modified Rankin Scale:
A well-established, clinician-reported global measure of functional disability in patients and their dependence upon others in 
carrying out daily activities.

Nano-sized 
Between 1-100nm in size.

Oligonucleotides:
Oligonucleotides are short, single-stranded lengths of DNA or RNA. An example would be siRNAs; small RNA molecules that 
specifically interact with messenger RNA to prevent the translation of a targeted gene. 

Open-label:
Type of clinical trial in which the identity of treatment is known by all involved in the trial.

Photoreceptors:
Cells in the retina (rod cells and cone cells) that convert light into electrical impulses.

Proprietary technology:
This technology is the property of a business or an individual. 

Regeneration:
The restoration of function in damaged body organs and tissues. 

Retinal diseases:
Conditions that lead to damage of the layer of tissue in the back of the eye that senses light and sends images to the brain.

Retinitis pigmentosa:
A group of inherited diseases of the retina that cause damage to the rods leading to a loss of peripheral vision that is 
progressive over time.

Stem cell: 
A cell that is both able to reproduce itself and, depending on its stage of development, to generate all or certain other cell 
types within the body or within the organ from which it is derived.

Stroke:
Damage to a group of nerve cells in the brain due to interrupted blood flow, caused by a blood clot or blood vessel bursting. 
Depending on the area of the brain that is damaged, a stroke can cause coma, paralysis, speech problems and dementia.

ReNeuron Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2019www.reneuron.comR

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ReNeuron Group plc
Pencoed Business Park
Pencoed
Bridgend
CF35 5HY

t: +44 (0) 203 819 8400

e: info@reneuron.com

Registered number:  
05474163

www.reneuron.com

Stock code: RENE