Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON,Washington D.C. 20549

 

FORM 20-F

 

o

[  ]

REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

[X]

OR

x

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 20172020

OR

[  ]

OR

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from           to

OR

[  ]

OR

o

SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of event requiring this shell company report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

For the transition period from                       to                        

Commission file number 0-51504000-51504

 

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter

and translation of Registrant’s name into English)

Australia

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

60-66 Hanover Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

(Address of principal executive offices)

Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki, Executive Director and Interim Chief

Executive Officer

60-66 Hanover Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

Telephone: 011 61 3 8412 7000; Facsimile: 011 61 3 8412 7040

(Name, telephone, e-mail and/or facsimile number and address of company contact person)

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

N/A

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

AUSTRALIA

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

60-66 Hanover Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

Telephone: 011 61 3 8412 7000; Facsimile: 011 61 3 8412 7040

(Address of principal executive offices)

Kevin Fischer

Telephone: 011 61 3 8412 7000; Facsimile: 011 61 3 8412 7040

Email: kevin.fischer@gtglabs.com

60-66 Hanover Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act. NoneAct:

Title of each classTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
N/AN/AN/A

  

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

American Depositary Shares each representing 150Act: American Depositary Shares, each representing 600 Ordinary Shares

and evidenced by American Depositary Receipts

Title of each Class



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Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act. Act: None

 

Number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report. There were 8,261,726,743 Ordinary Shares outstanding as of October 01, 2020

2,435,282,724 Ordinary Shares

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

o

[  ] Yes x[X] No

 

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

o

[  ] Yes x[X] No

 

Note — Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

x

[X] Yes o[  ] No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

[X] Yes [  ] No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or an emerging growth company. See the definitionsdefinition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

[  ]

Accelerated filer o

[  ]

Non-accelerated filer x

[X]

Emerging growth company o

[  ]

 

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standardsstandards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o Yes  o No[  ]

 


The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.”

[  ] Yes [X] No

 

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

U.S. GAAP o

[  ]

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued

Other [  ]
by the International Accounting Standards Board x

[X]

Other o

 

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

o

[  ] Item 17 o[  ] Item 18

 

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

o[  ] Yes x[X] No

 

(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. [  ] Yes [  ] No

 

o Yes   o No

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Item 1.

Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

1

Item 2.

Offer Statistics And Expected Timetable

1

Item 3.

Key Information

1

Item 3.A

Selected Financial Data

1

Item 3.B

Capitalization and Indebtedness

3

4

Item 3.C

Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

3

4

Item 3.D

Risk Factors

4

5

Item 4.

Information on the Company

18

21

Item 4.A

History and Development of the Company

18

21

Item 4.B

Business Overview

19

23

Item 4.C

Corporate Structure

27

32

Item 4.D

Property, Plant and Equipment

28

32

Item 5.

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

28

33

Item 5.A

Operating Results

28

33

Item 5.B

Liquidity and Capital Resources

33

38

Item 5.C

Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.

34

39

Item 5.D

Trend Information

35

39

Item 5E.

Off-balance sheet arrangements

35

40

Item 5F.

Information about contractual obligations

35

40

Item 6.

Directors, Senior Management and Employees

35

41

Item 6.A

Directors and Senior Management

35

41

Item 6.B

Compensation

37

42

 


i


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Item 12.

Description Of Securities Other Than Equity Securities

63

71

Item 12.A

Debt Securities

63

71

Item 12.B

Warrants and Rights

63

71

Item 12.C

Other Securities

63

71

Item 12.D

American Depositary Shares

63

72

Item 13.

Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

64

72

Item 14.

Material Modifications to The Rights Of Security Holders and Use Of Proceeds

64

72

Item 15.

Controls and Procedures

64

73

Item 15.A

Disclosure controls and procedures

64

73

Item 15.B

Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting

64

73

Item 15.C

Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm

65

74

Item 15.D

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

65

74

Item 16.A

Audit Committee Financial Expert

66

75

Item 16.B

Code Of Ethics

66

75

Item 16.C

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

67

75

Item 16.D

Exemptions From The Listing Standards For Audit Committees

67

76

Item 16.E

Purchases Of Equity Securities By The Issuer And Affiliated Purchasers

67

76

Item 16.F

Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

67

76

Item 16.G

Corporate Governance

67

76

Item 16.H

Mine Safety Disclosure

67

76

Item 17.

Financial Statements

67

76

Item 18.

Financial Statements

67

77

Item 19.

Exhibits

68

77

 

iii


iii

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INTRODUCTION

 

In this Annual Report, the “Company,” “Genetic Technologies”, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Genetic Technologies Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Our consolidated financial statements are set out beginning on pagespage F1 to F41 of this Annual Report (refer to Item 18 “Financial Statements”).

 

References to the “ADSs” are to our ADSs described in Item 12.D “American Depositary Shares” and references to the “Ordinary Shares” are to our Ordinary Shares described in Item 10.A “Share Capital”.

 

Our fiscal year ends on June 30 and references in this Annual Report to any specific fiscal year are to the twelve month period ended on June 30 of such year.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. We use words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “expects”, “future”, “intends” and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. This Annual Report also contains forward-looking statements attributed to certain third parties relating to their estimates regarding the growth of Genetic Technologies and related service markets and spending. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-lookingforward- looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this Annual Report. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risks faced by us described below under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report.

 

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are contained in cautionary statements in this Annual Report including, without limitation, in conjunction with the forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report and specifically under Item 3.D “Risk Factors”.

 

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these cautionary statements.

 

ENFORCEMENT OF LIABILITIES AND SERVICE OF PROCESS

 

We are incorporated under the laws of Western Australia in the Commonwealth of Australia. The majority of our directors and executive officers, and any experts named in this Annual Report, reside outside the U.S. Substantially all of our assets, our directors’ and executive officers’ assets and such experts’ assets are located outside the U.S. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to affect service of process within the U.S. upon us or our directors, executive officers or such experts, or to enforce against them or us in U.S. courts, judgments obtained in U.S. courts based upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the U.S. In addition, we have been advised by our Australian solicitors that there is doubt that the courts of Australia will enforce against us, our directors, executive officers and experts named herein, judgments obtained in the U.S. based upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the U.S. or will enter judgments in original actions brought in Australian courts based upon the federal securities laws of the U.S.

 

iv


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PART I

 

Item 1.Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

 

Not applicable

 

Item 2.Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 3.Key Information

Item 3.ASelected Financial Data

 

Item 3.A Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data for the five years ended June 30, 20172020 is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Genetic Technologies Limited, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, which became effective for our Company as of our fiscal year ended June 30, 2006.

 

The balance sheet data as of June 30, 20172020 and 20162019 and the statement of comprehensive income/(loss) data for the 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018 fiscal years are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are included in this Annual Report. Balance sheet data as of June 30, 2015, 20142018, 2017 and 20132016 and statementstatements of comprehensive income/ (loss) data for the 20142017 and 20132016 financial years are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this Annual Report. The data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information included herein.

 

All amounts are stated in Australian dollars as of June 30, 2020 as noted.

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/ (LOSS)

FOR 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 2016, 2015, 2014 AND 20132016

 

 

 

Year ended
June 30, 2017

 

Year ended
June 30, 2016

 

Year ended
June 30, 2015

 

Year ended
June 30, 2014

 

Year ended
June 30, 2013

 

 

 

AUD

 

AUD

 

AUD

 

AUD

 

AUD

 

Revenue from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genetic testing services

 

518,506

 

824,586

 

2,011,918

 

4,564,280

 

3,377,183

 

Less: cost of sales

 

(492,417

)

(743,060

)

(891,243

)

(1,837,729

)

(1,945,467

)

Gross profit from operations

 

26,089

 

81,526

 

1,120,675

 

2,726,551

 

1,431,716

 

Other revenue

 

 

300,548

 

1,027,151

 

863,832

 

4,784,913

 

Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary

 

 

 

 

761,361

 

 

Selling and marketing expenses

 

(2,721,474

)

(3,186,497

)

(4,504,299

)

(6,251,595

)

(5,266,818

)

General and administrative expenses

 

(3,109,530

)

(3,429,357

)

(4,222,988

)

(3,173,109

)

(4,413,782

)

Licensing, patent and legal costs

 

 

(103,581

)

(435,418

)

(1,079,199

)

(2,399,824

)

Laboratory, research and development costs

 

(2,366,334

)

(2,584,752

)

(2,851,665

)

(3,298,127

)

(3,462,466

)

Finance costs

 

(31,995

)

(28,889

)

(264,694

)

(744,199

)

(38,968

)

Gain on disposal of business

 

 

 

1,396,798

 

 

 

Impairment of intangible asset expense

 

(544,694

)

 

 

 

 

Fair value loss on ImmunAid option fee

 

 

 

(795,533

)

 

 

Share of net loss of associates accounted for using the equity method

 

 

 

 

(362,682

)

(437,185

)

Fair value gain/ (loss) on financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

349,246

 

(648,374

)

 

Non-operating income and expenses

 

344,112

 

492,037

 

370,557

 

1,071,072

 

452,931

 

Profit/(loss) from continuing operations before income tax

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

(10,134,469

)

(9,349,483

)

Net profit from discontinued operation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) before income tax

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

(10,134,469

)

(9,349,483

)

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) for the year

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

(10,134,469

)

(9,349,483

)

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange gains/(losses) on translation of controlled foreign operations

 

(130,655

)

1,307,219

 

414,005

 

(149,162

)

9,347

 

Exchange gains/(losses) on translation of non-controlled foreign operations

 

 

 

 

86

 

17,073

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of tax

 

(130,655

)

1,307,219

 

414,005

 

(149,076

)

26,420

 

Total comprehensive profit/(loss) for the year

 

(8,534,481

)

(7,151,746

)

(8,396,165

)

(10,283,545

)

(9,323,063

)

Profit/(loss) for the year is attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owners of Genetic Technologies Limited

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

(10,125,197

)

(9,298,367

)

Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

(9,272

)

(51,116

)

Total profit/(loss) for the year

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

(10,134,469

)

(9,349,483

)

Total comprehensive profit/(loss) for the year is attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owners of Genetic Technologies Limited

 

(8,534,481

)

(7,151,746

)

(8,396,165

)

(10,274,359

)

(9,289,020

)

Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

(9,186

)

(34,043

)

Total comprehensive profit/(loss) for the year

 

(8,534,481

)

(7,151,746

)

(8,396,165

)

(10,283,545

)

(9,323,063

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings/(loss) per share (cents per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net profit/(loss) per ordinary share

 

(0.40

)

(0.49

)

(0.82

)

(1.76

)

(1.97

)

Weighted-average shares outstanding

 

2,121,638,888

 

1,715,214,158

 

1,072,803,358

 

574,557,747

 

472,084,970

 

  Year ended  Year ended  Year ended  Year ended  Year ended 
  June 30, 2020  June 30, 2019  June 30, 2018  June 30, 2017  June 30, 2016 
  AUD  AUD  AUD  AUD  AUD 
  (in A$, except loss per share and number of shares) 
Revenue from operations                    
Genetic testing services  9,864   25,444   189,254   518,506   824,586 
Less: cost of sales  (251,511)  (276,267)  (300,088)  (492,417)  (743,060)
Gross profit/(loss) from operations  (241,647)  (250,823)  (110,834)  26,089   81,526 
Other revenue              300,548 
Selling and marketing expenses  (637,295)  (576,077)  (1,066,404)  (2,721,474)  (3,186,497)
General and administrative expenses  (4,058,557)  (3,830,198)  (3,015,818)  (3,109,530)  (3,429,357)
Licensing, patent and legal costs              (103,581)
Laboratory, research and development costs  (2,477,578)  (2,360,762)  (2,210,498)  (2,366,334)  (2,584,752)
Finance costs  (14,823)  (20,031)  (28,843)  (31,995)  (28,889)
Foreign exchange gains reclassified on liquidation of subsidiary        527,049       
Other gains/(losses)  (5,522)  (407,482)         
Gain on disposal of business               
Impairment of intangible asset expense           (544,694)   
Fair value gain on financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss  195,845             
Non-operating income and expenses  1,140,647   1,019,769   441,476   344,112   492,037 
Loss from continuing operations before income tax  (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)  (8,403,826)  (8,458,965)
Net profit from discontinued operation               
Loss before income tax  (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)  (8,403,826)  (8,458,965)
Income tax expense               
Loss for the year  (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)  (8,403,826)  (8,458,965)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)                    
Exchange (losses)/gains on translation of controlled foreign operations  (33,175)  23,668   (522,966)  (130,655)  1,307,219 
                     
Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the year, net of tax  (33,175)  23,668   (522,966)  (130,655)  1,307,219 
Total comprehensive loss for the year  (6,132,105)  (6,401,936)  (5,986,481)  (8,534,481)  (7,151,746)
Loss for the year is attributable to:                    
Owners of Genetic Technologies Limited  (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)  (8,403,826)  (8,458,965)
                     
Total loss for the year  (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)  (8,403,826)  (8,458,965)
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year is attributable to:                    
Owners of Genetic Technologies Limited  (6,132,105)  (6,401,936)  (5,986,838)  (8,534,481)  (7,151,746)
Non-controlling interests                
Total comprehensive loss for the year  (6,132,105)  (6,401,936)  (5,986,838)  (8,534,481)  (7,151,746)
                     
Loss per share (cents per share)                    
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share  (0.15)  (0.24)  (0.22)  (0.40)  (0.49)
Weighted-average shares outstanding  4,155,017,525   2,635,454,870   2,435,282,724   2,121,638,888   1,715,214,158 

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

2

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA

FOR 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 2016, 2015, 2014 AND 20132016

 

 

As of

June 30,

 

As of

June 30,

 

As of

June 30,

 

As of

June 30,

 

As of

June 30,

 
 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 

 

As of
June 30, 2017

 

As of
June 30, 2016

 

As of
June 30, 2015

 

As of
June 30, 2014

 

As of
June 30, 2013

 

 AUD AUD AUD AUD AUD 

 

AUD

 

AUD

 

AUD

 

AUD

 

AUD

 

     

(in A$)

     

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

Current assets

 

11,631,649

 

12,131,070

 

19,566,096

 

4,360,509

 

2,657,416

 

  15,192,749   3,195,672   5,990,697   11,631,649   12,131,070 

Non-current assets

 

476,648

 

1,158,616

 

1,153,636

 

2,368,690

 

5,662,111

 

  440,230   69,333   175,284   476,648   1,158,616 

Total assets

 

12,108,297

 

13,289,686

 

20,719,732

 

6,729,199

 

8,319,527

 

  15,632,979   3,265,005   6,165,981   12,108,297   13,289,686 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    

Current liabilities

 

(1,465,293

)

(1,332,189

)

(1,735,163

)

(2,318,016

)

(2,465,016

)

  (1,397,572)  (1,492,990)  (1,450,713)  (1,465,293)  (1,332,189)

Non-current liabilities

 

(63,960

)

(74,308

)

(25,321

)

(2,583,664

)

(96,224

)

  (1,220,037)  (809)  (3,390)  (63,960)  (74,308)

Total liabilities

 

(1,529,253

)

(1,406,497

)

(1,760,484

)

(4,901,680

)

(2,561,240

)

  (2,617,609)  (1,493,799  (1,454,103)  (1,529,253)  (1,406,497)

Net assets

 

10,579,044

 

11,883,189

 

18,959,248

 

1,827,519

 

5,758,287

 

  13,015,370   1,771,206   4,711,878   10,579,044   11,883,189 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    

Contributed equity

 

122,382,625

 

115,272,576

 

115,247,128

 

90,080,492

 

83,735,845

 

  140,111,073   125,498,824   122,372,662   122,382,625   115,272,576 

Reserves

 

6,044,493

 

6,054,861

 

4,697,403

 

3,922,140

 

3,951,771

 

  8,755,489   6,009,932   5,651,162   6,044,493   6,054,861 

Accumulated losses

 

(117,848,074

)

(109,444,248

)

(100,985,283

)

(92,175,113

)

(82,049,916

)

  (135,851,192)  (129,737,550)  (123,311,946)  (117,848,074)  (109,444,248)

Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

 

120,587

 

               

Total equity

 

10,579,044

 

11,883,189

 

18,959,248

 

1,827,519

 

5,758,287

 

  13,015,370   1,771,206   4,711,878   10,579,044   11,883,189 

 

Exchange rates

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods and dates indicated, certain information concerning the noon buying rate in New York City for Australian dollars expressed in U.S. dollars per $1.00 as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

Period ended

 

At period end
USD

 

Average rate
USD

 

High
USD

 

Low
USD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yearly data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 2013

 

0.9165

 

1.0272

 

1.0591

 

0.9165

 

June 2014

 

0.9427

 

0.9186

 

0.9705

 

0.8715

 

June 2015

 

0.7704

 

0.8365

 

0.9488

 

0.7566

 

June 2016

 

0.7432

 

0.7289

 

0.7817

 

0.6855

 

June 2017

 

0.7676

 

0.7544

 

0.7733

 

0.7174

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monthly data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 2017

 

0.7475

 

0.7533

 

0.7604

 

0.7452

 

May 2017

 

0.7437

 

0.7437

 

0.7534

 

0.7352

 

June 2017

 

0.7676

 

0.7562

 

0.7680

 

0.7387

 

July 2017

 

0.7988

 

0.7807

 

0.7991

 

0.7584

 

August 2017

 

0.7932

 

0.7915

 

0.7983

 

0.7822

 

September 2017

 

0.7840

 

0.7974

 

0.8071

 

0.7831

 

October 13 2017

 

0.7885

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  At period end  Average rate  High  Low 
Period ended USD  USD  USD  USD 
             
Yearly data                
June 2016  0.7432   0.7289   0.7817   0.6855 
June 2017  0.7676   0.7562   0.7680   0.7387 
June 2018  0.7399   0.7753   0.8105   0.7355 
June 2019  0.7009   0.7153   0.7466   0.686 
June 2020  0.6893   0.6711   0.7043   0.5755 

 

Item 3.BCapitalization and Indebtedness

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 3.CReasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

 

Not applicable.

Item 3.DRisk Factors

 

Before you purchase our ADSs, you should be aware that there are risks, including those described below. You should consider carefully these risk factors together with all of the other information contained elsewhere in this Annual Report before you decide to purchase our ADSs.

 

Risks Related to our Business and Business Strategy

A material uncertainy exists that may cast significant doubt about our Company’s ability to continue as a Going concern.

For the year ending June 30, 2017, the Group incurred a total comprehensive loss of $8,534,481 (2016: $7,151,746) and net cash outflow from operations of $6,813,639 (2016: $7,726,838). As at June 30, 2017 the Group held total cash and cash equivalents of $10,988,255.

In light of these historical cash outflows, and further expected cash outflows from operations in the next twelve months, the Directors have initiated a comprehensive strategic review of the Group’s operations. This review, which commenced during the first half of the 2018 financial year, is exploring a wide range of possible strategic alternatives designed to maximise near and long-term value for the Group’s shareholders (the Group has retained Roth Capital Partners LLC to serve as a financial advisor in the process). The strategic review will also give consideration to future cash needs to ensure the Group continues to hold adequate levels of cash resources to meet creditors and other commitments.

The longer-term viability of the Group and its ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debts and commitments as they fall due is dependent on the successful completion and implementation of the results of the strategic review.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the completion and implementation of the results of the strategic review, and the timing, quantum or the ability to raise additional funds if identified in the strategic review, there is a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and therefore, that it may be unable to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.  However, the Directors believe that the Group will be successful in the above matters and accordingly, have prepared the financial report on a going concern basis. As such no adjustments have been made to the financial statements relating to the recoverability and classification of the asset carrying amounts or classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Group not be able to continue as a going concern.

Our stock price is volatile and can fluctuate significantly based on events not in our control and general industry conditions.  As a result, the value of your investment may decline significantly.

The biotechnology sector can be particularly vulnerable to abrupt changes in investor sentiment.  Stock prices of companies in the biotechnology industry, including ours, can swing dramatically, with little relationship to operating performance.  Our stock price may be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to:

·                       product development events;

·                       the outcome of litigation;

·                       decisions relating to intellectual property rights;

·                       the entrance of competitive products or technologies into our markets;

·                       new medical discoveries;

·                       the establishment of strategic partnerships and alliances;

·                       changes in reimbursement policies or other practices related to the pharmaceutical industry; or

·                       other industry and market changes or trends.

Since our listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in August 2000, the price of our Ordinary Shares has ranged from a low of $0.006 to a high of $0.97 per share.  Further fluctuations are likely to occur due to events which are not within our control and general market conditions affecting the biotechnology sector or the stock market generally.

In addition, low trading volume may increase the volatility of the price of our ADSs.  A thin trading market could cause the price of our ADSs to fluctuate significantly more than the stock market as a whole.  For example, trades involving a relatively small number of our ADSs may have a greater impact on the trading price for our ADSs than would be the case if the trading volume were higher.

The following chart illustrates the fluctuation in the price of our shares (in Australian dollars) over the last five years:

(Refer Item 9.A for more information on key data points on this chart)

(Source: Yahoo Finance: https//au.finance.yahoo.com/)

The fact that we do not expect to pay cash dividends may lead to decreased prices for our stock.

We have never paid a cash dividend on our Ordinary Shares and we do not anticipate paying a cash dividend in the foreseeable future.  We intend to retain future cash earnings, if any, for reinvestment in the development and expansion of our business.  Whether we pay cash dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and may be dependent on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and any other factors our Board of Directors decides is relevant.  As a result, an investor may only recognize an economic gain on an investment in our stock from an appreciation in the price of our stock.

You may have difficulty in effecting service of legal process and enforcing judgments against us and our Management.

We are a public company limited by shares, registered and operating under the Australian Corporations Act 2001.  The majority of our directors and officers named in this Annual Report reside outside the U.S.  Substantially all, or a substantial portion of, the assets of those persons are also located outside the U.S.  As a result, it may not be possible to affect service on such persons in the U.S. or to enforce, in foreign courts, judgments against such persons obtained in U.S. courts and predicated on the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the U.S.  Furthermore, substantially all of our directly-owned assets are located outside the U.S., and, as such, any judgment obtained in the U.S. against us may not be collectible within the U.S.  There is doubt as to the enforceability in the Commonwealth of Australia, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, of civil liabilities predicated solely upon federal or state securities laws of the U.S., especially in the case of enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts where the defendant has not been properly served in Australia.

Because we are not necessarily required to provide you with the same information as an issuer of securities based in the United States, you may not be afforded the same protection or information you would have if you had invested in a public corporation based in the United States.

We are exempt from certain provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, commonly referred to as the Exchange Act, that are applicable to U.S. public companies, including (i) the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K; (ii) the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; and (iii) the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time.  The exempt provisions would be available to you if you had invested in a U.S. corporation.

However, in line with the Australian Securities Exchange regulations, we disclose our financial results on a semi-annual basis (which is performed under International Standard on Review Engagements) and to be fully audited annually (which is performed under International Standards on Auditing) which are required to have a limited review semi-annually and to be fully audited annually.   The information, which may have an effect on our stock price on the Australian Securities Exchange, will be disclosed to the Australian Securities Exchange and also the Securities Exchange Commission.  Other relevant information pertaining to our Company will also be disclosed in line with the Australian Securities Exchange regulations and information dissemination requirements for listed companies.  We will provide our semi-annual results and other material information that we make public in Australia in the U.S. under the cover of an SEC Form 6-K.  Nevertheless, you may not be afforded the same protection or information, which would be made available to you, were you investing in a United States public corporation because the requirements of a Form 10-Q and Form 8-K are not applicable to us.

If significant liquidity does not eventuate for our ADSs on NASDAQ, your ability to resell your ADSs could be negatively affected because there would be limited buyers for your interests.

Historically, there was virtually no trading in our ADSs through the pink sheets after the establishment of our Level I ADR Program.  However, subsequent to the Level II listing of our ADSs on the NASDAQ Global Market on September 2, 2005, the trading volumes of our ADSs have increased.  The Company subsequently transferred the listing of its ADSs to the NASDAQ Capital Market effective as from June 30, 2010.  An active trading market for the ADSs, however, may not be maintained in the future.  If an active trading market is not maintained, the liquidity and trading prices of the ADSs could be negatively affected.

On July 20, 2017 the Company received a notification letter (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market, notifying the Company that its closing bid price has been below the minimum $US1.00 per share requirement for a period of 30 consecutive business days and that the Company has not met the minimum bid price requirement of  $US1.00 per share for continued inclusion under Nasdaq Marketplace Listing Rules (the “Rules”).

The Notice stated that in accordance with the Rules the Company has 180 calendar days, or until January 15, 2018, to regain compliance. To regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, the Company’s securities must meet or exceed the $US1.00 per share price for 10 consecutive business days.

This deficiency notice does not immediately affect the Company’s Nasdaq listing.

If the Company does not regain compliance with the Rules by January 15, 2018, Nasdaq will determine whether the Company meets the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards for The Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the bid price requirement. If it meets the initial listing criteria and upon written notice of the Company of its intention to cure the deficiency, Nasdaq will notify the Company that it has been granted an additional 180 calendar days compliance period. If the Company is not eligible for an additional compliance period, Nasdaq will provide written confirmation that the Company’s securities will be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market.

The relevant Listing Rules are:-

·                  5550(a)(2) - bid price

·                  5810(c)(3)(A) - compliance period

·                  5810(b) - public disclosure

·                  5505 - Capital Market criteria

In certain circumstances, holders of ADSs may have limited rights relative to holders of Ordinary Shares.

The rights of holders of ADSs with respect to the voting of Ordinary Shares and the right to receive certain distributions may be limited in certain respects by the deposit agreement entered into by us and The Bank of New York Mellon.  For example, although ADS holders are entitled under the deposit agreement, subject to any applicable provisions of Australian law and of our Constitution, to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Ordinary Shares represented by the American Depositary Shares, and the depositary has agreed that it will try, as far as practical, to vote the Ordinary Shares so represented in accordance with such instructions, ADS holders may not receive notices sent by the depositary in time to ensure that the depositary will vote the Ordinary Shares.  This means that, from a practical point of view, the holders of ADSs may not be able to exercise their right to vote.  In addition, under the deposit agreement, the depositary has the right to restrict distributions to holders of the ADSs in the event that it is unlawful or impractical to make such distributions.  We have no obligation to take any action to permit distributions to holders of our American Depositary Receipts, or ADSs.  As a result, holders of ADSs may not receive distributions made by us.

Our Company has a history of incurring losses.

The business now called Genetic Technologies Limited was founded in 1989.  With the exception of the year ended June 30, 2011, the Company has

We have incurred operating losses in every year of its existence.since the year ended June 30, 2011. As at June 30, 2017,2020, the Company had accumulated losses of $117,848,074A$135,851,192 and the extent of any future losses and whether or not the Company can generate profits in future years remains uncertain. The Company currently does not generate sufficient revenue to cover its operating expenses. We expect our capital outlays and operating expenditures to continue to increaseremain constant for the foreseeable future as we continue to commercializefocus on R&D and enhancenew product development, IP creation and the BREVAGenplus test, progress existing collaborative research programs while sourcing further collaborative opportunitiesintroduction of predictive genetic testing products. If we fail to generate sufficient revenue and undertake a comprehensive strategic review, exploring a wide range of strategic alternatives. In ordereventually become profitable, or if we are unable to fund the commercializationour continuing losses by raising additional financing when required, our shareholders could lose all or part of their investments.

We may not be successful in transitioning from our existing product portfolio to our next generation of risk assessment tests, and our newly developed approach to marketing and distribution of such products may not generate revenues.

Although we developed and marketed our BREVAGen™ and BREVAGenplusproducts in the recent past, and had internally developed product distribution teams in both Australia and the U.S., further expandwe believe that our clinical laboratory operations, technologiesfuture success is dependent upon our ability to successfully introduce and research & development activities,sell our newly developed products, “GeneType for Breast Cancer”, and undertake‘GeneType for Colorectal Cancer’. Although we believe that we now have world class products that are poised to be an important part of making predictive genetic testing a comprehensive strategic reviewmainstream healthcare activity, we may neednot be successful in transitioning from our existing products to raise additional capital. There isthese products, and there can be no certaintyassurance that the Companydemand for these new products will develop. Furthermore, we plan to introduce our new products to healthcare providers through a global network of distribution partners instead of through our own sales force. Although we believe that we are building worthwhile sales and distribution relationships with experienced United States and Chinese medical product distribution firms, there can be no assurance that we will be able to raise additional funds by issuing further shares and/or the raising of debtenter into distribution arrangements on terms satisfactory to us, and if such funds are available, on what terms the Company wouldthat our marketing strategy will be able to secure them.successful and result in significant revenues.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

 

There is a substantial risk that we are, or will become, a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, which will subject our U.S. investors to adverse tax rules.Our products may never achieve significant market acceptance.

Holders of our ADSs who are U.S. residents face income tax risks. There is a substantial risk that we are, or will become, a passive foreign investment company, commonly referred to as a PFIC. Our treatment as a PFIC could result in a reduction in the after-tax return to the holders of our ADSs and would likely cause a reduction in the value of such ADSs. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we will be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which either (i) 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or (ii) at least 50% of the average value of all of our assets for the taxable year produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, cash is considered to be an asset that produces passive income. We believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended June 30, 2017 and there is a substantial risk we will be classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year. If we are classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, highly complex rules will apply to U.S. holders owning ADSs. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the application of such rules. United States residents should carefully read “Item 10.E. Additional Information—Taxation, United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” in this Annual Report , for a more complete discussion of the U.S. federal income tax risks related to owning and disposing of our ADSs.

Risks Related to our Industry

Our sales cycle is typically lengthy.

The sales cycle for our testing products is typically lengthy.  As a result, we may expend substantial funds and management effort on the development and marketing of our predictive genetic testing products with no assurance of successfullythat we will be successful in selling our products or services. Our ability to obtain customers forenter into distribution arrangements to successfully sell our molecular risk assessment and predictive genetic testing products and services dependswill depend significantly on the perception that our products and services can help accelerate efforts in genomics.  Our sales effort requires the effective demonstration of the benefits ofreduce patient risk and improve medical outcomes, and that our products and services are superior to and significant training of, many different departments within a potential customer.  In addition, we sometimes are required to negotiate agreements containing terms unique to each customer.existing tests. Our business could also be adversely affected if we expend money without any return.

 

Failure to demonstrate the clinical utility of our products could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The Company believes that its GeneType for Breast Cancer and GeneType for Colorectal Cancer tests, along with the pipeline of new tests under development have the capacity to transform health outcomes for entire populations. However, it is critical for the Company to demonstrate the clinical utility of its new products. Clinical utility is the usefulness of a test for clinical practice. If the Company is unable to demonstrate clinical utility, or if the data is deemed insufficient to validate utility, there may be insufficient demand for the Company’s products.

If our competitors develop superior products, our operations and financial condition could be affected.

We are currently subject to increased competition from biotechnology and diagnostic companies, academic and research institutions and government or other publicly-funded agencies that are pursuing products and services which are substantially similar to our molecular risk assessment testing services,products, or which otherwise address the needs of our customers and potential customers.

Our competitors in the predictive genetic testing and assessment market include private and public sector enterprises located in Australia, the U.S. and elsewhere. Many of the organizations competing with us are much larger and have more ready access to needed resources. In particular, they would have greater experience in the areas of finance, research and development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, distribution, technical and regulatory matters than we do. In addition, many of the larger current and potential competitors have already established name / brand recognition and more extensive collaborative relationships.

 

Our competitive position in the molecular risk assessment and predictive testing area is based upon, amongst other things, our ability to:

·             maintain first to market advantage;

 

·             continue to strengthen and maintain scientific credibility through the process of obtaining scientific validation and undertaken further clinical trials supported by Peer-reviewed publication in medical journals;

·             create and maintain scientifically-advanced technology and offer proprietary products and services;

·             attract and retain qualified personnel;

·             obtain patent or other protection for our products and services;

·             obtain required government approvals and other accreditations on a timely basis; and

·             successfully market our products and services.

continue to strengthen and maintain scientific credibility through the process of obtaining scientific validation through clinical trials supported by peer-reviewed publication in medical journals;
create and maintain scientifically advanced technology and offer proprietary products and services;
continue to strengthen and improve the messaging regarding the importance and value that our cancer risk assessment tests provides to patients and physicians;
diversify our product offerings in disease types other than breast cancer;
obtain and maintain patent or other protection for our products and services;
obtain and maintain required government approvals and other accreditations on a timely basis; and
successfully market our products and services.

 

If we are not successful in meeting these goals, our business could be adversely affected. Similarly, our competitors may succeed in developing technologies, products or services that are more effective than any that we are developing or that would render our technology, products and services obsolete, noncompetitive or uneconomical.

 

We rely heavily upon patents and proprietary technology that may fail to protect our business.

We rely upon our portfolio of patent rights, patent applications and exclusive licenses to patents and patent applications relating to genetic technologies.  We expect to aggressively patent and protect our proprietary technologies.  However, we cannot be certain that any additional patents will be issued to us as a result of our domestic or foreign patent applications or that any of our patents will withstand challenges by others.  Patents issued to, or licensed by us may be infringed or third parties may independently develop the same or similar technologies.  Similarly, our patents may not provide us with meaningful protection from competitors, including those who may pursue patents which may prevent, limit or interfere with our products or which may require licensing and the payment of significant fees or royalties by us to such third parties in order to enable us to conduct our business.  We may sue or be sued by third parties regarding our patents and other intellectual property rights.  These suits are often costly and would divert valuable funds, time and technical resources from our operations and cause a distraction to management.

We have important relationships with external parties over whom we have limited control.

We have relationships with academic consultants, research collaborators at other institutions and other advisers who are not employed by us. Accordingly, we have limited control over their activities and can expect only limited amounts of their time to be dedicated to our activities. These persons may have consulting, employment or advisory arrangements with other entities that may conflict with or compete with their obligations to us. Our consultants typically sign agreements that provide for confidentiality of our proprietary information and results of studies. However, in connection with every relationship, we may not be able to maintain the confidentiality of our technology, the dissemination of which could hurt our competitive position and results from operations. To the extent that our scientific consultants, collaborator or advisors develop inventions or processes independently that may be applicable to our proposed products, disputes may arise as to the ownership of the proprietary rights to such information, and we may not be successful with any dispute outcomes.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

We may be subject to professional liability suits and our insurance may not be sufficient to cover damages.  If this occurs, our business and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Our business exposes us to potential liability risks that are inherent in the testing, manufacturing, marketing and sale of molecular risk assessment and predictive tests. The use of our products and product candidates, whether for clinical trials or commercial sale, may expose us to professional and product liability claims and possible adverse publicity. We may be subject to claims resulting from incorrect results of analysis of genetic variations or other screening tests performed using our services.  Litigationproducts.Litigation of such claims could be costly.  We could expend significant funds during any litigation proceeding brought against us. Further, if a court were to require us to pay damages to a plaintiff, the amount of such damages could be significant and severely damage our financial condition. Although we have public and product liability insurance coverage under broadformbroad form liability and professional indemnity policies, for an aggregate amount of A$60,000,000, the level or breadth of our coverage may not be adequate to fully cover any potential liability claims. To date we have not been subject to any claims, or ultimately liability, in excess of the amount of our coverage.  In addition, we may not be able to obtain additional professional liability coverage in the future at an acceptable cost. A successful claim or series of claims brought against us in excess of our insurance coverage and the effect of professional and/or product liability litigation upon the reputation and marketability of our technology and products, together with the diversion of the attention of key personnel, could negatively affect our business.

 

We use potentially hazardous materials, chemicals and patient samples in our business and any disputes relating to improper handling, storage or disposal of these materials could be time consuming and costly.

Our research and development, production and service activities involve the controlled use of hazardous laboratory materials and chemicals, including small quantities of acid and alcohol, and patient tissue samples. We do not knowingly deal with infectious samples.

We, our collaborators and service providers are subject to stringent Australian federal, state and local laws and regulations governing occupational health and safety standards, including those governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and certain waste products. However, we could be liable for accidental contamination or discharge or any resultant injury from hazardous materials, and conveyance, processing, and storage of and data on patient samples. If we, our collaborators or service providers fail to comply with applicable laws or regulations, we could be required to pay penalties or be held liable for any damages that result and this liability could exceed our financial resources. Further, future changes to environmental health and safety laws could cause us to incur additional expense or restrict our operations.  To date, we have not had a reportable event or serious injury.

 

In addition, our collaborators and service providers may be working with these same types of hazardous materials, including hazardous chemicals, in connection with our collaborations. In the event of a lawsuit or investigation, we could be held responsible for any injury caused to persons or property by exposure to, or release of, these hazardous materials or patient samples that may contain infectious materials. The cost of this liability could exceed our resources. While we maintain broadformbroad form liability insurance coverage for these risks, in the amount of up to A$40,000,000, the level or breadth of our coverage may not be adequate to fully cover potential liability claims.  To date, we have not been subject to claims, or ultimately liability, in excess of the amount of our coverage.  Our broadform insurance coverage also covers us against losses arising from an interruption of our business activities as a result of the mishandling of such materials.  We also maintain workers’ compensation insurance, which is mandatory in Australia, covering all of our workers in the event of injury.

 

We depend on the collaborative efforts of our academic and corporate partners for research, development and commercialization of some of our products. A breach by our partners of their obligations, or the termination of the relationship, could deprive us of valuable resources and require additional investment of time and money.

Our strategy for research, development and commercialization of some of our products has historically involved entering into various arrangements with academic, corporate partners and others. As a result, the success of our strategy depends, in part, upon the strength of those relationships and these outside parties undertaking their responsibilities and performing their tasks to the best of their ability and responding in a timely manner. Our collaborators may also be our competitors. We cannot necessarily control the amount and timing of resources that our collaborators devote to performing their contractual obligations and we have no certainty that these parties will perform their obligations as expected or that any revenue will be derived from these arrangements.

 

If our collaborators breach or terminate their agreement with us or otherwise fail to conduct their collaborative activities in a timely manner, the development or commercialization of the product candidate or research program under such collaborative arrangement may be delayed. If that is the case, we may be required to undertake unforeseen additional responsibilities or to devote unforeseen additional funds or other resources to such development or commercialization, or such development or commercialization could be terminated. The termination or cancellation of collaborative arrangements could adversely affect our financial condition, intellectual property position and general operations. In addition, disagreements between collaborators and us could lead to delays in the collaborative research, development, or commercialization of certain products or could require or result in formal legal process or arbitration for resolution. These consequences could be time-consuming and expensive and could have material adverse effects on the Company.

Other than our contractual rights under our license agreements, we may be limited in our ability to convince our licensees to fulfill their obligations.  If our licensees fail to act promptly and effectively, or if a dispute arises, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the price of our ordinary shares and ADSs.Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

 

We rely upon scientific, technical and clinical data supplied by academic and corporate collaborators, licensors, licensees, independent contractors and others in the evaluation and development of potential therapeutic methods. There may be errors or omissions in this data that would materially adversely affect the development of these methods.

 

We may seek additional collaborative arrangements to develop and commercialize our products in the future.  We may not be able to negotiate acceptable arrangements in the future and, if negotiated, we have no certainty that they will be on favorable terms or if they will be successful.  In addition, our partners may pursue alternative technologies independently or in collaboration with others as a means of developing treatments for the diseases targeted by their collaborative programs with us.  If any of these events occur, the progress of the Company could be adversely affected and our results of operations and financial condition could suffer.

Currently our financial results depend largely on the sales of our breast cancer risk assessment test, BREVAGenplus.

For the near future, we expect to continue to derive a substantial majority of our revenues from sales of one product, our breast cancer risk test BREVAGen. We do not expect to recognize significant revenues from BREVAGenplus, a second generation BREVAGen product, until increased levels of adoption and reimbursement for this test have been established. If we are unable to increase sales of   BREVAGenplus or successfully develop and commercialize other tests or enhancements, our ability to achieve sustained revenues and profitability would be impacted.

If our sole laboratory facility becomes inoperable, we will be unable to perform our tests and our business will be harmed.

We do not have redundant clinical referencerely on our sole laboratory facilities outside ofin Melbourne, Australia.Australia, which has been certified under the U.S. Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (“CLIA”). Our current lease of laboratory premises expires August 31, 2018. 2021. The facility and the equipment we use to perform our tests would be costly to replace and could require substantial lead time to repair or replace. TheIf we were to lose our CLIA certification or other required certifications or licenses, or if the facility may beis harmed or rendered inoperable by natural or man-made disasters, including flooding and power outages, which may render it will be difficult or impossible for us to perform our tests for some period of time. The inability to perform our tests or the backlog of tests that could develop if our facility is inoperable for even a short period of time may result in the loss of customers or harm our reputation, and we may be unable to regain those customers in the future.

 

If we no longer had our own facility and needed to rely on a third party to perform our tests, we could only use another facility with established state licensure and Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA) accreditation under the scope of which BREVAgenplus tests could be performed following validation and other required procedures.CLIA accreditation. We cannot assure you that we would be able to find another CLIA-certifiedCLIA- certified facility willing to comply with the required procedures, that this laboratory would be willing to perform the tests on commercially reasonable terms, or that it would be able to meet our quality standards. In order to establish a redundant clinical reference laboratory facility, we would have to spend considerable time and money securing adequate space, constructing the facility, recruiting and training employees, and establishing the additional operational and administrative infrastructure necessary to support a second facility. We may not be able, or it may take considerable time, to replicate our testing processes or results in a new facility. Additionally, any new clinical reference laboratory facility would be subject to certification under CLIA and licensing by several states, including California and New York, which could take a significant amount of time and result in delays in our ability to begin operations.

 

The loss of key members of our senior management team or our inability to attract and retain highly skilled scientists, clinicians and salespeople could adversely affect our business.

Our success depends largely on the skills, experience and performance of key members of our executive management team and others in key management positions. The efforts of each of these persons together will be critical as we continue to develop our technologies and testing processes, continue our international expansion and transition to a company with multiple commercialized products on offer.products. If we were to lose one or more of these key employees, we may experience difficulties in competing effectively, developing our technologies and implementing our business strategies.

During the year, we experienced significant changes in our executive officers, including the appointment of Jerzy Muchnicki as our Interim Chief Executive Officer on September 24, 2019 following the resignation of Paul Kasian, our former Chief Executive Officer; appointment of Philip Hains as our Chief Financial Officer on July 15, 2019, and the appointment of Mr. Nicholas Burrows on 2 September, 2019 as a non-executive director. While we believe our current executive officers have the skills and experience to enable us to execute our business plan, these changes may nevertheless result in a transition phase that could adversely affect our operations in the short-term.

 

Our research and development programs and commercial laboratory operations depend on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled scientists and technicians, including licensed laboratory technicians, chemists, biostatisticians and engineers. We may not be able to attract or retain qualified scientists and technicians in the future due to the competition for qualified personnel among life science businesses. In addition, if there were to be a shortage of clinical laboratory scientists in coming years, this would make it more difficult to hire sufficient numbers of qualified personnel. We also face competition from universities and public and private research institutions in recruiting and retaining highly qualified scientific personnel. In addition, our success depends on our ability to attract and retain salespeople with extensive experience in oncology and close relationships with medical oncologists, pathologists and other hospital personnel. We may have difficulties sourcing, recruiting or retaining qualified salespeople, which could cause delays or a decline in the rate of adoption of our tests. If we are not able to attract and retain the necessary personnel to accomplish our business objectives, we may experience constraints that could adversely affect our ability to support our research and development and sales programs. All of our U.S employees are at-will, which means that either we or the employee may terminate their employment at any time.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

 

Changes in the way that the FDA regulation of LDTs mayregulates our tests could result in significant changes,the delay or additional expense in offering our tests and our business could be adversely impacted iftests that we fail to adapt.may develop in the future.

Clinical laboratory tests like ours are regulated underHistorically, the CLIA, as well as by applicable state laws. Diagnostic kits that are sold and distributed through interstate commerce are regulated as medical devices by the federalU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA(“FDA”) has exercised itsenforcement discretion with respect to most laboratory-developed tests (“LDTs”) and has not subjected most Laboratory Developed Tests, orrequired laboratories that furnish LDTs to comply with the agency’s requirements for medical devices (e.g., establishment registration, device listing, quality systems regulations, premarket clearance or premarket approval, and post-market controls). In recent years, however, the FDA regulation, although reagentspublicly announced its intention to regulate certain LDTs and issued two draft guidance documents that set forth a proposed phased-in risk-based regulatory framework that would apply varying levels of FDA oversight to LDTs. However, these guidance documents were withdrawn at the end of the Obama administration and replaced by an informal discussion paper reflecting some of the feedback that FDA had received on LDT regulation. The FDA acknowledged that the discussion paper in January 2017 does not represent the formal position of the FDA and is not enforceable. Nevertheless, the FDA wanted to share its synthesis of the feedback that it had received in the hope that it might advance public discussion on future LDT oversight. Notwithstanding the discussion paper, the FDA continues to exercise enforcement discretion and may decide to regulate certain LDTs on a case-by-case basis at any time, which could result in delay or software provided by third partiesadditional expense in offering our tests and used to perform LDTstests that we may be subject to regulation.develop in the future.

 

The FDA claims to have regulatory authority over LDTs under the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 and has stated in the past that it would issue guidance to the industry regarding its regulatory approach. In such discussions, the FDA has indicated that it would use a risk-based approach to regulation and would direct more resources to tests with wider distribution and with the highest risk of injury, but that it will be sensitive to the need to not adversely impact patient care or innovation.  In October 2014, the FDA announced its framework and timetable for implementing this guidance.  We cannot predict the ultimate timing or form of any such guidance or regulation and the potential impact on our existing tests. If adopted, such a regulatory approach by the FDA may lead to an increased regulatory burden, including additional costs and delays in introducing new tests or even continuing with our current tests. While the ultimate impact of the FDA’s approach is unknown, it may be extensive and may result in significant changes. Our failure to adapt to these changes could have a material adverse effect on our business.

If the FDA decides to regulate our tests, it may require additional pre-market clinical testing prior to submitting a regulatory notification or application for commercial sales. If we are required to conduct pre-market clinical trials, whether using prospectively

acquired samples or archival samples, delays in the commencement or completion of clinical testing could significantly increase our test development costs and delay commercialization of any future tests, and interrupt sales of our current tests. Many of the factors that may cause or lead to a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to delay or denial of regulatory clearance or approval. The commencement of clinical trials may be delayed due to insufficient patient enrollment, which is a function of many factors, including the size of the patient population, the nature of the protocol, the proximity of patients to clinical sites and the eligibility criteria for the clinical trial.

We may find it necessary to engage contract research organizations to perform data collection and analysis and other aspects of our clinical trials, which might increase the cost and complexity of our trials. We may also depend on clinical investigators, medical institutions and contract research organizations to perform the trials. If these parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, or if the quality, completeness or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or for other reasons, our clinical trials may have to be extended, delayed or terminated. Many of these factors would be beyond our control. We may not be able to enter into replacement arrangements without undue delays or considerable expenditures. If there are delays in testing or approvals as a result of the failure to perform by third parties, our research and development costs would increase, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory clearance or approval for our tests. In addition, we may not be able to establish or maintain relationships with these parties on favorable terms, if at all. Each of these outcomes would harm our ability to market our tests, or to achieve sustained profitability.

Even if the clinical trials are timely completed, there is no assurance that the results of those trials will be sufficient to support regulatory clearance or approval for the intended indications.  Failure of the clinical data to support an intended use of given LDT would likely have an adverse impact on the Company.

Our business could be harmed from the loss or suspension of a license or imposition of a fine or penalties under, or future changes in, or changing interpretations of, CLIA or state laboratory licensing laws to which we are subject.

The clinical laboratory testing industry is subject to extensive federal and state regulation, and many of these statutes and regulations have not been interpreted by the courts. The regulations implementing CLIA set out federal regulatory standards that apply to virtually all clinical laboratories (regardless of the location, size or type of laboratory), including those operated by physicians in their offices, by requiring that they be certified by the federal government or by a federally approved accreditation agency. CLIA does not preempt state law, which in some cases may be more stringent than federal law and require additional personnel qualifications, quality control, record maintenance and proficiency testing. The sanction for failure to comply with CLIA and state requirements may be suspension, revocation or limitation of a laboratory’s CLIA certificate, which is necessary to conduct business, as well as significant fines and/or criminal penalties. Several states have similar laws and we may be subject to similar penalties.penalties. If the certification of one laboratory owned by the Company is suspended or revoked that may preclude the Company from owning or operating any other laboratory in the Country for two years.

 

We cannot assure you that applicable statutes and regulations and more specifically, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, will not be interpreted or applied by a prosecutorial, regulatory or judicial authority in a manner that would adversely affect our business. Potential sanctions for violation of these statutes and regulations include significant fines and the suspension or loss of various licenses, certificates and authorizations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, compliance with future legislation could impose additional requirements on us, which may be costly.

 

Failure to establish and perform to,comply with appropriate quality standards to assure that the highest level of quality is observed in the performance of our testing services and in the design, manufacture and marketing of our products could adversely affect the results of our operations and adversely impact our reputation.

The provision of clinical testing services, and the design, manufacture and marketing of diagnostic products involve certain inherent risks. The services that we provide and the products that we design, manufacture and market are intended to provide information for healthcare providers in providing patient care. Therefore, users of our services and products may have a greater sensitivity to errors than the users of services or products that are intended for other purposes.

Similarly, negligence in performing our services can lead to injury or other adverse events. We may be sued under common law, physician liability or other liability law for acts or omissions by our laboratory personnel. We are subject to the attendant risk of substantial damages awards and risk to our reputation.

Failure to timely or accurately bill for our services could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Billing for clinical testing services is extremely complicated and is subject to extensive and non-uniform rules and administrative requirements. Depending on the billing arrangement and applicable law, we bill various payers, such as patients, insurance companies,

Medicare, Medicaid, physicians and hospitals. Changes in laws regulations and contract terms could increase the complexity and cost of our billing process. Additionally, auditing for compliance with applicable laws and regulations as well as internal compliance policies and procedures add further cost and complexity to the billing process.Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

 

MissingIf we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or incorrectprevent fraud.

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to design and implement an effective system of internal control may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, on requisitions adds complexity to and slows the billing process, creates backlogs of unbilled requisitions, and generally increases the aging of accounts receivable and bad debt expense. Failure to timely or correctly bill may lead to us not being reimbursed for our services or an increase in the aging of our accounts receivable, which could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows. Failure to comply with applicable laws relating to billing government healthcare programs or private healthcare programs that operate under government contract could lead to various penalties, including: (1) exclusion or suspension from participation in federal  health care programs ; (2) asset forfeitures; (3) civil and criminal fines and penalties; (3) possible liability under the federal False Claims Act and state analogs, and (4) the loss of various licenses, certificates and authorizations necessary to operate our business, any of which could have a material adversenegative effect on the trading price of the ADSs and our resultsOrdinary Shares.

As of operations or cash flows.June 30, 2020, our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In connection with this assessment, we identified the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2020 in relation to segregation of duties: Refer to Item 15.B for the description of the material weakness and Item 15.D for the efforts currently being undertaken to remediate the material weakness identified.

 

In orderan effort to amongst other things, simplifyremediate the billing process,previously identified material weakness and to enhance our overall control environment, we continued to implement policies and procedures to ensure segregation of duties are appropriate and continuous training for the finance team is in April 2017, the Company transitioned to a direct self-pay programme. Weplace. However, we cannot assure you that this changethe measures we have taken to date, and actions we may take in the future, will address and minimize all ofbe sufficient to remediate the billing risks.control deficiencies that led to our material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting or that they will prevent potential future material weaknesses.

 

Failure to comply with complex federal and state laws and regulations related to submission of claims for clinical laboratory services could result in significant monetary damages and penalties and exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

We are subject to extensive federal and state laws and regulations relating to the submission of claims for payment for clinical laboratory services, including those that relate to coverage of our services under Medicare, Medicaid and other governmental health care programs, the amounts that may be billed for our services and to whom claims for services may be submitted. In addition, we are subject to various laws regulating our interactions with other healthcare providers and with patients, such as the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Anti-Inducement Statute, and the Ethics in Patient Referrals Act of 1989, commonly referred to as the Stark law. These laws are complicated.

 

Our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could result in our inability to receive payment for our services or result in attempts by third-party payers, such as Medicare and Medicaid, to recover payments from us that have already been made. Submission of claims in violation of certain statutory or regulatory requirements can result in penalties, including substantial civil penalties for each item or service billed to Medicare in violation of the legal requirement, and exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs. Government authorities or whistleblowers may also assert that violations of laws and regulations related to submission or causing the submission of claims violate the federal False Claims Act, or FCA, or other laws related to fraud and abuse, including submission of claims for services that were not medically necessary. Violations of the FCA could result in significant economic liability. The FCA provides that all damages are trebled, and each false claim submitted is subject to a penalty of up to $21,563 for violations occurring after November 2, 2015 and $11,000 for violations occurring before November 2, 2015.   For example, we could be subject to FCA liability if it were determined that the services we provided were not medically necessary and not reimbursable or if it were determined that we improperly paid physicians who referred patients to our laboratory. It is also possible that the government could attempt to hold us liable under fraud and abuse laws for improper claims submitted by an entity for services that we performed if we were found to have knowingly participated in the arrangement that resulted in submission of the improper claims.

 

Failure to comply with HIPAA, including regarding the use of new “standard transactions,” may negatively impact our profitability and cash flows.

business.

Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, or HIPAA, we must comply with comprehensive privacy and security standards with respect to the use and disclosure of protected health information, as well as standards for electronic transactions, including specified transaction and code set rules. Under the 2009 HITECH amendments to HIPAA, the law was expanded, including requirements to provide notification of certain identified data breaches, direct patient access to laboratory records, the extension of certain HIPAA privacy and security standards directly to business associates, and heightened penalties for noncompliance, and enforcement efforts.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

 

In addition, HIPAA not only seeksIf we fail to ensure patient privacy, but also requires providerscomply with the complex federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations that bill electronically to do so using standard code sets.  These HIPAA transaction standards are complex, and subject to differences in interpretation by payers. For instance, some payers may interpret the standards to require us to provide certain types of information, including demographic information not usually provided to us by physicians. As a result of inconsistent application of transaction standards by payers or our inability to obtain certain billing information not usually provided to us by physicians, we could face increased costs and complexity, a temporary disruption in receipts and ongoing reductions in the timeliness of reimbursement. In addition, new requirements for additional standard transactions,

such as claims attachments, Version 5010 of the HIPAA Transaction Standards and the ICD-10-CM Code Set, could prove technically difficult, time-consuming or expensive to implement.

Complying with numerous regulations pertainingapply to our business, is an expensive and time-consuming process, and any failure to complywe could result in substantial penalties.

The clinical laboratory testing industry is highly regulated and there can be no assurancesuffer severe consequences that the regulatory environment in which we operate will not change significantlycould materially and adversely in the future. Areas of the regulatory environment that may affect our ability to conduct business include, without limitation:

·                  federal and state laws applicable to billing and claims payment;

·                  federal and state laboratory anti-mark-up laws;

·                  federal and state anti-kickback laws;

·                  federal and state false claims laws;

·                  federal self-referral and financial inducement prohibition laws, commonly known as the Stark Law, and the state equivalents;

·                  federal and state laws governing laboratory licensing and testing, including CLIA;

·                  federal and state laws governing the LDTs;

·                  HIPAA, along with the revisions to HIPPA as a result of the HITECH Act, and analogous state laws;

·                  federal, state and foreign regulation of privacy, security, electronic transactions and identity theft;

·                  federal, state and local laws governing the handling, transportation and disposal of medical and hazardous waste;

·                  Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules and regulations;

·                  changes to laws, regulations and rules as a result of the Health Care Reform Law; and

·                  changes to other federal, state and local laws, regulations and rules, including tax laws.

We have adopted policies and procedures designed to comply with these laws.  In the ordinary course of business, there is an ongoing awareness of the importance of compliance with these laws.  The growth of our business and sales organization may increase the potential for violating these laws or our internal policies and procedures, despite our ongoing vigilance in maintaining and updating our compliance procedures. The risk of being found in violation of these or other laws and regulations is further increased by the fact that many of them are extremely complex and in many instances, there are no significant regulatory or judicial interpretations of these laws and regulations. Any action brought against us for violation of these or other laws or regulations, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert management’s attention. Any determination that we have violated these laws or regulations, or a public announcement that we are being investigated for possible violations of these laws or regulations, could harm our reputation, operating results and financial condition. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws and regulations, we may be subject to any applicable penalty associated with the violation, including civil and criminal penalties, damages and fines, we could be required to refund payments received by us, and we could be required to curtail or cease our operations. In addition, a significant change in any of these laws or regulations may require us to change our business model in order to maintain compliance with these laws or regulations, which could harm our operating results and financial condition.

Our operations are subject to extensive federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations, all of which are subject to change. These laws and regulations currently include, among other things:

CLIA, which requires that laboratories obtain certification from the federal government, and state licensure laws;
FDA laws and regulations;
HIPAA, which imposes comprehensive federal standards with respect to the privacy and security of protected health information and requirements for the use Of certain standardized electronic transactions; amendments to HIPAA under HITECH, which strengthen and expand HIPAA privacy and security compliance requirements, increase penalties for violators, extend enforcement authority to state attorneys general and impose requirements for breach notification;
state laws regulating genetic testing and protecting the privacy of genetic test results, as well as state laws protecting the privacy and security of health information and personal data and mandating reporting of breaches to affected individuals and state regulators;
the federal anti-kickback law, or the Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting, receiving, or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or to induce either the referral of an individual, or the furnishing, arranging for, or recommending of an item or service that is reimbursable, in whole or in part, by a federal health care program;
other federal and state fraud and abuse laws, such as anti-kickback laws, prohibitions on self-referral, and false claims acts, which may extend to services reimbursable by any third-party payor, including private insurers;
the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which requires medical device manufactures to track and report to the federal government certain payments and other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals and ownership or investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members;
Section 216 of the federal Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (“PAMA”), which requires applicable laboratories to report private payor data in a timely and accurate manner beginning in 2017 and every three years thereafter (and in some cases annually);
state laws that impose reporting and other compliance-related requirements; and
similar foreign laws and regulations that apply to us in the countries in which we operate.

These laws and regulations are complex and are subject to interpretation by the courts and by government agencies. Our failure to comply could lead to civil or criminal penalties, exclusion from participation in state and federal health care programs, or prohibitions or restrictions on our laboratory’s ability to provide or receive payment for our services. We believe that we are in material compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements, but there is a risk that one or more government agencies could take a contrary position, or that a private, party could file suit under the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act or a similar state law. Such occurrences, regardless of their outcome, could damage our reputation and adversely affect important business relationships with third parties, including managed care organizations, and other private third-party payors.

A failure to comply with any of federal or state laws applicable to our business, particularly laws related to the elimination of healthcare fraud, may adversely impact our business.

Federal officials responsible for administering and enforcing the healthcare laws and regulations have made a priority of eliminating healthcare fraud. For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010, jointly the “Affordable Care Act,” includes significant new fraud and abuse measures, including required disclosures of financial arrangements between drug and device manufacturers, on the one hand, and physicians and teaching hospitals, on the other hand. Federal funding available for combating health care fraud and abuse generally has increased. While we seek to conduct our business in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, many of the laws and regulations applicable to our business, particularly those relating to billing and reimbursement of tests and those relating to relationships with physicians, hospitals and patients contain language that has not been interpreted by courts. We must rely on our interpretation of these laws and regulations based on the advice of our counsel and regulatory or law enforcement authorities may not agree with our interpretation of these laws and regulations and may seek to enforce legal remedies or penalties against us for violations. From time to time we may need to change our operations, particularly pricing or billing practices, in response to changing interpretations of these laws and regulations or regulatory or judicial determinations with respect to these laws and regulations. These occurrences, regardless of their outcome, could damage our reputation and harm important business relationships that we have with healthcare providers, payers and others. Furthermore, if a regulatory or judicial authority finds that we have not complied with applicable laws and regulations, we could be required to refund amounts that were billed and collected in violation of such laws and regulations. In addition, we may voluntarily refund amounts that were alleged to have been billed and collected in violation of applicable laws and regulations. In either case, we could suffer civil and criminal damages, fines and penalties, exclusion from participation in governmental healthcare programs and the loss of licenses, certificates and

authorizations necessary to operate our business, as well as incur liabilities from third-party claims, all of which could harm our operating results and financial condition. Moreover, regardless of the outcome, if we or physicians or other third parties with whom we do business are investigated by a regulatory or law enforcement authority we could incur substantial costs, including legal fees, and our management may be required to divert a substantial amount of time to an investigation.

To enhance compliance with applicable health care laws, and mitigate potential liability in the event of noncompliance, regulatory authorities, such as the United States Department of Health and Human Services’  Office of Inspector General, or OIG, have recommended the adoption and implementation of a comprehensive health care compliance program that generally contains the elements of an effective compliance and ethics program described in Section 8B2.1 of the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual, and for many years the OIG has made available a model compliance program targeted to the clinical laboratory industry.  In addition, certain states, such as New York, require that health care providers, such as clinical laboratories, that engage in substantial business under the state Medicaid program have a compliance program that generally adheres to the standards set forth in the Model Compliance Program.  Also, under the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, will require suppliers, such as the Company, to adopt, as a condition of Medicare participation, compliance programs that meet a core set of requirements.

Failure to maintain the security of patient-related information or compliance with security requirements could damage our reputation with customers, cause us to incur substantial additional costs and become subject to litigation.

Pursuant to HIPAA, and certain similar state laws, we must comply with comprehensive privacy and security standards with respect to the use and disclosure of protected health information. Under the HITECH amendments to HIPAA, HIPAA was expanded to require certain data breach notification, to extend certain HIPAA privacy and security standards directly to business associates, to heighten penalties for noncompliance, and enhance enforcement efforts.

We receive certain personal and financial information about our clients and their patients. In addition, we rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. Our operations depend heavily upon the secure transmission of confidential information over public networks. We are transitioning our products’ commercial program to an ecommerce based solution, which places our assets, customer data and other personally identifiable data at higher risks. We are making investments to ensure that our employees are aware of cyber security risks facing the Company and how to prevent data breaches. A compromise in our security systems that results in client or patient personal information being obtained by unauthorized persons or our failure to comply with security requirements for financial transactions could adversely affect our reputation with our clients and result in litigation against us or the imposition of penalties, all of which may adversely affect our operations, financial condition and liquidity. Although we are not aware of the occurrence of any data beaches, we continue to update our cyber security tools and processes in an attempt to keep pace with evolving cyber security risks.

Changes in regulation and policies, including increasing downward pressure on health care reimbursement, may adversely affect reimbursement for diagnostic services and could have a material adverse impact on our business.

Reimbursement levels for health care services are subject to continuous and often unexpected changes, and we face a variety of efforts by government payers to reduce utilization and reimbursement for diagnostic testing services. Changes in governmental reimbursement may result from statutory and regulatory changes, retroactive rate adjustments, administrative rulings, competitive bidding initiatives, or other policy changes.Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

 

The U.S. Congress has considered, at least yearly in conjunction with budgetary legislation, changes to one or both of the Medicare fee schedules under which we receive reimbursement, which include the clinical laboratory fee schedule for our clinical laboratory services. For example, Congress has periodically considered imposing a 20 percent coinsurance on laboratory services. If enacted, this would require us to attempt to collect this amount from patients, although in many cases the costs of collection would exceed the amount actually received.

The CMS pays laboratories on the basis of a of a fee schedule that is reviewed and re-calculated on an annual basis.  CMS may change the fee schedule upward or downward on billing codes that we submit for reimbursement on a regular basis. Our revenue and business may be adversely affected if the reimbursement rates associated with such codes are reduced. Even when reimbursement rates are not reduced, policy changes add to our costs by increasing the complexity and volume of administrative requirements. Medicaid reimbursement, which varies by state, is also subject to administrative and billing requirements and budget pressures. Recently, state budget pressures have caused states to consider several policy changes that may impact our financial condition and results of operations, such as delaying payments, reducing reimbursement, restricting coverage eligibility and service coverage, and imposing taxes on our services.

The transition to a direct self-pay programme in April 2017 may reduce the reimbursement risks by placing the responsibility for payment purely with the patient, although overall market adoption and revenue generation may be adversely affected.

Healthcare policy changes, including recently enacted legislation reforming the U.S. healthcare system, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Fees for most laboratory services reimbursed by Medicare are established in the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), and fees for other testing reimbursed by Medicare, primarily related to pathology, are covered by the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). Over the past several years, the Company has experienced governmental pay reductions as a direct result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) and the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (ABLE Act). In addition, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), which became law on April 1, 2014, is expected to result in a future net reduction in reimbursement revenue under the CLFS. These laws include provisions designed to control healthcare expenses reimbursed by government programs through a combination of reductions to fee schedules, incentives to providers to participate in alternative payment models such as risk-sharing and new methods to establish and adjust fees.

The Affordable Care Act makes changes that are expected to significantly affect clinical laboratories, among others.  Beginning in 2013, each medical device manufacturer must pay a sales tax (medical device exise tax “MDET”) in an amount equal to 2.3% of the price for which such manufacturer sells its medical devices that are listed with the FDA. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Dec. 18, 2015) imposed a two-year moratorium on this medical device tax so it would not apply to the sale of a taxable medical device by the manufacturer, producer, or importer of the device during the period beginning on Jan. 1, 2016, and ending on Dec. 31, 2017.Repeal of the MDET was included in the House passed American Health Care Act of 2017 and the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act released on July 13, 2017; however, the Senate has thus far failed to pass its bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Senate discussions appear to be ongoing, and MDET repeal could be included in other legislation considered in 2017, such as tax reform.

Although the FDA has contended that LDTs are medical devices, none of our products is currently listed with the FDA. We cannot assure you that the tax, once the moratorium sunsets, will not be extended to services such as ours in the future.  The  Affordable Care Act also mandates a reduction in payments for clinical laboratory services paid under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, or CLFS, of 1.75% through 2015 and a productivity adjustment to the CLFS.  Moreover, under Protecting Access to Medicare Act, CMS will be required to set and make adjustments to the CLFS using market-based information that reflects the scope of prices paid across the laboratory industry. On October 1, 2015, CMS issued a proposed rule to implement PAMA that would require applicable laboratories, including the Company, to begin reporting their test-specific private payer payment amounts to CMS during the first quarter of 2016. CMS intends to use that private market data to calculate weighted median prices for each test (based on applicable CPT codes) that would represent the new CLFS rates beginning in 2017, subject to certain phase-in limits. For 2017-2019, a test price cannot be reduced by more than 10.0% per year; for 2020-2022, a test price cannot be reduced by more than 15.0% per year. Reporting and pricing will occur every three years, or annually with respect to certain types of tests, to update the CLFS thereafter.

Other significant measures contained in the Affordable Care Act includes, for example, coordination and promotion of research on comparative clinical effectiveness of different technologies and procedures, initiatives to revise Medicare payment methodologies, such as bundling of payments across the continuum of care by providers and physicians, and initiatives to promote quality indicators in payment methodologies. The Affordable Care Act also includes significant new fraud and abuse measures, including required disclosures by drug and device manufacturers and distributors of financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals. In addition, the Health Care Reform Law establishes an Independent Payment Advisory Board, or IPAB, to reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending. The IPAB has broad discretion to propose policies to reduce expenditures, which may have a negative impact on payment rates for services. The IPAB proposals may impact payments for clinical laboratory services beginning in 2016. We are monitoring the impact of the Health Care Reform Law in order to enable us to determine the trends and changes that may be necessitated by the legislation that may potentially impact on our business over time.

In addition to the Affordable Care Act, various healthcare reform proposals have also emerged from federal and state governments. For example, in February 2012, Congress passed the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012” which in part reduced the potential future cost-based increases to the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule by 2%. Overall the expected total fee cut to the CLFS for 2013 was 2.95% not including a further reduction of 2% from implementation of the automatic expense reductions (sequester) under the Budget Control Act of 2011 which went into effect for dates of service on or after April 1, 2013.  Reductions made by the Congressional sequester are applied to total claims payments made.  While these reductions did not result in a rebasing of the negotiated or established Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement rates, rebasing could occur as a result of future legislation.  In 2015, the total fee cut to the CLFS was 0.25%.

On June 23, 2016, the CMS published a final rule implementing PAMA, which required establishment of a new Medicare reimbursement system for clinical lab tests paid under the CLFS, based on private payer rates, as reported to CMS. Although the new payment system was supposed to go into effect for tests furnished after January 1, 2017, the CMS rulemaking process was delayed, and the new rates will not be effective until January 1, 2018 pursuant to the final rule. Under the new system the Company must collect data on private payer rates and report the data to CMS every three years for most types of tests.  The Company does not expect that the new reporting requirements will have a material impact on its business or results of operations. CMS will use the data reported by all applicable labs to calculate a weighted median of private payer rates for each test performed, and that weighted median will be the new Medicare rate. Rate reductions for existing tests under the new system

will be phased in over six years. The public comment period on the preliminary private payor rate based CLFS payment amounts will close on October 23, 2017 after which CMS will make available final CY 2018 CLFS rates on the CMS website for a January 1, 2018 implementaion. The Company is still assessing the full impact of the final rule, but has been preparing for it for some time.

We cannot be certain that these or future changes will not affect payment rates in the future. We also cannot predict whether future healthcare initiatives will be implemented at the federal or state level, or the effect any future legislation or regulation will have on us. The taxes imposed by the new federal legislation, cost reduction measures and the expansion in government’s role in the U.S. healthcare industry may result in decreased profits to us, lower reimbursements by payers for our products or reduced medical procedure volumes, all of which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Healthcare plans have taken steps to control the utilization and reimbursement of healthcare services, including clinical test services..

We also face efforts bynon-governmental third-party payers, including healthcare plans, to reduce utilization and reimbursement for clinical testing services.

The healthcare industry has experienced a trend of consolidation among healthcare insurance plans, resulting in fewer but larger insurance plans with significant bargaining power to negotiate fee arrangements with healthcare providers, including clinical testing providers. These healthcare plans, and independent physician associations, may demand that clinical testing providers accept discounted fee structures or assume all or a portion of the financial risk associated with providing testing services to their members through capped payment arrangements. In addition, someSome healthcare plans have been willing to limit the PPO or POS laboratory network to only a single national laboratory to obtain improved fee-for-service pricing. There are also an increasing number of patients enrolling in consumer driven products and high deductible plans that involve greater patient cost-sharing.

 

The increased consolidation among healthcare plans also has increased the potential adverse impact of ceasing to be a contracted provider with any such insurer. Sales volumes and prices of our products depend in large part on the availability of coverage and reimbursement from third-party payers. Third-party payers include governmental programs such as U.S. Medicare and Medicaid, private insurance plans, and workers’ compensation plans. These third-party payers may deny coverage or reimbursement for a product or procedure if they determine that the product or procedure was not medically appropriate or necessary. Even though a new product may have been cleared for commercial distribution by relevant regulatory authorities, we may find limited demand for the product until reimbursement approval is assured from multiple governmental and private third-party payers. In the United States, a uniform policy of coverage does not exist across all third-party payers relative to payment of claims for all products. Therefore, coverage and payment can be quite different from payor to payor, and from one region of the country to another. This is also true for foreign countries in that coverage and payment systems vary from country to country.

Third-party payers are developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling healthcare costs through more cost- effective methods of delivering healthcare. All of these types of programs can potentially impact market access for, and pricing structures of our products, which in turn, can impact our future sales. There can be no assurance that third-party reimbursement will be available or adequate, or that current and future legislation, regulation or reimbursement policies of third-party payers will not adversely affect the demand for our products or our ability to sell our products on a profitable basis. The unavailability or inadequacy of third-party payor reimbursement could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Outside the United States, reimbursement and healthcare payment systems vary significantly by country, and many countries have instituted price ceilings on specific product lines and procedures. There can be no assurances that procedures using our products will be considered medically reasonable and necessary for a specific indication, that our products will be considered cost-effective by third-party payers, that an adequate level of reimbursement will be available, or that the third-party payers’ reimbursement policies will not adversely affect our ability to sell our products profitably.

 

We expect continuing efforts to reduce reimbursements, to impose more stringent cost controls and to reduce utilization of clinical test services. These efforts including future changes in third-party payer rules, practices and policies, or ceasing to be a contracted provider to a healthcare plan, may have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Changes in health care policy could increase our costs, decrease our revenues and impact sales of and reimbursement for our tests.

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, or the ACA became law. This law substantially changed the way health care is financed by both governmental and private insurers, and significantly impacts our industry. The ACA contains a number of provisions that are expected to impact our business and operations, some of which in ways we cannot currently predict, including those governing enrollments in state and federal health care programs, reimbursement changes and fraud and abuse, which will impact existing state and federal health care programs and will result in the development of new programs. Since its enactment, there have been judicial and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA. Both Congress and President Trump have expressed their intention to repeal or repeal and replace the ACA, and as a result, certain sections of the ACA have not been fully implemented or were effectively repealed. The uncertainty around the future of the ACA, and in particular the impact to reimbursement levels and the number of insured individuals, may lead to delay in the purchasing decisions of our customers, which may in turn negatively impact our product sales. Further, if reimbursement levels are inadequate, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

In addition to the ACA, there will continue to be proposals by legislators at both the federal and state levels, regulators and private third-party payors to reduce costs while expanding individual healthcare benefits. Certain of these changes could impose additional limitations on the prices we will be able to charge for our tests or the amounts of reimbursement available for our tests from governmental agencies or private third-party payors.

We face risks associated with currency exchange rate fluctuations, which could adversely affect our operating results.

We receive a portion of our revenues and pay a portion of our expenses in currencies other than the United States dollar, such as the Australian dollar, the Euro and the British pound. As a result, we are at risk for exchange rate fluctuations between such foreign currencies and the United States dollar, which could affect the results of our operations. If the U.S. dollar strengthens against foreign currencies, the translation of these foreign currency denominated transactions will result in decreased revenues and operating expenses. We may not be able to offset adverse foreign currency impact with increased revenues. We do not currently utilize hedging strategies to mitigate foreign currency risk and even if we were to implement hedging strategies to mitigate foreign currency risk, these strategies might not eliminate our exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations and would involve costs and risks of their own, such as ongoing management time and expertise, external costs to implement the strategies and potential accounting implications.

Government regulation of genetic research or testing may adversely affect the demand for our services and impair our business and operations.

In addition to the regulatory framework governing healthcare, genetic research and testing has been the focus of public attention and regulatory scrutiny. From time to time, federal, state and/or local governments adopt regulations relating to the conduct of genetic research and genetic testing. In the future, these regulations could limit or restrict genetic research activities as well as genetic testing for research or clinical purposes. In addition, if such regulations are adopted, these regulations may be inconsistent with, or in conflict with, regulations adopted by other government bodies. Regulations relating to genetic research activities could adversely affect our ability to conduct our research and development activities. Regulations restricting genetic testing could adversely affect our ability to market and sell our products and services. Accordingly, any regulations of this nature could increase the costs of our operations or restrict our ability to conduct our testing business and might adversely affect our operations and financial condition.business.

 

Our operations may be adversely affected by the effects of extreme weather conditions or other interruptions in the timely transportation of specimens.

We transport specimens from our North Carolina offices in the U.S. to our laboratory located in Melbourne, Australia.  Our operations may be adversely impacted by extreme weather conditions or other interruptions in the timely transportation of such specimens or otherwise to provide our services, from time to time. The occurrence of any such event and/or a disruption to our operations as a result may harm our reputation and adversely impact our results of operations.

Failure in our information technology systems could significantly increase testing turn-around times or impact on the billing processes or otherwise disrupt our operations.

Our laboratory operations depend, in part, on the continued performance of our information technology systems. Our information technology systems are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses and similar disruptions. Sustained system failures or interruption of our systems in our laboratory operations could disrupt our ability to process laboratory requisitions, perform testing, and provide test results in a timely manner and/or billing process. Breaches with respect to protected health information

could result in violations of HIPAA and analogous state laws, and risk the imposition of significant fines and penalties.  Failure of our information technology systems could adversely affect our reputation, business profitability and financial condition.

 

Breaches of network or information technology, natural disasters or terrorist attacks could have an adverse impact on our businessbusiness.

Cyber-attacks or other breaches of information technology security, natural disasters, or acts of terrorism or war may result in hardware failure or disrupt our product testing or research and development activities. There has been a substantial increase in frequency of successful and unsuccessful cyber-attacks on companies in recent years. Such an event may result in our inability, or the inability of our collaborative partners, to operate the facilities to conduct and complete the necessary activities, which even if the event is for a limited period of time, may result in significant expenses and/ or significant damage or delay to our commercial or research activities. While we maintain insurance cover for some of these events, the potential liabilities associated with these events could exceeded the cover we maintain. We are likely to be subject to attempts to breach the security of our networks and information technology infrastructure through cyber-attack, malware, computer viruses or other means of unauthorized access. To date however, we have not been subject to any cyber incidents which individually or in aggregate have resulted in a material impact to our operations or financial condition.

Failure to demonstrate the clinical utility of our products could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

In order to assure adequate insurance coverage and favorable insurance reimbursement of our products, we have been required to demonstrate the clinical utility of our tests. Clinical utility—which is the usefulness of a test for clinical practice (as contrasted with diagnostic accuracy, which is how well the test can determine the presence, absence, or risk of a specific disease)—may well be the most significant limitation for the widespread acceptance of molecular diagnostic tools such as BREVAGenplus.  These studies have required us to invest considerable financial and management resources without any assurance of favorable results.  Successful studies are difficult to plan, execute and validate, because of the time involved and variables that are difficult to control and which can impact outcomes.   If we are unable to demonstrate clinical utility, or if our data is deemed insufficient to validate utility, which are required for Medicare coverage, then we may face negative coverage decisions for our products.  The resulting negative coverage decisions could have a material adverse effect on our financial conditions and results of operations.Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

 

With the change in our pricing and billing model effective April 1, 2017, to a direct patient self-pay model, this requirement has currently become redundant. We recognize, however  that scientific papers are an essential marketing tool and that scientific and clinical data are key drivers in commercial adoption. We intend to  explore opportunities to engage in further research collaborations to support clinical utility.

Ethical and other concerns surrounding the use of genetic information may reduce the demand for our services.

Public opinion regarding ethical issues related to the confidentiality and appropriate use of genetic testing may influence government authorities to call for limits on, or regulation of the use of, genetic testing. In addition, such authorities could prohibit testing for genetic predisposition to certain conditions, particularly for those that have no known cure. Furthermore, adverse publicity or public opinion relating to genetic research and testing, even in the absence of any governmental regulation, could reduce the potential markets for our services, which could materiallyproducts and adversely affect our financial position.services.

 

We do not however undertake any activities in the contentious areas of cloning, stem cell research or other gene-altering areas.  As such, many of the ethical issues that may be relevant to other participants in the genetics industry are not necessarily applicable to us.

Risks associated with Out-licensing of our intellectual propertyproperty.

The patenting of genes and issues surrounding access to genetic knowledge are the subjects of extensive and ongoing public debate in many countries. By way of example, the Australian Law Reform Commission has previously conducted two inquiries into the social uses of genetic information. The patents we hold over usesoveruses of “non-coding” DNA have broad scope and have also been the subject of debate and some criticism in the media. Individuals or organizations, in any one of the countries in which these patents have issued, could take legal action to seek their amendment, revocation or invalidation, something which has happened previously, on several occasions in various jurisdictions, though we have prevailed in all such cases.

Furthermore, any time that we initiate legal action against parties that infringe our patents we face a risk that the infringer will defend itself through a counter-claimcounterclaim of patent invalidity or other such claims. Subsequent legal action could potentially overturn, invalidate or limit the scope of our patents.

Under

We rely heavily upon patents and proprietary technology that may fail to protect our business.

We rely upon our portfolio of patent rights, patent applications and exclusive licenses to patents and patent applications relating to genetic technologies. We expect to aggressively patent and protect our proprietary technologies. However, we cannot be certain that any additional patents will be issued to us because of our domestic or foreign patent applications or that any of our patents will withstand challenges by others. Patents issued to, or licensed by us may be infringed or third parties may independently develop the same or similar technologies. Similarly, our patents may not provide us with meaningful protection from competitors, including those who may pursue patents which may prevent, limit or interfere with our products or which may require licensing and the payment of significant fees or royalties by us to such third parties in order to enable us to conduct our business. We may sue or be sued by third parties regarding our patents and other intellectual property rights. These suits are often costly and would divert valuable funds, time and technical resources from our operations and cause a distraction to management.

We also rely upon unpatented proprietary technologies and databases. Although we require employees, consultants and collaborators to sign confidentiality agreements, we may not be able to adequately protect our rights in such unpatented proprietary technologies and databases, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information or techniques or otherwise gain access to our proprietary technologies or disclose our technologies to our competitors.

We may face difficulties in certain jurisdictions in protecting our intellectual property rights, which may diminish the value of our intellectual property rights in those jurisdictions.

The laws of some jurisdictions do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws in the United States and the European Union, and many companies have encountered significant difficulties in protecting and defending such rights in such other jurisdictions. If we or our collaboration partners encounter difficulties in protecting, or are otherwise precluded from effectively protecting, the intellectual property rights for our business in such jurisdictions, the value of those rights may be diminished and we may face additional competition from others in those jurisdictions. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against governments agencies or government contractors. In those countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of such patent.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

Our operations may be adversely affected by the effects of extreme weather conditions or other interruptions in the timely transportation of specimens.

We may be required to transport specimens from the U.S. or other distant locations to our laboratory located in Melbourne, Australia. Our operations may be adversely impacted by extreme weather conditions or other interruptions in the timely transportation of such specimens or otherwise to provide our services, from time to time. The occurrence of any such event and/or a disruption to our operations as a result may harm our reputation and adversely impact our results of operations.

Our CIT Platform will expose us to various risks.

Our Consumer Initiated Testing platform (CIT), which once implemented will allow for consumers to directly request any of our tests online with a practitioner involved in the process via telemedicine, will be subject to various risks, including but not limited to:

The risk of failure to protect personal medical information;
The risk of breach of cyber security for the platform; and
The risk that the platform will fail to perform as expected.

Our ability to conduct telehealth services in a particular U.S. state or non-U.S. jurisdiction is dependent upon the applicable laws governing remote healthcare, the practice of medicine and healthcare delivery in general in such location which are subject to changing political, regulatory and other influences. Some state medical boards have established new rules or interpreted existing rules in a manner that limits or restricts the practice of telemedicine. The extent to which a U.S. state or non-U.S. jurisdiction considers particular actions or relationships to constitute practicing medicine is subject to change and to evolving interpretations by (in the case of U.S. states) medical boards and state attorneys general, among others, and (in the case of non-U.S. jurisdictions) the relevant Patent Actsregulatory and legal authorities, each with broad discretion. Accordingly, we must monitor our compliance with law in mostevery jurisdiction in which we operate, on an ongoing basis, and we cannot provide assurance that our activities and arrangements, if challenged, will be found to be in compliance with the law. If a successful legal challenge or an adverse change in the relevant laws were to occur, and we were unable to adapt our business model accordingly, our operations in the affected jurisdictions would be disrupted, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Discontinuation or recalls of existing testing products or our customers using new technologies to perform their own tests could adversely affect our business.

Discontinuation or recalls of existing testing products or our customers using new technologies to perform their own tests could adversely affect the Company’s business. Manufacturers may discontinue or recall reagents, test kits or instruments used by us to perform laboratory testing. Such discontinuations or recalls could adversely affect our costs, testing volume and revenue. In addition, advances in technology may lead to the development of more cost-effective technologies such as point-of-care testing equipment that can be operated by physicians or other healthcare providers in their offices or by patients themselves without requiring the services of freestanding clinical laboratories. Development of such technology and its use by our customers could reduce the demand for our laboratory testing services and the utilization of certain tests offered by us and negatively impact our revenues.

There can be no assurances that we will be able to successfully transition our current lab facilities into a COVID-19 testing facility.

Although we believe we will be able to do so, there can be no assurances that we will be able to make available our existing lab facilities for conducting of COVID-19 testing. If we are unable to successfully transition our current lab facilities into a COVID-19 testing facility, we will not be able to move forward our planned short-term business transition of performing COVID-19 testing. Additionally, time spent attempting to transition our facilities would affect our ability to perform testing for our other products and could have an adverse impact on business operations.

Even if we are able to successfully transition our current lab facilities into a COVID-19 testing facility, there can be no assurances that we will generate revenue from COVID-19 testing.

The Company has not had any material conversations or entered into any agreements with a third party regarding the performance of COVID-19 testing and there is no guarantee that we will ever enter into any such agreements. As a result, despite our potential ability to conduct COVID-19 testing, there can be no assurances that we will be to commercialize such ability to generate any revenue.

We may not be able to produce a PRS test that successfully allows for the assessment of risk in a timely manner, if at all.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, we have completed the development of our COVID-19 risk test, which we believe may allow for the assessment of risk of an individual contracting a serious disease as a result of the countriescontracting the COVID-19 virus (see “Recent Developments”). We may be unable to produce a test that successfully allows for the assessment of risk in a timely manner, if at all. Additionally, our ability to develop an effective test depends upon our ability to rapidly produce the test, which we have not previously done, and which may require funding or assistance from third parties in order to enable us to prepare the test in a timely manner. If the outbreak is effectively contained or the risk of infection is diminished or eliminated before we can successfully develop and manufacture a PRS test, we may be unable to successfully generate revenue from the development of the PRS test. Our business could be negatively impacted by our allocation of significant resources to a global health threat that is unpredictable and could rapidly dissipate or against which our non-coding patents have issued,PRS test, if developed, may not be deemed useful or effective enough by the relevant judicial system has rightsmarket.

Furthermore, the testing market is highly competitive, is subject to impose compulsory licensing.rapid technological change and is significantly affected by existing or new products. Our competitors may develop products more rapidly or more effectively than us. If our competitors are more successful in commercializing their products than us, their success could adversely affect our competitive position and harm our business prospectus.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

Because the PRS test may not be able to obtain necessary regulatory clearance, we may not generate any revenue.

All of our existing products are subject to regulation in Australia by CLIA, the U.S. by the FDA and/or other domestic and international governmental, public health agencies, regulatory bodies or non-governmental organizations. The relevant governments typically hold “march-in” rights by which they may unilaterally chooseprocess of obtaining required approvals or clearances for a potential new product varies according to exploit the technology.  To the extentnature of and uses for a specific product. These processes can involve lengthy and detailed laboratory testing, human clinical trials, sampling activities, and other costly, time-consuming procedures. The submission of an application to a regulatory authority does not guarantee that the Company’s non-coding technology is usedauthority will grant an approval or clearance for the product. Each authority may impose its own requirements and can delay or refuse to grant approval or clearance, even though a product has been approved in another country. The time taken to obtain approval or clearance varies depending on the nature of the application and may result in the conductpassage of research,a significant period of time from the date of submission of the application. Delays in the approval or clearance processes increase the risk that we will not succeed in introducing or selling the subject products, and we may be required to abandon the PRS after devoting substantial time and resources to its development.

If our PRS test receives necessary CLIA and FDA approvals, it will be subject to continuing governmental regulations and additional foreign regulations.

If the FDA determines that enforcement discretion is not appropriate or that LDTs are generally subject to FDA regulation and that premarket review, including clearance or approval, is required for our PRS tests or any of our future tests, diagnostic test kits that we may develop, or other products that would be classified as medical devices, the process of obtaining regulatory clearances or approvals to market a medical device can be costly and time consuming, and we may not be able to obtain these clearances or approvals on a timely basis, if at all. In particular, the FDA permits commercial distribution of a new medical device only after the device has received clearance under Section 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or is the subject of an approved premarket approval application, or PMA unless the device is specifically exempt from those requirements. The FDA will clear marketing of a lower risk medical device through the 510(k) process if the manufacturer demonstrates that the new product is substantially equivalent to other 510(k)-cleared products. High risk devices deemed to pose the greatest risk, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting, or implantable devices, or devices not deemed substantially equivalent to a previously cleared device, require the approval of a PMA. The PMA process is more costly, lengthy and uncertain than the 510(k)-clearance process. A PMA application must be supported by extensive data, including, but not limited to, technical, preclinical, clinical trial, manufacturing and labeling data, to demonstrate to the FDA’s satisfaction the safety and efficacy of the device for its intended use. Our currently commercialized products have not received FDA clearance or approval, as they are marketed under the FDA’s enforcement discretion for LDTs. Even if regulatory clearance or approval of a product is required and granted, such clearance or approval may be subject to limitations on the intended uses for which the product may be marketed and reduce our potential to successfully commercialize the product and generate revenue from the product. If the FDA determines that our promotional materials, labeling, training or other marketing or educational activities constitute promotion of an unapproved use, it could request that we cease or modify our training or promotional materials or subject us to regulatory enforcement actions.

We are also facesubject to other federal, state, and foreign regulation concerning the manufacture and sale of our products. Our failure to comply with U.S. federal, state and foreign governmental regulations could lead to the issuance of warning letters or untitled letters, the imposition of injunctions, suspensions or loss of regulatory clearance or approvals, product recalls, termination of distribution, product seizures or civil penalties. In the most extreme cases, criminal sanctions or closure of our manufacturing facility are possible, any of which could adversely affect our business, operating results and prospects.

The FDA and similar foreign governmental authorities have the authority to require the recall of regulated products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture. In the case of the FDA, the authority to require a recall must be based on an FDA finding that there is a reasonable probability that the device would cause serious injury or death. In addition, foreign governmental bodies have the authority to require the recall of our products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture. Manufacturers may, under their own initiative, recall a product if any material deficiency in a device is found. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us could occur as a result of component failures, manufacturing errors, design or labeling defects or other deficiencies and issues. Recalls of any of our products would divert managerial and financial resources and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. The FDA requires that certain classifications of recalls be reported to FDA within 10 working days after the recall is initiated. Companies are required to maintain certain records of recalls, even if they are not reportable to the FDA. We may initiate voluntary recalls involving our products in the future that we determine do not require notification of the FDA. If the FDA disagrees with our determinations, they could require us to report those actions as recalls. A future recall announcement could harm our reputation with customers and negatively affect our sales. In addition, the FDA could take enforcement action for failing to report the recalls when they were conducted.

We may be subject to liability for our current products or for our planned COVID-19 testing and our insurance may not be sufficient to cover damages.

Our current business and potential COVID-19 testing exposes us to potential liability risks uncertaintythat are inherent in the testing, manufacturing, marketing and controversy oversale of molecular risk assessment and predictive tests. The use of our products and product candidates, whether for clinical trials or commercial sale, may expose us to professional and product liability claims and possible adverse publicity. We may be subject to claims resulting from incorrect results of analysis of genetic variation or other screening tests performed using our products or from any future COVID-19 testing. Litigation of such claims could be costly. Further, if a court were to require us to pay damages to a plaintiff, the licensingamount of such damages could be significant and severely damage our financial condition. Although we have public and product liability insurance coverage under broad form liability and professional indemnity policies, the level or breadth of our coverage may not be adequate to fully cover any potential liability claims. In addition, we may not be able to obtain additional liability coverage in the future at an acceptable cost. A successful claim or series of claims brought against us in excess of our insurance coverage and the effect of professional and/or product liability litigation upon the reputation and marketability of our technology and products, together with the diversion of the attention of key personnel, could negatively affect our business.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

Declining general economic or business conditions, including as a result of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, may have a negative impact on our business.

Continuing concerns over economic and business prospects in the United States and other countries have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the global economy. These factors, coupled with the prospect of decreased business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment resulting from the recent COVID-19 outbreak, may precipitate an economic slowdown and recession. If the economic climate deteriorates, our business, including our access to patient samples and the addressable market for diagnostic tests that we may successfully develop, as well as the financial condition of our suppliers and our third-party payors, could be adversely affected, resulting in a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a negative impact on global markets and business activity, which has had an effect on the operations of the Company, including but not limited to that sales of our products have been impacted not only by the inability for consumers to visit their practitioners but also the difficulty our sales team is having in arranging face to face meetings with practitioners. Our sales team has found it very difficult to reach practitioners to build on the sales momentum created prior to the pandemic, thus, sales have effectively ceased for the short term. Additionally, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has done the following:

Moved forward with its Consumer Initiated Testing platform (CIT), as previously announced on April 1, which allows for consumers to directly request any of the Company’s tests online with a practitioner involved in the process via telemedicine. Once the CIT platform goes live, which is anticipated to be within the next sixty days, we believe it will ensure that sales will be able to recommence in the event a lockdown is maintained and it opens up another significant sales channel.
Began the process of attempting to make available our existing lab facilities for the conducting of COVID-19 testing via existing Polymerase Chain Reaction (or PCR) (a method of amplifying DNA prior to analysis) PCR equipment and personnel.
We have also commenced work on a Polygenic Risk Score (or PRS) test for COVID-19, which may allow for the assessment of risk of an individual contracting a serious disease as a result of the contracting the COVID-19 virus. The proposed test will be designed using the same strategies used to build our existing GeneType for breast and colorectal cancer tests. Our objective will be to produce a test that can predict “disease severity” using either genetic information alone (PRS) or a combination of genetic and clinical information. Biobank data will be interrogated to discover any informative genetic and phenotypic associations. At this time, we are not certain whether an association exists between genetic or phenotypic variants and risk of an individual contracting a serious disease as a result of the contracting the COVID-19 virus. If such associations are identified, they will be incorporated into a proprietary algorithm to potentially predict future disease severity.

These new COVID-19 related activities may provide some revenue opportunities for us in the short term and will assist in the development of additional tests the company is currently working on. We have not made significant progress to date that would lead to orders or requests to increase capacity and there is no guarantee we will ever receive orders or requests.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

Risks Related to our Securities

Our ADSs may be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market.

In 2019, we were subject to Nasdaq delisting proceedings as a result of our failure to maintain the bid price of the ADSs above the minimum $1.00 per share requirement and because our reported stockholders’ equity was less than the minimum specified amount of $2,500,000 as of December 31, 2018. We regained compliance with Nasdaq’s Listing Rules with respect to our bid price as a result of the adjustment to the ratio of the ADSs that took effect on August 15, 2019, and we regained compliance with the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement by raising gross proceeds of approximately $3,043,000 in a rights offering completed on October 29, 2019. On November 6, 2019, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying us that we had regained compliance with the equity rule (the “Compliance Letter”).

On March 13, 2020, we received a determination letter (the “Letter”) from Nasdaq indicating that we did not comply with the stockholders’ equity rule. The Letter indicates that Listing Rule 5815(d)(4)(B) does not permit an issuer that is deficient in stockholders’ equity to present a plan of compliance to the Nasdaq Staff if such issuer has failed to comply with that provision within one year of a Hearing Panel (the “Panel”) determination of compliance. The Letter states that since we are out of compliance with the equity rule within one year of the Compliance Letter, the Staff cannot allow us to submit a plan of compliance. We requested an appeal hearing with the Panel to review the delisting determination. Upon Nasdaq’s receipt of the hearing request by the Company, Nasdaq stayed the suspension of our securities and the filing of the Form 25-NSE pending the Panel’s decision. An oral hearing took place on April 30, 2020 and in a letter dated May 12, 2020, the Panel granted the Company the full 180 day extension until September 9, 2020, to publicly disclose full compliance with the minimum shareholder equity requirement under Nasdaq rules. Subsequent to this, the Company has regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) as of August 25, 2020 (refer to sequence of events below).

On April 2, 2020, we closed a registered direct offering of 1,028,574 ADSs, at a purchase price of $1.75 per ADS (the “First April Offering”). H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC acted as the placement agent for this offering. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to support the introduction and distribution of our new products in the United States, for general product research and development, including the development of polygenic risk tests with TGen in the United States, for implementation of our consumer initiated testing platform, and for working capital.   The Company issued 40,114,200 warrants to H.C. Wainright & Co on April 3, 2020, exercisable at US$0.00365 each, expiring in 5 years from issue date. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.

On April 17, 2020, we announced that we have developed a detailed implementation plan to enable a temporary transition of our genetic testing laboratory to a high-throughput COVID-19 testing laboratory, should it be required by government agencies to assist with demand (we have not received any such requests to date and there is no guarantee that we will ever receive such requests). Initial work to identify laboratory workflows, instrument modification, laboratory compliance for biologics and contaminated materials handling has commenced. Secure supply chain of test reagents has been confirmed. We believe we are prepared to commence testing within 21 days of receiving a request to assist with demand, if any.

On April 22, 2020, we closed a registered direct offering of 722,502 ADSs at a purchase price of $2.00 per ADS (the “Second April Offering,” and together with the First April Offering, the “April Offerings”). H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC acted as the placement agent for this offering. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to support the introduction and distribution of our new products in the United States, for general product research and development, including the development of polygenic risk tests with TGen in the United States, for implementation of our consumer initiated testing platform and preparation for potential COVID-19 testing as well as for working capital.  The Company issued 28,177,578 warrants to H.C. Wainright & Co on April 22, 2020, exercisable at US$0.00417 each, expiring in 5 years from issue date. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.

On May 26, 2020, we completed a capital raise by offering of (i) 3,500,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), for a purchase price of United States Dollars (US$) US$2.00 per ADS (each representing six hundred (600) of the Company’s ordinary shares) and (ii) 500,000 pre-funded warrants to purchase one ADS (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) for a purchase price of US$1.9999 per Pre-Funded Warrant. H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC acted as the placement agent for this offering. In connection with such offering, the Company agreed to issue 156,000,000 warrants exercisable at US$0.004166 each, expiring in 5 years from issue date, to H.C. Wainwright & Co. The said warrants have not yet been issued as of the date of report as they are subject to shareholder approval.

On July 21, 2020, we closed a registered direct offering of 1,025,000 American Depository Shares (ADS’s), each representing six hundred (600) of the Company’s ordinary shares, at a purchase price of United States Dollars (US$) US$5.00 per ADS - or in Australian dollars $0.012 per ordinary share. The gross proceeds for this offering was approximately US$5.1 million. Against the offering, the Company agreed to issue 39,975,000 warrants exercisable at US$0.0104 each, expiring in 5 years from issue date, to H.C. Wainwright & Co which would form part of cost of raising capital. The said warrants have not been issued as of the date of report as they are subject to shareholder approval.

As of August 25, 2020, the Company has regained compliance with the equity requirement of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), as required by the Hearings Panel decision dated May 12, 2020.

However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in these in maintaining net assets compliance and our securities will remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The delisting of our ADSs by Nasdaq would have material negative impacts on the liquidity of our securities and our ability to raise future capital.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

Our stock price is volatile and can fluctuate significantly based on events not in our control and general industry conditions. As a result, the value of your investment may decline significantly.

The biotechnology sector can be particularly vulnerable to abrupt changes in investor sentiment. Stock prices of companies in the biotechnology industry, including ours, can swing dramatically, with little relationship to operating performance. Our stock price may be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to:

product development events;
the outcome of litigation;
decisions relating to intellectual property rights;
the entrance of competitive products or technologies into our markets;
new medical discoveries;
the establishment of strategic partnerships and alliances;
changes in reimbursement policies or other practices related to the pharmaceutical industry; or
other industry and market changes or trends.

Since our listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in August 2000, the price of our Ordinary Shares has ranged from a low of A$0.006 to a high of A$0.039 per share. Further fluctuations are likely to occur due to events which are not within our control and general market conditions affecting the biotechnology sector or the stock market generally.

In addition, low trading volume may increase the volatility of the price of our ADSs. A thin trading market could cause the price of our ADSs to fluctuate significantly more than the stock market as a whole. For example, trades involving a relatively small number of our ADSs may have a greater impact on the trading price for our ADSs than would be the case if the trading volume were higher.

The fact that we do not expect to pay cash dividends may lead to decreased prices for our stock.

We have never declared or paid a cash dividend on our Ordinary Shares and we do not anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain future cash earnings, if any, for reinvestment in the development and expansion of our business. Whether we pay cash dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and may be dependent on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and any other factors our Board of Directors decides is relevant. As a result, an investor may only recognize an economic gain on an investment in our stock from an appreciation in the price of our stock, which is uncertain and unpredictable. There is no guarantee that our Ordinary Shares will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which an investor purchased the Ordinary Shares.

You may have difficulty in effecting service of legal process and enforcing judgments against us and our management.

We are a public company limited by shares, registered and operating under the Australian Corporations Act 2001. The majority of our directors and officers named in this Annual Report reside outside the U.S. Substantially all, or a substantial portion of, the assets of those conductingpersons are also located outside the research.  WhetherU.S. As a result, it may not be possible to affect service on such persons in the

U.S. or to enforce, in foreign courts, judgments against such persons obtained in U.S. courts and predicated on the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the U.S. Furthermore, substantially all of our directly owned assets are located outside the U.S., and, as such, any judgment obtained in the U.S. against us may not researchers should be exemptedcollectible within the U.S. There is doubt as to the enforceability in the Commonwealth of Australia, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, of civil liabilities predicated solely upon federal or state securities laws of the U.S., especially in the case of enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts where the defendant has not been properly served in Australia.

Item 3.D Risk Factors (cont.)

Because we are not required to provide you with the same information as an issuer of securities based in the United States, you may not be afforded the same protection or information you would have if you had invested in a public corporation based in the United States.

We are exempt from obligationscertain provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, commonly referred to as the Exchange Act, that are applicable to U.S. public companies, including (i) the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K; (ii) the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; and (iii) the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time. The exempt provisions would be available to you if you had invested in a U.S. corporation.

However, in line with the Australian Securities Exchange regulations, we disclose our reviewed financial results on a semi- annual basis (under International Standard on Review Engagements) and our audited financial results on an annual basis (under International Standards on Auditing). The information, which may have an effect on our stock price on the Australian Securities Exchange, will be disclosed to the Australian Securities Exchange and also the Securities Exchange Commission. Other relevant information pertaining to our Company will also be disclosed in line with the Australian Securities Exchange regulations and information dissemination requirements for listed companies. We provide our semi-annual results and other material information that we make public in Australia in the U.S. under the cover of an SEC Form 6-K. Nevertheless, you may not be afforded the same protection or information, which would be made available to you, were you investing in a United States public corporation because the requirements of a Form 10-Q and Form 8-K are not applicable to us.

A lack of significant liquidity for our ADSs may negatively affect your ability to resell our securities.

Our ADSs have traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market since June 30, 2010. An active trading market for the ADSs, however, may not be maintained in the future. If an active trading market is not maintained, the liquidity and trading prices of the ADSs could be negatively affected.

In certain circumstances, holders of ADSs may have limited rights relative to holders of Ordinary Shares.

The rights of holders of ADSs with respect to the voting of Ordinary Shares and the right to receive certain distributions may be limited in certain respects by the deposit agreement entered into by us and The Bank of New York Mellon. For example, although ADS holders are entitled under the deposit agreement, subject to any applicable provisions of Australian law and of our Constitution, to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Ordinary Shares represented by the American Depositary Shares, and the depositary has agreed that it will try, as far as practical, to vote the Ordinary Shares so represented in accordance with such instructions, ADS holders may not receive notices sent by the depositary in time to ensure that the depositary will vote the Ordinary Shares. This means that, from a practical point of view, the holders of ADSs may not be able to exercise their right to vote. In addition, under the deposit agreement, the depositary has the right to restrict distributions to holders of the ADSs in the event that it is unlawful or impractical to make such distributions. We have no obligation to take licensesany action to relevant patents waspermit distributions to holders of our American Depositary Receipts, or ADSs. As a result, holders of ADSs may not receive distributions made by us.

There is a substantial risk that we are a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, which subjects U.S. investors to adverse tax rules.

Holders of our ADSs who are U.S. residents face income tax risks. There is a substantial risk that we are a passive foreign investment company, commonly referred to as a PFIC. Our treatment as a PFIC could result in a reduction in the subjectafter-tax return to the holders of another government inquiry conducted byour ADSs. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which either (i) 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or (ii) at least 50% of the Australian Councilaverage value of all of our assets for Intellectual Property who recommended the creationtaxable year produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, cash is considered to be an asset that produces passive income. As a research exemption.result of our substantial cash position in relation to our other assets, we believe that we have been a PFIC in our most recent taxable years and will continue to be a PFIC in the current tax year. Highly complex rules apply to U.S. holders owning ADSs. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the application of such rules. United States residents should carefully read “Item 10.E. Additional Information—Taxation, United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” in this Annual Report, for a more complete discussion of the U.S. federal income tax risks related to owning and disposing of our ADSs.

Item 4.Information on the Company

 

Item 4.AHistory and Development of the Company

 

Originally incorporated under the laws of Western Australia on January 5, 1987    as Concord Mining N.L. the Company operated as a mining company. On August 13, 1991, wethe Company changed ourits name to Consolidated Victorian Gold Mines N.L. On December 2, 1991, wethe Company changed ourits name to Consolidated Victorian Mines N.L. On March 15, 1995, wethe Company changed ourits name to Duketon Goldfields N.L.

 

On October 15, 1999, the Company’s corporate status was changed from a No Liability Company to a company limited by shares. On August 29, 2000, following the acquisition of Swiss company GeneType AG, wethe Company changed ourits name to Genetic Technologies Limited, which is ourits current name. At that time, the mining activities were phased out to focus on becoming a biotechnology company, following which ourits stock exchange listing was duly transferred from the mining board of the ASX to the industrial board and ourits shares were thereafter classified under the industry groupCompany “Health and Biotechnology”, completing ourits transformation from a mining company into a biotechnology company. OurThe Company’s current activities in biotechnology primarily concentrate on one clearly defined area of activity which is covered under Item 4.B “Business Overview”.

 

In October 2009, a new strategic direction was established to focus efforts in creating a portfolio of tests that would be aimed at assisting medical clinicians with cancer management. This would comprise tests that were created by the Company and in-licensed from third parties which would then be marketed by Genetic Technologiesus in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

On April 14, 2010, wethe Company announced that weit had acquired certain assets from Perlegen Sciences, Inc. in California, with the main asset being the BREVAGen™ breast cancer risk assessment test (“BREVAGen™”). In addition to the BREVAGen™ test, wethe Company also acquired a suite of patents valid to 2022 which augment and extend ourits current non-coding patent portfolio. On June 28, 2010, wethe Company incorporated a wholly-ownedwholly owned subsidiary named Phenogen Sciences Inc. in the State of Delaware which commenced selling the BREVAGen™ test in the U.S. marketplace in June 2011. In October 2014, the Company released its next generation breast cancer risk assessment test BREVAGenplus® .plus.

During 2014, the Directors considered an offer by Specialist Diagnostic Services Ltd (SDS), the wholly owned pathology subsidiary of Primary Health Care Ltd., to purchase the assets of the Australian Genetic testing business, which included Paternity, Forensics, Animal and Medical testing for the ANZ region.  In September 2014, the Company signed a binding Sale and Purchase Agreement with SDS.

On November 19, 2014, the Company completed the sale of its Heritage Australian Genetics business to SDS.

As partSpecialist Diagnostic Services Ltd (SDS), the wholly owned pathology subsidiary of the Company’s strategy to focus on the expansion of its cancer diagnostic franchise, we continue to evaluate opportunities to sell, out-license or co-develop other assets and technologies in which we have an interest, including our legacy non-coding assertion and licensing program.Primary Health Care Ltd.

 

In line with this strategy, during the current financial year;

·                  in November 2016, the Company executed an exclusive worldwide license agreement with The University of Melbourne, for the development and commercialization of a novel colorectal cancer (CRC) risk assessment test, providing the Company with an opportunity to enhance its pipeline of risk assessment products.

·                  In Additionally, in June 2017, the Company executed an investigator initiatedinvestigator-initiated Research Agreement with The Ohio State University, reflecting the growing awareness of the Company’s expertise in SNP-basedSNP- based risk assessment.

During 2018, the Company executed a further collaborative research and services agreement with The University of Melbourne, with the research designed to broaden the applicability of BREVAGenCorporate Informationplus, enabling its use by women with extended family history of breast cancer as well as increase the range of factors analyzed in assessing breast cancer.

 

OurIn May 2019, the Company announced the development of two new cancer risk assessment tests branded as “GeneType for Colorectal Cancer” and “GeneType for Breast Cancer.” The new breast cancer test provides substantial improvement over its legacy breast cancer test BREVAGenplus, by incorporating multiple additional clinical risk factors. This test will provide healthcare providers and their patients with a 5-year and lifetime risk assessment of the patient developing breast cancer. The colorectal cancer test will provide healthcare providers and their patients a 5-year, 10-year, and lifetime risk assessment of the patient developing colorectal cancer.

In June 2020, the Company received US Patent No: US10,683,549, Methods for assessing risk of developing breast cancer. The Company is the first company in the world to successfully commercialize a polygenic risk test for breast cancer. The granted patent covers the Company’s proprietary panels of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the combination of clinical and phenotypic risk models to create the most comprehensive risk assessment tool on the market: GeneType for Breast Cancer.

The Company hired and trained a new internal sales employee to educate doctors on the Company’s polygenic risk score (PRS) tests and introduce them to preventative health strategies. The Company had a very positive response from doctors. Initial test results showed 10 per cent of subjects were high risk and 41 per cent were moderate risk. The Company believes that these results will help create personalized strategies specifically designed for the patient risk profile. We think early indications show the tests lead to better screening compliance and to the development of personalized screening solutions. This confirms the Company’s objective of focusing on preventative health rather than ‘after the fact’ medicine. However, there is no guarantee that the PRS tests will generate any substantial income for the Company in the near future or at all.

At the same time, the Company continued to develop other risk assessment tests across a range of diseases including:

Cardiovascular disease
Type 2 diabetes
Prostate cancer
Melanoma

Item 4. Information on the Company (cont.)

Item 4.A History and Development of the Company (cont.)

COVID-19 Related Testing

The Company developed a detailed implementation plan to allow a temporary transition of the Company’s genetic testing laboratory to a high-throughput COVID-19 test center, should government agencies need it to assist with demand. The Company has begun the initial work to identify laboratory workflows, instrument modification, and laboratory compliance for biologics and contaminated materials handling. The Company has also confirmed a secure supply chain of test reagents.

The Company is developing a polygenic risk score (PRS) test for COVID-19, which may enable an assessment of the risk of people developing a serious disease should they contract the virus. The test aims to predict disease severity using a combination of genetic and clinical information.

Working prototype developed based on about 3,000 patients
Options for clinical risk model currently under evaluation
Discussions continue with several international biobanks and clinical laboratories to source an independent cross-validation dataset.

The Company has built strong relationships with international biobanks and health studies, including UK Biobank. They allow us to secure additional, current COVID-19 patient data to continuously develop, refine, and validate the COVID-19 risk test.

The Company has ordered its first single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array panel from US-based Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a world leader in genetic testing and the Company’s manufacturing partner for GeneType products.

The SNP array panel is a key reagent the Company needs to process the polygenic risk test portion of the COVID-19 risk test. The test aims to categorize subjects as being at high, average, or low risk of developing life-threatening conditions due to COVID-19.

The Company has also confirmed capacity to scale up production for a global rollout of the COVID-19 risk test (reagent and SNP array panel) with major manufacturers, including Thermo Fisher Scientific. The product uses technical components that healthcare manufacturers already produce for other genetic-based tests. This will support the Company’s plans to accelerate production to meet expected global demand.

We estimate that the Company’s Australian facilities can produce up to 250,000 tests a year. The scale-up of manufacturing will require global distribution partnerships if the COVID-19 risk test is widely adopted. In anticipation of high demand, the Company expects to make its data pack for the test available to global laboratories. Direct and indirect costs to date are approximately A$375,000.

Discussions have taken place with Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) for regulatory approval for the Company’s COVID-19 risk severity test in the U.S. and Australia.

The Company plans to submit a complete technical package to the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for review and approval. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) turn-around time for approval is expected to be approximately 45 days from submission;
Submission of the technical file to include scientific literature, algorithm validation, laboratory network validation, and laboratory procedural documentation; and
NATA to provide an assessment after an internal review of the final independent data set for test validation.

The test should give risk stratification information which may help personal and population management in two ways, to:

Guide quarantine measures on a personal, local, and national scale; and
Prioritize vaccination if and when a vaccine becomes available

The Company has filed a provisional patent application for its COVID-19 risk test with IP Australia, an agency of Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (Intellectual Property Australia)   (2020901739 - Methods of assessing risk of developing a severe response to Coronavirus infection). The provisional patent covers the specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) algorithm the Company designed to calculate a PRS and the testing model that combines PRS and the clinical risk factors that together constitute the COVID-19 risk test.

Item 4. Information on the Company (cont.)

Item 4.A History and Development of the Company (cont.)

Corporate Information

The Company’s registered office, headquarters and laboratory is located at 60-66 Hanover Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia and ourits telephone number is +-61 3 8412 7000. The officesoffice of ourits U.S. subsidiary, Phenogen Sciences Inc., areis located at 9115 Harris Corners Parkway,1300 Baxter Street, Suite 320,157, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28269 U.S.A. The telephone number for the Phenogen Sciences office is (877) 992 7382. OurThe Company’s website address is www.gtglabs.com. The information in ourits website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report and should not be considered as part of this Annual Report.

 

OurThe Company’s Australian Company Number (ACN) is 009 212 328. OurThe Company’s Australian Business Number (ABN) is 17 009 212 328. WeThe Company operate pursuant to ourits constitution, the Australian Corporations Act 2001, the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange, the Marketplace Rules of NASDAQThe Nasdaq Stock Market, and where applicable, local, state and federal legislation in the countries in which we operate.the Company operates.

 

Item 4.BBusiness Overview

Description of our Business

 

Founded in 1989, Genetic Technologies Listedlisted its Ordinary Shares on the ASX (GTG) in 2000 and NASDAQits ADSs on Nasdaq’s Capital Market (GENE) in 2005,2005. Genetic Technologies is today a molecular diagnostics company that offers predictive testing and assessment tools to help physicians proactively manage women’s health. The Company’s leadlegacy product, BREVAGenplus, iswas a clinically validated risk assessment test for non-hereditary breast cancer and iswas first in its class. BREVAGenplus improvesimproved upon the predictive power of the first generation BREVAGen test and iswas designed to facilitate better informed decisions about breast cancer screening and preventive treatment plans. BREVAGenplus expandsexpanded the application of BREVAGen from Caucasian women to include African-Americans and Hispanics and iswas directed towards women aged 35 years or above who have not had breast cancer and have one or more risk factors for developing breast cancer.

 

The Company has successfully launched the first generation BREVAGen test across the U.S. via its U.S. subsidiary Phenogen Sciences Inc., and believes the addition of BREVAGenplus, launched in October 2014, significantly expandsexpanded the applicable market. The Company marketsmarketed BREVAGenplusto healthcare professionals in comprehensive breast health care and imaging centres,centers, as well as to obstetricians/gynecologists (OBGYNs) and breast cancer risk assessment specialists (such as breast surgeons).

 

In May 2019, the Company announced that it had developed two new cancer risk assessment tests branded as ‘GeneType for Colorectal Cancer’ and ‘GeneType for Breast Cancer’. The new breast cancer test provides substantial improvement over the Company’s legacy breast cancer test BREVAGenplus, by incorporating multiple additional clinical risk factors. This test will provide healthcare providers and their patients with a 5-year and lifetime risk assessment of the patient developing breast cancer. The colorectal cancer test will provide healthcare providers and their patients a 5-year, 10-year, and lifetime risk assessment of the patient developing colorectal cancer.

In June 2020, the Company received US Patent No: US 10,683,549, Methods for assessing risk of developing breast cancer. The Company is the first company in the world to successfully commercialize a polygenic risk test for breast cancer. The granted patent covers the Company’s proprietary panels of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the combination of clinical and phenotypic risk models to create the most comprehensive risk assessment tool on the market: GeneType for Breast Cancer.

At the same time, the Company continued to develop other risk assessment tests across a range of diseases, including:

Cardiovascular disease
Type 2 diabetes
Prostate cancer
Melanoma

The Company’s Genetic Testing Business

 

Following the acquisition of Genetype AG in 1999 and the subsequent renaming to Genetic Technologies Limited, the Company focused on establishing a genetic testing business, which over the following decade saw it become the largest provider of paternity and related testing services in Australia. The Company’s service testing laboratory in Melbourne became the leading non-Governmentnon- Government genetic testing service provider in Australia. The genetic testing services of the Company expanded to include at certain times:

 

Medical testing
Animal Testing
Forensic Testing
·Medical testing

·Animal Testing

·Forensic Testing

·Plant Testing

Item 4. Information on the Company (cont.)

Item 4.B Business Overview (cont.)

The Company’s Genetic Testing Business (cont.)

 

The acquisition of GeneType AG also provided the Company with ownership rights to a potentially significant portfolio of issued patents. During the intervening years, this portfolio has since been expanded by both organic growth and the acquisition of intellectual property assets from third parties. The patent portfolio is constantly reviewed to ensure that we maintainthe Company maintains potentially important patents but at the same time keep costs to a minimum by no longer pursuing less commercially attractive and relevant intellectual property.

 

A strategic alliance with Myriad Genetics Inc. delivered to the Company exclusive rights in Australia and New Zealand to perform DNA testing for susceptibility to a range of cancers. In April 2003, wethe Company established ourits cancer susceptibility testing facility within ourits Australian laboratory. In June 2003, this facility was granted provisional accreditation by the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (“NATA”).

 

In November 2003, the Company joined the world-wide genetic testing network GENDIA as the sole reference laboratory for the network in Australia and New Zealand. GENDIA consists of more than 50 laboratories from around the world, each contributing expertise in their respective disciplines to create a network capable of providing more than 2,000 different genetic tests. This provided the Company with the ability to offer comprehensive testing services to its customer base in the Asia-Pacific region as well as increasing its exposure to other markets.

In December 2009, Genetic Technologies negotiated an exclusive option to investigateApril 2010 the purchase ofCompany purchased various assets from Perlegen Sciences, Inc. of Mountain View, California, which included a breast cancer non-familial risk assessment test, BREVAGen™. Those assets were subsequently purchased by theThe Company in April 2010.  Work then began on validating the test in the Company’sour Australian laboratory as well as initiatingand initiated the process for obtaining CLIA certification which would enable the Company to undertake the testing of samples received from the U.S. market. By July 2010, a new U.S. subsidiary named Phenogen Sciences Inc. had been incorporated by the Company in Delaware to market and distribute the BREVAGen™ test across mainland U.S.A.the United States.

 

On September 15, 2014 we announced plans to restructure and realign our group activities, in order to focus our strategy on the U.S. molecular diagnostics market and the commercialisation of our lead breast cancer risk test BREVAGen through our U.S. subsidiary Phenogen Sciences, Inc.  In October 2014, wethe Company announced the U.S. release of BREVAGenplus, an easy-to-use predictive risk test for the millions of women at risk of developing sporadic, or non-hereditary, breast cancer, representing a marked enhancement in accuracy and broader patient applicability, over ourits first generation BREVAGen product. WeThe Company also made a pivotal change of sales and marketing emphasis toward large comprehensive breast treatment and imaging centers, which are more complex entities with a longer sales cycle, but higher potential.

 

As part of this realignment, on November 19, 2014 we completed the sale of our Heritage Australian genetics business to Specialist Diagnostic Services Ltd.  As part of the Company’s strategy to focus on the expansion of its cancer diagnostic franchise, we continue to evaluate opportunities to sell, out-license or co-develop other assets and technologies in which we have an interest, including our legacy non-coding assertion and licensing program.

BREVAGenGeneType for Breast Cancerplus is; a State-of-the-ArtBreast Cancer Risk Assessment Test designed to enable a more personalized breast cancer risk assessment in a greater number of women

 

The identification, in 2007, of a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), each with an associated small relative risk of breast cancer, led to the development of the first commercially available genetic risk test for sporadic breast cancer, BREVAGen(TM).BREVAGen TM. The Company launched the product in the U.S. in June 2011. In October 2014, Genetic Technologiesthe Company released its next generation breast cancer risk assessment test, BREVAGenplus. This new version of the test incorporatesincorporated a 10-fold expanded panel of genetic markers (SNPs), known to be associated with the development of sporadic breast cancer, providing an increase in predictive power relative to its first-generation predecessor test. In addition, the new test iswas clinically validated in a broader population of women including, African American and Hispanic women. This increasesincreased the applicable market beyond the Caucasian only indication of the first generationfirst-generation test, and simplifiessimplified the marketing process in medical clinics and breast health centrescenters in the U.S.

 

The expanded panel of SNPs incorporated into BREVAGenplusour breast cancer tests were identified from multiple large-scale genome-wide association studies and subsequently tested in case-control studies utilisingutilizing specific Caucasian, African American and Hispanic patient samples.

 

BREVAGenplus iswas a first-in-class, clinically validated, predictive risk test for sporadic breast cancer which examinesexamined a woman’s clinical risk factors, combined with seventy seven scientifically validated genetic biomarkers (SNPs), to allow for more personalisedpersonalized breast cancer risk assessment and risk management.

 

Physicians worldwide look largely to family historyIn May 2019, the Company announced the development of its next generation breast cancer as an indication of risk in patientsassessment test, ‘GeneType for developing this disease. However, 85% of women who developBreast Cancer’. The new breast cancer have little or no family history of developing the disease and BREVAGenplus is designed to help elucidate risk in this group of women.

Targeted towards womentest provides substantial improvement over the age of 35 who have little or no family history ofits legacy breast cancer but harbor one or more knowntest BREVAGenplus by incorporating multiple additional clinical risk factors such as early menstruation, late childbirth, late menopause,factors. This test will provide healthcare providers and their patients with a history5-year and lifetime risk assessment of atypical or benign breast biopsies, BREVAGenplus provides a more accurate tool for assessing a woman’s personal risk ofthe patient developing breast cancer.

 

Germline genetic testing for mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 allows for the identification of individuals at significantly increased risk for breast and other cancers. However, such mutations are relatively rare in the general population and account for less than 10% of all breast cancer cases. The remaining 90% of non-familial or sporadic breast cancer have to be defined by other genetic/clinical markers common to the population at large and this is where the Company has focused its attention.

Item 4. Information on the Company (cont.)

The newly developed ‘GeneType for Breast Cancer’ test is aimed at risk detection of non-BRCA related sporadic breast cancer (that is, for those women who do not have an identified family history of breast cancer). Importantly, this means that the Company’s new test covers 95% of women.

In addition, women designated as having ‘dense breasts’ upon mammographic evaluation are recognized as beingJune 2020, the Company received the approval for its U.S. patent, patent number US 10,683,549, “Methods for Assessing Risk of Developing Breast Cancer.” The granted patent covers the Company’s proprietary panels of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the combination of clinical and phenotypic risk models to create the most comprehensive risk assessment tool on the market: GeneType for Breast Cancer.     

GeneType for Colorectal; a State-of-the-Art Risk Assessment Test for Colorectal Cancer.

Next generation risk assessments combine multiple clinical and genetic risk factors to better stratify individuals at elevatedincreased risk of developing breastdisease. ‘GeneType for Colorectal Cancer’ incorporates the most impactful risk factors in order to define an individual’s risk of developing colorectal cancer, which makes these patients potential candidates forso the BREVAGenplus test.  Several U.S. States have enacted legislation, which mandateshealthcare provider can make screening and preventative care recommendations that breast density be documented on mammogram reports, and encourages physiciansare tailored to discuss risk profiles and risk reduction strategies with these patients. Recent scientific evidence indicates that BREVAGenplus may help to properly identifytheir patient’s personalized risk.

Colorectal cancer is the high risk women in this category. It is expected that more U.S. jurisdictions will adopt similar legislationthird most commonly diagnosed cancer in the coming years, increasing awarenessU.S., yet 1 in 3 adults are not receiving the appropriate colorectal cancer screening for their age. In addition, rates of colorectal cancer among 20-49-year olds is steadily increasing.

Identifying patients who are most at risk for colorectal cancer can lead to enhanced screening protocols and better outcomes. Most individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer do not have a significant family history of the correlation between dense breastdisease. ‘GeneType for Colorectal Cancer’ evaluates the genometric risk of developing colorectal cancer for men and breastwomen over age 30 who do not have a known pathogenic gene variant.

In sporadic colorectal cancer, no single gene mutation is causal of disease. Rather, common DNA variations or SNPs, each contribute a small but measurable risk amongst healthcare providers, patients and health insurance payers.of developing disease. ‘GeneType for Colorectal Cancer’ analyses a patient’s DNA for more than 40 SNPs that have been clinically validated in their association with colorectal cancer. By combining the effects of all of these SNPs into a single polygenic risk score (PRS), ‘GeneType for Colorectal Cancer’ will provide a superior risk stratification over standard risk assessments that incorporate only clinical factors.

 

‘GeneType for Colorectal Cancer’ is clinically validated for men and women of 30 years of age or older and for individuals of Caucasian descent. The Company intend to provide updates as it continuously improves its tests and add fully validated models for additional ethnicities.

Government Regulations

CLIA AND FDA Regulations

In April 2011, the Company announced that it had gainedobtained certification of its Australian laboratory under the U.S. Clinical Laboratories Improvements Amendments of 1988 (“CLIA”), as regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid in Baltimore, Maryland. This certification which enables the Company to accept and test samples from U.S. residents, and was the culmination of preparations required

for the U.S. launch of the Company’s BREVAGen™ test which occurred in June 2011.  Phenogen Sciences has since established an office in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

In August 2012, the Company announced that it had received European CE Mark approval for BREVAGen™, which will allow BREVAGen™ to be sold in the EU and other countries that recognize the CE Mark.

During the first half of the 2013 financial year, the Company announced that it had received licensure to sell BREVAGen™ into the states of California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Florida, bringing the total number of U.S. states in which the BREVAGen™ test can be sold to 49 of the 50 U.S. states.  In July 2013, the Company was inspected by a representative of the New York State Department of Health, Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (“CLEP”). The Company’s laboratory received an inspection result with no deficiencies reported and, on August 30, 2013, the Company announced that it had received its Clinical Laboratory Permit (CLEP) from the New York State Department of Health. This permit, which allows the Company to offer the BREVAGen™ testits risk assessment tests to residents of New York State, completed the final out-of-state licensure allowing the Company to provide testing services to all 50 U.S. states.

 

From its headquarters in Melbourne, Victoria, the Company’s laboratory holds a number of accreditations including:

 

·                 The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) license required for all laboratories offering testing the U.S.;

·                 The Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (CLEP) license, an additional certification required to offer tests in New York State;

·                 A Medical Device Establishment License (MDEL) required for Canada;

·                 The BREVAGenplus® test is CE marked for sale in Europe;

The CLIA license required for all laboratories offering testing the U.S.;
The CLEP license, an additional certification required to offer tests in New York State; and
A Medical Device Establishment License (MDEL) required for Canada.

 

Physicians who order clinical tests for their patients representhave historically represented the primary sourcessource of ourits testing volume. Fees invoiced to patients and third parties are based on ourits fee schedule, which may be subject to limitations imposed by third-party payers. The clinical laboratory industry is highly regulated and subject to significant and changing Federal and state laws and regulations. These laws and regulations affect key aspects of our

Item 4. Information on the Company (cont.)

The Company’s business, including licensure and operations, billing and payment for laboratory services, sales and marketing interactions with ordering physicians, security and confidentiality of health information, and environmental and occupational safety. Oversight by government officials includes regular inspections and audits. WeThe Company seek to and believe that we do conduct ourit conducts business in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

 

The United States Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, or CLIA, extends Federal licensing requirements to all clinical laboratories (regardless of the location, size or type of laboratory), including those operated by physicians in their offices, based on the complexity of the tests they perform. CLIA also establishes a stringent proficiency testing program for laboratories and includes substantial sanctions, such as suspension, revocation or limitation of a laboratory’s CLIA certificate (which is necessary to conduct business), and significant fines and/or criminal penalties.

 

CLIA, and its implementing regulations, includes quality standards (establishing Federal quality standards for all clinical laboratories); application and user fee requirements; and enforcement procedures.  The quality standard regulations establish varying levels of regulatory scrutiny depending upon the complexity of testing performed. The tests on samples provided through ourthe Company’s products are processed at ourits laboratory in Melbourne, Australia. OurThe Company’s laboratory completed its first CLIA inspection under CLIA guidelines and received its certificate of compliance effective November 17, 2011. A re-certification from CMS i.e. paper survey, was performed in November 2013 and another on-site re-certification followed up in February 2016. A further re-certification via a paper survey is scheduled to bePaper surveys were conducted by CMS in November 2017.2017 and November 2019. Furthermore, ourthe Company’s laboratory completed its first CLEP inspection under the NYS DOH CLEP guidelines and received its certificate of compliance effective August 30, 2013. Since the initial survey, the laboratory has been successful in submitting documents via the NYS eCLEP Health Commerce System for each subsequent year to date. Although no firm date has been provided, the laboratory is expecting an on-site visit in the near future.

 

We believe theThe Company believes that it is in compliance with all applicable federal and state laboratory requirements. Under CLIA, the company remainsCompany remain subject to state and local laboratory regulations. CLIA provides that a state may adopt laboratory regulations that are more stringent than those under federal law, and some states require additional personnel qualifications, quality control, record maintenance and other requirements.

 

BREVAGenFollowing a successful Q3 CLIA audit, the Company renewed its status as a fully NATA and BREVAGenplus are laboratory developed tests, or LDTs.  The federalCLIA –accredited laboratory. It places the Company in a unique position to service both the Australian and US markets subject to regulatory approvals.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has consistently claimed that it has the authority to regulate laboratory-developed tests (“LDTs”) that are developed, validated and performed only by a CLIA certified laboratory, it has historically exercised enforcement discretion in not otherwise regulating most LDTs and has not required laboratories that furnish LDTs to comply with the agency’s requirements for medical devices (e.g., establishment registration, device listing, quality systems regulations, premarket clearance or premarket approval, and post-market controls). More recently, the FDA has indicated that it will apply a risk-based approach to determine the regulatory responsibility over, among other areas, instruments, test kits, reagentspathway for all in-vitro diagnostics, which includes LDTs, as it does with all medical devices. Accordingly, the regulatory pathway for the Company’s LDTs will depend on the level of risk to patients, based on the intended use of the LDT and the controls necessary to provide a reasonable assurance of the LDTs safety and effectiveness. The two primary types of marketing pathways for medical devices are clearance of a premarket notification under Section 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or 510(k), and approval of a premarket approval application, or PMA.

HIPAA and other privacy laws

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), established comprehensive federal standards for the privacy and security of health information. The HIPAA standards apply to three types of organizations: health plans, healthcare clearing houses, and healthcare providers that conduct certain healthcare transactions electronically (“Covered Entities”). Title II of HIPAA, the Administrative Simplification Act, contains provisions that address the privacy of health data, the security of health data, the standardization of identifying numbers used in the healthcare system and the standardization of certain healthcare transactions. The privacy regulations protect medical devices usedrecords and other protected health information by limiting their use and release, giving patients the right to access their medical records and limiting most disclosures of health information to the minimum amount necessary to accomplish an intended purpose. The HIPAA security standards require the adoption of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards and the adoption of written security policies and procedures.

On February 17, 2009, Congress enacted Subtitle D of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. HITECH expanded and strengthened HIPAA, created new targets for enforcement, imposed new penalties for noncompliance and established new breach notification requirements for Covered Entities. Regulations implementing major provisions of HITECH were finalized on January 25, 2013 through publication of the HIPAA Omnibus Rule (the “Omnibus Rule”).

Item 4. Information on the Company (cont.)

Under HITECH’s breach notification requirements, Covered Entities must report breaches of protected health information that has not been encrypted or otherwise secured in accordance with guidance from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the “Secretary”). Required breach notices must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable, but no later than 60 days following discovery of the breach. Reports must be made to affected individuals and to the Secretary and, in some cases depending on the size of the breach; they must be reported through local and national media. Breach reports can lead to investigation, enforcement and civil litigation, including class action lawsuits.

In addition to the federal privacy and security regulations, there are a number of state laws regarding the privacy and security of health information and personal data that are applicable to clinical laboratorieslaboratories. Many states have also implemented genetic testing and privacy laws imposing specific patient consent requirements and protecting test results by strictly limiting the disclosure of those results. State requirements are particularly stringent regarding predictive genetic tests, due to perform diagnostic testing.  CLIA-certified laboratories, suchthe risk of genetic discrimination against healthy patients identified through testing as ours, frequentlybeing at a high risk for disease. The Company believes that it has taken the steps required to comply with health information privacy and security statutes and regulations, including genetic testing and genetic information privacy laws in all jurisdictions, both state and federal. However, these laws constantly change, and the Company may not be able to maintain compliance in all jurisdictions where it does business. Failure to maintain compliance, or changes in state or federal laws regarding privacy or security could result in civil and/or criminal penalties, significant reputational damage and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

Environmental and Safety Laws and Regulations

The Company is subject to laws and regulations related to the protection of the environment, the health and safety of employees and the handling, transportation and disposal of medical specimens, infectious and hazardous waste and radioactive materials. For example, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has established extensive requirements relating specifically to workplace safety for healthcare employers in the U.S. This includes requirements to develop internal testing proceduresand implement multi- faceted programs to provide diagnostic resultsprotect workers from exposure to customers. These testsblood-borne pathogens, including preventing or minimizing any exposure through needle stick injuries. For purposes of transportation, some biological materials and laboratory supplies are referred toclassified as laboratory developed tests, or LDTs.  LDT’shazardous materials and are subject to CMS

oversight through its enforcementregulation by one or more of CLIA.the following agencies: the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Public Health Service, the U.S. Postal Service and the International Air Transport Association. The FDA has also claimed regulatory authority over all LDTs, but indicates that it has exercised enforcement discretionCompany generally use third- party vendors to dispose of regulated medical waste, hazardous waste and radioactive materials and contractually require them to comply with regard to most LDTs offered by high complexity CLIA-certified laboratories,applicable laws and has not subjected these tests to the panoply of FDA rules and regulations governing medical devices.  However, the FDA has stated that it has been considering changes in the way it believes that laboratories ought to be allowed to offer these LDTs, and during 2010 publicly announced that it would be exercising regulatory authority over LDTS, using a risk-based approach that will direct more resources to tests with the highest risk of injury.  In September 2014, the FDA announced its framework and timetable for implementing this guidance.

Test samples received since launchregulations.

 

Since launchingThe Company’s operations are also subject to environmental regulations under Australian State legislation. In particular, the Company is subject to the requirements of the Environment Protection Act 1993. A license has been obtained under this Act to produce listed waste.

Transparency Laws and Regulations

A federal law known as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (the “Sunshine Act”) requires medical device manufacturers to track and report to the federal government certain payments and other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals and ownership or investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. There are also state “sunshine” laws that require manufacturers to provide reports to state governments on pricing and marketing information. Several states have enacted legislation requiring medical device manufacturers to, among other things, establish marketing compliance programs, file periodic reports with the state, make periodic public disclosures on sales and marketing activities, and such laws may also prohibit or limit certain other sales and marketing practices. These laws may adversely affect our sales, marketing, and other activities by imposing administrative and compliance burdens on us. If the Company fail to track and report as required by these laws or to otherwise comply with these laws, it could be subject to the penalty provisions of the pertinent state and federal authorities.

Product Distribution

Despite significant resource allocation and efforts by a dedicated sales team, sales of BREVAGenplus were insufficient to defray the costs of the sales team. By late 2017, management decided that its BREVAGen testsales strategy was not working and disbanded much of the sales infrastructure in the U.S. marketand transitioned to an ecommerce-based solution that allowed consumers to initiate testing online. Management then designed a “pivot plan” in July 2011, followed byan effort to reposition the Company, refine and improve products and reload with a newly developed approach to market.U.S. release of BREVAGenplus, in October 2014,

Item 4. Information on the number of test samples received up to balance date June 30 2017, was 10,637 tests.Company (cont.)

 

During the financial year ended June 30, 2012, the Company generated the first sales of its BREVAGen™ test.  Whilst not material to the overall result, in accordance with revenue recognition principles, due to the relatively limited numbers of tests sold in that first year of launch, the income generated from these sales was recorded on a cash basis. Effective January 1, 2013, significant changes in the US reimbursement system have impacted (positively)With COVID-19 social distancing impacting on the amountsCompany’s ability to fully engage with physicians, the Company has since received for the BREVAGen testsbrought forward its plans to introduce a consumer-initiated testing (CIT) platform. This sales pipeline deviates from a traditional sales approach that targets clinicians. Instead it performs. As of June 2014, the Company had enough historical dataallows patients to use to enable it to determinerequest a reliable estimatetest directly, with clinician oversight of the amounttesting process through an independent provider network and telemedicine. The Company has started negotiations with its preferred independent provider network which will oversee patient ordering of revenue expectedthe CIT pipeline. The Company has entered into binding agreements and planned to be received. Accordinglylaunch its CIT platforms in the Group recognizes the revenue on the BREVAGen test on an accruals basis.third calendar quarter of 2020.

 

Further expansionThe Company presented its latest technology and world-leading tests at the 2020 JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in January. The presentation coincided with the successful launch of the Company’s credentialing programnew tests and the introduction of the Company’s new management to the U.S. market.

 

Credentialing with Preferred Provider Organization (“PPOs”) Networks allows for expedited claim adjudication as “in-network”.  A PPOThe Company is a managed care organization of medical doctors, hospitals and other health care providers which has covenanted with insurers or third-party administrators to provide health care, at reduced rates, to the clientsfinalizing verification of the respective insurer or administrator.  Credentialing is a process whereby provider organizations such as physicians, care facilitiesdiabetes test in its Australian laboratory. The Company has completed its marketing collateral, and ancillary providers (including testing service providers such as Phenogen Sciences) contract directly with the PPO.  Contracts with PPOs are fundamentalplan to having claims for the BREVAGen™ test adjudicated as “in-network”.launch once more normal conditions return post COVID-19.

 

Credentialing contracts have been executed between the CompanyReimbursement and InterWest Health, FedMed Inc., MultiPlan Network, Three Rivers Provider Network, Prime Health Services, National Preferred Provider Network / PlanCare America / Ohio Preferred Provider Network LLC (NPPN / OPPN), Galaxy Health Network and Fortified Provider Network.Clinical Studies

 

Historically, the positive impact of this activity was reflected in the fact that the average reimbursement received in respect of claims that were adjudicated as “in-network” was significantly higher than the amounts received in respect of claims that were adjudicated as “out-of-network”, with the time taken to collect the funds also being materially shorter.

Ongoing challenges experienced with the traditional reimbursement system resulted in the Company transitioning to a patient self-pay program on April 1, 2017 (see “Reimbursement” below). This change currently eliminates the need for credentialing and the role of the PPO’s for new test samples received subsequent to this date.

Reimbursement

Up until the end of the 2012 calendar year, insurance claims for BREVAGen were submitted using the so-called “code stack” of CPT methodology codes.  Reimbursement under this regime was positive, with a low percentage of denials and appeals.  However, effective January, 1 2013, the AMA removed the code stack claim process, requiring tests without a specific CPT code to be claimed via an “Unlisted or Miscellaneous Code”.

As a result of the above changes the Company upPrior to April 1, 2017, used a miscellaneous code when submitting claims for reimbursement from insurers. As part of this transition, the list price for the BREVAGen test was increased to enable the Company to receive payment for aspects of the test that were not previously available under the code stack. Importantly, notwithstanding this, the Company did not seek to increase the maximum out-of-pocket amount that a given patient is required to pay for a BREVAGenplus test under its “Patient Protection Program.”

Though the Company’s reimbursement per test (including write-offs and denials for non-coverage) has increased by more than 30%, the use of a miscellaneous code requires more administration and time by the Insurance Company to adjudicate and process the claim, thus increasing the time taken to receive reimbursement.

These ongoing reimbursement challenges through the use of a miscellaneous CPT code, as well as overall pressurepayment model relied on the U.S. health care market to lower cost and maximize efficiency were major factors in the Company’s decision to transition from a traditional reimbursement system through insurance providersby Preferred Provider Organizations (“PPOs”) and other third-party payers, which required credentialing its products with those payers. With effect from April 1, 2017, the Company transitioned to a direct patient self-pay program from April 1, 2017.program. Converting to a direct pay relationship with patients iswas aimed at providing economic and process certainty to the transaction for the healthcare provider and the patient. The change is expected to eliminate ongoingeliminated reimbursement issues being experienced, such asfrom PPO and other third-party payors, including low levels of reimbursement, prolonged payment time, patient confusion around eligibility and financial responsibility and poor coverage.

 

Clinical utility studies and peer-review publications to drive reimbursement outcome

With effect from April 1, 2017, the Company transitioned from a traditional reimbursement system through insurance providers, to a direct patient self-pay program.  This shift also has implications forreduced the series ofCompany’s reliance on clinical utility studies the first two of three whichthat had commenced in the fourth quarter of 2016, that werebeen designed as a means to achieve reimbursement coverage through the private insurers. With the change in the pricing model, that requirement has become redundant.

WeThe Company recognize however that scientific papers are an essential marketing tool, and that scientific and clinical data are key drivers to help strengthen our commercial position. We intendThe Company intends to explore opportunities to engage in further research collaborations to support clinical utility.

Physicians and the major breast health centrescenters seek multiple points of confirmation that the medical device works as intended and leads to a meaningful improvement in women’s health. Therefore, the more papers that are published on BREVAGenplus,regarding the Company’s genetic tests, profiling itsproduct performance characteristics including clinical validity and utility, the more likely physicians will be to use the testtests.

 

The Company had previously conducted multiple scientific studies to develop and validate the first generation BREVAGen test as well asand also created two health economic models to demonstrate potential cost savings and health benefits associated with the BREVAGen test. Importantly, due to the nature of the technology and the specific improvements incorporated in BREVAGenplus, the research undertaken and published based on the original version of the Company’s test remains applicable to theits new and improved BREVAGenplus test.

Following is a list of peer-reviewed publications on the BREVAGen test, to date:

1)             “Cost-effectiveness of a Genetic TestGeneType for Breast Cancer Risk”. and GeneType for Colorectal Cancer Prevention Research. 2013 Dec; 6(12):1328-36.tests.

 

2)             “Economic Evaluation of Using a Genetic Test to Direct Breast Cancer Chemoprevention in White Women with a Previous Breast Biopsy”. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy. 2014 Apr; 12(2):203-17.

3)             “Using SNP genotypes to improve the discrimination of a simple breast cancer risk prediction model”. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013 Jun; 139(3):887-96.

4)             “Assessment of clinical validity of a breast cancer risk model combining genetic and clinical information”. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010 Nov 3; 102(21):1618-27.

5)“SNP’s and Breast cancer risk prediction for African-American and Hispanic women.” Breast Cancer Research & Treatment. 2015 Dec; 4(3): 583-89.

6)             “Breast cancer risk prediction based on clinical models and 77 independent risk-associated SNPs in women aged under 50 years: Australian Breast Cancer Family Registry” Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. 2016 Feb; 25(2): 359-65.

7)             “Prediction of breast cancer risk based on profiling with common genetic variants”. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015; 107(5):doi:10.1093/jnci/djv036. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djv036.

And supporting presentations:

1)             Jacoby E, DiCicco, Allman R. (2013). Impact of genomics on the assessment and management of breast cancer risk in a women’s healthcare clinic. Proceedings of the National Consortium of Breast Centers March 2013.

2)             Fohlse HJ, Dinh TA, Allman R. (2013). Genetic testing for breast cancer risk estimation — A cost-effectiveness analysis. Presented at The California Pacific Medical Centre Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Workshop June 2013.

3)             Fohlse HJ, Dinh TA, Allman R. (2013). Genetic testing for breast cancer risk estimation — A cost-effectiveness analysis. Presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium December 2013.

4)             Allman R, Dite GS, Hopper JL.  (2015).  Should women with a projected 5-year risk of developing breast cancer of 1.4% or higher be offered pharmacologic risk reduction? World Congress on Controversies in Breast Cancer: 22-24 October 2015.

5)             Dite GS, Allman R, Hopper JL (2014).  Value of adding Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism panel markers to phenotypic algorithms of Breast Cancer risk.  Presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium December 2014.

Although there is strong scientific data behind BREVAGenplus, there is always a need for further clinical data to show clinical efficacy and utility of the product.  As such, in June 2017, we have engaged in a research collaboration with The Ohio State University which is conducting a clinical trial surrounding the efficacy of polygenic risk in patient management of at-risk women.  Our medical affairs team continues to engage with other influential medical centres across the U.S. in order to facilitate further research collaborations that will continue to support the utility of polygenic risk in clinical practice.

Research & Development Projects

 

During the year ended June 30, 2017, Genetic Technologies2020, the Company supported the following research and development programs, details of which have beenare provided below;below:

 

·                  BREVAGenplus

·                  Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Test

·                  Research collaboration with The Ohio State University

Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Test (GeneType for Breast Cancer)
Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Test (GeneType for Colorectal Cancer)
Research collaboration with Translational Genomics Research Institute (“TGen”)
Research Agreement executed with Memorial Sloan Kettering New York Cambridge University
Research collaboration with The Ohio State University
Expanded range of other cancer and disease target predictive risk assessment tests

 

In previous years, other projects, which have since been terminated or otherwise commercialized, have also been supported by the Company. The Company is constantly seeking new opportunities.opportunities and plans to focus more on research and development activities in the future. In addition, the Company plans on having its science and management team engage with the world’s leading scientific experts working on predictive genetic testing and its role within world health systems. Historically, some projects have arisen from new inventions made by the Company while some have been made by others who have approached the Company seeking collaboration and support for their activities.

By its very nature, research is unpredictable and involves a considerable element of risk.  Such risks may relate to scientific concepts,Item 4. Information on the implementation of the science, the protection of any inventions made and the success or otherwise in persuading others to respect the intellectual property acquired or created by the Company.  Specifically, patents filed may not issue or may later be challenged by others.  Even if patents issue, the methods described may, with time, be superseded by alternative methods which may prove to be commercially more attractive.  Even if patents issue and the methods developed are successfully reduced to practice and can be shown to be commercially relevant, there is still no assurance that other parties will respect the patents or will take licenses to use the intellectual property.  In such circumstances, it is possible that legal action will be necessary to enforce the Company’s rights.  Such action, in turn, raises a new series of risks including potentially significant legal costs and uncertain outcomes.Company (cont.)

 

To the extent that delays are encountered in concluding the research projects, additional costs may be incurred.  Further, the projected revenues from the projects may also be deferred, potentially impacting on the Company’s liquidity.  In such cases, the Company may seek to partner with outside parties, who will contribute to the costs of research in return for an interest in the project, or the Company may seek to raise additional working capital from the Market.  In a worst case scenario, the projects may well be closed down with no valuable intellectual property having been created for the Company.

BREVAGenplus® Project

In June 2011, the Company launched the first iteration of the breast cancer risk assessment test; BREVAGen™. In October 2014, Genetic Technologies released its next-generation breast cancer risk assessment test, BREVAGenplus. This new version of the test incorporates a 10-fold expanded panel of genetic markers (SNPs), known to be associatedCollaboration with the developmentUniversity of sporadic breast cancer, providing an increase in predictive power relative to its first-generation predecessor test. In addition, the new test has been studied in a broader population of women including, African American and Hispanic women. This increases the applicable market beyond the Caucasian only application of the first generation test, and simplifies the marketing process in medical clinics and breast health centres in the U.S. The expanded panel of SNPs incorporated into BREVAGenplus were identified from multiple large-scale genome-wide association studies and subsequently tested in case-control studies utilising specific Caucasian, African American and Hispanic patient samples.

Melbourne

Further modifications to BREVAGenplus were implemented in December 2016. Changes included a simplification of the clinical risk questionnaire, utilized in BREVAGenplus, from the seven questions of the Gail Model to just two questions: “Age” and “Any First Degree Relatives.”  Additionally, test results are now reported as a 5-year Absolute Risk of Developing Breast Cancer.  This approach is modelled on that of Mavaddat et al (2015) 107(5): djv036 and provides multiple product benefits.  It simplifies the data-input requirement by the physician, aligns the product more firmly with U.S. clinical guidelines, in particular, the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation statement on chemoprevention of breast cancer, and automatically strengthens the validation data by tying the test to a multinational study of approximately 80,000 women

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) risk assessment test Project

On November 29, 2016, Genetic Technologiesthe Company announced the signing of an exclusive worldwide license agreement with The University of Melbourne for the development and commercialization of a novel colorectal cancer (CRC) risk assessment test.

The core technology behind this test was developed by a research team at the University’s Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, with results from preliminary modelling studies first published online in Future Oncology on 1 February 2016, in a Paper entitled “Quantifying the utility of single nucleotide polymorphisms to guide colorectal cancer screening,” 2016 Feb: 12(4), 503-13. This simulated case-control study of 1 million patients indicated that a panel of 45 known susceptibility SNPs can stratify the population into clinically useful CRC risk categories. In practice, the technology could be used to identify people at high risk for CRC who should be subjected to intensive screening, ultimately reducing the risk of occurrence and death from the disease. Those identified as low risk of CRC can be spared expensive and invasive screening, thereby preventing adverse events and unjustified expenses.

 

A scientific validation study supporting this work has been completed, and a report of the research program progress has been delivered to the Company. Whilst the terms of the Agreement are confidential, these events represent an important first milestone in the development of a new test as the Company seeks to diversify its product pipeline and become a key player in the SNP-based cancer risk assessment landscape.

 

TGen Collaboration

In September 2019, the Company signed a three-year collaboration agreement with Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). The fundamental technologyagreement includes cooperation in the design feasibility analysis of clinical research studies. The analysis is similardesigned to the BREVAGenplus test and is expected to fit synergistically intosupport the Company’s existingpolygenic risk tests, by specifically identifying clinical applications or workflows, which would directly benefit by the addition of a polygenic risk test. For example, some of the Company’s patients may be ineligible for routine screening based on their age, but if identified as having an elevated risk by the Company’s polygenic tests, they may become eligible for such screening. The studies are designed to identify areas of such need to enable successful implementation of the Company’s polygenic tests in the clinical arena. TGen is an Arizona-based world leading non-profit biomedical research institute dedicated to conducting ground-breaking genetic research. TGen is affiliated with Duarte, a world-renowned independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening.

The collaboration with TGen will focus on a clinical utility as the first stage, working with TGen’s extensive network of cancer center clinicians. The wide-ranging collaboration will cover distribution channels, reimbursement strategy, further research, and potential for the establishment of a new laboratory facility. The Company and TGen plan to develop a commercialization strategy and infrastructure for a suite of polygenic risk tests for the U.S. market, and processes.set up the necessary fund-raising diseases.

 

Research Collaboration Memorial Sloan Kettering New York Cambridge University

In early 2019, the Company’s U.S. subsidiary entered into a Research Agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York and the University of Cambridge. This collaborative research study is to be led by Mark Robson, MD, Chief of the Breast Medicine Service at Sloan Kettering. The study is intended to assess whether the provision of individual risk information informed by a polygenic risk score reduces decisional conflict among BRCA mutation carriers considering preventive surgery.

The Company believes this collaboration will benefit its engagement and collaboration with high profile cancer genetics researchers who are at the forefront of risk assessment research, and by providing us with data that may potentially be beneficial in developing additional risk assessment products.

Research Collaboration with The Ohio State University

On June 15, 2017 the Company executed a Clinical Study Agreement with The Ohio State University, Technology Commercialization Office and Division of Human Genetics. This is an “investigator-initiated” study in which Genetic Technologiesthe Company was approached to be the collaborating partner, reflecting the growing awareness of the Company’s expertise in SNP-based risk assessment.

Item 4. Information on the Company (cont.)

 

The terms and conditions ofUnder this Agreement, the Agreement are confidential; however Genetic TechnologiesCompany will supply novel SNP-based genotyping for a clinical research study, through its CLIA laboratory facility, on a fee for service basis. The Company will be responsible for the development and validation of the new assay, although the fundamental technology is similar to the BREVAGenplustest and will fit synergistically into the Company’s existing laboratory infrastructure and processes. Importantly, if the first phase of the study is successful, several other major genetics centrescenters in the U.S. have expressed an interest in joining the study.

 

This collaborative study provides two tangible benefits for the Company:

 

(i)       engagement and collaboration with high profile cancer genetics researchers in the U.S. who are at the forefront of risk assessment research; and

 

(ii)       the resulting data can be used to inform the design of future pipeline products

 

Historical Research ProjectsWhilst sample collection by the University has been slower than expected during the current year, the Company remains committed to delivering a high standard of service as envisaged under the terms of the agreement.

 

FollowingCollaboration with Shivom

The Company entered into an agreement with Shivom in March 2018. Shivom is a significant corporate restructure undertaken duringbiotechnology data and analysis company that optimizes the 2015 fiscal year, a strategic decision was madeway DNA is shared, secured and analyzed. Under the agreement, Shivom would provide genetic population data for the development of an Indian market polygenic predictive diabetes test to focusbe developed by the Company, onas well as future genetic tests it develops, and its CLIA laboratory facilities would be used develop a regulatory approval strategy for the US diagnostics market and all historical research projects were ceased.distribution of completed products. To date, the parties have not commenced development activities under this agreement.

 

Competition

 

The medical diagnostics and biotechnology industries isare subject to intense competition. As more information regarding cancer genomics and personalized medicine becomes available to the public, we anticipatethe Company anticipates that more products aimed at identifying cancer risk will be developed and that these products may compete with ours.its products. However, the use of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), for disease risk prediction is still a relatively new field of medicine.

 

Until recently, there have been no active direct competitors marketing an assay similar to that of BREVAGENplusthe Company’s breast cancer risk assessment products in the sporadic breast cancer risk assessment space. Effective August 31, 2017,However, in March 2019, Genomics PLC announced that it was developing polygenic risk tests for several common diseases including breast cancer. In addition, Myriad Genetic Laboratories Inc. announced in December 2017 that it will market a new breast cancer risk-prediction tool, which accordingthe Company believes will compete with its GeneType for Breast Cancer test. Similarly, Ambry Genetics Corporation sells a precision risk tool that provides lifetime breast cancer risk information. Other organizations such as 23andMe and Color Genomics in the U.S. have also over the past few years developed SNP based risk tests that whilst not currently direct competitors to our early understanding will be a direct competitor for BREVAGENplus. It is however, at the date of this report, too early to determine the specific nature of the test when compared to BREVAGENCompany’s productsplus., are attracting significant consumer interest.

In recent years, a number of other organizations, including deCODE (Iceland), 23andMe, Intergenetics, and Navigenics (subsequently acquired by Life Technologies — now ThermoFisher) have attempted to commercialize SNP-based genetic tests, to both physicians and consumers, to assess sporadic breast cancer risk in relevant patient populations. But either due to a lack of adequate and compelling scientific validation, and/or sufficient commercial impetus and capability, these efforts have led to lackluster market adoption, resulting in either the dissolution of these businesses or a marked change in their strategy and ultimate competitive posture to genuinely challenge the efforts of the Company to commercialize and grow its BREVAGENplus franchise.strategy. New entrants that wethe Company are aware of that are in early stages of product development include Counsyl Inc. and Invitae Corporation in the U.S.

 

Nonetheless, thereThere are also a number of academic centers and affiliated research and development bodies, in the U.SU.S. and in Europe, that are reportedly exploring the validity and clinical viability of SNP-based commercial tests in the clinical setting, but it is unclear to what extent these entities currently represent a direct or indirect potential competitive liability to the Company. A number of established, mature laboratory services companies, such as Ambry Genetics, and Laboratory Corporation of America, among others, have the demonstrable product development, marketing skill and resources to enter into this market for sporadic breast cancer risk assessment. Many of these larger potential competitors have already established name and brand recognition and more extensive collaborative relationships, but again, it is unclear to what extent these potential competitive threats could manifest in the near-to-long term.

TheItem 4. Information on the Company continues to invest in proprietary, differentiating features of its BREVAGENplus test offering to diminish any prospective efforts of a potential competitor, be they an established commercial laboratory provider, a research/academic test development or laboratory services entity.  Therefore, any imminent bona fide risk that any one of these entities represents to the continued success and growth of the Company’s BREVAGENplus commercialization efforts and market-leading position in this area is not clear.(cont.)

 

The Company’s competitive position in the genetic testing area is based upon, amongst other things, ourits ability to:

 

·             maintain first to market advantage;

continue to strengthen and maintain scientific credibility through the process of obtaining scientific validation through clinical trials supported by peer-reviewed publication in medical journals;

 

·             continue to strengthen and maintain scientific credibility through the process of obtaining scientific validation and undertaken further clinical trials supported by Peer-reviewed publication in medical journals;

create and maintain scientifically advanced technology and offer proprietary products and services;

 

·             create and maintain scientifically-advanced technology and offer proprietary products and services

continue to strengthen and improve the messaging regarding the importance and value that the Company’s cancer risk assessment tests provides to patients and physicians;

 

·             continue to strengthen and improve the messaging and the importance and value of the breast cancer information that BREVAGenplus provides to Physicians

diversify the Company’s product offerings in disease types other than breast and colorectal cancer;

 

·             attract and retain qualified personnel;

obtain and maintain patent or other protection for the Company’s products and services;

 

·             obtain patent or other protection for our products and services;

obtain and maintain required government approvals and other accreditations on a timely basis; and

 

·             obtain required government approvals and other accreditations on a timely basis; and

·             successfully market our products and services.

successfully market the Company’s products and services.

 

If we arethe Company is not successful in meeting these goals, ourits business could be adversely affected. Similarly, ourthe Company’s competitors may succeed in developing technologies, products or services that are more effective than any that we areit is developing or that would render ourthe Company’s technology and services obsolete, noncompetitive or uneconomical.

Licensing

Non-Coding Assertion Program

Our out-licensing business principally covers two families of “non-coding DNA” patents.  As we are the sole owners of these patents there is, by definition, no direct competition in this activity.  However, to some degree, there are alternate technologies in the market place which can be used to perform genetic analysis and genomic mapping and so in this regard we do face indirect competition and a potential risk of technological obsolescence.  A risk of patent invalidation always exists with the possibility of the discovery of previously unknown prior art, as well as the risk of patent re-examination.  Apart from these risks, the aging and expiry of our non-coding family of patents remains, and thus our ability to generate future license revenues from these particular patents may be

restricted.  It is anticipated that, over time however, licensing of additional patents filed byItem 4. Information on the Company in other areas of genetics and our other research projects may replace revenues currently generated from the licensing of these non-coding patents.

During the year ended June 30, 2009, we successfully prevailed in legal proceedings with respect to a Nullity Action in the German Patent Court regarding the equivalent to U.S. Patent No. 5,612,179 (the “‘179 patent”(cont.).  We subsequently responded to questions raised by the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office (“USPTO”) in relation to a Request for Re-examination of seven of the thirty six claims contained in ‘179 patent and, on May 10, 2010, we announced that we had received formal notification from the USPTO that it had upheld, without amendment, all of the claims which formed the basis of the re-examination action of the Company’s core non-coding DNA patent.

 

On July 9, 2012, the Company announced that it had received formal notification from the USPTO that it had received and granted a request for a second ex parte re-examination of claims 1-18 and 26-32 of the ‘179 patent brought by Merial LLC of Duluth, Georgia (“Merial”).  Requesting re-examination is a common strategy employed by defendants in patent infringement proceedings and, as such, it is not unexpected from Merial who is currently a defendant in the action originally brought by the Company in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado for infringement of the ‘179 patent.  On March 15, 2013, the Company announced that the USPTO had issued an action reaffirming the validity of certain claims contained in the Company’s ‘179 patent.  In its formal notification to the Company, the USPTO stated that “claims 1-18 and 26-32 of the ‘179 patent are confirmed and claims 19-25 and 33-36 are not reexamined”.

On April 19, 2013, the Company advised that the USPTO had received a third request for an ex parte re-examination of the ‘179 patent, again from Merial, and that the request had been granted.  As was the case in all previous challenges, GTG actively defended this matter and had the patent upheld.  On September 30, 2013, the Company announced that it had received an Ex-Parte Re-examination Certificate once again confirming the patentability of claims 1-18 and 26-32 of the ‘179 patent.  However, the Company also announced that Merial filed yet another (its third) request with the USPTO for re-examination of the ‘179 patent. This request for re-examination was once again, defended by the Company and again upheld with all claims intact as announced on February 12, 2014.

As a further result of our assertion program in the US, three independent but similar motions to dismiss have been brought by defendants in our assertion program. In each case, motions to dismiss were filed arguing the patents were invalid because they covered natural phenomenon or laws of nature and thus not entitled to patent protection. Again the Company actively defended these actions and prevailed in two cases that had been heard as announced by the Company on March 12, 2014 and August 26, 2014.

On October 30, 2014, Judge Stark issued a Memorandum Opinion finding Claim 1 of the Company’s foundation ‘179 patent ineligible and granted that Motion to Dismiss. Legal Counsel has now prepared an appeal to the decision in the Federal Circuit.

On December 7, 2015, Genetic Technologies argued before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington DC that Claim 1 of the Company’s foundation ‘179 patent is patent eligible under the standards set forth in the Mayo/Alice line of Supreme Court cases, and that Judge Stark’s decision to grant motions to dismiss finding Claim 1 patent ineligible should be reversed.

On April 8, 2016, the Federal Circuit affirmed the District Court and found that Claim 1 of the Company’s ‘179 patent is patent-ineligible under 35 U.S.C. § 101.

On October 3, 2016, the Company was advised by its U.S. based attorney, Sheridan Ross, that the Supreme Court has declined to hear the Company’s appeal. The matter is now closed.

Environmental Regulations

The Company’s operations are subject to environmental regulations under Australian State legislation.  In particular, the Company is subject to the requirements of the Environment Protection Act 1993.  A license has been obtained under this Act to produce listed waste.

Item 4.C Organizational StructureCorporate Structure

 

The diagram below shows the Company’s corporate structure of the Genetic Technologies group as of the date of this Annual Report:Report. All of the Company’s subsidiaries in the chart below are wholly owned.

 

Genetic Technologies is the holding company of the Group and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, under the code GTG and, via its ADRs, on the NASDAQ Capital Market, under the ticker symbol GENE.

At June 30, 2017, the dormant subsidiary GeneType Ag was placed into members voluntary liquidation.

Item 4.DProperty, Plant and Equipment

 

As at date of this Report, the Company has executed two leases in respect of premises occupied by the Group.Company.

 

Fitzroy, Victoria

 

Genetic Technologies LimitedThe Company rents the offices and laboratory premises which are located at 60-66 Hanover Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia (an inner suburb of Melbourne) from Crude Pty. Ltd. The three yearthree-year lease is due to expire on August 31, 2018.2021. The anticipated total rental charge in respect of the year endingended June 30, 2018 is2020 was approximately $212,805.  Genetic Technologies Limited does not have an option to purchase the leased premises at the expiry of the lease period.A$221,282.

 

Item 4. Information on the Company (cont.)

Charlotte, North Carolina

 

Phenogen Sciences Inc., a wholly-ownedthe Company’s U.S. subsidiary, of Genetic Technologies Limited, rents office premises which are located at 9115 Harris Corners Parkway,1300 Baxter Street, Suite 320,157, Charlotte, North Carolina, USAU.S. from New Boston Harris CornersMidtown Area Partners LLC. ThisThe original lease will expireexpired on October 31, 2017. At the date of this report, the Company is in the process of renegotiatingIt was then followed by a further lease period..month to month lease. The anticipated total rental charge in respect ofexpense towards the premise for the year endingended June 30, 2018, without taking into account an2020 was A$24,548.

Subsequently, a lease agreement was signed on July 10, 2020 for a three-year term, commencing on August 1, 2020 and expiring July 31, 2023 . Total lease payable per annum are as yet unknown lease extension, is approximately USD 11,672.  Phenogen Sciences Inc. does not have an option to purchase the leased premises at the expiry of the lease period.follow:

US$ 16,280 for financial year ending June 30, 2021
US$ 18,248 for financial year ending June 30, 2022
US$ 18,795 for financial year ending June 30, 2023

 

Item 5.Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

 

You should read theThe following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with Item 3.A “Selected Financial Data” and ourthe Company’s financial statements, the notes to the financial statements and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. In addition to historical information, the following discussion and other parts of this Annual Report contain forward-looking statements that reflect ourthe Company’s plans, estimates, intentions, expectations and beliefs. OurThe Company’s actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. See the “Risk Factors” section of Item 3 and other forward-looking statements in this Annual Report for a discussion of some, but not all, factors that could cause or contribute to such differences.

 

Item 5.AOperating Results

 

Overview

 

Founded in 1989, Genetic Technologies is an established Australian-based molecular diagnostics company that offers predictive

genetic testing and risk assessment tools, with a current focus on women’s health. During the year ended June 30, 2015 the Company divested its interest in other genetic testing services, which up until then, together with licensing of non-coding technology, had provided the main source of income to fund operations, to concentrate on the principal activity of the provision of molecular risk assessment tests for cancer.

 

The operating result for the yearCompany’s revenues during its years ended June 30, 2017 is directly reflective of the Company’s concentrated focus on the expansion2020, 2019 and 2018 were generated principally by sales of its genetic testing business, with emphasis on the sale and distribution of the BREVAGenplus®plus breast cancer risk testassessment test. However, during 2017, management determined that sales of this product were insufficient to defray the costs of the sales team. By late 2017, management decided that its sales strategy was not working and disbanded much of the sales infrastructure in the U.S. and transitioned to an ecommerce-based sales solution. Management then designed a “pivot plan” in an effort to reposition the Company and refine and improve products and reload with a newly developed approach to market. To that end, the Company intends to introduce its new ‘GeneType for Colorectal Cancer’ and ‘GeneType for Breast Cancer’ genetic tests to healthcare providers through a global network of distribution partners.

With COVID-19 social distancing impacting on the Company’s ability to fully engage with physicians, the Company has brought forward its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, Phenogen Sciences Inc.plans to introduce a consumer-initiated testing (CIT) platform. This sales pipeline deviates from a traditional sales approach that targets clinicians. Instead it allows patients to request a test directly, with clinician oversight of the testing process through an independent provider network and telemedicine. The Company has started negotiations with its preferred independent provider network which will oversee patient ordering of the CIT pipeline. The Company has entered into binding agreements and will launch its CIT platforms in the third calendar quarter of 2020.

 

Since inception up to June 30, 2017, we have2020, the Company has incurred $117,848,074A$135,851,192 in accumulated losses. OurThe Company’s losses have resulted principally from costs incurred in research and development, general and administrative and sales and marketing costs associated with ourits operations. Further losses are anticipated as the Company continues to invest in new genetic testing product research and development, and explore optimal distribution methodologies to commercialize its product offering. Refer to the ConsolidatedFinancial Statements of Operationssection in Item 18.

 

During the 2017 financial year, Genetic Technologies Limited and its subsidiaries generated consolidated gross revenues from continuing operations, excluding other income, of approximately $0.5 million, a decrease from $0.8 million in 2016 and $ 2.0 million in 2015. The comparisons reflect the impact of the substantial restructuring changes that took place during 2015, as well as the slow growth rates being experienced in the market adoption of the BREVAGenplus breast cancer risk assessment test in the U.S.

Fiscal year

 

As an Australian company, ourthe Company’s fiscal, or financial, year ends on June 30 each year. We produceThe Company produces audited consolidated accounts at the end of June each year and provide reviewedfurnish half-yearly accounts for the periods ending on December 31 each year, both of which are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects (cont.)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In respect ofThe Company has adopted IFRS 16 Leases during the year ended June 30, 2017,2020 using the Group has assessed all new accounting standards mandatorymodified retrospective approach. The modified approach does not require restatement of comparative periods. Instead the cumulative impact of applying IFRS 16 is accounted for adoption duringas an adjustment to equity at the start of the current year, notingaccounting period in which it is first applied, known as the ‘date of initial application’.

IFRS 16 will result in almost all leases being recognized on the balance sheet, as the distinction between operating and finance leases is removed. Under the new standard, an asset (the right to use the leased item) and a financial liability to pay rentals are recognized. The only exceptions are short-term and low-value leases.

On adoption of IFRS 16, the Company recognized lease liabilities in relation to leases which had previously been classified as ‘operating leases’ under the principles of IAS 17 Leases. These liabilities were measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted using the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate as of July 1, 2019. The weighted average lessee’s incremental borrowing rate applied to the lease liabilities on July 1, 2019 was 5.37%.

The associated right-of use assets were measured at the amount equal to the lease liability, adjusted by the amount of any prepaid or accrued lease payments relating to that lease recognized in the balance sheet as at July 1, 2019. There were no new standards whichonerous lease contracts that would have a material effect onrequired an adjustment to the disclosure in these financial statements.  There has been no effect onright-of-use assets at the profit and loss or the financial positiondate of the Group.  Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for June 30, 2017 reporting periods.  The Group’s and the parent entity’s assessment of the impact of these new standards and interpretations is set out in Note 2(b) of the attached financial statements.initial application.

 

In applying IFRS 16 for the first time, the Company has used the following practical expedients permitted by the standard:

the use of a single discount rate to a portfolio of leases with reasonably similar characteristics.
the accounting for operating leases with a lease term of less than 12 months as short-term leases.

The Company has also elected not to reassess whether a contract is or contains a lease at the date of initial application. Instead, for contracts entered into before the transition date the Company relied on its assessment made applying IAS 17 and interpretation 4 determining whether an arrangement contains a Lease.

A$
Operating lease commitments disclosed as at June 30, 2019487,837
Discounted using the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate of at the date of initial application461,358
Lease liability recognized as at July 1, 2019461,358
Of which are:
Current lease liabilities209,887
Non-current lease liabilities251,471
Right of use of assets increased by446,645
Lease liabilities increased by461,358
The net impact on retained earnings on July 1, 2019 was a decrease of14,712

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The accounting policies which are applicable to the Group and the parent entityCompany are set out in Notes 2(c) to 2(y)2 of the attached financial statements.

 

Comparison of the year ended June 30, 20172020 to the year ended June 30, 20162019 Revenues from operations

 

Revenues from operations

The Group’s primary focus during 2017 was aimed at achieving market acceptance and physician adoption of the BREVAGenplus® breast cancer risk assessment test in the U.S. through its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Phenogen Sciences Inc. This strategy resulted in the implementation of several modifications to the BREVAGenplus®  test as well as the transition from a traditional reimbursement system through insurance providers to a direct patient self-pay pay program in an effort to simplify the BREVAGenplus® billing and collection policy. An enhanced medical affairs presence together with  a refined marketing message, with a focus on health care provider education have been key elements in the drive to achieve this market acceptance and adoption.

During the 20172020 financial year, Genetic Technologies Limited and its subsidiaries generatedthe Company’s consolidated gross revenues from continuing operations, excluding other revenue, of $518,506decreased by A$15,580 (61%) from A$25,444 to A$9,864 when compared to $824,586previous year. The decrease in revenues was due to sales for the GeneType for Breast Cancer and GeneType for Colorectal cancer which commenced in January 2020 being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has had an effect on the operations of the Company, including but not limited to impacting sales of the Company’s products through consumers’ inability to visit their practitioners and also by the difficulty its sales team is having in arranging face to face meetings with practitioners. The Company’s sales team has found it very difficult to reach practitioners to build on the sales momentum created prior to the pandemic, with the launch into the Australian market being halted after less than 60 days of operations thus, sales have effectively ceased for the short term.

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects (cont.)

Cost of sales

The Company’s cost of sales from continuing operations decreased by A$24,756 (9%) from A$276,267 in the precedingprevious financial year to A$251,511 in the current financial year. The overall declineBREVAGenplus direct materials utilized increased by A$26,521 (47%) from A$55,995 to A$82,516 because of $306,080 is as a resultthe increase in number of revenue free sample tests conducted along with the limited revenue generating tests during the year. Depreciation expense attributable to the laboratory testing equipment decreased by $12,992 (23%) whilst direct labor costs increased by A$3,989 because of a $191,661 reduction in previously accrued BREVAGenTM and BREVAGenplus revenues, driven by ongoing reduced test samples and collection rates, with the balance of $114,419continued streamlining of the differential directly attributablelaboratory team to match the increase in number of tests (revenue generating and non-revenue generating). There was a decrease in inventories written-off by A$42,274 to A$18,917 in the current financial year when compared to A$61,191 in the previous financial year. The Australian segment of the cost of sales contributed A$243,506 and whereas the US segment contributed A$8,005 of the total cost of sales in the current year. The Australian segment had incurred majority of the costs since the Company operates its testing activities through its own laboratory in Australia.

Selling and marketing expenses

Selling and marketing expenses increased by A$61,218 (11%) from A$576,077 to A$637,295 when compared to previous year. Major movements during the year related to personnel costs which increased by A$20,505 (6%) to A$375,832 in the current financial year from A$355,327 in the previous financial year as we still maintained the minimum sales activities with our customers. Additionally, other marketing costs increased to A$27,750 (100%) in the current financial year against nil in the prior year, in addition to the general insurance costs allocated to selling and marketing category of expenses which increased by A$22,291 (164%) to A$35,861 in the current financial year when compared to A$13,570 in the previous financial year. These costs increased due to the commencement of new products or kits in the financial year. There were other small expenses within the category during the financial period which had a net impact on the overall combined sales of the BREVAGenTM and BREVAGenplus® tests. Samples received for BREVAGenTM and BREVAGenplus® tests during 2017 were 895movement value when compared to 1,184prior year expense.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses (excluding net foreign currency losses) decreased by A$362,975 (9%) to A$3,467,223 during the financial year when compared to A$3,830,198 in the previous financial year. The decrease is mainly due to the Company’s conscious effort to reduce administration costs such as decrease in employee expenses which reduced by A$942,410 (76%) to A$300,339 in the current financial year when compared to A$1,242,749 in the previous financial year, decrease in stock compensation expense by A$341,393 (104%) to A$(14,441) in the current financial year when compared to A$228,626 in the previous financial year due to the net impact of reversal of performance rights held by prior directors and the usual expense of share based payment, increase in accounting costs by A$506,872 (565%) to A$596,510 in the current financial year when compared to A$89,638 in the previous financial year which is due to support provided by outsourced accounting teams for ad-hoc services and out of scope activities hired by the Company, increase in the legal fees by A$97,893 (27%) from A$356,750 to A$454,643 in the current year when compared to prior year and an increase in consulting fees by A$442,450 (329%) to A$577,058 in the current financial year when compared to A$134,608 in the previous financial year.

 

OverheadsLaboratory, research and development costs

Laboratory, research and development costs increased by A$116,816 (5%) from A$2,360,762 to A$2,477,578 when compared to previous year. Laboratory, research and development costs increased as the Company started to develop a polygenic risk score (PRS) test for COVID-19. The Company is also continuing research and development activities on the following genetic tests:

Cardiovascular disease
Type 2 diabetes
Prostate cancer
Melanoma

Finance costs

Finance costs decreased by $852,040A$5,208 (26%) from A$20,031 to A$14,823 when compared with 2016.to previous year. Finance costs incurred in 2020 and 2019 were primarily bank charges.

Non-operating income

Other income mainly consists of research and development tax incentive income received from Australian Taxation Office. Research and development tax incentive income has decreased by 12% from A$856,707 to A$750,000 when compared to previous year. The combined areasresearch tax credit is recognized on an accrual basis when realizable. The lower research and development tax credit is due to completion of selling/ marketing, administration, licensingthe development of GeneType for Breast Cancer and operations (excluding net foreign currency losses) totaled $8,053,462GeneType for Colorectal Cancer.

Other gains/losses

No impairment expense was recognized in the current year ended June 30, 2020 (2019: A$500,000).

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects (cont.)

Comparison of the year compared with $8,905,502 for 2016.  The overall decrease is reflective of the ongoing commitmentended June 30, 2019 to effectively manage overhead spending.

The loss for the year of $8,403,826 includes a $544,694 expense for the impairment of intangible assets. No significant items were reported during the previous financial year.ended June 30, 2018

 

Revenues from operations

During the 2019 financial year, the Company’s consolidated gross revenues from continuing operations, excluding other revenue, was A$25,444 compared to A$189,254 in the preceding year. Revenues decreased as a result of management’s determination to discontinue sales of its legacy BREVAGenplus product and develop its new products. The Company expects sales to increase once distribution of its GeneType for Breast Cancer and GeneType for Colorectal Cancer commences later in the 2020 financial year.

Cost of sales

 

Our cost of sales from continuing operations decreased by 34%7.93% from $743,060A$300,088 to $492,417. There was a slight increase in BREVAGenplusA$276,267. BREVAGen®plus direct materials utilized of $12,814decreased by 40% from A$93,869 to A$55,995 as a result of the operating inefficiencies of performing testing on a reduced number of samples received. Depreciation expense attributable to the laboratory testing equipment increaseddecreased by $ 10,890A$10,373 whilst direct labour costs decreasedincreased by $46,347A$14,911 as a result of a streamlinedcontinued streamlining of the laboratory team.team to match the reduced samples received. There was a decrease in inventories written offwritten-off of $228,000A$9,515 in 2017, which included BREVAGenplus® materials that had expired during the year of $ 53,856.2019.

 

Other revenue

Other revenue which in prior years included total revenues generated from our licensing and royalty and annuity activities decreased by $300,548 (100%) to $ Nil. This decrease is attributable to the expiry of a license agreement with Applera Corporation in December 2015 as well as being reflective of the Company’s restructuring activities initiated in 2015, whereby focus on the previous licensing and assertion programme was minimized.

Although there was an overall change in focus during 2015 to grow sales revenues of BREVAGenplus® in the U.S, the Company will continue to use Sheridan Ross to assist with its licensing and intellectual property activities.

Selling and marketing expenses

 

Selling and marketing expenses decreased by $465,023 (15%A$490,327 (46%) to $2,721,474A$576,077 during the 20172019 financial year. Personnel related costs decreased by $201,799 (12%A$185,807 (38%) as afollowing the wind-down of direct result of ongoing natural attrition withinto customer sales activity in the U.S. sales and marketing team. Fees paid for public relations services decreased by $207,361associated with the legacy BREVAGenplus product. Other decreases relate to $Nil aslower rental costs, airfares, conference costs during the Company terminated its agreement with a service provider in 2016.year.

 

General and administrative expenses

 

General and administrative expenses (excluding net foreign currency losses) decreasedincreased by $68,124 (2%A$814,380 (27%) to $2,933,659A$3,830,198 during the financial year. The increase is mainly due to increase in spending on legal (73%) pertaining to placement in Blockshine Health Limited and Swisstec Health Analytic Ltd, legal expenses related to the annual general meeting and due diligence analysis of a potential acquisition and compliance costs (32%) which pertains to increased investor relations activities, insurance (25%), printing (135%) and accounting, tax and audit related costs (21%) due to higher compliance and legal activities affecting the company in the current period.

 

In line with streamlined commercial operations subsequent to the 2015 restructuring, fees for tax adviceItem 5. Operating and compliance, accountingFinancial Review and other services decreased by $55,259 (34%Prospects (cont.) to $107,997. In the absence of any specific U.S filing such as an f-3 shelf filing undertaken in the U.S. during 2016, Legal and other U.S. regulatory costs incurred under a  streamlined operating structure decreased by 32% ($58,006) to $125,992.

 

Licensing, patent and legal costs

No Licensing, patent and legal costs were incurred during 2017. The last of the personnel associated with the Licensing assertion programme left the Company in July 2015 and consulting fees paid in relation to the programme ceased in November 2014. Prior year costs have been combined with Laboratory, research and development costs for disclosure purposes in the Statement of Comprehensive Income/ (loss) for 2017.

Laboratory, research and development costs

 

Laboratory, research and development costs decreasedincreased by $321,999 (12%A$150,264 (7%) to $2,366,334A$2,360,762 during the 20172019 financial year. As a result of lower test samples received, there was a reduction in 2 part timeLaboratory, research and 1 full time positions during the year, which resulted in a decrease in employee relateddevelopment costs of $72,384 (8%) to $827,929. Patent & legal costs decreased by $59,724 (12%) to $438,915, primarily ($49,212 or 82% of the decrease) attributableincreased due to the restructuringintensive research and development effort to develop the GeneType for Breast Cancer and GeneType for Colorectal Cancer genetic tests, which concluded in May 2019. The Company is continuing research and development activities of 2015, andon the decision to no longer actively pursue the RareCellect research project. Additionally, as a result of the impairment of the intangible assets at December 31, 2016, the amortization expense associated with the intangible assets decreased by $63,782 (50%) in 2017.following genetic tests:

 

Finance costs

 

Finance costs increaseddecreased by $3,106 (11%A$8,812 (30%) to $ 31,995A$20,031 during the 20172019 year. Finance costs incurred in 20172019 and 20162018 were primarily bank charges.

Non-Operating income and expenses

 

Other income and expenses included the following movements:

 

·Research and development tax credit of $253,159A$856,706 in the current financial year decreasedincreased by $106,614.A$557,356. The research tax credit is recognized on an accrual basis when realizable. There was a decrease in laboratory supplies used inThe higher research activatesand development tax credit is due to higher eligible research expenditure during the period ended June 30, 2020 as the Company has progressed development of $ 155,240 as mostits two new cancer risk assessment tests, and the proportion of the work was undertaken at third party collaborator facilities.costs associated with sales activities has declined.

 

·Other gains/losses

A net foreign currency lossgain of $175,871 (2016; $427,574)A$92,518 (2018: gain of A$128,360) was recorded for the year. The lossprofit is primarily driven by the translation of US dollar cash reserves to Australian dollars at June 30, 2017.2020.

 

· An impairment expense of $544,694 (2016:A$500,000 was recognized in the current year ending June 30, 2020 (2018: $ Nil) relating to the BREVAGen intangible assets was recognized. The assets have been impairedimpairment of investments in line with IAS 36, Impairment of assetsSwisstec and the Company’s accounting policy, as disclosed in note 2 of the 2017 Annual ReportBlockshine Health Pty Ltd.

 

Comparison of the year ended June 30, 2016 to the year ended June 30, 2015

Revenues from operationsItem 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects (cont.)

 

The operating result for the year is directly reflective of the repositioning of the business involving the divestment of the Australian Heritage business that took place in 2015.  The Groups primary focus during 2016 has been geared toward establishing the BREVAGenplus® test as a leading non-hereditary breast cancer risk assessment test that is affordable to all women who qualify for the test. Attaining Peer-reviewed publication in medical journals, strengthening of the management team in the U.S., an intensified and targeted marketing campaign with national reach, a refreshed BREVAGenplus® website and a reinvigorated social media presence have been key elements in the drive to achieve this goal.

During the 2016 financial year, Genetic Technologies Limited and its subsidiaries generated consolidated gross revenues from continuing operations, excluding other revenue, of $824,586 compared to $2,011,918 in the preceding year.  $756,354 of this differential is directly attributable to the divested Heritage business with the balance of $430,978 due to a decrease in the overall combined sales of the BREVAGenTM and BREVAGenplus® tests. Samples received for BREVAGenTM and BREVAGenplus® tests during 2016 were 1,184 compared to 2,659 in the previous financial year. Following changes to the U.S. leadership team as disclosed in 2015, in order to steady the decline in samples received and improve the revenue generated, a new Vice President sales and marketing was employed in November 2015, as well as a Director of Marketing and Senior Medical Director in January and June 2016 respectively.

Savings achieved from the ongoing restructuring activities during the 2016 financial year which are reflective of the divestment of the Heritage business in the prior financial year resulted in a decrease in overheads by $2,945,988 compared with 2015.  The combined areas of selling/ marketing, administration, licensing and operations totaled $9,333,076 for the year compared with $12,279,064 for 2015.  The decreased licensing activities accounted for $331,837 of the decrease with the remaining $2,614,151 million the result of the divestment of the Heritage business in November 2014, benefits derived from restructure activities and better management with overhead spending.

There were no significant items reported during 2016 compared to a $1,396,798 pre-tax profit on the sale of the Heritage business and a write-down of $795,533 against the opening asset value for the Immunaid option disclosed in 2015.

Cost of sales

Our cost of sales from continuing operations decreased by 17% from $891,243 to $743,060. There was a decrease in BREVAGenTM and BREVAGenplus® direct materials utilized of $156,927 in line with the reduced tests sold and a $295,355 decrease in direct materials and labour costs directly attributable to the genetic testing services disposed of in November 2014. This overall decrease was partially offset by an increase in inventories written off of $299,669 in 2016, the majority of which (67%) included BREVAGenplus® materials that had expired during the year of $ 218,178.

Other revenue

Other revenue which includes the total revenues generated from our licensing activities decreased by $726,603 (71%) in 2016 to $300,548. This decrease was primarily as a result of a decrease in licensing income from Applera Corporation from $781,108 in 2015 to $149,837 in 2016 due to the expiry of the agreement in December 2015. Reflective of the Company’s restructuring activities initiated

in 2015, there was also a decrease in royalties and annuities received of $40,839 as well as a decrease in other licensing income of $54,493.

Although there was an overall change in focus during 2015 to grow sales revenues of BREVAGenplus® in the U.S, the Company will continue to use Sheridan Ross to assist with its licensing and intellectual property activities.

Selling and marketing expenses

Selling and marketing expenses decreased by $1,317,802 (29%) to $3,186,497 during the 2016 financial year. Personnel related costs decreased by $806,837 (31%) as a direct result of restructuring activities initiated in 2015. A new sales and marketing team in the U.S. has been assembled to increase revenue and drive market development through direct sales to Breast Centers and individual Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Fees paid for billing services decreased by $106,378 in line with the decrease in test samples in 2016.

There were also decreases in peer to peer/ key opinion leader reimbursement costs of $164,506 (54%) and travel related costs of $97,758 (36%).

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased by $793,631 (19%) to $3,429,357 during the financial year.  Included in the general and administrative expenses is a net foreign currency loss of $427,574 (2015; $200,243) which is primarily driven by the translation of US dollar cash reserves to Australian dollars at June 30, 2016.

Share based payment expenses decreased by $ 289,965 (88%) to $40,093. Included in this cost for the year ended June 30, 2015 was an amount of $330,059 associated with the Kentgrove Standby facility which was not recurring in 2016 (refer Item 10A. below for further details on the Kentgrove Standby Facility). Occupancy related costs associated with the make good of lease fitouts of the Company’s Fitzroy premises that initially commenced in the 2015 year decreased by $336,744.

There was also a decrease in personnel related costs of $287,578 to $1,437,731 as the finance and administration team in Australia underwent several changes in order to best support the Company subsequent to the restructuring activities. These changes include a reduction in two full time and one part time finance and administration positions.

Licensing, patent and legal costs

Licensing, patent and legal costs decreased significantly by $331,837 (76%) to $103,581 during the 2016 financial year as further actions as per the Company restructuring announcement of November 2014 to reduce reliance on the previous licensing assertion programme were implemented. Employment related costs decreased by $183,246 as the last of the personnel associated with the Licensing assertion programme left the Company in July 2015. Consulting fees paid in relation to the programme had ceased in November 2014 resulting in a reduction of $75,800 to Nil for 2016.

Laboratory, research and development costs

Laboratory, research and development costs decreased by $266,913 (9%) to $2,584,752 during the 2016 financial year. Similar to 2015 changes, there was a substantial decrease (21%) in employee costs of $237,552 as a result of the suspension of the RareCellect research project and the sale of the Australian Heritage business. These changes implemented in 2015 also lead to a reduction in the laboratory supplies and consumables purchased of $142,045 to $34,842. Patent & legal costs increased by $76,494 as the Company improved its overall global protection of the BREVAGenTM breast cancer risk assessment IP.

Finance costs

Finance costs decreased by $235,805 (89%) to $ 28,889 during the 2016 year. Finance costs incurred in 2015 were primarily associated with the issue of convertible notes of $ 150,500, and secured debt notes of $75,721.

Non-Operating income and expenses

Other income and expenses included the following movements:

·                      Research and development tax credit of $359,803 in the current financial year increased by $248,615. The research tax credit is recognized on an accrual basis when realizable.  During the year ended June 30, 2016 costs associated with research activities undertaken in the United States were eligible for inclusion for the first time following a successful application to the relevant statutory body in Australia. Eligibility is available for a further 4 years and resulted in an additional credit of $39,191 in the current year.

·                      Rental income of $ 58,002 was received from SDS when the Australian Heritage business was sold at the end of November 2014 — this arrangement continued until August 2015 when SDS vacated the premises in Fitzroy.

Item 5.BLiquidity and Capital Resources

 

Summary

 

Since inception, ourthe Company’s operations have been financed primarily from capital contributions by our stockholders, proceeds from our licensing activities and revenues from operations, grants, and interest earnedearned on the Company’s cash and cash equivalents.

Currently ourthe Company’s overall cash position depends on completion of ourits research &and development activities, overall market acceptance of and revenue generated by our BREVAGenplus® test, grants and interest earned on the Company’s cash & cash equivalents.its new genetic testing products. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $10,988,255A$14,214,160 as of June 30, 2017.2020.

 

During the year ended June 30, 2017, we2020, 2019 and 2018 the Company incurred total comprehensive losses of $8,534,481.  During the year ended June 30, 2016, we incurred comprehensive losses of $7,151,746. During the year ended June 30, 2015, we incurred comprehensive losses of $8,396,165.A$6,132,105, A$6,401,936 and A$5,986,838

 

During the year ended June 30, 2017,2020, 2019 and 2018 the Company’s net cash flows used in continuing operations were $6,813,639. DuringA$5,712,098, A$6,073,182 and A$5,636,533.

The additional capital raised during and since the end of the financial year ended June 30, 2016,puts the Company’s net cash flows usedCompany in continuing operations were $7,726,838. Duringits best financial position for approximately 2 years. The Company can expand and bring its comprehensive suite of risk assessment tests to market across both Australia and the year ended June 30, 2015,US. The Company can also expand and upgrade the Company’s net cash flows used in continuing operations were $9,691,528.laboratory to incorporate next generation sequencing and high-density SNP arrays. These will allow-for the first time-risk assessments for 100 per cent of a person’s genomic risk, including monogenic, polygenic, clinical risk factors, and family history.

 

The Directors expect increased cash outflows from operations during the 2018 financial year as the Company continues to invest resources in expanding the research & development, particularly the development of the colorectal cancer risk assessment test, and sales & marketing activities in support of BREVAGenplus in the U.S. As a result of these expected cash outflows, the Directors have initiated a comprehensive strategic review of the Group’s operations. This review, which commenced during the first half of the 2018 financial year, will explore a wide range of possible strategic alternatives designed to maximise near and long-term value for the Group’s shareholders (the Group has retained Roth Capital Partners LLC to serve as a financial advisor in the process). The strategic review will also give consideration to future cash needs to ensure the Group continues to hold adequate levels of cash resources to meet creditors and other commitments.

Going Concern. The longer-term viability of the Company and its ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debts and commitments as they fall due is dependent on the successfulsatisfactory completion of planned equity raisings which are not guaranteed.

The Company expects to continue to incur losses and implementationcash outflows for the foreseeable future as it continues to invest resources in expanding the research and development activities in support of the resultsdistribution of existing and new products. Following successful capital raises in the last three months of the strategic review.

Due tofinancial year, the uncertainty surroundingCompany has A$14,214,160 cash and cash equivalents as at June 30, 2020. In the completion and implementation Director’s opinion this, together with further gross proceeds of the results of the strategic review, and the timing, quantum or the ability to raise additional funds if identified$5.1 million before transaction costs raised in the strategic review, there is a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt onJuly 2020, will underpin the Company’s ability to continue asfunding requirements for approximately two years. As a going concern and therefore, that it may be unable to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities inresult, the normal course of business.  However, the Directors believe that the Company will be successful in the above matters and accordingly,financial statements have been prepared the attached financial report on a going concern basis.

 

Operating Activities. OurThe Company’s net cash from / (used in)used in operating activities was $(6,813,639), $(7,726,838)A$5,712,098, A$6,073,182 and $(9,691,528)A$5,636,533 for the years ended June 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015,2018, respectively. Cash from / (used in)used in operating activities for each period consisted primarily of losses incurred in operations reduced by non-cash items such as impairment of intangible assets expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, share based payments expenses, foreign exchange movements and unrealized profits and losses relating to investments. In approximate order of magnitude, cash outflows typically consist of staff-related costs, marketing expenses, service testing expenses, general and administrative expenses, legal/patent fees and research and development costs.

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects (cont.)

 

Investing Activities. OurThe Company’s net cash from / (usedfrom/(used in) investing activities was $(182,149), $(296,331)A$64,787, A$(524,460) and $1,965,422A$12,833 for the years ended June 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015,2018, respectively. During the year ended June 30, 2017, $52,6502020 the Company spent A$38,100 towards purchase of computer equipment, furniture and fittings and A$37,000 was received from the sale of unutilized laboratory equipment that was superfluous to the requirements of the Company’s current operations following the 2015 divestment of the Heritage business.equipment. Apart from the purchase of plant and equipment of $234,799A$38,100 in 2017, $303,4622020, A$50,309 in 2016,2019 and $192,592A$2,385 in 2015, we2018, the Company had no other significant capital expenditures for the years ended June 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015.2018.

Financing Activities. Our net cash from / (usedfrom/(used in) financing activities was $7,110,049, $(1,654)A$18,360,346, A$3,126,162 and $22,867,263A$(9,963) for the years ended June 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015,2018, respectively. During the year ended June 30, 2017,2020, the Company generated cash flows of $8,049,369A$21,793,678 from the issue of 720,000,000 ordinary shares and $295,110 from a facility fee rebate on previously issued sharesOrdinary Shares less costs associated with the transactions of $(1,234,430). No new financing activities were undertaken forA$3,215,174. For the year ended June 30, 2016, whilst in respect of the year ended June 30, 2015,2019, the Company generated gross cash flows of $23,289,927A$3,557,509 from the issue of 744,540,728 ordinary shares, $2,150,000 from the issue of convertible notesOrdinary Shares less costs associated with thesethe transactions of $(2,572,664).A$431,347 and during 2018 no proceeds from share issues were received.

 

Future cash requirements

The Directors have undertaken an assessment of the Company’s ability to pay its debts as and when they fall due.  As part of this assessment, the Directors have had regard to the Company’s cash flow forecasts for the twelve month period from the date at which the Financial Report was authorized and lodged and the cash balance on hand as of that date.  The Directors recognize that there is uncertainty in the consolidated entity’s cash flow forecasts, and that the continuing viability of the Company and its ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debts and commitments as they fall due is dependent on the successful completion and implementation of the results of a comprehensive strategic review that has been initiated.

We do not have any  lines of credit  and nominal credit card facilities with National Australia Bank Limited (“NAB”) and Bank of America, N.A. which, as of June 30, 2017, had total available credit of $293,700.

Operating leases

 

We are obligated under two operating leases that were in place at June 30, 2017.2020. These leases relate to the premises occupied by the Company in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia and by its U.S. subsidiary, Phenogen Sciences Inc., in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A. The total rental charge in respect of the year ended June 30, 2020 was approximately A$221,282 and A$24,548, respectively.

 

The future minimum lease payments in respect of the two operating leases that were in place and had remaining non-cancellablenon- cancellable lease terms as of June 30, 20172020 were $263,668.A$429,536.

 

Item 5.CResearch and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.

 

Our principal business is biotechnology, with a historical emphasis on genomics and genetics, the licensing of our non-codingnon- coding patents, reduction to practice of our fetal cell patents and expansion of the related service testing business. Research and development expenditure as below is reflective of the changes implemented during 2015 followingintense focus by the salescientific and laboratory team to develop and market a suite of the Australian Heritage business in November 2014, and a focus the BREVAGenplus® breast cancer risk test. In November 2016, we commenced work on the colorectal cancer (CRC) risk assessment test project.world-leading predictive genetic tests.

 

The following table details historic R&D expenditure by project.

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 2020$  2019$  2018$ 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

    (in A$)    

RareCellect (1)

 

10,782

 

59,453

 

170,107

 

        12,555 

BREVAGenplus

 

216,121

 

282,460

 

346,792

 

     228,643   266,723 

Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Test

 

114,651

 

 

 

     14,286   114,315 
Ohio State University        48,377 

Other general R&D

 

77,044

 

53,625

 

211,693

 

     67,774   18,544 
Polygenic Risk Testing  380,667       

Total R&D expense

 

418,598

 

395,538

 

728,592

 

  380,667   310,703   460,514 

Other expenditure

 

8,847,846

 

9,680,597

 

12,441,715

 

  7,044,274   7,160,114   5,634,088 

Total expenditure

 

9,266,444

 

10,076,136

 

13,170,307

 

  7,424,941   7,470,817   6,094,602 

R&D as a % of total expenditure

 

5

%

4

%

6

%

  5.13%  4.17%  8%

 


(1)The RareCellect project ceased during 2014. The costs incurred since then relate to legal fees associated with the patent portfolio.

(1) The RareCellect project ceased during 2014. The costs incurred since then relate to legal fees associated with the patent portfolio.

Item 5.DTrend Information

 

The direction of genetic researchSee Item 5.A. “Operating Results” and breast cancerItem 5.B. “Liquidity and Capital Resources” above.

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects (cont.)

 

During the 1990s, the two major susceptibility genes for breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2, were identified. Mutations in these genes account for approximately 30% of the familial risk for breast cancer. Following these discoveries, a large number of candidate gene studies were conducted over the following decade, aimed at identifying moderate and low-penetrance alleles believed to be responsible for the remaining familial risk.

In 2007, one of the very first large scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) reported five significant loci associated with breast cancer risk. It was these loci which formed the basis of the Company’s first generation BREVAGen breast cancer risk assessment test. Further GWAS continue to provide additional loci associated with breast cancer risk and these are incorporated into the Company’s second generation BREVAGenplus test. The Company continues to monitor developments in the field.

Following the success of the initial GWAS for breast cancer and improvements in the technology required to conduct the studies, many international research groups are now investigating genetic associations with different types of cancer and other “multifactorial” diseases. These studies are likely to lead to new genetic tests for disease susceptibility, both in cancer and other diseases.

Our ability to produce such tests will depend on our ability to secure licensing agreements to the underlying technology or to take part in the basic research studies.

We believe that the demand for genetic risk assessment testing is in its infancy and will continue to grow in the coming years.

Item 5E.Off-balance sheet arrangements

 

We are not a party to any material off-balance sheet arrangements. In addition, we have no unconsolidated special purpose financing or partnership entities that are likely to create any material contingent obligations.

 

Item 5F.Information about contractual obligations

 

The table below shows the contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of June 30, 2017:2020:

 

 

 

0-1 year

 

>1-<3 years

 

>3-<5 years

 

>5 years

 

Operating lease commitments

 

$

227,992

 

$

35,676

 

$

 

$

 

0-1 year>1-<3 years>3-<5 years>5 years
Operating lease commitments (A$)$     -$     -$     -$     -

Due to the adoption of IFRS 16 effective July 1, 2019, the Company no longer has any non-cancellable operating lease to be recognized under commitments for the year ended June 30, 2020.

The Company rents offices and laboratory premises located at 60-66 Hanover Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia (an inner suburb of Melbourne) from Crude Pty. Ltd. The three-year lease is due to expire on August 31, 2021. The total rental charge in respect of the year ended June 30, 2020 was approximately A$221,282.

Phenogen Sciences Inc., the Company’s U.S. subsidiary, rents office premises which are located at 1300 Baxter Street, Suite 157, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. from Midtown Area Partners LLC. The original lease expired on October 31, 2017. It was then followed by a month to month lease. The total rental expense towards the premise for the year ended June 30, 2020 was A$24,548.

Subsequently, a lease agreement was signed on July 10, 2020, for a three-year term, commencing on August 1, 2020 and expiring July 31, 2023. Total lease payable per annum are as follow:

US$ 16,279.56 for financial year ending June 30, 2021
US$ 18,247.92 for financial year ending June 30, 2022
US$ 18,795.35 for financial year ending June 30, 2023

Apart from the operating lease commitment, the Company has a capital commitment entered as of June 30, 2020:

  2020  2019 
  A$  A$ 
Property, plant and equipment  466,560   - 

 

The above financial obligations arecommitment relates to the purchase of laboratory equipment which will assist the Company to conduct more tests in respect of leases over office and laboratory premises.the future.

 

Item 6.Directors, Senior Management and Employees

 

Item 6.ADirectors and Senior Management

 

The Directors of the Company as of the date of this Annual Report are:

 

Dr. Malcolm R. BrandonMr. Peter Rubinstein (Independent Non-Executive and Chairman), BScAgr, PhD (Non-Executive)

Dr. Brandon

Mr. Peter Rubinstein was appointed to the Board on October 5, 2009 and as its Chairman on November 28, 2012. January 31, 2018. He has over 4020 years’ experience in commercially focused researchearly stage technology commercialisation through to public listings on the ASX. He is a lawyer, having worked at one of the large national firms prior to moving in house at Montech, the commercial arm of Monash University. Mr. Rubinstein has had significant exposure to the creation, launch and development and in building successful companies which have commercializedmanagement of a widediverse range of Australiantechnology companies including in biotech, digital payments and international technologies. Dr. Brandonrenewable energy. Mr. Rubinstein is currently Managingalso a Director of genetics and artificial animal breeding company Clone International which uses cloning technologies to preserve the genetics of elite animals.DigitalX Limited (DCC).

 

Eutillio BuccilliDr. Jerzy (George) Muchnicki , (Executive Director and Interim Chief Executive Officer)

Mr. Buccilli was appointed to the Board in June 2015. He joined the Company in June 2014 as Chief Financial Officer. In November 2014, he was appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and was subsequently appointed Chief Executive Officer in February 2015.

Mr. Buccilli has more than 35 years of senior management experience in the financial services, contracting and recruitment, property and retail industries in Australia and the U.S. He has held senior management positions with blue chip corporations such as General Electric (“GE”), Computer Science Corporation, Coles Myer and Challenger Limited. Whilst at GE, Mr. Buccilli was seconded to the U.S., where he worked at the GE Capital Headquarters located in Stamford Connecticut. He brings to the Board extensive financial, corporate governance, commercial and fund raising experience.

Dr Paul A. Kasian,  PhD, MBA, GAICD (Non-Executive)

Dr. KasianMuchnicki was appointed to the Board on December 12, 2013. He bringsJanuary 31, 2018 and was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer on September 24, 2019. Prior to his appointment as Interim Chief Executive Officer, he was a part time Business Development Director for the Board a combinationCompany. Dr. Muchnicki graduated from Monash University having held positions in private practice for some 25 years to head of expertisestudent health at Melbourne University. For the past 14 years he has been mostly involved in strategic business leadershipcommercialization and biotech investment giving him a deep understanding on key value drivers for companiesfunding R&D in generating shareholder value. He is an experienced executive director with demonstrated domestic and international success in funds management, encompassing senior leadership, investment and risk roles.the biotechnology sector from gene silencing to regenerative medicine.

 

Dr. Kasian has held senior leadership positionsMuchnicki brings with him strong commercial and medical skills, including broad interests in a number of investment groups,software development, blockchain and has significant funds management experience in Australia leading investment in the healthcare and life sciences sector.sustainable building materials. He holds a PhD in Microbiology and a Master of Business Administration, both from the University of Melbourne, and is a Graduate Memberco-founder and Non-Executive Director of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Dr. KasianSpeed Panel Holdings a world leader in fire rated and acoustic wall solutions. He is also the co-founder of Candlebets, a non-executive director of IODM Limited (ASX: IOD), ELK OrthoBiologics and Blockchain Global Limited.

Mr Grahame Leonard AM, BA (Hons), LLB, CA, CPA, FAICD (Dip), AFAIM (Non-Executive)software development company that is creating blockchain enabled platforms for the gaming industry.

 

Mr. Leonard was appointed to the Board on November 29, 2013 and also serves as Chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee. He is a qualified Lawyer and Chartered Accountant. He brings over 35 years’ experience in the corporate world including Lysaght (BHP), BTR Nylex and The Thompson Corporation. His numerous community positions include former Commissioner, Victorian Multicultural Commission, former Chair, Victorian Government Multifaith Advisory Group and former Director of Transparency International Australia, (the Australian arm of the international anti-corruption watchdog).

Dr. Lindsay Wakefield, MBBS (Independent Non-Executive)M.B.B.S (Non-Executive)

Dr. Wakefield was appointed to the Board on September 24, 2014.  Dr. Wakefield2014. He started Safetech in 1985. In 1993 he left medicine to become the fulltime CEO of the Company. Over1985 and over the next 25 years Safetech became a force in the Australian material handling and lifting equipment market, designing and manufacturing a wide range of industrial products. In 1993, he left medicine to become the fulltime CEO of Safetech. In 2006 Safetech was awarded the Telstra Australian National Business of the Year.

In 2013 Safetech merged to become STS (Safetechand ultimately acquired Tieman Solutions) whichMaterials Handling. Dr. Wakefield continues as the CEO of Safetech. It is Australia’s largest manufacturer and supplier of dock equipment, freight hoists and custom lifting solutions. Safetech employs approximately 120 people. Dr. Wakefield continues as Managing Director of STS and has been a keen Biotechbiotech investor for pastmore than 20 years, often at a mezzanine level.

Senior Managementyears.

 

Mr. Nicholas Burrows (Independent Non-Executive)

We have

Mr. Burrows was appointed to the Board on September 2, 2019. He is a contemporary independent Non-Executive Director across the listed, government and private sectors with significant expertise in corporate governance, and strategic, commercial, financial and risk management oversight. His current diverse multi-sector portfolio includes Non-Executive Directorships of Clean Seas Seafood Limited, TasWater, and a number of private companies. Mr. Burrows also provides board, governance, audit and risk advisory services to entities within the IT, tourism and hospitality, debt recovery, agribusiness, forestry, and Local/State Government sectors. Mr. Burrows was Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of Tassal Group Limited for 21 years from 1988 to 2009 and accordingly brings to the Board strong independent c-suite commercial experience and the benefits of an extensive and contemporary senior executive ASX200 listed entity background. Mr. Burrows is a respective Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia, Governance Institute of Australia Ltd and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and is also a Chartered Accountant and Registered Company Auditor. Mr. Burrows also served as National President of the Governance Institute of Australia in 2002 and served on their National Board for 6 years.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees (cont.)

Senior Management

The Company has a professional team of qualified and experienced personnel, including a number of research and development scientists and technicians. The GroupCompany currently has 2013 full-time-equivalent employees in addition to the four Non-executivethree Non-Executive Directors listed above.  Of the total number of personnel, three have Doctorate qualifications.  In addition to the Chief Executive Office, Mr. Buccilli whose details are noted above, the members of the Company’s Senior Leadership Team as of the date of this Report, and a brief summary of their relevant experience, are as follows:

 

Kevin FischerMr. Phillip Hains, MBA, CA , CPA, AGIA, ACIS, B. Com. (Chief Financial Officer)

 

Mr. FischerPhillip Hains was appointed Company Secretary on January 13, 2016 following his appointment as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer on November 2, 2015July 15, 2019. Mr. Phillip Hains is a Chartered Accountant operating a specialist public practice, ‘The CFO Solution’. The CFO Solution focuses on providing back office support, financial reporting and compliance systems for listed public companies. A specialist in the public company environment, Mr. Hains has served the needs of a number of company boards and their related committees. He has over ten25 years’ experience in senior finance rolesproviding businesses with successful diagnostic companies, suchaccounting, administration, compliance and general management services. He holds a Master of Business Administration from RMIT and a Public Practice Certificate from the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Mr. Justyn Stedwell (Company Secretary)

Justyn Stedwell was appointed as QIAGEN and Cellestis.the Company Secretary on July 15, 2019. Mr. FischerStedwell is a CPA and Charteredprofessional Company Secretary who has significantconsultant with over 12 years’ experience inacting as a Company Secretary of ASX listed companies across a wide range of industries. He is currently the financial management and reporting for international operations.Company Secretary of several ASX listed companies.

 

Dr. Richard Allman, PhD (Chief Scientific Director)Officer)

Dr. Allman joined the Company in 2004 and was appointed as Chief Scientific DirectorOfficer in December 2012. He has over 20 years of scientific and research experience in both the academic arena in the UK and the commercial sector in Australia. He has wide experience in research leadership, innovation management, and intellectual property strategy, covering oncology, diagnostics, and product development. Prior to entering the biotech sector, Dr.Dr Allman’s academic career encompassed oncology research, drug development, and assay design.

Diana Newport, (Quality and Business Operations Director)

 

Ms. Newport was appointed as Quality and Business Operations Director in September 2013. She comes to the Company with extensive international Quality Systems and operational experience in the highly regulated industries of food and pharmaceutical. The Company will benefit from her recent senior roles within the CSL quality control laboratories.

Chris Saunders, MBA, B.S. (Vice President Sales & Marketing — Phenogen Sciences Inc.)

Mr. Saunders brings more than 15 years of experience in senior sales, operations and marketing roles for start-up, publicly held and multi-national companies in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. He served as National Sales Director at Cbr Systems, a cord blood stem cell bank that serves customers in the United States and internationally. Most recently, he served as an early sales management leader at Natera, a genetic testing company that develops and commercializes non-invasive methods for analyzing DNA. During his tenure, he successfully launched new products and product expansions through multiple channels including private practice, hospital, health system and distribution partnerships. Areas of expertise include business development, sales operations, training and management strategies focused on sales growth and market expansion.

Item 6.B CompensationCompensation

 

Details of the nature and amount of each major element of the compensation of each director of the Company and each of the named officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, for services in all capacities during the financial year ended June 30, 2017 and 20162020 are listed below. All figures are stated in Australian dollars (AUD)(A$).

 

Name and title of

 

 

 

Short-term

 

 

 

Post-employment

 

Other long-

 

Share-based

 

 

 

Non-Executive Directors

 

Year

 

Salary/fees

 

Other

 

Superannuation*

 

term benefits

 

Options

 

Totals

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Dr Malcolm R. Brandon

 

2017

 

91,089

 

 

8,653

 

 

 

99,742

 

Non-Executive Chairman

 

2016

 

89,303

 

 

8,484

 

 

 

97,787

 

Grahame Leonard AM

 

2017

 

56,065

 

 

5,326

 

 

 

61,391

 

 

 

2016

 

54,967

 

 

5,222

 

 

 

60,189

 

Dr Paul Kasian

 

2017

 

56,065

 

 

5,326

 

 

 

61,391

 

 

 

2016

 

54,967

 

 

5,222

 

 

 

60,189

 

Dr Lindsay Wakefield

 

2017

 

56,065

 

 

5,326

 

 

 

61,391

 

 

 

2016

 

54,967

 

 

5,222

 

 

 

60,189

 

Totals

 

2017

 

259,284

 

 

24,631

 

 

 

283,915

 

 

 

2016

 

254,204

 

 

24,150

 

 

 

278,354

 

    Short-term benefits  Post-employment  Other
long-term
  Share-based
payments
    
Name and title of Year Salary/fees  Other  Superannuation*  benefits **  Equity ***  Totals 
Non-Executive Directors   A$  A$  A$  A$  A$  A$ 
Dr. Lindsay Wakefield 2020  66,295      6,298      9,625   82,218 
Mr. Peter Rubinstein 2020  106,946      6,835      12,833   126,614 
Mr. Xue Lee (1) 2020  1,570      149      (5,616)  (3,897)
Mr. Nicholas Burrows (2) 2020  53,775      5,109         58,884 
                           
Executives Directors                          
                           
Dr. Paul Kasian (3) 2020  62,789      5,923      (76,368)  (7,656)
Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki 2020  139,824      13,283      16,042   169,149 
                           
Management                          
                           
Dr. Richard Allman 2020  168,600   360   16,017   3,231   10,986   199,194 
Mr. Stanley Sack (4) 2020  38,500               38,500 
Totals 2020  638,299   360   53,614   3,231   (32,498)  663,006 

 

Key Management PersonnelMr Phillip Hains was appointed on July 15, 2019 as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. During the year ended June 30, 2020, he does not earn any remuneration apart from the provision of advice on the capacity as the CFO, accounting and other finance related activities through his firm, The CFO Solution. During the reporting period, the total service fees of A$527,724 (2019: A$45,459) were paid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name and title of

 

 

 

Short-term

 

Post-employment

 

Other
long-term

 

Share-based

 

Termination

 

 

 

Executives

 

Year

 

Salary/fees

 

Other

 

Superannuation*

 

benefits**

 

Options ***

 

benefits

 

Totals

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Eutillio Buccilli (1)

 

2017

 

313,650

 

33,000

 

32,566

 

19,297

 

45,639

 

 

444,152

 

Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer

 

2016

 

307,500

 

83,800

 

32,062

 

15,519

 

26,623

 

 

465,504

 

Luisa Ashdown (2)

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director, Licensing & IP

 

2016

 

6,856

 

 

2,964

 

(16,980

)

 

53,795

 

46,635

 

Diana Newport

 

2017

 

105,493

 

 

10,022

 

10,962

 

10,533

 

 

137,010

 

Quality & Ops. Director

 

2016

 

103,343

 

 

11,242

 

(298

)

1,373

 

 

115,660

 

Dr Richard Allman (3)

 

2017

 

162,053

 

8,100

 

16,526

 

12,528

 

17,287

 

 

216,494

 

Scientific Director

 

2016

 

158,875

 

11,900

 

16,518

 

8,317

 

2,747

 

 

198,357

 

Brian Manuel (4)

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

2016

 

66,667

 

 

6,333

 

4,263

 

 

 

77,263

 

Kevin Fischer (5)

 

2017

 

168,300

 

12,600

 

17,575

 

9,421

 

22,330

 

 

230,226

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

2016

 

113,808

 

16,700

 

10,812

 

5,454

 

9,351

 

 

156,125

 

Chris Saunders (6)

 

2017

 

283,402

 

14,832

 

 

7,408

 

22,330

 

 

327,972

 

US-VP Sales & Marketing

 

2016

 

183,760

 

37,629

 

 

12,277

 

9,351

 

 

243,017

 

Dr Susan Gross (7)

 

2017

 

165,262

 

7,481

 

 

1,978

 

3,150

 

 

177,871

 

US-Senior Medical Director

 

2016

 

5,944

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,944

 

Sub-totals for Executives

 

2017

 

1,198,160

 

76,013

 

76,689

 

61,594

 

121,269

 

 

1,533,725

 

 

 

2016

 

946,753

 

150,029

 

79,931

 

28,552

 

49,445

 

53,795

 

1,308,505

 

Total remuneration of Key Management Personnel

 

2017

 

1,457,444

 

76,013

 

101,320

 

61,594

 

121,269

 

 

1,817,640

 

 

 

2016

 

1,200,957

 

150,029

 

104,081

 

28,552

 

49,445

 

53,795

 

1,586,859

 

During the financial year ended June 30, 2020, the board approved to obtain consulting services in relation to capital raises, compliance, NASDAQ hearings and investor relations from its Non-executive director and current Chairman, Mr. Peter Rubinstein. The services procured were through Mr. Peter Rubinstein’s associate entity, ValueAdmin.com Pty Ltd, and amounted to A$35,000 which remains payable and is included as part of the cash salary and fees above as at June 30, 2020.

During the financial year ended June 30, 2020, the board members sacrificed 20% of their fees for a certain period in order to support the staff costs during the COVID-19 cutback on working hours. Due to this there is a variance between the above disclosed and the contractual arrangement disclosures.


(1) Mr. Lee resigned as a Non-Executive Director on July 9, 2019.

(2) Mr. Burrows was appointed as Non-Executive Director on September 2, 2019.

(3) Dr. Kasian resigned on September 24, 2019.

(4) Mr. Sack was appointed as Chief Operating Officer on May 18, 2020.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees (cont,)

    Short-term  Post-employment  Other long-term  Share-based Payments    
Name and title of Year Salary/fees  Other  Superannuation*  benefits**  Equity ***  Totals 
Non-Executives Directors   A$  A$  A$  A$  A$  $A 
Dr. Lindsay Wakefield 2019  67,462   -   6,409   -   5,615   79,486 
Mr. Peter Rubinstein 2019  67,462   -   6,409   -   7,486   81,357 
Mr. Xue Lee(6) 2019  58,330   -   5,541   -   28,849   92,037 
                           
Executives Directors                          
Dr. Paul Kasian(1) 2019  192,410   8,745   18,279      76,368   295,802 
Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki (2) 2019  82,995   (1,200)  7,884      9,358   99,037 
Management                          
Dr. Richard Allman (3) 2019  168,600   72,865   20,319   4,124   36,486   302,394 
Kevin Fischer (4) 2019  101,644   48,364   12,785   (3,390)  (6,276)  153,127 
Paul Viney (5) 2019  89,519   6,965   8,504         104,989 
Sub-totals for                          
Executives    635,168   128,194   67,772   734   115,936   955,349 
Total 2019  828,422   135,739   86,130   734   157,886   1,208,911 

Notes pertaining to changes during the year:

 

(1)         Other” includesDr Kasian was appointed as the Chairman on January 31, 2018 and interim CEO on February 6, 2018, having previously served as a bonus paid or payableNon-Executive Director since his appointment in December 2013. Of the total remuneration, A$94,536.78 relates to Mr Buccilli inDirector Fees. Dr Kasian resigned on September 24, 2019 from all of his positions with the amount of $33,000 at the discretion of the Board.Company.

 

(2)         Ms Ashdown ceasedDr Muchnicki was engaged to bedo business development work on January 31, 2018. During 2018/19, Dr Muchnicki performed these duties as Additional Director Duties, rather than as an executive with effect from July 2015.Executive role. Dr Muchnicki was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer on September 24, 2019.

 

(3)         “Other”“Other” includes a bonus paid or payable to Dr Allman in the amount of $8,100 at the discretion of the Board.A$45,286 under a retention bonus scheme awarded to key management personnel (“KMP”).

 

(4)         Mr Manuel held the role of Chief Financial Officer until his resignation in October 2015.

(5)         Mr Fischer was appointed to role of Chief Financial Officer in November 2015. “Other”“Other” includes a bonus paid or payable to Mr Fischer in the amount of $12,600 at the discretion of the board.A$47,032 under a retention bonus scheme awarded to KMP. Mr. Kevin Fischer resigned on December 31, 2018.

 

(6)(5) Mr SaundersPaul Viney was appointed toas the role of Vice President Sales & Marketing in November 2015. “Other” includes a bonus paid or payable inChief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary on December 15, 2018 and subsequently resigned from the amount of $14,832 at the discretion of the board.positions on July 15, 2019.

 

(7)         Dr Gross was engaged under a consulting agreement to perform the role ofItem 6. Directors, Senior Medical Director for Phenogen Sciences Inc (USA) in June 2016. Remuneration is by way of a fixed monthly consultancy fee for services provided on a part time basis to 31 December 2016, after which Dr Gross was employed on a part time basis through an employment contract. “Other” includes a bonus paid or payable in the amount of $7,481 at the discretion of the board. Dr Gross ceased to be an executive with effect from September 2017.Management and Employees (cont.)

 

Referencing the previous two tables:

 

*Post-employment benefits as per Corporations Regulation 2M.3.03 (1) Item 7

** Other long-term benefits as per Corporations Regulation 2M.3.03 (1) Item 8

*** Equity settled share-based payments as per Corporations Regulation 2M.3.03 (1) Item 11

 

The details of those Executives nominated as Key Management Personnel under section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001have been disclosed in this Report. No other employees of the Company meet the definition of “Key Management Personnel” as defined in IAS 24 / (AASB 124) Related Party Disclosures, or “senior manager” as defined in the Corporations Act

Executive officers are those officers who were involved during the year in the strategic direction, general management or control of the business at a company or operating division level. The remuneration paid to Executives is set with reference to prevailing market levels and comprises a fixed salary, various short termshort-term incentives (which are linked to agreed key performance indicators), and an option component. Options are granted to Executives in line with their respective levels of experience and responsibility.

 

Options exercised, granted, altered and forfeited as part of remuneration during the year ended 30 June 20172020

 

Details of the options held by the Executives nominated as Key Management Personnel during the year ended June 30, June 20172020 are set out below. As at June 30, June 2017,2020, there were 6 executiveswas one executive and 4twelve employees who held options that had been granted under the Company’s respective option plans.

 

Options Exercised

No options granted as equity compensation benefits to Executives were exercised during the year.

Options Granted

During the 2017 financial year 21,500,000ended June 30, 2020, there were no options issued under Employee Option Plan (2019: 16,000,000 unlisted options were granted at no cost). The Company, however issued various unlisted options to underwriters and sub-underwriters as equity compensation benefits to Executives.

 

 

Options

 

Exercise

 

Fair value

 

Final

 

Name of Executive

 

Granted

 

price

 

per option

 

vesting date

 

Dr. Richard Allman 1

 

5,000,000

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.005

 

16 Feb 2022

 

Diana Newport

 

4,000,000

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.005

 

16 Feb 2022

 

Kevin Fischer

 

5,000,000

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.005

 

16 Feb 2022

 

Chris Saunders

 

5,000,000

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.005

 

16 Feb 2022

 

Dr. Susan Gross

 

2,500,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

21,500,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options Forfeited

No options granted as equity compensation benefits to Executives were forfeited during the year.

Alterations to terms of Options Granted in 2016

During the 2017 financial year, the vesting conditions attached to 31,736,111 options that had previously been granted as equity compensation benefits to Executives were amended as follows;

a.              Date of Alteration: 17 February 2017

b.              Market price of underlying equity instruments at date of alteration: at a price of $0.01 per share = $ 317,361

c.               Terms prior to alteration:

i.             Number and class of underlying equity instruments: 31,736,111 options over ordinary shares with a strike price of $ 0.02 per share

ii.          Time remaining until expiry:

·             Options Granted 25 November 2015 (24,236,111 Options) = ~ 3.75 years

·             Options Granted 1 April 2016 (7,500,000 Options) = ~ 4.1 years

iii.       Vesting conditions; market related vesting conditions of share price growth whereby options can be exercised at any time after the date on which the option meets the vesting condition of the 3 months VWAP of shares traded on the ASX per table as follows;

Tranche Number

 

Vesting Condition — VWAP Price

 

1

 

$

0.05

 

2

 

$

0.10

 

3

 

$

0.20

 

d.              Terms following the alteration:

i.                  Number and class of underlying equity instruments: 31,736,111 options over ordinary shares with a strike price of $ 0.02 per share

ii.               Time remaining until expiry:

·      Options Granted 25 November 2015 (24,236,111 Options) = ~ 3.75 years

·      Options Granted 1 April 2016 (7,500,000 Options) = ~ 4.1 years

iii.            Vesting conditions; non-market related vesting conditions of tenure, vesting in 2 equal tranches as follows;

·   50% entitlement released from ESCROW on 30 June 2017, and

·   50% entitlement released from ESCROW on 30 June 2018.

e.               Total Fair value of the options;

i.       Immediately before the alteration : $ 423,798 (using a Monte Carlo simulation method)

ii.    Immediately after the alteration : $ 65,667 (using a Black-Scholes option pricing model)

iii. Difference — reduction of $ 358,131

Options exercised, granted and forfeited as part of remuneration during the year ended 30 June 2016

During the 2016 financial year 31,736,111 options were granted as equity compensation benefits to Executives. No options were exercised and 1,500,000 were forfeited.

Fair values of optionscapital raising costs.

 

The above options grantedmentioned below lapsed during the 2017 financial year vest2019, however they were not shown as lapsed in three equal tranches, with the first tranche vesting onprior year’s remuneration report. Hence, in the date ofcurrent year, the 2017 Annual General Meetingmovement in options held by Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki has been reflected by taking into account these lapsed options.

Name of Executive Options
Lapsed
  Options
forfeited
  Exercise price  Fair value
per option
  Final vesting date 
Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki  6,666,667        -  A$     0.015  A$     0.0017  December 2, 2014 
TOTAL  6,666,667   -            

44

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and thereafter on each anniversary of that date, subject to the recipient meeting the vesting condition of continuous tenure during the relevant period.Employees (cont.)

 

Fair values at grant date are independently determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model that takes into account the exercise price, the term of the option, the share price at grant date and expected price volatility of the underlying share, the expected divided yield and the risk-free interest rate for the term of the option.

Fair values at grant date of the options issued during the 2016 financial year was originally determined independently using a Monte Carlo Simulation method that takes into account the exercise price, the VWAP hurdle (preceding 3 month price), the term of the option, the share price at grant date and expected price volatility of the underlying share, the expected divided yield and the risk-free interest rate for the term of the option.

Option holdings of Key Management Personnel 30 June 20172020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial
year

 

Fair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vesting as at year end

 

in which

 

Value yet

 

Name of option

 

Opening

 

 

 

Number of options

 

 

 

Closing

 

 

 

Not

 

options

 

to vest

 

holder

 

balance

 

Granted

 

Exercised

 

Lapsed

 

balance

 

Exercisable

 

exercisable

 

vest

 

$

 

Executive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eutillio Buccilli

 

14,236,111

 

 

 

 

14,236,111

 

7,118,055

 

7,118,056

 

2018

 

90,777

 

Diana Newport

 

2,500,000

 

4,000,000

 

 

 

6,500,000

 

1,250,000

 

5,250,000

 

2019

 

30,719

 

Richard Allman

 

5,000,000

 

5,000,000

 

 

 

10,000,000

 

2,500,000

 

7,500,000

 

2019

 

46,438

 

Kevin Fischer

 

5,000,000

 

5,000,000

 

 

 

10,000,000

 

2,500,000

 

7,500,000

 

2019

 

56,883

 

Chris Saunders

 

5,000,000

 

5,000,000

 

 

 

10,000,000

 

2,500,000

 

7,500,000

 

2019

 

56,883

 

Susan Gross

 

 

2,500,000

 

 

 

2,500,000

 

 

2,500,000

 

2019

 

20,000

 

Totals

 

31,736,111

 

21,500,000

 

 

 

53,236,111

 

15,868,055

 

37,368,056

 

 

 

301,700

 

Options Balance at
start of the
year
  Granted as
remuneration
  Granted as
part of cost
of capital
  Exercised  Other
Changes1
  Balance at
end of the
year
  Vested and
exercisable
 
Dr. Lindsay Wakefield  -        -   -        -       -   -   - 
Mr. Peter Rubinstein3  -   -   125,000,000   -   -   125,000,000   125,000,000 
Mr. Xue Lee (resigned on July 9, 2019)  -   -   -   -   -   -   - 
Mr. Nicholas Burrows (appointed on September 2, 2019)                            
Dr. Paul Kasian (resigned on September 24, 2019)  -   -   -   -   -   -   - 
Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki2  6,666,667   -   125,000,000   -   (6,666,667)  125,000,000   125,000,000 
Dr. Richard Allman  15,000,000   -   -   -   -   15,000,000   15,000,000 
Mr. Stanley Sack (appointed on May 18, 2020)      -   -   -   -   -   - 
Mr. Phillip Hains (appointed on July 15, 2019)      -   -   -   -   -   - 
TOTAL  21,666,667   -   250,000,000   -   (6,666,667)  265,000,000   265,000,000 

Option holdingsNotes

1. Other changes incorporates changes resulting from the expiration/forfeiture of Key Management Personnel 30 June 2016options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial
year

 

Fair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vesting as at year end

 

in which

 

Value yet

 

Name of option

 

Opening

 

 

 

Number of options

 

 

 

Closing

 

 

 

Not

 

options

 

to vest

 

holder

 

balance

 

Granted

 

Exercised

 

Lapsed

 

balance

 

Exercisable

 

exercisable

 

vest

 

$

 

Executive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eutillio Buccilli

 

 

14,236,111

 

 

 

14,236,111

 

 

14,236,111

 

*

 

205,377

 

Luisa Ashdown

 

1,000,000

 

 

 

(1,000,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

Luisa Ashdown

 

500,000

 

 

 

(500,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

Diana Newport

 

 

2,500,000

 

 

 

2,500,000

 

 

2,500,000

 

*

 

24,719

 

Richard Allman

 

 

5,000,000

 

 

 

5,000,000

 

 

5,000,000

 

*

 

49,438

 

Kevin Fischer

 

 

5,000,000

 

 

 

5,000,000

 

 

5,000,000

 

*

 

72,133

 

Chris Saunders

 

 

5,000,000

 

 

 

5,000,000

 

 

5,000,000

 

*

 

72,133

 

Totals

 

1,500,000

 

31,736,111

 

 

(1,500,000

)

31,736,111

 

 

31,736,111

 

 

 

423,800

 


* Options vest and are exercisable at any time after the date on which they meet the vesting conditions as described above

 

Options2.Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki currently holds 125,000,000 unlisted options issued as the sub-underwriter during the capital raise process in October 2019. Hence, the unlisted options have been accounted for as part of transactions costs to equity and are not issued as a part of his remuneration.

 

We3.Mr. Peter Rubinstein currently holds 125,000,000 unlisted options issued as the sub-underwriter during the capital raise process in October 2019. Hence, the unlisted options have been accounted for as part of transactions costs to equity and are not issued as a part of his remuneration.

Options

The Company introduced a Staff Share Plan on November 30, 2001. On November 19, 2008, the shareholders of the Company approved the introduction of a new Employee Option Plan. Collectively, these Plans establish the eligibility of our employees and those of any subsidiaries, and of consultants and independent contractors to a participating company who are declared by the Board to be eligible, to participate. Broadly speaking, the respective Plans permits us, at the discretion of the Board, to issue traditional options (with an exercise price). The Plans conform to the IFSA Executive Share and Option Scheme Guidelines and, where participation is to be made available to staff who reside outside Australia, there may have to be modifications to the terms of grant to meet or better comply with local laws or practice.

As of June 30, 2017,2020, there were 6 executiveswas 1 executive and 412 employees who held options that had been granted under the Company’s respective option plans. Options issued under the Plan carry no rights to dividends and no voting rights.

 

Options issued under the Plans during the following financial years are as follows:

Year ended June 30, 2015:

During the year ended June 30, 2015, a total of 6,875,000 options over the Company’s ordinary shares were issued to certain employees of the Group.  Each option, which was issued at no charge, entitles the holder to acquire one ordinary share in the Company at exercise price of $0.04 each up to, and including, May 31, 2019, unless exercised before that date.  The options vest in three equal tranches after 12 months, 24 months and 36 months from the date of grant, respectively.

Also during the 2015 financial year, no options were exercised and 10,775,000 options that had previously been issued to employees were forfeited.  Option holders do not have any right, by virtue of their options, to participate in any share issue of the Company or any related body corporate.

Year ended June 30, 2016:

During the year ended June 30, 2016, a total of 33,736,111 options over the Company’s ordinary shares were issued to certain employees of the Group as follows;

Key Management Personnel (KMP)- see above for more details;  During the year there were two issues of options to KMP — the first being 24,236,111 options that were issued at no charge, and entitle the holder to acquire one ordinary share in the Company at an exercise price of $0.02 each up to, and including, November 24, 2020. The second issue was of 7,500,000 options that were issued at no charge, and entitle the holder to acquire one ordinary share in the Company at an exercise price of $0.02 each up to, and including, March 31, 2021.  All options granted to KMP during 2016 are exercisable at any time after the date on which the Option meets its vesting conditions, namely the 3 month volume weighted average price (VWAP) of shares as traded on the ASX as follows (subject to any adjustments in the vesting conditions as contained in the option terms) - further details as described in the preceding section.

Other — employees of Phenogen Sciences Inc.: During the year there were two issues of options to other employees of the Group — the first being 1,500,000 options that were issued at no charge, and entitle the holder to acquire one ordinary share in the Company at an exercise price of $0.058 each up to, and including, September 14, 2020. The second issue was of 500,000 options that were issued at no charge, and entitle the holder to acquire one ordinary share in the Company at an exercise price of $0.039 each up to, and including, January 31, 2021.  All options granted to these employees during 2016 are exercisable in three equal tranches after 12 months, 24 months and 36 months from the date of grant, respectively.

During the 2016 financial year, no options were exercised and 4,125,000 options that had previously been issued to employees were forfeited.  Option holders do not have any right, by virtue of their options, to participate in any share issue of the Company or any related body corporate.

Year ended June 30, 2017:

During the year ended June 30, 2017, a total of 22,750,000 options over the Company’s ordinary shares were issued to certain employees of the Group as follows;

Key Management Personnel (KMP) - see above for more details; 21,500,000 options were issued to KMP in February 2017.  The options were issued at no charge, and entitle the holder to acquire one ordinary share in the Company at an exercise price of $0.01 each up to, and including February 16, 2022.The options vest based on non-market performance conditions (requirement to remain employed by the Company) in three tranches commencing on the date of the 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company and then at each of the 12 and 24 month anniversaries thereafter. The fair value of each option granted is estimated by an external valuer using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model — further details as described in the preceding section

Other — employees of Phenogen Sciences Inc.: During the year 1,250,000 options were issued to a number of employees of the Company’s US Subsidiary, Phenogen Sciences Inc. The options were issued at no charge, and entitle the holder to acquire one ordinary share in the Company at an exercise price of $0.01 each up to, and including February 16, 2022. The options vest based on non-market performance conditions (requirement to remain employed by the Company) in three equal tranches commencing

on the date of the 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company and then at each of the 12 and 24 month anniversaries thereafter. The fair value of each option granted is estimated by an external valuer using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

During the 2017 financial year, no options were exercised and 1,500,000 options that had previously been issued to employees were forfeited.  Option holders do not have any right, by virtue of their options, to participate in any share issue of the Company or any related body corporate.

As of the date of this Annual Report, there was a total of 54,736,11120,500,000 unlisted employee options outstanding.

 

Options granted under the Employee Option Plan carry no rights to dividends and no voting rights and generally have an expiry date of nearly five years from the date of grant.

 

During the yearsyear ended June 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015,2020, the Company recorded a share-based payments expense in respect of the options granted of $ 120,287, $50,239A$67,542.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and $(26,536)Employees (cont.)

Unlisted Performance Rights

During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company also issued 76,250,000 long term unlisted performance right s as incentives to the Directors which were approved by the shareholders on November 29, 2018.

The following are the details of the unlisted performance rights:

26,250,000 Class A Performance rights with an exercise price of $ nil each. Vesting per resolution passed at 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and per the terms and conditions as set out below.
25,000,000 Class B Performance rights with an exercise price of $ nil each. Vesting per resolution passed at 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and per the terms and conditions as set below.
25,000,000 Class C Performance rights with an exercise price of $ nil each. Vesting per resolution passed at 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and per the terms and conditions as set out below.

During the year ended June 30, 2020, 3,750,000 Performance Rights previously issued to Mr. Xue Lee in the year ended June 30, 2019 were forfeited. Additionally, 57,500,000 Performance Rights previously issued to Dr. Paul Kasian in the year ended June 30, 2019 were forfeited in the year ended June 30, 2020. Due to the forfeiture of Performance Rights, a reversal amounting to A$81,984 relating to previously expensed amounts was accounted for during the current reporting period.

The Company has accounted for these Performance Rights in accordance with its accounting policy for share-based payment transactions and has recorded net reversal of A$43,484 of associated expense in the current year end (2019: A$104,441).

 

Based on the independent valuation of the performance rights, the company agrees that the total value of the performance rights to be issued to each director (depending on the share price at issue) is as follows:

Valuation of Class A Performance Rights

Performance rights vested during the year

  Number of Performance Rights issued  Valuation per Class A (cents)  Total fair value of Class A Performance Rights  Expense accounted for during the year 
Dr. Lindsay Wakefield  3,750,000   0.77  A$28,875  A$9,625 
Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki  6,250,000   0.77  A$48,125  A$16,042 
Mr. Peter Rubinstein  5,000,000   0.77  A$38,500  A$12,833 
Total  15,000,000      A$115,500  A$38,500 

Performance rights cancelled/forfeited during the year

Mr. Xue Lee2  3,750,000   0.77  A$28,875  A$(5,616) 
Dr. Paul Kasian  7,500,000   0.77  A$57,750  A$(11,229) 
Total  11,250,000      A$86,625  A$(16,845) 

Valuation of Class B Performance Rights

  Number of Performance Rights issued Valuation per Class B (cents) Total fair value of Class B Performance Rights Expense accounted for during the year
Dr Paul Kasian1  25,000,000   0.57  A$142,500  A$(37,431) 

Valuation of Class C Performance Rights

  Number of Performance Rights issued Valuation per Class C (cents) Total fair value of Class C Performance Rights Expense accounted for during the year
Dr Paul Kasian1  25,000,000   0.57  A$142,500  A$(37,431) 

Notes:

1 Dr. Paul Kasian resigned on September 24, 2019.

2 Mr. Xue Lee resigned on July 9, 2019

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees (cont.)

The following is the reconciliation of Performance Rights for the year ended June 30, 2020 held by Key Management Personnel:

Performance Rights Balance at start of the year  Granted as remuneration  Exercised  Other Changes1  Balance at the end of year 
Dr Lindsay Wakefield  3,750,000           -           -   -   3,750,000 
Mr Peter Rubinstein  5,000,000   -   -   -   5,000,000 
Mr Xue Lee
(resigned on July 9, 2019)
  3,750,000   -   -   (3,750,000)  - 
Mr Nicholas Burrows
(appointed September 2, 2019)
  -   -   -   -   - 
Dr Paul Kasian
(resigned on September 24, 2019)
  57,500,000   -   -   (57,500,000)  - 
Dr Jerzy Muchnicki  6,250,000   -   -   -   6,250,000 
Dr Richard Allman  -   -   -   -   - 
Mr Stanley Sack
(appointed May 18, 2020)
  -   -   -   -   - 
Mr Phillip Hains
(appointed July 15, 2019)
  -   -   -   -   - 
Total  76,250,000   -   -   (61,250,000)  15,000,000 

Notes

1. Performance rights issued to Dr Paul Kasian and Mr Xue Lee have forfeited since they resigned from the posts in the current financial year.

The Performance Rights are not currently quoted on the ASX and as such have no ready market value. The Performance Rights each grant the holder a right of grant of one ordinary Share in the Company upon vesting of the Performance Rights for nil consideration. Accordingly, the Performance Rights may have a present value at the date of their grant. Various factors impact upon the value of Performance Rights including:

the period outstanding before the expiry date of the Performance Rights;
the underlying price or value of the securities into which they may be converted;
the proportion of the issued capital as expanded consequent upon conversion of the Performance Rights into Shares (i.e. whether or not the shares that might be acquired upon exercise of the options represent a controlling or other significant interest); and
the value of the shares into which the Performance Rights may be converted.

There are various formulae which can be applied to determining the theoretical value of options (including the formula known as the Black-Scholes Model valuation formula and the Monte Carlo simulation).

The Company has commissioned an independent valuation of the Performance Rights. The independent valuer has applied the Monte Carlo simulation in providing the valuation of the Performance Rights.

Inherent in the application of the Monte Carlo simulation are a number of inputs, some of which must be assumed. The data relied upon in applying the Monte Carlo simulation was:

a)exercise price being 0.0 cents per Performance Right for all classes;
b)VWAP hurdle (10 days consecutive share price hurdle) equaling A$0.02 for Class A and Class B and A$0.033 for Class C Performance Rights;
c)the continuously compounded risk free rate being 2.02% for all classes of Performance Rights (calculated with reference to the RBA quoted Commonwealth Government bonds as at October 8, 2018 of similar duration to that of the expected life of each class of Performance Right);
d)the expected option life of 2.8 years for all classes of Performance Rights; and
e)a volatility measure of 80%.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees (cont.)

Performance hurdles

The Class A Performance Rights vest and are exercisable upon the Share price reaching $0.02 or greater for more than 10-day consecutive ASX trading days.

The Directors, being the recipients of the Performance Rights, must remained engaged by the Company at the time of satisfaction of the performance hurdle in order for the relevant Performance Right to vest.

The unlisted performance rights granted and outstanding as of June 30, 2020 under the Plans are as follows:

  2019  Fair Value  Expiration Date
Director          
Mr. Peter Rubinstein (Class A)  5,000,000  A$38,500  11-Dec-2021
Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki (Class A)  6,250,000  A$48,125  11-Dec-2021
Mr. Lindsay Wakefield (Class A)  3,750,000  A$28,875  11-Dec-2021
Balance at the end of the financial year  15,000,000  A$115,500   

The Company has accounted for these Performance Rights in accordance with its accounting policy for share-based payment transactions and has recorded net reversal of A$43,484 of associated expense in the current year end (2019: A$104,441).

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees (cont.)

This share basedshare-based payment expense is included within selling and marketing costs, general and administrative costs, licensing, patent and legal costs, and laboratory research and development costs in the statement of comprehensive income/ (loss). The following is additional information relating to the options granted under the respective Plans and as of June 30, 2017:2020:

 

 

 

Options outstanding

 

Options exercisable

 

Range of

exercise

prices

 

Number of
options

 

Weighted

average exercise

price

 

Remaining weighted

average contractual

life (years)

 

Number of
options

 

Weighted average
exercise price

 

$0.01 - $0.10

 

54,736,111

 

$

0.016

 

3.96

 

15,868,056

 

$

0.020

 

$0.11 - $0.20

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

54,736,111

 

$

0.016

 

3.96

 

15,868,056

 

$

0.020

 

     Options outstanding  Options exercisable 
        Remaining       
     Weighted  weighted     Weighted 
     average  average     average 
  Number of  exercise  contractual  Number of  exercise 
Range of exercise prices options  price  life (years)  options  price 
$0.011 - $0.020  20,500,000  $0.015   0.03   20,500,000  $0.015 
   20,500,000  $0.015   0.03   20,500,000  $0.015 

 

The following is additional information relating to the options granted under the respective Plans as of June 30, 2016:

  Performance rights outstanding  Performance
rights exercisable
 
        Remaining       
     Weighted average  Weighted average     Weighted 
  Number of  exercise  contractual  Number of  average 
Range of exercise prices options  price  life (years)  Perf. rights  exercise price 
 $0.00 - $0.00  15,000,000  $0.000   1.58   15,000,000  $0.00 
   15,000,000  $0.000   1.58   15,000,000  $0.00 

 

 

 

Options outstanding

 

Options exercisable

 

Range of

exercise

prices

 

Number of

options

 

Weighted

average exercise

price

 

Remaining weighted

average contractual

life (years)

 

Number of

options

 

Weighted average

exercise price

 

$0.01 - $0.10

 

33,486,111

 

$

0.022

 

4.47

 

83,333

 

$

0.040

 

$0.11 - $0.20

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

33,486,111

 

$

0.022

 

4.47

 

83,333

 

$

0.040

 

49

The following is additional information relating to the options granted under the respective Plans as of June 30, 2015:

 

 

Options outstanding

 

Options exercisable

 

Range of

exercise

prices

 

Number of

options

 

Weighted

average exercise

price

 

Remaining weighted

average contractual

life (years)

 

Number of

options

 

Weighted average

exercise price

 

$0.01 - $0.10

 

1,125,000

 

$

0.040

 

3.92

 

 

$

 

$0.11 - $0.20

 

2,750,000

 

$

0.182

 

1.21

 

2,666,667

 

$

0.183

 

 

 

3,875,000

 

$

0.140

 

2.00

 

2,666,667

 

$

0.183

 

The fair value for the options issued to employees was estimated at the date of grant using either a Monte Carlo simulation analysis or Black-Scholes option pricing valuation model;

 

KeyItem 6. Directors, Senior Management Personnel (KMP) —and Employees (cont.) with the following range of assumptions for June 30:

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

Risk Free Interest Rate

 

2.19%

 

1.93% to 2.22%

 

 

Expected Dividend Yield

 

 

 

 

Historic and Expected Volatility

 

60%

 

80%

 

 

Option Exercise Prices

 

$0.010

 

$0.020

 

 

Weighted Average Exercise Price

 

$0.010

 

$0.020

 

 

Expected Lives

 

4.50 years

 

4.50 years

 

 

Valuation Model

 

Black-Scholes

 

Monte Carlo

 

 

Other — employees of Phenogen Sciences Inc.: with the following range of assumptions for June 30:

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

Risk Free Interest Rate

 

2.19%

 

1.93% to 2.22%

 

2.81%

 

Expected Dividend Yield

 

 

 

 

Historic and Expected Volatility

 

60%

 

80%

 

80%

 

Option Exercise Prices

 

$0.010

 

$0.039 to $0.058

 

$0.040

 

Weighted Average Exercise Price

 

$0.010

 

$0.053

 

$0.040

 

Expected Lives

 

4.50 years

 

4.40 years

 

3.83 years

 

Valuation Model

 

Black-Scholes

 

Black-Scholes

 

Black-Scholes

 

Modification of share-based payment arrangements

 

In February 2017, the Company modified the vesting conditions of the 31,736,111 options granted to KMP during 2016 from that of market related share price growth to non-market conditions of continuing employment with the Company, vesting in two equal tranches on the 30 June 3017 and 30 June 2018. All other vesting conditions attached to these option, including Option exercise price and expiry date remained unchanged. The fair value of the options at the date of the modification was $358,131 less than the original fair value, primarily as a result of the reduced share price at date of revaluation, as follows;

 

 

Fair Value Post Modification

 

Fair Value Pre Modification

 

Grant Date

 

1 April 2016

 

25 Nov 2015

 

1 April 2016

 

25 Nov 2015

 

Options issued

 

7,500,000

 

24,236,111

 

7,500,000

 

24,236,111

 

Dividend yield

 

 

 

 

 

Historic volatility and expected volatility

 

60%

 

60%

 

80%

 

80%

 

Option exercise price

 

$0.020

 

$0.020

 

$0.020

 

$0.020

 

Weighted average exercise price

 

$0.020

 

$0.020

 

$0.020

 

$0.020

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

2.08%

 

2.02%

 

1.93%

 

2.22%

 

Expected life of an option

 

3.6 years

 

3.3 years

 

4.3 years

 

4.5 years

 

Model used

 

Black-Scholes

 

Black-Scholes

 

Monte Carlo

 

Monte Carlo

 

In line with the relevant accounting standards, the reduction in fair value of the options will not be recognized, with the expense of the original option grant to continue to be recognized as if the terms had not been modified.

Indemnification and Insurance with respect to Directors

 

We are obligated pursuant to an indemnity agreement, to indemnify the current Directors and executive officers and former Directors against all liabilities to third parties that may arise from their position as Directors or officers of the Company and our controlled entities, except where to do so would be prohibited by law. In addition, wethe Company does currently carry insurance in respect of Directors’ and officers’ liabilities for current and former Directors, Company Secretary and executive officers or employees.employees under certain circumstances as specified in the insurance policy.

 

Item 6.CBoard Practices

 

The Board of Directors

 

Under ourthe Company’s Constitution, ourits Board of Directors is required to comprise at least three Directors. As of the date of this Annual Report, our Board comprised fivefour Directors.

 

The role of the Board includes:

(a)                 Reviewing and making recommendations in remuneration packages and policies applicable to directors, senior executives and consultants.

 

(b)                 Nomination of external auditors and reviewing the adequacy of external audit arrangements.

(c)                  Establishing the overall internal control framework over financial reporting, quality and integrity of personnel and investment appraisal.  In establishing an appropriate framework, the board recognized that no cost effective internal control systems will preclude all errors and irregularities.

(d)                 Establishing and maintaining appropriate ethical standards in dealings with business associates, suppliers, advisers and regulators, competitors, the community and other employees.

(e)                  Identifying areas of significant business risk and implementing corrective action as soon as practicable after a risk is identified.

(f)                   Nominating of audit and remuneration committee members.

(a)Reviewing and making recommendations in remuneration packages and policies applicable to directors, senior executives and consultants.
(b)Nomination of external auditors and reviewing the adequacy of external audit arrangements.
(c)Establishing the overall internal control framework over financial reporting, quality and integrity of personnel and investment appraisal. In establishing an appropriate framework, the board recognized that no cost-effective internal control systems will preclude all errors and irregularities.
(d)Establishing and maintaining appropriate ethical standards in dealings with business associates, suppliers, advisers and regulators, competitors, the community and other employees.
(e)Identifying areas of significant business risk and implementing corrective action as soon as practicable after a risk is identified.
(f)Nominating audit and remuneration committee members.

 

The Board meets to discuss business regularly throughout the year, with additional meetings being held when circumstances warrant. Included in the table below are details of the meetings of the Board and the sub-committees of the Board that were held during the 20172020 financial year.

 

 

 

Directors’ meetings

 

Audit Committee meetings

 

Remuneration Committee

meetings

 

 

 

Attended

 

Eligible

 

Attended

 

Eligible

 

Attended

 

Eligible

 

Dr Malcolm Brandon

 

10

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Eutillio Buccilli

 

10

 

11

 

 

 

2

 

2

 

Mr. Grahame Leonard A.M.

 

10

 

11

 

4

 

4

 

 

 

Dr Paul Kasian

 

11

 

11

 

4

 

4

 

2

 

2

 

Dr Lindsay Wakefield

 

10

 

11

 

4

 

4

 

2

 

2

 

  Directors’ meetings Audit Committee meetings Remuneration
Committee meetings
  Attended Eligible Attended Eligible Attended Eligible
Dr. Lindsay Wakefield 12 12 7 7 1 1
Dr. Paul Kasian1 2 2 2 - 1 -
Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki 12 12 7 - 1 -
Mr. Peter Rubinstein 12 12 7 7 1 1
Mr. Nicholas Burrows2 9 9 4 4 1 1
Mr. Xue Lee³ - - - - - -

1Dr. Paul Kasian - resigned September 24, 2019
2Mr. Nicholas Burrows - appointed on September 2, 2019
3Mr. Xue Lee - resigned on July 9, 2019

50

 

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees (cont.)

Committees of the Board

 

The Board has established an Audit Committee which operates under a specific Charter approved by the Board. It is the Board’s responsibility to ensure that an effective internal control framework exists within the entity. This includes internal controls to deal with both the effectiveness and efficiency of significant business processes, the safeguarding of assets, the maintenance of proper accounting records, and the reliability of financial information as well as non-financial considerations such as the benchmarking of operational key performance indicators.

 

The Board has delegated the responsibility for the establishment and maintenance of a framework of internal control and ethical standards for the management of the GroupCompany to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also provides the Board with assurance regarding the reliability of financial information for inclusion in the financial reports. AllAs at date of this report, one of the members of the Audit Committee areis an independent Non-Executive Directors.

 

The Remuneration Committee is, amongst other things, responsible for determining and reviewing remuneration arrangements for the Directors, the Interim Chief Executive Officer and the Senior Leadership Team. The majorityChairman of the Committee is comprised ofan independent directors.non-executive director.

 

The Remuneration Committee assesses the appropriateness of the nature and amount of remuneration paid to Directors and Executives on a periodic basis by reference to relevant employment market conditions, with the overall objective of ensuring maximum shareholder benefit from the retention of a high quality Board and Senior Leadership Team.senior leadership team.

Committee membership

 

As at the date of this Report, the composition of these two Sub-Committees are:

 

Audit Committee:

Mr. Grahame Leonard AMNicholas Burrows — Chairman of the

Committee (appointed October 2019)

Dr Paul Kasian

Mr. Peter Rubinstein

DrDr. Lindsay Wakefield

Remuneration Committee:

Dr Lindsay Wakefield — Chairman of the Committee

Dr Paul Kasian

Mr. Peter Rubinstein

Mr. Eutillio Buccilli

Nicholas Burrows

 

51

As an executive, Mr. Buccilli does not take part in deliberations pertaining to his own remuneration.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees (cont.)

 

Compliance with NASDAQNasdaq Rules

 

NASDAQNasdaq listing rules require that wethe Company disclose the home country practices that we will follow in lieu of compliance with NASDAQNasdaq corporate governance rules. The following describes the home country practices and the related NASDAQNasdaq rule:

 

Majority of Independent Directors: We followThe Company follows home country practice rather than NASDAQ’sNasdaq’s requirement in Marketplace Rule 4350(c) (1) that the majority of the Board of each issuer be comprised of independent directors as defined in Marketplace Rule 4200. As of the date of this Annual Report, with there were three independent Directors namely Mr. Nick Burrows, Mr. Peter Rubinstein and Dr. Lindsay Wakefield which led to our Board of Directors comprisesbeing comprised of a majority of independent directors.

 

Compensation of Officers: We followThe Company follows home country practice rather than NASDAQ’sNasdaq’s requirement in Marketplace Rule 4350(c)(3) that chief executive compensation be determined or recommended to the Board by the majority of independent directors or a compensation committee of independent directors. Similarly, compensation of other officers is not determined or recommended to the Board by a majority of the independent directors or a compensation committee comprised solely of independent directors. These decisions are made by ourthe Company’s remuneration committee which is comprised of a majority of independent directors.committee.

 

Nomination: WeThe Company follow home country practice rather than NASDAQ’sNasdaq’s requirement in Marketplace Rule 4350(c)(4) that director nominees be selected or recommended by a majority of the independent directors or by a nominations committee comprised of independent directors. These decisions are made by ourthe Company’s full Board which is comprised of a majority of independent directors.  directors which constitute Mr. Nick Burrows, Mr. Peter Rubinstein and Dr. Lindsay Wakefield.

The ASX does not have a requirement that each listed issuer have a nominations committee or otherwise follow the procedures embodied in NASDAQ’sNasdaq’s Marketplace Rule. Furthermore, no law, rule or regulation of the ASIC has such a requirement nor does the applicable corporate law legislation. Accordingly, selections or recommendations of director nominees by a committee that is not comprised of a majority of directors that are not independent is not prohibited by the laws of Australia.

 

Quorum: We followThe Company follows home country practice rather than NASDAQ’sNasdaq’s requirement in Marketplace Rule 4350(f) that each issuer provideprovides for a quorum of at least 33 1/3 percent of the outstanding shares of the issuer’s ordinary stock (voting stock). Pursuant to ourthe Company’s Constitution we areit is currently required to have a quorum for a general meeting of three persons. The practice followed by usthe Company is not prohibited by Australian law.

 

Shareholder Approval for Capital Issuance: We haveThe Company has elected to follow certain home country practices in lieu of NASDAQNasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635. For example, the Company is entitled to an annual 15% of capital placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 without shareholder approval. If this amount of annual entitlement is aggregated with an additional placement of ordinary shares,Ordinary Shares, including through the grant of options over ordinary shares,Ordinary Shares, that exceeds 20% of the outstanding share capital, only the excess over the 15% annual allowance requires shareholder approval under Australian law. Such home country practice is not prohibited by the laws of Australia.

 

Item 6.D EmployeesEmployees

 

As of the date of this Annual Report, the GroupCompany comprising the Company and its subsidiaries, employed 1613 full-time equivalent employees. The number of full-time equivalent employees as of the end of each respective financial year ended June 30 are as follows:

 

2017

 

20

2016

 

25

2015

 

23

2020  13 
2019  13 
2018  15 

52

 

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees (cont.)

Item 6.EShare Ownership

 

The relevant interest of the directors in the share capital of the Company as notified by them to the Australian Securities Exchange in accordance with section 205G(1) of the Corporations Act 2001as of the date of this Annual Report   is as follows:

Director

 

Ordinary shares

 

Percentage of Capital held

 

Dr. Malcolm R. Brandon

 

 

N/A

 

Eutillio Buccilli

 

 

N/A

 

Dr. Paul Kasian

 

256,410

 

0.010

%

Grahame Leonard A.M.

 

6,000,000

 

0.250

%

Dr. Lindsay Wakefield

 

8,325,263

 

0.342

%

 

Notes:             As of the date of this Annual Report, Dr Wakefield has an indirect interest in 8,333,333 options over Ordinary Shares and Mr Buccilli has a direct interest in 14,236,111 options granted to him under the employee share option scheme.

Director 

Ordinary

shares

  Percentage of
Capital held
 
Dr. Lindsay Wakefield  9,418,104   0.11%
Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki  263,085,885   3.18%
Mr. Peter Rubinstein  308,132,009   3.73%
Mr. Nicholas Burrows  1,670,000   0.02%

 

Item 7.Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

 

Item 7.AMajor Shareholders

 

As at the date of this Annual Report, there is one shareholderwere no shareholders who is the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our voting securities;

Renaissance Technologies LLC holds 942,180 ADS’s, being the equivalent of 141,327,000 ordinary shares or 5.8% of the issued share capital of the Company.securities.

 

The number of Ordinary Shares on issue in Genetic Technologies as of the date of this Annual Report was 2,435,282,724.8,261,726,743. The number of holders of Ordinary Shares in Genetic Technologies as of the date of this Annual Report was approximately 2,927.4,564 (October 7, 2020).

 

The Company is not aware of any direct or indirect ownership or control of it by another corporation(s), by any foreign government or by any other natural or legal person(s) severally or jointly. Principal shareholders do not enjoy any special or different voting rights from those to which other holders of Ordinary Shares are entitled. The Company does not know of any arrangements, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.

 

Record Holders

As of October 7, 2020, there were 4,564 holders of record of our ordinary shares, of which 33 record holders, holding approximately 0.072% of our ordinary shares, had registered addresses in the United States. These numbers are not representative of the number of beneficial holders of our shares nor are they representative of where such beneficial holders reside, since many of these ordinary shares were held of record by brokers or other nominees. The majority of trading by our U.S. investors is done by means of ADSs that are held of record by HSBC Custody Nominees Ltd., which held 72.07% of our ordinary shares as of such date.

Item 7.BRelated Party Transactions

 

During the year ended June 30, 2017,2020, the only transactions between entities within the GroupCompany and other related parties occurred, are as listed below. Except where noted, all amounts were charged on similar to market terms and at commercial rates.

 

Phenogen Sciences Inc.Transactions within the Company and with other related parties

 

During the year ended June 30, 2017, Phenogen Sciences Inc., a subsidiary, purchased testing services from Genetic Technologies Corporation Pty. Ltd., another subsidiary2020, the only transactions between entities within the Company and other related parties occurred, are as listed below. Except where noted, all amounts were charged on similar to market terms and at a cost of $74,762 (2016: $91,676). This transaction is eliminated on consolidation of the Company’s accountscommercial rates.

53

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions (Cont.)

 

Debt convertible notesBlockchain Global Limited

 

As describedannounced by the Company on February 15, 2018, a non-binding terms sheet with Blockchain Global Limited(BCG) was entered to provide a framework for continuing discussions between the two companies, with the proposed transaction being subject to shareholder approval (by non-associated Shareholders); and as announced by the Company on August 2, 2018, a framework agreement with BCG was entered formalizing the non-binding terms sheet and providing a framework for a strategic alliance between the Company and BCG, with the agreement became binding on November 29, 2018 upon receiving the requisite shareholder approval. The agreement proposed the issue of 486 million shares to BCG in Note 173 tranches subject to the achievement of certain milestones. No shares have been issued under the framework agreements and no milestones have been achieved. Any rights to the 486 million milestone shares lapsed between December 27, 2019 and June 27, 2020.

The Company has accounted for these share issuances in accordance with its accounting policy for share-based payment transactions and has not recorded any associated expense in the current year given performance conditions have not been met and are not currently considering any Blockchain related projects.

A number of Directors of the Financial Report,Company presently or previously have had involvement with BCG. Mr. Xue Lee has a direct and indirect equity interest and was a CEO and managing director of BCG. Mr. Peter Rubinstein held a minority shareholding in the entity and was also a director in BCG. Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki has a direct and indirect interest in BCG. Dr. Paul Kasian was previously a director of BCG until July 2018.

54

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions (Cont.)

Performance Rights Issuance

After receiving requisite shareholder approval on November 29, 2018, the Company has issued 76,250,000 performance rights to Directors of the Company as follows:

● 7,500,000 Class A Performance Rights, 25,000,000 Class B Performance Rights and 25,000,000 Class C Performance Rights to Dr. Paul Kasian

● 3,750,000 Class A Performance Rights to Dr Lindsay Wakefield

● 6,250,000 Class A Performance Rights to Dr Jerzy Muchnicki

● 5,000,000 Class A Performance Rights to Mr Peter Rubinstein

● 3,750,000 Class A Performance Rights to Mr Xue Lee

During the year, 3,750,000 Performance Rights previously issued to Mr. Xue Lee in the year ended June 30, 2019 were forfeited during the year ended June 30, 20152020. Additionally, 57,500,000 Performance Rights previously issued to Dr. Paul Kasian in the year ended June 30, 2019 were forfeited in the year ended June 30, 2020. Due to the forfeiture of Performance Rights, a reversal amounting to A$81,984 relating to previously expensed amounts was accounted for during the current reporting period.

The Company has accounted for these performance rights in accordance with its accounting policy for share-based payment transactions and has recorded net reversal of A$43,484 of associated expense in the current year end

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions (Cont.)

Blockshine Health Joint Venture

The Company, via its subsidiary Gene Ventures Pty Ltd, entered into a joint venture with Blockshine Technology Corporation (BTC). The joint venture company, called Blockshine Health, was to pursue and develop blockchain opportunities in the biomedical sector. Blockshine Health was to have full access to BTC’s technology (royalty free) as well as all of its opportunities in the biomedical sector. The Company invested $250,000 into the joint venture in the year ended June 30, 2019 and held 49% equity stake. The Joint Venture agreement was subsequently cancelled and the investment of $250,000 was impaired in the year ended June 30, 2019.

During the year ended June 30, 2020, the Company finalizedmanaged to transfer $43,380 back to its account from Blockshine Health and as a result partially recovered its investment in Blockshine Health, its joint venture investment, which was previously fully impaired in the raisingyear ended June 30, 2019.

Genetic Technologies HK Limited and Aocheng Genetic Technologies Co. Ltd - Joint Venture

In August 2018, the Company announced a Heads of $2,150,000Agreement had been reached with Representatives of the Hainan Government - Hainan Ecological Smart City Company (“HESCG”), a Chinese industrial park development & operations company have formally invited Genetic Technologies Limited (“GTG”) to visit the Hainan Medical Pilot Zone to conduct a formal review and discuss opportunities for market entry into China via the issue of unlisted secured (debt) notesHainan Free Trade Zone initiative. The invitation was extended to existing and new Australian institutional and wholesale investors. The debt notes carried a 10.0% coupon rate, and as approved atGTG via Beijing Zishan Health Consultancy Limited (“Zishan”), demonstrating the Annual General Meeting, held on November 25, 2014, became convertible notes which could convert into ordinary shares (at a 10.0% discountpotential for growth presented by the proposed Joint Venture between the parties (as announced to the 5 day VWAP)market on August 14, 2018). These convertible notes also carry free attached

56

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions (Cont.)

Subsequently, the Company announced the official formation of Genetic Technologies HK Limited and Aocheng Genetic Technologies Co. Ltd in Hong Kong to the market on March 27, 2019.

The Company’s previous Chairman, Dr. Paul Kasian was named in the formation Heads of Agreement document to be the Chairman of the Joint Venture entity. At June 30, 2020, Genetic Technologies HK Limited has 100% ownership of Hainan Aocheng Genetic Technologies Co. Limited. At this time, no Directors fees or emoluments have been paid to Dr. Kasian, nor have agreements regarding fees been reached.

Issuance of options to purchase further sharesdirectors towards sub-underwriting the capital raise

As announced on October 4, 2019, the Company undertook an underwritten non-renounceable pro-rata entitlement offer at an Issue Price of 0.4 cents per new share.

On October 11, 2019, the Company updated the market to advise that the offer was from that time agreed to be underwritten by Lodge Corporate Pty Ltd and that two of the Company’s directors (Mr. Peter Rubinstein and Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki), had agreed to sub-underwrite the offer. Both directors, in conjunction with the underwriter Lodge Corporate Pty Ltd, subsequently agreed amongst themselves to alter the respective sub-underwritten amounts, but the total to be sub-written between them (A$2 million) remained same, as did the total underwritten amount (of A$4 million).

Accordingly, the underwritten offer subsequently was sub-underwritten by Peter Rubinstein and Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki (each as up to A$1 million) in conjunction with a consortium of non-associated wholesale investors (also as sub-underwriters) who in aggregate equate to the underwritten amount of A$4 million, each in accordance with the terms of their separate sub-underwriting agreements with Lodge Corporate Pty Ltd (each a Sub-Underwriting Agreement).

Dr. Muchnicki and Mr. Rubinstein reflecting the amount of their sub-writing commitment were to be granted on the same terms as all options to be granted to the relevant sub-underwriters. The number of options issued to both directors was calculated as 1 Option for every 2 Shares being sub-underwritten and were issued a total of 125,000,000 unlisted options to each of the directors.

As announced on October 11, 2019, within the rights issue offer document, upon exercise each such option converts into 1 fully paid share on terms consistent with the ASX Listing Rules; with a 3-year expiry date from grant and with an exercise price per underwriter and sub-underwriter option equal to the lower of:

● A$0.008 ; and

● The implicit price per share at which any raise done by Aegis capital within 3 months from the company’s shareholder meeting.

but in any event with a floor exercise price equal to A$0.004.

Mr. Phillip Hains (Chief Financial Officer)

On July 15, 2019, the Company announced that it had appointed Mr. Phillip Hains (MBA, CA) as the Chief Financial Officer who has over 30 years of extensive experience in roles with a portfolio of ASX and NASDAQ listed companies and provides CFO services through his firm The CFO Solution. Prior to this point the Company had a similar arrangement with The CFO Solution, where it would engage and provided services of overall CFO, accounting and other finance related activities.

During the reporting period, the company had transactions valued at A$527,724 (2019: A$45,459) with The CFO Solution towards provision of overall CFO, accounting and other finance related activities.

Mr. Stanley Sack (Chief Operating Officer)

On May 18, 2020, the Company appointed Mr. Stanley Sack who provides consulting in the capacity of Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Sack has spent 15 years in large listed entities in executive positions managing large business divisions. He has worked with a high net worth family managing all their operating businesses and private equity activities. Mr. Sack built an Allied Health Business in the aged care and community care space which became the biggest Mobile Allied Health Business in Australia and was recently sold to a large medical insurance company.

During the reporting period, the Company had transactions valued at A$38,500 (2019: Nil) with Mr. Stanley Sack’s entity, Cobben Investments, towards provision of consulting services in relation to provision of duties related to Chief Operating Officer of the Company.

 

$125,000Mr. Peter Rubinstein (Non-Executive Director and Chairman)

During the financial year ended June 30, 2020, the board approved to obtain consulting services in relation to capital raises, compliance, Nasdaq hearings and investor relations from its Non-Executive Director and current Chairman, Mr. Peter Rubinstein. The services procured were through Mr. Peter Rubinstein’s associate entity ValueAdmin.com Pty Ltd and amounted to A$35,000 which remains payable and is included as part of these convertible notes were issuedthe cash salary and fees in the remuneration report as at June 30, 2020.

Lodge Corporate

Dr. Kasian was a director of corporate finance and corporate advisor from December 2017 to a holder associatedFebruary 2019 with Dr Lindsay Wakefield, aLodge Corporate. During the year ended, the Company director atengaged in corporate advisory services with Lodge Corporate and had transactions worth $154,224 which also included A$88,000 that related to 2% of the timeunderwriting of issue, on the same terms and conditions as other note holders.  All of these convertible notes were convertedcapital raise during the year.  The 8,333,333 shareyear ended June 30, 2020. Additionally, during the year, On March 6, 2020 the Company issued 5,000,000 options attached to these convertible notes remain unexercisedLodge Corporate Pty Ltd valued at the end of the year.A$29,340 which were in relation to capital raising costs.

 

There were no transactions with parties related to Key Management Personnel during the year other than that disclosed above.

 

57

Item 7.CInterests of Experts and Counsel

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.Financial Information

 

Item 8.AConsolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

 

The information included in Item 18 of this Annual Report is referred to and referenced into this Item 8.A.

Litigation

58

Item 8. Financial Information (Cont.)

Legal Proceedings

We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings. From time to time, we may be a party to litigation or subject to claims incident to the ordinary course of business. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we currently believe that the final outcome of these ordinary course matters will not have a significant effect on our financial position or profitability. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other legal proceedingsfactors.

 

Australian Federal Court Patent Proceeding

In June 2010, a group of Australian plaintiffs initiated litigation in the Australian Federal Court challenging the validity of certain claims of an Australian patent owned by Myriad Genetics Inc. (Australian patent 686004 - “‘004”).  Genetic Technologies was named as a respondent to this matter by virtue of the fact that Genetic Technologies was the exclusive licensee of the BRCA patents in Australia (which includes the ‘004 patent).

This matter bears a striking resemblance to the US litigation filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against Myriad’s US patent equivalent in which a US Federal District Court ruled that isolated DNA sequences are not eligible for patent protection because of the fact that they are “products of nature”.  On July 29, 2011, Myriad successfully appealed this decision with the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals reversing the decision of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.  On March 26, 2012 the U.S. Supreme Court remanded the case back to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for reconsideration.  On August 16, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled on the Myriad in the U.S., upholding the patentability of gene patents. On June 13, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed an appeal, and found that claims for isolated genomic DNA were invalid.

On September 30, 2011, Genetic Technologies filed documents with the Australian Federal Court to the effect that the Company submits to the orders of the Court and takes no further part in the proceedings.  On February 15, 2013, the Australian Federal Court ruled in favour of Myriad Genetics in this matter.

Myriad Genetics argued that by virtue of the process of extracting the gene from the body, it had satisfied the requirements of an “invention” according to section 18(1) (a) of the Patents Act which states that an invention must be a “manner of manufacture”. Based on previous case law, the Court held that a “manner of manufacture” requires an “artificial state of affairs” of some discernible effect that is of economic significance.

That decision was subsequently appealed by one of the plaintiffs on March 4, 2013. The Full Federal Court again ruled in favour of Myriad Genetics on September 5, 2014. The decision by the court leaves intact its earlier ruling that isolated gene sequences, even if they contain the same information as DNA sequences in the body, become a manufactured object as a result of the isolation process, conferring on them an “artificial state”, and making them patentable.

On September 16, 2014, the plaintiff sought special leave to appeal from the Full Federal Court’s decision to the High Court of Australia, which was granted on February 13, 2015. The plaintiff filed a formal appeal to the High Court shortly thereafter, on February 27, 2015. Genetic Technologies did not contest the special leave application or the appeal to the High Court.

On October 7, 2015 the High Court found claims 1 to 3 (directed to isolated gene sequences) of the ‘004 patent invalid. The High Court held that whether or not an invention is an “artificial state of affairs” is not the only factor relevant to whether a patent defines a manner of manufacture. The High Court took into account a number of other policy considerations, including:

a.              whether patentability of the invention is consistent with the overarching purposes of the Patents Act (i.e., stimulating, rather than chilling, innovation);

b.              whether patentability of the invention would enhance or detract from the coherence of the law relating to inherent patentability;

c.               whether patentability of the invention is consistent with Australia’s international obligations and the patent laws of other countries; and

d.              whether patentability of the class of invention as claimed would involve law-making of a kind that should be done by the legislature;

before concluding that claims 1 to 3 of the ‘004 patent did not define a manner of manufacture.

The challenge by the plaintiffs did not affect the validity of the remaining claims (4-30) of the ‘004 Patent. While the ‘004 patent reached the end of its 20 year term and therefore expired on August 11, 2015, similar claims in other, subsisting patents (including those directed to probes and methods for diagnostic testing relating to specific genes) remain enforceable, affording a monopoly over many uses of gene sequences.

Dividends

 

Until our businesses are profitable beyond our expected research and development needs, our Directors are unlikely to be able to recommend that any dividend be paid to our shareholders. Our Directors will not resolve a formal dividend policy until we generate profits. Our current intention is to reinvest our income in the continued development and expansion of our businesses.

 

Item 8.BSignificant Changes to Financial Information

Our consolidated financial statements are set out on pages F1 to F41 of this Annual Report (refer to Item 18).

Significant other changes

·                  Contributed equity increased by $ 7,110,049 to $ 122,382,625 as the result of a private share placement and rebate of a facility fee on previously issued shares. Details of the changes in contributed equity are disclosed in note 19 to the financial statements.

·Impairment of Assets - Slow growth rates in the market adoption of the BREVAGenplus® breast cancer risk assessment test contributing to net losses represented an impairment triggering event in the first half of the year. The Group performed an impairment assessment, which resulted in a non-cash impairment of $544,694 being recognized at 31 December 2016. The Company impairs assets in accordance with AASB 136 (IAS 36) Impairment of Assets. This standard prescribes that an impairment loss must be recognized if an assets carrying value exceeds its recoverable amount (refer Note 2 for more details). Management prepares internal valuations of each asset annually (or more frequently should indicators of impairment be identified). The valuations are reviewed and consideration is given as to whether there are indicators of impairment which would warrant impairment testing

Impairment testing conducted at 30 June 2017 supports management’s assessment that the intangible asset should remain fully impaired at year end. Details of the impairment testing conducted are included in note 15 to these accounts

·                  On 17 February 2017, the Company granted a total of 22,750,000 options over ordinary shares in the Company to certain Key Management Personnel (21,750,000 options) and US employees (1,000,000 options). The options, which were granted at nil consideration, entitle the holders to acquire one ordinary share, at a strike price of $0.01 at any time up to, and including 16 February 2022, subject to certain vesting conditions.

Changes to the Board of Directors

 

There werehave been no significant changes toin the Board of Directors during the year ended June 30, 2017.

Significant events after balance date

Nasdaq notice

On July 21, 2017, the Company announced that it received a letter dated  July 19, 2017, from the Nasdaq Stock Market notifying the Company that for the last 30 consecutive business days, prior to July 18, the bid price for the Company’s ordinary shares had closed below the minimum $US1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion under Nasdaq Marketplace Listing Rules (the “Rules”).

The Notice stated that in accordance with the Rules the Company has 180 calendar days,operation or until January15, 2018, to regain compliance. To regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, the Company’s securities must meet or exceed the $US1.00 per share price for 10 consecutive business days.

This deficiency notice does not immediately affect the Company’s Nasdaq listing.

If the Company does not regain compliance with the Rules by January15, 2018, Nasdaq will determine whether the Company meets the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards for The Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the bid price requirement. If it meets the initial listing criteria and upon written noticefinancial condition of the Company of its intention to cure the deficiency, Nasdaq will notify the Company that it has been granted an additional 180 calendar days compliance period. If the Company is not eligible for an additional compliance period, Nasdaq will provide written confirmation that the Company’s securities will be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market.

The relevant Listing Rules are:-

·                  5550(a)(2) - bid price

·                  5810(c)(3)(A) - compliance period

·                  5810(b) - public disclosure

·                  5505 - Capital Market criteria

The issuance of such notices, by Nasdaq, are a matter of procedure, with the Company currently considering its position and the options available in order to regain compliance.

Comprehensive review of strategic alternatives

On August 25, 2017, the Company announced that it that it had initiated a strategic review. The comprehensive review commenced during the first half of the 2018 financial year, and is exploring a wide range of strategic alternatives that include a business combination or strategic merger, reverse merger, sale of the Company or its assets, in-licensing assets, an acquisition, or other transaction designed to maximise near and long-term value for the Company’s shareholders. Roth CapitalPartners have been retained by the Company to serve as a financial advisor in the process. The Company does not have a defined timeline for the exploration of these possible strategic alternatives and cannot provide any assurance whether or when a strategic alternative will be announced or consummated.

Sincesince June 30, 2017, there has not been any other matter or circumstance, other than as referred to elsewhere in this Annual Report, that has arisen that has significantly affected, or may significantly affect our operations, results of those operations or the state of our affairs in future years.2020.

 

Item 9.The Offer and Listing

 

Item 9.AOffer and Listing Details

 

The Company’s Ordinary Shares werehave been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (the “ASX”) in July 1987.  Set out below is the highest and lowest market quotations for the Ordinary Shares reported on the Daily Official List of the ASX since July 1, 2011.

Financial Year

 

Period Covered

 

High

 

Low

 

 

 

 

 

(in $0.00)

 

Yearly data 2013

 

Year ended June 30, 2013

 

0.150

 

0.060

 

2014

 

Year ended June 30, 2014

 

0.105

 

0.035

 

2015

 

Year ended June 30, 2015

 

0.087

 

0.012

 

2016

 

Year ended June 30, 2016

 

0.039

 

0.016

 

2017

 

Year ended June 30, 2017

 

0.021

 

0.007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarterly data 2016

 

Quarter ended September 30, 2015

 

0.035

 

0.019

 

 

 

Quarter ended December 31, 2015

 

0.039

 

0.016

 

 

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2016

 

0.027

 

0.018

 

 

 

Quarter ended June 30, 2016

 

0.024

 

0.017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

Quarter ended September 30, 2016

 

0.020

 

0.014

 

 

 

Quarter ended December 31, 2016

 

0.021

 

0.010

 

 

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2017

 

0.012

 

0.009

 

 

 

Quarter ended June 30, 2017

 

0.011

 

0.007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monthly data 2017

 

Month ended May 31, 2017

 

0.011

 

0.008

 

 

 

Month ended June 30, 2017

 

0.009

 

0.007

 

 

 

Month ended July 31, 2017

 

0.008

 

0.006

 

 

 

Month ended August 31, 2017

 

0.008

 

0.006

 

 

 

Month ended September 30, 2017

 

0.007

 

0.006

 

 

 

Period ended October 18, 2017

 

0.010

 

0.007

 

As of1987 and trade there under the date of this Annual Report, we had 2,435,282,724 Ordinary Shares on issue, without par value.  See Item 10B “Our Constitution” for a detailed description of the rights attaching to our shares and Item 12D “American Depositary Receipts” for a description of the rights attaching to the American Depositary Shares.

symbol GTG. The Company’s securities are also listed on NASDAQNasdaq’s Capital Market (under the ticker GENE) in the form of American Depositary Shares.  During January 2015, the Company undertook a reverse stock split (consolidation)Shares, each of which had the effect of resetting the ratio of 1 ADS representing 30represents 600 Ordinary shares to 1 ADS representing 150 Ordinary shares. Since listing on the NASDAQ Global Market on September 2, 2005, the ADSs have traded in a range from a low of USD 0.31 to a high of USD 13.85.  The most recent sale of the Company’s ADSs, as recorded on October 18, 2017, occurred at a price of USD 0.9405.

Following the listing of the Company’s ADRs in September 2005, our Ordinary Shares are registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and we file an Annual Report with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 20-F.  As a foreign private issuer, we are not be subject to the proxy rules under Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and our officers, Directors and principal stockholders are not subject to the insider short-swing profit disclosure and recovery provisions of Section 16 of that Act.Shares.

 

Starting in January 14, 2002, the ADSs traded in the USA over-the-counter market under the symbol “GNTLY” and dealers’ prices for the ADSs were been quoted in the “pink sheets” published by the National Quotations Bureau, Inc.  Commencing on September 2, 2005, our ADSs were listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and, subsequently, the NASDAQ Capital Market, under the ticker “GENE”.

The Company has registered one class of American Depositary Shares (ADSs) on Form F-6 pursuant to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  One ADS represents 150 Ordinary Shares without par value.  As of June 30, 2017 there was a total of 13,133,394 ADSs outstanding, representing approximately 81.05% of the Company’s total issued capital as of that date.

The table below sets forth the high and low sales prices in United States dollars for the ADSs during the periods indicated:

Financial Year

 

Period Covered

 

High

 

Low

 

 

 

 

 

(in USD)

 

Yearly data 2013

 

Year ended June 30, 2013

 

4.79

 

2.00

 

2014

 

Year ended June 30, 2014

 

1.24

 

1.00

 

2015

 

Year ended June 30, 2015

 

11.00

 

0.31

 

2016

 

Year ended June 30, 2016

 

4.27

 

1.62

 

2017

 

Year ended June 30, 2017

 

2.27

 

0.75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarterly data 2016

 

Quarter ended September 30, 2015

 

3.77

 

1.72

 

 

 

Quarter ended December 31, 2015

 

4.27

 

1.76

 

 

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2016

 

2.62

 

1.62

 

 

 

Quarter ended June 30, 2016

 

2.76

 

1.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

Quarter ended September 30, 2016

 

2.27

 

1.70

 

 

 

Quarter ended December 31, 2016

 

2.89

 

1.04

 

 

 

Quarter ended March 31, 2017

 

1.38

 

1.05

 

 

 

Quarter ended June 30, 2017

 

1.27

 

0.75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monthly data 2017

 

Month ended May 31, 2017

 

1.27

 

1.06

 

 

 

Month ended June 30, 2017

 

1.10

 

0.75

 

 

 

Month ended July 31, 2017

 

0.94

 

0.80

 

 

 

Month ended August 31, 2017

 

0.90

 

0.70

 

 

 

Month ended September 30, 2017

 

0.94

 

0.74

 

 

 

Period ended October 18, 2017

 

1.28

 

0.85

 

Item 9.BPlan of Distribution

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9.C MarketsMarkets

 

Effective September 2, 2005, our ADSs were listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker “GENE”.  Effective July 1, 2010, the ADSs were transferred to the NASDAQ Capital Market.  The ticker remained unchanged.  Our Ordinary Shares are listedSee “Item 9.A Offer and trade on the Australian Securities Exchange under the code “GTG”.Listing Details.”

 

Item 9.DSelling Shareholders

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9.E DilutionDilution

 

Not applicable.

Item 9.FExpenses of the Issue

 

Not applicable.

Item 10.Additional Information

Item 10.AShare Capital

As of June 30, 2017, we had a total of 2,435,282,724 Ordinary Shares on issue.  None of these shares were subject to any form of escrow as of that date and, as such, all of the shares were listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and were freely tradable.

Based on our review of shareholder records (based solely on the addresses), as of June 30, 2017 there were 33 U.S. resident shareholders of our Ordinary Shares holding 1,853,616 shares representing 0.080% of the total issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.  Our Ordinary Shares do not have a par value.  These figures do not include any Ordinary Shares which may be held by U.S. residents in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

During the last five years, the number of Ordinary Shares on issue has increased as follows:

Date

 

Nature of issue

 

Number of Ordinary
Shares issued / outstanding

 

Movement in share
capital / balance
$

 

As of June 30, 2012

 

 

 

464,771,819

 

83,280,142

 

October 19, 2012

 

Exercise of 10,200,000 options @ $0.045 each

 

10,200,000

 

459,000

 

January 24, 2013

 

Exercise of 500,000 options @ $0.045 each

 

500,000

 

22,500

 

April 10, 2013

 

Other transaction costs

 

 

(25,797

)

As of June 30, 2013

 

 

 

475,471,819

 

83,735,845

 

August 9, 2013

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.072

 

14,555,576

 

1,048,001

 

August 14, 2013

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.072

 

15,999,980

 

1,151,999

 

August 30, 2013

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.072

 

11,111,111

 

800,000

 

October 8, 2013

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.072

 

19,277,837

 

1,388,000

 

October 9, 2013

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.072

 

24,333,333

 

1,752,000

 

October 14, 2013

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.072

 

5,000,000

 

360,000

 

November 18, 2013

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.072

 

6,944,445

 

500,000

 

December 31, 2013

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

8,714,541

 

281,722

 

January 20, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

16,517,440

 

569,022

 

February 12, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

17,645,870

 

554,939

 

February 19, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

16,379,660

 

552,975

 

March 3, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

15,388,290

 

548,968

 

April 10, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

17,429,100

 

533,732

 

May 16, 2014

 

Shares cancelled as part of the swap deal

 

(75,937,500

)

(3,569,702

)

June 3, 2014

 

Issue of shares in respect of interest rate true up adjustment relating to March and April, under convertible notes

 

2,117,250

 

 

June 27, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

22,969,740

 

531,519

 

To November, 2013

 

Other transaction costs arising on share issue

 

 

(658,528

)

As of June 30, 2014

 

 

 

613,918,492

 

90,080,492

 

Date

 

Nature of issue

 

Number of Ordinary
Shares issued / outstanding

 

Movement in share
capital / balance
$

 

July 9, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes plus capitalized interest

 

23,227,950

 

721,403

 

August 12, 2014

 

Issue of shares for capitalized interest on convertible notes

 

5,142,450

 

 

August 20, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes plus capitalized interest

 

25,817,550

 

580,783

 

October 2, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes plus capitalized interest

 

31,637,640

 

621,139

 

October 20, 2014

 

Issue of shares for capitalized interest on convertible notes

 

4,787,190

 

 

October 31, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes plus capitalized interest

 

46,503,360

 

306,619

 

November 28, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes plus capitalized interest

 

27,655,230

 

234,192

 

December 5, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes plus capitalized interest

 

34,100,456

 

78,546

 

December 19, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes plus capitalized interest

 

8,059,599

 

102,685

 

December 29, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes plus capitalized interest

 

8,677,729

 

102,849

 

December 30, 2014

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.0135

 

19,074,112

 

257,500

 

January 9, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes plus capitalized interest

 

8,258,496

 

113,474

 

January 22, 2015

 

Facility fee pursuant to a standby equity placement facility

 

35,876,392

 

 

January 30, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.01407

 

41,933,191

 

621,450

 

January 30, 2015

 

Exercise of 26,666,667 options @ $0.015 each

 

26,666,667

 

400,000

 

February 2, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.02447

 

34,066,809

 

877,561

 

February 2, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

78,181,336

 

889,000

 

February 2, 2015

 

Issue of shares for capitalized interest on convertible notes

 

2,939,998

 

33,431

 

February 9, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.020

 

16,000,000

 

337,600

 

February 9, 2015

 

Exercise of 27,499,999 options @ $0.015 each

 

27,499,999

 

412,500

 

February 13, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

1,712,663

 

51,000

 

February 13, 2015

 

Issue of shares for capitalized interest on convertible notes

 

72,260

 

2,152

 

February 13, 2015

 

Exercise of 37,666,666 options @ $0.015 each

 

37,666,666

 

565,000

 

February 18, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.0695

 

10,500,000

 

729,750

 

February 18, 2015

 

Exercise of 8,666,667 options @ $0.015 each

 

8,666,667

 

130,000

 

February 19, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

5,868,122

 

275,000

 

February 19, 2015

 

Issue of shares for capitalized interest on convertible notes

 

257,233

 

12,054

 

February 19, 2015

 

Exercise of 13,133,333 options @ $0.015 each

 

13,133,333

 

197,000

 

February 20, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

2,713,459

 

150,000

 

February 20, 2015

 

Issue of shares for capitalized interest on convertible notes

 

119,690

 

6,616

 

February 20, 2015

 

Exercise of 2,000,000 options @ $0.015 each

 

2,000,000

 

30,000

 

February 20, 2015

 

Exercise of 7,333,334 options @ $0.015 each

 

7,333,334

 

110,000

 

March 11,2015

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.0382

 

392,670,150

 

15,000,000

 

March 11, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements @ $0.0334

 

107,329,800

 

3,584,815

 

To March 2015

 

Other transaction costs arising on share issue

 

 

(2,572,664

)

To March 2015

 

Other transaction costs on placement of shares

 

4,123,608

 

(57,736

)

As of June 30, 2015

 

 

 

1,714,191,631

 

115,247,128

 

July 23, 2015

 

Issue of shares as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

1,006,441

 

25,000

 

July 23, 2015

 

Issue of shares for capitalized interest on convertible notes

 

84,652

 

2,102

 

July 27, 2015

 

Other transaction costs arising on share issue

 

 

(1,654

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2016

 

 

 

1,715,282,724

 

115,272,576

 

Date

 

Nature of issue

 

Number of Ordinary
Shares issued / outstanding

 

Movement in share
capital / balance
$

 

December 6, 2016

 

Issue of shares as part of private placements

 

720,000,000

 

8,049,369

 

To January 2017

 

Other transaction costs arising on share issue

 

 

(1,228,129

)

March 16, 2017

 

Kentgrove Facility Fee Rebate

 

 

295,110

 

March 16, 2017

 

Other transaction costs on Kentgrove Facility Fee Rebate

 

 

(6,301

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2017

 

 

 

2,435,282,724

 

122,382,625

 

During August 2013, the Company completed the placement of 41,666,667 ordinary shares at an issue price of $0.072 per share, raising a total of $3,000,000, prior to the payment of one-off transaction costs.  A further $4,000,000 was received by the Company under its Share Purchase Plan (“SPP”), during October and November 2013, before the payment of associated costs.  At the same issue price of $0.072 per share (and after allowing for rounding), this resulted in the issue of a further 55,555,635 ordinary shares in the Company.

On September 10, 2013, the Company announced that it had executed documents with Ironridge BioPharma Co., a division of institutional investor Ironridge Global IV, Ltd. (“Ironridge”), in respect of redeemable convertible notes to raise USD 5,000,000 (the “Notes”).  The details of the Notes were provided to all shareholders in a Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting at which approval for the issue of the Notes was sought from shareholders.  This approval was subsequently received on November 29, 2013.

On December 23, 2013, the Notes were drawn down and the Company received $5,627,462 (being the Australian dollar equivalent of USD 5,000,000) from Ironridge, before the payment of associated costs.

As at June 30, 2014, Notes with a face value of USD 3,250,000 had been converted by Ironridge in return for which Ironridge received 117,161,871 ordinary shares (including ordinary shares issued in lieu of interest payment and an interest true-up adjustment). The balance of the notes were fully converted during 2015 in return for which Ironridge received 164,771,370 ordinary shares (including ordinary shares issued in lieu of interest payment).

 

During September 2014 the Company finalized the raising of $2,150,000 via the issue of unlisted secured (debt) notes to existing and new Australian institutional and wholesale investors. The debt notes carried a 10.0% coupon rate, and as approved at the Annual General Meeting, held on Item 10.A Share CapitalNovember 25, 2014, became convertible notes which could convert into ordinary shares (at a 10.0% discount to the 5 day VWAP). These convertible notes also carry free attached options to purchase further shares in the Company.

 

$2,125,000 of the convertible notes, together with the capitalized interest, had been converted into 150,961,041 ordinary shares in the Company at June 30, 2015.

On July 23, 2015 the balance of $25,000 convertible notes plus capitalized interest was converted into 1,091,093 ordinary shares in the Company.Not applicable.

 

On Item 10.B Our ConstitutionDecember 2, 2014, the Company granted a total of 143,333,333 fully vested options over ordinary shares in the Company to the holders of convertible notes. The options, which were granted at no cost, entitle the holders to acquire one ordinary share at a price of $0.015 at any time up to, and including December 2, 2018.  At June 30, 2015, 122,966,666 options had been exercised for an increase in capital of $ 1,844,500. As at the date of this report, 20,366,667 of these options remain unexercised.

 

During December 2014, the Company raised $ 257,500 from existing shareholders through the issue of 19,074,112 new shares as part of a Share Purchase Plan.

In March 2015 an additional $ 18,354,815 capital was raised at a weighted average issue price of $ 0.0372 per share from professional and sophisticated investors in the United States through an offer of 499,999,950 fully paid ordinary shares, represented by 3,333,333 with each ADS representing 150 ordinary shares).

During January 2015 year the Company entered into a standby equity placement facility with Kentgrove, an investment fund managed by Kentgrove Capital Pty Ltd.

Key terms of the Standby Equity Placement Facility:

·                 Standby equity placement facility of up to A$24,000,000 with a maturity date January 21, 2017.

·                 Multiple placements permitted.

·                 For each placement, shares are issued at a 5% discount to a volume weighted average price (VWAP) over the period of the placement.

·                 A facility fee of 2.33% of the facility amountOur registration number is payable, to be satisfied by the issue of shares. The facility fee, less 20%, will be rebated at termination or at maturity, pro rata for any amount of the facility that is unutilized.

·                 The commencement fee rebate may be paid by cash or shares.

As at June 30, 2016, the Company has issued 142,500,000 shares to Kentgrove under the standby facility for $ 2,566,361.

As of June 30, 2016 and 2015, the following outstanding unlisted options, together with their respective ASX codes and expiry dates, were convertible into Ordinary Shares.  The exercise prices are quoted in Australian dollars.

In December 2016 an additional $ 8,049,369 capital was raised at a weighted average issue price of $ 0.0113 per share from professional and sophisticated investors in the United States through an offer of 720,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares, represented by 4,800,000 ADS’s (with each ADS representing 150 ordinary shares).

In March 2017, the company received $295,110 as a rebate of a facility fee originally provided to Kentgrove Capital on commencement of a standby equity placement facility agreement entered into in January 2015 that was paid on expiry of the facility agreement on January 21, 2017 in accordance with the agreement, representing a reduction in total equity transaction costs associated with the commencement of the facility.

As of June 30, 2017 and 2016, the following outstanding unlisted options, together with their respective ASX codes and expiry dates, were convertible into Ordinary Shares.  The exercise prices are quoted in Australian dollars.

Option description

 

2017

 

Weighted ave.

exercise price

 

2016

 

Weighted ave.

exercise price

 

Unlisted employee options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GTGAA (expiring May 31, 2019)

 

 

 

250,000

 

$

0.040

 

GTGAD (expiring September 14, 2020)

 

250,000

 

$

0.058

 

1,000,000

 

$

0.058

 

GTGAD (expiring November 24, 2020)

 

24,236,111

 

$

0.020

 

24,236,111

 

$

0.020

 

GTGAD (expiring January 31, 2021)

 

 

 

500,000

 

$

0.039

 

GTGAD (expiring March 31, 2021)

 

7,500,000

 

$

0.020

 

7,500,000

 

$

0.020

 

GTGAD (expiring February 16, 2022)

 

22,750,000

 

$

0.010

 

 

 

 

 

54,736,111

 

$

0.016

 

33,486,111

 

$

0.022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unlisted options attached to convertible notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GTGAC (expiring December 2, 2018)

 

20,366,667

 

$

0.015

 

20,366,667

 

$

0.015

 

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

75,102,778

 

$

0.016

 

53,852,778

 

$

0.019

 

Exercisable at the end of the financial year

 

36,234,722

 

$

0.017

 

20,450,000

 

$

0.015

 

Item 10.B009 212 328. Our Constitution

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on November 23, 2005, the shareholders resolved to replace the existing Constitution with a revised version.  A copy of the Constitution has been posted on the Company’s website: www.gtglabs.com.  website and has been filed with the SEC.

Purposes and Objects

Our Constitution does not specify any purposes or objects of the Company.

The principal changesPowers of the Directors

Under the provisions of our Constitution our directors may exercise all of the powers of our company, other than those that are required by our Constitution or the Corporations Act of Australia to be exercised at a general meeting of shareholders. A director may participate in a meeting and vote on a proposal, arrangement or contract in which have been implementedhe or she is materially interested, so long as the director’s interest is declared in accordance with the Corporations Act. The authority of our directors to enter into borrowing arrangements on our behalf is not limited, except in the new Constitution may be summarizedsame manner as any other transaction by us.

Rights Attached to Our Ordinary Shares

The concept of authorized share capital no longer exists in Australia and as a result, our authorized share capital is unlimited. All our outstanding Ordinary Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The rights attached to our Ordinary Shares are as follows:

 

·                  General changes —Dividend rights. If our board of directors recommends a dividend, registered holders of our Ordinary Shares may declare a dividend by ordinary resolution in a general changes are proposed to makemeeting. The dividend, however, cannot exceed the Constitution consistent with best practice, update legal matters under the existing Constitution consistent with legislative and regulatory developments and to address certain content and language aspects.amount recommended by our board of directors. Our board of directors may declare an interim dividend.

 

·                  ASX Listing Rules — it providesVoting rights. Holders of Ordinary Shares have one vote for each Ordinary Share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Such voting rights may be affected by the grant of any special voting rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the Listing Rules prevailfuture.

The quorum required for an ordinary meeting of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders represented in person or by proxy who hold or represent, in the aggregate, at least one third of the voting rights of the issued share capital. A meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum generally is adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place or any time and place as the directors designate in a notice to the shareholders. At the reconvened meeting, the required quorum consists of any two members present in person or by proxy.

An ordinary resolution, such as a resolution for the declaration of dividends, requires approval by the holders of a majority of the voting rights represented at the meeting, in person, by proxy or by written ballot and voting thereon. Under our Constitution, a special resolution, such as amending our Constitution, approving any change in capitalization, winding-up, authorization of a class of shares with special rights, or other changes as specified in our Constitution, requires approval of a special majority, representing the holders of no less than 75% of the voting rights represented at the meeting in person, by proxy or by written ballot, and voting thereon.

60

Item 10. Additional Information (Cont.)

Pursuant to our Constitution, our directors are elected at our annual general meeting of shareholders by a vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented and voting at such meeting.

Rights in our profits. Our shareholders have the right to share in our profits distributed as a dividend and any other permitted distribution.

Rights in the event of any inconsistency.liquidation. In the event of our liquidation, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, our assets will be distributed to the holders of Ordinary Shares in proportion to the nominal value of their holdings. This right may be affected by the grant of preferential dividend or distribution rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future.

 

·Changing Rights Attached to Shares — it allows the Directors to issue shares subject to the Corporations Act 2001 and the Listing Rules.

·                  Proportionate takeover power — the existing Constitution has a clause in it requiring shareholder approval to be obtained before any proportionate takeover is made.  However, that clause is ineffective because it needs to have been renewed at least every three years in accordance with the requirements of the Corporations Act.  The new Constitution does not include this clause on the basis that it offers no real benefit.

 

·                  Unmarketable parcels — the newAccording to our Constitution, permits the Company to sell holdings of less than a marketable parcel in accordance with the procedural and timing requirements of the Listing Rules.  This only applies if a shareholder has an opportunity to opt out of any proposed sale arrangement and does not do so.

·                  Notice of shareholders’ meetings — the new Constitution enables notice of shareholders’ meetings to be given by electronic means.

·                  Changes to general meetings — the new Constitution enables the Directorsorder to change the venue for, and postpone or cancelrights attached to any class of shares, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the class, such change must be adopted by a general meeting ifof the shareholders and by a separate general meeting of the holders of the affected class with a majority of 75% of the voting power participating in such meeting.

Annual and Extraordinary Meetings

Our Board of Directors must convene an annual meeting of shareholders at least once every calendar year, within five months of our last fiscal year-end balance sheet date. Notice of at least 28 days prior to the date of the meeting is unnecessary,required. An extraordinary meeting may be convened by the board of directors, it decides or upon a demand of any directors, or of one or more shareholders holding in the interestsaggregate at least five percent of shareholders, ifour issued capital. An extraordinary meeting must be called not more than 21 days after the venue wouldrequest is made. The meeting must be unreasonableheld not later than two months after the request is given.

Limitations on the Rights to Own Securities in Our Company

Neither our Constitution nor the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia restrict in any way the ownership or impractical,voting of our shares. However, acquisitions and proposed acquisitions of securities in Australian companies may be subject to review and approval by the Australian Federal Treasurer under the Takeovers Act as described under Item 10.D below.

Changes in Our Capital

Pursuant to the Listing Rules of the ASX, without shareholder approval, we may not issue more than 25% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares in any twelve month period other than by a pro rata rights offering or for reasonsa share purchase plan offer (of shares with a value at the issue price of efficiency.  This does not applyup to A$15,000 per shareholder to a maximum of 30% of our outstanding shares) in each case to the event of a meeting requisitioned bythen existing shareholders.

 

·Item 10.C Material Contracts                  Quorum for shareholders’ meetings — a quorum of three shareholders represents a quorum for shareholders’ meetings, whether by way of being personally present, attorney, proxy or corporate representative.

 

·                  Casting vote —During the Chairmanyear, the Company entered into agreement with Lodge Corporate, Aegis Corporation and H.C. Wainright & Co, to act as the placement agent to the offering made through which on multiple occasions the Company managed to raise a total of a shareholders’ meeting does not have a casting vote.A$21,793,678 before costs of the transactions. Towards the cost of the transactions, the Company issued the following securities:

 

·                  Number of Directors — it contemplates that the number of Directors need to be not less than three nor more than the number determined by the Directors which, until otherwise determined, is ten.

250,000,000 unlisted options issued on October 30, 2019, exercisable at A$0.008 each and expiring on October 29, 2022, amounting to A$817,666. Each option is exercisable for one fully paid ordinary share.
125,000,000 unlisted options issued on December 20, 2019, exercisable at A$0.008 each and expiring on December 20,2022, amounting to A$528,027. Each option is exercisable for one fully paid ordinary share.
125,000,000 unlisted options issued on December 20, 2019, exercisable at A$0.008 each and expiring on December 20,2022, amounting to A$528,027. Each option is exercisable for one fully paid ordinary share.
166,066,050 warrants issued at no cash consideration on July 16, 2019, exercisable at US$0.00533 each and expiring on July 16, 2024, amounting to A$890,113. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.
5,000,000 unlisted options issued to Lodge Corporate on March 6, 2020, exercisable at A$0.008 each and expiring on March 6, 2023, amounting to A$29,340. Each option is exercisable for one fully paid ordinary share.
40,114,200 warrants issued to H.C. Wainright & Co on April 3, 2020, exercisable at US$0.00365 each and expiring on April 1, 2025, amounting to A$175,137. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.
28,177,578 warrants issued to H.C. Wainright & Co on April 22, 2020, exercisable at US$0.00417 each and expiring on April 19, 2025, amounting to A$149,693. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.
156,000,000 warrants to be issued to H.C. Wainright & Co at, subject to shareholder approval, exercisable at US$0.004166 expiring on 5 years after date of issue, amounting to A$848,252. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.

 

·                  Share qualification — a Director need not hold any shares inIn the prior period, On August 8, 2018, the Company in order to be a Director.

·                  Alternate directors — there are no provisions entitlingexecuted an Equity Placement Facility with Kentgrove Capital Pty Ltd. Under the Directors to appoint alternate directors, on the basis that this is an outdated and undesirable approach.4

·                  Directors’ tenure of office — a Director must retire from office or seek re-election by no later than the third Annual General Meeting following his or her appointment or re-election or three years, whichever is longer (other than the Managing Director).

·                  Vacation of office — the office of a Director is automatically vacated if the Director is an Executive Director under an employment agreement and that agreement terminates, unless the Board otherwise determines.

·                  Powers of Directors — the Directors have a general power to manage the Company’s business.

·                  Meetings of Directors — the DirectorsFacility, Kentgrove Capital may meet in person or by electronic means.

·                  Quorum for Directors’ meetings — the quorum for Directors’ meetings is three, unless otherwise determined.

·                  Casting vote — the Chairman has a casting vote at Directors’ meetings.

·                  Indemnity — the new Constitution contains an updated indemnity clause in favor of the current and former Directors, Secretaries indemnifying them from liability consistent with the Corporations Act provisions and to the maximum extent permitted by law.

·                  Insurance —provide the Company must maintainwith up to A$20 million of equity capital in a series of individual placements of up to A$1 million (or a higher amount by mutual agreement) until April 7, 2020. The Company raised A$1.6 million during 2018 and pay insurance premiums with respect to its current2019 and former Directors, Secretaries and other officers to the extent permitted by law.

·                  Access — current and former Directors may access the financial and other recordshas approximately A$400,000 of the Company for the purposes of legal proceedings involving the person.

Item 10.CMaterial Contractsremaining availability thereunder. This agreement was expired on April 7, 2020.

 

There were no other material contracts entered into during the yeartwo years preceding the date of this Annual Report which were outside the ordinary course of business.

61

Item 10. Additional Information (Cont.)

Item 10.DExchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders

 

Under existing Australian legislation, the Reserve Bank of Australia does not inhibit the import and export of funds, and, generally, no permission is required to be given to Genetic Technologiesthe Company for the movement of funds in and out of Australia. However, payments to or from (or relating to) Iraq, its agencies or nationals, the government or a public authority of Libya, or certain Libyan undertakings, the authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) or their agencies, the Taliban (also referred to as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan), or the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (also known as UNITA), its senior officials or the adult members of their immediate families, may not be made without the specific approval of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

 

Accordingly, at the present time, remittances of any dividends, interest or other payment by Genetic Technologiesthe Company to non-resident holders of Genetic Technologies’our securities in the U.S. are not, subject to the above, restricted by exchange controls or other limitations.

 

Takeovers Act

 

There are no limitations, either under the laws of Australia or under the Company’s Constitution, to the right of non-residents to hold or vote Geneticour Technologies Ordinary Shares other than the Commonwealth Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (the “Takeovers Act”). The Takeovers Act may affect the right of non-Australian residents, including U.S. residents, to hold Ordinary Shares but does not affect the right to vote, or any other rights associated with, any Ordinary Shares held in compliance with its provisions. Acquisitions of shares in Australian companies by foreign interests are subject to review and approval by the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia under the Takeovers Act. The Takeovers Act applies to any acquisition of outstanding shares of an Australian company that exceeds, or results in a foreign person or persons controlling the voting power of more than a certain percentage of those shares. The thresholds are 15% where the shares are acquired by a foreign person, or groupCompany of associated foreign persons, or 40% in aggregate in the case of foreign persons who are not associated. Any proposed acquisition that would result in an individual foreign person (with associates) holding more than 15% must be notified to the Treasurer in advance of the acquisition. There are statutory limitations in Australia on foreign ownership of certain businesses, such as banks and airlines, not relevant to the Company. However, there are no other statutory or regulatory provisions of Australian law or Australian Securities Exchange requirements that restrict foreign ownership or control of Genetic Technologies.the Company.

 

Corporations Act 2001

 

As applied to Genetic Technologies Limited,the Company, the Corporations Act 2001 (the(theCorporations Act 2001”) prohibits any legal person (including a corporation) from acquiring a relevant interest in Ordinary Shares if after the acquisition that person or any other person’s voting power in Genetic Technologies Limitedthe Company increases from 20% or below to more than 20%, or from a starting point that is above 20% and below 90%.

 

This prohibition is subject to a number of specific exceptions set out in section 611 of the Corporations Act 2001which must be strictly complied with to be applicable.

 

In general terms, a person is considered to have a “relevant interest” in a share in Genetic Technologiesthe Company if that person is the holder of that share, has the power to exercise, or control the exercise of, a right to vote attached to that share, or has the power to dispose of, or to control the exercise of a power to dispose of that share.

 

It does not matter how remote the relevant interest is or how it arises. The concepts of “power” and “control” are given wide and extended meanings in this context in order to deem certain persons to hold a relevant interest. For example, each person who has voting power above 20% in a company or a managed investment scheme which in turn holds shares in Genetic Technologiesthe Company is deemed to have a relevant interest in those Genetic Technologies shares. Certain situations (set out in section 609 of the Corporations Act 2001) which would otherwise constitute the holding of a relevant interest are excluded from the definition.

 

A person’s voting power in Genetic Technologies Limitedthe Company is that percentage of the total votes attached to Ordinary Shares in which that person and its associates (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001) holds a relevant interest.

 

62

Item 10.E10. Additional Information (Cont.)Taxation

Item 10.E Taxation

 

This summary of material tax consequences is based on the tax laws of the United States (including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, published rulings and court decisions) and on the Australian tax law and practice as in effect on the date hereof. In addition, this summary is based on the income tax convention between the United States and Australia (the “Treaty”). The foregoing laws and legal authorities as well as the Treaty are subject to change (or changes in interpretation), possibly with retroactive effect. Finally, this summary is based in part upon the representations of

our ADR Depositary and the assumption that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.

 

The discussion does not address any aspects of U.S. taxation other than federal income taxation or any aspects of Australian taxation other than federal income taxation, stamp duty and goods and services tax. This discussion does not necessarily address all aspects of U.S. or Australian federal tax considerations that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual investment circumstances or investors subject to special tax regimes, like broker-dealers, insurance companies, banks or other financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts or financial asset securitization investment trusts, persons who actually or constructively own 10% or more of our ADRs or Ordinary Shares, persons who hold ADRs or Ordinary Shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion or constructive sale transaction or other integrated transaction, persons who have elected mark-to-market accounting, U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, U.S. expatriates, investors liable for the alternative minimum tax, partnerships and other pass-through entities, or persons who acquired their ADRs or Ordinary Shares through the exercise of options or similar derivative securities or otherwise as compensation.

Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. and Australian federal, state and local tax consequences and any other tax consequences of owning and disposing of ADRs and shares.

 

Australian Tax Consequences

 

In this section, we discuss Australian tax considerations that apply to non-Australian tax residents who are residents of the United States with respect to the ownership and disposal by the absolute beneficial owners of ADRs. This summary does not discuss any foreign or state tax considerations, other than stamp duty.

 

Nature of ADRs for Australian Taxation Purposes

 

ADRs held by a U.S. holder will be treated for Australian taxation purposes as being held under a “bare trust” for that holder. Consequently, the underlying Ordinary Shares will be regarded as owned by the ADR holder for Australian income tax and capital gains tax purposes. Dividends paid on the underlying Ordinary Shares will also be treated as dividends paid to the ADR holder, as the person beneficially entitled to those dividends. Therefore, in the following analysis, we discuss the tax consequences to non-Australian resident holders of Ordinary Shares which, for Australian taxation purposes, will be the same as to U.S. holders of ADRs.

 

Taxation of Dividends

 

Australia operates a dividend imputation system under which dividends may be declared to be “franked” to the extent of tax paid on company profits. Fully franked dividends are not subject to dividend withholding tax. Dividends payable by our company to non-Australian resident stockholders will be subject to dividend withholding tax, to the extent the dividends are unfranked. Dividend withholding tax will be imposed at 30%, unless a stockholder is a resident of a country with which Australia has a double taxation agreement. Under the provisions of the Treaty, the Australian tax withheld on unfranked dividends paid by us to which a resident of the United States is beneficially entitled is generally limited to 15% if the U.S. resident holds less than 10% of the voting rights of our company, unless the shares are effectively connected to a permanent establishment or fixed base in Australia through which the stockholder carries on business or provides independent personal services, respectively. Where a U.S. corporate resident holds 10% or more of the voting rights of our company, the withholding tax rate is reduced to 5%.

 

63

Item 10. Additional Information (Cont.)

Tax on Sales or other Dispositions of Shares - Capital Gains Tax

 

Non-Australian resident stockholders who hold their shares in us on capital account will not be subject to Australian capital gains tax on any gain made on a sale or other disposal of our shares, unless they hold 10% or more of our issued capital and the Company holds real property situated in Australia, the market value of which is 50% or more of the market value of the Company. The Australian Taxation Office maintains the view that the Treaty does not limit Australian capital gains tax. Australian capital gains tax applies to net capital gains charged at a taxpayer’s marginal tax rate but, for certain stockholders, a discount of the capital gain may apply if the shares have been held for 12 months or more. For individuals, this discount is 50%. For superannuation funds, the discount is 33%. There is no discount for a company that derives a net capital gain. Net capital gains are calculated after deducting capital losses, which may only be offset against such gains.

 

Tax on Sales or other Dispositions of Shares - Stockholders Holding Shares on Revenue Account

 

Some non-Australian resident stockholders may hold shares on revenue rather than on capital account, for example, share traders. These stockholders may have the gains made on the sale or other disposal of the shares included in their assessable income under the ordinary income provisions of the income tax law, if the gains are sourced in Australia. Non-Australian resident stockholders assessable under these ordinary income provisions in respect of gains made on shares held on revenue account would be assessed for those gains at the Australian tax rates for non-Australian residents, which start at a marginal rate of 32.5%. Some relief from the Australian income tax may be available to non-Australian resident stockholders under the Treaty, for example, because the stockholder derives business profits not through a permanent establishment in Australia. To the extent an amount would be included in a non-Australian resident stockholder’s assessable income under both the capital gains tax provisions and the ordinary income provisions,

the capital gain amount would generally be reduced, so that the stockholder would not be subject to double tax on any part of the income gain or capital gain.

 

Dual Residency

 

If a stockholder were a resident of both Australia and the United States under the respective domestic taxation laws of those countries, that stockholder may be subject to tax as an Australian resident. If, however, the stockholder is determined to be a U.S. resident for the purposes of the Treaty, the Australian tax would be subject to limitation by the Treaty. Stockholders should obtain specialist taxation advice in these circumstances.

 

Stamp Duty

 

Any transfer of shares through trading on the Australian Securities Exchange, whether by Australian residents or foreign residents, is not subject to stamp duty within Australia.

 

Australian Death Duty

 

Australia does not have estate or death duties. Further, no capital gains tax liability is realized upon the inheritance of a deceased person’s shares. However, the subsequent disposal of the shares by beneficiaries may give rise to a capital gains tax liability.

 

Goods and Services Tax

 

The issue or transfer of shares will not incur Australian goods and services tax and does not require a stockholder to register for Australian goods and services tax purposes.

 

64

Item 10. Additional Information (Cont.)

United States Federal Income Taxation

 

As used below, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of an ADR that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) a citizen or resident alien individual of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or an entity treated as a corporation) created or organized under the law of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax without regard to its source or (iv) a trust if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust, and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (2) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person. For purposes of this discussion, a “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of an ADR that is (i) a nonresident alien individual, (ii) a corporation (or an entity treated as a corporation) created or organized in or under the law of a country other than the United States or a political subdivision thereof or (iii) an estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder. If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of an ADR, the U.S. federal tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A holder of an ADR that is a partnership and partners in that partnership should consult their own tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding and disposing of ADRs. We have not sought a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or an opinion of counsel as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the description herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court.

 

GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE TAX LAWS AND BECAUSE THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO ANY PARTICULAR INVESTOR MAY BE AFFECTED BY MATTERS NOT DISCUSSED HEREIN, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF ADRs, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS, AS WELL AS U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS.

 

Nature of ADRs for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes

 

In general, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a holder of an ADR will be treated as the owner of the underlying shares. Accordingly, except as specifically noted below, the tax consequences discussed below with respect to ADRs will be the same as for shares in the Company, and exchanges of shares for ADRs, and ADRs for shares, generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

 

Taxation of Dividends

 

U.S. Holders. In general, subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, a distribution on an ADR will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent that it is made from our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, it is generally treated as a non-taxable reduction of basis to the extent of the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the ADR on which it is paid, and to the extent it exceeds that basis it will be treated as capital gain. For purposes of this discussion, the term “dividend” means

a distribution that constitutes a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company has not maintained and does not plan to maintain calculations of earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. Accordingly, it is unlikely that U.S. Holders will be able to establish that a distribution by the Company is in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits (as computed under U.S. federal income tax principles). Therefore, a U.S. Holder should expect that a distribution by the Company will generally be treated as taxable in its entirety as a dividend to U.S. Holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes even though the distribution may be treated in whole or in part as a non-taxable distribution for Australian tax purposes.

 

The gross amount of any dividend on an ADR (which will include the amount of any Australian taxes withheld) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as foreign source dividend income, and will not be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. The amount of a dividend paid in Australian dollars will be its value in U.S. dollars based on the prevailing spot market exchange rate in effect on the day the U.S. holder receives the dividend or, in the case of a dividend received in respect of an ADR, on the date the Depositary receives it, whether or not the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars. A U.S. holder will have a tax basis in any distributed Australian dollars equal to its U.S. dollar amount on the date of receipt, and any gain or loss realized on a subsequent conversion or other disposition of Australian dollars generally will be treated as U.S. source ordinary income or loss. If dividends paid in Australian dollars are converted into U.S. dollars on the date they are received by a U.S. holder, the U.S. holder generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income.income

65

Item 10. Additional Information (Cont.)

 

Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions, a dividend that a non-corporate holder receives on an ADR will be subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 20% if the dividend is a “qualified dividend”. A dividend on an ADR will be a qualified dividend if (i) either (a) the ADRs are readily tradable on an established market in the United States or (b) we are eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States that the Secretary of the Treasury determines is satisfactory for purposes of these rules and that includes an exchange of information program, and (ii) we were not, in the year prior to the year the dividend was paid, and are not, in the year the dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”). The ADRs are listed on the NASDAQNasdaq Capital Market, which should qualify them as readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. In any event, the Treaty satisfies the requirements of clause (i) (b), and we are a resident of Australia entitled to the benefits of the Treaty. However, based on our audited financial statements and relevant market and shareholder data, we believe we were a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our taxable yearyears ended June 30, 2017, respectively,2018 and June 30, 2020, and expect to be classified as a PFIC in the current taxable year. Given that the determination of PFIC status involves the application of complex tax rules, and that it is based on the nature of our income and assets from time to time, no assurances can be provided that we will or will not be considered a PFIC for any past or future taxable years. In addition, as described in the section below entitled “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” if we were a PFIC in a year while a U.S. holder held an ADR, and if the U.S. holder has not made a qualified electing fund election effective for the first year the U.S. holder held the ADR, the ordinary shareOrdinary Share underlying the ADR remains an interest in a PFIC for all future years or until such an election is made. The IRS takes the position that such rule will apply for purposes of determining whether an ADR is an interest in a PFIC in the year a dividend is paid or in the prior year, even if we do not satisfy the tests to be a PFIC in either of those years. Even if dividends on the ADRs would otherwise be eligible for qualified dividend treatment, in order to qualify for the reduced qualified dividend tax rates, a non-corporate holder must hold the ordinary shareOrdinary Share on which a dividend is paid for more than 60 days during the 120-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date, disregarding for this purpose any period during which the non-corporate holder has an option to sell, is under a contractual obligation to sell or has made (and not closed) a short sale of substantially identical stock or securities, is the grantor of an option to buy substantially identical stock or securities or, pursuant to Treasury regulations, has diminished theirsuch holder’s risk of loss by holding one or more other positions with respect to substantially similar or related property. In addition, to qualify for the reduced qualified dividend tax rates, the non-corporate holder must not be obligated to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Payments in lieu of dividends from short sales or other similar transactions will not qualify for the reduced qualified dividend tax rates.

 

A non-corporate holder that receives an extraordinary dividend eligible for the reduced qualified dividend rates must treat any loss on the sale of the stock as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the dividend. For purposes of determining the amount of a non-corporate holder’s deductible investment interest expense, a dividend is treated as investment income only if the non-corporate holder elects to treat the dividend as not eligible for the reduced qualified dividend tax rates. Special limitations on foreign tax credits with respect to dividends subject to the reduced qualified dividend tax rates apply to reflect the reduced rates of tax.

 

The U.S. Treasury has announced its intention to promulgate rules pursuant to which non-corporate holders of stock of non-U.S.non- U.S. corporations, and intermediaries through whom the stock is held, will be permitted to rely on certifications from issuers to establish that dividends are treated as qualified dividends. Because those procedures have not yet been issued, it is not clear whether we will be able to comply with them.

 

Non-corporate holders of ordinary sharesOrdinary Shares are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the availability of the reduced qualified dividend tax rates with respect to dividends received on the ADRs in the light of their own particular circumstances.

66

Item 10. Additional Information (Cont.)

Any Australian withholding tax imposed on dividends received with respect to the ADRs will be treated as a foreign income tax eligible for credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. federal income tax law. For purposes of computing those limitations separately under current law for specific categories of income, a dividend generally will constitute foreign source “passive category income” or, in the case of certain holders, “general category income.” A U.S. holder will be denied a foreign tax credit with respect to Australian income tax withheld from dividends received with respect to the ADRs to the extent the U.S. holder has not held the ADRs for at least 16 days of the 30-day period beginning on the date which is 15 days before the ex-dividend date or to the extent the U.S. holder is under an obligation to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property. Any days during which a U.S. holder has substantially diminished its risk of loss on the ADRs are not counted toward meeting the 16-day holding period required by the statute. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and U.S. holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisers to determine whether and to what extent they will be entitled to foreign tax credits as well as with respect to the determination of the foreign tax credit limitation. Alternatively, any Australian withholding tax may be taken as a deduction against taxable income, provided the U.S. holder takes a deduction and not a credit for all foreign income taxes paid or accrued in the same taxable year. In general, special rules will apply to the calculation of foreign tax credits in respect of dividend income that is subject to preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax.

 

Non-U.S. holders. A dividend paid to a non-U.S. holder of an ADR will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless the dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of trade or business by the non-U.S. holder within the United States (and is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base the non-U.S. holder maintains in the United States if an applicable income tax treaty so requires as a condition for the non-U.S. holder to be subject to U.S. taxation on a net income basis on income from the ADR). A non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to tax on an effectively connected dividend in the same manner as a U.S. holder. A corporate non-U.S. holder under certain circumstances may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax,” the rate of which may be reduced pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty.

 

Taxation of Capital Gains

 

U.S. Holders. Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, on a sale or other taxable disposition of an ADR, a U.S. holder will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. holder’s adjusted basis in the ADR and the amount realized on the sale or other disposition, each determined in U.S. dollars. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the sale or other taxable disposition the ADR has been held for more than one year. In general, any adjusted net capital gain of an individual is subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 20%. Capital gains recognized by corporate U.S. holders generally are subject to U.S. federal income tax at the same rate as ordinary income. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Any gain a U.S. holder recognizes generally will be U.S. source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, and, subject to certain exceptions, any loss will generally be a U.S. source loss. If an Australian tax is paid on a sale or other disposition of an ADR, the amount realized will include the gross amount of the proceeds of that sale or disposition before deduction of the Australian tax.

The generally applicable limitations under U.S. federal income tax law on crediting foreign income taxes may preclude a U.S. holder from obtaining a foreign tax credit for any Australian tax paid on a sale or other disposition of an ADR. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and U.S. holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisers regarding the application of such rules. Alternatively, any Australian tax paid on the sale or other disposition of an ADR may be taken as a deduction against taxable income, provided the U.S. holder takes a deduction and not a credit for all foreign income taxes paid or accrued in the same taxable year.

 

Non-U.S. Holders. A non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on a sale or other disposition of an ADR unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of trade or business by the non-U.S. holder within the United States (and is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base the non-U.S. holder maintains in the United States if an applicable income tax treaty so requires as a condition for the non-U.S. holder to be subject to U.S. taxation on a net income basis on income from the ADR), or (ii) in the case of a non-U.S. holder who is an individual, the holder is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and certain other conditions apply. Any effectively connected gain of a corporate non-U.S. holder may also be subject under certain circumstances to an additional “branch profits tax,” the rate of which may be reduced pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty.

 

67

Item 10. Additional Information (Cont.)

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

 

A special set of U.S. federal income tax rules applies to a foreign corporation that is a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As noted above, based on our audited financial statements and relevant market and shareholder data, we believe that we were a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our taxable yearyears ended June 30, 2017, respectively,2018 and June 30, 2020, and expect to be classified as a PFIC in our current taxable year. In addition, given that the determination of PFIC status involves the application of complex tax rules, and that it is based on the nature of our income and assets from time to time, no assurances can be provided that we will or will not be considered a PFIC for any past or future taxable years.

In general, a foreign corporation is a PFIC if at least 75% of its gross income for the taxable year is passive income or if at least 50% of its assets for the taxable year produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. In general, passive income for this purpose means, with certain designated exceptions, dividends, interest, rents, royalties (other than certain rents and royalties derived in the active conduct of trade or business), annuities, net gains from dispositions of certain assets, net foreign currency gains, income equivalent to interest, income from notional principal contracts and payments in lieu of dividends. Passive assets are those assets that are held for production of passive income or do not produce income at all. Thus cash will be a passive asset. Interest, including interest on working capital, is treated as passive income for purposes of the income test. The determination of whether a foreign corporation is a PFIC is a factual determination made annually and is therefore subject to change. Subject to exceptions pursuant to certain elections that generally require the payment of tax, once stock in a foreign corporation is stock in a PFIC in the hands of a particular shareholder that is a United States person, it remains stock in a PFIC in the hands of that shareholder.

 

If we are treated as a PFIC, contrary to the tax consequences described in “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Dividends” and “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Capital Gains” above, a U.S. holder that does not make an election described in the succeeding two paragraphs would be subject to special rules with respect to (i) any gain realized on a sale or other disposition of an ADR (for purposes of these rules, a disposition of an ADR includes many transactions on which gain or loss is not realized under general U.S. federal income tax rules) and (ii) any “excess distribution” by the Company to the U.S. holder (generally, any distribution during a taxable year in which distributions to the U.S. holder on the ADR exceed 125% of the average annual taxable distributions (whether actual or constructive and whether or not out of earnings and profits) the U.S. holder received on the ADR during the preceding three taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. holder’s holding period for the ADR). Under those rules, (i) the gain or excess distribution would be allocated ratably over the U.S. holder’s holding period for the ADR, (ii) the amount allocated to the taxable year in which the gain or excess distribution is realized would be taxable as ordinary income in its entirety and not as capital gain, would be ineligible for the reduced qualified dividend rates, and could not be offset by any deductions or losses, and (iii) the amount allocated to each prior year, with certain exceptions, would be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for that year, and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax would be imposed in respect of the tax attributable to each of those years. A U.S. holder who owns an ADR during any year we are a PFIC will generally have to file IRS Form 8621. A failure to file this return will suspend the statute of limitations with respect to any tax return, event, or period to which such report relates (potentially including with respect to items that do not relate to a U.S. Holder’s investment in the ADRs).

 

The special PFIC rules described above will not apply to a U.S. holder if the U.S. holder makes a timely election, which remains in effect, to treat the Company as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”) in the first taxable year in which the U.S. holder owns an ADR and the Company is a PFIC and if the Company complies with certain reporting requirements. Instead, a shareholder of a QEF generally is currently taxable on a pro rata share of the Company’s ordinary earnings and net capital gain as ordinary income and long-term capital gain, respectively. Neither that ordinary income nor any actual dividend from the Company would qualify for the 20% maximum tax rate on dividends described above if the Company is a PFIC in the taxable year the ordinary income is realized or the dividend is paid or in the preceding taxable year. We have not yet determined whether we would make the computations necessary to supply U.S. holders with the information needed to report income and gain pursuant to a QEF election. It is, therefore, possible that U.S. holders would not be able to make or retain a QEF election in any year we are a PFIC. Although a QEF election generally cannot be revoked, if a U.S. holder made a timely QEF election for the first taxable year it owned an ADR and the Company is a PFIC (or is treated as having done so pursuant to any of certain elections), the QEF election will not apply during any later taxable year in which the Company does not satisfy the tests to be a PFIC. If a QEF election is not made in that first taxable year, an election in a later year generally will require the payment of tax and interest.

 

68

Item 10. Additional Information (Cont.)

In lieu of a QEF election, a U.S. holder of stock in a PFIC that is considered marketable stock could elect to mark the stock to market annually, recognizing as ordinary income or loss each year an amount equal to the difference as of the close of the taxable year between the fair market value of the stock and the U.S. holder’s adjusted basis in the stock. Losses would be allowed only to the extent of net mark-to-market gain previously included in income by the U.S. holder under the election for prior taxable years. A U.S. holder’s adjusted basis in the ADRs will be adjusted to reflect the amounts included or deducted with respect to the mark-to-market election. If the mark-to-market election were made, the rules set forth in the second preceding paragraph would not apply for periods covered by the election. A mark-to-market election will not apply during any later taxable year in which the Company does not satisfy the tests to be a PFIC. In general, the ADRs will be marketable stock if the ADRs are traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter on a national securities exchange that is registered with the SEC or on a designated national market system or on any exchange or market that the Treasury Department determines to have rules sufficient to ensure that the market price accurately represents the fair market value of the stock. Under current law, the mark-to-market election may be available to U.S. holders of ADRs because the ADRs are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, which constitutes a qualified exchange, although there can be no assurance that the ADRs will be “regularly traded” for purposes of the mark-to-market election or that the ADRs will continue to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Given the complexities of the PFIC rules and their potentially adverse tax consequences, U.S. holders of ADRs are urged to consult their tax advisers about the PFIC rules, including the availability of, and consequences to them of making a QEF election or a mark-to-market election with respect to the ordinary sharesOrdinary Shares in the event that the Company is classified as a PFIC for any taxable year.

 

Medicare Surtax on Net Investment Income

 

Non-corporate US Holders whose income exceeds certain thresholds generally will be subject to 3.8% surtax on their “Net Investment Income” (which generally includes, among other things, dividends on, and capital gain from the sale or other taxable disposition of, the ADRs). Absent an election to the contrary, if a QEF election is available and made, QEF inclusions will not be included in net investment income at the time a US Holder includes such amounts in income, but rather will be included at the time distributions are received or gains are recognized. Non-corporate US Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible effect of such tax on their ownership and disposition of the Common Shares, in particular the applicability of this surtax with respect to a non-corporate US Holder that makes a QEF or mark-to-market election in respect of their Common Shares.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Dividends paid on, and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, an ADR to a U.S. holder generally may be subject to information reporting requirements and may be subject to backup withholding unless the U.S. holder provides an accurate taxpayer identification number or otherwise establishes an exemption. The amount of any backup withholding collected from a payment to a U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. holder to a refund, provided certain required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service. A non-U.S. holder generally will be exempt from these information reporting requirements and backup withholding tax but may be required to comply with certain certification and identification procedures in order to establish its eligibility for exemption.

 

Under U.S. federal income tax law and U.S. Treasury Regulations, certain categories of U.S. holders must file information returns with respect to their investment in, or involvement in, a foreign corporation. For example, all U.S. holders of PFIC stock are generally required to make annual return filings reporting their PFIC ownership and certain other information that the IRS may require. U.S. holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors concerning such reporting requirements.

 

Reporting Obligations of Individual Owners of Foreign Financial Assets

 

Section 6038D of the Code generally requires U.S. individuals (and possibly certain entities that have U.S. individual owners) to file IRS Form 8938 if they hold certain “specified foreign financial assets,” the aggregate value of which exceeds $50,000. The definition of specified foreign financial assets includes not only financial accounts maintained in foreign financial institutions, but also, unless held in accounts maintained by a financial institution, any stock or security issued by a non-US. person, any financial instrument or contract held for investment that has an issuer or counterparty other than a U.S. person and any interest in a foreign entity.

 

69

Item 10. Additional Information (Cont.)

THE DISCUSSION ABOVE IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF ALL TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO AN INVESTMENT IN ADRs. HOLDERS AND POTENTIAL HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISERS CONCERNING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES RELEVANT TO THEM IN THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATION.

 

Item 10.FDividends and Paying Agents

 

No dividends have been paid by the Company or recommended by the directors since the end of the previous financial year.

 

Item 10.GStatement by Experts

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 10.HDocuments on Display

 

The documents concerning the Company which are referred to in this Annual Report may be inspected at the offices of the Company at 60-66 Hanover Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia. Following our listing on NASDAQ Global Market in September 2005,As a “foreign private issuer” we are now subject to the information requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, in accordance therewith, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in electronic form. These materials, including this Annual Report and the exhibits thereto, may be inspected and copied at the Commission’s public reference room in Washington, D.C.  Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information regarding the public reference rooms.  As a foreign private issuer, we are required to make filings with the Commission by electronic means.  Any filings we make electronically will beare available to the public over the Internet at the Commission’s website at

http://www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.gtglabs.com. Information on our website and websites linked to it do not constitute a part of this Annual Report.

 

Item 10.ISubsidiary Information

 

The following is a list of the Company’s subsidiaries as of the date of this Annual Report:Not applicable.

Name of subsidiary

Place of incorporation

Interest held

GeneType AG *

Zug, Switzerland

100

%

GeneType Corporation

California, U.S.A.

100

%

GeneType Pty. Ltd.

Victoria, Australia

100

%

Genetic Technologies Corporation Pty. Ltd.

New South Wales, Australia

100

%

RareCellect Pty. Ltd.

New South Wales, Australia

100

%

Phenogen Sciences Inc.

Delaware, U.S.A.

100

%


* Placed into voluntary liquidation on June 30, 2017

 

Item 11.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Our market risk relates primarily to exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. Refer Note 3029 of the attached financial statements for further analysis surrounding market risk.

 

Interest Rate Risk. As of June 30, 20172020, we had $10,988,255A$14,214,160 in cash &and cash equivalents of which $2,468,730A$11,645,389 was subject to interest rate risk. Interest income earned on the cash balances is affected by changes in the levels of market interest rates. We invest excess cash in interest-bearing, investment-grade securities and time deposits in high-quality institutions. We do not utilize derivative financial instruments, derivative commodity instruments, positions or transactions in any material matter.

 

Accordingly, we believe that, while the investment-grade securities and time-deposits we hold are subject to changes in financial standing of the issuer of such securities, the principal is not subject to any material risks arising from changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices or other market changes that affect market risk sensitive instruments. Since we hold cash and cash equivalents in Banks which are located outside Australia, we are subject to certain cross-border risks, though due to the size of the holdings these risks are not generally significant.

 

70

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk (Cont.)

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk. We operate in Australia with active operations in the U.S.A., and are accordingly subject to certain foreign currency exposure. This includes foreign-currency denominated receivables, payables, debt, and other balance sheet positions as well as future cash flows resulting from anticipated transactions including intra-groupintra-company transactions. Historically, currency translation gains and losses have been reflected as adjustments to stockholders’ equity, while transaction gains and losses have been reflected as components of income and loss. Transaction gains and losses could be material depending upon changes in the exchange rates between the Australian dollar and the U.S. dollar. A significant amount of our current revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars which provides us with a limited natural hedge against exchange rate movements.

 

Item 12.Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities

 

Item 12.ADebt Securities

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 12.BWarrants and Rights

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 12.COther Securities

 

Not applicable

 

71

Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities (Cont.)

Item 12.DAmerican Depositary Shares Fees and Charges Payable by ADS Holders

 

Not applicable.The table below summarizes the fees and charges that a holder of our ADSs may have to pay, directly or indirectly, to our depositary, The Bank of New York Mellon, or BNYM, pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to our Registration Statement on Form F-6 filed with the SEC on January 14, 2002, and the types of services and the amount of the fees or charges paid for such services. The disclosure under this heading “Fees and Charges Payable by ADS Holders” is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Deposit Agreement. The holder of an ADS may have to pay the following fees and charges to BNYM in connection with ownership of the ADS:

Persons Depositing or Withdrawing Shares Must

Pay:For:
● US$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)● Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property
● Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates
● US$0.02 (or less) per ADS● Any cash distribution to you
● A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs● Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities which are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders
● US$1.50 (or less) per ADR● Transfers, combination and split-up of ADRs
● Expenses of the depositary● Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)
● Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars

The depositary collects its fees for issuance and cancellation of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions or by directly billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.

PART II

 

Item 13.Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 14.Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

 

Not applicable.

72

 

Item 15.Controls and Procedures

 

Item 15.ADisclosure controls and procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as such term is defined in Rules 13(a) - 15(e)13a-15(e) and 15(d) - 15(e)15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Our Management, including our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expectbelieves that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will provide absolute assurance that all appropriate information will, in fact, be communicated to Management to allow timely decisionsare designed and operated to be made oreffective at the reasonable assurance level. However, our management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all error and fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Additionally, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefit of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the company have been detected or that our control system will operate effectively under all circumstances. Moreover, the design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

 

Our Management has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2017.2020. Based on that evaluation, including the material weakness noted below in Item 15.B, theInterim Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of June 30, 2017.2020 due to the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting described in Item 15.B below.

 

Item 15.BManagement’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting

 

Our Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 defines internal control over financial reporting in Rules 13(a) -15(f)13a-15(f) and Rules 15(d) - 15(f)15d-15(f) as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s Interim Chief ExeuctiveExecutive Officer and Chief Financial OfficereffectedOfficer effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, Management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

 

·                      Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

·                      Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of Management and directors of the Company; and

·
Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of Management and directors of the Company; and
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

73

Item 15. Controls and Procedures (Cont.)

Our Management, under the supervision and with participation of our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2020. In making this assessment, Management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO, in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

Our Managementhave assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2017.  In making this assessment, Management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway

Commission, or COSO, in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).  As a result of that assessment, Management identified the following material weakness as of June 30, 2017.

We The Company did not maintain an adequate segregation of duties with respect to internal control over financial reporting, specifically including the following;following:

 

·                  The Financial Accountant has full procurement processing rights in addition to the ability to create new vendors in the supplier masterfile of the accounting system.

·                  The CFO had access to the underlying SAP system to record entries and is also responsible for reviewing journal entries.

·                  We have limited accounting personnel to enable and sufficiently evidence an independent review of complex financial reporting matters, namely the impairment assessment for intangible assets which is prepared by the CFO.

We have limited accounting personnel to enable controls to be designed and implemented which sufficiently and consistently evidence an independent review of complex financial reporting matters.

 

TheseThe control deficiencies are pervasive in nature and impactimpacts all significant accounts and critical accounting estimates. TheseThe control deficiencies did not resultresulted in mistatementsaudit adjustments to the Company’s consolidated financial statements however,for the year ended June 30, 2020. Additionally, these control deficiencies could result in misstatements of thefinancialthe Company’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures that would result in a material misstatement toof the annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected. Accordingly, our management has determined that these control deficiencies constituteconstitutes a material weakness.

 

Based upon its assessment, becauseBecause of the material weakness described above, our Management has concluded that, as of June 30, 2017, our2020, the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting is not effective based uponon criteria in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the abovementioned criteria.COSO.

 

This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only Management’s report in this Annual Report.

 

Item 15.CAttestation report of the registered public accounting firm

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 15.D Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

The continuity of key management personnel provided a platform that allowed the Company to actively implementremediation activities described below are changes in improving overall internal control over financial reporting during the year ended June 30, 2017. As a result, we concluded2020, that the following changes during the year ended June 30, 2017 have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, ourthe Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Remediation efforts

 

Segregation of duties. We are committed to remediating the material weakness over the segregation of duties by implementing changes to our internal control over financial reporting. We have taken certain steps in an effort to correct certain control deficienciesthis material weakness that werewas identified for the year ended June 30, 2016,2020, including:

 

Completed migration of our accounting systems to a cloud-based system (XERO), which provides the accounting team and the CFO with a systematic process for preparing and reviewing the underlying journal entries, invoices, payments and reconciliations.
Continuous engagement with a professional service firm called CFO Solution who have standard internal review procedures to ensure quality of accounting data and review over complex financial reporting matters.
Engaged independent specialists for more complex financial reporting matters when needed, such as valuation of warrants that have embedded derivatives.

·                  Although the Financial Accountant still has similar access, we have segregated the system access of the Payroll & Admin manager through the removal of payment processing

74

Item 15. Controls and editing rights in the supplier masterfile,

·                  De-activation of user accounts of terminated employees and generic redundant accounting system users, and

·                  Independent review by the CFO of manual journals posted by the financial accountant and payroll and admin manager.Procedures (Cont.)

 

Additional controls were also implemented during the year ended June 30, 2017 to remediate certain control deficiencies identified, and subsequent to the year- end we have implemented further changes, including:

·                  Activate & enable SAP system notification to CFO via email of any changes to sensitive fields in supplier masterfile,

·                  Change of CFO SAP user profile to read only access,

An internal control of a preparer of the accounting data and reviewer has been established through implementation of workpapers where in the accounting data is prepared and reviewed on a monthly basis by segregated staff and signed off by the CFO Solution team.

 

Although these changes are an important step towards improving the segregation of duties, additional time is still required to fully re-assess the design of the controls and implement additional internal controls procedures over financial reporting and test their operating effectiveness.effectiveness over a period of time.

Item 16.AAudit Committee Financial Expert

 

The chairmanOn September 2, 2019, the Company has appointed Mr. Nick Burrows to the Board as an independent Non-Executive Director. Mr. Burrows is a financial expert and hence the Company subsequently appointed Mr. Burrows as the Chairman of the Audit Committee since November 29, 2013 has beenreplacing Mr. Grahame Leonard A.M. and we believe that Mr. Leonard A.M. would meetPeter Rubinstein, former Chairman of the criteria of a financial expert.Audit Committee. 

 

Item 16.BCode of Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Ethics (styled “Code of Conduct”) that applies to all of our Directors and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller. The Code can be downloaded at our website (www.gtglabs.com). Additionally, any person, upon request, can ask for a hard copy or electronic file of the Code. If we make any substantive amendment to the Code or grant any waivers, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website. During the year ended June 30, 2016,2020, no such amendment was made, or waiver granted.

 

Our Board of Directors is responsible for the corporate governance of the consolidated entity and guides and monitors the business and affairs of Genetic Technologies on behalf of the shareholders by whom they are elected and to whom they are accountable.

We are committed to achieving the leading standards of corporate governance.

Reference is made to the revised Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations issued and revised from time to time by the ASX Corporate Governance Council.  The Board believes that all concepts of the revised Principles and Recommendations have been satisfied, however the Board is realistic with respect to the relative size and nature of the Company and have implemented the Recommendations accordingly.  The Company endeavors to ensure exceptions to the guidelines do not have negative impact on the best interests of shareholders.

While in most respects the Company complies with the Recommendations, it is recognised that the development and implementation of policies and practices is an ongoing process that evolves with the needs of the business and its stakeholders. ASX Listing Rule 4.10.3 requires an entity that is included in the official list as an ASX Listing to include in its annual report either a corporate governance statement that meets the requirements of that rule or the URL of the page on its website where such a statement is located.

The Company therefore advises that the current corporate governance statement and a summary of its main corporate governance practices may be found via the following link on the Company’s website: http://www.gtgcorporate.com/investor-centre/corporate-governance

We are therefore also required to publish an Appendix 4G Key to Disclosures Corporate Governance Council Principles and Recommendations annually that describes our adherence to the revised Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations.  This Appendix 4G with respect to the year ended June 30, 2016 was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 31, 2016.

In accordance with the Council’s recommendations, the Corporate Governance Statement must now contain certain specific information and must disclose the extent to which we have followed the guidelines during the period.  Where a recommendation has not been followed, that fact must be disclosed, together with the reasons for the departure.  The Company’s Corporate Governance Statement is now structured with reference to the Corporate Governance Council’s principles and recommendations.  Below is an extract from the Company’s most recent Corporate Governance Statement.

As at the date of this Annual Report, the following twelve Corporate Governance documents had been adopted by the Board, in addition to the Company’s Constitution which was completely revised and subsequently approved by the Company’s shareholders in November 2005.  All significant policies are published on the Company’s website (www.gtglabs.com).

·                  Board Charter, which defines the role of the Board and that of Management;

·                  Audit Committee Charter;

·                  Remuneration Committee Charter;

·                  Board Protocol, which clarifies the responsibilities of Directors and the Company’s expectations of them;

·                  Code of Conduct, including a Document Retention Policy;

·                  Board Performance Evaluation Policy;

·                  Risk and Compliance Policy;

·                  Continuous Disclosure Policy;

·                  Securities Trading Policy;

·                  Diversity Policy;

·                  Shareholder Communications Policy; and

·                  Whistleblower Policy.

Item 16.CPrincipal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The following table sets forth the fees billed to us by our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, during the financial years ended June 30, 20172020 and 2016,2018, respectively:

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 Consolidated 

 

$

 

$

 

 

2020

$

  

2019

$

 

Services rendered

 

 

 

 

 

        

PricewaterhouseCoopers in respect of:

 

 

 

 

 

        

Audit fees (1)

 

325,972

 

334,560

 

  274,000   288,000 
Other audit fees (2)  200,000   - 

 


(1) Audit fees consist of services that would normally be provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including services that generally only the independent accountant can reasonably provide such as comfort letters.

(2) Other assurance services consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that generally only the statutory auditor could reasonably provide to a client. Included in the balance are amounts related to additional regulatory filings during the 2020 financial year. All services provided are considered audit services for the purpose of SEC classification.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

Our Board of Directors has established pre-approval and procedures for the engagement of its Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for audit and non-audit services. The Board of Directors reviews the scope of the services to be provided, before their commencement, in order to ensure that there are no independence issues and the services are not prohibited services, as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

75

Item 16.DExemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 16.EPurchases Of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 16.FChange in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

 

Not applicable.

Genetic Technologies Limited (“GTG”), through the Audit & Risk Committee, conducted an external audit tender in 2020 with a view to replacing PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) from our 2021 financial year onwards. The audit tender process was completed in July 2020 when, following the recommendation of the Audit & Risk Committee, the Board announced that it would appoint Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd (“Grant Thornton”) as GTG’s new external auditor to undertake GTG’s audit for the financial year ending 30 June 2021. 

 

PwC, has been the independent registered public accounting firm for GTG, as appointed and approved by the Audit Committee and Board of Directors of GTG for the 2010-2020 fiscal years. As a result of PwC’s resignation, GTG has subsequently appointed Grant Thornton as its independent registered public accounting firm beginning with the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2020. 

During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 and the subsequent interim period through July 13, 2020, (1) PwC has not issued any reports on the consolidated financial statements of the Company that contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were the auditors’ reports of PwC qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, other than, in the year ended June 30, 2019 to include an explanatory paragraph regarding substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; and (2) there has not been any disagreement as that term is used in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F over any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreement if not resolved to PwC’s satisfaction would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its auditors’ reports, or any “reportable event” as that term is used in Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of Form 20-F.

The Company has provided PwC with a copy of the foregoing disclosure and has requested that they furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether they agree with such disclosure and, if not, stating the respects in which they do not agree. A copy of PwC’s letter dated October 22, 2020 is included herewith as Exhibit 15.2.

During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 and through July 13, 2020, the Company did not consult with Grant Thornton regarding (1) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, (2) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, (3) written or oral advice provided that would be an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to an accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (4) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement between the Company and its predecessor auditor as described in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) or a reportable event as described in Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of the Form 20-F.

Item 16.GCorporate Governance

 

Refer to Item 6C regarding the Company’s Corporate Governance practices and the key differences between the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange and theNasdaq’s Marketplace Rules of NASDAQ as they apply to us.

 

Item 16.HMine Safety Disclosure

 

Not applicable.

 

PART III

 

Item 17.Financial Statements

 

The Company has responded to Item 18 in lieu of responding to this Item.

Item 18. Financial Statements

 

Item 18.Financial StatementsThe full text of the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 begins on page F-1 of this Annual Report on Form 20-F.

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Page

Genetic Technologies Limited - Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

F1

Genetic Technologies Limited - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/ (Loss) for the years ended June 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

F2

Genetic Technologies Limited - Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2017 and 2016.

F3

Genetic Technologies Limited - Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended June 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

F5

Genetic Technologies Limited - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended June 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

F4

Genetic Technologies Limited - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F6

 

Item 19.Exhibits

The following documents are filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 20-F:

 

1.1

The following documents are filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 20-F:

1.1

Constitution of the Registrant.++Registrant (incorporate by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on December 21, 2010)

2.1

Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2002, by and among Genetic Technologies Limited, The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary, and the Owners and Holders of American Depositary Receipts (such agreement is incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 relating to the ADSs (File No. 333-14270) filed with the Commission on January 14, 2002).

4.1

Description of Securities (filed herewith)

4.2Form of American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Rule 424(b)(3) filing (File No. 333-183861), filed with the Commission on August 15, 2019)
4.3Form of Warrant issued on May 23, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on May 23, 2019)
4.4

Form of Compensation Warrant issued on April 3, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on April 2, 2020)

 

2.2.

4.5

The total indebtedness authorized under any instrument relatingForm of Pre-funded Warrant (incorporate by reference to long term debt of the Company does not exceed 10% of our total consolidated assets. Any instrument relating to indebtedness will be suppliedExhibit 4.5 to the Commission upon its request.

Company’s registration statement on Form F-1/A filed on May 12, 2020)

4(A).1

4.6

Form of Placement Agent Warrant (incorporate by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1/A filed on May 12, 2020)

4.7Staff Share Plan 2001 dated November 30, 2001. +2001 (incorporate by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on August 19, 2005)

4(B).1

10.1

Master Collaboration Agreement, dated September 13, 2019, between Genetic Technologies Limited and The Translational Genomics Research Institute (incorporate by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1/A filed on December 18, 2019)

10.2Exhibit A-1 entered into under Master Collaboration Agreement, dated September 13, 2019, between Genetic Technologies Limited and The Translational Genomics Research Institute (incorporate by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1/A filed on December 18, 2019)
10.3Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of May 22, 2019, between Genetic Technologies Limited and the investors listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on May 23, 2019)
10.4Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of April 1, 2020, between Genetic Technologies Limited and the investors listed therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on April 2, 2020)
10.5Placement Agent Agreement effective March 30, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on April 2, 2020)
10.6Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (incorporate by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1/A filed on May 12, 2020)

10.7Renewal of Lease over premises in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia with an effective date of September 1, 2015+++2018 (incorporated by reference to 20-F filed October 3, 2019)

4(B).2

10.8

AmendmentForm of Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 16, 2020 (incorporated by reference to lease over premises in Charlotte, North Carolina, USAExhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Report on Form 6-K filed with an effective date of November 1, 2016++++the Commission on July 20, 2020)

 

12.01

Section 302 Certification of the Interim Chief Executive Officer

12.02

12.02

Section 302 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer
13.01Section 906 Certification of the Interim Chief Executive Officer

13.01

13.02

Section 1350906 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

13.02

Section 1350 Certification

15.1

23.01

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers

15.2Letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers to SEC, dated October 22, 2020 pertaining to Item 16F

 


101.INSXBRL Instance Document
101.SCHXBRL Schema Document
101.CALXBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEFXBRL Definition Linkbase Document
101.LABXBRL Labels Linkbase Document
101.PREXBRL Presentation Linkbase Document

+ Previously filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 0-51504), filed with the Commission on August 19, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

++  Previously filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 0-51504), filed with the Commission on December 21, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference.

+++ Previously filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 0-51504), filed with the Commission on November 13, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference.

++++  Previously filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 0-51504), filed with the Commission on October 28, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURES

 

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.

 

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

Dated: October 22, 2020

Dated: October 31, 2017

By:

/s/ Mr. Eutillio Buccilli

Dr Jerzy Muchnicki

Name:

Name:

Mr. Eutillio Buccilli

Dr Jerzy Muchnicki

Title:

Title:

Interim Chief Executive Officer

20172020 Financial Report

 

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Page
Genetic Technologies Limited - Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.F-1
Genetic Technologies Limited - Consolidated Statements of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) for the years ended June 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018.F-2
Genetic Technologies Limited - Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2020 and 2019.F-3
Genetic Technologies Limited - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended June 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018.F-4
Genetic Technologies Limited - Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended June 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018.F-5
Genetic Technologies Limited - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.F-6

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Genetic Technologies Limited

 

In our opinion,Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Genetic Technologies Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income/(loss), consolidated statements of cash flows and consolidated statements of changes in equity for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2020, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Genetic Technologies Limited (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries atthe Company as of June 30, 20172020 and June 30, 2016,2019, and the results of theirits operations and theirits cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 20172020 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on thesethe Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement.  Anmisstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit includesof its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence supportingregarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessingstatements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, andas well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statement presentation.statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

The accompanying financial statements

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Melbourne, Australia
22 October 2020

We have been prepared assuming thatserved as the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.Company’s auditor since 2009.

 

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Melbourne, Australia

October 31, 2017

PricewaterhouseCoopers, ABN 52 780 433 757

2 Riverside Quay, SOUTHBANK  VIC  3006, GPO Box 1331, MELBOURNE  VIC  3001

T: 61 3 8603 1000, F: 61 3 8603 1999, www.pwc.com.au

F-1



Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

FOR 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018

(in Australian dollars, except number of shares)

 

 

 

Note

 

Year ended
June 30, 2017

 

Year ended
June 30, 2016

 

Year ended
June 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Revenue from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genetic testing services

 

 

 

518,506

 

824,586

 

2,011,918

 

Less: cost of sales

 

4

 

(492,417

)

(743,060

)

(891,243

)

Gross profit from operations

 

 

 

26,089

 

81,526

 

1,120,675

 

Other revenue

 

5

 

 

300,548

 

1,027,151

 

Selling and marketing expenses

 

 

 

(2,721,474

)

(3,186,497

)

(4,504,299

)

General and administrative expenses

 

 

 

(3,109,530

)

(3,429,357

)

(4,222,988

)

Licensing, patent and legal costs

 

 

 

 

(103,581

)

(435,418

)

Laboratory, research and development costs

 

 

 

(2,366,334

)

(2,584,752

)

(2,851,665

)

Finance costs

 

 

 

(31,995

)

(28,889

)

(264,694

)

Gain on disposal of business

 

7

 

 

 

1,396,798

 

Fair value loss on ImmunAid option fee

 

 

 

 

 

(795,533

)

Impairment of intangible assets expenses

 

 

 

(544,694

)

 

 

Fair value gain/ (loss) on financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

 

 

349,246

 

Non-operating income and expenses

 

6

 

344,112

 

492,037

 

370,557

 

Profit/(loss) from operations before income tax

 

 

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

Income tax expense

 

9

 

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) for the year

 

 

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange gains/(losses) on translation of controlled foreign operations

 

 

 

(130,655

)

1,307,219

 

414,005

 

Exchange gains/(losses) on translation of non-controlled foreign operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of tax

 

 

 

(130,655

)

1,307,219

 

414,005

 

Total comprehensive profit/(loss) for the year

 

 

 

(8,534,481

)

(7,151,746

)

(8,396,165

)

Profit/(loss) for the year is attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owners of Genetic Technologies Limited

 

 

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total profit/(loss) for the year

 

 

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

Total comprehensive profit/(loss) for the year is attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owners of Genetic Technologies Limited

 

 

 

(8,534,481

)

(7,151,746

)

(8,396,165

)

Non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive profit/(loss) for the year

 

 

 

(8,534,481

)

(7,151,746

)

(8,396,165

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings/(loss) per share (cents per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net profit/(loss) per ordinary share

 

10

 

(0.40

)

(0.49

)

(0.82

)

Weighted-average shares outstanding

 

10

 

2,121,638,888

 

1,715,214,158

 

1,072,803,358

 

  Note 

Year ended

June 30, 2020

  

Year ended

June 30, 2019

  

Year ended

June 30, 2018

 
     $   $   $ 
Revenue from operations              
Genetic testing services    9,864   25,444   189,254 
Less: cost of sales 4  (251,511)  (276,267)  (300,088)
Gross loss from operations    (241,647)  (250,823)  (110,834)
Selling and marketing expenses    (637,295)  (576,077)  (1,066,404)
General and administrative expenses    (4,058,557)  (3,830,198)  (3,015,818)
Laboratory, research and development costs    (2,477,578)  (2,360,762)  (2,210,498)
Finance costs    (14,823)  (20,031)  (28,843)
Foreign exchange gains reclassified on liquidation of subsidiary 6        527,049 
Other gains/(losses) 7  (5,522)  (407,482)   
Fair value gains on financial liabilities 7  195,845       
Non-operating income 5  1,140,647   1,019,769   441,476 
Loss from operations before income tax    (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)
Income tax expense 8         
Loss for the year    (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)              
Exchange gains/(losses) on translation of controlled foreign operations    (33,175)  23,668   (522,966)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of tax    (33,175)  23,668   (522,966)
Total comprehensive loss for the year    (6,132,105)  (6,401,936)  (5,986,838)
Total loss for the year is attributable to:              
Owners of Genetic Technologies Limited    (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)
Total loss for the year    (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)
Total comprehensive loss for the year is attributable to:              
Owners of Genetic Technologies Limited    (6,132,105)  (6,401,936)  (5,986,838)
Total comprehensive loss for the year    (6,132,105)  (6,401,936)  (5,986,838)
               
Loss per share (cents per share)              
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share 9  (0.15)  (0.24)  (0.22)
Weighted-average shares outstanding 9  4,155,017,525   2,635,454,870   2,435,282,724 

 

The above consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income/(loss) should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

F-2

 

F-2



Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As at June 30, 20172020

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

Notes

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

11

 

10,988,255

 

11,179,687

 

Trade and other receivables

 

12

 

426,272

 

630,773

 

Prepayments and other assets

 

13

 

217,122

 

320,610

 

Total current assets

 

 

 

11,631,649

 

12,131,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

14

 

476,648

 

550,139

 

Intangible assets

 

15

 

 

608,477

 

Total non-current assets

 

 

 

476,648

 

1,158,616

 

Total assets

 

 

 

12,108,297

 

13,289,686

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

16

 

898,103

 

837,983

 

Provisions

 

17

 

567,190

 

494,206

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

 

1,465,293

 

1,332,189

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provisions

 

17

 

63,960

 

74,308

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

 

63,960

 

74,308

 

Total liabilities

 

 

 

1,529,253

 

1,406,497

 

Net assets

 

 

 

10,579,044

 

11,883,189

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributed equity

 

20

 

122,382,625

 

115,272,576

 

Reserves

 

21

 

6,044,493

 

6,054,861

 

Accumulated losses

 

22

 

(117,848,074

)

(109,444,248

)

Total equity

 

 

 

10,579,044

 

11,883,189

 

(in Australian dollars)

    Consolidated 
  Notes 

2020

$

  

2019

$

 
ASSETS        
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents 10  14,214,160   2,131,741 
Trade and other receivables 11  789,354   818,766 
Inventories    91,390   31,865 
Other current assets 12  97,845   213,300 
Total current assets    15,192,749   3,195,672 
           
Non-current assets          
Right-of-use assets 17  397,945    
Property, plant and equipment 13  42,285   69,333 
Total non-current assets    440,230   69,333 
Total assets    15,632,979   3,265,005 
LIABILITIES          
Current liabilities          
Trade and other payables 14  723,724   1,005,308 
Provisions 15  432,933   487,682 
Lease liabilities 17  240,915    
Total current liabilities    1,397,572   1,492,990 
           
Non-current liabilities          
Provisions 15  1,927   809 
Borrowing 16  52,252    
Lease liabilities 17  188,621    
Other financial liabilities 18  977,237    
Total non-current liabilities    1,220,037   809 
Total liabilities    2,617,609   1,493,799 
Net assets    13,015,370   1,771,206 
           
EQUITY          
Contributed equity 19  140,111,073   125,498,824 
Reserves 20  8,755,489   6,009,932 
Accumulated losses 21  (135,851,192)  (129,737,550)
Total equity    13,015,370   1,771,206 

 

The above consolidated balance sheetsheets should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

F-3



Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the year ended June 30, 20172020

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

Notes

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Cash flows from / (used in) operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receipts from customers

 

 

 

964,520

 

1,482,970

 

2,855,599

 

Payments to suppliers and employees

 

 

 

(7,816,924

)

(9,276,907

)

(12,583,957

)

Interest received

 

 

 

38,765

 

67,099

 

39,951

 

Interest and finance charges paid

 

 

 

 

 

(3,121

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flows from / (used in) operating activities

 

11

 

(6,813,639

)

(7,726,838

)

(9,691,528

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows (used in)/ from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from the sale of plant and equipment

 

 

 

52,650

 

7,131

 

57,119

 

Purchases of plant and equipment

 

 

 

(234,799

)

(303,462

)

(192,592

)

Net cash flows (used in)/ from investing activities

 

 

 

(182,149

)

(296,331

)

1,965,422

 

Cash flows (used in)/ from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from the issue of shares

 

 

 

8,049,369

 

 

23,289,927

 

Equity transaction costs

 

 

 

(1,234,430

)

(1,654

)

(2,572,664

)

Proceeds from borrowings

 

 

 

 

 

2,150,000

 

Facility fee rebate

 

 

 

295,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash flows (used in)/ from financing activities

 

 

 

7,110,049

 

(1,654

)

22,867,263

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease)/ increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

114,261

 

(8,024,823

)

15,141,157

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

 

 

11,179,687

 

18,341,357

 

2,831,085

 

Net foreign exchange difference

 

 

 

(305,393

)

863,153

 

369,115

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

11

 

10,988,255

 

11,179,687

 

18,341,357

 

(in Australian dollars)

    Consolidated 
  Notes 

2020

$

  

2019

$

  

2018

$

 
Cash flows from/ (used in) operating activities              
Receipts from customers    9,864   204,768   758,452 
Payments to suppliers and employees    (6,758,484)  (6,575,163)  (6,757,243)
R&D tax incentive and other grants received    1,036,522   297,213   362,258 
Net cash flows used in operating activities    (5,712,098)  (6,073,182)  (5,636,533)
               
Cash flows from/(used in) investing activities              
Proceeds from the sale of plant and equipment    37,000       
Proceeds from sale of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income    43,380       
Purchases of plant and equipment    (38,100)  (50,309)  (2,385)
Interest received    22,507   25,849   15,218 
Payments for investments in related parties    -   (500,000)   
Net cash flows from/(used in) investing activities    64,787   (524,460)  12,833 
               
Cash flows from/(used in) financing activities              
Proceeds from the issue of shares    21,793,678   3,557,509    
Equity transaction costs    (3,215,174)  (431,347)  (9,963)
Proceeds from borrowings    52,252       
Principal elements of finance lease payments    (183,907)      
Interest paid    (86,503)      
Net cash flows from/(used in) financing activities    18,360,346   3,126,162   (9,963)
               
Net (decrease)/ increase in cash and cash equivalents    12,713,035   (3,471,480)  (5,633,663)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year    2,131,741   5,487,035   10,988,255 
Net foreign exchange difference    (630,616)  116,186   132,443 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 10  14,214,160   2,131,741   5,487,035 

 

The above consolidated statementstatements of cash flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

 

F-4



Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the year ended June 30, 20172020

 

 

 

Attributable to Members of Genetic Technologies Limited

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

Contributed
equity
$

 

Reserves
$

 

Accumulated
losses
$

 

Parent
interests
$

 

Non-controlling
interests
$

 

Total
equity
$

 

Balance at June 30, 2014

 

90,080,492

 

3,922,140

 

(92,175,113

)

1,827,519

 

 

1,827,519

 

Loss for the year

 

 

 

(8,810,170

)

(8,810,170

)

 

(8,810,170

)

Other comprehensive profit

 

 

414,005

 

 

414,005

 

 

414,005

 

Total comprehensive loss

 

 

414,005

 

(8,810,170

)

(8,396,165

)

 

(8,396,165

)

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions of equity (net of transaction costs)

 

20,659,527

 

 

 

20,659,527

 

 

20,659,527

 

Value of shares issued on conversion of convertible notes

 

4,507,109

 

 

 

4,507,109

 

 

4,507,109

 

Share-based payments

 

 

303,522

 

 

303,522

 

 

303,522

 

Transaction costs on placement of shares

 

 

57,736

 

 

57,736

 

 

57,736

 

 

 

25,166,636

 

361,258

 

 

25,527,894

 

 

25,527,894

 

Balance at June 30, 2015

 

115,247,128

 

4,697,403

 

(100,985,283

)

18,959,248

 

 

18,959,248

 

Loss for the year

 

 

 

(8,458,965

)

(8,458,965

)

 

(8,458,965

)

Other comprehensive profit

 

 

1,307,219

 

 

1,307,219

 

 

1,307,219

 

Total comprehensive loss

 

 

1,307,219

 

(8,458,965

)

(7,151,746

)

 

(7,151,746

)

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value of shares issued on conversion of convertible notes

 

25,448

 

 

 

25,448

 

 

25,448

 

Share-based payments

 

 

50,239

 

 

50,239

 

 

50,239

 

 

 

25,448

 

50,239

 

 

75,687

 

 

75,687

 

Balance at June 30, 2016

 

115,272,576

 

6,054,861

 

(109,444,248

)

11,883,189

 

 

11,883,189

 

Loss for the year

 

 

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,403,826

)

 

(8,403,826

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(130,655

)

 

(130,655

)

 

(130,655

)

Total comprehensive loss

 

 

(130,655

)

(8,403,826

)

(8,534,481

)

 

(8,534,481

)

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions of equity (net of transaction costs)

 

6,814,939

 

 

 

6,814,939

 

 

6,814,939

 

Share-based payments

 

 

120,287

 

 

120,287

 

 

120,287

 

Share facility fee rebate

 

295,110

 

 

 

295,110

 

 

295,110

 

 

 

7,110,049

 

120,287

 

 

7,230,336

 

 

7,230,336

 

Balance at June 30, 2017

 

122,382,625

 

6,044,493

 

(117,848,074

)

10,579,044

 

 

10,579,044

 

(in Australian dollars, except number of shares)

  Attributable to Members of Genetic
Technologies Limited
  Non-    
  Contributed equity  Reserves  Accumulated losses  Parent interests  controlling interests  Total equity 
Consolidated $  $  $  $  $  $ 
Balance at July 1, 2017  122,382,625   6,044,493   (117,848,074)  10,579,044      10,579,044 
Loss for the year        (5,463,872)  (5,463,872)     (5,463,872)
Other comprehensive loss     (522,966)     (522,966)     (522,966)
                         
Total comprehensive loss     (522,966)  (5,463,872)  (5,986,838)     (5,986,838)
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners                        
Contributions of equity (net of transaction costs)  (9,963)        (9,963)     (9,963)
Share-based payments     129,635      129,635      129,635 
Share facility fee rebate                  
   (9,963)  129,635      119,672      119,672 
Balance at June 30, 2018  122,372,662   5,651,162   (123,311,946)  4,711,878      4,711,878 
Loss for the year        (6,425,604)        (6,425,604)
Other comprehensive income     23,668            23,668 
Total comprehensive loss     23,668   (6,425,604)        (6,401,936)
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners                        
Contributions of equity, net of transaction costs and tax  3,126,162               3,126,162 
Share-based payments     341,201            341,201 
Issue of options/warrants to underwriters     (6,099)           (6,099)
   3,126,162   335,102            3,461,264 
Balance at June 30, 2019  125,498,824   6,009,932   (129,752,262)        1,771,206 
Initial adoption of IFRS 16        (14,712)        (14,712)
Restated total equity at July 1, 2019  125,498,824   6,009,932   (129,752,262)        1,756,494 
Loss for the year        (6,098,930)        (6,098,930)
Other comprehensive income     (33,175)           (33,175)
Total comprehensive loss     (33,175)  (6,098,930)        (6,132,105)
Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners                        
Contributions of equity, net of transaction costs and tax  14,612,249               14,612,249 
Share-based payments     67,542            67,542 
Reversal of forfeited Performance Rights     (81,894)           (81,894)
Issue of options/warrants to underwriters     2,793,174            2,793,174 
   14,612,249   2,778,732            17,390,981 
Balance at June 30, 2020  140,111,073   8,755,489   (135,851,192)        13,015,370 

 

The above consolidated statements of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended June 30, 20172020

 

1.CORPORATE INFORMATION

 

The Financial Report of Genetic Technologies Limited (the “Company”) for the year ended June 30, 20172020 was authorized for issue in accordance with a resolution of the Directors dated on October 31, 2017.22, 2020 Genetic Technologies Limited is incorporated in Australia and is a company limited by shares. The Directors have the power to amend and reissue the financial statements.

 

The Company’s ordinary sharesOrdinary Shares are publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange under the symbol GTG and, via Level II American Depositary Receipts, on the NASDAQNasdaq Capital Market under the ticker GENE.

 

2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)Basis of preparation

 

This general purpose Financial Report has been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, other authoritative pronouncements(a) Basis of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and the Corporations Act 2001.preparation

 

(i) Compliance with IFRSInternational Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board

The Financial Report complies with Australian Accounting Standards as issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

(ii) Historical cost convention

These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention except for financial assets and liabilities (including derivative instruments) which are measured at fair value.

 

(iii) Critical accounting estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires Management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’sCompany’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are critical to the financial statements, are disclosed in Note 3.

 

(iv) Going concern

 

For the year endingended June 30, 2017,2020, the GroupCompany incurred a total comprehensive loss of $8,534,481 (2016: $7,151,746)$6,132,105 (2019: $6,401,936) and net cash outflow from operations of $6,813,639 (2016: $7,726,838)$5,712,098 (2019: $6,073,182). As at June 30, 20172020 the Company held total cash and cash equivalents of $10,988,255.

In light$14,214,160 and total net current assets of these historical cash outflows, and further expected cash outflows from operations in the next twelve months, the Directors have initiated a comprehensive strategic review of the Group’s operations. This review, which commenced during the first half of the 2018 financial year, is exploring a wide range of possible strategic alternatives designed to maximise near and long-term value for the Group’s shareholders (the Group has retained Roth Capital Partners LLC to serve as a financial advisor in the process). The strategic review will also give consideration to future cash needs to ensure the Group continues to hold adequate levels of cash resources to meet creditors and other commitments.$13,795,177.

 

The longer-term viabilityCompany expects to continue to incur losses and cash outflows for the foreseeable future as it continues to invest resources in expanding the research and development activities in support of the Groupdistribution of existing and its ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debts and commitments as they fall due is dependent onnew products. Following successful capital raises in the successful outcomelast three months of the strategic review.

Due tofinancial year, the uncertainty surroundingCompany has $14.2 million cash and cash equivalents as at June 30, 2020. In the outcomeDirector’s opinion this, together with further gross proceeds of US$5.1 million before transaction costs raised in July 2020, will underpin the strategic review, and the timing, quantum or the ability to raise additional funds if identified in the strategic review, there isCompany’s funding requirements for approximately two years. As a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and therefore, that it may be unable to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.  However, the Directors believe that the Group will be successful in the above matters and accordingly, have preparedresult, the financial reportstatements have been prepared on a going concern basis. As such no adjustments have been made to the financial statements relating to the recoverability and classification of the asset carrying amounts or classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Group not be able to continue as a going concern.

 

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2.2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

(a)Basis of preparation (cont.)

 

Going Concern (cont.)

As a U.S. SEC registrant, the Company is required to have its financial statements audited in accordance with Public Company Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) standards.  References in these IFRS financial statements to matters that may cast significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern also raise substantial doubt as contemplated by the PCAOB standards.

(b)(v) New accounting standards and interpretations

(i)Standards and Interpretations affecting amounts reported in the current period (and/or prior period)

 

The groupCompany has applied the following standards and amendments for the first time for their annual reporting period commencing July 1, 2016:2019:

 

·                  AASB 2016-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standard AASB 112/IAS 12 — Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealized Losses

·                  AASB 2016-2 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standard AASB 107/IAS7 — Disclosure Initiative

·                  AASB 2016-5 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standard AASB 2/IFRS 2 — Classification and Measurement of Share-based Payment Transactions16 Leases

 

The impact of the adoption of these standards did not have any impact onthis standard and the current period or any prior period andnew accounting policy is not likely to affect future periods.disclosed below.

 

(ii)StandardsIFRS 16 will result in almost all leases being recognized on the balance sheet, as the distinction between operating and Interpretationsfinance leases is removed. Under the new standard, an asset (the right to use the leased item) and a financial liability to pay rentals are recognized. The only exceptions are short-term and low-value leases.

On adoption of IFRS 16, the Company recognized lease liabilities in issue but not yet adoptedrelation to leases which had previously been classified as ‘operating leases’ under the principles of IAS 17 Leases. These liabilities were measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted using the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate as of July 1, 2019. The weighted average lessee’s incremental borrowing rate applied to the lease liabilities on July 1, 2019 was 5.37%.

The associated right-of use assets were measured at the amount equal to the lease liability, adjusted by the amount of any prepaid or accrued lease payments relating to that lease recognized in the balance sheet as at July 1, 2019. There were no onerous lease contracts that would have required an adjustment to the right-of-use assets at the date of initial application.

 

In respectapplying IFRS 16 for the first time, the Company has used the following practical expedients permitted by the standard:

the use of a single discount rate to a portfolio of leases with reasonably similar characteristics.
the accounting for operating leases with a lease term of less than 12 months as short-term leases.

The Company has also elected not to reassess whether a contract is or contains a lease at the date of initial application. Instead, for contracts entered into before the year ended June 30, 2017,transition date the Group has assessed all new Australian accounting standards,Company relied on its assessment made applying IAS 17 and the IFRS equivalent, mandatory for adoption during the current year, noting no new standards which would haveinterpretation 4 determining whether an arrangement contains a material effect on the disclosure in these financial statements.  There has been no effect on the profit and loss or the financial position of the Group.  Certain new accountingLease.

  Amount 
Operating lease commitments disclosed as at June 30, 2019 $487,837 
Discounted using the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate of at the date of initial application $461,358 
     
Lease liability recognized as at July 1, 2019 $461,358 
     
Of which are:    
Current lease liabilities $209,887 
Non-current lease liabilities $251,471 
     
Right of use of assets increased by $446,645 
Lease liabilities increased by $461,358 
The net impact on retained earnings on July 1, 2019 was a decrease of $14,712 

(vi) New standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for June 30, 2017 reporting periods.

The Group’s assessment of the impact of these new standards and interpretations is set out below.

Title of Standard

Summary and impact on Group’s financial statements

Application date
of the standard

Application date
for Group for
financial year
ending

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments replaces IFRS 139 and addresses and classification, measurement and derecognition of financial assets and liabilities. It also addresses the new hedge accounting requirements, including changes to hedge effectiveness, treatment of hedging costs and risk components that can be hedged.

IFRS 9 introduces a new expected loss impairment model that will require entities to account for expected credit losses at the time of recognizing the asset. The Group does not expect the adoption of the new standard to have a material impact on its classification and measurement of the financial assets and liabilities or its results on adoption of the new impairment model.

The new standard will result in extended disclosures in the financial

January 1, 2018

June 30, 2019

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statements. The Group has decided not to early adopt AASB 9.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

IFRS 15 provides a single, principles based five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers. The five steps in the model are as follows:

1.    identify contracts with customers

2.    identify the separate performance obligations

3.    determine the transaction price of the contract

4.    allocate the transaction price to each of the separate performance obligations, and

5.    Recognize the revenue as each performance obligation is satisfied.

Guidance is provided on topics such as the point in which revenue is recognized, accounting for variable consideration, costs of fulfilling and obtaining a contract and various related matters. The Group is assessing the impact of the new standard on its revenue recognition policy.

January 1, 2018

June 30, 2019

IFRS 16 Leases

IFRS 16 will primarily affect the accounting by lessees and will result in the recognition of almost all leases on the balance sheet. The standard removes the current distinction between operating & financing leases and requires recognition of an asset (the right to use the leased item) and financial liability to pay rentals for almost all of the lease contracts. The accounting by lessors, however, will not significantly change

The new standard will result in extended disclosures in the financial statements. The Group has decided not to early adopt IFRS 16

January 1, 2019

June 30, 2020

 

There are no other standards that are not yet effective and that arewould be expected to have a material impact on the entity in the current or future reporting periodsyears and on foreseeable future transactions.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

(c)

(b) Principles of consolidation

 

(i) Subsidiaries

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets and liabilities of all subsidiaries of Genetic Technologies Limited (the “Company” or “Parent Entity”) as at June 30, 2017 and the results of all subsidiaries for the year then ended.  Genetic Technologies Limited and its subsidiaries together are referred to in this Financial Report as the “Group” or the “Consolidated Entity”.

Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the groupCompany has control. The groupCompany controls an entity when the groupCompany is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement withinwith the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power to direct the activities of the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group.Company. They are de-consolidateddeconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

 

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for business combinations by the Company.

Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealisedunrealized gains / losses on transactions between GroupCompany companies are eliminated. UnrealisedUnrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of thean impairment of the asset transferred.transferred asset. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the Group’s policies.  policies adopted by the Company.

Non-controlling interests in the results and equity of subsidiaries are shown separately in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statements of changes in equity, respectively.

 

(d)(c) Segment reporting

 

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision maker.  The chief operating decision maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing the performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer.

(e)Parent entity financial information

The financial information for the parent entity, Genetic Technologies Limited has been prepared on the same basis as the consolidated financial statements, except that investments in subsidiaries are accounted for at cost in the financial statements of Genetic Technologies Limited.  Loans to subsidiaries are written down to their recoverable value as at balance date.

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Table of Contents

2.2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

(f)(d) Foreign currency translation

 

(i) Functional and presentation currency

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Company’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (‘the functional currency’). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Australian dollar ($), which is Genetic Technologies Limited’s functional and presentation currency.

(ii) Transactions and balances

Foreign currency of Genetic Technologies Limited and its Australian subsidiaries is the Australian dollar (AUD).  Transactions in foreign currenciestransactions are initially recorded intranslated into the functional currency atusing the exchange rates ruling at the datedates of the transaction.  Monetarytransactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities which are denominated in foreign currencies at year end exchange rates are retranslated atgenerally recognized in profit or loss.

Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowings are presented in the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date.  All differences are taken to theconsolidated statement of comprehensive income.profit or loss, within finance costs. All other foreign exchange gains and losses are presented in the consolidated statement of profit or loss on a net basis within other gains/(losses).

 

Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate ruling at the date of the initial transaction.  Non-monetary items measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates ruling at the date when the fair value was determined. The functional currencies of the Company’s three overseas subsidiaries are as follows:

GeneType AG — Swiss francs (CHF)

GeneType Corporation — United States dollars (USD)

Phenogen Sciences Inc. — United States dollars (USD)

As at the reporting date, theTranslation differences on assets and liabilities carried at fair value are reported as part of these subsidiariesthe fair value gain or loss. For example, translation differences on non-monetary assets and liabilities such as equities held at fair value through profit or loss are recognized in profit or loss as part of the fair value gain or loss and translation differences on non-monetary assets such as equities classified as at fair value through other comprehensive income are recognized in other comprehensive income.

(iii) Group companies

The results and financial position of foreign operations (none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy) that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency of Genetic Technologies Limited at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date and the statement of comprehensive income is translated at the weighted average exchange rates for the period unless this is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the dates of the transactions.  Theas follows:

assets and liabilities for each consolidated balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that consolidated balance sheet
income and expenses for each consolidated statement of profit or loss and consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income are translated at average exchange rates (unless this is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the dates of the transactions), and
all resulting exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income.

On consolidation, exchange differences arising onfrom the retranslationtranslation of any net investment in foreign entities, and of borrowings and other financial instruments designated as hedges of such investments, are recognized in other comprehensive income and taken directly toincome. When a separate component of equity.  On disposal of a foreign entity, the deferred cumulative amount recognized in equity relating to that particular foreign operation is recognized insold or any borrowings forming part of the statementnet investment are repaid, the associated exchange differences are reclassified to profit or loss, as part of comprehensive income.the gain or loss on sale.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

(g)Earnings per share (“EPS”)(e) Revenue recognition

 

Basic EPSUnder IFRS 15, revenue is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to owners of the Company, excluding any costs of servicing equity other than ordinary shares, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the financial year.  Diluted EPS adjusts the figures used in the determination of basic EPS to take into account the after income tax effect of interest and other financing costs associatedrecognized based on contract with dilutive potential ordinary shares and the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would have been outstanding assuming the conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

(h)Revenue recognition

Revenues are recognized to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the entity and the revenues can be reliably measured.  Revenues are recognized at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable net of the amounts of Goods and Services Tax.customers when performance obligations were satisfied. The following recognition criteria must also be met before revenue is recognized:

 

(i) Genetic testing revenues

The Company operates facilities which provide genetic testing services. The Company recognises revenueRevenue from the provision of these servicesmolecular risk testing for cancer (BREVAGenplus) is recognized at a point time when the services have been completed.Company has provided the customer with their test results, the single performance obligation.

 

License (ii) Interest incomefees, royalties and annuities received

The Company licenses the use of its patented genetic technologies.  License fee income is recorded either upfront where the Group has no future obligations or over the license term where the Group has future obligations based on the execution of a binding agreement.  The Group does not grant refunds to its customers.  Royalties and annuities arising from the above licenses are recognized when earned in accordance with the substance of the agreement, in cases where no future performance is required by the Company and collection is reasonably assured.

Interest received

Revenue is recognized as the interest accrues using the effective interest method.

 

Research and development tax incentive(iii) Government Grants

The Australian government replaced the research and development tax concession with research and development (R&D) tax incentive from July 1, 2011. The R&D tax incentive applies to expenditure incurred and the use of depreciating assets in an income year commencing on or after July 1, 2011. A refundable tax offset is available to eligible companies with an annual aggregate turnover of less than $20 million. Management has assessed the Group’sCompany’s activities and expenditure to determine which are likely to be eligible under the incentive scheme. The GroupCompany accounts for the R&D tax incentive as a government grant. The grant is recognized as other income over the period in which the R&D expense is recognized.

 

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Table of Contents(f) Government Grants

 

Revenue from government grants is recognized in the consolidated income statement on a systematic basis over the periods in which the Company recognizes as expense the related costs for which the grants are intended to compensate in accordance with IAS 20 Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance.

The receivable for reimbursable amounts that have not been collected is reflected in trade and other receivables on our consolidated balance sheets.

2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

(i)Share-based payment transactions

The fair value of options granted under an Employee Option Plan is recognized as an employee benefit expense with a corresponding increase in equity.  The fair value is measured at grant date and recognized over the vesting period over which all of the specified vesting conditions are to be satisfied. The fair value at grant date is determined by management with the assistance of an independent valuer, using a Black-Scholes option pricing model or a Monte Carlo simulation analysis.   The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted;

·                  including any market performance conditions (e.g. the entities share price)

·                  excluding the impact of any service and non-market performance vesting conditions (e.g. remaining an employee over a specified time period)

The cumulative employee benefits expense recognized at each reporting date until vesting date reflects (i) the extent to which the vesting period has expired; and (ii) the number of awards that, in the opinion of the Directors of the Group, will ultimately vest.  This opinion is formed based on the best information available at balance date.

Where the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, as a minimum an expense is recognized as if the terms had not been modified.  In addition, an expense is recognized for any increase in the value of the transaction as a result of the modification, as at the date of modification.  Where appropriate, the dilutive effect of outstanding options is reflected as additional share dilution in the computation of diluted earnings per share.  The Company’s policy is to treat the options of terminated employees as forfeitures.

(j)(g) Income tax

 

The income tax expense or revenuecredit for the period is the tax payable on the current period’s taxable income based on the nationalapplicable income tax rate for each jurisdiction adjusted by changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to temporary differences and to unused tax losses.

 

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period in the countries where the company’scompany and its subsidiaries and associates operate and generate taxable income. Management periodically evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation. It establishes provisions where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.

 

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. However, deferred tax liabilities are not recognized if they arise from the deferredinitial recognition of goodwill. Deferred income tax is also not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss.

Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the balance sheet dateend of the reporting period and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realisedrealized or the deferred income tax liability is settled.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary differences and unused tax lossesrecognized only if it is probable that future taxable amounts will be available to utiliseutilize those temporary differences and losses.

 

Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary differences and unused tax losses only if it is probable that future taxable amounts will be available to utilise those temporary differences and losses.  Deferred tax liabilities and assets are not recognised for temporary differences between the carrying amount and tax bases of investments in controlled entities where the parent entity is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that the differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and when the deferred tax balances relate to the same taxation authority.  Current tax assets and tax liabilities are offset where the entity has a legally enforceable right to offset and intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.  Current and deferred tax balances attributable to amounts recognised directly in equity are also recognised directly in equity.  Current and deferred tax is recognised in profit or loss, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.  In this case, the tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.(h) Leases

 

Tax consolidation legislationPlease refer to Note 17 for further information.

Genetic Technologies Limited (“GTG”) and its wholly-owned Australian-resident subsidiaries have implemented the tax consolidation legislation.  The head entity, GTG, and the subsidiaries in the tax consolidated group account for their own current and deferred tax amounts.  These tax amounts are measured as if each entity in the tax consolidated group continues to be a stand-alone taxpayer in its own right

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2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

In addition to its own current and deferred tax amounts, GTG also recognises the current tax(i) Impairment of assets / liabilities and the deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses and tax credits assumed from subsidiaries in the tax consolidated group.  Assets or liabilities arising under tax funding agreements with the tax consolidated entities are recognised as amounts receivable from or payable to other entities in the Group.  Any difference between the amounts assumed and amounts receivable or payable under the tax funding agreements are recognised as a contribution to (or distribution from) wholly-owned tax subsidiaries.

(k)Other taxes

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognized net of the amount of Goods and Services Tax (GST) except where the GST incurred on a purchase of goods and services is not recoverable from the taxation authority, in which case the GST is recognized as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense item as applicable; and receivables and payables are stated with the amount of GST included.  The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included as part of receivables or payables in the balance sheet.  Cash flows are included in the cash flow statement on a gross basis and the GST component arising from investing and financing activities, which is recoverable from / payable to the taxation authority, are classified as operating cash flows.

(l)Withholding tax

 

The Group generates revenues from the granting of licenses to parties resident in overseas countries.  Such revenues may, in certain circumstances, be subject to the deduction of local withholding tax.  In such cases, revenues are recorded net of any withholding tax deducted.

(m)Finance costs

Finance costs are recognized using the effective interest rate method.

(n)Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet comprise cash at bank and in hand and short-term deposits with an original maturity of 3 months or less.  For the purposes of the cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and cash equivalents as defined above.  Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates based on daily bank deposit rates.  Short-term deposits are made for varying periods, depending on the immediate cash requirements of the Group, and earn interest at the respective short-term deposit rates.

(o)Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables, which are non-interest bearing and generally have terms of between 30 to 90 days, are recognized and carried at original invoice amount less an allowance for any uncollectible amounts.  An allowance for doubtful debts is made when there is objective evidence that a receivable is impaired.  Such evidence includes an assessment of the debtor’s ability and willingness to pay the amount due.  The amount of the allowance/impairment loss is measured as the difference between the carrying amount of the trade receivables and the estimated future cash flows expected to be received from the relevant debtors.

(p)Inventories

Inventories principally comprise laboratory and other supplies and are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value.  Inventory costs are recognized as the purchase price of items from suppliers plus freight inwards and any applicable landing charges.  Costs are assigned on the basis of weighted average cost.

(q)Property, plant and equipment

Plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment in value.  Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the respective asset as follows:

Laboratory equipment — 3 to 5 years

Computer equipment — 3 years

Office equipment — 3 to 5 years

Leasehold improvements — lease term, being between 1 and 3 years

Costs relating to day-to-day servicing of any item of property, plant and equipment are recognized in profit or loss as incurred.  The cost of replacing larger parts of some items of property, plant and equipment are capitalized when incurred and depreciated over the period until their next scheduled replacement, with the replacement parts being subsequently written off.

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Table of Contents

2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

(r)Intangible assets

Patents

Patents held by the Group are used in the licensing, testing and research areas and are carried at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives, being 10 years.  External costs incurred in filing and protecting patent applications, for which no future benefit is reasonably assured, are expensed as incurred.

Research and development costs

Costs relating to research activities are expensed as incurred.  An intangible asset arising from development expenditure on an internal project is recognized only when the Group can demonstrate the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale, its intention to complete and its ability to use or sell the asset, how the asset will generate future economic benefits, the availability of resources to complete the development and the ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development.  To date, all development costs have been expensed as incurred as their recoverability cannot be regarded as assured.

(s)Impairment of assets

The GroupCompany assesses at each reporting date whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. If any such indication exists, the GroupCompany makes an estimate of the asset’s recoverable amount. An asset’s recoverable amount is the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal or its value in use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groupsgroup of assets and the asset’s value-in-use cannot be estimated to be close to its fair value. In such cases, the asset is tested for impairment as part of the cash-generating unit to which it belongs. When the carrying amount of an asset or cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset or cash-generating unit is considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount.

 

In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. Impairment losses relating to operations are recognized in those expense categories consistent with the function of the impaired asset unless the asset is carried at its revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

 

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

(t)Employee benefits2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

(i) Short-term obligations(j) Cash and cash equivalents

 

ProvisionFor the purpose of presentation in the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand, deposits held at call with financial institutions, other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

(k) Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, less loss allowance.

(l) Inventories

(i) Raw materials and stores, work in progress and finished goods

Raw materials and stores, work in progress and finished goods are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost comprises direct materials, direct labor and an appropriate proportion of variable and fixed overhead expenditure, the latter being allocated on the basis of normal operating capacity. Costs are assigned to individual items of inventory on the basis of weighted average costs. Costs of purchased inventory are determined after deducting rebates and discounts. Net realizable value is madethe estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

(m) Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less depreciation. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items.ss

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognized as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Company and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of any component accounted for employee benefits accumulatedas a separate asset is derecognized when replaced. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to profit or loss during the reporting period in which they are incurred.

Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their cost or revalued amounts, net of their residual values, over their estimated useful lives or, in the case of leasehold improvements and certain leased plant and equipment, the shorter lease term as follows:

Plant and equipment3 - 5 years
Furniture, fittings and equipment3 - 5 years
Leasehold improvements1 - 3 years (lease term)
Leased plant and equipment3 years (lease term)

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.

An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount (note 2(i)).

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with carrying amount. These are included in profit or loss. When revalued assets are sold, it is Company policy to transfer any amounts included in other reserves in respect of those assets to retained earnings.

(n) Trade and other payables

Trade payables and other payables are carried at amortized cost and represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Company prior to the end of the financial year that are unpaid and arise when the Company becomes obliged to make future payments in respect of the purchase of these goods and services. Trade payables and other payables generally have terms of between 30 and 60 days.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

(o) Provisions

Provisions for legal claims, service warranties and make good obligations are recognized when the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and the amount can be reliably estimated. Provisions are not recognized for future operating losses.

Where there are a number of similar obligations, the likelihood that an outflow will be required in settlement is determined by considering the class of obligations as a whole. A provision is recognized even if the likelihood of an outflow with respect to any one item included in the same class of obligations may be small.

Provisions are measured at the present value of management’s best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting period. The discount rate used to determine the present value is a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. The increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognized as interest expense.

(p) Employee benefits

(i) Short-term obligations

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits, annual leave and accumulating sick leave that are expected to be settled wholly within 12 months after the end of the period in which the employees renderingrender the related service are recognized in respect of employees’ services up to the reporting date.  These benefits include wages and salaries, annual leave and long service leave.  Liabilities arising in respect of wages and salaries, expected to be settled within twelve monthsend of the reporting dateperiod and are measured at their nominalthe amounts based on remuneration rates which are expected to be paid when the liability isliabilities are settled. Expenses for non-accumulating sick leaveThe liabilities are recognized whenpresented as current employee benefit obligations in the leave is taken during the year and are measured at rates paid or payable.balance sheet.

 

ii)(ii) Other long-term employee benefit obligations

TheIn some countries, the Company also has liabilities for long service leave and annual leave that are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months after the end of the reporting period in which the employee rendersemployees render the related service. TheyThese obligations are therefore recognized in the provision for employee benefits and measured as the present value of expected future payments to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the end of the reporting period using the projected unit credit method. Consideration is given to expected future wage and salary levels, experience of employee departures and periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using market yields at the end of the reporting period of high-quality corporate bonds with terms and currencies that match, as closely as possible, the estimated future cash outflows.

F-12



Table Remeasurements as a result of Contents

2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

(t)Employee benefits (cont.)experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are recognized in profit or loss.

 

The obligations are presented as current liabilities in the balance sheet if the entity does not have an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting period, regardless of when the actual settlement is expected to occur.

 

(iii) Retirement benefit obligations

The Group does not have any defined benefit funds.  Statutory contributions to defined contribution superannuation funds are recognized as an expense as they become payable. Prepaid contributions are recognized as an asset to the extent that a cash refund or a reduction in the future payments is available.  Statutory contributions are legally enforceable in Australia.

(u)Provisions

Provisions for legal claims, service claims and make good obligations are recognized when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.  Where the Group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, the reimbursement is recognized as a separate asset but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain.  The expense relating to any provision is presented in the statement of comprehensive income net of any reimbursement.

If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects market assessments of the time value of money and, where appropriate, the risks specific to the liability.  Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognized as a finance cost.

(v)Trade and other payables

Trade payables and other payables are carried at amortized cost and represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the end of the financial year that are unpaid and arise when the Group becomes obliged to make future payments in respect of the purchase of these goods and services.  Trade payables and other payables generally have terms of between 30 and 60 days.

(w)(q) Contributed equity

 

Issued and paid up capital is recognized at the fair value of the consideration received by the Company. Transaction costs arising on the issue of ordinary sharesOrdinary Shares are recognized directly in equity as a deduction, net of tax, of the proceeds received. The Company has a share-based payment option plan under which options to subscribe for the Company’s shares have been granted to certain executives and other employees.

2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
(r)Loss per share
(i)Basic loss per share

Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing:

the loss attributable to owners of the company, excluding any costs of servicing equity other than ordinary shares,
by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the financial year, adjusted for bonus elements in ordinary shares issued during the year and excluding treasury shares
(ii)Diluted loss per share

Diluted loss per share adjusts the figures used in the determination of basic loss per share to take into account:

after income tax effect of interest and other financing costs associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares, and
the weighted average number of additional ordinary shares that would have been outstanding assuming the conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

 

(x)Financial assetsOn the basis of the Company’s losses, the outstanding options as at June 30, 2020 are considered to be anti-dilutive and liabilitiestherefore were excluded from the diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares calculation.

 

During the year ended June 30, 2015, the Group acquired both a financial asset and liability at fair value through profit or loss.  Financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are initially recognized at fair value on the date a contract is entered into and are subsequently premeasured to their fair value and at the end of each reporting period.  The accounting for subsequent changes in fair value is recognized in profit or loss.

(s)Goods and services tax (GST)

 

(y)Business combinations

The acquisition method of accountingRevenues are recognized to the extent that it is usedprobable that the economic benefits will flow to account for all business combinations, including business combinations involving entities or businesses under common control, regardless of whether equity instruments or other assets are acquired.  The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary comprises the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurredentity and the equity interests issued by the Group.  The consideration transferred also includes the fair value of any contingent consideration arrangement and the fair value of any pre-existing equity interest in the subsidiary.  All costs relating to acquisitionsrevenues can be reliably measured. Revenues are expensed as incurred.

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are, with limited exceptions, measured initiallyrecognized at their fair values at the acquisition date.  On an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, the Group recognizes any non-controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquiree’s net identifiable assets.

The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the Group’s shareconsideration received or receivable net of the net identifiable assets acquiredamounts of Goods and Services Tax. The following recognition criteria must also be met before revenue is recorded as goodwill.  If those amountsrecognized:

Receivables and payables are less than the fair valuestated inclusive of the amount of GST receivable or payable. The net identifiable assetsamount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the subsidiarytaxation authority is included with other receivables or payables in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

F-13



TableCash flows are presented on a gross basis. The GST components of Contentscash flows arising from investing or financing activities which are recoverable from, or payable to the taxation authority, are presented as operating cash flows.

 

2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

(t)Parent entity financial information

 

(y)Business combinations (cont.)

acquired andThe financial information for the measurement of all amountsparent entity, Genetic Technologies Limited, disclosed in note 32 has been reviewed,prepared on the difference is recognized directly in profit or losssame basis as a bargain purchase.

Where settlement of any part of cash consideration is deferred, the amounts payableconsolidated financial statements, except that accounted for at cost in the futurefinancial statements of Genetic Technologies Limited. Loans to subsidiaries are discountedwritten down to their presentrecoverable value as at the date of exchange.  The discount rate used is the entity’s incremental borrowing rate, being the rate at which a similar borrowing could be obtained from an independent financier under comparable terms and conditions.balance date.

3.CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

3.CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

 

Estimates and judgements are evaluated and based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that may have a financial impact on the Company and that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

 

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions

The carrying amounts of certain assets and liabilities are often determined based on estimates and assumptions of future events.  The key estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities within the next annual reporting period are set out below.

Impairment of intangible assets

The Group determines whether intangible assets are impaired on at least an annual basis, in accordance with the accounting policies stated in Note 2(s). At June 30, 2017, the Company has recognised an impairment expense of $544,694. The assumptions used in the estimation of the recoverable and carrying amounts as well as the impairment amount of intangible assets are as detailed in note 15 below.

Share-based payments transactions

The GroupCompany measures the cost of equity-settled transactions with employees and service providers by reference to the value of the equity instruments at the date on which they are granted. Management has determined the fair value by engaging an independent valuer for more complex equity instruments, such as warrants and performance rights, by using a Black-Scholes, Monte-Carlo Simulation and Monte Carlo simulation options pricingBinomial model, and utilized internal resources to perform fair value by straight forward equity instruments by using Black-Scholes model.

Useful lives of assets

The estimation of the useful lives of assets has been based on historical experience as well as lease terms (for leased equipment) and patent terms (for patents).  In addition, the condition of the assets is assessed at least annually and considered against the remaining useful life and adjustments to useful lives are made when considered necessary.

Revenue from the sale of BREVAGen tests

In accordance with revenue recognition principles, the Group recognizes the revenue from the sale of BREVAGenTM and BREVAGenplus® test on an accruals basis. This requires the Group to estimate the amount of revenue expected to be received based on the historical data of amounts received from tests sold since the launch of BREVAGenTM and BREVAGenplus®.

F-14



Table of Contents

4.COST OF SALES

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventories used

 

172,070

 

159,256

 

462,908

 

Direct labour costs

 

152,767

 

199,114

 

347,745

 

Depreciation expense

 

71,139

 

60,249

 

55,818

 

Inventories written off (1)

 

96,441

 

324,441

 

24,772

 

Total cost of sales

 

492,417

 

743,060

 

891,243

 


(1)Inventories written off include $53,856 (2016: $218,178 and 2015: $nil) of items that expired during the year.

5.OTHER REVENUE

License fees received (2)

 

 

252,707

 

938,471

 

Royalties and annuities received (3)

 

 

47,841

 

88,680

 

Total other revenue

 

 

300,548

 

1,027,151

 


(2) License fees received in 2016 included $149,837 (2015: $781,108) of licensing income from Applera Corporation. This agreement ended in December 2015.

(3) Derived under the Group’s non-coding assertion programme that was discontinued during 2015

6.NON OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

Net profit on disposal of plant and equipment

 

52,188

 

7,132

 

3,843

 

Research and development tax incentive

 

253,159

 

359,803

 

111,188

 

Interest income

 

38,765

 

67,100

 

39,951

 

Rental income

 

 

58,002

 

215,575

 

Total non operating income and expenditure

 

344,112

 

492,037

 

370,557

 

7.GAIN ON SALE OF BUSINESS

 

Proceeds from sale4.

COST OF SALES

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

  

2018

$

 
Inventories used  82,516   55,995   93,869 
Direct labor costs  107,590   103,601   88,690 
Depreciation expense  42,488   55,480   65,853 
Inventories written-off (1)  18,917   61,191   51,676 
Total cost of sales  251,511   276,267   300,088 


Inventories written off include $Nil (2019: $Nil and 2018: $24,506) of business

items that expired during the year.
5.NON-OPERATING INCOME

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

  

2018

$

 
Net profit on disposal of plant and equipment  37,000       
Research and development tax incentive income (i)  750,000   856,707   299,351 
Export Marketing & Development Grant        126,907 
Interest income  22,507   25,794   15,218 
Rental income         
Other income  78,001   137,268    
Government grant income – COVID-19 relief (ii)  253,139       
Total non-operating income  1,140,647   1,019,769   441,476 

 

2,100,895

(i)
R&D tax incentive

The Company’s research and development activities are eligible under an Australian government tax incentive for eligible expenditure. Management has assessed these activities and expenditure to determine which are likely to be eligible under the incentive scheme. Amounts are recognized when it has been established that the conditions of the tax incentive have been met and that the expected amount can be reliably measured. For the year ended June 30, 2020, the group has included an item in other income of A$750,000 (2019: A$856,707, 2018: A$299,351) to recognize income over the period necessary to match the grant on a systematic basis with the costs that they are intended to compensate.

On December 5, 2019, the Treasury Laws Amendment (R&D Tax Incentive Bill 2019) was introduced into Parliament. The draft bill contains proposed amendments to the R&D tax incentive regulations. Under the proposed amendments, the refundable tax offset rate for companies with an aggregated turnover of less than $20 million would become 41%. As at June 30, 2020, the bill remains under review by the Senate Committee.

In accordance with IAS 20, government grants, including non-monetary grants at fair value, should not be recognized until there is reasonable assurance that the Company will comply with the conditions attaching to them and the grants will be received.

Management does not consider the rate reduction to be substantially enacted as at June 30, 2020 due to the continued legislative debate in Parliament. The Company has therefore calculated the R&D tax incentive by applying the currently legislated R&D rate to eligible expenditure.

 

(ii)Government Grant income – COVID-19 Relief

Trade and other receivables

The COVID-19 relief relate to government assistance received during the year, from the Australian Government (at both federal and state level), in response to the economic and financial challenges in the current economy.

 

6.

(190,990

)

FOREIGN EXCHANGE GAIN RECLASSIFIED ON LIQUIDATION OF SUBSIDIARY

Prepayments and other assets

(220,785

)

Net value of fixed assets

(176,065

)

Goodwill

(315,388

)

Deferred revenue

51,952

Current provisions

120,989

Long term provisions

26,190

Total gain on sale of business

1,396,798

 

 Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

  

2018

$

 
Reclassification of net foreign exchange gains previously recognized in other comprehensive income, reclassified to profit or loss        527,049 

Total gain is attributable to the liquidation of GeneType AG, a dormant subsidiary, that was completed on 13 December 2017

7.OTHER GAINS / (LOSSES)

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

  

2018

$

 
Net foreign exchange gains/(losses)  (5,522)  92,518    
Fair value gains on financial liabilities through profit or loss  195,845       
Net impairment losses (1)  -   (500,000)   
Total other gains / (losses)  (190,323)  (407,482)   


(1) In August 2018, the Company invested A$250,000 into Swisstec towards the proposed joint venture to enable the Company and Swisstec to collaborate to develop a medical and health service platform using blockchain technology. The Company has recorded an impairment against the investment during the financial year ended June 30, 2019, due to cessation of activities in relation to the joint venture.

In December 2018, Genetic Technologies Limited entered and invested A$250,000 into a Joint Venture agreement with Blockshine Health Pty Ltd. with an ownership of 49%. The Company has recorded an impairment against the investment during the financial year ended June 30, 2019, due to the cancellation of the project.

8.INCOME TAX

 

On November 19, 2014, the Company announced that it had completed the sale of its Heritage Australian Genetics business to Specialist Diagnostics Services Ltd (“SDS”), the wholly owned pathology subsidiary of Primary Health Care Ltd. Under the terms of sale, SDS acquired the Australian Genetics business for $2,100,895 (net of employee entitlements and inclusive of GST) in cash. The gain on disposal as recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income is $1,396,798 the details of which are noted above.

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

  

2018

$

 
Reconciliation of income tax expense to prima facie tax payable            
Loss before income tax expense  (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)
Tax at the Australian tax rate of 27.50% (2019: 27.50% and 2018:
27.5%)
  (1,677,206)  (1,767,040)  (1,502,565)
Tax effect amounts which are not deductible/(taxable) in calculating taxable income            
Share-based payments expense  (3,971)  92,153   35,650 
Research and development tax incentive  446,717   541,596   148,346 
Other non-deductible items  888   590   1,509 
Other assessable items  (26,764)      
   (1,260,336)  (1,132,701)  (1,317,060)
             
Difference in overseas tax rates  26,526   41,009   67,557 
Under /(over) provision  553,190   1,126,722   (268,092)
Temporary differences not recognized  (353,628)  (121,965)   
Research and development tax credit  (206,250)  (238,084)  (82,322)
Tax losses not recognized  1,240,498   325,020   1,599,917 
Income tax expense         
             
Net deferred tax assets            
             
Deferred tax assets not recognized            
Property, plant and equipment     863   1,381 
Capital raising costs  877,584   232,328   347,370 
Intangible assets  1,832,075   1,893,220   1,949,601 
Provisions  306,044   187,958   201,492 
Total deferred tax assets  3,015,703   2,314,369   2,499,844 
Deferred tax liabilities not recognized            
Right-of-use assets  (119,384)      
Total deferred tax liabilities          
Net deferred tax assets on temporary differences not brought to account  (2,896,320)  (2,314,369)  (2,499,844)
Total net deferred tax assets         

 

F-15


F-19

Table of Contents

 

8.EXPENSES

8.INCOME TAX (cont.)

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

63,783

 

127,564

 

127,564

 

Depreciation of fixed assets

 

307,828

 

262,510

 

104,639

 

Net foreign currency losses

 

175,871

 

427,574

 

200,243

 

Employee benefits expenses

 

3,594,936

 

3,774,770

 

5,470,007

 

Operating lease expenses

 

310,413

 

312,586

 

404,638

 

Research and development expenses

 

418,598

 

395,539

 

728,592

 

F-16



Table of Contents

9.INCOME TAX

Reconciliation of income tax expense to prima facie tax payable

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income tax expense

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

Tax at the Australian tax rate of 27.50% (2016: 28.50% and 2015: 30%)

 

(2,311,052

)

(2,410,805

)

(2,643,051

)

Tax effect amounts which are not deductible / (taxable) in calculating taxable income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net impairment losses and other write-downs

 

 

 

98

 

Share-based payments expense

 

33,079

 

14,318

 

91,057

 

Fair value (gains)/ loss on financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

(104,774

)

Research and development tax incentive

 

108,163

 

116,800

 

78,673

 

Disposal of Heritage business

 

 

 

41,091

 

Tax effect of inter-company transactions

 

 

 

5,370

 

Withholding tax expense

 

 

849

 

5,484

 

Other non-deductible items

 

1,257

 

1,450

 

2,032

 

Other assessable items

 

81,155

 

 

 

 

 

(2,087,398

)

(2,277,388

)

(2,524,020

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Difference in overseas tax rates

 

(96,775

)

(225,070

)

(138,687

)

Under /(over) provision

 

(75,054

)

10,583

 

(7,849

)

Research and development tax credit

 

(69,619

)

(102,544

)

(33,356

)

Tax losses not recognized

 

2,328,846

 

2,594,419

 

2,703,912

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets not recognized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ImmunAid option fee

 

 

 

150,000

 

Property, plant & equipment

 

2,802

 

3,517

 

9,067

 

Capital raising costs

 

320,417

 

531,646

 

849,649

 

Applera settlement

 

 

 

44,945

 

Intangible assets

 

2,003,505

 

1,978,065

 

2,185,263

 

Provisions

 

333,103

 

209,643

 

226,568

 

Other

 

 

 

86,830

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

2,659,827

 

2,722,871

 

3,552,322

 

Deferred tax liabilities not recognized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepayments

 

 

 

355

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

355

 

Net deferred tax assets on temporary differences not brought to account

 

(2,659,827

)

(2,722,871

)

(3,551,967

)

Total net deferred tax assets

 

 

 

 

F-17



Table of Contents

9.INCOME TAX (cont.)

Tax losses

 

Consolidated

 

 Consolidated 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

2020

$

 

2019

$

 

2018

$

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax losses            

Unused tax losses for which no deferred tax asset has been recognized

 

80,706,629

 

74,107,688

 

63,780,030

 

  97,259,045   90,254,547   87,970,140 

Potential tax benefit @ 27.50% (2016: 28.50% and 2015 30%)

 

22,194,323

 

21,120,691

 

19,134,010

 

Potential tax benefit @ 27.5% (Australia)  18,727,578   17,563,730   17,441,144 
Potential tax benefit @ 21% (USA)  6,123,340   5,541,152   5,155,038 

 

Subject to the GroupCompany continuing to meet the relevant statutory tests, the tax losses are available for offset against future taxable income.

 

At June 30, 2017,2020, the groupCompany had a potential tax benefit related to tax losses carried forward of $22,194,323.A$24,850,918 (2019: A$23,104,882, 2018: A$22,596,185). Such amount includes net losses of $6,452,988A$6,123,340 (2019: A$5,541,152, 2018: A$5,155,038) related to subsidiaries in the United States (U.S.) which would expire. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted by Congress in the U.S. on December 22, 2017 cut the top corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. For tax years beginning after 20 years starting in 2030.December 31, 2017, the graduated corporate tax rate structure is eliminated and corporate taxable income will be taxed at 21-percent flat rate. Additionally, the previous 20-year limitation on carry forward net operating losses (NOL’s) has been removed, allowing the NOL’s to be carried forward indefinitely. The remaining tax losses carried forward of $15,741,335A$18,727,578 (2019: A$17,563,730, 2018: A$17,441,144) are indefinite and are attributable to the Group’sCompany’s operations in Australia. As such the total unused tax losses available to the Group,Company, equal $22,194,323.A$24,850,918 (2019: A$23,104,882, 2018: A$22,596,182).

 

As at balance date, there are unrecognized tax losses with a benefit of approximately $22,194,323 (2016: $21,120,691A$24,850,918 (2019: A$23,104,882 and 2015: $19,134,010)2018:

A$22,596,182) that have not been recognized as a deferred tax asset to the Group.Company. These unrecognized deferred tax assets will only be obtained if:

 

(a)         The Group companies derive future assessable income of a nature and amount sufficient to enable the benefits to be realized;

(a)The Company companies derive future assessable income of a nature and amount sufficient to enable the benefits to be realized;
(b)The Company companies continue to comply with the conditions for deductibility imposed by the law; and
(c)No changes in tax legislation adversely affect the Company companies from realizing the benefit.

 

(b)         The Group companies continue to comply with the conditions for deductibility imposed by the law; and

(c)          No changes in tax legislation adversely affect the Group companies from realizing the benefit.

Tax consolidation legislation

 

Genetic Technologies Limited and its wholly-ownedwholly owned Australian subsidiaries implemented the tax consolidation legislation as from July 1, 2003. The accounting policy in relation to this legislation is set out in Note 2(j)2(g).

 

The entities in the tax consolidated groupCompany have entered into a Tax Sharing Agreement which, in the opinion of the Directors, limits the joint and several liabilities of the wholly-owned entities in the case of a default by the head entity, Genetic Technologies Limited.

 

The entities have also entered into a Tax Funding Agreement under which the wholly-owned entities fully compensate Genetic Technologies Limited for any current tax payable assumed and are compensated by Genetic Technologies Limited for any current tax receivable and deferred tax assets relating to unused tax losses or unused tax credits that are transferred to Genetic Technologies Limited under the tax consolidation legislation. The funding amounts are determined by reference to the amounts recognized in the respective subsidiaries’ financial statements.

 

The amounts receivable or payable under the Tax Funding Agreement are due upon receipt of the funding advice from the head entity, which is issued as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year.

 

As at June 30, 2017,2020, there are no unrecognisedunrecognized temporary differences associated with the Group’sCompany’s investments in subsidiaries, as the GroupCompany has no liability for additional taxation should unremitted earnings be remitted (2016: $nil)(2019: $Nil, 2018:$Nil).

10.LOSS PER SHARE

9.LOSS PER SHARE

 

The following reflects the income and share data used in the calculations of basic and diluted loss per share:

 

 

2020

$

 

2019

$

 

2017

$

 

Loss for the year attributable to the owners of Genetic Technologies Limited

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

  (6,098,930)  (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating loss per share

 

2,121,638,888

 

1,715,214,158

 

1,072,803,358

 

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares used in calculating loss per share (number of shares)  4,155,017,525   2,635,454,870   2,435,282,724 

Note:None of the 553,000,000 (2019:114,250,000: and 2018: 55,102,778 ) options/performance rights over the Company’s Ordinary Shares that were outstanding as at the reporting date are considered to be dilutive for the purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share.

F-21

10. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

Note:None of the 75,102,778 (2016: 53,852,778 and 2015 24,241,667) options over the Company’s ordinary shares that were outstanding as at the reporting date are considered to be dilutive for the purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share.

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

  

2018

$

 
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents            
             
Cash at bank and on hand  14,214,160   2,131,741   5,487,035 
Total cash and cash equivalents  14,214,160   2,131,741   5,487,035 
             
Reconciliation of loss for the year            
Reconciliation of loss for the year after income tax to net cash flows used in operating activities is as follows:            
Loss for the year after income tax  6,098,930   (6,425,604)  (5,463,872)
             
Adjust for non-cash items            
Amortization and depreciation expenses  65,148   156,260   303,749 
Other expenses  2,885       
Impairment of investments  -   500,000    
Share-based payments expense  (14,442)  335,102   129,635 
Interest classified as investing cash flows  -   (25,850)  15,219 
Net (profit) / loss on disposal of plant and equipment  (37,000)      
Net (gains) / losses on liquidation of subsidiary  -      (527,049)
Depreciation of right-of-use of assets  200,785   -   - 
Inventory written-off  18,917   -   - 
Gain on investment previously written off  (43,380)  -   - 
Finance costs  86,503   -   - 
Interest received  (22,507)  -   - 
             
Net foreign exchange (gains) / losses  (597,441)  (92,518)  (128,360)
             
Adjust for changes in assets and liabilities            
Decrease / (increase) in trade and other receivables  29,412   (517,383)  124,889 
(Increase) / decrease in other operating assets  115,455   (70,027)  17,815 
(Increase) / decrease in inventories  (59,525)  27,142   (2,972)
Increase / (decrease) in trade and other payables  695,653   60,178   47,027 
Increase / (Decrease) in provisions  (53,631)      - 
Increase / (decrease) in operating liabilities     (20,482)  (122,176)
Net cash flows from / (used in) operating activities  (5,712,098)  (6,073,182)  (5,636,533)
Financing facilities available            
As at June 30, 2020, the following financing facilities had been negotiated and were available:            
Total facilities            
Credit cards  193,605   95,714   183,770 
Facilities used as at reporting date            
Credit cards  (5,332)  (6,516)  (12,031)
Facilities unused as at reporting date            
Credit cards  188,272   89,198   171,739 

 

F-
18


F-22

11.TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (CURRENT)

  Consolidated 
  

2020

A$

  

2019

A$

 
Trade receivables  38,871   16,529 
Less: loss allowance      
Net trade receivables  38,871   16,529 
Other receivables*  750,483   802,237 
Total net current trade and other receivables  789,354   818,766 

Other receivables majorly consists of R&D income grant receivable.

Table of Contents

11.CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at bank and on hand

 

10,988,255

 

11,179,687

 

18,341,357

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

 

10,988,255

 

11,179,687

 

18,341,357

 

Reconciliation of loss for the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of loss for the year after income tax to net cash flows used in operating activities is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss for the year after income tax

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

(8,810,170

)

Adjust for non-cash items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization and depreciation expenses

 

371,611

 

390,074

 

232,203

 

Impairment of intangible assets

 

544,694

 

 

 

Interest on convertible notes converted to shares

 

 

 

73,618

 

Share-based payments expense

 

120,287

 

50,239

 

303,522

 

Non-cash licensing revenue

 

 

 

(245,500

)

Non-cash rental income

 

 

(58,002

)

 

Net (gain)/loss on sale of business

 

 

 

(1,396,798

)

Fair value gains on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

(349,246

)

Net (profit) / loss on disposal of plant and equipment

 

(52,188

)

(7,132

)

(3,843

)

Net foreign exchange (gains) / losses

 

175,038

 

412,579

 

200,243

 

Adjust for changes in assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) / decrease in trade and other receivables

 

204,501

 

84,178

 

152,348

 

(Increase) / decrease in prepayments and other assets

 

103,488

 

189,178

 

(312,714

)

Increase / (decrease) in financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

795,533

 

Increase / (decrease) in trade and other payables

 

60,120

 

(342,273

)

(436,249

)

Increase / (decrease) in provisions

 

62,636

 

13,286

 

105,525

 

Net cash flows from / (used in) operating activities

 

(6,813,639

)

(7,726,838

)

(9,691,528

)

Financing facilities available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As at June 30, 2017, the following financing facilities had been negotiated and were available:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total facilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit cards

 

306,128

 

311,269

 

306,750

 

Facilities used as at reporting date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit cards

 

(12,428

)

(32,051

)

(25,708

)

Facilities unused as at reporting date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit cards

 

293,700

 

279,218

 

281,042

 

F-19



Table of Contents

12.TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (CURRENT)

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Trade receivables

 

200,837

 

392,521

 

Less: provision for doubtful debts

 

 

 

Net trade receivables

 

200,837

 

392,521

 

Other receivables

 

225,435

 

238,252

 

Total net current trade and other receivables

 

426,272

 

630,773

 

Note: Trade and other receivables for the GroupCompany include amounts due in US dollars of USD 153,829 (2016:Nil (2019: USD 291,540)Nil).

Refer Note 3029 for details of aging, interest rate and credit risks applicable to trade and other receivables for which, due to their short-term nature, their carrying value approximates their fair value.

 

13.PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS (CURRENT)

12.OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

2020

A$

 

2019

A$

 

Prepayments

 

136,923

 

149,459

 

  95,820   159,844 

Inventories at the lower of cost and net realizable value

 

76,822

 

166,942

 

Performance bond and deposits

 

3,377

 

4,209

 

  2,025   53,456 

Total current prepayments and other assets

 

217,122

 

320,610

 

  97,845   213,300 
13.PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

 
Laboratory equipment, at cost  1,451,389   1,451,389 
Less: cost written-off during the year  (1,047,515)   
Add: additions during the year  22,827    
Less: accumulated depreciation  (1,453,365)  (1,410,877)
Add: accumulated depreciation written-off during the year  1,047,515    
Net laboratory equipment  20,851   40,512 
Computer equipment, at cost  657,265   609,551 
Add: additions during the year  15,273   47,714 
Less: accumulated depreciation  (651,104)  (628,868)
Net computer equipment  21,434   28,397 
Office equipment, at cost  167,564   167,564 
Less: cost written-off during the year  (167,564)   
Less: accumulated depreciation  (167,564)  (167,564)
Add: accumulated depreciation written-off during the year  167,564    
Net office equipment      
Equipment under hire purchase, at cost  594,626   594,626 
Less: accumulated depreciation  (594,626)  (594,626)
Net equipment under hire purchase      
Leasehold improvements, at cost  465,380   462,797 
Less: cost written-off during the year  (465,380)   
Add: additions during the year     2,583 
Less: accumulated depreciation  (465,380)  (464,956)
Add: accumulated depreciation written-off during the year  465,380    
Net leasehold improvements     424 
Total net property, plant and equipment  42,285   69,333 
Reconciliation of property, plant and equipment        
Opening gross carrying amount  3,336,224   3,285,927 
Add: additions purchased during the year  38,100   50,297 
Less: cost written-off during the year  (2,277,835)   
Closing gross carrying amount  1,096,489   3,336,224 
Opening accumulated depreciation and impairment losses  (3,266,891)  (3,110,643)
Add: accumulated depreciation written-off during the year  2,277,835    
Less: depreciation expense charged  (65,148)  (156,248)
Closing accumulated depreciation and impairment losses  (1,054,204)  (3,266,891)
Total net property, plant and equipment  42,285   69,333 

 

F-20



Table of Contents

14.PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Laboratory equipment, at cost

 

1,451,389

 

1,287,609

 

Less: accumulated depreciation

 

(1,209,553

)

(1,056,124

)

Net laboratory equipment

 

241,836

 

231,485

 

Computer equipment, at cost

 

607,165

 

547,176

 

Less: accumulated depreciation

 

(523,278

)

(487,574

)

Net computer equipment

 

83,887

 

59,602

 

Office equipment, at cost

 

167,564

 

167,564

 

Less: accumulated depreciation

 

(165,805

)

(164,527

)

Net office equipment

 

1,759

 

3,037

 

Equipment under hire purchase, at cost

 

594,626

 

594,626

 

Less: accumulated depreciation

 

(594,626

)

(594,626

)

Net equipment under hire purchase

 

 

 

Leasehold improvements, at cost

 

462,797

 

452,487

 

Less: accumulated depreciation

 

(313,631

)

(196,472

)

Net leasehold improvements

 

149,166

 

256,015

 

Total net property, plant and equipment

 

476,648

 

550,139

 

Reconciliation of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

Opening gross carrying amount

 

3,049,462

 

2,654,408

 

Add: additions purchased during the year

 

234,799

 

395,054

 

Less: disposals made during the year

 

(720

)

 

Closing gross carrying amount

 

3,283,541

 

3,049,462

 

Opening accumulated depreciation and impairment losses

 

(2,499,323

)

(2,236,813

)

Add: disposals made during the year

 

258

 

 

Less: depreciation expense charged

 

(307,828

)

(262,510

)

Closing accumulated depreciation and impairment losses

 

(2,806,893

)

(2,499,323

)

Total net property, plant and equipment

 

476,648

 

550,139

 

Reconciliation of movements in property, plant and equipment by asset category

 

 

Opening

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closing

 

 

net carrying

 

Additions

 

Disposals

 

Depreciation

 

net carrying

 

 

amount

 

during year

 

during year

 

expense

 

amount

 

 Opening net carrying Additions  

Disposals

 

Depreciation

 

Closing

net carrying

 

Asset category

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

amount

$

 during
year $
 during
year $
 

expense

$

 

amount

$

 

Laboratory equipment

 

231,485

 

163,780

 

 

(153,429

)

241,836

 

  40,512   22,827      (42,488)  20,851 

Computer equipment

 

59,602

 

60,709

 

(462

)

(35,962

)

83,887

 

  28,397   15,273      (22,236)  21,434 

Office equipment

 

3,037

 

 

 

(1,278

)

1,759

 

Leasehold improvements

 

256,015

 

10,310

 

 

(117,159

)

149,166

 

  424   -      (424)  - 

Totals

 

550,139

 

234,799

 

(462

)

(307,828

)

476,648

 

  69,333   38,100      (65,148)  42,285 

F-24

14.TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES (CURRENT)

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

 
Trade payables  350,151   590,231 
Other payables  42,728   68,423 
Accrued expenses  330,845   346,654 
Total current trade and other payables  723,724   1,005,308 

 

F-21



Table of Contents

15.INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Patents

 

 

 

 

 

Patents, at cost

 

36,662,592

 

36,662,592

 

Less: accumulated amortization

 

(32,950,533

)

(32,938,414

)

Less: impairment losses

 

(3,712,059

)

(3,632,338

)

Total net patents

 

 

91,840

 

Other intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

Assets associated with BREVAGenTM breast cancer risk test, at cost

 

1,033,273

 

1,033,273

 

Less: accumulated amortization

 

(568,300

)

(516,636)

 

Less: impairment losses

 

(464,973)

 

 

Total net other intangible assets

 

 

516,637

 

Total net intangible assets

 

 

608,477

 

Reconciliation of patents

 

 

 

 

 

Opening net carrying amount

 

91,840

 

116,077

 

Less: amortization expense charged (refer below)

 

(12,119

)

(24,237)

 

Less: impairment expense

 

(79,721)

 

 

Total net patents

 

 

91,840

 

Reconciliation of other intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

Opening net carrying amount

 

516,637

 

619,964

 

Less: amortization expense charged (refer below)

 

(51,664

)

(103,327)

 

Less: impairment expense

 

(464,973)

 

 

Total net other intangible assets

 

 

516,637

 

Impairment

Slow growth rates in the market adoption of the BREVAGenplus® breast cancer risk assessment test contributing to net losses represented an impairment triggering event. The Group performed an impairment assessment, which resulted in a non-cash impairment of the Patents and other Intangible assets associated with the BREVAGenTM test of $544,694.

In order to support this conclusion, the Company undertook an impairment assessment as follows:

i.                  calculating the value in use of each Intangible asset using a discounted cash flow model. These models used cash flows (revenues, expenses and capital expenditure) for each asset based on their remaining useful lives of approximately 4 years. The cash flows were then discounted to net present values at an average of the most recent rates utilized by other Companies in the industry in which the Group operates and have been assessed by management to align with the long term growth profile of the Company. A pre-tax discount rate of 14.5%, and a growth rate estimate of 2.0% was used throughout the value in use model, and

ii.               comparing the resulting value in use of each Intangible asset to their respective book values

The Company also performed sensitivity analysis over the value in use calculations by varying the assumptions used to assess the impact on the valuations.

F-22



Table of Contents

15.INTANGIBLE ASSETS (cont.)

Impairment (cont.)

On consideration of all of these key assumptions the Company, in line with its impairment testing policy has concluded that the intangible asset should be fully impaired at year end, and that a non-cash impairment expense of $544,694 be recognized at June 30, 2017.

Remaining useful lives

The assets associated with the BREVAGenTM breast cancer risk test had a remaining useful life of 4 years as at June 30, 2017.

Disclosure of expenses

The total amortization expense charged during the year in respect of intangible assets of $63,783 is disclosed in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income under the heading of laboratory and research and development costs.

16.TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES (CURRENT)

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Trade payables

 

398,291

 

392,322

 

Other payables

 

195,584

 

270,504

 

Accrued expenses

 

304,228

 

175,157

 

Total current trade and other payables

 

898,103

 

837,983

 

Note: Trade payables for the GroupCompany include amounts due in US dollars of USD 137,154 (2016:685 (2019: USD 178,679) and Swiss francs of CHF 380 (2016: CHF 2,702)126,829).

Refer Note 3029 for details of management of interest rate, foreign exchange and liquidity risks applicable to trade and other payables for which, due to their short-term nature, their carrying value approximates their fair value.

 

17.PROVISIONS (CURRENT AND NON-CURRENT)

15.PROVISIONS (CURRENT AND NON-CURRENT)

 

Current provisions

 

 

 

 

 

Annual leave

 

239,821

 

223,100

 

Long service leave

 

243,411

 

217,679

 

Make good *

 

83,958

 

53,427

 

Total current provisions

 

567,190

 

494,206

 

Non-current provisions

 

 

 

 

 

Long service leave

 

56,328

 

36,145

 

Make good *

 

7,632

 

38,163

 

Total non-current provisions

 

63,960

 

74,308

 

Total provisions

 

631,150

 

568,514

 


* Make good provision

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

 
Current provisions        
Annual leave  152,239   152,352 
Long service leave  189,104   243,740 
Make good *  91,590   91,590 
Total current provisions  432,933   487,682 
Non-current provisions        
Long service leave  1,927   809 
Make good *      
Total non-current provisions  1,927   809 
Total provisions  434,860   488,491 
         
* Make good provision        

 

Genetic Technologies Limited is required to restore the leased premises situated in Fitzroy, Melbourne to their original condition at the end of the lease terms. A provision has been recognized for the present value of the estimated expenditure required to remove any leasehold improvements. These costs have been capitalized as part of the cost of leasehold improvements and are amortized over the shorter of the term of the lease or the useful life of the assets. See Note 2 (w)2(o) for the Group’sCompany’s other accounting policies relevant to provisions.

15.PROVISIONS (CURRENT AND NON-CURRENT) (cont.)

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

 
Reconciliation of annual leave provision      
Balance at the beginning of the financial year  152,352   145,499 
Add: obligation accrued during the year  38,270   91,106 
Less: utilized during the year  (38,383)  (84,253)
Balance at the end of the financial year  152,239   152,352 
Reconciliation of long service leave provision        
Balance at the beginning of the financial year  244,549   271,933 
Add: obligation accrued during the year  3,454   10,226 
Less: utilized during the year  (56,972)  (37,610)
Balance at the end of the financial year  191,031   244,549 

 

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Table of Contents

17.PROVISIONS (CURRENT AND NON-CURRENT) (cont.)

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Reconciliation of annual leave provision

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

 

223,100

 

200,957

 

Add: obligation accrued during the year

 

183,613

 

260,434

 

Less: utilized during the year

 

(166,892

)

(238,291

)

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

239,821

 

223,100

 

Reconciliation of long service leave provision

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

 

253,824

 

354,271

 

(Less)/ Add: obligation accrued during the year

 

58,699

 

(16,904

)

Less: utilized during the year

 

(12,784

)

(83,543

)

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

299,739

 

253,824

 

Note: The current provisions forportion of this liability includes all of the accrued annual leave, andthe unconditional entitlements to long service leave include a totalwhere employees have completed the required period of service and also for those employees that are entitled to pro-rata payments in certain circumstances. The entire amount of $428,891 (2016: $298,846) in respectthe provision of obligations which,A$432,933 (2019: A$487,682) is presented as current, since the group does not have an unconditional right to defer settlement for any of these obligations. However, based on historical evidence,past experience, the group does not expect all employees to take the full amount of accrued leave or require payment within the next 12 months.

16.Borrowing

  2020     2019    
  Current  Non-Current  Total  Current  Non-Current  Total 
  $  $  $  $  $  $ 
Unsecured                                
Other loan  -   52,252   52,252   -   -   - 
Total unsecured borrowing  -   52,252   52,252   -   -   - 

As of June 30, 2020, borrowing relates to loan received on May 4, 2020, from the U.S. Small Business Administration as a part of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which ensures the Company estimates will be settled more than 12 months from balance date.

18.FINANCIAL LIABILITIES AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH THE PROFIT OR LOSS (CURRENT AND NON-CURRENT)

Debt convertible notes

Duringcan continue to pay its employees and cover certain costs for up to 8 weeks after the prior financial year $25,000 convertible notes plus capitalized interest were converted into 1,091,093 ordinary shares of the Company. The notes were originally issues as secured (debt) notesloan is made available to existing and new Australian institutional and wholesale investors as part of a $2,150,000 raising, carrying a 10% coupon rate, and as  approved at the Annual General Meeting, held on 25 November 2014, became convertible notes which could convert into ordinary shares (at a 10.0% discount to the 5 day VWAP). These convertible notes carried free attached options to purchase further shares in the Company.

 

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Table of Contents

19.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

(i) Fair value hierarchy

This section explainsThe following are the judgements and estimates made in determining the fair valuesterms of the financial instruments that are recognized and measured at fair value in the financial statements. To provide an indication about the reliability of the inputs used in determining fair value, the group has classified its financial instruments into the three levels prescribed under the Accounting Standards. An explanation of each level follows:

(a)             quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1);

(b)             inputs other than prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly (level 2); and

(c)              inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs) (level 3).

No level 1 or level 2 financial assets or liabilities were held by the Group as at 30 June 2017 and 2016loan availed:

 

Convertible note
(financial liabilities)
$

PPP loan has fixed interest rate of 1%.

Opening balance 1 July 2015

(25,000

)

Conversions

Loans issued prior to equity

25,000

June 5 have a maturity of 2 years. Loans issued after June 5 have a maturity of 5 years.

Closing balance 30 June 2016

Loan payments can be deferred for another six months.

No collateral or personal guarantees are required.
Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.

 

The Group’s policyloan availed has the following conditions for the Company to seek its forgiveness:

Forgiveness is based on the Company maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels.
Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.

17.LEASE LIABILITIES

(a)Amounts recognized in the statement of financial position

The statement of financial position shows the following amounts relating to leases:

  2020  2019 
  $  $ 
Right-of-use assets        
Right of use-of-assets  397,945   - 
         
Lease Liabilities        
Lease liabilities - Current  240,915   - 
Lease liabilities – Non-Current  188,621   - 
Total  429,536   - 

F-26

17.LEASE LIABILITIES (Cont.)

(b)Amounts recognized in the statement of profit or loss

The statement of profit or loss under general and administrative expenses includes the following amounts relating to leases:

  2020  2019 
  $  $ 
Depreciation charge of right-of-use assets        
Depreciation Expense (for Leased Assets)  200,785   - 
         
Interest expense (included in general and administrative expenses)  37,375   - 

During the financial year ended June 30, 2020, the total cash outflow was $221,282.

(c)The group’s leasing activities and how these leases are accounted for

The Company has adopted IFRS 16 Leases during the year ended June 30, 2020 using the modified retrospective approach. The modified approach does not require restatement of comparative periods. Instead the cumulative impact of applying IFRS 16 is accounted for as an adjustment to recognize transfersequity at the start of the current accounting period in which it is first applied, known as the ‘date of initial application’. Refer to Note 2(a)(v) for the impact on adoption.

For any new contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2019, the Company considers whether a contract is, or contains a lease. A lease is defined as ‘a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an asset (the underlying asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration’. To apply this definition the Company assesses whether the contract meets three key evaluations which are whether:

the contract contains an identified asset, which is either explicitly identified in the contract or implicitly specified by being identified at the time the asset is made available to the Company,
the Company has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from use of the identified asset throughout the period of use, considering its rights within the defined scope of the contract,
the Company has the right to direct the use of the identified asset throughout the period of use. The Company assess whether it has the right to direct ‘how and for what purpose’ the asset is used throughout the period of use.

Leases are recognized as a right-of-use asset and transfers outa corresponding liability at the date at which the leased asset is available for use by the Company. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to profit or loss over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. The right-of-use asset is depreciated over the shorter of the asset’s useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis.

Assets and liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis. Lease liabilities include the net present value of the following lease payments:

fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), less any lease incentives receivable,
amounts expected to be payable by the lessee under residual value guarantees,
the exercise price of a purchase option if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise that option, and
payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the lease term reflects the lessee exercising that option.

The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease, if that rate can be determined, or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate.

Right-of-use assets are measured at cost comprising the following:

the amount of the initial measurement of lease liability,
any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, less any lease incentives received,
any initial direct costs, and
restoration costs.

Payments associated with short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognized on a straight-line basis as an expense in profit or loss. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of 12 months or less.

17.LEASE LIABILITIES (Cont.)

(d) COVID-19 Impact on Leases

On June 25, 2020, the Company obtained a rent concession for its leased premises. The terms of the concession are as follows:

15% waiver for the period April 1 through to September 30, 2020.
15% deferral for the period April 1 through to September 30, 2020.
70% due and payable on the first of each month in line with the lease.
No interest on deferred payment.
No increase of rent during the period April 1 through to September 30, 2020.
The lease has been extended by 6 months from September 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022.

The above were treated as lease modification and adjustments were made to the right-of-use assets and corresponding current and non-current liabilities for the year ended June 30, 2020 have been according to the amendments issued by the IASB towards IFRS 16. The net impact of the variation resulted in an increase on the right -of-use assets balance amounted to A$88,103 and non-current liabilities increased by A$94,626.

18.OTHER FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

  2020  2019 
  Current  Non-current  Total  Current  Non-current  Total 
  $  $  $  $  $  $ 
Other financial liabilities     -   977,237   977,237     -      -   - 
Total  -   977,237   977,237   -   -   - 

Other financial liabilities relates to warrants issued and to be issued to H.C. Wainwright & Co during capital raises in April and May 2020. The US warrants represent a written option to exchange a fixed number of the Company’s own equity instruments for a fixed amount of cash that is denominated in a foreign currency (US dollars) and is classified as a derivative financial liability in accordance with IFRS 9.The initial recognition of the warrants amounted to A$1,173,082. As of June 30, 2020, the warrants have been revalued to A$977,237, and resulted in A$195,845 recognized in profit or loss. Since the Company is expected to be in a loss making position, the expectation of the Company is that the warrants are unlikely to be exercised in the next 12 months and hence have been classified under non-current liabilities.

All US warrants represent a written option to exchange a fixed number of the Company’s own equity instruments for a fixed amount of cash that is denominated in a foreign currency (US dollars) and is classified as a derivative financial liability in accordance with IFRS 9. The US warrants liability is initially recorded at fair value at issue date and subsequently measured at fair value through profit and loss at each reporting date. The warrants granted are not traded in an active market and fall under the level 2 hierarchy levelsof the requirements for disclosure of the fair value measurements. The fair value has thus been estimated by using the Binomial pricing model based on the following assumptions based on observable market conditions that existed at the issue date and at June 30, 2020.

  2020 2020
Valuation date June 30, 2020 April 3, 2020
Grant Date April 3, 2020 April 3, 2020
Warrants issued 40,114,200 40,114,200
Underlying asset price A$0.0050 A$0.0050
Risk free rate 0.398% 0.411%
Volatility 134% 140.54%
Exercise price presented in United States Dollar US$0.00365 US$0.00365
Exchange rate at valuation date A$1 to US$0.689 A$1 to US$0.712
Exercise price presented in Australian Dollar A$0.0053 A$0.0061
Time to maturity of underlying warrants (years) 5 5
Value per warrant in Australian Dollar A$0.0043 A$0.0044
Model used Binomial Binomial
Valuation amount A$172,491 A$175,137

F-28

18.OTHER FINANCIAL LIABILITIES (Cont.)

  2020 2020
Valuation date June 30, 2020 April 23, 2020
Grant Date April 23, 2020 April 23, 2020
Warrants issued 28,177,578 28,177,578
Underlying asset price A$0.0050 A$0.0060
Risk free rate 0.398% 0.444%
Volatility 134% 142.70%
Exercise price presented in United States Dollar US$0.00417 US$0.00417
Exchange rate at valuation date A$1 to US$0.689 A$1 to US$0.712
Exercise price presented in Australian Dollar A$0.0060 A$0.0065
Time to maturity of underlying warrants (years) 5 5
Value per warrant in Australian Dollar A$0.0042 A$0.0053
Model used Binomial Binomial
Valuation amount A$118,346 A$149,693

  2020 2020
Valuation date June 30, 2020 June 1, 2020
Grant Date June 1, 2020 June 1, 2020
Warrants issued 156,000,000 156,000,000
Underlying asset price A$0.0050 A$0.0060
Risk free rate 0.398% 0.397%
Volatility 134.00% 142.94%
Exercise price presented in United States Dollar US$0.00417 US$0.00417
Exchange rate at valuation date A$1 to US$0.689 A$1 to US$0.712
Exercise price presented in Australian Dollar A$0.0060 A$0.0061
Time to maturity of underlying warrants (years) 5 5
Value per warrant in Australian Dollar A$0.0044 A$0.0054
Model used Binomial Binomial
Valuation amount A$686,400 A$848,252

F-29

18.OTHER FINANCIAL LIABILITIES (cont.)

(a)Recognized fair value measurements

(i) Fair value hierarchy

Level 1: The fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets (such as publicly traded derivatives and equity securities) is based on quoted market prices at the end of the reporting period. The quoted market price used for financial assets held by the Company is the current bid price. These instruments are included in level 1.

 

There were no transfers between levels 1 and 2 for recurring fair value measurements during the year, as the Company did not have any fair value assets or liabilities at 30 June 2017.

(ii) Valuation techniques used to derive level 2 and level 3 fair valuesLevel 2:

The Group obtains independent valuations for its financial assets and financial liabilities at least annually.

At the end of each reporting period, the directors update their assessment of the fair value of each asset and liability, taking into account the most recent independent valuations. The directors determine an assets or liabilities value range within a range of reasonable fair value estimates.

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market (for example, over-the-counter derivatives) is determined using valuation techniques.  These valuation techniques which maximize the use of observable market data where it is available and rely as little as possible on entity specificentity-specific estimates. If all significant inputs required to fair value an instrument are observable, the instrument is included in level 2.

Level 3: If one or more of the significant inputs is not based on observable market data, the instrument is included in level 3.

(iii) Valuation processes

Convertible note

The value of This is the Convertible Note outstanding as at July 1, 2015 was calculated with reference to its face value, which approximates its fair value.

F-25



Table of Contentscase for unlisted equity securities.

 

20.CONTRIBUTED EQUITY

19.CONTRIBUTED EQUITY

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 Consolidated 

 

$

 

$

 

 

2020

$

  

2019

$

 

Issued and paid-up capital

 

 

 

 

 

        

Fully paid ordinary shares

 

122,382,625

 

115,272,576

 

Fully paid Ordinary Shares  140,111,073   125,498,824 

Total contributed equity

 

122,382,625

 

115,272,576

 

  140,111,073   125,498,824 

Movements in shares on issue

Year ended June 30, 2019

 

Number of

Shares

  $ 
Balance at the beginning of the financial year  2,435,282,724   122,372,662 
Shares issued during the year  502,851,419   3,557,509 
Less: transaction costs arising on share issue  -   (431,347)
Balance at the end of the financial year  2,938,134,143   125,498,824 

Year ended June 30, 2020 

Number of

Shares

  $ 
Balance at the beginning of the financial year  2,938,134,143   125,498,824 
Shares issued during the year  4,575,645,600   21,793,678 
Less: transaction costs arising on share issue (i)  -   (7,181,429)
Balance at the end of the financial year  7,513,779,743   140,111,073 

(i)The transaction costs arising on shares issued for the year ended June 30, 2020 are as below:-

250,000,000 unlisted options issued on October 30, 2019, exercisable at $0.008 each and expiring on October 29, 2022, amounting to A$817,666. Each option is exercisable for one fully paid ordinary share.
125,000,000 unlisted options issued on December 20, 2019, exercisable at $0.008 each and expiring on December 20,2022, amounting to A$528,027. Each option is exercisable for one fully paid ordinary share.
125,000,000 unlisted options issued on December 20, 2019, exercisable at $0.008 each and expiring on December 20,2022, amounting to A$528,027. Each option is exercisable for one fully paid ordinary share.
5,000,000 unlisted options issued on March 6, 2020, exercisable at $0.008 each and expiring on March 6, 2023, amounting to A$29,340. Each option is exercisable for one fully paid ordinary share.
166,066,050 warrants issued at no cash consideration on July 16, 2019, exercisable at US$0.00533 each and expiring on July 16, 2024, amounting to $890,113. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.
40,114,200 warrants issued on April 3, 2020, exercisable at US$0.00365 each and expiring on April 1, 2025, amounting to A$175,137. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.
28,177,578 warrants issued on April 22, 2020, exercisable at US$0.00417 each and expiring on April 19, 2025, amounting to A$149,693. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.
156,000,000 warrants to be issued at, subject to shareholder approval, exercisable at US$0.004166 expiring on 5 years after date of issue, amounting to A$848,252. The warrants are exercisable for fully paid ordinary shares.
Apart from the above, the Company also incurred expenses paid in cash towards capital raising costs through legal, accounting and broker related fees amounting to A$3,215,174 during the year for various capital raises.

 

Movements in shares on issue

Year ended June 30, 2016

 

Shares

 

$

 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

 

1,714,191,631

 

115,247,128

 

Add: shares issued as part of the conversion of convertible notes

 

1,091,093

 

27,102

 

Less: transaction costs arising on share issue

 

 

(1,654

)

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

1,715,282,724

 

115,272,576

 

Year ended June 30, 2017

 

Shares

 

$

 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

 

1,715,282,724

 

115,272,576

 

Add: shares issued as part of private placements

 

720,000,000

 

8,049,369

 

Add: facility fee rebate on previously issued shares*

 

 

295,110

 

Less: transaction costs arising on share issue

 

 

(1,234,430

)

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

2,435,282,724

 

122,382,625

 


* Rebate of a facility fee originally provided to Kentgrove Capital on commencement date of a Standby Equity Placement Facility Agreement entered into in January 2015 that was paid on expiry of the facility agreement on 21 January 2017 in accordance with the agreement, representing a reduction in total equity transaction costs associated with the commencement of the facility.

Terms and conditions of contributed equity

 

Ordinary shares have the right to receive dividends as declared and, in the event of winding up the Company, to participate in the proceeds from the sale of all surplus assets in proportion to the number of and amounts paid up on shares held. Ordinary shares, which have no par value, entitle their holder to one vote, either in person or by proxy, at a meeting of the Company.

20.RESERVES

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

 
Foreign currency translation  756,423   789,598 
Share-based payments  7,999,066   5,220,334 
Total reserves  8,755,489   6,009,932 
Reconciliation of foreign currency translation reserve        
Balance at the beginning of the financial year  789,598   765,930 
Add: net currency translation gain / (loss)  (33,175)  23,668 
Balance at the end of the financial year  756,423   789,598 
Reconciliation of share-based payments reserve        
Balance at the beginning of the financial year  5,220,334   4,885,232 
Add: share-based payments expense  67,542   341,201 
Add: Issue of options/warrants to underwriters  2,793,174   - 
Less: Reversal of Performance Rights expenses in prior year*  (81,984)  (6,099)
Balance at the end of the financial year  7,999,066   5,220,334 

 

Capital management

When managing capital, Management’s objective is*During the year, 3,750,000 performance rights previously issued to ensure thatMr. Xue Lee in the Group continues as a going concern as well as to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders.  Management also aims to maintain a capital structure to reduce the entity’s cost of capital.

F-26



Table of Contents

21.RESERVES

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Foreign currency translation

 

1,288,896

 

1,419,551

 

Share-based payments

 

4,755,597

 

4,635,310

 

Total reserves

 

6,044,493

 

6,054,861

 

Reconciliation of foreign currency translation reserve

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

 

1,419,551

 

112,332

 

Add: net currency translation gain / (loss)

 

(130,655

)

1,307,219

 

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

1,288,896

 

1,419,551

 

Reconciliation of share-based payments reserve

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

 

4,635,310

 

4,585,071

 

Add: share-based payments expense

 

120,287

 

50,239

 

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

4,755,597

 

4,635,310

 

Nature and purpose of reserves

Foreign currency translation reserve

This reserve is used to record exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries.

Share-based payments reserve

This reserve is used to record the value of share-based payments provided to employees and others providing similar services as part of their remuneration.

22.ACCUMULATED LOSSES

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

 

(109,444,248

)

(100,985,283

)

Add: net loss attributable to owners of Genetic Technologies Limited

 

(8,403,826

)

(8,458,965

)

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

(117,848,074

)

(109,444,248

)

23.OPTIONS

As atyear ended June 30, 2017, the following options over ordinary shares in the Company2019 were outstanding.

 

 

2017

 

Weighted ave.
exercise price

 

2016

 

Weighted ave.
exercise price

 

Unlisted employee options (refer below)

 

54,736,111

 

$

0.016

 

33,486,111

 

$

0.022

 

Unlisted options attached to convertible notes

 

20,366,667

 

$

0.015

 

20,366,667

 

$

0.015

 

 

 

75,102,778

 

$

0.016

 

53,852,778

 

$

0.019

 

On November 30, 2001, the Directors of the Company established a Staff Share Plan.  On November 19, 2008, the shareholders of the Company approved the introduction of a new Employee Option Plan.  Under the terms of the respective Plans, the Directors of the Company may grant options over ordinary shares in Genetic Technologies Limited to executives, consultants and employees of the Group.  The options, which are granted at nil cost, are not transferable and are not quoted on the ASX.  As at June 30, 2017, there were 6 executives and 4 employees who held options that had been granted under the Plans.  Options granted under the Plans carry no rights to dividends and no voting rights.

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Table of Contents

23.OPTIONS (cont.)

The movements in the number of options granted under the Plans are as follows:

 

 

2017

 

Weighted ave.
exercise price

 

2016

 

Weighted ave.
exercise price

 

Unlisted employee options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year

 

33,486,111

 

$

0.022

 

3,875,000

 

$

0.140

 

Add: options granted during the year

 

22,750,000

 

$

0.010

 

33,736,111

 

$

0.022

 

Less: options exercised during the year

 

 

 

 

 

Less: options forfeited during the year

 

(1,500,000

)

$

0.049

 

(4,125,000

)

$

0.136

 

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

54,736,111

 

$

0.016

 

33,486,111

 

$

0.022

 

There were no options exercised under the Employee Option Planforfeited during the year ended June 30, 2017 (2016: Nil).

The numbers of options outstanding as at2020. Additionally, 57,500,000 performance rights previously issued to Dr. Paul Kasian in the year ended June 30, 2017 by ASX code, including2019 were forfeited in the respective dates of expiry and exercise prices, are tabled below (refer Note 25 for further information).  The options tabled below are not listed on ASX.

Option description

 

2017

 

Weighted ave.
exercise price

 

2016

 

Weighted ave.
exercise price

 

Unlisted employee options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GTGAA (expiring May 31, 2019)

 

 

 

250,000

 

$

0.040

 

GTGAD (expiring September 14, 2020)

 

250,000

 

$

0.058

 

1,000,000

 

$

0.058

 

GTGAD (expiring November 24, 2020)

 

24,236,111

 

$

0.020

 

24,236,111

 

$

0.020

 

GTGAD (expiring January 31, 2021)

 

 

 

500,000

 

$

0.039

 

GTGAD (expiring March 31, 2021)

 

7,500,000

 

$

0.020

 

7,500,000

 

$

0.020

 

GTGAD (expiring February 16, 2022)

 

22,750,000

 

$

0.010

 

 

 

 

 

54,736,111

 

$

0.016

 

33,486,111

 

$

0.022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unlisted options attached to convertible notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GTGAC (expiring December 2, 2018)

 

20,366,667

 

$

0.015

 

20,366,667

 

$

0.015

 

Balance at the end of the financial year

 

75,102,778

 

$

0.016

 

53,852,778

 

$

0.019

 

Exercisable at the end of the financial year

 

36,234,722

 

$

0.017

 

20,450,000

 

$

0.015

 

The weighted average remaining contractual life of options outstanding as atyear ended June 30, 2017 was 3.28 years (2016: 3.70 years).

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Table of Contents

24.SEGMENT INFORMATION

Identification of reportable segments

The Group has identified a sole operating segment as reported that is consistent with the internal reporting provided2020. Due to the chief operating decision maker and is alignedforfeiture of performance rights, a reversal amounting to A$81,984 relating to previously expensed amounts was accounted for during the one major revenue stream.

The Groups operating segment is summarized as follows:

Business segments

 

 

 

 

Revenues and income

 

 

 

Segment

 

 

 

Sales

 

Other

 

Totals

 

Profit / (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Operations

 

2017

 

518,506

 

344,112

 

862,618

 

(8,403,826

)

 

 

2016

 

824,586

 

792,585

 

1,617,171

 

(8,458,965

)

 

 

2015

 

2,011,918

 

2,794,506

 

4,806,424

 

(8,810,170

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization

 

Purchases of

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

/depreciation

 

equipment

 

Segment

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Operations

 

2017

 

12,108,297

 

(1,529,253

)

(371,611

)

234,799

 

 

 

2016

 

13,289,686

 

(1,406,497

)

(390,074

)

395,054

 

 

 

2015

 

20,719,732

 

(1,760,484

)

(232,203

)

304,135

 

Geographic information

Australia — is the home country of the parent entity and the location of the Company’s genetic testing and licensing operations.

USA — is the home of Phenogen Sciences Inc. and GeneType Corporation.

Switzerland — is the home of GeneType AG.

Geographic information

 

 

 

 

Revenues and income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

Other

 

Totals

 

Profit/(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Australia

 

2017

 

18,215

 

344,112

 

362,327

 

(7,000,994

)

 

 

2016

 

220

 

792,585

 

792,805

 

(4,241,451

)

 

 

2015

 

910,740

 

2,794,358

 

3,705,098

 

(1,519,192

)

USA

 

2017

 

500,291

 

 

500,291

 

(1,371,001

)

 

 

2016

 

824,366

 

 

824,366

 

(4,197,368

)

 

 

2015

 

1,101,178

 

148

 

1,101,326

 

(7,276,878

)

Other

 

2017

 

 

 

 

(31,831

)

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

(20,146

)

 

 

2015

 

 

 

 

(14,100

)

Totals

 

2017

 

518,506

 

344,112

 

862,618

 

(8,403,826

)

 

 

2016

 

824,586

 

792,585

 

1,617,171

 

(8,458,965

)

 

 

2015

 

2,011,918

 

2,794,506

 

4,806,424

 

(8,810,170

)

F-29



Table of Contents

24.SEGMENT INFORMATION (cont.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization

 

Purchases of

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

/depreciation

 

Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Australia

 

2017

 

11,473,094

 

(1,291,529

)

(362,677

)

223,096

 

 

 

2016

 

12,553,539

 

(1,199,257

)

(379,944

)

382,893

 

 

 

2015

 

3,139,778

 

(1,532,911

)

(219,784

)

304,135

 

USA

 

2017

 

632,419

 

(233,301

)

(8,934

)

11,703

 

 

 

2016

 

733,168

 

(202,200

)

(10,130

)

12,161

 

 

 

2015

 

17,576,978

 

(224,917

)

(12,419

)

 

Other

 

2017

 

2,784

 

(4,423

)

 

 

 

 

2016

 

2,979

 

(5,040

)

 

 

 

 

2015

 

2,976

 

(2,656

)

 

 

Totals

 

2017

 

12,108,297

 

(1,529,253

)

(371,611

)

234,799

 

 

 

2016

 

13,289,686

 

(1,406,497

)

(390,074

)

395,054

 

 

 

2015

 

20,719,732

 

(1,760,484

)

(232,203

)

304,135

 

Additional segment disclosures

Other revenues and income includes interest received of $38,765 (2016: $67,099 and 2015: $39,951).

Expenses includes employee benefits expenses of $3,594,936 (2016: $3,774,770 and 2015: $5,470,007).

Assets - includes cash of $10,988,255 (2016: $11,179,687 and 2015: $18,341,357).

Liabilities includes trade and other payables of $898,103 (2016: $837,983 and 2015: $1,102,974) and provisions of $631,150 (2016: $568,514 and 2015: $555,228).

Included in the above figures are the following intersegment balances and transactions:

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Loan payable (USA) and loan receivable (Australia)

 

348,835

 

512,816

 

16,948,601

 

Foreign exchange gain (USA) and foreign exchange loss (Australia)

 

776,295

 

1,750,759

 

3,823,791

 

Cost of sales (USA) and sales (Australia)

 

74,762

 

91,896

 

153,581

 

Segment products and locations

The principal geographic segment is Australia, with the Company’s headquarters being located in Melbourne in the State of Victoria however the key sales activities take place in the USA.

Major customerscurrent reporting period.

 

During the financial year ended 30 June 2020, the following warrants were issued to as a part of capital raising costs:

Warrants issued toGrant date for warrants issuedNumber of warrants issued
Aegis CorpJuly 16, 2019166,066,050
Total166,066,050

2020
Grant DateJuly 16, 2019
Warrants issued166,066,050
Dividend yield-
Historic volatility and expected volatility152%
Option exercise price$0.008
Fair value of warrants at grant date$0.006
Weighted average exercise price$0.008
Risk free interest rate1.05%
Model usedBlack-Scholes
Expected life of an warrant5 years
Valuation amount$890,113

The following information relates to options granted and issued against the capital raising costs year ended June 30, 2017 & June 30, 2016 there was no customer from whom the Group generated revenues representing more than 10%2020;

Options issued toGrant date for options issuedNumber of options issued
Mr. Peter RubinsteinNovember 28, 2019125,000,000
Dr Jerzy MuchnickiNovember 28, 2019125,000,000
Various underwritersOctober 30, 2019250,000,000
Lodge Corporate Pty LtdMarch 6, 20205,000,000
Total505,000,000

20.RESERVES (Cont.)

2020
Grant DateNovember 28, 2019
Options issued250,000,000
Dividend yield-
Historic volatility and expected volatility136%
Option exercise price$0.008
Fair value of options at grant date$0.003
Weighted average exercise price$0.008
Risk-free interest rate0.85%
Expected life of an option3 years
Model usedBlack-Scholes
Valuation amountA$1,056,054

2020
Grant DateOctober 30, 2019
Options issued250,000,000
Dividend yield-
Historic volatility and expected volatility136%
Option exercise price$0.008
Fair value of options at grant date$0.003
Weighted average exercise price$0.008
Risk-free interest rate0.78%
Expected life of an option3 years
Model usedBlack-Scholes
Valuation amountA$817,666

2020
Grant DateMarch 6, 2020
Options issued5,000,000
Dividend yield-
Historic volatility and expected volatility141%
Option exercise price$0.008
Fair value of options at grant date$0.007
Weighted average exercise price$0.008
Risk-free interest rate0.36%
Expected life of an option3 years
Model usedBlack-Scholes
Valuation amountA$29,340

Nature and purpose of the total consolidated revenue from operations or outstanding receivables.reserves

 

F-Foreign currency translation reserve30



Table

Exchange differences arising on translation of Contentsthe foreign controlled entities are recognized in other comprehensive income as described in Note 2(d) and accumulated in a separate reserve within equity. The cumulative amount is reclassified to profit or loss when the net investment is disposed of.

Share-based payments reserve

The share-based payment reserve records items recognized as expenses on valuation of share options issued to key management personnel, other employees and eligible contractors.

21.ACCUMULATED LOSSES

2020

$

Balance at the beginning of the financial year(129,737,550)
Add: Initial adoption of IFRS 16(14,712)
Add: net loss attributable to owners of Genetic Technologies Limited(6,098,930)
Balance at the end of the financial year(135,851,192)

22.OPTIONS

Employee Option Plan

 

25.SHARE BASED PAYMENTSThe fair value of options granted under an Employee Option Plan is recognized as an employee benefit expense with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and recognized over the vesting period over which all of the specified vesting conditions are to be satisfied. The fair value at grant date is determined by management with the assistance of an independent valuer, using a Black-Scholes option pricing model or a Monte Carlo simulation analysis. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted;

including any market performance conditions (e.g. the entities share price)

excluding the impact of any service and non-market performance vesting conditions (e.g. remaining an employee over a specified time period)

22.OPTIONS (Cont.)

The cumulative employee benefits expense recognized at each reporting date until vesting date reflects (i) the extent to which the vesting period has expired; and (ii) the number of awards that, in the opinion of the Directors of the Company, will ultimately vest. This opinion is formed based on the best information available at balance date.

 

(a) Employee option planWhere the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, as a minimum an expense is recognized as if the terms had not been modified. In addition, an expense is recognized for any increase in the value of the transaction as a result of the modification, as at the date of modification. Where appropriate, the dilutive effect of outstanding options is reflected as additional share dilution in the computation of diluted earnings per share. The Company’s policy is to treat the options of terminated employees as forfeitures.

 

On November 30, 2001, the Directors of the Company established a Staff Share Plan. On November 19, 2008, the shareholders of the Company approved the introduction of a new Employee Option Plan. Under the terms of the respective Plans, the Directors may, at their discretion, grant options over the ordinary shares in the Genetic Technologies Limited to executives, consultants, employees, and former Non-Executive Directors, of the Group.

During the year the following options over ordinary shares were granted pursuant the Employee Option Plan at no cost;

i.                  1,250,000 options (2016: 2,000,000 options) to a number of employees of the Company’s US Subsidiary, Phenogen Sciences Inc.Company. The options, vest based on non-market performance conditions (requirement to remain employed by the Company) in three tranches commencingwhich are granted at nil cost, are not transferable and are not quoted on the date of the 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company and then at each of the 12 and 24 month anniversaries thereafter (2016:  three equal tranches after 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months from date of grant, respectively). The fair value of each option granted is estimated by an external valuer using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model, with assumptions as follows

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2016

 

Grant Date

 

February 17,
2017

 

April 1, 2016

 

November 25,
2015

 

Options issued

 

1,250,000

 

500,000

 

1,500,000

 

Dividend yield

 

 

 

 

Historic volatility and expected volatility

 

60%

 

80%

 

80%

 

Option exercise price

 

$ 0.010

 

$ 0.039

 

$ 0.058

 

Weighted average exercise price

 

$ 0.010

 

$ 0.039

 

$ 0.058

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

2.19%

 

1.93%

 

2.22%

 

Expected life of an option

 

4.5 years

 

4.3 years

 

4.5 years

 

Model used

 

Black-Scholes

 

Black-Scholes

 

Black-Scholes

 

ASX. As at June 30, 2017,2020, there were 4was 1 executive and 12 employees who held options that had been granted under the Plan.Plans. Options granted under the Plans carry no rights to dividends and no voting rights.

(i) Fair value of options granted

During the year ended June 30, 2020, there were no options issued under Employee Option Plan (2019: 16,000,000 unlisted options were granted at no cost). The Company, however issued various unlisted options to underwriters and sub-underwriters as a part of capital raising costs. For valuations on the unlisted options issued please refer to Note 20.

Set out below are summaries of all and unlisted options, including ESOP which were issued in prior periods:

  2020  2019 
  Average exercise price per
share option
  Number of
options
  Average exercise price per
share option
  Number of options 
Opening balance $0.015   38,000,000  $0.017   55,102,778 
Granted to Kentgrove Capital  -   -  $0.015   12,500,000 
Granted to employees during the year  -   -  $0.010   16,000,000 
Granted to directors in their capacity as sub-underwriters $0.008   250,000,000   -   - 
Options granted to various underwriters $0.008   250,000,000   -   - 
Granted to Lodge Corporate Pty Ltd $0.008   5,000,000   -   - 
Lapsed during the year $0.010   (5,000,000) $0.015   (19,236,111)
Forfeited during the year  -   -  $0.020   (6,000,000)
Lapse of unlisted options attached to convertible notes  -   -   -   (20,366,667)
Closing balance $0.008   538,000,000  $0.015   38,000,000 

F-34


22.OPTIONS (Cont.)

(i)Fair value of options granted (Cont.)

The movements in the number of options granted under the Employee share plans are as follows:

  2020  2019 
  

Average exercise price per

share option

  

Number of
options

  

Average exercise price per

share option

  

Number of options

 
Balance at the beginning of the financial year $0.015   25,500,000  $0.017   34,736,111 
Add: options granted during the year  -   -  $0.010   16,000,000 
Less: options lapsed during the year $0.010   (5,000,000) $0.020   (19,236,111)
Less: options forfeited during the year  -   -  $0.010   (6,000,000)
Balance at the end of the financial year $0.015   20,500,000  $0.015   25,500,000 

The number of options outstanding as at June 30, 2020 by ASX code, including the respective dates of expiry and exercise prices, are tabled below. The options tabled below are not listed on ASX.

  2020  2019 

Unlisted options 

 

Average exercise price per

share option

  

Number of
options

  

Average exercise price per

share option

  Number of options 
Options to Kentgrove Capital (expiring August 8, 2021) $0.015   12,500,000  $0.015   12,500,000 
GTGAD (expiring March 31, 2021) $0.020   5,000,000  $0.020   5,000,000 
GTGAD (expiring February 16, 2022) $0.010   5,500,000  $0.010   5,500,000 
Options to various underwriters (expiring October 30, 2022) $0.008   250,000,000   -   - 
Options to directors (expiring December 20, 2022)
 $0.008   250,000,000   -   - 
Options issued Lodge Corporate Pty Ltd (expiring March 6, 2023) $0.008   5,000,000   -   - 
ESOP options (expiring December 11, 2021) $0.010   10,000,000  $0.010   15,000,000 
Total $0.008   538,000,000  $0.015   38,000,000 
Exercisable at the end of the financial year $0.008   538,000,000  $0.015   38,000,000 

 

The expected price volatility is based on the historic volatility (based on theweighted average remaining contractual life of options outstanding as at June 30, 2020 was 2.39 years (2019: 2.16 years).

23. SEGMENT INFORMATION

(a) Identification of reportable segments

The Company has identified two reportable segments as reported that is consistent with the options), adjusted for any expected changesinternal reporting provided to future volatility due to publicly available information.the chief operating decision maker.

Management considers the business from a geographic perspective and has identified two reportable segments:

 

ii.Australia: is the home country of the parent entity and the location of the company’s genetic testing and licensing operations.               21,500,000

USA: is the home of Phenogen Sciences Inc. and GeneType Corporation

(b) Geographical segments

The segment information for the reportable segments is as follows:

2020 Australia  USA  Total 
Consolidated entity $  $  $ 
          
Segment revenue & other income            
Revenue from contracts with customers  3,160   6,704   9,864 
Other income  1,130,881   9,766   1,140,647 
Net other gains  190,323   -   190,323 
Cost of goods sold  (243,506)  (8,005)  (251,511)
Total segment revenue & other income  1,080,858   8,465   1,089,323 
             
Segment expenses            
Depreciation and amortization  (65,148)  -   (65,148)
Finance costs  (1,221)  (13,602)  (14,823)
Share-based payments  14,442   -   14,442 
Laboratory and research and development  (2,310,815)  (166,763)  (2,477,578)
General and administrative expenses  (4,046,264)  (12,295)  (4,058,559)
Other operating expenses  (159,009)  (226,793)  (385,802)
Depreciation for right-of-use assets  (200,785)  -   (200,785)
Total segment expenses  (6,768,800)  (419,453)  (7,188,253)
             
Income tax expenses  -   -   - 
Loss for the period  (5,687,942)  (410,988)  (6,098,930)
             
Total Segment Assets  15,329,955   303,024   15,632,979 
Total Segment Liabilities  (2,404,288)  (213,321)  (2,617,609)

23. SEGMENT INFORMATION (Cont.)

(b) Geographical segments (Cont.)

2019 Australia  USA  Total 
Consolidated entity $  $  $ 
          
Segment revenue & other income            
Revenue from contracts with customers  10,579   14,865   25,444 
Other income  1,019,711   58   1,019,769 
Net other gains  (407,482)  -   (407,482)
Cost of goods sold  (265,492)  (10,775)  (276,267)
Total segment revenue & other income  357,316   4,148   361,464 
             
Segment expenses            
Depreciation and amortization  (156,250)  -   (156,250)
Finance costs  (3,884)  (16,147)  (20,031)
Share-based payments  (326,952)  -   (326,952)
Laboratory and research and development  (2,181,469)  (179,293)  (2,360,762)
General and administrative expenses  (3,816,607)  (13,591)  (3,830,198)
Other operating expenses  335,896   (428,771)  (92,875)
Total segment expenses  (6,149,266)  (637,802)  (6,787,068)
             
Income tax expenses  -   -   - 
Loss for the period  (5,791,950)  (633,654)  (6,425,604)
             
Total Segment Assets  3,190,004   75,001   3,265,005 
Total Segment Liabilities  (1,370,508)  (123,291)  (1,493,799)

24. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS

(a) Employee option plan

During the year ended June 30, 2020, there were no options (2016: 31,736,111)issued under Employee Option Plan (2019: 16,000,000 unlisted options were granted at no cost). The Company, however issued various unlisted options to underwriters and sub-underwriters as a part of capital raising costs. Please refer to further details on options on Note 22.

(b) Performance Rights Issuance

After receiving requisite shareholder approval on November 29, 2018, the Company has issued 76,250,000 performance rights to Directors of the Company as follows:

7,500,000 Class A Performance Rights, 25,000,000 Class B Performance Rights and 25,000,000 Class C performance Rights to Dr Paul Kasian
3,750,000 Class A Performance Rights to Dr Lindsay Wakefield
6,250,000 Class A Performance Rights to Dr Jerzy Muchnicki
5,000,000 Class A Performance Rights to Mr. Peter Rubinstein
3,750,000 Class A Performance Rights to Mr. Xue Lee

The Company has accounted for these performance rights in accordance with its accounting policy for share-based payment transactions and has recorded net reversal of $43,484 of associated expense in the current year end (2019: $104,441).

During the year, 3,750,000 performance rights previously issued to Mr. Xue Lee in the year ended June 30, 2019 were forfeited during the year ended June 30, 2020. Additionally, 57,500,000 performance rights previously issued to Dr. Paul Kasian in the year ended June 30, 2019 were forfeited in the year ended June 30, 2020. Due to the forfeiture of performance rights, a reversal amounting to A$81,984 relating to previously expensed amounts was accounted for during the current reporting period.

24. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS (Cont.)

(b) Performance Rights Issuance (Cont.)

Valuation of Performance Rights

The Performance Rights are not currently quoted on the ASX and as such have no ready market value. The Performance Rights each grant the holder a right of grant of one ordinary Share in the Company upon vesting of the Performance Rights for nil consideration. Accordingly, the Performance Rights may have a present value at the date of their grant. Various factors impact upon the value of Performance Rights including:

the period outstanding before the expiry date of the Performance Rights;
the underlying price or value of the securities into which they may be converted;
the proportion of the issued capital as expanded consequent upon conversion of the Performance Rights into Shares (i.e. whether or not the shares that might be acquired upon exercise of the options represent a controlling or other significant interest); and
the value of the shares into which the Performance Rights may be converted.

There are various formulae which can be applied to determining the theoretical value of options (including the formula known as the Black-Scholes Model valuation formula and the Monte Carlo simulation).

The Company has commissioned an independent valuation of the Performance Rights. The independent valuer has applied the Monte Carlo simulation in providing the valuation of the Performance Rights.

Inherent in the application of the Monte Carlo simulation are a number of KMP. The options vest based on non-market performance conditions (requirement to remain employed by the Company) in three tranches commencing on the dateinputs, some of the 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company and then at each of the 12 and 24 month anniversaries thereafter (2016: market related vesting condition of share price growth, whereby the options are exercisable at any time after the vesting conditions are met for a period of up to 5 years after granting. The vesting conditions thatwhich must be met before a tranche of Options shall vest, namelyassumed. The data relied upon in applying the 3 month VWAP at which the shares of the Company must be trading on the ASX, are $0.05, $ 0.10 and $0.20). The fair value of each option granted is estimated by an external valuer using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model (2016: Monte Carlo simulation analysis), with assumptions as followswas:

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2016

 

Grant Date

 

February 17,
2017

 

April 1, 2016

 

November 25,
2015

 

Options issued

 

21,500,000

 

7,500,000

 

24,236,111

 

Dividend yield

 

 

 

 

Historic volatility and expected volatility

 

60%

 

80%

 

80%

 

Option exercise price

 

$ 0.010

 

$ 0.020

 

$ 0.020

 

Weighted average exercise price

 

$ 0.010

 

$ 0.020

 

$ 0.020

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

2.19%

 

1.93%

 

2.22%

 

Expected life of an option

 

4.5 years

 

4.3 years

 

4.5 years

 

Model used

 

Black-Scholes

 

Monte Carlo

 

Monte Carlo

 

a)exercise price being 0.0 cents per Performance Right for all classes;
b)VWAP hurdle (10 days consecutive share price hurdle) equaling 2.0 cents for Class A and Class B and 3.3 cents for Class C Performance Rights;
c)the continuously compounded risk-free rate being 2.02% for all classes of Performance Rights (calculated with reference to the RBA quoted Commonwealth Government bonds as at 8 October 2018 of similar duration to that of the expected life of each class of Performance Right);
d)the expected option life of 2.8 years for all classes of Performance Rights; and
e)a volatility measure of 80%.

24. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS (Cont.)

(b) Performance Rights Issuance (Cont.)

Performance hurdles

The Class A Performance Rights vest and are exercisable upon the Share price reaching $0.02 or greater for more than 10 day consecutive ASX trading days.

The Directors, being the recipients of the Performance Rights, must remained engaged by the Company at the time of satisfaction of the performance hurdle in order for the relevant Performance Right to vest.

Based on the independent valuation of the performance rights, the company agrees that the total value of the performance rights to be issued to each director (depending on the share price at issue) is as follows:

 

F-31



Table of ContentsPerformance rights vested during the year

 

  Number of Performance Rights issued  Valuation per Class A (cents)   Total fair value of Class A Performance Rights     Expense accounted for during the year 
Dr. Lindsay Wakefield  3,750,000   0.77   A$28,875   A  $9,625 
Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki  6,250,000   0.77   A$48,125   A  $16,042 
Mr. Peter Rubinstein  5,000,000   0.77   A$38,500   A  $12,833 
Total  15,000,000       A$115,500   A  $38,500 

Performance rights cancelled/forfeited during the year

Mr. Xue Lee2  3,750,000   0.77   A$28,875   A  $(5,616)
Dr. Paul Kasian  7,500,000   0.77   A$57,750   A  $(11,229)
Total  11,250,000       A$86,625   A  $(16,845)

Valuation of Class B Performance Rights

  Number of Performance Rights issued  Valuation per Class B (cents)   Total fair value of Class B Performance Rights     Expense accounted for during the year 
Dr Paul Kasian1  25,000,000   0.77   A$192,500   A  $(37,431)

Valuation of Class C Performance Rights

  Number of Performance Rights issued  Valuation per Class B (cents)   Total fair value of Class B Performance Rights     Expense accounted for during the year 
Dr Paul Kasian1  25,000,000   0.57   A$142,500   A  $(27,708)

25.Notes:

1 Dr Paul Kasian resigned on September 24, 2019.

2 Mr. Xue Lee resigned on July 9, 2019

F-40

24. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS (cont.)

 

Modification of share-based payment arrangements

In February 2017, the Company modified the vesting conditions of the 31,736,111 options granted to KMP during 2016 from that of market related share price growth to non-market conditions of continuing employment with the Company, vesting in two equal tranches on the June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2018. All other vesting conditions attached to these option, including Option exercise price and expiry date remained unchanged. The fair value of the options at the date of the modification was $358,131 less than the original fair value, primarily as a result of the reduced share price at date of revaluation, as follows;

 

 

Fair Value Post Modification

 

Fair Value Pre Modification

 

Grant Date

 

1 April 2016

 

25 Nov 2015

 

1 April 2016

 

25 Nov 2015

 

Options issued

 

7,500,000

 

24,236,111

 

7,500,000

 

24,236,111

 

Dividend yield

 

 

 

 

 

Historic volatility and expected volatility

 

60%

 

60%

 

80%

 

80%

 

Option exercise price

 

$ 0.020

 

$ 0.020

 

$ 0.020

 

$ 0.020

 

Weighted average exercise price

 

$ 0.020

 

$ 0.020

 

$ 0.020

 

$ 0.020

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

2.08%

 

2.02%

 

1.93%

 

2.22%

 

Expected life of an option

 

3.6 years

 

3.3 years

 

4.3 years

 

4.5 years

 

Model used

 

Black-Scholes

 

Black-Scholes

 

Monte Carlo

 

Monte Carlo

 

In line with the relevant accounting standards, the reduction in fair value of the options will not be recognized, with the expense of the original option grant to continue to be recognized as if the terms had not been modified.

(c) Expenses arising from share-based payment transactions

 

Total expenses arising from share-based payment transactions recognized during the period as part of employee benefit expense were as follows:

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Options issued under employee option plan

 

120,287

 

50,239

 

(26,536

)

Shares issued as consideration for standby equity placement facility

 

 

 

330,059

 

Total

 

120,287

 

50,239

 

303,523

 

  Consolidated 
  2020  2019  2018 
  $  $  $ 
Kentgrove options issued  16,667   15,278    
Performance rights issued  38,500   104,441    
Reversal of forfeited Performance Rights  (81,984)      
Options issued under employee option plan  12,375   215,383   129,635 
Total expenses arising from share-based payments  (14,442)  335,102   129,635 

 

26.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES(d) Securities issued during capital raise

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

Operating lease expenditure commitments

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Minimum operating lease payments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- not later than one year

 

227,992

 

220,486

 

75,536

 

- later than one year but not later than five years

 

35,676

 

248,481

 

 

- later than five years

 

 

 

 

Total minimum operating lease payments

 

263,668

 

468,967

 

75,536

 

The following information relates to options granted and issued against the capital raising costs year ended June 30, 2020;

 

DirectorGrant date of issued optionsNumber of options issued
Mr. Peter RubinsteinNovember 28, 2019125,000,000
Dr Jerzy MuchnickiNovember 28, 2019125,000,000
Total250,000,000

2020
Grant DateNovember 28, 2019
Options issued250,000,000
Dividend yield-
Historic volatility and expected volatility136%
Option exercise price$0.008
Fair value of options at grant date$0.003
Weighted average exercise price$0.008
Risk-free interest rate0.85%
Expected life of an option3 years
Model usedBlack-Scholes
Valuation amount$1,056,054

DirectorGrant date of issued optionsNumber of options issued
Various underwritersOctober 30, 2019250,000,000
Total250,000,000

2020
Grant DateOctober 30, 2019
Options issued250,000,000
Dividend yield-
Historic volatility and expected volatility136%
Option exercise price$0.008
Fair value of options at grant date$0.003
Weighted average exercise price$0.008
Risk-free interest rate0.78%
Expected life of an option3 years
Model usedBlack-Scholes
Valuation amount$817,666

DirectorGrant date of issued optionsNumber of options issued
Lodge Corporate Pty LtdMarch 6, 20205,000,000
Total5,000,000

2020
Grant DateMarch 6, 2020
Options issued5,000,000
Dividend yield-
Historic volatility and expected volatility141%
Option exercise price$0.008
Fair value of options at grant date$0.007
Weighted average exercise price$0.008
Risk-free interest rate0.36%
Expected life of an option3 years
Model usedBlack-Scholes
Valuation amount$29,340

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Table of Contents25. COMMITMENTS

 

26.(a) Non-cancellable operating leasesCOMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (cont.)

  Consolidated 
Operating lease expenditure commitments 2020  2019  2018 
  $  $  $ 
Minimum operating lease payments            
- not later than one year     250,068   41,625 
- later than one year but not later than five years     266,560    
- later than five years         
Total minimum operating lease payments     516,628   41,625 

Due to the adoption of IFRS 16 effective July 1, 2019, the Company no longer has any non-cancellable operating lease to be recognized under commitments for the year ended June 30, 2020.

 

As at June 30, 2017,2019, the above operating leases related to the following premises that are currently occupied by the Group:Company:

 

Location

Landlord

Use

Date of expiry
of lease

Minimum

payments ($)

Minimum
payments
($)

60-66 Hanover Street Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia

Crude Pty. Ltd.

Office / laboratory

August 31, 2018

2021

248,481

487,837

9115 Harris Corners Parkway,1300 Baxter Street, Suite 320157, Charlotte, North Carolina 28269 USA

New Boston Harris CornersMid-Town Partners LLC

Office

October 31, 2017

Month to month

15,187

28,791

Total

Total

263,668

516,628

 

Apart from the above, there were no other commitments or contingencies as at June 30, 2017.2020.

 

27.(b) Capital commitmentsAUDITORS’ REMUNERATION

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Audit and assurance services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers in respect of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audit(1)

 

325,972

 

334,560

 

558,360

 

Audit related

 

107,451

 

 

 

 

Other audit firms in respect of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audit of the Financial Reports of subsidiaries

 

4,070

 

5,868

 

 

 

Total remuneration in respect of audit services

 

437,493

 

340,428

 

558,360

 


(1) Audit fees consist of services that would normally be provided in connection with statutory & regulatory filings or engagements, including services that generally only the independent accountant can reasonably provide.

 

Significant capital expenditure contracted for at the end of the reporting period but not recognized as liabilities is as follows:

  2020  2019 
  A$  A$ 
Property, plant and equipment  466,560   - 

The above commitment relates to the purchase of laboratory equipment which will assist the Company to conduct more tests in the future.

28.26. AUDITORS’ REMUNERATION

  Consolidated 
  

2020

A$

  

2019

A$

  

2018

A$

 
Audit and assurance services         
PricewaterhouseCoopers in respect of:            
Audit (1)  274,000   288,000   288,200 
Other assurance services (2)  200,000       
Other audit firms in respect of:            
Audit of the Financial Reports of subsidiaries         
Total remuneration in respect of audit services  474,000   288,000   288,200 

(1)Audit fees consist of services that would normally be provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including services that generally only the independent accountant can reasonably provide.
(2)Other assurance services consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that generally only the statutory auditor could reasonably provide to a client. Included in the balance are amounts related to additional regulatory filings during the 2020 financial year. All services provided are considered audit services for the purpose of SEC classification.

27. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

 

Ultimate parent

 

Genetic Technologies Limited is the ultimate Australian parent company. As at the date of this Report, no shareholder controls more than 50% of the issued capital of the Company.

 

Transactions within the GroupCompany and with other related parties

 

During the year ended 30 June 30, 2017,2020, the only transactions between entities within the GroupCompany and other related parties occurred, are as listed below. Except where noted, all amounts were charged on similar to market terms and at commercial rates.

27. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES (Cont.)

Phenogen Sciences Inc.Blockchain Global Limited

As announced by the Company on February 15, 2018, a non-binding terms sheet with Blockchain Global Limited(BCG) was entered to provide a framework for continuing discussions between the two companies, with the proposed transaction being subject to shareholder approval (by non-associated Shareholders); and as announced by the Company on August 2, 2018, a framework agreement with BCG was entered formalizing the non-binding terms sheet and providing a framework for a strategic alliance between the Company and BCG, with the agreement became binding on November 29, 2018 upon receiving the requisite shareholder approval. The agreement proposed the issue of 486 million shares to BCG in 3 tranches subject to the achievement of certain milestones. No shares have been issued under the framework agreements and no milestones have been achieved. Any rights to the 486 million milestone shares lapsed between December 27, 2019 and June 27, 2020.

The company has accounted for these share issuances in accordance with its accounting policy for share-based payment transactions and has not recorded any associated expense in the current year given performance conditions have not been met and are not currently considering any Blockchain related projects.

A number of Directors of the Company presently or previously have had involvement with BCG. Mr. Xue Lee has a direct and indirect share interest and was a CEO and managing director of BCG. Mr. Peter Rubinstein held a minority shareholding in the entity and was also a director in BCG. Dr Jerzy Muchnicki has a direct and indirect interest in BCG. Dr Paul Kasian was previously a director of BCG until July 2018.

Performance Rights Issuance

After receiving requisite shareholder approval on 29 November 2018, the Company has issued 76,250,000 performance rights to Directors of the Company as follows:

7,500,000 Class A Performance Rights, 25,000,000 Class B Performance Rights and 25,000,000 Class C performance Rights to Dr Paul Kasian
3,750,000 Class A Performance Rights to Dr Lindsay Wakefield
6,250,000 Class A Performance Rights to Dr George Muchnicki
5,000,000 Class A Performance Rights to Mr. Peter Rubinstein
3,750,000 Class A Performance Rights to Mr. Xue Lee

27. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES (Cont.)

During the year, 3,750,000 Performance Rights previously issued to Mr. Xue Lee in the year ended June 30, 2019 were forfeited during the year ended June 30, 2020. Additionally, 57,500,000 Performance Rights previously issued to Dr Paul Kasian in the year ended June 30, 2019 were forfeited in the year ended June 30, 2020. Due to the forfeiture of Performance Rights, a reversal amounting to A$81,984 relating to previously expensed amounts was accounted for during the current reporting period.

The Company has accounted for these performance rights in accordance with its accounting policy for share-based payment transactions and has recorded net reversal of A$43,484 of associated expense in the current year end.

Blockshine Health Joint Venture

The Company, via its subsidiary Gene Ventures Pty Ltd, entered into a joint venture with Blockshine Technology Corporation (BTC). The joint venture company, called Blockshine Health, was to pursue and develop blockchain opportunities in the biomedical sector. Blockshine Health was to have full access to BTC’s technology (royalty free) as well as all of its opportunities in the biomedical sector. The Company invested A$250,000 into the joint venture in the year ended June 30, 2019 and held 49% equity stake. The Joint Venture agreement was subsequently cancelled and the investment of A$250,000 was impaired in the year ended June 30, 2019.

 

During the year ended June 30, 2017, Phenogen Sciences Inc, a subsidiary, purchased testing services2020, the Company managed to recover A$43,380 from Genetic Technologies Corporation Pty. Ltd., another subsidiary at a cost of $74,762 (2016: $91,676 and 2015: $153,581). This transaction is eliminated on consolidation.this investment previously written-off.

 

Debt convertible notesGenetic Technologies HK Limited and Aocheng Genetic Technologies Co. Ltd - Joint Venture

 

In August 2018, the Company announced a Heads of Agreement had been reached with Representatives of the Hainan Government - Hainan Ecological Smart City Company (“HESCG”), a Chinese industrial park development & operations company have formally invited Genetic Technologies Limited (“GTG”) to visit the Hainan Medical Pilot Zone to conduct a formal review and discuss opportunities for market entry into China via the Hainan Free Trade Zone initiative. The invitation was extended to GTG via Beijing Zishan Health Consultancy Limited (“Zishan”), demonstrating the potential for growth presented by the proposed Joint Venture between the parties (as announced to the market on August 14, 2018).

Subsequently, the Company announced the official formation of Genetic Technologies HK Limited and Aocheng Genetic Technologies Co. Ltd in Hong Kong to the market on March 27, 2019,

The Company’s previous Chairman, Dr Paul Kasian was named in the formation Heads of Agreement document to be the Chairman of the Joint Venture entity. At June 30, 2020, Genetic Technologies HK Limited has 100% ownership of Hainan Aocheng Genetic Technologies Co. Limited. At this time, no Directors fees or emoluments have been paid to Dr Kasian, nor have agreements regarding fees been reached.

27. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES (Cont.)

Issuance of options to directors towards sub-underwriting the capital raise

As announced on October 4, 2019, the Company undertook an underwritten non-renounceable pro-rata entitlement offer at an Issue Price of 0.4 cents per new share.

On October 11, 2019, the Company updated the market to advise that the offer was from that time agreed to be underwritten by Lodge Corporate Pty Ltd and that two of the Company’s directors (Peter Rubinstein and Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki), had agreed to sub-underwrite the offer. Both directors, in conjunction with the underwriter Lodge Corporate Pty Ltd, subsequently agreed amongst themselves to alter the respective sub-underwritten amounts, but the total to be sub-written between them (A$2 million) remained same, as did the total underwritten amount (of A$4 million).

Accordingly, the underwritten offer subsequently was sub-underwritten by Mr. Peter Rubinstein and Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki (each as up to A$1 million) in conjunction with a consortium of non-associated wholesale investors (also as sub-underwriters) who in aggregate equate to the underwritten amount of A$4 million, each in accordance with the terms of their separate sub-underwriting agreements with Lodge Corporate Pty Ltd (each a Sub-Underwriting Agreement).

Dr. Muchnicki and Mr. Rubinstein reflecting the amount of their sub-writing commitment were to be granted on the same terms as all options to be granted to the relevant sub-underwriters. The number of options issued to both directors was calculated as 1 Option for every 2 Shares being sub-underwritten and were issued a total of 125,000,000 unlisted options to each of the directors.

As announced on October 11, 2019, within the rights issue offer document, upon exercise each such option converts into 1 fully paid share on terms consistent with the ASX Listing Rules; with a 3-year expiry date from grant and with an exercise price per underwriter and sub-underwriter option equal to the lower of:

A$0.008 ; and
The implicit price per share at which any raise done by Aegis capital within 3 months from the company’s shareholder meeting.

but in any event with a floor exercise price equal to A$0.004.

Lodge Corporate

Dr. Kasian was a director of corporate finance and corporate advisor from December 2017 to February 2019 with Lodge Corporate. During the year ended, June 30, 2015 the Company finalizedcompany engaged in corporate advisory services with Lodge Corporate and had transactions worth A$154,224 which also included A$88,000 that related to 2% of the raisingunderwriting of $2,150,000 via the issue of unlisted secured (debt) notes to existing and new Australian institutional and wholesale investors. The debt notes carried a 10.0% coupon rate, and as approved at the Annual General Meeting, held on November 25, 2014, became convertible notes which could convert into ordinary shares (at a 10.0% discount to the 5 day VWAP). These convertible notes also carry free attached options to purchase further shares in the Company.

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Table of Contents

25.RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES (cont.)

$125,000 of these convertible notes were issued to a holder associated with Dr Lindsay Wakefield, a Company director at the time of issue, on the same terms and conditions as other note holders, all of which were convertedcapital raise during the year ended June 30, 2015.2020. Additionally, during the year, On March 6, 2020 the Company issued 5,000,000 options to Lodge Corporate Pty Ltd valued at A$29,340 which were in relation to capital raising costs.

Mr. Phillip Hains (Chief Financial Officer)

On July 15, 2019, the Company announced that it had appointed Mr. Phillip Hains (MBA, CA) as the Chief Financial Officer who has over 30 years of extensive experience in roles with a portfolio of ASX and NASDAQ listed companies and provides CFO services through his firm The 8,333,333 share options attachedCFO Solution. Prior to these convertible notes remain unexercisedthis point the Company had a similar arrangement with The CFO Solution, where it would engage and provided services of overall CFO, accounting and other finance related activities.

During the reporting period, the company had transactions valued at A$527,724 (2019: A$45,459) with The CFO Solution towards provision of overall CFO, accounting and other finance related activities.

Mr. Stanley Sack (Chief Operating Officer)

On May 18, 2020, the endCompany appointed Mr. Stanley Sack who provides consulting in the capacity of Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Sack has spent 15 years in large listed entities in executive positions managing large business divisions. He has worked with a high net worth family managing all their operating businesses and private equity activities. Mr. Sack built an Allied Health Business in the aged care and community care space which became the biggest Mobile Allied Health Business in Australia, and was recently sold to a large medical insurance company.

During the reporting period, the company had transactions valued at A$38,500 (2019: Nil) with Mr. Stanley Sack’s entity Cobben Investments towards provision of consulting services in relation to provision of duties related to Chief Operating Officer of the year.Company.

Mr. Peter Rubinstein (Non-Executive Director and Chairman)

During the financial year ended June 30, 2020, the board approved to obtain consulting services in relation to capital raises, compliance, Nasdaq hearings and investor relations from its Non-executive director and current Chairman, Mr. Peter Rubinstein. The services procured were through Mr. Peter Rubinstein’s associate entity ValueAdmin.com Pty Ltd and amounted to A$35,000 which remains payable and is included as part of the cash salary and fees in the remuneration report as at June 30, 2020.

 

There were no transactions with parties related to Key Management Personnel during the year other than that disclosed above.

27. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES (Cont.)

Details of Directors and Key Management Personnel as at balance date

Directors

 

Directors

Executives

Mr Peter Rubinstein (Independent Non-Executive & Chairman)

Dr Malcolm R. Brandon (Non-Executive Chairman)

Jerzy Muchnicki (Executive Director & Interim Chief Executive Officer)
Dr Lindsay Wakefield (Independent Non-Executive)
Mr Nicholas Burrows (Independent Non-Executive) (appointed September 2, 2019)

Key Management Personnel (KMPs)

 

Mr. Kevin FischerDr Richard Allman (Chief Scientific Officer)

Mr Phillip Hains (Chief Financial Officer)

(appointed July 15, 2019)

Mr. Eutillio Buccilli (Executive Director

Ms Diana Newport (Quality and Business Operations Director)

& Chief ExecutiveMr Stanley Sack (Chief Operating Officer)

Dr Richard Allman (Scientific Director)

Mr. Grahame Leonard AM (Non-Executive)

Mr. Chris Saunders (Vice President, Sales and Marketing — Phenogen)

Dr Lindsay Wakefield (Non-Executive)

Dr Susan Gross (Senior Medical Director — Phenogen)

Dr Paul Kasian (Non-Executive)

(appointed May 18, 2020)

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Remuneration of Key Management Personnel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term employee benefits

 

1,533,457

 

1,350,986

 

1,457,725

 

Post-employment benefits

 

101,320

 

104,081

 

118,660

 

Share-based payments

 

121,269

 

49,445

 

(25,959

)

Other long-term benefits

 

61,594

 

28,552

 

(8,854

)

Termination benefits

 

 

53,795

 

 

Total remuneration of Key Management Personnel

 

1,817,640

 

1,586,859

 

1,541,572

 

 

  Consolidated 
  

2020

$

  

2019

$

  

2018

$

 
Remuneration of Key Management Personnel         
Short-term employee benefits  638,659   964,162   1,215,632 
Post-employment benefits  53,614   86,130   96,315 
Share-based payments  (32,498)  157,886   130,385 
Other long-term benefits  3,231   734   2,371 
Termination benefits  -   -   164,760 
Total remuneration of Key Management Personnel  663,006   1,208,912   1,609,463 

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Table of Contents

29.28. SUBSIDIARIES

 

The following diagram is a depiction of the GroupCompany structure as at June 30, 2017.2020.

 

28. SUBSIDIARIES (Cont.)

 

 

 

 

 

Group interest (%)

 

Net carrying value ($)

 

Name of Group company

 

Incorporation details

 

2017

 

2016

 

2017

 

2016

 

Entities held directly by parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GeneType Pty. Ltd.
(Dormant)

 

September 5, 1990 Victoria, Australia

 

100

%

100

%

 

 

Genetic Technologies Corporation Pty. Ltd.
(Genetic testing)

 

October 11, 1996 N.S.W., Australia

 

100

%

100

%

2

 

2

 

RareCellect Pty. Ltd.
(Dormant)

 

March 7, 2001 N.S.W., Australia

 

100

%

100

%

10

 

10

 

GeneType AG *
(Dormant)

 

February 13, 1989 Zug, Switzerland

 

100

%

100

%

 

1,350

 

GeneType Corporation
(Dormant)

 

December 18, 1989 California, U.S.A.

 

100

%

100

%

 

 

Phenogen Sciences Inc. (BREVAGenTM )

 

June 28, 2010 Delaware, U.S.A.

 

100

%

100

%

11,006

 

11,006

 

Total carrying value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,018

 

12,368

 

    Company interest (%)  Net carrying value ($) 
Name of Company Incorporation details 2020  2019  2020  2019 
Entities held directly by parent                  
GeneType Pty. Ltd. (Dormant) September 5, 1990 Victoria, Australia  100%  100%      
Genetic Technologies Corporation Pty. Ltd. (Genetic testing) October 11, 1996
N.S.W., Australia
  100%  100%  2   2 
Gene Ventures Pty. Ltd. * (Dormant) March 7, 2001
N.S.W., Australia
  100%  100%  10   10 
GeneType Corporation (Dormant) December 18, 1989 California, U.S.A.  100%  100%      
Phenogen Sciences Inc. (BREVAGenTM) June 28, 2010
Delaware, U.S.A.
  100%  100%  11,006   11,006 
Hainan Aocheng Genetic Technologies Co Ltd Hong Kong, China  100%  100%      
Genetic Technologies HK Ltd March 18, 2019
Hong Kong, China
  100%  100%      
Total carrying value            11,018   11,018 

 


* At June 30, 2017,On 26 April 2018, the name of RareCellect Pty Ltd (ACN 096 135 9847) was changed to Gene Ventures Pty Ltd (ACN 096 135 947)

** Liquidation of GeneType AG was placed into members’ voluntary liquidation.completed on 13 December 2017

29. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

 

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Table of Contents

30.FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENTThis note explains the group’s exposure to financial risks and how these risks could affect the Company’s future financial performance.

 

The Group’s activities expose itCompany’s risk management is predominantly controlled by the board. The board monitors the Company’s financial risk management policies and exposures and approves substantial financial transactions. It also reviews the effectiveness of internal controls relating to a variety of financial risks such as credit risk, market risk, (including foreign currency risk and interest rate risk) and liquidity risk.  The Group’s overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimize potential adverse effects on the financial performance of the Group.  The Group uses different methods to measure the different types of risk to which it is exposed.  These methods include sensitivity analysis in the case of foreign exchange, interest rate and aging analysis for credit risk.

Risk management is managed by the Executive under guidance provided by the Board of Directors via its Audit Committee, which provides guidance for overall risk management, as well as policies covering specific areas, such as credit risk, foreign exchange risk and interest rate risk.  The Committee identifies and evaluates financial risks in close cooperation with the Group’s executive management.

The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents.  The Group also has other financial assets and liabilities, such as trade receivables and payables, which arise directly from its operations.

The Group does not typically enter into derivative transactions, such as interest rate swaps or forward currency contracts.  It is, and has been throughout the period under review, the Group’s policy that no trading in financial instruments shall be undertaken.  The main risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments are credit risk exposures, foreign currency risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk.  The policies for managing each of these risks are summarized below.

 

(a)Market risk

Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted, including the criteria for recognition, the basis of measurement and the basis on which income and expenses are recognized, in respect of each class of financial asset, financial liability and equity instrument are disclosed in Note 2.

(i)Foreign exchange risk

 

The Group holds the following financial instruments:

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Financial assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at bank / on hand

 

10,988,255

 

11,179,687

 

Trade and other receivables

 

426,272

 

630,773

 

Performance bond and deposits

 

3,376

 

4,209

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

Total financial assets

 

11,417,903

 

11,814,669

 

Financial liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

898,103

 

837,983

 

Total financial liabilities

 

898,103

 

837,983

 

Credit risk

The Group’s credit risk is managed on a Group basis.  Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents and deposits with banks and financial institutions, as well as credit exposures to customers, including outstanding receivables and committed transactions. The trade & other receivables balance at year end includes an accrual estimate of revenue to be collected from the sale of BREVAGenTM and BREVAGenplus® tests. This estimate is calculated based on historical data of amounts received from tests sold and is sensitive to/ may be impacted by the recoverability of the amounts through the U.S. healthcare reimbursement system. Recoverability of accrued revenues for tests performed is regularly monitored by management.  Other receivables represent amounts accrued for which reimbursement will be applied for from the Australian Taxation Authority under the Governments Research & Development grant. The maximum exposures to credit risk at June 30, 2017Company undertakes certain transactions denominated in relation to each class of recognized financial asset is the carrying amount of those assets, as indicated in the balance sheet.

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Table of Contents

30.FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (cont.)

Credit risk (cont.)

Financial assets included on the balance sheet that potentially subject the Group to concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables.  In accordance with the guidelines of the Group’s Short Term Investment Policy, the Group minimizes this concentration of risk by placing its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions that maintain superior credit ratings in order to limit the degree of credit exposure.  For banks and financial institutions, only independently-rated parties with a minimum rating of “A-1” are accepted.  The Group has also established guidelines relative to credit ratings, diversification and maturities that seek to maintain safety and liquidity.  The Group does not require collateral to provide credit to its customers. Once a BREVAGenTM or BREVAGenplus® test has been performed, the patient elects to self-pay or where applicable seek healthcare provider payment on receipt of the outcome of the test. The nature of this revenue recognition cycle increases the risk of credit exposure.  The Group has not entered into any transactions that qualify as a financial derivative instrument.

The trade receivables balance is reflective of historical collection rates which are monitored on an ongoing basis and adjusted accordingly based on changing collection and test data. As at June 30, 2017, the balance of the Group’s total accrued net trade receivables was $200,837 (2016: $392,521 (refer Note 12).

Credit risk further arises in relation to financial guarantees given by the Group to certain parties in respect of obligations of its subsidiaries.  Such guarantees are only provided in exceptional circumstances.

An analysis of the aging of trade and other receivables s is provided below:

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

Net trade and other receivables

 

 

 

 

 

Current (less than 30 days)

 

426,272

 

630,773

 

31 days to 60 days

 

 

 

61 days to 90 days (note)

 

 

 

Greater than 90 days (note)

 

 

 

Total net trade and other receivables (Note 12)

 

426,272

 

630,773

 

Note:        Given the nature of the trade receivables for the remaining business all amounts are considered to be current.

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Table of Contents

30.FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (cont.)

Market risk

Foreignforeign currency risk

The Group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign currency risk through foreign exchange risk, primarily with respect to the US dollar, through financial assets and liabilities.  It is the Group’s policy not to hedge these transactions as the exposure is considered to be minimal from a consolidated operations perspective.  Further, as the Group incurs expenses which are payable in US dollars, the financial assets that are held in US dollars provide a natural hedge for the Group.rate fluctuations.

 

Foreign exchange rate risk arises from planned future commercial transactionsfinancial assets and recognized assets andfinancial liabilities denominated in a currency that is not the entity’sCompany’s functional currency. Exposure to foreign currency risk may result in the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument fluctuating due to the movement in foreign exchange rates of currencies in which the group holds financial instruments which are other than the Australian dollar (AUD) functional currency and net investments in foreign operations.  Theof the group. This risk is measured using sensitivity analysis and cash flow forecasting. The cost of hedging at this time outweighs any benefits that may be obtained.

 

The Group has a Foreign Exchange Management Policyconsolidated financial statements are presented in Australian Dollar ($), which was developed to establish a formal framework and procedures for the efficient management of the financial risks that impact onis Genetic Technologies Limited through its activities outside of Australia, predominantly in the United States.  The policy governs the way in which the financial assetsLimited’s functional and liabilities of the Group that are denominated in foreign currencies are managed and any risks associated with that management are identified and addressed.  Under the policy, which is updated on a regular basis as circumstances dictate, the Group generally retains in foreign currency only sufficient funds to meet the expected expenditures in thatpresentational currency.  Surplus funds are converted into Australian dollars as and when deemed appropriate by the Board in consultation with the CFO.

 

As at June 30, 2017, the Group held the following financial assets and liabilities that were denominated in foreign currencies:

Consolidated

 

Year

 

USD

 

EUR

 

CHF

 

Financial assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at bank / on hand

 

2017

 

6,203,335

 

30,852

 

 

 

 

2016

 

5,108,964

 

32,767

 

 

Total financial assets

 

2017

 

6,203,335

 

30,852

 

 

 

 

2016

 

5,108,964

 

32,767

 

 

Financial liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

2017

 

99,540

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

96,069

 

 

 

Total financial liabilities

 

2017

 

99,540

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

96,069

 

 

 

Notes:    USD — United States dollars     EUR — European euros             CHF — Swiss francsExposure

 

During the year ended June 30, 2017, the Australian dollar / US dollar exchange rate strengthened by 3.3%, from 0.7441 at the beginning of the yearThe Company’s exposure to 0.7686foreign currency risk at the end of the year.reporting period, expressed in Australian dollar, was as follows:

  June 30, 2020  June 30, 2019 
  USD  EUR  USD  EUR 
  $  $  $  $ 
Cash at Bank / on hand  2,512,767   38,020   201,737   27,052 
Trade and other payables  99,637   -   117,992   1,990 

Sensitivity

 

As shown in the table above, the group is primarily exposed to changes in USD/AUD exchange rates. The sensitivity of profit or loss to changes in the exchange rates arises mainly from USD denominated financial instruments.

The Company has conducted a sensitivity analysis of its exposure to foreign currency risk. Based on the financial instruments held as at June 30, 2017,2020, had the Australian dollar weakened/strengthened by 10%6.03% (2019: 5.13%) against the US dollarUSD with all other variables held constant, the Group’s post-tax loss for the year would have been $882,000A$145,520 lower/ $722,000 higher (2016: loss $748,000 lower / loss $612,000 (2019: A$6,466 lower/higher), mainly as a result of changes.

USD: 6.03% (2019: 5.13%)

The Company is more sensitive to movements in the valuesAUD/USD exchange rates in 2020 than 2019 because of the increased amount of USD denominated cash and cash equivalents. The US warrants financial liability will be equity-based settled upon exercise of the US warrants. However, as the exercise will be done with an exercise price in US dollars, there is a foreign exchange risk due to the subsequent translation to Australian dollars. The Company’s exposure to other foreign exchange movements is not material.

(b)Credit risk

Exposure to credit risk relating to financial assets arises from the potential non-performance by counterparties of contract obligations that could lead to a financial loss to the Company.

(i)Risk management

Credit risk is managed through the maintenance of procedures (such as the utilization of systems for the approval, granting and renewal of credit limits, regular monitoring of exposures against such limits and monitoring the financial stability of significant customers and counterparties), ensuring to the extent possible that customers and counterparties to transactions are of sound credit worthiness. Such monitoring is used in assessing receivables for impairment. Credit terms are normally 30 days from the invoice date.

Risk is also minimized through investing surplus funds in financial institutions that maintain a high credit rating.

(ii)Security

For some trade receivables the group may obtain security in the form of guarantees, deeds of undertaking or letters of credit which can be called upon if the counterparty is in default under the terms of the agreement.

(iii)Impairment of financial assets

The Company has one type of financial asset subject to the expected credit loss model:

trade receivables for sales of inventory

While cash and cash equivalents which are denominated in US dollars, as detailed inalso subject to the above tables.impairment requirements of IFRS 9, the identified impairment loss was immaterial.

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Table of Contents

30.29. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (cont.(Cont.)

(b)Credit risk (Cont.)

(iii)Impairment of financial assets (Cont.)

Trade receivables

The Company applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss allowance for all trade receivables.

 

MarketTo measure the expected credit losses, trade receivables assets have been grouped based on shared credit risk (cont.)characteristics and the days past due.

 

(c)Liquidity risk

Interest rate

Liquidity risk arises from the possibility that the Company might encounter difficulty in settling its debts or otherwise meeting its obligations related to financial liabilities. The Company manages this risk through the following mechanisms:

 

preparing forward looking cash flow analyses in relation to its operating, investing and financing activities;
obtaining funding from a variety of sources;
maintaining a reputable credit profile;
managing credit risk related to financial assets;
investing cash and cash equivalents and deposits at call with major financial institutions; and
comparing the maturity profile of financial liabilities with the realization profile of financial assets.

(i) Maturities of financial liabilities

The Group’stables below analyze the Company’s financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on their contractual maturities. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.

Contractual maturities of financial liabilities Less than 6 months  6 – 12 months  Between 1 and 2 years  Between 2 and 5 years  Over 5 years  Total contractual cash flows  Carrying
amount (assets)/liabilities
 
At June 30, 2020 $  $  $  $  $  $  $ 
Trade and other payables  723,724   -   -   -   -   723,724   723,724 
Lease liabilities  108,924   131,991   188,621   -   -   429,536   429,536 
Borrowings  -   -   52,252   -   -   52,252   52,252 
TOTAL  832,648   131,991   240,873   -   -   1,205,512   1,205,512 

Contractual maturities of financial liabilities Less than 6 months  6 – 12 months  Between 1 and 2 years  Between 2 and 5 years  Over 5 years  Total contractual cash flows  Carrying
amount (assets)/liabilities
 
At June 30, 2019 $  $  $  $  $  $  $ 
Trade and other payables  1,005,305   -   -   -   -   1,005,305   1,005,305 
TOTAL  1,005,305   -   -   -   -   1,005,305   1,005,305 

29. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Cont.)

(d)Interest rate risk

The Company’s main interest rate risk arises in relation to its short-term deposits with various financial institutions. If rates were to decrease, the GroupCompany may generate less interest revenue from such deposits. However, given the relatively short duration of such deposits, the associate risk is relatively minimal.

 

The GroupCompany has a Short TermShort-Term Investment Policy which was developed to manage the Group’sCompany’s surplus cash and cash equivalents. In this context, the GroupCompany adopts a prudent approach that is tailored to cash forecasts rather than seeking high returns that may compromise access to funds as and when they are required. Under the policy, the GroupCompany deposits its surplus cash in a range of deposits / securities over different time frames and with different institutions in order to diversify its portfolio and minimize risk.

 

On a monthly basis, Management provides the Board with a detailed list of all cash and cash equivalents, showing the periods over which the cash has been deposited, the name and credit rating of the institution holding the deposit and the interest rate at which the funds have been deposited.

 

At June 30, 2017,2020, if interest rates had changed by +/- 50 basis points from the year-end rates, with all other variables held constant, the Group’sCompany’s loss for the year would have been $12,000A$55,828 lower / higher (2016:(2019: loss $20,000A$8,969 lower / higher), as a result of higher / lower interest income from cash and cash equivalents.  Consolidated equity for the Group would have been $12,000 higher / lower (2016: $20,000 higher / lower) mainly as a result of an increase / decreaseequivalents and deposits in the fair value of cash and cash equivalents.place.

29. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Cont.)

 

The exposure to interest rate risks and the effective interest rates of financial assets and liabilities, both recognized and unrealized, for the GroupCompany is as follows:

 

 

 

 

Floating rate

 

Fixed rate

 

Carrying
amount

 

Weighted ave.
effective rate

 

Ave. maturity
Period

 

    Floating rate Fixed rate Carrying amount Weighted ave.
effective rate
 Ave. maturity Period

Consolidated

 

Year

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

%

 

Days

 

 Year A$ A$ A$ % Days

Financial assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     

Cash at bank / on hand

 

2017

 

2,468,730

 

 

2,468,730

 

1.75

%

At call

 

  2020   11,645,389       11,645,389   0.5% At call

 

2016

 

3,952,078

 

 

3,952,078

 

1.98

%

At call

 

  2019   2,131,741       2,131,741   1.74% At call

Performance bond / deposits

 

2017

 

 

3,376

 

3,376

 

 

At call

 

  2020      2,025   2,025     At call

 

2016

 

 

4,209

 

4,209

 

 

At call

 

  2019      53,456   53,456     At call

Totals

 

2017

 

2,468,730

 

3,376

 

2,472,106

 

 

 

 

 

  2020   11,645,389   2,025   11,647,414       

 

2016

 

3,952,078

 

4,209

 

3,956,287

 

 

 

 

 

  2019   2,131,741   53,456   2,185,197       

Financial liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings  2020      52,252   52,252   1% 
Leases  2020      429,536   429,536   5.37%  

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

  2019              

Totals

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  2020      481,788   481,788       

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  2019                

 

Note The Company holds the balance of its cash in non-interest bearingnon-interest-bearing bank accounts.

F-39



Table of Contents30. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

30.FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (cont.On July 20, 2020, 166,066,050 warrants issued during the capital raise in May 2019 exercisable at United States Dollars (US$) US$0.00533, each expiring May 23, 2024 were exercised and converted to 114,447,000 Ordinary Shares. These warrants have no cash consideration upon conversion and were consistent with the cashless exercise arrangement under the terms of their issue

 

Liquidity risk

Prudent liquidity risk management implies maintaining sufficientFurthermore, 18,500,000 options issued to an underwriter exercisable at $0.008, each expiring October 29, 2022 were exercised and converted to 18,500,000 Ordinary Shares. These options were issued for a cash and cash equivalents and the availabilityconsideration of funding through an adequate amount of committed credit facilities, such as its hire purchase and credit card facilities.  The Group manages liquidity risk by continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows and, wherever possible, matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities.  Due to the dynamic nature of the underlying businesses, Management aims to maintain flexibility in funding by keeping committed credit lines available.  Surplus funds are generally only invested in instruments that are tradeable in highly liquid markets. Refer note 2(a) for further information on the material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

A balanced view of cash inflows and outflows affecting the Group is summarized in the table below:

 

 

 

 

< 6 months

 

6 to 12 months

 

1 to 5 years

 

> 5 years

 

Totals

 

Consolidated

 

Year

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Financial assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at bank / on hand

 

2017

 

10,988,255

 

 

 

 

10,988,255

 

 

 

2016

 

11,179,678

 

 

 

 

11,179,678

 

Trade and other receivables

 

2017

 

426,272

 

 

 

 

426,272

 

 

 

2016

 

630,773

 

 

 

 

630,773

 

Performance bond and deposits

 

2017

 

3,376

 

 

 

 

3,376

 

 

 

2016

 

4,209

 

 

 

 

4,209

 

Total financial assets

 

2017

 

11,417,903

 

 

 

 

11,417,903

 

 

 

2016

 

11,814,669

 

 

 

 

11,814,669

 

Financial liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

2017

 

898,103

 

 

 

 

898,103

 

 

 

2016

 

837,983

 

 

 

 

837,983

 

Total financial liabilities

 

2017

 

898,103

 

 

 

 

898,103

 

 

 

2016

 

837,983

 

 

 

 

837,983

 

Net maturity

 

2017

 

10,519,800

 

 

 

 

10,519,800

 

 

 

2016

 

10,976,686

 

 

 

 

10,976,686

 

The Group had access to the following undrawn borrowing facility as at June 30, 2017:

 

 

Facility limit

 

Amount used

 

Amount available

 

Nature of facility

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Credit card facility

 

306,128

 

(12,428

)

293,700

 

32.SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Nasdaq noticeA$148,000.

 

On July 21, 2017,2020, the Company announced that it receivedclosed a letter dated  July 19, 2017, from the Nasdaq Stock Market notifying the Company that for the last 30 consecutive business days, prior to July 18, the bid price forregistered direct offering of 1,025,000 American Depository Shares (ADS’s), each representing six hundred (600) of the Company’s ordinary shares, had closed belowat a purchase price of United States Dollars (US$) US$5.00 per ADS - or in Australian dollars $0.012 per ordinary share. The gross proceeds for this offering was approximately US$5.1 million. Against the minimum $US1.00 per shareoffering, the Company agreed to issue 39,975,000 warrants exercisable at US$0.0104 each, expiring in 5 years from issue date, to H.C. Wainwright & Co which would form part of cost of raising capital. The said warrants have not been issued as of the date of report as they are subject to shareholder approval.

As of August 25, 2020, the Company has regained compliance with the equity requirement of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), as required by the Hearings Panel decision dated May 12, 2020.

31. CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

(a)Risk management

The Company’s objectives when managing capital are to

safeguard their ability to continue as a going concern, so that they can continue to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders, and
maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the group may issue new shares or reduce its capital, subject to the provisions of the Company’s constitution. The capital structure of the Company consists of equity attributed to equity holders of the Company, comprising contributed equity, reserves and accumulated losses. By monitoring undiscounted cash flow forecasts and actual cash flows provided to the board by the Company’s management, the board monitors the need to raise additional equity from the equity markets.

(b)Dividends

No dividends were declared or paid to members for continued inclusion under Nasdaq Marketplace Listing Rules (the “Rules”)the year ended June 30, 2020 (2019: nil). The Company’s franking account balance was nil at June 30, 2020 (2019: nil).

32. PARENT ENTITY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The Notice stated that in accordance withindividual financial statements for the Rulesparent entity show the Company has 180 calendar days, or until January 15, 2018, to regain compliance. To regain compliance withfollowing aggregate amounts:

  

2020

$

  

2019

$

 
Balance sheet      
Current assets  11,646,391   3,003,871 
Non-current assets  345,236   25,126 
Total assets  11,991,627   3,028,997 
Current liabilities  10,095,549   10,795,245 
Non-current liabilities  1,117,947   809 
Total liabilities  11,213,496   10,796,054 
         
Shareholders’ equity        
Share Capital Reserves  140,111,073   125,498,824 
Other reserves  (117,131)  (117,131)
Share-based payments  6,184,391   3,405,659 
Retained earnings  (145,400,202)  (136,554,409)
         
Total Equity  778,131   (7,767,057)
         
Loss for the year  (8,816,667)  (5,949,827)

As of June 30, 2020, there were A$3,782,537 (2019: A$18,456,661) impairment loss recognized for intercompany loan balances between the minimum bid price requirement, the Company’s securities must meet or exceed the $US1.00 per share price for 10 consecutive business days. This deficiency notice does not immediately affect the Company’s Nasdaq listing.parent and its subsidiaries

33. Contingent liabilities and contingent assets

 

The issuance of such notices, by Nasdaq, are a matter of procedure, with the Company currently considering its position and the options available in order to regain compliance.

There have beengroup had no other significant events which have occurred after balance date, outside of the commencement of the strategic review, which has been disclosed in Note 2(a)contingent liabilities at June 30, 2020 (2019: nil).

 

F-34. Impact of COVID-1940

On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and on March 12, 2020 the WHO announced the outbreak was a pandemic.

Continuing concerns over economic and business prospects in the United States and other countries have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the global economy. These factors, coupled with the prospect of decreased business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment resulting from the recent COVID-19 outbreak, may precipitate an economic slowdown and recession. If the economic climate deteriorates, the Company’s business, including its access to patient samples and the addressable market for diagnostic tests that it may successfully develop, as well as the financial condition of its suppliers and its

third-party payors, could be adversely affected, resulting in a negative impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

On a micro level, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a negative impact on global markets and business activity, which has had an effect on the operations of the Company, including but not limited to that sales of the Company’s products have been impacted not only by the inability for consumers to visit their practitioners but also the difficulty its sales team is having in arranging face to face meetings with practitioners. The Company’s sales team has found it very difficult to reach practitioners to build on the sales momentum created prior to the pandemic, with the launch into the Australian market being halted after less than 60 days of operations thus, sales have effectively ceased for the short term.

During the period of the pandemic commencing March 2020, the Company undertook a number of capital raises both public and private placements managed by H.C. Wainwright & Co. in the United States of America.


F-55