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Financial Report Selected explanatory notes to the consolidated interim financial statements

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

1. The Company and its principal activity

1. The Company and its principal activity

BB Biotech AG (the Company) is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange as well as in the «Prime Standard Segment» of the German Exchange and has its registered office in Schaffhausen, Schwertstrasse 6. Its principal activity is to invest in companies active in the biotechnology industry for the purpose of capital appreciation. The investments are held through its wholly owned subsidiaries.

Company

 

Capital in CHF 1 000

 

Capital and voting interest in %

Biotech Focus N.V., Curaçao

 

11

 

100

Biotech Growth N.V., Curaçao

 

11

 

100

Biotech Invest N.V., Curaçao

 

11

 

100

Biotech Target N.V., Curaçao

 

11

 

100

2. Accounting policies

2. Accounting policies

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary companies (the Group) have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standards (IAS) 34 «Interim Financial Reporting,» as well as the provisions of the rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange for Investment Companies and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022. The preparation of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements requires management to make assumptions and estimates that have an impact on the balance sheet values and items of the statement of comprehensive income in the current financial period. In certain circumstances, the actual values may diverge from these estimates.

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the consolidated annual financial statements.

The following amended standards, valid since January 1, 2023, have been applied in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements:

  • IAS 1 (amended, effective January 1, 2023) – Disclosure of Accounting Policies
  • IAS 8 (amended, effective January 1, 2023) – Definition of Accounting Estimates
  • IAS 12 (amended, effective January 1, 2023) – Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single Transaction

The following amended standards were approved, but will only be applicable for the Group prospectively and were not early adopted in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements:

  • IFRS 16 (amended, effective January 1, 2024) – Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback
  • IAS 1 (amended, effective January 1, 2024) – Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current

The Board of Directors do not expect that the adoption of the above-mentioned standards will have a material impact on the financial statements of the Group in future periods.

The following exchange rates have been used for the preparation of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements:

Currency

 

30.09.2023

 

31.12.2022

USD

 

0.91530

 

0.92450

ANG

 

0.51421

 

0.51938

EUR

 

0.96763

 

0.98956

GBP

 

1.11670

 

1.11870

3. Financial assets

3. Financial assets

Fair Values

The following table presents the Group’s assets that are measured at fair value (in CHF 1 000):

30.09.2023

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Shares

 

2 504 297

 

 

16 018

 

2 520 315

– Derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

2 504 297

 

 

16 018

 

2 520 315

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.12.2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Shares

 

3 035 170

 

 

16 179

 

3 051 349

– Derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

3 035 170

 

 

16 179

 

3 051 349

The table below summarizes the transactions in level 3 instruments (in CHF 1 000):

 

 

01.01.–30.09.2023

 

01.01.–30.09.2022

Opening balance

 

16 179

 

2 222

Purchases

 

 

16 875

Sales

 

 

(5 071)

Realized gains/(losses) included in net gain/loss from securities

 

 

2 849

Unrealized gains/(losses) included in net gain/loss from securities

 

(161)

 

397

Closing balance

 

16 018

 

17 273

Gains/(losses) on level 3 instruments included in net gain/loss from securities

 

(161)

 

3 246

There were no transfers between level 1, 2 and 3 during the reporting period.

The level 3 instrument as at December 31, 2021, (Valuation: TCHF 2 222) was allocated as part of a corporate action in 2019 and sold at a value of TCHF 5 071 in March 2022.

The fair value of the level 3 instrument at initial recognition represents the transaction price (purchase of Series B-1 Preferred Stock of Rivus Pharmaceuticals in August 2022 for TCHF 16 875), which was paid in a financing round together with other investors. For the valuation as at September 30, 2023, it is deemed to be appropriate to use the transaction price in USD, as it is a reasonable approximation of fair value at the valuation date given the fact that no events occurred which significantly impact the fair value.

In August 2022, 8 733 538 Radius Health – Contingent Value Rights were allocated from a corporate action. The valuation as of September 30, 2023, is CHF 0.

For assets and liabilities carried at amortised cost, their carrying values are a reasonable approximation of fair value.

Securities

The changes in value of securities at fair value through profit or loss by investment category are as follows (in CHF 1 000):

 

 

Listed shares

 

Unlisted shares

 

Derivative instruments

 

Total

Opening balance as at 01.01.2022 at fair values

 

3 638 890

 

 

2 222

 

3 641 112

Purchases

 

183 812

 

16 875

 

 

200 687

Sales

 

(471 115)

 

 

(5 071)

 

(476 186)

Net gains/(losses) from securities

 

(316 417)

 

(697)

 

2 849

 

(314 265)

Realized gains

 

47 563

 

 

2 849

 

50 412

Realized losses

 

(79 326)

 

 

 

(79 326)

Unrealized gains

 

437 200

 

 

 

437 200

Unrealized losses

 

(721 854)

 

(697)

 

 

(722 551)

Closing balance as at 31.12.2022 at fair values

 

3 035 170

 

16 179

 

 

3 051 349

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening balance as at 01.01.2023 at fair values

 

3 035 170

 

16 179

 

 

3 051 349

Purchases

 

58 096

 

 

 

58 096

Sales

 

(303 675)

 

 

 

(303 675)

Net gains/(losses) from securities

 

(285 294)

 

(161)

 

 

(285 455)

Realized gains

 

7 786

 

 

 

7 786

Realized losses

 

(18 095)

 

 

 

(18 095)

Unrealized gains

 

223 443

 

 

 

223 443

Unrealized losses

 

(498 428)

 

(161)

 

 

(498 589)

Closing balance as at 30.09.2023 at fair values

 

2 504 297

 

16 018

 

 

2 520 315

Securities comprise the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company

 

Number 31.12.2022

 

Change

 

Number 30.09.2023

 

Market price in original currency 30.09.2023

 

Valuation CHF mn 30.09.2023

 

Valuation CHF mn 31.12.2022

Argenx SE

 

892 503

 

(32 728)

 

859 775

 

USD

 

491.63

 

386.9

 

312.6

Ionis Pharmaceuticals

 

9 635 000

 

(535 000)

 

9 100 000

 

USD

 

45.36

 

377.8

 

336.4

Neurocrine Biosciences

 

2 730 000

 

(175 650)

 

2 554 350

 

USD

 

112.50

 

263.0

 

301.5

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

 

930 523

 

(117 673)

 

812 850

 

USD

 

347.74

 

258.7

 

248.4

Intra-Cellular Therapies

 

3 291 479

 

(160 529)

 

3 130 950

 

USD

 

52.09

 

149.3

 

161.0

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

 

890 000

 

(20 300)

 

869 700

 

USD

 

177.10

 

141.0

 

195.5

Moderna

 

1 501 951

 

(35 876)

 

1 466 075

 

USD

 

103.29

 

138.6

 

249.4

Incyte

 

2 891 077

 

(406 027)

 

2 485 050

 

USD

 

57.77

 

131.4

 

214.7

Revolution Medicines

 

4 777 562

 

(130 862)

 

4 646 700

 

USD

 

27.68

 

117.7

 

105.2

Agios Pharmaceuticals

 

4 030 792

 

(30 792)

 

4 000 000

 

USD

 

24.75

 

90.6

 

104.6

Sage Therapeutics

 

2 950 278

 

554 722

 

3 505 000

 

USD

 

20.58

 

66.0

 

104.0

Celldex Therapeutics

 

1 800 000

 

100 000

 

1 900 000

 

USD

 

27.52

 

47.9

 

74.2

Exelixis

 

2 654 500

 

(284 775)

 

2 369 725

 

USD

 

21.85

 

47.4

 

39.4

Macrogenics

 

8 929 963

 

850 000

 

9 779 963

 

USD

 

4.66

 

41.7

 

55.4

Arvinas

 

2 136 412

 

(16 412)

 

2 120 000

 

USD

 

19.64

 

38.1

 

67.6

Relay Therapeutics

 

4 120 720

 

754 280

 

4 875 000

 

USD

 

8.41

 

37.5

 

56.9

Crispr Therapeutics

 

888 605

 

(8 605)

 

880 000

 

USD

 

45.39

 

36.6

 

33.4

Wave Life Sciences

 

4 494 458

 

 

4 494 458

 

USD

 

5.75

 

23.7

 

29.1

Essa Pharma

 

7 879 583

 

 

7 879 583

 

USD

 

3.09

 

22.3

 

18.4

Black Diamond Therapeutics

 

5 377 839

 

2 740 000

 

8 117 839

 

USD

 

2.87

 

21.3

 

8.9

Beam Therapeutics

 

693 121

 

 

693 121

 

USD

 

24.05

 

15.3

 

25.1

Scholar Rock Holding

 

2 132 725

 

 

2 132 725

 

USD

 

7.10

 

13.9

 

17.8

Generation Bio Co.

 

3 608 280

 

 

3 608 280

 

USD

 

3.79

 

12.5

 

13.1

Fate Therapeutics

 

4 839 779

 

 

4 839 779

 

USD

 

2.12

 

9.4

 

45.1

Mersana Therapeutics

 

4 066 200

 

1 139 725

 

5 205 925

 

USD

 

1.27

 

6.1

 

22.0

Molecular Templates 1)

 

11 192 003

 

283 686

 

1 029 820

 

USD

 

6.32

 

6.0

 

3.4

Esperion Therapeutics

 

4 194 064

 

 

4 194 064

 

USD

 

0.98

 

3.8

 

24.2

Myovant Sciences

 

5 872 639

 

(5 872 639)

 

 

USD

 

n.a.

 

 

146.4

Kezar Life Sciences

 

3 000 000

 

(3 000 000)

 

 

USD

 

n.a.

 

 

19.5

Homology Medicines

 

1 622 522

 

(1 622 522)

 

 

USD

 

n.a.

 

 

1.9

Listed shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 504.3

 

3 035.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rivus Pharmaceuticals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USD

 

 

 

16.0

 

16.2

Unlisted shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16.0

 

16.2

Total shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 520.3

 

3 051.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radius Health – Contingent Value Right

 

8 733 538

 

 

8 733 538

 

USD

 

0.00

 

 

Total derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 520.3

 

3 051.3

1) Share split 1:15 as at August 14, 2023

4. Short-term borrowings from banks

4. Short-term borrowings from banks

At September 30, 2023, a CHF 302.1 mn short-term loan is outstanding with interest payable at 2.15% p.a. (December 31, 2022: CHF 363 mn at 1.36% p.a.).

5. Shareholders’ equity

5. Shareholders’ equity

The share capital of the Company consists of 55.4 mn fully paid registered shares (December 31, 2022: 55.4 mn) with a par value of CHF 0.20 each (December 31, 2022: CHF 0.20).

Treasury shares

The Company can buy and sell treasury shares in accordance with the Company’s articles of association and Swiss company law and in compliance with the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. During the period from January 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023, the Company has not bought or sold any treasury shares (01.01.–30.09.2022: Purchase of 446 574 treasury shares to the amount of TCHF 27 303; no sales). As at September 30, 2023, the Company holds 554 000 treasury shares (December 31, 2022: 554 000 shares). The treasury shares as at September 30, 2023, were treated as a deduction from the consolidated shareholders’ equity using cost values of TCHF 36 508 (December 31, 2022: TCHF 36 508).

Share buyback 2nd line (bought for cancellation)

In April 2019, the Board of Directors approved the repurchase of a maximum of 5 540 000 own registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 0.20 each. Until the end of the program, at April 11, 2022, no shares had been repurchased under this share buy-back program.

The Board of Directors has approved the repurchase of a maximum of 5 540 000 own registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 0.20 each. The share buy-back program will run from April 13, 2022 until April 11, 2025 at the latest. Until September 30, 2023, no shares had been repurchased under this share buy-back program. The repurchase will take place via second trading line for the purpose of a subsequent capital reduction.

6. Administrative expenses

6. Administrative expenses

Administrative expenses comprise the following:

in CHF 1 000

 

01.01.–30.09.2023

 

01.01.–30.09.2022

Investment manager

 

 

 

 

– Management fees

 

21 685

 

27 806

Personnel

 

 

 

 

– Board of Directors remuneration

 

1 260

 

1 130

– Wages and salaries

 

237

 

236

– Social insurance contributions and duties

 

95

 

97

 

 

23 276

 

29 269

The remuneration model of BB Biotech AG is determined by the Board of Directors.

Since 2014 the remuneration paid to the investment manager is based upon a 1.1% p.a. all-in fee on the average market capitalization without any additional fixed or performance-based elements of compensation. The compensation of the Board of Directors consists since 2014 of a fixed compensation.

7. Segment reporting

7. Segment reporting

The sole operating segment of the Group reflects the internal management structure and is evaluated on an overall basis. Revenue is derived by investing in a portfolio of companies active in the biotechnology industry for the purpose of capital appreciation. The following results correspond to the sole operating segment of investing in companies active in the biotechnology industry.

The geographical analysis of the profit/(loss) before tax is as follows – all income from financial assets are attributed to a country based on the domiciliation of the issuer of the instrument.

Profit/(loss) before tax in CHF 1 000

 

01.01.–30.09.2023

 

01.01.–30.09.2022

Netherlands

 

85 895

 

22 137

Canada

 

3 928

 

(57 014)

Great Britain

 

1 818

 

20 099

Switzerland

 

(32)

 

(7 510)

Singapore

 

(5 432)

 

2 904

Curaçao

 

(26 686)

 

(29 796)

USA

 

(375 169)

 

(273 410)

 

 

(315 678)

 

(322 590)

8. Earnings per share

8. Earnings per share

 

 

01.01.–30.09.2023

 

01.01.–30.09.2022

Total comprehensive profit/(loss) for the period (in CHF 1 000)

 

(315 723)

 

(322 648)

Weighted average number of shares in issue

 

54 846 000

 

55 060 940

Income per share in CHF

 

(5.76)

 

(5.86)

 

 

 

 

 

Income used to determine diluted income per share (in CHF 1 000)

 

(315 723)

 

(322 648)

Weighted average number of shares in issue following the dilution

 

54 846 000

 

55 060 940

Diluted income per share in CHF

 

(5.76)

 

(5.86)

9. Assets pledged

9. Assets pledged

At September 30, 2023, securities in the amount of CHF 2 520.3 mn (December 31, 2022: CHF 3 051.3 mn) are collateral for a credit line of CHF 700 mn (December 31, 2022: CHF 700 mn). At September 30, 2023, a CHF 302.1 mn short-term loan is outstanding (December 31, 2022: CHF 363 mn).

10. Transactions with the Investment Manager and related party transactions

10. Transactions with the Investment Manager and related party transactions

Detailed information regarding the remuneration model for the Board of Directors and the investment manager are mentioned under note «6. Administrative Expenses».

11. Commitments, contingencies and other off-balance sheet transactions

11. Commitments, contingencies and other off-balance sheet transactions

The Group had no commitments or other off-balance sheet transactions open at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

The operations of the Group are affected by legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments for which provisions are made where deemed necessary. The Board of Directors concludes that as at September 30, 2023, no proceedings existed which could have any material effect on the financial position of the Group (December 31, 2022: none).

12. Significant shareholders

12. Significant shareholders

The Board of Directors is not aware of any major shareholder with a holding exceeding 3% of all votes as at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

13. Subsequent events

13. Subsequent events

There have been no events subsequent to September 30, 2023, which would affect the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

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