Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.20.4
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Basis of presentation

(a)          Basis of presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements of Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc and its subsidiaries and other financial information included in this Annual Report have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and are presented in U.S. dollars. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated on consolidation.

Use of estimates in financial statements

(b)          Use of estimates in financial statements

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP and SEC regulations, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and assumptions are primarily made in relation to revenue recognition, estimation of the incremental borrowing rate for operating leases, and valuation allowances relating to deferred tax assets. If actual results differ from the Company’s estimates, or to the extent these estimates are adjusted in future periods, the Company’s results of operations could either benefit from, or be adversely affected by, any such change in estimate.

Going concern

(c)          Going concern

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued.

Management considers that there are no conditions or events, in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least one year from the date the financial statements are issued. Although our financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, if the Company fails to obtain sufficient additional financing in future, this may raise substantial doubt over the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in future reporting periods.

Foreign currency

(d)          Foreign currency

The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar.  The Company has determined the functional currency of the ultimate parent company, Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc, is U.S. dollars because it predominately raises finance and expends cash in U.S. dollars.  The functional currency of subsidiary operations is the applicable local currency.  Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency of the subsidiary in which they occur at the foreign exchange rate in effect on at the date of the transaction.  Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated into the functional currency of the relevant subsidiary at the foreign exchange rate in effect on the balance sheet date. Foreign exchange differences arising on translation are recognized within other income (expense) in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Company’s U.K. subsidiary has an intercompany loan balance in U.S dollars payable to the ultimate parent company, Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc. Beginning on July 1, 2019, the intercompany loan was considered of a long-term investment nature as repayment is not planned or anticipated in the foreseeable future. It is Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc’s intent not to request payment of the intercompany loan for the foreseeable future. The foreign exchange gain or losses arising on the revaluation of intercompany loans of a long-term investment nature are reported within other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax.

The results of operations for subsidiaries, whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, are translated at an average rate for the period where this rate approximates to the foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates of the transactions and the balance sheet are translated at foreign exchange rates ruling at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences arising from this translation of foreign operations are reported as an item of other comprehensive (loss) income.

Foreign exchange gains for the year ended December 31, 2020 of $1,105,000 and foreign exchange losses of $137,000 and $15,257,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are included within Other (expense) income, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Fair value measurements

(e)          Fair value measurements

The Company is required to disclose information on all assets and liabilities reported at fair value that enables an assessment of the inputs used in determining the reported fair values. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes valuation inputs based on the observable nature of those inputs. The hierarchy defines three levels of valuation inputs:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability

The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of marketable securities, which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis is detailed in Note 4, Financial Instruments.

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(f)          Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

The Company reports foreign currency translation adjustments and the foreign exchange gain or losses arising on the revaluation of intercompany loans of a long-term investment nature within Other comprehensive (loss) income. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities are also reported within Other comprehensive (loss) income until a gain or loss is realized, at which point they are reclassified to Other (expense) income, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The following table shows the changes in Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (in thousands):

Accumulated

Accumulated

Total

foreign

unrealized

accumulated

currency

(losses) gains on

other

    

translation

    

available-for-sale

comprehensive

adjustments

debt securities

(loss) income

Balance at January 1, 2018

 

$

(17,867)

$

(3,774)

$

(21,641)

Foreign currency translation adjustments

8,260

8,260

Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0

1,145

1,145

Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income of losses on available-for-sale debt securities included in net income, net of tax of $0

2,473

2,473

Balance at December 31, 2018

(9,607)

(156)

(9,763)

Foreign currency translation adjustments

(9,478)

(9,478)

Foreign currency gains on intercompany loan of a long-term investment nature, net of tax of $0

11,783

11,783

Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0

207

207

Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income of gains on available-for-sale debt securities included in net income, net of tax of $0

(13)

(13)

Balance at December 31, 2019

(7,302)

38

(7,264)

Foreign currency translation adjustments

(19,220)

(19,220)

Foreign currency losses on intercompany loan of a long-term investment nature, net of tax of $0

16,364

16,364

Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0

161

161

Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income of gains on available-for-sale debt securities included in net loss, net of tax of $0

(89)

(89)

Balance at December 31, 2020

$

(10,158)

$

110

$

(10,048)

The following amounts were reclassified out of Other comprehensive (loss) income (in thousands):

Amount reclassified

Year ended

Year ended

Year ended

December 31, 

December 31, 

December 31, 

Affected line item in

Component of accumulated other comprehensive income

2020

2019

2018

the Statement of operations

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

  

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses on available-for-sale debt securities

 

$

(89)

$

(13)

$

2,473

Other (expense) income, net

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Amount reclassified

Year ended

Year ended

Year ended

December 31, 

December 31, 

December 31, 

Affected line item in

Component of accumulated other comprehensive income

2020

2019

2018

the Statement of operations

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

  

Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses on available-for-sale debt securities

 

$

(89)

$

(13)

$

2,473

Other (expense) income, net

Available-for-sale debt securities

(h)           Available-for-sale debt securities

As of December 31, 2020, the Company has the following investments in available-for-sale debt securities, (in thousands):

Gross

Gross

Aggregate

Remaining

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Estimated

    

Contractual Maturity

    

Cost

    

Gains

    

Losses

    

Fair Value

Available-for-sale debt securities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Corporate debt securities

 

Less than 3 months

$

67,545

$

56

$

(20)

$

67,581

Corporate debt securities

3 months to 1 year

101,447

92

(24)

101,515

Agency bonds

1 year to 2 years

5,993

8

6,001

Corporate debt securities

1 year to 2 years

136,238

112

(112)

136,238

 

  

$

311,223

$

268

$

(156)

$

311,335

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had the following investments in available-for-sale debt securities (in thousands):

Gross

Gross

Aggregate

Remaining

Amortized

unrealized

unrealized

estimated

    

contractual maturity

    

cost

    

gains

    

losses

    

fair value

Available-for-sale debt securities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Corporate debt securities

 

Less than 3 months

$

23,479

$

7

$

(1)

$

23,485

Corporate debt securities

3 months to 1 year

15,613

32

15,645

 

  

$

39,092

$

39

$

(1)

$

39,130

Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in available-for-sale debt securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each reporting date. The securities are classified as current or non-current based on the maturity dates and management’s intentions.

At December 31, 2020, the Company has classified all of its available-for-sale debt securities, including those with maturities beyond one year, as current assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets based on the highly-liquid nature of these investment securities and because these investment securities are considered available for use in current operations.

The investment in available-for-sale debt securities is measured at fair value at each reporting date. Unrealized gains and losses are excluded from earnings and are reported as a component of Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax. Realized gains and losses are included in Other income (expense), net. Interest income and amortization of premiums and discounts at acquisition are included in Interest income. In the year ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, proceeds from the maturity or redemption of available-for-sale debt securities were $105,022,000, $125,303,000 and $138,038,000 respectively. There were realized gains of $89,000, $13,000 recognized on early settlement of available-for-sale debt securities during the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and there were realized losses of $2,473,000 in the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company reclassified the gains and losses out of accumulated other comprehensive loss during the same periods.

At each reporting date, the Company assesses whether each individual investment is impaired, which occurs if the fair value is less than the amortized cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and discounts at acquisition. If the investment is impaired, the impairment is assessed to determine if it is other than temporary. Impairments judged to be other than temporary are included in other (expense) income, net when they are identified.

The aggregate fair value (in thousands) and number of securities held by the Company (including those classified as cash equivalents) in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

     

Fair market value of investments in an unrealized loss position

Number of investments in an unrealized loss position

Unrealized losses

Fair market value of investments in an unrealized loss position

Number of investments in an unrealized loss position

Unrealized losses

Marketable securities:

Corporate debt securities

 

$

157,985

 

30

$

(158)

 

$

2,013

 

1

 

$

(1)

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, these securities are not considered to be other than temporarily impaired because the impairments are not severe, have been for a short duration and are due to normal market and exchange rate fluctuations. No securities have been in an unrealized loss position for more than one year. Furthermore, the Company does not intend to sell the debt securities in an unrealized loss position, and it is unlikely that the Company will be required to sell these securities before the recovery of the amortized cost.

The cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method. Interest on debt securities is included in interest income.

Our investment in available-for-sale debt securities is subject to credit risk. The Company’s investment policy limits investments to certain types of instruments, such as money market instruments and corporate debt securities, places restrictions on maturities and concentration by type and issuer and specifies the minimum credit ratings for all investments and the average credit quality of the portfolio.

Accounts receivable

(i)           Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable include amounts billed to customers and accrued receivables where only the passage of time is required before payment of amounts due.

Management analyses current and past due accounts and determines if an allowance for uncollectible accounts is required based on collection experience and other relevant information. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the allowance for doubtful accounts is $nil. The process of estimating the uncollectible accounts involves assumptions and judgments and the ultimate amounts of uncollectible accounts receivable could be in excess of the amounts provided.

Clinical materials

(j)          Clinical materials

Clinical materials for use in research and development with alternative future use are capitalized as either other current assets or other non-current assets, depending on the timing of their expected consumption. The Company assesses whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. In 2019, the Company determined that the remaining purchase commitments should be accrued due to uncertainty over the future use of the clinical materials. Further information is disclosed in Note 9.

Property, plant and equipment

(k)           Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, less any impairment losses, less accumulated depreciation.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The following table provides the range of estimated useful lives used for each asset type:

Computer equipment

    

3 to 5 years

Laboratory equipment

 

5 years

Office equipment

 

5 years

Leasehold improvements

 

the expected duration of the lease

Assets under construction are not depreciated until the asset is available and ready for its intended use.

The Company assesses property, plant and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Intangibles

(l)        Intangibles

Intangibles primarily include acquired software licenses and third party software in development, which are recorded at cost and amortized over the estimated useful lives of approximately three years.

Intangibles are assessed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Leases prior & after adoption of ASC 842 on January 1, 2019

(m)Leases prior to the adoption of ASC 842 on January 1, 2019

Costs in respect of operating leases in the year ended December 31, 2018 prior to the adoption of ASC 842 were charged to the Consolidated Statement of Operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Rent holidays were recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term (including any rent holiday period). Lease incentives, including leasehold improvement incentives or allowances, were recorded as deferred rent and amortized as reductions to lease expense over the lease term. Leasehold improvements made by a lessee that were funded by landlord incentives or allowances were recorded as leasehold improvement assets and amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the asset and the non-cancellable lease term.

Lease expenses amounted to $3,399,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018. These were recorded within research and development and general and administrative expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(n)Leases after the adoption of ASC 842 on January 1, 2019

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted a new standard, Accounting Standard Update 2016-02 – Leases, which is codified in ASC 842. The comparative financial information for the year ended December 31, 2018 has not been restated and is prepared in accordance with the accounting policies that are described in Note 2(m).

The Company determines whether an arrangement is a lease at contract inception by establishing if the contract conveys the right to use, or control the use of, identified property, plant, or equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Leases may be classified as finance leases or operating leases. All the Company’s leases are classified as operating leases as they were previously classed as these and the lease classification is not reassessed on adoption of ASC 842. Operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets and operating lease liabilities recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and an obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease respectively.

Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of minimum lease payments over the lease term. Since the rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rates (the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term for an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment) based on the information available at commencement date in determining the discount rate used to calculate the present value of lease payments. As the Company has no external borrowings, the incremental borrowing rates are determined using information on indicative borrowing rates that would be available to the Company based on the value, currency and borrowing term provided by financial institutions, adjusted for company and market specific factors. The lease term is based on the non-cancellable period in the lease contract, and options to extend the lease are included when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Any termination fees are included in the calculation of the ROU asset and lease liability when it is assumed that the lease will be terminated.

The Company accounts for lease components (e.g. fixed payments including rent and termination costs) separately from non-lease components (e.g. common-area maintenance costs and service charges based on utilization) which are recognized over the period in which the obligation occurs.

At each reporting date, the operating lease liabilities are increased by interest and reduced by repayments made under the lease agreements.

The right-of-use asset is subsequently measured for an operating lease at the amount of the remeasured lease liability (i.e. the present value of the remaining lease payments), adjusted for the remaining balance of any lease incentives received, any cumulative prepaid or accrued rent if the lease payments are uneven throughout the lease term, and any unamortized initial direct costs.

The Company has operating leases in relation to property for office and research facilities. All of the leases have termination options, and it is assumed that the initial termination options for the buildings will be activated for most of these. The maximum lease term without activation of termination options is to 2041.

In May 2017, the Company entered into an agreement for the lease of a building at Milton Park, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. The term of the lease expires on October 23, 2041, with termination options exercisable by the Company on the fifth anniversary of the lease commencement date and at approximately five yearly intervals thereafter.

In September 2015, the Company entered into an agreement for a 25-year lease, with early termination options, for a research and development facility in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. In October 2016, the Company entered into the lease for that facility following the completion of construction.

In July 2015, the Company entered into a 15 year lease agreement, with an early termination option at 123 months, for offices and research facilities in Philadelphia, United States. The lease commenced upon completion of construction in October 2016.

The Company has elected not to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for short-term leases. A short-term lease is a lease with a lease term of 12 months or less and which does not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.

Operating lease costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and they are categorized within Research and development and General and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The operating lease cash flows are categorized under Net cash used in operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Segmental reporting

(o)         Segmental reporting

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”), its Chief Executive Officer, manages the Company’s operations on an integrated basis for the purposes of allocating resources. When evaluating the Company’s financial performance, the CODM reviews total revenues, total expenses and expenses by function and the CODM makes decisions using this information on a global basis. Accordingly, the Company has determined that it operates in one operating segment.

Revenue

(p)          Revenue

Revenue is recognized so as to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:

Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer.

 

Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.

 

Step 3: Determine the transaction price.

 

Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.

 

Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

Variable consideration

The Company determines the variable consideration to be included in the transaction price by estimating the most likely amount that will be received and then applies a constraint to reduce the consideration to the amount which is probable of being received. The determination of whether a milestone is probable includes consideration of the following factors:

·

whether achievement of a development milestone is highly susceptible to factors outside the entity’s influence, such as milestones involving the judgment or actions of third parties, including regulatory bodies or the customer;

·

whether the uncertainty about the achievement of the milestone is not expected to be resolved for a long period of time;

·

whether the Company can reasonably predict that a milestone will be achieved based on previous experience; and.

·

the complexity and inherent uncertainty underlying the achievement of the milestone.

Percentage of completion

The determination of the percentage of completion requires the Company to estimate the costs-to-complete the project. The Company makes a detailed estimate of the costs-to-complete, which is re-assessed every reporting period based on the latest project plan and discussions with project teams. If a change in facts or circumstances occurs, the estimate will be adjusted and the revenue will be recognized based on the revised estimate. The difference between the cumulative revenue recognized based on the previous estimate and the revenue recognized based on the revised estimate would be recognized as an adjustment to revenue in the period in which the change in estimate occurs.

Contract assets and liabilities

The Company recognizes a contract asset, when the value of satisfied (or part satisfied) performance obligations is in excess of the payment due to the Company, and deferred revenue (contract liability) when the amount of unconditional consideration is in excess of the value of satisfied (or part satisfied) performance obligations. Once a right to receive consideration is unconditional, that amount is presented as a receivable.

Changes in deferred revenue typically arise due to:

adjustments arising from a change in the estimate of the cost to complete the project, which results in a cumulative catch-up adjustment to revenue that affects the corresponding contract asset or deferred revenue;

a change in the estimate of the transaction price due to changes in the assessment of whether variable consideration is constrained because it is not considered probable of being received;

the recognition of revenue arising from deferred revenue; and

the reclassification of amounts to receivables when a right to consideration to becomes unconditional.

A change in the estimate of variable consideration constrained (for example, if a development milestone becomes probable of being received) could result in a significant change in the revenue recognized and deferred revenue.

Research and development expenditures

(q)          Research and development expenditures

Research and development expenditures are expensed as incurred.

Expenses related to clinical trials are recognized as services are received. Nonrefundable advance payments for services are deferred and recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as the services are rendered. This determination is based on an estimate of the services received and there may be instances when the payments to vendors exceed the level of services provided resulting in a prepayment of the clinical expense. If the actual timing of the performance of services varies from our estimate, the accrual or prepaid expense is adjusted accordingly.

Upfront and milestone payments to third parties for in-licensed products or technology which has not yet received regulatory approval and which does not have alternative future use in R&D projects or otherwise are expensed as incurred. The Company expensed acquired in-process R&D of $889,000, $4,556,000, and $210,000 in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Milestone payments made to third parties either on or subsequent to regulatory approval are capitalized as an intangible asset and amortized over the remaining useful life of the product.

Research and development expenditure is presented net of R&D tax and expenditure credits from the U.K. government, which are recognized over the period necessary to match the reimbursement with the related costs when it is probable that the Company has complied with any conditions attached and will receive the reimbursement. Reimbursable R&D tax and expenditure credits were $19,442,000, $18,649,000 and $17,299,000 in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Share-based compensation

(r)          Share-based compensation

The Company awards certain employees options over the ordinary shares of the parent company. The cost of share-based awards issued to employees are measured at the grant-date fair value of the award and recognized as an expense over the requisite service period. The fair value of the options is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Share options with graded-vesting schedules are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award. The Company has elected to account for forfeitures of stock options when they occur by reversing compensation cost previously recognized, in the period the award is forfeited, for an award that is forfeited before completion of the requisite service period.

Retirement benefits

(s)          Retirement benefits

The Company operates defined contribution pension schemes for its directors and employees. The contributions to this scheme are expensed to the Consolidated Statement of Operations as they fall due. The pension contributions for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $2,070,000, $1,904,000 and $1,847,000, respectively.

Interest income

(t)          Interest income

Interest income arises on cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale debt securities and is net of amortization (accretion) of the premium (discount) on purchase of the debt securities of $3,836,000, ($185,000), and $237,000 in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Income taxes

(u)          Income taxes

Income taxes for the period comprise current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations except to the extent that it relates to items occurring during the year recognized either in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case it is recognized in other comprehensive income or equity. We release stranded tax effects using the portfolio approach.

Current tax is the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the current or prior periods using tax rates enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is accounted for using the asset and liability method that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amount and the tax bases of assets and liabilities at the applicable tax rates and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company evaluates the realizability of its deferred tax assets by assessing its valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of such allowance, if necessary. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization include the Company’s forecast of income, carryback availability, reversing taxable temporary differences and available tax-planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the deferred tax assets.

Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized. Income tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized. We recognize potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the Consolidated Statement of Operations as income tax expense.

In interim periods, the income tax expense (benefit) related to income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit) excluding significant unusual or infrequently occurring items is computed at an estimated annual effective tax rate and the income tax expense (benefit) related to all other items is individually computed and recognized when the items occur.

Loss per share

(v)          Loss per share

Basic loss per share is determined by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share is determined by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of all potential ordinary shares that were outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive shares are excluded when the effect would be to increase diluted earnings per share or reduce diluted loss per share.

The following table reconciles the numerator and denominator in the basic and diluted loss per share computation (in thousands):

Year ended

Year ended

Year ended

December 31, 

December 31, 

December 31, 

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

Numerator for basic and diluted loss per share

Net loss

$

(130,092)

$

(137,165)

$

(95,514)

Net loss attributable to shareholders used for basic and diluted EPS calculation

$

(130,092)

$

(137,165)

$

(95,514)

Denominator for basic and diluted loss per share

Weighted average number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted loss per share

854,783,763

629,805,218

584,338,942

The effects of the following potentially dilutive equity instruments have been excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation because they would have an antidilutive effect on the loss per share for the period:

Year ended

Year ended

Year ended

December 31, 

December 31, 

December 31, 

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

Weighted average number of share options(1)

 

93,812,818

 

96,675,101

 

88,553,474

From January 1, 2021 through to February 25, 2021, the Company granted 14,803,056 options over ordinary shares with an exercise price determined by reference to the market value of an ADS at the date of grant, and 12,663,792 options over ordinary shares with an exercise price equal to the nominal value of the ordinary shares (£0.001 per share). These grants have not been included in the figures above.

New accounting pronouncements

(w)          New accounting pronouncements

Adopted in the year ended December 31, 2020

Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2018-15 – Intangibles — Goodwill and Other — Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The guidance aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). The Company elected to apply the guidance prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The guidance has not had a material effect on the Consolidated financial statements.

Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2019-12 – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). The simplifications to accounting for income taxes cover a variety of areas, including the removal of the exception to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items (for example, discontinued operations or other comprehensive income). The changes also add a requirement for an entity to reflect the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date. Most of the amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. If the guidance had not been adopted in the current period, this would have impacted the allocation of tax between the tax effect of continuing operations and the tax effect of items that are included within other comprehensive income. The guidance has not had a material effect on the Consolidated financial statements.

Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2018-13 – Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Disclosure Framework— Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. Certain amendments apply prospectively with all other amendments applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. The guidance has not had a material effect on the Consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition in Collaborative Arrangements

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2018-18 – Collaborative Arrangements — Clarifying the Interaction between Topic 808 and Topic 606, which clarifies that certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for as revenue under Topic 606 when the collaborative arrangement participant is a customer in the context of a unit of account. In those situations, all the guidance in Topic 606 should be applied, including recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements. The guidance has been applied retrospectively to all contracts that were not completed at the date of initial application of Topic 606. The guidance has not had a material effect on the Consolidated financial statements.

To be adopted in future periods

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 - Financial Instruments - Credit losses, which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology for financial instruments in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The guidance is effective for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2020, including interim periods within that fiscal year. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10 which resulted in the postponement of the effective date of the new guidance for eligible smaller reporting companies (as defined by the SEC), including the Company, at that time to the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023. The Company intends to adopt the guidance in the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023; however, earlier adoption is permitted, and the Company may choose to implement the guidance in an earlier fiscal year. The guidance must be adopted using a modified-retrospective approach and a prospective transition approach is required for debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment had been recognized before the effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance on its Consolidated financial statements.