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Vectrus

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FY2019 Annual Report · Vectrus
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Executing 
on our inhalation 
CDMO strategy

Vectura Group plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Industry‑leading inhalation 
contract development 
and manufacturing

In 2019 we announced a change in our strategy to focus on providing expert 
drug development services to help a wider range of customers bring their 
inhaled medicines to market. We have three clear ambitions for Vectura:

1

2

3

Create the market-leading company 
in the inhalation CDMO* space

Further enhance Vectura’s capabilities 
and performance culture

Deliver long-term growth 
and sustained returns

* 

Contract Development and Manufacturing and Organisation.

STRATEGIC REPORT
02  Highlights
04  At a glance
06  Chairman’s statement
08  Chief Executive’s statement
12  Market opportunity
14  Business model
16  Our strategy
18  Key performance indicators
20  Services and products
26  Financial review
31  Risks
33  Risk management and principal risks
39  Viability statement
40  Doing business responsibly
46  Stakeholder engagement

Introduction from the Chairman

GOVERNANCE
49 
50  Board of Directors
52  Executive Leadership Team
53  Corporate governance statement
56  Nomination Committee report
59  Audit Committee report
63  Remuneration Committee report
66  Remuneration at a glance
68  Remuneration report
 Directors’ report
87 
89  Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

 Consolidated statement of changes in equity

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Independent auditor’s report
91 
99  Consolidated income statement
 Consolidated statement of other 
100 
comprehensive income
101  Consolidated balance sheet
102 
103  Consolidated cash flow statement
104 
133  Company balance sheet
134 
135 
139  Glossary
140  Shareholder information

 Company statement of changes in equity
 Notes to the Company financial statements

 Notes to the consolidated financial statements

For more information visit 
www.vectura.com 
@vecturagroup

STRATEGIC REPORT

Highlights

Solid financial performance 
in 2019

Financial highlights
 • Total revenue of £178.3m, up 11.1% (FY18: £160.5m).

 • Product supply revenue of £115m, up 34.3% (FY18: £85.6m), driven by 
growth in flutiform® product supply revenues of £101.4m, up 36.7% 
(FY18: £74.2m).

 • As expected, royalty and other marketed revenue of £51.9m, down 11.1% 

(FY18: £58.4m), following Q3 2018 expiry of EXPAREL® patents and a 
one-off milestone in prior year.

 • Following receipt of generic Ellipta® upfront licence fee from Hikma in 2018, 
development revenues fell back to £11.4m, down 30.9% (FY18: £16.5m). 

 • Gross profit of £95.3m, down 3.6% (FY18: £98.9m), impacted by 

normalisation of flutiform® supply chain margins and reduction in royalty 
and development services revenues.

 • R&D costs of £50.2m, down 9.5% (FY18: £55.5m) in line with guidance, 

with approximately 50% of R&D spend focused on partnered programmes 
(FY18: 37.1%).

 • Significant reduction in operating loss to £27.0m (FY18: £105.4m) as a 
result of a lower charge for amortisation and impairment of intangible 
assets, despite VR647 impairment of £8.2m.

 • Adjusted EBITDA of £43.4m, up 11.3% (FY18: £39.0m), with revenue mix 

effects more than offset by a reduction in expenditure.

 • Strong liquidity maintained with closing cash and cash equivalents of £74.1m 
(FY18: £108.2m), following a capital return of approximately £43.4m in H2 2019.

Operational highlights
 • Executing on new strategy to become an industry-leading specialist 

inhalation CDMO. 

 • Submission of FDA response by partner Hikma in respect of generic Advair® 

(VR315 (US)) in Q4 2019 following completion of clinical endpoint study.

 • Vectura awarded damages and ongoing royalties amounting to an 

estimated $200m in total, following US jury verdict in patent litigation 
against GSK in the US, subject to appeal.

Vectura has delivered 
a solid set of financial 
results for 2019, with both 
revenue and adjusted 
EBITDA showing 
double‑digit growth.

Paul Fry, Chief Financial Officer

Reported revenue 
£m

£178.3m

+11.1%

Reported operating loss 
£m

£27.0m

(74.4%)

Adjusted EBITDA1 
£m

£43.4m

+11.3%

12 months to 31/12/19

12 months to 31/12/19

12 months to 31/12/19

12 months to 31/12/18

178.3

160.5

(27.0)

12 months to 31/12/18

12 months to 31/12/18

(105.4)

43.4

39.0

1 

 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure comprising operating loss, adding back amortisation and impairment, depreciation, share-based payments and exceptional items. A reconciliation of operating loss to 
adjusted EBITDA is presented in note 9 of the financial statements.

02

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

 
Leadership team changes
 • Will Downie joined Vectura as Chief Executive Officer and Executive 
Director in November 2019 from Catalent, a world-leading CDMO.

 • Post period, Vectura appointed two key leadership roles to support the 
Group’s transition to a specialist CDMO organisation. Sharon Johnson 
joined Vectura as EVP – Delivery Management, and Mark Bridgewater 
joined as Chief Commercial Officer.

Guidance and outlook
 • The operational focus of the business in 2020 will be on the execution 
of our services-based strategy with a focus on building momentum in 
the business development funnel to support revenue growth over the 
medium term. Improvements in the gross margin mix of revenues, good 
cost management and a focus on simplifying the Group’s operating 
model are expected to have a positive impact on the Group’s 
operational leverage over the medium term.

Financial guidance
 • Revenues from existing development contracts are expected to be 
broadly similar to 2019, with new development services business 
expected to begin to complement these revenues from 2020.

 • Royalties and marketed revenues are expected to show mid-single-
digit percentage growth in 2020, despite the loss of the annual GSK 
royalty (£9m in 2019). This growth is dependent on the expected 
approval of both VR315 (US) and QVM149 by its partners in H2 2020. 

 • In-market partner sales of flutiform® are expected to grow in 2020, 

whereas Vectura product supply revenues are expected to be broadly 
similar to the H1 2019 run-rate. flutiform® underlying gross margin is 
expected to be in the range of 30–32% for 2020 and in the medium term.

 • Overall R&D is expected to progressively reduce as capacity is released 
from its proprietary pipeline, and deployed towards revenue-generating 
partner business. At the same time, the Group will continue to invest 
in a prioritised technology roadmap that will meet the future needs 
of our customers to enable them to address the complex treatment 
requirements of their patients. The Group expects R&D investment for 
2020 to be within the range of £40m to £45m.

 • Reflecting the Group’s transition towards a development services 
model, the Group also expects to incur mid-single-digit £millions 
of exceptional cash costs in 2020. 

We have begun to 
execute on our new 
strategy to become 
the industry‑leading 
specialist inhalation 
services company.

Will Downie, Chief Executive Officer

Basic EPS 
p

(3.4)p

(74.2%)

Cash and cash equivalents following 
capital return to shareholders 
£m

£74.1m

(31.5%)

12 months to 31/12/19

As at 31/12/19

(3.4)

74.1

12 months to 31/12/18

As at 31/12/18

(13.2)

108.2

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

03

STRATEGIC REPORT 
At a glance

Providing innovative inhaled 
drug delivery services 

Molecules

Customers choose us for our unique combination of inhalation 
development expertise, formulation science and device technology 

Device platforms
Proprietary devices 
and development capability: 
DPI, pMDI and nebuliser

Formulation
Proven formulation capability

Medicines

Investment case
Investment case

1

 A proven track record 
with highly differentiated 
inhalation expertise, 
technology and IP

2

 Competing in an attractive, 
specialist segment of the 
wider, growing outsourced 
healthcare market

04

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
 
 
Reshaping our business to become 
the industry-leading inhalation CDMO
In doing so, we will continue to drive our strong base business, where we 
have been successful with our core products, in particular flutiform®, and 
revenues from ongoing royalties. 

+ Read more on our in-market product performance on page 23

We expect to see significant value created from our existing partnered 
pipeline, in particular VR315 (US), our generic Advair® programme 
partnered with Hikma, which is currently under FDA review. In addition, 
launch of Novartis’ inhaled combination of indacaterol, glycopyrronium 
and mometasone (QVM149) is pending and our partnership with Hikma 
to develop generic versions of GSK’s Ellipta® portfolio progresses well. 
Work also continues with our partner Sandoz on VR2081, a generic pMDI.

On top of all of this, we have started the process of building a successful 
CDMO business that will provide a steady stream of development 
revenues in the years to come.

+ Read more about our strategy on page 16

Current partnerships and licensees

20+

years’ experience in inhaled 
product development

11

inhaled in-market medicines, 
launched by our partners and licensees

$10bn

total sales of products using our formulation 
and device technology since launch1

9m

patients using products utilising Vectura’s 
intellectual property in 20181

1 

Source: Evaluate Pharma, internal estimates.

3

 Lower-risk service delivery 
strategy, focused on meeting 
the growing demand for 
complex inhalation services

4

 Cash-generative business, 
with a strong balance sheet

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

05

STRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
 
 
Chairman’s statement

A year of change 
for Vectura

Dear Shareholder, 
2019 has been an important year for Vectura. The Company has delivered 
a positive set of financial results that have exceeded expectations, and 
seen good progress with VR315 (US), QVM149 and the implementation 
of a new strategy. 

During the first part of the year, the Board recognised that the previous 
strategy, which had been implemented following the merger with 
Skyepharma plc, was unlikely to create the value in a timeframe that 
shareholders would find acceptable. 

As a Board we came to the conclusion that a new strategy and business 
model should be adopted. In July 2019 we therefore announced that we 
would be focusing on providing expert drug development services to a 
wider range of customers, improving the Group’s risk profile and moving 
away from our previous narrower product development focus. As a 
consequence, the Board felt it was the right time to bring in new leadership, 
with contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) 
experience, to lead the next phase of the Group’s evolution. 

Financial performance 
Vectura delivered financial performance ahead of expectations, with 
both revenue and EBITDA growing 11% versus last year. This growth 
was underpinned by strong product supply demand from our partners 
for flutiform®, which grew 36.7% versus 2018. This product remains an 
important cash generator for the Group, and we continue to work closely 
with our partners to ensure flutiform® reaches its full potential. At the 
same time, the Board’s aim is also to further diversify the Group’s earnings 
profile over coming years, with the focus on growing CDMO revenues.

In line with expectations, our R&D expenditure reduced from £55.5m to 
£50.2m – a fall of nearly 10%, with a shift in balance towards partnered 
R&D in line with the new strategic direction of the Group.

In light of the new strategy and our strong cash position at half year, the 
Board again reviewed the Group’s capital allocation priorities. The shift 
in strategy to a lower risk, less capital intensive CDMO model, and strong 
cash balance, led to the announcement in September of a £60m capital 
return to shareholders through a mix of special dividend and share buyback. 

Operational performance
In 2019 we saw the progression of our partnered development programmes. 
In May, we recognised milestone revenue of $2.5m, received following the 
acceptance of a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) made by 
Novartis to the EU Regulatory Authorities for the regulatory approval 
of QVM149.

Following a US jury trial in May 2019, Vectura was awarded damages and 
estimated ongoing royalties amounting to approximately $200m in total, 
due to patent infringement by GSK. This decision is still subject to appeal 
and, as such, no amounts are recognised in our 2019 financial statements.

In November 2019, Hikma Pharmaceuticals confirmed that it had submitted 
responses to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review, 
which included data from a further clinical endpoint study requested by 
the FDA in a Complete Response Letter (CRL) in respect of VR315 (US). 

Throughout the year, 
a continued effort was also 
made to engage colleagues 
and further engender a 
strong sense of pride and 
belief in the Group.

06

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Strategic focus 
I appreciate that our shareholders have been asking questions about the 
rationale for our change in strategy during 2019. Disappointingly, Vectura’s 
proprietary VR475 and VR647 assets did not progress as we would have 
wanted. We understood the risks in developing our own clinical products 
– and the investments needed to bring VR647 and VR475 to market – 
but these programmes did not in the end succeed. We were unable to 
successfully partner VR647 and we halted VR475 development following 
its failure in a Phase III European trial. 

Furthermore, the capital required to progress our pipeline of Vectura 
Enhanced Therapies (VEnT) turned out to be more substantial than originally 
anticipated as we moved towards clinical development, reducing the 
attractiveness of these projects. Taking all this into consideration, we had 
to recognise that a significant proportion of our proposed R&D expenditure 
was not going to create the expected value in a meaningful timeframe. 

The Board therefore came to the conclusion that we should operate 
a business model with a reduced level of risk and with a smoother 
and diversified earnings profile. 

Finally, it became clear that our focus on developing our own assets 
meant we did not have the bandwidth to pursue a number of potential 
significant opportunities in the attractive inhalation CDMO market. In this 
market, there are presently 300 inhalable products under development 
and outsourcing rates are very strong and expected to rise to about 
40–50% in the next five years. This represents an important growth 
opportunity for Vectura to generate new revenues by providing 
development services to new customers. 

Some shareholders queried the timing of our strategy shift and leadership 
change, which was announced a few weeks after the AGM. Our change in 
strategy was agreed by the Board at a meeting in late May 2019 after a 
lengthy period of discussion and in-depth analysis. Once the decision 
was taken, the Board considered it was, clearly, in the best interests of the 
Group and shareholders to move quickly and prepare to implement the 
new strategy including initiating a search for a new CEO to lead Vectura 
as a CDMO. We are pleased that we were able to attract Will Downie, an 
extremely well qualified executive in the CDMO sector, and he joined in 
November 2019, fewer than five months after the announcement. Will’s 
appointment brings a wealth of relevant experience, which will help 
Vectura to grow and deliver on this new strategic focus.

People and culture 
We are highly dependent on the capabilities, innovation and creativity 
of our employees for our future growth and success. It is important that 
we have a culture and set of values that are understood and integrated 
across the business. A revised set of values, building on our existing 
ones, was rolled out at the end of 2019 to align with our CDMO strategy; 
see page 40. 

Throughout the year, a continued effort was also made to engage 
colleagues and further engender a strong sense of pride and belief 
in the Group. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank each one 
of our employees for their hard work and continued commitment.

Board changes 
On 29 March 2019, I was delighted to welcome Kevin Matthews to the 
Board of Vectura. Kevin brings highly relevant experience as the former 
CEO of Isogenica Ltd, a UK-based antibody drug discovery business. 
In addition, he was a non-executive director and remuneration committee 
chair of Elementis plc, a FTSE 250 speciality chemical business. 

On 30 June 2019, James Ward-Lilley left the Board and his position as 
CEO. James joined Vectura at the time of the merger with Skyepharma 
and was instrumental in successfully integrating both companies. 

Following James’ departure, Paul Fry, CFO, assumed the role of Interim 
CEO until the appointment of Will Downie as CEO on 7 November 2019, 
when he then resumed his responsibilities as CFO. I would like to thank 
Paul Fry for his significant contribution after stepping into the Interim CEO 
role and driving the necessary changes to begin the implementation of 
our new strategic focus. 

Dr Susan Foden stood down from the Board on 30 September 2019 
and the Board wishes to thank her for her important contribution over 
twelve years. 

Governance
As a Board, we are committed to the principles of good corporate 
governance. We have continued to comply with the provisions of the 
Corporate Governance Code throughout the year and to the date of 
this report. Through a robust internal framework of systems and controls, 
we strive to maintain the highest standards. Full details, including of the 
independent Board evaluation carried out during the year together with 
the steps we have taken in relation to Board diversity and succession 
planning, can be found in the Corporate governance statement on 
pages 53 to 55.

Shareholders 
I would like to thank our shareholders for their continued support 
throughout 2019. I am looking forward to building further value as 
we deliver on our strategy to become a leading inhalation CDMO. 

Outlook 
2020 will be a year of transition in our revenues as the GSK Ellipta royalty 
comes to an end, and we look forward to new royalty streams from VR315 
(US) and QVM149. We also expect to see new CDMO business begin to 
complement the existing development services contracts from 2020, 
alongside a focus on building momentum in the business development 
funnel to support revenue growth over the medium term. During this 
transition, R&D will continue to reduce, and be progressively redeployed 
towards revenue-generating contracts as well as continued investment in 
the Group’s differentiated proprietary platforms and technologies. 

I am very encouraged by the early progress being made, and look forward 
to seeing the strategy turning into action and results in 2020. Read more 
about guidance and outlook on page 3 and strategic priorities on page 16.

Bruno Angelici
Chairman
16 March 2020

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

07

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Chief Executive’s statement

Focused on growth: 
delivering our new strategy 

Having had the privilege of joining the Company in November 2019, I am 
delighted to welcome you to this year’s Annual Report, my first as the new 
CEO of Vectura. Now is a very exciting time for our business, as we look 
to build on our solid performance last year and drive our growth in the 
Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO) market. 

Before joining Vectura, I spent ten years with Catalent Inc., one of the 
largest and most successful players in the pharmaceutical outsourcing 
market, where I served as the senior vice president, global sales and 
marketing. Prior to the last decade in the CDMO market, I worked in 
international roles with GE Healthcare and Amersham Health, and in my 
early career held a range of senior leadership positions with Quintiles, 
Sanofi and Merck. 

As we embark on a new fiscal year, I am currently working with the Board 
and Executive Team to execute on our collective ambition for Vectura:

 • to transform the business into a true leader in the inhalation 

CDMO market;

 • to further enhance Vectura’s capabilities and performance culture; and

 • to deliver long-term growth and provide sustained returns for 

our shareholders. 

Company strategy 
Vectura owns a relatively unique position in the market today, providing 
our customers with expertise in product and formulation development, 
together with world-class device technology solutions across a range 
of platforms: dry powder inhalers (DPIs), pressurised meter dose inhalers 
(pMDIs) and smart nebulisers. 

The development of inhalation products can be very challenging for 
innovators and generic companies. Having access to the kind of deep 
scientific know-how that a company like Vectura offers, across the entire 
pharmaceutical development and device spectrum, can be a very potent 
advantage for clients. By working with only one partner, they can optimise 
their probability of success, while simplifying their partner and supply 
chain base. 

Over the course of the last 20 years, Vectura’s track record of enabling its 
customers to successfully bring products to market has been particularly 
impressive. Today, there are eleven Vectura-partnered commercial products 
on the market, with cumulative end-user market sales of more than $10bn 
since 2012. This strong heritage of helping clients to overcome formulation 
and development challenges so that they can successfully bring their 
molecules to market is one of the most important considerations a 
prospective customer will make when they are choosing a potential provider. 

Delivering our strategy will reshape our business profile

New CDMO 
opportunities

~3002

new molecules 

 • Exposure to a 

growing healthcare 
market opportunity

 • Lower-risk R&D profile

 • Diversified revenues

 • Smoother 

earnings profile

Existing 
partnerships

Base 
business

08

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Now that we are pivoting our attention to grow our business in the CDMO 
space, we will be looking to work with a more diversified customer base, 
with a clear focus on helping it bring more molecules to market across a 
broader range of disease states. 

This will enable our ultimate mission, which is to improve the lives 
of patients who can benefit from the successful delivery of medicines 
through an inhaled route of administration. So, as we look to drive our 
efforts in the outsourced pharmaceutical services market, our strategy 
will be built on five major cornerstones:

 • targeting a much broader inhalation market, moving beyond our 

narrower focus on respiratory generics;

 • continuing to invest in our differentiated capabilities and technologies 

in order to meet the future needs of our customers;

Within the inhalation segment of the broader CDMO market, there are 
several fundamental dynamics that make the space particularly attractive 
for Vectura:

 • The science around inhaled product development and device 

technology is very challenging. Being a thought leader and leading 
expert in this niche market is a true advantage for our Company. 

 • The barrier to entry in the market is high, which will continue to limit the 

ability for new competitors to enter the arena.

 • The growth of the segment is currently very encouraging, with over 
300 molecules in development today requiring an inhaled route of 
administration. The majority of these products are in early-stage 
development (70% in pre-Phase II)2, which is a true sweet spot for 
Vectura’s business.

 • moving our revenue profile towards a development services model, 
with less dependency on milestones. The opportunity for licensing 
fees and royalties will continue to remain important for the company 
going forward;

 • The ability to combine drug development and device technology 

is rare in the marketplace today. Our expertise in helping clients with 
formulation and device solutions, together with connected digitisation, 
can unlock the potential of our clients’ product challenges. 

 • driving operational and quality rigour in everything we do, together with 

a strong sense of customer satisfaction; and 

 • maintaining financial discipline with a lower-risk R&D profile and capital 

allocation focused on core business priorities. 

1 

2 

 Out EY report: Consolidation of the CDMO industry: opportunities for current players and new 
entrants, September 2017.

 Global data pipeline analysis (July 2019) – “Respiratory” includes infectious disease assets small 
and medium-sized respiratory companies excludes companies with significant in-house inhalation 
capabilities: Astra Zeneca, GSK, Bayer, Novartis, BI, Pfizer, Chiesi, Orion 1 Contact development and 
manufacturing organisation.

Market opportunity
Having worked in the pharmaceutical services space for the last ten years, 
I can confirm that the CDMO market has never been more buoyant. As a 
relatively fragmented space, outsourcing rates continue to increase, as large 
companies seek to consolidate their supplier base and small innovators look 
for cutting-edge solutions to drug development challenges. The underlying 
growth of the market is likely to continue at 7%1 for the next several years, 
with investors looking to find ways to identify opportunities for long-term, 
sustained growth. 

I can confirm that the 
CDMO market has never 
been more buoyant. As a 
relatively fragmented space, 
outsourcing rates continue to 
increase, as large companies 
seek to consolidate their supplier 
base and small innovators look 
for cutting‑edge solutions to 
drug development challenges.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

09

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Chief Executive’s statement continued

Executing on our strategy
A great culture of high performance and excellence starts with leadership. 
In order to drive our momentum in 2020, we have added two CDMO 
industry experts to our Executive Leadership Team: Sharon Johnson 
(Executive Vice President, Delivery Management) and Mark Bridgewater 
(Chief Commercial Officer). The experience that both Sharon and Mark 
bring to the Company complements perfectly the deep domain expertise 
of our existing senior team. I am confident that our newly assembled 
executive staff will energise our organisation and provide clarity of 
purpose and clear leadership at all times. 

To deliver on our new strategy, we are investing more in commercial 
excellence by building a strong business development and marketing 
engine. On the frontline, we are increasing the size of our salesforce with 
highly trained, scientific business developers who are adept at meeting 
the needs of CDMO customers. We are also applying more resources 
to our marketing effort, with a new and distinctive brand identity, which 
clearly communicates our thought leadership and scientific know-how in 
inhalation. This is coupled by an increase in our marketing spend to make 
Vectura’s presence much more prominent in the outsourcing space. 

The heart of our Company lies in the world-class expertise of our 
scientific colleagues, who are adept at working across the spectrum 
of pharmaceutical development and device technology. We will continue 
to invest in a prioritised technology roadmap that will meet the future 
needs of our customers so that they can solve the complex treatment 
requirements of their patients. Also, integral to any successful CDMO 
player is being able to deliver for its customers with excellence, quality 
and operational rigour. By streamlining our internal processes, we will be 
able to further meet the demands of our customers and ensure high 
levels of satisfaction at all times. 

Over the course of the next several years we will reshape our business 
to meet the needs of our customers and shareholders.

 • We will continue to drive our base business where we have been 

successful with core products, in particular flutiform®, and our royalties 
which will continue for many years to come. 

 • We will continue to see significant value created from our existing 
partnered pipeline products, in particular generic Advair Diskus® 
with Hikma (VR315 (US)), which is currently under FDA review; the 
pending launch of Novartis’ first inhaled combination of indacaterol, 
glycopyrronium and mometasone (QVM149); and our portfolio of 
generic Ellipta® products being developed with Hikma.

In building a culture 
of togetherness and 
collaboration, our teams 
have recently developed 
a revised set of values that 
embody the passion we 
have to help the lives of 
patients across the world.

10

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

 •  As we build momentum in the CDMO space, we will augment our 

partnered revenue streams with a development services business 
that will drive incremental growth in the medium term. Our focused 
strategy and increasingly diversified customer base will deliver value 
for our shareholders, through more predictable, lower-risk development 
revenue and a smoother earnings profile. In line with this, we will be 
reducing our internal R&D spend, which was previously directed 
towards the development of our own product portfolio. 

+ For more information about our investment case, see pages 4 and 5

People, culture and values
We are fiercely proud of the extensive talent and technical expertise we 
have within Vectura and are committed to being at the forefront of science 
and innovation. In building a culture of togetherness and collaboration, 
our teams have recently developed a revised set of values that embody 
the passion we have to help the lives of patients across the world. 
Our values have been carefully crafted with input from our staff and are 
described as follows:

 • Deliver for patients with pride – we are agile, efficient and deliver our 

commitments. We take pride in successfully developing medicines that 
transform lives.

 • Create a great customer experience – our customer focus guides 

everything we do. We use our insight and capability to create a great 
experience for our customers.

 • Work together as one team – we collaborate to achieve shared goals, 
using our combined knowledge and expertise to enable success.

 • Do the right thing – quality is at the heart of everything we do. We work 

with integrity, consistently delivering to high standards.

 • Innovate and improve – we thrive on learning and apply our expertise 

to innovate and be the best at what we do. 

COVID-19 outbreak
Events in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak have continued to evolve 
rapidly, and we are monitoring the situation closely to mitigate any impact 
on supply chain, product supply and development services activities. 
We will continue to put in place risk mitigation plans where appropriate.

Our first priority is the safety and health of our employees and visitors. 
We have increased our vigilance on hygiene across all sites and have 
appropriate protocols in place.

Summary
2019 saw a solid year of performance for Vectura, providing a strong 
business base from which to build. In refocusing our Company strategy 
to becoming a leading player in the inhalation segment of the CDMO 
market, I am encouraged by the enthusiasm of our organisation to embrace 
the change in strategy and the many opportunities that lie ahead. In 2020, 
we will be putting our collective energy into transforming the business 
and executing on our growth plan for success. 

This is an exciting time for the Company, and I look forward to working 
with the team to realise our ambitions for the Group.

Will Downie
Chief Executive Officer
16 March 2020

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Q&Awith new CEO Will Downie

I am looking forward to 
driving the new business 
strategy and ensuring the 
Company achieves its  
long‑term goal of becoming a 
world‑class CDMO organisation 
in the inhalation space.

Q  What were your first impressions of Vectura?
A    Since joining the Company in November I have been excited to 

visit each of our sites and meet the whole team. Even in this short 
amount of time it has become clear to me that Vectura, with more 
than 20 years of experience, is uniquely positioned to help customers 
succeed in bringing their inhaled medicines to market. This is due to 
the deep science that exists in the organisation and highly experienced 
employees, whose combined formulation, device technology and 
product development expertise is truly impressive.

Q    What is your background and most recent experience?
A    Prior to joining the Company, I spent the last ten years as the SVP 

sales and marketing at Catalent, one of the largest CDMO players in 
the outsourcing market, a $2.5bn company headquartered in New 
Jersey, US. Before that, I worked in a range of senior leadership roles 
with General Electric and prior to that at Quintiles, Sanofi and Merck.

Q    What are your immediate priorities as CEO?
A    We are investing more in the front end of the business by building 

strong capabilities in business development and marketing. We will 
continue to take advantage of our strong product development 
and scientific capability to remain differentiated by prioritising our 
investments in the technologies that will have the biggest impact 
in the market and for patients. And having customers at the heart 
of everything we do is crucial, making sure we deliver with 
excellence, quality and operational rigour.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

11

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Market opportunity

Inhalation is an attractive 
CDMO market segment

The underlying dynamics of the overall CDMO market are very strong, 
with current growth of approximately 7%1 likely to continue for several 
years to come.

Within the inhalation space, outsourcing rates are very strong and 
expected to rise to about 40–45% in the next five years, across both 
large and small pharmaceutical companies. For smaller businesses 
and biotechs, the rate of outsourcing is even higher2.

As companies look to develop new treatments for patients, the inhalation 
route is becoming increasingly an area for exploration. In the inhalation 
segment of the CDMO market, there are more than 300 molecules in 
development and more than 70% of them are in pre-clinical or very 
early development.3

Product development in inhalation is very difficult – the barriers to 
entry are high and the number of competitors is relatively low. All these 
factors combined make the inhalation CDMO space an attractive market 
for Vectura.

~40–45%

outsourcing rates within the CDMO market in the 
next five years, across both large and small 
pharmaceutical companies

1 

2 

3 

 EY report: Consolidation of the CDMO industry: opportunities for current players and new entrants, 
September 2017.

 Expert interviews (n=20) and expert survey (n=35) based on a sample of executives from CDMOs, 
pharmaceutical and medtech companies.

  Global data pipeline analysis (July 2019) – “Respiratory” includes infectious disease assets small 
and medium-sized respiratory companies excludes companies with significant in-house inhalation 
capabilities: Astra Zeneca, GSK, Bayer, Novartis, BI, Pfizer, Chiesi, Orion 1 Contact development 
and manufacturing organisation.

Trends for innovation
In the broad healthcare environment, we can see the following macro trends:

 • Digital health is already prevalent on the high street – the combination 
of smart devices and pharmaceuticals will continue to become even 
more important in the future.

 • Personalised medicine or precision medicine has at last become a 
reality. Companies are now targeting product development to treat 
smaller sub-populations of patients, orphan disease states and, in 
some cases, even individual patients.

 • There is a steady increase in the number of large molecules coming 

to market and being developed.

In the inhalation space, we see the following market characteristics:

 • Inhalation is being explored as the route of delivery to treat 

diseases beyond the historical focus on asthma, COPD and 
other respiratory conditions.

 • There is a need for the optimisation of complex combination drug products. 

 • Demand for complex generics is continuing.

We are able to respond to the market dynamics and enable development 
of new treatments by addressing the following: 

 • the need for effective particle engineering and formulation of large 

(as well as small) molecules;

 • the digital drive to combine devices with smartphones and apps;

 • the growth of smart nebulisers in the future in order to more effectively 

deliver product to the lungs; and 

 • high payload DPIs.

12

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Dynamics in a growing CDMO market

c.7%1

strong underlying CDMO market growth

Increasing trend  
towards outsourcing

Market need for 
innovation

Growth of inhalation  
as a medicine  
delivery route

Inhaled product 
development is  
complex

~40–45%3

of projects outsourced over 
the next five years in large 
and small pharma

87%2

small and medium 
companies

~3002

new molecules 
where inhalation 
is the primary route 
of administration 

~70%2

in development are 
Pre-Phase II across 
multiple disease areas

1 

2 

 EY report: Consolidation of the CDMO industry: opportunities for current players and new entrants, September 2017.

 Source: Global data pipeline analysis (July 2019) – “Respiratory” includes infectious disease assets Small & medium-sized respiratory companies excludes companies with significant in-house inhalation 
capabilities: Astra Zeneca, GSK, Bayer, Novartis, BI, Pfizer, Chiesi, Orion.

3 

 Source: Expert interviews (n=20) and expert survey (n=35) based on a sample of executives from CDMOs, pharmaceutical and medtech companies.

Opportunities to support the treatment of non-respiratory diseases through inhalation

Oncology
Tumours in the lungs can be 
directly targeted via inhaled 
cytotoxic drugs, increasing 
exposure in the affected organ 
and tumour, whilst reducing 
the potential for systemic toxic 
adverse effects

CNS
The lung provides a large 
surface area for non-invasive 
delivery of drugs to the lung and 
thereby systemic circulation is 
triggered simply by the patient’s 
inspiratory manoeuvre, 
e.g. in Parkinson’s disease

Endocrinology
Biologic agents, e.g. hormones, can 
be rapidly delivered via inhalation 
to the systemic circulation, reducing 
the need for multiple injections, 
e.g. insulin and growth hormones

Pulmonary vascular
Pulmonary arterial 
hypertension affects the 
precapillary space in the lungs. 
Inhalation of drugs allows for 
rapid absorption and targeting 
of the area where pathology is 
situated, potentially reducing 
side effects

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

13

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Business model

A focused service 
offering throughout the 
development lifecycle

Drug delivery services

New image TBC

Device platforms
Proprietary devices and 
development capability: 
DPI, pMDI and nebuliser

Phases of 
development

Complex 
drug device 
selection

Device 
design and 
development

l

s
e
u
c
e
o
M

l

Resources and 
relationships

Our talented people
Over 450 employees working internationally 
across five sites with expertise throughout 
the development and regulatory processes 

Our shared culture 
Our new evolved values foster a strong 
culture which is a definitive expression 
of “how we do things” at Vectura 

Our intellectual property 
We have a broad IP base covering our 
technologies and capabilities, managed 
by our experienced in-house team 

Our strong partnerships 
We pride ourselves in our array of active 
partnerships with leading pharmaceutical 
and biotech companies

450

employees working internationally 
across five different sites

7

partnerships with leading 
pharmaceutical and biotech companies

14

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Drug delivery services

Formulation
Proven formulation capability

Value we create for 
our stakeholders

Patients
Developing products alongside our 
customers to improve patients’ lives. 
Promoting affordable quality products with 
our generics pipeline and supporting patient 
access through development of innovative 
technologies and solutions to address major 
areas of unmet medical need 

Our shareholders
Maintaining lower-risk R&D profile, with 
diversified revenue streams providing 
a smoother earnings profile. Looking to 
deliver special returns of capital in the 
absence of future inorganic opportunities 

Our people 
Creating a dynamic and rewarding place to 
work with clear development opportunities 

Our customers and partners 
Delivering scientific and operational excellence 
to ensure a broad range of technologies and 
capabilities are leveraged to support customers 
to bring their inhaled medicines to patients

Our environment and local communities
Constantly looking at how we can do business 
in a sustainable way. Offering good quality 
employment opportunities in our communities

i

s
e
n
c
d
e
M

i

Full pharmaceutical 
development

Device scale-up 
and industrialisation

Technology transfer 
and manufacturing

+ Read more on page 40

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

15

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Our strategy

New strategic focus as a 
leading inhalation CDMO

In 2019 we announced a change in our 
strategy to focus on providing expert drug 
development services to a wider range 
of customers. 

This strategy is built on targeting a growing 
inhalation market and moving away from our 
previous narrower product development 
focus. We are continuing to invest in our 
technologies and capabilities in areas 
where we are differentiated from the 
competition, whilst focusing on achieving 
a smoother earnings profile with lower-risk 
R&D investment. All this is underpinned by 
our drive for operational excellence, 
quality rigour and financial discipline 
in everything we do.

Target a broad 
inhaled services 
market opportunity
 • Generics and new 
molecular entities

 • Respiratory and non-respiratory 

disease area focus

Provide a 
differentiated offering
 • Invest in proprietary 

technologies

 • Deep expertise

 • Strong track record

Shift towards 
development 
services model
 • Smoother revenue profile

 • Less dependence 

on milestones

 • Opportunity for licence 

fees and royalties

Drive operational 
excellence 
 • Excellence in our execution

 • Excellence in relationships 

with our partners

 • Excellence in our people

 • Operating responsibly

Maintain financial 
discipline
 • Lower-risk R&D profile

 • Capital allocation focused 
on core business priorities

16

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
How will we measure 
success in 2020?

We have set ourselves clear priorities for the year ahead that align with the 
cornerstones of our new strategy, which are set out on the opposite page. 

Corporate goal

Objective

1

2

3

4

Financial accountability

 • Deliver our 2020 financial targets

Transform the Company 
into a successful CDMO 

 • Drive Vectura’s presence in the CDMO market, by driving sales success, 

market awareness and a full rebranding of the Company

 • Build an organisation with effective end-to-end processes across business 
development, product development, delivery management and operations 

 • Sign new CDMO business deals in order to meet 2020 financial targets 

and build the funnel to support future long-term growth

Drive product development 
and delivery management 
excellence

 • Execute on all aspects of the prioritised technology roadmap 

 • Effectively drive seamless processes across product development 

and delivery management teams 

Quality and operational 
excellence

 • Deliver on all aspects of agreed customer requirements

 • Further enhance Vectura’s quality culture and ensure strong risk 

management processes are in place

 • Prompt mitigation of any quality and regulatory risks 

+  Read more in the CEO’s statement on page 8

+  See the progress we have made in 2019 with our KPIs on page 18

I am looking forward to driving the new business 
strategy and ensuring the Company achieves 
its long‑term goal of becoming a world‑class 
CDMO organisation in the inhalation space.

Will Downie, Chief Executive Officer

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

17

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Key performance indicators

Measuring our progress

We measure our success 
by tracking key performance 
indicators (KPIs) that reflect our 
strategic priorities and growth 
drivers. Success against these 
KPIs forms a component of the 
remuneration of the Executive 
Directors and senior management.

Changes to our strategy this year
In last year’s Annual Report, our 
KPIs were aligned to the five pillars 
of our business strategy:

Financial KPIs

Revenue growth 
£m

Adjusted EBITDA progression 
£m

£178.3m +11.1%

£43.4m +11.3%

2019

2018

178.3

160.5

2019

2018

43.4

39.0

Link to strategy

Link to strategy

Strong financial 
performance

Maximising 
partnering value

Maximising  
pipeline value

Operational 
excellence

Great place  
to work 

In July we announced that we were 
introducing a new strategy as we refocus 
our business to become a leading CDMO 
in the inhalation space. Details of the new 
strategy can be found on page 16.

To allow for clear comparison of our 2019 
performance versus 2018, the KPIs below 
remain aligned to our previous strategy. 
Details of our performance objectives 
for 2020 can be found on page 17. 

Changes to our KPIs this year
The KPIs for 2019 reflect a greater 
weighting given to key financial indicators, 
as well as focus on pipeline progression 
measures, which were considered critical 
to the valuation of the Company. As a result, 
broader collective measures encompassing 
project and clinical study progression have 
not been included as key performance 
metrics at a Company level in 2019.

Why is it a KPI?
Revenue is a critical KPI as it drives profit 
and cash growth for the Group. The KPI is the 
total of revenues generated by the Group’s 
business model, comprising: 

 • supply of finished or semi-finished product 

to commercial distribution partners;

 •  royalties and sales-based milestones and 

product approval and launch milestones; and

 • development revenues including licence 
fees to access intellectual property, 
milestone payments for specific clinical 
or other development-based outcomes, 
or fees billed directly for development 
services provided.

How is it measured?
Revenue is recognised in accordance 
with the Group’s accounting policies as 
presented in note 3 of the consolidated 
financial statements. 

2019 performance
Revenues have increased by 11.1% driven 
by 36.7% growth in flutiform® product supply 
revenues. Growth is partially offset from the 
loss of a share of EXPAREL® net sales in 2019 
and the inclusion in 2018 of £4.2m of upfront 
licensing revenues from the deal signed with 
Hikma to develop generic versions of GSK’s 
Ellipta® portfolio, and of £2.4m as part of an 
agreement with Sandoz regarding revised 
territory rights for AirFluSal® Forspiro®.

Why is it a KPI?
Adjusted EBITDA is an important 
non-statutory measure used by the Board, 
Executive Leadership Team and managers 
to monitor the Group’s performance, as it 
provides useful information about the Group’s 
underlying cash-generating performance. 

How is it measured?
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as the Group’s 
loss before taxation adding back exceptional 
items, amortisation and charges for share-based 
payments and depreciation. 

Refer to note 9 of the consolidated financial 
statements for a reconciliation of the Group’s 
loss before taxation to adjusted EBITDA. 

2019 performance
Adjusted EBITDA has improved by 11.3% driven 
by lower R&D expenditure. Although revenues 
have improved by 11.1%, gross margin excluding 
depreciation has declined slightly, as revenue 
mix moved in favour of product supply and 
several high-margin revenue items seen in 
2018 did not reoccur.

18

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Financial KPIs

Net cash 
£m

£66.5m

2019

2018

66.5

104.2

Link to strategy

Why is it a KPI?
Availability of sufficient liquidity is important 
in ensuring the viability of the Group, funding 
investment, providing strategic flexibility and 
supporting potential capital returns. 

How is it measured?
Cash and cash equivalents less drawn short 
and long-term debt.

2019 performance
Net cash has decreased by £37.7m as cash 
generated from operations in 2019 has been 
more than offset by payment of a special 
dividend of approximately £40.0m and 
completion of £3.5m of a £10.0m share 
buyback announced in September 2019. 

Non-financial KPIs

Pipeline progression 
performance measures

VR315 (US)

Helping our customers and partners to 
develop and launch successful pharmaceutical 
products is critical to creating long-term 
value. In November 2019, the additional 
clinical endpoint study was completed for 
VR315 (US) and the data from the study 
included in a submission to the US FDA in 
November 2019 by Vectura’s development 
partner, Hikma Pharmaceuticals.

VR315, our generic Advair®, still represents 
an important opportunity for Vectura and 
Hikma. Market volumes and values remain 
high, even after the entry of two generics 
early in 2019. 

Business development and alliance 
performance measures 

VR647

VR647 is a drug device combination based 
on the Group’s proprietary nebuliser platform 
for paediatric use in the US market. It showed 
promising results in Phase II studies, and in 
2019 the Group looked forward to finding a 
partner to take the asset into Phase III and, 
ultimately, commercialisation. The Group 
was not successful in finding a licensing 
partner and in September 2019 the Board 
concluded that it was appropriate to impair 
the intangible asset in full, resulting in an 
impairment charge in H2 2019 of £8.2m, 
offset by the release of deferred tax 
liabilities of £2.2m.

Employee engagement 
Percentage point increase in favourable 
responses versus last survey

+11 ppts

Link to strategy

Why is it a KPI?
Having empowered and engaged people is 
fundamental to Vectura’s success. We monitor 
our employee engagement to ensure that 
adverse trends or issues can be addressed 
in a timely manner.

2019 performance
The annual employee engagement 
survey helps us to measure how we are 
doing against our goal of Vectura being a 
great place to work where employees feel 
engaged, supported, valued and proud 
of the business. 

88% of employees took part in the 2019 
survey and the results show significant 
improvement across all areas compared 
to the March 2018 survey. Favourable 
responses were 53%, the highest since 2016. 

The 2018 survey was conducted during 
a period of significant restructuring and 
change in the Group and, consequently, 
the results were down, which was not entirely 
unexpected. It is therefore pleasing to see 
that the actions taken since have generated 
significant improvement. 

The 2019 survey shows that external 
benchmarks are exceeded in two areas 
and we are close to meeting or exceeding 
external benchmarks in nine out of the 
twenty categories surveyed. Our ambition 
is to have better results than the external 
benchmarks, so, whilst our progress is 
encouraging, we continue to work to 
realise this ambition.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

19

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Services and products

Tailored inhalation 
services for a diverse 
range of customers

20

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Our services at a glance

Formulation
Inhaled formulation development is increasingly complex with a wide 
variety of small molecules and biologics, increasing use of combination 
products and the need for targeted lung delivery or deep lung deposition 
for systemic delivery. 

We offer formulation services for DPI, pMDI and nebuliser development, 
including small molecules and biologics, complex combinations and 
generic products. 

Pharmaceutical analysis
Our large, experienced inhalation group of analytical scientists can 
undertake the complete spectrum of test methodologies and physical 
properties characterisation required to support the development of DPI, 
pMDI and nebulised products.

With extensive, state-of-the-art analytical testing facilities and equipment, 
our expert teams are able to fully develop and validate all methods required 
to characterise complex inhalation products.

Device platforms
We are one of the few companies globally that have developed 
DPIs, pMDIs and nebulisers to deliver a broad range of complex 
inhaled therapies.

Customers can optimise device selection for their inhaled 
programme, depending on the stage of development, molecule 
type and patient characteristics.

Process development and tech transfer
We have the expertise to develop robust manufacturing processes. 
This allows us to scale up from laboratory through to clinical and commercial 
scale, with a seamless transfer to commercial manufacturing sites. 
We also have installation engineering capability to design, install and qualify 
manufacturing equipment and offer post-installation technical support.

Product manufacturing
We can manufacture drug product and medical devices for use 
in development studies and clinical trials using our in-house 
manufacturing facilities and equipment.

In addition, we have separate good manufacturing practice (GMP) 
manufacturing facilities for DPI, pMDI and nebuliser devices, as well 
as one dedicated to the handling of large molecules. Our GMP 
manufacturing facilities and equipment are state of the art, meet 
all required environment, health and safety, quality and regulatory 
standards and are operated by a dedicated manufacturing team.

Medical and regulatory
Formulation, device and development services are fully supported 
by our medical, regulatory and pharmacovigilance teams to assist 
customers’ programmes and ensure the smoothest path to 
product approval.

We offer medical insight into pharmacovigilance activities and can 
act as Medical Monitor for clinical studies through all phases of drug 
development. In addition, we have extensive experience in regulatory 
agency interactions and can provide support for the authoring of the 
various regulatory submission documents.

Pre-clinical 
development

Phase I

Phase II

Phase III

Submission 
and approval

Commercialisation

F

Formulation and product development

P

Formulation and product manufacturing 
process scale-up and industrialisation

P

Product manufacturing technical transfer

A

Comprehensive analytical, characterisation and stability services

A

Orally inhaled drug product in vitro 
bioequivalence testing

D

Device selection and development for clinical studies

P

Device industrialisation and commercialisation 

R

Post-approval 
support: lifecycle 
management 
and continuous 
improvement 
activities

Regulatory 
guidance

M

Pre-clinical and clinical supply

M

Phase III clinical and commercial supply 
managed via CMO

M

Supply chain 
expertise

R

Global medical, regulatory, device vigilance and pharmacovigilance support

Key

F

Formulation

P Process development

A Pharmaceutical analysis

D Device platforms

M Manufacturing

R Medical and regulatory

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

21

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Services and products continued

Devices

DRY POWDER INHALERS

Our dry powder inhalers are built on a commercially validated platform 
giving customers confidence of performance and a proven regulatory 
track record 

 • Range of multi- and single-dose devices

 • Simplicity of design with low component count, 

but high functionality

 • Robust and low cost

 • Intuitive user interface

 • Built on commercially proven GyroHaler® DPI platform 

(marketed by Sandoz as AirFluSal® Forspiro®)

 • Add-on or integrated connectivity 
(available for Open-Inhale-Close)

 • Consistent performance 

 • Broad and long-dated patent coverage

PRESSURISED METERED DOSE INHALERS

Significant pMDI expertise based on the successful development 
of flutiform® with partners

 • Development of tailored solutions based on commercially 

available pMDI devices

 • Optimisation of container closure systems

 • Designed for high-volume manufacture

GyroHaler®

Lever-operated

Open-Inhale-Close

Multi-use single unit dose

Dose indicating  
pMDI actuator

NEBULISERS

Our breath-actuated nebulisers aim to improve the effectiveness of inhaled drugs, deliver better clinical outcomes and shorten treatment times

VIBRATING MESH NEBULISER
 • Low inspiration flow rate

 • Controlled inhalation volume

 • Potential for use with large 

molecules including biologics

 • Guided inhalation and  
real-time feedback

JET NEBULISER
 • Breath actuation

 • Potential to increase efficiency 

and reduce drug dosage

 • Intuitive colour touchscreen

 • Bluetooth® enabled for 
adherence applications

 • Guided inhalation and 
real-time feedback

FOX®

AKITA® JET

22

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
In-market products

flutiform®

Ultibro® Breezhaler®

Seebri® Breezhaler®, Utibron™ Neohaler® Inhalation Powder 
and Seebri™ Neohaler® (Novartis/Sunovion, US) for the 
treatment of COPD 
 • Ultibro® Breezhaler® continues its class leadership of the dual 

bronchodilator LAMA/LABA class (ex. US). Novartis’ full year 2019 
results reported a decline in Ultibro® sales of 1.3% (CER) to 
$424.3m, mainly due to competition. 

 • Seebri® Breezhaler® reported sales declined by 10.3% to $122.1m 

(CER) again mainly due to competition.

 • Vectura recognised royalties of £18.4m in respect of sales of Ultibro® 
and Seebri® (2018: £17.8m), but declined by 1.1% on a CER basis. 

Mundipharma, Europe and Rest of World (ex. North America/
Kyorin, Japan), for the treatment of asthma had a very strong 
year in 2019, growing product supply revenues by 36.7% and 
combined revenues, including flutiform® royalties from Japan, by 
35.3%. This increase was driven partially by a low 2018 comparator, 
where H1 2018 revenues were depressed following partner de-stocking 
in late 2017 and early 2018. However, flutiform® also continued to 
perform well in the competitive asthma ICS/LABA market (ex. US), 
generating total in-market sales of €254.5m (at constant exchange 
rates (CER)) during 2019, up 10.4% in value (CER) and up 12.1% in 
volume compared to the prior year. Both partners also adopted 
more conservative supply chain management policies, which 
also supported higher shipped volumes in 2019.

 • In Europe flutiform® in-market sales grew by 3.6% in value (CER), 
and volume up 5.3% in a competitive and genericised ICS/LABA 
market, which declined by 2.0% in value (CER) compared to the 
prior year.1

 • In Japan flutiform® in-market sales grew by 11.3% (CER) and 

volumes by 13.6% compared to 2018. Japan sales also contributed 
royalty revenue of £6.3m, an increase of 18.9% compared to the 
prior year.1

 • In the Rest of World territories, flutiform® remains at an early stage of 
its lifecycle and has continued to grow strongly, with in-market sales 
of €29.3m (CER) up 46.4% compared to the prior year.1 

 • Total revenue from product supply and royalties of £107.7m was up 

35.3% from 2018 (2018: £79.6m).

1 

 IQVIA SMART MIDAS constant currency sales. Royalties payable to the Group by partners are based on agreed contractual definitions of net sales, which differ from IQVIA reported sales and may include other 
adjustments or deductions.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

23

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Services and products continued

Our track record

Our formulation and device technology has contributed to the success of eleven inhaled medicines, 
launched by our partners and licensees. 

flutiform®

flutiform® K-Haler®

Ultibro® Breezhaler® 

Seebri® Breezhaler® 

AirFluSal® Forspiro® 

Airbufo® Forspiro® 

Breelib™

Incruse® Ellipta® 

Anoro® Ellipta® 

Relvar/Breo® Ellipta® 

Trelegy® Ellipta® 

11

inhaled products  
currently on the market

c.$10bn1

cumulative sales of inhaled products using 
our technology since initial launch in 2012

>25

years of experience

1 

Source: Evaluate Pharma and partner quarterly statements.

Anoro® Ellipta®, Relvar®/Breo® Ellipta®, Trelegy® Ellipta® and Incruse® Ellipta® are registered trade marks of GSK, photos courtesy of GSK. Formulation 
technology licence, product not developed by Vectura. Ultibro®, Seebri®, Breezhaler® are registered trademarks of Novartis AG, AirFluSal®, AirBuFo® and 
Forspiro® are registered trademarks of Novartis AG, photos courtesy of Novartis.

24

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Financial review and 
risk management

25

 
Financial review

Solid financial results 
with revenue and adjusted 
EBITDA up 11%

Vectura has delivered a solid set of financial results for 2019, 
with both revenue and adjusted EBITDA showing double-digit growth. 
Whilst revenue mix, alongside some one-off margin benefits in 2018, 
have diluted gross margin for 2019, this reduction has been offset by cost 
reductions resulting in a 2019 adjusted EBITDA margin in-line with the 
prior year. Loss per share improved significantly in the period.

Summary financial information for the year 
ended 31 December 2019

Product supply revenues

Royalty and other 
marketed revenues

Development revenues

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

2019
£m

115.0

51.9

11.4

178.3

(83.0)

95.3

2018
£m

85.6

58.4

16.5

160.5

%
change

34.3%

(11.1%)

(30.9%)

11.1%

(61.6)

34.7%

98.9

(3.6%)

Gross profit margin

53.4%

61.6%

(8.2) ppts

Research and development 
(R&D) expenditure

Other operating expenditure 
and income

Exceptional items

Amortisation and impairment

Operating loss

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

Loss per share 
(basic and diluted)

(50.2)

(55.5)

(9.5%)

(15.0)

(3.5)

(53.6)

(27.0)

43.4

24.3%

(12.8)

(9.0)

17.2%

(61.1%)

(127.0)

(57.8%)

(105.4)

(74.4%)

39.0

24.3%

11.3%

n/a

(3.4p)

(13.2p)

(74.2%)

Revenue growth of 11.1% reflects strong growth in product supply revenues. 
flutiform® in-market demand and partner supply chain management drove a 
34.3% increase in product supply revenues to £115.0m. flutiform® product 
supply delivered a gross margin of 35.8% contributing £36.3m to gross 
profit (2018: 39.2% gross margin; £29.1m gross profit). 

Overall gross profit declined by 3.6% as the increased contribution from 
flutiform® product supply was offset by the loss of the share of net sales 
of EXPAREL® following patent expiry in 2018 (2018: £5.1m) and licensing 
revenue recognised in 2018 following the signing of the generic Ellipta® 
agreement with Hikma (2018: £4.2m). 

The decline in gross margin was more than offset by cost reductions. 
R&D expenditure declined 9.5% due mainly to the reduction in clinical 
costs associated with VR475 following termination of the programme 
in 2018. As a result, adjusted EBITDA, a measure of underlying performance, 
increased by 11.3% to £43.4m (2018: £39.0m). The Group ended the year 
with a considerably reduced operating loss of £27.0m (2018: loss of £105.4m) 
following significant impairments in 2018.

26

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
1. Revenue 
1.1 Product supply revenue
The Group generates significant revenues from the supply of finished 
or semi-finished products, largely manufactured by third-party suppliers, 
to commercial distribution partners. The costs incurred to deliver these 
revenues are reported under cost of sales. These revenues grew by 34.3% 
in 2019, driven by strong volume demand from partners for flutiform®.

Total product supply revenues and gross margin

flutiform®

Other inhaled products

Non-inhaled products

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

2019
£m

101.4

3.2

10.4

115.0

(83.0)

32.0

2018
£m

74.2

3.1

8.3

85.6

(61.6)

24.0

%
change

36.7%

3.2%

25.3%

34.3%

34.7%

33.3%

Gross profit margin %

27.8%

28.0%

(0.2) ppts

flutiform® 
Vectura earned 56.9% (2018: 46.2%) of the Group’s total reported revenue 
from the supply of finished flutiform® products to Mundipharma (Europe 
and Rest of World) and Kyorin (Japan). 

flutiform® product supply revenues grew to £101.4m, a 36.7% increase 
versus the prior period, driven primarily by three factors. Firstly, a low 2018 
comparator, where first half 2018 revenues were depressed following 
partner destocking in late 2017 and early 2018. Secondly, in 2019, both 
partners adopted more conservative supply chain management policies 
which supported higher shipped volumes in 2019. Lastly, flutiform® 
continued to perform well in the competitive asthma ICS/LABA market 
ex. US, with total in-market sales up 10.4% on a constant exchange rate 
(CER) basis, compared to the prior period, with volume growth of 12.1%.1 

flutiform® revenues
In-market flutiform® sales1 (CER)

Territory 

Europe

Japan

RoW (ex. North America)

Total in-market sales

2019
£m

2018
£m

%
change

121.5

103.8

29.3

254.5

117.2

93.2

20.0

230.4

3.6%

11.3%

46.4%

10.4%

Vectura product supply revenues and gross profit

flutiform® product supply revenue

Cost of sales

One-off margin credit 

Gross profit

2019
£m

101.4

(65.1)

—

36.3

2018
£m

74.2

(47.4)

2.3

29.1

%
change

36.7%

37.3%

n/a

24.7%

Gross profit margin %

35.8%

39.2%

(3.4) ppts

Gross profit margin %  
(ex. 2018 one-off credits/(debits))

35.8%

36.1%

(0.3) ppts

flutiform® gross margin was down 3.4 percentage points compared 
to 2018 as the prior year benefited from the release of a £1.1m supplier 
provision and a £1.2m credit from Sanofi in settlement of historical claims 
prior to the sale of the Holmes Chapel manufacturing facility to Recipharm. 
Despite market price reductions in Japan in April 2018, which impacted 
the Group’s supply prices in 2019, the gross margin earned for product 
supply sales, excluding one-off items, was 35.8% (2018: 36.1%), slightly 
ahead of guidance. The gross margin in 2019 benefited from a positive 
geographical mix effect with an unusually high proportion of product 
supply sales to high margin territories. This geographical mix effect 
contributed approximately 1.1% to the margin in 2019. 

In 2020 we expect continued growth of flutiform® partner in-market 
sales, with Vectura product supply revenues expected to be broadly 
similar to the 1H 2019 run-rate. Underlying gross profit margin expectations 
for 2020 and in the medium term are approximately 30-32% as a result 
of regional mix changes, pricing pressure in Japan and Rest of World, 
and an expectation of additional compliance costs following the UK’s 
exit from the European Union.

The Group also earns royalties on flutiform® sales made by Kyorin 
in Japan. Including these royalties, total revenues for flutiform® were 
£107.7m (2018: £79.6m).

Other inhaled products
Vectura also earns revenue from the supply of devices to partners 
including the GyroHaler® device for the AirFluSal® Forspiro® product 
to Sandoz and the FOX® device to Bayer for use in its Breelib™ product. 
In total this revenue stream contributed £3.2m, an increase of 3.2% 
compared to the prior period. 

Non-inhaled products
The Group’s oral manufacturing facility in Lyon, France, generates product 
supply revenues from sales of oral products to partners. In 2019, product 
supply revenues from Lyon were £10.4m, a 25.3% increase compared to 
the prior period (2018: £8.3m). 

The operational focus of the Lyon site continues to be on improving 
profitability by replacing steady volume declines in mature and off-patent 
products, with growing new manufacturing volumes, supply revenues 
and associated development fees through new agreements. 

Some of the products manufactured at the Lyon site also earn the Group 
royalties, reported separately. 

1 

 IQVIA SMART MIDAS constant currency sales. Royalties payable by partners to the Group are based on agreed contractual definitions of net sales, which differ from IQVIA reported sales and may include other 
adjustments or deductions.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

27

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Financial review continued

1. Revenue continued
1.2 Royalty and other marketed revenues
The Group also generates revenues from products marketed by partners 
which incorporate Vectura’s intellectual property. These revenues typically 
comprise royalties, sales-based milestones, and product approval and 
launch milestones. These revenues reflect financial returns from historical 
R&D investments in partnered programmes. These revenues are earned 
without further material costs being incurred by the Group. 

Total royalty and other marketed revenues

Ultibro® and Seebri®

Ellipta®

flutiform® 

AirFluSal® Forspiro®

Other inhaled royalties

Non-inhaled royalties

Royalty revenue

Share of net sales of EXPAREL®

Other marketed revenues

Royalty and other 
marketed revenues

2019
£m

18.4

9.0

6.3

2.3

0.3

14.2

50.5

—

1.4

2018
£m

17.8

9.0

5.4

2.9

—

14.5

49.6

5.1

3.7

%
change

3.4%

n/a

16.7%

(20.7%)

n/a

(2.1%)

1.8%

n/a

(62.2%)

51.9

58.4

(11.1%)

Ultibro® Breezhaler® and Seebri® Breezhaler® are established products 
in Europe and Ultibro® continues to be the leading LAMA/LABA 
combination treatment for COPD ex. US. 

Vectura revenues for Ultibro® and Seebri® Breezhaler® are derived from 
a royalty percentage of net sales reported by Novartis. Royalties from 
Ultibro® and Seebri® Breezhaler® remained virtually flat in 2019, although 
declined by 1.1% on a CER basis.

In respect of GSK’s Ellipta® products Vectura has recognised the capped 
annual royalty of £9.0m during 2019. This royalty is not expected to recur 
in 2020.

flutiform® royalties for Europe and most of the Rest of World territories 
are subject to the terms of the agreement with Mundipharma, which limits 
the aggregate amount of royalties that can be earned by Vectura. As a 
result of this cap, royalties from Mundipharma were virtually nil in 2019 
(2018: £0.1m).

Strong in-market performance by Kyorin drove value and volume growth 
in Japan, up 11.4% (CER) and 13.6% respectively. As a result royalties from 
Japan grew by 18.9% (CER 12.3%), to £6.3m (2018: £5.3m). Vectura is 
entitled to continue to receive royalties from Japan in addition to any 
product supply revenues. 

New product launches, VR315 (US) and QVM149 are expected to 
contribute royalties in H2 2020. Vectura will earn an $11m milestone 
upon approval of VR315 (US) plus a mid-teen royalty on net sales of 
the product. Vectura will earn a $5m milestone upon European approval 
of QVM149 plus a low single-digit royalty on net sales. 

Non-inhaled royalties comprise royalties earned on oral and other 
non-inhaled products which benefit from the Group’s historical 
intellectual property. Many of these products are manufactured 
at the Group’s production facility in Lyon.

Total non-inhaled royalties remained virtually flat due to strong RAYOS® 
royalty growth, up 27.3% to £9.8m, offsetting the decline in other royalties 
which are coming to the end of their lifecycle. The increase in RAYOS® 
royalties is attributable to continued promotional activity. The licence 
agreement for RAYOS®/LODOTRA® was amended with effect from 
1 January 2019 and Vectura is now eligible for a minimum $8.0m annual 
royalty for RAYOS® for the calendar years 2019 to 2022.

Following patent expiry in September 2018 the Group did not receive a 
share of net sales of EXPAREL® revenue in 2019, a reduction of £5.1m 
versus 2018. The Group remains eligible to receive a non-patent dependent 
$32m sales milestone when twelve-month net sales of EXPAREL® reach 
$500m on a cash received basis. On 9 January 2020, Pacira reported 
2019 full-year EXPAREL® net product sales of $407.9m, up 23.2% 
compared to 2018. 

Other marketed revenues are made up of primarily a £1.3m milestone 
received on the anniversary of the first European launch of Breelib™. 
Under the terms of its agreement with Bayer, Vectura is eligible to receive 
a further €2.75m in milestones spread over the next four years, paid annually.

In 2018, the Group also recognised revenues of £2.4m during the period 
as part of an agreement with Sandoz regarding revised territory rights for 
AirFluSal® Forspiro®. 

1.3 Development revenues
The Group also earns revenue from agreements with partners which 
draw on Vectura’s device, formulation and development capabilities 
to deliver commercially attractive inhalation products. Under these 
agreements, during the development phase Vectura typically receives 
a series of cash flows in consideration for a variety of activities, which 
may comprise an upfront fee as consideration for the licence to access 
intellectual property, milestone payments for specific clinical or other 
development-based outcomes, or fees billed directly for work performed. 
Together these revenues have been categorised as development 
revenues. Revenues are recognised when contractual performance 
obligations are deemed to have been met, with the profile of these 
revenues varying by programme and over time.

As a consequence of the Group’s shift towards more service-based 
agreements, it is expected that development revenues for new agreements 
will increasingly be derived from fees billed directly for work performed, 
rather than milestone payments which are contingent on specific clinical 
or development-based outcomes. The Group will continue to earn 
licence fees and royalties where partners have accessed Vectura 
intellectual property.

Costs to deliver these revenues have been reported under research and 
development (R&D) expenditure in the Consolidated income statement.

Development revenues by programme

Licensing of intellectual property

QVM149 (Novartis)

Generic Ellipta® portfolio (Hikma)

Other inhaled programmes

Total licensing revenues

Development services

Inhaled development services

Non-inhaled development services

Total development services

Total development revenues

2019
£m

1.9

—

0.5

2.4

6.9

2.1

9.0

11.4

2018
£m

—

4.2

0.4

4.6

10.4

1.5

11.9

16.5

%
change

n/a

n/a

25.0%

(47.8%)

(33.7%)

40.0%

(24.4%)

(30.9%)

28

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Licensing revenues
QVM149
In May 2019, Vectura recognised a $2.5m (£1.9m) milestone under an 
exclusive licensing agreement with Novartis AG following EU Regulatory 
Authorities’ acceptance of a valid Marketing Authorisation Application 
(MAA) made by Novartis for its QVM149 product. European launch is 
expected in H2 2020, subject to regulatory approval.

Pre-partnered R&D
Pre-partnered R&D expenditure in 2019 represented 51% of total R&D 
expenditure (2018: 63%). Vectura will continue to invest in proprietary 
platform technologies as stated above; however, following the shift in 
strategy Vectura will no longer invest in its own proprietary pipeline of 
programmes. In line with this, further work on VR647 and the three VEnT 
pipeline projects announced in 2018 ceased in the second half of 2019.

Vectura is due to receive a further milestone payment of $5.0m on 
European regulatory approval of the product and thereafter royalties 
on net sales from launch.

Generic Ellipta® portfolio
In November 2018, Vectura signed a global development and 
commercialisation agreement with Hikma for the development of an 
AB-rated substitutable drug device combination of generic versions of 
the GSK Ellipta® portfolio. Upon signing of the deal, Vectura received an 
upfront cash payment of $15m (£11.4m). Of this total, £6.6m was recognised 
in 2018, split between licensing revenues (£4.2m) and inhaled development 
services revenue (£2.4m). 

Inhaled development services
Overall inhaled development services revenue has decreased 
primarily due to lower activity for Mundipharma’s k-haler® following 
product launch in September 2018 and the final balance of £1.7m 
recognised for the VR2076 project in 2018. Work has continued on 
the generic Ellipta® programme with Hikma; the revenue is broadly 
flat at £2.8m (2018: £2.4m). 

Non-inhaled development services 
The Group earned £2.1m in 2019 (2018: £1.5m) from the provision 
of development services related to products which are or will be 
manufactured at its oral tablet production facility in Lyon, France. 

2.  Research and development (R&D) expenditure
The Group’s R&D expenditure has historically been presented under 
two distinct categories:

a) Partnered – this category represents R&D expenditure to 
progress partnered programmes. This expenditure is principally 
funded by development revenues earned from the partner, which 
may be contingent upon the achievement of certain future milestones;

b) Pre-partnered – this category of R&D expenditure reflects 
investments funded by the Group on programmes yet to be partnered, 
as well as investments in its own innovative proprietary technology 
platforms. These investments are the basis for generating future 
partnering and licensing revenue opportunities.

Total R&D expenditure by category

Partnered R&D

Pre-partnered R&D

Total R&D

2019
£m

24.5

25.7

50.2

2018
£m

20.6

34.9

55.5

%
change

18.9%

(26.4%)

(9.5%)

Partnered R&D 
Partnered R&D expenditure in 2019 represented 49% of total R&D 
expenditure (2018: 37%). Within this total, 79% of the Group’s partnered 
R&D spend was focused on generic programmes (2018: 70%). 

Overall R&D in 2020 is expected to progressively reduce as 
capacity is released from its proprietary pipeline, and deployed towards 
revenue-generating partner business. At the same time, the Group 
will continue to invest in a prioritised technology roadmap, creating 
intellectual property to drive future licensing and royalty income. 
The Group expects R&D investment for 2020 to be within the range 
of £40m to £45m. 

3. Other operating expenditure and income
Other operating expenditure comprises a £2.7m non-cash charge 
for share-based compensation (2018: £2.6m) as well as corporate, 
administrative and selling and marketing costs of £14.0m (2018: £12.8m). 

The increase in corporate, administrative, and marketing costs is driven 
by the costs relating to consultancy costs and the departure of Vectura’s 
previous CEO at the end of June 2019. 

4. Amortisation and impairment
The Group recognised a £53.6m charge for amortisation and impairment 
of intangible assets, compared to £127.0m in the prior period. The significantly 
lower charge in 2019 is largely the result of the full impairment (£39.8m) of 
the VR475 intangible asset in 2018 following confirmation that the Phase III 
study did not meet its primary endpoint. In addition flutiform® amortisation 
is lower following an extension to certain Japanese patents. In 2019 the 
Group recognised an impairment charge of £8.2m following the decision 
to cancel further development of VR647 in September 2019.

In addition, the EXPAREL® intangible asset of £11.7m was fully amortised in 
2018, further reducing the carrying value of intangible assets to be amortised. 

5. Exceptional items 
Exceptional items of £3.5m in 2019 (2018: £9.0m) include £3.0m of legal 
fees from proceedings against GSK for the enforcement of Vectura’s 
patents in respect of the Ellipta® products.

6. Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-statutory measure that demonstrates 
the Group’s underlying performance, excluding exceptional items 
and material non-cash accounting charges, as shown below. It is used 
by management and the Board to monitor the Group’s performance 
over time. 

As shown in note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, adjusted 
EBITDA is calculated by adjusting the statutory operating loss for 
non-cash items such as depreciation, amortisation and share-based 
compensation and for items that are exceptional in nature and do not 
represent the underlying trends of business performance.

Adjusted EBITDA of £43.4m increased by 11.3% compared to the prior 
period benefiting from strong growth in product supply gross profit, 
offset by a reduction in higher margin royalties and other marketed 
revenues. A reduction in R&D costs has enabled the Group to maintain 
operational leverage, with the 2019 adjusted EBITDA margin in line with 
the prior year (24.3%).

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

29

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Financial review continued

7. Net finance income
Net finance income of £0.9m in 2019 has remained virtually flat 
compared to 2018. 

8. Loss before tax
The Group’s statutory loss before tax of £26.1m has reduced by 75.1% 
from £104.8m in 2018 largely as the result of a £73.4m decrease in 
amortisation and impairment of intangible asset charges.

9. Taxation
The Group’s effective tax rate (ETR) is a 15.3% credit (2018: 15.8% credit). 
The reduction in the credit arises from a lower deferred tax credit driven 
by a decrease in amortisation and impairment charges as explained above 
and the partial derecognition of deferred tax assets.

10. Loss per share
Despite the share consolidation implemented in October 2019, the loss 
per share in 2019 has reduced markedly from 13.2p to 3.4p largely due to 
lower amortisation and exceptional charges, as well as continued growth 
in adjusted EBITDA. 

11. Foreign exchange exposure
The Group receives revenue and incurs expenses in a number of foreign 
currencies and, as such, movements in foreign exchange rates can 
materially impact the Group’s financial results. Had foreign currency 
rates in 2019 remained constant with those of 2018, the Group’s reported 
adjusted EBITDA would have been approximately £1.2m lower. 

As an indication, a 5% strengthening or weakening of sterling against the 
euro, US dollar and Swiss franc would have had an impact of between 
£3.3m and £3.7m on the Group’s adjusted EBITDA in 2019. 

Balance sheet
Goodwill
The decrease of £1.2m in goodwill to £162.2m at 31 December 2019 
arises from foreign exchange losses upon revaluation of goodwill 
denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the Swiss franc.

Intangible assets
The £55.8m decrease in the carrying value of intangible assets is due 
to amortisation of £45.4m and an impairment charge of £8.2m relating 
to the VR647 programme following cancellation of the programme. 
Other movements primarily relate to foreign exchange losses partially 
offset by £1.3m of software additions.

Property, plant and equipment
The net book value of property, plant and equipment is £55.1m, £2.7m 
lower than at 31 December 2018. The key movements are £10.7m of 
depreciation and impairment and £1.2m of foreign exchange losses 
partially offset by £6.1m of additions and £3.6m non-cash additions 
relating to the recognition of right-of-use property assets on adoption 
of the IFRS 16 Leases standard. 

Inventory
Inventory is £1.0m higher with approximately 90% of the £27.7m carrying 
value at 31 December 2019 attributable to flutiform®. The increase in 
inventories is driven by continued growth in flutiform® volumes and 
the need to build strategic stocks for Brexit-related risks, partially offset 
by a foreign exchange loss. 

Swiss defined benefit retirement liability
The Swiss defined benefit retirement liability has increased by £1.4m 
to £4.5m (31 December 2018: £3.1m) due to a decrease in the discount 
rate used to value the defined benefit obligation. 

Cash and liquidity 
Vectura ended the year with cash and cash equivalents of £74.1m 
(2018: £108.2m) following the payout of a special dividend of approximately 
£40.0m and the completion of £3.5m of an approved £10.0m share 
buyback programme. Directly attributable execution costs associated 
with these capital returns were £0.3m. 

Cash generated from operating activities was £19.3m in 2019 (2018: £35.1m). 
The difference between adjusted EBITDA of £43.4m and cash generated 
from operating activities is primarily driven by the reduction in payables 
since 2018. The key movements in payables are the payment in 2019 of £3.1m 
GSK legal fees accrued in 2018; the payment of £2.0m for contractual 
flutiform® liabilities; and the payment in 2019 of £3.0m for VR475 liabilities 
accrued at 31 December 2018. In addition, £3.5m of revenue was recognised 
in 2019 for which the cash was received in 2018; this primarily relates to 
the upfront payment of £11.4m for the generic Ellipta® agreement with 
Hikma received in 2018. The remaining £2.0m of the £11.4m upfront cash 
payment is expected to be recognised as revenue in 2020. 

The table below shows the reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to cash 
generated from operating activities.

Adjusted EBITDA

Presentational

– Exceptional cash outflow – GSK litigation

–  Research and development tax credit income 

presented outside of operating cash

Working capital

–  Generic Ellipta® (Hikma) and VR2081 revenue 

recognition timing

–  (Decrease)/increase in payables

–  Increase in receivables

–  Increase in flutiform® inventory

Cash generated from operating activities

2019
£m

43.4

(3.0)

(1.7)

(3.5)

(11.1)

(3.5)

(1.3)

19.3

2018
£m

39.0

(7.1)

(1.5)

6.5

0.6

(0.4)

(2.0)

35.1

The Group received research and development tax credits of £2.4m 
(2018: £1.0m), which were partially offset by scheduled corporation tax 
payments relating to its US and Swiss operations of £1.3m (2018: £6.0m). 

Net cash outflows from capital expenditure were £7.2m, £5.1m lower 
than 2018. These included investments in manufacturing equipment 
for the Lyon site, as well as investment in the Group’s laboratories and 
platform technologies. 

The Group has access to a £50.0m multi-currency revolving credit 
facility with Barclays Bank PLC and HSBC Bank PLC. This facility 
expires in August 2021 and remains undrawn.

By order of the Board 

Paul Fry 
Chief Financial Officer
16 March 2020

30

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Risks

Risk management 
and internal control

Our risk management process is designed to ensure that existing 
or emerging significant risks are identified, assessed, managed and 
reported to relevant stakeholders in a timely manner to inform and 
support decision making. This process has been in place for the year 
under review and up to the date of approval of the Annual Report 
and Accounts. 

Our process aims to mitigate the significant risks faced by Vectura 
in accordance with our risk appetite. As already noted in the Strategic 
report, the Group is transitioning its business model towards offering 
development services where a smaller proportion of the overall contract 
value is delivered through contingent milestones. This new business 
model is lower risk and provides for a smoother revenue profile. 

It is recognised that no risk management process can provide absolute 
assurance against loss.

This section provides an overview of our risk management process, 
the key risks faced by the business, and the actions that we have taken 
to mitigate them. Not all the risks identified as part of our risk management 
processes are detailed in this section; instead we focus on those risks 
that the Directors believe to be the most important and which could 
cause Vectura’s results to differ materially from expected and historical 
results and significantly impact our strategy. Not all of these risks are 
within the control of the Group and other factors besides those listed 
may affect the Group’s performance. As with all businesses operating in 
a dynamic environment, some risks may not yet be known whilst other 
low-level risks could become material in the future. 

Objectives of our risk management process:
 • to ensure that the risk appetite of the Board is embedded throughout 
the organisation and fully understood by those who are responsible 
for managing risk and making key decisions across the business;

 •  to identify and assess the likelihood and potential impact of the risks 
that Vectura faces in the execution of its strategy and the operation 
of its business model, and ensure that appropriate mitigating actions 
and controls are in place, such that the residual risk is aligned to the 
risk appetite of the Board;

 •  to control systematic risks within the organisation by maintaining 
a system of internal controls to manage risks in decision making, 
legal contract management, quality and regulatory processes 
and the processing of financial transactions; and

 •  to ensure that identified risks are reported to relevant stakeholders 

in a timely manner to facilitate effective decision making.

6 

Reporting

5

Executing and 
monitoring

1

Strategy

4

Risk 
mitigation

2

Risk
identification

3

Risk 
assessment

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

31

STRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
 
 
Risks continued

Our risk management framework

Setting the tone

Designing the system

Completing the review

The Board
Accountable for carrying out a robust 
assessment of the principal risks facing 
Vectura, including those threatening its 
business model, future performance, 
solvency and liquidity.

Responsible for conducting an annual 
effectiveness review of Vectura’s risk 
management and internal control systems, 
and the principal risks facing Vectura. 
This review covers all material controls, 
including financial, operational and 
compliance controls. 

Responsible for reporting to shareholders 
about Vectura’s risk management process.

Executive Leadership Team
Responsible for ensuring that the risk 
management and internal control systems 
are appropriately designed, implemented 
and aligned to the Board’s risk appetite.

Project managers and senior leaders
Responsible for updating project and 
functional risk registers and reporting 
those considered key to the Executive 
Leadership Team.

Responsible for implementing and 
monitoring mitigating actions and controls.

Responsible for informing project and 
functional teams about risks and ensuring 
that mitigating actions are carried out. 

Responsible for ensuring that the risk 
appetite of the Board is appropriately 
understood by risk owners and key 
decision makers.

Responsible for reviewing the 
business-wide and project risk registers.

Responsible for conducting an annual 
assessment of its key principal risks to 
ensure controls are in place and, where 
gaps are identified, plans are assigned 
to address them.

Review of process and outputs

Review of high risks

Risk registers

The Audit Committee reviews the effectiveness of Vectura’s risk management 
and internal control at least annually, on behalf of the Board. This review 
has been undertaken during the year and the Board believes that it has 
taken all reasonable steps to satisfy itself that the risk management process 
is effective and fit for purpose. No material control weaknesses or deficiencies 
were identified as part of this review.

Brexit
In response to the uncertainty as to the terms of the UK exiting the 
EU following the referendum on 23 June 2016, an internal taskforce 
was formed with members from the Group’s Finance, Legal, Regulatory, 
Supply Chain and HR functions. The purpose of the taskforce was 
to identify risks and form risk mitigation strategies in the event of a 
disorderly or “hard” Brexit. Despite the UK exiting the EU on 31 January 
on favourable terms under the Withdrawal Agreement, the implementation 
period completes on 31 December 2020. Therefore, if the UK and EU fail 
to agree on a beneficial trading relationship by this date, or fail to extend 
the implementation period, then a hard Brexit will arise. Therefore, risk 
mitigation in the event of a “hard” Brexit is still relevant and ongoing.

Our approach to assessing risk
Risk is assessed net of the application of current control activities using 
a standard matrix which considers the potential likelihood of a risk event 
occurring and the potential impact on the business were such an event 
to occur. The output of this matrix allows the business to prioritise risks 
and mitigating actions. Risks are considered within the timeframe of at 
least three years, which is the same period that has been used in the 
Viability statement.

How our principal risks have evolved since the 
2018 Annual Report
The principal risk of “Failure or delay in partnering VR647 for Phase III 
development” materialised in 2019. Accordingly, this risk is no longer 
a principal risk. 

Following the shift to a CDMO business model, a new principal risk 
of “Failure to win new customer contracts for development services 
and execute these profitably” has been added. In addition, in recognition 
of the importance of IT to the Group and increased regulation around 
data privacy, a new principal risk has been added, being “Failure to 
protect critical and sensitive data and systems”. 

32

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Risk management and principal risks
Principal risks

Principal risks specific to Vectura’s business model – Brexit

Short-term supply chain disruption from the UK exiting the 
implementation period on 31 December 2020 without agreeing 
a beneficial trading relationship with the EU (a “hard” Brexit)

Adverse regulatory changes resulting in higher operating 
costs over the short, medium and longer term

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Stable

1

4

Stable

1

4

What is the risk?
The Group’s largest single product, flutiform®, is manufactured in the UK 
and commercialised by its partners in Europe, Japan and Rest of World. 
The Group imports raw materials into the UK and the Group’s partners 
export flutiform® from the UK into overseas markets. Delays to cross-
border movement of goods could disrupt the flutiform® supply chain. 

What would the impact be?
Major disruption to the flutiform® supply chain could result in lost product 
supply revenues and lost in-market sales which generate royalties for Vectura. 
If in-market sales are lost, patients may switch to alternative products and 
not switch back when availability returns. 

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 •  Disruption at ports of entry and exit which significantly slows the 

movement of goods such that stocks of products in overseas markets 
cannot be sufficiently replenished, or imports of raw materials are limited, 
reducing manufacturing output below normal levels. 

 •  Alternative routings or methods of transportation are unavailable. 
 • New flutiform® release testing capability for the EU does not perform to 
the required level, slowing or reducing the release of batches into the EU.

How do we manage the risk?
 •  Partners have reviewed stock levels in light of Brexit risks, and these 
have been increased where deemed appropriate. Mitigation of these 
risks is reviewed regularly by the Group and its partners.

 •  The Group has reviewed its raw material inventory levels and has built 

stocks where appropriate.

 •  Vectura, partners and suppliers have engaged third-party logistics 

providers with import and export expertise.

 •  Alternative routings or methods of transportation available 
to Vectura, suppliers and partners have been reviewed and 
contingency plans developed.

 •  Training of internal supply chain staff on import/export complexities has 

been undertaken.

 •  Provision for flutiform® release testing in the EU has been implemented.

What is the risk?
If the UK fails to agree a beneficial trading relationship before the transition 
period ends on 31 December 2020, future trading with the EU and other 
countries may result in increased costs for Vectura, for example costs 
associated with the application of new import or export tariffs.

In addition, from a regulatory perspective, an EU legal entity is required 
for medicinal product and medical device submissions and clinical trials 
in the EU. Vectura also requires a notified body with a legal entity in the EU. 
A notified body conducts conformity assessments for European directives 
related to medical devices.

What would the impact be?
Trading with the EU without a free trade agreement could impact the Group 
as follows:

 • tariffs on raw materials imported from the UK for flutiform® reducing product 
supply margins. These are incurred directly or via supplier price increases; 

 • additional testing or regulatory compliance costs to Vectura, which erode 

product supply margins; and 

 • adverse regulatory changes increase costs of compliance, constraining 

funds for investment.

What could cause the risk to be realised?
A beneficial trading relationship between the UK and EU is not established 
before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020.

Insufficient expertise and resources are available to deal with increased 
compliance activity.

How do we manage the risk?
 • The Group has sought out guidance and intelligence from the relevant 
professional bodies and trade organisations to shape its planning.

 • The Group has established a legal entity within the EU to enable it 
to comply with EU regulations for medicinal products and devices. 
The Group has also appointed a new EU notified body.

 • The Group has established a capability to perform EU release testing 

post 31 December 2020.

 • Resource and training requirements have been assessed 

and actioned accordingly. 

Our corporate goals

1

Financial 
accountability

2

Transform the Company 
into a successful CDMO

3

Drive product development and 
delivery management excellence

4

Quality and 
operational excellence

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

33

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Risk management and principal risks continued
Principal risks

Principal risks specific to Vectura’s business model – non-Brexit

Failure to win new customer contracts for development 
services and execute these profitably

Supply chain disruption

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

NEW

New risk

1

2

Stable

1

4

What is the risk?
Developing a strong pipeline of opportunities and converting these 
opportunities into revenues is critical to the success of the new CDMO 
business model.

What is the risk?
Vectura manages the supply chain for certain commercial products 
(flutiform®, AirFluSal® Forspiro® and Breelib™) and also relies on suppliers 
for the provision of quality compliant materials for R&D. 

In addition, Vectura must be able to deliver customer requirements profitably 
which requires efficient management of development capacity and investment 
in new technologies and intellectual property. 

What would the impact be?
Vectura is unable to deliver growth from competing in the inhaled CDMO market. 

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 • Insufficient investment in business development resources and marketing 

to drive presence and awareness. 

 • Organisation structure, processes and systems not fit for purpose.
 • Market offering not competitive, for example: pricing, technology 

and delivery timelines.

 • Inefficient cost base to deliver inhaled development services.

How do we manage the risk?
 • The recently appointed CEO brings a wealth of CDMO experience. 
 • The Group is recruiting experienced business development personnel 

in the EU and US and investing in branding and marketing.

 • A technology roadmap is in place which is reviewed annually. Funding for 

execution of the roadmap is in place. 

 •  A CDMO strategy implementation project is in place with appropriate 

governance and resourcing by experienced senior leaders. 

 • KPIs have been defined and are currently being implemented to track 

progress on business development and operational efficiency. 

 • Financial targets set and finance business partners in place to support 
delivery of an efficient cost base and appropriate pricing of services. 

What would the impact be?
Major disruption to, or failure of, these supply chains, particularly for 
flutiform®, could result in lost revenues and business opportunities, stock 
shortages, liabilities and significant damage to profitability and prospects 
for Vectura. Such disruption could be either quality or capacity related.

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 • Supply chain disruption involving a single point of failure for which 

Vectura has high dependency and limited resilience.

 •  Supplier capacity constraints.
 •  Supplier loss of licence or regulatory action impacting Vectura.

How do we manage the risk?
 • Vectura has strong working relationships with its suppliers; we have 

established due diligence processes to ensure that our stringent quality 
standards are maintained and we have put in place appropriate systems 
that will provide an early warning of potential issues.

 • A dedicated Commercial Quality Director has oversight of release of 
commercial product and ensures appropriate management of quality 
for commercial products.

 • Monthly meetings are held to discuss customer demand forecasts and to 
review Vectura’s ability to meet these forecasts. Vectura has established 
contingency arrangements to ensure that production capacities exceed 
forecast demand so that it would be possible to catch up on any shortfall 
in production or meet unexpected demand. Appropriate levels of safety 
stock are maintained.

 • Supply chain mapping has been undertaken, and is regularly 

reviewed, to identify potential points of failure and mitigating actions. 
Where economically feasible, additional sources of supply are 
established and contracts negotiated to include appropriate 
provisions for replacement of defective goods.

 • The Group also has appropriate insurance, but it is not possible to 

insure against all risks and not all insurable risks can be fully insured 
on an economically feasible basis. 

Our corporate goals

1

Financial 
accountability

2

Transform the Company 
into a successful CDMO

3

Drive product development and 
delivery management excellence

4

Quality and 
operational excellence

34

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Principal risks specific to Vectura’s business model – non-Brexit

Failure to launch VR315 (US) in a competitive timeframe

Failure of partners to deliver on their obligations

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Decreasing

1

3

Stable

1

4

What is the risk?
On 10 May 2017, our partner, Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (“Hikma”), 
received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the US FDA in relation 
to its abbreviated new drug application for its generic version of GSK’s 
Advair Diskus®. This CRL was categorised as “Major”.

In November 2019, Hikma submitted responses to the US FDA for review, 
which includes data from a further clinical endpoint study. 

Vectura believes the submission addresses the outstanding questions 
raised by the FDA in its CRL and remains confident in the prospects for 
the approval of VR315 (US). 

If VR315 (US) is approved, we are likely to be the second generics company 
on the market after Mylan and the third generic including the authorised 
generic distributed by Prasco Laboratories.

What would the impact be?
The product is launched later than those of competitors resulting in loss 
of potential future revenues and funds for investment.

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 • VR315 (US) not being the second generic of GSK’s Advair Diskus® product.
 • Sales (volumes and/or pricing) of GSK’s Advair Diskus® could decline 

faster than expected prior to launch of VR315 (US).

How do we manage the risk?
 • The Group is unable to take direct action to mitigate this risk.
 • We will continue to support Hikma in responding to any queries raised 
by the US FDA to the November 2019 resubmission. In addition, we will 
continue to monitor the market and progress of competitors. 

Risk movement
Decreasing following resubmission in November 2019 and Sandoz 
discontinuing development of its generic version in 2020.

What is the risk?
Vectura earns revenues from a number of partnered in-market assets, 
most notably flutiform®, and is dependent upon these partners for maintaining 
regulatory approvals and for the marketing of the products. Development 
service revenues also depend on partners delivering on their obligations 
in order for programmes to progress to plan. 

Royalty revenues depend on partners both to generate sales of the product 
but also to accurately calculate and pay over royalties according to the terms 
of the licence.

What would the impact be?
Failure of a partner to maintain regulatory approvals, to comply with relevant 
codes or regulations, or to commit an appropriate level of resource could 
result in loss of product supply revenues to Vectura. 

Failure by a development partner to deliver on their obligations during 
the development phase could result in a delay or cessation of development. 
This in turn could cause a delay in development activities which could reduce 
revenues. It may also delay the product reaching the market which could 
undermine the product’s commercial potential and result in lower returns 
on investment for Vectura. 

The marketing, supply chain and commercialisation strategies deployed 
by partners for existing on-market products could materially impact the 
level of royalties and sales milestones earned by Vectura.

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 • Change in partner strategy or priorities.
 • Partner viability or insolvency.
 • Partner’s marketing, supply chain or commercialisation strategy 

is sub-optimal or not executed successfully.

 • Partner failure to obtain appropriate pricing and reimbursement.
 • Partner failure to comply with relevant legislation or regulations.
 •  Partner failure to comply with the terms of a licence.

How do we manage the risk?
 • All collaborations are performed under a suitable legal agreement which 
is assessed by Vectura and its legal advisors. Non-performance of these 
obligations can result in escalation within the partner organisation, or 
appointment of a third-party audit, independent arbitration or, in extreme 
cases, legal action.

 • Typically, for collaborations, a joint steering committee (JSC) is established 
involving both Vectura and partner personnel. This provides Vectura with a 
mechanism to ensure that any joint project activity is managed appropriately, 
and where concerns can be escalated. 

 • At a product or project level, regular operational meetings take place 

to review progress, plans and forecasts. 

 • The Group also has a Commercial and Business Development department 
which maintains regular dialogue with existing and potential new partners. 

Our corporate goals

1

Financial 
accountability

2

Transform the Company 
into a successful CDMO

3

Drive product development and 
delivery management excellence

4

Quality and 
operational excellence

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

35

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Risk management and principal risks continued
Principal risks

Principal risks specific to Vectura’s business model – non-Brexit continued

Failure or delay in achieving development milestones 
required to advance the generic product pipeline

Failure to develop the FOX® nebuliser platforms to secure 
future growth in new customer contracts 

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Stable

1

4

Stable

1

2

4

What is the risk?
Failure or delay in achieving development milestones for the Group’s 
generic programmes would have a material adverse impact on the value 
of these programmes.

What would the impact be?
Termination of projects or significant delays could materially affect future 
revenues, profitability and prospects of Vectura.

What is the risk?
The Group receives significant interest in its FOX® nebuliser technology 
from existing and prospective customers. 

The Group is also in the process of closing down its German site, where its 
nebuliser technology originated.

Continuing to develop this technology is critical to securing future growth 
in customer contracts as a provider of inhalation development services. 

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 • Manufacturing issues associated with a particular device or product for 

clinical trials.

What would the impact be?
Failure to be competitive versus other similar platforms, and risk losing 
current or future revenue opportunities.

 • Ineffective design and execution of development activities. 
 • Insufficient capacity or prioritisation of competing projects. 

How do we manage the risk?
 • Vectura has an established governance process to oversee the conduct 
and delivery of all development programmes and to ensure that any 
potential changes to the development plan or budget are identified and 
discussed in a timely manner, such that mitigating activities or actions 
can be put in place as required.

 • Individuals with the necessary skills and experience have been recruited 
to lead and oversee the development of our generic pipeline assets. 
Vectura continues to work with a network of experienced consultants 
and contractors who provide additional support and expertise as required.

 • Operational excellence initiatives within the development function have 

been and continue to be implemented to maximise development capacity. 

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 •  Failure to transfer knowledge and skills to the UK from the Group’s German 
site following the announcement of the German site closure in 2018. 

 • Failure to develop the platform to respond to customer demands and a 

growing range of formulations.

 • Failure to maintain quality standards.

How do we manage the risk?
 • In respect of the closure of the Group’s German site, transition of 

knowledge is progressing well. A retention scheme is in place for key 
employees from the closing site and resources have been recruited into 
receiving sites in the UK. A transition team continues to exercise oversight.

 • We work closely with our third-party suppliers to continue to improve the 

platform, including processes, controls and components. These 
processes and controls are documented, and supplier audits ensure they 
are operated. Remediation is undertaken where issues are identified.

 • An integrated Programme team ensures all activities which impact the 
development of the FOX® nebuliser platform are managed cohesively.

Our corporate goals

1

Financial 
accountability

2

Transform the Company 
into a successful CDMO

3

Drive product development and 
delivery management excellence

4

Quality and 
operational excellence

36

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Principal risks specific to the industry in which Vectura operates 

Changes in the regulatory, operating or pricing environment 

Failure to attract or retain talent/key personnel

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Stable

1

2

Stable

3

4

What is the risk?
Vectura operates in the highly regulated international pharmaceutical 
industry, which is subject to change.

What would the impact be?
Changes in the pharmaceutical regulatory landscape, operational 
restrictions and downward pricing pressure could adversely impact:

 • the number and value of customer opportunities to provide 

development services; and

 • the value or viability of the generic pipeline products or those products 

already developed and commercialised by partners. 

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 • Political change.
 •  Competitor pricing strategies. 
 • Regulatory action on pricing. 

How do we manage the risk?
 • Regulatory changes tend to be considered due to lengthy consultations 

and discussions between regulators and the pharmaceutical industry. We 
work closely with expert regulatory advisors and, when appropriate, seek 
advice from regulatory authorities on the design of key development 
plans for pre-clinical and clinical programmes. 

 • We work with a number of blue-chip pharmaceutical partners who have 

significant regulatory expertise. 

 • Our technology roadmap is reviewed at least annually and takes account 
of evolving market trends, customer needs and the competitive landscape. 

What is the risk?
Vectura relies upon a number of key qualified management, scientific, technical, 
marketing and support personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense 
and there can be no assurance that the Group will be able to continue to attract 
and retain such personnel.

What would the impact be?
The loss of talent or key personnel could adversely impact the effectiveness 
of the Group’s operations.

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 • Inadequate succession planning and talent management.
 • Organisational disruption and/or change.
 • Failure of reward and/or incentive strategy. 

How do we manage the risk?
 • Vectura seeks to develop employees for current and future roles and our 
career development and talent management programmes remain a key 
area of focus for the Executive Leadership Team. We continue to invest 
in ongoing training and development with leadership and management 
development programmes in place. 

 • Succession plans for key roles have been developed to ensure a talent 
pool is identified, developed and ready for appointment. These plans 
include the identification of “emergency successors” in the case of 
unanticipated and immediate absence.

 • Vectura regularly benchmarks its reward strategy to ensure it continues to 
incentivise, motivate and retain our talented employees. This benchmarking 
covers both short and long-term incentives. Salaries of all employees are 
reviewed annually to ensure we remain market competitive.

Our corporate goals

1

Financial 
accountability

2

Transform the Company 
into a successful CDMO

3

Drive product development and 
delivery management excellence

4

Quality and 
operational excellence

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

37

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Risk management and principal risks continued
Principal risks

Principal risks specific to the industry in which Vectura operates continued

Failure to protect intellectual property

Failure to protect critical and sensitive data and systems

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Risk movement:

Corporate Goals impact:

Stable

1

2

NEW

New risk

4

What is the risk?
Patent infringement by a competitor organisation or failure to obtain patents 
for technology developed by Vectura could impact on the value of Vectura’s 
market offering as a CDMO and inhibit the delivery of the generic pipeline.

What would the impact be?
Such infringement or failure could result in Vectura or a customer having to 
take a license to third-party IP in order to develop a product, or even being 
unable to commercialise a product, materially impacting Vectura’s future 
revenues, profitability and prospects.

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 • Competitor successful in challenging Vectura or partner patent.
 • Critical information missing from filed patent.

How do we manage the risk?
 • Dedicated internal resource, supplemented with external expertise, files 
for and prosecutes patents and other forms of intellectual property.

 • In conjunction with our partners where relevant, Vectura takes steps 

to enforce these rights. 

 • Third-party rights that may be of interest to and/or have adverse effects 
on Vectura’s activities are also monitored so that action can be initiated 
where appropriate.

What is the risk?
Data and information technology systems are critical to our operations. 
Significant disruption to systems due to computer viruses, cyber threats, 
malicious intrusions or unintended or malicious behaviour by employees, 
contractors or service providers could affect the Group’s operations. 
In addition, such disruption may compromise the integrity of information 
and result in the inappropriate disclosure of confidential information, 
or may lead to false or misleading information about the Group. 

The cyber security incidents that we have experienced to date have not 
resulted in significant disruption to our operations. However, as the threats 
evolve we cannot provide assurance that our efforts in protecting our 
systems and data will always be successful.

What would the impact be?
The loss of proprietary or other commercially sensitive information may 
provide competitors with a competitive advantage resulting in competitive 
or operational damage to the Group. 

The disclosure of confidential information about the Group’s employees, 
customers, suppliers or other third parties could also expose the Group 
to liability. 

The potential for fraud from manipulation of payment processes.

Failure to effectively prevent or respond to a major breach or cyber-attack 
may also subject the Group to significant reputational damage. 

What could cause the risk to be realised?
 •  Security vulnerability in our systems. 
 •  External cyber-criminal activity.
 •  Employee or contractor non-maliciously introduces a vulnerability 

which is exploited by a malicious actor. 

 •  Lack of employee training around the cyber threat.

How do we manage the risk?
 • Security and access control standards in place with 

compliance monitored. 

 •  Vectura has a dedicated security engineer who provides oversight 

and actively monitors cyber security. 

 •  Daily backup of systems and data.
 •  Employee laptops and mobile phones are protected via 

secure encryption.

 •  Cyber security training provided to all employees. 
 •  Cyber risk insurance cover in place.
 •  Ongoing programme to enhance our information and system 

security capabilities. 

Our corporate goals

1

Financial 
accountability

2

Transform the Company 
into a successful CDMO

3

Drive product development and 
delivery management excellence

4

Quality and 
operational excellence

38

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Viability statement

In accordance with the provisions in the UK Corporate Governance Code 
(provision 31 of the 2018 code), the Directors have assessed the viability 
of the Group over a three-year period. The Directors’ assessment has 
been made with reference to the Group’s current strategy, strong balance 
sheet including positive cash reserves of £74.1m at 31 December 2019, 
the availability of the £50m revolving credit facility to August 2021 and 
principal risks as described in this Strategic report. 

Whilst the Directors have no reason to believe that the Group will not be 
viable over a longer period, a three-year period is considered appropriate 
as it is possible that one or more principal risks could reasonably be 
realised in the period which could materially impact the viability of the 
Group. In addition, this period is more than double that used for the going 
concern assessment. The Group continues to be strongly cash generative 
before distributions to shareholders and has cash and cash equivalents 
of £74.1m at 31 December 2019. The use of the Group’s £50m revolving credit 
facility is not forecast during the three-year viability period. This facility 
expires in 2021 and the Board expects that it will be renewed. The three-year 
period therefore provides the Board with an appropriate degree of confidence 
while still providing a suitable longer-term outlook.

The process adopted to assess viability this year is unchanged from 2018 
and involved collaborative input from a range of business functions to model 
a series of plausible “stress test” scenarios linked to the Group’s principal 
risks. These scenarios included both significant adverse financial outcomes 
and operational failures. Consideration was given to the impact of mitigations 
as well as their interdependencies. The Audit Committee reviewed the 
process before the viability evaluation was provided to the Board to assist 
in its assessment.

The key assumptions underpinning the assessment during the period are 
as follows: 

The Group continues to monitor closely evolving events concerning 
trade negotiations between the EU and the UK. Despite an expectation 
of a UK-EU trade deal, the Group has implemented and continues to 
implement a number of measures to mitigate the risks should this not be 
the case. The Group still expects the end of the implementation period to 
be relatively orderly within an expected range given the extent of these 
measures. However, if this is not the case, then the Group has assessed 
that the supply chain for flutiform® could be disrupted. Within this context, 
and to provide confidence of ongoing viability, the Group’s plans have been 
stress tested against a severe but reasonably possible downside scenario. 
In such a scenario, the flutiform® supply chain is assumed to be disrupted 
in 2021 resulting in lower product supply revenues and in-market sales, 
which also adversely impact royalty revenues. It has also been assumed 
that once supply is normalised, there is only a partial recovery of in-market 
sales. In addition, costs from assuming World Trade Organisation tariffs 
on certain raw materials, sharing of incremental costs with the Group’s 
partners for EU release testing and an increased batch failure rate from 
this additional testing have also been modelled. 

The Group is also closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak situation. 
At this point product supply and development services activities continue 
to progress normally. The Group has considered reasonably plausible 
scenarios in relation to potential supply chain disruption, business disruption 
and revenue impact based upon the expected peak of the outbreak.

In addition to the above Brexit sensitivity and the COVID-19 outbreak 
scenario, the following additional, reasonably plausible stress tests 
were performed:

 • lower royalty revenues from Seebri® and Ultibro® Breezhaler®, 

being the Group’s most significant royalties;

 • failure to launch VR315 (US) and subsequent termination of the 

 • minimal disruption to the supply of flutiform® and no tariffs on 

Ovoid programme;

raw materials imported into the UK following the end of the Brexit 
implementation period on 31 December 2020;

 • projected flutiform® product supply volumes and the related 

supply margin; 

 • manufacturing and assembly of flutiform® by Recipharm continues 

in line with contractual obligations; 

 • forecast net royalties from Seebri®/Ultibro® Breezhaler in EU/RoW 

and Rayos® in the US;

 • the timing of receipt of development phase milestones from partnered 
programmes, particularly from development of generic versions of GSK’s 
Ellipta® portfolio; 

 • timing of approval and forecast royalty revenues from VR315 (US) 

and QVM149; and

 • growth in new development services revenues from transition to 

a CDMO business model.

 • failure to receive regulatory approval for QVM149; and

 • significant delays in growing the revenues of the CDMO business.

As a worst case, the combined impact of these downside scenarios 
was assessed in combination against the Group’s liquidity. Based on 
this assessment and stress testing, the Directors have a reasonable 
expectation that the Group will continue in operation and meet its 
liabilities as they fall due over the three-year period of assessment. 

Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements the Directors have a 
reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 
Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting 
in preparing the 2019 Annual Report and Accounts.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

39

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Doing business responsibly

Having a 
positive impact

By operating responsibly, we want to further build a business that 
is not only commercially successful but delivers long-term value 
for all our stakeholders. We assess our performance across four 
key areas: our people; our partners, customers and suppliers; 
our patients; and corporate citizenship.

Our values are the principles that guide how we do things 
and in 2019 we refreshed them to reflect our new strategy.

1  Deliver for patients with pride
We are agile, efficient and deliver our commitments. We take 
pride in successfully developing medicines that transform lives.

2  Create a great customer experience
Our customer focus guides everything we do. We use 
our insight and capability to create a great experience 
for our customers.

3  Work together as one team
We collaborate to achieve shared goals, using our combined 
knowledge and expertise to enable success.

4  Do the right thing
Quality is at the heart of everything we do. We work with 
integrity, consistently delivering to high standards.

5  Innovate and improve
We thrive on learning and apply our expertise to continually 
innovate and be the best at what we do.

40

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Our people

Our values

3   Work together as one team 

4   Do the right thing 

5   Innovate and improve

Gender breakdown

Males/females in senior manager 
and above roles*

Percentage of employees 
working flexibly

52+

 Male 248
 Female 232

I 70+

Director level and above.

* 

 Male 37
 Female 16

I 17+

  Employees working 

flexibly 17%

Culture and values
In light of our strategy to transform Vectura into a leading inhalation 
CDMO, we have reviewed our culture to ensure alignment with our 
ambitions. Founded on the rich heritage of the previous values, our 
revised guiding principles build on the innovation, collaboration, patient 
focus and achievement ethos which remain critical to our success. 
They also highlight the need for us to provide a great experience for 
our customers and to ensure quality is at the heart of everything we do. 
These revised values were brought to life by compelling stories, blogs 
and comments from colleagues across the business using myVectura, 
our new social intranet. As we look ahead to 2020, we will ensure we 
embed the values through a programme of internal communications 
and engagement activity, and in all of our people processes to reinforce 
our culture as the definitive expression of “how we do things at Vectura”. 
This alignment will enable us to continue to demonstrate our support for 
the Corporate Governance Code by ensuring our policies and practices 
are consistent with our values.

Inclusivity 
We believe in a diverse and gender-balanced workforce, and our Equal 
Opportunities Policy ensures the provision of equal opportunities in all 
aspects of employment, for all individuals, irrespective of age, disability, 
sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, race (which includes 
colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, 
religion or belief, or marital status. Whilst we do not meet the threshold 
which requires all companies that employ 250 UK-based employees or 
more to report their gender pay and bonus pay gaps, we have elected to 
do so voluntarily because we believe this is the right thing to do. Our Gender 
Pay Gap Report is published annually on our website and includes details 
of our inclusivity action plan that we continue to deliver. 

Employee engagement and communication 
At Vectura, we wholeheartedly believe in the power of engagement 
and its impact on business performance and employee retention. 
To support the updated Corporate Governance Code, we appointed 
Per-Olof Andersson as the nominated Non-Executive Director who 
oversees engagement between the Board and the workforce. During 
2019, five Non-Executive Board members undertook four site visits.

For the nominated Non-Executive Director, this also included meetings 
with the Employee Representative Forum and with representatives from 
the Lyon Workers Council. In addition, the Chairman took part in employee 
Q&A sessions. A summary of employee feedback and sentiment was 
provided by the Executive Vice President for HR and the nominated NED 
to the Board in September 2019. 

We operate an annual employee engagement survey and 88% of colleagues 
took part in 2019. Encouragingly, the results indicated improvements in 
all areas compared to the March 2018 survey. However, our ambition is 
to exceed the external benchmarks and whilst we achieved this in two 
categories (compensation/reward and communication) we still have 
much to do and have used these results to inform our usual analysis 
and action planning at corporate, site and functional levels. We have 
well-established engagement channels which we regularly review and 
leverage to share progress updates and to continue driving towards 
our corporate mission of creating a great place to work. 

We ensure that corporate strategy is clearly communicated and well 
understood through regular all-employee business updates, hosted by 
members of the Executive Leadership Team and Business Leadership 
Team. To ensure we are harnessing the latest digital technology to 
communicate with colleagues in a transparent, open way, we used their 
feedback to develop and launch a new social intranet in 2019. myVectura 
provides improved access to news and information, along with new, 
online spaces for collaboration and real-time feedback, questions and 
comments that can be posted by all staff. In the first three months, every 
colleague used the platform and on a regular weekday there is an average 
of 600 visits.

In October 2019, our Corporate Communications team was shortlisted for 
Best Employee Engagement Programme in the 2019 CorpComms Awards.

Colleagues’ individual goals are linked up to our corporate scorecard 
which is regularly updated and communicated. Our “Science Live” campaign, 
launched in 2018, connects us to patients and our new strategic focus – 
helping customers to bring their inhaled medicines to market – whilst 
celebrating our unique combination of device, formulation and 
development capabilities.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

41

STRATEGIC REPORT48
+
30
+
83
+
I
 
Doing business responsibly continued

Our people continued
Listening to and empowering our colleagues
Our Employee Representative Forum of elected representatives from 
across the Group allows colleagues to drive the agenda and discuss 
issues that matter to them. Our family-friendly policies enabled 17% 
of employees to work flexibly, as at 31 December 2019, and our internal 
Leadership and Management Development Programmes clarify the 
expectation, and provide the skills, for leaders to treat people as individuals 
by understanding and supporting their working preferences. We cement 
the personal accountability we all share for living our values and delivering 
our corporate ambitions by measuring both the “what” and the “how” via 
regular performance reviews. 

Developing our people 
Our Talent Management Framework is used by all functions, resulting 
in the identification, support and development of our talented employees. 
Personal development plans are encouraged for all and a Career Framework 
articulates the skills and experiences required to progress both laterally 
and/or vertically. In addition to investment in general training and 
development, we continue to offer all employees the opportunity to 
apply for scholarship funding through our Vocational Qualifications 
Award. In 2019 we have supported applications for a variety of professional 
qualifications including a Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations, 
Master of Business Administration (MBA), PRINCE2 Project Management 
and Systematic Business Coaching. We develop the essential skills needed 
to manage employees through our in-house Leadership Development 
Programme and Management Development Programme, the latter being 
newly launched in 2019 for supervisors and team leaders. 

Rewarding our people 
We recognise the importance of a fair and competitive reward package 
and seek to provide well-constructed and regularly benchmarked reward 
systems which incentivise superior performance and align the interests 
of our employees with those of our shareholders. 

The annual bonus is derived from corporate and individual performance, 
and our remuneration packages include a pension entitlement, permanent 
health insurance, life insurance and medical care. Additionally, all employees 
can participate in our share plans. For more details of our all-employee 
share plans, please refer to the Remuneration report. 

We have established three tiers of health and safety consultation, 
as part of our efforts to keep colleagues, contractors and visitors safe.

42

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

In addition to the performance management process, recognition for the 
role models of our values or for those who have gone above and beyond 
in any aspect of their working life is provided through our Recognition Policy, 
comprised of “thank you” cards or small financial rewards, such as dinner 
with a partner, and through our “People’s Champion” annual award ceremony.

Our commitment to health and safety 
Keeping our colleagues, visitors and contractors safe is a priority 
for us, and strong environment, health and safety (EHS) engagement 
is key. We have established three tiers of health and safety consultation, 
comprising a quarterly Steering Committee of senior leaders which 
reviews safety compliance, performance and defines strategy; a monthly 
EHS Committee which reviews performance and discusses corporate 
initiatives and issues; and EHS sub-groups to work on tactical improvements 
and localised proactive initiatives. EHS key performance indicators are 
both lagging and leading in nature and drive performance and action plans. 
EHS was part of the 2019 corporate scorecard to reinforce its criticality. 
In addition, all functional leaders in the Operations function have personal 
EHS goals focused on driving improvements. In 2020, all colleagues will 
be encouraged to increase the number of safety observations reported 
as one of the prime leading indicators of a strong safety culture and, 
ultimately, to keep one another safe. Corporate updates are provided to 
the Board at least once a year and functional reports are provided to the 
ELT, enabling it to reinforce the importance of compliance and a strong 
safety culture. 

We have continued to roll out our Employee Wellbeing Programme, 
which provides information, resources and support to help our people 
stay healthy. We also trained and appointed Mental Health First Aiders 
to provide additional, on-site support as a supplement to our Employee 
Assistance Programme. Acknowledging the importance of “psychological 
safety” for both employee wellbeing and engagement, our Leadership 
and Management Development Programmes equip people managers 
with the understanding and tools to create an environment of openness 
and learning. Will Downie is the Board member to whom responsibility for 
health and safety has been assigned. We have an excellent safety record 
and there have been no major incidents or accidents to report to the 
Health and Safety Executive in the UK or to the equivalent bodies in 
Germany, Switzerland or France during the period.

Policies and practices 
As a responsible employer operating in our highly regulated industry, we 
have a comprehensive Code of Conduct and supporting policies, including 
Whistleblowing, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking 
Policies, which set standards for ensuring that our business activities are 
conducted in a responsible manner for the benefit of our shareholders, 
clients, employees and suppliers. Vectura has zero tolerance to any form 
of bribery and corruption, both within our business and in any dealings 
with our customers, suppliers and other third parties we may deal with in 
the course of our business. Our Anti-Bribery Policy and the latest Modern 
Slavery Statement can be found on our website (www.vectura.com). 
We operate a whistleblowing process for employees if they suspect 
anything inappropriate or experience any serious misconduct or wrongdoing 
in our business. We believe that having empowered people, who understand 
their responsibilities, who display sound judgement, and who act in an ethical 
way, is key to the ongoing success of the Vectura Group. All employees 
and Board members are expected to demonstrate and promote high 
standards of ethical business conduct and to know and follow our Code 
with pride.

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Our partners, customers and suppliers

Our values

2   Create a great customer experience

Partnerships continue to drive significant value for Vectura. For this reason 
we work closely with our alliance partners to develop and improve the ways 
in which we collaborate. 

A key catalyst is the Collaboration in Partnership™ programme which we 
started in 2017. As part of this initiative, we are now able to repeat health 
check surveys at 18–24 month intervals and follow up with joint workshops 
to identify and improve specific elements of each alliance and the quality 
of each business relationship overall. Themes common to several of our 
alliances, in where we are learning and focusing to improve, include: 

 • quality of product;

 •  alignment on strategy and objectives;

 •  clarity on roles and governance;

 • continuous improvement to processes, delivery and costs;

 • increasing mutual value; and

 • clarity and openness of communication.

Tim Wright, Vectura’s VP for Alliances, plans to leverage the programme 
further: “By revisiting these focus areas at more frequent intervals, we have 
been more consistently engaged with our partners, which helps standardise 
the drive for improvements. We will continue to roll out the Collaboration in 
Partnership™ programme in 2020 and use it as a foundation for establishing 
and developing longer-term partnerships in our CDMO business.”

In addition to working closely 
with our existing partners, we 
have redefined our business 
and outlined our service 
offering for new customers 
in the CDMO space.

New customers
In addition to working closely with our existing partners, we have 
redefined our business and outlined our service offering for new 
customers in the CDMO space.

Vectura has engaged in external market research with leading global 
pharmaceutical and biotech companies to gain an in-depth understanding 
of customers’ requirements and determine how we are able to meet their 
needs. This research demonstrated that we are well positioned to provide 
the services that a wide range of clients, from biotech start-ups to large 
multi-national pharmaceutical companies, require. 

The Drug Delivery to the Lungs conference held in Edinburgh in 
December 2019 is the largest inhaled drug delivery meeting in the world 
and we used it to showcase our new strategy and validate our offering 
with potential customers. We received extremely positive feedback about 
the new strategy and left the conference confident that our offering 
meets customers’ expectations. 

Suppliers
Throughout 2019 we have also engaged with a diverse supplier base 
as we seek to unlock value for the business and deliver a first-class 
approach to procurement. 

Our talented team is passionate about solving complex procurement 
challenges by working closely with our suppliers so that value can be 
achieved for all involved. Collaboration is key, and during 2019 we have 
continued to strengthen our relationships with critical suppliers and 
contract manufacturing organisations. Regular business review meetings 
help to build trust and transparency, which is fundamental to adding value, 
improving efficiency and reducing the cost of goods. 

In 2019, we were proud to be shortlisted by the Chartered Institute 
of Performance and Supply in the “Procurement Team of the Year – 
Small Teams” category in the Supply Management Awards. 

Looking forward, strong supplier relationships will continue to be essential 
as we implement our CDMO strategy, knowing that assurance of supply, 
quality and service are already in place. 

Quality will continue to be at the heart of what we do, and supplier quality 
meetings ensure there is continued focus in striving for perfection in the 
materials, components and services we purchase. 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

43

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Doing business responsibly continued

Our patients

Our values

1   Deliver for patients with pride 

4   Do the right thing 

5   Innovate and improve

How we engage 
We seek to address the needs of patients by maintaining an in-depth 
appreciation of clinical innovation, as well as dialogue with patients and 
their caregivers to understand their respective therapeutic needs. It is 
recognised that the lung can be used for the delivery of drugs to treat 
systemic diseases, in addition to diseases of the airways, and Vectura 
is also keen to address these patients’ drug delivery needs.

We ensure that our employees understand the impact on patients of the 
diseases that our partners and customers are trying to treat, as well as 
the science behind the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. 
Our internal “Science Live” programme showcases Vectura’s science, 
innovation and patient focus through presentations and podcasts, 
from our own teams and from guest speakers. 

Our teams actively consider patients’ needs throughout the development 
process, striving to progress relevant products and easy-to-use device 
platforms to help improve patient adherence and thus compliance and 
treatment effectiveness. 

Our teams actively consider 
patients’ needs throughout 
the development process.

Affordable quality products 
Our diverse portfolio includes a number of generics programmes. Vectura 
is a responsible partner to major pharmaceutical companies, such as Hikma 
and Sandoz, and aims to reliably supply affordable, high-quality generic 
medicines to meet today’s diverse healthcare needs.

Improving access 
Vectura currently licenses its products, technologies and know-how 
to partner companies. We play an important role in improving access 
to healthcare through the development of innovative technologies and 
solutions that address major areas of unmet medical need, and the need 
to improve patient compliance and outcomes and reduce overall costs 
of healthcare.

Patient safety 
Although our business does not include direct marketing and sales to 
patients, patient safety is our number one priority in the development, 
testing, manufacturing and ultimate use of our products. All medicines 
have potential risks as well as benefits. Vectura’s robust policies and 
governance framework are designed to help us and our partners detect 
and act on any side effects that may be associated with our involvement 
in the development of customers’ medicines. 

Our internal ‘Science Live’ programme showcases 
Vectura’s science, innovation and patient focus 
through presentations and podcasts.

‘Deliver for patients with pride’ is one of our values 
and a key motivator for many of our colleagues.

44

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Corporate citizenship

Our values

4   Do the right thing 

5   Innovate and improve

As a responsible business, we are committed to having a long-term 
positive impact on our environment and society, including the communities 
in which we operate. We maintain close relationships with our local 
schools and universities, support our employees in local and national 
charity endeavours, and monitor our carbon footprint. 

We continue to provide opportunities for colleagues to participate in local 
volunteering and fundraising via our Charitable Support Policy. Our highly 
effective and active Social Committee continues to organise a multitude 
of fundraising events and, for the fifth year running, in 2019 we supported 
a charity bike ride with 20 employees participating in a Lyon to Paris route 
and a further 50 participating in a shorter (25 miles) one-day event, focused 
around each of our five sites. These events raised £14,791.32 for Asthma 
UK and £2,700 for charities in Germany and Switzerland, as well as 
reinforcing our Company values. 

We continue to collaborate academically with local universities, and our 
science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) ambassadors encourage 
students to select STEM subjects at an early age, with members of our 
laboratory teams providing local schoolchildren with valuable insight into 
careers in science.

Our carbon footprint 
Vectura is committed to the generally accepted definition of sustainability: 
meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future 
generations to meet their own needs. Due to the nature of our business, 
we consider that we have a low environmental impact. However, we are 
committed to playing our part in environmental stewardship and running 
our business in a socially responsible way. 

All waste is segregated across our locations and recycled where possible, 
and we require employees to act responsibly by minimising waste and 
helping to preserve water and other natural resources. An Environmental 
Improvement team has been organised in 2019 and will work with the 
Environment, Health and Safety department with the aim of meeting 
our aspirations of aligning Company policy and procedure to the ISO 
14001:2015 standard and certification. Antony Fitzpatrick, Executive 
Vice President for Operations, has responsibility for reporting relevant 
environmental matters to the Board.

With the increased focus on how business impacts climate change, we 
have set up a sustainability taskforce led by members of the Executive 
Leadership Team to look at how we can build on our current activity and 
raise our ambition to meet the Paris Accord commitments. We are reviewing 
all our environmental and sustainability policies, and hope to publish our 
long-term sustainability strategy and shorter-term action plan in 2020.

Energy efficiency 
In 2019, Vectura renegotiated its electrical utility contracts for its main 
two sites in the UK, Chippenham and Cambridge, moving to providers 
with power from 100% renewable generation sources. We continue to 
renew our lighting with low-energy LED, and the Chippenham site has 
a solar array which provides power directly to the grid and offsets site 
utility costs.

Greenhouse gas emissions 
Vectura reports greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006 (Strategic report and Directors’ report) Regulations 
2013 (the “Regulations”). 

Travel is necessary for global businesses; however, we will continue 
to find ways to mitigate and reduce the impact of our activities in this 
area. The Company will maintain its efforts to decrease airline use 
and business travel carbon emissions. We will also continue efforts 
to increase our use of teleconferencing and other technologies as 
an alternative to travel. 

Emissions data is reported using a financial control approach to define 
our reporting boundary, which meets the requirements of the Regulations 
in respect of those emissions for which we are responsible. The information 
is presented for a twelve-month period. Emissions have been measured for 
all sites except for our office in London, as it is considered to be negligible 
for these purposes. The amounts shown below for Scope 1 and Scope 2 
emissions are those required to be reported under the Regulations.

Greenhouse gas emission by source1

Scope 1

Scope 2

Total emissions (Scope 1 and 2)

Emissions reported (tonnes of CO2 per sq ft)2

Year ended 
31 December 
2019

Year ended 
31 December 
2018

2,763

1,172

3,935

0.01

2,543

1,249

3,792

0.01

1 

2  

 GHG emissions reported in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Emissions factors were 
sourced from the UK DEFRA database.

 Gas and electricity usage information has been obtained from purchase invoices and verified by 
reference to meter readings. Vehicle fuel usage is based upon recorded mileage.

As a responsible business, we are committed 
to having a long‑term positive impact on our 
environment and society, including the 
communities in which we operate.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

45

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Stakeholder engagement

Section 172 statement

Whilst the Board is primarily responsible to shareholders for the overall 
direction and control of the Company and has the powers and duties set 
out in the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) and the Company’s Articles of 
Association, we have always endeavoured to hold shareholder interests 
and those of our wider stakeholders in equilibrium as is the Directors’ 
duty under s172 of the Act.

The long-term success of the business is dependent on the way we work 
with a large number of important stakeholders and continues to require 
effective engagement, constructive working practices and a recognition 
of stakeholder views in order to create value for our shareholders and 

stakeholders alike. Our Company values, relaunched during the year, 
underpin every relationship built and business decision made and 
make clear our intention to do the right thing for both shareholders 
and wider stakeholders.

+ More information on our Company values can be found on page 40 

The table below shows our key stakeholders and how we engage with 
them, together with examples of how the Board has taken the stakeholders 
into account during the year when making decisions and how those 
decisions may promote the long-term success of the Company. 

Why they matter to us

What matters to them

How we engaged, its influence on decision making and its long-term effect

Our shareholders

They are our providers of capital 
without whom we could not grow 
and invest for future success. 
They are the key beneficiary in 
the value which we create and we 
have a responsibility to them to be 
transparent and open about our 
strategy and its implementation.

 • Share price evolution
 •  Strategic focus
 •  Directors’ remuneration
 •  Board succession planning

+ See pages 63 to 65 for more information on shareholder engagement

Feedback from shareholders was an important contribution to the Board 
concluding that a new strategy and business model should be adopted. 
This model aims to deliver a smoother revenue profile, reduced risk and 
access to a more diverse customer base in order to deliver increased returns. 

Shareholders have been consulted on the new Remuneration Policy, which 
will be subject to approval at the AGM in May 2020. 

Shareholders were consulted extensively on Board succession plans as we 
continue to ensure compliance with the new Corporate Governance Code. 

Our employees

Our ability to deliver our strategy and 
innovate for the future is dependent 
on the skills, expertise and 
commitment of our workforce. By 
empowering and rewarding 
colleagues appropriately we give 
them the confidence and ability to 
help enable us to succeed.

 • Belief in the future, and pride in 

the Company

The CEO and CFO hold town hall style meetings throughout the year to help 
give clarity about Company ambitions, strategy and progress.

+ See page 41 for more information on employee engagement

 • Strong purpose, vision and values
 • Career development
 • Flexibility and equality
 • Recognition
 • Open and honest communication
 • Workspace

Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) periodically visit our sites and they and the 
Chairman have undertaken employee Q&A sessions. The designated Employee 
Engagement NED attends an Employee Representative Forum and meets 
with representatives from the Lyon Workers Council annually.

There is an annual Board update on employee engagement by the designated 
NED and EVP–HR, together with terms of engagement for Board/workforce 
engagement, which is annually reviewed and continuously improved.

These activities, along with feedback from colleagues via the annual Employee 
Engagement Survey, fed into the revision of our corporate values and the 
inclusivity action and site strategy plans approved by the Board. 

46

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

STRATEGIC REPORT 
Why they matter to us

What matters to them

How we engaged, its influence on decision making and its long-term effect

Our partners

Partnerships continue to drive 
significant value for Vectura. 
For this reason we work closely 
with our alliance partners to 
develop and improve the ways 
in which we collaborate.

+ See page 43 for more information on partner engagement

 • Utilising our knowledge and 

expertise to develop solutions 
for their product delivery

 • Improving how we collaborate, 
ensuring productivity and 
standardisation of work practices

 • Driving efficiencies 

We engage with each of our partners through multiple mechanisms including 
joint steering committees and partnership health check surveys that seek to 
identify and improve specific elements of each alliance and the quality of each 
business relationship overall. In addition, employees collaborate frequently 
with our partners to understand and agree demand forecasts, and supply 
schedules and manage operational improvement initiatives.

In 2019 the Board met directly with senior leaders from partner organisations 
to discuss industry trends and further collaboration. 

Our suppliers

Understanding the needs of our 
business in order to supply us 
with quality goods and services 
at a fair price.

 • The opportunity to understand our 
business and access opportunities 
in our supply chain

 • A transparent and collaborative 

relationship with us through which 
they receive fair value for their 
products and services

+ See page 43 for more information on supplier engagement

Throughout 2019 we have engaged with a diverse supplier base as we seek to 
unlock value for the business and deliver a first-class approach to procurement. 
Regular business review meetings are held with critical suppliers to help build 
trust and transparency. 

Our patients

Without patient insight we cannot 
differentiate ourselves in the market 
as a leader in the development of 
inhaled products. As the end users 
of inhaled products, patients, 
caregivers and patient groups 
help validate our innovations.

+ See page 44 for more information on patient engagement

 • We understand the diseases they 
have and issues they face in living 
with them 

We seek to address the needs of patients by maintaining an in-depth 
appreciation of clinical innovation, as well as dialogue with patients and 
their caregivers to understand their respective therapeutic needs.

 •  Inhaled products are safe 

and effective

 •  Products have been designed 

with patient use in mind 

Our communities and environment

+ See page 45 for more information on our social impact

We are committed to having 
a long-term positive impact on 
our environment and society. 

Having a good reputation as 
a responsible and sustainable business 
ensures we have a licence to operate. 
Being able to attract and retain 
people from our local communities 
with relevant skills and expertise is 
important to us. 

 • Reassurance that we are a 

responsible business that takes 
its corporate citizenship seriously

 •  Focus on our environmental impact 

and reduced carbon footprint

 •  Support for global and local initiatives, 
including charitable giving, employee 
wellbeing and links with local schools 
and colleges to promote careers in 
science, technology, engineering 
and mathematics (STEM)

We maintain close relationships with our local schools and universities 
to encourage careers in STEM subjects.

As part of our commitment to reducing our environmental impact, we 
have procured electricity from renewable sources for our Chippenham and 
Cambridge sites. In addition, our Chippenham site has a solar array installed 
which contributes to the site’s electricity usage, with any excess being sold 
to back to the grid.

The Board has endorsed a Charitable Support Policy which provides 
financial support for the fundraising activities of employees.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

47

STRATEGIC REPORT 
GOVERNANCE

Governance

Introduction from the Chairman

49 
50  Board of Directors
52  Executive Leadership Team
53  Corporate governance statement
56  Nomination Committee report
59  Audit Committee report
63  Remuneration Committee report
66  Remuneration at a glance
68  Remuneration report
87  Directors’ report
89  Directors’ responsibilities statement

 
GOVERNANCE

Introduction from the Chairman

The Board remains committed to maintaining high standards 
of corporate governance and diversity, which we believe are 
integral to the long-term success of Vectura.

Bruno Angelici

Dear Shareholder
During the year the Board has continued to focus on further improving 
the corporate culture of the Group and remains committed to maintaining 
high standards of corporate governance and diversity, which we believe 
are integral to the long-term success of Vectura and its purpose of 
transforming the lives of airways disease patients. As previously reported, 
the Board has reviewed and taken significant steps in respect of the 
succession planning of the Board and its Committees to ensure continuity 
for the business. Maintaining the development of good governance 
throughout the Group is a high priority and the Company continues 
to take advice from leading governance advisors. 

Statement of compliance with the Code
This is our first year reporting against the 2018 UK Corporate Governance 
Code (the “Code”), which is available on the Financial Reporting Council 
website (www.frc.co.uk), and I am pleased to confirm that the Board 
considers that it has been in compliance with the Code throughout the 
year ended 31 December 2019.

Succession planning
Dr Susan Foden stepped down in September 2019 and I would like to take 
the opportunity to thank Susan for her significant contribution to Vectura 
and commitment to the Group during her tenure. We all wish her every 
success for the future.

During the year, the Board has consulted with shareholders regarding 
succession planning for the Board in respect of both Neil Warner and 
Dr Thomas Werner. I can confirm that Neil will not be standing for 
re-election at the 2020 AGM.

Dr Thomas Werner provides a significant element of continuity given 
his nine plus years on the combined board of Skyepharma and Vectura. 
In light of changes to the Board with Will Downie, the new CEO, having 
been appointed in November 2019 and the other Executive Director, 
Paul Fry, CFO, having been in post for around 17 months, the Board 
believes that the level of continuity Thomas provides is important.

Some shareholders indicated that, whilst they supported the proposal 
for Thomas to remain on the Board until the 2021 AGM, they would prefer 
that he step down from Board Committees and as Senior Independent 
Director (SID). In light of this, I can confirm that the Nomination Committee 
and Board have agreed that at the 2020 AGM Thomas will stand down 
from all Board Committees.

Having reviewed the situation with regard to the position of SID, the Board 
continues to believe that Thomas is currently the best qualified Director 
to fulfil this role. The Board considers Thomas to be independent in his 
fulfilment of his Director and SID roles. This belief is further supported by 
Independent Audit Limited, which undertook a full evaluation of the Board 
and its Committees towards the end of 2019 (see page 53 of this report and 
the Nomination Committee report on pages 56 to 58 for further information). 

It is proposed that Thomas remain a Director until the 2021 AGM, whilst the 
Board identifies a suitable candidate to bring onto the Board in his place. 
As part of this search, the Board will continue to be mindful of the composition 
of the Board in respect of the position of SID, contract development and 
manufacturing organisation (CDMO) experience and of diversity.

S172 statement –  
Directors’ duty to consider stakeholders
Whilst the Board is primarily responsible to shareholders for the overall 
direction and control of the Group we have always endeavoured to hold 
shareholder interests and those of our wider stakeholders in equilibrium 
as required in s172 of the 2006 Companies Act.

The long-term success of our business is dependent on the way we work 
with a large number of important stakeholders and continues to require 
effective engagement, constructive working practices and a recognition 
of stakeholder views in order to create value for our shareholders and 
stakeholders alike. 

The new s172 statement, giving an overview of our key stakeholders and 
examples of how we have engaged with and given consideration to them 
during the year, can be found on pages 46 and 47.

Bruno Angelici
Chairman
16 March 2020

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

49

GOVERNANCE 
 
Board of Directors

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

A Audit Committee

N Nomination Committee

R Remuneration Committee

Committee Chair

1  Bruno Angelici
Non-Executive Chairman

N R

Nationality French

Appointment to the Board Bruno Angelici was appointed to 
the Vectura Board in December 2013 and became Non-Executive 
Chairman in February 2014. Following the merger with Skyepharma in 
June 2016, Bruno became Chairman of the enlarged Vectura Group plc.

Experience and expertise Bruno has an MBA (Kellogg School 
of Management) and business and law degrees from Reims.

Bruno’s career includes senior management roles in pharmaceutical 
and medical device companies. Bruno retired from AstraZeneca in 
2010 as executive vice president international after a 20-year career. 
He was responsible for Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific, Latin America, 
the Middle East and Africa having originally joined as president of ICI 
Pharmaceuticals France. Prior to this, he was at Baxter, a US-based 
global supplier of medical devices. He has extensive international 
business leadership experience, including in the US, and brings a 
deep understanding to the Company of the medical device and 
pharmaceutical industries. Bruno was a member of the supervisory 
board of Wolters Kluwer NV, a global information services and publishing 
company, and also a non-executive director of Novo Nordisk A/S, a 
global healthcare company and world leader in diabetes care.

Current external appointments Bruno is a non-executive director 
of Smiths Group plc, a technology group.

2  Will Downie
Chief Executive Officer

Nationality British

Appointment to the Board Will Downie was appointed 
Chief Executive Officer in November 2019.

Experience and expertise Will holds a BSc (Hons) in biochemistry 
from the University of Edinburgh.

Prior to joining Vectura, Will spent ten years as the senior vice president, 
global sales and marketing at Catalent Inc. In this role, Will led the 
commercial effort and had responsibility for global sales, marketing 
and commercial operations activities. During his tenure, he developed 
an outstanding track record in helping drive the long-term growth of the 
company, as well as positioning Catalent as one of the leading brands 
in the pharmaceutical services space.

He has a deep understanding of the development and advanced drug 
delivery market, and has amassed significant experience in driving 
sustained long-term results, as well as building performance-focused 
organisations and meeting customer needs on a global scale.

Prior to Catalent, Will held positions as vice president & general 
manager, global molecular imaging at GE Healthcare, vice president sales 
EMEA at Amersham Health and director of business development and 
commercial operations at Quintiles Innovex UK Limited. In his early career, 
he worked in a range of sales and marketing management positions at 
both Sanofi and Merck & Co.

Current external appointments Will does not currently hold any 
other directorships.

3  Paul Fry
Chief Financial Officer

Nationality British

Appointment to the Board Paul Fry was appointed Chief Financial 
Officer in October 2018. 

Experience and expertise He graduated from Oxford University 
in 1988 and qualified as an accountant with the Chartered Institute 
of Management Accountants in 1991.

Paul joined Vectura from Immunocore, a privately held T Cell Receptor 
biotechnology company, where he had been chief financial officer since 
January 2017. Before joining Immunocore, he served as director of global 
finance operations at Vodafone Plc, where he was responsible for key 
financial controller activities and core processes as well as large 
transformation programmes. Prior to his role at Vodafone, he spent 
more than 25 years at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), where he held a number 
of senior roles including head of global finance services and as CFO 
for GSK’s Italian pharmaceutical business.

Current external appointments In February 2020 Paul became 
a non-executive director of AIM-listed Avacta Group plc, a developer 
of Affimer® biotherapeutics and reagents. He is also its audit 
committee chair.

4  Thomas Werner
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

A N R

Nationality German

Appointment to the Board Thomas Werner was appointed to 
the Board of Skyepharma as a Non-Executive Director in May 2009 
and joined the Board of Vectura following the merger in June 2016. 

Experience and expertise He holds a degree in chemistry from the 
University of Göttingen.

Thomas has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, 
previously as senior vice president of GlaxoSmithKline, where he was 
managing director for Germany and also co-ordinated its European 
oncology business. Prior to that, he was responsible for Glaxo Wellcome 
Germany and Central Europe, Bristol-Myers Squibb Germany and 
Convatec Germany/Central Europe. He has held various non-executive 
positions including Riemser Pharma GmbH and New Oncology AG. 
Beside his business responsibilities, he has previously served for many 
years on the board of trustees of the Paul Ehrlich Foundation and the 
Robert Koch Foundation and was a director of the American Chamber 
of Commerce in Germany representing healthcare companies. Until 
October 2019 he was chairman of Fertin Pharma, a Danish medicated 
chewing gum company.

Current external appointments Thomas is chairman of the 
investment advisory committee of the Seventure (France) Health 
for Life capital investment fund. He is also vice chairman of Basilea 
Pharmaceutica Ltd.

5  Neil Warner*
Non-Executive Director

A R

Nationality British

Appointment to the Board Neil Warner was appointed to the Board 
of Vectura as a Non-Executive Director in February 2011.

Experience and expertise Neil holds an economics degree from the 
University of Leeds and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Neil brings significant financial and leadership experience in 
multinational listed companies. He was finance director at Chloride 
Group plc, a position he held for 14 years until the company’s acquisition 
by Emerson Electric. Prior to this, Neil spent six years at Exel plc (formerly 
Ocean Group plc and acquired by DHL/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 and 
was a non-executive director of Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc, where he 
was the senior independent director and chair of the audit committee. 
Neil was formerly the non-executive chairman of Enteq Upstream plc, 
a specialist reach and recovery products and technologies provider 
to the upstream oil and gas services market.

Current external appointments Neil is senior independent director 
and audit committee chair of Trifast plc, a global leader in design, 
technology and manufacturing of industrial fasteners for the automotive 
and technology sectors. He is also a non-executive director, chair of the 
audit committee and member of the remuneration committee of Directa 
Plus plc which floated on AIM in May 2016. Directa Plus is one of the world’s 
largest producers of graphene-based materials, marketed under its 
“Graphene Plus” (G+) brand, which can be used by third parties in a 
wide variety of industrial and commercial applications.

* 

 Neil Warner will not be standing for re-election at the 2020 AGM. Following the 
2020 AGM Juliet Thompson will become the Audit Committee Chair, handing 
over the chairmanship of the Remuneration Committee to Dr Kevin Matthews 
who, by then, will have been a member of the Committee for over a year as 
required by the Code.

50

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
6 

7 

8

9 

6  Per-Olof Andersson
Non-Executive Director and 
workforce engagement representative

A N

Nationality Swedish

Appointment to the Board Dr Per-Olof Andersson joined the 
Vectura Board in April 2015.

Experience and expertise He holds a degree in medicine from 
Lund University, Sweden.

Per-Olof is an expert in international research and development 
within the pharmaceuticals, bio-pharmaceuticals and speciality 
pharmaceutical industry and has considerable experience in 
respiratory therapeutic development. In 2011, Per-Olof retired from 
Almirall where he was executive director for R&D and a member of 
the board of directors. Prior to joining Almirall in 2006, Per-Olof had 
a distinguished international career at Pharmacia and Pfizer over a 
period of nearly 20 years. Since 2011, Per-Olof has been an independent 
consultant advising biotech and pharma companies. To support the 
2018 Corporate Governance Code, Per-Olof has been appointed as 
the nominated Non-Executive Director who will oversee engagement 
between the Board and the workforce.

Current external appointments Per-Olof does not currently hold 
any other directorships.

7  Juliet Thompson*
Non-Executive Director

A R

Nationality British

Appointment to the Board Juliet Thompson was appointed to the 
Board as a Non-Executive Director in December 2017. 

Experience and expertise Juliet has a BSc in economics and is a 
chartered accountant.

She has spent over 20 years actively involved in the life sciences sector 
working as an investment banker and strategic advisor to healthcare 
companies in Europe. She headed up the European healthcare team 
at Stifel (formerly Oriel) and prior to this was a founding partner of Code 
Securities, a healthcare investment banking boutique which was 
acquired by Nomura, later forming Nomura Code.

Current external appointments Juliet sits on the boards 
of Novacyt S.A., a French diagnostic company whose shares are 
admitted to trade on AIM and Euronext, and GI Dynamics, Inc., a US 
headquartered, Australian stock exchange-listed company. She chairs 
the audit committee of both of these companies. Juliet is also a trustee 
of Leadership through Sport & Business, a social mobility-focused charity.

8  Anne Whitaker
Non-Executive Director

N R

Nationality American

Appointment to the Board Anne Whitaker was appointed to the 
Board as a Non-Executive Director in June 2018.

Experience and expertise She has more than 25 years of experience 
in the life science industry, including senior leadership roles with large 
pharmaceutical, biotech and speciality pharma companies. She has 
significant experience in the US respiratory sector and was, until recently, 
serving as president and chief executive officer of KNOW Bio, LLC and 
its wholly owned subsidiary, Novoclem Therapeutics, Inc. Previously, Anne 
was executive vice president and company group chairman at Valeant 
Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that, Anne served as president and chief 
executive officer of Synta Pharmaceuticals, now part of Madrigal 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. She also served as president, North America 
pharmaceuticals at Sanofi, and held several commercial leadership 
roles at GlaxoSmithKline.

Current external appointments Anne is currently a director and CEO 
of Dance Biopharma Holdings Inc., an independent director of Cree, Inc., 
a NASDAQ traded company, and an independent director of Mallinckrodt 
plc. She is also a trustee for the University of North Alabama.

9  Kevin Matthews*
Non-Executive Director

N R

Nationality British

Appointment to the Board Kevin Matthews joined the Board in 
March 2019.

Experience and expertise Kevin has more than 20 years’ experience in 
senior management roles in the chemical, technology and pharmaceutical 
sectors and has significant marketing, strategy and management expertise. 
Kevin is CEO of privately held specialty chemicals company Scott Bader 
Limited and was, until the end of 2018, executive chair of Itaconix plc, an 
AIM-listed polymer business, having successfully led the organisation as 
chief executive officer. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Kevin 
has a strong technical background and has previously held CEO roles 
at technology companies including Isogenica, a privately held antibody 
drug discovery company, and Oxonica plc, an advanced materials 
business. Prior to this he held leadership roles in multinational chemical 
companies. He served as a non-executive director and remuneration 
committee chair of Elementis plc, a FTSE 250 specialty chemicals 
business from 2005 to 2014. He also served as a non-executive 
director of Cellectricon AB, a Swedish biotechnology company 
dedicated to drug discovery and research in the areas of chronic 
pain and neurodegenerative disease, from 2011 to 2014.

Current external appointments Kevin is chief executive officer of 
the privately held specialty chemicals company Scott Bader Limited.

As at 31 December 2019

Board composition

Board tenure

Board gender diversity

Board nationality diversity

22+

 Executive  
 Non-Executive  

22.2%

77.8%

22+

22.2%

 <1 year 
 1–3 years 
 4–6 years 
 6+ years 

33.3%

11.1%

33.3%

78+

77.8%

 Male 
 Female 

22.2%

11.1+

11.1%

 French 
 British 
 German 
 Swedish 
 American 

55.6%

11.1%

11.1%

11.1%

+ More information on Board diversity can be found in the Nomination Committee report on page 58

+  Full biographies of the Board are available to view on www.vectura.com

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

51

GOVERNANCE 
78
+
I
22
+
I
33
+
12
+
33
+
I
55.6
+
11.1
+
11.1
+
11.1
+
I
Executive Leadership Team

1

6

2

7

1  Will Downie 
Chief Executive Officer

Read Will Downie’s experience 
and expertise on page 50.

2  Paul Fry
Chief Financial Officer

Read Paul Fry’s experience 
and expertise on page 50.

3  John Murphy
General Counsel and 
Company Secretary

Appointment John Murphy joined 
Skyepharma as general counsel in March 
2006 and was appointed as General Counsel 
and Company Secretary of Vectura in June 
2016 following the merger. 

Experience and expertise John is 
a lawyer with extensive experience in 
legal and company secretarial roles in 
listed pharmaceutical and biotechnology 
companies including Medeva PLC, 
Celltech Group PLC and Pharmagene 
PLC. He is chairman of the BIA Intellectual 
Property Advisory Committee and a 
member of the EuropaBio Intellectual 
Property Working Group. He holds a BSc 
in aeronautical engineering from Bristol 
University and is a qualified solicitor.

4  Mark Bridgewater
Chief Commercial Officer

Appointment Mark Bridgewater joined 
Vectura in March 2020.

Experience and expertise Mark has 
more than 20 years of experience in 
medical device and pharmaceutical 
services. Prior to joining Vectura he was 
VP Business Development and Account 
Management for Europe and Asia at Flex, 
a global design, engineering and 
manufacturing organisation. Prior to this, 
he was VP Global Business Development, 
Advanced Delivery Technologies at 
Catalent, and earlier in his career worked 
as Head of Global Manufacturing 
Services at Wockhardt and Senior 
Business Manager, Italy, for Patheon.

3

8

4

9

5

10

5  Geraldine Venthoye
Executive Vice President – 
Pharmaceutical Development

7  Joanne Hombal
Executive Vice President – 
Human Resources

9  Sharon Johnson
Executive Vice President – 
Delivery Management

Appointment Dr Geraldine Venthoye joined 
Vectura in June 2016 upon completion of 
the merger with Skyepharma PLC, where 
she had been executive vice president – 
pharmaceutical development since 2013, 
having joined Skyepharma as head of the 
inhalation business unit in September 2003.

Experience and expertise Geraldine 
is a UK registered pharmacist and holds a 
doctorate degree in pharmaceutics from 
the University of London.

Geraldine held senior CMC leadership and 
scientific roles in Inhale/Nektar Therapeutics, 
San Carlos, California, US, and prior to this 
in the UK held scientific positions in 
inhalation drug delivery at Vandsons 
Research and Norton Healthcare.

6  Antony Fitzpatrick
Executive Vice President – 
Operations

Appointment Antony Fitzpatrick joined 
Vectura in July 2017.

Experience and expertise Antony has a 
first-class BSc in aeronautical engineering 
from Manchester University and an MSc 
in numerical computation from the 
University of Manchester Institute of 
Science and Technology.

Antony joined Vectura from Baxter where 
he had worked since 1999, having been 
responsible for global supply chain and most 
recently VP manufacturing and supply chain 
for EMEA. This role included operations 
with 24 manufacturing sites, production 
values worth over $1.5bn, 9,000 employees 
and capex of over $100m. His Baxter 
experience includes operating in both 
a pharma product environment and in 
product device and pure medical device 
operations. Prior to working at Baxter he 
worked in various manufacturing and 
logistics roles for Ingram Micro (IT 
technology), Exel Logistics, Coopers 
and Lybrand and Mobil Oil. 

Appointment Joanne Hombal joined 
Vectura in January 2015.

Appointment Sharon Johnson joined 
Vectura in February 2020.

Experience and expertise Joanne has 
a BSc in psychology from the University 
of Birmingham and a postgraduate 
diploma in human resource management 
from the University of Glamorgan and is 
a Chartered Member of the Institute of 
Personnel and Development.

Before joining Vectura, Joanne was 
vice president HR at Invensys Rail, with 
responsibility for setting and leading the 
people strategy for Northern Europe. 
She has also held senior HR roles in the 
financial services and ICT industries and 
led a number of organisational development 
and transformation initiatives.

8  Christina Olsen
Executive Vice President 
– Corporate Strategy and 
Communications

Appointment Christina Olsen joined 
Vectura in November 2016 and was 
appointed to the Executive Leadership 
Team in August 2019.

Experience and expertise Christina 
graduated from the Stockholm School 
of Economics with a Master’s in business 
and economics, majoring in finance and 
business strategy.

Before joining Vectura, Christina spent 
almost a decade in leadership roles at 
AstraZeneca, where her responsibilities 
included strategic insight to shape corporate 
strategy, as well as product strategy across 
therapeutic areas. Christina also led a 
corporate initiative delivering a step-change 
in payer capabilities. Her last role at 
AstraZeneca was as VP for competitive 
intelligence and forecasting for the 
global respiratory, inflammation and 
autoimmune portfolio.

She also worked for Chiron Corporation 
for three years, leading business 
development, and spent nine years at 
Boston Consulting Group, where she led 
and managed client projects, including 
biotech and top ten pharmaceutical 
company mergers.

Experience and expertise Sharon 
holds a postgraduate diploma in industrial 
pharmaceutical studies with distinction 
from Brighton University and a BS 
honours degree in biological sciences/
microbiology from North East Surrey 
College of Technology.

Sharon has more than 30 years’ 
experience in the pharmaceutical industry, 
and prior to joining Vectura held a number 
of executive positions, most recently senior 
vice president, global quality and regulatory 
affairs, at Catalent, where her role was 
expanded to also include responsibility for 
product development. Whilst at Catalent, 
Sharon was also responsible for the 
implementation of a project management 
organisation with strong governance and 
transparency, ensuring customer 
expectations of product development 
excellence were delivered. Earlier in her 
career she held the position of vice 
president of quality for GE Healthcare’s 
medical diagnostic division, and worked in 
roles of increasing responsibility for Baxter 
Healthcare and Sanofi Aventis.

10  David Lescuyer
Executive Vice President –  
Oral Business

Appointment David joined Vectura in 
June 2016 upon completion of the merger 
with Skyepharma PLC where he had been 
executive vice president – oral business 
since April 2016.

Experience and expertise David, a 
French national, holds a BSc in mechanical 
engineering and an MBA from HEC Paris.

David joined Skyepharma from Patheon 
Pharmaceuticals, where he was executive 
director and general manager, Patheon 
France, and more recently global VP, 
operational excellence. Prior to Patheon, 
David’s career included experience with 
Fareva, Cenexi and Catalent in senior 
operational and general management roles.

52

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
Corporate governance statement

Introduction
The 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”), issued by 
the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) (available on the FRC website 
(www.frc.org.uk)), came into effect for all reporting periods starting on 
or after 1 January 2019. The following Corporate governance statement 
explains how the Company applied the provisions of the Code, as 
required by the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), 
and meets the relevant provisions of the FCA Disclosure Guidance and 
Transparency Rules (DTR).

The Group’s risk management and internal control framework and 
the principal risks and uncertainties are described on pages 31 to 38. 
The Directors’ report on pages 87 and 88 and Nomination Committee 
report on pages 56 to 58 also contain information required to be included 
in this Corporate governance statement. Both are incorporated into this 
statement by reference as allowed by DTR 7.2.9.

Statement of compliance with the Code
This is the Company’s first year reporting against the Code and the Board 
considers that it has been in compliance with the Code throughout the 
year ended 31 December 2019.

The Board and its processes
Board composition
At the date of this statement, the Board comprises two Executive and 
seven Non-Executive Directors. Will Downie joined the Board as Chief 
Executive Officer on 7 November 2019 and Dr Kevin Matthews joined 
the Board as a Non-Executive Director on 29 March 2019. 

James Ward-Lilley and Dr Susan Foden served as Directors 
during the year and stepped down from the Board on 30 June 
and 30 September 2019 respectively.

The Board is supported in its role by the Audit, Nomination and 
Remuneration Committees, details of which are set out on page 54.

With regard to the appointment and replacement of Directors, the 
Company is governed by its articles of association (the “Articles”), 
the Code, the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) and related legislation. 
The Articles themselves may be amended by special resolution of 
the shareholders. 

The Articles provide that Directors may be appointed by an ordinary 
resolution of the Company’s members or by a resolution of the Directors. 
All the Directors will retire at the 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM) 
and all except Neil Warner will stand for election or re-election as 
appropriate. The Board’s recommendations concerning appointment or 
reappointment are contained in the Report of the Nomination Committee 
on pages 56 to 58. Biographical details of the Directors and Committee 
membership information are available on pages 50 and 51 and in the AGM 
Notice of Meeting.

The Executive Directors have service contracts that can be terminated on 
twelve months’ notice. The appointments of the Non-Executive Directors 
can be terminated on three months’ notice. The Chairman’s appointment 
can be terminated on six months’ notice.

Board balance and independence 
The Board considers that the balance achieved between Executive 
and Non-Executive Directors during the year was appropriate and 
effective for the business. 

The Board considers that all of its Non-Executive Directors are independent 
in character and judgement, and their knowledge, diversity of experience 
and business interests continue to enable them to contribute significantly 
to the work of the Board including developing strategy and challenging the 
executive management appropriately and constructively. The Board is 
satisfied that the Non-Executive Directors who have been members 
of the Board for longer than nine years continue to demonstrate their 
independence and have no evidence that their length of tenure has 
impacted on this.

An external Board evaluation took place during the year, as required 
by the Code, and supports the Board’s view regarding independence. 
Specifically in relation to Dr Thomas Werner, Independent Audit 
Limited said:

“In September–December 2019, we conducted a Board Effectiveness 
Review at Vectura Group plc which involved interviewing each Board 
member individually and observing meetings of the Board and certain 
of its Committees. We found no reason to question the objectivity and 
independence of mind of Thomas Werner. On the contrary, we observed 
him making a valuable contribution to the Board and its Committees in his 
challenge to management. His background and experience is particularly 
valuable as the Company further develops and executes its new strategy. 
We agree with the Vectura Board that he is the best individual to act as 
SID for a period until the 2021 AGM and we found him to be exercising 
his role effectively, with due care and diligence.” 

Further information on the Board’s succession plans can be found in the 
Nomination Committee report on pages 56 to 58.

The role of the Board
The Board is collectively responsible for the long-term success of the 
Company, its governance and internal controls and is accountable for its 
activities. The Board reviews the operational performance of the Group 
on a regular basis and also exercises a number of reserved powers as 
determined by applicable legislation and the Company’s Articles. 
The matters reserved for the Board are reviewed annually to ensure that 
they are appropriate for the Group and are available via the Company’s 
website (www.vectura.com). 

The Directors have been authorised to issue and allot ordinary shares, 
pursuant to the Articles. These powers are referred to shareholders at 
each AGM for renewal. 

Register of conflicts and time commitments
The Board formally considers any potential conflicts between a Director 
and the Company. Any situational conflicts must be notified to the Board 
for authorisation as and when they arise, notwithstanding a Director’s 
general duty to avoid such conflicts. Transactional conflicts must be 
notified to the Board in person or in writing at the next meeting, where the 
Board can decide, in the absence of the Director concerned, whether or 
not to authorise such conflict and how to manage the conflict if authorised. 
Prior to finalising an appointment, a new Director is required to confirm his 
or her existing appointments and discuss the time commitment required 
to deal appropriately with the affairs of the Group. At each Board meeting, 
Directors are requested to inform the Board if there are any changes 
in their commitments or other appointments. Significant changes in 
a Director’s outside commitments are discussed with the Board prior 
to a Director accepting further appointments. 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

53

GOVERNANCE 
Corporate governance statement continued

Board Committees
There are three main Committees, all of which operate within written 
terms of reference, which assist the Board in its execution of its duties. 
Activities carried out by the respective Committees are reported at the 
next Board meeting.

The Committee terms of reference are available on the Company website 
(www.vectura.com) or by request from the Company Secretary.

Each of the Committees is authorised, at the Company’s expense, to 
obtain legal or other professional advice to assist in carrying out its duties. 
No person other than a Committee member is entitled to attend the meetings 
of these Committees. However, in order to facilitate good information flows 
and provide challenge where appropriate, the Committees may invite, for 
example, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the 
General Counsel and Company Secretary, the Group Financial Controller 
and senior representatives of the external auditor to attend as required.

The members, work and activities of the Committees are further described 
in their respective reports on pages 56 to 86. Details of attendance at 
Committee meetings in 2019 can be found in the table below.

Board and Committee meeting attendance

Audit 
Committee

Nomination
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

5/5

6/7

Bruno Angelici

Will Downie 
(appointed 7 November 2019)

Paul Fry

James Ward-Lilley 
(stepped down 30 June 2019)

Per-Olof Andersson

Susan Foden 
(stepped down  
30 September 2019)

Neil Warner

Thomas Werner

Juliet Thompson

Anne Whitaker

Kevin Matthews 
(appointed 29 March 2019)

Board

6/6

1/1

6/6

3/3

6/6

4/5

6/6

6/6

6/6

6/6

4/4

 —

—

—

—

5/5

—

5/5

4/5

4/5

—

—

—

—

5/5

4/4

—

4/5

—

5/5

—

1/1

—

—

—

—

—

7/7

7/7

6/7

6/7

5/5

Attendance above is in relation to members of the Board/Committees. 
Other Non-Executive Directors and senior executives attended by invitation.

Executive Leadership Team 
The Board delegates day-to-day management of the Group to the 
Chief Executive Officer and his team. The Executive Leadership Team 
(ELT) supports the Chief Executive and is accountable for delivery of 
the strategy adopted by the Board. The ELT consisted during the period 
of the Executive Directors, General Counsel and Company Secretary, 
Executive Vice President – Pharmaceutical Development, Executive 
Vice President – Operations, Chief Commercial Officer, Executive Vice 
President – Human Resources, Executive Vice President – Corporate 
Strategy and Communications, Executive Vice President – Delivery 
Management and Executive Vice President – Oral Business. Biographies 
of the ELT can be found on page 52.

The Board and its processes continued
Induction development and information flows
New Directors received formal induction training, including site visits 
and meetings with the Company’s advisors, brokers, auditor and major 
shareholders, and ongoing training is encouraged and provided upon 
request and as appropriate. This training is customised for each Director 
and varies depending upon their skills, experience and background.

Directors also receive regular updates on changes and developments 
in the business, legislative and regulatory environments. The Anti-Bribery 
and Modern Slavery Policies were reviewed by the Board during the period. 
Each Board pack contains a copy of the Directors’ statutory duties. 
Directors are encouraged to discuss with the Chairman any further 
training requirements which they feel are needed. This is included in 
the discussions held during the annual performance evaluation. 

Good information flows between the Board and management are 
essential for effective governance. The Board, together with senior 
management, ensure: 

•  that the agendas are appropriate for the business and are forward 
looking as well as providing historical and current results data; 

•  that papers are of an appropriate length and content for the 

Non-Executive Directors to be able to understand and review; and 

•  that sufficient time is given for Directors to read and review the papers 

prior to meetings.

Board meetings
Ordinarily, the Board meets between six and eight times a year and on an 
ad hoc basis as required. In the year ended 31 December 2019, in addition 
to the six scheduled formal Board meetings which were held, there were 
ten ad hoc meetings held to discuss specific topics including the approval 
of the special dividend, share consolidation, share buyback and changes 
to the Board. Attendance at scheduled Board meetings is set out in the 
table to the right. 

At each formal meeting the Board considers reports on the key activities 
of the Group and reports from the Chairs of the Audit, Nomination and 
Remuneration Committees as appropriate. It also receives information on 
important forthcoming events and reports on strategy, investor relations, 
legal affairs and environmental and health and safety matters. The Board 
regularly receives papers and presentations from senior management, 
which gives the Board the opportunity to meet executives below Board 
level. In addition, there is an annual two-day Board meeting to focus on 
strategic development, looking at the Group’s longer-term outlook.

The Non-Executive Directors held meetings without management present 
after each Board meeting and, in addition, had discussions with the Senior 
Independent Director, to review the performance of the Chairman during 
the year, including the leadership of the Board and ensuring its effectiveness. 
The Chairman, with assistance from the General Counsel and Company 
Secretary, is responsible for the governance arrangements including 
meeting agendas, timely information flows and dialogue between 
Executive and Non-Executive Directors, encouraging an open and 
supportive culture. 

54

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GOVERNANCE 
Board diversity policy
We believe in a diverse and gender-balanced workforce, and our 
Equal Opportunities Policy ensures the provision of equal opportunities 
in all aspects of employment and applies equally to the Board and the 
wider employee workforce. In addition, we will continue to prioritise 
the Hampton-Alexander Review requirements on gender diversity 
in the boardroom.

Policy on other appointments
The Board believes that Directors should be able to accept other 
appointments where no significant actual or potential conflicts of 
interest arise and provided that the Director is able to maintain their 
time commitments to the Company. These other appointments enable 
Directors to develop further skills and experience from which the 
Company benefits, provided that such commitments do not impinge 
on their duties to the Company.

Details of any appointments held by each Director are listed under their 
biographies on pages 50 and 51. Following the year end Paul Fry became 
a non-executive director of Avacta Group plc, an AIM-listed company. 
Will Downie does not currently hold any external non-executive positions; 
however, this would be considered as part of his future development.

Share capital – special rights and restrictions
Pursuant to the general provisions of the Articles and prevailing legislation, 
there are no specific restrictions on the size of a shareholding or on voting 
rights of holders of ordinary shares. The Directors are not aware of any 
restrictions on the transfer of ordinary shares in the Company other than 
certain restrictions which may from time to time be imposed by law and 
regulations, e.g. insider trading laws, and pursuant to the Listing Rules 
of the FCA whereby certain employees of the Company require the prior 
approval from the Company to deal in the Company’s securities.

The Company is not aware of any agreements between shareholders 
that may result in restrictions on voting rights and the transfer of securities. 
No person has any special rights of control over the Company’s share 
capital and all issued shares are fully paid.

Substantial shareholdings
As at 31 December 2019 and 13 March 2020, being the latest practicable 
date, the Company had received notifications, in accordance with the DTR 
over shares and financial instruments, as detailed in the table below:

As at 31 December 2019

As at latest practicable date

Percentage of 
voting rights 
and issued 
share capital

Number of 
ordinary shares

Percentage of
voting rights
and issued
share capital

Number of
ordinary shares

Invesco Ltd

72,617,132

10.91

50,105,591

8.27

AXA Investment 
Managers

33,635,342

5.50

36,394,328

Aberforth Partners LLP*

n/a

n/a

30,417,248

6.02

5.03

M&G Investment 
Management Limited

29,915,265

4.89

29,730,297

4.91

* 

 Aberforth Partners LLP notified the Company following the year end that they had reached the initial 
5% notification threshold required for an investment firm.

Relations with shareholders 
Executive management runs an extensive programme of roadshows 
and ad hoc meetings with both existing and potential new shareholders. 
In 2019, meetings were held in the UK, Europe and the US as well as calls 
with potential investors in other countries. Executive management also 
presented regularly at investor and industry conferences. Both the 
Chairman and Senior Independent Director have held meetings with 
shareholders independently of Executive Directors during the year 
and are regularly available for such meetings if requested.

The Company holds updates post results with analysts and institutional 
investors. The Board also receives regular updates from its brokers on 
the views of shareholders about the Company and its operating market to 
ensure that the Non-Executive Directors in particular gain an understanding 
of the views of major shareholders about the Company.

At the 2019 AGM all of the resolutions put to shareholders were passed. 
Whilst not falling below the 80% approval, a number of shareholders followed 
recommendations by several of the proxy voting agencies to vote against 
the resolution to reappoint Dr Susan Foden as a Director. As had previously 
been communicated to shareholders, in November 2018, the intention 
was that Dr Foden would step down from the Board by the 2020 AGM. 
Susan stepped down as a Non-Executive Director in September 2019.

An update on the succession planning was sent to shareholders in 
November 2019 and again in February 2020 updating members of the 
changes, anticipated and unanticipated, that had occurred during the 
year. The Board has requested support for Dr Thomas Werner to remain 
on the Board for a further period to the 2021 AGM rather than 2020 as 
previously indicated in order to ensure an element of continuity and balance 
whilst a new Non-Executive could be appointed. More information 
regarding this can be found in the Nomination Committee report on 
pages 56 to 58.

Annual General Meeting
The Company continues to welcome dialogue with investors, including 
retail investors, for which the AGM is an opportunity to meet with the 
Directors and put questions to the Board. The AGM will be held at the 
offices of Vectura Group plc, 46–48 Grosvenor Gardens, London, 
SW1W 0EB on Wednesday 27 May 2020.

As required by the Code the resolutions regarding each Director’s 
appointment or reappointment will be accompanied by information on 
why their contribution is, and continues to be, important to the Company’s 
long-term sustainable success.

The Company proactively encourages shareholders to vote at general 
meetings by providing electronic voting for shareholders who wish to vote 
online and personalised proxy cards to shareholders electing to receive 
them, ensuring that all votes are clearly identifiable. The Company 
presently takes votes at general meetings on a poll, the results of which 
are reported after each resolution and published on the Company’s 
website (www.vectura.com). 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

55

GOVERNANCE 
Nomination Committee report

Ensuring Board diversity, 
skills and independence

The Nomination Committee 
keeps the structure, size and 
composition of the Board and 
its Committees under review in 
order, primarily, to match the 
skills, knowledge and expertise 
to the strategy and business 
requirements of the Company.

Bruno Angelici

Composition and attendance at meetings
The Nomination Committee during the period consisted of Bruno Angelici 
(Chair), Dr Per-Olof Andersson, Dr Thomas Werner, Anne Whitaker, 
Dr Kevin Matthews (joined on 21 November 2019) and Dr Susan Foden 
(stepped down on 30 September 2019). Other members of the Board 
Executive Leadership Team (ELT) attended by invitation.

The Nomination Committee met five times during the year and the 
attendance at meetings is shown on page 54.

Role of the Nomination Committee
The role of the Nomination Committee is to optimise Board performance, 
enabling the Group to grow, compete and manage risk effectively as it 
seeks to become the leading contract development and manufacturing 
organisation (CDMO). It keeps the structure, size and composition of the 
Board and its Committees under review in order, primarily, to match the 
skills, knowledge and expertise to the strategy and business 
requirements of the Company.

A copy of the Nomination Committee’s terms of reference, which were 
reviewed and updated with minor changes during the year, are available 
on the Company’s website (www.vectura.com). 

Review of the period
During the year, the Nomination Committee continued its work to find a 
further Non-Executive Director to supplement the independence and 
knowledge of the existing Board and to ensure appropriate succession 
planning is in place. This resulted in the appointment of Kevin to the Board, 
in March 2019. His recruitment was made with the assistance of an 
external search consultancy, Odgers Berndtson, which does not have 
any other connection with the Group. Kevin joined the Nomination 
Committee on 21 November 2019.

James Ward-Lilley, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), stepped down from 
the Group with effect from 30 June 2019 and Will Downie was appointed 
as the new CEO in November 2019, with Paul Fry, Chief Financial Officer 
(CFO), acting as the interim CEO in the intervening period.

Dr Susan Foden, Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent 
Director (SID), stepped down from the Board with effect from 
30 September 2019. Following her departure, Dr Thomas Werner 
became the SID.

During the year and following feedback received from shareholders, 
the Nomination Committee also considered the size and composition 
of the Board and its Committees. More information on this can be found 
in the Board succession planning section of this report. 

56

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GOVERNANCE 
Board evaluation
In accordance with the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code an 
externally facilitated evaluation was carried out during the year by 
Independent Audit Limited (IAL), a company which has no other 
connection with the Group. The focus this year was around boardroom 
culture and constructive relationships, whether the Board has the right 
impact and value for the Executive Leadership Team, and if there were 
people and processes in place to enable effective Board oversight.

The evaluation involved Board members being interviewed, meetings 
being observed, and discussions of the themes emerging from the review 
feeding into development actions. 

IAL highlighted that the Board had demonstrated key strengths including:

•  a thorough and inclusive process to select the new CEO;

•  a clear consensus on the strategic direction;

•  a constructive atmosphere at board meetings;

•  a strong contribution of the CFO as interim CEO; and

•  well-functioning committees.

The key outcomes were:

•  ensuring that Board time and energy is focused on significant issues 

(over and above business as usual) and risk management now that the 
strategy is focused on becoming a leading CDMO;

•  for management to provide Board with updates on the Company’s 
principal operating frameworks and governance as appropriate;

•  that all Non-Executive Directors should attend all Committee meetings 
irrespective of membership to ensure that all are kept up to date and 
reduce the time required for formal Committee reports to the Board 
meetings; and

•  that the Board should continue to receive specific training on various 
aspects of running a CDMO business to increase its knowledge further.

The review supported the Board’s view that it should have an appropriate 
level of CDMO expertise. The Board has considered the comments and 
suggestions made by IAL and will implement a number of these during 
the year in order to achieve the above objectives.

Board succession planning
The Board has reviewed the succession plans for both its composition 
and that of its Committees and the continued development of the Board. 

With effect from 1 January 2019, Juliet Thompson was appointed as the 
Remuneration Committee Chair, taking over from Susan, who remained 
as a Non-Executive Director and SID until her departure from the Board 
in September 2019, when Thomas became SID in her place.

The Board has consulted extensively with shareholders regarding 
succession planning resulting in significant support for the proposals 
detailed below.

First, given the changes that have taken place during the year, not all of 
which were anticipated at the start of the year, the Board considers that 
it is in the best interests of the Group to retain the services of Thomas for 
up to a further year. All of the other Board members believe that Thomas 
should continue on the Board until the 2021 AGM to assist in ensuring 
a smooth implementation of succession plans, despite his tenure, 
in aggregate, on the combined Skyepharma and Vectura boards, 
being over nine years.

There are a number of compelling reasons to support this course of action. 
Firstly, Thomas provides a significant element of continuity, which the 
Board believes to be important with Will Downie, the CEO, having been 
in post since November 2019 and the other Executive Director, Paul Fry, 
the CFO, having been in post since October 2018. 

Secondly, in light of the refocusing of the Group’s strategy to a more 
service-based CDMO model, it is important for the Board to have 
non-executive expertise available to it in this area. Will, the newly 
appointed CEO, has extensive CDMO experience and this played an 
important part in his selection. Equally, it is important for the Board to 
be balanced in its expertise and to have Non-Executive Directors who 
can support and, where necessary, challenge the Executive Directors. 
Thomas has over 30 years of pharmaceutical business experience, 
and within that, almost 10 years of CDMO experience. 

Therefore, it is proposed that at the 2020 AGM Neil Warner will not 
stand for reappointment and Juliet will assume his role as Chair of the 
Audit Committee. Kevin, having served on the Remuneration Committee 
for over twelve months will become Chair of the Remuneration Committee. 
It is further proposed that Thomas be reappointed as a Non-Executive 
Director for up to a further year for the reasons given above and whilst 
a further Non-Executive Director is sought.

Some shareholders indicated that, whilst they supported the proposal 
for Thomas to remain on the Board up until the 2021 AGM, notwithstanding 
his tenure, they would prefer that he step down from Board Committees 
and as SID.

In light of this, the Nomination Committee and Board have agreed that 
at the 2020 AGM Thomas will stand down from all Board Committees. 
Having reviewed the situation with regard to the position of SID, the Board 
continues to believe that Thomas is currently the best qualified Director 
to fulfil this role and independent in his fulfilment of his Director and SID 
roles; this belief is further supported by Independent Audit Limited, which 
undertook a full evaluation of the Board and its Committees at the end 
of 2019. Independent Audit Limited said:

“In September–December 2019, we conducted a Board Effectiveness 
Review at Vectura Group plc which involved interviewing each Board 
member individually and observing meetings of the Board and certain 
of its Committees. We found no reason to question the objectivity and 
independence of mind of Thomas Werner. On the contrary, we observed 
him making a valuable contribution to the Board and its Committees in his 
challenge to management. His background and experience is particularly 
valuable as the Company further develops and executes its new strategy. 
We agree with the Vectura Board that he is the best individual to act as SID 
for a period until the 2021 AGM and we found him to be exercising his role 
effectively, with due care and diligence.”

Following the 2020 AGM, the Board will consist of eight Directors, two of 
whom will be women, and it will have a new Chair for both the Remuneration 
and Audit Committees. Since Susan stepped down in September 2019 
there has been a new SID. With the exception of Thomas, no Director has 
served more than seven years and over half the Board has served for fewer 
than four years. 

The Nomination Committee recommends the appointment of Will and the 
reappointment of all other Directors standing for re-election at the 2020 AGM.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

57

GOVERNANCE 
Nomination Committee report continued

Diversity 
The Group is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among 
its workforce. We aim to create an inclusive working environment based 
on merit, fairness and respect to enable us to attract and retain the most 
talented people from all backgrounds and cultures. We are also working 
to achieve a diverse Board and, just as importantly, diverse management 
teams. Appointments to the Board are based on merit and consideration 
of the Group’s strategic objectives. The Nomination Committee has a 
formal and rigorous appointment process involving all Board members 
and makes recommendations based on the capabilities of individual 
candidates, having due regard for the benefits of diversity and the need to 
ensure the effective functioning of the Board both now and in the future. 

The Group supports the principles of the Hampton-Alexander Review on 
gender and the recommendations of the Parker Review on ethnic diversity.

For half of 2019 the Board met the recommendation of women representing 
33% of the Board. Following the arrival of Dr Kevin Matthews at the end of 
March 2019, and the departures of James Ward-Lilley at the end of June 
and Susan at the end of September 2019, the Board comprised two women 
and seven men. Therefore, as at 31 December 2019, the Group did not 
meet the Hampton-Alexander recommendation. Following the 2020 
AGM there will be two women and six men.

Taking into account shareholders’ views regarding the size and diversity 
of the Board, and despite the Group not currently being a FTSE 350 
constituent, the Board will give appropriate weight to both gender and 
ethnicity when looking for a new Non-Executive Director to replace 
Dr Werner when he retires at the 2021 AGM. 

We believe that members of the Board and senior management 
should collectively possess a diverse range of skills, expertise, nationality 
and ethnic and societal backgrounds. The Board comprises one Swedish 
national, one French national, five British nationals, one German national 
and one United States national, demonstrating a diverse range of cultures 
and experiences. In terms of the next level of management, our Executive 
Leadership Team, excluding the Executive Directors, totals eight, of which 
there are three female members, thereby exceeding the Hampton-Alexander 
33% target. In 2019 the Executive Leadership Team plus its senior direct 
reports who were part of our Business Leadership Team consisted of 42 
individuals, of whom 15 were female, resulting in representation of 35.7%. 
As a Company, our strategy continues to be maintaining and improving 
on these levels, so that the objectives of the Hampton-Alexander Review 
continue to be met throughout 2020. 

Bruno Angelici
Nomination Committee Chair
16 March 2020

Vectura Group plc is committed to encouraging 
equality and diversity among its workforce. We aim 
to create an inclusive working environment based 
on merit, fairness and respect to enable us to 
attract and retain the most talented people from 
all backgrounds and cultures.

58

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
Audit Committee report

Monitoring all aspects of 
financial reporting and risk

In addition to challenging 
the key judgements and 
estimates for external 
reporting, the main focus 
of the Committee in 2019 
has been on risk management 
and mitigating controls 
particularly in relation to 
Brexit, the partnering of VR647 
and the transition of the 
business model.

Neil Warner

Composition and attendance at meetings
After serving just over nine years on the Board and as Audit Committee 
Chair, I will be standing down as Non-Executive Director at the end of 
the 2020 AGM. The role of Audit Committee Chair will transition smoothly 
to Juliet Thompson, who has been a member of the Committee since 
December 2017. I express my thanks and appreciation to my fellow 
Committee members for their support throughout my tenure. 

The Audit Committee during the period consists of Neil Warner (Chair), 
Dr Per-Olof Andersson, Dr Thomas Werner and Juliet Thompson. 
Other members of the Board and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) 
attended by invitation.

All the members of the Audit Committee are independent Non-Executive 
Directors in accordance with provision 24 of the 2018 UK Corporate 
Governance Code (the “Code”). The Board has determined that Neil Warner 
as the Committee Chair has recent and relevant financial experience as 
required by the Code due to his prior experience and other current 
non-executive directorships and by way of his Fellowship of the Institute 
of Chartered Accountants. As a whole, the Committee possesses 
experience relevant to the business through the financial experience of 
Neil Warner and Juliet Thompson, also a chartered accountant. Biographies 
of the members of the Committee are set out on pages 50 and 51.

The Audit Committee met five times during the year and the attendance 
at meetings is shown on page 54.

Responsibilities of the Committee
The Committee’s main duties are as follows:

•  monitoring and reviewing the integrity of the financial reporting 
process and reviewing the financial statements, including the 
appropriateness of judgements and estimates taken in preparing 
the financial statements and preparations for the introduction 
of new accounting standards;

•  monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the Group’s internal 
financial controls including approval of the scope and review of the 
results of internal audit activities;

•  monitoring and reviewing the external auditor’s independence and 
objectivity and the effectiveness of the audit process, taking into 
consideration relevant UK professional and regulatory requirements;

•  making recommendations to the Board, for it to put to the shareholders 
for their approval in general meeting, in relation to the appointment, 
reappointment and removal of the external auditor and to approve 
the remuneration and terms of engagement of the external auditor;

•  to review any proposal for the external auditor to supply non-audit 

services, in view of Group policy and relevant ethical guidance regarding 
the provision of non-audit services by the external audit firm; and

•  to report to the Board, identifying any matters in respect of which 
it considers that action or improvement is needed and making 
recommendations as to the steps to be taken.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

59

GOVERNANCE 
Audit Committee report continued

Main activities of the Committee
During the period, and through to the finalisation of the Annual Report 
and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2019, the main activities 
and principal issues considered by the Audit Committee are detailed below.

Review of the Group risk register
As part of its review, the Committee considered: 

•  Risks from Brexit uncertainty: Despite the orderly withdrawal of 

the UK from the EU commencing on 31 January, downside risk remains 
as the transition period afforded by the Withdrawal Agreement expires 
on 31 December 2020. If this period is not extended or the UK and EU 
fail to reach agreement regarding their future relationship, then the 
Group may suffer disruption. The Committee reviewed management’s 
downside sensitivities and the most severe sensitivity would result in 
impairment of the goodwill allocated to the Swiss cash-generating unit. 

•  Progress of VR647 partnering discussions: Following 

developments in the status and timing of partnering discussions 
and the revision to the Group’s R&D investment priorities announced 
in July 2019, the Committee agreed with the impairment of the related 
intangible asset in full in September 2019 and the release of the related 
deferred tax liability. 

•  Risks relating to the transition to a CDMO business model: 
The Committee agreed with the addition of a new principal risk of 
“Failure to win new customer contracts for development services 
and execute these profitably”. 

•  Risks relating to the loss of critical and sensitive data and 

systems: The Committee agreed with the addition of a new principal 
risk of “Failure to protect critical and sensitive data and systems”. 

•  Useful economic lives of intangible assets (critical estimate): 
The Committee considered the useful economic lives of the Group’s 
on-market intangible assets and concurred with the increase in the 
useful economic life of the flutiform® intangible following the granting 
of certain Japanese patent extensions in 2019. 

•  Uncertain tax position (critical judgement): The Committee 

noted an uncertain tax position recognised relating to the utilisation of 
historical losses claimed in an overseas jurisdiction. This provision was 
partially released to the Consolidated income statement in 2019 in line 
with the annual Statute of Limitation closure (the period during which 
the tax authority can enquire into each tax return). No contact has 
been received from the IRS in respect of the uncertainty and therefore 
the judgement of IRS challenge has not changed. The remainder of the 
provision is expected to be fully resolved in 2021 when the Statute 
of Limitation closes. 

•  Actuarial assumptions on Swiss pension benefits (critical 

estimate): The Committee reviewed and agreed with the actuarial 
assumptions used by management having received advice from a 
local pension expert. 

•  UK exiting the EU (critical estimate): The Committee reviewed 
management’s assessment of the impact of the UK exiting the EU 
on the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the Group financial 
statements and agreed that no impairment triggers have been identified.

•  Legal and other matters (critical judgement): The Committee 
reviewed management’s accounting treatment and disclosures in 
relation to the various legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary 
course of business and agrees that the treatment and disclosures 
are appropriate.

Review of critical areas of accounting judgement 
and estimates 
The Committee reviewed the following matters of judgement and 
estimate considered critical to the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, 
revenues and expenses. These included, but were not limited to: 

•  Revenue (critical judgements and estimates): The Committee 
reviewed management’s assessment of variable consideration to be 
constrained and concurred that these were not highly probable. 
Despite formulation services commencing for a product under the 
agreement with Hikma to develop generic versions of GSK’s Ellipta® 
portfolio, all performance obligations are success based and there is 
no enforceable right to payment until the success criteria are met. 
Accordingly, the Committee agreed with management that these 
development services do not yet meet the definition of a contract 
per IFRS 15. 

•  Impairment of goodwill acquired through business 

combinations (critical estimate): Given the relatively low 
headroom in the prior year impairment test and the shift to a CDMO 
business model, the Committee challenged management’s key 
assumptions used to calculate the recoverable amount of the CGU. 
The Committee noted the change to declining terminal growth versus 
a nil terminal growth assumption applied previously to reflect the 
decline phase of flutiform® and the low likelihood that the Group will 
make a similar R&D investment. Following this review and challenge, 
the Committee agreed that the assumptions were reasonable and no 
impairment is required. 

 The sensitivities and the related content in note 15 to the consolidated 
financial statements were also reviewed by the Committee with the level 
of disclosure considered appropriate.

Further specific matters 
The Committee considered the following specific matters:

•  Creation and protection of distributable reserves to support 

capital returns: In 2019, Vectura paid a special dividend of 
approximately £40m and commenced a £10m on-market share 
buyback. In addition, the Board announced that it intends to undertake 
a further on-market £10m buyback to be announced after the completion 
of the first tranche. In anticipation of these capital returns, the Committee 
reviewed two intra-group transactions to increase the parent company’s 
distributable reserves and reduce the risks from impairment of its 
investments which in itself would reduce the level of distributable 
reserves. The Committee was satisfied with the accounting, tax and 
legal due diligence performed and recommended the transactions 
to the Board for approval. In addition, the Committee noted that the 
proposals provided further benefits of simplifying the Group structure 
and a mechanism to support potential distributions beyond those 
anticipated in 2019. The proposals were approved by the Board 
and executed in June 2019. 

•  Swiss tax reform: As the Group generates significant taxable 

profits in Switzerland and has material Swiss deferred tax liabilities, 
the Committee continued to monitor progression of proposed reforms 
to the country’s tax regime. In May 2019, the reforms were approved 
via a public referendum and apply from 1 January 2020. Enactment of the 
proposals in the cantons of Basel-Landshaft and Zug, where the Group’s 
principal Swiss trading company and Swiss holding companies are 
located, ensued in the second half of 2019. The Committee reviewed 
the assessment of taxes expected to be paid post 1 January 2020, 
noting that management had received support from its external tax 
advisors, and concurred with the revisions to the carrying value 
of the Group’s deferred tax liabilities. 

60

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
 
•  Adoption of IFRS 16: Management’s final assessment from adopting 
IFRS 16 from 1 January 2019 was reviewed and agreed by the Committee 
comprising the cumulative effect adjustment to opening equity, key 
judgements and the disclosures provided in note 33 to the consolidated 
financial statements.

Going concern and viability 
The Audit Committee reviewed management’s assessment of going concern 
and viability noting continued uncertainty from Brexit. The Committee still 
considered the three-year viability period to be appropriate. The Group 
continues to be strongly cash generative before distributions to shareholders 
and has cash and cash equivalents in excess of £70m at 31 December 2019. 
Additionally, the Group’s £50m revolving credit facility which expires in 
August 2021 is expected to be renewed. 

Management’s viability stress tests, including that of severe disruption 
to the flutiform® supply chain due to the UK and EU failing to agree a 
beneficial trading relationship by 31 December 2020 and the potential 
impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, were reviewed by the Committee 
and considered to be reasonable. 

The Committee recommends to the Board the adoption of the going 
concern basis of accounting and is satisfied that the Group has adequate 
resources to continue for the foreseeable future and for the three-year 
period assessed in the Viability statement on page 39.

Fair, balanced and understandable assessment 
In addition to the annual reporting being understandable, the Committee 
also considered it to be fair and balanced. The report acknowledges the 
challenges from the transition to a CDMO business model, failure to 
partner VR647 and ongoing uncertainty from Brexit amongst others, 
as well as the strengths and opportunities for the Group. 

Committee evaluation
The Board undertook a full evaluation supported by Independent 
Audit Limited. Please refer to the Nomination Committee report 
on pages 56 to 58 for more information. 

Establishment and terms of reference
Under its terms of reference, the Audit Committee is constituted 
by at least three independent Non-Executive Directors. Its role 
and responsibilities are contained in the terms of reference, which 
are available on the Vectura website (www.vectura.com). 

Membership, skills, experience and training
Members of the Committee are determined by the Board, on the 
recommendation of the Nomination Committee, in consultation 
with the Audit Committee Chair. When determining membership, the 
individual’s financial skills and experience, and knowledge of the sector 
are of importance. The individual must bring independent thought and 
abilities to the role. As such, their previous roles and qualifications will 
have a bearing on their appointment to the Committee, together with the 
existing members, so that at least one member has recent and relevant 
financial experience and that, as a whole, the Committee has sufficient 
competence in the pharmaceutical sector that the Group operates in. 
Sufficient information to enable the Committee to discharge its 
responsibilities is made available from management and the Committee 
has access to the Company Secretary and to employees more widely 
if there are any matters for which the Committee requires further 
information. Committee members are provided with a tailored induction 
and receive updates on emerging financial and audit-related issues. 

Meetings
Meetings are held around the primary financial reporting periods and 
during the course of the year. Papers are provided typically one week 
before the meeting to Committee members. The Chair of the Committee 
may hold pre-meetings to discuss matters with management and the 
external auditor as appropriate. Where possible there is sufficient time 
between the Audit Committee meeting and the Board meeting in order 
for matters to be considered and any further work carried out. 
The Committee has authority from the Board to seek independent 
advice if it wishes. 

Relationship with the Board
The Committee Chair provides a verbal update to the Board following the 
Committee meetings. Any recommendations or further work required on 
major issues are reported in order to keep the Board appraised of matters 
within the Committee’s remit. If there is a disagreement between the 
Committee and the Board, the Committee could report that to shareholders 
in this Audit Committee report. 

Annual Reports and periodic reports
The Committee reviews and reports to the Board on significant financial 
reporting issues and judgements made in connection with the preparation 
of the financial statements, interim reports, preliminary announcements 
and related formal statements. The Committee considers significant 
accounting policies and any changes to them, whether the Group 
has adopted appropriate accounting policies and, where necessary, 
whether the Group has made appropriate estimates and judgements.

The Committee reviews the Report and Accounts, the related information 
presented with the financial statements, including the Strategic report and 
Corporate governance statement relating to the audit and risk management. 
It advises the Board on whether it considers that the Annual Report and 
Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and 
that the non-financial information provided is consistent with the financial 
statements. The Committee also reviews and recommends to the Board 
the disclosures in the Annual Report and Accounts relating to internal 
control, risk management, going concern and viability statements. 
The Committee will also review, where practicable, information required 
for other statements where financial information is provided, such as a 
release of price-sensitive information, prior to Board review.

Internal control and risk management systems
Whilst overall responsibility for risk management and internal controls 
systems resides with the Board, the Committee reviews the Group’s 
principal risks and internal financial controls, including the systems 
for identifying, assessing, managing and monitoring financial risks. 
Management retains responsibility for day-to-day oversight of the risk 
management and internal controls and provides the Committee with 
reports on the effectiveness of the systems. 

Internal audit 
Considering the Group’s scale, diversity, complexity, risk profile and 
controls within the Finance function, the Committee and Board do not 
believe that a separate internal audit function is required at this time. 
This remains under review and the Committee will report on this again 
to shareholders in the next Annual Report. 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

61

GOVERNANCE 
Audit Committee report continued

External audit
2019 is the third year where KPMG is the Group’s appointed auditor. 
The current Audit Partner is Adrian Wilcox, who has held the role since 
KPMG’s appointment in 2016. UK legislation requires the tender of the 
external auditor firm after ten years and rotation after 20 years. The Audit 
Partner should be rotated every five years. 

The Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board 
in relation to the appointment, reappointment or removal of the external 
auditor. The Committee reviews and assesses the auditor annually including 
its effectiveness when proposing to the Board whether shareholders 
should be requested to reappoint the auditor.

The Committee has primary responsibility for overseeing the relationship 
with, and performance of, the external auditor, KPMG LLP (KPMG), which 
is engaged to conduct a statutory audit and express an opinion on the 
financial statements. This includes determining the fee and scope of the 
audit and leading the tender process. 

The terms of engagement and fees of the external auditor are determined 
by the Committee, and are reviewed and agreed prior to the start of the 
audit process. The scope and fee levels are considered such that an 
appropriate, effective audit can be carried out at the fee level proposed. 
The Committee reviews the plans in place for the annual audit including 
the work plan and resources, as well as the seniority and expertise of the 
audit team. The effectiveness of the annual audit is assessed by the 
Committee. This includes the quality of the audit, taking into account, 
for example, the auditor’s quality control processes and the contribution 
of the auditor in relation to key judgements.

Independence, including non-audit services
The independence and objectivity of the auditor is reviewed by the 
Committee, taking into consideration relevant laws and standards. 
Any threats to independence, and appropriateness of safeguards, are 
considered with the auditor. The level of non-audit fees compared to 
audit fees is kept under review. The Committee agrees with the Board 
the Group’s policy in relation to the provision of non-audit services by the 
auditor taking into account the relevant standard and legal requirements, 
keeping such policy under review. 

The Committee is responsible for approving non-audit services with the 
objective that the provision of such services does not impair the auditor’s 
independence or objectivity. In doing so it considers various factors relating 
to whether it is appropriate for the auditor to provide such service, including 
that the auditor’s skills and experience make it the most suitable supplier.

In 2019, the non-audit services performed by KPMG related to the review 
of the Group’s interim financial report, audit-related work on the interim 
financial statements for the parent company and audit-related work on 
the reporting to the providers of the Group’s revolving credit facility on a 
“frozen GAAP” basis following the adoption of IFRS 15, IFRS 16 and IFRS 9. 

At both the half year and the full year, KPMG confirmed that its 
independence and objectivity have been maintained.

Anti-Bribery and Whistleblowing Policies
The Group has a Whistleblowing Policy, which provides a formal 
mechanism whereby every Group employee can, on a confidential basis, 
raise concerns over potential malpractice or impropriety within the Group. 
In 2020, an external whistleblowing facility will be introduced to provide 
additional ways employees can raise concerns confidentially, including 
anonymously if they wish.

The Group also has in place a policy with regards to compliance 
with the Bribery Act 2010. The Group’s Anti-Bribery Policy reflects the 
Directors’ zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption of all kinds. 
More information on our commitment to “Doing business responsibly” 
can be found on pages 40 and 45. 

Communication with shareholders
The Committee is keen to provide shareholders with the information 
required for them to understand the process that the Committee has 
been through to achieve effective oversight of the financial reporting 
and internal controls for the Group. It is intended that the Chair of the 
Committee will attend the AGM in order to meet with and answer 
questions from shareholders relating to the Committee’s activities 
and matters within the Committee’s remit. 

Neil Warner
Audit Committee Chair
16 March 2020

The Committee is keen to provide shareholders 
with the information required for them to 
understand the process that the Committee 
has been through to achieve effective oversight 
of the financial reporting and internal controls 
for the Group.

62

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration Committee report

Enabling the Company to 
attract the best talents in the 
market in order to maximise 
shareholder value

In designing the Proposed Policy, 
the Committee consulted with 
Vectura’s major shareholders. 
We were pleased to see that 
shareholders were broadly 
supportive of all the proposed 
changes to the Policy.

Juliet Thompson

Dear Shareholder
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the Vectura Remuneration 
report (the “Report”) for the year ended 31 December 2019. At the 2020 
AGM the current Remuneration Policy (the “Policy”) will expire and a 
new Remuneration Policy (the “Proposed Policy”) will be submitted to a 
binding shareholder vote. This Report sets out the Proposed Policy, the 
supporting rationale for its design, and also sets out the decisions taken 
by the Committee with regard to remuneration which will be subject to 
an advisory vote. 

Proposed Policy for 2020, 2021 and 2022 – 
subject to binding vote at the 2020 AGM
The Policy was designed in 2016/17 to support Vectura’s strategy at that 
time. It incorporated elements of prevailing corporate governance best 
practice and was approved at the 2017 AGM, when it received support 
from 96.56% of shareholders. In preparation for the introduction of the 
Proposed Policy at the 2020 AGM, the Committee conducted a review 
in 2019 to identify whether the Policy continues to appropriately support 
our strategy, reflects the views of our shareholders, and incorporates 
elements of best practice.

Following the review, the Committee determined that the Policy has 
sufficient flexibility to support Vectura’s strategy. In particular, no changes 
were required to the overall structure and there was sufficient flexibility to 
allow appropriate performance measures to be chosen to support our 
strategic direction. However, the Committee also determined that changes 
should be made to reflect the new 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code 
(the “Code”), market practice for deferral mechanisms and Long Term 
Incentive Plan (LTIP) threshold vesting, and feedback from shareholders. 
The proposed changes are as follows:

1. Pension
Taking account of investor guidance on pension contributions, contributions 
for new Executive Directors will be in line with those for the average of the 
UK workforce (currently 6% of base salary). The pension contributions for 
all current Executive Directors will be aligned with the average UK workforce 
level by the end of 2022.

2. Annual bonus
The deferral mechanism will be strengthened and brought in line with 
market practice. The Policy only requires deferral if the bonus amount 
is above 100% of base salary. If the annual bonus is below this level, then 
the bonus is paid entirely in cash. The Proposed Policy will introduce a 
stronger mandatory deferral mechanism that would defer 25% of any 
bonus in shares for two years, regardless of the amount of the bonus. 
This approach will increase shareholder alignment, enforce faster 
achievement of the shareholding guideline and facilitate the use 
of existing clawback provisions.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

63

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration Committee report continued

As disclosed prior to last year’s AGM, LTIP award levels in 2019 
were reduced for the CEO from 185% of salary to 138.75% of salary. 
This reduction was made despite strong financial and operational 
performance and followed feedback from shareholders received in 
consultation relating to the share price progression in 2017 and 2018.

The Committee considered whether a similar reduction to the 2019 
LTIP award levels should apply to the CFO. It noted that Paul Fry joined 
Vectura in October 2018; that he did not receive an LTIP award in 2018 
and the share price performance had remained stable since his 
appointment to the date of grant. It was therefore decided that it would 
be appropriate to grant the CFO an award at the normal level of 185% 
of salary in 2019.

The performance period of the second and third tranches of the 2015 
LTIP ended on 31 December 2019. The vesting of these awards was 
based on Vectura TSR performance. However, these awards lapsed in 
full due to Vectura’s TSR falling below the median of the two peer groups. 
The performance period of the 2017 LTIP also ended on 31 December 2019. 
This award was subject to TSR and adjusted EBITDA performance 
conditions. Whilst Vectura’s TSR did not meet the threshold target, strong 
adjusted EBITDA performance resulted in 34.5% of this award vesting. 
Neither of the current Executive Directors were in role when the 2015 or 
2017 LTIP awards were granted, and so did not receive any shares from 
the vesting of these awards. Further details of LTIP vesting against 
targets are set out on page 79 of the Report.

Remuneration for James Ward-Lilley in relation 
to his departure
James Ward-Lilley stepped down as CEO on 30 June 2019. 
Remuneration arrangements in respect of his departure were determined 
by the Committee in line with his service contract and the Policy. In light 
of his service and contribution to the Group, including with respect to the 
merger with Skyepharma, the Committee applied discretion to treat him 
as a good leaver. In summary, and set out in more detail on pages 81 and 
82 of the Report, James’ remuneration was treated as follows:

•  payment in lieu of notice for base salary, pension and other benefits 

(payment in three equal tranches on cessation and then in October 2019 
and February 2020);

•  payment for accrued holiday and contributions to legal costs 

and outplacement support;

•  pro-rata annual bonus for 2019 subject to performance testing 

at the normal time;

•  LTIP awards pro-rated and vesting at the normal time subject 

to performance; and

•  SIP awards vested under the good leaver rules. 

Remuneration for Paul Fry as Interim CEO
Upon the departure of James Ward-Lilley, Paul Fry was appointed Interim 
CEO with effect from 1 July 2019. On his appointment, his base salary was 
temporarily increased from £339,020 to £420,000, which was below the 
level of the outgoing CEO. In addition, his bonus opportunity was temporarily 
increased from 125% to 135% of base salary, but his pension was frozen 
and calculated on his normal base salary. When he resumed his role as 
CFO, his base salary and annual bonus opportunity returned to their 
original levels. 

Proposed Policy for 2020, 2021 and 2022 – 
subject to binding vote at the 2020 AGM continued
3. LTIP
The Proposed Policy would also bring the Executive Directors’ threshold 
vesting level for the LTIP in line with market practice by increasing it from 
15% to 25% of the maximum vesting level. The Committee will take into 
consideration this increase in the threshold vesting level when setting the 
targets for the 2020 LTIP awards.

4. Post-employment shareholding requirement
Executive Directors will be required to satisfy a post-employment 
shareholding requirement for the two years immediately after their date 
of cessation of employment. The level of holding will be the lower of: (i) 
100% of base salary and (ii) their holding as at the date of cessation.

No other changes would be made to the Policy. All current best practice 
features would be maintained. These include the two-year post-vesting 
holding requirement for LTIP awards, clawback provisions for the annual 
bonus and LTIP, and the operation of a discretionary underpin for LTIP awards. 

The Proposed Policy, if approved at the 2020 AGM, would apply to the 
annual bonus in respect of 2020 and the 2020 LTIP awards. In summary, 
the proposed changes would:

•  retain the structure, flexibility, maximum opportunity, and best practice 

features of the Policy;

• 

increase shareholder alignment by bringing the deferral mechanism in 
line with current market practice which reduces the cash annual bonus 
but increases the portion of remuneration delivered in shares;

•  bring the LTIP threshold vesting level in line with current market 

practice; and

•  bring the Policy in line with the Code through bringing the pension 

contribution levels for future and current Executive Directors in line with 
the average UK workforce level and the introduction of post-employment 
shareholding requirements.

In designing the Proposed Policy, the Committee consulted with Vectura’s 
major shareholders. We were pleased to see that shareholders were 
broadly supportive of all the proposed changes to the Policy and did not 
raise any major concerns. The consultation also influenced the design 
of the Proposed Policy. As a result of the consultation, the Committee 
decided to bring the CFO’s pension in line with the workforce level by 
the end of 2022 to reflect the views of some shareholders. 

Outcomes for the period under review – 
subject to advisory vote
The Group delivered strong financial performance in 2019. Revenue and 
adjusted EBITDA have shown annual improvements of +11.1% and +11.3% 
respectively. In addition, although FOX® and VR647 development did not 
progress as desired, resulting in no pay out in respect of these elements, 
the resubmission of VR315 represented a significant milestone achievement. 
A key area of focus in 2019 was making Vectura a “great place to work”. 
A number of important steps were taken towards this goal, which resulted 
in a significant improvement across all areas of employee engagement 
and in HSE culture and performance. 

During the year, the Committee reviewed the bonus scorecard in light of 
the change of the Company’s focus towards a CDMO operation. As a result, 
the Committee exercised its discretion to remove an objective related to 
VEnT wave 1 milestones, which was no longer appropriate. The previous 
weighting on this objective was reallocated among the financial goals. 
Achievement against the scorecard resulted in an overall annual bonus 
outcome for Executive Directors for the financial year to 31 December 2019 
of 77.3% of the maximum. A detailed breakdown of the targets set, the 
payments awarded, and how discretion was applied is set out on pages 77 to 79.

64

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GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration arrangements for the new CEO, 
Will Downie
Will Downie was appointed CEO on 7 November 2019. His ongoing 
remuneration arrangements are set out below:

•  base salary of £460,000, below that of his predecessor;

•  pension at 6% of base salary, in line with the average of the workforce;

•  annual bonus opportunity of 135% of base salary;

Principal subjects of the Committee’s 
business during the period
The Committee met seven times during the year ended 
31 December 2019.

The principal matters considered by the Committee during 
the period are summarised below:

•  follow-up and consideration of shareholder feedback 

•  annual grant under the LTIP with a face value of 185% of base salary;

following the 2019 AGM;

•  review of the 2019 bonus scorecard in light of the Group’s 

change of focus towards a CDMO operation; 

•  review of achievement against the 2019 corporate goals, 

including the achievement against personal goals for Executive 
Directors, approval of the percentage of the bonus pool to be 
paid out across the Group, and consideration of the use of 
discretion in the bonus award;

•  determination of performance against the TSR and adjusted 

EBITDA conditions for awards under the LTIP;

•  approval of the grant of the 2019 LTIP awards and 

performance conditions; 

•  determination of the leaver arrangements for James Ward-Lilley;

•  determination of the interim arrangements for Paul Fry;

•  determination of the joiner arrangements for Will Downie;

•  review of the Policy including consultation with major 
shareholders and discussion of feedback received;

•  approval of 2020 base salary increases for Executive Directors 
and other members of the Executive Leadership Team, ensuring 
that, with the exception of special cases, these are aligned both 
internally and externally;

•  review of the Group’s gender pay gap data; and

•  review of remuneration packages for the appointment of new 

senior executives and, where appropriate, confirming approval. 

•  share ownership guideline of 200% of base salary; and

•  no buyout awards were made in the recruitment of the CEO.

Note that subject to the CEO demonstrating his performance and gaining 
experience in the role it is anticipated that above inflation salary increases 
in base salary may be awarded in future. This remuneration arrangement 
is below that of the previous CEO and has further reduced the expected 
ongoing cost of our Executive Director team, which will be below the level 
in 2018.

Remuneration for 2020
The salary for the CEO, Will Downie, will not be increased in 2020. 
The salary for the CFO, Paul Fry, was reviewed shortly after his temporary 
appointment as Interim CEO came to an end. Paul performed very strongly 
in the role of Interim CEO, and this role provided him with a period of 
accelerated development which materially increased his value to the 
Group following the CEO transition. In addition, he returned to a role which 
increased in both its scope and its importance to the implementation of 
our strategy. As a result, and following consultation with major shareholders, 
the Committee decided to increase his base salary from £339,020 to 
£372,922 from January 2020 to recognise his development in role and 
strong performance. This represents a 7.8% increase above the UK 
employee workforce general increase of +2.2%, but a reduction of -11.2% 
from his base salary as Interim CEO. It also results in a similar level of base 
salary to that of our former CFO if he had remained in role (this assumes 
that the former CFO would have received normal base salary increases in 
line with the average UK workforce level of 2.4% in 2019 and an assumed 
2.2% in 2020).

The 2020 annual bonus and 2020 LTIP awards will be in line with the 
Proposed Policy (which is more stretching than the Policy). No change 
will be made to the performance measures for the LTIP, although the use 
of adjusted EBITDA will continue to be kept under review with a view to 
moving to a more all-encompassing measure of profitability such as EPS 
when it becomes appropriate to do so. However, the weighting on the 
financial element for the 2020 annual bonus will be increased to 75% 
of the bonus opportunity. This change supports the shift in emphasis 
of Vectura’s strategy from R&D to CDMO, and reflects recent feedback 
received from shareholders.

AGM
The Proposed Policy will be subject to a binding vote at the forthcoming 
AGM and the Report will be subject to an advisory vote. I very much hope 
that you will join me in supporting the resolution at the 2020 AGM.

Yours sincerely

Juliet Thompson
Remuneration Committee Chair
16 March 2020

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

65

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration at a glance

Remuneration link to strategy

Strong financial performance

Maximising pipeline value

Maximising partnering value

Link to Policy

Operational excellence

Great place to work

2019 annual bonus metrics included revenue 
generation, adjusted EBITDA, partnering deals, 
pipeline and “great place to work”.

LTIP awards linked to achievement of the Group’s 
strategy through the use of relative TSR and an 
adjusted cumulative EBITDA metric. 

Key strategic highlights

Revenue actual

Revenue 2018

•  Adjusted EBITDA and revenue targets exceeded.

£178.3m vs

£160.5m

Adjusted EBITDA actual

£43.4m

Adjusted EBITDA 2018

£39.0m

vs

•  Resubmission of VR315, a key value driver for the Group.

•  Successful steps taken to make Vectura a “great place 
to work” resulting in increased employee engagement 
in all areas and improved HSE performance. 

Outcomes in 2019
Annual bonus

Bonus FY19

CEO

CFO

Revenue (31.25%)

90.2% of maximum

90.2% of maximum

Adjusted EBITDA 
(31.25%)

77% of maximum

Material new deal value 
creation (10%)

0% of maximum

Maximising pipeline 
value (17.5%)

86% of maximum

Great place to work 
(10%)

100% of maximum

77% of maximum

77.3% of 
maximum 
awarded

77+

0% of maximum

I 77+

77.3% of 
maximum 
awarded

86% of maximum

100% of maximum

Any bonus achieved above 100% of base salary will be deferred into shares for a minimum of two years.

66

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE23
+
23
+
I
 
Single total remuneration 
figure £000
Chief Executive Officer 0 years, 2 months in post
50.9% 49.1%

Actual Shareholding – achievement 
against guideline
Chief Executive Officer 0 years, 2 months in post

£145

Chief Financial Officer

0.3%

Chief Financial Officer 1 year, 2 months in post

54.5% 

45.2%

£809

 Fixed pay   Bonus (cash)   Long term (shares)

 Achieved   Outstanding

Full details of the single total remuneration figure can be found on page 76.

200%

200%

Package for 2020

Salary

•  No change to the CEO’s base salary. An increase in line with the average of the UK workforce plus 7.8% 

(i.e. 10%) for the CFO

•  CEO: £460,000

•  CFO: £372,922 

Pension and benefits

•  CEO: 6% of base salary

Annual bonus

•  Maximum opportunity is unchanged at 135% of base salary for CEO and 125% for CFO

•  CFO: reduced to 15% (from 20%) of base salary and to be aligned with workforce by end of 2022

The scorecard will be:

•  Revenue (37.5%)

•  Adjusted EBITDA (37.5%)

•  CDMO transformation (10%)

•  Product development and delivery management (10%)

•  Quality and operational excellence (5%)

25% of any bonus achieved will be deferred into shares for a minimum of two years

LTIP

•  Maximum opportunity up to 185% of base salary

•  Measures are unchanged, being relative TSR and adjusted cumulative EBITDA 

•  Two-year holding period applies

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

67

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration report

The following section sets out the Proposed Policy which will be submitted for approval by shareholders in a binding vote at the 2020 AGM on 
Wednesday 27 May 2020.

The Proposed Policy can also be found on the Group’s website (www.vectura.com). It has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) and the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 
(the “Regulations”). It also meets the requirements of the UK Listing Authority’s Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. 

Proposed Policy 
The Proposed Policy is driven by the Group’s strategy and business model and has been designed to reflect the Committee’s remuneration philosophy, 
as summarised below. 

Philosophy

Support value creation for shareholders over the longer term and create alignment with shareholders

Fixed remuneration

Variable remuneration

Element

Base salary Benefits

Pension

Annual bonus

LTIP

Broadly mid-market.

How it is 
influenced  
by the 
remuneration 
philosophy

Set no higher than mid-market 
and is the least significant 
variable element.

Has stretching financial 
and non-financial targets 
that support Vectura’s annual 
goals and its overall strategy.

Deferral of a proportion in 
shares increases alignment 
with shareholders.

The most significant 
element of the package.

Has stretching targets 
that are clearly aligned 
with shareholder value.

Performance measured 
over three years and 
subsequent holding 
requirement for a further 
two years to align with 
the long-term interests 
of the Group.

Share ownership guidelines 
and holding periods

Significant personal 
holdings must be acquired 
and maintained and vested 
shares must be retained for 
a period.

Whilst the Committee does not consult directly with employees regarding its Proposed Policy, the Committee has regard to the policy for remuneration 
of employees across the Group in a number of respects:

•  All employees are rewarded with a remuneration package that includes certain key benefits such as life assurance, permanent health insurance, 
private medical insurance, access to the pension scheme and participation in Vectura’s all-employee share schemes and many employees are 
eligible to receive a bonus. 

•  The bonus scheme for Executive Directors and employees is designed to reward corporate and personal performance, and all individuals work 

towards challenging personal goals related to their roles.

•  When determining the annual salary increases and remuneration packages for the Executive Directors, the Committee considers the general base 

salary increase for the wider employee workforce.

More information on wider employee conditions can be found on pages 41 and 42.

68

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
 
The following table and accompanying notes set out the main principles of reward for the Executive Directors as set out in the Proposed Policy. 

Executive Directors

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

Base salary

To recruit and retain Executive 
Directors of the highest calibre who 
are capable of delivering the Group’s 
strategic objectives, reflecting the 
individual’s experience and role 
within the Group.

The Committee aims to set base salary 
at levels that are broadly aligned with 
the midpoints for equivalent roles in 
comparable companies in the UK, 
adjusted to reflect the Group’s size 
and complexity.

Base salary is designed to provide 
an appropriate level of fixed income 
to avoid an over-reliance on variable 
pay elements that could encourage 
excessive risk taking.

Benefits

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

Pensions

The Group aims to  
provide market-competitive 
retirement benefits, to reward 
sustained contribution.

Salaries are normally reviewed annually 
and changes are generally effective 
from 1 January.

The annual salary review of Executive 
Directors takes a number of factors into 
consideration, including:

•  business performance;

•  salary increases awarded to the 
overall employee population;

•  skills and experience of the individual 

over time;

•  scope of the individual’s 

responsibilities;

•  changes in the size and complexity 

of the Group;

•  market competitiveness; and

•  the underlying rate of inflation.

The Group aims to offer benefits that 
are in line with market practice.

The main benefits currently provided 
are life assurance, permanent health 
insurance and private medical and 
dental insurance.

Under certain circumstances, the 
Group will offer relocation allowances 
to employees.

Executive Directors are eligible for 
other benefits which are introduced 
for the wider workforce on broadly 
similar terms.

The Group operates a money purchase 
scheme and all employees, including 
Executive Directors, are invited to 
participate.

For Executive Directors who are 
affected by the HMRC lifetime or annual 
allowances, the Group may provide 
cash supplements in respect of benefits 
above the allowance.

No formal metrics, although increases will take 
account of Group performance.

Base salary increases are 
awarded at the discretion 
of the Committee; however, 
salary increases will normally 
be considered in relation to 
the average pay rises 
awarded to the wider 
employee workforce.

Where a higher level 
of increase is appropriate 
given the performance 
and contribution of the 
incumbent, or where there 
has been a change in 
responsibilities, the 
Committee retains the 
discretion to award 
more significant base 
salary increases.

The value of each benefit is 
not predetermined and is 
based upon the cost to 
the Group.

Not performance related.

Not performance related.

For new Executive Directors, 
the contribution level will be 
capped at appointment at 
the average contribution 
level for the workforce based 
in the United Kingdom. 

For Executive Directors 
appointed before the 2020 
AGM, pension will be brought 
in line with the average 
contribution level for the 
workforce based in the 
United Kingdom by the 
end of 2022.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

69

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration report continued

Proposed Policy continued

Executive Directors continued

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

Annual performance bonus

Bonuses are limited to a 
maximum of 135% of base 
salary for the CEO and 125% 
of base salary for the CFO.

Corporate goals typically include revenue 
generation, development of pipeline progress, 
partnering successes and control of cash 
expenditure, although the Committee has 
the discretion to set other targets.

Goals set are specific, measurable and linked 
to the Group’s long-term strategy.

Up to 20% of the maximum is payable at threshold 
performance against each measure.

Annual awards of up to 185% 
of salary may be granted.

Awards normally based on key measures linked to 
achievement of Vectura’s strategy such as relative 
total shareholder return (TSR) and/or financial 
metrics measured over three years.

The Committee retains the discretion to vary the 
chosen relative TSR peer group or the weighting 
between the metrics and/or introduce new metrics 
aligned to the Group’s strategy for awards in future 
years, providing they are not materially less 
challenging in the circumstances. The Committee 
would normally consult with its major shareholders 
before making significant changes to the 
performance conditions.

25% of the maximum award vests at the threshold/
median performance level, rising to 100% vesting 
at maximum/upper quartile.

Awards are also subject to an underpin based 
on the Committee’s assessment of the Group’s 
underlying performance against a range of 
factors, including the Group’s underlying financial 
performance, absolute shareholder returns and 
progress against milestones over the performance 
period. Any exercise of discretion will be fully 
disclosed to shareholders. 

The performance conditions for previous LTIP 
awards are described in the Report.

An annual bonus rewards 
the achievement of stretching 
objectives that support the 
Group’s corporate goals and 
delivery of the business strategy 
together with goals in relation 
to personal performance.

Delivery of a proportion in 
shares provides alignment with 
shareholders and facilitates the 
operation of clawback.

LTIP

The 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 incentivise growth in 
the longer term and align them with 
shareholders’ interests.

Objectives are agreed with the 
Committee, and the Board as a whole, 
at the start of each financial year.

Different performance measures 
and weightings may be used each 
year, as agreed with the Committee, 
to take into account changes in the 
business strategy.

Bonuses are paid at the discretion 
of the Committee. The Committee 
takes into account overall corporate 
performance and individual 
performance when determining the 
final bonus amount to be awarded.

Bonuses are typically paid in 
April. 25% of any bonus is normally 
compulsorily deferred into shares for 
two years. Participants may also be 
entitled to receive dividend equivalents 
on vested shares.

Under the rules of the scheme, the 
Committee can claw back up to 100% 
of the bonus awarded in the event of 
material misstatement of the Group’s 
financial results, an error in assessing 
the performance conditions to which an 
award is subject or for any other matter 
which it deems relevant.

Discretionary annual award of nil 
or nominal cost options that vest 
according to performance conditions 
normally measured over three 
financial years.

Participants may also be entitled 
to receive dividend equivalents 
on vested shares.

Awards granted to Executive Directors 
from 2017 onwards are subject to an 
additional two-year post-vesting 
holding requirement on the net of tax 
value of shares vesting.

Awards will be subject to clawback 
where there has been a misstatement 
of the Group’s financial results, an error 
in assessing the performance conditions 
to which an award is subject or for any 
other matter which the Committee 
deems relevant.

Awards are subject to the discretions 
contained in the relevant plan rules.

70

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
Executive Directors continued

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

All-employee share schemes

Both of the schemes offered 
are HMRC-approved schemes 
and operate on standard terms.

Participation limits are set by 
the relevant tax authorities 
from time to time.

Not performance related and no performance 
conditions apply.

All employees, including Executive 
Directors, are encouraged to 
become shareholders of the Group 
through participation in our 
all-employee share schemes.

The Group currently offers UK 
employees the opportunity to 
participate in the Vectura 
Sharesave (SAYE) scheme and the 
Vectura Share Incentive Plan (SIP). 
Where possible, similar plans will 
operate for overseas employees.

Share ownership guidelines

Share ownership guidelines for 
Executive Directors and senior 
employees are designed to 
strengthen the alignment 
between the interests of senior 
management with those of 
Vectura’s shareholders.

In accordance with best practice, share 
ownership requirements apply during 
and after employment. 

During employment, Executive 
Directors are required to retain at least 
half of any LTIP awards vesting as 
shares (after paying any tax due) until 
they have reached the required level 
of holding.

After their employment, Executive 
Directors are required to maintain a 
holding in the Group’s shares until the 
second anniversary of the date they 
ceased to be an Executive Director.

During their employment, 
Executive Directors are 
required to build and retain a 
holding of the Group’s shares 
equivalent to at least 200% 
of their base salary.

After their employment, 
Executive Directors are 
required to hold the lower of: 
(i) their holding on their date 
of resignation; and (ii) 100% 
of base salary.

Not performance related.

Chair and Non-Executive Directors

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Performance metrics

Not performance related.

When reviewing fee levels, 
account is taken of market 
movements in the fees of the 
Non-Executive Chair and 
Directors, Board Committee 
responsibilities and ongoing 
time commitments.

Fees

Set at a level that is sufficient to 
attract and retain a high-calibre 
Non-Executive Chair and Directors 
who have a broad range of skills 
and experience to oversee 
the implementation of the 
Group’s strategy.

The Chair and the Non-Executive 
Directors receive fees paid in cash, 
with additional fees received for 
chairing Committees of the Board, for 
fulfilling the role of Senior Independent 
Director or the Employee Engagement 
designated NED.

Additional fees may also be paid in the 
event that a Director’s normal annual 
time commitment is significantly 
exceeded in any year.

Fees are normally paid monthly 
and reviewed annually.

The Chair and the Non-Executive 
Directors do not participate in any 
performance-related incentive 
schemes, nor do they receive any 
benefits, other than limited travel 
(including transatlantic travel fee) 
and hospitality-related benefits, 
in connection with their roles.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

71

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration report continued

Proposed Policy continued
Notes to the Proposed Policy table 
For the avoidance of doubt, any commitments entered into by the Group 
prior to the approval and implementation of the Proposed Policy outlined 
above may be honoured, even if they are not consistent with the Policy 
prevailing at the time the commitment is fulfilled. 

The Proposed Policy differs from the Policy in the following areas:

•  the annual bonus deferral mechanism has been strengthened so that 

25% of any bonus must be deferred in shares;

•  pensions for new Executive Directors will be set at the average level 
for the workforce in the United Kingdom, and pensions for existing 
Executive Directors will be in line with this average by the end of 2022;

•  the threshold level of vesting for the LTIP has been brought in line with 

market practice and is set at 25% of the award; and

Committee discretion
The Committee operates under the powers it has been delegated 
by the Board. In addition, it complies with rules that have either been 
approved by shareholders (LTIP and Deferred Share Bonus Plan (DSBP)) 
or by the Board (annual performance bonus scheme). These rules provide 
the Committee with certain discretions which serve to ensure that the 
implementation of the Proposed Policy is fair, both to the individual 
Directors and to the shareholders. The Committee also has discretion 
to set components of remuneration within a range, from time to time. 
The extent of such discretions is set out in the relevant rules and the 
Maximum opportunity or the Performance metrics sections of the 
Proposed Policy table set out on pages 69 to 71. To ensure the efficient 
administration of the variable incentive plans outlined above, the 
Committee will apply certain operational discretions.

These include the following:

•  selecting the participants in the incentive plans on an annual basis;

•  a post-cessation shareholding requirement has been introduced.

•  determining the timing of grants of awards and/or payments;

In operating the Proposed Policy, the Committee may exercise the 
discretion set out below and in accordance with the relevant sections 
of the various plan rules.

Performance conditions
The Committee selected the performance conditions outlined in 
the Proposed Policy because they are aligned with the Group’s overall 
strategy and they are the key metrics used by the Executive Directors 
to oversee the operations of the business. The Committee considers 
that the performance targets for the LTIP and the bonus represent an 
appropriate balance between the long-term and short-term performance 
of the Group, as well as an appropriate balance between external and 
internal assessments of performance.

The targets for the bonus scheme for the forthcoming year will be set 
out in general terms in the Report, subject to limitations with regards to 
commercial sensitivity. The full details of the targets will be disclosed 
when they are in the public domain, usually following the end of the 
relevant financial year, in the Report. 

Relative TSR has been chosen as a performance metric for 50% of 
the 2020 LTIP awards as it is aligned with shareholders’ expectations and 
it reflects the returns that we generate for our shareholders relative to the 
returns of the general market. The FTSE 250 index (excluding financial 
services and real estate companies) has been chosen as it is a published 
index, is transparent for shareholders and provides a robust comparator 
group of similarly sized companies.

The Committee believes that a financial metric for the remaining 50% of 
the LTIP awards reflects the Group’s growth ambitions and the increasing 
maturity of our business. Over the life of the Proposed Policy, the choice 
of financial metric and basis of measurement may be varied to reflect the 
Group’s development and strategic priorities. For awards granted in 2020 
cumulative adjusted EBITDA has been selected as the financial metric; 
however, the Committee intends to keep the choice of metric under 
review for future awards. 

The proposed performance conditions for the LTIP awards to be granted 
in 2020 are outlined on page 86 of the Report. 

•  determining the quantum of awards and/or payments (within the limits 

set out in the Proposed Policy table on pages 69 to 71);

•  reviewing performance against LTIP performance metrics;

•  determining the extent of vesting based on the assessment 

of performance;

•  making the appropriate adjustments required in certain circumstances, 

for instance for changes in capital structure;

•  determining “good leaver” status for incentive plan purposes and applying 

the appropriate treatment; and

•  undertaking the annual review of weighting of performance measures 
and setting targets for the incentive plans, where applicable, from year 
to year.

If an event occurs which results in the annual bonus plan or LTIP 
performance conditions and/or targets being deemed no longer 
appropriate (e.g. material acquisition or divestment), the Committee will 
have the ability to adjust appropriately the measures and/or targets and 
alter weightings, provided that the revised conditions are not materially 
less challenging than the original conditions.

Remuneration scenarios for Executive Directors
The charts on page 73 show hypothetical values of the 2020 remuneration 
package for each Executive Director under four assumed performance 
scenarios and these scenarios are based upon the Proposed Policy set 
out on pages 68 to 71. The information presented below uses the level 
of salary, benefits and pension entitlements for each of the Executive 
Directors as at 1 January 2020.

Base salaries for 2020: CEO – £460,000 and CFO – £372,922. Benefits 
of £9,000 and £6,000, respectively, and a pension allowance of 6% of 
salary for the CEO and 15% of salary for the CFO have been assumed.

Below target remuneration receivable – this scenario assumes that there 
is no annual bonus payment and no awards under the LTIP vest.

On-target remuneration receivable – this scenario assumes that the 
Executive Directors receive a bonus payout of 67.5% (CEO) or 62.5% 
(CFO) of salary (i.e. 50% of maximum award) and that LTIP awards 
worth 46.25% of salary at grant would ultimately vest.

72

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
CEO (£000)

CFO (£000)

Minimum

100%

£497

Minimum

100%

£435

Target

49%

30%

21%

£1,020

Target

49% 30% 21%

£840

Maximum

25%

32%

43%

£1,969

Maximum

25%

32%

43%

£1,591

Maximum 
+50% 
share price 
growth

21%

26%

53%

£2,394

Maximum 
+50% 
share price 
growth

21%

26%

53%

£1,936

 Fixed pay   Annual bonus   Long-term incentives

 Fixed pay   Annual bonus   Long-term incentives

Stretch remuneration receivable – this scenario assumes that the 
Executive Directors receive a maximum bonus payout of 135%/125% 
(CEO/CFO) of their salary and that a maximum LTIP award of 185% 
of salary would ultimately vest. 

Stretch remuneration receivable plus 50% share price growth – this 
scenario assumes that the Executive Directors receive a maximum 
bonus payout and that a maximum LTIP award of 185% of salary would 
ultimately vest with a 50% share price growth.

The actual amounts earned by Executive Directors under these 
scenarios will depend on actual Group and share price performance 
over the vesting period. For simplicity, the value of participating in the 
Group’s all-employee share schemes has also been ignored.

Other remuneration policies
Termination and loss of office payments
The Group’s policy on remuneration for Executive Directors who leave 
the Group is consistent with general market practice and is set out below. 
The Committee will exercise its discretion when determining amounts that 
should be paid to leavers, taking into account the facts and circumstances 
of each case. When calculating termination payments, the Committee 
will take into account a variety of factors, including individual and Group 
performance, the length of service of the Executive Director in question 
and, where appropriate, the obligation for the Executive Director to 
mitigate loss. 

In the case of a “good leaver”, the following policy will normally apply:

•  notice period of twelve months and pension and contractual benefits, 

or payment in lieu of notice;

•  statutory redundancy payments will be made, as appropriate;

•  Executive Directors have no entitlement to a bonus payment in the 

event that they cease to be employed by the Group; however, they may 
be considered for a pro-rated cash award by the Committee in good 
leaver circumstances;

•  the rules of the LTIP and DSBP contain provisions setting out the 

treatment of awards where a participant ceases to be employed by the 
Group. Other than in good leaver circumstances, awards will normally 
lapse. In the event of a participant’s death, retirement, ill health, injury, 
disability, redundancy, the sale of the employing company or business 
out of the Group or for any other reason, at the discretion of the Committee, 
awards will not be forfeited but will instead normally vest on the original 
vesting date. Vesting in these circumstances will be subject to the 
satisfaction of the relevant performance conditions measured at that time 
and time pro-rating in the case of LTIP awards. DSBP awards will normally 
vest in full at the original vesting date. In exceptional circumstances, the 
Committee may allow the awards to vest on cessation of the participant’s 
employment, subject to the satisfaction of the performance conditions 
measured at that time and time pro-rating in the case of LTIP awards. 
In either case, the Committee can decide to disapply time pro-rating, 
if it thinks it is appropriate to do so in the particular circumstances;

•  any other share-based entitlements granted to an Executive Director 
under the Group’s share and share option plans will be determined 
based upon the relevant plan rules; and

•  the Committee may also provide for the leaver to be reimbursed for a 
reasonable level of legal fees in connection with a settlement agreement 
and may make a contribution towards outplacement costs.

In circumstances in which a leaving Director may be entitled to pursue 
a legal claim, the Group may negotiate settlement terms if it considers 
this to be in the best interests of the Group and, with the approval of 
the Committee on the remuneration elements therein, enter into a 
settlement agreement.

Executive 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 twelve 
months’ notice. The Executive Directors may accept outside appointments, 
with prior Board approval, provided that these opportunities do not negatively 
impact on their ability to fulfil their duties to the Group. Whether any related 
fees are retained by the individual or are remitted to the Group will be 
considered on a case-by-case basis. In accordance with the Code all 
Executive Directors are subject to annual re-election at each AGM.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

73

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration report continued

Proposed Policy continued
Other remuneration policies continued
Non-Executive Directors’ terms of engagement
All Non-Executive Directors have specific terms of engagement which 
are terminable on not less than three months’ notice by either party and 
not less than six months’ notice in the case of the Chair. The remuneration 
of Non-Executive Directors is determined by the Board within the limits 
set by the Articles of Association and based on a review of fees paid to 
Non-Executive Directors of similar companies. In accordance with the 
Code all Non-Executive Directors are subject to annual re-election at 
each AGM.

The dates of appointment of each of the Directors serving at 
31 December 2019 are summarised in the table below.

Executive Directors

W Downie

P Fry

Non-Executive Directors

P-O Andersson

B F J Angelici

K Matthews

J Thompson

N W Warner

T Werner

A Whitaker

Date of contract or 
date of appointment

7 November 2019

22 October 2018

1 April 2015

1 December 2013

29 March 2019

1 December 2017

1 February 2011

10 June 2016

1 June 2018

An external independent Board evaluation was performed by 
Independent Audit Limited (IAL) in November 2019 and the Board 
confirmed that all Non-Executive Directors were regarded as independent, 
including Dr Thomas Werner, who was previously a non-executive 
director of Skyepharma plc and who has service greater than nine years. 
Notwithstanding his length of service, Thomas is considered by the 
Board and IAL to be independent in both character and judgement 
and there has been significant Board refreshment during his tenure. 
Further details of the evaluation are contained in the Nomination 
Committee report on page 57.

Remuneration for new appointments
Where it is necessary to recruit or replace an Executive Director, the 
Committee has determined that the new Executive Director will receive 
a compensation package in accordance with the provisions of the 
prevailing Policy. 

In setting base salaries for new Executive Directors, the Committee 
will consider the existing salary package of the new Executive Director 
and the individual’s level of experience. Where it is appropriate to offer a 
below-median salary on initial appointment, the Committee will have the 
discretion to allow phased salary increases over a period of time for a 
newly appointed Executive Director, even though this may involve increases 
in excess of inflation and the increases awarded to the wider workforce.

In setting the annual bonus, the Committee may wish to set different 
performance metrics (to those of other Executive Directors) in the first 
year of appointment.

The Committee wishes to retain the ability to make buyout awards to a 
new Executive Director to facilitate the recruitment process. The amount 
of any such award would not exceed the expected value being forfeited 
and, to the extent possible, would mirror the form of payment, timing 
and degree of conditionality, etc. Where awards are granted subject 
to performance conditions, these would be relevant to the Group. 

74

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Any such award would only be made in exceptional circumstances 
and shareholders would be informed of any such payments at the time 
of appointment. Share-based awards would be made using the existing 
share plans, where possible, although the Committee may also use the 
flexibility provided under the Listing Rules to make awards without prior 
shareholder approval.

In respect of internal appointments, any commitments entered into in 
respect of a prior role, including variable pay elements, may be allowed 
to pay out according to the relevant prior terms.

For external and internal appointments, the Committee may consider it 
appropriate to pay reasonable relocation or incidental expenses, including 
payment of reasonable legal expenses. Tax equalisation may be considered 
if an Executive Director is adversely affected by taxation due to their 
employment with the Group.

The terms of appointment for a Non-Executive Director will be in 
accordance with the Proposed Policy for Non-Executive Directors as 
set out in the Proposed Policy table on page 71. This was the case with 
the appointment of Dr Kevin Matthews in March 2019.

Consideration of employment conditions elsewhere in the Group
Whilst the Committee did not consult directly with employees regarding 
the Proposed Policy, the Committee considered the general base salary 
increase for the wider employee workforce when determining the annual 
salary increases and remuneration packages for the Executive Directors. 
Accordingly, the Committee confirms that the Proposed Policy has been 
designed with due regard to the policy for remuneration of employees 
across the Group. 

The remuneration of senior executives below Board level is reviewed by 
the Committee on an annual basis. The remuneration packages of these 
senior executives are consistent with the Proposed Policy outlined earlier, 
save that lower bonus percentages ranging from 50% to 75% of salary 
and lower LTIP opportunities are made, in part as nil-cost options and in 
part as restricted stock vesting after three years. Variable pay elements 
for senior executives are driven principally by market comparatives and 
the overall impact of the role the individual holds at Vectura. Long-term 
incentives are provided to those individuals identified as having 
significant potential to influence Group performance. 

All employees are rewarded with a remuneration package that includes 
certain key benefits such as life assurance, permanent health insurance, 
private medical insurance, access to the pension scheme and participation 
in Vectura’s all-employee share schemes and many have eligibility to receive 
a bonus. The bonus scheme for Executive Directors and employees is 
designed to reward performance, and all individuals are required to 
achieve challenging personal goals. 

How shareholders’ views are taken into account
The Committee takes seriously shareholders’ views and voting on the 
Report. In developing the Proposed Policy, the Committee engaged 
directly with major shareholders and their representative bodies.

The Committee will continue to engage directly with major shareholders 
and their representative bodies should any material changes to the Policy 
be proposed. During the year 2019, the Committee engaged extensively 
with major shareholders both in the run-up to and following the 2019 
AGM and in the second half of 2019 wrote to shareholders outlining the 
proposed changes to the Policy in order to seek their views and took 
those into account in the Policy changes.

GOVERNANCE 
Advice to the Committee
The Committee takes account of information from both internal 
and independent sources, including Aon Rewards Solutions (Aon plc’s 
executive remuneration consultancy), which acts as the Committee’s 
principal, and only material, advisor. Aon advises on all aspects of Vectura’s 
Policy and reviews Vectura’s remuneration structures against corporate 
governance best practice. 

Aon is a founder member of the Remuneration Consultants Group and 
complies with its Code of Conduct, which sets out guidelines to ensure 
that its advice is independent and objective. The Committee reviews the 
performance and independence of its advisors on an annual basis. During 
the period, Vectura incurred fees of £153,578 (plus VAT) from Aon, which 
included £104,332 fees in support of the Committee’s annual agenda and 
£36,162 of ad hoc project-based work. In addition to its support to the 
Committee, Aon provided support in relation to share plans and IFRS 2 
calculations to the Committee, the fees for which amounted to £13,084.

The Group’s Executive Vice President – Human Resources provides 
updates to the Committee, as required, to ensure that the Committee is 
fully informed about pay and performance issues throughout the Group. 
The Committee takes these factors into account when determining the 
remuneration of the Executive Directors and senior executives. The CEO 
and CFO also attend at the Committee’s request but are not present in 
discussions directly regarding their own remuneration.

Annual remuneration report
Remuneration Committee (the “Committee”)
Governance
The Committee consists entirely of independent Non-Executive 
Directors. The Committee members during the year were as follows: 

Juliet Thompson (Chair)

Bruno Angelici

Thomas Werner

Neil Warner

Anne Whitaker

Kevin Matthews (from April 2019)

In accordance with the requirements of the Code, the Board has 
confirmed that Bruno Angelici was independent upon his appointment to 
the Board. No conflicts of interest with respect to the work of the Committee 
have arisen during the period and none of the members of the Committee 
have any personal financial interest in the matters discussed, other than 
as shareholders. The fees of the Non-Executive Directors are determined 
by the Board on the joint recommendation of the Chair and the CEO. 
The fees of the Chair are determined by the Committee.

The Committee’s principal function is to support Vectura’s strategy by 
ensuring that those individuals responsible for delivering the strategy are 
appropriately incentivised and rewarded through the operation of Vectura’s 
Policy. In determining the Policy, and in constructing the remuneration 
arrangements for Executive Directors and senior executives, 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 executives of the highest calibre. 

The Committee is formally constituted and operates on written terms of 
reference, which are modelled on the Code and are available on Vectura’s 
website (www.vectura.com). 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

75

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration report continued

Audited information
Directors’ remuneration – financial year ended 31 December 2019
The total remuneration of the individual Directors who served during the period is shown below. Total remuneration is the sum of emoluments 
plus Group pension contributions, and the value of long-term incentive awards vesting by reference to performance in the twelve months 
to 31 December 2019.

Executive Directors

W Downie1

J Ward-Lilley2

P Fry3,4

Year

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

Non-Executive Directors

B F J Angelici

N W Warner

P-O Andersson5,6

T Werner8

J Thompson

A Whitaker5

K Matthews7

S Foden9

Total

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

Basic
salary (a)
£000

Benefits (b)
£000

Bonus (c)
£000

LTIP (d)
£000

Pension

entitlements (e)

£000

Other (f)
£000

SIP
awards (g)
£000

Total fixed
remuneration
£000

Total variable
remuneration
£000

Total
remuneration
£000

68

—

264

516

367

66

150

150

58

58

54

50

52

50

58

50

50

29

38

—

43

60

1,203

1,209

1

—

5

9

6

1

60

58

5

6

12

12

11

5

5

4

8

6

2

—

2

5

117

107

71

—

276

487

366

58

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

161

—

 —

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

5

—

53

103

68

13

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

10

—

— 

311

—

—

—

—

6

4

—

—

—

—

4

6

—

—

—

—

713

545

161

—

125

116

20

321

—

—

4

4

2

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

6

4

74

—

332

628

441

80

210

208

 63

 64 

72

66 

63

 55 

63

54 

62

41

40

—

45

65

71

—

440

491

368

369

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

145

—

772

1,119

809

449

210 

 208 

 63

 64 

72

66 

63

 55 

63

54 

62

41

40

—

45

65

1,466

1,262

879

860

2,345

2,122

1  W Downie joined the Board on 7 November 2019.

2 

3 

4. 

 J Ward-Lilley stepped down from the Board on 30 June 2019. The amount in “Other” relates to payment of accrued holiday up to his leaving date. In addition to the amounts reported in the single figure table, 
he received a payment in lieu of notice of £640,558, plus £20,000 in respect of outplacement and legal costs. Full details on his leaving arrangements are set out on pages 81 and 82.

 P Fry was appointed Interim CEO on 1 July 2019. At that time, his base salary was temporarily increased from £339,020 to £420,000 before it returned to £339,020 when he resumed his role as CFO. His bonus maximum 
as CFO was 125% of his base salary (pro-rated for time served as CFO) and his bonus maximum as Interim CEO was 135% of his base salary (pro-rated for time served as Interim CEO). Further information is provided 
on page 64.

 For P Fry, in 2018 “Other” includes a cash payment of £142,692 made in respect of forfeited bonuses at Immunocore, which reflects (i) an entitlement to a cash retention bonus of £50,000, (ii) compensation of an 
additional project-related cash bonus of £20,000 and (iii) a pro-rated annual bonus of £72,692. These awards are subject to certain clawback provisions. “Other” also includes forfeitable shares worth £167,500 
as part of a buyout of equity entitlements at Immunocore. 

 5 

P-O Andersson and A Whitaker received a £2,000 allowance for each Board meeting that requires transatlantic travel and these amounts are shown as “Other” in the table above.

6 

7 

8 

9 

P-O Andersson receives an additional £4,000 a year in relation to his role as Board employee representative.

K Matthews joined the Board on 29 March 2019.

T Werner became Senior Independent Director on 1 October 2019, replacing S Foden following her departure.

 S Foden stepped down on 30 September 2019. In addition to the amounts reported in the single figure table, she received a payment in lieu of notice of £14,500. Full details on her leaving arrangements are set out 
on page 82.

76

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the remuneration table
(a) 

 This is the amount earned in respect of the financial period.

(b) 

 This is the taxable value of benefits paid or payable in respect of the financial period. These benefits typically relate to death, disability 
and medical insurance. 

 Following a review of our reporting processes, we have identified that the benefit figures for the Non-Executive Directors were omitted from 
last year’s disclosure. These relate to the reimbursement, in accordance with our Policy, of travel and accommodation expenses incurred by 
the Chair and Non-Executive Directors in performance of their duties, which are deemed by HMRC to be taxable benefits in kind. 

(c)  This is the total bonus earned under the annual bonus scheme in respect of the financial year.

(d) 

(e) 

 The amount shown relates to the market value of LTIP awards whose performance period ended during 2019. Refer to page 78 for details of LTIP 
awards. Over the vesting period the share price fell from £1.274 at grant on 25 May 2017 to £0.8593 which was the average share price over October, 
November and December 2019. This resulted in a reduction in value of the vesting shares of around £180,000.

 UK tax legislation imposes penalty taxes on annual pension contributions where prescribed maximum amounts are exceeded. The Committee 
has previously determined that impacted Executive Directors would receive pension benefits limited to the prescribed maximum amounts and 
an additional taxable supplementary cash payment equal to the cost to the Group of the pension benefit foregone. The amount of the allowance 
awarded to any Executive Director so impacted has been set by the Committee so that there is no additional cost to the Group resulting from 
this arrangement.

(f) 

 For Paul Fry, refer to footnote 4. For the remaining Executive and Non-Executive Directors, this relates to transatlantic travel allowances; refer to 
note 5. 

(g)  The benefit of the SIP awards is calculated as the number of shares awarded multiplied by the share price on the date of the award. 

Additional requirements in respect of the single total figure table 
of remuneration (audited information)
Performance-related pay earned in the year to 31 December 2019
Annual bonus
Performance objectives are established at the beginning of the financial period by reference to suitably challenging corporate and personal goals. 
The scheme is offered to many staff below Board level and maximum bonus opportunities range from 10% to 75% of salary, depending on grade. 
Bonus payments are not pensionable. The Committee has consistently sought to set stretching corporate goals, including financial measures, 
development pipeline progress, partnering successes and control of cash expenditure, which are weighted towards goals with the highest corporate 
significance. In addition, a significant percentage of the bonus potential is set against challenging personal objectives which are linked to the overall 
business strategy.

For 2019, the Executive Directors were measured against a scorecard of financial and non-financial objectives, as follows:

l

a

i

c
n
a
n
F

i

l

a

i

c
n
a
n
i
f
-
n
o
N

Revenue

31.25%

Adjusted EBITDA

31.25%

Material new deal  
value creation

10%

Maximising pipeline value

17.5%

Great place to work

10%

100%

The maximum bonus opportunity was 135% of basic salary for 
Will Downie and was pro-rated to reflect time served during the year. 
For Paul Fry, the maximum bonus opportunity was 125% of basic salary 
for his time as CFO, and 135% of base salary for his time as Interim CEO. 
In accordance with his leaver terms, James Ward-Lilley is eligible for a 
bonus but pro-rated for time served in the year.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

77

GOVERNANCE 
 
Remuneration report continued

Additional requirements in respect of the single total figure table 
of remuneration (audited information) continued
Performance-related pay earned in the year to 31 December 2019 continued
Annual bonus continued
The Committee assessed the metrics as follows:

Financial metrics
Vectura’s sector is notable for the long development cycles involved in successfully bringing products to market. Each programme carries a different 
level of risk with different probability of success rate and each has different development requirements, meaning that certain programmes will take 
longer to realise value or get to market than others. Each year, the Committee sets targets for the bonus which are considered stretching in the context 
of the business plan for the year. Revenue and adjusted EBITDA in 2019 have continued to show good growth. The targets for 2019 were again based 
on the business plan with reference to broker consensus forecasts. Actual performance against both measures was close to the maximum levels.

Revenue 
(31.25% weighting)

Adjusted  
EBITDA
(31.25% weighting)

Threshold

Maximum

Actual

Revenue (£m)

149.9

153.9

158.0

162.0

166.1

170.1

174.2

178.2

182.3

178.3

% of bonus

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0% 100.0%

90.2%

Adjusted EBITDA 
(£m)

32.0

34.0

36.0

38.0

40.0

42.0

44.0

46.0

48.0

43.4

% of bonus

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0% 100.0%

77.0%

Total

12.50% 18.75% 25.00% 31.25% 37.50% 43.75% 50.00% 56.25% 62.50% 52.30%

Non-financial metrics

Performance measure

Weighting

Targets

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

Commentary

Material new 
deal value 
creation

Maximising 
pipeline value

Great place 
to work

10.0%

VR647 Phase III partnering agreement signed

0.0%

Partnering agreement was not achieved.

Signing of new development and supply 
contracts for the Lyon site achieving stretch 
profitability target

17.5%

VR315 resubmission Q4 2019

15.0%

Development of FOX® and AKITA® nebuliser 
platforms, and improvements in manufacture

10.0%

Strong employee engagement

10.0%

Site strategy implementation including 
Gauting transition

Improved HSE culture/performance with 
simplified reporting and data visibility/action 
follow-up

Lyon site break-even delayed until 2020.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals, with the support of the Vectura 
team, resubmitted VR315 (US) to the FDA in November 2019.

FOX® improvements progressed, and this platform 
continues to generate significant customer interest. 
Further AKITA® developments contingent on partner interest.

The annual employee engagement survey helps us to 
measure how we are doing against our goal of Vectura 
being a great place to work.

88% of employees took part in the 2019 survey and the 
results show improvement across all areas compared 
to the March 2018 survey. Favourable responses were 
53%, the highest since 2016. Absenteeism and attrition 
remain below the UK average.

Site strategy and working environment improvements 
were implemented, including decisions to sell surplus 
buildings and improve site utilisation. The Gauting site 
closure progressed to plan, and good progress was 
made on executing the Group’s site footprint strategy.

A significant investment has been made in HSE in 2019, 
with new leadership and a greater focus on improving 
both culture and key metrics. The recordable incident 
rate was zero in 2019, which is a very strong performance.

Total

37.5%

25.0%

78

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
During the year the Committee reviewed the scorecard in light of the shift of the Group’s focus towards a CDMO operation. As a result of this review, 
the Committee concluded that the maximising pipeline objectives should be amended so that objectives related to VEnT wave 1 milestones be removed, 
as these were no longer consistent with the focus of the business, but that the goals related to FOX® and AKITA® development should remain unchanged. 
At the time of this decision the specific VEnT wave 1 objectives were on-track. In exercising its discretion the Committee determined that the percentage 
of the overall bonus (2.5% of the maximum for Executive Directors) allocated to the VEnT wave 1 milestones should be reallocated equally to the two 
financial metrics. Prior to making this change the Committee satisfied itself that the impact of this change did not result in the scorecard targets being 
no less stretching than the original scorecard.

As noted in the Chair’s statement, the Committee reviewed the formulaic outcome of the scorecard and concluded that the scorecard outcome, as shown 
above, reflected the performance of the Executive Directors in the year. The Committee did not exercise discretion in determining the annual bonus outcome. 

The resulting annual bonus awards under the Policy, i.e. bonus awards of up to 100% of salary payable in cash, with the remainder deferred into shares 
for two years, are as follows:

W Downie1

J Ward-Lilley2

P Fry3

Bonus
scorecard
outcome

£71,390

£275,597

£366,199

Actual 
% of 
maximum

Maximum
opportunity
% of salary

77.3

77.3

77.3

135%

135%

129%

Actual 
% of
salary

104.4

104.4

99.7

Total cash 
% of 
salary

Total shares 
% of 
salary

100

100

99.7

4.4

4.4

0.0

1 

2 

3 

For bonus purposes, W Downie’s 2019 salary was £68,410, which was his base salary after pro-rating for time served in 2019 (7 November to 31 December).

For bonus purposes, J Ward-Lilley’s 2019 salary was £264,096, which was his base salary after pro-rating for time served in 2019 (1 January to 30 June).

 P Fry received a bonus for his time as Interim CEO (when his bonus maximum was 135% of £420,000, pro-rated for time served as Interim CEO) and separate bonus for his time as CFO (when his bonus maximum 
was 125% of £339,020, pro-rated for time served as CFO). His combined bonus maximum was £473,737, which was 129% of his combined base salary for the year.

LTIP scheme
Scheme interests vested during the period
On 24 September 2015, an award of LTIP options was made to the Executive Directors who were in office at that time. The awards are subject to 
relative TSR, measured over three tranches over three or five years, against two comparator groups (each representing 50% of the total award). 
The first tranche comprised 40% of the award and lapsed on 1 August 2018 (with performance measured up to 31 December 2017). The second 
and third tranches comprise the remaining 60% of the award (40% for the standard five-year award and 20% for the “kicker” award) and are due 
to vest on 24 September 2020.

Vesting of the second tranche of this award was calculated by Aon as follows:

Measure

TSR against constituents of the FTSE 250 companies (excluding real estate 
and financial services) (50% of award)

TSR against selected European pharmaceutical companies
(50% of award)2

Threshold 1
15%

Median
37.72%

Median
47.46%%

Maximum 1
100%

Actual

Vesting

Upper quartile
191.45%

Upper quartile
210.43%

-41.76%

-41.76%

0%

0%

1 

2 

Linear vesting between these points.

 The full European pharmaceutical comparator group used for these awards is Ablynx NV, ALK-Abelló A/S, Almirall SA, arGEN-X N.V, Basilea Pharmaceutica AG, BTG plc, Circassia Limited, Clinigen Group Plc, 
Consort Medical, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals S.p.A., DBV Technologies S.A., Evotec AG, Faes Farma, Genmab A/S, Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC, Indivior PLC, Molecular Partners AG, Morphosys AG, Orion Oyj, 
Pharma Mar, Recipharm AB (publ), Recordati SpA, Stada-Arzneimittel AG, Stallergenes Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB, Vernalis plc and Zealand Pharma.

The vesting of the third tranche of this award required Vectura TSR to exceed the upper decile of the two comparator groups set out above. 
However, as shown in the table above, Vectura’s TSR’s over the performance period was below the upper decile level and vesting is therefore 0%.

As a result, the second and third tranches of the LTIP options awarded to Executive Directors in 2015 will lapse as set out below:

Director

J Ward-Lilley

J Ward-Lilley

Total

Type of award

Vesting date

Number
of options
awarded

Percentage 
of award
vested

2015 LTIP – tranche two

24 September 2020

252,101

2015 LTIP – tranche two

24 September 2020

126,051

0%

0%

Exercise
price
p

0.0271

0.0271

Value of 
LTIP awards
 vesting
 £

—

—

—

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

79

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration report continued

Additional requirements in respect of the single total figure table 
of remuneration (audited information) continued
LTIP scheme continued
Scheme interests vested during the period continued
An award of LTIP options was also granted on 25 May 2017 to Executive Directors in office at the time. Of the Executive Directors employed during 2019, 
only James Ward-Lilley held an outstanding award from this grant. This award has a performance period of three years ending 31 December 2019 and 
is due to vest on 25 May 2020. Performance has been assessed by the Committee as set out below:

Measure

TSR against constituents of the FTSE 250 companies 
(excluding real estate and financial services) (50% of award)

Cumulative adjusted growth in adjusted EBITDA (50% of award)2

1 

Linear vesting between these points.

Threshold 1
15%

Median
25.1%

£86.7m

Maximum 1
100%

Upper quartile
66.8%

Actual

Vesting

-38.62%

0%

£120.6m

108.2m

68.9%

As a result of this vesting outcome, the Committee determined that 34.5% of the total LTIP awards will vest to James Ward-Lilley, but subject to a pro-rata 
reduction for his time served during the vesting period. This will result in 24.1% of the shares under award vesting as set out below:

Director

J Ward-Lilley

Total

Type of award

2017 LTIP

Vesting date

Number
of options
awarded

Percentage 
of award
vested

Exercise
price
p

Value of 
LTIP awards
 vesting
 £

25 May 2020

776,242

24.1%

0.0271

160,620

160,620

1 

2 

The original number of shares under award were 776,242 but these were performance tested and pro-rated so that only 160,620 shares (24.1% of the original award) will vest to J Ward-Lilley.

 As the awards will not vest before the publication of this report and so the value of vesting will not be known, these awards have been valued using the average share price over the last three months of 2019 of 85.93p. 
The value will be restated next year in the single figure table when the share price at the vesting date is known.

Scheme interests awarded during the period (audited)
Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
After due and careful consideration by the Committee, the following awards of nominal cost options were granted to the Executive Directors under the 
LTIP on 25 April 2019:

Director

Date of grant

Number
of options
awarded 4

Value of 
award

Share price 
used to 
determine
level of 
award
pence per share 2

Face 
value
£

Exercise
 price 4
pence per share

% that
vests at
threshold

End of 
performance 
period 1

J Ward-Lilley3

25 April 2019

1,010,706

138.75%

25 April 2019

864,966

185.00%

72.51

72.51

732,864

627,187

0.0271

0.0271

15

15

31 December 2021

31 December 2021

P Fry

Total

  1,875,672

1,360,051

1 

2 

3 

4 

Details of the relevant performance conditions are set out below.

The share price used for awards made on 25 April 2019 was the average price of the five days preceding the award date.

These awards will be pro-rated for time served at vesting because J Ward-Lilley stood down from the Board in June 2019. The amount shown is before pro-rating.

Following the share consolidation programme in October 2019, the share awards remained unchanged in number. However the exercise price per share was amended to reflect the new nominal share value.

The awards set out above which were granted on 25 April 2019 are subject to relative TSR and cumulative growth in adjusted EBITDA, measured over 
three years (each representing 50% of the total award), as set out in the following table:

Proportion of total award 

Performance period 

Measure

3 years

Relative TSR against FTSE 250 companies 
(excluding real estate and financial services)

Threshold 1
15%

Median

Maximum 1
100%

Upper quartile

3 years

Cumulative growth in adjusted EBITDA 

£115m

£150m 

50%

50%

1 

Linear vesting between these points.

Performance against the TSR condition will be measured by the Committee’s independent advisors.

Irrespective of the extent to which the conditions have been met, the Committee may decrease the percentage vesting based on a range of factors, 
including the Group’s 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 for the relevant year.

80

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To the extent that performance conditions are not met in full at the end of the three-year performance period, awards lapse.

The Committee has the power to claw back and/or apply a malus mechanism in respect of all or part of the awards/payments for one year following 
vesting as set out in our Policy.

Buyout of entitlements at previous employer for new joiners
No buyout awards were made in 2019.

SIP – free share awards
An award of free shares was made to all employees on 30 May 2019 under the SIP. The awards are subject to a three-year holding period and no 
performance conditions are attached, except for continued employment. The awards made to Executive Directors are shown in the table below:

Director

J Ward-Lilley3

P Fry

Total

MMQ
price on
day before 
grant
p

Number of
shares
awarded 
pre-consolidation

78.4

78.4

4,591

2,678

Number of
shares
awarded post 
consolidation

Face
value
£

Face
value
£

% that vests
at threshold

3,599

4,237

3,322 1

2,100

2,663 2

2,088

100

100

Vesting date

29 May 2022

29 May 2022

7,269

5,699

6,900

5,410

1 

2 

3 

J Ward-Lilley received a cash dividend of £275.46 in respect of his pre-consolidation holding.

P Fry reinvested his pre-consolidation dividend of £160.68 using the DRIP, receiving an additional 191 shares.

J Ward-Lilley exercised his SIP option as a good leaver following his departure in June 2019.

SAYE
The SAYE is open to employees including Executive Directors. Under this scheme all eligible employees are invited to subscribe for options, which 
may be granted at a discount of up to 20% to market value and which vest after three or five years. The SAYE is an HMRC-approved all-employee 
plan to which performance conditions do not apply. No SAYE options vested for Executive Directors during the year.

Total pension entitlements
As stated in the notes to the single figure remuneration table, UK tax legislation imposes penalty taxes on annual pension contributions where 
prescribed maximum amounts are exceeded. Impacted Executive Directors receive an additional taxable supplementary cash payment in lieu 
of pension contributions in excess of any limits.

Executive Directors

W Downie1

J Ward-Lilley2

P Fry

Total

Received
in cash
£000

Received
as pension
£000

5

53

68

126

—

—

—

—

1  W Downie joined the Board on 7 November 2019 and receives an employer pension contribution of 6% of salary.

2 

J Ward-Lilley stood down from the Board on 30 June 2019 and received an employer pension contribution of 20% of salary.

Outside directorships
Neither Executive Director held an outside directorship during 2019. Following the year end Paul Fry became a non-executive director of AIM-listed 
Avacta Group plc, a developer of Affimer® biotherapeutics and reagents. He is also its audit committee chair.

Payments made for loss of office and payments to past Directors (audited information)
James Ward-Lilley stepped down as CEO in June 2019. Remuneration arrangements in respect of his departure were determined by the Committee 
in line with his service contract and the Policy. Following his departure, his remuneration was treated as follows:

•  payment in lieu of notice of £640,558 for base salary, pension and benefits subject to mitigation. Payment in three equal tranches - on cessation 

and then in October 2019 and February 2020;

•  payment for accrued holiday of £10,158;

•  contribution to legal costs of £10,000;

•  contribution to outplacement counselling of £10,000;

•  a pro-rata annual bonus for 2019 of £275,597. This was determined in line with the performance assessment set out earlier in this Report and was 

pro-rated for time served. The bonus is subject to clawback; and

•  SIP awards vested under good leaver rules.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

81

GOVERNANCE 
Remuneration report continued

Additional requirements in respect of the single total figure table 
of remuneration (audited information) continued
Payments made for loss of office and payments to past Directors (audited information) continued
In addition, James Ward-Lilley’s LTIP awards will be pro-rated for time served and will vest at the normal time subject to performance. A table setting 
out the treatment of these awards is set out below:

Normal vesting date

Shares under award at grant

Shares lapsed

Shares under award after pro-rating for time in employment

24 September 2020

1 August 2021

25 May 2020

22 March 2021

1 March 2022

630,252

780,838

776,242

1,286,051

1,010,706

252,100

312,335

—

—

—

284,596

272,736

542,519

545,632

60,863

Dr Susan Foden stepped down on 30 September 2019. Remuneration arrangements in respect of her departure were determined by the Committee 
in line with her terms of engagement which provides for three months’ notice and as such she received a sum of £14,500 in lieu of notice.

There were no other payments to past Directors.

Statement of Directors’ shareholdings and share interests (audited information) 
As a direct link between Executive Director remuneration and the interests of shareholders, the Committee has shareholding guidelines for Executive 
Directors. Executive Directors are required to build up and maintain an interest in Vectura shares of 200% of base salary. There is currently no prescribed 
timescale in which to meet the guidelines although the Committee monitors progress towards achievement of the guidelines. The value of the shareholding 
shown below is assessed using the share price on 31 December 2019, being 92.7p. Base salary is as at 1 January 2020.

Executive Directors are required to retain at least half of any share awards exercised as shares (after paying any tax due) until they reach the guideline level. 
No exercises of options took place in the year or in the previous year.

Both Executive Directors currently hold 0% as a percentage of salary (excludes unvested options). The Committee will keep under review a plan for 
building the shareholding in the Group to ensure that they meet the 200% requirement within, or close to, five years from the date of their appointment.

The Directors who have held office during the year ended 31 December 2019 and their interests (in respect of which transactions are notifiable to the 
Group under the Financial Conduct Authority’s rules) in the share capital of Vectura at 31 December 2019 are shown in the following tables.

As at 13 March 2020 (the latest practicable date prior to publication of this report), the serving Directors of the Company had a beneficial interest in an 
aggregate of 470,077 ordinary shares, representing 0.08% of the Company’s total voting rights.

31 December 
2019
ordinary 
shares of 
0.0271p each 6

Unvested and
 subject to
 continued 
employment
 only

Value of
shares as
a % of
salary 7

Unvested and 
subject to
 performance
conditions 

—

433,832

—

—

0%

—

152%

1,706,346

—

228,404

58%

225,741

219,602

46,153

28,132

114,776

45,261

—

16,153

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Executive Directors

W Downie1

J Ward-Lilley2

P Fry3 

Non-Executive Directors

B F J Angelici

P-O Andersson

N W Warner

T Werner

J Thompson

A Whitaker

S Foden4

K Matthews5

1  W Downie was appointed to the Board on 7 November 2019.

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

J Ward-Lilley stepped down in June 2019. At that time, his outstanding awards were pro-rated for time served.

P Fry’s share value as a percentage of salary is based on his combined CFO and CEO salary for 2019.

S Foden stepped down in September 2019.

K Matthews was appointed to the Board on 29 March 2019.

The ordinary shares were consolidated for every 13 shares; 12 new shares were given in October 2019.

The share price used to calculate share value was as at close on 31 December 2019 of 92.7p per share.

82

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
W Downie

J Ward-Lilley

P Fry

LTIP awards subject to performance conditions

2015
award 1,2

0

2016
award 1

0

Unvested

2017
award 3

0

2018
award 4

0

2019 
award 5

0

378,152

468,503

776,242

1,286,051

1,010,706

Awards
granted
under
LR 9.4.2(2)
and LTIP
schemes 6

0

0

0

0

0

225,741

864,966

225,741

2,663

Share option awards not  
subject to performance conditions

Unvested

Vested

SIP7

0

0

SIP 

0

0

0

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

 The 2015 and 2016 awards consist of a three-year tranche, a five-year tranche and a five-year “kicker”. In accordance with the outcome of the performance conditions for the three-year tranches, 40% of the 2015 
LTIP award lapsed and 40% of the 2016 LTIP award lapsed. The above unvested awards reflect the remaining five-year tranche and five-year “kicker”, but will be pro-rated for time at vesting as J Ward-Lilley stood 
down from the Board in June 2019.

In accordance with the outcome of the performance conditions as outlined on page 79, all the unvested 2015 options will lapse.

 The 2017 awards are subject to performance conditions measured over three years from 1 January 2017. Vesting of 50% of the awards is dependent on relative TSR performance against FTSE 250 (excluding financial 
services and real estate sector companies) and the remaining 50% based on cumulative three-year growth in adjusted EBITDA. As set out on page 80, only 160,620 of these awards will vest and the remainder will lapse.

 The 2018 awards are subject to performance conditions measured over three years from 1 January 2018. Vesting of 50% of the awards is dependent on relative TSR performance against FTSE 250 (excluding 
financial services and real estate sector companies) and the remaining 50% based on cumulative three-year growth in adjusted EBITDA. For P Fry, this is the award granted under the LTIP on 22 October 2018, 
which is subject to the same performance conditions as the 2018 LTIP award.

 The 2019 awards are subject to performance conditions measured over three years from 1 January 2019. Vesting of 50% of the awards is dependent on relative TSR performance against FTSE 250 (excluding 
financial services and real estate sector companies) and the remaining 50% based on cumulative three-year growth in adjusted EBITDA.

For P Fry, unvested awards relate to the award granted under LR 9.4.2(2), which vest subject to continued employment (and clawback and malus). Details of these awards were provided in the 2018 Report. 

 For J Ward-Lilley, Share Incentive Plan awards were granted on 28 December 2016, 30 May 2018 and 30 May 2019. These awards were exercised under the good leaver rules. For P Fry, awards were granted on 30 May 2019. 
The awards are subject to a three-year holding period with no performance conditions. Details of these awards can be found on page 81.

Unaudited information
Performance graph and table
The following graph shows Vectura’s cumulative TSR over the last ten financial years relative to the FTSE 250 index and the FTSE SmallCap index. 
These indices were chosen as Vectura is or was recently one of the constituent companies and the Committee considers that they remain the most 
appropriate against which to measure performance. 

TSR is defined as the return on investment obtained from holding a company’s shares over a period. It includes dividends paid, the change in the capital 
value of the shares and any other payments made to or by shareholders within the period.

Total shareholder return 
Source: FactSet.

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

)
d
e
s
a
b
e
r
(

)
£
(
e
u
a
V

l

0
March
2010

March
2011

March
2012

March
2013

March
2014

March
2015

March
2016

December
2016

December
2017

December
2018

December
2019

Vectura Group plc

FTSE 250

FTSE SmallCap

This graph shows the value, by 31 December 2019, of £100 invested in Vectura on 31 March 2010, compared with the value of £100 invested in the 
FTSE 250 and FTSE SmallCap indices on the same date.

The other points plotted are the values at intervening financial year ends.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

83

GOVERNANCE 
 
 
Remuneration report continued

Unaudited information continued
Aligning pay with performance
CEO remuneration compared with annual growth in TSR:

2010/11
£000

2011/12
£000

2012/13
£000

2013/14
£000

2014/15
£000

2015/16
£000

2015/16
£000

2016 1
£000

2017
£000

CEO total remuneration

669

971

594

748

1,951

1,110

1,178

1,409

1,041

Chris
Blackwell

James
Ward-Lilley

James

Ward-Lilley 2 Paul Fry 2

Will 
Downie 2

2018
£000

1,119

2019
£000

772

2019
£000

326

2019
£000

145

Actual bonus as a %  
of the maximum

Actual share award 
vesting as a % of the 
maximum3,4

62.0 

53.0 

59.0 

100.0 

80.0 

—

92.0 

99.5

60.0

70.0

77.3

77.3

77.3

62.9 

100.0 

—

— 100.0 

50.0 

100.0 

75.0

—

—

24.1

—

—

1 

2  

3 

4 

Nine-month period.

Shows amounts for the three incumbents during 2019, namely J Ward-Lilley from 1 January to 30 June, P Fry from 1 July to 6 November, and W Downie from 7 November to 31 December 2019.

No LTIP awards vested during FY 2012/13, FY 2013/14, FY 2017, FY 2018 or FY 2019.

 Upon appointment, J Ward-Lilley received nil-cost options, certain of which vested immediately and certain of which vested on the first anniversary of appointment subject to performance conditions. Refer to 
pages 98 and 99 of the Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2017 for further details.

Percentage change in remuneration of the CEO
Set out below is the change over the prior period in base salary, benefits, pension and annual performance bonus of the CEO and the Group’s employees. 
The remuneration for the CEO is based on the aggregate remuneration for the three incumbents during 2019. For ease, the aggregate remuneration for 
the three incumbents is set out below. These figures have been used for both this section and the CEO pay ratio below.

CEO 2019 salary (aggregated)

 479 

 8 

500 

 161 

 81 

 10 

Salary

Benefits

Bonus

LTIP

Pension

Other

SIP

 4 

Total 
fixed

Total
variable

Total

 578 

 665 

 1,243 

Salary

Benefits

Bonus

2019
£000

479  

8  

500  

CEO1

Percentage change 
(FY 2018 vs FY 2019)

All employees2

Percentage
 change

- 7.1%

- 7.5%

2.7%

2.9%

- 12.2% 

- 9.5%

1 

2 

For 2019, this is based on the sum of remuneration for the three incumbents during 2019, namely J Ward-Lilley from 1 January to 30 June, P Fry from 1 July to 6 November, and W Downie from 7 November to 31 December.

Percentage figures based on annualised change.

Relative importance of Executive Director remuneration
Total revenue, research and development expenditure and adjusted EBITDA have been selected as comparators for the employee costs as these 
three financial measures are strong indicators of the activity within the Group and of its performance. 

Total employee remuneration

Employee headcount as at 31 December (no. of heads)

Revenue

Research and development expenditure

Adjusted EBITDA

Distributions to shareholders

FY 2018
£m

41.1

453

160.5

55.5

39.0

—

FY 2019
£m

42.9

480

178.3

50.2

43.4

39.9

Change
£m

1.8

73

17.4

(5.5)

5.2

39.9

CEO pay ratio 
The following table shows the ratio between the total remuneration of the CEO and the median total remuneration of our UK employees. Employee 
total remuneration has been calculated using “Option A” of the published methodology. 

Financial year ending

2019

Methodology

Option A

25th percentile pay ratio

50th percentile pay ratio

75th percentile pay ratio

31:1

23:1

14:1

84

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
The above ratios have been calculated using the single figure for the CEO and the following statistics for our UK employees:

Total salary

CEO

£479,133

Total remuneration (single figure)

£1,243,316

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

£33,229

£39,815

£44,485

£55,161

£65,350

£87,891

The above table sets out the ratios of the CEO single total figure of remuneration to the equivalent pay for the lower, median and upper quartile UK 
employees (calculated on a full- time equivalent basis). The ratios have been calculated in accordance with the Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) 
Requirements 2018 (the “Regulations”), which apply for the first time for Vectura’s financial year beginning 1 January 2019. These pay ratios form part 
of the information that is provided to the Committee on broader employee pay policies and practices.

The Regulations provide flexibility to adopt one of three methods of calculation; the ratio has been calculated using Option A which is a calculation 
based on all UK employees on a full-time equivalent basis. To calculate the ratio, the total remuneration figure, comprising base salary, benefits, pension, 
bonus and long-term incentives and any one-off payments such as recognition awards or sign-on bonuses, for all UK employees was calculated for the 
year ending 31 December 2019, in line with the same reporting regulations that apply to the Executive Directors. Full-time equivalent figures are calculated 
on a pro-rated basis. All UK employees were ranked by their total remuneration as at 31 December 2019. From this the three individuals at the 25th, 
50th and 75th percentiles (known as P25, P50 and P75, respectively) were identified. The single figures for the P25, P50 and P75 employees are known 
as Y25, Y50 and Y75, respectively. The aggregated CEO pay is as shown in the Percentage change in remuneration of the CEO section on page 84. 

Annual bonus has not been calculated using the statutory method for single-figure pay. Instead, it was calculated using target annual bonus values 
multiplied by the actual Group performance for 2019 (so disregarding personal performance). 

The reason for this is that the annual bonus results will not be known in time to calculate the ratio. Based on a sample, the impact of estimated bonus 
figures rather than actual is expected to be limited.

The CFO was appointed as interim CEO for the period 1 July to 6 November. For the purpose of calculating the CEO pay ratio, his pay for this period 
has been included in the CEO’s single figure and his pay for the role of CFO has been included as though he was in post for the full year. 

The median ratio is consistent with Vectura’s pay, reward and progression policies for employees which relate pay levels to performance and market 
benchmarks. The majority of our employees participate in bonus and share-based longer-term incentives in order to incentivise performance and 
create alignment with shareholders. Under our Policy, in line with practice in our sector the extent to which total pay is dependent on performance is 
linked to seniority, with more senior roles having higher levels of variable remuneration ensuring their pay is more dependent on Group performance 
and has the greatest alignment with shareholders. 

In 2019, 53% of the single figure for the position of Chief Executive was delivered through performance-related pay. The performance-related pay is 
directly linked to the Group’s financial and operational performance. Each of the P25, P50 and P75 employees received an annual bonus and shares 
that are subject to service conditions and are invited to participate in the SIP and SAYE share schemes on the same terms as the CEO. 

Statement of shareholder voting at 2019 AGM
At last year’s AGM held on 29 May 2019, votes cast by proxy and at the meeting in respect of the Directors’ remuneration were as follows:

For 
(including
discretionary
votes)

Against

Total 
votes cast 
(excluding 
votes
 withheld)

Votes
withheld 1

Total 
votes cast 
(including
votes 
withheld)

To approve the Directors’ remuneration report

483,282,866

27,808,998

511,091,864

7,381,219

518,473,083

% of votes cast

94.56%

5.44%

1 

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

The Policy was last put to a binding shareholder vote at the AGM held on 25 May 2017 with the following outcome:

To approve the Policy 

% of votes cast

For 
(including
discretionary
votes)

Against

Total 
votes cast
 (excluding 
votes 
withheld)

Votes
withheld 1

Total 
votes cast 
(including
votes 
withheld)

518,828,772

18,505,659

537,334,431

16,469,480

553,803,911

96.56%

3.44%

1 

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

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

85

GOVERNANCE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration report continued

Unaudited information continued
Statement of implementation of Policy in 2020

Base salary

Base salary was not increased for the CEO. Base salary was increased by 10% for the CFO:

•  CEO: £460,000

•  CFO: £372,922

Pension

•  CEO: 6% of base salary

•  CFO: reduced to 15% (from 20%) of base salary and to be aligned with workforce by end of 2022

Annual bonus

The annual bonus maximum is 135% of salary for the CEO and 125% of salary for the CFO.

Performance measures for Executive Directors will include targets relating to creating strategic growth opportunities, 
securing existing pipeline value and achieving financial growth, with the following weightings:

•  Revenue (37.5%)

•  Adjusted EBITDA (37.5%)

•  CDMO transformation (10%)

•  Product development and delivery management (10%)

•  Quality and operational excellence (5%)

The performance targets set for the above measures will be disclosed in Vectura’s 2020 Annual Report and Accounts 
in accordance with the Policy set out on pages 68 to 73 of this Report.

LTIP

Awards granted in 2020 will normally consist of:

•  a grant of performance shares, at a level to be determined by the Committee, taking into account the Group’s recent share 

price performance and historical levels of grant; 

•  to be measured over three financial years based against the two following performance conditions:

 • 50% against relative TSR; and

 • 50% against growth in cumulative adjusted EBITDA. Targets have not been set at the time of publication but will be 

disclosed to shareholders at the time of grant;

•  25% of the total award vesting at threshold/median performance, increasing to 100% vesting at stretch/upper 

quartile performance;

•  on vesting, these awards will be subject to a further two-year holding period; and

•  recovery and withholding conditions continue to apply.

Any changes to the metrics will be subject to consultation with major shareholders and disclosed at the time of grant.

Non-Executive Directors’ fees
With effect from 1 January 2020, the Chair and Non-Executive Director fees have been increased by 5% from the previous fees which were effective 
from 1 July 2016. On his appointment as the Employee Engagement designated NED, P-O Andersson received an additional £4,000 per annum which 
is also subject to the 5% increase.

Chair

Employee Engagement designated NED

Committee Chairs/SID1

Other NEDs

Fee

£157,500

£56,700

£60,900

£52,500

1 

In the event that an individual holds a Committee chairmanship and holds the position of Senior Independent Director, they will receive an additional fee of £2,100, bringing the total maximum fee level to £63,000. 

In addition, where a Non-Executive Director is required to undertake transatlantic travel to attend a Board meeting, an allowance of £2,000 is provided per trip.

On behalf of the Board

Juliet Thompson
Remuneration Committee Chair
16 March 2020

86

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

GOVERNANCE 
Directors’ report

The Directors present their report and the audited financial statements 
of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2019. The following additional 
disclosures are made in compliance with the Companies Act 2006 (the 
“Act”), the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR) and the 
2018 UK Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”).

The Directors’ report (the “Report”) comprises these pages and the 
sections of the Annual Report detailed in the table on page 88, which 
are incorporated into this Report by reference. 

Strategic report
The Act requires the Strategic report to be a balanced and comprehensive 
analysis of the development and performance of the Company’s business 
during the financial year and the position of the Company’s business at the 
end of that year, consistent with the size and complexity of the business. 
The strategic report of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries 
is given on pages 2 to 47.

The Board has taken advantage of section 414C(11) of the Act to include 
disclosures in the Strategic report on those items indicated in the table 
at the end of this Report.

For the purposes of DTR 4.1, the required content of the management 
report can be found in the Strategic report and this Report, including 
the sections of the Annual Report incorporated by reference.

Corporate governance statement
DTR 7.2 requires certain information to be included in a corporate 
governance statement in the Directors’ report. Information that fulfils 
these requirements can be found in the Corporate governance statement 
on pages 53 to 55 and are incorporated into this Report by reference.

Directors
The Directors who served during the period were Bruno Angelici, 
Will Downie (appointed 7 November 2019), Paul Fry, Dr Thomas Werner, 
Neil Warner, Dr Per-Olof Andersson, Juliet Thompson, Anne Whitaker 
and Dr Kevin Matthews. James Ward-Lilley and Dr Susan Foden stepped 
down from the Board on 30 June 2019 and 30 September 2019 respectively. 
Biographies of the current Directors can be found on pages 50 and 51.

Capital structure
During the year ended 31 December 2019 the Company undertook a 
consolidation of its ordinary shares. The share consolidation replaced 
every thirteen existing 0.025p ordinary shares with twelve new 0.0271p 
ordinary shares. As all ordinary shares were consolidated, each shareholder’s 
percentage holding in the total issued share capital of the Company 
immediately before and after the implementation of the share consolidation 
(save in respect of fractional entitlements) remained unchanged.

The Company has two classes of shares. Ordinary shares of 0.0271p 
(0.025p prior to consolidation), representing 99.99% of the total share 
capital (as at 13 March 2020, being the latest practicable date prior to 
publication) of the Company, carry no right to fixed income. Each ordinary 
share carries the right to one vote at general meetings of the Company. 
The ordinary shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The Company also has redeemable preference shares of £1.00 each, 
representing 0.01% of the total share capital (as at 13 March 2020, being 
the latest practicable date prior to publication) of the Company, which 
were not affected by the share consolidation of the ordinary shares. 
These shares are not listed on any exchange and carry no rights to 
dividend or other distribution. Holders have the right to receive notice 
of meetings and to attend, but not to vote at the same.

Movements in the Company’s issued share capital, listed on the London Stock 
Exchange, during the year are shown in note 28 “Ordinary share capital”.

Details of employee share schemes are set out in note 29 “Share-based 
payments”. Shares were issued and allotted during the period only in relation 
to the administration of the employee share plans. Shares held by the 
employee benefit trusts are not voted by the Trustees of each Trust. 

Results and dividends
The Group made a loss after tax for the year ended 31 December 2019 
of £22.1m (2018: £88.2m loss). During the year and prior to the share 
consolidation, the Company paid a special dividend of 6p per ordinary 
share. The Directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend 
(2018: nil).

Acquisition of the Company’s own shares
The Company purchased 4,127,660 of its own ordinary shares at a total 
cost (excluding all costs) of £3,537,789.56 in the year under review, being 
0.67% of the issued share capital at the date the authority was granted. 
The nominal value of the shares was 0.0271p per share and the weighted 
average price paid per share was 85.709p. The purpose of the buyback 
was to reduce the share capital of the Company and all shares purchased 
were immediately cancelled. 

The current buyback programme began in October 2019 and authority 
was given to purchase shares up to a value of £20m in two tranches, 
each of £10m. The first tranche is nearing completion. It has not yet been 
decided when the second tranche will begin; however, a resolution will 
be proposed at the 2020 AGM to give the Company authority to acquire 
ordinary shares following expiry of the current authority to ensure the 
buyback programme can continue. The Directors will use this authority 
for the second buyback tranche as previously announced, and otherwise 
only after careful consideration, taking into account market conditions 
prevailing at the time, other investment opportunities, appropriate gearing 
levels and the overall position of Vectura. In particular, this authority will be 
exercised only if the Directors believe that it is in the best interests of 
shareholders generally.

Shares held in trust
As at 31 December 2019, there were 5,379,547 0.0271p ordinary shares 
held by the Vectura Group Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) for the benefit 
of Group employees. These shares had a nominal value at 31 December 
2019 of 0.0271p and a market value of £4,986,840. The shares held by 
the EBTs may be used to satisfy share-based incentives for the Group’s 
employee share plans. Of the shares currently held in the EBTs, 1,027,009 
shares were purchased by the EBTs during the year to meet the award 
requirements of the Employee Share Incentive Plan, options granted 
under the Long-Term Incentive Plan and as a result of the Dividend 
Re-Investment Plan introduced in October 2019.

Political donations
The Company made no political donations during the period. The Group 
has a policy of not making donations to any UK or EU political party and 
will continue to adhere to this policy. 

Human rights
While Vectura does not have a specific human rights policy, a copy 
of the Company’s Modern Slavery Statement, which has been adopted 
by the Board is available on the Company’s website (www.vectura.com) 
and sets out the steps we have taken to ensure that slavery and human 
trafficking are not present in our supply chains or business. The Company 
also has a number of other internal policies including the Code of Conduct 
and the Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy which support human 
rights principles.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

87

GOVERNANCE 
Directors’ report continued

Directors’ indemnities and Directors’ 
and Officers’ liability insurance
A qualifying third-party indemnity provision (but not a qualifying pension 
scheme indemnity provision) for the benefit of the Directors was in force 
during the period. The Company and the Group maintain insurance policies 
for their Directors and Officers in respect of liabilities which could arise in 
the discharge of their duties. 

Post balance sheet events
There were no disclosable post balance sheet events, other than the 
continuation of the Share buyback programme, as per note 35 of the 
consolidated financial statements. 

Change of control
The Company, and its various subsidiaries, are party to a number 
of agreements, which have change of control clauses. If triggered, these 
could lead to delays in product development programmes and/or product 
commercialisation. In the event of a takeover bid, there are no specific 

Additional information
Disclosure

Financial instruments and financial risk management

Appointment, removal and powers of Directors

Future developments of the Group’s business

Employee culture and engagement (includes employee investment and reward)

Employee share schemes (includes Long-Term Incentive Plans)

agreements between the Company and its Directors providing for 
compensation for loss of office or employment (whether through 
resignation, purported redundancy or otherwise).

Disclosure of audit information
The Directors who held office at the date of approval of this Report confirm 
that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit information 
of which the Company’s auditor is unaware and each Director has taken all 
the steps that they ought to have taken as a Director to make themselves 
aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the 
Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

Independent auditor
A resolution to reappoint KPMG LLP as auditor will be proposed 
at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). Details are 
provided in the Notice of AGM.

Page(s)

121–122

53

8 to 47

41–42

Location in Annual Report

Note 27, financial statements

Corporate governance statement

Strategic report1

Strategic report: Doing business responsibly1

70-71 and 
123-124

Directors’ remuneration report and note 29,
financial statements

Health and safety and employee-related policies including diversity and disability

41–42

Strategic report: Doing business responsibly1

Movements in share capital

Greenhouse gas emissions 

Fair, balanced and understandable 

Share capital (voting restrictions and special rights) 

Substantial shareholdings

Research and development

Directors’ responsibility statement

Directors’ interests

Stakeholder consideration and engagement

122–123

Note 28, financial statements

45

Strategic report: Doing business responsibly1

61 and 89

Audit Committee report and Directors’ statement
of responsibilities

55

55

29

89

82

46–47

Corporate governance statement

Corporate governance statement

Strategic report: financial review

Directors’ statement of responsibilities

Directors’ remuneration report

s172 statement, Strategic report:
doing business responsibly1

1 

The Board has taken advantage of section 414C(11) of the Act to include disclosures in the Strategic report on these items.

Going concern
The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the 
Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for 
the foreseeable future and therefore continue to adopt the going concern 
basis in preparing the financial statements.

Annual General Meeting
The 2020 AGM of the Company will take place at the offices of 
Vectura Group plc, 46–48 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0EB 
at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 27 May 2020. Please refer to the Notice 
of AGM for details of the business to be transacted at the meeting.

88

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

The Directors’ report was approved by the Board on 16 March 2020.

By order of the Board

John Murphy
General Counsel and Company Secretary
16 March 2020

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

Registered No: 3418970

GOVERNANCE 
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities 
In respect of the Annual Report and the financial statements 

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

Responsibility statement of the Directors in respect 
of the Annual Report
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group and parent 
company financial statements for each financial year. Under that law 
they are required to prepare the Group financial statements in accordance 
with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the 
European Union (IFRSs as adopted by the EU) and applicable law and 
have elected to prepare the parent company financial statements in 
accordance with UK accounting standards, including FRS 101 Reduced 
Disclosure Framework. 

Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial 
statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view 
of the state of affairs of the Group and parent company and of their profit 
or loss for that period. In preparing each of the Group and parent company 
financial statements, the Directors are required to:

•  the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the applicable 
set of accounting standards, 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 Strategic report includes a fair review of the development and 
performance of the business and the position of the issuer and the 
undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together 
with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face. 

We consider the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, 
balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary 
for shareholders to assess the Group’s position and performance, 
business model and strategy. 

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

Signed on behalf of the Board on 16 March 2020.

Will Downie 
Chief Executive Officer 
16 March 2020 

Paul Fry 
Chief Financial Officer
16 March 2020

•  make judgements and estimates that are reasonable, relevant, reliable 

and prudent;

•  for the Group financial statements, state whether they have been 

prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU;

•  for the parent company financial statements, state whether applicable 
UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in the parent company 
financial statements; 

•  assess the Group and parent company’s ability to continue as a 

going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going 
concern; and

•  use the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend 
to liquidate the Group or the parent company or to cease operations, 
or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records 
that are sufficient to show and explain the parent company’s transactions 
and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position 
of the parent company and enable them to ensure that its financial 
statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are responsible 
for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the 
preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error, and have general responsibility for taking 
such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets 
of the Group and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

Under applicable law and regulations, the Directors are also responsible 
for preparing a Strategic report, Directors’ report, Directors’ remuneration 
report and Corporate governance statement that complies with that law 
and those regulations.

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

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

89

GOVERNANCE 
 
Financial 
statements

 Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Independent auditor’s report
91 
99  Consolidated income statement
 Consolidated statement of other 
100 
comprehensive income
101  Consolidated balance sheet
102 
103  Consolidated cash flow statement
104 
133  Company balance sheet
134 

 Company statement of changes in equity
 Notes to the Company financial statements

135 
139  Glossary
140  Shareholder information

 Notes to the consolidated financial statements

 
Independent 
auditor’s report

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

We were first appointed as auditor by the shareholders 
on 25 May 2017.  The period of total uninterrupted 
engagement is for the three financial years ended 31 
December 2019.  We have fulfilled our ethical 
responsibilities under, and we remain independent of the 
Group in accordance with, UK ethical requirements 
including the FRC Ethical Standard as applied to listed 
public interest entities.  No non-audit services prohibited 
by that standard were provided.  

Overview

Materiality: 
group financial 
statements as a 
whole

£1.5m (2018:£1.5m)

0.8% (2018: 1%) of revenue

Coverage

99% (2018: 88%) of revenue

Key audit matters                          

vs 2018

Recurring risks

Brexit

◄►

Recoverability of parent 
Company’s investment in 
subsidiaries

New: Recoverability of 
goodwill allocated to the 
Swiss CGU

Event
driven

1. Our opinion is unmodified

We have audited the financial statements of 
Vectura Group plc (“the Company” or “the Group”) 
for the year ended 31 December 2019 which 
comprise the Consolidated income statement, 
Consolidated statement of other comprehensive 
income, Consolidated balance sheet, Consolidated 
statement of changes in equity, Consolidated cash 
flow statement, Company balance sheet, Company 
statement of changes in equity, and the related 
notes, including the accounting policies in note 1.  

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 December 
2019 and of the Group’s loss for the year then 
ended;  

— the Group financial statements have been 
properly prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as 
adopted by the European Union;  

— the parent Company financial statements have 
been properly prepared in accordance with UK 
accounting standards, including FRS 101 
Reduced Disclosure Framework; 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. 

Basis for opinion  

We conducted our audit in accordance with 
International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs 
(UK)”) and applicable law.  Our responsibilities are 
described below.  We believe that the audit 
evidence we have obtained is a sufficient and 
appropriate basis for our opinion.  Our audit opinion 
is consistent with our report to the audit 
committee.  

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

91

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Independent auditor’s report continued
to the members of Vectura Group plc

2. Key audit matters: including our assessment of risks of material misstatement

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in the audit of the financial
statements and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified
by us, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and
directing the efforts of the engagement team. We summarise below the key audit matters in arriving at our audit opinion
above, together with our key audit procedures to address those matters and our findings from those procedures in order that
the Company's members as a body may better understand the process by which we arrived at our audit opinion. These
matters were addressed, and our findings are based on procedures undertaken, in the context of, and solely for the purpose
of, our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and consequently are incidental to that
opinion, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

The risk

Our response

The impact of uncertainties due 
to Britain exiting the European 
Union on our audit

Refer to page 33 (principal risks), 
page 39 (Viability statement), 
pages 59-62 (Audit Committee 
report), page 106 (accounting 
policy) and page 113 (financial 
disclosures).

Unprecedented levels of uncertainty:

All audits assess and challenge the 
reasonableness of estimates, in 
particular those described in the
recoverability of goodwill allocated to 
the Swiss CGU (below) and related 
disclosures; and the appropriateness of 
the going concern basis of preparation 
of the financial statements. All of these 
depend on assessments of the future 
economic environment and the Group’s 
future prospects and performance.

In addition, we are required to consider 
the other information presented in the 
Annual Report including the principal 
risks disclosure and the Viability 
statement and to consider the directors’ 
statement that the Annual Report and 
financial statements taken as a whole is 
fair, balanced and understandable and 
provides the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the Group’s 
position and performance, business 
model and strategy.

Brexit is one of the most significant 
economic events for the UK and its 
effects are subject to unprecedented 
levels of uncertainty of consequences, 
with the full range of possible effects 
unknown.

92

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

developed

firm-wide
We
the
approach
uncertainties arising from Brexit in planning and
performing our audits. Our procedures included:

standardised
consideration

a
the

of

to

— Our Brexit knowledge: We considered the 
directors’ assessment of Brexit-related 
sources of risk for the Group’s business and 
financial resources compared with our own 
understanding of the risks. We considered 
the directors’ plans to take action to mitigate 
the risks; 

— Sensitivity analysis: When addressing the 
recoverability of goodwill allocated to the 
Swiss CGU, and other areas that depend on 
forecasts, we compared the directors’ 
analysis to our assessment of the full range 
of reasonably possible scenarios resulting 
from Brexit uncertainty and, where forecast 
cash flows are required to be discounted, 
considered adjustments to discount rates 
for the level of remaining uncertainty; 

— Assessing transparency: As well as 

assessing individual disclosures as part of 
our procedures on the recoverability of 
goodwill allocated to the Swiss CGU, we 
considered all of the Brexit related 
disclosures together, including those in the 
Strategic report, comparing the overall 
picture against our understanding of the 
risks. 

Our findings

— As reported under the relevant key audit 
matters below, we found the resulting 
estimates to be balanced (2018: balanced) 
and related disclosures of the recoverability
of goodwill allocated to the Swiss CGU, and 
disclosures in relation to going concern to 
be proportionate (2018: proportionate). 
However, no audit should be expected to 
predict the unknowable factors or all 
possible future implications for a company 
and this is particularly the case in relation to 
Brexit.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Recoverability of goodwill 
allocated to the Swiss CGU

£62.4 million; 2018: £63.3 million

Refer to pages 59-62 (Audit 
Committee report), page 128
(accounting policy) and page 113 
(financial disclosures).

The risk

Our response

Subjective valuation:

Our procedures included: 

Historic acquisitions have led to the 
recognition of goodwill with a significant 
value. There is a risk that the carrying 
amount of the Swiss CGU may become 
impaired if financial performance or 
other events, such as regulatory 
approvals, are not in line with initial 
expectations. We have assessed the 
recoverability of goodwill allocated to 
the Swiss CGU as one of the most 
significant risks in our current year audit. 
Following the business decision in 2019 
to move towards a contract 
development and manufacturing 
organisation model, products in the 
maturity stage are not expected to be 
replaced by the launch of new products 
of a similar nature. Consequentially, 
there have been changes to key 
assumptions used to estimate the 
recoverable amount of the Swiss CGU 
resulting in increased measurement 
uncertainty which could lead to a 
material error in the carrying amount.

The estimated recoverable amount is 
subjective due to the inherent 
uncertainty in forecasting and 
discounting future cash flows.

The effect of these matters is that, as 
part of our risk assessment, we 
determined that the recoverable amount 
has a high degree of estimation 
uncertainty, with a potential range of 
reasonable outcomes greater than our 
materiality for the financial statements 
as a whole, and possibly many times 
that amount. The financial statements 
(note 15) disclose the sensitivity 
estimated by the Group.

— Our sector experience: Assessing whether 
key assumptions used, in particular those 
relating to gross profit margins on product 
supply, net sales forecasts and related 
royalty inflows, time to develop and launch 
pipeline products, discount rates, the 
terminal growth rate, and potential impacts 
of Brexit on the supply chain, reflect our 
knowledge of the business and industry, 
including known or probable changes in the 
business environment. The key inputs used 
in the Group’s calculation of the discount 
rates were challenged by our own valuations 
specialists by comparing them to externally 
derived data, including available sources for 
comparable companies; 

— Historical comparisons: Assessing the 

reasonableness of the cash flow forecasts 
by comparing the historical accuracy of 
previous forecasts to actual results;

— Sensitivity analysis: Performing breakeven 
analysis on the key assumptions noted 
above;

— Assessing transparency: Assessing 

whether the Group’s disclosures about the 
sensitivity of the outcome of the impairment 
assessment to changes in key assumptions 
reflect the risks inherent in the valuation of 
the Swiss CGU goodwill.

Our findings

— We found the estimated recoverable 

amount for the Goodwill allocated to the 
Swiss CGU to be slightly optimistic (2018: 
slightly optimistic), resulting in greater 
headroom than might otherwise have been 
the case, with proportionate (2018: 
proportionate) disclosure of related 
assumptions and sensitivities.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

93

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Independent auditor’s report continued
to the members of Vectura Group plc

Recoverability of parent 
Company’s investment in 
subsidiary

£393.9 million; 2018: £541.5 
million

Refer to pages 59-62 (Audit 
Committee report), page 135
(accounting policy) and page 135 
(financial disclosures).

The risk

Our response

Low risk, high value

Our procedures included: 

The carrying amount of the parent 
Company’s investment in subsidiary 
represents 78% (2018: 98%) of the 
Company’s total assets. Their 
recoverability is not at a high risk of 
significant misstatement or subject to 
significant judgement.  However, due to 
their materiality in the context of the 
parent Company financial statements, 
this is considered to be the area that had 
the greatest effect on our overall audit.

Due to the reorganisation of the Group 
in 2019, Vectura Group plc only has a 
single investment within Vectura Group 
Services Limited with a lower carrying 
amount. This has resulted in a lower risk 
of irrecoverability of the parent 
Company's investment in subsidiary.

— Tests of detail: Comparing the carrying 
amount of the investment to identify whether 
the Group’s market capitalisation, being an 
approximation of the recoverable amount, was 
in excess of the carrying amount;

— Assessing transparency: Assessing the 
adequacy of the parent Company’s disclosures 
in respect of the parent Company’s investment 
in subsidiary.

Our findings

— We found the Group’s assessment of the 
recoverability of the parent Company’s 
investment in subsidiary to be balanced (2018: 
balanced). We found the resulting disclosures 
to be proportionate (2018: proportionate).

We continue to perform procedures over development revenue recognition. In the prior year, the key audit matter related to 
specific judgments and estimates the Group made when applying IFRS 15 (“Revenue from Contracts with Customers”) to the 
agreement the Group reached with Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc to develop a generic version of GSK’s Ellipta portfolio. The Group 
did not take any similar significant judgments or estimates in the current year. As a result, we have not assessed this as one of the 
most significant risks in our current year audit and, therefore, it is not separately identified in our report this year.

Additionally, we continue to perform procedures over the recoverability of inhaled in-market assets, non-inhaled in-market assets 
and smart nebuliser technology assets. In the prior year, the key audit matter related to the assessment of cash flow forecasts, 
which were used to estimate the recoverable amount of these intangible assets. These forecasts relied on a number of critical 
assumptions and estimates including volume forecasts, cost of sales, discount rates, and associated pricing. However, no 
indicators of impairment were identified in relation to the inhaled in-market assets, non-inhaled in-market assets and smart 
nebuliser technology assets held at 31 December 2019. Consequentially, we did not have to perform procedures assessing the 
estimation of future cash flow forecasts. As a result, we have not assessed this as one of the most significant risks in our current 
year audit and, therefore, it is not separately identified in our report this year.

94

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
3. Our application of materiality and an
overview of the scope of our audit

Revenue
£178.3m (2018: £160.5m)

Group Materiality
£1.5m (2018: £1.5m)

The materiality for the Group financial statements
as a whole was set at £1.5m, determined with
reference to a benchmark of Group revenue of
£178.3m of which it represents 0.8%. We
consider total revenue to be the most appropriate
benchmark as it provides a more stable measure
year on year than Group loss before tax.
.

Materiality for the parent Company financial
statements as a whole was set at £1.1m (2018:
£1.45m) determined with reference to a
benchmark of Company total assets of which it
represents 0.2%.

We reported to the Audit Committee any
corrected or uncorrected misstatements
exceeding £75k (2018: £75k) and any other
identified misstatements that warranted reporting
on qualitative grounds.

Four of the Group’s eight reporting components
were subject to full scope audits for Group
purposes.

For the remaining four components, we
performed analysis at an aggregated Group level
to re-examine our assessment that there were no
significant risks of material misstatement within
this component.

The components within the scope of our work
accounted for the percentages illustrated
opposite.

The work on one of the four components (2018:
one of four) was performed by a component
auditor and the rest, including the audit of the
parent Company, was performed by the Group
team. The Group audit team instructed the
component auditors as to the significant areas to
be covered, including the relevant risks detailed
above and the information to be reported back.
The Group team approved component materiality
of £1.1m for the component audit team, having
regard to the mix of size and risk profile of the
Group across the components.

The Group team visited three component
locations in the UK and Switzerland, including the
location of the component auditor, to assess the
audit risk, strategy and findings. Video and
telephone conference meetings were also held
with the component auditor throughout the
course of the audit. At these visits and meetings,
the findings reported to the Group team were
discussed in more detail, and any further work
required by the Group team was then performed
by the component auditor.

£1.5m
Whole financial
statements materiality
(2018: £1.5m)

£1.1m
Range of materiality at four 
components (£0.45m-£1.1m) 
(2018: £0.3m to £1.45m)

Revenue
Group materiality

£0.075m
Misstatements reported to the 
audit committee (2018: 
£0.075m)

Group revenue

Group loss before tax

3

95%

(2018 97%)

97

95

12

99%(2018 88%)

88

99

Group total assets 

10

96%

(2018 90%)

90

96

Key: 

Full scope for group audit purposes 2019

Full scope for group audit purposes 2018

Specified risk-focused audit procedures 2018

Residual components

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

95

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Independent auditor’s report continued
to the members of Vectura Group plc

4.  We have nothing to report on going concern

— the related statement under the Listing Rules set out on 

The Directors have prepared the financial statements on the 
going concern basis as they do not intend to liquidate the 
Company or the Group or to cease their operations, and as 
they have concluded that the Company’s and the Group’s 
financial position means that this is realistic. They have also 
concluded that there are no material uncertainties that 
could have cast significant doubt over their ability to 
continue as a going concern for at least a year from the 
date of approval of the financial statements (“the going 
concern period”).  

Our responsibility is to conclude on the appropriateness of 
the Directors’ conclusions and, had there been a material 
uncertainty related to going concern, to make reference to 
that in this audit report. However, as we cannot predict all 
future events or conditions and as subsequent events may 
result in outcomes that are inconsistent with judgements 
that were reasonable at the time they were made, the 
absence of reference to a material uncertainty in this 
auditor's report is not a guarantee that the Group and the 
Company will continue in operation. 

In our evaluation of the Directors’ conclusions, we 
considered the inherent risks to the Group’s and 
Company’s business model and analysed how those risks 
might affect the Group’s and Company’s financial resources 
or ability to continue operations over the going concern 
period. The risks that we considered most likely to 
adversely affect the Group’s and Company’s available 
financial resources over this period were: 

— Supply chain disruption, including disruption caused by 

Brexit;

page 104 is materially inconsistent with our audit 
knowledge.

We have nothing to report in these respects, and we did 
not identify going concern as a key audit matter.

5. We have nothing to report on the other information 

in the Annual Report

The directors are responsible for the other information 
presented in the Annual Report together with the financial 
statements.  Our opinion on the financial statements does 
not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do not 
express an audit opinion or, except as explicitly stated 
below, any form of assurance conclusion thereon.  

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in 
doing so, consider whether, based on our financial 
statements audit work, the information therein is materially 
misstated or inconsistent with the financial statements or 
our audit knowledge.  Based solely on that work we have 
not identified material misstatements in the other 
information.

Strategic report and directors’ report 

Based solely on our work on the other information:  

— we have not identified material misstatements in the 

strategic report and the directors’ report;  

— in our opinion the information given in those reports for 

the financial year is consistent with the financial 
statements; and  

— The impact of a significant business continuity issue 

affecting the Group’s manufacturing facilities or those of 
its suppliers or partners;

— in our opinion those reports have been prepared in 

accordance with the Companies Act 2006.  

— Failure to advance key pipeline development 

programmes.

As these were risks that could potentially cast significant 
doubt on the Group’s and the Company's ability to continue 
as a going concern, we considered sensitivities over the 
level of available financial resources indicated by the 
Group’s financial forecasts taking account of reasonably 
possible (but not unrealistic) adverse effects that could arise 
from these risks individually and collectively and evaluated 
the achievability of the actions the Directors consider they 
would take to improve the position should the risks 
materialise. We also considered less predictable but 
realistic second order impacts, such as the erosion of 
customer or supplier confidence, which could result in a 
rapid reduction of available financial resources.

Based on this work, we are required to report to you if:

— we have anything material to add or draw attention to in 
relation to the directors’ statement in Note 1 to the 
financial statements on the use of the going concern 
basis of accounting with no material uncertainties that 
may cast significant doubt over the Group and 
Company’s use of that basis for a period of at least 
twelve months from the date of approval of the financial 
statements; or

96

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Directors’ remuneration report  

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

Disclosures of emerging and principal risks and longer-
term viability  

Based on the knowledge we acquired during our financial 
statements audit, we have nothing material to add or draw 
attention to in relation to:  

— the directors’ confirmation within the Viability statement 
page 39 that they have carried out a robust assessment 
of the emerging and principal risks facing the Group, 
including those that would threaten its business model, 
future performance, solvency and liquidity; 

— the Principal Risks disclosures describing these risks and 
explaining how they are being managed and mitigated; 
and  

— the directors’ explanation in the Viability statement of 
how they have assessed the prospects of the Group, 
over what period they have done so and why they 
considered that period to be appropriate, and their

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
statement as to whether they have a reasonable 
expectation that the Group will be able to continue in 
operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the 
period of their assessment, including any related 
disclosures drawing attention to any necessary 
qualifications or assumptions.  

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the 
viability statement.  We have nothing to report in this 
respect.  

Our work is limited to assessing these matters in the 
context of only the knowledge acquired during our financial 
statements audit.  As we cannot predict all future events or 
conditions and as subsequent events may result in 
outcomes that are inconsistent with judgments that were 
reasonable at the time they were made, the absence of 
anything to report on these statements is not a guarantee 
as to the Group’s and Company’s longer-term viability.

Corporate governance disclosures  

We are required to report to you if: 

— we have identified material inconsistencies between the 
knowledge we acquired during our financial statements 
audit and the directors’ statement that they consider 
that the annual report and financial statements taken as 
a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and 
provides the information necessary for shareholders to 
assess the Group’s position and performance, business 
model and strategy; or  

— the section of the annual report describing the work of 
the Audit Committee does not appropriately address 
matters communicated by us to the Audit Committee.

We are required to report to you if the Corporate 
governance statement does not properly disclose a 
departure from the eleven provisions of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code specified by the Listing Rules for our 
review.  

We have nothing to report in these respects.  

6. We have nothing to report on the other matters on 

which we are required to report by exception 

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 financial statements and the part 

of the Directors’ Remuneration Report 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.  

We have nothing to report in these respects. 

7. Respective responsibilities  

Directors’ responsibilities  

As explained more fully in their statement set out on page 
89, the directors are responsible for: the preparation of the 
financial statements including being satisfied that they give 
a true and fair view; such internal control as they determine 
is necessary to enable the preparation of financial 
statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error; assessing the Group and 
parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern; 
and using the going concern basis of accounting unless 
they either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent 
Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic 
alternative but to do so. 

Auditor’s responsibilities  

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

A fuller description of our responsibilities is provided on the 
FRC’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

97

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Independent auditor’s report continued
to the members of Vectura Group plc

further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations 
(irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected 
in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently 
limited procedures required by auditing standards would 
identify it.  In addition, as with any audit, there remained a 
higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may 
involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, 
misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We 
are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and 
cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws 
and regulations.

8.  The purpose of our audit work and to whom we owe 

our responsibilities 

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 and the terms of our engagement by 
the company.  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 
the further matters we are required to state to them in 
accordance with the terms agreed with the Company, 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. 

Adrian Wilcox (Senior Statutory Auditor)  

for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor  

Chartered Accountants  

15 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5GL

16 March 2020

Irregularities – ability to detect

We identified areas of laws and regulations that could 
reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the 
financial statements from our general commercial and 
sector experience, and through discussion with the 
directors and other management (as required by auditing 
standards), and discussed with the directors and other 
management the policies and procedures regarding 
compliance with laws and regulations.  We communicated 
identified laws and regulations throughout our team and 
remained alert to any indications of non-compliance  
throughout the audit.  This included communication from 
the group to component audit teams of relevant laws and 
regulations identified at group level.

The potential effect of these laws and regulations on the 
financial statements varies considerably.

Firstly, the Group is subject to laws and regulations that 
directly affect the financial statements including financial 
reporting legislation (including related companies 
legislation), distributable profits legislation, taxation 
legislation and pension legislation, and we assessed the 
extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as 
part of our procedures on the related financial statement 
items.  

Secondly, the Group is subject to many other laws and 
regulations where the consequences of non-compliance 
could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in 
the financial statements, for instance through the 
imposition of fines or litigation or the loss of Group’s licence 
to operate.  We identified the following areas as those most 
likely to have such an effect: regulations relating to the 
manufacture and research of pharmaceuticals, intellectual 
property, health and safety, anti-bribery, employment law, 
and certain aspects of company legislation recognising the 
nature of the Group’s activities and its legal form.  Auditing 
standards limit the required audit procedures to identify 
non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry 
of the directors and other management and inspection of 
regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. These limited 
procedures did not identify actual or suspected non-
compliance.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an 
unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some 
material misstatements in the financial statements, even 
though we have properly planned and performed our audit 
in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the 

98

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Consolidated income statement
For the year ended 31 December 2019

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Selling and marketing expenses

Research and development expenses

Corporate and administrative expenses

Other operating income 

Operating profit before exceptional items, amortisation and impairment

Amortisation and impairment

Exceptional items

Operating loss

Loss from associates

Finance income

Finance expenses

Loss before tax

Net tax credit

Loss for the financial year

Adjusted EBITDA* 

Loss per share (basic and diluted)

Note

3

5

7

9

10

11

11

12

9

13

 2019
£m

178.3

(83.0)

95.3

(3.0)

(50.2)

(13.7)

1.7

30.1

(53.6)

(3.5)

(27.0)

—

1.5

(0.6)

(26.1)

4.0

(22.1)

43.4

(3.4p)

 2018
£m

160.5

(61.6)

98.9

(3.4)

(55.5)

(12.0)

2.6

30.6

(127.0)

(9.0)

(105.4)

(0.2)

1.3

(0.5)

(104.8)

16.6

(88.2)

39.0

(13.2p)

All results are attributable to shareholders of Vectura Group plc and are derived from continuing operations. 

* 

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure comprising operating loss, adding back amortisation and impairment, depreciation, share-based payments and exceptional items. Refer to note 9 “Adjusted EBITDA”. 

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

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

99

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
Consolidated statement of other comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2019

Loss for the financial year 

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to the income statement:

Net exchange difference on translation of foreign operations

Tax on items recognised directly in equity that may be reclassified

Increase in deferred tax rate on overseas permanent funding

Items that will not be reclassified to the income statement: 

Remeasurement of net retirement benefit obligations

Other comprehensive (loss)/income

Total comprehensive loss for the year

All results are attributable to shareholders of Vectura Group plc and are derived from continuing operations.

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

 2019
£m

 2018
£m

(22.1)

(88.2)

(7.9)

0.4

(2.5)

(1.4)

(11.4)

14.2

(0.5)

—

0.2

13.9

(33.5)

(74.3)

100

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Consolidated balance sheet
At 31 December 2019

ASSETS

Non-current assets

Goodwill 

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Other non-current assets

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Corporation tax payable

Borrowings

Provisions

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Borrowings

Other non-current payables

Provisions

Retirement benefit obligations

Deferred tax liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Share capital 

Share premium 

Translation reserve

Other reserves 

Retained earnings/(losses)

Total shareholders’ equity

Note

 2019
 £m

2018
 £m

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

23

22

24

25

26

28

162.2

164.1

55.1

3.2

384.6

27.7

44.3

74.1

146.1

530.7

(48.8)

(12.5)

(1.2)

(1.6)

163.4

219.9

57.8

10.1

451.2

26.7

35.3

108.2

170.2

621.4

(60.9)

(10.1)

(0.2)

(1.1)

(64.1)

(72.3)

(6.4)

—

(7.9)

(4.5)

(28.4)

(47.2)

(111.3)

(3.8)

(2.4)

(9.8)

(3.1)

(35.7)

(54.8)

(127.1)

419.4

494.3

0.2

61.6

30.0

320.2

7.4

419.4

0.2

61.6

40.0

447.3

(54.8)

494.3

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements of Vectura Group plc 
were approved by the Board of Directors on 16 March 2020 and were signed on its behalf by:

W Downie 
Chief Executive Officer 

P Fry
Chief Financial Officer

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

101

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2019

Share
premium
£m

61.5

Merger
reserve
£m

593.2

Share
capital
£m

Note

At 1 January 2018

Loss for the financial year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income/(loss) 
for the year

Share buyback programme

Share-based payments

Employee share schemes 

Release of special reserves

Merger reserve release 

At 31 December 2018

Adoption of IFRS 16

3

At 1 January 2019 as adjusted

Loss for the financial year

Other comprehensive loss

Total comprehensive loss for the year

Share buyback programmes

Dividends paid

Share-based payments

Employee share schemes 

Merger reserve release 

28

14

29

29

34

0.2

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

0.2

—

0.2

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

0.1

—

—

61.6

—

61.6

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Other reserves

Own shares 
reserve
£m

Share-based
payment
reserve
£m

 Translation
reserve
£m

(2.5)

—

—

—

—

—

0.3

—

—

(2.2)

—

(2.2)

—

—

—

—

—

—

(0.1)

—

(2.3)

8.4

—

—

—

—

3.7

(3.8)

—

—

8.3

—

8.3

—

—

—

—

—

3.2

(5.1)

—

6.4

26.3

—

13.7

13.7

—

—

—

—

—

40.0

—

40.0

—

(10.0)

(10.0)

—

—

—

—

—

30.0

Retained
(losses)/
earnings
£m

(108.3)

(88.2)

0.2

(88.0)

(13.8)

—

3.3

8.2

143.8

Total
equity
£m

578.8

(88.2)

13.9

(74.3)

(13.8)

3.7

(0.1)

—

—

(54.8)

494.3

(0.4)

(0.4)

(55.2)

493.9

(22.1)

(1.4)

(22.1)

(11.4)

(23.5)

(33.5)

(3.6)

(40.1)

—

4.7

125.1

7.4

(3.6)

(40.1)

3.2

(0.5)

—

419.4

—

—

—

—

—

—

(8.2)

(143.8)

441.2

—

441.2

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(125.1)

316.1

At 31 December 2019

0.2

61.6

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

102

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
Consolidated cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2019

Cash flows from operating activities

Loss for the financial year

Adjustments reconciling loss after tax to operating cash flows 

Cash generated from operating activities

Research and development tax credits received

Corporation tax paid

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of intangible assets

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Interest received

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Share buyback programme

Special dividend paid

Funding relating to the issue of shares and share options

Repayment of lease liabilities

Repayment of property mortgages

Other finance charges

Net cash outflow from financing activities

Effects of foreign exchange fluctuations on cash held

(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

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

Note

30

28

14

 2019
£m

 2018
£m

(22.1)

41.4

19.3

2.4

(1.3)

20.4

(1.4)

(5.8)

0.4

(6.8)

(3.6)

(40.1)

(0.5)

(1.1)

(0.1)

(0.4)

(88.2)

123.3

35.1

1.0

(6.0)

30.1

(0.8)

(11.5)

0.2

(12.1)

(13.8)

—

(0.2)

—

(0.3)

(0.5)

(45.8)

(14.8)

(1.9)

(34.1)

108.2

74.1

1.3

4.5

103.7

108.2

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

103

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2019

1. Presentation of the consolidated financial statements
Corporate information
Vectura Group plc (the “Company”) is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The registered office is 
One Prospect West, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6FH. The “Group” is defined as the Company, its subsidiaries and equity-accounted associates. 
The Group’s operations and principal activities are described in the Strategic report. Previously issued financial information and other relevant 
resources are made available on our website: www.vectura.com.

Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and IFRS Interpretation 
Committee (IFRIC) interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and as adopted for use by the European Union (EU-IFRS). 

The financial statements have been prepared on an historical cost basis modified to include revaluation to fair value of certain financial instruments 
and the recognition of net assets acquired including contingent liabilities assumed through business combinations at their fair value on the acquisition 
date modified by the revaluation of certain items, as stated in the accounting policies. All financial information is presented in sterling, and is rounded 
to the nearest £0.1m unless otherwise stated. 

Going concern
The Group has made a loss for the year; however, it continues to be cash generative before distributions to shareholders. A summary of the Group’s 
financial position, cash generated in the year and accounting loss made after non-cash amortisation charges is included within the Financial review. 
The Group has considerable financial resources together with long-term contracts with a number of customers across different geographic areas 
and jurisdictions. The Directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage its business risks successfully despite the current uncertain economic 
outlook due, primarily, to the UK exit from the EU and the COVID-19 outbreak. The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, and as such they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in 
preparing the annual financial statements. 

Changes in accounting policies and disclosures
The accounting policies applied are consistent with those adopted and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 except for changes arising from the adoption of the following new accounting pronouncements which became effective in 
the current reporting period:

• 

• 

IFRS 16 – Leases. The details and the impact of the transition is explained in note 33.

IFRIC 23 – Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatment. The details and the impact of the transition is explained in note 12.

A number of other new amendments are also effective from 1 January 2019 in relation to IAS 28 – Investments in Associates, IAS 19 – Employee Benefits, 
IFRS 3 – Business Combinations, IAS 1 – Presentation of Financial Statements, IAS 8 – Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors 
and IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments but these do not have any material effect on the Group’s financial statements.

1.1 Alternative performance measures (APMs)
When assessing and discussing the Group’s reported financial performance, management makes reference to alternative performance measures. 
These measures are also used in discussions with the investment community. APMs are not displayed with more prominence, emphasis or authority 
than IFRS measures.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating loss adding back amortisation and impairment, depreciation, share-based payments and exceptional items. 
Refer to note 9 “Adjusted EBITDA”.

Exceptional items are presented whenever significant expenses are incurred or income is received as a result of events considered to be outside the 
normal course of business, where the unusual nature and expected infrequency merits separate presentation to assist comparisons with previous years. 
Items which are included within the exceptional category include:

•  costs associated with major corporate transactions;

•  Board-approved spend on the integration of major corporate transactions; and

•  other major transformation programmes. 

Furthermore, significant and unusual items of litigation (e.g. GSK litigation) and significant and unusual items which individually distort the underlying 
performance of the business and therefore warrant highlighting separately to the users of the accounts are also included within exceptional items. 
Refer to note 10 “Exceptional items”. 

2. Critical accounting areas of judgement and estimation
In preparing these consolidated financial statements, critical judgements in the application of accounting policies can have a significant effect on the 
financial results. Moreover, any changes in critical estimates and assumptions made could materially impact the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue 
and expenses reported next year as actual amounts and results could differ from those estimates or those estimates could change in future. 

Critical judgements
The following critical judgements are those which have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements:

Applying IFRS 15 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers to long-term collaborative agreements 
Collaborative development and marketing agreements which license the Group’s technology and intellectual property (IP) can and do have unique terms 
spanning multiple reporting periods. Consequently, the accounting judgements required to apply IFRS 15 to each such agreement can differ significantly. 

104

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
2. Critical accounting areas of judgement and estimation continued
Critical judgements continued
Applying IFRS 15 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers to long-term collaborative agreements continued
The critical accounting judgements relate to all collaborative development agreements with performance obligations outstanding at the transition 
date and all future similar agreements signed. At present, the agreements relevant to the following IFRS 15 judgements outlined below are with Sandoz 
(VR2081) entered into in June 2017 and Hikma (generic of GSK Ellipta® products) entered in November 2018. These judgements were made at 
contract inception.

(a) Assessment of contract existence criteria
A contract with a customer is in the scope of the standard when it is legally enforceable, the contract is approved and both parties are committed 
to their obligations. 

An agreement often provides a customer with an option to acquire additional services on the basis of success-based fees. Judgement is required to determine 
the extent to which the Group or the customer is committed to these services throughout the service period, before a successful outcome is assured. 

This has been applied to the agreement with Hikma to develop generic versions of GSK’s Ellipta® portfolio. It has been judged that the licence to use 
Vectura’s intellectual property and the provision of services for development of Vectura’s Open-Inhale-Close (OIC) device are considered committed 
as the initial $15.0m milestone received on signing the agreement in 2018 is non-refundable. 

Hikma also has the option to acquire future formulation and process development services for up to five products on success-based terms specified 
in the agreement. These are not considered revenue contracts but treated as partnered R&D costs until such time the receipt of revenue is considered 
highly probable.

(b) Whether a licence to the Group’s intellectual property is a separate distinct performance obligation
A licence granted by the Group usually provides the partner with a right to use, but not to own, the IP related to a development. A licence is capable 
of being distinct from development services if, regardless of contractual terms, it could be sold separately in which case revenue is recognised at the 
grant date (point in time) as applicable to the OIC device licence for the generic GSK Ellipta® portfolio with Hikma.

If the licence provided was not capable of being separately sold at the grant date then the revenue for the licence is recognised over time as required 
development services accrue. This treatment applies to the development of VR2081 with Sandoz.

(c) Allocation of the transaction price based on standalone selling prices at contract inception 
For collaborative agreements containing multiple performance obligations, the Group must determine the standalone selling price identified on inception 
of the contract. Once these have been determined, these are not subsequently amended. The key assumptions used to determine the standalone selling price 
include forecast revenues, the cost of satisfying the obligation, development timelines and probabilities of technical, regulatory and commercial success.

Uncertain tax positions
A provision for an uncertain tax position is recognised within current tax liabilities relating to recent utilisation of historical losses claimed in an overseas 
jurisdiction. The provision is recognised on the basis of the Group’s interpretation of inherently complex tax legislation. The judgement of whether and 
how much to provide is formed after taking external professional advice, applying IFRIC 23, and is based on management’s judgement of the potential 
tax that could be assessed as due. The tax provision is recognised at £4.1m (2018: £4.9m). This provision is partially released to the Consolidated income 
statement as each annual Statute of Limitation (the period during which the tax authority can enquire into each return) is closed, with the uncertainty 
expected to be fully resolved in 2021. 

Legal and other matters
The Group is involved in various legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business. The Group obtains relevant legal advice and makes a 
judgement as to whether there is sufficient information to be able to make a reliable estimate of the likely outcome of any proceedings. Legal matters are 
inherently judgemental areas which could change substantially over time as each legal matter progresses and new facts emerge. Appropriate accounting 
treatment and disclosures are made based on the information available to the Group at the time.

Critical estimates
The following critical estimates, if changed in 2020, would materially impact reported performance:

Revenue – variable consideration included in revenue contracts
Variable consideration includes the estimate of payments in the form of contingent development-related and regulatory approval milestones. 
These milestones are included in the transaction price when the most likely outcome is that they will be received. Once this is established, the entire 
transaction price is constrained to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal of revenue will not occur in future periods. The estimate 
is reassessed for each reporting period.

The initial transaction price for the development of the generic GSK Ellipta® portfolio with Hikma has been assessed as $20.0m, which includes a second 
$5.0m milestone due on completion of the device development services. The second milestone is being constrained (i.e. not recognised) until completion is 
considered highly probable. If this $5.0m milestone had not been constrained, additional revenue of £3.1m (2018: £2.2m) would have been recognised in 2019. 

Impairment of goodwill acquired through business combinations
Goodwill arising on a business combination is not amortised, but is tested annually for impairment. This testing requires judgement as to the fair value 
less costs of disposal of the cash-generating units (CGUs) to which goodwill has been allocated. The actual performance of CGUs may differ from the 
valuations derived through this exercise. Refer to note 15 “Goodwill”.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

105

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
2. Critical accounting areas of judgement and estimation continued
Critical estimates continued
Useful economic lives of intangible assets acquired through business combinations
Intangible assets relating to in-market products are amortised with reference to average patent lives in the most applicable territories. The key estimate 
is which patent or midpoint of the patents to use, due to the varying strength of the patents and different time periods for different territories. Given the 
quantum of the intangible assets, any change in assumptions would have a significant impact on the amortisation charge. 

On 9 August 2019, certain Japanese patent extensions were granted. As a result, the useful economic life of the flutiform® inhaled in-market asset was 
extended by an additional four and a half years. Refer to note 16 “Intangible assets”.

Actuarial assumptions applied to the Swiss pension benefits in the application of accounting policies 
The Group operates a pension scheme in respect of its employees in Switzerland. As some of the risks of the scheme match the criteria under 
IAS 19 – Employee Benefits for a defined benefit plan, the scheme is accounted for as such. Application of IAS 19 involves estimates about uncertain 
future events based on independent actuarial valuation reports. The defined benefit obligation is sensitive to the actuarial assumptions outlined in 
note 25 “Retirement benefit obligations”. 

UK exiting the EU
On 31 January 2020 the UK left the European Union under the Withdrawal Agreement Act 2020. The implementation period completes on 
31 December 2020 and therefore the main risk to Vectura of a disorderly implementation which was disclosed in the 2018 Annual Report could still 
arise, should this implementation period not be extended or the UK not establish a beneficial trading relationship with the EU. Management continues 
to monitor developments and has assessed the key business risks of a disorderly Brexit and mitigated these through ensuring ongoing EU regulatory 
requirements for medicinal products and devices will be maintained and implementing supply chain contingency planning to mitigate the impact of a 
disorderly Brexit. The mitigations include appointing third-party logistics experts, identifying alternative routings or methods of transportation and making 
provision for flutiform® release testing in the EU. In addition, the stock levels have been increased where appropriate and raw materials sourcing has 
been secured by building up stock.

Management has assessed the impact of this mitigated uncertainty on the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the Group financial statements 
and no impairment triggers relating to Brexit have been identified.

3. Revenue

Product supply revenues

Royalty and other marketed revenues

Development revenues 

Total revenues

 2019 
£m

115.0

51.9

11.4

178.3

 2018
£m

85.6

58.4

16.5

160.5

Detailed analysis and commentary on revenue is provided in the Financial review.

(a) Product supply revenues
The Group generates significant revenues from the supply of finished or semi-finished products, largely manufactured by third-party suppliers, 
to commercial distribution partners.

(b) Royalty and other marketed revenues
The Group also generates revenues from products marketed by partners which incorporate Vectura’s intellectual property. These revenues typically 
comprise royalties, share of sales arrangements, sales-based milestones, and product approval and launch milestones. These revenues reflect financial 
returns from historical R&D investments in partnered programmes and are earned without further material costs being incurred by the Group.

(c) Development revenues
The Group also earns revenue from agreements with partners which draw on Vectura’s device, formulation and development capabilities to deliver 
commercially attractive inhalation products. Under these agreements, during the development phase Vectura typically receives a series of cash flows 
in consideration for a variety of activities, which may comprise an upfront fee as consideration for the license to access intellectual property, milestone 
payments for specific clinical or other development-based outcomes, or fees billed directly for work performed. 

Disaggregation of revenues
In the following table revenue from contracts with customers is disaggregated by major product and service line and timing of revenue recognition.

Revenue recognition

Point in time

Over time

Revenues by performance obligation

Product supply

Royalties and other marketed

Development services

 2019
£m

115.0

—

115.0

 2018
£m

85.6

—

85.6

 2019
£m

51.9

—

51.9

 2018
£m

58.4

—

58.4

 2019
£m

7.1

4.3

11.4

 2018
£m

12.8

3.7

16.5

106

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedFor the year ended 31 December 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
3. Revenue continued
Disaggregation of revenues continued
Point in time development services revenue includes £1.9m (2018: £4.2m) in relation to performance obligations met in prior years. The outstanding 
transaction price on unsatisfied performance obligations as at 31 December 2019 is £6.8m (2018: £11.1m), which is currently expected to be recognised 
in full in 2020.

In the following table revenue from contracts with customers is disaggregated by primary geographical market.

Revenue by geographical location 

United Kingdom

Japan 

Switzerland

Rest of Europe 

United States of America

Rest of World

Total revenues

 2019 
£m

64.3

54.1

31.9

18.1

5.7

4.2

 2018
£m

55.2

35.1

31.0

13.3

15.8

10.1

178.3

160.5

Geographical location is derived from customer invoicing points as opposed to the location of patients receiving treatment from the Group’s 
licensed products. 

Revenue from major customers
Three major customers contributed individually in excess of 10% of total Group revenues: Customer A – £55.1m (2018: £43.9m), Customer B – £54.1m 
(2018: £35.1m) and Customer C – £21.7m (2018: £22.4m). 

Customer contract balances 
The following table details trade receivables, unbilled trade receivables and contract liabilities with customers:

Trade receivables 

Unbilled trade receivables 

Contract liabilities

Note

20

20

22

 2019 
£m

17.2

12.0

(2.3)

 2018
£m

15.1

10.2

(6.5)

Trade receivables are recognised when there is an enforceable right to invoice the customer for work performed to date under contractually 
agreed credit terms. The Group’s unbilled trade receivables relate to accrued royalty income and are transferred to trade receivables when the right 
to payment becomes unconditional upon receipt of royalty statements. The royalty statements and subsequent payments are typically received in 
the following quarter. Unbilled trade receivables as at 31 December 2018 of £10.2m relate to Q4 2018 royalty statements, which were subsequently 
received in full. Unbilled trade receivables as at 31 December 2019 of £12.0m relate to Q4 2019 royalty statements and are expected to be received 
in full in the first half of 2020.

Contract liabilities consists of advance payments from customers for early-stage development services, with revenues being recognised over time.

In respect of VR2081 and the collaborative arrangement with Hikma, £1.5m (2018: £1.3m) and £2.8m (2018: £2.4m) respectively of contract liabilities 
were released and recognised as revenues for the services performed.

Contract liabilities at 1 January 

Advance payments received from customers

Foreign exchange

Released royalties and other marketed revenues

Recognised as licence revenue 

Recognised as development services revenue

Contract liabilities

 2019
£m

6.5

—

0.1

—

—

(4.3)

2.3

 2018
£m

4.5

12.2

(0.3)

(2.0)

(4.2)

(3.7)

6.5

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

107

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
4. Segmental information
The Group is managed on the basis of a single operating reportable segment, being the development and supply of pharmaceutical products and 
as such no separate segmental information is provided as it would not be different from the Consolidated income statement. The Chief Operating 
Decision Maker, represented by the Board, allocates resources on the basis of integrated management information, which focuses on adjusted 
EBITDA as detailed in note 9. 

Non-current assets at 31 December by geographical location are as follows:

Switzerland

United Kingdom

France

Germany

Total non-current assets

5. Research and development expenses

Partnered R&D

Pre-partnered R&D

Total research and development expenses 

 2019
£m

241.4

126.9

16.2

0.1

384.6

 2019 
£m

24.5

25.7

50.2

 2018
£m

286.8

125.5

19.3

19.6

451.2

 2018 
£m

20.6

34.9

55.5

Partnered research and development expenditure represents expenditure to progress partnered programmes. Pre-partnered research and 
development expenditure reflects investments funded by the Group on programmes yet to be partnered, as well as investments in the Group’s 
own innovative proprietary technology platforms.

6. Employees
The average number of full-time equivalent employees and aggregate remuneration of employees was as follows:

Research and development and related support services

Business development and corporate administration

Manufacturing and supply chain

Total average number of employees

Aggregate remuneration

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Payments to defined benefit pension plans

Payments to defined contribution pension plans

Total aggregate remuneration

 2019 
Number

 2018
Number

296

15

169

480

 2019 
£m

35.7

5.4

0.5

1.3

42.9

291

15

159

465

 2018 
£m

34.7

4.9

0.2

1.3

41.1

In addition, costs of £3.7m (2018: £2.5m) were incurred for individuals not directly employed by the Group.

Directors’ remuneration is detailed in the Remuneration report. In accordance with Schedule 5 (11.1) of the Companies Act 2006, employee benefits 
accruing under the Vectura Long-Term Incentive Share Plan are excluded from this disclosure as they do not solely relate to payments made for 2019 
employment services.

7. Other operating income
The Group will claim R&D expenditure credits (RDEC) of £1.7m (2018: £1.5m) in the year ended 31 December 2019 alongside the tax return filing process. 
As these credits are subject to corporation tax, they are presented as other income. Other than the tax authorities’ acceptance of the tax return, there 
are no other unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to this income. 

In 2018, the Group also recognised £0.6m of other income in relation to a 70% contribution from a customer for additional serialisation supply chain 
equipment required to comply with the new guidelines issued by the European Medicines Agency. A further £0.5m was also recognised in 2018 in relation 
to the novation of the Group’s Manufacturing and Supply Agreement from Sanofi to Recipharm.

108

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedFor the year ended 31 December 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
8. Auditor’s remuneration
The analysis of auditor’s remuneration is as follows: 

Audit of the Group’s annual accounts

Audit of the Group’s subsidiaries

Total audit fees

Other services 

Total non-audit fees

Total fees payable to the Group’s auditor 

 2019 
£m

0.5

0.1

0.6

0.1

0.1

0.7

 2018 
£m

0.6

0.1

0.7

0.1

0.1

0.8

Included in the audit fees for the Group’s annual accounts is £35,000 (2018: £35,000) payable for the audit of the parent company.

9. Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-statutory alternative performance measure used by management and the Board to monitor the Group’s performance. 
See note 1.1.

Operating loss

Exceptional items

Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets

Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment

Share-based payments

Adjusted EBITDA

Note

10

16

17

29

 2019 
£m

 2018 
£m

(27.0)

(105.4)

3.5

53.6

10.6

2.7

43.4

9.0

127.0

5.8

2.6

39.0

The Group has adopted IFRS 16 from 1 January 2019. In applying IFRS 16, in place of operating lease expenses for the Group’s UK properties, 
the Group recognises depreciation and interest costs. In relation to these leases, the Group recognised £0.9m of depreciation charges and £0.1m 
of interest costs.

10. Exceptional items
Exceptional items are presented whenever significant expenses are incurred or income is received as a result of events considered to be outside the 
normal course of business, where the unusual nature and expected infrequency merits separate presentation to assist comparisons with previous years.

Legal fees(1)

Site closure costs(2)

Other exceptional items(3)

Total exceptional items

 2019 
£m

3.0

0.3

0.2

3.5

 2018 
£m

7.1

1.3

0.6

9.0

If the exceptional items were not presented as exceptional, the classification would be as follows: (1) classified as research and development expenditure; (2) classified separately as restructuring costs; and (3) classified 
as corporate and administration expenses in 2019.

Legal fees of £3.0m (2018: £7.1m) relate to ongoing legal proceedings against GSK from enforcement of Vectura’s patents in respect of the Ellipta® products. 
Site closure costs arise from the decision to close the Group’s operating site in Gauting, Germany, by December 2020 and consists of share-based 
payment charges related to the retention of staff of £0.3m (2018: £0.2m), with 2018 also including provision for redundancy costs of £1.1m. Other exceptional 
items of £0.2m relate to final IFRS 2 charges for retention shares that were issued post the 2016 merger and vested on 22 September 2019. 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

109

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
11. Finance income and expense

Bank interest income

Unwinding of financial assets

Foreign exchange gains

Finance income

Bank interest expense

RCF commitment fees

Interest on lease liabilities

Other financing items

Finance expense

 2019 
£m

0.4

0.3

0.8

1.5

(0.1)

(0.2)

(0.1)

(0.2)

(0.6)

Foreign exchange relates to foreign currency cash on deposits in Switzerland and the UK, and the revaluation of royalty and milestone receivables 
in foreign currency in Switzerland and the UK.

12. Tax

Current income tax

Prior year adjustments

Total current income tax charge

Deferred tax

Net tax credit reported in the income statement

 2019 
£m

(4.4)

0.3

(4.1)

8.1

4.0

 2018 
£m

0.2

0.3

0.8

1.3

(0.3)

(0.2)

—

—

(0.5)

 2018 
£m

(4.6)

(0.1)

(4.7)

21.3

16.6

Deferred tax charges of £2.1m (2018: £0.5m) were recognised in other comprehensive income. 

Current tax arises from trading profits generated in Switzerland (2018: Switzerland and the US). Deferred tax relates predominantly to credits arising 
on the unwinding of tax liabilities on the intangible assets acquired as a result of the acquisition of Activaero in 2014 and the Skyepharma merger in 2016. 

The Group’s effective tax rate (ETR) before other comprehensive income (OCI) is a 15.3% credit (2018: 15.8% credit). This equates to the applicable 
UK tax rate of 19%, adjusted for a number of factors discussed below. 

UK tax
The UK sub-group is loss-making and benefits from the R&D expenditure credit (RDEC). The RDEC is subject to UK corporation tax and therefore is 
included within the Consolidated income statement and presented as other operating income (refer to note 7). In addition, certain UK companies are 
able to participate in the UK Patent Box regime, the benefit of which is expected to increase as new products are approved. The UK corporation tax 
rate will reduce to 17% from 1 April 2020, which has been substantively enacted. The impact on the Group accounts is expected to be immaterial.

US tax
Taxable income arose in the prior period in respect of the percentage of net sales received from EXPAREL®. This ceased from September 2018.

Swiss tax
The Group continues to be tax paying in Switzerland. Over the course of 2019, the Swiss tax reform was substantively enacted with an effective date 
of 1 January 2020. This will increase the ETR for the Swiss group to approximately 13.45% in 2025 (2018: 9.7%) after the transitional period has concluded. 
During this time the Group will mitigate this increase through applying for temporary transitional reliefs which are anticipated to reduce the Swiss group 
ETR to approximately 10.4%.

110

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedFor the year ended 31 December 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
12. Tax continued
Effective tax rate (ETR)
In Switzerland (2018: Switzerland and the US), the Group is profitable and subject to tax at the local rates (Swiss ETR 9.5% charge (2018: 9.7%)). 
In 2019, the US corporate rate applied was 21% (2018: 21%). The uncertain tax position disclosed has decreased by £0.7m in the year. These charges, 
along with a significant credit in respect of deferred tax liabilities relating to intangible assets acquired on the Skyepharma and Activaero acquisitions 
(refer to note 26 “Deferred tax liabilities”), together drive the Group’s ETR credit of 15.3% (2018: 15.8%).

Loss before tax 

Loss before tax calculated at the UK corporation tax of 19% (2018: 19%)

Tax effects of:

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

Unrecognised deferred tax*

Prior year deferred tax

Recognition of deferred tax on prior year losses

Differences arising from prior period computations

Differences in effective overseas tax rates

Impact of deferred tax rate change

Total tax credit for the year

 2019 
£m

 2018 
£m

(26.1)

(104.8)

5.0

19.9

(0.1)

(5.6)

0.1

0.2

0.3

3.0

1.1

4.0

(0.1)

(8.9)

0.4

2.0

(0.1)

3.4

—

16.6

* 

Unrecognised deferred tax mainly relates to losses incurred for which no deferred tax assets have been recognised as future recovery, or timing of recovery, cannot be supported.

The ETR (excluding the future release of the uncertain tax position) is expected to remain in the range of 10–15% credit for 2020 as a result of both the 
taxable Swiss profits and the significant credit in respect of deferred tax liabilities on intangibles acquired, which is expected to continue for the remainder 
of their useful lives. If VR315 (US) progresses to market as expected, the Group’s profit before tax would increase, and the ETR (before the release of the 
uncertain tax position) is expected to increase to a 20% charge.

IFRIC 23 – Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments
On 1 January 2019, the IFRIC 23 interpretation, which addresses the accounting for uncertain tax positions, became mandatory for use in accordance 
with EU-IFRS and was adopted by the Group at this time. The interpretation outlines the method required for measurement of the uncertainty and the 
Group’s only uncertain tax position was calculated through a method consistent with the interpretation and therefore no transitional adjustment or 
disclosure is required following adoption. 

13. Loss per share
Basic loss per share of 3.4p per share (2018: 13.2p per share) equals diluted loss per share of 3.4p per share (2018: 13.2p per share). Loss per share, 
basic and dilutive, has been calculated by dividing the loss attributable to shareholders by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the 
period. Options granted under employee share plans are anti-dilutive for the year ended 31 December 2019. The following table provides details of the 
impact as if shares had been considered dilutive.

Loss after tax (£m)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (m)

Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares (m)

Indicative diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares (m)

 2019

 2018

(22.1)

(88.2)

651.9

10.6

662.5

666.1

6.3

672.4

14.  Special dividend paid to shareholders
On 9 September 2019, the Group announced a distribution to shareholders in the form of a special dividend of approximately £40.0m (2018: nil). 
This was approved at a general meeting on 10 October 2019 and, subsequently, a distribution of 6p per ordinary share was paid to shareholders, 
totalling £39.9m (2018: nil). Directly attributable costs of £0.2m have been expensed to equity.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

111

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 31 December 2019

15.  Goodwill

At beginning of the year

Foreign exchange 

At end of the year

Allocation to cash-generating units (CGUs)

UK and Germany

Switzerland

At end of the year

 2019
£m

163.4

(1.2)

162.2

99.8

62.4

162.2

 2018
£m

161.4

2.0

163.4

100.1

63.3

163.4

Goodwill has been allocated to cash-generating units (CGUs), being the Group’s geographic locations for operations and intellectual property. 
The recoverable amounts of each CGU is assessed using a fair value less costs of disposal model. This is calculated using a discounted cash flow 
approach, with a post-tax discount rate applied to the projected risk-adjusted post-tax cash flows and terminal value.

The Group’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 10.25% (2018: 10%) is used in the calculation to discount the cash flows to reflect the impact 
of risks relevant to the Group and the time value of money. The Group rate is then adjusted for risks specific to each CGU. 

Cash flows relating to the Swiss CGU are discounted at 8% (2018: 9%). The primary reason for the decline in the discount rate comparing to 2018 is the 
reduction in interest rates in Switzerland, the Eurozone and Japan, which are the major markets the Swiss CGU operates in, which are close to zero or 
negative. The discount rate used for UK and Germany CGU cash flows is 12% (2018: 11%). Whilst no specific Brexit adjustment is made to the discount 
rates, market volatility caused by Brexit is incorporated into risk-free rates, equity market returns and economic expectations. 

Cash flows are based on the most recent budget approved by the Board covering 2020 and the Ten Year Plan to 2029. Details relating to the discounted 
cash flow models used in the impairment tests of the cash-generating units are as follows:

Valuation basis

Key assumptions

Fair value less cost of disposal

Time to develop and launch pipeline products

Net sales forecasts and related royalty inflows

Timing of partnering pipeline products and milestone achievement 

Brexit proceeds in an orderly manner with minimal disruption to the flutiform® supply chain

Gross profit margins on product supply

R&D expenditure

Terminal growth rate

Discount rate

Determination of assumptions

Forecast development plans 

Net sales forecasts are determined from partner forecasts and external market data

Milestone amounts and royalty rates reflect past experience and forecast sales from market data 

Margins reflect past experience, adjusted for expected future changes

Discount rates based on Group WACC, adjusted for country specific risks

Taxation rates based on appropriate rates for each region

Specific projected cash flow year

Ten years (reflecting a longer-term planning cycle)

Terminal growth rate

Discount rate

UK and Germany: nil
Switzerland: decline of 10% 

UK and Germany: 12% 
Switzerland: 8%

The Group conducted a sensitivity analysis on the impairment test of each CGU’s carrying value. The UK and Germany CGU valuation indicates significant 
headroom such that a plausible change in any key assumption is unlikely to result in an impairment of the related goodwill. The forecast cash flows would 
need to reduce in excess of 50% (2018: 65%) before impairment arises. This is primarily because this CGU comprises a significant number of internally 
generated intangibles.

112

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
15. Goodwill continued
The Swiss CGU has low headroom (£22.7m), primarily due to flutiform® moving towards its maturity stage and not being fully replaced by the launch of 
new products. This is incorporated in the forecast cash flows used in the impairment test. The sensitivity analysis indicates that either a decline of annual 
cash flows in excess of 8% or an increase in the discount rate by 1.35% would, all other assumptions being equal, cause impairment. 

The sensitivity of the Swiss CGU of the UK exiting the EU has been considered. The final position at the end of the implementation period could have 
a range of potential outcomes, of which the most severe is the UK not establishing a beneficial trading relationship with the EU before the end of the 
implementation period, 31 December 2020. In this scenario, the Group believes that there is a possibility that the Group’s supply chain could be disrupted. 
flutiform® is manufactured in the UK with raw materials imported mainly from the EU into the UK and the Group’s partners export finished product from 
the UK into the EU and Japan. 

If any of the risks associated with the implementation period materialise it will likely result in an impairment in the Swiss CGU. There remains a high level 
of uncertainty as at the date of approval of these financial statements as to how and whether specific risks will materialise. The full implications of the UK 
leaving the EU will not be understood until future tariffs, trade, regulatory, tax, and other free trade agreements to be entered into by the UK are established. 
Furthermore, Vectura could experience changes to laws and regulations post implementation period, in areas such as intellectual property rights, 
employment, environment, supply chain logistics, data protection and health and safety, which may be relevant in assessing the Group’s assets. 

16. Intangible assets

Cost

At 1 January 2018

Additions

Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2018

Additions

Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2019

Amortisation

At 1 January 2018

Amortisation

Impairment

Foreign exchange 

At 31 December 2018

Amortisation

Impairment

Foreign exchange 

At 31 December 2019

Net book value

At 31 December 2019

At 31 December 2018

Inhaled
in-market
assets
£m

Smart 
nebuliser
 technology 
£m

Non-inhaled
 in-market
 assets
£m

 Other
£m

Total
£m

309.1

—

15.8

324.9

—

(5.8)

138.3

—

1.6

139.9

—

(7.5)

76.8

—

4.2

81.0

—

(2.1)

16.1

0.9

0.8

17.8

1.3

(0.3)

540.3

0.9

22.4

563.6

1.3

(15.7)

319.1

132.4

78.9

18.8

549.2

(74.1)

(48.0)

—

(5.7)

(127.8)

(40.1)

—

2.5

(71.7)

(14.5)

(41.5)

(1.7)

(129.4)

(2.2)

(8.2)

7.4

(43.4)

(22.8)

—

(3.6)

(69.8)

(2.7)

—

1.8

(15.7)

(0.2)

—

(0.8)

(16.7)

(0.4)

—

0.5

(204.9)

(85.5)

(41.5)

(11.8)

(343.7)

(45.4)

(8.2)

12.2

(165.4)

(132.4)

(70.7)

(16.6)

(385.1)

153.7

197.1

—

10.5

8.2

11.2

2.2

1.1

164.1

219.9

During the period, the GSK Ellipta® technology licence included within inhaled in-market assets was fully amortised. 

As at 31 December 2019 the carrying value of the smart nebuliser technology assets, acquired through the Activaero transaction on 13 March 2014, 
has been fully impaired. Whilst partnering engagement for VR647 is ongoing, given developments in the status and timing of these discussions and 
in consideration of the Group’s R&D investment priorities, the Board considers that there is a low probability that the value of the VR647 intangible 
asset will be realised. Accordingly, a full impairment charge of £8.2m, offset by the release of deferred tax liabilities of £2.2m, was recognised. 

Non-inhaled in-market assets include several near end of life licences, patents, know-how agreements and marketing rights recognised on the 
Skyepharma merger, which are in use and from which the Group continues to receive royalties. 

Impairment tests on intangible assets are undertaken if events occur which call into question the carrying values of the assets. There was no indication 
of impairment for the remaining intangible assets as at 31 December 2019.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

113

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 31 December 2019

16. Intangible assets continued
The Group’s intangibles are amortised on a straight-line basis using the following useful economic lives (UELs): 

Inhaled in-market assets

Non-inhaled in-market assets

Acquisition
 date

June 2016

June 2016

Useful economic 
life from 
acquisition date

11.5 years

6.5 years

The Group’s sensitivity analysis shows that, had UELs been extended for 2019 by one year, then the impairment and amortisation charge would 
be £4.4m lower. Had UELs been reduced for 2019 by one year, then the impairment and amortisation charge would be £6.0m higher. 

On 9 August 2019, certain Japanese patent extensions were granted. As a result, the UEL of the flutiform® inhaled in-market asset was extended 
by an additional four and a half years. Consequently, the amortisation charge for the period has reduced. 

Following a contract renegotiation, effective from 1 January 2019, the UEL for the remaining non-inhaled in-market asset was extended to reflect 
minimum guaranteed royalties until December 2022.

17. Property, plant and equipment

Land and
 buildings
£m

Laboratory and
equipment
£m

Assets under
construction
£m

Cost

At 1 January 2018

Additions

Reclassification

Disposals

Foreign exchange 

At 1 January 2019

Recognition of right-of-use assets upon initial application of IFRS 16

Adjusted balance at 1 January 2019

Additions

Reclassification*

Impairment

Disposals

Foreign exchange 

At 31 December 2019

Depreciation

At 1 January 2018

Charge for the period

Disposals

Foreign exchange

At 1 January 2019

Charge for the period

Disposals

Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2019

Net book value

At 31 December 2019

At 31 December 2018

* 

Includes £0.4m of reclassification from assets under construction to inventories.

114

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

18.1

0.2

0.7

—

0.6

19.6

3.6

23.2

0.8

—

—

—

(0.6)

23.4

(1.0)

(0.7)

—

(0.1)

(1.8)

(1.7)

—

0.1

48.9

3.1

4.9

(2.2)

1.6

56.3

—

56.3

3.1

2.6

(0.3)

(1.3)

(1.0)

59.4

(19.2)

(5.1)

2.2

(0.3)

(22.4)

(7.0)

1.2

0.3

(3.4)

(27.9)

20.0

17.8

31.5

33.9

6.3

5.2

(5.6)

—

0.2

6.1

—

6.1

2.2

(3.0)

(1.6)

—

(0.1)

3.6

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

3.6

6.1

Total
£m

73.3

8.5

—

(2.2)

2.4

82.0

3.6

85.6

6.1

(0.4)

(1.9)

(1.3)

(1.7)

86.4

(20.2)

(5.8)

2.2

(0.4)

(24.2)

(8.7)

1.2

0.4

(31.3)

55.1

57.8

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
17. Property, plant and equipment continued
Land valued at £5.0m (2018: £5.1m) is not depreciated. The Group has invested £6.1m in capital expenditure in 2019 (2018: £8.5m) mainly in 
manufacturing equipment to support the production of flutiform®, the development of oral tablet production in Lyon and further development of 
Group’s FOX® nebuliser platform. 

Following the decision to fully impair the intangible asset related to the VR647 programme (refer to note 16 “Intangible assets”), provision for impairment 
of associated tangible assets of £1.2m has also been made; the majority of these assets were under construction. A further £0.7m of assets under 
construction, not related to VR647, were also impaired. 

18. Other non-current assets
Other non-current assets comprise the following items:

Non-current financial assets 

Deferred tax assets on tax basis differences 

Total other non-current assets

 2019 
£m

0.5

2.7

3.2

 2018
£m

6.8

3.3

10.1

In 2018, non-current financial assets principally comprised £6.4m of amounts receivable from development partners for manufacturing equipment 
which the Group has funded. £6.1m of this related to one asset and, as reimbursement is anticipated within one year, this balance has been transferred 
to current assets and the discounting of £0.4m has been unwound. 

Deferred tax assets are recognised on differences between the tax base in the IFRS accounts for IAS 19 – pension liabilities and commercial 
provisions. Additionally, £1.2m (2018: £2.0m) is recognised in relation to the probable future utilisation of tax losses. All applicable deferred tax 
assets have been recognised.

The Group did not recognise deferred tax assets on tax losses amounting to £292.5m (2018: £254.9m). The majority of the losses are unlikely to offset 
taxable profits as they mostly relate to non-trading losses in investment holding companies. There are no current plans to recover these losses in the 
foreseeable future. As at 31 December 2019, the deductible temporary differences and unused tax credits for which no deferred tax asset is recognised 
in the statement of financial position are £16.8m (2018: £7.4m).

19. Inventories

Raw materials

Work in progress

Finished goods

Less provision for impairment 

Total inventories

Inventories of £80.5m were recognised as an expense during the year and included in cost of sales (2018: £58.0m).

20. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables 

Unbilled trade receivables 

Less provision for impairment 

Net trade receivables

Prepayments and other receivables

Customer reimbursement of equipment

Research and development tax credits

Total trade and other receivables

 2019
£m

8.8

13.1

7.6

(1.8)

27.7

 2019
£m

17.2

12.0

—

29.2

4.9

7.6

2.6

44.3

 2018
£m

8.9

14.6

4.2

(1.0)

26.7

 2018
£m

15.1

10.2

(0.1)

25.2

6.3

—

3.8

35.3

The carrying values of trade receivables approximate their fair values because these balances are expected to be cash settled in the near future 
unless a provision is made. Unbilled trade receivables contain accrued royalties and licence and development milestones as well as contributions to 
fixed asset investments pursuant to the flutiform® supply chain. Customer reimbursement of equipment relates to amounts receivable from partners 
for manufacturing equipment which the Group has funded. £6.1m of this balance was previously classified within other non-current assets. Refer to 
note 18.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

115

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 31 December 2019

20. Trade and other receivables continued
Expected credit losses
The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to providing for expected credit losses in accordance with applicable guidance for non-banking entities. 
Under the simplified approach the Group is required to measure lifetime expected credit losses for all trade receivables. 

The expected credit loss allowance provision is determined below as follows, and incorporates forward-looking information: 

Expected loss rate

2019

Gross carrying amount

Loss allowance provision

2018

Gross carrying amount

Loss allowance provision

Current

More than 30
 days past due

More than 60
 days past due

More than 90
 days past due

Total 
£m

—

27.3

—

24.7

—

—

1.7

—

0.4

—

100%

100%

—

—

0.1

—

0.2

—

0.1

(0.1)

29.2

—

25.3

(0.1)

The Group’s expected credit loss policy is to reassess all trade receivables over 60 days past due, and provide in full if the balance is deemed to be 
at risk. No such balances were considered at risk as at 31 December 2019.

21. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling

Euro

US dollars

Swiss francs

Cash and cash equivalents

31 December
 2019
£m

31 December
 2018
£m

14.8

23.4

21.8

14.1

74.1

45.2

25.6

21.1

16.3

108.2

The Group invests its funds in short-term overnight bank deposits, with access at a maximum of 24 hours’ notice. The Group has access to a £50m 
unsecured committed multi-currency revolving credit facility (RCF) with Barclays Bank PLC and HSBC UK Bank PLC. The facility expires in August 2021 
and remains undrawn.

22. Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Accruals 

Contract liabilities

Other payables

Trade and other current liabilities

Contract liabilities

Other non-current payables

Trade and other payables

 2019
£m

23.2

20.9

2.3

2.4

48.8

—

—

48.8

 2018
£m

25.6

28.8

4.1

2.4

60.9

2.4

2.4

63.3

Trade and other payables are unsecured unless otherwise indicated; due to the short-term nature of current payables, their carrying values approximates 
their fair value. 

Accruals principally relate to manufacturing fees payable for flutiform® semi-finished products, external R&D project costs, employee benefits and 
related taxes, legal fees and other costs accrued but not invoiced. Contract liabilities consist of advance payments from customers for early-stage 
development services, with revenues being recognised over time. See note 3 “Revenue” for more details.

116

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
23. Borrowings

Current

Finance lease liabilities 

Property mortgage

Total current borrowings

Non-current

Finance lease liabilities 

Property mortgage

Total non-current borrowings

Total borrowings

 2019
£m

 2018
£m

1.0

0.2

1.2

2.6

3.8

6.4

7.6

—

0.2

0.2

—

3.8

3.8

4.0

Finance lease liabilities of £4.7m were initially recognised upon adoption of IFRS 16 on 1 January 2019. As at 31 December 2019, these liabilities are 
£3.6m, of which £2.6m is denominated in sterling and relates to the expected terms remaining on UK property site leases discounted at between 2% 
and 3%. The remaining finance lease liability of £1.0m is denominated in Swiss francs and was previously recognised as an onerous lease provision, 
on transition to IFRS 16 Leases on 1 January 2019 this was de-recognised and a finance lease liability was recognised. The corresponding right-of-use 
asset is fully impaired.

The property mortgage is denominated in Swiss francs and are secured on the Group’s Swiss buildings with a fixed rate of interest of 1.3% per annum 
until 31 March 2020. Owing to the nature of Swiss rollover mortgages, most of the principal of the loan balance is presented as long term given the Group’s 
intention to continue to rollover the principal balance until the related property is sold, which is expected to be in more than one year. All expected 
interest payments and a partial principal repayment in 2020 are presented as current. 

24. Provisions

At 1 January 2019

Transfer to finance lease liabilities upon adoption of IFRS 16

Charged during the period 

Utilised during the year

Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2019

Current 

Non-current

Employee
£m

Property 
£m

Commercial
£m

3.2

—

2.0

(1.9)

(0.2)

3.1

1.5

1.6

2.4

(1.0)

0.3

—

—

1.7

0.1

1.6

5.3

—

—

(0.3)

(0.3)

4.7

—

4.7

Total
£m

10.9

(1.0)

2.3

(2.2)

(0.5)

9.5

1.6

7.9

Employee provisions include £1.0m in respect of the closure of the Group’s site in Gauting, Germany, and £1.6m for French statutory lump sum payments, 
payable upon the retirement of the employees at the Lyon facility, with payments not expected in the medium term. 

Property provisions are recognised in respect of the commitment to restore the Group’s leased R&D facilities in Chippenham to their original condition 
in 2023. On transition to IFRS 16 – Leases, on 1 January 2019, the Group’s onerous lease provision in Switzerland was de-recognised and a finance lease 
liability was recognised. The corresponding right-of-use asset is fully impaired.

Commercial provisions relate to constructive obligations arising from historic costs incurred by customers for which the Group expects, in time, 
to reimburse them for.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

117

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
25. Retirement benefit obligations 
Swiss defined benefit pension plan
The amounts recognised in the balance sheet for the Swiss scheme are as follows:

Present value of defined benefit obligation

Fair value of plan assets

Balance sheet liability

 2019
£m

(18.7)

14.2

(4.5)

 2018
£m

(16.2)

13.1

(3.1)

The Swiss sub-group has affiliated itself with PKG Pensionskasse for the provision of its occupational pension provision for its employees and pension 
recipients. The pension scheme provides benefits in the case of disability, death, old age and termination. The risk benefits are defined in relation to the 
pensionable salary. The retirement pension is calculated based on the projected savings capital with interest and a conversion rate.

The highest corporate body of the foundation is the Board of Trustees. It handles the general management of the pension scheme, ensures compliance 
with the statutory requirements, defines the strategic objectives and policies of the pension scheme and identifies the resources for their implementation. 
It determines the objectives and principles of the asset management and the implementation and monitoring of the investment process.

The Board of Trustees of the PKG pension fund announced in 2017, the reduction in the relevant pension conversion (into an annuity) rates to 5.4% 
until 2020, from 6.0% in 2016. Furthermore, the active policy holders’ retirement assets will earn 2.4% interest as of 31 December 2019 (2018: 1.0%).

Vectura, as employer, matches employees’ contributions to the scheme on a monthly basis. The amount of contributions to be paid by the employer 
and employee are determined by the Board of Trustees or the pension fund commission such that on retirement participants can choose to receive 
a cash lump sum or convert their savings capital into an annuity to be paid monthly over the course of their retirement. 

The law (Swiss Federal Law on Occupational Retirement, Survivors’ and Disability Pension Plans and its associated ordinances) provides for minimum 
pension benefits and also a minimum amount for the savings contributions. The amount of the contributions to be paid by the employer and the employee 
is determined by the highest corporate body and/or the pension fund commission. These can exceed the statutory minimum. The employer contribution 
must be at least as high as the employee contributions.

The movement in the present value of the defined benefit obligation is as follows:

Opening present value of the defined benefit obligation

Current service cost

Non-exceptional gain on curtailment 

Exceptional gain on curtailment

Recognised in the income statement 

Benefits paid and withdrawals

Employee contributions

Balance sheet cash movements

Foreign exchange translation

Actuarial (loss)/gain

Recognised through OCI

 2019 
£m

(16.2)

(0.7)

0.2

—

(0.5)

(0.1)

(0.4)

(0.5)

0.1

(1.6)

(1.5)

 2018
£m

(17.7)

(0.8)

—

0.7

(0.1)

2.8

(0.5)

2.3

(0.8)

0.1

(0.7)

Present value of the defined benefit obligation 

(18.7)

(16.2)

118

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedFor the year ended 31 December 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
25. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Swiss defined benefit pension plan continued
The movement in the fair value of the plan assets was follows:

Fair value of the plan assets at the beginning of the year

Foreign exchange

Benefits paid and withdrawals

Actuarial gains recognised on plan assets through OCI

Employer contributions

Employee contributions

Fair value of the plan assets 

Plan assets comprise:

Equity

Bonds

Property

Cash 

Other 

 2019
£m

4.4

5.9

2.7

0.2

1.0

 2019
%

31.0

41.6

19.0

1.4

7.0

Total plan assets

14.2

100.0

 2019 
£m

13.1

(0.1)

0.1

0.2

0.5

0.4

14.2

 2018
£m

3.7

6.1

2.5

0.1

0.7

13.1

 2018 
£m

14.1

0.6

(2.8)

0.1

0.6

0.5

13.1

 2018
%

28.2

46.6

19.1

0.8

5.3

100.0

“Other” plan assets includes higher risk investments such as commodities or emerging market investments. Despite the IAS 19 requirement to recognise 
these assets, they are not controlled by the Group, but by the Swiss pension fund. The pension fund manages these in accordance with Swiss pension 
regulations to generate a higher return on the fund, but does not provide any further details as to the composition of the assets or, for example, the quoted 
prices of equity held in the fund (as such Vectura is unable to disclose quoted equity prices as required by IAS 19.142). 

The latest asset coverage ratio of 113.1% (2018: 106.4%) published by the fund, to which the asset prices relate, is not currently recognised by Vectura, 
which caps Vectura’s share of assets in the fund at the level of participant savings contribution. Under IAS 19 accounting for Swiss pensions, an accounting 
policy choice exists as to whether the investment returns are recognised and it is the intention of management to review this assumption in the context 
of future negative rates. Expected employer contributions to post-employment benefit plans for the year ending 31 December 2020 are £0.5m 
(2019: £0.6m). At present, there have been no additional funding requirements imposed by the pension regulator.

The cumulative actuarial gain recognised in other comprehensive income is as follows:

Actuarial (loss)/gain recognised in OCI

Cumulative actuarial gains recognised within retained losses 

The principal actuarial assumptions made by the actuaries were:

Salary growth

Pension increase

Discount rate

Male life expectancy from retirement age (years)

Female life expectancy from retirement age (years)

The average service period to retirement for scheme participants is approximately ten years (2018: ten years).

31 December
 2019 
£m

31 December 
 2018 
£m

(1.4)

1.2

0.2

2.6

1.25%

1.25%

Nil

Nil

0.20%

0.80%

22.72

22.75

22.50

25.50

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

119

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
25. Retirement benefit obligations continued
Swiss defined benefit pension plan continued
The sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to changes in the weighted principal assumptions is:

Discount rate

Pension increases

Salary growth

Life expectancy

Change in
assumption

+/-1%

+1%

+/-1%

+1 year

Monetary
effect of 
increase in
 assumption
£m

(1.9)

1.9

0.3

0.6

Monetary
effect of 
decrease in
 assumption
£m

3.2

Not applicable

(0.3)

Not applicable

The above sensitivity analyses are based on a change in one assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to 
occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. The sole exception is the variation of the discount rate with simultaneous variation 
of the interest rate for projection of savings capital.

Defined contribution plans – UK and Germany
In addition, the Group operates various defined contribution plans for its employees outside of Switzerland. The Group’s contributions to these plans 
are charged to the Consolidated income statement in the year to which they relate, and the assets are held in separate trustee-administered funds. 
The charge to the Consolidated income statement in relation to defined contribution plans is £1.3m as disclosed in note 6 “Employees”.

26. Deferred tax liabilities
The principal deferred tax liabilities relate to differences between the tax and accounting base of intangible assets and buildings uplifted as a 
consequence of fair value accounting requirements. Deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

At 31 December 2017

Credited to income statement

Charged to OCI

Foreign exchange 

At 31 December 2018

Credited to income statement

Charged to OCI

Foreign exchange 

At 31 December 2019

Intangible 
assets
£m

Foreign
 exchange
 gains
£m

Tangible
assets 
£m

45.6

(19.1)

—

1.2

27.7

(8.5)

—

(0.5)

18.7

6.0

—

0.5

0.2

6.7

—

2.1

—

8.8

1.9

(0.6)

—

—

1.3

(0.4)

—

—

0.9

Total
£m

53.5

(19.7)

0.5

1.4

35.7

(8.9)

2.1

(0.5)

28.4

Deferred tax liabilities associated with intangible assets unwind to offset the tax distortion that would otherwise occur as the assets are amortised. 
As a result of the impairment of the carrying value of the intangible asset attributed to VR647 (refer to note 16), the deferred tax liability of £2.2m has 
been credited in the period to the Consolidated income statement. 

The Group recognises deferred tax on unrealised foreign exchange gains on permanent funding of the Group’s Swiss subsidiaries. Following approval 
through public referendum, the Federal Act on Tax Reform and AHV Financing (TRAF) removed certain tax beneficial statuses from 1 January 2019. 
Consequently, the tax rate at which the unrealised foreign exchange gains had been expected to reverse can no longer be achieved. To reflect this, 
the deferred tax liability has been calculated at the canton of Zug’s future tax rate of 11.91% (2018: 7.83%) resulting in a £2.4m deferred tax charge 
recognised in other comprehensive income. 

Furthermore, the deferred tax liability recognised in respect of intangibles and tangible assets in the canton of Basel-Landschaft have been recalculated 
at the future expected tax rate which will be around 10.4% during the transitional period and 13.45% from 2025 once the transitional period has concluded 
(2018: 12%). The majority of the deferred tax liabilities are expected to be realised through the transitional period and, therefore, this results in a £1.1m 
tax credit in the Consolidated income statement.

120

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedFor the year ended 31 December 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
27. Financial instruments
The Group has exposure to credit, liquidity and currency risks from its use of financial instruments. This note sets out the Group’s key policies 
and processes for managing these risks.

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade receivables and unbilled trade receivables 

Other current assets

Other non-current assets

Non-derivative financial assets 

Trade and other payables

Mortgage borrowings

Finance lease liabilities*

Non-derivative financial liabilities

Financial instruments

Fair value through 
profit and loss

Amortised cost

Total

 2019
£m

—

—

—

0.5

0.5

—

—

—

—

0.5

 2018
Re-presented
£m

—

—

—

0.4

0.4

—

—

—

—

0.4

 2019
£m

74.1

29.2

7.6

—

110.9

(46.5)

(4.0)

(3.6)

(54.1)

56.8

 2018
Re-presented
£m

108.2

25.2

—

6.4

139.8

(56.8)

(4.0)

—

(60.8)

79.0

 2019
£m

74.1

29.2

7.6

0.5

111.4

(46.5)

(4.0)

(3.6)

(54.1)

57.3

 2018
Re-presented
£m

108.2

25.2

—

6.8

140.2

(56.8)

(4.0)

—

(60.8)

79.4

* 

The Group has applied IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach under which the disclosure requirements in IFRS 16 have not generally been applied to comparative information.

The Group’s financial instruments are measured at amortised cost unless consideration is contingent. Contingent assets and liabilities are held at fair 
value through profit and loss (FVTPL) on the basis of their expected discounted cash flows, being the present value of expected payments discounted 
using a risk-free discount rate adjusted as appropriate. Therefore no separate fair value analysis is presented.

The Group has no external debt, except for a Swiss mortgage at a fixed rate of interest, and therefore does not consider the impact of interest rate risk 
to be material to its results or operations and accordingly no sensitivity analysis is shown. 

(a) Credit risk
The impairment provisions for financial assets disclosed in note 20 “Trade and other receivables” are based on assumptions about risk of default 
and expected loss rates. The Group uses judgement in making these assumptions and selecting the inputs to the impairment calculation based 
on the Group’s past history and existing market conditions as well as forward-looking estimates at the end of each reporting period. There were 
no impairment losses recognised in profit and loss in the year and the expected credit losses are immaterial.

(b) Capital management 
The Group manages its capital to ensure that all entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising the return 
to stakeholders. The capital structure of the Group consists of:

Cash and cash equivalents

Swiss property mortgage

Finance lease liabilities 

Net cash

Equity

Net cash to equity ratio

 2019 
£m

74.1

(4.0)

(3.6)

66.5

419.4

16%

 2018 
£m

108.2

(4.0)

—

104.2

494.3

21%

The Group has applied IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach under which the disclosure requirements in IFRS 16 have not generally been applied to comparative information.

In addition, the Group has access to a £50m RCF and no funds were drawn against this as at 31 December 2019. The facility expires in August 2021. 
Refer to note 21 “Cash and cash equivalents”.

(c) Financial risk management
The primary risks that the Group is exposed to through its use of financial instruments are liquidity risk, foreign currency risk and credit risk. Board 
authorisation is required for all significant agreements that may affect the Group risk structure. It is, and has been throughout the year, the Group’s 
policy that no speculative trading in financial instruments is undertaken. 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

121

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 31 December 2019

27. Financial instruments continued
(d) Liquidity risk management
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group does not have sufficient financial resources to meet its obligations as they fall due. The Group manages liquidity 
risk by maintaining adequate reserves and by continually monitoring forecast and actual cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets 
and liabilities. The Group’s policy is to maintain continuity of funding through available cash and cash equivalents, the RCF and the issue of shares 
where appropriate. 

The following are the remaining contractual maturities of the financial liabilities at the reporting date. 

The amounts are gross and undiscounted, and include contractual interest payments and exclude the impact of netting arrangements. 

31 December 2019

Non-derivative financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Mortgage borrowings

Finance lease liabilities

31 December 2018

Non-derivative financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Mortgage borrowings

Carrying 
amount
£m

46.5

4.0

3.6

54.1

Carrying 
amount
£m

56.8

4.0

60.8

Total
£m

46.5

4.0

3.8

54.4

Total
£m

56.8

4.0

60.8

2 months 
or less
£m

27.0

0.2

—

27.2

2 months 
or less
£m

31.9

—

31.9

2-12 months
£m

1-2 years
£m

More than 
2 years
£m

19.5

—

1.1

20.6

—

0.3

1.3

1.6

2–12 months
£m

1–2 years
£m

24.9

0.2

25.1

—

0.3

0.3

—

3.5

1.4

4.9

More than 
2 years
£m

—

3.5

3.5

(e) Currency risk management
The Group’s presentation currency is sterling. The Group is subject to exposure on the translation of the assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries whose 
functional currencies differ from that of the Group. The Group’s primary balance sheet translation exposures are to the Swiss franc, euro and US dollar. 
The Group aims to minimise balance sheet translation exposures, where it is practical to do so, by funding subsidiaries with long-term loans, on which 
exchange differences are taken to reserves. 

The Group faces currency exposures arising from the translation of profits and losses earned in foreign currencies. These exposures are not hedged. 
Exposures also arise from foreign currency-denominated trading transactions undertaken by subsidiaries. The Group’s policy is to offset such currency 
exposure by matching foreign currency revenues with expenditure in the same foreign currency. Where there are no imminent foreign currency-denominated 
transactions, the surplus foreign currency cash balances are exchanged for the functional currency of the subsidiary. Where it has not been possible 
to use natural hedges, currency options and forward currency contracts may be used. 

A 10% strengthening of the euro, sterling, US dollar and Swiss franc functional currencies within the Group against non-functional currencies of its 
subsidiaries would result in the loss before tax being £8.1m lower (2018: £4.0m lower) and items recognised directly in other comprehensive loss being 
£1.2m higher (2018: £10.8m higher). A 10% weakening would have an equal but opposite effect on loss before tax and other comprehensive income. 
The Group considers a 10% strengthening or weakening of the functional currency against the non-functional currency of its subsidiaries as 
a reasonably possible change in foreign exchange rates.

28. Ordinary share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid

Ordinary shares of 0.025p, each at 1 January 2019

Issued to satisfy Vectura employee share plans

Share consolidation

Share buyback programme – cancellations

£m

0.2

—

—

—

Number
 of shares

665,387,145

1,512,754

(51,275,466)

(4,127,660)

Ordinary shares of 0.0271p, each at 31 December 2019

0.2

611,496,773

122

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
28. Ordinary share capital continued
On 10 October 2019, the Group announced that the Board had approved a share buyback programme to return up to £10m to shareholders. As at 
31 December 2019 £3.5m of capital was returned to shareholders at a weighted average price of 85.7p per share. The share buyback programme 
is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2020. Directly attributable costs of £0.1m have been expensed to equity.

At the general meeting on 10 October 2019, shareholders approved the proposed distribution of a 6p per share dividend totalling £39.9m. Refer to 
note 14 “Special dividend paid to shareholders”.

Following the special dividend payment, a share consolidation took place. The weighted average number of shares calculation is adjusted prospectively 
in 2019 (12 shares for every 13 held; nominal value now 0.0271p).

During the year, the Group allotted 1,512,754 (2018: 1,561,183) ordinary shares related to employee share option awards. 

29. Share-based payments
The Group operates various share-based compensation plans as described within the Remuneration report. All share-based payments are for the 
purposes of employee share incentivisation and are equity settled for shares within Vectura Group plc in accordance with the vesting conditions.

Equity-settled LTIP and RSA plans

Exceptional share-based payments – merger and site closure

Total share-based payments

 2019 
£m

2.7

0.5

3.2

 2018
£m

2.6

1.1

3.7

The employee share award plans are designed to support a strong culture of long-term shareholder value creation. Details of the Long-Term Incentive 
Plan (LTIP), the Group’s main plan, are set out below. The Group also operates a Share Incentive Plan (SIP) and a Save-As-You-Earn (SAYE) plan. 
The disclosures relevant for these plans are made in the Remuneration report as they are not considered material.

Exceptional share-based payments include £0.2m (2018: £0.9m) related to 36-month (vested in September 2019) retention awards granted following 
the Skyepharma merger on 10 June 2016. The remaining £0.3m (2018: £0.2m) relates to share-based payment charges specifically for the retention 
of staff following the decision to close the Group’s operational site in Gauting.

During the year £5.1m (2018: £3.8m) of share based payments were exercised, forfeited or vested and were recycled to retained earnings.

Equity-settled Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) including restricted stock awards (RSA)
Under the approved Group’s Remuneration Policy, equity awards are a key component of the overall remuneration package for senior management 
and executives. 

Transactions on the LTIP share plan for executives, senior management and key professionals during the year were as follows:

Beginning of the year

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

End of the year

 2019
Number of 
awards

16,282,705

5,943,754

(1,226,782)

(2,510,815)

 2018
Number of 
awards

14,376,319

7,243,746

(1,558,596)

(3,778,764)

18,488,862

16,282,705

In 2019, LTIPs granted to Executive Directors were 185% of salary (2018: 185%) subject to performance over three years. The performance condition 
is subject to two measures being:

(a) 

 performance is measured subject to a relative TSR metric against the FTSE 250 (excluding real estate and financial services companies) 
(2018: against the FTSE 250 (excluding real estate and financial services companies)); and

(b) 

 a relevant three-year cumulative adjusted EBITDA target as set by the Remuneration Committee. 

Employees at the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) level were granted LTIPs at 105% of salary (2018: 95%). 70% (2018: 50%) of these awards are 
subject to the same TSR and adjusted EBITDA as the Executive Directors, with the remaining 35% (2018: 45%) classified as restricted stock awards.

Restricted stock awards are subject to service conditions, i.e. the requirement for recipients of awards to remain in employment with Vectura over 
a three-year vesting period and subject to a personal performance underpin. Any vested shares granted to the Executive Directors and Executive 
Leadership Team must be held for two years after vesting. 

Other key management personnel below ELT level receive awards entirely of restricted stock options. 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

123

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
29. Share-based payments continued
Valuation of share awards
The treatment of vesting and non-vesting conditions attached to awards in the valuation process varies in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 2. 

LTIPs for Executive Directors and ELT
For the year ended 31 December 2019, the calculation of the grant date fair value for those awards with a total shareholder return condition was as follows:

Number of TSR awards granted

Service condition

Holding condition

Nominal share value 

Share price on grant date

 2019

 2018

1,875,672

1,691,099

3 years

2 years

0.0271p

 72.5p

3 years

2 years

0.025p

74.2p

The TSR condition is a market-based performance condition; this has been incorporated into the fair value calculation and no subsequent adjustments 
may be made. 

For awards subject to a TSR condition, volatility is calculated over the period of time commensurate with the remainder of the performance period 
immediately prior to the date of grant being 9.68% (2018: 14.41%). The risk-free interest rate obtainable from government securities (i.e. gilts in the UK) 
over a period commensurate with the expected term was 0.825% (2018: 1.2%) and there was no dividend yield expected (2018: nil). 

The adjusted EBITDA condition is a non-market condition and the vesting outcome assumption is adjusted at each reporting period for the likelihood 
of the number of shares that will ultimately vest. For the LTIP and RS awards that will be subject to a holding period, the Chaffe model (an at-market put 
option variant of the Black-Scholes model) has been used to determine a discount for the lack of marketability. 

LTIPs for key management personnel below ELT
For the below ELT restricted stock awards, the probability of the non-market-based (holding) condition being achieved does not need to be 
incorporated into the fair value at date of grant, but is evaluated periodically to true up the estimate for the number of awards expected to vest. 

Exceptional share-based awards
Share-based payments within exceptional items were £0.5m (2018: £1.1m). 

Upon completion of the merger, 1,618,215 exceptional nil-cost awards were granted to key members of management, excluding Executive Directors, 
considered critical to the integration process. These awards had a grant date fair value of £1.41 and were subject to an 18-month or 36-month service 
condition with a personal performance underpin from their grant date on 22 September 2016. Those with an 18-month service condition vested in 
March 2018, and therefore no charge is included this year. The 36-month holding condition vested on 21 September 2019; therefore a partial charge 
is included in the 2019 accounts.

A total of 1,026,568 retention awards with a two-year vesting period were issued to German employees critical to the knowledge transfer of the Vectura 
enhanced therapy programmes associated with the German site closure. These awards had an IFRS 2 grant date fair value of £0.7m which is being 
spread evenly over the associated 24-month vesting period from their grant date on 27 June 2018 until 28 June 2020. 

Share trusts
The Group consolidates two share trusts. The Group’s own share reserve represents the weighted average cost of shares in the Estera Employee 
Benefit Trust and the Vectura Employee Benefit Trust, which are held for the purposes of fulfilling obligations in respect of the Group’s share awards.

124

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedFor the year ended 31 December 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
30. Cash flow information
Cash generated from operating activities

Cash flows from operating activities

Loss after taxation

Adjustments

Net tax credit

Amortisation and intangible asset impairment

Depreciation and fixed asset impairment

Net finance income

Share-based payments (including those in exceptional items)

Increase in inventories

Increase in trade and other receivables

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables

Loss from associates

Other non-cash items

Total adjustments

Cash generated from operating activities

Analysis of movement in financial liabilities

At the beginning of the period

Adoption of IFRS 16

Repayments of property mortgage

Net repayment of obligations under finance leases

Total changes from financing cash flows

Interest expense

Foreign exchange movements

At the end of the period

 2019
£m

 2018
£m

(22.1)

(88.2)

(4.0)

53.6

10.6

(0.9)

3.2

(1.3)

(6.0)

(13.9)

—

0.1

41.4

19.3

 2019
£m

4.0

4.7

(0.1)

(1.1)

(1.2)

0.2

(0.1)

7.6

(16.6)

127.0

5.8

(0.8)

3.7

(2.0)

(1.9)

7.2

0.2

0.7

123.3

35.1

 2018
£m

4.1

—

(0.3)

—

(0.3)

0.1

0.1

4.0

Financial liabilities relate to a Swiss property mortgage secured on the Swiss R&D facility and finance lease liabilities recognised under IFRS 16.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

125

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 31 December 2019

31. Contingent assets
In accordance with the requirements of IAS 37 – Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets, a possible asset that arises from past events, 
and whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control 
of the entity, is disclosed, as a contingent asset. 

GSK patent enforcement 
As at 31 December 2019, potential assets estimated to be $129.4m (2018: nil) are not recognised in the financial statements, but are disclosed 
as contingent as the existence of these assets is dependent on the outcome of legal proceeding in the US. 

In the May 2019 jury trial in the US, the Group’s US patent was found not invalid and infringed by GlaxoSmithKline’s US sales of three Ellipta® products. 
The jury awarded Vectura $89.7m in damages for the period from August 2016 through to December 2018, based on 3% of US sales of these products. 
The jury also found that GSK’s infringement was wilful, following post-trial motions, the 3% royalty rate was in effect confirmed as applicable until patent 
expiry in mid-2021. This is calculated to be an additional $33m from January 2019 to December 2019. A further $6.7m of interest was also awarded. 

GSK has appealed the decision and the outcome of this appeal is expected by Q1 2021. Whilst the outcome of the trial was favourable, until the outcome 
of the appeal is known, all potential assets related to this (including a potential deferred tax asset on future income against brought forward trading losses) 
remain unrecognised.

Supplier rebate
As at 31 December 2019, the Group was due a rebate of £3.6m (2018: nil) from one supplier. The methodology used to calculate the rebate has been 
disputed by the supplier, which results in uncertainty over the receipt of the rebate. Until this dispute is resolved, the rebate will not be recognised as 
an asset. 

32. Significant accounting policies
32.1 Basis of consolidation
The financial statements comprise the consolidated financial statements of Vectura Group plc and its subsidiaries as at 31 December 2019.

Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has direct or indirect control. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, 
variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power to direct the activities of the entity. 
Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which control is obtained by the Group and are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases. 
All of the Group’s material trading entities are wholly owned subsidiaries, where the Group holds 100% of the share capital. 

Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Group accounting policies 
are consistently applied to all entities and transactions.

32.2 Foreign currency translation and transactions
Results of the Group’s overseas entities are translated into the UK sterling presentational currency of the Group using monthly average exchange rates. 
On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation of overseas net assets are recognised in the translation reserve and recycled to the 
Consolidated income statement upon any full disposal.

Goodwill is denominated in the currency of the original cash-generating unit (CGU) to which it was allocated on acquisition. Fair value adjustments arising 
on the acquisition of a foreign operation are treated as assets and liabilities denominated in the currency of the overseas operation. Any exchange 
differences on intercompany funding loans are deferred to equity, to the extent that these are considered permanent in accordance with IAS 21 – 
Foreign Exchange. 

Trading entities have a functional currency consistent with the denomination of cash inflows and outflows being also consistent with the primary 
currency of their location. Local market transactions in a different currency to each local functional currency are translated using average exchange 
rates provided these are materially similar to the spot rate on the transaction date. These foreign exchange differences are recognised in the same 
category in the Consolidated income statement as the underlying transaction, except for milestone and royalty customer contract assets (trade receivables 
and accrued royalty revenues) denominated in a foreign currency where foreign exchange is presented within net finance (expense)/income.

32.3 Revenue from contracts with customers 
The Group sells products and services directly to pharmaceutical customers and commercial distribution partners. The revenue is derived from 
product supply, royalties, and other development services.

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration which is expected to be received in exchange for the goods and services provided, 
net of applicable taxes. 

Product supply revenues
Product supply revenue is generated from the supply of finished or semi-finished products to commercial distribution partners. Whilst these products 
are primarily manufactured by third-party suppliers contracted by the Group, the Group is contractually obliged to supply these products and, therefore, 
the Group acts as the principal in these transactions. Control is transferred and revenue is recognised at the point in time when the product is invoiced 
to the commercial distribution partner and is made available for collection at a designated area specified in the framework agreement. 

The Group has applied the practical expedient to not disclose the transaction price allocated to supply performance obligations unsatisfied (or partially 
unsatisfied) at the reporting date as all purchase orders for finished or semi-finished products have an expected duration of less than twelve months. 

Other than for out of specification products the Group does not provide customers with a general right of product return but typically permits returns if 
the product is damaged, defective or otherwise cannot be used when received by the customers. Estimates for expected returns are based primarily 
on an analysis of historical returns.

126

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
32. Significant accounting policies continued
32.3 Revenue from contracts with customers continued
Royalties and other marketed revenues
Royalties and other marketed revenues are generated from partners licensing the Group’s products in return for a share of the partner net product sales. 
Where a licence of intellectual property is the predominant item to which a royalty relates, revenues are recognised at the point in time the partner makes 
a sale. Other marketed revenues primarily include sales or usage-based milestones for which revenue is recognised consistently with royalties as 
stated above. 

Whilst the performance obligation to provide the licences was completed several periods ago, such revenue is only recognised as the underlying 
partner net sales occur, thereby reflecting returns on historical research and development investment programmes.

Development revenues
Development services revenues are derived from the licensing of intellectual property and/or the provision of services through a collaborative 
agreement over a period of time which can involve milestone payments typically linked to specific obligations.

Determination of the performance obligations, transaction price and allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations requires 
judgement. Where revenue is recognised over a period of time, it is recognised in line with the number of hours worked. Development hours are 
typically the service provided under these type of agreements.

(a) Assessment of contract existence criteria
A contract with a customer is in the scope of the standard when it is legally enforceable, the contract is approved and both parties are committed 
to their obligations.

An agreement often provides a customer with an option to acquire additional services on the basis of success-based fees. Judgement is required to 
determine the extent to which the Group or the customer is committed to these services throughout the service period, before a successful outcome 
is assured. 

(b) Licence to the Group’s intellectual property 
If a licence granted by the Group is capable of being sold separately from development services, it is considered to be a right to use licence and the 
revenue for the licence is recognised at the grant date.

If the licence provided was not capable of being sold separately from development services at the grant date, it is considered to be a right to access 
licence and the revenue for the licence is recognised over time as the services accrue. 

(c) Determining transaction price
The transaction price is the amount of consideration expected to be received in exchange for providing goods and services to a customer. This price 
will often contain both fixed and variable amounts and is determined as the ultimate most likely amount expected to be received upon contract inception 
(ignoring any future customer options).

(d) Allocating the transaction price
The transaction price is allocated to performance obligations on the basis of relative standalone selling prices. For collaborative agreements 
containing multiple performance obligations, the Group must determine the standalone selling price identified on the inception of the contract and 
allocate this transaction price to each performance obligation based on their individual and relative standalone prices (i.e. so any discounts to one 
performance obligation are spread evenly across all obligations). Once these have been determined, these are not subsequently amended. The key 
assumptions used to determine the standalone selling price include forecast revenues, the cost of satisfying the obligation, development timelines 
and probabilities of technical, regulatory and commercial success.

(e) Determining variable consideration
Variable consideration includes the estimate of payments in the form of contingent development-related and regulatory approval milestones. 
Variable consideration, dependent on the achievement of a milestone, is included in the transaction price when it is highly probable that a significant 
reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognised will not occur. The estimate is reassessed for each reporting period.

32.4 Segmental reporting
The Group is managed on the basis of a single reportable segment, being the development and supply of pharmaceutical products. This is consistent 
with the internal reporting provided to, and regularly reviewed by, the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM). The CODM is responsible for allocating 
resources and assessing performance of the operating segment and has been identified as the Board.

32.5 Research and development (R&D) expenses
R&D expenses comprise internal employee costs and third-party service costs relating to feasibility studies, technical development, costs of chemistry, 
manufacturing of trial batches, clinical work and the registration and maintenance of intellectual property. 

As the nature of our R&D projects is associated with obtaining regulatory approval, these costs are normally charged to the Consolidated income 
statement as the expenses are incurred. 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

127

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
32. Significant accounting policies continued
32.6 Other operating income 
Other operating income relates to government grants for qualifying R&D and customer contributions for contributions to property, plant and equipment 
required for the supply chain process.

Government grants recognised in other operating income relate to qualifying UK R&D under the research and development expenditure credit 
(RDEC) scheme for large companies and the French R&D tax credit regime. Such grants are taxable and are presented as other operating income 
in the Consolidated income statement.

32.7 Current taxation
The net tax credit on the loss for the year includes current and deferred tax. Current tax comprises the expected tax payable or receivable on the 
taxable income or loss for the year and any adjustment to the tax payable or receivable in respect of previous years. The amount of current tax 
payable or receivable is the best estimate of the tax amount expected to be paid or received using tax rates enacted at the reporting date. 

32.8 Deferred taxation
Deferred taxation is recognised on all temporary differences arising between the local tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts 
in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. 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 is not discounted and is measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply when the related asset is realised or liability is settled, 
based on legislation enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. 

32.9 Earnings per share
Basic loss per share amounts are calculated by dividing the loss after taxation of the Group by the weighted average number of shares outstanding 
during the year.

32.10 Goodwill 
On acquisition of a subsidiary or associate, the fair value of the consideration in excess of the identifiable net assets and liabilities is recognised 
as goodwill. Goodwill is not amortised, but is reviewed for impairment at least annually, or more frequently where there is an indication of 
possible impairment. 

32.11 Intangible assets
Intangible assets predominantly relate to on-market licences, patents and marketing rights separately acquired as part of the Skyepharma merger 
on 10 June 2016. The fair values of patents and licences relating to on-market products acquired were aggregated by product and initially measured 
at fair value. This fair value is subsequently amortised over estimated useful economic lives (UEL). Intangible assets relating to on-market products 
are amortised with reference to average patent lives in the most applicable territories. 

Amortisation is applied on a straight-line basis. Intangible assets are reviewed at each reporting period for indicators of impairment and, where such 
indicators exist, a full impairment test is performed to ensure the recoverable amount is higher than the carrying value.

32.12 Property, plant and equipment (PP&E)
PP&E is initially recognised at cost with depreciation subsequently applied evenly over its estimated life less any residual value. PP&E is depreciated 
on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives, as follows:

Land and buildings 

Laboratory and supply chain equipment  

– 

–  

 20 to 50 years

3 to 10 years

PP&E for the flutiform® supply chain is depreciated using the units-of-production method. No depreciation is provided on freehold land or assets under 
construction. On disposal of PP&E, the carrying value, less any proceeds, is recognised in the Consolidated income statement.

32.13 Impairment of non-current assets
Impairment of goodwill is assessed by measuring the future cash flows of the CGU to which the goodwill relates versus the carrying value of the CGU. 
An impairment loss is recognised for goodwill in the Consolidated income statement when the carrying value of the CGU is less than its future cash 
flows. Impairments of goodwill are not reversed in subsequent years.

The carrying values of all other non-current assets are reviewed for impairment, either on a standalone basis or as part of a larger cash-generating unit, 
when there is an indication that the assets might be impaired. 

32.14 Inventory
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Costs include the direct costs and, where applicable, an allocation of overheads 
incurred in bringing inventories to their current location and condition. Net realisable value is based on estimated selling price, less any further costs 
expected to complete the sale of goods.

32.15 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand, if used, form an integral part 
of the Group’s cash management and are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose only of the cash flow statement.

128

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedFor the year ended 31 December 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
32. Significant accounting policies continued
32.16 Financial instruments
For the purposes of recognition and measurement, financial assets are classified into one of the following categories:

Trading activities: assets that are held for collection of contractual trading cash flows are measured at amortised cost. A gain or loss is recognised in 
the Consolidated income statement only when the asset is derecognised or impaired. Interest income is included in finance income using the effective 
interest rate method if applicable. 

Financial assets held for future sale: assets that are held for collection of contractual cash flows and for selling the financial assets are measured at fair 
value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI). 

In instances where the financial assets meet neither category, they are measured at fair value through profit and loss (FVTPL). Due to the short-term 
nature of the current receivables, their carrying amount is considered to be the same as their invoice amount as interest is not applicable to the contract. 

For trade receivables, the Group applies the simplified approach permitted by IFRS 9, which requires expected lifetime losses to be recognised from 
initial recognition of the receivables. Financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost. 

32.17 Leases 
At inception of a contract, the Group assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the 
right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. 

To assess whether a contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset, the Group assesses whether: an identified physically distinct 
asset can be identified; and the Group has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the asset throughout the period of use 
and has the ability to direct the use of the asset over the lease term being able to restrict the usage of third parties as applicable. 

The Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. These are calculated as follows:

Lease liabilities
Lease liabilities are measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted at an applicable incremental borrowing rate, which are 
obtained from a financial institution privy to the facts, circumstances, location, security and term of each lease liability. 

Non-lease service charges are combined into property leases, which are treated as a single lease component. The effective interest method will 
be used for calculating the amortised cost of a finance lease and allocating interest income over the relevant period on a lease by lease basis.

Under IFRS 16, liabilities for future periods that can be cancelled by exercising a break clause are not to be included in the lease liability unless it 
is reasonably certain at the reporting date that the Group will extend the committed lease term and not exercise the break clause. 

Right-of-use assets
Right-of-use assets will be measured at an amount equal to the lease liability, except where there is considered to be a significant difference between 
the lease liability and the asset value calculated as though IFRS 16 had always been applied.

32.18 Provisions 
Provisions are liabilities where the exact timing and amount of the obligation is uncertain. Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present 
obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of past events, when an outflow of resources is probable to settle the obligation and when an amount can 
be reliably estimated. 

Where the time value of money is material, provisions are discounted to current values using appropriate rates of interest. The unwinding of the 
discounts is recorded in net finance income or expense.

32.19 Retirement benefit obligations
The Group’s obligations for its Swiss pension scheme are to pay defined contributions. However, in accordance with the Swiss law “LPP/BVG”, 
the pension scheme incorporates certain guarantees, and has therefore been reported as a defined benefit pension plan in accordance with IFRS.

Pension obligations are measured as the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at rates reflecting the yields of high-quality corporate 
bonds. Pension scheme assets are measured at fair value at the balance sheet date. Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability, which comprise 
actuarial gains and losses, and the return on plan assets (excluding interest) are recognised immediately in OCI. When the benefits of a plan are changed 
or when a participant is curtailed, the resulting gain or loss on curtailment is recognised immediately in the Consolidated income statement. 

32.20 Share-based payments
The Group operates a number of employee equity-settled share-based compensation plans as part of its reward strategy. Equity-settled share-based 
payments are measured at fair value at the date of grant. In the case of awards with a non-market performance, their fair value is adjusted each reporting 
period for the likelihood of the number shares that will ultimately vest. 

The fair value determined at the grant date of the awards are expensed over the vesting period based on the Group’s estimate of awards that will 
eventually vest. The cost of equity-settled share transactions is recognised, together with a corresponding increase in equity, over the vesting period. 

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

129

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
32. Significant accounting policies continued
32.21 Employee share trusts 
The Group provides finance to Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) Trusts to either purchase Company shares on the open market, or 
to subscribe for newly issued share capital, to meet the Group’s obligation to provide shares when employees exercise their options or awards. 
Costs of running the ESOP Trusts are charged to the Consolidated income statement. Shares held by the ESOP Trusts are deducted from reserves 
and presented in equity as own shares until such time that an employee exercises their award. 

32.22 Share buyback and cancellation programme
As repurchased shares are cancelled immediately after being bought back, the amount of the consideration paid and directly attributable costs are 
booked to retained earnings. 

32.23 Special dividend
Dividends payable to shareholders are recognised as a reduction from distributable retained earnings when appropriately authorised and payment 
is no longer at the discretion of the Group as follows:

•  special and final dividends become binding upon shareholders’ approval at a general meeting and cannot be cancelled; and

• 

interim dividends become binding once authorised and if not then cancelled by shareholders before payment. 

Share buyback programmes within the rolling Annual General Meeting 10% share repurchase authority limited can be approved by the Board, but 
only represent a liability contingent upon an investor deciding to sell which is effective once trades are made. Associated costs directly attributable 
and incremental to distributions are recorded within equity. 

32.24 Standards issued but not yet effective
A number of new standards are effective for annual periods beginning after 1 January 2020 and earlier application is permitted; however, the Group has 
not early adopted the new or amended standards in preparing these consolidated financial statements.

The following amended standards and interpretations are not expected to have a significant impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements:

•  Amendments to References to Conceptual Framework in IFRS Standards

•  Definition of a Business (Amendments to IFRS 3)

•  Definition of Material (Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8)

• 

IFRS 17 – Insurance Contracts

33. New accounting standards – IFRS 16 – Leases
The Group has initially adopted IFRS 16 – Leases from 1 January 2019. Historically, the Group has only entered into material leases relating to 
commercial properties at its operating sites in the UK. 

Previously, under IAS 17, leases were classified as operating leases with annual rental and service charges recognised in the Consolidated income 
statement on an accruals basis over the lease terms and no assets were recognised on the balance sheet. However, IFRS 16 introduced a single, 
on-balance sheet model for lessees and, as a result, the Group has recognised right-of-use assets representing its right to use these assets and 
lease liabilities representing its obligations to make lease payments.

Identification of leases
The definition of a lease under IFRS 16 has only been applied to contracts entered into or changed on or after 1 January 2019. On transition, the 
practical expedient to grandfather the assessment of which transactions are leases has been taken such that IFRS 16 has only been applied to 
contracts previously identified as leases. Contracts not considered as leases under IAS 17 have not been reassessed.

As a lessee the Group has identified leases for the Group’s premises located at Chippenham, Cambridge Science Park and Grosvenor Gardens, 
London, which were previously considered operating leases. Additionally, the Group’s onerous contract provision for a lease in Switzerland was 
de-recognised and a finance lease liability recognised in its place. The corresponding right-of-use asset is fully impaired.

The modified retrospective approach to transition 
The Group has applied IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach, under which the cumulative effect of initial application is recognised 
in retained earnings at 1 January 2019 and accordingly comparative information for 2018 is not restated. Additionally, the disclosure requirements 
in IFRS 16 have not generally been applied to comparative information, including alternative performance management information.

Lease liabilities are initially measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted at an applicable incremental borrowing rate. 
The interest rate implicit in the lease cannot be readily determined and as a result the incremental borrowing rate has been used which has been 
obtained from a financial institution privy to the facts, circumstances, location, security and term of each lease liability. This incremental borrowing rate, 
individually tailored to each lease, is in the range of 2–3%.

Right-of-use assets are measured at an amount equal to the lease liability, except where there is considered to be a significant difference between 
the lease liability and the asset value calculated, as though IFRS 16 had always been applied.

The right-of-use assets are subsequently depreciated using the straight-line method from the commencement day to the end of the lease term. 
In addition, the right-of-use asset is periodically reduced by impairment losses, if any, and adjusted for certain remeasurements of the lease liability. 

130

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedFor the year ended 31 December 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
33. New accounting standards – IFRS 16 – Leases continued
Practical expedients on transition
The Group has used the following practical expedients when applying IFRS 16 to leases previously classified as operating leases under IAS 17: 

•  used the transitional discount rate as if it had always applied in the past;

•  used hindsight when determining the lease term which previously contained renewal options;

•  excluded initial direct costs from measuring the right-of-use asset at the date of initial application; and 

•  adjusted the right-of-use assets by the amount of IAS 37 onerous contract provisions immediately before the date of initial application, as an 

alternative to an impairment review.

In respect of the six-month rolling lease arrangement in Germany, the Group has utilised the exemption not to recognise right-of-use assets and 
liabilities for leases with less than twelve months of lease term on the transition date. Therefore, the cost of this lease will continue to be charged 
to the Consolidated income statement as rent on an accruals basis. 

Impact on the financial statements
On transition to IFRS 16, the Group recognised right-of-use assets for its three UK property leases and the associated additional lease liabilities, 
recognising the difference in retained earnings. Additionally, the Group’s onerous contract provision for a lease in Switzerland was de-recognised 
and a finance lease liability recognised in its place. The corresponding right-of-use asset is fully impaired. The impact on transition is summarised 
in the table below:

Property, plant and equipment 

Prepayments and other receivables

Provisions

Finance lease liabilities 

Net assets and retained earnings

Operating lease commitments at 31 December 2018 

Effect of discounting using incremental borrowing rate at 1 January 2019

Break clause reasonably certain to be exercised 

Lease liabilities recognised at 1 January 2019

As reported 
31 December 
 2018 
£m

Transitional 
adjustments 
£m

Opening
balance 
1 January 
2019 
£m

Closing 
balance 
31 December 
2019 
£m

57.8

6.3

(10.9)

—

494.3

3.6

(0.3)

1.0

(4.7)

(0.4)

61.4

6.0

(9.9)

(4.7)

55.1

4.9

(9.5)

(3.6)

493.9

419.4

1 January
2019
£m

6.7

(0.2)

(1.8)

4.7

Right-of-use assets
Right-of-use assets related to leased properties that do not meet the definition of investment property are presented as property, plant and equipment.

At 1 January 2019

Depreciation charge for the year

At 31 December 2019

Land and
buildings
£m

3.6

(0.9)

2.7

Extension options 
At the reporting date, the Group is exposed to future cash outflows that are not reflected in the measurement of lease liabilities. This includes exposure 
arising from extension options. The Group has included extension options in the Chippenham lease to provide operational flexibility. The extension options 
held are exercisable only by the Group and not by the lessors. The Group assesses whether it is reasonably certain to exercise the extension options if 
there is a significant event or significant changes in circumstances within its control. It is currently assumed that the extension option is not exercised. 

The Group has estimated that the potential future lease payments, should it exercise the extension option, would result in an increase in lease liability of £1.8m.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

131

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
34. Related party transactions
On 21 June 2019, Vectura Group plc, the parent entity, sold its investment in a subsidiary, Vectura Group Investments Limited, to a fellow subsidiary 
Vectura Group Services Limited. The transaction was performed at £147.6m book value in accordance with s845 of the Companies Act 2006 and 
settled one-third for cash and two-thirds for a loan receivable. On disposal of the investment in Vectura Group Investments Limited, associated Group 
merger reserves of £125.1m were released to retained earnings, one-third being considered realised and two-thirds considered unrealised until such 
time in the future that the debtor is repaid.

On 30 June 2019, Vectura’s CEO James Ward-Lilley stepped down and left the Group. Remuneration related to his services and departure is provided 
in the Remuneration report.

Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of the Directors, who are the key management personnel of the Group, was £3.0m and is set out below:

Short-term employee benefits

Annual incentive plan

Non-Executive Directors’ fees

Post-employment benefits

Other

Total remuneration of key management personnel

 Year ended 
31 December 
 2019 
£m

 Year ended 
31 December 
 2018 
£m

1.4

0.7

0.6

0.1

0.2

3.0

0.8

0.7

0.5

0.1

0.3

2.4

Please refer to the Remuneration report for the remuneration of each Director. The Remuneration Report only includes Directors who held office in 2019.

35. Post balance sheet events
Since 31 December 2019, a further 6,859,255 shares have been repurchased as part of the £10.0m share buyback at a weighted average price 
of 90.64p per share. As at the date of these financial statements a total of £9.8m of the £10.0m have been repurchased, with associated costs 
of £0.1m, at a weighted average price of 88.79p. A second £10.0m share buyback programme is planned to commence in Q2 2020.

132

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedFor the year ended 31 December 2019FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Company balance sheet
As at 31 December 2019

ASSETS

Non-current assets

Investments in subsidiary undertakings

Intercompany long term loan

Total non-current assets

Current assets 

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets and net assets

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Share capital

Share premium

Share-based payment reserve

Merger reserve

Retained earnings

Total shareholders’ equity

Note

 2019
 £m

 2018
£m 

4

5

6

7

393.9

98.4

492.3

5.2

6.7

11.9

541.5

—

541.5

11.5

0.1

11.6

504.2

553.1

0.2

61.6

6.4

316.1

119.9

504.2

0.2

61.6

8.3

441.0

42.0

553.1

Company registered number: 03418970

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these individual financial statements.

The Company financial statements of Vectura Group plc were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 16 March 2020 and were 
signed on its behalf by:

W Downie 
Director 

P Fry
Director

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

133

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Company statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2019

At 1 January 2018 

Loss for the year

Share-based payments

Employee share schemes 

Share buyback programme

Release of special reserves

Merger reserve release

At 31 December 2018

Loss for the year 

Share buyback programme

Dividends paid

Share-based payments

Employee share schemes 

Merger reserve release 

At 31 December 2019

Share
capital
£m

0.2

—

—

—

—

—

—

Share
premium
£m

61.5

—

—

0.1

—

—

—

Merger
reserve
£m

593.0

—

—

—

—

(8.2)

(143.8)

0.2

61.6

441.0

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(124.9)

0.2

61.6

316.1

Share-based
payment 
reserve
£m 

8.4

—

3.7

(3.8)

—

—

—

8.3

—

—

—

3.2

(5.1)

—

6.4

Retained
earnings
£m 

67.5

(167.1)

—

3.4

(13.8)

8.2

143.8

42.0

(8.4)

(3.6)

(40.1)

—

5.1

124.9

Total equity
£m

730.6

(167.1)

3.7

(0.3)

(13.8)

—

—

553.1

(8.4)

(3.6)

(40.1)

3.2

—

—

119.9

504.2

The loss for the year ended 31 December 2019 was £8.4m inclusive of £3.5m of dividend income (2018: loss of £167.1m including of £31.2m 
of dividend income).

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these Company financial statements prepared under the FRS 101 – Reduced Disclosure Framework.

134

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Notes to the Company financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2019

1. Presentation of the financial statements
1.1 Critical accounting areas of judgement and estimation
In preparing these financial statements, critical judgements in the application of accounting policies can have a significant effect on the financial results; 
moreover any changes in critical estimates and assumptions made could materially impact the amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses 
reported next year as actual amounts and results could differ from those estimates or those estimates could in future change.

Following assessment from management, it was concluded that there are no critical accounting areas of judgement and estimation.

2. Basis of preparation – accounting policies for the Company financial statements
In preparing these financial statements, the Company applies the recognition, measurement, and disclosure requirements of International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the EU-IFRS, but makes amendments where necessary in order to comply with the Companies Act 2006 
and has excluded certain information as permitted by IFRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework”. Details of Directors’ remuneration, share options 
and retirement benefits are given in the Remuneration report. 

These financial statements, which are prepared using the historical cost convention and on a going concern basis, are prepared in accordance 
with FRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework” and with UK accounting presentation under the Companies Act 2006 as at 31 December 2019, 
with comparative figures as at 31 December 2018. 

As permitted by s408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company’s income statement and related notes have not been presented in these financial 
statements. The loss for the year ended 31 December 2019 was £8.4m inclusive of £3.5m of dividend income (2018: loss of £167.1m inclusive of £31.2m 
of dividend income). 

The Company also takes exemptions in relation to share-based payments, financial instruments, capital management, presentation of comparative 
information in respect of certain assets, presentation of a cash flow statement and certain related party transactions, on the basis that equivalent 
disclosures are given in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. 

Key accounting policies and judgements relate to investments in subsidiary undertakings. Investments in subsidiaries are stated at historical cost 
less any provision for impairment. The carrying amounts of the Company’s investments are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether 
there is an indication of impairment. If such an indication exists, then the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated to ensure that the carrying 
value remains supportable. 

Any impairment charges are recognised in the income statement and are reflected in an allowance against the carrying value. The distributable 
reserves of Vectura Group plc are protected from the impact of any decrease in the valuations of investments to the extent of the available merger 
reserves. When a subsequent event causes the amount of impairment loss to decrease, the decrease in impairment loss is reversed through the 
Company income statement.

3. Dividend income 
The Company received dividend income from subsidiary undertakings totalling £3.5m (2018: £31.2m). The dividend was settled for cash and no 
amounts remain outstanding. £3.5m (2018: £30.0m) was immediately reinvested into German (2018: UK and German) subsidiaries. 

4. Investments in subsidiary undertakings
Investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated at historical cost less provision for impairment.

At 31 December 2018

Transfer at net book value of Vectura Group Investments Limited

At 31 December 2019

£m

541.5

(147.6)

393.9

On 21 June 2019, the Company sold its investment in one of its UK subsidiaries, Vectura Group Investments Limited (VGIL), to another UK subsidiary, 
Vectura Group Services Limited (VGSL). The transaction was at £147.6m book value following s845 of the Companies Act 2006 and was settled 
one-third for cash and two-thirds for a loan receivable. On disposal of the investment in VGIL, associated merger reserves of £124.9m were released 
to retained earnings, one-third being considered realised and two-thirds unrealised.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

135

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Notes to the Company financial statements continued
For the year ended 31 December 2019

4. Investments in subsidiary undertakings continued
Furthermore, on 21 June 2019, the shares held by the Company in its German subsidiary, Vectura GmbH, were transferred to VGSL at book value of 
£19.9m, which accordingly increased the value of the Company’s investment in VGSL to £393.9m and reduced the value of the Company’s investment 
in Vectura GmbH to nil (2018: £19.9m). Prior to the share transfer, the Group provided support funding of £3.5m to the German subsidiary, which was 
fully impaired.

A reconciliation of the movements in investments since the 2018 Annual Report is provided below:

Subsidiary undertakings

At 31 December 2018

Capital contribution

Provision for impairment

Disposal to VGSL

Share transfer to VGSL

At 31 December 2019

VGIL
£m

147.6

—

—

(147.6)

—

—

Vectura 
GmbH
£m

19.9

3.5

(3.5)

—

(19.9)

VGSL
£m

374.0

—

—

—

19.9

Total
£m

541.5

3.5

(3.5)

(147.6)

—

—

393.9

393.9

The investment of £393.9m held in VGSL reflects historical cost less any provision for impairment. The investments are reviewed for impairment 
annually. Vectura Inc is a non-trading entity and therefore has a carrying value of nil. 

Following the transactions on 21 June 2019, the Company now has a single investment in VGSL. The Company’s direct investments at 31 December 2019 
are as follows:

Name of undertaking

Country of incorporation

Holding

Proportion

Vectura Group Services Limited

Vectura Inc

United Kingdom

United States

 Ordinary

Ordinary

100%

100%

Nature

Holding

Non-trading

5. Intercompany term loan
On 21 June 2019, the Company sold its investment in a subsidiary, Vectura Group Investments Limited, to a fellow subsidiary, Vectura Group Services 
Limited. As detailed in note 4, the transaction was performed at £147.6m book value following s845 of the Companies Act 2006 and settled one-third 
for cash and two-thirds for a loan receivable to a value of £98.4m. The loan is considered to be non-current because the Company does not have the 
right to call repayment on demand until the loan expiry date of 30 June 2029.

Transfer at net book value of Vectura Group Investments Limited

At 31 December 2019

6. Ordinary share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid

Ordinary shares of 0.025p, each at 1 January 2019

Issued to satisfy Vectura employee share plans

Share consolidation

Share buyback programme – cancellations

£m

98.4

98.4

£m

0.2

—

—

—

Number
 of shares

665,387,145

1,512,754

(51,275,466)

(4,127,660)

Ordinary shares of 0.0271p, each at 31 December 2019

0.2

611,496,773

Redeemable preference shares of 34,000 at £1 par value have no associated voting, dividend or coupon rights but are eligible to be repaid before any 
distribution to shareholders; the shares can be repaid by the Company at any time.

On 10 October 2019, the Group announced that the Board had approved a share buyback programme to return up to £10m to shareholders. As at 
31 December 2019 £3.5m of capital was returned to shareholders at a weighted average price of 85.7p per share. The share buyback programme is 
expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2020. Directly attributable costs of £0.1m have been expensed to equity.

At the general meeting on 10 October 2019, shareholders approved the proposed distribution of a 6p per share dividend totalling £39.9m. Refer to 
note 8 “Distributions capacity”.

During the year, the Group allotted 1,512,754 (2018: 1,561,183) ordinary shares related to employee share option awards. Refer to note 29  
“Share-based payments”. 

136

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
7. Merger reserves
On the acquisition of a business, fair values reflecting conditions at the date of acquisition are attributed to the net assets acquired. Where merger 
relief is applicable under the UK Companies Act, the difference between the fair value of the business acquired and the nominal value of shares issued 
as purchase consideration is treated as a merger reserve.

The merger reserves are non-distributable reserves but become distributable to offset any future diminution in the investment value, or where that 
investment is disposed of for qualifying consideration. 

On disposal of the investment in Vectura Group Investments Limited, associated merger reserves of £124.9m were released to retained earnings, 
one-third being considered realised as settled for cash (qualifying consideration) and two-thirds considered unrealised until such time in the future 
that the debtor is repaid.

8. Distribution capacity
The capacity of the Company to make dividend or distribution payments is primarily determined by the availability of distributable reserves (realised 
retained earnings) and cash resources. As at 31 December 2019, the Company had distributable reserves of £22.3m (31 December 2018: £20.0m) 
and sufficient cash to support further distributions of £6.7m (31 December 2018: nil). 

Allotted, called up and fully paid

At 31 December 2018

Loss for the year

Special dividend

Share buyback programme

Employee share transactions

Merger reserve release (note 7)

At 31 December 2019

Realised
£m

Unrealised
£m

20.0

(8.4)

(40.1)

(3.6)

5.1

49.3

22.3

22.0

—

—

—

—

75.6

97.6

Total
£m

42.0

(8.4)

(40.1)

(3.6)

5.1

124.9

119.9

On 17 July 2019, the Directors announced proposals for a further share buyback of £10m, planned to commence in the first half of 2020. As at the 
approval date of these financial statements, these proposals remain subject to Board approval. The Company has not entered into any significant 
commitments or contingent liabilities after the balance sheet date, including those related to distributions. 

9. Distributions to shareholders
Share buyback programme
On 10 October 2019, the Group announced that the Board had approved a share buyback programme to return up to £10m to shareholders. As at 
31 December 2019 £3.5m of capital was returned to shareholders at a weighted average price of 85.7p per share. The share buyback programme 
is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2020. Directly attributable costs of £0.1m have been expensed to equity.

Special dividend paid to shareholders
On 9 September 2019, the Group announced a distribution to shareholders in the form of a special dividend of approximately £40.0m (2018: nil). 
This was approved at a general meeting on 10 October 2019 and, subsequently, a distribution of 6p per ordinary share was paid to shareholders, 
totalling £39.9m (2018: nil). Directly attributable costs of £0.2m have been expensed to equity.

10. Post balance sheet events
Since 31 December 2019, a further 6,859,255 shares have been repurchased as part of the £10.0m share buyback at a weighted average price 
of 90.64p per share. As at the date of these financial statements a total of £9.8m of the £10.0m have been repurchased, with associated costs 
of £0.1m, at a weighted average price of 88.79p. A second £10.0m share buyback programme is planned to commence in Q2 2020.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

137

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Notes to the Company financial statements continued
For the year ended 31 December 2019

11. Other statutory information
In accordance with s408 of the Companies Act 2006 a full list of subsidiaries and associates, the country of incorporation and the effective percentage 
of equity owned at 31 December 2019 are disclosed below. Unless otherwise stated the share capital disclosed comprises ordinary shares which are 
indirectly held by Vectura Group plc.

All subsidiary companies are resident for tax purposes in their country of incorporation unless otherwise stated.

Country/region of 
incorporation

Ordinary 
shareholding

Vectura Limited

Innovata Limited

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Vectura Delivery Devices Limited

United Kingdom

Innovata Biomed Limited

United Kingdom

Quadrant Drug Delivery Limited

United Kingdom

Vectura Group Services Limited*

United Kingdom

Vectura Group Investments Limited

United Kingdom

Jagotec AG

Skyepharma AG

Skyepharma Holding AG

Skyepharma Production SAS

Vectura Inc*

Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland

France

United States

Vectura Ireland Limited

Republic of Ireland

Skyepharma Holding Inc

United States

Skyepharma US Inc

United States

Vectura GmbH

Ventaleon GmbH 

Innovata HK Limited

Germany

Germany

Hong Kong

Tianjin Kinnovata Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd

China

Quadrant Healthcare Limited

United Kingdom

Quadrant Technologies Limited

United Kingdom

QDose Limited

Krypton Limited

Skyepharma Management AG

United Kingdom

Gibraltar

Switzerland

Genta Jago Technologies B.V.

The Netherlands

* 

Directly held by the Company.

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

30.66%

82.35%

45.95%

100%

100%

50%

100%

100%

50%

 One Prospect West, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6FH 

 One Prospect West, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6FH 

 One Prospect West, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6FH 

2nd Floor North, Saltire Court  
20 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2EN 

 One Prospect West, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6FH 

46-48 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0EB 

 One Prospect West, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6FH 

Eptingerstrasse 61, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland 

Eptingerstrasse 61, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland 

Treuhand AG, Chollerstrasse 3, 6300 Zug, Switzerland 

38291 Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, France 

20 William Street, Suite 130, Wellesley, MA 02481

The Brickhouse, Clanwilliam Court, Block 1,
Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2 D02 CF97

1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle,
Delaware 19801, USA

2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington,
Delaware 19808, USA

Robert-Koch-Allee 29, 82131 Gauting, Germany 

Wohraer Str. 37, 35285, Gemünden/Wohra, Germany 

Unit 1802, 79 Lei Muk Road, Kwai Chung, 
N.T., Hong Kong

Eleventh Street, Tianjin Economic-Technological  
Development PRC

One Prospect West, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6FH 

One Prospect West, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6FH 

 One Prospect West, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6FH 

19 Town Range, Gibraltar 

Eptingerstrasse 61, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland 

Herikerbergweg 238, 1101 CM Amsterdam, NL 

138

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Glossary

The following abbreviations are used throughout these financial statements:

CGU

Cash-generating unit

EBITDA

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation 
and amortisation

EPS 

FVOCI

FVTPL

Notes

OCI

IAS 1

IAS 7

IAS 16

IAS 17

IAS 18

IAS 19

Earnings per share

Fair value through other comprehensive income

Fair value through profit or loss

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Other comprehensive income

Presentation of Financial Statements

Statement of Cash Flows

Property, Plant and Equipment

Leases (superseded in 2019)

Revenue (Superseded in 2018)

Employee Benefits

IAS 21

IAS 28

IAS 33

IAS 36

IAS 37

IAS 38

The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates

Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures

Earnings per Share

Impairment of Non-current Assets

Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets

Intangible Assets

IFRIC 23

Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments

IFRS 2

IFRS 3

IFRS 9

Share-based Payments

Business Combinations

Financial Instruments

IFRS 15

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

IFRS 16

Leases

Annual Report and Accounts 2019 Vectura Group plc

139

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
Shareholder information

Directors
Bruno Angelici
Non-Executive Chairman

Will Downie
Chief Executive Officer

Paul Fry
Chief Financial Officer

Thomas Werner
Non-Executive Director and Senior 
Independent Director

Neil Warner
Non-Executive Director

Per-Olof Andersson
Non-Executive Director

Juliet Thompson
Non-Executive Director

Anne Whitaker
Non-Executive Director

Kevin Matthews
Non-Executive Director

Company Secretary
John Murphy

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

Corporate broker
Numis Securities Limited
The London Stock Exchange Building 
10 Paternoster Square 
London 
EC4M 7LT, UK

Public relations
Consilium Strategic Consulting
41 Lothbury 
London 
EC2R 7HG, UK

Auditor
KPMG LLP
15 Canada Square 
London 
E14 5GL, UK

Bankers
Barclays Bank plc
1 Churchill Place 
Canary Wharf 
London  
E14 5HP, UK

Legal advisors
Clifford Chance
10 Upper Bank Street 
Canary Wharf 
London 
E14 5JJ, UK

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

Vectura Group plc
(Registered office)
One Prospect West 
Chippenham 
Wiltshire 
SN14 6FH, UK

Vectura trademarks
Adept® is a registered trade mark of Innovata Limited.
FOX®, AKITA® and FAVOLIR® are registered trade marks of Vectura GmbH.
Clickhaler® and Duohaler® are registered trade marks of Innovata Biomed Limited. These trade marks are in the process of being transferred 
to Tianjin Kinnovata Pharmaceutical Company Limited, in certain territories.
flutiform® is a registered trade mark of Jagotec AG (some territories are owned by Mundipharma AG).
GyroHaler® and Omnihaler® are registered trade marks of Vectura Delivery Devices Limited.
PowderHale® and Vectura® are registered trade marks of Vectura Limited.

Third-party trademarks
Advair®, Diskus®, Requip®, Seretide®, Anoro® Ellipta®, Relvar® Ellipta®/Breo® Ellipta® Incruse® Ellipta®, Arnuity® Ellipta® and Trelegy® 
Ellipta are registered trade marks of Glaxo Group Ltd.
ADVATE® and Extraneal® are registered trade marks of Baxter International Inc.
Breelib™ is a registered trade mark of Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH.
Breezhaler®, Onbrez®, Seebri® Breezhaler®, Ultibro® Breezhaler® and AirFluSal® Forspiro® are registered trade marks of Novartis.
AG Bluetooth® is a registered trade mark of Bluetooth SIG.
EXPAREL® is a registered trade mark of Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc.
k-haler® is a registered trade mark of Mundipharma AG.
Pulmicort® and Symbicort® are registered trade marks of AstraZeneca AB.
RAYOS® is a registered trade mark of Horizon Pharma.
LODOTRA® is a registered trade mark of Mundipharma AG.
Solaraze® is a registered trade mark of Almirall SA and Fourgera Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Forward-looking statement
This Annual Report and Accounts contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the discovery, development and commercialisation of 
products. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ significantly from those 
anticipated in such statements. Various risks may cause Vectura’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking 
statements, including: adverse results in clinical development programmes; failure to obtain patent protection for inventions; commercial limitations 
imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic alliance partners to develop and commercialise products and 
services; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market products and services resulting from development efforts; the requirement for 
substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialisation activities; and product initiatives by competitors. As a result of 
these factors, prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or 
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Nothing in this Annual Report and Accounts 
should be construed as a profit forecast.

140

Vectura Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
CBP002828

Vectura Group plc’s commitment to environmental issues is reflected in this annual report which has been 
printed on Arcoprint, made from an FSC® certified material. Printed in the UK by CPI colour using their 
environmental printing technology. Both manufacturing mill and the printer are registered to the Environmental 
Management System ISO14001 and are Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) chain-of-custody certified.

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

T  +44 (0)1249 667700 
+44 (0)1249 667701 
F 
www.vectura.com

Registered in England and Wales 
Number: 03418970