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FY2013 Annual Report · Vectrus
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A leader in inhaled 
pharmaceuticals

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13

 
Contents

Business review: Highlights 2012/13

Financial highlights

Financial statements

60  Consolidated statement of
comprehensive income

61  Balance sheet

62  Cash flow statement

63  Statement of changes in equity 

64  Notes to the financial statements

90  Five-year summary

92  Shareholder information

Business review

01  Highlights 2012/13 

02  Chairman and Chief Executive’s report

08  Financial review 

10  Overview

12  Core purpose, values and strategy

14  Market potential

16  Products

20  Enabling technology platforms

24  Capabilities 

26  Key performance indicators

27  Risk management 

Directors and governance

29  Corporate governance statement

34  Board of Directors 

36  Executive management 

37  Corporate social responsibility statement

40  Report on remuneration

53  Directors’ report

56  Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

57  Independent auditor’s report to the
members of Vectura Group plc

Revenues  
slightly ahead  
of expectations

£30.5m

(2011/12: £33.0m)

EBITDA loss  
improves to

£3.4m

(2011/12: £4.2m)

Loss before tax 
decreased by 21% to 

£10.4m

(2011/12: £13.2m)

Balance sheet  
strength maintained  
with cash and  

cash equivalents of

£70.1m

(as at 31 March 2013)

Operational highlights

Significant regulatory and clinical progress 
made throughout the year

Seebri® Breezhaler® (NVA237 (COPD); glycopyrronium bromide)

Product now launched in some European countries and Japan
	 Novartis’	Seebri®	Breezhaler®	approved	in	the	EU	for	maintenance	treatment	of	COPD	by	the	
European	Commission
	 Approval	for	once-daily	Seebri®	Inhalation	Capsules	as	maintenance	COPD	treatment	in	Japan	
	 EU	and	Japanese	approvals	triggered	two	milestone	payments	from	Novartis	of	$10m	(£6.2m)	
and	$2.5m	(£1.5m)	respectively	
	 Seebri®	Breezhaler®	has	been	launched	by	Novartis	in	UK	and	Ireland,	Germany	and	other	
countries,	and	Seebri®	Inhalation	Capsules	in	Japan	
	 US	NDA	filing	for	NVA237	expected	in	early	2014

QVA149 (COPD) 

European and Japanese filings completed
	 QVA149	is	being	investigated	by	Novartis	for	the	maintenance	treatment	of	COPD	in	the	Phase	III	
IGNITE	clinical	trial	programme
	 IGNITE	is	one	of	the	largest	international	clinical	trial	programmes	in	COPD	comprising	10	studies	in	
total	(ILLUMINATE,	SHINE,	BRIGHT,	ENLIGHTEN,	SPARK,	BLAZE,	ARISE,	BEACON,	RADIATE,	LANTERN)	
with	more	than	7,000	patients	across	42	countries
	 Phase	III	data	presented	by	Novartis	at	the	European	Respiratory	Society	(ERS)	Annual	Congress	in	
September	2012
	 Novartis	filed	QVA149	for	marketing	authorisation	in	Europe	in	October	2012,	and	a	separate	filing	
in	Japan	in	November	2012
	 The	EU	filing	triggered	a	$5m	(£3.1m)	milestone	payment	to	Vectura
	 US	NDA	filing	expected	at	the	end	of	2014

VR315 (asthma/COPD), VR632 (asthma/COPD) and VR506 (asthma)

	 Development	programmes	continue	to	progress
	 First	development	milestone	of	$3m	(£1.9m)	earned	from	new	US	partner	on	VR315
	 Eligible	to	receive	up	to	a	further	$32m	upon	achievement	of	future	pre-determined	
development	milestones
	 VR506	development	ongoing	with	two	multi-centre,	international	clinical	trials	currently	in	
progress,	one	expected	to	report	in	Q4,	2013	and	the	second	in	Q1,	2014

CAutIONARy StAtEMENt

This Annual Report has been prepared for, and only for, the 
members of the Company as a body and no other persons. The 
report contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to 
the operations, performance and financial condition of the Group 
and the markets in which it operates. By their nature, these 
statements involve uncertainty since future events and 
circumstances can cause results and developments to differ 
materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements 
reflect knowledge and information available at the date of 
preparation of this Annual Report and the Company undertakes no 
obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Nothing in 
this Annual Report should be construed as a profit forecast.

Post-period events

  		Chinese	JV,	Kinnovata,		
	formed	to	develop	and		
	commercialise	products	in		
	fast	growing	Asian	markets
  		US	approval	of	GSK’s	BREO™	

ELLIPTA™	signals	new		
	additional	royalty	stream

Images and content © 2013 Vectura Group plc

01	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Highlights 2012/13

 
 
Business review: Chairman and Chief Executive’s report 

We are pleased to report that Vectura 
continues to be in a strong financial position 
and is delivering on its strategy and its 
objectives. We have made significant progress 
on a number of fronts over the last year and the 
Group is at an exciting and potentially 
transformational period in its development.

During the year Vectura made significant 
regulatory, clinical and commercial progress 
from its product partnerships and the Group 
delivered many of its development targets. 
Vectura continues to maintain a strong and 
robust financial position through its existing 
royalty stream, prudent investment in R&D  
and a culture of cost discipline. 

Vectura reported a number of commercially 
important successes this year, not least in the 
form of the EU approval of Seebri ® Breezhaler ® 
and the product’s subsequent launch by our 
partner, Novartis, in the UK, Ireland, Germany 
and other countries. Vectura was also delighted 
that Novartis received approval for Seebri® 
Inhalation Capsules and subsequently launched 
the product in Japan, the world’s second largest 
pharmaceutical market. 

The significant clinical and regulatory advances 
made by Novartis with the QVA149 programme 
are also worthy of note. During 2012, Novartis 
announced positive results from the QVA149 
Phase III clinical trial programme, IGNITE, 
which formed the basis for filing the marketing 
authorisation application with the European 

Medicines Agency (EMA), an event that 
triggered a $5m (£3.1m) milestone payment to 
Vectura. Novartis also filed this data in Japan. 

With this progress, Vectura is entering a new 
phase of corporate development and growth. 
Over the near-term, Vectura expects our robust 
financial position to be supplemented with 
royalties from Seebri ® Breezhaler ®. Other 
products, such as QVA149, will further 
supplement the revenue stream as it progresses 
through milestones and ultimately  
reaches the market.

It has been a demanding yet exciting year and 
we would like to thank all our employees for 
their endeavours, which as ever formed the 
bedrock of our success, and our shareholders 
for their support. With a number of marketed 
and partnered products providing validation 
for our technology and development,  
Vectura is poised to embark on  
its next chapter of growth.

Blue-chip partners 
including Novartis, 
Sandoz, Baxter and 
GSK have invested 
in, and validated, 
Vectura’s technology 
and approach to drug 
development.

Vectura Group plc	and	its	subsidiaries	(“Vectura”	or	the	“Group”)	is	a	product	development	company	
that	focuses	on	the	development	of	pharmaceutical	therapies	for	the	treatment	of	airway-related	
diseases.	This	growing	market	includes	asthma	and	chronic	obstructive	pulmonary	disease	(COPD)		
and	is	estimated	to	be	worth	in	excess	of	$30	billion	worldwide.	

Vectura	has	seven	products	marketed	by	its	partners	and	a	portfolio	of	drugs	in	clinical	development,	
a	number	of	which	have	been	licensed	to	major	pharmaceutical	companies.	Vectura	has	development	
collaborations	and	licence	agreements	with	several	pharmaceutical	companies,	including	Novartis,	
Sandoz	(the	generics	arm	of	Novartis),	Baxter,	GlaxoSmithKline	(GSK)	and	Tianjin	KingYork	Group	
Company	Limited	(KingYork).	

Vectura	seeks	to	develop	certain	programmes	itself	where	this	will	optimise	value.	Vectura’s	
formulation	and	inhalation	technologies	are	available	to	other	pharmaceutical	companies	on	an	
out-licensing	basis	where	this	complements	Vectura’s	business	strategy.	For	further	information,	
please	visit	Vectura’s	website	at	www.vectura.com.

Value realisation from  
product progress

Seebri® Breezhaler® (NVA237; 
glycopyrronium bromide)

Our value will stem from pipeline products 
such as:

Seebri® Breezhaler® (NVA237; 
glycopyrronium bromide),	a	long-acting	
muscarinic	antagonist	(LAMA),	approved	by	the	
European	Commission	for	use	in	Europe	as	a	
once-daily,	inhaled,	maintenance	bronchodilator	
treatment	to	relieve	symptoms	in	adult	patients	
with	chronic	obstructive	pulmonary	disease	
(COPD).	Seebri®	Inhalation	Capsules	50	mcg	
have	been	approved	in	Japan	as	maintenance	
COPD	treatment.

QVA149,	the	investigational	fixed-dose	
combination	of	glycopyrronium	bromide	with	
the	once-daily,	long-acting	beta-agonist	(LABA),	
indacaterol	maleate,	developed	and	marketed	
by	Novartis	as	Onbrez®	Breezhaler®.

VR315, VR632 and VR506,	generic	versions	of	
drugs	for	COPD	and/or	asthma.

During	2012	Novartis,	the	worldwide	licensee		
for	NVA237,	received	approval	of	Seebri®	
Breezhaler®	in	the	European	Union	and	Seebri ®	
Inhalation	Capsules	in	Japan	and	nine	other	
countries	including	Canada	and	Australia.	
Subsequently,	the	product	has	been	launched	in	
several	countries.

Seebri®	Breezhaler®	is	an	innovative,	once-daily	
therapy	that	has	been	shown	to	reduce	
breathlessness	and	exacerbations,	improve	lung	
function	and	help	improve	overall	quality	of	life,	
when	compared	to	placebo.	Its	approval	in	the	
European	Union	is	therefore	an	important	
development	and	provides	a	new	treatment	
option	for	patients	with	COPD,	the	world’s	
fourth	biggest	cause	of	death.	

Japanese	approval	for	once-daily	Seebri®	
Inhalation	Capsules	as	maintenance	COPD	
treatment	was	received	by	Novartis	in	
September	2012.	Seebri®	Inhalation	Capsules	
provide	doctors	and	patients	with	a	once-daily	
treatment	option	for	COPD,	a	condition	that	is	
increasing	in	prevalence	in	Japan.

In	the	US,	Novartis	is	undertaking	Phase	III	
studies	of	NVA237	and	expects	to	file	the	
product	early	in	2014.

02	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Chairman and Chief Executive’s report

03	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Chairman and Chief Executive’s report

Business review: Chairman and Chief Executive’s report  continued

Generic programmes

Development	work	continues	on	Vectura’s	
generic	programmes:	VR315	(asthma/COPD),	
VR632	(asthma/COPD)	and	VR506	(asthma).	In	
March	2012	Vectura	announced	receipt	of	a	
€0.4m	development	milestone	from	Sandoz	
relating	to	VR632,	and	in	August	2012	Vectura	
received	its	first	development	milestone	of		
$3m	(£1.9m)	from	its	US	partner	related	to	VR315,	
indicating	further	development	progress	during	
the	period.	Two	multi-centre,	international	
clinical	trials	are	underway	on	VR506,	which	
should	complete	in	late	2013	and	early	2014.

Technology development

It	is	essential	that	the	Group’s	product	focus		
is	underpinned	by	its	intellectual	property.		
Vectura	commits	significant	efforts	to	ensure	
that	competitiveness	in	this	area	is	maintained	
through	innovation.	Vectura’s	technologies		
will	therefore	continue	to	drive	value	by	
enabling,	improving	and	adding	value	to	the	
products	we	develop.

QVA149, the investigational fixed-dose 
combination of glycopyrronium bromide  
and indacaterol maleate

This	year	also	saw	a	number	of	important	
milestones	in	the	development	of	QVA149.		
In	April	2012,	Novartis	reported	headline		
Phase	III	data	from	the	first	four	studies	of	the	
IGNITE	Phase	III	clinical	trial	programme.	The	
studies,	ILLUMINATE,	SHINE,	BRIGHT	and	
ENLIGHTEN,	all	met	their	respective	primary	
endpoints.	These	results	were	supplemented		
by	additional	positive	Phase	III	data	from	SPARK,	
reported	by	Novartis	in	August	2012.	Three	
presentations	of	clinical	data	from	the	IGNITE	
programme	were	made	at	the	ERS	Annual	
Congress	in	September	2012.	

QVA149	was	filed	for	marketing	authorisation	
with	the	EMA	in	October	2012,	triggering	a		
$5m	(£3.1m)	milestone,	and	in	November	2012	
QVA149	was	filed	in	Japan.	US	New	Drug	
Application	(NDA)	filing	is	expected	at	the		
end	of	2014.	

The	dual	activities	of	LAMA/LABA	combination	
products	offer	the	potential	for	rapid	and	potent	
bronchodilation,	providing	an	opportunity	to	
address	a	large	and	unmet	medical	need	for	
COPD	sufferers.	This	growing,	multi-billion	dollar	
market	makes	QVA149	a	significant	value	
prospect	for	Vectura	should	the	product	reach	
the	market.	

Novartis 
QVA149 
milestone 

£3.1m

($5m)

VR315  
milestone 

£1.9m

($3m)

2012/13 was a landmark year  
for Vectura, evidenced by the  
significant progress made by 
licensees of Vectura products  
and technologies. 

Outlook

We	look	forward	to	a	number	of	significant	
catalysts	in	this	coming	year	from	our	
programmes.	Looking	ahead,	we	will	be	in	a	
position	to	build	on	royalty	income	from	sales		
of	Seebri®	Breezhaler®	through	additional	
near-term	development	milestones	from	this	
and	other	products	in	our	pipeline.	

These	additional	income	streams	provided	by	
our	commercial	and	late-stage	products	will	
further	strengthen	our	robust	financial	position	
and	provide	a	platform	from	which	to	accelerate

the	next	phase	of	Vectura’s	growth.	As	part		
of	this	growth,	we	will	continue	to	seek	and	
carefully	evaluate	suitable	opportunities	in	
established	and	emerging	markets.

We	continue	to	believe	that	the	low	risk	
development	model	we	adhere	to,	together	
with	tight	cost	control	and	focused		
development	criteria	will	continue	to	result		
in	value	enhancement.	

04	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Chairman and Chief Executive’s report

05	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Chairman and Chief Executive’s report

	
Business review: Chairman and Chief Executive’s report  continued

Post-period developments

Kinnovata

Vectura	announced	on	13	May	2013	that	it	had	
established	Tianjin	Kinnovata	Pharmaceutical	
Company	Limited	(“Kinnovata”)	in	China	with	
two	partners:	Tianjin	KingYork	Group	Company	
Limited	(“KingYork”)	and	Zendex	Bio	Strategy	
Inc.	(“Zendex”).	Completion	of	the	Kinnovata	
transaction	is	subject	to	final	Government	
clearances	in	China,	which	are	expected	
mid-to-late	2013.	

Kinnovata	will	develop,	manufacture	and	
commercialise	respiratory	products	for	the	
rapidly	growing	domestic	Chinese	and	other	
regional	markets	in	Asia.	This	new	company	will	
initially	exploit	Vectura’s	Clickhaler®	and	
Duohaler®	dry	powder	inhaler	(DPI)	technology	
platforms	to	address	current	unmet	needs	in	the	
growing	Asian	respiratory	markets,	notably	the	
asthma	and	COPD	therapeutic	areas.	

Kinnovata	will	be	an	independent	company	with	
its	own	development	and	manufacturing	
operations	located	in	Tianjin.	Vectura	is	also	
providing	training	and	other	expertise	to	
Kinnovata	as	the	company	prepares	to	
undertake	its	first	Clickhaler®	clinical	studies	in	
Chinese	patients.	An	application	for	the	import	
of	Asmasal®	Clickhaler®	(salbutamol)	has	been	
filed	with	the	Chinese	State	Food	and	Drug	
Administration	(SFDA).

In	addition,	a	separate	R&D	Cooperation	
Agreement	has	been	established	between	
Kinnovata	and	the	Shanghai	Institute	of	
Pharmaceutical	Industry	to	undertake	the	
development	of	a	number	of	DPI	products		
on	behalf	of	Kinnovata.	

GSK

On	10	May	2013	the	United	States	Food	and	
Drug	Administration	(FDA)	approved	a	NDA	for	
BREO™	ELLIPTA™	(fluticasone	furoate/vilanterol	
100/25	mcg)	submitted	by	GSK.	In	August	2010,	
GSK	entered	into	a	licence	and	an	option	to	
license	agreement	for	certain	of	Vectura’s	dry	
powder	formulation	patents.	Vectura	is	entitled	
to	a	low	single	digit	royalty	on	net	sales	of	
products	using	these	patents	capped	at	a	
maximum	amount	of	£13m	per	annum.	BREO™	
ELLIPTA™	will	be	the	first	product	to	be	
launched	by	GSK	that	will	use	patents	covered	
by	the	agreement.	GSK	has	stated	that	it	expects	
the	product	to	be	available	in	the	United	States	
during	the	third	quarter	of	2013.	BREO™	
ELLIPTA™	was	filed	for	approval	in	Europe	and	
Japan	in	2012.

A	second	GSK	combination	product	covered	by	
the	agreement	has	also	been	filed	for	approval	
in	the	United	States,	Europe	and	Japan.		

Jack Cashman 	
Chairman	

Chris Blackwell
Chief	Executive

20	May	2013

Collaborative

Our collaborative approach to drug development is  
seen both internally and in successful partnerships.  
Partners include Novartis, Sandoz, KingYork,  
Baxter and GSK.

06	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Chairman and Chief Executive’s report

07	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13

Business review: Financial review

Summary

The	Group	ended	the	year	with	£70.1m	of	cash	(2012:	£75.5m).	Revenues	of	£30.5m	(2011/12:	
£33.0m)	were	lower	(8%)	than	in	the	previous	year	as	a	result	of	lower	pharmaceutical	development	
service	revenues	and	device	sales	this	year,	but	were	ahead	of	expectations.	These	reductions	have	
been	partially	offset	by	an	increase	in	one-off	milestone	revenues	recognised	and	received	during	
the	year	following	European	and	Japanese	approval	of	NVA237	and	filing	of	QVA149	with	the	
European	Medicines	Agency	(EMA).	

The	EBITDA	loss	has	improved	to	£3.4m	(2011/12:	£4.2m),	this	improvement	is	mainly	due	to	a		
5%	increase	in	gross	margin	and	a	6%	reduction	in	research	and	development	expenditure	to		
£30.9m	(2011/12:	£32.8m)	in	the	period.	

Cash position 

Revenues 

Gross profit 

2012/13 
2013 

2011/12 
2013 

2012/13 
2013 

2011/12 
2013 

2012/13 
2013 

2011/12 
2013 

£30.5m

£33.0m

£29.8m

£30.8m

EBItDA loss

2012/13
2013 

£3.4m

2011/12
2013 

£4.2m

£70.1m

£75.5m

Revenue

Revenue	includes	fee	income	from	royalties,	
product	licensing,	technology	licensing,	
development	fees	and	device	sales.	

Overall,	royalties	were	down	on	the	previous	year		
at	£13.0m	(2011/12:	£13.5m)	primarily	due	to	the	
exceptional	royalties	received	for	Extraneal®	last	
year.	ADVATE®	royalties	of	£11.1m	(2011/12:	£10.6m)	
are	higher	than	last	year	due	to	an	exceptional	
amount	of	£0.6m	relating	to	prior	year	sales.	
Underlying	ADVATE®	sales	have	remained	constant	
at	$1.9bn	in	2012	(2011:	$1.9bn).	Vectura	receives	a	
net	royalty	of	under	1%	at	these	high	levels	of	
cumulative	annual	sales.	Extraneal®	royalties	were	
£0.8m	(2011/12:	£1.7m),	this	being	an	expected	
decrease	as	last	year	included	exceptional	royalties	
of	£1.1m	relating	to	sales	in	prior	years.	The	majority	
of	the	remaining	royalties	were	generated	from	
Adept®,	£0.6m	(2011/12:	£0.9m).	In	addition,	
Vectura	received	its	first	royalties	in	the	year	from	
Novartis	for	sales	of	Seebri®	Breezhaler®.	

Product	licensing	revenues	in	the	period	were	
£12.8m	(2011/12:	£12.1m),	which	includes	milestone	
payments	from	Novartis	of	$10.0m	(£6.2m)	and	
$2.5m	(£1.5m)	relating	to	the	European	and	
Japanese	approval	for	NVA237	respectively.		
A	further	milestone	of	$5.0m	(£3.1m),	relating	to	
QVA149	from	Novartis,	was	earned	in	October	2012,	
relating	to	the	filing	of	a	marketing	authorisation	
with	the	EMA.	Product	licensing	revenues	also	
include	a	$3.0m	(£1.9m)	development	milestone	
relating	to	VR315	US.	Of	this	amount,	$2.0m	was	
released	from	deferred	income	and	a	further		
$1.0m	was	received	in	the	year.

Technology	licensing	revenues	of	£3.7m	(2011/12:	
£2.3m)	are	higher	than	the	previous	year.	£3.5m	
of	the	total	revenue	stream	relates	to	milestones	
due	under	a	non-exclusive	licence	agreement	
signed	with	GSK	in	August	2010.	Under	the	terms	
of	the	agreement,	Vectura	received	a	£10m	
upfront	payment	in	2010/11	and	is	due	to	receive	
a	further	£10m	by	the	time	the	products	are	
launched.	£6.0m	of	this	total	had	been	received	
by	31	March	2013.	

Pharmaceutical	development	services	(PDS)	
revenues	decreased	to	£0.6m	(2011/12:	£2.8m)	as	
work	on	some	of	our	partnered	programmes	has	
been	successfully	completed.	Future	PDS	
revenues	will	depend	on	the	extent	and	nature	of	
feasibility	studies	and	new	licensing	deals	as	the	
development	of	inhalation	products	is	a	very	
specialist	area,	with	partners	frequently	requiring	
Vectura’s	involvement	in	the	continuing	
development	of	a	product.	We	do	not	expect	any	
significant	change	to	these	revenues	in	the	next	
financial	year.

Device	sales	of	£0.4m	were	lower	than	the	prior	
period	(2011/12:	£2.3m)	as	our	trading	partners	
now	hold	stock	at	the	required	level.

Gross profit

The	gross	profit	in	the	year	to	31	March	2013	
was	£29.8m	(2011/12:	£30.8m).	Gross	profit	
represents	98%	of	revenue	(2011/12:	93%)	and	
this	increase	is	due	to	the	higher	proportion	of	
royalty	and	licensing	revenues	received	as	a	
proportion	of	total	revenues.

Foreign exchange rates

The	following	foreign	
exchange	rates	were	used	
during	the	year:

2012/13 2011/12

Average rates:

£/$

£/€

Period end rates: 

£/$	

£/€

1.58

1.23

1.52

1.18

1.60

1.16

	1.60

1.20

Research and development 
expenses

Total	investment	in	research	and	development	
was	£30.9m,	a	6%	decrease	on	the	previous	
year	(2011/12:	£32.8m).	Of	the	£30.9m,	28%		
of	this	expenditure	related	to	clinical	trials	
(2011/12:	24%).	

Taxation

The	tax	credit	for	the	year	was	£4.5m	(2011/12:	
£8.8m).	Research	and	development	tax	credits	
of	£4.4m	were	received	in	cash	during	the	year	
(2011/12:	£4.6m),	of	which	£4.0m	was	included	
in	other	receivables	as	at	31	March	2012,	
resulting	in	current	year	tax	income	of	£0.4m.	
An	estimated	research	and	development	tax	
credit	of	£3.8m	relating	to	the	2012/13	financial	
year	has	been	recorded	and	this	is	expected	to	
be	received	during	2013/14.	As	the	Group’s	
losses	reduce,	research	and	development	tax	
receipts	will	decline	significantly.	A	release	of	
£0.3m	from	a	deferred	tax	liability	has	also	been	
credited	to	the	statement	of	comprehensive	
income	for	the	2012/13	financial	year	due	to	the	
utilisation	of	tax	losses	carried	forward.

Intangible assets

Intangible	assets	of	£17.1m	(2012:	£23.4m)	have	
been	amortised	by	£6.3m	(2012:	£7.5m)	during	
the	year.	These	intangible	assets	relate	to	the	
Innovata	acquisition	and	they	will	continue	to	be	
amortised	over	their	expected	useful	life.	The	
reduction	in	the	amortisation	charge	is	in	line	
with	the	reduction	in	royalty	streams	from	
Extraneal®	in	certain	territories,	and	all	Extraneal®	

royalty	streams	are	expected	to	cease	by	Q1	
2014.	The	£17.1m	of	intangible	assets	will	be	
amortised	over	the	next	three	years.

Property, plant and equipment

Property,	plant	and	equipment	increased	by	
£3.0m	(2012:	increase	of	£3.1m)	in	the	year	as	a	
result	of	the	Group’s	investment	in	its	inhaled	
product	manufacturing	capabilities.

Deferred income

Deferred	income	relates	to	milestones	received	
in	cash	but	not	yet	recognised	as	revenue.	
£3.4m	of	deferred	income	was	released	during	
the	year,	mainly	relating	to	GSK	and	VR315	US	
milestones.	Of	the	£1.4m	on	the	balance	sheet	
at	31	March	2013	(2012:	£4.8m),	£0.1m	will	be	
recognised	as	revenue	in	2013/14	and	£1.3m,	
relating	to	the	VR315	RoW	deal	with	Sandoz,	will	
be	recognised	as	revenue	in	later	periods.	

Cash flow

Cash	decreased	by	£5.4m	in	the	period	
(2011/12:	increase	of	£1.1m).	The	net	cash	flows	
from	operating	activities	are	negative	at	£2.8m	
(2011/12:	positive	£2.1m).	At	31	March	2013,	
Vectura	had	cash	and	cash	equivalents	of	
£70.1m	(2012:	£75.5m),	which	was	equivalent	to	
21p	per	share	in	issue.	

Anne Hyland
Chief	Financial	Officer

20	May	2013

08	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Financial review

09	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Financial review

	
	
Business review: Overview

Vectura’s	approach	to	product	development	is	
driven	by	innovative	and	enabling	formulation	
and	inhalation	device	technologies,	coupled	with	
significant	know-how.	These	capabilities	
underpin	the	Group’s	own	assets,	and	also	offer	
partners	the	opportunity	to	collaborate	in	the	
development	of	relevant	and	novel	therapies.	
Vectura’s	proprietary	enabling	technologies	are	
also	available	for	out-licensing.	

Vectura	Group	plc	and	its	subsidiaries	(“Vectura”	
or	the	“Group”)	is	a	product	development	
company	that	focuses	on	the	development	of	
pharmaceutical	therapies	for	the	treatment	of	
diseases	that	affect	or	can	be	treated	with	drugs	
that	act	on	the	airways	(Airways	Diseases).	This	
segment	of	the	pharmaceutical	market	includes	
large	indications	such	as	asthma	and	chronic	
obstructive	pulmonary	disease	(COPD)	and	is	
estimated	to	be	worth	in	excess	of	$30	billion	in	
sales	worldwide1,2.	This	segment	of	the	market	
also	covers	a	wide	range	of	other	indications	
including	viral	and	fungal	infections,	allergies,	
cough	and	fibrotic	diseases	of	the	lung.

Vectura’s	development	and	formulation	
expertise	is	evidenced	by	numerous	
accomplishments	including	seven	marketed	
therapies.	The	Group’s	in-house	and	partnered	
pipeline	assets	span	both	branded	treatments	
and	high-value	generics.	These	programmes,		
if	successful,	will	compete	in	multi-billion		
dollar	markets.	

A	significant	achievement	from	Vectura’s	
branded	drugs	programme	is	the	EU	approval	of	
Seebri®	Breezhaler®	(glycopyrronium	bromide)	
and	the	product’s	subsequent	launch	by	
Vectura’s	partner,	Novartis.	The	drug	has	been	
launched	in	the	UK,	Ireland	and	Germany	and	is	
currently	being	rolled	out	across	other	
countries.	Novartis	also	received	approval	for	
Seebri®	Inhalation	Capsules	(glycopyrronium	
bromide)	and	subsequently	launched	the	
product	in	Japan,	the	world’s	second	largest	
pharmaceutical	market.

1	 Bank	of	America	Merrill	Lynch.		
	 Pan	European	Pharmaceutical		
	 Research.	Competitive trends in 
key therapy areas	March	2013.

2	 Citi	Equity	Research.	Almirall	S.A.  
  Respiratory Upside Transformational		
	 29	November	2012.

Accomplished

Accomplishments are evidenced by approved products and an 
advancing pipeline. Seven marketed and partnered products 
validate our technology and development approach.

10	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Overview

11	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13

 
Business review: Core purpose, values and strategy

Our people

We	have	a	talented	team	of	people	at	Vectura	committed	to	developing	therapies	that	improve	the	
quality	of	patients’	lives.	The	Airways	Disease	market	is	a	large	and	growing	market	and	we	are	
confident	we	will	succeed	in	creating	value	for	Vectura’s	shareholders.	

Our main values

We	have	a	strong	foundation	of	core	company	values.	Everything	we	do	stems	from	our	five	key	
values	and	these	are	reflected	in	the	way	we	operate	our	business,	both	internally	and	externally:

We focus on Achievement 
– we aim to deliver on the challenging goals we set ourselves

We encompass Enthusiasm 
– we give our best and enjoy what we’re doing

We enjoy Participation 
– success comes from our culture, which fosters creativity and teamwork

We strive for Innovation 
– we think freely and creatively about our goals

We believe in Trust and Respect 
– we value people and ideas on their merits 

Our strategy 

Vectura’s	goal	is	to	create	value	for	its	shareholders	through	the	development	of	innovative	products	
for	Airways	Diseases	with	high	unmet	need.	We	aim	to	achieve	this	goal	by	accessing	drug	assets,	
either	generic	or	novel,	with	the	potential	to	offer	real	benefit	to	patients	through	in-licensing	assets	
alone	or	in	partnership	and	retaining	a	valuable	share	of	the	economics	once	commercialised.	This	
strategy	will	be	executed	within	a	culture	of	sound	financial	discipline.

Treating diseases of the airways

Vectura	has	partnered	and	contributed	to	the	
development	of	seven	marketed	products	to	
date.	We	intend	to	build	on	the	Group’s	
partnering	success	by	adding	additional		
assets	to	our	development	pipeline,	including	
commercialisation	opportunities	that	offer	
sound	economics.

Vectura’s	in-house	technological	and	
formulation	expertise	underpins	our	clinical	
portfolio	of	high-value,	limited-competition	
generic	products	for	the	treatment	of		
Airways	Diseases.	Two	of	these	assets	have	
been	licensed	to	other	companies,	and	one	
other	clinical-stage	generic	asset	is	currently	
un-partnered.	The	Company’s	array	of	enabling	
devices	and	formulation	technologies	supports	
product	development	in	both	the	branded	drug	
and	high-value	generic	markets.	This	vastly	
amplifies	the	commercial	potential	of	Vectura’s	
technologies	and	expands	its	geographic	reach.	
Vectura	believes	that	emerging	markets	may	
offer	a	commercial	opportunity	for	it	to		
leverage	its	technology	to	facilitate	access	to		
key	drugs	at	affordable	prices.

Vectura’s	product	development	goals	are	
accompanied	and	enabled	by	a	strong	focus	on	
revenue-	and	cash-generation,	and	by	a	strong	
intellectual	property	(IP)	portfolio.	To	that	end,		
the	Group’s	strategy	is	to:

	 Out-license	products	to	major	
pharmaceutical	companies	in	return	for	
milestones	and	royalties;

	 Develop	or	co-develop	selected	specialty	
products	to	commercialisation	in	order	to	
obtain	maximum	return	of	value;

	 Collaborate	with	pharmaceutical	partners	in	
both	generic	and	branded	markets	for	joint		
or	co-development	of	inhaled	product	
opportunities;

	 Continue	to	innovate	Vectura’s	technology	
and	build	the	Group’s	IP	portfolio;	and	

	 Acquire	or	in-license	selected	products,	
technologies	or	businesses	that	complement	
and	enhance	in-house	assets.

12	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Core purpose, values and strategy

13	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Core purpose, values and strategy

 
Business review: Market potential

A carefully developed strategy for growth 

To	generate	as	much	value	as	possible	from	global	opportunities,	we	are	focusing	on	both	the	
branded	and	generic	markets.	These	are	very	large	markets,	with	dry	powder	inhalation	(DPI)	
products	currently	generating	sales	in	excess	of	$11	billion	a	year	and	growing.	The	Group’s	
specialism	and	expertise	in	inhaled	product	development	put	us	in	a	good	position	to	manage	the	
inevitable	regulatory	challenges	posed	for	both	branded	and	generic	drugs.	There	are	relatively		
few	competitors	working	on	complex,	inhaled	generic	products,	and	new	market	opportunities		
are	emerging	that	provide	huge	potential	for	growth.

Focused

Our drug development efforts are focused  
on airway-related diseases – a high unmet need  
and growing multi-billion dollar market.

Asthma	is	a	chronic	inflammatory	disease	of	the	
bronchial	tree	–	the	airways	leading	to	and	from	
the	lungs.	It	is	a	reversible	condition,	resulting	in	
temporary	narrowing	of	a	sufferer’s	airways,	
often	as	a	result	of	external	stimuli	including	
specific	triggers	such	as	stress,	pollen,	exercise	
or	simply	a	viral	respiratory	infection.	Asthma	
symptoms,	which	are	episodic,	include	
coughing,	wheezing	and	chest	tightness,	
particularly	at	night	and	in	the	early	morning.	

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
(COPD)	is	a	chronic,	slowly	progressive,	and	only	
partly	reversible	airflow	obstruction,	primarily	
associated	with	tobacco	smoking,	air	pollution	
and	occupational	exposure.	COPD	usually	
involves	two	related	diseases:	chronic	bronchitis	
(irreversible	inflammation	of	the	mucous	
membranes)	and	emphysema	(destruction	of	
the	lung	tissue).	Symptoms	include	shortness	of	
breath,	coughing,	phlegm	and	activity	limitation.	

Hundreds	of	millions	of	people	every	day	suffer	
from	chronic	Airways	Diseases	including	asthma,	
chronic	obstructive	pulmonary	disease	(COPD),	
allergies	and	pulmonary	arterial	hypertension	
(PAH).	For	example,	there	are	approximately	330	
million	people	globally	living	with	COPD	and	it	is	
predicted	to	be	the	third	leading	cause	of	death	
by	20303.	Currently	the	disease	is	largely	hidden,	
with	50-75%	of	patients	undiagnosed.	Thirty	
million	patients	in	the	US	suffer	from	COPD;	only	
six	million	receive	treatment.	Pharmacological	
treatments	are	currently	unable	to	reverse	the	
underlying	scarring	of	the	lung	and	airways	but	
do	relieve	symptoms	and	decrease	exacerbations	
and	hospitalisation.

According	to	the	World	Health	Organisation	(WHO),	
around	235	million	people	currently	suffer	from	
asthma	worldwide.	It	would	appear	that	the	
strongest	risk	factors	for	developing	asthma	are	
inhaled	substances	that	cause	an	allergic	reaction	
or	irritate	the	airways	(such	as	pollution).	There	is	
strong	evidence	that	the	prevalence	of	asthma	
increases	as	populations	adopt	an	urban	lifestyle	
and,	with	WHO	forecasting	that	the	world’s	urban	
population	will	increase	from	around	45%	
currently	to	around	59%,	it	also	forecasts	that	
there	could	be	an	additional	100	million	asthma	
sufferers	by	2025.	It	is	the	most	common	chronic	
disease	in	children.	In	short,	this	is	a	disease	state	
of	already	considerable,	and	growing,	significance.	
Asthma	is	a	public	health	problem	across	high	and	
low	income	countries	and,	with	mortality	rates	
higher	in	developing	countries,	is	likely	to	see	
increased	spending	in	emerging	economies.

Asthma	and	COPD	make	up	the	third-fastest	
growing	marketplace	for	therapeutic	treatments,	
with	the	total	market	estimated	to	be	worth	more	
than	$30	billion	in	2012,	according	to	analyst	
reports.	The	increase	in	fixed-dose	combination	
products	and	ongoing	advances	in	effective	
therapies	will	result	in	this	figure	continuing	to	
grow.	Vectura’s	products	for	asthma	and		
COPD	target	over	half	of	this	ever-expanding	
global	market.

Seeking value

Vectura	has	developed	therapies	for	conditions	such	
as	Parkinson’s	disease	(VR040)	and	Cystic	Fibrosis	
(VR496),	from	which	we	seek	to	derive	value	
through	licensing.	No	further	financial	investment	
will	be	made	by	the	Company	in	these	assets.

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Market potential

15	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13

The	respiratory	system	is	
comprised	of	the	upper	and	
lower	airways,	the	lung	tissue,	
and	the	vasculature	supplying	
them.	Through	the	exchange		
of	carbon	dioxide	and	oxygen,	
the	respiratory	system	is	
responsible	for	delivering	
oxygen	to	all	parts	of	the	body	
via	the	bloodstream.	

3	 The Lancet Vol	380,		
	 15	December	2012.

14	

Business review: Products

Product pipeline

Product 

Indication 

Pre-clinical 

Phase I 

Phase II  Phase III 

Filed 

Region

Respiratory

NVA237 

QVA149 

QVA149 

COPD 

COPD 

COPD 

Generic/branded generics

uS

uS

Eu & Japan

VR315 

VR632 

VR506 

Asthma/COPD

Partner:	Eu & Rest of World – Sandoz, uS – undisclosed

Asthma/COPD

Partner:	Eu – Sandoz, uS & Rest of World – Available for licensing

Asthma

Partner:	Available for licensing

Global respiratory market 
estimated to be worth a  
total of $30bn

Estimated number of people 
who suffer from respiratory 
diseases worldwide

US
$6bn*

Rest of World
$24bn*

Asthma 
235m*

COPD 
330m*

*Analysts‘	report

*WHO	figures	2012

that	glycoporronium	has	been	shown	to	reduce	
breathlessness	and	exacerbations,	improve	lung	
function	and	help	improve	overall	quality	of	life	
when	compared	to	placebo.

Vectura,	along	with	its	co-development		
partner,	Sosei	Group	Corporation,	developed		
the	drug	to	a	Phase	II	proof-of-concept	before	
exclusively	licensing	it	to	Novartis	in	April	2005.	
In	September	2011,	Novartis	filed	
glycopyrronium	(NVA237)	for	marketing	
authorisation	with	the	EMA	under	the	brand	
name	Seebri®	Breezhaler®.	The	drug	was	
approved	in	September	2012	in	the	EU	and	in	
Japan	under	the	brand	name	Seebri®	Inhalation	
Capsules.	The	EU	approval	triggered	a		
$10	million	(£6.2m)	milestone	to	Vectura	and		
the	Japanese	approval	a	$2.5	million	(£1.5m)	
milestone,	along	with	subsequent	royalty	
streams.	The	approval	of	this	drug	was	a	
landmark	and	value-enhancing	event	for	
Vectura,	providing	further	validation	of		
Vectura’s	business	model	to	date.

Following	discussions	between	Novartis	and		
the	FDA,	the	US	filing	for	NVA237	is	expected		
in	early	2014.	

Partnered proprietary products 
and technologies

In	the	asthma	and	COPD	markets,	Vectura	has	
been	successful	in	partnering	its	branded	assets	
and	our	pipeline	of	respiratory	generics.	The	
Group	has	also	leveraged	value	from	its	intellectual	
property	portfolio	and	technologies	through	
licences	with	other	pharmaceutical	companies.	

Although	COPD	cannot	be	cured,	the	disease	can	
be	managed	effectively	through	the	use	of	
medication.	Bronchodilators	–	medicines	that	
relax	and	open	air	passages	in	the	lungs	–	are	the	
fundamental	first-line	maintenance	treatment	for	
the	symptomatic	management	of	COPD.		
Vectura,	through	its	alliance	with	Novartis,	is	
helping	to	address	unmet	medical	need	through	
the	development	of	effective	and	innovative	drugs	
such	as	glycopyrronium	(NVA237)	and	QVA149.

Seebri® Breezhaler® (glycopyrronium 
bromide) and QVA149 for chronic obstructive 
pulmonary disease (COPD) 

Seebri®	Breezhaler®	is	a	dry	powder	formulation	
for	inhalation	of	glycopyrronium	bromide,	a	
once-daily	long-acting	muscarinic	antagonist	
(LAMA)	approved	for	the	treatment	of	COPD.		
The	drug	acts	by	preventing	the	action	of	an	
endogenous	chemical	messenger,	acetylcholine,	
on	muscarinic	receptors	in	muscles	surrounding	
the	airways.	This	provides	benefit	to	patients	by	
causing	dilation	of	the	airways	to	improve	airflow	
in	and	out	of	the	lungs.	Clinical	trials	demonstrated

efficacy,	safety	and	tolerability,	lung	function,	
exercise	endurance,	exacerbations,	shortness	of	
breath	and	quality	of	life.	

In	October	2012,	Novartis	filed	a	marketing	
authorisation	application	with	the	EMA	for	QVA149	
for	the	maintenance	treatment	of	COPD.	The	first	
five	studies	in	the	Phase	III	IGNITE	clinical	trial	
programme	for	QVA149	formed	the	basis	of	the	
filing.	Following	discussions	between	Novartis		
and	the	FDA,	the	US	filing	for	QVA149	is	expected	
by	the	end	of	2014.

To	date,	Vectura	has	received	$52.5m	from	
Novartis	and,	under	the	terms	of	the	licence,	
could	receive	up	to	an	additional	$135m	upon	
achievement	of	regulatory	and	commercialisation	
targets	for	both	the	monotherapy	and	
combination	product.	Vectura	has	no	cost	
obligations	for	these	products	and	royalties		
will	be	received	on	product	sales	following	
product	launches.	

QVA149

QVA149	is	an	investigational,	inhaled,	once-daily,	
fixed-dose	combination	of	indacaterol	maleate	
and	glycopyrronium	bromide,	being	developed	
by	Novartis.	QVA149	was	filed	for	marketing	
authorisation	with	the	EMA	in	October	2012,	
triggering	a	$5m	(£3.1m)	milestone,	and	in	
November	2012	QVA149	was	filed	in	Japan.		
US	New	Drug	Application	(NDA)	filing	is	expected	
at	the	end	of	2014.	

This	investigational	drug	offers	the	dual	activity	of	
a	long	acting	beta-adrenergic	agonist	(LABA)	and	
a	long-acting	muscarinic	antagonist	(LAMA)	
offering	the	potential	for	effective	bronchodilation	
with	convenient	once-daily	dosing.	LABAs	work	
by	stimulating	receptors	in	the	smooth	muscle	of	
the	airways,	increasing	the	diameter	of	the	
airways	that	become	constricted	in	COPD	
patients.	QVA149	has	the	potential	to	address	a	
large	and	unmet	medical	need	for	COPD	
sufferers.	There	is	currently	no	once-daily	LAMA/
LABA	fixed	dose	combination	approved.	

Novartis	commenced	the	Phase	III	IGNITE	clinical	
trial	programme	with	QVA149	in	May	2010.	
IGNITE	is	one	of	the	largest	international	clinical	
trial	programmes	in	COPD	comprising	10	studies	
in	total	(ILLUMINATE,	SHINE,	BRIGHT,	ENLIGHTEN,	
SPARK,	BLAZE,	ARISE,	BEACON,	RADIATE,	
LANTERN)	and	more	than	7,000	patients	across	
42	countries.	The	first	eight	studies	completed	in	
2012.	The	studies	were	designed	to	investigate	

16	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Products

17	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Products

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business review: Products  continued

Generic products

Inhaled	respiratory	drugs	comprise	a	large	global	
market	(over	$6bn	in	the	US	alone	in	2012),	where	
many	of	the	patents	covering	the	products	expire	
in	the	2015-2020	timeframe.	With	an	ever-
growing	need	for	effective	and	affordable	
medicines,	these	products	have	the	potential	to	
generate	significant	value	as	substitutable	
generics	or	branded	generics.	The	extensive	
formulation	and	device	expertise	required	to	
develop	DPI	products	suggest	this	market	may	be	
associated	with	high	barriers	to	competition	and	
therefore	may	offer	greater	growth	potential	and	
higher	value.	Vectura	is	ideally	placed	to	take	
advantage	of	this	opportunity.	

VR315 for asthma/COPD 

VR315	is	an	inhaled	combination	therapy	for	
asthma	and	COPD,	licensed	to	Sandoz	AG	for	
development	and	commercialisation	in	Europe	
and	the	rest	of	world	(RoW).	The	deal	is	worth		
up	to	€22.5m	in	milestones	and	development	
funding,	plus	royalties	on	all	products	sold.	
Vectura	has	received	all	development	funding	
with	a	further	€7.5m	in	milestones	to	be	received.

In	August	2011,	Vectura	signed	a	licence	
agreement	for	the	development,	manufacturing	
and	commercialisation	of	VR315	in	the	US	with	the	
US	division	of	a	leading	international	
pharmaceutical	company.	In	August	2012,	Vectura	
announced	that	it	recorded	its	first	development	
milestone	under	this	agreement	of	$3m	(£1.9m)	in	
revenues	for	the	period	to	30	September	2012.	
The	$3m	includes	the	realisation	of	$2m	of	

deferred	revenue	received	in	March	2012.	Vectura	
is	eligible	to	receive	up	to	a	further	$32m	upon	
achievement	of	future	pre-determined	
development	milestones.	These	milestones,	
together	with	the	initial	payment	of	$10m	in	
August	2011,	total	$45m.	In	addition,	Vectura	will	
receive	a	royalty	from	all	VR315	US	sales.	

VR632 for asthma/COPD 

VR632	is	Vectura’s	second	inhaled	combination	
therapy	for	asthma	and	COPD.	The	European	
rights	for	VR632	were	licensed	to	Sandoz	in	
December	2007	in	a	deal	worth	up	to	€15.5m	in	
milestones	and	development	funding	plus	
royalties	on	all	products	sold.	Vectura	retains	the	
rights	for	the	US	and	other	territories.	

VR506 for asthma

VR506	is	an	inhaled	corticosteroid	(ICS)	for	the	
treatment	of	asthma,	which	entered	clinical	
development	in	early	2011.	Products	containing	
ICS	and	their	combinations	with	long-acting		
beta	agonists	(LABA/ICS)	are	the	mainstay	of	
prophylactic	therapy	for	asthma	with	overall		
US	sales	of	over	$6	billion	last	year.	As	one	of	the	
recommended	“preventer”	drugs	for	adults	and	
children,	they	are	often	prescribed	alongside	
beta2-agonist	bronchodilators.	Two	multi-centre,	
international	clinical	trials	are	currently	in	
progress,	with	the	first	due	to	complete	before	
year	end	and	the	second	in	Q1	2014.	These	trials	
will	form	the	basis	of	our	out-licensing	efforts.

Marketed products

Vectura’s	historic	royalty	
streams	have	been	derived	
from	our	marketed	products,	
with	ADVATE®	currently	being	
the	main	value	driver.	These	
drugs	have	been	developed	
using	aspects	of	Vectura’s	
intellectual	property	(IP)	and	
are	sold	by	partners.

Product 

Indication 

Partner 

Market 

Description

Asmabec® 
Clickhaler® 

Asmasal® 
Clickhaler® 

Asthma	

Recipharm	

Europe 

Beclometasone,	an	inhaled	corticosteroid

Asthma	

Recipharm	

Europe 

Short-acting	beta2-agonist	for	rapid	asthma
symptom	relief

ADVAtE® 

Haemophilia	A	

Baxter	

Worldwide 

A	formulation	of	Factor	VIII

Adept® 

Post	surgical	
adhesions		

Baxter	

Worldwide 

A	solution	used	to	prevent	surgical	adhesions,	
which	are	a	common	complication	of	surgery	
in	abdominal	and	gynaecological	surgery 

Extraneal® 

Peritoneal	
dialysis 

Baxter	

Worldwide 

A	solution	used	in	the	treatment	of	kidney 
failure	patients	with	peritoneal	dialysis

Meptin® 

Asthma	

Otsuka	

Japan	

Short-acting	beta2-agonist	for	the	rapid	relief
of	mild,	intermittent	asthma	symptoms

Seebri® 
Breezhaler® 

COPD	

Novartis	

Germany,	UK,	
Ireland	&	Japan*	

Once-daily	maintenance	bronchodilator
treatment 

*	Seebri®	Inhalation	Capsules	in	Japan.	Seebri®	Breezhaler®	(glycopyrronium	bromide,	NVA237)	is	a	registered	trademark	of	Novartis	AG.

ADVAtE® for haemophilia A

Adept® for prevention of surgical adhesions

Adept®	is	a	4%	icodextrin	solution	used	during	
surgery	to	reduce	post-surgical	adhesions,	a	
frequent	and	major	complication	after	
gynaecological	and	other	abdominal	surgery,	
where	abnormal	scarring	causes	the	surfaces	of	
internal	structures	to	stick	together.	Whilst	not	
necessarily	dangerous	in	themselves,	they	can	
lead	to	future	complications,	often	years	later	or	
if	further	abdominal	surgery	is	required.	It	has	
been	used	in	Europe	since	2000	and	since	2006	
in	the	US.	In	December	2005,	we	signed	a	
licence	deal	with	Baxter	for	the	manufacture		
and	distribution	of	Adept®.	

In	2000,	we	granted	worldwide	rights	to	Baxter	
to	use	our	stabilisation	patents	in	its	serum-free	
recombinant	Factor	VIII,	ADVATE®.	This	is	
indicated	for	the	treatment	of	haemophilia	A	
and	is	marketed	worldwide	by	Baxter,	from	
which	Vectura	earns	royalties	from	sales.	

Extraneal® for peritoneal dialysis

Extraneal®	is	a	peritoneal	dialysis	solution	
containing	icodextrin,	licensed	to	Baxter	in	1996	
and	marketed	by	Baxter	worldwide.	Peritoneal	
dialysis	is	a	form	of	treatment	for	kidney	failure	
used	to	remove	waste	and	excess	water	from	
the	blood,	a	function	that	is	usually	performed	
by	healthy	kidneys.	In	peritoneal	dialysis,	rather	
than	using	a	dialysis	machine,	a	special	fluid	is	
fed	through	a	catheter	into	the	abdominal	cavity	
that	surrounds	the	intestines	and,	after	a	few	
hours,	the	toxic	waste	and	excess	water	will	
have	become	dissolved	in	the	fluid	which	is	then	
drained	from	the	body	through	the	same	
catheter.	Vectura	receives	royalties	on	sales	in	
the	US	and	certain	other	territories.	

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Business review: Products

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Business review: Products

 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
	
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
Business review: Enabling technology platforms

Two line heading style 
Two line heading style

Enabling

Our formulation technologies and proprietary devices 
enable delivery directly to the lungs and underpin  
the Company’s development pipeline.

Vectura	has	a	wide	range	of	
important	drug	delivery	
technology	platforms	that	are	
patent-protected,	used	to	
support	its	own	product	
development.	Vectura	also	
offers	technologies	for	licence	
to	other	pharmaceutical	
companies,	a	strategy	that	has	
already	generated	significant	
revenue	for	the	Company.	

Vectura	has	a	state-of-the-art	Good	Manufacturing	
Practice	(GMP)	facility	that	has	been	designed	
specifically	to	manufacture	inhaled	products	to	
support	clinical	trials	through	to	regulatory	filing.	

Vectura	will	receive	£20	million	by	the	time	the	
compounds	are	launched,	as	well	as	earning	
royalties	on	sales	of	these	products,	generating	
up	to	£13m	per	year.	

The	development	of	drugs	for	inhalation	is	more	
complex	than	for	oral	delivery	or	injectable	
drugs	and	different	approaches	are	required	
depending	on	the	characteristics	of	the	drug	
being	delivered.	Companies	across	the	world	
are	keen	to	harness	our	expertise	and	technology	
for	their	own	inhalation	programmes	and	we	
expect	that	this	will	lead	to	future	collaborations	
and	licensing	deals.

Formulation technologies – including 
PowderHale®

Vectura’s	formulation	technologies	include	
PowderHale®,	a	patented	DPI	formulation	
technology	designed	to	improve	performance	of	
fine	particle	drug	powders	by	allowing		
aerosolised	drug	particles	to	achieve	high	lung	
deposition	with	low-dose	variability.	This	is	
achieved	by	incorporating	an	additional	
pharmacologically	inactive	excipient	known	as	a	
Force	Control	Agent	(FCA).	We	also	possess	
expertise	in	micronisation,	blending	and	spray	
drying,	all	of	which	are	used	in	the	development	
of	our	own	and	third-party	products.	

An	example	of	the	type	of	formulation	technology	
licensing	deal	possible	is	the	non-exclusive	
licensing	agreement	signed	in	August	2010	with	
GSK,	which	enables	them	to	use	some	of	our	dry	
powder	drug	formulation	patents	for	two	
late-stage	development	compounds	in	their	
airway	product	pipeline.	Under	the	agreement,	

Products delivered in Clickhaler ® for asthma 

Five	products	have	gained	regulatory	approvals	
for	the	treatment	of	asthma	that	are	delivered	
using	Clickhaler®,	Vectura’s	proprietary	reservoir	
DPI	device.

Asmasal®	and	Asmabec®	are	marketed	by	
Recipharm	in	the	UK,	France	and	Ireland.	Asmasal®	
contains	salbutamol,	a	short-acting	beta2-agonist	for	
the	rapid	relief	of	asthma	symptoms.	Asmabec®	
contains	beclometasone,	an	inhaled	steroid	used	as	
standard	preventative	therapy	for	asthma.	Meptin®	
(procaterol)	is	a	short-acting	beta2-agonist	for	the	
rapid	relief	of	mild,	intermittent	asthma	symptoms,	
marketed	by	Otsuka	Pharmaceutical	in	Japan.

Regulatory	approvals	have	also	been	received	for	
Clickhaler®	budesonide	in	Germany,	the	
Netherlands	and	New	Zealand,	with	approvals	for	
Clickhaler®	formoterol	received	in	Denmark,	the	
Netherlands,	South	Africa	and	New	Zealand.		
Neither	of	these	products	is	marketed	at	present;	
we	are	actively	exploring	new	territories	for	
marketing	them	as	well	as	other	Clickhaler®	
products.	Post	period:	on	13	May	2013	Vectura	
announced	that	it	had	established	a	strategic	
partnership	(Kinnovata)	for	a	new	respiratory	
business	in	China.	Kinnovata	will	aim	to	
commercialise	products	in	the	fast-growing		
Asian	respiratory	markets.	The	worldwide	rights		
to	Clickhaler	technology	are	being	transferred		
to	Kinnovata.

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Business review: Enabling technology platforms

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Business review: Enabling technology platforms  continued

GyroHaler®	multi-dose	inhaler

Clickhaler®	single-dose	inhaler

Duohaler®	dry	powder	inhaler

Duohaler® device and combination products 
for asthma/COPD 

In	addition	to	our	multi-unit	dose	devices	we	
also	the	two	reservoir	DPIs	Clickhaler®	and	
Duohaler®.	Duohaler®	provides	advantages	over	
a	number	of	other	multi-dose	DPIs.	Two	
separate	drug	reservoirs	feed	two	individual	
drug	formulations	into	two	separate	metering	
chambers,	and	the	drugs	are	then	delivered	to	
the	user	in	the	same	inhalation.	This	process	
obviates	the	need	to	co-formulate	combination	
drugs	and	provides	a	means	of	delivering	
simultaneously	a	combination	formulation	from	
one	reservoir	and	an	individual	drug	from	the	
second.	The	Asian	rights	to	the	Duohaler®	
technology	are	being	transferred	to	our	joint	
venture,	Kinnovata.

Multi-unit dose DPI devices 

Vectura’s	cost-effective,	multi-unit	dose	DPI	
technologies,	designed	to	deliver	locally-acting	
drugs	to	the	lungs,	include	devices	such	as	
GyroHaler®	and	OmniHaler®.	Compact	and	
easy	to	use,	our	devices	consist	of	just	a	few		
moulded	parts,	which	reduces	manufacturing	
costs.	Each	device	delivers	up	to	60	doses	and		
is	disposable	after	use.	They	have	aerosolisation	
characteristics	that	are	competitive	in	the	
marketplace	and	provide	excellent	drug	
protection	from	moisture	and	light	using	sealed,	
foil	blisters.	GyroHaler®	can	be	used	to	deliver	
some	of	our	generic	products	and	is	scaled	up	
for	commercial	launch.	Other	devices	are	in	
late-stage	development.	

Vectura	continues	to	invest	in	its	device	platform	
and	has	tailored	the	device	technologies	for	the	
US	airway	generics	market	and	has	received	
recent	validation	from	both	partners	and	other	
external	parties.	All	our	multi-unit	dose	DPI	
technologies	are	available	for	licensing	where	
such	a	partnership	would	add	value	to	the	
business	for	products/territories	not		
already	licensed.	

GyroHaler®	multi-dose	inhaler

Innovative

Creating innovative solutions to development issues in 
airway-related diseases whether through know-how and 
expertise or in the development of new technologies.

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Business review: Enabling technology platforms

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Business review: Capabilities

Pharmaceutical development 
services

Vectura’s	pharmaceutical	development	services	
revenues	are	generated	by	providing	specialist	
product	development	services	to	other	
pharmaceutical	companies,	primarily	licensing	
partners,	to	continue	the	development	of	
products	or	technologies	licensed	from	Vectura	
until	complete	transfer	has	been	achieved.	

Commercial and business 
development

Vectura’s	Commercial	team,	responsible	for	
business	development	and	licensing,	maintains	
good	relationships	with	international	
pharmaceutical	companies	and	undertakes	
market	analysis	for	all	products	under	
development.	In	addition,	the	team	provides		
the	market	analysis	and	competitor	information	
that	is	required	to	identify	valuable	new	product	
opportunities.	The	major	licensing	deals	Vectura	
has	concluded	to	date	demonstrate	the	strength	
of	the	Group’s	commercial	and	business	
development	skills.

Development 

Vectura’s	Development	team	has	demonstrated	
its	ability	to	develop	products	through	stages	of	
pre-clinical	and	clinical	development.	The	team	
supports	the	development	of	Vectura’s	own	
products	as	well	as	some	of	those	developed	by	
our	partners.	Key	functions	include	liaison	with	
thought-leaders,	clinical	investigators	and	
experts	in	the	design	of	clinical	trials	(and	
associated	pre-clinical	development	
programmes),	and	the	selection	and	

management	of	specialist	airway	and	other	
clinical	research	organisations	(CROs)	
responsible	for	the	conduct	of	clinical	trials.	

Regulatory affairs

Vectura	has	experience	in	global	pharmaceutical	
product	registration	and	inhaled	product	
development.	Vectura	has	regulatory	support	
for	its	own	programmes	and	for	those	of	its	
partners,	thus	ensuring	that	it	has	the	data	
requirements	to	ensure	timely	approvals.	
Vectura	prepares	and	maintains	Clinical	Trial	
Authorisations	(CTAs)	and	prepares	regulatory	
responses	to	questions	on	a	worldwide	basis	as	
required.	Submission	of	dossiers	and	liaison	
with	individual	regulatory	authorities	is	also	
undertaken	as	appropriate.

Quality

Quality	in	a	pharmaceutical	development	
environment	ensures	that	the	clinical	supplies	
produced	and	the	data	intended	to	support	
regulatory	submissions	are	generated	in	
compliance	with	Good	Pharmaceutical	
Manufacturing	Practice	(GMP),	the	principles	of	
Good	Laboratory	Practice	(GLP)	and	Good	Clinical	
Practice	(GCP),	collectively	referred	to	as	GxP.	

Vectura	has	a	Manufacturer’s	Authorisation	for	
Investigational	Medicinal	Products	–	MIA(IMP)33496	
–	at	its	Chippenham	facility	from	the	Medicines	
and	Healthcare	products	Regulatory	Agency	
(MHRA).	An	MIA(IMP)	is	a	requirement	of	the	EU	
Clinical	Trials	Directive,	now	embodied	in	
national	legislation,	and	allows	for	manufacture,	
assembly,	certification	and	release	of	clinical	trial	
supplies	by	the	Group’s	Qualified	Person.	

Vectura trademarks

Third-party trademarks

Adept®	is	a	registered	trademark	of	
Innovata	Limited.

ADVAtE®	and	Extraneal®	are	registered	
trademarks	of	Baxter	International	Inc.

Asmasal®	and Asmabec®	are	registered	
trademarks	of	Celltech	Pharma	Europe	Limited.

Breezhaler®,	Onbrez®	and	Seebri®	are	
registered	trademarks	of	Novartis	AG.

Clickhaler®	and	Duohaler®	are	registered	
trademarks	of	Innovata	Biomed	Limited.		
These	trademarks	are	in	the	process	of		
being	transferred	to	Tianjin	Kinnovata	
Pharmaceutical	Company	Limited.

GyroHaler®,	PowderHale®	and	Vectura®	
are	registered	trademarks	of	Vectura	Limited.

Omnihaler®	is	a	registered	trademark	of	
Vectura	Delivery	Devices	Limited.

Vectura	is	also	certified	under	ISO	13485:2003	for	
the	design	and	manufacture	of	inhaler	products.	
In	order	to	achieve	the	ISO	13485	certification,	
Vectura’s	device	engineering	and	Quality	
Management	System	were	inspected	by	an	
authorised	quality	standards	organisation	(Lloyds	
Register	Quality	Assurance),	which	found	the	
quality	system	to	be	of	sufficiently	high	standard	
to	allow	Vectura	to	self-certify	its	inhaler	devices	
as	being	fit	for	market	use	in	Europe.

Vectura’s	extensive	patent	portfolio	consists	of	
patent	families	relating	to	various	
pharmaceutical	technologies,	including	
inventions	made	by	the	Group’s	researchers	as	
well	as	inventions	the	Group	has	acquired	or	
licensed	from	third	parties.	The	Group	actively	
protects,	maintains	and	defends	this	patent	
estate.	Vectura	also	maintains	additional	
intellectual	property	rights	including	
trademarks,	design	rights	and	know-how.

Value	continues	to	be	obtained	from	Vectura’s	
intellectual	property	portfolio	from	licensing	IP	
rights	for	the	development	of	inhalation	and	
non-pulmonary	products.	

Facilities

Vectura	operates	from	two	facilities	in	the	UK.	
There	are	approximately	64,000	square-feet	of	
laboratory,	office,	warehouse	and	manufacturing	
facilities	in	Chippenham,	Wiltshire.	These	facilities	
are	approved	for	GMP	manufacturing	of	
Investigational	Medicinal	Products	for	clinical	
trials.	On	the	Cambridge	Science	Park,	Vectura	
occupies	a	4,200	square-foot	laboratory	and	
device	engineering	unit.

Manufacturing operations 

The	Manufacturing	Operations	team	is	
responsible	for	the	late-stage	manufacturing	of	
Vectura’s	technologies	and	airway	products,	and	
ensures	that	such	products	can	be	validated	and	
commercialised	successfully	in	client	or	contract	
manufacturing	facilities.	The	team	is	responsible	
for	global	clinical	supply	chain	operations	as	
Vectura’s	products	are	distributed	worldwide.

Vectura’s	strategy	is	to	produce	clinical	trials	
supplies	up	to	pilot-plant	scale.	The	Group	then	
uses	contract	manufacturing	organisations	for	
larger-scale	manufacturing	for	late-stage	
development	and	commercial	supply,	as	well	as	
for	some	smaller-scale	manufacturing	where	it	
is	more	economical	to	do	so.

Intellectual property

Vectura’s	portfolio	of	intellectual	property	is	a	
valuable	asset	that	is	fundamental	to	success,	
and	the	Group	aims	to	secure	registered	
protection	for	all	aspects	of	its	products,	
processes	and	technology	platforms.	

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Business review: Capabilities

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Business review: Capabilities

Business review: Key performance indicators

Business review: Risk management

Progress with collaborative partners 
and licensees for the development and 
commercialisation of products

Vectura	continued	to	progress	the	development	and	
commercialisation	of	programmes	partnered	in	earlier	years	
including	NVA237	($12.5m	of	milestones	received	in	relation	to	
European	and	Japanese	approval)	and	QVA149	($5m	EU	filing	
milestone	received).

Developing our product pipeline

Vectura	continues	to	evaluate	new	products	arising	from		
internal	development	activities	as	well	as	in-licensing	and	
co-development	opportunities.	

Maintaining and strengthening our 
intellectual property portfolio

Vectura	has	continued	to	build	its	IP	portfolio	in	line	with	its	
commercial	objectives.	We	have	secured	grants	of	important		
US	and	European	patents	covering	future	and	current		
commercial	products	in	these	territories.

Loss reduction and revenue generation

Loss	after	taxation	over	the	last	three	years	is	as	follows:

year ended

31 March 2013

31	March	2012

31	March	2011

Loss
£m

5.9

4.4

8.8

(Increase)/ 
decrease 
£m

(1.5)

4.4

1.4

Revenues	generated	over	the	last	three	years	are	as	follows:

year ended

31 March 2013

31	March	2012

31	March	2011

Revenue
£m

30.5

33.0

42.9

(Decrease)/ 
increase 
%

(7.6)

(23.0)

7.0

Cash management

This	involves	the	management	of	the	funding	received	and	the	
cash	resources	available.	The	operational	cash	is	defined	by	
reference	to	the	cash	flow	statements	as	being	the	addition	of	the	
net	cash	outflow	from	operating	activities	and	the	cash	inflows	
from	investing	and	financing	activities	excluding	cash	inflow/
outflow	on	acquisitions.	These	key	performance	indicators	(KPIs)	
for	the	three	years	to	31	March	2013	are	as	follows:

Increase/
(decrease) 
in cash
£m

(5.4)

1.1

10.3

Cash inflow/
(outflow) from 
financing 
activities
£m

0.6

2.5

0.2

year ended

31 March 2013

31	March	2012

31	March	2011

The Group’s business involves exposure to a number of  
risks, many of which are inherent in pharmaceutical product 
development. Risks particular to the Group include the following.

Industry risk

The nature of pharmaceutical development is such that drug 
candidates may not be successful owing to an inability to 
demonstrate in a timely manner the necessary safety and 
efficacy in a clinical setting to the satisfaction of appropriate 
regulatory bodies, such as the European Medicines Agency 
(EMA) in Europe and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 
the US. The Group may be unable to attract, by itself or from 
partners, the funding necessary to meet the high cost of 
developing its products through to successful commercialisation. 
The Group’s response to industry risk is detailed in the 
responses to the specific risks identified below.

Clinical and regulatory risk

Drug substances may not be stable or economic to produce. 
Unacceptable toxicities or insufficient efficacy in the chosen 
indication may cause the medicine to fail or limit its applicability. 
Lack of performance by third-party clinical research 
organisations or an inability to recruit patients to clinical trials 
may cause undue delays in clinical trial results. Clinical and 
regulatory issues may arise or changes to the regulatory 
environment may occur that lead to delays, further costs, 
reduction in the commercial potential of a product in 
development, or the cessation of programmes. Ethical, 
regulatory or marketing approvals may be delayed or withheld 
or, if awarded, may carry conditions unacceptable for further 
development or commercial success. The Group’s 
manufacturing facilities and those of its third-party 
manufacturers are subject to regulatory requirements and 
licensing and there can be no assurance that such facilities will 
continue to comply with such regulatory requirements. Given 
the cutting-edge nature of the technology, alternative 
manufacturing facilities may not be available. The Group 
manages its regulatory risk by working closely with its expert 
regulatory advisers and, where appropriate, by seeking advice 
from regulatory authorities on the design of key development 
plans for its pre-clinical and clinical programmes.

Counterparty risk

The Group relies on third-party organisations to conduct its 
clinical trials and to manufacture certain of its products. If the 
relationship with or performance of any of these partners is 
adversely affected, the Group’s operations may be adversely 
impacted. As part of the Group’s routine vendor assessment, 
detailed due diligence is performed on all third-party 
organisations to establish that such organisations have the 
required capability, expertise and financial stability to perform 
the relevant services for the Group. Where possible, alternative 
third-party suppliers are identified to take over the 
performance of such services in the event difficulties are 
experienced with the original vendor.

Competition and intellectual property risk 

Certain companies are developing medicines that may restrict 
the potential commercial success of the Group’s products or 
render them obsolete. Third-party companies may have 
intellectual property that restricts the Group’s or the Group’s 
partners’ freedom to operate. Obtaining licences to intellectual 
property may not be possible or may be costly and may reduce 
net royalty income to the Group. The Group’s intellectual 
property may become invalid or expire before its products are 
successfully commercialised. The Group works closely with its 
legal advisers and obtains where necessary opinions on the 
intellectual property landscape relevant to the Group’s  
product development programmes and manufacturing  
activities and processes.

Economic risk

The successful development and commercialisation of 
medicines carries a high level of risk and the returns may be 
insufficient to cover the costs incurred. Restrictions on health 
budgets worldwide or on the prices that may be charged for 
new medicines through competitive or other pressures may 
limit a medicine’s sales potential. The Group may not be able to 
attract partners on favourable terms or recruit the appropriate 
calibre of staff to develop or commercialise its products. Any 
partners may fail to perform or commit the resources necessary 
to commercialise the Group’s products successfully. The Group 
performs detailed reviews of the development process and 
progress of projects through trials. 

26	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Key performance indicators

27	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Risk management

	
Business review: Risk management  continued

Directors and governance: Corporate governance statement

Financial risk

Risk management

The Group’s activities expose it to a number of financial risks 
including cash flow risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and price risk. 
In accordance with policies approved by the Board of Directors, 
the Group does not use financial derivatives to manage these 
risks. In addition, the Group does not use financial instruments 
for speculative purposes.

The Group’s extensive risk management process is detailed in 
the corporate governance statement section of the business 
review. The process seeks to identify material risks and to 
determine how best to manage them. Specific risk managing 
actions the Group has in place are set out against certain of the 
risks identified in this section.

Cash flow risk

The Group’s activities expose it to the financial risks of changes 
in foreign currency exchange rates. The majority of the Group’s 
revenues are in euros or US dollars. Where known liabilities 
arise in these currencies the revenues are retained on deposit in 
the appropriate currency in order to offset the exchange risk on 
these liabilities. As at 31 March 2013, the Group had sufficient 
euro and US dollar reserves to cover its immediate and 
short-term liabilities in respect of these currencies.

Credit risk

The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributed to its cash and 
cash equivalents. This risk is limited because the counterparties 
are banks with high credit ratings assigned by international 
credit-rating agencies. Deposits are made in accordance with 
the Group’s Treasury Policy approved by the Board, which 
contains strict criteria on minimum credit ratings and maximum 
deposit size. However, the recent global credit problems could 
result in the failure of even high credit-rated banks where funds 
are deposited.

Liquidity risk

In order to maintain liquidity to ensure that sufficient funds are 
available for ongoing operations and future developments, the 
Group closely monitors the cash available to the Group, which is 
invested in a mixture of current and short-term deposit accounts.

Price risk

The Group is exposed to price risk in respect of its income and 
expenditure. The Group manages its exposure to price risk 
through commercial negotiations with customers and suppliers, 
working closely with its legal advisers on negotiations that are 
of significant importance to the Group. 

The	Board	is	committed	to	practising	good	corporate	governance	
as	part	of	its	aim	to	deliver	shareholder	value.	In	assessing	the	
appropriate	standards	of	corporate	governance	the	Board	takes	
into	account	the	nature	and	size	of	the	operation,	which	
comprised	at	31	March	2013	seven	Directors	and	over	200	staff	
operating	from	two	sites	in	the	UK	and	one	office	in	the	US.	The	
Board	recognises	that	it	is	accountable	to	shareholders	for	the	
Group’s	standard	of	governance	and	is	reporting	here	on	its	
compliance	with	the	code	of	best	practice	set	out	in	the	UK	
Corporate	Governance	Code	(“the	Code”),	a	copy	of	which	is	
available	on	the	Financial	Reporting	Council’s	website	at		
www.frc.org.uk.	

Statement of compliance with the UK 
Corporate Governance Code 

The	Group	has,	in	the	Directors’	opinion,	complied	with	the	
provisions	set	out	in	Section	1	of	the	Code	throughout	the	year	
ended	31	March	2013.	

The	principles	set	out	in	the	Code	cover	four	areas:	the	Board,	
Directors’	remuneration,	accountability	and	audit	and	shareholder	
relations.	With	the	exception	of	Directors’	remuneration	(which	is	
dealt	with	separately	in	the	Report	on	remuneration),	the	
following	sets	out	how	the	Board	has	applied	such	principles.

The Board

The	Code	requires	every	company	to	be	headed	by	an	effective	
board,	which	is	collectively	responsible	for	its	success.	As	part	of	its	
leadership	and	control	of	the	Group,	the	Board	has	an	agreed	list	of	
matters	that	are	specifically	reserved	for	its	consideration.	These	
include	business	strategy,	financing	arrangements,	material	
acquisitions	and	divestments,	approval	of	the	annual	budget,	major	
capital	expenditure	projects,	risk	management,	treasury	policies	
and	establishing	and	monitoring	internal	controls.	At	each	meeting,	
the	Board	reviews	strategy	and	progress	of	the	Group	towards	its	
objectives,	particularly	in	respect	of	research	and	development	
projects,	and	monitors	financial	progress	against	budget.	

Non-Executive	Directors	(NEDs)	are	encouraged	to	meet	without	
the	presence	of	Executive	Directors	as	appropriate.	Discussions	
took	place	on	two	occasions	during	the	year	and	included	
discussions	on	each	Executive	Director’s	performance.	

Division of responsibilities between 
Chairman and Chief Executive

The	Board	has	shown	its	commitment	to	dividing	responsibilities	for	
running	the	Board	and	for	running	the	Group’s	business	by	
appointing	Jack	Cashman	as	Non-Executive	Chairman;	by	naming		
Dr	John	Brown	as	Senior	Independent	Director;	by	establishing	an	
executive	Leadership	Team	(LT)	under	the	leadership	of	Chief	
Executive	Dr	Chris	Blackwell;	and	by	establishing	a	procedure	
whereby	the	LT	reports	formally	to	the	Board	at	each	Board	meeting.

Board balance and shareholdings

The	Code	requires	a	balance	of	Executive	Directors	and	NEDs	(and	
in	particular	independent	NEDs)	such	that	no	individual	or	small	
group	of	individuals	can	dominate	the	Board’s	decision-taking.	
Four	of	the	seven	current	Board	members	are	NEDs.	The	NEDs	
come	from	diverse	business	backgrounds	and	each	has	specific	
expertise,	materially	enhancing	the	judgement	and	overall	
performance	of	the	Board.	

Throughout	the	year	ended	31	March	2013	and	up	to	the	date		
of	publication	of	this	report,	at	least	half	of	the	Board,	excluding	
the	Chairman,	is	comprised	of	NEDs	determined	by	the	Board	to	
be	independent.

Vectura	is	committed	to	working	towards	achieving	meaningful	
shareholdings	in	the	Group	for	Executive	Directors	in	order	to	
align	their	interests	to	those	of	the	shareholders.	Share	ownership	
guidelines	of	the	Company,	as	applicable	to	Executive	Directors,	
state	that	they	are	expected	to	maintain	or	build	their	holdings	to	
attain	an	interest	in	ordinary	shares	that	is	equal	to	their	basic	
salary.	The	Executive	Directors	acquired	shares	in	both	the	years	
ended	31	March	2013	and	2012.

Independence of NEDs

As	explained	in	previous	annual	reports,	in	order	to	assist	in	
securing	the	recruitment	and	retention	of	high-calibre	NEDs,	in	
the	past	the	Group	has,	in	addition	to	fees,	remunerated	NEDs	in	
the	form	of	options	to	acquire	shares	in	Vectura.	

Whilst	the	Code	discourages	the	granting	of	share	options	to	
NEDs,	it	nevertheless	acknowledges	that	such	grants	may	be	
appropriate	in	a	particular	company’s	circumstances.	The	Board	is	
of	the	view	that	the	historic	granting	of	share	options	to	NEDs	
when	Vectura	Group	plc	was	a	private	company	was	appropriate.	

28	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Business review: Risk management

29	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Corporate governance statement

Directors and governance: Corporate governance statement  continued

It	was	essential	for	an	emerging	pharmaceutical	company	like	
Vectura	to	secure	the	recruitment	and	retention	of	NEDs	with	the	
appropriate	experience	and	international	perspective	in	the		
context	of	the	Group’s	then	stage	of	development.	There	are	no	
performance	criteria	attaching	to	these	options	and	no	share	
options	have	been	granted	to	NEDs	since	2	July	2004,	when	the	
Company	was	admitted	to	the	Alternative	Investment	Market	(AIM).	

The	holding	of	share	options	by	NEDs	could	be,	amongst	other	
things,	relevant	in	determining	whether	a	NED	is	independent.	
After	detailed	consideration,	the	Board	has	determined	that	it	
does	not	believe	that	the	holding	of	share	options	by	its	NEDs	
impacts	on	their	independence	in	character	and	judgement.	
Options	granted	to	NEDs	are	now	exercisable	and	thus	similar	to	
holding	the	equivalent	amount	of	shares.	There	is	no	intention	to	
award	any	further	options	to	NEDs.

Other	factors	that	may	reflect	on	the	independence	of	a	NED	
include	any	material	business	relationships	with	the	Group;	
however,	there	were	no	such	relationships	during	the	year,	up	to	
the	date	of	this	report,	or	in	the	prior	year.

Serving	more	than	nine	years	could	be	relevant	to	the	
determination	of	a	NED’s	independence.	Notwithstanding	the	fact	
that	John	Brown	and	Jack	Cashman	have	been	NEDs	of	the	parent	
company	of	the	Group	for	9	and	12	years	respectively,	the	Board	
has	rigorously	evaluated	their	performance	and	considers	that	
they	are	fully	independent	of	the	Group.	

The	Board	has	established	a	Remuneration	Committee,	a	
Nomination	Committee	and	an	Audit	Committee,	whose	make-up	
complies	with	the	requirements	of	the	Code.	The	terms	of	
reference	of	each	Committee	can	be	downloaded	from	the	
Group’s	website.	In	accordance	with	the	Smith	Guidance	on	Board	
Committees,	no	one	other	than	the	Committee	Chairman	and	
committee	members	receives	automatic	invitations	to	the	
meetings.	The	NEDs	serve	on	the	three	board	committees,	as	
described	below.	The	Board	has	considered	the	composition	of	
the	committees	and	concluded	that	the	independence	and	
objectivity	of	the	individual	NEDs	is	not	impaired	by	sitting	on	
these	committees.

The Remuneration Committee

Committee	has	responsibility	for	making	recommendations	to	the	
Board	on	the	Group’s	policy	on	the	performance	evaluation	and	
remuneration	of	Directors	and	for	determining,	within	agreed	
terms	of	reference,	specific	remuneration	packages	for	each	of	
the	Directors	and	members	of	senior	management,	including	
pension	rights,	any	compensation	payments	and	the	
implementation	of	executive	incentive	schemes.	The	Committee	
met	formally	five	times	during	the	financial	year	ended	31	March	
2013	and	the	Board	confirms	full	attendance	by	all	members	at	
those	meetings.	No	Director	is	involved	in	determining	his	or	her	
own	remuneration.

The Nomination Committee

The	Nomination	Committee	leads	the	process	for	Board	
appointments	and	makes	recommendations	to	the	Board.	The	
Code	recommends	that	a	majority	of	members	of	the	Nomination	
Committee	are	independent	NEDs.	Dr	Brown	chairs	the	
Nomination	Committee	and	its	other	members	are	Mr	Cashman,	
Dr	Foden	and	Mr	Warner,	all	of	whom	are	considered	to	be	
independent.	The	Nomination	Committee	meets	at	least	once	a	
year,	or	more	if	necessary,	and	has	responsibility	for	considering	
the	size,	structure	and	composition	of	the	Board,	retirements	and	
appointments	of	additional	and	replacement	Directors	and	
making	appropriate	recommendations	to	the	Board.	The	
Committee	met	twice	during	the	financial	year	ended	31	March	
2013	and	the	Board	confirms	full	attendance	by	all	members	at	
those	meetings.	

The Audit Committee

The	Code	recommends	that	the	Board	should	establish	an	Audit	
Committee	of	at	least	three	independent	NEDs,	and	the	Group	
complies	with	these	recommendations.	Mr	Warner	is	the	NED	with	
relevant	financial	experience	and	who	chairs	the	Audit	Committee;	
its	other	members	are	Dr	Foden	and	Dr	Brown.	The	Audit	
Committee	met	twice	during	the	year	ended	31	March	2013.	The	
Board	confirms	full	attendance	by	all	members	during	the	year.	
The	Audit	Committee	is	responsible	for	making	recommendations	
to	the	Board	on	the	appointment,	reappointment	and	removal	of	
the	external	auditor	and	assesses	annually	the	qualification,	
expertise,	resources,	remuneration	and	independence	of	the	
auditor,	as	well	as	the	effectiveness	of	the	audit	process.	

The	Code	requires	that	the	Remuneration	Committee	consists	of	
at	least	two	independent	NEDs.	Dr	Foden	chairs	the	Remuneration	
Committee,	its	other	members	being	Dr	Brown,	Mr	Cashman	and	
Mr	Warner,	all	of	whom	are	considered	to	be	independent.	The	

Any	non-audit	services	that	are	to	be	provided	by	the	external	
auditor	are	reviewed	and	approved	in	advance	in	order	to	
safeguard	auditor	objectivity	and	independence.	The	Board	
confirms	that	there	have	been	no	non-audit	services	that	are	

considered	to	have	impaired	the	objectivity	and	independence	of	
the	external	auditor.	Non-audit	fees	are	disclosed	in	note	5	to	the	
financial	statements	within	this	Annual	Report.

The	Code	requires	that	this	Annual	Report	separately	describes	
the	work	of	the	Audit	Committee	and	how	it	discharges	its	
responsibilities.	The	Audit	Committee	focuses	particularly	on	
compliance	with	legal	requirements,	accounting	standards	and	
the	Code,	and	on	ensuring	that	an	effective	system	of	internal	
financial	controls	is	maintained.	The	ultimate	responsibility	for	
reviewing	and	approving	the	financial	statements	in	the	Interim	
and	Annual	Reports	remains	with	the	Board.	Written	terms	of	
reference	are	modelled	on	the	Code	provisions	and	set	out	the	
main	roles	and	responsibilities	of	the	Audit	Committee.	The	Audit	
Committee	reports	to	the	Board,	identifying	any	need	for	action	
or	improvement	on	any	of	these	terms	of	reference	and	making	
recommendations	as	to	the	steps	to	be	taken.	The	Board	reviews	
the	effectiveness	of	the	Audit	Committee	annually.

The	Audit	Committee	meets	with	the	external	auditor	at	least	twice	
a	year	without	management	present	and	its	Chairman	keeps	in	
touch,	as	required,	with	the	key	people	involved	in	the	Group’s	
governance,	including	the	Board	Chairman,	the	Chief	Executive,	the	
Chief	Financial	Officer	and	the	external	audit	lead	partner.

Audit	Committee	members	understand	the	role	of	the	Audit	
Committee,	its	terms	of	reference	and	their	expected	time	
commitments,	and	have	the	necessary	overview	of	the	Group’s	
business,	financial	dynamics	and	risk.	

The	Audit	Committee	reviews	arrangements	by	which	staff	of	the	
Group	may,	in	confidence,	raise	concerns	about	possible	
improprieties	in	matters	of	financial	reporting	or	other	matters.	

The	Audit	Committee’s	objective	is	to	ensure	that	arrangements	
are	in	place	for	the	proportionate	and	independent	investigation	
of	such	matters	and	for	appropriate	follow-up	action.

The	Audit	Committee	reviews	the	financial	integrity	of	the	Group’s	
financial	statements,	including	relevant	corporate	governance	
statements	prior	to	Board	submission.

The	Group	has	a	formal	whistle-blowing	policy,	which	is	available	
to	all	staff	via	the	Group’s	intranet.

Timeliness and quality of Board information

The	Board	has	sought	to	ensure	that	Directors	are	properly	
briefed	to	help	them	make	an	effective	contribution	at	the	
meetings	by	establishing	procedures	for	distributing	Board	
agendas	and	papers	in	a	timely	manner	in	advance	of	meetings.	
The	Board	plans	formal	meetings	on	a	bi-monthly	basis,	with	
additional	meetings	either	in	person	or	by	conference	call	when	
circumstances	and	urgent	business	dictate.	In	the	financial	year	
under	review,	seven	regular	meetings	of	the	full	Board	were	held.	

In	addition,	the	Executive	Directors	ensure	regular	informal	
contact	is	maintained	with	Non-Executive	Directors.	The	Board	
makes	full	use	of	appropriate	technology	as	a	means	of	updating	
and	informing	all	its	members.

Transparency of Board appointments

There	are	formal,	rigorous	and	transparent	procedures	for	the	
appointment	of	new	Directors	to	the	Board.	Shortlisted	candidates	
are	interviewed	by	the	Chairman	of	the	Board	and	all	members	of	
the	Nomination	Committee,	and	evaluations	of	all	appropriate	
candidates	are	circulated	to	all	members	of	the	Nomination	
Committee	for	consideration	and	approval	prior	to	candidate	
recommendation	to	the	Board.

Board performance evaluation 

Directors	are	subject	to	election	by	shareholders	at	the	first	
opportunity	after	their	appointment,	and	to	re-election	at	intervals	
of	no	more	than	three	years	thereafter.	Non-Executive	Directors	
who	have	served	more	than	nine	years	on	the	board	are	subject	to	
annual	re-election	by	shareholders	in	line	with	the	Code.	The	Board	
has	a	process	for	evaluation	of	its	own	performance	and	that	of	its	
committees	and	individual	Directors,	including	the	Chairman.	These	
evaluations	are	carried	out	formally	once	a	year	and	informally	on	a	
regular	basis	throughout	the	year.	The	formal	evaluation	is	through	
an	appraisal	process.	In	line	with	the	practice	of	previous	years,	the	
Assistant	Company	Secretary	prepared	and	circulated	a	
questionnaire	for	all	Board	members	to	answer	and	comment	upon	
specific	questions	covering	specific	topics.	These	included	the	
responsibilities	and	the	roles	of	individual	directors	and	the	Board	
as	a	whole;	the	conduct	of	Board	meetings	and	Committees	of	the	
Board;	the	Board’s	role	in	monitoring	the	performance	of	the	Group	
and	corporate	governance	practices.	A	detailed	anonymised	
analysis	of	the	replies	to	the	questionnaire,	together	with	
conclusions	drawn	from	such	analysis,	was	prepared	by	the	
Assistant	Company	Secretary	and	considered	by	the	Board.

30	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Corporate governance statement

31	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Corporate governance statement

Directors and governance: Corporate governance statement  continued

The	performances	of	Mr	Cashman,	Dr	Brown,	Mr	Warner	and		
Dr	Blackwell	who	are	being	proposed	for	re-election	at	the		
Annual	General	Meeting	(AGM),	have	been	so	evaluated	and	it		
has	been	determined	that	they	continue	to	perform	effectively	
and	show	full	commitment	to	their	roles	on	the	Board.	

All	Directors	have	service	agreements	with	indefinite	terms,	with	
12	months’	notice	for	Executive	Directors	and	three	months’	
notice	for	Non-Executive	Directors.

Accountability and audit

The	Board	is	required	by	the	Code	to	present	a	balanced	and	
understandable	assessment	of	the	Group’s	position	and	
prospects.	In	relation	to	this	requirement	reference	is	made	to	the	
Statement	of	Directors’	responsibilities	for	preparing	financial	
statements.	The	independent	auditor’s	report	includes	a	
statement	by	the	auditor	on	its	reporting	responsibilities.

Measures	to	ensure	the	auditor’s	independence	include:

	 approving	engagements	with	independent	audit	firms	and	
fees	for	audit,	audit-related	and	non-audit	services;

	 full	consideration	being	given	to	alternative	suppliers	of	
services,	before	the	award	of	contract	for	non-audit	services;	
and	

	 disclosing	the	extent	and	nature	of	non-audit	services	in	the	
notes	to	the	financial	statements.

Maintenance of a sound system of  
internal control

The	Board	has	overall	responsibility	for	the	Group’s	system	of	
internal	control	and	for	reviewing	its	effectiveness.	The	Group’s	
internal	controls	are	regularly	reviewed	as	part	of	the	risk	
management	process.	Such	a	system	is	designed	to	manage	
rather	than	eliminate	the	risk	of	failure	to	achieve	business	
objectives	and	can	provide	only	reasonable	and	not	absolute	
assurance	against	material	misstatement	or	loss.	The	concept		
of	reasonable	assurance	recognises	that	the	cost	of	a	control	
procedure	should	not	exceed	the	expected	benefits.

There	have	been	no	significant	internal	control	failings	or	
weaknesses	throughout	the	year	ended	31	March	2013	and		
up	to	the	date	of	publication	of	this	report.

The	Group’s	organisational	structure	has	clearly	established	
responsibilities	and	lines	of	accountability.	Employees	are	
required	to	follow	clearly	defined	internal	procedures	and	policies	
appropriate	to	the	business	and	their	position	within	the	business.

The	Group	endeavours	to	appoint	employees	with	appropriate	
skills,	knowledge	and	experience	for	the	roles	they	undertake.

The	Board	has	shown	its	commitment	to	formal	and	transparent	
arrangements	for	internal	control	by,	amongst	other	things,	
reviewing	the	Group’s	arrangements	for	its	employees	to	raise	
concerns,	in	confidence,	about	possible	wrongdoing	(formalised	
in	the	grievance	procedure	and	the	whistle-blowing	policy	
circulated	to	all	employees).	In	addition,	the	Group	operates	
certain	controls	specifically	relating	to	the	production	of	
consolidated	financial	information,	covering	operational	
procedures,	validation	and	review.

Documented	quality	procedures	are	in	place	to	ensure	the	
maintenance	of	regulatory	compliance.	These	are	subject	to	
periodic	review	to	ensure	current	standards	of	quality	compliance	
are	maintained.	A	quality	group	monitors	compliance	with	Good	
Laboratory	Practice,	Good	Clinical	Practice	and	Good	
Manufacturing	Practice	through	the	implementation	of	a	
compliance	programme	for	in-house	and	contracted-out	
activities.	The	Group	has	a	formal	Health	and	Safety	Committee,	
comprising	appropriate	members	of	management	and	other	
employees,	to	be	responsible	for	these	issues.	The	Group	has	
formal	procedures	to	ensure	appropriate	security	of	documents	
and	proprietary	information.	Lean	techniques	addressing	
laboratory	and	office	inefficiencies	have	also	been	adopted.	

The	Group	regularly	reviews	its	portfolio	of	insurance	policies	
with	its	insurance	broker	to	ensure	that	the	policies	are	
appropriate	to	the	Group’s	activities,	size	and	exposures.	

A	comprehensive	budgeting	system	allows	managers	to	submit	
detailed	budgets,	which	are	reviewed	and	amended	by	Executive	
Directors	prior	to	submission	to	the	Board	for	approval.	At	the	end	
of	each	quarter	a	forecast	is	prepared	in	the	same	level	of	detail	
as	the	budget.	Actual	results	against	budget	and	forecast,	
highlighting	variances,	are	prepared	for	managers	and	the	Board.

Risk assessment review

Constructive use of the AGM

The	Board	seeks	to	use	the	AGM	(together	with	other	forums)	to	
communicate	with	investors	and	encourage	their	participation	by	
arranging	business	presentations	and	inviting	shareholder	
questions.	The	Chairs	of	the	Remuneration,	Nomination	and	Audit	
Committees	are	present	at	the	AGM	to	answer	questions	through	
the	Chairman	of	the	Board.

Anne Hyland
Company	Secretary

20	May	2013

An	ongoing	process	for	identifying,	evaluating	and	managing	the	
significant	risks	that	are	detailed	in	the	risk	factors	section	of	this	
report	is	in	place.	The	effectiveness	of	the	Group’s	internal	control	
system	has	been	reviewed	by	the	Board	during	the	year.	The	
Audit	Committee’s	terms	of	reference	include	the	review	of	the	
Group’s	internal	financial	control	systems	and	it	recommends	to	
the	Board	any	improvements	required.	Each	year,	the	Audit	
Committee	considers	the	need	for	an	internal	audit	function	and	
has	concluded	that,	given	the	size	of	the	Group’s	operations	at	
this	time,	it	is	not	necessary.	The	Board	also	carries	out	reviews		
of	the	non-financial	control	systems.	

Shareholder relations

The	Group	reports	formally	to	shareholders	four	times	a	year	by	
way	of	the	Interim	and	Annual	Reports	and	two	interim	
management	statements,	providing	a	quarterly	communication	
with	shareholders.	All	periodic	reports	and	accounts	are	made	
available	to	shareholders	on	the	Group’s	website,	or	are	mailed	to	
shareholders	who	have	elected	to	receive	hard	copies.	Separate	
announcements	of	all	material	events	are	made	as	necessary	by	
press	releases.	The	Group’s	website	(www.vectura.com)	
provides	an	overview	of	the	business	including	its	strategy,	
products	and	objectives.	All	Group	announcements	are	published	
on	the	website	without	delay	together	with	webcasts	of	both	the	
Interim	and	Annual	results	presentations.	The	terms	of	reference	
of	each	of	the	Board’s	three	Committees	and	certain	corporate	
governance	documents	are	also	published	on	the	Group’s	
website.	These	are	the	main	mechanisms	by	which	the	Board	
seeks	to	present	a	balanced	and	understandable	assessment	of	
the	Group’s	position	and	prospects.	

Regular	communications	are	maintained	with	major	institutional	
shareholders	and,	in	particular,	presentations	are	made	when	
half-year	and	full-year	financial	results	are	announced.	Dr	Brown,	
as	Senior	Independent	Director,	is	contactable	by	shareholders	
through	a	link	on	the	Group’s	website.	In	addition,	all	NEDs	have	
developed	an	understanding	of	the	views	of	shareholders	
through	corporate	broker	briefings	and	review	of	issued	analyst	
notes.	The	Chairman	seeks	to	meet	with	major	shareholders	on	a	
regular	basis.	Certain	Non-Executive	Directors	meet	with	major	
shareholders	as	required.	Private	shareholders	are	encouraged	to	
express	their	views	and	concerns	either	in	person	at	the	AGM		
or	by	e-mail.

32	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Corporate governance statement

33	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Corporate governance statement

Directors and governance: Board of Directors

John Patrick (Jack) 
Cashman
Non-Executive	Chairman

Christopher Paul 
Blackwell BSc PhD
Chief	Executive	and		
Executive	Director

Anne Philomena 
Hyland BBS FCA FItI
Chief	Financial	Officer	and	
Company	Secretary

Trevor Michael
Phillips BSc PhD MBA
Chief	Operations	Officer	and	
President	of	US	Operations	

John Robert  
Brown CBE PhD MBA FRSE
Non-Executive	Director	and		
Senior	Independent	Director

Susan Elizabeth 
Foden MA DPhil
Non-Executive	Director	

Neil William  
Warner BA FCA MCt
Non-Executive	Director

Jack	Cashman,	aged	72,	joined	
the	Board	of	Vectura	as	Non-
Executive	Chairman	in	2001	and	is	
a	member	of	both	the	Nomination	
and	Remuneration	Committees.	
Jack	brings	significant	experience	
to	the	Board	of	Vectura,	having	
held	a	variety	of	senior	executive-
level	roles	in	business	and	having	
been	a	Board	member	for	several	
companies	in	both	North	America	
and	Europe.	He	is	currently	a	
Director	of	Telesat	Holdings	Inc.	
(Canada).	He	is	the	former	Chairman	
and	joint-Chief	Executive	Officer	
of	RP	Scherer	Corporation	and	
participated	in	its	leveraged	buyout	
and	privatisation	and	its	subsequent	
successful	flotation	on	the	New	York	
Stock	Exchange.	(RP	Scherer	was	
later	acquired	by	Cardinal	Health	
Inc.)	His	early	career	was	spent	in	
the	field	of	filtration	and	industrial	
mineral	products.	During	that	time,	
he	took	on	successively	more	senior	
roles	in	marketing,	operations	and	
general	management	in	the	UK,	
Europe,	Canada	and	USA.	With	this	
experience,	he	decided	to	pursue	
an	entrepreneurial	career	in	the	
industrial	and	healthcare	sectors.

Dr	Chris	Blackwell,	51,	was	
appointed	Chief	Executive	of	
Vectura	in	February	2004.	He	
joined	the	Group	in	2002	as	
Chief	Operations	Officer	and	
Executive	Director.	He	trained	as	
a	scientist.	Having	achieved	a	first	
class	honours	degree	in	Applied	
Biology,	Chris	pursued	a	PhD	at	
the	University	of	Bath,	where	in	
1988	he	completed	his	doctorate	
investigating	free	radicals	and	
reperfusion-induced	arrhythmias	
in	heart	disease.	Throughout	both	
degrees,	Chris	was	sponsored	by	
ICI	Pharmaceuticals	(now	Astra	
Zeneca),	and	worked	in	the	fields	
of	respiratory	and	cardiovascular	
diseases.	Prior	to	Vectura	he	was	
Director	of	Drug	Development	
and	an	Executive	Director	at	Scotia	
Pharmaceuticals	Ltd,	which	he	
joined	in	1998.	He	was	previously	
at	Hoffmann-La	Roche,	where	he	
was	UK	Director,	Global	Project	
Management,	and	before	that,		
at	Glaxo	in	the	department	of		
Clinical	Pharmacology.

Anne	Hyland,	52,	was	appointed	
Chief	Financial	Officer,	Company	
Secretary	and	Executive	Director	
of	Vectura	in	March	2002.	Prior	
to	this	she	was	a	Director	of	
Corporate	Finance	at	Celltech	
Group	plc.	Other	positions	held	
at	Celltech	included	Group	
Financial	Controller	and	Finance	
Director	for	the	Celltech/
Medeva	UK	Division.	She	joined	
Celltech	following	the	merger	
with	Medeva	plc,	where	she	
was	Finance	Director	for	the	UK	
Division.	Previously	she	was	the	
Medeva	Group	Financial	Controller	
where,	through	a	period	of	rapid	
growth,	she	was	responsible	for	
managing	treasury,	tax,	internal	
and	external	reporting,	and	
acquisition	and	disposal	activity.	
Anne	joined	Medeva	from	KPMG,	
London,	where	she	was	an	audit	
manager	and	gained	exposure	
to	corporate	finance,	advisory	
and	due	diligence	work.	She	has	
a	Business	Studies	degree	from	
Trinity	College,	Dublin,	and	is	a	
Fellow	of	the	Institute	of	Chartered	
Accountants,	Ireland	and	a	Fellow	
of	the	Institute	of	Taxation,	
Ireland	and	is	also	a	member	
of	the	Primary	Markets	Group	
of	the	London	Stock	Exchange.	
She	is	also	a	Trustee	of	Sustrans,	
the	charity	that	has	created	the	
National	Cycle	Network.

Dr	Trevor	Phillips,	52,	joined	the	
Board	on	1	June	2012.	Trevor,	
was	appointed	Chief	Operations	
Officer	in	July	2011,	having	
joined	Vectura	in	January	2010	
as	President	of	US	Operations.	
Prior	to	joining	Vectura	he	gained	
extensive	international	experience	
in	organisational	leadership,	
management	and	pharmaceutical	
drug	development	in	a	number	of	
senior	roles,	including	positions	
as	CEO	and	President	of	the	US	
publicly	held	company,	Critical	
Therapeutics	Inc,	following	six	
years	as	the	Company’s	Chief	
Operating	Officer.	During	his	time	
at	Critical	Therapeutics,	Trevor	was	
involved	in	setting	up	commercial	
partnerships,	product	in-licensing	
and	out-licensing,	managing	drug	
development	and	NDA	filings,	
commercial	product	manufacturing,	
and	mergers	and	acquisitions.	
Between	1986	and	2002	Trevor	held	
a	number	of	management	positions	
at	Sepracor,	Scotia	Pharmaceuticals,	
Accenture,	GlaxoWellcome	Research	
and	Development	and	Simbec	
Research	Limited.	Trevor	trained	as	
a	microbiologist	at	the	University	
of	Reading,	obtaining	a	PhD	in	
microbial	biochemistry	from	the	
University	of	Wales	in	1986.	He	
was	awarded	an	MBA	from	Henley	
Management	College	in	1997.

Dr	John	Brown,	58,	joined	the	
Board	of	Vectura	as	Non-Executive	
Director	and	Senior	Independent	
Director	in	2004	and	chairs	
the	Nomination	Committee	as	
well	as	being	a	member	of	the	
Remuneration	Committee.	John	
is	Chairman	of	CXR	Biosciences	
Ltd,	Mode	Diagnostics	Ltd,	The	
Cell	Therapy	Catapult	and	the	
Roslin	Foundation.	He	also	chairs	
the	Life	Science	Advisory	Board	
for	the	Scottish	Government.	He	
was	previously	Chairman	of	BTG	
plc	and	Axis-Shield	plc.	Until	late	
2003,	John	was	Chief	Executive	of	
Acambis	plc,	a	leading	producer	
of	vaccines	to	treat	and	prevent	
infectious	disease.	John	is	an	
Honorary	Professor	of	Edinburgh	
University	and	is	a	Fellow	of	the	
Royal	Society	of	Edinburgh.

Dr	Susan	Foden,	60,	joined	the	
Board	of	Vectura	as	a	Non-Executive	
Director	in	January	2007.	She	chairs	
the	Remuneration	Committee	
and	is	a	member	of	the	Audit	and	
Nomination	Committees.	She	
holds	a	number	of	Non-Executive	
Directorships	with	both	public	and	
private	companies	in	the	biotech	
and	healthcare	field,	including	
Source	Bioscience	plc,	Cizzle	
Biotechnology	Ltd,	BerGenBio	AS	
and	Evgen	Ltd.	Prior	to	this	Susan	
held	positions	in	venture	capital	
and	UK	biotech	companies.	From	
2000	to	2003	she	was	an	Investor	
Director	with	the	London-based	
venture	capital	firm	Merlin	
Biosciences	Limited,	and	was	Chief	
Executive	Officer	of	the	technology	
transfer	company	Cancer	Research	
Campaign	Technology	Ltd	
from	1987	to	2000.	She	studied	
biochemistry	at	the	University	of	
Oxford	from	where	she	obtained	
an	MA	and	a	DPhil.

Neil	Warner,	60,	joined	the	Board	
of	Vectura	as	Non-Executive	
Director	in	February	2011	and	
is	Chair	of	the	Audit	Committee.	
Neil	has	significant	financial	
and	managerial	experience	in	
multi-national	businesses	and	is	a	
Non-Executive	Director	of	Dechra	
Pharmaceuticals	plc	where	he	is	
the	Senior	Independent	Director.	
He	is	also	Non-Executive	Chairman	
of	Enteq	Upstream	plc,	a	specialist	
reach	and	recovery	products	
and	technologies	provider	to	the	
upstream	oil	and	gas	services	
market.	He	was	Finance	Director	
at	Chloride	Group	plc,	a	position	
he	held	for	14	years	until	its	
acquisition	by	Emerson	Electric.	
Prior	to	this,	he	spent	six	years	at	
Exel	plc	(formerly	Ocean	Group	
plc	and	acquired	by	Deutsche	
Post	in	December	2005)	where	he	
held	a	number	of	senior	posts	in	
financial	planning,	treasury	and	
control.	He	has	also	held	senior	
positions	in	Balfour	Beatty	plc	
(formerly	BICC	Group	plc),	Alcoa	
and	PricewaterhouseCoopers.		
Neil	has	an	Economics	degree	
from	the	University	of	Leeds	
and	is	a	Fellow	of	the	Institute	of	
Chartered	Accountants.

34	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Board of Directors

35	Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13Directors and governance: Board of Directors	
	
	
	
	
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
Directors and governance: Executive management

Directors and governance: Corporate social responsibility statement

Timothy Wright  

BSc PhD MBA

Commercial	Director

Stephen William 
Eason BSc (Eng)
Director	of	Device	Development

Karl David Keegan  

BSc MPhil PhD MSc

Corporate	Development	Director

Dr	Tim	Wright,	52,	joined	Vectura	
as	Commercial	Director	in	March	
2005.	Prior	to	joining	Vectura	he	
gained	a	breadth	of	experience	
in	business	development	and	
licensing	in	a	number	of	senior	
roles	at	BTG	plc,	latterly	as	Vice	
President	Business	Development	
and	Licensing,	Oncology,	and	as	
Director	of	Business	Development	
at	DevCo	Pharmaceuticals,	where	
he	was	successful	in	building	
a	portfolio	of	neuroscience	
development	candidates.	
Between	1986	and	1999	Tim	
held	a	number	of	management	
positions	at	GlaxoWellcome	
Research	and	Development,	
both	in	Clinical	Pharmacology	
and	Medical	Operations,	and	
in	project	management	at	
Simbec	Research	Limited.	Tim	
trained	as	a	research	scientist	
at	London	University,	obtaining	
a	PhD	in	neuroendocrinology	in	
1987.	He	was	awarded	an	MBA	
from	London	Business	School’s	
Executive	Programme	in	1994.

Stephen	Eason,	55,	joined	Vectura	
in	2002	as	Director	of	Device	
Development.	He	has	overall	
responsibility	for	the	development	
of	Vectura’s	inhaler	technologies	
and	leads	a	team	of	device	
engineers	and	designers	based	in	
Cambridge.	He	is	also	responsible	
for	Vectura’s	Intellectual	Property	
Group.	Stephen	joined	Vectura	
from	Cambridge	Consultants	
Limited	(CCL),	where	in	1999	he	
had	set	up	and	led	CCL’s	Drug	
Delivery	Devices	Group.	The	team	
carried	out	significant	product	
developments	in	the	areas	of	
inhalation,	injection	and	infusion	
products.	Before	specialising	
in	drug	delivery,	Stephen	
managed	a	number	of	healthcare,	
telecoms	and	consumer	product	
developments	for	clients	in	Europe	
and	the	US.	Prior	to	joining	CCL,	
Stephen	worked	in	design	and	
development	for	Baxter	Healthcare.	
He	studied	Mechanical	Engineering	
at	the	Imperial	College	of	Science	
and	Technology,	London.	

Dr	Karl	Keegan,	46,	who	joined	
Vectura	in	September	2012,	is	an	
Irish	national	who	has	worked	in	
the	healthcare	industry	for	over		
20	years.	Karl	has	a	BSc	in	
Pharmacology	from	University	
College	Dublin,	an	MPhil	and	
PhD	in	Pharmacology	from	the	
University	of	Cambridge	and	
a	Masters	degree	in	Finance	
from	the	London	Business	
School.	Following	postdoctoral	
research	work	at	Baylor	College	
of	Medicine,	Houston,	Texas,	Karl	
joined	SmithKline	Beecham	as	a	
bench	scientist	and	later	moved	
to	a	strategic	commercial	role	
within	the	Neuroscience	Strategic	
Product	Development	team.
Upon	leaving	the	pharmaceutical	
industry,	Karl	became	one	of	the	
leading	financial	analysts	covering	
the	biotechnology	industry	on	
a	global	basis.	His	most	recent	
analyst	role	was	at	Canaccord	
Adams,	as	Managing	Director,	
UK	Head	of	Equity	Research	and	
Global	Head	of	Life	Sciences	
Research.	Prior	to	joining	Vectura	
in	2012,	he	was	CFO	of	Minster	
Pharmaceuticals,	a	publicly	listed	
UK	company	and	most	recently	
CFO	of	Pharming	Group,	a	
company	listed	on	Euronext.

The	Directors	recognise	the	importance	of	corporate	social	
responsibility	and	endeavour	to	take	into	account	the	interests		
of	the	Group’s	stakeholders,	including	its	investors,	employees,	
customers,	suppliers	and	business	partners	when	operating		
the	business.	The	Group	believes	that	having	empowered	and	
responsible	employees	who	display	sound	judgement	and	
awareness	of	the	consequences	of	their	decisions	and	actions,	
and	who	act	in	an	ethical	and	responsible	way,	is	key	to	the	
success	of	the	business.	The	Group	also	endeavours	to	be		
honest	and	fair	in	its	relationships	with	customers	and	suppliers	
and	to	be	a	good	corporate	citizen,	respecting	the	laws	of	
countries	in	which	it	operates.

On	15	March	2013	the	Company	became	a	member	of	the	
FTSE4Good	index,	a	leading	investment	index	for	businesses	that	
meet	globally	recognised	corporate	social	responsibility	standards.	

Our people

Employees

The	key	to	our	success	is	to	develop	core	values	within	all	of	our	
staff	which	lead	to	an	environment	where	they	believe	that	what	
they	are	doing	is	making	a	difference.	The	core	values	with	which	
we	operate	are	participation,	achievement,	trust	and	respect,	
innovation	and	enthusiasm.	

Dr	Chris	Blackwell	is	the	Board	member	responsible	for	overseeing	
responsibility	for	Human	Resources	and	non-discrimination	issues.	

During	the	period	under	review	the	rate	of	staff	turnover	and	
absence	levels	have	been	below	sector	norms.	

The	Group	is	committed	to	achieving	equality	of	opportunity	in	all	
its	employment	practices,	policies	and	procedures.	Employees	are	
valued	highly	and	their	rights	and	dignity	are	respected.	The	
Group	does	not	tolerate	any	harassment	or	discrimination.	The	
Group	is	an	equal	opportunities	employer	and	will	continue	to	
ensure	it	offers	career	opportunities	without	discrimination.	The	
equal	opportunities	policy	covers	all	permanent	and	temporary	
employees	including	Non-Executive	Directors,	all	job	applicants,	
agency	staff,	associates,	consultants	and	contractors.	

Disabled employees

Applications	for	employment	by	disabled	persons	are	always		
fully	considered,	bearing	in	mind	the	aptitudes	of	the	applicant	
concerned.	With	regard	to	existing	employees	and	those	who	
may	become	disabled,	Vectura’s	policy	is	to	examine	ways	and	
means	to	provide	continuing	employment	under	its	existing	terms	

and	conditions	and	to	provide	training	and	career	development,	
including	promotion,	wherever	appropriate.

Family-friendly employment policies and employee welfare

The	maternity	and	paternity	leave	and	pay	policies	conform	to	
statutory	requirements.	Flexible	approaches	to	return	to	work	
after	maternity	leave	and	part-time	or	non-standard	hours	and	
work	patterns	are	considered	where	viable.

Employee involvement 

The	Group	recognises	that	in	an	industry	based	on	innovation		
and	research	and	development,	its	employees	are	some	of		
its	biggest	assets	and	it	seeks	to	communicate	and,	where	
appropriate,	consult	with	them	on	matters	affecting	them		
as	employees.

During	the	year,	Vectura	continued	its	policy	of	providing	
employees	with	information	about	the	Group	through	regular	
presentations	by	Directors,	management	and	the	Group’s	
intranet.	In	addition,	regular	meetings	are	held	between	
management	and	employees	to	allow	for	a	free	flow	of	
information	and	ideas.	Staff	forums	are	established	to	comply	
with	the	requirements	of	Information	and	Consultation	of	
Employees	Regulations	2004;	the	forums	ensure	implementation	
of	the	EC	Directive.

training and development

The	Group	provides	training	and	development	appropriate	to	
individual	needs	and	offers	remuneration	packages	(including	
pensions,	private	medical,	permanent	health	and	life	insurance)	
and	a	working	environment	that	are	designed	to	be	both	fair		
and	competitive	with	larger	companies	within	the	industry.	

Vectura	is	positive	about	developing	all	employees	for	current		
and	future	roles.	The	Meakin	Scholarship	award	is	open	to	all	
employees	and	is	awarded	to	employees	who	wish	to	study	a	
“developmental	course”	in	their	own	time.	Any	course	that		
would	significantly	enhance	an	employee’s	skills	whilst		
benefiting	Vectura	is	considered.	Vectura	has	supported	a		
variety	of	programmes	including	Pharmaceutical	Industrial	
Advanced	Training	(PIAT)	programme	to	MSc	level,	GCSE	English	
and	A	level	Chemistry.	

Employee share ownership

Participation	in	the	Group’s	share	option	schemes	is	extended	to	
all	of	the	Group’s	employees.	More	details	are	provided	in	the	
Report	on	remuneration.

36	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Executive management

37	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Corporate social responsibility statement

	
	
	
	
	
	
Directors and governance: Corporate social responsibility statement  
continued

Community investment

Vectura considers that its most important contribution to the 
communities within which it operates is to provide high-quality 
employment opportunities and to develop therapies to help 
patients with diseases.

As the Group is currently loss making it is not considered 
appropriate to make financial donations to charitable or 
community activities. However, it is the ethos of the Group to 
promote an environment of employee support and participation 
in initiatives that provide in-kind benefits where we believe we 
have a meaningful contribution to make. Where possible we aim 
to facilitate and support employee fund-raising events, such as: 

  We support the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and 
Mathematics) Initiative which is a major UK Government 
initiative. Within this initiative our staff actively help local 
schoolchildren, being tomorrow’s workforce, to gain the 
capabilities and skills to flourish in a scientific environment  
such as ours. 

  An annual award of additional holiday is allocated to a small 
number of employees as a part of a staff initiative to volunteer 
for unpaid community or charitable services.

  Staff are encouraged to participate in nationwide charity 
campaigns, examples of which include Macmillan Coffee 
Mornings, Comic Relief and Movember. Where appropriate, 
group facilities are made available to staff members  
organising such events.

  Quarterly visits to the Chippenham site (where approximately 
90% of the employees are based) by the Blood Transfusion 
Services are facilitated and employees are encouraged to take 
the time to donate. 

Health and safety

The Group considers health and safety to be a priority in its 
workplaces. Vectura has a Health and Safety Committee to review 
health and safety standards within the Group. Dr Trevor Phillips is 
the board member to whom responsibility for health and safety 
issues has been delegated. 

The Group provides specialist ongoing training to individuals who 
are responsible for health and safety, and general health and 
safety training is delivered to all staff via e-learning courses.  

The Group continuously monitors its health and safety practices 
to ensure that safety management procedures are robust and in 
line with industry best practice. 

The Group has an excellent safety record and there have been  
no major incidents or accidents reported to the Health and Safety 
Committee during the year (2011/12: none).

Environment

We are committed to minimising the impact of our activities on 
the environment and energy efficiency is the most important 
means of climate protection currently available to the Group.  
Due to the nature of its activities, Vectura considers that it has a 
low environmental impact. 

Vectura has adopted an environmental policy, which can be found 
on our website. The policy sets out a commitment to reducing gas 
and electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions per 
employee from quantified levels. Quantifiable targets are 
established and we monitor performance against these targets. 
Vectura’s current target is to reduce energy consumption and 
greenhouse gas emissions per employee by 3% per annum and 
when allowance is made for the new premises which became 
fully operational in the reporting year to facilitate future growth; 
this has been achieved for electricity-based emissions of the 
Group in 2012/13.

Vectura’s operational goals include an objective to reduce our 
carbon footprint by controlling the use of key sources of energy 
and materials on a per capita basis and the Group continues to 
adopt the principles of environmental management systems to 
ISO14001 standards. A Green Action Team meets regularly and 
has responsibility to pursue objectives for environmental 
sustainability and carbon reduction. Use is made of the Company 
intranet to communicate widely to all staff on environmental 
affairs and to receive their views and suggestions on green policy 
for consideration and discussion within the Green Action Team.

Vectura is committed to undertaking an environmental impact 
review of new product developments, site development and of 
merger and acquisitions. During the year refurbishment work was 
undertaken at our Chippenham site, which included installation of 
solar panels, air source heat pumps and movement sensing lighting.

Through the use of a risk register the Group has identified  
specific company-wide risks that include those in the key  
activities of intellectual property, medical and regulatory  
affairs, clinical development, pharmaceutical operations and 
device development. 

Conclusion

Corporate social responsibility matters are considered as part  
of the risk assessments of the Group and are part of the 
considerations when setting remuneration targets.

Vectura reports its environmental performance under the Carbon 
Disclosure Project (CDP). CDP plays a vital role in communicating 
information about greenhouse gas emissions and related 
activities reported by the UK’s largest companies, enabling 
investors and the public to take informed action against climate 
change. There have been no contentious issues or other matters 
having economic, legal, reputational or environmental 
consequences that have arisen in the year under review.

Ms Hyland is the board member to whom responsibility for 
environmental issues has been delegated. She is also a Trustee of 
Sustrans, a leading UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, 
bicycle or public transport for more of their journeys. 

Waste management

Initiatives to effectively manage and reduce waste have been 
implemented throughout the Group, including recycling of all 
paper waste, aluminium cans, printer toners/cartridges and 
redundant mobile telephone handsets. Induction procedures for 
all newly recruited staff include sufficient information to ensure a 
high level of compliance with our standards. We aim to comply 
with all legislation in this area, including using registered waste 
disposal contractors. 

Ethical and social policies

The Group’s principal activities are undertaken within the 
pharmaceutical industry, which is subject to a highly regulated 
ethical framework with which the Group complies. In addition, the 
Group seeks to conduct its activities generally in accordance with 
good business ethics.

Vectura has adopted a clear anti-bribery policy and communicated 
it to all employees so they can recognise and avoid the use of 
bribery and report any suspicion for rigorous investigation. Political 
donations are prohibited and advance approval from management 
is required before management and staff may accept or solicit a gift 
of any kind.

38 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Corporate social responsibility statement

39 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Corporate social responsibility statement

Directors and governance: Report on remuneration
Letter from the Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

Dear Shareholder

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present Vectura’s Report 
on remuneration for the year ended 31 March 2013. This report 
will be put forward for your consideration and approval at the 
2013 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The Government’s Business, Innovation and Skills Department 
(BIS) has confirmed that there will be a number of changes 
designed to clarify and improve the reporting of remuneration  
by public limited companies. Whilst this guidance has not yet  
been fully implemented, the Remuneration Committee  
(the “Committee”) has decided to incorporate a number of the 
proposed changes in this Report on remuneration. The Committee 
believes that these changes will assist shareholders in 
understanding how the Group’s remuneration strategy supports 
overall corporate strategy and performance.

This has been a year of significant achievement for Vectura,  
with the EU approval and launch of Seebri® Breezhaler® by our 
partner Novartis and the filing of a marketing authorisation  
with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) of QVA149. Novartis 
also received approval for Seebri® Inhalation Capsules and 
subsequently launched the product in Japan, the world’s second 
largest pharmaceutical market. In response to these commercial 
successes, the Committee has approved a bonus payment to the 
Executive Directors as detailed in the full report. For this financial 
year, and on an ongoing basis, the award of bonuses to the 
Executive Directors is dependent on achievement of both 
corporate goals and personal objectives.

Executive Directors did not receive salary increases during the 
year ended 31 March 2013. During 2012/13 the Committee 
approved increases on base salary for the Executive Directors  
for the year ended 31 March 2014, taking into account average 
salary increases for employees across the Group.

A new Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) scheme was approved by 
theshareholders at the 2012 AGM. The Committee believes that 
this new scheme will continue to promote a culture of strong 
corporate performance within the Group. In addition, during the 
year, the Committee has implemented share ownership guidelines 
for all Executive Directors and senior management. These are 
designed to align the interests of senior management with those 
of Vectura’s shareholders. 

During the coming year, the Committee will ensure that Vectura’s 
remuneration policies continue to be aligned with shareholders’ 
interests and that they provide the right framework to attract, 
motivate and retain executives of the calibre required to meet  
the Group’s objectives.

Dr S E Foden 
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Introduction

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Accounting 
Regulations of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) and complies 
with the UK Corporate Governance Code. The report also meets 
the relevant requirements of the Listing Rules of the Financial 
Conduct Authority and describes how the Board has applied the 
principles relating to Directors’ remuneration under the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report Regulations 2002. As required by the Act, a 
resolution to approve this report will be proposed at the AGM of 
the Group at which the financial statements will be approved. In 
preparing this year’s report, the Committee has also paid regard 
to the new reporting requirements announced by BIS that will 
come into force with effect from the year ended 31 March 2014, 
and has sought to adopt a number of the new requirements 

where it is practical to do so whilst still remaining compliant  
with the existing regulations. This year’s report consists of two 
sections: an unaudited Remuneration policy section, which 
describes the Group’s policy for the remuneration of Executive 
and Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) for the coming year, and an 
Implementation section, which provides details of the Directors’ 
emoluments, shareholdings, long-term incentive awards and 
pensions for the year ended 31 March 2013. The elements of the 
Implementation section which are subject to audit have been 
clearly identified.

Remuneration policy section (unaudited)

The main principles of the Group’s remuneration policy, which 
remain unchanged from the prior year, are set out below:

Element

Purpose and link to strategy

Policy

Basic 
salary

To recruit and retain executives  
of the highest calibre who are 
capable of delivering the Group’s 
strategic objectives

Annual 
bonus

An annual bonus rewards the 
achievement of stretching objectives 
that support the Group’s corporate 
goals and the delivery of the 
business strategy

  Vectura’s policy is to provide remuneration generally at levels that are broadly 
aligned with the mid-points for equivalent roles in comparable companies in the 
UK, adjusted to reflect company size and complexity
  Base salaries are reviewed on an annual basis and are not linked to performance. 
In determining base salaries, the Committee takes into consideration the relevant 
skills, experience and performance of the individual and the Group as well as pay 
and conditions throughout the Group

  A bonus scheme is in place for all employees, which is designed to incentivise 
individuals to achieve the Group’s goals. For this year and future years 
performance targets for Executive Directors include the Group’s corporate goals 
as well as challenging individual objectives
  Bonuses are limited to a maximum of 100% of basic salary for each Executive 
Director. Bonuses are awarded against achievement of agreed objectives and at 
the discretion of the Remuneration Committee
  The Remuneration Committee will take into account overall corporate 
performance in determining the final bonus awarded

Pensions

The Group aims to provide market 
competitive retirement benefits

  The Group operates a money purchase scheme and all employees, including 
Executive Directors, are invited to participate. The Group contributes up to 20% of 
basic salary to the Group Personal Pension Plan in the name of Executive Directors

Benefits

Benefits in kind offered to Executive 
Directors are provided on a market 
competitive basis, to assist with the 
retention and recruitment of staff 

Table continues on following page

  The Group extends personal medical cover and life assurance to all employees
  Under certain circumstances the Group will offer relocation allowances 
to employees

40 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

41 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

Directors and governance: Report on remuneration continued

Element

Purpose and link to strategy

Policy

Long-
Term 
Incentive 
Plan (LTIP)

The Remuneration Committee 
believes that a key component of 
the overall remuneration package is 
the provision of equity awards to 
senior executives through the LTIP, 
which is designed to develop a 
culture that encourages strong 
corporate performance on an 
absolute and relative basis 

Share 
ownership 
guidelines

Share ownership guidelines for 
Executive Directors and senior 
employees are designed to align the 
interests of senior management to 
those of Vectura’s shareholders 

Fees to 
Non-
Executive 
Directors

Set at a level that is sufficient to 
attract and retain high-calibre 
non-executives 

  Conditional awards for shares in Vectura Group plc can potentially be made at a 
value equal to 100% of basic salary to Executive Directors. Awards of up to 200% 
may be permitted under exceptional circumstances
  Awards are subject to challenging performance measures based on relative Total 
Shareholder Return (TSR) measured over a three year period and are subject to 
an underpin based on the Committee’s assessment of the Group’s underlying 
performance. The current LTIP scheme rules also include a provision for 
claw-back of awards in the event of material misstatement of financial results or 
environmental, social or corporate governance issues
  The performance conditions for previous long-term incentive awards are 
described in the Implementation section

  In accordance with best practice, Executive Directors are required to retain at 
least half of any share awards vesting as shares (after paying any tax due) until 
they have a holding of Vectura Group plc shares equivalent to at least 100% of 
their basic salary

  Non-Executive Directors receive fees paid in cash, with additional fees received 
for chairing committees of the Board
  When reviewing fee levels, account is taken of market movements in Non-Executive 
Director fees, Board committee responsibilities and ongoing time commitments
  The Non-Executive Directors do not participate in any performance related 
incentive schemes

How shareholders’ views are taken  
into account

The Remuneration Committee considers shareholder feedback 
received in relation to the Annual General Meeting each year  
and guidance from shareholder representative bodies more 
generally. Shareholders’ views are key inputs when shaping 
remuneration policy. 

During the year, the Committee engaged with its largest 
shareholders regarding the introduction of the 2012 LTIP.

Components of the current  
remuneration package

As outlined in the Remuneration policy, the principal components 
of remuneration packages are basic salary, short and long-term 
incentives and pension benefits. Further details in relation to how 
this policy has been applied during the year, and key terms of the 
various incentive and benefit programmes are provided in the 
Implementation section.

The diagram below shows the components of the remuneration 
package as a percentage of total remuneration. 45% of the 
Executive Directors’ total remuneration is performance-related 
(2011/12: 50%). The reduction in variable compensation year on 
year is the result of a reduced share-based compensation charge 
in the current year.

Balance between fixed and performance-based compensation 
(variable compensation)

55%

C P Blackwell
A P Hyland
T M Phillips
Executive
Directors

45%

Fixed compensation

Variable compensation

Directors’ service contracts

It is the Group’s policy that Executive Directors should have 
contracts with an indefinite term and which provide for a 
maximum period of 12 months’ notice. This applies to the 
contracts of Dr Blackwell and Ms Hyland, which were effective 
from 25 June 2004 and also to Dr Phillips’ contract, which was 
amended with effect from 1 June 2012. Executive Directors are 
subject to re-election at an AGM at intervals of no more than 
three years. 

Awards made under the Group’s LTIP scheme that have not been 
released at the date the Executive’s employment ceases lapse, 
save in certain good leaver situations. Executives have no 
entitlement to a bonus payment in the event that they cease  
to be employed by the Group but may be considered for such  
an award by the Committee in appropriate circumstances.  
In addition, in the event of early termination the Committee  
would seek to ensure that the principle of mitigation applies.

The Executive Directors did not receive any fees in respect of 
external Non-Executive appointments.

Non-Executive Directors

All NEDs have specific terms of engagement which are terminable 
on three months’ notice by either party, and their remuneration is 
determined by the Board within the limits set by the Articles of 
Association and based on a review of fees paid to NEDs of similar 
companies. NEDs are not eligible to join the Group’s pension 
scheme, nor do they receive any other benefits. All NEDs are 
subject to re-election at an AGM at intervals of no more than 
three years.

The dates of appointment of each of the NEDs serving at  
31 March 2013 are summarised in the table below:

Implementation section (unaudited 
information)

Remuneration Committee

The Committee consists entirely of NEDs and is constituted in 
accordance with the recommendations of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code (the “Code”). The Committee is formally 
constituted with written terms of reference and its main 
responsibilities are detailed below. Its members for the year 
ended 31 March 2013 were Dr Foden (Chair), Dr Brown,  
Mr Cashman and Mr Warner. 

The Committee is responsible for:

  setting a remuneration strategy that ensures that talented 
executives are recruited, retained and motivated to  
deliver results;
  ensuring that the remuneration of the Executive Directors and 
other senior executives reflects both their individual 
performance and their contribution to the overall Group results;
  determining the terms of employment and remuneration of the 
Executive Directors and senior executives, including recruitment 
and retention terms;
  approving the design and targets for any annual incentive 
schemes that include the Executive Directors and  
senior executives;
  agreeing the design and targets, where applicable, of all share 
incentive plans requiring shareholder approval;
  assessing the appropriateness and subsequent achievement of 
the performance targets related to any share incentive plans;
  recommending to the Board the fees paid to the Chairman. 
The Chairman is excluded from this process; and
  the selection and appointment of the external advisers to 
the Committee to provide independent remuneration advice 
where necessary.

J P Cashman
J R Brown
S E Foden
N W Warner

 Date of appointment
 27 March 2001
 13 May 2004
18 January 2007
1 February 2011

The Committee members have no personal financial interests 
other than as shareholders in matters to be decided, no potential 
conflicts of interest arising from cross directorships and no 
day-to-day involvement in running the business. No Director plays 
a part in any discussion about his or her own remuneration.

A Board evaluation has been performed and the results of this 
exercise confirmed that all NEDs were independent, including  
Mr Cashman and Dr Brown, who have service greater than nine 
years. Their independence is considered valid due to the major 
change in the operating activities of the Group during the term  
of their appointments. 

The fees of the NEDs are determined by the Board on the joint 
recommendation of the Chairman and the Chief Executive.

The Committee met formally five times during the year ended  
31 March 2013. 

A summary of the matters considered at each of those meetings 
is set out in the following panel. 

42 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

43 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

 
 
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration continued

Meeting

April 2012

Agenda items

  Review of performance against corporate goals for 2011/12
  Review of share-based incentive arrangements for all employees
  Review of the salary levels for the Executive Directors and other members of the Leadership Team, 
ensuring that these are aligned appropriately both internally and externally
  Review of remuneration for Non-Executive Directors and the Chairman
  Approval of overall pay levels for 2012/13 for the Group as a whole

July 2012

  Review of proposal for 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) scheme

September 2012

  Review of Shareholding policy for Executive Directors
  Review and approval of LTIP awards
  Interim review of corporate goal performance for 2012/13

December 2012

  Approval of a new staff bonus scheme for the year ended 31 March 2014 and future years 

February 2013

  Review of the current status of share option schemes
  Approval of Shareholding policy for Executive Directors

Committee advisers

In determining the Group’s current policy, and in constructing the 
remuneration arrangements of each Executive Director and senior 
employee, the Board, advised by the Committee, aims to provide 
remuneration packages that are competitive and designed to 
attract, retain and motivate Executive Directors and senior 
employees of the highest calibre. 

To achieve this objective, the Committee takes account of 
information from both internal and independent sources, 
including New Bridge Street (a brand of Aon Hewitt Ltd,  
part of Aon plc), and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP also advised on the structure  
of the new bonus scheme, which will be introduced for the  
31 March 2014 financial year. 

Statement of shareholder voting  
at 2012 AGM

At last year’s AGM held on 18 September 2012, approval  
of the Report on remuneration and the approval of the  
2012 LTIP received the following votes from shareholders:

To approve the remuneration report
% of votes cast
To approve the LTIP

For (including
discretionary
votes)
245,155,337
99.57
248,711,399

Total votes cast
(for and against
excluding
Against withheld votes)
246,215,013
100
248,880,911

1,059,676
0.43
169,512

Total votes cast
(including
Votes withheld* withheld votes)
252,479,346

6,264,333

3,598,435

252,479,346

% of votes cast

99.93

0.07

100

*A vote that is withheld does not constitute a vote in law and has not therefore been included in the totals above.

Basic salary

For the year ending 31 March 2014 the Committee recommended 
that the salaries of Dr Blackwell, Ms Hyland and Dr Phillips should 
be £337,000, £218,000 and £243,000 (using an average exchange 
rate of £/$ 1.58) respectively. The Committee has reviewed the 
level of fees paid to Non-Executive Directors and has 
recommended that the fees of Mr Cashman, Dr Foden and  
Mr Warner should be increased to reflect the increased demands 
and time required in fulfilling their duties as the Chair of the 
Board, Chair of the Remuneration Committee and Chair of the 
Audit Committee respectively. It is recommended that the fees  
of Mr Cashman should be increased by £20,000 per annum and 
the fees of Dr Foden and Mr Warner should be increased by 
£5,000 per annum. 

Performance-related cash bonuses

All employees are eligible for an annual discretionary cash bonus, 
whereby performance objectives are established at the beginning 
of the financial year by reference to suitably challenging corporate 
goals. Goals typically include revenue generation, development 
pipeline progress, partnering successes and control of cash 
expenditure, and are weighted towards goals with the highest 
corporate significance. Performance-related payments may be 
paid annually, dependent upon achievements measured against 
corporate goals. In addition, for the first time this year a 
significant percentage of the bonus potential was set against 
personal objectives for the Executive Directors and senior 
management. Bonus payments are not pensionable. The scheme 
is offered to all staff below board level with bonus award 
entitlements ranging between 10% and 50% of salary depending 
on grade. Cash bonuses are limited to a maximum of 100% of 
basic salary for each Executive Director. For the year ended  
31 March 2013 the performance objectives against which bonus 
payments were calculated were as follows:  

Performance metric

Identify and execute strategic 
growth opportunities

Secure current and future 
product development value

Deliver financial performance  
in line with internal targets

Personal objectives

Total bonus payment as a %  
of salary

Weighting as % 
of maximum
bonus potential

Level of bonus awarded 
as % of metric
(% of full bonus)

48%

16%

16%

20%

48% (23%)

44% (7%)

100% (16%)

65%–75% (13%–15%)

59%–61%

Commentary (full disclosure has been
restricted due to commercial sensitivity)
  Significant work completed to establish the 
Kinnovata joint venture during the year

  Significant milestones delivered for existing 
licensing agreements
  Patents filed in relation to new technologies
  Financial results were ahead of internal 
targets set

  Challenging personal objectives were set 
for all Executive Directors

44 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

45 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

 
 
 
 
  
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration continued

The Committee thus assessed that a bonus of between 59% and 
61% (2011/12: 53%) of salary was appropriate when judged by 
the achievement of the above metrics and that this was confirmed 
when looking at a broader picture of the Group’s corporate 
performance over the period. 

Given the implementation of formal share ownership guidelines, 
the Remuneration Committee has not required any of the bonus 
payment for this year to be deferred into shares.

Long-Term Incentive Plan 

There were no LTIP awards granted under the 2005 Long-Term 
Incentive Plan in the 2012/13 financial year.

No shares were released from the award made on 21 May 2009 
because the performance criteria were not met.

At the 2012 AGM, shareholders approved a new LTIP, the Vectura 
Group plc 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2012 LTIP scheme”).

The awards granted under the 2012 LTIP scheme on 18 September 
2012 (as detailed in the Directors’ LTIP awards table on page 51), 
and any subsequent awards, are subject to relative TSR measured 
over a three-year period against two comparator groups  
(each representing 50% of the total award), as set out in the  
table below:

Below median
Median
Between median and upper quartile

TSR performance vs FTSE
SmallCap over three years
(% of award vesting)
0%
12.5%
Between 12.5% and 50% on a straight-line basis

TSR performance vs Euro Stoxx
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology Index
over three years
(% of award vesting)
0%
12.5%
Between 12.5% and 50% on a straight-line basis

Upper quartile or above

50%

50%

	 Consistent with current best practice, the Committee has 
the power to claw-back all or part of the awards/payments  
for one year following vesting in the event of a material 
misstatement, error in the calculation of performance against 
the performance conditions of the plan or any other matter 
that it deems relevant to this provision.

	 Performance against the conditions will be measured by the 
Committee’s independent advisors.
	 Vesting of awards is also subject to an “underpin” enabling 
the Committee to decrease or increase the percentage of the 
award that vests based on its assessment of the Group’s 
underlying performance over the period against a range of 
factors including the Group’s underlying financial performance, 
absolute shareholder returns and progress against milestones. 
Any exercise of this discretion by the Committee will be fully 
disclosed to shareholders with an explanation of the Committee’s 
reasoning in the Report on remuneration for the relevant year.  
To the extent that the performance conditions are not met in full 
at the end of the three-year performance period, awards lapse.

Performance graph

Value Realisation Plan

The following graph shows Vectura Group plc’s performance since 
its initial listing in July 2004, measured by TSR, compared with the 
performance of the current comparator group of companies in 
the sector. 

%
n
r
u
t
e
r

l

r
e
d
o
h
e
r
a
h
s
l

a
t
o
T

1.25

1.00

0.75

0.50

0.25

0

-0.25

-0.50

-0.75

Jul
04

Jul
05

Jul
06

Jul
07

Jul
08

Jul
09

Jul
10

Jul
11

Jul
12

Vectura Group plc

Comparator companies

The following graph shows Vectura Group plc’s performance since 
1 April 2011, measured by TSR, compared with the performance 
of the FTSE SmallCap, as described above. This index was chosen 
as Vectura is one of the constituent companies and the Committee 
feels that it is one of the most appropriate against which to 
measure performance.

%
n
r
u
t
e
r

l

r
e
d
o
h
e
r
a
h
s
l

a
t
o
T

0.75

0.50

0.25

0

-0.25

Apr
11

Jul
11

Oct
11

Jan
12

Apr
12

Jul
12

Oct
12

Jan
13

Apr
13

Vectura Group plc

FTSE SmallCap index

On 31 October 2008, the shareholders approved the Vectura 
Group plc Value Realisation Plan (VRP). The VRP operates over  
a five-year period and expires on 31 October 2013 and will not  
be renewed. The VRP runs in parallel to the LTIP and provides 
participants with a share of a predetermined percentage of the 
total consideration paid for the Group in the event of a change in 
control. In this event, under the VRP members of the Leadership 
Team of the Group will be granted a one-off entitlement in the 
form of units, which convert into ordinary shares in Vectura 
Group plc, the actual number of shares that convert being linked 
to the offer price per share achieved. The VRP is triggered upon 
achievement of a minimum bid price of £1.27 per share, with a 
maximum number of shares available to participants if the bid 
price reaches or exceeds £1.77 per share. 

Share Incentive Plan

The Vectura Group plc Share Incentive Plan (SIP) is available to  
all employees, including Executive Directors, for the purpose  
of encouraging employees to become shareholders of the  
Group and to retain their shares over the medium to long term.  
It introduces share ownership to the employee in three ways: free 
shares, partnership shares, and matching shares. Vectura Group 
plc may award free shares annually, employees may contribute 
up to £125 a month to buy partnership shares out of pre-tax 
salary, and Vectura Group plc may match any partnership shares 
purchased with the award of additional matching shares on a 
one-for-one basis. The SIP is an HMRC approved scheme through 
which benefits are provided in a tax efficient manner.

Sharesave Share Option Scheme

Vectura Group plc also operates a Sharesave (SAYE) Share Option 
Scheme that is open to all employees and Executive Directors 
alike. Under this Scheme all eligible participants may save up to 
£250 a month out of net salary for a fixed term of three years,  
at the end of which they have an option to subscribe for Vectura 
shares at a discount of up to 20% of the market price set at the 
launch of each three-year savings contract. Performance 
conditions do not apply to the SAYE Share Option Scheme.

46 

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Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

47 

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Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration continued

Approved and Unapproved Share Option Plans and the  
EMI Plan 

Directors’ interests in shares and compliance with share 
ownership guidelines

Executive Directors hold options under the Approved and 
Unapproved Share Option Plans.

Historically, before it was listed, Vectura Group plc granted NEDs 
share options as part of their remuneration package. At the early 
stage of the Group’s development this was considered to be 
essential to secure the recruitment and retention of high-calibre 
NEDs with the appropriate experience. This policy of granting 
share options to NEDs has not applied since the Group was 
publicly listed in 2004, and no further share option awards will  
be made to them. In respect of this matter, reference should  
also be made to the Corporate governance statement. The 
options held by the NEDs have vested and are exercisable at  
any time. The Board does not believe that the retention of  
these fully vested options in any way compromises the 
independence of the NEDs concerned.

Historically, no performance conditions have been attached to  
the options granted under the above schemes. The exercise  
price is equal to the market value of Vectura Group plc’s shares  
at the time the options are granted. 

As a direct link between executive remuneration and the interests 
of shareholders, the Committee has implemented Shareholding 
guidelines for all Executive Directors and senior employees. The 
guidelines require that Executive Directors build up and maintain 
an interest in the ordinary shares of the company that is equal to 
their annual salary. At 31 March 2013 C P Blackwell and A P Hyland 
have exceeded the share ownership guidelines. These guidelines 
will now apply to T M Phillips following his appointment to the 
Board. The actual interests in the shares of the Company of the 
Executive Directors at the balance sheet date are set out below.

The Directors who held office at 31 March 2013 and their interests 
(in respect of which transactions are notifiable to the Company 
under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Transparency Rules) in the 
share capital of Vectura Group plc at 31 March 2013 and 31 March 
2012 are shown in the table below:

C P Blackwell (1)
J R Brown (2)
J P Cashman
S E Foden
A P Hyland (1)
T M Phillips (3)
N W Warner

31 March 2013
Ordinary shares
of 0.025p each
636,267
242,681
946,647
 11,000
633,423
 13,574
20,800

31 March 2012
Ordinary shares
of 0.025p each
374,717
242,681
946,647
11,000
624,849
–
20,800

Actual percentage
of base salary at
31 March 2013*
176%
–
–
–
264%
5%
–

Actual percentage
of base salary at
31 March 2012*
62%
–
–
–
155%
–
–

(1)  The holdings of C P Blackwell and A P Hyland include 51,677 ordinary shares of 0.025p each, which are held in the Vectura Group plc Employee Benefit Trust 

(Share Incentive Plan).

(2)  The holding of J R Brown includes 20,457 ordinary shares of 0.025p each, which are held through nominees.
(3) T M Phillips was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2012. The holding of T M Phillips includes 8,574 ordinary shares of 0.025p each, which are held in the 

Vectura Group plc Employee Benefit Trust (Share Incentive Plan).

*  Calculated using the closing share price on the year end date. The closing share price on 31 March 2013 was 90.75p (2012: 54.25p). 

There was no change in the Directors’ interests between 31 March 2013 and 20 May 2013, the date of this report.

Implementation section (audited information)

Directors’ remuneration 

The remuneration of the individual Directors who served during the year was as follows:

Basic salary
 and fees 
£000

Bonuses
£000 

Benefits 
£000

2013
emoluments
£000

Pension
 entitlements
£000

2013 Total

2012 Total
remuneration remuneration
£000

£000

Executive Directors
C P Blackwell
A P Hyland 
T M Phillips (1) (2) 
Non-Executive Directors
J R Brown* 
J Cashman 
S E Foden* 
A J M Richards 
N W Warner* 

 328
218 
189 

45 
80 
40 
– 
40 
940 

193
129 
115 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
437

2 
1 
11 

–
– 
– 
–
– 
14 

523
348 
315

 45
80
40
 – 
40
1,391 

 66 
44 
 37 

 – 
 – 
 – 
– 
 – 
147 

589 
392 
352

45
80
40
 –
40
1,538

570
379
–

45
80
40
10
40
1,164

(1)  T M Phillips was appointed to the board on 1 June 2012. 
(2)  T M Phillips is paid in US $; the amount shown above is converted at the annual average exchange rate.
*  Included within the NEDs’ fees are the fees for chairing committees. Dr Brown received £5,000 for chairing the Nomination Committee and £10,000  

for his role as Senior Independent Director. Dr Foden received £10,000 for chairing the Remuneration Committee and Mr Warner received £10,000 for  
chairing the Audit Committee.

Benefits represent payments for medical insurance. Amounts payable to T M Phillips relate to US medical insurance – T M Phillips also 
makes employee contributions towards this plan.

Total remuneration is the sum of emoluments plus company pension contributions and the value of long-term incentive awards vesting 
by reference to performance in the year 2013: nil (2012: nil).

In addition to the above, a nominal gain of £128,010 arose during the year following the exercise of share options by C P Blackwell. 

48 

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Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

49 

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Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

 
 
 
 
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration continued

Options

Directors’ LTIP awards

Directors holding office at 31 March 2013 with options outstanding over ordinary shares of 0.025p were as follows:

Under the LTIP schemes, the grants made to Directors at 31 March 2013 were as follows:   

Options held
at 1 April
2012

Options granted
(exercised or cancelled)
during year

Options held
at 31 March
2013

680,000
238,989
918,989

277,776
122,224
23,376
1,023,355
716,966
132,424
265,493
271,304
237,384
37,383
18,987
3,126,672

238,989
238,989

196,100
33,896
456,335
358,483
94,090
188,640
192,174
143,926
37,383
13,761
1,714,788

208,877
3,133
–
212,010

–
–
–

(277,776)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(277,776)

–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
11,718
11,718

680,000
238,989
918,989

–
122,224
23,376
1,023,355
716,966
132,424
265,493
271,304
237,384
37,383
18,987
2,848,896

238,989
238,989

196,100
33,896
456,335
358,483
94,090
188,640
192,174
143,926
37,383
13,761
1,714,788

208,877
3,133
11,718
223,728

Plan
J Cashman
Unapproved
Unapproved
Total

C P Blackwell
EMI
Unapproved
Unapproved
Unapproved 
Unapproved
Unapproved
Unapproved
Unapproved
Unapproved
Approved
SAYE Scheme
Total

J R Brown
Unapproved
Total

A P Hyland
Unapproved
Unapproved
Unapproved 
Unapproved
Unapproved
Unapproved
Unapproved
Unapproved
Approved
SAYE Scheme
Total

T M Phillips
Unapproved
Unapproved
SAYE Scheme
Total

Exercise
price (p)

36.000
56.000 

48.125
48.125
48.125
36.000
56.000
82.500
93.750
86.250
53.500
53.500
47.400

Date from
which first
exercisable

Expiry date

29/04/04
02/07/05

 29/04/14
02/07/14 (1)

05/11/05
01/10/05
11/04/06
29/04/07
02/07/05
03/08/06
09/08/07
25/05/08
23/05/09
23/05/09
01/04/15

03/11/13 (2)
01/10/13
11/10/13
29/04/14
02/07/14 (1)
03/08/15 (1)
09/08/16 (1)
25/05/17 (1)
23/05/18 (1)
23/05/18 (1)
 01/10/15

56.000

02/07/05

02/07/14 (1)

48.125
48.125
36.000
56.000
82.500
93.750
86.250
53.500
53.500
65.400

18/03/05
11/04/06
29/04/07
02/07/05
03/08/06
09/08/07
25/05/08
23/05/09
23/05/09
 01/04/14

29/07/13
11/10/13
29/04/14
 02/07/14 (1)
 03/08/15 (1)
 09/08/16 (1)
 25/05/17 (1)
 23/05/18 (1)
 23/05/18 (1)
 01/10/14

95.750
0.0250
76.800

09/08/14
09/08/14
01/04/16

09/08/21
09/08/21
 01/10/16

All options were granted for nil consideration. 
(1)  Vesting in three equal annual instalments from date first exercisable. 
(2) On 28 September 2012, C P Blackwell exercised 277,776 EMI options at a grant price of 48.125p per share. On the date of exercise, the market value of the 

Company’s shares was 87p. The total cost for the exercise was £133,680 and the total nominal gain was £107,985.

Date of
award
12/09/05
22/11/06
25/05/07
23/05/08
21/05/09
08/06/10
08/06/10
18/09/12

12/09/05
22/11/06
25/05/07
23/05/08
21/05/09
08/06/10
08/06/10
18/09/12

08/06/10
08/06/10
18/09/12

Awarded/
(exercised
or cancelled)
during year
£
(30,000)
–
–
–
(928,467)
–
–
401,889
(556,578)

–
–
–
–
(618,978)
–
–
267,926
(351,052)

–
–
410,659
410,659

1 April
2012
£
272,741
215,011
219,005
594,392
928,467
878,684 
878,684
–
3,986,984

166,290
152,299
146,003
396,261
618,978
574,632
574,632
–
2,629,095

242,664
242,664
–
485,328

31 March
2013
£
242,741
215,011
219,005
594,392
–
878,684
878,684
401,889
3,430,406

166,290
152,299
146,003
396,261
–
574,632
574,632
267,926
2,278,043

242,664
242,664
410,659
895,987

Share price on
date of grant
p
77.50
93.00
86.25
53.50
68.50
38.00
38.00
81.50

Date of release
of shares
12/09/08 (1) (8)
22/11/09 (2)
25/05/10 (3)
 23/05/11 (4)
 21/05/12 (5)
 08/06/13 (6)
 08/06/14 (6)
 18/09/15 (7)

77.50
93.00
86.25
53.50
68.50
38.00
38.00
81.50

38.00
38.00
81.50

12/09/08 (1)
22/11/09 (2)
25/05/10 (3)
 23/05/11 (4)
 21/05/12 (5)
 08/06/13 (6)
 08/06/14 (6)
 18/09/15 (7)

 08/06/13 (6)
 08/06/14 (6)
 18/09/15 (7)

Director
C P Blackwell

Total

A P Hyland

Total

T M Phillips

Total

The number of shares released to the Directors at the end of the three-year performance period is dependent upon the performance TSR of the Group during 
that period in comparison to that of a comparator group of companies as described in the LTIP section of this Report on remuneration.

(1)  The award made on 12 September 2005 reached the end of its holding period on 12 September 2008. The TSR of the Group during this period compared with 
that of the comparator group was in the upper quartile. Accordingly, 100% of the shares awarded were released. The nil-cost options relating to this award 
lapse on 12 September 2015.

(2)  The award made on 22 November 2006 reached the end of its holding period on 22 November 2009. The TSR of the Group during this period compared with 

that of the comparator group equated to 83.32% of the shares awarded being released. The nil-cost options relating to this award lapse on 22 November 2016.

(3) The award made on 25 May 2007 reached the end of its holding period on 25 May 2010. The TSR of the Group during this period compared with that of 

the comparator group equated to 62.964% of the shares awarded being released. The nil-cost options relating to this award lapse on 25 May 2017.

(4)  The award made on 23 May 2008 reached the end of its holding period on 23 May 2011. The TSR of the Group during this period compared with that of the 
comparator group was in the upper quartile. Accordingly, 100% of the shares awarded were released. The nil-cost options relating to this award lapse on  
23 May 2018.

(5)  No shares were released from the award made on 21 May 2009 as the average price of the Company’s shares over the three-month period before the date of 

vesting was less than £1.00.

Directors’ LTIP awards footnotes (6), (7) and (8) continue on the following page.

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Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

 
 
 
 
 
Directors and governance: Report on remuneration continued

Directors and governance: Directors’ report

(6)  The awards granted under the 2005 LTIP scheme on 8 June 2010 are subject to a relative TSR performance measured against the FTSE SmallCap Index. The first 
50% of the award is subject to a three-year performance period. In addition, this part of the award will not vest if the average price of the Company’s shares 
for the three-month period before the date of vesting is less than £1.00. The second 50% of the award is subject to a four-year performance period and will  
not vest if the average price of the Company’s shares for the three-month period before the date of vesting is less than £1.27. None of the awards vest if the 
Company’s TSR is below median, 30% vests for median performance with the percentage increasing proportionately so that maximum vesting occurs at upper 
quartile. In addition, the Committee is required to ensure that the underlying financial performance of the Group is consistent with its TSR performance, by 
considering the Group’s performance against a range of objective financial measures. These measures include revenue and cash generation. If the Committee 
believes that the underlying corporate financial performance is not consistent with its TSR performance, then no awards will be released.

(7) The awards granted under the 2012 LTIP scheme on 18 September 2012 are subject to relative TSR performance measured against the FTSE SmallCap Index 
and the Euro Stoxx Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Index over three years on equal weighting. None of the awards vest if the Group’s TSR is below the 
median, 25% vests for median performance with the percentage increasing proportionately so that maximum vesting occurs at upper quartile. In addition,  
the Committee is required to ensure that the underlying financial performance of the Group is consistent with its TSR performance, by considering the Group’s 
performance against a range of objective financial measures, absolute shareholder returns and progress against milestones. If the Committee believes that  
the underlying corporate financial performance is not consistent with its TSR performance, then awards can be decreased or increased.

(8)  On 19 July 2012, C P Blackwell exercised 30,000 LTIP options. On the date of exercise, the market value of the Company’s shares was 66.75p. The nominal gain 

in relation to this exercise was total nominal gain was £20,025.

On behalf of the Board

Dr S E Foden 
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

20 May 2013

The Directors present their Annual Report on the affairs of the 
Company and Group, together with the financial statements and 
Auditor’s report for the year ended 31 March 2013. 

Principal activity 

The principal activity of the Group undertaken during the year 
was the ongoing research and development and 
commercialisation of novel therapeutic products and drug 
delivery systems for human use. 

Review of business 

Key events during the past year are referred to in the Highlights 
2012/13, Chairman and Chief Executive’s report, the Financial 
review and the Business review. During the year, the Board has 
considered the key risks and uncertainties of the business, which 
are summarised on pages 27-28. The Board has reviewed the risk 
management policies in place, as summarised in the Corporate 
governance statement.

Results and dividends

The Group loss for the year, after taxation, amounted to £5.9m 
(2011/12: £4.4m). The Directors do not recommend the payment 
of a dividend (2011/12: £nil).

Balance sheet strength

The net assets position of the Group continues to be strong, 
with cash and cash equivalents at the year end of £70.1m  
(2012: £75.5m).

Directors

Membership of the Board (together with Directors’ biographies)  
is shown in the section on Board of Directors. Details of  
Directors’ remuneration and their interests in the share capital  
of the Company are given in the Report on remuneration.  
None of the Directors has any interest in any contract of 
significance to the financial statements.

Employees

Details on the involvement of employees are disclosed in the 
Corporate social responsibility statement.

Financial instruments

The policy and practice of the Group with regard to financial 
instruments is disclosed in note 19 of the financial statements.

Payment of creditors

The Group’s policy is to agree payment terms with the suppliers 
at the start of business relationships and to abide by them.  
The typical terms are 30 days (2011/12: 30 days).

Political and charitable donations

Vectura encourages employee involvement in charitable causes, 
but does not contribute itself because it is loss-making. There 
were no political donations during the year (2011/12: £nil).

Directors’ indemnities

The Company has granted an indemnity to its Directors against 
liability in respect of proceedings brought by third parties, which 
remains in force as at the date of approving the Directors’ report. 

52 

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Directors and governance: Report on remuneration

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Directors and governance: Directors’ report

 
 
 
 
Directors and governance: Directors’ report continued

Significant shareholdings

At 15 May 2013, the nearest practical date to the date of this 
Report, the Company had a total of 3,394 ordinary shareholders 
and 335,155,767 ordinary shares in issue.

The Directors had been notified of the following substantial 
holdings in the Company’s share capital as at the close of  
business on 15 May 2013:

Legal & General Investment Management Limited
Invesco Asset Management Limited
Aberforth Partners LLP
Franklin Resources, Inc.
BlackRock, Inc
J P Morgan Asset Management UK Limited
Aviva plc
AXA SA

Number of shares
’000
41,444
28,648
26,791
23,170
13,661
12,857
11,685
11,802

%
 12.37
 8.55
 7.99
 6.91
 4.08
 3.84
 3.54
 3.52

Share price

The mid-market share price as shown by the London Stock Exchange 
Daily Official List on 31 March 2013 was 90.75p. The mid-market 
share price ranged from 57.25p to 96.75p during the year to  
31 March 2013. The average share price for the period was 79.92p.

Corporate social responsibility statement

The Group’s policies on the environment, health and safety, ethical 
and social issues and its employees are described in the statement 
on pages 37 to 39.

Going concern

The accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis. 
Although the current economic conditions may place pressures  
on customers and suppliers who may face liquidity issues,  
the Group’s product diversity and customer and supplier base 
substantially mitigate these risks. In addition, the Group operates 
in the relatively defensive pharmaceutical industry, which we 
expect to be less affected compared to other industries. 

The Group made a loss of £5.9m for the financial year ended  
31 March 2013 (2011/12: £4.4m) but had £70.1m of cash and  
cash equivalents as at 31 March 2013 (2012: £75.5m). The Board 
operates an investment policy under which the primary objective 
is to invest in low-risk cash or cash equivalent investments to 
safeguard the principal. The Group’s forecasts, taking into account 
likely revenue streams, show that the Group has sufficient funds 
to operate for the foreseeable future. 

After reviewing the Group’s forecasts and assessing the uncertain 
nature of some of the Group’s forecast revenues, the Directors 
believe that the Group is adequately placed to manage its business 
and financing risks successfully despite the current uncertain 
economic outlook. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going 
concern basis in preparing the Annual Report and Accounts. 

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the offices of  
Olswang, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6XX on 23 September 
2013 at 12.00 noon. Details of the business to be transacted at the 
forthcoming AGM will be given in a separate circular to shareholders.

Capital structure 

Auditor 

Details of the authorised and issued share capital, together with 
details of the movements in the Company’s issued share capital 
during the year are shown in note 20. The Company has one  
class of ordinary shares, which carry no right to fixed income. 
Each share carries the right to one vote at general meetings of  
the Company. The redeemable preference shares carry no 
interest, nor do they carry voting rights. The percentage of  
the issued nominal value of the ordinary shares is 71% of the  
total issued nominal value of all share capital.

There are no specific restrictions on the size of a holding nor on 
the transfer of shares, which are both governed by the general 
provisions of the Articles of Association and prevailing legislation. 
The Directors are not aware of any agreements between holders 
of the Company’s shares that may result in restrictions on the 
transfer of securities or on voting rights. 

Details of employee share schemes are set out in note 21.  
Shares held by the Vectura Group plc Employee Benefit Trust 
abstain from voting.

No person has any special rights of control over the Company’s 
share capital and all issued shares are fully paid.

With regard to the appointment and replacement of Directors,  
the Company is governed by its Articles of Association, the UK 
Corporate Governance Code, the Companies Act 2006 and related 
legislation. The Articles of Association themselves may be 
amended by special resolution of the shareholders. The powers 
of Directors are described in the Board’s Terms of Reference, 
copies of which are available on request, and the Corporate 
governance statement on pages 29 to 33.

Under its Articles of Association, the Company has authority to 
issue 441.2m ordinary shares.

Deloitte LLP has expressed a willingness to continue in office as 
auditor and a resolution to re-appoint them will be put to the 
members at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

The Directors that were members of the Board at the time of 
approving the Directors’ report are listed on pages 34 and 35. 
Having made enquiries of fellow Directors and of the Company’s 
auditor, each of these Directors confirms that:

  to the best of each Director’s knowledge and belief, there is no 
information relevant to the preparation of their report of which 
the Company’s auditor is unaware; and
  each Director has taken all the steps a director might 
reasonably be expected to have taken to be aware of relevant 
audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditor  
is aware of that information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance 
with the provisions of s418 of the Companies Act 2006.

By order of the Board

Anne Hyland 
Company Secretary

20 May 2013

54 

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Directors and governance: Directors’ report

55 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Directors’ report

 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors and governance: Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Directors and governance: Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of Vectura Group plc 

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

Directors’ responsibility statement

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

  the financial statements, prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by  
the EU, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, 
financial position and profit or loss of the Company and  
the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as  
a whole; and
  the management report, which is incorporated into the 
Directors’ report, includes a fair review of the development  
and performance of the business and the position of the 
Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation 
taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal 
risks and uncertainties that they face.

Anne Hyland 
Director

20 May 2013

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

Company law requires the Directors to prepare such financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors are 
required to prepare the group financial statements in accordance 
with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted 
by the European Union and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation and have 
also chosen to prepare the parent company financial statements 
under IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. Under company 
law the Directors must not approve the accounts unless they are 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of 
the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that 
period. In preparing these financial statements, International 
Accounting Standard 1 requires that directors:

  properly select and apply accounting policies;
  present information, including accounting policies, in a manner 
that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and 
understandable information; 
  provide additional disclosures when compliance with the 
specific requirements in IFRSs are insufficient to enable users to 
understand the impact of particular transactions, other events 
and conditions on the entity’s financial position and financial 
performance; and
  make an assessment of the company’s ability to continue as a 
going concern.

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

We have audited the financial statements of Vectura Group plc for 
the year ended 31 March 2013, which comprise the Consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income, the Balance sheet, the Cash 
flow statement, the Statement of changes in equity and the 
related notes 1 to 27. The financial reporting framework that  
has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by 
the European Union and as regards the parent Company financial 
statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006.

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

Respective responsibilities of Directors  
and auditor

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities, the Directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give  
a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an 
opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable 
law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). 
Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices 
Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial 
statements

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts  
and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give 
reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free  
from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. 
This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies 
are appropriate to the Group’s and the parent Company’s 
circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately 
disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates 
made by the Directors; and the overall presentation of the 
financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and 
non-financial information in the annual report to identify material 
inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. If we 
become aware of any apparent material misstatements or 
inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report. 

Opinion on financial statements

In our opinion:

  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 
2013 and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended;
  the Group financial statements have been properly prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; 
  the parent Company financial statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European 
Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006; and
  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance 
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and,  
as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the  
IAS Regulation.

56 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

57 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Independent auditor’s report to the members of Vecura Group plc

 
Directors and governance: Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of Vectura Group plc continued

Financial statements

60  Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
61  Balance sheet
62  Cash flow statement
63  Statement of changes in equity 
64  Notes to the financial statements
90  Five-year summary
92  Shareholder information

Separate opinion in relation to IFRSs as issued by the IASB

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review:

As explained in note 1 to the Group financial statements, the 
Group in addition to complying with its legal obligation to apply 
IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, has also applied IFRSs  
as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

In our opinion the Group financial statements comply with IFRSs 
as issued by the IASB.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies  
Act 2006

In our opinion:

  the Directors’ statement contained within the Directors’ report 
in relation to going concern; 
  the part of the Corporate governance statement relating to the 
Company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code specified for our review; and 
  certain elements of the report to shareholders by the Board 
on Directors’ remuneration.

  the part of the Report on remuneration to be audited has 
been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies  
Act 2006; and
  the information given in the Directors’ report for the financial 
year for which the financial statements are prepared is 
consistent with the financial statements.

David Hedditch (Senior statutory auditor) 
for and on behalf of Deloitte LLP 
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor 
Bristol, United Kingdom

20 May 2013

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following:

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

  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent 
Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or
  the parent Company’s financial statements and the part of the 
Report on remuneration to be audited are not in agreement 
with the accounting records and returns; or
  certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law 
are not made; or
  we have not received all the information and explanations we 
require for our audit.

58 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Directors and governance: Independent auditor’s report to the members of Vecura Group plc

59 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13

 
 
 
Financial statements: Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 March 2013

Financial statements: Balance sheet at 31 March 2013

xxx

Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Research and development expenses
Other administrative expenses
Amortisation
Share-based compensation
Total administrative expenses
Operating loss
Investment income
Finance gains
Loss before taxation
Taxation
Loss after taxation attributable to equity holders of the Company  
and total comprehensive income
Loss per ordinary share: basic and diluted

All results are derived from continuing activities.

Note
2

5
4
4

7

8

2013
£m
30.5
(0.7)
29.8
(30.9)
(3.3)
(6.3)
(0.9)
(10.5)
(11.6)
0.5
0.7
(10.4)
4.5

2012
£m
33.0
(2.2)
30.8
(32.8) 
(3.3)
(7.5)
(1.1)
(11.9)
(13.9)
0.7
–
(13.2)
8.8

(5.9)
(1.8p)

(4.4)
(1.3p)

Assets
Goodwill
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments in subsidiary undertakings
Other receivables
Non-current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings
Cash and cash equivalents
Current assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Trade and other payables
Deferred income
Current liabilities
Deferred income
Deferred tax liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Special reserve
Other reserve
Share-based compensation reserve
Retained (loss)/profit

Total equity

Group
2013
£m

Group
2012
 £m

Company
2013
£m

Company
2012
£m

Note

9
10
11
12
13

14
15
16
19

17
18

18
7 

20a
20b
20c
20d
20e
20f

49.6
17.1
9.0
–
0.4
76.1
0.8
9.2
–
70.1
80.1
156.2

(19.7)
(0.1)
(19.8)
(1.3)
–
(1.3)
(21.1)
135.1

0.1
2.8
8.2
124.9
12.9
(13.8)
135.1

49.6
23.4
6.0
–
0.4
79.4
0.7
9.7
–
75.5
85.9
165.3

(20.7)
(3.5)
(24.2)
(1.3)
(0.3)
(1.6)
(25.8)
139.5

0.1
2.2
8.2
124.9
12.0
(7.9)
139.5

2.0
–
–
125.6
–
127.6
–
–
72.9
–
72.9
200.5

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
200.5

0.1
2.8
8.2
123.7
12.9
52.8
200.5

2.0
–
–
125.6
 –
127.6
–
0.1
71.2
–
71.3
198.9

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
198.9

0.1
2.2
8.2
123.7
12.0
52.7
198.9

The financial statements of Vectura Group plc, registered number 03418970, were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of 
Directors on 20 May 2013 and were signed on its behalf by:

Dr C P Blackwell 
Director  

A P Hyland 
Director

60 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

61 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Balance sheet 

 
Financial statements: Cash flow statement
for the year ended 31 March 2013

Financial statements: Statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 March 2013

xxx

Operating loss
Depreciation and amortisation
Share-based compensation
Increase in inventories
Decrease in receivables
(Decrease)/increase in payables
Decrease in deferred income
Exchange movements
Net cash outflow from operations
Research and development tax credits received
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Receipts from sale of property, plant and equipment
Net cash outflow from investing activities
Net cash outflow before financing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares
Net cash inflow from financing activities
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

Group
2013
£m
(11.6)
7.3
0.9
(0.1)
–
(1.0)
(3.4)
0.7
(7.2)
4.4
(2.8)

0.6
(4.0)
0.2
(3.2)
(6.0)

0.6
0.6
(5.4)
75.5
70.1

Group
2012
£m
(13.9)
8.6
1.1
(0.5)
0.9
2.0
(0.7)
–
(2.5)
4.6
2.1

0.7
(4.2)
–
(3.5)
(1.4)

2.5
2.5
1.1
74.4
75.5

Company
2013
£m
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Company
2012
£m
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

Group
At 1 April 2011
Loss for the year
Conversion of share premium
    into retained (loss)/profit
Share-based compensation
Exercise of share options
At 31 March 2012
Loss for the year
Share-based compensation
Exercise of share options

At 31 March 2013

Company
At 1 April 2011
Conversion of share premium
    into retained (loss)/profit
Share-based compensation
Exercise of share options
At 31 March 2012
Profit for the year
Share-based compensation
Exercise of share options

At 31 March 2013

Share
capital
£m
0.1
–

Share
premium
£m
78.3
–

Special
reserve
£m
8.2
–

Share-based
Other compensation
reserve
£m
10.9
–

reserve 
£m
124.9
–

Retained
loss
£m
(82.1)
(4.4)

–
–
–
0.1
–
–
–
0.1

(78.6)
–
2.5
2.2
–
–
0.6
2.8

–
–
–
8.2
–
–
–
8.2

–
–
–
124.9
–
–
–
124.9

–
1.1
–
12.0
–
0.9
–
12.9

78.6
–
–
(7.9)
(5.9)
–
–
(13.8)

Share
capital
£m
0.1

Share
premium
£m
78.3

Special
reserve
£m
8.2

Share-based
Other compensation
reserve
£m
10.9

reserve
£m
123.7

Retained
(loss)/profit
£m
(25.9)

–
–
–
0.1
–
–
–
0.1

(78.6)
–
2.5
2.2
–
–
0.6
2.8

–
–
–
8.2
–
–
–
8.2

–
–
–
123.7
–
–
–
123.7

–
1.1
–
12.0
–
0.9
–
12.9

78.6
–
–
52.7
0.1
–
–
52.8

Total
equity
£m
140.3
(4.4)

–
1.1
2.5
139.5
(5.9)
0.9
0.6
135.1

Total
equity
£m
195.3

–
1.1
2.5
198.9
0.1
0.9
0.6
200.5

62 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Cash flow statement 

63 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Statement of changes in equity 

Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

xxx

1  Accounting policies

General information

Vectura Group plc is a public limited company incorporated in  
the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006. The address 
of the registered office and principal place of business is given  
on page 92. The Company’s ordinary shares are traded on the 
London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the ticker VEC.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006 and IFRSs and related interpretations  
as adopted by the European Union and, therefore, the Group 
financial statements comply with Article 4 of the EU International 
Accounting Standard (IAS) Regulation. The Group and Company 
financial statements are also consistent with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

The separate financial statements of the Company are presented 
as required by the Companies Act 2006 and have been prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The 
Company is taking advantage of the exemption in section 408 of 
the Companies Act 2006 not to present its individual statement  
of comprehensive income and the related notes that form a  
part of these approved financial statements. The parent Company 
profit for the year ended 31 March 2013 is £0.1m (2011/12: £nil). 

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical 
cost basis, revised for use of fair values where required by 
applicable IFRS. The presentational and functional currency  
of Vectura Group plc is sterling since that is the currency of the 
primary economic environment in which the Group operates. 
Therefore, the consolidated financial statements are presented  
in sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest one hundred 
thousand (£0.1m), except where otherwise indicated. The 
principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Going concern

The accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis. 
Although the current economic conditions may place pressures 
on customers and suppliers which may face liquidity issues,  
the Group’s product diversity and customer and supplier base 
substantially mitigate these risks. In addition, the Group operates 
in the relatively defensive pharmaceutical industry which we 
expect to be less affected compared to other industries. 

The Group made a loss of £5.9m for the financial year ended  
31 March 2013 (2011/12: £4.4m) but had £70.1m of cash and  
cash equivalents as at 31 March 2013 (2012: £75.5m). The Board 
operates an investment policy under which the primary objective 
is to invest in low-risk cash or cash equivalent investments  
to safeguard the principal. The Group’s forecasts, taking into 
account likely revenue streams, show that the Group has sufficient 
funds to operate for the foreseeable future. 

After reviewing the Group’s forecasts and assessing the uncertain 
nature of some of the Group’s forecast revenues, the Directors 
believe that the Group is adequately placed to manage its business 
and financing risks successfully despite the current uncertain 
economic outlook. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going 
concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts. 

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated annual financial statements comprise the 
financial statements of Vectura Group plc and its subsidiaries  
as at 31 March each year. 

Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which control is 
transferred to the Group and cease to be consolidated from the date 
on which control is transferred out of the Group. Control comprises 
the power to govern the financial and operational policies of the 
investee so as to obtain benefit from its activities and is achieved 
through direct or indirect ownership of voting rights, or by way  
of contractual agreement. The financial statements of subsidiaries 
are prepared for the same reporting year as the parent Company, 
using consistent accounting policies. Adjustments are made to bring 
into line any dissimilar accounting policies that may exist.

All inter-company balances and transactions, including unrealised 
profits arising from intra-group transactions, have been 
eliminated in full.

Where there is a loss of control of a subsidiary, the consolidated 
financial statements include the results for the part of the 
reporting year during which the Group had control.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of  
estimation uncertainty

In preparing the financial statements, management is required  
to make estimates and assumptions, in accordance with IFRS, that 
affect the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses 
reported in the financial statements. The estimates and associated 
assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors 
that are considered to be relevant. Actual amounts and results 
could differ from those estimates. 

The critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation 
uncertainty that have a significant risk of causing material 
adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities  
within the next financial year are the measurement and review  
for impairment of definite and indefinite-life intangible assets 
(goodwill), the review for impairment of investments, the 
measurement of provisions, the estimation of share-based 
payment costs, revenue recognition and the treatment of 
research and development expenditure in line with the relevant 
accounting policy. 

The Group determines on an annual basis whether goodwill is 
impaired and this requires the estimation of the value in use of 
the cash-generating units to which goodwill is allocated. The 
measurement of intangible assets other than goodwill on a 
business combination involves estimation of future cash flows  
and the selection of a suitable discount rate.

The measurement of provisions involves estimation of future  
cash flows and the associated level of liabilities expected to arise 
as a result of these cash flows. 

The estimation of share-based payment costs requires the 
selection of an appropriate valuation model, consideration as  
to the inputs necessary for the valuation model chosen and the 
estimation of the number of awards that will ultimately vest, 
inputs for which arise from judgements relating to the probability 
of meeting non-market conditions and the continuing 
participation of employees.

The treatment of research and development expenditure requires 
an assessment of the expenditure in order to determine whether 
or not it is appropriate to capitalise onto the balance sheet in 
accordance with IAS 38.

The recognition of milestone revenue income requires an 
assessment of the Group’s future obligations under a given 
contract, which determines the period over which the revenue  
is recognised.

Revenue recognition

Revenue represents the amount receivable for goods and services 
provided and royalties earned, net of trade discounts, VAT and 
other sales-related taxes. Revenue is recognised as follows:

Technology and product licensing 

Technology and product licensing income represents amounts 
earned for licences provided under licensing agreements, 
including up-front payments, milestone payments and technology 
access fees. Revenues are recognised where they are non-
refundable, the Group’s obligations related to the revenues  
have been discharged and their collection is reasonably assured. 
Refundable licensing revenue is treated as deferred until such 
time that it is no longer refundable. In general, up-front payments 
are deferred and amortised on a systematic basis in line with the 
period of development. Milestone payments relating to scientific 
or technical achievements are recognised as income when the 
milestone is accomplished.

Royalty income

Royalty income is recognised on an accruals basis and represents 
income earned as a percentage of product sales in accordance 
with the substance of the relevant agreement net of amounts 
payable to other licensees.

Pharmaceutical Development Services

Pharmaceutical Development Services revenues principally 
comprise contract product development and contract clinical  
trial manufacturing fees invoiced to third parties. Revenues are 
recognised upon the completion of agreed tasks or numbers  
of person days and in the period to which they relate.

Device sales

Device sales are recognised when goods are delivered to customers.

Interest income 

Interest income is recognised on a time-proportion basis using 
the effective interest method.

Business combinations

The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the 
acquisition method. The cost of the acquisition is measured  
at the aggregate of the fair values, at the date of exchange,  
of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity 
instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control of the 
acquiree. Acquisition related costs are recognised in the statement 
of comprehensive income as they are incurred. In accordance 
with IFRS 3 – Business Combinations, the Group has a twelve-
month period in which to finalise the fair values allocated to 
assets and liabilities determined provisionally on acquisition.

64 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

65 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

Following initial recognition, the historic cost model is applied, 
with intangible assets being carried at cost less accumulated 
amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Intangible 
assets with a finite life have no residual value and are amortised 
on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives with 
charges included in administrative expenses as follows:

Patents, trademarks and licence agreements – between  
3 and 10 years

The carrying value of intangible assets is reviewed for  
impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances 
indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. 

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, net of 
depreciation and provision for impairment. Depreciation is 
provided on all property, plant and equipment at rates  
calculated to write off the cost of each asset, less its estimated 
residual value, on a straight-line basis over its expected useful  
life, as follows:

  Buildings – 20 years
  Laboratory equipment – 3–7 years
  Office and IT equipment – 3 years
  Freehold land is not depreciated.

The carrying values of property, plant and equipment are 
reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate 
the carrying values may not be recoverable. Useful life and 
residual value are reviewed annually.

1  Accounting policies  continued

Goodwill

Goodwill recognised under UK Generally Accepted Accounting 
Principles (GAAP) prior to 1 April 2004 is stated at net book value 
at that date. Goodwill arising on the acquisition of subsidiary or 
associate undertakings and businesses subsequent to 1 April 
2004, representing any excess of the fair value of the 
consideration given over the fair value of the identifiable assets, 
liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired, is capitalised. After 
initial recognition, goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated 
impairment losses, with the carrying value being reviewed for 
impairment at least annually and whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. 
For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to the 
related cash-generating units monitored by management. Where 
the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than 
its carrying amount, including goodwill, an impairment loss is 
recognised in the statement of comprehensive income. An 
impairment loss recognised for goodwill is not reversed in a 
subsequent period. On disposal of a subsidiary, associate or 
jointly controlled entity, the attributable amount of goodwill is 
included in the determination of the profit or loss on disposal.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets acquired separately from a business combination 
are carried initially at cost. An intangible asset acquired as part of a 
business combination is recognised outside goodwill if the asset is 
separable or arises from contractual or other legal rights and its fair 
value can be measured reliably. Development expenditure on 
internally developed intangible assets is taken to the statement of 
comprehensive income in the year in which it is incurred, except 
where expenditure relating to clearly defined and identifiable 
development projects meets the following criteria, in which case 
development expenditure will be recognised as an intangible asset:

  the project’s technical feasibility and commercial viability can 
be demonstrated;
  the availability of adequate technical and financial resources 
and an intention to complete the project have been confirmed; 
  the correlation between development costs and future 
revenues has been established; and
  the economic benefit is expected to flow to the entity.

Impairment of assets

Investments in associates and joint ventures

The Group assesses at each reporting date whether there is an 
indication that an asset may be impaired. If any such indication 
exists, or when annual impairment testing for an asset is required, 
the Group makes an estimate of the asset’s recoverable amount. 
An asset’s recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s or 
cash-generating unit’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in 
use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset 
does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of 
those from other assets or groups of assets. Where the carrying 
amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset  
is considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable 
amount. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows 
are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate 
that reflects current market assessments of the time value of 
money and the risks specific to the asset. Impairment losses  
on continuing operations are recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income in those categories consistent with the 
function of the impaired asset.

An assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there 
is any indication that previously recognised impairment losses  
may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such indication 
exists, the recoverable amount is estimated. A previously 
recognised impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a 
change in the estimates used to determine the asset’s recoverable 
amount since the last impairment loss was recognised. If that is  
the case, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to its 
recoverable amount. That increased amount cannot exceed the 
carrying amount that would have been determined, net of 
depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised for the  
asset in prior years. Such reversal is recognised in profit or loss 
unless the asset is carried at the re-valued amount, in which case 
the reversal is treated as a revaluation increase. After such a 
reversal the depreciation charge is adjusted in future periods to 
allocate the asset’s revised carrying amount, less any residual 
value, on a systematic basis over its remaining useful life.

Investments in subsidiaries

Investments in subsidiaries are eliminated upon consolidation.  
In the Company accounts investments are carried at historic cost, 
less provision for impairment.

The Group’s interests in its associates, being those entities over 
which it has significant influence and which are neither 
subsidiaries nor joint ventures, are accounted for using the equity 
method of accounting. The Group’s interests in its joint ventures 
are also accounted for using the equity method of accounting. 
Under the equity method, the investment is carried in the balance 
sheet at cost plus post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share  
of net assets of the entity, less distributions received and less  
any impairment in value of individual investments. The Group’s 
statement of comprehensive income reflects the Group’s share  
of any income and expense recognised by the associate or joint 
venture outside profit and loss. The Group does not recognise 
losses in excess of the value of its investments.

Financial assets 

Financial assets are recognised when the Group becomes party to 
the contracts that give rise to them and are classified as financial 
assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables, 
held-to-maturity investments, or as available-for-sale financial 
assets, as appropriate. The Group determines the classification  
of its financial assets at initial recognition and re-evaluates this 
designation at each financial year end. When financial assets are 
recognised, initially they are measured at fair value, being the 
transaction price plus, in the case of financial assets not at fair 
value through profit or loss, directly attributable transaction costs.

Inventories

Inventories comprise goods held for resale and are stated at the 
lower of cost and net realisable value. Costs include the direct 
costs and, where applicable, an attributable proportion of 
distribution overheads incurred in bringing inventories to their 
current location and condition. Cost is determined on a first-in, 
first-out basis. Net realisable value is based on estimated selling 
price, less any further costs expected to be incurred to completion 
and disposal.

Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables are recognised and carried at the lower of their 
original invoiced value and recoverable amount. Provision is made 
when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able  
to recover balances in full. Balances are written off when the 
probability of recovery is assessed as being remote.

66 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

67 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

1  Accounting policies  continued

Financial liabilities

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and short-term deposits in the balance sheet comprise  
cash at bank and in hand and short-term deposits with an original 
maturity of three months or less. For the purposes of the cash 
flow statement, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash  
and cash equivalents as defined above, net of outstanding  
bank overdrafts.

Leasing

Operating leases and the annual rentals are charged to the 
statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis  
over the period of the lease in accordance with the terms of the 
lease agreements.

Foreign currencies

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of 
exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and 
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet 
date are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at that  
date. Any gain or loss arising from a change in exchange rate 
subsequent to the date of the transaction is included as an 
exchange gain or loss in the statement of comprehensive income. 

Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical  
cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate 
as at the dates of the initial transactions. Non-monetary items 
measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated  
using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value  
was determined.

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

All loans and borrowings are initially recognised at fair value,  
less directly attributable transaction costs. After initial recognition, 
interest-bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently 
measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 
Gains and losses arising on the repurchase, settlement or 
cancellation of liabilities are recognised respectively as finance 
income or finance costs. The effective interest rate is the rate  
that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments (including 
all fees on points paid or received that form an integral part of  
the effective interest rate, transaction costs and other premiums 
or discounts) through the expected life of the financial liability or, 
where appropriate, a shorter period.

Financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value and, if 
material, are subsequently measured at amortised cost using  
the effective interest method. The effective interest method is  
a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability 
and of allocating interest expense over the relevant period. The 
effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated 
future cash payments throughout the expected life of the  
financial liability.

Provisions

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

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of  
the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the 
balance sheet date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties 
surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using 
cash flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying 
amount is the value of those cash flows.

When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a 
provision are expected to be recovered from a third party,  
a receivable is recognised as an asset if it is virtually certain that 
reimbursement will be received and the amount of the receivable 
can be measured reliably.

Restructuring

A restructuring provision is recognised when the Group has 
developed a detailed formal plan for the restructuring and has 
raised a valid expectation in those affected that it will carry out 
the restructuring by starting to implement the plan or announcing 
its main features to those affected by it. The measurement of  
a restructuring provision includes only the direct expenditures 
arising from the restructuring, which are those amounts that are 
both necessarily entailed by the restructuring and not associated 
with the ongoing activities of the entity.

Taxation

Current tax assets and liabilities are measured as the amounts 
expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities, 
based on tax rates and laws that are enacted or substantively 
enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is recognised on all temporary differences arising 
between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying 
amounts in the financial statements, with the following exceptions:

  where the temporary difference arises from the initial 
recognition of goodwill, or from an asset or liability in a 
transaction that is not a business combination that at the  
time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable 
profit or loss;
  in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with 
investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, 
where the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences 
can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary 
differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future; and
  deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is 
probable that taxable profit will be available against which the 
deductible temporary differences, carried forward tax credits 
or tax losses can be utilised.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured on an 
undiscounted basis at the tax rates that are expected to apply 
when the related asset is realised or liability is settled, based  
on tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the 
balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is charged or credited directly to equity if it relates to 
items that are credited or charged to equity. Otherwise, deferred 
tax is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally 
enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current 
liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same 
taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax 
assets and liabilities on a net basis.

Research and development tax credits are recognised on an 
accruals basis.

Post-retirement benefits

The Group contributes a set proportion of employees’ gross 
salary to defined contribution personal pension plans. The 
amount charged to the statement of comprehensive income in 
respect of pension costs is the contribution payable in the year. 
Differences between contributions payable in the year and 
contributions actually paid are shown either as prepayments  
or as payables in the balance sheet.

Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs directly attributed to the acquisition, construction 
or production of qualifying assets, which are assets that 
necessarily take a substantial period of time to prepare for their 
intended use or sale, are added to the cost of those assets, until 
such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended 
use or sale. 

Investment income earned on the temporary investment of specific 
borrowings pending their expenditure on qualifying assets is 
deducted from the borrowing costs eligible for capitalisation.

All other borrowing costs are recognised in profit or loss in the 
period in which they are incurred.

Share-based payments

The Group operates a number of executive and employee share 
option schemes, including a Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) and a 
Value Realisation Plan (VRP), under which shares may be granted 
to staff members. The level of grant to members of staff under 
the LTIP is dependent upon the total shareholder return of 
Vectura (a market condition) compared to a peer group of UK 
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In accordance with 
IFRS 2, for all grants of share options and awards, the cost of 
equity-settled transactions is measured by reference to their fair 
value at the date at which they are granted. The Black–Scholes 
model is used to determine fair value for options and the Monte 
Carlo binomial model for LTIP and VRP awards.

The cost of equity-settled share transactions is recognised, 
together with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period 
until the award vests. No expense is recognised for awards that 
do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is 
conditional upon a market condition, which are treated as vesting 
irrespective of whether or not the market condition is satisfied, 
provided that all other performance conditions are satisfied.  
At each reporting date, the cumulative expense recognised for 
equity-based transactions reflects the extent to which the vesting 
period has expired and the number of awards that, in the opinion 
of the Directors at that date, will ultimately vest. The Group has 
taken advantage of the exemptions afforded by IFRS 1 in respect 
of equity-settled awards and has applied IFRS 2 only to equity-
settled awards granted after 7 November 2002 and not vested  
at 1 January 2005.

68 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

69 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

1  Accounting policies  continued

New accounting Standards and Interpretations 

The following new and revised Standards and Interpretations 
have been adopted in the current year. Their adoption has not 
had any significant impact on the amounts reported in these 
financial statements, but with the exception of the amendment  
to IFRS 1, may impact the accounting for future transactions and 
arrangements.

  Amendment to IFRS 1
Severe Hyperinflation and Removal of Fixed Dates for 
First-time Adopters 
The amendments replace the fixed dates in the derecognition 
exception and the exemption related to the initial fair value 
measurement of financial instruments; and add a deemed cost 
exemption that an entity can apply at the date of transition 
IFRSs after being subject to severe hyperinflation.
  Amendments to IFRS 7
Disclosures – Transfers of Financial Assets 
The amendments introduce new disclosure requirements  
about certain transfers of financial assets.
  Amendments to IAS 12
Deferred Tax: Recovery of Underlying Assets  
The amendment provides an exception to the general 
measurement principle in respect of investment property 
measured using the fair value model in accordance with  
IAS 40 Investment Property.

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the 
following Standards and Interpretations which have not been 
applied in these financial statements were in issue but not yet 
effective (and in some cases had not yet been adopted by the EU):

  IFRS 1 (amended) Government Loans
  IFRS 7 (amended) Disclosures – Offsetting Financial Assets 
and Financial Liabilities
  IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
  IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements; Investment Entities
  IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements
  IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities; 
Investment Entities
  IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
  IAS 1 (amended) Presentation of Items of Other 
Comprehensive Income
  IAS 19 (revised) Employee Benefits
  IAS 27 (revised) Separate Financial Statements; 
Investment Entities
  IAS 28 (revised) Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures
  IAS 32 (amended) Offsetting Financial Assets and 
Financial Liabilities
  IFRIC 20 Stripping Costs in the Production Phase of a 
Surface Mine

The Directors do not expect that the adoption of the standards 
listed above will have a material impact on the financial 
statements of the Group in future periods, except as follows:

  IFRS 7 (amended) will increase the disclosure requirements 
where netting arrangements are in place for financial assets 
and liabilities;
  IFRS 9 will impact both the measurement and disclosure of 
financial instruments;
  IFRS 12 will impact the disclosure of interests Vectura Group plc 
has in other entities; and
  IFRS 13 will impact the measurement of fair value for certain 
assets and liabilities as well as the associated disclosures.

Beyond the information above, it is not practicable to provide  
a reasonable estimate of the effect of these standards until a 
detailed review has been completed. 

2  Revenue

Revenue represents amounts invoiced to third parties, derived from the provision of licences and services that fall within the Group’s 
sole principal activity, the development of pharmaceutical products. 

Revenue by category
Royalties
Product licensing
Technology licensing
Pharmaceutical development services
Device sales

Investment income:
Interest income (note 4)
Total income

Revenue by customer location
United Kingdom
Rest of Europe
United States of America
Rest of World

Information about major customers

2013
£m
13.0
12.8
3.7
0.6
0.4
30.5

0.5
31.0

2013
£m
3.9
11.4
15.2
–
30.5

2012
£m
13.5
12.1
2.3
2.8
2.3
33.0

0.7
33.7

2012
£m
2.5
9.4
21.0
0.1
33.0

Revenue earned from the Group’s major customers was as follows: Customer A – £12.7m (2011/12: £13.4m), Customer B – £12.7m 
(2011/12: £10.6m) and Customer C – £3.5m (2011/12: £2.0m).

3  Segmental information

The Group is engaged in a single business activity of pharmaceuticals and the Group does not have multiple operating segments.  
The Group’s pharmaceutical business consists of the research, development and commercialisation of pharmaceutical products. The 
Leadership Team is the Group’s chief operating decision-making body, as defined by IFRS 8, and all significant operating decisions are 
taken by the Leadership Team. In assessing performance, the Leadership Team reviews financial information on an integrated basis  
for the Group as a whole, substantially in the form of, and on the same basis as, the Group’s IFRS financial statements. Resources are 
allocated between activities and products on a Group-wide basis on merit.

All revenue and losses before taxation originate in the United Kingdom.

70 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

71 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

4  Investment income and finance gains

Investment income:

Interest receivable on bank deposits and similar income

Finance income:
Foreign exchange gains

5  Operating loss

Operating loss is the result for the Group before interest and taxation, and is stated after charging/(crediting):

Amortisation of intangible assets
Depreciation of property plant and equipment
Share-based compensation
Cost of inventories recognised as expense
Net foreign exchange gains
Profit on disposal of investments
Staff costs (note 6)
Operating lease rentals:
– land and buildings
– plant and machinery

The analysis of auditor’s remuneration is as follows:

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and their associates for other services to the Group:
– The audit of the Company’s subsidiaries
Total audit fees

Audit related assurance services
Taxation compliance services
Other taxation advisory services
Other services
Total non-audit fees
Total fees

2013
£m

0.5

0.7

2013
£m
6.3
1.0
0.9
0.2
(0.7)
(0.1)
12.2

0.5
–

2013
£000
20

63
83

20
4
2
23
49
132

2012
£m

0.7

–

2012
£m
7.5
1.1
1.1
1.1
–
–
12.0

0.5
0.1

2012
£000
20

63
83

15
7
16
10
48
131

6  Directors and employees

Directors’ remuneration

The aggregate remuneration comprised:

Fees
Salaries and benefits
Bonuses

Pension contributions

2013
£m
0.2
0.8
0.4
1.4
0.1
1.5

2012
£m
0.2
0.5
0.3
1.0
0.1
1.1

Three Directors (2011/12: two) receive company contributions to defined contribution personal pension plans. One Director  
exercised share options in the year, increasing his shareholding in the Company by 252,976 Ordinary shares as a result of the exercise. 

The remuneration of the Executive Directors is decided by the Remuneration Committee. Full details of Directors’ remuneration  
and options are contained in the Report on remuneration contained within this Annual Report.

Employees

The average monthly number of employees (including Executive Directors) employed by the Group during the year was as follows:

Research and development
Business development and administration

The aggregate remuneration comprised:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs

2013
No.
201
15
216

2013
£m
10.4
1.2
0.6
12.2

2012
No.
194
15
209

2012
£m
10.2
1.2
0.6
12.0

In addition to the wages and salaries analysis above are the effects of the charge for share-based compensation under IFRS 2 during  
the year of £0.9m (2011/12: £1.1m).

The Company had no employees during the years ended 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012.

72 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

73 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

7  Taxation

The major components of the income tax credit for the years ended 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012 were as follows:

Foreign withholding tax charge on royalties
Research and development tax credits:
– current year
– receipt in respect of prior year
Reduction in deferred tax liability
Total

2013
£m
–

3.8
0.4
 0.3
4.5

2012
£m
(0.1)

4.0
2.1
 2.8
8.8

Factors that may affect future tax charges are:

Cumulative tax losses of approximately £79.7m (2012: £89m), subject to agreement by HMRC, are available within the Group to carry 
forward against future taxable profits. There is a deferred tax asset of £19.6m (2012: £21.9m), including these tax losses, calculated at 
the standard rate of tax of 23% (2012: 24%), as follows:

On cumulative tax losses – unrecognised
On cumulative tax losses – recognised
On unclaimed capital allowances – unrecognised
On unexercised share options – unrecognised

2013
£m
14.4
4.4
–
0.8
19.6

2012
£m
15.8
5.6
0.3
0.2
21.9

Research and development tax credits are accrued based on the estimated receipt from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). 

The credit for the year can be reconciled to the loss per the statement of comprehensive income as follows:

Deferred tax asset

Loss on ordinary activities before tax
Loss on ordinary activities multiplied by standard rate of UK of 24% (2011/12: 26%) Corporation Tax
Effects of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Unrecognised tax losses carried forward
Reduction in deferred tax liability 
Foreign withholding taxes 
Research and development tax credits 
– current year
– receipt in respect of prior year 
Total tax credit for the year

2013
£m
(10.4)
(2.5)

0.2
2.3
(0.3)
–

(3.8)
(0.4)
(4.5)

2012
£m
(13.2)
(3.4)

0.2
3.2
(2.8)
0.1

(4.0)
(2.1)
(8.8)

In March 2012 the UK Government announced the main rate of UK corporation tax would reduce from 24% with effect from 1 April 2012 
and reduce to 23% with effect from 1 April 2013. 

In March 2013 the UK Government announced the main rate of UK corporation tax would reduce to 21% with effect from 1 April 2014 
and reduce to 20% with effect from 1 April 2015. These changes have not yet been substantively enacted.

The effect of these tax rate reductions on the deferred tax balance will be accounted for in the period in which the tax rate reductions 
are substantively enacted.

A deferred tax asset of £4.4m relating to losses has been recognised as at 31 March 2013 (2012: £5.6m). To the extent permitted by  
IAS 12 – Income Taxes, this deferred tax asset has been offset against the deferred tax liability arising on the intangible assets.  
The losses and deferred tax assets have no formal expiry date. 

Deferred tax liability 

A deferred tax liability of £4.4m exists at 31 March 2013 (2012: £5.9m). £3.9m of this relates to 23% of the intangible asset value at that 
date (2012: 24%). The remaining deferred tax liability relates to capital allowances claimed in excess of depreciation. The deferred tax 
liability of £4.4m is offset by a deferred tax asset as described above. 

8  Loss per ordinary share

The calculation of loss per share is based on the following losses and number of shares:

Loss for the year (£m)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (No. m) 
Loss per ordinary share 

2013
(5.9)
 332.9

(1.8p) 

2012
(4.4)
329.3
 (1.3p)

The loss per share is based on the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. IAS 33 – Earnings per Share, requires 
presentation of diluted earnings per share when a company could be called upon to issue shares that would decrease net profit or 
increase net loss per share. No adjustment has been made to the basic loss per share, as the exercise of share options would have the 
effect of reducing the loss per ordinary share, and is therefore not dilutive.

74 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

75 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

9  Goodwill

Group
Cost:
At 1 April
At 31 March
Net book value:
At 1 April
At 31 March

2013
£m

49.6
49.6

49.6
49.6

2012
£m

49.6
49.6

49.6
49.6

Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units (CGUs), which are tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if there 
are indications that goodwill might be impaired. The recoverable amounts of the cash-generating units are assessed using a value-in-
use model. An impairment provision is recognised only if the goodwill carrying value exceeds this value-in-use. 

The key assumptions for the value-in-use calculations are those regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes to 
contribution during the period. The model has been based on the most recent pre-tax cash flow forecasts prepared by management, 
which consist of detailed probability weighted product-by-product analyses. These forecasts are based on development timings and 
specific projections for sales volumes over a ten-year period, being the period in which the expected useful economic life of each asset 
has been substantially completed. No terminal values have been included in the cash flow forecasts. No general growth rates are 
assumed. The discount rates used in the forecasts range from 8% to 13%. 

10  Intangible assets

Group
Cost:
At 1 April 2011, 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2013
Amortisation:
At 1 April 2011
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2012
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2013

Net book value:
At 31 March 2012
At 31 March 2013

Patents and
trademarks
£m

Licences 
£m

3.5

(3.5)
 –
(3.5)
 –
(3.5)

 –
 –

74.6

(43.7)
(7.5)
(51.2)
(6.3)
(57.5)

23.4
17.1

Total
£m

78.1

(47.2)
(7.5)
(54.7)
(6.3)
(61.0)

23.4
17.1

Intangible assets are being amortised on a straight-line basis over the expected life of each separate asset. The expected life of these 
intangible assets is between three and ten years.

The Company had no intangible assets at 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012.

The carrying value of goodwill is made up of balances arising on acquisition of the following companies:

11  Property, plant and equipment

Group
Co-ordinated Drug Development Limited (since re-named Vectura Limited)
Vectura Delivery Devices Limited
Innovata Limited

Company
Carrying amount:
At 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2013

2013
£m
1.5
0.5
47.6
49.6

2012
£m
1.5
0.5
47.6
49.6

£m

2.0

For the purposes of goodwill impairment testing, the Group recognises two distinct cash generating units, being the Vectura CGU,  
which includes Vectura Limited and Vectura Delivery Devices Limited, and the Innovata CGU, being the group of companies acquired  
in January 2007. These CGUs are part of the Group’s only operating segment.

The Group has conducted a sensitivity analysis on the impairment test of each CGU’s carrying value. In each case the valuations  
indicate sufficient headroom such that a reasonably possible change in a key assumption is unlikely to result in an impairment of the 
related goodwill.

The goodwill in the Company arose on the acquisition of the Centre for Drug Formulation Studies, an unincorporated entity, in 1999. 
Amortisation of £684,000 was applied prior to 1 April 2004. Goodwill in the Company is tested for impairment using the same discount 
rates and on the same basis as for the Group.

Group
Cost:
At 1 April 2011
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2012
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2013

Depreciation:
At 1 April 2011
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2012
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2013

Net book value:
At 31 March 2012
At 31 March 2013

Assets in the course
of construction
£m

Freehold land
and buildings
£m

Laboratory
equipment
£m

Office and IT
equipment
£m

–
2.5
–
2.5
2.3
–
4.8

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

2.5
4.8

–
0.8
–
0.8
0.1
–
0.9

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

0.8
0.9

10.9
0.9
(0.3)
11.5
1.6
(0.1)
13.0

(8.2)
(1.0)
0.3
(8.9)
(1.0)
0.1
(9.8)

2.6
3.2

0.6
–
(0.1)
0.5
–
–
0.5

(0.4)
(0.1)
0.1
(0.4)
–
–
(0.4)

0.1
0.1

The Company had no property, plant and equipment at 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012.

Total
£m

11.5
4.2
(0.4)
15.3
4.0
(0.1)
19.2

(8.6)
(1.1)
0.4
(9.3)
(1.0)
0.1
(10.2)

6.0
9.0

76 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

77 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

12  Investments in subsidiary undertakings

14  Inventories

Company
Cost:
At 1 April 2011, 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2013 
Amounts written off:
At 1 April 2011, 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2013
Net book value:
At 31 March 2012
At 31 March 2013

Details of the Company’s significant subsidiary undertakings are as follows:

Name of undertaking
Vectura Group Investments Limited
Vectura Limited (1)
Vectura Delivery Devices Limited (1)
Vectura Inc.
Innovata Limited (1)
Innovata Biomed Limited (2)

Innovata Hong Kong Limited (3)

Country of incorporation
England
England
England
USA
England
Scotland

Hong Kong

Holding
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary

Ordinary

(1)  A subsidiary of Vectura Group Investments Limited.
(2)  A subsidiary of Innovata Limited.
(3) A subsidiary of Innovata Biomed Limited.

Shares in subsidiary undertakings
£m

125.7

(0.1)

125.6
125.6

Proportion held
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

Nature of business
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals

Finished goods

15  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Other receivables (1)
Prepayments and accrued income
VAT recoverable

 Group
2013
£m
0.8

 Group
2013
£m
0.1
4.0
4.2
0.9
9.2

Group
2012
£m
0.7

 Company
2013
£m
–

Company
2012
£m
–

Group
2012
£m
0.8
4.4
3.5
1.0
9.7

 Company
2013
£m
–
 –
–
–
 –

Company
2012
£m
–
 0.1
–
–
 0.1

(1) Includes research and development tax credits of £3.8m (2012: £4.0m).

The average credit period taken by customers is 30 days (2012: 30 days). The Directors consider that the carrying value of trade  
and other receivables approximates to their fair value.

82%

Pharmaceuticals

16  Amounts due from and owed to subsidiary undertakings

In addition, the Group has a number of subsidiaries that are dormant or whose residual activities are not material to the Group.

13  Other receivables

Group

Other receivables represent an investment bond of £0.4m (2012: £0.4m) in respect of a rental deposit paid under the terms of a lease 
agreement for the Company’s premises at Chippenham. The deposit is for a fixed period of one year and is renewed annually. Under the 
terms of the lease agreement the deposit must be maintained until the Group has made three years of consecutive profits. The interest 
rate is 1% below the Royal Bank of Scotland base rate and was 0% for the year ended 31 March 2013. Interest is recognised using the 
effective interest method.

Amounts falling due within one year:
Due from subsidiary undertakings

17  Trade and other payables

Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade payables
Other payables
Accruals

 Group
2013
£m

–
_

 Group
2013
£m

3.8
0.3
15.6
19.7

Group
2012
£m

 Company
2013
£m

Company
2012
£m

 –
_

72.9
72.9

71.2
71.2

Group
2012
£m

 Company
2013
£m

Company
2012
£m

2.5
1.1
17.1
20.7

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

Trade payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The average credit period taken by 
the Group for trade purchases is 31 days (2012: 32 days).

78 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

79 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

18  Deferred income

Deferred income relates to amounts received under product licensing agreements. Vectura continues to provide services to these 
licensing partners over a period of time. Milestone payments under these licensing agreements are therefore spread over future 
periods, and income is deferred as follows: 

Amounts due within one year
Amounts due in more than one year

19  Financial instruments

Categories of financial instruments

Unless stated otherwise, all disclosures relate to the Group.

 Group
2013
£m
0.1
1.3
1.4

Group
2012
£m
3.5
1.3
4.8

 Company
2013
£m
–
–
–

Company
2012
£m
–
–
–

Under IFRS 7, and for the purposes of risk management, the following classes of financial assets and their carrying values have  
been identified:

Cash and cash equivalents
Loans and receivables

2013
£m
70.1
8.8
78.9

2012
£m
75.5
9.1
84.6

All financial assets fall due within the first quarter of the year, with the exception of the investment bond which is included within loans 
and receivables in the table above, the repayment of which is determined by the Group’s results (see note 13).

There were no provisions against impaired assets at 31 March 2013 (2012: £nil). There are no amounts past due but not impaired (2012: £nil).

Cash and cash equivalents comprise current accounts held by the Group with immediate access and short-term bank deposits with a 
maturity value of three months or less.

Under IFRS 7, and for the purposes of risk management, the following classes of financial liabilities and their carrying values (at 
amortised cost) have been identified:

Other

All financial liabilities fall due within one year.

2013
£m
(19.7)

2012
£m
(20.7)

Fair value of financial assets and liabilities

The Directors consider there to be no material difference between the book value and the fair value of the Group’s financial assets  
and liabilities at the balance sheet date. 

Capital risk management

The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as going concerns while maximising the 
return to stakeholders. The capital structure of the Group consists of cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to equity  
holders of Vectura Group plc, comprising issued share capital (note 20a), reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the statement  
of changes in equity. 

Externally imposed capital requirement

The Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

Significant accounting policies

Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted, including the criteria for recognition, the basis of measurement  
and the basis on which income and expenses are recognised, in respect of each class of financial asset, financial liability and equity 
instrument are disclosed in note 1 to the financial statements.

Financial risk management

The Group’s objective in using financial instruments is to maximise the returns on funds held on deposit, to minimise exchange rate  
risk where appropriate, and to generate additional cash resources through the issue of shares when appropriate. Balance sheets at  
31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012 are not necessarily representative of the positions throughout the year, as cash and short-term 
investments fluctuate considerably depending on when share issues have occurred. 

It is, and has been throughout the year, the Group’s policy that no speculative trading in financial instruments is undertaken.

The Group is funded principally with equity and invests its funds in short-term bank deposits. The Group has access to the majority  
of these deposits at a maximum of 24 hours’ notice. The Group’s policy throughout the period has been to minimise the risk by placing 
funds in low-risk cash deposits, but also to maximise the return on funds placed on deposit.

Interest on overnight cash deposits is calculated on the basis of a floating rate set at between 5 and 10 basis points below seven-day 
sterling London Inter-Bank Offer Rate (LIBOR).

Foreign currency risk management

The Group’s principal functional currency is sterling. However, the Group undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign 
currencies. The Group’s policy is to offset its currency exposure by matching foreign currency revenues with expenditure in the same 
foreign currency. Where there are no imminent foreign exchange transactions, the balances are exchanged for sterling at spot rate. 

All assets and liabilities are denominated in sterling other than those shown below:

Cash and cash equivalents:
Euro
US dollar

 Group
2013
£m

2.6
8.2
10.8

Group
2012
£m

 Company
2013
£m

Company
2012
£m

1.1
5.1
6.2

–
–
–

–
–
–

80 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

81 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

19  Financial instruments  continued

Foreign currency sensitivity analysis

The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 10% increase and decrease in sterling against the euro and US dollar; 10% 
represents management’s assessment of a reasonably possible change in foreign exchange rates. The sensitivity analysis includes  
only outstanding foreign currency denominated items and adjusts their translation at the period end for a 10% change in foreign 
currency rates. A positive number below indicates an increase in profit and other equity where sterling weakens against the  
relevant currency. For a 10% strengthening of sterling against the euro and the US dollar there would be an equal and opposite  
impact on the loss and other equity and the balances below would be negative (2012: negative).

Euro currency impact – gain

US dollar currency impact – gain

2013
£m
0.3

0.8

2012
£m
 0.1

 0.5

The Company did not hold any balances denominated in foreign currencies at year end and therefore is not exposed to any risk  
from fluctuations in foreign currencies.

The Group and Company have a legal right of offset between all foreign currency bank accounts and all sterling bank accounts. 

Interest rate risk management

The Group has no external borrowings and is not exposed to interest rate risk through borrowings. Cash and cash equivalents earned 
£0.5m of finance income during the year (2011/12: £0.7m). If interest rates had been 0.5% higher/lower and all other variables were 
constant, the Group’s profit for the year ended 31 March 2013 would increase/decrease by £0.4m (2011/12: £0.4m). 

All the Group’s monetary assets and liabilities are held at floating rates.

Liquidity risk management

The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate reserves and by continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows  
and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities. 

Credit risk management

The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributed to its cash and cash equivalents. The Board operates an investment policy, under which  
the primary objective is to invest in a diverse portfolio of low risk cash or cash equivalent investments to safeguard the principal. 

The Group’s credit risk on trade and other receivables is low as the amounts are owed by large, multinational, pharmaceutical 
companies. For the same reason, the Directors assess the quality of these assets as high.

Market risk management

The Group’s exposure to market risk primarily comprises interest rate exposure. Group funds are invested in cash deposits with the 
objective of maintaining a balance between accessibility of funds and competitive rates of return. 

20  Equity

(a) Share capital

Authorised:
Ordinary shares of 0.025p each

Redeemable preference shares of £1 each

Allotted, called up and fully paid:
Ordinary shares of 0.025p each:
At 1 April
Issued to Share Investment Plan
Issued on exercise of share options
Issued on exercise of Sharesave options
Issued on exercise of LTIP options
At 31 March

Redeemable preference shares of £1 each:
At 1 April and 31 March

2013
£m

0.1

–

0.1
–
–
–
–
0.1

–

No. ’000

441,200

34

331,686
1,000
1,062
226
482
334,456

34

2012
£m

0.1

–

0.1
–
–
–
–
0.1

–

No. ’000

441,200

34

326,659
–
3,475
1,466
86
331,686

34

The rights attaching to the redeemable preference shares are summarised as follows: (a) the shares do not confer any right to dividend 
or other distributions; (b) on a return of capital on liquidation or otherwise, the assets of the Company available for distribution among 
the members are to be applied first in repaying to the holders of the redeemable preference shares the amounts paid up or credited  
as paid up in respect of such shares; (c) holders of redeemable preference shares have the right to receive notice of and attend general 
meetings, but have no right to vote thereat; (d) the price per share at which redeemable preference shares are transferred may not 
exceed the amount paid or credited as being paid up; and (e) the Company may specify by notice in writing the date upon which it 
intends to redeem all (but not some only) of the shares. The price per share payable by the Company to the holders of the redeemable 
preference shares on their redemption shall be the amount paid up or credited as paid up on each such share.

Between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013 the Company issued 1,000,000 ordinary shares to the Vectura Group plc Employee Benefit 
Trust (in the year ended 31 March 2012: none).

Between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013 the Company issued 1,061,980 (in the year ended 31 March 2012: 3,475,463) ordinary shares 
of 0.025p each on the exercise of employee share options at a weighted average exercise price of 48.52p per share (2012: 57.04p). 

Between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013 the Company issued 225,634 (in the year ended 31 March 2012: 1,465,608) ordinary shares  
of 0.025p each on the exercise of Sharesave options at a weighted average exercise price of 48.18p (2012: 36.14p) per share. 

Between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013 the Company issued 482,121 (in the year ended 31 March 2012: 86,209) ordinary shares of 
0.025p each on the exercise of LTIP nil-cost options. 

82 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

83 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

20  Equity  continued

(b) Share premium 

The share premium account consists of the proceeds from the issue of shares in excess of their par value (which is included in the share 
capital account) less amounts transferred to distributable reserves through capital conversion.

(c) Special reserve

The special reserve was created on 19 May 2004 as part of the process prior to the Company’s Initial Public Offering on 2 July 2004,  
to enable re-registration as a public company. It is a non-distributable reserve.

(d) Other reserve

The other reserve was created on the acquisition by the Company of Co-ordinated Drug Development Limited (since renamed Vectura 
Limited) in August 1999, of Vectura Delivery Devices Limited in February 2002 and of Innovata plc in January 2007. It is a non-
distributable reserve.

(e) Share-based compensation reserve

The share-based compensation reserve represents the credit arising on the charge for share options calculated in accordance with IFRS 2.

(f) Retained (loss)/profit

A shareholder resolution was approved at the Company’s AGM, held on 22 July 2011, to reduce the Company’s share premium account 
by £78.6m, being the value of the share premium account as at 14 June 2011. A subsequent application to reduce the Company’s share 
premium account was approved by the High Court of Justice on 25 January 2012. As part of this share premium reduction, the retained 
loss value of £25.9m in the Company balance sheet as at 14 June 2011 was cancelled and this created a retained profit in the Company 
balance sheet.

21  Equity-settled share option schemes and Long-Term Incentive Plan

The Company’s Directors, officers and employees hold options under the Vectura Unapproved Share Option Plan (“Unapproved Plan”), 
under Enterprise Management Incentive arrangements (“EMI Plan”) and under the Vectura Approved Share Option Plan (“Approved Plan”). 
Options are granted to acquire shares at the opening market price ruling on the date of grant. In general, options vest after three years 
and are exercisable during a period ending ten years after the date of grant.

On 18 January 2007, upon the acquisition of Innovata plc and in accordance with a scheme of arrangement, options over Innovata 
shares issued and outstanding at that date under the ML Laboratories plc 1989 Executive Option Scheme and the ML Laboratories plc 
1999 Executive Option Scheme were exchanged for options over Vectura shares in accordance with the rules of the relevant Innovata 
Option Scheme. The exchange was on the basis that the option holders received new options representing 0.2858 Vectura shares for 
every one Innovata share.

The Company operates a Sharesave Scheme. All employees and Executive Directors are invited to subscribe for options to acquire shares 
in the Company, which may be granted at a discount of up to 20% of the market value on the offer date. The options granted vest after 
three years and are exercisable during a period of six months following the vesting date.

The Company also operates a Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) under which Executive Directors and certain senior managers are  
granted conditional rights in the form of nil-cost options to receive a maximum number of shares at the beginning of a three-year 
period, a proportion of which they will be entitled to receive at the end of that period, depending on the extent to which the challenging 
performance conditions set by the Remuneration Committee at the time the allocation was made are satisfied. The nil-cost option 
entitlement is exercisable from the beginning of the fourth year to the end of the tenth year following the date of grant. Further 
information on the performance conditions of the LTIP are detailed in the Report on remuneration. At 31 March 2013, Executive 
Directors and eligible senior managers hold rights to ordinary shares awarded under the LTIP, as follows: 

Date of vesting
12 September 2008 
22 November 2009
2 March 2010
25 May 2010 
23 May 2011 
21 May 2012
7 June 2013 (1)
7 June 2014 (1)

18 September 2015 (1)

Ordinary shares vesting
554,615
501,242
104,758
446,636
1,388,100
271,575
2,511,192
2,511,192

1,710,423

(1)  Maximum number of shares, subject to performance conditions.

On 31 October 2008, the shareholders approved a Value Realisation Plan (VRP). The VRP runs in parallel to the LTIP and provides 
participants with a share of a pre-determined percentage of the total consideration paid for the Company in the event of a change in 
control within five years of the date of approval of the Plan. In this event, under the VRP members of the Executive Committee of the 
Company will be granted a one-off entitlement in the form of units, which convert into ordinary shares in the Company, the actual 
number of shares that convert being linked to the offer price per share achieved. The VRP is triggered upon achievement of a minimum 
bid price of £1.27 per share, with a maximum number of shares available to participants if the bid price reaches £1.77 per share,  
or greater.

Fair value calculations

The Group has taken advantage of the exemption in IFRS 1 and has applied IFRS 2 only to options granted after 7 November 2002  
and not vested at 1 January 2005. At 31 March 2013 there were 318,324 options outstanding that were granted before this date  
(2012: 2,255,995).

With the exception of the LTIP awards and the potential awards under the VRP, the fair value of the options was determined using  
the Black-Scholes pricing model. The fair value of the LTIP and VRP awards have been estimated using the Monte Carlo model,  
using the same basis for the assumptions for volatility, option life, expected dividend yield and risk-free rate of return as used for the 
Black-Scholes model. For the purposes of calculating the fair value of the LTIP, it was considered equally probable that the Company’s 
performance would be such that it would perform in each of the quartiles established under the LTIP scheme, as described in the Report 
on remuneration. 

84 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

85 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

21  Equity-settled share option schemes and Long-Term Incentive Plan  continued

Year of grant
The assumptions input into the Black-Scholes model were as follows:
Weighted average share price of grants during the year
Weighted average exercise price of grants during the year
Expected volatility (1)
Expected life (2)
Expected dividends
Risk-free interest rate (3)
The assumptions input into the Monte Carlo model were as follows:
Weighted average share price of grants during the year
Weighted average exercise price of grants during the year
Expected volatility (1)
Expected life (2)
Expected dividends

Risk-free interest rate (3)

 2013

 2012

72.03p
80.41p
45%–49%
3–5 years
Nil
0.3%–0.5%

69.22p
60.61p
46%–49%
3–5 years
Nil
0.5%–1.0%

81.50p
0.025p
49%
3 years
Nil

0.4%

–
–
–
–
–

–

(1)  Expected volatility has been calculated by reference to the Company’s historic share price since the IPO in July 2004, considered alongside the volatility 

of similar companies. The expectation of the cancellation of options has been considered in determining the fair value expense charged in the statement of 
comprehensive income.

(2)  The expected life used in the models is based on management’s best estimate of behavioural consideration based on historic exercise patterns.
(3) The risk-free interest rate is the UK Gilt Rate at the date of grant, commensurate with the expected term.

The charge is spread over the expected vesting period, utilising the fair value calculated by using the two models described above,  
and after adjusting for the likelihood of cancellation of options when employees leave.

The share-based compensation charge for the year ended 31 March 2013, including the LTIP, was £918,000 (2012: £1,040,000).

The aggregate of the estimated fair value of options granted under share option schemes and Share Incentive Plan during the year 
ended 31 March 2013 was £336,000 (2012: £426,000) and under the SAYE Scheme £53,000 (2012: £232,000). The estimated fair value  
of LTIP awards during the year ended 31 March 2013 was £790,000 (there were no awards under the LTIP during the year ended  
31 March 2012).

Options outstanding
At 1 April 2011
Options granted
Options exercised
Options cancelled
At 31 March 2012
Options granted
Options exercised
Options cancelled
At 31 March 2013
Range of exercise prices
Weighted average remaining 
    contractual life (years)

Share Option Schemes
Number of
options
18,254,400
414,375
 (3,474,463)
 (1,458,839)
13,735,473
153,833
(1,061,980)
(137,887)
12,689,439

SAYE Scheme
Number of
options
2,366,593
1,101,966
(1,465,608)
(346,433)
1,656,518
170,367
(225,634)
(41,583) 
1,559,668

WAEP*
44.83
47.40
36.14
62.75
50.43
76.80
51.32
58.32
53.50
 47.4p–76.8p

WAEP*
62.37
95.75
57.04
100.48
79.91
66.75
48.52
80.81
60.64
 0.025p–104p

LTIP
Number of 
options
11,820,841
–
(86,209)
(829,122)
10,905,510
 1,710,423
(482,121)
(2,134,079)
9,999,733

WAEP*
 0.025
 –
0.025 
 0.025 
0.025
 –
0.025
 0.025
0.025
0.025p

2.43 (2012: 3.42) 

2.30 (2012: 2.82)

6.37 (2012: 7.02)

Options vested
At 31 March 2012
At 31 March 2013

Weighted average remaining 
    contractual life (years)

* Weighted average exercise price (p)

22  Analysis of net funds

Group
Cash and cash equivalents

12,950,364
11,915,629

59.87
60.64

2.08 (2012: 3.11)  

–
–

– 

–
–

–

3,477,472
3,266,926

0.025
0.025

3.81 (2012: 5.24)

1 April
2012
£m
75.5

Cash flow
£m
(5.4)

31 March
2013
£m
70.1

The Company had no net funds at 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012.

23  Retirement benefits plans

The Group operates a number of defined contribution personal pension plans for all qualifying employees. The assets of the schemes 
are held separately from those of the Group and are independently administered. The total cost charged in the statement of 
comprehensive income is detailed in note 6. 

86 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

87 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
 
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements continued

xxx

24  Operating lease arrangements

At the balance sheet date, the Group has aggregate outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-
cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

Group
Expiry date:
Within one year
In the second to fifth years inclusive
After five years

Land and
buildings
2013
£m

Land and
buildings
2012
£m

 Other
2013
£m

Other
2012
£m

0.5
1.1
–
1.6

0.5
1.5
0.1
2.1

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

On 26 July 2002, the Group entered into a 25-year lease agreement in respect of the lease of premises at One Prospect West, 
Chippenham, Wiltshire. The Group has the right to break the lease in July 2017. 

26  Related party transactions

Group

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation. Except as 
disclosed below, no Group company entered into a transaction with a related party that is not a member of the Group.

Remuneration of key management personnel

The remuneration of the Directors, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out below:

Short-term employee benefits
Post-employment benefits
Share-based payments

Company

2013
£m
1.5
0.1
0.3
1.9

2012
£m
1.2
0.1
0.4
1.7

On 29 September 2011, the Group entered into an agreement in respect of the lease of premises at Five Prospect West, Chippenham, 
Wiltshire. The Group has the right to break the lease in September 2015. 

Details of the Company related party transactions with parties outside of the Group are noted above. In addition, the following details  
of trading within the Group are disclosed in accordance with IAS 24.

On 13 June 2005, the Group entered into an agreement in respect of premises at Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge  
and on 27 October 2006, the Group entered into a lease agreement on an adjacent property at Cambridge Science Park; both these 
leases expire on 24 December 2014.

The Company had no other operating lease arrangements at 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012.

25  Capital and other commitments

At 31 March 2013 the Group had capital commitments contracted, but not provided for, of £1.7m (2012: £4.1m). 

The Company had no capital and other commitments at 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012.

Related party
Subsidiaries:
2012
2013

Recharge
from
related
parties
£m

Recharge
to
related
parties
£m

Amounts
owed by 
related
parties
£m

Amounts
owed to 
related
parties
£m

–
–

1.1
0.9

71.2
72.9

–
–

Amounts outstanding are unsecured. No provisions have been made for doubtful debts owed by related parties.

27  Post balance sheet event

Vectura announced on 13 May 2013 that it had established Tianjin Kinnovata Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Kinnovata”) in China  
with two partners: Tianjin KingYork Group Company Limited (“KingYork”) and Zendex Bio Strategy Inc. (“Zendex”).

Completion of the Kinnovata transaction is subject to final Government clearances in China, which are expected mid-to-late 2013.  
Vectura expects to record an exceptional non-cash gain of approximately £13.5m in relation to the acquisition of the 35% shareholding 
in Kinnovata. This gain will be recognised in the 2013/14 financial year. Kinnovata will be accounted for as an associate, with Vectura 
recording 35% of the profits or losses of Kinnovata on its statement of comprehensive income as a non-cash item. Kinnovata is expected 
to be loss-making for at least 24 months following establishment. 

88 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

89 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Notes to the financial statements

 
Financial statements: Five-year summary year ended 31 March

xxx

Unaudited
Year ended 31 March

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Revenue
Gross	profit
Gross	profit	margin
Research	and	development	expenses
Other	administrative	expenses
EBITDA
Depreciation
Amortisation
Share-based	compensation
Share	of	loss	of	associate
Operating	loss
Investment	income
Finance	(costs)/income
Pre-tax	loss
Taxation
Loss	after	taxation
Loss	per	ordinary	share

Cash flow statement
Net	cash	(outflow)/inflow	from	operations
Net	taxes	received
Interest	received
Net	capital	expenditure

Net	cash	inflow/(outflow)	before	financing

Balance sheet
Cash	and	cash	equivalents
Shareholders’	equity
Net	current	assets

2009
£m

31.2
27.3
88%
(30.7)
(3.2)
(6.6)
(1.6)	
(10.2)
(1.9)
(0.6)
(20.9)
3.6
(2.3)
(19.6)
2.9
(16.7)
(5.2p)

(3.6)
2.9
3.6
(1.6)

1.3

74.0
154.9
56.0

2010
£m

40.1
36.6
91%
(34.8)
(3.4)
(1.6)
(1.6)
(10.6)
(1.5)
–
(15.3)
0.6
0.9
(13.8)
3.6
(10.2)
(3.2p)

(4.3)
0.5
0.6
(1.0)

(4.2)

64.1
147.1
56.2

2011
£m

42.9
40.2
94%
(36.4)
(3.3)
0.5
(1.3)
(10.7)
(1.8)
–
(13.3)
0.8
(0.8)
(13.3)
4.5
(8.8)
(2.7p)

2.7
8.1
0.7
(1.4)

10.1

74.4
140.3
59.6

2012
£m

33.0
30.8
93%
(31.7)
(3.3)
(4.2)
(1.1)
(7.5)
(1.1)
–
(13.9)
0.7
–
(13.2)
8.8
(4.4)
(1.3p)	

(2.5)
4.6
0.7
(4.2)

(1.4)

75.5
139.5
61.7

2013
£m

30.5
29.8
98%
(29.9)
(3.3)
(3.4)
(1.0)
(6.3)
(0.9)
–
(11.6)
0.5
0.7
(10.4)
4.5
(5.9)
(1.8p)

(7.2)
4.4
0.6
(3.8)

(6.0)

70.1
135.1
60.3

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90	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Financial statements: Five-year summary  

91	

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13

Shareholder information

Directors
John (Jack) P Cashman  
(Non-Executive Chairman)

Dr Christopher P Blackwell  
(Chief Executive)

Anne P Hyland  
(Chief Financial Officer)

Dr Trevor M Phillips 
(Chief Operations Officer  
& President of US Operations)

Dr John R Brown  
(Non-Executive)

Dr Susan E Foden  
(Non-Executive)

Neil W Warner  
(Non-Executive)

Secretary
Anne P Hyland

Corporate broker 
Peel Hunt LLP 
Moor House 
120 London Wall 
London 
EC2Y 5ET, UK

Corporate broker 
J.P. Morgan Cazenove 
25 Bank Street 
Canary Wharf 
London 
E14 5JP, UK

Registrars 
Computershare Investor Services plc 
PO Box 82 
The Pavilions 
Bridgwater Road 
Bristol 
BS99 7NH, UK

Public relations 
FTI Consulting 
26 Southampton Buildings 
London 
WC2A 1PB, UK

Auditor 
Deloitte LLP 
3 Rivergate 
Temple Quay 
Bristol 
BS1 6GD, UK

Bankers 
Barclays Bank plc 
28 Chesterton Road 
Cambridge 
CB4 3AZ, UK

Legal advisers 
Olswang 
90 High Holborn 
London 
WC1V 6XX, UK

Vectura Group plc
One Prospect West 
Chippenham 
Wiltshire 
SN14 6FH, UK

92 

Vectura Group plc  Annual Report and Accounts  2012/13
Shareholder information

 
Vectura Group plc
One Prospect West 
Chippenham 
Wiltshire SN14 6FH 
United Kingdom

T  +44 (0)1249 667700 
F  +44 (0)1249 667701 
E  investorqueries@vectura.com

www.vectura.com 

Registered in England and Wales 
Number: 03418970