Company registration number 08717711 (England and Wales)
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
COMPANY INFORMATION
Director
Ms L F Powers
Company number
08717711
Registered office
Sawston Business Park
Sawston
Cambridge
CB22 3JG
Auditor
Mercer & Hole LLP
21 Lombard Street
London
EC3V 9AH
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
CONTENTS
Page
Strategic report
1 - 2
Director's report
3
Director's responsibilities statement
4
Independent auditor's report
5 - 7
Statement of comprehensive income
8
Balance sheet
9
Statement of changes in equity
10
Statement of cash flows
11
Notes to the financial statements
12 - 24
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 1 -
The director presents the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Review of the business
The principal activities of the company continued to be that of Contract Development and GMP Manufacturing of Advanced Therapeutical Medicinal Products and related products, and the provision of ultra-cold storage.
Business review
The 2024 results of the Company showed turnover was £18.6m giving rise to a net loss of £20.4m which is attributable to a full provision made against related party debtor balances.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The principal risks and uncertainties that have the potential to have the most significant impact on the Company have been identified as follows:
External risks
Supply chain risk
The Company has identified the potential for supply chain disruption due to external factors such as global conflicts and big pharmaceutical organisations bulk buying laboratory supplies, which could negatively impact the availability of consumables required for manufacturing operations. The Company employs the services of a procurement partner to access high-level procurement expertise and a wider supplier market.
Technological risk
Due to the highly specialised industry in which the Company operates, it utilises bespoke software from niche vendors that cannot be easily replaced if the vendor were to unexpectedly withdraw its services. To mitigate this risk, most systems are ‘on-premises,’ which would enable continuity of service until an alternative software provider is sourced, and written agreements are in place with all vendors to protect the Company’s interests.
Natural disaster and other major incidents
An incident causing major damage to the premises and/or electrical outage would compromise the integrity of the cleanrooms and cause significant disruption to revenue generating activities. The Company has alert systems and contingencies in place including continuous temperature monitoring, backup power supplies, a building maintenance system and fire maintenance plan.
Financial risks
The Director and Executive Team are responsible for assessing the Company’s financial risks, implementing strategies to mitigate those risks and monitoring cash flows to ensure the continued financial health of the Company. Financial risks have been identified as follows:
Client credit risk
The Company receives a significant proportion of its manufacturing revenues from a limited number of clients and has been unable to accept business from additional prospective clients due to limited facility capacity. The Company is pursuing expansion of this capacity and has also mitigated this risk by diversifying its service offerings as described above. The Company has implemented a credit control policy to vet clients using external credit information and has developed strategies to closely and continually monitor debt collection and recovery.
Development and performance
The Company plans to continue its GMP Manufacturing business activities, and its ultra-cold storage business activities. The Company is committed to maintaining its regulatory licenses (MHRA and HTA).
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 2 -
Key performance indicators
The Company’s financial performance is measured by the following key performance indicators (KPIs):
Total revenues; and
Net income
These KPIs are shown in the table below:
Net income for the year ended 31 December 2024 includes a substantial provision against a related party debtor balance.
Ms L F Powers
Director
30 December 2025
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 3 -
The director presents her annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Principal activities
The principal activity of the company continued to be that of manufacture of pharmaceutical products.
Results and dividends
The results for the year are set out on page 8.
No ordinary dividends were paid. The director does not recommend payment of a final dividend.
Director
The director who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements was as follows:
Ms L F Powers
Auditor
Mercer & Hole LLP were appointed as auditor to the company and in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.
Statement of disclosure to auditor
So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.
Medium-sized companies exemption
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the medium-sized companies exemption.
On behalf of the board
Ms L F Powers
Director
30 December 2025
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
DIRECTOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 4 -
The director is responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the director to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the director has elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law, the director must not approve the financial statements unless she is satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the director is required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The director is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. She is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
- 5 -
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Advent Bioservices Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the statement of comprehensive income, the balance sheet, the statement of changes in equity, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its loss for the year then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the director's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the director with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The director is responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the strategic report and the director's report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
the strategic report and the director's report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED (CONTINUED)
- 6 -
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the director's report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of director's remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of director
As explained more fully in the director's responsibilities statement, the director is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the director determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the director is responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the director either intends to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Explanations as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the Company and the industry in which it operates and considered the risk of acts by the Company that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. These included, but were not limited to, the Companies Act 2006, employment law, tax legislation, and regulatory licenses compliance.
We evaluated management's incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements and the financial report (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate entries including journals to overstate revenue or understate expenditure, and management bias.
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED (CONTINUED)
- 7 -
Audit procedures performed by engagement team include:
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 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 noncompliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Miss Helen Cain BA FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of Mercer & Hole LLP, Statutory Auditor
Chartered Accountants
21 Lombard Street
London
EC3V 9AH
31 December 2025
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 8 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
Turnover
3
18,616,351
20,351,410
Cost of sales
(3,976,704)
(2,758,607)
Gross profit
14,639,647
17,592,803
Distribution costs
(57,837)
(75,702)
Administrative expenses
(30,392,089)
(7,738,434)
Operating (loss)/profit
4
(15,810,279)
9,778,667
Interest receivable and similar income
6
7,363
-
Interest payable and similar expenses
7
(107,564)
-
Amounts written off investments
8
(3,572,498)
(247,244)
(Loss)/profit before taxation
(19,482,978)
9,531,423
Tax on (loss)/profit
9
(893,020)
(1,910,146)
(Loss)/profit for the financial year
(20,375,998)
7,621,277
The profit and loss account has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT
31 DECEMBER 2024
31 December 2024
- 9 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Fixed assets
Intangible assets
10
39,862
23,718
Tangible assets
11
697,638
919,168
Investments
12
2,207,802
5,780,300
2,945,302
6,723,186
Current assets
Debtors
14
1,814,623
18,790,723
Cash at bank and in hand
351,834
370,379
2,166,457
19,161,102
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
15
(2,212,601)
(2,394,621)
Net current (liabilities)/assets
(46,144)
16,766,481
Total assets less current liabilities
2,899,158
23,489,667
Provisions for liabilities
Deferred tax liability
16
159,063
373,574
(159,063)
(373,574)
Net assets
2,740,095
23,116,093
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
18
1
1
Profit and loss reserves
2,740,094
23,116,092
Total equity
2,740,095
23,116,093
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions relating to medium-sized companies.
The financial statements were approved and signed by the director and authorised for issue on 30 December 2025
Ms L F Powers
Director
Company registration number 08717711 (England and Wales)
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 10 -
Share capital
Profit and loss reserves
Total
£
£
£
Balance at 1 January 2023
1
15,494,815
15,494,816
Year ended 31 December 2023:
Profit and total comprehensive income
-
7,621,277
7,621,277
Balance at 31 December 2023
1
23,116,092
23,116,093
Year ended 31 December 2024:
Loss and total comprehensive income
-
(20,375,998)
(20,375,998)
Balance at 31 December 2024
1
2,740,094
2,740,095
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 11 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
23
2,133,861
2,870,707
Interest paid
(107,564)
Income taxes paid
(1,805,894)
(1,650,029)
Net cash inflow from operating activities
220,403
1,220,678
Investing activities
Purchase of intangible assets
(16,144)
(13,474)
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
(230,168)
(766,538)
Proceeds from disposal of tangible fixed assets
1
81,196
Purchase of investments
(2,566,625)
Repayment of loans
1,169,697
Interest received
7,363
Net cash used in investing activities
(238,948)
(2,095,744)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(18,545)
(875,066)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
370,379
1,245,445
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
351,834
370,379
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 12 -
1
Accounting policies
Company information
Advent Bioservices Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Sawston Business Park, Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3JG.
1.1
Accounting convention
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £1.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.2
Going concern
At the time of approving these financial statements, the director has a reasonable expectation that the Company will have adequate resources to continue operating for the foreseeable future. During the year, the Company wrote off a considerable related party debtor balance which has led to the significant loss. Without this write off, the Company would have had a profit before tax. Thus the director continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
1.3
Turnover
Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. Turnover includes re-billable expenses. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.
1.4
Intangible fixed assets other than goodwill
Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.
Intangible assets acquired on business combinations are recognised separately from goodwill at the acquisition date where it is probable that the expected future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the entity and the fair value of the asset can be measured reliably; the intangible asset arises from contractual or other legal rights; and the intangible asset is separable from the entity.
Amortisation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Patents & licences
Infinite useful life
1.5
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Plant and equipment
Straight line over 4 years
Fixtures and fittings
Straight line over 4 years
Computers
Straight line over 4 years
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 13 -
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is credited or charged to profit or loss.
1.6
Fixed asset investments
The Company holds investments in options and shares, which are classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. These investments are initially recognised at fair value, and any transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition of these assets are expensed immediately.
Subsequent to initial recognition, these investments are remeasured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in the fair value of these investments are recognised directly in profit or loss in the period in which they occur.
The Company assesses the fair value of these investments using market prices or valuation techniques appropriate to the nature of the asset. In the case of quoted investments, fair value is determined by reference to the market price at the reporting date. For unquoted investments or derivatives, fair value is determined using appropriate valuation models.
1.7
Impairment of fixed assets
At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
1.8
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 14 -
1.9
Financial instruments
The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the company's balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Other financial assets
Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.
Impairment of financial assets
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.
Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.
Derecognition of financial assets
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the company transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Classification of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 15 -
Basic financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Other financial liabilities
Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.
Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
1.10
Equity instruments
Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the company.
1.11
Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
Current tax
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 16 -
Deferred tax
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit and loss account, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.
1.12
Employee benefits
The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
1.13
Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
1.14
Foreign exchange
Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.
1.15
Research and development expenditure is written off against profits in the year in which it is incurred unless it is capitalised in accordance with the intangible fixed asset accounting policy 1.4.
Amounts receivable from research and development tax credits are recognised on the date from which there is reasonable certainty in respect of the amount of the claim, usually being the date on which the claim is approved by HMRC.
2
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the director is required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
(Continued)
- 17 -
Key sources of estimation uncertainty
The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.
Valuation of Investments
The fair value of the Company’s investments is determined based on market prices where available. For unquoted investments or where market prices are not observable, the Company uses valuation techniques, which require judgement in selecting assumptions such as market conditions and volatility. Changes in these assumptions could impact the fair value measurement and, consequently, profit or loss.
3
Turnover and other revenue
2024
2023
£
£
Turnover analysed by class of business
Services provided
18,616,351
20,351,410
2024
2023
£
£
Other revenue
Interest income
7,363
-
4
Operating (loss)/profit
2024
2023
Operating (loss)/profit for the year is stated after charging/(crediting):
£
£
Exchange losses
20,543
205,439
Fees payable to the company's auditor for the audit of the company's financial statements
23,500
22,500
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets
436,027
412,265
Loss/(profit) on disposal of tangible fixed assets
15,670
(13,179)
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 18 -
5
Employees
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was:
2024
2023
Number
Number
Executive
1
1
Office and administrative
38
28
Production and lab
35
31
Research and development
12
7
Other operations
11
6
Total
97
73
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
2024
2023
£
£
Wages and salaries
5,041,640
3,726,461
Social security costs
576,254
423,410
Pension costs
432,841
286,871
6,050,735
4,436,742
6
Interest receivable and similar income
2024
2023
£
£
Interest income
Other interest income
7,363
7
Interest payable and similar expenses
2024
2023
£
£
Interest on financial liabilities measured at amortised cost:
Other interest on financial liabilities
107,564
8
Amounts written off investments
2024
2023
£
£
Fair value gains/(losses) on financial instruments
Amounts written off fair value through profit or loss
(3,572,498)
(247,244)
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 19 -
9
Taxation
2024
2023
£
£
Current tax
UK corporation tax on profits for the current period
1,107,531
2,233,388
Adjustments in respect of prior periods
(323,242)
Total current tax
1,107,531
1,910,146
Deferred tax
Origination and reversal of timing differences
(214,511)
Total tax charge
893,020
1,910,146
The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected (credit)/charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:
2024
2023
£
£
(Loss)/profit before taxation
(19,482,978)
9,531,423
Expected tax (credit)/charge based on the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25.00% (2023: 23.50%)
(4,870,745)
2,239,884
Tax effect of expenses that are not deductible in determining taxable profit
5,917,433
72,921
Adjustments in respect of prior years
16
(323,242)
Permanent capital allowances in excess of depreciation
704
(79,417)
Movement in deferred tax not recognised
738,736
Chargeable gains/(losses)
(893,124)
Taxation charge for the year
893,020
1,910,146
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 20 -
10
Intangible fixed assets
Patents & licences
£
Cost
At 1 January 2024
23,718
Additions
16,144
At 31 December 2024
39,862
Amortisation and impairment
At 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024
39,862
At 31 December 2023
23,718
11
Tangible fixed assets
Plant and equipment
Fixtures and fittings
Computers
Total
£
£
£
£
Cost
At 1 January 2024
1,899,988
20,915
172,438
2,093,341
Additions
203,268
26,900
230,168
Disposals
(15,356)
(8,934)
(10,383)
(34,673)
At 31 December 2024
2,087,900
11,981
188,955
2,288,836
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 January 2024
1,080,855
6,810
86,508
1,174,173
Depreciation charged in the year
399,056
2,995
33,976
436,027
Eliminated in respect of disposals
(8,653)
(3,120)
(7,229)
(19,002)
At 31 December 2024
1,471,258
6,685
113,255
1,591,198
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024
616,642
5,296
75,700
697,638
At 31 December 2023
819,133
14,105
85,930
919,168
12
Fixed asset investments
2024
2023
£
£
Other investments other than loans
2,207,802
5,780,300
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
12
Fixed asset investments
(Continued)
- 21 -
Movements in fixed asset investments
Investments
£
Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2024
5,780,300
Valuation changes
(3,648,495)
Exhange rate adjustments
75,997
At 31 December 2024
2,207,802
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024
2,207,802
At 31 December 2023
5,780,300
13
Financial instruments
2024
2023
£
£
Carrying amount of financial assets
Instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss
2,207,802
5,780,300
14
Debtors
2024
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Trade debtors
1,393,523
1,241,559
Other debtors
316,098
17,466,759
Prepayments and accrued income
105,002
82,405
1,814,623
18,790,723
15
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024
2023
£
£
Trade creditors
1,307,599
640,539
Corporation tax
587,661
1,286,024
Deferred income
31,260
169,234
Other creditors
166,586
143,072
Accruals
119,495
155,752
2,212,601
2,394,621
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 22 -
16
Deferred taxation
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the company and movements thereon:
Liabilities
Liabilities
2024
2023
Balances:
£
£
Accelerated capital allowances
171,444
162,982
Investments
-
210,592
Short term timing differences
(12,381)
-
159,063
373,574
2024
Movements in the year:
£
Liability at 1 January 2024
373,574
Credit to profit or loss
(214,511)
Liability at 31 December 2024
159,063
17
Retirement benefit schemes
2024
2023
Defined contribution schemes
£
£
Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes
432,841
286,871
The Company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund.
18
Share capital
2024
2023
2024
2023
Ordinary share capital
Number
Number
£
£
Issued and fully paid
Ordinary shares of £1 each
1
1
1
1
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 23 -
19
Operating lease commitments
At the reporting end date the Company had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
2024
2023
£
£
Within one year
115,073
206,204
Between two and five years
460,291
454,318
In over five years
1,375,198
1,470,931
1,950,562
2,131,453
20
Related party transactions
Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
2024
2023
£
£
Aggregate compensation
702,942
620,700
The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:
2024
2023
Amounts due from related parties
£
£
Other related parties
-
17,343,771
The related party debtor balance has been fully provided for at the balance sheet date.
21
Ultimate controlling party
At the year end, the company’s immediate and ultimate parent undertaking was Toucan Holdings LLC.
Ms L F Powers, the sole director, was also the company’s ultimate controlling party at the year end, as she was the person with significant control over Toucan Holdings LLC.
Subsequent to the year end, on 27 August 2025, Toucan Holdings LLC sold its shareholding in the company to Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc, a listed company. Following this transaction, there is no single party with ultimate overall control of the company.
22
Events after the reporting date
On the 27 August 2025 Advent Bioservices Limited entered into a transaction for the sale of 100% of the Company's share capital to Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc..
ADVENT BIOSERVICES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 24 -
23
Cash generated from operations
2024
2023
£
£
(Loss)/profit for the year after tax
(20,375,998)
7,621,277
Adjustments for:
Taxation charged
893,020
1,910,146
Finance costs
107,564
Investment income
(7,363)
Loss/(gain) on disposal of tangible fixed assets
15,670
(13,179)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
436,027
412,265
Other gains and losses
3,572,498
247,244
Movements in working capital:
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
16,976,100
(7,618,154)
Increase in creditors
654,317
445,858
Decrease in deferred income
(137,974)
(134,750)
Cash generated from operations
2,133,861
2,870,707
24
Analysis of changes in net funds
1 January 2024
Cash flows
31 December 2024
£
£
£
Cash at bank and in hand
370,379
(18,545)
351,834
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