Summary of significant accounting policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Summary of significant accounting policies [Abstract]

Summary of significant accounting policies

1.Summary of significant accounting policies

Basis of presentation and consolidation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (the "Company" or "Emergent") and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the SEC.

In the opinion of the Company's management, any adjustments contained in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are of a normal recurring nature, and are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2015; the results of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014; and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for an entire year.

There have been no significant changes to the Company's summary of significant accounting policies, contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the SEC, during the three months ended March 31, 2015.